bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plant-mycorrhizal associations may explain the latitudinal gradient of plant community assembly
Authors: Shinohara Naoto , Kobayashi Yuta , Nishizawa Keita , Kadowaki Kohmei , Yamawo Akira
Published: June 2023

Biogeographical variation in community assembly patterns forms the basis of large-scale biodiversity gradients. Previous studies on community assembly have suggested the dominant role of environmental filtering at higher latitudes. However, recent evidence indicates that plant community distributions at higher latitudes exhibit more spatial clustering, suggesting the importance of spatial assembly processes. In this study, we propose a hypothesis that resolves this paradox by incorporating biogeographic variations in dominant mycorrhizal types: the increasing prevalence of ectomycorrhizal (EcM) trees with latitude contributes to the spatially clustered distribution of plants, as EcM trees tend to exhibit positive plant-soil feedback. We analyzed a large-scale standardized dataset of Japanese forests covering a latitudinal gradient of >10° and found that (i) the proportion of EcM trees was higher at higher latitudes, and (ii) EcM tree-rich communities exhibited more spatially clustered distributions. Consequently, (iii) the tree species composition at higher latitudes was better explained by spatial variables. Moreover, consistent with predictions derived from the plant-soil feedback theory, these findings were particularly evident in the understory rather than the canopy communities. This study demonstrates that plant-soil feedback influences plant community distributions at metacommunity scales, thereby giving rise to a paradox within the latitudinal gradient of plant community assembly.
WITHDRAWN: Estimates of Undernutrition among migrant/refugee children in lower-middle-income countries: A meta-analysis of published evidence from 2010-2022
Authors: Talukdar Rounik , Kumar Vivek , Barman Diplina
Published: June 2023

Withdrawal statement

This manuscript is hereby withdrawn owing to the methodological flaws in inclusion criteria used, high heterogeneity and less generalizability of the results.
Genome duplications, genomic conflict, and rapid phenotypic evolution characterize the Cretaceous radiation of Fagales
Authors: Yang Ying-Ying , Stull Gregory W. , Qu Xiao-Jian , Zhao Lei , Hu Yi , Wang Zhi-Heng , Ma Hong , Li De-Zhu , Smith Stephen A. , Yi Ting-Shuang
Published: June 2023

Flowering plant lineages display remarkable diversity in life history and morphological form. However our understanding of how this phenotypic diversity or disparity, arises and what, if any, relation there is to processes such as gene and genome duplication remains unlcear.

Here we investigate the relationship between phenotypic and genomic evolution in the angiosperm order Fagales, a lineage of woody plants that has been a dominant component of temperate and subtropical forests since the Late Cretaceous. To this end, we examine newly generated trait and transcriptomic datasets spanning the phylogenetic breadth of the order, including most extant genera as well as a rich diversity of Cretaceous fossil representatives.

Our phylogenomic analyses resolved the location of an ancient polyploidization event in Juglandaceae and identified hotspots of gene-duplication and genomic conflict across the order. Examinations of phenotypic evolution (including morphospace occupancy and rate shifts) show that the morphospace occupied by Fagales was filled by the early Cenozoic and rates of evolution were highest during the early radiation of the Fagales crown and its major families. Many instances of phenotypic rates also correspond to hotspots of gene duplication.

Our results show that Fagales conform to an “early burst” model of phenotypic diversification, with morphospace being filled early in the group’s evolutionary history. Our study is consistent with others showing a decoupling of species diversification with other biological processes (e.g., phenotypic and genomic evolution), underscoring the complexity of understanding the major drivers of plant evolution over broad timescales.
Hippocampal memory reactivation during sleep is correlated with specific cortical states of the Retrosplenial and Prefrontal Cortices
Authors: Feliciano-Ramos PA , Galazo MJ , Penagos H. , Wilson MA
Published: June 2023

Episodic memories are thought to be stabilized through the coordination of cortico-hippocampal activity during sleep. However, the timing and mechanism of this coordination remain unknown. To investigate this, we studied the relationship between hippocampal reactivation and slow-wave sleep UP and Down states of the retrosplenial cortex (RTC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC). We found that hippocampal reactivation are strongly correlated with specific cortical states. Reactivation occurred during sustained cortical UP states or during the transition from UP to Down state. Interestingly, sustained UP states from the PFC were more coordinated with memory reactivation in the hippocampus, whereas hippocampal reactivation was biased to occur during the cortical UP to Down state transition of the RTC. Reactivation usually occurred within 150-200 ms of a cortical UP-state onset, indicating that a build-up of excitation during cortical UP state activity influences the probability of memory reactivation in CA1. Conversely, CA1 reactivation occurred 30-50 ms before the onset of a cortical Down state, suggesting that memory reactivation affects Down state initiation in RTC and PFC, but the effect in RTC was more robust. Our findings provide evidence that supports and highlights the complexity of bidirectional communication between cortical regions and the hippocampus during sleep.
A dataset of new occurrence records of primates from the arc of deforestation, Brazil
Authors: Costa-Araújo Rodrigo , Canale Gustavo Rodrigues , de Melo Fabiano Rodrigues , da Silva Raimundo Rodrigues , da Silva Ivan Baptista , de Alencar Raony Macedo , da Silva Luciano Ferreira , Jerusalinsky Leandro , de Azevedo Renata Bocorny , Santos Júnior Eduardo Marques , Mourthé Italo , Hernández Ruz Emil José , de Sousa e Silva José , Roos Christian , Farias Izeni Pires , Hrbek Tomas
Published: June 2023

