bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biophysical Mechanism of Allosteric Regulation of Actin Capping Protein
Authors: Mooren Olivia L. , Stuchell-Brereton Melissa D. , McConnell Patrick , Yan Chenbo , Wilkerson Emily M. , Goldfarb Dennis , Cooper John A. , Sept David , Soranno Andrea 
Published: August 2023

AbstractActin capping protein (CP) can be regulated by steric and allosteric mechanisms. The molecular mechanism of the allosteric regulation at a biophysical level includes linkage between the binding sites for three ligands: F-actin, Capping-Protein-Interacting (CPI) motifs, and V-1/myotrophin, based on biochemical functional studies and solvent accessibility experiments. Here, we investigated the mechanism of allosteric regulation at the atomic level using single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and molecular dynamics (MD) to assess the conformational and structural dynamics of CP in response to linked-binding site ligands. In the absence of ligand, both single-molecule FRET and MD revealed two distinct conformations of CP in solution; previous crystallographic studies revealed only one. CPI-motif peptide association induced conformational changes within CP that propagate in one direction, while V-1 association induced conformational changes in the opposite direction. Comparing CPI-motif peptides from different proteins, we identified variations in CP conformations and dynamics that are specific to each CPI motif. MD simulations for CP alone and in complex with a CPI motif and V-1 reveal atomistic details of the conformational changes. Analysis of the interaction of CP with wildtype (wt) and chimeric CPI-motif peptides using single-molecule FRET, isothermal calorimetry (ITC) and MD simulation indicated that conformational and affinity differences are intrinsic to the C-terminal portion of the CPI-motif. We conclude that allosteric regulation of CP involves changes in conformation that disseminate across the protein to link distinct binding-site functions. Our results provide novel insights into the biophysical mechanism of the allosteric regulation of CP.
The Role of Potassium and Calcium Currents in the Bistable Firing Transition
Authors: Borges Fernando S. , Protachevicz Paulo R. , Souza Diogo L. M. , Bittencourt Conrado F. , Gabrick Enrique C. , Bentivoglio Lucas E. , Szezech José D. , Batista Antonio M. , Caldas Iberê L. , Dura-Bernal Salvador , Pena Rodrigo F. O. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractHealthy brains display a wide range of firing patterns, from synchronized oscillations during slowwave sleep to desynchronized firing during movement. These physiological activities coexist with periods of pathological hyperactivity in the epileptic brain, where neurons can fire in synchronized bursts. Most cortical neurons are pyramidal regular spiking cells (RS) with frequency adaptation and do not exhibit bursts in current-clamp experiments (in vitro). In this work, we investigate the transition mechanism of spike-to-burst patterns due to slow potassium and calcium currents, considering a conductance-based model of a cortical RS cell. The joint influence of potassium and calcium ion channels on high synchronous patterns is investigated for different synaptic couplings (gsyn) and external current inputs (I). Our results suggest that slow potassium currents play an important role in the emergence of high-synchronous activities, as well as in the spike-to-burst firing pattern transitions. This transition is related to bistable dynamics of the neuronal network, where physiological asynchronous states coexist with pathological burst synchronization. The hysteresis curve of the coefficient of variation of the inter-spike interval demonstrates that a burst can be initiated by firing states with neuronal synchronization. Furthermore, we notice that high-threshold (IL) and low-threshold (IT) ion channels play a role in increasing and decreasing the parameter conditions (gsynandI) in which bistable dynamics occur, respectively. For high values ofILconductance, a synchronous burst appears when neurons are weakly coupled and receive more external input. On the other hand, when the conductanceITincreases, higher coupling and lowerIare necessary to produce burst synchronization. In light of our results, we suggest that channel subtype-specific pharmacological interactions can be useful to induce transitions from pathological high bursting states to healthy states.
Prioritizing the survival determinants of quantity surveying firms in economic contraction
Authors: Moyanga Dorcas , Ojo Lekan Damilola , Awodele Oluseyi Alabi , Ogunsemi Deji Rufus 
Published: August 2023

