bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Catheter–tissue contact optimizes pulsed electric field ablation with a large area focal catheter
Authors: Doshi Shephal K. , Flaherty Mary Clare , Laughner Jacob , Quan Melinda , Anic Ante
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Pulsed electric field (PEF) ablation relies on the intersection of a critical voltage gradient with tissue to cause cell death. Field‐based lesion formation with PEF technologies may still depend on catheter–tissue contact (CTC). The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of CTC on PEF lesion formation with an investigational large area focal (LAF) catheter in a preclinical model.

Methods

PEF ablation via a 10‐spline LAF catheter was used to create discrete right ventricle (RV) lesions and atrial lesion sets in 10 swine (eight acute, two chronic). Local impedance (LI) was used to assess CTC. Lesions were assigned to three cohorts using LI above baseline: no tissue contact (NTC: ≤∆10 Ω, close proximity to tissue), low tissue contact (LTC: ∆11–29 Ω), and high tissue contact (HTC: ≥∆30 Ω). Acute animals were infused with triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) and killed ≥2 h post‐treatment. Chronic animals were remapped 30 days post‐index procedure and stained with infused TTC.

Results

Mean (± SD) RV treatment sizes between LTC (n = 14) and HTC (n = 17) lesions were not significantly different (depth: 5.65 ± 1.96 vs. 5.68 ± 2.05 mm, p = .999; width: 15.68 ± 5.22 vs. 16.98 ± 4.45 mm, p = .737), while mean treatment size for NTC lesions (n = 6) was significantly smaller (1.67 ± 1.16 mm depth, 5.97 ± 4.48 mm width, p < .05). For atrial lesion sets, acute and chronic conduction block were achieved with both LTC (N = 7) and HTC (N = 6), and NTC resulted in gaps.

Conclusions

PEF ablation with a specialized LAF catheter in a swine model is dependent on CTC. LI as an indicator of CTC may aid in the creation of consistent transmural lesions in PEF ablation.
Atractylodes macrocephalaIII suppresses EMT in cervical cancer by regulating IGF2BP3 through ETV5
Authors: Wang Meixia , Meng Jingwen , Wang Hongyun , Hu Huijuan , Hong Ying
Published: February 2024

Atractylodes macrocephala III (ATL III), with anti‐inflammatory and antitumor effects, is the main compound of Atractylodes macrocephala. Whether ATL III has an effect on cervical cancer and the specific mechanism are still unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of ATL III on cervical cancer cells at different concentrations and found that ATL III downregulates insulin‐like growth factor 2 mRNA‐binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3), which was found to be highly expressed in cervical cancer tissue by RNA‐Seq. In this study, we found that ATL III promotes apoptosis and regulates epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cervical cancer cells (HeLa and SiHa cells) and that IGF2BP3 is a common target gene of ATL III in HeLa and SiHa cells. The expression level of IGF2BP3 in cervical cancer cells was proportional to their migration and invasion abilities. This was verified by transfection of cells with a small interfering RNA and an IGF2BP3 overexpression plasmid. After ATL III treatment, the migration and invasion abilities of cervical cancer cells were obviously reduced, but these effects were attenuated after overexpression of IGF2BP3. In addition, the transcription factor IGF2BP3 was predicted by the JASPAR system. After intersection with our sequencing results, we verified the promotional effect of ETV5 (ETS translocation variant 5) on IGF2BP3 and found that ALT III inhibited ETV5. In general, our research showed that ATL III inhibits the migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells by regulating IGF2BP3 through ETV5.
Improved patient‐ and caregiver‐reported outcomes distinguish tacrolimus 0.03% from crisaborole in children with atopic dermatitis
Authors: Ryan Wolf Julie , Chen Anita , Wieser Jill , Johnson Brad , Baughman Lauren , Lee Gayin , Pope Eleanor , Franco Abigail , Love Tanzy , Beck Lisa A.
Published: February 2024

Background

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic skin disease that affects 20% of children worldwide and is associated with low patient‐reported quality of life (QoL). Crisaborole (CRIS) and tacrolimus 0.03% (TAC) are Food and Drug Administration (FDA)‐approved topical treatments for mild to moderate AD with similar clinical efficacy. Utilization of patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) may provide meaningful data on the impact of AD treatments on patients and caregivers. This study used PROs to monitor the impact of crisaborole (CRIS) and tacrolimus 0.03% (TAC) on children with mild/moderate atopic dermatitis (AD) and caregiver burden.

Methods

This open‐label study randomized 47 child‐caregiver dyads to CRIS or TAC for 12 weeks. Disease severity, child quality of life (QoL), itch, pain interference, anxiety, depression, sleep, caregiver burden and caregiver QoL were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks.

