bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Profiling the immune epigenome across global cattle breeds
Authors: Powell Jessica , Talenti Andrea , Fisch Andressa , Hemmink Johanneke D. , Paxton Edith , Toye Philip , Santos Isabel , Ferreira Beatriz R. , Connelley Tim K. , Morrison Liam J. , Prendergast James G. D.
Published: May 2023

Background

Understanding the variation between well and poorly adapted cattle breeds to local environments and pathogens is essential for breeding cattle with improved climate and disease-resistant phenotypes. Although considerable progress has been made towards identifying genetic differences between breeds, variation at the epigenetic and chromatin levels remains poorly characterized. Here, we generate, sequence and analyse over 150 libraries at base-pair resolution to explore the dynamics of DNA methylation and chromatin accessibility of the bovine immune system across three distinct cattle lineages.

Results

We find extensive epigenetic divergence between the taurine and indicine cattle breeds across immune cell types, which is linked to the levels of local DNA sequence divergence between the two cattle sub-species. The unique cell type profiles enable the deconvolution of complex cellular mixtures using digital cytometry approaches. Finally, we show distinct sub-categories of CpG islands based on their chromatin and methylation profiles that discriminate between classes of distal and gene proximal islands linked to discrete transcriptional states.

Conclusions

Our study provides a comprehensive resource of DNA methylation, chromatin accessibility and RNA expression profiles of three diverse cattle populations. The findings have important implications, from understanding how genetic editing across breeds, and consequently regulatory backgrounds, may have distinct impacts to designing effective cattle epigenome-wide association studies in non-European breeds.
In silico methods for predicting functional synonymous variants
Authors: Lin Brian C. , Katneni Upendra , Jankowska Katarzyna I. , Meyer Douglas , Kimchi-Sarfaty Chava
Published: May 2023

Single nucleotide variants (SNVs) contribute to human genomic diversity. Synonymous SNVs are previously considered to be “silent,” but mounting evidence has revealed that these variants can cause RNA and protein changes and are implicated in over 85 human diseases and cancers. Recent improvements in computational platforms have led to the development of numerous machine-learning tools, which can be used to advance synonymous SNV research. In this review, we discuss tools that should be used to investigate synonymous variants. We provide supportive examples from seminal studies that demonstrate how these tools have driven new discoveries of functional synonymous SNVs.
How to reach agreement: the impact of different analytical approaches to Delphi process results in core outcomes set development
Authors: Webbe James , Allin Benjamin , Knight Marian , Modi Neena , Gale Chris
Published: May 2023

Background

Core outcomes sets are increasingly used to define research outcomes that are most important for a condition. Different consensus methods are used in the development of core outcomes sets; the most common is the Delphi process. Delphi methodology is increasingly standardised for core outcomes set development, but uncertainties remain. We aimed to empirically test how the use of different summary statistics and consensus criteria impact Delphi process results.

Methods

Results from two unrelated child health Delphi processes were analysed. Outcomes were ranked by mean, median, or rate of exceedance, and then pairwise comparisons were undertaken to analyse whether the rankings were similar. The correlation coefficient for each comparison was calculated, and Bland-Altman plots produced. Youden’s index was used to assess how well the outcomes ranked highest by each summary statistic matched the final core outcomes sets.

Consensus criteria identified in a review of published Delphi processes were applied to the results of the two child-health Delphi processes. The size of the consensus sets produced by different criteria was compared, and Youden’s index was used to assess how well the outcomes that met different criteria matched the final core outcomes sets.

Results

Pairwise comparisons of different summary statistics produced similar correlation coefficients. Bland–Altman plots showed that comparisons involving ranked medians had wider variation in the ranking. No difference in Youden’s index for the summary statistics was found.

Different consensus criteria produced widely different sets of consensus outcomes (range: 5–44 included outcomes). They also showed differing abilities to identify core outcomes (Youden’s index range: 0.32–0.92). The choice of consensus criteria had a large impact on Delphi results.

Discussion

The use of different summary statistics is unlikely to affect how outcomes are ranked during a Delphi process: mean, median, and rates of exceedance produce similar results. Different consensus criteria have a large impact on resultant consensus outcomes and potentially on subsequent core outcomes sets: our results confirm the importance of adhering to pre-specified consensus criteria.
Mechanical hyperinflation maneuver and intracranial compliance of critical neurological patients: protocol for a randomized controlled equivalence trial
Authors: de Almeida Souza Daniela , Branco Marina Wolff , Carraro Junior Hipólito , Zocolotti Ana Márcia Delattre , Takeda Sibele Yoko Mattozo , Valderramas Silvia
Published: May 2023

Background

Mechanical hyperinflation maneuver (MHM) is a technique known for optimizing bronchial hygiene and respiratory mechanics; however, its effects on intracranial compliance are not known.

