bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
M&A activity and ESG performance: evidence from China
Authors: Rahman Jahidur , Wu Jiani
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study explores the effect of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) on corporations' environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance and values in the Chinese financial market.

Design/methodology/approach

This study collected data covering 158 Chinese listed companies that have successfully completed at least one M&A activity between 2011 and 2020. Fixed effect and random models based on the Hausman test are adopted to mitigate potential heterogeneity issues in the selection.

Findings

Results show that acquiring targets with high ESG performance can help increase their own ESG performance, which in turn increases their market values. Heterogeneity and robustness tests also provide consistent results. Findings further confirm the bidirectional correlation between ESG and M&As, and then enrich related literature by suggesting the importance of utilizing M&As as a driver to increase corporate ESG performance.

Originality/value

This study embodies the practical implications of ESG and M&A. Managers, investors and policymakers can highly benefit from the results through practical applications.
Manager’s perspective on workers’ participation in management: a scenario-based study on Indian organizations
Authors: Mahindru Rinku
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to gain insight into managers' perspectives on the concept and practice of workers' participation in management (WPM) in Indian organizations. WPM is a critical ingredient in organizational effectiveness. However, the most fundamental aspects of WPM, such as the attitudes, expectations of managers and the factors facilitating or hindering the participation process, are less explored. This paper attempts to answer those questions concerning WPM in the context of Indian organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses data from 138 managers of Indian public and private sector organizations. Data were collected through an online survey as well as through semi-structured interviews. The study explores potential benefits, roadblocks and supporters from the managers' perspective. Further, to test the hypothesis, the author used multiple regression analysis.

Findings

The paper demonstrates managers' perception of workers' participation at the board level as the most beneficial and supportive compared to joint consultation and joint decision-making; however, at the same time, it is the one having the most roadblocks in the present Indian Labour laws. Workers, unions and managers' lack of legislative support and intention fuel the fire. The study also found that implementation of WPM is primarily based on statutory norms, and public sector managers are more willing to take the workers on board than managers of private sector organizations.

Practical implications

This research is of practical significance as it extracts new visions for policymakers in India already planning to implement four new labor codes, namely, wages, industrial relations, social security and occupational safety, health and working conditions. The data from the study will facilitate the Indian labor ministry to lay down policy decisions concerning WPM. Further, the government can acclimatize this analysis to plug the ambiguities in the present WPM system.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to give insights into the manager's perspective regarding the WPM using a scenario-based approach. In addition, this paper offers valuable suggestions for policymakers to restructure and streamline the country's existing and overlapping labor laws.
Examining the social sustainability strategies of multinational mining companies in a developing country
Authors: Amoah Prince , Eweje Gabriel
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the social sustainability strategies of multinational mining companies in addressing risks in areas of exploratory intensity and contributing to social capital in local communities.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is situated within an interpretivist paradigm and uses a qualitative research methodology, drawing on data from semi-structured interviews with multinational mining companies operating in Ghana and key stakeholder groups.

Findings

The results of this study show that multinational mining companies use strategies broadly categorised as social responsibility, social compliance, local content and relationship proximity to address challenges embedded in the extractive process.

Originality/value

By examining the strategies in addressing risks to sustainable social development in mining communities, this study contributes to fill the social sustainability gaps in mining research and adds to relevant literature.
Improved tourism demand forecasting with CIR# model: a case study of disrupted data patterns in Italy
Authors: Bufalo Michele , Orlando Giuseppe
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study aims to predict overnight stays in Italy at tourist accommodation facilities through a nonlinear, single factor, stochastic model called CIR#. The contribution of this study is twofold: in terms of forecast accuracy and in terms of parsimony (both from the perspective of the data and the complexity of the modeling), especially when a regular pattern in the time series is disrupted. This study shows that the CIR# not only performs better than the considered baseline models but also has a much lower error than other additional models or approaches reported in the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

Typically, tourism demand tends to follow regular trends, such as low and high seasons on a quarterly/monthly level and weekends and holidays on a daily level. The data set consists of nights spent in Italy at tourist accommodation establishments as collected on a monthly basis by Eurostat before and during the COVID-19 pandemic breaking regular patterns.

Findings

Traditional tourism demand forecasting models may face challenges when massive amounts of search intensity indices are adopted as tourism demand indicators. In addition, given the importance of accurate forecasts, many studies have proposed novel hybrid models or used various combinations of methods. Thus, although there are clear benefits in adopting more complex approaches, the risk is that of dealing with unwieldy models. To demonstrate how this approach can be fruitfully extended to tourism, the accuracy of the CIR# is tested by using standard metrics such as root mean squared errors, mean absolute errors, mean absolute percentage error or average relative mean squared error.

Research limitations/implications

The CIR# model is notably simpler than other models found in literature and does not rely on black box techniques such as those used in neural network (NN) or data science-based models. The carried analysis suggests that the CIR# model outperforms other reference predictions in terms of statistical significance of the error.

