bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Higher Fasting Pretransplant C-peptide Levels in Type 2 Diabetics Undergoing Simultaneous Pancreas-kidney Transplantation Are Associated With Posttransplant Pancreatic Graft Dysfunction
Authors: Parajuli Sandesh , Mandelbrot Didier , Aufhauser David , Kaufman Dixon , Odorico Jon
Published: January 2023

Background.

Among selected patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), simultaneous pancreas and kidney (SPK) transplants can be an effective option. However, data are limited about outcomes in T2DM SPK recipients based on the pretransplant C-peptide levels.

Methods.

In this study, we reviewed all T2DM SPK recipients and categorized them based on the pretransplant fasting C-peptide levels into 3 groups: low (≤2 ng/mL), medium (>2–8 ng/mL), and high (>8 ng/mL). Several measures of graft failures (GFs), graft dysfunction, and composite outcomes were of interest.

Results.

There were a total of 76 SPK recipients (low, n = 14; medium, n = 47; high, n = 15). At the last follow-up, the low group did not reach any outcome; in contrast, 11 (23%) in the medium group and 5 (33%) in the high group reached the uncensored composite outcome; 6 (13%) in the medium group and 2 (13%) in the high group had GF; and 8 (17%) in the medium group and 4 (26.7%) in the high group reached the death-censored composite outcomes. In a fully adjusted model, each pretransplant C-peptide unit was not associated with an increased risk of the composite outcome, GF, or death-censored composite outcomes. However, in multivariate analysis with limited adjustment, pretransplant C-peptide was associated with the composite outcome (hazard ratio: 1.18, 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.38; P = 0.03) and death-censored composite outcome (hazard ratio: 1.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.42; P = 0.03).

Conclusions.

Although limited by the small sample size, we found excellent outcomes among T2DM SPK recipients overall. However, higher levels of pretransplant C-peptide may be associated with inferior posttransplant outcomes that include graft dysfunction.
Application of Sepsis Flow Chip (SFC) assay for the Molecular Diagnosis of Pediatric Sepsis
Authors: Prasetyo Dimas Seto , Karyanti Mulya Rahma , Yuniar Irene , Saharman Yulia Rosa , Holiwono Livya
Published: January 2023

Delay in detecting sepsis pathogens still become problematic issue for determining the definitive antibiotics therapy for the causative pathogens. The gold standard method for sepsis is blood culture but it requires 3 days to detect definitive pathogen. Molecular methods offer rapid identification of pathogens. We evaluated the use of sepsis flow chip (SFC) assay for identifying pathogens from children with sepsis. The blood samples from children with sepsis were collected and incubated in the culture machine. The positive samples were subjected to amplification-hybridization using sepsis flow chip assay and culture. A total of 94 samples from 47 patients were recovered, with 25 isolates were recovered, including K. pneumoniae (11), and S. epidermidis (6). From 25 positive blood culture bottles subjected to sepsis flow chip assay, there were 24 genus/species and 18 resistance genes detected. The sensitivity, specificity, and conformity was 80%, 94.2%, and 94.68% respectively. Sepsis flow chip assay offer promising assay to identify pathogens from positive blood culture in pediatric patient with sepsis and may support the antimicrobial stewardship program in hospital.
Hantavirus infection in central Sri Lanka: An unusual clinical presentation: a case report
Authors: Pattiyakumbura T T , Pathirathne S H , Muthugala M. A R. V
Published: January 2023

Hantavirus infections are emerging zoonoses. In Asia, the hantavirus commonly manifests as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), apparent with fever, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury. There are a few cases with the atypical clinical course with cardiopulmonary symptoms in Asia including Sri Lanka. Here, we report a case of hantavirus infection with an atypical cardiopulmonary syndrome-like illness with serological evidence of the Puumala/ Puumala-like virus.
Frankia colletiae sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing actinobacterium isolated from Colletia cruciata
Authors: Nouioui Imen , Ghodhbane-Gtari Faten , Jando Marlen , Klenk Hans-Peter , Gtari Maher
Published: January 2023

A nitrogen-fixing actinobacterium strain (Cc1.17T) isolated from a root nodule of Colletia cruciata was subjected to polyphasic taxonomic studies. The strain was characterized by the presence of meso-diaminopimelic acid in its peptidoglycan, galactose, glucose, mannose, rhamnose, ribose and xylose as cell-wall sugars, phosphatidylinositol, diphosphatidylglycerol, glycophospholipids, phosphatidylglycerol, glycophospholipid and uncharacterized lipids as its polar lipids, and C16 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, C17 : 1 ω9 and C18 : 1
ω9 as major fatty acids (>10 %). Strain Cc1.17T showed 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 97.4–99.8 % to validly named

Frankia

species. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene and genome sequences placed strain Cc1.17T in a new lineage within the genus

