bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case Report: Remote Scleral Lens Fitting for High Toric Scleras in a Keratoconus Patient
Authors: Fadel Daddi , Gildea Cian
Published: November 2023

SIGNIFICANCE

Technology plays a crucial role in customizing scleral lenses and improving lens alignment, especially in challenging scleral shapes. In addition, remote fitting technology allows optometrists to extend their expertise globally, empowering patients to access to customized lenses without travel expenses.

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to document the difficulties encountered in fitting a scleral lens in a patient with keratoconus and pronounced scleral toricity. In addition, the study aimed to present the successful remote fitting achieved by using advanced technology.

CASE REPORT

An Irish male patient diagnosed with keratoconus exhibited high scleral toricity. Generally, keratoconus eyes often exhibit significant scleral asymmetry associated with cone decentration and disease severity. Improperly aligned scleral lenses can lead to regional changes in scleral shape, lens decentration, discomfort, and visual disturbances. Indeed, previous scleral lens fits were unsuccessful because of these issues. Corneoscleral profilometry was acquired in Ireland and then used in Italy to design customized lenses, which were then delivered to the patient's optometrist in Ireland. The first lenses designed and delivered demonstrated excellent overall performance without requiring adjustments.

CONCLUSIONS

This report highlights the importance of corneoscleral profilometry to increase efficiency and reduce lens reorders and chair time, and the remote fitting in overcoming barriers to accessing specialized lens fitting.
Relationship of Low-luminance Visual Acuity with Ocular Aberrations in Older Participants
Authors: Iizuka Tatsuya , Kawamorita Takushi , Handa Tomoya , Ishikawa Hitoshi
Published: November 2023

SIGNIFICANCE

This study highlights the importance of twilight adaptation for reliable assessment of low-luminance visual acuity and understanding the relationship between low-luminance visual acuity and ocular aberrations.

PURPOSE

The human eye experiences reduced visual acuity as luminance decreases owing to reduced retinal and optical resolutions; however, the details are unclear. This study aimed to quantify the effects of refraction, pupil diameter, and ocular aberrations on visual acuity during the transition from high- to low-light environments, thereby contributing to the standardization of low-luminance visual acuity measurements.

METHODS

In total, 27 older participants with a mean age of 70.0 ± 4.1 years were included in this study. Visual acuity was measured according to the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) protocol with three luminance conditions: high luminance (300 cd/m2), low luminance (10 cd/m2), and low luminance with short-term (15-minute) twilight adaptation (10 cd/m2).

RESULTS

The mean logarithm of minimum angle of resolution values of visual acuity were −0.09 ± 0.09, 0.10 ± 0.13, and 0.03 ± 0.09 at 300, 10, and 10 cd/m2 with twilight adaptation, respectively. Multiple regression analysis determined that spherical aberration (P < .005) and tetrafoil (P < .005) were significant factors associated with low-luminance visual acuity after twilight adaptation, with an adjusted R
2 value of 0.35 for this model (P < .005).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the influence of ocular aberrations on low-luminance visual acuity may be relatively modest compared with neural effects, it remains a crucial factor that should not be overlooked. The absence of twilight (or dark) adaptation can cause ocular aberrations and neural effects, potentially leading to inaccuracies in the measurement of low-luminance visual acuity.
What visuospatial perception has taught us about the pathophysiology of vestibular migraine
Authors: Arshad Qadeer , Moreno-Ajona David , Goadsby Peter J. , Kheradmand Amir
Published: November 2023

Purpose of review

A decade has passed since vestibular migraine (VM) was formally established as a clinical entity. During this time, VM has emerged amongst the most common cause of episodic vertigo. Like all forms of migraine, VM symptoms are most prominent during individual attacks, however many patients may also develop persistent symptoms that are less prominent and can still interfere with daily activities.

Recent findings

Vestibular inputs are strongly multimodal, and because of extensive convergence with other sensory information, they do not result in a distinct conscious sensation. Here we review experimental evidence that supports VM symptoms are linked to multisensory mechanisms that control body motion and position in space.

Multisensory integration is a key concept for understanding migraine. In this context, VM pathophysiology may involve multisensory processes critical for motion perception, spatial orientation, visuospatial attention, and spatial awareness.
Poisson representation: a bridge between discrete and continuous models of stochastic gene regulatory networks
Authors: Wang Xinyu , Li Youming , Jia Chen
Published: November 2023

Stochastic gene expression dynamics can be modelled either discretely or continuously. Previous studies have shown that the mRNA or protein number distributions of some simple discrete and continuous gene expression models are related by Gardiner’s Poisson representation. Here, we systematically investigate the Poisson representation in complex stochastic gene regulatory networks. We show that when the gene of interest is unregulated, the discrete and continuous descriptions of stochastic gene expression are always related by the Poisson representation, no matter how complex the model is. This generalizes the results obtained in Dattani & Barahona (Dattani & Barahona 2017J. R. Soc. Interface14, 20160833 (doi:10.1098/rsif.2016.0833)). In addition, using a simple counter-example, we find that the Poisson representation in general fails to link the two descriptions when the gene is regulated. However, for a general stochastic gene regulatory network, we demonstrate that the discrete and continuous models are approximately related by the Poisson representation in the limit of large protein numbers. These theoretical results are further applied to analytically solve many complex gene expression models whose exact distributions are previously unknown.
Characteristics of Chryseobacterium bacteremia, associated risk factors and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern at a university hospital: a descriptive, retrospective study
Authors: Chaudhary Radhika , Kar Mitra , Jamwal Ashima , Dubey Akanksha , Singh Romya , Tejan Nidhi , Sahu Chinmoy , Patel Sangram Singh , Kumari Pooja , Ghar Malay
Published: November 2023

Introduction.

