bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maternal prenatal psychological distress is associated with aortic intima-media thickness in infants in the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study
Authors: Aatsinki Anna-Katariina , Snäll Martha , Pahkala Katja , Karlsson Hasse , Perasto Laura , Raitakari Olli T. , Karlsson Linnea , Rovio Suvi P.
Published: June 2024

Aims

The origins of cardiovascular health are embedded in early life. It has been suggested that exposure to prenatal stress is linked with markers of cardiovascular structure and functioning. We aimed to explore in the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study if and how maternal prenatal psychological distress – a potentially modifiable risk factor – associates with infant aortic intima-media thickness (aIMT).

Methods

Maternal symptoms were measured 2-3 times during pregnancy using EPDS for depressive symptoms, SCL-90 anxiety subscale for general anxiety and PRAQ-R2 for pregnancy-specific anxiety. Vascular ultrasonography was performed at the age of 2-3 months (n=273) and aIMT was measured.

Results

In adjusted models, mean PRAQ-R2 across pregnancy was positively associated with aIMT. In boys, mean EPDS across pregnancy was associated with a thicker aIMT.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that pregnancy-specific anxiety associates with thicker aIMT in both sexes, whereas maternal depressive symptoms associate with thicker aIMT in boys only.

Lay Summary

Stress during pregnancy changes maternal physiology, and is related with child development. We studied how mother’s tress, i.e. symptoms of depression and anxiety, during pregnancy links with cardiovascular structure of the infants.

Mothers were asked about their symptoms of depression and anxiety 2-3 times during pregnancy. They were also asked about pregnancy-specific anxiety, meaning worries related to labour, future health of the child and pregnancy-related changes. At the age of 2-3 months, infants were imaged with ultrasound, and the thickness of two innermost layers of the wall of abdominal aorta was measured (aIMT). The thickness may relate with cardiovascular disease risk.

pregnancy-related anxiety was linked with thicker aIMT. Additionally, boys showed thicker aIMT when their mothers had depressive symptoms during pregnancy.
High-resolution respirometry reveals altered mammalian tissue ketone body oxidation in different cardiometabolic diseases
Authors: Zweck Elric , Piel Sarah , Schmidt Johannes W. , Scheiber Daniel , Schön Martin , Kahl Sabine , Burkart Volker , Dewidar Bedair , Remus Ricarda , Chadt Alexandra , Al-Hasani Hadi , Aubin Hug , Boeken Udo , Lichtenberg Artur , Polzin Amin , Kelm Malte , Westenfeld Ralf , Wagner Robert , Szendroedi Julia , Roden Michael , Granata Cesare
Published: June 2024

Abnormal mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is key to the pathogenesis of several cardiometabolic diseases. The ketone bodies (KBs), β-hydroxybutyrate (HBA) and acetoacetate (ACA), are critical for tissue-specific energy metabolism under various pathophysiological conditions. However, robust methods quantifying their contribution as substrates for OXPHOS are lacking. Here, we first established comprehensive high-resolution respirometry protocols for assessing the differential contributions of HBA, ACA, and related ketolytic enzymes to OXPHOS in translational studies in mice and humans. We then utilized these protocols to demonstrate (i) organ-specific differences in KB-driven mitochondrial respiration in mice, (ii) lower KB-driven mitochondrial respiration in liver of humans with steatosis, skeletal muscle of humans with diabetes and in kidney of diet-induced obese mice, as well as (iii) higher mitochondrial KB utilization capacity in mouse and human failing heart. These results highlight organ-specific roles of KB metabolism in cardiometabolic diseases and shall help to identify novel targets in these pathways.
MAPK Phosphatase-5 is required for TGF-β signaling through a JNK-dependent pathway
Authors: Dorry Sam , Perla Sravan , Bennett Anton M.
Published: June 2024

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatases (MKPs) constitute members of the dual-specificity family of protein phosphatases that dephosphorylate the MAPKs. MKP-5 dephosphorylates the stress-responsive MAPKs, p38 MAPK and JNK, and has been shown to promote tissue fibrosis. Here, we provide insight into how MKP-5 regulates the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathway, a well-established driver of fibrosis. We show that MKP-5-deficient fibroblasts in response to TGF-β are impaired in SMAD2 phosphorylation at canonical and non-canonical sites, nuclear translocation, and transcriptional activation of fibrogenic genes. Consistent with this, pharmacological inhibition of MKP-5 is sufficient to block TGF-β signaling, and that this regulation occurs through a JNK-dependent pathway. By utilizing RNA sequencing and transcriptomic analysis, we identify TGF-β signaling activators regulated by MKP-5 in a JNK-dependent manner, providing mechanistic insight into how MKP-5 promotes TGF-β signaling. This study elucidates a novel mechanism whereby MKP-5-mediated JNK inactivation is required for TGF-β signaling and provides insight into the role of MKP-5 in fibrosis.
Influence of catastrophes and hidden dynamical symmetries on ultrafast backscattered photoelectrons
Authors: Rook T. , Rodriguez L. Cruz , Faria C. Figueira de Morisson
Published: June 2024

