bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differences in US Adult Dietary Patterns by Cardiovascular Health and Socioeconomic Vulnerability
Authors: Brandt Eric J. , Leung Cindy , Chang Tammy , Ayanian John Z. , Banerjee Mousumi , Kirch Matthias , Mozaffarian Dariush , Nallamothu Brahmajee K.
Published: January 2025

Background

Naturally occurring dietary patterns, a major contributor to health, are not well described among those with cardiovascular disease (CVD) – particularly in light of socioeconomic vulnerability. We sought to identify major dietary patterns in the US and their distribution by CVD, social risk factors, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study among 32,498 noninstitutionalized adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009-2020). We used principal component analysis to identify common dietary patterns. Individuals were assigned to the pattern for which they had the highest component score. Using multinomial logit regression, we estimated the percentage whose diets aligned with each pattern in population subgroups stratified by CVD, social risk factors, and SNAP. Analyses were adjusted for age, gender, race and ethnicity, total energy intake, and year, with sampling weights to provide nationally representative estimates.

Results

Four dietary patterns were identified among US adults: American (33.7%; high in solid fats, added sugars, and refined grains), Prudent (22.6%; high in vegetables, nuts/seeds, oils, seafood, and poultry), Legume (15.8%), and Fruit/Whole Grain/Dairy (27.9%), that together explained 29.2% of dietary variance. More adults with prevalent CVD (37.1%) than without (33.3%, p=0.005) aligned with the American Pattern, with no differences among other patterns. Each additional social risk factor associated with more adults aligned with American (2.5% absolute increase) and Legume (1.3%), and fewer aligned with Prudent (-1.9%) and Fruit/Whole Grain/Dairy (-1.9%) patterns (p<0.001 each). Analysis of dietary patterns across SNAP participation showed higher proportion of SNAP participants and income-eligible SNAP non-participants compared to non-eligible adults for the American (40.2% [38.1, 42.3%], 35.1% [32.7, 37.5%], 31.9% [31.0, 32.8%], respectively) and Legume patterns (17.2% [15.6, 18.8%], 17.8% [16.1, 19.5%]), 15.4% [14.6,16.1%], respectively) and less for Prudent (17.0% [15.5, 18.6%], 20.2% [18.2, 22.3%], 24.2% [23.3, 25.1%], respectively) and Fruit/Whole Grain/Dairy Patterns (25.6% [23.8%, 27.3%], 26.9%[27.6%,29.5%], 28.6% [27.6%, 29.5%], respectively).

Conclusions

Empirical dietary patterns vary by CVD and socioeconomic vulnerability. Initiatives to improve nutrition in at-risk individuals should consider these naturally occurring dietary patterns and their variation in key subgroups.
PHIVE: A Physics-Informed Variational Encoder Enables Rapid Spectral Fitting of Brain Metabolite Mapping at 7T
Authors: Shamaei Amirmohammad , Niess Eva , Hingerl Lukas , Strasser Bernhard , Osburg Aaron , Eckstein Korbinian , Bogner Wolfgang , Motyka Stanislav
Published: January 2025

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging (MRSI) enables non-invasive mapping of brain metabolite concentrations but remains computationally intensive and challenging due to a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and overlapping spectral features. Traditional spectral fitting methods, such as LCModel, are time-consuming and often lack comprehensive uncertainty quantification. In this study, we propose Physics-Informed Variational Encoder (PHIVE), a novel deep learning framework that integrates physics-based priors into a variational autoencoder architecture for rapid and accurate metabo-lite quantification. PHIVE enables simultaneous estimation of metabolite concentrations and uncertainty metrics, including Cramér-Rao Lower Bound (CRLB), aleatoric, and epistemic uncertainties.

PHIVE was evaluated on whole-brain MRSI data from 7T acquisitions of healthy controls. The method achieved comparable accuracy to LCModel for key metabolites, such as Total N-acetylaspartate (tNAA), Glutamate-Glutamine complex (Glx), and Myo-inositol (mIns) while demonstrating a six-order magnitude reduction in computational time (6 ms per dataset). Uncertainty quantification highlighted PHIVE’s robustness in regions with low SNR. Additionally, a conditional baseline modeling approach was introduced, enabling dynamic flexibility in spectral baseline estimation during inference time.

These results suggest that PHIVE offers a fast, reliable, and interpretable solution for high-resolution metabolite quantification, paving the way for real-time MRSI applications in clinical and research settings. Future work will focus on expanding its validation across diverse datasets and investigating its utility in longitudinal and multicenter studies.
Mendelian Randomization Reveals Causal Pathways Between Plasma Protein Quantitative Trait Loci and Graves’Disease Mediated by Immune Cells
Authors: Cui Shixian , Liu Qingyang
Published: January 2025

Graves’ disease (GD) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by hyperthyroidism caused by thyroid-stimulating antibodies (TRAb) activating the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR). Current treatments, including antithyroid drugs, radioactive iodine therapy, and surgery, can control hormone secretion but fail to prevent the immune system’s persistent attacks on the thyroid gland. This highlights the need for in-depth research into the immune pathogenesis of GD to develop novel therapeutic strategies.

