bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Starch granule initiation doesn’t require a starch synthase 4 isoform inChlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Courseaux Adeline , Deschamps Philippe , Dauvillée David 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe initiation of starch granule synthesis remains a relatively poorly understood phenomenon. Recent advances enabled the establishment of a model explaining the synthesis of new starch granules inArabidopsis thaliana. These characterizations revealed the involvement of both a specific starch synthase isoform (SS4) and of several non-enzymatic proteins in this process.In this work, we investigated whether the initiation of starch synthesis in the green microalgaChlamydomonas reinhardtiiinvolves the same machinery as those uncovered in the plant model. Our extensive phylogenetic analysis revealed that most of the key players that were identified in higher plants are not found in microalgae suggesting that a different pathway is taking place. We showed that restoration of ADP-glucose synthesis in a mutant strain devoid of any endogenous primers allowed normal starch synthesis, revealing the existence of an initiation mechanism in Chlamydomonas. Our biochemical characterizations revealed that starch synthase isoform 3 possesses the intrinsic capacity to initiate polysaccharide synthesisin vitroand could be one of the functions involved in starch initiation. Our work suggests that the initiation of starch synthesis in Chlamydomonas involves a different pathway to that described in Arabidopsis and that further efforts will be required to identify the proteins involved in this process.
Kinetic theory of vacuum pair production in uniform electric fields revisited
Authors: Aleksandrov I. A. , Kudlis A. , Klochai A. I. 
Published: October 2024

We investigate the phenomenon of electron-positron pair production from vacuum in the presence of a uniform time-dependent electric field of arbitrary polarization. Taking into account the interaction with the external classical background in a nonperturbative manner, we quantize the electron-positron field and derive a system of ten quantum kinetic equations (QKEs) showing that the previously-used QKEs are incorrect once the external field rotates in space. We employ then the Wigner-function formalism of the field quantization and establish a direct connection between the Dirac-Heisenberg-Wigner (DHW) approach to investigating the vacuum pair-production process and the QKEs. We provide a self-contained description of the two theoretical frameworks rigorously proving their equivalence and present an exact one-to-one correspondence between the kinetic functions involved within the two techniques. Special focus is placed on the analysis of the spin effects in the final particle distributions.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Shaping sustainable tourism: how minimalism and citizenship behavior influence tourists’ proenvironmental behavior
Authors: Rasheed A.K. Fazeen , Balakrishnan Janarthanan 
Published: October 2024

Purpose
This study aims to examine the roles of minimalist and citizenship behaviors in influencing sustainable tourism practices. It further examined the role of moral credit as a mediating factor in these relationships. Additionally, this research scrutinizes the moderating effects of age and gender on these behavioral influences.

Design/methodology/approach
This study used a descriptive, quantitative and cross-sectional design to examine the data of 451 tourists visiting three destinations in India. The proposed conceptual model was evaluated through partial least squares structural equation Modeling, and the impact of the control variables was examined via PLS-Multi Group Analysis.

Findings
The results confirmed that minimalist and citizenship behaviors significantly influence pro-environmental actions. Moral credit has emerged as a pivotal bridge between these behaviors and sustainable tourism practices, underscoring its mediating role. Additionally, the analysis revealed that age and gender substantially moderated these relationships, highlighting the demographic-specific dynamics.

Originality/value
This study provides novel insights into how behaviors such as minimalism and citizenship contribute to sustainable travel practices. The identification of moral credit as a key mediator, along with the demographic nuances of age and gender, offers unique perspectives on sustainable consumer behavior dynamics within tourism. These findings provide valuable directions for stakeholders in sustainable tourism and policymakers aiming to cultivate positive consumer behaviors and advance the sustainability of the sector.
The use of investigation management documents in rape and serious sexual offence cases
Authors: Gekoski Anna 
Published: October 2024

Purpose
In the context of rising reports of rape, set against falling convictions, it has been argued that rape has been de facto decriminalised in England and Wales. This paper aims to explore how police and prosecutors investigating rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO) use and perceive investigation management documents (IMDs), and how high-quality IMDs may lead to better justice outcomes. IMDs must be started by police at the beginning of an investigation and should document: what an officer is/is not doing and why; what the reasonable lines of enquiry are and their outcomes; and what has translated to evidence and supports charge, disclosure or unused material. The document is shared with the crown prosecution service at the point a charging decision is sought.

Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 police officers and five crown prosecutors across five areas in Year 2 of Operation Soteria Bluestone, a project that aimed to improve how police investigate rape. These interviews were analysed using the qualitative method of thematic analysis.

Findings
Three main themes were identified relating to timeliness, understanding, and quality of IMDs. It was found that IMDs are not always started at the beginning of RASSO investigations or even at all. Officers also lacked understanding around the purpose of IMDs, often seeing them as duplications of other case files. Finally, prosecutors and police concurred that the quality of IMDs are generally poor and lacking in critical reflection.

