bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental bleaching of photosymbiotic amoeba revealed strain-dependent differences in algal symbiosis ability
Authors: Yamagishi Daisuke , Onuma Ryo , Matsunaga Sachihiro , Miyagishima Shin-ya , Maruyama Shinichiro
Published: July 2024

Photosymbioses, the symbiotic relationships between photosynthetic algal symbionts and non-photosynthetic eukaryotic hosts, are sporadically found in a lot of eukaryotic lineages, but only a few taxa, such as cnidarians and ciliates hosting algal endosymbionts, have been actively studied for a long time. That has hindered understanding the universal mechanisms of the photosymbiosis establishment. Especially in Amoebozoa, only two species,Mayorella viridisandParachaos zoochlorella, are reported as photosymbiotic in nature, and their mechanisms of establishing symbiotic relationships are still unclear. To investigate the extent to which and how photosymbiotic amoebae depend on the symbiotic relationships,M. viridiswere treated with reagents that are known to induce the collapsing of photosymbiotic relationships, or bleaching, in other photosymbiotic species. As a result, we succeeded in artificially removing algal symbionts from hostM. viridiscells with an herbicide, 2-amino-3-chloro-1,4-naphthoquinone. The apo-symbiotic state amoeba cells were able to survive and grow to the same extent as the symbiotic state cells when they fed microbial prey, indicating that the algal symbionts are not essential for the host growth under certain conditions. Furthermore, to see whether the photosymbiotic state is reversible, we fed two strains of algal symbionts to the apo-symbiotic amoeba host. The result showed that the apo-symbiotic hosts were able to ingest symbiont cells and re-establish the symbiotic state. The efficiencies of ingesting algal cells were significantly different depending on algal symbiont strains, indicating that different algal strains possess discrete symbiotic abilities toM. viridis. To our knowledge, we provide first insights on the establishment and collapse of photosymbiosis in Amoebozoa, which pave the way to understand the universal mechanism of photosymbiosis utilizingM. viridisas a model system.
Presymptomatic Targeted Circuit Manipulation for Ameliorating Huntington's Disease Pathogenesis
Authors: Ikefuama Ebenezer C , Slaviero Ashley N , Schalau Raegan C , Gott Madison L , Tree Maya O , Dunbar Gary L , Rossignol Julien , Hochgeschwender Ute
Published: July 2024

Early stages of Huntington′s disease (HD) before the onset of motor and cognitive symptoms are characterized by imbalanced excitatory and inhibitory output from the cortex to striatal and subcortical structures. The window before the onset of symptoms presents an opportunity to adjust the firing rate within microcircuits with the goal of restoring the impaired E/I balance, thereby preventing or slowing down disease progression. Here, we investigated the effect of presymptomatic cell-type specific manipulation of activity of pyramidal neurons and parvalbumin interneurons in the M1 motor cortex on disease progression in the R6/2 HD mouse model. Our results show that dampening excitation of Emx1 pyramidal neurons or increasing activity of parvalbumin interneurons once daily for 3 weeks during the pre-symptomatic phase alleviated HD-related motor coordination dysfunction. Cell-type-specific modulation to normalize the net output of the cortex is a potential therapeutic avenue for HD and other neurodegenerative disorders.
Overlapping Cortical Substrate of Biomechanical Control and Subjective Agency
Authors: Veillette John P. , Chao Alfred F. , Nith Romain , Lopes Pedro , Nusbaum Howard C.
Published: July 2024

Every movement requires the nervous system to solve a complex biomechanical control problem, but this process is mostly veiled from one’s conscious awareness. Simultaneously, we also have conscious experience of controlling our movements—our sense of agency (SoA). Whether SoA corresponds to those neural representations that implement actual neuromuscular control is an open question with ethical, medical, and legal implications. If SoA is the conscious experience of control, this predicts that SoA can be decoded from the same brain structures that implement the so-called “inverse dynamics” computations for planning movement. We correlated human (male and female) fMRI measurements during hand movements with the internal representations of a deep neural network (DNN) performing the same hand control task in a biomechanical simulation– revealing detailed cortical encodings of sensorimotor states, idiosyncratic to each subject. We then manipulated SoA by usurping control of participants’ muscles via electrical stimulation, and found that the same voxels which were best explained by modeled inverse dynamics representations— which, strikingly, were located in canonically visual areas—also predicted SoA. Importantly, model-brain correspondences and robust SoA decoding could both be achieved within single subjects, enabling relationships between motor representations and awareness to be studied at the level of the individual.

