bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Green or green‐washed? Examining sustainability reporting in higher education
Authors: Lakhno Maryna 
Published: April 2024

AbstractSustainability reporting has gained popularity across various fields, and the higher education sector is no exception. Higher education institutions across the globe are voluntarily investing time and resources into showcasing their activities and progress in sustainable development. Are these efforts just superficial instances of following a trend or do they exemplify a path towards an in‐depth transformation in the area of sustainability, as it is called for by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2015–2030? This article aims to answer this question by studying public sustainability reports of the top 50 UK universities, focusing on their self‐reflective elements and thematic comprehensiveness.
Recent advances in patient‐derived tumor organoids for reconstructing TME of head and neck cancer
Authors: Chen Lin , Chen Yinyu , Ge Liangyu , Zhang Qian , Meng Jian 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe differences between existing preclinical models and the tumor microenvironment in vivo are one of the significant challenges hindering cancer therapy development. Patient‐derived tumor organoids (PDTO) can highly retain tumor heterogeneity. Thus, it provides a more reliable platform for research in tumor biology, new drug screening, and precision medicine.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review to summarise the characteristics of the existing preclinical models, the advantages of patient‐derived tumor organoids in reconstructing the tumor microenvironment, and the latest research progress. Moreover, this study deciphers organoid culture technology in the clinical precision treatment of head and neck cancer to achieve better transformation. Studies were identified through a comprehensive search of Ovid MEDLINE (Wolters Kluwer), PubMed (National Library of Medicine), web of Science (Thomson Reuters) and, Scopus (Elsevier) databases, without publication date or language restrictions.ResultsIn tumor development, the interaction between cellular and non‐cellular components in the tumor microenvironment (TME) has a crucial role. Co‐culture, Air‐liquid interface culture, microfluidics, and decellularized matrix have depicted great potential in reconstructing the tumor microenvironment and simulating tumor genesis, development, and metastasis.ConclusionAn accurate determination of stromal cells, immune cells, and extracellular matrix can be achieved by reconstructing the head and neck cancer tumor microenvironment using the PDTO model. Moreover, the interaction between head and neck cancer cells can also play an essential role in implementing the individualized precision treatment of head and neck cancer.
Incidence and characterization of aerophagia in dogs using videofluoroscopic swallow studies
Authors: Grobman Megan , Reinero Carol , Lee‐Fowler Tekla , Lever Teresa E. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundAerophagia (ingestion of air), is a functional aerodigestive disorder in people. Criteria for diagnosis of aerophagia in dogs are >1/3 of bolus volume containing air or ingested air resulting in gastric distention (>1/3 of end gastric volume). Aerophagia is highlighted during eating and drinking. Videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) document aerophagia in dogs, but the incidence, clinical signs (CS), and associated disorders are unknown.ObjectivesIdentify the incidence of aerophagia, compare CS between dogs with and without aerophagia, and identify associated and predisposing disorders using VFSS.AnimalsA total of 120 client‐owned dogs.MethodsSequential VFSS and associated medical records from dogs presenting to veterinary teaching hospitals at Auburn University and the University of Missouri were retrospectively reviewed. Statistical comparisons were made using Mann‐Whitney and chi‐squared tests, odds ratios (OR), and multiple logistic regression (P < .05).ResultsThe incidence (95% confidence interval [CI]) of aerophagia was 40% (31.7‐48.9). Dogs with mixed CS (gastrointestinal [GI] and respiratory; P < .001, 58.3%) were more likely to have aerophagia than dogs with exclusively respiratory CS (25%). Aerophagia was significantly more common in brachycephalic dogs (P = .01; 45.8% vs 13.8%), dogs with nonbrachycephalic upper airway obstruction (P < .001; 33.3% vs 4.1%), pathologic penetration and aspiration (P‐A) scores (P = .04; 41.6% vs 23.6%), and gagging (P < .001; 25% vs 11.7%). Mixed CS (P = .01), brachycephaly (P < .001), and upper airway obstruction (P < .001) were independent predictors of aerophagia.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceAerophagia was common, particularly in dogs with mixed CS. Brachycephalic dogs and dogs with upper airway obstruction are predisposed. Aspiration risk was high, emphasizing overlapping upper aerodigestive pathways.
Pepper U‐Box E3 ubiquitin ligase 24, CaPUB24, negatively regulates drought stress response
Authors: Bae Yeongil , Cho Junyoung , Choi Jihye , Lim Chae Woo , Lee Sung Chul 
Published: April 2024

