bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blood Pressure Challenge Reduces Hematomas in Gender-Affirming Mastectomy
Authors: Slate-Romano John J. , Zeyl Victoria G. , Beqiri Dardan , Sobti Nikhil , Rao Vinay , Kwan Daniel
Published: April 2023

Background

Gender-affirming mastectomy is a common surgery for the treatment of gender incongruence and gender dysphoria and improves quality of life. Hematoma rates for gender-affirming double incision mastectomies are between 2.8% and 8.1%. This study aims to investigate the utility of a blood pressure challenge, whereby the patient's blood pressure is medically increased intraoperatively to reveal bleeding vessels that can be addressed with additional hemostasis before skin closure, to reduce postoperative hematoma.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent gender-affirming double incision mastectomies over a 6-year period by a single surgeon was conducted. Surgeries were separated into a blood pressure challenge experimental group and a non–blood pressure challenge control group. Demographics, surgical characteristics, and postoperative complications were compared between the 2 cohorts using Pearson χ2, Fisher exact, t tests, univariate logistic regression, and multivariable logistical regression. Significance was established at P < 0.05.

Results

A total of 92 patients (184 breasts) were included with 32 patients (64 breasts) in the control group and 60 (120 breasts) in the blood pressure challenge group. In the control group, there were 5 hematomas (7.81%) compared with 1 (0.83%) in the blood pressure challenge group (P = 0.02). On univariate logistical regression analysis, blood pressure challenge was the only variable significantly associated with hematoma (odds ratio, 0.1; 95% confidence interval, 0.01–0.63; P = 0.04). On multivariable logistical regression, after controlling for age, body mass index, smoking status, and mass of excised breast tissue, patients who underwent blood pressure challenge demonstrated lower hematoma rates (odds ratio, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.004–0.59; P = 0.04).

Conclusions

Using an intraoperative blood pressure challenge was associated with reduced hematoma rates. Guidelines for blood pressure challenge goals should be established to standardize care and reduce complications in gender-affirming mastectomies.
Evaluating the Impact of Ex-Vivo Lung Perfusion on Organ Transplantation
Authors: Peel John K. , Pullenayegum Eleanor M. , Naimark David , Aversa Meghan , Liu Mingyao , Del Sorbo Lorenzo , Barrett Kali , Sander Beate , Keshavjee Shaf
Published: April 2023

Background:

Ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) sustains and allows advanced assessment of potentially useable donor lungs prior to transplantation, potentially relieving resource constraints.

Objective:

We sought to characterize the effect of EVLP on organ utilization and patient outcomes

Methods:

We performed a retrospective, before-after cohort study using linked institutional data sources of adults wait-listed for lung transplant and donor organs transplanted in Ontario, Canada between 2005–2019. We regressed the annual number of transplants against year, EVLP use, and organ characteristics. Time-to-transplant, waitlist mortality, primary graft dysfunction, tracheostomy insertion, in-hospital mortality, and chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) were evaluated using propensity score-weighted regression.

Results:

EVLP availability (P=0.01 for interaction) and EVLP use (P<0.001 for interaction) were both associated with steeper increases in transplantation than expected by historical trends. EVLP was associated with more donation after circulatory death (DCD) and extended-criteria donors transplanted, while the numbers of standard-criteria donors remained relatively stable. Significantly faster time-to-transplant was observed after EVLP was available (hazard ratio [HR] 1.64 [1.41–1.92]; P<0.001). Fewer patients died on the waitlist after EVLP was available, but no difference in the hazard of waitlist mortality was observed (HR 1.19 [0.81–1.74]; P=0.176). We observed no difference in the likelihood of CLAD before versus after EVLP was available.

Conclusions:

We observed a significant increase in organ transplantation since EVLP was introduced into practice, predominantly from increased acceptance of DCD and extended-criteria lungs. Our findings suggest that EVLP-associated increases in organ availability meaningfully alleviated some barriers to transplant.
Anthropogenic predictors of varying Holocene occurrence for Europe's large mammal fauna
Authors: Ament Judith M. , Carbone Chris , Crees Jennifer J. , Freeman Robin , Turvey Samuel T.
Published: April 2023

Understanding how species respond to different anthropogenic pressures is essential for conservation planning. The archaeological record has great potential to inform extinction risk assessment by providing evidence on past human-caused biodiversity loss, but identifying specific drivers of past declines from environmental archives has proved challenging. We used 17 684 Holocene zooarchaeological records for 15 European large mammal species together with data on past environmental conditions and anthropogenic activities across Europe, to assess the ability of environmental archives to determine the relative importance of different human pressures in shaping faunal distributions through time. Site occupancy probability showed differing significant relationships with environmental covariates for all species, and nine species also showed significant relationships with anthropogenic covariates (human population density, % cropland, % grazing land). Across-species differences in negative relationships with covariates provide ecological insights for understanding extinction dynamics: some mammals (red deer, aurochs, wolf, wildcat, lynx, pine marten and beech marten) were more vulnerable to past human–environmental interactions, and differing single and synergistic anthropogenic factors influenced likelihood of past occurrence across species. Our results provide new evidence for pre-industrial population fragmentation and depletion in European mammals, and demonstrate the usefulness of historical baselines for understanding species' varying long-term sensitivity to multiple threats.
Coupling machine learning and epidemiological modelling to characterise optimal fungicide doses when fungicide resistance is partial or quantitative
Authors: Taylor Nick P. , Cunniffe Nik J.
Published: April 2023

