bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From Material Selection to Structural Topology Optimization: Sustainable Product Design Based on Carbon Footprint Allocation
Authors: Zhang Lei , Zheng Yu , Feng Jiale
Published: June 2024

Climate change and the continuous increase of greenhouse gas concentration have a great impact on the human economy and society. Dozens of countries and regions have proposed the climate goal of “zero carbon” or “carbon neutrality.” Therefore, how to make products low carbon has become a trend in product design. This study proposes a low-carbon optimization method based on carbon footprint allocation for products, which can be used to solve the problem of overall product low-carbon optimization and selection of key parts. The first contribution is to build a product carbon footprint analysis model and propose an element-based carbon footprint allocation method. The second contribution is to propose a low-carbon material selection method based on comprehensive carbon emissions, economic cost, and material density and to propose a structural topology optimization method on force condition and carbon emission reduction timeliness. The third contribution is to use force analysis and manufacturing process simulation to ensure the feasibility of the optimization scheme. Finally, a product life cycle carbon emission reduction scheme for high-carbon parts is formed, which takes into account the emission reduction time constraint, comprehensive carbon emissions, economy, mechanical properties, and manufacturability. For illustration, taking a dishwasher product as an example, the results show that the proposed method can effectively identify parts with high-carbon footprint and reduce the carbon footprint.
Design and Analysis of a New Deployable Articulated Mast Mechanism With Two-Dimensional Deploying-Folding Motion
Authors: Cheng Peng , Cao Wen-ao , Wang Tianlong , Chen Guodong
Published: June 2024

A traditional deployable articulated mast mechanism can only provide one-dimensional (1D) deploying-folding motion. This paper aims to investigate the design and analysis of a novel deployable articulated mast mechanism with two-dimensional (2D) deploying-folding motion. First, the topological motion of deployable mast mechanisms that can provide 2D deploying-folding motion is analyzed, and a potential rectangular prism linkage unit is presented to construct single degree-of-freedom (DOF) deployable mast mechanisms with 2D deploying-folding motion. Second, the kinematics of the new deployable mast mechanism is established based on its structural symmetry and modular features. Third, the deploying dynamics of the new mechanism are built based on the Lagrange equation. Fourth, the deployed/folded ratio, interference, and singularity of the new mechanism are analyzed. Finally, a numerical example is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the theoretical analysis, and a physical prototype is developed to show the fabrication feasibility of the new deployable mechanism. Compared with the traditional counterparts with 1D deploying-folding motion, the new deployable mast mechanism has a larger deployed/folded ratio, which has a good application prospect in space missions to support solar arrays, magnetometers, cameras, and antennas.
Improving the Step Response of Flexible Systems in the Presence of Real Nonminimum Phase Zeros
Authors: Rath Siddharth , Radgolchin Moeen , Awtar Shorya
Published: June 2024

It is well known that real nonminimum phase (RNMP) zeros impose a tradeoff between the settling time and undershoot in the step response of flexible systems. Existing methods to alleviate this tradeoff predominantly rely on various advanced control strategies without delving into a broader mechatronic approach that combines physical system and control system design. To address this gap, this article proposes a proportional viscous damping-based physical system design in combination with feedback control and prefilter design. First, the effect of proportional viscous damping on RNMP zeros of flexible systems is established to propose a damping strategy that pushes all the RNMP zeros further away from the imaginary axis. Then, a step-by-step mechatronic system design process is presented to apply this damping strategy along with a full-state feedback control strategy and prefilter to a multi-degree-of-freedom (DoF) flexible system. The application of this design process yields simultaneous improvement in the settling time and undershoot in the step response of this flexible system.
Microstructural evolution and strengthening behavior induced by N addition in TiVCrAl medium entropy alloy films
Authors: Zhang Z. Y. , Wang L. , Ma Y. J. , Zhang Y. W. , Shen X. C. , Hua X. , Li G. J. , Cao Z. H.
Published: June 2024

In this study, we have studied the influence of nitrogen content on the mechanical properties of nanostructure medium entropy (TiVCrAl)Nx films prepared by magnetron sputtering. A transition from body-centered cubic nanocrystalline phases to an face-centered cubic columnar crystal structure has been observed in the medium entropy films as the nitrogen flow increases. With increasing nitrogen flow, the lattice constant of the film first increases and then decreases due to the change of composition from substoichiometric to overstoichiometric, resulting in the different bond length of Metal-N. The hardness of the films first increases and then decreases with the increase of nitrogen flow. When the nitrogen flow was 25 sccm, the hardness reached the maximum value of 23.1 GPa. Moreover, the film has shorter cracks length and a higher hardness/modulus ratio, exhibiting enhanced fracture toughness. The increased hardness primarily results from the formation of bonds between metals and nitrogen and the strengthening of a solid solution and a grain boundary.
Sirtulin–Ypk1 regulation axis governs the TOR signaling pathway and fungal pathogenicity in
Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Chai Zhenghua , Li Yanjian , Zhang Jing , Ding Chen , Tong Xiujuan , Zhang Zhijie
Published: June 2024

