bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The underlying mechanism of bacterial spore germination: An update review
Authors: Lyu Fengzhi , Zhang Tianyu , Gui Meng , Wang Yongtao , Zhao Liang , Wu Xiaomeng , Rao Lei , Liao Xiaojun
Published: May 2023

Bacterial spores are highly resilient and universally present on earth and can irreversibly enter the food chain to cause food spoilage or foodborne illness once revived to resume vegetative growth. Traditionally, extensive thermal processing has been employed to efficiently kill spores; however, the relatively high thermal load adversely affects food quality attributes. In recent years, the germination‐inactivation strategy has been developed to mildly kill spores based on the circumstance that germination can decrease spore‐resilient properties. However, the failure to induce all spores to geminate, mainly owing to the heterogeneous germination behavior of spores, hampers the success of applying this strategy in the food industry. Undoubtedly, elucidating the detailed germination pathway and underlying mechanism can fill the gap in our understanding of germination heterogeneity, thereby facilitating the development of full‐scale germination regimes to mildly kill spores. In this review, we comprehensively discuss the mechanisms of spore germination of Bacillus and Clostridium species, and update the molecular basis of the early germination events, for example, the activation of germination receptors, ion release, Ca‐DPA release, and molecular events, combined with the latest research evidence. Moreover, high hydrostatic pressure (HHP), an advanced non‐thermal food processing technology, can also trigger spore germination, providing a basis for the application of a germination‐inactivation strategy in HHP processing. Here, we also summarize the diverse germination behaviors and mechanisms of spores of Bacillus and Clostridium species under HHP, with the aim of facilitating HHP as a mild processing technology with possible applications in food sterilization.

Practical Application: This work provides fundamental basis for developing efficient killing strategies of bacterial spores in food industry.
Use of ketamine wafer for pain management by volunteer emergency medical technicians in rural Western Australia
Authors: Tohira Hideo , Brink Deon , Davids Lauren , Brits Rudolph , Ball Stephen , Schug Stephan , Bailey Paul , Finn Judith
Published: May 2023

Objective

To describe the use of sublingual ketamine wafers administered by volunteer emergency medical technicians (EMTs) for pain management to patients in rural Western Australia (WA).

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included patients older than 12 years who were attended by volunteer EMTs in Esperance, Lancelin and Kalbarri, WA and received analgesic medications from 2018 to 2021. Patients who received ketamine wafers with/without other analgesics were compared to (i) patients who received only oral paracetamol and (ii) patients who received inhalational methoxyflurane without ketamine wafers with/without paracetamol.

Results

The present study included 826 patients, among whom 149 patients received ketamine wafer with/without other analgesics, 82 paracetamol only and 595 methoxyflurane with/without paracetamol. Patients who received ketamine wafers were younger (median age 49 years vs 54 years for the paracetamol group vs 58 years for the methoxyflurane group), required a longer median transport interval (56 min vs 20 min vs 8 min), trauma‐related (73% vs 35% vs 54%), and presented higher median initial pain score (9 vs 3 vs 8 out of 10) than those who received paracetamol and those who received methoxyflurane, respectively. Eight in the ketamine wafers group (5.4%) had a record of nausea/vomiting after the administration of ketamine wafers.

Conclusions

Sublingual ketamine wafer was administered by volunteer EMTs without any evidence of major adverse events in rural WA and deemed useful as an additional pain management option when long transport to hospital was needed. No other symptoms that may be associated with the use of ketamine were recorded.
Current elimination status of hepatitis C virus‐infected maintenance hemodialysis patients in Iwate Prefecture, Japan
Authors: Miyasaka Akio , Yoshida Yuichi , Suzuki Akiko , Endo Kei , Kakisaka Keisuke , Oikawa Takayoshi , Abe Takaya , Obara Wataru , Matsumoto Takayuki
Published: May 2023

Introduction

The aim is to clarify the hepatitis C virus (HCV) status of hemodialysis (HD) patients and patient management after HCV elimination.

Methods

Questionnaire survey was conducted in Iwate prefecture, Japan from 2016 to 2021.

Results

Patients underwent HD was 2944, including 132 anti‐HCV antibody‐positive patients, with 91 HCV RNA‐positive patients. Of the 91 HCV RNA‐positive patients, 51 received antiviral treatment. Sustained virological response (SVR) rate was 94%. The patients treated with direct antiviral agents had significantly lower mortality rate than the untreated patients, and no liver‐related deaths occurred in patients who achieved SVR or in HCV RNA‐negative patients. The HCV RNA‐positive prevalence was finally 0.79%. Approximately 40% of the facilities had dedicated beds and dialysis‐related items for patients who achieved an SVR.

