bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Linking Ambivalent Sexism to Violence-Against-Women Attitudes and Behaviors: A Three-Level Meta-analytic Review
Authors: Gutierrez Brenda C. , Leaper Campbell
Published: August 2023

Ambivalent sexism (hostile and benevolent sexism) maintains gender inequalities and has been applied to investigate violence against women (VAW). We conducted a comprehensive three-level meta-analytic review testing ambivalent sexism as predictors of VAW-supportive attitudes and behaviors regarding sexual harassment, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence. Relevant articles published between 1996 and April 2022 were retrieved from the PsycINFO, Pro Quest Dissertations and Theses, Cochrane Database Reviews, ERIC, and Web of Science online databases. A total of 141 reports (with 912 unique effect sizes) met our inclusion criteria (e.g., assessed Glick and Fiske’s 1996 ASI and at least one self-reported measure of VAW-supportive attitudes or men's VAW perpetration and/or proclivity; VAW was limited to violence against women perpetrated by men). Our review revealed hostile and benevolent sexism, respectively, were associated with greater VAW-supportive attitudes across genders (r = .47, 95% CI [.43–.50]; r = .26, 95% CI [.23–.29]) and to greater VAW behaviors among men (r = .23, 95% CI [.19–.27]; r = .08, 95% CI [.04–.12]). Our review also highlighted participant gender, VAW type, and domain of VAW as important moderators. Notably, benevolent sexism was more strongly tied to VAW-supportive attitudes among women (r = .31, 95% CI [.27–.35]) than men (r = .22, 95% CI [.18–.26]). Overall, the results underscore the importance of addressing hostile and benevolent sexism in future research and interventions on VAW.
Culture-based Determination of Verticillium Densities in Soil Overestimates Disease Pressure of Verticillium Wilt of Potato in Manitoba
Authors: Molina Oscar I. , Henriquez Maria A. , Tenuta Mario
Published: August 2023

Verticillium wilt affects potato fields in Manitoba where 80% of the fields are planted to the moderately susceptible cultivar, Russet Burbank. An accurate determination of Verticillium dahliae inoculum in soil is critical for disease management. In this study, we investigated the presence of microsclerotia-producing Verticillium species in potato fields in Manitoba and compared published quantitative real-time PCR assays for V. dahliae, V. tricorpus and V. longisporum against a traditional plating method. Selected real-time PCR assays could differentiate and quantify the major microsclerotia-producing species, V. dahliae, V. tricorpus and V. longisporum. Results showed that the presence of V. tricorpus caused an overestimation of V. dahliae propagule density when using the plating method. As a result, Verticillium wilt severity was negatively related to cfu from traditional plating, while positive with the amounts of V. dahliae genomic DNA in soils.
Evaluating the design of digital tools for the transition to an e-continuous assessment in higher education
Authors: Castillo-Manzano José I. , Castro-Nuño Mercedes , López-Valpuesta Lourdes , Sanz-Díaz María Teresa , Yñiguez Rocío
Published: August 2023

Evaluation is a crucial part of the teaching and learning process in any higher education institution and one that has gone through a deep change. This has been particularly true since the Bologna Declaration (http://www.ehea.info/page-ministerial-conference-bologna-1999, 1999) ushered in the European higher education area, with the subsequent major rise in the employment of continuous assessment methods focused on student participation. This article analyses the impact on academic performance of e-continuous assessment based on e-tests on a virtual platform as a previous step towards the substitution of the traditional evaluation system, based on a final exam, with a continuous evaluation system, prescribed as an alternative preferred by the regulations of multiple Spanish universities. Microeconometric models have been applied to a database of 250 first-year students on the Business Administration and Management course at the University of Seville (Spain). Our findings show that e-tests could prevent the risk of students dropping out and could also provide a credible predictor of students’ academic marks in the theoretical contents of the subject, but not in those of a practical or applied nature. Based on the results of this evaluation, an e-continuous assessment has been developed in the subject, which has become the majority option for students, with 90% participation, while also increasing pass rates. Moreover, the positive effect of a computing environment does not appear to be limited to the classroom, but also extends to students’ home environments. This teaching experience shows that the swift feedback that e-tools provides, especially in especially in environments of large class size such as in the class evaluated, could support instructors’ personal tutoring of students’ progress and promote a greater implementation of e-continuous assessment in Spanish higher education.
Tergomyan molluscs from the Early Ordovician of the Llangynog Inlier, South Wales, UK
Authors: Cope John C. W. , Ebbestad Jan Ove R.
Published: August 2023

A low abundance but diverse fauna of tergomyan molluscs is described from the Llangynog Inlier, Carmarthenshire, South Wales. The specimens originate from a single quarry exposing shallow-water siltstone and mudstone beds of the Early Arenig (early Floian) Bolahaul Member of the Ogof Hên Formation. The fauna includes Proplina areniga sp. nov., Proplina? obtusa sp. nov., Celtopileus calvapex gen. et sp. nov. with preserved muscle scars, Costulaconus mirificus gen. et sp. nov., and Hypseloconus? sp. Comparable tryblidiid taxa are mainly found in the Lower Ordovician of Midwestern USA among species of Proplina Kobayashi, 1933 and Gasconadeoconus Stinchcomb, 1986. The tentative assignment of the predominantly late Cambrian Hypseloconus is symptomatic of the many uncertainties regarding the phylogeny of the tryblidiids. The diverse assemblage of organisms preserved at the single locality represents one of the most remarkable faunas of this age worldwide.
Interference KRT17 reverses doxorubicin resistance in triple-negative breast cancer cells by Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Wu Liqiong , Ding Wenshuang , Wang Xiaopai , Li Xiubo , Yang Jing
Published: August 2023

Background

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer with the highest degree of malignancy and is easily resistant to drugs due to the lack of hormone receptors. Research on the resistance mechanisms in TNBC is particularly important. Keratin 17 (KRT17) is highly expressed in TNBC. Anthracycline doxorubicin (Dox) is a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug for early stage triple-negative breast cancer.

