bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design of a Minimal di-Nickel Hydrogenase Peptide
Authors: Mancini Joshua A. , Pike Douglas H. , Poudel Saroj , Timm Jennifer , Tyryshkin Alexei M. , Siess Jan , Molinaro Paul , McCann James J. , Waldie Kate M. , Koder Ronald L. , Falkowski Paul G. , Nanda Vikas
Published: April 2022

The most ancient processes for energy production in the evolution of life involve the reversible oxidation of molecular hydrogen by hydrogenase. Extant hydrogenase enzymes are complex, comprising hundreds of amino acids and multiple cofactors. We designed a 13 amino acid nickel-binding peptide capable of robustly producing molecular hydrogen from protons under a wide variety of conditions. The peptide forms a di-nickel cluster structurally analogous to a Ni-Fe cluster in [NiFe]-hydrogenase and the Ni-Ni cluster in acetyl-CoA synthase (ACS), two ancient, extant proteins central to metabolism. These experimental results clearly demonstrate that modern enzymes, despite their enormous complexity, likely evolved from simple peptide precursors on early Earth.

One Sentence Summary

Small metal-binding peptides were the likely precursors of modern enzymes.
Targeting N-Myc in Neuroblastoma with Selective Aurora Kinase A Degraders
Authors: Tang Jian , Moorthy Ramkumar , Demir Özlem , Baker Zachary D. , Naumann Jordan A. , Jones Katherine F. M. , Grillo Michael J. , Haefner Ella S. , Shi Ke , Levy Michaella J , Aihara Hideki , Harris Reuben S. , Amaro Rommie E. , Levinson Nicholas M. , Harki Daniel A.
Published: April 2022

Summary Paragraph

MYCN amplification is the most frequent genetic driver in high-risk neuroblastoma (NB) and strongly associated with poor prognosis.1,2 The N-Myc transcription factor, which is encoded by MYCN, is a mechanistically validated, yet challenging target for NB therapy development.3,4 In normal neuronal progenitors, N-Myc undergoes rapid degradation, while in MYCN-amplified NB cells, Aurora kinase A (Aurora-A) binds to and stabilizes N-Myc, resulting in elevated protein levels.5,6 Allosteric Aurora-A inhibitors that displace N-Myc from binding can promote N-Myc degradation, but with limited efficacy.7–10 Here, we report a chemical approach to decrease N-Myc levels through the targeted protein degradation of Aurora-A. A first-in-class Aurora-A/N-Myc degrader, HLB-0532259 (compound 4), was developed from a novel Aurora-A-binding ligand that engages the Aurora-A/N-Myc complex. HLB-0532259 promotes the degradation of both Aurora-A and N-Myc with nanomolar potency and excellent selectivity and surpasses the cellular efficacy of established allosteric Aurora-A inhibitors. HLB-0532259 exhibits favorable pharmacokinetics properties and elicits tumor reduction in murine xenograft NB models. More broadly, this study delineates a novel strategy for targeting “undruggable” proteins that are reliant on accessory proteins for cellular stabilization.
Bile acid-CoA:amino acid N-acyltransferase gene knockout alters early life development, the gut microbiome and reveals unusual bile acid conjugates in mice
Authors: Neugebauer Kerri A. , Guzior Douglas V. , Feiner Jeremiah , Rzepka Madison , Schillmiller Anthony , O’Reilly Sandra , Jones A. Daniel , Watson Victoria E. , Luyendyk James P. , McCabe Laura , Quinn Robert A.
Published: April 2022

Bile acids are steroid detergents in bile that contribute to fat absorption, cell signaling and microbiome interactions in mammals. The final step in their synthesis is amino acid conjugation with either glycine or taurine to a cholic acid or chenodeoxycholic acid backbone in the liver by the enzyme bile acid-CoA:amino acid N-acyltransferase (BAAT). Here, we describe the microbial, chemical, and physiological consequences of BAAT gene deletion in mice. BAAT-/- mice were underweight after weaning but quickly exhibited catch-up growth. At 3-weeks-of-age, KO animals had increased phospholipid excretion and decreased subcutaneous fat pad mass, glycogen staining in hepatocytes and vitamin A stores in the liver, but these phenotypes were less marked in adulthood. Their bile acid (BA) pool was highly altered throughout the 8-weeks of life but was not completely devoid of conjugated BAs. These animals had 27-fold lower amounts of taurine-conjugated BAs than wildtype in their liver, but similar concentrations of glycine-conjugated BAs and higher microbially-conjugated BAs. The BA pool in BAAT-/- was enriched in a variety of unusual bile acids that were putatively sourced from cysteamine conjugation with subsequent oxidation and methylation of the sulfur group to mimic taurine. KO mice also had an altered microbiome, but most strongly in the first 3-weeks, indicating bile acid conjugation is important for proper microbiome development during the postnatal period. Finally, antibiotic treatment increased taurine, glycine, and the unusually conjugated BAs in BAAT-/- animals, indicating the microbiome was not the likely source of the conjugation. Instead, BA conjugation in KO animals was likely derived from the peroxisomal acyltransferases ACNAT1 and ACNAT2, which are duplications of BAAT in the mouse genome, but inactivated in humans. This study demonstrates that BA conjugation is important for early life development in mice and is facilitated by other host or microbial enzymes besides BAAT in a manner that results in molecular mimics of taurine that may rescue pathological phenotypes.
DecentTree: Scalable Neighbour-Joining for the Genomic Era
Authors: Wang Weiwen , Barbetti James , Wong Thomas , Thornlow Bryan , Corbett-Detig Russ , Turakhia Yatish , Lanfear Robert , Minh Bui Quang
Published: April 2022

