bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Direct observation of the conformational states of formin mDia1 at actin filament barbed ends and along the filament
Authors: Maufront Julien , Guichard Bérengère , Cao Lu-Yan , Di Cicco Aurélie , Jégou Antoine , Romet-Lemonne Guillaume , Bertin Aurélie
Published: June 2022

The fine regulation of actin polymerization is essential to control cell motility, architecture and to perform essential cellular functions. Formins are key regulators of actin filament assembly, known to processively elongate filament barbed ends and increase their polymerization rate. Based on indirect observations, different models have been proposed to describe the molecular mechanism governing the processive motion of formin FH2 domains at polymerizing barbed ends. Using electron microscopy, we directly identified two conformations of the mDia1 formin FH2 domains in interaction with the barbed ends of actin filaments. These conformations agree with the open and closed conformations of the “stair stepping” model proposed by Otomo and colleagues1. We observed the FH2 dimers to be in the open conformation for 79% of the data, interacting with the two terminal actin subunits of the barbed end, while they interact with three actin subunits in the closed conformation. Further, our data reveal that the open state encompasses a continuum of states where the orientation of the leading FH2 domain with respect to the filament long axis varies from 108 to 135 degrees. In addition, we identified FH2 domains encircling the core of actin filaments, providing structural information for mDia1 away from the barbed end. Based on these direct observations, we propose a model of formin in interaction with the growing filament end, as well as with the core of the filament.
Nucleic acid quantification with amplicon yield in recombinase polymerase amplification
Authors: Valloly Priyanka , Roy Rahul
Published: June 2022

Amplification-based qPCR provides accurate and sensitive nucleic acid quantification. However, the requirement of temperature cycling and real-time monitoring limits its translation to different settings. Here, we adapted isothermal Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA) reaction to develop a semi-quantitative method that relies on final amplicon yield to estimate initial target nucleic acid copy number. To achieve this, we developed a phenomenological model that captures the essential RPA dynamics. We identified reaction conditions that constrained the reaction yield corresponding to the starting DNA template concentration. We validated these predictions experimentally and show that the amplicon yields at the end of the RPA reaction correlates well to the starting DNA concentration while reducing non-specific amplification robustly. We demonstrate this approach termed here as quantitative endpoint RPA (qeRPA) to detect DNA over five log orders with detection limit of 100 molecules. Using a linear regression model with normalized endpoint intensity (NEI) standard curve, we estimate viral load from the serum of dengue-infected patients with comparable performance to qPCR. Hence, qeRPA can be employed for robust and sensitive nucleic acid estimation at close to room temperature without real-time monitoring and can be beneficial for field-deployment in limited-resource settings.
High-resolution magic angle spinning NMR of KcsA in liposomes: the highly mobile C-terminus
Authors: Howarth Gary S. , McDermott Ann E.
Published: June 2022

The structure of the transmembrane domain of bacterial potassium channel KcsA has been extensively characterized, yet little information is available on the structure of its cytosolic N- and C-termini. This study presents high-resolution magic angle spinning (HR-MAS) and fractional deuteration as tools to study these poorly resolved regions for proteoliposome-embedded KcsA. Using 1H-detected HR-MAS NMR, we show that the C-terminus transitions from a rigid structure to a more dynamic structure as the solution is rendered acidic. We make previously unreported assignments of residues in the C-terminus of lipid embedded channels. Further, we also show evidence for hydrolysis of lipid head groups in proteoliposome samples during typical experimental timeframes.
Phase separation of Myc differentially modulates the transcriptome
Authors: Yang Junjiao , Chung Chan-I , Koach Jessica , Liu Hongjiang , Navalkar Ambuja , Zhao Qian , Yang Xiaoyu , He Liang , Mittag Tanja , Shen Yin , Weiss William A. , Shu Xiaokun
Published: June 2022

Dysregulation and enhanced expression ofMYCtranscription factors (TFs) includingMYCandMYCNcontribute to the majority of human cancers. For example,MYCNis amplified up to several hundred-fold in high-risk neuroblastoma. The resulting overexpression of N-myc aberrantly activates genes that are not activated at low N-myc levels and drives proliferation and cell survival. Whether increasing N-myc levels simply mediate binding to lower-affinity binding sites in the genome or fundamentally changes the activation process remains unclear. One such activation mechanism that could become important above threshold levels of N-myc is the formation of aberrant transcriptional condensates through phase separation. Phase separation has recently been linked to transcriptional regulation, but how strongly it contributes to gene activation remains unclear. Here we characterized the phase behavior of N-myc and showed that it can form dynamic condensates that bear the hallmarks of transcriptional activity. We tested the contribution of phase separation to N-myc-mediated gene expression by using a chemogenetic tool that allowed us to compare non-phase-separated and phase-separated conditions at identical N-myc levels, which both showed a strong impact on gene expression compared to no N-myc expression. However, we found that only a small fraction of <3% of N-myc-regulated genes is further affected by phase separation, but that these events include the activation of key oncogenes and the repression of tumor suppressors. Indeed, phase separation increases cell survival by ∼15% corroborating the biological effects of the transcriptional changes. However, our results also show that >97% of N-myc-regulated genes are not affected by N-myc phase separation, highlighting that transcription can be activated effectively by diffuse complexes of TFs with the transcriptional machinery.
Impact of maternal iron deficiency anaemia on fetal iron status and placental iron transporters in human pregnancy
Authors: Santhakumar Sreenithi , Athiyarath Rekha , Cherian Anne George , Abraham Vinod Joseph , George Biju , Lipiński Paweł , Edison Eunice Sindhuvi
Published: June 2022

