bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safety and efficacy of concomitant treatment with non‐vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants and antiseizure medications: A propensity score matching cohort study
Authors: Giustozzi Michela , Calvello Carmen , Eusebi Paolo , Paolini Paoletti Federico , Silvestrelli Giorgio , Mazzetti Matteo , Silla Marialuisa , Bellotti Alessia , Vedovati Maria Cristina , Becattini Cecilia , Romoli Michele , Parnetti Lucilla , Paciaroni Maurizio , Costa Cinzia
Published: June 2024

Research on cerebrovascular events in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients taking non‐vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) with antiseizure medications (ASMs) is limited, highlighting a significant gap in literature. We assessed thrombotic and hemorrhagic risks in patients on NOACs and ASMs versus those on NOACs or ASMs alone. We analyzed a retrospective cohort from five centers, including AF and epilepsy patients on both medications (n = 188), AF patients on NOACs (n = 298), and epilepsy patients on ASMs (n = 50), with a 3‐year follow‐up. Propensity score matching adjusted for cardiovascular risk differences. The primary outcomes were ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, and major bleeding. Results showed the ASM+NOAC group had a higher risk of primary outcomes compared to the NOAC‐only group (5.68% vs. 1.18%, hazard ratio = 5.72, 95% confidence interval = 2.22–14.73), with no events in the ASM‐only group. This suggests an increased risk for patients on combined NOAC and ASM therapy, underlining the need for careful drug interaction consideration.
Experimental study on the bearing mechanical characteristics and deformation failure mechanism of damaged sandy mudstone
Authors: Zhang Dongxiao , Zhang Pengfei , Zhang Yueying , Guo Wenjing , Zhao Yongqiang , Zhang Wei , Fu Guangsheng
Published: June 2024

Studying the mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of damaged rocks holds practical significance in guiding tunnel or roadway support and assessing the stability of engineering rock masses. To uncover the failure mechanisms of sandy mudstone with varying degrees of damage, we conducted cyclic loading‐unloading tests to create specimens at different damage levels. Subsequently, uniaxial loading tests were performed to investigate the fundamental mechanical properties, wave velocity, and acoustic emission (AE) parameter evolution characteristics of the damaged specimens. The classification of damaged rocks was based on the energy evolution characteristics of damaged sandy mudstone. Finally, we discuss the damage and deterioration mechanisms of different types of sandy mudstone. The findings contribute to establishing a theoretical foundation for evaluating the degree of rock damage.
A physics‐informed neural network framework based on fatigue indicator parameters for very high cycle fatigue life prediction of an additively manufactured titanium alloy
Authors: Li Hang , Sun Guanze , Tian Zhao , Huang Kezhi , Zhao Zihua
Published: June 2024

The exploitation of fatigue life prediction methods based on fatigue indicator parameters revealed the influence of the defect size, position, and morphology on the fatigue life and fatigue behavior of additively manufactured metals. Meanwhile, Data‐driven life prediction methods are time‐efficient but inexplainable. Current machine learning‐based fatigue life prediction methods call for not only the accuracy but also the interpretability and stability of prediction results. Thus, the fusion of physical methods and machine learning methods has been a prevailing research topic in fatigue life prediction. In this study, a novel physics‐informed neural network framework is proposed by integrating a fatigue indicator parameter based on defects into the physical constraints term of a loss function. This method outperforms conventional machine learning methods in high‐cycle and very high‐cycle regimes, exhibiting superior prediction performance and generalization ability. Furthermore, the prediction results can be explained from a physical standpoint, correlating with the applicability range of the introduced physical equation describing defect positions.
How faculty members' organizational citizenship behaviours can be predicted by their personality traits: The moderating role of perceived university brand
Authors: Aghaz Asal , Sheikh Alireza , Salmasi Soroush Dehghan , Tarighian Asra
Published: June 2024

The qualifications of faculty members play a crucial role in the success of educational systems. Academics with a high level of organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB) are mostly valued due to the excellent services they offer to their students. This study aims to investigate the impact of faculty members' personality traits on their OCB. Additionally, it examines the moderating role of the perceived university brand in the relation between the two variables. This study is quantitative in nature and the sample includes professors working at seven prestigious Iranian universities. Overall, 422 questionnaires were gathered. By the use of Smart‐PLS, the results indicate that academic members with conscientious, agreeable and openness personality traits tend to show higher levels of OCB. On the flip side, neuroticism negatively predicts academics' OCB. Moreover, this research indicates that perceived university brand significantly moderates only the effect of openness trait on faculty members' OCB, meaning that professors with openness to experience traits who are working at such universities, are more likely to engage in OCB.
Chitosan‐based endodontic irrigation solutions and TGF‐β1 treatment: Creating the most favourable environment for the survival and proliferation of stem cells of the apical papilla in vitro
Authors: Belkadi Roumaissa , Sanz‐Serrano Diana , Ventura Francesc , Mercade Montse
Published: June 2024

Background

The dental pulp's environment is essential for the regulation of mesenchymal stem cells' homeostasis and thus, it is of great importance to evaluate the materials used in regenerative procedures.

