bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Local Disordered Region Sampling (LDRS) for Ensemble Modeling of Proteins with Experimentally Undetermined or Low Confidence Prediction Segments
Authors: Liu Zi Hao , Teixeira João M.C. , Zhang Oufan , Tsangaris Thomas E. , Li Jie , Gradinaru Claudiu C. , Head-Gordon Teresa , Forman-Kay Julie D.
Published: July 2023

STRUCTURED ABSTRACT

The Local Disordered Region Sampling (LDRS, pronouncedloaders) tool, developed for the IDPConformerGenerator platform (Teixeiraet al. 2022), provides a method for generating all-atom conformations of intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) at N- and C-termini of and in loops or linkers between folded regions of an existing protein structure. These disordered elements often lead to missing coordinates in experimental structures or low confidence in predicted structures. Requiring only a pre-existing PDB structure of the protein with missing coordinates or with predicted confidence scores and its full-length primary sequence, LDRS will automatically generate physically meaningful conformational ensembles of the missing flexible regions to complete the full-length protein. The capabilities of the LDRS tool of IDPConformerGenerator include modeling phosphorylation sites using enhanced Monte Carlo Side Chain Entropy (MC-SCE) (Bhowmick and Head-Gordon 2015), transmembrane proteins within an all-atom bilayer, and multi-chain complexes. The modeling capacity of LDRS capitalizes on the modularity, ability to be used as a library and via command-line, and computational speed of the IDPConformerGenerator platform.

AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION

The LDRS module is part of the IDPConformerGenerator modeling suite, which can be downloaded from GitHub athttps://github.com/julie-forman-kay-lab/IDPConformerGenerator. IDPConformerGenerator is written in Python and works on Linux, Microsoft Windows, and Mac OS versions that support DSSP. Users can utilize LDRS’s Python API for scripting the same way they can use any part of IDPConformerGenerator’s API, by importing functions from the ‘idpconfgen.ldrs_helper’ library. Otherwise, LDRS can be used as a command line interface application within IDPConformerGenerator. Full documentation is available within the command-line interface (CLI) as well as on IDPConformerGenerator’s official documentation pages (https://idpconformergenerator.readthedocs.io/en/latest/).

CONTACT

For support with LDRS please contact Zi Hao (Nemo) Liu vianemo.liu@sickkids.caor submit an issue in the IDPConformerGenerator repository on GitHub (https://github.com/julie-forman-kay-lab/IDPConformerGenerator/issues).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The supplementary information document contains, or links to, all the conformer ensembles generated for this publication, the generalized Python scripts using the LDRS Python API, figures of detailed methods, fractional secondary structure information, torsion angle sampling, and the time required to generate the different protein cases.
Chemoproteomics reveals the epoxidase enzyme for the biosynthesis of camptothecin precursor strictosamide epoxide
Authors: Zhang Tong , Wang Yan , Wu Shiwen , Tian Ernuo , Yang Chengshuai , Zhou Zhihua , Yan Xing , Wang Pingping
Published: July 2023

Camptothecin and its derivatives are the third largest anticancer drugs in the world market, mainly used to treat malignant tumors such as lung, colon and cervical cancer. Camptothecin was firstly discovered inCamptotheca acuminateand extracted mainly fromC. acuminateandNothapodytes nimmonianafor medicine production (Sadre et al. 2016). However, the overharvesting ofC. acuminateandN. nimmonianahas greatly reduced their populations in nature, which are currently listed as the second protected plants in China and India. It is estimated there would be 20 million new cancer cases in 2025 all over the world, meeting the growing demand for camptothecin and other anti-cancer drugs has become a daunting challenge (Seca et al. 2018). In this study we tried to elucidate the unknown biosynthetic pathway from strictosamide1to strictosamide epoxide2by unearthing the candidate enzymes from the proteome of plantOphiorrhiza pumilausing the chemoproteomic strategy.
Co-opted cytosolic host proteins form unique condensate substructures within the membranous tombusviral replication organelles
Authors: Lin Wenwu , Nagy Peter D.
Published: July 2023

