bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
First-principles calculations for heterostructure studies Involving CsPbI3 perovskite and IV-VI semiconductors
Authors: Lin Zhonghai , Sun Chengshuai , Liu Min , Zeng Ruiyang , Liu Mengdi , Fan Yingcai , Wu Qingyu , Wei Guangfen , Wang Pingjian , Qiao Zhuhui
Published: December 2023

The PbX(X = S, Se, Te)/CsPbI3 heterostructure, formed by lead chalcogenides and halide perovskite CsPbI3, holds promise for optoelectronic devices. Utilizing first-principles calculations with VASP software, this study investigates its structural, electronic, and optical properties. With confirmed appropriate lattice mismatch rates (4.6%, 2.4%, 3.8%) and similar octahedral frameworks, constructing the PbX/CsPbI3 heterostructure is feasible. Calculations of electronic properties reveal mechanisms to improve optical performance. The type-I band alignment at the PbX/CsPbI3 interface(−5.27 eV < PbX < −3.73 eV, −5.34 eV < CsPbI3 < −3.57 eV) reduces electron and hole recombination losses, enhancing energy transfer efficiency. This arrangement facilitates electron and hole transfer from CsPbI3 to PbX, supported by charge density differences. Among the three heterostructures, PbSe/CsPbI3 demonstrates superior charge transfer capabilities, with more pronounced electron clouds. The PbX/CsPbI3 heterostructure extends CsPbI3’s light absorption into the near-infrared via PbX influence. Spectral comparison reveals PbTe/CsPbI3 > PbSe/CsPbI3 > PbS/CsPbI3, with PbSe/CsPbI3 excelling in stability, charge density transfer, and optical properties. Furthermore, under the premise of ensuring stability, different optical absorption characteristics can be achieved by adjusting the composition of Se atoms in PbSe/CsPbI3. This work provides a theoretical basis for the physical mechanisms behind enhancing the performance of PbX/CsPbI3 heterostructures as visible-to-near-infrared optoelectronic materials. It offers a promising avenue for the design of high-performance visible-to-near-infrared optoelectronic materials.
Thermohydrodynamic performance of convergent slider bearings using different placement of square micro-textures and slip boundary
Authors: Singh Sartaj , Kango Saurabh
Published: December 2023

The present numerical study investigates the thermohydrodynamic performance of inclined/convergent slider bearings using different placing of textures and slip region. Mass-conserving Elrod cavitation model with slip boundary is used to analyze the static performance variables. Due to better fluid retain-ability, Square-shaped micro-textures have been used. The slip coefficient for the slip boundary on the bearing surface is taken as 9 μm. As reported previously for convergent bearings, the optimal convergence ratio (K) value for maximum bearing performance lies between 1 and 1.4. Therefore, in the present paper, the value of K is taken as 1.2. It was observed that the location of micro-textures and slip boundary greatly influence the bearing performance. When textures and slip regions are placed near the inlet region of the bearing, with a reduction in shear stress and the availability of the lubricant near the inlet, the resistance to the lubricant flow reduces, increasing lubricant intake. Further, for partial slip bearing, an abrupt obstruction to the lubricant flow occurs at the location of the slip/no-slip interface, which increases the hydrodynamic pressure and improves the load-bearing capacity of the bearing. Moreover, due to less friction observed, various slip-textured bearings showed a reduction in the average lubricant temperature compared to conventional bearing. In the end, an updated combined slip-textured bearing surface is presented for maximum bearing performance in terms of different performance variables. The findings of the current work would be helpful for researchers in selecting the optimum slip-textured surface for inclined slider bearings under the current operating conditions.
Reflection of quasi plasma wave in photo-piezo semiconductor medium with distinct higher order fractional derivative two temperature models
Authors: Gupta Vipin , Barak M S , Ahmad Hijaz
Published: December 2023

This article investigates the reflection of thermo-photo-piezo-elastic plane waves from a homogeneous, orthotropic, and piezo semiconductor medium during the photo-thermal process. A novel higher-order fractional dual-phase lag hyperbolic two-temperature model is employed to tackle this study. The analytical solution to the problem in the

x
z

plane reveals the existence of five interconnected waves. The derivation of formulas for reflection coefficients and their corresponding energy ratios is performed for an incident quasi-plasma wave. Numerical computations determine the energy ratios for different angles of incidence. These energy ratios are visually represented in graphs, demonstrating the influence of higher-order parameters, two-temperature effects, fractional order derivatives, and various heat conduction models.
Anomalous sea temperatures can impair coral reef fish recruitment
Authors: Foo Shawna A , Carlson Rachel R , Teague Christopher , Asner Gregory P
Published: December 2023

