bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Statistical analysis of the impact of FeO3 and ZnO nanoparticles on the physicochemical and dielectric performance of monoester-based nanofluids
Authors: Jiosseu Jean Lambert , Jean-Bernard Asse , Mengata Mengounou Ghislain , Tchamdjio Nkouetcha Emeric , Moukengue Imano Adolphe
Published: July 2023

This article deals with a comparative study of the physicochemical and electrical properties of monoesters of castor oil compared with their counterparts based on FeO3 and ZnO nanoparticles. The results are also compared with those in the literature on triesters, and also with the recommendations of the IEEE C 57.14 standard. The data is analysed statistically using a goodness-of-fit test. The analysis of the viscosity data at 40 °C shows an increase in viscosity. For concentrations of 0.10 wt%, 0.15 wt% and 0.20 wt% these are respectively 5.4%, 9.69%, 12.9% for FeO3 NFs and 7.6%, 9.91% and 12.7% for ZnO NFs. For the same concentrations, the increase in acid number is respectively 3.2%, 2.9%, 2.5% for FeO3 samples and 3.18%, 2.0%, 1.2% for ZnO samples. For the same concentrations, the fire point shows an increment of 4%, 3% and 2% for FeO3 samples and a regression of 8.75%, 6.88% and 5.63% for ZnO samples. As for the breakdown voltage, for the same concentrations we observe respectively an increment of 43%, 27%, 34% for the FeO3. The results show an improvement on partial discharge inception voltage with FeO3 of 24%, 8.13% and 15.21% respectively for the concentrations 0.10 wt%, 0.15 wt% and 0.20 wt%.
Optical and pharmacological manipulation of hypoglossal motor nucleus identifies differential effects of taltirelin on sleeping tonic motor activity and responsiveness
Authors: Aggarwal Jasmin , Ladha Raina , Liu Wen-Ying , Liu Hattie , Horner Richard L.
Published: July 2023

Pharyngeal muscle activity and responsiveness are key pathophysiological traits in human obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and strong contributors to improvements with pharmacotherapy. The thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) analog taltirelin is of high pre-clinical interest given its neuronal-stimulant properties, minimal endocrine activity, tongue muscle activation following microperfusion into the hypoglossal motor nucleus (HMN) or systemic delivery, and high TRH receptor expression at the HMN compared to rest of the brain. Here we test the hypothesis that taltirelin increases HMN activity and/or responsivity to excitatory stimuli applied across sleep–wake states in-vivo. To target hypoglossal motoneurons with simultaneous pharmacological and optical stimuli we used customized “opto-dialysis” probes and chronically implanted them in mice expressing a light sensitive cation channel exclusively on cholinergic neurons (ChAT–ChR2, n = 12) and wild-type mice lacking the opsin (n = 10). Both optical stimuli applied across a range of powers (P < 0.001) and microperfusion of taltirelin into the HMN (P < 0.020) increased tongue motor activity in sleeping ChAT–ChR2 mice. Notably, taltirelin increased tonic background tongue motor activity (P < 0.001) but not responsivity to excitatory optical stimuli across sleep–wake states (P > 0.098). This differential effect on tonic motor activity versus responsivity informs human studies of the potential beneficial effects of taltirelin on pharyngeal motor control and OSA pharmacotherapy.
Social support, oral health knowledge, attitudes, practice, self-efficacy and oral health-related quality of life in Chinese college students
Authors: Wang Ying , Zhu Jie , Xu Zeling , Dai Xinyi , Chen Keda , Wang Ying
Published: July 2023

Oral health is crucial for health-related quality of life. However, the research on the factors affecting oral health status is not comprehensive enough. This investigation aimed to evaluate the multifaceted determinants of college students’ oral health status and explore the impact of social support, oral health literacy, attitudes, behaviors, and self-efficacy on OHRQoL. By surveying 822 students from a university. Baseline data included sociodemographics (gender, age), social support (MSPSS scale), oral health self-efficacy (SESS scale), oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP questionnaire), and OHRQoL (OHIP-14 scale). Based on social cognitive theory, partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) were used to examine the relationship between the study variables. PLS-SEM results showed that knowledge, attitude, and practice predicted OHRQoL through self-efficacy. FsQCA results showed that the combination of different variables was sufficient to explain OHRQoL. The conclusion was that self-efficacy plays an important role and the combination of high-level knowledge, positive attitudes, and strong self-efficacy was important in improving OHRQoL. The results of this study provided a reference for the oral health strategy planning of college students in China.
Distinct decadal modulation of Atlantic-Niño influence on ENSO
Authors: Park Jae-Heung , Kug Jong-Seong , Yang Young-Min , Sung Mi-Kyung , Kim Sunyong , Kim Hyo-Jeong , Park Hyo-Jin , An Soon-Il
Published: July 2023