Frankia

. Digital DNA–DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values between strain Cc1.17T and its closest phylogenomic neighbours were well below the thresholds recommended for prokaryotic species delineation. Therefore, strain Cc1.17T (=DSM 43829T=CECT 9313T) merits recognition as the type strain of a new species for which the name Frankia colletiae sp. nov. is proposed.
Akkermansia biwaensis sp. nov., an anaerobic mucin-degrading bacterium isolated from human faeces
Authors: Kobayashi Yodai , Kawahara Tomohiro , Inoue Shoichiro , Kohda Noriyuki
Published: January 2023

A bacterial strain, WON2089T, was isolated from the faeces of healthy Japanese adults and is able to use mucin as the sole carbon and nitrogen source. Sequencing of its 16S rRNA gene showed that WON2089T has 98.0 and 94.4% similarity to

Akkermansia muciniphila

MucT and

Akkermansia glycaniphila

PytT, respectively, while phylogenetic tree analysis confirmed that it belongs to the genus

Akkermansia

. The whole genome of WON2089T was sequenced, which showed that it shares 84.5 % average nucleotide identity (ANI) and 24.9 % digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) with its closest relative,

A. muciniphila

MucT. Cells of WON2089T are non-motile, anaerobic and oval-shaped (0.4–0.5×0.5–1.0 µm). The strain is Gram-stain-negative and grows in the temperature range of 25–45 °C (optimum, 30–37 °C) and pH range of pH 5.5–9.5 (optimum, pH 6.5–8.0). WON2089T can utilize d-glucose, d-mannitol, lactose and d-mannose, as assessed by API20A strips. The major cellular fatty acids are C15 : 0 anteiso, C15 : 0 3OH and C18 : 1 ω9c (55.5, 7.5 and 5.8 % of total fatty acids, respectively). Based on 16S rRNA sequencing, ANI, dDDH and acid formation from d-mannitol, WON2089T is distinct from previously reported species of the genus

Akkermansia

. Based on phenotypic, phylogenetic and genetic characteristics, WON2089T represents a novel species of the genus

Akkermansia

and the name Akkermansia biwaensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WON2089T (= NBRC 115679T= DSM 114407T).
Melaminivora suipulveris sp. nov., isolated from pigpen dust
Authors: Won Miyoung , Heo Jun , Lee Daseul , Han Byeong-Hak , Hong Seung-Beom , Kwon Soon-Wo
Published: January 2023

A bacterial strain designated SC2-9T was isolated from the dust collector of a pigpen located in Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Republic of Korea. Cells were strictly aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, flagellated and rod-shaped. The strain was catalase- and oxidase-positive, and grew optimally 28–30 °C, pH 8.0 and 0 % NaCl (w/v). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed 99.1 and 98.3 % similarities to

Melaminivora jejuensis

KBB12T and

Melaminivora alkalimesophila

CY1T, and revealing less than 97 % similarity to other validly named species. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain SC2-9T was 68.2 %. The orthologous average nucleotide identity and dDDH values of strain SC2-9T with the closest species

Melaminivora jejuensis

KCTC 32230T were 85.6 and 29.3 %, respectively. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, three unidentified aminolipids and one unidentified lipid. The major fatty acids (>10 %) were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1
 ω6c and/or C16 : 1
 ω7c), C16 : 0 and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1
 ω6c and/ or C18 : 1
 ω7c). The predominant isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-8. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain SC2-9T should be assigned as a novel species of the genus

Melaminivora

, for which the name Melaminivora suipulveris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SC2-9T (=KACC 19310T=NBRC 113103T).
Transcriptional organization and regulation of the Pseudomonas putida K1 type VI secretion system gene cluster
Authors: Bernal Patricia , Civantos Cristina , Pacheco-Sánchez Daniel , Quesada José M. , Filloux Alain , Llamas María A.
Published: January 2023

The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is an antimicrobial molecular weapon that is widespread in Proteobacteria and offers competitive advantages to T6SS-positive micro-organisms. Three T6SSs have recently been described in

Pseudomonas putida

KT2440 and it has been shown that one, K1-T6SS, is used to outcompete a wide range of phytopathogens, protecting plants from pathogen infections. Given the relevance of this system as a powerful and innovative mechanism of biological control, it is critical to understand the processes that govern its expression. Here, we experimentally defined two transcriptional units in the K1-T6SS cluster. One encodes the structural components of the system and is transcribed from two adjacent promoters. The other encodes two hypothetical proteins, the tip of the system and the associated adapters, and effectors and cognate immunity proteins, and it is also transcribed from two adjacent promoters. The four identified promoters contain the typical features of σ
70
-dependent promoters. We have studied the expression of the system under different conditions and in a number of mutants lacking global regulators.

