bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Body composition and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: A univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Gao Yuan , Zhou Min , Xu Xuan , Ma Jun Yang , Qin Man Fen
Published: November 2023

Objective

In this study, we employed a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to investigate the independent causal associations of six body composition traits with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods

Genome‐wide significant levels (P < 10 × 5−8) of single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with body water mass, total protein, whole body fat‐free mass, weight, whole body fat mass, and body fat percentage were used as instrumental variables. Data on GDM were obtained from the FinnGen Consortium, and both univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization were performed. We utilized five different analytical methods including inverse‐variance weighted (IVW), MR Egger, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode to assess the robustness of the results.

Results

With univariable Mendelian randomization, the risk of GDM increased per 1‐standard deviation (SD) increase in weight (ORweight = 1.297, P = 3.06 × 10−5), whole body fat mass (ORwhole body fat mass = 1.408, P = 1.32 × 10−6), and the risk of GDM increased per percent increase in body fat percentage (ORbody fat percentage = 1.661, P = 1.01 × 10−8). Total protein had a protective effect on the risk of GDM (ORtotal protein = 0.880, P = 0.048). However, there was no significant causal association between increases in body water mass and whole body fat‐free mass per SD and the risk of GDM. Causal associations between weight, whole body fat mass, body fat percentage, and total protein with GDM were reduced to null in multivariable Mendelian randomization.

Conclusion

The present study furnishes genetic evidence to elucidate the causal relationship between body composition traits and GDM. Additionally, further studies are imperative to establish a causal connection between body composition traits and gestational diabetes mellitus.
Stakeholder Existential Authenticity and Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Odunjo Oyinkansola , Crane Andrew , McDonagh Pierre
Published: November 2023

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) research has been slow to address the impacts of CSR on stakeholders, especially in terms of the mechanisms explaining how CSR translates into positive stakeholder outcomes. We introduce a new mechanism into this literature – stakeholder existential authenticity (SEA) – that helps explain how stakeholder participation in CSR can enhance stakeholder wellbeing through the experience of being authentic. We develop an original conceptualization of SEA and integrate this into a model explaining the relationships between CSR participation, SEA, eudaimonic happiness, and subjective wellbeing, as well as the moderating effects of individual stakeholder attributes and CSR activity design. We explain our contributions to the literature on society‐centric CSR, authenticity in CSR, CSR implementation, and authenticity in management more broadly, before suggesting directions for future research and outlining the practical implications of our study.
Understanding the association between normal and maladaptive personality traits: Replication and extension of Morey et al. (2020)
Authors: Emery Leah T. , Evans Chloe M. , Dimitrova Julia , O'Keefe Courtney , Simms Leonard J.
Published: November 2023

Background/Objective

The Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) within the DSM‐5 includes separable components representing general personality dysfunction (Criterion A) and maladaptive personality traits (Criterion B). Some critique Criterion A for accounting for little incremental variance in PD beyond Criterion B. However, Morey et al. (2020) hypothesized that personality dysfunction is a key mechanism through which normal‐range traits account for the maladaptive component of personality traits, justifying its inclusion. We sought to replicate and extend this work in a psychiatric sample with mixed methods.

Method

In total, 152 participants recruited from mental health clinics completed multiple measures of personality dysfunction and normal‐range and maladaptive traits.

Results

Replication was only partially achieved. The degree of incremental prediction of maladaptive traits and the extent to which personality dysfunction explained the relations between normal‐range and maladaptive traits varied significantly across traits, and those effects that reached significance were small in magnitude. Removing variance due to personality dysfunction reduced intercorrelations among maladaptive traits by only a small amount.

Conclusion

Counter to Morey et al. (2020), our results failed to support maladaptive traits as composites of normal‐range traits and personality dysfunction, suggesting that other methods of distinguishing personality pathology severity and style are needed.
Is distance really dying? Transportation and knowledge spillovers
Authors: Cao Siwei , Ma Guangrong , Mao Hao
Published: November 2023

Enhanced transportation infrastructure improves the frequency of travel and facilitates face‐to‐face communication. Will the resulting reduction in travel cost mitigate the geographical concentration of knowledge spillovers? Our empirical strategy exploits China's mass expansion of its intercity high‐speed railway network as a natural experiment. Using patent citations as the proxy for knowledge spillovers, we find inventors increasingly rely on more distant knowledge after rail connection and newly connect cities' innovation performance improves substantially.
Plant species richness hotspots and related drivers across spatial scales in small Mediterranean islands
Authors: Testolin Riccardo , Attorre Fabio , Bruzzaniti Vanessa , Guarino Riccardo , Jiménez‐Alfaro Borja , Lussu Michele , Martellos Stefano , Di Musciano Michele , Pasta Salvatore , Sabatini Francesco Maria , Santi Francesco , Zannini Piero , Chiarucci Alessandro
Published: November 2023