Chryseobacterium

species are emerging bacteria capable of causing nosocomial infections in immunocompromised patients or patients with indwelling medical devices.

Hypothesis/ Gap statement. Information about the incidence of

Chryseobacterium

bacteremia from worldwide literature is limited.

Aim. We aimed to recognize the clinical characteristics, frequency of distribution of different

Chryseobacterium

species isolates, and their antimicrobial susceptibility profile from bloodstream infections.

Methods. We performed a retrospective cohort study to identify all isolates of

Chryseobacterium

species from bloodstream infection from January 2018 to November 2022 at a university hospital in North India.

Results. We identified 42 non-duplicate isolates of

Chryseobacterium

species from bloodstream infection in the duration of our study. Mean age of the patients was 48.35±16.63 years. Men (22/42, 52.2 %) were more commonly affected in comparison to women (20/42, 47.6 %) but the difference was not significant. The most common species identified was

C. indologenes

(40/42, 95.24 %) followed by

C. gleum

(2/42, 4.76 %). The co-morbidities commonly encountered in our study were chronic kidney disease (21/42, 50.0 %) followed by diabetes mellitus (12/42, 28.6 %) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (8/42, 19.05 %). All patients had intravenous access to medications or fluid management via a central or peripheral line and mechanical ventilation was observed in 39 (39/42, 92.86 %) patients. All the isolates were susceptible to minocycline (100 %), followed by doxycycline (97.6 %) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (95.2 %).

Conclusion.

Chryseobacterium

species are capable of causing pneumonia, bacteremia and urinary tract infection in immunocompromised patients. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment with appropriate antibiotics can prevent progression to septicemia.
Impact of swab removal in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 weakly-positive specimens
Authors: Zorzoli Azul , Bennett-Slater Susan , MacLean Alasdair , McAllister Gina , Gunson Rory , Templeton Kate
Published: November 2023

Removing the swab after collection can speed up diagnosis and improve the quality of laboratory procedures. This study investigates the impact of swab removal on SARS-CoV-2 detection in clinical specimens with a focus on high Cycle Threshold (Ct) samples (Cts ≥32). The method assessed pairs of SARS-CoV-2 samples mimicking combined throat and nose swabs and tested them on two real-time-PCR platforms; the Applied Biosystems 7500 and the Abbott Alinity. Swab removal did not significantly affect detection rates of SARS-CoV-2 samples with Ct values <32, regardless of the PCR platform. However, reduced reproducibility was seen at the endpoint limit of detection of the platforms, which meant that fewer samples with Ct values ≥32 were detected in the swab removal group.
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Epidemiological Profile of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, Iraq, 2018
Authors: Mustafa Ali Hazim , Lami Faris , Khaleel Hanan Abdulghafoor
Published: November 2023

Background

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a potentially fatal tick-borne disease that is widely distributed in Africa and Eurasia countries. It is caused by the CCHF virus of theNairovirusgenus of theBunyaviridaefamily.

This study aims to describe the 2018 CCHF epidemic wave in Iraq and epidemiological pattern to assist implantation of preventive and control measures and adherence of physicians to the standard case definition.

Methods

This descriptive study reviewed all records of suspected and confirmed CCHF cases. Three types of data sources were used: the case investigation forms of all suspected cases, case sheets of all confirmed cases, and the laboratory results from the central public health laboratory.

Results

The total number of suspected cases was 143. Most of the cases were males (59.4%), 15-45 years old (62.2%), and live in urban areas (58.7%). About three quarters of the cases (68.5%) did not fit the standard case definition adopted by Iraq Center of Disease Control. Most of the suspected cases were reported in Diwaniya province (20.3%). Nearly half of them (64, 44.7%) occurred in June.

Only 7.0% (n=10) of suspected cases were positive when tested by Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). One third of confirmed cases (3, 30.0%) occurred in Diwaniya province. During the 2018 epidemic wave, there were 10 confirmed cases with 8 deaths and 2 improved cases.

Conclusion

Despite the fact that CCHF is uncommon in Iraq, sporadic cases or outbreaks could occur.