It is known that winter Atlantic-Niño events can induce the El Niño–Southern oscillation (ENSO) in the following winter with a lag of 1-year during one period. On the other hand, summer Atlantic-Niño events can lead to the ENSO in the subsequent winter with a half-year lag during another period. In this study, we investigate the distinct interdecadal modulation of the effect of the Atlantic-Niños on ENSO by analyzing observational reanalysis datasets. During the mid-twentieth century, the winter Atlantic-Niño exhibited increased intensity and extended westward due to warmer conditions in the tropical western Atlantic. As a result, convection occurred from the Amazon to the Atlantic, triggering an atmospheric teleconnection that led to trade wind discharging and equatorial Kelvin waves, ultimately contributing to the development of ENSO. In contrast, during late twentieth century, summer Atlantic-Niño events were closely linked to the South America low-level jet in boreal spring. This connection led to the formation of widespread and intense convection over the Amazon to the Atlantic region. Then, the Walker circulation was effectively modulated, subsequently triggering ENSO events. Further analysis revealed that the interdecadal modulation of the Atlantic–South America–Pacific mean state plays a crucial role in shaping the impact of Atlantic-Niños on ENSO by modifying not only the characteristics of the Atlantic-Niños but also ocean–atmospheric feedback process. Therefore, improving our understanding of the interdecadal modulation of the climatological mean state over the Pacific to Atlantic regions enables better anticipation of the interaction between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Combined influences of sources and atmospheric bleaching on light absorption of water-soluble brown carbon aerosols
Authors: Fang Wenzheng , Andersson August , Lee Meehye , Zheng Mei , Du Ke , Kim Sang-Woo , Holmstrand Henry , Gustafsson Örjan
Published: July 2023

Light-absorbing Brown Carbon (BrC) aerosols partially offset the overall climate-cooling of aerosols. However, the evolution of BrC light-absorption during atmospheric transport is poorly constrained. Here, we utilize optical properties, ageing-diagnostic δ13C-BrC and transport time to deduce that the mass absorption cross-section (MACWS-BrC) is decreasing by ~50% during long-range oversea transport, resulting in a first-order bleaching rate of 0.24 day‒1 during the 3-day transit from continental East Asia to a south-east Yellow Sea receptor. A modern 14C signal points to a strong inverse correlation between BrC light-absorption and age of the source material. Combining this with results for South Asia reveals a striking agreement between these two major-emission regions of rapid photobleaching of BrC with a higher intrinsic absorptivity for BrC stemming from biomass burning. The consistency of bleaching parameters constrained independently for the outflows of both East and South Asia indicates that the weakening of BrC light absorption, thus primarily related to photochemical processes rather than sources, is likely a ubiquitous phenomenon.
An iPSC-derived astrocyte model of fragile X syndrome exhibits dysregulated cholesterol homeostasis
Authors: Talvio Karo , Wagner Victoria A. , Minkeviciene Rimante , Kirkwood Jay S. , Kulinich Anna O. , Umemori Juzoh , Bhatia Anil , Hur Manhoi , Käkelä Reijo , Ethell Iryna M. , Castrén Maija L.
Published: July 2023

Cholesterol is an essential membrane structural component and steroid hormone precursor, and is involved in numerous signaling processes. Astrocytes regulate brain cholesterol homeostasis and they supply cholesterol to the needs of neurons. ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) is the main cholesterol efflux transporter in astrocytes. Here we show dysregulated cholesterol homeostasis in astrocytes generated from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from males with fragile X syndrome (FXS), which is the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability. ABCA1 levels are reduced in FXS human and mouse astrocytes when compared with controls. Accumulation of cholesterol associates with increased desmosterol and polyunsaturated phospholipids in the lipidome of FXS mouse astrocytes. Abnormal astrocytic responses to cytokine exposure together with altered anti-inflammatory and cytokine profiles of human FXS astrocyte secretome suggest contribution of inflammatory factors to altered cholesterol homeostasis. Our results demonstrate changes of astrocytic lipid metabolism, which can critically regulate membrane properties and affect cholesterol transport in FXS astrocytes, providing target for therapy in FXS.
The silkworm (Bombyx mori) gut microbiota is involved in metabolic detoxification by glucosylation of plant toxins
Authors: Yuan Shuangzhi , Sun Yong , Chang Wenqiang , Zhang Jiaozhen , Sang Jifa , Zhao Jiachun , Song Minghui , Qiao Yanan , Zhang Chunyang , Zhu Mingzhu , Tang Yajie , Lou Hongxiang
Published: July 2023

Herbivores have evolved the ability to detoxify feed components through different mechanisms. The oligophagous silkworm feeds on Cudrania tricuspidata leaves (CTLs) instead of mulberry leaves for the purpose of producing special, high-quality silk. However, CTL-fed silkworms are found to have smaller bodies, slower growth and lower silk production than those fed mulberry leaves. Here, we show that the high content of prenylated isoflavones (PIFs) that occurred in CTLs is converted into glycosylated derivatives (GPIFs) in silkworm faeces through the silkworm gut microbiota, and this biotransformation is the key process in PIFs detoxification because GPIFs are found to be much less toxic, as revealed both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, adding Bacillus subtilis as a probiotic to remodel the gut microbiota could beneficially promote silkworm growth and development. Consequently, this study provides meaningful guidance for silk production by improving the adaptability of CTL-fed silkworms.
Benzothiadiazole-based rotation and possible antipolar order in carboxylate-based metal-organic frameworks
Authors: Schnabel Jennifer , Schulz Arthur , Lunkenheimer Peter , Volkmer Dirk
Published: July 2023

