bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Activated gliosis, accumulation of amyloid β and hyperphosphorylation of tau in aging canines with and without cognitive decline
Authors: Hines Amelia D. , McGrath Stephanie , Latham Amanda S. , Kusick Breonna , Mulligan Lisa , Richards McKenzie L. , Moreno Julie A.
Published: December 2022

Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) syndrome is a well-recognized naturally occurring disease in aged dogs, with a remarkably similar disease course, both in its clinical presentation and neuropathological changes, as humans with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Similar to human AD patients this naturally occurring disease is found in the aging canine population however, there is little understanding of how the canine brain ages pathologically. It is well known that in neurodegenerative diseases, there is an increase in inflamed glial cells as well as an accumulation of hyperphosphorylation of tau (P-tau) and amyloid beta (Aβ1-42). These pathologies increase neurotoxic signaling and eventual neuronal loss. We assessed these brain pathologies in aged canines and found an increase in the number of glial cells, both astrocytes and microglia, and the activation of astrocytes indicative of neuroinflammation. A rise in the aggregated protein Aβ1-42and hyperphosphorylated tau, at Threonine 181 and 217, in the cortical brain regions of aging canines is seen. We then asked if any of these aged canines had CCD utilizing the only current diagnostic, owner questionnaires, verifying positive or severe CCD had pathologies of gliosis and accumulation of Aβ1-42like their aged matched controls. However uniquely the CCD dogs had P-tau at T217. Therefore, this phosphorylation site of tau at threonine 217 may be a predictor for CCD.
Transcriptomic and functional analysis ofANGPTL4overexpression in pancreatic cancer nominates targets that reverse chemoresistance
Authors: Gordon Emily R. , Wright Carter A. , James Mikayla , Cooper Sara J.
Published: December 2022

Background

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest cancers based on five-year survival rates. Genes contributing to chemoresistance represent novel therapeutic targets that can improve treatment response. Increased expression ofANGPTL4in tumors correlates with poor outcomes in pancreatic cancer.

Methods

We used statistical analysis of publicly available gene expression data (TCGA-PAAD) to test whether expression ofANGPTL4and its downstream targets, ITGB4andAPOL1, were correlated with patient survival. We measured the impact ofANGPTL4overexpression in a common pancreatic cancer cell line, MIA PaCa-2 cells, using CRISPRa for overexpression and DsiRNA for knockdown. We characterized global gene expression changes associated with high levels ofANGPTL4and response to gemcitabine treatment using RNA-sequencing. Gemcitabine dose response curves were calculated on modified cell lines by measuring cell viability with CellTiter-Glo (Promega). Impacts on cell migration were measured using a time course scratch assay.

Results

We show thatANGPTL4overexpression leads toin vitroresistance to gemcitabine and reduced survival times in patients. Overexpression ofANGPTL4induces transcriptional signatures of tumor invasion and metastasis, proliferation and differentiation, and inhibition of apoptosis. Analyses revealed an overlapping signature of genes associated with bothANGPTL4activation and gemcitabine response. Increased expression of the genes in this signature in patient PDAC tissues was significantly associated with shorter patient survival. We identified 42 genes that were both co-regulated withANGPTL4and were responsive to gemcitabine treatment.ITGB4andAPOL1were among these genes. Knockdown of either of these genes in cell lines overexpressingANGPTL4reversed the observed gemcitabine resistance and inhibited cellular migration associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) andANGPTL4overexpression.

Conclusions

These data suggest thatANGPTL4promotes EMT and regulates the genesAPOL1andITGB4. Importantly, we show that inhibition of both targets reverses chemoresistance and decreases migratory potential. Our findings have revealed a novel pathway regulating tumor response to treatment and suggest relevant therapeutic targets in pancreatic cancer.
Soft multimodal opto-electric biointerfaces for co-localized optical and electrical recording of cell function
Authors: Obaid Sofian N. , Quirion Nathaniel , Balansag Jade , Daza Nicolas , Shi Xinyu , Chen Zhiyuan , Lu Luyao
Published: December 2022

Optical fluorescence and electrical monitoring of cell activity are two powerful approaches to study organ functions. Simultaneous recording of optical and electrical data types will provide complementary information from and take advantage of each approach. However, devices that can concurrently record optical signals from the same cell population underneath the microelectrodes have not been widely explored and remain a grand technical challenge. This work presents an innovative flexible opto-electric device that monolithically integrates transparent gold nanogrid microelectrodes directly above microscale light-emitting diodes, photodetectors, and optical filters to achieve co-localized crosstalk-free optical fluorescence and electrical recording. The optimized gold nanogrid microelectrodes show excellent optical transparency (>81%) and low normalized 1 kHz electrochemical impedance (6.3 Ω cm2). The optical recording subsystem offers high wavelength selectivity (>1,300) and linearity (R2>0.99) for exciting and capturing green fluorescence from various fluorescent reporters in measurement ranges relevant toin vivoapplications with minimal thermal effects. The opto-electric device exhibits remarkable durability under soaking for 40 days and repetitive mechanical bending for 5,000 cycles. The work may provide a versatile approach for constructing mechanically compliant biointerfaces containing crosstalk-free optical and electrical modalities with widespread application potentials in basic and clinical research.
Language models generalize beyond natural proteins
Authors: Verkuil Robert , Kabeli Ori , Du Yilun , Wicky Basile I. M. , Milles Lukas F. , Dauparas Justas , Baker David , Ovchinnikov Sergey , Sercu Tom , Rives Alexander
Published: December 2022

