bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sentiment Analysis Surrounding Blepharoplasty in Online Health Forums
Authors: Lu Tracy J. , Nguyen Anne Xuan-Lan , Trinh Xuan-Vi , Wu Albert Y.
Published: March 2022

Background:

Upper and lower blepharoplasty are among the most common procedures in aesthetic surgery and are often emotionally laden due to the subjective nature of outcomes and implications with beauty and self-identity. This article capitalizes on the increasing wealth of patient-provided health information online and is the first to analyze the emotions surrounding blepharoplasty discussions in an open internet health forum, MedHelp.

Methods:

We used Python to scrape MedHelp for threads that contained “blepharoplasty” and then used IBM Watson Natural Language Understanding to perform sentiment analyses, calculating a general sentiment score (−1 to +1) as well as emotion scores for anger, sadness, joy, fear, and disgust (0 to 1) for posts and keywords contained within the posts. Keywords were then manually grouped into five distinct clinical categories: symptoms, doctor, treatment, medication, and body.

Results:

We collected 52 threads containing “blepharoplasty,” yielding 154 posts and 1365 keywords. The average sentiment score was negative among all posts (−0.15) and keywords (−0.30). Among all posts and keywords, sadness had the highest score and disgust had the lowest score.

Conclusions:

Fear and sadness are the predominant emotions for blepharoplasty patients online, and the most negative symptoms cited are not ones that surgeons typically expect.
Changes in Defense Mechanisms in Mothers From Pregnancy to 2 Years Postpregnancy
Authors: Porcerelli John H. , Richardson Laura A. , Smith Justin D. , Huth-Bocks Alissa C.
Published: March 2022

The objective of this study was to assess changes in maternal defensive functioning from the third trimester of pregnancy to 2 years postpregnancy. A community sample of at-risk mothers (N = 84; non-White [61%], unmarried [67%], high school or less education [72%], and income less than $20,000 [50%]) were recruited for this longitudinal study. Mothers responded to a semistructured interview during pregnancy and at 2 years postpregnancy about the parent-infant relationship; interview transcripts were coded using the Defense Mechanism Rating Scale (DMRS). Results indicated a significant increase in both total defense mechanisms used and the relative percentage of immature defense mechanisms used over time. A significant decrease in the relative percentage of healthy/adaptive defenses was noted. When all seven levels of defenses of the DMRS were assessed, it was an increase in minor image-distorting defenses, mechanisms that supported vulnerable self-esteem, that accounted for most of the change in immature defenses. Stability coefficients of defense mechanisms were reported, with large effect sizes, for overall defensive functioning, and mature and immature defenses over a 2-year period. These findings lend support to the importance of assessing defense mechanisms to better understand stressful life transitions in mothers.
Association of Phlebotomy on Blood Product Transfusion Requirements During Liver Transplantation: An Observational Cohort Study on 1000 Cases
Authors: Massicotte Luc , Hevesi Zoltan , Zaouter Cédrick , Thibeault Lynda , Karakiewicz Pierre , Roy Louise , Roy André
Published: March 2022

Background.

During the past 2 decades, transfusion requirements have decreased drastically during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), and transfusion-free transplantation is nowadays increasingly common. Understanding that liberal intravenous volume loading in cirrhotic patients may have detrimental consequences is key. In contrast, phlebotomy is a method to lower central venous pressure and portal venous pressure. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness and safety of phlebotomy in the early phase of blood transfusion, blood loss, renal function, and mortality.

Methods.

The present study evaluated the impact of phlebotomy on bleeding, transfusion rate, renal dysfunction, and mortality in 1000 consecutive OLTs. Two groups were defined and compared using phlebotomy. Multivariate logistic and linear regression models were used to determine predictors of bleeding, red blood cell (RBC) transfusion, renal dysfunction, and mortality.

Results.

A mean of 0.7 ± 1.5 RBC units was transfused per patient for 1000 OLTs, 75% did not receive any RBCs, and the median and interquartile range (25–75) were 0 for all blood products transfused. The phlebotomy was associated with decreased transfusion (RBCs, plasma, platelets, cryoprecipitate, albumin), with less bleeding, and with an increased survival rate, both 1 mo and 1 y. Phlebotomy was not associated with renal dysfunction.

Conclusions.

The practice of phlebotomy to lower portal venous pressure was associated with reduced blood product transfusions and blood loss during liver dissection without deleterious effect on renal function.
Instanton theory for Fermi’s golden rule and beyond
Authors: Ansari Imaad M. , Heller Eric R. , Trenins George , Richardson Jeremy O.
Published: March 2022

Instanton theory provides a semiclassical approximation for computing quantum tunnelling effects in complex molecular systems. It is typically applied to proton-transfer reactions for which the Born–Oppenheimer approximation is valid. However, many processes in physics, chemistry and biology, such as electron transfers, are non-adiabatic and are correctly described instead using Fermi’s golden rule. In this work, we discuss how instanton theory can be generalized to treat these reactions in the golden-rule limit. We then extend the theory to treat fourth-order processes such as bridge-mediated electron transfer and apply the method to simulate an electron moving through a model system of three coupled quantum dots. By comparison with benchmark quantum calculations, we demonstrate that the instanton results are much more reliable than alternative approximations based on superexchange-mediated effective coupling or a classical sequential mechanism.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Chemistry without the Born–Oppenheimer approximation’.
Tract-specific white matter microstructure alterations among young adultAPOEε4 carriers: A replication and extension study
Authors: Lissaman Rikki , Lancaster Thomas M. , Parker Greg D. , Graham Kim S. , Lawrence Andrew D. , Hodgetts Carl J.
Published: March 2022