Recommendations

Given the known method of transmission, banning of random livestock slaughtering and the practice of raising livestock inside residential areas are expected to have a major role in CCHF infection control.
Universal Cell Embeddings: A Foundation Model for Cell Biology
Authors: Rosen Yanay , Roohani Yusuf , Agrawal Ayush , Samotorcan Leon , Consortium Tabula Sapiens , Quake Stephen R. , Leskovec Jure
Published: November 2023

Developing a universal representation of cells which encompasses the tremendous molecular diversity of cell types within the human body and more generally, across species, would be transformative for cell biology. Recent work using single-cell transcriptomic approaches to create molecular definitions of cell types in the form of cell atlases has provided the necessary data for such an endeavor. Here, we present the Universal Cell Embedding (UCE) foundation model. UCE was trained on a corpus of cell atlas data from human and other species in a completely self-supervised way without any data annotations. UCE offers a unified biological latent space that can represent any cell, regardless of tissue or species. This universal cell embedding captures important biological variation despite the presence of experimental noise across diverse datasets. An important aspect of UCE's universality is that any new cell from any organism can be mapped to this embedding space with no additional data labeling, model training or fine-tuning. We applied UCE to create the Integrated Mega-scale Atlas, embedding 36 million cells, with more than 1,000 uniquely named cell types, from hundreds of experiments, dozens of tissues and eight species. We uncovered new insights about the organization of cell types and tissues within this universal cell embedding space, and leveraged it to infer function of newly discovered cell types. UCE's embedding space exhibits emergent behavior, uncovering new biology that it was never explicitly trained for, such as identifying developmental lineages and embedding data from novel species not included in the training set. Overall, by enabling a universal representation for every cell state and type, UCE provides a valuable tool for analysis, annotation and hypothesis generation as the scale and diversity of single cell datasets continues to grow.
A unique chaperoning mechanism in Class A JDPs recognizes and stabilizes mutant p53
Authors: Zoltsman Guy , Dang Thi Lieu , Kuchersky Miriam , Faust Ofrah , Silva Micael S. , Ilani Tal , Wentink Anne S. , Bukau Bernd , Rosenzweig Rina
Published: November 2023

J-domain proteins (JDPs) constitute a large family of molecular chaperones that bind a broad spectrum of substrates, targeting them to Hsp70, thus determining the specificity and activating the entire chaperone functional cycle. The malfunction of JDPs is therefore inextricably linked to myriad human disorders. Here we uncover a novel mechanism by which chaperones recognize misfolded clients, present in class-A JDPs. Through a newly-identified β-hairpin site, these chaperones detect changes in protein dynamics at the initial stages of misfolding, prior to exposure of hydrophobic regions or large structural rearrangements. The JDPs then sequester misfolding-prone proteins into large oligomeric assemblies, protecting them from aggregation. Through this mechanism, class-A JDPs bind destabilized p53 mutants, preventing clearance of these oncoproteins by Hsp70-mediated degradation, thus promoting cancer progression. Removal of the β-hairpin abrogates this protective activity while minimally affecting other chaperoning functions. This suggests the class-A JDP β-hairpin as a highly specific target for cancer therapeutics.
Middle-infrared Modulation Of Sleep By Cardiometabolic Function
Authors: Sun Yan , Xian Guang , Wang Chao , Zhang Delong
Published: November 2023

The interdependence of sleep and overall well-being is profound. Sleep has the capacity to regulate hematopoiesis, thereby sustaining our physiological equilibrium. Nevertheless, our understanding regarding the potential reversibility of this regulatory process remains limited. In this study, we present evidence suggesting that exposure to middle-infrared radiation (MIR) within the 5-7 mm wavelength range can elicit non-thermal biological effects within the human body. These effects are characterized by an augmentation in blood circulation, mediated through modifications in red blood cell properties. Furthermore, MIR exposure is accompanied by a reduction in homocysteine levels and suppressor T-cell populations. Importantly, daytime modulation of MIR has been shown to significantly facilitate the amelioration of insomnia symptoms during nighttime, primarily through its impact on the architecture of deep sleep. Conclusively, our investigation reveals a robust association between cardiometabolic function and human sleep, with MIR presenting a promising avenue for enhancing sleep quality by regulating both the circulatory system and the immune system. These findings pave the way for the development of therapeutic strategies aimed at mitigating prevalent sleep-related disorders by disentangling the intricate links between sleep and cardiometabolic function.
Interactome mapping reveals a role for LRP10 in autophagy and NDFIP1-mediated α-synuclein secretion
Authors: Mascaro Ana Carreras , Ferraro Federico , Boumeester Valerie , Breedveld Guido , Dekkers Dick H.W. , Vergouw Leonie J.M. , Jong Frank Jan de , Demmers Jeroen A. A. , Bonifati Vincenzo , Mandemakers Wim
Published: November 2023