Increasing fungicide dose tends to lead to better short-term control of plant diseases. However, high doses select more rapidly for fungicide resistant strains, reducing long-term disease control. When resistance is qualitative and complete—i.e. resistant strains are unaffected by the chemical and resistance requires only a single genetic change—using the lowest possible dose ensuring sufficient control is well known as the optimal resistance management strategy. However, partial resistance (where resistant strains are still partially suppressed by the fungicide) and quantitative resistance (where a range of resistant strains are present) remain ill-understood. Here, we use a model of quantitative fungicide resistance (parametrized for the economically important fungal pathogen
Zymoseptoria tritici
) which handles qualitative partial resistance as a special case. Although low doses are optimal for resistance management, we show that for some model parametrizations the resistance management benefit does not outweigh the improvement in control from increasing doses. This holds for both qualitative partial resistance and quantitative resistance. Via a machine learning approach (a gradient-boosted trees model combined with Shapley values to facilitate interpretability), we interpret the effect of parameters controlling pathogen mutation and characterising the fungicide, in addition to the time scale of interest.
Active viscoelastic nematics with partial degree of order
Authors: Turzi Stefano
Published: April 2023

Continuum models of active nematic gels have proved successful to describe a number of biological systems consisting of a population of rod-like motile subunits in a fluid environment. However, to get a thorough understanding of the collective processes underlying the behaviour of active biosystems, the theoretical underpinnings of these models still need to be critically examined. To this end, we derive a minimal model based on a nematic elastomer energy, where the key parameters have a simple physical interpretation and the irreversible nature of activity emerges clearly. The interplay between viscoelastic material response and active dynamics of the microscopic constituents is accounted for by material remodelling. Partial degree of order and defect dynamics is included as a result of the kinematic coupling between the nematic elastomer shape-tensor and the orientational ordering tensorQ. In a simple one-dimensional channel geometry, we use linear stability analysis to show that even in the isotropic phase, the interaction between flow-induced local nematic order and activity results in a spontaneous flow of particles.
Point-like defect on Schrödinger particles under flux field with harmonic oscillator plus Mie-type potential: application to molecular potentials
Authors: Ahmed Faizuddin
Published: April 2023

In this analysis, we study the quantum motions of a non-relativistic particle confined by the Aharonov–Bohm (AB) flux field with harmonic oscillator plus Mie-type potential in a point-like defect. We determine the eigenvalue solution of the particles analytically and discuss the effects of the topological defect and flux field with this potential. This eigenvalue solution is then used in some diatomic molecular potential models (harmonic oscillator plus Kratzer, modified Kratzer and attractive Coulomb potentials) and presented as the eigenvalue solutions. Afterwards, we consider a general potential form (superposition of pseudoharmonic plus Cornell-type potential) in the quantum system and analyse the effects of various factors on the eigenvalue solution. It is shown that the eigenvalue solutions are modified by the topological defect of a point-like global monopole and flux field compared to the results obtained in the flat space.
Interlayer torsional sliding and strain localization in bilayer graphene
Authors: Ji Qingxiang , Xue Zhiming , Zhang Zaoxu , Cui Zhanbo , Kadic Muamer , Wang Changguo
Published: April 2023

Twisted bilayer graphene can demonstrate extraordinary optical and electrical characteristics due to its interlayer interactions. The strong coupling of normal and tangential van der Waals interactions at the interface results in inhomogeneous interlayer deformations and further changes the bilayer graphene’s physical properties. Herein, theoretical and numerical models are established to study the torsional deformation behaviour of twisting a graphene flake over a rigid graphene substrate. It is found that in-plane deformations have significant influences on the interlayer potential energy density of AA stacking, but seldom affect other stacked domains. The deformation process is thus approximated by first twisting the graphene flake rigidly, and then relaxing the rigid constraints. The bilayer graphene system minimizes its energy by reducing (enlarging) the size of high-energy (low-energy) domains through additional rotations. The additional angles of the graphene flake are derived analytically based on a mechanical model following the principle of minimum potential energy. Results show that the influences of graphene film deformations get significant at small-twist-angles (typically less than

2

∘

). This work reveals the torsional deformation evolution mechanism of bilayer graphene and provides beneficial guidance on achieving intriguing physical properties.
Thermodynamics of decoherence
Authors: Popovic Maria , Mitchison Mark T. , Goold John
Published: April 2023