By modifying organic ligands of metal-organic framework with dipolar units, they turn suitable for various applications, e.g., in the field of sensor systems or switching of gas permeation. Dipolar linkers in the organic ligand are capable to rotate in certain temperature and frequency ranges. The copper-bearing paddlewheel shaped metal-organic frameworks ZJNU-40 and JLU-Liu30 possess such a polarizable dipole moment due to their benzothiadiazole moiety in the organic ligands. Here, we investigate the molecular rotor behavior of benzothiadiazole units of the two carboxylate-based MOFs by dielectric spectroscopy and computational simulation. Our dielectric results provide clear evidence for significant reorientational relaxation dynamics of these rotors, revealing various characteristics of glasslike freezing upon cooling. The calculated rotational energy barriers are consistent with experimentally determined barriers for single-dipole dynamics. Moreover, for JLU-Liu30 we find hints at antipolar ordering below about 300 K.
Spin dynamics, loop formation and cooperative reversal in artificial quasicrystals with tailored exchange coupling
Authors: Bhat Vinayak Shantaram , Watanabe Sho , Kronast Florian , Baumgaertl Korbinian , Grundler Dirk
Published: July 2023

Aperiodicity and un-conventional rotational symmetries allow quasicrystalline structures to exhibit unusual physical and functional properties. In magnetism, artificial ferromagnetic quasicrystals exhibited knee anomalies suggesting reprogrammable magnetic properties via non-stochastic switching. However, the decisive roles of short-range exchange and long-range dipolar interactions have not yet been clarified for optimized reconfigurable functionality. We report broadband spin-wave spectroscopy and X-ray photoemission electron microscopy on different quasicrystal lattices consisting of ferromagnetic Ni81Fe19nanobars arranged on aperiodic Penrose and Ammann tilings with different exchange and dipolar interactions. We imaged the magnetic states of partially reversed quasicrystals and analyzed their configurations in terms of the charge model, geometrical frustration and the formation of flux-closure loops. Only the exchange-coupled lattices are found to show aperiodicity-specific collective phenomena and non-stochastic switching. Both, exchange and dipolarly coupled quasicrystals show magnonic excitations with narrow linewidths in minor loop measurements. Thereby reconfigurable functionalities in spintronics and magnonics become realistic.
Recycled carbonates elevate the electrical conductivity of deeply subducting eclogite in the Earth’s interior
Authors: Jing Chenxin , Hu Haiying , Dai Lidong , Sun Wenqing , Wang Mengqi , Hu Ziming
Published: July 2023

The elevated pressure and temperature conditions encountered by a subducted slab entering the deep Earth can substantially alter the chemical composition and physical properties of recycled carbonates. Carbonate-silicate reactions are believed to have a pivotal role in this process. Here we conduct high temperature and high pressure experiments on carbonated eclogite and measure the electrical conductivity in order to constrain the evolution of geophysical properties and chemical composition in the carbonate-bearing eclogitic slab. We find that the carbonate-silicate reaction elevates the conductivity of carbonated eclogite by cations (e.g., Ca, Mg, Fe) exchange between carbonates and silicate. We propose that carbonate-silicate cations exchange can alter the chemical composition of recycled carbonates, potentially impacting their stability and reducing the solidus temperature of carbonate-bearing systems. Combining thermodynamic calculations with the elevated conductivity in our experiments, we re-evaluate the contribution of recycled carbonates to the Earth mantle geophysical anomalies and obtain the potential carbonate capacity in the subducting slab.
ESIPT-induced spin–orbit coupling enhancement leads to tautomer fluorescence quenching of the 10-HHBF molecule
Authors: Zhao Xin , Yin Hang , Zhang Wentian , Guo Jie , Shi Ying
Published: July 2023

The ESIPT-induced SOC enhancement characteristic of 10-HHBF ensures the occurrence of an intersystem crossing process, which in turn quenches the tautomer fluorescence.
19F electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopy for distance measurements using trityl spin labels in DNA duplexes
Authors: Asanbaeva N. B. , Novopashina D. S. , Rogozhnikova O. Yu. , Tormyshev V. M. , Kehl A. , Sukhanov A. A. , Shernyukov A. V. , Genaev A. M. , Lomzov A. A. , Bennati M. , Meyer A. , Bagryanskaya E. G.
Published: July 2023

The combination of fluorine labeling and pulsed electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) is emerging as a powerful technique for obtaining structural information about proteins and nucleic acids.
Composite elastomers with on-demand convertible phase separations achieve large and healable electro-actuation
Authors: Tang Jiali , Chen Zheqi , Cai Yiting , Gao Yang , He Jin , Xiao Youhua , Mao Jie , Zhao Junjie , Gao Xiang , Li Tiefeng , Luo Yingwu
Published: July 2023

A small-molecule organic compound is introduced into an elastomer to form a composite with switchable phase separations. This endows the dielectric elastomer actuator made of this composite with boosted actuation performance and healing ability.
Regio- and diastereoselective synthesis of diverse spirocyclic indenes by cyclization with indene-dienes as two carbon building blocks
Authors: Deng Yi-Hang , Xu Wen-Li , Wang Lei , Tang Cheng-Yang , Fu Ji-Ya , Zhang Chuan-Bao
Published: July 2023