Results

A total of 36 dyads completed the study. Children (mean age = 8.0 ± 3.9 years) had mild baseline AD and were diverse by race (39% white; 36% Black) and gender (53% males). Caregivers were mostly female (78%; mean age = 37 ± 7.6 years). Both arms improved disease severity (Eczema Area and Severity Index) from baseline to 12 weeks (CRIS = −2.4 vs. TAC = −1.9). Within‐arm analyses comparing baseline to 12 weeks revealed TAC, but not CRIS, improved all child and caregiver PROs except sleep (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated that topical treatment for 12 weeks was more beneficial than 6 weeks, with TAC improving more PROs than CRIS. Future trials should implement PROs to fully understand the impact of AD treatments.
DIF Detection for Multiple Groups: Comparing Three‐Level GLMMs and Multiple‐Group IRT Models
Authors: Köhler Carmen , Khorramdel Lale , Pokropek Artur , Hartig Johannes
Published: February 2024

For assessment scales applied to different groups (e.g., students from different states; patients in different countries), multigroup differential item functioning (MG‐DIF) needs to be evaluated in order to ensure that respondents with the same trait level but from different groups have equal response probabilities on a particular item. The current study compares two approaches for DIF detection: a multiple‐group item response theory (MG‐IRT) model and a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM). In the MG‐IRT model approach, item parameters are constrained to be equal across groups and DIF is evaluated for each item in each group. In the GLMM, groups are treated as random, and item difficulties are modeled as correlated random effects with a joint multivariate normal distribution. Its nested structure allows the estimation of item difficulty variances and covariances at the group level. We use an excerpt from the PISA 2015 reading domain as an exemplary empirical investigation, and conduct a simulation study to compare the performance of the two approaches. Results from the empirical investigation show that the detection of countries with DIF is similar in both approaches. Results from the simulation study confirm this finding and indicate slight advantages of the MG‐IRT model approach.
Product innovation and export strategy
Authors: Chemo Dzukou Kevin Randy , Duvaleix Sabine , Latouche Karine
Published: February 2024

This paper analyses the relationship between innovation and export performance. More specifically, we highlight the effect of the introduction of new products on the quality and prices charged by firms in international markets. We develop a model to explain the mechanism underlying the relationship between innovation and product quality. Using a unique database of new product launches combined with data on production and trade in the French dairy industry, we tested this mechanism in several ways. Our results show that the export prices charged by the firms increase after the introduction of a new product in a given market. We also show that the projected quality of the new product increases after its introduction in a given market. This confirms the quality‐upgrading effect of innovation at the product level.
Lung cancer screening use among screening‐eligible adults with disabilities
Authors: Poghosyan Hermine , Richman Ilana , Sarkar Sayantani , Presley Carolyn J.
Published: February 2024

Background

Lung cancer screening (LCS) use among adults with disabilities has not been well characterized. We estimated the prevalence of LCS use by disability types and counts and investigated the association between disability counts and LCS utilization among LCS‐eligible adults.

Methods

We used cross‐sectional data from the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Lung Cancer Screening Module. Based on the 2013 US Preventive Services Task Force criteria for LCS, the sample included 4407 LCS‐eligible adults, aged 55–79 years, with current or former (quit smoking in the past 15 years) tobacco use history of at least 30 pack‐years. Disability types included limitations in hearing, vision, cognition, mobility, self‐care, and independent living. We also categorized respondents by number of disabilities (no disability, 1 disability, 2 disabilities, 3+ disabilities). We utilized descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analyses to determine the association between disability counts and the receipt of LCS (yes/no) in the past 12 months.

Results

In 2019, 16.4% of LCS‐eligible adults were screened for lung cancer. Overall, 49.6% of participants had no disability, and 14.5% had >3 disabilities. Mobility was the most prevalent disability type (35.4%), followed by cognitive impairment (18.2%) and hearing (16.6%). LCS was more prevalent in adults with disability in self‐care versus no disability in self‐care (24.0% vs. 15.5%, p = 0.01), disability in independent living versus no disability in independent living (22.2% vs. 15.4%, p = 0.02), and cognitive impairment disability versus no cognitive impairment (22.1% vs. 15.3%, p = 0.03). The prevalence rates of LCS among groups of LCS‐eligible adults with different disability counts were not significant (p = 0.17).

Conclusions

Despite the lack of clinical guidelines on LCS among individuals with disabilities, some individuals with disabilities are being screened for lung cancer. Future research should address this knowledge gap to determine clinical benefit versus harm of LCS among those with disabilities.
Efficacy and tolerability of a novel cosmetic growth factor serum when used as part of biweekly diamond tip hydradermabrasion treatments on facial skin
Authors: Huang Priscilla , Mehta Rahul , Emmerich Tanja , Jiang Lily I. , Makino Elizabeth
Published: February 2024

Background

Growth factor preparations have demonstrated effectiveness in reversing age‐related changes in facial skin. TNS® Advanced+ Serum (TNS A+ Serum; SkinMedica®, Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie Company) and TNS Advanced+ Pro‐Infusion Serum for DiamondGlow® (DG‐TNS A+; Allergan Aesthetics) combine growth factor technology with active botanical ingredients to target signs of skin aging.

Aims

This prospective clinical study evaluated the effectiveness and tolerability of biweekly facial hydradermabrasion (DiamondGlow [DG]; Allergan Aesthetics) plus DG‐TNS A+ combined with at‐home topical TNS A+ Serum.

Methods

Females aged 25–65 years with mild to severe facial photodamage received 6 biweekly DG plus DG‐TNS A+ in‐office treatments with at‐home twice‐daily TNS A+ Serum for 12 weeks. Investigator‐assessed clinical grading of multiple skin attributes, subject self‐assessments, instrumentation measurements, and clinical grading of irritation parameters (0–3, none to severe) were conducted at Visit 1, Day 3, and biweekly from Weeks 2–12.

