bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kinetic modeling of valuable phenolic compounds extraction from strawberry and apple agro‐industrial by‐products
Authors: Villamil‐Galindo Esteban , Piagentini Andrea Marcela
Published: March 2024

Extracting valuable compounds from waste plant tissues is a challenging process. To better understand this process, kinetic modeling was used to study the extraction of phenolic compounds from the waste tissues of industrial strawberry (RF) and apple (GS) processing using green solvents. The experimental design variables included type of solvent (W: water, EtOH: ethanol 80%), solid–liquid ratio (1:20, 1:30, 1:40), and temperature (20, 70°C). The model of Peleg (MI) and an empirical model (MII) were applied to determine the kinetic constants for total phenolic compounds (TPC) and antioxidant capacity (AC). The phenolic compound profile was determined at each experimental assay. The extraction variables affected (p < 0.001) TPC and AC of RF and GS extracts. Using EtOH increased TPC extraction yields from both tissues (up to 62% for RF). The highest AC was determined in EtOH extracts at 20°C (119 and 25 μmol TE/g for RF and GS, respectively). Temperature, extraction ratio, and solvent type significantly affected the kinetic constants of both models. The study identified nine phenolic compounds from both waste tissues, with Agrimoniin being the main compound in RF (0.49 g/kg) and quercetin pentoxide being the main compound in GS (0.23 g/kg). There was no significant increase in TPC and AC of the extracts after 90 min at 20°C and 60 min at 70°C. The kinetic modeling of phenolic compound extraction from strawberry and apple agro‐industrial by‐products using green solvents enabled the determination of the best extraction conditions, promoting the use of these waste tissues by obtaining bioactive compounds with antioxidant potential.

Practical Applications

This study provides valuable insight into the effective use of green solvents in extracting bioactive compounds, thereby promoting sustainable practices and reducing waste in the industrial processing of strawberries and apples. The kinetic modeling approach for recovering phenolic compounds from strawberry and apple agro‐industrial by‐products improves our comprehension of the influence of the extraction process variables on the phenolic compound profile and antioxidant capacity of these tissues. These findings highlight the potential of these waste tissues as an alternative source of bioactive compounds. By standardizing the extraction process and optimizing the utilization of agro‐industrial by‐products, the food industry can effectively reduce the environmental impact of these waste tissues and promote sustainable operations. Additionally, using green solvents aligns with the increasing demand for environmentally friendly practices, making it easier to turn strawberry and apple agro‐industrial processes into circular processes by eco‐friendly valorization of these biowastes.
Foreign Exchange Intervention: A Data Set of Official Data and Estimates
Authors: ADLER GUSTAVO , CHANG KYUN SUK , MANO RUI C. , SHAO YUTING
Published: March 2024

A better understanding of foreign exchange intervention (FXI) is often hindered by the lack of data. This paper provides a new data set of FXI covering a large number of countries since 2000 at monthly and quarterly frequencies. It includes published official data for about 40 countries as well as carefully constructed estimates for 122 countries. Estimates account for a wide range of central bank operations, including both spot and derivative transactions. These estimates improve upon traditional proxies based on changes in reserves, by adjusting for valuation changes, income flows, and changes in other foreign‐currency balance sheet positions (both vis‐à‐vis residents and nonresidents)—the first estimates to do the latter to our knowledge—thus providing a more accurate measure of operations that change the central bank's foreign currency position. The data set also provides a classification of FXI operations into sterilized or not sterilized, a key dimension for economic analysis. Finally, the paper discusses the merits of the new estimates relative to traditional proxies, and presents stylized facts.
A framework for analysing water security of Tonle Sap Lake in the Mekong River basin: Flow, volume, inundation, productivity and livelihoods
Authors: Sithirith Mak
Published: March 2024

Water is a scarce resource globally, and a water shortage worldwide would cause water security. Although there is plenty of literature studying water security, many discuss water security concerning water quality that is harmful to human health, some on the floods and droughts which destroy agriculture and livelihoods of people, and others on water war or water conflict in transboundary river basin; but little discusses water security concerning changing river flow, volume, inundation, productivity and livelihoods in the river–lake system (RLS). Thus, this paper studies the RLS to examine how changes in river flows and the volumes of the water in the RLS would affect the inundation and productivity of the RLS and, later, the livelihoods of river–lake people (RLP). In answering this question, the article undertakes the literature review and the case study of Tonle Sap Lake (TSL) in Cambodia to examine this form of water security. The paper concludes that the RLS has a close relationship between the flow, volume, inundation and productivity of fisheries and people's livelihoods. The hydropower dams, urban development and climate change cause the disconnectivity and the discontinuity of the river–lake flow, volume and inundation, undermining the productivity of fisheries and livelihoods of river–lake‐dependent communities. There is a strong need for cooperation and coordination between riparian states in the Mekong River Basin (MRB) to maintain the secured flow and volume in the Mekong River (MR) and TSL and protect the livelihoods of RLP.
Parental brain through time: The origin and development of the neural circuit of mammalian parenting
Authors: Kuroda Kumi O. , Fukumitsu Kansai , Kurachi Takuma , Ohmura Nami , Shiraishi Yuko , Yoshihara Chihiro
Published: March 2024