Iron deficiency anaemia is associated with maternal morbidity and poor pregnancy outcomes. Placenta expresses both haem and non-haem iron transport proteins. The aim of the study is to examine the expression of placental iron trafficking molecules and associate them with maternal and neonatal iron status. Pregnant women who received prenatal care at the department of community health and development, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India for childbirth were recruited between 2016-2018. Pregnant women who were 18-35 years old with gestational age (GA) of ≥36weeks were eligible to participate in the study. In a prospective cohort of pregnant women, 22% were iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and 42% were iron replete. Pregnant women in the different groups were mutually exclusive. Samples were collected (Maternal blood, placental tissue, and cord blood) from pregnant women with gestational age of ≥38 weeks at the time of delivery. Mean gestational age at first visit and delivery was 12.8±2.72 weeks and 39±1.65 weeks, respectively. Hemoglobin (9.3±0.9g/dl) and ferritin (15.4(0.8-28.3) ng/ml) levels at delivery were significantly decreased in IDA as compared to other groups. The foetal haemoglobin and ferritin levels were in the normal range in all groups. We further analysed the expression of iron transport genes in the placenta in the iron replete controls and the IDA group. Under maternal iron insufficiency, the expression of placental iron transporters DMT1 and FPN1 were upregulated at the transcriptional level. There was no correlation of maternal and cord blood hepcidin with foetal iron status in IDA. Thus, placental iron traffickers respond to maternal iron deficiency by increasing their expression and allowing sufficient iron to pass to the foetus.
Examining the digital organizational identity through content analysis of missions and vision statements of Malaysian and Singaporean SME company websites
Authors: Abdullah Zulhamri , Anumudu Chinedu Eugenia , Raza Syed Hassan
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine the current state of mission and vision statements on the company websites of fast-growing Malaysian and Singaporean small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and analyze how these attributes are functionally used to build a distinct digital organizational identity.

Design/methodology/approach

The content analysis method was used to examine the similarities and differences among 170 Malaysian and Singaporean-selected SMEs based on Aaker’s five brand personality scales.

Findings

The findings demonstrated that there were explicit discrepancies between Malaysian and Singaporean SMEs in the applications of brand personality attributes. The findings also identified an increase in communicating mission and vision statements on the websites of both Malaysian and Singaporean SMEs. This emphasizes the need for Malaysian and Singaporean companies to intensify their efforts to develop a notable digital organizational identity.

Research limitations/implications

This study endeavors to provide novel insights into the digital communication practices of SMEs in building digital organization identity based on brand personality elements. Therefore, this study theoretically advances Aaker’s brand personality framework by incorporating digital organizational identity as a concept of Aaker’s brand personality from the SME perspective. This study contributes to the organizational identity literature by highlighting the need for these SMEs to integrate brand personality dimensions to compete with leading global companies.

Practical implications

The findings indicate that managers of SMEs can develop a unique digital organizational identity by communicating their vision and mission statements on their websites as a strategic asset for sustaining corporate reputation.

Originality/value

To date, little is known about the inevitable adaptation and application of communication that occurs when using digital means to develop a digital organizational identity. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to establish how Asian SMEs communicate their unique brand personality through websites to build their digital organizational identity.
Impact of surface waviness on the static performance of journal bearing with CuO and CeO2 nanoparticles in the lubricant
Authors: Bangotra Arun , Sharma Sanjay
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of surface waviness on the static performance parameters of hydrodynamic journal bearings operating with lubricants containing copper oxide (CuO) and cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles.

Design/methodology/approach

The static performance parameters of bearings with surface waviness and the addition of nanoparticles in lubricants were calculated using the nondimensional form of Reynolds equation and finite element method. Static performance parameters are calculated at different waviness numbers in the circumferential, axial and both directions at various wave amplitudes with variable viscosities of lubricants with nanoparticles using the viscosity equation forming a relationship between the relative viscosity, temperature and weight fraction of nanoparticles in lubricant developed from the experimental results.