Results

Twenty‐nine women (Fitzpatrick skin types II–VI; 52% White, 41% African American) were enrolled. Immediate significant improvements after 1 DG plus DG‐TNS A+ treatment were observed for fine lines/wrinkles, skin smoothness (visual and tactile), radiance, and hydration (all p ≤ 0.004). From Weeks 6–12, all investigator‐assessed parameters showed significant improvements versus baseline (all p ≤ 0.002 at Week 12). Mean tolerability scores were <1 across parameters. All subjects (100%) were satisfied with results at Weeks 2–12.

Conclusions

The combination of biweekly hydradermabrasion plus DG‐TNS A+ with at‐home TNS A+ Serum treatments was well tolerated and produced immediate, progressive improvement in multiple signs of photoaging in facial skin.
Development of a supportive care framework for breast cancer survivor's unmet needs: A modified Delphi study
Authors: Dai Qian , Liu Xiangyu , Xu Xianghua , Fu Yulu , She Zhengdi , Huang Yuansi , Xia Yimin , Chen Yongyi , Cheng Andy S. K. , Feuerstein Michael
Published: February 2024

Aim

To establish a supportive care framework for addressing unmet needs among breast cancer survivors, providing practical guidance for healthcare providers to assess and manage these needs, ultimately enhancing the health outcomes and quality of life of breast cancer survivors.

Design

We conducted a two‐round Delphi survey to gather expert opinions regarding the unmet needs supportive care framework for breast cancer survivors.

Methods

Initial framework identification and inquiry questionnaire creation was achieved via literature search and expert group discussions, which included 15 experts from nursing practice, clinical medicine, nursing management and nursing education was conducted using a Delphi survey. To establish consensus, a two‐round Delphi poll was done, using criteria based on the mean (≥4.0), coefficient of variation (CV < 0.25) and percentage for entire score (≥20%).

Results

Experts reached a consensus, leading to six care modules, and 28 care entries: Tumour Detection Support (three care entries), Management of Complications of Antitumor Therapy (seven care entries), Healthy Lifestyle Management (five care entries), Sexual and Fertility Support (four care entries), Psychosocial Support (four care entries) and Resource and Linkage Support (five care entries).

Conclusion

To address breast cancer survivors' unmet needs, a supportive framework was developed to actively enhance their health outcomes. However, further refinement and feasibility testing using mobile devices or artificial intelligence are required.

Implications for the Profession and Patient Care

This pioneering framework prioritises addressing unmet needs and equips healthcare providers to assess and manage these needs effectively, facilitating the implementation of programs aimed at improving the well‐being of breast cancer survivors.

Reporting Method

This study was guided by a modified guideline for the Conducting and Reporting of Delphi Studies (CREDES) (Palliative Medicine, 31(8), 684, 2017).

Patient or Public Contribution

No Patient or Public Contribution.

Trial and protocol registration

The Delphi study methodology does not require registration.
Unveiling denture‐induced oral lesions: A comprehensive study on classification and pain assessment
Authors: Findler M. , Perzon O. , Almoznino G. , Zini A. , Sharav Y. , Czerninski R. , Aframian D. J. , Haviv Y.
Published: February 2024

Background

Denture‐induced oral Lesions (DIOLs) often manifests shortly after the placement or adjustment of new or realigned dentures, frequently resulting in severe pain and discomfort.

Objectives

This study aimed to classify DIOLs placing a particular emphasis on assessing the associated pain.

Methods

A prospective case study was conducted involving 126 patients who were fitted with a total of 193 dentures of various types at the Hadassah School of Dental Medicine. All patients underwent comprehensive intra‐oral examinations within 1–8 weeks following denture delivery, completed symptom questionnaires and had their medical records reviewed. Key variables documented included age, gender, overall health status, denture type, and a detailed description of the DIOLs. The description encompassed factors such as lesion location, shape, colour, size, border characteristics, ulcerative appearance, membrane coverage, 3D morphology (elevated, immersed and flat) and patient‐reported Verbal Pain Score (VPS) when touching the DIOLs, when wearing the denture, and when not wearing the denture.

Results

Notably, 25.4% of denture wearers required no adjustments, while 14.4% necessitated more than three revisions. A majority (71.8%) of DIOLs cases were associated with mandibular complete dentures, primarily situated on the alveolar ridge. The mean VPS indicated a pain intensity of 7 ± 2.1, with temporary dentures in both jaws causing the most discomfort. Implant‐supported overdentures were particularly painful when placed in the mandible. Additionally, VPS scores were higher among older individuals and those with prior prosthetic experiences. A significant correlation was observed between pain intensity and presence of chronic health condition (0.036).

