bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring publicness as social practice: An analysis on social support within an emerging economy
Authors: Tekin Bilbil Ebru , Fırtın Cemil Eren , Zihnioğlu Ozge , Bracci Enrico
Published: December 2023

By utilizing the concepts of field, habitus, and capital inherited from Bourdieu, this study explores publicness as a social practice. In doing this, the paper problematizes publicness concerning accountability and public value and empirically explores the organization of social support delivery in Istanbul. We posit our research question: In what manners does publicness open up a space for collaboration and convergence in relation to accountability? The data gathering and analysis follow a qualitative methodology. We found different forms of publicness under three different conditionalities: (1) publicness as political authority based on hierarchization and centralization; (2) publicness as competing positions produced by diverse actors and their diverse positions taken beyond hierarchical relations; (3) publicness as social inclusion and diversity that is all‐embracing by employing more inclusive practices. Publicness relationally unfolds public value with and among formal rules, voluntary practices, and networks. By delving into constitutive elements of practice—symbolic capital and habitus—engaging in the field struggles of redefining and owning publicness, the paper goes beyond the conventional dichotomy of normative versus empirical conceptualizations of publicness and instead differentiates among distinct forms of publicness in different conditionalities and contributes to the literature by bridging publicness and accountability habitus.
MLDSR, the transcriptional regulator of the major lipid droplets protein MLDS, is controlled by long‐chain fatty acids and contributes to the lipid‐accumulating phenotype in oleaginous Rhodococcus strains
Authors: Hernández Martín A. , Ledesma Ana E. , Moncalián Gabriel , Alvarez Héctor M.
Published: December 2023

Microorganism lipid droplet small regulator (MLDSR) is a transcriptional regulator of the major lipid droplet (LD)‐associated protein MLDS in Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 and Rhodococcus opacus PD630. In this study, we investigated the role of MLDSR on lipid metabolism and triacylglycerol (TAG) accumulation in R. jostii RHA1 at physiological and molecular levels. MLDSR gene deletion promoted a significant decrease of TAG accumulation, whereas inhibition of de novo fatty acid biosynthesis by the addition of cerulenin significantly repressed the expression of the mldsr‐mlds cluster under nitrogen‐limiting conditions. In vitro and in vivo approaches revealed that MLDSR‐DNA binding is inhibited by fatty acids and acyl‐CoA residues through changes in the oligomeric or conformational state of the protein. RNAseq analysis indicated that MLDSR not only controls the expression of its own gene cluster but also of several genes involved in central, lipid, and redox metabolism, among others. We also identified putative MLDSR‐binding sites on the upstream regions of genes coding for lipid catabolic enzymes and validated them by EMSA assays. Overexpression of mldsr gene under nitrogen‐rich conditions promoted an increase of TAG accumulation, and further cell lysis with TAG release to the culture medium. Our results suggested that MLDSR is a fatty acid‐responsive regulator that plays a dual role in cells by repression or activation of several metabolic genes in R. jostii RHA1. MLDSR seems to play an important role in the fine‐tuning regulation of TAG accumulation, LD formation, and cellular lipid homeostasis, contributing to the oleaginous phenotype of R. jostii RHA1 and R. opacus PD630.
Association between frailty and locomotive syndrome in elderly patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: A retrospective longitudinal analysis
Authors: Nagai Sota , Kawabata Soya , Michikawa Takehiro , Ito Kei , Takeda Hiroki , Ikeda Daiki , Kaneko Shinjiro , Fujita Nobuyuki
Published: December 2023

Aims

With the aging society worldwide, lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) has become common, and its incidence has been increasing worldwide. Frailty and locomotive syndrome significantly overlap as disorders in older people. The current study aimed to validate the association between frailty and locomotive syndrome in patients with LSS. In particular, the involvement of frailty in locomotive syndrome following surgery was examined.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the time‐course data of consecutive patients aged ≥65 years who underwent lumbar spinal surgery for LSS. The locomotive syndrome stages were determined using the 25‐Question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale: stage 0, score ≤6; stage 1, score ≥7; stage 2, score ≥16; and Stage 3, score ≥24. Robust, pre‐frailty, and frailty were defined as a modified frailty index‐11 score of 0, <0.21, and >0.21, respectively.

Results

This study included 234 patients. All patients except one were diagnosed with locomotive syndrome preoperatively. Approximately 24.8% of participants were diagnosed with frailty. LSS surgery improved locomotive syndrome regardless of frailty severity. Meanwhile, multivariable analysis indicated that frailty could significantly inhibit improvement in locomotive syndrome after surgery in old patients with LSS (estimated relative risk: 0.6; 95% confidence interval: 0.4–0.9).