Neighbour-Joining is one of the most widely used distance-based phylogenetic inference methods. However, current implementations do not scale well for datasets with more than 10,000 sequences. Given the increasing pace of generating new sequence data, particularly in outbreaks of emerging diseases, and the already enormous existing databases of sequence data for which NJ is a useful approach, new implementations of existing methods are warranted.

Here we present DecentTree, which provides highly optimised and parallel implementations of Neighbour-Joining and several of its variants. DecentTree is designed as a stand-alone application and a header-only library easily integrated with other phylogenetic software (e.g. it is integral in the popular IQ-TREE software). We show that DecentTree shows similar or improved performance over existing software (BIONJ, Quicktree, FastME, and RapidNJ), especially for handling very large alignments. For example, DecentTree is up to 6-fold faster than the fastest existing Neighbour-Joining software (e.g. RapidNJ) when generating a tree of 64,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomes.

Availability and implementation

DecentTree is open source and freely available at https://github.com/iqtree/decenttree.

Contact

Minh Bui: m.bui@anu.edu.au; Robert Lanfear: rob.lanfear@anu.edu.au

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Photodynamic inactivation of pathogenic bacteria on human skin by applying a potent photosensitizer in a hydrogel
Authors: Eckl Daniel Bernhard , Hoffmann Anja Karen , Landgraf Nicole , Kalb Larissa , Bäßler Pauline , Wallner Susanne , Eichner Anja , Huber Harald , Bäumler Wolfgang
Published: April 2022

The antibiotic crisis increasingly threatens the health systems world-wide. Especially as there is an innovation gap in the development of novel antibiotics, treatment options for bacterial infections become fewer. The photodynamic inactivation (PDI) of bacteria appears to be a potent, new technology that may support the treatment of colonized or infected skin. In photodynamic inactivation, a dye – called photosensitizer – absorbs light and generates reactive singlet oxygen. This singlet oxygen is then capable of killing bacteria independent of species or strain and their antibiotic resistance profile. In order to provide a practical application for the skin surface, the photosensitizer was included in an aqueous hydrogel (photodynamically active hydrogel). The efficacy of this gel was initially tested on an inanimate surface and then on the human skin ex vivo. NBTC staining and TUNEL assays were carried out on skin biopsies to investigate potential harmful effects of the surface PDI to the underlying skin cells. The photosensitizer in the gel sufficiently produced singlet oxygen while showing only little photobleaching. On inanimate surfaces as well as on the human skin, the number of viable bacteria was reduced by over or nearly up to 4 log10 steps, equal to 99.99% reduction or even more. Furthermore, histological staining showed no harmful effects of the gel towards the tissue. The application of this hydrogel represents a valuable method in decolonizing human skin including the potential to act against superficial skin infections. The presented results are promising and should lead to further investigation in a clinical study to check the effectivity of the photodynamically active hydrogel on patients.
Multishot Tomography for High-Resolution In Situ Subtomogram Averaging
Authors: Khavnekar S. , Wan W. , Majumder P. , Wietrzynski W. , Erdmann P. S. , Plitzko J. M.
Published: April 2022

Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) and subtomogram averaging (STA) can resolve protein complexes at near atomic resolution, and when combined with focused ion beam (FIB) milling, macromolecules can be observed within their native context. Unlike single particle acquisition (SPA), cryo-ET can be slow, which may reduce overall project throughput. We here propose a fast, multi-position tomographic acquisition scheme based on beam-tilt corrected beam-shift imaging along the tilt axis, which yields sub-nanometer in situ STA averages.
New molecular signatures defining the differential proteostasis response in ALS-resistant and -sensitive motor neurons
Authors: Petisco Fiore Ana Paula Zen , Maity Shuvadeep , An Disi , Rendleman Justin , Iannitelli Dylan , Choi Hyungwon , Mazzoni Esteban , Vogel Christine
Published: April 2022