Conclusions

This study revealed distinct characteristics of DIOLs and highlighted the multifactorial nature of pain experienced following the development of DIOLs. Insights into the influence of patient and denture characteristics on DIOLs and pain intensity can guide healthcare professionals in optimising patient comfort and satisfaction.
A demographic survey of the Davis Strait polar bear subpopulation using physical and genetic capture‐recapture‐recovery sampling
Authors: Dunham Kylee D. , Dyck Markus G. , Ware Jasmine V. , Derocher Andrew E. , Regehr Eric V. , Stern Harry L. , Stenson Garry B. , Koons David N.
Published: February 2024

Conducting assessments to understand the effects of changing environmental conditions on polar bear (Ursus maritimus) demography has become increasingly important to inform management and conservation. Here, we combined physical (2005–2007) and genetic (2017–2018) mark‐recapture with harvest recovery data (2005–2018) to estimate demographic rates of the Davis Strait polar bear subpopulation and examine the possible effects of climate, dynamic ice habitat, and prey resources on survival. Large sample sizes (e.g., 2,513 marked animals) allowed us to estimate temporal variation in annual survival rates using multistate mark‐recapture‐recovery models. We did not detect statistically significant effects of climate, ice habitat, and prey during the 13‐year study. Estimated total abundance in 2006 was 2,190, credible interval (CRI) [1,954, 2,454] and 1,944, CRI [1,593, 2,366] in 2018. Geometric mean population growth rate (0.99, 95% CRI [0.97, 1.01]) indicated the subpopulation may have declined slightly between 2006 and 2018. However, we did not detect a declining trend in survival or substantial change in reproductive metrics over this period. Given forecasts of major environmental change we emphasize the need to review monitoring programs for this subpopulation.
Scepticism, evidential holism and the logic of demonic deception
Authors: Okasha Samir
Published: February 2024

Sceptical arguments in epistemology typically employ sceptical hypotheses, which are rivals to our everyday beliefs so constructed that they fit exactly the evidence on which those beliefs are based. There are two ways of using a sceptical hypothesis to undermine an everyday belief, giving rise to two distinct sorts of sceptical argument: underdetermination‐based and closure‐based. However, both sorts of argument, as usually formulated in the literature, fall foul of evidential holism, for they ignore the crucial role of background beliefs. An analogy with the philosophy of science makes this point explicit. There is no simple way to “holism proof” the two sceptical arguments.
Arbuscular mycorrhiza convey significant plant carbon to a diverse hyphosphere microbial food web and mineral‐associated organic matter
Authors: Kakouridis Anne , Yuan Mengting , Nuccio Erin E. , Hagen John A. , Fossum Christina A. , Moore Madeline L. , Estera‐Molina Katerina Y. , Nico Peter S. , Weber Peter K. , Pett‐Ridge Jennifer , Firestone Mary K.
Published: February 2024

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) transport substantial plant carbon (C) that serves as a substrate for soil organisms, a precursor of soil organic matter (SOM), and a driver of soil microbial dynamics. Using two‐chamber microcosms where an air gap isolated AMF from roots, we 13CO2‐labeled Avena barbata for 6 wk and measured the C Rhizophagus intraradices transferred to SOM and hyphosphere microorganisms.

NanoSIMS imaging revealed hyphae and roots had similar 13C enrichment. SOM density fractionation, 13C NMR, and IRMS showed AMF transferred 0.77 mg C g−1 of soil (increasing total C by 2% relative to non‐mycorrhizal controls); 33% was found in occluded or mineral‐associated pools.

In the AMF hyphosphere, there was no overall change in community diversity but 36 bacterial ASVs significantly changed in relative abundance. With stable isotope probing (SIP)‐enabled shotgun sequencing, we found taxa from the Solibacterales, Sphingobacteriales, Myxococcales, and Nitrososphaerales (ammonium oxidizing archaea) were highly enriched in AMF‐imported 13C (> 20 atom%). Mapping sequences from 13C‐SIP metagenomes to total ASVs showed at least 92 bacteria and archaea were significantly 13C‐enriched.

Our results illustrate the quantitative and ecological impact of hyphal C transport on the formation of potentially protective SOM pools and microbial roles in the AMF hyphosphere soil food web.
Belowground morphology as a clue for plant response to disturbance and productivity in a temperate flora
Authors: Klimešová Jitka , Herben Tomáš
Published: February 2024

Plants possess a large variety of nonacquisitive belowground organs, such as rhizomes, tubers, bulbs, and coarse roots. These organs determine a whole set of functions that are decisive in coping with climate, productivity, disturbance, and biotic interactions, and have been hypothesized to affect plant distribution along environmental gradients.

We assembled data on belowground organ morphology for 1712 species from Central Europe and tested these hypotheses by quantifying relationships between belowground morphologies and species optima along ecological gradients related to productivity and disturbance. Furthermore, we linked these data with species co‐occurrence in 30 115 vegetation plots from the Czech Republic to determine relationships between belowground organ diversity and these gradients.

The strongest gradients determining belowground organ distribution were disturbance severity and frequency, light, and moisture. Nonclonal perennials and annuals occupy much smaller parts of the total environmental space than major types of clonal plants. Forest habitats had the highest diversity of co‐occurring belowground morphologies; in other habitats, the diversity of belowground morphologies was generally lower than the random expectation.

Our work shows that nonacquisitive belowground organs may be partly responsible for plant environmental niches. This adds a new dimension to the plant trait spectrum, currently based on acquisitive traits (leaves and fine roots) only.
Combined GWAS and eGWAS reveals the genetic basis underlying drought tolerance in emmer wheat (Triticum turgidum L.)
Authors: Yang Guang , Pan Yan , Pan Wenqiu , Song Qingting , Zhang Ruoyu , Tong Wei , Cui Licao , Ji Wanquan , Song Weining , Song Baoxing , Deng Pingchuan , Nie Xiaojun
Published: February 2024

Drought is one of the major environmental constraints for wheat production world‐wide. As the progenitor and genetic reservoir of common wheat, emmer wheat is considered as an invaluable gene pool for breeding drought‐tolerant wheat.

