bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modulation of GPR133 (ADGRD1) Signaling by its Intracellular Interaction Partner Extended Synaptotagmin 1 (ESYT1)
Authors: Stephan Gabriele , Erdjument-Bromage Hediye , Liu Wenke , Frenster Joshua D. , Ravn-Boess Niklas , Bready Devin , Cai Julia , Fenyo David , Neubert Thomas , Placantonakis Dimitris G.
Published: February 2023

GPR133 (ADGRD1) is an adhesion G protein-coupled receptor that signals through Gαs and is required for growth of glioblastoma (GBM), an aggressive brain malignancy. The regulation of GPR133 signaling is incompletely understood. Here, we use proximity biotinylation proteomics to identify ESYT1, a Ca2+-dependent mediator of endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane bridge formation, as an intracellular interactor of GPR133. ESYT1 knockdown or knockout increases GPR133 signaling, while its overexpression has the opposite effect, without altering GPR133 levels in the plasma membrane. The GPR133-ESYT1 interaction requires the Ca2+-sensing C2C domain of ESYT1. Thapsigargin-mediated increases in cytosolic Ca2+relieve signaling-suppressive effects of ESYT1 by promoting ESYT1-GPR133 dissociation. ESYT1 knockdown or knockout in GBM impairs tumor growthin vitro, suggesting functions of ESYT1 beyond the interaction with GPR133. Our findings suggest a novel mechanism for modulation of GPR133 signaling by increased cytosolic Ca2+, which reduces the signaling-suppressive interaction between GPR133 and ESYT1 to raise cAMP levels.
Self-correction, control and accountability in the ancient Melaka Kingdom (1401–1511 AD)
Authors: Mustafa Hasri , Ibrahim Mohd Ikhwan
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the governance structure in the ancient Melaka Kingdom (1401–1511 AD) using historical Hukum Kanun Melaka (the Land Law) and Undang-Undang Laut Melaka (the Maritime Law). The focus is on self-correction, control and accountability that were used to preserve the peace and well-being of society and the overall harmony of the community during the period.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs close readings to discover and identify implicit formal and thematic elements of the texts into a meaningful enactment. The study is based on historical archival research at the National Archives of Malaysia and at the National Library of Malaysia.

Findings

Though classical, the underlying accounting practices were shown to consummate in an articulated model of measurement activities based on specific proportion of gold in tahil measurement, used for slaves, free men and stolen animal and property value. Controls were established through punishment and penalty. Accountability functioned in different levels and degrees hierarchically and horizontally.

Research limitations/implications

The study excludes the improved sections of the laws that are based on the Islamic perspective. The discussion is limited to the indigenous adat sections of laws only although the sections may inseparable with the Hindu/Buddhist tradition.

Originality/value

A study of these classical laws would be a reference for accounting publication in the Malay world which has been stationed in the gallery for many years, awaiting discovery.
Joint modeling method of question intent detection and slot filling for domain-oriented question answering system
Authors: Wang Huiyong , Yang Ding , Guo Liang , Zhang Xiaoming
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Intent detection and slot filling are two important tasks in question comprehension of a question answering system. This study aims to build a joint task model with some generalization ability and benchmark its performance over other neural network models mentioned in this paper.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a deep-learning-based approach for the joint modeling of question intent detection and slot filling. Meanwhile, the internal cell structure of the long short-term memory (LSTM) network was improved. Furthermore, the dataset Computer Science Literature Question (CSLQ) was constructed based on the Science and Technology Knowledge Graph. The datasets Airline Travel Information Systems, Snips (a natural language processing dataset of the consumer intent engine collected by Snips) and CSLQ were used for the empirical analysis. The accuracy of intent detection and F1 score of slot filling, as well as the semantic accuracy of sentences, were compared for several models.

Findings

The results showed that the proposed model outperformed all other benchmark methods, especially for the CSLQ dataset. This proves that the design of this study improved the comprehensive performance and generalization ability of the model to some extent.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the understanding of question sentences in a specific domain. LSTM was improved, and a computer literature domain dataset was constructed herein. This will lay the data and model foundation for the future construction of a computer literature question answering system.
Motivational cultural intelligence and well-being in cross-cultural workplaces: a study of migrant workers in Taiwan
Authors: Yang Conna
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study sought to advance understandings of migrant worker labor outcomes by examining (1) the relationship between migrant employees’ motivational cultural intelligence (CQ) and employee well-being and (2) whether voice behavior at work mediates this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Working with leader–member exchange (LMX) theory and conservation of resources theory, the author proposed a multiple mediation model to explain the relationship between motivational CQ and employee outcomes and how employee voice may mediate this relationship. LMX and voice behavior were tested for the mediating effects in a cross-cultural context. To test the model, a questionnaire was conducted with Vietnamese migrants working in Taiwan (343 valid responses were collected). The results were analyzed using regression and bootstrapping.

