bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antigen specificity shapes antibody functions in tuberculosis
Authors: Miles Joshua R. , Lu Pei , Bai Shuangyi , Aguillón-Durán Genesis P. , Rodríguez-Herrera Javier E. , Gunn Bronwyn M. , Restrepo Blanca I. , Lu Lenette L.
Published: June 2024

Tuberculosis (TB) is the number one infectious disease cause of death worldwide due to an incomplete understanding of immunity. Emerging data highlight antibody functions mediated by the Fc domain as immune correlates. However, the mechanisms by which antibody functions impact the causative agentMycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)are unclear. Here, we examine how antigen specificity determined by the Fab domain shapes Fc effector functions againstMtb.Using the critical structural and secreted virulence proteinsMtbcell wall and ESAT-6 & CFP-10, we observe that antigen specificity alters subclass, antibody post-translational glycosylation, and Fc effector functions in TB patients. Moreover,Mtbcell wall IgG3 enhances disease through opsonophagocytosis of extracellularMtb. In contrast, polyclonal and a human monoclonal IgG1 we generated targeting ESAT-6 & CFP-10 inhibit intracellularMtb. These data show that antibodies have multiple roles in TB and antigen specificity is a critical determinant of the protective and pathogenic capacity.
PP2C phosphatase Pic14 negatively regulates tomato Pto/Prf-triggered immunity by inhibiting MAPK activation
Authors: Chakraborty Joydeep , Sobol Guy , Xia Fan , Zhang Ning , Martin Gregory B. , Sessa Guido
Published: June 2024

Type 2C protein phosphatases (PP2Cs) are emerging as important regulators of plant immune responses, although little is known about how they might impact nucleotide-binding, leucine-rich repeat (NLR)-triggered immunity (NTI). We discovered that expression of the PP2C-immunity associated candidate 14 gene (Pic14) is induced upon activation of the Pto/Prf-mediated NTI response in tomato. Pto/Prf recognize the effector AvrPto translocated into plant cells by the pathogenPseudomonas syringaepv.tomato(Pst) and activate a MAPK cascade and other responses which together confer resistance to bacterial speck disease.Pic14encodes a PP2C with an N-terminal kinase-interacting motif (KIM) and a C-terminal phosphatase domain. Upon inoculation withPst-AvrPto, Pto/Prf-expressing tomato plants with loss-of-function mutations inPic14developed less speck disease, specifically in older leaves, compared to wild-type plants. Transient expression of Pic14 in leaves ofNicotiana benthamianaand tomato inhibited cell death typically induced by Pto/Prf and the MAPK cascade members M3Kα and Mkk2. The cell death-suppressing activity of Pic14 was dependent on the KIM and the catalytic phosphatase domain. Pic14 inhibited M3Kα- and Mkk2-mediated activation of immunity-associated MAPKs and Pic14 was shown to be an active phosphatase that physically interacts with and dephosphorylates Mkk2 in a KIM-dependent manner. Together, our results reveal Pic14 as an important negative regulator of Pto/Prf-triggered immunity by interacting with and dephosphorylating Mkk2.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Plant intracellular immune receptors, typically nucleotide-binding, leucine-rich repeat proteins (NLRs) such as the tomato Prf protein activate NLR-triggered immunity (NTI) in response to specific pathogen virulence proteins. This paper reveals how a protein phosphatase interacts with and dephosphorylates a key signaling component acting downstream of Pto/Prf, likely to moderate negative effects of NTI on growth or other plant processes.
Probing the basis of disease heterogeneity in multiple sclerosis using genetically diverse mice
Authors: Holt Emily A. , Tyler Anna , Lakusta-Wong Taylor , Lahue Karolyn G. , Hankes Katherine C. , Teuscher Cory , Lynch Rachel M. , Ferris Martin T. , Mahoney J. Matthew , Krementsov Dimitry N.
Published: June 2024

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disease with significant heterogeneity in disease course and progression. Genetic studies have identified numerous loci associated with MS risk, but the genetic basis of disease progression remains elusive. To address this, we leveraged the Collaborative Cross (CC), a genetically diverse mouse strain panel, and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The thirty-two CC strains studied captured a wide spectrum of EAE severity, trajectory, and presentation, including severe-progressive, monophasic, relapsing remitting, and axial rotary (AR)-EAE, accompanied by distinct immunopathology. Sex differences in EAE severity were observed in six strains. Quantitative trait locus analysis revealed distinct genetic linkage patterns for different EAE phenotypes, including EAE severity and incidence of AR-EAE. Machine learning-based approaches prioritized candidate genes for loci underlying EAE severity (Abcc4andGpc6) and AR-EAE (Yap1andDync2h1). This work expands the EAE phenotypic repertoire and identifies novel loci controlling unique EAE phenotypes, supporting the hypothesis that heterogeneity in MS disease course is driven by genetic variation.