The study results showed that several key pQTLs, including ACE, PMM2, FCRL4, and DPEP1, are significantly associated with GD. Further investigation revealed that ACE inhibitors (ACEIs) are potentially relevant for GD treatment. These inhibitors are not only widely used in the treatment of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases but also exhibit immune-regulatory effects. For example, by modulating the activity of T cells and B cells, ACEIs have demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in models of various immune-related diseases.

This study is the first to combine pQTLs with immune cell regulatory mechanisms to explore their impact on the pathogenesis of GD. By integrating genetic variants, immune cell phenotypes, and causal relationship analysis, we not only validated previously reported GD-related pQTLs but also identified new candidate signals and pathways. These findings deepen our understanding of GD pathogenesis and provide a foundation for developing precision therapies and combination treatments targeting GD and related autoimmune diseases.
Tissue-Specific Ablation of Liver Fatty Acid-Binding Protein Induces a Metabolically Healthy Obese Phenotype in Female Mice
Authors: Tawfeeq Hiba Radhwan , Lackey Atreju I , Zhou Yinxiu , Diolointzi Anastasia , Zacharisen Sophia , Lau Yin Hei , Quadro Loredana , Storch Judith
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives

Obesity is associated with numerous metabolic complications including insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and a reduced capacity for physical activity. Whole-body ablation of liver fatty acid-binding protein (LFABP) in mice was shown to alleviate several of these metabolic complications; high fat (HF) fed LFABP knockout (LFABP-/-) mice developed higher fat mass than their wild-type (WT) counterparts but displayed a metabolically healthy obese (MHO) phenotype with normoglycemia, normoinsulinemia, and reduced hepatic steatosis compared with WT. LFABP is expressed in both liver and intestine, thus in the present study, LFABP conditional knockout (cKO) mice were generated to determine the contributions of LFABP specifically within the liver or the intestine to the whole body phenotype of the global knockout.

Methods

Female liver-specific LFABP knockout (LFABPliv-/-), intestine-specific LFABP knockout (LFABPint-/-), and floxed LFABP (LFABPfl/fl) control mice were fed a 45% Kcal fat semipurified HF diet for 12 weeks.

Results

While not as dramatic as found for whole-body LFABP-/-mice, both LFABPliv-/-and LFABPint-/-mice had significantly higher body weights and fat mass compared with LFABPfl/flcontrol mice. As with the global LFABP nulls, both LFABPliv-/-and LFABPint-/-mice remained normoglycemic and normoinsulinemic. Despite their greater fat mass, the LFABPliv-/-mice did not develop hepatic steatosis. Additionally, LFABPliv-/-and LFABPint-/-mice had higher endurance exercise capacity when compared with LFABPfl/flcontrol mice.

Conclusions

The results suggest, therefore, that either liver-specific or intestine-specific ablation of LFABP in female mice is sufficient to induce, at least in part, the MHO phenotype observed following whole-body ablation of LFABP.
A deficiency screen of theXchromosome for Rap1 GTPase dominant interacting genes inDrosophilaborder cell migration
Authors: Messer C. Luke , Burghardt Emily , McDonald Jocelyn A.
Published: January 2025

Collective cell migration is critical to embryonic development, wound healing, and the immune response, but also drives tumor dissemination. Understanding how cell collectives coordinate migration in vivo has been a challenge, with potential therapeutic benefits that range from addressing developmental defects to designing targeted cancer treatments. The small GTPase Rap1 has emerged as a regulator of both embryogenesis and cancer cell migration. How active Rap1 coordinates downstream signaling functions required for coordinated collective migration is poorly understood.Drosophilaborder cells undergo a stereotyped and genetically tractable in vivo migration within the developing egg chamber of the ovary. This group of 6-8 cells migrates through a densely packed tissue microenvironment and serves as an excellent model for collective cell migration during development and disease. Rap1, like all small GTPases, has distinct activity state switches that link extracellular signals to organized cell behaviors. Proper regulation of Rap1 activity is essential for successful border cell migration yet the signaling partners and other downstream effectors are poorly characterized. Using the known requirement for Rap1 in border cell migration, we conducted a dominant suppressor screen for genes whose heterozygous loss modifies the migration defects observed upon constitutively activeRap1V12expression. Here we identified seven genomic regions on theXchromosome that interact withRap1V12. We mapped three genomic regions to single Rap1-interacting genes,frizzled 4,Ubiquitin specific protease 16/45, andstrawberry notch. Thus, this unbiased screening approach identified multiple new candidate regulators of Rap1 activity with roles in collective border cell migration.
Norditerpene natural products from subterranean fungi with anti-parasitic activity
Authors: Kolas Alexandra , Rusman Yudi , Maia Ana C.G. , Williams Jessica , Fumuso Fernanda G. , Cotto-Rosario Alexis , Onoh Chidiebere , Baggar Hanen , Piaskowski Mary L. , Baigorria Christian , Paes Raphaella , Chakrabarti Debopam , Weible Lyssa , Ojo Kayode K. , O’Connor Roberta M. , Salomon Christine E.
Published: January 2025