Conclusions

This study first assessed the association between locomotive syndrome and frailty in patients with LSS. Locomotive syndrome could be managed effectively with surgery regardless of frailty severity in old patients with LSS. However, our findings emphasize the need to screen for frailty preoperatively in this patient group. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 116–122.
Mechanisms of Non‐Fresh Groundwater Presence at Water Tables in Highly Permeable Coastal Aquifers
Authors: Tajima Satoshi , Liu Jiaqi , Tokunaga Tomochika
Published: December 2023

Coastal aquifers with high hydraulic conductivities on the order of 10−2 m s−1 have unconventional salinity distributions with the presence of non‐fresh groundwater at the water table over a wide swath near the coast. This study aims to unravel the mechanisms underlying the phenomenon via numerical simulations for variably saturated, density‐driven flow and solute transport in porous media. The simulation results indicate that the existence of non‐fresh groundwater at the water table is attributed to the upward mass flux in the saturated zone near the coast, which transports solute from deeper groundwater toward the water table. With high hydraulic conductivity, the upward mass flux becomes prominent at shallower elevations because of the high Darcy flux and the shallow saline groundwater. The upward mass flux has two main drivers, upward advection by the upward flow component and transverse dispersion by the seaward flow component. The advective mass flux dominates over the transverse dispersion in the deep part of the saturated zone where only groundwater with sea water salinity exists. In contrast, the transverse dispersion becomes more pronounced than the upward advection in the shallow saturated zone just beneath the water table and in the unsaturated zone immediately above the water table. Our findings help interpret the unconventional salinity distributions observed and elucidate the unique dynamics of groundwater flow and solute transport in highly permeable coastal aquifers.
The change in Fibrosis‐4 index in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes treated by a fixed‐ratio combination therapy of insulin degludec and liraglutide: A retrospective observational study
Authors: Ito Hiroyuki , Someya Ryota , Ando Shigenori , Araki Rie , Tsugami Emiko , Matsumoto Suzuko , Inoue Hideyuki , Antoku Shinichi , Yamasaki Tomoko , Mori Toshiko , Togane Michiko
Published: December 2023

Aim

The efficacy of titratable fixed‐ratio combination therapy by a combination preparation of insulin degludec and liraglutide (IDegLira) in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes, focusing particularly on the change in Fibrosis‐4 index (FIB‐4), a noninvasive method for the evaluation of liver fibrosis, was investigated.

Methods

As the full analysis set, 113 patients were treated with IDegLira. The patients were categorized into two groups according to the absence (GLP‐1RA‐naïve group, n = 72) or presence (GLP‐1RA‐treated group, n = 41) of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist (GLP‐1RA) use before starting IDegLira. The clinical parameters were retrospectively determined over 6 months.

Results

The glycated hemoglobin value was significantly reduced in both groups. The bodyweight significantly decreased from 67.4 ± 11.0 kg at baseline to 66.4 ± 11.6 kg at 6 months in the GLP‐1RA‐naïve group, although it slightly increased in the GLP‐1RA‐treated group. FIB‐4 significantly decreased from 1.60 ± 0.84 at baseline to 1.49 ± 0.74 at 6 months in the GLP‐1RA‐naïve group. Although FIB‐4 significantly increased in the GLP‐1RA‐treated group, it remained within the low‐risk level for liver fibrosis.

Conclusion

Fixed‐ratio combination therapy using IDegLira for the treatment of type 2 diabetes is useful for glycemic control and weight management. In particular, IDegLira may be more effective for lowering FIB‐4 than adding unused oral antidiabetic agents or increasing the dose of insulin in GLP‐1RA‐naïve patients.
Well‐supervised, highly motivated, and healthy? Using latent class analysis and structural equation modelling to study doctoral candidates' health satisfaction
Authors: Kunz Carolin , Schneijderberg Christian , Müller Lars
Published: December 2023

More and more empirical studies address doctoral candidates' health. Yet, the mechanisms linking supervision and doctoral candidates' health often remain unclear. We start to fill this research gap with classifications of supervisors produced by latent class analysis, which were introduced into structural equation models with motivation towards the dissertation research as a mediator to predict doctoral candidates' health satisfaction. We used data from more than 200 doctoral candidates from a German university. Three types of supervisor support were extracted (poor support: 18.4%; good support: 26.4%; very good support: 55.2%). Poor support was significantly negatively associated with doctoral candidates' levels of motivation and health satisfaction. The relationship between poor support and health was partly mediated by motivation. By means of the advanced statistical models, mechanisms linking supervision and doctoral candidates' health could be identified and research on the dimensions of (very) good supervisor support could be expanded.
Recent history of Veterinary Immunology in Australia
Authors: Meeusen Els N , Fahey Kevin J , Wood Paul R
Published: December 2023

This Commentary article reviews the history of veterinary immunology in Australia from the 1980s and discusses the key people and areas of research during this period.
A meta‐analysis of the risk factors for neurosurgical surgical site infection following craniotomy
Authors: Sun Dechao , Ma Zhuang , Geng Yadong , Kong Chenxu , Li Zhenjiang
Published: December 2023