Combining GWAS and eGWAS analysis of 107 accessions, we identified 86 QTLs, 105 462 eQTLs as well as 68 eQTL hotspots associating with drought tolerance (DT) in emmer wheat.

A complex regulatory network composed of 185 upstream regulator and 2432 downstream drought‐responsive candidates was developed, of which TtOTS1 was found to play a negative effect in determining DT through affecting root development.

This study sheds light on revealing the genetic basis underlying DT, which will provide the indispensable genes and germplasm resources for elite drought tolerance wheat improvement and breeding.
The role of priming and memory in rice environmental stress adaptation: Current knowledge and perspectives
Authors: Ganie Showkat Ahmad , McMulkin Nancy , Devoto Alessandra
Published: February 2024

Plant responses to abiotic stresses are dynamic, following the unpredictable changes of physical environmental parameters such as temperature, water and nutrients. Physiological and phenotypical responses to stress are intercalated by periods of recovery. An earlier stress can be remembered as ‘stress memory’ to mount a response within a generation or transgenerationally. The ‘stress priming’ phenomenon allows plants to respond quickly and more robustly to stressors to increase survival, and therefore has significant implications for agriculture. Although evidence for stress memory in various plant species is accumulating, understanding of the mechanisms implicated, especially for crops of agricultural interest, is in its infancy. Rice is a major food crop which is susceptible to abiotic stresses causing constraints on its cultivation and yield globally. Advancing the understanding of the stress response network will thus have a significant impact on rice sustainable production and global food security in the face of climate change. Therefore, this review highlights the effects of priming on rice abiotic stress tolerance and focuses on specific aspects of stress memory, its perpetuation and its regulation at epigenetic, transcriptional, metabolic as well as physiological levels. The open questions and future directions in this exciting research field are also laid out.
On having control over our actions
Authors: Hardman Doug
Published: February 2024

In this essay, I investigate the longstanding philosophical problem of whether we have control over our actions in a deterministic world. In working through a range of everyday situations in which this problem could arise, I come to the realisation that determinism has no bearing on whether we have control over our actions, because having control over our actions and determinism only make sense under different aspects.
Reconciling TD‐DFT and CASPT2 electronic structure methods for describing the photophysics of DNA
Authors: Jaiswal Vishal Kumar , Taddei Mario , Nascimento Daniel R. , Garavelli Marco , Conti Irene , Nenov Artur
Published: February 2024

Time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) and multiconfigurational second‐order perturbation theory (CASPT2) are two of the most widely used methods to investigate photoinduced dynamics in DNA‐based systems. These methods sometimes give diverse dynamics in physiological environments usually modeled by quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) protocol. In this work, we demonstrate for the uridine test case that the underlying topology of the potential energy surfaces of electronic states involved in photoinduced relaxation is similar in both electronic structure methods. This is verified by analyzing surface‐hopping dynamics performed at the QM/MM level on aqueous solvated uridine at TD‐DFT and CASPT2 levels. By constraining the dynamics to remain on state we observe similar fluctuations in energy and relaxation lifetimes in surface‐hopping dynamics in both TD‐DFT and experimentally validated CASPT2 methods. This finding calls for a systematic comparison of the ES potential energy surfaces of DNA and RNA nucleosides at the single‐ and multi‐reference levels of theory. The anomalous long excited state lifetime at the TD‐DFT level is explained by trapping due to the tendency of TD‐DFT in QM/MM schemes with electrostatic embedding to underestimate the energy of the state leading to a wrong energetic order. A study of the FC energetics suggests that improving the description of the surrounding environment through polarizable embedding or by the expansion of QM layer with hydrogen‐bonded waters helps restore the correct state order at TD‐DFT level. Thus by combining TDDFT with an accurate modeling of the environment, TD‐DFT is positioned as the standout protocol to model photoinduced dynamics in DNA‐based aggregates and multimers.
Rhizobacteria Bacillus spp. mitigate osmotic stress and improve seed germination in mustard by regulating osmolyte and plant hormone signaling
Authors: Nivetha Nagarajan , Asha Arambam Devi , Krishna Gopinathan Kumar , Chinnusamy Viswanathan , Paul Sangeeta
Published: February 2024

Drought, a widespread abiotic stressor, exerts a profound impact on agriculture, impeding germination and plant growth, and reducing crop yields. In the present investigation, the osmotolerant rhizobacteria Bacillus casamancensis strain MKS‐6 and Bacillus sp. strain MRD‐17 were assessed for their effects on molecular processes involved in mustard germination under osmotic stress conditions. Enhancement in germination was evidenced by improved germination percentages, plumule and radicle lengths, and seedling vigor upon rhizobacterial inoculation under no stress and osmotic stress conditions. Under osmotic stress, rhizobacteria stimulated the production of gibberellins and reserve hydrolytic enzymes (lipases, isocitrate lyase, and malate synthase), bolstering germination. Furthermore, these rhizobacteria influenced the plant hormones such as gibberellins and abscisic acid (ABA), as well as signalling pathways, thereby promoting germination under osmotic stress. Reduced proline and glycine betaine accumulation, and down‐regulation of transcription factors BjDREB1_2 and BjDREB2 (linked to ABA‐independent signalling) in rhizobacteria‐inoculated seedlings indicated that bacterial treatment mitigated water deficit stress during germination, independently of these pathways. Hence, the advantageous attributes exhibited by these rhizobacterial strains can be effectively harnessed to alleviate drought‐induced stress in mustard crops, potentially through the development of targeted bio‐formulations.
The metabolic profiles of Eugenia astringens and E. uniflora (Myrtaceae) sensitive seeds affect desiccation
Authors: Rodrigues Guilherme Almeida Garcia , Mauve Caroline , Gakiere Bertrand , Bailly Christophe , Steiner Neusa
Published: February 2024