Understanding how temperature affects coral reef fish recruitment success is crucial for assessing impacts of ocean warming on coral reef resilience. We utilized a long-term fish survey dataset along the west coast of Hawai‘i Island to investigate the role of sea surface temperature (SST) in influencing recruitment timing and density. The dataset consisted of 17 years of surveys, with 25 sites annually surveyed in the months of May, July, September and November. We found that peak recruitment, i.e. the maximum number of recruits recorded across all surveys per year, usually occurred during July surveys. For sites where peak recruitment for that year occurred outside July, there were significantly fewer fish recruits than for sites whose peak recruitment occurred in July. In addition, the timing of peak recruitment is influenced by anomalously warm or cool years prior to spawning. The decrease in recruit density outside these times is likely influenced by recruits being exposed to temperatures warmer and cooler than their optimum. Our results show that climate variability is having an impact on the timing of peak recruitment, creating a mismatch between the thermal optimum of developing recruits and the thermal environment they develop in, negatively affecting recruit density in critical coral reef habitats. Altered and reduced recruitment has the potential to disrupt reef community structure and long-term fisheries sustainability in Hawai‘i, with important management implications for coral reefs in the future.
The vital role of sulfuric acid in iodine oxoacids nucleation: impacts of urban pollutants on marine atmosphere
Authors: Zu Haotian , Zhang Shaobing , Liu Ling , Zhang Xiuhui
Published: December 2023

The nucleation of iodic acid (HIO3) and iodous acid (HIO2) play a significant role in marine new particle formation (NPF) events. However, the inability to explain intensive NPF bursts in polluted coasts indicates the participation of potential precursors. Herein, we identified a novel nucleation mechanism of HIO3–HIO2 system enhanced by the urban pollutant sulfuric acid (H2SO4). We found that H2SO4 could largely enhance the cluster formation rates (J, cm−3 s−1) of HIO3–HIO2 system, especially in high [H2SO4] regions near H2SO4 emission sources. The enhanced J of HIO3–HIO2–H2SO4 system performs better match than that of HIO3–HIO2 system with the observational rates of polluted coasts and polar regions, such as Zhejiang and Marambio. Moreover, the H2SO4-involved cluster formation is realized without Gibbs free energy barrier and dominate broadly in marine regions with rich H2SO4 and scarce iodine concentrations. These findings may help to explain some missing fluxes of marine new particles and emphasize the impact of urban components on marine nucleation processes.
COVID-19, Bereavement and Political Psychotherapy: A Critical Social Work Perspective
Authors: Barak Adi
Published: December 2023

In the article, the author examines the role of critical social work in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic with reference to theory, practice and pedagogy. The author argues that the COVID-19 crisis was not only a crisis of public health but also an ideological crisis. In this context, the author explains that a combination of political theory and psychotherapy theory is necessary when treating individuals for whom the political–ideological space is central to their experience of distress. Such an integration, which is essential to critical social work, can exist when political theory and psychotherapy theory are treated as complementary theories that illuminate the human experience from different angles. Bereavement due to COVID-19-related loss is examined as a theoretical case study to explore the topics of the article alongside the concept of political psychotherapy.
Continued dysfunction of capillary pericytes promotes no-reflow after experimental stroke in vivo
Authors: Shrouder Joshua James , Calandra Gian Marco , Filser Severin , Varga Daniel Peter , Besson-Girard Simon , Mamrak Uta , Dorok Maximilian , Bulut-Impraim Buket , Seker Fatma Burcu , Gesierich Benno , Laredo Fabio , Wehn Antonia Clarissa , Khalin Igor , Bayer Patrick , Liesz Arthur , Gokce Ozgun , Plesnila Nikolaus
Published: December 2023

Incomplete reperfusion of the microvasculature (‘no-reflow’) after ischaemic stroke damages salvageable brain tissue. Previous ex vivo studies suggest pericytes are vulnerable to ischaemia and may exacerbate no-reflow, but the viability of pericytes and their association with no-reflow remains under-explored in vivo.

Using longitudinal in vivo two-photon single-cell imaging over 7 days, we showed that 87% of pericytes constrict during cerebral ischaemia and remain constricted post reperfusion, and 50% of the pericyte population are acutely damaged. Moreover, we revealed ischaemic pericytes to be fundamentally implicated in capillary no-reflow by limiting and arresting blood flow within the first 24 h post stroke. Despite sustaining acute membrane damage, we observed that over half of all cortical pericytes survived ischaemia and responded to vasoactive stimuli, upregulated unique transcriptomic profiles and replicated. Finally, we demonstrated the delayed recovery of capillary diameter by ischaemic pericytes after reperfusion predicted vessel reconstriction in the subacute phase of stroke.