Originality/value
To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first academic paper to consider the use of IMDs by police and prosecutors in RASSO investigations. As such, it is both a unique contribution to the field and also provides a platform for future research. Understanding how police officers can produce the highest quality IMDs, in a timely fashion, is of paramount importance given the wider societal context of increasing reports of rape alongside low charge rates. Implications for training are considered.
Optimization of paddle trajectory for fin-wheel underwater robot
Authors: Liao Jianbin , Liu Xinxin , Xu Shengzui , Liu Liangyu , Li Yunxiang , Wang Wei , Zhang Zhiqiang 
Published: October 2024

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the oscillating trajectory of the paddle of a fin-wheel underwater robot to enhance its propulsion efficiency in water. This robot can be used for underwater detection and military operations.

Design/methodology/approach
By studying the propulsion mode of underwater fin-based robots, it is found that such robots periodically generate a large reverse thrust during the swing process, resulting in low propulsion efficiency. Therefore, according to the propulsion characteristics of the oscillating paddle in the underwater environment, the hydrodynamic model and physical constraints of the oscillating paddle are established. Then, the oscillating gait trajectory of the paddle is optimized by the trajectory optimization method. The performance of the optimized trajectory was tested in the simulation environment and the actual underwater environment.

Findings
The prototype of the robot was built and tested in a small swimming pool. The research results confirm that the propulsion efficiency of the optimized trajectory is higher than that of the traditional trajectory under the condition of the same amplitude and period. Specifically, the maximum speed of the robot can reach 0.24 m/s when using the optimized trajectory, which is about 50% higher than that before optimization.

Originality/value
The optimized trajectory with the generated impulse as the optimization target is applied to the paddle oscillation, which can improve the thrust impulse generated by the fin-wheel underwater robot during underwater motion, thereby greatly improving the underwater propulsion efficiency and moving speed.
A comprehensive study on the effects of printing parameters on the mechanical properties of PLA
Authors: Turan Mehmet Kivanc , Sabirli Muhammet Üsame , Bakirci Altug , Kartal Emirhan , Karpat Fatih 
Published: October 2024

Purpose
This study aims to investigate the effects of five different printing parameters, namely, printing speed (PS), printing temperature/nozzle temperature/extrusion temperature, heated-bed temperature, raster angle (RA) and layer height (LT), on mechanical properties.

Design/methodology/approach
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards were used for the specimen design. Then, the Taguchi method was used for the design of the experiment and an L16 orthogonal array was preferred. Tensile, Shore D and surface roughness tests were conducted on polylactic acid test specimens. The test results were analyzed using the signal-to-noise ratio and analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Findings
As a result of the study, it was seen that RA is the most important parameter for the tensile strength, PS is for the hardness and LT is for the surface roughness. According to the ANOVA results, the effects of the RA, PS and LT on the maximum tensile strength, hardness and surface roughness were 41.59%, 69.51% and 44.6%, respectively.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the most comprehensive parameter optimization studies for additive manufacturing in the literature because it includes five different printing parameters and three mechanical test procedures.
First detection and biological characterization of an avian metaavulavirus 8 isolated from a migratory swan goose in Qinghai Lake, Northwest China
Authors: Wang Sijie , Liu Xinxin , Chen Jianjun , Yan Weiwen , Li Hongjin , Chi Weiwei , Luo Rui , Lin Xianwen , Yin Yue , Dong Chuanrong , Wang Huihui , Zheng Bowen , Li Hongli , Liu Yifei , Stoeger Tobias , Wajid Abdul , Dodovski Aleksandar , Gao Chao , Mingala Claro N. , Andreychuk Dmitry B. , Yin Renfu 
Published: October 2024

AbstractAvian metaavulavirus 8 (AMAV‐8), formerly known as avian paramyxovirus 8 (APMV‐8), has been detected sporadically in wild birds worldwide since it was first identified in a Canadian goose in 1976. However, the presence of AMAV‐8 in birds has never been reported in China. To understand the epidemiological situation of AMAV‐8 and its ability to infect chickens, we conducted a surveillance study and in vivo analysis of the AMAV‐8 isolate identified in total of 14,909 clinical samples collected from wild and domestic birds from 2014 to 2022 in China. However, in 2017, only one AMAV‐8 virus (Y7) was successful isolated from the fresh droppings of a migratory swan goose in Qinghai Lake in Northwest China. Thereafter, we report the complete genome sequence of the Y7 strain with a genome length of 15,342 nucleotides and the Y7 isolate was genetically closely‐related to wild bird‐origin AMAV‐8 viruses previously circulated in the United States, Japan, and Kazakhstan. Furthermore, AMAV‐8 infections of one‐day‐old specific pathogen‐free (SPF) chicks did not induce any clinical signs over the entire observation period but was associated with viral shedding for up to 8 days. Interestingly, although all birds infected with the Y7 strain seroconverted within the first week of infection, virus replication was only detected in the trachea but not in other tissues such as the brain, lung, or heart. Here, we report the complete genome, genetic and biological characterization, replication and pathogenicity analysis in vivo and first detection of AMAV‐8 in China.
CRE redevelopment options and the use of mortgage financing
Authors: Glancy David , Kurtzman Robert , Loewenstein Lara 
Published: October 2024