Findings

Higher motivational CQ was associated with higher levels of work engagement and lower levels of job burnout. Strong employee voice mediated this relationship: high motivational CQ enabled workers to learn cultural nuances that helped them speak up in appropriate ways (in part by building strong relationships with leaders), which positively influenced work engagement and job burnout.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to clarify and contribute to the research domain of cross-cultural management and motivational CQ among Vietnamese migrant workers living in Asian cultures. Past studies regarding CQ have seldom studied Southeast Asian migrant workers and the impact of motivational CQ on job burnout and work engagement. This study fills this gap and provides empirical evidence that may prove helpful for international human resources and organizational leaders.
The impact of COVID-19 restrictions on audit fees and audit delay: evidence from auditor local offices
Authors: Harjoto Maretno Agus , Laksmana Indrarini
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of COVID-19 public health restrictions on audit fees and audit delay at the auditor local office level.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors take advantage of the availability of the state-by-state lockdown data to measure the degree of public health restrictions in auditor office locations. Using multivariate regression analysis, this study empirically investigates the impact of the length of lockdown in auditors’ office locations on audit fees and audit delay. The authors also examine whether office-level characteristics (i.e. office size and office-level client importance) moderate the association between the length of statewide lockdown and both audit fees and audit delay.

Findings

The authors find that a longer lockdown in auditors’ office locations is associated with higher audit fees and longer audit delay. The increase in audit fees and audit delay due to lockdown is higher for clients of larger local offices than those of smaller offices. In contrast, the positive impact of lockdown on audit fees and audit delay is less for more economically significant clients of an auditor office than that for less significant clients. Smaller clients are more likely to bear the higher cost of audits and experience longer audit delay during the pandemic.

Originality/value

The results suggest that COVID-19 restrictions have forced auditors to change the nature, scope and timing of their tests, resulting in higher audit fees and longer delays in completing audit engagements. Beyond the main effect of lockdowns on audit fees and audit delay, the study finds evidence of the moderating effect of auditor office size and office-level client importance, providing some insights on how auditor local offices cope with COVID-19 restrictions.
Creating resource passageways in cross-cultural virtual work teams: a longitudinal field study
Authors: Kaur Prabhjot , Prashar Anupama , Bhatnagar Jyotsna
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Lens of conservation of resources (COR) theory has been used to study how organizations can create resource passageways for their employees via managers. This has been examined in cross-cultural virtual work teams distributed across time and space within the high-resource loss context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Longitudinal field design was used in a transnational organization involving data collection at three times over eight months. At Time 1, qualitative methodology was used to propose a conceptual model. At Time 2 and Time 3, an online survey was used to collect data for 205 virtual work teams across 10 countries in the Asia–Pacific region pre and post “manager as coach” training respectively.

Findings

Using COR theory, the study highlights that “manager as coach” training is an effective resource for managers in the high resource depletion context of the pandemic. Access to timely support increases saliency for the resource-gain spiral and has a cross-over impact on virtual work team outcomes suggesting transferability of resources from managers to subordinates. Also, managers across all nationalities view coaching training as an equally valuable resource.

Practical implications

The study provides evidence for investment in timely and relevant support for managers to positively and swiftly impact virtual work teams during high-resource loss contexts.

Originality/value

The study expands COR crossover theory across space and time dimensions using a longitudinal field research design.
Altered trait covariances between invasive and native ranges of a global plant invader
Authors: Chen Xincong , Liu Wenwen , Zhang Yuan‐Ye , Zhang Yihui
Published: February 2023

Increasing evidence suggests that invasive populations adapt to the novel environments rapidly, and the ability of rapid adaptation depends on genetically‐based trait variation and covariation. However, few studies have investigated the trait covariance in the native and invasive ranges. Such investigation will give a more comprehensive picture of how historical contingency and adaptation shape invasiveness, contributing to the prediction of future invasion dynamics.

Here, we collected seven and nine populations alongside latitudes from invasive and native ranges of a global invasive plant, Spartina alterniflora, and planted them in two common gardens at the southernmost and northernmost sites of the invasive range. We measured plant traits, including the first flowering time, plant height and seed set, and analysed how these traits varied with garden sites and populations' origin latitudes and how their covariance changed between ranges.

We found that plants flowered later, grew taller and set more seeds in the high‐latitude garden than the low‐latitude one. The growth and expression of genetic variation of traits appeared to be limited by high ambient temperature in the low‐latitude garden. In the high‐latitude garden, the flowering time of populations showed clinal variation for both invasive and native populations, whereas the plant height and seed set showed clinal variation only for native or invasive populations. From the native to the invasive range, the flowering time and seed set developed negative genetic covariance, and flowering time and plant height changed from negative genetically correlated to uncorrelated.