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal adult neurodegenerative disease characterized by proteostasis dysregulation, resulting in progressive loss of spinal and upper motor neurons. A subset of cranial motor neurons resistant to ALS-stress survive until late stages of the disease. To investigate these differences, we exploited a unique platform of induced cranial and spinal motor neurons (iCrMNs and iSpMNs, respectively). Exposing both cell types to proteotoxic stress, we quantified transcriptome and proteome changes over 36 hours for a core set of >8,200 genes. While mRNA and protein changes under stress were congruent for many genes, cell-type specific differences manifested at either the RNA or protein level, but less at both. At the protein level, iCrMNs and iSpMNs differed significantly with respect to abundance of many membrane proteins, including synaptic proteins, solute carriers, adhesion molecules, and signaling molecules suggesting that the superior stress survival of iCrMNs involve diverse pathways supporting neuronal function. Other differences included genes involved in ribosome biogenesis and subunits of the core proteasome. We investigated the role of proteasomal degradation in more detail. Our data showed that although stress reduces proteasome activity in both neuronal types, iCrMNs had significantly more abundant and active 26S proteasome than iSpMNs, which indicate a higher capacity for the degradation of ubiquitinated proteins. We identified a new regulator of this better performance, i.e. the nuclear proteasome activator Ublcp1, whose inhibition sensitized iCrMNs, but not iSpMNs, to stress and abolished their higher survival rates. The results suggest that the two neuronal cell types regulate and use the degradation machinery differently under normal and stress conditions. Overall, this work demonstrates the value of unbiased system-wide analyses in generating hypotheses on differential proteostasis regulation in cranial and spinal motor neurons.
Learning inverse folding from millions of predicted structures
Authors: Hsu Chloe , Verkuil Robert , Liu Jason , Lin Zeming , Hie Brian , Sercu Tom , Lerer Adam , Rives Alexander
Published: April 2022

We consider the problem of predicting a protein sequence from its backbone atom coordinates. Machine learning approaches to this problem to date have been limited by the number of available experimentally determined protein structures. We augment training data by nearly three orders of magnitude by predicting structures for 12M protein sequences using AlphaFold2. Trained with this additional data, a sequence-to-sequence transformer with invariant geometric input processing layers achieves 51% native sequence recovery on structurally held-out backbones with 72% recovery for buried residues, an overall improvement of almost 10 percentage points over existing methods. The model generalizes to a variety of more complex tasks including design of protein complexes, partially masked structures, binding interfaces, and multiple states.
A fuzzy-based competitiveness assessment tool for construction SMEs
Authors: Khouja Ahmed , Lehoux Nadia , Cimon Yan
Published: April 2022

Purpose

In highly competitive industries such as the construction sector, companies with limited capabilities struggle to maintain their current standing, let alone acquire more market share. Before they are able to address their shortcomings, these companies need to pinpoint where their performance stands when it comes to market demand. Furthermore, competitiveness is strongly linked with companies' ability to win tenders and deliver the associated construction projects. Tenders are, therefore, a mechanism that reflects the strengths and weaknesses of construction firms and can be deemed an indicator of competitiveness. This paper aims to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) increase their presence in the construction sector by suggesting a systematic approach to evaluate their competitiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

Participation requirements were extracted from 11 calls for tenders and organized into categories using a qualitative content analysis. These requirements along with winning assets deduced from the literature constitute the basis of the tool. The qualitative evaluation of the difficulty in satisfying requirements or acquiring assets was transformed into unified, quantifiable scores by means of fuzzy numbers.

Findings

A total of 233 requirements were found and classified in 3 main categories. In addition, a list of 54 assets organized into five categories was compiled. The entire methodology led to a five-step assessment tool whose output can be depicted on the proposed competitiveness readiness matrix (CRM).

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to the limited number of articles discussing the contractor's side in the tendering process. Furthermore, it combines three theoretical perspectives (i.e. resource-based view, relational view, and industry structure perspective), which are scarcely applied in the construction management field. Consideration of the calls for tenders when developing solutions is also a unique aspect of this research when compared to previous studies.

Practical implications

This tool may help practitioners navigate the rather elusive tendering process by outlining the necessary elements to participate in and win tenders. It may also allow construction firms to better position themselves in the market with respect to customers' requirements and competitors' performances.

Originality/value

This study provides an approach of both self-assessment and market benchmarking. It assists companies in formulating strategies to become more competitive in general and make better bidding decisions. This is especially interesting because of three aspects: the study is based on a fundamental element of the construction competitiveness concept, i.e. calls for tenders; it offers a mechanism to transform systematically qualitative attributes into quantifiable scores; and it provides a practical and reliable display of the assessment results.
Enhancing the performance of Indian micro, small and medium enterprises by implementing supply chain finance: challenges emerging from COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Sahoo P.S. Biswa Bhusan , Thakur Vikas
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The already scarce financial resources coupled with the current COVID-19 pandemic have created the worst scenario for Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The application of supply chain finance (SCF) solutions to MSMEs can enhance the performance and growth of the sector. But, the implementation of SCF solutions faces various obstacles which restrict the MSMEs' ability to meet their financial requirements. The purpose of this paper is to explore and prioritize the various important barriers hindering SCF application in Indian MSMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature on SCF and MSMEs are critically reviewed and barriers affecting the SCF application in Indian MSMEs are scrutinized with the consultation of the experts. The present study applies intuitionistic fuzzy-analytic hierarchy process (IF-AHP) methodology to prioritize the identified barriers and thereafter, the sensitivity analysis is also done to observe the identified barriers under different situations.

