bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biotic and abiotic drivers of harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) fine‐scale densities in the Salish Sea
Authors: Brusa Jamie L. , Pearson Scott F. , Raphael Martin G. , Gardner Beth
Published: July 2024

Understanding relationships between environmental characteristics and variation in species occurrence and density can provide information for managing human activities, protected species, and species of commercial importance in a dynamic system. To identify environmental drivers associated with variation in harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) densities in the Salish Sea, Washington, we analyzed 20 years of boat‐based survey data and environmental covariates using a hierarchical distance sampling model. We included spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal environmental covariates in our model and produced fine‐scale predictive maps displaying in‐water estimated densities from our model results. We found that spatial covariates were the strongest predictors for harbor seal densities in the Salish Sea. Harbor seals were more abundant closer to major river mouths, near shore, in shallower waters, and in areas with more haul‐out sites. Additionally, harbor seal density varied with shoreline type. Changes in predicted harbor seal spatial use of the Salish Sea varied but with little difference between breeding/molting and nonbreeding/nonmolting seasons. Our results revealed spatiotemporal variation in harbor seal fine‐scale density in the Salish Sea, which are particularly important for conservation planning, as spatiotemporal variation in harbor seal density can exert heterogenous top‐down effects on prey species populations, some of which are threatened.
Disrupting the epistemic arrangements of nursing education canon: Reflections about a prelicensure Community Engagement series
Authors: Valderama‐Wallace Claire
Published: July 2024

Nursing education, as with professionalization projects, is fraught with epistemicide, false separations, and a focus on expertise over relations and accountability. This is a critical reflection of the first 5 years of a four‐semester prelicensure Community Engagement course series. As the course lead, I have consistently initiated adjustments, based on experiences teaching multiple sections and synthesizing comments and feedback from students and faculty, with an eye toward longstanding and pressing concerns in the world around us. Two broad epistemic arrangements emerge from this critical excavation: (1) naturalized hierarchy, false separations, and appraisals of relevance and (2) relationality and reflection as unsettling. There is a need for sustained collective examination and shift in how the nursing education and healthcare industries curate the meanings and practice of “community,” “health,” and “nursing,” peering out from the regulatory oversight of neoliberal forces. How might we situate student progression, program implementation, institutional contracts, and curricular standards within the contexts of nursing programs' responsibilities to local communities in light of unfolding events locally and globally and their historical antecedents? How are we all, as faculty, disrupting siloes, false separations, and the contradictions of professionalism and the biomedical model to intentionally advance health equity? May we continue to illuminate the presence of community as being everywhere, not merely in juxtaposition to acute care. May we unsettle the prevailing theorization and practices of community throughout nursing education and commit to imagining and practicing relational praxis.
Avoiding the use of long‐term parenteral support in patients without intestinal failure: A position paper from the European Society of Clinical Nutrition & Metabolism, the European Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility and the Rome Foundation for Disorders of Gut–Brain Interaction
Authors: Lal S. , Paine P. , Tack J. , Aziz Q. , Barazzoni R. , Cuerda C. , Jeppesen P. , Joly F. , Lamprecht G. , Mundi M. , Schneider S. , Szczepanek K. , Van Gossum A. , Wanten G. , Vanuytsel T. , Pironi L.
Published: July 2024

The role of long‐term parenteral support in patients with underlying benign conditions who do not have intestinal failure (IF) is contentious, not least since there are clear benefits in utilising the oral or enteral route for nutritional support. Furthermore, the risks of long‐term home parenteral nutrition (HPN) are significant, with significant impacts on morbidity and mortality. There has, however, been a recent upsurge of the use of HPN in patients with conditions such as gastro‐intestinal neuromuscular disorders, opioid bowel dysfunction, disorders of gut–brain interaction and possibly eating disorders, who do not have IF. As a result, the European Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN), the European Society of Neuro‐gastroenterology and Motility (ESNM) and the Rome Foundation for Disorders of Gut Brain Interaction felt that a position statement is required to clarify – and hopefully reduce the potential for harm associated with – the use of long‐term parenteral support in patients without IF. Consensus opinion is that HPN should not be prescribed for patients without IF, where the oral and/or enteral route can be utilised. On the rare occasions that PN commencement is required to treat life‐threatening malnutrition in conditions such as those listed above, it should only be prescribed for a time‐limited period to achieve nutritional safety, while the wider multi‐disciplinary team focus on more appropriate biopsychosocial holistic and rehabilitative approaches to manage the patient's primary underlying condition.
Maize zinc uptake is influenced by arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis under various soil phosphorus availabilities
Authors: Yu Baogang , Zhou Chengxiang , Wang Zhonghua , Bucher Marcel , Schaaf Gabriel , Sawers Ruairidh J. H. , Chen Xinping , Hochholdinger Frank , Zou Chunqin , Yu Peng
Published: July 2024

The antagonistic interplay between phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) in plants is well established. However, the molecular mechanisms mediating those interactions as influenced by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis remain unclear.

