Regulatory Controls Research Articles

(Mis)Governing World Football? Agency and (Non)Accountability in FIFA

Abstract —We identify the variables that have enabled the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to evade internal and external legal and juridical rules and processes, allowing it to prioritise the interests of its leaders and staff rather than its stakeholders. An interdisciplinary theoretical framework highlights the weaknesses of the legal systems, democratic processes, market mechanisms and regulatory regimes governing FIFA’s activities since its foundation. The historical processes transforming FIFA into a wealthy enterprise whose leaders could abuse their power with impunity are reviewed. An evaluation of the structural reforms introduced in 2016 following the exposure of FIFA corruption by US authorities in 2015 then shows how they have strengthened the internal and external rules and procedures enabling stakeholders to hold FIFA to account, whilst arguing that the reforms have not eliminated the leadership’s ability to ‘capture’ its democratic processes, exploit its monopolistic controls over lucrative contracts and evade regulatory controls.

Staying Out of Trouble: FDA Regulation of Orthobiologics and the Shoulder Surgeon

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation of Orthobiologics can be challenging to interpret for the non-regulatory scientist. However, understanding how regulations apply to clinical use of these orthobiologic products is critical, as there are both ethical and legal ramifications to using orthobiologics in conflict with regulations. Recent FDA guidances have attempted to clarify these issues, although questions still remain regarding nuances in regulatory applications. FDA guidances, industry blogs, and relevant publications were searched for citations regarding recent orthobiologics and regulations. These sources were compiled into a current assessment of FDA regulations regarding the use of orthobiologics in the shoulder. Key to understanding these regulations is the FDA differentiation of human cellular and tissue based products (HCTPs) into 361 and 351 category products. While some controversy still exists, FDA has attempted to clarify these issues with several recent guidances. Of equal importance, FDA has ended enforcement discretion for many biologic products in June of 2021, creating a previously tolerated class of orthobiologics that now requires an Investigational New Drug (IND) application and subsequent Biologic License Application to legally market these orthobiologics. The Same Surgical Procedure Exception was further clarified in 2017 to exempt facilities from regulatory controls when specific guidelines are met. This article attempts to clarify the current thinking on FDA regulations and will allow the shoulder and elbow surgeon to stay within the current bounds of ethical and legal use of these products.

Geopolitics and geospatial strategies: the rise of regulatory supply chain controls for semiconductor GPN in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan

Abstract In this article, we present an analysis of how East Asian states (specifically, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan) are adapting to the emerging geopolitical contexts of the ‘great powers competition’ between the United States and China. To the extent that the previous literature on GPN/GVC governance included the state as one of the extra-firm actors, geopolitics has not been explicitly dealt with in its role in shaping GPN/GVC governance. We build on the existing research on GPN/GVC governance and propose a shift in perspective, from one of cost-driven to diplomacy-driven governance. Taking the case of the semiconductor industry, we conduct an analysis of native language sources and examine how regulatory supply chain controls are shaping East Asian industrial and trade policies. Specifically, we focus on how East Asian states are negotiating their dependence on the world’s two largest markets, the United States and China, and developing new policy strategies in order to navigate the dual hegemony. The analysis reveals that, while varying strategies are adopted, multilateral alliances of the states are gaining prominence in GPN/GVC governance. We conclude that a more state-centric analysis of GPN/GVC is in order.

Alcohol- and drug-impaired e-scooter riding: exploring countermeasures from Australia, Belgium, New Zealand, and Norway

This article explores the emerging problem of drug- and alcohol-impaired e-scooter riding. Fifteen government and e-scooter hire firm professionals from four jurisdictions (Australia, Belgium, New Zealand, Norway) described and assessed countermeasures designed to deter drug- and alcohol-impaired riding. Government professionals were from local/municipal councils, state and national departments of transport, and policing organisations. We used Braun and Clarke’s (Qual Res Psychol 18(3):328–352, 2020.https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2020.1769238) six-step method of thematic analysis and the NVivo qualitative analysis software system to analyse the interviews. All participants said traditional police enforcement is ineffective because laws and regulations are underdeveloped, and police have limited resources for patrols. Thematic analysis grouped countermeasures into four themes: enforcement, education, encouragement, and the road environment. Third-party policing initiatives show promise. For example, local/municipal councils required e-scooter hire firms to ban e-scooters from areas that sell alcohol through GPS-based geofencing. However, geofencing and other regulatory controls do not extend to privately owned e-scooters, a growing sector in the market. Other countermeasures used a combination of education and behavioural change techniques (BCTs) to encourage compliance. For example, innovative nudge methods (a type of BCT) have potential to change dangerous riding behaviours by targeting riding norms. However, participants said some people will continue to ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs either because they are addicted to substances or exhibit high-risk behaviours. Government should therefore adopt laws and regulations that build a more forgiving road environment, based on the safe system approach, to limit injuries when crashes occur.