Significance Statement

The inherent complexity of biomechanical control problems is belied by the seeming simplicity of directing movements in our subjective experience. This aspect of our experience suggests we have limited conscious access to the neural and mental representations involved in controlling the body – but of which of the many possible representations are we, in fact, aware? Understanding which motor control representations percolate into awareness has taken on increasing importance as emerging neural interface technologies push the boundaries of human autonomy. In our study, we leverage machine learning models that have learned to control simulated bodies to localize biomechanical control representations in the brain. Then, we show that these brain regions predict perceived agency over the musculature during functional electrical stimulation.
Sox10 is required for systemic initiation of bone mineralization
Authors: Gjorcheska Stefani , Paudel Sandhya , McLeod Sarah , Snape Louisa , Sosa Karen Camargo , Duan Cunming , Kelsh Robert , Barske Lindsey
Published: July 2024

Heterozygous variants in the gene encoding the SOX10 transcription factor cause congenital syndromes affecting pigmentation, digestion, hearing, and neural function. Most of these symptoms are attributable to failed differentiation and loss of neural crest cells. Extensive research on mouse and zebrafish models has confirmed that Sox10 is essential for most non-skeletal crest derivatives, but seemingly dispensable for skeletal development. We challenge that concept here by revealing a novel requirement for Sox10 in skeletal mineralization. Neither neural crest- nor mesoderm-derived bones initiate mineralization on time in zebrafishsox10mutants, despite normal osteoblast differentiation and matrix production. We show that mutants are deficient in the ionocyte subpopulation tasked with taking up calcium from the environment through the Trpv6 epithelial calcium channel, leading to a severe calcium deficit that explains the lack of mineralization. As these ionocytes do not derive from asox10+ lineage, we hypothesized that the primary defect instead resides in a separate organ that regulates ionocyte numbers or calcium uptake at a systemic level. Screening of the endocrine hormones known to regulate calcium homeostasis in adult vertebrates revealed significantly elevated levels of stanniocalcin (Stc1a), an anti-hypercalcemic hormone, in larvalsox10mutants. Previous studies demonstrated that Stc1a inhibits calcium uptake in fish by repressingtrpv6expression and blocking proliferation of Trpv6+ ionocytes. Our epistasis assays indicate that excess Stc1a is the proximate cause of the calcium deficit insox10mutants. Lineage tracing shows that the pronephros-derived glands that synthesize Stc1a interact withsox10+ neural crest-derived cells, and that the latter are missing in mutants. We conclude that a subpopulation of Sox10+ neural crest non-cell-autonomously limit Stc1a production to allow the inaugural wave of calcium uptake necessary for the initiation of bone mineralization.
Going around the bend to understand the role of leg coalescence in metachronal swimming
Authors: Tack Nils B. , Santos Sara O. , Wilhelmus Monica M.
Published: July 2024

Many of the most abundant aquatic invertebrates display metachronal swimming by sequentially beating closely spaced flexible appendages. Common biophysical mechanisms like appendage spatial asymmetry and phase drive the success and performance of this locomotor mode, which is generally explained by the need to maximize thrust production. However, the potential role of these mechanisms in drag reduction, another important contributor to the overall swimming performance, has yet to be evaluated. We present a comprehensive overview of the morphological, functional, and physical mechanisms promoting drag reduction during metachronal swimming by exploring appendage differential bending and leg grouping (coalescence). We performed μ-CT andin-vivovelocimetry measurements of shrimp (Palaemonetes vulgaris) to design a five-legged robotic metachronal analog. This test platform enabled simultaneous flow and force measurements to quantify the thrust and drag forces produced by flexible and stiff pleopods (legs) beating independently or coalescing. We tested the hypothesis that coalescence and bending effectively reduce drag during the recovery stroke (RS). The curved cross-section of the pleopods enables passive asymmetrical bending during the RS to reduce their coefficient of drag by up to 75.8% relative to stiff pleopods. Bending promotes physical interactions facilitating the coalescence of three pleopods at any time during the RS to reduce drag such that the mean net thrust produced during coalescence is increased by 30.2%. These improvements are explained by the production of a weaker wake compared with stiff and non-coalescing pleopods. Our results describe fundamental biological and physical components of metachronal propulsion that may aid the development of novel bio-inspired underwater vehicles.

Summary statement

Shrimp swimming legs bend nearly horizontally and cluster together during metachronal propulsion to reduce drag and improve the overall swimming performance.
Scalable assessment of genome editing off-targets associated with genetic variants
Authors: Lin Jiecong , Nguyen My Anh , Lin Linda Y. , Zeng Jing , Verma Archana , Neri Nola R. , da Silva Lucas Ferreira , Mucci Adele , Wolfe Scot , Shaw Kit L , Clement Kendell , Brendel Christian , Pinello Luca , Pellin Danilo , Bauer Daniel E.
Published: July 2024

Genome editing with RNA-guided DNA binding factors carries risk of off-target editing at homologous sequences. Genetic variants may introduce sequence changes that increase homology to a genome editing target, thereby increasing risk of off-target editing. Conventional methods to verify candidate off-targets rely on access to cells with genomic DNA carrying these sequences. However, for candidate off-targets associated with genetic variants, appropriate cells for experimental verification may not be available. Here we develop a method, Assessment By Stand-in Off-target LentiViral Ensemble with sequencing (ABSOLVE-seq), to integrate a set of candidate off-target sequences along with unique molecular identifiers (UMIs) in genomes of primary cells followed by clinically relevant gene editor delivery. Gene editing of dozens of candidate off-target sequences may be evaluated in a single experiment with high sensitivity, precision, and power. We provide an open-source pipeline to analyze sequencing data. This approach enables experimental assessment of the influence of human genetic diversity on specificity evaluation during gene editing therapy development.
Mitfover-expression leads to microphthalmia and coloboma inMitf-cremice
Authors: Longakit Anne Nathalie , Bourget Hannah , Van Raamsdonk Catherine D.
Published: July 2024

