bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High-level carbapenem tolerance requires antibiotic-induced outer membrane modifications
Authors: Murtha Andrew N. , Kazi Misha I. , Schargel Richard D. , Cross Trevor , Fihn Conrad , Carlson Erin E. , Boll Joseph M. , Dörr Tobias 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAntibiotic tolerance is an understudied potential contributor to antibiotic treatment failure and the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria. The molecular mechanisms governing tolerance remain poorly understood. A prominent type of β-lactam tolerance relies on the formation of cell wall-deficient spheroplasts, which maintain structural integrity via their outer membrane (OM), an asymmetric lipid bilayer consisting of phospholipids on the inner leaflet and a lipid-linked polysaccharide (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) enriched in the outer monolayer on the cell surface. How a membrane structure like LPS, with its reliance on mere electrostatic interactions to maintain stability, is capable of countering internal turgor pressure is unknown. Here, we have uncovered a novel role for the PhoPQ two-component system in tolerance to the β-lactam antibiotic meropenem in Enterobacterales. We found that PhoPQ is induced by meropenem treatment and promotes an increase in 4-amino-4-deoxy-L-aminoarabinose [L-Ara4N] modification of lipid A, the membrane anchor of LPS. L-Ara4N modifications enhance structural integrity, and consequently tolerance to meropenem, in several Enterobacterales species. Importantly, mutational inactivation of the negative PhoPQ regulatory elementmgrB(commonly selected for during clinical therapy with the last-resort antibiotic colistin, an antimicrobial peptide [AMP]) results in dramatically enhanced tolerance, suggesting that AMPs can collaterally select for meropenem tolerance via stable overactivation of PhoPQ. Lastly, we identify histidine kinase inhibitors (including an FDA-approved drug) that inhibit PhoPQ-dependent LPS modifications and consequently potentiate meropenem to enhance killing of tolerant cells. In summary, our results suggest that PhoPQ-mediated LPS modifications play a significant role in stabilizing the OM, promoting survival when the primary integrity maintenance structure, the cell wall, is removed.SignificanceTreating an infection with an antibiotic often fails, resulting in a tremendous public health burden. One understudied likely reason for treatment failure is the development of “antibiotic tolerance”, the ability of bacteria to survive normally lethal exposure to an antibiotic. Here, we describe a molecular mechanism promoting tolerance. A bacterial stress sensor (PhoPQ) is activated in response to antibiotic (meropenem) treatment and consequently strengthens a bacterial protective “shell” to enhance survival. We also identify inhibitors of this mechanism, opening the door to developing compounds that help antibiotics work better against tolerant bacteria.
Summarizing internal dynamics boosts differential analysis and functional interpretation of super enhancers
Authors: Liu Xiang , Zhao Bo , Shaw Timothy I. , Fridley Brooke L. , Duckett Derek R. , Tan Aik-Choon , Teng Mingxiang 
Published: September 2021

