bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tall women with breast cancer have poorer survival than short women
Authors: Lehrer Steven , Rheinstein Peter H.
Published: July 2024

Background

Tall women are more likely to develop breast cancer (BC). High Mobility Group AT-Hook 1(HMGA1), an oncofetal protein, plays a role in the progression of breast cancer. Non-coding sequences proximal to HMGA1 contain variants associated with 4.83 cm taller height. In the current study, we used UK Biobank data to examine the relationship of HMGA1 to height, risk, and prognosis of women with breast cancer.

Methods

Our analysis included all subjects with invasive BC that occurred either before or after participant enrollment and were recorded in the UK Biobank database using self-reported data and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD10, ICD9). We divided the subjects into three previously described three height groups: Short (< 155 cm), Medium (155 cm to 175 cm), Tall (> 175 cm). We analyzed the HMGA1 SNP rs41269028, a single nucleotide intron variant, C > T, minor allele frequency 0.044. SNP rs41269028 was previously evaluated in subjects with diabetes.

Results

Height of 9583 women with BC homozygous for the HMGA1 SNP rs41269028 major allele was 162.29 cm ± 6.18. Height of 944 women with BC who were carriers or homozygotes (CT + TT) of the minor allele T was 162.88 cm ± 6.001. This difference was significant (p = 0.005). The effect of height group on survival was significant (p = 0.032, log rank test). Tall women had the poorest survival. The effect of HMGA1 SNP rs41269028 genotype on BC risk (p = 0.602) and survival (p = 0.439, log rank test) was insignificant.

Conclusion

We conclude that HMGA1 influences height, but we were unable to demonstrate that HMGA1 is related to increased incidence or poor prognosis of tall women with breast cancer. We did find that tall women with breast cancer have poorer survival than short women. Our finding that tall women have a worse prognosis is important because it could help the oncologist decide, along with other prognostic factors, whether adjuvant therapy is warranted.
Scoping review of Japanese encephalitis virus transmission models
Authors: Laidlow Troy A. , Johnston Erin S. , Zadoks Ruth N. , Walsh Michael , Viana Mafalda , Wiley Kerrie E. , Singh Balbir B. , Baldini Francesco , Dhanze Himani , Webb Cameron , Brookes Victoria J.
Published: July 2024

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) causes approximately 100,000 clinical cases and 25,000 deaths annually worldwide, mainly in South-East Asia and the Western Pacific and mostly in children. JEV is transmitted from competent hosts to humans through the bite of mosquitoes, and the abiotic environment, such as seasonal rainfall, influences transmission. Transmission models have an important role in understanding disease dynamics and developing prevention and control strategies to limit the impact of infectious diseases. Our goal was to investigate how transmission models capture JEV infection dynamics and their role in predicting and controlling infection. This was achieved by identifying published JEV transmission models, describing their features, and identifying their limitations, to guide future modelling. A PRISMA-ScR guided scoping review of peer-reviewed JEV transmission models was conducted. Databases searched included PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar. Of 881 full text papers available in English, 29 were eligible for data extraction. Publication year ranged from 1975 to 2023. The median number of host populations represented in each model was 3 (range: 1–8; usually humans, mosquitoes and pigs). Most (72% [n=21]) models were deterministic, using ordinary differential equations to describe transmission. Ten models were applied (representing a real JEV transmission setting) and validated with field data, while the remaining 19 models were theoretical. In the applied models, data from only a small proportion of countries in South-East Asia and the Western Pacific were used. Limitations included gaps in knowledge of local JEV epidemiology, vector attributes and the impact of prevention and control strategies, along with a lack of model validation with field data. The lack and limitations of models highlight that further research to understand JEV epidemiology is needed and that there is opportunity to develop and implement applied models to improve control strategies for at-risk populations of animals and humans.
Identification ofStaphylococcus aureusand prevalence ofStaphylococcus aureusresistant to mithicillin and other patterns of resistance to antibiotics in clinical isolates of diabetic foot
Authors: Ramon Edder Guadalupe Segura , Gonzalez Gabriel Martinez , Almeida Jorge
Published: July 2024

Objective

To determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) in diabetic foot wounds and analyze antibiotic resistance patterns.

Introduction

The global incidence of diabetes mellitus, particularly type II, has significantly increased, leading to complications such as diabetic foot ulcers. These ulcers often become infected, with MRSA being a common and challenging pathogen. Understanding the prevalence and resistance patterns of MRSA in diabetic foot infections is crucial for effective treatment.

Methodology

Diabetic foot wound samples were collected from 65 patients in the Valley of Toluca, Mexico. Samples were cultured and analyzed using chromogenic agar, BHI, salt and mannitol, calf blood, EMB, and MacConkey agars. Strain identification and antibiotic sensitivity testing were performed using the Vytek automated system. Oxacillin and cefoxitin were used to detect methicillin resistance. Statistical analyses, including Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Shapiro-Wilk tests, and Spearman correlation, were conducted to evaluate relationships between clinical factors and antibiotic resistance.