Cryptococcus neoformans
is a life-threatening fungal pathogen that is a causative agent for pulmonary infection and meningoencephalitis in both immunocompetent and immunodeficient individuals. Recent studies have elucidated the important function of the target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway in the modulation of
C. neoformans
virulence factor production and pathogenicity in animal infection models. Herein, we discovered that Ypk1, a critical component of the TOR signaling pathway, acts as a critical modulator in fungal pathogenicity through post-translational modifications (PTMs). Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that Ypk1 is subject to protein acetylation at lysines 315 and 502, and both sites are located within kinase functional domains. Inhibition of the
C. neoformans
TOR pathway by rapamycin activates the deacetylation process for Ypk1. The
YPK1Q
strain, a hyper-acetylation of Ypk1, exhibited increased sensitivity to rapamycin, decreased capsule formation ability, reduced starvation tolerance, and diminished fungal pathogenicity, indicating that deacetylation of Ypk1 is crucial for responding to stress. Deacetylase inhibition assays have shown that sirtuin family proteins are critical to the Ypk1 deacetylation mechanism. After screening deacetylase mutants, we found that Dac1 and Dac7 directly interact with Ypk1 to facilitate the deacetylation modification process via a protein–protein interaction. These findings provide new insights into the molecular basis for regulating the TORC–Ypk1 axis and demonstrate an important function of protein acetylation in modulating fungal pathogenicity.

IMPORTANCE

Cryptococcus neoformans
is an important opportunistic fungal pathogen in humans. While there are currently few effective antifungal treatments, the absence of novel molecular targets in fungal pathogenicity hinders the development of new drugs. There is increasing evidence that protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) can modulate the pathogenicity of fungi. In this study, we discovered that the pathogenicity of
C. neoformans
was significantly impacted by the dynamic acetylation changes of Ypk1, the immediate downstream target of the TOR complex. We discovered that Ypk1 is acetylated at lysines 315 and 502, both of which are within kinase functional domains. Deacetylation of Ypk1 is necessary for formation of the capsule structure, the response to the TOR pathway inhibitor rapamycin, nutrient utilization, and host infection. We also demonstrate that the sirtuin protein family is involved in the Ypk1 deacetylation mechanism. We anticipate that the sirtuin–Ypk1 regulation axis could be used as a potential target for the development of antifungal medications.
PDCD4 as a marker of mTOR pathway activation and therapeutic target in mycobacterial infections
Authors: Paroha Ruchi , Wang Jia , Lee Sunhee
Published: June 2024

Programmed cell death protein 4 (PDCD4) is instrumental in regulating a range of cellular processes such as translation, apoptosis, signal transduction, and inflammatory responses. There is a notable inverse correlation between PDCD4 and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, which is integral to cellular growth control. Activation of mTOR is associated with the degradation of PDCD4. Although the role of PDCD4 is well established in oncogenesis and immune response regulation, its function in mycobacterial infections and its interplay with the mTOR pathway necessitate further elucidation. This study investigates the modulation of PDCD4 expression in the context of mycobacterial infections, revealing a consistent pattern of downregulation across diverse mycobacterial species. This observation underscores the potential utility of PDCD4 as a biomarker for assessing mTOR pathway activation during such infections. Building on this finding, we employed a novel approach using PDCD4-based mTOR (Tor)-signal-indicator (TOSI) reporter cells for the high-throughput screening of FDA-approved drugs, focusing on mTOR inhibitors. This methodology facilitated the identification of several agents, inclusive of known mTOR inhibitors, which upregulated PDCD4 expression and concurrently exhibited efficacy in impeding mycobacterial proliferation within macrophages. These results not only reinforce the significance of PDCD4 as a pivotal marker in the understanding of infectious diseases, particularly mycobacterial infections, but also illuminate its potential in the identification of mTOR inhibitors, thereby contributing to the advancement of therapeutic strategies.

IMPORTANCE

This study emphasizes the critical role of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in macrophage responses to mycobacterial infections, elucidating how mycobacteria activate mTOR, resulting in PDCD4 degradation. The utilization of the (Tor)-signal-indicator (TOSI) vector for real-time monitoring of mTOR activity represents a significant advancement in understanding mTOR regulation during mycobacterial infection. These findings deepen our comprehension of mycobacteria's innate immune mechanisms and introduce PDCD4 as a novel marker for mTOR activity in infectious diseases. Importantly, this research laid the groundwork for high-throughput screening of mTOR inhibitors using FDA-approved drugs, offering the potential for repurposing treatments against mycobacterial infections. The identification of drugs that inhibit mTOR activation opens new avenues for host-directed therapies, marking a significant step forward in combating tuberculosis and other mycobacterial diseases.
Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of
Enterococcus faecalis
isolates from periprosthetic joint infections
Authors: Haeberle Amanda L. , Greenwood-Quaintance Kerryl E. , Zar Sarah , Johnson Stephen , Patel Robin , Willett Julia L. E.
Published: June 2024

