bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crosstalk between gut microbiota and RNA N6-methyladenosine modification in cancer
Authors: Su Hao , Cheung Henley , Lau Harry Cheuk-Hay , Chen Hongyan , Zhang Xiaoting , Qin Na , Wang Yifei , Chan Matthew Tak Vai , Wu William Ka Kei , Chen Huarong
Published: July 2023

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in regulating various host metabolic, immune, and neuroendocrine functions, and has a significant impact on human health. Several lines of evidence suggest that gut dysbiosis is associated with a variety of diseases, including cancer. The gut microbiota can impact the development and progression of cancer through a range of mechanisms, such as regulating cell proliferation and death, modulating the host immune response, and altering the host metabolic state. Gene regulatory programs are considered critical mediators between the gut microbiota and host phenotype, of which RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications have attracted much attention recently. Aberrant m6A modifications have been shown to play a crucial role in cancer development. This review aims to provide an overview of the diverse roles of gut microbiota and RNA m6A modifications in cancer and highlight their potential interactions in cancer development.
Intervention design in public health: adaptive messaging in the Tanzanian National Sanitation Campaign
Authors: Czerniewska Alexandra , Mwambuli Kaposo , Curtis Val , Aunger Robert
Published: July 2023

Few case studies exist in the public health or design literatures showing how to create national scale messaging campaigns in low-income countries using design processes. In this paper, we describe how we used Behaviour Centred Design to develop Nyumba ni choo, the Tanzanian National Sanitation Campaign. The process involved multiple iterations of ideation and filtration by professional creatives, government staff, academics and sanitation specialists to create a branded mass communication campaign, which was refreshed annually. The campaign was based on the insight that Tanzania is modernizing rapidly, with people upgrading their homes, but leaving their outside toilets in a ‘traditional’ state. Built around the ‘big idea’ that a household is not fully modern without a good-quality, modern toilet, the campaign employed reality TV shows, live engagements and mass and digital media postings, all targeted at motivating both the government and general population to improve toilets. The campaign has made toilets a topic of national conversation and has led to a major uptick in the rate of toilet building. Efforts to improve public health-related behaviour can be enhanced by using systematic approaches that build on available evidence, understand behaviour in its common settings, employ psychological theory and engage creative expertise.
Promising Cytotoxic butenolides from the Soybean endophytic fungus Aspergillus terreus: a combined molecular docking and in-vitro studies
Authors: El-Hawary Seham S , Moawad Abeer S , Bahr Hebatallah S , Attia Eman Z , El-Katatny Mo`men H , Mustafa Muhamad , Al-Karmalawy Ahmed A , Rateb Mostafa E , Zhang Jian-ye , Abdelmohsen Usama Ramadan , Mohammed Rabab
Published: July 2023

Aim

This study aimed to use one strain many compounds approach (OSMAC) to investigate the cytotoxic potential of Aspergillus terreus associated with soybean versus several cancer cell lines, by means of in-silico and in vitro approaches.

Methods and results

Fermentation of the isolated strain was done on five media. The derived extracts were investigated for their inhibitory activities against three human cancer cell lines; mammary gland breast cancer (MCF-7), colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) using MTT Assay. The fungal mycelia fermented in Modified Potato Dextrose Broth (MPDB) was the most cytotoxic extract against HepG2, MCF-7, and Caco-2 cell lines with IC50 4.2 ± 0.13, 5.9 ± 0.013 and 7.3 ± 0.004 μg mL−1, respectively. MPDB extract was scaled up resulting in the isolation of six metabolites; three fatty acids (1, 2, and 4), one sterol (3) and two butenolides (5 and 6) by column chromatography. The isolated compounds (1–6) were screened through a molecular docking approach for their binding aptitude to various active sites. butyrolactone-I (5) revealed a significant interaction within the CDK2 active site, while aspulvinone E (6) showed promising binding affinity to FLT3 and EGFR active sites that was confirmed by in vitro CDK2, FLT3 and EGFR inhibitory activity. Finally, the in vitro cytotoxic activities of butyrolactone-I (5) and aspulvinone E (6) revealed the antiproliferative activity of butyrolactone-I (5), against HepG2 cell line (IC50 = 17.85 ± 0.32 μM).

Conclusion

Molecular docking analysis and in vitro assays suggested the CDK2/A2 inhibitory potential of butyrolactone-I (5) in addition to the promising interaction abilities of aspulvinone E (6) with EGFR and FLT3 active sites as a possible mechanism of their biological activities.
The synergy of tea tree oil nano-emulsion and antibiotics against multidrug-resistant bacteria
Authors: Wei SiMin , Tian QiMing , Husien Hosameldeen Mohamed , Tao Ya , Liu XiaoPan , Liu MingJiang , Bo RuoNan , Li JinGui
Published: July 2023

Aims

We determined the synergistic effects of tea tree essential oil nano-emulsion (nanoTTO) and antibiotics against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria in vitro and in vivo. Then, the underlying mechanism of action of nanoTTO was investigated.

