bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antecedents and consequences of procurement managers' willingness to pay for sustainability: a multi-level perspective
Authors: Khan Owais , Hinterhuber Andreas
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The role of procurement managers is crucial for diffusing sustainability throughout the supply chain. Whether or not they are willing to pay for sustainability is an important and not yet fully understood question. The authors examine antecedents and consequences of their willingness to pay (WTP) for sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors develop a multi-level framework to examine the WTP for sustainability in a B2B context. The authors test this multi-level framework with 372 procurement managers from multiple sectors and countries using partial least squares structural equation modeling.

Findings

The authors find that individual values of procurement managers and institutional pressures directly, while ethical organizational culture indirectly influence WTP for sustainability. Functional and cognitive competencies of procurement managers improve the sustainability of procurement, but not WTP for sustainability. Importantly, WTP for sustainability directly influences the performance of the procurement function which in turn is positively associated with increased organizational performance.

Originality/value

The study, examining the interplay between individual, organizational and contextual factors, provides empirical evidence on the pivotal role of procurement managers in diffusing sustainability throughout the supply chain. The findings of the study, on the one hand, contribute to the literature on operations management and sustainability, and on the other hand, guide policy and managerial actions.
Digital capabilities to manage agri-food supply chain uncertainties and build supply chain resilience during compounding geopolitical disruptions
Authors: Belhadi Amine , Kamble Sachin , Subramanian Nachiappan , Singh Rajesh Kumar , Venkatesh Mani
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The agricultural supply chain is susceptible to disruptive geopolitical events. Therefore, agri-food firms must devise robust resilience strategies to hasten recovery and mitigate global food security effects. Hence, the central aim of this paper is to investigate how supply chains could leverage digital technologies to design resilience strategies to manage uncertainty stemming from the external environment disrupted by a geopolitical event. The context of the study is the African agri-food supply chain during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ strategic contingency and dynamic capabilities theory arguments to explore the scenario and conditions under which African agri-food firms could leverage digital technologies to formulate contingency strategies and devise mitigation countermeasures. Then, the authors used a multi-case-study analysis of 14 African firms of different sizes and tiers within three main agri-food sectors (i.e. livestock farming, food-crop and fisheries-aquaculture) to explore, interpret and present data and their findings.

Findings

Downstream firms (wholesalers and retailers) of the African agri-food supply chain are found to extensively use digital seizing and transforming capabilities to formulate worst-case assumptions amid geopolitical disruption, followed by proactive mitigation actions. These capabilities are mainly supported by advanced technologies such as blockchain and additive manufacturing. On the other hand, smaller upstream partners (SMEs, cooperatives and smallholders) are found to leverage less advanced technologies, such as mobile apps and cloud-based data analytics, to develop sensing capabilities necessary to formulate a “wait-and-see” strategy, allowing them to reduce perceptions of heightened supply chain uncertainty and take mainly reactive mitigation strategies. Finally, the authors integrate their findings into a conceptual framework that advances the research agenda on managing supply chain uncertainty in vulnerable areas.

Originality/value

This study is the first that sought to understand the contextual conditions (supply chain characteristics and firm characteristics) under which companies in the African agri-food supply chain could leverage digital technologies to manage uncertainty. The study advances contingency and dynamic capability theories by providing a new way of interacting in one specific context. In practice, this study assists managers in developing suitable strategies to manage uncertainty during geopolitical disruptions.
Institutional and organisational influence on mental health management in Spanish and Italian primary care
Authors: Giosa Roberto
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how institutional and organisational factors affect case management of patients with mental disorders by GPs in Italy and Spain. The paper highlights the importance of improving the effectiveness of primary care to ensure easy access to mental health services, which is crucial in responding to the increasing incidence of mental disorders and preventing negative outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

This article details a qualitative research study that examines the management of patients with mental disorders by general practitioners (GPs) in Italy and Spain, using cross-national comparison and in-depth interviews with GPs as research methods.

Findings

The study revealed that Italian self-employed GPs have more scheduling autonomy than Spanish Health Centre GPs. Both face high work pressure and resource scarcity, highlighting the need for targeted training. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a rise in phone consultations.

Originality/value

This study provides novel insights into mental health management by examining the case management of patients with mental disorders by GPs in Italy and Spain, with a focus on the impact of institutional and organisational factors. The cross-national comparison and in-depth interviews enhance the originality of the study, offering a nuanced understanding of the constraints faced by GPs in their work context. Furthermore, the comparison of the similar primary care frameworks of Italy and Spain may offer insight into their evolution.
Social media as a behavior depolarizer: evidence from Russia–Ukraine conflict
Authors: Yadav Jitendra , Singh Kuldeep , Rana Nripendra P. , Dennehy Denis
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Social media has played a pivotal role in polarizing views on Russia–Ukraine conflict. The effects of polarization in online interactions have been extensively studied in many contexts. This research aims to examine how multiple social media sources may act as an integrator of information and act as a platform for depolarizing behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzes the communications of 6,662 tweets related to the sanctions imposed on Russia by using textual analytics and predictive modeling.