Positive-strand RNA viruses co-opt intracellular organellar membranes for the biogenesis of viral replication organelles (VROs). The membranous VROs are the sites of viral replication. Tombusviruses co-opt numerous host proteins, many of them cytosolic, not membrane-bound, such as the glycolytic and fermentation enzymes. It is currently not known what type of molecular organization keeps these enzymes enriched and sequestered within the membranous VROs. Here, we show evidence that the tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) p33 and the closely-related carnation Italian ringspot virus (CIRV) p36 replication proteins sequester several co-opted cytosolic proteins in unique condensate substructures associated with the membranous VROs. We find that TBSV p33 and CIRV p36 replication proteins form dropletsin vitroorganized by their intrinsically disordered region (IDR). The replication proteins also organize the partitioning of several co-opted host proteins to p33/p36 droplets. We also show that the VRO-associated condensates containing co-opted glycolytic and fermentation enzymes are critical for local ATP production within the VRO to support the energy need of virus replication. A short segment with charged amino acids in p33/p36 IDR plays a critical role in droplet formationin vitro, in organizing the VRO-associated condensates and affects both ATP production in VROs and viral replication. We find that the co-opted ER membranes and actin filaments form meshworks within and around the condensate, likely contributing to the unique composition and structure of VROs. We propose that the p33/p36 replication proteins organize liquid-liquid phase separation of co-opted highly concentrated host proteins in condensate substructures within VROs to allow for the dynamic regulation of viral replication. Overall, we demonstrate that distinct substructures co-exist in tombusvirus VROs. These are the subverted membranes and condensate substructures, both of which are critical for VRO functions. The p33/p36 replication proteins induce and connect the two substructures within the VROs. Interfering with condensate formation in VROs might open up new antiviral approaches.
Applicability of lean maintenance in commercial high-rise buildings: a case study in Sri Lanka
Authors: Arsakulasooriya Kavindu Kanishka , Sridarran Pournima , Sivanuja Thirumal
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Compared to low-rise and mid-rise buildings, commercial high-rise buildings have severe maintenance management deficiencies due to the complex nature of the structure and building services incorporated. Previous studies have shown that implementing lean in maintenance is a recognised prominent strategy to enhance maintenance performance. Thus, this study aims to investigate how lean maintenance can be applied to improve maintenance management in commercial high-rise buildings in Sri Lanka.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a case study method. Three commercial high-rise buildings were selected to conduct the empirical study. An expert survey is also conducted to validate the findings.

Findings

The findings of the study revealed that out of the eight cardinal types of lean maintenance waste, six are rooted in the selected cases: (i) excessive preventive maintenance, (ii) waiting (maintenance resources, tools, procuring of additional supplies and documentation and permits), (iii) transportation due to centralised maintenance, (iv) poor inventory management, (v) poor information handling and (vi) poor utilisation of labour. Then the study revealed strategies to eradicate identified lean maintenance wastes.

Practical implications

The findings of this study can be used to guide maintenance practitioners in implementing lean maintenance in Sri Lankan commercial high-rise buildings. Furthermore, the proposed strategies can be directly applied to mitigate identified maintenance wastes.

Originality/value

This paper provides information on how high-rise commercial buildings in Sri Lanka can enhance their maintenance management by mitigating lean maintenance wastes.
Thermal enhancement of nano-fluidic transport confined between disk and cone both rotating with distinct angular velocities and heat transfer
Authors: Maraj E.N. , Akbar Noreen Sher , Kousar Nabeela , Zehra Iffat , Muhammad Taseer
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to study the fluid flow and heat transfer within the Casson nanofluid confined between disk and cone both rotating with distinct velocities. For a comprehensive investigation, two distinct nano-size particles, namely, silicon dioxide and silicon carbide, are submerged in ethanol taken as the base fluid.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper explores the disk and cone contraption mostly encountered for viscosity measurement in various industrial applications such as lubrication industry, hydraulic brakes, pharmaceutical industry, petroleum and gas industry and chemical industry.

Findings

It is worth mentioning here that the radially varying temperature profile at the disk surface is taken into the account. The effect of prominent emerging parameters on velocity fields and temperature distribution are studied graphically, while bar graphs are drawn to examine the physical quantities of industrial interest such as surface drag force and heat transfer rate at disk and cone.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no study in literature exists that discusses the thermal enhancement of nano-fluidic transport confined between disk and cone both rotating with distinct angular velocities with heat transfer.
Nurturing the soul at work: unveiling the impact of spiritual leadership, interpersonal justice and voice behavior on employee intention to stay
Authors: Aboobaker Nimitha , K.A. Zakkariya
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study investigates how the spiritual leadership style of a manager affects employees' intention to stay with the organization, taking into account the post-pandemic workplace and the expected economic downturn. Furthermore, this study aims to assess how employee voice behavior mediates the linkages between the spiritual leadership style and intention to stay and how this mediation is influenced by perceived interpersonal justice. Grounded on the self-determination theory of intrinsic motivation and social-exchange theory, this study seeks to advance the theoretical understanding of spiritual leadership and its associated outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The descriptive study included 379 frontline employees in India's tourism and hospitality sector. Responses were collected from selected employees using the snowball sampling method and met strict inclusion criteria. Self-reporting questionnaires were used to collect data from the participants. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using IBM AMOS 21.0, and hypothesis testing and drawing inferences were carried out using path analytic procedures with PROCESS Macro 3.0.

Findings

Consistent with the hypotheses presented in this paper, this study demonstrated a statistically significant indirect impact of spiritual leadership on employees' intention to stay with the organization, through indirect effects of employee voice behavior. Additionally, the conditional indirect effects of spiritual leadership on employees' intention to stay, mediated by voice behavior, were contingent upon the level of interpersonal justice as a moderator. Specifically, these effects were significant when the levels of interpersonal justice were low but not when they were high.

