bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pneumonia induced rise in glucagon promotes endothelial damage and vascular thrombogenicity
Authors: Rad Pegah Ramezani , Nageswaran Vanasa , Peters Lisa , Reinshagen Leander , Roessler Johann , Simmons Szandor , Asmus Erik , Wittig Corey , Brack Markus C. , Nouailles Geraldine , van der Vorst Emiel P. C. , Maas Sanne L. , Sonnenschein Kristina , Verhaar Barbara , Szulcek Robert , Witzenrath Martin , Landmesser Ulf , Kuebler Wolfgang M. , Haghikia Arash
Published: May 2024

Background

Recent studies have demonstrated a link between respiratory infections and increased short-term risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the increased cardiovascular risk after respiratory infections are only poorly understood. Here, we aimed to decipher pathophysiological circuits of pneumonia associated CVD in experimental models of bacterial pneumonia and vascular injury.

Methods

C57BL/6J mice were exposed to intranasal inoculation with eitherStreptococcus pneumoniae(S. pneumoniae) serotype 4 (pneumonia group) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (control group). 24 hourspost infectionem(p.i.) mice were treated with antibiotics until the end of the study. On day 7 p.i. carotid artery injury (CI) was induced by electric stimulation and vascular repair was analyzed 3 days after injury. Plasma proteomic analyses were performed by Olink Bioscience. Primary human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were used to study alterations of the endothelial functional properties, bioenergetic state and thrombogenic potentialin vitro. Intravital fluorescence microscopy equipped with video recording was applied to measure thrombus formation in real-time.

Results

Bacterial pneumonia impaired repair capacity of the endothelium after vascular injury. Proteomic analyses revealed significantly higher plasma levels of glucagon in mice after recovery from pneumonia relative to controls, which was further confirmed by ELISA detecting glucagon. Mechanistically, we found that glucagon impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics and migratory potential in HAECs and induced an inflammatory response. Moreover, glucagon fostered vascular thrombogenicity as demonstrated by increased thrombocyte adhesion to HAECs and accelerated carotid artery thrombus formationin vivo. Acute application of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP1-R) agonist liraglutide to lower blood glucagon levels, restored vascular repair potential and attenuated vascular thrombogenicity in mice with pneumonia.

Conclusions

Our findings reveal a novel mechanism that associates elevated circulatory glucagon levels to dysfunctional endothelium and increased vascular thrombogenicity, suggesting glucagon signaling as a potential therapeutic target to prevent pneumonia-induced cardiovascular events.

Graphical Abstract
HIF2α inhibits glutaminase clustering in mitochondria to sustain growth of clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Zhao Wencao , Kim Boyoung , Coffey Nathan J , Bowers Schuyler , Jiang Yanqing , Bowman Caitlyn E. , Noji Michael , Jang Cholsoon , Simon M. Celeste , Arany Zoltan , Kim Boa
Published: May 2024

Clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCC) are largely driven by HIF2α and are avid consumers of glutamine. However, inhibitors of glutaminase1 (GLS1), the first step in glutaminolysis, have not shown benefit in phase III trials, and HIF2α inhibition, recently FDA-approved for treatment of ccRCC, shows great but incomplete benefits, underscoring the need to better understand the roles of glutamine and HIF2α in ccRCC. Here, we report that glutamine deprivation rapidly redistributes GLS1 into isolated clusters within mitochondria across diverse cell types, but not in ccRCC. GLS1 clustering is rapid (1-3 hours) and reversible, is specifically driven by reduced intracellular glutamate, and is mediated by mitochondrial fission. Clustered GLS1 markedly enhances glutaminase activity and promotes cell death under glutamine-deprived conditions. HIF2α prevents GLS1 clustering, independently of its transcriptional activity, thereby protecting ccRCC cells from cell death induced by glutamine deprivation. Reversing this protection, by genetic expression of GLS1 mutants that constitutively cluster, enhances ccRCC cell death in culture and suppresses ccRCC growthin vivo. These findings provide multiple insights into cellular glutamine handling, including a novel metabolic pathway by which HIF2α promotes ccRCC, and reveals a potential therapeutic avenue to synergize with HIF2α inhibition in the treatment of ccRCC.
Playback-aided surveys and acoustic monitoring in the detection of the Endangered Forest OwletAthene blewitti
Authors: Rajan Amrutha , Neema Aditi , Trivedi Pranav G , Worah Sejal , MR Meera , Mukherjee Shomita , Robin V.V.
Published: May 2024