We report a base-promoted cyclization of indene-dienes toward diverse spirocyclic indene scaffolds including hexacyclic spiroindenes bearing benzo pyran motifs and pentacyclic spiroindenes containing oxindole units in high yields with excellent diastereoselectivities.
A bifunctional electrocatalyst for alkaline seawater splitting using ruthenium doped nickel molybdenum phosphide nanosheets
Authors: Sadhanala Hari Krishna , Gupta Akanksha , Gedanken Aharon
Published: July 2023

Electrolysis of sea water is regarded as the most appealing and promising approach for the generation of hydrogen green energy. Here, we present the synthesis of Ru22NiMoP2/NF by a hydrothermal technique which demonstrated excellent electrocatalytic activity in alkaline sea water.
Towards CRISP‐BC: 3TIC specification framework for Blockchain use‐cases
Authors: Jahanbin Pouyan , Sharma Ravi S. , Wingreen Stephen T. , Kshetri Nir , Choo Kim‐Kwang Raymond
Published: July 2023

The application of Blockchain and augmented technologies such as IoT, AI, and Big Data platforms present a feasible approach for resolving the implementation challenges of trusted, decentralized platforms. This article proposes a DevOps framework for the specification of Blockchain use‐cases that enables evaluation, replication, and benchmarking. Specifically, it could be applied to specify the requirements and design characteristics of Blockchain applications in terms of key attributes such as: (i) transparency; (ii) traceability; (iii) tamper‐resistance; (iv) immutability; and (v) compliance. The article first introduces the design characteristics of Blockchain as a Platform and then examines successful use‐cases for its implementation using the above attributes. It may be conjectured that the 3TIC framework would serve as the basis of a cross industry process for Blockchain. The intended contribution is that such a standard process will support industry‐academia collaboration in the development of Blockchain platforms and services of relevance and utility as it can be applied by firms to structure their requirements and design specifications.
Optimal fusion‐based localization method for tracking of smartphone user in tall complex buildings
Authors: Jamil Harun , Kim Do‐Hyeun
Published: July 2023

In the event of a fire breaking out or in other complicated situations, a mobile computing solution combining the Internet of Things and wearable devices can actually assist tracking solutions for rescuing and evacuating people in multistory structures. Thus, it is crucial to increase the positioning technology's accuracy. The sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) approach is used in various applications such as target tracking and intelligent surveillance, which rely on smartphone‐based inertial data sequences. However, the SMC method has intrinsic flaws, such as sample impoverishment and particle degeneracy. A novel SMC approach is presented, which is built on the weighted differential evolution (WDE) algorithm. Sequential Monte Carlo approaches start with random particle placements and arrives at the desired distribution with a slower variance reduction, like in a high‐dimensional space, such as a multistory structure. Weighted differential evolution is included before the resampling procedure to guarantee the appropriate variety of the particle set, prevent the usage of an inadequate number of valid samples, and preserve smartphone user position accuracy. The values of the smartphone‐based sensors and BLE‐beacons are set as input to the SMC, which aids in fast approximating the posterior distributions, to speed up the particle congregation process in the proposed SMC‐based WDE approach. Lastly, the robustness and efficacy of the suggested technique more accurately reflect the actual situation of smartphone users. According to simulation findings, the suggested approach provides improved location estimation with reduced localization error and quick convergence. The results confirm that the proposed optimal fusion‐based SMC‐WDE scheme performs 9.92% better in terms of MAPE, 15.24% for the case of MAE, and 0.031% when evaluating based on the R2 Score.
Backstepping control of three‐degree‐of‐freedom hybrid magnetic bearing based on non‐linear disturbance observer
Authors: Chengzi Liu , Yucheng Zhao , Yan Yang , Zeyuan Liu
Published: July 2023

A backstepping controller based on a non‐linear disturbance observer (NDOB) was created to enhance the dynamic performance and reliability of three‐degree‐of‐freedom hybrid magnetic bearings. After the structure of three‐degree‐of‐freedom hybrid magnetic bearings is introduced, the mathematical model is established, and the equation of the state is derived by the equivalent magnetic circuit technique. Based on the mathematical model, non‐linear disturbance observer (NDOB) is designed and is used to predict the system disturbance, and the backstepping control algorithm is compensated. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed controller, the backstepping controller, proportion integration differentiation controller, and backstepping controller based on a NDOB were compared by simulation and experiment. Results show that the backstepping controller based on a NDOB has better dynamic performance and robustness.
Flexible composite suppression method for ground arc in resonant grounding system
Authors: You Jianzhang , Guo Moufa , Zheng Zeyin , Liu Xinbin
Published: July 2023

A current‐voltage composite controller for an arc suppression inverter is designed. The current and voltage at the fault point are reduced by injecting current and regulating the neutral point voltage to completely eliminate the risk of fire and overvoltage caused by a single‐line‐to‐ground fault arc. A cascaded inverter is used, and the effects of the ground parameter measurement, line impedance voltage drop, harmonic current and arc suppression coil on the current control, voltage control and composite control methods are analysed and compared. Finally, software simulations and industrial prototype experiments show that the proposed composite control method is effective and less affected by ground parameter measurement and line impedance voltage drop and has better adaptability.
A classification algorithm based on improved meta learning and transfer learning for few‐shot medical images
Authors: Zhang Bingjie , Gao Baolu , Liang Siyuan , Li Xiaoyang , Wang Hao
Published: July 2023