Originality/value

This study makes significant strides in developing and testing a pioneering model that examines the association between spiritual leadership and employees’ intention to stay with the organization. This research explores explicitly how this relationship is influenced by perceived interpersonal justice and employee voice behavior. The results of this study emphasize the criticality of cultivating a culture that inspires constructive criticism and elucidates its potential advantages, effectively bridging a gap in the existing scholarly literature.
What factors are associated with public corruption perception? Evidence from Canada
Authors: Asomah Joseph Yaw , Dim Eugene Emeka , Li Yiyan , Cheng Hongming
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Corruption perception is essential to study because it can shape people’s attitudes toward the government. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to address this key question: what factors are associated with a non-expert’s judgment of whether Canada is corrupt?

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the World Value Survey conducted in Canada in October 2020. This survey is based on a nationally representative sample of a cross-section of adult Canadian residents, including Canadian citizens and permanent residents and those who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents.

Findings

Based on this study, some conclusions can be made. First, people accessing corruption news from the traditional news media are less likely than those receiving information from the new media to perceive the state (in this case, Canada) as corrupt. Second, people who have less confidence in public institutions are more likely to perceive a country as corrupt. Third, people who participate in electoral and non-electoral forms of political participation are more likely to perceive the state and its public officials as corrupt. Fourth, regardless of which political party is in power, individuals who lean right politically are more likely than those on the left to perceive the state as corrupt. Finally, immigrants are less likely than those born in Canada to perceive the state as corrupt. This work enriches the literature on the substantive understanding of the factors associated with corruption perception.

Originality/value

Studies investigating factors associated with public perception of corruption tend to focus on developing countries. The current study contributes to filling this gap in knowledge by examining correlates of corruption perception in Canada. As a result, this study contributes to the literature on factors associated with corruption perception, especially in the developed country context.
Meta‐analysis of effectiveness and safety of glucocorticoid combined with hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus rash
Authors: Liang Siping , Wei Zhiming , Fang Hanjun , Guan Tong
Published: July 2023

Background

Many studies have found that glucocorticoid (GC) combined with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has a good clinical effect in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) rash, but there is no relevant systematic evaluation at present. The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate and analyze the effectiveness and safety of GC combined with HCQ in the treatment of SLE rash.

Methods

Randomized controlled trials of GC combined with HCQ in the treatment of SLE rash were collected through computer retrieval of Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, CNKI, China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform (Wanfang), and China Biology Medicine disc (CBM) since the establishment of the database. The main outcome indicators included clinical total effective rate, adverse reactions, SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C‐reactive protein (CRP), and complement 3 (C3). A meta‐analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.3 software.

Results

A total of 11 studies involving 809 patients (406 in the test group and 403 in the control group) were included in this article. The meta‐analysis results showed that compared with the single use of GC, GC combined with HCQ could improve the clinical total effective rate in the treatment of SLE rash (odds ratio [OR] = 4.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.50–7.30, p < .00001), and reduce the occurrence of adverse reactions (OR = 0.26, 95% CI 0.15–0.44, p < .00001); effectively reduce SLEDAI score (mean difference [MD] = 1.88, 95% CI 1.66–2.10, p < .00001) and ESR level (MD = 7.92, 95% CI 5.66–10.19, p < .00001); increase C3 level after treatment (MD = 0.36, 95% CI 0.32–0.41, p < .00001); and reduce CRP level (MD = 3.22, 95% CI 2.87–3.58, p < .00001), with statistically significant differences.

Conclusion

Compared with the use of GC alone, GC combined with HCQ can improve the clinical effectiveness of SLE rash treatment, with a low incidence of adverse reactions and good clinical safety. However, the number and quality of studies included in this article were not high, so the findings need to be further verified by high‐quality, multicenter randomized controlled trials.
Classifying the degree of cooperative multinationality: Case study of a French multinational cooperative
Authors: Errasti Anjel , Bretos Ignacio , Marcuello Carmen
Published: July 2023

In recent decades, the largest European worker cooperatives, and those that are the most emblematic in their countries, have been transformed into multinational companies. This article examines workers’‐cooperative multinationality by providing a classifying tool based on the interaction between control rights and return rights held by foreign employees in the subsidiaries of multinational cooperatives. We illustrate our matrix of cooperative multinationality by classifying an internationalized historical cooperative, Up Group (formerly Chèque Déjeuner, SCOP). In the last few decades, the French cooperative Up has become a hybrid multinational player in the employee benefits industry by setting up capitalist subsidiaries both in France and overseas. The case study also reports on Up's innovative attempt to produce a global cooperative or a more democratic multinational enterprise through converting subsidiaries’ employees into associates.
Editorial: Recognising the regional variations in profile of irritable bowel syndrome—better late than never!
Authors: Ghoshal Uday C.
Published: July 2023

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Chuah et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17567 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17634
Neighbourhood regeneration through a longitudinal lens: Exploring crisis temporalities in Bristol, UK
Authors: MacLeavy Julie
Published: July 2023