The genetic basis of disease heterogeneity in multiple sclerosis (MS) remains elusive. We leveraged the Collaborative Cross to expand the phenotypic repertoire of the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS and identify loci controlling EAE severity, trajectory, and presentation.
Reassessing Retinal Pigment Epithelial Ketogenesis: Enzymatic Assays for Ketone Body Levels Provide Inaccurate Results
Authors: Gulette Gillian A. , Hass Daniel T. , Pandey Kriti , Zhang Qitao , Han John Y.S. , Engel Abbi , Chao Jennifer R. , Philp Nancy J. , Hurley James B. , Miller Jason M.L.
Published: June 2024

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is omnivorous and can utilize a wide range of substrates for oxidative phosphorylation. Certain tissues with high mitochondrial metabolic load are capable of ketogenesis, a biochemical pathway that consolidates acetyl-CoA into ketone bodies. Earlier work demonstrated that the RPE expresses the rate-limiting enzyme for ketogenesis, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 2 (HMGCS2), and that the RPE indeed produces ketone bodies, including beta-hydroxybutyrate (β-HB). Prior work, based on detecting β-HB via enzymatic assays, suggested that differentiated cultures of primary RPE preferentially export β-HB across the apical membrane. Here, we compare the accuracy of measuring β-HB by enzymatic assay kits to mass spectrometry analysis. We found that commercial kits lack the sensitivity to accurately measure the levels of β-HB in RPE cultures and are prone to artifact. Using mass spectrometry, we found that while RPE cultures secrete β-HB, they do so equally to both apical and basal sides. We also find RPE is capable of consuming β-HB as levels rise. Using isotopically labeled glucose, amino acid, and fatty acid tracers, we found that carbons from both fatty acids and ketogenic amino acids, but not from glucose, produce β-HB. Altogether, we substantiate β-HB secretion in RPE but find that the secretion is equal apically and basally, RPE β-HB can derive from ketogenic amino acids or fatty acids, and accurate β-HB assessment requires mass spectrometric analysis.
The promoter mutation paucity as part of the dark matter of the cancer genome
Authors: Abad Nicholas Allen Baclig , Glas Irina , Hong Chen , Small Annika , Pageaud Yoann , Maia Ana , Weichenhan Dieter , Plass Christoph , Hutter Barbara , Brors Benedikt , Körner Cindy , Feuerbach Lars
Published: June 2024

Cancer is a heterogeneous disease caused by genetic alterations. Computational analysis of cancer genomes led to the expansion of the catalog of driver mutations. While individual high-impact mutations have been discovered also in gene promoters, frequency-based approaches have only characterized a few novel candidates. To investigate the promoter mutation paucity in cancer, we developed the REMIND-Cancer workflow to predict activating promoter mutations in silico, irrespective of their recurrence frequency, and applied it to the PCAWG dataset. We positively validated 7 candidates by luciferase assay including mutations within the promoters of ANKRD53 and MYB. Our analysis indicates that particular mutational signatures and necessary co-alterations constrain the creation and positive selection of functional promoter mutations. We conclude that activating promoter mutations are more frequent in the PCAWG dataset than previously observed, which has potential implications for personalized oncology.
Resistance Exercise and Mechanical Overload Upregulate Vimentin for Skeletal Muscle Remodeling
Authors: Godwin Joshua S. , Michel J. Max , Libardi Cleiton A. , Kavazis Andreas N. , Fry Christopher S. , Frugé Andrew D. , McCashland Mariah , Vechetti Ivan J. , McCarthy John J. , Mobley C. Brooks , Roberts Michael D.
Published: June 2024

Our laboratory has performed various experiments examining the proteomic alterations that occur with mechanical overload (MOV)-induced skeletal muscle hypertrophy. In the current study we first sought to determine how 10 weeks of resistance training in 15 college-aged females affected protein concentrations in different tissue fractions. Training, which promoted significantly lower body muscle- and fiber-level hypertrophy, notably increased sarcolemmal/membrane protein content (+10.1%, p<0.05). Sarcolemmal/membrane protein isolates were queried using mass spectrometry-based proteomics, ∼10% (38/387) of proteins associated with the sarcolemma were up-regulated (>1.5-fold, p<0.05), and one of these targets (the intermediate filament vimentin; VIM) warranted further mechanistic investigation. VIM expression was first examined in the plantaris muscles of 4-month-old C57BL/6J mice following 10- and 20-days of MOV via synergist ablation. Relative to Sham (control) mice, VIM mRNA and protein content was significantly higher in MOV mice and immunohistochemistry indicated that VIM was predominantly present in the extracellular matrix (ECM). The 10- and 20-day MOV experiments were replicated in Pax7-DTA (tamoxifen-induced, satellite cell depleted) mice, which reduced the presence of VIM in the ECM. Finally, a third set of 10- and 20-day MOV experiments were performed in C57BL/6 mice intramuscularly injected with either AAV9-scrambled (control) or AAV9-VIM shRNA. While VIM shRNA mice presented with lower VIM in the ECM (∼50%), plantaris masses in response to MOV were similar between the injection groups. However, VIM shRNA mice presented with appreciably more MyHCemb-positive fibers with centrally located nuclei, indicating a regenerative phenotype. Using an integrative approach, we propose that skeletal muscle VIM is a mechanosensitive target predominantly localized to the ECM, and satellite cells are involved in its expression. Moreover, a disruption in VIM expression during MOV leads to dysfunctional skeletal muscle hypertrophy.
CTPS1 inhibition synergizes with replication stress signaling inhibition inMYC-amplified Group 3 medulloblastoma
Authors: Hathaway Matthew R , Gadek Katherine E , Jagana Hawa L , Terrones Isabella C , Hemenway John M , Miyaki Aya , Rajendran Ashmitha , Meechan Michael , Elena-Sanchez Leonel , Vitanza Nicholas A , Slusher Barbara S , Pattwell Siobhan S , Evans Myron K
Published: June 2024