Methods and results

Minimum inhibitory concentrations and fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) were determined. The transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and the expression of tight junction (TJ) protein of IPEC-J2 cells were measured to determine the in vitro efficacy of nanoTTO in combination with antibiotics. A mouse intestinal infection model evaluated the in vivo synergistic efficacy. Proteome, adhesion assays, quantitative real-time PCR, and scanning electron microscopy were used to explore the underlying mechanisms. Results showed that nanoTTO was synergistic (FICI ≤ 0.5) or partial synergistic (0.5 < FICI < 1) with antibiotics against MDR Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria strains. Moreover, combinations increased the TEER values and the TJ protein expression of IPEC-J2 cells infected with MDR Escherichia coli. The in vivo study showed that the combination of nanoTTO and amoxicillin improved the relative weight gain and maintained the structural integrity of intestinal barriers. Proteome showed that type 1 fimbriae d-mannose specific adhesin of E. coli was downregulated by nanoTTO. Then, nanoTTO reduced bacterial adhesion and invasion and inhibited the mRNA expression of fimC, fimG, and fliC, and disrupted bacterial membranes.
Iron-richCandida utilisimproves intestinal health in weanling piglets
Authors: Zeng Yan , Zhou Bingyu , Huang LiHong , Liu YuBo
Published: July 2023

Aim

This study aimed to investigate the effects of substituting inorganic iron in the diet of weanling piglets with iron-rich Candida utilis on gut morphology, immunity, barrier, and microbiota.

Methods and Results

Seventy-two healthy 28-day-old Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire desexed male weanling piglets were randomly assigned to 2 groups (n = 6), with 6 pens per group and 6 piglets in each pen. The control group was fed a basal diet containing ferrous sulfate (104 mg kg−1 iron), while the experimental group was fed a basal diet supplemented with iron-rich C. utilis (104 mg kg−1 iron). The results show that the growth performance of weanling piglets showed no significantly differences (P > 0.05). Iron-rich C. utilis significantly elevated villus height and decreased crypt depth in the duodenum and jejunum (P < 0.05). Additionally, there was a significant increase in SIgA content, a down-regulated of pro-inflammatory factors expression, and an up-regulated of anti-inflammatory factors expression in the jejunum and ileum of piglets fed iron-rich C. utilis (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression levels of ZO-1, Claudin-1, Occludin, and Mucin2 in the jejunum were significantly increased by iron-rich C. utilis, and were significantly increased ZO-1 and Claudin-1 in the ileum (P < 0.05). The colonic microbiota, however, was not significantly affected by iron-rich C. utilis (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Iron-rich C. utilis improved intestinal morphology and structure, as well as intestinal immunity and intestinal barrier function.
Black hole binary formation in AGN discs: from isolation to merger
Authors: Rowan Connar , Boekholt Tjarda , Kocsis Bence , Haiman Zoltán
Published: July 2023

Motivated by the increasing number of detections of merging black holes by LIGO-VIRGO-KAGRA, black hole (BH) binary mergers in the discs of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is investigated as a possible merger channel. In this pathway, BH encounters in the gas disc form mutually bound BH binary systems through interaction with the gas in the disc and subsequently inspiral through gravitational torques induced by the local gas. To determine the feasibility of this merger pathway, we present the first three-dimensional global hydrodynamic simulations of the formation and evolution of a stellar-mass BH binaries AGN discs with three different AGN disc masses and five different initial radial separations. These 15 simulations show binary capture of prograde and retrograde binaries can be successful in a range of disc densities including cases well below that of a standard radiatively efficient alpha disc, identifying that the majority of these captured binaries are then subsequently hardened by the surrounding gas. The eccentricity evolution depends strongly on the orbital rotation where prograde binaries are governed by gravitational torques form their circumbinary mini disc, with eccentricities being damped, while for retrograde binaries the eccentricities are excited to >∼ 0.9 by accretion torques. In two cases, retrograde binaries ultimately undergo a close periapsis passage which results in a merger via gravitational waves after only a few thousand binary orbits. Thus, the merger time-scale can be far shorter than the AGN disc lifetime. These simulations support an efficient AGN disc merger pathway for BHs.
On the Hα faintness of the North Polar Spur
Authors: Sofue Yoshiaki , Kataoka Jun , Iwashita Ryoji
Published: July 2023

The ratio of Hα intensity to 1.4-GHz radio continuum intensity in the North Polar Spur (NPS) is measured to be ≲ 50, two orders of magnitude smaller than the values of ∼104 observed in the typical shell-type old supernova remnants of the Cygnus Loop and S147. The extremely low Hα-to-radio intensity ratio favours the Galactic Centre explosion model for the NPS, which postulates a giant shock wave at a distance of several kiloparsecs in the hot and low-density Galactic halo with a low hydrogen recombination rate, over the local supernova(e) remnant model.
A local model for the spherical collapse/expansion problem
Authors: Lynch Elliot M , Laibe Guillaume
Published: July 2023