Variants in theLRP10gene have been found in a spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders, including Lewy body diseases (LBDs). In brains of LBD patients, LRP10 is found in neuronal α-synuclein-containing Lewy bodies, astrocytes, and vasculature, but not in inclusion-free neurons. Furthermore, recent work suggests that LRP10 is involved in α-synuclein processing and transmission, which is disrupted by the LBD-associatedLRP10:c.1424+5G>A variant (LRP10-Splice). In spite of the cumulating genetic and functional evidence for a role of LRP10 in neurodegenerative disorders, our knowledge about the biological processes in which LRP10 is involved is incomplete. In this work, we provide a list of LRP10 interactors identified via LRP10 co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry in LRP10-overexpressing cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived astrocytes. In addition to interactors and biological processes previously associated with LRP10, we identified novel interactors and pathways that may provide new insights into LRP10 function. Based on these findings, we focused on the involvement of LRP10 in the autophagy and unconventional secretion pathways via its interaction with the autophagy receptor SQSTM1/p62 and the ubiquitin-proteasome adaptor protein NDFIP1, respectively. We demonstrate that changes in LRP10 levels, either via knock-out or overexpression, affect p62 levels and autophagy in HuTu-80 cells and iPSC-derived astrocytes. Furthermore, we found that both LRP10 and NDFIP1 stimulate α-synuclein secretion and synergistically affect intracellular α-synuclein levels. Next, we studied the LRP10 interactome and related biological processes in iPSC-derived astrocytes carrying the LRP10-Splice variant. Although various interactors and biological processes were shared between wild-type LRP10 (LRP10-WT) and LRP10-Splice, others were only found in either LRP10-WT or LRP10-Splice. Interestingly, we found that LRP10-Splice responded differently to autophagy-modulating drugs in comparison to LRP10-WT. Furthermore, we show that LRP10-Splice interferes with the LRP10-WT:NDFIP1 interaction and NDFIP1-mediated α-synuclein secretion. Finally, we investigated the interactome of a secreted LRP10 species only found in conditioned media from LRP10-Splice carrier cells, and identify biological processes that might be impacted by the secreted LRP10-Splice specific protein. In summary, this study enhances our understanding of LRP10 biology, describes LRP10 functions in autophagy and NDFIP1-mediated α-synuclein secretion, and reveals potentially interesting differences between LRP10-WT and LRP10-Splice carrier cells that might be relevant to better understand the role of LRP10 in LBDs pathogenesis.
Covert attention for uncertainty reduction during sequential inference
Authors: Domínguez-Zamora F. Javier , Horga Guillermo , Gottlieb Jacqueline P.
Published: November 2023

A major question in attention research is how the brain identifies task-relevant stimuli in the absence of exogenous instructions or cues. Recent studies propose that endogenous attention control expected information gains (EIG) or, equivalently, minimizes decision uncertainty, but the mechanisms of this process are not understood. We show that, in a task in which participants covertly attended to decision-relevant stimuli, their perceptual sensitivity (d’) for discriminating the stimuli depended on the diagnosticity of the stimuli and the participants’ prior decision uncertainty, consistent with Bayesian EIG. The fronto-parietal network, in particular left areas V3A/B and IPS1/2, integrated uncertainty with diagnosticity in a manner correlating with behavioral effects on d’, and uncertainty signals relied on interactions between this network and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). The findings show that covert attention can be deployed based on EIG and reveal the neural mechanisms of this process.
Quantifying the impact of genotype-dependent gene flow on mutation fixation in subdivided populations
Authors: Marrec Loïc
Published: November 2023

In the wild, any population is likely to be spatially structured. Whereas we deeply understand evolutionary dynamics in well-mixed populations, our understanding of evolutionary dynamics in subdivided populations needs to be improved. In this work, I quantify the impact of genotype-dependent gene flow on the evolutionary dynamics of a subdivided population. Specifically, I build a model of a population structured as the island or the stepping stone model in which genotype-dependent gene flow is represented by individuals migrating between its sub-populations at a rate depending on their genotype. I analytically calculate the fixation probability and time of a mutation arising in the subdivided population under the low migration limit, which I validate with numerical simulations. I find that the island and the stepping stone models lead to the same fixation probability. Moreover, comparing the fixation probability in these models to the one in a well-mixed population of the same total census size allows me to identify an effective selection coefficient and population size. In the island and the stepping stone models, the effective selection coefficient differs from the selection coefficient if the wild-type and the mutant migration rates are different, whereas the effective population size equals the total census size. Finally, I show that genotype-dependent gene flow increases the fixation time, which allows for distinguishing the island and the stepping stone models, as opposed to the fixation probability.
Effects of brand knowledge on green trust and green brand equity: multigroup comparisons based on perceived brand greenness and age
Authors: Tung Tracie , Vigneron Franck
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand how consumers' green trust and green brand equity (GBE) vary by perceived brand greenness and age in the US market from the lens of brand knowledge (brand awareness and brand image).

Design/methodology/approach

Three multiple-group comparisons of structural equation modeling were used to analyze the data collected from a questionnaire. An experimental design was applied (high vs. low perceived brand greenness). A total of 440 usable responses were collected from an online consumer panel. With a higher percentage of participants older than 60 years, two groups were used, younger (under 55) and older (over 55), within each brand condition to conduct age comparisons.

Findings

Consumers' previous brand experience is important. The most promising indicators are brand image and green trust for GBE. A difference was observed between the group comparisons. For the less perceived green brand, existing brand image played a more important role in the process, and there is a need to enhance its green trust. For the higher perceived green brand, more factors should be included to explain their GBE, especially for consumers under 55.