This review consolidates current knowledge on mammalian parental care, focusing on its neural mechanisms, evolutionary origins, and derivatives. Neurobiological studies have identified specific neurons in the medial preoptic area as crucial for parental care. Unexpectedly, these neurons are characterized by the expression of molecules signaling satiety, such as calcitonin receptor and BRS3, and overlap with neurons involved in the reproductive behaviors of males but not females. A synthesis of comparative ecology and paleontology suggests an evolutionary scenario for mammalian parental care, possibly stemming from male‐biased guarding of offspring in basal vertebrates. The terrestrial transition of tetrapods led to prolonged egg retention in females and the emergence of amniotes, skewing care toward females. The nocturnal adaptation of Mesozoic mammalian ancestors reinforced maternal care for lactation and thermal regulation via endothermy, potentially introducing metabolic gate control in parenting neurons. The established maternal care may have served as the precursor for paternal and cooperative care in mammals and also fostered the development of group living, which may have further contributed to the emergence of empathy and altruism. These evolution‐informed working hypotheses require empirical validation, yet they offer promising avenues to investigate the neural underpinnings of mammalian social behaviors.
Research trends between diabetes mellitus and bariatric surgery researches: Bibliometric analysis and visualization from 1998 to 2023
Authors: Yuan Kaisheng , Zhang Xu , Wu Bing , Zeng Ruiqi , Hu Ruixiang , Wang Cunchuan
Published: March 2024

This study conducted a bibliometric analysis using the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) to explore the relationship between diabetes mellitus and bariatric surgery (BS) from January 1985 to August 2023. No publications were found between 1985 and 1998. However, from 1998 to 2023, a total of 9,496 English articles were identified, accumulating 291,289 citations (241,563 excluding self‐citations) and achieving an H‐Index of 197. Leading contributors to the field were the United States, China, and Italy. Noteworthy authors in this area of research included Philip R. Schauer, Wei‐Jei Lee, and Carel W. le Roux. The major journals that featured this research were ‘Obesity Surgery,’ ‘Diabetes Care,’ and ‘Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases.’ The most highly cited article focused on lifestyle, diabetes, and cardiovascular risks 10 years after BS, emphasizing the significant attention given to the nutritional, cardiac, and general internal medicine impacts of diabetes and BS. The increase in research output during the review period indicates a growing interest in the relationship between diabetes and BS, providing a valuable reference for future studies in this evolving field.
Analysis of physiological response and differential protein expression of Paramichelia baillonii saplings under phosphorus deficiency
Authors: Ali Izhar , Wu Tong , Chen Kai , Ullah Saif , Xu Yuanyuan , Yang Mei
Published: March 2024

Paramichelia baillonii is a rare and fast‐growing tree species in subtropical China. The acidic red soil in southern China severely limits its growth as it lacks sufficient available phosphorus (P), resulting in declining soil fertility and nutrient availability. The effect of P deficiency on P. Baillonii growth, root attributes, and physiological response has not yet been reported. Understanding the adaptability of P. baillonii to low‐P conditions can improve afforestation and soil management in southern China. Therefore, we conducted a pot experiment on 2‐year‐old saplings and treated them with different P levels. Results showed that P deficiency (0–5 mg L−1) decreased growth attributes, root morphological traits, and nutrient uptake of P. baillonii saplings compared to control (CK). Similarly, reduction in chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), and Gs were seen in low P treatment saplings compared to CK. Whereas superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, malondialdehyde, acid phosphatase activity, and soluble protein content increased with increasing P‐deficiency up to 5 mg L−1, and soluble sugar showed oppsite trend. Moreover, the proteomics analysis identified 2721 proteins, 196 showing differential expression, with 90 up‐ and 106 down‐regulated. Importantly, the metabolic activities increased in the pentose phosphate pathway, starch and sucrose metabolism, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways to sustain regular plant growth under P deficiency. This study delves into the dynamic morpho‐physiological and proteomic changes in response to P deficiency. Overall, growth and nutrient uptake were reduced, countered by adaptive biochemical and proteomic shifts, including heightened antioxidant activities and modifications in metabolic pathways, highlighting the resilient strategies of P. baillonii saplings under P deficiency.
Salutogenic health measures: Psychometric properties of the Danish versions of the Flourish Index and the Secure Flourish Index
Authors: Stripp Tobias Anker , Cowden Richard G. , Wehberg Sonja , Ahrenfeldt Linda Juel , Hvidt Niels Christian , Lee Matthew T.
Published: March 2024

