bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Tigurilysin, a Novel Human CD59-Specific Cholesterol-Dependent Cytolysin, Reveals a Role for Host Specificity in Augmenting Toxin Activity
Authors: Shahi Ifrah , Dongas Sophia A. , Ilmain Juliana K. , Torres Victor J. , Ratner Adam J. 
Published: June 2023

ABSTRACTCholesterol dependent cytolysins (CDCs) are a large family of pore forming toxins, produced by numerous gram-positive pathogens. CDCs depend on host membrane cholesterol for pore formation; some CDCs also require surface associated human CD59 (hCD59) for binding, conferring specificity for human cells. We purified a recombinant version of a putative CDC encoded in the genome ofStreptococcus oralis subsp. tigurinus, tigurilysin (TGY), and used CRISPR/Cas9 to construct hCD59 knockout (KO) HeLa and JEG-3 cell lines. Cell viability assays with TGY on WT and hCD59 KO cells showed that TGY is a hCD59-dependent CDC. Two variants of TGY exist amongS. oralis subsp. tigurinusgenomes, only one of which is functional. We discovered that a single amino acid change between these two TGY variants determines its activity. Flow cytometry and oligomerization western blots revealed that the single amino acid difference between the two TGY isoforms disrupts host cell binding and oligomerization. Furthermore, experiments with hCD59 KO cells and cholesterol depleted cells demonstrated that TGY is fully dependent on both hCD59 and cholesterol for activity, unlike other known hCD59-dependent CDCs. Using full-length CDCs and toxin constructs differing only in the binding domain, we determined that having hCD59-dependence leads to increased lysis efficiency, conferring a potential advantage to organisms producing hCD59-dependent CDCs.IMPORTANCECholesterol dependent cytolysins (CDCs) are produced by a variety of disease-causing bacteria, and may play a significant role in pathogenesis. Understanding CDC mechanisms of action provides useful information for developing anti-virulence strategies against bacteria that utilize CDCs and other pore-forming toxins in pathogenesis. This study describes for the first time a novel human-specific CDC with an atypical pore forming mechanism compared to known CDCs. In addition, this study demonstrates that human-specificity potentially confers increased lytic efficiency to CDCs. These data provide a possible explanation for the selective advantage of developing hCD59-dependency in CDCs and the consequent host restriction.
Optimisation of a DNA extraction protocol for improving the bacterial and fungal classification based on Nanopore sequencing
Authors: Thu May Soe , Sawaswong Vorthorn , Chanchaem Prangwalai , Klomkliew Pavit , Campbell Barry J. , Hirankarn Nattiya , Fothergill Joanne L. , Payungporn Sunchai 
Published: June 2023

AbstractRibosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing is commonly used to evaluate microbiome profiles in health and disease and document the impact of interventional treatments. Long-read nanopore sequencing is attractive since it can provide greater classification at the species level. However, optimised protocols to target marker genes for bacterial and fungal profiling are needed. To achieve an increased taxonomic resolution, we developed extraction and long-amplicon PCR-based approaches using Nanopore sequencing. Three sample lysis conditions were applied to a mock microbial community, including known bacterial and fungal species; the 96 MagBead DNA lysis buffer (ML) alone, incorporating bead-beating (MLB) or bead-beating plus MetaPolyzyme enzymatic treatment (MLBE). Profiling of bacterial comparison, MLB had more statistically different bacterial phyla and genera than the others. For fungal profiling, MLB had a significant increase of Ascomycota and a decline of Basidiomycota, subsequently failing to detectMalasseziaandCryptococcus. Also, the principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) plot by the Bray-Curtis index showed a significant difference among groups for bacterial (p =0.033) and fungal (p =0.012) profiles. Overall, the microbial profiling and diversity analysis revealed that ML and MLBE have more similarity than MLB for both bacteria and fungi, therefore, bead-beating is not recommended for long-read amplicon sequencing. However, ML alone was suggested as an optimal approach considering DNA yield, classification, reagent cost and hands-on time. This could be an initial proof-of-concept study for simultaneous human microbiome and mycobiome studies.
Crystal structure of dihydrofolate reductase from the emerging pathogenic fungus Candida auris
Authors: Kirkman Tim , Sketcher Alice , de Morais Barroso Vinicius , Ishida Kelly , Tosin Manuela , Dias Marcio Vinicius Bertacine 
Published: June 2023