Cryptosporidiumis a common, waterborne gastrointestinal parasite that causes diarrheal disease worldwide. Currently there are no effective therapeutics to treat cryptosporidiosis in at-risk populations. Since natural products are a known source of anti-parasitic compounds, we screened a library of extracts and pure natural product compounds isolated from bacteria and fungi collected from subterranean environments for activity againstCryptosporidium parvum. Eight structurally related norditerpene lactones isolated from the fungusOidiodendron truncatumcollected from the Soudan Iron mine in Minnesota showed potent activity and were further tested to identify the most active compounds. The availability of a diverse suite of natural structural analogs with varying activities allowed us to determine some structure activity relationships for both anti-parasitic activity as well as cytotoxicity. The two most potent compounds, oidiolactones A and B, had EC50s against intracellularCryptosporidium parvumof 530 and 240 nM respectively without cytotoxicity to confluent HCT-8 host cells. Both compounds also inhibited the related parasiteToxoplasma gondii. Oidiolactone A was active against asexual, but not sexual, stages ofC. parvum, and killed 80% of the parasites within 8 hours of treatment. This compound reducedC. parvuminfection by 70% in IFNγ−/− mice, with no signs of toxicity. The high potency, low cytotoxicity, andin vivoactivity combined with high production, easy isolation from fungi, and synthetic accessibility make oidiolactones A and B attractive scaffolds for the development of new anti-Cryptosporidiumtherapeutics.
Polarization light-sheet microscopy and tomography (PLµTo) for flow-based imaging of 3D microcarrier mesenchymal stem cell culture
Authors: Benavides Oscar R. , White Berkley P. , Kaunas Roland , Gregory Carl A. , Walsh Alex J.
Published: January 2025

Light-sheet microscopy is an increasingly popular imaging tool for studying biological processes, however, it generally requires the use of exogenous fluorescent contrast agents which can be toxic to live cells. Light-sheet tomography is the label-free analog of light-sheet microscopy, utilizing elastic scattering contrast to visualize the structure of the biological sample. Here, we present a multi-modal polarization light-sheet microscopy and tomography (PLµTo) system for on-line, non-destructive, and non-invasive volumetric imaging of human mesenchymal stem cells, also referred to as mesenchymal stromal cells, attached to spherical gelatin methacryloyl microcarriers for image analysis-based quantitative monitoring of adherent stem cell culture expansion. The PLµTo system, which is built on an inverted selective plane illumination configuration, is compatible with standard horizontal sample mounting and microfluidics for multimodal volumetric data acquisition. This work is the first demonstration of scattering-based volume optical imaging flow cytometry.
FGF12A Regulates Nav1.5 via CaM-regulated and CaM-independent Mechanisms
Authors: Woodbury Lucy , Angsutararux Paweorn , Marras Martina , Wagner Emily , Abella Carlota , Li Anna , Silva Jonathan R.
Published: January 2025

Opening of the cardiac voltage-gated Na+ channel (Nav1.5) is responsible for robust depolarization of the cardiac action potential, while inactivation, which rapidly follows, allows for repolarization. Regulation of both the voltage- and time-dependent kinetics of Nav1.5 inactivation can alter the ability of the heart to initiate and sustain a re-entrant arrhythmia. The C-terminal domain (CTD) of Nav1.5 has been shown to modulate fast inactivation of the channel, and multiple auxiliary proteins bind to the CTD, including calmodulin (CaM) and intracellular fibroblast growth factor 12A (FGF12A). Recently, a non-canonical CaM-binding site was also discovered on the N-terminal of A-splice variants of iFGFs. We performed cut-open Vaseline gap (COVG) voltage-clamp to test whether FGF12A with and without CaM regulates Nav1.5 gating. In WT Nav1.5 channels, FGF12A with and without CaM present had a minimal effect on the voltage dependence of both activation and inactivation. Conversely, when CaM is absent on the Nav1.5 CTD (IQ/AA), a dramatic shift in steady-state inactivation (SSI) occurred, regardless of whether CaM was present on FGF12A. These two distinct mechanisms are operative in Nav1.5 LQT3 mutations where FGF12A requires CaM to shift in the voltage-dependence of inactivation, but not to inhibit the persistent late current. We conclude that there are two distinct mechanisms by which FGF12A modulates the Nav1.5 channel: CaM-regulated alteration of the voltage dependence of inactivation and CaM-independent inhibition of persistent late current.
Phosphorus Availability Modulates Flowering Time Through Subcellular Reprogramming of bGLU25 and GRP7 in Flowering Plants
Authors: Cho Huikyong , Choi Ilyong , Bouain Nadia , Nawaz Amjad , Zheng Luqing , Shahzad Zaigham , Brandizzi Federica , Rhee Seung Y , Rouached Hatem
Published: January 2025