Findings

The results of the study have revealed that poor cash flow management and working capital management disruption are acting as the most prioritized barriers of SCF. The external factor of cultural challenges has been prioritized as the minimum-influence factor that has least negative influence on the operations of SCF in MSMEs.

Practical implications

The present study bears an important practical and managerial implication to solve real world problems of financial constraints of MSMEs. The managers should emphasize upon the importance smooth flow of cash and working capital management across the supply chains by which better SCF solution can be implemented in MSMEs.

Originality/value

The study conducted is an effort to address the barriers of SCF in Indian MSMEs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The implementation of IF-AHP and sensitivity analysis would help managers and policymakers to comprehend and resolve the prioritized barriers and sub-barriers of SCF in the MSMEs.
Rethinking lean synergistically in practice for construction industry improvements
Authors: Pan Wei , Pan Mi
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Lean construction is widely known as a theory or methodology of organizational management, while seldom been studied as a solution for industry improvements through practice. This paper explores the practical role of lean for construction industry improvements beyond its theoretical inspirations by empirically examining the industry understanding and practice with the case of Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was designed as a mixed-method study by combining a critical literature review, semi-structured interviews with relevant professionals, and a follow-up research workshop that includes eight focus group discussions over two break-out sessions with Hong Kong construction stakeholders.

Findings

The research results indicate a low awareness of the term “lean construction” in use, but its principles were implicitly embedded in relevant practices and techniques, particularly building information modeling (BIM), low or zero carbon building (L/ZCB), and prefabrication and modular construction. Practitioners perceived wide-ranging benefits of lean for construction industry improvements but were reluctant to pioneer its adoption and concerned the multi-level challenges.

Originality/value

The paper provides a new practical perspective to rethink lean for construction industry improvements through its synergies with emerging practices, i.e. BIM and ICT, L/ZCB and sustainability, and prefabrication and modular construction.
Determinants of immersive technology acceptance in the construction industry: management perspective
Authors: Okoro Chioma Sylvia , Nnaji Chukwuma , Adediran Abdulrauf
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The usefulness of technology for managing projects in the construction industry is indisputable. The potential utility of immersive technologies (ImTs), including virtual and augmented reality, has recently received significant attention. However, the construction industry, especially in developing countries, lags on the implementation of technology generally and ImTs specifically. Forecasting the potential successful ImTs acceptance at the individual level is essential to strategic planning. The study's objective was to develop and test a conceptual model of factors influencing ImTs acceptance at the individual level in the construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of construction management-level professionals in South Africa was undertaken. The study extended two complementary models, the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB), to analyze behavior towards technology acceptance using structural equation modelling.

Findings

Results indicated that attitude significantly influenced the intention to use ImTs and perceived usefulness (PU) positively and significantly predicted the intention to use and usage attitude (UA). Further, the effects of perceived enjoyment (PEn) on UA, and social norms (SNs) and perceived behavioral control (PBC) on intention to use were positive and significant. Perceived ease of use (PEU) had negative and non-significant effects on intention to use and UA. By explaining 82% of the variance, the study established that the proposed model successfully evaluates how management-level professionals in the construction industry accept ImTs.

Practical implications

The study provides valuable insight into the acceptance of ImTs from the perspective of management-level stakeholders in the South African construction industry. It offers fundamental direction to create a general theory on integrating ImTs in construction.

Originality/value

This study systematically surveyed the intention to accept ImTs in the South African construction industry using an extension of the TAM and TPB models.
A science mapping approach-based review of near-miss research in construction
Authors: Duan Pinsheng , Zhou Jianliang
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Near misses are important references for the construction industry to move toward zero injuries, and are of great significance in reducing accidents and improving safety education. To fully improve the construction industry's understanding and standardize the management process of near-miss events, this paper describes a systematic review of the research front and intellectual basis of near-miss events based on scientometric technique and CiteSpace.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors reviewed and summarized the research wave and definitions of near-miss events in construction. The science mapping approach is used to conduct quantitative analyses of 120 relevant articles published between 2009 and 2019. Three research themes are identified via author analysis, keyword analysis and co-citation analysis: the construction of near-miss management systems, near-miss events research and characteristic research.

Findings

It is found that improving the data collection method to maximize the quality of near-miss reports, optimizing and verifying the event analysis model considering the characteristics of near-miss events in construction, establishing a more comprehensive framework for the analysis of near-miss events and building a highly inclusive technology integration platform are the four main development directions for the future.

