bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and Clinical Implications of Autoantibodies in Juvenile Dermatomyositis
Authors: Joseph Alen Joe , Dhakal Baehat , Erla Sathvik Reddy , Singh Yogendra , Singh Lata , Upadhyay Ashish D. , Bagri Narendra Kumar , Lodha Rakesh , Kabra S. K. 
Published: August 2024

Objective
​​This study aimed to characterize the profile of myositis-specific and myositis-associated autoantibodies (MSAs/MAAs) in an Indian cohort of juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) patients and correlate them with clinical features and outcomes.

Methods
Forty-three children diagnosed with JDM were enrolled for this observational study. Clinical details (presentation, course, and outcome) were noted in a predesigned proforma. Serum samples were tested for 16 MSAs/MAAs by line immunoassay. MSAs/MAAs were correlated with clinical features and outcome (defined as a complete clinical response [≥6 months' disease inactivity on medication] or complete remission [≥6 months' inactivity off all drugs]).

Results
Thirty-five subjects (81.4%) had at least 1 MSA/MAA detected. The most common antibodies were anti-NXP2 (n = 13, 30.2%), anti-TIF1γ (n = 10, 23.2%), and anti–MDA-5 (n = 8, 18.6%). No patient had anti-Ku, anti-Pm Scl-100, anti–PL-12, anti-EJ, anti-OJ, or anti-Ro52. Thirty-two patients (74.4%) attained a complete clinical response over a median follow-up duration of 14 months, among which 6 (13.9%) achieved complete remission over a median follow-up duration of 30 months. Anti-TIF1γ was associated with younger age at onset (≤3 years) (odds ratio [OR], 6.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15–34.12; p = 0.034) and disease flares after attaining complete response (OR, 10.18; 95% CI, 1.64–70.93; p = 0.013). Patients with anti-NXP2 had higher odds of severe muscular weakness (OR, 3.73; 95% CI, 0.95–14.59; p = 0.058) and truncal weakness (OR, 3.89; 95% CI, 0.97–15.64; p = 0.056). One child with anti–MDA-5 positivity had interstitial lung disease. We found no association between the MSA/MAA profile and the achievement of complete clinical response or remission.

Conclusions
MSAs/MAAs were identified in 81% of children with JDM in our study, which is higher than most other studies. The most frequently observed antibodies displayed a pattern consistent with other studies. Anti-TIF1γ was associated with a younger age at onset and disease flares even after attaining a complete clinical response. Anti-NXP2 had higher odds of severe muscular weakness. These observations suggest consistency in certain phenotypic associations observed across geographic boundaries.
Conserved RNA-binding protein interactions mediate syntologous lncRNA functions
Authors: Sabaté-Cadenas Xavier , Lavalou Perrine , Ross Caroline Jane , Chen Lee , Zielinski Dina , Vacher Sophie , Ledevin Mireille , Larcher Thibaut , Petitjean Matthieu , Damy Louise , Servant Nicolas , Bièche Ivan , Ulitsky Igor , Shkumatava Alena 
Published: August 2024

ABSTRACTSyntologous long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are loci with conserved genomic positions that often show little or no sequence similarity. Despite diverging primary sequences, lncRNA syntologs from distant species can carry out similar functions. However, determinants underlying conserved functions of syntologous lncRNA transcripts with no sequence similarity remain unknown. UsingCASC15and melanoma formation as a paradigm for fast evolving lncRNAs and their functions, we found that human and zebrafishCASC15syntologs with no detectable sequence similarity retained their function across 450 million years of evolution. Similar to thecasc15-deficient zebrafish,CASC15-mutant human melanoma cells show increased cell migration. Expression of humanCASC15in zebrafish rescues loss ofcasc15function by attenuating melanoma formation. This conserved function is supported by a set of RNA-binding proteins, interacting with both zebrafish and humanCASC15transcripts. Together, our findings demonstrate that conserved RNA-protein interactions can define functions of rapidly evolving lncRNA transcripts.
Integration of expression datasets to identify biomarkers for accurate Gleason scoring in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Matos-Filipe Pedro , Oliva Baldo , Farrés Judith , Mas José Manuel 
Published: August 2024