Findings

The research findings reveal that the tweeting behavior of netizens was depolarized because of information from multiple social media sources. However, the influx of information from non-organizational sources such as trending topics and discussions has a depolarizing impact on the user’s pre-established attitude.

Research limitations/implications

For policymakers, conflict mediators and observers, and members of society in general, there is a need for (1) continuous and consistent communication throughout the crisis, (2) transparency in the information being communicated and (3) public awareness of the polarized and conflicting information being provided from multiple actors that may be biased in the claims being made about the conflict crisis.

Originality/value

While previous research has examined Russia–Ukraine conflict from a variety of perspectives, this is the first study to examine how social media might be used to reduce attitude polarization during times of conflict.
AEKF-based trajectory-error compensation of knee exoskeleton for human–exoskeleton interaction control
Authors: Zhang Yuepeng , Cao Guangzhong , Li Linglong , Diao Dongfeng
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design a new trajectory error compensation method to improve the trajectory tracking performance and compliance of the knee exoskeleton in human–exoskeleton interaction motion.

Design/methodology/approach

A trajectory error compensation method based on admittance-extended Kalman filter (AEKF) error fusion for human–exoskeleton interaction control. The admittance controller is used to calculate the trajectory error adjustment through the feedback human–exoskeleton interaction force, and the actual trajectory error is obtained through the encoder feedback of exoskeleton and the designed trajectory. By using the fusion and prediction characteristics of EKF, the calculated trajectory error adjustment and the actual error are fused to obtain a new trajectory error compensation, which is feedback to the knee exoskeleton controller. This method is designed to be capable of improving the trajectory tracking performance of the knee exoskeleton and enhancing the compliance of knee exoskeleton interaction.

Findings

Six volunteers conducted comparative experiments on four different motion frequencies. The experimental results show that this method can effectively improve the trajectory tracking performance and compliance of the knee exoskeleton in human–exoskeleton interaction.

Originality/value

The AEKF method first uses the data fusion idea to fuse the estimated error with measurement errors, obtaining more accurate trajectory error compensation for the knee exoskeleton motion control. This work provides great benefits for the trajectory tracking performance and compliance of lower limb exoskeletons in human–exoskeleton interaction movements.
Dihydromyricetin reverses capecitabine‐induced peripheral myelin dysfunction through modulation of oxidative stress
Authors: Fang Jie , Lou Shuyi , Zhou Xinyi , Lou Dayong , Zhou Liqin , Bian Rong
Published: January 2024

Previous clinical reports have shown that capecitabine, an oral prodrug of 5‐fluorouracil (5‐Fu), can induce peripheral neuropathy, resulting in numbness, paresthesia and hypoesthesia. However, the mechanism through which capecitabine causes peripheral nerve injury remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that systemic administration of capecitabine leads to myelin abnormalities in the peripheral nerves of mice, which are possibly attributed to the death of Schwann cells, the myelinating cells in the peripheral nervous system. Furthermore, our results show that 5‐Fu induces significant oxidative stress in Schwann cells by inhibiting the expression of the anti‐oxidative protein DJ‐1, leading to a decrease in Schwann cell markers. We found that the anti‐oxidant dihydromyricetin (DMY) reverses 5‐Fu‐induced Schwann cell death and oxidative stress and alleviates capecitabine‐induced myelin abnormalities. Taken together, our data indicate that capecitabine induces peripheral myelin dysfunction by regulating DJ‐1‐mediated oxidative stress in Schwann cells and reveal DMY as a potential therapeutic strategy for capecitabine‐induced peripheral neuropathy.
Wolbachia effects on thermal preference of natural Drosophila melanogaster are influenced by host genetic background, Wolbachia type, and bacterial titer
Authors: Strunov Anton , Schönherr Charlotte , Kapun Martin
Published: January 2024

Temperature plays a fundamental role in the fitness of all organisms. In particular, it strongly affects metabolism and reproduction in ectotherms that have limited physiological capabilities to regulate their body temperature. The influence of temperature variation on the physiology and behaviour of ectotherms is well studied but we still know little about the influence of symbiotic interactions on thermal preference (Tp) of the host. A growing number of studies focusing on the Wolbachia‐Drosophila host‐symbiont system found that Wolbachia can influence Tp in Drosophila laboratory strains. Here, we investigated the effect of Wolbachia on Tp in wild‐type D. melanogaster flies recently collected from nature. Consistent with previous data, we found reduced Tp compared to an uninfected control in one of two fly strains infected with the wMelCS Wolbachia type. Additionally, we, for the first time, found that Wolbachia titer variation influences the thermal preference of the host fly. These data indicate that the interaction of Wolbachia and Drosophila resulting in behavioural variation is strongly influenced by the genetic background of the host and symbiont. More studies are needed to better understand the evolutionary significance of Tp variation influenced by Wolbachia in natural Drosophila populations.
Testing the nuclear energy induced environmental Kuznets curve for Bulgaria: An ARDL bounds test with sharp and smooth breaks
Authors: Yilanci Veli , Syed Qasim Raza , Haouas Ilham
Published: January 2024