Learning the design patterns of proteins from sequences across evolution may have promise toward generative protein design. However it is unknown whether language models, trained on sequences of natural proteins, will be capable of more than memorization of existing protein families. Here we show that language models generalize beyond natural proteins to generatede novoproteins. We focus on two protein design tasks: fixed backbone design where the structure is specified, and unconstrained generation where the structure is sampled from the model. Remarkably although the models are trained only on sequences, we find that they are capable of designing structure. A total of 228 generated proteins are evaluated experimentally with high overall success rates (152/228 or 67%) in producing a soluble and monomeric species by size exclusion chromatography. Out of 152 experimentally successful designs, 35 have no significant sequence match to known natural proteins. Of the remaining 117, sequence identity to the nearest sequence match is at median 27%, below 20% for 6 designs, and as low as 18% for 3 designs. For fixed backbone design, the language model generates successful designs for each of eight experimentally evaluated artificially created fixed backbone targets. For unconstrained generation, sampled proteins cover diverse topologies and secondary structure compositions, and have high experimental success rate (71/129 or 55%). The designs reflect deep patterns linking sequence and structure, including motifs that occur in related natural structures, and motifs that are not observed in similar structural contexts in known protein families. The results show that language models, though only trained on sequences, learn a deep grammar that enables the design of protein structure, extending beyond natural proteins.
Senescent response in inner annulus fibrosus cells in response to TNFα, H2O2, and TNFα-induced nucleus pulposus senescent secretome
Authors: Montgomery-Song Aaryn , Ashraf Sajjad , Santerre Paul , Kandel Rita
Published: December 2022

Senescence, particularly in the nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of disc degeneration, however, the mechanism(s) of annulus fibrosus (AF) cell senescence is still not well understood. Both TNFα and H2O2, have been implicated as contributors to the senescence pathways, and their levels are increased in degenerated discs when compared to healthy discs. Thus the objective of this study is to identify factor(s) that induces inner AF (iAF) cell senescence. Under TNFα exposure, at a concentration that can induce senescence in NP cells, bovine iAF cells did not undergo senescence, indicated by their ability to continue to proliferate as demonstrated by Ki67 staining and growth curves and lack of expression of the senescent markers, p16 and p21. Unlike iAF cells, NP cells treated with TNFα accumulated more intracellular ROS and secreted more H2O2. Following TNFα treatment, only iAF cells had increased expression of the superoxide scavengersSOD1andSOD2whereas NP cells had increasedNOX4gene expression, an enzyme that can generate H2O2. Treating iAF cells with low dose H2O2(50 μM) induced senescence, however unlike TNFα, H2O2did not induce degenerative-like changes as there was no difference inCOL2, ACAN, MMP13, orIL6gene expression or number of COL2 and ACAN immunopositive cells compared to untreated controls. The latter result suggests that iAF cells have distinct degenerative and senescent phenotypes. To evaluate paracrine signalling, iAF and TNFα-treated NP cells were co-cultured. In contact co-culture the NP cells did induce iAF senescence. Thus, senescent NP cells may secrete soluble factors that induce degenerative and senescent changes within the iAF. This may contribute to a positive feedback loop of disc degeneration. It is possible these factors may include H2O2and cytokines (TNFα). Further studies will investigate if human disc cells respond similarly.
Proteomic landscape of tunneling nanotubes reveals CD9 and CD81 tetraspanins as key regulators
Authors: Manzano Roberto Notario , Chaze Thibault , Rubinstein Eric , Penard Esthel , Matondo Mariette , Zurzolo Chiara , Brou Christel
Published: December 2022

Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are open actin- and membrane-based channels, connecting remote cells and allowing direct transfer of cellular material (e.g. vesicles, mRNAs, protein aggregates) from cytoplasm to cytoplasm. Although they are important especially in pathological conditions (e.g., cancers, neurodegenerative diseases), their precise composition and their regulation were still poorly described. Here, using a biochemical approach allowing to separate TNTs from cell bodies and from extracellular vesicles and particles (EVPs), we obtained the full composition of TNTs compared to EVPs. We then focused to two major components of our proteomic data, the CD9 and CD81 tetraspanins, and further investigated their specific roles in TNT formation and function. We show that these two tetraspanins have distinct non-redundant functions: CD9 participates in stabilizing TNTs, whereas CD81 expression is required to allow the functional transfer of vesicle in the newly formed TNTs, possibly by regulating docking to or fusion with the opposing cell.
Modelling of outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants after easing Dynamic Zero-COVID strategy in mainland China
Authors: Song Fujian , Bachmann Max O.
Published: December 2022

Background

China lifted strict non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) to prevent outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants in December 2022. Relatively low levels of immunity and of vaccine booster coverage in the Chinese population raise concerns that future outbreaks will rapidly result in high rates of death and severe illness and will overwhelm health services.