Conclusion

To eliminate HCV in HD facilities, it is necessary to promote HCV RNA testing for anti‐HCV antibody‐positive patients and to provide antiviral treatment for HCV RNA‐positive patients. Additionally, collaboration among hepatologists and HD specialists are essential.
What is “prison culture”? Developing a theoretical and methodological foundation for understanding cultural schema in prison
Authors: Young Jacob T. N. , Meyers Travis J. , Morse Stephanie J.
Published: May 2023

What does it mean to say that a prison has a “culture?” Scholars have long emphasized the presence of a “prison code” and, more recently, a “racial code” as salient cultural domains in men's prisons. Yet, even though most people intuitively understand what is meant by “prison culture,” little progress has been made regarding the conceptualization and operationalization of culture as an analytical construct in prison scholarship. The current study makes two primary contributions to this literature. First, drawing on advances in anthropology, cultural sociology, and cognitive science, we incorporate the concept of cultural schema to provide a concrete analytical construct. Second, we test varying conceptualizations of cultural schema as either characterized by consensus or as overlapping relational structures. Using cultural consensus and correlational class analyses among a sample of 266 incarcerated men, we find little evidence of a culture of consensus for either the prison code or the racial code. Furthermore, we show evidence of heterogenous schema among these cultural domains. Our study is relevant to wider disciplinary work on culture as the problem of analytical precision we address is characteristic of much of the work in criminology and criminal justice that evokes culture as an explanatory device.
Institutional Quality Causes Generalized Trust: Experimental Evidence on Trusting under the Shadow of Doubt
Authors: Martinangeli Andrea F.M. , Povitkina Marina , Jagers Sverker , Rothstein Bo
Published: May 2023

Generalized trust is essential for collective action, which is at the heart of many societal problems. Institutional quality has been proposed as a driver of generalized trust, but while the correlation between the two is strong and robust, the evidence on the causal link is scant. We show that this relationship is causal. We first experimentally expose individuals to institutions of different quality, operationalized as their ability to prevent corrupt behavior. We then measure generalized trust using a trust game. The results show that institutional quality drives generalized trust and that this effect is generated by the mere doubt that corrupt behaviors might succeed, even without knowledge of occurrence or success of such behaviors. Cross‐country comparisons with novel data support our results. Our contributions are the first causal experimental evidence on the link between institutional quality and trust and a novel experimental design for modeling institutional quality in laboratory settings.
Chemical investigation of herbal wine from Jin Yang ancient city site during the late Western Han period in China
Authors: Ding Li , Yang Qin , Shi Danshu , Wang Qianqian , Pei Jingrong , Hu Gang
Published: May 2023

In China, liquid residue was mostly found in sealed bronze vessels associated with alcohol drinks, which are supposed to conserve the complete composition of the beverage, including the additives. So far, most of them have not been sufficiently scientifically verified. In this study, the liquid residue in bronze jars from the late Western Han period in the burial area of Jin Yang ancient city site was investigated by GC/MS, LC–MS/MS, SEM and Raman spectroscopy. These sensitive versatile techniques had unintended consequences in addition to confirming the presence of fermentation products (monosaccharides, alditols, glycerol‐related substances and organic acids). The enrichment of oxalic acid, VLCFA (very‐long‐chain fatty acid), and alkaloids hints that multiple plants were involved in the beverage preparation. The quinazoline alkaloid products from the sediments reveal an important Rutaceae ingredient, which relates to multiple ancient spices and Chinese herbs. Therefore, the liquid residues from Jin Yang ancient city site imply that they are the earliest known herbal wine remains in East Asia to this day.
Appetizer on soft matter physics concepts in mechanobiology
Authors: Lou Yuting
Published: May 2023

Mechanosensing, the active responses of cells to the mechanics on multiple scales, plays an indispensable role in regulating cell behaviors and determining the fate of biological entities such as tissues and organs. Here, I aim to give a pedagogical illustration of the fundamental concepts of soft matter physics that aid in understanding biomechanical phenomena from the scale of tissues to proteins. Examples of up‐to‐date research are introduced to elaborate these concepts. Challenges in applying physics models to biology have also been discussed for biologists and physicists to meet in the field of mechanobiology.
Value of Autostrain LV in the study of left ventricular systolic function and synchronization in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Li Wanqing , Ge Lili , Li Yuhong
Published: May 2023

Background

There are relatively few studies investigating cardiac structural and functional abnormalities associated with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE). The long‐term prognosis of SLE patients is closely related to the cardiovascular events caused by SLE. Accordingly, it is necessary to assess early myocardial systolic function and synchrony.

Methods

Overall, 90 patients with SLE were randomly selected from our outpatient and inpatient clinics and divided according to SLE Disease Activity Index (SLE‐DAI‐2000) scores: group A, stable (scores 0–4); group B, mildly active stage (scores 5–9); and group C, moderately active stage (scores ≥10). Each group included 30 patients. Further, 30 sex‐ and age‐matched healthy individuals who were referred for check‐ups at the same period were selected as controls (group D). The minimum age for entry into the group was 17 years old. Autostrain LV and three‐dimensional quantitative analysis (3DQA) were applied to obtain left ventricular systolic function parameters, information on strain parameters, and correlations between parameters. Simultaneity parameters measured by Autostrain LV and 3DQA were tested for reproducibility.

Results

A two‐by‐two comparison of groups A–C showed that as the disease activity score increased, AP4LS%, AP2LS%, AP3LS%, and the LV mean overall longitudinal strain all gradually decreased, while LV longitudinal strain peak time standard deviation (Tls‐SD) gradually increased, with all differences being statistically significant (p < .05). In groups A–C compared with controls, Tmsv‐17‐SD, Tmsv‐17‐Dif, Tmsv‐17‐SD%, and Tmsv‐17‐Dif% were all significantly prolonged (p < .05). Further, Tls‐SD was positively correlated with Tmsv‐17‐SD and Tmsv‐17‐Dif, and there was good agreement between Autostrain and 3DQA for the measurement of left ventricular synchrony indexes, with Tmsv‐17‐Dif having the best repeatability (intraobserver interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = .979; interobserver ICC = .848,p < .01).

