bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multilocus phylogeography of Italian Moorish geckos adds insights into the evolutionary history of European populations
Authors: Belluardo Francesco , Pellitteri‐Rosa Daniele , Cocca Walter , Liuzzi Cristiano , Rato Catarina , Crottini Angelica , Bellati Adriana
Published: December 2023

Geckos of clade III of the Tarentola mauritanica species complex are widespread throughout southern Europe and northern Africa. We investigated the genetic variability of the Italian populations by performing a widespread sampling throughout the mainland and the two main islands of Sicily and Sardinia. We analysed 199 newly generated sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene and 269 nuclear genotypes inferred from nine microsatellite loci from 307 individuals. We found 13 new mitochondrial haplotypes in Italy, whereas previous findings reported a single haplotype widespread throughout the country and in the rest of Europe, which currently make Italy the centre of genetic diversity of this taxon. There was no evidence of mitochondrial DNA structuring with geographic correlation. At the population genetic level, our multilocus approach based on nuclear markers returned a shallow genetic structure. Nonetheless, we disclosed the presence of at least four distinct genetic clusters (namely the Adriatic, two Tyrrhenian and the Calabrian clusters). Our findings do not support the two hypotheses proposed to explain the low level of mitochondrial polymorphism in this taxon, namely the genetic hitch‐hiking due to selective sweep and the historical human‐mediated colonization hypotheses. Based on the fossil record, the presence in Italy of this taxon since the Pleistocene Epoch is plausible. Given the discordance in genetic structure between mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, the exact role of the Italian Peninsula in shaping the observed patterns of genetic diversity during the Pleistocenic climatic oscillations needs further investigation.
The Public Interest as the Bed Rock of Professional Practice
Authors: Cooke Morris Llewellyn
Published: December 2023

The object of this paper is to determine what has been, and apparently continues to be, the attitude of engineering organizations toward society as expressed in their rules of conduct. This, according to the author, is a time of stock taking and of a critical examination of the orders under which society and its constituent elements are operated. Within the church, among labor organizations, in government, in the educational field and in the professions, — everywhere, in fact, the same searching inquiry is going on as to aims and methods, and it is his belief that there can be no better time for a review of the codes of ethics designed to regulate the professional practice of engineers. It is further sought to develop the engineer’s concept of his public relationship and responsibilities as contrasted with such relatively minor obligations as those to the profession of engineering, to a client, to fellow-engineers, and to himself.
Refrigerating Plant Efficiency
Authors: Azbe Victor J.
Published: December 2023

The paper deals with the conditions prevailing in the majority of ice plants and makes suggestions in regard to increasing the efficiency of their operation.

The variations of the load factor should be considered in selecting the size of boiler. High boiler efficiency depends more upon design and intelligent operation than upon the quality of fuel used.

The author condemns the practice of using a Corliss non-condensing engine for the prime mover on account of its large steam consumption when operated at fractional loads. He recommends the uniflow steam engine and the Diesel oil engine.

It should be aimed to reduce the auxiliary power to one-half horsepower per ton of ice. Wet compression is preferable to dry. Plate ice frozen from one side takes loo long to freeze solid; cell-plate ice frozen from two sides freezes solid in one-fourth of the time.

Several curves illustrate the rate of heat transmission in brine coolers and ammonia condensers.

Ice storage is profitable, and with a reasonably large production of ice throughout the year it contributes greatly to the economical operation of the plant. The effects of various features of condenser installations are indicated in several curves obtained from actual cases.

The proper means to conserve ammonia are pointed out and the usual bonus systems are outlined.
The Work of the British Engineering Standards Association on Screw Threads and Limit Gages
Authors: Glazebrook Richard
Published: December 2023

In the following notes the author gives the résumé of the work done by the British Engineering Standards Association in connection with limits and limit gaging, dealing more especially with the case of screw threads.

Report No. 20 of the Committee on Screw Threads and Limit Gages gives the standard dimensions of the two series of screw threads, British Standard Whitworth and British Standard Fine, and also of the British Association Series.

With reference to securing interchangeability the Committee has arrived at the conclusion that the fit at crest and root is in most cases unimportant and that the elements which do matter are the pitch, the effective diameter and, to a less degree, the angle.

As to the form of thread, the evidence collected showed that, provided no close limits are placed on the exact curvature at crest and root, the rounded Whitworth form has distinct advantages from the manufacturing standpoint. All tolerances are defined in terms of the pitch.

Much attention has been given by the Committee to the design and provision of gages for the full and core diameters, the effective diameter, the pitch, the angle and the radius. Satisfactory forms have been developed for all of these, except for the effective diameter, for which no simple device has been found as yet.