We discuss the effect of using potentials with a Coulomb tail and different degrees of softening in photoelectron momentum distributions (PMDs) using the recently implemented hybrid forward-boundary CQSFA (H-CQSFA). We show that introducing a softening in the Coulomb interaction influences the ridges observed in the PMDs associated with backscattered electron trajectories. In the limit of a hard-core Coulomb interaction, the rescattering ridges close along the polarization axis, while for a soft-core potential, they are interrupted at ridge-specific angles. We analyze the momentum mapping of the different orbits leading to the ridges. For the hard-core potential, there exist two types of saddle-point solutions that coalesce at the ridge. By increasing the softening, we show that two additional solutions emerge as the result of breaking a hidden dynamical symmetry associated exclusively with the Coulomb potential. Further signatures of this symmetry breaking are encountered in subsets of momentum-space trajectories. Finally, we use scattering theory to show how the softening affects the maximal scattering angle and provide estimates that agree with our observations from the CQSFA. This implies that, in the presence of residual binding potentials in the electron's continuum propagation, the distinction between purely kinematic and dynamic caustics becomes blurred.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Approaches and challenges in whole-nanoparticle refinements from neutron total-scattering data
Authors: Cladek Bernadette , Zhang Yuanpeng , Maier Russell , Ravel Bruce , Tucker Matthew G. , Levin Igor
Published: June 2024

This study considers critical data reduction steps and data analysis approaches required to determine explicitly the atomic arrangements in nanoparticles from time-of-flight neutron total scattering. A practical procedure is described for removing parasitic backgrounds caused by the incoherent scattering of hydrogen inevitably present in most nanoparticle samples and normalizing the recovered coherent scattering intensities onto an absolute scale. A model-free analysis is presented of a pair-distribution function derived from total scattering that can be used to determine thermal expansion coefficients and particle sizes directly from experimental data without knowledge of the material's structure. Finally, atomistic whole-nanoparticle refinements of yttrium-doped ceria nanoparticles from neutron total-scattering data are demonstrated using the reverse Monte Carlo method implemented in the RMCProfile software. These results reveal a strong dependence of the cation–oxygen and oxygen–oxygen distances on the coordination numbers, which leads to gradients of these distances near the particle surface. The details are dependent on the surface coverage by ligands and adsorbates and on the structure of grain boundaries in nanocrystalline agglomerates. The refined models confirm the expectations of more substantial disorder at particle surfaces, with a distorted surface layer extending over several coordination shells. The results highlight the feasibility of whole-nanoparticle refinements from neutron data, calling for further development of data reduction and analysis procedures.
Updating direct methods II. Reduction of the structural complexity when triplet invariants are estimated via the Patterson map
Authors: Burla Maria Cristina , Giacovazzo Carmelo , Polidori Giampiero
Published: June 2024

Direct methods have practically solved the phase problem for small–medium-size molecules but have substantially failed in macromolecular crystallography. They have two main limitations: a strong dependence on structural complexity and the need to work with atomic-resolution data. Many attempts have been made to broaden their field of applicability, for example the use of some a priori information to make the estimate of the triplet invariant phases more effective. Unfortunately none of these new approaches allowed the successful application of direct methods to proteins and nucleic acids. Direct methods are still a niche tool in macromolecular crystallography. In a recent publication [Giacovazzo (2019). Acta Cryst. A75, 142–157] the method of joint probability distributions has been modified to take into account new sources of prior information, one of which is relevant to this article: the Patterson map. In practice, it has been shown that with prior knowledge of the interatomic vectors one is able to modify the classic Cochran reliability parameter for estimating the triplet invariant phases. The article was essentially theoretical in nature, and no attempt was described to test the practical usefulness of the new probabilistic formulas. This work is therefore the first application of the new method. It is shown that the use of the Patterson map as prior information substantially improves the Cochran estimate of triplet phases; the phase error distribution for the new estimates, even if it is related to macromolecular structures, becomes similar to that obtained for medium-size structures. In some ways, it is as if the use of the Patterson information reduces the structural complexity, thus allowing a more general use of direct methods in macromolecular crystallography. Atomic resolution no longer seems to be a necessary ingredient for the applicability of direct methods; tests show that the apparent reduction in structural complexity also occurs in macromolecular structures with experimental data having a resolution of 2.3 Å. A number of test structures have been used to show the potential of the new technique.
Inferring effective electrostatic interaction of charge-stabilized colloids from scattering using deep learning
Authors: Tung Chi-Huan , Chen Meng-Zhe , Chen Hsin-Lung , Huang Guan-Rong , Porcar Lionel , Chang Ming-Ching , Carrillo Jan-Michael , Wang Yangyang , Sumpter Bobby G. , Shinohara Yuya , Do Changwoo , Chen Wei-Ren
Published: June 2024