PurposeMicro, small and medium-sized enterprises are the live wire of construction industry in developing countries. These classes of establishments are most affected by economic contraction and turmoil, thus affecting their performance and survivability. Hence, the purpose of this study is to investigate and prioritize the survival determinants of construction consulting organization during economic contraction in Nigeria using quantity surveying firms as a focal point.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted the descriptive-survey design and quantitative data were collected through questionnaire purposely administered to quantity surveying firms in the Southwestern part of Nigeria. The data obtained from 99 quantity surveying firms on survival determinants were analysed using various statistical analysis such as mean score, standard deviation, Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis H test, and so on. Principal component analysis was used to identify the principal components of survival determinants, while the factors were prioritized using fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE).FindingsThe result of the analysis reveals eight factors that significantly determines the survival of firms during the period of economic contraction. Furthermore, the eight grouped factors were prioritized accordingly namely firm's innovation and diversification, ownership structure and networking, education level and management skills, and so on.Practical implicationsThis study investigated the survival determinants of quantity surveying firms and prioritized it with the opinions of principal partners in quantity surveying establishments. As against obtaining large survey responses from all quantity surveyors in the study area that may not have practical experience of managing firms, the limited responses received provide valid basis to broaden the horizon of professionals and other stakeholders on the key determinants for firms to survive economic turmoil.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the body of knowledge by providing information on prioritized factors that must be considered in an appropriate order by quantity surveying firms to survive economic contraction.
An investigation of the Iranian audit firms’ transparency: evidence from an Islamic context
Authors: Asnaashari Hamideh , Safarzadeh Mohammad Hossein , Beygpanah Behzad 
Published: August 2023

Purpose
This study aims to investigate factors that drive or deter audit firms (AFs) from disclosing audit quality (AQ) information to stakeholders in Iran. Furthermore, information items that should be contained in their disclosures are examined.

Design/methodology/approach
The study followed an interpretive approach. In this regard, 21 semi-structured and face-to-face interviews were conducted to explore the viewpoints of audit partners and investment managers. Interviewees were selected by snowball sampling method. The transcripts of audio records were prepared, and a thematic perspective was applied to evaluate transcriptions.

Findings
Participants’ interpretations indicate that certain factors, such as signaling to stakeholders, active audit committees and investor demand, promote transparency among Iranian AFs. Nonetheless, this inclination is deterred by some concerns, including poor AQ, lack of financial resources, lack of legal enforcement, fear of raising stakeholders’ expectations, inactive professional associations and contextual factors which should be addressed. Interviewees believe five items should be contained in AFs’ disclosures to enhance transparency.

Practical implications
This study contributes to recognizing factors explaining AFs’ behavior in the context of an Islamic country. Furthermore, the type of disclosure that should be contained can provide good insight for standard setters or oversight bodies.

Originality/value
The semi-structured interviews shed light on the contextual factors that influence transparency within the accountancy profession, either enabling or hindering it. Additionally, it is crucial to consider each country’s unique characteristics when determining the disclosure items in transparency reports.
BACE2 beyond β‐processing of APP, its neuroprotective role in cerebrovascular endothelium
Authors: Sáez‐Valero Javier , Pérez‐González Rocío 
Published: August 2023