Six classes of gages are recognized: Standard gages, for depositing with a recognized authority; reference gages, for use by manufacturers; inspection gages, to check the accuracy of the work; shop gages, used in the workshop to control manufacture; check gages, for verifying the accuracy of other gages; and master gages, used only in the manufacture of, or for the purpose of verifying, check gages.
Tests of Uniflow Steam Traction Engines
Authors: Marquis F. W.
Published: December 2023

This paper presents the results of two series of tests of Baker uniflow steam traction engines, many of them being shown graphically in the form of curves. The steam consumptions of these engines are compared with those representative of the older or counterflow type of engines, and the conclusion is reached that the simple uniflow engine operating non-condensing with saturated steam has a lower steam consumption than the compound counterflow engine under like conditions; and that when operating non-condensing but with superheated steam it will have approximately the same steam consumption as a compound counterflow engine operating condensing on saturated steam.
Preventable Waste of Coal in the United States
Authors: Myers David Moffat
Published: December 2023

By employing proper operating methods in boiler plants it is easily possible, according to the author, to save at least 10 per cent of the coal now burned for steam-making purposes. Such a saving would release cars for other service equivalent, say, to the coal-carrying capacity of the Pennsylvania Railroad lines east of Pittsburgh, equal to 1,000,000 fifty-ton carloads per year, and the direct money saving to the industries would be around a quarter of a billion dollars, figuring the coal at $5 a ton.

The object of the paper is to open a discussion which, it is hoped, will lead to the formulation by the Society of definite recommendations of means for the reduction of the present great preventable waste of fuel in our industries, largely through faulty, careless and uninformed operation of boiler plants, and to the offering of the services of the Society to the Government for the organization, furthering, and, as far as possible, execution of the plan which may as a consequence be adopted.
The Transfer of Heat between a Flowing Gas and a Containing Flue
Authors: Fry Lawford H.
Published: December 2023

The work on which the paper is based began as a study of the locomotive boiler, the object sought being a practical working formula for determining the drop of temperature between firebox and smokebox. The experiments studied covered, however, a wider range of conditions, and the final formula is of more general application. It applies equally well to the cooling of products of combustion from high temperatures, and to the warming of gases at atmospheric temperatures. It can be used with confidence with flues of circular or of annular section up to 2 in. in diameter and can probably be applied to larger flues of irregular section such as the gas passages in a water-lube boiler.

The general formula is most simply expressed as follows: If a gas flow x ft. through a flue of which the mean wall temperature is t, the, change in temperature of gas from T1 to T2 is given by the expression

lolog T1/t – lolog T2/t = Mx

when the gas is hotter than the flue, or by the expression

lolog t/T1 – lolog t/T2 = Mx

when the flue is hotter than the gas. In either case “lolog” means “the logarithm of the logarithm” and M is a coefficient dependent on the flue dimensions and on the rate of flow of gas. The three temperatures T1, T2, and t are to be measured from the absolute zero in any scale. If the gas flow at the rate of W lb. per hour, and if p be the perimeter of the flue in inches, the coefficient M has the form given by the equation

log M = B – m log W/p

In flues of irregular section the perimeter p is found by dividing the heat-transfer surface in contact with the gas by the length of travel of gas, all dimensions being in inches.

The coefficients B and m depend on the mean hydraulic depth of the flue. For convenience in dealing with flues of circular section, which are those most usually met with, the diameter (which in a circular flue is four times the hydraulic depth) is used below instead of the hydraulic depth. The relation between the flue diameter d and the coefficients B and m is given by the lines in Fig. 23. The equations to these lines are:

log (B – 1.3) = 1.71 – 0.54 log d

log m = 1.36 – 0.37 log d

For flues of sections other than circular the value of d is found by multiplying the mean hydraulic depth by four. Mean hydraulic depth is equal to area of cross-section divided by perimeter.

The equations given for B and m in the paper give accurate results for flues up to 2 in. in inside diameter, but those shown above can be applied to larger flues.
Expenses and Costs
Authors: Gantt H. L.
Published: December 2023

Mr. Gantt claims that there are in every manufacturing enterprise expenses which do not contribute either directly or indirectly to the production of goods. He claims that such expenses should not be considered as a part of the legitimate cost of the goods, but should be kept in a separate account.

He further claims that the expenses in this account should be classified according to their various causes, and that strenuous efforts should be made to eliminate these causes and thereby reduce this non-productive expense.

This is particularly important in time of war, when we need all of our energy for productive purposes.
On the Laws of Lubrication of Journal Bearings
Authors: Hersey M. D.
Published: December 2023

This paper deals with the physics of lubrication. The principal purpose is to set up certain general relations which may be taken as a guide in the planning and interpretation of experiments to secure data for design. Readers interested only in results available for immediate use are referred to the discussion of the Ideal Bearing in Section V. That part of the paper is intended merely as an illustration of the way in which the foregoing general relations may be applied to particular cases, but the results are doubtless applicable as a first approximation to bearings of whatever type.
Cell and tissue imaging by secondary ion mass spectrometry
Authors: Barut Inci , Fletcher John S.
Published: December 2023