An innovative strategy is presented that incorporates deep auto-encoder networks into a least-squares fitting framework to address the potential inversion problem in small-angle scattering. To evaluate the performance of the proposed approach, a detailed case study focusing on charged colloidal suspensions was carried out. The results clearly indicate that a deep learning solution offers a reliable and quantitative method for studying molecular interactions. The approach surpasses existing deterministic approaches with respect to both numerical accuracy and computational efficiency. Overall, this work demonstrates the potential of deep learning techniques in tackling complex problems in soft-matter structures and beyond.
Quality assessment of the wide-angle detection option planned at the high-intensity/extended Q-range SANS diffractometer KWS-2 combining experiments and McStas simulations
Authors: Radulescu Aurel
Published: June 2024

For a reliable characterization of materials and systems featuring multiple structural levels, a broad length scale from a few ångström to hundreds of nanometres must be analyzed and an extended Q range must be covered in X-ray and neutron scattering experiments. For certain samples or effects, it is advantageous to perform such characterization with a single instrument. Neutrons offer the unique advantage of contrast variation and matching by D-labeling, which is of great value in the characterization of natural or synthetic polymers. Some time-of-flight small-angle neutron scattering (TOF-SANS) instruments at neutron spallation sources can cover an extended Q range by using a broad wavelength band and a multitude of detectors. The detectors are arranged to cover a wide range of scattering angles with a resolution that allows both large-scale morphology and crystalline structure to be resolved simultaneously. However, for such analyses, the SANS instruments at steady-state sources operating in conventional monochromatic pinhole mode rely on additional wide-angle neutron scattering (WANS) detectors. The resolution must be tuned via a system of choppers and a TOF data acquisition option to reliably measure the atomic to mesoscale structures. The KWS-2 SANS diffractometer at Jülich Centre for Neutron Science allows the exploration of a wide Q range using conventional pinhole and lens focusing modes and an adjustable resolution Δλ/λ between 2 and 20%. This is achieved through the use of a versatile mechanical velocity selector combined with a variable slit opening and rotation frequency chopper. The installation of WANS detectors planned on the instrument required a detailed analysis of the quality of the data measured over a wide angular range with variable resolution. This article presents an assessment of the WANS performance by comparison with a McStas [Willendrup, Farhi & Lefmann (2004). Physica B, 350, E735–E737] simulation of ideal experimental conditions at the instrument.
The crystal structure of the N-terminal domain of the backbone pilin LrpA reveals a new closure-and-twist motion for assembling dynamic pili in Ligilactobacillus ruminis
Authors: Prajapati Amar , Palva Airi , von Ossowski Ingemar , Krishnan Vengadesan
Published: June 2024

Sortase-dependent pili are long surface appendages that mediate attachment, colonization and biofilm formation in certain genera and species of Gram-positive bacteria. Ligilactobacillus ruminis is an autochthonous gut commensal that relies on sortase-dependent LrpCBA pili for host adherence and persistence. X-ray crystal structure snapshots of the backbone pilin LrpA were captured in two atypical bent conformations leading to a zigzag morphology in the LrpCBA pilus structure. Small-angle X-ray scattering and structural analysis revealed that LrpA also adopts the typical linear conformation, resulting in an elongated pilus morphology. Various conformational analyses and biophysical experiments helped to demonstrate that a hinge region located at the end of the flexible N-terminal domain of LrpA facilitates a new closure-and-twist motion for assembling dynamic pili during the assembly process and host attachment. Further, the incongruent combination of flexible domain-driven conformational dynamics and rigid isopeptide bond-driven stability observed in the LrpCBA pilus might also extend to the sortase-dependent pili of other bacteria colonizing a host.
How does budget participation affect managerial performance in the higher education sector? A mediated-moderated model
Authors: Alhasnawi Mushtaq Yousif , Mohd Said Ridzwana , Alshdaifat Sajead Mowafaq , Elorabi Khaled Ahmed , Al-Hasnawi Maytham Hameed , Khudhair Ali Hussein
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Employee participation in budgeting enhances motivation and commitment, leading to better performance by enhancing ownership. Within Iraqi higher education institutions (HEIs), the current investigation delves into the influence of participative budgeting on managerial performance. Drawing upon goal-setting theory, this study discerns budget goal commitment as a mediating variable while also examining directive leadership as a moderator in the dynamics of this association.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study used partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) using SmartPLS 4.0. 373 questionnaires were collected from managers in Iraqi public universities, with 58.37% responding.

Findings

The findings show that budget goal commitment partially mediates the connection between budget participation and managerial performance. Furthermore, the results showed that directive leadership increases the positive associations between budget goal commitment and managerial performance.