The Microphthalmia associated transcription factor (Mitf) is a critical regulator of the melanocyte lineage and also plays an important role in eye development. Mitf activity in different cell types is controlled in part by ten alternative promoters and their resulting isoforms. A useful tool for melanocyte-based research, theMitf-cretransgene was designed to express Cre recombinase from the Mitf-M promoter, which is melanocyte specific. However,Mitf-cremice are also microphthalmic, perhaps because of insertional mutagenesis or disrupted gene expression. Here, we investigated these possibilities. We determined that the eye phenotype arises early, withMitf-creembryos at E13.5 exhibiting variable ocular sizes and abnormalities, but all with coloboma. Targeted locus amplification and next generation sequencing indicated that multiple copies of the transgene integrated into an intergenic region on chromosome 2, in betweenSpred1andMeis2. The BAC transgene used to makeMitf-crewas larger than expected, carrying three upstream alternative promoters, Mitf-H, Mitf-D, and Mitf-B, which could express their isoforms intact off the transgene. RT-qPCR using eye tissue demonstrated a 5-fold increase inMitftranscripts containing exon 1B1b, which is shared by Mitf-H, Mitf-D, and Mitf-B, whileSpred1andMeis2did not differ in their expression. These findings clarify and support the usage ofMitf-crein conditional mutagenesis in melanocytes. The specific over-expression of the Mitf-H and Mitf-D isoforms, which are preferentially expressed in the RPE, presents a unique resource for those interested in eye development and coloboma.
Peripheral blood DNA methylation signatures predict response to vedolizumab and ustekinumab in adult patients with Crohn’s disease: The EPIC-CD study
Authors: Joustra Vincent W. , Li Yim Andrew Y.F. , Henneman Peter , Hageman Ishtu , de Waard Tristan , Levin Evgeni , Noble Alexandra J. , Chapman Thomas P. , Mol Femke , van Zon Sarah , Lee Donghyeok , McGregor Colleen G.C. , Adams Alex T. , Satsangi Jack J. , de Jonge Wouter J. , D’Haens Geert R. ,   EPIC-CD Consortium
Published: July 2024

Biological therapeutics are now widely used in Crohn’s disease (CD), with evidence of efficacy from randomized trials and real-world experience. Primary non-response is a common, poorly understood problem. We assessed blood methylation as a predictor of response to vedolizumab (VDZ, anti-a4b7 integrin) or ustekinumab (USTE, anti-IL-12/23p40). We report a two-center, prospective cohort study in which we profiled the peripheral blood DNA methylome of 184 adult male and female CD patients prior to and during treatment with VDZ or USTE in a discovery (n=126) and an external validation cohort (n=58). We defined epigenetic biomarkers that were stable over time and associated with combined clinical and endoscopic response to VDZ or USTE with an area under curve (AUC) of 0.87 and 0.89, respectively. We validated these models in an external cohort yielding an AUC of 0.75 for both VDZ and USTE. These data will now be prospectively tested in a multicenter randomized clinical trial.

Graphical abstract
Adherence to the 2016 PAHO Clinical Practice Guideline on Dengue in a Hospital in Northern Peru, 2022-2023
Authors: León Jiménez Franco E. , Mendoza-Farro Nataly BF. , Montoya Reategui Adriana , Inga-Chero Joel Emmanuel , Dioses Diaz Karim , Barranzuela-Herrera Moisés , Cavalcanti Ramírez Sophia , Moyano Luz M. ,   de Neuroepidemiology and Science of life working group
Published: July 2024

Background

Effective dengue management enhances the chances of survival. The level of adherence to the suggestions in northern Peru is uncertain. The primary aim of the study was to assess adherence to the 2016 PAHO guideline on dengue in a hospital located in northern Peru during the period from 2022 to 2023.

Methodology/principal findings

The study performed a cross-sectional design and exploratory analysis, reviewing 141 medical records. Fifty-four percent were from 2023; 65.9% were from women; 46.1% came from another healthcare center; 76.6% had diagnosis of dengue with warning signs; 20.7% had severe dengue; and 18.44% died. We found at least one error in the classification of severity and/or treatment in non-hospital healthcare facilities (91.5%), triage (88.5%), and uviclin/observation (52.6%). Errors in classification and inadequate hydration in the non-hospital healthcare centers, triage, and uviclin/observation were: 35.8%/53.7%, 30.6%/76.6%, and 10.1%/45.6%, respectively. Persistent errors were inadequate hydration in triage (76.86%) and urinary flow in the center (73.13%). In a bivariate analysis, mortality was associated with older age (p = 0.035), having a case from 2023 (p = 0.0073), having a case from the study hospital (p = 0.083), and having severe dengue (p<0.001). In the multivariate analysis, only severe dengue (OR 318.4, 95% IC [33.8-2996], p<0.001) was associated with mortality.