Long-term monitoring of populations of rare, endangered species is often challenging. Both the availability of baseline historical datasets and appropriate methods for long-term monitoring are often limited. Anthropogenic climate change and landscape change can impact species distributions significantly, sometimes resulting in a distributional shift of species and, in some cases, driving species to extinction. The Forest Owlet is an endangered bird that was considered extinct but was rediscovered after 113 years in 1997. Since its rediscovery, followed by the description of its calls, there have been regular sightings of the species from newer locations, leading to its down-listing in the IUCN Red List from Critically Endangered to Endangered. One area of interest is the Dang region in Gujarat, India, where there have been no historical records despite previous ornithological studies, but there are several recent records. Through field surveys, we repurpose data from the last three decades (1990, 2000, and 2019) to explore if this bird currently occurs in previous study sites where it was not recorded. The period has seen the rise of acoustic data, and we assess if new survey techniques using playback of its call could increase its detection. Additionally, we examined any changes in landscape and climate in this region across the same period. We also developed an acoustic detection framework for detecting the Forest Owlet from co-occurring sympatric owlets using Automated Recording Units (ARU) and sound-analysis software. We assessed appropriate detection distances from vocalizing birds on the field to design a spacing grid for future surveys of the species. We could locate the Forest Owlet from the resurveys at locations where previous studies three decades ago had not. We also find a significant change in the landscape - loss of native forests and increased agriculture, along with a significant change in climatic variables - mean maximum temperature and mean rainfall. Although the detection of the Forest Owlet is higher when accompanied by playback of its call, there is considerable variation across the landscape. Our acoustic detector comparison led us to a detection strategy for long-term monitoring – different approaches for songs and calls, and an effective detection distance of 300m in its habitat. Although the species responds to climate and habitat change, our study cannot determine the cause of the increased reports of this endangered species. All possibilities remain; the increase in the recent records of the species could be from variable detection or changes in climate and land use. However, we do find increased detections with newer survey techniques with bioacoustics, and we recommend they be used with care for future baseline studies that are urgently required.
Sex-specific regulation of the cardiac transcriptome by the protein phosphatase 2A regulatory subunit B55α
Authors: Sergienko Nicola M , Trewin Adam J , Kiriazis Helen , Raaijmakers Antonia JA , Donner Daniel G , Garside Victoria C , Smith Kelly A , Bell James R , Mellor Kimberley M , Delbridge Lea MD , McMullen Julie R , Weeks Kate L
Published: May 2024

1.

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) regulatory subunit B55α has been implicated in the transcriptional regulation of cardiac growth and fibrosis by suppressing HDAC5/MEF2 signalling in cardiomyocytes. We created and characterised two mouse models with global or cardiomyocyte-specific disruption of the gene encoding B55α (Ppp2r2a) to conduct the first detailed exploration of B55α in the heart. Global homozygous B55α knockout mice diedin utero, while heterozygous mice had thinner left ventricular walls at 12 months, an effect more pronounced in males. At 10-12 weeks of age, cardiomyocyte-specific B55α knockout mice displayed normal cardiac morphology with increased left ventricular collagen deposition, identifying B55α as a negative regulator of cardiac fibrosis. Gene expression analyses revealed extensive remodelling of the cardiac transcriptome in male but not female mice, identifying a sexually dimorphic role for B55α in cardiac transcriptional regulation. These findings provide a basis for future work investigating B55α in cardiac stress settings.
hESCs-derived organoids achieve liver zonation by LSEC modulation
Authors: Zhang Yuying , Huang Chenyan , Sun Lei , Zhou Lvy , Liang Kaini , Niu Yudi , Wu Bingjie , Du Yanan
Published: May 2024

Liver zonation, essential for diverse physiological functions, is lacking in existing organoid models, hindering their ability to recapitulate liver development and pathogenesis. Addressing this gap, we explored the feasibility of achieving zonated organoid by co-culturing human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) derived hepatocytes with hESCs derived liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) exhibiting characteristics of either the liver lobule's pericentral (PC) or periportal (PP) regions. Introducing zonated LSECs with variable WNT2 signaling subtly regulate hepatocyte zonation, resulting in noticeable metabolic function changes. Considering the lipid metabolism variations in PC and PP organoids, we constructed biomimetic zonated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) organoids and revealed that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) target LSECs, but not hepatocytes, indicating potential therapeutic mechanisms of GLP-1RA in NAFLD alleviation. This study highlights the crucial role of non-parenchymal cells in organoids for recapitulating niche heterogeneity, offering further insights for drug discovery and in vitro modeling of organ heterogeneity.
An fMRI study of phrase structure and subject island violations
Authors: Matchin William , Almeida Diogo , Hickok Gregory , Sprouse Jon
Published: May 2024

In principle, functional neuroimaging provides uniquely informative data in addressing linguistic questions, because it can indicate distinct processes that are not apparent from behavioral data alone. This could involve adjudicating the source of unacceptability via the different patterns of elicited brain responses to different ungrammatical sentence types. However, it is difficult to interpret brain activations to syntactic violations. Such responses could reflect processes that have nothing intrinsically related to linguistic representations, such as domain-general executive function abilities. In order to facilitate the potential use of functional neuroimaging methods to identify the source of different syntactic violations, we conducted an fMRI experiment to identify the brain activation maps associated with two distinct syntactic violation types: phrase structure (created by inverting the order of two adjacent words within a sentence) and subject islands (created by extracting a wh-phrase out of an embedded subject). The comparison of these violations to control sentences surprisingly showed no indication of a generalized violation response, with almost completely divergent activation patterns. Phrase structure violations seemingly activated regions previously implicated in verbal working memory and structural complexity in sentence processing, whereas the subject islands appeared to activate regions previously implicated in conceptual-semantic processing, broadly defined. We review our findings in the context of previous research on syntactic and semantic violations using event- related potentials. Although our results suggest potentially distinct underlying mechanisms underlying phrase structure and subject island violations, our results are tentative and suggest important methodological considerations for future research in this area.
Divineruncovers hundreds of novel human (and other) exons though comparative analysis of proteins
Authors: Nord Alexander J , Wheeler Travis J
Published: May 2024