MYC-driven medulloblastomas (MBs) represent the most aggressive and deadly subgroup of MB, the most common malignant pediatric tumor. Direct targeting of MYC itself remains an unmet clinical need, therefore focusing on vulnerabilities driven by MYC may be a viable option for novel therapeutic interventions. Using whole-genome CRISPR screening, we identified thede novopyrimidine synthesis enzyme CTP synthase (CTPS1) as a strong dependency inMYC-driven MB. CTPS1 is the final and rate-limiting step in thede novopyrimidine synthesis pathway. Targeted inhibition of CTPS1 leads to decreased tumor cell proliferation and markedly reduces MYC expression in G3 MB models. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that single agent CTPS1 inhibition activates the replication stress signaling pathway mediated by ATM-CHK2 and ATR-CHK1. Blockade of CHK1 kinase activity increases sensitivity to CTPS1 inhibition and significantly impedes heterotopic MB tumor growth. CTPS1 enzymatic activity requires the amino acid glutamine, therefore we inhibited CTPS1 using the glutamine antagonists, JHU083 and JHU395. These compounds are prodrugs of 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (DON) which were developed to exhibit exquisite blood-brain barrier penetrability. Combining JHU083 and CHK1 inhibition demonstrates potent synergy against patient-derived MB xenograftsin vivo. Our findings strongly suggest that combiningde novopyrimidine synthesis and ATR-CHK1 inhibitors is a promising treatment forMYC-driven MBs.

Key Points

CTPS1is a unique vulnerability in MYC-driven medulloblastoma

CTPS1 inhibition activates the ATR-CHK1 replication stress response pathway for cell survival

Blockade of CTPS1 enzymatic activity synergizes with CHK1 inhibitionin vitroandin vivo

Importance of the Study

MYC hyperactivation in tumors drives multiple anabolic processes which contribute to tumor proliferation and aggressiveness in patients. We show that targetingde novopyrimidine synthesis (via CTPS1) limits tumor growth and targets MYC itself through a feedback mechanism. CTPS1 inhibition potently combines with CHK1 blockade and enhances disease control in both heterotopic and orthotopic models of medulloblastoma (MB). Our results support the clinical evaluation of combined CTPS1 and CHK1 inhibition in patients withMYC-driven MB.
URA6mutations provide an alternative mechanism for 5-FOA resistance inSaccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Armstrong Joseph O. , Jiang Pengyao , Tsai Skyler , Phan Megan My-Ngan , Harris Kelley , Dunham Maitreya J.
Published: June 2024

URA3is frequently used in the yeast community as the mutation target for 5-fluoroorotic acid (5-FOA) resistance. We identified a novel class ofura6mutants that can grow in the presence of 5-FOA. Unlikeura3mutants,ura6mutants remain prototrophic and grow in the absence of uracil. In addition to 5-FOA resistance, we found that mutations toURA6also confer resistance to 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). In total, we identified 50 unique missense mutations across 32 residues ofURA6. We found that 28 out of the 32 affected residues are located in regions conserved betweenSaccharomyces cerevisiaeand three clinically relevant pathogenic fungi. These findings suggest that mutations toURA6present a second target for mutation screens utilizing 5-FOA as a selection marker as well as a potential mode of resistance to the antifungal therapeutic 5-FC.
Magnified interaural level differences enhance binaural unmasking in bilateral cochlear implant users
Authors: Richardson Benjamin N. , Kainerstorfer Jana M. , Shinn-Cunningham Barbara G. , Brown Christopher A.
Published: June 2024