At present, medical image classification algorithm plays an important role in clinical diagnosis. However, due to the scarcity of data labels, small sample size, uneven distribution, and poor domain generalization, many algorithms still have limitations. Therefore, a deep learning training network for disease classification and recognition of multimodal few‐shot medical images are proposed, trying to solve the above problems and limitations. The network is based on the idea of meta‐learning for training. Specifically, the technology of transfer learning and few‐shot learning are used. In the process of building and improving the network structure, the multi‐source domain generalization method, which performs well in the field of person re‐identification, is combined. Finally, the applicability and effectiveness of the model are verified by using Grad‐CAM tool. The experiments show that the accuracy of classification and recognition of the model is better than the advanced model in this field. The concerned areas of model classification are similar or the same as the manually labelled areas. It is of far‐reaching significance to improve the efficiency of future clinical auxiliary diagnosis and patient diversion, as well as to promote the development of the Wise Information Technology of Med in the future.
An electrostatic micromotor based on electrets
Authors: Chen Gangjin , Zhang Jianfeng , Fan Zhankui , Gao Xiaoli , Ye Yanming
Published: July 2023

The authors report a novel electret‐based miniature electrostatic motor with an electret film as the stator and a metal electrode as the rotor. A particular commutator is used to transform the polarity of the metal electrode. When the size of the electret‐based electrostatic motor (EEM) is 42 × 44 × 15 mm3, the maximum power consumption is only 5.4 mW. The rotation speed of the EEM increases with the increase of the supply voltage, and the maximum rotation speed can reach up to 2864 rpm. Powered by two nickel‐hydride batteries with a rated capacity of 1700 mAh, the EEM can drive a fan with a diameter of 40 mm to rotate continuously for 18 h. The EEM has the characteristics of low power consumption and convenient fabrication. Experimental results show that the EEM demonstrates high reliability and has potential applications in micro‐electromechanical systems.
Simulation-guided galaxy evolution inference: A case study with strong lensing galaxies
Authors: Filipp Andreas , Shu Yiping , Pakmor Rüdiger , Suyu Sherry H. , Huang Xiaosheng
Published: July 2023

Understanding the evolution of galaxies provides crucial insights into a broad range of aspects in astrophysics, including structure formation and growth, the nature of dark energy and dark matter, baryonic physics, and more. It is, however, infeasible to track the evolutionary processes of individual galaxies in real time given their long timescales. As a result, galaxy evolution analyses have been mostly based on ensembles of galaxies that are supposed to be from the same population according to usually basic and crude observational criteria. We propose a new strategy of evaluating the evolution of an individual galaxy by identifying its descendant galaxies as guided by cosmological simulations. As a proof of concept, we examined the evolution of the total mass distribution of a target strong lensing galaxy atz = 0.884 using the proposed strategy. We selected 158 galaxies from the TNG300 simulation that we identified as analogs of the target galaxy. We followed their descendants and found 11 observed strong lensing galaxies that match in stellar mass and size with the descendants at their redshifts. The observed and simulated results are discussed, although no conclusive assessment is made given the low statistical significance due to the small sample size. Nevertheless, the test confirms that our proposed strategy is already feasible with existing data and simulations. We expect it to play an even more important role in studying galaxy evolution as more strong lens systems and larger simulations become available with the advent of next-generation survey programs and cosmological simulations.
Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma Screening for Pregnant Individuals Who Are at High Risk for Preterm Birth
Authors: Kawakita Tetsuya , Waller Jerri , DeYoung Tracey , Nehme Lea , Collazo Madison C. , Barake Carole , Ethirajan Monica A. , Kanaan Camille M. , Abuhamad Alfred
Published: July 2023

Objective This study aimed to examine gestational age at delivery according to Ureaplasma/Mycoplasma cervical culture results and whether pregnant individuals received antibiotics.

Study Design A retrospective cohort study at a single academic institution where all pregnant individuals with risk factors for preterm birth including those with a history of preterm birth, recurrent pregnancy loss, or pregnancy requiring cervical cerclage were included. We plotted Kaplan–Meier curves to investigate the association between the gestational age at delivery and Ureaplasma culture results (negative; positive and treated; or positive but did not receive the treatment). A Cox proportional regression model was used to calculate hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), controlling for confounders. The main outcome was age at delivery. Analyses were repeated for Mycoplasma culture.

Results Of 607 individuals, 258 (42.5%) had a negative Ureaplasma culture, 308 (50.7%) had a positive Ureaplasma culture and received treatment, and 41 (6.8%) had a positive Ureaplasma culture and did not receive treatment. Compared with those who had a positive Ureaplasma culture but did not receive treatment, those who had a negative Ureaplasma culture did not have a decreased risk (HR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.74–1.44). Compared with those who had a positive Ureaplasma culture but did not receive treatment, those who had a positive Ureaplasma culture and received treatment did not have a decreased risk (HR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.66–1.27). The treatment failure rate of Ureaplasma after treatment was 78.6% (95% CI: 72.8–83.7%). Overall, the findings of Mycoplasma were similar.