Conclusions/significance

We found a high frequency of misclassification and management errors in these three scenarios, but they were not associated with higher mortality.

Author summary

According to the PAHO 2016 Dengue Guidelines, this descriptive study found deficiencies in the diagnosis of severity and treatment in a public hospital of the Ministry of Health of Peru, located in the region with the highest dengue incidence rate in 2023. We identified these deficiencies in the pre-hospital phase, as well as in the emergency, observation, and dengue management units, which had a high mortality rate of 18%. While it is true that management errors were not associated with higher mortality in the exploratory analysis, study biases may explain this result. We must take these findings into account when investigating the effectiveness of the health worker training that took place between 2023 and 2024, employing a master-class methodology and awaiting a before and after analysis to gauge its impact on knowledge. The need for improvements in health data management highlights the need to digitize information and electronic health records.
Time-trends in life expectancy of people with severe mental illness in Scotland, 2000-2019: a population-based study
Authors: Fleetwood Kelly , Alotaibi Raied , Scheuer Stine H , Smith Daniel J , Wild Sarah H , Jackson Caroline A
Published: July 2024

Objective

To determine time-trends in life expectancy (LE) of people with a severe mental illness (SMI) compared with the general population.

Design

Observational population-based study.

Setting

Scotland, 2000-2019. Linked psychiatric hospital admission and death records.

Participants

Adults with a psychiatric hospital admission record for schizophrenia (28,797), bipolar disorder (16,657) or major depression (72,504) compared with the Scottish population (4.3 million adults in 2011).

Main outcome measures

Trends over time in life years lost for people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression compared with the Scottish population, for all deaths, and natural and unnatural deaths, stratified by sex.

Results

Among people with SMI, one third died during the study period. Between 2000 and 2019, LE increased in the general Scottish population and the LE gap widened for people with schizophrenia. For 2000-2002, men and women with schizophrenia lost an excess 9.4 (95% CI 8.5 to 10.3) and 8.2 (7.4 to 9.0) life years, respectively, compared to the general population. In 2017-2019, this excess life years lost increased to 11.8 (10.9 to 12.7) and 11.1 (10.0 to 12.1) for men and women, respectively. There was no evidence of a change over time in the LE gap of 5 to 8 years for people with bipolar disorder or major depression. Changes in LE for natural and unnatural causes of death varied by individual SMI and sex.

Conclusions

The LE gap in people with an SMI persisted or widened in Scotland from 2000-2019. These entrenched disparities reflect intersecting inequalities requiring coordinated solutions at multiple levels to improve LE in this and other marginalised and socially excluded groups.

SUMMARY BOX

What is already known on this topic

People with a severe mental illness (SMI) such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression have a lower life expectancy (LE) than people without these conditions

This gap is largely due to natural causes, particularly cardiovascular disease

LE has increased for the general population but it is unclear whether the gaps in life expectancy for people with SMI have changed over time within the UK

What this study adds

The LE gap widened in people with schizophrenia and persisted for those with bipolar disorder and major depression in Scotland between 2000 and 2019

These findings reflect entrenched disparities in the LE of people with SMI

Multi-level and synergistic solutions are needed to address these disparities
TRAMP assembly alters the conformation and RNA binding of Mtr4 and Trf4-Air2
Authors: Denson Joshua M. , Zhang Naifu , Ball Darby , Thompson Kayla , Johnson Sean J. , D’Arcy Sheena
Published: July 2024

The TRAMP complex contains two enzymatic activities essential for RNA processing upstream of the nuclear exosome. Within TRAMP, RNA is 3’ polyadenylated by a sub-complex of Trf4/5 and Air1/2 and unwound 3’ to 5’ by Mtr4, a DExH helicase. The molecular mechanisms of TRAMP assembly and RNA shuffling between the two TRAMP catalytic sites are poorly understood. Here, we report solution hydrogen-deuterium exchange data with thermodynamic and functional assays to uncover these mechanisms for yeast TRAMP with Trf4 and Air2 homologs. We show that TRAMP assembly constrains RNA-recognition motifs that are peripheral to catalytic sites. These include the Mtr4 Arch and Air2 zinc knuckles 1, 2, and 3. While the Air2 Arch-interacting motif likely constrains the Mtr4 Arch via transient interactions, these do not fully account for the importance of the Mtr4 Arch in TRAMP assembly. We further show that tRNA binding by single active-site subunits, Mtr4 and Trf4-Air2, differs from the double active-site TRAMP. TRAMP has reduced tRNA binding on the Mtr4 Fist and RecA2 domains, offset by increased tRNA binding on Air2 zinc knuckles 2 and 3. Competition between these RNA-binding sites may drive tRNA transfer between TRAMP subunits. We identify dynamic changes upon TRAMP assembly and RNA-recognition motifs that transfer RNA between TRAMP catalytic sites.
Diet breadth in two polyphagousSpodopteramoths in a wide range of host and non-host plants and the potential for range expansion
Authors: Roy Amit , Wäschke Nicole , Chattington Sophie , Modlinger Roman , Chakraborty Amrita , Chirere Thabani E.S. , Larsson Mattias C , Heckel David G , Anderson Peter , Schlyter Fredrik
Published: July 2024

Several polyphagous moths are severe crop pests. Diet breadth patterns and mechanisms among polyphagous insects provide an excellent system to study ecological and evolutionary processes in herbivores, driving dietary specialization. However, studies of diet breadth on more than a handful of crops are scarce.