The purpose of the meta‐analysis was to evaluate and compare the risk factors for neurosurgical surgical site infection (SSI) after craniotomy. Using dichotomous or contentious random or fixed effect models, the odds ratio (OR) and mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed based on the examination of the meta‐analysis results. Eighteen analyses, covering 11 068 craniotomies between 2001 and 2023, were included in the current meta‐analysis. Subjects with SSIs had a significantly younger age (MD, −2.49; 95% CI, −2.95 to −2.04, p < 0.001), longer operation duration (MD, 10.21; 95% CI, 6.49–13.94, p < 0.001) and longer length of postoperative hospital stay (MD, 1.52; 95% CI, 0.45–2.60, p = 0.006) compared to subjects with no SSI with craniotomy. However, no significant difference was found between craniotomy subjects with SSIs and with no SSI in gender (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.76–1.07, p = 0.23), and combination with other infection (OR, 3.93; 95% CI, 0.28–56.01, p = 0.31). The data that were looked at showed that younger age, longer operation duration and longer length of postoperative hospital stay can be considered as risk factors of SSI in subjects with craniotomy; however, gender and combination with other infections are not. Nonetheless, consideration should be given to their values because several studies only involved a small number of patients, and there are not many studies available for some comparisons.
Treatment of diabetic foot ulcers with external application of Chinese herbal medicine: An overview of overlapping systematic reviews
Authors: Liang Xiaolun , Xia Yuge , Xu Zhirui , Zeng Qiang , Gao Guochuan , He Jiangshan , Xu Danping
Published: December 2023

This overview of systematic reviews (SRs) and meta‐analysis (MAs) aimed to systematically collate, appraise and synthesize evidence for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) with the external application of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM). SRs/MAs of external application of CHM for DFUs were collected by searching Cochrane Library, Web of science, CNKI, PubMed, VIP, Embase and Wanfang. Two independent reviewers carried out the literature selection and data extraction. Subsequently, AMSTAR‐2 tool, PRISMA, and GRADE system were applied by two reviewers independently to evaluate the methodological quality, reporting quality, and evidence quality of the included studies, respectively. Eight SRs/MAs met the eligibility criteria and were included. According to AMSTAR‐2, a very low methodological quality assessment was given to the included SRs/MAs due to the flaws of items 2, 4 and 7. The PRISMA system identified protocol and registration weaknesses, as well as search method weaknesses. With GRADE, no high‐quality evidence was identified to support the role of external application of CHM for DFUs, and the quality of evidence for the vast majority of outcomes was rated as low or moderate. In conclusion, low‐ to moderate‐quality evidence supports the promise of external application of CHM for the treatment of DFUs. Due to the limitations of the evidence supporting external application of CHM for DFUs, rigorously designed and larger samples of high‐quality studies are needed going forward before broad recommendations can be made.
PCAT‐1′ s role in wound healing impairment: Mitochondrial dysfunction and bone marrow stem cell differentiation inhibition via PKM2/β‐catenin pathway and its impact on implant osseo‐integration
Authors: Deng Tianzheng , Liu Qian , Li Ying , Zhu Xiaoru , Long Yunjing , Liu Bing , Pang Jianliang , Zhao Lingzhou
Published: December 2023

This study focused on unravelling the role of PCAT‐1 in wound‐healing process, particularly its impact on regenerative and osteogenic abilities of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). We delved into how PCAT‐1 regulates mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and interacts with pivotal molecular pathways, especially β‐catenin and PKM2, using human bone marrow‐derived MSCs. MSCs were cultured under specific conditions and PCAT‐1 expression was modified through transfection. We thoroughly assessed several critical parameters: MSC proliferation, mitochondrial functionality, ATP production and expression of wound healing and osteogenic differentiation markers. Further, we evaluated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineral deposition, essential for bone healing. Our findings revealed that overexpressing PCAT‐1 significantly reduced MSC proliferation, hampered mitochondrial performance and lowered ATP levels, suggesting the clear inhibitory effect of PCAT‐1 on these vital wound‐healing processes. Additionally, PCAT‐1 overexpression notably decreased ALP activity and calcium accumulation in MSCs, crucial for effective bone regeneration. This overexpression also led to the reduction in osteogenic marker expression, indicating suppression of osteogenic differentiation, essential in wound‐healing scenarios. Moreover, our study uncovered a direct interaction between PCAT‐1 and the PKM2/β‐catenin pathway, where PCAT‐1 overexpression intensified PKM2 activity while inhibiting β‐catenin, thereby adversely affecting osteogenesis. This research thus highlights PCAT‐1's significant role in impairing wound healing, offering insights into the molecular mechanisms that may guide future therapeutic strategies for enhancing wound repair and bone regeneration.
Deciphering the synergistic action of multiple factors inducing high piezoresponse in CaBi4Ti4O15‐based piezoelectric ceramics
Authors: Chen Hao , Xi Jingwen , Xing Jie , Li Hongjiang , Tang Manjing , Chen Ning , Chen Qiang , Tan Zhi , Zhu Jianguo
Published: December 2023

