bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digitalization and the environment: The role of information and communication technology and environmental taxes in European countries
Authors: Adeshola Ibrahim , Usman Ojonugwa , Agoyi Mary , Awosusi Abraham Ayobamiji , Adebayo Tomiwa Sunday
Published: October 2023

This study examines the impacts of digitalization through information and communication technology (ICT) and environmental taxes on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 23 European Union (EU) countries between 2000 and 2017. Using the Pooled Mean Group estimator, the empirical results provide evidence that ICT development and environmental taxes improve environmental sustainability while research and development investments and income per capita deteriorate environmental sustainability. Furthermore, the results based on the Dynamic Panel Threshold Regression model show that the relationship between ICT and GHG emissions is dependent on the level of environmental taxes. During the period of low environmental taxes, the effect of ICT on GHG emissions is positive and insignificant but once environmental taxes cross the threshold value, the effect of ICT becomes negatively related to greenhouse gas emissions. This suggests that the period of low environmental taxes does not support the environmental friendliness of ICT development in the European region. The policy implication of these findings is that ICT, environmental taxes, and renewable energy can be possibly stirred up to achieve long‐term environmental sustainability in the EU region.
The relationship between sperm nuclear DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial DNA fragmentation, and copy number in normal and abnormal human ejaculates
Authors: Tímermans Ana , Otero Fátima , Garrido Manuel , Gosálvez Jaime , Johnston Stephen , Fernández José Luis
Published: October 2023

Background

While it is common to clinically evaluate sperm nuclear DNA fragmentation, less attention has been given to sperm mitochondrial DNA. Recently, a digital PCR assay has allowed accurate estimation of the proportion of fragmented mtDNA molecules and relative copy number.

Objectives

To determine the correlation of classical sperm parameters, average mtDNA copies per spermatozoon and the level of mtDNA fragmentation (SDF‐mtDNA) to that of nuclear DNA fragmentation (SDF‐nDNA), measured as the proportion of global, single‐strand DNA (SDF‐SSBs) and double‐strand DNA breaks (SDF‐DSBs). To determine whether the level of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA fragmentation and/or copy number can differentiate normozoospermic from non‐normozoospermic samples.

Materials and methods

Ejaculates from 29 normozoospermic and 43 non‐normozoospermic were evaluated. SDF was determined using the sperm chromatin dispersion assay. mtDNA copy number and SDF‐mtDNA were analyzed using digital PCR assays.

Results

Relative mtDNA copy increased as sperm concentration or motility decreased, or abnormal morphology increased. Unlike SDF‐mtDNA, mtDNA copy number was not correlated with SDF‐nDNA. SDF‐mtDNA increased as the concentration or proportion of non‐vital sperm increased; the higher the mtDNA copy number, the lower the level of fragmentation. Non‐normozoospermic samples showed double the level of SDF‐nDNA compared to normozoospermic (median 25.00 vs. 13.67). mtDNA copy number per spermatozoon was 3× higher in non‐normozoospermic ejaculates (median 16.06 vs. 4.99). Although logistic regression revealed SDF‐Global and mtDNA copy number as independent risk factors for non‐normozoospermia, when SDF‐Global and mtDNA copy number were combined, ROC curve analysis resulted in an even stronger discriminatory ability for predicting the probability of non‐normozoospermia (AUC = 0.85, 95% CI 0.76–0.94, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

High‐quality ejaculates show lower nuclear SDF and retain less mtDNA copies, with approximately half of them fragmented, so that the absolute number of non‐fragmented mtDNA molecules per spermatozoon is extremely low.
Deconstructing self‐fulfilling outcome measures in infertility treatment
Authors: Mertens Mayli , Mertes Heidi
Published: October 2023

The typical outcome measure in infertility treatment is the (cumulative) healthy live birth rate per patient or per cycle. This means that those who end the treatment trajectory with a healthy baby in their arms are considered to be successful and those who do not are considered to have failed. In this article, we argue that by adopting the healthy live birth standard as the outcome measure that defines a successful fertility treatment, it becomes an interpretative self‐fulfilling prophecy: those who achieve the goal consider themselves successful and those who do not consider themselves failures. This is regardless of the fact that having children is only one out of many ways to alleviate the suffering related to infertility and that stopping fertility treatment can also be a positive decision to move on to other goals, rather than a form of “giving up,” “dropping out,” “nonadherence,” or failure. We suggest that those seeking fertility treatment would be served better by an alternative outcome measure, which can be equally self‐fulfilling, according to which a successful treatment is one in which people leave the clinic released from the suffering that accompanied their status as infertile when they first entered the clinic. This new outcome measure still implies that walking out with a healthy baby is a positive outcome. What changes is that walking out without a baby can also be a positive outcome, rather than being marked exclusively as a failure.
Caregiver skills training for caregivers of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Reichow Brian , Kogan Cary , Barbui Corrado , Maggin Daniel , Salomone Erica , Smith Isaac C. , Yasamy M. Taghi , Servili Chiara
Published: October 2023

Aim

To systematically review the effectiveness of caregiver and parent skills training programs, including caregiver‐mediated interventions, for caregivers of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Method

We conducted a systematic review with a random‐effects meta‐analysis. We searched 11 electronic databases through July 2021 and used a snowball methodology to locate relevant articles of randomized controlled trials. Effect size estimates were pooled using Hedges' g from data extracted from study reports and through author requests using random‐effects meta‐analyses for three child outcome categories (child development, adaptive behavior, and problem behavior) and three caregiver outcome categories (parenting skills and knowledge, psychological well‐being, and interpersonal family relations).