We investigated Zn concentrations, root AM symbiosis, and transcriptome profiles of maize roots grown under field conditions upon different P levels. We also validated genotype‐dependent P–Zn uptake in selected genotypes from a MAGIC population and conducted mycorrhizal inoculation experiments using mycorrhizal‐defective mutant pht1;6 to elucidate the significance of AM symbiosis in P–Zn antagonism. Finally, we assessed how P supply affects Zn transporters and Zn uptake in extraradical hyphae within a three‐compartment system.

Elevated P levels led to a significant reduction in maize Zn concentration across the population, correlating with a marked decline in AM symbiosis, thus elucidating the P–Zn antagonism. We also identified ZmPht1;6 is crucial for AM symbiosis and confirmed that P–Zn antagonistic uptake is dependent on AM symbiosis. Moreover, we found that high P suppressed the expression of the fungal RiZRT1 and RiZnT1 genes, potentially impacting hyphal Zn uptake.

We conclude that high P exerts systemic regulation over root and AM hyphae‐mediated Zn uptake in maize. These findings hold implications for breeding Zn deficiency‐tolerant maize varieties.
Cross‐national governmental treatment toward atheists since 1816
Authors: Huft Justin , Fields Ben
Published: July 2024

As the atheist population grows globally, understanding how governments treat the growing population is vital. Two theories, group threat theory (GTT) and world society theory (WST), offer differing predictions. GTT suggests increasing atheists may face unfavorable treatment because religious groups perceive them as a threat. Conversely, WST proposes that a more interconnected world culture advances secularism, which promotes positive treatment for atheists. This study explores the interplay between these theories and sheds light on how governments treat atheists across countries. Utilizing a comprehensive panel dataset spanning nearly 200 years, we investigate governmental treatment toward atheists, analyzing data from diverse countries and tracking changes over time. Our results reveal that as the proportion of atheists increases, their treatment by governments becomes more favorable, challenging the tenets of GTT. We also find that embeddedness in political or economic networks is related to more favorable treatment of atheists.
A spatial model for the representation of emotional landscapes
Authors: Anderson Christopher J. , Giordano Alberto
Published: July 2024

This article proposes a cartographic solution to represent the emotional landscapes of evasion for a Holocaust survivor, specifically his perceptions of safety or danger during his escape. The victim's emotional landscapes are spatially interpolated using techniques for vectors of both travel direction and magnitude (of perceptions of safety or danger). The implications for the spatial representation of emotions are that emotional landscapes might be better understood by going through an interpolation process, as the statistical analysis reveals spatial trends and autocorrelation. This may help in understanding how the abstract notion of space and the human valence of place vary in relation to each other (or not), and whether and how that variation differs based on distance and direction.
Mapping of specialized metabolite terms onto a plant phylogeny using text mining and large language models
Authors: Busta Lucas , Hall Drew , Johnson Braidon , Schaut Madelyn , Hanson Caroline M. , Gupta Anika , Gundrum Megan , Wang Yuer , A. Maeda Hiroshi
Published: July 2024

Plants produce a staggering array of chemicals that are the basis for organismal function and important human nutrients and medicines. However, it is poorly defined how these compounds evolved and are distributed across the plant kingdom, hindering a systematic view and understanding of plant chemical diversity. Recent advances in plant genome/transcriptome sequencing have provided a well‐defined molecular phylogeny of plants, on which the presence of diverse natural products can be mapped to systematically determine their phylogenetic distribution. Here, we built a proof‐of‐concept workflow where previously reported diverse tyrosine‐derived plant natural products were mapped onto the plant tree of life. Plant chemical‐species associations were mined from literature, filtered, evaluated through manual inspection of over 2500 scientific articles, and mapped onto the plant phylogeny. The resulting “phylochemical” map confirmed several highly lineage‐specific compound class distributions, such as betalain pigments and Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. The map also highlighted several lineages enriched in dopamine‐derived compounds, including the orders Caryophyllales, Liliales, and Fabales. Additionally, the application of large language models, using our manually curated data as a ground truth set, showed that post‐mining processing can largely be automated with a low false‐positive rate, critical for generating a reliable phylochemical map. Although a high false‐negative rate remains a challenge, our study demonstrates that combining text mining with language model‐based processing can generate broader phylochemical maps, which will serve as a valuable community resource to uncover key evolutionary events that underlie plant chemical diversity and enable system‐level views of nature's millions of years of chemical experimentation.
Advancements in machine learning modelling for energy and emissions optimization in wastewater treatment plants: A systematic review
Authors: Abunama Taher , Dellieu Antoine , Nonet Stéphane
Published: July 2024

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are high‐energy consumers and major Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emitters. This review offers a comprehensive global overview of the current utilization of machine learning (ML) to optimize energy usage and reduce emissions in WWTPs. It compiles and analyses findings from over a hundred studies primarily conducted within the last decade. These studies are organized into five primary areas: energy consumption (EC), aeration energy (AE), pumping energy (PE), sludge treatment energy (STE) and greenhouse gas (GHG). Additionally, they are further categorized based on learning type, the scale of application, geographic location, year, performance metrics, software, etc. ANNs emerged as the most prevalent, closely trailed by FL and RF. While GA and PSO are the predominant metaheuristic approaches. Despite increasing complexity, researchers are inclined towards employing hybrid models to enhance performance. Reported reductions in energy consumption or GHG emissions spanned various ranges, falling within the 0–10%, 10–20% and >20% brackets.
Autonomous hybrid optimization of a SiO2 plasma etching mechanism
Authors: Krüger Florian , Zhang Du , Luan Pingshan , Park Minjoon , Metz Andrew , Kushner Mark J.
Published: July 2024