Spherical flows are a classic problem in astrophysics which are typically studied from a global perspective. However, much like with accretion discs, there are likely many instabilities and small scale phenomena which would be easier to study from a local perspective. For this purpose, we develop a local model for a spherically contracting/expanding gas cloud, in the spirit of the shearing box, β-plane, and expanding box models which have had extensive use in studies of accretion discs, planets, and stellar winds, respectively. The local model consists of a, spatially homogeneous, periodic box with a time varying aspect ratio, along with a scale factor (analogous to that in FRW/Newtonian cosmology) relating the box coordinates to the physical coordinates of the global problem. We derive a number of symmetries and conservation laws exhibited by the local model. Some of these reflect symmetries of the periodic box, modified by the time dependant geometry, while others are local analogues for symmetries of the global problem. The energy, density, and vorticity in the box also generically increase(/decrease) as a consequence of the collapse(/expansion). We derive a number of non-linear solutions, including a local analogue of uniform density zonal flows, which grow as a consequence of angular momentum conservation. Our model is closely related to the accelerated expanding box model of Tenerani & Velli and is an extension of the isotropic model considered by Robertson & Goldreich.
The Evolutionary History of Drosophila simulans Y Chromosomes Reveals Molecular Signatures of Resistance to Sex Ratio Meiotic Drive
Authors: Courret Cécile , Ogereau David , Gilbert Clément , Larracuente Amanda M , Montchamp-Moreau Catherine
Published: July 2023

The recent evolutionary history of the Y chromosome in Drosophila simulans, a worldwide species of Afrotropical origin, is closely linked to that of X-linked meiotic drivers (Paris system). The spread of the Paris drivers in natural populations has elicited the selection of drive-resistant Y chromosomes. To infer the evolutionary history of the Y chromosome in relation to the Paris drive, we sequenced 21 iso-Y lines, each carrying a Y chromosome from a different location. Among them, 13 lines carry a Y chromosome that is able to counteract the effect of the drivers. Despite their very different geographical origins, all sensitive Y's are highly similar, suggesting that they share a recent common ancestor. The resistant Y chromosomes are more divergent and segregate in four distinct clusters. The phylogeny of the Y chromosome confirms that the resistant lineage predates the emergence of Paris drive. The ancestry of the resistant lineage is further supported by the examination of Y-linked sequences in the sister species of D. simulans, Drosophila sechellia and Drosophila mauritiana. We also characterized the variation in repeat content among Y chromosomes and identified multiple simple satellites associated with resistance. Altogether, the molecular polymorphism allows us to infer the demographic and evolutionary history of the Y chromosome and provides new insights on the genetic basis of resistance.
Modification to the placement of the navigation reference frame in posterior corrective fusion of spinal deformity with myelomeningocele: a series of 6 cases
Authors: Tanida Shimei , Masamoto Kazutaka , Tsukanaka Masako , Futami Toru
Published: July 2023

To show a modified placement of the navigation reference frame in posterior corrective fusion of spinal deformity with myelomeningocele. This was a retrospective, single-surgeon case series, and IRB-approved study. Six consecutive patients (one male and five females) who were diagnosed with spinal deformity with myelomeningocele underwent posterior corrective fusion surgery from the upper thoracic spine to the pelvis with preoperative computed tomography navigation (pCTN). At the level of the spina bifida, where posterior elements such as the spinous process were missing, the reference frame of the pCTN was placed on the flipped lamina or pedicles, and a pedicle screw (PS) or iliac screw (IS) was inserted. Screw deviation was investigated by using postoperative CT. A total of 55 screws were placed at the spina bifida level and pelvis. Of these, 12 ISs were placed on each side in each case. The screws placed using the pCTN were not reinserted or removed intraoperatively or postoperatively. However, only one PS was found to have perforated the spinal canal on postoperative CT but was left in place because it caused no neurological problem. By modifying the placement of the reference frame, such as placing it on the flipped lamina or pedicles, pCTN could be used even at the levels of the spina bifida, where the posterior elements are missing, to accurately place PSs and various types of ISs.
Does Liposomal Bupivacaine Injectable Suspension Peripheral Nerve Block Further Aid in Decreasing At-home Narcotic Utilization in Children and Adolescents After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Walls Halle R. , Thomas Evelyn S. , Kain Zeev N. , Schlechter John A.
Published: July 2023

Background:

Opioid misuse and addiction among children and adolescents is an increasingly concerning problem. This study sought to determine whether liposomal bupivacaine injectable suspension admixture administered as a single-shot adductor canal peripheral nerve block (SPNB+BL) would decrease utilization of at-home opioid analgesics after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in adolescents compared with single-shot peripheral nerve block with bupivacaine (SPNB+B) alone.

Methods:

Consecutive ACLR patients with or without meniscal surgery by a single surgeon were enrolled. All received a preoperative single-shot adductor canal peripheral nerve block with either admixture of liposomal bupivacaine injectable suspension with 0.25% bupivacaine (SPNB+BL) or 0.25% bupivacaine alone (SPNB+B). Postoperative pain management included cryotherapy, oral acetaminophen, and ibuprofen. A prescription for 10 doses of hydrocodone/acetaminophen (5/325 mg) was provided in a sealed envelope with instructions to only use in the case of uncontrolled pain. Pain using the visual analog scale; number of consumed narcotics, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and pain treatment satisfaction for the first 3 postoperative days were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed.