Findings

The computed results indicate that the impact of waviness on the bearing surface enhances the load capacity, reduces friction coefficient, and is more effective in the circumferential direction than in the axial direction or in both directions. The addition of CuO and CeO2 to the lubricant enhanced its viscosity which further improved the steady-state parameters of the wave bearing.

Research limitations/implications

This study is based on a numerical technique, which has significant limitations, and the simulated results must be tested experimentally.

Practical implications

The current findings will be beneficial for designers to improve the performance of hydrodynamic journal bearings.

Originality/value

The calculated results demonstrate that the combined effect of the surface waviness on bearings and the addition of nanoparticles to lubricants can greatly increase the performance of hydrodynamic journal bearings.
The impact of business strategy and annual report readability on financial reporting quality
Authors: Arianpoor Arash , Sahoor Zahra
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study aims to mainly explore the impact of business strategy and annual reports readability on financial reporting quality in Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE).

Design/methodology/approach

The sample comprised 160 companies listed in TSE from 2014 to 2020. Five proxies (including two accounting-based attributes and two market-based attributes) were used to measure financial reporting quality. In this study, cost leadership and differentiation strategies were considered and Fog index was used to measure the annual report readability.

Findings

The results showed that in all methods of calculating financial reporting quality, cost leadership strategy, differentiation strategy and annual report readability had a positive and significant impact on financial reporting quality. Also, only at the high level of the differentiation strategy, the annual reports readability influenced financial reporting quality. In addition, at all levels of high and low annual report readability, cost leadership strategy affected financial reporting quality, but only in companies with a high annual report readability, the differentiation strategy affected financial reporting quality. Only for companies with a low readability, the annual report readability affected financial reporting quality.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no study had examined the impact of business strategy and annual report readability on financial reporting quality at the core of the present study. Furthermore, little was known about the strategic choices made in Iran. So, the research filled this gap in TSE. This study provided insights for policymakers to enhance the readability and reduce the complexity of annual reports.
Examining the influential components of tourists' intention to use travel apps: the importance–performance map analysis
Authors: Fakfare Pipatpong , Manosuthi Noppadol
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The main objectives of this study are to (1) explore underlying components and attributes of travel applications that influence traveler usage intention and (2) investigate which contents should be prioritized to increase the efficiency of travel apps.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses importance–performance map analysis (IPMA) with an innovative approach (i.e. generalized structured component analysis [GSCA]) to identify components and attributes that have relatively high and low significance for the target construct (i.e. travel app's usage intention).

Findings

An integrated model influenced by three components (i.e. entertainment, travel review and medical and emergency information is proposed to have an impact on travelers' intention to use travel apps). The IPMA results indicate that restaurant and shopping receive the utmost emphasis from Thai domestic tourists who use travel apps, and sports and attraction are regarded as less critical attributes.

Practical implications

The app content scales identified in this study can be used as a basic framework for app developers, service providers and tourism authorities to design a travel app. The IPMA results also help concerned practitioners to make decisions on which contents/attributes should be incorporated and improved.

Originality/value

This study implements IPMA using a GSCA estimator to present the standard results reporting on the path coefficients of each of the attributes of travel app services. The results not only contribute to the improvement of app features and services, but also suggest an innovative approach for generating pertinent IPMA results with GSCA, thus contributing to the theoretical and methodological advancement in hospitality and tourism areas.
Remote elementary education (Part 2): grade-level comparative analysis with control
Authors: Kleinke Stefan , Cross David
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this two-part research was to investigate the effect of remote learning on student progress in elementary education. Part 2, presented in this paper, is a follow-up study to examine how student progression in the two pandemic-induced environments compared to the pre-pandemic conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors expanded the quantitative, quasi-experimental factorial design of the authors' initial study with additional ex-post-facto standardized test score data from before the pandemic to enhance the group comparison with a control: the conventional pre-pandemic classroom environment. Thus, the authors were able to examine in which ways the two pandemic-induced learning environments (remote and hybrid) may have affected learner progress in the two subject areas: English Language (ELA) and Math. Additionally, the authors provided a grade-by-grade breakdown of analysis results.

Findings

Findings revealed significant group differences in grade levels at or below 6th grade. In the majority of analyzed comparisons, learner achievement in the hybrid group was significantly lower than those in either the remote or the classroom group, or both.

Research limitations/implications

The additional findings further supported the authors' initial hypotheses: Differences in the consistency and continuity of educational approaches, as well as potential differences in learner predispositions and the availability of home support systems may have influenced observed results. Thus, this research also contributes to the general knowledge about learner needs in elementary education.