Computational modeling of plasma etching processes at the feature scale relevant to the fabrication of nanometer semiconductor devices is critically dependent on the reaction mechanism representing the physical processes occurring between plasma produced reactant fluxes and the surface, reaction probabilities, yields, rate coefficients, and threshold energies that characterize these processes. The increasing complexity of the structures being fabricated, new materials, and novel gas mixtures increase the complexity of the reaction mechanism used in feature scale models and increase the difficulty in developing the fundamental data required for the mechanism. This challenge is further exacerbated by the fact that acquiring these fundamental data through more complex computational models or experiments is often limited by cost, technical complexity, or inadequate models. In this paper, we discuss a method to automate the selection of fundamental data in a reduced reaction mechanism for feature scale plasma etching of SiO2 using a fluorocarbon gas mixture by matching predictions of etch profiles to experimental data using a gradient descent (GD)/Nelder–Mead (NM) method hybrid optimization scheme. These methods produce a reaction mechanism that replicates the experimental training data as well as experimental data using related but different etch processes.
Eigenvalues of the noise covariance matrix in ocean waveguides
Authors: Li Jie , Gerstoft Peter , Fan Jun
Published: July 2024

The eigenvalue (EV) spectra of the theoretical noise covariance matrix (CM) and observed sample CM provide information about the environment, source, and noise generation. This paper investigates these spectra for vertical line arrays (VLAs) and horizontal line arrays (HLAs) in deep and shallow water numerically. Empirically, the spectra are related to the width of the conventional beamforming output in angle space. In deep water, the HLA noise CM tends to be isotropic regardless of the sound speed profile. Thus, the EV spectrum approaches a step function. In contrast, the VLA noise CM is non-isotropic, and the EVs of the CM jump in two steps. The EVs before the first jump are due to sea surface noise, while those between the first and second jump are due to bottom-reflected noise. In shallow water, the VLA noise CM is affected by the environment (sound speed profile and seabed density, sound speed, attenuation, and layers) and array depth, the EVs have a more complicated structure. For Noise09 VLA experimental data, the noise sample CM EVs match the waveguide noise model better than the three-dimensional isotropic noise model.
A survey of patient practices regarding leftover antibiotics reveals a potential source of antibiotic overuse
Authors: Shah Jesal , Trautner Barbara W. , Olmeda Kiara , Laytner Lindsey A. , Faustinella Fabrizia , Paasche-Orlow Michael K. , Grigoryan Larissa
Published: July 2024

Taking leftover prescribed antibiotics without consulting a healthcare professional is problematic for the efficacy, safety, and antibiotic stewardship. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of adult patients in English and Spanish between January 2020 and June 2021 in six safety-net primary care clinics and two private emergency departments. We assessed the reasons for stopping prescribed antibiotics early and what was done with the leftover antibiotics. Additionally, we determined 1) prior leftover antibiotic use, 2) intention for future use of leftover antibiotics, and 3) sociodemographic factors. Of 564 survey respondents (median age of 51), 45% (251/564) reported a history of stopping antibiotics early, with 171/409 (42%) from safety net and 80/155 (52%) from the private clinics. The most common reason for stopping prescribed antibiotics early was “because you felt better” (194/251, 77%). Among survey participants, prior use of leftover antibiotics was reported by 149/564 (26%) and intention for future use of leftover antibiotics was reported by 284/564 (51%). In addition, higher education was associated with a higher likelihood of prior leftover use. Intention for future use of leftover antibiotics was more likely for those with transportation or language barriers to medical care and less likely for respondents with private insurance. Stopping prescribed antibiotics early was mostly ascribed to feeling better, and saving remaining antibiotics for future use was commonly reported. To curb nonprescription antibiotic use, all facets of the leftover antibiotic use continuum, from overprescribing to hoarding, need to be addressed.
A deep cut into early cryptococcal pathogenesis
Authors: Davis J. Muse
Published: July 2024

Dissemination from one organ system to another is common to many pathogens and often the key process separating simple illness from fatal infection. The pathogenic
Cryptococcus
species offer a prime example. Cryptococcal infection is thought to begin in the lungs, as a mild or asymptomatic pneumonia. However, bloodborne dissemination from the lungs to the brain is responsible for the most devastating forms of infection. As with other disseminating infections, the transition likely depends on rare but crucial events, such as the crossing of a tissue barrier. By their nature, these events are difficult to study. Francis et al. (mBio 15:e03078-23, 2024,
https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.03078-23
) have addressed this difficulty by developing a powerful imaging pipeline to scan through unprecedented volumes of tissue from mice infected with
Cryptococcus
at multiple stages of infection. Their observations challenge some of our basic assumptions about cryptococcal pathogenesis, including when and how the organism reaches the bloodstream and the central nervous system.
Proactive advance care planning conversations in general practice: a quality improvement project
Authors: Winnifrith Tabitha , Millington-Sanders Catherine , Husbands Emma , Haros Jane , Ballinger Helen
Published: July 2024