We investigate the non-equilibrium thermodynamics of pure decoherence. In a pure decoherence process, the system Hamiltonian is a constant of motion and there is no direct energy exchange between the system and its surroundings. Nevertheless, the environment’s energy is not generally conserved and in this work we show that this leads to non-trivial heat dissipation as a result of decoherence alone. This heat has some very distinctive properties: it obeys an integral fluctuation relation and can be interpreted in terms of the entropy production associated with populations in the energy eigenbasis of the initial state. We show that the heat distribution for a pure decoherence process is different from the distribution of work done by the initial system–bath interaction quench. Instead, it corresponds to a mixture of work distributions of cyclical processes, each conditioned on a state of the open system. Inspired by recent experiments on impurities in ultracold gases, we demonstrate our general results by studying the heat generated by the decoherence of a qubit immersed within a degenerate Fermi gas in the lowest band of a species-selective optical lattice.
Sphingomicrobium sediminis sp. nov., isolated from marine sediment in the Republic of Korea
Authors: Kim Chul-Hwan , Yoo Yeonjae , Khim Jong Seong , Xu Xiaoyue , Kim Bogun , Choi In-Geol , Kim Jae-Jin
Published: April 2023

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, bright-orange coloured bacterium without flagellum, designated as strain GRR-S6-50T, was isolated from a tidal flat of Garorim bay, Taean-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea. Cells grew aerobically at 20–37 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 7.0–10.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and with 1–5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 3 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that strain GRR-S6-50T was closely related to

Sphingomicrobium aestuariivivum

AH-M8T with a sequence similarity of 97.80 % followed by

Sphingomicrobium astaxanthinifaciens

CC-AMO-30BT (97.44 %),

Sphingomicrobium marinum

CC- AMZ-30MT (97.16 %),

Sphingomicrobium arenosum

CAU 1457T (96.37 %),

Sphingomicrobium flavum

CC-AMZ-30NT (95.31 %) and

Sphingomicrobium lutaoense

CC-TBT-3T (95.23 %). The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values with related strains ranged from 74.5 to 77.3% and 21.1 to 35.0 %, respectively. The G+C content of strain GRR-S6-50T was 63.30 mol%. The strain has ubiquinone-10 as the predominant respiratory quinone and the major fatty acids were C18 : 3
 ω6c (54.57 %) and C17 : 1
 ω6c (10.58 %). The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, three unidentified lipids and one glycolipid. On the basis of the results of phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic studies, strain GRR-S6-50T is regarded to represent a novel species within the genus

Sphingomicrobium

, for which the name Sphingomicrobium sediminis sp. nov. (KACC 22562T=KCTC 92123T=JCM 35084T) is proposed.
Predictors and risk factors of short-term and long-term outcomes among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and their offspring: Moving toward precision prognosis?
Authors: Semnani-Azad Zhila , Gaillard Romy , Hughes Alice E , Boyle Kristen E. , Tobias Deirdre K. , Perng Wei ,   ADA/EASD PMDI
Published: April 2023

As part of the American Diabetes Association Precision Medicine in Diabetes Initiative (PMDI) – a partnership with the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) – this systematic review is part of a comprehensive evidence evaluation in support of the 2ndInternational Consensus Report on Precision Diabetes Medicine. Here, we sought to synthesize evidence from empirical research papers published through September 1st, 2021 to evaluate and identify prognostic conditions, risk factors, and biomarkers among women and children affected by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), focusing on clinical endpoints of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) among women with a history of GDM; and adiposity and cardiometabolic profile among offspring exposed to GDMin utero.We identified a total of 107 observational studies and 12 randomized controlled trials testing the effect of pharmaceutical and/or lifestyle interventions. Broadly, current literature indicates that greater GDM severity, higher maternal body mass index, belonging to racial/ethnic minority group; and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors would predict a woman’s risk of incident T2D and CVD, and an unfavorable cardiometabolic profile among offspring. However, the level of evidence is low (Level 4 according to the Diabetes Canada 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines for diabetes prognosis) largely because most studies leveraged retrospective data from large registries that are vulnerable to residual confounding and reverse causation bias; and prospective cohort studies that may suffer selection and attrition bias. Moreover, for the offspring outcomes, we identified a relatively small body of literature on prognostic factors indicative of future adiposity and cardiometabolic risk. Future high-quality prospective cohort studies in diverse populations with granular data collection on prognostic factors, clinical and subclinical outcomes, high fidelity of follow-up, and appropriate analytical approaches to deal with structural biases are warranted.
A Systematic Review of the use of Precision Diagnostics in Monogenic Diabetes
Authors: Murphy Rinki , Colclough Kevin , Pollin Toni I. , Ikle Jennifer M. , Svalastoga Pernille , Maloney Kristin A. , Saint-Martin Cécile , Molnes Janne ,   ADA/EASD Precision Medicine Diabetes Initiative, Misra Shivani , Aukrust Ingvild , de Franco AIElisa , Flanagan Sarah E. , Njølstad Pål R. , Billings Liana K. , Owen Katharine R , Gloyn Anna L
Published: April 2023