Objective

This study investigated the role of KRT17 in TNBC-Dox resistance.

Methods

Immuno-histochemical staining, qPCR, western blotting (WB), and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of KRT17 in TNBC-Dox-resistant patients and in TNBC-Dox-resistant MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231. the effect of KRT17 on the proliferation and migration in KRT17 knockdown of TNBC-Dox-resistant cells was determined by the CCK8, clone formation, transwell invasion and wound healing assays were used to determine.

Results

KRT17 was highly expressed in the TNBC-Dox-resistant cells. Knockdown of KRT17 significantly reduced the IC50s of TNBC-Dox-resistant and parental strains and also reduced the proliferation and invasion abilities of TNBC-Dox-resistant cell lines. KRT17 regulated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The inhibitory effect of KRT17 knockdown on the proliferation and migration of TNBC-Dox-resistant cells was reversed by an activator of the Wnt signaling pathway.

Conclusion

KRT17 can inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, thereby reducing the proliferation and invasion ability of TNBC-Dox-resistant cells.
Benefits of co-creating higher education learning resources: an industry participant perspective
Authors: Laundon Melinda , Williams Penny , Williams Jannine
Published: August 2023

This study investigates the perceived benefits to industry experts who engage with academics to co-create higher education learning resources. Academics are increasingly impelled to involve industry experts in learning and teaching to ensure that curriculum is authentic and relevant and prepares students for future professional careers. While benefits to students are well established by prior research, individual-level research into industry experts’ motivations to contribute to higher education is scant. When approached to co-create authentic learning resources for postgraduate students, industry experts expressed motivations which focused on three areas: desire to maintain valued relationships with academics or the university, desire to improve the student experience by developing innovative learning resources to bridge the gap between theory and practice and desire to build and promote their profession. In-depth, semi-structured interviews with nine human resource management industry experts identified that the benefits of co-creating learning resources went beyond their stated motivations to include unanticipated benefits which can be explained by the professionalism literature. We outline a taxonomy of benefits for industry experts engaging in co-creating authentic learning resources: students, the professional self, the professional community and the organisation. The implications are that universities and academics may draw on these broader benefits to encourage industry experts to participate in higher education learning resource development. The study provides insights into the potential for industry experts to engage in professional self-reflection by contributing to higher education teaching and learning.
Revisiting Universal Variables for Robust, Analytical Orbit Propagation Under the Vinti Potential
Authors: Biria Ashley D.
Published: August 2023

To meet the growing complexity and demands of modern spacecraft missions, analytical solutions to initial value problems see continued use, typically supporting global searches of large trajectory design spaces. These efforts often employ universal two-body orbit propagators for their recognized speed and robustness, but many applications, like active space debris removal, would benefit from a comparable propagator with greater accuracy. Vinti propagators, which consider planetary oblateness, may serve this purpose, but existing Vinti solutions possess computational difficulties in certain orbital regimes. To mitigate these deficiencies, the present study develops and validates an analytical, third-order universal Vinti propagator free of computational difficulties by leveraging standard, oblate spheroidal (OS) universal variables and OS equinoctial orbital elements. Accuracy of the third-order approximation is assessed for multiple examples across an array of orbital regimes. Computational runtime is also evaluated, and performance is directly compared to the benchmark algorithm. On average, the Vinti propagator implemented in this work is only slower than a typical universal Kepler propagator by a factor of 4.0 and slower than by a factor of 1.8, but with greater robustness than the benchmark. The new form of the equations of motion also has favorable implications for the associated boundary value problem.
Clinicians’ perspectives on PET/CT in oncological patients: an Italian National Survey
Authors: Santo Giulia , Miceli Alberto , Lazzarato Achille , Gorica Joana , Nappi Anna Giulia , Jonghi-Lavarini Lorenzo , Dondi Francesco , La Torre Flavia , Filice Angelina , De Rimini Maria Luisa , Evangelista Laura , Panareo Stefano ,   On the behalf of the Young Italian Association of Nuclear Medicine (AIMN) Working Group
Published: August 2023

Introduction

The present web-based national survey aims to assess the clinician's perspective toward (1) the indications to perform positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in cancer patients, (2) the utility of the interaction with the referring nuclear medicine physician, and (3) their perception of the clarity, usefulness, and the impact of the PET/CT report.

Methods

We conducted a prospective web-based survey consisting of 31 multiple-choice questions and an open-text field. The questionnaire was administered to Italian clinicians or surgeons who managed oncological patients. Data were analyzed using standard diagrams and the values were expressed as numbers (percentages).

