Antagonistic Relationship Research Articles

Indazole as a Phenol Bioisostere: Structure-Affinity Relationships of GluN2B-Selective NMDA Receptor Antagonists.

Negative allosteric modulation of GluN2B subunit-containing NMDA receptors prevents overstimulation, resulting in neuroprotective effects. Since the phenol of prominent negative allosteric modulators is prone to rapid glucuronidation, its bioisosteric replacement by an indazole was envisaged. The key step in the synthesis was a Sonogashira reaction of non-protected iodoindazoles with propargylpiperidine derivatives. Modification of the alkynyl moiety allowed the introduction of several functional groups. The synthesized indazoles showed very high GluN2B affinity but limited selectivity over σ receptors. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed the same molecular interactions with the ifenprodil binding site as the analogous phenols. In two-electrode voltage-clamp experiments, enantiomeric 3-(4-benzylpiperidin-1-yl)-1-(1H-indazol-5-yl)propan-1-ols (S)-10a and (R)-10a displayed higher inhibitory activity than ifenprodil. In contrast to phenolic GluN2B antagonists, the indazoles were not conjugated with glucuronic acid. It can be concluded that the phenol of potent GluN2B antagonists can be replaced bioisosterically by an indazole, retaining the high GluN2B affinity and activity but inhibiting glucuronidation.

Genetic evaluation of heat tolerance in Holsteins using test-day production records and NASA POWER weather data

Heat stress is a prominent issue in livestock production, even for intensively housed dairy herds in Canada. Production records and meteorological data can be combined to assess heat tolerance in dairy cattle. The overall aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of genetic evaluation for heat tolerance in Canadian dairy cattle. The 2 specific objectives were: 1) to estimate the genetic parameters for milk, fat, and protein yield for Holsteins while accounting for high environmental heat loads, and 2) to determine if a genotype-by-environment interaction causes re-ranking of top-ranked sires between environments with low and high heat loads. A repeatability test-day model with a heat stress function was used to evaluate the genetic merit for milk, fat, and protein yield under heat stress and at thermal comfort for first parity in 5 regions in Canada. The heat stress function for each trait was defined using a specific temperature-humidity index (THI) threshold. The purpose of this function was to quantify the level of heat stress that was experienced by the dairy cattle. The estimated genetic correlation between the general additive genetic effect and the additive effect on the slope of the change in the trait phenotype for milk, fat, and protein yield ranged from -0.16 to -0.30, -0.20 to -0.44, and -0.28 to -0.42, respectively. These negative correlations imply that there is an antagonistic relationship between sensitivity to heat stress and level of production. The heritabilities for milk, fat, and protein yield at 15 units above the THI threshold ranged from 0.15 to 0.27, 0.11 to 0.15, and 0.11 to 0.15, respectively. Finally, the rank correlations between the breeding values from a repeatability model with no heat stress effect and the breeding values accounting for heat stress for the 100 top-ranked bulls indicated possible interaction between milk production traits and THI, resulting in substantial re-ranking of the top-ranked sires in Canada, especially for milk yield. This is the first study to implement NASA POWER weather data in a genetic evaluation of heat tolerance in dairy cattle. NASA POWER is a novel alternative meteorological resource that is potentially more reliable and consistent and with broader coverage than weather station data increasing the number of animals that could be included in a heat stress evaluation.

Conflicted Identities: Negotiating Belonging among Young People from the Lebanese Diasporas in Montreal

To elucidate the reproduction of antagonist relationships between diasporic populations, conflict transportation theories tend to focus on societal and transnational contexts. This approach often neglects the complexity of people’s lived experiences and risks essentializing diasporic identities. Based on ethnographic fieldwork among young people of the Lebanese diasporas in Montreal, this contribution reconsiders the interplay between diasporas and conflict by pondering the shifting nature of existence. It argues that everyday encounters and life trajectories play a critical role in how the diasporic youth relate to identity categories, inspiring them to continuously renegotiate and transform what being Lebanese means in their existence.