This paper employs a longitudinal lens to examine the temporal dimensions of urban neighbourhood regeneration. Specifically, it focuses on four neighbourhoods in Bristol, UK, which were subject to the flagship New Deal for Communities programme from 2000 to 2010. By combining past research into the (then) emerging impact of the NDC with data from more recent enquiries into the daily lives and experiences of residents after the programme's end, the paper considers if and how these neighbourhoods were altered and whether the NDC programme continues to have impact beyond its funding period. The aim is not simply to evaluate the programme's success and legacy, but also to reflect on how past policies interact with present and future temporalities. As such, community perspectives of continuity and change are used as a basis for discussion of the ways in which the urban present is assembled. Within this discussion, the impact of the coronavirus emergency and austerity measures on these neighbourhoods is considered. Both crises underline that regeneration is a dynamic and vulnerable process that does not follow a predetermined or linear trajectory. For this reason, the paper emphasises the need to move beyond singular, snapshot inquiries and instead adopt a longitudinal approach that considers developments beyond the immediate and visible outcomes of urban policy.
A framework for understanding sources of bias in medication adherence research
Authors: Sinnappah Klarissa A. , Hughes Dyfrig A. , Stocker Sophie L. , Vrijens Bernard , Aronson Jeffrey K. , Wright Daniel F. B.
Published: July 2023

The sources of bias in medication adherence research have not been comprehensively explored. We aimed to identify biases expected to affect adherence research and to develop a framework for mapping these onto the phases of adherence (initiation, implementation and discontinuation). A literature search was conducted, key papers were reviewed and a Catalogue of Bias was consulted. The specific biases related to adherence measurement and metrics were mapped onto the phases of adherence using a tabular matrix. Twenty‐three biases were identified, of which 11 were specifically relevant to adherence measures and metrics. The mapping framework showed differences in the numbers and types of biases associated with each measure and metric while highlighting those common to many adherence study designs (e.g., unacceptability bias and apprehension bias). The framework will inform the design of adherence studies and the development of risk of bias tools for adherence research.
Nonlinear Multilevel Joint Model for Individual Lesion Kinetics and Survival to Characterize Intra-Individual Heterogeneity in Patients with Advanced Cancer
Authors: Kerioui Marion , Beaulieu Maxime , Desmée Solène , Bertrand Julie , Mercier François , Jin Jin Y. , Bruno René , Guedj Jérémie
Published: July 2023

In advanced cancer patients, tumor burden is calculated using the sum of the longest diameters (SLD) of the target lesions, a measure that lumps all lesions together and ignores intra-patient heterogeneity. Here, we used a rich dataset of 342 metastatic bladder cancer patients treated with a novel immunotherapy agent to develop a Bayesian multilevel joint model that can quantify heterogeneity in lesion dynamics and measure their impact on survival. Using a nonlinear model of tumor growth inhibition, we estimated that dynamics differed greatly among lesions, and inter-lesion variability accounted for 21% and 28% of the total variance in tumor shrinkage and treatment effect duration, respectively. Next, we investigated the impact of individual lesion dynamics on survival. Lesions located in the liver and in the bladder had twice as much impact on the instantaneous risk of death compared to those located in the lung or the lymph nodes. Finally, we evaluated the utility of individual lesion follow-up for dynamic predictions. Consistent with results at the population level, the individual lesion model outperformed a model relying only on SLD, especially at early landmark times and in patients with liver or bladder target lesions. Our results show that an individual lesion model can characterize the heterogeneity in tumor dynamics and its impact on survival in advanced cancer patients.
Applications of engineered exosomes in drugging noncoding RNAs for cancer therapy
Authors: Alemi Forough , Sadeghsoltani Fatemeh , Fattah Khashayar , Hassanpour Parisa , Malakoti Faezeh , Kardeh Sina , Izadpanah Melika , de Campos Zuccari Debora Aparecida Pires , Yousefi Bahman , Majidinia Maryam
Published: July 2023

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are engaged in key cell biological and pathological events, and their expression alteration is connected to cancer progression both directly and indirectly. A huge number of studies have mentioned the significant role of ncRNAs in cancer prevention and therapy that make them an interesting subject for cancer therapy. However, there are several limitations, including delivery, uptake, and short half‐life, in the application of ncRNAs in cancer treatment. Exosomes are introduced as promising options for the delivery of ncRNAs to the target cells. In this review, we will briefly discuss the application and barriers of ncRNAs. After that we will focus on exosome‐based ncRNAs delivery and their advantages as well as the latest achievements in drugging ncRNAs with exosomes.
Landscape diversity promotes stable food‐web architectures in large rivers
Authors: Scholl Eric A. , Cross Wyatt F. , Guy Christopher S. , Dutton Adeline J. , Junker James R.
Published: July 2023