Cumulatively, these findings demonstrate that surviving cortical pericytes remain both viable and promising therapeutic targets to counteract no-reflow after ischaemic stroke.
Competitors alter selection on alpine plants exposed to experimental climate change
Authors: Nomoto Hanna , Fior Simone , Alexander Jake
Published: December 2023

Investigating how climate change alters selection regimes is a crucial step toward understanding the potential of populations to evolve in the face of changing conditions. Previous studies have mainly focused on understanding how changing climate directly influences selection, while the role of species’ interactions has received little attention. Here, we used a transplant experiment along an elevation gradient to estimate how climate warming and competitive interactions lead to shifts in directional phenotypic selection on morphology and phenology of four alpine plants. We found that warming generally imposed novel selection, with the largest shifts in regimes acting on specific leaf area and flowering time across species. Competitors instead weakened the selection acting on traits that was imposed directly by warming. Weakened or absent selection in the presence of competitors was largely associated with the suppression of absolute means and variation of fitness. Our results suggest that although climate change can impose strong selection, competitive interactions within communities might act to limit selection and thereby stymie evolutionary responses in alpine plants facing climate change.
An experimental test of the evolutionary consequences of sympatry in Drosophila subquinaria
Authors: Jarvis Will M C , Arthur Nicholas J , Rundle Howard D , Dyer Kelly A
Published: December 2023

Prezygotic isolation is often stronger between sympatric as opposed to allopatric taxa, but the underlying cause can be difficult to infer from comparative studies alone. Experimental evolution, where evolutionary responses to treatments manipulating the presence/absence of heterospecific individuals are tracked, can provide a powerful complementary approach. We used experimental evolution to investigate a naturally occurring pattern of reproductive character displacement in the mushroom-feeding fly, Drosophila subquinaria. In nature, female D. subquinaria from populations sympatric with the closely related Drosophila recens discriminate more strongly against heterospecific males than do females from allopatric populations. Starting with 16 replicate allopatric populations of D. subquinaria, we manipulated the presence/absence of D. recens during mating (experimental sympatry vs. control) and, when present, we allowed hybrids to live or kill them each generation. Across 12 generations, heterospecific offspring production from no-choice mating trials between D. subquinaria females and D. recens males declined in both experimental sympatry treatments relative to the control, suggesting increased sexual isolation. Male cuticular hydrocarbon profiles also evolved, but only in the hybrids killed treatment. Our results strongly imply that the existing reproductive character displacement in wild D. subquinaria populations was an evolutionary response to selection arising from secondary contact with D. recens.
ProGlycProt V3.0: updated insights into prokaryotic glycoproteins and their glycosyltransferases
Authors: Janhvi Shreya , Saini Shikha , Singh Vaidhvi , Sharma Tarun , Rao Alka
Published: December 2023

ProGlycProt is a comprehensive database of experimentally validated information about protein glycosylation in prokaryotes, including the glycoproteins, glycosyltransferases, and their accessory enzymes. The first release of ProGlycProt featured experimentally validated information on glycoproteins only. For the second release in 2019, the size and scope of the database were expanded twofold, and experimental data on cognate glycosyltransferases and their accessory proteins was incorporated. The growing research and technology interest in microbial glycoproteins and their enzymes is evident from the steady rise in academic publications and patents in this area. Accordingly, the third update comprises a new section on patents related to glycosylation methods, novel glycosyltransferases, and technologies developed therefrom. The structure gallery is reorganized, wherein the number and quality of the models are upgraded with the help of AlphaFold2. Over the years, the influx of experimental proteomics data into public repositories like PRIDE has surged. Harnessing this legacy data for in-silico glycoprotein identification is a smart approach. Version 3.0 adds 45 N-glycoprotein entries annotated from MS datasets available on PRIDE and reviewed by independent research groups. With a 67% rise in entries corresponding to 119 genera of prokaryotes, the ProGlycProt continues to be the exclusive database of experimentally validated comprehensive information about protein glycosylation in prokaryotes.
Factors influencing the technical efficiency of diabetes care at primary care level in Mexico
Authors: Chivardi Carlos , Zamudio Sosa Alejandro
Published: December 2023

Diabetes prevalence is rising globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries like Mexico, posing challenges for healthcare systems that require efficient primary care to manage the disease. However, healthcare efficiency is influenced by factors beyond decision-makers, including socioeconomic and political conditions. This study aims to evaluate the technical efficiency of primary healthcare for diabetes patients in Mexico over a 12-year period and explore the impact of contextual variables on efficiency. A longitudinal analysis was conducted using administrative and socio-demographic data from 242 health jurisdictions between 2009 and 2020. Data envelopment analysis with bootstrapping and output orientation was used to measure the technical efficiency; health resources in infrastructure and human resources were used as inputs. As outcome, the number of patients receiving treatment for diabetes and the number of patients with controlled diabetes were considered. Machine learning algorithms were employed to analyse multiple factors affecting the provision of diabetes health services and assess heterogeneity and trends in efficiency across different health jurisdictions. The average technical efficiency in primary healthcare for diabetes patients was 0.44 (CI: 0.41–0.46) in 2009, reaching a peak of 0.71 (CI: 0.69–0.72) in 2016, and moderately declining to 0.60 (CI: 0.57–0.62) in 2020; these differences were statistically significant. The random forest analysis identified the marginalization index, primary healthcare coverage, proportion of indigenous population and demand for health services as the most influential variables in predicting efficiency levels. This research underscores the crucial need for the formulation of targeted public policies aimed at extending the scope of primary healthcare services, with a particular focus on addressing the unique challenges faced by marginalized and indigenous populations. According to our results, it is necessary that medical care management adjust to the specific demands and needs of these populations to guarantee equitable care in Mexico.
A review and synthesis of the benefits, drawbacks, and considerations of using traps to survey fish and decapods
Authors: Bacheler Nathan M
Published: December 2023