Research Note: Analysis of body weight and walking ability in turkeys and the prediction of categorical responses across systematic effect classes using a linear threshold model

Heavy selection for growth in turkeys has led to a decay in leg soundness and walking ability. In this study, different models and traits were used to investigate the genetic relationships between body weight (BW) and walking ability (WA) in a turkey population. The data consisted of BW and WA traits collected on 276,059 male birds. Body weight was measured at 12 and 20 wk and WA at 20 wk of age. For WA, birds were scored based on a 1 (bad) to 6 (good) grading system. Due to the small number of records with scores 5 and 6, birds with WA scores of 4, 5, and 6 were grouped together resulting in only 4 classes. Additionally, a binary classification of WA (scores 1 and 2=Similarly, an estimate of the genetic correlation between WA and BW at 20 wk was -0.45, indicating a more pronounced class 1; scores 3, 4, 5, and 6=class 2) was evaluated. The inheritability estimates of WA ranged between 0.25 and 0.27 depending on the number of classes. The Heritability of BW at 12 and 20 wk was 0.44 and 0.51, respectively. The genetic correlation between WA and BW at 12 wk was around -0.35, indicating that heavy birds tend to have poor WA. antagonistic relationship between BW and WA. The genetic correlation between BW at 12 and 20 wk was positive and high (0.80). The residual correlation between WA and BW at 12 and 20 wk of age was -0.07 and -0.02, respectively. The residual correlation between body weight traits was 0.57. Similar results were observed when a binary classification was adopted for WA. The probability of an individual with a given genetic merit expressing a certain class of WA was determined for different fixed effect designations. Predictive probabilities clearly showed that birds when hatched in the winter would have a small chance to exhibit good WA phenotypes.

Is state-owned enterprise merging private enterprise “market choice” or “space crowding” ? —Based on the motives of equity transfer of mixed-ownership enterprises

Many state-owned enterprises have mergers and acquisitions (M&A) with private enterprises, which has caused private enterprises to worry about their living space being squeezed. Based on 572 data records about equity transfers of Chinese listed companies extracted from CSMAR4.0 from 2013 to 2020, this paper categorized ownership structures into three categories: privatization of state-owned enterprises (Category 1), state-owned enterprises merging private enterprises (Category 2), and state-owned enterprises merging state-owned enterprises (Category 3). The categorical regression of ex-ante equity transfer motivation revealed that the motives for Category 1 conformed to the phenomenon of the “pretty girl gets married first” and “embezzlement view.” Category In contrast, the motives for Category 2 conformed to the “fiscal revenue view.” The categorical regression of ex-post equity transfer motivation showed that all three types significantly improved various efficiencies and represented an optimal allocation of resources. Moreover, it was revealed that the transfer of equity to state-owned enterprises by inefficient private firms in Category 2 also significantly improved enterprise efficiency. Thus, it can be considered as a rational behavior of market selection and never squeezed the space crowding. Further analysis showed that the efficiency improvement is due to the symbiotic development relationship rather than the antagonistic relationship between heterogeneous shareholders. Therefore, it is suggested to initiate market-oriented reform by actively developing ownership mixed-ownership economy and adhering to the “two unwavering” basic economic system.

Mindfulness in Persons with Mild Dementia and Their Caregivers: Exploring Trait Rumination as a Clinical Outcome Measure

ObjectivesMindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been successfully applied to persons with dementia (PwD) and their caregivers and may yield beneficial effects on depression and quality of life. However, due to inconsistent results, it may be beneficial to re-examine mindfulness in PwD cross-sectionally to identify further potential therapeutic target variables. Rumination, the maladaptive disposition to excessively think about causes and consequences of symptoms and negative mood, may represent such a target. The current study sought to confirm the validity of trait rumination and the antagonistic relationship between mindfulness, rumination, and depression in PwD and their caregivers, as this may qualify rumination as a potential process and outcome variable in future MBIs.MethodForty patients with mild dementia completed a neuropsychological examination and provided self-report data on trait mindfulness, depression, and rumination. Self-report measures were also obtained from 30 caregivers. Regression analyses were used to examine the relation between mindfulness, depression, and rumination. We used clinical cutoffs for depression and rumination to estimate the practical implications of the opposing relationships between these variables.ResultsFor PwD, mindfulness was significantly negatively correlated with depression and rumination, explaining 37% and 25% of variance, respectively. In PwD with low mindfulness scores, clinical depression and rumination syndromes occurred more frequently than in those with high mindfulness. Caregiver results were compatible.ConclusionMindfulness shows an antagonistic relationship with clinically relevant rumination in PwD. Rumination may represent a relevant clinical outcome variable for future MBIs that can be reliably measured in PwD through validated self-report measures.PreregistrationThis study is not preregistered.