NaBiCe/Sc ions were co‐doped into a pure CaBi4Ti4O15 (CBT) ceramic to investigate the synergistic action of multiple factors that induced a high piezoresponse. In comparison to the undoped CBT ceramic, the NaBiCe/Sc co‐doped CBT solid solution exhibited an enhancement in spontaneous polarization (Ps) attributed to the tilting of the oxygen octahedra, enhanced domain reorientation owing to increased grain size, and improved dielectric breakdown strength as a consequence of reduced porosity. The synergistic action of the aforementioned comprehensive factors resulted in excellent electrical properties of Ca0.6(Na0.5Bi0.5)0.4Bi3.97Ce0.03Ti3.925Sc0.075O15 ceramic: piezoelectric coefficient d33 = 25.0 pC/N, remnant polarization Pr = 9.28 μC/cm2, and coercive field Ec = 76.14 kV/cm. Moreover, a significant high direct current resistivity (ρdc = 1.22 × 107 Ω·cm at 500°C) was achieved, and the corresponding conductance mechanism was analyzed through a synergistic approach that combines ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectra and density functional theory.
Reliable ferroelectricity in sol–gel‐derived BiFeO3 thin films below 200 nm
Authors: Gao Xuan , Dai Le , Liu Yang , Wang Ke , Karpinsky D. V. , Liu Lisha , Wang Yaojin
Published: December 2023

To evaluate optimizing processing conditions for bismuth ferrite BiFeO3 (BFO) thin films with thicknesses below 200 nm on Pt(111)/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates. The impact of the amorphous components, as well as defects and elemental composition changes and microstructure evolution (i.e., grain size) as regulated by the treatment temperatures (475–600°C) on the ferroelectric and dielectric properties are investigated. The current work shows that with the smallest grain size and the least defects amount achieved in the film annealed at 550°C, the conductivity is compressed greatly. Such a temperature will also allow adequate ferroelectric switching by reducing the amorphous components, which remain the majority below 500°C and thus reinforce the polarization switching. The leakage path is deduced via crystallized grains in BFO thin films instead of the remaining including grain boundaries and amorphous components. The best remanent polarization of ∼60.4 μC·cm‐2 from PUND measurements excluding the leakage contribution at 500 kV·cm−1 and an excellent fatigue property of 106 cycles are achieved. In addition, broadened fabrication temperatures for amorphous‐protected polycrystalline BFO thin films from 525 to 575°C, exhibiting superior ferroelectricity than most previously reported BFO thin films below 200 nm, either derived by chemical or physical methods. Ultimately, it is suggested that for leaky ferroelectrics such as BFO, optimal annealing temperature should balance the amorphous components by reducing the annealing temperature while maintaining adequate crystallization for ferroelectric switching.
Pirfenidone inhibits TGF‐β1‐induced metabolic reprogramming during epithelial‐mesenchymal transition in non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Zhang Shuling , Wang Yuanmei , Luo Daiqin , Cheng Zhimei , Zeng Qibing , Wang Guoze , Chen Mengxue , Zhang Shuai , Luo Peng
Published: December 2023

Metastasis is an important contributor to increased mortality rates in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The TGF‐β signalling pathway plays a crucial role in facilitating tumour metastasis through epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT). Glycolysis, a key metabolic process, is strongly correlated with NSCLC metastasis. Pirfenidone (PFD) has been shown to safely and effectively inhibit TGF‐β1 in patients with lung diseases. Furthermore, TGF‐β1 and glycolysis demonstrate an interdependent relationship within the tumour microenvironment. Our previous study demonstrated that PFD effectively inhibited glycolysis in NSCLC cells, prompting further investigation into its potential antitumour effects in this context. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the potential antitumour effect of PFD in NSCLC and explore the relationship among TGF‐β1, glycolysis and EMT through further experimentation. The antitumour effects of PFD were evaluated using five different NSCLC cell lines and a xenograft tumour model. Notably, PFD demonstrated a significant antitumour effect specifically in highly glycolytic H1299 cells. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, we compared the efficacy of PFD after pretreatment with either TGF‐β1 or a TGF‐β receptor inhibitor (LY2109761). The energy metabolomics analysis of tumour tissue demonstrated that PFD, a chemosensitizing agent, reduced lactate and ATP production, thereby inhibiting glycolysis and exerting synergistic antineoplastic effects. Additionally, PFD combined with cisplatin targeted TGF‐β1 to inhibit glycolysis during EMT and enhanced the chemosensitization of A549 and H1299 cells. The magnitude of the anticancer effect exhibited by PFD was intricately linked to its metabolic properties.
Glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor systems in the hypothalamus and the brainstem regulate feeding and weight through distinct pathways
Authors: Yada Toshihiko
Published: December 2023

The report by Adriaenssens et al. in JCI Insight 22 May 2023 explored the role and property of the neurons that express glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR) in the brainstem and hypothalamus. The chemogenetic activation of the brainstem GIPR neurons and that of the hypothalamic GIPR neurons showed different feeding and behavior responses. The brainstem GIPR neurons projected to the paraventricular hypothalamus and lateral parabrachial nucleus. Fluorescent‐labeled, stabilized peptide GIPR agonist (GIPRA), peripherally injected, localized to the area postrema, nucleus tractus solitarius, median eminence and arcuate hypothalamus. This report showed the role of brainstem GIPR neurons in receiving GIPRA to drive the neural circuit to reduce feeding and bodyweight. In this commentary, distinct and possible cooperative roles of the hypothalamic and the brainstem GIPR pathways will also be discussed.
Reply to: Comment on the 2023 updated AGS Beers Criteria for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults
Authors: Semla Todd P. , Steinman Michael A.
Published: December 2023