Our results suggested that S. alterniflora has experienced rapid adaptation to clinal and local conditions over the 40‐year invasion. Such geographic‐scale rapid adaptation appeared to have benefited from previously identified genetic admixture that has released the trait covariance. Our study highlights the importance of integrating full‐range geographical surveys with introduction history to understand the potential and mechanisms of trait evolution during invasion.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
The RNase III enzyme Dicer1 is essential for larval development in Bombyx mori
Authors: Chen Dongbin , Yang Xu , Yang Dehong , Liu Yujia , Wang Yaohui , Luo Xingyu , Tang Linmeng , Yi Meiyan , Huang Yongping , Liu Yanqun , Liu Zulian
Published: February 2023

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of nearly all aspects of biological processes in eukaryotes. During the biogenesis of miRNAs, the RNase III enzyme Dicer processes double‐strand precursor miRNAs into mature miRNAs and promotes the assembly of RNA‐induced silencing complexes (RISCs). Dicer has been reported to participate in a wide range of physiological processes, including development and immunity, in some insect species. However, the physiological roles of Dicer in lepidopterans remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the function of Bombyx mori Dicer1. We first performed sequence alignment and found that the sequence of functional domains of Dicer1 are varied among Lepidoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, Blattaria, and Orthoptera. Using a binary clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) / CRISPR‐associated protein 9 genome editing approach, we showed that BmDicer1 mutants have arrested development from the 3rd instar into the 4th instar. RNA sequencing analysis indicated that the defects in BmDicer1 mutants are due to dysregulation of genes that encode proteins involved in metabolism, protein degradation, absorption, and renin–angiotensin pathways. Analysis using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction showed that mutation of BmDicer1 altered expression of miRNAs and their target genes. Therefore, our study demonstrates the critical roles of BmDicer1 in miRNA biogenesis and larval development in silkworm.
The Matthew effect, research productivity, and the dynamic allocation of NIH grants
Authors: Qiu Y. J. Jeff
Published: February 2023

Funding is important for research. However, research funding may suffer from the Matthew effect: the more researchers already have, the more they will be given. I develop an empirical framework to study how the National Institutes of Health (NIH) could allocate funding in a dynamically optimal manner by balancing funds between young and veteran principal investigators (PIs). I find that the discount factor that rationalizes NIH's funding behavior is about 0.75, implying it may underfund young PIs. Moreover, a temporary funding cut would have long‐lasting effects on overall research output through its adverse impact on investment in young PIs.
S‐adenosylmethionine synthase (BtSAMS) from Balsas teosinte confers resistance to peach aphids in Arabidopsis
Authors: Yang Liyan , Yang Xiaolan , Gao Yuan
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this study was to clone S‐adenosylmethionine synthase (BtSAMS) from Balsas teosinte (Zea mays ssp. parviglumis) and investigate its function via heterologous expression in Arabidopsis plants. The BtSAMS coding sequence was cloned and its length is 1185 bp. The expression of BtSAMS in Z. mays ssp. parviglumis was a 12.2‐fold increase after aphid infestation. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants heterologously expressing BtSAMS were generated and their morphological characters were observed. A prolonged vegetative growth period was displayed by BtSAMS‐OX plants. The more and longer trichomes were observed on the upper surface of BtSAMS seedlings. The ethylene content in BtSAMS‐OX plants was not significantly different compared with the untransformed controls. These BtSAMS‐OX transgenic plants showed greater resistance to peach aphids compared with the untransformed control plants. Peach aphids appeared to prefer the untransformed controls in that aphids number reduced by more than 50% on BtSAMS plants compared to controls. When sprayed with the insecticide avi‐imidacloprid, the number of peach aphids decreased on BtSAMS‐OX plants and untransformed controls by 91.6% and 80.5%, respectively. Peach aphids also showed lower reproduction ability when forced to feed on the transgenic plants. The number of newly born nymphs on BtSAMS plants was less than 50% of that on the untransformed control. We therefore propose that BtSAMS may be a suitable candidate gene to confer resistance to peach aphids in plants.
Grouped follicular secondary syphilis: Case report and review of literature
Authors: Saal Ryan C. , Borda Luis J. , Pariser Robert J.
Published: February 2023

Secondary syphilis typically presents with macular, maculopapular or papular lesions, sometimes with systemic symptoms; however, there are some less common cutaneous presentations which can result in several differential diagnoses. We report the case of a 25‐year‐old man with the recent onset of a symmetric eruption of grouped follicular papules, for which syphilis was not originally considered. Histopathology revealed non‐caseating granulomas with a lichenoid infiltrate. Subsequent spirochete immunostaining was positive, and further physical examination revealed moth‐eaten alopecia, confirming the diagnosis of secondary syphilis.
Excavating Racial Capitalism in London's West India Docks
Authors: Legg George
Published: February 2023