Traps (or pots) are one of the oldest and most widespread scientific survey gears for fish and decapod crustaceans around the world. Here, I review and synthesize the extensive scientific literature describing the various benefits and drawbacks of using traps as a survey gear in scientific studies. The widespread use of traps in fish and decapod surveys is due to several characteristics like their low cost, flexible design, ease of use, ability to fish unattended, and being amenable to pairing with other gears. However, there are a number of significant drawbacks of using traps, including highly variable catches due to environmental fluctuations or behavioral interactions or lost traps that continue catching and killing animals, that must be considered and accounted for when initiating trap surveys. This study highlights the types of habitats and species most and least suited for monitoring by traps, and emphasizes the importance of matching the goals and objectives of a trap survey with the correct trap design, mouth entrance, bait type, soak time, and pairing of gears. Pilot studies are also recommended before surveys are initiated to quantify the selectivity patterns of traps and identify the various factors that may influence trap catch.
Memory Entrepreneurship: Armenian Genocide Recognition in Europe
Authors: Fittante Daniel
Published: December 2023

Scholars have analyzed how political actors appropriate Holocaust-related memory laws to whitewash the past and undermine democratic traditions in various European countries. However, political actors in Europe have debated several other memory laws, which far-right MPs appropriate to serve their own purposes. The recognition of the Armenian Genocide is an understudied example of this phenomenon. Drawing from data collected in four countries—Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Latvia, and Sweden—this analysis introduces the rhetorical strategies of memory justification and memory extrapolation to examine how far-right MPs, in very distinct geopolitical contexts, appropriate and instrumentalize Armenian Genocide memory to attack pluralism and promote their own versions of Europe. Through an analysis of the instrumentalization of the Armenian Genocide, this article examines a growing crisis at the center of contemporary European politics. This crisis, which involves actors promoting very different goals and values, increasingly threatens the socio-political cohesion of Europe.
Patterns of care for brachytherapy in Japan
Authors: Ikushima Hitoshi , Ii Noriko , Noda Shin-ei , Masui Koji , Murakami Naoya , Yoshida Ken , Watanabe Miho , Kawamura Shinnji , Kojima Toru , Nomoto Yoshihito , Toita Takafumi , Ohno Tatsuya , Sakurai Hideyuki , Onishi Hiroshi
Published: December 2023

This study aimed to assess the current state of brachytherapy (BT) resources, practices and resident education in Japan. A nationwide survey was undertaken encompassing 177 establishments facilitating BT in 2022. Questionnaires were disseminated to each BT center, and feedback through online channels or postal correspondence was obtained. The questionnaire response rate was 90% (159/177), and every prefecture had a response in at least one center. The number of centers in each prefecture ranged from 0.6 to 3.6 (median: 1.3) per million population. The annual number of patients in each center ranged from 0 to 272 (median: 31). While most prefectures provided intracavitary (IC) BT for gynecological cancers and interstitial (IS) BT for prostate cancer, only one-third of the prefectures provided IS BT for cancer sites other than the prostate. The institutional image-guided BT implementation rate was 71%. IC and IS BT was performed for 15.4% of IC BT cases of gynecological cancer. Only 47% of the BT training centers answered that they could provide adequate training in BT for residents. The most common reason for this finding was the insufficient number of patients in each center. The results show that, although BT has achieved uniformity in terms of facility penetration, new technologies are not yet widespread enough. Furthermore, IS BT, which requires advanced skills, is limited to a few BT centers, and considerable number of BT training centers do not have sufficient caseloads to provide the necessary experience for their residents.
The potential overdose of heart and left anterior descending coronary artery region during intensity-modulated radiation therapy in patients with esophageal cancer
Authors: Makita Kenji , Hamamoto Yasushi , Kanzaki Hiromitsu , Nagasaki Kei
Published: December 2023

This study aimed to investigate the changes in dose distribution in the heart and left anterior descending coronary artery region (LADR) during intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in patients with esophageal cancer (EC) treated at our institution. The heart and LADR were delineated on the initial and off-cord boost planning computed tomography (CT) images. Cardiac volume reduction (CVR) was defined as the reduction in cardiac volume between the initial CT and off-cord boost CT at the dose of 36 Gy irradiated. The involved field IMRT plan was created based on each initial and off-cord boost CT image and was analyzed based on the relationship between CVR and heart and LADR dose–volume parameters (Heart-Dmax, Heart-Dmean, Heart-V20, Heart-V30, Heart-V40, LADR-Dmax, LADR-Dmean, LADR-V15 and LADR-V30). Forty patients with EC were investigated between January 2016 and January 2022. The median CVR ratio during radiation therapy (RT) was 5.57% (range, −7.79 to 18.26%). Simple linear regression analysis revealed significant correlations between CVR during RT and changes in the heart and LADR dose–volume parameters. Some patients (>10%) experienced severe changes in the heart and LADR dose distribution. In three cases with reduced heart volume and primary tumor mass, the changes in LADR-V15 and LADR-V30 showed outliers. In conclusion, CVR during RT correlated with an increase in the heart and LADR dose. When both CVR and tumor volume reduction are large, a potential overdose of LADR during RT should be noted in the IMRT era.
Dilemmas faced by judges when granting marriage dispensations for child marriages in West Java, Indonesia
Authors: Shahrullah Rina Shahriyani , Firdaus Firdaus , Syarief Elza , Rahmadhony Aditya , Situmeang Ampuan , Nasution Sri Lilestina , Nurlaily Nurlaily , Kistiana Sari , Nugraha Deden Gumilar
Published: December 2023