Conclusion Routine ureaplasma/mycoplasma cervical culture is not recommended for pregnant individuals who are at high risk for preterm birth.

Key Points
Cold housing environments: defining the problem for an appropriate policy response
Authors: Barlow Cynthia Faye , Daniel Lyrian , Bentley Rebecca , Baker Emma
Published: July 2023

Researchers across disciplines are increasing attention to cold housing environments. Public health, environmental and social sciences, architecture, and engineering each define and measure cold housing environments differently. Lack of standardisation hinders our ability to combine evidence, determine prevalence, understand who is most at risk––and to formulate policy responses. We conducted a systematic, cross-disciplinary review of literature to document the measures used. We examined benefits and limitations of each approach and propose a conceptualisation of cold housing: where temperature is too low to support optimal health and wellbeing of inhabitants, measured using one or a combination of economic, ‘objective’, or subjective approaches. More accurate data on home temperatures for all population groups, combined with an understanding of factors leading to cold homes, will enable appropriate policy response to reduce adverse health effects and costs. Policies targeting better building standards and energy subsidies both improve temperature conditions in housing environments.
Neoliberal reform discourse in Egyptian higher education
Authors: Esmat Israa Medhat
Published: July 2023

The global neoliberal discourse on Higher Education (HE) reform has become dominant in both the developed and developing worlds. The paper tackles the Egyptian HE reforms that have been produced in line with the global neoliberal discourse through the World Bank’s (WB) funded reform projects. Through Foucauldian discourse and genealogical analysis, the study questioned, troubled, and de-naturalized the inevitability and persistence of the neoliberal discourse in Egyptian HE. Far from being deterministic and rational, the process of transfer of the global neoliberal discourse to Egyptian HE was embedded in the interaction of a number of discursive and structural selectivities as captured by the Strategic Relational Approach. On one hand, privatization, cost-sharing strategies, and quality assurance systems constituted the major policy reforms produced by the neoliberal discourse. On the other hand academic freedoms, university autonomy, and equitable access to HE have been discursively disallowed, de-problematized and excluded. The 25th of January revolution represented a discontinuity that threatened the collapse of the neoliberal discourse while the crushing of the revolution perpetuated and reinforced the neoliberal discourse reflecting a mutual relationship between neoliberal and authoritarian discourses and governmentalities.
Spatio-temporal changes in the causal interactions among Sustainable Development Goals in China
Authors: Cao Min , Chen Min , Zhang Junze , Pradhan Prajal , Guo Huadong , Fu Bojie , Li Yue , Bai Yuying , Chang Lijiao , Chen Yu , Sun Zhongchang , Xu Zhenci , Zhu Rui , Meadows Michael E. , Lü Guonian
Published: July 2023

Extensive efforts have been dedicated to deciphering the interactions associated with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, these developments are hampered by a lack of efficient strategies to avoid beneficial synergies being offset by harmful trade-offs. To fill these gaps, we used causal diagnosis and network analysis methods to construct 1302 directed networks of SDGs for 31 provinces in China from 2000 to 2020. We observed a dramatic offsetting effect of SDG synergies and trade-offs in China from 2000 to 2020, with approximately 27% of trade-off indicator pairs turning into synergies and about 25% of the synergy indicator pairs turning into trade-offs. However, our findings suggested that prioritising the progress of high-frequency indicators in virtuous cycles could multiply the positive systemic effects of the SDGs. Moreover, controlling the transition from passive to active in the trade-off network of SDGs remains a challenge in advancing the SDGs holistically.
Maturation of active zone assembly by Drosophila Bruchpilot
Authors: Fouquet Wernher , Owald David , Wichmann Carolin , Mertel Sara , Depner Harald , Dyba Marcus , Hallermann Stefan , Kittel Robert J. , Eimer Stefan , Sigrist Stephan J.
Published: July 2023

Synaptic vesicles fuse at active zone (AZ) membranes where Ca2+ channels are clustered and that are typically decorated by electron-dense projections. Recently, mutants of the Drosophila melanogaster ERC/CAST family protein Bruchpilot (BRP) were shown to lack dense projections (T-bars) and to suffer from Ca2+ channel–clustering defects. In this study, we used high resolution light microscopy, electron microscopy, and intravital imaging to analyze the function of BRP in AZ assembly. Consistent with truncated BRP variants forming shortened T-bars, we identify BRP as a direct T-bar component at the AZ center with its N terminus closer to the AZ membrane than its C terminus. In contrast, Drosophila Liprin-α, another AZ-organizing protein, precedes BRP during the assembly of newly forming AZs by several hours and surrounds the AZ center in few discrete punctae. BRP seems responsible for effectively clustering Ca2+ channels beneath the T-bar density late in a protracted AZ formation process, potentially through a direct molecular interaction with intracellular Ca2+ channel domains.
An outer arm dynein light chain acts in a conformational switch for flagellar motility
Authors: Patel-King Ramila S. , King Stephen M.
Published: July 2023

