bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PIP5K-Ras bistability initiates plasma membrane symmetry breaking to regulate cell polarity and migration
Authors: Deng Yu , Banerjee Tatsat , Pal Dhiman Sankar , Banerjee Parijat , Zhan Huiwang , Borleis Jane , Igleias Pablo A. , Devreotes Peter N.
Published: September 2024

Symmetry breaking, polarity establishment, and spontaneous cell protrusion formation are fundamental but poorly explained cell behaviors. Here, we demonstrate that a biochemical network, where the mutually inhibitory localization of PIP5K and Ras activities plays a central role, governs these processes. First, in resting cells devoid of cytoskeletal activity, PIP5K is uniformly elevated on the plasma membrane, while Ras activity remains minimal. Symmetry is broken by spontaneous local displacements of PIP5K, coupled with simultaneous activations of Ras and downstream signaling events, including PI3K activation. Second, knockout of PIP5K dramatically increases both the incidence and size of Ras-PI3K activation patches, accompanied by branched F-actin assembly. This leads to enhanced cortical wave formation, increased protrusive activity, and a shift in migration mode. Third, high inducible overexpression of PIP5K virtually eliminates Ras-PI3K signaling, cytoskeletal activity, and cell migration, while acute recruitment of cytosolic PIP5K to the membrane induces contraction and blebs in cancer cells. These arrested phenotypes are reversed by reducing myosin II activity, indicating myosin’s involvement in the PIP5K-Ras-centered regulatory network. Remarkably, low inducible overexpression of PIP5K unexpectedly facilitates polarity establishment, highlighting PIP5K as a highly sensitive master regulator of these processes. Simulations of a computational model combining an excitable system, cytoskeletal loops, and dynamic partitioning of PIP5K recreates the experimental observations. Taken together, our results reveal that a bistable, mutually exclusive localization of PIP5K and active Ras on the plasma membrane triggers the initial symmetry breaking. Coupled actomyosin reduction and increased actin polymerization lead to intermittently extended protrusions and, with feedback from the cytoskeleton, self-organizing, complementary gradients of PIP5K versus Ras steepen, raising the threshold of the networks at the rear and lowering it at the front to generate polarity for cell migration.
High stakes slow responding, but do not help overcome Pavlovian biases in humans
Authors: Algermissen Johannes , den Ouden Hanneke E.M.
Published: September 2024

“Pavlovian” or “motivational” biases are the phenomenon that the valence of prospective outcomes modulates action invigoration: the prospect of reward invigorates actions, while the prospect of punishment suppresses actions. Effects of the valence of prospective outcomes are well established, but it remains unclear how the magnitude of outcomes (“stake magnitude”) modulates these biases. In this preregistered study (N= 55), we manipulated stake magnitude (high vs. low) in an orthogonalized Motivational Go/NoGo Task. We tested whether higher stakes (a) strengthen biases or (b) elicit cognitive control recruitment, enhancing the suppression of biases in motivationally incongruent conditions. Confirmatory tests showed that high stakes slowed down responding, especially in motivationally incongruent conditions. However, high stakes did not affect whether a response was made or not, and did not change the magnitude of Pavlovian biases. Reinforcement-learning drift-diffusion models (RL-DDMs) fit to the data suggested that response slowing was best captured by stakes prolonging the non-decision time. There was no effect of the stakes on the response threshold (as in typical speed-accuracy trade-offs). In sum, these results suggest that high stakes slow down responses without affecting the expression of Pavlovian biases in behavior. We speculate that this slowing under high stakes might reflect heightened cognitive control, which is however ineffectively used, or reflect positive conditioned suppression, i.e., the interference between goal-directed and consummatory behaviors, a phenomenon previously observed in rodents that might also exist in humans. Pavlovian biases and slowing under high stakes may arise in parallel to each other.
Harmonic analysis of nonstationary signals with application to LHC beam measurements
Authors: Russo G. , Franchetti G. , Giovannozzi M. , Maclean E. H.
Published: September 2024

Harmonic analysis has provided powerful tools to accurately determine the tune from turn-by-turn data originating from numerical simulations or beam measurements in circular accelerators and storage rings. Methods that have been developed since the 1990s are suitable for stationary signals, i.e., time series whose properties do not vary with time and are represented by stationary signals. However, it is common experience that accelerator physics is a rich source of time series in which the signal amplitude varies over time. Furthermore, the properties of the amplitude variation of the signal often contain essential information about the phenomena under consideration. In this paper, a novel approach is presented, suitable for determining the tune of a nonstationary signal, which is based on the use of the Hilbert transform. The accuracy of the proposed methods is assessed in detail, and an application to the analysis of beam data collected at the CERN Large Hadron Collider is presented and discussed in detail.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Genuine non-Gaussian entanglement of light and quantum coherence for an atom from noisy multiphoton spin-boson interactions
Authors: Laha Pradip , Yasir P. A. Ameen , van Loock Peter
Published: September 2024

