bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do community health committees participate in governing health workers in primary healthcare facilities under fiscal decentralization?—An explanatory qualitative study from Tanzania
Authors: Kesale Anosisye Mwandulusya
Published: February 2024

Background

Decentralization is implemented at the local level to increase community participation in improving service delivery. Majority of developing countries are implementing Fiscal decentralization in primary healthcare through various approaches such as Direct Health Facility Financing, among other things, to empower Community governance structures to govern Primary Health Facility operations to improve the responsiveness of health service delivery and achieve Universal Health Coverage. One of the primary functions of these governance committees is to oversee health workers in their health facilities.

Aims

This aimed at assessing how empowered governance committees govern health workers in their facilities under fiscal decentralization.

Methods

To collect data for this study, an explanatory qualitative design with phenomenology traditions was used. To select the area of study, health facilities, and participants, a purposeful sampling procedure was used. Data were gathered through interviews and Focus Group Discussions to explore committee participation in governing health workers in primary care. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the collected data.

Result

The findings of the study suggest that community governance committees’ participation in governing health workers under fiscal decentralization remains limited. Majority of the committees have found to have low limited participation in governing different aspects of health workers. The majority of the committees have discovered that hiring casual workers such as security guards and cleaners is more important than other functions.

Conclusion

The study implies that lower and middle‐income countries’ willingness to implement fiscal reforms at the local level and empower communities to take the lead in governing health workers still there are very limited specific powers granted to them to govern health workers. Therefore, capacity building to the governance actors is critical if we are to achieve the benefit of fiscal decentralization.
Modeling of thermal radiation in a participating media with conjugate heat transfer
Authors: Kumar Aman , Jayakumar Janardanan Sarasamma , Babu Jeetu S.
Published: February 2024

Modeling a combination of thermal radiation and conjugate heat transfer in a three‐dimensional rectangular domain which has a participating media CO2 flowing through is done numerically in OpenFOAM. The rectangular duct has a vertical step (facing forward to the inlet) which is located at a distance from the inlet (the distance is same as the height of the inlet section). The domain is divided into two regions (namely solid and fluid). Carbon dioxide, a highly absorbing fluid with extinction, is used here as the participating medium. The ability of the code is verified to analyze the thermal radiation in a participating media with conjugate heat transfer. The study was carried out for a constant Reynolds number 250 and a contraction ratio of 0.5. The study focused primarily on the importance of adding thermal radiation on to thermal analysis and the reason behind the Nusselt number variation on different regions of solid–fluid interface. It also discussed the effect of radiative properties, such as optical thickness and linear scattering albedo, on the average convective Nusselt Number.
More being, different doing: Illuminating examples of culturally relevant literacy teaching
Authors: Rios Ambyr , Matthews Sharon D. , Zentell Sydney , Kogut Ashlynn
Published: February 2024

Preparing literacy teachers for culturally relevant teaching is increasingly critical amidst growing student diversity and pandemic‐associated learning needs. However, despite the prevalence of existing reporting on culturally relevant literacy teaching, there remains a disconnect between the theoretical conception and realized implementation of this work in literacy classrooms. Operationalizing the praxis of culturally relevant literacy teaching has remained elusive due to the contextualized and adaptive nature of the practice. This literature review aims to demystify this praxis by particularizing and grounding the theories and ideas that support culturally relevant teacher practices in literacy and offer examples for preservice and in‐service practice. We conducted a rapid review of 72 articles to explore how culturally relevant literacy teaching has been included in teacher preparation and teaching. Findings include six categories of culturally relevant literacy practices in preservice teacher education and three in in‐service teaching. Results point toward a needed shift away from a curricular focus of this work to one that is pedagogical and student‐centered.
Functionalization of a zirconia surface by covalently immobilized fibronectin and its effects on resistance to thermal, acid, and mechanical exposure
Authors: Palkowitz Alena L. , Tuna Taskin , Kaufmann Robert , Buhl Eva Miriam , Wolfart Stefan , Fischer Horst
Published: February 2024

Silane chemistry has emerged as a powerful tool for surface modification, offering a versatile means to enhance the properties of various substrates, such as dental implant abutment materials. In this study, we investigated the stability of the 3‐aminopropyldiisopropylethoxysilane (APDS) layer on yttria‐partially stabilized zirconia (Y‐TZP) surfaces after mechanical, acid, and thermal treatment in order to simulate fluctuations within the oral cavity. To accomplish that, the viability of human gingival fibroblasts on APDS‐modified surfaces after applied treatment strategies was assessed by live/dead staining. Moreover, the hydrolysis stability and enzymatic degradation resistance of crosslinked fibronectin to the APDS layer was examined by immunostaining and western blot. The results revealed that the applied modifications were not affected by the different treatment conditions and could withstand the fluctuations in the oral cavity. Furthermore, crosslinked fibronectin on silanized Y‐TZP was stable against hydrolysis over 21 days and enzymatic degradation. We thus can conclude that the proposed functionalization method has high potential to tolerate harmful effects within the oral cavity and remains unchanged on the surface.
Potential drug‐induced constipation: A retrospective study using a Japanese claims database
Authors: Karasawa Yusuke , Nozawa Kazutaka , Nakajima Atsushi
Published: February 2024

Background and Aim

Detailed clinical information regarding drug‐induced constipation (DIC) is limited. This study aimed to investigate the real‐world situation of DIC.

