bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Isolation and Characterization α-Cellulose from Cocoa Pod Husk using Peracetic Acid
Authors: Dimawarnita F , Indriyantini P D , Faramitha Y , Perwitasari U
Published: May 2023

Cocoa Pod Husk (CPH) is the main by-product of cocoa pods (Theobroma cacao L.) with 67-76% of fruit weight. However, CPH has a negative impact if it is not utilized and disposed of directly in the environment. The main fiber content in CPH is in the form of lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin. Cellulose content, especially α-cellulose has a high potential if it is further utilized, one of which is nanocellulose. This study aims to produce α-cellulose from cocoa husks with high purity. The first research activity carried out was the process of removing pectin and bleaching to be free from impurities such as pectin, lignin, and hemicellulose. Then the cellulose isolation process using Peracetic Acid (PAA) can shorten the α-cellulose isolation process. The variation of PAA concentration was 1:4 (mol/mol) without dilution; 1:4 (mole/mole) by dilution; and 1:1 (mole/mole). The results of this study were the highest α-cellulose content of 69.39% was obtained from a 1:4 mole ratio of PAA without dilution. However, the α-cellulose content obtained did not qualify the SNI 938-2017 standard, which was 94%. FTIR, XRD, and SEM characterization showed that α-cellulose was present in hydrolysed CPH.
The effect of ethanol solvent on thermostability and esterification activity of immobilized Candida rugosa lipase on celite
Authors: Yudhana Lathiifah Alyaa , Zamara Ramadhiani Afina , Curie Catia Angli , Gozan Misri
Published: May 2023

Lipase is an enzyme commonly applied as a catalyst in the food industry, the synthesis of bioplastics, and the production of biodiesel. Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) is one of the widely used lipases due to its high selectivity and activity. However, high operating temperatures can denature enzymes, affecting enzyme activity due to structural changes. An enzyme can be immobilized on a supporting matrix to improve stability. Ethanol as an immobilization solvent may also increase the thermostability and esterification activity. This study examines the effect of ethanol solvent on the thermostability of immobilized Candida rugosa lipase. Immobilization was carried out on the Celite-545 matrix in buffer/ethanol solution. Different operating conditions such as enzyme concentrations, immobilization temperatures, immobilization time, and immobilization pH were observed. The immobilized enzyme activity was determined by esterification reaction using butyric acid and 1-butanol as substrates and isooctane as reaction medium. The results showed that immobilization increased the esterification activity by 76% at 37°C. Thermostability of immobilized enzyme was also enhanced by 29-51%, depending on the esterification temperature.
Mechanical properties of structured copper and printed silver hybrid stretchable electronic systems
Authors: Salo Teemu , Werft Lukas , Adams Basel , Vito Donato Di , Halme Aki , Scenev Vitalij , Walter Hans , Löher Thomas , Vanhala Jukka
Published: May 2023

Stretchable electronics can be realized using different manufacturing methods and hybrids thereof. An example of the latter is the combination of stretchable circuit boards with screen-printing, which will be discussed in this work. The hybrid stretchable electronics structures are based on photolithographically structured and rigid copper islands and screen-printed silver ink interconnections. This enables the assembly of components with a high number of contacts onto the copper islands and deformable silver ink lines between islands. The transition area between islands and lines is critical due to local stress concentration. The effect and potential mitigations were studied by measuring the electrical resistance of test interconnections under mechanical loading. The first set of samples was elongated up to 30% in tensile tests. The second set of samples was elongated 10%, 20%, and 30% in cyclic tests up to 10 000 cycles. After the tests, extensive failure analysis, e.g. scanning electron microscope, and finite element analysis were conducted. In tensile tests at maximum load, the interconnections either snap apart or their resistance increases by 640% in the transition area. Adding protective structures around the transition area, the resistance increase can be reduced to 12%. Stress concentration in the transition area can be controlled with the layout of the structures, as shown in the cyclic tests. Depending on a layout, the structures protect interconnections in the transition area (resistance <4 Ω at 10% and 20% throughout 10 000 cycles, and up to 5000 cycles at 30% elongation), or with particular designs, cause fatal damage of the circuitry and fail early. The identified failure mechanism is typically fatigue damage caused by the repeated bending of the protective structure. The observed resistance increase at the interface was closely related to the crack propagation phase in the protective structures.
Tame automorphism groups of polynomial rings with property (T) and infinitely many alternating group quotients
Authors: Caprace Pierre-Emmanuel , Kassabov Martin
Published: May 2023

We construct new families of groups with property (T) and infinitely many alternating group quotients. One of those consists of subgroups of

A
u
t

(

F

p

[

x
1

,
…
,

x
n

]
)

\mathrm {Aut}(\mathbf {F}_{p}[x_1, \dots , x_n])

generated by a suitable set of tame automorphisms. Finite quotients are constructed using the natural action of

A
u
t

(

F

p

[

x
1

,
…
,

x
n

]
)

\mathrm {Aut}(\mathbf {F}_{p}[x_1, \dots , x_n])

on the

n
n

-dimensional affine spaces over finite extensions of

F

p

\mathbf {F}_p

. As a consequence, we obtain explicit presentations of Gromov hyperbolic groups with property (T) and infinitely many alternating group quotients. Our construction also yields an explicit infinite family of expander Cayley graphs of degree 