The parahippocampal cingulum bundle (PHCB) connects regions known to be vulnerable to early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology, such as posteromedial cortex and medial temporal lobe. While AD-related pathology has been robustly associated with alterations in PHCB microstructure, specifically lower fractional anisotropy (FA) and higher mean diffusivity (MD), emerging evidence indicates that the reverse pattern is evident in younger adults at-risk of AD. In one such study, Hodgetts et al. (2019) reported that healthy young adult carriers of the apolipoprotein-E (APOE) ε4 allele – the strongest common genetic risk factor for AD – showed higher FA and lower MD in the PHCB but not the inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF). These results are consistent with proposals claiming that heightened neural activity and connectivity have a significant role in posteromedial cortex vulnerability to amyloid-β and tau spread beyond the medial temporal lobe. Given the implications for understanding AD risk, here we sought to replicate Hodgetts et al.’s finding in a larger sample (N= 128; 40APOEε4 carriers, 88APOEε4 non-carriers) of young adults (age range: 19-33). Extending this work further, we also conducted exploratory analyses using a more advanced measure of microstructure: hindrance modulated orientational anisotropy (HMOA). These analyses included an investigation of hemispheric asymmetry in PHCB and ILF HMOA. Contrary to the original study, we observed no difference in PHCB microstructure betweenAPOEε4 carriers and non-carriers. Bayes factors (BFs) further revealed moderate-to-strong evidence in support of these null findings.APOEε4-related differences in ILF HMOA asymmetry were evident, however, with carriers demonstrating lower leftward asymmetry. Our findings indicate that young adultAPOEε4 carriers do not show alterations in PHCB microstructure, as observed by Hodgetts et al., but may show altered asymmetry in ILF microstructure.
The Envelope Protein of SARS-CoV-2 Inhibits Viral Protein Synthesis and Infectivity of Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1)
Authors: Henke Wyatt , Waisner Hope , Arachchige Sachith Polpitiya , Kalamvoki Maria , Stephens Edward
Published: March 2022

The human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 encodes for a small 75 amino acid transmembrane protein known as the envelope (E) protein. The E protein forms an ion channel, like the viroporins from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) (Vpu) and influenza A virus (M2). Here, we analyzed HIV-1 virus infectivity in the presence of four different β-coronavirus E proteins. We observed that the SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV E proteins reduced HIV-1 yields by approximately 100-fold while MERS-CoV or HCoV-OC43 E proteins restricted HIV-1 infectivity to a lesser extent. This was also reflected in the levels of HIV-1 protein synthesis in cells. Mechanistically, we show that that the E protein neither affected reverse transcription nor genome integration. However, SARS-CoV-2 E protein activated the ER-stress pathway associated with the phosphorylation of eIF-2α, which is known to attenuate protein synthesis in cells. Finally, we show that these four E proteins and the SARS-CoV-2 N protein did not significantly down-regulate bone marrow stromal cell antigen 2 (BST-2) while the spike (S) proteins of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, and HIV-1 Vpu efficiently down-regulated cell surface BST-2 expression. The results of this study show for the first time that viroporins from a heterologous virus can suppress HIV-1 infection.

IMPORTANCE

The E protein of coronaviruses is a viroporin that is required for efficient release of infectious virus and for viral pathogenicity. We determined if the E protein from four β-coronaviruses could restrict virus particle infectivity of HIV-1 infection. Our results indicate that the E proteins from SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV potently restricted HIV-1 while those from MERS-CoV and HCoV-OC43 were less restrictive. Substitution of the highly conserved proline in the cytoplasmic domain of SARS-CoV-2 E abrogated the restriction on HIV-1 infection. Mechanistically, the SARS-CoV-2 E protein did not interfere with viral integration or RNA synthesis but rather reduced viral protein synthesis. We show that the E protein-initiated ER stress causing phosphorylation of eIF-2α, which is known to attenuate protein synthesis. Companion studies suggest that the E protein also triggers autophagy. These results show for the first time that a viroporin from a coronavirus can restrict infection of another virus.
Detection and prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 co-infections during the Omicron variant circulation, France, December 2021 - February 2022
Authors: Bal Antonin , Simon Bruno , Destras Gregory , Chalvignac Richard , Semanas Quentin , Oblette Antoine , Queromes Gregory , Fanget Remi , Regue Hadrien , Morfin Florence , Valette Martine , Lina Bruno , Josset Laurence
Published: March 2022