Advance care planning (ACP) is a process of discussion, reflection and communication, enabling planning for future medical treatment. Despite evidence of benefits of ACP to patients, families and the healthcare system, many die without an opportunity for such conversations, particularly those living with progressive non-malignant conditions. The Royal College of General Practitioners and Marie Curie Daffodil Standards launched in 2020 provide primary care with a structure for improving end-of-life care, including delivery of ACP. Proactive identification of patients is integral to the approach.

We report on a quality improvement project which aimed to assess the take-up rate and acceptability in general practice of a timely and personalised ACP conversation using a ‘What matters to you’ (WMTY) framework, and to ensure that different diagnostic and demographic groups were included.

Patients without previous ACP and potentially in the last year of life were offered an ACP conversation; a survey sought feedback.

81% accepted the offer and in most cases, future care guidance was documented using the recognised format in Gloucestershire for recording ACP conversations, the Recommended Summary for Emergency Care and Treatment (ReSPECT) plan. Clinician and patient satisfaction was high.

We concluded that an ACP discussion using a ‘WMTY’ format was highly acceptable to most. With recognised enablers in place and known barriers minimised, valuable personalised conversations occurred. Reframing the conversation to focus on how someone wants to live, while including their priorities for death, could alter how such conversations are perceived by clinicians and the public. It could remove negative associations (such as linking these conversations with an imminent death), which may increase motivation for all to initiate discussions.

ACP conversations are evidenced best practice and could become routine in general practice with adjustments to practice processes and clinician education; the Daffodil Standards facilitate continued quality improvement.
How can interventions more directly address drivers of unprofessional behaviour between healthcare staff?
Authors: Aunger Justin A , Abrams Ruth , Mannion Russell , Westbrook Johanna I , Jones Aled , Wright Judy M , Pearson Mark , Maben Jill
Published: July 2024

Unprofessional behaviours (UBs) between healthcare staff are widespread and have negative impacts on patient safety, staff well-being and organisational efficiency. However, knowledge of how to address UBs is lacking. Our recent realist review analysed 148 sources including 42 reports of interventions drawing on different behaviour change strategies and found that interventions insufficiently explain their rationale for using particular strategies. We also explored the drivers of UBs and how these may interact. In our analysis, we elucidated both common mechanisms underlying both how drivers increase UB and how strategies address UB, enabling the mapping of strategies against drivers they address. For example, social norm-setting strategies work by fostering a more professional social norm, which can help tackle the driver 'reduced social cohesion'. Our novel programme theory, presented here, provides an increased understanding of what strategies might be effective to adddress specific drivers of UB. This can inform logic model design for those seeking to develop interventions addressing UB in healthcare settings.
Themes associated with uncollected paediatric prescriptions at a large tertiary children’s hospital: a retrospective, observational study
Authors: Williams Chloe Elizabeth Charlotte , Bracken Louise , Gill Andrea , Oni Louise
Published: July 2024

Objective

This study aimed to assess the number of prescriptions that were uncollected by caregivers to identify any predisposing systemic themes that may act as barriers to children receiving medications.

Study design and setting

Data were retrospectively collected on uncollected prescriptions at a single, tertiary paediatric centre over a 2-month period. This included type and classification of the drug, prescriber specialty, the timing of prescription and the child’s registered postcode. Key themes were identified.

Results

A total of 124 uncollected prescriptions involving 94 patients were included. 103 (83%) of these were clinic prescriptions, and azathioprine was the most frequently uncollected prescription (n=6, 5%). The uncollected prescriptions most commonly fell under the ‘gastrointestinal system’ (n=26, 21%) and ‘skin’ (n=24, 19%) categories, and similarly, 24 (19%) were prescribed by the gastroenterology department and 18 (15%) by dermatology. The mean distance from the child’s registered postcode was 8.5±11.8 miles (range 0.5–73.4) with a considerable number of children having a registered postcode greater than 10 miles from the hospital (n=24, 27%). Many children lived in areas corresponding to the lowest decile of the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) (n=38, 42%).

Conclusion

Urgent interventions and further prospective studies are needed to minimise the barriers that caregivers face in collecting their child’s prescription.
Changes in all-cause and cause-specific mortality by occupational skill during COVID-19 epidemic in Spain
Authors: González-Beltrán Damián , Donat Marta , Politi Julieta , Ronda Elena , Barrio Gregorio , Belza María José , Regidor Enrique
Published: July 2024

Background

There is little information on the differential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality by occupation. The objective was to examine changes in mortality during the COVID-19 period compared with the prepandemic period in different occupational groups in Spain.

Methods

Average mortality in the entire period 2020–2021, and each of its semesters, was compared, respectively, with the average mortality in the entire period 2017–2019, and the corresponding semester (first or second) of this last period, across occupational skill levels. For this, age-standardised death rates and age-adjusted mortality rate ratios (MRRs) obtained through Poisson regression were used. Data were obtained from the National Institute of Statistics and the Labour Force Survey.