P. putida

K1-T6SS expression is induced in the stationary phase, but its transcription does not depend on the stationary σ factor RpoS. In fact, the expression of the system is indirectly repressed by RpoS. Furthermore, it is also repressed by RpoN and the transcriptional regulator FleQ, an enhancer-binding protein typically acting in conjunction with RpoN. Importantly, expression of the K1-T6SS gene cluster is positively regulated by the GacS–GacA two-component regulatory system (TCS) and repressed by the RetS sensor kinase, which inhibits this TCS. Our findings identified a complex regulatory network that governs T6SS expression in general and

P. putida

K1-T6SS in particular, with implications for controlling and manipulating a bacterial agent that is highly relevant in biological control.
ABERRANT IMMUNE PROGRAMMING IN NEUTROPHILS IN CYSTIC FIBROSIS
Authors: Hu Yawen , Bojanowski Christine M. , Britto Clemente J. , Wellems Dianne , Song Kejing , Scull Callie , Jennings Scott , Li Jianxiong , Kolls Jay K. , Wang Guoshun
Published: January 2023

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-shortening genetic disorder, caused by mutations in the gene that encodes Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane-conductance Regulator (CFTR), a cAMP-activated chloride and bicarbonate channel. Although multiple organ systems can be affected, CF lung disease claims the most morbidity and mortality due to chronic bacterial infection, persistent neutrophilic inflammation, and mucopurulent airway obstruction. Despite the clear predominance of neutrophils in these pathologies, how CFTR loss-of-function affects these cellsper seremains incompletely understood. Here, we report the profiling and comparing of transcriptional signatures of peripheral blood neutrophils from CF participants and healthy human controls (HC) at the single-cell level. Circulating CF neutrophils had an aberrant basal state with significantly higher scores for activation, chemotaxis, immune signaling, and pattern recognition, suggesting that CF neutrophils in blood are prematurely primed. Such an abnormal basal state was also observed in neutrophils derived from an F508del-CF HL-60 cell line, indicating an innate characteristic of the phenotype. LPS stimulation drastically shifted the transcriptional landscape of HC circulating neutrophils towards a robust immune response, however, CF neutrophils were immune-exhausted. Moreover, CF blood neutrophils differed significantly from CF sputum neutrophils in gene programming with respect to neutrophil activation and aging, as well as inflammatory signaling, highlighting additional environmental influences on the neutrophils in CF lungs. Taken together, loss of CFTR function has intrinsic effects on neutrophil immune programming that leads to premature priming and dysregulated response to challenge.
Shielding under endemic SARS-CoV-2 conditions is easier said than done: a model-based analysis
Authors: Stoddard Madison , Yuan Lin , Sarkar Sharanya , Mazewski Matthew , van Egeren Debra , Mangalaganesh Shruthi , Nolan Ryan P. , Rogers Michael S. , Hather Greg , White Laura F. , Chakravarty Arijit
Published: January 2023

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues unabated, many governments and public-health bodies worldwide have ceased to implement concerted measures for limiting viral spread, placing the onus instead on the individual. In this paper, we examine the feasibility of this proposition using an agent-based model to simulate the impact of individual shielding behaviors on reinfection frequency. We derive estimates of heterogeneity in immune protection from a population pharmacokinetic (pop PK) model of antibody kinetics following infection and variation in contact rate based on published estimates. Our results suggest that individuals seeking to opt out of adverse outcomes upon SARS-CoV-2 infection will find it challenging to do so, as large reductions in contact rate are required to reduce the risk of infection. Our findings suggest the importance of a multilayered strategy for those seeking to reduce the risk of infection. This work also suggests the importance of public health interventions such as universal masking in essential venues and air quality standards to ensure individual freedom of choice regarding COVID-19.
A Probabilistic Approach to Physician-Assisted Suicide
Authors: Nov Oded
Published: January 2023

Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS) is considered by some patients who learn they are at risk for a cognitive decline owing to Alzheimer’s Disease. At the same time, the prospect of PAS may raise patients’ fear of imminent death. Can PAS be offered in a way that is preference-sensitive on one hand, and mitigates patients’ fear of imminent death on the other? A thought experiment of aProbabilistic Approach to PAS(Probabilistic PAS) is proposed here as a possible solution in jurisdictions where PAS is legal.

Consider the following scenario: A patient diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease who is considering PAS might request that when he or she can no longer recognize their loved ones, their doctor will give them a lethal pill that has a 1/100 daily probability of being activated. As a result, after taking the pill, every day the patient will have a 1/100 probability of dying. The likelihood of the patient dying within a year from taking the pill is 97.4%, and within two years, it is 99.9%. As such, a Probabilistic PAS with which on any given day the probability of dying is low, can help patients avoid the fear of imminent death – which traditional PAS entails – while respecting their preference to end their lives.

To examine the potential reception of a Probabilistic PAS, a survey was administered to a nationally-representative sample of US residents, using Prolific, a research participant recruitment platform. 499 participants were presented with a short description of a patient who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, is writing an advance directive and is considering ways to end their life painlessly when they can no longer recognize their loved ones. Participants were asked about their own preferences in case they were to face a similar situation, and whether helping administer Probabilistic PAS would be ethical for the patient’s provider.

498 participants responded to the question about their own preference. 73.5% indicated that they would choose one of the two PAS options. Among those, 9.8% preferred a Probabilistic PAS over traditional PAS. Men were more likely than women to favor Probabilistic PAS for themselves. 482 participants indicated which option would be most ethical for the patient’s provider to administer. 48.1% indicated one of the two PAS options as most ethical. Among those, 10.3% considered Probabilistic PAS to be more ethical than traditional PAS. Men were more likely than women to consider the provider administering Probabilistic PAS to be most ethical.