This letter comments on the letter by Dobesh et al. in this issue.
The humanistic perspective as “a lighthouse” for the perception of QOL/FQOL and its application
Authors: Neuman Ran , Reiter Shunit , Brown Roy I.
Published: December 2023

Quality of life (QOL) has become an increasingly important topic in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Those efforts have included the structuring of models of QOL and more recently Family Quality of life (FQOL). The time has arrived to examine other developments and consider their place in a QOL paradigm. In this article, we have described one of the aspects of QOL that does not appear to be formally or directly structured into models of QOL, namely the role of the humanistic perspective as “a lighthouse” concept for the perception of QOL/FQOL and a vehicle for its application in practice. It is recognized that many researchers and practitioners have considered or practised a humanistic approach but the core beliefs and elements on humanism have received less specific or detailed attention in the QOL literature. This article proposes humanistic philosophy to be the basis for defining humanistic theoretical principles and guidelines for practice, and to be an important vehicle for operationalizing and applying quality of life.
Does women's political empowerment matter in military spending?
Authors: Keneck‐Massil Joseph , Nkariepoun‐Njoya Iliassou , Nomo‐Beyala Bernard Clery
Published: December 2023

Despite recognition of the importance of women's political rights for the functioning of modern states, women's participation in political debate and decision‐making remains low around the world. As the first study of its kind, this article examines the impact of women's political empowerment on military spending. Using a sample of 163 developed and developing countries, the article shows that women's political empowerment helps to reduce military spending. Moreover, this result remains robust when dealing with the level of development, endogeneity issues and geographical location. As an explanation, we highlight the role of women politically engaged in improving governance through the reduction of corruption, peacebuilding, their preference for social spending like education and health and their role in reduction discrimination against women.
An introduction to scanning transmission electron microscopy for the study of protozoans
Authors: Trépout Sylvain , Sgarra Marie‐Laure , Marco Sergio , Ramm Georg
Published: December 2023

Since its inception in the 1930s, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been a powerful method to explore the cellular structure of parasites. TEM usually requires samples of <100 nm thick and with protozoans being larger than 1 μm, their study requires resin embedding and ultrathin sectioning. During the past decade, several new methods have been developed to improve, facilitate, and speed up the structural characterisation of biological samples, offering new imaging modalities for the study of protozoans. In particular, scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) can be used to observe sample sections as thick as 1 μm thus becoming an alternative to conventional TEM. STEM can also be performed under cryogenic conditions in combination with cryo‐electron tomography providing access to the study of thicker samples in their native hydrated states in 3D. This method, called cryo‐scanning transmission electron tomography (cryo‐STET), was first developed in 2014. This review presents the basic concepts and benefits of STEM methods and provides examples to illustrate the potential for new insights into the structure and ultrastructure of protozoans.
Geographic variation in simple contact calls of Canadian beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas)
Authors: Booy Karyn V. , Vergara Valeria , Loseto Lisa , Mikus Marie‐Ana , Marcoux Marianne
Published: December 2023

Beluga whales, Delphinapterus leucas, are a highly social species with a complex and diverse vocal repertoire. Although extensively studied and classified, to date few attempts have been made to examine geographic variation in their calls. In this study, we examined geographic variation in simple contact calls (SCCs), specifically those that consist only of broadband pulsed trains, among four Canadian beluga populations from the Eastern Beaufort Sea (EBS), the Eastern High Arctic‐Baffin Bay, St. Lawrence Estuary (SLE), and the Western Hudson Bay. Five acoustic parameters were measured for each call and compared among populations using multivariate discriminant analysis. Results of our study indicate that there is a degree of variation in SCCs among these four populations, with the most geographically distant populations of the SLE and EBS displaying the greatest degrees of dissimilarity in SCC structure relative to geographically closer populations. Further, these results align with genetic variation of Canadian beluga populations previously described in the literature. This study is the first descriptive population comparison of SCCs for beluga and establishes a baseline for continued work into this developing area of research.
The Snf5‐Hsf1 transcription module synergistically regulates stress responses and pathogenicity by maintaining ROS homeostasis in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
Authors: Xiao Kunqin , Liu Ling , He Ruonan , Rollins Jeffrey A. , Li Anmo , Zhang Guiping , He Xiaoyue , Wang Rui , Liu Jinliang , Zhang Xianghui , Zhang Yanhua , Pan Hongyu
Published: December 2023

The SWI/SNF complex is guided to the promoters of designated genes by its co‐operator to activate transcription in a timely and appropriate manner to govern development, pathogenesis, and stress responses in fungi. Nevertheless, knowledge of the complexes and their co‐operator in phytopathogenic fungi is still fragmented.

We demonstrate that the heat shock transcription factor SsHsf1 guides the SWI/SNF complex to promoters of heat shock protein (hsp) genes and antioxidant enzyme genes using biochemistry and pharmacology. This is accomplished through direct interaction with the complex subunit SsSnf5 under heat shock and oxidative stress. This results in the activation of their transcription and mediates histone displacement to maintain reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis.