Originality/value

This study expands the existing literature by shedding light on the mediating role of budget goal commitment and the moderating influence of directive leadership. It also enriches the discourse in management accounting by providing a more elucidation of how employee involvement in the budgeting process enhances managerial performance.
Transformational leadership and task performance: the mediating role of leader–member exchange, organizational support and work engagement
Authors: López-Zapata Esteban , Torres-Vargas Yésica , Ortiz-Puentes Marco Aurelio
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This research analyzes the impact of transformational leadership on task performance in sales team members, considering the mediating role of leader–member exchange (LMX), perceived organizational support and work engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

A structural equations model was analyzed utilizing the partial least squares (PLS-SEM) method based on data collected from a survey of 142 members and 19 leaders of sales teams in Colombian companies.

Findings

The present study establishes that social exchange variables, including perceived organizational support and LMX, mediate the relationship between transformational leadership and task performance. Nevertheless, work engagement does not demonstrate a statistically significant mediating effect.

Originality/value

The outcomes of this study contribute significant insights into how transformational leadership, directly and indirectly, affects task performance in an emerging economy. It specifically addresses the cultural context of Colombia, marked by a high distance to power and a perceived low aversion to uncertainty – contrary to a desired higher uncertainty avoidance.
Green supply chain management and sustainable performance: exploring the role of green ambidexterity innovation and top management environmental awareness
Authors: Martínez-Falcó Javier , Sánchez-García Eduardo , Marco-Lajara Bartolomé , Lee Kyuho
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This research focuses on analyzing the impact of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) on the Sustainable Performance (SP) of Spanish wineries, as well as the mediating effect of Green Ambidexterity Innovation (GAI) and the moderating role of Top Management Environmental Awareness (TMEA) on the main relationship posited (GSCM-SP). In addition, age, size and membership in a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) were used to increase the precision of the cause-effect relationships examined.

Design/methodology/approach

The study proposes a conceptual model based on previous studies, which is tested using structural equations (PLS-SEM) with data collected from 196 Spanish wineries between September 2022 and January 2023.

Findings

The results of the research reveal the existence of a positive and significant relationship between the development of GSCM and SP of Spanish wineries, as well as the partial mediation of GAI and the positive moderation of TMEA in this linkage.

Originality/value

The novelty of this study lies in its exploratory approach, as it ventures into new research territory by examining the mediating effect of GAI and the moderating influence of TMEA on the relationship between GSCM and SP, being, to the authors' knowledge, the first research to investigate these specific dynamics.
Insider ownership and default risk: What does the data reveal about Japanese firms?
Authors: Haque Humaira , Kabir Md. Nurul , Abedin Syeda Humayra , Miah Mohammad Dulal , Sharma Parmendra
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The ownership structure in Japanese firms has experienced a significant change recently, fueled primarily by regulatory changes. This has important repercussions on corporate performance and risk. This paper examines the impact of insider ownership on the default risk of Japanese firms.

Design/methodology/approach

We collected data from the Nikkei Corporate Governance Evaluation System (CGES) database for the period 2004–2019. Our final dataset yields 36,116 firm-year observations. We apply a firm fixed effect model for baseline regression. Endogeneity was checked by applying propensity score matching (PSM) and two-stage least squares (2SLS) techniques. Furthermore, the robustness of baseline regression results was checked using alternative estimation techniques.

Findings

Results show a significant positive influence of insider ownership on default risk. Furthermore, ROA volatility and stock price volatility appear to be the major channels through which insider ownership affects a firm’s default risk. We further document that external monitoring mechanisms, including traditional main bank ties, institutional ownership and analyst coverage, are the key risk-mitigating factors.

Research limitations/implications

Our research deals with Japanese firms only. Future research may attempt to analyze the cases of emerging economies. Furthermore, future research might examine the ownership-default risk relationship for financial institutions to see if this relationship differs between financial and nonfinancial firms.

Practical implications

Insider ownership enhances the probability of default. Hence, policymakers may consider instituting a ceiling for insider ownership in Japanese firms. Moreover, we highlight various risk-mediating channels that would help policymakers adopt guidelines for mitigating corporate risk.

Originality/value

Our study is the first to investigate the effect of insider ownership on default risk in Japanese settings. Prior studies identified various determinants that affect firms’ default risk. Our study contributes to this stream of literature by examining the impact of insider ownership on default risk and extending the limited literature related to insider ownership.
Confucianism and technology for social good: evidence from Chinese listed firms
Authors: Xu Guozhang , Chen Wanming , Ma Yongyuan , Ma Huanhuan
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Drawing on the tenets of institutional theory, the purpose of this study is to examine the impact of Confucianism on technology for social good, while also considering the moderating influence of extrinsic informal institutions (foreign culture) and intrinsic formal institutions (property rights).