Focusing on the construction of London's West India Docks in 1802, I argue that this project established a feedback loop with conditions of production in the Caribbean. Through an analysis of committee minutes, letters, parliamentary papers and visual art, I move beyond economic accounts of slavery's impact to demonstrate how geographies of security and surveillance—first developed on the sugar plantation—were imported into the design and function of London's port. As such, I argue that London's docks produced a geography of segregation which offers a unique insight into the workings of racial capitalism and its exploitation of group‐differentiated vulnerabilities. Positioning my discussion alongside London's contemporary landscape, I excavate Britain's repressed memories of slavery to illustrate how they still scar the urban environment.
Characteristics and outcome of primary resistant disease in paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia
Authors: Karlsson Lene , Cheuk Daniel , De Moerloose Barbara , Hasle Henrik , Jahnukainen Kirsi , Juul‐Dam Kristian Løvvik , Kaspers Gertjan , Kovalova Zanna , Lausen Birgitte , Nyström Ulrika Norén , Palle Josefine , Pronk Cornelis Jan , Saks Kadri , Tierens Anne , Zeller Bernward , Abrahamsson Jonas
Published: February 2023

A significant proportion of events in paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) are caused by resistant disease (RD). We investigated clinical and biological characteristics in 66 patients with RD from 1013 children with AML registered and treated according to the NOPHO‐AML 93, NOPHO‐AML 2004, DB AML‐01 and NOPHO‐DBH AML 2012 protocols. Risk factors for RD were age10 years or older and a white‐blood‐cell count (WBC) of 100 × 109/L or more at diagnosis. The five‐year overall survival (OS) was 38% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 28%–52%). Of the 63 children that received salvage therapy with chemotherapy, 59% (N = 37) achieved complete remission (CR) with OS 57% (95% CI: 42%–75%) compared to 12% (95% CI: 4%–35%) for children that did not achieve CR. Giving more than two salvage chemotherapy courses did not increase CR rates. OS for all 43 patients receiving allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was 49% (95% CI: 36%–66%). Those achieving CR and proceeding to HSCT had an OS of 56% (95% CI: 41%–77%, N = 30). This study showed that almost 40% of children with primary resistant AML can be cured with salvage therapy followed by HSCT. Children that did not achieve CR after two salvage courses with chemotherapy did not benefit from additional chemotherapy.
Efficacy of an appearance‐based and a health‐based sun protection intervention on summer vacationers' behaviours, PRISME cluster randomized crossover trial, France
Authors: Durand Cécile , Magloire Lyvia , Cousson‐Gélie Florence , Bord Apolline , Saboni Leïla , Zeghnoun Abdelkrim , Lepage Benoit , Richard Jean‐Baptiste , Catelinois Olivier , Mouly Damien , Delpierre Cyrille
Published: February 2023

Objectives

Sun‐seeking vacationers are particularly vulnerable to melanoma. Appearance‐based interventions (ABi) showing skin damage of ultraviolet exposure may be a promising prevention tool to improve skin protection. This study aimed to measure and compare the efficacy of an ABi and a health‐based intervention (HBi) on French summer vacationers' behaviours and to identify differences between subpopulations.

Design

A cluster randomized crossover trial with three intervention groups (control, ABi, HBi) was conducted in eight campsites on the French Mediterranean coast in summer 2019.

Methods

1355 vacationers of both sexes and aged 12–55 years were included and followed up after 4 days (T1) and 14 months (T2). Efficacy of interventions was evaluated using multilevel mixed‐effect models comparing groups on three outcomes: self‐reported sun protection behaviours, sunbathing and skin colour measures. Protection behaviours were analysed according to subpopulations.

Results

Compared to controls, the ABi group had a higher protection and sunbathed for fewer hours at T1 and T2. In the HBi group, the skin colour was lighter than controls at T1. When comparing ABi to HBi, ABi participants had lower exposure than HBi at T1 and T2. The protection of people with a 3‐years university degree was higher in the HBi group than in others groups while that of people with a secondary school certificate was higher in the ABi group.

Conclusions

Our study provides further evidence of individual sun protection interventions effect in a touristic setting and highlights the relevance of ABi messages to supplement HBi messages, particularly in certain subpopulations with low to intermediate education levels.
Nucleolar stress: Molecular mechanisms and related human diseases
Authors: Maehama Tomohiko , Nishio Miki , Otani Junji , Mak Tak Wah , Suzuki Akira
Published: February 2023

Ribosome biogenesis in the nucleolus is an important process that consumes 80% of a cell's intracellular energy supply. Disruption of this process results in nucleolar stress, triggering the activation of molecular systems that respond to this stress to maintain homeostasis. Although nucleolar stress was originally thought to be caused solely by abnormalities of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and ribosomal proteins (RPs), an accumulating body of more current evidence suggests that many other factors, including the DNA damage response and oncogenic stress, are also involved in nucleolar stress response signaling. Cells reacting to nucleolar stress undergo cell cycle arrest or programmed death, mainly driven by activation of the tumor suppressor p53. This observation has nominated nucleolar stress as a promising target for cancer therapy. However, paradoxically, some RP mutations have also been implicated in cancer initiation and progression, necessitating caution. In this article, we summarize recent findings on the molecular mechanisms of nucleolar stress and the human ribosomal diseases and cancers that arise in its wake.
Ginsenoside Rg5 attenuates hypoxia‐induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis via regulating the Akt pathway
Authors: Wang Chenxi , Huang Chenyang , Wang Jiali , Ye Jianfeng , Xue Zhiqiang , Zhang Jian , Ren Yuke
Published: February 2023