Results

We located 44 910 records, from which 75 randomized controlled trials involving 4746 individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders and their caregivers were included. Random‐effects meta‐analyses showed improvements in child development (g = 0.30; 99% confidence interval [CI] = 0.07–0.53) and reduction in reported problem behaviors (g = 0.41; 99% CI = 0.24–0.59), but not a statistically significant improvement in adaptive behavior (g = 0.28; 99% CI = −0.42 to 0.98). Caregivers showed improvements in parenting skills and knowledge (g = 0.72; 99% CI = 0.53–0.90), psychological well‐being (g = 0.52; 99% CI = 0.34–0.71), and interpersonal family relations (g = 0.76; 99% CI = 0.32–1.20).

Interpretation

Caregiver skills training programs benefit both caregivers and children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Skills training programs improve child development and behavior, improve parenting skills, reduce caregiver mental health issues, and improve family functioning. Programs using culturally appropriate training material to improve the development, functioning, and participation of children within families and communities should be considered when caring for children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

What this paper adds

Caregiver skills training programs are effective interventions for both caregivers and children.

Children with neurodevelopmental disorders benefit from improvements in development and reduction of problematic behaviors.

Caregivers benefit from enhanced skills and psychological well‐being.

Improvements in interpersonal family relationships have also been documented.
Trends in Design and Government in Europe
Authors: Whicher Anna , Swiatek Piotr , Thurston Paul
Published: October 2023

Encouraged by the Bureau of European Design Associations, the European Union and its legislative arm have launched an Action Plan for Design‐Driven Innovation.

In Europe, design is serious business. Nearly half the members of the European Union include design in their national innovation policies, and the European Commission (the EU's executive body) is funding and carrying out an action plan for design.
The IbeA protein from adherent invasive Escherichia coli is a flavoprotein sharing structural homology with FAD‐dependent oxidoreductases
Authors: Paris Théo , Kiss Agneta , Signor Luca , Lutfalla Georges , Blaise Mickaël , Boeri Erba Elisabetta , Chaloin Laurent , Yatime Laure
Published: October 2023

Invasion of brain endothelium protein A (IbeA) is a virulence factor specific to pathogenic Escherichia coli. Originally identified in the K1 strain causing neonatal meningitis, it was more recently found in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) and adherent invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC). In these bacteria, IbeA facilitates host cell invasion and intracellular survival, in particular, under harsh conditions like oxidative stress. Furthermore, IbeA from AIEC contributes to intramacrophage survival and replication, thus enhancing the inflammatory response within the intestine. Therefore, this factor is a promising drug target for anti‐AIEC strategies in the context of Crohn's disease. Despite such an important role, the biological function of IbeA remains largely unknown. In particular, its exact nature and cellular localization, i.e., membrane‐bound invasin versus cytosolic factor, are still of debate. Here, we developed an efficient protocol for recombinant expression of IbeA under native conditions and demonstrated that IbeA from AIEC is a soluble, homodimeric flavoprotein. Using mass spectrometry and tryptophan fluorescence measurements, we further showed that IbeA preferentially binds flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), with an affinity in the one‐hundred nanomolar range and optimal binding under reducing conditions. 3D‐modeling with AlphaFold revealed that IbeA shares strong structural homology with FAD‐dependent oxidoreductases. Finally, we used ligand docking, mutational analyses, and molecular dynamics simulations to identify the FAD binding pocket within IbeA and characterize possible conformational changes occurring upon ligand binding. Overall, we suggest that the role of IbeA in the survival of AIEC within host cells, notably macrophages, is linked to modulation of redox processes.
Oyster reefs' control of carbonate chemistry—Implications for oyster reef restoration in estuaries subject to coastal ocean acidification
Authors: Tomasetti Stephen J. , Doall Michael H. , Hallinan Brendan D. , Kraemer Jeffrey R. , Gobler Christopher J.
Published: October 2023