Uncovering relationships between landscape diversity and species interactions is crucial for predicting how ongoing land‐use change and homogenization will impact the stability and persistence of communities. However, such connections have rarely been quantified in nature. We coupled high‐resolution river sonar imaging with annualized energetic food webs to quantify relationships among habitat diversity, energy flux, and trophic interaction strengths in large‐river food‐web modules that support the endangered Pallid Sturgeon. Our results demonstrate a clear relationship between habitat diversity and species interaction strengths, with more diverse foraging landscapes containing higher production of prey and a greater proportion of weak and potentially stabilizing interactions. Additionally, rare patches of large and relatively stable river sediments intensified these effects and further reduced interaction strengths by increasing prey diversity. Our findings highlight the importance of landscape characteristics in promoting stabilizing food‐web architectures and provide direct relevance for future management of imperilled species in a simplified and rapidly changing world.
Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, and antibacterial activity of chalcone (2E)‐1‐(3′‐aminophenyl)‐3‐(4‐dimethylaminophenyl)‐prop‐2‐en‐1‐one against multiresistant Staphylococcus aureus carrier of efflux pump mechanisms and β‐lactamase
Authors: da Silva Larissa , Donato Isydório Alves , Bezerra Suieny Rodrigues , dos Santos Hélcio Silva , Bandeira Paulo Nogueira , do Nascimento Maria Thalia Ramos , Guedes Jesyka Macêdo , Freitas Priscila Ramos , de Araújo Ana Carolina Justino , de Freitas Thiago Sampaio , Coutinho Henrique Douglas Melo , de Matos Yedda Maria Lobo Soares , de Oliveira Lígia Cláudia Castro , da Cunha Francisco Assis Bezerra
Published: July 2023

Background

The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus has stood out for presenting a high adaptability, acquiring resistance to multiple drugs. The search for natural or synthetic compounds with antibacterial properties capable of reversing the resistance of S. aureus is the main challenge to be overcome today. Natural products such as chalcones are substances present in the secondary metabolism of plants, presenting important biological activities such as antitumor, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial activity.

Objectives

In this context, the aim of this work was to synthesize the chalcone (2E)‐1‐(3'‐aminophenyl)‐3‐(4‐dimethylaminophenyl)‐prop‐2‐en‐1‐one with nomenclature CMADMA, confirm its structure by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and evaluate its antibacterial properties.

Methods

The synthesis methodology used was that of Claisen‐Schmidt, and spectroscopic characterization was performed by NMR. For microbiological assays, the broth microdilution methodology was adopted in order to analyze the antibacterial potential of chalcones and to analyze their ability to act as a possible inhibitor of β‐lactamase and efflux pump resistance mechanisms, present in S. aureus strain K4100.

Results

The results obtained show that CMADMA does not show direct antibacterial activity, expressing a MIC of ≥1024 μg/mL, or on the enzymatic mechanism of β‐lactamase; however, when associated with ethidium bromide in efflux pump inhibition assays, CMADMA showed promising activity by reducing the MIC of the bromide from 64 to 32 μg/mL.

Conclusion

We conclude that the chalcone synthesized in this study is a promising substance to combat bacterial resistance, possibly acting in the inhibition of the QacC efflux pump present in S. aureus strain K4100, as evidenced by the reduction in the MIC of ethidium bromide.
Leadership and innovation by professionals: The changing face of public workplace conflict resolution in Ireland
Authors: Roche William K. , Teague Paul , Currie Denise
Published: July 2023

Since the early 1990s public dispute resolution in Ireland has undergone significant reform. The paper examines external and internal pressures for the reform of conflict resolution in Ireland and reveals the key roles played by senior public servants and conflict management professionals in a system where politics and political divisions had little effect on the reform process.
Establishment and characterization of a liver cell line from silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus) for studying fish health
Authors: Jiang Huan , Zhang Youyi , Wang Xiangbing , Wang Guanlin , Zhu Jiajie , Sun Jiachu , Zhang Man , Li Yaya , Xu Shanliang , Hu Jiabao , Wang Yajun
Published: July 2023

Fish cell lines have become a useful tool to study in resource conservation, genetic breeding, diseases control, and environmental pollutants detection. The silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus) is a high‐valued marine fish species in aquaculture, which is seriously threatened by various fish diseases. In this study, a new cell line derived from P. argenteus liver (PaL) was established and characterized. PaL cells mainly consisted of fibroblast‐like morphology and multiplied well in Leibovitz's L‐15 medium supplemented with 15% foetal bovine serum and 3 ng/mL basic fibroblast growth factor at 22°C. Amplification of the Cyt b gene confirmed that the origin of PaL cells as P. argenteus. Chromosome analysis revealed that PaL cells had a diploid Karyotyp. The PaL cells were efficiently transfected with pEGFP‐N3 plasmids, indicating its potential application in foreign gene manipulation studies. The PaL cells were found to be susceptible to red sea bream iridovirus (RSIV) and the expression of immune‐related gene (TLR5) and apoptosis‐related genes (Bax, Cyt c3, CASP9) were upregulated. Furthermore, lipopolysaccharide and palmitic acid (PA) treatments decreased cell viability and up‐regulated the expression of inflammation related genes (IL‐8, IL‐1β). Meanwhile, PA incubation induced cell apoptosis by Bcl‐2‐regulated caspase activation. In conclusion, the newly established PaL cell line will be an appropriate in vitro tool for viral propagation and immune response.
Prevalence of Abortions Prior to and During the COVID‐19 Pandemic in a Large Health Care System
Authors: Greiner Karen S. , Merchant Maqdooda , Sackeim Maryl G.
Published: July 2023

Introduction

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic presented patients with numerous barriers to accessing health care, including access to reproductive health services. The goal of this study was to assess the prevalence of abortion prior to versus during the COVID‐19 pandemic within a large health care system to better understand if patients were able to access abortion care.