The transition from vegetative to reproductive growth is vital for plant fitness and crop yield and is strongly influenced by nutrient availability. While nitrogen deficiency accelerates flowering, phosphorus (P) limitation delays it. However, the molecular basis for how P availability regulates flowering time remains unclear. Here, through genome-wide association mapping in Arabidopsis, we uncover genetic variation inβ-GLUCOSIDASE 25(bGLU25) that modulates flowering under P-limited conditions. In P-sufficient environments, bGLU25 localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum. Under P limitation, however, bGLU25 translocates to the cytosol, a process mediated by P-regulated SERINE CARBOXY PEPTIDASE 50 (SCP50). In the cytosol, bGLU25 binds to JACALIN-LECTIN LIKE1 (AtJAC1), preventing the nuclear translocation of theFlowering Locus C(FLC) regulator GLYCINE-RICH RNA-BINDING PROTEIN 7 (GRP7). This cytosolic sequestration of GRP7 under P-deprivation elevatesFLCexpression, delaying flowering. Moreover, in the monocot rice, the homologs of bGLU25 also modulate flowering responses to P availability, indicating a conserved role for bGLU25 across flowering plants. Our findings provide a molecular framework for breeding strategies aimed at optimizing flowering time in response to P levels.
Dissecting the Role of Flagellar Subunits inC. difficileMucosal Colonization
Authors: Biwas Baishakhi , Do Thi Van Thanh , Auchtung Jennifer , Piepenbrink Kurt H.
Published: January 2025

Clostridioides difficileis a common cause of acute gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation in mammals, which can have detrimental effects on host health.C. difficileassociated disease (CDAD) requires the secretion of high-molecular weight toxins after colonization of the GI tract. The molecular mechanisms of GI colonization byC. difficile, include potential interactions with host cells and the mucus layer formed from secreted mucin glycoproteins.C. difficileassociates with the mucus layerin vivoand will associate with both epithelial cells and mucosal surfacesin vitro. Previously, we found a substantial defect in binding to mucosal surfaces for mutants of the major flagellar subunit,fliC, while mutation of the major subunit of type IV pili,pilA1, showed increased adhesion. To elucidate the mechanisms by whichC. difficileinteracts withex vivomucosal surfaces, we have measured swimming motility, mucosal adhesion and levels of flagellation by transmission electron microscopy for mutants of flagellar and T4P genes inC. difficileR20291. We discovered that thepilA1mutant showed increased flagellation, while decreases in flagellation were found forfliC, fliD,andflg-OFF (a phase-locked mutant with low transcription of the F3 flagellar operon) which were associated with both low swimming motility and low adhesion to mucosal surfaces. However, the reversedflg-ON mutant showed increased flagellation without a significant increase in adhesion. We also found that thefliCmutant was defective in binding to mucus-secreting HT-29 MTX cells, but not HT-29 cells. These results imply that at least two molecular pathways contribute toC. difficilemucosal adhesion. In addition to their direct roles encoding T4P and flagellar subunits,pilA1andfliCmay contribute to regulating other factors relevant to mucosal adhesion.
Cross-reactive sarbecovirus antibodies induced by mosaic RBD-nanoparticles
Authors: Fan Chengcheng , Keeffe Jennifer R. , Malecek Kathryn E. , Cohen Alexander A. , West Anthony P. , Baharani Viren A. , Rorick Annie V. , Gao Han , Gnanapragasam Priyanthi N.P. , Rho Semi , Alvarez Jaasiel , Segovia Luisa N. , Hatziioannou Theodora , Bieniasz Paul D. , Bjorkman Pamela J.
Published: January 2025

Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against SARS-CoV-2 become obsolete as spike substitutions reduce antibody binding. To induce antibodies against conserved receptor-binding domain (RBD) regions for protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and zoonotic sarbecoviruses, we developed mosaic-8b RBD-nanoparticles presenting eight sarbecovirus RBDs arranged randomly on a 60-mer nanoparticle. Mosaic-8b immunizations protected animals from challenges from viruses whose RBDs were matched or mismatched to those on nanoparticles. Here, we describe neutralizing mAbs from mosaic-8b–immunized rabbits, some on par with Pemgarda (the only currently FDA-approved therapeutic mAb). Deep mutational scanning,in vitroselection of spike resistance mutations, and cryo-EM structures of spike-antibody complexes demonstrated targeting of conserved epitopes. Rabbit mAbs included critical D-gene segment features in common with human anti-RBD mAbs, despite rabbit genomes lacking an equivalent human D-gene segment. Thus, mosaic RBD-nanoparticle immunization coupled with multiplexed screening represent an efficient way to generate and select therapeutic pan-sarbecovirus and pan-SARS-2 variant mAbs.
Enhancing Breast Cancer Classification with Stacked Convolutional Neural Networks for Whole-Slide Image Analysis
Authors: Mujawar Tasmiya
Published: January 2025