Globally, oyster reef restoration is one of the most widely applied coastal restoration interventions. While reefs are focal points of processes tightly linked to the carbonate system such as shell formation and respiration, how these processes alter reef carbonate chemistry relative to the surrounding seawater is unclear. Moreover, coastal systems are increasingly impacted by coastal acidification, which may affect reef carbonate chemistry. Here, we characterized the growth of multiple constructed reefs as well as summer variations in pH and carbonate chemistry of reef‐influenced seawater (in the middle of reefs) and ambient seawater (at locations ~50 m outside of reefs) to determine how reef chemistry was altered by the reef community and, in turn, impacts resident oysters. High frequency monitoring across three subtidal constructed reefs revealed reductions of daily mean and minimum pH (by 0.05–0.07 and 0.07–0.12 units, respectively) in seawater overlying reefs relative to ambient seawater (p < .0001). The proportion of pH measurements below 7.5, a threshold shown to negatively impact post‐larval oysters, were 1.8×–5.2× higher in reef seawater relative to ambient seawater. Most reef seawater samples (83%) were reduced in total alkalinity relative to ambient seawater samples, suggesting community calcification was a key driver of modified carbonate chemistry. The net metabolic influence of the reef community resulted in reductions of CaCO3 saturation state in 78% of discrete samples, and juvenile oysters placed on reefs exhibited slower shell growth (p < .05) compared to oysters placed outside of reefs. While differences in survival were not detected, reef oysters may benefit from enhanced survival or recruitment at the cost of slowed growth rates. Nevertheless, subtidal restored reef communities modified seawater carbonate chemistry in ways that likely increased oyster vulnerability to acidification, suggesting that carbonate chemistry dynamics warrant consideration when determining site suitability for oyster restoration, particularly under continued climate change.
Attitudes towards vaccination among parents of children aged 0–5 years: A scale development study
Authors: Doğan Emel , Genç Fatma Zehra , Kaya Emine , Bilgili Naile , Kitiş Yeter , Kan Adnan
Published: October 2023

Background

Vaccination is the most important public health practice for preventing infectious diseases and maintaining health. However, some parents are hesitant to vaccinate their children.

Design

This study was designed as an instrument development study.

Methods

This study aimed to develop a scale to measure the attitudes of parents with children aged 0–5 years towards vaccination and to evaluate the validity and reliability of this scale. The data were collected from 691 participants between November 2020 and January 2021. During the development of the scale, experts provided feedback on its technical, content and language dimensions. The data were analysed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses for conceptual validity and Cronbach's α and item‐level test–retest analyses for reliability.

Results

The developed scale is a reliable and valid tool for measuring attitudes towards vaccination among parents (Cronbach's α = 0.97, variance explained by these 28‐item two factors = 62.47%).

Conclusion

This scale can be used as a guide in measuring the attitudes of parents towards vaccination and determining the direction of primary health‐care services based on the results of the measurement.
Challenges for China—Beyond Minority Listing of SOEs: CARE Conference | Hong Kong Polytechnic University | June 9, 2014
Authors: Webb David
Published: October 2023

Transitioning from outright communism and central planning, China has already plucked the low‐hanging fruits of marketization. Reforms have stalled well short of a free economy. In this transcript of a recent presentation, a widely recognized authority on Chinese corporate governance recommends necessary steps for an enlightened Chinese leadership if they are to avoid economic stagnation or a crisis that could undermine social stability. Even in a one‐party state without an electoral mandate, you can govern only with the consent of the people.
The effect of weight loss on recurrence of atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Akhtar Khawaja Hassan , Jafry Ali Haider , Beard Christopher , Nasir Yusra Minahil , Agarwal Siddharth , Khan Jehanzeb , Clifton Shari , Reece Jessica , Munir Muhammad Bilal , Deshmukh Abhishek , DeSimone Christopher V. , Jackman Warren M. , Stavrakis Stavros , Po Sunny , Sanders Prashanthan , Asad Zain Ul Abideen
Published: October 2023

Background

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) after catheter ablation (CA). However, the current data on weight loss interventions show inconsistent results in preventing the recurrence of AF after CA.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search in MEDLINE and EMBASE to identify studies that reported the outcome of recurrence of AF after CA in obese patients undergoing weight interventions. The subgroup analysis included: (1) Weight loss versus no weight loss, (2) >10% weight loss versus <10% weight loss, (3) <10% weight loss versus no weight loss, (4) Follow‐up <12 months, and (5) Follow‐up >12 months after CA. Mantel–Haenszel risk ratios with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a random effects model and for heterogeneity, I2 statistics were reported.

Results

A total of 10 studies (one randomized controlled trial and nine observational studies) comprising 1851 patients were included. The recurrence of AF was numerically reduced in the weight loss group (34.5%) versus no weight loss group (58.2%), but no statistically significant difference was observed (risk ratio [RR] = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.49–1.18, p = .22). However, there was a statistically significant reduction in recurrence of AF with weight loss versus no weight loss at follow‐up >12 months after CA (RR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.32–0.68, p < .0001). At follow‐up >12 months after CA, both >10% weight loss versus <10% weight loss (RR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.31–0.80, p = .004) and <10% weight loss versus no weight loss (RR = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.31–0.49, p < .00001) were associated with a statistically significant reduction in recurrent AF.

