bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bacterial communities of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes differ between crop and midgut tissues
Authors: Martinez Villegas Luis E. , Radl James , Dimopoulos George , Short Sarah M.
Published: September 2022

Microbiota studies of Aedes aegypti and other mosquitoes generally focus on the bacterial communities found in adult female midguts. However, other compartments of the digestive tract maintain communities of bacteria which remain almost entirely unstudied. For example, the Dipteran crop stores nectar and other sugars, but few studies have looked at the microbiome of crops in mosquitoes, and only a single previous study has investigated the crop in Ae. aegypti. In this study, we used both culture-dependent and culture-independent methods to compare the bacterial communities in midguts and crops of laboratory-reared Ae. aegypti. Both methods revealed a trend towards higher abundance, but also higher variability, of bacteria in the midgut than the crop. When present, bacteria from the genus Elizabethkingia (family Weeksellaceae) dominated midgut bacterial communities. In crops, we found a higher diversity of bacteria, and these communities were generally dominated by acetic acid bacteria (family Acetobacteriaceae) from the genera Tanticharoenia and Asaia. These three taxa drove significant community structure differences between the tissues. We used FAPROTAX to predict the metabolic functions of these communities and found that crop bacterial communities were significantly more likely to contain bacteria capable of methanol oxidation and methylotrophy. Both the presence of acetic acid bacteria (which commonly catabolize sugar to produce acetic acid) and the functional profile that includes methanol oxidation (which is correlated with bacteria found with natural sources like nectar) may relate to the presence of sugar in the crop. A better understanding of what bacteria are present in the digestive tract of mosquitoes and how these communities assemble will inform how the microbiota impacts mosquito physiology and the full spectrum of functions provided by the microbiota. It may also facilitate better methods of engineering the mosquito microbiome for vector control or prevention of disease transmission.

Author summary

Bacteria inside mosquitoes’ guts have been found to have an impact on mosquito life history traits (such as longevity and fecundity) as well as their susceptibility to infection by human pathogens. Engineering these communities may provide an effective and safe way to control mosquitoes and reduce the impact of the pathogens they spread. In this work, we assayed the bacteria found in midgut and crop tissues of a medically important mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Our results show that these tissues harbor communities of bacteria that differ in composition and function and vary in abundance. Experiments like ours are important to better understand where bacteria are found in an insect’s body and how these communities assemble. This knowledge may help future researchers more successfully engineer bacterial communities in mosquitoes.
Generation of a newAdar1p150-/-mouse demonstrates isoform-specific roles in embryonic development and adult homeostasis
Authors: Liang Zhen , Walkley Carl R , Heraud-Farlow Jacki E
Published: September 2022

The RNA editing enzyme Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1) is an essential regulator of innate immune activation by both cellular and viral dsRNA. Adenosine-to-Inosine (A-to-I) editing by ADAR1 modifies the sequence and structure of endogenous dsRNA and masks it from the cytoplasmic dsRNA sensor melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5), preventing innate immune activation. Loss of function mutations inADARare associated with rare autoinflammatory disorders including Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome (AGS), defined by a constitutive systemic upregulation of type I interferon (IFN). The murineAdargene encodes two protein isoforms with distinct functions: ADAR1p110 is constitutively expressed and localizes to the nucleus, whereas ADAR1p150 is primarily cytoplasmic and is inducible by IFN. Recent studies have demonstrated the critical requirement for ADAR1p150 to suppress innate immune activation by self dsRNAs, however, detailedin vivocharacterization of the role of ADAR1p150 during development and in adult mice is lacking. We developed a new ADAR1p150-specific knockout mouse mutant based on a single nucleotide deletion that resulted in the loss of the ADARp150 protein without affecting ADAR1p110 expression. TheAdar1p150-/-died embryonically at E11.5-E12.5 due to cell death in the fetal liver accompanied by an activated IFN response. Somatic loss of ADAR1p150 in adults was lethal and caused rapid hematopoietic failure, demonstrating an ongoing requirement for ADAR1p150in vivo. The generation and characterization of this mouse model demonstrates the essential role of ADAR1p150in vivoand provides a new tool for dissecting the functional differences between ADAR1 isoforms and their physiological contributions.
Molecular regulation of GPCR-G-protein-governed PIP3 generation and its adaptation
Authors: Wijayaratna Dhanushan , Ratnayake Kasun , Ubeysinghe Sithurandi , Kankanamge Dinesh , Tennakoon Mithila , Karunarathne Ajith
Published: September 2022

Phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5) trisphosphate (PIP3) is a plasma membrane-bound signaling phospholipid involved in many cellular signaling pathways that control crucial cellular processes and behaviors, including cytoskeleton remodeling, metabolism, chemotaxis, and apoptosis. Therefore, defective PIP3 signaling is implicated in various disease driving processes, including cancer metastasis, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. Upon activation by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) or receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), phosphoinositide-3-kinases (PI3Ks) phosphorylate phosphatidylinositol (4,5) bisphosphate (PIP2), generating PIP3. Interestingly, though the mechanisms are unclear, PIP3 produced upon GPCR activation attenuates within minutes, indicating a tight temporal regulation. Our data show the subcellular redistributions of G proteins govern this PIP3 attenuation in the presence of sustained receptor stimulation, and thus meet the definition of signaling adaptation. Interestingly the observed adaptation of PIP3 was Gγ subtype-dependent. Considering distinct cell-tissue-specific Gγ expression profiles, our findings not only demonstrate how the GPCR-induced PIP3 response is adapted but also show how diversely this adaptation process is regulated by the dominant Gγs of a cell.
Determinants influencing customers’ acceptance of smart restaurants in Penang, Malaysia
Authors: Abhari Sara , Jalali Alireza , Jaafar Mastura
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study investigated the linkage between customers’ acceptance (CA) level and smart service competencies in the food sector across Penang, Malaysia. This research aims to develop a vision of how smart technology may transform the business model in hospitality industry to create value.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the level of CA of the smart restaurant is proposed as the dependent variable, while the perceived security (PS), perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived enjoyment (PE) are proposed as independent variables (IVs). The quantitative approach and simple random sampling method were adopted in this study. Data were collected from 150 respondents by distributing 225 survey questionnaires to restaurant customers across Penang, Malaysia. The data were analysed by the reliability test, factor analysis and multiple regression analysis using SPSS 23.0 software

Findings

The study outcomes indicated that PE and PEOU emerged as the most significant predictors for CA of smart services in restuarants in Penang. The smart services provide customers to experience enjoyable dining services with accurate and user-friendly service delivery.

Originality/value

This study may serve as a guideline for food and beverage (F&B) business owners and restaurant operators with an industrial standard to adopt smart services in restaurants and their progression to develop the intention to use such a novel technology. This research is one of the few attempts that have looked into the influences of hedonic, comfortable and security value on customers’ acceptance level of smart restaurant services.
The e-WOM intention of artificial intelligence (AI) color cosmetics among Chinese social media influencers
Authors: Simay Attila Endre , Wei Yuling , Gyulavári Tamás , Syahrivar Jhanghiz , Gaczek Piotr , Hofmeister-Tóth Ágnes
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The recent advancements in smartphone technology and social media platforms have increased the popularity of artificial intelligence (AI) color cosmetics. Meanwhile, China is a lucrative market for various foreign beauty products and technological innovations. This research aims to investigate the adoption of AI color cosmetics applications and their electronic word-of-mouth (e-WOM) intention among Chinese social media influencers. Several key concepts have been proposed in this research, namely body esteem, price sensitivity, social media addiction and actual purchase.

Design/methodology/approach

An online questionnaire design was used in this research. A combination of purposive sampling and snowball sampling of AI color cosmetics users who are also social media influencers in China yields 221 respondents. To analyze the data, this research employs Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) method via SPSS and AMOS software. A 2-step approach, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), is implemented to prove the hypotheses and generate the results.

Findings

1) Social media addiction is a positive predictor of AI color cosmetics usage, (2) AI color cosmetics usage is a positive predictor of actual purchase, (3) actual purchase is a positive predictor of e-WOM intention and lastly, (4) there is a full mediation effect of actual purchase.

Originality/value

This research draws on the uses and gratification (U&G) theory to investigate how specific user characteristics affect Chinese social media influencers' adoption of AI color cosmetics, as well as how this may affect their decision to purchase branded color cosmetics and their e-WOM.
Analysis of a forced blended-learning program in social sciences higher education during the COVID-19 post-pandemic
Authors: Gómez Cosme Jesús , Hinojo-Lucena Francisco Javier , Moreno-Vera Juan Ramón , Alonso-Garcia Santiago
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The main goal of this investigation is to analyze the implementation of a forced blended-learning program in social sciences higher education in a post-pandemic COVID-19 context. To reach that target, the authors suggest two specific objectives (S.O.): S.O.1 To analyze the motivation, the resources and the learning effectiveness of the program. S.O.2 To establish the differences emerged between the participants.

Design/methodology/approach

The blended-learning program selected was based on the flipped-classroom model (Krasulia, 2017). The implementation consisted of a 20-min flipped classroom to flexibly follow the theoretical contents through self-elaborated videos uploaded on YouTube and adapted to all kinds of devices, two online theoretical hours driven by the teacher on the Zoom application per week with the whole group to augment explanations and solve doubts and two hours of face-to-face interaction to work cooperatively in small groups of 4–5 students per week. During these practical lessons, the students completed exercises, research reports, oral presentations and a gamification quiz developed each week through the Socrative application to keep the students engaged.

Findings

All the participants agree in very positively valuating the small-group seminars and the teacher's role in the process. This is surely caused because of the pandemic fatigue and the restrictions (Mali and Lim, 2021) that were running during the fall semester of year 2020/2021 when in Spain lived the in-between of the second and third wave of SARS-CoV2. So, as educators and investigators, the authors encourage teachers to incorporate face-to-face interaction elements in forced blended-learning programs, to include seminars in small groups to work cooperatively and to provide the students support and a quick resolution of doubts.