Methods

This retrospective study used data from a Japanese claims database registered from 2014 to 2021. The constipation cohort included subjects with at least one record of treated constipation, while the non‐constipation cohort was selected through random stratified sampling method, to match the constipation cohort by gender. The study population and control with at least one history of a known causative drug (CD) were matched 1:1 using propensity scores. The proportion of potential DIC (pDIC), the timing of diagnosis for pDIC, and the proportion of prescriptions by drug class for both the CDs and the laxatives were calculated, while logistic regression analysis was performed to explore additional associated factors.

Results

Of the 4 533 905 subjects, 178 852 were eligible in both the study population and the control. The pDIC group comprised of 19 485 patients, which accounted for 10.9% of all treated constipation subjects, while the non‐constipation with CD group had 10 430 subjects. The median duration between the recorded CD prescription and treated constipation was 38.0 days. The most frequently prescribed CD was cardiovascular drugs (47.9%). All CD classes, being male, and some comorbidities were associated with the occurrence of pDIC.

Conclusion

The pDIC subjects accounted for about 11% of all treated constipation cases. Since DIC requires different treatment regimens compared to other constipation types, physicians should be cognizant to provide patients with optimized treatments.
Recent trends in multidimensional countercurrent chromatography
Authors: Muhire Jules , Sun Xiao , Zhang Fu‐Xin , Huang Xin‐Yi , Di Duo‐Long
Published: February 2024

Countercurrent chromatography (CCC) is a potent separation approach known for its remarkable efficiency and capacity in preparation. It's applied as a substitute or combined with different chromatographic techniques, resulting in its rebranding as multidimensional CCC (MDCCC). Numerous essential mixtures from natural products contain hundreds or thousands of distinct components of importance. These mix types are too complicated to separate in any reasonable time using a single CCC dimension. However, if a multidimensional technique is utilized, where a complex mixture is separated by an initial dimension, smaller fractions of that separation are gathered. Each fraction is studied individually; complex mixes can be resolved relatively quickly. Thus, several MDCCC separation features have been studied to demonstrate their advantages, limitations, and prospective capacity to separate exceedingly complex mixtures. In this review, MDCCC aspects, including principles, multiple columns system, multilayer coil J‐type, on‐line monitoring system, and applications, have been thoroughly_explored.
Optimization of generic conditions for electromembrane extraction of basic substances of moderate or low polarity
Authors: Song Chenchen , Zhou Chen , Hansen Frederik André , Hay Anne Oldeide , Pedersen‐Bjergaard Stig
Published: February 2024

Generic electromembrane extraction (EME) methods were developed and optimized for basic analytes of moderate or low polarity, employing prototype conductive vial EME equipment. Two generic methods, B1 and B2, were devised for mono‐ and dibasic compounds with distinct polarity windows: 2.0 < log P < 6.0 for B1 and 1.0 < log P < 4.5 for B2. In B1, 10 μL of 2‐nitrophenyl octyl ether served as the liquid membrane, while B2 utilized 10 μL of 2‐undecanone. Both methods involved the acidification of 125 μL of human plasma samples with 125 μL of sample diluent (0.5 M HCOOH for B1 and 1.0 M HCOOH for B2). The acceptor phase consisted of 250 μL of 100 mM HCOOH. Extraction was conducted for 30 min with agitation at 800 rpm, employing an extraction potential of 100 V for B1 and 50 V for B2. A set of 90 pharmaceutical compounds was employed as model analytes. Both B1 and B2 demonstrated high recoveries (40%–100%) for the majority of model analytes within their respective polarity windows. Intra‐day precision was within 2.2% and 9.7% relative standard deviation. Both extraction systems exhibited stability in terms of current, matrix effect values were between 90% and 109%.
Quantifying impacts of harbor seal Phoca vitulina predation on juvenile Coho Salmon in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia
Authors: Nelson Benjamin W. , McAllister Murdoch K. , Trites Andrew W. , Thomas Austen C. , Walters Carl J.
Published: February 2024

Objective

Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch provide an important resource for recreational, commercial, and Indigenous fisheries in the Pacific Northwest. The goal of this study was to improve our understanding of how marine mammal predation may be impacting the survival and productivity of Coho Salmon in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia. Specifically, we quantified the impact of harbor seal Phoca vitulina predation on juvenile Coho Salmon during their first several months at sea. Early marine survival is believed to be the limiting factor for the recovery of Coho Salmon populations in this region.

Methods

To estimate the number of juvenile Coho Salmon consumed by harbor seals, we developed a mathematical model that integrates predator diet data and salmon population and mortality dynamics.

Result

Our analysis estimated that harbor seals consumed an annual average of 46−59% of juvenile Coho Salmon between 2004–2016, providing the first quantitative estimate of seal predation in the Strait of Georgia.