Characterising dispersal and potential impacts of non‐native red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) populations in the coastal plain region of the pee Dee River basin, U.S.A.

Abstract Non‐native species can spread rapidly through aquatic ecosystems in association with both natural and anthropogenic mechanisms, but the relative importance of these two mechanisms in determining the spread of a species is not always clear. The red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) has been introduced to multiple continents, including waterbodies in the United States where both natural and anthropogenic dispersal are likely to have contributed to its current distribution. The present study combined comparisons of historical and contemporary distributions of P. clarkii and several high conservation priority crayfish species, regional field sampling, and microsatellite‐based genetic approaches from the Pee Dee River basin in North Carolina and South Carolina to understand the dispersal patterns of P. clarkii and its potential effects on native crayfishes. Field sampling and microsatellite analyses revealed widespread populations of P. clarkii throughout the study area with catchment‐specific patterns of population genetic structure, wherein more distinct genetic structures were found in the basin with historic aquaculture activities and a longer period of occurrence. The rapid spread of P. clarkii has occurred concurrently with extirpations of populations of native crayfishes, namely the Waccamaw crayfish (Procambarus braswelli), the Carolina Sandhills crayfish (Procambarus pearsei) and the coastal plain crayfish (Procambarus ancylus). The rapid spread of P. clarkii and coincident extirpation of native crayfishes calls for more extensive regulatory controls to help prevent the intentional or accidental release of non‐native crayfishes through aquaculture practices, bait releases, the pet trade and the environmental education industry.

The Impact of Air Pollution from Industrial Fires in Urban Settings: Monitoring, Modelling, Health, and Environmental Justice Perspectives

Industrial fires at facilities including waste management sites, warehouses, factories, chemical works, and fuel storage depots are relatively frequent occurrences. Often, these fires occur adjacent to urban communities and result in ground-level airborne pollutant concentrations that are well above guideline values. Land, water, livestock, and crops may also be contaminated by the emissions and by firefighting activities. Moreover, impacted communities tend to have a higher proportion of minority ethnic populations as well as individuals with underlying health vulnerabilities and those of lower socio-economic status. Nevertheless, this is an aspect of air quality that is under-researched, and so this review aims to highlight the public health hazards associated with industrial fires and the need for an effective, coordinated, public health response. We also review the range of monitoring techniques that have been utilised in such fires and highlight the role of dispersion modelling in predicting plume trajectories and in estimating population exposure. We recommend establishing 1 h guideline values for particulate matter to facilitate timely public health interventions, and we highlight the need to review regulatory and technical controls for sites prone to fires, particularly in the waste sector.

Healthcare consumers’ perceptions of incentive-linked prescribing: A scoping review

Incentive-linked prescribing (ILP) is considered a controversial practice universally. If incentivised, physicians may prioritise meeting pharmaceutical sales targets through prescriptions, rather than considering patients’ health and wellbeing. Despite the potential harms of ILP to patients and important stakeholders in the healthcare system, healthcare consumers (HCCs) which include patients and the general public often have far less awareness about the practice of pharmaceutical incentivisation of physicians. We conducted a scoping review to explore what existing research says about HCCs’ perceptions of the financial relationship between physicians and pharmaceutical companies. To conduct this scoping review, we followed Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage framework: identifying research questions, identifying relevant studies, selecting eligible studies, data charting, and collating, summarising, and reporting results. We also used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses’ extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR), as a guide to organise the information in this review. Quantitative and qualitative studies with patients and the general public, published in the English language were identified through searches of Scopus, Medline (OVID), EMBASE (OVID), and Google Scholar. Three themes emerged through the analysis of the 13 eligible studies: understanding of incentivisation, perceptions of hazards linked to ILP, and HCCs’ suggestions to address it. We found documentation that HCCs exhibited a range of knowledge from good to insufficient about the pharmaceutical incentivisation of physicians. HCCs perceived several hazards linked to ILP such as a lack of trust in physicians and the healthcare system, the prescribing of unnecessary medications, and the negative effect on physicians’ reputations in society. In addition to strong regulatory controls, it is critical that physicians self-regulate their behaviour, and publicly disclose if they have any financial ties with pharmaceutical companies. Doing so can contribute to trust between patients and physicians, an important part of patient-focused care and a contributor to user confidence in the wider health system.