Bilateral cochlear implant (BiCI) usage makes binaural benefits a possibility for implant users. Yet for BiCI users, limited access to interaural time difference (ITD) cues and reduced saliency of interaural level difference (ILD) cues restricts perceptual benefits of spatially separating a target from masker sounds. The present study explored whether magnifying ILD cues improves intelligibility of masked speech for BiCI listeners in a “symmetrical-masker” configuration, which ensures that neither ear benefits from a long-term positive target-to-masker ratio (TMR) due to naturally occurring ILD cues. ILD magnification estimates moment-to-moment ITDs in octave-wide frequency bands, and applies corresponding ILDs to the target-masker mixtures reaching the two ears at each specific time and frequency band. ILD magnification significantly improved intelligibility in two experiments: one with NH listeners using vocoded stimuli and one with BiCI users. BiCI listeners showed no benefit of spatial separation between target and maskers with natural ILDs, even for the largest target-masker separation. Because ILD magnification relies on and manipulates only the mixed signals at each ear, the strategy never alters the monaural TMR in either ear at any time. Thus, the observed improvements to masked speech intelligibility come from binaural effects, likely from increased perceptual separation of the competing sources.
ECloudGen: Leveraging Electron Clouds as a Latent Variable to Scale Up Structure-based Molecular Design
Authors: Zhang Odin , Jin Jieyu , Wu Zhenxing , Zhang Jintu , Yuan Po , Lin Haitao , Zhong Haiyang , Zhang Xujun , Hua Chenqing , Zhao Weibo , Zhang Zhengshuo , Ying Kejun , Huang Yufei , Zhao Huifeng , Yu Yuntao , Kang Yu , Pan Peichen , Wang Jike , Guo Dong , Zheng Shuangjia , Hsieh Chang-Yu , Hou Tingjun
Published: June 2024

Structure-based molecule generation represents a significant advancement in AI-aided drug design (AIDD). However, progress in this domain is constrained by the scarcity of structural data on protein-ligand complexes, a challenge we term the Paradox of Sparse Chemical Space Generation. To address this limitation, we propose a novel latent variable approach that bridges the data gap between ligand-only and protein-ligand complexes, enabling the target-aware generative models to explore a broader chemical space and enhancing the quality of molecular generation. Drawing inspiration from quantum molecular simulations, we introduce ECloudGen, a generative model that leverages electron clouds as meaningful latent variables—an innovative integration of physical principles into deep learning frameworks. ECloudGen incorporates modern techniques, including latent diffusion models, Llama architectures, and a newly proposed contrastive learning task, which organizes the chemical space into a structured and highly interpretable latent representation. Benchmark studies demonstrate that ECloudGen outperforms state-of-the-art methods by generating more potent binders with superior physiochemical properties and by covering a significantly broader chemical space. The incorporation of electron clouds as latent variables not only improves generative performance but also introduces model-level interpretability, as illustrated in a case study designing V2R inhibitors. Furthermore, ECloudGen’s structurally ordered modeling of chemical space enables the development of a model-agnostic optimizer, extending its utility to molecular optimization tasks. This capability has been validated through a single-objective oracle benchmark and a complex multi-objective optimization scenario involving the redesign of endogenous BRD4 ligands. In conclusion, ECloudGen effectively addresses the Paradox of Sparse Chemical Space Generation through its integration of theoretical insights, advanced generative techniques, and real-world validation. The newly proposed technique of leveraging physical entities (such as electron clouds) as latent variables within a deep learning framework may prove useful for computational biology fields beyond AIDD.
Inducible biosynthesis of bacterial cellulose in recombinantEnterobactersp. FY-07
Authors: Ren Jiaxun , Miao Liangtian , Feng Wei , Ma Ting , Jiang Huifeng
Published: June 2024

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an extracellular polysaccharide with myriad unique properties, such as high purity, water-holding capacity and biocompatibility, making it attractive in materials science. However, genetic engineering techniques for BC-producing microorganisms are rare. Herein, the electroporation-based gene transformation and the λ Red-mediated gene knockout method with a nearly 100% recombination efficiency were established in the fast-growing and BC hyperproducerEnterobactersp. FY-07. This genetic manipulation toolkit was validated by inactivating the protein subunit BcsA in the cellulose synthase complex. Subsequently, the inducible BC-producing strains from glycerol were constructed through inducible expression of the key genefbpin the gluconeogenesis pathway, which recovered more than 80% of the BC production. Finally, the BC properties analysis results indicated that the induced-synthesized BC pellicles were looser, more porous and reduced crystallinity, which could further broaden the application prospects of BC. To our best knowledge, this is the first attempt to construct the completely inducible BC-producing strains. Our work paves the way for increasing BC productivity by metabolic engineering and broadens the available fabrication methods for BC-based advanced functional materials.
Modelling COVID-19 mutant dynamics: understanding the interplay between viral evolution and disease transmission dynamics
Authors: Saldaña Fernando , Stollenwerk Nico , Aguiar Maíra
Published: June 2024

Understanding virus mutations is critical for shaping public health interventions. These mutations lead to complex multi-strain dynamics often underrepresented in models. Aiming to understand the factors influencing variants’ fitness and evolution, we explore several scenarios of virus spreading to gain qualitative insight into the factors dictating which variants ultimately predominate at the population level. To this end, we propose a two-strain stochastic model that accounts for asymptomatic transmission, mutations, and the possibility of disease import. We find that variants with milder symptoms are likely to spread faster than those with severe symptoms. This is because severe variants can prompt affected individuals to seek medical help earlier, potentially leading to quicker identification and isolation of cases. However, milder or asymptomatic cases may spread more widely, making it harder to control the spread. Therefore, increased transmissibility of milder variants can still result in higher hospitalizations and fatalities due to widespread infection. The proposed model highlights the interplay between viral evolution and transmission dynamics. Offering a nuanced view of factors influencing variant spread, the model provides a foundation for further investigation into mitigating strategies and public health interventions.
Black holes in multimetric gravity
Authors: Wood Kieran , Saffin Paul M. , Avgoustidis Anastasios
Published: June 2024