Design/methodology/approach

This study constructs a comprehensive database comprising 9,759 firm-year observations in China by using a sample of Chinese A-share listed firms from 2016 to 2020. Subsequently, the hypotheses are examined and confirmed, with the validity of the results being upheld even after conducting endogenous and robustness tests.

Findings

The findings of this study offer robust and consistent evidence supporting the notion that Confucianism positively affects technology for social good through both incentive effect and normative effect. Moreover, this positive influence is particularly prominent in organizations with limited exposure to foreign culture and in nonstate-owned enterprises.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to the literature by fostering a deep understanding of technology for social good and Confucianism research, and further provide a nuanced picture of the role of foreign culture and property rights in the process of technology for social good in China.
The impact of open innovation on international revenues: the moderating roles of digital transformation and strategic differentiation
Authors: Wang XiaoHong , Luan XiangYu
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to explore the impact of open innovation on international revenues, as well as the moderating role of digital transformation and strategic differentiation in the relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

This study develops a theoretical framework to specify a group of hypotheses. A two-way fixed effect model is used to analyze the relationship between open innovation and international revenues, as well as the moderating effects of digital transformation and strategic differentiation, using panel data of Chinese multinational firms.

Findings

Results revealed that open innovation is statistically significantly positive when related to international revenues. Based on the quantitative analysis, the correlation is stronger in sample enterprises with higher digital transformation and strategic differentiation.

Originality/value

This study highlights how open innovation drives international revenues for Chinese listed firms, advancing resource-based view theory in emerging market countries. Introducing digital transformation and strategic differentiation as boundary conditions addresses research gaps and offers practical insights for supporting open innovation for practitioners.
Similarity search on social networks with incremental graph indexing based on probabilistic inference
Authors: Qi Zhiwei , Lu Tong , Yue Kun , Duan Liang
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to propose an incremental graph indexing method based on probabilistic inferences in Bayesian network (BN) for approximate nearest neighbor search (ANNS) that adds unindexed queries into the graph index incrementally.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper first uses the attention mechanism based graph convolutional network to embed a social network into the low-dimensional vector space, which could improve the efficiency of graph index construction. To add the unindexed queries into the graph index incrementally, this study proposes to learn the rule-based BN from social interactions. Thus, the dependency relations of unindexed queries and their neighbors are represented, and the probabilistic inferences in BN are then performed.

Findings

Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method improves the search precision by at least 5% and search efficiency by 10% compared to the state-of-the-art methods.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a novel method to construct the incremental graph index based on probabilistic inferences in BN, such that both indexed and unindexed queries in ANNS could be addressed efficiently.
Technological adoption: the case of PIX in Brazil
Authors: Amboage Gabriel Bernardes , Monteiro Guilherme Fowler de Avila , Bortoluzzo Adriana Bruscato
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study investigates the primary determinants of consumers' intention to adopt PIX as a payment method in Brazil, as well as their actual usage behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to analyze both the intention to use and the actual period of use of PIX technology as a measure of practical usage. With this approach, researchers can determine whether people’s intention to use PIX translates into a higher rate of technology adoption and effective and sustained usage. The study collected data from 659 consumers across Brazil through a questionnaire and used structural equation analysis to analyze the data.

Findings

Research suggests that the intention to adopt PIX as a payment method is mainly determined by the perceived value, performance expectancy, and the habit of using mobile internet. Positive associations are also confirmed between adoption intention, the effective usage time of PIX, and the habit of using mobile internet in conjunction with PIX use.

Originality/value

The study’s uniqueness stems from its focus on the PIX usage, which is becoming the primary payment method in Brazil. It also measures the practical usage of the technology by examining the duration of user experience. This enables the assessment of whether the intention to use PIX effectively translates into a higher speed of technology adoption.
Inflation persistence: new evidence across US metro areas
Authors: Apergis Nicholas
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the degree of inflation persistence across all US metro areas over the post-pandemic period.

Design/methodology/approach

Both the Multivariate Core Trend (MCT) model and a fractional integration model, that is the Multivariate Unobserved-Components Stochastic Volatility Outlier-adjusted (MUCSVO) model are estimated.

Findings

The findings provide clear evidence of a significant inflation persistence in ten metro areas and the absence of persistence in the remaining areas, implying that in the former areas, inflation clearly indicates a strong persistent pattern. In other words, in these ten areas, the persistent component dominates the evolution of the trend and stands as a significant driver of inflation.