Background

Eukaryotic genes are often composed of multiple exons that are stitched together bysplicingout the intervening introns. These exons may be conditionally joined in different combinations to produce a collection of related, but distinct, mRNA transcripts. For protein-coding genes, these products ofalternative splicinglead to production of related protein variants (isoforms) of a gene. Complete labeling of the protein-coding content of a eukaryotic genome requires discovery of mRNA encoding all isoforms, but it is impractical to enumerate all possible combinations of tissue, developmental stage, and environmental context; as a result, many true exons go unlabeled in genome annotations.

Results

One way to address the combinatoric challenge of finding all isoforms in a single organismAis to leverage sequencing efforts for other organisms – each time a new organism is sequenced, it may be under a new combination of conditions, so that a previously unobserved isoform may be sequenced. We presentDiviner, a software tool that identifies previously undocumented exons in organisms by comparing isoforms across species. We demonstrateDiviner’s utility by locating hundreds of novel exons in the genomes of human, mouse, and rat, as well as in the ferret genome. Further, we provide analyses supporting the notion that most of the new exons reported byDivinerare likely to be part of a true (but unobserved) isoform of the containing species.
The role of VISTA engagement in limiting neutrophil-mediated inflammation
Authors: Nowak Elizabeth C. , Li Jiannan , ElTanbouly Mohamed A. , Davis Wilson L. , Sergent Petra , Mendyka Lindsay K. , Lines J. Louise , Smits Nicole C. , Mabaera Rodwell , Rajanna Shibani , Carriere Catherine , Koehn Brent , Blazar Bruce R. , Burns Christopher M. , Noelle Randolph J. , Skopelja-Gardner Sladjana
Published: May 2024

A growing body of evidence suggests that VISTA, an immune checkpoint inhibitory receptor, plays a central role in the regulation of innate immunity in the settings of inflammatory diseases and cancer. Neutrophils are among the cells that have the highest membrane density of surface VISTA. Targeting VISTA on neutrophils with an agonist antibody resulted in a striking reduction in their LPS-induced peripheral accumulation. Fc receptor engagement was required for anti-VISTA antibody to mediate its effects on neutrophils. Concomitant with reduced peripheral neutrophil cell numbers, anti-VISTA antibody treatment increased neutrophil cell death in the liver. In a murine model of neutrophil-mediated arthritis, agonist anti-VISTA antibody treatment ameliorated disease severity, which was associated with reduced myeloperoxidase activity in the joints. These studies add to a growing spectrum of negative regulatory functions that VISTA performs in controlling inflammation through the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system that has implications for translation into the clinic.
CD74+fibroblasts proliferate upon mechanical stretching to promote angiogenesis in keloid
Authors: Zhang Jingheng , Li Shuyao , Kuang Chunmei , Shen Yunfan , Yu Haibin , Chen Fang , Tang Ruijun , Mao Song , Lv Lu , Qi Min , Zhang Jianglin , Yuan Kai
Published: May 2024

The healing of human skin wounds is susceptible to perturbation caused by excessive mechanical stretching, resulting in enlarged scars, hypertrophic scars, or even keloids in predisposed individuals. Keloids are fibro-proliferative scar tissues that extend beyond the initial wound boundary, consisting of the actively progressing leading edge and the quiescent center. The stretch-associated outgrowth and enhanced angiogenesis are two features of the leading edge of keloids. However, which cell population is responsible for transducing the mechanical stimulation to the pathological alterations of keloid tissues remains unclear. Herein, through joint analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing of keloid specimens and RNA sequencing of stretched keloid fibroblasts, we identified CD74+fibroblasts, a previously unappreciated subset of fibroblasts, as a key player in stretch-induced keloid progression. Examination of macrophage markers suggested a possible myeloid origin of the CD74+fibroblasts. Immunostaining of keloid cryosections depicted a predominant distribution of CD74+fibroblasts in the leading edge, interacting with vasculature. CD74+fibroblasts possessed pro-angiogenic and migratory capacities, as revealed byin vitrotranswell and tube formation assays on purified CD74+fibroblasts. Additionally, these cells underwent proliferation upon stretching, through PIEZO1-mediated calcium influx and the downstream ERK and AKT signaling. Collectively, our findings propose a model wherein CD74+fibroblasts serve as pivotal drivers of stretch-induced keloid progression, fueled by their proliferative, pro-angiogenic, and migratory capacities. Targeting the attributes of CD74+fibroblasts hold promise as a therapeutic strategy for keloid management.