This Tutorial focuses on the use of secondary ion mass spectrometry for the analysis of cellular and tissue samples. The Tutorial aims to cover the considerations in sample preparation analytical set up and some specific aspects of data interpretation associated with such analysis.
Current Rehabilitation Practices and Return to Sports Criteria After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Survey of Physical Therapists in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alshehri Yasir S. , Aljohani Marwan M.A. , Alzahrani Hosam , Alzhrani Msaad , Alkhathami Khalid M. , Alshahrani Adel , Khaled Osama A.
Published: December 2023

Context: With the high prevalence of anterior cruciate ligament rupture among young and active individuals, rehabilitation after the injury and surgery should meet the current evidence-based recommendations to restore knee function and reduce the risk of further injury. This study aimed to investigate the current rehabilitation practices and return to sports (RTS) criteria after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) among physical therapists in Saudi Arabia. Design: Online cross-sectional survey-based study. Methods: A total of 177 physical therapists in Saudi Arabia participated in this survey. The survey included questions about the preferred postoperative timing and frequency of rehabilitation, current views on the importance of preoperative and postoperative rehabilitation to the overall outcomes, the timeframe of RTS, and the decision-making process to RTS. Results: Most therapists (96.6%) believed preoperative rehabilitation was essential/important to postoperative outcomes. Two-thirds encouraged patients to start rehabilitation program within 1 to 4 days immediately post-ACLR. RTS was permitted 6 to 9 months post-ACLR by 60% of therapists if satisfied with patient progress and capacity. Factors considered before RTS included knee strength (72.9%), functional capacity (86.4%), lower limb and trunk mechanics (62.7%), and psychological readiness (42.2%). Knee strength was assessed by manual muscle testing (39%), handheld dynamometry (15.3%), and isokinetic dynamometer (13.6%). While 60% of the therapists used single-limbed hop for distance for evaluating functional capacity, only 27.1% used a hop test battery. Conclusions: The surveyed physical therapists in Saudi Arabia demonstrated variations in the current rehabilitation practices and RTS criteria post-ACLR. Over half of the surveyed therapists considered preoperative rehabilitation essential to postoperative outcomes. However, the therapists should update their perspective with current evidence-based practice regarding the RTS timeframe, psychological readiness assessment for RTS, and knee strength evaluation using objective measurements.
Monte-carlo simulation of the effective lunar aperture for detection of ultra-high energy neutrinos with LOFAR
Authors: Krampah G. K. , Buitink S. , Bray J. D. , Corstanje A. , Desmet M. , Falcke H. , Hare B. M. , Hörandel J. R. , Huege T. , Jhansi V. B. , Karastathis N. , Mulrey K. , Mitra P. , Nelles A. , Pandya H. , Scholten O. , ter Veen S. , Thoudam S. , Winchen T.
Published: December 2023

Ultra-high-energy (UHE) cosmic neutrinos interacting with the Moon’s regolith generate particle showers that emit Askaryan radiation. This radiation can be observed from the Earth using ground-based radio telescopes like LOFAR. We simulate the effective detection aperture for UHE neutrinos hitting the Moon. Under the same assumptions, results from this work are in good agreement with previous analytic parameterizations and Monte Carlo codes. The dependence of the effective detection aperture on the observing parameters, such as observing frequency and minimum detection threshold, and lunar characteristics like surface topography have been studied. Using a Monte Carlo simulation, we find that the detectable neutrino energy threshold is lowered when we include a realistic treatment of the inelasticity, transmission coefficient, and surface roughness. Lunar surface roughness at large scales enhances the total aperture for higher observation frequencies ($$\nu \ge 1~\textrm{GHz}$$

ν
≥
1

GHz

) but has no significant effect on the LOFAR aperture. However, roughness at scales small compared to the wavelength reduces the aperture at all frequencies.
Multiscale Phase-Field Modeling of Fracture in Nanostructures
Authors: Jahanshahi Mohsen , Khoei Amir Reza , Asadollahzadeh Niloofar , Aldakheel Fadi
Published: December 2023

The scientific community has witnessed, lately, a tremendous progress in the fabrication and synthesis of nanomaterials. As a result, it is essential to develop new and efficient numerical techniques that are capable of modeling the behavior of materials at nanoscale with sufficient accuracy. In this work, a novel approach is presented for the multiscale analysis of brittle failure in nanostructures using the phase-field modeling. The specimen at microscale is discretized using finite elements (FEs), whose integration points lie in the representative volume elements (RVEs) at nanoscale. The displacement computed in upper scale for a microstructure that contains an evolving crack is imposed on the boundaries of the RVE in lower scale. On the other hand, the stresses and material properties obtained for the RVE in lower scale are transferred to upper scale to compute stiffness matrices and load vectors. The evolution of the phase-field variable indicates the initiation and propagation of cracks at microscale. In order to avoid time-consuming molecular dynamics (MD) simulations at nanoscale in each step of the analysis, the Mooney–Rivlin material model is used to simulate the behavior of Aluminum (AL) nanostructure at this scale. The approach that is utilized to compute the material constants and the formulation for the multiscale technique combined with the phase-field modeling in upper scale are described in detail. It is discussed how the phase-field variable in microstructure is evolved based on the properties of the RVE in nanostructure. Many numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the application of the proposed multiscale technique in the solution of engineering problems.
A Micromagnetic Study of the Influences of DMI on Spin-Cherenkov Effect
Authors: Yang Mingming , Yan Ming
Published: December 2023