ABSTRACTSuper enhancers (SEs) are broad enhancer domains usually containing multiple constituent enhancers that hold elevated activities in gene regulation. Disruption in one or more constituent enhancers causes aberrant SE activities that lead to gene dysregulation in diseases. To quantify SE aberrations, differential analysis is performed to compare SE activities between cell conditions. The state-of-art strategy in estimating differential SEs relies on overall activities and neglect the changes in length and structure of SEs. Here, we propose a novel computational method to identify differential SEs by weighting the combinatorial effects of constituent-enhancer activities and locations (i.e., internal dynamics). In addition to overall activity changes, our method identified four novel classes of differential SEs with distinct enhancer structural alterations. We demonstrate that these structure alterations hold distinct regulatory impact, such as regulating different number of genes and modulating gene expression with different strengths, highlighting the differentiated regulatory roles of these unexplored SE features. When compared to the existing method, our method showed improved identification of differential SEs that were linked to better discernment of cell-type-specific SE activity and functional interpretation. We implement an R package, DASE, to facilitate the use of our method.
Incidence Rates of Pediatric Central Nervous Tumors Display No Geographical Variation
Authors: Grogan Dayton , Reddy Vamsi , Banerjee Christopher , Waller Jennifer , Johnson Theodore , Heger Ian 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundCentral nervous system (CNS) tumors affect over 4,600 children throughout the United States each year. Despite recent trends of increasing incidence of pediatric CNS tumors, the understanding of variations in their incidence between different geographical regions remains incomplete.MethodData used in this study was obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. The SEER database and its built-in operation software was used to generate state-specific incidence data for newly diagnosed CNS tumor diagnoses in children ages 0-19 for the years 2001-2014. Results were organized by tumor type and individual states were clustered into nine geographical regions as defined by the United States Census Bureau.ResultsStatistically significant differences were found in the regional incidence of astrocytoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET), and the category of unspecified intracranial and intraspinal neoplasms. However, the magnitude of the difference in incidence (ΔI) between specific regions was small, on the order of 0.1 to 0.6 per 100,000 population, representing a nominal 0.05-fold to 0.79-fold change in incidence (ΔI/incidence for comparator region) for astrocytoma and for the category of unspecified intracranial and intraspinal neoplasms, and a larger 3.25-fold to 3.75-fold change in incidence for PNET.ConclusionsDifferences in incidence between geographical regions for certain CNS tumor types met the bar for statistical significance. However, these differences are unlikely to be clinically meaningful due to the small effect size.
A virus-specific monocyte inflammatory phenotype is induced by SARS-CoV2 at the immune-epithelial interface
Authors: Leon Juliette , Michelson Daniel A. , Olejnik Judith , Chowdhary Kaitavjeet , Oh Hyung Suk , Hume Adam J. , Galván-Peña Silvia , Zhu Yangyang , Chen Felicia , Vijaykumar Brinda , Yang Liang , Crestani Elena , Yonker Lael M. , Knipe David M. , Mühlberger Elke , Benoist Christophe 
Published: September 2021

ABSTRACTInfection by SARS-CoV2 provokes a potentially fatal pneumonia with multiorgan failure, and high systemic inflammation. To gain mechanistic insight and ferret out the root of this immune dysregulation, we modeled by in vitro co-culture the interactions between infected epithelial cells and immunocytes. A strong response was induced in monocytes and B cells, with a SARS-CoV2-specific inflammatory gene cluster distinct from that seen in influenza-A or Ebola virus-infected co-cultures, and which reproduced deviations reported in blood or lung myeloid cells from COVID-19 patients. A substantial fraction of the effect could be reproduced after individual transfection of several SARS-CoV2 proteins (Spike and some non-structural proteins), mediated by soluble factors, but not via transcriptional induction. This response was greatly muted in monocytes from healthy children, perhaps a clue to the age-dependency of COVID-19. These results suggest that the inflammatory malfunction in COVID-19 is rooted in the earliest perturbations that SARS-CoV2 induces in epithelia.
Benefits and challenges to applying IPD: experiences from a Norwegian mega-project
Authors: Rodrigues Monique Rieger , Lindhard Søren Munch 
Published: September 2021

Purpose
The traditional construction delivery method is challenged by low trust and collaboration issues, resulting in increased project costs. The integrated project delivery (IPD) method is developed, through a contractual agreement, to overcome these challenges by creating a common set of terms, expectations and project goals.

Design/methodology/approach
A singular construction case was followed during a four-month period. Data collection consisted of contract documents and a series of semi-structured interviews with representatives from the owner, design-group and contractors.

Findings
The IPD contract was found to have a number of positive effects; it improved project behavior (e.g. trust, collaboration and communication), increased ownership among project participants and improved buildability of the design, leading to fewer surprises and interruptions in the construction phase. The study also revealed a number of challenges including contractual and legal challenges and involving too many participants in the early phases. Moreover, co-location was identified as a particular important supporting element, to build relations and improve collaboration.