Results

A total of 373 physicians completed the questionnaire. Among the 360 responses finally included in the analysis, the majority came from radiation oncologists (46%), followed by oncologists. For half of the respondents (53%), indications to perform PET/CT examination were “often” clear and easily accessible, but only 16% considered them “absolutely” clear and accessible. Additionally, most respondents (43%) considered “absolutely” necessary to facilitate access to PET/CT indications and their update. The interaction with the referring nuclear medicine physician was generally useful and satisfying. Regarding the nuclear medicine report, 74% considered “absolutely” useful to standardize the report structure, and the presence of semi-quantitative parameters was considered of great importance. Finally, in about half of the cases (53%), PET/CT report impacts patient management with major changes.

Conclusion

To sum up, a “still not” complete confidence with PET/CT indications and the need to facilitate access to indications and their update emerged from our results. Moreover, a structured PET/CT report with a clarification on essential PET features is warranted. In this scenario, the participation of nuclear medicine physicians in guideline oncological committees, national and international oncological conferences as well as continuous training among all specialists involved in cancer patients’ management could be effective strategies to resolve clinicians' concerns about PET/CT, thereby improving the management of cancer patients.
Before and During the First COVID-19 Surge: Work Conditions, Burnout, and Mental Health Among Resident Physicians in a Department of Psychiatry in the USA
Authors: Agrawal Alpna , De La Torre Kazandra , Cooper Conisha , Flores Jeremy , Miotto Karen , Wells Kenneth , Bromley Elizabeth , Yano Elizabeth M. , Heldt Jonathan , Castillo Enrico G. , DeBonis Katrina
Published: August 2023

Objective

Resident physicians are critical frontline workers during pandemics, and little is known about their health. The study examined occupational and mental health risks among US psychiatry residents before and during the first COVID-19 surge.

Methods

Longitudinal data were collected from a cohort of US psychiatry residents at one academic medical center in October 2019, before the pandemic, and April 2020 after the initiation of a state-level stay-at-home order. Primary outcome measures were psychological work empowerment, defined as one’s self-efficacy towards their work role, and occupational burnout. A secondary outcome was mental health. In May and June 2020, resident engagement sessions were conducted to disseminate study findings and consider their implications.

Results

Fifty-seven out of 59 eligible residents participated in the study (97%). Half the study sample reported high burnout. From before to during the first COVID-19 surge, psychological work empowerment increased in the total sample (p = 0.03); and mental health worsened among junior residents (p = 0.004), not senior residents (p = 0.12). High emotional exhaustion and depersonalization were associated with worse mental health (p < 0.001). In engagement sessions, themes related to residents’ work conditions, COVID-19, and racism emerged as potential explanations for survey findings.

Conclusions

The study is exploratory and novel. During early COVID, psychiatry residents’ well-being was impacted by occupational and societal factors. Postpandemic, there is a growing psychiatrist shortage and high demand for mental health services. The findings highlight the potential importance of physician wellness interventions focused on early career psychiatrists who were first responders during COVID.
Appreciation of Slapstick Humour and Expressivity in Response to Amusing Stimuli in Individuals with Williams Syndrome
Authors: Treichel Noémie , Dukes Daniel , Barisnikov Koviljka , Samson Andrea C.
Published: August 2023

Objectives

Previous studies on the comprehension and appreciation of humour in individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) have only included complex types of humour that required complex cognitive abilities. Additionally, although individuals with WS have been described as having a bias towards positive emotions, no study has investigated their expressive responses to humour.

Methods

The present study examined basic humour processing skills, as well as expressive responses to simple humorous and non-humorous stimuli in individuals with WS (N = 8) compared to mental-age matched typically developing (TD) children (N = 9). Participants were shown short funny and non-funny excerpts of the movies “Ice Age” and “Madagascar” and were asked to rate their level of amusement. Their expressive responses, namely smiles and laughs, were coded and analysed.

Results

Individuals with WS seem to be able to discriminate between humorous and non-humorous conditions and appreciate simple humorous content as much as TD individuals. As such, they are equally able to process simple types of humour as their mental-age matched counterparts. Additionally, and in line with their positivity bias, individuals with WS expressed more frequent and more intense laughter than the control group.

Conclusion

Individuals with WS appreciate simple humour as much as TD individuals, and they seem to display a particularly high expressivity in response to humorous stimuli.
Influence of geogrid arrangement on the bearing capacity of a granular soil on physical models and its comparison to theoretical equations
Authors: Albuja-Sánchez Jorge , Cóndor Lino , Oñate Karen , Ruiz Shirley , Lal Dharmesh
Published: August 2023

This study presents an analysis of the influence of geogrid distribution on the bearing capacity of granular soils. For this purpose, the bearing capacity is compared based on 3 arrangements, uniform, trapezoidal, and inverted trapezoidal, with 2 types of geogrids, biaxial and multiaxial, under the application of an axial load. The tests performed were analyzed in three forms in which the trapezoidal distribution was the best arrangement for biaxial and multiaxial geogrids. The first analysis considers the peaks for each stress–strain curve, the trapezoidal distribution increases the bearing capacity by 36% and 33% for biaxial and multiaxial geogrids, respectively. The second analysis considers a settlement ratio (s/B) of 10%, which had an average increment of 30.5% for the two types of geogrids. The third analysis considers a 20% of s/B ratio, which showed a 56% and 81% of bearing capacity ratio (BCR) increase for biaxial and multiaxial geogrids respectively. From an economical and environmental analysis, the trapezoidal distribution saves 7% of material compared to the traditional uniform distribution. The comparison between physical and numerical models with theoretical equations is presented.
Translation beyond Delsarte
Authors: Horváth Á. P.
Published: August 2023

