bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GENETIC ABLATION OF THE C-TYPE LECTIN RECEPTOR CLEC2D INCREASES PERITONITIS MORTALITY, INFLAMMATION, AND PHYSIOLOGY WITHOUT DIMINISHING ORGAN INJURY
Authors: Stolarski Allan E. , Lai Jiann-Jyh , Kim Jiyoun , Rock Kenneth L. , Remick Daniel
Published: August 2024

Background:Sepsis accounts for substantial morbidity and mortality motivating investigators to continue the search for pathways and molecules driving the pathogenesis of the disease. The current study examined if the novel C-type lectin receptor (CLR), Clec2d, plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of sepsis.Methods:Clec2d knockout (KO) mice were fully backcrossed onto the C57/BL6 background. Acute endotoxemia was induced with an intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Sepsis was induced in two different models, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) andPseudomonas aeruginosapneumonia. Both models were treated with antibiotics and fluid resuscitation. In the sepsis models, physiologic and hematologic measurements were measured at 24 h by collecting a small sample of peripheral blood. Mortality was followed for 14 days.Results: A total of 197 mice were studied, 58 wild type (WT) and 54 knock-out (KO) in the LPS model; 27 wild type and 21 KO mice in the CLP model; and 22 WT and 15 KO mice in the pneumonia model. Clec2d KO mice had greater mortality in the LPS and CLP studies but not the pneumonia model. There were significant differences in multiple parameters determined 24 h post sepsis between mice who subsequently died and those lived. Consistent with previous reports in the CLP model, higher concentrations of IL-6, increased numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes and greater renal injury were found in the dying mice. In contrast, in the pneumonia model, IL-6 was higher in the surviving mice; however, the IL-6 levels in the pneumonia model (0.6 ± 0.3 ng/mL mean ± SEM) were less than 2% of the IL-6 levels of mice that died in the CLP model (41 ± 9 ng/mL, mean ± SEM). There were no differences in the lymphocyte count or renal injury between living and dying mice in the pneumonia model. In both sepsis models, dying mice had lower heart rates, respiratory rates, and body temperatures. These values were also lower in the KO mice compared to the WT in CLP, but the breath rate and body temperature were increased in the KO pneumonia mice.Conclusion:The C-type lectin receptor Clec2d plays a complicated role in the pathogenesis of sepsis, which varies with source of infection as demonstrated in the models used to study the disease. These data highlight the heterogeneity of the responses to sepsis and provide further evidence that a single common pathway driving sepsis organ injury and death likely does not exist.
Fat embolism syndrome after trauma: What you need to know
Authors: Kwon Junsik , Coimbra Raul
Published: August 2024

Fat embolism syndrome refers to a systemic condition caused by the circulation of fat droplets in the bloodstream, reaching various target organs typically after major bone fractures or related surgical procedures. Although most cases resolve spontaneously, severe instances can lead to significant respiratory failure, neurological damage, and even mortality. Therefore, appropriate prevention, timely diagnosis, and management are crucial for trauma patients at risk. The objective of this review article is to explore the definition, epidemiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, and pathophysiology of fat embolism syndrome. Furthermore, it aims to examine current recommendations for the accurate diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of it, providing a comprehensive guide for the effective management of patients prone to this condition.
Management of spinal trauma in pregnant patients: A systematic review of the literature
Authors: Rajkovic Christian , Kiss Adam , Lee Alyssa , Malhotra Aryan , Merckling Matthew , Jain Aarti , Subah Galadu , Zeller Sabrina , Zangbar Bardiya , Prabhakaran Kartik , Wainwright John , Kinon Merritt
Published: August 2024

BACKGROUND

Despite the high incidence of spine trauma globally, traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) during pregnancy is considered a rare medical emergency. The literature on acute management of these patients is sparse compared with that of mothers with preexisting tSCI. This systematic review aims to evaluate management strategies for tSCI during pregnancy in improving neurologic, obstetric, and neonatal outcomes.

METHODS

A systematic review of PubMed/MEDLINE was performed without language restriction from inception until November 2, 2023 for patients who acquired tSCI during pregnancy. Excluded articles described postpartum trauma, trauma before pregnancy, or SCI of nontraumatic etiology such as neoplastic, vascular, hemorrhagic, or ischemic origin. Primary outcomes investigated were maternal American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade, pregnancy termination, cesarean delivery, prematurity, and neonatal adverse events.

RESULTS

Data from 73 patients were extracted from 43 articles from 1955 to 2023. The mothers' median age was 24 years (interquartile range, 23–30 years), and the average gestational age at the time of injury was 21.1 ± 7.7 weeks. The thoracic spine was the most common segment affected (41.1%) and had the greatest proportion of complete tSCI (46.6%). Furthermore, ASIA score improvement was observed in 17 patients with 3 patients experiencing a 2-score improvement and 1 patient experiencing a 3-score improvement. Among these patients, 86% of ASIA B and 100% of ASIA C patients showed neurologic improvement, compared to only 17% of ASIA A patients. Surgically managed patients had a lower rate of neonatal adverse events than conservatively managed patients (11% vs. 34%).