Results

Of the 65 samples, 56.9% were from men and 43.1% from women, with 97.1% having type II diabetes. MRSA prevalence was 63%. Resistance rates were highest for ampicillin (100%), clindamycin (89%), erythromycin (87%), and gentamicin (73%). Statistical analysis showed no significant correlation between oxacillin resistance and glycemic control, erythromycin resistance (MLS resistance), hypertension, or gender.

Conclusion

The high prevalence of MRSA in diabetic foot wounds underscores the need for targeted infection control and appropriate antibiotic therapy. The lack of correlation between resistance and clinical factors suggests a multifactorial nature of antibiotic resistance, necessitating broader clinical and microbiological considerations for future studies.
UCS: a unified approach to cell segmentation for subcellular spatial transcriptomics
Authors: Chen Yuheng , Xu Xin , Wan Xiaomeng , Xiao Jiashun , Yang Can
Published: July 2024

Subcellular Spatial Transcriptomics (SST) represents an innovative technology enabling researchers to investigate gene expression at the subcellular level within tissues. To comprehend the spatial architecture of a given tissue, cell segmentation plays a crucial role in attributing the measured transcripts to individual cells. However, existing cell segmentation methods for SST datasets still face challenges in accurately distinguishing cell boundaries due to the varying characteristics of SST technologies. In this study, we propose a unified approach to cell segmentation (UCS) specifically designed for SST data obtained from diverse platforms, including 10X Xenium, NanoString CosMx, MERSCOPE, and Stereo-seq. UCS leverages deep learning techniques to achieve high accuracy in cell segmentation by integrating nuclei segmentation from nuclei staining and transcript data. Compared to current methods, UCS not only provides more precise transcript assignment to individual cells but also offers computational advantages for large-scale SST data analysis. The analysis output of UCS further supports versatile downstream analyses, such as subcellular gene classification and missing cell detection. By employing UCS, researchers gain the ability to characterize gene expression patterns at both the cellular and subcellular levels, leading to a deeper understanding of tissue architecture and function.
Spectral algal fingerprinting and long sequencing in synthetic algal-microbial communities
Authors: Meirkhanova Ayagoz , Marks Sabina , Feja Nicole , Vorobjev Ivan A. , Barteneva Natasha S.
Published: July 2024

Synthetic biology has made progress in creating artificial microbial and algal communities, but technical and evolutionary complexities still pose significant challenges.

Traditional methods for studying microbial and algal communities, such as microscopy and pigment analysis, are limited in throughput and resolution. In contrast, advancements in full-spectrum cytometry enabled high-throughput, multidimensional analysis of single cells based on their size, complexity, and spectral fingerprints, offering more precise and comprehensive analysis than conventional flow cytometry.

This study demonstrates the use of full-spectrum cytometry for analyzing synthetic algal-microbial communities, facilitating rapid species identification and enumeration. The workflow involves recording individual spectral signatures from monocultures, utilizing autofluorescence to distinguish them from noise, and subsequent creation of a spectral library for further analysis. The obtained library is used then to analyze mixtures of unicellular cyanobacteria and synthetic phytoplankton communities, revealing differences in spectral signatures. The synthetic consortium experiment monitored algal growth, comparing results from different instruments and highlighting the advantages of the spectral virtual filter system for precise population separation and abundance tracking. This approach demonstrated higher flexibility and accuracy in analyzing multi-component algal-microbial assemblages and tracking temporal changes in community composition.

By capturing the complete emission spectrum of each cell, this method enhances the understanding of algal-microbial community dynamics and responses to environmental stressors. With development of standardized spectral libraries, our work demonstrates an improved characterization of algal communities, advancing research in synthetic biology and phytoplankton ecology.
Nematode Extracellular Protein Interactome Expands Connections between Signaling Pathways
Authors: Nawrocka Wioletta I. , Cheng Shouqiang , Hao Bingjie , Rosen Matthew C. , Cortés Elena , Baltrusaitis Elana E. , Aziz Zainab , Kovács István A. , Özkan Engin
Published: July 2024

Multicellularity was accompanied by the emergence of new classes of cell surface and secreted proteins. The nematodeC. elegansis a favorable model to study cell surface interactomes, given its well-defined and stereotyped cell types and intercellular contacts. Here we report ourC. elegansextracellular interactome dataset, the largest yet for an invertebrate. Most of these interactions were unknown, despite recent datasets for flies and humans, as our collection contains a larger selection of protein families. We uncover new interactions for all four major axon guidance pathways, including ectodomain interactions between three of the pathways. We demonstrate that a protein family known to maintain axon locations are secreted receptors for insulins. We reveal novel interactions of cystine-knot proteins with putative signaling receptors, which may extend the study of neurotrophins and growth-factor-mediated functions to nematodes. Finally, our dataset provides insights into human disease mechanisms and how extracellular interactions may help establish connectomes.
GPT-3 reveals selective insensitivity to globalvs.local linguistic context in speech produced by treatment-naïve patients with positive thought disorder
Authors: Sharpe Victoria , Mackinley Michael , Eddine Samer Nour , Wang Lin , Palaniyappan Lena , Kuperberg Gina R.
Published: July 2024

Background

Early psychopathologists proposed that certain features of positive thought disorder, the disorganized language output produced by some people with schizophrenia, suggest an insensitivity to global, relative to local, discourse context. This idea has received support from carefully controlled psycholinguistic studies in language comprehension. In language production, researchers have so far remained reliant on subjective qualitative rating scales to assess and understand speech disorganization. Now, however, recent advances in large language models mean that it is possible to quantify sensitivity to global and local context objectively by probing lexical probability (the predictability of a word given its preceding context) during natural language production.