A version of the Probabilistic PAS proposed here should be considered as a preference-sensitive option presented by healthcare providers to patients considering advance care planning in places where PAS is available.
Lost in space(s): multimodal neuroimaging of disorientation along the Alzheimer’s disease continuum
Authors: Peters-Founshtein Gregory , Gazit Lidor , Naveh Tahel , Domachevsky Liran , Korczyn Amos , Bernstine Hanna , Groshar David , Marshall Gad A. , Arzy Shahar
Published: January 2023

Orientation is a fundamental cognitive faculty, allowing the behaving self to link his/her current state to their internal representations of the external world. Once exclusively linked to knowledge of the current place and present time, in recent years, the concept of orientation has evolved to include processing of social, temporal, and abstract relations. Concordantly with the growing focus on orientation, spatial disorientation has been increasingly recognized as a hallmark symptom of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, few studies have sought to explore disorientation along the AD continuum beyond the spatial domain.

51 participants along the AD continuum performed an orientation task in the spatial, temporal and social domains. Under functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), participants determined which of two familiar places/events/people is geographically/chronologically/socially closer to them, respectively. A series of analyses revealed disorientation along the AD-continuum to follow a three-way association between (1) orientation domain, (2) brain region, and (3) disease stage. Specifically, participants with MCI exhibited impaired spatio-temporal orientation and reduced task-evoked activity in temporoparietal regions, while participants with AD dementia exhibited impaired social orientation and reduced task-evoked activity in frontoparietal regions. Furthermore, these patterns of hypoactivation coincided with Default Mode Network (DMN) sub-networks, with spatio-temporal orientation activation overlapping DMN-C and social orientation with DMN-A. Finally, these patterns of disorientation-associated hypoactivations coincided with patterns of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) hypometabolism and cortical atrophy characteristic to AD-dementia.

Taken together, our results suggest that AD may constitute a disorder of orientation, characterized by a biphasic process as (1) early spatio-temporal and (2) late social disorientation, concurrently manifesting in task-evoked and neurodegenerative changes in temporoparietal and parieto-frontal brain networks, respectively. We propose that a profile of disorientation across multiple domains offers a unique window into the progression of AD.
Identification and characterization of an HtrA sheddase produced byCoxiella burnetii
Authors: Osman Ikram Omar , Caputo Aurelia , Pinault Lucile , Mege Jean-Louis , Levasseur Anthony , Devaux Christian A.
Published: January 2023

Having previously shown that soluble E-cadherin (sE-cad) is found in sera of Q fever patients, and that infection of BeWo cells byC. burnetiileads to modulation of the E-cad/β-cat pathway, our purpose was to identify which sheddase(s) might catalyze the cleavage of E-cad. Here, we searched for a direct mechanism of cleavage initiated by the bacterium itself, assuming the possible synthesis of a sheddase encoded in the genome ofC. burnetiior an indirect mechanism based on the activation of a human sheddase. Using a straightforward bioinformatics approach to scan the complete genomes of four laboratory strains ofC. burnetii, we demonstrate thatC. burnetiiencodes a 451 amino acid sheddase (CbHtrA) belonging to the HtrA family and differently expressed according to the bacterial virulence. An artificial CbHtrA gene (CoxbHtrA) was expressed and the CoxbHtrA recombinant protein was found to have sheddase activity. We also found evidence that theC. burnetiiinfection triggers an over-induction of the human HuHtrA gene expression. Finally, we demonstrate that cleavage of E-cad by CoxbHtrA on THP-1-cells leads to an M2 polarization of the target cells and the induction of their secretion of IL-10, which ‘disarms’ the target cells and improvesC. burnetiireplication. Taken together these results demonstrate that the genome ofC.burnetiiencodes a functional HtrA sheddase and establish a link between the HtrA sheddase-induced cleavage of E-cad, the M2 polarization of the target cells and their secretion of IL-10, and the intracellular replication ofC. burnetii.
Preparation and Characterization of Inactivated Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Samples for Single Particle Imaging at European XFEL
Authors: Vorovitch Mikhail F. , Samygina Valeriya R , Pichkur Evgeny , Konarev Peter V , Peters Georgy , Khvatov Evgeny V , Ivanova Alla L , Tuchynskaya Ksenia K. , Konyushko Olga I. , Fedotov Anton Y. , Armeev Grigory , Shaytan Konstantin V , Maia Filipe R N C , Kovalchuk Mikhail V. , Osolodkin Dmitry I. , Ishmukhametov Aydar A. , Egorov Alexey M.
Published: January 2023