AbstractProstate cancer is a significant global health issue with considerable mortality rates, emphasising the urgent need for advanced treatment options and improved diagnostic methods. Current diagnostic standards for prostate cancer, including PSA testing and digital rectal examination, often produce false positives, resulting in unnecessary biopsies for patients. This limitation highlights the critical requirement to incorporate more precise biomarkers to enhance diagnostic accuracy and reduce unnecessary procedures. This study aims to investigate biomarker candidates that can effectively determine prostate cancer aggressiveness. By integrating diverse prostate tissue expression datasets and employing machine-learning techniques, this approach seeks to refine diagnostics and provide insights into the molecular underpinnings of the disease, potentially transforming early detection and patient management strategies. Our proposed biomarkers achieve a minimum precision of 0.80, addressing the false positives limitations associated with classical prostate cancer biomarkers. Moreover, the ROC-AUC profiles of most of the candidates proposed in this study align with those exhibited by other innovative biomarkers recently proposed (ROC-AUC ≥ 0.70). We believe these biomarkers are promising candidates for furtherin vivoandin vitroinvestigation.
CARD8 inflammasome activation during HIV-1 cell-to-cell transmission
Authors: Kulsuptrakul Jessie , Emerman Michael , Mitchell Patrick S. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractOur previous work demonstrated that CARD8 detects HIV-1 infection by sensing the enzymatic activity of the HIV protease, resulting in CARD8-dependent inflammasome activation (Kulsuptrakul et al., 2023). CARD8 harbors a motif in its N-terminus that functions as a HIV protease substrate mimic, permitting innate immune recognition of HIV-1 protease activity, which when cleaved by HIV protease triggers CARD8 inflammasome activation. Here, we sought to understand CARD8 responses in the context of HIV-1 cell-to-cell transmission via a viral synapse. We observed that cell-to-cell transmission of HIV-1 between infected T cells and primary human monocyte-derived macrophages induces CARD8 inflammasome activation in a manner that is dependent on viral protease activity and largely independent of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Additionally, to further evaluate the viral determinants of CARD8 sensing, we tested a panel of HIV protease inhibitor resistant clones to establish how variation in HIV protease affects CARD8 activation. We identified mutant HIV-1 proteases that differentially cleave and activate CARD8 compared to wildtype HIV-1, thus indicating that natural variation in HIV protease affects not only the cleavage of the viral Gag-Pol polyprotein but also likely impacts innate sensing and inflammation.
Spatiotemporal Analysis of Lung Immune Dynamics in LethalCoccidioides posadasiiInfection
Authors: Davalos Oscar A. , Sebastian Aimy , Leon Nicole F. , Rangel Margarita V. , Miranda Nadia , Murugesh Deepa K. , Phillips Ashlee M. , Hoyer Katrina K. , Hum Nicholas R. , Loots Gabriela G. , Weilhammer Dina R. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractCoccidioidomycosis, or Valley Fever, is a lung disease caused by inhalation ofCoccidioidesfungi, prevalent in the Southwestern U.S., Mexico, and parts of Central and South America. 350,000 cases are reported annually in the U.S., although that number is expected to increase as climate change expands fungal geographic range. While 60% of infections are asymptomatic, the symptomatic 40% are often misdiagnosed due to similarities with bronchitis or pneumonia. A small subset of infection progress to severe illness, necessitating a better understanding of immune responses during lethal infection. Using single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, we characterized lung responses duringCoccidioidesinfection. We identified monocyte-derivedSpp1-expressing macrophages as potential mediators of tissue remodeling and fibrosis, marked by high expression of profibrotic and proinflammatory transcripts. These macrophages showed elevated TGF-β and IL-6 signaling, pathways involved in fibrosis pathogenesis. Additionally, we observed significant neutrophil infiltration and defective lymphocyte responses, indicating severe adaptive immunity dysregulation in lethal, acute infection. These findings enhance our understanding ofCoccidioidesinfection and suggest new therapeutic targets.Importance:Coccidioidomycosis, commonly known as Valley Fever, is a lung disease caused by the inhalation ofCoccidioidesfungi, which is prevalent in the Southwestern U.S., Mexico, and parts of Central and South America. With climate change potentially expanding the geographic range of this fungus, understanding the immune responses during severe infections is crucial. Our study used advanced techniques to analyze lung responses duringCoccidioidesinfection, identifying specific immune cells that may contribute to tissue damage and fibrosis. These findings provide new insights into the disease mechanisms and suggest potential targets for therapeutic intervention, which could improve outcomes for patients suffering from severe Valley Fever.
A toolbox of FRET-based c-di-GMP biosensors and its FRET-To-Sort application for genome-wide mapping of the second messenger regulatory network
Authors: Wang Liyun , Malengo Gabriele , Sanches-Medeiros Ananda , Chen Xuanlin , Teteneva Nataliya , Sierra Silvia González , Hammond Ming C. , Sourjik Victor 
Published: August 2024