Ginsenoside Rg5 has been implicated in a variety of diseases. However, it is unknown whether Ginsenoside Rg5 can protect against hypoxia‐induced neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRMs). The purpose of this study was to look into the effect of Ginsenoside Rg5 on hypoxia‐induced NRMs apoptosis as well as the underlying molecular mechanism. In this study, following isolation and culture of ventricular myocardial cells from neonatal rats, the appropriate concentration of Rg5 was determined using the MTT assay, the effect of Rg5 on apoptosis was assessed employing TUNEL staining and flow cytometry assays. Levels of apoptosis‐related proteins and phosphorylated level of Akt (ser 473 and ser 308) were analyzed using the western blot analysis. Finally, the experimental results shown that Ginsenoside Rg5 significantly inhibited hypoxia‐induced NRMs apoptosis, decreased the expression pro‐apoptotic protein Bax, increased the expression of anti‐apoptotic protein Bcl‐2 ratio and the level of cleaved caspase 3. Akt signaling activation was found to be the mechanism of Ginsenoside Rg5s protective effect on hypoxia‐induced NRMs apoptosis, as an Akt inhibitor eliminated the anti‐apoptotic effects of Ginsenoside Rg5. Various analyses were performed and verified, ginsenoside Rg5 suppressed hypoxia‐induced apoptosis in NRMs via activation of the Akt signaling.
Bondholder representatives on bank boards: A device for market discipline
Authors: Distinguin Isabelle , Lepetit Laetitia , Strobel Frank , Tran Phan Huy Hieu
Published: February 2023

We examine whether board representation of bondholders can be an effective market discipline mechanism to reduce bank risk, using a unique dataset combining information on bondholders and boards of directors of European listed banks. Our results show that the influence of bondholder representatives on the bank board significantly reduces bank risk without impacting profitability. The beneficial effect of this market discipline mechanism is stronger when bondholder representatives have regulatory experience, current or long relationships with their affiliated bondholders, and for more complex banks. In contrast, the reducing impact on bank risk is smaller for banks with lower capitalization levels.
The undetectability of global biodiversity trends using local species richness
Authors: Valdez Jose W. , Callaghan Corey T. , Junker Jessica , Purvis Andy , Hill Samantha L. L. , Pereira Henrique M.
Published: February 2023

Although species are being lost at alarming rates, previous research has provided conflicting results on the extent and even direction of global biodiversity change at the local scale. Here, we assessed the ability to detect global biodiversity trends using local species richness and how it is affected by the number of monitoring sites, sampling interval (i.e. time between original survey and re‐survey of the site), measurement error (error of the measurement of the local species richness), spatial grain of monitoring (a proxy for the taxa mobility) and spatial sampling biases (i.e. site‐selection biases). We use PREDICTS model‐based estimates as a proxy for the real‐world distribution of biodiversity and randomly selected monitoring sites to calculate local species richness trends. We found that while a monitoring network with hundreds of sites could detect global change in species richness within a 30‐year period, the number of sites for detecting trends doubled for a decade, increased 10‐fold within three years and yearly trends were undetectable. Measurement errors had a non‐linear effect on statistical power, with a 1% error reducing statistical power by a slight margin and a 5% error drastically reducing the power to reliably detect any trend. The ability to detect global change in local species richness was also related to spatial grain, making it harder to detect trends for sites sampled at smaller plot sizes. Spatial sampling biases not only reduced the ability to detect negative global biodiversity trends but sometimes yielded positive trends. We conclude that detecting accurate global biodiversity trends using local richness may simply be unfeasible with current approaches. We suggest that monitoring a representative network of sites implemented at the national level, combined with models accounting for errors and biases, can help improve our understanding of global biodiversity change.
Cyclic adaptive cohesive zone model to simulate ductile crack propagation in steel structures due to ultra‐low cycle fatigue
Authors: Ziccarelli Andy , Kanvinde Amit , Deierlein Gregory
Published: February 2023

Micromechanics‐based continuum damage criteria have previously been developed to simulate the initiation of ductile fracture in structural steels under conditions with large‐scale plasticity where conventional fracture mechanics indices are invalid. Such models have been combined with methods to simulate ductile crack growth for monotonic loading. In this study, a micromechanics‐based adaptive cohesive zone model for simulating ductile crack propagation under monotonic loading is extended to handle cyclic loading. The proposed model adaptively modifies the cohesive traction–separation relationship for crack opening and closure, as the loading reverses between tension and compression. The approach is implemented into the finite element analysis platform WARP3D, and results of simulations that use the model are compared with data from coupon‐scale tests. The results demonstrate that the proposed model can accurately simulate the effect of crack propagation on specimen response, as well as other key aspects of observed behavior, including crack face closure and crack tunneling.
Effect of particle size and shape of diluent on the reaction process of combustion synthesis of α‐Si3N4 powder
Authors: Wang Liang , Yang Zengchao , Li Jiangtao
Published: February 2023