Research limitations/implications

The findings have important implications for US policymakers to consider implementing more targeted policies to address inflation in specific metro areas to reduce the overall inflation rate, or they may need to consider tailoring fiscal policies to address inflationary pressures in specific metro areas. The findings illustrate the need for targeted policy interventions to address inflationary pressures in specific areas, as well as the importance of understanding the drivers of inflation persistence to develop effective policy responses. The findings also provide insights to firms on how to mitigate the risks of inflation. They may need to diversify their products or supplier base so that they do not rely on areas experiencing persistent inflation.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature by extending the discussion of the impact of the recent pandemic crisis on US regional inflation. The findings have important implications for US policymakers to consider implementing more targeted policies to address inflation in specific metro areas to reduce the overall inflation rate, or they may need to consider tailoring fiscal policies to address inflationary pressures in specific metro areas. The findings illustrate the need for targeted policy interventions to address inflationary pressures in specific areas, as well as the importance of understanding the drivers of inflation persistence to develop effective policy responses. The findings also provide insights to firms on how to mitigate the risks of inflation. They may need to diversify their products or supplier base so that they do not rely on areas experiencing persistent inflation.
Out of shape: Ocean acidification simplifies coral reef architecture and reshuffles fish assemblages
Authors: Priest Jamie , Ferreira Camilo M. , Munday Philip L. , Roberts Amelia , Rodolfo‐Metalpa Riccardo , Rummer Jodie L. , Schunter Celia , Ravasi Timothy , Nagelkerken Ivan
Published: June 2024

Climate change stressors are progressively simplifying biogenic habitats in the terrestrial and marine realms, and consequently altering the structure of associated species communities.

Here, we used a volcanic CO2 seep in Papua New Guinea to test in situ if altered reef architecture due to ocean acidification reshuffles associated fish assemblages.

We observed replacement of branching corals by massive corals at the seep, with simplified coral architectural complexity driving abundance declines between 60% and 86% for an assemblage of damselfishes associated with branching corals. An experimental test of habitat preference for a focal species indicated that acidification does not directly affect habitat selection behaviour, with changes in habitat structural complexity consequently appearing to be the stronger driver of assemblage reshuffling. Habitat health affected anti‐predator behaviour, with P. moluccensis becoming less bold on dead branching corals relative to live branching corals, irrespective of ocean acidification.

We conclude that coral reef fish assemblages are likely to be more sensitive to changes in habitat structure induced by increasing pCO2 than any direct effects on behaviour, indicating that changes in coral architecture and live cover may act as important mediators of reef fish community structures in a future ocean.
Alliance Partner Choice and CEOs’ Facial Structure
Authors: Kang Ribuga , Kang Jingoo , Kim Andy Y. Han , Choi Yoonhee
Published: June 2024

We examine how CEOs’ facial width‐to‐height ratio relates to their firm's alliance partner choice. Using a sample of 2627 alliances of 184 US firms in high‐technology industries between 1993 and 2020, we find that firms led by CEOs with a greater facial width‐to‐height ratio are more likely to ally with new and unfamiliar partners. This tendency is more pronounced when the partner firm is larger or more central in the alliance network than the focal firm. We also find that this tendency is strengthened when the focal firm's performance is below aspirations. Our findings suggest that wider‐faced CEOs are more inclined to take risks and seek status in their alliance partner choice. Our paper bridges upper echelons theory and strategic alliance literature by examining the role of an important but understudied physical attribute of executives in the context of strategic alliances.
Controlling the expression of heterologous genes in Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus using synthetic biology strategies
Authors: Salgado Sergio , Hernández‐Herreros Natalia , Prieto M. Auxiliadora
Published: June 2024

Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus HD100 is an obligate predatory bacterium that preys upon Gram‐negative bacteria. It has been proposed to be applied as a “living antibiotic” in several fields such as agriculture or even medicine, since it is able to prey upon bacterial pathogens. Its interesting lifestyle makes this bacterium very attractive as a microbial chassis for co‐culture systems including two partners. A limitation to this goal is the scarcity of suitable synthetic biology tools for predator domestication. To fill this gap, we have firstly adapted the hierarchical assembly cloning technique Golden Standard (GS) to make it compatible with B. bacteriovorus HD100. The chromosomal integration of the Tn7 transposon's mobile element, in conjunction with the application of the GS technique, has allowed the systematic characterization of a repertoire of constitutive and inducible promoters, facilitating the control of the expression of heterologous genes in this bacterium. PJExD/EliR proved to be an exceptional promoter/regulator system in B. bacteriovorus HD100 when precise regulation is essential, while the synthetic promoter PBG37 showed a constitutive high expression. These genetic tools represent a step forward in the conversion of B. bacteriovorus into an amenable strain for microbial biotechnology approaches.
Modelling internal stem damage in savanna trees: Error in aboveground biomass with terrestrial laser scanning and allometry
Authors: Calvert Jed , Yatsko Abbey R. , Bresgi Judy , Cheesman Alexander W. , Cook Keith , Crowe James , Gambold Indigo , Jones Caleb , O'Connor Liam , Peter Tony , Russell‐Smith Pedro , Taylor Elisha , Trigger Blair , Wijas Baptiste , Zanne Amy E.
Published: June 2024

Forests and woodlands are critical terrestrial carbon stores. Tree aboveground biomass (AGB) can be estimated using allometric models and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS). However, internal tree stem damage from biotic decay is an unresolved source of error for both TLS and allometries, with implications for accurate carbon assessment.

