bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Small non-coding RNA Interactome Capture reveals pervasive, carbon source-dependent tRNA engagement of yeast glycolytic enzymes
Authors: Asencio Claudio , Schwarzl Thomas , Sahadevan Sudeep , Hentze Matthias W.
Published: July 2022

Small non-coding RNAs fulfill key functions in cellular and organismal biology, typically working in concert with RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). While proteome-wide methodologies have enormously expanded the repertoire of known RBPs, these methods do not distinguish RBPs binding to small non-coding RNAs from the rest. To specifically identify this relevant subclass of RBPs, we developed small non-coding RNA interactome capture (snRIC2C) based on the differential RNA-binding capacity of silica matrices (2C). We define the S. cerevisiae proteome of nearly 300 proteins that specifically binds to RNAs smaller than 200 nucleotides in length (snRBPs), identifying informative distinctions from the total RNA-binding proteome determined in parallel. Strikingly, the snRBPs include most glycolytic enzymes from yeast. With further methodological developments using silica matrices, 12 tRNAs were identified as specific binders of the glycolytic enzyme GAPDH. We show that tRNA engagement of GAPDH is carbon source-dependent and regulated by the RNA polymerase III repressor Maf1, suggesting a regulatory interaction between glycolysis and RNA polymerase III activity. We conclude that snRIC2C and other 2C-derived methods greatly facilitate the study of RBPs, revealing previously unrecognised interactions.
Comparison of bacterial suppression by phage cocktails, dual-receptor generalists, and coevolutionarily trained phages
Authors: Borin Joshua M. , Lee Justin J. , Gerbino Krista R. , Meyer Justin R.
Published: July 2022

The evolution and spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria have renewed interest in phage therapy, the use of bacterial viruses (phages) to combat bacterial infections. The delivery of phages in cocktails where constituent phages target different modalities (e.g., receptors) may improve treatment outcomes by making it more difficult for bacteria to evolve resistance. However, the multipartite nature of cocktails may lead to unintended evolutionary and ecological outcomes. Here, we compare a 2-phage cocktail with a largely unconsidered group of phages: generalists that can infect through multiple, independent receptors. We find that both generalists and cocktails that target the same receptors suppress bacteria similarly for ~2 d. Yet a “trained” generalist phage, which previously adapted to its host via 28 d of coevolution, demonstrated superior suppression. To understand why the trained generalist was more effective, we measured the resistance of bacteria against each of our phages. We find that, when bacteria were assailed by 2 phages in the cocktail, they evolved mutations in manXYZ, a host inner-membrane transporter that λ uses to move its DNA across the periplasmic space and into the cell for infection. This provided crossresistance against the cocktail and untrained generalist. However, these mutations were ineffective at blocking the trained generalist because, through coevolutionary training, it evolved to bypass manXYZ resistance. The trained generalist’s past experiences in training make it exceedingly difficult for bacteria to evolve resistance, further demonstrating the utility of coevolutionary phage training for improving the therapeutic properties of phages.
Early life stress exposure increases susceptibility to high fat/high sucrose diet in female mice
Authors: Frick Jenna M. , Eller Olivia C. , Foright Rebecca M. , Levasseur Brittni M. , Yang Xiaofang , Wang Ruipeng , Winter Michelle K. , O’Neil Maura F. , Morris E. Matthew , Thyfault John P. , Christianson Julie A.
Published: July 2022

Exposure to stress early in life has been associated with adult-onset co-morbidities such as chronic pain, metabolic dysregulation, obesity, and inactivity. We have established an early life stress model using neonatal maternal separation (NMS) in mice, which displays evidence of increased body weight and adiposity, widespread mechanical allodynia, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation in male mice. Early life stress and consumption of a western style diet contribute to the development of obesity, however, relatively few pre-clinical studies have been performed in female rodents, which are known to be protected against diet induced obesity and metabolic dysfunction. In this study we gave naïve and NMS female mice access to a high-fat/high-sucrose (HFS) diet beginning at 4 weeks of age. Robust increases in body weight and fat were observed in HFS-fed NMS mice during the first 10 weeks on the diet, driven partly by increased food intake. Female NMS mice on a HFS diet showed widespread mechanical hypersensitivity compared to either naïve mice on a HFS diet or NMS mice on a control diet. HFS diet-fed NMS mice also had impaired glucose tolerance and fasting hyperinsulinemia. Strikingly, female NMS mice on a HFS diet showed evidence of hepatic steatosis with increased triglyceride levels and altered glucocorticoid receptor levels and phosphorylation state. They also exhibited increased energy expenditure as observed via indirect calorimetry and expression of pro-inflammatory markers in perigonadal adipose. Altogether, our data suggest that early life stress exposure increased the susceptibility of female mice to develop diet-induced metabolic dysfunction and pain-like behaviors.
Molecular recording of calcium concentration via calcium-dependent protein proximity labeling
Authors: Wren Kim J. , Yong Adeline J. H. , Aisenberg Erin E. , Wang Wei , Dawson Ted M. , Dawson Valina L. , Gao Ruixuan , Bateup Helen S. , Jan Yuh Nung , Ingolia Nicholas T.
Published: July 2022

