Are companies responding to minimum wage increases by reducing corporate social responsibility?

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been widely discussed. However, the existing literature does not delve into the theoretical mechanism to show how companies adjust their CSR in the face of minimum wage increases. This may be due to the lack of a theoretical framework that clarifies the relationship between minimum wage increases and CSR adjustments.

Production of Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Through High-Cell-Density Transfection of HEK293 Cells Based on Fed-Perfusion Culture.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-associated gene therapy has been increasingly promising, in light of the drugs progressed to clinical trials or approved for medications internationally. Therefore, scalable and efficient production of recombinant AAV is pivotal for advancing gene therapy. Traditional methods, such as the triple-plasmid transfection of human embryonic kidney 293 cells in suspension culture, have been widely employed but often hampered by low unit yield.

Crystallographic Customization of Zinc Anode for High Performance Aqueous Metal Batteries.

Aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs) are an energy storage system that is expected to replace traditional lithium batteries. However, the practical application of AZMBs is hampered by some inherent drawbacks. Herein, an amino acid additive with a screening property is introduced.

Efficacy and safety of multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor AL2846 combined with gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer patients urgently need new treatments, and we explored the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with AL2846 and gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer patients. This was a single-arm, single-center, open-label phase I/IIa study (NCT06278493). The dose-escalation phase was designed to evaluate the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of AL2846 combined with gemcitabine.

Identification of hydrogeochemical processes in shallow groundwater using multivariate statistical analysis and inverse geochemical modeling.

Identifying key factors that control the chemical evolution of groundwater along groundwater flow direction is essential in ensuring the safety of groundwater resources in upper watersheds and lower plains. In this study, the ion ratio, multivariate statistics, and inverse geochemical modeling were used to investigate and explore the chemical characteristics of groundwater and factors driving the formation of groundwater components in the plain area of Deyang City, China. The chemical type of groundwater in the area was dominated by the HCO-Ca type, and the variation in groundwater chemical composition was mainly affected by water-rock interaction and human interference.

Pd(OAc)-Catalyzed Approach to Phenanthridin-6(5)-one Skeletons.

Herein, we present a Pd(OAc)/Dppp-catalyzed synthesis of 4-arylphenanthridinones from 2-bromobenzamides and iodobenzene, which undergoes successive Ullman cross-coupling, C-H activation, and oxidative coupling dehydrogenation process. The presented methods offer an adaptable and modular synthesis route for efficiently producing a wide array of valuable phenanthridiones, demonstrating exceptional compatibility with functional groups. Alternatively, a 1:1 cross-coupling reaction utilizing an intramolecular norbornene moiety as the ligand resulted in phenanthridinones through -arylation and C-H activation.

Antipyretic Effect of Dexibuprofen Versus Ibuprofen in Children With Fever Caused by Upper Respiratory Tract Infection.

Dexibuprofen is the pharmacologically active enantiomer of ibuprofen. However, its application as an antipyretic in children with fever caused by upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) requires more evidence. This study aimed to compare the antipyretic effect between dexibuprofen and ibuprofen in children with fever caused by URTI.

Apple MIEL1/ABI5-MAX2 regulatory module links strigolactone and abscisic acid signals.

In apple (Malus domestica), the abscisic acid (ABA)-responsive factor ABA INSENSITIVE5 directly activates MORE AXILLARY GROWTH2 (MdMAX2), an important strigolactone signaling component; an abscisic acid-restricted E3 ubiquitin ligase modulates MdMAX2 turnover, thus linking strigolactone and abscisic acid signaling.

Haplotype-resolved genome of a papeda provides insights into the geographical origin and evolution of Citrus.

The publication of several high-quality genomes has contributed greatly to clarifying the evolution of citrus. However, due to their complex genetic backgrounds, the origins and evolution of many citrus species remain unclear. We assembled de novo the 294-Mbp chromosome-level genome of a more than 200-year-old primitive papeda (DYC002).

DMSO-promoted α-bromination of α-aryl ketones for the construction of 2-aryl-2-bromo-cycloketones.

A DMSO-promoted practical one-step α-bromination reaction of α-aryl ketones with NBS has been developed for the construction of 2-aryl-2-bromo-cycloketones. The desired regioselective α-bromination products were isolated in moderate to good yields, with a maximum tested scale of 15 mmol. Notably, ketamine derivatives could be smoothly synthesized in two steps.

The MYB61-STRONG2 module regulates culm diameter and lodging resistance in rice.

Lodging reduces grain yield and quality in cereal crops. Lodging resistance is affected by the strength of the culm, which is influenced by the culm diameter, culm wall thickness, and cell wall composition. To explore the genetic architecture of culm diameter in rice (Oryza sativa), we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS).

Beating the Size-Dependent Limit with Spin-Lattice Coupling in Nanomagnetism.