Child marriage remains common in Indonesia, particularly in West Java. The highest number of child marriages is seen in the Tasikmalaya and Indramayu regencies. We argue that although the Marriage Law has been amended and the age of marriage consent increased to 19 years to prevent child marriage, the law fails to eliminate child marriages as it allows for a marriage dispensation under emergency conditions, such as a minor’s premarital pregnancy. This article is based on empirical research that employs sociolegal approaches to examine the grounds adopted by judges when deciding whether to grant or reject marriage dispensation applications in these two regencies. It was found that judges face dilemmas in examining the applications because they must prioritize the best interests of the children. As a result, their decisions are made by considering emergency and non-emergency conditions related to the child. Legal instruments are found to be more comprehensive in Tasikmalaya than in Indramayu. However, their implementation continues to be ineffective in eliminating child marriage.
A search for auroral radio emission from β Pictoris b
Authors: Shiohira Yuta , Fujii Yuka , Kita Hajime , Kimura Tomoki , Terada Yuka , Takahashi Keitaro
Published: December 2023

Magnetized exoplanets can serve as the source of auroral radio emissions, allowing us to characterize the magnetospheric properties of these planets. Successful detections of auroral radio emissions from brown dwarfs, as well as from Jupiter, suggest that Jupiter-like planets in distant orbits may also generate radio emissions through a similar mechanism. In this study, we present our search for 250–500 MHz emissions from β Pictoris b, one of the most extensively studied young Jupiter-like planets. We conducted the search using the upgraded Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope. Despite the favourable orbital inclination, no signal was detected, putting 3σ upper limits on the radiation at 0.18 mJy. We translate this limit into constraints on the ionospheric and magnetospheric parameters, assuming that the emission is powered by the Hill current system. While the upper limit is larger by a factor of a few than the nominal estimate of radio intensity, we put constraints on the magnetospheric and ionospheric parameters.
Genetic variation is a key determinant of chromatin accessibility and drives differences in the regulatory landscape of C57BL/6J and 129S1/SvImJ mice
Authors: Mononen Juho , Taipale Mari , Malinen Marjo , Velidendla Bharadwaja , Niskanen Einari , Levonen Anna-Liisa , Ruotsalainen Anna-Kaisa , Heikkinen Sami
Published: December 2023

Most common genetic variants associated with disease are located in non-coding regions of the genome. One mechanism by which they function is through altering transcription factor (TF) binding. In this study, we explore how genetic variation is connected to differences in the regulatory landscape of livers from C57BL/6J and 129S1/SvImJ mice fed either chow or a high-fat diet. To identify sites where regulatory variation affects TF binding and nearby gene expression, we employed an integrative analysis of H3K27ac ChIP-seq (active enhancers), ATAC-seq (chromatin accessibility) and RNA-seq (gene expression). We show that, across all these assays, the genetically driven (i.e. strain-specific) differences in the regulatory landscape are more pronounced than those modified by diet. Most notably, our analysis revealed that differentially accessible regions (DARs, N = 29635, FDR < 0.01 and fold change > 50%) are almost always strain-specific and enriched with genetic variation. Moreover, proximal DARs are highly correlated with differentially expressed genes. We also show that TF binding is affected by genetic variation, which we validate experimentally using ChIP-seq for TCF7L2 and CTCF. This study provides detailed insights into how non-coding genetic variation alters the gene regulatory landscape, and demonstrates how this can be used to study the regulatory variation influencing TF binding.
IRE1 endoribonuclease signaling promotes myeloid cell infiltration in glioblastoma
Authors: Obacz Joanna , Archambeau Jérôme , Lafont Elodie , Nivet Manon , Martin Sophie , Aubry Marc , Voutetakis Konstantinos , Pineau Raphael , Boniface Rachel , Sicari Daria , Pelizzari-Raymundo Diana , Ghukasyan Gevorg , McGrath Eoghan , Vlachavas Efstathios-Iason , Le Gallo Matthieu , Le Reste Pierre Jean , Barroso Kim , Fainsod-Levi Tanya , Obiedat Akram , Granot Zvi , Tirosh Boaz , Samal Juhi , Pandit Abhay , Négroni Luc , Soriano Nicolas , Monnier Annabelle , Mosser Jean , Chatziioannou Aristotelis , Quillien Véronique , Chevet Eric , Avril Tony
Published: December 2023