Methods

This was a compartmental, discrete-time population dynamic model. It compared projected deaths and hospitalisation under various scenarios, including booster vaccine coverage and strictness of NPIs.

Results

We projected between 268,300 to 398,700 COVID-19 deaths, and peak numbers of hospitalised severe/critical cases between 3.2 to 6.4 per 10,000 population, before the outbreak wave recedes by February 2023. The COVID-19 deaths are reduced by 8% and 30%, respectively, under the weak and strict NPI scenarios, compared with the scenario without NPI measures. Early achievement of high coverage of three vaccine doses will further reduce COVID-19 deaths.

Conclusion

We projected fewer COVID-19 deaths and hospitalisations than some other models have. Rapid expansion of booster vaccine coverage will only be effective if combined with strict NPIs and/or the high coverage of booster vaccination could be achieved early.
An unsupervised map of excitatory neurons’ dendritic morphology in the mouse visual cortex
Authors: Weis Marissa A. , Papadopoulos Stelios , Hansel Laura , Lüddecke Timo , Celii Brendan , Fahey Paul G. , Wang Eric Y. , Bae J. Alexander , Bodor Agnes L. , Brittain Derrick , Buchanan JoAnn , Bumbarger Daniel J. , Castro Manuel A. , Collman Forrest , da Costa Nuno Maçarico , Dorkenwald Sven , Elabbady Leila , Halageri Akhilesh , Jia Zhen , Jordan Chris , Kapner Dan , Kemnitz Nico , Kinn Sam , Lee Kisuk , Li Kai , Lu Ran , Macrina Thomas , Mahalingam Gayathri , Mitchell Eric , Mondal Shanka Subhra , Mu Shang , Nehoran Barak , Popovych Sergiy , Reid R. Clay , Schneider-Mizell Casey M. , Seung H. Sebastian , Silversmith William , Takeno Marc , Torres Russel , Turner Nicholas L. , Wong William , Wu Jingpeng , Yin Wenjing , Yu Szi-chieh , Reimer Jacob , Berens Philipp , Tolias Andreas S. , Ecker Alexander S.
Published: December 2022

Neurons in the neocortex exhibit astonishing morphological diversity which is critical for properly wiring neural circuits and giving neurons their functional properties. However, the organizational principles underlying this morphological diversity remain an open question. Here, we took a data-driven approach using graph-based machine learning methods to obtain a low-dimensional morphological “bar code” describing more than 30,000 excitatory neurons in mouse visual areas V1, AL and RL that were reconstructed from the millimeter scale MICrONS serial-section electron microscopy volume. Contrary to previous classifications into discrete morphological types (m-types), our data-driven approach suggests that the morphological landscape of cortical excitatory neurons is better described as a continuum, with a few notable exceptions in layers 5 and 6. Dendritic morphologies in layers 2–3 exhibited a trend towards a decreasing width of the dendritic arbor and a smaller tuft with increasing cortical depth. Inter-area differences were most evident in layer 4, where V1 contained more atufted neurons than higher visual areas. Moreover, we discovered neurons in V1 on the border to layer 5 which avoided deeper layers with their dendrites. In summary, we suggest that excitatory neurons’ morphological diversity is better understood by considering axes of variation than using distinct m-types.
Conservation agriculture reduces climate change impact of a popcorn and wheat crop rotation
Authors: Guidoboni Maria Vittoria , Duparque Annie , Boissy Joachim , Mouny Jean-Christophe , Auberger Julie , van der Werf Hayo M.G.
Published: December 2022

Urgent action is needed to ensure humanity’s future under climate change. Agriculture faces major challenges as it is both influenced by and contributes to climate change. Conservation agriculture reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and sequesters carbon (C) in the soil due to practices such as reduced tillage and planting of cover crops. This study assessed effects of an innovative conservation agriculture popcorn (Zea mays) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) crop rotation in south-western France on soil C sequestration, GHG emissions and several environmental impacts. Two complementary approaches were used: i) a comparison based on field data and expert judgement to assess short-term effects and ii) modelling of three scenarios to quantify long-term outcomes. In both approaches Life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to compare popcorn and wheat rotations. The conventional rotation used ploughing, and its soil was bare between wheat harvest and popcorn sowing. Conservation agriculture used reduced tillage, cover crops, and compost of green waste. Impacts of compost production were allocated mainly to its waste treatment function, based on waste treatment cost and compost price. Simulation modelling of soil C was used to estimate the amount of C sequestered by the conservation and conventional crop rotations. LCA was combined with soil C modelling over 100 years to assess the long-term climate change impact of three scenarios for the popcorn and wheat rotation. Mean annual C sequestration and net climate change impact were -0.24 t/ha and 3867 kg CO2-eq./ha, respectively, for the conventional rotation and 0.91 t/ha and 434 kg CO2-eq./ha, respectively, for the conservation rotation. The climate change impact of the conservation rotation depended strongly on the allocation of composting impacts between the waste treatment and compost production functions. Compared to the conventional rotation, the conservation rotation had a lower marine eutrophication impact (−7%) but higher impacts for terrestrial acidification (+9%), land competition (+3%), and cumulative energy demand (+2%). Modelling over 100 years revealed that at near soil C equilibrium, a conventional scenario lost 9% of soil C, whereas conservation agriculture scenarios gained 14% (only cover crop) and 26% of soil C (cover crop + compost). Conservation agriculture resulted in soil C sequestration over several decades, until a new soil C equilibrium was reached.