Originality/value

During the pandemic, remote learning became ubiquitous. However, in contrast to e-learning in postsecondary education, for which an abundance of research has been conducted, relatively little is known about the efficacy of such approaches in elementary education.
Ti6Al4V scaffolds fabricated by laser powder bed fusion with hybrid volumetric energy density
Authors: Gaur Bhanupratap , Soman Deepak , Ghyar Rupesh , Bhallamudi Ravi
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Additive manufacturing of metallic scaffolds using laser powder bed fusion is challenging because of the accumulation of extra material below overhanging and horizontal surfaces. It reduces porosity and pore size and increases the effective strut size. These challenges are normally overcome by using volumetric energy density (VED) values lower than the optimum values, which, however, results in poor physio-mechanical properties. The purpose of this study is to assist scaffold manufacturers with a novel approach to fabricate stronger yet accurate scaffolds.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a strategy for laser exposure that enables fabricating titanium-6–aluminum-4–vanedium (Ti6Al4V) alloy scaffolds with the required properties without compromising the geometric features. The process starts from computer-aided design models sliced into layers; dividing them into core (upper) and downskin (lower) layers; and fabrication using hybrid VED (low values for downskin layers and high values for core layers).

Findings

While exposing the core layers, laser remelted the downskin layers, resulting in better physio-mechanical properties (surface roughness, microhardness and density) for the whole strut without affecting its dimensional accuracy. A regression equation was developed to select the downskin thickness for a given combination of strut thickness and core VED to achieve the desired range of properties. The proposed approach was validated using microstructure analysis and compression testing.

Practical implications

This paper is expected to be valuable for the manufacturers of Ti6Al4V scaffolds, in achieving the desired properties.

Originality/value

This is probably the first time the hybrid VED approach has been applied for obtaining scaffolds with the desirable physio-mechanical and geometrical properties.
The interrelationship between intellectual capital, corporate governance and corporate social responsibility
Authors: Vo Duc Hong , Van Loan Thi Hong , Hoang Hien Thi Thu , Tran Ngoc Phu
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Intellectual capital, corporate governance (CG) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are generally considered three essential pillars to enhance firms’ performance in the developed world. However, in developing countries such as Vietnam, these pillars have not received sufficient attention from practitioners. In addition, this study aims to investigate the interrelationship between these three essential pillars and their combined effects, in the Vietnamese context.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses data collected from the annual reports of the largest listed banks in Vietnam from 2011 to 2018. Intellectual capital is measured using a modified value-added intellectual coefficient model. CG is proxied by board remuneration. This study measures CSR using the ratio between charitable contributions and profit before tax. In addition, this study uses the generalized method of moments to overcome several econometric problems exhibited in previous empirical studies.

Findings

Results indicate that CG and CSR have a positive impact on intellectual capital. Intellectual capital plays a moderating role in the relationship between CG and CSR. Moreover, CG and intellectual capital in the previous year significantly affect CG in the current year.

Practical implications

Based on the findings from this study, policy implications have emerged for bank executives and policymakers in formulating and implementing policy about the balance between intellectual capital accumulation, CG and CSR.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first empirical study conducted to examine the interrelationship between intellectual capital, CG and CSR and their combined effects in emerging countries such as Vietnam.
Ecological specialization and reproductive isolation among closely related sympatric ant‐eating spiders
Authors: Pekár Stano , Ortiz David , Sentenská Lenka , Šedo Ondrej
Published: June 2022

Biological divergence results from several mechanisms. Defensive mechanisms, such as Batesian mimicry, can cause reproductive isolation via temporal segregation in foraging activity, particularly, in species that closely associate with their model. This seems to be the case of ant‐eating spiders, which can be inaccurate Batesian mimics of their prey.

Here, we focused onZodarion nitidum, which has two forms occurring in sympatry, black and yellow. Given the expected noticeable impact of their colour differences on the spiders' interactions with their potential predators and prey, we investigated whether these morphotypes have diverged in other aspects of their biology.

We measured the two morphotypes' phenotypic resemblance to a mimetic model, tested whether they were protected from predators, investigated their circadian activity, surveyed the prey they hunted, modelled their distributions, performed crossing experiments and estimated their degree of genetic differentiation.

We found that the black morphotype is ant‐like, resemblingMessorants, and it was not distinguishable from their ant models by four potential predators. In contrast, the yellow morphotype seems to use predator avoidance as a defensive strategy. Additionally, the two morphotypes differ in their circadian activity, the yellow morphotype being nocturnal and the black one being diurnal. The two morphotypes hunt and associate with different ant prey and possess marked differences in venom composition. Finally, crossing trials showed complete pre‐mating isolation between the two morphotypes, but there was no evidence of genetic (mitochondrial data) or environmental niche differentiation.

We conclude that the two morphotypes show evidence of a deep differentiation in morphological, behavioural, physiological and ecological traits that evolved together as part of the spider's diverging lifestyles.
Pollinators, pests and yield—Multiple trade‐offs from insecticide use in a mass‐flowering crop
Authors: Knapp Jessica L. , Bates Adam , Jonsson Ove , Klatt Björn , Krausl Theresia , Sahlin Ullrika , Svensson Glenn P. , Rundlöf Maj
Published: June 2022

Multiple trade‐offs likely occur between pesticide use, pollinators and yield (via crop flowers) in pollinator‐dependent, mass‐flowering crops (MFCs), causing potential conflict between conservation and agronomic goals. To date, no studies have looked at both outcomes within the same system, meaning win‐win solutions for pollinators and yield can only be inferred.