Significance statement

Keloids are fibro-proliferative scars resulting from aberrant skin wound healing processes, consisting of the actively progressing leading edge and the quiescent center. Mechanical stretching and neo-vascularization have both been implicated in keloid progression, yet little is known about whether they are interconnected. Herein, we demonstrated that CD74+fibroblasts, a previously undiscovered fibroblast subset, possessed heightened pro-angiogenic and migratory capacities, and underwent proliferation upon mechanical stretching, thereby facilitating the progression of the leading edge of keloids. Examination of macrophage markers suggested a possible myeloid origin of CD74+fibroblasts. Our findings uncover the connection between stretch-induced keloid progression and neo-vascularization through CD74+fibroblasts and provide valuable insights into potential therapeutic interventions.
Effects of renormalon scheme and perturbative scale choices on determinations of the strong coupling from
e+e−
event shapes
Authors: Bell Guido , Lee Christopher , Makris Yiannis , Talbert Jim , Yan Bin
Published: May 2024

We study the role of renormalon cancellation schemes and perturbative scale choices in extractions of the strong coupling constant αs(mZ) and the leading nonperturbative shift parameter Ω1 from resummed predictions of the e+e− event shape thrust. We calculate the thrust distribution to NL3L′ resummed accuracy in soft-collinear effective theory (SCET) matched to the fixed-order O(αs2) prediction, and perform a new high-statistics computation of the O(αs3) matching in , although we do not include the latter in our final αs fits due to some observed systematics that require further investigation. We are primarily interested in testing the phenomenological impact sourced from varying amongst three renormalon cancellation schemes and two sets of perturbative scale profile choices. We then perform a global fit to available data spanning center-of-mass energies between 35–207 GeV in each scenario. Relevant subsets of our results are consistent with prior SCET-based extractions of αs(mZ), but we are also led to a number of novel observations. Notably, we find that the combined effect of altering the renormalon cancellation scheme and profile parameters can lead to few-percent-level impacts on the extracted values in the αs−Ω1 plane, indicating a potentially important systematic theory uncertainty that should be accounted for. We also observe that fits performed over windows dominated by dijet events are typically of a higher quality than those that extend into the far tails of the distributions, possibly motivating future fits focused more heavily in this region. Finally, we discuss how different estimates of the three-loop soft matching coefficient cS˜3 can also lead to measurable changes in the fitted {αs,Ω1} values.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Relativistic three-body scattering and the
D0D*+−D+D*0
system
Authors: Zhang Xu
Published: May 2024

Scattering amplitudes involving three-particle scattering processes are investigated within the isobar approximation which respects constraints from two- and three-body unitarity. The particular system considered is the D0D*+−D+D*0, where the D*+ (D*0) enters as a p-wave D+π0 or D0π+ (D0π0 or D+π−) resonance. The interaction potentials in the coupled-channel D0D*+−D+D*0 system contain the σ, ρ, ω, and π-exchange. The analytic continuation of the amplitudes across the three-body unitary cuts is investigated to search for poles on the unphysical Riemann sheets. Associated with an unstable particle D*+ (D*0) is a complex two-body unitarity cut, through which one can further analytically continue into another unphysical Riemann sheet. Dynamical singularities emerged from the π-exchange potential are stressed. The pole generated from the D0D*+−D+D*0 interaction and its line shape in D0D0π+ break-up production are in agreement with double-charmed tetraquark Tcc+ observed by the LHCb Collaboration.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Matter relative to quantum hypersurfaces
Authors: Höhn Philipp A. , Russo Andrea , Smith Alexander R. H.
Published: May 2024

We explore the canonical description of a scalar field in 1+1 dimensional Minkowski space as a parametrized field theory on an extended phase space that includes additional embedding fields that characterize spacetime hypersurfaces X relative to which the scalar field is described. This theory is quantized via the Dirac prescription and physical states of the theory are used to define conditional wave functionals |ψϕ[X]⟩ interpreted as the state of the field relative to the hypersurface X, thereby extending the Page-Wootters formalism to quantum field theory. It is shown that this conditional wave functional satisfies the Tomonaga-Schwinger equation, thus demonstrating the formal equivalence between this extended Page-Wootters formalism and standard quantum field theory. We also construct relational Dirac observables and define a quantum deparametrization of the physical Hilbert space leading to a relational Heisenberg picture, which are both shown to be unitarily equivalent to the Page-Wootters formalism. Moreover, by treating hypersurfaces as quantum reference frames, we extend recently developed quantum frame transformations to changes between classical and nonclassical hypersurfaces. This allows us to exhibit the transformation properties of a quantum field under a larger class of transformations, which leads to a frame-dependent particle creation effect.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Exploring the impact of fluctuation-induced criticality on non-Hermitian skin effect and quantum sensors
Authors: Ehrhardt Clement , Larson Jonas
Published: May 2024