4
4

for alternating groups of degree

p
7

−
1

p^7-1

for any odd prime

p
p

.
Involvement of ionic interactions in self-assembly and resultant rodlet formation of class I hydrophobin RolA from Aspergillus oryzae
Authors: Takahashi Nao , Terauchi Yuki , Tanaka Takumi , Yoshimi Akira , Yabu Hiroshi , Abe Keietsu
Published: May 2023

Hydrophobins are small amphiphilic proteins that are conserved in filamentous fungi. They localized on the conidial surface to make it hydrophobic, which contributes to conidial dispersal in the air, and helps fungi to infect plants and mammals and degrade polymers. Hydrophobins self-assemble and undergo structural transition from the amorphous state to the rodlet (rod-like multimeric structure) state. However, it remains unclear whether the amorphous or rodlet state is biologically functional and what external factors regulate state transition. In this study, we analyzed the self-assembly of hydrophobin RolA of Aspergillus oryzae in detail and identified factors regulating this process. Using atomic force microscopy, we observed RolA rodlet formation over time, and determined “rodlet elongation rate” and “rodlet formation frequency.” Changes in these kinetic parameters in response to pH and salt concentration suggest that RolA rodlet formation is regulated by the strength of ionic interactions between RolA molecules.
Assessment of metagenomic workflows using a newly constructed human gut microbiome mock community
Authors: Mori Hiroshi , Kato Tamotsu , Ozawa Hiroaki , Sakamoto Mitsuo , Murakami Takumi , Taylor Todd D , Toyoda Atsushi , Ohkuma Moriya , Kurokawa Ken , Ohno Hiroshi
Published: May 2023

To quantify the biases introduced during human gut microbiome studies, analyzing an artificial mock community as the reference microbiome is indispensable. However, there are still limited resources for a mock community which well represents the human gut microbiome. Here, we constructed a novel mock community comprising the type strains of 18 major bacterial species in the human gut and assessed the influence of experimental and bioinformatics procedures on the 16S rRNA gene and shotgun metagenomic sequencing. We found that DNA extraction methods greatly affected the DNA yields and taxonomic composition of sequenced reads, and that some of the commonly used primers for 16S rRNA genes were prone to underestimate the abundance of some gut commensal taxa such as Erysipelotrichia, Verrucomicrobiota and Methanobacteriota. Binning of the assembled contigs of shotgun metagenomic sequences by MetaBAT2 produced phylogenetically consistent, less-contaminated bins with varied completeness. The ensemble approach of multiple binning tools by MetaWRAP can improve completeness but sometimes increases the contamination rate. Our benchmark study provides an important foundation for the interpretation of human gut microbiome data by providing means for standardization among gut microbiome data obtained with different methodologies and will facilitate further development of analytical methods.
Noise Reduction of Electron Holography Phase Maps with Non-Local-Mean Wavelet Analysis
Authors: Wang Shixin , Wang Yun-Yu
Published: May 2023

A non-local-means algorithm with non-local averaging is used to reduce noise in an electron holography phase map. The noise level is evaluated through wavelet analysis. The method is shown to be effective in reducing noise in the map while preserving both the spatial resolution and underlying map information. Because of the significant noise reduction, the processed phase map is easier to understand and can produce an internal electric field map with a derivative of the phase map.
Specific processing of meiosis-related transcript is linked to final maturation in human oocytes
Authors: Pietroforte Sara , Barragan Monasterio Montserrat , Ferrer-Vaquer Anna , Irimia Manuel , Ibáñez Elena , Popovic Mina , Vassena Rita , Zambelli Filippo
Published: May 2023

Human meiosis in oocytes entails an intricate regulation of the transcriptome to support late oocyte growth and early embryo development, both crucial to reproductive success. Currently, little is known about the co- and post-transcriptional mRNA processing mechanisms regulating the last meiotic phases, which contribute to transcriptome complexity and influence translation rates. We analyzed gene expression changes, splicing and pre-mRNA processing in an RNA sequencing set of 40 human oocytes at different meiotic maturation stages, matured both in vivo and in vitro. We found abundant untranslated region (UTR) processing, mostly at the 3′ end, of meiosis-related genes between the germinal vesicle (GV) and metaphase II (MII) stages, supported by the differential expression of spliceosome and pre-mRNA processing related genes. Importantly, we found very few differences among GV oocytes across several durations of IVM, as long as they did not reach MII, suggesting an association of RNA processing and successful meiosis transit. Changes in protein isoforms are minor, although specific and consistent for genes involved in chromosome organization and spindle assembly. In conclusion, we reveal a dynamic transcript remodeling during human female meiosis, and show how pre-mRNA processing, specifically 3′UTR shortening, drives a selective translational regulation of transcripts necessary to reach final meiotic maturation.
Welfare Consequences of Sustainable Finance
Authors: Hong Harrison , Wang Neng , Yang Jinqiang
Published: May 2023

We model the welfare consequences of mandates that restrict investors to hold firms with net-zero carbon emissions. To qualify for these mandates, value-maximizing firms have to accumulate decarbonization capital. Qualification lowers a firm’s required return by its decarbonization investments divided by Tobin’s q, that is, the greenium or the dividend yield shareholders forgo to address the global-warming externality. The welfare-maximizing mandate approximates the first-best solution, yielding welfare gains compared to laissez-faire by mitigating the weather disaster risks resulting from carbon emissions. Our model generates optimal transition paths for decarbonization that we use to evaluate proposed net-zero targets.

Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix, which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online
Cardioprotective and Antianginal Efficacy of Nicorandil: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Goel Harsh , Carey Matthew , Elshaikh Abdelsalam , Krinock Matthew , Goyal Deepak , Nadar Sunil K.
Published: May 2023

Angina pectoris remains a significant burden despite advances in medical therapy and coronary revascularization. Many patients (up to 30%) with angina have normal coronary arteries, with coronary microvascular disease and/or coronary artery vasospasm being major drivers of the myocardial demand–supply mismatch. Even among patients revascularized for symptomatic epicardial coronary stenosis, recurrent angina remains highly prevalent. Medical therapy for angina currently centers around 2 disparate goals, viz secondary prevention of hard clinical outcomes and symptom control. Vasodilators, such as nitrates, have been first-line antianginal agents for decades, along with beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers. However, efficacy in symptoms control is heterogenous, depending on underlying mechanism(s) of angina in an individual patient, often necessitating multiple agents. Nicorandil (NCO) is an antianginal agent first discovered in the late 1970s with a uniquely dual mechanism of action. Like a typical nitrate, it mediates medium–large vessel vasodilation through nitric oxide. In addition, NCO has adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent potassium channel agonist activity (KATP), mediating microvascular dilatation. Hence, it has proven effective in both coronary artery vasospasm and coronary microvascular disease, typically challenging patient populations. Moreover, emerging evidence suggests that cardiomyocyte protection against ischemia through ischemic preconditioning may be mediated through KATP agonism. Finally, there is now fairly firm evidence in favor of NCO in terms of hard event reduction among patients with stable coronary artery disease, following myocardial infarction, and perhaps even among patients with congestive heart failure. This review aims to summarize the mechanism of action of NCO, its efficacy as an antianginal, and current evidence behind its impact on hard outcomes. Finally, we review other cardiac and emerging noncardiac indications for NCO use.
Histopathologic confirmation of lymphocytic infiltration of the optic nerve and inner retina in birdshot chorioretinopathy
Authors: Rodriguez Linnet , Salomao Diva R. , Dunn James P. , Tufail Adnan , Pulido Jose S.
Published: May 2023

Purpose:

To describe new histological findings involving the inner retina in birdshot chorioretinopathy.

Methods:

Evaluation of the inner retinal pathology of the eye of a patient with bilateral birdshot chorioretinopathy who underwent enucleation for a unilateral ciliochoroidal melanoma.

Results:

Histopathological sections showed focal perivascular lymphocytic infiltration at the optic nerve head that extended into the adjacent inner retina, mainly involving the ganglion and nerve fiber layers.

Conclusion:

We have previously shown that birdshot chorioretinopathy has multiple foci of lymphocytes in the choroid. This is the first report that demonstrates lymphocytic infiltration of the inner retinal layers. This may lead to the bipolar and Muller cell dysfunction that ultimately results in an electronegative ERG.
High Rates of ESBL-producing and Gentamycin-resistant Gram-negative Bacteria During the First Week of Life: A Multicenter Cross-sectional Study Among Infants Younger Than 2 Months With Urinary Tract Infection
Authors: Washahi Muhammad , Miron Dan , Steinberg Ben Zeev Zohar , Chayen Gilad , Jacob Ron
Published: May 2023

Introduction:

Reducing the risk of renal scarring in infants with urinary tract infection (UTI) necessitates timely and effective administration of antimicrobial treatment. The Israeli Medical Association recommends the empirical use of gentamicin and ampicillin for febrile infants younger than 2 months with suspected UTI. We aimed to assess the prevalence of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)-producing and gentamicin-resistant Gram-negative UTI among infants younger than 2 months.

Methods:

A multicenter retrospective cross-sectional study of infants younger than 2 months with UTI who visited Clalit Health Services pediatric emergency departments between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2021. The primary outcome measure was the prevalence of ESBL-associated and gentamicin-resistant UTI. The secondary outcome measure was the factors associated with such resistant bacteria.

Results:

Overall, 1142 infants were included. Sixty-five (5.7%) and 64 (5.6%) infants had gentamicin-resistant and ESBL-producing Gram-negative UTI, respectively. Forty-two percent of ESBL-associated UTI were gentamicin-resistant. Higher ESBL rates were found during first week of life (14.8% versus 4.1%–7.7%; P = 0.009). Similarly, higher rates of gentamicin resistance were found in this age group (11.2%). Admission rate to pediatric intensive care units (ICUs) was higher in infants with ESBL-associated UTI (9.8% versus 3.5%; P = 0.015). Gestational bacteriuria, previous neonatal ICU admission or gender were not associated with either gentamicin or ESBL-producing resistance.