We destructively harvested 63 TLS‐scanned trees in an Australian savanna, quantified internal damage in each tree by sampling cross sections at multiple heights, and modelled the effect of damage on AGB estimation for individual trees and total estimated biomass. We tested the performance of TLS AGB modelling against five allometries, applying both database and field‐measured wood specific gravity. For TLS‐modelled and allometric AGB estimates, we tested if tree size and level of internal stem damage contributed to AGB deviations.

Approximately half of the trees in the study sustained 1–10% damage by volume, which was most extensive in the base and main trunk, decreasing into the crown. On average, damaged trees had 5% internal stem damage (by volume, SD = 6.65%), with some as high as 30%. We found TLS‐derived quantitative structural models (TLS‐QSMs) using field‐measured wood specific gravity to be most accurate in estimating total biomass (R2 = 0.99, +0.59% bias). TLS‐QSMs tended to overpredict AGB of large, damaged trees, and AGB estimates from allometric models were largely unaffected by internal damage. For individual trees, all methods were effective for predicting field‐measured AGB (R2 > 0.84) and several ASMs performed well (± ~10% bias). In the absence of local wood specific gravity calibration, a pantropical ASM was most accurate.

For systems where internal stem damage is low (<10% of tree volume), TLS can be used to estimate AGB with low levels of error, however more damaged wooded ecosystems (>10%) are likely to produce inflated biomass estimates if TLS is used without calibration for damage. Internal stem damage should be quantified in ASMs and incorporated into TLS‐modelled AGB calibration to avoid biomass overestimation and maintain high standards of precision in forest carbon accounting.
Integrated multi‐omic analyses uncover the effects of aging on cell‐type regulation in glucose‐responsive tissues
Authors: Xu Peng , Kong Yimeng , Palmer Nicholette D. , Ng Maggie C. Y. , Zhang Bin , Das Swapan K.
Published: June 2024

Aging significantly influences cellular activity and metabolism in glucose‐responsive tissues, yet a comprehensive evaluation of the impacts of aging and associated cell‐type responses has been lacking. This study integrates transcriptomic, methylomic, single‐cell RNA sequencing, and metabolomic data to investigate aging‐related regulations in adipose and muscle tissues. Through coexpression network analysis of the adipose tissue, we identified aging‐associated network modules specific to certain cell types, including adipocytes and immune cells. Aging upregulates the metabolic functions of lysosomes and downregulates the branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs) degradation pathway. Additionally, aging‐associated changes in cell proportions, methylation profiles, and single‐cell expressions were observed in the adipose. In the muscle tissue, aging was found to repress the metabolic processes of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, along with reduced gene activity of fast‐twitch type II muscle fibers. Metabolomic profiling linked aging‐related alterations in plasma metabolites to gene expression in glucose‐responsive tissues, particularly in tRNA modifications, BCAA metabolism, and sex hormone signaling. Together, our multi‐omic analyses provide a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of aging on glucose‐responsive tissues and identify potential plasma biomarkers for these effects.
Altered levels of phospholipases C, diacylglycerols, endocannabinoids, and N‐acylethanolamines in patients with hereditary angioedema due to FXII mutation
Authors: Ferrara Anne Lise , Palestra Francesco , Piscitelli Fabiana , Petraroli Angelica , Suffritti Chiara , Firinu Davide , López‐Lera Alberto , Caballero Teresa , Bork Konrad , Spadaro Giuseppe , Marone Gianni , Di Marzo Vincenzo , Bova Maria , Loffredo Stefania
Published: June 2024

Background

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by local, self‐limiting edema due to temporary increase in vascular permeability. HAE with normal C1 esterase inhibitor (C1INH) activity includes the form with mutations in the F12 gene encoding for coagulation factor XII (FXII‐HAE) causing an overproduction of bradykinin (BK) leading to angioedema attack. BK binding to B2 receptors (BK2R) leads to an activation of phospholipase C (PLC) and subsequent generation of second messengers: diacylglycerols (DAGs) and possibly the endocannabinoids (eCBs), 2‐arachidonoylglycerol (2‐AG) and anandamide (AEA), and eCB‐related N‐acylethanolamines [palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA)]. To date, there are no data on the role of these lipid mediators in FXII‐HAE.

Methods

Here, we analyzed plasma levels of PLC, DAGs, and eCBs in 40 patients with FXII‐HAE and 40 sex‐ and age‐matched healthy individuals.