In this paper we present a concrete example comparing the results predicted by non-Hermitian quantum mechanics with those of a more comprehensive description that considers environment-induced fluctuations. Our results highlight inaccuracies in the non-Hermitian model. Specifically, we investigate the non-Hermitian skin effect and sensor in the Hatano-Nelson model, contrasting it with a more precise Lindblad description. Our analysis reveals that these phenomena can undergo breakdown when environmental fluctuations come to the forefront, resulting in a nonequilibrium phase transition from a localized skin phase to a delocalized phase. Beyond this specific case study, we engage in a broader discussion regarding the interpretations and implications of non-Hermitian quantum mechanics. This examination serves to broaden our understanding of these phenomena and their potential consequences.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Uncovering the multifractality of Lagrangian pair dispersion in shock-dominated turbulence
Authors: De Sadhitro , Mitra Dhrubaditya , Pandit Rahul
Published: May 2024

Lagrangian pair dispersion provides insights into mixing in turbulent flows. By direct numerical simulations (DNSs) we show that the statistics of pair dispersion in the randomly forced two-dimensional Burgers equation, which is a typical model of shock-dominated turbulence, is very different from its incompressible counterpart because Lagrangian particles get trapped in shocks. We develop a heuristic theoretical framework that accounts for this—a generalization of the multifractal model—whose prediction of the scaling of Lagrangian exit times agrees well with our DNS.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
A new method for estimating liquidity and stock returns in Indian stock market
Authors: Sethy Tapas Kumar , Tripathy Naliniprava
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore the impact of systematic liquidity risk on the averaged cross-sectional equity return of the Indian equity market. It also examines the effects of illiquidity and decomposed illiquidity on the conditional volatility of the equity market.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study employs the Liquidity Adjusted Capital Asset Pricing Model (LCAPM) for pricing systematic liquidity risk using the Fama & MacBeth cross-sectional regression model in the Indian stock market from January 1, 2012, to March 31, 2021. Further, the study employed an exponential generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedastic (1,1) model to observe the impact of decomposed illiquidity on the equity market’s conditional volatility. The study also uses the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) model to illuminate the return-volatility-liquidity relationship.

Findings

The study’s findings indicate that the commonality between individual security liquidity and aggregate liquidity is positive, and the covariance of individual security liquidity and the market return negatively affects the expected return. The study’s outcome specifies that illiquidity time series analysis exhibits the asymmetric effect of directional change in return on illiquidity. Further, the study indicates a significant impact of illiquidity and decomposed illiquidity on conditional volatility. This suggests an asymmetric effect of illiquidity shocks on conditional volatility in the Indian stock market.

Originality/value

This study is one of the few studies that used the World Uncertainty Index (WUI) to measure liquidity and market risks as specified in the LCAPM. Further, the findings of the reverse impact of illiquidity and decomposed higher and lower illiquidity on conditional volatility confirm the presence of price informativeness and its immediate effects on illiquidity in the Indian stock market. The study strengthens earlier studies and offers new insights into stock market liquidity to clarify the association between liquidity and stock return for effective policy and strategy formulation that can benefit investors.
The influence of brand awareness on brand equity: an investigation among dentists and their prescription behavior
Authors: Sheikh Alireza , Asemani Newsha
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the influence of brand awareness on brand equity with the mediating role of brand association and perceived quality.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is applied in terms of the objective and descriptive survey in terms of methodology because its objective is to describe the studied conditions or phenomena and also the relationship between research variables that have been conducted in the field method.

Findings

The results explained that 53% of respondents are female and 47% of respondents are male. Most respondents are between 30 and 40 years old, and the youngest respondents are less than 30 years old. Most respondents were specialists, and the 134 respondents were subspecialists. The results explained that the significance level of the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test for research variables is less than 0.05 and has an abnormal distribution. The abnormality of the data in this study directed the authors to use PLS software to analyze the data.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first time that research is prepared to study the impact of these marketing parameters on dentists’ prescription behavior.
Predicting friction coefficient of textured 45# steel based on machine learning and analytical calculation
Authors: Li Zhenshun , Li Jiaqi , An Ben , Li Rui
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to find the best method to predict the friction coefficient of textured 45# steel by comparing different machine learning algorithms and analytical calculations.

Design/methodology/approach

Five machine learning algorithms, including K-nearest neighbor, random forest, support vector machine (SVM), gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) and artificial neural network (ANN), are applied to predict friction coefficient of textured 45# steel surface under oil lubrication. The superiority of machine learning is verified by comparing it with analytical calculations and experimental results.

Findings

The results show that machine learning methods can accurately predict friction coefficient between interfaces compared to analytical calculations, in which SVM, GBDT and ANN methods show close prediction performance. When texture and working parameters both change, sliding speed plays the most important role, indicating that working parameters have more significant influence on friction coefficient than texture parameters.