In Dec 2021-Feb 2022, an intense and unprecedented co-circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants with high genetic diversity raised the question of possible co-infections between variants and how to detect them. Using 11 mixes of Delta:Omicron isolates at different ratios, we evaluated the performance of 4 different sets of primers used for whole-genome sequencing and we developed an unbiased bioinformatics method which can detect all co-infections irrespective of the SARS-CoV-2 lineages involved. Applied on 21,387 samples collected between weeks 49-2021 and 08-2022 from random genomic surveillance in France, we detected 53 co-infections between different lineages. The prevalence of Delta and Omicron (BA.1) co-infections and Omicron lineages BA.1 and BA.2 co-infections were estimated at 0.18% and 0.26%, respectively. Among 6,242 hospitalized patients, the intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates were 1.64%, 4.81% and 15.38% in Omicron, Delta and Delta/Omicron patients, respectively. No BA.1/BA.2 co-infections were reported among ICU admitted patients. Although SARS-CoV-2 co-infections were rare in this study, their proper detection is crucial to evaluate their clinical impact and the risk of the emergence of potential recombinants.
Nuclear receptor corepressor 1 controls regulatory T cell subset differentiation and effector function
Authors: Stolz Valentina , de Freitas e Silva Rafael , Rica Ramona , Zhu Ci , Preglej Teresa , Hamminger Patricia , Hainberger Daniela , Alteneder Marlis , Müller Lena , Waldherr Monika , Waltenberger Darina , Hladik Anastasiya , Agerer Benedikt , Schuster Michael , Frey Tobias , Krausgruber Thomas , Knapp Sylvia , Campbell Clarissa , Schmetterer Klaus , Trauner Michael , Bergthaler Andreas , Bock Christoph , Boucheron Nicole , Ellmeier Wilfried
Published: March 2022

FOXP3+regulatory T cells (Treg cells) are key for immune homeostasis. Here, we reveal that nuclear receptor corepressor 1 (NCOR1) controls naïve and effector Treg cell states. Upon NCOR1 deletion in T cells, effector Treg cell frequencies were elevated in mice and inin vitro-generated human Treg cells. NCOR1-deficient Treg cells failed to protect mice from severe weight loss and intestinal inflammation associated with CD4+T cell transfer colitis, indicating impaired suppressive function. NCOR1 controls transcriptional integrity of Treg cells, since effector gene signatures were already upregulated in naïve NCOR1-deficient Treg cells while effector NCOR1-deficient Treg cells failed to repress genes associated with naïve Treg cells. Moreover, genes related to cholesterol homeostasis including targets of liver X receptor (LXR) were dysregulated in NCOR1-deficient Treg cells. However, genetic ablation of LXRβ in T cells did not revert the effects of NCOR1 deficiency, indicating that NCOR1 controls naïve and effector Treg cell subset composition independent from its ability to repress LXRβ-induced gene expression. Thus, our study reveals that NCOR1 maintains naïve and effector Treg cell states via regulating their transcriptional integrity. We also reveal a critical role for this epigenetic regulator in supporting the suppressive functions of Treg cellsin vivo.
Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy is prevented by blocking postictal hypoxia
Authors: George Antis G. , Farrell Jordan S. , Colangeli Roberto , Wall Alexandra K. , Gom Renaud C. , Kesler Mitchell T. , de la Hoz Cristiane L , Perera Tefani , Rho Jong M. , Kurrasch Deborah , Teskey G. Campbell
Published: March 2022

Epilepsy is at times a fatal disease. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the leading cause of mortality in people with intractable epilepsy and is defined by exclusion; non-accidental, non-toxicologic, and non-anatomic causes of death. While SUDEP often follows a bilateral tonic-clonic seizure, the mechanisms that ultimately lead to terminal apnea and then asystole remain elusive and there is a lack preventative treatments. Based on the observation that discrete seizures lead to local vasoconstriction, resulting in hypoperfusion, hypoxia and behavioural disturbances in the forebrain (Farrell et al., 2016), we reasoned that similar mechanisms may play a role in SUDEP when seizures invade the brainstem. Here we tested this neurovascular-based hypothesis of SUDEP in awake non-anesthetized mice by pharmacologically preventing seizure-induced vasoconstriction, with cyclooxygenase-2 or L-type calcium channel antagonists. In both acute and chronic mouse models of SUDEP, ibuprofen and nicardipine extended life. We also examined the potential role of spreading depolarization in the acute model of SUDEP. These data provide a proof of principle for the neurovascular hypothesis of SUDEP and the use of currently available treatments to prevent it.
The interferon stimulated gene-encoded protein HELZ2 inhibits human LINE-1 retrotransposition and LINE-1 RNA-mediated type I interferon induction
Authors: Luqman-Fatah Ahmad , Watanabe Yuzo , Ishikawa Fuyuki , Moran John V. , Miyoshi Tomoichiro
Published: March 2022