The Spin-Cherenkov effect (SCE) refers to the Cherenkov-type excitation of spin waves (SWs). The Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI) can cause chiral-symmetry breaking of the magnetization dynamics in magnetic systems, resulting in asymmetric dispersion relations and relevant effects. Here, we report a correlated phenomenon for Cherenkov SW excitations in a transversely magnetized nanostrip. In the presence of DMI, when a moving source exceeds the propagation velocity of SWs, coherent SWs are excited with different velocities in opposite directions. The minimum phase velocity of SWs is significantly reduced in one direction and increased in another. It is shown that the Cherenkov emission of SWs exhibits directional dependence, manifesting nonreciprocity which is related to the values of DMI constant D. Micromagnetic simulations along with analytical calculations are presented.
Development and Flight Testing of Guidance, Navigation, Control, and Operator Interface for Shipboard Helicopter Operations
Authors: Pravitra Jintasit , Johnson Eric N.
Published: December 2023

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) have become increasingly important assets for naval and maritime law enforcement operations. In response to the ever-increasing demand for autonomous systems, this paper presents a design, development, integration, and flight testing of an unmanned rotorcraft system capable of operating with a moving ship. The system was developed initially by playing back ship motion data in a simulation environment. Ship motion prediction, relative guidance, operator control interface, and landing flight management system were developed and tested against simulated sea state motion. The system was then flight tested using a 15-kg electric helicopter operating off a US Naval Academy’s yard patrol craft. The craft was instrumented with IMU and GPS for the craft’s own state estimation. The craft was also used as a moving-base station for Real-time Kinematic (RTK) relative positioning. The flight operation was done in the Chesapeake Bay. Autonomous capabilities including takeoff, landing, station-keeping, and maneuvering relative to a moving ship were successfully demonstrated.
Mapping deformation: the map representation of geological structure
Authors: Markwick Paul J. , Paton Douglas A. , Cavalcanti de Araújo Mário Neto
Published: December 2023

Faults and folds are the clearest expressions of deformation we can observe directly in the rock record. This is visualized on 2D maps through the geometry of outcrop patterns and lines or polygons with marker symbols indicating different kinematics. But the record of deformation is 4D, and faults and folds represent only the products of deformation, not the processes responsible. Understanding the evolution of the 3D structural framework through time is fundamental for all forms of subsurface exploration across the energy transition. The aim of this paper is to show how 2D geospatial databases can represent the 4D deformational record. This is by capturing the three components of deformation: the initial state of the crustal architecture to be deformed (the pre-deformational crustal facies and structural framework), the processes responsible for the deformation (geodynamics), and the products of the deformation (folds, faults, magmatism and crustal facies). Deformation is not limited to a single tectonic cycle. Within each cycle, it is time-transgressive and highly variable spatially. By evolving these 2D geospatial databases through time using restoration and plate modelling, we can better understand the 4D complexity of deformation and how this impacts exploration.
Metabolomics and Microbial Metabolism: Toward a Systematic Understanding
Authors: Holbrook-Smith Duncan , Trouillon Julian , Sauer Uwe
Published: December 2023

Over the past decades, our understanding of microbial metabolism has increased dramatically. Metabolomics, a family of techniques that are used to measure the quantities of small molecules in biological samples, has been central to these efforts. Advances in analytical chemistry have made it possible to measure the relative and absolute concentrations of more and more compounds with increasing levels of certainty. In this review, we highlight how metabolomics has contributed to understanding microbial metabolism and in what ways it can still be deployed to expand our systematic understanding of metabolism. To that end, we explain how metabolomics was used to (a) characterize network topologies of metabolism and its regulation networks, (b) elucidate the control of metabolic function, and (c) understand the molecular basis of higher-order phenomena. We also discuss areas of inquiry where technological advances should continue to increase the impact of metabolomics, as well as areas where our understanding is bottlenecked by other factors such as the availability of statistical and modeling frameworks that can extract biological meaning from metabolomics data.
Allogeneic CAR T Cell Therapy for Cancer
Authors: Sasu Barbra Johnson , Lauron Elvin James , Schulz Thomas , Cheng Hsin-Yuan , Sommer Cesar
Published: December 2023

Autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, produced from the patient's own T cells, has changed the treatment landscape for hematologic malignancies but has some drawbacks that prevent large-scale clinical application, including logistical complexities in supply, patient T cell health, treatment delays, and limited manufacturing slots. Allogeneic, or off-the-shelf, CAR T cell therapies have the potential to overcome many of the limitations of autologous therapies, with the aim of bringing benefit to all patients eligible for treatment. This review highlights the progress and challenges of allogeneic cell therapies for cancer and the various approaches that are being evaluated preclinically and in clinical trials to enhance the persistence and antitumor efficacy of allogeneic CAR T cells, including new strategies to avoid immune rejection.
Understanding Homelessness Among Young People to Improve Outcomes
Authors: Milburn Norweeta G. , Rice Eric , Petry Laura
Published: December 2023