Results:

Fifty-eight patients were enrolled, the average age was 15±1.5 years (SPNB+B=32 patients, SPNB+BL=26 patients). Forty-seven patients (81%) did not require home opioids postoperatively. A significantly lower proportion of patients in the SPNB+BL group required opioids compared with control patients (7.7% vs. 28.1%, P=0.048). Average opioid use was 2 morphine milligram equivalents (MME), 0.4 pills (range, 0 to 20 MME). There were no differences in the visual analog scale or pain treatment satisfaction scores, other demographics, or other operative data. Inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis that was performed to account for any potential group differences revealed home opioid use between groups is significantly different (P<0.001).

Conclusions:

Liposomal bupivacaine injectable suspension admixture administered as an adductor canal nerve block in adolescents undergoing ACLR effectively reduces home opioid usage postoperatively compared with bupivacaine alone.

Level of Evidence:

Level II—prospective comparative study.
Relative efficacy and safety of several regional analgesic techniques following thoracic surgery: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Li Jie , Sun Qingchao , Zong Liang , Li Desheng , Jin Xiaoliang , Zhang Liwei
Published: July 2023

Background:

This network meta-analysis was performed to assess the relative efficacy and safety of various regional analgesic techniques used in thoracic surgery.

Materialsand methods:

Randomized controlled trials evaluating different regional analgesic methods were retrieved from databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, from inception to March 2021. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve) was estimated to rank the therapies based on the Bayesian theorem. Moreover, sensitivity and subgroup analyses were performed on the primary outcomes to obtain more reliable conclusions.

Results:

Fifty-four trials (3360 patients) containing six different methods were included. Thoracic paravertebral block and erector spinae plane block (ESPB) were ranked the highest in reducing postoperative pain. As for total adverse reactions and postoperative nausea and vomiting, postoperative complications, and duration of hospitalization, ESPB was found to be superior to other methods. It should be noted that there were few differences between various methods for all outcomes.

Conclusions:

Available evidence suggests that ESPB might be the most effective and safest method for relieving pain after thoracic surgery, shortening the length of hospital stay and reducing the incidence of postoperative complications.
Four-Point Impedance and Utricular Dysfunction Is Associated with Postoperative Dizziness after Cochlear Implantation
Authors: Tan Eren , Bester Christofer , Collins Aaron , Razmovski Tayla , O’Leary Stephen
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Postimplantation dizziness is common, affecting approximately 50% of patients. Theories for dizziness include utricular inflammation, endolymphatic hydrops, and loss of perilymph. Four-point impedance (4PI) is a novel impedance measurement in cochlear implantation that shows potential to predict hearing loss, inflammation, and fibrotic tissue response. Here, we associate 4PI with dizziness after implantation and explore the link with utricular function.

Methods

Subjective visual vertical (SVV) as a measure of utricular function was recorded preoperatively as a baseline. 4PI was measured immediately postinsertion. Ongoing follow-up was performed at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month, postoperatively. At each follow-up, 4PI, SVV, and the patients’ subjective experience of dizziness were assessed.

Discussion

Thirty-eight adults were recruited. One-day 4PI was significantly higher in patients dizzy within the next week (254 Ω vs 171 Ω,p= 0.015). The optimum threshold on receiver operating characteristic curve was 190 Ω, above which patients had 10 times greater odds of developing dizziness (Fisher exact test, OR = 9.95,p= 0.0092). This suggests that 4PI varies with changes in the intracochlear environment resulting in dizziness, such as inflammation or hydrops. SVV significantly deviated away from the operated ear at 1 day (fixed effect estimate = 2.6°,p≤ 0.0001) and 1 week (fixed effect estimate 2.7°,p≤ 0.001).

Conclusion

One-day 4PI is a potentially useful marker for detecting postoperative dizziness after cochlear implantation. Of the current theories for postoperative dizziness, inflammation might explain the findings seen here, as would changes in hydrostatic pressure. Future research should focus on detecting and exploring these labyrinthine changes in further detail.
Pseudobulbar Affect in an Elderly Female with Small Vessel Ischemic Disease and Alcohol Abuse Disorder: A Case Report
Authors: Safari Vejin Tannaz , Dehbozorgi Mahdi
Published: July 2023

Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) is a neurological condition characterized by recurrent, inappropriate, and involuntary outbursts of emotion, primarily crying and laughter, which are dissociated from the individual's emotional experience. The precise underlying cause of PBA remains unknown; however, existing evidence suggests the involvement of dopaminergic, serotonergic, and glutamatergic neurotransmission within the corticopontine-cerebellar pathways responsible for regulating the motor expression of emotions. Additionally, PBA has been observed to co-occur with other neurocognitive and psychiatric disorders. Therefore, it is crucial to consider the possibility of a PBA diagnosis in patients with underlying neurological damage and disorders.