Practical implications

The proposed model stands out for being a viable option to the Holt–Winters (HW) model, particularly when dealing with irregular data.

Social implications

The proposed model has demonstrated superiority even when compared to other models in the literature, and it can be especially useful for tourism stakeholders when making decisions in the presence of disruptions in data patterns.

Originality/value

The novelty lies in the fact that the proposed model is a valid alternative to the HW, especially when the data are not regular. In addition, compared to many existing models in the literature, the CIR# model is notably simpler and more transparent, avoiding the “black box” nature of NN and data science-based models.
Perceptions on quality of life among older adults with hypertension in Thailand: a qualitative study
Authors: Chantakeeree Chonticha , Sormunen Marjorita , Jullamate Pornchai , Turunen Hannele
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore the perceptions of quality of life among older Thai adults with hypertension.

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive qualitative design was used. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 40 older adults. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.

Findings

The analyses were divided into six major themes: happiness in life; health and functionality; activity in social relationships; religion anchor; autonomy to manage their own life; and security in finances and environment.

Practical implications

The findings can guide health care professionals and policymakers when planning and implementing interventions and policies for improving the quality of life of older adults, particularly that of rural older adults with low incomes.

Originality/value

The findings showed minor differences between urban and rural older adults in financial security, where the rural participants expressed greater financial insecurity than the urban counterparts. However, no other major differences emerged.
Associations between ambient temperature and pregnancy outcomes from three south Asian sites of the Global Network Maternal Newborn Health Registry: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Shankar Kartik , Hwang Kay , Westcott Jamie L. , Saleem Sarah , Ali Sumera A. , Jessani Saleem , Patel Archana , Kavi Avinash , Somannavar Manjunath S. , Goudar Shivaprasad S. , Hibberd Patricia L. , Derman Richard J. , Hoffman Matthew , Wylie Blair J. , Goldenberg Robert L. , Thorsten Vanessa R. , McClure Elizabeth M. , Krebs Nancy F.
Published: August 2023

Objective

Growing evidence suggests that environmental heat stress negatively influences fetal growth and pregnancy outcomes. However, few studies have examined the impact of heat stress on pregnancy outcomes in low‐resource settings. We combined data from a large multi‐country maternal–child health registry and meteorological data to assess the impacts of heat stress.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Three sites based in south Asia as part of the Global Network for Women's and Children's Health research in India (Belagavi and Nagpur) and Pakistan (Thatta).

Population or Sample

Data from women enrolled between 2014 and 2020 in the Global Network's Maternal Newborn Health Registry (MNHR), a prospective, population‐based registry of pregnancies, were used.

Methods

A total of 126 273 pregnant women were included in this analysis. Daily maximal air temperatures (Tmax) were acquired from local meteorological records. Associations between averages of daily maximal temperatures for each trimester and main outcomes were analysed using a modified Poisson regression approach.

Main outcomes measures

Incidence of stillbirth, preterm birth, low birthweight (<2500 g) or evidence of pregnancy hypertension or pre‐eclampsia.

Results

In the overall cohort, risk of preterm birth was positively associated with greater temperature in the second trimester (relative risk [RR] 1.05, 95% CI 1.02–1.07, p = 0.0002). Among individual sites, the risk of preterm birth was greatest in Nagpur (RR 1.07, 95% CI 1.03–1.11, p = 0.0005) and associated with second‐trimester temperature. The overall risk of low birthweight was associated with ambient temperature in second trimester (RR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01–1.04, p = 0.01). The risk for LBW was associated with first‐trimester heat in Thatta and with second‐trimester heat in Nagpur. Finally, the overall risk of gestational hypertensive disease was associated with greater temperature in the third trimester among all sites (RR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02–1.12, p = 0.005) and was particularly significant for Nagpur (RR 1.13, 95% CI 1.05–1.23, p = 0.002). These findings highlight the increased risk of detrimental obstetric and neonatal outcomes with greater temperature.

Conclusion

In a multi‐country, community‐based study, greater risk of adverse outcomes was observed with increasing temperature. The study highlights the need for deeper understanding of covarying factors and intervention strategies, especially in regions where high temperatures are common.
Environmental RNA can distinguish life stages in amphibian populations
Authors: Parsley Meghan B. , Goldberg Caren S.
Published: August 2023