Aim

To assess in vitro (i) the effect of chitosan nanoparticles, 0.2% chitosan irrigation solution, Dual Rinse®, 17% EDTA, 10% citric acid and 2.5% NaOCl on DSCS viability; (ii) the effect of different concentrations of TGF‐β1 on DCSC proliferation; and (iii) whether treatment with TGF‐β1 following exposure to the different irrigation solutions could compensate for their negative effects.

Methodology

(i) DSCS were treated with three dilutions (1:10, 1:100 and 1:1000) of the six irrigation solutions prepared in DMEM for 10 and 60 min to assess the effect on viability. (ii) The effect of different concentrations (0, 1, 5 and 10 ng/mL) of TGF‐β1 on DCSC proliferation was assessed at 1, 3 and 7 days. (iii) The proliferative effect of TGF‐β1 following 10‐min exposure to 1:10 dilution of each irrigation solution was also tested. We used MTT assay to assess viability and proliferation. We performed statistical analysis using Prism software.

Results

(i) The different endodontic irrigation solutions tested showed a significant effect on cell viability (p ≤ .0001). Significant interactions between the endodontic irrigation solutions and their dilutions were also found for all parameters (p ≤ .0001). Chitosan nanoparticles and 0.2% chitosan irrigation solution were the least cytotoxic to DSCS whilst 2.5% NaOCl was the most cytotoxic followed by 17% EDTA. (ii) TGF‐β1 at concentrations of 1 and 5 ng/mL resulted in significantly higher proliferation compared to the control group. (iii) Exposure to 17% EDTA or 2.5% NaOCl for 10 min was sufficient to make DSCS cells refractory to the proliferative effects of TGF‐β1. DSCS groups treated with TGF‐β1 following exposure to chitosan nanoparticles, 0.2% chitosan irrigation solution, Dual Rinse® and 10% CA demonstrated significantly higher proliferation compared to non‐TGF‐β1‐treated groups (p ≤ .0001, p ≤ .0001, p ≤ .0001 and p = .01 respectively).

Conclusions

The current study offers data that can be implemented to improve the outcome of regenerative endodontic procedures by using less toxic irrigation solutions and adding TGF‐β1 to the treatment protocol.
Nail changes in pemphigus: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Ng Clara X. , Lau Xer Min Nicole , Choi Ellie Ci‐En , Long Valencia , Chandran Nisha Suyien
Published: June 2024

Pemphigus is a group of autoimmune mucocutaneous bullous disorders characterized by acantholysis resulting from autoantibodies targeting epithelial cell surface antigens. Studies reflect the presence of nail manifestations in some patients and suggest a potential correlation with clinical severity. This study examines the overall prevalence and characterizes the diverse manifestations of nail changes in pemphigus. We searched Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and LILACS from 1990 to June 26, 2023 for studies reporting different nail changes in pemphigus patients. Data were collected and pooled to obtain proportions of the prevalence of nail changes in patients with pemphigus and subgroup analysis for pemphigus foliaceous and pemphigus vulgaris. The risk of bias was assessed with the Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist. Of 321 studies screened, 14 studies with 1,208 patients were included. Paronychia (n = 185) and Beau's lines (n = 104) were the most common nail changes identified. The pooled prevalence of nail disease in pemphigus patients was 0.389 (number of studies; [95% CI]: n = 9; [0.160–0.680], with high heterogeneity between studies (I2 = 95.0%, P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed the highest prevalence in pemphigus foliaceous at 0.342 (n = 3; [0.109–0.688]) and pemphigus vulgaris at 0.396 (n = 5; [0.114–0.769]). Nail changes exhibited varied temporal relationships with disease onset and flares, preceding, concurrent, or following these events. Correlation with disease severity was noted, although discrepancies between studies were reported. Nail changes in pemphigus, particularly pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceous, may be underrecognized. Observations regarding temporal associations and potential correlations with disease severity highlight the diagnostic and prognostic implications of nail changes in pemphigus. The limitations of this study include study heterogeneity and possible bias. Further research to establish the correlation of the presence and severity of nail changes on the overall disease course would be helpful.
Influence of Nurses' Perceptions of Government Policies and COVID‐19 Risks on Their Mental Health Status: A Web‐Based Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Xie Yao Jie , Hao Chun , Tian Longben , Yan Linjia , Liao Xiaoli , Wang Harry Haoxiang , Gao Yang , Zhang Dexing , Liu Zhao‐min , Cheng Huilin , Ngai Fei Wan
Published: June 2024

This study aimed to understand nurses' perceptions of COVID‐19‐related policies and risks during the outbreak of COVID‐19 in Hong Kong and to determine how their perceptions influenced their mental health status. A web‐based online survey among Hong Kong nurses was conducted. The questionnaire included a self‐designed 5‐point Likert scale with 17 items to assess the nurses' perceptions of COVID‐19‐related policies and risks, as well as the Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Patient Health Questionnaire‐2 (PHQ‐2) and the Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD) for measurement of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stress, depression and anxiety, respectively. Of 592 nurses enrolled, 30.6% had PTSD (DTS total score ≥40), and 80.4%, 19.9% and 16.4% had moderate‐to‐high levels of stress (PSS‐10 score ≥14), depression (PHQ‐2 score ≥3) and anxiety (GAD score ≥3), respectively. The top three concerned aspects were ‘worried about themselves and friends to suffer this disease’ (84.5%), ‘insufficient number of isolation wards’ (81.8%) and ‘insufficient number of personal protective equipment’ (74.3%). Logistic regression analyses showed that more negative perception on ‘personal protective equipment in the healthcare institutions’, ‘the confidence in HK's control of COVID‐19’, ‘worried about themselves and friends to suffer this disease’ and ‘self‐perceived risk of infection’ indicated higher severity of the four mental health problems (all p < 0.01). The perception on ‘public gathering ban’, ‘the number of isolation wards’ and ‘expected time to control COVID‐19’ were significantly associated with PTSD and stress (all p < 0.05). Nurses' perception on government policies and COVID‐19 risks played an important role in predicting their mental health status. Policy makers should be aware of nurses' psychological responses and provide timely and targeted emotional support to nurses amid and after the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Mary Warnock and ‘Public Philosophy’
Authors: Archard David
Published: June 2024