This study explores an advanced approach to automatic breast cancer characterization by leveraging convolutional neural networks (CNNs) trained on 224×224 pixel patches from whole-slide images (WSIs). I compared two architectures, VGG-16 and WRN-4-2, across two classification problems: benign versus cancer, and benign, DCIS, versus IDC. Results indicated that WRN-4-2 slightly outperformed VGG-16 on the two-class problem but underperformed on the three-class problem. Stacking CNNs with increased input sizes (512×512, 768×768, and 1024×1024 pixels) significantly improved accuracy, with the 1024×1024 network achieving the highest performance but at a higher computational cost. Dense prediction maps were generated from these stacked networks, enabling effective whole-slide image classification with approximately 90% accuracy for detecting cancer. However, performance for distinguishing between benign, DCIS, and IDC lesions was lower at 76.6%. Future improvements could involve stain standardization, enhanced resolution of prediction maps using architectures like U-net, and comparative studies of multi-resolution approaches to further refine cancer detection and classification accuracy.
Loss of DHX36/G4R1, a G4 resolvase, drives genome instability and regulates innate immune gene expression in cancer cells
Authors: Bartosik Anna R. , Hou Pei-Chi , Vaughn James P. , Smaldino Philip J. , Ratan Aakrosh , Mayo Marty W. , Yuh-Hwa Wang
Published: January 2025

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are four-stranded alternative secondary structures formed by guanine-rich nucleic acids and are prevalent across the human genome. G4s are enzymatically resolved using specialized helicases. Previousin vitrostudies showed that DEAH-box Helicase 36 (DHX36/G4R1/RHAU), has the highest specificity and affinity for G4 structures. Here, by mapping genome-wide DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), we demonstrate that knockout (KO) of DHX36 helicase increases DSB enrichment at G4 sites and that the presence of the G4 motif is a significant mediator of genome instability at regulatory regions. The loss of DHX36 corresponds with the significant upregulation of NF-κB transcriptional programs, culminating in the production and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Loss of DHX36 expression results in an increase in the innate immune signaling stimulator of interferon response cGAMP interactor 1 (STING1) expression and activation of genes involved in immune response pathways. Importantly, higher levels ofDHX36mRNA expression in human B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia correlate with improved overall survival relative to lower expression ofDHX36, highlighting its critical role in preserving genome integrity at a cellular level and in the context of cancer.
Mapping the Neural Control of Force and Impedance of Wrist Movements Using Robotics and fMRI
Authors: Schmidt Kristin , Sergi Fabrizio
Published: January 2025

While robots are becoming increasingly valuable tools in neurorehabilitation, our limited understanding of the brain's response during human-robot interaction tasks restricts advancements in training programs to restore neural pathways after injury. Co-contraction is characteristic of several neuromuscular disorders, such as stroke and cerebral palsy, and it is often targeted by assessments or rehabilitation programs. Despite its importance, the neural mechanisms underlying co-contraction remain poorly understood. To address this gap, this study investigates the neural substrates of muscle co-contraction via functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a dynamic motor task with an MR-compatible wrist robot. To establish suitable fMRI experimental conditions, we first conducted a behavioral study assessing muscle activity during a wrist-pointing task with four participants. Participants reached toward a target while experiencing four main perturbation conditions (no force, divergent force, constant force up, and constant force down), designed to elicit distinct force and impedance responses. Following this behavioral validation, five additional participants performed the wrist-pointing task during fMRI. Our results suggest localization of force and impedance control within the cortico-thalamic-cerebellar network. These findings provide new insights into the neural mechanisms of co-contraction, supporting the development of neurorehabilitation paradigms.
Mutant p53R175H-Associated Protection of Ovarian Cancer Precursor Cells from Cisplatin Requires Expression of SLC6A6 Taurine Transporter
Authors: Polotaye Teagan , Centeno Daniel , Iwanicki Marcin
Published: January 2025

Tumor suppressor gene TP53 is ubiquitously mutated in ovarian cancer precursor lesions that undergo pervasive accumulation of DNA damage. Prior literature provides evidence that the expression of mutant p53 protein in epithelial cells is associated with increased survival in response to DNA-damaging treatments. Hence, identification and understanding of the mechanisms that, in response to DNA damage accumulation, support survival of ovarian cancer precursor cells carrying p53 mutations might provide important information about the evolution of the disease. Here we used a combination of OC precursor cell models, biochemistry, microscopy, and flow cytometry to provide evidence that the taurine transporter, the SLC6A6 molecule, contributes to cell protection from DNA-damaging (cisplatin) treatment. We found that expression of mutant p53R175Hin OC precursor cells, the fallopian tube non-ciliated epithelial (FNE) cells, induced resistance to the DNA-damaging agent cisplatin. Most importantly, shRNA-mediated targeting of SLC6A6 transcript re-sensitized FNE cells expressing mutant p53R175Hto cisplatin treatment. Our studies are consistent with the model that the loss of SLC6A6 alters mechanisms involved in the regulation of cell survival in response to DNA damage.
Confirmation and extension of a mini-valence Wigner-like energy in Sm, Gd, and Dy
Authors: Cakirli R. B. , Blaum K. , Casten R. F.
Published: January 2025