Originality/value

This study can reduce the experimental cost and time of textured 45# steel, and provide a reference for the widespread application of machine learning in the friction field in the future.
Modeling the factors affecting workplace well-being at construction sites: a cross-regional multigroup analysis
Authors: Radzi Afiqah R. , K. S. Anandh , Alias Ahmad Rizal , Algahtany Mohammed , Rahman Rahimi A.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

A good workplace well-being (WWB) has many positive impacts on individuals and organizations. Prior studies indicate that physical, psychological and social well-being factors positively influence WWB. Nevertheless, it is essential to acknowledge that these factors may exhibit variations across different regions, cultural contexts and workplace environments. Therefore, this study aims to explore and validate the relationships between physical, psychological and social well-being factors and WWB at construction sites across different regions, using Malaysia and India as case studies.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model was proposed between physical, psychological and social well-being factors and WWB at construction sites. Then, a questionnaire survey was developed based on the proposed model and distributed to construction industry practitioners in both countries. In total, 316 responses were collected and analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and multigroup analysis.

Findings

The analyses indicate that the proposed model on physical, psychological and social well-being factors and WWB at construction sites is valid. Also, the model has no significant differences between the two countries. Thus, the findings show that the physical, psychological and social well-being factors are similarly affecting WWB at construction sites in both countries.

Originality/value

The originality of the study lies in its holistic and cross-regional examination of WWB at construction sites. The insights gained from this study provide evidence for promoting good health and well-being in the construction industry. Moreover, this study seeks to provide insights that transcend geographical boundaries, offering valuable implications for promoting WWB practices in construction projects worldwide.
Inelegant enforcement of anti-corruption laws and good governance: a persistent catalyst for coups d’état and poverty in Africa
Authors: Olujobi Olusola Joshua , Irumekhai Oshobugie Suleiman
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to scrutinise the intricate relationship between the inadequate enforcement of anti-corruption laws and the application of good governance and the persisting prevalence of coups d'état and poverty in Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a doctrinal legal research approach, synthesising existing literature while extensively analysing primary and secondary legal sources. Its primary aim is to scrutinise the intricate relationship between the inadequate enforcement of anti-corruption laws and the application of good governance and the persisting prevalence of coups d'état and poverty in Africa. The choice of case study countries Burkina Faso, Chad, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Sudan stems from their historical significance, regional diversity, data accessibility and potential insights into the interplay among anti-corruption enforcement, governance, poverty and coups d'état in Africa.

Findings

The enforcement of anti-corruption laws and the promotion of good governance are indispensable for democracy and economic stability; their suboptimal enforcement directly contributes to coups d'état and the worsening of poverty in African nations. It emphasises the imperative for African countries to consistently and proficiently enforce anti-corruption laws and adhere to principles of good governance, effectively and responsibly, to mitigate coups d'état and alleviate poverty in the region.

Originality/value

This study designs a model strategy for combating coups d'état and corruption in Africa as contribution to knowledge in the field of study.
Addressing Africa’s carbon dioxide emission: the role of natural resources, control of corruption, voice and accountability and regulatory quality
Authors: Kwakwa Paul Adjei , Aboagye Solomon
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The study examines the effect of natural resources (NRs) and the control of corruption, voice and accountability and regulatory quality on carbon emissions in Africa. Aside from their individual effects, the moderation effect of institutional quality is assessed.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 32 African countries from 2002 to 2021 and the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) regression methods were used for the investigation.

Findings

In the long term, the NRs effect is sensitive to the estimation technique employed. However, quality regulatory framework, robust corruption control and voice and accountability abate any positive effect of NRs on carbon emissions. Institutional quality can be argued to moderate the CO2-emitting potentials of resource extraction in the selected African countries.

Practical implications

Enhancing regulation quality, enforcing corruption control and empowering citizens towards greater participation in governance and demanding accountability are essential catalyst to effectively mitigate CO2 emissions resulting from NRs.

Originality/value

The moderation effect of control of corruption, voice and accountability and regulatory quality on the NR–carbon emission nexus is examined.
Introducing the area under stress–velocity curve: Theory, measurement and association with rock properties
Authors: Sharifi Javad
Published: May 2024

Since many years ago, ultrasonic velocity has been used to investigate the physical and mechanical behaviour of rocks, thereby playing an important role in reservoir characterization and seismic interpretation. In order to develop the knowledge of ultrasonic tools, I performed a noble analysis on the ultrasonic behaviour of rocks under confining stress and evaluated a distinctive property of porous media that is measured as the area under the stress–velocity curve (here defined as S*). I further investigated its relationship with elastic and mechanical behaviours of rock. To validate the theoretical framework developed in this work, 20 core plugs from various rock units with complex microstructures were subjected to triaxial compressional tests to calculate their area under the curve. Calculations were made for crack‐closing, elastic and post‐elastic stages (e.g. pore collapse) along the ultrasonic velocity–stress curve. Moreover, the selected samples had their microstructure investigated by thin‐section studies to quantify their porosity and pore type. The results were analysed to check for the effect of pore type on S* in different stages of the stress–velocity curve. Based on the outputs of the analysis of variance and Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis, the curve had its shape and underlying area closely related to the porosity and pore geometry. Indeed, the results showed that the shale and sandstone with micro cracks and carbonate with stiff pores correspond to smaller and larger areas under the curve in crack‐closing and inelastic stages, respectively. Cross‐correlating the results to compressibility (inverse of bulk modulus), it was figured out that the calculated area under curve was well consistent with the compressibility. In addition, S* represents both static and dynamic behaviours of the rock, and the results revealed that the shape and curvature of the stress–velocity curve give valuable information about the rock microstructure. Another finding was the fact that the type of fluid and wave velocity seemingly affect the S*. Our findings can help interpret wave velocity behaviour in reservoir rocks and other stressful porous media.
Functional traits of predators and decomposer prey determine context dependency in trophic control over ecosystems
Authors: Lienau Janey R. , Schmitz Oswald J.
Published: May 2024