This article responds to the familiar characterisation of Mary Warnock as someone whose major achievements as a public intellectual, such as the Report on human fertilisation and embryology, were at the expense of philosophical rigour and integrity. I explicate her lifelong commitment to practical morality, and her understanding of ethics and of the role of feelings in moral judgments, before analysing her important distinction between the private and public moral attitude. ‘Public philosophy’ is what she believes is necessary for those seeking to make a difference in the world of law and policy. I highlight the importance for her of securing ‘acceptable’ legal outcomes, especially on issues of bioscientific development which are the subject of irreconcilable moral disagreements. I compare her distinction with others and contrast its use with relevant writing by John Rawls and Thomas Nagel. Finally, I defend her against misjudged criticism from her philosophical contemporaries, most notably Richard Hare.
The prospective associations between autonomy support, basic psychological needs, motivation and well‐being among people with a mild to borderline intellectual disability: a two‐wave study
Authors: Frielink N. , Schuengel C. , van der Ven S. H. G. , Embregts P. J. C. M.
Published: June 2024

Background

This study, grounded in self‐determination theory, examined how satisfaction of the needs for autonomy, relatedness and competence in people with mild to borderline intellectual disability (MBID) changed over a 4.5‐year period. Additionally, it explored the association between life events across various domains (i.e. health, support and living situation, crime, relationships and freedom and finance) and these changes and explored the prospective associations between these needs, perceptions of support from direct support staff and the well‐being and ill‐being of people with MBID.

Methods

Based on a sample of 117 adults with MBID, multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine correlations between constructs at both time points and the impact of autonomy support on need satisfaction and motivation, taking into account life events.

Results

The analyses showed that, at both time points, most constructs were statistically significantly correlated and remained so despite a time lag of 4.5 years. Autonomy support emerged as a significant positive predictor, of medium size, for satisfying autonomy and relatedness needs. Its association with competence need satisfaction was not statistically significant after Bonferroni correction. For type of motivation, autonomy support statistically predicted increased autonomous motivation, irrespective of life events.

Conclusions

Findings underline the potential of autonomy supportive direct support in the lives of individuals with MBID. Some unexpected null findings underscore the need for further study into the interplay between autonomy support, life events and the well‐being of people with MBID.
Symptom clusters and their impacts on the quality of life of patients with lung cancer receiving immunotherapy: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Yang Xuying , Bai Jingcui , Zhang Jinhuang , Wang Yanli , Zhao Huanping , Zhu Xuehua
Published: June 2024

Aim

The objective of this study was to identify symptom clusters in lung cancer patients receiving immunotherapy and explore their impact on the quality of life of patients.

Background

Immunotherapy is widely used in lung cancer; however, there is little understanding of symptom clusters and their impacts on the quality of life of this population.

Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Methods

The survey contained the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS), Quality of Life Questionnaire‐Lung Cancer 43 and a self‐designed General Information Evaluation Form. Symptom clusters were identified using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) based on the symptom scores. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the associations between each symptom cluster and the patients' quality of life. Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to examine the impact of the symptom clusters on quality of life. This study adhered to the STROBE guidelines.

Results

In total, 240 participants completed the survey. Five symptom clusters were identified and named according to their characteristics: emotional‐related symptom cluster, lung cancer‐related symptom cluster, physical symptom cluster, skin symptom cluster and neural symptom cluster. All symptom clusters, except for the neural symptom cluster, had a significantly detrimental impact on patient quality of life.

Conclusion

Lung cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy experience a range of symptoms, which can be categorized into five clusters. These symptom clusters have a negative impact on patients' quality of life. Future research should focus on developing interventions for each symptom cluster and their influencing factors.

