bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neurons of the human subthalamic nucleus engage with local delta frequency processes during action cancellation
Authors: Szabó Johanna Petra , Hegedüs Panna , Laszlovszky Tamás , Halász László , Miklós Gabriella , Király Bálint , Perczel György , Bokodi Virág , Entz Lászlo , Ulbert István , Tamás Gertrúd , Fabó Dániel , Erőss Loránd , Hangya Balázs
Published: December 2024

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is a key regulator of inhibitory control, implicated in decision making under conflict and impulsivity. Delta frequency oscillations, both in the STN and in frontal cortices have been associated with such active decision processes. However, it is yet unclear how neurons of the human STN are linked to local delta frequencies during response inhibition. Here, we recorded STN neurons and local field potentials (LFP) in human patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) while they performed a stop-signal reaction time task during deep brain stimulation implantation surgery. Delta band LFP activity increased during stimulus processing in the STN. We found that half of the STN neurons responded to a diverse set of behaviorally relevant events that included go and stop signals, with a subset of neurons showing differential responses in successful and unsuccessful attempts at response cancelling. Failure to stop was associated with stronger go signal-related firing increase of STN neurons and their stronger coupling to local delta band LFP activity. Furthermore, a specific population of bursting STN neurons showed increased delta coupling. These suggest that the STN integrates go and stop signal-related information. Increased engagement of STN neurons with local delta band activity during stimulus processing impaired the ability to cancel the ongoing response. This effect may be linked to the disease-related rise in STN neuronal bursting. These findings may shed light on a potential neuronal mechanism linking cortical delta band processes with STN activity, both of which are critical elements in inhibitory control.
Efficient and accurate simulation of infectious diseases on adaptive networks
Authors: Gubela Nils , von Kleist Max
Published: December 2024

Mathematical modelling of infectious disease spreading on temporal networks has recently gained popularity in complex systems science to understand the intricate interplay between social dynamics and epidemic processes. While analytic solutions for these systems can usually not be obtained, numerical studies through exact stochastic simulation has remained infeasible for large, realistic systems.

Here, we introduce a rejection-based stochastic sampling algorithm with high acceptance probability (‘high-acceptance sampling’; HAS), tailored to simulate disease spreading on adaptive networks. We proof that HAS is exact and can be multiple orders faster than Gillespie’s algorithm. While its computational efficacy is dependent on model parameterization, we show that HAS is applicable regardless on whether contact dynamics are faster, on the same time-scale, or slower than the concurrent disease spreading dynamics. The algorithm is particularly suitable for processes where the spreading- and contact processes are co-dependent (adaptive networks), or when assumptions regarding time-scale separation become violated as the process unfolds. To highlight potential applications, we study the impact of diagnosis- and incidence-driven behavioural changes on virtual Mpox- and COVID-like epidemic and examine the impact of adaptive behaviour on the spreading processes.

Author Summary

Infectious disease spreading is often affected by the dynamics of human-human contacts. These contact dynamics may change over time, and in direct response to infection kinetics, through e.g. self-isolation, risk-aversion, or anyadaptivebehaviour, which can generate complex dynamics as seen in recent outbreaks with e.g. COVID-19, as well as Mpox clade IIb (2022). Agent-based models (ABMs) are often derived and numerically simulated to study the complex interplay between epidemic- and contact dynamics and to derive insights for disease control. However, numerical simulation of these models denotes a computational bottleneck and limits the applicability of large ABMs. We introduce a novel numerical method called ‘high-acceptance sampling’ (HAS), which allows for the exact simulation of outbreaks withadaptivecontact behaviour. We proof that HAS is exact, show that it is faster, and that runtime grows with at least an order of magnitude less than state-of-the art exact simulation methods. This enables simulation of outbreaks on large populations, as well as parameter estimation for large systems. We apply HAS to study an Mpox- and COVID-like pandemic and the impact of adaptive behaviour on different time-evolving contact networks.
The Effect of Length of Stay in Hospital on Patients’ Health Outcomes: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Langenberger Benedikt , Worsham Christopher , Geldsetzer Pascal
Published: December 2024

The causal effect of hospital length of stay on crucial patient out-comes such as readmissions or mortality is under-investigated and therefore unknown for the vast majority of the US population. Existing evidence stems from association studies that are unable to draw causal conclusions. This study leverages Medicare’s two-midnight (2MN) and three-day (3D) rules as two natural experiments to establish causal rela-tionships between hospital length of stay (LOS) and patient outcomes. Using a quasi-experimental regression discontinuity design with data from a large US hospital, we find that the 2MN rule increases LOS by 0.10 days and the 3D rule by 0.21 days, confirming the validity of these rules as instruments for causal inference. However, despite these increases in LOS, there are no significant effects on 90-day mortality or 30-day readmission rates. These findings suggest that while the 2MN and 3D rules effectively extend hospital stays, they do not im-prove patient-related outcomes, indicating an inefficient use of hospital resources.
Shared tendencies between the adoption of masking sentiment and vaccine sentiment can determine the outcome of disease spread
Authors: Mehta Rohan S.
Published: December 2024