Background

Intrinsic or environmental stresses trigger the accumulation of improperly folded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), leading to ER stress. To cope with this, cells have evolved an adaptive mechanism named the unfolded protein response (UPR) which is hijacked by tumor cells to develop malignant features. Glioblastoma (GB), the most aggressive and lethal primary brain tumor, relies on UPR to sustain growth. We recently showed that IRE1 alpha (referred to IRE1 hereafter), 1 of the UPR transducers, promotes GB invasion, angiogenesis, and infiltration by macrophage. Hence, high tumor IRE1 activity in tumor cells predicts a worse outcome. Herein, we characterized the IRE1-dependent signaling that shapes the immune microenvironment toward monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils.

Methods

We used human and mouse cellular models in which IRE1 was genetically or pharmacologically invalidated and which were tested in vivo. Publicly available datasets from GB patients were also analyzed to confirm our findings.

Results

We showed that IRE1 signaling, through both the transcription factor XBP1s and the regulated IRE1-dependent decay controls the expression of the ubiquitin-conjugating E2 enzyme UBE2D3. In turn, UBE2D3 activates the NFκB pathway, resulting in chemokine production and myeloid infiltration in tumors.

Conclusions

Our work identifies a novel IRE1/UBE2D3 proinflammatory axis that plays an instrumental role in GB immune regulation.
Intrapancreatic fat deposition and nutritional treatment: the role of various dietary approaches
Authors: Della Pepa Giuseppe , Salamone Dominic , Testa Roberta , Bozzetto Lutgarda , Costabile Giuseppina
Published: December 2023

Ectopic fat accumulation in various organs and tissues, such as the liver, muscle, kidney, heart, and pancreas, is related to impaired capacity of adipose tissue to accumulate triglycerides, as a consequence of overnutrition and an unhealthy lifestyle. Ectopic fat promotes organ dysfunction and is a key factor in the development and progression of cardiometabolic diseases. Interest in intrapancreatic fat deposition (IPFD) has developed in the last few years, particularly in relation to improvement in methodological techniques for detection of fat in the pancreas, and to growing evidence for the role that IPFD might have in glucose metabolism disorders and cardiometabolic disease. Body weight reduction represents the main option for reducing fat, and the evidence consistently shows that hypocaloric diets are effective in reducing IPFD. Changes in diet composition, independently of changes in energy intake, might offer a more feasible and safe alternative treatment to energy restriction. This current narrative review focused particularly on the possible beneficial role of the diet and its nutrient content, in hypocaloric and isocaloric conditions, in reducing IPFD in individuals with high cardiometabolic risk, highlighting the possible effects of differences in calorie quantity and calorie quality. This review also describes plausible mechanisms by which the various dietary approaches could modulate IPFD.
The Limits of the Constant-rate Birth–Death Prior for Phylogenetic Tree Topology Inference
Authors: Khurana Mark P , Scheidwasser-Clow Neil , Penn Matthew J , Bhatt Samir , Duchêne David A
Published: December 2023

Birth–death models are stochastic processes describing speciation and extinction through time and across taxa and are widely used in biology for inference of evolutionary timescales. Previous research has highlighted how the expected trees under the constant-rate birth–death (crBD) model tend to differ from empirical trees, for example, with respect to the amount of phylogenetic imbalance. However, our understanding of how trees differ between the crBD model and the signal in empirical data remains incomplete. In this Point of View, we aim to expose the degree to which the crBD model differs from empirically inferred phylogenies and test the limits of the model in practice. Using a wide range of topology indices to compare crBD expectations against a comprehensive dataset of 1189 empirically estimated trees, we confirm that crBD model trees frequently differ topologically compared with empirical trees. To place this in the context of standard practice in the field, we conducted a meta-analysis for a subset of the empirical studies. When comparing studies that used Bayesian methods and crBD priors with those that used other non-crBD priors and non-Bayesian methods (i.e., maximum likelihood methods), we do not find any significant differences in tree topology inferences. To scrutinize this finding for the case of highly imbalanced trees, we selected the 100 trees with the greatest imbalance from our dataset, simulated sequence data for these tree topologies under various evolutionary rates, and re-inferred the trees under maximum likelihood and using the crBD model in a Bayesian setting. We find that when the substitution rate is low, the crBD prior results in overly balanced trees, but the tendency is negligible when substitution rates are sufficiently high. Overall, our findings demonstrate the general robustness of crBD priors across a broad range of phylogenetic inference scenarios but also highlight that empirically observed phylogenetic imbalance is highly improbable under the crBD model, leading to systematic bias in data sets with limited information content.
Leadership development training for orthopaedic trauma surgeons: an international survey
Authors: MacKechnie Madeline C. , Miclau Elizabeth , MacKechnie Michael A. , Miclau Theodore ,   Leadership Development Study Group (Corporate Authors)
Published: December 2023

Purpose:

This study examined the leadership development themes that global orthopaedic surgeons in differently resourced countries perceive as essential components and evaluated barriers to attending leadership development programs.

