bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mobilisation of data from natural history collections can increase the quality and coverage of biodiversity information
Authors: Blades Bryony , Ronquillo Cristina , Hortal Joaquín
Published: November 2024

Aim

Quantify potential gains to insect data on the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) through further digitisation of natural history collections, assess to what degree this would fill biases in spatial and environmental record coverage, and deepen understanding of environmental bias with regard to climate rarity.

Location

Afrotropical realm (mainland only)

Time period

1814-2022

Major taxa studied

CatharsiusHope, 1837 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Methods

We compared inventory completeness of AfrotropicalCatharsiusGBIF data to a dataset which combined these with records from a recent taxonomic revision. We analysed how this improved dataset reduced regional and environmental bias in the distribution of occurrence records using an approach that identifies well-surveyed spatial units of 100×100km as well as emerging techniques to classify rarity of climates.

Results

The number of cells for which inventory completeness could be calculated, as well as coverage of climate types by “well-sampled” cells, increased three-fold when using the combined set compared to the GBIF set. Improvements to sampling in Central and Western Africa were particularly striking. Coverage of rare climates was similarly improved, as not a single well-sampled cell from the GBIF data alone occurred in the rarest climate types. Inclusion of further records from natural history collections increased the total number of occurrences, but also filled persisting spatial and environmental data gaps on GBIF.

Main conclusions

These findings support existing literature that suggests data gaps on GBIF are still pervasive, especially for insects and in the tropics and, so, is not yet ready to serve as a standalone data source for all taxa. Biases in spatial coverage of records translate to uneven sampling of environmental conditions, hindering our ability to describe the full breadth of species’ niches, especially so in climates that occur infrequently. However, we show that natural history collections hold the necessary information to fill many of these gaps, and their further digitisation should be a priority.
A novelArabidopsis thalianaprotein, ABAP1 INTERACTING PROTEIN 10, mediates crosstalk between the cell cycle and primary metabolism
Authors: Montessoro Patrícia , Paixão Joaquin Felipe Roca , Costa Carinne N M , Ducatti Laura , Grangeiro Letícia P Perdigão , Fusaro Adriana Flores , Ballesteros Helkin F , Iurif Vanessa , Cabral Luiz Mors , de Andrade Jelmir Craveiro , Tessaro Leticia , de Paula Bernardo Wallace , Coelho Fernanda Silva , de Almeida-Engler Janice , Campostrini Eliemar , Conte-Junior Carlos Adam , Hemerly Adriana Silva
Published: November 2024

Plants have developed a sophisticated regulatory network that coordinates gene expression in meristematic zones in response to environmental conditions. Here, we identified a protein in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) that interacts with Armadillo BTB Arabidopsis protein 1 (ABAP1), a negative regulator of the cell cycle in plants. We characterized ABAP1 Interacting Protein (named AIP10) investigating its role in modulating plant development. T-DNA insertion lines with silenced expression ofAIP10were evaluated phenotypically (morphology, fresh and dry weight), via transcriptomics analyses (RNA-seq and RT-qPCR), physiologically (biochemically, Fluorcam and Li- COR), and metabolically (ATR-FTIR). We showed that AIP10 integrates cell division rates with transcriptional and primary metabolism reprogramming, through its protein interactions with ABAP1 and KIN10, a subunit of SnRK1 (Sucrose non-fermenting-1- related protein kinase 1). ABAP1 levels and activity were reduced in the absence of AIP10, licensing cell cycle progression for longer periods, which culminated in increased rates of cell division that boosted vegetative and reproductive growth.AIP10silencing triggered a major transcriptional reprogramming of plant primary metabolism, possibly through SnRK1 regulation.aip10mutants showed increased photosynthetic efficiency, as well as boosted carbon fixation, leading to increased biomass, seed productivity, and higher contents of proteins, lipids (triglycerides), and carbohydrates. Finally, we propose that the modulation ofAIP10expression is part of a mechanism that coordinates higher rates of cell division with better photosynthetic performance and carbon fixation to metabolically meet the plant energy demand, allowing the generation of plants with increased biomass and productivity.

One-sentence summary

ABAP1 INTERACTING PROTEIN10 connects the cell cycle and plant metabolism, with its silencing leading to increased cell division, carbon fixation, and metabolite levels in Arabidopsis.
Measuring flicker induced vasodilation at a high spatial and temporal resolution in the human retina
Authors: Senée Pierre , Krafft Léa , Loukili Inès , Farias Daniela Castro , Thouvenin Olivier , Atlan Michael , Paques Michel , Meimon Serge , Mecê Pedro
Published: November 2024

Neurovascular coupling (NVC) is a crucial process in which blood flow is dynamically adjusted to meet the metabolic demands of active neurons. In this study, we introduce an innovative method forin-vivoimaging of retinal blood vessel dilation in response to visible light stimulation, offering insights into the functional regulation of retinal blood flow. Using high-resolution, high-speed phase contrast imaging, we continuously monitored retinal vessel dynamics in eight healthy subjects, capturing precise temporal and spatial changes in vessel size under both stimulated and baseline conditions. We have measured a significant vessel dilation of 5.2% ± 1.6% (4.4 µm ± 1.3 µm) during flicker-stimulation compared to a dilation of 2.5% ± 1% (2.1 µm ± 0.9 µm) without stimulation. The flexibility of our method also allowed for the exploration of various acquisition and stimulation settings, broadening possibilities for investigating neurovascular coupling in the retina. This work not only enhances our understanding of neurovascular coupling but also has the potential to identify new biomarkers for vision-impairing conditions and neurodegenerative diseases.