The arc of deforestation, located between the southern Amazonia and the northern Cerrado of Brazil, is a top deforestation frontier worldwide. The high deforestation rates in this region are caused by human activities and threatens a rich diversity of primates that are still poorly-known and therefore investments into taxonomy and distribution research are urgent to support science-driven conservation of primates of this region. Here we present a dataset of 192 new occurrence records for 22 species of primates of the generaAlouatta, Aotus, Ateles, Cebus, Chiropotes, Lagothrix, Leontocebus, Pithecia, Plecturocebus, Saimiri, andSapajus, collected during 10 field expeditions carried out across the arc of deforestation between 2015–2018. Based on these occurrence records we extend the ranges ofSaimiri collinsi, Sapajus apella, andAlouatta puruensis, identify a potential hybridization zone betweenA. puruensisandAlouatta discolor, and redefine the range ofPlecturocebus moloch. Moreover, this dataset is a useful source of information otherwise scarce for further researches on species distributions and habitat use patterns, on the effect of environmental variables on such patterns, for estimating population sizes, evaluating habitat suitability, for predicting effects of climate change, habitat loss and fragmentation on populations, and for assessing species extinction risks. The ranges of primates endemic to the arc of deforestation, with a few exceptions, are fragile hypotheses, which hampers the establishment of effective conservation efforts for species increasingly threatened on a global deforestation frontier.
Effects of linker length on phase separation: lessons from the Rubisco-EPYC1 system of the algal pyrenoid
Authors: GrandPre Trevor , Zhang Yaojun , Pyo Andrew G. T. , Weiner Benjamin , Li Je-Luen , Jonikas Martin C. , Wingreen Ned S.
Published: June 2023

Biomolecular condensates are membraneless organelles formed via phase separation of macromolecules, typically consisting of bond-forming “stickers” connected by flexible “linkers”. Linkers have diverse roles, such as occupying space and facilitating interactions. To understand how linker length relative to other lengths affects condensation, we focus on the pyrenoid, which enhances photosynthesis in green algae. Specifically, we apply coarse-grained simulations and analytical theory to the pyrenoid proteins ofChlamydomonas reinhardtii: the rigid holoenzyme Rubisco and its flexible partner EPYC1. Remarkably, halving EPYC1 linker lengths decreases critical concentrations by ten-fold. We attribute this difference to the molecular “fit” between EPYC1 and Rubisco. Varying Rubisco sticker locations reveals that the native sites yield the poorest fit, thus optimizing phase separation. Surprisingly, shorter linkers mediate a transition to a gas of rods as Rubisco stickers approach the poles. These findings illustrate how intrinsically disordered proteins affect phase separation through the interplay of molecular length scales.
Rare but not absent: the Inverted Mitogenomes of Deep-Sea Hatchetfish
Authors: Gomes-dos-Santos André , Vilas-Arrondo Nair , Machado André M. , Román-Marcote Esther , Del Río Iglesias Jose Luís , Baldó Francisco , Pérez Montse , Fonseca Miguel M. , C. Castro L. Filipe , Froufe Elsa
Published: June 2023

Mitochondrial genomes are by definition compact and structurally stable over aeons. This generalized perception results from a vertebrate-centric vision, as very few types of mtDNA rearrangements have been described in vertebrates. By combining a panel of sequencing approaches, including short- and long-reads, we show that species from a group of illusive marine teleosts, the deep-sea hatchetfish (Stomiiforms: Sternoptychidae), display a myriad of new mtDNA structural arrangements. We show a never reported inversion of the coding direction of protein-coding genes (PGG) coupled with a strand asymmetry nucleotide composition reversal directly related to the strand location of the Control Region (which includes the heavy strand replication origin). An analysis of the 4-fold redundant sites of the PCGs, in thousands of vertebrate mtDNAs, revealed the rarity of this phenomenon, only found in 9 fish species, five of which are deep-sea hatchetfish. Curiously, in Antarctic notothenioid fishes (Trematominae), where a single PCG inversion (the only other record in fish) is coupled with the inversion of the Control Region, the standard asymmetry is disrupted for the remaining PCG but not yet reversed, suggesting a transitory state in this species mtDNA. Together, our findings hint that a relaxation of the classic vertebrate mitochondrial structuralstasis, observed in Sternoptychidae and Trematominae, promotes disruption of the natural balance of asymmetry of the mtDNA. Our findings support the long-lasting hypothesis that replication is the main molecular mechanism promoting the strand-specific compositional bias of this unique and indispensable molecule.
Decoding kinematic information from beta-band motor rhythms of speech motor cortex: A methodological/analytic approach using concurrent speech movement tracking and magnetoencephalography
Authors: Anastasopoulou Ioanna , Cheyne Douglas O. , van Lieshout Pascal , Johnson Blake W
Published: June 2023