Patient or Public Contribution

In the data collection phase, lung cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy were recruited to participate in the survey.
Optimizing the Time and Dose of Melatonin as a Sleep‐Promoting Drug: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials and Dose−Response Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Cruz‐Sanabria Francy , Bruno Simone , Crippa Alessio , Frumento Paolo , Scarselli Marco , Skene Debra J. , Faraguna Ugo
Published: June 2024

Previous studies have reported inconsistent results about exogenous melatonin's sleep‐promoting effects. A possible explanation relies on the heterogeneity in administration schedule and dose, which might be accountable for differences in treatment efficacy. In this paper, we undertook a systematic review and meta‐analysis of double‐blind, randomized controlled trials performed on patients with insomnia and healthy volunteers, evaluating the effect of melatonin administration on sleep‐related parameters. The standardized mean difference between treatment and placebo groups in terms of sleep onset latency and total sleep time were used as outcomes. Dose−response and meta‐regression models were estimated to explore how time of administration, dose, and other treatment‐related parameters might affect exogenous melatonin's efficacy. We included 26 randomized controlled trials published between 1987 and 2020, for a total of 1689 observations. Dose−response meta‐analysis showed that melatonin gradually reduces sleep onset latency and increases total sleep time, peaking at 4 mg/day. Meta‐regression models showed that insomnia status (β = 0.50, p < 0.001) and time between treatment administration and the sleep episode (β = −0.16, p = 0.023) were significant predictors of sleep onset latency, while the time of day (β = −0.086, p < 0.01) was the only significant predictor of total sleep time. Our results suggest that advancing the timing of administration (3 h before the desired bedtime) and increasing the administered dose (4 mg/day), as compared to the exogenous melatonin schedule most used in clinical practice (2 mg 30 min before the desired bedtime), might optimize the efficacy of exogenous melatonin in promoting sleep.
Periodontitis is associated with impaired olfactory function: A clinical study
Authors: Schertel Cassiano Luisa , Jensen Anne Birkeholm , Pajaniaye Julie , Lopez Rodrigo , Fjaeldstad Alexander Wieck , Nascimento Gustavo G.
Published: June 2024

Aim

To explore the association between periodontitis and olfactory disorders.

Methods

Clinical data were collected from 198 individuals between the ages of 18 and 60 years living in Denmark. The exposure was periodontitis, and the outcome was olfactory function (Threshold, Discrimination, Identification – TDI score), both measured clinically. Covariates included sex, age, education level, income, usage of nasal spray, tongue coating, halitosis, xerostomia, smoking, and history of COVID‐19. Structural equation modeling was used to estimate the association between periodontitis and olfactory function. Periodontitis was defined using the AAP/EFP classification and dichotomized into “no” (healthy subjects) and “yes” (Stages I, II, and III). Olfactory function was treated as a one‐factor latent variable, including the different olfactory scores. In addition, extra models were performed considering each olfactory component as a separate outcome and the TDI Global Score.

Results

The results showed that periodontitis was associated with a lower olfactory function [standardized coefficient (SC) −0.264, 95% CI −0.401, −0.118]. Additionally, periodontitis was also associated with a lower olfactory Threshold (odorant concentration required for detection) (SC −0.207, 95% CI −0.325, −0.089), Discrimination (ability to discriminate between odorants) (SC −0.149, 95% CI −0.270, −0.027), Identification (ability to identify odorants) scores (SC −0.161, 95% CI −0.277, −0.045), and TDI Global Score (SC −0.234, 95% CI −0.370, −0.099).

Conclusions

This study suggests that periodontitis is associated with olfactory impairment.
How long does the biological effect of a red light‐emitting diode last on adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells?
Authors: da Rocha Vitor Pocani , Mansano Barbara Sampaio Dias Martins , dos Santos Carolina Fernanda Chaves , Teixeira Ighor Luiz Azevedo , de Oliveira Helenita Antonia , Vieira Stella Sousa , Antonio Ednei Luiz , Izar Maria Cristina de Oliveira , Fonseca Francisco Antonio Helfenstein , Serra Andrey Jorge
Published: June 2024

This research investigated the duration of the influence of red light‐emitting diodes (LED, 630 nm; output power: 2452.5 mW; laser beam: 163.5 cm2; irradiance: 15 mW/cm2; radiant exposure: 4 J/cm2) on different periods after irradiation (6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h) on adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells' (AdMSCs) metabolism and paracrine factors. AdMSCs were irradiated three times every 48 h. Twenty‐four hours after the last irradiation, there was a higher MTT absorbance, followed by a decrease after 48 h. The cells' secretome showed increased levels of IL‐6 and VEGF after 12 and 24 h, but this was reversed after 48 h. Additionally, LED irradiation resulted in higher levels of nitrite and did not affect oxidative stress markers. LED irradiation had significant effects on AdMSCs after 24 h compared to other groups and its control group.
Biochemical analysis of three red grapevine varieties during three phenological periods grown under Mediterranean climate conditions
Authors: Monteiro A. , Pereira S. , Bernardo S. , Gómez‐Cadenas A. , Moutinho‐Pereira J. , Dinis L.‐T.
Published: June 2024

In Mediterranean regions, severe summers are becoming more common, leading to restrictions to vine productivity and yield quality, requiring sustainable practices to support this sector. We assessed the behaviour of three red grapevine varieties from the Douro Region to examine their tolerance to summer climate stress from the perspective that the less common varieties may have potential for increased use in a climate change scenario.

Leaf and fruit biochemical profile, antioxidant activity and fruit colorimetric parameters were assessed at different phenological stages in Aragonez (AR), Tinto Cão (TC) and Touriga Nacional (TN) grape varieties.

All three varieties exhibit significant variability in phenological timing, influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Photosynthetic pigment strategies differed among varieties. Chlorophyll content in AR was high to cope with high radiation, while TN displaying a balanced approach, and TC had lower pigment levels, with higher levels of phenolics, antioxidants, and soluble sugars, particularly during stress. The variations in berry biochemical profile highlight the distinct characteristics of the varieties. TC and TN show potential for coping with climate change, having elevated total acidity, while AR has larger and heavier berries with distinct coloration.