Results

The excess all-cause mortality during the 2020–2021 pandemic period by the MRR was higher in low-skilled (1.18, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.20) and medium-skilled workers (1.14; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.15) than high-skilled workers (1.04; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.05). However, the greatest excess mortality was observed in low-skilled workers in 2020 and in medium-skilled workers in 2021. Focusing on causes of death other than COVID-19, low-skilled workers showed the highest MRR from cardiovascular diseases (1.31; 95% CI 1.26 to 1.36) and high-skilled workers the lowest (1.02; 95% CI 0.98 to 1.02). However, this pattern was reversed for mortality from external causes, with low-skilled workers showing the lowest MRR (1.04; 95% CI 0.97 to 1.09) and high-skilled workers the highest (1.08; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.13).

Conclusion

Globally, in Spain, during the 2020–2021 COVID-19 epidemic period, low-skilled workers experienced a greater excess all-cause mortality than other occupational groups, but this was not the case during the entire epidemic period or for all causes of death.
Harnessing lipid metabolism modulation for improved immunotherapy outcomes in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Chen Yang , Zhou Yu , Ren Ran , Chen Yu , Lei Juan , Li Yongsheng
Published: July 2024

Background

While anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) monotherapy has shown effectiveness in treating lung cancer, its response rate is limited to approximately 20%. Recent research suggests that abnormal lipid metabolism in patients with lung adenocarcinoma may hinder the efficacy of anti-PD-1 monotherapy.

Methods

Here, we delved into the patterns of lipid metabolism in patients with The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and their correlation with the immune microenvironment’s cellular infiltration characteristics of the tumor. Furthermore, the lipid metabolism score (LMS) system was constructed, and based on the LMS system, we further performed screening for potential agents targeting lipid metabolism. The mechanism of MK1775 was further validated using RNA sequencing, co-culture technology, andin vivoexperiments.

Results

We developed an LSM system and identified a potential sensitizing agent, MK1775, which targets lipid metabolism and enhances the effects of anti-PD-1 treatment. Our results demonstrate that MK1775 inhibits tumor progression by influencing lipid crosstalk between tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages and CD8+T cells, thereby increasing the effectiveness of anti-PD-1 treatment. Further, we found that MK1775 inhibited the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway, which on one hand downregulated FASN-mediated synthesis of fatty acids (FAs) to inhibit fatty acid oxidation of tumor-associated macrophages, and on the other hand, promoted IRF-mediated secretion of CXCL10 and CXCL11 to facilitate the infiltration of CD8+T cells.

Conclusions

These findings emphasize the important role of lipid metabolism in shaping the complex tumor microenvironment. By manipulating the intricate intricacies of lipid metabolism within the tumor microenvironment, we can uncover and develop promising strategies to sensitize immunotherapy, potentially revolutionizing cancer treatment approaches.
Antiplatelet effects of hydroxychloroquine in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus evaluated by the total thrombus-formation analysis system (T-TAS)
Authors: Hiraoka Daisuke , Ishizaki Jun , Yamanouchi Jun , Honda Takatsugu , Niiya Toshiyuki , Horimoto Erika , Horie Kenta , Yamasaki Hitoshi , Matsumoto Takuya , Suemori Koichiro , Hasegawa Hitoshi , Takenaka Katsuto
Published: July 2024

Objectives

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been shown to reduce thrombotic events in patients with SLE. However, the antiplatelet effects of HCQ are only supported by the platelet aggregation assay, which is a non-physiological test. The total thrombus-formation analysis system (T-TAS) is a microchip-based flow chamber system that mimics physiological conditions and allows for the quantitative analysis of thrombogenicity. The present study investigated the antiplatelet effects of HCQ using T-TAS.

Methods

This was a single-centre cross-sectional study on 57 patients with SLE. We measured the area under the pressure curve for 10 min (PL-AUC10) and the time to 10 kPa (T10) in patients with SLE using T-TAS and examined their relationships with the use of HCQ. PL-AUC10and platelet aggregation were also measured at several HCQ concentrations using blood samples from healthy donors.

Results

PL-AUC10was significantly lower in the HCQ/real body weight (RBW) ≥5 mg/kg group than in the <5 mg/kg group, while T10was similar, indicating that HCQ inhibited overall thrombus formation rather than the initiation of thrombus formation. The antiplatelet effects of HCQ were initially detected at HCQ/RBW of approximately 4 mg/kg and reached a plateau at around 5.5 mg/kg. The administration of HCQ/RBW >4.6 mg/kg clearly exerted antiplatelet effects. Additionally, HCQ inhibited thrombus formation in T-TAS and the platelet aggregation response to epinephrine in a dose-dependent manner.