Monogenic forms of diabetes present opportunities for precision medicine as identification of the underlying genetic cause has implications for treatment and prognosis. However, genetic testing remains inconsistent across countries and health providers, often resulting in both missed diagnosis and misclassification of diabetes type. One of the barriers to deploying genetic testing is uncertainty over whom to test as the clinical features for monogenic diabetes overlap with those for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In this review, we perform a systematic evaluation of the evidence for the clinical and biochemical criteria used to guide selection of individuals with diabetes for genetic testing and review the evidence for the optimal methods for variant detection in genes involved in monogenic diabetes. In parallel we revisit the current clinical guidelines for genetic testing for monogenic diabetes and provide expert opinion on the interpretation and reporting of genetic tests. We provide a series of recommendations for the field informed by our systematic review, synthesizing evidence, and expert opinion. Finally, we identify major challenges for the field and highlight areas for future research and investment to support wider implementation of precision diagnostics for monogenic diabetes.

Plan Language Summary

Since monogenic diabetes misclassification can occur and lead to missed opportunities for optimal management, and several diagnostic technologies are available, we systematically review the yield of monogenic diabetes using different criteria to select people with diabetes for genetic testing and the technologies used.
Addressing Acute Febrile Illness Using a Syndromic Approach During A Chikungunya Epidemic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Moreira José , Fernandez-Carballo B. Leticia , Escadafal Camille , Dittrich Sabine , Brasil Patrícia , Siqueira André M
Published: April 2023

Background

Identifying etiologies of acute febrile illness (AFI) is challenging in settings with limited laboratory capacity. We aimed to describe the causes of AFI among non-severe patients seeking care at the primary level in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil when a large chikungunya virus (CHIKV) epidemic was ongoing.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We conducted a 10-month prospective AFI study in participants aged 2-65 seeking care at public emergency departments and outpatient clinics. Patients with fever ≤ 7 days were offered enrollment, and clinical, and laboratory data were gathered for consecutive participants. A syndrome-driven approach comprising culture, molecular and serologic tests were adopted to investigate the cause of fever. Logistic regression model determined predictors of laboratory-positive CHIKV. Follow-up visits were conducted 14-28 days after the index visit. Five hundred participants (median age 26 [15-41] years, 50.4% females) yielded 824 diagnoses, and 249/500 (49.8%) of whom had multiple diagnoses. Systemic infection (382/500, 76%), followed by acute respiratory infection (155/500, 31%), and urinary infection (23/500, 4.6%) were the most common febrile syndromes. CHIKV was the primary etiology found in 284 (56.8%) participants. Viral upper respiratory infection accounted for 40/155 (25.8%) of the respiratory infections, of which Rhinovirus and Influenza A were the main viruses commonly detected. None of the diagnostic tests were positive in 124/500 (25%). Predictors of laboratory-positive CHIKV were the absence of cough, arthralgia, rash, high temperature, and leucopenia. Of those 297/500 (59.4%) who returned for the follow-up, 120/297 (40%) persisted with symptoms. CHIKV-positive patients were more likely to experience persistent arthritis than CHIKV negative [OR: 10.18 (3.64-28.45)].

Conclusions/Significance

Using a syndromic approach to identify the etiology of fever during an epidemic of CHIKV in Rio, we found evidence of other pathogens associated with AFI. Clinical and laboratory markers might allow early identification and accurate distinction of patients with CHIKV from other AFI to guide proper clinical management. Future research should assess whether a syndromic approach to febrile illness in resource-limited settings improves patient outcomes and rationale antimicrobial use.

Clinicaltrials.govregistration number:NCT03047642
Pharmacological activation of constitutive androstane receptor induces female-specific modulation of hepatic metabolism
Authors: Marine Huillet , Frédéric Lasserre , Marie-Pierre Gratacap , Beatrice Engelmann , Justine Bruse , Arnaud Polizzi , Tiffany Fougeray , Céline Martin , Clémence Rives , Anne Fougerat , Claire Naylies , Yannick Lippi , Géraldine Garcia , Elodie Rousseau- Bacquie , Cécile Canlet , Laurent Debrauwer , Ulrike Rolle-Kampczyk , Martin von Bergen , Bernard Payrastre , Elisa Boutet-Robinet , Laurence Gamet-Payrastre , Hervé Guillou , Nicolas Loiseau , Sandrine Ellero-Simatos
Published: April 2023

Background and Aims

The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) is a nuclear receptor able to recognize a large panel of xenobiotics leading to the modulation of the expression of its target genes involved in xenobiotic detoxication and energy metabolism. While CAR hepatic activity is thought to be higher in women than in men, its response to an acute pharmacological activation has never been investigated in both sexes.

Methods

Hepatic transcriptome, plasma and hepatic metabolome, have been analyzed inCar+/+andCar-/-male and female mice treated either with the CAR-specific agonist, 1,4-bis[2-(3,5-dichloropyridyloxy)]benzene (TCPOBOP), or with vehicle.