Methods

This was a retrospective, data‐only cohort study examining the prevalence of abortion among patients aged 15 to 44 within Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) in the first 6 months of the COVID‐19 stay‐at‐home order (April 1 to September 30, 2020) compared with a 6‐month period in the year prior to the COVID‐19 pandemic (April 1 to September 30, 2019). Analyses were conducted using χ2 and t tests, with a P value < .05 considered statistically significant.

Results

The prevalence of abortion among patients at risk of pregnancy in 2019 and 2020 was identical, at 0.04% (P = .93). Baseline characteristics were similar between the 2 periods. The prevalence of smoking among patients who had an abortion in 2019 was 11.24%, compared with 9.04% in 2020 (P = .0009). Additionally, 85.80% of patients had KPNC insurance 6 months after the abortion in 2019, compared with 89.53% in 2020 (P < .0001).

Discussion

The prevalence of abortion remained similar prior to and during the first 6 months of the COVID‐19 pandemic within KPNC. Patients seeking abortion were less likely to smoke and were more likely to have consistent insurance 6 months after their abortion in 2020 versus 2019, potentially suggesting the COVID‐19 pandemic resulted in healthier behaviors and more consistent access to health care. Despite stay‐at‐home orders and canceling of in‐person clinic visits, abortion services remained accessible to a diverse population within a large health care system.
A review of exosomes and their application in cutaneous medical aesthetics
Authors: Olumesi Kehinde Raji , Goldberg David J.
Published: July 2023

Background

Exosomes have gained recent popularity in aesthetic medicine; however, there is still a dearth of understanding on the etiology of exosomes, their physiologic function, and regenerative capabilities.

Objective

The purpose of this article is to summarize some of the physiologic functions of exosomes, their mechanistic role, and current commercial landscape in regenerative aesthetics.

Methods

A Medline search was conducted with the keywords, exosomes, extracellular vesicles, stem cells, skin rejuvenation, and cutaneous aesthetics. MeSH term “exosomes” filtered by relevant subheadings was also utilized. Pertinent original articles encompassing animal studies, cell studies, and human studies were included. We restricted to articles published in the last 10 years.

Results

Pre‐clinical studies have demonstrated the therapeutic capabilities of exosomes in wound healing, scar modulation, alopecia, and skin rejuvenation. Exosomes primarily exert their effects in a paracrine function and modulate the interactions between keratinocytes and other cells of the skin. Exogenous exosomes can be utilized in a variety of settings to bring about desired aesthetic outcomes and to date, has only been approved for topical administration.

Conclusion

The safety, efficacy, potency, and dosages of exosomes remains to be determined via robust human clinical trials. Isolation and purification techniques have yet to be standardized, and this would be required for regulatory approval of all delivery modes. Overall, exosomes deliver yet another therapeutic option in regenerative aesthetics.
The Japanese textile sector and the influenza pandemic of 1918–1920
Authors: Noy Ilan , Okubo Toshihiro , Strobl Eric
Published: July 2023

The ongoing global pandemic has brought into sharp relief the possible interactions between the epidemiology of a virus, the structure of the economy and society that becomes exposed to it, and the actions chosen by government, individuals, and communities to combat it or ameliorate its economic impact. Surprisingly, there has not been sufficient research on these economic and policy interactions of the 1918–1920 influenza pandemic—the deadliest pandemic of the 20th century. This paper focuses on Japan, which as a minor participant of and was not directly affected by World War I. We exploit the diversity of experiences with the pandemic and its attendant policy responses across Japanese prefectures; and investigate the importance of the pandemic's toll (measured by excess mortality), and of nonpharmaceutical policy interventions (NPIs), in determining the pandemic's economic impact. We do so by focusing on the production and employment in the textile sector, given the availability of data and the general importance of the textile sector for emerging economies (as Japan was at the time). We find a significant adverse impact of the pandemic on textiles (almost 30% for an average prefectural excess mortality shock) and indeed find that the implemented NPIs were effective in ameliorating around one half of the pandemic's adverse economic consequences, especially for textile output (rather than employment). Furthermore, these NPIs were more effective when the excess mortality was higher. In this case, there was no trade‐off between money and life, but rather the two were complimentary.
Rural‐urban differences in health care unaffordability
Authors: MacDougall Hannah , Mork Daniel , Hanson Stephanie , Smith Carrie Henning
Published: July 2023

Purpose

To compare health care unaffordability in rural versus urban contexts while also examining the impact of sociodemographic/socioeconomic variables on this relationship.

Methods

We examined survey responses from the 2019‐2021 National Health Interview Survey (n = 90,761). We conducted chi‐squared tests comparing urban and rural subsamples and multivariable logistic regression analyses examining the associations between rurality and 3 measures of health care unaffordability while also including interactions between rurality and individual characteristics of respondents.

