bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evolutionary origins and innovations sculpting the mammalian PRPS enzyme complex
Authors: Karki Bibek R. , Macmillan Austin C. , Vicente-Muñoz Sara , Greis Kenneth D. , Romick Lindsey E. , Cunningham J. Tom 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase (PRPS) enzyme conducts a chokepoint reaction connecting central carbon metabolism and nucleotide production pathways, making it essential for life1,2. Here, we show that the presence of multiple PRPS-encoding genes is a hallmark trait of eukaryotes, and we trace the evolutionary origins and define the individual functions of each of the five mammalian PRPS homologs – three isozymes (one testis-restricted)3,4and two non-enzymatic associated proteins (APs)5,6– which we demonstrate operate together as a large molecular weight complex capable of attaining a heterogeneous array of functional multimeric configurations. Employing a repertoire of isogenic fibroblast clones in all viable individual or combinatorial assembly states, we define preferential interactions between subunits, and we show that cells lacking PRPS2, PRPSAP1, and PRPSAP2 render PRPS1 into aberrant homo-oligomeric assemblies with diminished metabolic flux and impaired proliferative capacity. We demonstrate how numerous evolutionary innovations in the duplicated genes have created specialized roles for individual complex members and identify translational control mechanisms that enable fine-tuned regulation of PRPS assembly and activity, which provide clues into the positive and negative selective pressures that facilitate metabolic flexibility and tissue specialization in advanced lifeforms. Collectively, our study demonstrates how evolution has transformed a single PRPS gene into a multimeric complex endowed with functional and regulatory features that govern cellular biochemistry.
A molecular representation system with a common reference frame for natural products pathway discovery and structural diversity tasks
Authors: Babineau Nicole , Nguyen Le Thanh Dien , Mathieu Davis , McCue Clint , Schlecht Nicholas , Abrahamson Taylor , Hamberger Björn , Busta Lucas 
Published: October 2024

Researchers have uncovered hundreds of thousands of natural products, many of which contribute to medicine, materials, and agriculture. However, missing knowledge of the biosynthetic pathways to these products hinders their expanded use. Nucleotide sequencing is key in pathway elucidation efforts, and analyses of natural products’ molecular structures, though seldom discussed explicitly, also play an important role by suggesting hypothetical pathways for testing. Structural analyses are also important in drug discovery, where many molecular representation systems – methods of representing molecular structures in a computer-friendly format – have been developed. Unfortunately, pathway elucidation investigations seldom use these representation systems. This gap is likely because those systems are primarily built to document molecular connectivity and topology, rather than the absolute positions of bonds and atoms in a common reference frame, the latter of which enables chemical structures to be connected with potential underlying biosynthetic steps. Here, we present a unique molecular representation system built around a common reference frame. We tested this system using triterpenoid structures as a case study and explored the system’s applications in biosynthesis and structural diversity tasks. The common reference frame system can identify structural regions of high or low variability on the scale of atoms and bonds and enable hierarchical clustering that is closely connected to underlying biosynthesis. Combined with phylogenetic distribution information, the system illuminates distinct sources of structural variability, such as different enzyme families operating in the same pathway. These characteristics outline the potential of common reference frame molecular representation systems to support large-scale pathway elucidation efforts.Significance StatementStudying natural products and their biosynthetic pathways aids in identifying, characterizing, and developing new therapeutics, materials, and biotechnologies. Analyzing chemical structures is key to understanding biosynthesis and such analyses enhance pathway elucidation efforts, but few molecular representation systems have been designed with biosynthesis in mind. This study developed a new molecular representation system using a common reference frame, identifying corresponding atoms and bonds across many chemical structures. This system revealed hotspots and dimensions of variation in chemical structures, distinct overall structural groups, and parallels between molecules’ structural features and underlying biosynthesis. More widespread use of common reference frame molecular representation systems could hasten pathway elucidation efforts.