Attaining sustainable development entails extensive use of clean energy and low levels of carbon emissions. Hence, nuclear energy is considered an avenue to reach higher levels of sustainable development. However, the existing literature documents the ambivalent conclusion on the nuclear energy‐emissions nexus. To solve this puzzle, the present study re‐investigates the nuclear energy‐emissions nexus for Bulgaria using the Environmental Kuznets Curve framework. We adopt the methodology of novel bootstrap ARDL with sharp and smooth structural breaks. The findings document that nuclear energy is responsible for waning emissions across the long and short‐run. Also, we validate the EKC hypothesis. To provide robust empirical findings, we perform a sensitivity analysis, which reports results similar to the baseline findings. Hence, we propose to escalate the adoption of nuclear energy to curb emissions.
Vladimir Petrov: A Reappraisal
Authors: Deery Phillip
Published: January 2024

During the Cold War, defectors from the Russian Intelligence Services to the West were of critical importance. They exposed and neutralised hundreds of Soviet agents who had penetrated government departments and democratic institutions. Stretching from Anatoli Granovsky in 1946 to Oleg Gordievsky in 1985, these Soviet defectors were highly prized for the intelligence they provided to security services. Ranked amongst the most valuable at the time was Vladimir Mikhailovich Petrov, who defected in Sydney in 1954. Yet he, almost alone, has overwhelmingly been cast by commentators and historians as lazy, inefficient, and incompetent. This article will offer an alternative interpretation of Petrov. My argument has three prongs. First, Petrov's contact with Russian individuals and pro‐Soviet political organisations in Australia was far more extensive than generally assumed. Second, contrary to the historiographical consensus, he withheld intelligence about his contacts and informants from his security service debriefers. Third, rather than Petrov seeing espionage as too dangerous, as suggested, he was a committed and active Soviet intelligence cadre. By reappraising Petrov, the article seeks to provide a fresh understanding of this key episode, the Petrov Affair, in Australia's Cold War history.
Review article: Diagnosis and management of laryngopharyngeal reflux
Authors: Krause Amanda J. , Yadlapati Rena
Published: January 2024

Background

Laryngopharyngeal reflux has classically referred to gastroesophageal reflux leading to chronic laryngeal symptoms such as throat clearing, dysphonia, cough, globus sensation, sore throat or mucus in the throat. Current lack of clear diagnostic criteria significantly impairs practitioners' ability to identify and manage laryngopharyngeal reflux.

Aims

To discuss current evidence‐based diagnostic and management strategies in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux.

Methods

We selected studies primarily based on current guidelines for gastroesophageal reflux disease and laryngopharyngeal reflux, and through PubMed searches.

Results

We assess the current diagnostic modalities that can be used to determine if laryngopharyngeal reflux is the cause of a patient's laryngeal symptoms, as well as review some of the common treatments that have been used for these patients. In addition, we note that the lack of a clear diagnostic gold‐standard, as well as specific diagnostic criteria, significantly limit clinicians' ability to determine adequate therapies for these patients. Finally, we identify areas of future research that are needed to better manage these patients.

Conclusions

Patients with chronic laryngeal symptoms are complex due to the heterogenous nature of symptom pathology, inconsistent definitions and variable response to therapies. Further outcomes data are critically needed to help elucidate ideal diagnostic workup and therapeutic management for these challenging patients.
Further delineation of the phenotypic and metabolomic profile of ALDH1L2‐related neurodevelopmental disorder
Authors: You Mikyoung , Shamseldin Hanan E. , Fogle Halle M. , Rushing Blake R. , AlMalki Reem H. , Jaafar Amal , Hashem Mais , Abdulwahab Firdous , Abdel Rahman Anas M. , Krupenko Natalia I. , Alkuraya Fowzan S. , Krupenko Sergey A.
Published: January 2024

ALDH1L2, a mitochondrial enzyme in folate metabolism, converts 10‐formyl‐THF (10‐formyltetrahydrofolate) to THF (tetrahydrofolate) and CO2. At the cellular level, deficiency of this NADP+‐dependent reaction results in marked reduction in NADPH/NADP+ ratio and reduced mitochondrial ATP. Thus far, a single patient with biallelic ALDH1L2 variants and the phenotype of a neurodevelopmental disorder has been reported. Here, we describe another patient with a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with a novel homozygous missense variant in ALDH1L2, Pro133His. The variant caused marked reduction in the ALDH1L2 enzyme activity in skin fibroblasts derived from the patient as probed by 10‐FDDF, a stable synthetic analog of 10‐formyl‐THF. Additional associated abnormalities in these fibroblasts include reduced NADPH/NADP+ ratio and pool of mitochondrial ATP, upregulated autophagy and dramatically altered metabolomic profile. Overall, our study further supports a link between ALDH1L2 deficiency and abnormal neurodevelopment in humans.
FOXL2 and NR5A1 induce human fibroblasts into steroidogenic ovarian granulosa‐like cells
Authors: Wen Fan , Ding Yuxi , Wang Mingming , Du Jing , Zhang Shen , Kee Kehkooi
Published: January 2024