Findings

In bivariate analyses, compared to their urban counterparts, rural residents were more likely to report problems paying medical bills (15.0% vs 11.5%, P <.001) and being unable to pay medical bills (9.3% vs 7.1%, P < .001). In fully adjusted multivariable regression analyses, rural residents were significantly less likely than their urban counterparts to report being worried about paying medical bills (AOR: .915, CI: .871‐.961, P < .001). We found significant interactions between rural residency and insurance type, age, income to poverty ratio, and race/ethnicity for the outcome of problems paying medical bills; and significant interactions between rural residency and income to poverty ratio and race and ethnicity for the outcome of being unable to pay medical bills.

Conclusion

Rural residents report higher rates of 2 measures of health care unaffordability as compared to their urban counterparts. In multivariable logistic models, rural residency is not associated with higher rates of health care unaffordability; however, significant interactions exist between rural residency and individual variables demonstrating the heterogenous experiences of health care unaffordability based on these intersectional identities.
Yolk resorption and larval development in the brackish river prawn Macrobrachium macrobrachion under laboratory conditions: Perspectives for aquaculture
Authors: Koussovi Guillaume , Houssou Arsène Mathieu , Daves Dimas Armando Orés , Niass Farokh , Bonou Clément Agossou , López Greco Laura , Montchowui Elie
Published: July 2023

Macrobrachium macrobrachion is an African native brackish river prawn with a high commercial value. Currently, there is little information on the post‐larval production of this species. Two experiments were conducted in the laboratory to develop production techniques for this species. The first experiment analyzed the duration of yolk resorption and the second described the larval stages. Yolk resorption was studied in 240 newly hatched larvae for 24 h based on the reduction in yolk area over time. For larval development stages, six breeding tanks containing 100 L with a density of 50 larvae/L were used. Larvae were fed a combination of Artemia nauplii, Brachionusplicatilis, and pelleted food (Larviva ProStart, Biomar Efico). The results have shown that the area of yolk reserves varied significantly in the hours after hatching. At 14 h after hatching, each larva resorbed approximately 85% of its yolk reserve, and at 18 h after hatching, each of them still had approximately 6.1%. Twelve larval stages were identified and described in three critical stages. M. macrobrachion larvae are lecithotrophic and need to start exogenous feeding at 14 h at the earliest and 18 h at the latest after hatching. These results are the first to highlight the potential for mass production of brackish river prawns.
Factors associated with COVID‐19 vaccination hesitancy in South Korea: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Chung Sophia Jihey , Han Kihye , Kim Chaehee , Kim Jieun
Published: July 2023

Vaccination against COVID‐19 has been promoted as a way to protect oneself and others from infection. To ensure the comprehensive acceptance of COVID‐19 vaccines, the factors that affect COVID‐19 vaccination hesitancy should be examined. This study aimed to identify the factors that affect COVID‐19 vaccination hesitancy among Korean adults, focusing on COVID‐19 knowledge and attitudes toward vaccination. This was a cross‐sectional study conducted with 2286 Korean adults aged 20–64 years. Demographic characteristics, knowledge regarding COVID‐19, and attitudes toward vaccination were assessed. A generalized linear model with Poisson regression was used to identify factors associated with COVID‐19 vaccination hesitancy. Approximately 67% of the COVID‐19 knowledge‐related questions were correctly answered. A neutral attitude toward vaccination and relatively low vaccination hesitancy were found. COVID‐19 vaccination hesitancy was affected by individuals' attitudes toward vaccination, as well as their gender and age, but not by their knowledge. Interventions or policies considering gender and age could be helpful in reducing COVID‐19 vaccination hesitancy. Strategies to disseminate more accurate and novel information related to the COVID‐19 vaccines should be implemented.
Recent progress in regenerative therapy for damaged salivary glands: From bench to bedside
Authors: I Takashi , Kanai Riho , Hasegawa Kayo , Ogaeri Takunori , Tran Simon D. , Sumita Yoshinori
Published: July 2023

Objective

For functional restoration of salivary glands (SGs) injured by radiation therapy or Sjögren's syndrome (SS), various experimental approaches, such as gene therapy, tissue engineering, and cell‐based therapy, have been proposed. This narrative review summarized recent progresses in research using cell‐based therapies, including promising trials that could lead to bench‐to‐clinic applications.

Methods

A literature review based on PubMed publications in the last two decades was performed to summarize progresses in cell‐based therapies for SG dysfunction.

Results

Over 100 experimental studies have shown the therapeutic potential of several types of cells, such as SG stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells, as well as effectively conditioned mononuclear cells, in both radiation injury and SS animal models. These therapies affect to slow fibrosis progression and stimulate tissue regeneration in atrophic glands. However, to date, only a total of seven studies have been developed to the stage of clinical study, showing the safety and preliminary efficacy.