Over 2.5 million prosthetic joint implantation surgeries occur annually in the United States. Periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs), though occurring in only 1–2% of patients receiving replacement joints, are challenging to diagnose and treat and are associated with significant morbidity. The Gram-positive bacterium
Enterococcus faecalis
, which can be highly antibiotic-resistant and is a robust biofilm producer on indwelling medical devices, accounts for 2–11% of PJIs.
E. faecalis
PJIs are understudied compared to those caused by other pathogens, such as
Staphylococcus aureus
. This motivates the need to generate a comprehensive understanding of
E. faecalis
PJIs to guide future treatments for these infections. To address this, we describe a panel of
E. faecalis
strains isolated from the surface of prosthetic joints in a cohort of individuals treated at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Here, we present the first complete genome assemblage of
E. faecalis
PJI isolates. Comparative genomics shows differences in genome size, virulence factors, antimicrobial resistance genes, plasmids, and prophages, underscoring the genetic diversity of these strains. These isolates have strain-specific differences in
in vitro
biofilm biomass, biofilm burden, and biofilm morphology. We measured robust changes in biofilm architecture and aggregation for all isolates when grown in simulated synovial fluid (SSF). Finally, we evaluated the antibiotic efficacy of these isolates and found strain-specific changes across all strains when grown in SSF. Results of this study highlight the existence of genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity among
E. faecalis
PJI isolates which will provide valuable insight and resources for future
E. faecalis
PJI research.

IMPORTANCE

Periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) affect ~1–2% of those who undergo joint replacement surgery.
Enterococcus faecalis
is a Gram-positive opportunistic pathogen that causes ~10% of PJIs in the United States each year, but our understanding of how and why
E. faecalis
causes PJIs is limited.
E. faecalis
infections are typically biofilm-associated and can be difficult to clear with antibiotic therapy. Here, we provide complete genomes for four
E. faecalis
PJI isolates from the Mayo Clinic. These isolates have strain-specific differences in biofilm formation, aggregation, and antibiotic susceptibility in simulated synovial fluid. These results provide important insight into the genomic and phenotypic features of
E. faecalis
isolates from PJI.
PM-profiler: a high-resolution and fast tool for taxonomy annotation of amplicon-based microbiome
Authors: Shi Haobo , Hou Guosen , Jiang Sikai , Su Xiaoquan
Published: June 2024

Amplicon sequencing stands as a cornerstone in microbiome profiling, yet concerns persist regarding its resolution and accuracy. The enhancement of reference databases and annotations marks a new era for 16S rRNA-based profiling. Capitalizing on this potential, we introduce PM-profiler, a novel tool for profiling amplicon short reads. PM-profiler is implemented by C++-based advanced algorithms, such as pre-allocated hash for reference construction, hybrid and dynamic short-read matching, big-data-guided dual-mode hierarchical taxonomy annotation strategy, and full-procedure parallel computing. This tool delivers species-level resolution and ultrafast speed for large-scale microbiomes, surpassing alignment-based approaches and the Naïve-Bayesian model. Furthermore, recognizing the global uneven distribution of microbes, we delineate optimal annotation strategies for each sampling habitat based on microbial patterns over 270,000 microbiomes. Integrated with the established workflow of Parallel-Meta Suite and the latest curated reference databases, this endeavor offers a swift and dependable solution for high-precision microbiome surveys.

IMPORTANCE

Our study introduces PM-profiler, a new tool that deciphers the complexity of microbial communities. With advanced algorithms, flexible annotation strategies, and well-organized big-data, PM-profiler provides a faster and more accurate way to study on microbiomes, paving the way for discoveries that could improve our understanding of microbiomes and their impact on the world.
Fifteen-minute consultation: a guide to paediatric major haemorrhage
Authors: Karageorgos Spyridon , Ren Dennis , Ranaweera Melanie , Casey Sean , Solan Tom , Hibberd Owen , Hall Dani
Published: June 2024

Major trauma is a principal cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Severe haemorrhage is the second-leading cause of death in paediatric trauma, preceded by traumatic brain injury. Major haemorrhage protocols (MHPs), also known as ‘code red’ and ‘massive transfusion protocols’, are used to make large volumes of blood products rapidly available. Most recommendations for paediatric MHPs are extrapolated from adult data because of a lack of large, high-quality, prospective paediatric studies. However, applying adult data in a paediatric context requires caution due to differences in injury mechanisms and physiological responses between adults and children. Since major haemorrhage is a high-acuity low-occurrence event, MHP requires effective training, collaboration and communication among a large multidisciplinary team.

In this 15-minute consultation, we provide an evidence-based synthesis of the management principles of paediatric major haemorrhage.
Exploring the impact of surface lapse rate change scenarios on mountain permafrost distribution in four dissimilar valleys in Yukon, Canada
Authors: Garibaldi Madeleine C. , Bonnaventure Philip P. , Noad Nick C. , Kochtitzky Will
Published: June 2024