AbstractSeveral proteases are involved in the proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) generating the amyloidogenic Aβ peptide, which can act as the triggering pathological effector of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Among these proteases, the β‐site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 2 (BACE2) is of particular interest because it was first proposed as an alternative β‐secretase to its homolog BACE1; however, accumulating evidence suggests that BACE2 acts as a non‐amyloidogenic α‐secretase and exerts neuroprotective effects. In this issue of J Neurochem, Katusic et al. present an interesting article reporting that BACE2 plays a role in preservation of cerebral vascular endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) function, thus exerting protective functions. Their data support that the process is mediated by the large soluble non‐amyloidogenic APP fragment sAPPα through the γ‐aminobutyric acid type B receptor 1, which enhances the expression of a major transcription factor for eNOS gene expression in endothelial cells, the Krüppel‐like factor 2. These protective functions of BACE2 contrast with the pathogenic role of BACE1 as a key player in the AD amyloidogenic pathway. Indeed, many efforts have been invested in BACE1 inhibitors as potential disease modifiers for AD. Unfortunately, the results in clinical trials have been disappointing. In this scenario, a better understanding of the functions of BACE2, as well as the selectivity of BACE1 inhibitors with respect to other β‐secretases (mainly BACE2), is crucial for the development of new therapeutic agents. Furthermore, specific cellular targeting should also be considered to improve such therapies due to the diverse balance of secretases targeting APP and the complex cross‐talk between them and the generated APP fragments.image
Temperature-Dependent Classification of Geopolymers Derived From Granite Designed for Well Cementing Applications
Authors: Chamssine Fawzi , Agista Madhan Nur , Khalifeh Mahmoud 
Published: August 2023

AbstractAlternative materials such as geopolymers appear to have potential advantages compared to Portland cement. However, the application of geopolymers for all sections of the well is still a major challenge due to the difference in temperature ranges. To that end, the classification of the granite-based geopolymer mix designs requires a thorough investigation of various properties at a range of different operational temperatures. In this study, three mix designs are presented for different well sections at temperatures ranging from 5 °C to 60 °C. The mix designs for low temperatures (&lt;50 °C) were tuned by adding CaO to the dry solid blend. Workability, rheology, short-term compressive strength, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were conducted to conclude the performance of the mix designs under study. Results highlight the presence of Ca content (wt%) in mix designs and its role in enhancing material performance at low operational temperatures. The study reveals a promising future application of the granite-based geopolymer for well construction and abandonment at varying depths with recommendations for further improving the performance by the addition of chemical admixtures. In addition, the relation between temperature and Ca content was highlighted, and more investigations into the kinetics governing these two parameters were recommended.
Population health differences in cross-border regions within the European Union and Schengen area: a protocol for a scoping review
Authors: Stroisch Sophie , Angelini Viola , Schnettler Sebastian , Vogt Tobias 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionAlong with European integration and the harmonisation of living conditions, improvements in health have been observed over the past decades. However, sociospatial inequalities within and across member states still exist today. While drivers of these health inequalities have been widely researched on a national and regional scale, cross-border regions remain understudied. The removal of border controls within the European Union (EU) member states has facilitated economic convergence and created new opportunities, including cross-border cooperation in the healthcare systems. However, whether and how these developments have influenced the population health in the respective cross-border regions is unclear. Hence, this scoping review aims to examine the empirical literature on the changes in health outcomes over time at the population level in EU cross-border areas. Additionally, we aim to identify the type of evidence and available data sources in those studies. Finally, we will determine the research gaps in the literature.Methods and analysisWe will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for this scoping review. The ‘Population–Concept–Context’ framework will be used to identify the eligibility criteria. A three-step search strategy will be conducted to find relevant studies in the databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and EBSCOhost (SocIndex). Additionally, we will search on websites of international governmental institutions for further reports and articles. The finalisation of the search is planned for August 2023. The extracted data from the scoping review will be presented in a tabular form. A narrative summary of the selected studies will accompany the tabulated results and describe how they answer the research questions.Ethics and disseminationWe will exclusively use secondary data from available studies for our analysis. Therefore, this review does not require ethical approval. We aim to publish our findings at (inter-)national conferences and as an open-access, peer-reviewed journal article.
Ultraviolet-C irradiation has no short-term, direct effects on cyclamen mite (Phytonemus pallidus (Banks)) in strawberry
Authors: Renkema Justin M. , Takeda Fumiomi , Janisiewicz Wojciech 
Published: August 2023