In the last two decades, the impact of human health-related behavior on the spread of the disease has increased in prominence due to the proliferation of sentiment against public health-promoting behaviors such as vaccination and mask-wearing. The recent SARS-COV-2 pandemic brought these effects into sharp focus. Recently, coupled-contagion epidemiological models have been used to study the joint impact of human behavior and disease. These models treat sentiment towards a particular public health intervention as a contagion spreading in parallel to the disease itself. In this paper, we use a coupled-contagion model to study the interaction of two different health behaviors—vaccination and mask-wearing. In particular, we study how a positive or negative association between these behaviors—e.g. a pro-vaccine person may be more likely to be pro-mask-wearing—affects disease dynamics. We find that the strength of such an association alone can determine the outcome of disease spread in the short term and the long term. In addition to studying human health-related behaviors separately, it is vitally important to understand how these behaviors are associated with each other and how these associations affect the outcomes of epidemics.
Roots of coastal plants stabilize carbon fixed by marine algae
Authors: Hellige Inga , Mundanatt Aman Akeerath , Massing Jana C. , Hehemann Jan-Hendrik
Published: December 2024

Coastal vegetated ecosystems are key-nature based solutions in climate change mitigations. Mangroves, seagrass meadows and saltmarshes contribute to carbon sequestration not only through the storage of biomass and sediments, but also through the secretion of dissolved organic carbon over their root system. Macro- and microalgae release most of their produced organic carbon as exudates, exported away from their origin, leading to underrepresentation of their contribution in blue carbon assessments. Here, we analysed 93 sediment cores of coastal vegetated ecosystems from temperate to tropical regions. We used polysaccharides as bioindicators of carbon sequestration to trace carbon from source to sink in different ecosystems. By binding of specific monoclonal antibodies, algal-derived polysaccharides were detected in sediments of coastal vegetated ecosystems. The relative abundance of the main building blocks of polysaccharides, monosaccharides was consistent across all 93 sediment cores, with no significant differences, despite the varying ecosystems and locations. Our findings suggest that the restoration of plant ecosystems, fixing carbon, protecting coasts and enhance biodiversity should also be enumerated for the stored carbon from distant donors. Hence carbon sequestration is a collective or synergistic process of different photosynthetic organisms.

Significance statement

Coastal vegetated ecosystems are vital for climate change mitigation, sequestering carbon through biomass, sediments and the integration of organic carbon from external sources such as algae. By using polysaccharides as bioindicators, this study reveals that algal-derived carbon is preserved in sediment across diverse ecosystems, emphasizing the synergistic role of multiple photosynthetic organisms in carbon sequestration. This finding indicates that coastal vegetated ecosystems accept, accrete and stabilize carbon from different and distant donors and highlights the collective contribution of these ecosystems to global carbon storage.
Connectivity in the human and the monkey brain probes causal involvement of the fornix in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Pelekanos Vassilis , Warrington Shaun , Premereur Elsie , de Boer Jessica , Sotiropoulos Stamatios N. , Mitchell Anna S. ,   the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: December 2024

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterised by memory loss and severe deficits in cognitive function associated with neural degeneration in a network of brain regions. However, little is known about those regions’ connectivity patterns and how that differs from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or healthy aging. To address that, we used diffusion-weighted MRI to determine connectivity across 11 key memory-related regions and their unique set of connections (connectivity fingerprints) to 14 white matter (WM) tracts. One WM tract particularly important for memory, and attractive target for therapeutic interventions in AD, is the fornix. However, determining fornix-specific contributions to memory deficits or therapeutic benefits is difficult, partly because the fornix carries numerous subcortical and cortical projections. To explore that, we additionally examined MRI-derived connectivity across homologous structures in non-human primates before and after fornix transections. We report several important findings. First, that connectivity between the hippocampus and the anterior thalamus (ATh) is strongly compromised in cognitive decline, as is fornix integrity. We also found strong reductions in the hippocampus-fornix and ATh-fornix connectivity in AD, demonstrating that fingerprint divergence across groups in hippocampal CA1 and ATh can identify differences between people with AD and MCI. In AD, we observed also elevated connectivity between WM tracts and the hippocampus or the ATh, suggesting a compensatory mechanism, which, importantly, depends on a viable fornix. We finally demonstrate that certain thalamic nuclei and hippocampal subfields link through the retrosplenial cortex in both species, highlighting its potential role as an alternative target for interventions in memory disorders.
MEG signals reveal arm posture coding and intrinsic movement plans in parietofrontal cortex
Authors: Blohm Gunnar , Cheyne Douglas O. , Crawford J. Douglas
Published: December 2024