Conclusion

Marine mammal predation on juvenile Coho Salmon is potentially a very important factor limiting survival and recovery of Coho Salmon in the Strait of Georgia.
Parkin mRNA Expression Levels in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Parkin‐Related Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Papagiannakis Nikolaos , Liu Hui , Koros Christos , Simitsi Athina‐Maria , Stamelou Maria , Maniati Matina , Buena‐Atienza Elena , Kartanou Chrysoula , Karadima Georgia , Makrythanasis Periklis , Vatsellas Giannis , Valente Enza Maria , Gasser Thomas , Stefanis Leonidas
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Pathogenic variants in parkin (PRKN gene) are the second most prevalent known monogenic cause of Parkinson's disease (PD). How monoallelic or biallelic pathogenic variants in the PRKN gene may affect its transcription in patient‐derived biological material has not been systematically studied.

Methods

PRKN mRNA expression levels were measured with real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). PBMCs were derived from PRKN‐mutated PD patients (PRKN‐PD) (n = 12), sporadic PD (sPD) (n = 21) and healthy controls (n = 21). Six of the PRKN‐PD patients were heterozygous, four were compound heterozygous, and two were homozygous for PRKN variants.

Results

A statistically significant decrease in PRKN expression levels was present, compared to healthy controls and sPD, in heterozygous (P = 0.019 and 0.031 respectively) and biallelic (P < 0.001 for both) PRKN‐PD. PRKN expression levels in biallelic PD patients were uniformly very low and were reduced, albeit not significantly, compared to heterozygotes. Based on receiver operating characteristic analysis, low PRKN expression levels were a sensitive and extremely specific indicator for the presence of PRKN pathogenic variants.

Conclusions

Assessment of PRKN mRNA levels in PBMCs may be a useful way to screen for biallelic pathogenic variants in the PRKN gene. Suspicion for certain variants in a heterozygous state may also be raised based on low PRKN mRNA levels. © 2024 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Digital Measures of Postural Sway Quantify Balance Deficits in Spinocerebellar Ataxia
Authors: Shah Vrutangkumar V. , Muzyka Daniel , Jagodinsky Adam , McNames James , Casey Hannah , El‐Gohary Mahmoud , Sowalsky Kristen , Safarpour Delaram , Carlson‐Kuhta Patricia , Schmahmann Jeremy D. , Rosenthal Liana S. , Perlman Susan , Horak Fay B. , Gomez Christopher M.
Published: February 2024

Background

Maintaining balance is crucial for independence and quality of life. Loss of balance is a hallmark of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA).

Objective

The aim of this study was to identify which standing balance conditions and digital measures of body sway were most discriminative, reliable, and valid for quantifying balance in SCA.

Methods

Fifty‐three people with SCA (13 SCA1, 13 SCA2, 14 SCA3, and 13 SCA6) and Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) scores 9.28 ± 4.36 and 31 healthy controls were recruited. Subjects stood in six test conditions (natural stance, feet together and tandem, each with eyes open [EO] and eyes closed [EC]) with an inertial sensor on their lower back for 30 seconds (×2). We compared test completion rate, test–retest reliability, and areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for seven digital sway measures. Pearson's correlations related sway with the SARA and the Patient‐Reported Outcome Measure of Ataxia (PROM ataxia).

Results

Most individuals with SCA (85%–100%) could stand for 30 seconds with natural stance EO or EC, and with feet together EO. The most discriminative digital sway measures (path length, range, area, and root mean square) from the two most reliable and discriminative conditions (natural stance EC and feet together EO) showed intraclass correlation coefficients from 0.70 to 0.91 and AUCs from 0.83 to 0.93. Correlations of sway with SARA were significant (maximum r = 0.65 and 0.73). Correlations with PROM ataxia were mild to moderate (maximum r = 0.56 and 0.34).

Conclusion

Inertial sensor measures of extent of postural sway in conditions of natural stance EC and feet together stance EO were discriminative, reliable, and valid for monitoring SCA. © 2024 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy Imaging of Multiple System Atrophy Inclusions Suggests Stepwise α‐Synuclein Aggregation
Authors: Vovard Benoît , Bodin Alexia , Gouju Julien , de Guilhem de Lataillade Adrien , Derkinderen Pascal , Etcharry‐Bouyx Frédérique , Chauviré Valérie , Guillet‐Pichon Virginie , Verny Christophe , Letournel Franck , Lenaers Guy , Chevrollier Arnaud , Codron Philippe
Published: February 2024

Background

The architecture and composition of glial (GCI) and neuronal (NCI) α‐synuclein inclusions observed in multiple system atrophy (MSA) remain to be precisely defined to better understand the disease.

Methods

Here, we used stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) to characterize the nanoscale organization of glial (GCI) and neuronal (NCI) α‐synuclein inclusions in cryopreserved brain sections from MSA patients.

Results

STORM revealed a dense cross‐linked internal structure of α‐synuclein in all GCI and NCI. The internal architecture of hyperphosphorylated α‐synuclein (p‐αSyn) inclusions was similar in glial and neuronal cells, suggesting a common aggregation mechanism. A similar sequence of p‐αSyn stepwise intracellular aggregation was defined in oligodendrocytes and neurons, starting from the perinuclear area and growing inside the cells. Consistent with this hypothesis, we found a higher mitochondrial density in GCI and NCI compared to oligodendrocytes and neurons from unaffected donors (P < 0.01), suggesting an active recruitment of the organelles during the aggregation process.