Methods:

This multinational, 45-question survey engaged orthopaedic surgeons (one expert per country). The questionnaire collected participants' demographics, perception of effective leadership traits, and valuation of various leadership themes based on importance and interest.

Results:

The survey was completed by 110 orthopaedic surgeons worldwide. Respondents most commonly reported holding a leadership position (87%) in hospital settings (62%), clinical settings (47%), and national orthopaedic societies (46%). The greatest proportion of participants reported having never attended a leadership course (42%). Participants regarded “high performing team-building,” “professional ethics,” and “organizational structure and ability to lead” as the most important leadership themes. No significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences were identified among perceived importance or interest in leadership themes between income levels; however, statistically significant differences were identified in the questionnaire; respondents in low- and middle-income countries (LICs/LMICs) demonstrated a stronger interest in attending a leadership course than those in high-income countries (HICs) (98% vs. 79%, P = 0.013), and fewer surgeons in LICs/LMICs had taken personality assessment tests than those in HICs (22% vs. 49%, P = 0.019). The most common barriers to attending leadership courses were lack of opportunities and invitations (57%), difficulty missing work (22%), and cost of course attendance (22%).

Conclusions:

These findings can better inform the development of effective curricula and provide a framework for a successful model for the future.

Level of Evidence:

V.
HPV vaccination among eligible HIV-positive adults: a best practice implementation project
Authors: Walker Holly , Garbo Candon , Palokas Michelle
Published: December 2023

Objective:

The aim of this best practice implementation project was to promote evidence-based practices (EBPs) for human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination among eligible HIV-positive patients.

Introduction:

HPV-induced cancers are largely preventable through the prophylactic vaccination of HPV-naïve individuals. Immunosuppression in HIV-positive patients prevents clearance of HPV, which increases the risk of developing cancer. Health care agencies caring for individuals living with HIV must implement interventions to enhance uptake of HPV vaccination.

Methods:

This project was guided by the JBI Model of Evidence-Based Healthcare and JBI's Getting Research into Practice (GRiP) tool. A baseline audit was conducted to assess current practice against EBPs and to identify areas for improvement. A follow-up audit was conducted post-implementation to determine whether compliance with EBPs had improved.

Results:

The baseline audit revealed an average compliance rate of 46% with the two EBPs for increasing vaccination uptake. Three barriers to compliance were identified and strategies were implemented to address these barriers. The follow-up audit revealed 71% average compliance with the EBPs, a 25% increase from baseline.

Conclusions:

Interventions aimed at promoting HPV vaccination among HIV-positive individuals can reduce the risk of specific cancers. This project revealed an increase in compliance with EBPs for HPV vaccination for eligible HIV-positive patients when a vaccination reminder and recall system was placed in a frequently visited section of the electronic health record. However, a more sustainable solution would be to collaborate with IT staff to ensure that the health maintenance section in the electronic health record is configured correctly.
Factors that influence the implementation of innovation in aged care: a scoping review
Authors: Windle Alice , Marshall Amy , de la Perrelle Lenore , Champion Stephanie , Ross Paul D.S. , Harvey Gillian , Davy Carol
Published: December 2023

Objective:

The objective of this scoping review is to identify factors that influence the implementation of innovation in aged care.

Introduction:

Aged care is a dynamic sector experiencing rapid change. Implementation of innovations in aged care has received relatively little research attention compared with health care.

Inclusion criteria:

This review included studies of any design that examined the implementation of innovations in aged care settings.

Methods:

Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL, AgeLine, and ProQuest Social Sciences Premium Collection for studies published between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2022. The titles and abstracts of retrieved citations were screened by two independent reviewers. Full-text articles were screened by one reviewer to determine eligibility. Data were extracted in NVivo using a tool developed by the research team. Factors that influenced implementation were inductively coded, interpreted, and grouped into categories.

Results:

Of the 2530 studies that were screened, 193 were included. Of the included papers, 74% related to residential aged care, 28% used an implementation theory or framework, and 15% involved consumers. Five key categories of factors influencing implementation were identified: organizational context, including resourcing and culture; people's attitudes and capabilities; relationships between people; the intervention and its appropriateness; and implementation actions, such as stakeholder engagement or implementation strategies.