Originality/value

This study provides a significant value in support of a number of studies cited in the study. The study highlights the need for a standardised application of active methods in a standardised way.
Refugee women's entrepreneurship: where from and where to next?
Authors: Al-Dajani Haya
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This reflective paper offers an overview on how refugee women's entrepreneurship scholarship evolved, and suggests research directions for the future development of the field.

Design/methodology/approach

A reflective approach encompassing the evolvement of the field of refugee women's entrepreneurship research.

Findings

Whilst refugee women's entrepreneurship scholarship and research, and its interlinks with resilience, empowerment, gender, and livelihoods theoretical framings have flourished in recent years, it remains a relatively young scholarship area, evolving from a broad social science multi-disciplinary base including refugee studies, economics, and development, rather than mainstream business disciplines.

Originality/value

Refugee women's entrepreneurship offers a novel approach and contribution to the broader and established gender and entrepreneurship field. Nevertheless, critical research questions and gaps remain within the growing refugee women's entrepreneurship scholarship regarding the potential of entrepreneuring to empower refugee women socially, economically, and politically.
Were we prepared to face a pandemic? Exploring companies' CSR disclosure on social media before COVID-19 outbreak
Authors: Iazzi Antonio , Ligorio Lorenzo , Iaia Lea
Published: August 2022

Purpose

A model on the cognitive elements of engagement is adopted and content analysis, along with sentiment analysis, has been used to explore the post characteristics and the levels of stakeholders' interactions in controversial and non-controversial European industries through three Poisson regressions. At last, an ANOVA test has been used to check the level of interaction regarding the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related aspects.

Design/methodology/approach

The intrinsic characteristics of controversial industries cause the stakeholders’ skepticism about their corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies. This results in the need to elaborate proper involvement strategies to approach industries' stakeholders. Such need has assumed relevance during the COVID-19 crisis and has traced a certain border between the companies that are more sensitive to the social side of the surrounding environment and the ones that are less involved in risky sectors. The present paper aims to understand the role of social media in stakeholder engagement, and social media's characteristics, and tries to elaborate on companies' CSR communication readiness to the challenges shown by the pandemic.

Findings

The study reveals how the success of stakeholder engagement in CSR communication is affected by both controversial sector membership and the characteristics of the posts such as the inclusion of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). In addition, the study emerges how the European companies have focused on social aspects in companies' communication, revealing a certain readiness for the COVID-19 challenges.

Practical implications

Building on a model of cognitive elements of engagement, the present study provides useful insights for companies' next engagement strategies on social media. Moreover, the thematic analysis provides a benchmark for the improvement of current corporations' communication strategies in light of the pandemic effects.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature by investigating the role of Twitter as a stakeholder engagement tool and identifies the drivers for an effective Twitter content strategy. Moreover, the paper provides a useful proxy for current and future research on the COVID-19-related CSR communication.
Changing leadership, management and culture in mental health trusts
Authors: Konteh Frederick Hassan , Mannion Russell , Jacobs Rowena
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study aims to explore how leadership, management practices and organisational cultures have changed in low and high-performing mental health (MH) providers between 2015 and 2020 in the English National Health Service.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a qualitative case study design comprising a purposeful sample of two low-performing and two high-performing MH providers, based on semi-structured interviews with 60 key informants (mostly internal to the organisation with some external informants from local Clinical Commissioning Groups).

Findings

The authors found major differences regarding leadership, management and organisational culture between low and high performing MH providers in 2015/2016, and that the differences had diminished considerably by 2019/20. In 2015/16, low performing providers were characterised by a “top-down” style of leadership, centralised decision-making and “blame cultures”. In contrast, the high performing providers were characterised as having more distributed, collaborative and inclusive styles of leadership/management, with open and supportive cultures. As the low performing providers changed and adapted their styles of leadership and management and organisational culture over the five-year period, they more closely resembled those of the high performing trusts.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore the relationship between changing organisational factors and the performance of MH care providers. It provides evidence that it is possible for radical changes in leadership, management and organisational culture to be enacted over a relatively short period of time and that such changes may help low performing providers to turnaround their underperformance.
Elastic reverse time migration method in vertical transversely isotropic media including surface topography
Authors: Zhong Yu , Gu Hanming , Liu Yangting , Luo Xia , Mao Qinghui
Published: August 2022