Human granulosa cells in different stages are essential for maintaining normal ovarian function, and granulosa cell defect is the main cause of ovarian dysfunction. To address this problem, it is necessary to induce functional granulosa cells at different stages in vitro. In this study, we established a reprogramming method to induce early‐ and late‐stage granulosa cells with different steroidogenic abilities. We used an AMH‐fluorescence‐reporter system to screen candidate factors for cellular reprogramming and generated human induced granulosa‐like cells (hiGC) by overexpressing FOXL2 and NR5A1. AMH‐EGFP+ hiGC resembled human cumulus cells in transcriptome profiling and secreted high levels of oestrogen and progesterone, similar to late‐stage granulosa cells at antral or preovulatory stage. Moreover, we identified CD55 as a cell surface marker that can be used to isolate early‐stage granulosa cells. CD55+ AMH‐EGFP‐ hiGC secreted high levels of oestrogen but low levels of progesterone, and their transcriptome profiles were more similar to early‐stage granulosa cells. More importantly, CD55+ hiGC transplantation alleviated polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in a mouse model. Therefore, hiGC provides a cellular model to study the developmental program of human granulosa cells and has potential to treat PCOS.
Generating modern heritage through changing urban environments and identities: A case study from Prato's (Italy) industrial district, history, and multiculturalism in a polycentric urban setting
Authors: Del Bianco Corinna
Published: January 2024

Following economic crises, the evolution of industrial districts (IDs) has frequently caused the crisis within entire urban systems. Being IDs based on individual will and competences, rather than on big industries, their failure can compromise the city's identity. The Italian manufacturing industry consistently relied on this process, and this paper analyzes the case study of Prato, a medieval core city in central Italy that, since the mid‐twentieth century, developed a world‐class textile district based on a polycentric production structure and widespread family entrepreneurialism. During the global economic crisis of the early 2000s, production almost stalled, leaving the city without the core of a collective identity, but with a legacy of empty spaces. Significant foreign migration, in particular from China, filled these spaces, consolidating the clothing sector. The study investigated the city's contemporary identities resulting from the rapid change in people, activities, and spaces.
The image of modernity: An examination of early republic housing projects in Turkey 1930–1939
Authors: Sak Acur Mine
Published: January 2024

Modern heritage encompasses not only the physical structures but also the narratives, ideas, and sociohistorical dynamics associated with them. This study explores the multifaceted aspects of modern heritage in Turkey, focusing on early republic housing projects built between 1930 and 1939. Tracing the signs of being “modern” in residential architecture, this research proposes that Kemalist reforms affecting social life served as tools to alter appearances, and behind that image, the persistence of the cultural and social life was hidden. Analyzing projects in Arkitekt journal, it identifies traditional living patterns in so‐called modern houses, emphasizing the impossibility of copying‐and‐pasting modernity. In Turkey, modernity was neither unequivocally endorsed nor rejected; instead, it intertwined with existing social structures, creating a unique entity. Thus, it concludes that the value of early republic Turkish modern residentials lies not in formal similarities to European forms of modernism but in a transcultural understanding that embraces diverse expressions of modernity.
DNA metabarcoding and morphological identification reveal similar richness, taxonomic composition and body size patterns among flying insect communities
Authors: Remmel Nicole , Buchner Dominik , Enss Julian , Hartung Viktor , Leese Florian , Welti Ellen A. R. , Sinclair James S. , Haase Peter
Published: January 2024

Tracking insect biodiversity trends and predicting future trajectories is limited by a lack of monitoring data across large spatiotemporal scales. DNA metabarcoding is a time‐ and cost‐efficient method to obtain these data, but has several potential limitations in comparison to traditional morphological approaches. For example, metabarcoding may miss low‐abundance or smaller bodied individuals and is limited to presence/absence information, which may bias estimates of biodiversity and community composition. However, few comparisons of metabarcoding and morphology‐based identification have been made using insects, the by far most diverse animal taxonomic group.

Here, we compared terrestrial insect communities identified via morphology versus metabarcoding across four different habitats and three seasons (late spring, mid‐summer and early autumn) during 2019. We compared identified species and community richness, composition and body size, with a focus on key taxonomic groups of bees, true bugs, butterflies and hoverflies.

We identified 252 total species, with 54.8% identified by both methods, whereas 21.4% and 19.8% were solely detected with metabarcoding or morphology, respectively. Overall, total community richness, taxonomic composition and community body size were similar between methods. Metabarcoding detection successes declined in low‐abundance and smaller taxa, particularly bees, hoverflies and true bugs; however, species richness of hoverflies and butterflies tended to be higher compared with morphological identification.