Highlights

Conservation and conventional popcorn and wheat crop rotations were compared

Coupling of LCA and soil carbon modelling allowed for comprehensive assessment

Conservation agriculture sequestered carbon in the soil

Conservation agriculture strongly reduced climate change impact

Compost impact-allocation choices strongly influenced potential impacts
16s rRNA gene sequence analysis of the microbial community on microplastic samples from the North Atlantic and Great Pacific Garbage Patches
Authors: Tora Dkawlma , Hentschel Ute , Lips Stefan , Schmitt-Jansen Mechthild , Borchert Erik
Published: December 2022

The exponential increase in plastic production has led to their accumulation in the environment, particularly in oceans, polluting these environments from the shore to the open ocean and even sea ice in the pole regions. We compared microbial communities on plastic particles, known as “Plastisphere”, collected from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans gyres in the Summer of 2019 and subsequently looked for potential plastic degraders. We applied a 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing approach to decipher differences and similarities in colonization behaviour between these two gyres. Two polymer types include plastics: polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). We found that microbes differed significantly between the two oceans and identified thirty-two differentially abundant taxa at the class level. Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria and Bacteroidota were the most prominent relative abundant phyla in the two oceans. Finally, according to the current literature, we found 40 genera documented as potential plastic degraders. This study highlights the importance of the biogeographical location with respect to microbial colonization patterns of marine plastic debris, differing even in the open oceans. Furthermore, the wide distribution of potential plastic-degrading bacteria was shown.
Delineating mouse β-cell identity during lifetime and in diabetes with a single cell atlas
Authors: Hrovatin Karin , Bastidas-Ponce Aimée , Bakhti Mostafa , Zappia Luke , Büttner Maren , Sallino Ciro , Sterr Michael , Böttcher Anika , Migliorini Adriana , Lickert Heiko , Theis Fabian J.
Published: December 2022

Multiple pancreatic islet single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets have been generated to study development, homeostasis, and diabetes. However, there is no consensus on cell states and pathways across conditions as well as the value of preclinical mouse models. Since these challenges can only be resolved by jointly analyzing multiple datasets, we present a scRNA-seq cross-condition mouse islet atlas (MIA). We integrated over 300,000 cells from nine datasets with 56 samples, varying in age, sex, and diabetes models, including an autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1D) model (NOD), a gluco-/lipotoxicity T2D model (db/db), and a chemical streptozotocin (STZ) β-cell ablation model. MIA is a curated resource for interactive exploration and computational querying, providing new insights inaccessible from individual datasets. The β-cell landscape of MIA revealed new disease progression cell states and cross-publication differences between previously suggested marker genes. We show that in the STZ model β-cells transcriptionally correlate to human T2D and mouse db/db, but are less similar to human T1D and mouse NOD. We observe different pathways shared between immature, aged, and diabetes model β-cells. In conclusion, our work presents the first comprehensive analysis of β-cell responses to different stressors, providing a roadmap for the understanding of β-cell plasticity, compensation, and demise.
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells exhibit increased mitochondrial respiration after adjuvant chemo- and radiotherapy for early breast cancer
Authors: Christensen Ida Bager , Ribas Lucas , Buch-Larsen Kristian , Marina Djordje , Larsen Steen , Schwarz Peter , Dela Flemming , Gillberg Linn
Published: December 2022

Background

Adjuvant chemo- and radiotherapy cause cellular damage not only to cancerous but also to healthy dividing cells. Antineoplastic treatments have been shown to cause mitochondrial respiratory dysfunction in non-tumorous tissues, but the effects on circulating human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) remain unknown.

Aim

We aimed to identify changes in mitochondrial respiration of PBMCs after adjuvant chemo- and radiotherapy in postmenopausal early breast cancer (EBC) patients and relate these to metabolic parameters of the patients.

Methods

Twenty-three postmenopausal women diagnosed with EBC were examined before and shortly after chemotherapy treatment often administered in combination with radiotherapy (n=18). Respiration (O2flux per million PBMCs) was assessed by high-resolution respirometry of intact and permeabilized PBMCs. Clinical metabolic characteristics were furthermore assessed.