Small islands represent a common feature in the Mediterranean and host a significant fraction of its biodiversity. However, the distribution of plant species richness across spatial scales—from local communities (alpha) to whole islands (gamma)—is largely unknown, and so is the influence of environmental, geographical, and topographical factors. By building upon classic biogeographic theory, we used the species–area relationship and about 4500 vegetation plots in 54 Central Mediterranean small islands to identify hotspots of plant species richness and the underlying spatial determinants across scales. To do so, we fitted and averaged eight species–area models on gamma and alpha richness against island area and plot size, respectively. Based on positive deviations from the fitted curves, we identified 12 islands as cross‐scale hotspots. These islands encompassed around 70% of species and habitat richness, as well as almost 50% of the rarest species in the data set, while occupying less than 40% of the total island surface. By fitting generalized linear mixed models, we found that gamma richness was mainly explained by island area and was weakly related to mean annual temperature (positively) and annual precipitation (negatively). As for alpha richness, after accounting for the idiosyncratic effect of habitats and islands, plot size and gamma richness remained the only significant predictors, showing a positive relationship. This work contributes to the understanding of the patterns and drivers of plant diversity in Central Mediterranean small islands and outlines a useful methodology for the prioritization of conservation efforts.
The nature of insoluble organic matter in Sutter's Mill and Murchison carbonaceous chondrites: Testing the effect of x‐ray computed tomography and exploring parent body organic molecular evolution
Authors: Cody George D. , Alexander Conel M. O'D. , Foustoukos Dionysis I. , Busemann Henner , Eckley Scott , Burton Aaron S. , Berger Eve L. , Nuevo Michel , Sandford Scott A. , Glavin Daniel P. , Dworkin Jason P. , Connolly Harold C. , Lauretta Dante S.
Published: November 2023

This study analyzed samples of the Murchison and Sutter's Mill carbonaceous chondrite meteorites in support of the future analysis of samples returned from the asteroid (10155) Bennu by the OSIRIS‐REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer) mission. Focusing specifically on the insoluble organic matter (IOM), this study establishes that a total of 1.3 g of bulk sample from a single chondritic meteorite are sufficient to obtain a wide range of cosmochemical information, including light element analysis (H, C, and N), isotopic analysis (D/H, 13C/12C, and 15N/14N), and x‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy for major elemental abundances. IOM isolated from the bulk meteorite samples was analyzed by light element and isotopic analysis as described above, 1H and 13C solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and complete noble gas analyses (abundances and isotopes). The samples studied included a pair from Murchison (CM2), one of which had been irradiated with high‐energy x‐rays in the course of computed tomographic imaging. No differences between the irradiated and non‐irradiated Murchison samples were observed in the many different chemical and spectroscopic analyses, indicating that any x‐ray–derived sample damage is below levels of detection. Elemental, isotopic, and molecular spectroscopic data derived from IOM isolated from the Sutter's Mill sample reveals evidence that this meteorite falls into the class of heated CM chondrites.
Emerging role of YAP/TAZ in vascular mechanotransduction and disease
Authors: Ritsvall Olivia , Albinsson Sebastian
Published: November 2023

Cells have an incredible ability to physically interact with neighboring cells and their environment. They can detect and respond to mechanical forces by converting mechanical stimuli into biochemical signals in a process known as mechanotransduction. This is a key process for the adaption of vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells to altered flow and pressure conditions. Mechanical stimuli, referring to a physical force exerted on cells, are primarily sensed by transmembrane proteins and the actin cytoskeleton, which initiate a cascade of intracellular events, including the activation of signaling pathways, ion channels, and transcriptional regulators. Recent work has highlighted an important role of the transcriptional coactivators YAP/TAZ for mechanotransduction in vascular cells. Interestingly, the activity of YAP/TAZ decreases with age, providing a potential mechanism for the detrimental effects of aging in the vascular wall. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the functional role of YAP and TAZ in vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells for mechanotransduction in homeostasis and disease. In particular, the review is focused on in vivo observations from conditional knockout (KO) models of YAP/TAZ and the potential implications these studies may have for our understanding of vascular disease development.
Alisol A inhibits the circ_0001831/miR‐346/LIN28B pathway to ameliorate high glucose‐induced injury of human renal mesangial cells
Authors: Yue Chunjing , Dai Weiwei , Song Xiaohua , Du Meisu , Qin Jie , Du Jingxia , Zhang Xiancai
Published: November 2023

Background

Alisol A can ameliorate glucose metabolism disorders, however, there is no data regarding its role in diabetic nephropathy (DN). The present work evaluates the role of Alisol A in DN and the underlying mechanism.

Methods

RNA expression of circ_0001831, miR‐346, and lin‐28 homolog B (LIN28B) was detected by qRT‐PCR. Cell viability and proliferation were investigated by MTT assay and EdU assay, respectively. The inflammatory cytokines were examined by ELISAs. Oxidative stress was evaluated by the commercial kits. Protein expression was detected by western blotting. The interactions among circ_0001831, miR‐346, and LIN28B were identified by dual‐luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay. DN mouse model assay was used to analyse the effect of Alisol A on renal injury of diabetic mice.