Conclusions:

Our findings support the current recommendations for empirical intravenous treatment. However, modification of the treatment protocol should be considered for infants younger than 7 days, who had higher rates of ESBL-producing and gentamicin-resistant Gram-negative UTI.
Accelerated Hemocompatibility Testing of Rotary Blood Pumps
Authors: McNamee Antony P. , Griffith Tia A. , Smith Amanda G. , Kuck Lennart , Simmonds Michael J.
Published: May 2023

Ex vivo hemocompatibility testing is a vital element of preclinical assessment for blood-contacting medical devices. Current approaches are resource intensive; thus, we investigated the feasibility of accelerating hemocompatibility testing by standardizing the number of pump exposures in loops of various sizes. Three identical blood loops were constructed, each with a custom-molded reservoir able to facilitate large-volume expansion. Using the HVAD rotary blood pump operating at 5 L·min−1 and 100 mmHg, three test volumes (80, 160, and 320 ml) were circulated for 4000 pump exposures. Blood sampling was performed at individualized intervals every one-sixth of total duration for the assessment of hemolysis and von Willebrand Factor (vWF) degradation. While steady increases in hemolysis (~24 mg·dl−1) were identified in all tests at completion, loop volume was not a primary discriminator. The normalized index of hemolysis did not vary significantly between loops (4.2–4.9 mg·100 L−1). vWF degradation progressively occurred with duration of testing to a similar extent under all conditions. These data support an accelerated approach to preclinical assessment of ex vivo blood damage. Adopting this approach enables: enhanced efficiency for rapid prototyping; reduced ex vivo blood aging, and; greater utility of blood, which is presently limited if 450 ml loops are desired.
Lexical Diversity and Other Linguistic Measures in Schizophrenia
Authors: Compton Michael T. , Ku Benson S. , Covington Michael A. , Metzger Celia , Hogoboom Anya
Published: May 2023

Straightforward linguistic measures may be indicators of reduced language production and lexical diversity among individuals with schizophrenia with negative symptoms and neurocognitive impairments. We compared 98 patients with schizophrenia to 101 unaffected controls on six language variables (e.g., number of relationships between objects, use of complex transitions in the narrative structure), number of words produced, and lexical diversity computed as the moving average type-token ratio from both speaking and writing tasks. Patients differed from controls on nearly all of the linguistic measures; number of words produced had the strongest effect, with an average Cohen's d of 0.68; values pertaining to lexical diversity were 0.50 and 0.32, respectively, for the speaking tasks and the writing tasks. Most measures were correlated with alogia and other domains of negative symptoms (including avolition-apathy and anhedonia-asociality), as well as with diverse neurocognitive domains, especially those pertaining to working memory, verbal learning, and verbal category fluency. Further work is needed to understand longitudinal changes in these linguistic variables, as well as their utility as measures of alogia.
THE EFFECT OF A SIX-WEEK SENSORY-MOTOR EXERCISE PROGRAM ON THE BALANCE AND FATIGUE SEVERITY IN WOMEN WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Authors: Hashemi Rad Yeganeh Sadat , Aghayari Azar
Published: May 2023

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the impact of six weeks of at-home sensory-motor exercises on balance and fatigue levels in women with multiple sclerosis, a progressive autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. MS symptoms can significantly reduce quality of life.

Design

In this Quasi-Experimental Study, 26 MS female patients aged 20-40 with an EDSS of 0-4 were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups. The experimental group performed sensory-motor exercises for six weeks, three sessions a week and for one hour at home. Balance and fatigue were evaluated with Sharpened-Romberg tests (for Static Balance), a 6-step test of Get-Up and Go (for Dynamic Balance) and a Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). At the end of the sixth week, these tests were re-evaluated like the pre-test stage.

Results

Experimental group showed better static balance and FSS than control group, but no difference in dynamic balance.

Conclusions

Considering the outbreak of Covid-19 and the resultant lockdown, the importance of exercise and physical activities in patients with MS, and the positive effects of sensory-motor exercises at home in the present study, these kinds of sensory-motor workouts are highly recommended to improve balance and reduce the fatigue in MS patients.
The relationship between manual wheelchair using skills and upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders in patients with spinal cord injury: A musculoskeletal ultrasonography study
Authors: Ata Ayşe Merve , Mete Civelek Gül , Kara Onur
Published: May 2023

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between wheelchair skills and upper extremity pathologies detected by ultrasound (US) and to identify independent predictors of joint pathologies.

Design

45 patients who were paraplegic due to SCI were included. Demographic and clinical data were evaluated. The Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM-III) and wheelchair skills test questionnaire (WST-Q) was administered. Shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints of both upper extremities were evaluated with US.