Conclusions

These first STORM images of GCI and NCI suggest stepwise α‐synuclein aggregation in MSA. © 2024 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Cervical spinal cord angiography and vessel‐selective perfusion imaging in the rat
Authors: Lee Seongtaek , Schmit Brian D. , Kurpad Shekar N. , Budde Matthew D.
Published: February 2024

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) has been widely used to evaluate arterial blood and perfusion dynamics, particularly in the brain, but its application to the spinal cord has been limited. The purpose of this study was to optimize vessel‐selective pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) for angiographic and perfusion imaging of the rat cervical spinal cord. A pCASL preparation module was combined with a train of gradient echoes for dynamic angiography. The effects of the echo train flip angle, label duration, and a Cartesian or radial readout were compared to examine their effects on visualizing the segmental arteries and anterior spinal artery (ASA) that supply the spinal cord. Lastly, vessel‐selective encoding with either vessel‐encoded pCASL (VE‐pCASL) or super‐selective pCASL (SS‐pCASL) were compared. Vascular territory maps were obtained with VE‐pCASL perfusion imaging of the spinal cord, and the interanimal variability was evaluated. The results demonstrated that longer label durations (200 ms) resulted in greater signal‐to‐noise ratio in the vertebral arteries, improved the conspicuity of the ASA, and produced better quality maps of blood arrival times. Cartesian and radial readouts demonstrated similar image quality. Both VE‐pCASL and SS‐pCASL adequately labeled the right or left vertebral arteries, which revealed the interanimal variability in the segmental artery with variations in their location, number, and laterality. VE‐pCASL also demonstrated unique interanimal variations in spinal cord perfusion with a right‐sided dominance across the six animals. Vessel‐selective pCASL successfully achieved visualization of the arterial inflow dynamics and corresponding perfusion territories of the spinal cord. These methodological developments provide unique insights into the interanimal variations in the arterial anatomy and dynamics of spinal cord perfusion.
Association of insulin resistance with the accumulation of saturated intramyocellular lipid: A comparison with other fat stores
Authors: Azhar Mueed , Watson Laura P. E. , De Lucia Rolfe Emanuella , Ferraro Michele , Carr Katherine , Worsley Jieniean , Boesch Chris , Hodson Leanne , Chatterjee Krishna K. , Kemp Graham J. , Savage David B. , Sleigh Alison
Published: February 2024

It has been shown using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) that, in a group of females, whole‐body insulin resistance was more closely related to accumulation of saturated intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) than to IMCL concentration alone. This has not been investigated in males. We investigated whether age‐ and body mass index‐matched healthy males differ from the previously reported females in IMCL composition (measured as CH2:CH3) and IMCL concentration (measured as CH3), and in their associations with insulin resistance. We ask whether saturated IMCL accumulation is more strongly associated with insulin resistance than other ectopic and adipose tissue lipid pools and remains a significant predictor when these other pools are taken into account. In this group of males, who had similar overall insulin sensitivity to the females, IMCL was similar between sexes. The males demonstrated similar and even stronger associations of IMCL with insulin resistance, supporting the idea that a marker reflecting the accumulation of saturated IMCL is more strongly associated with whole‐body insulin resistance than IMCL concentration alone. However, this marker ceased to be a significant predictor of whole‐body insulin resistance after consideration of other lipid pools, which implies that this measure carries no more information in practice than the other predictors we found, such as intrahepatic lipid and visceral adipose tissue. As the marker of saturated IMCL accumulation appears to be related to these two predictors and has a much smaller dynamic range, this finding does not rule out a role for it in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance.
Nutrition therapy in critically ill patients with severe acute pancreatitis
Authors: Sun Jia‐kui , Lv Cheng , Gao Lin , Mao Wenjian , Li Weiqin , Ke Lu
Published: February 2024

A significant proportion of patients (10%–20%) with acute pancreatitis develop severe acute pancreatitis characterized by pancreatic necrosis, systemic inflammation, and organ failure, commonly requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. In this specific population, nutrition therapy is more challenging than that in the general ICU population, primarily because of inevitable gastrointestinal involvement by pancreatic inflammation. In this review, we discussed several key aspects of nutrition therapy in this population, including key pathophysiology that may impede nutrition therapy, the timing and implementation of enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition, the importance of specific nutrient supplements, and the long‐term outcomes that may be addressed by nutrition therapy.
Can information and advising affect postsecondary participation and attainment for military personnel? Evidence from a large‐scale experiment with the U.S. Army
Authors: Barr Andrew C. , Bird Kelli A. , Castleman Benjamin L. , Skimmyhorn William L.
Published: February 2024

Despite generous financial aid, military veterans have high rates of undermatch and generally poor postsecondary outcomes. We conducted a large‐scale, multi‐arm field experiment with the U.S. Army to investigate whether personalized information about postsecondary options and access to advising affects service members’ postsecondary choices and outcomes. We find no impact of the intervention on whether or where veterans enroll in college or on their college persistence. These results suggest that light touch strategies that have been effective at addressing similar challenges among traditional students, and which we modified for the military context, are not sufficient to improve veterans’ postsecondary outcomes.
A pH/GSH Dual‐Responsive, Folic Acid Targeted Drug Delivery System Based on Bovine Serum Albumin Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Xiong Bei , Liu Huimin , Yi Mengqi , Li Yuyang , Huang Yunhan , Guo Wei , Lin Yangxin , Liu Ping , Lu Bo
Published: February 2024