Results

Plasma PLC activity was increased in FXII‐HAE patients compared to controls. Concentrations of DAG 18:1–20:4, a lipid second messenger produced by PLC, were higher in FXII‐HAE compared to controls, and positively correlated with PLC activity and cleaved high molecular kininogen (cHK). Also the concentrations of the DAG metabolite, 2‐AG were altered in FXII‐HAE. AEA and OEA were decreased in FXII‐HAE patients compared to controls; by contrast, PEA, was increased. The levels of all tested mediators did not differ between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Moreover, C1INH‐HAE patients had elevated plasma levels of PLC, which correlated with cHK, but the levels of DAGs and eCBs were the same as controls.

Conclusions

BK overproduction and BKR2 activation are linked to alteration of PLCs and their metabolites in patients with FXII‐HAE. Our results may pave way to investigations on the functions of these mediators in the pathophysiology of FXII‐HAE, and provide new potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Monitoring molecular changes in the management of myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: Duployez Nicolas , Preudhomme Claude
Published: June 2024

The ongoing or anticipated therapeutic advances as well as previous experience in other malignancies, including acute myeloid leukaemia, have made molecular monitoring a potential interesting tool for predicting outcomes and demonstrating treatment efficacy in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The important genetic heterogeneity in MDS has made challenging the establishment of recommendations. In this context, high‐throughput/next‐generation sequencing (NGS) has emerged as an attractive tool, especially in patients with high‐risk diseases. However, its implementation in clinical practice still suffers from a lack of standardization in terms of sensitivity, bioinformatics and result interpretation. Data from literature, mostly gleaned from retrospective cohorts, show NGS monitoring when used appropriately could help clinicians to guide therapy, detect early relapse and predict disease evolution. Translating these observations into personalized patient management requires a prospective evaluation in clinical research and remains a major challenge for the next years.
Differential cellular stiffness across tissues that contribute to Xenopus neural tube closure
Authors: Suzuki Makoto , Yasue Naoko , Ueno Naoto
Published: June 2024

During the formation of the neural tube, the primordium of the vertebrate central nervous system, the actomyosin activity of cells in different regions drives neural plate bending. However, how the stiffness of the neural plate and surrounding tissues is regulated and mechanically influences neural plate bending has not been elucidated. Here, we used atomic force microscopy to reveal the relationship between the stiffness of the neural plate and the mesoderm during Xenopus neural tube formation. Measurements with intact embryos revealed that the stiffness of the neural plate was consistently higher compared with the non‐neural ectoderm and that it increased in an actomyosin activity‐dependent manner during neural plate bending. Interestingly, measurements of isolated tissue explants also revealed that the relationship between the stiffness of the apical and basal sides of the neural plate was reversed during bending and that the stiffness of the mesoderm was lower than that of the basal side of the neural plate. The experimental elevation of mesoderm stiffness delayed neural plate bending, suggesting that low mesoderm stiffness mechanically supports neural tube closure. This study provides an example of mechanical interactions between tissues during large‐scale morphogenetic movements.
Vascular endothelial growth factor accelerates healing of foot ulcers in diabetic rats via promoting M2 macrophage polarization
Authors: Liu Fei , Xu Xianrui , Sun Tao
Published: June 2024

Aim

The objective was to investigate the specific role and the regulatory mechanism of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) during wound healing in diabetic foot ulcer (DFU).

Methods

Streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats were used to establish a DFU animal model. VEGF and Axitinib (a specific inhibitor of VEGFR) were used for treatment in vivo. The wounds at different time points were imaged and histological analysis of the wounds were performed by haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and Masson's trichrome staining. Immunohistochemical staining was conducted to examine CD31 and eNOS expression in the wounds. Immunofluorescence assay and quantitative real‐time PCR were performed to examine macrophage markers. In addition, THP‐1 was differentiated to macrophages, and then treated with interleukin (IL)‐4 to induce M2 macrophages, followed by VEGF treatment. The conditional medium (CM) from VEGF‐mediated macrophages were collected to culture human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). Cell viability and migration were measured by Cell Counting Kit (CCK)‐8, wound‐healing and Transwell assays, respectively.

Results

VEGF treatment remarkably accelerated wound healing of DFU rats. VEGF promoted collagen deposition and elevated CD31 and eNOS expression, confirming the pro‐angiogenesis of VEGF around diabetic wound in rats. Meanwhile, VEGF restricted pro‐inflammatory cytokines and increased F4/80 and CD206 expression, highlighting the activated macrophages and enhanced M2 macrophages following VEGF treatment in diabetic wounds of DFU rats. However, Axitinib exerted an opposite function to VEGF in DFU rats. Moreover, VEGF directly promoted macrophage polarization toward M2 phenotype in vitro, and the CM from VEGF‐mediated M2 macrophages markedly promoted HDFs proliferation, migration and collagen deposition.

Conclusion

VEGF might accelerate the wound healing of DFU through promoting M2 macrophage polarization and fibroblast migration.