bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gut-associated microbes are present and active in the pig nasal cavity
Authors: Obregon-Gutierrez Pau , Bonillo-Lopez Laura , Correa-Fiz Florencia , Sibila Marina , Segalés Joaquim , Kochanowski Karl , Aragon Virginia
Published: June 2023

Background

The nasal microbiota is a key contributor to animal health, and characterizing the nasal microbiota composition is an important step towards elucidating the role of its different members. Efforts to characterize the nasal microbiota composition of domestic pigs and other farm animals frequently report the presence of bacteria that are typically found in the gut, including many anaerobes from theBacteroidalesandClostridialesorders. However, thein vivorole of these gut-microbiota associated taxa is currently unclear. Here, we tackled this issue by examining the prevalence, origin, and activity of these taxa in the nasal microbiota of piglets.

Results

First, analysis of the nasal microbiota of farm piglets sampled in this study, as well as various publicly available data sets, revealed that gut-microbiota associated taxa indeed constitute a substantial fraction of the pig nasal microbiota that is highly variable across individual animals. Second, comparison of herd-matched nasal and rectal samples at amplicon sequencing variant (ASV) level showed that these taxa are largely shared in the nasal and rectal microbiota, suggesting a common origin driven presumably by the transfer of fecal matter. Third, surgical sampling of the inner nasal tract showed that gut-microbiota associated taxa are found throughout the nasal cavity, indicating that these taxa do not stem from contaminations introduced during sampling with conventional nasal swabs. Finally, analysis of cDNA from the 16S rRNA gene in these nasal samples indicated that gut-microbiota associated taxa are indeed active in the pig nasal cavity.

Conclusion

This study shows that gut-microbiota associated taxa are not only present, but also active, in the nasal cavity of domestic pigs, and paves the way for future efforts to elucidate thein vivofunction of these taxa within the nasal microbiota.
Antero-posterior gradients of cell plasticity and proliferation modulate posterior regeneration in the annelidPlatynereis
Authors: Bideau Loïc , Baduel Loeiza , Basso Marianne , Gilardi-Hebenstreit Pascale , Ribes Vanessa , Vervoort Michel , Gazave Eve
Published: June 2023

Regenerative abilities are extremely variable among animals and may be substantial in some phyla, such as the annelids. So far, the cellular mechanisms underlying regeneration in annelids remain elusive. To precisely determine the origin(s), plasticity and fate of the cells participating in the blastema formation during posterior regeneration in the annelidPlatynereis dumerilii, we developed specific tools to track proliferative cells as well as gut epithelial cells. We showed that two populations of progenitors are at play during regeneration and that, among them, gut progenitors from differentiated tissues are lineage-restricted. Strikingly, gut progenitors from less differentiated and more proliferative tissues are much more plastic and can produce ectodermal and mesodermal derivatives, in addition to gut cells. However, their plasticity isde factolimited as exemplified by their inability to regenerate populations of stem cells responsible for the constant growth of the worms. We evidenced that those stem cells are from local origin (i.e.from the segment abutting the amputation plan) as most of the blastema cells. Our results are in favour of a hybrid and flexible cellular model for posterior regeneration inPlatynereisrelying on a gradient of cell plasticity along the antero-posterior axis of the animal.
Domestication signatures in the non-conventional yeastLachancea cidri
Authors: Villarreal Pablo , O’Donnell Samuel , Agier Nicolas , Muñoz-Guzmán Felipe , Benavides-Parra José , Urbina Kamila , Peña Tomas A. , Solomon Mark , Nespolo Roberto F. , Fischer Gilles , Varela Cristian , Cubillos Francisco A.
Published: June 2023

Evaluating domestication signatures beyond model organisms is essential for thoroughly understanding the genotype-phenotype relationship in wild and human-related environments. Structural variations (SVs) can significantly impact phenotypes playing an important role in the physiological adaptation of species to different niches, including during domestication. A detailed characterization of the fitness consequences of these genomic rearrangements, however, is still limited in non-model systems, largely due to the paucity of direct comparisons between domesticated and wild isolates. Here, we used a combination of sequencing strategies to explore major genomic rearrangements in aLachancea cidriyeast strain isolated from cider (CBS2950) and compared them to those in eight wild isolates from primary forests. Genomic analysis revealed dozens of SVs, including a large reciprocal translocation (∼16 kb and 500 kb) present in the cider strain, but absent from all wild strains. Interestingly, the number of SVs was higher relative to single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the cider strain, suggesting a significant role on the strain’s phenotypic variation. The set of SVs identified directly impacts dozens of genes, and likely underpins the greater fermentation performance in theL. cidriCBS2950. Additionally, the large reciprocal translocation affects a proline permease (PUT4) regulatory region, resulting in higherPUT4transcript levels, which agrees with higher ethanol tolerance, improved cell growth when using proline, and higher amino acid consumption during fermentation. These results suggest that SVs are responsible for the rapid physiological adaptation of yeast to an anthropogenic habitat and demonstrate the key contribution of SVs in adaptive fermentative traits in non-model species.