Originality/value

According to Heinrich's law, incidents are mainly blamed on near-miss events such as workers' unsafe behaviors. Due to the complexity and variability of the construction site, near-miss events in construction may have different features. This article helps promote the understanding of near misses in academia, standardizing the management process of near-miss events, which is conducive to mining the potential value of such events in practice. Some insights into the research front and the intellectual base of near-miss research in construction are proposed.
Continuous learning during crises: achieving change-efficacy, meaningful work and adaptive performance
Authors: Budhiraja Sunil , Rathi Neerpal
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The study aims to examine the association between learning culture and adaptive performance of delivery employees during crises situation. The study develops and tests a model that explains how learning culture, through change-efficacy and meaningful work, influences employees' adaptive performance (including how they handle crisis situations and deal with uncertainty).

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected from 298 delivery employees working in e-commerce companies throughout India in a time-lagged manner. Regression analysis and structural equation modeling were performed to assess the influence of learning culture, change-efficacy and meaningful work on adaptive performance using SPSS 24. Further, PROCESS macro was used to test the parallel mediation effects through bootstrapping approach.

Findings

The study establishes a significant direct and indirect relationship between learning culture and adaptive performance for employees. Further, underpinning the transformative learning theory (Mezirow, 1997), and job characteristics theory (1976), this study came across two pathways for organizations to transform their learning efforts into improved adaptive performance for employees.

Practical implications

Organizations, particularly in crisis situations, can leverage employees' change-efficacy and meaningful work to connect learning efforts with employees' adaptive performance.

Originality/value

The study contributes significantly to existing theory on transformative learning and job characteristics theory while strengthening the literature on antecedents of employees' adaptive performance, particularly in crises situation.
“Should offensively oriented players receive a salary premium in the national basketball association?”
Authors: Potter Joel , Ehrlich Justin A.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Since recent research has found that offensively oriented players receive a salary premium, the current study recognizes this observed premium might exist because offense is worth more in terms of revenue generation. Given the popular sports saying, “Offense sells tickets, defense wins championships,” the authors quantify whether offense really does sell more “tickets” than defense in the NBA.

Design/methodology/approach

Using NBA team revenue data as well as team offensive and defensive win shares, the authors estimate several econometric specifications to test if teams generate more revenue for offensive wins compared to defensive wins. The authors also employ a multi-year free agency study to identify if NBA players receive more compensation for offensive production than they do for defensive production.

Findings

The authors find no statistical difference in revenue generation from offense compared to defense. The authors confirm these findings both before and after revenue sharing. These results are also robust to alternative specifications. Therefore, the authors conclude that fans do not prefer offense to defense in terms of their spending. Contrary to previous research, the authors find no evidence of an offensive premium paid to NBA players.

Originality/value

Based on their findings, offensively oriented players should not receive a salary premium. The clear implication for team decision makers is that offensive production should be compensated at a similar rate as defensive production. Since the authors do not find evidence of an offensive premium for offensive production, their research suggests a likely labor market equilibrium in the NBA for both profit-maximizing and win-maximizing teams.
Analysis of information on mitigating SUS's judicialization in digital media
Authors: Siqueira Fernanda Rodrigues de , Müller Carlos André da Silva , Siena Osmar
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This research aimed to analyze how information on public policies to mitigate the judicialization of the SUS (Brazilian Unified Health System) have been disseminated via digital media to citizens and stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

Under a qualitative and inductive paradigm, the research was based on the search for news on the Google pages. Data were grouped into higher categories to formalize theoretical generalizations.

Findings

Data analysis showed that there are news classified into 11 codes, forming three news groups broadcast as an effort by the programs to legitimize themselves with society: Perceived Quality, Publicity Produced and Results Achieved.

Research limitations/implications

The relationship between the effectiveness of public policies and their dissemination in digital media has implications for the result/legitimacy relationship, not excluding that public marketing can make a program legitimate without having results that confirm its effectiveness.

Social implications

The work provides a means of understanding the dissemination of public policies, in particular, verifying whether these are being provided in order to establish responsible and transparent communication with the citizen or to legitimize public policies without effective results.

Originality/value

The proposed conceptual model is based on four quadrants and represents the relationship between the results achieved by public policies and legitimacy, considering a phenomenon resulting from public marketing. The association between the intensity of these constructs constitutes four themes: fake public marketing, inefficient public policy, deficient public marketing and full public policy.
Intelligent pore type characterization: Improved theory for rock physics modelling
Authors: Sharifi Javad
Published: April 2022