Bovine serum albumin, based on its low toxicity and excellent biocompatibility, has great potential as a carrier for drug delivery systems. In this context, a pH/GSH dual‐responsive drug delivery system (ICG/DOX@Fe‐BSA‐FA nanoparticles) based on Bovine serum albumin (BSA) is constructed for tumor‐targeted multimodal therapy. In this study, doxorubicin (DOX) and indocyanine green (ICG) are co‐loaded after Fe3+ is coordinated with BSA, and the system is finally grafted with the targeted molecule Folic acid. DOX is used in chemotherapy, ICG is used in photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), and Fe3+ mainly provided sufficient raw material for the Fenton‐like reaction. The ability of ICG/DOX@Fe‐BSA‐FA (ID@FBF) nanoparticles to combine chemotherapy with CDT/PDT/PTT is demonstrated by several physical characterization. In vitro cell uptake assay and in vitro cytotoxicity assay demonstrated the excellent ability of ID@FBF to target 4T1 cells and kill tumor cells with the IC50 value of 0.75 µg mL−1. Therefore, chemotherapy combined with CDT/PDT/PTT therapy may result in satisfactory efficacy via ID@FBF, a potentially powerful and highly effective nanosystem.
Systematic enhancement of protein crystallization efficiency by bulk lysine‐to‐arginine (KR) substitution
Authors: Banayan Nooriel E. , Loughlin Blaine J. , Singh Shikha , Forouhar Farhad , Lu Guanqi , Wong Kam‐Ho , Neky Matthew , Hunt Henry S. , Bateman Larry B. , Tamez Angel , Handelman Samuel K. , Price W. Nicholson , Hunt John F.
Published: February 2024

Structural genomics consortia established that protein crystallization is the primary obstacle to structure determination using x‐ray crystallography. We previously demonstrated that crystallization propensity is systematically related to primary sequence, and we subsequently performed computational analyses showing that arginine is the most overrepresented amino acid in crystal‐packing interfaces in the Protein Data Bank. Given the similar physicochemical characteristics of arginine and lysine, we hypothesized that multiple lysine‐to‐arginine (KR) substitutions should improve crystallization. To test this hypothesis, we developed software that ranks lysine sites in a target protein based on the redundancy‐corrected KR substitution frequency in homologs. This software can be run interactively on the worldwide web at https://www.pxengineering.org/. We demonstrate that three unrelated single‐domain proteins can tolerate 5–11 KR substitutions with at most minor destabilization, and, for two of these three proteins, the construct with the largest number of KR substitutions exhibits significantly enhanced crystallization propensity. This approach rapidly produced a 1.9 Å crystal structure of a human protein domain refractory to crystallization with its native sequence. Structures from Bulk KR‐substituted domains show the engineered arginine residues frequently make hydrogen‐bonds across crystal‐packing interfaces. We thus demonstrate that Bulk KR substitution represents a rational and efficient method for probabilistic engineering of protein surface properties to improve crystallization.
Modeling membrane geometries implicitly in Rosetta
Authors: Woods Hope , Leman Julia Koehler , Meiler Jens
Published: February 2024

Interactions between membrane proteins (MPs) and lipid bilayers are critical for many cellular functions. In the Rosetta molecular modeling suite, the implicit membrane energy function is based on a “slab” model, which represent the membrane as a flat bilayer. However, in nature membranes often have a curvature that is important for function and/or stability. Even more prevalent, in structural biology research MPs are reconstituted in model membrane systems such as micelles, bicelles, nanodiscs, or liposomes. Thus, we have modified the existing membrane energy potentials within the RosettaMP framework to allow users to model MPs in different membrane geometries. We show that these modifications can be utilized in core applications within Rosetta such as structure refinement, protein–protein docking, and protein design. For MP structures found in curved membranes, refining these structures in curved, implicit membranes produces higher quality models with structures closer to experimentally determined structures. For MP systems embedded in multiple membranes, representing both membranes results in more favorable scores compared to only representing one of the membranes. Modeling MPs in geometries mimicking the membrane model system used in structure determination can improve model quality and model discrimination.
pH/chitinase dual stimuli‐responsive essential oil‐delivery system based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles for control of rice blast
Authors: Ding Yi , Yuan Jun , Wu Shuai , Hu Ke , Ma Yue , Gao Yunhao , Li Ming , Li Rongyu
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND

Owing to their surface modifiability, smart mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) can be designed to respond to plant disease‐microenvironmental stimuli, thereby achieving on‐demand release of active ingredients to control disease by effectively improving citral (CT) stability.

RESULTS

A pH/chitinase dual stimuli‐responsive essential oil‐delivery system (CT@HMS@CH/TA) was successfully fabricated by encapsulating CT in hollow mesoporous silica (HMS), and coating with tannic acid (TA) and chitosan (CH) within HMS by using the layer‐by‐layer assembly technique (LbL). CT@HMS@CH/TA with an average particle size of 125.12 ± 0.12 nm and a hollow mesoporous nanostructure showed high CT‐loading efficiency (16.58% ± 0.17%). The photodegradation rate of CT@HMS@CH/TA under UV irradiation (48 h) was only 15.31%, indicating a 3.34‐fold UV stability improvement. CT@HMS@CH/TA exhibited a higher CT release rate in response to acidic pH and the presence of chitinase, simulating the prevailing conditions as Magnaporthe oryzae infection. Furthermore, CT@HMS@CH/TA exhibited better adhesion without affecting normal rice growth, significantly upregulating chitinase gene expression and enhancing chitinase activity on M. oryzae, thus enhancing CT antifungal activity.