Structure activity relationships of 5-HT2B and 5-HT2C serotonin receptor antagonists: N6, C2 and 5′-Modified (N)-methanocarba-adenosine derivatives

(N)-Methanocarba adenosine derivatives were structurally modified to target 5-HT2B serotonin receptors as antagonists, predominantly containing branched N6-alkyl groups. N6-Dicycloalkyl-methyl groups, including their asymmetric variations, as well as 2-iodo, were found to generally favor 5-HT2Rs, while only N6-dicyclohexyl-methyl derivative 35 showed weak 5-HT2AR affinity (Ki 3.6 μM). The highest 5-HT2BR affinities were Ki 11–23 nM (N6-dicyclopropyl-methyl-2-iodo 11, 2-chloro-5′-deoxy-5′-methylthio 15 and N6-((R)-cyclobuty-cyclopropyl-methyl)-2-iodo 43), and Ki 73 nM at 5-HT2CR for 36. Direct comparison of adenine ribosides and their corresponding rigid (N)-methanocarba derivatives (cf. 51 and MRS8099 45) indicated a multifold affinity enhancement with the bicyclic ring system. Compounds 43, 45 and 48 were functional 5-HT2BR (KB 2–3 nM) and 5-HT2CR (KB 79–328 nM) antagonists in a Gq-mediated calcium flux assay, with 5-HT2BR functional selectivity ranging from 45- (48) to 113-fold (43). Substantial adenosine receptor (AR) affinity (Ki, A1AR < Ki, A3AR < Ki, A2AAR) was still present in this series, suggestive of dual acting compounds: 5-HT2B antagonist and A1AR agonist, potentially useful for treating chronic conditions (fibrosis; pain). Given its affinity (17 nM) and moderate 5-HT2BR binding selectivity (32-fold vs. 5-HT2CR, 4-fold vs. A1AR), 43 (MRS7925) could potentially be useful for anti-fibrotic therapy.

Listening to the Enemy: Challenging The National Narrative of World War II in Contemporary Norwegian Fiction

This article analyses five Norwegian novels that all incorporate German soldiers’ experiences as an important part of the Norwegian story of World War II. Abandoning the strong focus on antagonistic relationships of previous narratives, the five novels analysed in this article represent a new approach to the history of the war that aims to view the enemy through what Bull and Hansen (2016) have called agonistic memory, which includes the perspective of the perpetrator to understand conflicts.Previously, when Norwegian authors included German soldiers in narratives about World War II, it was part of a general portrait of the enemy. The individual soldier has few distinct features and no independent identity. These portraits followed the hegemonic Norwegian narrative of the occupation: The good Norwegians, who were part of the home front, versus the Germans and the morally inferior Norwegians who supported them. However, in the last ten years, several novels have revisited the war narrative through representations of previously neglected groups, one of which is the German soldier. The five novels have quite different approaches, but they all question the traditional Norwegian war narrative through complex representations of the enemy. My analysis of the five texts will identify how the texts challenge the conventional history of the occupation through an agonistic perspective that aims to revisit how the war is remembered. These representations of the German soldiers are a central part of the new examination of the long shadows cast by the memories of war in Norway.