Harnessing entanglement and quantum coherence plays a central role in advancing quantum technologies. In quantum optical light-atom platforms, these two fundamental resources are often associated with a Jaynes-Cummings model description describing the coherent exchange of a photon between an optical resonator mode and a two-level spin. In a generic nonlinear spin-boson system, more photons and more modes will take part in the interactions. Here we consider such a generalization: the two-mode multiphoton Jaynes-Cummings (MPJC) model. We demonstrate how entanglement and quantum coherence can be optimally generated and subsequently manipulated in experimentally accessible parameter regimes. A detailed comparative analysis of this model reveals that nonlinearities within the MPJC interactions produce genuinely non-Gaussian entanglement, devoid of Gaussian contributions, from noisy resources. More specifically, strong coherent sources may be replaced by weaker, incoherent ones, significantly reducing the resource overhead, though at the expense of reduced efficiency. At the same time, increasing the multiphoton order of the MPJC interactions expedites the entanglement generation process, thus rendering the whole generation scheme again more efficient and robust. We further explore the use of additional dispersive spin-boson interactions and Kerr nonlinearities in order to create spin coherence solely from incoherent sources and to enhance the quantum correlations, respectively. As for the latter, somewhat unexpectedly, there is not necessarily an increase in quantum correlations due to the augmented nonlinearity. Towards possible applications of the MPJC model, we show how, with appropriately chosen experimental parameters, we can engineer arbitrary NOON states as well as the tripartite W state.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Stabilizing quantum simulations of lattice gauge theories by dissipation
Authors: Schmale Tobias , Weimer Hendrik
Published: September 2024

Simulations of lattice gauge theories on noisy quantum hardware inherently suffer from violations of the gauge symmetry due to coherent and incoherent errors of the underlying physical system that implements the simulation. These gauge violations cause the simulations to become unphysical requiring the result of the simulation to be discarded. We investigate an active correction scheme that relies on detecting gauge violations locally and subsequently correcting them by dissipatively driving the system back into the physical gauge sector. We show that the correction scheme not only ensures the protection of the gauge symmetry, but it also leads to a longer validity of the simulation results even within the gauge-invariant sector. Finally, we discuss further applications of the scheme such as preparation of the many-body ground state of the simulated system.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Adiabatic expansion cooling of antihydrogen
Authors: Ahmadi M. , Alves B. X. R. , Baker C. J. , Bertsche W. , Capra A. , Cohen S. , Torkzaban C. , Cesar C. L. , Charlton M. , Collister R. , Eriksson S. , Evans A. , Evetts N. , Fajans J. , Friesen T. , Fujiwara M. C. , Granum P. , Hangst J. S. , Hayden M. E. , Hodgkinson D. , Isaac C. A. , Johnson M. A. , Jones S. A. , Jonsell S. , Kalem N. , Madsen N. , Maxwell D. , McKenna J. T. K. , Menary S. , Momose T. , Munich J. , Olchanski K. , Olin A. , Pusa P. , Rasmussen C. Ø. , Robicheaux F. , Sacramento R. L. , Sameed M. , Sarid E. , Silveira D. M. , So C. , Stutter G. , Tharp T. D. , Thompson R. I. , van der Werf D. P. , Wurtele J. S. ,   The ALPHA Collaboration
Published: September 2024

Magnetically trapped antihydrogen atoms can be cooled by expanding the volume of the trap in which they are confined. We report a proof-of-principle experiment in which antiatoms are deliberately released from expanded and static traps. Antiatoms escape at an average trap depth of 0.08±0.01K (statistical errors only) from the expanded trap while they escape at average depths of 0.22±0.01 and 0.17±0.01K from two different static traps. (We employ temperature-equivalent energy units.) Detailed simulations qualitatively agree with the escape times measured in the experiment and show a decrease of 38% (statistical error<0.2%) in the mean energy of the population after the trap expansion without significantly increasing antiatom loss compared to typical static confinement protocols. This change is bracketed by the predictions of one-dimensional and three-dimensional semianalytic adiabatic expansion models. These experimental, simulational, and model results are consistent with obtaining an adiabatically cooled population of antihydrogen atoms that partially exchanged energy between axial and transverse degrees of freedom during the trap expansion. This result is important for future antihydrogen gravitational experiments which rely on adiabatic cooling, and it will enable antihydrogen cooling beyond the fundamental limits of laser cooling.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Progress in Superconductor-Semiconductor Topological Josephson Junctions
Authors: Schiela William F. , Yu Peng , Shabani Javad
Published: September 2024

Majorana bound states (MBSs) are quasiparticles that are their own antiparticles. They are predicted to emerge as zero-energy modes localized at the boundary of a topological superconductor. No intrinsic topological superconductor is known to date. However, by interfacing conventional superconductors and semiconductors with strong spin-orbit coupling, it is possible to create a system hosting topological states. Hence, epitaxial superconductors and semiconductors have emerged as an attractive material system with atomically sharp interfaces and broad flexibility in device fabrications incorporating Josephson junctions. We discuss the basics of topological superconductivity and provide insight into how to go beyond current state-of-the-art experiments. We argue that the ultimate success in realizing MBS physics requires the observation of non-Abelian braiding and fusion experiments.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Analysis of barriers to Maintenance 4.0 in manufacturing industries
Authors: Naik Mahadev Laxman , Kirkire Milind Shrikant
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Asset maintenance in manufacturing industries is a critical issue as organizations are highly sensitive towards maximizing asset uptime. In the advent of Industry 4.0, maintenance is increasingly becoming technology driven and is being termed as Maintenance 4.0. Several barriers impede the implementation of Maintenance 4.0. This article aims at - exploring the barriers to implementation of Maintenance 4.0 in manufacturing industries, categorizing them, analysing them to prioritize and suggesting the digital technologies to overcome them.