Importance

The exploration of domestication signatures associated with anthropogenic niches has predominantly focused on studies conducted on model organisms, such asSaccharomyces cerevisiae, overlooking the potential for comparisons across other non-Saccharomycesspecies. In our research, employing a combination of long– and short-read data, we found domestication signatures inL. cidri, a non-model species recently isolated from fermentative environments in cider in France. The significance of our study lies in the identification of large array of major genomic rearrangements in a cider strain compared to wild isolates, which underly several fermentative traits. These domestication hallmarks result from structural variants, which are likely responsible for the phenotypic differences between strains, providing a rapid path of adaptation to human-related environments.
Methodological considerations for behavioral studies relying on response time outcomes through online crowdsourcing platforms
Authors: McConnell Patrick A. , Finetto Christian , Heise Kirstin-Friederike
Published: June 2023

This study explored challenges associated with online crowdsourced data collection, particularly focusing on longitudinal tasks with time-sensitive outcomes like response latencies. The research identified two significant sources of bias: technical shortcomings such as low, variable frame rates, and human factors, contributing to high attrition rates. The study also explored potential solutions to these problems, such as enforcing hardware acceleration and defining study-specific frame rate thresholds, as well as pre-screening participants and monitoring hardware performance and task engagement over each experimental session. This study provides valuable insights into improving the quality and reliability of data collected via online crowdsourced platforms and emphasizes the need for researchers to be cognizant of potential pitfalls in online research.
Tip of the iceberg? Three novel TOPLESS interacting effectors of the gall-inducing fungusUstilago maydis
Authors: Khan Mamoona , Uhse Simon , Bindics Janos , Kogelmann Benjamin , Nagarajan Nithya , Ingole Kishor D. , Djamei Armin
Published: June 2023

Ustilago maydisis a biotrophic pathogen causing smut disease in maize. It secretes a cocktail of effector proteins during its biotrophic stages in the host plant, which target different host proteins. One such class of proteins we identified previously is TOPLESS (TPL) and TOPLESS RELATED (TPR) transcriptional corepressors.

Here we screen 297 U.maydiseffector candidates for their ability to interact with maize TPL protein RAMOSA 1 ENHANCER LOCUS 2 Like 2 (RELK2) and their ability to induce auxin signaling and thereby identified three novel TPL /TPR interacting effector proteins (Tip6, Tip7 and Tip8). Two of them, Tip6 and Tip7 contain a classical ethylene-responsive element binding factor-associated amphiphilic repression (EAR) motif and interact with maize TPL protein RELK2 in nuclear compartments, whereas Tip8 lacks known TPL interaction motifs and its overexpressioninnon-host plant leads to cell death indicating recognition of the effector.

By using structural modeling, we show an interaction of Tip6 and Tip7 with the previously crystallized EAR motif binding domain of RELK2. Furthermore, by infection assays with an octuple deletion mutant ofU. maydis, we demonstrate a role of Tips inU. maydisvirulence. Our findings suggest the TOPLESS class of corepressors as a major hub ofU. maydiseffector proteins.
EMMA: A New Method for Computing Multiple Sequence Alignments given a Constraint Subset Alignment
Authors: Shen Chengze , Liu Baqiao , Williams Kelly P , Warnow Tandy
Published: June 2023

Background

Adding sequences into an existing (possibly user-provided) alignment has multiple applications, including updating a large alignment with new data, adding sequences into a constraint alignment constructed using biological knowledge, or computing alignments in the presence of sequence length heterogeneity. Although this is a natural problem, only a few tools have been developed to use this information with high fidelity.

Results

We present EMMA (Extending Multiple alignments using MAFFT-add) for the problem of adding a set of unaligned sequences into a multiple sequence alignment (i.e., a constraint alignment). EMMA builds on MAFFT-add, which is also designed to add sequences into a given constraint alignment. EMMA improves on MAFFT--add methods by using a divide-and-conquer framework to scale its most accurate version, MAFFT-linsi--add, to constraint alignments with many sequences. We show that EMMA has an accuracy advantage over other techniques for adding sequences into alignments under many realistic conditions and can scale to large datasets with high accuracy (hundreds of thousands of sequences). EMMA is available athttps://github.com/c5shen/EMMA.

Conclusions

EMMA is a new tool that provides high accuracy and scalability for adding sequences into an existing alignment.
SAD-1 kinase controls presynaptic phase separation by relieving SYD-2/Liprin-α autoinhibition
Authors: McDonald Nathan A. , Tao Li , Dong Meng-Qiu , Shen Kang
Published: June 2023