CONCLUSION

CT@HMS@CH/TA improved CT stability and showed intelligent, controlled release‐performance and higher antifungal efficacy, thus providing a new strategy for efficient application of essential oils for green control of rice blast disease. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
The collembolan Heteromurus nitidus grazes the wheat fungal pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici on infected tissues: opportunities and limitations for bioregulation
Authors: Bourgeois Thomas P. , Prado Soizic , Suffert Frédéric , Salmon Sandrine
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND

Septoria tritici blotch (STB), caused by the fungus Zymoseptoria tritici, is a foliar disease affecting wheat crops against which conventional control methods are not totally effective. During inter‐epidemic periods the fungus survives in wheat residues left on the ground. In this study, we tested the potential of the collembolan Heteromurus nitidus – a springtail species present in field soils and known to interact with different fungal species – as a potential bioregulation agent of Z. tritici on wheat residues through a choice and consumption experiment.

RESULTS

Springtails preferred inoculated fresh residues but did not have a preference between inoculated and uninoculated old residues. Springtails grazed on Z. tritici fruiting bodies and reduced pycnidiospore numbers by ten‐fold compared to control inoculated fresh residues. Attraction toward fresh inoculated residues and pycnidiospore reduction support the hypothesis that Z. tritici is a food source for springtails. Heteromurus nitidus showed no preference between inoculated and uninoculated 18‐month‐old residues, probably because they no longer produced ascospores.

CONCLUSION

Attraction towards fresh residues and spore reduction support our hypothesis that H. nitidus may contribute to the bioregulation of Z. tritici. Perspectives for field application would be determined by the ability of H. nitidus and Z. tritici to interact at key epidemiological stages. The impact of H. nitidus on the quantity of pathogen primary inoculum over time should be estimated using residues of intermediate age. This would help to identify the optimal period for enhancing the effectiveness of springtails as consumers of Z. tritici. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Rationally Designed Functionalization of Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Real‐Time Monitoring of Cholinesterase Activity and Inhibition in Plasma
Authors: Basu Srestha , Hendler‐Neumark Adi , Bisker Gili
Published: February 2024

Enzymes play a pivotal role in regulating numerous bodily functions. Thus, there is a growing need for developing sensors enabling real‐time monitoring of enzymatic activity and inhibition. The activity and inhibition of cholinesterase (CHE) enzymes in blood plasma are fluorometrically monitored using near‐infrared (NIR) fluorescent single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as probes, strategically functionalized with myristoylcholine (MC)– the substrate of CHE. A significant decrease in the fluorescence intensity of MC‐suspended SWCNTs upon interaction with CHE is observed, attributed to the hydrolysis of the MC corona phase of the SWCNTs by CHE. Complementary measurements for quantifying choline, the product of MC hydrolysis, reveal a correlation between the fluorescence intensity decrease and the amount of released choline, rendering the SWCNTs optical sensors with real‐time feedback in the NIR biologically transparent spectral range. Moreover, when synthetic and naturally abundant inhibitors inhibit the CHE enzymes present in blood plasma, no significant modulations of the MC‐SWCNT fluorescence are observed, allowing effective detection of CHE inhibition. The rationally designed SWCNT sensors platform for monitoring of enzymatic activity and inhibition in clinically relevant samples is envisioned to not only advance the field of clinical diagnostics but also deepen further understanding of enzyme‐related processes in complex biological fluids.
Flat holography and celestial shockwaves
Authors: Hao Zezhuang , Taylor Marika
Published: February 2024

Abstract

In this paper we systematically develop the flat/CFT holographic dictionary, building on AdS/CFT holography. After analysing the behaviour of scalar field modes on hyperbolic slices of Minkowski and performing the holographic renormalisation for the associated onshell action, we obtain a holography dictionary between the bulk theory and the corresponding dual theory on the celestial sphere. We propose that a single scalar field in the bulk is dual to two series of operators on the celestial sphere; the scaling dimension of these operators takes values on the principal series. The real time features of the bulk theory, such as the dynamical and the casual structure, are encoded in the construction of correlation functions on the boundary via the coefficients of the bulk modes. Moreover, we will see that the two series of operators can be interpreted as ingoing and outgoing waves in the bulk. We illustrate our dictionary with the example of a single shock wave. Our results lay foundations for further computation within the flat/celestial CFT correspondence.
Constraints on subleading interactions in beta decay Lagrangian
Authors: Falkowski Adam , González-Alonso Martín , Palavrić Ajdin , Rodríguez-Sánchez Antonio
Published: February 2024

Abstract

We discuss the effective field theory (EFT) for nuclear beta decay. The general quark-level EFT describing charged-current interactions between quarks and leptons is matched to the nucleon-level non-relativistic EFT at the $$ \mathcal{O}\left(\textrm{MeV}\right) $$
O