An earlier study revealed an unexpected enhancement in valence proton-neutron interaction strengths in certain heavy deformed even-even nuclei with equal numbers of valence protons and valence neutrons. The paper reports on an extension of those results to the entire span of deformed nuclei from Sm to W using mass data taken in the interim.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Dark matter catalyzed baryon destruction
Authors: Ema Yohei , McGehee Robert , Pospelov Maxim , Ray Anupam
Published: January 2025

WIMP-type dark matter may have additional interactions that break baryon number, leading to induced nucleon decays which are subject to direct experimental constraints from proton decay experiments. In this work, we analyze the possibility of continuous baryon destruction, deriving strong limits from the dark matter accumulating inside old neutron stars, as such a process leads to excess heat generation. We construct the simplest particle dark matter model that breaks the baryon and lepton numbers separately but conserves B−L. Virtual exchange by DM particles in this model results in dinucleon decay via nn→nν¯ and np→ne+ processes.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Geometric model for dynamics of motor-driven centrosomal asters
Authors: Young Yuan-Nan , Herrera Vicente Gomez , Zhang Huan , Farhadifar Reza , Shelley Michael J.
Published: January 2025

The centrosomal aster is a mobile and adaptable cellular organelle that exerts and transmits forces necessary for tasks such as nuclear migration and spindle positioning. Recent experimental and theoretical studies of nematode and human cells demonstrate that pulling forces on asters by cortically anchored force generators are dominant during such processes. Here, we present a comprehensive investigation of the S-model (S for stoichiometry) of aster dynamics based solely on such forces. The model evolves the astral centrosome position, a probability field of cell-surface motor occupancy by centrosomal microtubules (under an assumption of stoichiometric binding), and free boundaries of unattached, growing microtubules. We show how cell shape affects the stability of centering of the aster, and its transition to oscillations with increasing motor number. Seeking to understand observations in single-cell nematode embryos, we use highly accurate simulations to examine the nonlinear structures of the bifurcations, and demonstrate the importance of binding domain overlap to interpreting genetic perturbation experiments. We find a generally rich dynamical landscape, dependent upon cell shape, such as internal constant-velocity equatorial orbits of asters that can be seen as traveling wave solutions. Finally, we study the interactions of multiple asters which we demonstrate an effective mutual repulsion due to their competition for surface force generators. We find, amazingly, that centrosomes can relax onto the vertices of platonic and nonplatonic solids, very closely mirroring the results of the classical Thomson problem for energy-minimizing configurations of electrons constrained to a sphere and interacting via repulsive Coulomb potentials. Our findings both explain experimental observations, providing insights into the mechanisms governing spindle positioning and cell division dynamics, and show the possibility of new nonlinear phenomena in cell biology.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Corporate culture and discontinued operations
Authors: Sun Li
Published: January 2025

Purpose

We investigate the relation between corporate culture and the likelihood of discontinuing business operations.

Design/methodology/approach

We rely on regression analysis in our study.

Findings

We find a significant negative relation, suggesting that firms with strong corporate culture are less likely to discontinue business operations. To enhance the incremental contributions of our study, we delve into the moderating role of corporate culture on the aforementioned relation and identify several factors that, when coupled with corporate culture, could indirectly impact the decision-making process regarding discontinuing operations. We also find that the negative relation between corporate culture and discontinued operations is mainly driven by firms with lower earnings performance, and this relation becomes stronger for high-tech firms. Lastly, we find that stronger culture is associated with a larger magnitude of discontinued operations for firms reporting discontinued operations, and this positive association is largely driven by firms reporting income-decreasing discontinued operations.

Originality/value

Our analysis adds to two independent streams of research: corporate culture in management literature and discontinued operations in accounting literature. Prior research, in particular, focuses on examining if and how managers exploit discontinued operations to manipulate earnings. By showing a significant negative impact of corporate culture on the likelihood of discontinuing business operations, our research undoubtedly adds to the body of understanding regarding the factors that lead managers to discontinue certain operations.
Innovation management and nanotechnology: a PRISMA-based analysis and research implications
Authors: Rajapaksha Sisitha , Yapa Piumika , Munaweera Imalka
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Innovation management in nanotechnology entails the strategic supervision of the entire process of creating and executing novel concepts, technologies and products at the nanoscale. By efficiently overseeing innovation in nanotechnology, organizations can leverage the revolutionary capabilities of nanomaterials and nanodevices to develop state-of-the-art solutions, improve their competitive edge and tackle global issues. Bibliometric studies are scarce related to the field of innovation management and nanotechnology. The purpose of this study is to assess the existing knowledge pertaining to the keywords, innovation management and nanotechnology and identify potential research implications for the future.