Neuronal development orchestrates the formation of an enormous number of synapses that connect the nervous system. In developing presynapses, the core active zone structure has been found to assemble through a liquid-liquid phase separation. Here, we find that the phase separation of SYD-2/Liprin-α, a key active zone scaffold, is controlled by phosphorylation. Using phosphoproteomics, we identify the SAD-1 kinase to phosphorylate SYD-2 and a number of other substrates. Presynaptic assembly is impaired insad-1mutants and increased by overactivation of SAD-1. We determine SAD-1 phosphorylation of SYD-2 at three sites is critical to activate its phase separation. Mechanistically, phosphorylation relieves a binding interaction between two folded SYD-2 domains that inhibits phase separation by an intrinsically disordered region. We find synaptic cell adhesion molecules localize SAD-1 to nascent synapses upstream of active zone formation. We conclude that SAD-1 phosphorylates SYD-2 at developing synapses, enabling its phase separation and active zone assembly.
Targeting lipid nanoparticles to the blood brain barrier to ameliorate acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Nong Jia , Glassman Patrick M. , Reyes-Esteves Sahily , Descamps Helene C. , Shuvaev Vladimir V. , Kiseleva Raisa Y. , Papp Tyler E. , Alameh Mohamad-Gabriel , Tam Ying K. , Mui Barbara L. , Omo-Lamai Serena , Zamora Marco E. , Shuvaeva Tea , Arguiri Evguenia , Thaiss Christoph A , Myerson Jacob W. , Weissman Drew , Kasner Scott E. , Parhiz Hamideh , Muzykantov Vladimir R. , Brenner Jacob S. , Marcos-Contreras Oscar A.
Published: June 2023

After more than 100 failed drug trials for acute ischemic stroke (AIS), one of the most commonly cited reasons for the failure has been that drugs achieve very low concentrations in the at-risk penumbra. To address this problem, here we employ nanotechnology to significantly enhance drug concentration in the penumbra’s blood-brain barrier (BBB), whose increased permeability in AIS has long been hypothesized to kill neurons by exposing them to toxic plasma proteins. To devise drug-loaded nanocarriers targeted to the BBB, we conjugated them with antibodies that bind to various cell adhesion molecules on the BBB endothelium. In the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) mouse model, nanocarriers targeted with VCAM antibodies achieved the highest level of brain delivery, nearly 2 orders of magnitude higher than untargeted ones. VCAM-targeted lipid nanoparticles loaded with either a small molecule drug (dexamethasone) or mRNA (encoding IL-10) reduced cerebral infarct volume by 35% or 73%, respectively, and both significantly lowered mortality rates. In contrast, the drugs delivered without the nanocarriers had no effect on AIS outcomes. Thus, VCAM-targeted lipid nanoparticles represent a new platform for strongly concentrating drugs within the compromised BBB of penumbra, thereby ameliorating AIS.

Graphical abstract

Acute ischemic stroke induces upregulation of VCAM. We specifically targeted upregulated VCAM in the injured region of the brain with drug- or mRNA-loaded targeted nanocarriers. Nanocarriers targeted with VCAM antibodies achieved the highest brain delivery, nearly orders of magnitude higher than untargeted ones. VCAM-targeted nanocarriers loaded with dexamethasone and mRNA encoding IL-10 reduced infarct volume by 35% and 73%, respectively, and improved survival rates.
Decoding Root Biogeography: Building Reduced Complexity Functional Rhizosphere Microbial Consortia
Authors: Chen Mingfei , Acharya Shwetha , Yee Mon Oo , Cabugao Kristine Grace , Chakraborty Romy
Published: June 2023

The rhizosphere microbiome plays a crucial role in supporting plant productivity and contributes to ecosystem functioning by regulating nutrient cycling, soil integrity, and carbon storage. However, characterizing their functional attributes and microbial relationships remains challenging due to their complex taxonomic and functional compositions. To enable such studies, the development of reduced complexity microbial consortia derived from the rhizosphere microbiome of the natural ecosystem is highly desirable. Designing and assembling reduced complexity consortia that mimic natural communities with consistent, stable, predictable features are highly sought after but is challenging to deliver. Here we present our systematic controlled design towards successful assembly of several such rhizosphere derived reduced complexity consortia. FromBrachypodiumgrown in natural soil under controlled lab conditions, we enriched the root-associated microbes, utilizing carbon compounds prevalent in Brachypodium root exudates. By transferring the enrichments every 3 or 7 days for 9 generations, we developed both fast and slow-growing microbial communities. 16S rRNA amplicon analysis revealed that both inoculum and carbon substrates significantly influence microbial community composition. For example, 1/10 R2A preferentially enriched Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) from slow growing taxa vital to plant including Acidobacteria and Verrucomicrobia. Network analysis revealed that although fast and slow growing microbial consortia have distinct key taxa, the key hubs (keystone taxa) for both belong to genera with plant growth promoting (PGP) traits. This suggests that PGP bacteria might play a central role in controlling the microbial networks among rhizospheric microbiomes. Based on the stability and richness results from different transfers, most carbon substrates lead to microbial consortia with reduced complexity and high stability after a few transfers. The stability tests of the derived microbial consortia also showed high stability, reproducibility, and revivability of the constructed microbial consortia. Our study represents a significant step towards understanding and harnessing the potential of rhizosphere microbiomes, with implications for sustainable agriculture and environmental management.
Groundwater redox dynamics across the terrestrial-aquatic interface of Lake Erie coastal ecosystems
Authors: Machado-Silva Fausto , Weintraub Michael , Ward Nicholas , Doro Kennedy O. , Regier Peter J. , Ehosioke Solomon , Thomas Shan Pushpajom , Peixoto Roberta B. , Sandoval Leticia , Forbrich Inke , Kemner Kenneth M. , O’Loughlin Edward J. , Setten Lucie , Spanbauer Trisha , Bridgeman Thomas B. , O’Meara Teri , Rod Kenton A. , Patel Kaizad , McDowell Nate G. , Bond-Lamberty Ben P. , Megonigal J. Patrick , Rich Rich L. , Bailey Vanessa L
Published: June 2023