Movement planning processes must account for body posture to accurately convert sensory signals into movement plans. While movement plans can be computed relative to the world (extrinsic), intrinsic muscle commands tuned for current limb posture are ultimately needed to execute spatially accurate movements. The whole-brain topology and dynamics of this process are largely unknown. Here, we use high spatiotemporal resolution magnetoencephalography (MEG) in humans combined with a Pro-/Anti-wrist pointing task with 2 opposing forearm postures to investigate this question. First, we computed cortical source activity in 16 previously identified bilateral cortical areas (Alikhanian, et al., Frontiers in Neuroscience 2013). We then contrasted oscillatory activity related to opposing wrist postures to find posture coding and test when and where extrinsic and intrinsic motor codes occurred. We found a distinct pair of overlapping networks coding for posture (predominantly in γ band) vs. posture-specific movement plans (α and β). Some areas (e.g., pIPS) only showed extrinsic motor coding, and others (e.g., AG) only showed intrinsic coding, but the majority showed both types of codes. In the latter case, intrinsic codes appeared slightly before extrinsic codes and persisted in parallel across different cortical areas. These findings are consistent with two cortical networks for 1) direct feed-forward sensorimotor transformations to intrinsic muscle coordinates (for rapid control) and 2) computations of extrinsic spatial coordinates, possibly for use in higher-level aspects of visually-guided action, such as spatial updating and internal performance monitoring.

Significance statement / author summary

It is thought that the brain incorporates posture into extrinsic spatial codes to compute intrinsic (muscle-centered) motor commands, but the whole-brain temporal dynamics of this process is unknown. Here we employed human magneto-encephalography (MEG) to track this process across 16 bilateral cortical sites. We identified two, largely overlapping subnetworks for posture-dependent intrinsic codes, and extrinsic spatial coding. Surprisingly, the direct transformation from sensorimotor coordinates to intrinsic commandsprecededthe appearance of extrinsic codes, suggesting that extrinsic motor codes are derived from intrinsic codes for higher-level cognitive purposes.
A signal of temporal integration in the human auditory brain: psychological insights, EEG evidence, and clinical application
Authors: Xu Haoxuan , Huang Qianyue , Song Peirun , Zhai Yuying , Du Xinyu , Ye Hangting , Bao Xuhui , Mehmood Ishrat , Tanigawa Hisashi , Niu Wanqiu , Tu Zhiyi , Chen Pei , Zhang Tingting , Zhang Lingling , Zhao Xuan , Zhang Li , Wen Wanshun , Cao Liyu , Xiongjie Yu
Published: December 2024

Temporal integration, the process by which the auditory system combines sound information over a curtain period to form a coherent auditory object, is essential for coherent auditory perception, yet its neural mechanisms remain underexplored. We use a “transitional click train” paradigm, which concatenates two click trains with slightly differing inter-click intervals (ICIs), to investigate temporal integration in the human cortex. Using a 64-channel electroencephalogram (EEG), we recorded responses from 42 healthy participants exposed to regular and irregular transitional click trains and conducted change detection tasks. Regular transitional click trains elicited significant change responses in the human cortex, indicative of temporal integration, whereas irregular trains did not. These neural responses were modulated by ICI length, ICI contrast, and regularity. Behavioral data mirrored EEG findings, showing enhanced detection for regular conditions compared to irregular conditions and pure tones. Furthermore, variations in change responses were associated with decision-making processes. Temporal continuity was critical, as introducing gaps between click trains diminished both behavioral and neural responses. In clinical assessments, 22 coma patients exhibited diminished or absent change responses, effectively distinguishing them from healthy individuals. Our findings identify distinct neural markers of temporal integration and highlight the potential of transitional click trains for clinical diagnostics.
Reproducible Brain Entropy (BEN) Alterations During Rumination
Authors: Lu Jue , Song Donghui , Chang Da , Wang Ze
Published: December 2024

Rumination, characterized by recurrent and repetitive thinking, is closely associated with mental disorders such as depression. However, the neural mechanisms underlying this mental state remain poorly understood. In this study, we use a relatively novel neuroimaging analysis method-Brain Entropy (BEN) to quantitatively assess the irregularity, disorder, and complexity of brain activity, providing new insights into the neural mechanisms of rumination.

We utilized a publicly available MRI dataset from three different scanners. The dataset included 41 healthy adult participants who completed identical fMRI tasks on IPCASGE, PKUGE, and PKUSIEMENS scanners. The time interval between the two visits was 22.0 ± 14.6 days. The fMRI session included four runs: resting state, sad memory, rumination, and distraction. Whole brain voxel-wise BEN differences of task state and resting state, rumination and sad memory, distraction and sad memory, and rumination and distraction were tested and overlap regions after thresholded (p<0.05) across the three scanners were identified as exhibiting significant differences.