Candida auris has emerged as a global health problem with a dramatic spread by nosocomial transmission and a high mortality rate. Antifungal therapy for C. auris infections is currently limited due to widespread resistance to fluconazole and amphotericin B and increasing resistance to the front-line drug echinocandin. Therefore, new treatments are urgently required to combat this pathogen. Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) has been validated as a potential drug target for Candida species, although no structure of the C. auris enzyme (CauDHFR) has been reported. Here, crystal structures of CauDHFR are reported as an apoenzyme, as a holoenzyme and in two ternary complexes with pyrimethamine and cycloguanil, which are common antifolates, at near-atomic resolution. Preliminary biochemical and biophysical assays and antifungal susceptibility testing with a variety of classical antifolates were also performed, highlighting the enzyme-inhibition rates and the inhibition of yeast growth. These structural and functional data might provide the basis for a novel drug-discovery campaign against this global threat.
The generalized nonlocal fractal calculus: an efficient tool for fractal circuit analysis
Authors: Banchuin Rawid 
Published: June 2023

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a novel nonlocal fractal calculus scheme dedicated to the analysis of fractal electrical circuit, namely, the generalized nonlocal fractal calculus.Design/methodology/approachFor being generalized, an arbitrary kernel function has been adopted. The condition on order has been derived so that it is not related to the γ-dimension of the fractal set. The fractal Laplace transforms of our operators have been derived.FindingsUnlike the traditional power law kernel-based nonlocal fractal calculus operators, ours are generalized, consistent with the local fractal derivative and use higher degree of freedom. As intended, the proposed nonlocal fractal calculus is applicable to any kind of fractal electrical circuit. Thus, it has been found to be a more efficient tool for the fractal electrical circuit analysis than any previous fractal set dedicated calculus scheme.Originality/valueA fractal calculus scheme that is more efficient for the fractal electrical circuit analysis than any previous ones has been proposed in this work.
Authentic brand positioning or woke washing? LGBTQI+ consumer perceptions of brand activism
Authors: Tressoldi Cassiano , Espartel Lélis Balestrin , Rohden Simoni F. 
Published: June 2023

PurposeThe lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and others (LGBTQI+) movement has been the focus of companies that seek to win over consumers by supporting diversity. Any positioning, however, that is not perceived as being consistent and genuine can harm the brand's image. Through a queer theoretical perspective, the authors explore perceptions of LGBTQI+ consumers regarding brand activism.Design/methodology/approachQualitative research was carried out that involved interviewing Brazilian consumers who are part of the LGBTQI+ community.FindingsAspects of the identity of these individuals draw closer to those brands that share the same values the individuals have. Brand activism is perceived positively in terms of the brand's representativeness and social impact. When activism is perceived as inauthentic, activism generates a backlash and consumers begin to boycott brands as the consumers associate positioning with woke-washing practices.Originality/valueThe results indicate that to adopt an activist stance with regard to the LGBTQI+ public, brands need to be consistent in the brands' communication and advertising and in brands' organizational culture and diversity. This research provides important indicators for brands that genuinely want to support the LGBTQI+ community and is the first to use queer theory to analyze brand activism.
Fostering college aspirations: engaging English teachers in students’ future pathways
Authors: Richards Dasmen , Lawson Amber , Nicol Jaime , Woodcock Benjamin K. , Pritchett Taria , Julien David 
Published: June 2023