In the United States, an estimated 4.2 million young people experience homelessness during critical stages in their development—adolescence and emerging adulthood. While research on youth homelessness often emphasizes risk and vulnerability, the field must situate these issues within the developmental trajectories of adolescence and emerging adulthood to effectively prevent and end youth homelessness. This review uses the Risk Amplification and Abatement Model (RAAM) as a conceptual framework for contextualizing the landscape of youth homelessness research in the United States since 2010. An extension of ecological models of risk-taking, RAAM emphasizes both risk and resilience, positing that negative as well as positive socialization processes across interactions with family, peers, social services, and formal institutions affect key housing, health, and behavioral outcomes for youth experiencing homelessness. This review applies RAAM to our understanding of the causes and consequences of youth homelessness, recent interventions, and recommendations for future directions.
Lessons Learned from Immigrant Health Cohorts: A Review of the Evidence and Implications for Policy and Practice in Addressing Health Inequities among Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders
Authors: Guan Alice , Talingdan AC S. , Tanjasiri Sora P. , Kanaya Alka M. , Gomez Scarlett L.
Published: December 2023

The health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) is uniquely impacted by structural and social determinants of health (SSDH) shaped by immigration policies and colonization practices, patterns of settlement, and racism. These SSDH also create vast heterogeneity in disease risks across the AANHPI population, with some ethnic groups having high disease burden, often masked with aggregated data. Longitudinal cohort studies are an invaluable tool to identify risk factors of disease, and epidemiologic cohort studies among AANHPI populations have led to seminal discoveries of disease risk factors. This review summarizes the limited but growing literature, with a focus on SSDH factors, from seven longitudinal cohort studies with substantial AANHPI samples. We also discuss key information gaps and recommendations for the next generation of AANHPI cohorts, including oversampling AANHPI ethnic groups; measuring and innovating on measurements of SSDH; emphasizing the involvement of scholars from diverse disciplines; and, most critically, engaging community members to ensure relevancy for public health, policy, and clinical impact.
DNA methylation of promoter region inhibits galectin-1 expression in BMSCs of aged mice
Authors: Tang Liang , Zhang Yang-Yang , Liu Wen-Jun , Fu Qiang , Zhao Jian , Liu Yan-Bin
Published: December 2023

There is Dnmt3b-mediated DNA methylation in Gal-1 promoter in aged bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC). DNA methylation causes Gal-1 downregulation and osteogenesis attenuation of aged BMSC. DNA methylation blocks β-catenin binding on Gal-1 promoter. Bone loss of aged mice is alleviated by in vivo deletion of Dnmt3b from BMSC.
Histological analysis of the gastrocnemius muscle in preschool and school age children with cerebral palsy compared with age-matched typically developing children
Authors: Deschrevel Jorieke , Andries Anke , Maes Karen , Peeters Jules , van Opstal Axel , Jiang Dina , De Beukelaer Nathalie , Corvelyn Marlies , Staut Lauraine , De Houwer Hannah , Costamagna Domiziana , Desloovere Kaat , Van Campenhout Anja , Gayan-Ramirez Ghislaine
Published: December 2023

Inconsistent histological alterations have been reported in children with cerebral palsy (CP) but whether they are present in very young and ambulant CP children and differ from those reported in old CP children is not known. This study highlighted for the first time that enhanced muscle fiber size variability and loss of capillaries are already present in very young CP children, even in the most ambulant ones, and these alterations seem to extend with age.
OTUD6A in tubular epithelial cells mediates angiotensin II-induced kidney injury by targeting STAT3
Authors: Sun Xiaoyu , Chen Shuhong , Zhao Ying , Wu Tong , Zhao Zheyu , Luo Wu , Han Jibo , Fang Zimin , Ye Bozhi , Cao Gang , Huang Shengbin , Liang Guang
Published: December 2023

Ovarian tumor domain-containing protein 6 A (OTUD6A) knockout mice are protected against angiotensin II-induced kidney dysfunction and fibrosis. OTUD6A promotes pathological kidney remodeling and dysfunction by deubiquitinating signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). OTUD6A binds to and removes K63-linked-ubiquitin chains of STAT3 to promote its phosphorylation and activation, and subsequently enhances kidney fibrosis.
Targeting YAP/TAZ mechanosignaling to ameliorate stiffness-induced Schlemm’s canal cell pathobiology
Authors: Li Haiyan , Kuhn Megan , Kelly Ruth A. , Singh Ayushi , Palanivel Kavipriya Kovai , Salama Izzy , De Ieso Michael L. , Stamer W. Daniel , Ganapathy Preethi S. , Herberg Samuel
Published: December 2023