Conclusion

Autostrain LV can accurately detect changes in left ventricular myocardial strain in patients with SLE early in the disease, with simple operation. The 3DQA technique can quantitatively evaluate left ventricular systolic synchronization in patients with SLE, and Autostrain LV synchronization index measurements correlate significantly with 3DQA. Both methods are reproducible, but 3DQA is more sensitive to left ventricular synchronous motion changes.
The effects of transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation on cortical GABAergic and cholinergic circuits: A transcranial magnetic stimulation study
Authors: van Midden Vesna M. , Demšar Jure , Pirtošek Zvezdan , Kojović Maja
Published: May 2023

Neurophysiological evidence that transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS) affects neuronal signalling at the cortical level is sparse. We used transcranial magnetic stimulation to assess the effect of taVNS on the excitability of intracortical GABAergic and cholinergic circuits.

In this within‐subject, double‐blind study on 30 healthy participants, we used TMS paradigms to assess the effect of a single session of taVNS at 100 Hz and sham earlobe VNS (sVNS) on short‐interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) curve and short‐latency afferent inhibition (SAI). Control experiment was performed on additional 15 participants using the same experimental settings, but delivering no stimulation (xVNS). Bayesian statistics were used to assess the differences, producing % values that reflect the certainty that the values of interest were decreased during or after stimulation compared with baseline. taVNS increased SICI (96.3%), whereas sVNS decreased SICI (1.2%). SAI was not affected by taVNS, although it was decreased during sVNS (1.34% and 9.1%, for interstimulus intervals 20 and 24 ms, respectively). The changes in TMS parameters detected during sVNS were present in the same direction in the control experiment with no stimulation.

Our study provides evidence that taVNS increases the activity of cortical GABAAergic system, leaving cortical cholinergic circuits unaffected. Changes in intracortical cortical excitability during sVNS, which were also observed in the control experiment with no stimulation were likely the effect of expectation related to participation in an interventional study.
Eco‐evolutionary drivers of avian migratory connectivity
Authors: Fattorini Niccolò , Costanzo Alessandra , Romano Andrea , Rubolini Diego , Baillie Stephen , Bairlein Franz , Spina Fernando , Ambrosini Roberto
Published: May 2023

Migratory connectivity, reflecting the extent by which migrants tend to maintain their reciprocal positions in seasonal ranges, can assist in the conservation and management of mobile species, yet relevant drivers remain unclear. Taking advantage of an exceptionally large (~150,000 individuals, 83 species) and more‐than‐a‐century‐long dataset of bird ringing encounters, we investigated eco‐evolutionary drivers of migratory connectivity in both short‐ and long‐distance Afro‐Palearctic migratory birds. Connectivity was strongly associated with geographical proxies of migration costs and was weakly influenced by biological traits and phylogeny, suggesting the evolutionary lability of migratory behaviour. The large intraspecific variability in avian migration strategies, through which most species geographically split into distinct migratory populations, explained why most of them were significantly connected. By unravelling key determinants of migratory connectivity, our study improves knowledge about the resilience of avian migrants to ecological perturbations, providing a critical tool to inform transboundary conservation and management strategies at the population level.
Disturbance alters transience but nutrients determine equilibria during grassland succession with multiple global change drivers
Authors: DeSiervo Melissa H. , Sullivan Lauren L. , Kahan Larissa M. , Seabloom Eric W. , Shoemaker Lauren G.
Published: May 2023

Disturbance and environmental change may cause communities to converge on a steady state, diverge towards multiple alternative states or remain in long‐term transience. Yet, empirical investigations of successional trajectories are rare, especially in systems experiencing multiple concurrent anthropogenic drivers of change. We examined succession in old field grassland communities subjected to disturbance and nitrogen fertilization using data from a long‐term (22‐year) experiment. Regardless of initial disturbance, after a decade communities converged on steady states largely determined by resource availability, where species turnover declined as communities approached dynamic equilibria. Species favoured by the disturbance were those that eventually came to dominate the highly fertilized plots. Furthermore, disturbance made successional pathways more direct revealing an important interaction effect between nutrients and disturbance as drivers of community change. Our results underscore the dynamical nature of grassland and old field succession, demonstrating how community properties such as diversity change through transient and equilibrium states.
Meaning of hygiene care for patients as perceived by clinical nurses through an interactive care process: A grounded theory approach
Authors: Nishiya Kotone , Takashima Risa , Shishido Inaho , Yano Rika
Published: May 2023

Aim

This study aimed to explore the meaning of hygiene care for patients from the perspective of nurses, who provide them with care through an interactive process.

Methods

Sixteen registered nurses working in general wards for over 5 years were selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Individual semi‐structured interviews were conducted between May and August 2021. Data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach, and the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research was used to ensure quality and transparency.