Here, we outline a new framework to explore these trade‐offs, using red clover (Trifolium pratense) grown for seed production as an example. Specifically, we address how the insecticide thiacloprid affects densities of seed‐eating weevils (Protapion spp.), pollination rates, yield, floral resources and colony dynamics of the key pollinator, Bombus terrestris.

Thiacloprid did not affect the amount of nectar provided by, or pollinator visitation to, red clover flowers but did reduce weevil density, correlating to increased yield and gross profit. In addition, colonies of B. terrestris significantly increased their weight and reproductive output in landscapes with (compared with without) red clover, regardless of insecticide use.

Synthesis and applications. We propose a holistic conceptual framework to explore trade‐offs between pollinators, pesticides and yield that we believe to be essential for achieving conservation and agronomic goals. This framework applies to all insecticide‐treated mass‐flowering crops (MFCs) and can be adapted to include other ecological processes. Trialling the framework in our study system, we found that our focal insecticide, thiacloprid, improved red clover seed yield with no detected effects on its key pollinator, B. terrestris, and that the presence of red clover in the landscape can benefit pollinator populations.
Subclinical hypothyroidism and antithyroid autoantibodies in women with subfertility or recurrent pregnancy loss
Authors: Dhillon‐Smith Rima K. , Boelaert Kristien , Jeve Yadava B. , Maheshwari Abha , Coomarasamy Arri ,   Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Published: June 2022

Plain language summary

The thyroid is a gland located in the neck and is important for many processes in the body. Problems with the thyroid gland are common in women of reproductive age. It is essential to have a normal working thyroid gland in order to achieve a successful pregnancy. One of the most common problems with the thyroid is underactivity (known as hypothyroidism). An early, mild form of an underactive thyroid is called subclinical hypothyroidism. Often people with this condition do not have any symptoms. Another common problem is thyroid autoimmunity. Here, the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, sometimes leading to the development of abnormal thyroid function. This can be diagnosed by the presence of proteins in the bloodstream called antibodies.

Mild thyroid problems and the presence of high levels of thyroid antibodies have been linked to miscarriage and premature birth. There is debate in medicine about whether there should be routine testing of thyroid function both in the general population and in individuals who are trying for a baby. In addition, the strategies used to manage certain thyroid problems are questioned. Discussions around testing and subsequent management particularly relate to women with a history of subfertility or repeated miscarriages.

This Scientific Impact Paper provides information on thyroid testing and the management of mild thyroid problems and thyroid antibodies in women with a history of subfertility or recurrent miscarriages, using the latest evidence and guidelines. It concludes that there may be a role for treating these women with thyroxine tablets (the hormone produced by the thyroid gland) when subclinical hypothyroidism is present, and gives guidance on the cut‐off levels for treatment.
The Presence 5 for Racial Justice Framework for anti‐racist communication with Black patients
Authors: Brown‐Johnson Cati , Cox Joy , Shankar Megha , Baratta Juliana , De Leon Gisselle , Garcia Raquel , Hollis Taylor , Verano Mae , Henderson Kelsey , Upchurch Mauranda , Safaeinili Nadia , Shaw Jonathan Glazer , Fortuna Robert J. , Beverly Clyde , Walsh Meredith , Somerville Carlie Stein , Haverfield Marie , Israni Sonoo Thadaney , Verghese Abraham , Zulman Donna M.
Published: June 2022

Objective

To identify communication practices that clinicians can use to address racism faced by Black patients, build trusting relationships, and empower Black individuals in clinical care.

Data Sources

Qualitative data (N = 112 participants, August 2020–March 2021) collected in partnership with clinics primarily serving Black patients in Leeds, AL; Memphis, TN; Oakland, CA; and Rochester, NY.

Study Design

This multi‐phased project was informed by human‐centered design thinking and community‐based participatory research principles. We mapped emergent communication and trust‐building strategies to domains from the Presence 5 framework for fostering meaningful connection in clinical care.

Data Collection Methods

Interviews and focus group discussions explored anti‐racist communication and patient–clinician trust (n = 36 Black patients; n = 40 nonmedical professionals; and n = 24 clinicians of various races and ethnicities). The Presence 5 Virtual National Community Advisory Board guided analysis interpretation.

Principal Findings

The emergent Presence 5 for Racial Justice (P5RJ) practices include: (1) Prepare with intention by reflecting on identity, bias, and power dynamics; and creating structures to address bias and structural determinants of health; (2) Listen intently and completely without interruption and listen deeply for the potential impact of anti‐Black racism on patient health and interactions with health care; (3) Agree on what matters most by having explicit conversations about patient goals, treatment comfort and consent, and referral planning; (4) Connect with the patient's story, acknowledging socioeconomic factors influencing patient health and focusing on positive efforts; (5) Explore emotional cues by noticing and naming patient emotions, and considering how experiences with racism might influence emotions.