Results

Respiration of intact and permeabilized PBMCs from EBC patients was significantly increased after adjuvant chemo- and radiotherapy (p=6×10−5andp=1×10−7, respectively). The oxygen flux attributed to specific mitochondrial complexes and respiratory states increased by 17-43% compared to before therapy commencement. Leukocyte counts (p=1×10−4), hemoglobin levels (p=0.0003), and HDL cholesterol (p=0.003) decreased while triglyceride (p=0.01) and LDL levels (p=0.02) increased after treatment suggesting a worsened metabolic state. None of the metabolic parameters correlated significantly with PBMC respiration.

Conclusion

This study shows that mitochondrial respiration in circulating PBMCs is significantly increased after adjuvant chemo- and radiotherapy in postmenopausal EBC patients. The increase might be explained by a shift in PBMC subpopulation proportions towards cells relying on oxidative phosphorylation rather than glycolysis or a generally increased mitochondrial content in PBMCs. Both parameters might be influenced by therapy-induced changes to the bone marrow or vascular microenvironment wherein PBMCs differentiate and reside.
Upper limb rehabilitation after stroke: constraint versus intensive training. A longitudinal case-control study correlating motor performance with fMRI data
Authors: Bellaiche Soline , Ibarolla Danielle , Redouté Jérôme , Comte Jean-Christophe , Medée Béatrice , Arsenault Lisette , Mayel Audrey , Revol Patrice , Delporte Ludovic , Cotton François , Rode Gilles , Rossetti Yves , Boisson Dominique , Beaudoin-Gobert Maude , Luauté Jacques
Published: December 2022

Background

The reproducible beneficial effect of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) in hemiparetic stroke patients makes it a good model to study brain plasticity during rehabilitation procedures.

Objective

Assess the functional brain reorganization induced by each of the two components of CIMT: (i) non-affected upper-limb constraint and (ii) intensive training of the paretic arm.

Methods

Brain activity of a right hemiparetic chronic stroke patient and of 10 healthy controls was recorded with a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a finger opposition task. For the patient, a total of 8 assessments were performed, before and after each component of CIMT. At each time point, brain activity during movement was compared with rest. Patient’s results were first compared to the control group and then correlated to motor performance across sessions.

Results

Constraint-therapy-related improvement was correlated with a decrease of cerebral activity in sensory-motor regions of both the affected and the non-affected hemispheres. Intensive-therapy-related improvement was correlated with the recruitment of pre-motor cortices and cerebellum in both hemispheres.

Conclusions

Two different patterns of brain activity underlie the effects of intensive training and constraint which could account for the respective effect of each component of the therapy.
Retrieving the near-complete genome of a threatened bird from wild frozen samples
Authors: Luo Haoran , Jiang Xinrui , Li Boping , Wu Jiahong , Shen Jiexin , Xu Zaoxu , Zhou Xiaoping , Huang Zhen , Hou Minghao , Ou Xiaobin , Xu Luohao
Published: December 2022

Conservation genomics often relies on non-invasive methods to obtain DNA fragments which limit the power of multi-omic analyses for threatened species. Collecting samples from frozen dead animals in the wild provides an alternative approach to obtaining high-quality nucleic acids. Here, we report multi-omic analyses based on a well-preserved great bustard individual (Otis tarda, Otidiformes) of a recent death found in the mountainous region in Gansu, China. We generated a near-complete genome assembly (OTswu) having only 18 gaps scattering in 8 out of the 40 assembled chromosomes. Unlikely most other bird genome assemblies, OTswu contains complete chromosome models (2n = 80). We demonstrated that the great bustard genome likely retained the ancestral avian karyotype. We also characterized the DNA methylation landscapes of OTswu which are strongly correlated with GC content and gene expression. Our phylogenomic analysis suggested Otidiformes and Musophagiformes were sister groups that diverged from each other 46.3 million years ago. The genetic diversity of great bustard was found the lowest among the four available Otidiformes genomes, possibly due to population declines during past glacial periods. As one of the heaviest migratory birds, great bustard possesses several expanded gene families related to cardiac contraction, actin contraction, calcium ion signaling transduction, as well as positively selected genes enriching for metabolism. Finally, we identified an extremely young evolutionary stratum on the sex chromosome, a rare case among Neoaves. Together, our study combining long-read sequencing and RNA-seq technology provides a working strategy for conducting multi-omic analyses for threatened species by retrieving high-quality nucleic acids from dead animals frozen in the wild.
Brassicaceae display diverse photorespiratory carbon recapturing mechanisms
Authors: Schlüter Urte , Bouvier Jacques W. , Guerreiro Ricardo , Malisic Milena , Kontny Carina , Westhoff Philipp , Stich Benjamin , Weber Andreas P. M.
Published: December 2022