Probing the nature of the anticharmed-strange pentaquark states: Mass spectra, decays, and magnetic moments
Authors: Liu Xuejie , Tan Yue , Chen Xiaoyun , Chen Dianyong , Huang Hongxia , Ping Jialun 
Published: October 2024

Within the framework of the quark delocalization color screening model, a systematic investigation of the anticharmed-strange pentaquark system is performed using the resonance group method. The currently estimations predict three bound states with estimated masses to be 2886 MeV, 3039 MeV, and 3153 MeV, respectively. Additionally, three resonance states are identified in various scattering phase shifts processes. Among them, two resonance states ΣD¯ and Σ*D¯* with quantum number 12(12−) are detected in channels ND¯s* and ND¯, and ΣD¯* and ΛD¯, with masses and decay widths of (MR=3053–3055  MeV, Ttotal=13.0–13.4  MeV) and (MR=3389–3390  MeV, Ttotal=10.4  MeV), respectively. In the ΛD¯* and ΣD¯* channels, a resonance state with quantum number 12(32−) is discovered, with its mass and decay width being 3250–3252 MeV and 4.4,MeV, respectively. These predicted pentaquark states have c¯snnn quark compositions, allowing them to be recognized as genuine pentaquark states. To validate these predictions, it is expected that upcoming experiments will further explore the predicted resonance and bound states in these possible decay channels.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Policy recommendations on supporting employee financial participation
Authors: Lowitzsch Jens 
Published: October 2024

Purpose From the first PEPPER report in 1991 until this PEPPER V Report the EU has not only expanded from 12 Members States to currently 27 but also faced complex and urgent challenges. Both the financial crisis of 2008/09 and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic 2020/21 have left their marks on “Social Europe”. Although the overall dynamic of employee financial participation (EFP) across the EU 27 is positive, EFP is declining in terms of its share of household income in the light of the concentration of capital ownership and of capital income. Along with the issue of distributive justice, other challenges, such as business succession in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that have been on the agenda for decades, and new ones like the extension of EFP to social enterprises, are calling for action.Design/methodology/approach From the comparison of the countries, the cluster analysis and the background of the importance of legal framework and fiscal incentives, two general principles can be derived: (1) establishing EFP schemes through legislation is of primary importance as countries that provide a stable and transparent regulatory framework for EFP also show a wider implementation of EFP practices; (2) when properly designed, fiscal incentives promote the spread of EFP effectively as both countries with a long tradition of tax incentives for EFP (e.g. UK, France) and those with a more recent development (e.g. Austria) confirm.Findings It is against this background that the following policy recommendations should be read. Tax incentives should (and in most countries they actually do) target those taxes, which constitute the heaviest burden in the national taxation system. (1) Tax incentives should be provided for both employees and the employer company. (2) Even substantial tax incentives may prove inefficient when the pre-conditions for eligibility are too restrictive, complex or inflexible. (3) Some forms of tax incentives are more suitable for certain types of plans, e.g. deferred taxation for employee share ownership (ESO), capital gains tax in lieu of personal income tax for dividends and sale of shares, or tax exemptions for matching contributions for European Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs).Originality/value In light of this need for SME action and the great potential for introducing ESO in this enterprise segment, from our recommendations we emphasise in particular: Alleviating the evaluation problem in unlisted SMEs through debt-to-equity-swaps. ESO may initially take the form of an employee loan to the company, creating corporate debt, which is subsequently converted into company shares. Facilitating share transfers in privately held limited liability companies (LLCs) by ending the requisite for notarial certification (Italy and France) or limiting it to the identity of seller and buyer. ESO in SMEs via intermediary entities, e.g. trusts, foundations, LLCs or other special purpose vehicle (SPVs) to hold and administer employee shares (AT, IE, UK, HU, FR, SI, USA).