Conclusion

In patients with AF undergoing CA, weight loss is associated with reducing recurrent AF at > 12 months after ablation and these benefits are consistently seen with both >10% and <10% weight loss. The benefits of weight loss in preventing recurrent AF after CA should be examined in larger studies with extended follow‐up duration.
Striking a growth–defense balance: Stress regulators that function in maize development
Authors: Xie Shiyi , Luo Hongbing , Huang Wei , Jin Weiwei , Dong Zhaobin
Published: October 2023

Maize (Zea mays) cultivation is strongly affected by both abiotic and biotic stress, leading to reduced growth and productivity. It has recently become clear that regulators of plant stress responses, including the phytohormones abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene (ET), and jasmonic acid (JA), together with reactive oxygen species (ROS), shape plant growth and development. Beyond their well established functions in stress responses, these molecules play crucial roles in balancing growth and defense, which must be finely tuned to achieve high yields in crops while maintaining some level of defense. In this review, we provide an in‐depth analysis of recent research on the developmental functions of stress regulators, focusing specifically on maize. By unraveling the contributions of these regulators to maize development, we present new avenues for enhancing maize cultivation and growth while highlighting the potential risks associated with manipulating stress regulators to enhance grain yields in the face of environmental challenges.
Strain‐dependent role of copper in prion disease through binding to histidine residues in the N‐terminal domain of prion protein
Authors: Hara Hideyuki , Miyata Hironori , Chida Junji , Sakaguchi Suehiro
Published: October 2023

The cellular prion protein, PrPC, is a copper‐binding protein abundantly expressed in the brain, particularly by neurons, and its conformational conversion into the amyloidogenic isoform, PrPSc, plays a key pathogenic role in prion diseases. However, the role of copper binding to PrPC in prion diseases remains unclear. Here, we fed mice with a low‐copper or regular diet and intracerebrally inoculated them with two different mouse‐adapted RML scrapie and BSE prions. Mice with a low‐copper diet developed disease significantly but only slightly later than those with a regular diet after inoculation with BSE prions, but not with RML prions, suggesting that copper could play a minor role in BSE prion pathogenesis, but not in RML prion pathogenesis. We then generated two lines of transgenic mice expressing mouse PrP with copper‐binding histidine (His) residues in the N‐terminal domain replaced with alanine residues, termed TgPrP(5H > A)‐7342/Prnp0/0 and TgPrP(5H > A)‐7524/Prnp0/0 mice, and similarly inoculated RML and BSE prions into them. Due to 2‐fold higher expression of PrP(5H > A) than PrPC in wild‐type (WT) mice, TgPrP(5H > A)‐7524/Prnp0/0 mice were highly susceptible to these prions, compared to WT mice. However, TgPrP(5H > A)‐7342/Prnp0/0 mice, which express PrP(5H > A) 1.2‐fold as high as PrPC in WT mice, succumbed to disease slightly, but not significantly, later than WT mice after inoculation with RML prions, but significantly so after inoculation with BSE prions. Subsequent secondary inoculation experiments revealed that amino acid sequence differences between PrP(5H > A) and WT PrPSc created no prion transmission barrier to BSE prions. These results suggest that copper‐binding His residues in PrPC are dispensable for RML prion pathogenesis but have a minor effect on BSE prion pathogenesis. Taken together, our current results suggest that copper could have a minor effect on prion pathogenesis in a strain‐dependent manner through binding to His residues in the N‐terminal domain of PrPC.

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Melatonin prevents EAAC1 deletion‐induced retinal ganglion cell degeneration by inhibiting apoptosis and senescence
Authors: Hu Chenyang , Feng Yanlin , Huang Guangyi , Cui Kaixuan , Fan Matthew , Xiang Wu , Shi Yuxun , Ye Dan , Ye Huiwen , Bai Xue , Xu Fan , Xu Yue , Huang Jingjing
Published: October 2023

Normal tension glaucoma (NTG) is referred to as a progressive degenerative disorder of the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), resulting in nonreversible visual defects, despite intraocular pressure levels within the statistically normal range. Current therapeutic strategies for NTG yield limited benefits. Excitatory amino acid carrier 1 (EAAC1) knockout (EAAC1−/−) in mice has been shown to induce RGC degeneration without elevating intraocular pressure, mimicking pathological characteristics of NTG. In this study, we explored whether daily oral administration of melatonin could block RGCs loss and prevent retinal morphology and function defects associated with EAAC1 deletion. We also explored the molecular mechanisms underlying EAAC1 deletion‐induced RGC degeneration and the neuroprotective effects of melatonin. Our RNA sequencing and in vivo data indicated EAAC1 deletion caused elevated oxidative stress, activation of apoptosis and cellular senescence pathways, and neuroinflammation in RGCs. However, melatonin administration efficiently prevented these detrimental effects. Furthermore, we investigated the potential role of apoptosis‐ and senescence‐related redox‐sensitive factors in EAAC1 deletion‐induced RGCs degeneration and the neuroprotective effects of melatonin administration. We observed remarkable upregulation of p53, whereas NRF2 and Sirt1 expression were significantly decreased in EAAC1−/− mice, which were prevented by melatonin treatment, suggesting that melatonin exerted its neuroprotective effects possibly through modulating NRF2/p53/Sirt1 redox‐sensitive signaling pathways. Overall, our study provided a solid foundation for the application of melatonin in the management of NTG.
Stability and failure rate during 3 years of fixed retention: A follow‐up of an randomized clinical trial on adolescents with four different lingual retainers
Authors: Çokakoğlu Serpil , Adanur‐Atmaca Rabia , Çakır Merve , Öztürk Fırat
Published: October 2023

Objective

To evaluate stability outcomes and failure rates associated with four types of lingual retainers: (1) dead‐soft wire, (2) multistrand stainless steel (SS) wire, (3) CAD/CAM nitinol, and (4) connected bonding pads (CBPs) after 3 years of retention.