Carbon concentrating mechanisms enhance the carboxylase efficiency of the central photosynthetic enzyme rubisco by providing supra-atmospheric concentrations of CO2in its surrounding. In the C4photosynthesis pathway, this is achieved by combinatory changes to leaf biochemistry and anatomy. Carbon concentration by the photorespiratory glycine shuttle requires fewer and less complex modifications. It could represent an early step during evolution from C3to C4photosynthesis and an inspiration for engineering approaches. Plants displaying CO2compensation points between 10 to 40 ppm are therefore often termed ‘C3–C4intermediates’. In the present study, we perform a physiological, biochemical and anatomical survey of a large number of Brassicaceae species to better understand the C3-C4intermediate phenotype. Our phylogenetic analysis suggested that C3-C4metabolism evolved up to five times independently in the Brassicaceae. The efficiency of the pathways showed considerable variation between the species but also within species. Centripetal accumulation of organelles in the bundle sheath was consistently observed in all C3-C4classified accessions indicating a crucial role of anatomical features for CO2concentrating pathways. Leaf metabolite patterns were strongly influenced by the individual plant accessions, but accumulation of photorespiratory shuttle metabolites glycine and serine was generally observed. Analysis of PEPC activities suggests that C4-like shuttles have not evolve in the investigated Brassicaceae.

Highlight

Our physiological, biochemical and anatomical survey of Brassicaceae revels multiple evolution of C3-C4intermediacy connected to variation in photorespiratory carbon recapturing efficiency and a distinct C3-C4bundle sheath anatomy.
Drug-eluting biodegradable metals and metal-ceramic composites: High strength and delayed drug release
Authors: Sharipova Aliya , Bakina Olga , Lozhkomoev Aleksandr , Lerner Marat , Gutmanas Elazar , Sosnik Alejandro
Published: December 2022

Biodegradable metals emerged as promising temporary bone implants. The integration of additional features such as local drug delivery (LDD) can also support their osteointegration, promote bone regeneration, and prevent biomaterial-centered infections that are difficult to treat. LDD is achieved by drug-eluting coatings or porous implants where the drug is impregnated after implant fabrication because the high temperatures used during conventional production processes would result in their thermal decomposition. We produced biodegradable iron (Fe)-based vancomycin (VH)-eluting metals and metal-ceramic composites by a simple high-pressure consolidation/cold sintering (CS) process at room temperature that display high mechanical strength and antibacterial activity. Aiming to expand the application of this production method and shed light into the drug loading and release mechanisms in this type of biomaterials, this work reports on the production and characterization of VH-loaded Fe and Fe-iron oxide (Fe2O3) composites (Fe-Fe2O3). We use focus ion beam milling for the first time to investigate the drug-metal interface and investigate the mechanical and degradation properties of VH-free and VH-loaded Fe and Fe-Fe2O3. Results show very high mechanical strength of drug-eluting Fe and Fe-Fe2O3composites (up to than 780 MPa under compression, exceeding the maximum strength of cancellous bone more than three times) accompanied by a delayed drug release. Then, we confirm the good antimicrobial activity againstStaphylococcus aureusand cell compatibility with the murine embryonic fibroblast cell line NIH/3T3in vitro. Overall results confirm the promise of drug-eluting metals and metal-ceramic composites for LDD in bone.
What drives attitude, purchase intention and consumer buying behavior toward organic food? A self-determination theory and theory of planned behavior perspective
Authors: Khan Yamna , Hameed Irfan , Akram Umair
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The current study aims to investigate the impact of various types of motivational factors on consumers' behavior regarding the purchase and consumption of organic food. A favorable attitude among consumers may translate into positive purchase intention and actual buying behavior. For this, variables have been extracted from well-established theories, i.e. self-determination theory (SDT) and theory of planned behavior (TPB), to address the issue more proficiently.

Design/methodology/approach

A self Administered close-ended questionnaire was distributed to twelve hundred and sixty-five consumers using purposive sampling technique. Seven hundred and eighty-seven responses were retained after preliminary analysis. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied using SmartPLS 3 to analyze validity and reliability. Furthermore, 5,000 boot-strapping method was used to test hypotheses.

Findings

The findings of the study suggested that two of the SDT variables [external regulations (ER) and integrated regulation (IR)] lead to a significant impact on “consumers” attitudes, while the effects of intrinsic motivation (IM) and introjected regulation (INR) appeared to be insignificant. All the variables extracted from TPB (attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, purchase intention, and buying behavior) appeared to have a significant impact, while the trust was found to moderate the relationship between attitude (ATT) and purchase intention (PI). Moreover, the values of Q-square depicted that the combined model had more predictive relevance (BB = 0.153; PI = 0.211), as compared to the TPB model (BB = 0.147; PI = 0.186).

Originality/value

Marketers can make use of the study's findings to develop marketing strategies by considering particularly extrinsic motivational influences. Hence, advertising could be used to emphasize extrinsic benefits such as increasing individual self-esteem through social status (positive consequences) and appealing to consumers' desire for communal or societal approval. Such campaigns should also consider external regulatory factors, such as the fear of having hazardous effects on the individual's health due to the use of inorganic and processed food. Furthermore, policymakers can develop a sense of trust in the legitimacy of organic labeling by educating consumers about various organic certifications.
How Russian MNEs navigate institutional complexity at home
Authors: Earl Anna , Michailova Snejina , Stringer Christina
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This paper examines how Russian multinational enterprises (MNEs) operating in the metallurgical industry strategise under the highly complex conditions of their home institutional environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The findings are based on a qualitative multiple-case study of eight Russian metallurgical MNEs that took place in 2014–2015. The authors conducted 34 semi-structured interviews, made observations and took reflexive field notes.