Applications of environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis methods for biomonitoring have grown exponentially over the last decade and provide a wealth of new information on the distribution of species. However, eDNA methods have limited application for estimating population‐level metrics. Environmental RNA (eRNA) has the potential to address ecological questions by gathering population demographic information from environmental media but may be challenging to detect and analyze. We developed gene‐specific eRNA assays targeting keratin‐associated genes in two focal species, American bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) and tiger salamanders (Ambystoma mavortium) to answer an important question in amphibian management: whether species detections represent breeding populations versus transitory adults. We performed an extensive laboratory validation with amphibians housed across development stages, where we collected 95 and 127 environmental samples for bullfrogs and salamanders, respectively. Both assays were highly specific to the larval stage and amplified with high sensitivity (90% in bullfrog and 88.4% in tiger salamander samples). We then applied our validated assays to multiple natural systems. When larvae were present, we found 74.1% overall detection in bullfrog field samples and 70.8% and 48.5% overall detection in field samples from ponds with A. macrodactylum and A. californiense larvae, correlating with eDNA detection rates. When only adults were present, we did not detect larvae‐specific eRNA in A. macrodactylum ponds, despite high eDNA detection rates. Although much work is ahead for optimizing assay design, sampling and filtering methods, we demonstrate that eRNA can successfully be used to discern life stages with direct application for ecology and conservation management.
Real‐world treatment patterns and clinical outcomes after introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors: Results from a retrospective chart review of patients with advanced/metastatic non‐small cell lung cancer in the EU5
Authors: Slowley Alexander , Phiri Kelesitse , Multani Jasjit K. , Casey Vicky , Mpima Sheila , Yasuda Marie , Chen Chi‐Chang , Manuguid Fil , Chao Jessica , Aziez Amine , Bell Kelly F. , Stojadinovic Alexander
Published: August 2023

Background

Real‐world evidence is increasingly used to guide treatment and regulatory decisions for non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Real‐world treatment patterns and clinical outcomes among patients with advanced/metastatic NSCLC in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK (EU5) were assessed.

Methods

This retrospective physician‐completed patient chart review assessed treatment patterns (regimen, duration of treatment [DOT], time to discontinuation), and clinical outcomes (duration of response [DOR], progression‐free survival [PFS], and overall survival [OS]) of patients with stage IIIB/C or IV NSCLC who received pembrolizumab‐based first‐line induction chemotherapy.

Results

Overall, 322 patients were included; at first‐line maintenance (1LM), 92% had stage IV NSCLC, 68% had nonsquamous histology, and 89% had no central nervous system (CNS)/brain metastasis. The two most common 1LM regimens were pembrolizumab monotherapy (76% overall) and pembrolizumab + pemetrexed (21% overall). Docetaxel monotherapy was the most common second‐line regimen in all countries except Germany (54% overall). For 1LM therapy, the overall median DOT and DOR were 5 and 10 months, respectively; PFS was 7 months and OS was 8 months. Germany had a longer duration of each outcome except for DOR which was longer in Spain. Clinical outcomes were generally poorer for patients with squamous histology and CNS/brain metastases.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated differences in treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in NSCLC across the EU5 and patient subgroups. Improved survival was generally associated with response to first‐line therapy, nonsquamous histology, and CNS/brain metastases absence. These real‐world data provide valuable insights which may aid treatment decision‐making and clinical trial design.
Placebo Tests for Causal Inference
Authors: Eggers Andrew C. , Tuñón Guadalupe , Dafoe Allan
Published: August 2023

Placebo tests are increasingly common in applied social science research, but the methodological literature has not previously offered a comprehensive account of what we learn from them. We define placebo tests as tools for assessing the plausibility of the assumptions underlying a research design relative to some departure from those assumptions. We offer a typology of tests defined by the aspect of the research design that is altered to produce it (outcome, treatment, or population) and the type of assumption that is tested (bias assumptions or distributional assumptions). Our formal framework clarifies the extra assumptions necessary for informative placebo tests; these assumptions can be strong, and in some cases similar assumptions would justify a different procedure allowing the researcher to relax the research design's assumptions rather than test them. Properly designed and interpreted, placebo tests can be an important device for assessing the credibility of empirical research designs.
IFNγ protects motor neurons from oxidative stress via enhanced global protein synthesis in FUS‐associated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Assoni Amanda Faria , Guerrero Erika N. , Wardenaar René , Oliveira Danyllo , Bakker Petra L. , Alves Luciana M. , Carvalho Valdemir M. , Okamoto Oswaldo Keith , Zatz Mayana , Foijer Floris
Published: August 2023

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis type 6 (ALS6) is a familial subtype of ALS linked to Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) gene mutation. FUS mutations lead to decreased global protein synthesis, but the mechanism that drives this has not been established. Here, we used ALS6 patient‐derived induced pluripotent stem cells (hIPSCs) to study the effect of the ALS6 FUSR521H mutation on the translation machinery in motor neurons (MNs). We find, in agreement with findings of others, that protein synthesis is decreased in FUSR521H MNs. Furthermore, FUSR521H MNs are more sensitive to oxidative stress and display reduced expression of TGF‐β and mTORC gene pathways when stressed. Finally, we show that IFNγ treatment reduces apoptosis of FUSR521H MNs exposed to oxidative stress and partially restores the translation rates in FUSR521H MNs. Overall, these findings suggest that a functional IFNγ response is important for FUS‐mediated protein synthesis, possibly by FUS nuclear translocation in ALS6.
Ulnar fracture deriving from metastasis of a primary hepatoblastoma in a Thoroughbred weanling
Authors: Mc Sweeney Denise , Ruby Rebecca E. , Murphy Catherine , Rodgerson Dwayne
Published: August 2023