Methods

Sixty patients aged ≥ 18 years, with clinical diagnosis of acute stroke, confirmed by neuroimaging examination, with onset of symptoms within 72 h, under mechanical ventilation through tracheal tube, will participate in this study. Participants will be randomly allocated into 2 groups: experimental group (n = 30)—MHM plus tracheal aspiration—and control group (n = 30)—tracheal aspiration only. Intracranial compliance will be measured by a non-invasive technique using Brain4care BcMM-R-2000 sensor. This will be the primary outcome. Results will be recorded at 5 times: T0 (start of monitoring), T1 (moment before MHM), T2 (moment after the MHM and before tracheal aspiration), T3 (moment after tracheal aspiration), T4, and T5 (monitoring 10 and 20 min after T3). Secondary outcomes are respiratory mechanics and hemodynamic parameters.

Discussion

This study will be the first clinical trial to examine the effects and safety of MHM on intracranial compliance measured by non-invasive monitoring. Limitation includes the impossibility of blinding the physical therapist who will supervise the interventions. It is expected with this study to demonstrate that MHM can improve respiratory mechanics and hemodynamic parameters and provide a safe intervention with no changes in intracranial compliance in stroke patients.
Early muscle recovery following robotic-assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty
Authors: Moon Emma , Gaston Paul , Patton James T. , Bell Allison , Simpson Philip M , MacPherson Gavin J , Hamilton David F.
Published: May 2023

Background

Robotic-assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) improves implant accuracy, however whether this translates to patient function is less clear. Various outcomes have been reported but muscle recovery has not been previously investigated.

Objective

To explore sequential change in lower limb muscle strength following robotic-assisted UKA with isokinetic dynamometry.

Results

12 participants undergoing rUKA for medial compartment osteoarthritis were assessed pre-operatively, and at 6- and 12-weeks post-operatively. Maximal muscle strength changed over time in both quadriceps (p = 0.006) and hamstrings (p = 0.018) muscle groups. Quadriceps strength reduced from 88.52(39.86)Nm to 74.47(27.58)Nm by 6-weeks (p = 0.026), and then recovered to 90.41(38.76)Nm by 12-weeks (p = 0.018). Hamstring strength reduced from 62.45(23.18)Nm to 54.12(20.49)Nm by 6-weeks (p = 0.016), and then recovered to 55.07(17.99)Nm by 12-weeks (p = 0.028). By 12-weeks quadriceps strength was 70% and hamstrings 83% of the values achieved in the un-operated limb. Substantial improvement was seen in all other measures over time, with sequential positive change in Timed-up-and-go test (p = 0.015), 10 m walk test (p = 0.021), range of knee flexion (p = 0.016) and PROMs (p < 0.025).
Reveal the microbial communities and functional prediction during the fermentation of Fen-flavor Baijiu via metagenome combining amplicon sequencing
Authors: Xue Teng-da , Zhang Jin-hua , Wang Tian-rui , Bai Bao-qing , Hou Zhi-xing , Cheng Jian-feng , Bo Tao , Fan San-hong
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Microbial resources are abundant in fermented grains of the Chinese Fen-flavor Baijiu, which is closely related to the quality of Baijiu. The purpose of this study was to investigate the microbial community structure and function in Daqu and fermented grains.

Methods

We systematically compared two technical approaches, amplicon sequencing, and metagenomic sequencing, to analyze the microbial communities during Baijiu fermentation.

Result

The results showed that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts were the main microorganisms in the fermentation process. Firmicutes (Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, and Weissella) were the dominant bacteria, and Ascomycota (Issatchenkia or Pichia) was the dominant fungus in fermented grains. Moreover, Pichia kudriavzevii, Lichtheimia ramosa, and Companilactobacillus paralimentarius were the dominant species at the initial stage of fermentation by metagenomic sequencing. Latilactobacillus curvatus, Loigolactobacillus coryniformis subsp. coryniformis, and Lentilactobacillus parabuchneri became dominant during the middle stage of fermentation. Lentilactobacillus parabuchneri and Lactobacillus acetotolerans were the dominant species in the final stage of fermentation. Spearman correlation analysis showed that LAB inhibited the growth of yeasts.

Conclusion

Combining the two sequencing methods provided valuable insights into the dynamic succession of microorganisms during the fermentation of Baijiu. It had had a particular significance for mining microbial species resources in fermented grains.
Modified centroid triplet loss for person re-identification
Authors: Alnissany Alaa , Dayoub Yazan
Published: May 2023

Person Re-identification (ReID) is the process of matching target individuals to their images within different images or videos captured from a variety of angles or cameras. This is a critical task for surveillance applications, in particular, these applications that operate in large environments such as malls and airports. Recent studies use data-driven approaches to tackle this problem. This work continues on this path by presenting a modification of a previously defined loss, the centroid triplet loss ( CTL). The proposed loss, modified centroid triplet loss (MCTL), emphasizes more on the interclass distance. It is divided into two parts, one penalizes for interclass distance and second penalizes for intraclass distance. Mean Average Precision (mAP) was adopted to validate our approach, two datasets are also used for validation; Market-1501 and DukeMTMC. The results were calculated for first rank of identification and mAP. For dataset Market-1501 dataset, the results were$$98.4\%$$98.4%rank1,$$98.63\%$$98.63%mAP, and$$96.8\%$$96.8%rank1,$$97.3\%$$97.3%mAP on DukeMTMC dataset, the results outweighed those of existing studies in the domain.
CT-guided transthoracic core needle biopsies of focal pleural lesions smaller than 10 mm: a retrospective study
Authors: Kukuljan Melita , Mršić Ena , Oštarijaš Eduard
Published: May 2023

Background

CT-guided transthoracic core needle biopsy (TCNB) is a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure and a useful radiological method for diagnosing pleural lesions smaller than 10 mm in the presence of loculated pleural effusion. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively assess the diagnostic accuracy of CT-guided TCNB of small pleural lesions and determine the incidence of complications.