A scenario-based approach was used to test air and ground response to warming with and without changes to inverted surface lapse rates in four Yukon valleys. Generally, climate warming coupled with weakening of temperature inversions resulted in the greatest increase in air temperature at low elevations. However, ground temperatures at high elevations showed the greatest response to warming and variability between scenarios due to increased connectivity between air and ground. Low elevations showed less of a response to warming and permafrost was largely preserved in these locations. Local models also predicted higher permafrost occurrence compared to a regional permafrost probability model, due to the inclusion of differential surface and thermal offsets. Results show that the spatial warming patterns in these mountains may not follow those predicted in other mountain environments following elevation-dependent warming (EDW). As a result, the concept of EDW should be expanded to become more inclusive of a wider range of possible spatial warming distributions. The purpose of this paper is not to provide exact estimations of warming, but rather to provide hypothetical spatial warming patterns, based on logical predictions of changes to temperature inversion strength, which may not directly follow the distribution projected through EDW.
Reduced energies for thin ferromagnetic films with perpendicular anisotropy
Authors: Di Fratta Giovanni , Muratov Cyrill B. , Slastikov Valeriy V.
Published: June 2024

We derive four reduced two-dimensional models that describe, at different spatial scales, the micromagnetics of ultrathin ferromagnetic materials of finite spatial extent featuring perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and interfacial Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction. Starting with a microscopic model that regularizes the stray field near the material’s lateral edges, we carry out an asymptotic analysis of the energy by means of [Formula: see text]-convergence. Depending on the scaling assumptions on the size of the material domain versus the strength of dipolar interaction, we obtain a hierarchy of the limit energies that exhibit progressively stronger stray field effects of the material edges. These limit energies feature, respectively, a renormalization of the out-of-plane anisotropy, an additional local boundary penalty term forcing out-of-plane alignment of the magnetization at the edge, a pinned magnetization at the edge, and, finally, a pinned magnetization and an additional field-like term that blows up at the edge, as the sample’s lateral size is increased. The pinning of the magnetization at the edge restores the topological protection and enables the existence of magnetic skyrmions in bounded samples.
Hyperelastic Material Modeling Using First- and Second-Order Differential Operations with Complex Step Derivative Approximation
Authors: Inoue Takumi , Fujikawa Masaki
Published: June 2024

This study proposes a method for calculating hyperelastic materials’ stress and tangent modulus using a generalized complex-step derivative approximation. This method is accurate and requires only the operational code of the strain energy density function. Moreover, because it uses only standard complex operations in Fortran, no prior preparation is required, making the method convenient and practical. The effectiveness of the method was confirmed by applying it to the implementation of isotropic and anisotropic hyperelastic models.
Finite Elastic Deformations of Initially Flat Thin Rubber-Like Materials
Authors: Firouzi Nasser , Alzaidi Ahmed S. M. , Molavi Amirreza
Published: June 2024

This contribution aims to derive a nonlinear FE formulation for large elastic deformation of hyperelastic thin rubber-like elastomeric materials. The formulation accounts for isotropic as well as transversely isotropic rubber-like materials. Besides, with the developed formulation, deformation of incompressible as well as compressible materials can be investigated. The formulation is applicable for in-plane and out-of-plane deformation of thin membranes. Several problems are inspected including uniaxial and equibiaxial extension of rubber, axisymmetric deformation of annular sheet, stretching a perforated rubber, extension of an anisotropic rubber, and inflation of an initially-flat circular and a square membrane. The results show very good agreement compared with those reported in the literature. Moreover, this model is able to model the inflation of initially flat membranes which is not possible to be done by commercial software.
Will AI Flood Us with Irrelevant Papers?
Authors: Lemire Daniel
Published: June 2024

Raising questions about the future of citation metrics and the effectiveness of peer review in a world where authorship may not solely reside with humans.
Lavender: An Efficient Resource Partitioning Framework for Large-Scale Job Colocation
Authors: Peng Wangqi , Li Yusen , Liu Xiaoguang , Wang Gang
Published: June 2024

Workload consolidation is a widely used approach to enhance resource utilization in modern data centers. However, the concurrent execution of multiple jobs on a shared server introduces contention for essential shared resources such as CPU cores, Last Level Cache, and memory bandwidth. This contention negatively impacts job performance, leading to significant degradation in throughput. To mitigate resource contention, effective resource isolation techniques at the software or hardware level can be employed to partition the shared resources among colocated jobs. However, existing solutions for resource partitioning often assume a limited number of jobs that can be colocated, making them unsuitable for scenarios with a large-scale job colocation due to several critical challenges. In this study, we propose Lavender, a framework specifically designed for addressing large-scale resource partitioning problems. Lavender incorporates several key techniques to tackle the challenges associated with large-scale resource partitioning, ensuring efficiency, adaptivity, and optimality. We conducted comprehensive evaluations of Lavender to validate its performance and analyze the reasons for its advantages. The experimental results demonstrate that Lavender significantly outperforms state-of-the-art baselines. Lavender is publicly available at https://github.com/yanxiaoqi932/OpenSourceLavender.
Regulation of the RhoA exchange factor GEF-H1 by profibrotic stimuli through a positive feedback loop involving RhoA, MRTF, and Sp1
Authors: Venugopal Shruthi , Dan Qinghong , Sri Theivakadadcham Veroni S. , Wu Brian , Kofler Michael , Layne Matthew D. , Connelly Kim A. , Rzepka Mark F. , Friedberg Mark K. , Kapus András , Szászi Katalin
Published: June 2024