Results

HG treatment promoted HRMC proliferation, fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress; however, these effects were reversed after Alisol A treatment. Alisol A treatment ameliorated STZ‐induced renal injury of diabetic mice. Additionally, circ_0001831 or LIN28B overexpression or miR‐346 downregulation relieved Alisol A‐induced effects under HG conditions. Mechanistically, circ_0001831 acted as a miR‐346 sponge, and LIN28B was identified as a target gene of miR‐346. Further, the regulation of circ_0001831 in HG‐induced HRMC dysfunction involved LIN28B.

Conclusion

Alisol A ameliorated HG‐induced HRMC fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress and STZ‐induced renal injury of diabetic mice by regulating the circ_0001831/miR‐346/LIN28B pathway.

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Validity of nomograms for predicting cancer risk in oral leukoplakia and oral lichen planus
Authors: Adeoye John , Su Yu‐Xiong
Published: November 2023

Objectives

This study assessed the validity of nomograms for predicting malignant transformation (MT) among patients with oral leukoplakia (OL) and oral lichen planus (OLP).

Materials and Methods

Two nomograms were identified following a systematic search. Variables to interrogate both nomograms were obtained for a retrospective OL/OLP cohort. Then, the nomograms were applied to estimate MT probabilities twice and their average was used to calculate the discriminatory performance, calibration, and potential net benefit of the models. Subgroup analyses were performed for patients with OL, OLP, and oral epithelial dysplasia.

Results

Predicted probabilities were mostly significantly higher among OL/OLP patients who developed MT compared to those who did not (p = <0.001–0.034). AUC values and Brier scores of the nomograms were 0.644–0.844 and 0.040–0.088 among OL patients and 0.580–0.743 and 0.008–0.072 among OLP patients. Decision curve analysis suggested that the nomograms had some net benefit for risk stratification. However, the models did not best binary dysplasia grading in discriminatory validity and net benefit among patients with OL and oral epithelial dysplasia.

Conclusion

Nomograms for predicting MT may have satisfactory validity among patients with OL than OLP, but they do not outperform binary dysplasia grading in risk stratification of OL.
The impact of COVID‐19 on Italian dentists: A cross‐sectional survey on 2443 participants
Authors: Barbato Luigi , Discepoli Nicola , Clementini Marco , Iavicoli Ivo , Landi Luca , Pinchi Vilma , Raspini Mario , Di Martino Maria , Cavalcanti Raffaele , Crea Alessandro , Gianserra Rodolfo , Cairo Francesco , Sforza Nicola Marco
Published: November 2023

Objective

To evaluate the impact of COVID‐19 pandemic among a sample of Italian dentists in terms of infection, strategies for infection control, organization of the dental clinic, attitude, and behavior.

Material and Methods

This was a cross‐sectional survey. The sample consisted of 8000 Italian dentists selected among 63,375 using a computerized random sampling method.

An electronic informed consent had to be signed. The questionnaire categories were on demographic, infection risk management, organization, and dentists' attitude and behavior. Geographic macro‐areas were used for subgroup analysis.

Results

Among 8000 invited dentists, 2443 agreed to participate to the survey (30.6%). Mean age was 51.2 years, women were 34.5%. A total of 6.1% self‐reported COVID‐19 experience and higher rate of infection was reported in north Italy compared to the south (p < 0.05). FFP2/FFP3 respirators (97.1%) and visors (97.4%) were used by almost all dentists. While, natural ventilation and mouthwashes were the most frequent approaches used to reduce the infection risk. Most of the dentists reported positive attitude, nevertheless 83.6% felt an increased responsibility.

Conclusion

The self‐reported COVID‐19 prevalence was 6.1% with some differences among geographic areas. COVID 19 had a deep impact on preventive strategies, dental office organization, and behavior within this sample.
Mixed oral biofilms are controlled by the interspecies interactions of Fusobacterium nucleatum
Authors: Valadbeigi Hassan , Khoshnood Saeed , Negahdari Babak , Maleki Abbas , Mohammadinejat Medya , Haddadi Mohammad Hossein
Published: November 2023

Background

Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) is an integral component of supra‐ and subgingival biofilms, especially more prevalent in subgingival areas during both periodontal health and disease.

Aims

In this review, we explore the physical, metabolic, and genetic interactions that influence the role of F. nucleatum in the formation of mixed oral biofilms. The role of F. nucleatum in antibiotic resistance in oral biofilms was discussed and some therapeutic strategies were proposed.

Methods

PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and the Web of Science were extensively searched for English‐language reports.

Results

F. nucleatum‐derived proteins such as RadD, Fap2, FomA, and CmpA are involved in direct interactions contributing to biofilm formation, while autoinducer‐2 and putrescine are involved in metabolic interactions. Both groups are essential for the formation and persistence of oral biofilms. This study highlights the clinical relevance of targeted interactions of F. nucleatum in supra‐ and subgingival oral biofilms.