Originality

This study identified two moderators, perceived brand greenness and age, in the formation of GBE, which has not been widely explored in the literature. The findings provide significant insights for generational cohorts, focusing for the first time on the joint catalyst effect of greenness and age regarding the influence of GBE on consumers' commitment to green brands. Additionally, the fact that a higher percentage of participants are Baby Boomers enables this study to add to the existing body of literature and bring unique perspectives to understand their and their younger counterparts' attitude toward green consumption.
Interlocking boards and firm outcomes: a review
Authors: Ramsawak Richard , Buertey Samuel , Maheshwari Greeni , Dang Duy , Thanh Phan Chung
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This paper explores the relationship between board interlocks and firm outcomes by reviewing the most recent peer-reviewed articles examining this research theme.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic and bibliometric methodology of assessing 369 peer-reviewed articles from the Web of Science (WoS) database was applied. The study also leverages key R-packages litsearchr and Bibliometrix software to enhance the descriptive and thematic literature analysis to identify gaps and opportunities for new research.

Findings

This study confirms a rapid increase in articles on this thematic area, over the last decade, with increasing collaboration occurring among researchers in the United States, Europe, China, South Korea and India. Four core research clusters are identified. The first and largest cluster links interlocked directors to issues related to corporate governance and firm outcomes. The second cluster links social network theory, interlocking directorates and firm outcomes. Smaller emerging research clusters include topics related to ownership structure, board size, political connectedness and impacts on firm outcomes. The final cluster examines the influence of board interlocks on market value and firm innovation.

Practical implications

Interlocked directors can have both positive and negative impacts on a wide variety of firm outcomes. This study places great interest in the selection of new directors, ensuring that the selection has aligned with the needs and interests of the company and disclosures of potential competing interests are declared and considered. Equally important are the governance practices used to monitor directors' behavior and to protect the interest of shareholders and the firm. This is particularly relevant in the internal appointment of interlocked directors to critical positions, such as audit committees or instances where interlocked directors may simultaneously hold CEO or executive leadership positions in other companies.

Originality/value

This paper examines the board interlocks literature related to firm outcomes. Additionally, this review identifies several topics and disciplines which, if pursued, could enrich the literature and promise new avenues for future research.
Comparative study on nutritional and technological properties of two varieties of black wheat flour and their noodle‐making potential
Authors: Li Limin , Wang Qingfa , Niu Xinkui , Liu Chong , Han Xiaoxian , Zheng Xueling
Published: November 2023

Comparative studies were conducted on physicochemical and technological properties of two black wheat (BW) varieties (cultivated in Shanxi Agricultural University) and their noodle‐making potential. Whole‐grain BW noodles showed acceptable cooking loss (≤10%) and strong antioxidant capacity. However, their textural quality remains to be enhanced. Regarding refined flour (RF) of the two BW varieties, Yunhei 14207 showed more anthocyanins, brighter color, and greater thermal stability (as reflected by the higher pasting temperature). 16W16 resulted in greater gluten content and better gluten quality of flour and higher dough stability, which contributed to the lower cooking loss and stronger tensile property of noodles. RF noodles of Yunhei 14207 displayed brighter appearance, although they had weaker tensile property. The stronger gluten network in noodles of 16W16 protected phenolics from release and degradation during drying, cooking, and steaming. Despite phenolics loss, RF noodles of Yunhei 14207 showed antioxidant capacity up to 14.97 mg TE/100 g. This research would promote understanding of characteristics of BW varieties. Considering the stronger gluten network of 16W16, its fortification in common wheat noodles at high proportion (>50%) may be promising to develop antioxidant noodles with further improved sensory quality.
Efficiency aspects of regioselective testosterone hydroxylation with highly active CYP450‐based whole‐cell biocatalysts
Authors: Bertelmann Carolin , Mock Magdalena , Schmid Andreas , Bühler Bruno
Published: November 2023

Steroid hydroxylations belong to the industrially most relevant reactions catalysed by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP450s) due to the pharmacological relevance of hydroxylated derivatives. The implementation of respective bioprocesses at an industrial scale still suffers from several limitations commonly found in CYP450 catalysis, that is low turnover rates, enzyme instability, inhibition and toxicity related to the substrate(s) and/or product(s). Recently, we achieved a new level of steroid hydroxylation rates by introducing highly active testosterone‐hydroxylating CYP450 BM3 variants together with the hydrophobic outer membrane protein AlkL into Escherichia coli‐based whole‐cell biocatalysts. However, the activity tended to decrease, which possibly impedes overall productivities and final product titres. In this study, a considerable instability was confirmed and subject to a systematic investigation regarding possible causes. In‐depth evaluation of whole‐cell biocatalyst kinetics and stability revealed a limitation in substrate availability due to poor testosterone solubility as well as inhibition by the main product 15β‐hydroxytestosterone. Instability of CYP450 BM3 variants was disclosed as another critical factor, which is of general significance for CYP450‐based biocatalysis. Presented results reveal biocatalyst, reaction and process engineering strategies auguring well for industrial implementation of the developed steroid hydroxylation platform.
Diagnostic biomarker for type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy via comprehensive bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Chen Xiaoyu , Liu Qingquan , Chen Niyao , Ma Jiangxin , Wu Xiaohong , Zhang Haibin , Yu Liying , Huang Huibin
Published: November 2023

Background

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a common complication of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which frequently results in disabling neuropathic pain and lower‐limb amputation. The identification of noninvasive biomarkers for DPN may help early detection and individualized treatment of DPN.