α‐Si3N4 powder was prepared by combustion synthesis using different particle sizes and shapes of Si3N4 diluent. The effects of different diluents on combustion temperature, phase composition, and microstructure of the product were investigated. The role of diluents in combustion synthesis is discussed. When no ammonium salt was added, because of the higher reaction temperature, the phase transformation of the fine particle diluent with the best barrier effect was also enhanced, and the α content of the product was the lowest. When the ammonium salt is added, the liquid phase Si content decreases at high temperatures, the lower reaction temperature and the Si3N4 generated before Si melting make the barrier effect of the diluent fully play. Finally, Si3N4 powder with 86% α content was synthesized by combustion with 2 μm Si3N4 diluent.
Epigenomic variability is associated with age‐specific naïve CD4 T cell response to activation in infants and adolescents
Authors: Imran Samira , Neeland Melanie R , Martino David J. , Peng Stephen , Koplin Jennifer , Dharmage Shyamali C , Tang Mimi LK , Sawyer Susan , Dang Thanh , McWilliam Vicki , Peters Rachel L , Prescott Susan , Perrett Kirsten P , Novakovic Boris , Saffery Richard
Published: February 2023

Childhood is a critical period of immune development. During this time, naïve CD4 (nCD4) T cells undergo programmed cell differentiation, mediated by epigenetic changes, in response to external stimuli leading to a baseline homeostatic state that may determine lifelong disease risk. However, the ontogeny of epigenetic signatures associated with CD4 T cell activation during key developmental periods are yet to be described. We investigated genome‐wide DNA methylation (DNAm) changes associated with nCD4 T activation following 72 h culture in media+anti‐CD3/CD28 beads in healthy infants (aged 12 months, n = 18) and adolescents (aged 10–15 years, n = 15). We integrated these data with transcriptomic and cytokine profiling from the same samples. nCD4 T cells from both age groups show similar extensive epigenetic reprogramming following activation, with the majority of genes involved in the T cell receptor signaling pathway associated with differential methylation. Additionally, we identified differentially methylated probes showing age‐specific responses, that is, responses in only infants or adolescents, including within a cluster of T cell receptor (TCR) genes. These encoded several TCR alpha joining (TRAJ), and TCR alpha variable (TRAV) genes. Cytokine data analysis following stimulation revealed enhanced release of IFN‐γ, IL‐2 and IL‐10, in nCD4 T cells from adolescents compared with infants. Overlapping differential methylation and cytokine responses identified four probes potentially underpinning these age‐specific responses. We show that DNAm in nCD4T cells in response to activation is dynamic in infancy and adolescence, with additional evidence for age‐specific effects potentially driving variation in cytokine responses between these ages.
Experiences of families and health professionals along the care continuum for low‐birth weight neonates: A constructivist grounded theory study
Authors: Schuler Christina , Waldboth Veronika , Ntow George Edward , Agbozo Faith
Published: February 2023

Aims

To explore the experiences of health professionals and families concerning supporting low‐birth weight (LBW) infants along the continuum of care (CoC) in Ghana with the goal to unveil new strategies to improve the quality of neonatal care.

Design

A constructivist grounded theory.

Method

Simultaneous data collection and analysis among health professionals alongside families with LBW infants from September 2020 to April 2021. The study used constructivist grounded theory strategies for data collection and analysis.

Results

The analysis of 25 interviews resulted in a theoretical model describing 10 themes along the CoC for LBW infants, categorized into health and family systems drivers. In this paper, we focus on the latter. Early bonding and family involvement were empowering. Mothers needed assistance in balancing hope and confidence which enabled them to render special care to their LBW infants. Providing mothers with financial and domestic support as well as creating awareness on newborn health in communities were important.

Conclusion

To achieve family involvement, a coordinated CoC must entail key players and be culturally inclusive. It must be applied at all levels in the CoC process in a non‐linear faction. This can help LBW infants to thrive and to reach their full developmental potential.

Impact

The theoretical model developed shows the importance of family involvement through family systems care for a comprehensive response in addressing needs of health professionals and families with LBW infants and bridging the fragmentations in the neonatal CoC in Ghana. Context‐tailored research on family systems care in the neonatal period is necessary to achieve a quality CoC for LBW infants and their families.