Results

While 90% of TCPOBOP-sensitive genes were modulated in a sex- independent way, the remaining 10% were almost exclusively impacted in female liver specifically. These female-specific CAR-sensitive genes were mainly involved in xenobiotic metabolism, inflammation and extracellular matrix organization. CAR activation also induced higher hepatic oxidative stress and hepatocyte cytolysis in females than in males. Data mining on human data confirmed that CAR activation may be involved in sexually-dimorphic drug-induced liver injury. Hepatic expression of flavin monooxygenase 3(Fmo3)was almost abolished and associated with a decrease of hepatic trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) concentration in TCPOBOP-treated females. In line with a possible role in the control of TMAO homeostasis, CAR activation decreased platelet hyperresponsiveness in female mice supplemented with dietary choline.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that more than 10% of CAR-sensitive genes are sex-specific and influence hepatic and systemic response such as platelet aggregation. Also, CAR activation may be an important mechanism of sexually- dimorphic drug-induced liver injury.
The impact of innate immunity on malaria parasite infection dynamics
Authors: Herbert-Mainero Alejandra , Spence Philip J. , Reece Sarah E. , Kamiya Tsukushi
Published: April 2023

1

Decades of research have investigated the molecular and cellular mechanisms that control the immune response to malaria. Yet, many studies offer conflicting results on the functional impact of innate immunity for controlling parasite replication early in infection. We conduct a meta-analysis to probe for consensus on the effect of innate immunity on parasite replication, examining three different species of rodent malaria parasite. Screening published studies that span four decades of research we collate, curate and statistically analyse infection dynamics in immune deficient or augmented mice to identify and quantify consensus and identify sources of disagreement among studies. Additionally, we estimate whether host factors or experimental methodology shape the impact of immune perturbations on parasite burden. First, we detected meta-analytic mean effect sizes (absolute Cohen’s h) for the difference in parasite burden between treatment and control groups ranging from 0.1498 to 0.2321 across parasite species. This range is considered a small effect size and translates to a modest change in parasitaemia of roughly 6-12% on average at the peak of infection. Second, we reveal that variation across studies usingP. chabaudiorP. yoeliiis best explained by stochasticity (due to small sample sizes) rather than by host factors or experimental design. Third, we find that forP. bergheithe impact of immune perturbation is increased when young or female mice are used and is greatest when effector molecules (as opposed to upstream signalling molecules) are disrupted (up to an 18% difference in peak parasitaemia). Finally, we find little evidence of publication bias suggesting that our results are robust. The small effects sizes we observe, across three parasite species, following experimental perturbations of the innate immune system may be explained by redundancy in a complex biological system or by incomplete (or inappropriate) data reporting for meta-analysis. Alternatively, our findings might indicate a need to re-evaluate the efficiency with which innate immunity controls parasite replication early in infection. Testing these explanations is necessary to translate understanding from model systems to human malaria infections, manage immunopathology, and facilitate realism in mathematical models.
Cryo-EM structure of the mycobacterial 70S ribosome in complex with ribosome hibernation promotion factor RafH, reveals the unique mode of mycobacterial ribosome hibernation
Authors: Kumara Niraj , Sharmaa Shivani , Kaushala Prem S.
Published: April 2023

Ribosome hibernation is a key survival strategy bacteria adopt under environmental stress, where a protein, hibernation promotion factor (HPF), transitorily inactivates the ribosome and slows down its overall protein synthesis. The mechanism is well studied in enteric bacteria, which mainly hibernate its ribosome in 100S disome form through a dual domain, long HPF (HPFlong) or a single domain, short HPF (HPFshort) in concert with another ribosome modulation factor. Mycobacteria under hypoxia (low oxygen) stress overexpresses RafH protein regulated under DosR regulon, a critical factor for its survival. The RafH, a dual domain HPF, an orthologue of bacterial HPFlong, hibernates ribosome in 70S monosome form only. Here we report the cryo-EM structure ofMycobacterium smegmatis, a close homologue ofM. tuberculosis, 70S ribosome in complex with the RafH factor at an overall 2.8 Å resolution. The RafH N-terminus domain (NTD) is conserved and binds to the decoding center of the ribosomal small subunit, a similar binding site of HPFlongNTD, but additionally it also interacts with the inter subunit bridge, B2a. Contrary to the HPFlongCTD, the RafH CTD, which is larger, binds to a unique site at the platform binding center of the ribosomal small subunit and sandwiches between bS1 and uS11 ribosomal proteins. The two domain connecting linker regions, which remain mostly disordered in earlier reported HPFlongstructures, interacts mainly with the anti-Shine Dalgarno sequence of the 16S rRNA. The helix H54a of 23S rRNA, unique to the mycobacterial ribosome, adopts a different conformation and come close to RafH CTD, suggesting its role in ribosome hibernation. RafH inhibitsin-vitroprotein synthesis in a concentration dependent manner. Further, the modeling studies provided the structural basis for the incompatibility of mycobacterial ribosomes forming 100S like hibernating ribosomes.
A quantitative characterization of early neuron generation in the developing zebrafish telencephalon
Authors: Gimeno Glòria Casas , Dvorianinova Ekaterina , Lembke Carla-Sophie , Dijkstra Emma SC , Abbas Hussam , Liu Yuanyuan , Paridaen Judith TML
Published: April 2023