Methods

For each word in speech produced by 60 first-episode psychosis patients and 35 healthy, demographically-matched controls, we extracted lexical probabilities from GPT-3 based on contexts that ranged from very local— a single preceding word: P(Wn | Wn-1)—to global— up to 50 preceding words: P(Wn|Wn-50, Wn-49, …, Wn-1).

Results

We show, for the first time, that disorganized speech is characterized by disproportionate insensitivity to global, versus local, linguistic context. Critically, this global-versus-local insensitivity selectively predicted clinical ratings of positive thought disorder, above and beyond overall symptom severity. There was no evidence of a relationship with negative thought disorder (impoverishment).

Conclusions

We provide an automated, interpretable measure that can potentially be used to quantify speech disorganization in schizophrenia. Our findings directly link the clinical phenomenology of thought disorder to neurocognitive constructs that are grounded in psycholinguistic theory and neurobiology.
Mechanistic Insights into MinD Regulation and Pattern Formation inBacillus subtilis
Authors: Feddersen Helge , Bramkamp Marc
Published: July 2024

Bacteria precisely regulate the place and timing of their cell division. One of the best-understood systems for division site selection is the Min system inEscherichia coli. InE. coli, the Min system displays remarkable pole-to-pole oscillation, creating a time-averaged minimum at the cell’s geometric center, which marks the future division site. Interestingly, the Gram-positive model speciesBacillus subtilisalso encodes homologous proteins: the cell division inhibitor MinC and the Walker-ATPase MinD. However,B. subtilislacks the activating protein MinE, which is essential for Min dynamics inE. coli. We have shown before that theB. subtilisMin system is highly dynamic and quickly relocalizes to active sites of division. This raised questions about how Min protein dynamics are regulated on a molecular level inB. subtilis. Here, we show with a combination ofin vitroexperiments andin vivosingle-molecule imaging that the ATPase activity ofB. subtilisMinD is activated solely by membrane binding. Additionally, both monomeric and dimeric MinD bind to the membrane, and binding of ATP to MinD is a prerequisite for fast membrane detachment. Single-molecule localization microscopy data confirm membrane binding of monomeric MinD variants. However, only wild type MinD enriches at cell poles and sites of ongoing division, likely due to interaction with MinJ. Monomeric MinD variants and locked dimers remain distributed along the membrane and lack the characteristic pattern formation. Single-molecule tracking data further support that MinD has a freely diffusive population, which is increased in the monomeric variants and a membrane binding defective mutant. Thus, MinD dynamics inB. subtilisdo not require any unknown protein component and can be fully explained by MinD’s binding and unbinding kinetics with the membrane. The generation of MinD patterns relies on the short-lived temporal residence of MinD dimers at the membrane.
Plasmid2MC: Efficient cell-free recombination of plasmids into high-purity minicircle DNA for use in genome editing applications
Authors: Oliynyk Roman Teo , Mahas Ahmed , Karpinski Emil , Church George M.
Published: July 2024

DNA plasmids are commonly used for delivering proteins and RNA in genome editing. However, their bacterial components can lead to inactivation, cell toxicity, and reduced efficiency compared to minicircle DNA (mcDNA) lacking such bacterial sequences. Existing commercial kits that recombine plasmids into mcDNA within proprietary bacterial strains are labor-intensive, yield inconsistent results, and often produce low-quality mcDNA. To address this, we developed Plasmid2MC, a cell-free method using ΦC31 recombination to efficiently excise the bacterial backbone from conventionally prepared plasmids, while mcDNA purification steps digest all DNA impurities and reduce endotoxin levels. We demonstrated application of mcDNA to express CRISPR-dCas9 for base editing in HEK293T cells and mouse embryonic stem cells, as well as for homology-independent targeted insertion (HITI) genome editing. The method’s ease of preparation, efficiency and mcDNA purity make it a valuable alternative for applications requiring bacterial backbone-free circular DNA.
Biological tick control: modeling the potential impact of entomopathogenic fungi on the transmission of East Coast fever in cattle
Authors: Oundo Joseph Wang’ang’a , Hartemink Nienke , de Jong Mart C.M , Koenraadt Constantianus J.M. , Kalayou Shewit , Masiga Daniel , ten Bosch Quirine
Published: July 2024