Results

The participants recognized the core category “realizing oneself alive here,” where hygiene care energized patients and promoted their realization of “feeling alive.” Hygiene care created “time of relief, temporarily forgetting the illness,” and “restoring a sense of oneself.” A situation of care also created an “opportunity to treat each other as unique individuals,” “opportunity to face self,” and “encouraging the recovery and disease‐fighting process.”

Conclusions

This study highlights the value of hygiene care provided by nurses to patients. The meaning of hygiene care conceptualized in this study should help build a conceptual framework for understanding the patient's experience and reaffirming the value of hygiene care.
Effects of electronic fetal monitoring simulation with problem‐based learning on nursing students' performance confidence, clinical judgment, and knowledge
Authors: Lee Jeongim , Son Hae Kyoung
Published: May 2023

Aim

This study aimed to determine the effects of an electronic fetal monitoring simulation with problem‐based learning (EFM SPBL) program based on the Clinical Judgment Model.

Methods

Third‐year nursing students were randomly allocated to the control (n = 46) or experimental groups (n = 46). The control group participated in the conventional clinical practice, while the experimental group participated in the EFM SPBL program. The students completed a structured questionnaire on Google surveys.

Results

Nursing performance confidence (t = 10.72, p < .001) and clinical judgment (t = 2.53, p = .015) increased significantly in the experimental group.

Conclusions

This study recognized improvement in students' clinical judgment in the context of learning transfer. A standardized SPBL with various cases is recommended.
Zebrafish facilitate non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease research: Tools, models and applications
Authors: Chang Cheng , Li Huicong , Zhang Ruilin
Published: May 2023

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become an increasingly epidemic metabolic disease worldwide. NAFLD can gradually deteriorate from simple liver steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis to liver cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. Zebrafish are vertebrate animal models that are genetically and metabolically conserved with mammals and have unique advantages such as high fecundity, rapid development ex utero and optical transparency. These features have rendered zebrafish an emerging model system for liver diseases and metabolic diseases favoured by many researchers in recent years. In the present review, we summarize a series of tools for zebrafish NAFLD research and the models established through different dietary feeding, hepatotoxic chemical treatments and genetic manipulations via transgenic or genome editing technologies. We also discuss how zebrafish models facilitate NAFLD studies by providing novel insights into NAFLD pathogenesis, toxicology research, and drug evaluation and discovery.
A simplified BRADEN scale for the risk of developing pressure injuries
Authors: Guimarães Maria Clara Salomão e Silva , Ruther Dominique Hotzel , Zambelli Roberto , Severo Daniel de Souza , Silva Henrique Pickler da , Reys Arthur Deltregia , Silva Flávio Amaro Oliveira Bitar , Pedro Saulo Domingos de Souza , Silva Danilo , Navarro Túlio Pinho
Published: May 2023

Background

Pressure injuries (PIs) are a major problem for healthcare providers, impacting both care costs and patients' quality of life, although they are predominately preventable. These injuries are especially present in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) as a result of the severity of the clinical conditions of patients in this unit.

Aim

To develop a simplified version of the Braden scale by removing two of the most subjective subscores—Nutrition and Sensory Perception—in an attempt to reduce the chance of errors by the nursing team during the application of the scale.

Study Design

A cross‐sectional study was conducted on data collected from patients admitted to the ICU of a private Brazilian tertiary hospital. The resulting data consisted of 5194 patients, 6353 hospital admissions, and 6974 ICU stays. The overall prevalence of PI was 1.09%.

Results

The T‐test showed that both the Braden and the simplified Braden scores were significantly different between patients with and without PI (p < .001). Patients who developed PIs scored lower than those who did not. The area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve of the Braden Scale was 74.21% (95% CI: 68.61%–79.8%) and of the simplified scale was 72.54% (95% CI: 66.87%–78.22%). The Positive Predictive Value of the Braden Scale was 3.17% when interpolated at the same sensitivity as the simplified scale (47.37%), which achieved 3.26%.

Conclusions

By removing two of the six subscores of the Braden scale we propose a new tool for identifying patients at risk of developing PI in a more objective and fast way. Our results show that classification performance had little negative impact.

Relevance to clinical practice

A simplified, less subjective scale allows for more precise and less time‐consuming risk classification.
Genomics‐assisted breeding: The next‐generation wheat breeding era
Authors: Sun Congwei , Hu Huiting , Cheng Yongzhen , Yang Xi , Qiao Qi , Wang Canguan , Zhang Leilei , Chen Daiying , Zhao Simin , Dong Zhongdong , Chen Feng
Published: May 2023

Common wheat provides approximately 20% of the total dietary calorie intake of human beings. Recent technological advances in whole‐genome sequencing and their application in wheat and its progenitor species provide new opportunities to uncover the genetic variation of wheat traits and to accelerate the traditional breeding (TB) strategies in the context of genomics‐assisted breeding (GAB). Integration of TB, marker‐assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection (GS) with high‐density SNP markers is expected to accelerate the breeding process and to further enhance genetic gain. With the assistance of the next‐ or third‐generation sequencing technologies and high‐throughput phenotyping platforms, GAB can now realistically be considered in the following area: (i) genome sequencing and high‐quality assembly to uncover new variations, (ii) whole‐genome sequence‐based association studies, (iii) gene function (or functional gene) identification and (iv) integration of whole genomic breeding information, utilizing multi‐omics data and different breeding strategies. We argue that GAB is becoming the preferred strategy in pursuit of new wheat cultivars with superior traits on high yielding, high nutritional quality, climate‐resilience and so on.
Why bounded rationality (in epistemology)?
Authors: Thorstad David
Published: May 2023