AbstractUnder stress conditions, plants modulate their internal states and initiate various defence mechanisms to survive. The ubiquitin‐proteasome system is one of the critical modules in these mechanisms, and Plant U‐Box proteins play an important role in this process as E3 ubiquitin ligases. Here, we isolated the Plant U‐box 24 gene CaPUB24 (Capsicum annuum Plant U‐Box 24) from pepper and characterized its functions in response to drought stress. We found that, compared to the other CaPUBs in the same group, the expression of CaPUB24 was significantly induced by drought stress. We also found that CaPUB24 was localized to the nucleus and cytoplasm and had E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. To investigate the biological role of CaPUB24 in response to drought stress further, we generated CaPUB24‐silenced pepper plants and CaPUB24‐overexpressing Arabidopsis transgenic plants. CaPUB24‐silenced pepper plants exhibited enhanced drought tolerance compared to the control plants due to reduced transpirational water loss and increased abscisic acid (ABA) sensitivity. In contrast, CaPUB24‐overexpressing Arabidopsis transgenic plants exhibited reduced drought tolerance and ABA‐insensitive phenotypes. Our findings suggest that CaPUB24 negatively modulates drought stress response in an ABA‐dependent manner.
Globalisation and informality: The role of quality gap and social contributions
Authors: Bellakhal Rihab , Ghazzai Hend , Lahmandi‐Ayed Rim 
Published: April 2024

