bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Photodynamic therapy is a safe and feasible adjunct to percutaneous drainage of deep tissue abscesses: Results of a first in humans Phase 1 clinical trial
Authors: Baran Timothy M. , Bass David A. , Christensen Laurie , Longbine Erica , Favella Maria D. , Foster Thomas H. , Sharma Ashwani K. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackgroundStandard of care for abscess management includes image-guided percutaneous drainage and antibiotics. However, cure rates vary between patients and there is growing concern for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), which utilizes light-activated dyes to generate cytotoxic reactive species, could complement the standard of care by sterilizing the abscess at time of drainage.PurposeThe goal of this study was to perform a first in humans Phase 1 clinical study evaluating safety and feasibility of PDT with methylene blue (MB) at the time of percutaneous abscess drainage. This was accomplished through an open-label dose escalation study, with duration of light delivery escalated from 5-30 minutes.Materials and MethodsWe performed MB-PDT in 18 subjects undergoing percutaneous abscess drainage. Following standard of care drainage, 1 mg/mL MB was delivered for 10 minutes. MB was aspirated, and 1% lipid emulsion infused to homogenize light dose at the cavity wall. An optical fiber was advanced to the approximate center of the abscess for 665 nm laser illumination at 20 mW/cm2.ResultsMB-PDT at the time of abscess drainage was safe and feasible in all cases, with no evidence of fat embolism due to lipid emulsion or adverse reaction to MB observed. No study-related adverse or serious adverse events were encountered, and the procedure was well tolerated by all subjects. While the study was not designed or powered to determine efficacy, time to resolution of clinical symptoms was significantly decreased in subjects receiving higher fluences (p=0.028). Additionally, drainage catheter output post-procedure was decreased in subjects receiving higher fluences (ρ=-0.18), although this difference was not significant (p=0.43).ConclusionMB-PDT is a safe and feasible adjunct to image-guided percutaneous abscess drainage. Clinical measures indicate a dose-dependent response to PDT, motivating future Phase 2 studies evaluating the efficacy of MB-PDT in this patient population.
First in human measurements of abscess cavity optical properties and methylene blue uptake prior to photodynamic therapy byin vivodiffuse reflectance spectroscopy
Authors: Hannan Md Nafiz , Sharma Ashwani K. , Baran Timothy M. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractSignificanceEfficacious photodynamic therapy (PDT) of abscess cavities requires personalized treatment planning. This relies on knowledge of abscess wall optical properties, which we report for the first time in human subjects.AimThe objective was to extract optical properties and photosensitizer concentration from spatially-resolved diffuse reflectance measurements of abscess cavities prior to methylene blue (MB) PDT, as part of a Phase 1 clinical trial.ApproachDiffuse reflectance spectra were collected at the abscess wall of 13 human subjects using a custom fiber-optic probe and optical spectroscopy system, before and after MB administration. A Monte Carlo lookup table was used to extract optical properties.ResultsPre-MB abscess wall absorption coefficients at 665 nm were 0.15±0.1 cm−1(0.03-0.36 cm−1) and 10.74±15.81 cm−1(0.08-49.3 cm−1) post-MB. Reduced scattering coefficients at 665 nm were 8.45±2.37 cm−1(4.8-13.2 cm−1) and 5.6±2.26 cm−1(1.6-9.9 cm−1) for pre-MB and post-MB, respectively. Oxygen saturations were found to be 58.83±35.78% (5.6-100%) pre-MB and 36.29±25.1% (0.0001-76.4%) post-MB. Determined MB concentrations were 71.83±108.22 µM (0-311 µM).ConclusionsWe observed substantial inter-subject variation in both native wall optical properties and methylene blue uptake. This underscores the importance of making these measurements for patient-specific treatment planning.
ABI3 regulates ABI1 function to control cell length in primary root elongation zone
Authors: Datta Saptarshi , Mandal Drishti , Mitra Sicon , Nag Chaudhuri Ronita 
Published: October 2023