Design/methodology/approach

Twenty barriers to the implementation of Maintenance 4.0 were identified through literature survey and discussion with the industry experts. The identified barriers were divided into five categories based on their source of occurrence and prioritized using fuzzy-technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), sensitivity analysis was carried out to check the robustness of the solution.

Findings

“Data security issues” has been ranked as the most influencing barrier towards the implementation of Maintenance 4.0, whereas “lack of skilled engineers and data scientists” is the least influencing barrier that impacts the implementation of Maintenance 4.0 in the manufacwturing industries.

Practical implications

The outcomes of this research will help manufacturing industries, maintenance engineers/managers, policymakers, and industry professionals for detailed understanding of barriers and identify easy pickings while implementing Maintenance 4.0.

Originality/value

Manufacturing industries are witnessing a paradigm shift due to digitization and maintenance 4.0 forms the cornerstone. Little research has been carried in Maintenance 4.0 and its implementation; this article will help in bridging the gap. The prioritization of the barriers and digital course of actions to overcome those is a unique contribution of this article.
2024 practice analysis: a comparison of expectations vs actual performance of essential competencies in public relations
Authors: Neill Marlene S. , Combs Lauren , Roker Raphael , Drewry Emeri , Hood Lia , Vaughan Mallory , Binford Aliyah , Joyce McKenna
Published: September 2024

Purpose

We conducted the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB) practice analysis to examine perceptions of US public relations practitioners and educators regarding the essential competencies for entry-level and mid-career professionals. This is a trend analysis survey that is conducted every five years to assess changes in required competencies.

Design/methodology/approach

The survey was distributed via email to organizations affiliated with the UAB. Two variations of the survey were available to differentiate between practitioners and educators. The study was conducted from February through March of 2024.

Findings

We found practitioners’ expectations for others exceeded their own actual performance levels. This may be attributed to social comparison bias. We have provided recommendations for updating the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) and certificate exams based on our findings. For example, we recommend senior professionals adopt a nurturing leadership style when mentoring young professionals. The study also revealed that educators overestimated generative artificial intelligence (AI) use in the workplace, as practitioners exhibited a slower rate of adoption of AI. The literature and theories that guided the paper were AI use, the history of accreditation in public relations and the diffusion of innovation theory.

Originality/value

This research paper provides insights related to the diffusion of AI competencies in the workplace. Additionally, this research adds to public relations literature by revealing the gap in expectations of senior professionals for beginning and mid-career professionals and their own job performance.
Transforming luxury: young consumers' motivations towards purchasing virtual luxury non-fungible token wearables
Authors: Lee Hanna , Rana Md. Rafiqul Islam , Xu Yingjiao
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study explores young consumers' motivations for purchasing Virtual Luxury Non-Fungible Token Wearables (VL-NFTs) from luxury brands, which are virtually crafted luxury wearables minted as blockchain-based NFTs. Specifically, it investigates the relationships among consumers' perceived value of VL-NFTs, engagement with NFTs and purchase intention and the mediating effect of consumer engagement with NFTs.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected via an online survey of 504 young US consumers who had previously considered purchasing luxury fashion products and NFTs. Structural equation modelling was adopted for analysis.

Findings

Perceived economic, functional (uniqueness) and experiential (self-directed pleasure and affiliation) values of VL-NFTs directly influenced consumers' purchase intention. While symbolic value (self-presentation and conspicuousness) did not significantly influence purchase intention, it facilitated consumer engagement with NFTs. Moreover, consumer engagement mediated the relationship between economic and functional values and purchase intention.

Research limitations/implications

The sample was only comprised of young consumers, limiting the generalizability. Additionally, consumers may perceive VL-NFTs differently because of differences in past experiences and the varying VL-NFT types, necessitating further investigation on consumers' motivations across different types of VL-NFTs.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing literature by examining the importance of multifaceted perceived-value dimensions and engagement with NFTs in consumers' motivation for purchasing VL-NFTs through the lens of the customer value framework.
The role of the socio-professional characteristics of university professors in the implementation of sustainability
Authors: González Laskibar Xabier , Insunza Aranceta Gaizka , Alvarez-Meaza Izaskun
Published: September 2024

Purpose

In a context of growing concern about the environmental and social crisis, education for sustainability has emerged as a key educational approach to address these challenges. University education plays a crucial role in training professionals who are aware of and committed to sustainability. This study aims to examine the impact of the socio-professional characteristics of university professors on the awareness and implementation of sustainability in teaching and research.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the academics’ statements through a survey to describe the degree of awareness and implementation of sustainability at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and evaluates the influence that certain socio-professional variables can have on their commitment to sustainability. For this purpose, the paper proposes the use of descriptive and inferential statistical techniques.