Originality/value
This research identified lessons learned from the application, as well as initial barriers and persistent barriers for implementing IPD. To improve IPD application the top three lessons were as follows: 1) the contractual documents should be adapted and signed at an early stage as this increases financial transparency, 2) cost estimates should be carried as an iterative process and project main concept be freezed at an early stage to increase understanding and minimize risks, 3) only the most important project developers should be involved in the early phases, to avoid going into detailed design issues before the main concept is completed.
Effect of unbalanced magnetic pull on the thermal characteristics of traction motor bearing
Authors: Wang Tingting , Song Dongli , Zhang Weihua , Jiang Shiqi , Wang Zhiwei 
Published: September 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the unbalanced magnetic pull (UMP) of the rotor of traction motor and the influence of the UMP on thermal characteristics of traction motor bearing.

Design/methodology/approach
The unbalanced magnetic pull on the rotor with different eccentricity was calculated by Fourier series expansion method. A bearing thermal analysis finite element model considering both the vibration of high-speed train caused by track irregularity and the UMP of traction motor rotor was established. The validity of the model is verified by experimental data obtained from a service high-speed train.

Findings
The results show that thermal failure of bearing subassemblies most likely occurs at contact area between the inner ring and rollers. The UMP of rotor of traction motor has a significant effect on the temperature of the inner ring and roller of the bearing. When the eccentricity is 10%, the temperature can even be increased by about 12°C. Therefore, the UMP of rotor of traction motor must be considered in thermal analysis of traction motor bearing.

Originality/value
In the thermal analysis of the bearing of the traction motor of high-speed train, the UMP of the rotor of the traction motor is considered for the first time
Ethico-religious green supply chain management (GSCM): embedding Islamic ethics’ codes for improving environmental concerns
Authors: Islam Md Shamimul , Karia Noorliza , Taib Fauziah Md , Ara Husna , Moeinzadeh Soroush 
Published: September 2021

PurposeThis study aims to propose an Ethico-Religious green supply chain management (GSCM) view grounded in Islamic teachings design to govern human beings working in the industries.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts a qualitative approach that used the semi-structured-interview method as a research instrument. Three experts researching various aspects of Islam were consulted to identify Islamic teachings related to green supply chain practices.FindingsThis study identifies several verses of the Holy Quran and the hadiths (a collection of traditions containing the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) related to GSCM. It proposes these teachings as pro-environmental ethical codes.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed model has not been tested empirically. Future studies can consider an empirical test to find the possible effect of ethical codes on human behavior.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature in several ways. First, it presents an Ethico-Religious GSCM view that is new in the literature. Second, it extends the key premise of the natural resource-based view theory for achieving superior competitive advantage. Finally, it proposes a human governance approach useful for achieving firms’ environmental goals. This paper is helpful for managers who will find a human governance model supported by the Ethico-Religious GSCM view.
Performance evaluations and junior auditors’ attitude to audit behavior: a gender and culture comparative study
Authors: Khalil Sandra , Nehme Rabih 
Published: September 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to shed light on factors leading to unethical acts committed by auditors from a cultural and gender perspectives. It investigates differences in junior auditors’ attitudes towards audit behavior when a performance evaluation (PE) is anticipated. The objective of this study is to aid academicians and audit executives in developing new models of PE and internship programs that should mitigate dysfunctional behavior.

Design/methodology/approach
A survey adapted from Big Four companies’ performance appraisal templates was administered to junior accountants who have completed their internship programs and their external audit course at accredited universities in Lebanon and the USA. Several statistical tests were conducted to analyze the relationship between the different variables.

Findings
This paper shows how PE affects junior auditors’ attitudes to dysfunctional audit behavior (DAB). From a cultural standpoint, American auditors express more negative views towards DAB than their Lebanese counterparts. This paper also demonstrates that female auditors are less inclined towards DAB than male auditors.