Conclusion

P5RJ provides a framework with actionable communication practices to address pervasive racism experienced by Black patients. Effective implementation necessitates clinician self‐reflection, personal commitment, and institutional support that offers time and resources to elicit a patient's story and to address patient needs.
Heat‐ and shear‐reversible networks in food: A review
Authors: Kierulf Arkaye V. , Whaley Judith K. , Liu Weichang , Smoot James T. , Jenab Ehsan , Perez Herrera Mariana , Abbaspourrad Alireza
Published: June 2022

While nature behaves like an irreversible network with respect to entropy and time, certain systems in nature exist that are, to some extent, reversible. The property of reversibility imparts unique benefits to systems that possess them, making them suitable for designing self‐healing, stimuli‐responsive, and smart materials that can be used in widely divergent fields. Reversible networks are currently being exploited for applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and soft robotics. They are also being utilized as low‐calorie fat mimetics with melt‐in‐your‐mouth textures, as well as being explored as potential scaffolds for three‐dimensional (3D) printable food, among other applications. This review aims to gather representative examples of heat‐ and shear‐reversible networks in the food science literature from the last 30 or so years, in other words, reversible food gels made either from linear biopolymers or from colloidal, particulate dispersions, including those that have been modified specifically to induce reversibility. An overview of the network mechanisms involved that impart reversibility, including a discussion of the strength and range of forces involved, will be highlighted. A model that explains why certain networks are thermoreversible while others are shear‐reversible, and why others are both, will also be proposed. A fundamental understanding of these mechanisms will prove invaluable when designing reversible networks in the future, making possible the precise control of their properties, thus fostering innovative applications within the food industry and beyond.
The effects of acute alcohol administration on circulating endocannabinoid levels in humans
Authors: Sloan Matthew E. , Grant Caroline W. , Stangl Bethany L. , Klepp Timothy D. , Brewton Honoree W. , Cinar Resat , Kunos George , Ramchandani Vijay A.
Published: June 2022

Several lines of evidence suggest that endocannabinoid signalling may influence alcohol consumption. Preclinical studies have found that pharmacological blockade of cannabinoid receptor 1 leads to reductions in alcohol intake. Furthermore, variations in endocannabinoid metabolism between individuals may be associated with the presence and severity of alcohol use disorder. However, little is known about the acute effects of alcohol on the endocannabinoid system in humans. In this study, we evaluated the effect of acute alcohol administration on circulating endocannabinoid levels by analysing data from two highly‐controlled alcohol administration experiments. In the first within‐subjects experiment, 47 healthy participants were randomized to receive alcohol and placebo in a counterbalanced order. Alcohol was administered using an intravenous clamping procedure such that each participant attained a nearly identical breath alcohol concentration of 0.05%, maintained over 3 h. In the second experiment, 23 healthy participants self‐administered alcohol intravenously; participants had control over their exposure throughout the paradigm. In both experiments, circulating concentrations of two endocannabinoids, N‐arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2‐arachidonoylglycerol (2‐AG), were measured at baseline and following alcohol exposure. During the intravenous clamping procedure, acute alcohol administration reduced circulating AEA but not 2‐AG levels when compared to placebo. This finding was confirmed in the self‐administration paradigm, where alcohol reduced AEA levels in an exposure‐dependent manner. Future studies should seek to determine whether alcohol administration has similar effects on brain endocannabinoid signalling. An improved understanding of the bidirectional relationship between endocannabinoid signalling and alcohol intake may deepen our understanding of the aetiology and repercussions of alcohol use disorder.
Memory Justice in Ordinary Urban Spaces: The Politics of Remembering and Forgetting in aPost‐ApartheidNeighbourhood
Authors: Anderson Molly , Daya Shari
Published: June 2022

From 1950 onwards, under the apartheid regime’s Group Areas Act, hundreds of thousands of people were forced to leave their homes across South Africa’s cities. While the removals from some areas, notably District Six in Cape Town, are well documented and memorialised, many others have largely been erased from public memory. In a context of burgeoning research into issues of spatial justice in Southern cities, this paper puts forward the argument that the concepts and practice of memory and memorialising in urban spaces deserve more attention. Specifically, we suggest that the relationships between space and memory, shaped by collective, public acts of remembering and forgetting, can expand our understanding of what constitutes spatial justice in our cities. Reflecting on a research project conducted in Lower Claremont, a racially mixed, middle‐class suburb in Cape Town that was declared White in 1969 and subsequently dubbed Harfield Village, we explore some of the ways in which remembering and forgetting take place on the urban scale, and their implications for imagining just cities. We ask, too, what possibilities exist for active remembering in this place and in similarly ordinary city spaces. Analysing oral histories from former residents and interviews with current occupants of the neighbourhood, we open up some of the complications in surfacing forgotten stories and creating landscapes of memory. In the final section of the paper we reflect on an art installation that formed part of the research project, and suggest some possibilities for active memory work in our urban spaces.
Robot‐assisted anterior resection for rectal cancer with double inferior vena cava: A case report
Authors: Sato Fumikazu , Kotake Masanori , Ida Asaka , Hashimoto Masashi , Saito Hiroshi , Sawada Koichiro , Oshima Masahiro , Hada Masahiro , Kato Yosuke , Oyama Kaeko , Hara Takuo , Inaki Noriyuki
Published: June 2022