Articulography and functional neuroimaging are two major tools for studying the neurobiology of speech production. Until now, however, it has generally not been feasible to use both in the same experimental setup because of technical incompatibilities between the two methodologies. Here we describe results from a novel articulography system dubbed Magneto-articulography for the Assessment of Speech Kinematics (MASK; Alves et al., 2016), which is technically compatible with magnetoencephalography (MEG) brain scanning systems. In the present paper we describe our methodological and analytic approach for extracting brain motor activities related to key kinematic and coordination event parameters derived from time-registered MASK tracking measurements (Anastasopoulou et al., 2022). Data were collected from ten healthy adults with tracking coils on the tongue, lips, and jaw. Analyses targeted the gestural landmarks of reiterated utterances /ipa/ and /api/, produced at normal and faster rates (Anastasopoulou et al., 2022; Van Lieshout, 2007). The results show that (1) Speech sensorimotor cortex can be reliably located in peri-rolandic regions of the left hemisphere; (2) mu (8-12 Hz) and beta band (13-30 Hz) neuromotor oscillations are present in the speech signals and contain information structures that are independent of those present in higher-frequency bands; and (3) hypotheses concerning the information content of speech motor rhythms can be systematically evaluated with multivariate pattern analytic techniques. These results show that MASK provides the capability, for deriving subject-specific articulatory parameters, based on well-established and robust motor control parameters, in the same experimental setup as the MEG brain recordings and in temporal and spatial co-register with the brain data. The analytic approach described here provides new capabilities for testing hypotheses concerning the types of kinematic information that are encoded and processed within specific components of the speech neuromotor system.
Prenatal alcohol exposure alters expression of genes involved in cell adhesion, immune response, and toxin metabolism in adolescent rat hippocampus
Authors: Khalifa Amal , Palu Rebecca A.S. , Perkins Amy , Volz Avery
Published: June 2023

Prenatal alcohol exposure can result in mild to severe consequences for children throughout their lives, with this range of symptoms referred to as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). These consequences are thought to be linked to changes in gene expression and transcriptional programming in the brain, but the identity of those changes, and how they persist into adolescence are unclear. In this study, we isolated RNA from the hippocampus of adolescent rats exposed to ethanol during prenatal development and compared gene expression to controls. Exposure to ethanol caused widespread downregulation of many genes as compared to control rats. Gene ontology analysis demonstrated that affected pathways included cell adhesion, toxin metabolism, and immune responses. Interestingly, these differences were not strongly affected by sex. Furthermore, these changes were consistent when comparing ethanol-exposed rats to pair-fed controls provided with a liquid diet and those fed ad libitum on a standard chow diet. We conclude from this study that changes in genetic architecture and the resulting neuronal connectivity after prenatal exposure to alcohol continue through adolescent development. Further research into the consequences of specific gene expression changes on neural and behavioral changes will be vital to our understanding of the FASD spectrum of diseases.

AUTHOR SUMMARY

Alcohol exposure during fetal development is associated with a wide range of behavioral and physical symptoms that can be observed from childhood throughout adolescence and beyond. It is believed that this exposure may alter gene expression patterns permanently by changing genomic architecture, but the actual changes themselves are still unclear. In this study we examined gene expression patterns in rats whose mothers were given ethanol during their pregnancies. These were compared to control rats whose mothers were fed a similar liquid diet without ethanol as well as rats fed a normal diet. We identified the top differentially expressed genes and performed gene ontology analysis to identify both genes and pathways important in the response to ethanol during fetal development. We focused on adolescent rats since prenatal alcohol exposure has been shown at this stage to influence behavior. We indeed found a number of significant changes in gene expression, suggesting that prenatal alcohol exposure has ongoing consequences throughout and likely beyond adolescence into adulthood. Pathways such as cell adhesion, immune response, and toxin response were all highlighted. Future work will focus on making connections between these gene expression changes and behavioral changes observed at this same life stage.
Structural variation and DNA methylation shape the centromere-proximal meiotic crossover landscape in Arabidopsis
Authors: Fernandes Joiselle B. , Naish Matthew , Lian Qichao , Burns Robin , Tock Andrew J. , Rabanal Fernando A. , Wlodzimierz Piotr , Habring Anette , Nicholas Robert E. , Weigel Detlef , Mercier Raphael , Henderson Ian R.
Published: June 2023

Background

Centromeres load kinetochore complexes onto chromosomes, which mediate spindle attachment and allow segregation during cell division. Although centromeres perform a conserved cellular function, their underlying DNA sequences are highly divergent within and between species. Despite variability in DNA sequence, centromeres are also universally suppressed for meiotic crossover recombination, across eukaryotes. However, the genetic and epigenetic factors responsible for suppression of centromeric crossovers remain to be completely defined.