Genetic results demonstrate that the transcription module formed by SsSnf5 and SsHsf1 is responsible for regulating morphogenesis, stress tolerance, and pathogenicity in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, especially by directly activating the transcription of hsp genes and antioxidant enzyme genes counteracting plant‐derived ROS. Furthermore, we show that stress‐induced phosphorylation of SsSnf5 is necessary for the formation of the transcription module.

This study establishes that the SWI/SNF complex and its co‐operator cooperatively regulate the transcription of hsp genes and antioxidant enzyme genes to respond to host and environmental stress in the devastating phytopathogenic fungi.
Neutrophils are involved in early bone formation during midpalatal expansion
Authors: Jiang Ting , Tang Xin‐Yue , Su Han , Chen Jia‐Yi , Qin Yu‐Qi , Qin Yu‐Chen , Ouyang Ning‐Juan , Tang Guo‐Hua
Published: December 2023

Objective

Midpalatal expansion (MPE) is routinely employed to treat transverse maxillary arch deficiency. Neutrophils are indispensable for recruiting bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) at the initial stage of bone regeneration. This study aimed to explore whether neutrophils participate in MPE and how they function during bone formation under mechanical stretching.

Materials and Methods

The presence and phenotype of neutrophils in the midpalatal suture during expansion were detected by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining. The possible mechanism of neutrophil recruitment and polarization was explored in vitro by exposing vascular endothelial cells (VECs) to cyclic tensile strain.

Results

The number of neutrophils in the distracted suture peaked on Day 3, and N2‐type neutrophils significantly increased on Day 5 after force application. The depletion of circulatory neutrophils reduced bone volume by 43.6% after 7‐day expansion. The stretched VECs recruited neutrophils via a CXCR2 mechanism in vitro, which then promoted BMSC osteogenic differentiation through the VEGFA/VEGFR2 axis. Consistently, these neutrophils showed higher expression of canonical N2 phenotype genes, including CD206 and Arg1.

Conclusions

These results suggested that neutrophils participated in early bone formation during MPE. Based on these findings, we propose that stretched VECs recruited and polarized neutrophils, which, in turn, induced BMSC osteogenic differentiation.
Risk stratifier for sudden cardiac death beyond the left ventricular ejection fraction in Chagas cardiomyopathy
Authors: Pedrosa Roberto Coury , Paulo do Vale Madeiro João , Alberto Alex C. , Limeira Gabriel A. , de Bragança Pereira Basílio , Matos do Nascimento Emília , Schlindwein Fernando Soares , Ng Ghulam Andre
Published: December 2023

Background

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk markers are needed in Chagas cardiomyopathy (CC). Action potential duration restitution (APDR) dynamics is capable of extracting information on cardiac regional heterogeneity. This study intends to develop a patient‐specific variables‐based algorithm to predict SCD in the low‐intermediate subgroups of the Rassi risk score.

Methods

Cross‐sectional study of patients who underwent 24‐h Holter for research purposes between January 1992 and February 2017. From 4‐h ECG segment, RR series were generated and APDR dynamics metrics were calculated. Classification tree and sensitivity analysis were applied. As outcomes, SCD, SCD‐free and non‐cardiovascular death and 34 variables were included.

Results

Two hundred twenty‐one (129 in the group SCD‐free, 80 in the SCD group and 12 non‐cardiovascular death group) were analyzed. In the groups with and without SCD (209 patients), the median age was 66 years, 52% were female, the cardiac involvement was mild to moderate in 72% with a Rassi point median of 8 (IQ: 3 to 11). The SCD group had more ventricular remodeling and more ventricular electrical instability. The occurrence of a %beats QTend/TendQ ratio > 1 (AUC, 0.96 (95% CI 0.89–0.98) present in more than 56.7% of the 4‐h ECG segments was sufficient to identify patients of the SCD subgroup. Variables representing different stages of CC were also relevant in the model.

Conclusion

It is possible to use APDR dynamics as an adjuvant in the SCD risk assessment in a subgroup of patients with a high risk of SCD and a very low risk of non‐CV death with high power of discrimination.
New postoperative pain instrument for toddlers—Secondary analysis of prospectively collected assessments after tonsil surgery
Authors: Gude P. , Geldermann N. , Gustedt F. , Grobe C. , Weber T. P. , Georgevici A. I.
Published: December 2023

Background

The Children's and Infant's Postoperative Pain Scale (CHIPPS) and the German version of the Parent's Postoperative Pain Measure (PPPM‐D) are used to assess postoperative pain intensity in preschool children. However, they have shown low concordance in previous prospective studies on quality improvement.

Aims

Our secondary analysis aimed to estimate the association strength between the pain score items and indication for rescue medication defined as CHIPPS ≥4 and/or PPPD‐D ≥ 6. Thus, we intended to create a further developed pain instrument with fewer variables for easier routine use.

Methods

We analyzed 1067 pain intensity assessments of hospitalized children for the development of our novel tool in two steps using modern statistical and machine‐learning methods: (1) Boruta variable selection to analyze the association strength between CHIPPS score, PPPM‐D items, age, weight, and elapsed time after surgery, including their interactions and pattern stability, and the binary outcome (analgesics required yes/no). (2) Symbolic regression to generate a short formula with the least number of variables and highest accuracy for rescue medication indication.