Significance

Neurovascular coupling is a fundamental mechanism of the brain which locally regulates blood flow in response to changes in neuronal activity. Here, we present a new imaging technique that enables measuring vasodilation in response to visible light stimulation of the neurons at high spatial and temporal resolution in the living human retina. Owing to the unprecedented measurement precision of the presented technique, we provide new insights into the inner working of functional blood flow regulation in the retina. Clinically, this method holds promise for vascular dysfunction early detection, which can improve diagnosis of retinal and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as assist the development of new targeted therapies.
Evaluation of protein intake and protein quality in New Zealand vegans
Authors: Soh Bi Xue Patricia , Vignes Matthieu , Smith Nick W. , von Hurst Pamela R , McNabb Warren C.
Published: November 2024

Dietary protein provides indispensable amino acids (IAAs) that the body cannot synthesise. Past assessments of total protein intake from vegan populations in western, developed countries were found to be low but not necessarily below daily requirements. However, plant-sourced proteins generally have lower quantities of digestible IAAs as compared to animal-sourced proteins. Simply accounting for protein intake without considering AA profile and digestibility could overestimate protein adequacy among vegans. This study quantified protein intake and quality, as compared to reference intake values among 193 NZ vegans using a four-day food diary. Protein and IAA composition of all foods were derived from New Zealand FoodFiles and the United States Department of Agriculture and adjusted for True Ileal Digestibility (TID). Mean protein intakes for males and females were 0.99 and 0.81 g/kg /day, respectively with 78.8% of males and 74.5% of females meeting the Estimated Average Requirement for protein. Plant-sourced proteins provided 52.9 mg of leucine and 35.7 mg of lysine per gram of protein and were below the reference scoring patterns (leucine: 59mg/g, lysine: 45mg/g). When adjusted to individual body weight, average IAA intakes were above daily requirements, but lysine just met requirements at 31.2 mg/kg of body weight/day (reference: 30 mg/kg/day). Upon TID adjustment, the percentage of vegans meeting adequacy for protein and IAA decreased and only approximately 50% of the cohort could meet lysine and leucine requirements. Hence, lysine and leucine were the most limiting IAAs in the vegan cohort’s diet. Legumes and pulses contributed most to overall protein and lysine intake. An increased proportion of legumes and pulses can potentially increase these intakes but must be considered in the context of the whole diet. AA composition and digestibility are important aspects of protein quality when assessing protein adequacy and is of particular importance in restrictive diets.
Consumption of Ciprofloxacin as the sole Carbon and energy source and Phenomenal Transformation to a Culturable nanometer-sized-bacterium demonstrated by a hospital-waste-water isolateKlebsiellasp. SG01
Authors: Ganguli Sriradha , Chakraborty Ranadhir
Published: November 2024

Antimicrobial resistance is a global crisis. Biodegradation by bacteria is an effective strategy to remove the micropollutant from the environment. In this study, we demonstrate that a persistent fluoroquinolone, ciprofloxacin (CIP) can be degraded by a multidrug-resistantKlebsiellasp. SG01 and used as its only carbon source. The degradation was quantified using UV-vis spectroscopy and the degraded product was less toxic than the parent compound as tested against a susceptibleEscherichia coliK12. SG01 changes into nano-sized cells as culturable nanobacterium, passes through a 0.22 μm pore-size filter while growing on ciprofloxacin, and shows a shorter generation time than cells grown on glucose or rich medium. The basis for the changed growth phenotype of nano-SG01 cells and metabolic changes was partially established by the whole-genome transcriptome.

Importance

Fluoroquinolones (FQs) constitute a class of persistent antimicrobials, having a high affinity for sludge, sediments, and soil with reported half-lives of 10.6 days in surface waters and up to 580 days in soil matrices. However, more than 50% consumption or degradation of CIP at higher concentration (∼2g/L) within 48 hours is not yet reported. Also, the isolate transforms into a nano-form to consume the antibiotic and economizes its metabolism to degrade CIP. From the One Health Approach perspective, nanobacterial transformation is an alarming concern as such viable nanobacteria continue to proliferate and may trigger infection in host. The strategy should be to utilize this powerful strain for the biodegradation of CIP.
Calcineurin inhibition deactivates pyruvate dehydrogenase and induces proximal tubule cell metabolic dysfunction, causing profibrotic phenotype
Authors: Oda Yasuhiro , Nishi Hiroshi , Hamano Fumie , Yoshida Teruhiko , Kita Yoshihiro , Kopp Jeffrey B. , Nangaku Masaomi
Published: November 2024

Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) are indispensable immunosuppressants for transplant recipients and patients with autoimmune diseases, but chronic use causes nephrotoxicity, including kidney fibrosis. Why inhibiting calcineurin, a serine/threonine phosphatase, causes kidney fibrosis remains unknown. We performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing of the kidney from a chronic CNI nephrotoxicity mouse model and found an increased proportion of injured proximal tubule cells, which exhibited altered expression of genes associated with oxidative phosphorylation, cellular senescence and fibrosis. In cultured primary human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells, CNIs caused phosphorylation (deactivation) of pyruvate dehydrogenase, impaired mitochondrial metabolism and senescence-associated phenotypes, all of which were ameliorated by pyruvate dehydrogenase activation. Finally, administration of dichloroacetic acid, a known activator of pyruvate dehydrogenase, in the chronic CNI nephrotoxicity mouse model mitigated kidney fibrosis and the associated transcriptional changes. Collectively, calcineurin inhibition deactivates pyruvate dehydrogenase and induces proximal tubule cell metabolic dysfunction, causing profibrotic phenotype.
Oxytocin neurons in the paraventricular and supraoptic hypothalamic nuclei bidirectionally modulate food intake
Authors: Rea Jessica J. , Liu Clarissa M. , Hayes Anna M.R. , Ohan Rita , Schwartz Grace M. , Bashaw Alexander G. , Klug Molly E. , Decarie-Spain Lea , Park Yedam , Kao Alicia E. , Grinevich Valery , Kanoski Scott E.
Published: November 2024

Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide produced in the paraventricular (PVH) and supraoptic (SON) nuclei of the hypothalamus. Either peripheral or central administration of OT suppresses food intake through reductions in meal size. However, pharmacological approaches do not differentiate whether observed effects are mediated by OT neurons located in the PVH or in the SON. To address this, we targeted OT neuron-specific designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) in either the PVH or SON in rats, thus allowing for evaluation of food intake following selective activation of OT neurons separately in each nucleus. Results revealed that DREADDs-mediated excitation of PVH OT neurons reduced consumption of both standard chow and a high fat high sugar diet (HFHS) via reductions in meal size. On the contrary, SON OT neuron activation had the opposite effect by increasing both standard chow and liquid sucrose consumption, with the former effect mediated by an increase in meal size. To further examine the physiological role of OT neurons in eating behavior, a viral-mediated approach was used to silence synaptic transmission of OT neurons separately in either the PVH or SON. Results from these studies revealed that PVH OT neuron silencing significantly increased consumption of HFHS by increasing meal size whereas SON OT neuron silencing reduced chow consumption by decreasing meal size. Collectively these data reveal that PVH and SON OT neurons differentially modulate food intake by either increasing or decreasing satiation signaling, respectively.
Central role of glycosylation processes in human genetic susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infections with Omicron variants
Authors: Geller Frank , Wu Xiaoping , Lammi Vilma , Abner Erik , Valliere Jesse Tyler , Nastou Katerina , Rasmussen Morten , Andersson Niklas Worm , Quinn Liam , Aagaard Bitten , Banasik Karina , Bliddal Sofie , Boding Lasse , Brunak Soren , Brons Nanna , Bybjerg-Grauholm Jonas , Christoffersen Lea Arregui Nordahl , Didriksen Maria , Dinh Khoa Manh , Erikstrup Christian , Feldt-Rasmussen Ulla , Groenbaek Kirsten , Kaspersen Kathrine Agergard , Mikkelsen Christina , Nielsen Claus Henrik , Nielsen Henriette Svarre , Nielsen Susanne Dam , Nissen Janna , Sequeros Celia Burgos , Tommerup Niels , Ullum Henrik , Spiliopoulos Lampros , Bager Peter , Hviid Anders , Sorensen Erik , Pedersen Ole Birger , Lane Jacqueline M , Lassauniere Ria , Ollila Hanna M , Ostrowski Sisse Rye , Feenstra Bjarke
Published: November 2024

The host genetics of SARS-CoV-2 has previously been studied based on cases from the earlier waves of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, identifying 51 genomic loci associated with infection and/or severity. SARS-CoV-2 has shown rapid sequence evolution increasing transmissibility, particularly for Omicron variants, which raises the question whether this affected the host genetic factors. We performed a genome-wide association study of SARS-CoV-2 infection with Omicron variants including more than 150,000 cases from four cohorts. We identified 13 genome-wide significant loci, of which only five were previously described as associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The strongest signal was a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) intronic of ST6GAL1, a gene affecting immune development and function, and connected to three other associated loci (harboring MUC1, MUC5AC and MUC16) through O-glycan biosynthesis. We also found further evidence for an involvement of blood group systems in SARS-CoV-2 infection, as we observed association 1) for a different lead SNP in the ABO locus indicating a protective effect of blood group B against Omicron infection, 2) for the FUT2 SNP tagging secretor status also reported for SARS-CoV-2 infection with earlier variants, and 3) for the strongest expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) for FUT3 (Lewis gene). Our study provides robust evidence for individual genetic variation related to glycosylation translating into susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infections with Omicron variants.
Mechanistic basis for protein conjugation in a diverged bacterial ubiquitination pathway
Authors: Ye Qiaozhen , Gong Minheng , Chambers Lydia R. , Corbett Kevin D.
Published: November 2024