AbstractWe investigate theoretically and empirically the effect of globalisation on informality. We use a model with two identical countries. Firms in each country choose to be formal or informal. Relative to an informal firm, a formal one produces a good of higher quality and pays social contributions on each worker. We determine the effect of globalisation on the size and the share of informality from the comparison of Autarky and Full Integration scenarios. We prove that for a given quality gap between formal and informal products, (i) globalisation increases the size of informality for low and high levels of social contributions but decreases it for intermediate ones; (ii) globalisation increases the share of informality for low social contributions and decreases it for high social contributions. The turning points depend increasingly on the quality gap. We then test these theoretical results by relying on the well‐informed data available for Latin‐American countries and using the economic sector as a proxy for the quality gap between a formal and an informal firm. Our empirical results are highly consistent with the theoretical model. In terms of policy implications, they show that globalisation may be used by the states together with modulated social contributions so as to reduce informality, but not for all economic sectors simultaneously.
Frontal Crash Testing of a Class V Lift Truck
Authors: Gall Jessica , Martinez Jonathan , Watson Richard , Gwin Lisa P. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Counterbalanced, center control, high-lift trucks with a sit-down, non-elevating operator position are required to have a restraint system. The restraint system is intended to restrain the operator in the normal operating position and assist in reducing the risk of entrapment of the operator between the truck and the ground in the event of a tip-over. This is typically accomplished through the use of a two-point lap belt. This type of restraint also provides a degree of protection in the event of a collision between the lift truck and another object. Lift trucks operate in relatively low-speed environments, and many are limited to a maximum speed of 8 mph through a limiting device or by job site regulations. Though the speeds are low, lift trucks can operate in close proximity to other lift trucks and stationary rigid structures, creating the potential for collisions. The standards governing lift truck restraints do not mandate impact testing or injury criteria. This paper describes instrumented frontal impact and sled testing with a peak acceleration of 51 g performed on a Class V lift truck using an anthropomorphic test device (ATD) to test the effectiveness of lift truck restraints in this scenario. The results of this testing showed ATD injury metrics within automotive safety standards.
Effects of Eccentric Errors on Sliding Velocity and Accumulative Wear Depth of Planetary Roller Screw Mechanism
Authors: Cheng Zhenwen , Zu Li , Xing Mingcai , Zhou Changguang , Xu Yang , Hao Zishuo 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
The eccentric errors of planetary roller screw mechanism (PRSM) affect the contact kinematic characteristics and exacerbate the cumulative wear of thread pairs, which will reduce its transmission accuracy and reliability. Hence, it is significant to investigate the cumulative wear of PRSM with the eccentric errors. In this work, based on the conjugate surface contact condition and Archard wear theory, the sliding speed and cumulative wear depth of PRSM with eccentricity errors are modeled, respectively. The effects of eccentric errors on the sliding velocities and cumulative wear depth of PRSM are investigated. It has been determined that the eccentric errors of the screw and nut do not cause the sliding motion in the nut–roller contact region (NRCR). However, there are noticeable variations in sliding velocity and cumulative wear depth in the screw–roller contact region (SRCR). The eccentric errors of the screw and nut have a combined effect on the sliding velocity and wear between the screw and roller. This investigation and finding can provide a valuable reference for the processing and assembly of PRSM.
Antibodies to
Borrelia burgdorferi
and
Bartonella
species in serum and synovial fluid from people with rheumatic diseases
Authors: Kim Lisa , Lashnits Erin , Breitschwerdt Edward B. , Elam Amanda , Grade Neenah , Miller Jennifer , Shikhman Alexander R. 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Vector-borne infections may underlie some rheumatic diseases, particularly in people with joint effusions. This study aimed to compare serum and synovial fluid antibodies to
B. burgdorferi
and
Bartonella
spp. in patients with rheumatic diseases. This observational, cross-sectional study examined paired synovial fluid and serum specimens collected from 110 patients with joint effusion between October 2017 and January 2022. Testing for antibodies to
B. burgdorferi
(using CDC criteria) and
Bartonella
spp.
via
two indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) assays was performed as part of routine patient care at the Institute for Specialized Medicine (San Diego, CA, USA). There were 30 participants (27%) with positive two-tier
B. burgdorferi
serology and 26 participants (24%) with IFA seroreactivity (≥1:256) to
B. henselae
and/or
B. quintana
. Both
B. burgdorferi
IgM and IgG were detected more frequently in synovial fluid than serum: 27% of patients were either IgM or IgG positive in synovial fluid, compared to 15.5% in serum (
P
= 0.048). Conversely,
B. henselae
and
B. quintana
antibodies were detected more frequently in serum than synovial fluid; overall only 2% of patients had positive IFA titers in synovial fluid, compared to 24% who had positive IFA titers in serum (
P
< 0.001). There were no significant associations between
B. burgdorferi
or
Bartonella
spp. seroreactivity with any of the clinical rheumatological diagnoses. This study provides preliminary support for the importance of synovial fluid antibody testing for documenting exposure to
B. burgdorferi
but not for documenting exposure to
Bartonella
spp.