An 8‐month‐old Thoroughbred filly presented for surgical repair of a fracture of the right olecranon. Fixation of the fracture with an orthopaedic plate and screws was attempted, with complications of intraoperative haemorrhage and poor bone viability. The filly was euthanised 5 days after the repair, following a post‐operative secondary fracture. Primary hepatoblastoma of the liver with secondary metastasis of the right humerus, radius and ulna were diagnosed at necropsy. A history of ‘un‐thriftiness’ was later described by the farm manager.
Beyond the institution versus home care dichotomy: Lessons from a feeding‐tube medical home
Authors: Loftus Sara Gilbert
Published: August 2023

Decades of rights‐based advocacy for people with disabilities have transitioned long‐term care in the United States from institutional settings to home‐based care provided by interdependent care networks. This paper argues that policies and practices within these home‐based care systems unintentionally produce and often perpetuate unrecognized structural violence on the recipients of care and the caregivers. Understanding the caregivers' experiences through a case study of a Facebook feeding tube family support group exposes the geographic realities and ableist underpinnings of the home‐based care model that undergird this violence. Further, I illustrate the contradictions of “home is best” ideology by focusing on three interwoven themes: structural dependency on unpaid mother‐experts, spatio‐temporal erasure through decentralization, and invasive surveillance structures. This research attends to how home‐based care, as a practice and a place, reflects broader patriarchal, gendered, and neoliberal concepts of autonomy and individual rights as expressed through policies like “person‐centered” care and the medical home model. While this analysis has theoretical, methodological, and policy implications, more important is the contextualization of family experiences that sometimes impacts life and death.
Hesperidin suppressed metastasis, angiogenesis and tumour growth in Balb/c mice model of breast cancer
Authors: Shakiba Elham , Bazi Ali , Ghasemi Hamed , Eshaghi‐Gorji Reza , Mehdipour Seyyed Alireza , Nikfar Banafsheh , Rashidi Mohsen , Mirzaei Sepideh
Published: August 2023

Considering the unfavourable response of breast cancer (BC) to treatment, we assessed the therapeutic potential hesperidin in mice bearing 4T1 BC tumours. Anti‐tumour effects were assessed by measuring pathologic complete response (pCR), survival analysis, immunohistochemistry for E‐cadherin, VEGF, MMP9, MMP2 and Ki‐67, serum measurement of IFNγ and IL‐4, and gene expression analysis of CD105, VEGFa, VEGFR2 and COX2. Survival of tumour‐bearing mice was the highest in mice receiving a combination of hesperidin and doxorubicin (Dox) (80%) compared to the normal saline (43%), hesperidin 5 (54%), 10 (55.5%), 10 (60.5%) and 40 (66%) mg/kg, and 10 mg/kg Dox‐treated (73%) groups (p < 0.0001 for all). Compared to the normal saline group, there was a significant elevation in IFNγ level in the animals receiving 20 (p = 0.0026) and 40 (p < 0.001) mg/kg hesperidin, 10 mg/kg Dox (p < 0.001), and combined hesperidin (20 mg/kg) and Dox (10 mg/kg) (p < 0.001). A significant reduction in the gene expression of CD 105 (p = 0.0106), VEGFa (p < 0.0001), VEGFR2 (p < 0.0001), and Cox2 (p = 0.034) and a significant higher pCR score (p = 0.006) were noticed in mice treated with 10 mg/kg Dox + 20 mg/kg hesperidin compared to those treated with 10 mg/kg Dox alone. Immunohistochemical staining showed significant reductions in Ki‐67 (p < 0.001) and VEGF (p < 0.001) and a significant elevation in E‐cadherin (p = 0.005) in the 10 mg/kg Dox + 20 mg/kg treatment group than in 10 mg/kg Dox alone group. Hesperidin can be considered as a potentially suitable anti‐cancer agent for BC that can synergize with other chemotherapeutics.
Coercion and justification: a global public reason perspective on Security Council reform
Authors: PAVEL CARMEN E.
Published: August 2023

The Security Council is the only international body capable of authorizing the use of force in cases other than self‐defence. Its main mission is to protect international peace and security, and this has been reinterpreted in recent decades to include the protection of human rights in situations of grave humanitarian emergencies as well as to allow it to exercise legislative powers. Given this extraordinary range of functions, it is worth asking whether the Security Council is justified in their exercise. Should the international community entrust such power to an institution with the authority, structure, and decision‐making process of the Security Council? This article explores the implications of a distinctive tradition in political philosophy – namely, the public reason tradition – for judging the adequacy of some of the proposals for reform of the Security Council. I show that the scope of authority of the Security Council, as well as some of the proposals for reform, can be challenged on the basis of an emerging global public culture.
Influence of interdental spaces and the palate on the accuracy of maxillary scans acquired using different intraoral scanners
Authors: Akl Mohammed A. , Daifallah Khaled , Pérez‐Barquero Jorge Alonso , Barmak Abdul B. , Wee Alvin G. , Revilla‐León Marta
Published: August 2023

Purpose

To assess the influence of interdental spaces and scanning the palate on the accuracy of maxillary scans acquired using three intraoral scanners (IOSs).