Three-dimensional motion of the toes with simulated contraction of individual toe flexors and extensors: A cadaver study

BackgroundThe primary motion of the toes is flexion and extension. The motion results from activity of multiple muscles, and toe disorders may result from muscle dysfunction. The relationships of specific muscles related to toe function is underreported. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate three-dimensional toe motion resulting from specific muscle contraction using cadavers. MethodsThree-dimensional joint movements of the 1st, 2nd, and 5th toe were produced by applying traction of individual muscles using six Thiel-embalmed cadaver legs. The traction increments were 3 mm, 6 mm, and 9 mm, during which the angle of the distal bone with respect to the proximal bone of each toe joint was measured using a magnetic tracking system. ResultsAs tendon traction distance increased, the angular measure of the distal bone with respect to the proximal bone at each toe joint increased linearly and three-dimensionally. The flexor hallucis brevis significantly pronated and abducted the 1st toe compared to the extensor hallucis longus and brevis. The flexor digitorum brevis significantly supinated and adducted the 2nd toe compared to the flexor digitorum longus and quadratus plantae, while the extensor digitorum brevis demonstrated significant pronation and abduction compared to the extensor digitorum longus. ConclusionsThree intrinsic muscles produced significant toe motion in frontal and horizontal planes. Our results revealed that there was a proportional relationship between tendon excursion and joint angle, and an antagonistic relationship of muscles acting on the toes. These results can be considered regarding pathogenesis of toe disorders or deformity and regarding treatment such as exercise therapy or tendon transfer. Level of evidenceV, cadaveric study.

More than Gold: Embodying the Human Cost of Mining in Maroon Popular Music

Abstract Maroons (descendants of Africans who escaped enslavement) have long been locked in an antagonistic relationship with the Surinamese government over gold-mining legislation and its reinforcement. This contentious topic includes complex debates over land rights and conflicting economic and environmental priorities. This article considers how three contemporary Maroon popular musicians have gone beyond stock metaphors about gold to reference local engagements with gold and the gold-mining industry. I introduce the concept, performative figuring, as a strategy whereby a speaker or performer uses their embodied presence to assert their rights and/or self-worth against practices and policies that threaten to undermine them.

Comprehensive analysis of the relationship between peptide profiles and microbial diversity in the Chinese Jiang‐Flavour Daqu

SummaryJiang‐Flavour Daqu (JFDQ) is a type of grain‐based fermentation starter used in Chinese liquor production. This study aimed to monitor the practical production of JFDQ and improve brewing techniques by analysing the microbial diversity and peptide profiles in JFDQ with different colours (WDQ, YDQ and BDQ) using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and peptidomics technology. A total of 110 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified, with BDQ containing the most (98). Bacillus was predominant in WDQ (77.5%) and YDQ (82.3%) but decreased sharply in BDQ (29.0%). Most peptides were identified in WDQ (406), followed by YDQ (282) and BDQ (90). The content of peptides increased (7.16–9.13 g/100 g) from WDQ, YDQ to BDQ, whereas the number of peptides decreased (406–90). This phenomenon may result from a synergistic effect of the microbes in generating and consuming peptides as exogenous nitrogen sources. Additionally, six novel antimicrobial peptides were found against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, indicating an antagonistic relationship between antimicrobial peptides and microbes in JFDQ. This study provides a credible direction for investigating the interaction between microbes and peptides in JFDQ, which could guide the practical production more scientifically.

Cobalt Combined with Potassium Humate as Beneficial Applications in Alleviating Water Stress Impacts on Groundnut During Sensitive Growth Stages

Enhancing plant nutrition during critical periods of water stress is a paramount objective. As such, this study aims to examine the effects that arise from implementing water stress regimes during the sensitive growth phases of groundnut. Furthermore, we will explore the impact of applying cobalt and potassium humate individually or in combination, either through foliar application (KH-F) or soil amendments (KH-S), to mitigate the adverse effects on nutrient accumulation, yield, and irrigation water use efficiency (Iwue). A field experiment was conducted between 2021 and 2022 using a split-split plot design. In the main plots, an additional control of full irrigation requirement scheme (IR100) was implemented, along with three other schemes: the first involved applying 75% of the irrigation requirement during the development stage (IRD75), the second applied 75% during the flowering till pod stage (IRF75), and the third involved applying 85% from the development stage till the pod stage (IR85). In the subplots, cobalt was applied at rates of 0 and 7.5 mg l−1 to the plants. The sub-sub plots were further divided to investigate the effects of KH-F and KH-S. Plants that experienced water stress during the flowering stage were found to be more vulnerable. However, when treated with KH-S, there were significant improvements in yield compared to KH-F treatment. This effect was particularly pronounced under the IRF75 irrigation scheme. Interestingly, there was an antagonistic relationship observed between cobalt and iron or manganese, in contrast to other nutrients. When KH-S was applied in combination with cobalt, it showed the potential to enhance various characteristics and increase the uptake of iron or manganese. The highest yield, nutrient accumulation, and Iwue were achieved through the combined application of cobalt and KH-S, along with adopting the IR85% irrigation scheme.