Thanks to the recent developments in both hardware and software capabilities of computers, intelligent rock physics modelling has emerged as an alternative to the conventional approach to the rock physics. Respecting the crucial contribution of the pore geometry into the rock physics modelling, I propose an accurate yet cost‐ and time‐efficient intelligent framework to measure pore space based on digital rock physics. In this method, total pore space was calculated after estimating the pore geometry through pattern recognition on thin section images captured through polarized‐light microscopy. Next, applying three different multi‐class classifiers (radial basis function, support vector machine and k‐nearest neighbours) for estimating pore type and aspect ratio, the best results were obtained using the fuzzy Sugeno integral, and the pore types were classified according to the most widely used pore type classification scheme. Next, an artificial neural network was applied to interpolate discrete data points (thin sections) into continuous profiles of pore type and aspect ratio. Subsequently, as a case study, the proposed approaches were applied to a real‐world carbonate reservoir for modelling the P‐ and S‐wave velocities through a rock physics model. Verifying the modelling results against ultrasonic and measured well‐logging data, the methodology showed promising performance at acceptable levels of uncertainty. The most significant advantage of the intelligent pore type quantification over the conventional methods was found to be its ability to estimate elastic properties with good accuracy. The key findings of this research include automatic detection of the pore types and aspect ratio, provision of a database of pore geometry, attenuation of uncertainty in pore type characterization and improvement of rock physics modelling in the absence of reliable S‐wave velocity data.
Venous blood for the analysis of acid–base status in a model of septic shock
Authors: Maiden Matthew J , Fraser Jonathan D , Finnis Mark E
Published: April 2022

Objective

To determine the relationship between arterial and venous acid–base status in a model of septic shock.

Methods

Paired samples (n = 435) of arterial and femoral venous blood from 57 sheep (47 septic, 10 non‐septic) managed with protocol‐guided ventilation, sedation, parenteral fluids and inotropic support.

Results

The arterial‐venous difference in acid–base parameters was similar with and without sepsis. There was a consistent arterio‐venous relationship for metabolic (pH, lactate, bicarbonate, base excess), but not respiratory parameters (partial pressures of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and haemoglobin‐oxygen saturation), independent of sepsis.

Conclusions

Venous blood provides a reliable measure of metabolic but not respiratory disturbance.
Traditional grazing management creates heterogeneous swards and fosters grasshopper densities
Authors: Schwarz Cinja , Fartmann Thomas
Published: April 2022

Common pastures were once the dominant type of land use in many European regions. However, during the past 150 years, they have declined dramatically. Recent studies have shown that they are hotspots for rare plant, butterfly, and bird species in the study area, the Bavarian pre‐Alps (southern Germany). However, studies on the value of these pastures for Orthoptera (hereinafter termed “grasshoppers”) have been scarce. Here, we studied the effects of traditional summer grazing in common pastures on grasshopper assemblages. Our study revealed that grasshopper species richness did not differ between common pastures (n = 57) and controls (n = 57). By contrast, density of all and of threatened species varied between common pastures and controls in all plots and within the two vegetation types with the highest grasshopper abundance, grasslands on mineral soil and fens. Two threatened species, Pseudochorthippus montanus and Stethophyma grossum, were identified as indicators for common pastures; controls had no indicative species. Traditional low‐intensity grazing in common pastures has resulted in open and heterogeneous swards with some bare ground, a low cover of litter and an intermediate vegetation height favouring high densities of grasshopper species in general and threatened species in particular. This is especially true for the two most productive vegetation types, grasslands on mineral soil and fens. To promote biodiversity in general and grasshopper densities in particular, we recommend maintaining traditional cattle grazing (stocking capacities: 0.5–2.0 livestock units/ha) in common pastures. Where possible, this grazing regime should also be introduced in the surrounding landscape.
Birth Weight and Cognitive Development during Childhood: Evidence from India
Authors: Kumar Santosh , Kumar Kaushalendra , Laxminarayan Ramanan , Nandi Arindam
Published: April 2022

Health at birth is an important indicator of human capital development over the life course. This paper uses longitudinal data from the Young Lives survey and employs instrumental variable regression models to estimate the effect of birth weight on cognitive development during childhood in India. We find that a 10 per cent increase in birth weight increases cognitive test scores by 0.11 standard deviations at 5–8 years of age. Low birth weight infants experience a lower test score compared with normal birth weight infants. The positive effect of birth weight on a cognitive test score is larger for girls, children from rural households and those with less educated mothers. Our findings suggest that health policies designed to improve birth weight could improve human capital in resource‐poor settings.
Patient characteristics, management and outcomes in a Nordic subset of the “large observational study to understand the global impact of severe acute respiratory failure” (LUNG SAFE) study
Authors: Laake Jon Henrik , Småstuen Milada Cvancarova , Møller Morten Hylander , Larsson Anders , Aslam Tayyba Naz , Hofsø Kristin , Pham Tài , Fan Eddy , Bellani Giacomo , Laffey John G. ,   LUNG SAFE Investigators
Published: April 2022

Background

The “Large observational study to understand the global impact of severe acute respiratory failure” (LUNG SAFE) study described the worldwide epidemiology and management of patients with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure (AHRF). Here, we present the Nordic subset of data from the LUNG SAFE cohort.

Methods

We extracted LUNG SAFE data for adults fulfilling criteria for AHRF in intensive care units (ICU) in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, including demographics, co‐morbidities, clinical assessment and management characteristics, 90‐day survival and length‐of‐stay (LOS). We analysed ICU LOS with linear regression, and associations between risk factors and mortality were quantified using Cox regression.