Groundwater biogeochemistry in coastal areas is spatially and temporally dynamic because fluctuations in groundwater level may cause alternate redox between distinct hydrological conditions. Recent studies have proposed connections between biogeochemistry and large-scale hydrological processes, specifically focusing on the role of redox-active compounds in changing the oxidation state during flooding and draining events. While water saturation generally results in a shift of redox-active compounds from electron donors to acceptors, the specific mechanisms underlying the transition of groundwater between oxidizing and reducing conditions in response to water level fluctuations are uncertain. To determine the effects of groundwater levels on redox dynamics, we monitored groundwater redox potential across the terrestrial-aquatic interface in Lake Erie coastal areas throughout the high and low-water seasons. In contrast to previously observed responses to flooding in soils, our results revealed patterns of oxidizing redox potentials during high-water and reducing during low-water periods. Furthermore, short-term fluctuations in water table levels significantly impacted the redox potential of groundwater when dissolved oxygen increased, and redox dynamics displayed voltage hysteresis in most events. Based on these findings, we propose that for improved predictions of microbial functions and biogeochemical cycles, redox-informed models should incorporate the antagonistic changes in groundwater redox balance compared to soils and consider the time lags in redox fluctuations.

Graphical Abstract

Conceptual diagram of groundwater redox fluctuations in coastal ecosystems. Large redox fluctuations are derived by dissolved oxygen inputs and smaller more frequent redox fluctuations are led by redox sensitive species leaching from topsoil.
Discovery ofThetaRibozymes in Gut Phages–Implications for tRNA and Alternative Genetic Coding
Authors: Kienbeck Kasimir , Malfertheiner Lukas , Zelger-Paulus Susann , Johannsen Silke , von Mering Christian , Sigel Roland K.O.
Published: June 2023

Ribozymes, relics of the “RNA world”, are essential across all domains of life. Nonetheless, the functions and genomic contexts of recently discovered small ribozymes, such as minimal hepatitis delta virus (HDV)-like ribozymes, remain elusive. Using bioinformatic analyses, we identified a novel subfamily of minimal HDV-like ribozymes, coinedthetaribozymes. Hundreds of unique examples were found adjacent to viral tRNAs withinCaudoviricetesbacteriophages of the mammalian gut virome.In vitroexperiments confirm site-specific self-scission activity, suggesting their involvement in processing tRNA 3’-trailers.

Intriguingly, a significant fraction ofthetaribozymes is associated with viral suppressor tRNAs, potentially regulating the late-stage assembly of recoded bacteriophages. These findings advance the understanding of RNA-based mechanisms underlying the intricate interplay between the bacterial and viral parts of the mammalian gut microbiome.

One-Sentence Summary

Newly unveiledthetaribozymes associate with suppressor tRNAs of alternatively coded gut phages: a potential lytic switch.
Representative volume elements of strain/stress fields measured by diffraction techniques
Authors: Şeren Mehmet Hazar , Pagan Darren C. , Noyan Ismail Cevdet
Published: June 2023

Finite-element modelling has been used to simulate local strains and stresses within free-standing polycrystalline slabs of W, Cu and W–Cu, heated with free or constrained boundaries. The elastic strain values in crystallites that satisfied the diffraction condition were used to simulate the lattice strain data that would be obtained from diffraction analysis, from which the average stresses within diffracting domains were computed. Comparison of direct-space stresses in the model with the average stresses determined from diffraction analysis shows that the representative volume elements (RVEs) required to obtain equivalent stress/strain values depend on the deformation mode suffered by the material. Further, the direct-space and diffraction stress values agree only under strict sampling and strain/stress uniformity conditions. Consequently, in samples where measurements are conducted in volumes smaller than the RVE, or where the uniformity conditions are not satisfied, further experimental and numerical techniques might be needed for the accurate determination of applied or residual stress distributions.
Bulk-solvent and overall scaling revisited: faster calculations, improved results. Corrigendum.
Authors: Afonine P. V. , Grosse-Kunstleve R. W. , Adams P. D. , Urzhumtsev A.
Published: June 2023

Equations in Sections 2.3 and 2.4 of the article by Afonine et al. [Acta Cryst. (2013). D69, 625–634] are corrected.
Matlab sensitivity analysis toolbox: an application on faults identification in induction motors
Authors: Aswad Raya A.K. , Jassim Bassim M.H.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to introduce the usage of sensitivity analysis (SA) for the problem of faults identification in three-phase induction motors (IMs). These motors are susceptible to different kinds of faults that should be detected in a proper time to keep the systems working in a safety environment.