AbstractC-di-GMP is a widespread second messenger, coordinating various cellular functions in bacteria. Levels of c-di-GMP can be highly dynamic and vary over a wide range of concentrations. Here we constructed a large set of FRET-based c-di-GMP biosensors, using homologues of c-di-GMP-binding effector YcgR from different bacterial species. This biosensor library was characterized using a newly established protocol to quantify FRET efficiency using flow cytometry. The resulting toolbox of 18 selected biosensors that undergo large FRET signal change upon c-di-GMP binding displays a ∼100-fold range of c-di-GMP binding affinities. We combined this toolbox with a barcoded Tn5 transposon library and cytometry-based cell sorting to develop FRET-To-Sort, a new application for systematic characterization of gene networks regulating levels of FRET-detected small molecules. Applied to planktonicE. colicells, FRET-To-Sort identified both known and novel regulatory modules controlling c-di-GMP levels, including flagellum and fimbria biogenesis, lipid metabolism and stress response genes.
Gender differences in the attitudes toward cutting people vs pay
Authors: Yoon Yeongjoon , Sengupta Sukanya 
Published: August 2024

PurposeThe current research investigates the gender difference in the attitudes of current employees and job seekers (or “future” employees) to payroll cost reduction methods (downsizing vs cutting pay).Design/methodology/approachTwo studies were conducted. In Study 1, we analyzed a secondary dataset (survey data) of 2,139 employees in Ireland. In Study 2, we conducted an online experiment on 384 people in the US.FindingsStudy 1 reveals that, for males, downsizing survivors' commitment and job satisfaction levels are higher than those of employees whose pay is cut. In contrast, there were no differences in the commitment and job satisfaction levels between survivors of downsizing and pay-reduced employees for females. The analysis in Study 2 indicates that females are more attracted to organizations that utilize pay cuts over downsizing to overcome financial difficulties. In contrast, males demonstrated no differences in job-seeker attraction outcomes to organizations that chose either of these two payroll cost reduction methods. Thus, the results of the two studies indicate that females, compared to males, form less negative (or more favorable) attitudes toward pay cuts over downsizing.Practical implicationsThe findings urge organizations to consider gender differences and develop relevant mitigation plans when one method must be chosen to reduce payroll costs.Originality/valueThe outcomes of this research indicate that the selection of a payroll cost reduction method may lead to a disparate impact on gender composition in an organization.
The impact of international internships on Japanese undergraduates’ English achievement: perspectives on cultural capital theory
Authors: Chang Chih-Hao , Utsumi Yuji 
Published: August 2024