Some interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) encode proteins that inhibit LINE-1 (L1) retrotransposition. Here, we used immunoprecipitation followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to identify proteins that associate with the L1 ORF1-encoded protein (ORF1p) in ribonucleoprotein particles. Three ISG proteins that interact with ORF1p inhibit retrotransposition: HECT and RLD domain containing E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase 5 (HERC5); 2’-5’-oligoadenylate synthetase-like (OASL); and helicase with zinc finger 2 (HELZ2). HERC5 destabilizes ORF1p, but does not affect its cellular localization. OASL impairs ORF1p cytoplasmic foci formation. HELZ2 recognizes sequences and/or structures within the L1 5’UTR to reduce L1 RNA, ORF1p, and ORF1p cytoplasmic foci levels. Overexpression of WT or reverse transcriptase-deficient L1s led to a modest induction of IFN-α expression, which was abrogated upon HELZ2 overexpression. Notably, IFN-α expression was enhanced upon overexpression of an ORF1p RNA binding mutant, suggesting ORF1p binding might protect L1 RNA from “triggering” IFN-α induction. Thus, ISG proteins can inhibit retrotransposition by different mechanisms.
The dynamics of adaptation to stress from standing genetic variation andde novomutations
Authors: Ament-Velásquez S. Lorena , Gilchrist Ciaran , Rêgo Alexandre , Bendixsen Devin P , Brice Claire , Grosse-Sommer Julie Michelle , Rafati Nima , Stelkens Rike
Published: March 2022

Adaptation from standing genetic variation is an important process underlying evolution in natural populations but we rarely get the opportunity to observe the dynamics of fitness changes in real time. Here, we used the power of microbial experimental evolution and whole population sequencing to track the phenotypic and genomic changes of genetically diverse yeast populations in environments with different stress levels. We found that populations rapidly and in parallel increased in fitness in stressful environments. The founder’s genetic diversity was quickly depleted, however, not to the same degree in all populations and environments. Some populations fixed all ancestral variation in < 30 generations while others maintained diversity across hundreds of generations. We also observed parallelism at the gene and pathway level. Specifically, we detected up to seven genes harbouring multiple independent mutations in different populations, and a general enrichment for mutations affecting downstream effectors of the high-osmolarity-glycerol pathway in three out of four environments. Adaptation to the most stressful environment was characterised by the fast evolution of functional haploidy, likely driven by standing genetic variation. Almost 40% of all populations contained aneuploidies (losses or gains of chromosomes) at least once during experimental evolution. Some aneuploidies were maintained for hundreds of generations in parallel in different replicates, suggesting they were adaptive. This work shows that experimental evolution is a great tool to address the interplay between standing variation and the influx ofde novomutations, leading to a better understanding of the demographic and environmental drivers and constraints of a population’s capacity to adapt to environmental change.
S51 family peptidases provide resistance to peptidyl-nucleotide antibiotic McC
Authors: Yagmurov Eldar , Gilep Konstantin , Serebryakova Marina , Wolf Yuri I. , Dubiley Svetlana , Severinov Konstantin
Published: March 2022

Microcin C-like compounds are natural Trojan horse peptide-nucleotide antibiotics produced by diverse bacteria. The ribosomally-synthesized peptide parts of these antibiotics are responsible for their facilitated transport into susceptible cells. Once inside the cell, the peptide part is degraded, releasing the toxic payload, an isoaspartyl-nucleotide that inhibits aspartyl-tRNA synthetase, an enzyme essential for protein synthesis. Bacteria that produce microcin C-like compounds have evolved multiple ways to avoid self-intoxication. Here, we describe a new strategy through the action of S51 family peptidases, which we name MccG. MccG cleaves the toxic isoaspartyl-nucleotide rendering it inactive. While some MccG homologs are encoded in gene clusters responsible for McC-like compounds biosynthesis, most are encoded by stand-alone genes whose products may provide basal level of resistance to peptide-nucleotide antibiotics in phylogenetically distant bacteria.

SIGNIFICANCE

We identified a natural substrate for a major phylogenetic clade of poorly characterized S51 family proteases from bacteria. We show that these proteins can contribute to basal level of resistance to an important class of natural antibiotics.
Quantifying cerebral blood arrival times using hypoxia-mediated arterial BOLD contrast
Authors: Bhogal Alex A. , Sayin Ece Su , Poublanc Julien , Duffin Jim , Fisher Joseph A. , Sobcyzk Olivia , Mikulis David J.
Published: March 2022

Cerebral blood arrival and tissue transit times are sensitive measures of the efficiency of tissue perfusion and can provide clinically meaningful information on collateral blood flow status. We exploit the arterial blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal contrast established by precisely modulating arterial hemoglobin saturation using hypoxic respiratory challenges (dOHb-BOLD) to quantify arterial blood arrival times throughout the brain. A combination of hemodynamic lag with a modified carpet plot analysis yielded lag, onset (blood arrival), mean transit time (MTT) and hypoxic response information, which is indicative of relative total blood volume. Onset times averaged across 12 healthy subjects were 1.1 ± 0.4 and 1.9 ± 0.6 for cortical gray and deep white matter, respectively. The average whole brain MTT was 4.5 ± 0.9 seconds. The dOHb-BOLD response was 1.7 fold higher in grey versus white; in line with known differences in regional blood volume fraction. Our method was also applied in unilateral carotid artery occlusion patient, which revealed prolonged signal onset with normal perfusion in the affected hemisphere. In cases with exhausted reserve capacity or confounding flow effects such as vascular steal, dOHb-BOLD can potentially inform on collateral flow pathways to provide a valuable compliment to clinical vascular reactivity measures.
“Two-story building” of a ctenophore comb plate provides structural and functional integrity for motility of giant multicilia
Authors: Jokura Kei , Sato Yu , Shiba Kogiku , Inaba Kazuo
Published: March 2022