Measurement of human flourishing represents a salutogenic approach to epidemiological and behavioral research emphasizing factors contributing to “good lives” rather than pathology. The objective of this study was to translate and psychometrically test the 10‐item Flourish Index (FI) and 12‐item Secure Flourish Index (SFI) in a convenience sample of Danish adults. A total of 325 participants completed a cross‐sectional survey, with 148 of those participants completing the survey a second time (retest). Confirmatory factor analysis in a structural equation modelling framework was used to establish structural validity by comparing four different pre‐specified models of the indexes. Additionally, internal consistency, convergent and incremental validity, and retest reliability were examined. The FI models exhibited superior structural validity compared with similar models of the SFI, although all models had good fits. Internal consistencies with McDonald's omega were 0.89 and 0.87 for the FI and SFI, respectively. The five (FI) or six (SFI) domains were happiness & life satisfaction, mental & physical health, meaning & purpose, character & virtue, close social relationships, and financial & material stability (λ4 = 0.51–0.91). Convergent and incremental validity tests supported predefined hypotheses. Retest analyses with the FI and SFI showed a high degree of retest reliability. Based on the psychometric evidence reported in this study, the Danish Flourish Index and Secure Flourish Index seem suitable for use with healthy adult Danes. The authors hope that this psychometric evaluation of the FI and SFI will stimulate research on patterns, health and economic outcomes, and predictors of human flourishing in Denmark.
The sports industry and its effect on the quality of life and regional development
Authors: Zhai Zhihao , Du Manyu , Meng Hengran
Published: March 2024

Background

Sport plays a significant role in shaping social life, the health of the nation and the development of regions. Studying the impact of the sports industry on the quality of life and regional development can help to better understand how sports influence the social, economic and cultural aspects of people's lives.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the impact of the sports industry on the quality of life and human development in developed and developing countries by analyzing the correlation and modeling of recognized world indices.

Methods

The research employed correlation analysis, regression analysis, and scenario modeling, utilizing publicly available international indices to determine the level of impact of sports on the country's development indicators. While investment in sports development may not be a straightforward decision for developing countries facing socio‐economic challenges, the study demonstrated the long‐term benefits of such investments through evidence‐based mathematical regression models and scenario modeling.

Results

The study findings revealed that the advancement of the sports industry leads to improvements in the quality of life and human development in most of the studied regions.

Conclusion

Moreover, the scenario modeling suggested that the evolution of this field would further enhance the development of the quality of life.
Successful treatment of severe passenger lymphocyte syndrome with efgartigimod synergy
Authors: Chase R. Christopher , Koop Andree H. , Shaikh Marwan , Imperial Robin J. , Harnois Denise M. , Loo Nicole M. , O'Brien Jennifer J.
Published: March 2024

Introduction

This case describes passenger lymphocyte syndrome (PLS) generating human platelet antigen 1a (HPA‐1a) alloantibodies against the recipient's platelets after liver transplant. Given the rarity of PLS, especially in liver transplant with HPA‐1a alloantibodies, disease course and management options are poorly described.

Methods

The patient had cirrhosis secondary to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma, encephalopathy, and severe ascites. The model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) score was 15 at presentation. The patient developed hepatic artery thrombosis after an orthotopic liver transplant and was relisted for transplant with a MELD score of 40. The patient received a hepatitis C virus antibody positive, hepatitis C virus nucleic amplification test positive donor liver on postoperative day (POD) 7 after first transplant. On POD 7 after the second transplant, the patient developed profound thrombocytopenia refractory to platelet infusion. They were found to have serum antibody to HPA‐1a based upon serum platelet alloantibody testing. The donor was later found to be negative for HPA‐1a by genetic testing. However, the patient's native platelets were HPA‐1a positive. The patient was diagnosed with PLS.

Results

The patient's treatment course included 57 units of platelets transfused, emergency splenectomy, rituximab, plasma exchange, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), eltrombopag, romiplostim, and efgartigimod.

Discussion

The synergistic effect of efgartigimod with eltrombopag and romiplostim most likely resolved the patient's thrombocytopenia. This case represents a novel use of efgartigimod in the treatment of passenger lymphocyte syndrome following liver transplant.
Establishment of clinical criteria for the diagnosis of adverse food reactions in dogs with atopic dermatitis
Authors: Sofou Evi I. , Aleksandrova Svetlina , Chatzis Manolis , Samuel (Badulescu) Elisa , Saridomichelakis Manolis N.
Published: March 2024

Background

Diagnosis of canine adverse food reactions (AFRs) is based on vague criteria, such as ‘>50% improvement’ during elimination diet trial (EDT) followed by ‘deterioration’ during provocation test (PT).

Objective

The objective of the study was to use predefined criteria to evaluate response during EDT [i.e., Owner Global Assessment of Treatment Efficacy (OGATE) = good‐to‐excellent] and relapse during PT [i.e., Owner Global Assessment of Challenge Deterioration (OGACD) = moderate‐to‐severe and/or >100% increase of lesional (Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index, 4th iteration, CADESI‐04) and/or of pruritus (pruritus Visual Analog Scale, PVAS) scores].

Animals

Twenty‐nine dogs with atopic dermatitis.

Materials and Methods

An extensively hydrolysed diet was fed to all dogs followed, in seven of 11 nonresponders, by a second home‐made novel‐protein EDT. Dogs responding to either EDT were challenged with their previous diet.