Bounded rationality gets a bad rap in epistemology. It is argued that theories of bounded rationality are overly context‐sensitive; conventionalist; or dependent on ordinary language (Carr, 2022; Pasnau, 2013). In this paper, I have three aims. The first is to set out and motivate an approach to bounded rationality in epistemology inspired by traditional theories of bounded rationality in cognitive science. My second aim is to show how this approach can answer recent challenges raised for theories of bounded rationality. My third aim is to clarify the role of rational ideals in bounded rationality.
Electron transport in macroscopic borosilicate capillaries with bending angles of 90° and 360°
Authors: Nguyen Hai-Dang , Wulfkühler Jan-Philipp , Tajmar Martin
Published: May 2023

In this work, we present observations about the transport of 15.2 keV electrons with a beam current of 21 μA through macroscopic dielectric capillaries. These capillaries are made of borosilicate glass with an inner diameter of about 6 mm, and samples with a bending angle of 90° and 360° were investigated. The electron gun was adjusted, and the beam injected into the capillary had a current of 21 μA and a divergence half angle of about 0.75°. A retarding field analyzer (RFA) was installed at the outlet of the capillary to collect the transported current and to investigate the particle energy of exiting electrons (Fig. 1). The transport of electrons to the outlet occurred nearly instantaneous in both capillaries, and the RFA at the outlet detected a current of around 20 μA for both capillary samples resulting in a transmission coefficient of over 95%. Energy measurements showed that the particle energy at the outlet is only at several electron volts, which reveals that electrons lost almost all of their incident energy while traveling through the capillary. A large amount of exiting particles are most likely secondary electrons emitted from the capillary sample. The fact that transmission coefficients for both samples are similarly high, and that the particles can still be transported through the 360° capillary although most of their energy is already lost at 90°, results in many questions that shall be investigated in further studies. The capillaries showed a blueish glow during electron transmission due to cathodoluminescence effects.
Back to the basics of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry data analysis of bio-related samples. II. Data processing and display
Authors: Graham Daniel J. , Gamble Lara J.
Published: May 2023

This is the second half of a two-part Tutorial on the basics of the time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) analysis of bio-related samples. Part I of this Tutorial series covers planning for a ToF-SIMS experiment, preparing and shipping samples, and collecting ToF-SIMS data. This Tutorial aims at helping the ToF-SIMS user to process, display, and interpret ToF-SIMS data. ToF-SIMS provides detailed chemical information about surfaces but comes with a steep learning. The purpose of this Tutorial is to provide the reader with a solid foundation in the ToF-SIMS data analysis.
Effects of somatosensory perturbation on the perception of French /u/
Authors: Ménard Lucie , Beaudry Lambert , Perrier Pascal
Published: May 2023

In a study of whether somatosensory feedback related to articulatory configuration is involved in speech perception, 30 French-speaking adults performed a speech discrimination task in which vowel pairs along the French /u/ (rounded vowel requiring a small lip area) to /œ/ (rounded vowel associated with larger lip area) continuum were used as stimuli. Listeners had to perform the test in two conditions: with a 2-cm-diameter lip-tube in place (mimicking /œ/) and without the lip-tube (neutral lip position). Results show that, in the lip-tube condition, listeners perceived more stimuli as /œ/, in line with the proposal that an auditory-somatosensory interaction exists.
Spectral weighting for sentence recognition in steady-state and amplitude-modulated noise
Authors: Shen Yi , Langley Lauren
Published: May 2023

Spectral weights in octave-frequency bands from 0.25 to 4 kHz were estimated for speech-in-noise recognition using two sentence materials (i.e., the IEEE and AzBio sentences). The masking noise was either unmodulated or sinusoidally amplitude-modulated at 8 Hz. The estimated spectral weights did not vary significantly across two test sessions and were similar for the two sentence materials. Amplitude-modulating the masker increased the weight at 2 kHz and decreased the weight at 0.25 kHz, which may support an upward shift in spectral weights for temporally fluctuating maskers.
Membrane Potential-Dependent Uptake of Cationic Oligoimidazolium Mediates Bacterial DNA Damage and Death
Authors: Yong Melvin , Kok Zhi Y. , Koh Chong H. , Zhong Wenbin , Ng Justin TY. , Mu Yuguang , Chan-Park Mary B. , Gan Yunn-Hwen
Published: May 2023

The treatment of bacterial infections is becoming increasingly challenging with the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Thus, the development of antimicrobials with novel mechanisms of action is much needed.
No Meaningful Drug-Drug Interactions Are Associated with the Coadministration of ACC007, Lamivudine, and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
Authors: Hao Xiaohua , Ni Jun , Zhao Dong , Zhang Wen , Wu Lu , Li Baoshun , Li Lihua , Tian Zhu , Xiao Yan , Zhao Xiangmei
Published: May 2023