Our results show that metabarcoding can provide an accurate overview of insect community differences that are comparable to those determined via morphological identification. We recommend that insect monitoring programmes consider incorporating metabarcoding, although future research is needed to overcome some remaining limitations.
Macroscale impact assessment of flood damage reduction from climate change adaptation policies
Authors: Jee Hee Won , Seo Seung Beom , Ko Kyeong‐Moon , Cho Jaepil , Chae Yeora
Published: January 2024

Adaptation policies are being increasingly implemented to cope with the increased frequency of natural disasters due to climate change. However, it is crucial to quantitatively evaluate the mitigating effects of these policies, as this allows for their assessment and prioritization. Therefore, this study sought to develop a nonlinear flood damage function for each administrative region of South Korea to quantify the potential damage caused by extreme rainfall events. Afterward, a power function was nested to model the coefficient of the flood damage function with regional factors characterizing each region's flood mitigation capacity. Here, regional factors were selected based on their linkage to two potential adaptation policies: enhancing retention reservoir and pumping capacity and enhancing river dike construction. The proposed evaluation framework was tested in 15 administrative districts in South Korea and the flood damage reduction effects of the two policy scenarios were estimated. The enhancement of retention reservoir and pumping capacity showed a 6.7% reduction effect, whereas enhancing river dike construction showed a 29.2% reduction effect. The implementation of both policies yielded a 34.3% reduction effect. Despite the limitations of this study, our findings still provide a quantitative comparison of the long‐term effects of national climate change adaptation measures. Additionally, accumulating more damage records would allow for the development of damage functions at a finer scale.
Binucleate Rhizoctonia AG‐A causing black root rot of strawberry in Albania
Authors: Cara Magdalena , Merkuri Jordan , Salliu Alkida , Vojvodić Mira , Knežević Isidora , Grkinić Miljan , Bulajić Aleksandra
Published: January 2024

Strawberry production in Albania is very important and growing rapidly, while data on strawberry diseases are lacking. In 2022, symptoms of leaf necrosis, root rot, and wilt were observed on strawberry plants of cultivars ‘Savana’, ‘Sabrina’, and ‘Fortuna’ in greenhouses near Vajkan, Fier, Albania. The disease incidence was estimated at 50%. Only isolates of Rhizoctonia spp. were obtained from symptomatic plants. The isolates formed fast‐growing, white colonies with binucleate, typically branching hyphae and no sclerotia, resembling Rhizoctonia AG‐A. BLAST analyses of the ITS rDNA of isolate RhizAl (accession number OR231136) revealed the highest nt homology of 99%–100% (100% query coverage) with binucleate Rhizoctonia AG‐A isolates, while the neighbour‐joining phylogenetic analyses confirmed the identification. The pathogenicity of the isolate RhizAl was demonstrated by inoculations of disease‐free strawberry daughter plants (cv. ‘Fortuna’) that developed mild wilting and leaf necrosis 45 days after inoculation while plants collapsed with root necrosis 60 days after inoculation. In this study, binucleate Rhizoctonia AG‐A was detected for the first time as a causal agent of black root rot of strawberries in Albania and in general, and studies on the general importance of Rhizoctonia spp. in different crops in Albania are needed.
Evidence that genetic drift not adaptation drives fast‐Z and large‐Z effects in Ficedula flycatchers
Authors: Chase Madeline A. , Vilcot Maurine , Mugal Carina F.
Published: January 2024

The sex chromosomes have been hypothesized to play a key role in driving adaptation and speciation across many taxa. The reason for this is thought to be the hemizygosity of the heteromorphic part of sex chromosomes in the heterogametic sex, which exposes recessive mutations to natural and sexual selection. The exposure of recessive beneficial mutations increases their rate of fixation on the sex chromosomes, which results in a faster rate of evolution. In addition, genetic incompatibilities between sex‐linked loci are exposed faster in the genomic background of hybrids of divergent lineages, which makes sex chromosomes contribute disproportionately to reproductive isolation. However, in birds, which show a Z/W sex determination system, the role of adaptation versus genetic drift as the driving force of the faster differentiation of the Z chromosome (fast‐Z effect) and the disproportionate role of the Z chromosome in reproductive isolation (large‐Z effect) are still debated. Here, we address this debate in the bird genus Ficedula flycatchers based on population‐level whole‐genome sequencing data of six species. Our analysis provides evidence for both faster lineage sorting and reduced gene flow on the Z chromosome than the autosomes. However, these patterns appear to be driven primarily by the increased role of genetic drift on the Z chromosome, rather than an increased rate of adaptive evolution. Genomic scans of selective sweeps and fixed differences in fact suggest a reduced action of positive selection on the Z chromosome.
Clinical outcomes and frequency of persistent infection among immunosuppressed patients treated with bebtelovimab for COVID‐19 infection at an ambulatory cancer center
Authors: Sanchez Eduardo , Krantz Elizabeth M , Yoke Leah , Gallaher Molly , Bhattacharyya Pooja , So Lisa , Escobar Zahra Kassamali , Tverdek Frank , Rosen Emily A , Quinn ZZ , Swetky Michelle , Walji Salma , Wilson Marie H. , McCreery Brittany , McCulloch Denise , Weixler Amelia , Roychoudhury Pavitra , Pergam Steven A , Liu Catherine
Published: January 2024

Background

There are limited data on clinical outcomes associated with the use of bebtelovimab for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) among cancer patients. We aimed to define the clinical characteristics and outcomes among patients receiving bebtelovimab as part of the COVID‐19 therapeutics program at our cancer center.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study of immunosuppressed adult patients who received bebtelovimab at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center between March 2022, and November 2022. We reviewed medical records to capture the date of the first positive COVID‐19 test, clinical characteristics, outcomes, and follow‐up COVID‐19 testing for 60 days after the first positive. Persistent infection was defined as a positive test beyond day 30; these patients were reviewed beyond day 60.