Findings

The research reveals that UPV/EHU is in the first phases of implementation of sustainability, indicating a low overall implementation. Therefore, it is proposed to promote internal awareness about sustainability, promote teacher training, integrate sustainability competencies in academic programs and promote research in areas with less scientific production related to sustainability, with emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and gender equality to achieve greater integration of sustainability in the university. In the case of the UPV/EHU, the sustainable development champions fulfill the profile of a female professor, with full-time dedication and whose disciplinary area is a minority.

Research limitations/implications

This research has an individual framework and a static nature, and the results should be interpreted only in their context. Future research should have a national framework, a longitudinal nature and a broader range of university institutional agents. Another limitation of this methodology is the question coding process (Likert scales), which opens a wide range of subjectivity for the researcher.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that measures the degree of implementation of sustainability at the UPV/EHU with the aim of specifying its efforts in the implementation and promotion of sustainability.
Students’ performance and faculty efficiency. Assessing the role of gender through a metafrontier
Authors: Barra Cristian , Destefanis Sergio , Sena Vania , Zotti Roberto
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This paper provides novel evidence on the role of gender in the performance of university students, which is particularly relevant to the debate on the performance of female students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

Design/methodology/approach

Our approach relies on the metafrontier approach proposed by Huang et al. (2014), which measures students' efficiency within a given faculty and the impact of the faculty’s technology on students’ efficiency. We use a sample of 53,159 first-year students in 8 faculties from a large university in southern Italy from 2002–2003 to 2010–2011.

Findings

Students’ efficiency is relatively low, reflecting an essential role of unobserved heterogeneity. The different technologies of somewhat similar faculties have minimal impact on efficiency. There is a performance gap against women in five faculties, which on average is strongest for the faculties in the pure and applied science area. This gap increases with the proportion of female students and decreases with female lecturers.

Practical implications

The metafrontier has the benefit of providing relevant policy information on the drivers of student success by relying on data that universities routinely generate and preserve.

Originality/value

The stochastic metafrontier approach allows us to separate the group-specific frontiers from the metafrontier, yielding a decomposition of the efficiency scores of various faculties into technical efficiency scores and technological gaps.
Cite me! Perspectives on coercive citation in reviewing
Authors: Burton Suzan , Basil Debra Z. , Soboleva Alena , Nesbit Paul
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study builds on previous discussion of an important area for both academics and academic journals – the issue of reviewers inappropriately asking for (or “coercing”) citation of their own work. That situation creates an opportunity for (hopefully a small number of) academics to engage in unethical behaviour, often with the goal of increasing their citation count. This study aims to draw attention to this often-overlooked issue, critically considering potential reviewer motivations and offering possible remedies.

Design/methodology/approach

This study reviews literature and critically discusses this issue, offering a typology for coercive citation suggestions and sharing previously unpublished commentary from Editors of leading journals.

Findings

This study provides a typology of reviewer motivations for coercing citations, suggests potential remedies and considers the positive and negative impacts of these suggestions.

Originality/value

This study identifies an area known from multiple discussions to be important to academics and Editors, where many want changes in journals’ practices. In response, this study provides recommendations for easy changes that would decrease the opportunity for unethical behaviour by reviewers and also, for some journals, improve the quality of reviews.
Mapping global research in the field of health biotechnology for the period 1990–2023. A bibliometric analysis
Authors: De la Vega Hernández Iván Manuel , Díaz Amorin Juan , Fernández-Gomez Rodolfo
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study focused on a global longitudinal bibliometric mapping of research in the field of health biotechnology between 1990 and 2023 to determine who is leading this field of knowledge and to estimate the sub-disciplines that are emerging and project those that will prevail in the future.

Design/methodology/approach

The study identified the most relevant countries, institutions and researchers, as well as the type of scientific collaborations. The applied steps applied in the study were the following: identification and selection of keyword terms by a panel of experts; design and application of an algorithm to identify these selected keywords in titles, abstracts and keywords using Web of Science terms to contrast them; performance of JCR data processing during 2023 using R, Python and VOSviewer.

Findings

Among the most relevant conclusions of the study are the following exponential growth has been observed in the study period; new branches of knowledge have emerged in which the subjects have been acquiring their own autonomous capabilities; and R&D in this field is still concentrated in a small group of core countries, and the trend is for it to remain so due to the capacity needs required.