IMPORTANCE

This study focuses on diagnostic testing for two common vector-borne diseases in an affected patient population. In it, we provide data showing that antibodies to
B. burgdorferi
, but not
Bartonella
spp., are more commonly found in synovial fluid than serum of patients with joint effusion. Since Lyme arthritis is a common—and sometimes difficult to diagnose—rheumatic disease, improving diagnostic capabilities is of utmost importance. While our findings are certainly not definitive for changes to practice, they do suggest that synovial fluid could be a useful sample for the clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease, and future prospective studies evaluating this claim are warranted.
Identification and genetic engineering of pneumococcal capsule-like polysaccharides in commensal oral streptococci
Authors: Wu Ren , Nahm Moon , Yang Jinghua , Bush C. Allen , Wu Hui 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Capsular polysaccharides (CPS) in
Streptococcus pneumoniae
are pivotal for bacterial virulence and present extensive diversity. While oral streptococci show pronounced antigenicity toward pneumococcal capsule-specific sera, insights into evolution of capsule diversity remain limited. This study reports a pneumococcal CPS-like genetic locus in
Streptococcus parasanguinis
, a predominant oral
Streptococcus
. The discovered locus comprises 15 genes, mirroring high similarity to those from the Wzy-dependent CPS locus of
S. pneumoniae
. Notably,
S. parasanguinis
elicited a reaction with pneumococcal 19B antiserum. Through nuclear magnetic resonance analysis, we ascertained that its CPS structure matches the chemical composition of the pneumococcal 19B capsule. By introducing the glucosyltransferase gene
cps19cS
from a pneumococcal serotype 19C, we successfully transformed
S. parasanguinis
antigenicity from 19B to 19C. Furthermore, substituting serotype-specific genes,
cpsI
and
cpsJ
, with their counterparts from pneumococcal serotype 19A and 19F enabled
S. parasanguinis
to generate 19A- and 19F-specific CPS, respectively. These findings underscore that
S. parasanguinis
harbors a versatile 19B-like CPS adaptable to other serotypes. Remarkably, after deleting the locus’s initial gene,
cpsE
, responsible for sugar transfer, we noted halted CPS production, elongated bacterial chains, and diminished biofilm formation. A similar phenotype emerged with the removal of the distinct gene
cpsZ
, which encodes a putative autolysin. These data highlight the importance of
S. parasanguinis
CPS for biofilm formation and propose a potential shared ancestry of its CPS locus with
S. pneumoniae
.

IMPORTANCE

Diverse capsules from
Streptococcus pneumoniae
are vital for bacterial virulence and pathogenesis. Oral streptococci show strong responses to a wide range of pneumococcal capsule-specific sera. Yet, the evolution of this capsule diversity in relation to microbe-host interactions remains underexplored. Our research delves into the connection between commensal oral streptococcal and pneumococcal capsules, highlighting the potential for gene transfer and evolution of various capsule types. Understanding the genetic and evolutionary factors that drive capsule diversity in
S. pneumoniae
and its related oral species is essential for the development of effective pneumococcal vaccines. The present findings provide fresh perspectives on the cross-reactivity between commensal streptococci and
S. pneumoniae
, its influence on bacteria-host interactions, and the development of new strategies to manage and prevent pneumococcal illnesses by targeting and modulating commensal streptococci.
Biogeographical and biodiversity patterns of planktonic microeukaryotes along the tropical western to eastern Pacific Ocean transect revealed by metabarcoding
Authors: Fu Yingjun , Qu Zhishuai , Wang Ying , Sun Ping , Jiao Nianzhi , Xu Dapeng 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Microeukaryotic plankton (0.2–200 µm), which are morphologically and genetically highly diverse, play a crucial role in ocean productivity and carbon consumption. The Pacific Ocean (PO), one of the world’s largest oligotrophic regions, remains largely unexplored in terms of the biogeography and biodiversity of microeukaryotes based on large-scale sampling. We investigated the horizontal distribution of microeukaryotes along a 16,000 km transect from the west to the east of the PO. The alpha diversity indices showed a distinct decreasing trend from west to east, which was highly correlated with water temperature. The microeukaryotic community, which was clustered into the western, central, and eastern PO groups, displayed a significant distance-decay relationship. Syndiniales, a lineage of parasitic dinoflagellates, was ubiquitously distributed along the transect and dominated the community in terms of both sequence and zero-radius operational taxonomic unit (ZOTU) proportions. The prevailing dominance of Syndiniales-affiliated ZOTUs and their close associations with dinoflagellates, diatoms, and radiolarians, as revealed by SparCC correlation analysis, suggested that parasitism may be an important trophic strategy in the surface waters of the PO. Geographical distance and temperature were the most important environmental factors that significantly correlated with community structure. Overall, our study sheds more light on the distribution pattern of both alpha and beta diversities of microeukaryotic communities and highlighted the importance of parasitisms by Syndiniales across the tropical PO.