Comb plates (CPs) are large compound cilia uniquely seen in a basal metazoan group of ctenophores.1–3Tens of thousands of cilia are bundled in a CP via structures connecting adjacent cilia, called compartmenting lamella (CL), which are the basis for the structural iridescent color and the coordination of ciliary movement of the CP.4–6We previously reported the first component of CL, CTENO64, and found that it was convergently acquired in ctenophores and was essential for determination of ciliary orientation.3However, CTENO64 is localized only in the proximal region of the CL; therefore, the molecular architecture of CL over the entire length has not been elucidated. Here, we identified a second CL component, CTENO189. This ctenophore-specific protein was present in the distal region of the CL, with a localization clearly segregated from CTENO64. Knockdown of theCTENO189gene with morpholino antisense oligonucleotides resulted in complete loss of CLs in the distal region, but did not affect either the formation of CP or the orientation of each cilium. However, the hexagonal distribution of cilia was disarranged, and the metachronal coordination of CP along a comb row was lost in the CTENO189 morphants. The morphant CP showed asymmetric ciliary-type movement in normal seawater, and in a high-viscosity solution, it could not maintain the normal waveforms, becoming a symmetric flagellar-type. Our findings demonstrate a “two-story building” of CP, comprising the proximal CL, as the building foundation that rigidly fixes the ciliary orientation. The distal CL would reinforce the elastic connection among cilia to overcome the hydrodynamic drag of giant multiciliary plates.
Expression, purification and crystallization of a novel metagenome-derived salicylaldehyde dehydrogenase from Alpine soil
Authors: Dandare Shamsudeen Umar , Håkansson Maria , Svensson L. Anders , Timson David J. , Allen Christopher C. R.
Published: March 2022

Salicylaldehyde dehydrogenase (SALD) catalyses the last reaction in the upper pathway of naphthalene degradation: the oxidation of salicylaldehyde to salicylate. This enzyme has been isolated and studied from a few organisms that belong to the betaproteobacteria and gammaproteobacteria, predominantly Pseudomonas putida. Furthermore, there is only one crystal structure of this enzyme, which was obtained from P. putida G7. Here, crystallographic studies and analysis of the crystal structure of an Alpine soil metagenome-derived SALD (SALDAP) from an alphaproteobacterium are presented. The SALDAP gene was discovered using gene-targeted sequence assembly and it was cloned into a pLATE51 vector. The recombinant protein was overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) cells and the soluble protein was purified to homogeneity. The protein crystallized at 20°C and diffraction data from the crystals were collected at a resolution of 1.9 Å. The crystal belonged to the orthorhombic space group C2221, with unit-cell parameters a = 116.8, b = 121.7, c = 318.0 Å. Analysis of the crystal structure revealed its conformation to be similar to the organization of the aldehyde dehydrogenase superfamily with three domains: the catalytic, NAD+-binding and bridging domains. The crystal structure of NahF from P. putida G7 was found to be the best structural homologue of SALDAP, even though the enzymes share only 48% amino-acid identity. Interestingly, a carboxylic acid (protocatechuic acid) was found to be a putative ligand of the enzyme and differential scanning fluorimetry was employed to confirm ligand binding. These findings open up the possibility of studying the mechanism(s) of product inhibition and biocatalysis of carboxylic acids using this enzyme and other related aldehyde dehydrogenases.
Structure and activity of a thermally stable mutant of Acanthamoeba actophorin
Authors: Quirk Stephen , Lieberman Raquel L.
Published: March 2022

Actophorin, which was recently tested for crystallization under microgravity on the International Space Station, was subjected to mutagenesis to identify a construct with improved biophysical properties that were expected to improve the extent of diffraction. First, 20 mutations, including one C-terminal deletion of three residues, were introduced individually into actophorin, resulting in modest increases in thermal stability of between +0.5°C and +2.2°C. All but two of the stabilizing mutants increased both the rates of severing F-actin filaments and of spontaneous polymerization of pyrenyl G-actin in vitro. When the individual mutations were combined into a single actophorin variant, Acto-2, the overall thermal stability was 22°C higher than that of wild-type actophorin. When an inactivating S2P mutation in Acto-2 was restored, Acto-2/P2S was more stable by 20°C but was notably more active than the wild-type protein. The inactivating S2P mutation reaffirms the importance that Ser2 plays in the F-actin-severing reaction. The crystal structure of Acto-2 was solved to 1.7 Å resolution in a monoclinic space group, a first for actophorin. Surprisingly, despite the increase in thermal stability, the extended β-turn region, which is intimately involved in interactions with F-actin, is disordered in one copy of Acto-2 in the asymmetric unit. These observations emphasize the complex interplay among protein thermal stability, function and dynamics.
Modelling and experimental verification of temperature effects on back electromotive force waveforms in a line start permanent magnet synchronous motor
Authors: Baranski Mariusz , Szelag Wojciech , Lyskawinski Wieslaw
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to elaborate the method and algorithm for the analysis of the influence of temperature on back electromotive force (BEMF) waveforms in a line start permanent magnet synchronous motor (LSPMSM).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a finite element analysis of temperature influence on BEMF and back electromotive coefficient in a LSPMSM. In this paper, a two-dimensional field model of coupled electromagnetic and thermal phenomena in the LSPMSM was presented. The influence of temperature on magnetic properties of the permanent magnets as well as on electric and thermal properties of the materials has been taken into account. Simulation results have been compared to measurements. The selected results have been presented and discussed.