We construct a wide class of black hole solutions to the general theory of ghost-free multimetric gravity in arbitrary spacetime dimension, extending and generalizing the known results in four-dimensional dRGT massive gravity and bigravity. The solutions are split into three generic classes based on whether the metrics can be simultaneously diagonalized—one of which does not exist in dRGT massive gravity nor bigravity, and is only possible when one has more than two interacting metric fields. We also linearize the general multimetric theory to determine the dynamics of the massive spin-2 modes, including examples where this can be done analytically, and use the linear theory to discuss the stability of the four-dimensional multi-Schwarzschild and multi-Kerr solutions. We explain how the instabilities that plague these solutions in dRGT massive gravity and bigravity carry across to the general multimetric theory, touching upon ideas of dimensional deconstruction to make sense of the results.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Ce3Bi4Ni3
– A large hybridization-gap variant of
Ce3Bi4Pt3
Authors: Kirschbaum D. M. , Yan X. , Waas M. , Svagera R. , Prokofiev A. , Stöger B. , Giester G. , Rogl P. , Oprea D.-G. , Felser C. , Valentí R. , Vergniory M. G. , Custers J. , Paschen S. , Zocco D. A.
Published: June 2024

The family of cubic noncentrosymmetric 3-4-3 compounds has become a fertile ground for the discovery of novel correlated metallic and insulating phases. Here, we report the synthesis of a new heavy fermion compound, Ce3Bi4Ni3. It is an isoelectronic analog of the prototypical Kondo insulator Ce3Bi4Pt3 and of the recently discovered Weyl-Kondo semimetal Ce3Bi4Pd3. In contrast to the volume-preserving Pt-Pd substitution, structural and chemical analyses reveal a positive chemical pressure effect in Ce3Bi4Ni3 relative to its heavier counterparts. Based on the results of electrical resistivity, Hall effect, magnetic susceptibility, and specific heat measurements, we identify an energy gap of 65–70 meV, about eight times larger than that in Ce3Bi4Pt3 and about 45 times larger than that of the Kondo-insulating background hosting the Weyl nodes in Ce3Bi4Pd3. We show that this gap as well as other physical properties do not evolve monotonically with increasing atomic number, i.e., in the sequence Ce3Bi4Ni3−Ce3Bi4Pd3−Ce3Bi4Pt3, but instead with increasing partial electronic density of states of the d orbitals at the Fermi energy. This work opens the possibility to investigate the conditions under which topological states develop in this series of strongly correlated 3-4-3 materials.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Simplifying the simulation of local Hamiltonian dynamics
Authors: Usui Ayaka , Sanpera Anna , García Díaz María
Published: June 2024

Local Hamiltonians Hk describe nontrivial k-body interactions in quantum many-body systems. Here, we address the dynamical simulatability of a k-local Hamiltonian by a simpler one Hk′ with k′<k, under the realistic constraint that both Hamiltonians act on the same Hilbert space. When it comes to exact simulation, we build upon known methods to derive examples of Hk and Hk′ that simulate the same physics. We also address the most realistic case of approximate simulation. There, we upper-bound the error up to which a Hamiltonian can simulate another one, regardless of their internal structure, and show an example suggesting that the accuracy of a (k′=2)-local Hamiltonian to simulate Hk with k>2 increases with k. Finally, we propose a method to search for the k′-local Hamiltonian that simulates, with the highest possible precision, the short time dynamics of a given Hk Hamiltonian.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Topological phase diagram of optimally shaken honeycomb lattices: A dual perspective from stroboscopic and nonstroboscopic Floquet Hamiltonians
Authors: Puente-Uriona Álvaro R. , Pettini Giulio , Modugno Michele
Published: June 2024

We present a direct comparison between the stroboscopic and nonstroboscopic effective approaches for ultracold atoms in shaken honeycomb lattices, focusing specifically on the optimal driving introduced by A. Verdeny and F. Mintert []. In the fast-driving regime, we compare the effective nonstroboscopic Hamiltonian derived through a perturbative expansion with a nonperturbative calculation of the stroboscopic Floquet Hamiltonian, obtained through a direct numerical approach. We find that the leading off-diagonal tunneling coefficients, which define the undriven model, retain their isotropic nature under the effect of the driving, and their values are independent of the computational approach used. This consistency ensures the robustness of certain topological properties, such as the position of Dirac points, as expected. Conversely, the next-to-leading diagonal tunneling coefficients, generated dynamically, can vary across different approaches without affecting the system topology. This suggests that the topological phase diagram is most conveniently represented in terms of the physical parameters characterizing the driving and directly accessible in experiments, rather than in terms of the tunneling parameters.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Quantum simulation of the pseudo-Hermitian Landau-Zener-Stückelberg-Majorana effect
Authors: Kivelä Feliks , Dogra Shruti , Paraoanu Gheorghe Sorin
Published: June 2024