In this case report, we present the case of a 66-year-old woman with a medical history of alcohol use disorder and small vessel ischemic disease, who has been experiencing recurrent spontaneous episodes of crying and laughter for the past 2-3 years. These episodes were mood incongruent. A head CT scan without contrast revealed evidence of small vessel ischemia, volume loss without hemorrhage, and mild ventricular enlargement. Despite the emotional episodes, the patient declined treatment due to an affinity for them. Most notable was the cerebellar atrophy observed on sagittal CT without contrast of 2022 admission in comparison to 20202 imaging, which could indicate possible causes of pseudobulbar palsy. This report discusses the patient's presentation, clinical symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options for PBA, while also shedding light on potential underlying causes of the condition.
EEG Signal Processing to Control a Finger Rehabilitation System
Authors: FallahTaherpazir Mahdi , Menhaj Mohammadbagher , Sajedin Atena
Published: July 2023

This study aims to provide a comprehensive comparison for classification of Electroencephalography (EEG) signal based motor imagery, in time domain and time-frequency domain with different classifiers. We used EEG signals recorded while the subjects were imagining the movement of individual fingers, and analyzed the signals in time domain as well as using wavelet transform and Wigner transform. Our main goal is to compare different methods of feature extraction and classification as the important steps in the process of EEG signals for the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) system. The experimental results indicate that the Support Vector Machine (SVM) method provides a better classification performance compared with other classification methods. Also, Linear Discriminative Analysis (LDA) performs as well as the SVM, after applying PCA for dimension reduction. The proposed scheme can be applied successfully to BCI systems where the amount of large data.
Effect of natural precursors and micro/macroparticles addition on the morphology modulation ofStreptomyces toxytriciniKD18 stimulates lipstatin productivity
Authors:   Khushboo, Dhaka Namrata , Dubey Kashyap Kumar
Published: July 2023

The cellular architecture of filamentous microbes is of great interest because it is frequently associated with secondary metabolite productivity and can be altered by cultivation conditions. Hence, the evaluation of cell morphology is of the utmost significance for better understanding of industrial processes involving filamentous bacteria. In the present study, effect of glass beads and silica particle addition have been seen in the enhancement of lipstatin production along with alterations in the morphology. The addition of glass beads and silica particles directed the morphology ofStreptomyces toxytriciniKD18 towards the formation of small pellets (0.3 to 0.4mm) with dispersed mycelia as compared to the control conditions (0.04 to 2mm). A four-fold increase in lipstatin production was achieved due to mechanical stress caused by glass beads and silica particles. The addition of natural precursors, i.e.,Aloe verapulp,Hibiscus cannabinusleaves and flowers improved the production of lipstatin from 2.06 mg/ml to 6.76 mg/ml, 11.4 mg/ml and 14.09 mg/ml, respectively along with alteration in the pellet morphology in 500 ml shake flask.
Long-read sequencing shows complex structural variants in tumor-stage mycosis fungoides
Authors: Hain Carsten , Stadler Rudolf , Kalinowski Jörn
Published: July 2023

Mycosis fungoides is the most common cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Recurrent copy-number variations are the main unifying mutations in this disease, but to date, a comprehensive analysis of occurrence and type of structural variants responsible for these copy-number variations remains elusive. In this study, we used Oxford Nanopore Technologies long-read sequencing to elucidate the highly rearranged genomic landscape of five mycosis fungoides samples. We show the occurrence of multiple classes of simple and complex SV and analyze the extend of tumor suppressor gene deletion by complex SVs. Furthermore, leveraging long-read data, we inferred the genomic structure of a chromothripsis event. Our findings highlight the potential of long-read sequencing as a powerful tool for comprehensive genomic analysis in mycosis fungoides.
ANGPTL8 R59W variant influences inflammation through modulating NF-κB pathway under TNFα stimulation
Authors: Abu-Farha Mohamed , Madhu Dhanya , Hebbar Prashantha , Mohammad Anwar , Channanath Arshad , Kavalakatt Sina , Alam-Eldin Nada , Alterki Fatima , Taher Ibrahem , Alsmadi Osama , Shehab Mohammad , Arefanian Hossein , Ahmad Rasheed , Al-Mulla Fahd , Thanaraj Thangavel Alphonse , Abubaker Jehad
Published: July 2023

Background

ANGPTL8 is known to regulate lipid metabolism and inflammation. It interacts with ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL4 to regulate LPL activity, and with IKKα/β to modulate NF-κB activity. Further, a SNP leading to ANGPTL8 R59W variant associates with reduced LDL/HDL and increased FBG in Hispanic and Arab individuals, respectively. In this study, we investigate the impact of R59W variant on the inflammatory activity of ANGPTL8.

Methods

ANGPTL8 R59W variant was genotyped in a discovery cohort of 867 Arab individuals from Kuwait. Plasma levels of ANGPTL8 and inflammatory markers were measured and tested for associations with the genotype; the associations were tested for replication in an independent cohort of 278 Arab individuals. Impact of the ANGPTL8 R59W variant on NF-κB activity was examined using approaches including overexpression, luciferase assay, and structural modeling of binding dynamics.