CONCLUSION

Acute tSCI requires a coordinated effort between a multidisciplinary team with careful consideration. While maternal neurologic improvement was observed more often following a better ASIA grade on presentation, the presence of neonatal adverse events was less common in patients treated with surgery than in patients who were managed conservatively.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Systematic review/Meta-analysis; Level IV.
Analytical approximations of laminar flow states above a curved wall heated from below
Authors: Lee Harry , Stone Howard A.
Published: August 2024

An analytical framework is developed for estimating wall-bounded plane laminar flow states above curved walls subject to external shear and heating. The framework is applicable to arbitrary lower-wall geometries with arbitrary temperature prescriptions. The study relies on perturbation expansions of flow states with respect to the inverse of the dimensionless channel wavelength. Exact closed-form solutions are obtained for systems of perturbation equations up to the third order, which have the freedom to allow for any flow constraint. As an application of the analytical framework, we examine flow states above two specific instances of wall geometries with long channel wavelengths. The approximated flow states shed insights into morphologies of laminar convection states at low shear rates (i.e. low Reynolds numbers).
Isolated Neisseria meningitidis-associated endophthalmitis in an immunocompetent host: case report and literature review
Authors: Lo Calvin Ka-Fung , Hughes Lauren , Schonhofer Cole , Bowie William R , McCormick Iain , Kirker Andrew
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Neisseria meningitidis is a Gram-negative diplococcus with significant infectious sequelae including meningitis and disseminated meningococcal bloodstream infection. Rarely has it been reported in the context of endophthalmitis without central nervous system involvement. We report a clinical case of isolated meningococcal endophthalmitis in an immunocompetent patient and present a literature review on published cases including treatment regimens and clinical outcomes.

Case Presentation

A 51-year-old male with no significant medical history presented to the emergency department with acute vision loss in the right eye after returning from Mexico. Ophthalmic examination was consistent with endophthalmitis, presumed to be endogenous in the absence of recent ocular trauma or surgery. Vitreous culture was positive for growth of gram-negative diplococci, subsequently identified as Neisseria meningitidis. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures were negative for growth of similar or implicative pathogens. There was no evidence of disseminated meningococcal infection; imaging did not demonstrate any drainable collections or sequelae of extension into the central nervous system. The patient was treated with intravitreal antibiotics as well as topical steroids and antibiotics. In addition, he completed a two-week course of systemic antibiotics. Visual outcome was unfortunately poor.

Conclusion

This case illustrates a rare case of isolated endophthalmitis secondary to meningococcus, presumably from nasopharyngeal source. In these clinical scenarios, clinicians should perform a thorough evaluation for predisposing immunodeficiencies.
Characterisation of Microbiome Diversity Unveils Substantial Microbial Variation in Mangrove Soils from Coastal Regions of Malaysia
Authors: Hebbar Prashantha , Han Oh Bi , Yan Ng Xin , Kay Dominic , Chu Kwa Yee , Woon James Sy-Keen , Lun Pang Kok , Kabekkodu Shama Prasada , Prasad Alevoor S Bharath , Prakash Bharathi , Nograles Nadine , Kanakal Mahibub Mahamadsa , Goodson Michaela , MASCARENHAS ROSHAN
Published: August 2024

The mangrove ecosystems are highly productive and of great ecological importance found in tropical and subtropical coasts, including Malaysia. The microbial communities in the mangrove sediments play an indispensable role in maintaining homeostasis and supporting biodiversity. However, mangroves are facing various threats due to increasing anthropogenic activities that trigger deterioration culminating in irreversible damage to the coastal ecosystem. Thus, it is important to monitor the microbial community to improve our understanding of the impact of anthropogenic pressure on reshaping these ecosystems. This study examines the microbial community diversity in mangrove sediments of southern peninsular Malaysia. High throughput MinION sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was performed to compare the soil microbiome diversity in 34 samples from eight different mangroves representing Sungai Sedili Kecil and Sungai Sedili Besar that flows into the South China Sea on the east; Sungai Pulai, Sungai Melayu, Sungai Danga, Sungai Skudai and Sungai Johor that joins Straits of Johor in the south; as well as Pulau Kukup from Straits of Malacca on the west. The metagenomic classification performed with 16S rRNA showed 101 taxa comprising 18 phyla. Sequence mean prevalence and total abundance analysis showed Proteobacteria (27-66%), Firmicutes (11-25%), Planctomycetes (3-50%), and Bacteroidetes (5-9%) as the relatively common phyla in all regions. Alpha diversity indices revealed significantly higher richness in samples from mangroves in the estuaries of the South China Sea. Richness indices varied significantly across the straits of Johor, specifically Sungai Johor and Sungai Melayu. Further, Shannon index showed a significant difference in diversity between Sungai Melayu and Sungai Pulai. Higher abundance of Betaproteobacteria, Epsilonproteobacteria and Planctomycete suggest a shift in the microbial community structure. This study stands as the first comprehensive analysis of microbial communities in these mangroves, serving as a valuable reference for future monitoring and conservation endeavours to safeguard these vital ecosystems.
Catastrophic Hunger in Gaza: Unprecedented Levels of Hunger Post-October 7th. A Real Population-Based Study from the Gaza Strip
Authors: Faris MoezAlIslam , Abutair Ayman S. , Elfarra Reham M. , Barqawi Nida. A. , Firwana Amal M. , Firwana Rawan M. , AbuHajjaj Madleen M. , Shamaly Shaimaa A. , AbuSamra Samar S. , Bashir Hanan S. , Abedalrahim Noor A. , Nofal Noor A. , Alshawaf Mhran K. , Al Shatali Rania M. , Ghaben Kafa I. , Alron Moayad I. , Alqeeq Sara S. , Al-Nabahin Aya O. , Badawi Reem A.
Published: August 2024