Materials and Methods

A virtual completely dentate maxillary cast without interdental spaces was obtained and modified to create 1, 2, and 3 mm of interdental spacing between the anterior teeth. These three files (reference standard tessellation language files) were used to print three reference casts. The reference casts were scanned using three IOSs: TRIOS4, iTero Element 5D, and Aoralscan2. Three groups were created based on the interdental spaces: 0, 1, 2, and 3 mm (n = 10). The groups were subdivided into two subgroups: no palate (NP subgroup) and palate (P subgroup). The reference STL files were used to measure the discrepancy with the experimental scans by calculating the root mean square (RMS) error. Three‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc Tukey pairwise comparison tests were used to analyze trueness. The Levene test was used to analyze precision (α = 0.05).

Results

Trueness ranged from 91 to 139 μm and precision ranged from 5 to 23 μm among the subgroups tested. A significant correlation was found between IOS*group (p<0.001) and IOS*subgroup ( p<0.001). Tukey test showed significant trueness differences among the interdental spaces tested (p<0.001). The 1‐ and 2‐mm groups obtained better trueness than the 0‐ and 3‐mm groups (p<0.001). An 11 μm mean trueness discrepancy was measured among the different interdental space groups tested. The P subgroups demonstrated significantly higher trueness when compared to the NP subgroups (p<0.001). The discrepancy between the maxillary scans with and without the palate was 4 μm. Significant precision discrepancies were found (p = 0.008), with the iTero group showing the lowest precision.

Conclusion

Interdental spaces and incorporation of the palate on maxillary intraoral scans influenced trueness and precision of the three IOSs tested. However, the scanning discrepancy measured may be of no clinical relevance.
I didn't think of that
Authors: Clarke Randolph
Published: August 2023

Consider cases in which an agent simply doesn.t think to do a certain thing, or doesn't think of a crucial consideration favoring doing a certain thing, or intends to do a certain thing but forgets to do it. In such a case, is the agent able to do the thing that she fails to do? Assume that commonly we all‐in can do things that we do not do. Here I argue that, given this assumption, in the cases under consideration, too, commonly agents all‐in can do the things they fail to do.
Toxic sensation seeking? Psychological distress, cyberbullying, and the moderating effect of online disinhibition among adults
Authors: Maftei Alexandra , Opariuc‐Dan Cristian , Grigore Ana N.
Published: August 2023

Cyberbullying among adults is barely studied, though its consequences may be as severe as in children and adolescents. The present study investigated the links between psychological distress, cyber‐perpetration, and passive cyber‐bystander behavior. We also explored the moderating role of toxic disinhibition in this regard. Our sample comprised 385 adults aged 19–66 (M = 28.35,SD = 11.22, 76.62% females). The results suggested that psychological distress was significantly associated with cyberbullying perpetration and passive bystander behavior. Also, higher psychological distress significantly predicted toxic disinhibition. Further moderation analyses suggested that at high and medium levels of toxic disinhibition, psychological distress significantly predicted cyberbullying perpetration but not passive cyber‐bystander behavior. Finally, we discuss our results regarding their theoretical and practical implication for cyberbullying prevention among adults.
Multigenerational punishments on the children of Salvadoran immigrant and deported fathers
Authors: Torres Jose Alfredo
Published: August 2023

Drawing on qualitative research conducted in the United States and in El Salvador, the author examines the experiences of the children of 40 immigrant men and 40 deported men. This study reveals the harmful effects of U.S. immigration policies and enforcement practices on the children of Salvadoran immigrant and deported fathers. Their children were found to have experienced the unintended consequences of U.S. immigration laws and enforcement practices in their own lives and relationships. These findings support Enriquez's (2015) concept of “multigenerational punishments” where children of immigrant parents share the risks and limitations associated with their parent's immigration status. They also experience the negative spill‐over effects of immigration policies and enforcement practices even though they were not directly targeted by these laws. This study reveals multigenerational punishments manifested in the form of social, economic, emotional, and physical inequalities which negatively affected the children of Salvadoran immigrant and deported fathers. As a result, many of their children experienced harmful changes in their lives and relationships under the U.S. immigration enforcement regime. This study is significant in that it provides insight into the issues that immigrant families face and the need for policy interventions for immigrant and deported parents and their children.
High energy x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) Cr Kα measurement of bulk bismuth
Authors: Zborowski C. , Hoflijk I. , Vaesen I. , Vanleenhove A. , Artyushkova K. , Conard T.
Published: August 2023