Ubiquitination is a fundamental and highly conserved protein post-translational modification pathway, in which ubiquitin or a ubiquitin-like protein (Ubl) is typically conjugated to a lysine side chain of a target protein. Ubiquitination is a multistep process initiated by adenylation of the Ubl C-terminus, followed by sequential formation of 2-3 Ubl∼cysteine thioester intermediates with E1, E2, and E3 proteins before formation of the final Ubl-lysine isopeptide bond1. Ubiquitination is conserved across eukaryotes, and recent work has also revealed at least two related bacterial pathways that perform protein conjugation in the context of antiphage immunity2–5. Bioinformatics analysis has hinted at the existence of additional, as-yet uncharacterized, pathways in bacteria that could perform protein conjugation using ubiquitination-like machinery6–8. Here we describe the architecture and biochemical mechanisms of Bub (bacterialubiquitination-like) pathways, revealing strong structural parallels along with striking mechanistic differences when compared to eukaryotic ubiquitination pathways. We show that Bub operons encode functional E1, E2, and Ubl proteins that are related to their eukaryotic counterparts but function entirely through oxyester, rather than thioester, intermediates. We also identify a novel family of serine proteases in Bub operons with a conserved serine-histidine catalytic dyad. The genomic context of Bub operons suggests that, like other bacterial ubiquitination-related pathways, they also function in antiphage immunity. Overall, our results reveal a new family of bacterial ubiquitination-related pathways with unprecedented biochemical mechanisms in both protein conjugation and deconjugation.
Structural diversity and oligomerization of bacterial ubiquitin-like proteins
Authors: Gong Minheng , Ye Qiaozhen , Gu Yajie , Chambers Lydia R. , Bobkov Andrey A. , Arakawa Neal K. , Matyszewski Mariusz , Corbett Kevin D.
Published: November 2024

Bacteria possess a variety of operons with homology to eukaryotic ubiquitination pathways that encode predicted E1, E2, E3, deubiquitinase, and ubiquitin-like proteins. Some of these pathways have recently been shown to function in anti-bacteriophage immunity, but the biological functions of others remain unknown. Here, we show that ubiquitin-like proteins in two bacterial operon families show surprising architectural diversity, possessing one to three β-grasp domains preceded by diverse N-terminal domains. We find that a large group of bacterial ubiquitin-like proteins possess three β-grasp domains and form homodimers and helical filaments mediated by conserved Ca2+ion binding sites. Our findings highlight a distinctive mode of self-assembly for ubiquitin-like proteins, and suggest that Ca2+-mediated ubiquitin-like protein filament assembly and/or disassembly enables cells to sense and respond to stress conditions that alter intracellular metal ion concentration.
Description of two novelCorynebacteriumspecies isolated from human nasal passages and skin
Authors: Popowitch Elena B. , Tran Tommy H. , Escapa Isabel Fernandez , Bhatt Eeshta , Sozat Alp K. , Ahmed Nashwa , Deming Clayton , Roberts Ari Q. ,   NISC Comparative Sequencing Program, Segre Julia A. , Kong Heidi H. , Conlan Sean , Lemon Katherine P. , Kelly Matthew S.
Published: November 2024

Strains of two novelCorynebacteriumspecies were cultured from samples of human nostrils and skin collected in the United States and Botswana. These strains demonstrated growth on Columbia Colistin-Nalidixic Acid agar with 5% sheep blood and in liquid media (brain heart infusion and tryptic soy broth) supplemented with Tween 80, a source of the fatty acid oleic acid. Cells were Gram-positive, non-spore-forming, non-motile bacilli that showed catalase but not oxidase activity. Major fatty acids in both of these species were 18:1 ω9c (oleic acid), 16:0 (palmitic acid), and 18:0 (stearic acid). Analysis of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences identified these strains as belonging to the genusCorynebacterium(family Corynebacteriaceae). Whole-genome sequencing revealed that these strains formed distinct branches on a phylogenomic tree, withC. tuberculostearicumbeing the closest relative but with average nucleotide identities of < 95% relative to all previously described species. These results indicate that these strains represent novel species ofCorynebacterium, for which we propose the namesCorynebacterium halluxsp. nov., with the type strain CTNIH22T(=ATCC TSD-435T=DSM 117774T), andCorynebacterium nasorumsp. nov., with the type strain KPL3804T(=ATCC TSD-439T=DSM 117767T). We also describe the characteristics of two strains isolated from human nasal passages that are members of the recently named speciesCorynebacterium yonathiae.