Compared with acoustic seismic data, multi‐wave and multi‐component seismic data can offer some special media properties. Elastic reverse time migration is a high‐precision migration method to image multi‐wave and multi‐component seismic data. Anisotropy widely exists in the earth, and it is important to take anisotropy into account and correct the anisotropy effect for obtaining high‐quality image results during migration. However, accurate elastic reverse time migration in anisotropic media is still a challenging task, particularly for areas with irregular surface topography. To resolve these issues, a new elastic reverse time migration method is developed to correct the anisotropy effect in vertical transversely isotropic media with surface topography. We first use the modified pseudo‐acoustic wave equations of vertical transversely isotropic media to assist the elastic wavefield separation in vertical transversely isotropic media for suppressing the crosstalk artefacts between different wave modes and further generating high‐quality images. We then use a topography‐related filter to remove the influence of surface topography on the migration results of elastic reverse time migration. The advantage of the proposed topography‐related filter is that we do not need to make any changes to the conventional finite‐difference method based on regular grids but can calculate the wavefield in the areas with irregular surface topography efficiently. The synthetic examples with different surface topographies models demonstrate that our proposed elastic reverse time migration method can correct the anisotropy effect effectively, remove the influence of surface topography on elastic reverse time migration results, and generate high‐quality images.
Hsa_circ_0001204 modulates inflammatory response of macrophages infected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis via TLR4/NF‐κB signalling pathway
Authors: Ma Xiaoqing , Wang Fang , Zhen Libo , Cai Qingshan
Published: September 2022

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a vital role in the regulation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) by macrophages. In this project, the potential role of hsa_circ_0001204 in M.tb‐infected macrophages is explored. Hsa_circ_0001204 was determined in the patients with tuberculosis (TB) and M.tb‐infected macrophages. Its effect on the survival of M.tb and the apoptosis and inflammation of M.tb‐infected macrophages was evaluated. Toll‐like receptor 4/nuclear factor‐κB (TLR4/NF‐κB) signalling was detected by western blotting and immunofluorescence. TB patients and M.tb‐infected THP‐1 cells showed the significant downregulation of hsa_circ_0001204. Upregulating hsa_circ_0001204 reduced M.tb survival and suppressed the apoptosis and inflammatory response of THP‐1 cells. The TLR4/NF‐κB signalling pathway could be inhibited by hsa_circ_0001204 overexpression, which was activated by M.tb‐infection. Hsa_circ_0001204 confers protective effects in M.tb‐infected THP‐1 cells, at least partly via the inhibition of TLR4/NF‐κB signalling pathway.
COVID‐19 and democratic resilience
Authors: Youngs Richard
Published: September 2022

The COVID‐19 experience has sharpened debates about democracy's future worldwide. In reflecting on these debates, this paper does three things. First, it assesses how resilient democracy has been in the COVID‐19 emergency. Second, it examines the effect the pandemic has had on the pre‐existing trends in democratic politics. And third, it suggests ways in which the COVID‐19 crisis both requires and possibly opens the door to democratic rejuvenation.
Esophagobronchial fistula successfully managed with a self‐expandable metallic stent followed by fixation using a silicon Y stent
Authors: Ohtsuka Takashi , Kato Daiki , Tsukamoto Yo , Shibazaki Takamasa , Nakada Takeo , Yabe Mitsuo , Hirano Jun
Published: August 2022

Esophagobronchial fistula (EBF) formation is a severe complication of advanced thoracic malignancies, that affects the prognosis and quality of life of patients. This study reports the case of an 80‐year‐old man with advanced esophageal cancer, complicated by EBF formation in the left main bronchus proximal to the carina following chemoradiation therapy. A fully covered stent was placed in the left main bronchus but was dislocated on the oral side. The attempt to place a partially covered self‐expandable metallic stent (SEMS) also failed due to stent dislocation on the oral side. To avoid stent dislocation, a partially covered SEMS with a length of 40 mm and a diameter of 16 mm was placed to cover the EBF in the left main bronchus. Then, a silicone Y stent (16 × 13 × 13 mm in outer diameter) was inserted to support the SEMS from the inside. After placing the SEMS and Y stent, the position of the SEMS was stabilized. The patient remained stable with adequate oral intake.
Molecular detection of two new putative species of gammaherpesvirus in petaurid possums
Authors: Douch JK , Devlin JM , Whiteley P , Hartley CA , Vaz PK
Published: August 2022

A molecular survey of herpesviruses in Australian native mammals was conducted, spanning 260 individuals from 27 species. Among the herpesviruses detected, a putative new gammaherpesvirus species was detected in the yellow‐bellied glider (Petaurus australis), and another in the critically endangered Leadbeater's possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri). In addition, the known host range of the putative species macropodid gammaherpesvirus 3 (MaHV‐3) is herein extended to the western grey kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus). These findings expand our understanding of herpesviruses in Australian mammals and may inform biosecurity protocols for captive and translocated populations.
Suicidal ideation and social integration in three Canadian provinces: The importance of social support and community belonging
Authors: Datta Ronjon Paul , Nakhaie Reza
Published: August 2022