Methods

In this study, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between DPN and the control based on blood‐source (GSE95849) and tissue‐source gene expression profiles (GSE143979) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database using limma, edgeR, and DESeq2 approaches. KEGGG and GO functional enrichments were performed. Hub genes and their correlation with infiltrating immune cells were analyzed. Real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) was used to quantify hub gene expression.

Results

In total, 144 DEGs between DPN and the control were identified. Functional enrichment revealed that the DEGs were mainly enriched in immune‐related pathways like the Fc epsilon receptor Ig signaling pathway. By protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, FCER1G, SYK, ITGA4, F13A1, MS4A2, and PTK2B were screened as hub genes with higher expression in DPN patients, among which half were immune genes (FCER1G, PTK2B, and SYK). RT‐qPCR demonstrated that mRNA expression of FCER1G, PTK2B, and SYK was significantly increased in patients with DPN compared with both diabetic nonperipheral neuropathy (DNN) and normal subjects. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of FCER1G, PTK2B, and SYK was 0.84, 0.81, and 0.73, respectively, suggesting their great advantages as diagnostic biomarkers to predict the progression of neuropathy in T2DM. Further analysis indicated that the expression of FCER1G, PTK2B, and SYK was negatively correlated with the cell proportion of significantly altered resting natural killer cells, T follicular helper cells, and activated mast cells, but positively correlated with monocytes.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrated FCER1G, PTK2B, and SYK are potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for DPN, which provides new insight into DPN pathogenesis and therapies.

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The microbial contribution to litter decomposition and plant growth
Authors: Zhang Changfeng , de Pasquale Simone , Hartman Kyle , Stanley Claire E. , Berendsen Roeland L. , van der Heijden Marcel G. A.
Published: November 2023

Soil and plant roots are colonized by highly complex and diverse communities of microbes. It has been proposed that bacteria and fungi have synergistic effects on litter decomposition, but experimental evidence supporting this claim is weak. In this study, we manipulated the composition of two microbial kingdoms (Bacteria and Fungi) in experimental microcosms. In microcosms that were inoculated with fungi, litter loss was 47% higher than in microcosms that were not inoculated or only inoculated with bacteria. Combined inoculation with both bacteria and fungi did not significantly enhance decomposition compared with the fungi‐only treatments, and, as such, we found no evidence for complementary effects using our experimental setup. Inoculation with fungi also had a positive impact on plant growth after 4 and 8 weeks (480% and 710% growth stimulation, respectively). After 16 weeks, plant biomass was highest in microcosms where both bacteria and fungi were present pointing to fungal‐bacterial complementarity in stimulating plant growth. Overall, this study suggests that fungi are the main decomposers of plant litter and that the inoculated fungi contribute to plant growth in our experimental system.
A case of a shrunken multilocular mediastinal cyst that developed into thymic carcinoma with lung metastases 13 years later
Authors: Sugai Kazuto , Nakaoka Kojiro , Tobita Rika , Kikuchi Shinji , Inoue Kei , Enokido Midori , Kiyoshima Moriyuki
Published: November 2023

Multilocular thymic cysts (MTC) are acquired multilocular cysts caused by inflammation. The rarity of such lesions and a lack of recognition make diagnosis and treatment difficult. Herein, we present our experience with a multilocular mediastinal cyst that resulted in the development of thymic cancer with metastasis over a period of 13 years. Computed tomography findings revealed an anterior mediastinal mass that was suspected to be an MTC in a 49‐year‐old man. The mass shrank gradually over a period of 7 years; however, growth was observed at 10 years after initial detection. At 13 years after detection, thymic carcinoma with multiple lung metastases was diagnosed. Resection was recommended during the follow‐up period, but the patient refused treatment. A multilocular wall and location are factors that indicate MTC. However, even if a definitive diagnosis is not made, resection of multilocular anterior mediastinal cysts should be considered as determining the preoperative diagnosis is difficult. Nevertheless, our case suggests that the coexistence of tumors with cysts is possible, and the potential for malignant tumor development exists.
Ultrasonographic evaluation of the liver and gallbladder and hepatic histogram of non‐venomous snakes
Authors: da Silva Jeana Pereira , Rahal Sheila Canevese , Castiglioni Maria Cristina Reis , de Campos Vettorato Michel , Ichikawa Ricardo Shoiti , Teixeira Rodrigo Hidalgo Friciello , Doiche Danuta Pulz , Mamprim Maria Jaqueline
Published: November 2023