Design/methodology/approach

One of the effective approaches for faults identifications, which is presented in the literature, is a model-based strategy. This strategy mainly depends on using a software model to make an identification decision. Therefore, this work intends to examine the model sensitivity towards variables’ variation. The SA toolbox of Matlab R2017b package is used for this purpose since the Matlab software is a well-known environment, and it is easy for a nonstatistical person to deal with it. As a study case, open-circuit and stator inter-turn faults in the stator windings of a three-phase IM have been chosen.

Findings

The results show that the model-based strategy is considerably speed up by up to 30% when neglecting the trivial model’s parameters with the same accurate identification decision as compared with the results of this strategy without using the SA.

Originality/value

The novelty of this work is summarized in devoting the usage of SA in the field of faults identification to enhance the speed of final decision.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion practices: a Delphi study to build a consensus in hospitality and tourism organizations
Authors: Ponting Sandra Sun-Ah , Dillette Alana
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the development and implementation of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices in hospitality and tourism organizations through the lens of structuration theory.

Design/methodology/approach

This study deployed a three-stage Delphi technique involving DEI experts in hospitality and tourism organizations to build a consensus. Specifically, individual agency, development and implementation of DEI practices and best DEI practices were explored through the Delphi technique.

Findings

The findings of this study feature a framework for DEI practices and the intersection between individual agency and organizational structure. The results of this study further showcase the theoretical importance of structuration theory in understanding how organizations develop and implement DEI practices.

Originality/value

This study reveals unique perspectives on DEI within hospitality and tourism organizations, pointing to the imperative need for leadership in initiating, developing and implementing change. This study also extends previous research by highlighting how DEI practices are initiated, developed and implemented through individual agency and organizational structure.
Building trust and empowering informed decisions: effects of risk disclosure and call to action on young adults’ responses to dietary supplement advertising
Authors: Zhao Wenqing , Jin Yan , Karinshak Elise
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effects of risk disclosure and call to action (i.e. encouraging individuals to consult a health provider before they make any purchase decision) on young adults’ cognitive and behavioral responses to dietary supplement advertising.

Design/methodology/approach

A 2 (risk disclosure: absence vs presence) × 2 (call to action: absence vs presence) between-subjects online experiment was conducted with 124 college-attending young adults.

Findings

Including risk disclosure in probiotic supplement advertising increased young adults’ perceived message credibility, intentions to ask a medical doctor and sense of confidence in decision-making. The addition of call to action in probiotic supplement advertising improved perceived message credibility, trust in advertised brand, favorable attitude toward brand, intention to ask a medical doctor and purchase intention; however, a significant joint effect was not found between risk disclosure and call to action.

Originality/value

Although risk disclosure and call to action are significant techniques in pharmaceutical and health-care marketing, they have been overlooked by both research and practice of dietary supplement marketing. This study closes this gap by providing empirical evidence to generate a clear idea about the benefits of including risk disclosure and call to action in dietary supplement advertising.
The qualities of data: how nurses and their managers act on patient feedback in an English hospital
Authors: Desai Amit , Zoccatelli Giulia , Donetto Sara , Robert Glenn , Allen Davina , Rafferty Anne Marie , Brearley Sally
Published: June 2023

Purpose

To investigate ethnographically how patient experience data, as a named category in healthcare organisations, is actively “made” through the co-creative interactions of data, people and meanings in English hospitals.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw on fieldnotes, interview recordings and transcripts produced from 13 months (2016–2017) of ethnographic research on patient experience data work at five acute English National Health Service (NHS) hospitals, including observation, chats, semi-structured interviews and documentary analysis. Research sites were selected based on performance in a national Adult Inpatient Survey, location, size, willingness to participate and research burden. Using an analytical approach inspired by actor–network theory (ANT), the authors examine how data acquired meanings and were made to act by clinical and administrative staff during a type of meeting called a “learning session” at one of the hospital study sites.

Findings

The authors found that the processes of systematisation in healthcare organisations to act on patient feedback to improve to the quality of care, and involving frontline healthcare staff and their senior managers, produced shifting understandings of what counts as “data” and how to make changes in response to it. Their interactions produced multiple definitions of “experience”, “data” and “improvement” which came to co-exist in the same systematised encounter.

Originality/value

The article's distinctive contribution is to analyse how patient experience data gain particular attributes. It suggests that healthcare organisations and researchers should recognise that acting on data in standardised ways will constantly create new definitions and possibilities of such data, escaping organisational and scholarly attempts at mastery.
Effects of personality traits and leadership orientations of Turkish nursing students on their career adaptability: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Mert-Karadas Merve , Terzioglu Fusun , Koc Gulten
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of nursing students' personality traits and leadership orientations on their career adaptability.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 322 nursing students were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The methods used to collect data included the semi-structured data collection form, five factors personality scale, leadership orientation scale and career adaptation-abilities scale.

Findings

The regression model created to determine the effects of personality traits and leadership orientations on the students’ career adaptability proved to be highly insightful. The students' leadership orientations have a statistically significant effect on their career adaptability score, with an explanatory coefficient of 43.1% and personality traits accounted for 18% of the career adaptability.