Conclusions

We demonstrated the antiplatelet effects of HCQ under conditions simulating the physiological environment by using T-TAS and identified the range of doses at which HCQ exerted antiplatelet effects.
Energy expenditure of international female rugby union players during a major international tournament: a doubly labelled water study
Authors: Wilson Lara , Jones Ben , Backhouse Susan H. , Boyd Andy , Hamby Catherine , Menzies Fraser , Owen Cameron , Ramirez-Lopez Carlos , Roe Stephanie , Samuels Ben , Speakman John R. , Costello Nessan
Published: July 2024

The purpose of this study was to quantify the total energy expenditure (TEE) of international female rugby union players. Fifteen players were assessed over 14 days throughout an international multi-game tournament, which represented two consecutive one-match microcycles. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) and TEE were assessed by indirect calorimetry and doubly labelled water, respectively. Physical activity level (PAL) was estimated (TEE:RMR). Mean RMR, TEE, and PAL were 6.60 ± 0.93 MJ·day−1 (1578 ± 223 kcal·day−1), 13.51 ± 2.28 MJ·day−1 (3229 ± 545 kcal·day−1), and 2.0 ± 0.3 AU, respectively. There was no difference in TEE (13.74 ± 2.31 (3284 ± 554 kcal·day−1) vs. 13.92 ± 2.10 MJ·day−1 (3327 ± 502 kcal·day−1); p = 0.754), or PAL (2.06 ± 0.26 AU vs. 2.09 ± 0.23 AU; p = 0.735) across microcycles, despite substantial decreases in training load (total distance: −8088 m, collisions: −20 n, training duration: −252 min). After correcting for body composition, there was no difference in TEE (13.80 ± 1.74 (3298 ± 416 adj. kcal·day−1) vs. 13.16 ± 1.97 (3145 ± 471 adj. kcal·day−1) adj. MJ·day−1, p = 0.190), RMR (6.49 ± 0.81 (1551 ± 194 adj. kcal·day−1) vs. 6.73 ± 0.83 (1609 ± 198 adj. kcal·day−1) adj. MJ·day−1, p = 0.633) or PAL (2.15 ± 0.14 vs. 1.87 ± 0.26 AU, p = 0.090) between forwards and backs. For an injured participant ( n = 1), TEE reduced by 1.7 MJ·day−1 (−401 kcal·day−1) from pre-injury. For participants with illness ( n = 3), TEE was similar to pre-illness (+0.49 MJ·day−1 (+117 kcal·day−1)). The energy requirements of international female rugby players were consistent across one-match microcycles. Forwards and backs had similar adjusted energy requirements. These findings are critical to inform the dietary guidance provided to female rugby players.
Unveiling stem-like traits and chemoresistance mechanisms in ovarian cancer cells through the TGFβ1-PITX2A/B signaling axis
Authors: Ghosh Sampurna , Tanbir Sk. Eashayan , Mitra Tulika , Roy Sib Sankar
Published: July 2024

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the deadliest gynecological malignancy, having a high mortality rate due to its asymptomatic nature, chemoresistance, and recurrence. However, the proper mechanistic knowledge behind these phenomena is still inadequate. Cancer recurrence is commonly observed due to cancer stem cells which also show chemoresistance. We aimed to decipher the molecular mechanism behind chemoresistance and stemness in OC. Earlier studies suggested that PITX2, a homeobox transcription factor and, its different isoforms are associated with OC progression upon regulating different signaling pathways. Moreover, they regulate the expression of drug efflux transporters in kidney and colon cancer, rendering chemoresistance properties in the tumor cell. Considering these backgrounds, we decided to look for the role of PITX2 isoforms in promoting stemness and chemoresistance in OC cells. In this study, PITX2A/B has been shown to promote stemness and to enhance the transcription of ABCB1. PITX2 has been discovered to augment ABCB1 gene expression by directly binding to its promoter. To further investigate the regulatory mechanism of PITX2 gene expression, we found that TGFβ signaling could augment the PITX2A/B expression through both SMAD and non-SMAD signaling pathways. Collectively, we conclude that TGFβ1-activated PITX2A/B induces stem-like features and chemoresistance properties in the OC cells.
Global value chain participation, trade cost and benefits of timber industry
Authors: Xiong Lichun , Wu Xue , Cheng Baodong , Wang Fengting
Published: July 2024

The purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of global value chain participation (GVCP) on the gains from trade and trade costs of the timber industry and reveal the underlying influence mechanism. The GVCP Index, Novy (2011) method, and WWZ Value Added Decomposition method have been used to measure the degree of GVCP, trade costs, and gains from trade of the timber industry, respectively. The results show that the export gains from trade of the timber industry featured inter-annual sustainability. Further, GVCP has an insignificant impact, suggesting that the industry’s degree of GVCP is limited. While the current trade cost and policy barriers to forest product trade harm it. And the cost of export trade has a strong lag effect on gains from trade. The increase of current trade costs reduces the short-term benefits; however, in the long run, the trade costs and benefits show a synchronous growth trend. To maintain and enhance its competitiveness, therefore, the industry will have to change the GVCP degree and mode of the timber industry, reduce short-term trade costs, and improve the quality and legitimacy certification level of timber products.
Sublethal dosing exposure risk of kochia (Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J. Scott) to carfentrazone-ethyl
Authors: Sharpe Shaun M. , Novak Teanna
Published: July 2024