Phenotypic variance partitioning by transcriptomic gene expression levels and environmental variables for anthropometric traits using GTEx data.

Phenotypic variation in human is the results of genetic variation and environmental influences. Understanding the contribution of genetic and environmental components to phenotypic variation is of great interest. The variance explained by genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) typically represents a small proportion of the phenotypic variance for complex traits, which may be because the genome is only a part of the whole biological process to shape the phenotypes. In this study, we propose to partition the phenotypic variance of three anthropometric traits, using gene expression levels and environmental variables from GTEx data. We use the gene expression of four tissues that are deemed relevant for the anthropometric traits (two adipose tissues, skeletal muscle tissue and blood tissue). Additionally, we estimate the transcriptome-environment correlation that partly underlies the phenotypes of the anthropometric traits. We found that genetic factors play a significant role in determining body mass index (BMI), with the proportion of phenotypic variance explained by gene expression levels of visceral adipose tissue being 0.68 (SE = 0.06). However, we also observed that environmental factors such as age, sex, ancestry, smoking status, and drinking alcohol status have a small but significant impact (0.005, SE = 0.001). Interestingly, we found a significant negative correlation between the transcriptomic and environmental effects on BMI (transcriptome-environment correlation = -0.54, SE = 0.14), suggesting an antagonistic relationship. This implies that individuals with lower genetic profiles may be more susceptible to the effects of environmental factors on BMI, whilethose with higher genetic profiles may be less susceptible. We also show that the estimated transcriptomic variance varies across tissues, e.g., the gene expression levels of whole blood tissue and environmental variables explain a lower proportion of BMI phenotypic variance (0.16, SE = 0.05 and 0.04, SE = 0.004 respectively). We observed a significant positive correlation between transcriptomic and environmental effects (1.21, SE = 0.23) for this tissue. In conclusion, phenotypic variance partitioning can be done using gene expression and environmental data even with a small sample size (n = 838 from GTEx data), which can provide insights into how the transcriptomic and environmental effects contribute to the phenotypes of the anthropometric traits.

Exponential Bipartite Synchronization of Fractional-Order Multilayer Signed Networks via Hybrid Impulsive Control.

This article investigates the problem of exponential bipartite synchronization of fractional-order multilayer signed networks via hybrid impulsive control. First, the mathematical model of the networks is established by integrating the fractional dynamics of nodes, the multilayer network edges, and the positive and negative weights (antagonistic relationship), which is more pluralistic and practical. Second, a hybrid impulsive controller is designed, which is composed of the feedback control part and the impulsive control part to realize the exponential bipartite synchronization objective. Both positive and negative impulsive effects are considered and the ranges of the impulsive control gain related to the order of Caputo fractional derivative are discussed. In addition, some sufficient conditions for exponential bipartite synchronization of fractional-order multilayer signed networks are obtained by using the signed graph theory, Lyapunov method, and average impulsive interval method. Furthermore, in order to illustrate the practicability of the theoretical results, fractional-order coupled Chua's circuits model and fractional-order power systems built on multilayer signed networks are established and the exponential bipartite synchronization issues are analyzed. Numerical examples and simulations are provided to show the effectiveness of the obtained results.