Methods

This retrospective study included a total of 56 patients (45 men and 11 women; mean [± SD] age, 71.84 ± 10.11 years) with small costal pleural lesions (thickness of < 10 mm) who underwent TCNB performed at the Department of Radiology from January 2015 to July 2021. One of the inclusion criteria for this study was a loculated pleural effusion greater than 20 mm, with a nondiagnostic cytological analysis. Sensitivity, specificity and positive as well as negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) were calculated.

Results

The sensitivity of CT-guided TCNB for the diagnosis of small pleural lesions in this study was 84.6% (33 of 39), specificity 100% (17 of 17), PPV 100% (33 of 33), and NPV 73.9% (17 of 23), while diagnostic accuracy was 89.3% (50 of 56). The overall diagnostic contribution of TCNB in our study is comparable with the results of other recent reports. Loculated pleural effusion was considered a protective factor since no complications were noted.

Conclusion

CT-guided transthoracic core needle biopsy (TCNB) is an accurate diagnostic method for small suspected pleural lesions with a near-zero complication rate in the presence of loculated pleural effusion.
The impact of patient and public involvement on COVID-19 immunology research: experiences from the UK Coronavirus Immunology Consortium
Authors: Aquino Erika Neves , Moss Paul , Hafeez Mo , Jasper Robert , Kelly Tony , Laidlaw Lynn , Wilkes Vivienne
Published: May 2023

Background

Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in clinical trial research is recognised as relevant but the active involvement of patients and the public in basic science or laboratory-based research is seen as more challenging and not often reported. PPI within the UK Coronavirus Immunology Consortium (UK-CIC), a translational research project aimed at tackling some of the key questions about the immune system’s response to SARS-CoV-2, is an example of overcoming negative perceptions and obstacles. Given the widespread impact of COVID-19, it was important to consider the impact of UK-CIC research on patients and the public throughout, and the PPI panel were an integral part of the consortium.

Findings

Building in funding for a PPI panel to value involvement and ensuring effective expert administrative support and management of PPI were crucial to success. Facilitating relationships and quality interactions between public contributors and researchers required time and commitment to the project from all parties. Through creating a platform and open space to explore diverse views and a wide range of perspectives, PPI was able to influence researchers’ ways of thinking about their research and impact future research questions about COVID-19 immunology. Moreover, there was long-term impact from the involvement of the PPI panel in COVID-19 research and their value was reflected in invitations to contribute to additional immunology projects.

Conclusion

The ability to conduct meaningful PPI with basic immunology research has been shown possible through the UK-CIC in the context of the fast-moving COVID-19 pandemic. The UK-CIC project has laid the foundations for PPI in immunology and this should now be built upon for the advantage of future basic scientific research; PPI can impact greatly on laboratory-based research when given the opportunity to do so.
A change of direction for family policy in Italy: some reflections on the general family allowance (GFA)
Authors: Dalla-Zuanna Gianpiero , McDonald Peter F.
Published: May 2023

We present and discuss the General Family Allowance (GFA), in Italian: Assegno Unico Universale, a measure that the Italian Government and Parliament have put in place from March 2022 addressing the persistent low fertility in Italy. The GFA modernizes monetary transfers in favor of families with children in Italy, covering large groups of families that were previously excluded from full benefits. Even if the aim of the GFA is to support fertility rather than to alleviate child poverty, it is likely that this measure will help to reduce poverty, especially for families with children previously excluded from significant cash contributions, such as recently resident foreigners and the unemployed. In addition, as GFA amounts are modest for wealthier couples, its potential effect on fertility—if there will be any—should be limited to couples with modest incomes. The GFA is also compared with the different systems of monetary transfers in favor of families with children of developed countries.
Gut microbiota mediated the effects of high relative humidity on lupus in female MRL/lpr mice
Authors: Wang Chaochao , Lin Yongqiang , Chen Leiming , Chen Hui
Published: May 2023

Introduction

The relationship between humidity and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has yielded inconsistent results in prior research, while the effects of humidity on lupus in animal experiments and its underlying mechanism remain inadequately explored.

Methods

The present study aimed to investigate the impact of high humidity (80 ± 5%) on lupus using female and male MRL/lpr mice, with a particular focus on elucidating the role of gut microbiota in this process. To this end, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was employed to transfer the gut microbiota of MRL/lpr mice under high humidity to blank MRL/lpr mice under normal humidity (50 ± 5%), allowing for an assessment of the effect of FMT on lupus.

Results

The study revealed that high humidity exacerbated lupus indices (serum anti-dsDNA, ANA, IL-6, and IFN- g, and renal pathology) in female MRL/lpr mice but had no significant effect on male MRL/lpr mice. The aggravation of lupus caused by high humidity may be attributed to the increased abundances of the Rikenella, Romboutsia, Turicibacter, and Escherichia-Shigella genera in female MRL/lpr mice. Furthermore, FMT also exacerbated lupus in female MRL/lpr mice but not in male MRL/lpr mice.