Calcium ions serve as key intracellular signals. Local, transient increases in calcium concentrations can activate calcium sensor proteins that in turn trigger downstream effectors. In neurons, calcium transients play a central role in regulating neurotransmitter release and synaptic plasticity. However, it is challenging to capture the molecular events associated with these localized and ephemeral calcium signals. Here we present an engineered biotin ligase that combines the power of genetically encoded calcium indicators with protein proximity labeling. The enzyme, Cal-ID, biotinylates nearby proteins within minutes in response to elevated local calcium levels. The biotinylated proteins can be identified via mass spectrometry and visualized using microscopy. In neurons, Cal-ID labeling is triggered by neuronal activity, leading to prominent protein biotinylation that enables transcription-independent activity mapping in the brain. Cal-ID produces a biochemical record of calcium signaling and neuronal activity with high spatial resolution and molecular specificity.
Bioenergetic-Related Gene Expression in the Hippocampus Predicts Internalizing vs. Externalizing Behavior in a F2Cross of Selectively-Bred Rats
Authors: Hebda-Bauer Elaine K. , Hagenauer Megan H. , Munro Daniel B. , Blandino Peter , Meng Fan , Arakawa Keiko , Chitre Apurva S. , Ozel A. Bilge , Mohammadi Pejman , Watson Stanley J. , Flagel Shelly B. , Li Jun , Palmer Abraham A. , Akil Huda
Published: July 2022

Selectively-bred High Responder (bHR) and Low Responder (bLR) rats model the extreme externalizing and internalizing behavior accompanying many psychiatric disorders. To elucidate gene expression underlying these heritable behavioral differences, bHRs and bLRs (generation 37) were used to produce a F0-F1-F2cross. We measured exploratory locomotion, anxiety-like behavior, and reward cue sensitivity (Pavlovian Conditioned Approach), and performed hippocampal RNA-Seq in male and female F0s (n=24) and F2s (n=250). Behaviors that diverged during selective breeding remained correlated in F2s, implying a shared genetic basis. F0bHR/bLR differential expression was robust, surpassing differences associated with sex, and predicted expression patterns associated with F2 behavior. With bHR-like behavior, gene sets related to growth/proliferation were upregulated, whereas with bLR-like behavior, gene sets related to mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and microglial activation were upregulated. This differential expression could be successfully predicted based on F0 genotype using cis-expression quantitative trait loci (cis-eQTLs) identified in the F2s. Colocalization of these cis-eQTLs with behavioral Quantitative Trait Loci pinpointed 16 differentially expressed genes that were strong candidates for mediating the influence of genetic variation on behavioral temperament. Our findings implicate hippocampal bioenergetic regulation of oxidative stress, microglial activation, and growth-related processes in shaping behavioral temperament, modulating vulnerability to psychiatric disorders.
No evidence that synonymous mutations in yeast genes are mostly deleterious
Authors: Kruglyak Leonid , Beyer Andreas , Bloom Joshua S. , Grossbach Jan , Lieberman Tami D. , Mancuso Christopher P. , Rich Matthew S. , Sherlock Gavin , van Nimwegen Erik , Kaplan Craig D.
Published: July 2022

In a recent paper1, Shen et al. reported that most mutations in the coding regions of 21 yeast genes were strongly deleterious, and that the distributions of fitness effects were similar for synonymous and nonsynonymous mutations. Taken at face value, these results would conflict with well-established findings from a broad range of fields and approaches. Here, we argue that these results arose from a lack of appropriate controls for the impacts of background genetic effects in edited strains. A re-examination of the data in Shen et al. strongly suggests that it is entirely consistent with the expectation that most nonsynonymous and nearly all synonymous mutations have no detectable effects on fitness. We present analyses which show that the data is inconsistent with the proposed explanation that pervasive fitness effects of synonymous mutations arise from their effects on mRNA levels, that the sequence-based fitness assay overestimates fitness effects compared to the growth-based fitness assay, and that the observed wide fitness distributions for nonsense mutations are consistent with ‘off-target’ effects or other uncontrolled sources of biological variation contributing to measured fitness. We conclude by discussing the essential controls and other experimental design considerations that are required to produce interpretable results regarding the fitness effects of mutations in large-scale screens.
Inhibiting circRNA Cdr1as expression in the ILPFC of adult male C57BL/6J mice impairs fear extinction memory
Authors: Zajaczkowski Esmi Lau , Zhao Qiongyi , Liau Wei-Siang , Gong Hao , Madugalle Sachithrani Umanda , Periyakaruppiah Ambika , Leighton Laura Jane , Musgrove Mason , Ren Haobin , Davies Joshua , Marshall Paul Robert , Bredy Timothy William
Published: July 2022