Results

19 (42.2%) patients had musculoskeletal pain in their upper extremities. The most painful area was shoulder 14 (31.1%), followed by elbow 8 (17.7%) and wrist 3 (6.6%), respectively. WST-Q scores were worse in patients with elbow effusion (p = 0.041) and lateral epicondyle (LE) spur formation (p = 0.006). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, independent predictors for joint pathologies in US were SCIM-total score, higher body mass index (BMI), older age, working with physical strength, female gender, duration of wheelchair usage, higher level of injury, and wheelchair skills (all p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Among the risk factors for joint pathologies identified in this study, the ability to use wheelchairs, which is a modifiable risk factor, should be considered in the rehabilitation process and improved.
Usefulness of the H-Reflex for Intraoperative Monitoring of Thoracoabdominal Aneurysms
Authors: Martín-Palomeque Guillermo , Cabañes-Martínez Lidia , López Jaime R. , Mateo Montero Raidili Cristina , Reyes Andrés , Gandarias Claudio , Regidor Ignacio
Published: May 2023

Purpose:

Intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring in thoracoabdominal aneurysms (TAAA) is essential to avoid intraoperative spinal cord injury). Motor and somatosensory evoked potentials may be considered intraoperative tools for detecting spinal cord injury. H-reflex is a well-known neurophysiologic technique to evaluate L5-S1 root. Current evidence supports the observation that H-reflex changes may occur with spinal cord damage as high as the cervical level. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of the H-reflex in these surgeries.

Methods:

The use of intraoperative H-reflex in TAAA monitoring was evaluated in 12 patients undergoing open or endovascular repair of TAAA for a period of four years (2016–2020) using somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) and transcranial motor evoked potentials (TcMEPs) and bilateral H-reflex.

Results:

Six neurophysiologic alarms were recorded in five of the 12 patients. Summarizing the neurophysiologic changes of our series, we considered a peripheral change when we detected a unilateral loss of SSEPs, TcMEPs, and H-reflex. Instead, we assumed a central change when we detected a unilateral or bilateral loss of TcMEPs and H-reflex with normal SSEPs, which we considered a sign of spinal cord ischemia. Interestingly H-reflex always changed significantly in combination with TcMEPs in the same fashion.

Conclusions:

According to our series, H-reflex can detect intraoperative changes with the same sensitivity as TcMEPs in TAAA surgeries. With the support of other techniques, it can be useful to localize the origin of the lesion (peripheral or central spinal cord), to help in surgical decision-making to avoid postoperative neurologic damage. Based on our results, we recommend the systematic use of H-reflex in TAAA surgeries.
IRAK1 inhibition blocks the HIV-1 RNA mediated pro-inflammatory cytokine response from microglia
Authors: Campbell Grant R. , Rawat Pratima , Teodorof-Diedrich Carmen , Spector Stephen A.
Published: May 2023

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are a common source of morbidity in people living with HIV (PLWH). Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) has lessened the severity of neurocognitive disorders, cognitive impairment still occurs in PLWH receiving ART. The pathogenesis of HAND is likely multifaceted, but common factors include the persistence of HIV transcription within the central nervous system, higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluid, and the presence of activated microglia. Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 and TLR8 are innate pathogen recognition receptors located in microglia and other immune and non-immune cells that can recognise HIV RNA and trigger pro-inflammatory responses. IL-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK) 1 is key to these signalling pathways. Here, we show that IRAK1 inhibition inhibits the TLR7 and TLR8-dependent pro-inflammatory response to HIV RNA. Using genetic and pharmacological inhibition, we demonstrate that inhibition of IRAK1 prevents IRAK1 phosphorylation and ubiquitination, and the subsequent recruitment of TRAF6 and the TAK1 complex to IRAK1, resulting in the inhibition of downstream signalling and the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine release.
Non-Targeted Effects and Space Radiation Risks for Astronauts on Multiple International Space Station and Lunar Missions
Authors: Cucinotta Francis A.
Published: May 2023

Future space travel to the earth’s moon or the planet Mars will likely lead to the selection of experienced International Space Station (ISS) or lunar crew persons for subsequent lunar or mars missions. The major risk for space travel is the galactic cosmic rays (GCR) risks of cancer, circulatory diseases and detriments in cognition. However large uncertainties in risk prediction occur due to the quantitative and qualitative differences in heavy ion microscopic energy deposition leading to differences in biological effects compared to low LET radiation. In addition, there are sparse radiobiology data and absence of epidemiology data for heavy ions and other high LET radiation. Non-targeted effects (NTEs) are found in radiobiology studies to increase the biological effectiveness of high let radiation at low dose for cancer related endpoints. In this paper the most recent version of the NASA Space Cancer Risk model (NSCR-2022) is used to predict mission risks while considering NTEs in solid cancer risk predictions. I discuss predictions of space radiation risks of cancer and circulatory disease mortality for US Whites and US Asian-Pacific Islander (API) populations for 6-month ISS, 80-day lunar missions, and combined ISS-lunar mission. Results predict NTE increase cancer risks by about ∼2.3 fold over a model that ignores NTEs. US API are predicted to have a lower cancer risks of about 30% compared to US Whites. Cancer risks are slightly less than additive for multiple missions, which is due to the decease of risk with age of exposure and the increased competition with background risks as radiation risks increase. The inclusion of circulatory risks increases mortality estimates about 25% and 37% for females and males, respectively in the model ignoring NTEs, and 20% and 30% when NTEs are assumed to modify solid cancer risk. The predictions made here for combined ISS and lunar missions suggest risks are within risk limit recommendations by the NCRP for such missions.
A phosphorylation-deficient ribosomal protein eS6 is largely functional inArabidopsis thaliana, rescuing mutant defects from global translation and gene expression to photosynthesis and growth
Authors: Dasgupta Anwesha , Urquidi Camacho Ricardo A , Enganti Ramya , Cho Sung Ki , Tucker Lindsey L. , Torreverde John S. , Abraham Paul E. , von Arnim Albrecht G.
Published: May 2023