Balancing economic and ecological benefits for hydro-junction operation based on the ecological flow from the four major Chinese carps: a case study from Xinjiang River, China

The construction and utilization of the hydro-junctions would change the water flow and affect the hydrologic process required for the survival and reproduction of the aquatic organism in the river basin. To investigate the influence of the construction of the Jiepai (JP) and Bazizui hydro-junction (BZZ) on the hydrologic process in the Xinjiang River and coordinate the benefits between power generation and downstream ecological protection of the four major Chinese carps (FMCC), a one-dimensional hydrodynamic model is established to simulate the river hydrological regime of the spawning site before and after the construction of BZZ. Meanwhile, eleven ecological hydrologic parameters are used to evaluate the degree of hydrological changes for the spawning site caused by JP and BZZ, and four hydrological methods are applied to calculate the minimal and optimal ecological flows to satisfy the demands of FMCC. The multi-objective operation model combined with the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II(NSGA-II) is established to evaluate the relationship among the objective functions and design the ecological operation scheme of BZZ. The results indicate that the hydrologic changes in the spawning site has been moderately changed since the construction of the JP and would change more after the construction of BZZ. An obvious antagonistic relationship between electricity generating and ecological changes are presented in the simulation results, and the multiobjective operation model could clearly increase the comprehensive benefits under three typical years (dry, average, and abundant) by 20%, 19%, and 34% with the corresponding electricity generating lost by 4.9%, 3.5%, and 4.1%, respectively. This study is expected to provide scientific guidance to coordinate the restrictions and conflicts between economic and ecological benefits of hydro-junction operation in the lower reaches of the Xinjiang River.

Political violence and mobilisation in Brazil’s Amazonian region during Bolsonaro’s government (2019–2022)

In recent years, Brazil has experienced rising violence against activists and increasing deforestation levels in the Amazon. The processes leading to those events are not new. However, various discourses and events have intensified and underpinned extractive interests during Bolsonaro’s government. Hence, this article analyses the relationship between the State and activists in the Brazilian Amazon region between 2019 and 2022. It focuses on three regional paradigmatic case studies: (1) the ongoing gold miners’ (garimpeiros) invasion of the Yanomami territory; (2) the arrest of four environmentalists accused of setting fire to the forest in 2019; and (3) the murder of the journalist Dominic Phillips and the Indigenist Bruno Pereira in 2022. The case studies utilise publicly available data from reports, interviews, press releases and newspaper articles. Our main objective is to provide an overview of the characteristics of an increasingly antagonistic relationship between activists and the State. Drawing on those cases, the article builds on mobilisation theories, particularly Political Process Theories. Our central argument is that there are evident differences in the forms of repression activists face during far-right governments. This context shapes activism distinctively in the Amazonian region because violence routinely challenges social and environmental justice activism. Moreover, the current violence points to broader social questions and struggles between activists and agents of repression.

The Role of Environmental Impact Assessment as a Tool that Aids Decision Making in Achieving Sustainable Development: Perspectives on its Evolution in Cameroon

The objective of this article is to conduct a critical reflection on the role of EIA as a tool that aids decision making in achieving sustainable development. Despite the fact that there is a host of legal and institutional mechanisms ranging from global, regional, sub regional right down to the national level that regulate environmental policies in Cameroon, sustainable development is still a major challenge to policy makers. The major problem that Cameroon is facing is that of implementation of the available legal instruments coupled with the institutional problems that are mostly characterized by overlapping of functions, corruption, nepotism, mediocracy, irrelevant administrative tolerance among others, thus making it difficult to apportion blames on any institution that fails to carry out its task. Broadly based on the reading of records, interviews as well as observation as main research methods, the results obtained are to the effect that there is an antagonistic relationship between economic development and environmental protection in Cameroon. This is against the backdrop of the fact that proceeds that are gotten from the exploitation of natural resources in Cameroon are hardly redeployed for the purposes of environmental protection to be able to stabilize the rate at which the environment is degraded during such exploitation. The study reveals that sometimes the results of EIA are not respected. Among the plethora of recommendations made, it is recommended that special attention should be given to the ESIA such that any results that come from such an assessment should be respected.