The results demonstrate distinct alterations in BEN across mental states. Compared to the sad memory condition, decreased BEN was found in the visual cortex (VC) during rumination and decreased BEN in the posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus (PCC/PCu) during distraction. However, when compared to distraction, rumination showed increased BEN in the PCC/PCu. These findings suggest that rumination involves heightened internal focus and reduced processing of external environmental information. This study highlights BEN as a valuable metric for elucidating the neural mechanisms underlying rumination and its role in depression.
Evolution of plasticity and character displacement in a fluctuating environment
Authors: Chevin Luis-Miguel , Chauhan Lakshya
Published: December 2024

Species that compete for the same resource may undergo ecological character displacement (CD), where the phenotype of each species evolves to deviate from its optimum in the absence of competition. As most environments are not static, interspecific competition is likely to occur in environments that fluctuate over time, which can also cause the evolution of phenotypic plasticity for traits mediating the competition. We use a quantitative genetic model to study theoretically how a randomly fluctuating environment and evolution of plasticity influence the outcome of ecological CD between two competing species. We show that environmental fluctuations make the conditions for CD more stringent, requiring stronger competitive selection relative to stabilizing selection. This occurs because environmental fluctuations reduces the average population size, and thereby competition intensity. Evolving plasticity can restore CD by buffering the impact of environmental fluctuations through phenotypic tracking, to a degree that depends on environmental predictability. Somewhat paradoxically, competition that favors phenotypic divergence among species can cause convergent CD in plasticity, when this reduces the load caused by fluctuations in phenotypic divergence. Our results shed light on how competition influence evolution of the fundamental niche in a fluctuating environment.
Soil bacterial neutral lipid fatty acids: Markers for carbon storage or necromass?
Authors: Gorka Stefan , Canarini Alberto , Schmidt Hannes , Kaiser Christina
Published: December 2024

Carbon storage is a common strategy of soil microbes to cope with resource fluctuations. Fungi use neutral lipids (triacylglycerols, TAGs) for storage, which can be quantified via their derived fatty acids (NLFAs). NLFAs specific to bacteria can also be abundant in soils, but are rarely analysed as soil bacteria are assumed to not store TAGs. Instead, bacterial NLFAs are thought to derive from degraded phospholipids (diacylglycerols, DAGs), and thus indicate bacterial necromass, but this interpretation lacks evidence. In this perspective, we synthesise knowledge from the literature and our own experimental results on the origin of soil bacterial NLFAs. In sum, we provide evidence that bacterial NLFAs are predominantly derived from TAGs used for carbon storage: (1) Several pure culture studies provide evidence for TAG production in selected bacterial isolates. (2) Screening of genomes showed that wax ester synthase/diacylglycerol acyltransferases, which mediate the last step of TAG synthesis, are abundant in bacterial isolates from soil, suggesting a widespread genetic capability to produce TAGs. (3) We experimentally created conditions of excess labile carbon by adding isotopically labelled glucose to soil. Glucose-13C was rapidly allocated into bacterial NLFAs, with higher relative enrichment than phospholipid-derived fatty acids, indicating storage. (4) DAGs are not necessarily produced—and may only be intermediate compounds—during phospholipid degradation. We conclude that soil bacterial NLFAs are mainly derived from storage compounds, but a potential contribution from degraded phospholipids needs further validation. Isotopic labelling could resolve this, making NLFAs a valuable biomarker for microbial storage compounds in soil.

Highlights

Bacterial NLFAs originate from triacylglycerols (TAGs) or degraded phospholipids

Neutral lipids are not necessarily produced during phospholipid degradation

Soil bacteria have the genetic potential to produce TAGs for storage

Rapid transfer of excess glucose-13C into soil bacterial NLFAs suggests storage

Bacterial NLFAs are markers for carbon storage rather than necromass
The phosphorylation of Pak1 by Erk1/2 for cell migration requires Arl4D acting as a scaffolding protein
Authors: Chang Ting-Wei , Lin Ming-Chieh , Yu Chia-Jung , Lee Fang-Jen S.
Published: December 2024

Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (Erk1/2) at the plasma membrane typically results in their translocation to other intracellular sites for substrate targeting. This targeting requires scaffolding proteins to bring Erk1/2 and their substrates together. In the case of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced signaling that activates Erk1/2 to phosphorylate Pak1 for cell migration, Erk1/2 remain at the plasma membrane. Thus, it has been unclear in this case whether a scaffolding protein is needed for substrate targeting by Erk1/2. The small GTPase Arf-like protein (Arl) 4D also promotes cell migration by targeting Pak1 to the plasma membrane. However, as this recruitment also results in the phosphorylation of Pak1, it has been unclear how this phosphorylation is achieved. Furthermore, because both Erk1/2 and Arl4D promote the role of Pak1 in cell migration, the relationship between these two processes has also been unclear. Addressing these outstanding questions, we show that Arl4D acts as a scaffolding protein by recruiting Erk1/2 and Pak1 to the plasma membrane for their assembly into a protein complex. Our findings identify Arl4D as a novel regulator of Erk1/2, reveal a conserved role for scaffolding proteins in substrate targeting by Erk1/2, as well as uncovering a previously unknown interplay among Arl4D, Erk1/2, and Pak1. Moreover, as all these factors are known to be involved in cell migration, we have shed new mechanistic insights into how this fundamental cellular process occurs.
KlebPhaCol: A community-driven resource for Klebsiella research identified a novel gut phage order associated with the human gut
Authors: Rothschild-Rodriguez Daniela , Lambon Kai S. , Latka Agnieszka , Costa Ana Rita , Mantzouratou Anna , King Claire , Boeckaerts Dimitri , Sheridan Elizabeth , Merrick Francesca , Drobniewski Francis , Angelis Ilaria De , Saeed Kordo , Sutton J. Mark , Wand Matthew E. , Andrew Michael , Hedges Morgen , Brouns Stan J. J. , Haas Pieter-Jan , Kushwaha Simran Krishnakant , Lawson Sophie T. , Fordham Stephen M.E. , Lee Yan-Jiun , Wu Yi , Briers Yves , Weigele Peter R. , Nobrega Franklin L.
Published: December 2024