Originality/value

The results of this study indicated that leadership orientations and personality traits of the students exerted effects on the career adaptability of nursing students. Developing the leadership orientations of nursing students and being aware of their personality traits will contribute positively to the development of their career adaptability and strengthen the health system.
Mapping the association of HRM practices with the performance of library staff through PLS-SEM: a case study of academic libraries
Authors: Wani Javaid Ahmad , Ganaie Shabir Ahmad
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The current study aims to gauge the association between HRM practices and performance in academic libraries in India.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a quantitative approach to collect data. A total of 163 participants were included in this study. The sample was selected from 21 academic libraries. PLS-SEM, the main data analysis technique, was employed in the current research using the Smart PLS-4 software. The data for this study was collected through a survey conducted between March 1, 2022, and June 30, 2022.

Findings

The current study highlighted a significant positive correlation between HRM practices and performance. Moreover, the results indicated that job satisfaction mediates the relationship between training and performance among library professionals in academic libraries.

Research limitations/implications

This study was limited to the University Libraries in northern India. It was not possible to cover all the academic libraries, because India has a large geographical area; it is the seventh-largest country in the world, with an area of 3.3 million square kilometres.

Practical implications

Employees play a vital role in addressing these concerns in their pursuit of sustainability because they are integral elements of organisations and a significant source of competitive advantage. This may be achieved through good human resource management, which involves defining performance indicators, teaching employees to empower them to achieve organisational goals and recognising their accomplishments. This study has the potential to enhance scholarship, particularly in the domains of “human resource management” and library management. This study can also be used by future academics interested in organisational behaviour, organisational effectiveness, job satisfaction, commitment and performance appraisal.

Originality/value

This study could be used as an empirical standard in decision-making policies aimed at improving employee performance and enhancing the smooth implementation of library management.
Student safety and casualty mitigation during an active school shooter simulation: an exploratory study
Authors: Dailey Stephanie , Laskey Kathryn
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Reducing fatalities and increasing the number of students able to remain safe during an active shooter event is paramount to the health and well-being of schools and communities. Yet, methodological limitations and ethical concerns have restricted prior research on security measures during school shooter lockdown drills. This study aims to fill that gap by using virtual reality (VR) to statistically examine the effectiveness of active shooter response protocols in a simulated high school.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a full factorial, within-subjects experimental design, this exploratory investigation used VR technology to investigate whether automatic classroom door locks, centralized lockdown notifications and the presence of a school resource officer (SRO) significantly impacted student safety and casualty mitigation. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 37 individuals who volunteered to participate in 24 school shooter scenarios within a simulated virtual environment.

Findings

Multiple one-way analysis of variances indicated significant main effects for automatic classroom door locks and SRO presence. Automatic locks yielded faster lockdown response times, and both factors were significantly associated with higher numbers of secured classrooms.

Originality/value

Findings from the current study address the gap in existing literature regarding evidence-based school safety protocols and provide recommendations for using VR simulations to increase preparedness and reduce fatalities during an active school shooter event.
Souvenir in tourism research: a literature review and future agenda
Authors: Li Fangxuan (Sam)
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Souvenirs have been repeatedly studied as both a subject and as a variable for other tourism-related phenomena, but research into this issue is fragmented. The purpose of this study is twofold: first, to analyze souvenir in tourism to provide a comprehensive state-of-the-art review. Second, this paper contributes to identifying the directions for future search through reviewing existing literature. This study is one of the first papers to offer a systematic overview of the key themes in tourism souvenir research. In addition to the key themes, this paper also offers insights into future souvenir research.
The Bay of Bengal exposes abundant photosynthetic picoplankton and newfound diversity along salinity‐driven gradients
Authors: Strauss Jan , Choi Chang Jae , Grone Jonathan , Wittmers Fabian , Jimenez Valeria , Makareviciute‐Fichtner Kriste , Bachy Charles , Jaeger Gualtiero Spiro , Poirier Camille , Eckmann Charlotte , Spezzano Rachele , Löscher Carolin R. , Sarma V. V. S. S. , Mahadevan Amala , Worden Alexandra Z.
Published: June 2023

The Bay of Bengal (BoB) is a 2,600,000 km2 expanse in the Indian Ocean upon which many humans rely. However, the primary producers underpinning food chains here remain poorly characterized. We examined phytoplankton abundance and diversity along strong BoB latitudinal and vertical salinity gradients—which have low temperature variation (27–29°C) between the surface and subsurface chlorophyll maximum (SCM). In surface waters, Prochlorococcus averaged 11.7 ± 4.4 × 104 cells ml−1, predominantly HLII, whereas LLII and ‘rare’ ecotypes, HLVI and LLVII, dominated in the SCM. Synechococcus averaged 8.4 ± 2.3 × 104 cells ml−1 in the surface, declined rapidly with depth, and population structure of dominant Clade II differed between surface and SCM; Clade X was notable at both depths. Across all sites, Ostreococcus Clade OII dominated SCM eukaryotes whereas communities differentiated strongly moving from Arabian Sea‐influenced high salinity (southerly; prasinophytes) to freshwater‐influenced low salinity (northerly; stramenopiles, specifically, diatoms, pelagophytes, and dictyochophytes, plus the prasinophyte Micromonas) surface waters. Eukaryotic phytoplankton peaked in the south (1.9 × 104 cells ml−1, surface) where a novel Ostreococcus was revealed, named here Ostreococcus bengalensis. We expose dominance of a single picoeukaryote and hitherto ‘rare’ picocyanobacteria at depth in this complex ecosystem where studies suggest picoplankton are replacing larger phytoplankton due to climate change.
Risk factors associated with stillbirth and adverse perinatal outcomes in dichorionic twin pregnancies complicated by selective fetal growth restriction: a cohort study
Authors: Kalafat Erkan , Liu Becky , Barratt Imogen , Bhate Rohan , Papageorghiou Aris , Khalil Asma
Published: June 2023