We show that expression of the RhoA regulator GEF-H1 is upregulated in tubular cells exposed to fibrogenic cytokines and in animal models of kidney and heart fibrosis. We identify a pathway wherein GEF-H1/RhoA-dependent MRTF activation through its noncanonical partner Sp1 upregulates GEF-H1. Our data reveal the existence of a positive feedback cycle that enhances Rho signaling through control of both GEF-H1 activation and expression. This feedback loop may play an important role in organ fibrosis.
Isolation of a persistently quiescent muscle satellite cell population
Authors: Steele Alexandra P. , Syroid Anika L. , Mombo Cassandra , Raveetharan Shathana , Rebalka Irena A. , Hawke Thomas J.
Published: June 2024

We provide a method to isolate quiescent satellite cells from skeletal muscle. These cells are highly Pax7-positive, exhibit a very slow proliferation rate, and are capable of being maintained in culture for months without a change in phenotype. The use of these cells by muscle researchers will allow for more detailed examinations of the factors affecting satellite cell quiescence/activation and provide a novel cell source for the regenerative medicine and cellular agriculture fields.
Advanced cardiovascular physiology in an individual with type 1 diabetes after 10-year ketogenic diet
Authors: Watso Joseph C. , Robinson Austin T. , Singar Saiful Anuar Bin , Cuba Jens N. , Koutnik Andrew P.
Published: June 2024

Adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have a 10-fold higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with the general population. We assessed cardiovascular health metrics in an adult with T1D who presented with a euglycemic HbA1c after following a ketogenic diet for the past 10 years. Despite concerns about the ketogenic diet increasing CVD risk, the participant exhibited below-average CVD risk relative to others with T1D when considering all outcomes together.
Supplementation of Multistrain Probiotics Improves Milk Production, Blood Metabolites, Digestibility, and Rectal Microbiota during the Prepartum and Early Lactation Stages in Crossbred Cows
Authors: Ayyat Mohamed S. , Abdel Monem Usama M. , Abdel-Rahman Gamal , Hussein Adel Ibrahim , El-Nagar Hamdy A. , Wafa Wael M. , Mahgoub Samir , Al-Sagheer Adham A.
Published: June 2024

The current study aimed to study the effects of administration with a multistrain probiotic formulation (MPF) initiated from the prepartum stage on lactation performance, digestibility, rectal microbiota, and blood metabolites of postpartum dairy cows. A total of 30 multiparous crossbred (Holstein Friesian × Balady) dairy cows were randomized into three groups: control (no MPF supplementation), MPF1 (0.5 g MPF/cow/d), and MPF2 (1 g MPF/cow/d). The administration of MPF started 28 days before calving and continued for 84 days after. The results revealed that cows in the MPFI and MPF2 groups had higher milk production, 3.5% FCM, and ECM than those in the control group. The MPF‐supplemented cows had significantly greater milk energy output, DMI, and yields of solids‐not‐fat, lactose, total solids, ash, fat, and protein. The MPF supplementation significantly enhanced feed conversion and significantly interacted with milk solids‐not‐fat, lactose, total solids, and protein. Hematological indicators did not significantly alter between the MPF and control groups. However, cows receiving MPF supplements had higher levels of Hct. Serum biochemical measurements showed lower serum concentrations of LDL, total cholesterol, and VLDL in MPF‐fed cows than in the control group. The digestibility of organic and dry matter tended to be higher in MPF‐supplemented cows. The populations of lactobacillus, bacillus, and total bacterial count increased due to MPF administration, while the count of Clostridium, Salmonella, E. coli, and coliforms decreased in MPF‐fed cows. In summary, administering MPF during late gestation and early lactation period improved milk production, fecal microbial composition, and overall health of dairy cows.
Exponential Response Matrix Spectral Nodal Method for the Discrete Ordinates Neutral Particle Transport Model
Authors: Rivas-Ortiz Iram B. , Sanchez-Dominguez Dany , Marrero Iglesias Susana , Ambrósio Paulo Eduardo
Published: June 2024

In this work, the response matrix‐exponential nodal method is presented to solve fixed source neutral particle transport problems with isotropic scattering and discrete ordinates formulation in two‐dimensional Cartesian geometry. The method is based on the response matrix scheme by using the general solution of the transverse integrated SN nodal equations with exponential approximations for the leakage terms. This approach eliminates the need for additional auxiliary equations found in the spectral Green’s function (SGF) schemes, streamlining internodal computation to a matrix‐vector multiplication. The formulation includes a lambda parameter possible determined by the medium characteristics, e.g., the scattering ratio coefficient and/or empirical methods. Two model problems with low absorption rates were investigated to analyze the performance of the proposed method. The numerical solutions exhibited superior accuracy for the coarsest spatial grid configurations in both homogeneous and heterogeneous study cases. However, refining the spatial grid revealed a relative loss in accuracy compared to the RM‐CN method, potentially due to increased truncation error propagation. Nevertheless, all numerical solutions converge to the reference solution when refining the spatial discretization grid. Comparison of both response matrix schemes demonstrated similar convergence rates and computational efficiency in terms of iterations and CPU consumption.
Iron Boosts Antitumor Type 1 T-cell Responses and Anti-PD1 Immunotherapy
Authors: Porte Sarah , Audemard-Verger Alexandra , Wu Christian , Durand Aurélie , Level Théo , Giraud Léa , Lombès Amélie , Germain Mathieu , Pierre Rémi , Saintpierre Benjamin , Lambert Mireille , Auffray Cédric , Peyssonnaux Carole , Goldwasser François , Vaulont Sophie , Alves-Guerra Marie-Clotilde , Dentin Renaud , Lucas Bruno , Martin Bruno
Published: June 2024