PurposeThis essay is for the Community Voices feature of the special issue titled “The Role of English Teaching and Teachers in Supporting Youths’ University Futures and Literacies.” This paper aims to provide various recommendations for English teachers and teacher educators who are invested in fostering the college aspirations of students.Design/methodology/approachThis essay is for the Community Voices feature of the special issue titled “The Role of English Teaching and Teachers in Supporting Youths' University Futures and Literacies.” A group of six educators convene to develop recommendations for English teachers and teachers educators that can be helpful when engaging with students regarding their college aspirations.FindingsThis essay is for the Community Voices feature of the special issue titled “The Role of English Teaching and Teachers in Supporting Youths’ University Futures and Literacies.” We provide nine recommendations for English teachers and teachers educators to support students' college access and readiness.Originality/valueThis essay is for the Community Voices feature of the special issue titled “The Role of English Teaching and Teachers in Supporting Youths’ University Futures and Literacies.” This paper generates new insights to further develop college readiness and access within English classrooms.
Numerical and experimental study of natural convection heat transfer on flat and corrugated plates
Authors: Verdério Júnior Sílvio Aparecido , Coelho Pedro J. , Scalon Vicente Luiz , del Rio Oliveira Santiago 
Published: June 2023

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to numerically and experimentally investigate the natural convection heat transfer in flat plates and plates with square, trapezoidal and triangular corrugations.

Design/methodology/approach
This work is an extension of the previous studies by Verderio et al. (2021a, 2021b, 2021c, 2021d, 2022a). An experimental apparatus was built to measure the plates’ temperatures during the natural convection cooling process. Several physical parameters were evaluated through the experimental methodology. Free and open-source computational tools were used to simulate the experimental conditions and to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the thermal plume characteristics over the plates.

Findings
The numerical results were experimentally validated with reasonable accuracy in the range of studied

RaLP for the different plates. Empirical correlations of

Nu¯LPexp=f(RaLP),

h¯conv=f(RaLP) and

Nu¯LPexp⋅(A/AP)=f(RaLP), with good accuracy and statistical representativeness, were obtained for the studied geometries. The convective thermal efficiency of corrugated plates (Δη), as a function of

RaLP, was also experimentally studied quantitatively. In agreement with the findings of Oosthuizen and Garrett (2001), the experimental and numerical results proved that the increase in the heat exchange area of the corrugations has a greater influence on the convective exchange and the thermal efficiency than the disturbances caused in the flow (which reduce

h¯conv). The plate with trapezoidal corrugations presented the highest convective thermal efficiency, followed by the plates with square and triangular corrugations. It was also proved that the thermal efficiency of corrugated plates increases with

RaLP.

Practical implications
The results demonstrate that corrugated surfaces have greater thermal efficiency than flat plates in heating and/or cooling systems by natural convection. This way, corrugated plates can reduce the dependence on auxiliary forced convection systems, with application in technological areas and Industry 4.0.

Originality/value
The empirical correlations obtained for the corrected Nusselt number and thermal efficiency for the corrugated plate geometries studied are original and unpublished, as well as the experimental validation of the developed three-dimensional numerical code.
CSR information, environmental awareness and CSR diffusion in SMEs of Angola
Authors: Paiva Inna Choban de Sousa , Sánchez-Hernández M. Isabel , Carvalho Luísa Cagica 
Published: June 2023

PurposeWith the increasing awareness of sustainability and its importance around the world, corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Africa also requires attention. Based on the stakeholder theory, this study aims to determine the relationship between CSR information received by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and CSR's diffusion and the mediating role of environmental awareness in Angola as a country representative of the African context.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical study analyzes managers' perceptions of 131 SMEs in Angola. The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) is the method to assess the relationship between CSR information and its diffusion and the mediating role of environmental awareness SMEs in Angola.FindingsThe authors found strong evidence that CSR diffusion, and disclosure as one of CSR's related actions, heavily depends on the information received and managed by the firm. The authors also confirmed that environmental awareness puts pressure on SMEs to increase the SMEs' diffusion efforts.Practical implicationsThe study points out the role of managers in promoting a responsible orientation of businesses in Angola for preserving the environment and improving the competitive success of SMEs.Social implicationsThe social, economic and legal contexts of Angola are vulnerable. The findings raise concerns about whether governments and regulatory efforts improve the development of the strategies toward social responsibility of African firms and whether these firms also increase the role of SMEs in producing positive outcomes through CSR.Originality/valueThe results of this study contribute to a better understanding of the features of the strategic orientation of SMEs in Angola, necessary to enhance CSR and protect the environment. The conclusions highlight the potential role of managers in promoting a culture of ethics, social innovation and successful competition change in businesses.
Business meetings in the metaverse: stakeholder views evolve
Authors: Besson Maxime , Gauttier Stephanie 
Published: June 2023