Methods

This study enrolled 96 patients (66 females, 30 males) with a median age of 19 years with four types of lingual retainers: (1) 0.016 × 0.022‐inch dead‐soft wire, (2) 0.0215‐inch five‐strand SS wire, (3) 0.014 × 0.014‐inch CAD/CAM nitinol wire, and (4) CBPs. The irregularity index, intercanine distances, and arch lengths were obtained and used to evaluate mandibular stability. Failure rates were also assessed during this study. Data were statistically analysed.

Results

Irregularity increased, whereas intercanine width and arch length decreased after 3 years of retention. The greatest irregularity was associated with the CBPs and the least with the CAD/CAM retainers. Changes in stability measurements were significantly higher in the dead‐soft wire and CBPs than those in the CAD/CAM nitinol and multistrand SS wires. Parallel to these changes, the frequency of failure yielded similar results with the same significance between the groups. The failure rate of CBPs, in contrast to the CAD/CAM nitinol and multistrand SS wires, was significantly higher in the right quadrant (P < .05).

Conclusion

After taking the 3‐year results into consideration, CAD/CAM nitinol and multistrand SS wires were found to be more successful than the others in maintaining mandibular stability. The most failures were observed with CBPs after 3 years of retention.
A NARRATIVE TURN: HUMAN AGENCY IN ROCK CARVINGS AT NÄMFORSEN, NORTHERN SWEDEN
Authors: Skoglund Peter , Ranta Michael , Persson Tomas , Rédei Anna Cabak , Gjerde Jan Magne
Published: October 2023

The idea to create pictorial narratives seems to have occurred long after humans learned to produce iconic images, that is, depictions based on visual similarity to external objects. In Scandinavia, e.g. in Gärde, Sweden or Stykket and Bøla, Norway, early Mesolithic images (e.g. rock carvings from before c.5000 BCE) often feature animals that are solitary or without suggestion of causal or narrative relations to other figures, although they sometimes are grouped by proximity or are superimposed on each other. Notable is also the almost complete absence of human figures. However, in subsequent Neolithic configurations (after c.5000 BCE), there are renderings of human agents involved in various forms of interaction with each other or with animals, often within distinguishable ‘scenes’ or compositions.

In this paper we outline the emergence of pictorial narratives in Scandinavian rock carvings. In particular, we focus on some of the first depictions of human agency as displayed in Nämforsen, Sweden (c.5000–1800 BCE). Further, we present an analysis of occurring human‐animal relationships, interpretable as early attempts to create narrativizing images.
Evaluation of serum anti‐Müllerian hormone concentrations following treatment with vitamin D in Holstein Friesian heifers
Authors: Koca Davut , Nak Yavuz , Sendag Sait , Nak Deniz , Avcılar Talha , Sahin Mustafa Eren , Arslan Talha , Ozyigit Musa Ozgur , Wehrend Axel
Published: October 2023

Anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels in the blood of dairy cattle are associated with the count of antral follicles (AFC), ovarian function. Numerous studies, particularly in human medicine, have shown that vitamin D3 (Vit D3) has a positive effect on AMH levels. To our knowledge, the effects of Vit D3 on serum AMH levels in heifers have not been investigated. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the concentrations of serum AMH in dairy heifers following Vit D3 treatment. The study included 20 healthy non‐pregnant Holstein Friesian heifers. These animals came to estrus at least once. All heifers received a single intramuscular dosage of 5 million IU Vit D3 (Cholecalciferol). Blood samples were collected from the coccygeal veins of all animals before and after Vit D3 injection (days 7, 14, and 28) for the measurement of AMH and 25(OH)D concentrations. In our analysis, we observed that after exogenous Vit D3 administration, circular 25(OH)D increased constantly (up to day 28 after Vit D3 injection) in all animals. On day 28, AMH concentrations saw a 10% increase in comparison with those measured the day before the Vit D3 injection. However, a comparison of AMH concentrations measured across days did not reveal statistically significant differences between Day 0, 7, 14, and 28 levels (p = .10). Furthermore, no statistical correlation was observed between the pairs (age‐AMH) and (weight‐AMH). Considering all times, no correlation was found between 25(OH)D and blood AMH levels. These findings demonstrated that exogenous Vit D3 did not affect serum AMH in Holstein Friesian heifers.
Social security pension and the effect on household saving
Authors: Halvorsen Elin , Jia Zhiyang , Kruse Herman , Vigtel Trond C.
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we examine the substitution between pension wealth and household saving. To identify the effect of reductions in social security pension wealth on household saving, we utilize variations in changes in social security pension wealth induced by Norway's 2011 reform across different cohorts, time periods, and sectors. Our study focuses on the saving behaviors of individuals between the ages of 57 and 61, and we find that the annual saving rate increased by around 1.4 percentage points after the reform. When considering the overall life‐cycle changes in household saving, this corresponds to a crowd‐out effect of about 50 percent of the total loss in pension wealth.
Adaptation of HLA testing to characterize the cynomolgus macaque MHC polymorphisms and alloantibody signatures
Authors: Agarwal Divyansh , Liu Chengyang , Bhoj Vijay , Kearns Jane , Bharani Tina , Choe Insuk , Vivek Kumar , O'Connor David H. , Wiseman Roger W. , Duquesnoy René J. , Naji Ali , Kamoun Malek
Published: October 2023