Here, we estimated the diet breadth in two species of lepidopteran herbivores from the genusSpodoptera:S. littoralis(SL), with host range including both mono- and dicotyledonous plants andS. frugiperda(SF) Corn strain, primarily adapted to different grass species.

Larval performance on 23 crop and wild plant species from 17 families from terrestrial and wetland habitats was compared to an artificial diet in no-choice feeding bioassays. SL survived and performed better on most tested plants, particularly on the family level, except on two monocot plants (maize and leek), where SF performed well. There were five wild non-host plants where both generalists failed to survive. Nutrition indices assay corroborates the findings on a subset of plants.

In a subset of plants, larval feeding preference correlated partly, and larval attraction correlated well with larval performance. Female oviposition choice showed a weak correlation with larval performance. This weak correlation implies that these traits are decoupled, and other factors are crucial for female host plant selection.

During larval dispersal greenhouse experiments, SL and SF larvae strongly tended to migrate onto their suitable host plants, indicating that this is one factor that modulates female host plant selection.

In summary, SL has a broader diet breath compared to SF, surviving on wild plants with no previous exposure. The present study provides the first comprehensive data on the diet breadth of two range-expanding and highly invasive polyphagous herbivores.
2’-O-Methyl-guanosine 3-base RNA fragments mediate essential natural TLR7/8 antagonism
Authors: Alharbi Arwaf S. , Sapkota Sunil , Zhang Zhikuan , Jin Ruitao , Jayasekara W. Samantha N. , Rupasinghe Erandi , Speir Mary , Wilkinson-White Lorna , Gamsjaeger Roland , Cubeddu Liza , Ellyard Julia I. , Wenholz Daniel S. , McAllan Alexandra L. , Rezwan Refaya , Ying Le , Far Hani Hosseini , Bones Josiah , He Sitong , Yu Dingyi , Lennox Kim A. , Hertzog Paul J. , Vinuesa Carola G. , Behlke Mark A. , Ohto Umeharu , Laczka Olivier F. , Corry Ben , Shimizu Toshiyuki , Gantier Michael P.
Published: July 2024

Recognition of RNA fragments by Toll-like receptors (TLR) 7 and 8 is a key contributor to the initiation of a protective innate immune response against pathogens. A long-standing enigma is how degradation products of host RNAs, generated by the daily phagocytic clearance of billions of apoptotic cells, fail to activate TLR7 and TLR8 signalling1. Here, we report that select 2’-O-methyl (2’-Ome) guanosine RNA fragments as short as 3 bases, including those derived from host-RNAs, are potent TLR7 and TLR8 antagonists that reduce TLR7 sensingin vivo. Mechanistically, antagonistic fragments are directed towards a distinct binding site on these proteins by 5’-end 2’-Ome guanosine. Our results indicate that host-RNAs evade detection by TLR7/8 due to a pool of abundant host ribosomal 2’-Ome-modified RNA fragments that naturally antagonize TLR7 and TLR8 sensing to avoid auto-immunity. Crucially, rare TLR7 and TLR8 mutations located at this antagonistic site decrease the inhibitory activity of 2’-Ome guanosine RNA fragments and lead to auto-immunity in patients. Our findings also establish that select chemically synthesised 3-base oligonucleotides can harness the protective anti-inflammatory activity of this natural immune checkpoint for therapeutic targeting of TLR7-driven diseases.

One Sentence Summary

Short 2’-O-Methyl RNA fragments are natural TLR7/8 antagonists
Robust proteome profiling of cysteine-reactive fragments using label-free chemoproteomics
Authors: Biggs George S. , Cawood Emma E. , Vuorinen Aini , McCarthy William J. , Wilders Harry , Riziotis Ioannis G. , van der Zouwen Antonie J. , Pettinger Jonathan , Nightingale Luke , Chen Peiling , Powell Andrew J. , House David , Boulton Simon J. , Skehel J. Mark , Rittinger Katrin , Bush Jacob T.
Published: July 2024

Identifying pharmacological probes for human proteins represents a key opportunity to accelerate the discovery of new therapeutics. High-content screening approaches to expand the ligandable proteome offer the potential to expedite the discovery of novel chemical probes to study protein function. Screening libraries of reactive fragments by chemoproteomics offers a compelling approach to ligand discovery, however, optimising sample throughput, proteomic depth, and data reproducibility remains a key challenge.