Originality/value
Previous studies on the topic have been mostly conducted in developed countries with a scarcity of studies examining multiple countries. This study focuses on two different cultural contexts, a developed country, the USA and an emerging country, poorly represented in the literature, Lebanon. This paper also observes variances between male and female auditors in DAB when expecting a PE. The originality of this paper stems from its concurrent examination of the impact of gender and culture on DAB by using a sample of less-experienced auditors at the end of their educational path.
Edible nanocoatings: potential food applications, challenges and safety regulations
Authors: Poonia Amrita , Mishra Alok 
Published: September 2021

PurposeThis review discusses the concept of edible nanocoatings (ENCs), the biomaterials used in the coating matrices, techniques of coating development, applications, challenges and safety regulations associated with nanotechnology in food products. These ENCs are capable of imparting increased shelf life, improved appearance, better physiological qualities and bioactive potentials such as antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. ENCs can be developed using the layer-by-layer method which forms multiple alternative layers adhered together primarily by electrostatic interactions.Design/methodology/approachVarious keywords such as edible coatings (ECs), safety aspects and nanocoatings were used to search the literature from Google Scholar, Research Gate, ScienceDirect, Springer Link, Taylor and Francis and PubMed. After searching enough literature, 113 articles and research papers were examined, which provides the updated overview of different aspects of edible nano-coatings.FindingsConsumers today are very much aware of the food quality and its safety. They demand food products with longer shelf life, which are minimally processed with natural or no preservatives. ECs based on biopolymers is an alternative technique, which is biodegradable and can be consumed as such without posing any safety risks. The emergence of nanotechnology in food processing has provided new insights to develop ECs at the nanoscale with improved mechanical and barrier propertiesOriginality/valueECs are beneficial to consumers and to the environment. ECs have generated significant attention over years as an alternative to fossil-based plastics, considering their renewable and biodegradable features
Non-revenue water reduction strategies: a systematic review
Authors: Farouk Abdelrahman M. , Rahman Rahimi A. , Romali Noor Suraya 
Published: September 2021

PurposeSustainability involves ensuring that sufficient resources are available for current and future generations. Non-revenue water (NRW) creates a barrier to sustainability through energy and water loss. However, a comprehensive overview of NRW reduction strategies is lacking. This study reviews the existing literature to identify available strategies for reducing NRW and its components and discusses their merits.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review was conducted to identify and analyze different strategies for reducing NRW. The initial search identified 158 articles, with 41 of these deemed suitably relevant following further examination. Finally, 14 NRW reduction strategies were identified from the selected articles.FindingsThe identified NRW reduction strategies were grouped into strategies for reducing (1) apparent losses (AL), (2) real losses (RL) and (3) water losses, with the latter involving the combination of AL and RL. The strategies adopted most frequently are “prevent water leakage” and “control water pressure.” In addition, water distribution network (WDN) rehabilitation has additional benefits over other RL reduction strategies, including saving water and energy, increasing hydraulic performance and enhancing reliability. Finally, utilizing decision support systems is the only strategy capable of reducing multiple NRW categories.Originality/valueThis review provides insights into the overall NRW problem and the strategies best equipped to address it. Authorities can use these findings to develop case-specific NRW reduction action plans that save water and energy, while providing other economic benefits. In addition, NRW reduction can improve WDN reliability.
The legitimacy‐conferring capacity of constitutional courts: Evidence from a comparative survey experiment1
Authors: STERNBERG SEBASTIAN , BROUARD SYLVAIN , HÖNNIGE CHRISTOPH 
Published: September 2021