Conclusion

In summary, this study has demonstrated that high humidity exacerbated lupus by modulating gut microbiota in female MRL/lpr mice. The findings underscore the importance of considering environmental factors and gut microbiota in the development and progression of lupus, particularly among female patients.
Crinecerfont, a CRF1 Receptor Antagonist, Lowers Adrenal Androgens in Adolescents With Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
Authors: Newfield Ron S , Sarafoglou Kyriakie , Fechner Patricia Y , Nokoff Natalie J , Auchus Richard J , Vogiatzi Maria G , Jeha George S , Giri Nagdeep , Roberts Eiry , Sturgeon Julia , Chan Jean L , Farber Robert H
Published: May 2023

Context

Crinecerfont, a corticotropin-releasing factor type 1 receptor antagonist, has been shown to reduce elevated adrenal androgens and precursors in adults with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD), a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by cortisol deficiency and androgen excess due to elevated adrenocorticotropin.

Objective

To evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of crinecerfont in adolescents with 21OHD CAH.

Methods

This was an open-label, phase 2 study (NCT04045145) at 4 centers in the United States. Participants were males and females, 14 to 17 years of age, with classic 21OHD CAH. Crinecerfont was administered orally (50 mg twice daily) for 14 consecutive days with morning and evening meals. The main outcomes were change from baseline to day 14 in circulating concentrations of ACTH, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP), androstenedione, and testosterone.

Results

8 participants (3 males, 5 females) were enrolled; median age was 15 years and 88% were Caucasian/White. After 14 days of crinecerfont, median percent reductions from baseline to day 14 were as follows: ACTH, −57%; 17OHP, −69%; and androstenedione, −58%. In female participants, 60% (3/5) had ≥50% reduction from baseline in testosterone.

Conclusion

Adolescents with classic 21OHD CAH had substantial reductions in adrenal androgens and androgen precursors after 14 days of oral crinecerfont administration. These results are consistent with a study of crinecerfont in adults with classic 21OHD CAH.
Genetics and Natural History of Non-pancreatectomized Patients With Congenital Hyperinsulinism Due to Variants in ABCC8
Authors: Clemente María , Cobo Patricia , Antolín María , Campos Ariadna , Yeste Diego , Tomasini Rosangela , Caimari María , Masas Miriam , García-Arumí Elena , Fernández-Cancio Mónica , Baz-Redón Noelia , Camats-Tarruella Núria
Published: May 2023

Context

Patients with congenital hyperinsulinism due to ABCC8 variants generally present severe hypoglycemia and those who do not respond to medical treatment typically undergo pancreatectomy. Few data exist on the natural history of non-pancreatectomized patients.

Objective

This work aims to describe the genetic characteristics and natural history in a cohort of non-pancreatectomized patients with congenital hyperinsulinism due to variants in the ABCC8 gene.

Methods

Ambispective study of patients with congenital hyperinsulinism with pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in ABCC8 treated in the last 48 years and who were not pancreatectomized. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has been periodically performed in all patients since 2003. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed if hyperglycemia was detected in the CGM.

Results

Eighteen non-pancreatectomized patients with ABCC8 variants were included. Seven (38.9%) patients were heterozygous, 8 (44.4%) compound heterozygous, 2 (11.1%) homozygous, and 1 patient carried 2 variants with incomplete familial segregation studies. Seventeen patients were followed up and 12 (70.6%) of them evolved to spontaneous resolution (median age 6.0 ± 4 years; range, 1-14). Five of these 12 patients (41.7%) subsequently progressed to diabetes with insufficient insulin secretion. Evolution to diabetes was more frequent in patients with biallelic variants in the ABCC8 gene.

Conclusion

The high remission rate observed in our cohort makes conservative medical treatment a reliable strategy for the management of patients with congenital hyperinsulinism due to ABCC8 variants. In addition, a periodic follow-up of glucose metabolism after remission is recommended, as a significant proportion of patients evolved to impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes (biphasic phenotype).
Altered Thyroid Feedback Loop in Klinefelter Syndrome: From Infancy Through the Transition to Adulthood
Authors: Carlomagno Francesco , Minnetti Marianna , Angelini Francesco , Pofi Riccardo , Sbardella Emilia , Spaziani Matteo , Aureli Alessia , Anzuini Antonella , Paparella Roberto , Tarani Luigi , Porcelli Tommaso , De Stefano Maria Angela , Pozza Carlotta , Gianfrilli Daniele , Isidori Andrea M
Published: May 2023

Context

It has been claimed that thyroid dysfunction contributes to the spectrum of Klinefelter syndrome (KS); however, studies are scarce.

Objective

In a retrospective longitudinal study, we aimed at describing the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis and thyroid ultrasonographic (US) appearance in patients with KS throughout the life span.

Methods

A total of 254 patients with KS (25.9 ± 16.1 years) were classified according to their pubertal and gonadal status and compared with different groups of non-KS age-matched individuals with normal thyroid function, treated and untreated hypogonadism, or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis. We assessed serum thyroid hormone levels, antithyroid antibodies, US thyroid parameters, and in vitro pituitary type 2 deiodinase (D2) expression and activity.