Objective

The main aim of this study was to investigate the perinatal outcomes of dichorionic twin pregnancies complicated by selective fetal growth restriction (sFGR).

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary reference centre.

Population

Dichorionic twin pregnancies complicated by sFGR between 2000 and 2019 in St George's University Hospital.

Methods

Regression analyses were performed using generalised linear models and mixed‐effects generalised linear models where appropriate to account for pregnancy level dependency in variables. Time to event analyses were performed with mixed‐effects Cox regression models.

Main outcome measures

Stillbirth, neonatal death or neonatal unit admission with morbidity in one or both twins.

Results

A total of 102 (of 2431 dichorionic twin pregnancies) pregnancies complicated by sFGR were included in the study. The Cochrane–Armitage test revealed a significant trend for increased adverse perinatal outcome rates with more severe forms of umbilical artery flow impedance, i.e. reversed, absent, positive with resistant flow and positive flow without resistance. A multivariable model including maternal and conception characteristics had poor predictive accuracy for stillbirth (area under the curve: 0.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55–0.81) and composite adverse perinatal outcomes (area under the curve: 0.58, 95% CI 0.47–0.70). When umbilical artery Doppler parameters were added to the models, the area under the curve values improved to 0.95 (95% CI 0.89–0.99) and 0.83 (95% CI 0.73–0.92) for stillbirth and composite adverse perinatal outcomes, respectively.

Conclusion

In dichorionic twin pregnancies complicated by sFGR, the umbilical artery Z‐scores were associated with both intrauterine death and adverse perinatal outcomes.
The effects of daily dose and treatment duration of metformin on the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency and peripheral neuropathy in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A multicenter cross‐sectional study
Authors: Gao Leili , Ran Xingwu , Liu Xuejun , Shen Xingping , Chen Shuchun , Liu Fuqiang , Zhao Dong , Bi Yan , Su Qing , Lu Yao , Lei Minxiang , Wang Yanfang , Ji Linong
Published: June 2023

Aims

To evaluate the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving metformin treatment and to investigate the effects of metformin daily dose and treatment duration on the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency and peripheral neuropathy (PN).

Materials and Methods

In this multicenter cross‐sectional study, 1027 Chinese patients who had been taking ≥1000 mg/day metformin for ≥1 year were enrolled using proportionate stratified random sampling based on daily dose and treatment duration. Primary measures included the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency (<148 pmol/L), borderline B12 deficiency (148 pmol/L‐211 pmol/L), and PN.

Results

The prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency, borderline deficiency, and PN were 2.15%, 13.66%, and 11.59%, respectively. Patients receiving ≥1500 mg/day metformin had significantly higher prevalence of borderline vitamin B12 deficiency (16.76% vs. 9.91%, p = .0015) and serum B12 ≤221 pmol/L (19.25% vs. 11.64%, p < .001) than patients receiving <1500 mg/day metformin. No difference was found in prevalence of borderline vitamin B12 deficiency (12.58% vs. 15.49%, p = .1902) and serum B12 ≤221 pmol/L (14.91% vs. 17.32%, p = .3055) between patients receiving metformin for ≥3 and <3 years. Patients with vitamin B12 deficiency had numerically higher PN prevalence (18.18% vs. 11.27%, p = .3192) than patients without it. Multiple logistic analyses revealed that HbA1c and metformin daily dose were associated with the prevalence of borderline B12 deficiency and B12 ≤221 pmol/L.

Conclusions

High daily dosage (≥1500 mg/day) played an important role in metformin‐associated vitamin B12 deficiency while not contributing to the risk of PN.
Characteristics, Formation Periods, and Controlling Factors of Tectonic Fractures in Carbonate Geothermal Reservoirs: A Case Study of the Jixianian System in the Xiong'an New Area, China
Authors: ZHANG Qinglian , ZHU Xi , WANG Guiling , MA Feng
Published: June 2023