While the Hamiltonians used in standard quantum mechanics are Hermitian, it is also possible to extend the theory to non-Hermitian Hamiltonians. Particularly interesting are non-Hermitian Hamiltonians satisfying parity–time (PT) symmetry, or more generally pseudo-Hermiticity, since such non-Hermitian Hamiltonians can still exhibit real eigenvalues. In this article, we present a quantum simulation of the time-dependent non-Hermitian non-PT-symmetric Hamiltonian used in a pseudo-Hermitian extension of the Landau–Zener–Stückelberg–Majorana (LZSM) model. The simulation is implemented on a superconducting processor by using Naimark dilation to transform a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian for one qubit into a Hermitian Hamiltonian for a qubit and an ancilla; postselection on the ancilla state ensures that the qubit undergoes nonunitary time evolution corresponding to the original non-Hermitian Hamiltonian. We observe properties such as the dependence of transition probabilities on time and the replacement of conservation of total probability by other dynamical invariants in agreement with predictions based on a theoretical treatment of the pseudo-Hermitian LZSM system.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Structural analysis of the FERM domain of human protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 21
Authors: Lee Hye Seon , Ku Bonsu , Shin Ho-Cheol , Kim Seung Jun
Published: June 2024

Protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 21 (PTPN21) is a cytosolic protein tyrosine phosphatase that regulates cell growth and invasion. Due to its oncogenic properties, PTPN21 has recently emerged as a potential therapeutic target for cancer. In this study, the three-dimensional structure of the PTPN21 FERM domain was determined at 2.1 Å resolution by X-ray crystallography. The crystal structure showed that this domain harbors canonical FERM folding and consists of three subdomains that are tightly packed via highly conserved intramolecular hydrophobic interactions. Consistent with this, the PTPN21 FERM domain shares high structural homology with several other FERM domains. Moreover, structural superimposition demonstrated two putative protein-binding sites of the PTPN21 FERM domain, which are presumed to be associated with interaction with its binding partner, kinesin family member 1C. Thus, these data suggest that the FERM domain of PTPN21 serves as a module that mediates protein–protein interaction, like other FERM domains.
Chlorido[5,10,15,20-tetrakis(quinoline-7-carboxamido)porphinato]iron(III)
Authors: Yang Jun , Zhang Cuijuan , Chu Jiaxiang
Published: June 2024

The title compound, [Fe(C84H52N12O4)Cl], crystallizes in space group C2/c. The central FeIII cation (site symmetry 2) is coordinated in a fivefold manner, with four pyrrole N atoms of the porphyrin core in the basal sites and one Cl atom (site symmetry 2) in the apical position, which completes a slightly distorted square-pyramidal environment. The porphyrin macrocycle shows a characteristic ruffled-shape distortion and the iron atom is displaced out of the porphyrin plane by 0.42 Å with the average Fe—N distance being 2.054 (4) Å; the Fe—Cl bond length is 2.2042 (7) Å. Intermolecular C—H...N and C—H...O hydrogen bonds occur in the crystal structure.
Response surface methodology and experimental evaluation of the inhibitory properties of corn leaf extract for aluminum corrosion in acid media
Authors: Emereole Justin C , Njoku Chigoziri N , Ikeuba Alexander I , Ekeke Ifenyinwa C , Yakubu Emmanuel , Nkuzinna Ogbonna C , Nnodum Nnamdi A , Nwakaudu Madueke S
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims to develop eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors for aluminum in acidic media by evaluating the corrosion inhibition properties of corn leaf extract (CLE) using response surface methodology (RSM) and experiments.

Design/methodology/approach

The RSM was combined with experiments to evaluate the corrosion inhibition properties of CLE on aluminum in acid media.

Findings

The effectiveness of the inhibition increased with increasing inhibitor concentration and time but decreased with increasing temperature. The corrosion inhibition mechanism revealed the corrosion process is spontaneous exothermic physical adsorption. Thermodynamic parameters revealed an activation energy between 32.1 and 24.7 kJ/mol, energy of adsorption between −14.53 and −65.07 and Gibbs free energy of −10.12 kJ/mol which indicated the CLE exothermically spontaneously physisorbed. A model was generated to estimate the effect of the process parameters (inhibitor concentration, reaction time and temperature) using the RSM. Optimization of the process factors was also carried out using the RSM. The percentage inhibition efficiency obtained experimentally (85.61%) was closely comparable to 84.89% obtained by the theoretical technique (RSM). The SEM observations of the inhibited and uninhibited Al samples demonstrated that CLE is an effective corrosion inhibitor for aluminum in acid media.