Conclusions

By focusing on these interactions, researchers and clinicians can develop more effective strategies to prevent biofilm‐related disease and reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance. Further research in this area is warranted to explore the potential therapeutic interventions that can be derived from understanding the interactions of F. nucleatum in oral biofilm dynamics.
Surgical Strategy for Recurrent Giant Cell Tumor in the Thoracolumbar Spine
Authors: Leng Ao , Yang Minglei , Sun Haitao , Dai Zeyu , Zhu Zhi , Wan Wei , Xiao Jianru
Published: November 2023

Objective

Recurrent giant cell tumor (RGCT) of the spine represents a clinical challenge for surgeons, and the treatment strategy remains controversial. This study aims to describe the long‐term follow‐up outcomes and compare the efficacy of en bloc spondylectomy versus piecemeal spondylectomy in treating RGCT of the thoracolumbar spine.

Methods

A total of 32 patients with RGCT of the thoracolumbar spine treated from June 2012 to June 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 15 patients received total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) with wide or marginal margin while 17 patients received total piecemeal spondylectomy (TPS) with intralesional margin. Postoperative Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Score (ECOG‐PS), Frankel classification and recurrence‐free survival (RFS) were evaluated after surgery. Survival curves were estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method and differences were analyzed with the log‐rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed with Cox regression to identify the independent prognostic factors affecting RFS.

Results

During a median follow‐up of 41.9 ± 17.5 months, all patients with compromised neurologic functions exhibit significant improvement, with the mean ECOG‐PS decreasing from 1.5 ± 1.3 to 0.13 ± 0.3 (p < 0.05). Among the 17 patients treated with TPS, eight patients developed local recurrence after a median time of 15.9 ± 6.4 months and four patients died from progressive disease. On the other hand, local recurrence were well managed with TES, since only one out of 15 patients experienced local relapse and all patients are alive with satisfied function at the latest follow‐up. The median RFS for patients receiving TES and TPS are 75.0 months (95% CI: 67.5–82.5 m) and 38.3 months (95% CI: 27.3–49.3 m) respectively (p = 0.008). Multivariate analysis shows that the Ki67 index (p = 0.016), resection mode (p = 0.022), and denosumab (p = 0.039) are independent risk factors affecting RFS.

Conclusions

TES with wide/marginal margin should be offered to patients with RGCT whenever feasible, given its long‐term benefits in local control and symptom alleviation. Additionally, patients with lower Ki67 index and application of denosumab tend to have a better prognosis.
The trehalose 6‐phosphate phosphatase family in plants
Authors: Kerbler Sandra Mae‐Lin , Armijos‐Jaramillo Vinicio , Lunn John Edward , Vicente Rubén
Published: November 2023

Trehalose 6‐phosphate (Tre6P), the intermediate of trehalose biosynthesis, is an essential signalling metabolite linking plant growth and development to carbon metabolism. While recent work has focused predominantly on the enzymes that produce Tre6P, little is known about the proteins that catalyse its degradation, the trehalose 6‐phosphate phosphatases (TPPs). Often occurring in large protein families, TPPs exhibit cell‐, tissue‐ and developmental stage‐specific expression patterns, suggesting important regulatory functions in controlling local levels of Tre6P and trehalose as well as Tre6P signalling. Furthermore, growing evidence through gene expression studies and transgenic approaches shows that TPPs play an important role in integrating environmental signals with plant metabolism. This review highlights the large diversity of TPP isoforms in model and crop plants and identifies how modulating Tre6P metabolism in certain cell types, tissues, and at different developmental stages may promote stress tolerance, resilience and increased crop yield.
The growth‐promoting effects of exercise in finfish: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Rodgers Essie M. , Gomez Isaza Daniel F.
Published: November 2023

Exercise training may be an effective tool for promoting growth and production efficiency in finfish aquaculture. Yet, changes in growth and feed conversion ratios (FCR) following periods of exercise can be varied and context dependent. Variation in species and training protocols (duration, intensity and regime) can misalign interpretations, and individual studies hold limited statistical power. To remedy this, we compiled data from 69 studies spanning 31 species to quantify the effects of exercise training on growth rates and FCRs. Using meta‐analytic tools, we show that exercise training significantly increases growth rates across a range of taxonomically diverse finfish. Optimal training regimes were identified; effects were strongest when fish were exercised continuously rather than intermittently, at target swimming speeds ≤ 2 body lengths s−1, for longer durations of time. These results are most applicable to juvenile fish (mean length of fish in the analyses = 16 cm). Exercise training was also shown to decrease variability in growth rates, leading to fish that are more uniform in size. FCRs were unaffected by exercise, showing that exercised‐ and control‐fish were equally efficient at converting food into body mass. Overall, our analyses show that exercise is a powerful management tool in promoting rapid growth, where fish can reach marketable sizes faster.
Is Love (Skin Color) Blind?: Skin Color and Interdating across Ethnoracial Groups1
Authors: Santana Emilce
Published: November 2023