Cancers only develop if they escape immunosurveillance, and the success of cancer immunotherapies relies in most cases on their ability to restore effector T-cell functions, particularly IFNγ production. Revolutionizing the treatment of many cancers, immunotherapies targeting immune checkpoints such as PD1 can increase survival and cure patients. Unfortunately, although immunotherapy has greatly improved the prognosis of patients, not all respond to anti-PD1 immunotherapy, making it crucial to identify alternative treatments that could be combined with current immunotherapies to improve their effectiveness. Here, we show that iron supplementation significantly boosts T-cell responses in vivo and in vitro. The boost was associated with a metabolic reprogramming of T cells in favor of lipid oxidation. We also found that the “adjuvant” effect of iron led to a marked slowdown of tumor cell growth after tumor cell line transplantation in mice. Specifically, our results suggest that iron supplementation promotes antitumor responses by increasing IFNγ production by T cells. In addition, iron supplementation improved the efficacy of anti-PD1 cancer immunotherapy in mice. Finally, our study suggests that, in patients with cancer, the quality and efficacy of the antitumor response following anti-PD1 immunotherapy may be modulated by plasma ferritin levels. In summary, our results suggest the benefits of iron supplementation on the reactivation of antitumor responses and support the relevance of a fruitful association between immunotherapy and iron supplementation.
Data from Cancer-related Fatigue and the Additive Effect of Treatment in the Context of Lymphoma: An Analysis of the Lymphoma Coalition's 2022 Global Patient Survey
Authors: Kalloger Steve E. , Watson Amanda , Sajkowski Shawn , Warwick Lorna
Published: June 2024

Abstract
Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) continues to be a challenging phenomenon that is often under-reported and poorly understood. With etiologies in both disease and treatment manifesting as a symptom and a side effect respectively, CRF is highly incident and presents a significant clinical problem that impacts survivorship. We conducted a survey to ascertain the patient reported incidence of symptoms and side effects for people with lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia. We found that CRF was enhanced in those who received more intense therapies that coincided with more aggressive lymphoma subtypes. These data illuminate an unmet need among patients with lymphoma and provides an opportunity to further refine treatment regimens to reduce the burden of CRF in this vulnerable population.
Significance:
CRF is a highly incident phenomenon in lymphoma that can be ascribed to a combination of causes. We have demonstrated substantial variability across various subtypes of lymphoma and have estimated that nearly half of the reported fatigue comes from treatment. Increased screening for and monitoring of fatigue will yield favorable health-related quality of life that will benefit health technology assessment activities and yield improved outcomes for patients.
ATF5-Mediated Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response (UPR
mt
) Protects Neurons Against Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation and Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: An Hong , Zhou Bing , Hayakawa Kazuhide , Durán Laforet Violeta , Park Ji-Hyun , Nakamura Yoshihiko , Mandeville Emiri T. , Liu Ning , Guo Shuzhen , Yu Zhanyang , Shi Jingfei , Wu Di , Li Wenlu , Lo Eng H. , Ji Xunming
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND:

The mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR
mt
) is an evolutionarily conserved mitochondrial response that is critical for maintaining mitochondrial and energetic homeostasis under cellular stress after tissue injury and disease. Here, we ask whether UPR
mt
may be a potential therapeutic target for ischemic stroke.

METHODS:

We performed the middle cerebral artery occlusion and oxygen-glucose deprivation models to mimic ischemic stroke in vivo and in vitro, respectively. Oligomycin and meclizine were used to trigger the UPR
mt
. We used 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, behavioral tests, and Nissl staining to evaluate cerebral injury in vivo. The Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and the Calcein AM Assay Kit were conducted to test cerebral injury in vitro.

RESULTS:

Inducing UPR
mt
with oligomycin protected neuronal cultures against oxygen-glucose deprivation. UPR
mt
could also be triggered with meclizine, and this Food and Drug Administration-approved drug also protected neurons against oxygen-glucose deprivation. Blocking UPR
mt
with siRNA against activating transcription factor 5 eliminated the neuroprotective effects of meclizine. In a mouse model of focal cerebral ischemia, pretreatment with meclizine was able to induce UPR
mt
in vivo, which reduced infarction and improved neurological outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings suggest that the UPR
mt
is important in maintaining the survival of neurons facing ischemic/hypoxic stress. The UPR
mt
mechanism may provide a new therapeutic avenue for ischemic stroke.
Erratum: delos Angeles, M.D., Rubite, R.R., Chung K.F., Buot, I.E. Jr. & Tandang, D.N. (2022) Begonia normaaguilariae (section Baryandra, Begoniaceae), a new species from the limestone forests of Samar Island, Philippines. Phytotaxa 541 (1): 49–56.
Authors: DELOS ANGELES MARJORIE D. , RUBITE ROSARIO R. , CHUNG KUO-FANG , BUOT JR. INOCENCIO E. , TANDANG DANILO N.
Published: June 2024