X-ray imaging of virus particles at European XFEL could eventually allow solving their complete structure, potentially approaching resolution of other structural virology methods. To achieve this ambitious goal with today’s technologies, several mL of purified virus suspension containing at least 1012particles per mL are required. Such large amounts of concentrated suspension have never before been obtained for enveloped viruses. Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) represents an attractive model system for the development of enveloped virus purification and concentration protocols, given the availability of large amounts of inactivated virus material provided by vaccine manufacturing facilities. Here we present the development of a TBEV vaccine purification and concentration scheme combined with a quality control protocol allowing substantial amounts of highly concentrated non-aggregated suspension to be obtained. Preliminary single particle imaging experiments were performed for this sample at European XFEL, showing distinct diffraction patterns.
Supplier–supplier coopetition and buyer innovation: a perspective of learning and competitive tension within the focal buyer's supplier network
Authors: Guo Bin , Li Xi , Liu Tanfei , Wu Dong
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Supplier–supplier coopetition is vital to buyer innovation in reality. However, it has not received enough attention in prior research. Integrating the ability-motivation-opportunity framework of organizational learning perspective and the awareness-motivation-capability framework of competitive dynamics theory, this paper investigates the effect of supplier–supplier coopetition within supplier network on buyer innovation, as well as the contingent role of the relational attributes -- duration and tie strength dispersion of buyer–suppliers relationship at the supplier network level.

Design/methodology/approach

Testing this model on the secondary data of supply networks formed by 204 US listed buyer firms in SIC code 28, 35, 36 during 2008–2019, the authors utilize a fixed-effect regression model to investigate the relationship between supplier–supplier coopetition and the focal buyer's innovation.

Findings

The authors provide support for the positive influence of supplier–supplier cooperation on buyer innovation and an inverted U-shaped relationship between supplier–supplier competition and the focal buyer's innovation. The buyer–suppliers tie strength dispersion amplified the above two effects, and supplier–supplier cooperation mitigates the effect of supplier–supplier competition on the focal buyer's innovation.

Originality/value

Extending the traditional dyadic view to a network-level view via linking the supplier–supplier dyad and the buyer–suppliers dyad, this paper contributes to a better understanding of supplier–supplier coopetition and its impact on buyer innovation with learning and competitive tension as the underlying explanations, and validates the contingent role of buyer–suppliers relational attributes.
Peer victimization and eating behaviors in college students: the mediating role of perceived stress
Authors: Rosen Lisa H. , Scott Shannon , Paulman Briana E.
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine whether peer victimization predicted disordered eating behaviors during emerging adulthood, and if this relationship was mediated by perceived stress.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants included undergraduate females from a diverse university in the Southwestern USA who reported on their experiences of peer victimization, perceived stress and eating behaviors.

Findings

Mediation analysis revealed that perceived stress partially mediated the association between peer victimization and perceived stress. Peer victimization significantly predicted eating behaviors even after controlling for perceived stress. An exploratory analysis of the EAT-26 subscales was also conducted.

Research limitations/implications

The present study adds to the literature on peer victimization, eating behaviors and stress by allowing researchers to understand the complexity of these relationships within an emerging adulthood population. The present results can assist individuals working with this population in interventions to prevent instances of victimization, reduce stress and provide psychoeducation for eating disorders.

Originality/value

The present study adds to the literature on peer victimization, eating behaviors and stress by allowing researchers to understand the complexity of these relationships within a college population.
Reconfiguring the service system for resilience: lessons learned in the higher education context
Authors: Walletzký Leonard , Carrubbo Luca , Badr Nabil Georges , Dragoicea Monica , Toli Angeliki Maria , Badawi Salem
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic started a new era in understanding the topic of resilience and adaptability. The human society has not faced such a widespread global challenge until now. This paper aims to address a context change influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, using a case study in high education. While the character of the issues emerging is the same as in any other domain, in high education, the principles and consequences can be more directly studied and analyzed.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper describes a framework to evaluate how the context of the tertiary education service has been disrupted and the influence on the adherence of the students to the educational process, via primary quantitative data collection. This paper tackles the problem of distinguishing the change in context and context change and the possibility of system reconfiguration.

Findings

To properly face the evolving conditions induced by the pandemic, the education service system must be aligned to the imposed emergency situations, trying to “find” where the changes have emerged, i.e. what kind of reconfiguration is, whether it appears in the goals or in the service system itself. Furthermore, this study discusses how the findings can be valuable and applied to situations beyond the pandemic, in other cases of context disruption to highlight how general the service activities are within our reconfiguration approach.

Originality/value

From a theoretical point of view, this work is in line with main assumptions of system thinking, by confirming several insights of service systems’ behavior, even in a logic of B2B interactions (from the offer side); first in terms of openness and adaptation, in addition to readiness to change and – when and how – this change can occur. From a practical point of view, this paper’s contribution is directed toward achieving the more successful change management process, as reached together by motivated partners working hard for a common final goal. Realizing that the pandemic has brought a completely new context of education, managers should focus now on monitoring all aspects of the education business, not only directly affected projects and processes.
From values to valuing: an ethnographic approach to get a grip on the implicit disclosure of built heritage
Authors: De Ridder Roel , Van Gils Hanne , Timmermans Bert
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to map the process of (social) valuing by people encountering built heritage in their daily environments. Value-based approaches are not well researched and formalized in Flemish policy context. New questions and issues are emerging in relation to values-based heritage management and the (adaptive) reuse of heritage within a context of spatial development and urban renewal practices. This paper firstly focus on what factors influence the process of (social) valuing, secondly on the hybrid character of the process and finally at the conflicts between the values frames of the different actors. This way it also inquires the potentials of participatory design supporting alternative regimes of care.