Findings

The analysis reveals that Russian MNEs utilise four different strategies–cooperation, persuasion, avoidance and adaptation–when dealing with federal and regional home governments. These MNEs simultaneously utilise multiple strategies while capitalising on their own organisational attributes.

Originality/value

Unlike many other studies, this paper examines institutional complexity within two distinct layers of the Russian Government, regional and federal, rather than considering the aggregate notion of “home government”. The paper also identifies and analyses MNEs’ specific strategies to navigate different layers of institutional complexity.
Examining the marketing performance of the firms from an international dynamic marketing capability perspective: moderating role of marketing leadership team
Authors: Chatterjee Sheshadri , Chaudhuri Ranjan , Vrontis Demetris
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study examines the marketing performance of firms from an international dynamic marketing capability perspective. It also investigates the moderating role of marketing leadership teams to improve organizations' international marketing performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used dynamic capability view and other related literature to develop a theoretical model, which was validated with the structural equation modelling technique, considering a sample of 455 respondents from Indian firms. The authors also used the multigroup analysis method to examine the moderating impacts of a firm's marketing leadership team on their international marketing performance.

Findings

There is a positive relationship between a firm's dynamic ability factors and its international dynamic-marketing capabilities. The study also finds that a firm's marketing leadership team has a significant positive moderating impact on improving its international marketing performance.

Research limitations/implications

The unique theory-based model clearly explains how a firm's dynamic abilities impact international dynamic marketing capability, which then impacts its international marketing performance. This model can help practitioners, researchers and academicians to understand the significance of a firm's international dynamic capability on international marketing performance. The study also helps firms to understand the moderating influence of marketing leadership teams to improve international marketing performance.

Originality/value

This study adds value to the body of literature on international dynamic marketing, international marketing performance and international marketing knowledge management, on which, until now, few other studies have focused. Thus, this research is unique. The proposed model of international dynamic marketing is also unique with high explanative power.
System dynamic-based remanufacturing economic analysis model of used automobile engine under two recycling modes
Authors: Shi Junli , Lu Zhongchi , Xu Huanhuan , Cui Jipei
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to present a system dynamic (SD)-based remanufacturing economic analysis model of used automobile engine under two recycling modes. The authors will compare the remanufacturing cost, sales profit and sales revenue from time and space dimensions incurred in different recycling modes in the long run.

Design/methodology/approach

The remanufacturing economic analysis model is based on SD methodology. The authors can simulate the relations of impact factors on automobile engine recycling and remanufacturing and further analyze and compare the cost, sales profit and sales revenue incurred in different recycling modes in the long term.

Findings

Sinotruk Steyr engine remanufacturing in Shandong province is taken as the research case subject. The revenue, cost and profit under the two recycling modes from 2015 to 2035 are analyzed and compared. The results show that different recycling modes have significant varying influence on the economy of engine remanufacturing.

Originality/value

This economic analysis model can provide a method reference to decide the recycling mode for auto components and other product remanufacturing. Moreover, this model can guide and support the sustainable development of remanufacturing industry.
A systematic review of telemedicine systems use barriers: primary health care providers' perspective
Authors: Tabaeeian Reihaneh Alsadat , Hajrahimi Behzad , Khoshfetrat Atefeh
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this review paper was identifying barriers to the use of telemedicine systems in primary health-care individual level among professionals.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used Scopus and PubMed databases for scientific records identification. A systematic review of the literature structured by PRISMA guidelines was conducted on 37 included papers published between 2009 and 2019. A qualitative approach was used to synthesize insights into using telemedicine by primary care professionals.

Findings

Three barriers were identified and classified: system quality, data quality and service quality barriers. System complexity in terms of usability, system unreliability, security and privacy concerns, lack of integration and inflexibility of systems-in-use are related to system quality. Data quality barriers are data inaccuracy, data timeliness issues, data conciseness concerns and lack of data uniqueness. Finally, service reliability concerns, lack of technical support and lack of user training have been categorized as service quality barriers.

Originality/value

This review identified and mapped emerging themes of barriers to the use of telemedicine systems. This paper also through a new conceptualization of telemedicine use from perspectives of the primary care professionals contributes to informatics literature and system usage practices.
Patient Identification of Diagnostic Safety Blindspots and Participation in “Good Catches” Through Shared Visit Notes
Authors: BELL SIGALL K. , BOURGEOIS FABIENNE , DONG JOE , GILLESPIE ALEX , NGO LONG H. , READER TOM W. , THOMAS ERIC J. , DESROCHES CATHERINE M.
Published: December 2022

Policy Points

Patients and families can identify clinically relevant errors, including “blindspots”—safety hazards that are difficult for clinicians or organizations to see.