This study aimed to describe sonographic features of the liver, gallbladder and hepatic histogram from grey‐scale ultrasound in three species of healthy non‐venomous snakes. Twenty‐eight adult snakes were enrolled in the study, including 10 common boas (Boa constrictor), eight black‐tailed pythons (Python molurus) and 10 rainbow boas (Epicrates crassus). The snakes fasted for 30 days and were manually restrained while conscious. For B. constrictor and P. molurus the liver and gallbladder were best visualized in ventral recumbency, and E. crassus in dorsal recumbency. A single elongated hepatic lobe was identified in all snakes. The gallbladder was positioned caudal and separated from the liver, with an oval shape and homogeneous anechoic content in the lumen, and thin and regular walls. A region of interest by pixel number was chosen for the liver, fat bodies, left kidney, and splenopancreas. The mean grey level (G) of the organs had significant differences within each species. Standard deviation of grey levels (SG) had significant differences within B. constrictor and E. crassus. P. molurus had no significant difference among organs. The comparison among snakes showed that E. crassus had G of liver and splenopancreas lower than B. constrictor and P. molurus. The SG of the liver in E. crassus was lowest compared to B. constrictor and P. molurus. P. molurus showed the highest values in mean of G and SG. In conclusion, despite the liver and gallbladder having similar sonographic features, the grey‐level histogram showed that liver echotexture and echogenicity differ among species.
The effects of replacing wheat and soyabean meal with duckweed (Lemna minor) and including enzymes in the diet of laying hens on the yield and quality of eggs, biochemical parameters, and their antioxidant status
Authors: Baghban‐Kanani Payam , Oteri Marianna , Hosseintabar‐Ghasemabad Babak , Azimi‐Youvalari Saba , Di Rosa Ambra Rita , Chiofalo Biagina , Seidavi Alireza , Phillips Clive J. C.
Published: November 2023

Duckweed is a rapidly growing aquatic plant, which could be used in the diet of laying hens to enhance carbon capture and improve land use efficiency. Digestion may be improved by supplementation with exogenous enzymes. We replaced soyabean meal and wheat with duckweed in a 10‐week study with 432, 60‐week‐old Hy‐Line W‐36 layers, divided into six isocaloric and isonitrogenous dietary treatments, each with eight replicates. Two factors were investigated: first, duckweed substituted for wheat gluten meal and soyabean meal at 0, 7.5 and 15% of the diet, and second, with and without a multi‐enzyme supplement (500 mg/kg). Duckweed did not affect egg output or weight, but it improved yolk color (P = 0.01) and reduced the liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (P = 0.04) and alanine aminotransferase (P = 0.02) in serum, suggesting hepatoprotective effects. Enzyme addition did not alter the effects of including duckweed in the diet, but it increased feed intake (P = 0.03). It is concluded that, as well as offering the potential to increase land productivity, inclusion of duckweed in the diet of laying hens enhances egg yolk color and hepatoprotection, without detrimental effects on performance.
Small Transport Operators as Democratic Actors: Work, Politics, and Governance in Delhi
Authors: Mullick Souvanik
Published: November 2023

The paper broadly illuminates how livelihood pursuits and acts of democratic citizenship mutually constitute each other for the urban working poor in South Asia and argues this through the “democratic action” done by the auto‐rickshaw drivers in Delhi. The paper shows how the drivers work their livelihoods and maintain stable work conditions while also trying to protect its very possibilities in the future. The paper does this by tracing first how government regulation envelopes the everyday livelihoods of these drivers, forcing them to master regulation. The drivers go on to perform two kinds of work—challenging regulation on its own terrain and performing electoral activities in lieu of changing regulation and policy. The paper argues that we can understand these two kinds of activities as pertaining to substantive and procedural democracy. The paper draws upon 24 months of dissertation fieldwork in Delhi with auto‐drivers, other small transport operators, bureaucrats, lawyers, politicians, and others associated with the small transport economy.
Using a volitional help sheet to increase university students' attendance at synchronous online lectures: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Elliott Mark A. , McGroarty Allan , Robertson David J.
Published: November 2023

Background

A volitional help sheet (VHS) is an intervention for promoting implementation intentions. This study was the first to test the effectiveness of a VHS for increasing university students' lecture attendance.

Aims

To develop a VHS to increase university students’ lecture attendance and test its effectiveness at increasing the proportion of lectures attended, and promoting the maintenance of lecture attendance, over an 11‐week teaching semester.

Sample and Method

One hundred and seventy‐eight undergraduate students enrolled in a psychology degree programme were allocated at random to a VHS or active control condition. Prior to intervention, measures of goal intention to attend lectures and trait conscientiousness were collected using self‐report, online questionnaires. Over the following 11‐week teaching semester, attendance at synchronous (live) online lectures was measured.

Results

The VHS condition attended a greater proportion of lectures and maintained their lecture attendance for longer than did the active control condition. These effects were not sensitive to underlying goal intentions, although the sample means on the measures of goal intention were approaching ceiling. Trait conscientiousness increased the effects of the VHS on the proportion of lectures attended.