Design/methodology/approach

This study has been conducted systematically using the revolutionary PRISMA methodology. Research articles (46) were retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science databases using the keywords “Nanotechnology” and “Innovation Management” and 22 articles were systematically selected. VOSviewer software was used to conduct keyword co-occurrence analysis to identify under explored research areas.

Findings

By integrating the principles of lean production into innovation management practices in nanotechnologies, organizations can enhance their processes, promote continuous improvement, create value for customers and enhance their ability to innovate effectively in a competitive and dynamic environment. Examining the management of innovation in nanotechnology has revealed the potential to alter the future trajectory of technological advancement worldwide.

Originality/value

This research provides a new perspective on the combination of innovation management and nanotechnology, integrating lean production principles. This study uses a systematic bibliometric analysis to discover underexplored research areas and highlights the potential for transformation.
An exploratory study on the practice of operational excellence in the automotive industry in Morocco
Authors: Kazancoglu Yigit , Garza-Reyes Jose Arturo , Elgharbaoui Mohammed , Abbana Bennani Chaymae
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to explore the implementation of operational excellence (OpEx) within the Moroccan automotive industry, focusing on its perception, adoption and integration into organizational structures.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses a qualitative, exploratory design, using semi-structured interviews with eight key experts from various ecosystems within the Moroccan automotive industry. A purposive expert sampling method was used to select participants with significant experience in OpEx, ensuring a deep, context-specific understanding of its implementation.

Findings

This study reveals that Moroccan automotive firms adopt OpEx practices in a phased, structured manner, beginning with foundational methodologies such as Lean manufacturing, 5S and Kaizen, before progressing to advanced tools like Six Sigma. The integration of these practices is typically supported by dedicated teams within engineering and production departments, with some firms establishing specialized OpEx departments reporting directly to plant directors. While notable progress has been made in the adoption of OpEx, significant challenges remain, particularly regarding the technical expertise required for advanced methodologies like Six Sigma. Nevertheless, strong support from international parent companies and Morocco’s highly integrated automotive ecosystem has been identified as key enablers in accelerating the adoption of OpEx best practices.

Research limitations/implications

The generalizability of this study is constrained by its focus on a specific industry and region. While the qualitative findings provide valuable insights into the Moroccan automotive sector, further research is needed to broaden the scope across different industries and geographical contexts. Future studies could explore the application of OpEx practices in other developing economies or investigate the role of Industry 4.0 technologies in enhancing OpEx outcomes.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the limited body of research on OpEx implementation in developing economies, offering empirical insights from the Moroccan automotive industry. The findings provide practical insights for industry practitioners and theoretical contributions toward understanding how OpEx practices can be adapted and scaled within the unique context of emerging economies.
Sustaining continuous improvement programs proposition of influential elements and a maturity-benchmark model
Authors: Chirinos Orlando , Habchi Georges , Pralus Magali , Magnani Florian , Messaoudene Zahir
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the studies regarding the influential elements that contribute to the sustainability of continuous improvement (CI) programs. It aims to define the notion of sustainability and to identify and explore the influential elements that could encompass such a definition.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive literature review was conducted to categorise various interpretations of sustainability into distinct dimensions. This approach also identified 16 influential elements that have the potential to sustain CI programs. A self-assessment survey involving 80 French companies was used to evaluate these elements through the Plan, Do, Check, Act framework. In addition, a maturity-benchmark model is introduced to help evaluate the degree of maturity of the most influential elements of CI programs.

Findings

The results highlight the inherent paradox in sustaining CI programs, where robustness and adaptability must coexist. The study identifies a relationship between influential elements and organisational maturity levels, offering actionable insights to help companies advance through these stages. Human-centered elements, such as leadership and employee engagement, have the greatest impact on CI sustainability, emphasizing the importance of fostering a people-centric culture. Conversely, operational elements are less influential, suggesting a need for balanced strategies.

Originality/value

This paper discusses a topic that is rarely addressed, namely, how to sustain CI programs within a CI framework. This paper provides a novel synthesis of influential elements and their relationships to organisational maturity within a CI framework, challenging traditional static views of sustainability. By emphasizing the dynamic and evolving nature of CI programs, it bridges theory and practice, offering organisations a practical model for continuous reassessment and adaptation.
Interval-valued optimal control strategies for vaccine distribution and infection awareness investment in preservation technology
Authors: Dwivedi Vinita , Khedlekar Uttam Kumar
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to explore the global threat of diseases that affect people, such as diarrheal, Hepatitis B, Rotavirus, Measles diseases, emphasizing the integration of disease vaccines into immunization programs globally as recommended by the World Health Organization, resulting in significant case reductions.

Design/methodology/approach

Notably, it stresses the necessity of raising awareness about diseases and vaccines through promotional efforts alongside effective inventory management because of vaccine perishability, highlighting preservation techniques and cold storage. Addressing environmental concerns, including carbon emissions from vaccine deterioration, the study proposes green technology investments aligned with Sustainable Development Goals to mitigate these impacts. Additionally, advanced optimization algorithms, including ant colony, modified flower pollination, cuckoo search and particle swarm optimization algorithms, are used to optimize pricing, preservation strategies, green investments and replenishment schedules. The research also uses the concept of interval values to enhance the robustness of the optimization framework. Through numerical experiments, the study demonstrates the effectiveness of this dynamic investment approach, providing empirical validation.