Results

Thirteen (44.8%) dogs were diagnosed with AFRs: at the end of EDT, their OGATE was good (9 of 13; 69.2%) or excellent (four of 13; 30.8%), and both CADESI‐04 (46.7%) and PVAS (71.1%) had decreased significantly; at the end of PT, OGACD was moderate or severe in 12 of 13 (92.3%) dogs, and both CADESI‐04 (127.9%) and PVAS (181.8%) had increased significantly. Of the 16 dogs without AFRs, 6 (37.5%) responded to the commercial (n = 5) or home‐made (n = 1) diet [OGATE = good (three of six) or excellent (three of six)], with significant concurrent reduction of CADESI‐04 and nonsignificant reduction of PVAS, yet they did not relapse during PT.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

The proposed (predefined) criteria for the evaluation of response during EDT and deterioration during PT seem reliable and are easily applicable in clinical practice and research.
Enhancing music recognition using deep learning-powered source separation technology for cochlear implant users
Authors: Chang Yuh-Jer , Han Ji-Yan , Chu Wei-Chung , Li Lieber Po-Hung , Lai Ying-Hui
Published: March 2024

Cochlear implant (CI) is currently the vital technological device for assisting deaf patients in hearing sounds and greatly enhances their sound listening appreciation. Unfortunately, it performs poorly for music listening because of the insufficient number of electrodes and inaccurate identification of music features. Therefore, this study applied source separation technology with a self-adjustment function to enhance the music listening benefits for CI users. In the objective analysis method, this study showed that the results of the source-to-distortion, source-to-interference, and source-to-artifact ratios were 4.88, 5.92, and 15.28 dB, respectively, and significantly better than the Demucs baseline model. For the subjective analysis method, it scored higher than the traditional baseline method VIR6 (vocal to instrument ratio, 6 dB) by approximately 28.1 and 26.4 (out of 100) in the multi-stimulus test with hidden reference and anchor test, respectively. The experimental results showed that the proposed method can benefit CI users in identifying music in a live concert, and the personal self-fitting signal separation method had better results than any other default baselines (vocal to instrument ratio of 6 dB or vocal to instrument ratio of 0 dB) did. This finding suggests that the proposed system is a potential method for enhancing the music listening benefits for CI users.
A uniquely efficacious type of CFTR corrector with complementary mode of action
Authors: Marchesin Valentina , Monnier Lucile , Blattmann Peter , Chevillard Florent , Kuntz Christine , Forny Camille , Kamper Judith , Studer Rolf , Bossu Alexandre , Ertel Eric A. , Nayler Oliver , Brotschi Christine , Williams Jodi T. , Gatfield John
Published: March 2024

Three distinct pharmacological corrector types (I, II, III) with different binding sites and additive behavior only partially rescue the F508del-cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) folding and trafficking defect observed in cystic fibrosis. We describe uniquely effective, macrocyclic CFTR correctors that were additive to the known corrector types, exerting a complementary “type IV” corrector mechanism. Macrocycles achieved wild-type–like folding efficiency of F508del-CFTR at the endoplasmic reticulum and normalized CFTR currents in reconstituted patient-derived bronchial epithelium. Using photo-activatable macrocycles, docking studies and site-directed mutagenesis a highly probable binding site and pose for type IV correctors was identified in a cavity between lasso helix-1 (Lh1) and transmembrane helix-1 of membrane spanning domain (MSD)-1, distinct from the known corrector binding sites. Since only F508del-CFTR fragments spanning from Lh1 until MSD2 responded to type IV correctors, these likely promote cotranslational assembly of Lh1, MSD1, and MSD2. Previously corrector-resistant CFTR folding mutants were also robustly rescued, suggesting substantial therapeutic potential for type IV correctors.
Mast cells help organize the Peyer’s patch niche for induction of IgA responses
Authors: De Giovanni Marco , Vykunta Vivasvan S. , Biram Adi , Chen Kevin Y. , Taglinao Hanna , An Jinping , Sheppard Dean , Paidassi Helena , Cyster Jason G.
Published: March 2024

Peyer’s patches (PPs) are lymphoid structures situated adjacent to the intestinal epithelium that support B cell responses that give rise to many intestinal IgA-secreting cells. Induction of isotype switching to IgA in PPs requires interactions between B cells and TGFβ-activating conventional dendritic cells type 2 (cDC2s) in the subepithelial dome (SED). However, the mechanisms promoting cDC2 positioning in the SED are unclear. Here, we found that PP cDC2s express GPR35, a receptor that promotes cell migration in response to various metabolites, including 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA). In mice lacking GPR35, fewer cDC2s were found in the SED, and frequencies of IgA
+
germinal center (GC) B cells were reduced. IgA plasma cells were reduced in both the PPs and lamina propria. These phenotypes were also observed in chimeric mice that lacked GPR35 selectively in cDCs. GPR35 deficiency led to reduced coating of commensal bacteria with IgA and reduced IgA responses to cholera toxin. Mast cells were present in the SED, and mast cell–deficient mice had reduced PP cDC2s and IgA
+
cells. Ablation of tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (Tph1) in mast cells to prevent their production of 5-HIAA similarly led to reduced PP cDC2s and IgA responses. Thus, mast cell–guided positioning of GPR35
+
cDC2s in the PP SED supports induction of intestinal IgA responses.
B cells on the brink
Authors: Clark Rachael A.
Published: March 2024

Type 2–polarized memory B cells sustain food allergy and allergic rhinitis by rapidly differentiating into pathogenic IgE-producing plasma cells.
16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of seawater microbiota from Rayong Province, Thailand, affected by oil spills
Authors: Pinpimai Komkiew , Punnarak Porntep , Thitiphuree Tongchai , Songploy Se , Panichpol Arnupap , Chankong Anchalee , Chavanich Suchana , Viyakarn Voranop
Published: March 2024