Design/methodology/approach

Within the research trajectory, the authors approached built heritage as a social construction and a social product, where there are as many stories as users. What heritage is and how heritage is dealt with, forms the basis of negotiation and valuation processes. An ethnographic approach was embarked on to get a grip on the socio-cultural significance of immovable property heritage in Flanders.

Findings

This paper describes the process of (social) valuing of by people encountering built heritage in their daily environments and offers an integrated conceptual framework for this kind of dynamic processes.

Originality/value

New questions and issues are emerging in relation to values-based heritage management and the (adaptive) reuse of heritage within a context of spatial development and urban renewal practices. This paper firstly focuses on what factors influence the process of (social) valuing, secondly on the hybrid character of the process and finally at the conflicts between the values frames of the different actors.
A novel approach for fracture porosity estimation of carbonate reservoirs
Authors: Sharifi Javad , Moghaddas Naser Hafezi , Saberi Mohammad Reza , Mondol Nazmul Haque
Published: January 2023

The quality of carbonate reservoirs is linked to their rock properties and surrounding stress settings which can play a vital role in their production optimization and development programs. Imposing various stresses can increase porosity and permeability by creating joints and cracks across the rock mass. Therefore, developing methods to identify and accurately evaluate fractures in carbonate reservoirs is very significant in reservoir characterization. To deal with this necessity, we developed a fracture porosity estimation method using empirical and analytical solutions based on the wireline data considering stress conditions. The proposed methodology was applied to a carbonate reservoir as the case study. As fracture porosity is sensitive to stress, experimental tests were conducted on the core samples using triaxial hydrostatic tests. These tests are needed to simulate reservoir conditions to investigate the relationships between fracture volume fraction and the applied stress. A substantial porosity loss was observed during the hydrostatic test, which can be linked to the crack porosity closure. The reliability of our results was validated by thin section, computed tomography–scan images, velocity deviation method, elastic boundary laws, and image logs. Eventually, we introduced an equation to estimate in situ fracture porosity from the relationship between porosity and effective confining pressure. We verified the repeatability and generality of our proposed methodology using a blind well, and the results indicate a comparable level of accuracy. Our findings are applicable for estimating crack porosity for rock physics modelling purposes of detecting fracture zones in the absence of image logs and core data. Moreover, by calibrating and optimizing the constant parameters in our proposed relationship, one may further estimate crack density in any other given carbonate reservoirs.
To Tweet or not to Tweet? The Determinants of Tweeting Activity in Initial Coin Offerings
Authors: Moro Andrea , Radić Nemanja , Truong Vinh
Published: January 2023

Our research explores the causes of Twitter activity in highly technological start‐ups that finance their activities via initial coin offerings (ICOs). By relying on weekly data of 297 ICOs for the period 2015–2020 (35,459 observations), we examine how major exogenous events affect the number of tweets issued by the start‐up. Then, we explore how the community of followers reacts to the tweets. We discover that events external to firms reduce ICOs’ tweeting activity. Moreover, our evidence indicates that the followers’ reaction is positively related to the tweets issued by the firm and negatively related to major events unrelated to the firm. Interestingly, followers’ reaction has an inverted U‐shaped relation with the firm's Twitter volume, suggesting that excessive Twitter activity can harm the further dissemination of tweets. Our results, robust to alternative estimation techniques, emphasize the important role of Twitter as an information disseminator, legitimizer, and endorser for highly opaque firms.
Study of functional, biochemical, and sensory qualities of jackfruit pulp powder produced through optimized foam‐mat drying parameters
Authors: Priyadarshini Subhashree , Rayaguru Kalpana , Routray Winny , Dash Sanjaya K.
Published: January 2023

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) production is abundant during the summer season in Southeast Asia and is also produced throughout the year in some parts of South India. Attributed to the absence of viable process technology, the pulp is predominantly consumed fresh and has not been used effectively for other applications such as in ice cream, beverages, custard preparations, or as a flavor enhancer. The conversion of the high sugar‐containing pulp to powder is difficult. Hence, the foam‐mat drying of jackfruit pulp was carried out using different foaming agents and stabilizers. The effect of maltodextrin (MD; 3%, 4%, and 5% w/w), glycerol‐monostearate (GMS; 2%, 3%, and 4% w/w), or soy protein (SP; 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% w/w), and 0.5% methylcellulose added to the pulp at a concentration of 8 °Brix on foam expansion (FE; %), foam retention (FR; %), total carotenoids (TC; mg/100 g pulp), and overall acceptability (OA) were investigated, and their levels were optimized using central composite design of response surface methodology. The foam mats were dried at a drying air temperature of 70°C along with a foam thickness of 4 mm. The samples were evaluated based on drying time, foaming, functional, biochemical, and sensory qualities. The optimum levels of MD and GMS were 3.96% (4.0%) and 3.01% (3.0%), respectively, which led to the foam‐mat‐dried jackfruit powder with properties within the desirable range. At these optimum conditions, the predicted FE, FR, TC, and OA were 69.84%, 89.42%, 0.152 mg/100 g pulp, and 7.73, respectively. The optimum levels of MD and SP were 3.95% (4.0%) and 1.02% (1.0%), respectively, and the corresponding properties (considered as responses) of this foam‐mat‐dried jackfruit powder such as FE, FR, TC, and OA were 74.45%, 84.80%, 0.14 mg/100 g pulp, and 7.6, respectively.