As typical carbonate geothermal reservoirs with low porosity in northern China, the Jixianian System in the Xiong'an New Area is the main target for geothermal fluid exploration. The Jixianian System comprises the Gaoyuzhuang, Yangzhuang, Wumishan, Hongshuizhuang, and Tieling formations. The characteristics, formation periods, and controlling factors of reservoir tectonic fractures have been determined based on analyses of outcrops, cores, thin sections, and image logs. The results show that unfilled fractures account for over 87% and most tectonic fractures are high‐angle shear fractures with angles concentrated at 40° to 70° and the fracture porosity increases linearly with an increased fracture aperture. Within the same tectonic setting and stress field, the lithology and layer thickness are the dominant factors governing the development of tectonic fractures, which are the most developed in dolomites and thin layers. Tectonic fractures were most likely formed in regions near faults or areas with larger stress gradients. The tectonic fractures in the carbonate geothermal reservoirs are roughly divided into four sets: NNW–SSE and NNE–SSW oriented ‘X’‐conjugated shear fractures formed from the Paleozoic to the pre‐Yanshanian Movement; NE–SW‐oriented shear fractures, formed in episode B of the Yanshanian Movement, occurred at the Early Cretaceous; nearly E–W‐oriented tensional fractures formed in the late Yanshanian Movement at the Late Cretaceous to Paleogene, and NEE–SW‐oriented shear fractures formed during the Himalayan movement.
A surgical case of pulmonary adenocarcinoma in the right upper lobe associated with a systemic artery‐to‐pulmonary artery fistula
Authors: Ishida Yuta , Yukawa Takuro , Nagasaki Yasunari , Minami Daisuke , Fujiwara Hiroyasu , Monobe Yasumasa , Fukazawa Takuya , Yamatsuji Tomoki
Published: June 2023

A 52‐year‐old female never‐smoker with an abnormal shadow in the right lung detected on radiography was referred to our institution. Contrast‐enhanced computed tomography revealed an irregular nodule in the upper lobe of the right lung, suggestive of a pulmonary vascular abnormality. Angiography revealed a direct communication between the right internal mammary artery (IMA) and the right upper lobe pulmonary artery branches, with dilated and tortuous vascular proliferation. As multiple branch arteries were seen flowing into the upper lobe from the IMA, transcatheter selective embolization of these vessels and right upper lobectomy by video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery were performed. Contrary to the clinical diagnosis, the pathological finding was a pulmonary adenocarcinoma of the right upper lobe. Additional lymph node dissection was performed later. We report an extremely rare and unprecedented case of pulmonary adenocarcinoma fed by the right IMA, with a literature review.
Variations in pleural microbiota and metabolic phenotype associated with malignant pleural effusion in human lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Huang DanHui , Zhuo JinZhong , Ye CuiPing , Su XiaoFang , Chen YueHua , Li Cui , Lin LiSan , Liu LaiYu , Zhao Haijin , Luo Tingyue , Ren QianNan , Wu JianHua , Cai Shaoxi , Dong Hangming
Published: June 2023

Background

Lung cancer is the most common cancer‐related death worldwide. In 2022, the number of daily deaths of lung cancer was estimated to reach around 350 in the United States. Lung adenocarcinoma is the main subtype of lung cancer and patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) suffer from poor prognosis. Microbiota and its metabolites are associated with cancer progression. However, the effect of pleural microbiota on pleural metabolic profile of MPE in lung adenocarcinoma patients remains largely unknown.

Methods

Pleural effusion samples collected from lung adenocarcinoma patients with MPE (n = 14) and tuberculosis pleurisy patients with benign pleural effusion (BPE group, n = 10) were subjected to microbiome (16S rRNA gene sequencing) and metabolome (liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry [LC‐MS/MS]) analyses. The datasets were analyzed individually and integrated for combined analysis using various bioinformatic approaches.

Results

The metabolic profile of MPE in lung adenocarcinoma patients were clearly distinguished from BPE with 121 differential metabolites across six significantly enriched pathways identified. Glycerophospholipids, fatty and carboxylic acids, and derivatives were the most common differential metabolites. Sequencing of microbial data revealed nine significantly enriched genera (i.e., Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Lactobacillus) and 26 enriched ASVs (i.e., species Lactobacillus_delbrueckii) in MPE. Integrated analysis correlated MPE‐associated microbes with metabolites, such as phosphatidylcholine and metabolites involved in the citrate cycle pathway.

Conclusion

Our results provide substantial evidence of a novel interplay between the pleural microbiota and metabolome, which was drastically perturbed in MPE in lung adenocarcinoma patients. Microbe‐associated metabolites can be used for further therapeutic explorations.
The phrutar package: Increasing access, reproducibility and transparency in phylogenetic analyses
Authors: Román‐Palacios Cristian
Published: June 2023

Current practices for assembling phylogenetic trees often recur to sequence data stored in GenBank. However, the molecular and taxonomic make‐up of sequences deposited in GenBank is generally not very clear.

phruta, a newly developed r package, is designed to primarily improve access to genetic data stored in GenBank. Functions in phruta further enable users to assemble single‐ and multi‐gene molecular datasets, and run basic phylogenetic tasks, all within r.

The structure of the functions implemented in phruta aim to allow users to assemble simple workflows for particular tasks, which are in turn expected to increase reproducibility of relatively simple phylogenies.

To support the use of phruta by researchers in different fields with variable levels of coding expertise, this paper presents the first version of salphycon, a shiny web app that aims to increase access to the fundamental functions in the phruta r package.