We report a versatile, label-free quantification proteomics platform for competitive profiling of cysteine-reactive fragments against the native proteome. This high-throughput platform combines SP4 plate-based sample preparation with rapid chromatographic gradients. Data-independent acquisition performed on a Bruker timsTOF Pro 2 consistently identified ∼23,000 cysteine sites per run, with a total of ∼32,000 cysteine sites profiled in HEK293T and Jurkat lysate. Crucially, this depth in cysteinome coverage is met with high data completeness, enabling robust identification of liganded proteins.

In this study, 80 reactive fragments were screened in two cell lines identifying >400 ligand-protein interactions. Hits were validated through concentration-response experiments and the platform was utilised for hit expansion and live cell experiments. This label-free platform represents a significant step forward in high-throughput proteomics to evaluate ligandability of cysteines across the human proteome.
Exclusion bounds for neutral gauge bosons
Authors: Péli Zoltán , Trócsányi Zoltán
Published: July 2024

We study how the recent experimental results constrain the gauge sectors of U(1) extensions of the standard model using a novel representation of the parameter space. We determine the bounds on the mixing angle between the massive gauge bosons or, equivalently, the new gauge coupling as a function of the mass MZ′ of the new neutral gauge boson Z′ in the approximate range (10−2,104)  GeV/c2. We consider the most stringent bounds obtained from direct searches for the Z′. We also exhibit the allowed parameter space by comparing the predicted and measured values of the ρ parameter and those of the mass of the W boson. Finally, we discuss the prospects of Z′ searches at future colliders.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Qualitative explanation of the data on the decays
D0→a0(980)±π∓
and
D+→a0(980)+(0)π0(+)
in the four-quark model of the
a0(980)
resonance
Authors: Achasov N. N. , Shestakov G. N.
Published: July 2024

It is shown that the values of the ratios B(D0→a0(980)+π−)/B(D0→a0(980)−π+) and B(D+→a0(980)+π0)/B(D+→a0(980)0π+), recently measured by the BESIII Collaboration, are naturally explained in the four-quark model of the a0(980) resonance.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Out-of-time-order correlators of a Skyrmion as a baryon in holographic QCD
Authors: Li Si-wen , Zhang Yi-peng , Li Hao-qian
Published: July 2024

As the out-of-time-order correlator (OTOC) is a measure of quantum chaos and an important observable in the context of AdS/CFT, we investigate the OTOC of a holographic Skyrmion which is described by an analytical quantum mechanical system from the D4/D8 model (as the holographic QCD). By employing the OTOC defined in quantum mechanics, we derive the formulas and demonstrate the numerical calculations of the OTOC explicitly which is also available for the general case with a central force field. Our numerical evaluation illustrates the behaviors of the OTOC with large Nc; however, the expected exponential growth of OTOC is not obtained. Besides, we also take a look at the classical limit of the OTOC and analyze the associated behaviors. At the end of this work, we additionally study the OTOC with three-dimensional Coulomb potential, as another example for the central force field, to support our analyses of the general properties of quantum OTOC.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Enhancing quantum utility: Simulating large-scale quantum spin chains on superconducting quantum computers
Authors: Chowdhury Talal Ahmed , Yu Kwangmin , Shamim Mahmud Ashraf , Kabir M. L. , Sufian Raza Sabbir
Published: July 2024

We present the quantum simulation of the frustrated quantum spin-12 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg spin chain with competing nearest-neighbor (J1) and next-nearest-neighbor (J2) exchange interactions in the real superconducting quantum computer with qubits ranging up to 100. In particular, we implement the Hamiltonian with the next-nearest neighbor exchange interaction in conjunction with the nearest-neighbor interaction on IBM's superconducting quantum computer and carry out the time evolution of the spin chain by employing the first-order Trotterization. Furthermore, our implementation of the second-order Trotterization for the isotropic Heisenberg spin chain, involving only nearest-neighbor exchange interaction, enables precise measurement of the expectation values of staggered magnetization observable across a range of up to 100 qubits. Notably, in both cases, our approach results in a constant circuit depth in each Trotter step, independent of the number of qubits. Our demonstration of the accurate measurement of expectation values for the large-scale quantum system using superconducting quantum computers designates the quantum utility of these devices for investigating various properties of many-body quantum systems. This will be a stepping stone to achieving the quantum advantage over classical ones in simulating quantum systems before the fault tolerance quantum era.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Diffraction of polar molecules at nanomasks with low charge density
Authors: Simonović Ksenija , Ferstl Richard , Barlow Anders , Shayeghi Armin , Brand Christian , Arndt Markus
Published: July 2024

The wave nature of matter is a cornerstone of modern physics and has been demonstrated for a wide range of fundamental and composite particles. While diffraction at nanomechanical masks is usually regarded to be independent of internal atomic or molecular states, the particles' polarizabilities and dipole moments lead to dispersive interactions with the grating surface. In prior experiments, such forces largely prevented coherent diffraction of polar molecules as they induce dephasing of the matter wave in the presence of randomly distributed charges inside the grating. Here, we show that surface milling using neon ions facilitates the fabrication of lowly charged nanomasks in gold-capped silicon nitride membranes. This allows us to observe diffraction of polar molecules with over four times larger electric dipole moment than in previous experiments, opening a path towards distinction of structural conformers in matter-wave experiments.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Acoustic-based diagnostics for UAV propeller damage using HNR and Gaussian Naive Bayes
Authors: Cinoğlu Bahadır
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine propeller damage based on acoustic recordings taken from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) propellers operated at different thrust conditions on a test bench. Propeller damage is especially critical for fixed-wing UAVs to sustain a safe flight. The acoustic characteristics of the propeller vary with different propeller damages.