Results

We included 192 patients, with a median age of 64 years (IQR 55, 72), and a male‐to‐female ratio of 2:1. The majority had one or more co‐morbidities, and clinicians identified pneumonia as the primary cause of respiratory failure in 56% and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in 21%.

Median ICU LOS and duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) were 5 and 3 days. Tidal volumes (TV) were frequently larger than that supported by evidence and IMV allowing for spontaneous ventilation was common. Younger age, co‐morbidity, surgical admission and ARDS were associated with ICU LOS. Sixty‐one patients (32%) were dead at 90 days. Age and a non‐surgical cause of admission were associated with death.

Conclusions

In this subset of LUNG SAFE, ARDS was often not recognised in patients with AHRF and management frequently deviated from evidence‐based practices. ICU LOS was generally short, and mortality was attributable to known risk factors.
Cutworms (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in central Brazil Savanna: temporal distribution and association of species abundance with climatic and meteorological factors
Authors: Specht Alexandre , Dias Fernando M S , Carneiro Eduardo , Casagrande Mirna M , Mielke Olaf H H , Xavier Rodrigo A , Roque‐Specht Vânia F , Malaquias Juaci V , Silva Fernando A M , Claudino Vander C M
Published: April 2022

Population dynamics studies make it possible to predict the response of species to seasonal and inter‐annual climatic phenomena in hypothetical scenarios of climatic abnormality. However, long‐term studies on the temporal distribution and abundances of species are still scarce in the literature, including for species of agricultural importance. The present study aimed to bridge this gap through monthly collection events of species of cutworms (species of Agrotis and Feltia) across eight crop seasons (from July 2012 to June 2020) in the Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado). This biome is characterised by an irregular distribution of rainfall during a normal year, including two well‐defined periods of dry and rainy seasons. Only five species of cutworms were recorded: Agrotis ipsilon, Agrotis canities, Feltia repleta, Feltia submontana and Feltia subterranea, all widely distributed across South America. Except for F. submontana, occurring only in the autumn, other species occurred nearly year‐round, with distinct peaks of abundance in the dry season (April to October), supporting the hypothesis that species of Agrotina are well adapted to dry environments. The association of cutworms with dry environments was recovered for multivoltine, abundant species, such as A. ipsilon and F. subterranea, as for univoltine species, such as F. submontana. Across eight crop seasons, the abundance of all species decreased, coinciding with a high intensity El Niño effect. However, the effect itself was not found to be significant to predict the temporal distribution and abundances of cutworms and the causes of population decrease from 2014 to 2015 crop season remain to be explained. After the temporal autocorrelation effects were removed, it was revealed that the abundance of cutworms tends to be larger in crop seasons with less precipitation. Thus, this variable can be used to predict outbreaks of cutworms in the Cerrado. Some species of cutworms deserve special concern due to their frequency, seasonality and higher abundances in the Cerrado during the dry season. Their adaptability to adverse conditions may increase their spatio‐temporal distribution in Brazil and the frequency of outbreaks in a scenario of climate change, with the continuing reduction of rainfall in central and southeastern Brazil.
Seasonality of Pemba flying fox (Pteropus voeltzkowi) in selected habitats of Pemba Island, and its roles in seed dispersal and germination
Authors: Mwinyi Ali M. , Nnko Happiness J.
Published: April 2022

Understanding population variation in space and time can be used to enhance protection of keystone species. This study assessed Pteropus voeltzkowi seasonal use of four roosting sites characterised by three habitat types: Community conserved land (CCLH), Residential (RH) and Forest reserve (FRH). To provide information on their keystone role, the study recorded instances of seed dispersal and measured seed germination rate of two and four plant species respectively. A total of 88 roosting locations (18, 20 and 50 from CCLH, RH and FRH respectively) were studied. P. voeltzkowi abundance was estimated using patch counts conducted for four days in dry season (February) and four days in wet season (April). Transect and seed germination experiment were used to estimate seeds dispersal distances and germination rates respectively. The number of P. voeltzkowi was lower in the wet season and highest in RH. A positive relationship was found between P. voeltzkowi abundance and roosting tree canopy diameter. Fruits were dominant food item recorded, eighteen tree species were utilised as day roosts and fourteen were food source for P. voeltzkowi. Compared to unhandled seeds, handled seeds showed high germination rate. Maximum dispersal distances recorded were 560 and 200m for fig and mango seeds respectively.
Protective effect of remote ischemic postconditioning in rat testes after testicular torsion/detorsion
Authors: Hu Zhaoyang , Liu Quanhua , Yan Zhibing , Wang Qifeng , Liu Jin
Published: April 2022

Background

Testicular torsion/detorsion can lead to severe testicular damage. The organ‐protective effect of remote ischemic postconditioning (RLIPost) against ischemia/reperfusion injury has been characterized; however, it remains unknown whether RLIPost has a testicular protective effect.