Background

The Gaza Strip, spanning approximately 365 square kilometers, has been a focal point of geopolitical tensions and humanitarian crises. The military escalation on October 7thexacerbated existing vulnerabilities, notably food security and hunger, with an estimated 85,750 deaths due to Israeli attacks, representing about 8% of the 2.34 million population. This research aims to inform policymakers and humanitarian organizations about strategies to mitigate hunger and improve food security in Gaza amidst this damaging war.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to July 2024, assessing food insecurity and hunger among Palestinian households across the five governorates of Gaza. The study applied a quantitative research approach; the study involved 1209 households. The study utilized the Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM), Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), and Household Hunger Scale (HHS) to measure food insecurity and hunger. Self-reported anthropometric data were also collected. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 29, employing correlation tests, chi-square analysis, and logistic regression.

Results

Out of 1503 surveyed households, 1209 were included in the final analysis. The mean age of participants was 38 years, with 53.5% being female. Significant findings included high levels of food insecurity, with 100% of households experiencing some level of food insecurity according to HFSSM and 97.7% being severely food insecure per HFIAS. The results revealed a catastrophic, unprecedented, extremely high prevalence of hunger, reaching more than 95%. The HHS indicated that 88% of households experienced varying degrees of hunger. The war was associated with significant weight loss among individuals, with the average weight dropping from 74.6 kg before the war to 64.1 kg. Factors such as displacement, age, economic status, and educational level significantly impacted hunger severity.

Conclusion

The study reveals a severe food insecurity and hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip, exacerbated by the ongoing damaging war by Israeli forces. The findings highlight the urgent need for coordinated efforts to address food security and support the resilience and recovery of affected communities. Policymakers and humanitarian organizations must develop targeted interventions to mitigate hunger and improve the living conditions in Gaza.
CO2protects cells from iron-Fenton oxidative DNA damage in E. coli and humans
Authors: Fleming Aaron M. , Dingman Justin C. , Burrows Cynthia J.
Published: August 2024

Whereas hydroxyl radical is commonly named as the Fenton product responsible for DNA and RNA damage in cells, here we demonstrate that the cellular reaction generates carbonate radical anion due to physiological levels of bicarbonate. Analysis of the metabolome, transcriptome and, in human cells, the nuclear genome shows a consistent buffering of H2O2-induced oxidative stress leading to one common pathway, namely guanine oxidation. Particularly revealing are nanopore-based studies of direct RNA sequencing of cytosolic and mitochondrial ribosomal RNA along with glycosylase-dependent qPCR studies of oxidative DNA damage in telomeres. The focusing of oxidative modification on one pathway is consistent with the highly evolved base excision repair suite of enzymes and their involvement in gene regulation in response to oxidative stress.
The amyloid oligomer modulator anle138b has disease modifying effects in a human IAPP transgenic mouse model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (hIAPP Ob/Ob mice)
Authors: Albariqi Mohammed M. H. , Baauw Sanne M.G. , Fens Sjors J.P.J. , Versteeg Sabine , Ryazanov Sergey , Leonov Andrei , Willemen Hanneke L.D.M. , Stathonikos Nikolas , Seychell Raina Marie , Saghir Adam El , Gerritsen Bram , Khemtemourian Lucie , Vassallo Neville , Giese Armin , Eijkelkamp Niels , Griesinger Christian , Höppener Jo W. M.
Published: August 2024

Cytotoxic aggregates of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) contribute to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) pathogenesis by damaging pancreatic islet β cells and reducing insulin production. Anle138b is an amyloid oligomer modulator with disease modifying properties in mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases linked to protein aggregation and with favorable results in phase 1 clinical studies. We tested whether anle138b has disease modifying properties in a severe hIAPP transgenic mouse model of T2DM. Oral administration of anle138b in hIAPP Ob/Ob mice reduced hyperglycemia, decreased glycated hemoglobin levels, increased islet β-cell mass and improved islet function compared to non-treated mice. In contrast, anle138b administration did not affect these parameters in non-transgenic Ob/Ob mice, indicating that the anti-diabetic effects of anle138b are hIAPP-dependent.In vitro, anle138b inhibited hIAPP aggregation and toxic effects of hIAPP on mitochondria. These results indicate that anle138b is a promising drug candidate for treating and/or preventing T2DM -associated pathology.
Phase I/II Trial of Brogidirsen: Dual-Targeting Antisense Oligonucleotides for Exon 44 Skipping in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Komaki Hirofumi , Takeshita Eri , Kunitake Katsuhiko , Ishizuka Takami , Shimizu-Motohashi Yuko , Ishiyama Akihiko , Sasaki Masayuki , Yonee Chihiro , Maruyama Shinsuke , Hida Eisuke , Aoki Yoshitsugu
Published: August 2024