These findings reinforce the need to study the behaviour of different varieties in each Terroir, to understand their diverse strategies to deal with summer climate stress. This will help in selecting the most suitable variety for these conditions under vineyard management in the Douro Region
Soft‐Tissue Vibrations and Fatigue During Prolonged Running: Does an Individualized Midsole Hardness Play a Role?
Authors: Play Marie‐Caroline , Giandolini Marlène , Perrin Titouan P. , Metra Mélanie , Feasson Léonard , Rossi Jérémy , Millet Guillaume Y.
Published: June 2024

Footwear has the potential to reduce soft‐tissue vibrations (STV) but responses are highly subject‐specific. Recent evidence shows that compressive garments minimizing STV have a beneficial effect on neuromuscular (NM) fatigue. The aim was to determine whether an individualized midsole hardness can minimize STV and NM fatigue during a half marathon. Twenty experienced runners were recruited for three visits: a familiarization session including the identification of midsole minimizing and maximizing STV amplitude (MIN and MAX, respectively), and two half marathon sessions at 95% of speed at the second ventilatory threshold. STV of the gastrocnemius medialis (GM) muscle, running kinetics, foot strike pattern, rating perceived exhaustion (RPE), and midsole liking were recorded every 3 km. NM fatigue was assessed on plantar flexors (PF) before (PRE) and after (POST) the half marathon. At POST, PF central and peripheral alterations and changes in contact time, step frequency, STV median frequency, and impact force frequency as well as foot strike pattern were found in both MIN and MAX. No significant differences in damping, STV main frequency, flight time, duty factor, and loading rate were observed between conditions whatever the time period. During the half marathon, STV amplitude of GM significantly increased over time for the MAX condition (+13.3%) only. Differences between MIN and MAX were identified for RPE and midsole liking. It could be hypothesized that, while significant, the effect of midsole hardness on STV is too low to substantially affect NM fatigue.
Understanding asexuality: A sociological review
Authors: Winer Canton
Published: June 2024

Asexuality, a sexual identity that refers to those who experience low/no sexual attraction, has garnered increasing attention in recent years, yet its sociological exploration remains relatively nascent. This review article examines the burgeoning interdisciplinary field of asexuality studies through a sociological lens, examining asexual studies' conceptualizations, theoretical frameworks, and empirical contributions. First, I review how asexuality is defined and conceptualized in existing literature, highlighting diverse understandings and complexities surrounding this sexual orientation. I analyze the various conceptualizations of asexuality, ranging from the absence of sexual attraction to conceptualizations that emphasize the fluidity and spectrum of asexual identities. Next, I identify the subfields in sociology where asexuality studies is making or has the potential to make theoretical and empirical interventions. I examine how asexuality intersects with broader sociological themes such as gender, sexuality, identity, the family, intimacy, relationships, stigma, and community. Drawing on existing research, I examine how asexuality challenges normative assumptions about sexuality and how it contributes to ongoing conversations within sociology. Finally, I offer recommendations for how sociologists can approach the study of asexuality. I advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration, methodological pluralism, and intersectional analyses to capture the complexity and diversity of asexual experiences. Moreover, I emphasize the importance of centering asexual voices and perspectives in research, while also acknowledging the ethical considerations and challenges inherent in studying a marginalized and often misunderstood sexual orientation. Overall, this review provides a scoping overview of the sociology of asexuality, offering insights into its conceptualizations, theoretical implications, and avenues for future research.
Thermal history of the Epiligurian Marzabotto wedge‐top basin records the tectonic development of the Northern Apennines (Italy)
Authors: Stendardi F. , Vignaroli G. , Carrapa B. , Albino I. , Viola G.
Published: June 2024

Apatite fission track (AFT) and U‐Th/He analyses (AHe) of detrital minerals from Eocene to Pliocene siliciclastic deposits in the Northern Apennines were here applied to constrain the tectono‐thermal history of the wedge‐top Epiligurian Marzabotto Basin (EMB). Detrital AFT age populations from Eocene to Miocene strata cluster between ~71 and ~58 Ma. AHe ages show a quite variable single grain age distribution ranging from ~104 to ~7 Ma indicating some degree of post‐depositional thermal resetting. Thermal modelling of AFT and AHe data indicates that the EMB experienced a maximum temperature of ~90° prior to Oligocene‐to‐Pliocene cooling. We interpret the Oligocene‐Early Miocene cooling signal to represent rock uplift associated with growth of the Apennines orogenic wedge and the late Miocene‐Quaternary cooling to track frontal accretion in the orogenic wedge concomitant with rollback‐driven extension.
Unilateral hindlimb ischaemia‐induced systemic inflammation is associated with non‐ischaemic skeletal muscle inflammation
Authors: Evans William S. , Pena Gabriel S. , Gelman Beata , Kuzmiak‐Glancy Sarah , Prior Steven J.
Published: June 2024