We introduce general translations as solutions to Cauchy or Dirichlet problems. This point of view allows us to handle for instance the heat-diffusion semigroup as a translation. With the given examples, Kolmogorov–Riesz characterization of compact sets in certain $$L^p_\mu $$

L
μ
p

spaces is given. Pego-type characterizations are also derived. Finally, for some examples, the equivalence of the corresponding modulus of smoothness and K-functional is pointed out.
Automatic Screening System to Distinguish Benign/Malignant Breast-Cancer Histology Images Using Optimized Deep and Handcrafted Features
Authors: Yang Yongguo
Published: August 2023

Breast Cancer (BC) has been increasing in incidence among women for a variety of reasons, and prompt detection and management are essential to reducing mortality rates. In the context of clinical-level breast cancer screening, the needle biopsy sample is used to generate Breast Histology Images (BHIs), which will then be used to confirm the results. Using a novel Deep-Learning Plan (DLP), the proposed work identifies BHI accurately and confirms the severity of BC by confirming its severity. As part of the proposed DLP implementation, four phases are involved: (i) the collection and enhancement of images, (ii) the extraction of features, (iii) the reduction of features and their integration, and (iv) binary classification and validation. The purpose of this study is to optimize deep features and machine features using particle swarm algorithms. To evaluate the performance of the proposed scheme, we compare the results obtained using individual deep features, dual deep features, and hybrid features. Using the hybrid image features in the classifier, this study has determined that ResNet18 with k-nearest neighbor provides superior classification accuracy (> 94%).
Air pollution reduction during COVID-19 lockdown in China: a sustainable impact assessment for future cities development
Authors: Zhang Yingbo , Zhang Chunxiao , Liu Zhengguang , Yang Xiaohu
Published: August 2023

COVID-19 has significantly impacted people's daily lives worldwide in the past three years. During the COVID-19 lockdown in China, people's activities were restricted, private cars were banned, and some factories were shut down. It is expected that air pollution would be mitigated due to the reduction of automobile exhaust and factory pollution gas emissions during the COVID-19 lockdown. In this study, a city-level comparative study was investigated to quantify the impact of lockdown on air pollution in China. The concentration changes of air pollutants (NO2, SO2, CO, PM2.5, PM10) caused by the lockdown are studied covering 345 cities in China. The sensitivity analysis method was adopted to explore the variation scale of pollutant concentration in typical cities. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of pollutant changes between 2019 and 2020 and typical months are discussed using a composite index. The results showed that NO2, SO2 and PM10 concentrations had a significant reduction due to the lockdown, ranging from 15 to 30%. Pollutant emissions of 321 cities in February and March 2020 fell noticeably, and 272 cities showed a rebound of pollutant emissions after April 2020 when work and production resumed. The lessons learned from COVID-19 lockdowns offer valuable insights into how cities can better prepare for future crises and improve their resilience and adaptability.
Cloud-Based Digital Twins’ Storage in Emergency Healthcare
Authors: Wang Erdan , Tayebi Pouria , Song Yeong-Tae
Published: August 2023

In a medical emergency situation, real-time patient data sharing may improve the survivability of a patient. In this paper, we explore how Digital Twin (DT) technology can be used for real-time data storage and processing in emergency healthcare. We investigated various enabling technologies, including cloud platforms, data transmission formats, and storage file formats, to develop a feasible DT storage solution for emergency healthcare. Through our analysis, we found Amazon AWS to be the most suitable cloud platform due to its sophisticated real-time data processing and analytical tools. Additionally, we determine that the MQTT protocol is suitable for real-time medical data transmission, and FHIR is the most appropriate medical file storage format for emergency healthcare situations. We propose a cloud-based DT storage solution, in which real-time medical data are transmitted to AWS IoT Core, processed by Kinesis Data Analytics, and stored securely in AWS HealthLake. Despite the feasibility of the proposed solution, challenges such as insufficient access control, lack of encryption, and vendor conformity must be addressed for successful practical implementation. Future work may involve Hyperledger Fabric technology and HTTPS protocol to enhance security, while the maturation of DT technology is expected to resolve vendor conformity issues. By addressing these challenges, our proposed DT storage solution has the potential to improve data accessibility and decision-making in emergency healthcare settings.
A web-based low carbohydrate diet intervention significantly improves glycaemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes: results of the T2Diet Study randomised controlled trial
Authors: Dening Jedha , Mohebbi Mohammadreza , Abbott Gavin , George Elena S. , Ball Kylie , Islam Sheikh Mohammed Shariful
Published: August 2023

Background/objectives

In people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), low carbohydrate diets (LCD), defined as 10–<26% total energy intake from carbohydrate, have indicated improved glycaemic control and clinical outcomes. Web-based interventions can help overcome significant challenges of accessibility and availability of dietary education and support for T2DM. No previous study had evaluated a web-based LCD intervention using a randomised controlled trial (RCT) design. The objective of this study was to assess whether a web-based LCD programme provided in conjunction with standard care improves glycaemic control in adults with T2DM.