Pathologically altered biomechanical properties of the Schlemm’s canal (SC) inner wall microenvironment were recently validated as the cause for increased outflow resistance in ocular hypertensive glaucoma. However, the involvement of specific mechanotransduction pathways in these disease processes is largely unclear. Here, we demonstrate that Yes-associated protein (YAP)/transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) are central regulators of glaucoma-like SC cell dysfunction in response to extracellular matrix stiffening and that targeted disruption of YAP/TAZ mechanosignaling attenuates SC cell pathobiology and enhances outflow function.
Unraveling the complexities of fibrosis and ductular reaction in liver disease: pathogenesis, mechanisms, and therapeutic insights
Authors: Marakovits Corinn , Francis Heather
Published: December 2023

Ductular reaction and fibrosis are hallmarks of many liver diseases including primary sclerosing cholangitis, primary biliary cholangitis, biliary atresia, alcoholic liver disease, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease/metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. Liver fibrosis is the accumulation of extracellular matrix often caused by excess collagen deposition by myofibroblasts. Ductular reaction is the proliferation of bile ducts (which are composed of cholangiocytes) during liver injury. Many other cells including hepatic stellate cells, hepatocytes, hepatic progenitor cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and immune cells contribute to ductular reaction and fibrosis by either directly or indirectly interacting with myofibroblasts and cholangiocytes. This review summarizes the recent findings in cellular links between ductular reaction and fibrosis in numerous liver diseases.
Improving Health Outcomes in Coronary Artery Disease Patients with Short-Term Protocols of High-Intensity Interval Training and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training: A Community-Based Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Gonçalves Catarina , Bravo Jorge , Pais João , Abreu Ana , Raimundo Armando
Published: December 2023

Studies have shown that the higher the aerobic capacity, the lower the risk of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. In the case of cardiac patients, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) seems to be more effective than moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in improving aerobic capacity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two community-based exercise programs using two short-term protocols (HIIT and MICT) on physical fitness and physical activity (PA) levels in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Methods. In this randomized controlled trial, body composition, aerobic capacity, muscle strength, and daily PA levels were assessed before and after 6 weeks of intervention in 69 patients diagnosed with CAD. All patients were randomly (1 : 1 : 1) assigned to two exercise groups (HIIT or MICT) or a control group (no exercise). Both training programs consisted of 6 weeks of supervised treadmill exercise, three sessions per week. MICT targeted ≈70-75% of peak heart rate (HR), while HIIT aimed for ≈85-95% of peak HR. The control group only followed the medical recommendations. Results. Community-based exercise programs showed more positive effects on physical fitness variables and physical activity levels compared to control. HIIT could significantly improve waist circumference, body fat mass, VO2peak, sedentary behavior, and moderate-to-vigorous PA compared to MICT. Moreover, the control group showed poorer results. Conclusion. HIIT can improve health outcomes more positively than MICT and control. These findings indicate that HIIT may be an alternative and effective training method in community-based exercise programs for CAD patients. This trial is registered with NCT03538119.
Detecting Unauthorized Movement of Radioactive Material Packages in Transport with an Adam-Optimized BP Neural Network Model
Authors: Jiang Panpan , Yang Xiaohua , Wan Yaping , Zeng Tiejun , Nie Mingxing , Wang Chaofeng , Mao Yu , Liu Zhenghai
Published: December 2023

The rapid expansion of nuclear technology across various sectors due to global economic growth has led to a substantial rise in the transportation of radioactive materials. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimates that approximately 20 million shipments of radioactive materials occur annually. In this context, ensuring the safety and security of radioactive material transportation is of significant importance. IAEA’s “Security of Radioactive Materials in Transport” (Nuclear Security Series No. 9-G) mandates that an effective transport security system should provide immediate detection of any unauthorized removal of the packages. In the present study, an innovative Adam-optimized BP neural network model is developed for detecting unauthorized movements of radioactive material packages. To analyze the performance of the proposed algorithm, numerous experiments were conducted. The results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves a 99.17% accuracy rate in detecting unauthorized movements of radioactive materials, with a missed alarm rate of 0.72% and a false alarm rate of 0.1%. This method also enables real-time detection of unauthorized removal of radioactive materials and effectively enhances the security of radioactive materials during transport to reduce the risks of theft, loss, diversion, or sabotage.
A New Pareto Discrete NSGAII Algorithm for Disassembly Line Balance Problem
Authors: Xu ZhenYu , Han Yong , Li ZhenXin , Zou YiXin , Chen YuWei
Published: December 2023