Originality/value

Results herein provide novel information on the possible application of CLEs as effective eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors.
Transaction costs and innovation outcomes: lessons from early adopters of housebuilding innovations
Authors: Kavaarpuo Godwin , Tiwari Piyush , Martel Andrew
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the transaction costs (TCs) involved in searching for a business case to adopt specific walling innovations by housing developers and the influence of these TCs on their adoption outcomes. This is against the backdrop that innovation adoption, like any new venture, is failure-prone but necessary for countries to reap the full benefits of technological innovation in residential developments, especially when these innovations are also green. Moreover, this issue is understudied.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a qualitative design and focuses on the early adopting developers in Ghana. The original theoretical framework integrates theories on entrepreneurial opportunity discovery and TC economics. The authors interviewed 12 developers and 13 industry stakeholders purposively identified. The authors analysed and triangulated the resulting transcripts using thematic analysis techniques.

Findings

The authors identified two types of early adopters who attempted eight types of walling innovations. Most efforts (71%) were partially successful or failed. The range of TCs identified differed by the adopter type, technology and knowledge coordination strategy. Although the common TCs that were consequential were associated with monitoring and supervision, construction, additional learning, acquiring specialised skills, design change and dispute resolutions, their influence on adoption outcomes is very nuanced.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is among the first to link TCs with innovation adoption outcomes by housing developers in discovering profitable opportunities to adopt specific walling innovations. The findings and theoretical framework lay a foundation for in-depth analyses of the entrepreneurship of innovation adoption in residential real estate. The exploratory work will generate further interest in this area.
Understanding dynamic capabilities in emerging technology markets: antecedents, sequential nature, and impact on innovation performance in the extended reality industry
Authors: Zabel Christian , O’Brien Daniel
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the role of dynamic capabilities, specifically the sequence of sensing, seizing, and transforming capabilities, in highly uncertain, emerging technology environments. Focusing on the extended reality industry, the study aims to understand the antecedents to these dynamic capabilities, their sequential nature, and their subsequent impact on innovation and company performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a survey of 130 German companies in the extended reality sector, we built a structural equation model that explores the relationship between dynamic capabilities, their antecedents, and their effect on innovation and company performance.

Findings

The analysis suggests that sensing capabilities positively influence seizing and transforming capabilities, while seizing directly contributes to transforming. Transforming capabilities are linked to improved innovation performance, which in turn boosts company performance. Organizational ambidexterity, market orientation, and technology orientation are found to be crucial antecedents, accounting for 33.1% of the variance in sensing capabilities.

Originality/value

This research illuminates the interdependence of dynamic capabilities in highly uncertain business environments, such as emerging technology markets. It contributes original insights by elucidating the sequential nature of dynamic capabilities and identifying their vital antecedents. It also enlarges the understanding of how dynamic capabilities impact firms’ innovation performance.
Enhancing team dynamics through digital coaching: the role of managerial and peer support
Authors: Pietrantoni Luca , Mazzetti Greta , San Román Niaves Mabel , Kubik Rudolf , Giusino Davide , De Angelis Marco
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Although the literature on the effectiveness of team interventions is constantly expanding, there has been a strong focus on the process mechanisms that could explain their success, often overlooking the contextual aspects in which these interventions are carried out. Based on the Context-Mechanism-Outcome framework, this study aims to investigate the influence of contextual factors on the effectiveness of digital team coaching interventions that use social network visualisation to enhance team coordination and reduce interpersonal conflicts.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a multi-wave, longitudinal design, this research analysed 38 work teams from three organisations over three-time points. Data collection focused on manager and peer support, the mechanisms of training transfer and action plan implementation and the outcomes of these interventions. Surveys were administered in three organisations, involving 317 respondents across different phases. The intervention spanned six to eight months, incorporating three to four structured online group sessions. Each session involved a multi-stage process, concluding with a result-oriented action plan about work-related goals. The intervention included social network visualisation, discussions, coaching and continuous refinement of action plans.

Findings

The analysis highlights how manager support significantly correlates with team coordination and performance, mainly when teams are less engaged in implementing action plans. Peer support did not show a mediating effect on training transfer or outcomes but had direct positive impacts on team coordination and performance.

Practical implications

Teams actively implementing action plans may require less immediate managerial support for effective coordination and high performance. The manager’s role becomes crucial, particularly in the early stages of the intervention or in those teams where online coordination alone may not be adequate for action plan implementation. Peer support for training transfer could enhance the effectiveness of the intervention in achieving desired team outcomes; therefore, cultivating a supportive peer environment is crucial for the success of such interventions. Monitoring and assessing team dynamics are vital to maximise the benefits of digital team coaching interventions.

Originality/value

This study stands out for its innovative exploration of the interplay between managerial and peer support in the context of digital team coaching, using social network visualisation as a novel approach to enhancing team dynamics.
Youth empowerment in tobacco control: community-based participatory research in rural Indonesia
Authors: Trisnowati Heni , Ahsan Abdillah , Kramer Elisabeth
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This paper describes the planning and implementation program of Remaja Berdaya Sehat Tanpa Rokok (JayaStar) or Empower Youth Healthy without Smoking (EYHWS). This is a pilot tobacco control program for smoking behavior with a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach in a rural area of Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

This research used the participatory rural appraisal (PRA) method. The paper would describe three stages of the JayaStar program that started from diagnosis, planning action and taking action. Participants in this research were all youths aged 17–25 years including as many as 33 people. The key informants were the village head, the hamlet head, the hamlet head’s wife, the youth leader, health promotion officers at the Pleret Health Center and the Health Promotion Section of the Bantul Health Office.