Health information transparency, including patient access to electronic visit notes, now federally mandated in the US and the subject of policy debate worldwide, creates a new opportunity to engage patients in diagnostic safety. However, not all patients access notes.

Patient identification of blindspots in their notes underscores the need to systematically and equitably engage willing patients in safety, promote patient “good catches,” and establish routine systems for patient feedback to help avoid preventable diagnostic errors and delays.

Context

Policy shifts toward health information transparency provide a new opportunity for patients to contribute to diagnostic safety. We investigated whether sharing clinical notes with patients can support identification of “diagnostic safety blindspots”—potentially consequential breakdowns in the diagnostic process that may be difficult for clinical staff to observe.

Method

We used mixed methods to analyze patient‐reported ambulatory documentation errors among 22,889 patients at three US health care centers who read ≥ 1 visit note(s). We identified blindspots by tailoring a previously established taxonomy. We used multiple regression analysis to identify factors associated with blindspot identification.

Findings

774 patients reported a total of 962 blindspots in 4 categories: (1) diagnostic misalignments (n = 421, 43.8%), including inaccurate symptoms or histories and failures or delay in diagnosis; (2) errors of omission (38.1%) including missed main concerns or next steps, and failure to listen to patients; (3) problems occurring outside visits (14.3%) such as tests, referrals, or appointment access; and (4) multiple low‐level problems (3.7%) cascading into diagnostic breakdowns. Many patients acted on the blindspots they identified, resulting in “good catches” that may prevent potential negative consequences. Older, female, sicker, unemployed or disabled patients, or those who work in health care were more likely to identify a blindspot. Individuals reporting less formal education; those self‐identifying as Black, Asian, other, or multiple races; and participants who deferred decision‐making to providers were less likely to report a blindspot.

Conclusion

Patients who read notes have unique insight about potential errors in their medical records that could impact diagnostic reasoning but may not be known to clinicians—underscoring a critical role for patients in diagnostic safety and organizational learning. From a policy standpoint, organizations should encourage patient review of visit notes, build systems to track patient‐reported blindspots, and promote equity in note access and blindspot reporting.
Capturing homosocial worlds in the photographs of the Rugby Club, 1885–1920
Authors: Matthews‐Jones Lucinda
Published: December 2022

During the First World War, the Rev. Charles S. Donald, warden of the London‐based Rugby Club, sent several war time circulars to current and former club members. This article examines how Donald used the circular's photographs to sustain pre‐war links. It will therefore consider how snapshots from their annual camping trips and boxing heroes inscribed male intimacy and friendship. Touch will be shown to be a vehicle through which homosocial intimacy was expressed both in the moment the photograph was captured and during the war.
DIS/POSSESSORY DATA POLITICS: From Tenant Screening to Anti‐Eviction Organizing
Authors: McElroy Erin
Published: December 2022

In this article I place tenant screening data grabbing practices in tension with the ongoing work of housing justice‐based tool making. While the tenant screening industry has spent decades amassing eviction data to facilitate the blocklisting of tenants with prior eviction records and thereby reifying racial capitalist geographies, housing organizers today rely on some of this same data to illuminate evictor networks and organize anti‐eviction campaigns. This has been particularly important in the wake of corporate landlordism in which evictions are executed through opaque shell companies. Tenant‐made tools attempt to undo this uneven landscape in which landlords own troves of data about tenants, but in which tenants don't even know their own landlords’ names. While opening up all eviction data to the public might appear to be an antidote, doing so can also provide screening companies with even more data to use in blocklisting. In my examination of this conjuncture, I forge the analytic of dis/possessory data politics to map out the violence of tenant screening data predation while also problematizing the technoliberal impulse to open up all eviction data. Yet dis/possessory data politics also attest to care and coalition work marked by practices of possession beyond logics of theft, banishment and techno solutionism.
Value orientations, life transitions, and desistance: Assessing competing perspectives
Authors: Thomas Kyle J. , Nguyen Holly , Jackson Erica P.
Published: December 2022

Laub and Sampson (2003) and Paternoster and Bushway (2009) offered opposing explanations of desistance from crime. Yet, extant research has failed to test the key theoretical differences that distinguish these perspectives: 1) the temporal ordering of internal changes in identity/values and life transitions and 2) the impact of values/life transitions on offending conditional on key predictors from the opposing theory (e.g., whether marriage contributes to desistance among individuals who already hold prosocial values). We assess competing claims using data from the Pathways to Desistance. We find that within‐person changes in prosocial value orientations are significantly related to within‐person changes in one's likelihood of entering into serious romantic relationships and becoming employed. Conversely, life transitions are unrelated to changes in one's values. The results derived from fixed‐effects Poisson models indicate high or increasing prosocial value orientations help explain offending patterns among those who enter into serious romantic relationships/get employed and help explain changes in offending among those who do not experience structural “turning points.” Marriage/cohabitation is unrelated to within‐person changes in offending, whereas the impact of employment has an inconsistent relationship. Theoretical and policy implications are discussed.