Preoperative markers for identifying CT ≤2 cm solid nodules of lung adenocarcinoma based on image deep learning
Authors: Gao Zhen , Liu Shang , Li Xiao , Xu Lin , Xiao Han , Guo Ji‐chao , Yu Yue , Li Meng , Ren Wan‐gang , Peng Zhong‐min 
Published: October 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe solid pattern is a highly malignant subtype of lung adenocarcinoma. In the current era of transitioning from lobectomy to sublobar resection for the surgical treatment of small lung cancers, preoperative identification of this subtype is highly important for patient surgical approach selection and long‐term prognosis.MethodsA total of 1489 patients with clinical stage IA1‐2 primary lung adenocarcinoma were enrolled. Based on patient clinical characteristics and lung imaging features obtained via deep learning, highly correlated diagnostic factors were identified through LASSO regression and decision tree analysis. Subsequently, a logistic model and nomogram were constructed. A restricted cubic spline (RCS) was used to calculate the optimal inflection point of quantitative data and the differences between the groups.ResultsThe three‐dimensional proportion of solid component (PSC), sex, and smoking status was identified as being highly correlated diagnostic factors for solid predominant adenocarcinoma. The logistic model had good prediction efficiency, and the area under the ROC curve was 0.85. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the application of diagnostic factors can improve patient outcomes. RCS analysis indicated that the proportion of solid adenocarcinomas increased by 4.6 times when the PSC was ≥72%. A PSC of 72% is a good cutoff point.ConclusionThe preoperative diagnosis of solid‐pattern adenocarcinoma can be confirmed by typical imaging features and clinical characteristics, assisting the thoracic surgeon in developing a more precise surgical plan.
From pin money to side hustle: Rural and regional women's side businesses in Australia 1900–2023
Authors: Prowse Louise 
Published: October 2024

AbstractIn the last 15 years, mainstream use of the term ‘side hustle’ has boomed. But the act of having a side hustle is not new; the term's novelty obscures a long‐established pattern of ‘sideline earning’ by Australian rural women, and indeed around the world. Through the lens of environmental, labour and gender history, and using interviews, digital media, diaries, court records, newspaper and magazine articles and other archival records, this research explores how Australian rural women have engaged in and relied on the practice of sideline earning as an economic necessity, long before it entered the mainstream economy and consciousness.
Prenatal detection of placenta accreta spectrum using a sonographic checklist
Authors: Bartels Helena C. , Walsh Jennifer M. , Carroll Stephen , Downey Paul , O'Brien Donal J. , McAuliffe Fionnuala M. , C'Connor Clare , Thompson Claire , Donnelly Jennifer , Brennan Donal J. , Corcoran Siobhan M. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractIntroductionThe European Working Group for Abnormally Invasive Placenta proposed a checklist of ultrasound features for the antenatal detection of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS). This study aims to assess the performance of the checklist in identifying histopathologically confirmed PAS cases in a cohort with a high pre‐test probability of PAS, and identify if particular features are associated with PAS.Material and MethodsThis is a prospective multi‐site cohort study conducted between 2018 and 2023. Consecutive patients who underwent ultrasound assessment for suspicion of PAS were included, and the sonographic checklist was completed at the time of ultrasound. Cases were defined as PAS where they had intraoperative findings as described by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) grading, and histopathological findings for hysterectomy and myometrial resection cases. All non‐PAS cases in this study had placenta previa and at least one prior cesarean delivery.ResultsSeventy‐eight participants met inclusion criteria, of whom 63 (80.7%) were diagnosed with PAS. Cesarean hysterectomy was performed in 49 cases (62.8%). Overall, third‐trimester ultrasound performed at a median gestational age of 32 weeks (IQR 30–34 weeks) had a sensitivity of 0.84 (95% CI 0.73 to 0.92) and specificity of 0.73 (95% CI 0.45 to 0.92) for detecting PAS, with a positive and negative likelihood ratio of 3.15 (95% CI 1.35 to 7.35) and 0.22 (95% CI 0.11 to 0.41), respectively. Features most associated with PAS were abnormal placental lacunae (Odds Ratio [OR] 5.40 [95% CI 1.61 to 18.03] and myometrial thinning OR 6.87 [95% CI 1.93 to 24.4]). While many of the ultrasound features seen in PAS were also present in cases of placenta previa with prior Cesarean section, the median (IQR) number of features present in PAS cases was significantly higher than in the non‐PAS placenta previa group (six features [3–8] vs. two features [0–3] p = 0.001). No case of non‐PAS placenta previa had more than five features present.ConclusionsThe use of a standardized sonographic checklist had a high sensitivity and good specificity for the detection of PAS in this prospective cohort of well‐classified PAS cases.