Results

Among 93 patients who received bebtelovimab, 64 (69%) had hematologic malignancy. Sixty‐nine (74%) patients received bebtelovimab within 2 days after diagnosis. Two (2%) patients were hospitalized, none required ICU care, and one patient died on day 52; although it is unknown if death was directly related to COVID‐19. Ten (11%) patients had persistent COVID‐19 infection; of these, four received additional COVID‐19 therapy with either nirmatrelvir/ritonavir or remdesivir, and five out of six patients with sequencing data available had spike protein mutations associated with bebtelovimab resistance.

Conclusion

A coordinated systems‐based approach led to prompt initiation of bebtelovimab within two days of testing positive in most patients. We observed few hospitalizations or deaths. Persistent infection was noted in 11% of patients with four requiring additional therapies, highlighting a need for novel strategies to manage immunosuppressed patients.

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European Philosophy
Authors: Van Riel Gerd , Claessens Guy
Published: January 2024

Philosophy is essentially historical. The element of wonder that drives philosophical inquiry, as well as the timeless nature of questions about humanity and the world, are both intertwined with their specific contexts of origin. The answers to these questions are historically situated interpretations of reality. Moreover, historicity itself is part of philosophical reflection. Any engagement with history (including this book) is inherently situated within a historical framework. A comprehensive understanding of the history of philosophy is, therefore, indispensable if one wishes to function as a philosopher. This historical introduction to European philosophy addresses the historicity of philosophy in its twofold sense. The first part provides insight into the vicissitudes of philosophical rationality from antiquity to the present day, with an emphasis on the relation between philosophical reflection and other domains of European intellectual history, such as science, politics, art, and literature. The second part deals with philosophy as a “historical-hermeneutical” discipline. The book functions both as a handbook for introductory philosophy courses and as a monograph on European philosophy and intellectual history for a non-specialist audience.
Leoš Janáček
Authors: Ventôse Yentl
Published: January 2024

De Tsjech Leoš Janáček is een van dé grootmeesters van de 20ste-eeuwse opera. In 1904 schreef hij Jenůfa, de opera die tot zijn grote doorbraak zou leiden. Eindelijk – hij was al vijftig jaar – leek Janáček zijn eigen stem gevonden te hebben: vaak rauw en meedogenloos, soms lyrisch en meeslepend, en steeds geworteld in de volksmuziek van zijn geboortestreek Moravië. In deze opera verklankt hij het dramatische verhaal van twee vrouwen – Jenůfa en haar stiefmoeder – die gebukt gaan onder het juk van een patriarchale samenleving. Liefde, angst, verraad, verdriet, plichtsbesef en schuld omsluiten het emotioneel troebele vlechtwerk van het libretto dat gebaseerd is op het gelijknamige theaterstuk van Gabriela Preissová. In zijn opera stuwt Janáček de emoties en morele dilemma's naar ongeziene hoogte in een muzikale taal die tegelijk modern en ontroerend is..
The NF-κB signaling system in the immunopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Mukherjee Tapas , Kumar Naveen , Chawla Meenakshi , Philpott Dana J. , Basak Soumen
Published: January 2024

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an idiopathic, chronic condition characterized by episodes of inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. The nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) system describes a family of dimeric transcription factors. Canonical NF-κB signaling is stimulated by and enhances inflammation, whereas noncanonical NF-κB signaling contributes to immune organogenesis. Dysregulation of NF-κB factors drives various inflammatory pathologies, including IBD. Signals from many immune sensors activate NF-κB subunits in the intestine, which maintain an equilibrium between local microbiota and host responses. Genetic association studies of patients with IBD and preclinical mouse models confirm the importance of the NF-κB system in host defense in the gut. Other studies have investigated the roles of these factors in intestinal barrier function and in inflammatory gut pathologies associated with IBD. NF-κB signaling modulates innate and adaptive immune responses and the production of immunoregulatory proteins, anti-inflammatory cytokines, antimicrobial peptides, and other tolerogenic factors in the intestine. Furthermore, genetic studies have revealed critical cell type–specific roles for NF-κB proteins in intestinal immune homeostasis, inflammation, and restitution that contribute to the etiopathology of IBD-associated manifestations. Here, we summarize our knowledge of the roles of these NF-κB pathways, which are activated in different intestinal cell types by specific ligands, and their cross-talk, in fueling aberrant intestinal inflammation. We argue that an in-depth understanding of aberrant immune signaling mechanisms may hold the key to identifying predictive or prognostic biomarkers and developing better therapeutics against inflammatory gut pathologies.
Effects of organic fertilizers on plant growth and the rhizosphere microbiome
Authors: Yu Yitian , Zhang Qi , Kang Jian , Xu Nuohan , Zhang Zhenyan , Deng Yu , Gillings Michael , Lu Tao , Qian Haifeng
Published: January 2024