Repositories

The sequencing files supporting the conclusions of this study are available in the Sequence Read Archive (PRJNA804245, PRJNA854648, PRJNA842433). The partial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences from PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing are available in GenBank forCorynebacterium halluxsp. nov. CTNIH22T(accession number:PQ252679) andCorynebacterium nasorumsp. nov. KPL3804T(accession number:PQ149068) . The annotated genomic sequences for the strains characterized in this study have been deposited in GenBank with the following accession numbers:C. halluxsp. nov. CTNIH22T(GCF_032821755.1),C. nasorumsp. nov. KPL3804T(GCF_037908315.1),C. nasorumsp. nov. MSK185 (GCF_030229765.1),C. yonathiaeKPL2619 (GCF_037908465.1), andC. yonathiaeMSK136 (GCF_022288805.2).
Stimulation of the Frontal Aslant Tract’s origin in the caudal superior frontal gyrus alters ongoing spontaneous rhythmic activity independently from the effector. Evidence from tractography-guided Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Authors: Tagliaferri Marco , Glaubig Lea , DiChiaro Valentina , Cattaneo Luigi
Published: November 2024

the crown of the human Superior Frontal Gyrus (SFG-crown) is a functionally independent region, nestled between the dorsal premotor and supplementary motor cortices, that supports internally-timed action control. The unique SFG-crown’s connectivity fingerprint by the Frontal Aslant Tract (FAT), suggests a caudal-rostral pattern of increasing abstractness of action representations. Coherently, since the mid-portion of the caudal SFG contains a representation of action strategies that involve internal timing, we hypothesized that the caudal portion of the SFG may be involved in action execution of internally-timed actions. To test this, we asked 21 healthy participants to perform a self-paced tapping movement with the right index finger or a self-paced articulation of the syllable /da/ while applying online single-pulse TMS to the posterior, middle and anterior origins of the FAT in the left SFG-crown. Results showed that effective TMS (compared to sham) impacted rhythm production in both tasks, only when applied to the posterior SFG region, by reducing the probability of motor events in the 200 ms following TMS. The present data support the hypothesis, that the posterior SFG-crown, associated with the most posterior origin of the FAT fibers, is involved in the production of internally-timed actions, in an effector-independent modality, suggesting a domain-general role in the execution of internally-timed movements.
Opposite-sex pairing alters social interaction-induced GCaMP and dopamine activity in the insular cortex of male prairie voles
Authors: Vitale Erika M. , Tbaba Amina H. , Tam Kaitlyn , Gossman Kyle R. , Smith Adam S.
Published: November 2024

The prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) is a monogamous rodent species which displays selective social behaviors to conspecifics after establishing a pair bonded relationship, specifically partner-directed affiliation and stranger-directed aggression. This social selectivity relies on the ability of an individual to respond appropriately to a social context and requires salience detection and valence assignment. The anterior insular cortex (aIC) has been implicated in stimulus processing and categorization across a variety of contexts and is well-situated to integrate environmental stimuli and internal affective states to modulate complex goal-directed behaviors and social decision-making. Surprisingly, the contribution of the aIC to the expression of pair bond-induced social selectivity in prairie voles has been drastically understudied. Here we examined whether neural activity and gene expression in the aIC change in response to opposite-sex pairing and/or as a function of pairing length in male prairie voles. Opposite-sex pairing was characterized by changes to calcium and dopamine (DA) transients in the aIC that corresponded with the display of social selectivity across pair bond maturation. Furthermore, D1 and D2 receptor mRNA expression was significantly higher in males after 48 hrs of cohabitation with a female partner compared to same-sex housed males, and D2 mRNA remained significantly higher in males with a female partner compared to same-sex housed males after a week of cohabitation. Together, these results implicate a role for DA and its receptors in the aIC across the transition from early-to late-phase pair bonding.
PFAS Compounds PFOA and Gen X are Teratogenic to Sea Urchin Embryos
Authors: Lion Alexandra T. , Bodine Sophie M. , McCutcheon Kelley R. , Ghogale Mayank , Chandragiri Santhan , Abayawardena Deema , Shrestha Bikram D. , Descoteaux Abigail , Alvarez Kathryn , Balkman J’nesse A. , Cocke Breelyn , Wikramanayake Athula H. , Schlezinger Jennifer , Wong Joyce Y. , Prakash Vivek N. , Bradham Cynthia A.
Published: November 2024

Per-and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals that are used to make fluoropolymer coatings found in many products, such as non-stick pans, clothing, cosmetics, and food packaging. These highly persistent molecules are known as “forever chemicals” since they neither degrade environmentally nor break down enzymatically within biological systems. PFAS compounds readily contaminate water sources, and as a result, certain PFAS molecules have bioaccumulated in exposed species including humans. The purpose of this study was to define the effect of two PFAS molecules, the ostensibly more toxic perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and the more recent, reportedly safer chemical hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (Gen X), on the development ofLytechinus variegatussea urchin embryos. We examined the effects of PFOA and Gen X on development and patterning using morphological analysis, immunostaining, HCR-FISH, and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). The results show that both PFAS compounds are teratogenic to sea urchin embryos. PFOA and Gen X each function at different intervals during development and provoke distinct phenotypic and gene expression outcomes. Despite beliefs that Gen X would be a safer alternative, our findings indicate that Gen X has earlier and more severe effects on endomesoderm and dorsal-ventral axis specification, neural development and function, and pattern formation compared to PFOA. These results illustrate the dangerous teratogenic potential of environmentally accumulating PFAS like Gen X, underscoring the negative ecological implications that accompany continuing commercial and industrial use of PFAS in the absence of remediation strategies.