AbstractPost-embryonic primary root growth is effectively an interplay of several hormone signalling pathways. Here, we show that the ABA-responsive transcription factor ABI3, controls primary root growth through regulation of JA signalling moleculeJAZ1along with ABA responsive factor ABI1. In absence of ABI3, primary root elongation zone is shortened with significantly reduced cell length. Expression analyses and ChIP based assays indicate that ABI3 negatively regulatesJAZ1expression by occupying its upstream regulatory sequence and enriching repressive histone modification mark H3K27 trimethylation, thereby occluding RNAPII occupancy. Previous studies have shown that JAZ1 interacts with ABI1, the protein phosphatase 2C, that works during ABA signalling. Our results indicate that in absence of ABI3, whenJAZ1expression levels are high, ABI1 protein shows increased stability, compared to when JAZ1 is absent, or ABI3 is overexpressed. Consequently, inabi3mutant, due to higher stability of ABI1, reduced phosphorylation of plasma membrane H+ATPase (AHA2) occurs. HPTS staining further indicated that,abi3root cell apoplasts show reduced protonation, compared to wild type and ABI3 overexpressing seedlings. Such impeded proton extrusion, negatively affects cell length in primary root elongation zone. ABI3 therefore controls cell elongation in primary root by affecting ABI1-dependent protonation of root cell apoplasts. In summary, ABI3 controls expression of JAZ1 and in turn modulates function of ABI1 to regulate cell length in the elongation zone during primary root growth.
Trifunctional sphinganine: a new tool to dissect sphingolipid function
Authors: Farley Scotland , Stein Frank , Haberkant Per , Tafesse Fikadu G. , Schultz Carsten 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACTFunctions of the sphingolipids sphingosine and sphinganine in cells are not well established. While some signaling roles for sphingosine have been elucidated, the closely related sphinganine has been described only insofar as it does not elicit many of the same signaling responses. The underlying mechanisms behind the cell biological differences between these lipids are not well understood. Here, we prepared multifunctionalized derivatives of the two lipid species that only differ in a single double bond of the carbon backbone. Using these novel probes, we were able to define their spatiotemporal distribution within cells. Furthermore, we used these tools to systematically map the protein interactomes of both lipids. The lipid-protein conjugates, prepared through photo-crosslinking in live cells and extraction via click chemistry to azide beads, revealed significant differences in the captured proteins, highlighting their distinct roles in various cellular processes. This work elucidates mechanistic differences between these critical lipids and sets the foundation for further studies on the functions of sphingosine and sphinganine.
A Fluorescence-Based, T5 Exonuclease-Amplified DNA Cleavage Assay for Discovering Bacterial DNA Gyrase Poisons
Authors: Dias Matthew , Chapagain Trisha , Leng Fenfei 
Published: October 2023

AbstractFluoroquinolones (FQs) are potent antibiotics of clinical significance, known for their unique mechanism of action as gyrase poisons, which stabilize gyrase-DNA cleavage complexes and convert gyrase into a DNA-damaging machinery. Unfortunately, FQ resistance has emerged, and these antibiotics can cause severe side effects. Therefore, discovering novel gyrase poisons with different chemical scaffolds is essential. The challenge lies in efficiently identifying them from compound libraries containing thousands or millions of drug-like compounds, as high-throughput screening (HTS) assays are currently unavailable. Here we report a novel fluorescence-based, T5 exonuclease-amplified DNA cleavage assay for gyrase poison discovery. This assay capitalizes on recent findings showing that multiple gyrase molecules can simultaneously bind to a plasmid DNA molecule, forming multiple gyrase-DNA cleavage complexes on the same plasmid. These gyrase-DNA cleavage complexes, stabilized by a gyrase poison, can be captured using sarkosyl. Proteinase K digestion results in producing small DNA fragments. T5 exonuclease, selectively digesting linear and nicked DNA, can fully digest the fragmented linear DNA molecules and, thus, “amplify” the decrease in fluorescence signal of the DNA cleavage products after SYBR Green staining. This fluorescence-based, T5 exonuclease-amplified DNA cleavage HTS assay is validated using a 50-compound library, making it suitable for screening large compound libraries.
X-Ray Structure and enzymatic study of a Bacterial NADPH oxidase highlight the activation mechanism of eukaryotic NOX
Authors: Petit-Härtlein Isabelle , Vermot Annelise , Thépaut Michel , Humm Anne Sophie , Dupeux Florine , Dupuy Jérôme , Chaptal Vincent , Marquez José A. , Smith Susan M.E. , Fieschi Franck 
Published: October 2023