Results

Thyroid autoimmunity was more prevalent among individuals with KS at all ages, although the antibody (Ab)-negative vs Ab-positive cohorts were not different. Signs of thyroid dysfunction (reduced volume, lower echogenicity, and increased inhomogeneity) were more prominent in KS than in euthyroid controls. Free thyroid hormones were lower in prepubertal, pubertal, and adult patients with KS, whereas thyrotropin values were lower only in adults. Peripheral sensitivity to thyroid hormones was unaltered in KS, suggesting a dysfunctional HPT axis. Testosterone (T) was the only factor associated with thyroid function and appearance. In vitro testing demonstrated an inhibitory effect of T on pituitary D2 expression and activity, supporting enhanced central sensing of circulating thyroid hormones in hypogonadism.

Conclusion

From infancy through adulthood, KS is characterized by increased morphofunctional abnormalities of the thyroid gland, combined with a central feedback dysregulation sustained by the effect of hypogonadism on D2 deiodinase.
Epidemiology and Causes of Primary Adrenal Insufficiency in Children: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Borchers Joonatan , Pukkala Eero , Mäkitie Outi , Laakso Saila
Published: May 2023

Context

Incidence and causes of primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) have not been comprehensively studied in children.

Objective

Our objective was to describe the epidemiology and to assess causes of PAI in Finnish children.

Methods

A population-based descriptive study of PAI in Finnish patients aged 0-20 years.

Diagnoses referring to adrenal insufficiency in children born in 1996-2016 were collected from the Finnish National Care Register for Health Care. Patients with PAI were identified by studying patient records. Incidence rates were calculated in relation to person-years in the Finnish population of same age.

Results

Of the 97 patients with PAI, 36% were female. The incidence of PAI was highest during the first year of life (in females 2.7 and in males 4.0/100 000 person-years). At 1-15 years of age, the incidence of PAI in females was 0.3/100 000 and in males 0.6/100 000 person-years. Cumulative incidence was 10/100 000 persons at age of 15 years and 13/100 000 at 20 years. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia was the cause in 57% of all patients and in 88% of patients diagnosed before age of 1 year. Other causes among the 97 patients included autoimmune disease (29%), adrenoleukodystrophy (6%), and other genetic causes (6%). From the age of 5 years, most of the new cases of PAI were due to autoimmune disease.

Conclusion

After the first-year peak, the incidence of PAI is relatively constant through ages 1-15 years, and 1 out of 10 000 children are diagnosed with PAI before the age of 15 years.
The “Unlikely Writers” from Picun: Reinventing Literature and Politics at the Migrant Workers Home
Authors: Ting Chun Chun
Published: May 2023

In response to Sun Wanning's (2014) critique that individual desire for recognition has limited the political potential of migrant worker literature, this article looks to the Picun Literature Group at the Migrant Workers Home to examine the dynamic between the collective, activist setting and the individual authors’ struggle with literary and political practice. Combining the literary technique of close reading with anthropological fieldwork, the article describes how the Group encourages and influences its members’ literary production. The works of Xiao Hai, Fan Yusu, Li Ruo, and Wan Huashan are examined to determine whether they view literature as elite or subaltern, individual or collective, art or activism. This article identifies in their writing concrete examples of a change in consciousness and the formation of identity. It argues that literary writing gives the working-class writing subject and fellow workers a sense of dignity and collective identity. Both the Picun writers and the migrant worker writers in general can be considered “unlikely writers.” The term captures their marginality in the cultural field, as well as the struggle to negotiate their subalternity and the elitist formulation of literary value. Thus, the “unlikely writer” embodies the promise of migrant worker literature in the attempt to redefine the meanings of “politics” and “literature” and bring the two together.
Epistemic Labor: Narratives of Hyper-Uncertainty and Future-Making on China's Urban Fringe
Authors: Zhan Yang
Published: May 2023

This article conceptualizes storytelling as epistemic labor that is critical to the everyday meaning-making and future-making of Chinese rural migrants. Compared to stories told by scholars and migrants turned writers and artists, those told by migrants in a quotidian setting are largely overlooked because of their lack of representational value. However, narratives of success, fortune, and the future that circulate on China's urban fringe are essential in three ways: (1) stories, rather than numbers and calculations, help rural migrants make sense of their economic reality; (2) storytelling allows rural migrants to cope with unexpected events; and (3) stories are often imbued with moral sentiment through which moral boundaries and group identities are established. Overall, epistemic labor makes the present sensible, reality tolerable, and the future imaginable under conditions of hyper-uncertainty in which spatial instability negates routinized time and linear accumulation is denied by dramatic market fluctuations and unpredictable displacement. Epistemic labor proves that migrant agency not only resides in eventful resistance but also in constant negotiations.
Stuxnet fine-tunes Notch dose during development using a functional Polycomb response element
Authors: He Tao , Fan Yu , Du Juan , Yi Mengyuan , Li Yajuan , Liu Min , Zhu Alan Jian
Published: May 2023