Originality/value

This contribution seeks to systematize the existing scientific knowledge in the field of biotechnology, specifically in the area of health, using the technique of scientific mapping based on a logical model of indicators that aims to determine potential thematic ramifications.
T‐cell senescence was correlated with early atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Pratama Mirza Zaka , Wahono Cesarius Singgih , Aslam Ahmad Bayhaqi Nasir , Chilmi Syahrul , Sari Vidia Purnama , Abdurrohman Anugrah , Sulistiyowati Ike , Aditya Aldo , Johono Maxie Felix , Robert
Published: September 2024

Aim

To investigate the correlation between T‐cell senescence with the atherosclerosis markers in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods

The study participants were 40 female SLE patients aged 18–45 years who met the 2019 EULAR/ACR criteria and 40 healthy individuals. The atherosclerosis markers were investigated using the Doppler ultrasonography examinations to measure the cIMT (carotid intima‐media thickness) and flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) and serological markers using soluble ICAM‐1 and VCAM‐1. Flow cytometry of CD4+CD57+, CD8+CD57+, CD4+CD28null, and CD8+CD28null T cells were used to assess the immunosenescence markers.

Results

The cIMT (p < .001), sICAM‐1 (p < .001), and sVCAM‐1 (p < .001) were significantly higher in SLE patients compared with control, while FMD was significantly lower in SLE patients (p < .001). The percentages of all T‐cell senescence markers are also significantly higher in SLE patients than in healthy individuals. Positive correlations were shown between cIMT with the CD4+CD57+ (R = .301, p = .005), CD4+CD28null (R = .448, p < .001), and CD8+CD28null (R = .422, p < .001). Conversely, negative correlations were demonstrated between the FMD with CD4+CD57+ (R = −.236, p = .023), CD8+CD57+ (R = −.409, p < .001), CD4+CD28null (R = −.422, p < .001), and CD8+CD28null (R = −.318, p = .003). The soluble markers of sICAM‐1 and sVCAM‐1 were also positively correlated with the T‐cell senescence markers.

Conclusion

Early sign of atherosclerosis was demonstrated in patients with SLE in this study. T‐cell senescence markers had significant correlations with the atherosclerosis markers, including the cIMT, FMD, and soluble adhesion molecules levels. Understanding the link between immunosenescence and atherosclerosis might help to identify a new method for early detection and treatment of atherosclerosis in SLE.
Nail pitting in an infant with Kawasaki disease—A novel clinical finding
Authors: Nadig Pallavi L. , Barman Prabal , Dwivedi Apoorva , Pilania Rakesh Kumar
Published: September 2024

A variety of nail changes have been described in children with Kawasaki disease during the convalescent phase. These include Beau's lines, leukonychia, and orange‐brown chromonychia. However, nail pitting is distinctly unusual in KD. We report one such case.
Tailored text‐messaging versus standard Quitline telephone counselling for smoking cessation among people who smoke from a low‐socio‐economic status background in Australia: A study protocol for a non‐inferiority randomized controlled trial (The Quit By Phone Study)
Authors: Howard Bridget C. , Donnelly Sorcha , McRobbie Hayden , Barker Daniel , Petrie Dennis , Stockings Emily , Brown Jamie , Naughton Felix , Whittaker Robyn , Shakeshaft Anthony , Patel Kieran , Anderson Jack , Thomas Dennis , West Robert , Courtney Ryan J.
Published: September 2024

Background and aims

Signficant inequalities in tobacco smoking exist, with higher smoking rates among people from low‐socio‐economic status (low‐SES) populations. Tailored technology‐based programs for low‐SES smoking populations have the potential for high reach, but require effectiveness data from large‐scale trials. This trial among Australians who smoke from a low‐SES background will determine the effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of tailored text‐message (TTM) support compared with standard Quitline (SQL) telephone support service.

Design, setting and participants

This is a two‐arm, parallel group, randomized, non‐inferiority trial with allocation concealment and blinded outcome assessment in an Australian population within the greater Sydney region in New South Wales. Participants are adults who smoke daily (n = 1246), are interested in quitting and currently receiving a government pension or allowance, and will be recruited via advertisements.

Intervention and comparator

Participants will be randomized (1:1 ratio) to receive either 12 months of TTM quit support or enrolment in SQL telephone support.

Measurements

Assessments will be completed at baseline (telephone interview), within 1 month (check‐in call), at 3 months (on‐line questionnaire) and 12 months (telephone interview) post‐randomization. The primary outcome will be 6‐month continuous abstinence verified by carbon monoxide breath test at 12‐month follow‐up. The study will test whether TTM is non‐inferior to SQL by a non‐inferiority margin of 2%, i.e. the quit rate in the TTM group will be no worse than 2% less than the quit rate in the SQL group. Secondary outcomes will include self‐reported continuous and point prevalence abstinence and acceptability and cost‐effectiveness of TTM versus SQL.

Conclusion

Should the tailored text‐message support prove non‐inferior and more cost‐effective than Quitline for this population, this will provide an opportunity for the upscaling of an effective, inexpensive and tailored quit support service. The trial findings will inform cessation treatment policy for priority populations in Australia and globally.
Emotion regulation and psychopathology: Investigating differential associations between emotion regulation skills and psychological symptoms using a network approach
Authors: Trautmann Sebastian , Muehlhan Markus , Berking Matthias , Miethe Sandra , Wigger Janna , Dragan Małgorzata
Published: September 2024

Objectives

Emotion regulation plays an important role in the development and maintenance of psychopathology. However, the question whether specific ER skills are related to specific psychological symptoms has rarely been studied, but has important implications for targeted interventions. This analysis aims to explore potential differential associations between various ER skills and psychological symptoms using a network analysis approach.