AbstractA significant share of commercial real estate (CRE) investment properties—about half by our estimates—are purchased without a mortgage. Using comprehensive microdata on transactions in the US CRE market, we analyze which types of properties are purchased without a mortgage, highlighting the important role of renovation or redevelopment options. We show that mortgage‐financed properties are less likely to be subsequently redeveloped, and that owners anticipate these redevelopment frictions and avoid mortgage financing for properties with greater redevelopment options. These effects were even stronger during the COVID‐19 pandemic, when uncertainty increased redevelopment option values.
Differences in survival of patients with multiple myeloma in rural versus metropolitan regions: Analysis of population data of an Australian local health district
Authors: Ai Sylvia , Thind Amarinder , Parmar Gurdeep 
Published: October 2024

AbstractObjectiveThe objective of this study is to determine if there are differences in outcome for patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma in a rural setting compared to a metropolitan setting and which factors influence these outcomes.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingIllawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District.ParticipantsA total of 391 patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma between 2000 and 2022.Main outcome measuresTreatment and survival outcomes of these patients.ResultsPatients being treated in a rural cancer care centre had lower overall survival compared to those treated at a metropolitan cancer care centre (median OS = 44.4 months vs. 80.2 months, p = 0.002), despite access to similar treatments by the same group of haematologists. There was a significantly higher rate of upfront autologous transplantation (38% vs. 20%, p = 0.001) and higher rate of inclusion in clinical trials (16% vs. 7%, p = 0.021) in patients treated at a metropolitan cancer care centre compared to the rural cancer care centre.ConclusionsMultiple myeloma patients treated at a rural centre had shorter survival compared to patients treated at a metropolitan centre, and this may be related to lower rates of autologous transplantation and inclusion in clinical trials.
Psychosocial determinants of handwashing and physical distancing behaviour during the COVID‐19 pandemic in the Netherlands: A longitudinal analysis
Authors: Bussemakers Carlijn , Stappers Nicole , Kroese Floor , van den Putte Bas , de Bruin Marijn 
Published: October 2024

AbstractObjectivesPhysical distancing and handwashing can be important infection prevention measures during an infectious disease outbreak such as the COVID‐19 pandemic. To stimulate these behaviours, knowledge of psychosocial determinants as well as contextual factors is vital. We present longitudinal, within‐person analyses of the impact of contextual and psychosocial factors on handwashing and distancing behaviour.DesignWe used individual‐level data (186,490 participants completing 971,899 surveys) from the Corona Behavioural Unit COVID‐19 Cohort, a dynamic cohort study conducted during 26 months of the COVID‐19 pandemic in the Netherlands.MethodsFixed‐effects models were employed to estimate within‐person associations between psychosocial factors and behaviour, combined with main and moderating effects of contextual factors.ResultsPandemic severity was associated with more handwashing and distancing behaviour, while the duration of the pandemic had little effect. Within‐person changes in response efficacy were most relevant for changes in both handwashing and distancing behaviour, while self‐efficacy, descriptive norms and perceived severity of infecting others affected behaviour indirectly. These effects were stable over time. Associations were larger in cross‐sectional models, indicating that such models tend to overestimate effects.ConclusionsOur study highlights the importance of longitudinal data and within‐person models to detect possible causal associations. The results suggest that during an outbreak, government and public health professionals should clearly communicate the severity of the pandemic (e.g., hospitalization rates) and the effectiveness of recommended prevention measures in reducing that risk; and seek to improve people's capabilities and opportunities to adhere to guidelines, for example, by modifying the environment.
Chronic ethanol exposure in mice evokes pre‐ and postsynaptic deficits in GABAergic transmission in ventral tegmental area GABA neurons
Authors: Mitten Eric H. , Souders Anna , Marron Fernandez de Velasco Ezequiel , Aguado Carolina , Luján Rafael , Wickman Kevin 
Published: October 2024