HIGHLIGHTS

Gen X is more teratogenic in sea urchins than PFOA

Gen X acts earlier than PFOA and perturbs axial and germ layer specification

Each PFAS reduces neural numbers and perturbs ciliary behavior and swimming
In-medium mass shift of two-flavored heavy mesons,
Bc
,
Bc*
,
Bs
,
Bs*
,
Ds
, and
Ds*
Authors: Zeminiani G. N. , Beres S. L. P. G. , Tsushima K.
Published: November 2024

For the first time, we estimate the in-medium mass shift of the two-flavored heavy mesons Bc,Bc*,Bs,Bs*,Ds, and Ds* in symmetric nuclear matter. The estimates are made by evaluating the lowest order one-loop self-energies. The enhanced excitations of intermediate state heavy-light mesons in symmetric nuclear matter are the origin of their negative mass shift. This negative mass shift may be regarded as a signature of partial restoration of chiral symmetry in an empirical sense because the origin of the negative mass shift in the study is not directly related to the chiral symmetry mechanism. Our results show that the magnitude of the mass shift for the Bc meson (b¯c or bc¯) is larger than those of the ηc(c¯c) and ηb(b¯b), different from a naive expectation that it would be in between them. While, that of the Bc* shows the in between of the J/ψ and ϒ. We observe that the lighter vector meson excitation in each meson self-energy gives a dominant contribution for the corresponding meson mass shift, Bc, Bs, and Ds.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Associated charged Higgs boson production within the 2HDM:
e−e+
versus
μ−μ+
colliders
Authors: Ouazghour Brahim Ait , Arhrib Abdesslam , Cheung Kingman , Ghourmin Es-said , Rahili Larbi
Published: November 2024

Our goal is to investigate the charged Higgs phenomenology in the framework of 2HDM at the upcoming e+e− and muon colliders. We are primarily concerned with the associated production processes with a fermion pair: ℓ+ℓ−→τ+ντH− and ℓ+ℓ−→tb¯H−, as well as with the W boson and a neutral Higgs boson: ℓ+ℓ−→W±H∓S (S=h,

H

, A) and ℓ+ℓ−→W±H∓Z. We first update the results for e+e−→{τ+ντH−,tb¯H−} and then discuss our findings for e+e−→{W±H∓S} for various center-of-mass energies 500 GeV, 1 TeV, 1.5 TeV, and 3 TeV. In the case of muon collider, we show that the new s-channel and t-channel diagrams can increase the cross sections by virtue of their Yukawa couplings. We systematically compare our results for the muon collider with those obtained at the International Linear and Compact Linear colliders. We select benchmark points and conduct signal-background analyses, incorporating detector simulations. For a 3 TeV muon collider, our results show an exclusion region at the 2σ level and a discovery region at the 5σ level.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Search for Dark Matter Axions with Tunable
TM020
Mode
Authors: Bae Sungjae , Jeong Junu , Kim Younggeun , Youn SungWoo , Park Heejun , Seong Taehyeon , Oh Seongjeong , Semertzidis Yannis K.
Published: November 2024

Axions are hypothesized particles believed to potentially resolve two major puzzles in modern physics: the strong CP problem and the nature of dark matter. Cavity-based axion haloscopes represent the most sensitive tools for probing their theoretically favored couplings to photons in the microelectronvolt range. However, as the search mass (or frequency) increases, the detection efficiency decreases, largely due to a decrease in cavity volume. Despite the potential of higher-order resonant modes to preserve experimental volume, their practical application in searches has been limited by the challenge of maintaining a high form factor over a reasonably wide search bandwidth. We introduce an innovative tuning method that uses the unique properties of auxetic materials, designed to effectively tune higher modes. This approach was applied to the TM020 mode for a dark matter axion search exploring a mass range from 21.38 to 21.79  μeV, resulting in the establishment of new exclusion limits for axion-photon coupling greater than approximately 10−13  GeV−1. These findings should allow use of higher-order modes for cavity haloscope searches.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
ω
Meson from Lattice QCD
Authors: Yan Haobo , Mai Maxim , Garofalo Marco , Meißner Ulf-G. , Liu Chuan , Liu Liuming , Urbach Carsten
Published: November 2024

Many excited states in the hadron spectrum have large branching ratios to three-hadron final states. Understanding such particles from first principles QCD requires input from lattice QCD with one-, two-, and three-meson interpolators as well as a reliable three-body formalism relating finite-volume spectra at unphysical pion mass values to the scattering amplitudes at the physical point. In this work, we provide the first-ever calculation of the resonance parameters of the ω meson from lattice QCD, including an update of the formalism through matching to effective field theories. The main result of this pioneering study, the pole position of the ω meson at sω=(778.0(11.2)−i3.0(5))  MeV, agrees reasonably well with experiment. In addition we provide an estimate of the ω−ρ mass difference as 29(15) MeV.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Designing phase sensitive probes of monopole superconducting order
Authors: Frazier Grayson R. , Zhang Junjia , Zhang Junyi , Sun Xinyu , Li Yi
Published: November 2024