Results

The ANGPTL8 R59W variant was associated with increased circulatory levels of TNFα and IL7. NF-κB activity, as assessed by the increased in the phosphorylation of IKK-α/β protein, IκBα, and NF-κB p-65 in R59W variant compared to wild type, and TNFα stimulation further elevated it. This finding was substantiated by increased luciferase activity of NF-κB p65 with the R59W variant. Modeled structural and binding variation due to R59W change in ANGPTL8 agreed with the observed increase in NF-κB activity.

Conclusion

ANGPTL8 R59W is associated with increased circulatory TNFα, IL7 and NF-κB p65 activity. Weak transient binding of ANGPTL8 R59W variant explains its regulatory role on the NF-κB pathway and inflammation.
Parafoveal vision reveals qualitative differences between FFA and PPA
Authors: Kreichman Olga , Gilaie-Dotan Sharon
Published: July 2023

The center-periphery visual field axis guides early visual system organization with enhanced resources devoted to central vision leading to reduced peripheral performance relative to that of central vision (i.e., behavioral eccentricity effect) for most visual functions. The center-periphery organization extends to high-order visual cortex where for example the well-studied face-sensitive fusiform face area (FFA) shows sensitivity to central vision and place-sensitive parahippocampal place area (PPA) shows sensitivity to peripheral vision. As we have recently found that face perception is more sensitive to eccentricity than place perception, here we examined whether these behavioral findings reflect differences in FFA and PPA’s sensitivities to eccentricity. We assumed FFA would show higher sensitivity to eccentricity than PPA would, but that both regions’ modulation by eccentricity would be invariant to the viewed category. We parametrically investigated (fMRI, n=32) how FFA’s and PPA’s activations are modulated by eccentricity (≤8°) and category (upright/inverted faces/houses) while keeping stimulus size constant. As expected, FFA showed an overall higher sensitivity to eccentricity than PPA. However, both regions’ activation modulations by eccentricity were dependent on the viewed category. In FFA a reduction of activation with growing eccentricity (“BOLD eccentricity effect”) was found (with different amplitudes) for all categories. In PPA however, there were qualitative modulations of the BOLD eccentricity effect with mild BOLD eccentricity effect for houses but a reverse BOLD eccentricity effect for faces and no modulation for inverted faces. Our results emphasize that peripheral vision investigations are critical to further our understanding of visual processing both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Significance statement

Visual perception significantly deteriorates with growing distance from central vision (behavioral eccentricity effect) with varying degrees according to visual function. For some functions (but not others) deterioration follows the reduction of resources devoted to peripheral vision at early visual processing stages. While early stages of visual processing reflect retinal spatial arrangement, here we found that activations in high-order visual areas that are less sensitive to visual field location show a BOLD fMRI activation eccentricity effect that mirrors the behavioral eccentricity effect. Importantly, the BOLD eccentricity effects we found varied across regions and were modulated quantitatively and qualitatively by the viewed visual categories. Our results emphasize that peripheral vision investigations are critical to further our understanding of visual processing.
Unveiling drug tolerant and persister-like cells inLeishmania braziliensislines derived from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis
Authors: Jara Marlene , Arevalo Jorge , Llanos Alejandro , Van den Broeck Frederik , Domagalska Malgorzata Anna , Dujardin Jean Claude
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Resistance against anti-Leishmaniadrugs (DR) has been studied for years, giving important insights into long-term adaptations of these parasites to drugs, through genetic modifications. However, microorganisms can also survive lethal drug exposure by entering into temporary quiescence, a phenomenon called drug tolerance (DT), which is rather unexplored inLeishmania.

Methods

We studied a panel of 9Leishmania braziliensisstrains highly susceptible to potassium antimonyl tartrate (PAT), exposed promastigotes to lethal PAT pressure and compared several cellular and molecular parameters distinguishing DT from DR.

Results and discussion

We demonstratedin vitrothat a variable proportion of cells remained viable, showing all the criteria of DT and not of DR: (i) signatures of quiescence, under drug pressure: reduced proliferation and significant decrease of rDNA transcription, (ii) reversibility of the phenotype: return to low IC50after removal of drug pressure, (iii) absence of significant genetic differences between exposed and unexposed lineages of each strain and absence of reported markers of DR. We found different levels of quiescence and DT among the differentL. braziliensisstrains. We provide here a newin vitromodel of drug-induced quiescence and DT inLeishmania. Research should be extendedin vivo, but current model could be further exploited to support R&D, for instance, to guide screening of compounds able to overcome quiescence resilience of the parasite, hereby improving therapy of leishmaniasis.
Symmetry-mode analysis for local structure investigations using pair distribution function data
Authors: Hamilton Parker K. , Moya Jaime M. , Hallas Alannah M. , Morosan E. , Baral Raju , Frandsen Benjamin A.
Published: July 2023