Extending recent developments in the neo‐Durkheimian analysis of suicidality as an indicator of social pathology, this paper analyses individual level survey data on suicidal ideation, perceptions of social support, and the sense of belonging from three Canadian provinces drawn from theCanadian Community Health Survey(2015–16). We ask whether or not social support and a sense of belonging affect suicide ideation differently. In answering this question, we pay attention to both subjective and objective indicators of integration, and how subjective indicators independently affect suicide ideation. Results show that a higher level of social support had the largest effect on suicidal ideation and that the effect of a sense of belonging disappeared when measures of social support are accounted for. These findings are consistent with Durkheim's general theory of suicide and previous studies on mental health, highlighting the importance of regular, proximate social interaction as a prophylactic against suicidality.
Influence of family factors on service members' decisions to leave the military
Authors: Woodall Kelly A. , Esquivel Alejandro P. , Powell Teresa M. , Riviere Lyndon A. , Amoroso Paul J. , Stander Valerie A. ,   for the Millennium Cohort Family Study Team
Published: August 2022

Background

Service member retention is a crucial aspect in maintaining and advancing the U.S. military and its mission. To increase retention, it is important to understand why active duty personnel voluntarily leave while they are still highly qualified. For married service members, spouses likely influence the decision to stay or leave military service.

Objective

The current study used data from the Millennium Cohort Family Study for 4,539 dyads comprising service members and their spouses to investigate family predictors of voluntary military separation.

Methods

Multivariate mediation analyses were conducted to evaluate the role of military satisfaction (spouse and service member) and work–family conflict as mediators of the effects of both family life and military stressors on risk for military separation, while accounting for spouse and service member demographics.

Results

Results identified significant family factors operating through work–family conflict and military satisfaction that were associated with increased likelihood of service member voluntary separation, including number of children, spouse bothered by finances, and service member months away from home. Service members with spouses who reported higher levels of social support were significantly less likely to voluntarily separate, after operating through both work–family conflict and military satisfaction.

Conclusion and Implications

Findings suggest that work–family conflict and military satisfaction play an important synergistic role in predicting the impact family and career factors have on voluntary separation. These modifiable factors may guide potential interventions to increase military retention efforts.
Did they live happily ever after? The fate of restructured firms after hedge fund activism
Authors: Choi Wonik , Lim Jongha
Published: September 2022

This paper studies the long‐term effect of hedge fund activism on distressed firms by tracing the post‐emergence performance of firms that successfully resolved distress. We find that the firms restructured with hedge funds' intervention, compared to their counterparts that emerged without such intervention, are more likely to lose their public status, enjoy higher financial stability, and invest more. Notably, the gap in financial strength lasts at least 3 years after emergence. These findings suggest that the efficiency gains brought by hedge fund activism during the restructuring process tend to positively impact the restructured firms' financial soundness in the post‐intervention period.
International evidence on the association of leverage with stock returns and the value premium
Authors: García‐Feijóo Luis , Jansen Benjamin A.
Published: September 2022

We use an international sample to test theories predicting an association between operating and financial leverage with stock returns and the value premium. We find evidence that operating and financial leverage are related to stock returns and the value premium across the sampled countries. Results hold after considering the trade‐off between financial and operating leverage and are stronger in North American and European subsamples. Consistent with theory, we find that a country's labor share is positively associated with the value premium. Overall, we present evidence suggesting the value premium reflects compensation for exposure to systematic operating and financing risk.
GROUPED VARIATION IN FACTOR SHARES: AN APPLICATION TO MISALLOCATION
Authors: Asturias Jose , Rossbach Jack
Published: September 2022

A striking feature of microlevel plant data is the presence of significant variation in factor cost shares across plants within an industry. We develop a methodology based on cluster analysis to decompose cost shares into idiosyncratic and group‐specific components. We apply our methodology to Chilean plant‐level data and find that group‐specific variation accounts for approximately one‐third of the variation in cost shares. We study the implications of these groups in cost shares on the gains from eliminating misallocation. We place bounds on their importance and find that ignoring them can overstate the gains from eliminating misallocation by up to one‐third .
Effect of Crohn's disease mesenteric mesenchymal stem cells and their extracellular vesicles on T‐cell immunosuppressive capacity
Authors: Dadgar Neda , Altemus Jessica , Li Yan , Lightner Amy L.
Published: September 2022

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal intestinal tract and has characteristic hypertrophic adipose changes observed in the mesentery. To better understand the role of the mesentery in the pathophysiology of Crohn's disease (CD), we evaluated the immunomodulatory potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from Crohn's patients. MSCs and EVs were isolated from the mesentery and subcutaneous tissues of CD patients and healthy individuals subcutaneous tissues, and were analysed for differentiation, cytokine expression, self‐renewal and proliferation. The varying capacity of these tissue‐derived MSCs and EVs to attenuate T‐cell activation was measured in in vitro and an in vivo murine model. RNA sequencing of inflamed Crohn's disease mesentery tissue revealed an enrichment of T‐cell activation compared to non‐inflamed subcutaneous tissue. MSCs and MSC‐derived EVs isolated from Crohn's mesentery lose their ability to attenuate DSS‐induced colitis compared to subcutaneous tissue‐derived cell or EV therapy. We found that treatment with subcutaneous isolated MSCs and their EV product compared to Crohn's mesentery MSCs or EVs, the inhibition of T‐cell proliferation and IFN‐γ, IL‐17a production increased, suggesting a non‐inflamed microenvironment allows for T‐cell inhibition by MSCs/EVs. Our results demonstrate that Crohn's patient‐derived diseased mesentery tissue MSCs lose their immunosuppressive capacity in the treatment of colitis by distinct regulation of pathogenic T‐cell responses and/or T‐cell infiltration into the colon.
Debt Overhang and Lack of Lender's Commitment
Authors: KOBAYASHI KEIICHIRO , NAKAJIMA TOMOYUKI , TAKAHASHI SHUHEI
Published: September 2022