Myrtaceae species are abundant in tropical Atlantic rainforests, but 41% of the 5500 species of this family are of extreme conservation concern. Eugenia astringens and E. uniflora are native Brazilian Myrtaceae species that occur in the same habitats and produce desiccation‐sensitive (DS) seeds. We hypothesized that their seed desiccation‐sensitivity degree is associated with specific metabolic signatures. To test it, we analyzed the germination and metabolic profiles of fresh and desiccated seeds. The water content (WC) at which at least half of the seeds survived desiccation was lower in E. astringens (0.17 g H2O g−1 DW) than in E. uniflora (0.41 g H2O g−1 DW). We identified 103 annotated metabolites from 3261 peaks in both species, which differed in their relative contents between E. astringens and E. uniflora seeds. The main differences in seed metabolic profiles include several protective molecules in the group of carbohydrates and organic acids and amino acid contents. The relative contents of monosaccharides and disaccharides, malic and quinic acids, amino acids and saturated fatty acids may have taken part in the distinct DS behaviour of E. astringens and E. uniflora seeds. Our study provides evidence of the relationship between desiccation sensitivity, seed viability and metabolic profile of tropical seeds by comparing two closely related Eugenia species with different DS degrees.
Public service motivation and public sector employment in Korea
Authors: Woo Harin , Kim Sangmook
Published: February 2024

This study aims to investigate whether individual differences in public service motivation (PSM) between the public and private sectors are a cause or a consequence of choosing a job, testing self‐selection and socialization hypotheses using a longitudinal dataset from a nationally representative cohort in Korea. The study uses two samples from the data of three successive waves (t − 2, t, t + 2) surveyed biennially, finding that “self‐selection” can more persuasively explain the state that employees in the public sector have higher levels of PSM than those in the private sector, with job seekers with high PSM levels being more likely to work in the public sector and with the magnitude of differences in PSM between the public and private sectors maintained through the early years after entry into the workplace, while the levels of PSM, however, decrease in all job sectors. Implications of our findings are discussed.
Debt‐based welfare: Debt‐to‐asset relationships across Black and White households in the United States
Authors: Charron‐Chénier Raphaël
Published: February 2024

Under neoliberal social provision, debt has become a primary tool for US households to pursue economic mobility and manage risk. Borrowing supports financial and non‐financial investments that, in theory, should lead to lifetime income and asset gains from which debt can be repaid. Many scholars argue, however, that reliance on credit as a welfare tool significantly increases inequality, particularly along racial lines. In this paper, I examine this process of debt‐financed asset accumulation by analyzing racial disparities in the relationship between household debt and assets. Using Survey of Consumer Finances data, I examine disparities in assets held at given debt levels across Black and White households. Results indicate that at equal debt levels, Black households' assets are between 30% and 80% lower than those of comparable White households. This suggests that White households benefit considerably more from social policies that center borrowing as a mechanism of social provision. This likely contributes to the persistence of the racial wealth gap. Racial disparities in access to credit, to homeownership, and to non‐market financial transfers like inheritances partly explain White households' higher returns, but racial gaps remain even when accounting for these factors.
Eclogite dehydration and melt‐induced embrittlement at high‐pressure conditions
Authors: Rogowitz Anna , Schorn Simon , Huet Benjamin
Published: February 2024

We document the complex interaction between metamorphic reactions and deformation behaviour at high‐pressure conditions by combining (micro‐) structural, petrographical and geochemical data from an eclogite body. The well‐equilibrated eclogite fabric is crosscut by mineral veins. Precipitated veins host the eclogitic high‐pressure assemblage with variation in modal composition, indicating that fracturing occurred at eclogite facies conditions. Deflection of the eclogite fabric adjacent to the veins implies ductile reactivation of the veins as flanking structures and strain localization under continuous aseismic shearing. In consequence, the reactivated veins are characterized by undulatory extinction and subgrain formation in quartz indicating crystal plasticity. We show that prograde post‐eclogitization metamorphism resulted in progressive dehydration and melting of the eclogite. Subsequent increase in pore‐pressure‐induced rock failure. The mesoscopic to microscopic characteristics of eclogite‐facies veins indicate a cyclic behaviour of fracturing, vein formation and crystal‐plasticity which demonstrates the strong interaction of chemical and mechanical processes operating at depth.
Pass‐through to export prices: Evidence from Australia†
Authors: Bhattacharya Prasad Sankar
Published: February 2024