We reported on microbial communities isolated from 18 seawater samples affected by oil spills in Rayong province, Thailand, using the V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
Carbapenem-resistant
Acinetobacter baumannii
carrier detection: a simple and efficient protocol
Authors: Lellouche Jonathan , Keren-Paz Alona , Rov Reut , Efrati Epchtien Reut , Frenk Sammy , Hameir Amichay , Temkin Elizabeth , Schwartz David , Carmeli Yehuda
Published: March 2024

Timely detection of carbapenem-resistant
Acinetobacter baumannii
(CRAB) carriers is essential to direct infection control measures. In this work, we aimed to develop a practical protocol to detect CRAB from screening samples. To choose a selective medium that detects CRAB with high sensitivity and specificity, 111
A
.
baumannii
clinical isolates were inoculated on three types of agar: mSuperCARBA (SC), CHROMagar Acinetobacter (CaA), and modified CHROMagar Acinetobacter (mCaA) containing 4.5 mg/mL meropenem. SC was non-selective, CaA was the most sensitive (100%), but only moderately specific (72%), and mCaA was highly specific (97%) and sensitive (98%). Confirmation of the carbapenem-resistant phenotype using PCR-based detection of
bla
OXA-23
,
bla
OXA-24
, and
bla
OXA-58
genes was specific but not sensitive, detecting only 58% of CRAB isolates. Identification of
A. baumannii
using either
gyrB
or
bla
OXA-51
PCR was excellent. Next, we used the same methodology in routine screening for CRAB carriage. mCaA had the best yield, with high sensitivity but moderate specificity to differentiate between CRAB and other carbapenem-resistant organisms. Skin sampling using sponges and 6 hour enrichment was highly sensitive (98%), while other body sites had poor sensitivity (27%– 41%). Shorter incubation had slightly lower yield, and longer incubation did not improve the detection. Performing PCR for
bla
OXA-51
and
gyrB
on colonies growing on modified mCaA differentiated between CRAB and other species with high accuracy (98% and 99%, respectively). Based on our results, we present a procedure for easy and reliable detection of CRAB carriage using skin sampling, short enrichment, selection on mCaA, and PCR-based identification.

IMPORTANCE

Carbapenem-resistant
Acinetobacter baumannii
(CRAB) is a substantial cause of nosocomial infections, classified among the most significant multidrug-resistant pathogens by the World Health Organization and by the US Centers for Disease Control. Limiting the spread of CRAB is an important goal of infection control, but laboratory methods for identification of CRAB carriers are not standardized. In this work, we compared different selective agar plates, tested the efficiency of
A. baumannii
identification by PCR for species-specific genes, and used PCR-based detection of common resistance genes to confirm the carbapenem-resistant phenotype. During a prospective study, we also determined the optimal sample enrichment time. Based on our results, we propose a simple and efficient protocol for the detection of CRAB carriage using skin sampling, short enrichment, selection on appropriate agar plates, and PCR-based identification, resulting in a turn-around time of 24 hours.
Zooplankton of the Eastern Kara Sea: Response to a Short Ice-Free Period
Authors: Drits A. V. , Pasternak A. F. , Arashkevich E. G. , Amelina A. B. , Shchuka T. A. , Flint M. V.
Published: March 2024

Abstract—

A characteristic feature of the eastern Kara Sea, which is separated from its central part by the shallow Central Kara Rise, is a later ice breakup, a shorter ice-free period, and lower water temperature. Zooplankton in this part of the sea is virtually unstudied. The first data on the composition, spatial distribution of zooplankton, age structure and feeding of the dominant species, and their grazing impact on phytoplankton were obtained in the cruise 125 of the R/V Professor Shtokman (September 2013) and cruise 63 of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh (September 2015) to the eastern Kara Sea. 2015 was a typical year in terms of the ice regime for this region, while in 2013, seasonal ice coverage lasted longer than usual. Zooplankton biomass (17–112 mg dry weight m–3), to which copepods Calanus glacialis contributed the main portion, were close to the values in the central Kara Sea in September. The seasonal development of the C. glacialis population began much later than in the central Kara Sea, but development of Metridia longa was not influenced by the specifics of the ice regime and hydrophysical conditions in the eastern Kara Sea. The interannual differences in the timing of ice retreat had almost no effect on the zooplankton abundance, seasonal development of the dominant copepod populations, feeding activity, and grazing impact on phytoplankton.
Sedimentation Processes and the Holocene Evolution of the Indigirka Paleovalley (Coastal Shelf Area of the East Siberian Sea)
Authors: Ryabchuk D. V. , Taldenkova E. E. , Sergeev A. Yu. , Zhamoida V. A. , Budanov L. M. , Prishchepenko D. V. , Nosevich E. S. , Terekhina Ya. E. , Bashirova L. D. , Ponomarenko E. P. , Neevin I. A. , Chekulaev A. V. , Grigoriev A. G.
Published: March 2024