N/A
Tettigoniinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) from South-West of Turkey, with an incognito new species and comments on the genus Eupholidoptera
Authors: ÜNAL MUSTAFA , GOROCHOV ANDREI V.
Published: June 2024

Twenty species are recorded from SW of Turkey. One new species, Eupholidoptera abscondita sp. nov., is described. An overlooked previous synonym of Eupholidoptera tucherti Harz, 1988 with E. krueperi (Ramme, 1930) is confirmed and Eupholidoptera helina Çıplak, 2009 is synonymized with E. smyrnensis (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1882). Twenty-one Eupholidoptera species from Turkey and the Middle East are compared with images of the female subgenital plates.
Indian Summer Monsoon Precipitation Dominates the Reproduction of Circumglobal Teleconnection Pattern: A Comparison of CMIP5 and CMIP6 Models
Authors: Yu Hanzhao , Zhou Tianjun , He Linqiang
Published: June 2024

The zonal wavenumber-5 circumglobal teleconnection (CGT) pattern is one of the most critical atmospheric teleconnection patterns during boreal summer over the Northern Hemisphere (NH). CGT can exert significant climatic impact across NH including Europe, East Asia, and North America, but how reliable coupled climate models simulate the characteristics of CGT is poorly understood. Here, 20 coupled models with their respective versions in phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) and CMIP6 are selected to evaluate their performance on CGT simulation. We find that while both CMIP5 and CMIP6 models are able to capture the basic features of CGT in multimodel mean (MMM), there are large intermodel discrepancies in the simulation of CGT pattern among CMIP5 and CMIP6 models. High-skill models exhibit strong action center over west-central Asia, coinciding with the pattern derived from reanalysis, while the corresponding action center in low-skill models is weaker. Further analyses demonstrate that high-skill models are capable of simulating more realistic Indian summer monsoon (ISM) precipitation anomalies related to CGT. The resultant anomalous upper-tropospheric divergence over west-central Asia, acting as a Rossby wave source, can therefore excite the abovementioned action center. This high- and low-skill model difference on CGT–ISM relationship is consistent in both CMIP5 and CMIP6. It is also found that high-skill models tend to simulate more realistic CGT–ENSO relationship. The relationship between simulation skills of CGT–ENSO correlation and CGT spatial pattern is attributed to the remote impact of ENSO on CGT wave train through affecting ISM precipitation anomalies.
An investigation of the effects of the education given to teachers on food allergy and anaphylaxis management self-efficacy and level of knowledge
Authors: Aslan Gülpınar , Savcı Mağol Deniz Didem , Bakan Ayse Berivan Savcı
Published: June 2024

Background:

The most effective approach to food allergy management is to avoid consuming the specific allergens that trigger an allergic reaction. It is crucial to make school environments prepared for the potential of food allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which is a rare but documented outcome. The high prevalence of anaphylactic reactions in children makes food allergy and anaphylaxis management important topics in schools.

Aim:

This study aimed to determine the effects of food allergy and anaphylaxis management education on teachers’ food allergy and anaphylaxis management self-efficacy and level of knowledge in Türkiye.

Methods:

This study used a random experimental design with a pre-test and post-test group. The study was conducted with 84 teachers who worked in kindergartens (school year prior to starting Grade 1) and primary schools in a city centre in eastern Turkey between September 2022 and January 2023. Data were collected through a socio-demographic form and the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Self-Efficacy Scale for School Personnel. Data analysis was performed using t-tests for independent groups, Chi-square tests and McNamara analyses.

Results:

The average age of the teachers was 31.08 ± 6.70 years, and the average years of experience in the profession was 6.68 ± 6.99 years. All the teachers wanted to learn about food allergy and anaphylaxis management, 59.5% did not know whether their schools had an emergency action plan for food allergy and anaphylaxis, 63.1% reported not having the necessary emergency treatment medicine for anaphylaxis in their school and 57.1% reported having no educated school personnel to administer the first intervention in case of a serious allergic reaction at school. While the mean scale score of the experimental group was 25.88 ± 7.26 before the training, it was 30.78 ± 6.98 after the training. While no differences were detected between the experimental and control groups’ pre-test scale mean scores, the experimental group’s post-test scale mean score was found to be statistically significantly higher ( d = 0.79, p < .05). The results also indicate that the rates of providing correct responses to questions regarding what the most common symptom in a student with a food allergy is, and what the first intervention should be when a serious reaction develops in a student, increased significantly level.