Cyclamen mite is a nearly global pest of strawberry, inhabiting concealed spaces within folded leaves and flower buds emerging from plant crowns. It feeds on new plant tissue causing leaf discoloration and deformation, stunted plants, fruit bronzing and cracking, and yield losses at high population levels. Because ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation is a promising new tool for disease and pest management in strawberry, and because there are few control options for cyclamen mite, we tested the direct, short-term effects of UV-C on cyclamen mite populations in potted strawberry plants in a controlled environment. Results from three experiments showed few differences in cyclamen mite populations on controls versus plants treated with UV-C (0.237 W m−1) for 3 or 4 weeks. In the second experiment, using a different strawberry cultivar and directing the UV-C from above the plant crown only, there was indication of a mild effect that may be due to some direct mortality and/or indirectly to plant defenses. However, longer-term studies will need to be conducted to determine whether pre-infestation exposure to UV-C can enable strawberry plants to better resist or tolerate cyclamen mite populations. Direct mortality did not occur as in previous experiments with pests, like twospotted spider mite, that live primarily on opened leaves.
Blood Leukocyte AHRR Methylation and Risk of Non–smoking-associated Cancer: A Case-cohort Study of Non–Hodgkin Lymphoma
Authors: Dahl Christina , Hvidtfeldt Ulla A. , Tjønneland Anne , Guldberg Per , Raaschou-Nielsen Ole 
Published: August 2023

Aryl-hydrocarbon receptor repressor (AHRR) hypomethylation in peripheral blood is tightly linked with tobacco smoking and lung cancer. Here, we investigated AHRR methylation in non–Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), a non–smoking-associated cancer. In a case-cohort study within the population-based Danish Diet, Cancer and Health cohort, we measured AHRR (cg23576855) methylation in prediagnostic blood from 161 participants who developed NHL within 13.4 years of follow-up (median: 8.5 years), with a comparison group of 164 randomly chosen participants. We measured DNA-methylation levels using bisulfite pyrosequencing and estimated incidence rate ratios (IRR) using Cox proportional hazards models with adjustment for baseline age, sex, educational level, smoking status, body mass index, alcohol intake, physical activity, and diet score. Global DNA-methylation levels were assessed by long interspersed nucleotide element 1 (LINE-1) analysis. Overall, the IRR for AHRR hypomethylation (lowest vs. other quartiles) was 2.52 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.24–5.15]. When stratified according to time between blood draw and diagnosis, low AHRR methylation levels were associated with a future diagnosis of NHL [IRR: 4.50 (95% CI, 1.62–12.50) at 0–&lt;5 years, 7.04 (95% CI, 2.36–21.02) at 5–&lt;10 years, and 0.56 (95% CI, 0.21–1.45) at ≥10 years]. There was no association between global DNA-methylation levels and risk of NHL. Our results show that AHRR hypomethylation in blood leukocytes is associated with a higher risk of NHL in a time-dependent manner, suggesting that it occurs as a response to tumor development.