Purpose
Organizations have started using the metaverse to sell non-fungible tokens, execute engineering processes and conduct business meetings. A condition of creating value by moving business processes to the metaverse is acceptance of this technology. In business-to-business scenarios, internal employees and external partners may have different views on the topic but must agree upon new practices. Understanding common motivations and challenges associated with using the metaverse is crucial to its success.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors interviewed managers from a pharmaceutical company considering conducting meetings with clients in the metaverse. A series of 23 statements on reasons for (non)-use was generated. Twenty-five individuals (13 employees and 12 clients) then ranked these statements against each other, revealing what would drive or hinder their metaverse use. The authors compared these perspectives to identify common issues.

Findings
The authors identified four different views. Views 1 and 2 correspond to internal and external participants, while Views 3 and 4 correspond to external ones only. View 1 is skeptical and underlines the role of peers in acceptance. View 2 is a positive perspective centered on usefulness. View 3 is ambivalent and is centered on efforts required to use the metaverse. View 4 reveals a reversed perspective wherein using the metaverse is a low-effort activity.

Originality/value
This paper proposes a case study probing acceptance of a realistic business use of the metaverse. This paper identifies risks to mitigate and motivations to leverage when proposing metaverse usage in a business-to-business context.
Adsorptive investigation of the anticorrosion properties of natural chrysin on carbon steel in acid–chloride system: combined theoretical and experimental approach
Authors: Emori Wilfred , Okonkwo Paul C. , Louis Hitler , Liu Ling , Agwamba Ernest C. , Unimuke Tomsmith , Okafor Peter , Atowon Atowon D. , Obike Anthony Ikechukwu , Cheng ChunRu 
Published: June 2023

Purpose
Owing to the toxicity, biodegradability, and cost of most corrosion inhibitors, research attention is now focused on the development of environmentally benign, biodegradable, cheap, and efficient options. In consideration of these facts, chrysin, a phytocompound of Populus tomentosa (Chinese white poplar) has been isolated and investigated for its anticorrosion abilities on carbon steel in a mixed acid and chloride system. This highlights the main purpose of the study.

Design/methodology/approach
Chrysin was isolated from Populus tomentosa using column chromatography and characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. The investigations are outlined based on theory (Fukui indices, condensed density functional theory and molecular dynamic simulation) and experiments (electrochemical, gravimetry and surface morphology examinations).

Findings
Theoretical evaluations permitted the description of the adsorption characteristics, and molecular interactions and orientations of chrysin on Fe substrate. The interaction energy for protonated and neutral chrysin on Fe (110) were −149.10 kcal/mol and −143.28 kcal/mol, respectively. Moreover, experimental investigations showed that chrysin is a potent mixed-type corrosion inhibitor for steel, whose effectiveness depends on its surrounding temperature and concentration. The optimum inhibition efficiency of 78.7% after 24 h for 1 g/L chrysin at 298 K indicates that the performance of chrysin, as a pure compound, compares favorably with other phytocompounds and plant extracts investigated under similar conditions. However, the inhibition efficiency decreased to 62.5% and 51.8% at 318 K after 48 h and 72 h, respectively.