Australia is a leading exporter of primary and agricultural commodities like iron ore, coal, wool and beef. Industry stakeholders point out that exchange rate fluctuations remain a key determinant of export revenue. This article investigates the exchange rate pass‐through to export prices using the recently proposed impulse responses by the local projections technique. Employing export prices in all destination markets and trade‐weighted exchange rates, there is substantial evidence that 17 SITC industry and sub‐industry level prices experience moderate to high exchange rate pass‐through to export prices. These industry categories include sectors like minerals and natural resources products, which are homogenous in nature, and Australia enjoys a comparative advantage in the export of such goods. However, this competitive edge does not necessarily lead to higher export prices, as currency invoicing plays an important role in determining the extent of the pass‐through effect. Our findings have important policy implications, especially regarding the invoicing currency strategy for exporters selling homogenous items.
A single sequence of intermittent hypoxia does not alter stretch reflex excitability in able‐bodied individuals
Authors: Tan Andrew Q. , Tuthill Christopher , Corsten Anthony N. , Barth Stella , Trumbower Randy D.
Published: February 2024

Spasticity attributable to exaggerated stretch reflex pathways, particularly affecting the ankle plantar flexors, often impairs overground walking in persons with incomplete spinal cord injury. Compelling evidence from rodent models underscores how exposure to acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) can provide a unique medium to induce spinal plasticity in key inhibitory pathways mediating stretch reflex excitability and potentially affect spasticity. In this study, we quantify the effects of a single exposure to AIH on the stretch reflex in able‐bodied individuals. We hypothesized that a single sequence of AIH will increase the stretch reflex excitability of the soleus muscle during ramp‐and‐hold angular perturbations applied to the ankle joint while participants perform passive and volitionally matched contractions. Our results revealed that a single AIH exposure did not significantly change the stretch reflex excitability during both passive and active matching conditions. Furthermore, we found that able‐bodied individuals increased their stretch reflex response from passive to active matching conditions after both sham and AIH exposures. Together, these findings suggest that a single AIH exposure might not engage inhibitory pathways sufficiently to alter stretch reflex responses in able‐bodied persons. However, the generalizability of our present findings requires further examination during repetitive exposures to AIH along with potential reflex modulation during functional movements, such as overground walking.
The lipid globotriaosylceramide promotes germinal center B cell responses and antiviral immunity
Authors: Sharma Pankaj , Zhang Xiaolong , Ly Kevin , Zhang Yuxiang , Hu Yu , Ye Adam Yongxin , Hu Jianqiao , Kim Ji Hyung , Lou Mumeng , Wang Chong , Celuzza Quinton , Kondo Yuji , Furukawa Keiko , Bundle David R. , Furukawa Koichi , Alt Frederick W. , Winau Florian
Published: February 2024

Influenza viruses escape immunity owing to rapid antigenic evolution, which requires vaccination strategies that allow for broadly protective antibody responses. We found that the lipid globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) expressed on germinal center (GC) B cells is essential for the production of high-affinity antibodies. Mechanistically, Gb3 bound and disengaged CD19 from its chaperone CD81, permitting CD19 to translocate to the B cell receptor complex to trigger signaling. Moreover, Gb3 regulated major histocompatibility complex class II expression to increase diversity of T follicular helper and GC B cells reactive with subdominant epitopes. In influenza infection, elevating Gb3, either endogenously or exogenously, promoted broadly reactive antibody responses and cross-protection. These data demonstrate that Gb3 determines the affinity and breadth of B cell immunity and has potential as a vaccine adjuvant.
ATR blocks telomerase from converting DNA breaks into telomeres
Authors: Kinzig Charles G. , Zakusilo George , Takai Kaori K. , Myler Logan R. , de Lange Titia
Published: February 2024

Telomerase, the enzyme that maintains telomeres at natural chromosome ends, should be repressed at double-strand breaks (DSBs), where neotelomere formation can cause terminal truncations. We developed an assay to detect neotelomere formation at Cas9- or I-SceI–induced DSBs in human cells. Telomerase added telomeric repeats to DSBs, leading to interstitial telomeric repeat insertions or the formation of functional neotelomeres accompanied by terminal deletions. The threat that telomerase poses to genome integrity was minimized by ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase signaling, which inhibited telomerase at resected DSBs. In addition to acting at resected DSBs, telomerase used the extruded strand in the Cas9 enzyme-product complex as a primer for neotelomere formation. We propose that although neotelomere formation is detrimental in normal human cells, it may allow cancer cells to escape from breakage-fusion-bridge cycles.
Hepatic glycogenesis antagonizes lipogenesis by blocking S1P via UDPG
Authors: Chen Jie , Zhou Yabo , Liu Zhuohang , Lu Yan , Jiang Yishen , Cao Kexin , Zhou Nannan , Wang Dianheng , Zhang Chaoqi , Zhou Ning , Shi Keqing , Zhang Lu , Zhou Li , Wang Zhenfeng , Zhang Huafeng , Tang Ke , Ma Jingwei , Lv Jiadi , Huang Bo
Published: February 2024