Skeletal muscle atrophy and dysfunction commonly accompany cardiovascular diseases such as peripheral arterial disease and may be partially attributable to systemic inflammation. We sought to determine whether acute systemic inflammation in a model of hindlimb ischaemia (HLI) could affect skeletal muscle macrophage infiltration, fibre size, or capillarization, independent of the ischaemia. Eight‐week‐old C57BL/6 male mice underwent either Sham or HLI surgery, and were killed 1, 3, or 7 days post‐surgery. Circulating inflammatory cytokine concentrations were measured, as well as immune cell infiltration and morphology of skeletal muscle from both limbs of HLI and Sham mice. In HLI compared with Sham mice at day 1, plasma interleukin‐1β levels were 216% higher (0.48 ± 0.10 vs. 0.15 ± 0.01 pg/μL, P = 0.005) and decreased by day 3. This was followed by increased macrophage presence in muscle from both ischaemic and non‐ischaemic limbs of HLI mice by day 7 (7.3‐ and 2.3‐fold greater than Sham, respectively, P < 0.0001). In HLI mice, muscle from the ischaemic limb had 21% lower fibre cross‐sectional area than the non‐ischaemic limb (724 ± 28 vs. 916 ± 46 μm2, P = 0.01), but the non‐ischaemic limb of HLI mice was no different from Sham. This shows that HLI induces acute systemic inflammation accompanied by immune infiltration in both ischaemic and remote skeletal muscle; however, this did not induce skeletal muscle atrophy in remote muscle within the 7‐day time course of this study. This effect of local skeletal muscle ischaemia on the inflammatory status of remote skeletal muscle may signal a priming of muscle for subsequent atrophy over a longer time course.

Highlights

What is the central question of this study?

Does hindlimb ischaemia‐induced inflammation cause acute immune, inflammatory and morphological alterations in remote non‐ischaemic skeletal muscle?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Hindlimb ischaemia induced systemic inflammation with subsequent neutrophil and macrophage infiltration in both ischaemic and non‐ischaemic skeletal muscle; however, morphological changes did not occur in non‐ischaemic muscle within 7 days. These immune alterations may have functional implications that take longer than 7 days to manifest, and subsequent or prolonged systemic inflammation and immune infiltration of muscle could lead to morphological changes and functional decline.
Local Entropy Generation Analysis of the Counter-Flow Dew-Point Evaporative Coolers
Authors: Yang Cheng , Chen Haonan , Miyazaki Takahiko , Kim Young-Deuk , Khargotra Rohit , Thu Kyaw
Published: June 2024

A comfortable indoor working circumstance can be accomplished by a ventilation and air conditioning system. There are several factors influencing the quality of indoor air, with the insufficiency of ventilation accounting for over 50% of the overall considerations. While traditional air conditioner is able to fulfill the needs of ventilation and indoor temperature control, low-efficiency and high energy consumption no longer align with the current sustainable and energy-efficiency goals. Thus, the development of energy-saving and high-efficiency air conditioning systems is crucial for realizing green and efficient building practices. Evaporative cooling technology, specifically dew-point evaporative cooling, has garnered extensive attention as an efficient cooling method and a candidate for environmentally friendly and high-performance alternatives to traditional air conditioning systems. This article investigates the thermodynamic losses involved in a dew-point evaporative cooling system using the counter-flow design. Detailed mathematical models for the evaporative cooler along with the entropy generation in the channels are developed. The model facilitates calculations of (1) the entropy generation distribution in different layers within the system and (2) the entropy generation of each layer and the whole system under various input conditions. Approaching the system from the second law of thermodynamics perspective, this model serves as a guide for selecting the optimal operating conditions, thus promoting the widespread application and commercialization of dew-point evaporative cooling systems with the counter-flow structure.
Oxamic transcarbamylase of
Escherichia coli
is encoded by the three genes
allFGH
(formerly
fdrA, ylbE
, and
ylbF
)
Authors: Kim Nam Yeun , Kim Ok Bin
Published: June 2024

Escherichia coli
uses allantoin as the sole nitrogen source during anaerobic growth. In the final step of allantoin degradation, oxamic transcarbamylase (OXTCase) converts oxalurate to carbamoyl phosphate (CP) and oxamate. The activity of this enzyme was first measured in
Streptococcus allantoicus
in the 1960s, but no OXTCase enzyme or the encoding gene(s) have been found in any strain. This study discovered that
allFGH
(
fdrA
,
ylbE
, and
ylbF
) are the genes that encode the global orphan enzyme OXTCase. The three genes form an operon together with
allK
(
ybcF
), encoding catabolic carbamate kinase. The
allFGHK
operon is located directly downstream of the
allECD
operon that encodes enzymes for the preceding steps of OXTCase. The OXTCase kinetic parameters were analyzed using the purified protein composed of AllF-AllG-AllH (FdrA-YlbE-YlbF); for the substrate CP,
K

M

and
V
max
were 1.3 mM and 15.4 U/mg OXTCase, respectively, and for the substrate oxamate, they were 36.9 mM and 27.0 U/mg OXTCase. In addition, the OXTCase encoded by the three genes is a novel transcarbamylase that shows no similarity with known enzymes of the transcarbamylase family such as aspartate transcarbamylase, ornithine transcarbamylase, and YgeW transcarbamylase. The present study elucidated the anaerobic allantoin degradation pathway of
E. coli
. Therefore, we suggest that the genes
fdrA
,
ylbE
, and
ylbF
are renamed
allF
,
allG
, and
allH
, respectively.