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe muscle disorder caused by mutations in the DMD gene, resulting in dystrophin loss. Exon-skipping using antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) is a promising approach that partially restores dystrophin by correcting the frameshift during pre-mRNA splicing. However, a weakness of the current approach is that it is mutation-specific and has poor efficacy. To address these, we aim to develop brogidirsen, a new dual-targeting ASO that targets two sequences in exon 44 of theDMDusing phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer. Here, we conducted an open-label, dose-escalation, Phase I/II trial to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, and activity of brogidirsen, administered intravenously to six ambulant patients with DMD amenable to exon 44 skipping. The study consisted of a dose-escalation part to determine the optimal doses, followed by extended treatment with 40 mg/kg or 80 mg/kg weekly dose for 24 weeks. There were no serious adverse events related to brogidirsen. The results indicated a dose-dependent increase in dystrophin levels, reaching 10.27% and 15.79% of the normal level in the two cohorts. Motor functional tests suggested a trend toward maintaining or slightly improving motor function. There was a dose-dependent increase in Cmax and AUC0–t. High-throughput proteomic assays revealed that serum proteins such as PADI2, TTN, MYOM2, and MYLPF were observed to reduce, suggesting them as biomarkers for therapeutic effects. Notably, in vitro assays using urine-derived cells from patients with DMD support brogidirsen’s high efficacy in the first-in-human studies. These promising results warrant a subsequent multinational trial for DMD.
Crowder induced conformational fluctuations modulate the phase separation of yeast SUP35 NM domain
Authors: Roychowdhury Sumangal , Menon Sneha , Mandal Narattam , Mondal Jagannath , Chattopadhyay Krishnananda
Published: August 2024

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) like Sup35NM can undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) to form biomolecular condensates, a process influenced by their conformational flexibility and the crowded intracellular environment. This study investigates how molecular crowding, specifically the size and shape of crowders like Dextran and Ficoll, modulates the conformational states and phase separation behavior of Sup35NM. Using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and molecular dynamics simulations, we observed that Dextran, depending on its molecular weight, induces both compaction and expansion of Sup35NM, driving phase separation at certain thresholds. Notably, rod-like Dextran crowders promote phase separation, while spherical Ficoll does not, highlighting the impact of crowder geometry on IDP behavior. Computational modelling further revealed that the crowder shape influences Sup35NM’s conformational ensemble by modulating intra- and inter-domain interactions. These findings elucidate the role of crowding agents in IDP phase behavior, suggesting that cellular crowding may regulate IDP functionality through conformational control.
Temperature affects recombination rate plasticity and meiotic success between thermotolerant and cold tolerant yeast species
Authors: McNeill Jessica , Brandt Nathan , Schwarzkopf Enrique J. , Jimenez Mili , Smukowski Heil Caiti
Published: August 2024

Meiosis is required for the formation of gametes in all sexually reproducing species and the process is well conserved across the tree of life. However, meiosis is sensitive to a variety of external factors, which can impact chromosome pairing, recombination, and fertility. For example, the optimal temperature for successful meiosis varies between species of plants and animals. This suggests that meiosis is temperature sensitive, and that natural selection may act on variation in meiotic success as organisms adapt to different environmental conditions. To understand how temperature alters the successful completion of meiosis, we utilized two species of the budding yeastSaccharomyceswith different temperature preferences: thermotolerantSaccharomyces cerevisiaeand cold tolerantSaccharomyces uvarum. We surveyed three metrics of meiosis: sporulation efficiency, spore viability, and recombination rate in multiple strains of each species. As per our predictions, the proportion of cells that complete meiosis and form spores is temperature sensitive, with thermotolerantS. cerevisiaehaving a higher temperature threshold for successful meiosis than cold tolerantS. uvarum. We confirmed previous observations thatS. cerevisiaerecombination rate varies between strains and across genomic regions, and add new results thatS. uvarumhas higher recombination rates thanS. cerevisiae. We find that temperature significantly influences recombination rate plasticity inS. cerevisiaeandS. uvarum, in agreement with studies in animals and plants. Overall, these results suggest that meiotic thermal sensitivity is associated with organismal thermal tolerance, and may even result in temporal reproductive isolation as populations diverge in thermal profiles.
Haematology dimension reduction, a large scale application to regular care haematology data
Authors: Joosse Huibert-Jan , Chumsaeng-Reijers Chontira , Huisman Albert , Hoefer Imo E , van Solinge Wouter W , Haitjema Saskia , van Es Bram
Published: August 2024

Background

The routine diagnostic process increasingly entails the processing of high-volume and high-dimensional data. This processing may provide scaling issues that limit the implementation of these types of data into research as well as integrated diagnostics in routine care. Here, we investigate whether we can use existing dimension reduction techniques to provide visualisations and analyses for a complete bloodcount (CBC) while maintaining representativeness of the original data. We considered over 3 million CBC measurements encompassing over 70 parameters of cell frequency, size and complexity from the UMC Utrecht UPOD database. We evaluated PCA as an example of a linear dimension reduction techniques and UMAP, TriMap and PaCMAP as non-linear dimension reduction techniques. We assessed their technical performance using quality metrics for dimension reduction as well as biological representation by evaluating preservation of diurnal, age and sex patterns, cluster preservation and the identification of leukemia patients.