Patient or Public Contribution

Caregivers and providers participated by granting in‐depth interviews. Care providers further contributed through their feedback on preliminary findings.
Flooding time nomograph for urban river flood prediction: Case study of Dorim stream basin, Seoul
Authors: Moon Hyeontae , Yoon Sunkwon , Lee Junghwan , Choi Jihyeok , Moon Young‐Il
Published: February 2023

Global climate change is intensifying flood damage in urban rivers. Notably, most small and medium‐sized urban rivers have a brief concentration period and are highly vulnerable to sudden heavy rains that lead to a rapid increase in water levels. Therefore, rapid flood forecasting must be performed through accurate flood occurrence and timing prediction. In this study, a flooding time nomograph (FTN) was proposed to predict the flood occurrence time according to rainfall conditions, such as intensity, time distribution, and duration. In addition, rainfall–runoff simulations were performed by establishing different virtual rainfall scenarios using Huff's quartile rainfall time distribution. The simulation results were used to formulate the relationship between the rainfall intensity and flood occurrence time to generate the FTN. The applicability of this tool was verified through a comparison with the observed flood occurrence time for an actual rainfall event, which was highly accurate in the target watershed, with a correlation coefficient >0.8 and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency >0.6. Therefore, the proposed FTN can be used to reasonably predict the occurrence of floods and the time of flood occurrence using only predicted rainfall information.
Moral distress reduction using moral case deliberation in Japan: A mixed‐methods study
Authors: Ashida Kaoru , Kawashima Tetsuharu , Molewijk Albert C. , de Snoo‐Trimp Janine C. , Kawakami Aki , Tanaka Makoto
Published: February 2023

Aims

This study aims to develop and examine the effectiveness of a support program for reducing moral distress of nurses, based on the moral case deliberation methodology, and to study the feasibility of its implementation.

Methods

Study design was an intervention study with pre/post‐comparison. The support program included a short lecture and three moral case deliberation sessions for nurses working in an acute care hospital. The Measure of Moral Distress for Healthcare Professionals (MMD‐HP) and the Euro‐MCD (Moral Case Deliberation) 2.0 scale were used for pre/post‐comparison, using the Wilcoxon's signed‐rank test. Furthermore, post‐intervention interviews were conducted with consenting participants to determine the reasons for changes in pre/post‐intervention quantitative data. Of the 34 participants, 29 completed the post‐questionnaire and were included in the quantitative data analysis, and 27 were included in the qualitative data analysis.

Results

The mean MMD‐HP total scores increased from 147.5 ± 61.0 to 159.3 ± 66.7, but not significantly (p = .375). The mean score of moral competence, a sub‐scale of the Euro‐MCD 2.0, increased significantly from 15.4 ± 2.4 to 16.4 ± 2.8 after the intervention (p = .036). A qualitative analysis revealed increased moral sensitivity to ethically difficult situations and improved analytical skills as the reasons for change in scores pre/post‐intervention.

Conclusion

The results of the qualitative analysis suggested the effectiveness of the intervention. The moral distress score increased, although not significantly, and moral competence also increased, suggesting the participants' values changed after the intervention. It was found that the support program using MCD is expected to improve participants' moral competence.
Study of platelet‐rich plasma application for skin and plastic surgery in recent 20 years: A bibliometric analysis
Authors: Li Xianhui , Gao Junqing , Zheng Haishan , Zou Chengyou , Yu Zhuoan , Wu Zouping , Zhang Jiasheng
Published: February 2023

Background

In recent years, platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) has been used in plastic surgery, dermatology, and other treatment procedures worldwide. Since the number of scientific writings has been significantly increasing, it is challenging to generate a manual compilation and systematic review of PRP's therapeutic applications in dermatology and plastic surgeries. This study aimed to make a bibliometric analysis of the literature in the field and evaluate research hotspots and frontiers in this field in the past 20 years.

Methods

Using the Academic Search Premier and ScienceDirect defined search terms, we searched the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and Scopus databases. All data were analyzed using CiteSpace 5.8.R3 and VOSviewer, including countries, institutions, authors, keywords, cited authors, cited journals, cited references, discovered research hotspots, and frontiers.

Results

A total of 1931 studies were retrieved. The number of publications on PRP application in dermatology and plastic surgeries showed a yearly increase. The United States was the most significant contributor to this field, while Italy's contribution was noteworthy. The journal with the highest number of relevant articles in dermatology and plastic surgery included the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. However, the Wound Repair and Regeneration and International Journal of Molecular Sciences were the leading journals that should be paid attention to in the future. Author Anitua E from the Tor Vergata University of Rome published the most publications in this field. In the keyword co‐occurrence analysis, all keywords were divided into six clusters, and the most common one in recent years was “PRP for facial beauty.” Facial rejuvenation, scar, and alopecia were the main hotspots and research trends in this field.