IMPORTANCE

The anaerobic allantoin degradation pathway of
Escherichia coli
includes a global orphan enzyme, oxamic transcarbamylase (OXTCase), which converts oxalurate to carbamoyl phosphate and oxamate. This study found that the
allFGH
(
fdrA
,
ylbE
, and
ylbF
) genes encode OXTCase. The OXTCase activity and kinetics were successfully determined with purified recombinant AllF-AllG-AllH (FdrA-YlbE-YlbF). This OXTCase is a novel transcarbamylase that shows no similarity with known enzymes of the transcarbamylase family such as aspartate transcarbamylase (ATCase), ornithine transcarbamylase (OTCase), and YgeW transcarbamylase (YTCase). In addition, OXTCase activity requires three genes, whereas ATCase is encoded by two genes, and OTCase and YTCase are encoded by a single gene. The current study discovered OXTCase, the last unknown step in allantoin degradation, and this enzyme is a new member of the transcarbamylase group that was previously unknown.
A simple and sensitive test for
Candida auris
colonization, surveillance, and infection control suitable for near patient use
Authors: Banik Sukalyani , Ozay Burcu , Trejo Marisol , Zhu YanChun , Kanna Charan , Santellan Cynthia , Shaw Bennett , Chandrasekaran Sukantha , Chaturvedi Sudha , Vejar Lindy , Chakravorty Soumitesh , Alland David , Banada Padmapriya
Published: June 2024

Candida auris
is a multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen with a propensity to colonize humans and persist on environmental surfaces.
C. auris
invasive fungal disease is being increasingly identified in acute and long-term care settings. We have developed a prototype cartridge-based
C. auris
surveillance assay (CaurisSurV cartridge; “research use only”) that includes integrated sample processing and nucleic acid amplification to detect
C. auris
from surveillance skin swabs in the GeneXpert instrument and is designed for point-of-care use. The assay limit of detection (LoD) in the skin swab matrix was 10.5 and 14.8 CFU/mL for non-aggregative (AR0388) and aggregative (AR0382) strains of
C. auris
, respectively. All five known clades of
C. auris
were detected at 2-3-5× (31.5–52.5 CFU/mL) the LoD. The assay was validated using a total of 85 clinical swab samples banked at two different institutions (University of California Los Angeles, CA and Wadsworth Center, NY). Compared to culture, sensitivity was 96.8% (30/31) and 100% (10/10) in the UCLA and Wadsworth cohorts, respectively, providing a combined sensitivity of 97.5% (40/41), and compared to PCR, the combined sensitivity was 92% (46/50). Specificity was 100% with both clinical (
C. auris
negative matrix,
N
= 31) and analytical (non-
C
.
auris
strains,
N
= 32) samples. An additional blinded study with
N
= 60 samples from Wadsworth Center, NY yielded 97% (29/30) sensitivity and 100% (28/28) specificity. We have developed a completely integrated, sensitive, specific, and 58-min prototype test, which can be used for routine surveillance of
C. auris
and might help prevent colonization and outbreaks in acute and chronic healthcare settings.

IMPORTANCE

This study has the potential to offer a better solution to healthcare providers at hospitals and long-term care facilities in their ongoing efforts for effective and timely control of
Candida auris
infection and hence quicker response for any potential future outbreaks.
Nervous necrosis virus capsid protein and Protein A dynamically modulate the fish cGAS-mediated IFN signal pathway to facilitate viral evasion
Authors: Huang Siyou , Yang Linwei , Zheng Rui , Weng Shaoping , He Jianguo , Xie Junfeng
Published: June 2024

Nervous necrosis virus (NNV), an aquatic RNA virus belonging to
Betanodavirus
, infects a variety of marine and freshwater fishes, leading to massive mortality of cultured larvae and juveniles and substantial economic losses. The enzyme cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS) is widely recognized as a central component in the innate immune response to cytosolic DNA derived from different pathogens. However, little is known about the response of cGAS to aquatic RNA viruses. This study found that
Epinephelus coioides
cGAS (EccGAS) overexpression inhibited NNV replication, whereas EccGAS silencing promoted NNV replication. The anti-NNV activity of EccGAS was involved in interferon (IFN) signaling activation including tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor family member-associated NF-kappa-B activator-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) phosphorylation, interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) nuclear translocation, and the subsequent induction of IFNc and ISGs. Interestingly, NNV employed its capsid protein (CP) or Protein A (ProA) to negatively or positively modulate EccGAS-mediated IFN signaling by simultaneously targeting EccGAS. CP interacted with EccGAS via the arm-P, S-P, and SD structural domains and promoted its polyubiquitination with K48 and K63 linkages in an EcUBE3C (the ubiquitin ligase)-dependent manner, ultimately leading to EccGAS degradation. Conversely, ProA bound to EccGAS and inhibited its ubiquitination and degradation. In regulating EccGAS protein content, CP’s inhibitory action was more pronounced than ProA’s protective effect, allowing successful NNV replication. These novel findings suggest that NNV CP and ProA dynamically modulate the EccGAS-mediated IFN signaling pathway to facilitate the immune escape of NNV. Our findings shed light on a novel mechanism of virus-host interaction and provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of NNV.