Findings

The simulations results are compared with measurements to confirm the adequacy of this approach to the analysis of coupled electromagnetic-thermal problems.

Originality/value

The paper offers appropriate author’s software for the transient and steady-state analysis of coupled electromagnetic and thermal problems in LSPMS motor.
Exploring entrepreneurs' business-related social media typologies: a latent class analysis approach
Authors: McLaughlin Christopher , Bradley-McCauley Laura , Stephens Simon
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to present typologies of entrepreneurs using entrepreneurs' engagement and use of social media (SM) for business purposes as a means of categorisation. Based on this categorisation, four types of entrepreneurs are proposed: the hopefuls, the assureds, the opportunists and the passengers. The emergent typology should serve as the basis for further thought and empiricism.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-phase quantitative opportunistic sampling approach was employed. First, entrepreneurial experts' (n = 8) structured interviews informed the survey design. Secondly, an online survey, based on theory of planned behaviour (TPB), was completed with entrepreneurs at business incubation centres (BICs) in Ireland. Latent class analysis (LCA) identified a number of entrepreneur typologies using participants' (n = 124) business-related SM activities. Differences in entrepreneurial types were explained using the TPB, trust, security and demographic variables.

Findings

Results indicate that there are four distinct types of entrepreneurs based on their business-related SM activities. Once the typology was created, comparisons were conducted between each type based on the psychological drivers of the TPB. Trend differences were identified between the distinct typologies.

Originality/value

The value of this research is that the research proposes a typology of entrepreneurs categorised based on SM engagement and use. The typology can be used to identify and compare the differences between entrepreneurs based on perceptions regarding SM, abilities related to SM and the support entrepreneurs need in relation to this. This research is novel in that the research addresses calls to segment the increasingly diverse and complex entrepreneurial population using the pillars of social and digital technology as a focus. The research also provides a framework for examination and replication in other geographic and entrepreneurial settings.
Federated data as a commons: a third way to subject-centric and collective-centric approaches to data epistemology and politics
Authors: Calzati Stefano
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study advances a reconceptualization of data and information which overcomes normative understandings often contained in data policies at national and international levels. This study aims to propose a conceptual framework that moves beyond subject- and collective-centric normative understandings.

Design/methodology/approach

To do so, this study discusses the European Union (EU) and China’s approaches to data-driven technologies highlighting their similarities and differences when it comes to the vision underpinning how tech innovation is shaped.

Findings

Regardless of the different attention to the subject (the EU) and the collective (China), the normative understandings of technology by both actors remain trapped into a positivist approach that overlooks all that is not and cannot be turned into data, thus hindering the elaboration of a more holistic ecological thinking merging humans and technologies.

Originality/value

Revising the philosophical and political debate on data and data-driven technologies, a third way is elaborated, i.e. federated data as commons. This third way puts the subject as part by default of a collective at the centre of discussion. This framing can serve as the basis for elaborating sociotechnical alternatives when it comes to define and regulate the mash-up of humans and technology.
Mediation analysis of students' perceived benefits in predicting their satisfaction to technology-enhanced learning
Authors: Dubey Pushkar , Sahu Kailash Kumar
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Students' perception towards learning technologies in the disruptive times like coronavirus disease (2019) COVID-19 is what the educational institutes are striving to know so that the educational institutes could provide the best learning experiences to students. The present study attempts to identify the technology-enhanced learning (TEL) factors (i.e. informational quality, compatibility, resource availability, self-efficacy, subjective norms, subject interest and informational quality) with the mediation effect of perceived benefits on student satisfaction to TEL amongst non-technical students of different college/universities at Chhattisgarh state.

Design/methodology/approach

Purposive sampling technique with “criterion variable” was applied to collect responses from 600 participants. Students, who are enrolled in non-technical courses at different colleges/universities, were participated in the present study. The data collection process was completed during April–November 2019.

Findings

The results revealed that perceived benefits to TEL were significantly and positively mediated between all the TEL factors (i.e. information quality, compatibility, resource availability, self-efficacy, subjective norms, subject interest and institutional branding) and student satisfaction to TEL.