A bismuth foil was analyzed using high-resolution high energy x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES). The HAXPES spectra of bismuth obtained using monochromatic Cr Kα radiation at 5414.8 eV include survey scan and high-resolution spectra of Bi 2p3/2, Bi 3d5/2, Bi 4s, Bi 4p3/2, Bi 4d5/2, and Bi 4f.
Development of a process for flame retardant coating of textiles with bio-hybrid anchor peptides
Authors: Heesemann Rahel , Bettermann Isa , Paul Roshan , Rey Milena , Gries Thomas , Feng Lilin , Schwaneberg Ulrich , Hummelsheim Claus
Published: August 2023

The fire protection of materials has an important role in our everyday life and covers a highly diverse spectrum of substances, materials, and fields of application. Important fields of application for fire protection, especially in public areas, are construction and transport, electronic devices, furnishings, and textiles (e.g., applications for occupational safety, carpets, curtains, upholstery, insulation, and technical applications in outdoor areas). The efficient and durable finishing of materials with flame retardant additives is crucial to ensure effective fire protection. Many of the flame retardant additives currently used are based on bromides, chlorides, phosphates, or antimony. However, these flame retardants are harmful to the environment and/or health (not phosphates). Therefore, the use of these flame retardants is already being restricted by EU directives (e.g., REACH regulation), and it is foreseeable that they will be further restricted in the future. To keep up with this development, innovative and sustainable solutions must be developed in the short term. The amount of flame retardant additives that are harmful to the environment and health must be reduced. In the medium term, these harmful additives must be completely replaced by sustainable flame retardant additives that are not harmful to the environment and health. This paper describes research results to reduce the amount of additives in the short term. In order to reduce the amount of additives used, an innovative refinement process is being developed. In a first step, the flame retardant additives are combined with bio-based adhesion promoters (anchor peptides). Anchor peptides bind with high selectivity, binding strength, and occupancy density to a broad portfolio of materials (e.g., synthetic polymers, metals, ceramics, and natural materials) and enable the finishing of the materials with a broad spectrum of functional units (e.g., flame retardant additives). Material functionalization by anchor peptides is energy-efficient and resource-saving at room temperature in aqueous solution and is scalable in its production. Based on these developments, in this paper, a finishing process is presented with which flame retardant textiles can be equipped with bio-based anchor peptides. A requirements’ outline for the new finishing process is described. Established processes (e.g., foulard, coating machine, and roller application) are compared with each other and evaluated with regard to the requirements and their suitability. The most suitable process is then designed, and a laboratory scale as well as an industry scale concept are presented.
Tailoring of Mg and MgLi thin-film corrosion rates with dielectric barrier discharge plasma treatment
Authors: Hanke Lisa , Hartig Torge , Weisheit Felix , Tjardts Tim , Pogoda Tim , Faupel Franz , Quandt Eckhard
Published: August 2023

Magnesium and magnesium alloys such as magnesium-lithium are of great interest for the application as biodegradable implants. To control the degradation, a tailoring of the corrosion rate is needed. In this study, the effect of a short (5–20 s) dielectric barrier discharge plasma treatment in ambient air on the corrosion rate of magnetron sputtered Mg and MgLi thin films is presented. The treatment with atmospheric plasma of as sputtered samples leads to a decrease of the corrosion rate of 45%−50% in Hanks’ balanced salt solution. The higher corrosion resistance is influenced by a change in surface structure and a formation of an MgCO3 containing film.
Ultraflexible polyvinylidene fluoride film based amperometric enzyme-free sensor for selective detection of uric acid in a trace level
Authors: Maikap Abhisek , Karmakar Riju , Meikap Ajit Kumar , Samanta Subhra
Published: August 2023

The present invention describes a novel flexible nanosensor for the electrochemical detection of uric acid (UA) present in urine. The synthesized graphite-boron nanocomposite with an average thickness of ∼32 nm was grown up on a flexible polyvinylidene fluoride film with an average thickness of ∼50 μm and it acts as a nonenzymatic sensor for UA. The developed flexible sensor showed a prominent reduction peak in cyclic voltammetry and amperometric response with the presence of different concentrations of aqueous UA solution. In the electrochemical study, the redox peak was generated near ∼−0.42 V with a detection limit of around ∼2.09 μM as the bottom level. The high robustness of the developed sensor originated from the polymeric film base and the rapid response time of ∼0.5 s for detecting UA present in human urine. The interference property of the sensor was confirmed in the presence of bilirubin and creatinine as an eventual reference toward selectivity. The phase and morphology of the sensor surface were extensively observed before and after sensing to comprehend the electrochemical interaction between the sensor and target molecules. The generated quantitative results of the integrated system were verified by testing known and unknown concentrations of UA solutions.
Associated Factors of Time Spent Walking for Community-Dwelling Stroke Survivors
Authors: Choi Young-Ah , Lee Jung Soo , Kim Yeo Hyung
Published: August 2023