Conclusions:

This study found that the health education given to teachers led to an increase in teachers’ food allergy and anaphylaxis management self-efficacy.
Detecting Mandible Fractures in CBCT Scans Using a 3-Stage Neural Network
Authors: van Nistelrooij N. , Schitter S. , van Lierop P. , Ghoul K. El , König D. , Hanisch M. , Tel A. , Xi T. , Thiem D.G.E. , Smeets R. , Dubois L. , Flügge T. , van Ginneken B. , Bergé S. , Vinayahalingam S.
Published: June 2024

After nasal bone fractures, fractures of the mandible are the most frequently encountered injuries of the facial skeleton. Accurate identification of fracture locations is critical for effectively managing these injuries. To address this need, JawFracNet, an innovative artificial intelligence method, has been developed to enable automated detection of mandibular fractures in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. JawFracNet employs a 3-stage neural network model that processes 3-dimensional patches from a CBCT scan. Stage 1 predicts a segmentation mask of the mandible in a patch, which is subsequently used in stage 2 to predict a segmentation of the fractures and in stage 3 to classify whether the patch contains any fracture. The final output of JawFracNet is the fracture segmentation of the entire scan, obtained by aggregating and unifying voxel-level and patch-level predictions. A total of 164 CBCT scans without mandibular fractures and 171 CBCT scans with mandibular fractures were included in this study. Evaluation of JawFracNet demonstrated a precision of 0.978 and a sensitivity of 0.956 in detecting mandibular fractures. The current study proposes the first benchmark for mandibular fracture detection in CBCT scans. Straightforward replication is promoted by publicly sharing the code and providing access to JawFracNet on grand-challenge.org.
Factors Associated With Gun Possession Among High-School Students in the U.S. Before and During the Pandemic
Authors: Mukherjee Soumyadeep , Gordils Jonathan
Published: June 2024

Background: Adolescents’ possession of guns was a matter of concern even before the pandemic. It is pertinent to examine whether students continued possessing guns after schools reopened, and if so, identify factors that might have been associated with such behaviors. Towards this end, the present study examined the relationship between highschool students’ experiences and their propensity to possess guns. Methods: This used responses from multiple nationally representative cross-sectional surveys of high school students from the 2019 and 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and the 2021 Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES). Gun possession within the past year was the main outcome of interest. Experiences of violence, assault, injury, and other adverse experiences were the independent variables. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions, adjusting for sample weights, were performed using SAS. Results: Out of a total of more than 25,000 and 38,000 valid responses, respectively in 2019 and 2021 to the question on gun possession, 4.7% and 4.2% reported carrying a gun at least once within the past year. Experiences of sexual violence, involvement in physical fight, perceived lack of safety, and being threatened/injured by weapons, were associated with higher adjusted odds of guns possession among males and females. Among ABES 2021 respondents (more than 7500), those who witnessed violence in the neighborhood were more likely to possess guns. This association was significant among males, whereas parents being informed about whereabouts was significant for females. Conclusion: This study shows that adverse experiences were associated with a higher odds of guns possession among female and male highschool students. Witnessing violent attack on someone in the neighborhood emerged as a risk factor for males. This suggests that social determinants of health as well as adverse experiences are associated with gun possession among high-school students.
A study on the Evil Eye from the perspective of young Jordanian Muslim women
Authors: Yun Safia Jeonghee
Published: June 2024

This study among young Jordanian Muslim women considers modern perceptions of the Evil Eye and its impact on personal relationships as well as methods sought for protection. Qualitative research was conducted among participants in their 20s and 30s from September 2022 to February 2023. Findings reveal that most young Jordanian Muslim women believe the Evil Eye expresses envy, which arises from an unclean heart, discontentment, lack of faith in God, or perception of limited good. Participants shared how envious relatives and friends cause harm and damage relationships when they cast the Evil Eye. Respondents noted their use of invocation or incantation of Qur’anic verses to protect themselves. Missional implications include helping Muslim women discover the biblical truth of a God who blesses generously and protects them from the harm of the Evil Eye while boldly modeling generosity and prayer in Christ’s name.
Moral Injury: A Framework for Understanding Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Against Men
Authors: Njoku Emeka Thaddues , Dery Isaac , Romaniuk Scott Nicholas
Published: June 2024

Studies on conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) emphasize the need for the integration of a victim-centered lens into Feminist International Relations (IR) frameworks on sexual violence victimization in conflict or war. However, our understanding of the perpetrator-centered lens is limited. Drawing from ethnographic accounts of Nigerian security agents, male victims of CRSV, and aid workers, we analyze moral injury as a framework for discussing CRSV. In Nigeria, counterterrorism operations can lead to morally detrimental circumstances due to the government’s poor management of counterterrorism operations, resulting in the loss of lives and subsequent feelings of betrayal, anger, and guilt by security agents. Some security agents often display these emotions through violent acts to others, such as CRSV against men and boys suspected of terrorism, thereby exacerbating moral injury. The guilt-based moral injury arises when security agents witness CRSV against men and boys by colleagues and fail to seek justice for victims, as this contradicts social and institutional norms. Our article broadens the concept of moral injury by elucidating its significance to CRSV. In doing so, it advances the concept’s disciplinary focus on psychology to IR or international security—counterterrorism and CRSV—for conceptual sophistication and interdisciplinary exchange of thoughts. This article offers valuable insights into trauma-informed international humanitarian interventions for security agents and victims.