The eukaryote-specific ribosomal protein of the small subunit eS6 is phosphorylated through the Target of rapamycin (TOR) kinase pathway. Although this phosphorylation event responds dynamically to environmental conditions and has been studied for over 50 years, its biochemical and physiological significance remains controversial and poorly understood. Here we report data fromArabidopsis thaliana, which indicate that plants expressing only a largely phospho-deficient isoform of eS6 grow essentially normally under laboratory conditions. The eS6A (RPS6A) paralog of eS6 functionally rescued double mutations in bothrps6aandrps6bgenes when expressed at approximately twice the wild-type dosage. A mutant isoform of eS6A lacking the major six phosphorylatable serine and threonine residues in its carboxyl-terminal tail also rescued the lethality, rosette growth, and polyribosome loading of the double mutant. It also complemented many mutant phenotypes ofrps6that were newly characterized here, including photosynthetic efficiency, and the vast majority of gene expression defects that were measured by transcriptomics and proteomics. However, compared to plants rescued with a phospho-enabled version of eS6A, the phospho-deficient seedlings retained a mild pointed-leaf phenotype, root growth was reduced, and certain cell cycle related mRNAs and ribosome biogenesis proteins were misexpressed. The residual defects of the phospho-deficient seedlings could be understood as an incomplete rescue of therps6mutant defects, with little or no evidence for gain-of-function defects. As expected, the phospho-deficient eS6A also rescued therps6aandrps6bsingle mutants; however, phosphorylation of the eS6B paralog remained lower than predicted, further underscoring that plants can tolerate phospho-deficiency of eS6 well. Our data also yield new insights into how plants cope with mutations in essential, duplicated ribosomal protein isoforms.
JZL184 increases anxiety-like behavior and does not reduce alcohol consumption in female rats after repeated mild traumatic brain injury
Authors: Jacotte-Simancas Alejandra , Molina Patricia , Gilpin Nicholas
Published: May 2023

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is highly comorbid with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Previously, using a lateral fluid percussion model (LFP) (an open model of head injury) to generate a single mild to moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI), we showed that TBI produces escalation in alcohol drinking, that alcohol exposure negatively impacts TBI outcomes, and that the endocannabinoid degradation inhibitor (JZL184) confers significant protection from behavioral and neuropathological outcomes in male rodents. In the present study, we used a weight drop model (a closed model of head injury) to produce a repeated mild TBI (rmTBI, 3 TBIs, spaced by 24 hours) to examine the sex-specific effects on alcohol consumption and anxiety-like behavior in rats, and whether systemic treatment with JZL184 would reverse TBI effects on those behaviors in both sexes. In two separate studies, adult male and female Wistar rats were subjected to rmTBI or sham using the weight drop model. Physiological measures of injury severity were collected from all animals. Animals in both studies were allowed to consume alcohol using an intermittent 2-bottle choice procedure (12 pre-TBI sessions and 12 post-TBI sessions). Neurological severity and neurobehavioral scores (NSS and NBS, respectively) were tested 24 hours after the final injury. Anxiety-like behavior was tested at 37-38 days post-injury in Study 1, and 6-8 days post-injury in Study 2. Our results show that females exhibited reduced respiratory rates relative to males with no significant differences between Sham and rmTBI, no effect of rmTBI or sex on righting reflex, and increased neurological deficits in rmTBI groups in both studies. In Study 1, rmTBI increased alcohol consumption in female but not male rats. Male rats consistently exhibited higher levels of anxiety-like behavior than females. rmTBI did not affect anxiety-like behavior 37-38 days post-injury. In Study 2, rmTBI once again increased alcohol consumption in female but not male rats, and repeated systemic treatment with JZL184 did not affect alcohol consumption. Also in Study 2, rmTBI increased anxiety-like behavior in males but not females and repeated systemic treatment with JZL184 produced an unexpected increase in anxiety-like behavior 6-8 days post-injury. In summary, rmTBI increased alcohol consumption in female rats, systemic JZL184 treatment did not alter alcohol consumption, and both rmTBI and sub-chronic systemic JZL184 treatment increased anxiety-like behavior 6-8 days post-injury in males but not females, highlighting robust sex differences in rmTBI effects.
Impact of consanguinity on spontaneous pregnancy loss and descendants’ health in north Morocco
Authors: Hardouz Houria , Arfaoui Amine , Quyou Ali
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The present study aims to bring out the impact of consanguinity on spontaneous pregnancy loss (SPL) and on descendants’ health, among the population of north Morocco.

Design/methodology/approach

Convenience sampling was used for collecting data. A questionnaire was randomly administered to 385 couples represented by either the husband, the wife or both. The study lasted for three months, from January to March 2015.