IMPORTANCE

As a well-known DNA sensor, cGAS is a pivotal component in innate anti-viral immunity to anti-DNA viruses. Although there is growing evidence regarding the function of cGAS in the resistance to RNA viruses, the mechanisms by which cGAS participates in RNA virus-induced immune responses in fish and how aquatic viruses evade cGAS-mediated immune surveillance remain elusive. Here, we investigated the detailed mechanism by which EccGAS positively regulates the anti-NNV response. Furthermore, NNV CP and ProA interacted with EccGAS, regulating its protein levels through ubiquitin-proteasome pathways, to dynamically modulate the EccGAS-mediated IFN signaling pathway and facilitate viral evasion. Notably, NNV CP was identified to promote the ubiquitination of EccGAS via ubiquitin ligase EcUBE3C. These findings unveil a novel strategy for aquatic RNA viruses to evade cGAS-mediated innate immunity, enhancing our understanding of virus-host interactions.
Bloodmeals fuel dengue virus replication in the female mosquito
Aedes aegypti
Authors: Huang Yu-Ning , Lee Kuan-Ying , Shiao Shin-Hong , Chen Chun-Hong , Yu Guann-Yi , Yu Ming-Jiun
Published: June 2024

Vector competence defines the ability of a vector to acquire, host, and transmit a pathogen. Understanding the molecular determinants of the mosquitos’ competence to host dengue virus (DENV) holds promise to prevent its transmission. To this end, we employed RNA-seq to profile mRNA transcripts of the female
Aedes aegypti
mosquitos feeding on naïve vs viremic mouse. While most transcripts (12,634) did not change their abundances, 360 transcripts showed decreases. Biological pathway analysis revealed representatives of the decreased transcripts involved in the wnt signaling pathway and hippo signaling pathway. One thousand three hundred fourteen transcripts showed increases in abundance and participate in 21 biological pathways including amino acid metabolism, carbon metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation. Inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation with antimycin A reduced oxidative phosphorylation activity and ATP concentration associated with reduced DENV replication in the
Aedes aegypti
cells. Antimycin A did not affect the amounts of the non-structural proteins 3 and 5, two major components of the replication complex. Ribavirin, an agent that reduces GTP concentration, recapitulated the effects of reduced ATP concentration on DENV replication. Knocking down one of the oxidative phosphorylation components, ATP synthase subunit β, reduced DENV replication in the mosquitos. In summary, our results suggest that DENV enhances metabolic pathways in the female
Aedes aegypti
mosquitos to supply nutrients and energy for virus replication. ATP synthase subunit β knockdown might be exploited to reduce the mosquitos’ competence to host and transmit DENV.

IMPORTANCE

Through evolution, the mosquito-borne viruses have adapted to the blood-feeding behaviors of their opportunist hosts to fulfill a complete lifecycle in humans and mosquitos. Disruption in the mosquitos’ ability to host these viruses offers strategies to prevent diseases caused by them. With the advent of genomic tools, we discovered that dengue virus (DENV) benefited from the female mosquitos’ bloodmeals for metabolic and energetic supplies for replication. Chemical or genetic disruption in these supplies reduced DENV replication in the female mosquitos. Our discovery can be exploited to produce genetically modified mosquitos, in which DENV infection leads to disruption in the supplies and thereby reduces replication and transmission. Our discovery might be extrapolated to prevent mosquito-borne virus transmission and the diseases they cause.
Stability and gene strand bias of lambda prophages and chromosome organization in
Escherichia coli
Authors: Li Xintian , Gallardo Oscar , August Elias , Dassa Bareket , Court Donald L. , Stavans Joel , Arbel-Goren Rinat
Published: June 2024

Temperate phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer is a potent driver of genetic diversity in the evolution of bacteria. Most lambdoid prophages in
Escherichia coli
are integrated into the chromosome with the same orientation with respect to the direction of chromosomal replication, and their location on the chromosome is far from homogeneous. To better understand these features, we studied the interplay between lysogenic and lytic states of phage lambda in both native and inverted integration orientations at the wild-type integration site as well as at other sites on the bacterial chromosome. Measurements of free phage released by spontaneous induction showed that the stability of lysogenic states is affected by location and orientation along the chromosome, with stronger effects near the origin of replication. Competition experiments and range expansions between lysogenic strains with opposite orientations and insertion loci indicated that there are no major differences in growth. Moreover, measurements of the level of transcriptional bursts of the
cI
gene coding for the lambda phage repressor using single-molecule fluorescence
in situ
hybridization resulted in similar levels of transcription for both orientations and prophage location. We postulate that the preference for a given orientation and location is a result of a balance between the maintenance of lysogeny and the ability to lyse.

IMPORTANCE

The integration of genetic material of temperate bacterial viruses (phages) into the chromosomes of bacteria is a potent evolutionary force, allowing bacteria to acquire in one stroke new traits and restructure the information in their chromosomes. Puzzlingly, this genetic material is preferentially integrated in a particular orientation and at non-random sites on the bacterial chromosome. The work described here reveals that the interplay between the maintenance of the stability of the integrated phage, its ability to excise, and its localization along the chromosome plays a key role in setting chromosomal organization in
Escherichia coli
.