Results

Additional analgesics were required in 19.96% of pain intensity assessments, whereby the PPPM‐D showed higher variance than CHIPPS. Boruta identified PPPM‐D score, CHIPPS score, 9 of the 15 PPPM‐D variables, and time of assessment as associated with the indication for RM. Symbolic regression revealed that additional analgesics are required if CHIPPS is ≥4 OR PPPM‐D item “less energy than usual” AND one of the items “more easily cry” or “more groan/moan” are answered with “yes.” These PPPM‐D items were not redundant and showed nonlinear course over time. The cross‐validated accuracy for this assessment tool was 94.94%.

Conclusions

The new instrument is easy to use and may improve postoperative pain intensity assessment in children. However, it requires prospective validation in a new cohort.
Spatial tax regimes and location choices of manufacturing firms: Survey evidence in southern Tunisia
Authors: Laajimi Rawaa
Published: December 2023

We conducted a survey of 179 manufacturing firms in southeastern Tunisia to investigate the determinants of their location choices, with a specific focus on the role of place‐based fiscal regimes. The data analyzed using Multiple Factor Analysis and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis reveal that manufacturing firms in this region can be categorized into distinct groups based on the relative strength of the wide range of location determinants included in the survey. While we confirm the significant role of fiscal and financial incentives in the location decisions of some manufacturing firms, we also highlight the relevance of traditional factors such as workforce, land availability and geographic proximity for certain sectors. Estimates from binary and ordered probit models show that, overall, the probability of locating in a tax‐advantaged area increases by an average 15% compared with a non‐tax‐advantaged area.
Influence of renin–angiotensin system blockades on vascular access survival in patients on maintenance hemodialysis
Authors: Kang Seok Hui , Kim Bo Yeon , Son Eun Jung , Kim Gui Ok , Do Jun Young
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Results on the association between the use of renin–angiotensin system blockades (RASBs) and vascular access‐related outcomes are inconsistent. We aimed to compare vascular access‐related outcomes according to the use of RASBs in hemodialysis patients.

Methods

This study used data from a national hemodialysis quality assessment program of the Republic of Korea (n = 54,903). Group 1 was not prescribed any blood pressure‐lowering drugs (n = 28,521). Group 2 was prescribed other blood pressure‐lowering agents except for RASBs (n = 9571). Group 3 was prescribed RASBs (n = 16,811). Vascular access‐related outcomes were classified into intervention‐free survival (IFS), thrombosis‐free survival (TFS), and vascular access survival (VAS).

Results

No significant difference in the three access survival rates was identified among the three groups. The multivariate Cox regression analyses indicated that Group 3 had better outcomes in IFS and TFS than Group 1. The numbers of angioplasties performed were significantly greater in Group 1 than in the other two groups. The numbers of thrombectomies performed were significantly the lowest in Group 3 among all the groups.

Conclusions

Our study revealed different results according to types of access survival in univariate or multivariate analyses. The association of RASBs with favorable outcomes in vascular access remains unclear.
Husserl and the normativity of logic
Authors: Huang Di
Published: December 2023

In this article, I analyze the evolution of Husserl's view on the normativity of logic and the corresponding changes in his phenomenological analysis of judgment. Initially, in the Prolegomena, Husserl claimed that the laws of pure logic are ideal and acquire normative status only as a result of application. Later, however, he revised this position and claimed that the same laws are at once ideal and normative. Sections 1 and 2 present textual evidence for attributing such a change of position to Husserl, which is not generally acknowledged in the literature. Section 3 critically examines Husserl's early position, with specific attention to the model of instantiation. Sections 4–6 identify three key stages in the development of Husserl's theory of judgment that lead to the normative conception of pure logic: (1) the critique of the dissociation of ideal content and assertive force; (2) the rejection of the instantiation model of proposition and the development of a new account in terms of identification; (3) the genetic‐phenomenological interpretation of proposition and the elaboration of the three‐layer structure of pure logic.
Merleau‐Ponty, Taylor, and the expressiveness of language
Authors: Inkpin Andrew
Published: December 2023

This article explores how the thought that language is expressive, in the sense of bearing emotional or affective meaning, can be made sense of, with particular attention to two authors for whom this thought plays an important role. It begins by introducing the idea of language being “expressive” and using Charles Taylor's work to consider its potential interest, before showing how the expressiveness of language might be accounted for by a position that seems particularly suited to this task, namely Merleau‐Ponty's view of embodied expression in Phenomenology of Perception. I then set out a significant challenge to that position based on Wittgenstein's “private language argument,” which implies there is no necessary connection between language use and a subject's internal (affective) states, thus contesting Merleau‐Ponty's explanatory emphasis on the body. I therefore propose a revised “complex” view of language's expressiveness that meets this Wittgensteinian challenge by reconceiving the body's role. Finally, I draw out some implications of this revised view, arguing that while language itself cannot be considered expressive, it remains significant that we can experience language as expressive. I also suggest that, although apparently threatened, Taylor's position can not only accommodate, but be better understood with, this revised view.
Fiscal federalism and foreign direct investment – An empirical analysis
Authors: Feld Lars P. , Köhler Ekkehard A. , Palhuca Leonardo , Schaltegger Christoph A.
Published: December 2023