Kochia is a troublesome, multiple herbicide-resistant tumbleweed which infests Prairie field crops. Kochia has developed resistance to systemic, foliar-applied herbicides from groups 2, 4, and 9, leaving only contact herbicides for post-emergence control. Group 14 chemistry is an important mode of action for resistance management. Weed staging considerations are important as recurrent sub-lethal herbicide exposure can increase risk of nontarget site resistance evolution. The study objective was to evaluate loss-of-control and estimate sublethal dosing exposure risk (SLDER) with a contact-type herbicide (carfentrazone-ethyl) based on initial kochia height, leaf number, and branch number. The SLDER from a single application to a single plant was conceptualized to increase due to escaping plant “volume” or immediate flowering. Kochia was only consistently controlled (100% injury) when dosed at ≤5 cm in height. The estimated maximum size for treated kochia was 21 cm in height, 18 branches plant−1, and the maximum accumulated biomass was between 2.6 and 5.1 g plant−1 for models developed using the initial plant height, branch number, or leaf number as predictors. These estimates represent the largest plant escapes, which would be associated with 100% risk through vegetative considerations into SLDER. Kochia plant size for a 5% risk scenario using the SLDER model was 4 cm in height, 0 branches plant−1, and 11 leaves plant−1 when carfentrazone-ethyl was applied at the labeled dosing. Caution is advised when spraying kochia above 5 cm as incorrect staging may lead to sublethal exposure, escape, reproduction, and escalated risk of nontarget site resistance evolution.
Four-gluon vertex in collinear kinematics
Authors: Aguilar A. C. , Ferreira M. N. , Papavassiliou J. , Santos L. R.
Published: July 2024

To date, the four-gluon vertex is the least explored component of the QCD Lagrangian, mainly due to the vast proliferation of Lorentz and color structures required for its description. In this work we present a nonperturbative study of this vertex, based on the one-loop dressed Schwinger–Dyson equation obtained from the 4PI effective action. A vast simplification is brought about by resorting to “collinear” kinematics, where all momenta are parallel to each other, and by appealing to the charge conjugation symmetry in order to eliminate certain color structures. Out of the fifteen form factors that comprise the transversely-projected version of this vertex, two are singled out and studied in detail; the one associated with the classical tensorial structure is moderately suppressed in the infrared regime, while the other diverges logarithmically at the origin. Quite interestingly, both form factors display the property known as “planar degeneracy” at a rather high level of accuracy. With these results we construct an effective charge that quantifies the strength of the four-gluon interaction, and compare it with other vertex-derived charges from the gauge sector of QCD.
Notes on wormhole cancellation and factorization
Authors: Cheng Peng , Mao Pujian
Published: July 2024

In AdS/CFT, partition functions of decoupled CFTs living on separate asymptotic boundaries factorize. However, the presence of bulk wormholes connecting different boundaries tends to spoil the factorization of the bulk partition function, which leads to a disagreement between the two sides. In this paper, we present two examples where wormhole contributions cancel each other in bulk partition function calculations, thus the bulk factorization can be realized. The first example is in 2-dimensional Jackiw–Teitelboim (JT) gravity, where the proposed way of realizing the cancellation resides in the extra complex phases associated with different wormholes. The phases arise due to the degenerate vacua structure. In the example of the Sachdev–Ye–Kitaev (SYK) model, the cancellation can be achieved due to the distribution of the wormhole saddles on a complex plane. The two examples demonstrate a way of realizing bulk partition function factorization by extending the Hilbert space and dressing wormhole saddles with extra phases.
Microlocal analysis of internal wave attractors
Authors: Wang Jian
Published: July 2024

Internal waves in two-dimensional aquaria can develop singular profiles, called internal wave attractors, in the long time evolution. We review the microlocal analysis of internal wave attractors, connecting the evolution of internal waves with classical dynamical systems on domain boundaries.
ReCRec: Reasoning the Causes of Implicit Feedback for Debiased Recommendation
Authors: Lin Siyi , Zhou Sheng , Chen Jiawei , Feng Yan , Shi Qihao , Chen Chun , Li Ying , Wang Can
Published: July 2024

Implicit feedback (e.g., user clicks) is widely used in building recommender systems (RS). However, the inherent notorious
exposure bias
significantly affects recommendation performance. Exposure bias refers a phenomenon that implicit feedback is influenced by user exposure and does not precisely reflect user preference. Current methods for addressing exposure bias primarily reduce confidence in unclicked data, employ exposure models, or leverage propensity scores. Regrettably, these approaches often lead to biased estimations or elevated model variance, yielding sub-optimal results.