PurposeDrawing on the perspectives of cultural capital theory, this study investigated the impact of international internships on the performance of Japanese undergraduates on the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) using a between-group pretest-posttest experimental design.Design/methodology/approachStudents participating in international internships were compared to their counterparts in a noninternational internship control group. Using TOEIC data collected in June 2019 and September 2019, we performed t-tests and estimated a difference-in-differences model with propensity score matching to measure the impacts of participation in international internships, students’ demographic information, family socioeconomic status, and independent learning characteristics.FindingsThe study showed that students’ participation in international internships and independent learning activities had significant effects on TOEIC performance. The findings of this study also indicate that in addition to the effects of international internship experience and independent learning on students’ English performance, learner learning behavior may be important for improving students’ performance.Research limitations/implicationsThis empirical research provides meaningful insights for parents, educators, and researchers not only in Japan but also in a broader context in which international internships and independent learning activities have a crucial impact on student performance. It also sheds light on our understanding of the role of activities conceptualized through the lens of cultural capital in educational stratification.Originality/valueThis study elucidates the association among cultural capital theory, international internships, and students’ linguistic achievement and makes an important contribution to the broader conceptual literature.
Promoting education about and for sustainable development: assessing the incorporation of SDGs in Chinese higher education
Authors: Lin Jason Cong 
Published: August 2024

Purpose
This study aims to examine and assess how sustainable development goal (SDG) Target 4.7 is incorporated in one leading higher education institution (HEI) in China (with a focus on teacher-education programmes) from students’ perspectives.

Design/methodology/approach
This study uses document analysis and a semi-structured interview to analyse official and accessible documents of the programmes related to SDG Target 4.7 and recorded interviews with seven students across various Postgraduate Diploma in Education programmes in the field of education at the examined university.

Findings
SDG Target 4.7 is absent in the related documents. Challenges and barriers for students include limited opportunity to be informed about SDG Target 4.7, limited topics covered, ineffective pedagogies and students’ diverse needs being neglected and teachers not giving immediate feedback. Given the opportunities in teaching and learning SDG Target 4.7, such as students are keen to learn and implement SDG Target 4.7, future directions could be reducing teachers’ lecturing and increasing student engagement in multiple ways, providing concrete examples that are relevant to students’ lives and giving immediate feedback and designing more related courses to specifically and systematically teach SDG Target 4.7.

Originality/value
This study contributes to the field by identifying and deeply analysing an interesting and representative non-western case that remains underexplored in literature. In this sense, it helps international readers to generate a more comprehensive understanding of Chinese approaches to SDGs in its higher education system, develop a more holistic global discourse on incorporating SDGs into HEIs and compare the similarities and differences between different countries’ approaches.
Government promotion and city image: visitor intentions in Macao
Authors: Zhou Jinquan , Ho Hong-Wai , Mieiro Susana 
Published: August 2024

Purpose
This study aims to critically evaluate the impact of government tourism promotion methods on city image and visiting intentions and to explore the moderating effect of tourism experience on two of the conceptualized relationships, using Macao as a case study.

Design/methodology/approach
The research analyzed responses from 407 Macao visitors during the pandemic to determine the effects of tourism promotion methods on the city’s image and visiting intention using structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the hypotheses.

Findings
This study revealed that tourism promotion methods positively impact the city’s image and visiting intentions. City image also mediates the relationship between tourism promotion methods and visiting intentions. Furthermore, tourism experience moderates the relationships between promotion methods and city image and between promotion methods and visiting intentions.

Research limitations/implications
The study’s findings on the effects of promotion methods utilized by local governments support and expand upon existing theoretical frameworks within the realm of nonprofit organizations’ management and marketing for destination marketing organizations (DMOs). However, the cross-sectional design limits causality, and findings may not be generalizable beyond Macao without further comparative research.

Practical implications
This study provides valuable insights for policymakers and marketers to design promotional campaigns that deliver authentic and memorable experiences, aligning with their promotional promises, especially in postpandemic contexts.

Social implications
This research contributes to the theoretical and methodological advancement of management and marketing for DMOs from a public sector perspective, highlighting the critical role of government involvement in urban tourism promotion.