Practical Application

This study is one of the few studies that is focused on the development of a technique for the long‐term preservation of jackfruit powder for further applications that will also reduce the wastage of jackfruit attributed to its fast perishability. This technology can be replicated in other parts of the world. This article has demonstrated foam‐mat drying as a useful technique to achieve high‐quality jackfruit pulp powders with desirable drying, foaming, functional, biochemical, and sensory qualities using different foaming agents and stabilizers.
Bifidobacterium longum supplementation improves age‐related delays in fracture repair
Authors: Roberts Joseph L. , Golloshi Mateo , Harding Derek B. , Conduah Madison , Liu Guanglu , Drissi Hicham
Published: January 2023

Age‐related delays in bone repair remains an important clinical issue that can prolong pain and suffering. It is now well established that inflammation increases with aging and that this exacerbated inflammatory response can influence skeletal regeneration. Recently, simple dietary supplementation with beneficial probiotic bacteria has been shown to influence fracture repair in young mice. However, the contribution of the gut microbiota to age‐related impairments in fracture healing remains unknown. Here, we sought to determine whether supplementation with a single beneficial probiotic species, Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum), would promote fracture repair in aged (18‐month‐old) female mice. We found that B. longum supplementation accelerated bony callus formation which improved mechanical properties of the fractured limb. We attribute these pro‐regenerative effects of B. longum to preservation of intestinal barrier, dampened systemic inflammation, and maintenance of the microbiota community structure. Moreover, B. longum attenuated many of the fracture‐induced systemic pathologies. Our study provides evidence that targeting the gut microbiota using simple dietary approaches can improve fracture healing outcomes and minimize systemic pathologies in the context of aging.
Social media conservation messaging mirrors age‐old taxonomic biases in public domain
Authors: Forster Caitlyn Y. , Hochuli Dieter F. , Keith Ryan J. , Latty Tanya , White Thomas E. , Middleton Eliza J. T.
Published: January 2023

In this global extinction crisis, we must act urgently to prevent the loss of species. The public plays a key role in ensuring the future of our biodiversity, by impacting funding decisions, creating behaviour change, and pushing change in corporations to prevent species loss. The Threatened Species Bake Off competition is a social media initiative created by the Australian Government in 2017 to raise awareness of nationally listed threatened species. In this study, we assessed the trends of the competition by collating entries via Instagram and Twitter in its first 5 years. Representations of 356 unique species were baked, 261 of which were listed as nationally threatened species. Birds and mammals were the most popular groups represented. Frogs, reptiles, fishes, and invertebrates were reasonably well represented; however, plants were drastically underrepresented in the competition. This is evidence of taxonomic bias towards the charismatic animals, and a problematic lack of representation of other threatened species that play essential roles in our ecosystems. Although the Bake Off is an innovative conservation messaging approach, it reinforces awareness of the same groups that traditional messaging techniques encouraged (i.e., charismatic megafauna). Public engagement in this competition reflects current conservation messaging, including media and education focus on charismatic animals, demonstrating engrained biases. Future competitions should address this by highlighting less popular but equally important threatened species, especially plants.
Rebel Capacity, Intelligence Gathering, and Combat Tactics
Authors: Sonin Konstantin , Wright Austin L.
Published: January 2023

Classic and modern theories of rebel warfare emphasize the role of resource endowments. We demonstrate that intelligence gathering, made possible by these endowments, plays a critical role in determining specifics of how rebels launch complex attacks against better equipped government forces. We test implications of a theoretical model using highly detailed data about Afghan rebel attacks, insurgent‐led spy networks, and counterinsurgent operations. Leveraging quasi‐random variation in opium suitability, we find that improved rebel capacity is associated with (1) increased insurgent operations; (2) improved battlefield tactics through technological innovation, increased complexity, and attack clustering; and (3) increased effectiveness against security forces, especially harder targets. These results show that access to capital, coupled with intelligence gathering, meaningfully impacts how and where rebels fight.
Multi‐country outbreak of severe acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children, 2022
Authors: Ilic Irena , Ilic Milena
Published: January 2023

Aim

To describe epidemiological characteristics of multi‐country outbreak of severe acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children in 2022.