Results

To explore the centromere-proximal recombination landscape, we mapped 14,397 crossovers against fully assembledArabidopsis thalianagenomes.A. thalianacentromeres comprise megabase-scale satellite repeat arrays that load nucleosomes containing the CENH3 histone variant. Each chromosome possesses a structurally polymorphic 3-4 megabase region where crossovers were absent, that includes the satellite arrays, flanked by 1-2 megabase low-recombination zones. The recombination-suppressed regions are enriched for Gypsy/Ty3 retrotransposons, and additionally contain expressed genes with high genetic diversity that initiate meiotic recombination, yet do not crossover. We mapped crossovers at high-resolution in proximity toCEN3, which resolved punctate centromere-proximal hotspots that overlapped gene islands embedded in heterochromatin. Centromeres are densely DNA methylated and the recombination landscape was remodelled in DNA methylation mutants. We observed that the centromeric low-recombining zones decreased and increased crossovers in CG (met1) and non-CG (cmt3) mutants, respectively, whereas the core non recombining zones remained suppressed.

Conclusion

Our work relates the genetic and epigenetic organisation of theA. thalianacentromeres and flanking pericentromeric heterochromatin to the zones of crossover suppression that surround the CENH3-occupied satellite repeat arrays.
PROTAC-Design-Evaluator (PRODE) : An Advanced Method for in-silico PROTAC design
Authors: Ben Geoffrey A S , Agrawal Deepak , Kulkarni Nagaraj M , Vetrivel Rajappan , Gurram Kishan
Published: June 2023

PROTAC (proteolysis-targeting chimeras) is a rapidly evolving technology to target undruggable targets. The mechanism by which this happens is when a bifunctional molecule binds to a target protein and also brings in proximity an E3 ubiquitin ligase to trigger ubiquitination and degradation of the target protein. Yet in-silico driven approaches to design these hetero-bifunctional molecules that have the desired functional properties to induce proximity between the target protein and E3 ligase remains to be established. In this paper we present a novel in-silico method for PROTAC design and to demonstrate the validity of our approach. We show that for a BRD4-VHL PROTAC ternary complex known in the literature, we are able to reproduce the PROTAC binding mode, the structure of ternary complex formed therein and the free energy (ΔG) thermodynamics favoring ternary complexation through theoretical computational methodologies. Further, we demonstrate the use of Thermal Titration Molecule Dynamics (TTMD) to differentiate the stability of PROTAC mediated ternary complexes. We employ the proposed methodology to design a PROTAC for a new system of FGFR1-MDM2 to degrade the FGFR1 (Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1) which is overexpressed in cancer. Our work presented here and named as PROTAC-Designer-Evaluator (PRODE) contributes to the growing literature of in-silico approaches to PROTAC design and evaluation by incorporating the latest in-silico methods and demonstrates advancement over previously published PROTAC in-silico literature.
Meniscus-enabled Projection Stereolithography (MAPS)
Authors: Kunwar Puskal , Poudel Arun , Aryal Ujjwal , Xie Rui , Geffert Zachary J , Wittmann Haven , Chiang Tsung Hsing , Maye Mathew M. , Li Zhen , Soman Pranav
Published: June 2023

Light-based additive manufacturing methods have been widely used to print high-resolution 3D structures for applications in tissue engineering, soft robotics, photonics, and microfluidics, among others. Despite this progress, multi-material printing with these methods remains challenging due to constraints associated with hardware modifications, control systems, cross-contaminations, waste, and resin properties. Here, we report a new printing platform coined Meniscus-enabled Projection Stereolithography (MAPS), a vat-free method that relies on generating and maintaining a resin meniscus between a crosslinked structure and bottom window and to print lateral, vertical, discrete, or gradient multi-material 3D structures with little-to-no cross-contamination or waste. We also show that MAPS is compatible with a wide range of resins and can print complex multi-material 3D structures without requiring specialized hardware, software, or complex washing protocols. MAPS’s ability to print structures with microscale variations in mechanical stiffness, opacity, surface energy, cell densities, and magnetic properties provides a generic method to make advanced materials for a broad range of applications.
Labelizer: systematic selection of protein residues for covalent fluorophore labeling
Authors: Gebhardt Christian , Bawidamann Pascal , Spring Anna-Katharina , Schenk Robin , Schütze Konstantin , Moya Muñoz Gabriel G. , Wendler Nicolas D. , Griffith Douglas A. , Lipfert Jan , Cordes Thorben
Published: June 2023

An essential requirement for the use of fluorescent dyes in biomedicine, molecular biology, biochemistry, biophysics and optical imaging is their (covalent) attachment to biomolecules. There is, however, no systematic and automated approach for the selection of suitable labeling sites in macromolecules, which is particular problematic for proteins. Here, we present a general and quantitative strategy to identify optimal residues for protein labeling using a naïve Bayes classifier. Based on a literature search and bioinformatics analysis of >100 proteins with ~400 successfully labeled residues, we identified four parameters, which we combined into a labeling score to rank residues for their suitability as a label-site. The utility of our approach for the systematic selection of single residues and of residue pairs for FRET experiments is supported by data from the literature and by new experiments on different proteins. To make the method available to a large community of researchers, we developed a python package called “labelizer”, that performs an analysis of a pdb-structure (or structural models), label score calculation, and FRET assay scoring. We further provide a webserver (https://labelizer.bio.lmu.de/) to conveniently apply our approach and to build up a central open-access database of (non-)successfully labeled protein residues to continuously improve and refine the labelizer approach.
Typical and disrupted small-world architecture and regional communication in full-term and preterm infants
Authors: Hu Huiqing , Coppola Peter , Stamatakis Emmanuel , Naci Lorina
Published: June 2023