A system distinct from the central pair–radial spoke complex was proposed to control outer arm dynein function in response to alterations in the mechanical state of the flagellum. In this study, we examine the role of a Chlamydomonas reinhardtii outer arm dynein light chain that associates with the motor domain of the γ heavy chain (HC). We demonstrate that expression of mutant forms of LC1 yield dominant-negative effects on swimming velocity, as the flagella continually beat out of phase and stall near or at the power/recovery stroke switchpoint. Furthermore, we observed that LC1 interacts directly with tubulin in a nucleotide-independent manner and tethers this motor unit to the A-tubule of the outer doublet microtubules within the axoneme. Therefore, this dynein HC is attached to the same microtubule by two sites: via both the N-terminal region and the motor domain. We propose that this γ HC–LC1–microtubule ternary complex functions as a conformational switch to control outer arm activity.
Long-term ecological research in freshwaters enabled by regional biodiversity collections, stable isotope analysis, and environmental informatics
Authors: Turner Thomas F , Bart Jr Henry L , McCormick Frank , Besser Alexi C , Bowes Rachel E , Capps Krista A , DeArmon Emily S , Dillman Casey B , Driscoll Katelyn P , Dugger Aubrey , Hamilton Gregor L , Harris Phillip M , Hendrickson Dean A , Hoffman Joel , Knouft Jason H , Lepak Ryan F , López-Fernández Hernán , Montaña Carmen G , Newsome Seth D , Pease Allison A , Smith W Leo , Taylor Christopher A , Welicky Rachel L
Published: July 2023

Biodiversity collections are experiencing a renaissance fueled by the intersection of informatics, emerging technologies, and the extended use and interpretation of specimens and archived databases. In this article, we explore the potential for transformative research in ecology integrating biodiversity collections, stable isotope analysis (SIA), and environmental informatics. Like genomic DNA, SIA provides a common currency interpreted in the context of biogeochemical principles. Integration of SIA data across collections allows for evaluation of long-term ecological change at local to continental scales. Challenges including the analysis of sparse samples, a lack of information about baseline isotopic composition, and the effects of preservation remain, but none of these challenges is insurmountable. The proposed research framework interfaces with existing databases and observatories to provide benchmarks for retrospective studies and ecological forecasting. Collections and SIA add historical context to fundamental questions in freshwater ecological research, reference points for ecosystem monitoring, and a means of quantitative assessment for ecosystem restoration.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is oxygen-deprived during infection in cystic fibrosis lungs, reducing the effectiveness of antibiotics
Authors: Martin Lois W , Gray Andrew R , Brockway Ben , Lamont Iain L
Published: July 2023

Pseudomonas aeruginosa infects the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis. Sputum expectorated from the lungs of patients contains low levels of oxygen, indicating that P. aeruginosa may be oxygen-deprived during infection. During in vitro growth under oxygen-limiting conditions, a P. aeruginosa reference strain increases expression of a cytochrome oxidase with a high affinity for oxygen, and of nitrate and nitrite reductases that enable it to use nitrate instead of oxygen during respiration. Here, we quantified transcription of the genes encoding these three enzymes in sputum samples from 18 infected patients, and in bacteria isolated from the sputum samples and grown in aerobic and anaerobic culture. In culture, expression of all three genes was increased by averages of 20- to 500-fold in anaerobically grown bacteria compared with those grown aerobically, although expression levels varied greatly between isolates. Expression of the same genes in sputum was similar to that of the corresponding bacteria in anaerobic culture. The isolated bacteria were less susceptible to tobramycin and ciprofloxacin, two widely used anti-pseudomonal antibiotics, when grown anaerobically than when grown aerobically. Our findings show that P. aeruginosa experiences oxygen starvation during infection in cystic fibrosis, reducing the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment.
Experimental Acquisition, Maintenance, and Transmission of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus by the Common Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius
Authors: Herrera Andrea L , Chaussee Michael S , Pietri Jose E
Published: July 2023

Here, we fed bed bugs through a membrane contaminated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at a concentration naturally present on human skin. We then determined the amount of viable MRSA present on their surface and internally over a period of 7 days. We also determined whether bed bugs that fed through the contaminated membrane could transmit MRSA to an uncontaminated membrane when taking a second blood meal 7 days later. Bed bugs acquired MRSA both externally on the cuticle surface as well as internally when feeding. MRSA was found to persist for 7 days both externally and internally in some bed bugs. Furthermore, MRSA replicated internally but not externally. Most importantly, bed bugs were able to transmit MRSA to an uncontaminated membrane feeder in 2 of 3 trials. These findings provide the first experimental support for the hypothesis that bed bugs may contribute to the transmission of MRSA in some settings.
The surgical destabilization of the abductor muscle leads to development of instability-associated hip osteoarthritis in mice
Authors: Geary Michael B , Orner Caitlin A , Shammas Helen , Reuter John M , Loiselle Alayna E , Giordano Brian D , Wu Chia-Lung
Published: July 2023