The adult brain is made up of anatomically and functionally distinct regions with specific neuronal compositions. At the root of this neuronal diversity are neural stem and progenitor cells (NPCs) that produce many neurons throughout embryonic development. During development, NPCs switch from initial expanding divisions to neurogenic divisions, which marks the onset of neurogenesis. Here, we aimed to understand when NPCs switch division modes to generate the first neurons in the anterior-most part of the zebrafish brain, the telencephalon. To this end, we used the deep learning-based segmentation method Cellpose and clonal analysis of individual NPCs to assess production of neurons by NPCs in the first 24 hours of zebrafish telencephalon development. Our results provide a quantitative atlas detailing the production of telencephalic neurons and NPC division modes between 14 and 24 hours post-fertilization. We find that within this timeframe, the switch to neurogenesis is gradual, with considerable heterogeneity in individual NPC neurogenic potential and division rates. This quantitative characterization of initial neurogenesis in the zebrafish telencephalon establishes a basis for future studies aimed at illuminating the molecular mechanisms and regulators of early neurogenesis.
A critical role for CaMKII in behavioral timescale synaptic plasticity in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons
Authors: Xiao Kuo , Li Yiding , Chitwood Raymond A. , Magee Jeffrey C.
Published: April 2023

Behavioral timescale synaptic plasticity (BTSP) is a type of non-Hebbian synaptic plasticity reported to underlie place field formation in the hippocampal CA1 neurons. Despite this important function, the molecular mechanisms underlying BTSP are poorly understood. The α-Calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (αCaMKII) is activated by synaptic transmission-mediated calcium influx and its subsequent phosphorylation is central to synaptic plasticity. Because the activity of αCaMKII is known to outlast the event triggering phosphorylation, we hypothesized it could be involved in the extended timescale of the BTSP process. To examine the role of αCaMKII in BTSP, we performed whole-cell in-vivo and in-vitro recordings in CA1 pyramidal neurons from mice engineered to have a point mutation at the autophosphorylation site (T286A) causing accelerated signaling kinetics. Here we demonstrate a profound deficit in synaptic plasticity, strongly suggesting that αCaMKII signaling is required for BTSP. This study elucidates part of the molecular mechanism of BTSP and provides insight into the function of αCaMKII in place cell formation and ultimately learning and memory.

Teaser

The molecular mechanisms of BTSP have been revealed to require the autophosphorylation of CaMKII.
Dynamic expectations: Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence of sub-second updates in reward predictions
Authors: Marciano Déborah , Bellier Ludovic , Mayer Ida , Ruvalcaba Michael , Lee Sangil , Hsu Ming , Knight Robert T.
Published: April 2023

Expectations are often dynamic: any sports fan knows that expectations are rapidly updated as games unfold. Yet expectations have traditionally been studied as static. Here, using slot machines as a case study, we provide parallel behavioral and electrophysiological evidence of sub-second moment-to-moment changes in expectations. In Study 1, we show that the dynamics of the EEG signal before the slot machine stopped differed depending on the nature of the outcome, including not only whether the participant won or lost, but also how close they came to winning. In line with our predictions, Near Win Before outcomes (the slot machine stops one item before a match) were similar to Wins, but different than Near Win After (the machine stops one item after a match) and Full Miss (the machine stops two or three items from a match). In Study 2, we designed a novel behavioral paradigm to measure moment-to-moment changes in expectations via dynamic betting. We found that different outcomes also elicited unique expectation trajectories in the deceleration phase. Notably, these behavioral expectation trajectories paralleled Study 1’s EEG activity in the last second prior to the machine’s stop. In Studies 3 (EEG) and 4 (behavior) we replicated these findings in the loss domain where a match entails a loss. Again, we found a significant correlation between behavioral and EEG results. These four studies provide the first evidence that dynamic sub-second updates in expectations can be behaviorally and electrophysiologically measured. Our findings open up new avenues for studying the ongoing dynamics of reward expectations and their role in healthy and unhealthy cognition.
An accurate and interpretable model for antimicrobial resistance in pathogenicEscherichia colifrom livestock and companion animal species
Authors: Chung Henri C. , Foxx Christine L. , Hicks Jessica A. , Stuber Tod P. , Friedberg Iddo , Dorman Karin S. , Harris Beth
Published: April 2023