Synergizing Bacteriophage Therapy and Computational Neuroscience: A Ray of Hope in the Fight against Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance presents an urgent and pervasive global health crisis that jeopardises human well-being. This dilemma primarily arises from the inappropriate and excessive use of antibiotics across diverse sectors, leading to the emergence of bacteria that have developed resistance to multiple medications. It is a matter of utmost concern due to its direct link to increased mortality rates and the disconcerting possibility of reverting to an era where antibiotics lose their effectiveness. This student experience paper delves into the potential of bacteriophage therapy as a remedy for antibiotic-resistant infections, a pressing issue emphasized by the National Health Service (NHS) in England. Building upon the recent first-hand experience of the first author while shadowing a General Medical Practitioner in Birmingham, UK, the study delves into critical facets of phage therapy. This exploration encompasses phage selection, formulation, delivery, and safety considerations. It also highlights the convergence with computational neuroscience, emphasizing the pivotal role of computational models in comprehending bacterial infections, antibiotic resistance, and neurological responses. This interdisciplinary approach underscores the necessity for collaborative efforts among microbiologists, healthcare professionals, and computational neuroscientists in addressing global healthcare challenges. Additionally, this experience sheds light on the practice of using antibiotics without a prescription, often for the treatment of infections that do not necessitate antibiotic intervention. This observation underscores the urgent requirement for stricter regulatory controls and an extensive educational program, both at the national and global levels.

Chromosome-level genome assemblies of 2 hemichordates provide new insights into deuterostome origin and chromosome evolution.

Deuterostomes are a monophyletic group of animals that includes Hemichordata, Echinodermata (together called Ambulacraria), and Chordata. The diversity of deuterostome body plans has made it challenging to reconstruct their ancestral condition and to decipher the genetic changes that drove the diversification of deuterostome lineages. Here, we generate chromosome-level genome assemblies of 2 hemichordate species, Ptychodera flava and Schizocardium californicum, and use comparative genomic approaches to infer the chromosomal architecture of the deuterostome common ancestor and delineate lineage-specific chromosomal modifications. We show that hemichordate chromosomes (1N = 23) exhibit remarkable chromosome-scale macrosynteny when compared to other deuterostomes and can be derived from 24 deuterostome ancestral linkage groups (ALGs). These deuterostome ALGs in turn match previously inferred bilaterian ALGs, consistent with a relatively short transition from the last common bilaterian ancestor to the origin of deuterostomes. Based on this deuterostome ALG complement, we deduced chromosomal rearrangement events that occurred in different lineages. For example, a fusion-with-mixing event produced an Ambulacraria-specific ALG that subsequently split into 2 chromosomes in extant hemichordates, while this homologous ALG further fused with another chromosome in sea urchins. Orthologous genes distributed in these rearranged chromosomes are enriched for functions in various developmental processes. We found that the deeply conserved Hox clusters are located in highly rearranged chromosomes and that maintenance of the clusters are likely due to lower densities of transposable elements within the clusters. We also provide evidence that the deuterostome-specific pharyngeal gene cluster was established via the combination of 3 pre-assembled microsyntenic blocks. We suggest that since chromosomal rearrangement events and formation of new gene clusters may change the regulatory controls of developmental genes, these events may have contributed to the evolution of diverse body plans among deuterostomes.

Democratising Food Safety: Why We Need to Look Beyond Government Regulation and Provide a Citizen Right of Action

AbstractImperfect information on food safety and risk has created a system with less safety than the public wants. Consumers cannot pay for the level of safety they desire. Tort under-compensates for foodborne illness due to difficulty proving causation. When market controls are ineffective at producing the level of safety desired by consumers, the classic approach is government regulation. However, government regulators face challenges that impede the translation of scientific knowledge into regulatory controls. This often results in an equilibrium of private interests and bureaucratic interests rather than the public interest. To restore republican deliberation on food safety we need greater citizen involvement in the decision-making. Access to the courts is an effective means for citizens to participate directly in the decisions affecting food safety; thus, a private cause of action to our national food safety laws is proposed.