Originality/value
The novelty of this study relies on the usage of a pure compound in corrosion suppression investigation, thus eliminating the unknown influences obtainable by the presence of multi-phytocompounds in plant extracts, thereby advancing the commercialization of bio-based corrosion inhibitors.
Clinical outcomes of conduction system pacing versus biventricular pacing for cardiac resynchronization therapy: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Kim Jitae A. , Kim Seulgi E. , Ellenbogen Kenneth A. , Vijayaraman Pugazhendhi , Chelu Mihail G. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractIntroductionConduction system pacing (CSP) is observed to produce greater improvements in echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters as compared to conventional biventricular pacing (BiVP). However, whether these surrogate endpoints directly translate to improvements in hard clinical outcomes such as death and heart failure hospitalization (HFH) with CSP remains uncertain as studies reporting these outcomes are scarce. The aim of this meta‐analysis was to analyze the existing data to compare the clinical outcomes of CSP versus BiVP.MethodsA systematic search of the Embase and PubMed database was performed for studies comparing CSP and BiVP for patients indicated to receive a CRT device. The coprimary endpoints were all‐cause mortality and HFH. Other secondary outcomes included change in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), change in NYHA class, and increase in NYHA class ≥1. A random‐effects model was chosen a priori to analyze the composite effects given the anticipated heterogeneity of included trials.ResultsTwenty‐one studies (4 randomized and 17 observational) were identified reporting either primary outcome and were included in the meta‐analysis. In total 1960 patients were assigned to CSP and 2367 to BiVP. Median follow‐up time was 10.1 months (ranging 2–33 months). CSP was associated with a significant reduction in all‐cause mortality (odds ratio [OR] 0.68, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.56–0.83) and HFH (OR 0.52, 95% CI: 0.44–0.63). Mean improvement in LVEF was also greater with CSP (mean difference 4.26, 95% CI: 3.19–5.33). Reduction in NYHA class was significantly greater with CSP (mean difference −0.36, 95% CI: −0.49 to −0.22) and the number of patients with an increase in NYHA class ≥1 was significantly greater with CSP (OR 2.02, 95% CI: 1.70–2.40).ConclusionsCSP was associated with a significant reduction in all‐cause mortality and HFH when compared to conventional BiVP for CRT. Further large‐scale randomized trials are needed to verify these observations.
Overexpression of LaGRAS enhances phosphorus acquisition via increased root growth of phosphorus‐deficient white lupin
Authors: Aslam Mehtab Muhammad , Fritschi Felix B. , Di Zhang , Wang Guanqun , Li Haoxuan , Lam Hon‐Ming , Waseem Muhammad , Weifeng Xu , Zhang Jianhua 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThe GRAS transcription factors play an indispensable role in plant growth and responses to environmental stresses. The GRAS gene family has extensively been explored in various plant species; however, the comprehensive investigation of GRAS genes in white lupin remains insufficient. In this study, bioinformatics analysis of white lupin genome revealed 51 LaGRAS genes distributed into 10 distinct phylogenetic clades. Gene structure analyses revealed that LaGRAS proteins were considerably conserved among the same subfamilies. Notably, 25 segmental duplications and a single tandem duplication showed that segmental duplication was the major driving force for the expansion of GRAS genes in white lupin. Moreover, LaGRAS genes exhibited preferential expression in young cluster root and mature cluster roots and may play key roles in nutrient acquisition, particularly phosphorus (P). To validate this, RT‐qPCR analysis of white lupin plants grown under +P (normal P) and −P (P deficiency) conditions elucidated significant differences in the transcript level of GRAS genes. Among them, LaGRAS38 and LaGRAS39 were identified as potential candidates with induced expression in MCR under −P. Additionally, white lupin transgenic hairy root overexpressing OE‐LaGRAS38 and OE‐LaGRAS39 showed increased root growth, and P concentration in root and leaf compared to those with empty vector control, suggesting their role in P acquisition. We believe this comprehensive analysis of GRAS members in white lupin is a first step in exploring their role in the regulation of root growth, tissue development, and ultimately improving P use efficiency in legume crops under natural environments.