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) comprise a novel class of regulatory RNAs that are abundant in the brain, particularly within synapses. They are highly stable, dynamically regulated, and display a range of functional roles, including as decoys for miRNAs and proteins and, in some cases, translation. Early work in animal models revealed an association between circRNAs and neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders; however, relatively few studies have shown a causal link between circRNA function and memory. To address this knowledge gap, we sequenced circRNAs in the synaptosome compartment of the medial prefrontal cortex of fear extinction trained male C57BL/6J mice and found 12837 circRNAs enriched at the synapse, including Cdr1as. Targeted knockdown of Cdr1as in the neural processes of the infralimbic prefrontal cortex of male C57BL/6J mice led to impaired fear extinction memory. Altogether, our findings highlight the importance of localised circRNA activity at the synapse for memory formation and suggest that circRNAs may have a more widespread effect on brain function than previously thought.
synapsis: A Bioconductor package to automate the analysis of meiotic double-strand break repair and crossover formation
Authors: McNeill Lucy , Tsui Vanessa , Crismani Wayne
Published: July 2022

Immunofluorescent staining is commonly used to generate images to characterise cytological phenotypes. The manual quantification of DNA double-strand breaks and their repair intermediates during meiosis using image data requires a series of subjective steps, from image selection to the counting of particular events per nucleus. Here we describe synapsis, a Bioconductor package, which includes a set of functions to automate the process of identifying meiotic nuclei and quantifying key double-strand break formation and repair events in a rapid, scalable and reproducible workflow, and compare it to manual user quantification. The software can be extended for other applications in meiosis research, such as incorporating machine learning approaches to categorise meiotic substages.

Availability and implementation

synapsis can be freely downloaded and installed at: http://bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/synapsis.html

R functions and further information can be found at https://gitlab.svi.edu.au/drr-public/synapsis

Contact

wcrismani@svi.edu.au
ompC/F mutations drive XDR phenotype and lineage defining super clones of E. coli: Sequential events and consequences
Authors: Devanga Ragupathi Naveen Kumar , Muthuirulandi Sethuvel Dhiviya Prabaa , Vasudevan Karthick , Murugan Dhivya , Neeravi Ayyan Raj , Bakthavatchalam Yamuna Devi , Velmurugan Aravind , Walia Kamini , Veeraraghavan Balaji
Published: July 2022

Multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli is an increasing public health problem. Though, PBP3 insertions with blaNDM, blaCMY and blaOXA-48 like is restricted to South-East Asia with few reports from USA. The study suggests ompC/F variants as a core factor to classify ESBL (E), non-ESBL (NE), and ESBL with PBP3 and carbapenemases (EPBP3) clones. EPBP3 results in treatment complication, as most of the time, E. coli with PBP3 insertions co-carries blaNDM (87.5%), blaCMY (96.3%) and blaOXA-48 like (88.8%) implicating it as a predisposing factor for carbapenemase gene acquirement. Cefiderocol and cefepime/zidebactam are the choice against EPBP3 E. coli. Evolutionary BEAST analysis revealed consecutive events of YRIN and YRIK insertions in PBP3 gene leading to a surge in MDR E. coli clones. Further, emergence of the super clones STs 410, 405, 167 and 617 featuring these phenotypes is a major threat for developing and developed countries, which needs close monitoring.

Importance

The manuscript describes various E. coli resistant genotypes across the globe and their importance in the choice of antimicrobial for treatment. The study identified six clades based on ompC and ompF mutations with a strong correlation to PBP3 insertions co-carried with beta-lactamases including blaNDM. Though, the ompC and ompF mutations were reported to precede the acquisition of carbapenemases in E. coli, clade segregation based on AMR genes as observed in this study reveals the ompC and ompF genes as a potential biomarker for AMR clade identification in E. coli. Currently, cefiderocol and cefepime/zidebactam seems to be the only choice to cover the AMR mechanism mediated by PBP3 insertions. Further, emergence of the super clones STs 410, 405, 167 and 617 featuring these PBP3 phenotypes is a major threat for developing and developed countries, which needs close monitoring.
Coupling between γ-irradiation and synchrotron-radiation-based XAFS techniques for studying Mn-doped ZnO nanoparticles
Authors: Imam N. G. , Harfouche Messaoud , Azab A. A. , Solyman S.
Published: July 2022