Problems of the paleogeographical evolution and changes in sedimentation environment within the Indigirka River paleovalley (the East Siberian Sea) are discussed. Based on the results of geophysical and geological research and a high-resolution study of sediment cores (grain size analysis, geochemistry, macro- and micropaleontology, pollen analysis, radiocarbon dating) the development of the Holocene marine transgression has been reconstructed, sedimentation rates have been calculated, and the basic principles of changes in sedimentation processes have been established.
Obtaining Textured Nickel Antimonide Films
Authors: Luzanov V. A.
Published: March 2024

It was shown for the first time that when nickel is deposited onto a heated gallium antimonide substrate, diffusion of antimony atoms from the substrate into the growing film occurs and a nickel antimonide film is formed, which has an axial texture with an axis perpendicular to the film plane along the (101) direction.
Preference and retention of daily and event-driven pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention: a prospective cohort in Can Tho city, Viet Nam
Authors: Nguyen Van Thi Thuy , Dat Vu Quoc , Truc Huynh Minh , Nguyen Anh Thu Pham , Linh Doan Thi Thuy , Johnson Cheryl , Baggaley Rachel Clare , Phan Huong Thi Thu
Published: March 2024

Objective

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) was introduced in Viet Nam in 2017, but data on oral PrEP preference and effective use beyond 3 months are limited. We aimed to evaluate PrEP preferences for PrEP, factors influencing uptake, choice and effective use, as well as barriers to PrEP.

Methods

This is a prospective cohort study in Can Tho, Viet Nam. Participants who were eligible for PrEP and provided informed consent were interviewed at baseline on demographic information, willingness to pay, reasons for choosing their PrEP regimen and the anticipated difficulties in taking PrEP and followed up at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after PrEP initiation.

Findings

Between May 2020 and April 2021, 926 individuals at substantial risk for HIV initiated PrEP. Of whom 673 (72.7%) choose daily PrEP and 253 (27.3%) choose event-driven (ED)-PrEP. The majority of participants were men (92.7%) and only 6.8% were women and 0.5% were transgender women. Median participant age was 24 years (IQR 20–28) and 84.7% reported as exclusively same-sex relationship. The three most common reasons for choosing daily PrEP were effectiveness (24.3%) and unplanning for sex (22.9%). Those opting for ED-PrEP also cited effectiveness (22.7%), as well as convenience (18.0%) and easier effective use (12.0%). Only 7.8% of PrEP users indicated they were unwilling to pay for PrEP and 76.4% would be willing to pay if PrEP were less than US$15 per month. The proportion of user effectively using PrEP at 12 months was 43.1% and 99.2% in daily PrEP and ED-PrEP users, respectively.

Conclusions

ED-PrEP was preferred by more than a quarter of 23.5% of the participants and there was little concern about potential adverse events. High rates of effective use were reported by ED-PrEP users. Future research to inform implementation of PrEP in Viet Nam is needed to develop ways of measuring adherence to ED-PrEP more accurately and to understand and address difficulties in taking daily PrEP use.
Safeguarding in adolescent mental health research: navigating dilemmas and developing procedures
Authors: Randhawa Amie , Wood Grace , Michail Maria , Pallan Miranda , Patterson Paul , Goodyear Victoria
Published: March 2024

Mental disorders are prevalent during adolescence. Self-harm and suicide are more common in adolescents with a probable mental disorder, with one in four reporting to have attempted self-harm. Research involving adolescents is, therefore, likely to include participants experiencing mental ill health, even if mental health is not the primary focus. Researchers should adopt procedures and principles that safeguard adolescent mental health in their research practice. Yet there are gaps between theory and practice of research with adolescents in relation to their mental health, and limited guidance is available.

We discuss emerging safeguarding dilemmas and procedures in adolescent mental health research. Our experiences of safeguarding adolescent mental health are grounded in the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research-funded SMART Schools Study. Drawing from this secondary school-based study, we focus on how our research team encountered and addressed a high prevalence of participants (aged 12–13 and 14–15 years) reporting thoughts and behaviours related to self-harm or suicide (24% of participants). This included reviewing our existing risk mitigation processes and consulting with several committees including young people with lived experiences of mental health.

We present the SMART Schools study safeguarding approach for adolescent mental health. This encompasses key safeguarding principles, study procedures and relevant justifications. We address school and university roles and responsibilities, pupil understanding, and efficient, effective and secure communication pathways. We embed guidance throughout this article for researchers working with adolescents in the context of mental health. Lastly, we present five key recommendations to safeguard the mental health of adolescents participating in research, including (1) appointing a safeguarding lead within the research team; (2) codesigning a bespoke study safeguarding approach; (3) adopting a responsive approach to mental health safeguarding; (4) being transparent about the study mental health safeguarding approach and (5) report the implementation and outcomes of safeguarding approaches.

Trial registration numberISRCTN77948572.
Determining the distance patterns in the movements of future doctors in UK between 2002 and 2015: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Hitchings Lucy , Fleet Ben , Smith Daniel Thomas , Read Jonathan M , Melville Colin , Sedda Luigi
Published: March 2024

Objective

To determine and identify distance patterns in the movements of medical students and junior doctors between their training locations.

Design

A retrospective cohort study of UK medical students from 2002 to 2015 (UKMED data).

Setting

All UK medical schools, foundations and specialty training organisation.