Symmetry-adapted distortion modes provide a natural way of describing distorted structures derived from higher-symmetry parent phases. Structural refinements using symmetry-mode amplitudes as fit variables have been used for at least ten years in Rietveld refinements of the average crystal structure from diffraction data; more recently, this approach has also been used for investigations of the local structure using real-space pair distribution function (PDF) data. Here, the value of performing symmetry-mode fits to PDF data is further demonstrated through the successful application of this method to two topical materials: TiSe2, where a subtle but long-range structural distortion driven by the formation of a charge-density wave is detected, and MnTe, where a large but highly localized structural distortion is characterized in terms of symmetry-lowering displacements of the Te atoms. The analysis is performed using fully open-source code within the DiffPy framework via two packages developed for this work: isopydistort, which provides a scriptable interface to the ISODISTORT web application for group theoretical calculations, and isopytools, which converts the ISODISTORT output into a DiffPy-compatible format for subsequent fitting and analysis. These developments expand the potential impact of symmetry-adapted PDF analysis by enabling high-throughput analysis and removing the need for any commercial software.
Examining the impact of cultural values on the adoption of big data analytics in healthcare organizations
Authors: Alzaabi Hind Mubarak , Alawadhi Mohamed Abdulla , Ahmad Syed Zamberi
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of cultural values [power distance (PD), uncertainty avoidance (UC), individualism vs collectivism (IC) and time orientation] and users’ perceptions on the adoption of big data analytics (BDA) within the context of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) health-care sector. It uses the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model as its theoretical foundation.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey involving 256 health-care organization users in major hospitals across the UAE was conducted. Smart partial least squares (PLS) structural equation modeling was used to assess users’ behavioral intentions (BI) to use BDA in the health-care context.

Findings

Results indicate that performance expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions and perceived trust significantly predicted respondents’ BI to use BDA. However, effort expectancy, perceived security and time orientation were found to have insignificant impacts on BI. Interestingly, the remaining cultural values (PD, UC and IC) did not significantly affect the relationship between social influence and BI in the context of BDA adoption in health care.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by examining the role of cultural dimensions in BDA adoption within health-care organizations, particularly in the underrepresented UAE health-care context. Moreover, it extends the application of the UTAUT model to the BDA adoption in health care, providing insights into the factors affecting users’ BIs to use the technology.
Organizational resistance through organizing principles: the case of gender equality in the military
Authors: Holmberg Arita , Alvinius Aida
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Previous studies show that the implementation of gender equality encounters resistance in military organizations, but it is often invisible or seen as confined to anonymous structures or troubled individuals. This paper aims to show how the Swedish Armed Forces (SAF) use organizational principles to resist implementing gender equality measures.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is a qualitative analysis of discursive strategies in the SAF’s 2013–2018 annual reports to government.

Findings

The organizing principles of instrumentality and distance, while existing in parallel with gender equality efforts, actually pursue logics that prevents the SAF from implementing gender equality. The principle of instrumentality in this context means that gender equality in the SAF is of secondary interest to organizational members. The principle of distancing from the problem includes strategies that alienate female from male officers.

Originality/value

The contribution of this paper is the finding that the use of organizing principles represents conscious organizational resistance to gender equality efforts. This kind of use needs to be revealed and criticized to change military organizations.
Thinking styles of Australasian paramedics and paramedicine students
Authors: Keene Toby , Pammer Kristen , Newman Eryn , Lord Bill
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Paramedics play important roles in healthcare, yet little is known about their decision-making. There is evidence that thinking style is associated with individual preference for intuitive or deliberative decision-making.

Design/methodology/approach

Australian and New Zealand paramedics (n = 103; mean age: 38.7; mean 12 years’ experience; 44% female) and paramedic students (n = 101; mean age: 25.7; 59% female) completed a thinking style survey measuring active open-mindedness (AOT), close mindedness (CMT), preference for intuitive thinking (PIT) and preference for effortful thinking (PET). Participants also completed the 7-item Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT) to assess ability to override an attractive but incorrect intuition.

Findings

With prior exposure to the CRT controlled, regression analysis found increasing AOT and decreasing age predicted cognitive reflection across all participants (R2/R2 adjusted: 0.198/0.157; F(10, 192) = 4.752, p < 0.001). There were moderate correlations between CMT, age and paramedic experience. There was no difference between paramedics and student performance on the CRT, though more students reported prior exposure to the items (33.7 vs 16.5%; Chi-square (2) = 8.02, p = 0.02). Those who reported prior exposure to the CRT scored significantly higher than those who had not (5.08 [1.44] vs 3.87 [1.70]; F(2, 201) = 14.34, p < 0.001).

Originality/value

Self-reported AOT was associated with cognitive reflection and indicates a role for open-mindedness in paramedics to support decision-making.
Incorporating user behavior flow for user risk assessment
Authors: Shan Yuxiang , Ren Qin , Yu Gang , Li Tiantian , Cao Bin
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Internet marketing underground industry users refer to people who use technology means to simulate a large number of real consumer behaviors to obtain marketing activities rewards illegally, which leads to increased cost of enterprises and reduced effect of marketing. Therefore, this paper aims to construct a user risk assessment model to identify potential underground industry users to protect the interests of real consumers and reduce the marketing costs of enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

Method feature extraction is based on two aspects. The first aspect is based on traditional statistical characteristics, using density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise clustering method to obtain user-dense regions. According to the total number of users in the region, the corresponding risk level of the receiving address is assigned. So that high-quality address information can be extracted. The second aspect is based on the time period during which users participate in activities, using frequent item set mining to find multiple users with similar operations within the same time period. Extract the behavior flow chart according to the user participation, so that the model can mine the deep relationship between the participating behavior and the underground industry users.