AbstractNADPH oxidases (NOX) are transmembrane proteins that professionally produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and are distributed widely in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Eukaryotes use the ROS products for innate immune defense and signaling; the seven human isoforms of NOX participate in critical physiological and pathophysiological processes. Recently solved structures of two human NOX isoforms provide much new information, but do not fully elucidate controls on the electron transfer pathway from NAD(P)H substrate through FAD and heme cofactors to the final ROS product. SpNOX, a bacterial NOX homolog fromStreptococcus pneumoniae, shows robust constitutive activity in detergent solution, making it a good prototype for exploring electron transfer in the NOX family. Here we present crystal structures of wildtype and mutant full-length and dehydrogenase (DH) domain-only constructs of SpNOX. The isolated DH domain acts as a flavin reductase, and both DH and full-length constructs use either NADPH or NADH as substrate. Our data supports hydride transfer from NAD(P)H to FAD as the rate limiting step in electron transfer. Using the DH domain, we demonstrate the role of F397 in allowing access of nicotinamide to the flavin isoalloxazine, while in the full-length construct, we used mutants and flavin analogs to confirm the contribution of both domains to flavin binding observed in the structure. Comparison with homologous enzymes suggests distal heme access may influence the final electron acceptor, while the relative position of DH and TM does not necessarily correlate with activity of a given NOX family member. Based on this comparison, SpNOX appears to be a good model of active NOX2, which allows us to propose an explanation for NOX2’s requirement for activation.
Consumers' views on egg quality and preferences for responsible production – results from nine European countries
Authors: Harju Charlotta , Lähtinen Katja , Heinola Katriina , Väre Minna , Bonnefous Claire , Collin Anne , Cozma Vasile , Kliphuis Saskia , Parrott Patricia Ann , Rodenburg T. Bas , Spinu Marina , Niemi Jarkko 
Published: October 2023

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to provide information on how citizens in nine countries across Europe perceive egg product quality and the importance of a product's sustainability attributes (animal welfare, country of origin and production method) in egg purchases.Design/methodology/approachThe data were gathered in 2021 via an online survey in nine European countries (Finland, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Denmark). A total of 3,601 responses were collected. As methods of analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), independent samples t-test, paired samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were conducted when investigating the quality dimensions of egg products and the differences amongst the sociodemographic groups.FindingsCitizens in European countries considered animal welfare aspects, production method and country of origin important when purchasing egg products. Citizens' perceived quality of egg products was related to two dimensions (i.e. product properties and responsible production), and there were differences in perceptions by sociodemographic groups (i.e. age, gender, education and country of residence). Responsible production was most valued by younger women with higher education. Also in the Netherlands and Romania, citizens had stronger preferences for product properties compared to responsible production, whilst in Germany, responsible production was appreciated more than product properties.Originality/valueThe study provides new information on citizens' perceived egg product quality and the role of a product's sustainability attributes in egg purchases. Furthermore, the results bring novel insights on the differences in perceptions amongst citizens living in nine European countries.
Islamic crypto assets and regulatory framework: evidence from Indonesia and global approaches
Authors: Wiwoho Jamal , Trinugroho Irwan , Kharisma Dona Budi , Suwadi Pujiyono 
Published: October 2023

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to formulate a governance and regulatory framework for Islamic crypto assets (ICAs). A balanced regulatory framework is required to protect consumers and to encourage digital Islamic finance innovation.