Application of organic fertilizers is an important strategy for sustainable agriculture. The biological source of organic fertilizers determines their specific functional characteristics, but few studies have systematically examined these functions or assessed their health risk to soil ecology. To fill this gap, we analyzed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing data from 637 soil samples amended with plant- and animal-derived organic fertilizers (hereafter plant fertilizers and animal fertilizers). Results showed that animal fertilizers increased the diversity of soil microbiome, while plant fertilizers maintained the stability of soil microbial community. Microcosm experiments verified that plant fertilizers were beneficial to plant root development and increased carbon cycle pathways, while animal fertilizers enriched nitrogen cycle pathways. Compared with animal fertilizers, plant fertilizers harbored a lower abundance of risk factors such as antibiotic resistance genes and viruses. Consequently, plant fertilizers might be more suitable for long-term application in agriculture. This work provides a guide for organic fertilizer selection from the perspective of soil microecology and promotes sustainable development of organic agriculture.

IMPORTANCE

This study provides valuable guidance for use of organic fertilizers in agricultural production from the perspective of the microbiome and ecological risk.
Biosynthetic mechanism of the yellow pigments in the marine bacterium
Pseudoalteromonas
sp. strain T1lg65
Authors: Ren Yixuan , Liu Ruoyu , Zheng Yifan , Wang Hang , Meng Qiu , Zhu Tingheng , Yin Jianhua , Cao Xueqiang , Yu Zhiliang
Published: January 2024

The
Pseudoalteromonas
genus marine bacteria have attracted increasing interest because of their abilities to produce bioactive metabolites. The pigmented
Pseudoalteromonas
group encodes more secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) than the non-pigmented group. Here, we report a yellow pigmented bacterium
Pseudoalteromonas
sp. strain T1lg65, which was isolated from a mangrove forest sediment. We showed that the yellow pigments of T1lg65 belong to the group of lipopeptide alterochromides. Further genetic analyses of the alterochromide BGC revealed that the yellow pigments are biosynthesized by aryl-polyene synthases and nonribosomal peptide synthases. Within the gene cluster,
altA
encodes a tyrosine ammonia acid lyase, which catalyzes synthesis of the precursor 4-hydroxycinnamic acid (4-HCA) from tyrosine in the alterochromide biosynthetic pathway. In addition,
altN
, encoding a putative flavin-dependent halogenase, was proven to be responsible for the bromination of alterochromides based on gene deletion, molecular docking, and site mutagenesis analyses. In summary, the biosynthetic pathway, precursor synthesis, and bromination mechanism of the lipopeptide alterochromides were studied in-depth. Our results expand the knowledge on biosynthesis of
Pseudoalteromonas
pigments and could promote the development of active pigments in the future.

IMPORTANCE

The marine bacteria
Pseudoalteromonas
spp. are important biological resources because they are producers of bioactive natural products, including antibiotics, pigments, enzymes, and antimicrobial peptides. One group of the microbial pigments, alterochromides, holds a great value for their novel lipopeptide structures and antimicrobial activities. Previous studies were limited to the structural characterization of alterochromides and genome mining for the alterochromide biosynthesis. This work focused on the biosynthetic mechanism for alterochromide production, especially revealing functions of two key genes within the gene cluster for the alterochromide biosynthesis. On the one hand, our study provides a target for metabolic engineering of the alterochromide biosynthesis; on the other hand, the 4-HCA synthase AltA and brominase AltN show potential in the biocatalyst industry.
A zebrafish NLRX1 isoform downregulates fish IFN responses by targeting the adaptor STING
Authors: Zhao Xiang , An Li-Li , Gong Xiu-Ying , Dan Cheng , Qu Zi-Ling , Sun Hao-Yu , Guo Wen-Hao , Gui Jian-Fang , Zhang Yi-Bing
Published: January 2024

In this study, we demonstrate that a transcript variant of zebrafish NLRX1, termed NLRX1-tv4, downregulates fish IFN response and promotes virus replication by targeting STING for protein degradation and impairing the interaction of STING and TBK1 and that its N- and C-terminus exhibit a similar inhibitory potential. Our results are helpful in clarifying the current contradictory understanding of structure and function of vertebrate NLRX1s.
Casein kinase 2 complex: a central regulator of multiple pathobiological signaling pathways in
Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Choi Yeseul , Yu Seong-Ryong , Lee Yujin , Na Ann-Yae , Lee Sangkyu , Heitman Joseph , Seo Ran , Lee Han-Seung , Lee Jong-Seung , Bahn Yong-Sun
Published: January 2024