Methods

A descriptive epidemiological study design was used. The review based on the available information concerning this multi‐country outbreak aims to summarise the current knowledge about the severe acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children, highlights the suggested working hypotheses, introduces some of the potential explanations for its occurrence and reports on public health measures undertaken to control the disease.

Results

Since the first 10 cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children in the United Kingdom on 5 April 2022, and up until the 29 August 2022, more than 1000 probable cases have been reported in 35 countries in the world. Up to today, 22 children died in this multi‐country outbreak. Despite the numerous theories that have been suggested on the possible underlying causes of the outbreak, an association with hepatitis A–E viruses has been excluded. Adenovirus serotype 41 has been detected in numerous cases, which makes it the most likely underlying cause of the disease.

Conclusion

Efficient surveillance and comprehension advancements of the epidemiology of this disease are especially important for effective prevention and outbreak response.
Early bone healing to implants with different surface characteristics. A pre‐clinical in vivo study
Authors: Abrahamsson Ingemar , Almohandes Ahmed , Dionigi Carlotta , Berglundh Tord
Published: January 2023

Aim

To examine early bone healing around implants with non‐modified and modified surfaces.

Material & Methods

Four implants with 4 different surface characteristics were installed in one side of the mandible following tooth extraction in 6 dogs. Implants in group A had a non‐modified, turned surface, while implants in group B had a surface modification consisting of TiO‐blasting and sequential acid‐etching in oxalic and hydrofluoric acid. The surface modification of implants in group C was confined to sequential acid‐etching in oxalic and hydrofluoric acid and Group D implants had a surface modification of TiO‐blasting and acid‐etching in hydrofluoric acid. The implant installation procedures were repeated in the opposite side of the mandible 4 weeks later. Biopsies were obtained and prepared for histological analysis 2 weeks later.

Results

B and C implants had a higher degree of bone‐to‐implant contact (BIC%) than A and D implants at 2 weeks of healing. At 6 weeks of healing, the BIC% was higher at B than at A, C and D implants, and higher at C implants than at A implants. The amount of newly formed bone in contact with the implant within the defect area at 2 weeks was higher at implants with modified surfaces (groups B, C and D) than at implants with a non‐modified surface (group A). Corresponding results at 6 weeks were superior at B implants.

Conclusion

It is suggested that an implant surface modification with acid‐etching in oxalic and hydrofluoric acid promotes early formation of bone‐to‐implant contact.
Applying Jewish theology to issues in mental and physical health
Authors: Dorff Elliot N.
Published: January 2023

Jewish theological convictions and values undergird the approaches of Judaism to all aspects of life. This article first describes five fundamental Jewish convictions about God, human beings, and the relations between them as well as the place of medicine in life. It then describes the positions taken by the three largest denominations of contemporary Judaism on end‐of‐life issues and the approach of Judaism to mental health issues, two aspects of medical ethics that have become especially prominent during the COVID‐19 pandemic but have always been, and will always be, important aspects of human life to which religious traditions can and should give guidance.
Association of regional white matter hyperintensities with hypertension and cognition in the population‐based 1000BRAINS study
Authors: Gronewold Janine , Jokisch Martha , Schramm Sara , Himpfen Heiko , Ginster Theresa , Tenhagen Isabell , Doeppner Thorsten R. , Jockwitz Christiane , Miller Tatiana , Lehmann Nils , Moebus Susanne , Jöckel Karl‐Heinz , Erbel Raimund , Caspers Svenja , Hermann Dirk M. ,   the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study Investigative Group
Published: January 2023

Background

White matter hyperintensities of presumed vascular origin (WMH) are frequent in cerebral magnetic resonance imaging of older people. They are promoted by vascular risk factors, especially hypertension, and are associated with cognitive deficits at the group level. It has been suggested that not only the severity, but also the location, of lesions might critically influence cognitive deficits and represent different pathologies.

Methods

In 560 participants (65.2 ± 7.5 years, 51.4% males) of the population‐based 1000BRAINS study, we analyzed the association of regional WMH using Fazekas scoring separately for cerebral lobes, with hypertension and cognition.

Results

WMH most often affected the frontal lobe (83.7% score >0), followed by the parietal (75.8%), temporal (32.7%), and occipital lobe (7.3%). Higher Fazekas scores in the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobe were associated with higher blood pressure and antihypertensive treatment in unadjusted ordinal regression models and in models adjusted for age, sex, and vascular risk factors (e.g., age‐ and sex‐adjusted odds ratio = 1.14, 95% confidence interval = 1.03–1.25 for the association of frontal lobe WMH Fazekas score with systolic blood pressure [SBP] [per 10 mm Hg]; 1.13 [1.02–1.23] for the association of parietal lobe score with SBP; 1.72 [1.19–2.48] for the association of temporal lobe score with antihypertensive medications). In linear regressions, higher frontal lobe scores were associated with lower performance in executive function and non‐verbal memory, and higher parietal lobe scores were associated with lower performance in executive function, verbal‐, and non‐verbal memory.

Conclusions

Hypertension promotes WMH in the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobe. WMH in the frontal and parietal lobe are associated with reduced executive function and memory.