One fundamental property of conscious experiences is that they are both differentiated and integrated. Adult functional brain networks exhibit an elegant “small-world” architecture. This optimal architecture enables efficient and cost-effective localized information processing and information integration between long-distance regions across the brain. It remains unclear whether the functional small-world architecture is developed in neonates at birth and how this development may be altered by premature birth. To address this gap, we investigated the development of small-world architecture in neonates. To understand the effect of early neonate age on small-world architecture, we also assessed neonates born prematurely or before term-equivalent age (TEA). We used the Developing Human Connectome Project (dHCP), a large neonatal functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) dataset with high temporal and spatial resolution. Resting-state functional MRI data for full- term neonates (N = 278, age 41.2 weeks ± 12.2 days) and preterm neonates scanned at TEA (N = 72, 40.9 weeks ± 14.6 days), or before TEA (N = 70, 34.7 weeks ± 12.7 days), were obtained from the dHCP, and for a reference adult group (N = 176, 22–36 years), from the Human Connectome Project. Whole-brain functional network properties were evaluated with comprehensive spatial resolution using graph theoretical analyses. Although different from the adults’, small-world architecture was developed in full-term born neonates at birth. Premature neonates before TEA showed dramatic underdevelopment of small-world architecture and regional communication in 9/11 brain networks, with disruption in 32% of nodes primarily distributed within the somatomotor, dorsal attention, cingulo-opercular, and frontoparietal control network. By TEA, premature neonates showed large-scale recuperation of regional communication, with 1.4% of nodes, distributed in the frontoparietal, salience, and visual networks remaining significantly underdeveloped. Our results suggest that, at full- term birth or by term-equivalent age, infants possess well-developed small-world architecture, which facilitates differentiated and integrated neural processes that give rise to conscious experiences. Conversely, they suggest that this brain infrastructure is significantly underdeveloped before infants reach term-equivalent age. These findings improve understanding of the ontogeny of functional small-world architecture and efficiency of neural communication across distinct brain networks in infants at birth.
A comparative analysis of stably expressed genes across diverse angiosperms exposes flexibility in underlying promoter architecture
Authors: Yang Eric J.Y. , Maranas Cassandra J. , Nemhauser Jennifer L.
Published: June 2023

Promoters regulate both the amplitude and pattern of gene expression—key factors needed for optimization of many synthetic biology applications. Previous work inArabidopsisfound that promoters that contain a TATA-box element tend to be expressed only under specific conditions or in particular tissues, while promoters which lack any known promoter elements, thus designated as Coreless, tend to be expressed more ubiquitously. To test whether this trend represents a conserved promoter design rule, we identified stably expressed genes across multiple angiosperm species using publicly available RNA-seq data. Comparisons between core promoter architectures and gene expression stability revealed differences in core promoter usage in monocots and eudicots. Furthermore, when tracing the evolution of a given promoter across species, we found that core promoter type was not a strong predictor of expression stability. Our analysis suggests that core promoter types are correlative rather than causative in promoter expression patterns and highlights the challenges in finding or building constitutive promoters that will work across diverse plant species.
Classifying innovation in Indonesian public libraries
Authors: Srirahayu Dyah Puspitasari , Harisanty Dessy , Anugrah Esti Putri
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Public libraries have been making various efforts and innovations to adapt to changes. The purpose of this study is to analyze type of library innovation based on the innovation’s subject.

Design/methodology/approach

The data was collected by identifying the information in regard to the innovation uploaded on the library website. A total of 548 public library websites have been identified, and 1,567 library innovations data have been collected.

Findings

The innovations that have been made and carried out are divided into seven subject categories: inclusion-based innovation, information source innovation, innovation, cooperation, innovation in information services, innovation in library management, innovation with the use of technology. The consequences of innovation in public libraries include increased performance, community empowerment, increased accessibility of information, increased public literacy and external support.

Research limitations/implications

This research only focuses on one type of library, namely, all public libraries in Indonesia. The findings of this study are based on library innovation data taken from the public library website, so that library innovations that are not uploaded to the website are not included in this study.

Originality/value

The impact of the innovations that have been implemented is not only in improving the performance of the library but also the surrounding community. Public libraries must continue to innovate because of the amount that can be obtained for the progress of society, nation and state.
Unpacking the privacy–personalisation paradox in GDPR-2018 regulated environments: consumer vulnerability and the curse of personalisation
Authors: Kawaf Fatema , Montgomery Annaleis , Thuemmler Marius
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The paper addresses the privacy–personalisation paradox in the post-GDPR-2018 era. As the regulation came in a bid to regulate the collection and use of personal data, its implications remain underexplored. The research question is: How do consumers perceive the matter of personal data collection for the use of highly targeted and personalised ads post-GDPR-2018? The invasion of privacy vs the benefits of highly personalised digital marketing.