The role skin color plays in shaping cross‐ethnoracial relationships is not well understood despite its implications for the trajectory of U.S. ethnoracial relations. Using the National Longitudinal Study of Freshmen, I investigate two questions: Among ethnoracial minorities, how does a person's skin color relate to the likelihood of dating individuals from another ethnoracial group? Does this relationship vary by the combination of ethnoracial backgrounds of the individuals who are dating? The results indicate that the influence of skin color on interdating may depend on the status levels of partners' ethnoracial groups. A person from a lower status group with a darker skin color—relative to other similar group members with lighter skin color—is less likely to date someone from a higher status group, but darker skin color is associated with a greater likelihood of interdating when a darker‐skinned member of a higher status group dates a member of a lower status group. Further, the results point to a complex relationship between two intermediate groups, Asians and Latinos, which seems dependent on Latino respondents' gender.
The causal relationship between pure hypercholesterolemia and psoriasis: A bidirectional, two‐sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Bai Ruimin , Ren Landong , Guo Jiaqi , Xian Ningyi , Luo Ruiting , Chang Yaxin , Dai Yilin , Lei Hao , Zheng Yan
Published: November 2023

Background

Several studies have reported the association between pure hypercholesterolemia (PH) and psoriasis, but the causal effect remains unclear.

Methods

We explored the causal effect between PH and psoriasis using two‐sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using data from genome‐wide association studies. Single nucleotide polymorphisms related with exposures at the genome‐wide significance level (p < 5×10–8) and less than the linkage disequilibrium level (r2 < 0.001) were chosen as instrumental variables. Subsequently, we used inverse variance weighting (IVW), MR‐Egger and weighted median (WM) methods for causal inference. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Heterogeneity was tested using Cochran's Q‐test, and horizontal pleiotropy was examined using the MR‐Egger intercept. Leave‐one‐out analyses were performed to assess the robustness and reliability of the results.

Results

MR results showed a positive causal effect of PH on psoriasis [IVW: odds ratios (OR): 1.139, p = 0.032; MR‐Egger: OR: 1.434, p = 0.035; WM: OR: 1.170, p = 0.045] and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) (IVW: OR: 1.210, p = 0.049; MR‐Egger regression: OR: 1.796, p = 0.033; WM: OR: 1.317, p = 0.028). However, there is no causal relationship between PH and psoriasis vulgaris as well as other unspecified psoriasis. Inverse MR results suggested a negative causal relationship between PsA and PH (IVW: OR: 0.950, p = 0.037). No heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy exist, and these results were confirmed to be robust.

Conclusion

PH has a positive casual effect on psoriasis and PsA, and PsA may reduce the risk of having PH.
Do organic farming practices improve soil physical properties?
Authors: Blanco‐Canqui Humberto , Ruis Sabrina J. , Francis Charles A.
Published: November 2023

Organic farming (OF) is a reemerging system that could address food security and adverse environmental footprints of conventional farming (CF). However, how OF affects the soil physical environment, an essential pillar for soil ecosystem service delivery, is not well understood. This paper (1) reviews published global literature up to 13 July 2023 regarding the impacts of OF on soil physical properties compared with CF and (2) underlines research needs. Literature indicates OF improves some soil physical properties relative to CF although studies on some properties were few. Specifically, OF increased wet aggregate stability, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and plant available water in 55% of studies. OF also increased mesoporosity (5–500 μm) and cumulative water infiltration. However, OF had mixed or no effects on soil compaction indicators (i.e. bulk density, penetration resistance). Not all studies reported both soil physical properties and soil organic C to assess how amendment‐induced increase in soil organic C affected physical properties. Based on studies reporting both properties, physical properties such as wet aggregate stability were not significantly correlated (r = 0.12; p > .10) with soil organic C. Variability in data and frequent tillage under OF likely obscured this relationship. Factors tended to affect OF impacts on physical properties in this order: amendment type > duration > others. Most OF studies (1) used animal manure amendments, (2) were long‐term (>10 years), and (3) were conducted in medium textured soils, highlighting the need for more comprehensive assessments of OF and soil physical properties under different management conditions. In general, OF improves some soil physical properties, which can contribute to OF sustainability.
A drug‐resistant mutation in plant target of rapamycin validates the specificity of ATP‐competitive TOR inhibitors in vivo
Authors: Perdoux Romain , Barrada Adam , Boulaiz Manal , Garau Camille , Belbachir Clément , Lecampion Cécile , Montané Marie‐Hélène , Menand Benoît
Published: November 2023

Kinases are major components of cellular signaling pathways, regulating key cellular activities through phosphorylation. Kinase inhibitors are efficient tools for studying kinase targets and functions, however assessing their kinase specificity in vivo is essential. The identification of resistant kinase mutants has been proposed to be the most convincing approach to achieve this goal. Here, we address this issue in plants via a pharmacogenetic screen for mutants resistant to the ATP‐competitive TOR inhibitor AZD‐8055. The eukaryotic TOR (Target of Rapamycin) kinase is emerging as a major hub controlling growth responses in plants largely thanks to the use of ATP‐competitive inhibitors. We identified a dominant mutation in the DFG motif of the Arabidopsis TOR kinase domain that leads to very strong resistance to AZD‐8055. This resistance was characterized by measuring root growth, photosystem II (PSII) activity in leaves and phosphorylation of YAK1 (Yet Another Kinase 1) and RPS6 (Ribosomal protein S6), a direct and an indirect target of TOR respectively. Using other ATP‐competitive TOR inhibitors, we also show that the dominant mutation is particularly efficient for resistance to drugs structurally related to AZD‐8055. Altogether, this proof‐of‐concept study demonstrates that a pharmacogenetic screen in Arabidopsis can be used to successfully identify the target of a kinase inhibitor in vivo and therefore to demonstrate inhibitor specificity. Thanks to the conservation of kinase families in eukaryotes, and the possibility of creating amino acid substitutions by genome editing, this work has great potential for extending studies on the evolution of signaling pathways in eukaryotes.
How EU membership affects foreign direct investment: Differences between EU15 and CEE countries
Authors: Meinhart Bettina
Published: November 2023