γ-Irradiation and synchrotron-radiation-based X-ray absorption fine-structure (XAFS) spectroscopy have been used to induce structure disorder through the interaction of γ-rays (200 kGy) with fabricated Mn-doped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and then to examine thoroughly the resultant structural change. The extracted electronic/fine XAFS structural parameters reflect a compositional and γ-irradiation co-dependence. The average crystal structure of samples prepared by the sol-gel method was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). A detailed structural XRD data analysis was carried out by applying a Rietveld refinement using theMAUDprogram. XAFS spectra were collected at the ZnK-edge (9659 eV) in transmission mode and at the MnK-edge (6539 eV) in fluorescence mode. Direct evidence of the solubility of Mn ions in the ZnO structure was demonstrated by fitting the extended-XAFS (EXAFS) signal. Near-edge XAFS (XANES) analysis provided the oxidation states of Zn and Mn ions through fingerprint XANES spectra of the sample along with those of standard compounds. Linear combination fitting showed that the most fit chemical forms of Zn and Mn in the samples are ZnO and MnO, respectively. The oxidation states of both Zn and Mn XAFS absorbers were confirmed from pre-edge fitting. The results of the magnetic measurements were explained in light of the average and electronic/local structural information obtained from XRD, XANES and EXAFS techniques. The magnetic properties of the samples translate into an induced change in the average crystal and electronic/local structures upon Mn concentration change and γ-irradiation. XRD confirmed the successful preparation of hexagonal Mn-doped ZnO NPs with a crystallite size in the range 33–41 nm. Both XRD and EXAFS analysis detected a minor amount of Mn3O4as a secondary phase. XANES and EXAFS provided information exploring the outstanding potential of the utilized protocol for detecting precisely the presence of the secondary phase of Mn3O4, which changes with Mn content (x). Mean-square relative displacement (σ2) values extracted from the EXAFS fitting were found to grow for Zn–Zn/Mn paths demonstrating the substitution of Mn/Zn into Zn crystal sites. The EXAFS analysis explains the reasons behind the enhancement in the magnetic properties and shows that the Mn doping content atx= 0.05 produces the most local atomic disorder in ZnO NPs. There is a strong harmony among the XRD, XANES, EXAFS and magnetization behavior of the Mn-doped ZnO NPs. Maximum magnetization was acquired at an Mn content of 0.05. γ-Ray-irradiated Zn1–xMnxO NPs are recommended as optimized candidates for showing the diversity of the applications.
Enabling intrusion detection systems with dueling double deep Q-learning
Authors: Badr Youakim
Published: July 2022

Purpose

In this research, the authors demonstrate the advantage of reinforcement learning (RL) based intrusion detection systems (IDS) to solve very complex problems (e.g. selecting input features, considering scarce resources and constrains) that cannot be solved by classical machine learning. The authors include a comparative study to build intrusion detection based on statistical machine learning and representational learning, using knowledge discovery in databases (KDD) Cup99 and Installation Support Center of Expertise (ISCX) 2012.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology applies a data analytics approach, consisting of data exploration and machine learning model training and evaluation. To build a network-based intrusion detection system, the authors apply dueling double deep Q-networks architecture enabled with costly features, k-nearest neighbors (K-NN), support-vector machines (SVM) and convolution neural networks (CNN).

Findings

Machine learning-based intrusion detection are trained on historical datasets which lead to model drift and lack of generalization whereas RL is trained with data collected through interactions. RL is bound to learn from its interactions with a stochastic environment in the absence of a training dataset whereas supervised learning simply learns from collected data and require less computational resources.

Research limitations/implications

All machine learning models have achieved high accuracy values and performance. One potential reason is that both datasets are simulated, and not realistic. It was not clear whether a validation was ever performed to show that data were collected from real network traffics.

Practical implications

The study provides guidelines to implement IDS with classical supervised learning, deep learning and RL.

Originality/value

The research applied the dueling double deep Q-networks architecture enabled with costly features to build network-based intrusion detection from network traffics. This research presents a comparative study of reinforcement-based instruction detection with counterparts built with statistical and representational machine learning.
An assessment of indoor environmental quality in COVID-19 affected houses: a case study in Banda Aceh, Indonesia
Authors: Sari Laina Hilma , Kayan Brit Anak , Zahriah Zahriah
Published: July 2022

Purpose

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020–2021 in Indonesia, the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of local houses occupied by infected occupants was adversely affected. This paper aims to appraise the IEQ of the affected Banda Aceh houses with insights into enabling them to be resilient against the negative impacts of the pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative field measurement in the case study of five concrete houses located in urban areas which are affected by IEQ factors: (1) indoor air quality (IAQ), (2) thermal comfort and (3) visual comfort, compared against the Indonesian National standard (SNI). The case study involved measurement of the first two factors over 24 h, while the third factor was measured during sun hours. Considering the limitations of the measuring tools for logging available data in this research, air quality is measured from 8 am to 10 pm.

Findings

Thermal comfort in the affected houses is generally regarded as warm, optimal and cool comfort, indicated by the effective temperatures of between 20.5 and 27.1°C. Frequently closed windows, limited land area and access had caused a lack of air circulation, with air velocity of dominantly 0 m/s in the houses. The illuminance of natural light received in three houses was insufficient – less than 120 lux as compared with the other two. This study found an uptrend of higher air temperature and relative humidity in the affected houses resulting in poorer IAQ; conversely, the higher the air velocity in the houses, the fewer the indoor air pollutants such as formaldehyde (HCHO), total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) and carbon dioxide (CO2).