Objectives

Here, we tested the hypothesis that RLIPost can protect the testes in a rat model of testicular torsion/detorsion in vivo.

Materials and methods

Male Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned to sham‐operated, control, or remote liver and limb ischemic postconditioning‐treated groups. Testicular torsion/detorsion was performed by 3 h of testicular torsion (720° clockwise unilateral spermatic cord torsion), followed by 3 h of detorsion. For liver and limb ischemic postconditioning, four cycles of 5 min of liver or limb ischemia with 5‐min intermittent reperfusion stimuli were conducted at the onset of testicular reperfusion.

Results

Liver and limb ischemic postconditioning significantly ameliorated ipsilateral and contralateral testicular swelling responses, preserved morphological integrity and spermatogenesis and inhibited testicular apoptosis. In addition, RLIPost enhanced the phosphorylation of AKT/ERK1/2/GSK‐3β/STAT‐3 in the ipsilateral testis while suppressing JNK activation in the ipsilateral and contralateral testes.

Discussion and conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate the involvement of RLIPost in an animal model of testicular torsion/detorsion. We showed that RLIPost protects both ipsilateral and contralateral testes against testicular torsion/detorsion in vivo, via at least in part, the RISK and SAFE‐mediated signaling pathways.
Routine conversations about violence conducted in Swedish child health services—A mixed methods study of nurses' experiences
Authors: Nimborg Jennie , Lindskog Ulrika , Nordgren Lena , Annerbäck Eva‐Maria
Published: April 2022

Aim

To evaluate an intervention where nurses in child health care services routinely talk to and inform parents about violence.

Methods

The intervention included providing information during home visits and individual conversations with mothers and fathers/partners in connection with screening for parental depression. A convergent mixed‐methods design was used with a documentation form for each child (n = 475) and results from focus group interviews with nurses. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative with manifest content analysis.

Results

Almost all families participated in the intervention; individual conversations were conducted with nearly all the mothers, and to a somewhat lesser extent with the fathers/partners. Initially, the nurses felt slightly uncomfortable about these conversations, but described experiencing development and professionalisation in their role of talking about violence. Parents' reactions were generally positive and they expressed appreciation for this topic being raised.

Conclusion

The results show that the intervention has been carried out successfully. The newborn period is a phase in which mothers and fathers are interested and receptive to knowledge and support in sensitive matters. Prerequisites for implementation were the preparation phase for the nurses, the use of routine questioning and a questionnaire as a basis for the conversations.
Becoming a pirate: Independence as an alternative to exit in the gig economy
Authors: Maffie Michael David
Published: April 2022

How and why do platform workers ‘quit’? Drawing on original qualitative data from 84 ride‐hail drivers, the author finds that platform companies use information asymmetries to downplay the true cost of working a ‘gig’. Once workers realize these costs, some exit, yet others cannot because they have come to rely on their ride‐hail income to meet their short‐term needs, a phenomenon the author refers to as ‘acquired dependence’. In response, the author finds these workers begin their own ‘pirate’ (illegal) taxi operations to decrease their dependence on platform companies. These findings are then used to develop an original survey instrument that tests if drivers’ ‘acquired dependence’ is associated with ‘pirate’ taxi operations. Using survey data from 330 ride‐hail drivers, the author finds evidence that drivers with greater acquired dependence are more likely to develop off‐app ‘pirate’ taxi operations. In doing so, this article develops both a new category of conflict and response for marketized employment relationships.
Matrix metalloproteinase‐21 promotes metastasis via increasing the recruitment and M2 polarization of macrophages in HCC
Authors: Zhou Jiangfan , Liu Li , Hu Xudong , Feng Rong , Zhao Niannian , Zhang Li , Hu Wenhao , Zhang Jian , Huang Shiyong , Liu Lin , Li Wei , Shan Yunfeng , Jin Jing
Published: April 2022

MMP‐21 is a newly identified member of the matrix metalloproteinase family and has been reported to regulate both embryonic development and tumor progression. However, the roles of MMP‐21 in hemofiltrate C–C chemokine (HCC) remain largely unclear. In this study, we used western blot, qPCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to determine the upregulation of MMP‐21 in HCC tissues, and showed that the increase in MMP‐21 was associated with vascular invasion and poor prognosis. Although changing levels of MMP‐21 in HCC cell lines had no significant effect on cell migration or invasion abilities in in vitro transwell tests, both IHC analysis and in vivo mouse models proved that upregulated MMP‐21 promoted metastasis. Functional enrichments of MMP‐21 using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data suggested that MMP‐21 might regulate metastasis via macrophages. Further experiments proved that MMP‐21 enhanced macrophage recruitment by increasing CCL‐14 levels and promoted M2‐type polarization of macrophage by elevating the expression of CSF‐1 and FGF‐1. Taken together, this study revealed that MMP‐21 controlled the tumor microenvironment remodeling and functional regulation of macrophages to regulate HCC metastasis.