The casein kinase 2 (CK2) complex, crucial for eukaryotic growth, differentiation, and metabolic regulation, presents a promising therapeutic target for various human diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and obesity. Its potential as an antifungal target is further highlighted in this study, which explores CK2’s functions in
C. neoformans
, a key fungal meningitis pathogen. The CK2 complex in
C. neoformans
, comprising the Cka1 catalytic subunit and Ckb1/2 regulatory subunits, is integral to processes like growth, cell cycle, morphogenesis, stress response, drug resistance, and virulence. Our findings of CK2’s role in regulating critical signaling pathways, including Hog1, Mpk1 MAPKs, cAMP/PKA, and calcium/calcineurin, underscore its importance in
C. neoformans
pathogenicity. This study provides valuable insights into the fungal CK2 complex, reinforcing its potential as a target for novel antifungal drug development and pointing out a promising direction for creating new antifungal agents.
Supplemental Material: Material and mechanical properties of young basalt in drill cores from the oceanic island of Surtsey, Iceland
Authors: Jackson M.D. , et al.
Published: January 2024

Supplemental Text S1–S6, Supplemental Data S1 (physical property measurements), and Supplemental Data S2 (QPA-XRPD results).
A review on the analytical methods, chemical structures, distribution characteristics, sources, and biogeochemical processes of dissolved black carbon
Authors: Zhan Changlin , Shu Aiai , Han Yongming , Cao Junji , Liu Xianli
Published: January 2024

Incomplete combustion of biomass and fossil fuels yields a variety of chemically distinct pyrolysis residues collectively referred to as black carbon (BC). Among these residues, dissolved black carbon (DBC) constitutes the water-soluble fraction, making it a significant component of the global dissolved organic carbon (DOC) pool. Consequently, it exerts an impact on the aquatic carbon cycle and global climate change. Owing to its unique molecular structure, DBC exhibits reduced reactivity in aquatic environments, thereby influencing the toxicity and environmental geochemical behavior of organic pollutants and heavy metals. While recent years have seen a surge in studies on DBC, yielding valuable insights, significant knowledge gaps persist regarding the fate and cycling of DBC. This review consolidates the advancements in analytical and determination methods for DBC and offers a critical assessment of the advantages and limitations associated with various analytical techniques. Furthermore, it comprehensively surveys our current understanding of DBC, encompassing its molecular composition, spatial distribution, sources, and biogeochemical processes. The review also underscores prevailing challenges related to quantitative and qualitative methods and underscores research gaps concerning the physio-chemical transformation of DBC. The overarching aim is to advance our comprehension of the biogeochemical cycle of DBC.
First-principles study of the electronic and optical properties of Nb-doped MoSe2 by tensile strain
Authors: Su Dan , Liu Guili , Gao Xuewen , He Jianlin , Chen Yuling , Zhao Jingwei , Zhang Guoying
Published: January 2024

A first-principles method was used to explore the influence of tensile strain on the electrical and optical characteristics of Nb-doped MoSe2. The tensile strain has been discovered to have a higher influence on the electrical structure of the Nb-doped MoSe2 system than pure monolayer MoSe2. According to the energy band structure study, the pure monolayer MoSe2 is a direct bandgap semiconductor, but the system doped with Nb instead of Mo atoms is a p-type-doped semiconductor. The bandgap of the Nb-doped MoSe2 system decreases gradually with the increase of tensile strain, but still maintains the p-type semiconductor properties, and the bandgap of the pure monolayer MoSe2 also decreases gradually with the increase of tensile strain. From the density of states analysis, it is found that for the total density of states of the doped system at different tensile strains, it is mainly contributed by the Mo-4d and Se-4p orbitals. The optical properties analysis showed that the doped system under tensile strain had higher absorption coefficient and reflectance peak than the Nb-doped MoSe2 system without tensile strain. Additionally, the doped system showed redshift phenomenon in both the absorption and reflection peaks as the tensile strain increased.
A Catalog of Consumer IoT Device Characteristics for Data Quality Estimation
Authors: Golendukhina Valentina , Foidl Harald , Hörl Daniel , Felderer Michael
Published: January 2024

The Internet of Things (IoT) is rapidly growing and spreading across different markets, including the customer market and consumer IoT (CIoT). The large variety of gadgets and their availability makes CIoT more and more influential, especially in the wearable and smart home domains. However, the large variety of devices and their inconsistent quality due to varying hardware costs have an influence on the data produced by such devices. In this article, a catalog of CIoT properties is introduced, which enables the prediction of data quality. The data-quality catalog contains six categories and 21 properties with descriptions and trust score calculation methods. A diagramming tool is implemented to support and facilitate the process of evaluation. The tool was assessed in an experimental setting with 14 users and received positive feedback. Additionally, we provide an exemplary application for smartwatch devices and compare the results obtained with the approach with the users’ evaluation based on the feedback from 158 smartwatch owners. As a result, the method-based ranking does not provide similar results to the regular users. However, it yields comparable outcomes to the assessment conducted by experienced users.