Participants

All UK medical students from 2002 to 2015, for a total of 97 932 participants.

Outcome measures

Individual movements and number of movements by county of students from family home to medical school training, from medical school to foundation training and from foundation to specialty training.

Methods

Leslie matrix, principal components analysis, Gini coefficient, χ2test, generalised linear models and variable selection methods were employed to explore the different facets of students’ and junior doctors’ movements from the family home to medical school and for the full pathway (from family home to specialty training).

Results

The majority of the movements between the different stages of the full pathway were restricted to a distance of up to 50 km; although the proportion of movements changed from year-to-year, with longer movements during 2007–2008. At the individual level, ethnicity, socioeconomic class of the parent(s) and the deprivation score of the family home region were found to be the most important factors associated with the length of the movements from the family home to medical school. Similar results were found when movements were aggregated at the county level, with the addition of factors such as gender and qualification at entry (to medical school) being statistically associated with the number of new entrant students moving between counties.

Conclusion

Our findings show that while future doctors do not move far from their family home or training location, this pattern is not homogeneous over time. Distances are influenced by demographics, socioeconomic status and deprivation. These results may contribute in designing interventions aimed at solving the chronic problems of maldistribution and underdoctoring in the UK.
Intensive glycaemic targets in overweight and obese individuals with gestational diabetes mellitus: clinical trial protocol for the iGDM study
Authors: Scifres Christina M , Battarbee Ashley N , Feghali Maisa N , Pierce Stephanie , Edwards Rodney K , Smith Emily M , Guise David , Bhamidipalli Sruthi , Daggy Joanne , Tuuli Methodius G
Published: March 2024

Introduction

The prevalence of both obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has increased, and each is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes including fetal overgrowth, neonatal morbidity, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and caesarean delivery. Women with GDM who are also overweight or obese have higher rates of pregnancy complications when compared with normal-weight women with GDM, which may occur in part due to suboptimal glycaemic control. The current recommendations for glycaemic targets in pregnant women with diabetes are based on limited evidence and exceed the mean fasting (70.9±7.8 mg/dL) and 1-hour postprandial (108.9±12.9 mg/dL) glucose values in pregnant individuals without diabetes. Our prior work demonstrated that the use of intensive (fasting <90 mg/dL and 1-hour postprandial <120 mg/dL) compared with standard (fasting <95 mg/dL and 1-hour postprandial <140 mg/dL) glycaemic targets resulted in improved glycaemic control without increasing the risk for hypoglycaemia in pregnant individuals with GDM, but the impact of intensive glycaemic targets on perinatal outcomes is unknown.

Methods and analysis

The Intensive Glycemic Targets in Overweight and Obese Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Multicenter Randomized Trial (iGDM Trial) is a large, pragmatic randomised clinical trial designed to investigate the impact of intensive versus standard glycaemic targets on perinatal outcomes in women with GDM who are overweight and obese. During the 5-year project period, a multidisciplinary team of investigators from five medical centres representing regions of the USA with high rates of obesity will randomise 828 overweight and obese women with GDM to either intensive or standard glycaemic targets. We will test the central hypothesis that intensive glycaemic targets will result in lower rates of neonatal composite morbidity including large for gestational age birth weight, neonatal hypoglycaemia, respiratory distress syndrome and need for phototherapy when compared with standard glycaemic targets using the intention-to-treat approach to analysis.

Ethics and dissemination

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Indiana University School of Medicine approved this study (IRB# 11435; initial approval date 25 August 2021). We will submit the results of the trial for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at international scientific meetings.

Trial registration number

NCT05124808.
Measurability of Wigner time delay in a photoionization experiment
Authors: Deshmukh Pranawa C. , Banerjee Sourav , Manson Steven T.
Published: March 2024

We visit significant historical steps in quantum collision physics that make photoionization time delay measurable, especially considering the time-reversal symmetry in related processes. The works of A. Ravi P. Rau and Ugo Fano inspire key ideas presented in this article.
Epigenetic regulation of sex dimorphism in cardiovascular health
Authors: Thej Charan , Kishore Raj
Published: March 2024

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, affecting people of all races, ages, and sexes. Substantial sex dimorphism exists in the prevalence, manifestation, and outcomes of CVDs. Understanding the role of sex hormones as well as sex-hormone-independent epigenetic mechanisms could play a crucial role in developing effective and sex-specific cardiovascular therapeutics. Existing research highlights significant disparities in sex hormones, epigenetic regulators, and gene expression related to cardiac health, emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of these variations between men and women. Despite these differences, current treatment approaches for CVDs often lack sex-specific considerations. A pivotal shift toward personalized medicine, informed by comprehensive insights into sex-specific DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA dynamics, holds the potential to revolutionize CVD management. By understanding sex-specific epigenetic complexities, independent of sex hormone influence, future cardiovascular research can be tailored to achieve effective diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for both men and women. This review summarizes the current knowledge and gaps in epigenetic mechanisms and sex dimorphism implicated in CVDs.
Expect the unexpected: a new species of killifish from a highly stochastic temporary wetland near Iguazú Falls (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae)
Authors: Alonso Felipe , Terán Guillermo Enrique , Calviño Pablo , Serra Alanís Wilson Sebastián , Montes Martin Miguel , García Ignacio Daniel , Barneche Jorge Adrián , Ciotek Liliana , Giorgis Pablo , Casciotta Jorge
Published: March 2024