Conclusions:

Our findings can be used to develop practical resources to support implementation efforts, and highlight the importance of resourcing for successful implementation. Attention to community-based aged care and greater engagement with theory and community are needed to promote research rigor, relevance, and applicability.
Maf1 phosphorylation is regulated through the action of prefoldin-like Bud27 on PP4 phosphatase inSaccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Gutiérrez-Santiago F. , Martínez-Fernández V. , Garrido-Godino A.I , Colino-Palomino C. , Clemente-Blanco A. , Conesa C. , Acker J. , Navarro F.
Published: December 2023

Bud27 is a prefoldin-like protein that participates in transcriptional regulation mediated by the three RNA polymerases inSaccharomyces cerevisiae. Lack of Bud27 significantly affects RNA pol III transcription, although the involved mechanisms have not been characterized. Here we show that Bud27 regulates the phosphorylation state of the RNA pol III transcriptional repressor, Maf1, influences its nuclear localization, and likely its activity. We demonstrate that Bud27 is associated with the Maf1 main phosphatase PP4in vivo,and that this interaction is required for proper Maf1 dephosphorylation. Lack of Bud27 decreases the interaction among PP4 and Maf1, Maf1 dephosphorylation, and its nuclear entry. Our data uncover a new nuclear function of Bud27, identify PP4 as a novel Bud27 interactor and demonstrate the effect of this prefoldin-like on the posttranslational regulation of Maf1. Finally, our data reveal a broader effect of Bud27 on PP4 activity by influencing, at least, the phosphorylation of Rad53.
Assessing the implications of access to toilet and water facilities on the health of households in the Sunyani Municipality, Ghana
Authors: Asare Prince Philip Ankapong , Barimah Antwi Joseph , Mensah Catherine , Munkaila Leilat Iddris , Addo Henry Ofosu
Published: December 2023

Background

Uncontaminated water and adequate sanitation facilities are of major importance for limiting the incidence of infectious diseases. In Ghana, about 80% of people still do not have access to proper sanitation, including latrines, which have dramatic consequences on human health, dignity, security and the environment. Potable water coverage in the Sunyani municipality stands at 47 percent in the urban areas and 33.5 percent in the rural areas. Many of the households in the Sunyani Municipality do not have toilet facilities, putting pressure on the few existing public toilet facilities available.

Methods

Using a simple random sampling technique, a total of 500 households were selected for the study. Structured questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data. In addition, a hand-held global positioning system (GPS) receiver was used to pick geographic coordinates of various water and toilet facilities. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.

Results

The results indicate inconsistencies in the spatial distribution of toilet and water facilities with an average distance of 33 meters. The study further revealed the current system of public toilets operating in the towns cannot be resource intensive to meet households’ targets because they do not satisfy sanitation needs (p<0.001). On the contrary, it tends to rather create even more problems, thereby encouraging open defecation. Also, their impact on human and environmental health needs to be taken into account.

Conclusion

Access to potable water and improved toilet facility remains a challenge as most households do not have toilets within their homes. Financial constraints, distance travelled and poor condition of public toilets were the main factors determining utilization of public toilet facilities. The types of toilet facilities used in the Municipality influence disease prevalence. The prevalence of cholera, diarrhoea, typhoid, skin rashes and eye infections were as a result of improper or no washing of hands.
Prognostic biomarkers of intracerebral hemorrhage identified using targeted proteomics and machine learning algorithms
Authors: Misra Shubham , Kawamura Yuki , Singh Praveen , Sengupta Shantanu , Nath Manabesh , Rahman Zuhaibur , Kumar Pradeep , Kumar Amit , Aggarwal Praveen , Srivastava Achal K. , Pandit Awadh K. , Mohania Dheeraj , Prasad Kameshwar , Mishra Nishant K. , Vibha Deepti
Published: December 2023

Early prognostication of patient outcomes in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is critical for patient care. We aim to investigate protein biomarkers’ role in prognosticating outcomes in ICH patients. We assessed 22 protein biomarkers using targeted proteomics in serum samples obtained from the ICH patient dataset (N=150). We defined poor outcomes as modified Rankin scale score of 3-6. We incorporated clinical variables and protein biomarkers in regression models and random forest-based machine learning algorithms to predict poor outcomes and mortality. We report Odds Ratio (OR) or Hazard Ratio (HR) with 95% Confidence Interval (CI). We used five-fold cross-validation and bootstrapping for internal validation of prediction models. We included 149 patients for 90-day and 144 patients with ICH for 180-day outcome analyses. In multivariable logistic regression, UCH-L1 (aOR 9.23; 95%CI 2.41-35.33), alpha-2-macroglobulin (5.57; 1.26-24.59), and Serpin-A11 (9.33; 1.09-79.94) were independent predictors of 90-day poor outcome; MMP-2 (6.32; 1.82-21.90) was independent predictor of 180-day poor outcome. In multivariable Cox regression models, IGFBP-3 (aHR 2.08; 1.24-3.48) predicted 90-day and MMP-9 (1.98; 1.19-3.32) predicted 180-day mortality. Using machine learning, UCH-L1 and APO-C1 predicted 90-day mortality, and UCH-L1, MMP-9, and MMP-2 predicted 180-day mortality. Overall, random forest models outperformed regression models for predicting 180-day poor outcomes (AUC 0.89), and 90-day (AUC 0.81) and 180-day mortality (AUC 0.81). Serum biomarkers independently predicted short-term poor outcomes and mortality after ICH. Further research utilizing a multiomics platform and temporal profiling is needed to explore additional biomarkers and refine predictive models for ICH prognosis.