Methods

Routine data from a transdiagnostic clinical sample of 716 patients (460 females, 256 males) from an outpatient clinic for psychotherapy were analysed. Nine ER skills were assessed with the Emotion Regulation Skills Questionnaire, and nine symptom dimension scores were obtained using the Brief Symptom Inventory. A regularized partial correlation network models including ER skills and individual symptom domains were calculated. Bridge expected influence was calculated to estimate the strength of association of each ER skill with psychological symptoms.

Results

Only the following ER skills were most strongly related to psychological symptoms (bridge expected influence): Tolerance, Confrontation and Modification. All other ER skills were indirectly connected to symptom severity through these four skills. The strongest direct edges between ER skills and symptoms were Modification—Depression, Confrontation—Obsession‐Compulsion and Tolerance—Interpersonal Sensitivity, which were significantly stronger than the vast majority of other associations between ER skills and psychological symptoms.

Conclusions

These exploratory findings provide valuable targets for future studies to investigate specific associations between ER skills and psychological symptoms which could help to improve outcome monitoring and efficacy of interventions targeting ER.
Haematological features of telomere biology disorders diagnosed in adulthood: A French nationwide study of 127 patients
Authors: Maillet François , Galimard Jacques‐Emmanuel , Borie Raphaël , Lainey Elodie , Larcher Lise , Passet Marie , Plessier Aurélie , Leblanc Thierry , Terriou Louis , Lebon Delphine , Alcazer Vincent , Cathebras Pascal , Loschi Michael , Wadih Abou‐Chahla , Marcais Ambroise , Marceau‐Renaut Alice , Couque Nathalie , Lioure Bruno , Soulier Jean , Ba Ibrahima , Socié Gérard , Peffault de Latour Regis , Kannengiesser Caroline , Sicre de Fontbrune Flore
Published: September 2024

Data on haematological features of telomere biology disorders (TBD) remain scarce. We describe haematological, extra‐haematological characteristics and prognosis of 127 genetically confirmed TBD patients diagnosed after the age of 15. Ninety‐three index cases and 34 affected relatives were included. At diagnosis of TBD, 76.3% of index cases had haematological features, half pulmonary features and a third liver features. At diagnosis, bone marrow failure (BMF) was present in 59 (46.5%), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in 22 (17.3%) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in 2 (1.6%) while 13 (10.2%) developed or worsened bone marrow involvement during follow‐up. At diagnosis, compared to MDS/AML patients, BMF patients were younger (median 23.1 years vs. 43.8, p = 0.007), and had a better outcome (4‐year overall survival 76.3% vs. 31.8%, p < 0.001). While frequencies and burden of cytogenetical and somatic mutations increased significantly in myeloid malignancies, some abnormalities were also observed in patients with normal blood counts and BMF, notably somatic spliceosome variants. Solid cancers developed in 8.7% patients, mainly human papillomavirus‐related cancers and hepatocellular carcinomas. TBD is a multiorgan progressive disease. While BMF is the main haematological disorder, high‐risk myeloid malignancies are common, and are, together with age, the only factors associated with a worse outcome.
Exploring the Impact of Math Anxiety and Task Difficulty on Pupil Dilation in Adults and Young Children
Authors: Galeano Laura , Gredebäck Gustaf
Published: September 2024

We investigated the relations between self‐reported math anxiety, task difficulty, and pupil dilation in adults and very young children during math tasks of varying difficulty levels. While task difficulty significantly influenced pupillary responses in both groups, the association between self‐reported math anxiety and pupil dilation differed across age cohorts. The children exhibited resilience to the effects of math anxiety, hinting at additional influential factors such as formal math education experiences shaping their relations to mathematics and their impact on cognitive processes over time. Contrary to expectations, no significant association between self‐reported math anxiety and pupil dilation during task anticipation was found in either group. In adults, math anxiety influenced pupil dilation exclusively during the initial phase of task processing indicating heightened cognitive load, but this influence diminished during sustained task processing. Theoretical implications emphasize the need for exploring individual differences, cognitive strategies, and the developmental trajectory of math anxiety in very young children.
Latent Relations at Steady‐state with Associative Nets
Authors: Shabahang Kevin D. , Yim Hyungwook , Dennis Simon J.
Published: September 2024