Distinct from familiar s-, p-, or d-wave pairings, the monopole superconducting order represents a novel class of pairing order arising from nontrivial monopole charge of the Cooper pair. In the weak-coupling regime, this order can emerge when pairing occurs between Fermi surfaces with different Chern numbers in, for example, doped Weyl semimetal systems. However, the phase of monopole pairing order is not well-defined over an entire Fermi surface, making it challenging to design experiments sensitive to both its symmetry and topology. To address this, we propose a scheme based on symmetry and topological principles to identify this elusive pairing order through a set of phase-sensitive Josephson experiments. By examining the discrepancy between global and local angular momentum of the pairing order, we can unveil the monopole charge of the pairing order, including for models with higher pair monopole charge |qp|=1,2, and 3. We demonstrate the proposed probe of monopole pairing order through analytic and numerical studies of Josephson coupling in models of monopole superconductor junctions. This work opens a promising avenue to uncover the unique topological properties of monopole pairing orders and to distinguish them from known pairing orders based on spherical harmonic symmetry.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
The value of corporate digital transformation: evidence from bond pricing
Authors: Jiang Kangqi , Xie Xin , Xiao Yu , Ashraf Badar Nadeem
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to examine the effect of corporate digital transformation on bond credit spreads. Additionally, it also explores the two potential channels, information asymmetry and default risk, through which digital transformation can influence bond credit spreads.

Design/methodology/approach

We use the bond issuance data of Chinese listed companies over the period 2008–2020. Corporate digital transformation of these companies is measured with textual analysis of the management discussion and analysis part of annual reports. We employ a panel regression model to estimate the effect of digital transformation on bond credit spreads.

Findings

We find robust evidence that companies with higher digital transformation experience lower bond credit spreads. We further observe that credit spread reduction is higher for firms that are smaller, non-state-owned, have lower credit ratings and have less analyst coverage. We also find evidence that digital transformation reduces credit spreads by reducing the information asymmetry between firms and investors with enhanced information transformation mechanisms and lowering corporate default risk by strengthening operating efficiency.

Originality/value

To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first attempt to understand the impact of corporate digital transformation on bond credit spreads. Our findings help to understand the effect of digital transformation on firms’ credit worthiness and access to capital.
Performance analysis and benchmarking of general and health insurance companies of India: a three stage DEA study
Authors: Malya Sapna , George Sajeev Abraham
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This paper analyses and benchmarks the performance of the general and health Insurance companies in India, considering their production, capital allocation and investment efficiencies as three distinct stages.

Design/methodology/approach

A three stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology has been used with three years of data of the health and general insurance companies.

Findings

In addition to production and investment efficiencies, the capital allocation efficiency of an insurance firm significantly impacts its financial performance. The study shows that notwithstanding the efficiency scores in production and investment, general insurance firms with superior capital allocation efficiencies are the ones that have been able to translate their efficiencies into better business performance.

Practical implications

The study provides deeper understanding of the importance of capital allocation decisions and its linkages to production and investment efficiencies to help insurance firms to make better operational and financial decisions. The standalone health insurance players in spite of their reasonably high capital allocation efficiency scores have not been able to translate their efficiencies into superior financial performance.

Originality/value

While the existing literature at best has only considered production and investment decisions as the two stages, the present study has added another stage relating to the allocation of financial resources of the insurance firms. The paper is also distinct in terms of its analysis of linkages between efficiency scores of the three different stages with key financial performance measures.
Understanding student sentiments towards an automated awarding DApp: a mixed method approach
Authors: Ibrahim Yasser M. , Hassan Rasha
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Blockchain (BC) has recently gained attention from educational organizations as a reliable and trustworthy technology for storing crucial data. This study aims to explore the factors that influence the students’ intention to use BC to host an automated reward system that is based on objective criteria of students’ performance and activities. Predefined smart contracts would guarantee unbiased judgements and fair rewards.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed method approach is used. Based on an iterative rounds of Delphi approach along with a comprehensive literature review, this research proposed an extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model. The model hypotheses relate performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE), facilitating conditions (FC), perceived innovativeness (PI), trust (TR), perceived security and privacy (S&P), complexity (CX) and enjoyment (EN) to students behavioural intention to use the reward system. The study tests the hypotheses using survey data from 138 students who are familiar with BC technology and its applications. The data analysis is performed using partial least squares-structural equation modelling method.

Findings

The analysis revealed that PE, EE, PI, TR and EN positively affect students’ intention to use the BC rewarding system, while CX negatively impacts it. Conversely, FC and, interestingly, S&P, which showed a significant influence on trust, were found to be insignificant in influencing students’ intention to use the system.

Originality/value

This study significantly contributes to the educational technology field by addressing research gaps regarding the adoption and acceptance of BC technology in academia. Firstly, it proposes a basic form of a student reward system. Secondly, it introduces an empirically validated model of students’ adoption, pinpointing factors influencing their readiness to embrace a BC reward system and providing practical implementation insights.
Olive oil export competitiveness in leading producing nations: an econometric approach
Authors: Mavrommati Athanasia , Pliakoura Alexandra , Kontogeorgos Achilleas
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study aims to identify factors influencing the comparative advantages of leading olive oil exporting countries. It focuses on production, consumption, agricultural capital stock, GDP per capita and export prices.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyzes data from 10 leading olive oil producing countries around the world. The study period covers the last decade from 2013 to 2022. Panel data analysis was used to assess these variables’ impact on the revealed comparative advantage (RCA) index.