Biological control of ticks using entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) is a highly desired alternative to chemical acaricides for the control of tick-borne pathogens. ForMetarhizium anisopliaeisolate ICIPE 7, one of these EPFs, efficacy against multiple tick species has been demonstrated in laboratory and field settings. However, we currently have little quantitative understanding of how EPFs can impact transmission. We developed a deterministic model of tick–host–pathogen interactions to explore how the effects of EPF onRhipicephalus appendiculatusticks may impact the transmission dynamics of East Coast fever (ECF) in cattle populations. We parameterized the multi-faceted effects of EPFs on tick dynamics using experimental data on Tickoff® biopesticide (a novel formulation ofM. anisopliaeICIPE 7) and related EPFs. The epidemiological impact of EPF was evaluated across a range of product profiles and implementation strategies. Model results indicate that, for the explored product profiles, EPF derives most of its epidemiological impact through the delayed mortality effect. This EPF-induced mortality could not only reduce the onwardTheileria parvatransmission to cattle (both treated and untreated) but could also cause a reduction in the tick-to-host ratio and thus cattle exposure to ticks. The effects of EPF on reproduction fitness and engorgement of ticks elicit negligible impact. High levels of population coverage and treatment frequency are needed to reduce the tick population size and reach meaningful epidemiological impact in cattle populations. Additionally, increasing the persistence time of fungal conidia on cattle skin – through technological improvements to the EPF formulation – can substantially reduce acute infections when combined with appreciable population coverage levels, treatment frequency, and efficient spraying techniques. Our model analysis provides insights into the potential impact of EPF when deployed at a population level, and lends support to further research and development of this biological tick control tool.
Discordance in Genotypic and Phenotypic anti-tuberculosis drug susceptibility results: time to reconsider critical concentration
Authors: Shrivas Arti , Singh Sarman , Singh Jitendra , Shankar Prem , Soni Payal , Rufai Syed Beenish , Maurya Anand , Purwar Shashank
Published: July 2024

Objective

To correlaterpoBmutations found on the sanger sequencing inMycobacterium tuberculosis(MTB) isolates with Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) to the rifampicin.

Methods

We assessed the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for 151 archived clinical MTB isolates that were determined phenotypically susceptible to RIF (101;66.89%) and remaining fifty (50;33.11%) were resistant to RIF by BACTEC MGIT SIRE DST. MIC values were determined using colorimetric redox indicator (Resazurin/REMA) method and results were correlated withrpoBgene mutations associate with rifampicin resistance found.

Results

Comparing the MIC and critical concentration, we found that 15 of these 101 (14.85%) isolates were misclassified by MGIT-960 as sensitive at standard critical concentration (1.0µg/mL) though these were found to have low-level RIF resistance by CRI assay (MIC 0.50µg/mL to 1.0µg/mL) and sanger sequencing. We found that all of 15 isolates contained non-synonymous mutations, the commonest being theIle572Phe(7, 46.66%), followed byLeu533Pro(3, 20.0%),His526Leu(2, 13.33%),His526Asn+Ile572Phe(1),Asp516Tyr(1), andLeu533Pro+Pro564Arg(1). These mutations are reported to confer low-level RIF resistance. But we did not find any mutation at MIC<0.25μg/mL.

Conclusion

We found that a significant number of MTB isolates have phenotypic and genotypic discordance. Taking 1.0µg/mL of rifampicin as critical concentration, isolates from approximately 15% patients are misidentified as susceptible to rifampicin, even when these strains carry low level drug resistance conferring mutations and have potential to develop clinical MDR-TB.
Physiological Roles of anAcinetobacter-specific σ Factor
Authors: Bacon Emily E. , Myers Kevin S. , Iruegas-López Rubén , Banta Amy B. , Place Michael , Ebersberger Ingo , Peters Jason M.
Published: July 2024

The Gram-negative pathogenAcinetobacter baumanniiis considered an “urgent threat” to human health due to its propensity to become antibiotic resistant. Understanding the distinct regulatory paradigms used byA. baumanniito mitigate cellular stresses may uncover new therapeutic targets. Many γ-proteobacteria use the extracytoplasmic function (ECF) σ factor, RpoE, to invoke envelope homeostasis networks in response to stress.Acinetobacterspecies contain the poorly characterized ECF “SigAb;” however, it is unclear if SigAb has the same physiological role as RpoE. Here, we show that SigAb is a metal stress-responsive ECF that appears unique toAcinetobacterspecies and distinct from RpoE. We combine promoter mutagenesis, motif scanning, and ChIP-seq to define the direct SigAb regulon, which consists ofsigAbitself, the stringent response mediator,relA, and the uncharacterized small RNA, “sabS.” However, RNA-seq of strains overexpressing SigAb revealed a large, indirect regulon containing hundreds of genes. Metal resistance genes are key elements of the indirect regulon, as CRISPRi knockdown ofsigAborsabSresulted in increased copper sensitivity and excess copper induced SigAb-dependent transcription. Further, we found that two uncharacterized genes in thesigAboperon, “aabA” and “aabB”, have anti-SigAb activity. Finally, employing a targeted Tn-seq approach that uses CRISPR-associated transposons, we show thatsigAb,aabA, andaabBare important for fitness even during optimal growth conditions. Our work reveals new physiological roles for SigAb and SabS, provides a novel approach for assessing gene fitness, and highlights the distinct regulatory architecture ofA. baumannii.