This article examines the impact of membership in the European Union (EU) on foreign direct investments (FDI). In contrast to previous studies, the overall effect of EU membership is disaggregated by countries that joined the EU before 2004 (EU15) and those that joined after 2004 [Central and Eastern European (CEE)]. This disaggregation is motivated by differences between the two groups in terms of their historical background, GDP levels and motives for FDI. Furthermore, the effects of EU membership are estimated at the country level. Using a structural FDI gravity model and applying recent advances in the gravity estimation literature, it is shown that membership of the EU has a substantial positive impact on both inward and outward FDI stocks. In particular, there is considerable heterogeneity in the impact of EU membership, with EU15 countries experiencing mainly an increase in inward FDI, while CEE countries experience a surge in outward FDI.
Steep temporal integration for tone detection in a multi-tone, random-frequency masker
Authors: Buss Emily , Dai Huanping
Published: November 2023

In the detection of a tone burst, masking by several tones with random frequencies can produce steep temporal integration. This feature was evaluated for nine normal-hearing adults for 1000-Hz tone bursts presented in a continuous train of four-tone masker bursts. Masker frequencies were randomly selected (250–4000 Hz) for each burst, with the proviso that all tones were separated by ≥0.2 oct. Bursts were 80-ms in duration; when present, signal bursts were gated synchronously with masker bursts. The observed mean temporal-integration function was exceptionally steep—thresholds improved by 26 dB as signal duration increased from 1 to 8 bursts. The results also showed that the individual differences were large, and that the mean psychometric function was exceptionally shallow, spanning a range of 35 dB between 0.6 and 0.9 proportion correct responses, consistent with previous reports. These findings were interpreted in the context of three signal-detection models, one based on the absolute-level cue, and two based on the relative-level cue via template matching; all cues were derived from the excitation patterns of the stimuli. Template-matching models were able to predict the shallow psychometric functions as observed, but all models fall short in the steepness of the observed temporal integration.
A two-dimensional angular interpolation based on radial basis functions for high frame rate ultrafast imaging
Authors: Afrakhteh Sajjad , Iacca Giovanni , Demi Libertario
Published: November 2023

To solve the problem of reduced image quality in plane wave imaging (PWI), coherent plane wave compounding (CPWC) has been introduced, based on a combination of plane wave images from several directions (i.e., with different angles). However, the number of angles needed to reach a reasonable image quality affects the maximum achievable frame rate in CPWC. In this study, we suggest reducing the tradeoff between the image quality and the frame rate in CPWC by employing two-dimensional (2D) interpolation based on radial basis functions. More specifically, we propose constructing a three-dimensional spatio-angular structure to integrate both spatial and angular information into the reconstruction prior to 2D interpolation. The rationale behind our proposal is to reduce the number of transmissions and then apply the 2D interpolation along the angle dimension to reconstruct the missing information corresponding to the angles not selected for CPWC imaging. To evaluate the proposed technique, we applied it to the PWI challenges in the medical ultrasound database. Results show that we can achieve 3× to 4× improvement in frame rate while maintaining acceptable image quality compared to the case of using all the angles.
Acoustic enrichment trials using autonomous cameras on a Hawaiian coral reef
Authors: Boulais Océane , Schar Daniel , Levy Josh , Kim Katherine , Levy Natalie , Reichert Jessica , Schiettekatte Nina , Wangpraseurt Daniel , Madin Josh , Thode Aaron M.
Published: November 2023

Playbacks of ambient sound from healthy shallow coral reefs, known as acoustic enrichment (AE), can attract fish larvae and potentially coral larvae to degraded or artificial reefs. Large-scale studies face power supply challenges and require less intensive in-person surveys of recruited larvae (≤500 μm) and fish. Here, we present a preliminary assessment of artificial structure deployments with AE, conducted between July and September 2023 in Kane’ohe Bay (Oahu, Hawai’i). The artificial structures were designed to attract herbivorous juvenile reef fish and subsequently suppress algal growth. The work is part of a future artificial reef construction project in Hawai’i where in-person surveys and frequent battery replacements are logistically challenging. The deployments consisted of one control and one treatment site 65 m apart, in 5 m water depth and 10 m from the natural reef. To document ecosystem responses, both sites use open-source burst-mode autonomous cameras, a directional vector sensor seafloor acoustic recorder, and hydrophones. A 3.8 kW-h NiMh battery supply powers sound output for three weeks during evening hours. We discuss preliminary evaluations of AE and the validity of using autonomous cameras in evaluating performance in terms of fish recruitment and algal growth. [Work sponsored by DARPA.]
Using the soundscape to monitor vessel visitation at an Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) breeding colony
Authors: Taylor Jessalyn , McIntosh Rebecca , Huetz Chloé , Gray Rachael , Charrier Isabelle
Published: November 2023