Conclusions

VHSs constitute useful interventions for increasing and maintaining university students' lecture attendance.
Generating political priority for alcohol policy reform: A framework to guide advocacy and research
Authors: Gage Ryan , Connor Jennie , Jackson Nicki , McKerchar Christina , Signal Louise
Published: November 2023

Introduction

While effective policies exist to reduce alcohol‐related harm, political will to enact them is low in many jurisdictions. We aimed to identify key barriers and strategies for strengthening political priority for alcohol policy reform.

Methods

A framework synthesis was conducted, incorporating relevant theory, key informant interviews (n = 37) and a scoping review. Thematic analysis informed the development of a framework for understanding and influencing political priority for alcohol policy.

Results

Twelve barriers and 14 strategies were identified at multiple levels (global, national and local). Major barriers included neoliberal or free trade ideology, the globalised alcohol industry, limited advocate capacity and the normalisation of alcohol harms. Strategies fell into two categories: sector‐specific and system change initiatives. Sector‐specific strategies primarily focus on influencing policymakers and mobilising civil society. Examples include developing a clear, unified solution, coalition building and effective framing. System change initiatives target structural change to reduce the power imbalance between industry and civil society, such as restricting industry involvement in policymaking and securing sustainable funding for advocacy. A key example is establishing an international treaty, similar to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, to support domestic policymaking.

Discussion and Conclusions

Our findings provide a framework for understanding and advancing political priority for alcohol policy. The framework highlights that progress can be achieved at various levels and through diverse groups of actors. The importance of upstream drivers of policymaking was a key finding, presenting challenges for time‐poor advocates, but offering potential facilitation through effective global leadership.
Colony attendance and moult pattern of Cory's Shearwaters (Calonectris borealis) differing in breeding status and age
Authors: Campioni Letizia , Bolumar Roda Sofia , Alonso Hany , Catry Paulo , Granadeiro José Pedro
Published: November 2023

Migratory birds must fit three costly life‐history events within the annual cycle, reproduction, moult and migration, to minimize their overlap and maximize survival and breeding success. However, some seabirds, such as Cory's Shearwater Calonectris borealis, overlap body moult and breeding, with flight feather renewal occurring in late chick‐rearing. In contrast, the moult patterns of non‐breeding adult (sabbatical) and immature Cory's Shearwaters, which also attend the colony during the breeding season, remain poorly understood. Furthermore, the potential implications of life‐stage and breeding status trade‐offs on moult status and colony attendance in non‐breeders has rarely been investigated. Surveying different areas within one colony between June and September 2013 and 2014, we studied the age and breeding status composition of birds attending the breeding colony and scored moult of their body (breast and upper‐neck), wing and tail feathers. We found that in addition to breeders (n = 165), 57.6% of the birds (n = 389) attending the colony were 4‐ to 10‐year‐old immatures (n = 132) and adult sabbatical shearwaters (n = 92). Sabbaticals and 8‐ to 10‐year‐old immatures (n = 28) were present at the colony during incubation, whereas only three sabbatical birds and no 8‐ to 10‐year‐old immatures were captured in late chick‐rearing. Conversely, 4‐ to 7‐year‐old immatures arrived later in the season but were still present in late chick‐rearing. Sabbatical and 8‐ to 10‐year‐old immatures were moulting body feathers at the same time as adult breeders, whereas, among 4‐ to 7‐year‐old immatures, older birds moulted earlier than younger birds. A larger proportion of sabbatical birds were replacing tail feathers compared with adult breeders. However, there was no evidence that sabbaticals or 8‐ to 10‐year‐old immatures differed in wing moult from adult breeders until August. Overall, our study shows that colony attendance by non‐breeding adults and immatures is widespread in this population. The synchronous moult schedule of flight and body feathers across age groups at different life‐history stages may suggest that this aspect of moult is controlled by environmental conditions.
Apprehending HIV Stigma
Authors: Long Callie
Published: November 2023

The literary narrative Kiss of the Fur Queen, by Indigenous author Tomson Highway, calls for applying a decolonial framework that brings together different disciplinary systems to investigate responses to the stigma associated with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Approaching the narrative as testimony in which Highway foregrounds Indigenous knowledges, the text allows for a reframing of stigma as working within much larger systemic violences and operations of power than can be anticipated within a politics of recognition, indexed to the expository logic of Eve Sedgwick's paranoid position. Locating HIV‐related stigma as emerging within the context of intergenerational collective trauma rooted in colonial violence makes possible the kind of reparative work that Sedgwick envisions, as well as allowing for an engagement with the infinite possibilities of encounter as an ethical response to this socially polarizing behavioural phenomenon that has proven so difficult to dislodge. Attentive to specific racialized and minoritized colonial histories, Highway's narrative unravels the entanglement of events and conditions surrounding HIV in a watershed moment when decolonial work collides with ongoing histories of colonial violence. Such a decolonial lens offers a non‐positivist framework to potentially unsettle the stasis of stigma reduction.