Design/methodology/approach

To address the research question, this qualitative study conducts semi-structured interviews with 14 individuals, consisting of average users and digital experts.

Findings

This paper reports on increasing consumer vulnerability post-GDPR-2018 due to increased awareness of personal data collection yet incessant lack of control, particularly regarding the repercussions of the digital footprint. The privacy paradox remains an issue except among experts, and personalisation remains necessary, yet critical challenges arise (e.g. filter bubbles and intrusion).

Practical implications

Policy implications include education, regulating consent platforms and encouraging consensual sharing of personal data.

Originality/value

While the privacy–personalisation paradox has been widely studied, the impact of GDPR-2018 has rarely been addressed in the literature. GDPR-2018 has seemingly had little impact on instilling a sense of security for consumers; if anything, this paper highlights greater concerns for privacy as users sign away their rights on consent forms to access websites, thus contributing novel insights to this area of research.
A hybrid machine learning approach for early cost estimation of pile foundations
Authors: Deepa G. , Niranjana A.J. , Balu A.S.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims at proposing a hybrid model for early cost prediction of a construction project. Early cost prediction for a construction project is the basic approach to procure a project within a predefined budget. However, most of the projects routinely face the impact of cost overruns. Furthermore, conventional and manual cost computing techniques are hectic, time-consuming and error-prone. To deal with such challenges, soft computing techniques such as artificial neural networks (ANNs), fuzzy logic and genetic algorithms are applied in construction management. Each technique has its own constraints not only in terms of efficiency but also in terms of feasibility, practicability, reliability and environmental impacts. However, appropriate combination of the techniques improves the model owing to their inherent nature.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a hybrid model by combining machine learning (ML) techniques with ANN to accurately predict the cost of pile foundations. The parameters contributing toward the cost of pile foundations were collected from five different projects in India. Out of 180 collected data entries, 176 entries were finally used after data cleaning. About 70% of the final data were used for building the model and the remaining 30% were used for validation.

Findings

The proposed model is capable of predicting the pile foundation costs with an accuracy of 97.42%.

Originality/value

Although various cost estimation techniques are available, appropriate use and combination of various ML techniques aid in improving the prediction accuracy. The proposed model will be a value addition to cost estimation of pile foundations.
Effects of long-term Ashtanga Yoga practice on psychological well-being
Authors: Morris Ben , Jackson James , Roberts III Anthony
Published: June 2023

Purpose

In recent years, Yoga practice has seen a rapid rise in popularity with many positive consequences, both physical and mental attributed to its practice. Ashtanga Yoga has been less well researched in this area and is the specific focus on this work. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible positive impact of long-term Ashtanga Yoga on psychological well-being.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 213 long-term Ashtanga Yoga practitioners were asked to complete the positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, accomplishment (PERMA) 23 scale (Butler and Kern, 2016) which measures psychological well-being. The values given by these individuals were then compared against a larger sample of 31,966 representative of the general population.

Findings

Scores were then compared with a PERMA data set representative of the general population (see Butler and Kern, 2016), primarily using a test of difference to compare samples. Secondly, the causal relationship between time spent in practice upon well-being scores.

Research limitations/implications

Findings indicated that those individuals engaged in long-term Ashtanga Yoga practice significantly outperformed the control group on all dimensions of psychological well-being.

Practical implications

This work has demonstrated specific benefits to the practice of Ashtanga Yoga on psychological well-being. Yoga is a form of exercise that is now widely available across the globe, and as such, represents an accessible form of physical practice, which has important psychological benefits.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first work investigating differences in psychological well-being profiles using PERMA, as a function of Yoga practice.
Synthesis of modified poly(ester-amide) and alkyd resins based on phenolic and Schiff base compounds to study their biological and insecticide activity for surface coating applications
Authors: G. Elfadel Roma , M. Refat Hala , Abdelwahab H. , S. Salem Salem , Awad Mohamed A. , Abdel Reheim M.A.M.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the prepared modified alkyd and poly(ester-amide) (PEA) resins as antimicrobial and insecticide binders for surface coating applications.

Design/methodology/approach

Salicylic diethanolamine and 4-(N, N-dimethylamino) benzylidene glutamic acid were prepared and used as new sources of polyol and dibasic acid for PEA and alkyd resins, then confirmed by: acid value, FT-IR and 1H-NMR. The coating performance of the resins was determined using measurements of physico-mechanical properties. The biological and insecticide activities of the prepared resins were investigated.

Findings

The tests carried out revealed that the modified PEA and alkyd enhanced both phyisco-mechanical and chemical properties in addition to the biological and insecticide activities. The results of this paper illustrate that the introduction of salicylic diethanolamine and 4-(N, N-dimethylamino) benzylidene glutamic acid within the resin structure improved the film performance and enhanced the antimicrobial activity performance of PEA and alkyd resins.

Research limitations/implications

The modified alkyd and PEA organic resins can be used as biocidal binders when incorporated into paint formulations for multiple surface applications, especially those that are exposed to several organisms.