IMPORTANCE
Understanding the biogeographical and biodiversity patterns of microeukaryotic communities is essential to comprehending their roles in biogeochemical cycling. In this study, planktonic microeukaryotes were collected along a west-to-east Pacific Ocean transect (ca. 16,000 km). Our study revealed that the alpha diversity indices were highly correlated with water temperature, and the microeukaryotic communities displayed a distinct geographical distance-driven pattern. The predominance of the parasitic dinoflagellate lineage Syndiniales and their close relationship with other microeukaryotic groups suggest that parasitism may be a crucial survival strategy for microeukaryotes in the surface waters of the Pacific Ocean. Our findings expand our understanding of the biodiversity and biogeographical pattern of microeukaryotes and highlight the significance of parasitic Syndiniales in the surface ocean.
Effective elimination of bacteria on hard surfaces by the combined use of bacteriophages and chemical disinfectants
Authors: Chen Zongyue , Yang Yuhui , Li Gaoming , Huang Youying , Luo Yu , Le Shuai 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) represent one of the significant causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and controlling pathogens in the hospital environment is of great importance. Currently, the standard disinfection method in the hospital environment is chemical disinfection. However, disinfectants are usually not used strictly according to the label, making them less effective in disinfection. Therefore, there is an emergent need to find a better approach that can be used in hospitals to control pathogenic bacteria in the clinical environment. Bacteriophages (phages) are effective in killing bacteria and have been applied in the treatment of bacterial infections but have not received enough attention regarding the control of contamination in the clinical environment. In this study, we found that various phages remain active in the presence of chemical disinfectants. Moreover, the combined use of specific phages and chemical disinfectants is more effective in removing bacterial biofilms and eliminating bacteria on hard surfaces. Thus, this proof-of-concept study indicates that adding phages directly to chemical disinfectants might be an effective and economical approach to enhance clinical environment disinfection.

IMPORTANCE
In this study, we investigated whether the combination of bacteriophages and chemical disinfectants can enhance the efficacy of reducing bacterial contamination on hard surfaces in the clinical setting. We found that specific phages are active in chemical disinfectants and that the combined use of phages and chemical disinfectants was highly effective in reducing bacterial presence on hard surfaces. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrated that adding specific phages directly to chemical disinfectants is an effective and cost-efficient strategy for clinical environment disinfection.
Targeting CD33+ Acute Myeloid Leukemia with GLK-33, a Lintuzumab–Auristatin Conjugate with a Wide Therapeutic Window
Authors: Satomaa Tero , Pynnönen Henna , Aitio Olli , Hiltunen Jukka O. , Pitkänen Virve , Lähteenmäki Tuula , Kotiranta Titta , Heiskanen Annamari , Hänninen Anna-Liisa , Niemelä Ritva , Helin Jari , Kuusanmäki Heikki , Vänttinen Ida , Rathod Ramji , Nieminen Anni I. , Yatkin Emrah , Heckman Caroline A. , Kontro Mika , Saarinen Juhani 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
CD33 (Siglec-3) is a cell surface receptor expressed in approximately 90% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) blasts, making it an attractive target for therapy of AML. Although previous CD33-targeting antibody–drug conjugates (ADC) like gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO, Mylotarg) have shown efficacy in AML treatment, they have suffered from toxicity and narrow therapeutic window. This study aimed to develop a novelADCwith improved tolerability and a wider therapeutic window. GLK-33 consists of the anti-CD33 antibody lintuzumab and eight mavg-MMAU auristatin linkerpayloads per antibody. The experimental methods included testing in cell cultures, patient-derived samples, mouse xenograft models, and rat toxicology studies. GLK-33 exhibited remarkable efficacy in reducing cell viability within CD33-positive leukemia cell lines and primary AML samples. Notably, GLK-33 demonstrated antitumor activity at single dose as low as 300 mg/kg in mice, while maintaining tolerability at single dose of 20 to 30 mg/kg in rats. In contrast with both GO and lintuzumab vedotin, GLK-33 exhibited a wide therapeutic window and activity against multidrug-resistant cells. The development of GLK-33 addresses the limitations of previous ADCs, offering a wider therapeutic window, improved tolerability, and activity against drug-resistant leukemia cells. These findings encourage further exploration of GLK-33 in AML through clinical trials.