AbstractCan constitutional court decisions shape public opinion on a governmental policy? Previous studies have focused on the US Supreme Court, which enjoys a high degree of public support as the major resource of power for courts. In this study, we examine the extent to which courts can influence public opinion regarding a government bill at European courts. First, we argue that the public support for courts also allows them to move public opinion on policies into the direction of their decisions. This works in both directions: they can confer legitimacy to a policy that they support, but they can also de‐legitimize a policy that they oppose. Second, we argue that this mechanism strongly depends on the amount of support that a court receives. It only has an effect for courts that possess a higher institutional legitimacy and among the group of citizens trusting a court.We test our arguments by combining a most different systems design for France and Germany with a survey priming experiment on a school security bill. France and Germany are selected for a most different systems design as they exhibit different institutional designs as well as different levels of support for the court at the aggregate level. The survey experiment is implemented within large national election surveys, the German Internet Panel and the French National Election Study. Both experiments contain more than 2,600 respondents each. Our survey experiment primes for decision outcomes and different institutions to understand whether there are differences between an institution supporting and opposing a policy and between a court and alternative institutions.Our findings confirm that with higher public support, courts can move the opinion of citizens to both legitimize and de‐legitimize a policy. This effect can be found at the aggregate level for a court enjoying higher public support, but also at the individual level for respondents with higher trust in the court. Interestingly, courts can even move the opinion of citizens with strong prior attitudes in the opposite direction, if these citizens highly trust the court.These findings have implications beyond the study itself. First, they confirm that the legitimacy‐conferring effect can also be observed for European courts, not only for the US Supreme Court. Second, they show that the relevance of a mechanism identified for a single case, like the US Supreme Court, might only hold for specific conditions. As public support for courts strongly varies across countries in Europe, we also expect the impact of any mechanism relying on public support to strongly vary, as we can observe in our own analysis.
Current overview and perspectives in environmentally friendly microextractions of carbamates and dithiocarbamates
Authors: Martins Fernanda C. O. L. , Batista Alex D. , Melchert Wanessa R. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractCarbamates and dithiocarbamates are two classes of pesticides widely employed in the agriculture practice to control and avoid pests and weeds, hence, the monitoring of the residue of those pesticides in different foodstuff samples is important. Thus, this review presents the classification, chemical structure, use, and toxicology of them. Moreover, it was shown the evolution of liquid‐ and solid‐phase microextractions employed in the extraction of carbamates and dithiocarbamates in water and foodstuff samples. The classification, operation mode, and application of the microextractions of liquid‐phase and solid‐phase used in their extraction were discussed and related to the analytical parameters and guidelines of green analytical chemistry.
Flualprazolam distribution in postmortem samples
Authors: Ha Helen H. , Mata Dani C. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe constant emergence of novel psychoactive substances is troubling to both public health officials and legislators. Additionally, sufficient data collection for each new compound can take months up to years. Flualprazolam, a triazolobenzodiazepine, quickly garnered attention as a sedative drug that likely expresses adverse reactions similarly to alprazolam. This study focuses on the distribution of flualprazolam in multiple common postmortem matrices. Central blood, vitreous humor, liver homogenate, brain homogenate, gastric contents, and urine samples from death investigation cases were quantitated when available. Samples were screened with liquid chromatography quadrupole time‐of‐flight with limit of detection set at 4 ng/ml and quantitated on liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, with concentration range from 4 to 256 ng/ml. From August 2018 to September 2020, 24 central blood samples were quantitated for flualprazolam. Central bloods of 22 cases had concentrations above the limit of quantitation. The average flualprazolam central blood concentration was 16.3 ng/ml with a median of 9.95 ng/ml (4.24–48.0). Additional analyses for unconjugated flualprazolam were performed on at a total of 15 urine samples ( = 14.4, 4.07–36.1 ng/ml), 23 brain homogenates ( = 23.2, 3.99–69.3 ng/g), 23 liver homogenates ( = 50.7, 13.6–156 ng/g), five vitreous humor samples ( = 7.70, 4.03–12 ng/ml), and 12 gastric contents samples ( = 0.36, 0.02–2.51 mg). The cause of death for 13 of the 24 cases listed flualprazolam as a contributing factor of death.