AbstractBackground and purposeGABAergic neurons in mouse ventral tegmental area (VTA) exhibit elevated activity during withdrawal following chronic ethanol exposure. While increased glutamatergic input and decreased GABAA receptor sensitivity have been implicated, the impact of inhibitory signaling in VTA GABA neurons has not been fully addressed.Experimental approachWe used electrophysiological and ultrastructural approaches to assess the impact of chronic intermittent ethanol vapour exposure in mice on GABAergic transmission in VTA GABA neurons during withdrawal. We used CRISPR/Cas9 ablation to mimic a somatodendritic adaptation involving the GABAB receptor (GABABR) in ethanol‐naïve mice to investigate its impact on anxiety‐related behaviour.Key resultsThe frequency of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents was reduced in VTA GABA neurons following chronic ethanol treatment and this was reversed by GABABR inhibition, suggesting chronic ethanol strengthens the GABABR‐dependent suppression of GABAergic input to VTA GABA neurons. Similarly, paired‐pulse depression of GABAA receptor‐dependent responses evoked by optogenetic stimulation of nucleus accumbens inputs from ethanol‐treated mice was reversed by GABABR inhibition. Somatodendritic currents evoked in VTA GABA neurons by GABABR activation were reduced following ethanol exposure, attributable to the suppression of GIRK (Kir3) channel activity. Mimicking this adaptation enhanced anxiety‐related behaviour in ethanol‐naïve mice.Conclusions and implicationsChronic ethanol weakens the GABAergic regulation of VTA GABA neurons in mice via pre‐ and postsynaptic mechanisms, likely contributing to their elevated activity during withdrawal and expression of anxiety‐related behaviour. As anxiety can promote relapse during abstinence, interventions targeting VTA GABA neuron excitability could represent new therapeutic strategies for treatment of alcohol use disorder.
Diminished nuclear‐localized β‐adrenoceptor signalling activates YAP to promote kidney fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Xiang Wenjing , Li Lei , Qin Manman , Li Lei , Yu Hualong , Wang Fangyuan , Ni Siyuan , Shen Ao , Lu Haocheng , Ni Haibo , Wang Ying 
Published: October 2024

AbstractBackground and PurposeDiabetic nephropathy (DN) is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is characterized by mesangial matrix expansion that involves dysfunctional mesangial cells (MCs). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to delineate the spatiotemporal contribution of adrenergic signalling in diabetic kidney fibrosis to reveal potential therapeutic targets.Experimental ApproachA model of diabetic nephropathy was induced by in db/db mice. Gene expression in kidneys was profiled by RNA‐seq analyses, western blot and immunostaining. Subcellular‐localized fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) biosensors determined adrenergic signalling microdomains in MCs. Effects of oral rolipram, a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor, on the model were measured.Key ResultsOur model exhibited impaired kidney function with elevated expression of adrenergic and fibrotic genes, including Adrb1, PDEs, Acta2 and Tgfβ. RNA‐seq analysis revealed that MCs with dysregulated YAP pathway were crucial to the extracellular matrix secretion in kidneys from diabetic nephropathy patients. In cultured MCs, TGF‐β promoted profibrotic gene transcription, which was regulated by nuclear‐localized β‐adrenoceptor signalling. Mechanistically, TGF‐β treatment diminished nuclear‐specific cAMP signalling in MCs and reduced PKA‐dependent phosphorylation of YAP, leading to its activation. In parallel, db/db mouse kidneys showed increased expressions of PDE4B and PDE4D. Treatment with oral rolipram alleviated kidney fibrosis in db/db mice.Conclusion and ImplicationsDiabetic nephropathy impaired nuclear‐localized β1‐adrenoceptor‐cAMP signalling microdomain through upregulating PDE4 expression, promoting fibrosis in MCs via PKA dephosphorylation‐dependent YAP activation. Our results suggest PDE4 inhibition as a promising strategy for alleviating kidney fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy.
The Metabolic Programming of Pubertal Onset
Authors: Roddick Clinton , Harris Mark , Hofman Paul L. 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundThere is increasing evidence that maternal factors such as nutritional status (both under and over‐nutrition) and diabetes, alongside prenatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), are associated with early pubertal onset in offspring. Such children are also at increased risk of the metabolic syndrome during adolescence and young adulthood.AimThis literature review focuses on the role of the prenatal environment in programming pubertal onset, and the impact of prenatal metabolic stressors on the declining average age of puberty.MethodA review of all relevant literature was conducted in PubMed by the authors.OutcomeThe mechanism for this appears to be mediated through metabolic signals, such as leptin and insulin, on the kisspeptin‐neuronal nitric oxide‐gonadotropin releasing hormone (KiNG) axis. Exposed children have an elevated risk of childhood obesity and display a phenotype of hyperinsunlinaemia and hyperleptinaemia. These metabolic changes permit an earlier attainment of the nutritional “threshold” for puberty. Unfortunately, this cycle may be amplified across subsequent generations, however early intervention may help “rescue” progression of this programming.