Design/methodology/approach
This study focuses on Indonesia and compares it to other countries, specifically Malaysia and the UK, using statutory, comparative and conceptual research approaches.

Findings
The ICAs are permissible (halal) commodities/assets to be traded if they fulfil the standards as goods or commodities that can be traded with a sale and purchase contract (sil’ah) and have an underlying asset (backed by tangible assets such as gold). Islamic social finance activities such as zakat and Islamic microfinance activities such as halal industry are backed by ICAs. The regulatory framework needed to support ICAs includes the Islamic Financial Services Act, shariah supervisory boards, shariah governance standards and ICA exchanges.

Research limitations/implications
This study only examined crypto assets (tokens as securities) and not cryptocurrencies. It used regulations in several countries with potential in Islamic finance development, such as Indonesia, Malaysia and the UK.

Practical implications
The ICA regulatory framework is helpful as an element of a comprehensive strategy to develop a lasting Islamic social finance ecosystem.

Social implications
The development of crypto assets must be supported by a regulatory framework to protect consumers and encourage innovation in Islamic digital finance.

Originality/value
ICA has growth prospects; however, weak regulatory support and minimal oversight indicate weak legal protection for consumers and investors. Regulating ICA, optimising supervision, implementing shariah governance standards and having ICA exchanges can strengthen the Islamic economic ecosystem.
Social media investors' sentiment as stock market performance predictor
Authors: Ben Cheikh Sana , Amiri Hanen , Loukil Nadia 
Published: October 2023

PurposeThis study examines the impact of social media investor sentiment on the stock market performance through qualitative and quantitative proxies.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use a sample of daily stock performance related to S&P 500 Index for the period from December 18, 2017, to December 18, 2018. The social media investor sentiment was assessed through qualitative and quantitative proxies. For qualitative proxies, the study relies on three social media resources”: Twitter, Trump Twitter account and StockTwits. The authors proposed 3 methods to reflect investor sentiment. For quantitative proxies, the number of daily messages published from Trump Twitter account and StockTwits is considered as a signal of investor sentiment. For regression model, the study adopts the autoregressive distributed lagged to determine the relationships between the nonstationary series.Findings:Empirical findings provide evidence that quantitative measures of investor sentiment have significant effects on S&P’500 performances. The authors find that Trump's tweets should be interpreted with caution. The results also show that the number of Trump's tweets on t−1 day have a positive effect on performance on day t.Practical implicationsSocial media sentiment contains information for predicting stock returns and transaction activity. Since, the arrival of new information in capital markets triggers investor sentiment on social media.Originality/valueThis study investigates the investors’ sentiment through social media and explores quantitative and qualitative measures. The amount of information on social media reflects more the investor sentiment than content analysis measures.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-12-2022-0818
Lights and shadows in the operationalization of sustainability through the 2030 Agenda in Spanish universities
Authors: Diaz-Sarachaga Jose Manuel , Longo Sarachaga Joana 
Published: October 2023

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze how sustainability was operationalized in the Spanish universities through plans and actions that contribute actively to the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Design/methodology/approach
A systematic search and content analysis served to examine information available on websites belonging to the 76 universities listed in the Conference of Rectors of the Spanish Universities (CRUE).

Findings
The participation of Spanish universities on initiatives focused on sustainability is very limited, highlighting the negligible role of private institutions in which topics like sustainability and the 2030 Agenda/SDGs were scarcely addressed.