Nonhuman primates are the closest animal models to humans with respect to genetics and physiology. Consequently, a critical component of immunogenetics research relies on drawing inferences from the cynomolgus macaque to inform human trials. Despite the conserved organization of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) between cynomolgus macaques and humans, MHC genotyping of cynomolgus macaques is challenging due to high rates of copy number variants, duplications, and rearrangements, particularly at the MHC class I loci. Furthermore, the limited availability of commercial reagents specific to cynomolgus macaques that can be used to characterize anti‐MHC class I and class II antibody (Ab) specificities in cynomolgus macaques presents a major bottleneck in translational research. Here we successfully characterized cynomolgus macaque Mafa class I and class II serologic specificities in 86 animals originating from various geographical regions using the complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) assay with human HLA class I and class II monoclonal antibody (mAb) typing trays. Further, we successfully induced and characterized anti‐Mafa class I and class II alloantibody specificity using HLA single antigen bead assays. We also subsequently tracked the alloAb burden in the animals during treatment with anti‐B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) treatment. Altogether, these methods can be easily used in translational research to serotype MHC class I and class II specificity in macaques, characterize their alloAb specificity, and evaluate the efficacy of novel therapeutic modalities in depleting circulating alloAbs in these animals.
Are we able to pass the mission of statistics to students?
Authors: Hindls Richard , Hronová Stanislava
Published: October 2023

The article illustrates our long term experience in teaching statistics for non‐statisticians, especially for students of economics and humanities. The article is focused on some problems of the basic course that can weaken the interest in statistics or lead to false use of statistic methods.
Uncertainty Analysis of Friction and Wear-Rate of Cylinder Liner–Piston Ring Tribo Pair Under Boundary Lubrication Conditions
Authors: Baby Ajith Kurian , P. K. Rajendrakumar , Lawrence K. Deepak
Published: October 2023

Uncertainty analyses can improve the reliability and validity of the assessment of friction and wear-rate of tribosystems. This work analyses the various sources of uncertainty in the estimation of friction and wear-rate of liner-ring pairs using a linear reciprocating tribometer (LRT) as per the analytical method suggested by Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) and simulation approach using Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) method. The uncertainty analysis was conducted by performing sliding wear experiments using a hypereutectic Al–Si cylinder liner specimen against the chrome-coated piston ring as the counter specimen. The experiments were performed to mimic the engine’s condition under a boundary layer lubrication regime. The type A and type B uncertainty components of the tribosystem, such as uncertainty involved in the measurement of mass, linear dimensions of the specimen, radius of the specimen, normal force, stroke length, and frictional force, were evaluated to study their influence on the assessment of the friction and wear-rate. The probability density function of all these uncertainty sources was simulated using the MCS approach to compute the 95% coverage interval for friction and wear-rate directly. The variation in absolute value between the coverage interval limits computed by the GUM framework and predicted by the Monte Carlo method for wear-rate was 11.83%, and for friction coefficient, it was 12.005%.
Plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition of crystalline Ga2S3 thin films
Authors: Mathew Femi , Poonkottil Nithin , Solano Eduardo , Poelman Dirk , Hens Zeger , Detavernier Christophe , Dendooven Jolien
Published: October 2023

Gallium (III) sulfide is a frontrunner for many energy storage and optoelectronic applications, which demand a deposition technique that offers a high level of control over thickness, composition, and conformality. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a potential technique in this regard. However, the state-of-the-art ALD processes for depositing Ga2S3 often lead to films that are amorphous and nonstoichiometric, and contain significant contaminations. Herein, we present a new plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PE-ALD) process using the hexakis(dimethylamido)digallium precursor and H2S plasma coreactant to deposit high-quality Ga2S3 sulfide thin films and compare it to the thermal ALD process using the same reactants. While both cases exhibit typical ALD characteristics, substantial disparity is observed in the material properties. The PE-ALD process deposits crystalline Ga2S3 sulfide thin films at a temperature as low as 125 °C with a growth per cycle of 1.71 Å/cycle. Additionally, the PE-ALD process results in smooth and stoichiometric Ga2S3 films without any detectable carbon and oxygen contamination. Grazing incidence wide-angle x-ray scattering analysis indicates that the as-deposited Ga2S3 film crystallizes in a cubic structure with a preferred orientation along the [111] direction. The Ga2S3 film exhibits a transmittance of 70% and a bandgap of 3.2 eV with a direct transition.
The ligand-dependent suppression of TCR signaling by the immune checkpoint receptor LAG3 depends on the cytoplasmic RRFSALE motif
Authors: Aigner-Radakovics Katharina , De Sousa Linhares Annika , Salzer Benjamin , Lehner Manfred , Izadi Shiva , Castilho Alexandra , Pickl Winfried F. , Leitner Judith , Steinberger Peter
Published: October 2023

Lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG3) is an inhibitory immune checkpoint receptor that restrains autoimmune and antitumor responses, but its evolutionarily conserved cytoplasmic tail lacks classical inhibitory motifs. Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC class II) is an established LAG3 ligand, and fibrinogen-like protein 1 (FGL1), lymph node sinusoidal endothelial cell C-type lectin (LSECtin), and Galectin-3 have been proposed as alternative binding partners that play important roles in LAG3 function. Here, we used a fluorescent human T cell reporter system to study the function of LAG3. We found that LAG3 reduced the response to T cell receptor stimulation in the presence of MHC class II molecules to a lesser extent compared with the receptor programmed cell death protein 1. Analysis of deletion mutants demonstrated that the RRFSALE motif in the cytoplasmic tail of LAG3 was necessary and sufficient for LAG3-mediated inhibition. In this system, FGL1, but not LSECtin or Galectin-3, acted as a LAG3 ligand that weakly induced inhibition. LAG3-blocking antibodies attenuated LAG3-mediated inhibition in our reporter cells and enhanced reporter cell activation even in the absence of LAG3 ligands, indicating that they could potentially enhance T cell responses independently of their blocking effect.
DegU-mediated suppression of carbohydrate uptake in
Listeria monocytogenes
increases adaptation to oxidative stress
Authors: Chen Mianmian , Ren Gengjia , Zhang Xian , Yang Lifeng , Ding Qiang , Sun Jing , Xia Jing , Xu Jiali , Jiang Lingli , Fang Weihuan , Cheng Changyong , Song Houhui
Published: October 2023

The foodborne bacterial pathogen
Listeria monocytogenes
exhibits remarkable survival capabilities under challenging conditions, severely threatening food safety and human health. The orphan regulator DegU is a pleiotropic regulator required for bacterial environmental adaptation. However, the specific mechanism of how DegU participates in oxidative stress tolerance remains unknown in
L. monocytogenes
. In this study, we demonstrate that DegU suppresses carbohydrate uptake under stress conditions by altering global transcriptional profiles, particularly by modulating the transcription of the phosphoenolpyruvate-carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS)-related genes, such as
ptsH
,
ptsI
, and
hprK
. Specifically, in the absence of
degU
, the transcripts of
ptsI
are significantly upregulated and those of
hprK
are significantly downregulated in response to copper ion-induced stress. Overexpression of
ptsI
significantly increases bacterial growth
in vitro
, while overexpression of
hprK
leads to a decrease in growth. We further demonstrate that DegU directly senses oxidative stress, downregulates
ptsI
transcription, and upregulates
hprK
transcription. Additionally, through an electrophoretic mobility shift assay, we demonstrate that DegU directly regulates the transcription of
ptsI
and
hprK
by binding to specific regions within their respective promoter sequences. Notably, the putative pivotal DegU binding sequence for
ptsI
is located from 38 to 68 base pairs upstream of the
ptsH
transcription start site (TSS), whereas for
hprK
, it is mapped from 36 to 124 base pairs upstream of the
hprK
TSS. In summary, we elucidate that DegU plays a significant role in suppressing carbohydrate uptake in response to oxidative stress through the direct regulation of
ptsI
and
hprK
.

Importance

Understanding the adaptive mechanisms employed by
Listeria monocytogenes
in harsh environments is of great significance. This study focuses on investigating the role of DegU in response to oxidative stress by examining global transcriptional profiles. The results highlight the noteworthy involvement of DegU in this stress response. Specifically, DegU acts as a direct sensor of oxidative stress, leading to the modulation of gene transcription. It downregulates
ptsI
transcription while it upregulates
hprK
transcription through direct binding to their promoters. Consequently, these regulatory actions impede bacterial growth, providing a defense mechanism against stress-induced damage. These findings gained from this study may have broader implications, serving as a reference for studying adaptive mechanisms in other pathogenic bacteria and aiding in the development of targeted strategies to control
L. monocytogenes
and ensure food safety.
Bacterial bioconvection confers context-dependent growth benefits and is robust under varying metabolic and genetic conditions
Authors: Shoup Daniel , Ursell Tristan
Published: October 2023