Importance

Acinetobacter baumanniiis a hospital-acquired pathogen, and many strains are resistant to multiple antibiotics. Understanding howA. baumanniisenses and responds to stress may uncover novel routes to treat infections. Here, we examine how theAcinetobacter-specific transcription factor, SigAb, mitigates stress. We find that SigAb directly regulates only a small number of genes, but indirectly controls hundreds of genes that have substantial impacts on cell physiology. We show that SigAb is required for maximal growth, even during optimal conditions, and is acutely required during growth in the presence of elevated copper. Given that copper toxicity plays roles in pathogenesis and on copper-containing surfaces in hospitals, we speculate that SigAb function may be important in clinically-relevant contexts.
Kidney ‘pathway-orphan’ genes as a potential overlooked source of novel insights into kidney health and disease
Authors: Acoba Dianne , Gunnarsson Sophie , Reznichenko Anna
Published: July 2024

Hundreds of protein-coding genes still have unknown functions and no biological pathway annotations. Mechanistic studies typically investigate well-known genes, despite growing evidence of associations between disease and some understudied genes. We hypothesized that examining these overlooked genes lacking pathway annotation could lead to new insights on chronic kidney disease (CKD) pathogenesis. Human protein-coding genes (N=19,258) from HGNC were annotated with pathway membership using a comprehensive collection of pathway databases (including but not limited to GO, KEGG, MSigDB, Reactome, WikiPathways) to reveal ‘pathway-orphan genes’— genes that are not members of any biological pathways. Expression and enrichment of pathway-orphan genes in healthy kidneys were established using GTEx data. Kidney-expressed pathway-orphan genes were tested for differential case-control expression using publicly available CKD datasets with kidney tissue RNA-seq transcriptomics profiling (GSE98422, GSE142025, GSE175759, GSE197307, Levin et al., 2020). A total of 286 genes in the human genome currently lack any biological pathway membership and are identified as pathway-orphan genes. We have determined 97 of these pathway-orphan genes are expressed in healthy kidneys, with several showing kidney-specific enrichment. Furthermore, 34 pathway-orphan genes show significant modulation of expression (FDR < 0.05) in CKD kidney, out of which 10 robustly demonstrate concordant directionality of change in more than one RNA-seq study. Through interrogating multiple lines of evidence, we showed how possible physiological functions of the pathway-orphan genes in kidney health and disease can be inferred. A substantial number of kidney-expressed genes remain ‘pathway-orphan’ while displaying clear signals of kidney relevance, such as enrichment of expression in the kidney, significant modulation in CKD, and genetic associations with kidney function. Directing mechanistic studies into this overlooked gene group might broaden our biological understanding of kidney physiology and highlight novel disease drivers.
Clathrin-associated carriers enable recycling through a kiss-and-run mechanism
Authors: Xu Jiachao , Liang Yu , Li Nan , Dang Song , Jiang Amin , Liu Yiqun , Guo Yuting , Yang Xiaoyu , Yuan Yi , Zhang Xinyi , Yang Yaran , Du Yongtao , Shi Anbing , Liu Xiaoyun , Li Dong , He Kangmin
Published: July 2024

Endocytosis and recycling control the uptake and retrieval of various materials, including membrane proteins and lipids, in all eukaryotic cells. These processes are crucial for cell growth, organization, function, and environmental communication. However, the mechanisms underlying efficient, fast endocytic recycling remain poorly understood. Here, by utilizing a biosensor and imaged-based screening, we uncover a novel recycling mechanism that couples endocytosis and fast recycling, which we name the clathrin-associated fast endosomal recycling pathway (CARP). Clathrin-associated tubulovesicular carriers containing clathrin, AP1, Arf1, Rab1, and Rab11, while lacking the multimeric retrieval complexes, are generated at subdomains of early endosomes, and then transported along actin to cell surfaces. Unexpectedly, the clathrin-associated recycling carriers undergo partial fusion with the plasma membrane. Subsequently, they are released from the membrane by dynamin and reenter cells. Multiple receptors utilize and modulate CARP for fast recycling following endocytosis. Thus, CARP represents a novel endocytic recycling mechanism with kiss-and-run membrane fusion.
Picobiinae mites (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) parasitising the Starlings (Passeriformes: Sturnidae) in the Afrotropical region
Authors: Patan Milena , Skoracki Maciej , Marcisova Iva , Hromada Martin , Sikora Bozena
Published: July 2024

In the present paper, we continue our studies on quill mites of the family Syringophilidae parasitising birds of the family Sturnidae. Herein, we describe a new species,Picobia wisniewskiisp. nov., collected from the red-winged starlingOnychognathus morio(Linnaeus) in Tanzania. Additionally, we provide an emended diagnosis and new host records forPicobia lamprotornisKlimovicova et al., 2014 andPicobia sturniSkorackiet al. 2004.
Novel approaches to determine
B±
and
B0
meson production fractions
Authors: Bernlochner Florian , Jung Martin , Khan Munira , Landsberg Greg , Ligeti Zoltan
Published: July 2024