Originality/value

This study is a pioneer in evaluating IEQ in houses occupied by COVID-19 patients in Indonesia, especially in dwelling cases in Aceh Province. It also encompasses environmental and societal challenges to sustaining resilient buildings in pandemic hit regions.
Enhancing the resilience of road networks to flooding
Authors: Xu Wenping , Zhang Yuan , Proverbs David. , Zhong Zhi
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to clarify the resistance degree of group road logistics to flood disaster resilience. The paper measures the resilience of group road logistics by establishing network structure model. The purpose of this study is to improve the resilience of road log.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts Delphi method to collect data, interviews mainly flood management experts and supply chain risk management experts, and then analyzes the data through the network structure model combined with interpretative structure model (ISM) and analytical network process (ANP).

Findings

The results show that flood frequency and drainage systems are the main factors affecting the resilience of road transport logistics in urban areas. These research results provide useful guidance for the effective planning and design of urban road construction and infrastructure.

Research limitations/implications

However, the main factors affecting the resilience of road transport logistics are likely to change with the development of factors such as climate, economy and environment. Therefore, in future work, the authors' research will focus on the further application of this evaluation method.

Practical implications

The results show that the impact of flooding on the four dimensions of road logistics resilience varies. This shows that in deciding what intervention measures are to be taken to improve the resilience of the road network to flooding, various measures need to be considered.

Social implications

This paper provides a more scientific analysis of the risk management ability of the road network in the face of floods. In addition, it also provides a useful reference for urban road planners.

Originality/value

This paper addresses a clear need to study how to build models to improve the resilience of road logistics in flood risk.
Post-implementation challenges of ERP system in pharmaceutical companies
Authors: Singh Shikha , Singh Smriti , Misra Subhas C.
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Many organizations failed to generate profits after investing considerable money and time in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. This study, therefore, sought to identify the challenges encountered by pharmaceutical firms during the post-implementation of ERP systems.

Design/methodology/approach

A case-based study followed by general survey-based research was carried out in pharmaceutical firms to determine the critical post-implementation challenges of ERP systems. DANP (DEMATEL-based ANP) and Wilcoxon Signed Rank test were used to find the causal/critical challenges and rank them.

Findings

After analyzing a pharmaceutical case company and conducting a general survey among pharmaceutical companies, statistical analysis was performed to identify the most significant challenges, namely, “Inefficient troubleshooting mechanism”, “Lack of training during post-implementation stage” and “Difficulty in identifying invalid data when entered into the ERP system”. Furthermore, organization-wide challenges are considered to be the most important.

Practical implications

The paper identifies the challenges faced during the post-implementation phase of ERP systems. This work brings out the issues with ERP systems' performance after their implementation, which is related to the quality of the ERP systems. This work will support the risk identification and mitigation during ERP implementation to eradicate the problems after its implementation. This work may trigger the ERP system developers to improve its features and performance for better manufacturing and supply chain management system in pharmaceutical firms.

Originality/value

This study is uniquely conducted in pharmaceutical firms to study the benefits and challenges of adopted ERP systems. A pilot case study served as the foundation for the generalizability of other pharmaceutical firms' findings through a non-parametric test.
Tribological behavior of dimples textured rolling element bearings under stepped load and starved lubrication
Authors: Long Risheng , Ma Qiang , Jin Zhihao , Zhang Yimin , Han Hui , Sun Shaoni , Du Xuanying
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report the tribological behavior of dimples textured rolling element bearings (REBs) under variable load and starved lubrication.

Design/methodology/approach

The pattern parameters include line-diameter of dimples (200 µm, 250 µm, 300 µm), depth of dimples (10 µm, 20 µm, 30 µm). Dimple patterns were prepared on the raceways of the shaft washers of cylindrical roller thrust bearings (CRTBs). A vertical wear test rig was used to obtain their coefficients of friction (COFs) under stepped load (1200–6000 N, with a manually increase of 1200 N every 3600 s) and starved lubrication. The wear losses and worn surfaces were characterized. The tribological performance between stepped load and fixed load (4000 N) was compared. The influence mechanism of dimples on the friction and wear properties of CRTBs under stepped load and starved lubrication was also discussed.

Findings

Compared with the data of smooth ones, the average COFs of the dimples textured bearings are almost all reduced under stepped load and starved lubrication, while their mass losses almost all get higher. The depth−diameter ratio and the effective volume coefficient of dimples are the important factors. In this work, compared with the smooth group, when the line-diameter of dimple is 250 µm and the depth is 20 µm, i.e. the depth−diameter ratio is 0.08, its average COF is reduced by 46.8% and its mass loss is reduced by about 7%, showing wonderful friction-reducing effect and good wear resistance.