We describe Argolebias adrianae, a new species of killifish from a small temporary wetland in the Paraná Forest ecoregion with no regular or predictable temporal pattern of water availability. This habitat is in the Lower Iguazú River Basin, known for its high fish endemism, but until now, only two species of Rivulidae were reported from it, but from the Araucarian Forest ecoregion. The genus Argolebias was previously only known from the lower portions of the Paraguay, Paraná, and Uruguay basins and middle Paraná. The new species is distinguished from all congeners by its unique coloration, which includes a conspicuously dark grey anterior third portion of the dorsal fin and the absence of iridescent spots on the basal half of the pectoral fin in live adult males, as well as dark grey spots on the anterocentral portion of the flanks of females. Our phylogenetic analysis shows A. adrianae to be closely related to Argolebias guarani from the adjacent Middle Paraná basin. We also provide data on the ecology, ontogeny of coloration, and chorion ornamentation of this species. Our findings have important implications for understanding the biogeography, ecology, and evolution of mechanisms that enable organisms to thrive in highly stochastic environments like this one.
Neutrino charge radius and electromagnetic dipole moments via scalar and vector leptoquarks
Authors: Bolaños-Carrera A. , Guiot-Lomelí M. , Tavares-Velasco G.
Published: March 2024

The one-loop contribution of scalar and vector leptoquarks (LQs) to the electromagnetic properties (NEPs) of massive Dirac neutrinos is presented via an effective Lagrangian approach. For the contribution of gauge LQs to the effective neutrino charge radius defined in Bernabeu et al. (Phys Rev Lett 89:101802, 2002. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.101802 [Erratum: Phys Rev Lett 89:229902 (2002)]), we considered a Yang–Mills scenario and used the background field method for the calculation. Analytical results for nonzero neutrino mass are presented, which can be useful to obtain the NEPs of heavy neutrinos, out of which approximate expressions are obtained for light neutrinos. For the numerical analysis we concentrate on the only renormalizable scalar and vector LQ representations that do not need extra symmetries to forbid tree-level proton decay. Constraints on the parameter space consistent with current experimental data are then discussed and it is found that the scalar $${\widetilde{R}}_2$$

R
~

2

and the vector $$U_1$$

U
1

representations could yield the largest LQ contributions to the NEPs: for LQ couplings to both left- and right handed neutrinos of the order of O(1) and a LQ mass of 1.5-2 TeV, the magnetic dipole moment (MDM) of a Dirac neutrino with a mass in the eV scale can be of the order of $$10^{-9}$$

10

-
9

–$$10^{-10}$$

10

-
10

$$\mu _B$$

μ
B

, whereas its neutrino electric dipole moment (EDM) can reach values as high as $$10^{-20}$$

10

-
20

–$$10^{-19}$$

10

-
19

ecm. On the other hand, the effective NCR can reach values up to $$10^{-35}$$

10

-
35

cm$$^2$$

2

even if LQs do not couple to right-handed neutrinos, in which case the EDM vanishes and the contribution to the MDM would be negligible.
A Survey of Knowledge Enhanced Pre-trained Language Models
Authors: Yang Jian , Hu Xinyu , Xiao Gang , Shen Yulong
Published: March 2024

Pre-trained language models learn informative word representations on a large-scale text corpus through self-supervised learning, which has achieved promising performance in fields of natural language processing (NLP) after fine-tuning. These models, however, suffer from poor robustness and lack of interpretability. We refer to pre-trained language models with knowledge injection as knowledge-enhanced pre-trained language models (KEPLMs). These models demonstrate deep understanding and logical reasoning and introduce interpretability. In this survey, we provide a comprehensive overview of KEPLMs in NLP. We first discuss the advancements in pre-trained language models and knowledge representation learning. Then we systematically categorize existing KEPLMs from three different perspectives. Finally, we outline some potential directions of KEPLMs for future research.
FERONIA: A Receptor Kinase at the Core of a Global Signaling Network
Authors: Cheung Alice Y.
Published: March 2024

Initially identified as a key regulator of female fertility in Arabidopsis, the FERONIA (FER) receptor kinase is now recognized as crucial for almost all aspects of plant growth and survival. FER partners with a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein of the LLG family to act as coreceptors on the cell surface. The FER-LLG coreceptor interacts with different RAPID ALKALINIZATION FACTOR (RALF) peptide ligands to function in various growth and developmental processes and to respond to challenges from the environment. The RALF-FER-LLG signaling modules interact with molecules in the cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus and mediate an interwoven signaling network. Multiple FER-LLG modules, each anchored by FER or a FER-related receptor kinase, have been studied, illustrating the functional diversity and the mechanistic complexity of the FER family signaling modules. The challenges going forward are to distill from this complexity the unifying schemes where possible and attain precision and refinement in the knowledge of critical details upon which future investigations can be built. By focusing on the extensively characterized FER, this review provides foundational information to guide the next phase of research on FER in model as well as crop species and potential applications for improving plant growth and resilience.