Subjects/methods

A 16-week parallel RCT was conducted remotely during Covid-19 among the general community, recruiting adults with T2DM not on insulin aged 40–89 years. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to standard care plus the web-based T2Diet healthy LCD education programme (intervention) or standard care only (control). The primary outcome was haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Secondary outcomes were weight, body mass index (BMI), anti-glycaemic medication, dietary intake, and self-efficacy. Blinded data analysis was conducted by intention-to-treat.

Results

Ninety-eight participants were enrolled, assigning 49 to each group, with 87 participants (n = 40 intervention; n = 47 control) included in outcome analysis. At 16 weeks, there was a statistically significant between-group difference favouring the intervention group, with reductions in HbA1c –0.65% (95% CI: –0.99 to –0.30; p < 0.0001), weight –3.26 kg (p < 0.0001), BMI –1.11 kg/m2 (p < 0.0001), and anti-glycaemic medication requirements –0.40 (p < 0.0001), with large effect sizes Cohen’s d > 0.8.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that as an adjunct to standard care, the web-based T2Diet programme significantly improved glycaemic control and clinical outcomes in adults with T2DM. In addition, the results highlight the potential to improve access and availability for people with T2DM to achieve glycaemic control and improved health through web-based dietary education and support.
Polyploidy, EZH2 upregulation, and transformation in cytomegalovirus-infected human ovarian epithelial cells
Authors: El Baba Ranim , Haidar Ahmad Sandy , Monnien Franck , Mansar Racha , Bibeau Frédéric , Herbein Georges
Published: August 2023

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection has been implicated in epithelial ovarian cancer (OC). Polyploidy giant cancer cells (PGCCs) have been observed in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC); they possess cancer stem cell-like characteristics and give rise to progeny cells expressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers. EZH2 plays a potential oncogenic role, correlating with high proliferative index and tumor grade in OC. Herein, we present the experimental evidence for HCMV as a reprogramming vector that elicited human ovarian epithelial cells (OECs) transformation leading to the generation of “CMV-transformed Ovarian cells” (CTO). The infection with the two high-risk clinical strains, namely HCMV-DB and BL provoked a distinct cellular and molecular mechanisms in infected OECs. EZH2 upregulation and cellular proliferation were curtailed by using EZH2 inhibitors. The HGSOC biopsies were characterized by an elevated EZH2 expression, possessing a strong positive correlation between the aforementioned marker and HCMV. From HGSOC biopsies, we isolated three HCMV clinical strains that transformed OECs generating CTO cells which displayed proliferative potentials in addition to EZH2 upregulation and PGCCs generation; these features were reduced upon EZH2 inhibition. High-risk HCMV strains transformed OECs confirming an HCMV-induced epithelial ovarian cancer model and highlighting EZH2 tumorigenic properties. Our findings might be highly relevant in the pathophysiology of ovarian tumors thereby nominating new targeted therapeutics.
The histone chaperone function of Daxx is dispensable for embryonic development
Authors: Sun Chang , Qi Yuan , Fowlkes Natalie , Lazic Nina , Su Xiaoping , Lozano Guillermina , Wasylishen Amanda R.
Published: August 2023

Daxx functions as a histone chaperone for the histone H3 variant, H3.3, and is essential for embryonic development. Daxx interacts with Atrx to form a protein complex that deposits H3.3 into heterochromatic regions of the genome, including centromeres, telomeres, and repeat loci. To advance our understanding of histone chaperone activity in vivo, we developed two Daxx mutant alleles in the mouse germline, which abolish the interactions between Daxx and Atrx (DaxxY130A), and Daxx and H3.3 (DaxxS226A). We found that the interaction between Daxx and Atrx is dispensable for viability; mice are born at the expected Mendelian ratio and are fertile. The loss of Daxx-Atrx interaction, however, does cause dysregulated expression of endogenous retroviruses. In contrast, the interaction between Daxx and H3.3, while not required for embryonic development, is essential for postnatal viability. Transcriptome analysis of embryonic tissues demonstrates that this interaction is important for silencing endogenous retroviruses and for maintaining proper immune cell composition. Overall, these results clearly demonstrate that Daxx has both Atrx-dependent and independent functions in vivo, advancing our understanding of this epigenetic regulatory complex.
MiR-297 inhibits tumour progression of liver cancer by targeting PTBP3
Authors: Lu Na , Min Jiali , Peng Lin , Huang Shengjian , Chai Xiahua , Wang Susu , Wang Jian
Published: August 2023