Originality/value

This work can provide a reference for the raceway design of REBs.
A study on the mediating effects of anxiety and happiness for workplace loneliness and behavioral outcomes of Korean police officers
Authors: Chung Yang Woon , Dong Xue Tong , Yun Jeong Kwon
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Workplace loneliness has become a concern in diverse work settings. However, workplace loneliness research is in its early stages of development and not much is known about the effects of it on organizations and its members, especially in police organizations. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between workplace loneliness, anxiety, happiness, task performance, and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Data from police officers in Korea were used to test these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a three-wave time-lagged procedure, the study sample consisted of 227 police officers in South Korea from one regional police headquarters (Yongin Dongbu Police Station) and four substations in the Yongin region. The study tested parallel mediation of anxiety and happiness in the relationships between workplace loneliness and workplace outcomes using the PROCESS macro (Model 4) for SPSS 26.

Findings

The regression analyses with bootstrapping results indicated that police officers' anxiety and happiness served as mediating mechanisms linking workplace loneliness with task performance and OCB.

Originality/value

The police force is a very significant facet within society. However, research has not yet investigated loneliness in the police context. Thus, the study investigated the proximal and distal effects of workplace loneliness by associating workplace loneliness with task performance and OCB via anxiety and happiness.
A study on the effects of internal architecture on the mechanical properties and mixed-mode fracture behavior of 3D printed CaCO3/ABS nanocomposite samples
Authors: Seyedzavvar Mirsadegh , Boğa Cem
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of CaCO3 nanoparticles on the mechanical properties, and mixed-mode fracture behavior of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene 3D printed samples with different internal architectures.

Design/methodology/approach

The nanocomposite filaments have been fabricated by a melt-blending technique. The standard tensile, compact tension and special fracture test samples, named Arcan specimens, have been printed at constant extrusion parameters and at four different internal patterns. A special fixture was used to carry out the mixed-mode fracture tests of Arcan samples. Finite element analyses using the J-integral method were performed to calculate the fracture toughness of such samples. The fractographic observations were used to evaluate the mechanism of fracture at different concentrations of nanoparticles.

Findings

The addition of CaCO3 nanoparticles has resulted in a significant increase in the fracture loading of the samples, although this increase was not consistent for all the filling patterns, being more significant for samples with linear and triangular structures. According to the fractographic observations, the creation of uniformly distributed microvoids due to the blunting effect of nanoparticles and 3D stress state at the crack tip in the samples with linear and triangular structures justify the enhancement in the fracture loading by the addition of CaCO3 nanoparticles in the matrix.

Originality/value

There is a significant gap in the knowledge of the effects of different nanoparticles in the polymer samples produced by the fused filament fabrication process. One of such nanoparticles is an inorganic CaCO3 nanoparticle that has been frequently used as nanofillers to improve the thermomechanical properties of thermoplastic polymers. Here, experimental and numerical studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of such nanoadditives on the mechanical and fracture behavior of 3D printed samples.
High prevalence does not necessarily equal maintenance species: Avoiding biased claims of disease reservoirs when using surveillance data
Authors: Wilber Mark Q. , DeMarchi Joseph , Fefferman Nina H. , Silk Matthew J.
Published: July 2022

Many pathogens of public health and conservation concern persist in host communities. Identifying candidate maintenance and reservoir species is therefore a central component of disease management. The term maintenance species implies that if all species but the putative maintenance species were removed, then the pathogen would still persist. In the absence of field manipulations, this statement inherently requires a causal or mechanistic model to assess.

However, we lack a systematic understanding of (i) how often conclusions are made about maintenance and reservoir species without reference to mechanistic models (ii) what types of biases may be associated with these conclusions and (iii) how explicitly invoking causal or mechanistic modelling can help ameliorate these biases. Filling these knowledge gaps is critical for robust inference about pathogen persistence and spillover in multihost–parasite systems, with clear implications for human and wildlife health.

To address these gaps, we performed a literature review on the evidence previous studies have used to make claims regarding maintenance or reservoir species. We then developed multihost–parasite models to explore and demonstrate common biases that could arise when inferring maintenance potential from observational prevalence data. Finally, we developed new theory to show how model‐driven inference of maintenance species can minimize and eliminate emergent biases.

In our review, we found that 83% of studies used some form of observational prevalence data to draw conclusions on maintenance potential and only 6% of these studies combined observational data with mechanistic modelling. Using our model, we demonstrate how the community, spatial and temporal context of observational data can lead to substantial biases in inferences of maintenance potential. Importantly, our theory identifies that model‐driven inference of maintenance species elucidates other streams of observational data that can be leveraged to correct these biases.