Originality/value

Modified alkyd and PEA resins based on newly synthesized modifiers have a significant potential to be promising in the production and development of antimicrobial and insecticide paints, allowing them to function to restrict the spread of insects and microbial infection.
The Pareto principle: To what extent does it apply to resource acquisition in stable microbial communities and thereby steer their geno−/ecotype compositions and interactions between their members?
Authors: Timmis Kenneth , Verstraete Willy , Regina Viduthalai Rasheedkhan , Hallsworth John E.
Published: June 2023

The Pareto principle, or 20:80 rule, describes resource distribution in stable communities whereby 20% of community members acquire 80% of a key resource. In this Burning Question, we ask to what extent the Pareto principle applies to the acquisition of limiting resources in stable microbial communities; how it may contribute to our understanding of microbial interactions, microbial community exploration of evolutionary space, and microbial community dysbiosis; and whether it can serve as a benchmark of microbial community stability and functional optimality?
Systems biology and metabolic modeling for cultivated meat: A promising approach for cell culture media optimization and cost reduction
Authors: Gomez Romero Sandra , Boyle Nanette
Published: June 2023

The cultivated meat industry, also known as cell‐based meat, cultured meat, lab‐grown meat, or meat alternatives, is a growing field that aims to generate animal tissues ex‐vivo in a cost‐effective manner that achieves price parity with traditional agricultural products. However, cell culture media costs account for 55%–90% of production costs. To address this issue, efforts are aimed at optimizing media composition. Systems biology‐driven approaches have been successfully used to improve the biomass and productivity of multiple bioproduction platforms, like Chinese hamster ovary cells, by accelerating the development of cell line‐specific media and reducing research and development and production costs related to cell media and its optimization. In this review, we summarize systems biology modeling approaches, methods for cell culture media and bioprocess optimization, and metabolic studies done in animals of interest to the cultivated meat industry. More importantly, we identify current gaps in knowledge that prevent the identification of metabolic bottlenecks. These include the lack of genome‐scale metabolic models for some species (pigs and ducks), a lack of accurate biomass composition studies for different growth conditions, and 13C‐metabolic flux analysis (MFA) studies for many of the species of interest for the cultivated meat industry (only shrimp and duck cells have been subjected to 13C‐MFA). We also highlight the importance of characterizing the metabolic requirements of cells at the organism, breed, and cell line‐specific levels, and we outline future steps that this nascent field needs to take to achieve price parity and production efficiency similar to those of other bioproduction platforms.

Practical Application: Our article summarizes systems biology techniques for cell culture media design and bioprocess optimization, which may be used to significantly reduce cell‐based meat production costs. We also present the results of experimental studies done on some of the species of interest to the cultivated meat industry and highlight why modeling approaches are required for multiple species, cell‐types, and cell lines.
Race differences in cardiac testing rates for patients with chest pain in a multisite cohort
Authors: Popp Lucas M. , Ashburn Nicklaus P. , Snavely Anna C. , Allen Brandon R. , Christenson Robert H. , Madsen Troy , Mumma Bryn E. , Nowak Richard , Stopyra Jason P. , Wilkerson R. Gentry , Mahler Simon A.
Published: June 2023

Background

Identifying and eliminating racial health care disparities is a public health priority. However, data evaluating race differences in emergency department (ED) chest pain care are limited.

Methods

We conducted a secondary analysis of the High‐Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T to Optimize Chest Pain Risk Stratification (STOP‐CP) cohort, which prospectively enrolled adults with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome without ST‐elevation from eight EDs in the United States from 2017 to 2018. Race was self‐reported by patients and abstracted from health records. Rates of 30‐day noninvasive testing (NIT), cardiac catheterization, revascularization, and adjudicated cardiac death or myocardial infarction (MI) were determined. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between race and 30‐day outcomes with and without adjustment for potential confounders.

Results

Among 1454 participants, 42.3% (615/1454) were non‐White. At 30 days NIT occurred in 31.4% (457/1454), cardiac catheterization in 13.5% (197/1454), revascularization in 6.0% (87/1454), and cardiac death or MI in 13.1% (190/1454). Among Whites versus non‐Whites, NIT occurred in 33.8% (284/839) versus 28.1% (173/615; odds ratio [OR] 0.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.61–0.96) and catheterization in 15.9% (133/839) versus 10.4% (64/615; OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.45–0.84). After covariates were adjusted for, non‐White race remained associated with decreased 30‐day NIT (adjusted OR [aOR] 0.71, 95% CI 0.56–0.90) and cardiac catheterization (aOR 0.62, 95% CI 0.43–0.88). Revascularization occurred in 6.9% (58/839) of Whites versus 4.7% (29/615) of non‐Whites (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.42–1.04). Cardiac death or MI at 30 days occurred in 14.2% of Whites (119/839) versus 11.5% (71/615) of non‐Whites (OR 0.79 95% CI 0.57–1.08). After adjustment there was still no association between race and 30‐day revascularization (aOR 0.74, 95% CI 0.45–1.20) or cardiac death or MI (aOR 0.74, 95% CI 0.50–1.09).