Evolutionarily conserved Notch signaling is highly sensitive to changes in Notch receptor dose caused by intrinsic and environmental fluctuations. It is well known that epigenetic regulation responds dynamically to genetic, cellular and environmental stresses. However, it is unclear whether the Notch receptor dose is directly regulated at the epigenetic level. Here, by studying the role of the upstream epigenetic regulator Stuxnet (Stx) in Drosophila developmental signaling, we find that Stx promotes Notch receptor mRNA expression by counteracting the activity of Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1). In addition, we provide evidence that Notch is a direct PRC1 target by identifying and validating in vivo the only bona fide Polycomb response element (PRE) among the seven Polycomb group (PcG)-binding sites revealed by DamID-seq and ChIP-seq analysis. Importantly, in situ deletion of this PRE results in increased Notch expression and phenotypes resembling Notch hyperactivation in cell fate specification. These results not only underscore the importance of epigenetic regulation in fine-tuning the Notch activity dose, but also the need to assess the physiological significance of omics-based PcG binding in development.
Ciliated sensory neurons can regenerate axons after complete axon removal
Authors: Stone Michelle C. , Mauger Abigail S. , Rolls Melissa M.
Published: May 2023

Axon regeneration helps maintain lifelong function of neurons in many animals. Depending on the site of injury, new axons can grow either from the axon stump (after distal injury) or from the tip of a dendrite (after proximal injury). However, some neuron types do not have dendrites to be converted to a regenerating axon after proximal injury. For example, many sensory neurons receive information from a specialized sensory cilium rather than a branched dendrite arbor. We hypothesized that the lack of traditional dendrites would limit the ability of ciliated sensory neurons to respond to proximal axon injury. We tested this hypothesis by performing laser microsurgery on ciliated lch1 neurons in Drosophila larvae and tracking cells over time. These cells survived proximal axon injury as well as distal axon injury, and, like many other neurons, initiated growth from the axon stump after distal injury. After proximal injury, neurites regrew in a surprisingly flexible manner. Most cells initiated outgrowth directly from the cell body, but neurite growth could also emerge from the short axon stump or base of the cilium. New neurites were often branched. Although outgrowth after proximal axotomy was variable, it depended on the core DLK axon injury signaling pathway. Moreover, each cell had at least one new neurite specified as an axon based on microtubule polarity and accumulation of the endoplasmic reticulum. We conclude that ciliated sensory neurons are not intrinsically limited in their ability to grow a new axon after proximal axon removal.
Neonatal resuscitation: A cross-sectional study measuring the readiness of healthcare personnel
Authors: Utomo Martono Tri , Sampurna Mahendra Tri Arif , Widyatama Rufina Adelia , Visuddho Visuddho , Angelo Albright Ivan , Etika Risa , Angelika Dina , Handayani Kartika Darma , Irzaldy Abyan
Published: May 2023

Background: Optimal neonatal resuscitation requires knowledge and experience on the part of healthcare personnel. This study aims to assess the readiness of hospital healthcare personnel to perform neonatal resuscitation.

Methods: This was an observational study conducted in May 2021 by distributing questionnaires to nurses, midwives, doctors, and residents to determine the level of knowledge and experience of performing neonatal resuscitation. Questionnaires were adapted from prior validated questionnaires by Jukkala AM and Henly SJ. We conducted the research in four types of hospitals A, B, C, and D, which are defined by the Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. Type A hospitals have the most complete medical services, while type D hospitals have the least medical services. The comparative analysis between participants’ characteristics and the knowledge or experience score was conducted.

Results: A total of 123 and 70 participants were included in the knowledge and experience questionnaire analysis, respectively. There was a significant difference (p = 0.013) in knowledge of healthcare personnel between the type A hospital (median 15.00; Interquartile Range [IQR] 15.00–16.00) and type C hospital (median 14.50; IQR 12.25–15.75). In terms of experience, the healthcare personnel of type A (median 85.00; IQR 70.00-101.00) and type B (median 92.00; IQR 81.00-98.00) hospitals had significantly (p =0,026) higher experience scores than the type D (median 42.00; IQR 29.00-75.00) hospital, but we did not find a significant difference between other type of hospitals.

Conclusions: In this study, we found that the healthcare personnel from type A and type B hospitals are more experienced than those from type D hospitals in performing neonatal resuscitation. We suggest that a type D hospital should refer the neonate to a type A or type B hospital if there is sufficient time in cases of risk at need for resuscitation.
HISTORICAL FACTUALIZATION OF THE THEORY OF OPPOSITION (BY THE EXAMPLE OF THE CREATION ‒ DESTRUCTION DICHOTOMY)
Authors: Zdanovskaya Lidia B. , Isaeva Lidia A.
Published: May 2023

Background. The growing trend of introducing numerous information resources into the socio-cultural space of modern society has contributed to the increased popularity of scientific works devoted to the range of aspects of political discourse analysis and the conceptual opposition associated with it which forms the basis of the “Creation ‒ Destruction” dichotomy under study.

Purpose. The article is devoted to the study of linguo-pragmatic reasons for specific forms of opposition in political discourse.

Materials and methods. The material for this article were the works of famous Russian and European researches, representatives of the leading scientific schools of linguocognitology devoted to the theoretical issues of conceptual opposition, as well as the book of the American investigative journalist B. Woodward Fear: Trump in the White House. When writing the article, the following methods were used: comparative, discursive, contextual analysis.