The efficacy of expanded non‐invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in a high‐risk twin pregnancies cohort
Authors: Meng Meng , Chen Jianping , Yang Yingjun , Zhang Yun , Zou Gang , Zhou Fenhe , Wei Xing , Ge Yuchun , Zhou Jia , Sun Luming 
Published: October 2024

AbstractIntroductionOur objective was to evaluate the efficacy of expanded non‐invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) that includes both trisomies and copy number variants (CNVs) in high‐risk twin pregnancies.Material and MethodsA prospective, double‐blinded cohort study was conducted, enrolling 73 high‐risk twin pregnancies characterized by increased risk of genetic disorders due to factors such as increased nuchal translucency, structural anomalies, fetal growth restriction, and other factors associated with chromosomal abnormality. Participants underwent invasive karyotyping and chromosomal microarray analysis, alongside separate expanded NIPT for research purposes. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of expanded NIPT were calculated.ResultsThe cohort included 24 monochorionic and 49 dichorionic twin pregnancies. The median cell‐free fetal DNA concentration in expanded NIPT was 16.7% (range 3.86%–49.1%), with a test failure rate of 1.4% (1/73). High‐risk findings for trisomy 21/13/18 were identified in five cases (6.8%), Turner syndrome in one case (1.4%), and CNVs indicative of high risk for clinically significant microdeletion/microduplication syndromes (MMS) in ten cases (13.7%). Of these, 56 cases (76.7%) tested NIPT negative, revealing one false‐negative for 45, X and five false‐negatives for CNVs. Expanded NIPT achieved a detection rate of 100% (5/5) for trisomy 21/13/18 with a false‐positive rate of 0% (0/5), a detection rate of 33.3% (1/3) for sex chromosome abnormalities with a false‐positive rate of 0% (0/3), and a detection rate of 66.7% (4/6) for MMS with a false‐positive rate of 3.0% (2/67). The positive predictive values for trisomy T21/13/18, sex chromosome abnormalities, and known MMS were 100% (5/5), 100% (1/1), and 66.7% (4/6) in the expanded NIPT, respectively.ConclusionsThe expanded NIPT demonstrated high detection rates for common trisomies and moderate detection rates for prenatal MMS in high‐risk twin pregnancies. Further studies with large sample sizes in low‐risk populations are needed.
COVID‐19 pandemic impact on gynecologic cancer treatment pathways in a Finnish tertiary center
Authors: Pikkujämsä Hanna , Luukkaala Tiina , Nyberg Reita H. , Louvanto Karolina 
Published: October 2024

AbstractIntroductionCOVID‐19 and new guidelines during the pandemic affected the gynecologic cancer treatment pathways, resulting in recorded delays and modifications in the treatment protocols. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic in one of the major gynecologic cancer care centers in Finland, Tampere University Hospital.Material and MethodsOur retrospective register study included 909 patients that were new gynecologic cancer cases (uterine, cervical, vulvar, vaginal, or ovarian) referred to the Tampere University Hospital Gynecologic Oncology Outpatient Clinic between March 17th, 2018, and March 15th, 2022. The patients were divided into two separate groups depending on their time of referral: time before COVID (March 17th, 2018, to March 15th, 2020), and during COVID (March 16th, 2020, to March 15th, 2022). These groups were compared in terms of patient characteristics, different cancer types and stages, symptoms, and treatment methods.ResultsDuring the COVID‐19 pandemic, patients generally suffered from cancer symptoms longer (p < 0.003) and were more likely to be overweight (p = 0.035). The improved multidisciplinary team meeting gave the patients a faster route to their first intervention during COVID (p < 0.05). An insignificant shift toward nonsurgical first interventions and non‐curative intent was seen during COVID, but the multidisciplinary team treatment plans were mostly implemented accordingly on both eras. No decrease was seen in the number of new gynecologic cancer cases, and the one‐year overall survival remained the same in both groups.ConclusionsOverall, the COVID‐19 pandemic did not significantly alter treatment pathways in gynecologic cancer care at Tampere University Hospital. The number of new patients and given treatments remained relatively stable. During COVID, access from referral to cancer treatment was significantly accelerated, which is likely confounded by changes to the multidisciplinary team protocol made in early 2021.