Originality/value

The present study itself is a novel study by taking TEL factors such as informational quality, compatibility, resource availability, self-efficacy, subjective norms, subject interest and institutional branding by considering perceived benefits as mediator to examine the influence on student satisfaction to TEL.
Wavefield simulation of fractured porous media and propagation characteristics analysis
Authors: Wang Kang , Peng Suping , Lu Yongxu , Cui Xiaoqin
Published: March 2022

Most fractured reservoirs are two‐phase media, that is, mixture of solid matrix and void. It contains rock skeleton and fractures or pores filled with oil, gas and water. These fractures are the channels of oil and gas storage and migration. In two‐phase media, the interaction between the fluid and solid phases will further complicate the seismic wave propagation. Natural fractures are typically irregular in shape, thereby causing difficulties in the exploration of fractured reservoirs. Therefore, the key to the prediction of fractures is to study the equation of motion of seismic waves and energy distribution of seismic waves at the fracture interface. To derive the propagation law for complex irregular shape fractures in two‐phase media, we combined the stiffness matrix of the media with linear slip theory and derived a numerical simulation scheme. The simulation scheme considers the fractures in the two‐phase media to be in any direction. In addition, seismic wave energy distribution at the fracture interface was obtained. The linear slip boundary condition was introduced into the conventional Zoeppritz equation, and a modified Zoeppritz equation was proposed for two‐phase fractured media. The reflection and transmission due to the fracture interface were considered in the new equation, thereby making the equation more flexible. Using the new numerical simulation scheme, we analysed the elastic waves produced by the linear slip fracture interface in two‐phase media and provided the long‐term stability results of the new scheme. Moreover, we provided the relationship between the reflection and transmission coefficients of the linear slip fracture interface and the incident angle and compliance in two‐phase media using the new Zoeppritz equation. The results show that the reflection wave of two‐phase fractured media can be divided into wave impedance and fracture parts to accurately describe the properties of underground rocks.
Understanding the Impact of Mandatory CSR Disclosure on Green Innovation: Evidence from Chinese Listed Firms
Authors: Ren Shenggang , Huang Min , Liu Donghua , Yan Ji
Published: March 2022

Drawing on the institutional view of legitimacy theory, we examine whether and under which conditions a policy tool, mandatory corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting, enforced by constituents positively triggers firms to make substantive environmental responses. Using China's 2008 CSR reporting policy as a quasi‐natural experiment and the difference‐in‐differences estimation approach, the results reveal that after implementation of this policy, mandatory CSR reporting firms show substantially higher green innovation performance than non‐CSR reporting firms. We further find that this effect is stronger for firms located in areas with high environmental enforcement intensity, for state‐owned enterprises and for those with higher levels of media coverage. Moreover, we make a nuanced investigation on whether the media coverage is laden with a negative or positive tone, and find that both negative and positive coverage strengthen the relationship between mandatory CSR disclosure and green innovation.
Everyday attentiveness: understanding diabetes in Vietnam through literary displacement
Authors: Gammeltoft Tine M.
Published: March 2022

World‐wide, diabetes is taking on epidemic proportions. This is a debilitating disease that damages and destroys bodily systems unless blood sugar levels are kept close to normal, and patients are therefore urged to practise attentive self‐management. Among people with type II diabetes in Vietnam, such everyday attentiveness seems to far exceed clinical recommendations, suffusing daily lives in pervasive and yet elusive ways. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in northern Vietnam, this article aims to depict the lifeworlds in which diabetes attentiveness unfolds. Seeking to capture the inchoate ways in which diabetes alters everyday lives, the article develops literary displacement as an experimental mode of writing‐cum‐inquiry that combines standard ethnography with ethnographic fiction. Taking diabetes in Vietnam as its case, the article shows how literary displacement can contribute to cultivating ethnographic as well as analytical sensibilities, strengthening the capacity of anthropology to capture subtle and subdued layers of life.
Local Gambling Attitudes and Audit Quality: Evidence from Audit Adjustments
Authors: Tong Lijing , Wu Bin , Zhang Min
Published: March 2022

This study examines the influence of local gambling attitudes on audit quality. As a preference for gambling correlates to a greater tendency to take risks, we hypothesize that auditors make a greater magnitude of audit adjustments for clients headquartered in gambling‐prone areas to reduce heightened audit risk. Consistent with our hypothesis, the empirical results show a positive relation between local gambling attitudes and the magnitude of audit adjustments. Further analyses show that this association is more pronounced when the regulatory cost is higher, and when the board chair or CEO comes from a gambling‐prone area. We also find evidence that gambling culture results in greater magnitudes of both upward and downward audit adjustments, audit firms appoint more experienced audit partners to gambling‐prone clients, and there is a fee premium for gambling‐prone clients.
What is Critical About Critical Urban Anthropology?
Authors: Scheld Suzanne
Published: March 2022

In 2021, the Society for Urban, National, Transnational/Global Anthropology (SUNTA), a section of the American Anthropological Association, changed its name to Critical Urban Anthropology Association (CUAA). This essay addresses the question “What is Critical About Critical Urban Anthropology?” by reflecting on problematic assumptions about African cities that are perpetuated over time and the need to critique these ideas. I suggest a more active and participatory approach to pedagogy is necessary to creating a critical urban anthropology that can help to challenge these assumptions.
Two‐year outcomes of low‐exposure extended‐release tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil regimen in de novo kidney transplantation: A multi‐center randomized controlled trial
Authors: Hidaka Yuji , Goto Norihiko , Yamanaga Shigeyoshi , Kinoshita Kohei , Tanaka Kosuke , Kawabata Chiaki , Toyoda Mariko , Tomosugi Toshihide , Futamura Kenta , Okada Manabu , Tsujita Makoto , Hiramitsu Takahisa , Yokomizo Hiroshi , Miyata Akira , Narumi Shunji , Kobayashi Takaaki , Watarai Yoshihiko
Published: March 2022

Background

Once‐daily extended‐release tacrolimus (TACER) is commonly administered following kidney transplantation (KTx); however, its optimal dosage remains unknown.