The identification of mechanisms to store glucose carbon in the form of glycogen rather than fat in hepatocytes has important implications for the prevention of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and other chronic metabolic diseases. In this work, we show that glycogenesis uses its intermediate metabolite uridine diphosphate glucose (UDPG) to antagonize lipogenesis, thus steering both mouse and human hepatocytes toward storing glucose carbon as glycogen. The underlying mechanism involves transport of UDPG to the Golgi apparatus, where it binds to site-1 protease (S1P) and inhibits S1P-mediated cleavage of sterol regulatory element–binding proteins (SREBPs), thereby inhibiting lipogenesis in hepatocytes. Consistent with this mechanism, UDPG administration is effective at treating NAFLD in a mouse model and human organoids. These findings indicate a potential opportunity to ameliorate disordered fat metabolism in the liver.
Water-induced strong isotropic MXene-bridged graphene sheets for electrochemical energy storage
Authors: Yang Jiao , Li Mingzhu , Fang Shaoli , Wang Yanlei , He Hongyan , Wang Chenlu , Zhang Zejun , Yuan Bicheng , Jiang Lei , Baughman Ray H. , Cheng Qunfeng
Published: February 2024

Graphene and two-dimensional transition metal carbides and/or nitrides (MXenes) are important materials for making flexible energy storage devices because of their electrical and mechanical properties. It remains a challenge to assemble nanoplatelets of these materials at room temperature into in-plane isotropic, free-standing sheets. Using nanoconfined water-induced basal-plane alignment and covalent and π-π interplatelet bridging, we fabricated Ti
3
C
2
T

x

MXene-bridged graphene sheets at room temperature with isotropic in-plane tensile strength of 1.87 gigapascals and moduli of 98.7 gigapascals. The in-plane room temperature electrical conductivity reached 1423 siemens per centimeter, and volumetric specific capacity reached 828 coulombs per cubic centimeter. This nanoconfined water-induced alignment likely provides an important approach for making other aligned macroscopic assemblies of two-dimensional nanoplatelets.
A plant mechanism of hijacking pathogen virulence factors to trigger innate immunity
Authors: Xiao Yu , Sun Guangzheng , Yu Qiangsheng , Gao Teng , Zhu Qinsheng , Wang Rui , Huang Shijia , Han Zhifu , Cervone Felice , Yin Heng , Qi Tiancong , Wang Yuanchao , Chai Jijie
Published: February 2024

Polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) interact with pathogen-derived polygalacturonases to inhibit their virulence-associated plant cell wall–degrading activity but stimulate immunity-inducing oligogalacturonide production. Here we show that interaction between
Phaseolus vulgaris
PGIP2 (PvPGIP2) and
Fusarium phyllophilum
polygalacturonase (FpPG) enhances substrate binding, resulting in inhibition of the enzyme activity of FpPG. This interaction promotes FpPG-catalyzed production of long-chain immunoactive oligogalacturonides, while diminishing immunosuppressive short oligogalacturonides. PvPGIP2 binding creates a substrate binding site on PvPGIP2-FpPG, forming a new polygalacturonase with boosted substrate binding activity and altered substrate preference. Structure-based engineering converts a putative PGIP that initially lacks FpPG-binding activity into an effective FpPG-interacting protein. These findings unveil a mechanism for plants to transform pathogen virulence activity into a defense trigger and provide proof of principle for engineering PGIPs with broader specificity.
HIV cure: The daunting scale of the problem
Authors: Siliciano Janet D. , Siliciano Robert F.
Published: February 2024

Cure strategies are confounded by basic reservoir biology
Paired plant immune CHS3-CSA1 receptor alleles form distinct hetero-oligomeric complexes
Authors: Yang Yu , Furzer Oliver J. , Fensterle Eleanor P. , Lin Shu , Zheng Zhiyu , Kim Nak Hyun , Wan Li , Dangl Jeffery L.
Published: February 2024

Plant intracellular nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat receptors (NLRs) analyzed to date oligomerize and form resistosomes upon activation to initiate immune responses. Some NLRs are encoded in tightly linked co-regulated head-to-head genes whose products function together as pairs. We uncover the oligomerization requirements for different
Arabidopsis
paired CHS3-CSA1 alleles. These pairs form resting-state heterodimers that oligomerize into complexes distinct from NLRs analyzed previously. Oligomerization requires both conserved and allele-specific features of the respective CHS3 and CSA1 Toll-like interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domains. The receptor kinases BAK1 and BIRs inhibit CHS3-CSA1 pair oligomerization to maintain the CHS3-CSA1 heterodimer in an inactive state. Our study reveals that paired NLRs hetero-oligomerize and likely form a distinctive “dimer of heterodimers” and that structural heterogeneity is expected even among alleles of closely related paired NLRs.
Electrically driven proton transfer promotes Brønsted acid catalysis by orders of magnitude
Authors: Westendorff Karl S. , Hülsey Max J. , Wesley Thejas S. , Román-Leshkov Yuriy , Surendranath Yogesh
Published: February 2024

Electric fields play a key role in enzymatic catalysis and can enhance reaction rates by 100,000-fold, but the same rate enhancements have yet to be achieved in thermochemical heterogeneous catalysis. In this work, we probe the influence of catalyst potential and interfacial electric fields on heterogeneous Brønsted acid catalysis. We observed that variations in applied potential of ~380 mV led to a 100,000-fold rate enhancement for 1-methylcyclopentanol dehydration, which was catalyzed by carbon-supported phosphotungstic acid. Mechanistic studies support a model in which the interfacial electrostatic potential drop drives quasi-equilibrated proton transfer to the adsorbed substrate prior to rate-limiting C–O bond cleavage. Large increases in rate with potential were also observed for the same reaction catalyzed by Ti/TiO
y
H
x
and for the Friedel Crafts acylation of anisole with acetic anhydride by carbon-supported phosphotungstic acid.