Conclusion

To lead the radical effectiveness expected in cell‐based therapy, advances in reverse translational research and in innovative experimental research, based on the findings of recent clinical studies, will be critical in the next decade.
Employee psychological wellbeing in the face of pandemic: The role of belief in work priority
Authors: Lee S. Susie , Chao Melody M.
Published: July 2023

Traditionally, individuals who prioritize work over other aspects of life have been lauded as ideal employees. Individuals vary in the extent to which they endorse the beliefs that work should be prioritized over other aspects of life, known as the Belief in Work Priority (BWP). Various lockdown restrictions imposed due to the COVID‐19 pandemic have blurred work‐family boundary, which consequently made prioritizing work over family responsibilities challenging. A repeated cross‐sectional study was conducted to examine the relationship between BWP and employee wellbeing during (vs. before) the pandemic outbreak. We recruited 398 participants who were employed and resided in the U.S. Results revealed that during the pandemic, BWP and employee wellbeing showed a negative relationship through increased work‐family conflict. Furthermore, such relationship was particularly strong among married employees and male employees.
Stable Locomotion of Humanoid Robots on Uneven Terrain Employing Enhanced DAYANI Arc Contour Intelligent Algorithm
Authors: Kashyap Abhishek Kumar , Parhi Dayal R.
Published: July 2023

Humanoid robots must be capable of walking on complicated terrains and tackling a variety of obstacles leading to their wide range of possible implementations. To that aim, in this article, the issue of humanoid robots walking on uneven terrain and tackling static and dynamic obstacles is examined. It is inspected by implementing a novel Enhanced DAYANI Arc Contour Intelligent (EDACI) Algorithm that designs trajectory by searching feasible points in the environment. It provides an optimum steering angle, and step optimization is performed by Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno (BFGS) Quasi-Newton method that leads to guide the humanoid robot stably to the target. The leg length policy has been presented, and a reward-based system has been implemented in the walking pattern generator that provides the optimum gait parameters. One humanoid robot act as a dynamic obstacle to others if they are navigating on a single terrain. It may generate a situation of deadlock, which needs to be solved. In this article, a dining philosopher controller (DPC) is employed to deal with and solve this issue. Simulations are used to evaluate the proposed approach in several uneven terrains having two humanoid NAOs. The findings indicate that it can precisely and efficiently produce optimal collision-free paths, demonstrating its efficacy. Experiments in similar terrain are performed that validate the results with a deviation under 6%. The energy efficiency of the developed controller is evaluated in reference to the inbuilt controller of NAO based on energy consumption. In order to check the feasibility and accuracy of the developed controller, a comparison with an established technique is provided.
A Knowledge-Based System Methodology for Conceptual Design of Mechanical Systems
Authors: Zhao Wang , El-Gizawy A. Sherif , Billatos Samir B.
Published: July 2023

This paper presents a knowledge-based system methodology, called Domain Knowledge Transformation (DKT), that can be used at the conceptual design stage of mechanical systems. The DKT model is a two-levels process that reveals the insights of the methodology. In the first level, defined as the preconcept level, a list of design specifications is developed through the interaction between an intelligent system and the users or customers. In the second level, defined as the concept level, design solutions are generated using a functional requirements mapping (FRM) method. Design using FRM is characterized by the ability to structure hybrid sets of design knowledge, relevant information and customer needs. FRM method define results of current design efforts, future tasks and their priorities, various metrics, and a presentation format for decision making. After briefly introducing the DKT methodology, the paper shows how design requirements are generated and stored by questions and answers interface, objective tree guided structured interview and the dynamic knowledge base in the preconcept level. The paper then shows, through a real world design example, how FRM can be used to provide a detailed association between statements of design requirements (customer needs) and the physical entities proposed as solutions. The paper concludes that DKT methodology could be a useful concurrent engineering tool in the early design stage.
Monitoring the Behavior of an Experimental Impacting System
Authors: Slade Kara N. , Virgin Lawrence N.
Published: July 2023

Since monitoring all the state variables in dynamic experiments may be difficult or even impossible, and since it is desirable to reduce the coupling between the system under study and the measuring device to as low a level as possible, it is useful to assess novel data acquisition techniques. Furthermore, it is well established that topological information can be obtained from delay coordinate embedding, and thus, not all of the state variables, or even a continuous set of a single variable, need to be measured. In the case of impacting systems, the impacts can be viewed as discrete events which can then be used to reconstruct more general features of the behavior. The success of such reconstruction techniques will be assessed in this paper.
Solutions of Radiative Heat Transfer in Nonhomogeneous Participating Media Using the Quadrature Method
Authors: Wu Shang-Hsuang , Wu Chih-Yang , Hsu Pei-feng
Published: July 2023

This work considers radiative heat transfer in a three-dimensional, rectangular, scattering medium exposed to diffuse radiation. Applying the quadrature method with singularity subtraction to the exact integral equations in terms of the moments of intensity can generate highly accurate solutions, and so the method is adopted in this work. The example solutions provided are for radiative equilibrium in homogeneous absorbing-emitting media, and for radiative transfer in nonhomogeneous absorbing-scattering (isotropic and linearly anisotropic) media with non-reflecting surfaces. To validate the solutions, the present results are compared with the solutions obtained by the YIX method and other methods.