Results

We found that PCA performs systematically better than the UMAP, TriMap and PaCMAP in representing the underlying data. Biological relevance was retained for periodicity in the data. However, we also observed a decrease in predictive performance of the reduced data for both age and sex, as well as an overestimation of clusters within the reduced data. Finally, we were able to identify the diverging patterns for leukemia patients after use of dimensionality reduction methods.

Conclusions

We conclude that for hematology data, the use of unsupervised dimension reduction techniques should be limited to data visualization applications, as implementing them in diagnostic pipelines may lead to decreased quality of integrated diagnostics in routine care.
Wild corvids learn social tolerance to exploit new information
Authors: Arbon Josh J , Truskanov Noa , Stott Emily , McIvor Guillam E , Thornton Alex
Published: August 2024

Social tolerance is crucial in facilitating the evolution of cooperation, social cognition and culture, but it is unknown whether animals can optimise their social tolerance through learning. We presented wild jackdaws (Corvus monedula) with a novel social information problem using automated feeders: to access food, adults had to inhibit their tendency to displace juveniles and instead show tolerance by occupying an adjacent perch. Adults learned to tolerate juveniles, generalising across juveniles as a cohort, demonstrating learning of a new information-use strategy.
Transcriptomic dynamics of petal development in the one-day flower species, Japanese morning glory (Ipomoea nil)
Authors: Nakagawa Soya , Hoshino Atsushi , Ito Kazuyo , Nishide Hiroyo , Shiratake Katsuhiro , Nagano Atsushi J. , Sakakibara Yasubumi
Published: August 2024

Various aspects of Japanese morning glory(Ipomoea nil) petals, such as color, pattern, shape, flower opening time, and senescence, have been extensively studied. To facilitate such studies, transcriptome data were collected from flower petals at 3-h intervals over 3.5 days; the data was collected from 72 h before and 12 h after flower opening, accounting for 29 timepoints. Data analysis revealed substantial transcriptomic changes before and after flower opening. The expression patterns of cell division marker genes indicated that cell division practically stops at approximately 48 h before flower opening. Furthermore, the increased expression of genes encoding transporters for sugars, amino acids, nucleic acids, and autophagy-related genes was observed after flower opening, indicating the translocation of nutrients from senescing petal cells to other developing tissues. Correlations were found between the temporal expression patterns of the three transcriptional regulators and expression patterns of different sets of structural genes within the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway, indicating differential reliance on each regulator for the activation of specific structural genes. Furthermore, clock genes were identified. Three copies of the clock geneELF3did not exhibit circadian rhythms, potentially allowingI. nilto adapt to high-latitude regions. The temporal transcriptome data and interactive database (https://ipomoeanil.nibb.ac.jp/fpkm/) offer valuable insights into gene expression dynamics, periodicity, and correlations and provide a crucial resource for further research onI. niland other plant species.
Transglutaminase 2 function in glioblastoma tumor efferocytosis
Authors: Lui Margarita , Sevinc Filiz , Elgafarawi Mara , Munoz David G. , Keillor Jeffrey W , Sinclair John , Catana Dragosh , Woulfe John , Lorimer Ian AJ
Published: August 2024

Glioblastoma is an aggressive and incurable type of brain cancer. Regions of tissue necrosis are a distinctive pathological feature of this cancer. These arise through thrombosis of tumor vasculature, driven by tumor-derived pro-coagulation factors. In studies of transglutaminase 2 (TGM2), we observed that TGM2 mRNA expression in glioblastoma was primarily in a subset of tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells with hypoxia gene expression signatures. Analysis of xenograft and human glioblastoma samples by immunohistochemistry showed that macrophages in the vicinity of necrotic regions expressed very high levels of TGM2. These macrophages were engaged in the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells, a process known as efferocytosis. In cell culture, incubation of macrophages with apoptotic cells induced TGM2 expression in macrophages, and TGM2 inhibitors blocked efferocytosis. In patient-derived glioblastoma organoids cultured in 5% O2, a basal level of apoptosis was observed, and endogenous macrophages were observed in the process of clearing apoptotic cells. Clearance of apoptotic cells was reduced in organoids treated with a TGM2 inhibitor. Apoptotic cells and efferocytosis were both markedly lower in organoids grown in 20% O2. These data, together with previous work, define a model in which necrotic regions in glioblastoma induce hypoxia-driven apoptosis, which in turn promotes efferocytosis by macrophages. TGM2 is both a marker of efferocytosis and a target for efferocytosis inhibition in this process. Efferocytosis is a potent immunosuppressive mechanism, so this process provides an additional mechanism by which large glioblastoma tumors can evade immune responses.
The receptor-like kinase ALE2 promotes giant cell formation in the sepal epidermis
Authors: Clark Frances K. , McGory Jessica , Russell Nicholas J. , Formosa-Jordan Pau , Roeder Adrienne H. K.
Published: August 2024