Marine vessel traffic is a significant source of anthropogenic noise pollution and a major source of disturbance for many marine species. Despite Seal Rocks (Victoria, Australia) being the largest Australian fur seal breeding colony, and subject to a high volume of visitation, particularly during the breeding season, there has been no long-term effort to monitor visitation and its potential impact on seals. Autonomous passive acoustic recorders were deployed at Seal Rocks to monitor vessel visitation during both low visitation (off-peak) and the breeding (peak) season. Proportion of time vessels present in the area was calculated from visual inspection of long-term spectral averages (LTSA). Soundscape metrics were calculated to determine broadband sound pressure level (BL) and percentiles of power spectral density (PSD). Visitation was higher in the peak season, as was BL, particularly during daylight hours. While there were periods of high winds and heavy swell during both deployment seasons, vessel noise was still a regular and loud contributor to the soundscape. From these results, the airborne noise received by seals can also be estimated. These results will contribute towards the development of an impact model to assess noise impacts at Seal Rocks and other sensitive marine sites.
Investigation of the effect of a multi-frequency ultrasound signal on the inertial cavitation threshold is various viscoelastic mediums
Authors: Filonets Tatiana , Solovchuk Maxim
Published: November 2023

The objective of the present study is the numerical investigation of the inertial cavitation threshold in soft tissue under different multi-frequency signals of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). For the modeling of bubble dynamics, the Gilmore-Akulichev-Zener model was used. The inertial cavitation threshold was calculated for different criteria, for different signal modes (single-, dual-, and triple-frequency), and for different viscoelastic mediums. Effect of nonlinear wave propagation and mechanical effects of acoustic caviation have been also studied. The obtaining results demonstrated that a criterion, based on bubble size, gives lower threshold values than a criterion using bubble collapse velocity. An increase in the values of viscosity and elasticity leads to a rise in the threshold amplitude. Analyzing threshold values for dual- and triple-frequency signal modes, it can be seen that the inertial cavitation threshold can be sufficiently reduced when a multi-frequency signal with the correct frequency combination is applied. However, the inertial cavitation threshold also depends on the initial bubble size. This dependency was also investigated in the current study.
Utility of electrocochleography for cochlear implant recipients and its potential to predict post-operative hearing thresholds objectively
Authors: Xu Lei , Wang Ruijie , Luo Jianfen , Chao Xiuhua , Wang Haibo
Published: November 2023

The relationship between postoperative hearing threshold and CM measured using AIM system developed by Advanced Bionics was investigated in this study. Seven participants (eight ears) with hearing thresholds better than 85 dB HL at 500 Hz were enrolled so far. All were unilaterally or bilaterally implanted with Advanced Bionics HiFocus Mid-Scala or SlimJ electrode arrays. Electrocochleography (ECochG) amplitudes were recorded both intraoperatively and postoperatively at different follow-up sessions. Objective hearing thresholds predicted by the AIM system were compared to the participants’ behavioural hearing thresholds. The trace of CM amplitude showed patterns of either rising or steady responses, except decrease in one case (response amplitude dropped for 12 μV). For the eight participants, the mean difference between the objective hearing levels (ECochG thresholds) measured immediately post-operatively and the preoperative behavioural threshold across 125 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, and 1000 Hz is 4.90 dB, while its difference to postoperative behavioural threshold is 3 dB. AIM can assist the surgeon to optimize electrode array insertion and thus reduce the possibility of insertion trauma or translocation. Key Words: Hearing preservation, electrocochleography monitoring, cochlear microphonics, cochlear implantation.
Noise and dynamic decision making
Authors: Zhou Hang , Molesworth Brett R. , Burgess Marion , Hatfield Julie
Published: November 2023

Dynamic decision-making (DDM) is a cognitive skill where real-time interdependent decisions are made in an environment which is changing, for example for emergency services, firefighting, battlefield, and aircraft operations to name a few. These are all situations where moderate noise is present, yet little is known about its effect on DDM. A series of research studies investigated the effect of 75 dBA broadband noise on performance for a simulated water distribution task that requires constant DDM. The effect of the noise on performance was found to be moderated by workload, sex, and task familiarity. The noise was detrimental to females’ performance at low workload but not at high workload. Males were generally unaffected by noise regardless of the workload level. This suggests that an optimum level of arousal or stimulation may trigger individuals’ effort to maintain performance in stressors. Furthermore, there may be some benefit from moderate broadband noise for individuals experiencing high cognitive workload. Not unexpectedly, increased task familiarity, through increased experience and extended task instructions, helped reduce the negative noise effect, which is consistent with Maximal Adaptability Theory.
Psychophysiological healing effects of mechanical massage and imagery music listening
Authors: Park Sang Don , Kim Seonkyeong , Lee Yunjin , Lee Haram , Santika Beta Bayu , Jeon Jin Yong
Published: November 2023