We propose novel methods to determine the ϒ(4S)→B+B− and ϒ(4S)→B0B¯0 decay rates. The precision to which they and their ratio are known yields at present a limiting uncertainty around 2% in measurements of absolute B decay rates, and thus in a variety of applications, such as precision determinations of elements of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix and flavor-symmetry relations. The new methods we propose are based in one case on exploiting the ϒ(5S) datasets, in the other case on the different average number of charged tracks in B± and B0 decays. We estimate future sensitivities using these methods and discuss possible measurements of fd/fu at the (HL-)LHC.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Strong decays of
Pcs(4338)
and its high isospin cousin via QCD sum rules
Authors: Wang Xiu-Wu , Wang Zhi-Gang
Published: July 2024

In the present work, the strong decays of the newly observed Pcs(4338) as well as its high isospin cousin Pcs(4460) are studied via the QCD sum rules. According to conservation of isospin, spin, and parity, the hadronic coupling constants in four decay channels are obtained; then, the partial decay widths are obtained. The total width of the Pcs(4338) coincides with the experimental data nicely, while the predictions for the Pcs(4460) can be testified in the future experiment and shed light on the nature of the Pcs(4338).

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
X(3872)
to
ψ(2S)
yield ratio in heavy-ion collisions
Authors: Abreu L. M. , Navarra F. S. , Vieira H. P. L.
Published: July 2024

In this work, we evaluate the X(3872) to ψ(2S) yield ratio (NX/Nψ(2S)) in Pb-Pb collisions, taking into account the interactions of the ψ(2S) and X(3872) states with light mesons in the hadron gas formed at the late stages of these collisions. We employ an effective Lagrangian approach to estimate the thermally averaged cross sections for the production and absorption of the ψ(2S) and use them in the rate equation to determine the time evolution of Nψ(2S). The multiplicity of these states at the end of the mixed phase is obtained from the coalescence model. The multiplicity of X(3872), treated as a bound state of (DD¯*+cc) and also as a compact tetraquark, was already calculated in previous works. Knowing these yields, we derive predictions for the ratio (NX/Nψ(2S)) as a function of the centrality, of the center-of-mass energy, and of the charged hadron multiplicity measured at midrapidity [dNch/dη(η<0.5)]. Finally, we make predictions for this ratio in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=5.02  TeV to be measured by the ALICE Collaboration in run 3. Our findings suggest that the molecular configuration generates a ratio compatible with the data, whereas the ratio obtained with the tetraquark configuration is 50 times smaller.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Transverse momentum moments
Authors: del Rio Oscar , Prokudin Alexei , Scimemi Ignazio , Vladimirov Alexey
Published: July 2024

We establish robust relations between Transverse Momentum Dependent distributions (TMDs) and collinear distributions. We define weighted integrals of TMDs that we call Transverse Momentum Moments (TMMs) and prove that TMMs are equal to collinear distributions evaluated in some minimal subtraction scheme. The conversion to the modified minimal subtraction (MS¯) scheme can be done by a calculable factor, which we derive up to three loops for some cases. We discuss in detail the zeroth, the first, and the second TMMs and provide phenomenological results for them based on the current extractions of TMDs. The results of this paper open new avenues for theoretical and phenomenological investigation of the three-dimensional and collinear hadron structures.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
More excitement across the horizon
Authors: Preciado-Rivas María R. , Naeem Manar , Mann Robert B. , Louko Jorma
Published: July 2024

An Unruh-DeWitt detector falling radially into a four-dimensional Schwarzschild black hole, coupled linearly to a massless scalar field that has been prepared in the Hartle-Hawking or Unruh state, has recently been shown to exhibit a local extremum in its transition probability near the black hole horizon [K. K. Ng , ]. We show that a similar phenomenon is present in the transition rate of an Unruh-DeWitt detector falling radially into a spinless Bañados-Teitelboim-Zanelli black hole, with the scalar field prepared in the Hartle-Hawking state. We give extensive numerical results as a function of the detector’s energy gap, the black hole’s mass, and the detector’s drop-off radius. Our results suggest that the effect is robust, motivating a search for a similar effect in other black hole spacetimes, and calling for an explanation of the physical origin of the effect.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Thin-wall monopoles in a false vacuum
Authors: Paranjape M. B. , Saxena Yash
Published: July 2024

We study numerically the existence in a false vacuum of magnetic monopoles that are “thin walled,” i.e., which correspond to a spherical region of radius R that is essentially trivial surrounded by a wall of thickness Δ≪R, hence the name thin wall, and finally an exterior region that essentially corresponds to a pure Abelian magnetic monopole. Such monopoles were dubbed false monopoles and can occur in non-Abelian gauge theories where the symmetry-broken vacuum is actually the false vacuum. This idea was first proposed in Kumar []; however, the proof of the existence of thin-wall, false monopoles given there was incorrect. Here, we fill this lacuna and demonstrate numerically, for an appropriately modified potential, the existence of thin-wall false monopoles. The decay via quantum tunneling of the false monopoles could be of importance to cosmological scenarios that entertain epochs in which the Universe is trapped in a symmetry-broken false vacuum.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Self-Interacting Dark Matter Solves the Final Parsec Problem of Supermassive Black Hole Mergers
Authors: Alonso-Álvarez Gonzalo , Cline James M. , Dewar Caitlyn
Published: July 2024