ACC007 is a new-generation nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) with favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profiles. NNRTIs are typically administered in combination with two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors as first-line recommended regimens in several guidelines.
The Virulence and Infectivity of Listeria monocytogenes Are Not Substantially Altered by Elevated SigB Activity
Authors: Oliveira Ana H. , Tiensuu Teresa , Guerreiro Duarte , Tükenmez Hasan , Dessaux Charlotte , García-del Portillo Francisco , O’Byrne Conor , Johansson Jörgen
Published: May 2023

Listeria monocytogenes
is a bacterial pathogen capable of causing severe infections but also thriving outside the host. To respond to different stress conditions,
L. monocytogenes
mainly utilizes the general stress response regulon, which largely is controlled by the alternative sigma factor Sigma B (SigB).
Lessons from Chloroviruses: the Complex and Diverse Roles of Viruses in Food Webs
Authors: DeLong John P. , Van Etten James L. , Dunigan David D.
Published: May 2023

Viruses can have large effects on the ecological communities in which they occur. Much of this impact comes from the mortality of host cells, which simultaneously alters microbial community composition and causes the release of matter that can be used by other organisms.
HIV-1 3′-Polypurine Tract Mutations Confer Dolutegravir Resistance by Switching to an Integration-Independent Replication Mechanism via 1-LTR Circles
Authors: Dekker José G. , Klaver Bep , Berkhout Ben , Das Atze T.
Published: May 2023

The integrase inhibitor DTG is a potent inhibitor of HIV replication and is currently recommended in drug regimens for people living with HIV. Whereas HIV normally escapes from antiviral drugs by the acquisition of specific mutations in the gene that encodes the targeted enzyme, mutational inactivation of the viral 3′PPT sequence, an RNA element that has a crucial role in the viral reverse transcription process, was found to allow HIV replication in the presence of DTG in cell culture experiments.
Colocalization of Chikungunya Virus with Its Receptor MXRA8 during Cell Attachment, Internalization, and Membrane Fusion
Authors: Feng Fei , Bouma Ellen M. , Hu Gaowei , Zhu Yunkai , Yu Yin , Smit Jolanda M. , Diamond Michael S. , Zhang Rong
Published: May 2023

The globally distributed arthritogenic alphaviruses have infected millions of humans and induce rheumatic disease, such as severe polyarthralgia/polyarthritis, for weeks to years. Alphaviruses infect target cells through receptor(s) followed by clathrin-mediated endocytosis.
HCMV Infection Reduces Nidogen-1 Expression, Contributing to Impaired Neural Rosette Development in Brain Organoids
Authors: Ijezie Emmanuel C. , O'Dowd John M. , Kuan Man I , Faeth Alexandra R. , Fortunato Elizabeth A.
Published: May 2023

HCMV infection in pregnant women continues to be the leading cause of virus-induced neurologic birth defects. The mechanism through which congenital HCMV (cCMV) infection induces pathological changes to the developing fetal central nervous system (CNS) remains unclear.
Diagnostic Laboratory Features and Performance of an
Aspergillus
IgG Lateral Flow Assay in a Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis Cohort
Authors: Zhu Rong-Sheng , Zhou Ling-Hong , Cheng Jia-Hui , Luo Yu , Qiu Wen-Jia , Huang Jun-Tian , Jiang Ying-Kui , Zhao Hua-Zhen , Wang Xuan , Chen Zhong-Qing , Zhu Li-Ping
Published: May 2023

There are concerns on avoiding diagnostic delay and misdiagnosis for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis due to its high morbidity and mortality. A proportion of CPA patients test negative for
Aspergillus
IgG.
When Combined with Pentamidine, Originally Ineffective Linezolid Becomes Active in Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Tang Miran , Qian Changrui , Zhang Xiaotuan , Liu Yan , Pan Wei , Yao Zhuocheng , Zeng Weiliang , Xu Chunquan , Zhou Tieli
Published: May 2023

The multidrug resistance and biofilm formation of Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) may lead to incurable “superbug” infections. Drug combinations, with the potential to augment the original treatment ranges of drugs, are alternative treatment strategies against GNB.
Thiamine-Mediated Microbial Interaction between Auxotrophic Rhodococcus ruber ZM07 and Prototrophic Cooperators in the Tetrahydrofuran-Degrading Microbial Community H-1
Authors: Huang Hui , Wu Hao , Qi Minbo , Wang Haixia , Lu Zhenmei
Published: May 2023

Auxotrophic microorganisms play important roles in the biodegradation of pollutants in nature. Exploring the interspecies relationship between auxotrophic THF-degrading bacteria and other microbes is helpful for the efficient utilization of auxotrophic functional microorganisms.
Isolation and Characterization of Three Pseudomonas aeruginosa Viruses with Therapeutic Potential
Authors: Wang Xiao , Tang Jingjing , Dang Wen , Xie Zhen , Zhang Fuhua , Hao Xinwei , Sun Sihuai , Liu Xuan , Luo Yi , Li Mengyuan , Gu Yanchao , Wang Yao , Chen Qiwei , Shen Xihui , Xu Lei
Published: May 2023