Research Highlight: Piccoli, G. C. d. O., Antiqueira, P. A. P., Srivastava, D. S., & Romero, G. Q. (2024). Trophic cascades within and across ecosystems: The role of anti‐predatory defences, predator type and detritus quality. Journal of Animal Ecology, 00, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365‐2656.14063. Ecosystem functioning is controlled by the interplay between bottom‐up supply of limiting nutrients and top‐down animal feedback effects. However, the degree of animal versus nutrient control is context‐dependent. A key challenge lies in characterizing this context dependency which is hypothesized to depend on differences in animal functional traits. Reporting on an important experiment, Piccoli et al. (2014) evaluate how interactions among functionally different predators and decomposer prey create context dependency in top‐down control of a model system–tropical bromeliad tank ecosystems. Bromeliad plants hold water in their tanks supporting microcosm ecosystems containing terrestrial and aquatic insect larvae and arachnids. The ecosystems are supported by nutrients in plant litter that rains down from forest canopies into the tanks. Nutrients are released after litter is decomposed by a functionally diverse community of larval insect decomposers that differ in feeding mode and antipredator defence strategy. This decomposer community is preyed upon by an exclusively narrowly ranging aquatic insect larval predator and widely ranging spider predator that crosses between the aquatic and surrounding terrestrial ecosystems. Experimental manipulation of the animal community to test for the degree of control by predators mediated by the functionally diverse prey community included four treatments: (i) a control with the detritivores composing different function groups but without predators, (ii) the cross‐ecosystem spider predator added, (iii) the purely aquatic damselfly larvae predator added and (iv) both predator types added to capture their interacting effect on ecosystem function (decomposition, nutrient release, and plant growth). Notably, the study resolved the causal pathways and strengths of direct and indirect control using structural equation modelling. These findings reveal how context dependency arises due to different capacities of the predators alone and together to overcome prey defences and control their abundances, with attendant cascading effects that diminished as well as enhanced decomposition and nutrient release to support bromeliad plant production. The study reveals that predators have a decided, albeit qualitatively and quantitatively different, hand in shaping the degree of bottom‐up control through feedback effect on the release of limiting nutrients. This ground‐breaking study provides a way forward in understanding the mechanisms determining context dependency in the control over ecosystem functioning.
Musashi orchestrates melanism in Laodelphax striatellus
Authors: Mao Zeping , Wang Biyun , Chen Youyuan , Ying Jinjun , Wang Haiqiang , Li Junmin , Zhang Chuanxi , Zhuo Jichong
Published: May 2024

In insects, melanism, a fundamental pigmentation process, is of significant importance in evolutionary biology due to its complex genetic foundation. We investigated the role of the RNA‐binding gene Musashi (msi) in melanism in Laodelphax striatellus, a Hemiptera species. We identified a single L. striatellus msi homolog, Lsmsi, encoding a 357 amino acid protein with 2 RNA recognition motifs. RNA interference‐mediated knockdown of LsMsi resulted in complete body melanism and increased cuticular permeability. Additionally, we found the involvement of G protein‐coupled receptor A42 and tyrosine hydroxylase (Th) in L. striatellus melanism. Knockdown of LsTh lightened the epidermis, showing dehydration signs, while LsA42 knockdown enhanced LsTh expression, leading to melanism. Surprisingly, Lsmsi knockdown decreased both LsA42 and LsTh expression, which was expected to cause whitening but resulted in melanism. Further, we found that Lsmsi influenced downstream genes like phenoloxidase homolog LsPo and dopa decarboxylase (Ddc) homolog LsDdc in the tyrosine‐mediated melanism pathway. Extending to Nilaparvata lugens and Sogatella furcifera, we demonstrated the conserved role of msi in melanism among Delphacidae. Given MSI proteins’ roles in cancer and tumors in vertebrates, our study is the first to link msi in insects to Delphacidae body color melanization via the tyrosine‐mediated pathway, offering fresh perspectives on the genetic basis of insect melanism and msi functions.
Green cutworm Anicla ignicans (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Identity, geographical distribution, immature morphology, host plants and biology in controlled conditions
Authors: Piovesan Mônica , Orlandin Elton , Carneiro Eduardo , Venâncio Lidia , Roque‐Specht Vânia Ferreira , Casagrande Mirna Martins , Mielke Olaf Hermann Hendrik , Bonfin Felipe Alverne Dourado , Vieira Paulo Victor Machado , Specht Alexandre
Published: May 2024