Model‐driven inference is an essential, yet underused, component of multidisciplinary studies that make inference about host reservoir and maintenance species. Better integration of wildlife disease surveillance and mechanistic models is necessary to improve the robustness and reproducibility of our conclusions regarding maintenance and reservoir species.
The roles of DmsEFAB and MtrCAB in extracellular reduction of iodate by Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1 with lactate as the sole electron donor
Authors: Guo Jinzhi , Jiang Yongguang , Hu Yidan , Jiang Zhou , Dong Yiran , Shi Liang
Published: July 2022

To investigate their roles in extracellular reduction of iodate (IO3−) with lactate as an electron donor, the gene clusters of dmsEFAB, mtrCAB, mtrDEF and so4360‐4357 in Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1 were systematically deleted. Deletions of dmsEFAB and/or mtrCAB gene clusters diminished the bacterial ability to reduce IO3−. Furthermore, DmsEFAB and MtrCAB worked collaboratively to reduce IO3− of which DmsEFAB played a more dominant role than MtrCAB. MtrCAB was involved in detoxifying the reaction intermediate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The reaction intermediate hypoiodous acid (HIO) was also found to inhibit microbial IO3− reduction. SO4360‐4357 and MtrDEF, however, were not involved in IO3− reduction. Collectively, these results suggest a novel mechanism of extracellular reduction of IO3− at molecular level, in which DmsEFAB reduces IO3− to HIO and H2O2. The latter is further reduced to H2O by MtrCAB to facilitate the DmsEFAB‐mediated IO3− reduction. The extracellular electron transfer pathway of S. oneidensis MR‐1 is believed to mediate electron transfer from bacterial cytoplasmic membrane, across the cell envelope to the DmsEFAB and MtrCAB on the bacterial outer membrane.
Changes in the structural and physicochemical properties of wheat gliadin and maize amylopectin conjugates induced by dry‐heating
Authors: Yang Wenqing , Wang Qiming , Chen Yuanyuan , Lei Lin , Lei Xiaojuan , Zhao Jichun , Zhang Yuhao , Ming Jian
Published: July 2022

The Maillard reaction (MR) has been known to modify proteins and optimize their physicochemical properties by conjugating with reducing sugars. The structure and physicochemical properties of wheat gliadin and maize amylopectin conjugates induced by MR were investigated under different gliadin–amylopectin ratios (2:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, and 1:8). The formation of conjugates was indicated by sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, degree of conjugation, and browning development analyses. The Fourier transform infrared and fluorescence spectroscopy analyses suggested changes in the structures of conjugates and the microenvironment of amino acids. A remarkable decrease in the β‐turn structure content and an increase in the free sulfhydryl group content were observed at a ratio of 1:8, leading to decreased allergenicity. The reaction process was commendably controlled at a ratio of 1:1 with a 59.7% degree of conjugation in this group, contributing to the amelioration of solubility and foaming properties. Meanwhile, improvements in the oil holding capacity, surface hydrophobicity, and emulsifying properties were observed at a ratio of 1:4.

Practical Application

The study revealed that the conjugates produced by MR might have various degrees of improved functional properties and reduced allergenicity at different ratios of substrates. Our study might be helpful for conjugates to assist in improving the texture of products and its potential in expanding the industrial application of products with gliadin.
A comparison of mortality rates for buprenorphine versus methadone treatments for opioid use disorder
Authors: Gottlieb Daniel J. , Shiner Brian , Hoyt Jessica E. , Riblet Natalie B. , Peltzman Talya , Teja Nikhil , Watts Bradley V.
Published: July 2022

Objective

Mortality from opioid use disorder (OUD) can be reduced for patients who receive opioid agonist treatment (OAT). In the United States (US), OATs have different requirements including nearly daily visits to a dispensing facility for methadone but weekly to monthly prescriptions for buprenorphine. Our objective was to compare mortality rates for buprenorphine and methadone treatments among a large sample of US patients with OUD.

Methods

We measured all‐cause mortality, overdose mortality, and suicide mortality among US Department of Veterans Affairs patients with a diagnosis of OUD who received OAT from 2010 through 2019. We leveraged substantial and sustained regional variation in prescribing buprenorphine versus methadone as an instrumental variable (IV) and used inverse propensity of treatment weighting to balance relevant covariates across treatment groups. We compared mortality with true two‐stage IV using both probit and linear probability models, as well as a reduced form IV model, adjusting for demographics and health status.

Results

Our cohort consisted of 61,997 patients with OUD who received OAT, of whom 92.7% were male with a mean age of 47.9 (SD = 14.1) years. Patients were followed for a median of 2 (IQR = 1,4) calendar years. Across regional terciles, mean methadone prescribing was 4.8%, 19.5%, and 75.1% of OAT patients. All models identified significant reductions in all‐cause and suicide mortality for buprenorphine relative to methadone. For example, predicted all‐cause mortality from the probit model was 169.7 per 10,000 person years (95% CI, 157.8, 179.6) in the lowest tercile of methadone prescribing compared with 206.1 (95% CI, 196.0, 216.3) in the highest tercile. No difference was identified for overdose mortality.

Conclusion

We found significantly lower all‐cause mortality and suicide mortality rates for buprenorphine compared with methadone. Our results support the less restrictive prescribing practices for buprenorphine as OAT in the US.
Validation of the Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ) 5.0 for use among youth in mental health services
Authors: Cleverley Kristin , Davies Julia , Allemang Brooke , Brennenstuhl Sarah
Published: July 2022

Background

Among youth with psychiatric disorders, the transition from child to adult mental health services is a period of vulnerability to discontinuous care and service disengagement. Regular assessment of transition readiness has been identified as a core component of transition planning, contributing to successful care transitions. The Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ) 5.0 is a 20‐item questionnaire that measures transition readiness in youth preparing to transition to adult care. Although the TRAQ has been validated and used across many health settings, it has not been validated in youth with primarily mental health concerns. The objective of this study was to validate the TRAQ for use among youth accessing mental health services.