MeV

momentum scale characteristic for beta transitions. The matching takes into account, for the first time, the effect of all possible beyond-the-Standard-Model interactions at the subleading order in the recoil momentum. We calculate the impact of all the Wilson coefficients of the leading and subleading EFT Lagrangian on the differential decay width in allowed beta transitions. As an example application, we show how the existing experimental data constrain the subleading Wilson coefficients corresponding to pseudoscalar, weak magnetism, and induced tensor interactions. The data display a 3.5 sigma evidence for nucleon weak magnetism, in agreement with the theory prediction based on isospin symmetry.
Spontaneous symmetry breaking from an on-shell perspective
Authors: Bachu Brad
Published: February 2024

Abstract

We show how the well known patterns of masses and interactions that arise from spontaneous symmetry breaking can be determined from an entirely on-shell perspective, that is, without reference to Lagrangians, gauge symmetries, or fields acquiring a vacuum expectation value. To do this, we review how consistent factorization of 2 → 2 tree level scattering can lead to the familiar structures of Yang-Mills theories, and extend this to find structures of Yukawa theories. Considering only spins-0, 1/2 and 1 particles, we construct all the allowed on-shell UV amplitudes under a symmetry group G, and consider all the possible IR amplitudes. By demanding that on-shell IR amplitudes match onto on-shell UV amplitudes in the high energy limit, we reproduce the Higgs mechanism and generate masses for spins-1/2 and 1, find that there is a subgroup H ⊆ G in the IR, and other interesting relations. To highlight the results, we show the breaking pattern of the Standard Model U(1)EM ⊂ SU(2)L × U(1)Y, along with the generation of the masses and interactions of the particles.
The planar limit of the $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 E-theory: numerical calculations and the large λ expansion
Authors: Bobev Nikolay , De Smet Pieter-Jan , Zhang Xuao
Published: February 2024

Abstract

We study correlation functions of local operators and Wilson loop expectation values in the planar limit of a 4d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 superconformal SU(N) YM theory with hypermultiplets in the symmetric and antisymmetric representations of the gauge group. This so called E theory is closely related to $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 SYM and has a holographic description in terms of a ℤ2 orientifold of AdS5 × S5. Using recent matrix model results based on supersymmetric localization we develop efficient numerical methods to calculate two- and three-point functions of certain single trace operators as well as 1/2-BPS Wilson loop expectation values as a function of the ’t Hooft coupling λ. We use our numerical results to arrive at simple analytic expressions for these correlators valid up to sixth order in the λ−1/2 strong coupling expansion. These results provide explicit field theory predictions for the α′ corrections to the supergravity approximation of type IIB string theory on the AdS5 × S5/ℤ2 orientifold.
Spectral Asymptotic Properties of Semiregular Non-commutative Harmonic Oscillators
Authors: Malagutti Marcello , Parmeggiani Alberto
Published: February 2024

We study here the spectral Weyl asymptotics for a semiregular system, extending to the vector-valued case results of Helffer and Robert, and more recently of Doll, Gannot and Wunsch. The class of systems considered here contains the important example of the Jaynes–Cummings system that describes light-matter interaction.
Psychedelika-assistierte Psychotherapie
Authors: Aicher H. D. , Schmid Y. , Gasser P.
Published: February 2024

Seit den späten 1990er-Jahren erfahren Psychedelika eine Renaissance und ziehen international vermehrt die Aufmerksamkeit auf sich. Es gibt zunehmend wissenschaftliche Studien, die sich mit den Möglichkeiten und Risiken der Psychedelika-assistierten Therapie (PAT) befassen. Seit 2014 werden auf der Grundlage von Ausnahmebewilligungen der Schweizer Gesundheitsbehörde (Bundesamt für Gesundheit, BAG) im Rahmen der beschränkten medizinischen Anwendung im Einzelfall Lysergsäurediethylamid (LSD), 3,4-Methylendioxy-N-methylamphetamin (MDMA) und Psilocybin therapeutisch angewendet. Auf Basis dieser gesetzlich verankerten Ausnahmemöglichkeit wurden in den letzten 9 Jahren über 1000 Ausnahmebewilligungen an etwa 60 Therapeut*innen erteilt und schätzungsweise 2000 bis 3000 Behandlungen mit Psychedelika durchgeführt. Dieser Beitrag soll einen Einblick in die aktuelle Behandlungspraxis der PAT in der Schweiz bieten. Antragsverfahren, Indikation, Überlegungen zur transdiagnostischen Perspektive sowie die Gestaltung des Behandlungsrahmens und Settings – etwa die Phasen einer PAT, die psychotherapeutische Einbettung oder die Wahl für ein Einzel- oder Gruppensetting – werden diskutiert. Die Integration von PAT in die Psychotherapie könnte neue Möglichkeiten für die Behandlung psychischer Störungen eröffnen. Die Erfahrung in der Schweiz kann Impulse für die internationale Praxis der PAT setzen. Gleichzeitig befindet sich auch die Situation in der Schweiz in ständiger Weiterentwicklung. Durch das zunehmende Interesse an der PAT entstehen neue Herausforderungen. Auch die Weiterbildung der Therapeut*innen wird in diesem Zusammenhang thematisiert. Von zentraler Relevanz sind ethische Standards und Maßnahmen für die Qualitätssicherung, etwa durch kollegialen Austausch und Vernetzung in Intervision, Supervision und Teilnahme an Fortbildungsveranstaltungen, aber auch systematische Erfassungen der PAT mithilfe von Fragebogen oder Patientenregister.
Neuro-Symbolic Reasoning for Multimodal Referring Expression Comprehension in HMI Systems
Authors: Jain Aman , Kondapally Anirudh Reddy , Yamada Kentaro , Yanaka Hitomi
Published: February 2024