The growing threat of multidrug-resistantKlebsiella pneumoniae, coupled with its role in gut colonisation, has intensified the search for new treatments, including bacteriophage therapy. Despite increasing documentation ofKlebsiella-targeting phages, clinical applications remain limited, with key phage-bacteria interactions still poorly understood. A major obstacle is fragmented access to well-characterised phage-bacteria pairings, restricting the collective advancement of therapeutic and mechanistic insights. To address this gap, we created the Klebsiella Phage Collection (KlebPhaCol), an open-source resource comprising 53 phages and 74Klebsiellaisolates, all fully characterised. These phages span five families – including a novel order,Felixvirales, associated with the human gut – and target 27 sequence types (including ST258, ST11, ST14) and 28 capsular-locus types (including KL1 and KL2), across sixKlebsiellaspecies. Freely accessible atwww.klebphacol.org, KlebPhaCol invites the scientific community to both use and contribute to this resource, fostering collaborative research and a deeper understanding ofKlebsiella-phage interactions beyond therapeutic use.
Molecular Correlates of Glycine Receptor Activity in Human β Cells
Authors: Gomes Amanda Schukarucha , Ellis Cara E. , Spigelman Aliya F. , Santos Theodore dos , Maghera Jasmine , Suzuki Kunimasa , MacDonald Patrick E.
Published: December 2024

Objectives

Glycine acts in an autocrine positive feedback loop in human β cells through its ionotropic receptors (GlyRs). In type 2 diabetes (T2D), islet GlyR activity is impaired by unknown mechanisms. We sought to investigate if the GlyR dysfunction in T2D is replicated by hyperglycemiaper se, and to further characterize its action in β cells and islets.

Methods

GlyR-mediated currents were measured using whole-cell patch-clamp in human β cells from donors with or without T2D, or after high glucose (15 mM) culture. We also correlated glycine-induced current amplitude with transcript expression levels through patch-seq. The expression of the GlyR α1, α3, and β subunit mRNA splice variants was compared between islets from donors with and without T2D, and after high glucose culture. Insulin secretion from human islets was measured in the presence or absence of the GlyR antagonist strychnine.

Results

Although gene expression of GlyRs was decreased in T2D islets, and β cell GlyR-mediated currents were smaller, we found no evidence for a shift in GlyR subunit splicing. Glycine-induced currents are also reduced after 48 hours culture of islets from donors without diabetes in high glucose, where we also find the reduction of the α1 subunit expression, but an increase in the α3 subunit. We discovered that glycine-evoked currents are highly heterogeneous amongst β cells, inversely correlate with donor HbA1c, and are significantly correlated to the expression of 92 different transcripts and gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that include CREB3(+), RREB1(+) and ZNF697(+). Finally, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion is decreased in the presence of the GlyR antagonist strychnine.

Conclusions

We demonstrate that glucose can modulate GlyR expression, and that the current decrease in T2D is likely due to the receptor gene expression downregulation, and not a change in transcript splicing. Moreover, we define a previously unknown set of genes and regulons that are correlated to GlyR-mediated currents and could be involved in GlyR downregulation in T2D.

Highlights

Glycine-evoked currents in β cells are lower in T2D and after high glucose culture

GlyR gene expression is reduced in T2D, with no shift in splice variant expression

GlyR inhibition with strychnine decreases insulin secretion

We define transcripts and gene regulatory networks correlated to glycine-induced currents
Rescue of bacterial motility using two and three-species FliC chimeras
Authors: Scadden Jacob , Pandit Divyangi , Ridone Pietro , Sowa Yoshiyuki , Baker Matthew AB
Published: December 2024

The bacterial flagellar filament acts as a propeller to drive most bacterial swimming. The filament is made of flagellin, known as FliC inEscherichia coli, Salmonella TyphimuriumandPseudomonas aeruginosa. FliC consists of four domains, the highly conserved core D0 and D1 domains and the hypervariable outer D2 and D3 domains. The size and structure of the outer domains varies, being completely absent in some bacterial species. Here we sought to identify outer domains from various species which were compatible such that they could form functional filaments to drive motility. We calculated a phylogeny of 211 representative flagellin amino acid sequences and generated two outer domain deleted variants and six chimericfliCmutants using domains from E. coli,Salmonella Typhimurium, P. aeruginosa,Collimonas fungivorans, Helicobacter mustelae andMesorhizobiumsp. ORS3359. Four of the chimericfliCmutants rescued motility in afliCdisrupted strain, all of which contained theSalmonella TyphimuriumD2 domain. Overall, we demonstrate the interchangeability of the outer domains, in particular that domains from different species can be interchanged to form functional filaments that propel bacterial swimming.
Mechanical stress orients stomata division to form tissue scale alignments.
Authors: Serra Leo , Smithers Euan T , Bentall Lucy , Lenz Martin O , Robinson Sarah
Published: December 2024