Whereas increasing evidences demonstrate that miR-297 contributes to the tumour development and progression, the role of miR-297 and its underlying molecular mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was still unclear. Here, we reported that the expression of miR-297 increased significantly in hepG2 cells after the treatment of the conditioned medium of human amniotic epithelial cells(hAECs) which can inhibit the proliferation and migration of hepG2. And the overexpression of miR-297 inhibits the cell proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cell lines in vitro and suppressed the tumorigenesis of HCC in vivo. Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 3 (PTBP3) was identified as a direct target gene of miR-297 in HCC cell lines, and mediated the function of miR-297 in HCC cells. In clinical samples, miR-297 levels have a tendency to decrease, but there are no statistically significant differences. Furthermore, in vitro cell experiments confirmed that overexpression of miR-297 could inhibit the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by down-regulating PTBP3 expression, thereby inhibiting the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells. In conclusion, our results revealed that miR-297 could down-regulate the expression of PTBP3 and inhibit the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thereby preventing HCC growth, migration and invasion.
Co-amplification of CBX3 with EGFR or RAC1 in human cancers corroborated by a conserved genetic interaction among the genes
Authors: Bosso Giuseppe , Cipressa Francesca , Tullo Liliana , Cenci Giovanni
Published: August 2023

Chromobox Protein 3 (CBX3) overexpression is a common event occurring in cancer, promotes cancer cell proliferation and represents a poor prognosis marker in a plethora of human cancers. Here we describe that a wide spectrum of human cancers harbors a co-amplification of CBX3 gene with either EGFR or RAC1, which yields a statistically significant increase of both mRNA and protein levels of CBX3, EGFR and RAC1. We also reveal that the simultaneous overexpression of CBX3, RAC1 and EGFR gene products correlates with a worse prognosis compared to the condition when CBX3, RAC1 and EGFR are singularly upregulated. Furthermore, we also show that a co-occurrence of low-grade amplification, in addition to high-grade amplification, between CBX3 and EGFR or RAC1 is associated with a reduced patient lifespan. Finally, we find that CBX3 and RAC1/EGFR genetically interact in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster, suggesting that the simultaneous overexpression as well as well the co-occurrence of high- or low-grade copy number alterations in these genes is not accidental and could reflect evolutionarily conserved functional relationships.
Resonating holes vs molecular spin-orbit coupled states in group-5 lacunar spinels
Authors: Petersen Thorben , Bhattacharyya Pritam , Rößler Ulrich K. , Hozoi Liviu
Published: August 2023

The valence electronic structure of magnetic centers is one of the factors that determines the characteristics of a magnet. This may refer to orbital degeneracy, as for jeff = 1/2 Kitaev magnets, or near-degeneracy, e.g., involving the third and fourth shells in cuprate superconductors. Here we explore the inner structure of magnetic moments in group-5 lacunar spinels, fascinating materials featuring multisite magnetic units in the form of tetrahedral tetramers. Our quantum chemical analysis reveals a very colorful landscape, much richer than the single-electron, single-configuration description applied so far to all group-5 GaM4X8 chalcogenides, and clarifies the basic multiorbital correlations on M4 tetrahedral clusters: while for V strong correlations yield a wave-function that can be well described in terms of four V4+V3+V3+V3+ resonant valence structures, for Nb and Ta a picture of dressed molecular-orbital jeff = 3/2 entities is more appropriate. These internal degrees of freedom likely shape vibronic couplings, phase transitions, and the magneto-electric properties in each of these systems.
Room temperature valley polarization via spin selective charge transfer
Authors: Shrestha Shreetu , Li Mingxing , Park Suji , Tong Xiao , DiMarzio Donald , Cotlet Mircea
Published: August 2023

The two degenerate valleys in transition metal dichalcogenides can be used to store and process information for quantum information science and technology. A major challenge is maintaining valley polarization at room temperature where phonon-induced intervalley scattering is prominent. Here we demonstrate room temperature valley polarization in heterostructures of monolayer MoS2 and naphthylethylammine based one-dimensional chiral lead halide perovskite. By optically exciting the heterostructures with linearly polarized light close to resonance and measuring the helicity resolved photoluminescence, we obtain a degree of polarization of up to −7% and 8% in MoS2/right-handed (R-(+)-) and left-handed (S-(-)-) 1-(1-naphthyl)ethylammonium lead iodide perovskite, respectively. We attribute this to spin selective charge transfer from MoS2 to the chiral perovskites, where the perovskites act as a spin filter due to their chiral nature. Our study provides a simple, yet robust route to obtain room temperature valley polarization, paving the way for practical valleytronics devices.
Semaglutide in HFpEF across obesity class and by body weight reduction: a prespecified analysis of the STEP-HFpEF trial
Authors: Borlaug Barry A. , Kitzman Dalane W. , Davies Melanie J. , Rasmussen Søren , Barros Eric , Butler Javed , Einfeldt Mette Nygaard , Hovingh G. Kees , Møller Daniél Vega , Petrie Mark C. , Shah Sanjiv J. , Verma Subodh , Abhayaratna Walter , Ahmed Fozia Z. , Chopra Vijay , Ezekowitz Justin , Fu Michael , Ito Hiroshi , Lelonek Małgorzata , Melenovsky Vojtech , Núñez Julio , Perna Eduardo , Schou Morten , Senni Michele , van der Meer Peter , Von Lewinski Dirk , Wolf Dennis , Kosiborod Mikhail N.
Published: August 2023