Methods

In this multi‐center, randomized controlled trial, 62 living donor KTx recipients were assigned to either standard‐exposure (SE; n = 32) or low‐exposure (LE; n = 30) TACER (Graceptor®, Astellas Pharm Inc.) groups. All patients received basiliximab and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). The primary outcomes were acute rejection, graft/patient survival, and the secondary outcomes were incidence of cytomegalovirus infection, and de novo donor‐specific antibodies (dnDSA) production.

Results

The tacrolimus trough level and estimated area under the blood concentration–time curve (eAUC) were significantly higher in SE than in LE (SE vs. LE; 1 year: 5.0 ± 0.9 ng/ml and 206.9 ± 26.8 ng h/ml vs. 3.4 ± 1.0 ng/ml and 153.9 ± 26.4 ng h/ml; 2 years: 4.8 ± 1.0 ng/ml and 204.9 ± 30.1 ng h/ml vs. 3.8 ± 0.9 ng/ml and 164.4 ± 27.0 ng h/ml). In contrast, the dosage and eAUC of MMF did not differ between groups. Two‐year graft and patient survival rates were 100% in both groups, and acute rejection rates were 0% and 10% in the SE and LE, respectively (p = 0.11). The mean estimated glomerular filtration rates did not differ between the groups. Cytomegalovirus infection was slightly lower in the LE (SE: 12.5% and LE: 6.7%, p = 0.37). In the LE, four cases of dnDSA were noted within 2 years of transplantation; no case was observed in the SE (p = 0.034).

Conclusions

Although the LE TACER regimen showed similar rates of acute rejection, as well as graft and patient survival compared with SE after KTx, LE was significantly more associated with dnDSA. Further investigation of its long‐term effect on graft survival is warranted. (University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry ID: UMIN000033089).
Acute care and secondary prevention of stroke with newly detected versus known atrial fibrillation
Authors: Wang Ruihao , Macha Kosmas , Haupenthal David , Gaßmann Luise , Siedler Gabriela , Stoll Svenja , Fröhlich Kilian , Koehn Julia , Schwab Stefan , Kallmünzer Bernd
Published: March 2022

Background and purpose

Atrial fibrillation (AF) in stroke patients can be classified as either “known AF” (KAF), defined as AF confirmed before stroke onset, or “AF detected after stroke” (AFDAS), defined as AF diagnosed after stroke onset. While KAF is considered primarily cardiogenic, AFDAS includes patients with stroke‐triggered neurogenic arrhythmias. This study aimed to investigate the clinical course of stroke, functional outcomes and the value of oral anticoagulation (OAC) for secondary prevention according to AF subtype.

Methods

Acute ischemic stroke patients were consecutively enrolled and AF was classified as AFDAS or KAF. Stroke severity was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and 3‐month functional outcomes were measured on the modified Rankin scale. Inverse probability weighting was applied to adjust for baseline confounders in patients with AFDAS and KAF. Multivariate logistic regression models were calculated to investigate the value of OAC for secondary prevention.

Results

A total of 822 stroke patients with AF were included, of whom 234 patients (28.5%) had AFDAS. AFDAS patients had a lower prevalence of coronary artery disease, heart failure, and sustained AF, but higher rates of large vessel occlusion compared to KAF patients. NIHSS scores were lower in patients on pre‐stroke anticoagulation. OAC for secondary prevention was associated with favorable 3‐month functional outcome (odds ratio 7.60, 95% confidence interval 3.42–16.88) independently of AF subtype. The rate of stroke recurrence did not differ significantly.

Conclusions

Clinical characteristics suggest that AFDAS might comprise a distinct pathophysiological and clinical entity among stroke patients with AF. The benefit of anticoagulation for secondary prevention was not affected by AF subtype.
Second‐language writing in university‐level basic language programs: A survey of student and instructor beliefs
Authors: Issa Bernard I. , Koronkiewicz Bryan , Faretta‐Stutenberg Mandy
Published: March 2022

The majority of US university students studying foreign languages are enrolled in introductory courses that are typically part of a coordinated curriculum. Such courses conventionally include the assessment of second language (L2) writing skills. However, given that these assessments can be broadly conceived and vary by program, their design and implementation are subject to differing opinions and beliefs from the stakeholders involved. In an effort to better understand how their views of L2 writing assessments overlap and/or diverge, the present study examined instructor (N = 28) and student (N = 183) beliefs in Spanish language programs at three public US universities using an online Likert‐scale and ranked‐choice questionnaire. Results revealed that although there was misalignment regarding the pedagogical purpose of such assignments, in general there was broad agreement among the two groups, including the use of a writing‐to‐learn approach to develop both specific and broad linguistic skills.