This study was conducted to investigate the psychophysiological healing effect and physiological effects of mechanical massage using a massage chair and listening to imagery music reminiscent of nature or urban places. All participants received three different treatments, including sitting on the massage chair and resting for 3 minutes, receiving massage from the chair, and receiving massage while listening to imagery music. The time interval between each treatment was a minimum of 1 week. Not only psychological responses, including anxiety, stress, and depression, were measured using questionnaire scales before and after each treatment but also physiological responses were measured using Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and electroencephalogram (EEG). Although all treatments were designed to psychophysiologically relax the participants, they showed significantly more positive responses when receiving massage with imagery music compared to other treatments. The results of this study may suggest the potential application of massage and guided imagery music for psychophysiological restoration and could serve as foundational data for developing content for physical healing in individuals.
Mechanism of perceptual transition: A study by dichotic presentation
Authors: Funatsu Seiya
Published: November 2023

The perceptual transition occurs when a person hears a repeated single word without pause, illusory changes of the physically unchanging word are induced. We have been studying the conditions under which perceptual transitions occur. So far, it is unclear whether the perceptual transition occurs in the auditory system or in the brain processing. To elucidate this, we examined whether the perceptual transition occurred upstream or downstream of the superior olivary complex by dichotic presentation. Thirteen Japanese subjects were presented with six Japanese words. There are three types of presentation methods: (1) diotic presentation, (2) diotic presentation with ISI = stimulus length, and (3) dichotic presentation to the left and right ears alternately. We measured the time (T) until the perceptual transition occurred. If T in (3) is close to T in (1), the perceptual transition is thought to occur upstream of the superior olivary complex, and if T in (3) is close to T in (2), it is thought to occur downstream of the superior olivary complex. The results in (3) were almost equal to those in (1), suggesting the possibility that it occurs upstream from the superior olivary complex.
The influence of temporal (a)synchrony and linguistic complexity on audiovisual speech perception
Authors: Gijbels Liesbeth , Lalonde Kaylah , Wallace Mark , Lee Adrian K. C.
Published: November 2023

Audiovisual (AV) cues often lead to improved speech understanding, especially when the auditory input is impoverished (e.g., in background noise, for people with hearing loss). This AV improvement occurs when both the auditory and visual information can be integrated together effectively (e.g., through temporal synchrony). However, whether the complexity of speech signals influences this integrated percept and how this contributes to speech understanding is still unknown. This study investigates whether individual differences in perception of temporal synchrony of the auditory and visual speech signal explain individual variability in AV speech recognition, and whether this differs across different levels of linguistic processing. By implementing five different levels of linguistic complexity (i.e., varying phoneme-viseme connections, vocabulary knowledge and/or linguistic context) and introducing temporal asynchrony in a remote task with English speaking adults we ask the following questions: (1) Is temporal synchrony needed to observe AV speech perception benefits? (2) Does this vary by linguistic level? (3) Does linguistic complexity influence synchrony perception? (4) And does synchrony perception explain individual variability in AV speech perception? These findings add value in deciding how AV synchronization should be balanced in hearing aid designs as well as in augmented / virtual reality devices.
Perceptual identification of high vowels in Taiwan Mandarin
Authors: Chiu Chenhao , Huang Jianzhi , Huang Po-Hsuan
Published: November 2023

Taiwan Mandarin contrasts high vowels /i/, /y/, and /u/ in the aspects of tongue backness and lip roundedness. Despite that both /y/ and /u/ are associated with the [round] feature, the postural realizations of these two vowels are not always identical, though sometimes only very subtle. The current study investigates whether native speakers can reliably identify the three high vowels from natural speech when no acoustic signal was available. The results show that the highest identification accuracy was found in /i/, followed by /u/ and then /y/. The same order was also reported in the analyses of sensitivity. On the other hand, the two rounded vowels were easily confused, as revealed by the analysis of false alarm. The results also showed that participants may pay attention to different postural cues when distinguishing /u/ and /y/, along with a slight bias towards /y/. While it is rather challenging for native speakers to identify /u/ from /y/, our results did provide a selection of postural exemplars for each vowel, which may be considered as more canonical and subject to further analyses using image processing.
Difference of phonemic restoration between professional and non-experts’ voices
Authors: Kobayashi Maori , Akagi Masato
Published: November 2023

It is generally thought that the voices of professional announcers are clearer and easier to hear than those of non-professional speakers. This study examined the perceptual mechanisms involved in the higher intelligibility of professional announcers’ voice with the focus on perceptual restoration. The intelligibility of the professional announcers was 10% to 30% higher than that of the non-professional speakers in noisy conditions. The effects of the formants on the higher intelligibility were experimentally examined using test words with one of the frequency bands corresponding to the first to third formants removed. When the formant component was removed, performance declined for both speakers, whereas that of the professional announcers was maintained with noise. An additional experiment showed that a missing component in a professional announcers’ voice is perceptually restored by adding noise. It is thus likely that the voices of professional announcers are rich in phonological cues, enabling phonological restoration to be achieved by adding noise. This may be one of the reasons why the higher intelligibility of their voices in noise.