Originality/value
The study outlines the actual extent of the inclusion of sustainability in particular co-curricular actions toward the SDGs in the CRUE. The findings enable to define a long-term sustainability road map for the Spanish university system.
Government-public relationships in the context of mega sport events: conceptualisation and scale development
Authors: Kim Sungkyung , Manoli Argyro Elisavet , Pyun Do Young , Kenyon James Andrew 
Published: October 2023

PurposeEnthusiasm for hosting mega sport events has been dampened mainly due to the opposition of local communities. Although the use of public relations that aims for two-way communication to build mutual understanding and the long-term relationship could be an effective tool in diminishing the opposition, little research exists that interprets the social concern with public relations theoretical lens. In this light, the primary purpose of the present study was to conceptualise government-public relationships in the context of mega sport events and to develop a valid and psychometrically sound scale to measure the relationship quality between two entities.Design/methodology/approachAn initial pool of 23 potential government-public relationship items was drawn through item generation processes, including research synthesis and content validity. Then, this study collected 254 respondents via online surveys and split the total sample into two sets for exploratory factor analysis and (n = 127) and confirmatory factor analysis (n = 127).FindingsAs a result, the scale of the government-public relationships consists of 17 items representing three dimensions: control mutuality, trust and satisfaction.Originality/valueThe developed government-public relationship scale furnishes event marketers and researchers with a solid framework and a measurement tool for empirical examinations. The current research reveals that the dimensionality, reliability and validity of the three latent government-public relationships dimensions are satisfactory while failing to meet the general consensus that commitment is an important dimension of the existing organisation-public relationships scale.
Does the Directive of the European Union on disclosure of non-financial and diversity information improve reporting?
Authors: Traxler Albert Anton , Greiling Dorothea , Freinbichler Margit , Mayerhofer Petra 
Published: October 2023

Purpose
While in the past companies have voluntarily disclosed information beyond the financial bottom line, there is now a trend toward mandatory reporting in many countries. With the adoption of Directive 2014/95/EU, the European Union has taken a decisive step in this direction. However, research on the effects of these obligations is still at an early stage, particularly regarding Directive 2014/95/EU. Therefore, this paper aims to pursue the question of whether the directive has led to an improvement in reporting.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors analyzed the reporting of the EURO STOXX 50 companies before and after the directive entered into force. To evaluate the improvement, the authors assigned the individual Global Reporting Initiative indicators to the different information requirements of the directive.

Findings
Overall, the authors’ study revealed an improvement in reporting. However, this does not apply to all information categories. A significant improvement can be seen regarding the information on policies and due diligence, principal risk and non-financial key performance indicators. Institutional theory suggests that the observed improvements among these reporting-experienced companies can be understood as the result of coercive pressure triggered by the directive’s requirements.

Originality/value
The authors’ study contributes to the debate on the impact of non-financial reporting obligations by providing empirical insights into the effects of Directive 2014/95/EU. These insights can inform political and managerial decision-making, particularly in view of increasing reporting obligations.
Overcoming barriers of employee ownership in France, Italy, Spain, the UK and the US
Authors: Mygind Niels 
Published: October 2023

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to give an updated overview over the development of employee-ownership in Italy, France, Spain including Mondragon, the UK and the US with relatively many employee-owned firms. How have the barriers for employee-ownership been overcome in these countries?Design/methodology/approachThe overview is based on updated descriptions of the development of employee-ownership included in this special issue. The analysis follows the structure of overcoming five barriers: the organization problem; the problem of entry and exit of employee-owners; the startup and takeover problem; the capital- and the risk problem.FindingsItaly, France and Spain have overcome the barriers by specific legislation for worker cooperatives, this includes rules for entry and exit of employee members. Cooperative support organizations play an important role for monitoring and managing the startup problem and for access to capital. The Mondragon model includes individual ownership elements and a group structure of cooperatives. The EOT and ESOP models are well suited for employee takeovers, financing are eased by tax advantages and they are all-employee schemes. While the EOT has no individual risks, the ESOP model has the possibility for capital gains for employees but also the risk of losing these gains.Originality/valueComprehensive and updated overview of the development in employee-ownership in the five countries to identify successful formats of employee-ownership for implementation in countries with few employee-owned firms.