The last stomatal division aligns with the leaf main axis in many species. Understanding how cellular events such as these are coordinated across organ scales remains a challenge in developmental biology. In Arabidopsis, polarised proteins guide the asymmetric divisions in the early stomatal lineage. These proteins show organ scale alignment and may be sensitive to mechanical stress. In contrast, what determines the orientation and alignment of the critical final division is unknown. Here we use an artificial system where every cell adopts the fate of a stomata pore making it easy to visualise their alignment. Combining this system with simultaneous time-lapse imaging on both sides of the cotyledon we are able to compare the stomatal orientation relative to the organ axis, the cell major axis, and the principal directions of growth. Using finite element modelling on a realistic template enabled us to identify differential growth-derived stress patterns as a factor coordinating stomata division at the organ scale. Mechanical perturbation confirmed the influence of tensile stress on stomata division orientation. Through this study, we have identified a mechanism that can explain this nearly century-old observation.
Conserved effectors underpin the virulence of liverwort-isolatedPseudomonasin divergent plants
Authors: Robinson Kayla , Buric Lucia , Grenz Kristina , Chia Khong-Sam , Hulin Michelle T. , Ma Wenbo , Carella Philip
Published: December 2024

Plant pathogenicPseudomonasspecies naturally antagonize a diverse range of flowering plants. While emerging research demonstrates that isolates belonging to theP. syringaespecies complex colonize diverse hosts, the extent to which these bacteria naturally infect non-flowering plants like the model liverwortMarchantia polymorpharemains unclear. Here, we identify natural associations betweenPseudomonas viridiflavaand the liverwortMarchantia polymorpha. Pseudomonasbacteria isolated from diseased liverworts in the wild successfully re-infectedM. polymorphain pure culture conditions, producing highin plantabacterial densities and causing prominent tissue maceration. Comparative genomic analysis ofMarchantia-associatedP. viridiflavaidentified core virulence machinery like the type-III secretion system (T3SS) and conserved effectors (AvrE and HopM1) that were essential for liverwort infection. Disease assays performed inNicotiana benthamianafurther confirmed that liverwort-associatedP. viridiflavainfect flowering plants in an effector-dependent manner. Our work highlightsP. viridiflavaas an effective broad host pathogen that relies on conserved virulence factors to manipulate evolutionarily divergent host plants.
Estimating the population-level effects of nonpharmaceutical interventions when transmission rates of COVID-19 vary by orders of magnitude from one contact to another
Authors: Sear Richard P.
Published: December 2024

Statistical physicists have long studied systems where the variable of interest spans many orders of magnitude, the classic example is the relaxation times of glassy materials, which are often found to follow power laws. A power-law dependence has been found for the probability of transmission of COVID-19, as a function of length of time a susceptible person is in contact with an infected person. This is in data from the United Kingdom's COVID-19 app. The amount of virus in infected people spans many orders of magnitude. Inspired by this, I assume that the power-law behavior found in COVID-19 transmission is due to the effective transmission rate varying over orders of magnitude from one contact to another. I then use a model from statistical physics to estimate that if a population all wear FFP2/N95 masks, this reduces the effective reproduction number for COVID-19 transmission by a factor of approximately nine.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Giant magnetocaloric effect in the (Mn,Fe)NiSi-system
Authors: Ghorai Sagar , Martinho Vieira Rafael , Shtender Vitalii , Delczeg-Czirjak Erna K. , Herper Heike C. , Björkman Torbjörn , Simak Sergei I. , Eriksson Olle , Sahlberg Martin , Svedlindh Peter
Published: December 2024

The search for energy-efficient and environmentally friendly cooling technologies is a key driver for the development of magnetic refrigeration based on the magnetocaloric effect (MCE). This phenomenon arises from the interplay between magnetic and lattice degrees of freedom that is strong in certain materials, leading to a change in temperature upon application or removal of a magnetic field. Here we explore in detail an emerging material, Mn1−xFexNiSi0.95Al0.05, with an exceptionally large isothermal entropy at room temperature. By combining experimental and theoretical methods we outline the microscopic mechanism behind the large MCE in this material. It is demonstrated that the competition between the Ni2In-type hexagonal phase and the TiNiSi-type orthorhombic phase, that coexist in this system, combined with the distinctly different magnetic properties of these phases, is a key parameter for the functionality of this material for magnetic cooling.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Between the lines: linking carbon management to carbon accounting actions in the pursuit of corporate decarbonization
Authors: Johnson Matthew Phillip , Strobel Jakob , Trencher Gregory
Published: December 2024