Conclusions

In this U.S. cohort, non‐White patients were less likely to receive NIT and cardiac catheterization compared to Whites but had similar rates of revascularization and cardiac death or MI.
The continuous structure of the joint capsule and meniscus in the pig knee
Authors: Natsuyama Yutaro , Zhang Mingshou , Yang Ting , Shimada Kazuyuki , Ren Ke , Kamikawa Yasuko , Tokita Konosuke , Fujiwara Motoi , Chen Juefei , Yi Shuang‐Qin
Published: June 2023

The knee joint capsules composed of a fibrous layer and a synovial layer. The knee meniscus consists of the superficial network, lamellar layer, tie fibre and circumferential bundles. However, the continuous structure of the knee joint capsule and meniscus has not been reported. Fetal and adult pigs were used to investigate the structural relationship between the stifle joint capsule and meniscus based on the gross anatomy and histological findings. In the gross anatomical examination, the joint capsule appeared to have separated attachments to the meniscus, except for the lower aspect of the popliteal hiatus. Histologically, the lower half of the popliteal hiatus was found to have separated attachments, with vessels running between the attachments of the joint capsules. The synovial layer of the joint capsule continued to the superficial network, and the fibrous layer of the joint capsule continued to the lamellar layer and tie fibres. There were two routes of arterial entry into the meniscus: intracapsular and intercapsular. It appeared that the presence of separated attachments of the joint capsule was necessary to allow the intercapsular route. This study clarified for the first time the routes of feeding vessels entering the meniscus and proposed to call this entry point the meniscus hilum. We consider that this detailed anatomical information is important for understanding the continuation between the joint capsule and the meniscus.
Use of a non‐anatomic mini‐fragment fixation system for foot fractures
Authors: Hague Matthew , Pintar Valeria , Nielsen Dominic , Trompeter Alex
Published: June 2023

Background

Plating techniques for the fixation of foot fractures can utilize pre‐contoured region‐specific plates or non‐anatomic non‐specific mini‐fragment plating systems, however there is limited published data describing complication rates.

Methods

This study reviewed the complication rates and performed a cost analysis of 45 foot fractures that had fixation with the use of mini‐fragment non‐anatomic implants, comparing them to a series from the same centre fixed using anatomic implants and the published literature.

Results

Complication rates seemed equivalent. Cost analysis demonstrated that non‐anatomic implants were more expensive on average.

Conclusions

Non‐anatomic mini‐fragment fixation is an appropriate method for use in a variety of foot trauma situations, with comparable complication rates to pre‐contoured implants, although the potential for cost savings has not been realized in this patient cohort.
Observational study on the neonatal outcome during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Germany
Authors: Lau M. , Kraus V. , Schulze A. F. , Rausch T. K. , Krüger M. , Göpel W.
Published: June 2023

Aim

We aimed to determine stillbirth, preterm birth, perinatal complications, and the developmental outcome of children born preterm during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Germany.

Methods

National data from the perinatal survey of preterm and term infants born in 2017–2020 between 22 March and 31 December were evaluated. Neurodevelopment of preterm infants at 2 years corrected age was tested with the Parent Report of Children's Abilities‐Revised questionnaire and by clinical testing with Bayley scales, either before or during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Statistical significance was calculated using a Pearson's chi‐square‐independence test and a linear regression model.

Results

In 2020, there was an increase of stillbirths of 0.02% (p = 0.01) and a decrease in preterm births by 0.38% (p < 0.001). No changes were found in a representative subgroup of infants with regard to neurodevelopmental scores (mental developmental index and psychomotor developmental index) or in parent survey data (non‐verbal cognition scale and language development scale).

Conclusion

Increasing rates of stillbirths and decreasing preterm births in Germany were observed. Existing networks might stabilise neurodevelopment of preterm infants during the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Platelet count and risk of severe illness in hospitalised children with Influenza‐Like illness
Authors: Elber‐Dorozko Sergei , Kerem Liya , Wolf Dana , Brodie Shlomit , Berkun Yackov , Brooks Rebecca , Breuer Oded
Published: June 2023

Aim

To examine the clinical significance of thrombocytosis (platelets > 500 × 109/L) in admitted children with an influenza‐like illness.

Methods

We performed a database analysis consisting of patients evaluated at our medical centers with an influenza‐like illness between 2009 and 2013. We included paediatric patients and examined the association between platelet count, respiratory viral infections, and admission outcomes (hospital length of stay and admission to the paediatric intensive care unit) using regression models adjusting for multiple variables.

Results

A total of 5171 children were included in the study cohort (median age 0.8 years; interquartile range, 0.2–1.8; 58% male). Younger age, and not the type of viral infection, was associated with a high platelet count (p < 0.001). Elevated platelet count independently predicted admission outcomes (p ≤ 0.05). The presence of thrombocytosis was associated with an increased risk for a prolonged length of stay (odds ratio = 1.2; 95% Confidence interval = 1.1 to 1.4; p = 0.003) and admission to the paediatric intensive care unit (odds ratio = 1.5; 95% Confidence interval = 1.1 to 2.0; p = 0.002).

Conclusion

In children admitted with an influenza‐like illness, a high platelet count is an independent predictor of admission outcomes. Platelet count may be used to improve risk assessment and management decisions in these paediatric patients.