Evidence for a stochastic gravitational wave (GW) background, plausibly originating from the merger of supermassive black holes (SMBHs), is accumulating with observations from pulsar timing arrays. An outstanding question is how inspiraling SMBHs get past the “final parsec” of separation, where they have a tendency to stall before GW emission alone can make the binary coalesce. We argue that dynamical friction from the dark matter (DM) spike surrounding the black holes is sufficient to resolve this puzzle, if the DM has a self-interaction cross section of order cm2/g. The same effect leads to a softening of the GW spectrum at low frequencies as suggested by the current data. For collisionless cold DM, the friction deposits so much energy that the spike is disrupted and cannot bridge the final parsec, while for self-interacting DM, the isothermal core of the halo can act as a reservoir for the energy liberated from the SMBH orbits. A realistic velocity dependence, such as generated by the exchange of a massive mediator like a dark photon, is favored to give a good fit to the GW spectrum while providing a large enough core. A similar velocity dependence has been advocated for solving the small-scale structure problems of cold DM.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Trapped Atoms and Superradiance on an Integrated Nanophotonic Microring Circuit
Authors: Zhou Xinchao , Tamura Hikaru , Chang Tzu-Han , Hung Chen-Lung
Published: July 2024

Interfacing cold atoms with integrated nanophotonic devices could offer new paradigms for engineering atom-light interactions and provide a potentially scalable route for quantum sensing, metrology, and quantum information processing. However, it remains a challenging task to efficiently trap a large ensemble of cold atoms on an integrated nanophotonic circuit. Here, we demonstrate direct loading of an ensemble of up to 70 atoms into an optical microtrap on a nanophotonic microring circuit. Efficient trap loading is achieved by employing degenerate Raman-sideband cooling in the microtrap, where a built-in spin-motion coupling arises directly from the vector light shift of the evanescent-field potential on a microring. Atoms are cooled into the trap via optical pumping with a single free space beam. We have achieved a trap lifetime approaching 700 ms under continuous cooling. We show that the trapped atoms display large cooperative coupling and superradiant decay into a whispering-gallery mode of the microring resonator, holding promise for explorations of new collective effects. Our technique can be extended to trapping a large ensemble of cold atoms on nanophotonic circuits for various quantum applications.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Fixed-target pump–probe SFX: eliminating the scourge of light contamination
Authors: Gotthard Guillaume , Flores-Ibarra Andrea , Carrillo Melissa , Kepa Michal W. , Mason Thomas J. , Stegmann Dennis P. , Olasz Bence , Pachota Magdalena , Dworkowski Florian , Ozerov Dmitry , Pedrini Bill F. , Padeste Celestino , Beale John H. , Nogly Przemyslaw
Published: July 2024

X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) light sources have enabled the rapid growth of time-resolved structural experiments, which provide crucial information on the function of macromolecules and their mechanisms. Here, the aim was to commission the SwissMX fixed-target sample-delivery system at the SwissFEL Cristallina experimental station using the PSI-developed micro-structured polymer (MISP) chip for pump–probe time-resolved experiments. To characterize the system, crystals of the light-sensitive protein light–oxygen–voltage domain 1 (LOV1) from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were used. Using different experimental settings, the accidental illumination, referred to as light contamination, of crystals mounted in wells adjacent to those illuminated by the pump laser was examined. It was crucial to control the light scattering from and through the solid supports otherwise significant contamination occurred. However, the results here show that the opaque MISP chips are suitable for defined pump–probe studies of a light-sensitive protein. The experiment also probed the sub-millisecond structural dynamics of LOV1 and indicated that at Δt = 10 µs a covalent thioether bond is established between reactive Cys57 and its flavin mononucleotide cofactor. This experiment validates the crystals to be suitable for in-depth follow-up studies of this still poorly understood signal-transduction mechanism. Importantly, the fixed-target delivery system also permitted a tenfold reduction in protein sample consumption compared with the more common high-viscosity extrusion-based delivery system. This development creates the prospect of an increase in XFEL project throughput for the field.
Building information modeling (BIM) implementation and construction project success in Malaysian construction industry: mediating role of project control
Authors: Waqar Ahsan , Othman Idris Bin , Mansoor Muhammad Shoaib
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The primary objective of this study is to analyze the correlation between the application of building information modeling (BIM), the construction project success (CPS) and project control. Additionally, this research aims to explore the potential mediating effect of project control on the link between BIM and construction project success in the Malaysian construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study employs a quantitative research methodology and adheres to a positivist research philosophy in order to examine the influence of BIM implementation on the CPS and project control within the Malaysian construction sector. The data were collected by structured questionnaire survey from 200 respondents using a purposive sampling strategy, and the results were analyzed by using partial least square (PLS)-structural equation modeling (SEM). The study's findings are all the more noteworthy since, despite the small sample size, 218 persons genuinely participated thanks to the purposive sampling approach.