Results. In the course of the study, the conditions for the emergence of opposition processes are analyzed. Various approaches to the linguocognitive description of opposition have been systematized. On the example of the dichotomy “Creation ‒ Destruction”, a characteristic description of the action as a key factor in the implementation of opposition in political discourse is presented.

Practical implications. The actual results of the study can find implementation in the preparation of educational and methodological material on the linquocognitive analysis of concepts as part of dichotomous models.
IMAGES OF POLITICAL ISLAM IN THE DUNE NOVELS: IMAGINATION AND INVENTION OF JIHAD AS A POLITICAL PROTEST
Authors: Kyrchanoff Maksym W.
Published: May 2023

Background. The author analyzes the texts of the Dune cycle in contexts of contemporary historiography, which proposed universal methods that allow analyzing “oriental” images in literature through the prism of constructing and deconstructing the narratives that form the image of Islam.

Purpose. The purpose of the article is an “orientalist” reinterpretation of Islamic images in the novels belonging to the Dune cycle, including the texts of the original cycle and prequels presented by Dune, Dune Messiah, Dune. Butlerian Jihad and Dune. Paul.

Materials and methods. The author uses the methodological tools offered in intellectual history and studies of nationalism, including the concept of the invention of traditions, which allows us to analyze the images of Islam in science fiction as one of the invented traditions of American mass literature using the texts of the Dune cycle as sources corpus. Orientalism as a method is used to analyze Muslim motifs in the prose of F. Herbert, B. Herbert and K. Anderson, which, as the author believes, were inspired by political, ideological and religious stimuli. The author believes that the orientalist approach is an effective interpretative model for an interdisciplinary analysis of American science fiction as a space for the development of Islamic images.

Results. It is shown that the novels through the prism of images of Islam actualize and promote a unique ideological discourse and political message. The features and forms of political protest under religious Muslim slogans are analyzed. It is studied how the mobilization potential of political Islam is perceived as a form of legitimization of social and economic protest. An expanded understanding of jihad as both a religious war and a social class conflict is analyzed. It is shown that 1) the actualization of Muslim images in American science fiction was the result of the political activation of the East, 2) the authors of the texts actualized the anti-authoritarian and emancipatory potential of Islam.
IMAGES OF JIHAD AND PROBLEMS OF LEGITIMATION OF RELIGIOUS PROTEST AS A FORM OF CLASS CONFLICT AND SOCIAL LIBERATION
Authors: Kyrchanoff Maksym W.
Published: May 2023

Background. The author analyzes the texts of the Dune cycle in contexts of modern historiography, including its universal methods that allow analyzing “oriental” images in literature through the prism of constructing and deconstructing narratives that form the image of Jihad as a form of political, social and religious struggle of oppressed communities and minorities.

Purpose. The purpose of the article is an “orientalist” reinterpretation of the images of Jihad in the novels belonging to the Dune cycle including the prequel text presented by Dune. Butlerian Jihad and Dune. Paul.

Materials and methods. The author uses the methodological tools of intellectual history and studies of nationalism, including the concept of the invention of traditions, which allows to analyze the images of Jihad in science fiction as one of the invented traditions of mass US science fiction literature using the texts of the Dune cycle. Orientalism as a method is used to analyze Muslim motifs in the prose of F. Herbert, B. Herbert and K. Anderson, which, as the author of the article presumes, were inspired by political, ideological and religious stimuli. The author states that the orientalist approach can be an effective interpretative model for an interdisciplinary analysis of American science fiction as a cultural landscape for the development of Jihad images in the Western intellectual tradition of the consumer society.

Results. The ideological and political foundations for the development of images of Jihad as a social concept of American science fiction are studied in the article. The article analyzes the ideological origins, as well as the political prototypes and archetypes of the Muslim radicals of the Dune cycle. The author analyzes the ideological discourse of radical Islamism, presented in American mass culture through the prism of religious war images as attempts to implement the doctrine and social liberation. The article analyzes the attempts of American writers to form a positive and attractive image of a radical political protest under religious Muslim slogans. Therefore, it is shown that American science fiction prose actualized the mobilization potential of Islamism, imagining and inventing it as a form of legitimate social and economic protest of the oppressed masses against discrimination. The author presumes that some American authors revised the images of Jihad, offering its interpretation as a radical social and class protest based on religious legitimation.
La cooperación internacional en la competición por el espacio exterior
Authors: Sánchez Mayorga Jaime Luis
Published: May 2023

El estado actual de competición en el espacio exterior sitúa a las capacidades estratégicas espaciales de los países en el objetivo de la planificación estratégica de todos ellos. Los organismos internacionales están cobrando conciencia de la necesidad de proteger los activos espaciales ante un creciente número de amenazas, lo que requerirá de un esfuerzo adicional en cuanto a medios para mitigar sus efectos. La aproximación entre el espacio y la defensa, para poder actuar en este nuevo escenario, propicia la participación de los organismos de defensa y seguridad y exige a los Estados el aporte de esta dimensión de defensa que se requiere para ello. España, tanto a través del Ministerio de Defensa como en otras iniciativas que requieren de su concurrencia, está preparada para contribuir a esta llamada desde la OTAN, Unión Europea y Naciones Unidas, con los medios disponibles y las medidas que su contexto país le permitan
The growing Russophilia of post-communist Bulgarian nationalism: between entanglements and paradoxes
Authors: Stanchev Evlogi
Published: May 2023