Conclusions

Based on the current global trends, the use of PRP in cosmetics and skin care is receiving increasing attention from researchers and clinicians. Recently, an increasing number of articles on PRP's application in skin tissue repair have been published in the United States and Italy. The number of studies on hair loss, facial rejuvenation, and scar management is increasing, suggesting that these subjects may become research hotspots for PRP in dermatology and cosmetic surgeries in recent years.
Current status and molecular biology of human papillomavirus‐independent gastric‐type adenocarcinoma of the cervix
Authors: Nishio Shin
Published: February 2023

This article reviews the findings of clinical studies on gastric‐type adenocarcinoma of the cervix to date, outline the molecular biological features identified in recent studies, and discusses the future therapeutic strategies. Gastric‐type adenocarcinoma of the cervix is a new classification in the World Health Organization 2014 classification. The World Health Organization 2020 classification further divides cervical tumors into two categories: human papillomavirus‐associated and human papillomavirus‐independent. Thus, gastric‐type adenocarcinoma of the cervix is now classified as a human papillomavirus‐independent gastric type. Clinical studies have reported that gastric adenocarcinoma of the cervix is refractory to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and it is desirable to elucidate its molecular biological mechanism. A series of gene mutations characteristic to the gastric‐type adenocarcinoma of the cervix encourage the development of future treatment strategies.
Phytopathogenic bacteria utilize host glucose as a signal to stimulate virulence through LuxR homologues
Authors: Zhang Siyuan , Kan Jinhong , Liu Xin , Wu Yao , Zhang Mingyang , Ou Jinqing , Wang Juan , An Lin , Li Defeng , Wang Li , Wang Xiu‐Jie , Fang Rongxiang , Jia Yantao
Published: February 2023

Chemical signal‐mediated biological communication is common within bacteria and between bacteria and their hosts. Many plant‐associated bacteria respond to unknown plant compounds to regulate bacterial gene expression. However, the nature of the plant compounds that mediate such interkingdom communication and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly characterized. Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) causes black rot disease on brassica vegetables. Xcc contains an orphan LuxR regulator (XccR) which senses a plant signal that was validated to be glucose by HPLC‐MS. The glucose concentration increases in apoplast fluid after Xcc infection, which is caused by the enhanced activity of plant sugar transporters translocating sugar and cell‐wall invertases releasing glucose from sucrose. XccR recruits glucose, but not fructose, sucrose, glucose 6‐phosphate, and UDP‐glucose, to activate pip expression. Deletion of the bacterial glucose transporter gene sglT impaired pathogen virulence and pip expression. Structural prediction showed that the N‐terminal domain of XccR forms an alternative pocket neighbouring the AHL‐binding pocket for glucose docking. Substitution of three residues affecting structural stability abolished the ability of XccR to bind to the luxXc box in the pip promoter. Several other XccR homologues from plant‐associated bacteria can also form stable complexes with glucose, indicating that glucose may function as a common signal molecule for pathogen–plant interactions. The conservation of a glucose/XccR/pip‐like system in plant‐associated bacteria suggests that some phytopathogens have evolved the ability to utilize host compounds as virulence signals, indicating that LuxRs mediate an interkingdom signalling circuit.
Studies in Photoelastic Stress Determination
Authors: Weibel E. E.
Published: February 2023

This paper covers three laboratory studies in photoelastic stress determination.

The first of these is an investigation of the strain-creep characteristics of bakelite and phenolite. It was undertaken in the belief that the information to be obtained would indicate how closely the behavior of these materials under load approached the theoretical proportionality of strain to stress; the significance of exact knowledge of the degree to which this relationship holds true being that the deduction of stress distribution in structural materials by photoelastic means is based on the assumption that the photoelastic specimen does conform to Hooke’s law. The tests performed are described in detail and from the results it is concluded that with these materials the departure from the Hooke’s law stress-strain relationship is exceedingly small and does not vary with time of loading within a two-hour period.

The second study was undertaken in the belief that more accurate information regarding stress concentration at points of sharp change in sections of machine parts could be obtained with bakelite and phenolite and the monochromatic fringe-photograph method than obtained previously with celluloid models. The paper describes the methods used in testing for both tension and bending and includes fringe photographs illustrating the changes in stress distribution for different ratios of fillet radius to the width of the narrow section of the specimen. From these tests the author has established the values of the stress concentration factor, in both tension and bending, for a considerable range of the fillet-width ratio.

The third study as set forth in this paper is the application of the membrane analogy in conjunction with the photoelastic results to the determination of stresses in a specimen subjected to bending. A soap film, used as the membrane, was enclosed by a frame of same shape as the specimen being studied. Its boundary ordinates, measured perpendicularly, were made proportional to the corresponding boundary values of the sum of the principal stresses. Under these conditions the ordinates of all points of the membrane are proportional to the sum of the two principal stresses at the corresponding points on the stressed member. The lengths of the ordinates were measured by means of a depth michrometer and the stress values at the corresponding points on the stressed member determined from these. Because of the ease of application and accuracy of the results obtained it is believed that the membrane analogy will find increasing use in conjunction with photoelastic studies.
The V-Notch Weir for Hot Water
Authors: Smith Ed S.
Published: February 2023

This ideally simple form of weir has a wide, accurate range for heads up to about one foot, is inherently free from aeration difficulties, and has a better agreement between data from various sources than would be expected from experience with other weir forms generally. The present paper has to do strictly with weirs of the V-notch form, only, and their viscosity corrections with hot water, although the same method may also find some use with more viscous liquids, such as oils.