Previous empirical studies suggest that fiscal decentralisation, measured by the number of government layers, is associated with less foreign direct investment (FDI). With an improved dataset on the tax autonomy of sub‐federal government tiers, we present evidence that fiscal decentralisation (de facto) does not reduce FDI. If local governments can set their tax rates and bases autonomously, they attract more FDI. Analysing 128,425 corporate cross‐border acquisitions (CBA), between 194 source and 215 host jurisdictions from 1997 to 2021, we find that full taxation autonomy by subnational governments can double the number of CBAs in a given year. These results apply to high‐income hosts and do not depend on specific periods.
Hepatitis B virus genotype surveillance in Canadian blood donors and a referred patient population, 2016–2021
Authors: Osiowy Carla , Giles Elizabeth , Lowe Christopher F. , Matic Nancy , Murphy Donald G. , Uzicanin Samra , Drews Steven J. , O'Brien Sheila F.
Published: December 2023

Background and Objectives

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes (A–H) have a distinct geographic distribution and are highly associated with the country of birth. Canada has experienced increased immigration over the past decade, primarily from regions where HBV is endemic. This study investigated the proportions and trends of HBV genotypes within blood donor and clinical populations of Canada over the period 2016–2021.

Materials and Methods

Study samples involved two cohorts: (1) Canadian blood donors (n = 246) deferred from donation due to HBV test positivity and (2) chronic HBV patients from across Canada (clinically referred population, n = 3539). Plasma or serum was extracted, and the surface antigen and/or polymerase‐coding region was amplified and sequenced to determine genotype by phylogenetic analysis.

Results

Six (A–E, G) and eight (A–H) HBV genotypes were detected among deferred blood donors and the clinically referred population, respectively. Differences in HBV genotype proportions between the two cohorts were observed across Canada. Males comprised most of the referred population among genotypes A–E (p < 0.0001), except for genotypes B and C. The median age was younger among blood donors (36 years [range 17–72]) compared with the referred population (41 years [range 0–99]). Distinct trends of increasing (E, referred; B, blood donor) and decreasing genotype prevalence were observed over the study period.

Conclusion

HBV genotypes in Canada are highly diverse, suggesting a large immigrant population. Observed trends in genotype prevalence and proportional differences among cohorts imply shifts among the HBV‐infected population of Canada, which warrants continued surveillance.
Extensions of polynomial plank covering theorems
Authors: Glazyrin Alexey , Karasev Roman , Polyanskii Alexander
Published: December 2023

We prove a complex polynomial plank covering theorem for not necessarily homogeneous polynomials. As the consequence of this result, we extend the complex plank theorem of Ball to the case of planks that are not necessarily centrally symmetric and not necessarily round. We also prove a weaker version of the spherical polynomial plank covering conjecture for planks of different widths.
Evaluation of Minimum NOx Emission From Ammonia Combustion
Authors: Gubbi Srujan , Cole Renee , Emerson Ben , Noble David , Steele Robert , Sun Wenting , Lieuwen Tim
Published: December 2023

Ammonia (NH3) is being explored as a hydrogen carrier with no carbon emissions. However, if burned directly as NH3, rather than being completely decomposed back to N2/H2, the fuel-bound nitrogen comes with a potentially significant NOx emissions penalty. Indeed, several existing studies are showing ammonia combustion NOx emissions that exceed current natural gas fueled, DLN technologies by one to two orders of magnitude. Therefore, it is important to establish the theoretical minimum NOx emissions for an ammonia combustor, to determine how much NOx levels can be reduced via further technology development. In other words, the purpose of this work is not to analyze the performance of a specific combustor but, rather, the fundamental limits of what is achievable. This study quantifies this minimum NOx level for a two-stage combustor system for a given combustor exit temperature and residence time, with a constraint on unburned fuel levels. As expected, the optimum configuration is a rich front end combustor to burn and crack ammonia with significant H2 production, followed by an NO relaxation reactor, followed by a lean stage that consumes the remaining H2. The optimum residence time and stoichiometry of each zone are determined in the fast mixing limit, which essentially balances between NOx production in the primary and secondary zones. These results show minimum NOx levels are in 200–400 ppm range at 1 bar, but drop to levels of ∼25 ppm at 20 bar. These NOx emissions are dominated by NOx production in the primary stage which relaxes to equilibrium levels quite slowly. As processes controlling NOx relaxation to equilibrium in the primary stage dominate overall NO emission levels, combustor NOx sensitivities are essentially opposite that of natural gas fired, DLN systems. Specifically, NOx values drop with increased combustor residence time, increased pressure, and increased combustor exit temperature. These results also suggest that the most important strategy for NOx minimization is to provide sufficient relaxation time after the primary zone for NOx to approach equilibrium—this can be done via kinetic means to accelerate this relaxation rate, such as enhancing pressure or temperature, or increasing residence times. Indeed, this work shows that low pressure combustors specifically optimized for ammonia will have residence times that are one to two orders of magnitude larger than current natural gas systems. By doing so, NOx levels below 10 ppm may be achievable. Finally, we discuss the sensitivity of these values to uncertainties in ammonia kinetics.