During sepal development inArabidopsis thaliana, epidermal pavement cells differentiate into small cells and large, highly endoreduplicated giant cells. While the placement of giant cells differs between sepals, the number of giant cells is fairly consistent. The HD-ZIP class IV transcription factor ATML1 has been found to promote giant cell formation. ATML1 protein fluctuates within epidermal nuclei of developing sepals and high ATML1 concentrations reached in the G2 phase of the cell cycle strongly correlates with giant cell fate specification. A genetic screen for reduced giant cell number identified the receptor-like kinase ABNORMAL LEAF SHAPE2 (ALE2) as being important for giant cell formation. We find that ALE2 functions genetically upstream of ATML1 in promoting the formation of giant cells. We observe that nuclear-localized mCitrine-ATML1 fluctuates inale2mutants much as it does in wild type and, importantly, nuclear mCitrine-ATML1 reaches similarly high peak concentrations inale2-1mutants as in wild type. This indicates that ALE2 functions upstream of ATML1 by affecting protein activity rather than gene expression or protein degradation. One function of ATML1 is to promote transcription of the CDK inhibitor LGO. We find that LGO transcription is delayed and decreased inale2-1mutants as compared to wild-type plants, consistent with ATML1 having impaired protein function inale2mutants. Overall, we find that the receptor-like kinase ALE2 is necessary to sensitize cells of the developing sepal epidermis to fluctuations of the transcription factor ATML1.
Optimizing Plant Biofactories: Enhancing Recombinant Protein Production inNicotiana benthamianathrough Phytoplasma Effectors
Authors: Rahman Md Saifur , Goulet Marie-Claire , Michaud Dominique
Published: August 2024

Molecular farming, which utilizes plants as biofactories for recombinant protein production, offers an innovative and cost-effective alternative to traditional expression systems. Despite its advantages, plant-based production faces challenges such as low transgene expression and protein instability. Recent studies have highlighted the potential ofNicotiana benthamianaaxillary stem leaves to enhance protein yield. This study explored the development ofN. benthamianalines expressing TENGU without signal peptide (T-SP), a phytoplasma effector known to induce plant dwarfism and increase shoot growth. TENGU and other effectors, such as SAP05 and SAP11, were introduced to create phenotypic variations that favor recombinant protein production. This study aimed to optimize these transgenic lines for increased biomass and protein yields by leveraging vertical farming conditions for scalable production. The results demonstrated significant improvements in leaf number, biomass, and five times more soluble protein content in T-SP lines compared to control lines, suggesting a promising approach for efficient molecular farming.
Statistical refinement of case vignettes for digital health research
Authors: Kopka Marvin , Feufel Markus A.
Published: August 2024

Digital health research often relies on case vignettes (descriptions of fictitious or real patients) to navigate ethical and practical challenges. Despite their utility, the quality and lack of standardization of these vignettes has often been criticized, especially in studies on symptom-assessment applications (SAAs) and triage decision-making. To address this, our paper introduces a method to refine an existing set of vignettes, drawing on principles from classical test theory. First, we removed any vignette with an item difficulty of zero and an item-total correlation below zero. Second, we stratified the remaining vignettes to reflect the natural base rates of symptoms that SAAs are typically approached with, selecting those vignettes with the highest item-total correlation in each quota. Although this two-step procedure reduced the size of the original vignette set by 40%, comparing triage performance on the reduced and the original vignette sets, we found a strong correlation (r = 0.747 to r = 0.997, p < .001). This indicates that using our refinement method helps identifying vignettes with high predictive power of an agent’s triage performance while simultaneously increasing cost-efficiency of vignette-based evaluation studies. This might ultimately lead to higher research quality and more reliable results.
Influenza vaccine effectiveness against influenza-associated hospitalizations in children, Hong Kong, November 2023 to June 2024
Authors: Lee So-Lun , Kwan Mike Y. W. , Murphy Caitriona , Chan Eunice L. Y. , Wong Joshua S. C. , Sullivan Sheena G. , Peiris Malik , Cowling Benjamin J.
Published: August 2024

We conducted a test negative study from November 2023 to June 2024, enrolling 4,367 children hospitalized with acute respiratory illness in Hong Kong. Among the children who tested negative for influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2, 56.8% had received influenza vaccination. Between November 2023 and March 2024, influenza A(H3N2) predominated and the VE against influenza A(H3N2) was estimated as 55% (95% CI: 29.6%, 71.8%). VE point estimates were higher for younger children than older children. In February to June 2024 influenza A(H1N1) predominated and VE against influenza A(H1N1) was 54% (95% CI: 33%, 69%) during this period. Influenza B circulated at low intensity throughout the 2023/24 season and VE against influenza B was 66% (95% CI: 42%, 80%). Since its introduction in 2018/19 the school-based influenza vaccination program has substantially increased vaccine uptake in children in Hong Kong and prevented influenza-associated hospitalizations.
Production of meson molecules in ultraperipheral heavy ion collisons
Authors: Sobrinho F. C. , Abreu L. M. , Bertulani C. A. , Navarra F. S.
Published: August 2024