Findings

In total, 238 valid questionnaires were analysed. The results showed that the consanguinity rate was 45.23% and that most consanguineous unions were between first cousins (91%). Data analysis revealed that SPL risk was similar in consanguineous and non-consanguineous couples (OR = 1.6; IC95% = 0.9–2.9). Also, no significant difference was observed in terms of SPL type (OR = 1.6; IC95% = 0.7–3.9) and frequency (p = 0.81). However, late SPL frequency was significantly lower in consanguineous couples (p < 0.001), whereas no significant difference was registered in terms of early SPL frequency (p = 0.73). On the other hand, consanguineous couples displayed a significantly higher risk of descendants’ health disorders in comparison with non-consanguineous ones. Moreover, the consanguineous couples had a significantly higher number of children with health disorders (p < 0.001). The risk analysis also showed that consanguineous couples displayed a significantly higher risk of congenital malformations (OR = 7.23; IC95% = 3.52–14.84) and multifactorial diseases (OR = 3.72; IC95% = 1.46–9.49), but no significant difference was observed in terms of behavioural disorders risk.

Originality/value

The population awareness regarding the negative effects of consanguinity should be raised through education programmes and premarital, prenatal and genetic counselling services.
Increasing the efficiency of delivery operations and customer profitability analysis with a time-driven activity-based costing model
Authors: Adıgüzel Hümeyra
Published: May 2023

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the case study discussion, successful students will be able to define and list the steps of time-driven activity-based costing system (TDABC); understand and explain the ideas behind the TDABC; implement the TDABC in customer profitability analysis; draw connections among the cost and profitability analysis; evaluate the importance of better costing techniques in profitability analysis; and make managerial decisions based on TDABC analysis.

Case overview/synopsis

Gluten Limited’s financial affairs and operations manager, Fatih, was aware that the company was making very little profit from its operations with its biggest customer. The main reason appeared to be that it delivered its products in bulk to the main warehouses of the customer, which then distributed them to the stores. Fatih believed that products were being sent to stores late, so that their expiration dates passed quickly and they ended up being returned.

The case study documents the past year of Gluten Limited’s delivery operations with one of its biggest customers. It focuses on the effectiveness of its delivery operations and ways to increase profitability by reducing sales returns. The case dilemma involves the choices that Fatih faced following a six-month trial period: either delivering products in bulk to the customer’s main warehouses at lower cost but higher return rates or delivering small amounts directly to stores at higher cost but lower return rates. Fatih needed to decide which mode of customer operations was more profitable and continue that way.

Knowing the importance of determining costs properly in profitability analysis, Fatih made the cost calculations using the TDABC system.

Complexity academic level

This case was written for use in Cost Accounting and Managerial Accounting classes at the undergraduate level. The focus of the case aligns well with discussions of customer profitability analysis, cost reductions, eliminating non-value-added activities, and profitability of operations. Instructors seeking to emphasize the most suitable costing methods for customer profitability analysis could assign this case.

Supplementary material

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 7: Management Science
E-entrepreneurial attitudes and behaviours in the United Arab Emirates: an empirical investigation in the digital transformation era
Authors: Qasim Dhia , Shuhaiber Ahmed , Bany Mohammed Ashraf , Valeri Marco
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to understand in-depth the electronic entrepreneurial intentions (EEI) towards launching online start-ups in United Arab Emirates (UAE) by exploring the effect of perceived entrepreneurial culture and risk propensity on EEI amongst the youth in the country, additionally, exploring the differences (if existed) amongst intentions based on gender categories.

Design/methodology/approach

This study developed a theoretical framework based on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to examine perceived entrepreneurial culture, risk propensity and the moderating role of gender. The researchers followed the partial least squares in structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) method. The collected responses of 250 online surveys were analysed using the SmartPLS 3.3 software.

Findings

The results showed a significant positive influence of risk propensity and perceived entrepreneurial culture on EEI in the UAE. Interestingly, despite that many prior studies showing a significant impact of gender e-EI, the analysis showed no differences between male and female responses regarding EEI. More results are demonstrated in the study.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is considered the first in the UAE which investigates empirically the factors that influence youth intentions to launch online start-ups and entrepreneurial ventures in the country. In addition, the results of this study contribute to the relevant literature by adding rich insights into the moderating role of gender in the relationship between perceived entrepreneurial culture and the three constructs of TPB, namely attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control, in order to start an e-entrepreneurial business. Furthermore, this study genuinely addresses the role of risk propensity in impacting the youth intentions in e-entrepreneurial ventures mediated by perceived behavioural control. Therefore, this research study provides original and rich insights into youth attitudes towards and behaviours of launching online start-ups and significantly contributes to the body of the e-entrepreneurship literature.
AsianCrit lens on Chinese international student multi-dimensional transitions and experiences in the US
Authors: Hou Minghui
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine Chinese international students' narrative stories, experiences and racial dynamics while studying in the United States to argue that Chinese international students navigate multi-dimensional transitions and experiences in different stages. This study uses an AsianCrit lens to address the gap in existing research focusing on Chinese international students' narratives and experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

Narrative inquiry with a social constructivist paradigm was used to provide an in-depth exploration of Chinese international students' navigation and negotiation in multi-dimensional experiences. Three phases of semi-structured interviews and journal entries were utilized to examine participants' experiences and struggles while studying in the United States. Descriptive coding, deductive coding and restorying were used to analyze and feather narrators' voices and stories for interpretation.