The subgenus Anicla, commonly known as green cutworms, harbours some of the owlet moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuinae), whose larvae are notable for their economic importance. Knowledge of the immature stages for this group is available for three of the nine described species. Anicla infecta Ochsenheimer, 1816 is widely distributed in the Americas and is especially abundant in agricultural ecosystems. However, in the Neotropics, its economic damage can be confused with sympatric species, including Anicla ignicans (Guenée, 1852), whose distributions overlap in most parts of the American continent. In this sense, here, the identity of A. ignicans is investigated through its geographical distribution, based on molecular and morphological data. Additionally, the morphological and behavioural traits of immature stages were described in detail, information about its geographical distribution and larval host plants was gathered, and the species' biological parameters from larvae reared on an artificial diet were determined. Anicla ignicans is distributed throughout the Neotropical region, preferably in areas with xeric and/or grass‐dominated ecosystems. The eggs present valuable characters to distinguish A. ignicans from other owlet moth species, such as the reduced number of ribs, the way the micropyle openings are arranged and the shape of the aeropyles. However, the larvae show very similar chromatic polymorphisms to other Anicla species. Although A. ignicans prefer to feed on grasses, it was observed that more than 85% of the larvae that were fed with a modified bean‐based Greene diet survived. Additionally, the percentage of time for each phase of development obtained here is very similar for the different species of Anicla, regardless of the temperature or feeding of the larvae.
Using Numerical Anomalies to Test for Fraud in Colonial New South Wales Elections
Authors: Leigh Andrew
Published: May 2024

When fabricating numbers, humans tend to make systematic errors, favouring some numerals over others. Analysing twenty‐first‐century elections in which fraud has been alleged, researchers have observed anomalous patterns in the last digits of vote counts. I show that vote counts for the 2022 Australian election exhibit no anomalies, and then turn attention to nineteenth‐century colonial elections in New South Wales. Pooling data for elections from 1843 to 1887, I find a less uniform pattern in final digits. Even so, formal statistical tests cannot reject the hypothesis that vote counts in these elections were unaffected by fraud.
Long‐term efficacy and safety of brolucizumab in neovascular age‐related macular degeneration: A multicentre retrospective real‐world study
Authors: Kim Dong Ju , Kim Dong Geun , Kwak Hyun Duck , Jang Jae Yong , Ji Yong‐Sok , Lee Seung Hyun , Lee Eun Kyoung , Park Kyu Hyung , Kim Jae Hui , Lee Jun Sung , Song Yumi , Kim Seong Taeck , Shin Min Ho , Kim Min , Park Sang Jun , Joo Kwangsic , Sagong Min , Lee Christopher Seungkyu , Woo Se Joon
Published: May 2024

Purpose

To investigate the long‐term efficacy and safety of intravitreal brolucizumab (BRZ) injections in patients with typical neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (typical nAMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

Methods

This multicentre retrospective study included 401 eyes of 398 patients with nAMD who received BRZ injection(s), with a follow‐up duration of ≥12 months. Changes in best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA), retinal fluid evaluation and central subfield thickness (CST) on optical coherence tomography were assessed. The efficacy of BRZ was compared between typical nAMD and PCV groups.

Results

Analyses were conducted with 280 eyes of 278 patients with typical nAMD and 121 eyes of 120 patients with PCV (mean age, 71.1 ± 8.6 years). 29 eyes (7.2%) were treatment naïve. The mean follow‐up period was 15.3 ± 2.8 months; the mean number of BRZ injections within 1 year was 4.5 ± 1.7. BCVA was maintained during the follow‐up period, and CST significantly improved from the first injection month and was maintained for 12 months in both the typical nAMD and PCV groups. The dry macula proportion increased from 2.7% at baseline to 56.1% at 1 month and 42.9% at 12 months. Among the 18 eyes that underwent indocyanine green angiography both before and after treatment, 10 (55.6%) showed polyp regression. Overall, the incidence of intraocular inflammation (IOI), retinal vasculitis and occlusive retinal vasculitis was 9.4% (38 eyes), 1.2% (5 eyes) and 0.5% (2 eyes), respectively. IOI occurred from the first to the sixth injections, with an average IOI onset of 28.5 ± 1.4 days. All eyes achieved IOI resolution, although the two eyes with occlusive retinal vasculitis showed a severe visual decline after IOI resolution.

Conclusion

Brolucizumab was effective in maintaining BCVA and managing fluid in eyes with nAMD for up to 1 year, exhibiting a high polyp regression rate. However, the not uncommon incidence of IOI and the severe visual decline caused by the rare occlusive retinal vasculitis following BRZ treatment underscore the importance of careful monitoring and timely management.
Editorial: Mortality in immune‐mediated inflammatory diseases during early adulthood—Authors' reply
Authors: Malham Mikkel , Jansson Sabine , Ingels Helene , Jørgensen Marianne Hørby , Rod Naja Hulvej , Wewer Vibeke , Fox Matthew P.
Published: May 2024

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Malham et al papers. To view these articles, visithttps://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17994andhttps://doi.org/10.1111/apt.18012.