In this work we present a calculation of exotic charmonium production in ultraperipheral collisions, in which the exotic state is explicitly treated as a meson molecule. Our formalism is general, but we focus on the lightest possible exotic charmonium state: a D+D− molecular bound state. It was proposed some time ago, and it has been an object of experimental searches. Here we study the production of the open charm pair in the process γγ→D+D−. Then we use a prescription to project the free pair |D+D−⟩ onto a bound state at the amplitude level and compute the cross section of the process γγ→B (where B is the bound state). Finally, we convolute this last cross section with the equivalent photon distributions coming from the projectile and target in an ultraperipheral collision and find the AA→AAB cross section, which, for Pb−Pb collisions at sNN=5.02  TeV, is of the order of 3  μb.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Type II string theory on
AdS3×S3×T4
and symmetric orbifolds
Authors: Aharony Ofer , Urbach Erez Y.
Published: August 2024

We discuss in detail the 1+1-dimensional superconformal field theory dual to type II string theory on AdS3×S3×T4, emphasizing the string theoretic aspects of this duality. For one unit of Neveu-Schwarz (NS-NS) 5-brane flux (Q5=1), this string theory has been suggested to be dual to a grand-canonical ensemble of T4N/SN free symmetric orbifold conformal field theories (CFTs). We show how the string genus expansion emerges to all orders for the free orbifold grand-canonical correlation functions. We also discuss how the strong coupling limit of the NS-NS string theory arises (even at large N) in the free orbifold description, and argue why this limit does not have a weakly coupled RR description. The dual conformal field theory (CFT) includes (for all values of Q5) an extra T4 factor that is decoupled from perturbative string theory. We discuss the exactly marginal deformations that relate the different values of Q5, including the precise JJ¯ deformations mixing this extra T4 with the symmetric orbifold.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Universal Bound on Effective Central Charge and Its Saturation
Authors: Karch Andreas , Kusuki Yuya , Ooguri Hirosi , Sun Hao-Yu , Wang Mianqi
Published: August 2024

The effective central charge (denoted by ceff) is a measure of entanglement through a conformal interface, while the transmission coefficient (encoded in the coefficient cLR of the two-point function of the energy-momentum tensor across the interface) is a measure of energy transmission through the interface. It has been pointed out that these two are generally different. In this Letter, we propose the inequalities, 0≤cLR≤ceff≤min(cL,cR). They have the simple but important implication that the amount of energy transmission can never exceed the amount of information transmission. We verify them using the AdS/CFT correspondence, using the perturbation method, and in examples beyond holography. We also show that these inequalities are sharp by constructing a class of interfaces that saturate them.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Dimensions of employee resilience: evidence from Indian hydropower sector
Authors: Kumar Sunil , Kumar Dushyanth
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The power sector organizations are transforming swiftly with technological advancements and competition in the market. The present study aims to validate the determinants of employee resilience in hydropower organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative, cross-sectional research approach was used to conduct the study. The information was collected through a structured questionnaire from 853 employees working in 30 hydropower plants in North India. The PLS-SEM technique used to validate the extracted factors' structure.

Findings

The study validated determinants of employee resilience: self-management, flexibility and proactiveness, interactive, vision, relationships and problem-solving skills.

Research limitations/implications

The implications of employee resilience as a strategic tool to diffuse rapid work and environmental changes is validated in select hydropower plants.

Originality/value

The research is original and conducted in the hydropower sector to explore the concept of employee resilience.
Attitudes towards the release of ALPS water from Fukushima NPP
Authors: Nakamura Tetsuya , Lloyd Steven , Maruyama Atsushi , Masuda Satoru
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The Japanese government plans to release ALPS treated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant starting in the summer of 2023. This has appeared to be a controversial topic in Japan and amongst its neighbors in the regions. This paper focuses on the attitudes of Japanese people towards the government policy, placing it within the context of wider issues.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey of 2,000 participants completed an online survey comprising of Likert type and multi-choice type questions. The results were analyzed using logit regression analysis.

Findings

We found that issues other than the ALPS discharge were seen as equally important, but that there was concern about the policy, the impact the discharge would have, and about produce from the area. We also found that the farther away the participants lived, the less concern they showed. Consultations with both local communities and neighboring countries were seen as important by many participants.