Phage therapy is a promising therapeutic option for treating bacterial infections that do not respond to common antimicrobial treatments. Biofilm-mediated infections are particularly difficult to treat with traditional antibiotics, and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains has further complicated the situation.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is a bacterial pathogen that causes chronic infections and is highly resistant to many antibiotics.
Prevalence of Reversed Genome Organizations for Viruses in the Family
Iflaviridae
, Order
Picornavirales
Authors: Zhang Yan , Ye Zhuang-Xin , Feng Xiao-Xiao , Xu Zhong-Tian , Chen Jian-Ping , Zhang Chuan-Xi , Li Jun-Min
Published: May 2023

Monopartite viruses in the order
Picornavirales
exhibit distinct genome arrangement of nonstructural proteins and structural proteins for each of the 8 families. Recent studies indicated that at least 4 ifla-like viruses possessed reversed genome organization in the family
Iflaviridae
, raising the possibility that this phenomenon may commonly present in different families of picornaviruses.
Coexpression of Tail Fiber and Tail Protein Genes of the Cyanophage PP Using a Synthetic Genomics Approach Enhances the Salt Tolerance of
Synechocystis
PCC 6803
Authors: Chen Yu , Ge Pingbo , Sun Tao , Feng Jia , Li Guorui , Zhang Jiabao , Zhou Jianting , Jiang Jianlan
Published: May 2023

We synthesized and assembled a truncated cyanophage genome called Syn-P4-8, containing 18 genes for viral coat assembly proteins, and transferred it into a nonhost strain,
Synechocystis
sp. PCC 6803, to investigate interactions between Syn-P4-8 and
Synechocystis
PCC 6803. We found that coexpression of tail fiber and tail protein genes enhanced the salt tolerance of
Synechocystis
PCC 6803.
Exploiting Broad-Spectrum Chimeric Lysin to Cooperate with Mupirocin against Staphylococcus aureus-Induced Skin Infections and Delay the Development of Mupirocin Resistance
Authors: Duan Xiao-chao , Li Xin-xin , Li Xiang-min , Wang Shuang , Zhang Fen-qiang , Qian Ping
Published: May 2023

Staphylococcus aureus
, as an
Enterococcus faecium
,
Staphylococcus aureus
,
Klebsiella pneumoniae
,
Acinetobacter baumannii
,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
, and
Enterobacter
species (ESKAPE) pathogen, can escape the elimination of existing antibiotics. At present, phages and phage lysins against
S. aureus
infections are considered alternative antibacterial agents.
Multi-Label Text Classification Model Based on Multi-Level Constraint Augmentation and Label Association Attention
Authors: Wei Xiao , Huang Jianbao , Zhao Rui , Yu Hang , Xu Zheng
Published: May 2023

In the multi-label text classification task, a text usually corresponds to multiple label categories, and the labels have correlation and hierarchical structure. However, when the label hierarchy is unknown, the number of various labels is not balanced, which makes it difficult for the model to classify low-frequency labels. In addition, labels have semantic similarities that make it difficult for the model to distinguish between them. In this article, we propose a multi-label text classification model based on multi-level constraint augmentation and label association attention. Compared with traditional methods, our method has two contributions: (1) In order to alleviate the problem of unbalanced number of different label categories and ensure the rationality of sample generation, we propose a data augmentation method based on multi-level constraints. In the process of sample generation, this method uses historical generation information, sample original text information, and sample topic to constrain the generated text. (2) In order to make the model recognize the associated labels accurately, we propose an interaction mechanism based on label association attention and filter gate. This method combines text information and label weight information. At the same time, our classification model considers the important weights of text sentences and effectively utilizes the co-occurrence relationship between labels. Experimental results on three benchmark datasets show that our model outperforms state-of-the-art methods on all main evaluation metrics, especially on low-frequency label prediction with sparse samples.
Data Practices and Data Stewardship
Authors: Wong Janis
Published: May 2023

This forum is dedicated to exploring the notion of meaningfulness in design processes, taking the perspectives of community groups, nongovernmental organizations, and those who are marginalized in society as starting points. Authors will reflect conceptually and methodologically on practical engagements.
--- Rosanna Bellini and Angelika Strohmayer, Editors
Self-supervision for Tabular Data by Learning to Predict Additive Homoskedastic Gaussian Noise as Pretext
Authors: Syed Tahir , Mirza Behroz
Published: May 2023

The lack of scalability of data annotation translates to the need to decrease dependency on labels. Self-supervision offers a solution with data training themselves. However, it has received relatively less attention on tabular data, data that drive a large proportion of business and application domains. This work, which we name the Statistical Self-Supervisor (SSS), proposes a method for self-supervision on tabular data by defining a continuous perturbation as pretext. It enables a neural network to learn representations by learning to predict the level of additive isotropic Gaussian noise added to inputs. The choice of the pretext transformation is motivated by intrinsic characteristics of a neural network fundamentally performing linear fits under the widely adopted assumption of Gaussianity in its fitting error and the preservation of locality of a data example on the data manifold in the presence of small random perturbations. The transform condenses information in the generated representations, making them better employable for further task-specific prediction as evidenced by performance improvement of the downstream classifier. To evaluate the persistence of performance under low-annotation settings, SSS is evaluated against different levels of label availability to the downstream classifier (1% to 100%) and benchmarked against self- and semi-supervised methods. At the most label-constrained, 1% setting, we report a maximum increase of at least 2.5% against the next-best semi-supervised competing method. We report an increase of more than 1.5% against self-supervised state of the art. Ablation studies also reveal that increasing label availability from 0% to 1% results in a maximum increase of up to 50% on either of the five performance metrics and up to 15% thereafter, indicating diminishing returns in additional annotation.
Extreme Abnormal Grain Growth: Connecting Mechanisms to Microstructural Outcomes
Authors: Krill Carl E. , Holm Elizabeth A. , Dake Jules M. , Cohn Ryan , Holíková Karolína , Andorfer Fabian
Published: May 2023