Significance:
Our population-based study demonstrated that lower AHRR methylation levels in peripheral blood leukocytes were associated with an increased risk of NHL. This association was independent of tobacco smoking, sex, and lifestyle characteristics, but was highly dependent on time to diagnosis. These findings highlight the potential of AHRR methylation as a biomarker for NHL risk, effective up to 10 years after blood draw.
“The Yoke Before the Oil” (Isa 10:27d) in the Light of Neo-Assyrian Covenant-Making Rituals
Authors: Marcello Fabrizio 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Following a study by Robertson (1885), Old Testament scholars have attempted to resolve the difficult reference to oil in Isa 10:27d by means of emendations, generally of a geographical nature. In this way, the verse becomes the opening line of the following war oracle (10:28–32). The study of royal inscriptions from the Neo-Assyrian period reveals instead the existence of covenant-making rituals in which oil was employed, especially as an image of the curse associated with covenant transgressions. Since in Assyrian propaganda, the yoke was an image of the king’s lordship over the conquered peoples, with the prophecy that “the yoke before the oil will be destroyed,” the prophet alludes to the termination of the treaty obligations stipulated through the ritual, as well as any form of curse associated with it.
Machine Learning for Daily Forecasts of Arctic Sea Ice Motion: An Attribution Assessment of Model Predictive Skill
Authors: Hoffman Lauren , Mazloff Matthew R. , Gille Sarah T. , Giglio Donata , Bitz Cecilia M. , Heimbach Patrick , Matsuyoshi Kayli 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Physics-based simulations of Arctic sea ice are highly complex, involving transport between different phases, length scales, and time scales. Resultantly, numerical simulations of sea ice dynamics have a high computational cost and model uncertainty. We employ data-driven machine learning (ML) to make predictions of sea ice motion. The ML models are built to predict present-day sea ice velocity given present-day wind velocity and previous-day sea ice concentration and velocity. Models are trained using reanalysis winds and satellite-derived sea ice properties. We compare the predictions of three different models: persistence (PS), linear regression (LR), and a convolutional neural network (CNN). We quantify the spatiotemporal variability of the correlation between observations and the statistical model predictions. Additionally, we analyze model performance in comparison to variability in properties related to ice motion (wind velocity, ice velocity, ice concentration, distance from coast, bathymetric depth) to understand the processes related to decreases in model performance. Results indicate that a CNN makes skillful predictions of daily sea ice velocity with a correlation up to 0.81 between predicted and observed sea ice velocity, while the LR and PS implementations exhibit correlations of 0.78 and 0.69, respectively. The correlation varies spatially and seasonally: lower values occur in shallow coastal regions and during times of minimum sea ice extent. LR parameter analysis indicates that wind velocity plays the largest role in predicting sea ice velocity on 1-day time scales, particularly in the central Arctic. Regions where wind velocity has the largest LR parameter are regions where the CNN has higher predictive skill than the LR.

Significance Statement
We build and evaluate different machine learning (ML) models that make 1-day predictions of Arctic sea ice velocity using present-day wind velocity and previous-day ice concentration and ice velocity. We find that models that incorporate nonlinear relationships between inputs (a neural network) capture important information (i.e., have a higher correlation between observations and predictions than do linear and persistence models). This performance enhancement occurs primarily in deeper regions of the central Arctic where wind speed is the dominant predictor of ice motion. Understanding where these models benefit from increased complexity is important because future work will use ML to elucidate physically meaningful relationships within the data, looking at how the relationship between wind and ice velocity is changing as the ice melts.
Three-Dimensional Evaluation of Alveolar Cleft Volume and Nasomaxillary Form in Patients with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate
Authors: Sehrawat Kirti , Kumar Santosh , Harikrishnan Pandurangan 
Published: August 2023

Objective To evaluate the alveolar cleft volume (ACV) and to study its correlation with the nasomaxillary form in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) Design Retrospective study. Setting University Academic Hospital. Patients/Participants 30 patients with UCLP and 30 non-cleft patients. Interventions Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. Results The Maxillary sinus volume (MSV) and Nasal cavity volume (NCV) were significantly reduced on the affected side in patients with UCLP ( P < .001) and also in the cleft group when compared to the noncleft group ( P < .01). The septal deviation measured at anterior, mid and posterior nasal spine were increased in the UCLP group significantly when compared to the non-cleft group ( P < .01) and maximum deviation was seen at the mid-level. The mean ACV was found to be 0.587 + 0.396 cm3.The nasomaxillary complex was affected in UCLP patients irrespective of cleft size and a statistically significant correlation of ACV was found with septal height only (r value = -0.508). Parameters like septal height, anterior and middle maxillary width were significantly reduced ( P < .01) in the cleft group when compared to the non-cleft group. Conclusion The patients with UCLP showed significant differences among various parameters within the nasomaxillary complex when compared to the control group. Within the cleft group, the MSV and NCV were significantly decreased on the cleft side and also a significant negative correlation of ACV was found with septal height only.