Further miniaturization of magnetic nanomaterials is intrinsically accompanied by a reduction in spin ordered domains, resulting in size-dependent magnetic behaviors. Consequently, a longstanding roadblock in the advancement of nanodevices based on magnetic nanomaterials is the absence of a method to beat the size-dependent limit in nanomagnetism. Here, we discover and exploit a spin-lattice coupling effect in three-dimensional freestanding magnetic nanoparticles to beat the size-dependent limit for the first time.

Causal associations between hypertension and abnormal brain cortical structures: Insights from a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Observational studies suggest that hypertension affects brain cortical structure. However, the potential causal association has yet to be entirely determined. Thus, we aim to assess the causality between hypertension and abnormal cortical structure.

Multi-epitope vaccines: a promising strategy against viral diseases in swine.

Viral infections in swine, such as African swine fever (ASF), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), have a significant impact on the swine industry. Despite the significant progress in the recent efforts to develop effective vaccines against viral diseases in swine, the search for new protective vaccination strategy remains a challenge. The antigenic epitope, acting as a fundamental unit, can initiate either a cellular or humoral immune response.

Effect of differences in residual feed intake on gastrointestinal microbiota of Dexin fine-wool meat sheep.

In this study, we examined the effects of different residual feed intakes (RFIs) on nutrient digestibility and the microbiota of the digestive tract of Dexin fine-wool sheep. Fifty 70-day-old Dexin fine-wool meat lambs were selected as the experimental group and fed in a single pen for 100 days. Based on their mid-term metabolic weight, 100-day average daily weight gain and daily feed intake, the male Dexin lambs were divided into a low-RFI group (13), a mid-RFI group (18), and a high-RFI group (11).

Recent Advancements of Nanomedicine in Breast Cancer Surgery.

Breast cancer surgery plays a pivotal role in the multidisciplinary approaches. Surgical techniques and objectives are gradually shifting from tumor complete resection towards prolonging survival, improving cosmetic outcomes, and restoring the social and psychological well-being of patients. However, surgical treatment still faces challenges such as inadequate sensitivity in sentinel lymph node localization, the need to improve intraoperative tumor boundary localization imaging, postoperative scar healing, and the risk of recurrence, necessitating other adjunct measures for improvement.

Corrigendum to "Selenium enhancement strategy under precise fertilization in foxtail millet rhizosphere" [Heliyon Volume , Issue 11, 15 June 2024, e32764].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.

Polysaccharide-based biomaterials for regenerative therapy in intervertebral disc degeneration.

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration represents a significant cause of chronic back pain and disability, with a substantial impact on the quality of life. Conventional therapeutic modalities frequently address the symptoms rather than the underlying etiology, underscoring the necessity for regenerative therapies that restore disc function. Polysaccharide-based materials, such as hyaluronic acid, alginate, chitosan, and chondroitin sulfate, have emerged as promising candidates for intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) therapy due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to mimic the native extracellular matrix (ECM) of the nucleus pulposus (NP).

Does periphyton turn less palatable under grazing pressure?

Periphyton acts as an important primary producer in stream food webs with bottom-up grazing pressure and is also subject to effects of top-down grazing pressure. However, the underlying mechanisms of these interactions remain unclear. In this study we conducted a mesocosm experiment to explore the periphyton response to grazing pressure by the freshwater snail in relation to food quality indicated by polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) biomarkers, including eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n3) and the 22C fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n3), which are essential for cell growth and reproduction and cannot be synthesized by most consumers of periphyton.

Neuroimaging signatures and a deep learning modeling for early diagnosing and predicting non-pharmacological therapy success for subclinical depression comorbid sleep disorders in college students.

Objective: College students with subclinical depression often experience sleep disturbances and are at high risk of developing major depressive disorder without early intervention. Clinical guidelines recommend non-pharmacotherapy as the primary option for subclinical depression with comorbid sleep disorders (sDSDs). However, the neuroimaging mechanisms and therapeutic responses associated with these treatments are poorly understood.

Pathogenic mechanisms and potential applications of extracellular vesicles from periodontal pathogens in periodontitis.

Periodontitis is a multifactorial disease characterized by chronic destruction of the periodontal supporting tissues and is closely associated with the dysbiosis of the plaque biofilm. It is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) are released from bacteria, which range in size from 20 to 400 nm.

Targeting CEA in metastatic triple negative breast cancer with image-guided radiation followed by Fab-mediated chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy.

Introduction: Although CAR-T cell therapy has limited efficacy against solid tumors, it has been hypothesized that prior treatment with Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) would increase CAR-T cell tumor infiltration, leading to improved antigen specific expansion of CAR-T cells.

Methods: To test this hypothesis in a metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) model, we engineered two anti-CEA single-chain Fab (scFab) CAR-T cells with signaling domains from CD28zeta and 4-1BBzeta, and tested them and .

Results: The anti-CEA scFab CAR-T cells generated from three different human donors demonstrated robust expression, expansion, and lysis of only CEA-positive TNBC cells, with the CD28z-CAR-T cells showing the highest cytotoxicity.

The association between cardiovascular health and obstructive sleep apnea symptoms: findings from NHANES.

Objective: To investigate the association between cardiovascular health (CVH) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) within the U.S. population.