Background: This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with the time that community-dwelling stroke survivors spent walking. Methods: We analyzed the cross-sectional data of 1534 community-dwelling stroke survivors from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Complex-sample logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with insufficient walking time (<90 min/wk). The mean time spent walking was examined according to age, sex, resistance exercise level, and self-reported disability using complex-sample general linear models. Results: Women (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0–2.3), current smokers (OR 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1–2.8), insufficient resistance exercise (OR 2.3; 95% CI, 1.5–3.5), and those with rural residences (OR 1.4; 95% CI, 1.0–1.9) were independently associated with insufficient walking time. The mean time spent walking was significantly lower in older adults aged ≥65 years than in young adults aged <65 years (200.0 ± 42.0 min/wk vs 287.2 ± 36.6 min/wk, P = .002), in women than in men (200.9 ± 44.9 vs 286.2 ± 37.7 min/wk, P = .027), and in individuals engaging in insufficient resistance exercise compared with those engaging in sufficient resistance exercise (203.2 ± 36.2 vs 283.9 ± 43.0 min/wk, P = .008). The mean walking time did not vary according to the presence of self-reported disabilities. Conclusions: Environmental and personal factors are associated with insufficient walking time in community-dwelling stroke survivors.
TREM2 is down-regulated by HSV1 in microglia and involved in antiviral defense in the brain
Authors: Fruhwürth Stefanie , Reinert Line S. , Öberg Carl , Sakr Marcelina , Henricsson Marcus , Zetterberg Henrik , Paludan Søren R.
Published: August 2023

Immunological control of viral infections in the brain exerts immediate protection and also long-term maintenance of brain integrity. Microglia are important for antiviral defense in the brain. Here, we report that herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) infection of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)–derived microglia down-regulates expression of genes in the TREM2 pathway. TREM2 was found to be important for virus-induced
IFNB
induction through the DNA-sensing cGAS-STING pathway in microglia and for phagocytosis of HSV1-infected neurons. Consequently, TREM2 depletion increased susceptibility to HSV1 infection in human microglia–neuron cocultures and in the mouse brain. TREM2 augmented STING signaling and activation of downstream targets TBK1 and IRF3. Thus, TREM2 is important for the antiviral immune response in microglia. Since
TREM2
loss-of-function mutations and HSV1 serological status are both linked to Alzheimer’s disease, this work poses the question whether genetic or virus-induced alterations of TREM2 activity predispose to post-infection neurological pathologies.
Cultivated autologous limbal epithelial cell (CALEC) transplantation: Development of manufacturing process and clinical evaluation of feasibility and safety
Authors: Jurkunas Ula V. , Yin Jia , Johns Lynette K. , Li Sanming , Negre Helene , Shaw Kit L. , Samarakoon Lassana , Ayala Allison R. , Kheirkhah Ahmad , Katikireddy Kishore , Gauthier Alex , Ong Tone Stephan , Kaufman Aaron R. , Ellender Stacey , Hernandez Rodriguez Diego E. , Daley Heather , Dana Reza , Armant Myriam , Ritz Jerome
Published: August 2023

To treat unilateral limbal stem cell (LSC) deficiency, we developed cultivated autologous limbal epithelial cells (CALEC) using an innovative xenobiotic-free, serum-free, antibiotic-free, two-step manufacturing process for LSC isolation and expansion onto human amniotic membrane with rigorous quality control in a good manufacturing practices facility. Limbal biopsies were used to generate CALEC constructs, and final grafts were evaluated by noninvasive scanning microscopy and tested for viability and sterility. Cultivated cells maintained epithelial cell phenotype with colony-forming and proliferative capacities. Analysis of LSC biomarkers showed preservation of “stemness.” After preclinical development, a phase 1 clinical trial enrolled five patients with unilateral LSC deficiency. Four of these patients received CALEC transplants, establishing preliminary feasibility. Clinical case histories are reported, with no primary safety events. On the basis of these results, a second recruitment phase of the trial was opened to provide longer term safety and efficacy data on more patients.
Imaging local diffusion in microstructures using NV-based pulsed field gradient NMR
Authors: Bruckmaier Fleming , Allert Robin D. , Neuling Nick R. , Amrein Philipp , Littin Sebastian , Briegel Karl D. , Schätzle Philip , Knittel Peter , Zaitsev Maxim , Bucher Dominik B.
Published: August 2023

Understanding diffusion in microstructures plays a crucial role in many scientific fields, including neuroscience, medicine, or energy research. While magnetic resonance (MR) methods are the gold standard for diffusion measurements, spatial encoding in MR imaging has limitations. Here, we introduce nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center–based nuclear MR (NMR) spectroscopy as a powerful tool to probe diffusion within microscopic sample volumes. We have developed an experimental scheme that combines pulsed gradient spin echo (PGSE) with optically detected NV-NMR spectroscopy, allowing local quantification of molecular diffusion and flow. We demonstrate correlated optical imaging with spatially resolved PGSE NV-NMR experiments probing anisotropic water diffusion within an individual model microstructure. Our optically detected PGSE NV-NMR technique opens up prospects for extending the current capabilities of investigating diffusion processes with the future potential of probing single cells, tissue microstructures, or ion mobility in thin film materials for battery applications.
Aire drives steroid hormone biosynthesis by medullary thymic epithelial cells
Authors: Taves Matthew D. , Donahue Kaitlynn M. , Bian Jing , Cam Margaret C. , Ashwell Jonathan D.
Published: August 2023

Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) produce glucocorticoids, which antagonize negative selection of autoreactive thymocytes and promote a competent T cell antigen–specific repertoire. To characterize their source, we generated a knock-in reporter mouse in which endogenous Cyp11b1, the final enzyme in de novo production of active glucocorticoids, was fluorescently tagged with mScarlet. Here, we find that Cyp11b1 is expressed in medullary TECs (mTECs) but not cortical TECs or other cells in the thymus. A distinct characteristic of mTECs is the presence of Aire, a transcription factor that drives expression of tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs) important for establishing immune tolerance. Cyp11b1 expression was highest in Aire
+
mTECs, lower in post-Aire mTECs, and absent in mTECs of
Aire
-deficient mice. Transcriptomic analyses found that multiple enzymatic biosynthetic pathways are expressed specifically in mTECs and are also Aire dependent. In particular, we found that the thymus expresses messenger RNA for enzymes that catalyze production of many bioactive steroids and that glucocorticoids and sex steroids were secreted by cultured thymi. Expression of the transcripts for these genes and production of their final steroid products were markedly reduced in the absence of Aire. Thus, in addition to its well-established role in inducing TRAs that promote negative selection, Aire has an additional and contrary function of inducing glucocorticoids that antagonize negative selection, which together may expand and enhance the TCR repertoire. Furthermore, because Aire drives expression of multiple enzymes responsible for production of other non–gene-encoded bioactive molecules, it might have yet other roles in thymus development and function.
Social networking at the microbiome-host interface
Authors: Lamont Richard J. , Hajishengallis George , Koo Hyun
Published: August 2023

Microbial species colonizing host ecosystems in health or disease rarely do so alone. Organisms conglomerate into dynamic heterotypic communities or biofilms in which interspecies and interkingdom interactions drive functional specialization of constituent species and shape community properties, including nososymbiocity or pathogenic potential. Cell-to-cell binding, exchange of signaling molecules, and nutritional codependencies can all contribute to the emergent properties of these communities. Spatial constraints defined by community architecture also determine overall community function. Multilayered interactions thus occur between individual pairs of organisms, and the relative impact can be determined by contextual cues. Host responses to heterotypic communities and impact on host surfaces are also driven by the collective action of the community. Additionally, the range of interspecies interactions can be extended by bacteria utilizing host cells or host diet to indirectly or directly influence the properties of other organisms and the community microenvironment. In contexts where communities transition to a dysbiotic state, their quasi-organismal nature imparts adaptability to nutritional availability and facilitates resistance to immune effectors and, moreover, exploits inflammatory and acidic microenvironments for their persistence.
Full-length genome sequence of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus strain SDTA13-2020
Authors: Zhao Wenying , Yao Yali , Zhang Yunjing , Huang Baicheng , Tian Kegong
Published: August 2023

We report here the complete genome sequence of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) strain SDTA13-2020, isolated from a suckling piglet with watery diarrhea in Shandong, China. The isolate is genetically close to other recent Chinese G2 genotype PEDVs and distinct from the classical PEDVs.
Complete genome sequence of
Shigella flexneri
strain P099 from the gum of an adult rhesus monkey,
Macaca mulatta
, with gingivitis
Authors: Kim Sung Guk , Summage-West Christine V. , Reyna Mariela , Sopovski Danielle , Sims Lillie M. , Foley Steven L.
Published: August 2023

Shigella flexneri
was associated with gingivitis, a periodontal disease, in the rhesus monkey. We report the circularized 4.8-Mbp complete genome of
Shigella flexneri
strain P099 isolated from the gum of an adult rhesus monkey,
Macaca mulatta
, with clinical symptoms of gingivitis.
Draft genome sequence of biofilm-forming
Enterococcus faecalis
BAU_Ef01 strain isolated from shrimp (
Penaeus indicus
) in Bangladesh
Authors: Ullah Md. Ashek , Islam Md. Saiful , Rana Md. Liton , Ferdous Farhana Binte , Neloy Fahim Haque , Punom Sadia Afrin , Hassan Jayedul , Rahman Md. Tanvir
Published: August 2023

Here, we sequence and analyze a biofilm-forming strain of
Enterococcus faecalis
BAU_Ef01 isolated from a shrimp in Bangladesh. The whole genome of the strain had a length of 2,862,301 bp, 38 contigs, an average G+C content of 37.36%, 80.0× genome coverage, and 35 predicted antibiotic resistance and virulence genes each.