Cyanamide-inducible expression of homing nuclease I−SceI for selectable marker removal and promoter characterisation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In synthetic biology, microbial chassis including yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae are iteratively engineered with increasing complexity and scale. Wet-lab genetic engineering tools are developed and optimised to facilitate strain construction but are often incompatible with each other due to shared regulatory elements, such as the galactose-inducible (GAL) promoter in S. cerevisiae. Here, we prototyped the cyanamide-induced I−SceI expression, which triggered double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) for selectable marker removal. We further combined cyanamide-induced I−SceI-mediated DSB and maltose-induced MazF-mediated negative selection for plasmid-free in situ promoter substitution, which simplified the molecular cloning procedure for promoter characterisation. We then characterised three tetracycline-inducible promoters showing differential strength, a non-leaky β-estradiol-inducible promoter, cyanamide-inducible DDI2 promoter, bidirectional MAL32/MAL31 promoters, and five pairs of bidirectional GAL1/GAL10 promoters. Overall, alternative regulatory controls for genome engineering tools can be developed to facilitate genomic engineering for synthetic biology and metabolic engineering applications.

The negative effects of lead paint on different physiological systems

Lead (Pb) in paints is a serious public health hazard that has piqued the international community’s interest. Lead concentrations in lead-based paints have been assessed in several research conducted across the world. As a result, the goal of this article was to describe the findings of these research, give some knowledge of their human health consequences for law enforcement, and promote public awareness. The most notable gaps found have been highlighted in order to open the door for additional research efforts aimed at producing thorough data on this subject. Some of the evaluated studies found considerable amounts of lead in paints that were considerably over the allowable limits, despite the many regulatory controls on lead content in paints that exist worldwide. There have been reports of children cases of lead poisoning in a number of nations, including South Africa, France, Morocco, and the US. Lead levels in South Africa (145,000 ppm), China (860,000 ppm), and the US (22,550 ppm) have all been found to be high. 4,485.11 ppm in Thailand. India (104 ppm) and Palestine (6036 ppm). As a result, tight law enforcement measures pertaining to the progressive removal of paints containing lead and the management of lead content are required throughout the globe.

The destructive work of restoration: Fishing communities facing territorialization in Turag river

Urban river restoration efforts are growing worldwide. Along with restoring and conserving rivers, riverside land is slated for public recreation, property development, and infrastructure for adaptation to climate change. Riverine landscapes, embedded in larger watershed ecosystems and claimed by multiple communities, are sites of contested planning in contemporary cities. In this paper, we advance the scholarship on contestation over control and access of urban rivers and floodplains by analyzing the role of river restorative legislation and water-centered planning in managing Turag, an urban river in Bangladesh. While river degradation in urbanizing regions is often ascribed to lack of regulatory controls and enforcement, we argue that restorative legislation and interventions facilitate Turag River's ecocide by processes of territorialization. Territorialization refers to the co-constitutive dynamics of river restorative legislations and interventions as well as planned infrastructure and land use changes, which erase and displace river-based communities with reciprocal relations to the river. Riverine livelihoods and lifemaking, among fishing and farming communities in the case of Turag, are erased from planning and restoration practices, and are consequently expelled from the expanding city. Drawing on qualitative and counter-cartographic investigation of one severely polluted urban river in Dhaka, Bangladesh, we show how territorialization materializes through five co-constitutive dynamics involving environmental legislation, encroachment reporting, river demarcation, encroachment evictions, and wetland to land conversions. We draw out critical implications of how river restoration can be just and advance a riverine urbanism.

Exploring the development of regulatory framework for crypto assets in South Africa

This paper explores the need for, and forms of regulatory framework and laws established to guide and control the growing number of individuals and firms investing and trading in crypto assets in South Africa. The step taken to regulate crypto assets was necessitated by the 2021 report of the Paris-based intergovernmental organisation referred to as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) which revealed that there is apparent lack of crypto assets regulation in South Africa. In rising to this challenge, the South African regulatory authority known as the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in October 2022 indicated that crypto assets are digital representation of value and therefore could be categorised as financial product which are to be subjected to FSCA regulations with reference to Section 1(h) of the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act (FAIS). The method adopted was to review the regulatory framework and laws governing crypto assets in South Africa. It was found that relevant regulatory framework and laws are needed to provide adequate protection for the investing public and to provide avenues for the sustainability and stability of the crypto assets business sector. The paper concludes that providing an efficient regulatory framework for crypto assets in South Africa will assist in limiting the risk of volatility and cyber-attacks to which individuals and firms trading and/or investing in crypto assets are exposed to. Moreover, an awareness of various regulatory controls and laws governing investments in crypto assets will ensure that individuals and firms in this sector tread in the path of caution.