If variety is the spice of life, then abnormal grain growth (AGG) may be the materials processing equivalent of sriracha sauce. Abnormally growing grains can be prismatic, dendritic, or practically any shape in between. When they grow at least an order of magnitude larger than their neighbors in the matrix—a state we call extreme AGG—we can examine the abnormal/matrix interface for clues to the underlying mechanism. Simulating AGG for various formulations of the grain boundary (GB) equation of motion, we show that anisotropies in GB mobility and energy leave a characteristic fingerprint in the abnormal/matrix boundary. Except in the case of prismatic growth, the morphological signature of most reported instances of AGG is consistent with a certain degree of GB mobility variability. Open questions remain, however, concerning the mechanism by which the corresponding growth advantage is established and maintained as the GBs of abnormal grains advance through the matrix.
On Degenerate Poly-Daehee Polynomials Arising from Lambda-Umbral Calculus
Authors: Yun Sang Jo , Park Jin-Woo
Published: May 2023

In this article, we derived various identities between the degenerate poly-Daehee polynomials and some special polynomials by using

λ

-umbral calculus by finding the coefficients when expressing degenerate poly-Daehee polynomials as a linear combination of degenerate Bernoulli polynomials, degenerate Euler polynomials, degenerate Bernoulli polynomials of the second kind, degenerate Daehee polynomials, Changhee polynomials, degenerate Bell polynomials, and degenerate Lah-Bell polynomials.
The Application of VR Technology in Environmental Design Based on Human-Computer Intelligent Interaction and Computing
Authors: Huang Jing
Published: May 2023

Virtual reality technology makes environmental design more convenient, and the effect is more intuitive, so designers can create more diverse design works. The practical application of virtual reality technology can make the expression of environmental design extremely realistic, can make the public’s visual, auditory, and tactile feelings different to a certain extent, so that people can enjoy the immersive feeling brought by various virtual environments, and can also concentrate people’s attention to a certain extent, so that people’s impressions continue to deepen, and deepen the image of environmental art to a certain extent, so that it plays a role in beautifying the city. The continued maturity of virtual reality technology has made it widely used in many industries in society, as has environmental design expression. Virtual reality technology has a variety of characteristics, such as interactivity, conceptuality, and multidirectional perception. It breaks through the time and space limitations of traditional environmental design and can better display and highlight the design effect to customers.
Buspirone Induces Weight Loss and Normalization of Blood Pressure via the Stimulation of PPARδ Dependent Energy Producing Pathway in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Lee Yong-Jik , Kim Hyun-Min , Jang Yoo-Na , Han Yoon-Mi , Seo Hong Seog , Jung Tae Woo , Jeong Ji Hoon , Lee Hyun Jung , Jung Kyung Oh
Published: May 2023

Introduction. Buspirone, as a partial agonist for a 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor 1A (5-HT1A), has been prescribed as an anxiolytic drug for patients. In addition, the lowering effect of serotonin on blood pressure was reported in hypertensive animal model. We investigated the therapeutic mechanism of buspirone against lipid metabolism disturbed by hypertension of early stage via hypertensive and obese animal model. Methods. The levels of various biomarkers related to lipid metabolism and hypertension were estimated through the measurement of body weight and fat weight, blood analysis, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and staining methods. Results. The lipid accumulation was lowered in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells by buspirone treatments of 50 and 100 μM compared with untreated differentiated control. Body weight and abdominal fat weight were lowered in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) administered with buspirone of 10 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks than 8-week untreated group. Triglyceride (TG) level was decreased in SHRs administered with buspirone of 5 and 10 mg/kg/day compared to 8-week untreated group. High-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol concentration was elevated by buspirone 10 mg/kg/day treatment compared to 8-week untreated group. Blood pressures in SHRs were lowered by buspirone treatments of 5 and 10 mg/kg/day compared with 8-week untreated group. Protein levels for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ), 5

′

adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and PPARγ coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α) were increased both in C2C12 cells treated by buspirone of 100 μM and in SHRs administered by buspirone of 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg/day compared to untreated control cells and 8-week untreated group. Fat cell numbers decreased in 8-week untreated group were increased in SHRs administered by buspirone treats of 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg/day. Protein expression levels for angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1) were increased in 8-week untreated group compared to 4-week group, however, they were decreased by buspirone treatments of 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg/day. Conclusion. Buspirone may induce the losses of body weight and abdominal fat weight through the activation of PPARδ dependent catabolic metabolism producing energy, and eventually, the ameliorated lipid metabolism could normalize high blood pressure.