In the STEP-HFpEF trial, semaglutide improved symptoms, physical limitations and exercise function and reduced body weight in patients with obesity phenotype of heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This prespecified analysis examined the effects of semaglutide on dual primary endpoints (change in Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire-Clinical Summary Score (KCCQ-CSS) and body weight) and confirmatory secondary endpoints (change in 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), hierarchical composite (death, HF events, change in KCCQ-CSS and 6MWD) and change in C-reactive protein (CRP)) across obesity classes I–III (body mass index (BMI) 30.0–34.9 kg m−2, 35.0–39.9 kg m−2 and ≥40 kg m−2) and according to body weight reduction with semaglutide after 52 weeks. Semaglutide consistently improved all outcomes across obesity categories (P value for treatment effects × BMI interactions = not significant for all). In semaglutide-treated patients, improvements in KCCQ-CSS, 6MWD and CRP were greater with larger body weight reduction (for example, 6.4-point (95% confidence interval (CI): 4.1, 8.8) and 14.4-m (95% CI: 5.5, 23.3) improvements in KCCQ-CSS and 6MWD for each 10% body weight reduction). In participants with obesity phenotype of HFpEF, semaglutide improved symptoms, physical limitations and exercise function and reduced inflammation and body weight across obesity categories. In semaglutide-treated patients, the magnitude of benefit was directly related to the extent of weight loss. Collectively, these data support semaglutide-mediated weight loss as a key treatment strategy in patients with obesity phenotype of HFpEF. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04788511.
Identification and functional validation of SRC and RAPGEF1 as new direct targets of miR-203, involved in regulation of epidermal homeostasis
Authors: Golebiewski Christelle , Gastaldi Cécile , Vieu Diane-Lore , Mari Bernard , Rezzonico Roger , Bernerd Françoise , Marionnet Claire
Published: August 2023

The epidermis is mostly composed of keratinocytes and forms a protecting barrier against external aggressions and dehydration. Epidermal homeostasis is maintained by a fine-tuned balance between keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation. In the regulation of this process, the keratinocyte-specific miR-203 microRNA is of the outmost importance as it promotes differentiation, notably by directly targeting and down-regulating mRNA expression of genes involved in keratinocyte proliferation, such as ΔNp63, Skp2 and Msi2. We aimed at identifying new miR-203 targets involved in the regulation of keratinocyte proliferation/differentiation balance. To this end, a transcriptome analysis of human primary keratinocytes overexpressing miR-203 was performed and revealed that miR-203 overexpression inhibited functions like proliferation, mitosis and cell cycling, and activated differentiation, apoptosis and cell death. Among the down-regulated genes, 24 putative target mRNAs were identified and 8 of them were related to proliferation. We demonstrated that SRC and RAPGEF1 were direct targets of miR-203. Moreover, both were down-regulated during epidermal morphogenesis in a 3D reconstructed skin model, while miR-203 was up-regulated. Finally silencing experiments showed that SRC or RAPGEF1 contributed to keratinocyte proliferation and regulated their differentiation. Preliminary results suggest their involvement in skin carcinoma hyperproliferation. Altogether this data indicates that RAPGEF1 and SRC could be new mediators of miR-203 in epidermal homeostasis regulation.
Role of mucin glycosylation in the gut microbiota-brain axis of core 3 O-glycan deficient mice
Authors: Coletto Erika , Savva George M. , Latousakis Dimitrios , Pontifex Matthew , Crost Emmanuelle H. , Vaux Laura , Telatin Andrea , Bergstrom Kirk , Vauzour David , Juge Nathalie
Published: August 2023

Alterations in intestinal mucin glycosylation have been associated with increased intestinal permeability and sensitivity to inflammation and infection. Here, we used mice lacking core 3-derived O-glycans (C3GnT−/−) to investigate the effect of impaired mucin glycosylation in the gut-brain axis. C3GnT−/− mice showed altered microbial metabolites in the caecum associated with brain function such as dimethylglycine and N-acetyl-l-tyrosine profiles as compared to C3GnT+/+ littermates. In the brain, polysialylated-neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM)-positive granule cells showed an aberrant phenotype in the dentate gyrus of C3GnT−/− mice. This was accompanied by a trend towards decreased expression levels of PSA as well as ZO-1 and occludin as compared to C3GnT+/+. Behavioural studies showed a decrease in the recognition memory of C3GnT−/− mice as compared to C3GnT+/+ mice. Combined, these results support the role of mucin O-glycosylation in the gut in potentially influencing brain function which may be facilitated by the passage of microbial metabolites through an impaired gut barrier.
Deforestation within breeding ranges may still drive population trends of migratory forest birds in the East Asian Flyway
Authors: Ko Jerome Chie-Jen , Chang An-Yu , Lin Ruey-Shing , Lee Pei-Fen
Published: August 2023

The East Asian Flyway (EAF) is the most species diverse of global flyways, with deforestation in its migratory landbird’s non-breeding range suspected to be the main driver of population decline. Yet range-wide habitat loss impact assessments on EAF migratory landbirds are scarce, and seasonal variation in habitat preference of migratory species further increases the complexity for conservation strategies. In this study, we reviewed population trends of migratory forest breeding birds in the EAF along with their seasonal habitat preference from the literature and assessed the impact of forest cover change in species’ breeding and non-breeding ranges on population trends. We found that 41.3% of the bird species with trend data available are declining, and most have higher forest preference in the breeding season. Despite 93.4% of the species experienced deforestation throughout their annual cycle, forest cover change in the non-breeding range was not identified as the main driver of population trend. However, forest cover change in species’ regional breeding range interacts positively with the degree of breeding season forest preference in predicting population trends. We therefore stress that regional breeding habitat protection may still be important while following the call for cross-border collaboration to fill the information gap for flyway conservation.
Prevalence and molecular characterization of Giardia duodenalis in dairy cattle in Central Inner Mongolia, Northern China
Authors: Zhao Li , Zhang Zhan-Sheng , Han Wen-Xiong , Yang Bo , Chai Hai-Liang , Wang Ming-Yuan , Wang Yan , Zhang Shan , Zhao Wei-Hong , Ma Yi-Min , Zhan Yong-Jie , Wang Li-Feng , Ding Yu-Lin , Wang Jin-Ling , Liu Yong-Hong
Published: August 2023