Findings

Based on the real underground industry user data set, the features of the data set are extracted by the proposed method. The features are experimentally verified by different models such as random forest, fully-connected layer network, SVM and XGBOST, and the proposed method is comprehensively evaluated. Experimental results show that in the best case, our method can improve the F1-score of traditional models by 55.37%.

Originality/value

This paper investigates the relative importance of static information and dynamic behavior characteristics of users in predicting underground industry users, and whether the absence of features of these categories affects the prediction results. This investigation can go a long way in aiding further research on this subject and found the features which improved the accuracy of predicting underground industry users.
Manipulability optimization of redundant manipulators using reinforcement learning
Authors: Yang Haoqiang , Li Xinliang , Meng Deshan , Wang Xueqian , Liang Bin
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is using a model-free reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm to optimize manipulability which can overcome difficulties of dilemmas of matrix inversion, complicated formula transformation and expensive calculation time.

Design/methodology/approach

Manipulability optimization is an effective way to solve the singularity problem arising in manipulator control. Some control schemes are proposed to optimize the manipulability during trajectory tracking, but they involve the dilemmas of matrix inversion, complicated formula transformation and expensive calculation time.

Findings

The redundant manipulator trained by RL can adjust its configuration in real-time to optimize the manipulability in an inverse-free manner while tracking the desired trajectory. Computer simulations and physics experiments demonstrate that compared with the existing methods, the average manipulability is increased by 58.9%, and the calculation time is reduced to 17.9%. Therefore, the proposed method effectively optimizes the manipulability, and the calculation time is significantly shortened.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first method to optimize manipulability using RL during trajectory tracking. The authors compare their approach to existing singularity avoidance and manipulability maximization techniques, and prove that their method has better optimization effects and less computing time.
The impact of COVID-19 on sustainability reporting: A perspective from the US financial institutions
Authors: Alkayed Hani , Yousef Ibrahim , Hussainey Khaled , Shehadeh Esam
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This article provides the first empirical study on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on sustainability reporting in US financial institutions using institutional, stakeholder and legitimacy theories.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used the independent sample t-test and Mann–Whitney U test throughout as well as OLS, random effects, fixed effects and heteroskedasticity corrected model to test the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sustainability reporting in the US financial sector. A sample from all listed US financial firms was used after controlling for both the Refinitiv Eikon sector classification and the NAICS sector classification.

Findings

Using U Mann–Whitney test and independent sample t-test the study revealed that the average ESG score for the pre-COVID19 period is 53% compared with 62.3% for the COVID-19 period, indicating that the sustainability reporting during COVID-19 is much higher compared with the pre-pandemic period. The findings of regression analysis also confirm that the US financial companies increased their sustainability reporting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Research limitations/implications

This study is an early attempt to look at how the COVID-19 epidemic has affected financial reporting procedures, although it is focused only on one area and other entity-related factors like stock market implications, company governance, internal audit practice, etc could have been considered.

Practical implications

This research offers useful recommendations for policymakers to create standards for regulators on the significance of raising sustainability awareness. The findings are crucial for accounting regulators as they work to implement COVID-19 and enforce required integrated reporting rules and regulations.

Originality/value

The study provides the first empirical evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sustainability reporting, by examining how US financial institutions approach the topic of sustainability during the COVID-19 pandemic and assessing the pandemic's current consequences on sustainability.
Gaming and luxury brands: love and hate
Authors: Guzzetti Alice , Crespi Roberta , Atwal Glyn
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this exploratory study is to identify the antecedents of brand hate in respect to luxury brand gamification marketing activities.

Design/methodology/approach

Five gamified product placements characterized by the ad hoc design of luxury co-branded virtual and/or physical products were selected for the research study. Content analysis was used to identify patterns and classify negative comments shared online into categories.

Findings

A content analysis of the negative comments (n. 2,321) related to the perception toward gamification of luxury fashion in videogames revealed the following seven domains: monetization of the game; promotion of inappropriate behavior; unethical placement; games commodified by brands; predatory monetization; perceived incongruence; poor product performance.

Research limitations/implications

The exploratory research study revealed how the perception of gamification activities trigger negative emotions toward luxury fashion brands. It was significant that many of these emotions fall within the antecedents of brand hate.

Practical implications

Luxury companies and game developers need to be aware and manage the antecedents of brand hate in respect to luxury brand gamification activities in videogames. Moreover, luxury brands need to consider customers’ influencing behavior via online word-of-mouth and the potential to impact attitudes and behaviors of other consumers toward brands.

Originality/value

The ethics of gamification within a marketing context have largely escaped inquiry. The study provides evidence that luxury brands need to align the fundamentals of luxury brand management in the digital world of gaming.