Habitualness, reward and external constraints: Exploring the underlying influences of daily water intake using the Situated Assessment Method2
Authors: Rodger Amy , Barsalou Lawrence W. , Papies Esther K. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractUnderstanding what facilitates and hinders water drinking is crucial to inform interventions for preventing underhydration. Using the Situated Assessment Method2, we extended previous research by examining what influences water drinking in daily life. We studied 213 UK adults, assessing 13 potential predictors (e.g. thirst, availability of other drinks) of their typical water intake across 10 everyday situations (e.g. during work, dinner). Participants then reported their actual water intake in these situations over three alternating days during a 1‐week follow‐up. We evaluated the variability of water intake and its influences across individuals and situations and the prospective relationship between these influences and water intake. The 13 identified predictors explained substantial proportions of variation in water intake. Factors like habitualness (e.g. subjective effort), self‐relevance (e.g. health consciousness) and immediate feedback (e.g. taste) were positively associated with water intake. However, the influence of these factors varied significantly across individuals and situations. Our results suggest that various interrelated predictors facilitate and hinder water drinking behaviour, emphasising the importance of using comprehensive behaviour theories to inform research in this domain. They also align with growing evidence that reward may regulate habitual behaviour.
Timely Follow‐Up After a First Diagnosis of Cirrhosis is Associated With Reduced Mortality but No Impact on Rehospitalisations: A Population‐Based Cohort of 8852 Patients
Authors: Schechter Max S. , Widman Linnea , Wester Axel , Shang Ying , Stål Per , Fortune Brett , Hagström Hannes 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTBackground and AimsTimely transition of care amongst patients with a first diagnosis of cirrhosis in a hospital to an outpatient visit is important. We evaluated rates of outpatient follow‐up after a first diagnosis of cirrhosis during an inpatient setting, and its association with subsequent rates of rehospitalisation and mortality.MethodsWe conducted a population‐based cohort study identifying all hospitalised patients in Sweden diagnosed with cirrhosis between 2002 and 2020 from the Swedish National Patient Register. The primary outcome was any outpatient visit related to cirrhosis within 90 days after hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes were rates of rehospitalisation and mortality within 1 year of discharge in patients receiving outpatient follow‐up within 90 days or not. Cox regression was used for all analyses, and incidence rates per 1000 person‐years were calculated for mortality and rehospitalisation.ResultsOf 8852 patients, 3759 (42%) had outpatient follow‐up within 90 days of discharge. Patients who received follow‐up within 90 days of discharge were younger, had a higher level of education and were more likely to have liver decompensation or hepatocellular carcinoma compared to those without timely follow‐up. We found that follow‐up within 90 days was associated with lower rates of all‐cause mortality within 1 year (aHR = 0.86, 95%CI = 0.78–0.96) but with no significant impact on rehospitalisations (aHR = 0.97, 95%CI = 0.91–1.03).ConclusionsIn Sweden, 42% of hospitalised patients with newly diagnosed cirrhosis receive outpatient follow‐up within 90 days of their hospital discharge. These patients may experience lower mortality but no change in rehospitalisations within 1 year.