To overcome these limitations, we propose a new method
ReCRec
that

Reasons the
C
auses behind the implicit feedback for debiased R
ec
ommendation

. ReCRec identifies three scenarios behind unclicked data—i.e., unexposed, dislike, or a combination of both. A reasoning module is employed to infer the category to which each instance pertains. Consequently, the model is capable of extracting reliable positive and negative signals from unclicked data, thereby facilitating more accurate learning of user preferences. We also conduct thorough theoretical analyses to demonstrate the debiased nature and low variance of ReCRec. Extensive experiments on both semi-synthetic and real-world datasets validate its superiority over state-of-the-art methods.
Rethinking Feature Mining for Light Field Salient Object Detection
Authors: Liao Guibiao , Gao Wei
Published: July 2024

Light field salient object detection (LF SOD) has recently received increasing attention. However, most current works typically rely on an individual focal stack backbone for feature extraction. This manner ignores the characteristic of blurred saliency-related regions and contour within focal slices, resulting in insufficient or even inaccurate saliency responses. Aiming at addressing this issue, we rethink the feature mining (i.e., exploration) within focal slices and focus on exploiting informative focal slice features and fully leveraging contour information for accurate LF SOD. First, we observe that the geometric relation between different regions within the focal slices is conducive to useful saliency feature mining if utilized properly. In light of this, we propose an implicit graph learning (IGL) approach. The IGL constructs graph structures to propagate informative geometric relations within the focal slices and all-focus features, and promotes crucial and discriminative focal stack feature mining via graph feature distillation. Second, unlike previous works that rarely utilize contour information, we propose a reciprocal refinement fusion (RRF) strategy. This strategy encourages saliency features and object contour cues to effectively complement each other. Furthermore, a contour hint injection mechanism is introduced to refine the feature expressions. Extensive experiments showcase the superiority of our approach over previous state-of-the-art models with an efficient real-time inference speed. Codes are available at
https://github.com/gbliao/IRNet
and
https://openi.pcl.ac.cn/OpenVision/IRNet
.
Mitochondrial Structure, Dynamics, and Physiology: Light Microscopy to Disentangle the Network
Authors: Landoni Juan C. , Kleele Tatjana , Winter Julius , Stepp Willi , Manley Suliana
Published: July 2024

Mitochondria serve as energetic and signaling hubs of the cell: This function results from the complex interplay between their structure, function, dynamics, interactions, and molecular organization. The ability to observe and quantify these properties often represents the puzzle piece critical for deciphering the mechanisms behind mitochondrial function and dysfunction. Fluorescence microscopy addresses this critical need and has become increasingly powerful with the advent of superresolution methods and context-sensitive fluorescent probes. In this review, we delve into advanced light microscopy methods and analyses for studying mitochondrial ultrastructure, dynamics, and physiology, and highlight notable discoveries they enabled.
Technological Novelties and Scientific Discoveries with the Borexino Experiment
Authors: Bellini Gianpaolo
Published: July 2024

The Borexino experiment has developed, in its 32 years of activity, techniques and methods that allow for unprecedented radiopurity levels, which continue to be the current state of the art. These pioneering techniques and methods represent a new standard for ultra-low-background physics, a legacy that Borexino leaves to future experiments studying low-energy neutrinos and searching for rare events with detectors operating deep underground. The Borexino experiment leaves an equally influential scientific legacy with its discoveries and precise measurements of the nuclear processes that cause the Sun and stars to shine. Thanks to its unparalleled low background in the energy window of ∼150 keV to ∼15 MeV, the Borexino experiment also has contributed significantly to the understanding of neutrino oscillations with the observation of the energy-dependent matter to vacuum-dominated flavor conversion probability of solar neutrinos. Along with this textbook-quality body of solar neutrino results, the Borexino experiment has contributed to the study of the Earth's mantle radioactivity with background-free measurements of geoneutrinos. This article presents an overview of the long-lasting Borexino results and of the experimental efforts required to achieve them.
Construction and Electrochromic Properties of Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks with Donor-Acceptor Structures of Triphenylamine and Bipyridine
Authors: Xiong Shanxin , Wu Juan , Chen Min , Zhang Kerui , Fang Ke , Zhang Yukun , Wang Xiaoqin , Hua Chunxia , Chu Jia , Zhang Runlan , Wang Chenxu , Gong Ming , Wang Hong , Wu Bohua
Published: July 2024

The stacking between layers of a two-dimensional covalent organic framework (COF) leads to overlapping π orbitals, which enables charge carriers to be transported quickly through these pre-designed π orbitals. The two-dimensional COF featuring donor-acceptor interactions represents a straightforward approach for fabricating a high-performance organic electrochromic device. In this paper, N, N, N’, N’-tetrad(4-aminophenyl)−1,4-phenylenediamine (TPDA) with electron-rich structure and 2,2’-bipyridine-5,5’-dialdehyde (BPDA) with strong electron absorption ability were used as the construction unit. COFTPDA-BPDA electrochromic materials with donor-acceptor structure were synthesized by Schiff base reaction, which can achieve reversible switching from red to dark gray. The color/fade time of the film at 474 nm wavelength is 6.8 s/11.9 s. The contrast retention rate of the film can reach 97.6% after 20 potential cycles, the memory time is as long as 4278 s. The present study demonstrates that constructing a donor-acceptor (D-A) structural unit with conjugated triphenylamine as the electron donor linked to bipyridine electron-withdrawing groups enhances charge transfer and redox reactions. With the success of this design strategy, the construction of the D-A structure is an important methodology for improving the electrochromic properties of materials.