Purpose

To achieve net-zero by mid-century consistent with the Paris Agreement, companies must urgently formulate and implement decarbonization actions. While previous research has categorized numerous carbon management and carbon accounting actions, these domains have often been studied in isolation. We classify carbon management actions into four categories (inaction, ineffective, supportive and effective) and connect them to carbon accounting actions in a subsequent step, revealing four archetypical patterns of corporate decarbonization responses. The primary aim of this empirical study is to comprehensively assess how companies implement carbon management and carbon accounting actions in parallel and build an understanding of the various factors affecting each other, and how these domains affect carbon performance altogether.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a maximum diverse sampling approach to assess carbon management actions in 22 international companies and link them to carbon accounting actions. Data sources included interviews with sustainability managers, field notes from a joint meeting and sustainability reports. The heterogeneous sample aimed for maximum diversity, covering various sectors and headquarters locations, yet all companies have communicated a commitment to reducing carbon emissions. A qualitative content analysis was used to find connections between carbon management actions and carbon accounting actions, resulting in four archetypical patterns.

Findings

The study identifies a range of carbon management actions, from inaction to effective action, and corresponding carbon accounting actions for monitoring, disclosure, and internal information use. Effective carbon management actions correlate with comprehensive carbon accounting actions, while ineffective management shows limited use of these actions. Based on these findings, we examine links between carbon management and carbon accounting and identify four archetypical patterns of corporate decarbonization responses.

Originality/value

This study examines the interconnectedness of carbon management and carbon accounting, identifying archetypical patterns that explain their effectiveness in reducing corporate carbon emissions. It provides a framework for analyzing companies’ carbon management and highlights the essential role of carbon accounting in monitoring, disclosing and internal data use. Said framework and conclusions can guide future research and management.
Predicting wholesale edible oil prices through Gaussian process regressions tuned with Bayesian optimization and cross-validation
Authors: Jin Bingzi , Xu Xiaojie
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Developing price forecasts for various agricultural commodities has long been a significant undertaking for a variety of agricultural market players. The weekly wholesale price of edible oil in the Chinese market over a ten-year period, from January 1, 2010 to January 3, 2020, is the forecasting issue we explore.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Bayesian optimisations and cross-validation, we study Gaussian process (GP) regressions for our forecasting needs.

Findings

The produced models delivered precise price predictions for the one-year period between January 4, 2019 and January 3, 2020, with an out-of-sample relative root mean square error of 5.0812%, a root mean square error (RMSEA) of 4.7324 and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 2.9382.

Originality/value

The projection’s output may be utilised as stand-alone technical predictions or in combination with other projections for policy research that involves making assessment.
English education in a globalized world: uncovering new themes and research gaps for the 21st century
Authors: Oweis Thelal
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore the intersection of English and education through a systematic review of academic literature. It focuses on identifying key research themes and future research areas, particularly in sustainable teaching and learning practices within the field of English education.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzed 84 papers published between May 2000 and May 2024 using a bibliometric approach. Keyword co-occurrence analysis was used to identify clusters of research themes. These clusters helped in categorizing research areas and provided a systematic overview of the current literature in English education.

Findings

This study identified four distinct research clusters that represent core themes in English education research. These themes informed the development of a research agenda focusing on areas that require further exploration, particularly in sustainable teaching and learning practices. This study also examined the theoretical and practical implications of these themes.

Practical implications

The findings provide educators and policymakers with a framework to prioritize research efforts, allocate resources and develop strategies to enhance sustainable teaching and learning practices in English education.

Social implications

By emphasizing the importance of sustainability in teaching and learning, this study promotes educational practices that contribute to long-term improvements in both student outcomes and teacher development. It identifies opportunities for sustainable growth in English education that benefit diverse learners.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to apply a bibliometric approach to systematically review the intersection of English and education. By identifying core research clusters and creating a research agenda, this study contributes new insights into sustainable practices in English education.
Does national intellectual capital matter for productivity? International evidence
Authors: Tran Ngoc Phu , Huynh Quoc Vu , Vo Duc Hong
Published: December 2024

Purpose

In the context of the contemporary globalized environment and the rapid progression of Industry 4.0, the existing literature suggests that national intellectual capital does play a significant role in shaping diverse economic metrics. However, the connection between national intellectual capital and total factor productivity (TFP) has been largely overlooked. This paper examines the effect of national intellectual capital on productivity across 84 countries, encompassing diverse income levels, human development index (HDI) levels and continents.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilizes dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS), fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS), two-stage least squares (2SLS), generalized method of moments (GMM) and pooled mean group (PMG) estimation techniques on a sample of 84 economies from 2000 to 2019.

Findings

The results reveal a significant effect of national intellectual capital on productivity. Countries with robust intellectual capital exhibit enhanced productivity and, by extension, sustainable economic growth. The findings are nuanced, illustrating varied impacts across low, middle and high-income countries and offering insights into tailored strategies for each income group. Nations with lower HDI levels derive significant benefits from investments in intellectual capital, whereas higher HDI countries experience lower returns in productivity gains from additional intellectual capital investments. Interestingly, Latin America exhibits a paradoxical negative effect of national intellectual capital on TFP.