Design/methodology/approach

For the research, feature extraction methods and machine learning techniques were used during damage detection from propeller acoustic data. First of all, sound recordings were obtained by operating five different damaged propellers and undamaged propellers under three different thrusts. Afterwards, the harmonic-to-noise ratio (HNR) feature extraction technique was applied to these audio recordings. Finally, model training and validation were performed by applying the Gaussian Naive Bayes machine learning technique to create a diagnostic approach.

Findings

A high recall value of 96.19% was obtained in the performance results of the model trained according to damaged and undamaged propeller acoustic data. The precision value was 73.92% as moderate. The overall accuracy value of the model, which can be considered as general performance, was obtained as 81.24%. The F1 score has been found as 83.76% which provides a balanced measure of the model’s precision and recall values.

Practical implications

This study include provides solid method to diagnose UAV propeller damage using acoustic data obtain from the microphone and allows identification of differently damaged propellers. Using that, the risk of in-flight failures can be reduced and maintenance costs can be lowered with addressing the occurred problems with UAV propeller before they worsen.

Originality/value

This study introduces a novel method to diagnose damaged UAV propellers using the HNR feature extraction technique and Gaussian Naive Bayes classification method. The study is a pioneer in the use of HNR and the Gaussian Naive Bayes and demonstrates its effectiveness in augmenting UAV safety by means of propeller damages. Furthermore, this approach contributes to UAV operational reliability by bridging the acoustic signal processing and machine learning.
Research on the impact of hard technology innovation on the high-quality development of SRDI enterprises: based on the moderating role of digital transformation
Authors: Wei Yanhui , Meng Zhiling , Liu Na , Mao Jianqi
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the relationship linking hard technology innovation with the high-quality development (HDP) of SRDI firms. SRDI firms are typically classified as medium-sized to moderately scaled businesses renowned for their specialized, refinement, differentiation and innovation (SRDI), with a focus on providing exceptional products or services to gain a competitive advantage in specific market segments. These firms are dedicated to expanding market share and enhancing innovation capacities both locally and globally. The research also aims to scrutinize the contextual effects of digital transformation within this framework.

Design/methodology/approach

Hard technology innovation consists of three essential components: innovative characteristics, newly developed technology-based intellectual property rights and the volume of R&D initiatives. The evaluation of HDP was performed utilizing the entropy method, with a specific emphasis on assessing value creation and value management capabilities. Subsequently, this study explores the impact of technological innovation on the HDP of firms using a dual-dimension fixed effects model.

Findings

Every aspect of hard technology innovation is essential for promoting the HDP of businesses. The digital transformation of businesses exerts a heterogeneous moderating influence in this process. This is evident in the constructive impact on the connection between innovation attributes and the volume of fruitful R&D initiatives, as well as the HDP of firms. Conversely, the moderating effect is deemed insignificant in the association between new technology-based intellectual property and HDP.

Originality/value

This research delves deeper into the underlying mechanisms that underlie the promotion of HDP through hard technology innovation, thereby expanding the scope of our exploration on the HDP of SRDI firms. It establishes a theoretical framework and practical directives for achieving enhanced development quality amidst the evolving landscape of digital transformation within firms.
Financial anxiety: a systematic review
Authors: Ahamed AFM Jalal , Limbu Yam B.
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Financial anxiety has become a global concern and a growing research area with significant potential to contribute to the behavioral and personal finance literature. Despite this, the literature is fragmented and inconsistent. Prior studies vary greatly in the breadth of definitions and measures of financial anxiety. There has been no systematic evaluation of literature on financial anxiety antecedents, consequences, and coping strategies. This systematic review fills this gap.

Design/methodology/approach

We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We searched Scopus and Web of Science and identified 55 eligible studies published between 2009 and 2024.

Findings

Financial anxiety is defined and measured differently in different research domains. We identified several antecedents, including socio-demographic factors (e.g. gender, age, ethnicity, income, employment, racial background, and language proficiency), personality traits, compulsive and impulsive buying behavior, depression or other mental issues, family health issues, and the COVID-19 pandemic and consequences of financial anxiety, including psychological and psychic health, societal and personal relations, financial behavior and well-being, and job-related outcomes. In addition, the literature presents six financial anxiety coping strategies (self-imposed coping mechanisms, spiritual and theological resources, increased financial capability, social and family support, seeking professional help, and language proficiency training). Several future research directions are presented.