Understanding the microbial genomic contributors to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is essential for early detection of emerging AMR infections, a pressing global health threat in human and veterinary medicine. Here we used whole genome sequencing and antibiotic susceptibility test data from 980 disease causingEscherichia coliisolated from companion and farm animals to model AMR genotypes and phenotypes for 24 antibiotics. We determined the strength of genotype-to-phenotype relationships for 197 AMR genes with elastic net logistic regression. Model predictors were designed to evaluate different potential modes of AMR genotype translation into resistance phenotypes. Our results show a model that considers the presence of individual AMR genes and total number of AMR genes present from a set of genes known to confer resistance was able to accurately predict isolate resistance on average (mean F1score = 98.0%, SD = 2.3%, mean accuracy = 98.2%, SD = 2.7%). However, fitted models sometimes varied for antibiotics in the same class and for the same antibiotic across animal hosts, suggesting heterogeneity in the genetic determinants of AMR resistance. We conclude that an interpretable AMR prediction model can be used to accurately predict resistance phenotypes across multiple host species and reveal testable hypotheses about how the mechanism of resistance may vary across antibiotics within the same class and across animal hosts for the same antibiotic.
CyRSoXS: a GPU-accelerated virtual instrument for polarized resonant soft X-ray scattering
Authors: Saurabh Kumar , Dudenas Peter J. , Gann Eliot , Reynolds Veronica G. , Mukherjee Subhrangsu , Sunday Daniel , Martin Tyler B. , Beaucage Peter A. , Chabinyc Michael L. , DeLongchamp Dean M. , Krishnamurthy Adarsh , Ganapathysubramanian Baskar
Published: April 2023

Polarized resonant soft X-ray scattering (P-RSoXS) has emerged as a powerful synchrotron-based tool that combines the principles of X-ray scattering and X-ray spectroscopy. P-RSoXS provides unique sensitivity to molecular orientation and chemical heterogeneity in soft materials such as polymers and biomaterials. Quantitative extraction of orientation information from P-RSoXS pattern data is challenging, however, because the scattering processes originate from sample properties that must be represented as energy-dependent three-dimensional tensors with heterogeneities at nanometre to sub-nanometre length scales. This challenge is overcome here by developing an open-source virtual instrument that uses graphical processing units (GPUs) to simulate P-RSoXS patterns from real-space material representations with nanoscale resolution. This computational framework – called CyRSoXS (https://github.com/usnistgov/cyrsoxs) – is designed to maximize GPU performance, including algorithms that minimize both communication and memory footprints. The accuracy and robustness of the approach are demonstrated by validating against an extensive set of test cases, which include both analytical solutions and numerical comparisons, demonstrating an acceleration of over three orders of magnitude relative to the current state-of-the-art P-RSoXS simulation software. Such fast simulations open up a variety of applications that were previously computationally unfeasible, including pattern fitting, co-simulation with the physical instrument for operando analytics, data exploration and decision support, data creation and integration into machine learning workflows, and utilization in multi-modal data assimilation approaches. Finally, the complexity of the computational framework is abstracted away from the end user by exposing CyRSoXS to Python using Pybind. This eliminates input/output requirements for large-scale parameter exploration and inverse design, and democratizes usage by enabling seamless integration with a Python ecosystem (https://github.com/usnistgov/nrss) that can include parametric morphology generation, simulation result reduction, comparison with experiment and data fitting approaches.
Crystal structure of 3-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-6-methyl-2H-chromen-2-one
Authors: Abdallah Amira E. M. , Elgemeie Galal H. , Jones Peter G.
Published: April 2023

The molecule of the title compound, C17H11NO2S, is almost planar, with an interplanar angle of 3.01 (3)° between the benzothiazole and chromene ring systems. A short intramolecular S...O=C contact of 2.727 (2) Å is observed. The crystal packing involves a layer structure parallel to (211), containing dimeric inversion-symmetric units connected by a `weak' C—H...O=C hydrogen bond.
(23R,231
S,25S)-231,26-Epoxy-23-ethylfurost-20(22)-en-3β-ol
Authors: Guerrero-Luna Gabriel , Hernández-Linares María-Guadalupe , Cárdenas García Maura , Bernès Sylvain
Published: April 2023

The title compound, C29H46O3, is a steroid synthesized through a rearrangement of a sarsasapogenin derivative in acidic medium. The newly formed ring F is a tetrahydro-2H-pyran heterocycle substituted by two methyl groups placed in equatorial positions. This ring displays a chair conformation, while dihydrofuran ring E, to which it is bonded, has an envelope conformation. The molecules are associated by weak O—H...O hydrogen bonds to form chains running in the [101] direction in the crystal.
{μ-2,2′-(Ethane-1,2-diyl)bis[4,6-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,3-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrrol-5-one]}bis[tricarbonyliron(0)]
Authors: Huerta-Zerón Hilario D. , Spannenberg Anke , Beller Matthias , Junge Henrik
Published: April 2023

The binuclear title compound, [Fe2(C28H48N2O2Si4)(CO)6], consists of two central iron(0) atoms, each of them surrounded by a cyclopentadienone moiety and three carbonyl ligands in a three-legged piano-stool shape. Furthermore, the bis(cyclopentadienone) ligand acts as a bridge between the two metal atoms.
A gendered discourse on truthful disclosure of financial fraud practices among accountants in China: implications to corporate governance
Authors: Tan Kim-Lim , Liu Yuming , Ye Qiuting
Published: April 2023

Purpose

With the worsening of corporate fraud and consequential loss, the growing importance of truthful disclosure is globally advocated. This study aims to examine corporate governance’s role in accountants’ intention to disclose fraudulent practices honestly. At the same time, this study examines intergender differences concerning the formation of the disclosure intention.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), data from 256 accountants working in China have been collected via an online survey. This data is subsequently analyzed with the partial least square (PLS) structural equation modeling method.