Does derivative usage boost firm value in an economy with controls? Evidence from India

AbstractThe role of derivatives on firm valuation has recently become a subject of intense debate for emerging markets where there is greater asset price volatility, illiquidity, and the absence of common regulations and accounting standards. Given the lack of data availability, disclosure inconsistency and distinctive regulatory requirements for Indian firms, we assess the impact of corporate hedging via derivative use on the performance of BSE-100 non-financial firms over the period 2010–2017. Our results from keywords-based hand-collected derivative usage data show that all types of derivatives, except rate derivatives, have a significant and positive impact on firm value through channels of reduced earnings volatility and increased leverage with tax benefits. Firms with greater leverage tend to benefit from the use of rate derivatives. Still, among those highly leveraged firms, the ones who experience high earnings volatility are unable to benefit from rate derivatives. Besides, hedge accounting benefits firms in dealing with earnings volatility when they have higher derivatives exposure. As capital controls on international flows can limit the use of derivatives, we show that firms with currency risk exposure in terms of long-term foreign currency debt do benefit from rate derivatives. Our results are also robust with a matched sample for derivative users and non-users. Overall, we conclude that easing regulatory controls on derivatives dealings can be beneficial for firms in growing emerging economies.

Evaluation of asphalt film thickness and heavy metal leaching of oxidizing slag used as an aggregate material in dense-graded asphalt concrete.

Electric-arc-furnace (EAF) steelmaking uses scrap iron and steel as raw materials. Scrap iron and steel originate from complex sources and may contain heavy metal components which can leach into the environment over time due to wear-and-tear. A by-product of the EAF steelmaking process is oxidizing slag, and approximately 1.2 million metric tons is produced every year in Taiwan alone. This study investigated substitution of natural aggregates with oxidizing slag in dense-graded asphalt concrete. We evaluated the water resistance and asphalt film thickness of the oxidizing slag substituted asphalt concrete and further explored the performance of oxidizing slag as paving material. We determined the dissolved and total amounts of heavy metals in the oxidizing slag, comparing these results with current regulatory controls to assess the environmental compatibility of the oxidizing slag. We found that due to the complicated sources of oxidizing slag, the basic properties should be analyzed on a batch-to-batch basis. Furthermore, we recommend trial mixing before upscaling the production of oxidizing slag substituted dense-graded asphalt concrete to confirm the mixing time required to achieve uniformity. The results also show that in comparison to natural aggregates used in asphalt concrete, oxidizing slag exhibits superior performance in terms of increased asphalt film thickness and improved water resistance. Furthermore, oxidizing slag as an aggregate material was associated with decreased heavy metal leaching and reduced environmental pollution. The results of the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) met regulatory requirements. However, the microwave-assisted aqua-regia digestion procedure showed heavy metal concentrations exceeding the monitoring standards for food crops. Considering environmental compatibility, it is recommended that controlling the total amount of heavy metals in oxidizing slag should be included in regulatory requirements. Furthermore, we should prohibit the use of materials such as oxidizing slag and other steel furnace slag in the roadways adjacent to edible crop farmlands.

Progress and Prospects for a Nucleic Acid Screening Test Set.

DNA synthesis companies screen orders to detect controlled sequences with misuse risks. Assessing screening accuracy is challenging owing to the breadth of biological risks and ambiguities in risk definitions. Here, we detail an International Gene Synthesis Consortium working group's rationale and process to develop a prototype DNA synthesis screening test dataset, aiming to establish a baseline of screening system accuracy to compare with various screening approaches. Construction of the prototype test dataset involved four tool developers screening nucleic acid sequences from three taxonomic clusters of controlled organisms (Orbivirus, Francisella tularensis, and Coccidioides). Results were mapped onto predefined, comparable categories, checking for consensus or conflicts. Conflicts were grouped based on gene annotation and resolved through discussion. The process highlighted several long-standing challenges in DNA synthesis screening, including the qualitative differences in approaches taken by screening tools. Our findings highlight the lack of clarity in assessing pathogen sequences with respect to regulatory control language, compounded by scientific uncertainty. We illustrate the current degree of consensus and existing challenges using classification statistics and specific examples. This prototype underscores the necessity of expert-regulator coordination in assessing gene-associated risks, offering a template for creating test sets across all taxonomic groups on international control lists. Expanding the working group would enrich dataset comprehensiveness, enabling a transition from species-focused to function-focused regulatory controls. This sets the foundation for quality control, certification, and improved risk assessment in DNA synthesis screening.