Giardia duodenalisis a gastrointestinal protozoan ubiquitous in nature. It is a confirmed zoonotic pathogen, and cattle are considered a source of giardiasis outbreaks in humans. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and multilocus genotype (MLG) ofG. duodenalisin dairy cattle in Central Inner Mongolia. This study was based on the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA), glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh), triosephosphate isomerase (tpi), and beta-giardin (bg) genes ofG. duodenalis. DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and sequence analysis were performed on 505 dairy cattle fecal samples collected in 2021 from six sampling sites and four age groups in Central Inner Mongolia to determine the prevalence and MLG distribution ofG. duodenalis. The PCR results ofSSU rRNArevealed that the overall prevalence ofG. duodenaliswas 29.5% (149/505) and that the overall prevalence of the diarrhea and nondiarrhea samples was 31.5% (46/146) and 28.5% (103/359), respectively; the difference was not significant (p > 0.05).SSU rRNAsequence analysis revealed thatG. duodenalisassemblage E (91.1%, 133/146) was primarily detected and that assemblage A (8.9%, 13/146) was detected in 13 samples. TheG. duodenalis—positive samples were PCR amplified and sequenced forgdh,tpi, andbg, from which 38, 47, and 70 amplified sequences were obtained, respectively. A combination ofG. duodenalisassemblages A and E were detected in seven samples. Multilocus genotyping yielded 25 different assemblage E MLGs, which formed six subgroups. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report regardingG. duodenalisinfection in dairy cattle in Inner Mongolia, China. This study revealed that Inner Mongolian cattle pose a risk of giardiasis transmission to humans and that the distribution of local cattleG. duodenalisassemblage E MLGs is diverse. The findings of this study can bridge the knowledge gap in the molecular epidemiological investigation of giardiasis in Central Inner Mongolia.
Drug–drug interaction signals between loop diuretics and teicoplanin during acute kidney injury evaluated using Japanese spontaneous adverse drug event reports
Authors: Hirai Toshinori , Kondo Yuki , Sakazaki Yuka , Seki Ayaka , Ishitsuka Yoichi , Iwamoto Takuya
Published: August 2023

Teicoplanin can cause acute kidney injury, but little is known about the risk of acute kidney injury when teicoplanin is co-administered with loop diuretics (a powerful diuresis), which can alter renal hemodynamics and glomerular filtration rate. We performed a signal detection analysis using a Japanese adverse event database to determine the additive impact of loop diuretics on acute kidney injury associated with teicoplanin. The dataset originated between April 2004 and August 2022. Disproportionality analysis was performed to detect the signals for acute kidney injury (the Standardized MedDRA Query) when co-administered teicoplanin or vancomycin (a positive control) with individual diuretics, including loop diuretics. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was tested to estimate the adjusted reporting odds ratio (aROR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). There were 147 and 515 events of acute kidney injury associated with teicoplanin and vancomycin, respectively. A significant positive signal for acute kidney injury when teicoplanin was co-administered with loop diuretics was present (aROR 4.83, 95% CI 3.52–6.61, p < 0.0001). Contrastingly, no significant signals were observed when vancomycin was co-administered with any diuretics. These findings suggest that co-administered loop diuretics may have an unfavorable effect on acute kidney injury while undertaking teicoplanin but not vancomycin.
Tm3+/Ho3+ profiled co-doped core area optical fiber for emission in the range of 1.6–2.1 µm
Authors: Miluski Piotr , Markowski Krzysztof , Kochanowicz Marcin , Łodziński Marek , Żmojda Jacek , Pisarski Wojciech A. , Pisarska Joanna , Kuwik Marta , Leśniak Magdalena , Dorosz Dominik , Ragiń Tomasz , Askirka Valiantsin , Dorosz Jan
Published: August 2023

Double-clad optical fiber with a multi-ring core profile doped with thulium and holmium fabricated by Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition Chelate Doping Technology (MCVD-CDT) is presented. The measured Tm2O3 and Ho2O3 complexes’ weight concentrations were 0.5% and 0.2% respectively. Numerical analyses show weakly guiding conditions and 42.2 µm of MFD LP01 at 2000 nm. The low NA numerical aperture (NA = 0.054) was obtained for the 20/250 µm core/cladding ratio optical fiber construction. The emission spectra in the range of 1.6–2.1 µm vs. the fiber length are presented. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) decreases from 318 to 270 nm for fiber lengths from 2 to 10 m. The presented fiber design is of interest for the development of new construction of optical fibers operating in the eye-safe spectral range.