With the increasing variety and quantity of end‐of‐life (EOL) products, the traditional disassembly process has become inefficient. In response to this phenomenon, this article proposes a random multiproduct U‐shaped mixed‐flow incomplete disassembly line balancing problem (MUPDLBP). MUPDLBP introduces a mixed disassembly method for multiple products and incomplete disassembly method into the traditional DLBP, while considering the characteristics of U‐shaped disassembly lines and the uncertainty of the disassembly process. First, mixed‐flow disassembly can improve the efficiency of disassembly lines, reducing factory construction and maintenance costs. Second, by utilizing the characteristics of incomplete disassembly to reduce the number of dismantled components and the flexibility and efficiency of U‐shaped disassembly lines in allocating disassembly tasks, further improvement in disassembly efficiency can be achieved. In addition, this paper also addresses the characteristics of EOL products with heavy weight and high rigidity. While retaining the basic settings of MUPDLBP, the stability of the assembly during the disassembly process is considered, and a new problem called MUPDLBP_S, which takes into account the disassembly stability, is further proposed. The corresponding mathematical model is provided. To obtain high‐quality disassembly plans, a new and improved algorithm called INSGAII is proposed. The INSGAII algorithm uses the initialization method based on Monte Carlo tree simulation (MCTI) and the Group Global Crowd Degree Comparison (GCDC) operator to replace the initialization method and crowding distance comparison operator in the NSGAII algorithm, effectively improving the coverage of the initial population individuals in the entire solution space and the evenness and spread of the Pareto front. Finally, INSGAII’s effectiveness has been affirmed by tackling both current disassembly line balancing problems and the proposed MUPDLBP and MUPDLBP_S. Importantly, INSGAII outshines six comparison algorithms with a top rank of 1 in the Friedman test, highlighting its superior performance.
Development and Application of a Written Communication Rubric to Improve Baccalaureate Nursing Student Writing
Authors: Smart Christie M. , Wall Parilo Denise M.
Published: December 2023

Aims. Baccalaureate nursing students often enter nursing programs with varying degrees of writing skills. The use of formative assessment can provide students and faculty with information to act upon during a course and improve learning. This study aimed to test the use of a program-level written communication rubric as a formative assessment to be able to provide targeted interventions for improvement as part of curricular evaluation. Methods. A written communication rubric (14 criteria with scores ranging from 1–4) was applied twice during the semester to assess the writing assignments of 33 undergraduate nursing students enrolled in a nursing research course. A targeted intervention was designed and implemented based on deficient aggregate assessment results from the first student assignment. Results. Paired t-test analysis demonstrated a significant upward change in student performance in the second student assignment for all seven of the targeted competency scores (all

p
<
0.05

). Conclusions. The use of a program-level rubric as a formative assessment paired with a targeted intervention improved the writing skills of nursing students during a single semester. By harnessing the tools of online learning management systems, faculty can quickly identify specific challenges for students in academic writing. There is potential for formative assessment to be used by faculty and students to direct the ongoing development of writing skills both during a course and throughout the program of study.
Rapid Visual Detection of Glaesserella parasuis with a Real-Time Recombinase-Aided Amplification Assay
Authors: Kang Haoran , Chen Dengjin , Yang Xintan , Jiang Ruijiao , Song Cheng , Zhang Yongning , Zhou Lei , Ge Xinna , Han Jun , Guo Xin , Yang Hanchun
Published: December 2023

Glaesserella parasuis is a specific bacterial pathogen of Glässer’s disease which causes significant economic losses to the swine industry. Dependable and rapid detection of G. parasuis is crucial to prevent and control Glässer’s disease outbreaks. In this study, a recombinase-aided amplification (RAA) assay based on the infB gene was developed to rapid detect G. parasuis. The novel method performs isothermal detection at 42°C for real-time analysis or visualization and data analysis (RAA-VDA). The developed assay showed high specificity for G. parasuis detection without cross-reactions to other clinically important swine pathogens. The analytical sensitivity of real-time RAA was 67.17 copies per reaction with 95% reliability, which was comparable to the G. parasuis quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). However, the detection limit of RAA-VDA was 142.43 copies per reaction with 95% reliability. The coefficient of variation analysis of the intrabatch and interbatch experimental replicate results were less than 4.30% and 6.74%, respectively, indicating the real-time RAA assay had high repeatability and reproducibility. A total of 108 clinical tissue samples were used to evaluate the clinical diagnostic performance. The diagnostic accordance rates of qPCR with real-time RAA and RAA-VDA were 100% and 98.15% (106/108), respectively. This system combined instrumental analysis and visualized analysis to accomplish a new try for rapid detection of G. parasuis in clinical practice.
Neoadjuvant Trebananib plus Paclitaxel-based Chemotherapy for Stage II/III Breast Cancer in the Adaptively Randomized I-SPY2 Trial—Efficacy and Biomarker Discovery
Authors: Albain Kathy S. , Yau Christina , Petricoin Emanuel F. , Wolf Denise M. , Lang Julie E. , Chien A. Jo , Haddad Tufia , Forero-Torres Andres , Wallace Anne M. , Kaplan Henry , Pusztai Lajos , Euhus David , Nanda Rita , Elias Anthony D. , Clark Amy S. , Godellas Constantine , Boughey Judy C. , Isaacs Claudine , Tripathy Debu , Lu Janice , Yung Rachel L. , Gallagher Rosa I. , Wulfkuhle Julia D. , Brown-Swigart Lamorna , Krings Gregor , Chen Yunn Yi , Potter David A. , Stringer-Reasor Erica , Blair Sarah , Asare Smita M. , Wilson Amy , Hirst Gillian L. , Singhrao Ruby , Buxton Meredith , Clennell Julia L. , Sanil Ashish , Berry Scott , Asare Adam L. , Matthews Jeffrey B. , DeMichele Angela M. , Hylton Nola M. , Melisko Michelle , Perlmutter Jane , Rugo Hope S. , Symmans W. Fraser , van't Veer Laura J. , Yee Douglas , Berry Donald A. , Esserman Laura J.
Published: December 2023

Purpose:

The neutralizing peptibody trebananib prevents angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 from binding with Tie2 receptors, inhibiting angiogenesis and proliferation. Trebananib was combined with paclitaxel±trastuzumab in the I-SPY2 breast cancer trial.