Gendered migration infrastructure and socio-spatial rupture: Indian women’s migration experiences to the United Arab Emirates

ABSTRACT Increasing cross-border mobilities for employment and livelihood opportunities has resulted in greater institutional and regulatory controls over migration. In this paper, through an analysis of the migration infrastructure for women between India and the United Arab Emirates, socio-spatial ruptures are discerned. The paper asserts that in addition to economic and political frameworks, social and cultural mores have been significant in shaping differentiated migration pathways for Indian women, which are conceptualised as, “gendered migration infrastructure”. Gendered migration infrastructure for Indian women is founded on normative understandings of domesticity and femininity and consequently, has made migration for women restrictive, circuitous and cumbersome. The failure and interruptions of migration infrastructure has occurred across borders and the differentiated migration pathways thus created lie at the intersection of formal regulations and actors (migration laws, recruitment and skilling organisations, state agents, border controls, civil society and bureaucracy) and informal intermediaries and practices (subagents, bypassing emigration procedures, irregular channels and corruption). By drawing on the narratives of Indian migrant women, the paper highlights the negotiations undertaken by migrant women and the impact of gendered migration infrastructure on their (im)mobilities, migratory experiences, and outcomes. Further, socio-spatial ruptures due to the COVID-19 pandemic created cracks in the migration infrastructure, deepening the precarities faced by migrant women. Overall, the paper aims to contribute to the literature on gendered migration and transnationalism in addition to shedding light on the migration of Indian women across income and legal categories, an under-researched topic currently.

FAK-LINC01089 negative regulatory loop controls chemoresistance and progression of small cell lung cancer.

The focal adhesion kinase (FAK) tyrosine kinase is activated and upregulated in multiple cancer types including small cell lung cancer (SCLC). However, FAK inhibitors have shown limited efficacy in clinical trials for cancer treatment. With the aim of identifying potential therapeutic strategies to inhibit FAK for cancer treatment, we investigated long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that potentially regulate FAK in SCLC. In this study, we identified a long non-coding RNA LINC01089 that binds and inhibits FAK phosphorylation (activation). Expression analysis revealed that LINC01089 was downregulated in SCLC tissues and negatively correlated with chemoresistance and survival in SCLC patients. Functionally, LINC01089 inhibited chemoresistance and progression of SCLC in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, LINC01089 inhibits FAK activation by blocking binding with Src and talin kinases, while FAK negatively regulates LINC01089 transcription by activating the ERK signaling pathway to recruit the REST transcription factor. Furthermore, LINC01089-FAK axis mediates the expression of drug resist-related genes by modulating YBX1 phosphorylation, leading to drug resistance in SCLC. Intriguingly, the FAK-LINC01089 interaction depends on the co-occurrence of the novel FAK variant and the non-conserved region of LINC01089 in primates. In Conclusion, our results indicated that LINC01089 may serve as a novel high-efficiency FAK inhibitor and the FAK-LINC01089 axis represents a valuable prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target in SCLC.

Genomic and transcriptomic characterization of methylmercury detoxification in a deep ocean Alteromonas mediterranea ISS312

Methylmercury (MeHg) is one of the most worrisome pollutants in marine systems. MeHg detoxification is mediated by merB and merA genes, responsible for the demethylation of MeHg and the reduction of inorganic mercury, respectively. Little is known about the biological capacity to detoxify this compound in marine environments, and even less the bacterial transcriptional changes during MeHg detoxification. This study provides the genomic and transcriptomic characterization of the deep ocean bacteria Alteromonas mediterranea ISS312 with capacity for MeHg degradation. Its genome sequence revealed four mer operons containing three merA gene and two merB gene copies, that could be horizontally transferred among distant related genomes by mobile genetic elements. The transcriptomic profiling in the presence of 5 μM MeHg showed that merA and merB genes are within the most expressed genes, although not all mer genes were equally transcribed. Besides, we aimed to identify functional orthologous genes that displayed expression profiles highly similar or identical to those genes within the mer operons, which could indicate they are under the same regulatory controls. We found contrasting expression profiles for each mer operon that were positively correlated with a wide array of functions mostly related to amino acid metabolism, but also to flagellar assembly or two component systems. Also, this study highlights that all merAB genes of the four operons were globally distributed across oceans layers with higher transcriptional activity in the mesopelagic deeper waters. Our study provides new insights about the transcriptional patterns related to the capacity of marine bacteria to detoxify MeHg, with important implications for the understanding of this process in marine ecosystems.