Findings

The findings of this study indicate that there are notable and positive associations between various variables related to the implementation of BIM. These variables include accurate quantities and estimations, risk management, facility management integration, optimized resource allocation and real-time monitoring. Furthermore, these relationships are observed to have a significant impact on both CPS and project control. The study revealed that project control serves as a mediator in the relationship between the deployment of BIM and the CPS in the Malaysian construction sector, with the exception of its influence on risk management.

Originality/value

The originality of this research consists in examining the mediating function of project control in the relationship between BIM implementation and CPS. This study contributes to the existing knowledge by enhancing our understanding of the processes via which BIM positively influences project outcomes.
A clash of clans: an empirical study of conflicting institutional logics and their impact on megaproject collaboration
Authors: af Hällström Anna
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Managing megaprojects is challenging due to their inherent complexity and uncertainty. Collaborative project delivery models have been introduced as an alternative to traditional project management in public infrastructure megaprojects and are often realized through collaborative contracts. These project organizations act as institutional arenas for logic interaction as actors with differing institutional backgrounds interact within the project. This paper aims to study the delivery phase of three megaprojects through an institutional lens, investigating the institutional interaction and alignment of logics therein.

Design/methodology/approach

A multiple case study was employed to reach deep insight into the phenomenon. Sixty-one interviews were conducted over 3 cases with representatives from all levels of the project hierarchy. Respondents were selected through snowball sampling. In two cases, observations of the shared project office were conducted. Data analysis built on first-order codes and second-order themes, collected into a theoretical framework.

Findings

The empirical evidence demonstrates the dynamics shaping institutional logics and gives evidence for changing logics in projects with a well-applied collaborative contract. However, there is a risk of resistance and a return to traditional logics since institutional change is slow and an unsuitably applied collaborative contract can lead to adherence to the conventional way of work.

Originality/value

Current research has focused on the regulatory framework and procurement phase of such models, but little attention has been given to the delivery phase and the interaction of conflicting logics. This paper can serve as an exemplar of the different logics found within public infrastructure projects and their interaction and alignment. Contributions include a heightened emphasis on the start of the project as a meeting point for differing institutional logics and the role change necessary when using a collaborative contract.
The effect of friction characteristics on electromagnetic impact deformation mechanism of 2A10 aluminum alloy bars
Authors: Zhang Xu , Tang Kangjie , Wang Yingyu , Dong Dongying
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The purpose objective of this study is to identify the friction coefficient and friction effect in electromagnetic upsetting (EMU) high-speed forming process.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on numerical simulation and upsetting experiment of 2A10 aluminum alloy bar, the friction coefficient between contact surfaces is obtained by combining the fitting displacement distribution function and the electromagnetic-mechanical coupling numerical model, and the influence of friction effect is analyzed.

Findings

The maximum impact velocity and acceleration during EMU are 13.9 m/s and −3.3 × 106 m/s2, respectively, and the maximum strain rate is 7700 s−1. The functional distribution relationship between friction coefficient combination (FS, FD) and characteristic parameters [upper diameter (D1) and middle diameter (D2)] is established. The values of FS and FD are 0.1402 and 0.0931, respectively, and the maximum relative error is 2.39%. By analyzing the distribution of equivalent stress and strain, it is found that plastic deformation has obvious zoning characteristics and there is serious failure concentration in the strong shear zone.

Originality/value

Friction coefficient significantly affects stress or strain distributions in material forming process, but it is difficult to obtain friction coefficients through experimental tests in the high-speed forming process. In this paper, a multi-field coupling numerical model is proposed to determine friction coefficients and applied to the electromagnetic impact loading process (a high-speed forming process).

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-05-2024-0154/
Open-plan office employees’ perceived mental and social well-being
Authors: Ramantswana Thabelo , Mmamabolo Lebogang Bridget , Appel-Meulenbroek Rianne
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Over the past century, office designers have adapted to changing work conditions across various industries by creating workspaces that cater to the needs of modern workers. As a result, a range of office layouts have been developed, from traditional private offices to open-plan setups. The choice of layout can significantly impact communication, social interaction and overall performance. This study aims to explore the social and mental well-being of employees working in open-plan offices in the public sector in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was conducted in the Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa, focusing on five governmental departments. Using purposive sampling, employees working in open-plan offices were identified. A structured online interview form with open-ended questions was distributed to all selected employees between May and September 2021, resulting in 54 responses. Thematic content analysis using ATLAS.ti was used to analyze the data.

Findings

The findings suggest that while open-plan offices can enhance teamwork, communication, accessibility and inclusivity, their design can negatively affect employees’ perceptions of social and mental health in the workplace. Specifically, open-plan designs are perceived to compromise privacy, shorten attention spans, lower productivity and increase stress levels. Interestingly, absenteeism was not reported by employees in this study, which contradicts previous research and requires further investigation.

Practical implications

These findings can be valuable for human resource managers, facilities managers and office space designers.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the ongoing conversation surrounding the impact of open-plan offices on the mental and social well-being of employees in the public sector within the South African context. The contribution of this paper thus lies in the South-African context and the public sector angle plus a more in-depth insight on well-being through an extensive set of 54 interviews.