Models of word meaning that exploit patterns of word usage across large text corpora to capture semantic relations, like the topic model and word2vec, condense word‐by‐context co‐occurrence statistics to induce representations that organize words along semantically relevant dimensions (e.g., synonymy, antonymy, hyponymy, etc.). However, their reliance on latent representations leaves them vulnerable to interference, makes them slow learners, and commits to a dual‐systems account of episodic and semantic memory. We show how it is possible to construct the meaning of words online during retrieval to avoid these limitations. We implement a spreading activation account of word meaning in an associative net, a one‐layer highly recurrent network of associations, called a Dynamic‐Eigen‐Net, that we developed to address the limitations of earlier variants of associative nets when scaling up to deal with unstructured input domains like natural language text. We show that spreading activation using a one‐hot coded Dynamic‐Eigen‐Net outperforms the topic model and reaches similar levels of performance as word2vec when predicting human free associations and word similarity ratings. Latent Semantic Analysis vectors reached similar levels of performance when constructed by applying dimensionality reduction to the Shifted Positive Pointwise Mutual Information but showed poorer predictability for free associations when using an entropy‐based normalization. An analysis of the rate at which the Dynamic‐Eigen‐Net reaches asymptotic performance shows that it learns faster than word2vec. We argue in favor of the Dynamic‐Eigen‐Net as a fast learner, with a single‐store, that is not subject to catastrophic interference. We present it as an alternative to instance models when delegating the induction of latent relationships to process assumptions instead of assumptions about representation.
Adults Adapt to Child Speech in Causative Semantics
Authors: You Guanghao , Daum Moritz M. , Stoll Sabine
Published: September 2024

Causation is a core feature of human cognition and language. How children learn about intricate causal meanings is yet unresolved. Here, we focus on how children learn verbs that express causation. Such verbs, known as lexical causatives (e.g., break and raise), lack explicit morphosyntactic markers indicating causation, thus requiring that the child generalizes the causal meaning from the context. The language addressed to children presumably plays a crucial role in this learning process. Hence, we tested whether adults adapt their use of lexical causatives to children when talking to them in day‐to‐day interactions. We analyzed naturalistic longitudinal data from 12 children in the Manchester corpus (spanning from 20 to 36 months of age). To detect semantic generalization, we employed a network approach with semantics learned from cross‐situational contexts. Our results show an increasing trend in the expansion of causative semantics, observable in both child speech and child‐directed speech. Adults consistently maintain somewhat more intricate causative semantic networks compared to children. However, both groups display evolving patterns. Around 28–30 months of age, children undergo a reduction in the degree of causative generalization, followed by a slightly time‐lagged adjustment by adults in their speech directed to children. These findings substantiate adults' adaptation in child‐directed speech, extending to semantics. They highlight child‐directed speech as a highly adaptive and subconscious teaching tool that facilitates the dynamic processes of language acquisition.
Postoperative Fluid Accumulation is Associated With Underestimation of AKI Severity in Lung Transplant Recipients
Authors: Kuhnert Stefan , Sommerlad Janine , Gall Henning , Weder Max M. , Wolff Matthias , Eberle Sebastian , Sander Michael , Reichert Martin , Koch Christian , Askevold Ingolf , Hecker Andreas , Padberg Winfried , Ostermann Marlies , Mehta Ravindra , Ronco Claudio , Birk Horst‐Walter , Seeger Werner , Mayer Konstantin , Hecker Matthias , Husain‐Syed Faeq
Published: September 2024

Background

Post‐lung transplantation (LTx) fluid accumulation can lead to dilution of serum creatinine (SCr). We hypothesized that fluid accumulation might impact the diagnosis, staging, and outcome of posttransplant acute kidney injury (AKI).

Methods

In this retrospective study, we analyzed data from 131 adult LTx patients at a single German lung center between 2005 and 2018. We assessed the occurrence of AKI within 7 days posttransplant, both before and after SCr‐adjustment for fluid balance (FB), and investigated its impact on all‐cause mortality. Transient and persistent AKIs were defined as return to baseline kidney function or continuation of AKI beyond 72 h of onset, respectively.

Results

AKI was diagnosed in 58.8% of patients according to crude SCr values. When considering FB‐adjusted SCr values, AKI severity was underestimated in 20.6% of patients, that is, AKI was detected in an additional 6.9% of patients and led to AKI upstaging in 23.4% of cases. Patients initially underestimated but detected with AKI only after FB adjustment had higher mortality compared to those who did not meet AKI criteria (hazard ratio [HR] 2.98; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06, 8.36; p = 0.038). Persistent AKI was associated with higher mortality than transient AKI, regardless of using crude or adjusted SCr values (p < 0.05). Persistent AKI emerged as an independent risk factor for mortality (HR 2.35; 95% CI 1.29, 4.30; p = 0.005).

Conclusion

Adjusting for FB and evaluating renal recovery patterns post‐AKI may enhance the sensitivity of AKI detection. This approach could help identify patients with poor prognosis and potentially improve outcomes in lung transplant recipients.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03039959, NCT03046277.
O‐linked β‐N‐acetylglucosamine (O‐GlcNAc) modification: Emerging pathogenesis and a therapeutic target of diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Qi Bingxue , Chen Yang , Chai Siyang , Lu Xiaodan , Kang Li
Published: September 2024

Aims

O‐Linked β‐N‐acetylglucosamine (O‐GlcNAc) modification, a unique post‐translational modification of proteins, is elevated in diabetic nephropathy. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on the mechanisms by which O‐GlcNAcylation of proteins contributes to the pathogenesis and progression of diabetic nephropathy, as well as the therapeutic potential of targeting O‐GlcNAc modification for its treatment.

Methods

Current evidence in the literature was reviewed and synthesized in a narrative review.