Conventional Human–Machine Interaction (HMI) interfaces have predominantly relied on GUI and voice commands. However, natural human communication also consists of non-verbal communication, including hand gestures like pointing. Thus, recent works in HMI systems have tried to incorporate pointing gestures as an input, making significant progress in recognizing and integrating them with voice commands. However, existing approaches often treat these input modalities independently, limiting their capacity to handle complex multimodal instructions requiring intricate reasoning of language and gestures. On the other hand, multimodal tasks requiring complex reasoning are being challenged in the language and vision domain, but these typically do not include gestures like pointing. To bridge this gap, we explore one of the challenging multimodal tasks, called Referring Expression Comprehension (REC), within multimodal HMI systems incorporating pointing gestures. We present a virtual setup in which a robot shares an environment with a user and is tasked with identifying objects based on the user’s language and gestural instructions. Furthermore, to address this challenge, we propose a hybrid neuro-symbolic model combining deep learning’s versatility with symbolic reasoning’s interpretability. Our contributions include a challenging multimodal REC dataset for HMI systems, an interpretable neuro-symbolic model, and an assessment of its ability to generalize the reasoning to unseen environments, complemented by an in-depth qualitative analysis of the model’s inner workings.
On the quasilinear Schrödinger equations on tori
Authors: Iandoli Felice
Published: February 2024

We improve the result by Feola and Iandoli (J Math Pures Appl 157:243–281, 2022), showing that quasilinear Hamiltonian Schrödinger type equations are well posed on $$H^s({{\mathbb {T}}}^d)$$

H
s

(

T

d

)

if $$s>d/2+3$$

s
>
d
/
2
+
3

. We exploit the sharp paradifferential calculus on $${{\mathbb {T}}}^d$$

T

d

developed by Berti et al. (J Dyn Differ Equ 33(3):1475–1513, 2021).
Building Common Ground: How Facilitators Bridge Between Diverging Groups in Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue
Authors: Grimm Julia , Ruehle Rebecca C. , Reinecke Juliane
Published: February 2024

The effectiveness of multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs) in tackling grand social and environmental challenges depends on productive dialogue among diverse parties. Facilitating such dialogue in turn entails building common ground in form of joint knowledge, beliefs, and suppositions. To explore how such common ground can be built, we study the role of different facilitators and their strategies for bridging the perspectives of competing stakeholder groups in two contrasting MSIs. The German Partnership for Sustainable Textiles was launched in an initially hostile communicative environment, whereas the Fossil Free Sweden Initiative proceeded in a fertile communicative environment. We trace how the facilitators in these initiatives achieved common ground through three bridging strategies—communicative integration, temporal calibration, and process alignment—adapted to the communicative environments of these MSIs. In hostile communicative environments, facilitators achieve common ground by steering diverging stakeholder groups towards ‘reconciling’ their different language registers, knowledge bases, and meaning systems to ‘meet in the middle’ on points of agreement and shared interests. In fertile communicative environments characterised by greater mutual trust, facilitators can steer interactants to ‘strategically appropriate’ to the language, knowledge, and meaning system of a particular stakeholder group to win this group’s support. Our analysis contributes to a better understanding of how productive multi-stakeholder dialogue can be facilitated.
Cutting edge preparation of micro end mills by PVD-etching technology
Authors: Jäckel Christoph Paul , Meijer Alexander Leonard , Stangier Dominic , Lopes Dias Nelson Filipe , Tillmann Wolfgang , Biermann Dirk
Published: February 2024

Micromilling tools face significant challenges in achieving cutting edge preparation by mechanical processes due to their small size. To address these limitations, a new approach for cutting edge preparation of micro end mills by physical vapor deposition (PVD) etching technology is presented. By adapting the etching strategy, which is conventionally used as pre-treatment process for PVD technology to clean and condition the surface of cemented carbide substrate, cutting edges of micromilling tools were successfully modified. The high-energy process variation by Advanced Arc-Enhanced Glow Discharge (AEGD) offers the possibility of achieving high material removal rates on the tool surfaces and thereby altering the cutting edge geometry. Fundamental investigations on material removal as well as on the effects on surface topography, sub-surface properties, and coating adhesion of a subsequently applied PVD coating are performed. To influence the topography and the cutting edge geometry, the preparation time tp and bias voltage UB were selected. Subsequently, the machining performance of the modified tools is evaluated in a micromilling process of the hardened powder-metallurgical high-speed steel AISI M3:2 with a hardness of 62 ± 1 HRC. For this purpose, micro end mills of cemented carbide with a diameter of D = 1 mm were conditioned, achieving asymmetric geometric properties of cutting edges with varying average cutting edges rounding of $${\overline S}$$

S
¯

= 5.8 … 14.8 µm and a form-factor of K = 2.0 … 2.7. Based on the application tests a positive influence on the process forces was found. Thus, an efficient approach to cutting edge preparation can be identified by specifically designing ion etching in the PVD coating process.