Findings

The findings in this qualitative study demonstrate that Chinese international students have unique backgrounds, and their backgrounds shape their multi-dimensional transitions and experiences in the present and the future. The findings address students' nuanced experiences in academic transitions and non-academic transitions with an AsianCrit lens.

Practical implications

The study calls for higher education institutions to promote intercultural and international training for faculty and staff to better understand and support the unique needs of international students.

Originality/value

Using Multiple and Multi-dimensional Transitions theory with an AsianCrit lens helps make sense of the intersection of international student status, geopolitical tensions, racial dynamics and international student experiences.
The effect of contractual and behavioral CEO attributes on aggressive tax avoidance: case of German-listed firms in HDAX
Authors: Neifar Souhir , Huesing Silke
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the effect of contractual factors and noncontractual factors on tax avoidance (TA).

Design/methodology/approach

The sample comprises 400 firm-year observations of 67 companies listed on the HDAX during the period 2008–2017. The generalized least square panel regression is applied.

Findings

The study results confirm a significant effect of long-term chief executive officer (CEO) compensation incentives and CEO attributes on TA. Findings exhibit a significant impact of foreign CEO on TA, whereas an insider CEO mitigates TA. The results hold for several robustness tests, with lag effective tax rate as dependent variable and with splitting foreign CEO into European and non-European origin.

Research limitations/implications

First, the sample is limited to 400 firm-year observations and to the German context. For shareholders, the study provides first evidence on relationships between the geographical and internal versus external labor market for CEOs and TA. For researchers, the findings underline the importance of integrating behavioral approaches like place attachment theory and the rooting theory in the theory of TA.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the impact of both contractual determinants and behavioral determinants on TA in the German context as an emerged economy with a dualistic corporate governance. This study contributes to the existing literature regarding the scientific debates about the impact of CEOs and CEO attributes on TA. It also analyses the balance between the place attachment theory and the rooting theory in the face of the compensation outcomes of agency theory.
Pharmacokinetics of YK‐1169 in healthy subjects and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis by Monte Carlo simulation
Authors: Li You , Yan Bingqian , Guo Siwei , Tian Miaomei , Li Yuan , Tong Huan , Yu Yunsong , Shao Jing , Xin Yuxia , Chen Hui , Xu Bing , Li Xin
Published: May 2023

Objective

This study (NCT05588531) aimed to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of cefepime‐avibactam (YK‐1169) in healthy Chinese subjects and explore the optimal regimen for treating carbapenem‐resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) based on the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic evaluation.

Methods

YK‐1169 single‐ascending doses (0.5, 1.25, 2.5 or 3.75 g, 2‐h infusion) and multiple doses (2.5 or 3.75 g every 8 h [q8h], 2‐h infusion) given for 7 days were evaluated in pharmacokinetic studies. Subjects were randomized to receive cefepime (2 g), avibactam (0.5 g) or YK‐1169 (2.5 g) to assess drug‐drug interactions. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of YK‐1169 were determined by the broth microdilution method. Monte Carlo simulation was used to evaluate 10 different dose regimens.

Results

Cefepime and avibactam both showed a linear pharmacokinetic profile. No accumulation was found after multiple doses. The cefepime Cmax,ss and AUC0‐∞,ss were 9.20 and 16.0 μg/mL, 407.2 and 659.45 μg·h/mL in the 2.5 and 3.75 g multiple‐dose groups, respectively. The avibactam Cmax,ss and AUC0‐∞,ss were 0.545 and 0.837 μg/mL, 53.31 and 79.55 μg·h/mL in the 2.5 and 3.75 g multiple‐dose groups, respectively. Cefepime and avibactam did not affect each other's pharmacokinetics. No serious adverse events occurred. All regimens achieved 90% probability of target attainment (PTA) goals when the MIC was ≤8 mg/L. The regimens of 2.5 (q8h, 2‐h infusion), 3.75 (q8h, 2‐, 3‐ and 4‐h infusions) and 7.5 g (24‐h continuous infusion) reached a 90% cumulative fraction of response.

Conclusion

YK‐1169 had good antibacterial activity against CRKP and could be an option for CRKP infections. The regimen of 2.5 g q8h intravenously guttae (ivgtt) 2 h should be considered in future clinical trials.
The Multiracial‐Black Socialization Model: Conceptualizing racial socialization in Multiracial‐Black families
Authors: Green McKenzie N. , Bryant Summer
Published: May 2023

Scholars have spent the last four decades expanding the theoretical understanding of parental racial socialization—or parent–child communication about race. What is largely absent from existing conceptualizations, however, is a consideration for how the practice manifests in Multiracial families. The interracial structure of Multiracial families complicates racial socialization in ways that are not being captured in empirical research due to the overreliance on universal frameworks. It is imperative that we close this theoretical gap as the proportion of Multiracial families in the United States is expanding at record rates. Accordingly, we present the Multiracial‐Black Socialization Model (MRB‐SM) in this paper. The MRB‐SM is designed explicitly for Multiracial‐Black families, one of the fastest‐growing sub‐groups of Multiracial families. The model builds upon the strengths of universal socialization theories by outlining the content, process, and context components of racial socialization in Multiracial‐Black families. The implications for research are discussed.