Results

Hyperglycemia increases glucose flux into the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway, which activates glucosamino‐fructose aminotransferase expression and activity, leading to the production of O‐GlcNAcylation substrate UDP‐GlcNAc and an increase in protein O‐GlcNAcylation in kidney cells. Protein O‐GlcNAcylation regulates the function of kidney cells including mesangial cells, podocytes, and proximal tubular cells, and promotes renal interstitial fibrosis, resulting in kidney damage. Current treatments for diabetic nephropathy, such as sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT‐2) inhibitors and renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors, delay disease progression, and suppress protein O‐GlcNAcylation.

Conclusions

Increased protein O‐GlcNAcylation mediates renal cell damage and promotes renal interstitial fibrosis, leading to diabetic nephropathy. Although the full significance of inhibition of O‐GlcNAcylation is not yet understood, it may represent a novel target for treating diabetic nephropathy.
Weak Local Adaptation to Climate in Seedlings of a Deciduous Conifer Suggests Limited Benefits and Risks of Assisted Gene Flow
Authors: Roskilly Beth , Aitken Sally
Published: September 2024

Assisted migration provides a potential solution to mitigate the increasing risks of forest maladaptation under climate change. Western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) is a deciduous conifer species undergoing assisted migration beyond its natural range in British Columbia into areas that have become suitable based on climatic niche modelling. We established a seedling common garden experiment in raised beds in a warm location outside the natural range for three growing seasons, with 52 natural populations from across the species range and 28 selectively bred families from British Columbia. Intraspecific genetic variation in growth, phenology and cold hardiness was analyzed to test for signals of local adaptation and the effects of selective breeding to better understand the implications for assisted migration and breeding for future climates. We found weak differentiation among populations in all traits, with the proportion of additive genetic variance (QST) ranging from 0.10 to 0.28. Cold hardiness had the weakest population differentiation and exhibited no clines with geographic or climatic variables. Selective breeding for faster growth has maintained genetic variation in bud flush phenology and cold hardiness despite delaying bud set. The weak signals of local adaptation we found in western larch seedlings highlights that assisted gene flow among populations is likely to have limited benefits and risks for mitigating maladaptation with climate change. Our findings suggest that assisted migration outside of the range and selective breeding may be important management strategies for western larch for future climates.
Enzymatic hydrolysis and biological activities of Konjac glucomannan hydrolysate in different degree of polymerisation
Authors: Pomsang Pachara , Ayuni Dwi , Phumsombat Putthapong , Eugelio Fabiola , Fanti Federico , Compagnone Dario , Borompichaichartkul Chaleeda
Published: September 2024

The study explores the enhanced functional and bioactive properties of Konjac Glucomannan Hydrolysate (KGMH) by partially degrading Konjac Glucomannan (KGM) using β‐mannanase over 60 min. KGM concentrations (40% and 50% w/w) were treated with 200–300 U g−1 of the enzyme over 60 min. The hydrolysis of KGM was monitored by colorimetry, with DP values ranging from 4.20 to 6.16 for 40% KGM and 4.10 to 4.60 for 50% KGM. MALDI‐TOF‐MS analysis confirmed typical oligosaccharides with DP values from 2 to 9 and some acetyl substitutions. The optimal conditions of 40% KGM with 250 U g−1 enzyme and varying hydrolysis times produced KGMHs with a wide range of DPs, demonstrating in vitro antioxidant and anti‐glycation activities. The results showed significant bioactivities (P < 0.05) positively correlated with lower DP values. This study emphasises the potential of KGMH as a novel functional food ingredient, highlighting its bioactive properties and the significant impact of DPs on the biological functionality of saccharides.
Effect of enzymes on baking quality of wheat dough and storage quality of toast bread
Authors: Yin Liwen , Wei Yanmei , Wu Wendi , Peng Yuxue , Ding Wenping , Xiao Shensheng , He Binbin , Wang Xuedong , Wu Yan
Published: September 2024

Toast is a nutrient‐rich consumer staple with a unique taste. However, retrogradation affects its storage quality and shelf life. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of enzymes on the baking quality of wheat dough and the storage quality of baked bread. Fungal α‐amylase (FAM), lipase (LIP), and maltose amylase (MAM) were added to wheat dough under quadruple fermentation to evaluate their effects on the quality of wheat dough and toasted bread during storage. FAM reduced the water absorption and stability of wheat flour, whereas LIP and MAM improved its properties. Moreover, all three enzymes increased the fermentation height and gas‐holding capacity of the dough, resulting in toast with a larger specific volume and low hardness. Toast containing 15 mg kg−1 MAM had the highest number of air holes and the best elasticity. Furthermore, 9 mg kg−1 FAM, 45 mg kg−1 LIP, and 15 mg kg−1 MAM retarded the retrogradation of toast during storage, reduced its hardness, and decreased the short‐range order and relative crystallinity. These findings indicate that enzymes can delay retrogradation in toast to extend its shelf life. These results further suggest that enzymes inhibit recrystallisation to delay toast ageing. Thus, this study provides theoretical references for the practical application of enzymes in bakery products.