Double inferior vena cava (DIVC) is a rare but generally asymptomatic condition that is often detected incidentally by radiological examinations such as computed tomography (CT). Here, we describe the case of a 73‐year‐old woman with DIVC, who underwent robot‐assisted surgery (RS) for rectal cancer. In this case, 3D CT angiography showed DIVC with an interiliac vein from the left common iliac vein and a tortuous aorta. Intraoperatively, we identified the presence of the left IVC in addition to the inferior mesenteric vein, gonadal vein, and ureter, which require meticulous attention during vascular processing. By optimizing the port placement, we were able to ensure mobility of the robotic arm and sufficient field of view to safely perform a robot‐assisted anterior resection with lymph node dissection. Careful preoperative assessment and development of a strategy for port placement using CT imaging are essential in avoiding iatrogenic injury and performing safe RS.
Using the behaviour change wheel approach to optimize self‐sampling packs for sexually transmitted infection and blood borne viruses
Authors: Flowers Paul , Vojt Gabriele , Pothoulaki Maria , Mapp Fiona , Woode Owusu Melvina , Cassell Jackie A. , Estcourt Claudia , Saunders John
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This paper describes the process of optimizing a widely offered intervention—self‐sampling packs for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and blood borne viruses (BBVs). We drew upon the behaviour change wheel (BCW) approach, incorporating the theoretical domains framework (TDF) and the behaviour change technique taxonomy (BCTTv1) to systematically specify potential intervention components that may optimize the packs.

Methods

A BCW analysis built upon prior thematic analyses of qualitative data collected through focus groups and interviews with members of the public and people recruited from sexual health clinics in Glasgow and London (n = 56). Salient barriers and facilitators to specific sequential behavioural domains associated with the wider behavioural system of pack use were subjected to further analyses, coding them in relation to the TDF, the BCW's intervention functions, and finally specifying potential optimisation using behaviour change techniques (BCTs).

Results

Our TDF analysis suggested that across the overall behavioural system of pack use, the most important theoretical domains were ‘beliefs about consequences’ and ‘memory, attention and decision‐making’. BCW analysis on the overall pack suggested useful intervention functions should focus on ‘environmental restructuring’, ‘persuasion’, ‘enablement’, ‘education’ and ‘modelling’. Specific ways of optimizing the intervention were also described in relation to potentially useful BCTs.

Conclusions

Through a detailed behavioural analysis and the TDF and wider BCW approach built on earlier qualitative work, we provide a systematic approach to optimizing an existing intervention. The approach enabled the specification of highly specific, evidence‐based, and theoretically informed recommendations for intervention optimization.
Reconsidering the mechanisms of action of PARP inhibitors based on clinical outcomes
Authors: Onji Hiroshi , Murai Junko
Published: June 2022

PARP inhibitors (PARPis) were initially developed as DNA repair inhibitors that inhibit the catalytic activity of PARP1 and PARP2 and are expected to induce synthetic lethality in BRCA‐ or homologous recombination (HR)‐deficient tumors. However, the clinical indications for PARPis are not necessarily limited to BRCA mutations or HR deficiency; BRCA wild‐type and HR‐proficient cancers can also derive some benefit from PARPis. These facts are interpretable by an additional primary antitumor mechanism of PARPis named PARP trapping, resulting from the stabilization of PARP‐DNA complexes. Favorable response to platinum derivatives (cisplatin and carboplatin) in preceding treatment is used as a clinical biomarker for some PARPis, implying that sensitivity factors for platinum derivatives and PARPis are mainly common. Such common sensitivity factors include not only HR defects (HRD) but also additional factors. One of them is Schlafen 11 (SLFN11), a putative DNA/RNA helicase, that sensitizes cancer cells to a broad type of DNA‐damaging agents, including platinum and topoisomerase inhibitors. Mechanistically, SLFN11 induces a lethal replication block in response to replication stress (ie, DNA damage). As SLFN11 acts upon replication stress, trapping PARPis can activate SLFN11. Preclinical models show the importance of SLFN11 in PARPi sensitivity. However, the relevance of SLFN11 in PARPi response is less evident in clinical data compared with the significance of SLFN11 for platinum sensitivity. In this review, we consider the reasons for variable indications of PARPis resulting from clinical outcomes and review the mechanisms of action for PARPis as anticancer agents.
Ireland has the highest per capita use of fake tan in the world: effect on dermatology clinics
Authors: Shafik Lidia , Griffin Laoise , Laing Mary
Published: June 2022