A Systematic Literature Review of the Context of the Sharing Economy and CSR in 2017–2021

Abstract The sharing of idle assets, on which the sharing economy model is based, is associated with positive economic, environmental, and social effects, the creation of which is the basis of the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR). It would therefore seem expedient to examine the context of these phenomena, which have recently been gaining in importance, although they still remain outside mainstream research. So far, there is no study which comprehensively characterises the current state of knowledge of the context of the sharing economy and CSR, identifies research gaps, and postulates directions for future research in this area. This article addresses this gap by utilising a standalone literature review approach. An analysis of 20 publications, published on this topic in 2017–2021 in journals registered in the Web of Science and Scopus databases, was carried out. Four main research clusters were identified, these being (1) The sharing economy as a tool of the CSR concept; (2) The joint contribution of the sharing economy model and the concept of CSR towards reduction of overconsumption and wastage; (3) The importance of CSR communication for sharing economy platforms; and (4) The antagonistic relationship between the sharing economy model and the concept of CSR. The performed analysis shows the fragmented nature of existing research, but also the progressive nature of this area of research. At the same time, useful avenues for future research are postulated. This should focus on multiple lines of inquiry, including the possibility of incorporating different forms of B2B sharing into the concept of CSR, assessing the benefits, limitations, and risks of linking these two concepts, as well as exploring the synergies between the sharing economy model and the concept of CSR from the point of view of different industries, sharing segments, or regions.

Environmentally friendly wormlike micelles: Rheological behavior and its application in preparing green fracturing fluid

Ionic liquid surfactant (ILS) may be a good alternative to equilibrate the antagonistic relationship between hydrophobicity and water solubility for anionic surfactant. However, the application of ultra-long chain anionic ILS in the viscoelastic surfactant (VES) fracturing fluid was rarely reported up to now. Herein, an ultralong-chain anionic surfactant (abbreviated ChEr) was synthesized from natural erucic acid. As expected, ChEr retained the desirable characteristic of ILSs (melting temperature <100 ℃) and excellent water-solubility (Krafft temperature < 4 ℃). More importantly, ChEr can form elongated wormlike micelles (WLMs) in the presence of inorganic salt potassium chloride (KCl), giving solutions high viscoelasticity. The WLMs solutions were investigated using steady-state and dynamic rheology. Due to the strong van der Waals interaction induced by ChEr's ultra-long hydrophobic tail, zero-shear viscosity (η0) of solutions showed an extraordinarily significant relationship on concentration with an exponent of 8.2, which was more than double the theoretical expected value. The dynamic rheology results demonstrated that as the ChEr concentration increased, the 1:1 ChEr:KCl solution transformed into a gel-like liquid owing to the dense entanglement of WLMs. The salt concentration also had a strong influence on the wormlike micelles. At a KCl to ChEr molar ratio of 2:1, the fluid exhibited the maximum viscoelasticity. Finally, the fracturing fluid system based on ChEr/KCl displayed not only resistance to high temperature (<120 °C) and cyclic shear, but also excellent proppant-carrying and oil-induced gel-breaking capabilities. The present work reveals the remarkable properties of ultra-long chain ILS in forming WLMs and promotes the application of anionic ILS surfactant in the preparation of clean fracturing fluid.

DDT-RELATED PROTEIN4-IMITATION SWITCH alters nucleosome distribution to relieve transcriptional silencing in Arabidopsis.

DNA methylation is a conserved epigenetic modification that is typically associated with silencing of transposable elements and promoter methylated genes. However, some DNA-methylated loci are protected from silencing, allowing transcriptional flexibility in response to environmental and developmental cues. Through a genetic screen in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), we uncovered an antagonistic relationship between the MICRORCHIDIA (MORC) protein and the IMITATION SWITCH (ISWI) complex in regulating the DNA-methylated SUPPRESSOR OF DRM1 DRM2 CMT3 (SDC) reporter. We demonstrate that components of the plant-specific ISWI complex, including CHROMATIN REMODELING PROTEIN11 (CHR11), CHR17, DDT-RELATED PROTEIN4 (DDR4), and DDR5, function to partially de-repress silenced genes and transposable elements (TEs), through their function in regulating nucleosome distribution. This action also requires the known transcriptional activator DNAJ proteins, providing a mechanistic link between nucleosome remodeling and transcriptional activation. Genome-wide studies revealed that DDR4 causes changes in nucleosome distribution at numerous loci, a subset of which is associated with changes in DNA methylation and/or transcription. Our work reveals a mechanism for balancing transcriptional flexibility and faithful silencing of DNA-methylated loci. As both ISWI and MORC family genes are widely distributed across plant and animal species, our findings may represent a conserved eukaryotic mechanism for fine-tuning gene expression under epigenetic regulation.