The debt overhang of sovereigns or firms is modeled in the recent literature as a constrained efficient outcome of dynamic debt contracts under the lack of the borrower's commitment, where debt relief is not Pareto‐improving. The early literature observes another type of debt overhang where the borrower is discouraged from expending effort, anticipating the lender to take all output ex post. We show that this inefficiency is due to the lack of the lender's commitment and debt relief is Pareto‐improving. Nevertheless, debt overhang may persist, as frictional bargaining over debt relief can take a long time.
Proteomic Investigation over the Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy Mediated by Rose Bengal Against Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: de Oliveira Silva João Vitor , Meneguello Jean Eduardo , Formagio Maíra Dante , Freitas Camila Fabiano de , Hioka Noboru , Pilau Eduardo Jorge , Marchiosi Rogério , Machinski Miguel , de Abreu Filho Benicio Alves , Zanetti Campanerut‐Sá Paula Aline , Graton Mikcha Jane Martha
Published: September 2022

In order, understanding the antimicrobial action of photodynamic therapy and how this technique can contribute to its application in the control of pathogens. The objective of the study was to employ a proteomic approach to investigate the protein profile of Staphylococcus aureus after antimicrobial photodynamic therapy mediated by rose bengal (RB‐aPDT). S. aureus was treated with RB (10 nmoL L−1) and illuminated with green LED (0.17 J cm−2) for cell viability evaluation. Afterward, proteomic analysis was employed for protein identification and bioinformatic tools to classify the differentially expressed proteins. The reduction in S. aureus after photoinactivation was ~2.5 log CFU mL−1. A total of 12 proteins (four up‐regulated and eight down‐regulated) correspond exclusively to alteration by RB‐aPDT. Functionally, these proteins are distributed in protein binding, structural constituent of ribosome, proton transmembrane transporter activity and ATPase activity. The effects of photodamage include alterations of levels of several proteins resulting in an activated stress response, altered membrane potential and effects on energy metabolism. These 12 proteins required the presence of both light and RB suggesting a unique response to photodynamic effects. The information about this technique contributes valuable insights into bacterial mechanisms and the mode of action of photodynamic therapy.
Drain on your health: Sanitation externalities from dirty drains in India
Authors: Dayal Vikram , Murugesan Anand , Rahman Tauhidur
Published: August 2022

We highlight an overlooked channel of disease transmission in developing countries: dirty drains. We make the case that sanitation efforts should move to improve the condition of drains to build on increased toilet provision since they are a key transmission channel for waterborne diseases. We develop an economic model of sanitation externalities that incorporates the role of drains and then empirically examine the relationship between the sanitary quality of neighborhood drains and household ill‐health incidence using a primary survey of 1,530 households from rural Uttarakhand, India. We find a strong and positive association between household ill‐health incidence and dirty neighborhood drains, controlling for household toilet usage, community‐level toilet availability, and an array of other household attributes. We employ a variety of robustness checks to validate our findings. Our findings suggest that bringing the policy focus to overall sanitation infrastructure will have substantial health returns.
Intra‐ and interobserver assessments of intestinal wall thickness and segmentations from transverse sections of feline abdominal ultrasound images
Authors: Chang Jasmine , Porter Ian R. , Forman Marnin A. , Shcherban Natalya , Basran Parminder S.
Published: September 2022

Measurements of intestinal wall thicknesses from ultrasound imaging (US) are routinely used to support diagnoses of intestinal disorders in cats, however published studies describing observer agreement are currently lacking. The aim of this retrospective, observer agreement study was to quantify inter‐ and intraobserver repeatability and agreement in the measurement of intestinal wall layer thicknesses and the segmentation of transverse sections of small intestines in US images of 20 cats. Intestinal wall layer thickness measurements of the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, serosa layer, and total thickness of these layers were performed on five cats with small cell epitheliotropic lymphoma, five with inflammatory bowel disease, and 10 with other conditions. Thickness measurements and the segmentation encompassing the serosa layer were obtained from five observers four times non‐sequentially. The average standard deviation in thickness measurements (95% confidence interval) in the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, serosa, and total thickness were 0.35 (0.07–0.95), 0.24 (0.07‐0.52), 0.22 (0.06‐0.49), 0.20 (0.05‐0.49), and 0.57 (0.11‐1.60) mm, respectively. The average intraclass correlation coefficients, which estimates the degree of consistency in thickness measurements and segmentation areas for each observer, ranged from 0.355 to 0.870 and 0.850 to 0.993, respectively. The interclass correlation coefficient, which estimates the degree of consistency when measuring a thickness or segmentation area over all observers ranged from 0.115 to 0.753, and 0.811 to 0.902, respectively. The overall average Dice Coefficient, which estimates the extent of overlap of the segmentations for all observers was 0.957 (0.933 to 0.972). Our results suggest segmentations of small intestines have a higher interobserver agreement than measurements of intestinal wall thicknesses.
Perfiles psicológicos de emprendedores en Perú según necesidad, oportunidad, valor y sus variables predictoras de comportamientos de prosocialidad-productiva
Authors: Vera Ruiz Angela , Espinosa Pezzia Agustín , Llanco Gonzales César Andrés
Published: August 2022