Findings

Furthermore, sensitivity analysis on critical parameters yields valuable insights for decision-makers, underscoring the importance of dynamically managing vaccine inventory. The study offers practical solutions and managerial insights that can inform policy decisions and strategic planning in disease response efforts.

Originality/value

This study concludes by emphasizing how creative green technology approaches can help decision-makers manage the social and environmental effects of vaccine inventories in the health care of people.
The impact of corporate social responsibility on educational management: evidence from learner tendencies
Authors: Bolortuya Purev , Weida He , Arrive Jean Tsitaire , Getele Gutama Kusse
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to examine the determinants of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Chinese higher education institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 352 students, this research uses partial least squares structural equation modeling to examine how educational aspects impact students’ choice of university selection in Chinese higher education institutions through the mediating role of CSR.

Findings

The empirical results indicate that educational aspects weakly influence students’ choice of university selection. In addition, the study confirms that CSR plays a significant mediating role, demonstrating a positive relationship between educational aspects and students’ university selection. This study sheds light on the relationship between educational aspects and students’ choice of university selection, highlighting the substantial impact of CSR as a mediator.

Originality/value

This research contributes novel perspectives on CSR integration with a focus on education for sustainable development, enriching the existing literature on CSR in higher education. By categorizing CSR into Carroll’s pyramid, this study reveals how factors related to education can, directly and indirectly, influence students’ university choices through CSR in Chinese higher education institutions. The findings suggest that Chinese higher education institutions can enhance student enrollment by innovating their educational aspects and CSR practices.
Investigating deaths of people with autistic spectrum disorder in health and social care in England and Wales
Authors: Norris Dana , Baker David , Richards Georgia C.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the trends identified in inquests conducted in the Coronial system in England and Wales for individuals formally diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), where the death occurred within a health or social care setting.

Design/methodology/approach

It uses data from 42 reports to prevent future deaths (PFDs) issued by Coroners to establish where and in what contexts each death occurred. PFDs are sent to organisations that Coroners believe could act to PFDs.

Findings

The research identified four key findings. Firstly, 33% of the deaths identified were not recorded as suicides, marking a clear departure from the extant literature on this issue. Secondly, data highlighted a lack of training and education of staff to understand the complexity of autism. Thirdly, this lack of understanding was often compounded by a lack of specialist provision for people with ASD. Fourthly, Coroners attributed a number of deaths to an individual’s autism, which served to some extent to mask the failures of the agencies involved in the care of the decedent.

Originality/value

There is limited research available about the preventable deaths of individuals with ASD in health and social care settings. This paper makes an initial step in highlighting significant structural failures that can lead to preventable deaths.
A holistic bibliometric review of teachers’ ICT competence research in higher education
Authors: Jiangmei Shu , Ghasemy Majid
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The purposes of this study are fourfold: (1) to explore the state of ICT competency framework for teachers in higher education, (2) to identify general themes and trends in publications, key publication resources, authors, affiliations and countries in the domain of teachers’ ICT competence in higher education, (3) to investigate the relationships among author keywords to understand the interconnectedness within the research on teachers’ ICT competence in higher education and (4) to investigate the thematic evolution of author keywords to better understand the current situation and future research trends.

Design/methodology/approach

This study details the bibliometric methodology used in terms of performance analysis and thematic evolution of author keywords and reports the results of systematically analyzing 275 Scopus-indexed publications on teachers’ ICT competence and ICT competency framework for teachers in higher education from July 25th, 2008 to June 7th, 2024.

Findings

The results of this bibliometric review paper show that the synthesized teachers’ ICT competency framework offers greater flexibility and enables other HEIs (higher education institutes) to contextualize these standards for developing teachers’ ICT competence based on their specific needs. Moreover, the rigorous bibliometric analysis reveals increasing trends in exploring higher education teachers’ ICT competence, driven by the growing integration of ICT into educational practices. Additionally, the thematic evolution of author keywords illuminates emerging research themes such as ICT competence and distance learning, which provides valuable and novel insights into the current and future directions of the field.

Practical implications

The ICT competency framework for higher education teachers can be beneficial for improving their ICT competence and further promoting students’ achievements and HEIs’ performance. Simultaneously, the findings of our thematic analysis of author keywords suggest that these thematic clusters can be valuable resources for informing institutional policy and providing novel research directions in this field.

Originality/value

This study addresses current research gaps in the field of ICT competency framework for teachers as well as higher education teachers’ ICT competence by utilizing advanced bibliometric analyses such as thematic mapping to systematically review higher education teachers’ ICT competence. Based on the results obtained through thematic analysis of authors’ keywords from July 25th, 2008 to June 7th, 2024, it proposes new research directions, laying the foundation for future investigations, thereby aiding researchers in developing this area further.