El ensayo examina las diversas manifestaciones de la influencia rusa en el nacionalismo búlgaro actual. Aunque este fenómeno se remonta a los primeros días del pensamiento nacionalista búlgaro en el siglo XIX, ganó particular importancia en los últimos años, especialmente en el contexto de la guerra híbrida rusa. Luego de delinear el panorama político del nacionalismo búlgaro en el período poscomunista, el artículo ofrece un análisis en profundidad de las narrativas prorrusas dominantes que son reproducidas a gritos por los principales actores nacionalistas del país. Aunque algunos de estos mensajes se han adaptado firmemente a la memoria colectiva de generaciones de búlgaros debido a diversas razones históricas (por ejemplo, la narrativa de los "libertadores rusos"), otros son un producto directo de la propaganda actual del Kremlin (las nociones sobre la supuesta “decadencia” de Occidente). Asimismo, se han abordado a fondo las crecientes divisiones dentro de la sociedad búlgara que se formaron en el contexto de esta prolongada influencia rusa. El documento argumenta que los actores respaldados por el Kremlin están tratando de monopolizar y privatizar el discurso patriótico en Bulgaria, alterando así la orientación pro-occidental del país. En cuanto a su metodología, la investigación se adhiere a un enfoque interdisciplinario elástico que toma en consideración algunos de los principales logros teóricos en los campos de los estudios del nacionalismo y los estudios de la memoria.
Auditing Public Debt Using Risk Management
Authors: Consiglio Andrea , Kikas Akis , Michaelides Odysseas P. , Zenios Stavros A.
Published: May 2023

The Audit Office of the Republic of Cyprus conducted the first-ever audit of the country’s public debt, seeking answers to two key questions. Is government debt sustainable, and is debt financing efficient and effective in securing the lowest cost with acceptable risks? The audit’s findings were discussed by the parliament and can have significant ramifications for public finance. However, public debt management is quite complex, and the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions suggests that sufficient technical knowledge is essential in undertaking an audit, including an understanding of the uncertain macroeconomy, financing conditions, and government fiscal stance. We use a risk management model based on scenario trees in conducting the audit. The model determines optimal debt financing strategies to benchmark the performance of the country’s Public Debt Management Office and answer the audit questions. We also incorporate an integrated assessment model to examine the risks from climate change. The auditor general presented the findings to the Parliamentary Audit Committee in the presence of the Minister of Finance, and his recommendations are expected to have a significant impact on the debt operations of the country.

History: This paper was refereed.

Funding: This work was supported by the Auditor General Office of the Republic of Cyprus. A. Consiglio was partially funded by NRRP-GRINS [Grant PE00000018].
Inter-Unit Executive Redeployment in Multiunit Firms: Evidence from Korean Business Groups
Authors: Chang Sea-Jin , Kim Young-Choon , Park Sangchan
Published: May 2023

Building on the literature on resource reconfiguration theory, we formulate a new theoretical framework that explains how executive redeployment within a diversified firm transfers different types of human capital embodied in executives to different units facing specific business challenges. In the empirical context of Korean business groups, we find that executives with unit-specific human capital, like turnaround experience, competitive experience, and international expansion experience, are redeployed to units with corresponding business challenges like financial difficulties, intensifying competition, and early-stage international expansion, respectively. We also show that executives with unit-generic human capital, like corporate management practices and interunit coordination experiences, are redeployed to younger units seeking to establish corporate-level policies and practices. Additional analyses also show that the value of firm-specific human capital in driving the redeployment of executives is contingent on their functional orientation and seniority.

Funding: S.-J. Chang appreciates financial support from the Lim Kim San Chair Professorship from National University of Singapore and Techno SK Chair Professorship from KAIST. Y.-C. Kim is also grateful for financial support from the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and the National Research Foundation of Korea [NRF-2022S1A5A2A01044597].

Supplemental Material: The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.20.14525 .
Foucault, Hadot, e a espiritualidade nos dias de hoje: o que resta do “retorno a si”?
Authors: Garcia Victor Alexandre
Published: May 2023

O artigo visa discutir algumas passagens em que Michel Foucault aborda o provável esgotamento, em nossos dias, da possibilidade do sujeito realizar um “retorno a si” e constituir uma ética e uma estética do si. Identificamos também em Pierre Hadot a mesma inquietação a respeito de uma provável perda de sentido da espiritualidade hoje. Em primeiro lugar, apresentamos uma síntese da interpretação foucaultiana do cuidado de si. Em seguida, buscamos definir o termo “espiritualidade”, tentando mostrar que tanto Foucault quanto Hadot sempre ressaltaram sua imbricação ético-política. Foucault inclusive pensou a espiritualidade como motor das revoltas e das revoluções. Por fim, partindo de duas esquetes do mundo contemporâneo, discutimos algumas passagens em que ambos autores expressam inquietações sobre a provável ausência de sentido de uma “ética do si” em nossos dias.