Se analizaron perfiles psicológicos de emprendedores según el tipo de valor (comercial/social) y el origen (necesidad/oportunidad) de sus emprendimientos, buscando identificar variables predictoras de conductas de prosocialidad-productiva. Se midieron variables como: rasgos de personalidad, valores, empatía y sostenibilidad, en 506 fundadores de diversos emprendimientos en Perú. Se realizó un análisis de conglomerados según las condiciones de valor y origen, y se identificaron cinco grupos/clusters: Oportunidad Comercial, Oportunidad Social, Centro, Necesidad Comercial y Necesidad Social. Se contrastaron muestras independientes con ANOVA de una vía. La discusión explica las particularidades de cada grupo/cluster señalando la diferencia radical del grupo Oportunidad Social respecto a los otros y proponiendo oportunidades de comprensión y promoción de emprendimientos orientados a la prosocialidad en el contexto local.
Between a Walk and a Hard Place: How Stepping Patterns Change While Navigating Environmental Obstacles
Authors: Kulkarni Ashwini , Cui Chuyi , Rietdyk Shirley , Ambike Satyajit
Published: September 2022

Maintaining a consistent relationship between each footfall and the body’s motion is a key mechanism to maintain balance while walking. However, environmental features, for example, puddles/obstacles, impose additional constraints on foot placement. This study investigated how healthy young individuals alter foot placements to simultaneously manage body-centric and environmental constraints during an obstacle-crossing task. Consistent step length promotes balance for all steps, whereas accurate foot placement around the obstacle is essential to avoid a trip. While crossing an obstacle, any error in positioning one foot relative to the obstacle can be compensated by selecting the placement of the subsequent step. However, compensation will necessarily alter step length from its average value. The interstep covariance index computed from two consecutive foot placements was used to quantify this tradeoff between body-centric and environmental constraints for six consecutive steps while approaching, crossing, and resuming unobstructed gait after crossing the obstacle. The index declined only when either one or both feet were adjacent to the obstacle. The decline was driven in part by a tendency toward higher step length variability. Thus, changes in the stepping patterns to address the environmental constraint occurred at the cost of the body-centric constraint. However, the step length never ceased to be controlled; the interstep covariance index was positive for all steps. Overall, participants adapted foot placement control to account for the larger threat to balance. The environmental constraint was prioritized only when a potential trip posed greater threat to balance compared with the threat posed by variable step length.
Japanese Female Professional Soccer Players’ Views on Second Career Development
Authors: Ando Kozue , Sato Takahiro , Richardson Emma V. , Tomura Takafumi , Furuta Yu , Kasahara Haruka , Nishijima Takahiko
Published: September 2022

The purpose of this study was to analyze professional, Japanese, female soccer athletes’ views on second career development and perceived support from the Women’s Empowerment Professional Football League, Japan. This study was underpinned by occupational socialization theory and utilized a qualitative, collective case study design through demographic questionnaires, in-depth face-to-face semistructured interviews, and reflexive thematic analysis. Participants were six current professional soccer players of one professional team of the Women’s Empowerment League. Three themes were generated from the data: (a) avoiding washout effects in second career opportunities, (b) the importance of dual-career pathway opportunities, and (c) professional development and second career training. These findings reflected how participants’ first career as a professional athlete became ingrained within their identity and shaped future desires and preparations for second careers. They also reflect the difficulty participants experienced balancing a professional athletic career with part-time office work for financial stability as well as planning for a second career linked to soccer. Players expressed a need for second career preparation to be facilitated by their clubs and the Women’s Empowerment League, and we provide implications and recommendations to support this work.
Ventromedial hypothalamic OGT drives adipose tissue lipolysis and curbs obesity
Authors: Wang Qi , Zhang Bichen , Stutz Bernardo , Liu Zhong-Wu , Horvath Tamas L. , Yang Xiaoyong
Published: August 2022

The ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) is known to regulate body weight and counterregulatory response. However, how VMH neurons regulate lipid metabolism and energy balance remains unknown. O-linked β-
d
-
N
-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification (O-GlcNAcylation), catalyzed by O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), is considered a cellular sensor of nutrients and hormones. Here, we report that genetic ablation of OGT in VMH neurons inhibits neuronal excitability. Mice with VMH neuron-specific OGT deletion show rapid weight gain, increased adiposity, and reduced energy expenditure, without significant changes in food intake or physical activity. The obesity phenotype is associated with adipocyte hypertrophy and reduced lipolysis of white adipose tissues. In addition, OGT deletion in VMH neurons down-regulates the sympathetic activity and impairs the sympathetic innervation of white adipose tissues. These findings identify OGT in the VMH as a homeostatic set point that controls body weight and underscore the importance of the VMH in regulating lipid metabolism through white adipose tissue–specific innervation.
Operation of a TCA cycle subnetwork in the mammalian nucleus
Authors: Kafkia Eleni , Andres-Pons Amparo , Ganter Kerstin , Seiler Markus , Smith Tom S. , Andrejeva Anna , Jouhten Paula , Pereira Filipa , Franco Catarina , Kuroshchenkova Anna , Leone Sergio , Sawarkar Ritwick , Boston Rebecca , Thaventhiran James , Zaugg Judith B. , Lilley Kathryn S. , Lancrin Christophe , Beck Martin , Patil Kiran Raosaheb
Published: August 2022

Nucleic acid and histone modifications critically depend on the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle for substrates and cofactors. Although a few TCA cycle enzymes have been reported in the nucleus, the corresponding pathways are considered to operate in mitochondria. Here, we show that a part of the TCA cycle is operational also in the nucleus. Using13C-tracer analysis, we identified activity of glutamine-to-fumarate, citrate-to-succinate, and glutamine-to-aspartate routes in the nuclei ofHeLacells. Proximity labeling mass spectrometry revealed a spatial vicinity of the involved enzymes with core nuclear proteins. We further show nuclear localization of aconitase 2 and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase in mouse embryonic stem cells. Nuclear localization of the latter enzyme, which produces succinyl-CoA, changed from pluripotency to a differentiated state with accompanying changes in the nuclear protein succinylation. Together, our results demonstrate operation of an extended metabolic pathway in the nucleus, warranting a revision of the canonical view on metabolic compartmentalization.
3D nanoprinting of semiconductor quantum dots by photoexcitation-induced chemical bonding
Authors: Liu Shao-Feng , Hou Zheng-Wei , Lin Linhan , Li Fu , Zhao Yao , Li Xiao-Ze , Zhang Hao , Fang Hong-Hua , Li Zhengcao , Sun Hong-Bo
Published: September 2022

Three-dimensional (3D) laser nanoprinting allows maskless manufacturing of diverse nanostructures with nanoscale resolution. However, 3D manufacturing of inorganic nanostructures typically requires nanomaterial-polymer composites and is limited by a photopolymerization mechanism, resulting in a reduction of material purity and degradation of intrinsic properties. We developed a polymerization-independent, laser direct writing technique called photoexcitation-induced chemical bonding. Without any additives, the holes excited inside semiconductor quantum dots are transferred to the nanocrystal surface and improve their chemical reactivity, leading to interparticle chemical bonding. As a proof of concept, we printed arbitrary 3D quantum dot architectures at a resolution beyond the diffraction limit. Our strategy will enable the manufacturing of free-form quantum dot optoelectronic devices such as light-emitting devices or photodetectors.
A climate risk analysis of Earth’s forests in the 21st century
Authors: Anderegg William R. L. , Wu Chao , Acil Nezha , Carvalhais Nuno , Pugh Thomas A. M. , Sadler Jon P. , Seidl Rupert
Published: September 2022

Earth’s forests harbor extensive biodiversity and are currently a major carbon sink. Forest conservation and restoration can help mitigate climate change; however, climate change could fundamentally imperil forests in many regions and undermine their ability to provide such mitigation. The extent of climate risks facing forests has not been synthesized globally nor have different approaches to quantifying forest climate risks been systematically compared. We combine outputs from multiple mechanistic and empirical approaches to modeling carbon, biodiversity, and disturbance risks to conduct a synthetic climate risk analysis for Earth’s forests in the 21st century. Despite large uncertainty in most regions we find that some forests are consistently at higher risk, including southern boreal forests and those in western North America and parts of the Amazon.
Carbon dioxide detected around alien world for first time
Authors: Clery Daniel
Published: September 2022

Webb telescope discovery offers clue to planet formation and promises insights on planetary habitability
Complexities of Inferring Symbiont Function:
Paraburkholderia
Symbiont Dynamics in Social Amoeba Populations and Their Impacts on the Amoeba Microbiota
Authors: DuBose James G. , Robeson Michael S. , Hoogshagen Mackenzie , Olsen Hunter , Haselkorn Tamara S.
Published: August 2022

The functions of symbionts in natural populations can be difficult to completely discern. The three
Paraburkholderia
bacterial farming symbionts of the social amoeba
Dictyostelium discoideum
have been shown in the laboratory environment to allow the amoebas to carry, rather than fully digest, food bacteria.