Microbes often respond to environmental cues by adopting collective behaviors—like biofilms or swarming—that benefit the population. During “bioconvection,” microbes gather in dense groups and plume downward through fluid environments, driving flow and mixing on the scale of millions of cells. Though bioconvection was observed a century ago, the effects of differing physical and chemical inputs and its potential selective advantages for different species of microbes remain largely unexplored. In
Bacillus subtilis
, vertical oxygen gradients that originate from air-liquid interfaces create cell-density inversions that drive bioconvection. Here, we develop
Escherichia coli
as a complementary model for the study of bioconvection. In the context of a still fluid, we found that motile and chemotactic genotypes of both
E. coli
and
B. subtilis
bioconvect and show increased growth compared to immotile or non-chemotactic genotypes, whereas in a well-mixed fluid, there is no growth advantage to motility or chemotaxis. We found that fluid depth, cell concentration, and carbon availability affect the emergence and timing of bioconvective patterns. Also, whereas
B. subtilis
requires oxygen gradients to bioconvect,
E. coli
deficient in aerotaxis (Δ
aer
) or energy-taxis (Δ
tsr
) still bioconvects, as do cultures that lack an air-liquid interface. Thus, in two distantly related microbes, bioconvection may confer context-dependent growth benefits, and
E. coli
bioconvection is robustly elicited by multiple types of chemotaxis. These results greatly expand the set of physical and metabolic conditions in which this striking collective behavior can be expected and demonstrate its potential to be a generic force for behavioral selection across ecological contexts.

IMPORTANCE

Individual microorganisms frequently move in response to gradients in their fluid environment, with corresponding metabolic benefits. At a population level, such movements can create density variations in a fluid that couple to gravity and drive large-scale convection and mixing called bioconvection. In this work, we provide evidence that this collective behavior confers a selective benefit on two distantly related species of bacteria. We develop new methods for quantifying this behavior and show that bioconvection in
Escherichia coli
is surprisingly robust to changes in cell concentration, fluid depth, interface conditions, metabolic sensing, and carbon availability. These results greatly expand the set of conditions known to elicit this collective behavior and indicate its potential to be a selective pressure across ecological contexts.
PSGL-1 is an evolutionarily conserved antiviral restriction factor
Authors: Jiang Chao , Mei Miao , Liu Ying , Hou Min , Jiao Jun , Tan Ya , Tan Xu
Published: October 2023

The arms race between viruses and their hosts shaped the evolutionary history and the genome composition of both parties. Restriction factors are the first-line antiviral effectors encoded by the host genomes and are often conserved through evolution to protect the hosts from morbidity, mortality, and even extinction associated with viral infections. There are a number of restriction factors identified so far to counteract HIV infection of the humans. PSGL-1 is a recently characterized human restriction factor that acts both early and late in the viral life cycle, the latter of which is antagonized by the HIV-1 Vpu protein. Here we show
in vitro
and in a knockout mouse model that PSGL-1’s antiviral function is conserved in mice for combating the murine leukemia virus (MLV). In counter-strike, the glycogag or glycoMA proteins encoded by MLV can interact with mouse PSGL-1, which leads to Cul3-KLHL20 E3 ligase-dependent ubiquitination and degradation of PSGL-1. The amino acids involved in this interaction demonstrate the evidence of positive selection, manifesting the evolution pressure from the antagonism between PSGL-1 and glycogag/glycoMA. Our data support that PSGL-1 is an evolutionarily conserved antiviral restriction factor.

Importance

Studying the co-evolution between viruses and humans is important for understanding why we are what we are now as well as for developing future antiviral drugs. Here we pinned down an evolutionary arms race between retroviruses and mammalian hosts at the molecular level by identifying the antagonism between a host antiviral restriction factor PSGL-1 and viral accessory proteins. We show that this antagonism is conserved from mouse to human and from mouse retrovirus to HIV. Further studying this antagonism might provide opportunities for developing new antiviral therapies.
Rapid evolution of pre-zygotic reproductive barriers in allopatric populations
Authors: Mahilkar Anjali , Nagendra Prachitha , Venkataraman Pavithra , Deshmukh Saniya , Saini Supreet
Published: October 2023

Adaptive divergence leading to speciation is the major evolutionary process generating diversity in life forms. The most commonly observed form of speciation is allopatric speciation which requires that gene flow be prevented between populations by physical or temporal barriers, as they adapt to their respective environments. Eventually, these adaptive responses lead to accumulation of mutations in different lines. The increased genetic distance between the lines is known to lead to the populations becoming reproductively isolated. A widely accepted theory is that speciation simply occurs as a by-product of adaptive response of the populations. Several examples of allopatric speciation from ecology and laboratory exist. However, we know little about the nature (pre- or post-zygotic) of barriers that arise first in this process. Understanding the first barriers that arise between populations is key to understanding how the process of speciation initiates. In recent years, fungi have been used as model organisms to answer questions related to the evolution of reproductive isolation. Here, we show rapid evolution of pre-zygotic barriers between allopatric yeast populations. We further demonstrate that these pre-zygotic barriers arise due to altered mating kinetics of the evolved population. Moreover, our non-adaptive evolution experiments with yeast under limited selection pressure also show rapid emergence of reproductive isolation. Overall, our results show that evolution of pre-zygotic reproductive barriers can occur as a result of natural selection or drift.

IMPORTANCE

A population diversifies into two or more species—such a process is known as speciation. In sexually reproducing microorganisms, which barriers arise first—pre-mating or post-mating? In this work, we quantify the relative strengths of these barriers and demonstrate that pre-mating barriers arise first in allopatrically evolving populations of yeast,
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
. These defects arise because of the altered kinetics of mating of the participating groups. Thus, our work provides an understanding of how adaptive changes can lead to diversification among microbial populations.