Findings

The determinants of the youth empowerment process are divided into (1) predisposing factors, (2) group structure and (3) group climate. It has an important role in the success of the youth empowerment process in smoking behavior control. The implementation of the JayaStar program consisted of (1) outbound, and training with the theme of increasing self-potential; (2) training on the impact of cigarettes/vapors on the health of youths; (3) discussion and practice of making health campaign videos; (4) parenting program with the theme of the important role of parents in creating a healthy and superior young generation; (5) declaration and inauguration of JayaStar volunteers.

Originality/value

This research is an example of a successful community-based youth project that resulted in a demonstrable positive outcome. It demonstrates the importance of good relations between stakeholders. The JayaStar movement could be a potential model for youth empowerment projects to control smoking behavior among future generations in Indonesia.
Synthesis and characterization of cellulose Grewia optiva yarn and woven mat using an alkali solution
Authors: Gupta Kanika , Chauhan Nathi Ram
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The production of commodities from renewable organic material has gained enormous interest due to the rising public understanding of conscious development. Natural fibers are accessible in environment, and their parameters depend on their physical traits and chemically engineered makeup. Grewia optiva (GO) comes under the category of bast fibers, also known as Bhimal. This study aims to realize the consequences of alkali treatment on the characterization of natural fibers, their developed yarn and then the woven mat.

Design/methodology/approach

Raw fiber was treated with 20% alkali solution. After treatment, it was evaluated for changes in the general laboratory system. This treatment is known as mercerization, through which the parameters of cellulose fibers can be enhanced. After this process, the content of cellulose increases due to the removal of the hydroxyl group. The removal of microfibrils, hemicellulose and the introduction of hydrogen bonds increase the interactive capacity of fiber. The job was divided into different sections, including acquiring fiber, developing yarn and creating a mat.

Findings

The quality of the surface of the fiber was enhanced after the treatment. Its diameter was reduced to 54.72 microns. In the developed woven mat, it was densified using water treatment and attained grams per square meter (GSM) of 389.7.

Originality/value

The usage of mercerization softens the fiber to twist into yarn, which is finally woven into a mat. Treatment of fabric or mat makes it denser to impart better strength. A woven mat of natural fibers provides maximum strength to the composites.
A corpus-based study of translating idioms from English into Arabic using audio-visual translation
Authors: Mahdi Hassan Saleh , Sahari Yousef
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Audio-visual translation (AVT) is recognized as the most vibrant type of translation. While AVT plays a vital function in the field of translation, its significance within cultural studies hasn’t been thoroughly investigated. This research aims to uncover the predominant techniques employed in translating idiomatic expressions found in subtitled movies from English to Arabic.

Design/methodology/approach

The corpus utilized in the current study consisted of five movies. The dialog in the chosen English films was examined to identify idiomatic expressions. The occurrence and proportion of each approach employed in translating English idioms into Arabic were calculated.

Findings

The findings of this investigation unveiled that the most common technique employed by translators to render idioms was retaining both similar meaning and similar form. The second approach involved maintaining a similar meaning while altering the form. The third method involved paraphrasing for translation. The fourth strategy was compensation-based translation. When dealing with verb and object idioms as well as similes, the predominant techniques were retaining both similar meaning and similar form, followed by a similar meaning but different form approach. Compound idioms were translated using paraphrasing, similar meaning but different form and similar meaning but different form strategies.

Originality/value

The research was constrained to examining the utilization of subtitles for the translation of five films. The films and corresponding Arabic subtitles were obtained and saved in plain text formats. Solely idiomatic expressions were scrutinized to determine the translation approaches employed through the use of subtitles.
Mentoring magic: career calling as a catalyst for tacit knowledge transfer in executive development centers (EDCs)
Authors: Anwar Rana Salman
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The goal of this study was to understand the relationships between mentoring roles, career calling, and the transmission of tacit knowledge in the setting of executive development centers. The purpose of this research was to determine if there is a link between mentoring roles and the transmission of tacit knowledge and, if so, to what extent mentoring structure and culture moderate this link.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a quantitative strategy based on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to examine information gathered from 287 workers at four executive development centers. Mentoring roles, vocational calling, and the transmission of tacit knowledge were quantified using scales derived from existing research.

Findings

Results showed a beneficial association between mentoring roles and vocational interest. Tacit knowledge was more likely to be shared when it was directly related to one’s chosen profession. A person’s vocation mediated the connection between mentoring roles and the transmission of tacit knowledge. Furthermore, the form of mentoring moderated the relationship of mentoring roles and the transfer of tacit knowledge.

Originality/value

This study is novel because it investigates the interplay between mentoring roles, vocational vocation, and the transmission of tacit knowledge in a non-traditional business setting. This research emphasizes the mediating impact of vocation and the moderating effect of mentorship structure in influencing knowledge-sharing practices in Pakistan’s public sector.