Originality/value
The research offers valuable insights into how promotional activities influence visiting intentions, advancing tourism management and marketing for DMOs from a nonprofit perspective. The study validates theories and adds unique insights by focusing on Macao’s postpandemic recovery, offering practical implications for similar urban settings.
Design and analysis of wheel-tracked composite magnetic adsorption wall-climbing robot
Authors: Xu Minglong , Xue Song , Wang Qionghua , He Shaoxiang , Deng Rui , Li Zenong , Zhang Ying , Li Qiankun , Li Rongchao 
Published: August 2024

Purpose
This study aims to improve the stability and obstacle surmounting ability of the traditional wall-climbing robot on the surface of the ship, a wheel-track composite magnetic adsorption wall-climbing robot is proposed in this paper.

Design/methodology/approach
The robot adopts a front and rear obstacle-crossing mechanism to achieve a smooth crossover. The robot is composed of two passive obstacle-crossing mechanisms and a frame, which is composed of two obstacle-crossing magnetic wheels and a set of tracks. The obstacle-crossing is realized by the telescopic expansion of the obstacle-crossing mechanism. Three static failure models are established to determine the minimum adsorption force for the robot to achieve stable motion. The Halbach array is used to construct the track magnetic circuit, and the influence of gap, contact area and magnet thickness on the adsorption force is analyzed by parameter simulation.

Findings
The prototype was designed and manufactured by the authors for static failure and obstacle crossing tests. The prototype test results show that the robot can cross the obstacle of 10 mm height under the condition of 20 kg load.

Originality/value
A new structure of wall-climbing robot is proposed and verified. According to the test results, the wall-climbing robot can stably climb over the obstacle of 10 mm height under the condition of 20 kg load, which provides a new idea for future robot design.
An integrated group decision support framework utilizing Pythagorean fuzzy DEMATEL–CoCoSo approach for medicine cold chain logistics provider selection
Authors: Niu Wenyao , Rong Yuan , Yu Liying 
Published: August 2024

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to establish a synthetic group decision framework based on the Pythagorean fuzzy (PF) set to select the optimal medicine cold chain logistics provider (MCCLP). Fierce market competition makes enterprises must constantly improve every link in the process of enterprise sustainable development. The evaluation of MCCLP in pharmaceutical enterprises is an important link to enhance the comprehensive competitiveness. Because of the fuzziness of expert cognition and the complexity of the decision procedure, PF set can effectively handle the uncertainty and ambiguity in the process of multi-criteria group decision decision-making (MCGDM).Design/methodology/approachThis paper develops an integrated group decision framework through combining the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) technique and combined compromise solution (CoCoSo) approach to select a satisfactory MCCLP within PF circumstances. First, the PF set is used to process the ambiguity and uncertainty of the cognition ability of experts. Second, a novel PF knowledge measure is propounded to measure the vagueness of the PF set. Third, a comprehensive criterion weight determination technique is developed through aggregating subjective weights attained utilizing the PF DEMATEL approach and objective weight deduced by knowledge measure method. Furthermore, an integrated MCGDM approach based on synthetic weight and CoCoSo method is constructed.FindingsThe outcomes of sensibility analysis and comparison investigation show that the suggested decision framework can help decision experts to choose a satisfactory MCCLP scientifically and reasonably. Accordingly, the propounded comprehensive decision framework can be recommended to enterprises and organizations to assess the MCCLP for their improvement of core competitiveness.Originality/valueMCCLP selection is not only momentous for pharmaceutical enterprises to improve transportation quality and ensure medicine safety but also provides a strong guarantee for enterprises to improve their core competitiveness. Nevertheless, enterprises face certain challenges due to the uncertainty of the assessment environment as well as human cognition in the process of choosing a satisfactory MCCLP. PF set possesses a formidable capability to address the uncertainty and imprecision information in the process of MCGDM. Therefore, pharmaceutical enterprises can implement the proposed method to evaluate the suppliers to further improve the comprehensive profit of enterprises.