Originality/value

This review represents the first systematic compilation and evaluation of the research findings on financial anxiety.
Concept analysis of patient journey disruptions: the obstacle of integrated care
Authors: Vesinurm Märt , Sylgren Inka , Bengts Annika , Torkki Paulus , Lillrank Paul
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This article aims to clarify the concepts used to understand, analyze and improve a patient’s progress through a health service system. A patient pathway describes plans and intentions. Within it, we distinguish between the clinical pathway of decisions and interventions and the care pathway of supportive activities. As a patient pathway is implemented, it turns into a patient journey of what is done, what happens to a patient’s medical condition and what is experienced and felt. We introduce “patient journey disruption” (PJD) as a concept describing the events that need to be prevented from happening to accomplish integrated, coordinated and seamless care.

Design/methodology/approach

The method used in this paper is concept analysis. First, an expert steering group worked to refine the concept of PJDs; second, an analysis of similar concepts from related fields was done to root the concept into existing theories, and third, semi-structured interviews with professionals and patients were done to test the concept of PJDs in the home care context.

Findings

PJDs are agency-based harmful events in the execution of the care pathway that deviate the patient journey from what can be reasonably expected. PJDs are management failures, which is why they should be studied by healthcare operations management (HOM) and service science scholars with the intention to find ways to prevent them from happening.

Research limitations/implications

This study has limitations, including presenting conceptual ideas and preliminary results that are only indicative.

Practical implications

We believe that the introduction of the concept of PJDs into the literature provides a new, systematic way of approaching the different shortcomings in our healthcare production systems. Moreover, by systematically identifying different PJDs, interventions can be designed and targeted more appropriately.

Originality/value

Managerial challenges regarding healthcare processes have been studied but have not been well defined. The concept of PJDs is an original, well-thought-out definition.
Nexus among cloud-based accounting, employee job performance, employee digital skills and operational performance: a mediating–moderating model
Authors: Vo Dao Truc Thi , Abu Afifa Malik , Bui Duong Van , Van Hien Vo , Nguyen Nha
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the nexus among cloud-based accounting (CBA), employee job performance (EJP) and operational performance (OPP) in the circumstances of Vietnam, an emerging nation. In which the authors examine EJP as a mediator variable inside the research model. Furthermore, the employee digital skills (EDS) factor is examined as a moderating variable for the CBA-EJP nexus and the CBA-OPP nexus, respectively.

Design/methodology/approach

The study’s sample was acquired through extensive screening methods. This study used email surveys to acquire data. The survey was sent to 1,200 chief financial officers of Vietnamese firms. For analysis, the ending pattern of 401 e-surveys was used.

Findings

By using partial least squares structural equation modeling, the results imply that the CBA has a favorable effect on EJP and OPP. Furthermore, EJP favorably mediates the linkage between CBA and OPP, whereas EDS play a significant moderator role in the CBA-EJP nexus and CBA-OPP nexus, respectively.

Practical implications

This study highlights the crucial role of human factors (i.e. EDS and EJP) for the internal modern applying behaviors (i.e. CBA) and firm value (i.e. OPP) of firms in emerging markets. Therefore, managers should scrutinize the performance of human factors in an essential interval to improve modern applied behaviors and make them more powerful, thus improving the OPP of their firms. Substantially, firm managers should focus on employing the EDS, which enhances the CBA-EJP nexus and the CBA-OPP nexus, respectively.

Originality/value

This study enlarges the OPP documentation by detailing the beneficial effects of human factors as well as the CBA. Furthermore, the study recognizes the effectiveness of EDS as a moderator variable in the context of developing economies. Finally, this work has been regarded as earlier empirical research that integrates all of the aforementioned components into a single model in emerging economies, particularly Vietnam.
Mental health research in tourism and hospitality: a horizon 2050 paper
Authors: Hu Fangli , Wen Jun , Kozak Metin
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to cover mental health research related to tourism and hospitality, starting in 1984, and track its development until 2020. Relevant research published between 2020 and 2023 during the COVID-19 pandemic is also reviewed to determine how this research stream is evolving.

Design/methodology/approach

A detailed search of Scopus and Google Scholar yielded 4,790 mental health studies in tourism and hospitality; 102 were ultimately retained for systematic review. VOSviewer was used to visualize cluster analysis results.

Findings

Research on mental health in the context of tourism and hospitality is limited and can be classified into four themes. The most prominent involves mental health in relation to COVID-19. Thematic differences between studies published before and after the onset of the pandemic are also specified. The findings inform a critical reflection on the conceptual framework linking tourism and mental health, as well as potential research avenues, covering research populations, topics, methods, data sources and outcome measures.

Practical implications

This in-depth analysis of the extant literature provides a foundation for stakeholders to better understand, address and promote mental health in tourism and hospitality. Such insights can steer future research and enlighten industry practitioners, thus contributing to sustainable industry development.

Originality/value

This paper represents a pioneering effort to systematically review mental health studies in tourism and hospitality. It offers a holistic perspective and unique insights, bridging substantial knowledge gaps. This paper is also meant to prompt academics and practitioners to contemplate mental health-related research and practice.