Findings

The results revealed that integrity and corporate governance significantly positively affect employees’ attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control toward disclosure intention. At the same time, it shows that only subjective norm and perceived behavioral control established a significant positive relationship with disclosure intention. It also shows that males display higher attitudes and perceived behavioral control in developing the intention.

Originality/value

This study helps understand accountants’ disclosure intention of fraud practices, especially during shock events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to extend the TPB incorporating corporate governance and integrity as antecedents to disclosure intention. At the same time, this study contributes to the existing literature by being the first attempt to investigate intergender differences. Finally, it advances the body of knowledge on employees’ behavior and contributes methodologically by introducing the PLS approach.
Reasons for ignoring versus paying attention to country of origin among consumers of durable goods brands
Authors: Witek-Hajduk Marzanna Katarzyna , Grudecka Anna
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The objective of the study is to identify both reasons for ignoring and for paying attention to the country of origin (COO) by consumers when choosing brands of durable goods.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper a qualitative approach was applied, i.e. 25 in-depth semistructured interviews with Polish consumers of durable goods purposively selected out of those who had previously participated in a quantitative survey conducted by the authors.

Findings

Among the reasons for paying attention to the COO when choosing brands of durable goods, cognitive (rational), affective (emotional) and normative factors have been identified, while among the reasons for ignoring the COO by consumers, the authors identified only cognitive (rational) and affective (emotional) factors.

Research limitations/implications

The conclusions can be applied by brand managers, e.g. when making decisions whether and why to communicate COO dimensions.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the international marketing literature as it develops a deeper insight into consumer behavior with reference to the consumers’ reasons for paying attention to and ignoring the COO, with very little published on the latter in particular. Furthermore, it is one of still relatively few qualitative studies conducted so far on COO taking a perspective of a consumer, especially the one from an emerging market from the European Union (EU).
Exploring EO strategic performance measures: value-added versus efficiency outcomes
Authors: Newbery Robert , Roderick Stephen , Sauer Johannes , Gorton Matthew , Robbins Keith
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Research on entrepreneurial orientation (EO) seeks to understand the EO–performance relationship. However, at a strategic level, performance relates to a competitive advantage and comprises both value-added and efficiency measures. Following arguments that performance is context and strategy dependent, the paper argues that EO research needs to clarify and specify the type of performance relationship measured.

Design/methodology/approach

To explore the EO–performance relationship, the research considers the agricultural sector where policy has traditionally encouraged the maximisation of efficiency in production and has only recently promoted entrepreneurship, providing fertile ground to explore different approaches to measuring performance. A survey collected detailed accounting records and context specific EO for 282 commercial farms. The authors estimate two models (Heckman selection regression and stochastic production frontier) that examine the relationships between EO and value-added/efficiency performance outcomes.

Findings

The analysis confirms the EO–value-added performance relationship, with significant positive relationships for the EO components proactiveness and innovativeness and a negative relationship for risk. No EO–efficiency performance relationship was found, despite a robust analysis of technical efficiency using detailed accounting data.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to EO theory by problematizing performance and highlighting the importance of the type of performance measured. This paper contributes empirically with findings relating to a mature industry contributes to entrepreneurship methodology by outlining how EO–performance relationships can be measured in terms of productivity and technical efficiency.
How do teleworkers escape burnout? A moderated-mediation model of the job demands and turnover intention
Authors: Jamal Mohd Tariq , Anwar Imran , Khan Nawab Ali , Ahmad Gayas
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Working remotely in a COVID-19-induced lockdown has been challenging for both organisations and their employees; studies report that job demands changed, and teleworkers experienced increased burnout. This paper explores the negative employee outcomes that this work arrangement brings along and offers possible solutions to counter such negative outcomes since they could be detrimental to the much-touted future of work.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a time-lagged longitudinal design and collected two-waved data from 403 quaternary sector employees. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling and model-21 in PROCESS macro for SPSS.

Findings

Findings affirm that employees experienced increased job demands during this crisis. Employees reported an increase in turnover intention because of burnout caused by increased job demands. However, increased task interdependence alone did not have any effect on turnover intention. The perceived organisational task support (POTS) was found to forestall the negative effect of job demands on burnout, and employee resilience (ER) buffered the burnout and turnover intention relationship.

Practical implications

Providing remote work task support and boosting resilience among employees will help in doing away with the negative effects of teleworking. However, managers shall prioritise reducing job demands for teleworkers.

Originality/value

The linkage between work factors and turnover intention is well established. Drawing on the event system theory and using the COVID-19 context, the present study added to the existing knowledge by studying the role of job demands (workload pressure and task interdependence) on turnover intention through the mediation of burnout. The study goes beyond the existing literature by accounting for POTS as a first-level moderator between job demands and burnout relationship, and ER as a second-level moderator between burnout and turnover intention relationship.