Methods

This study used the Longitudinal Youth in Transition Study baseline cohort, which consists of 237 clinically referred youth (aged 16–18 years) receiving outpatient mental health treatment. Psychometric evaluation of the TRAQ 5.0 included confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), assessment of internal consistency, testing convergent validity using the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEAS) and Difficulty in Emotional Regulation (DERS) scales, criterion validity using a question on whether the participant had talked about transition with their clinician and known‐group testing based on age.

Results

The CFA indicated adequate fit of the five‐factor TRAQ structure. The overall scale (=.86) and three of the subscales demonstrated adequate internal consistency. As hypothesized, overall TRAQ scores were higher for youth who had discussed transition and those aged 18. Small correlations were found between the overall TRAQ score and measures of developmental maturity (IDEAS) and emotional awareness (DERS); however, certain subscales did not demonstrate correlation with these constructs.

Conclusions

The TRAQ 5.0 appears to be valid tool to assess the transition readiness of youth in outpatient mental health services. Additional work needs determine whether findings are similar among specific mental health conditions, including substance use disorders and psychotic disorders.
Haemodynamic left‐ventricular changes during dobutamine stress in patients with atrial septal defect assessed with magnetic resonance imaging‐based pressure–volume loops
Authors: Sjöberg Pia , Arheden Håkan , Heiberg Einar , Stephensen Sigurdur , Carlsson Marcus
Published: July 2022

Background

Atrial septal defect (ASD) results in a left‐to‐right shunt causing right‐ventricular (RV) volume overload and decreased cardiac output from the left ventricle. Pressure–volume (PV) loops enable comprehensive assessment of ventricular function and might increase understanding of the pathophysiology of ASD. The aim of this study was to investigate if left‐ventricular (LV) haemodynamic response to stress in patients with ASD differs from controls.

Material and Methods

Patients with ASD (n = 18, age 51 ± 18) and healthy controls (n = 16, age 35 ± 13) underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and brachial cuff pressure measurements at rest and during dobutamine stress. An in‐house, validated method was used to compute PV loops.

Results

Patients had lower stroke work, potential energy and external power at rest than controls (p < 0.001; p < 0.05; p < 0.05). Stroke work and external power increased and potential energy decreased during stress in patients (p < 0.05; p < 0.0001; p < 0.01) and controls (p < 0.0001; p < 0.001; p < 0.01). Contractility and arterial elastance at rest were higher in patients than controls (p < 0.01; p < 0.01). Contractility increased during stress in both groups (p < 0.0001; p < 0.001). There was no difference between patients and controls in arterio‐ventricular coupling.

Conclusion

LV haemodynamic response to stress can be assessed using noninvasive PV loops derived from CMR and brachial blood pressure. Patients with ASD had normal LV energy efficiency, in contrast to other patient groups with decreased cardiac output. Data suggest that patients with ASD had an increased inotropic level at rest with high contractility and heart rate but were able to respond with a further increase during stress, albeit to not as high a cardiac output as controls.
Multispecies study of patterns and drivers of wildlife impacts on human livelihoods in communal conservancies
Authors: Tavolaro Francesca Marina , Woodgate Zoe , Brown Chris , Redpath Steve M. , O'Riain Mannus Justin
Published: July 2022

Farmers in developing countries often work in challenging environments with poor infrastructure, marginal agricultural potential, and limited economic opportunities. These challenges are exacerbated when wildlife impact human livelihoods. Here, we analyze data quantifying the type and frequency of human‐wildlife impacts within communal conservancies across Namibia and explore possible drivers of temporal and spatial variation of these data. A total of 112,165 human‐wildlife impacts were reported between 2001 and 2019 at the national level, with livestock depredation the most common. Marked regional variation was however evident with crop raiding and attacks on humans more prevalent in the mesic North‐East, and both livestock depredation and infrastructure damage highest in the arid north‐western regions. Elephant, jackal, hyena, cheetah, and leopard (in descending order) were the species most frequently linked to reported damage. Distance to the nearest protected area and river, terrain ruggedness, conservancy size, and annual rainfall (amongst others) all had a significant impact on both the distribution and extent of human‐wildlife impact reports. Reports did not vary significantly with years but were significantly influenced by average monthly rainfall. Understanding spatial and temporal patterns of human‐wildlife impacts at a national scale, in addition to their potential drivers, allows for the identification of conflict hotspots and the allocation of resources and expertise to mitigate them. Ultimately, mitigating negative interactions between people and wildlife will allow for the continued sharing of space and with that the sustainability of a model that has seen a dramatic increase in both the distribution and abundance of wildlife in Namibia.