Ireland has the highest per capita users of fake tan in the world. We have very often seen the effect of this in our Dermatology clinics. We analysed the number of patients presenting with fake tan to our pigmented lesion clinics, which results in unnecessary rescheduling, further patient anxiety and delay in diagnoses, as well as increasing patient waiting lists. We have included images of the effect of fake tan on dermoscopy and in vivo confocal microscopy – complicating our ability to diagnose. We implemented a change in our practice, which we hope will improve this dilemma.
Are individual or group interventions more effective for long‐term weight loss in adults with obesity? A systematic review
Authors: Street Sarah , Avenell Alison
Published: June 2022

Guidelines recommend individual and group interventions for weight loss, based on preference. Our 2009 systematic review compared long‐term effectiveness of individual or group approaches to the same intervention, but there are new randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of high‐quality data. We updated and expanded our previous systematic review. We searched Medline and Embase from 1966 to May 2021, and a clinical trial register from 1966 to 2017. Review Manager (5.4.1) was used to conduct meta‐analysis. Ten RCTs were included. The primary outcome, mean weight change at final follow‐up, was −1.33 kg (95% confidence interval CI: −2.04, −0.62; 10 trials, 2169 participants), favouring group interventions (p < .001). For the secondary outcomes, attainment of ≥5% body weight loss at final follow‐up, the risk ratio (RR) was 1.36 (95% CI 1.05, 1.77; three trials, 1520 participants), favouring group interventions (p = .02); attrition at final follow‐up was similar between group and individual arms of trials, RR 0.93 (95% CI 0.82, 1.07) (p = .31). Group interventions can be more effective than individual interventions for long‐term weight loss in adults with obesity. However, few studies were included in the clinically relevant, secondary outcome measures. Research on delivering group processes in weight management is needed.
Gender and conservation science: Men continue to out‐publish women at the world's largest environmental conservation non‐profit organization
Authors: James Robyn , Ariunbaatar Javkhlan , Bresnahan Meaghan , Carlos‐Grotjahn Chelsea , Fisher Jonathan R. B. , Gibbs Bridget , Hausheer Justine E. , Nakozoete Cynthia , Nomura Sarah‐Kate , Possingham Hugh , Lyons Kristen
Published: June 2022

The biodiversity and climate crises require diverse solutions, yet peer reviewed literature is dominated by men from the Global North. The Nature Conservancy (TNC), as one of the world's largest conservation non‐profit organizations, provides a case study to better understand how women publish relative to men in conservation science. By examining all papers from Web of Science with at least one TNC author (1968–2019), we found that women at TNC are underrepresented: only 36% of authors were women, just 31% of all first authorships were women, and 24% of last authorships were women. Women in the Global South were the least represented group, making up less than 2% of all TNC authorships. By comparison seven individual men in the Global North comprised 9% of all TNC authorships. Encouragingly, the total number of women publishing at TNC has improved over the decades; however, the proportion of women to men remains below gender parity, and the proportion of women from Global South remains consistently below 3%. These results align with overall trends in conservation and science, and we provide recommendations for the global conservation science community on how to address this enduring and significant issue in publishing.
Sphk1‐induced autophagy in microglia promotes neuronal injury following cerebral ischaemia–reperfusion
Authors: Zeng Yuanyuan , Zhang Wei , Xue Tengteng , Zhang Dayong , Lv Manhua , Jiang Yongjia
Published: June 2022

Microglial hyperactivation mediated by sphingosine kinase 1/sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (SphK1/S1P) signalling and the consequent inflammatory mediator production serve as the key drivers of cerebral ischaemia–reperfusion injury (CIRI). Although SphK1 reportedly controls autophagy and microglial activation, it remains uncertain as to whether SphK1 is similarly capable of regulating damage mediated by CIRI‐activated microglia. In the current study, we adopted both in vitro oxygen–glucose deprivation reperfusion (OGDR) models and in vivo rat models of focal CIRI to ascertain this possibility. It was found that CIRI upregulated SphK1 and induced autophagy in microglia, while inhibiting these changes significantly impaired to prevented neuronal apoptosis. Results of mechanistic investigation revealed that SphK1 promoted autophagy via the tumour necrosis factor receptor associated factor 2 (TRAF2) pathway. Altogether, our findings unfolded to reveal a novel mechanism, whereby SphK1‐induced autophagy in microglia contributed to the pathogenesis of CIRI, potentially highlighting novel avenues for future therapeutic intervention in ischaemic stroke patients.