Findings

The results show that higher agricultural capital stock and GDP significantly improve export performance. Domestic consumption and pricing strategies also affect market competitiveness. The study offers insights for optimizing production and enhancing global competitiveness for policymakers and industry stakeholders.

Research limitations/implications

The main objective of this study was to determine the factors affecting the RCA index in olive oil exports. However, due to limited data for the study period, additional factors that may affect competition, such as regional policies, production costs and agricultural subsidies, were not included.

Originality/value

Although there are many studies related to the competitiveness of olive oil exports, this work adds originality to the research by studying the dominant olive oil-producing countries as a whole for a multi-crisis decade due to significant economic, environmental and political changes that have changed the parameters of the international trade. This temporal scope enhances the relevance and applicability of the findings.
Tourism and contribution to employment: global evidence
Authors: Nguyen Phuc Canh , Schinckus Christophe , Chong Felicia Hui Ling , Nguyen Binh Quang , Tran Duyen Le Thuy
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study examines how tourism contributes to employment.

Design/methodology/approach

Using various econometric techniques for panel data, the study estimates the contribution of tourism to employment in a sample of 148 economies from 2002 to 2017. The analysis is also carried out for three sub-samples according to income levels.

Findings

This study has three significant contributions: Firstly, it shows that investment and consumption in the tourism sector have positive benefits for employment. Furthermore, the improvement of institutional quality boosts these positive gains. Secondly, there is a U-inverted relationship between the income level and total contributions of tourism to employment. The development of the tourism industry would therefore follow the pattern suggested by the Kuznets curve hypothesis. Thirdly, the positive effects of tourism investment and consumption in tourism are evidenced in all three sub-samples. In contrast, the effects of institutions seem to be weaker in higher-income economies (implying that there is a larger space for low-income economies to use institutional reform to boost the development and contribution of tourism in their economies). Finally, institutional quality appears to enhance the contribution of tourism to employment.

Originality/value

The study highlights the importance of the tourism industry in enhancing employment.
Examining roles of peripheral service evidence in customer experiences: from the perspective of embodied interaction
Authors: Lee Jung-Joo , Lee Kate Sangwon
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study aims to apply the theoretical lens of embodied interaction to examine roles of peripheral service evidence (PSE) in customer experiences. While previous research explained the role of PSE as tangible proof from the firm’s perspective, this study investigates how customers interact with PSE and shape their experiences from customer’s perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The research employed a qualitative methodology, conducting in-depth interviews with 40 participants. These interviews were designed to elicit narratives about customers’ experiences with eight archetypes of PSE across various service contexts. The study utilized thematic analysis to uncover the underlying roles of PSE in enhancing customer experiences.

Findings

The analysis identified five key themes demonstrating the impact of PSE on customer experience: facilitating embodied interactions on-site, resourcing customer-created servicescapes, fostering autonomy, embodying priority and urgency and evoking reflective experiences. These findings reveal that PSE serves as a crucial resource that enables customers to actively shape their service journeys, extending beyond its traditional role as mere tangible proof of service transactions.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by reconceptualizing PSE from a customer-centric perspective, highlighting its role in empowering customers to actively shape their service journeys and activities for value cocreation. By applying the concept of embodied interaction, the study provides new insights into how PSE artifacts, in their mundane forms, significantly influence customer experiences. This study opens new vistas in service research by examining customer interactions from the perspective of embodied interaction. The findings offer practical implications for service providers and designers on how to utilize PSE to enhance customer experiences.
Shareholders’ wealth dynamics: study of M&A announcements and target and acquirer financial performance in the Indian corporate landscape
Authors: Prasad Akhilesh , Bakhshi Priti
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The article investigates the wealth generation from takeover bids through an event study, analyzing the impact of announcements on stock returns of target and bidder firms across the industries and related and unrelated industry acquisitions. It aims to provide insights into financial implications for shareholders and market participants, contributing to understanding merger dynamics and informing investment decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology involves data collection of announcement dates, defining event and estimation windows. Market models and four-factor models are applied to compute abnormal returns. Linear regression estimates return, which is aggregated and tested for significance, providing insights into the wealth effects of takeover announcements.

Findings

Analysis reveals positive returns for both firms' shareholders on the announcement day, particularly significant for target firms. Pre-announcement, positive abnormal returns suggest potential information leakage, but reverse post announcement. Comparative model analysis emphasizes the role of systematic risk. Notably, a prolonged bidding process benefits the target firm. Trading in target company stocks under unrelated industry acquisitions appears to be more beneficial during the bidding.

Originality/value

This article introduces a novel approach by utilizing a four-factor model for computing abnormal returns, unlike previous research relying solely on the market model. It also focuses separately on related and unrelated industry acquisitions. This methodology captures comprehensive systematic risk, resulting in more conservative and robust abnormal returns. This methodological advancement addresses existing gaps in the literature and provides actionable insights for stakeholders in mergers and acquisitions.