Practical implications

This paper makes a significant contribution to the literature by extending the discourse on intellectual capital to the national level, an area that has been relatively underexplored. The comparative analysis across income groups, human development index levels and continents enriches the understanding of the multifaceted impacts of intellectual capital on productivity. These insights are valuable for policymakers, researchers and international development agencies, providing a comprehensive perspective on how intellectual capital influences productivity in diverse economic and developmental contexts.

Originality/value

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first empirical study to investigate the impact of national intellectual capital on productivity across 84 countries, considering diverse income levels, HDI levels and continents.
Banks in the MENA region: struggling to keep their cool in a hot climate
Authors: Shah Syed Faisal , Mehmood Waqas , Albaity Mohamed
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study examines the impact of climate change vulnerability, fintech and investor sentiment on bank performance in the MENA region.

Design/methodology/approach

The two-step Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator was employed to investigate 166 listed banks in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, covering the last decade.

Findings

The study revealed mixed findings about climate change vulnerability. The study identified that factors such as capacity, habitat, infrastructure, sensitivity and vulnerability had a beneficial impact on the banks' buy and hold stock returns in the MENA area. Nevertheless, it was demonstrated that exposure, ecosystems, food, health, and vulnerability had an inverse impact on these returns. Remarkably, the fintech index negatively affects the long-term stock performance of banks in the MENA region.

Research limitations/implications

Policymakers should focus on enhancing infrastructure and boosting banks’ capacity to manage and adapt to climate-related risks.

Originality/value

The novelty of this study is that it explored the impacts of climate change vulnerability, fintech and investor sentiment on banks’ buy-and-hold stock returns in the MENA region. Notably, this research employs a unique model that has not been previously examined.
Lactic acid bacteria: A sustainable solution against phytopathogenic agents
Authors: Saragoça Andreia , Canha Henrique , Varanda Carla M. R. , Materatski Patrick , Cordeiro Ana Isabel , Gama José
Published: December 2024

Biological control agents (BCAs) are beneficial living organisms used in plant protection to control pathogens sustainably. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have gained attention in biopesticides due to their safety as recognized by the Food and Drug Administration. These bacteria possess antifungal properties, demonstrating inhibitory effects through nutrient competition or the production of antimicrobial metabolites. Numerous Lactobacillus species have shown the ability to inhibit pathogenic microorganisms, primarily through acid production. The organic acids secreted by LAB reduce the pH of the medium, creating a hostile environment for microorganisms. These organic acids are a primary inhibition mechanism of LAB. This article reviews several studies on LAB as BCAs, focusing on their inhibition modes. Additionally, it discusses the limitations and future challenges of using LAB to control phytopathogens for sustainable agriculture.
Young adult impaired driving behaviors and perceived norms of driving under the influence of simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use
Authors: Hultgren Brittney A. , Delawalla Miranda L. M. , Szydlowski Victoria , Guttmannova Katarina , Cadigan Jennifer M. , Kilmer Jason R. , Lee Christine M. , Larimer Mary E.
Published: December 2024

Background

Impaired driving behaviors among young adults who are under the influence of simultaneous alcohol and marijuana/cannabis (SAM) use are associated with increased risks of motor vehicle accidents and resulting increased injury and mortality. Exploration of associations with descriptive and injunctive norms may have prevention implications.

Methods

Young adults (aged 18–25; N = 1941) in the 2019 cohort of the Washington Young Adult Health Survey comprised study participants. Associations between descriptive norms (estimates of other's frequency of driving under the influence of SAM [DUI‐SAM] and riding with a SAM impaired driver [RWI‐SAM]), injunctive norms (perceived approval or disapproval of DUI‐SAM and RWI‐SAM for young adults in their community), and past month DUI and RWI behaviors were assessed with logistic regression models, adjusting for covariates and applying post‐stratification weights.

Results

DUI‐SAM was reported by 2.7% and almost double (5.3%) reported RWI‐SAM at least once in the past month. Almost half of the participants believed the average young adults in Washington State engaged in DUI‐SAM (49.8%) and RWI‐SAM (48.7%) at least once a month in the past year (i.e., descriptive norms). The majority reported DUI‐SAM (68.8%) and RWI‐SAM (67.6%) to be totally unacceptable for young adults in their community (i.e., injunctive norms). In models adjusting for covariates including SAM use frequency and corresponding injunctive norms, descriptive norms were not associated with DUI, but were positively associated with RWI‐SAM. However, after controlling for SAM use frequency and descriptive norms, higher perceived approval (i.e., injunctive norms) was significantly associated with increased odds of all DUI and RWI behaviors.

Conclusions

Injunctive norms for SAM impaired driving behaviors may be a promising intervention focus for DUI and RWI behaviors. Future research is needed to replicate these findings to determine if development and evaluation of individual and community‐based interventions focused on changing normative beliefs are warranted.