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip is a common and debilitating painful joint disease. However, there is paucity of surgically induced hip OA models in small animals that allow scientists to study the onset and progression of the disease. A growing body of evidence indicates a positive association between periarticular myotendinous pathology and the development of hip OA. Thus, in the current study, we aimed to establish a novel mouse instability–associated hip OA model via selective injury of the abductor complex around the hip joint. C57BL6/J mice were randomized to sham surgery or abductor injury, in which the myotendinous insertion at the third trochanter and greater trochanter were surgically detached. Mice were allowed free active movement until they were sacrificed at either 3 weeks or 20 weeks post-injury. Histologic analyses and immunohistochemical staining of the femoral head articular cartilage were performed, along with microCT (µCT) analysis to assess subchondral bone remodeling. We observed that mice receiving abductor injury exhibited significantly increased instability-associated OA severity with loss of proteoglycan and type II collagen staining compared to sham control mice at 20 weeks post-surgery, while comparable matrix metalloproteinase 13 expression was observed between injury and sham groups. No significant differences in subchondral bone remodeling were found after 3 or 20 weeks following injury. Our study further supports the link between abductor dysfunction and the development of instability-associated hip OA. Importantly, this novel surgically induced hip OA mouse model may provide a valuable tool for future investigations into the pathogenesis and treatment of hip OA.
Caregiver Psychological Burden in Pediatric Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Associations with Caregiver Sociodemographic and Biopsychosocial Variables
Authors: Eichholz Angelika , Dudeney Joanne , Jaaniste Tiina
Published: July 2023

Objective

To investigate, via systematic review and meta-analysis, caregiver sociodemographic and biopsychosocial factors associated with anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and stress of caregivers in the pediatric chronic pain context.

Methods

EMBASE, Medline, and PsycINFO databases were searched from their inception to the search date (April 4, 2022). Studies were included if they examined caregivers of youth with chronic pain, were published in a peer-reviewed journal and assessed at least one quantitative association between relevant variables. Qualitative and intervention studies were excluded. A total of 3,052 articles were screened. Risk of bias was assessed using the JBI Checklist for analytical cross-sectional studies. Meta-analyses were conducted using robust variance estimation for associations reported in at least three studies, as well as a narrative synthesis of the evidence.

Results

Fourteen studies assessing 1,908 caregivers were included in this review. Meta-analytic results showed a positive pooled correlation coefficient between caregiver catastrophizing about their child’s pain and caregiver anxiety (r = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.35–0.65; p<.01) and depression (r = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.29–0.58; p < .01). Self-blame and helplessness were related to increased caregiver anxiety (r = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.40–0.67; p<.01), but not depression. No significant relationship was found for pain-promoting behavior and anxiety or depression. The qualitative synthesis of all other eligible studies showed associations between relevant psychological burden variables and various caregiver factors, which were mainly psychosocial.

Conclusion

Results should be interpreted with caution due to the small number of studies. Further research is needed to get a better understanding of these relationships and to examine the causal direction of effects.
Are pelvic pain and increased pelvic floor muscle tone associated in women with persistent noncancer pelvic pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Kadah Shaza , Soh Sze-Ee , Morin Melanie , Schneider Michal , Ang W Catarina , McPhate Lucy , Frawley Helena
Published: July 2023

Background

The association between pelvic pain and pelvic floor muscle (PFM) tone in women with persistent noncancer pelvic pain (PNCPP) is unclear.

Aim

To synthesize the evidence of the association between pelvic pain and PFM tone in women with PNCPP.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted via MEDLINE, Emcare, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Scopus to identify relevant studies. Studies were eligible if pelvic pain and PFM tone outcome measures were reported among women aged >18 years. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-sectional Studies was used to assess study quality. Studies were pooled by assessment of PFM tone via a random effects model. Associations between the presence of pelvic pain and PFM tone were assessed with odds ratio (OR), while linear associations were assessed with Pearson or Spearman correlation.

Outcomes

Pelvic pain measures (intensity, threshold, and frequency) and resting PFM tone in women with PNCPP, as evaluated by any clinical assessment method or tool.

Results

Twenty-four studies were included in this review. The presence of pelvic pain was significantly associated with increased PFM tone as assessed by digital palpation (OR, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.66-4.89). Pelvic pain intensity was inversely but weakly associated with PFM flexibility when evaluated through dynamometry (r = −0.29; 95% CI, –0.42 to −0.17). However, no significant associations were found between pelvic pain and PFM tone when measured with other objective assessment methods.

Clinical Implications

Pelvic pain and increased PFM tone may not be directly associated; alternatively, a nonlinear association may exist. A range of biopsychosocial factors may mediate or moderate the association, and clinicians may need to consider these factors when assessing women with PNCPP.

Strengths and Limitations

This review was reported according to the PRISMA guidelines. All possible findings from relevant theses and conference abstracts were considered in our search. However, nonlinear associations between pelvic pain and increased PFM tone were not assessed as part of this review.

Conclusion

Pelvic pain may be linearly associated with increased PFM tone and decreased PFM flexibility when measured with digital palpation or dynamometry; however, this association was not observed when other aspects of PFM tone were assessed through objective methods. Future studies are required using robust assessment methods to measure PFM tone and analyses that account for other biopsychosocial factors that may influence the association.
Post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome after intercontinental travel: a prospective multicentre study
Authors: Chan Jiyang , van Best Niels , Ward Markia , Arcilla Maris S , van Hattem Jarne M , Melles Damian C , de Jong Menno D , Schultsz Constance , van Genderen Perry J J , Penders John
Published: July 2023

By longitudinally following a large cohort of intercontinental travellers, this study highlights the importance of considering multiple risk factors to comprehend post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS). Stomach cramps, antibiotic use and nausea during travel were amongst the variables that predicted PI-IBS development following an episode of traveller’s diarrhoea.