Originality/value

This research places the issue of ALPS treated water into a wider context of other global issues and examines the role distance from Fukushima plays in the public’s engagement with the issue. It serves to highlight the mixed results of government efforts to win support for its ALPS discharge policy.
Does building smart cities necessarily enhance urban ICT development? Insights from a quasi-natural experiment based on Chinese pilot policy
Authors: Wang Zhouhong , Liu Shuxian , Li Jia , Xiao Peng
Published: August 2024

Purpose

With the help of a quasi-natural experiment on Chinese policies, this study aims to understand the actual contribution of Smart City (SC) policies to the development of information and communications technology (ICT) in different cities. It also discusses the social and digital differences that such policies may generate, with a particular focus on the potential for exacerbating urban inequalities.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve this, the study employs a principal component analysis (PCA) to develop an ICT development indicator system. It then employs a difference-in-differences (DID) model to analyze panel data from 209 Chinese cities over the period from 2007 to 2019, examining the impact of SC policies on ICT development across various urban settings.

Findings

Our findings show that SC policies have significantly contributed to the enhancement of ICT development, especially in ICT usage. However, SC policies may inadvertently reinforce developmental disparities among cities. Compared to less developed areas, the benefits of SC policies are more pronounced in economically booming cities. This is likely due to the agglomeration of the ICT industry and the strong allure of developed urban centers for high-caliber talent.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the related literature by explaining the role of SC policies in driving ICT development and by focusing on the often-overlooked impact of SC policies on urban inequality. These findings can provide guidance to policymakers on the need to recognize and address existing urban inequalities.
Do female directors of companies appoint audit firms with women in high-level positions?
Authors: Arioglu Emrah , Ocak Murat
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate whether female directors of companies are more likely to appoint audit firms (AFs) with women in high-level positions adopting monitoring, reputation and homophily theories.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses ordinary least square to test the hypotheses using a unique hand-collected data set obtained from various sources. To mitigate potential endogeneity and selection bias issues, system generalized method of moments (GMM) and Heckman two-stage procedures are used. Additionally, alternative independent and dependent variables are created to strengthen the validity of main results.

Findings

The findings show that female directors are more likely to appoint AFs with women in high-level positions. Non-independent female directors, compared to independent ones, are particularly inclined to do so. These results are supported by further analyses using system GMM, Heckman two-stage procedures and alternative variables.

Originality/value

This study examines how female directors influence companies’ choices of AFs with women in high-level positions. It introduces unique audit firm governance proxies and variables specific to developing countries. The study also controls for various corporate governance, company and audit firm characteristics.
Numerical and experimental investigation of silo vibration of sulfur storage
Authors: Gholami A. , Hosseini S. F. , Milani Shirvan Kamel , Sait Sadiq M. , Ellahi R.
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Due to the abundant use of granular materials in chemical industries, it is inevitable to store raw materials and products in bulk in silos. For this reason, much research has been carried out in the field of construction, operation and maintenance of silos. One of the important issues that must be investigated in silos is the behavior of their structure when the materials inside them are unloaded. Structural vibrations and the creation of normal noise usually discharge the granular of material from the silo. Both of phenomena are undesirable due to the problems they can cause to the structure and its surroundings. According to the said issues, this paper aims to investigate the vibration problem of the sulfur storage silo of the first refinery during discharge with the help of measuring experimental vibration data and simulating the silo model.

Design/methodology/approach

In the experimental investigation, the main cause of the vibration of the 400-ton silo in the refinery is used. The mass asymmetry phenomenon when the silo is filled is also considered. The experimental results are authenticated by software analysis too.

Findings

The results showed that the natural frequency of the ninth mode is almost equal to the natural frequency of sulfur discharge from the silos and has the largest shape change in the structure and vibration range. It is also concluded that the larger sulfur silo (400 tons) should be prioritized over the smaller sulfur silo (200 tons) in the emptying program, and the 400 tons silo should never be emptied even through the 200 tons silo is empty.

Originality/value

An attempt is made to investigate the issue of vibration in sulfur storage silos in the first refinery of South Pars in the form of experimental investigation and modal analysis.
Preventing construction site theft in Nigeria: an exploratory factor analysis of the root causes
Authors: Salami Babatunde Abiodun , Sanni-Anibire Muizz Oladapo , Olurin Joy Otibhor
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The construction industry in emerging economies have suffered from productivity issues related to poor resource management as a result of theft. Therefore, this study aims to carry out an exploratory factor analysis of the key causes of theft in the construction industry in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology entailed a review of the literature which identified 58 causes of construction theft. The causes were operationalized through a Likert-scale questionnaire survey, which was revised in a pilot study with ten industry experts. The questionnaire was further distributed to experienced construction professionals in Nigeria. A total of 63 respondents participated in the study, and the results were analyzed through an exploratory factor analysis.

Findings

A Kruskal–Wallis test showed no difference in perception of the various group of respondents, while Cronbach alpha test indicated an acceptable level of internal consistency and reliability. The top causes from the literature review were determined through descriptive statistics. However, a Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin measurement resulted in the exclusion of ten causes, and exploratory factor analysis yielded twenty causes in six dominant factors that together account for 55.7% of the variance. The six dominant factors were general theft prevention measures, site security measures, site layout planning, management of materials and equipment, construction project management and policy and safety management.

Originality/value

The limited amount of research on construction site theft in emerging construction environments such as Nigeria contributes to poor construction productivity. This study advances our knowledge of construction site theft and is of significant value to construction stakeholders in effective material and resource management through theft mitigation measures.