Patients and Methods:

I-SPY2, a phase II neoadjuvant trial, adaptively randomizes patients with high-risk, early-stage breast cancer to one of several experimental therapies or control based on receptor subtypes as defined by hormone receptor (HR) and HER2 status and MammaPrint risk (MP1, MP2). The primary endpoint is pathologic complete response (pCR). A therapy “graduates” if/when it achieves 85% Bayesian probability of success in a phase III trial within a given subtype. Patients received weekly paclitaxel (plus trastuzumab if HER2-positive) without (control) or with weekly intravenous trebananib, followed by doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide and surgery. Pathway-specific biomarkers were assessed for response prediction.

Results:

There were 134 participants randomized to trebananib and 133 to control. Although trebananib did not graduate in any signature [phase III probabilities: Hazard ratio (HR)-negative (78%), HR-negative/HER2-positive (74%), HR-negative/HER2-negative (77%), and MP2 (79%)], it demonstrated high probability of superior pCR rates over control (92%–99%) among these subtypes. Trebananib improved 3-year event-free survival (HR 0.67), with no significant increase in adverse events. Activation levels of the Tie2 receptor and downstream signaling partners predicted trebananib response in HER2-positive disease; high expression of a CD8 T-cell gene signature predicted response in HR-negative/HER2-negative disease.

Conclusions:

The angiopoietin (Ang)/Tie2 axis inhibitor trebananib combined with standard neoadjuvant therapy increased estimated pCR rates across HR-negative and MP2 subtypes, with probabilities of superiority >90%. Further study of Ang/Tie2 receptor axis inhibitors in validated, biomarker-predicted sensitive subtypes is warranted.
Niraparib plus Dostarlimab in Pleural Mesothelioma or Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Harboring HRR Mutations: Interim Results of the UNITO-001 Phase II Prospective Trial
Authors: Passiglia Francesco , Righi Luisella , Bironzo Paolo , Listì Angela , Farinea Giovanni , Capelletto Enrica , Novello Silvia , Merlini Alessandra , Scagliotti Giorgio V.
Published: December 2023

Purpose:

Treatment of homologous recombination repair–deficient (HRD)-tumors with PARP inhibitors has the potential to further increase tumor immunogenicity, suggesting a synergistic effect with immunotherapy. Here we present the preliminary results of niraparib in combination with dostarlimab for pleural mesothelioma (PM) or non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring HRR mutations.

Patients and Methods:

UNITO-001 is a phase II, prospective, study aiming to investigate the combination of niraparib plus dostarlimab in pretreated patients with HRD and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) ≥1% NSCLC and/or PM. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS).

Results:

Seventeen of 183 (10%) screened patients (12 PM and 5 NSCLC) were included. The objective response rate (ORR) was 6% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.1–28.7] and the disease control rate (DCR) was 53% (95% CI: 27.8–77). Median PFS was 3.1 (95% CI: 2.7–N.A) and median overall survival (OS) was 4.2 (95% CI: 1.58–NA) months. The PFS was 14.1 months in one PM patient harboring a germline BAP1 mutation. The treatment duration was 9.8 months in one PM patient harboring a somatic BRCA2 mutation. The most common adverse events (AE) were grade 1–2 lymphopenia (59%), anemia (35%), hyponatremia (29%), and hypokalemia (29%). Grade ≥3 AEs were reported in 23% of the patients.

Conclusions:

This preliminary analysis highlighted the lack of antitumor activity for the combination of niraparib and dostarlimab in patients with PM and/or advanced NSCLC harboring BAP1 somatic mutations. A potential antitumor activity emerged for PM with germline BAP1 and/or BRCA2 somatic mutations along with a good tolerability profile.
Supplementary Figure 5 from Clinical Outcomes and Evolution of Clonal Hematopoiesis in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Mouhieddine Tarek H. , Nzerem Chidimma , Redd Robert , Dunford Andrew , Leventhal Matthew , Sklavenitis-Pistofidis Romanos , Tahri Sabrin , El-Khoury Habib , Steensma David P. , Ebert Benjamin L. , Soiffer Robert J. , Keats Jonathan J. , Mehr Shaadi , Auclair Daniel , Ghobrial Irene M. , Sperling Adam S. , Stewart Chip , Getz Gad
Published: December 2023

Temporal changes in CH in MM.