bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Evaluative Case Study of City Center Muscat Accessibility Provisions
Authors: Al-Balushi Masooma , Atef Tamer
Published: July 2023

Shopping malls are the corner stone of shopping tourism and at the same time a controlled entertainment hub. Persons with disabilities could socialize and enjoy the different entertainment activities provided within the mall environment, but are the malls ready to adequately provide their services and products to this customer segment? The current study seeks to answer this question in The Sultanate of Oman, through the case study of “City Center Muscat”, the number one mall in the country located in the capital city “Muscat”. The study aims to assess the accessibility provisions of City Center Muscat and the on-premises food and beverage outlets, as well as some of the challenges that individuals with disabilities face when interacting with these establishments. To achieve the study aim, content analysis was applied on the mall website and mobile application contents, then, a checklist was used to evaluate both the mall website and the mobile application accessibility features. In order to assess the mall and the on-premises food and beverage outlets accessibly provisions two checklists were formulated and used. The paper highlights some of the positive initiatives that have been put in place to increase accessibility and proposes some recommendations for how accessibility can be further improved. Keywords: Accessibility, City Center Muscat, Disabled, Food, Oman, Tourism, Shopping
Coronavirus, Imagined Location, and Disenchanted Home in Africa
Authors: Ndjio Basile
Published: July 2023

This essay, which is based on secondary sources and online research, examines the home dilemma experienced by many diasporic African elites during the COVID-19 crisis in 2020. It argues that despite the pervasive nationalist discourse on homeland and the official celebration of national home, many postcolonial African elites actually view their home nations as a “ second chez soi” (second choice home), from which they quickly distance themselves during times of political unrest and health emergencies. This oscillation between cosmopolitanism and nationalism partly explains why many of the so-called Afropolitans started to experience anxiety after the global health pandemic forced them to lead sedentary lifestyles akin to those of their less fortunate peers. Furthermore, the essay sees the COVID-19 pandemic as a leveling and game-changing force that has significantly altered the home life and mindset of the “rooted cosmopolitan” African elites. Many of them are now neo-localists or maisonneurs (stay-at-home people) who strive to create a new sense of community in their formerly unloved African homeland.
A Dynamic Systems Model for an Economic Evaluation of Sales Forecasting Methods
Authors: Kuhlmann Lara , Pauly Markus
Published: July 2023

Sales forecasts are essential for a smooth workflow and cost optimization. Usually, they are assessed using statistical error measures, which might be misleading in a business context. This paper proposes a new dynamic systems model for an economic evaluation of sales forecasts. The model describes the development of the inventory level over time and derives the resulting overstock and shortage costs. It is tested on roughly 3,000 real-world time series and compared with the commonly used approach based on statistical measures. The experiments show that different statistical measures have no coherent evaluation, making their usage even less suitable for a practical economic application.
Understanding foot conditions, morphologies and functions in children: a current review
Authors: Jiang Hanhui , Mei Qichang , Wang Yuan , He Junhao , Shao Enze , Fernandez Justin , Gu Yaodong
Published: July 2023

This study provided a comprehensive updated review of the biological aspects of children foot morphology across different ages, sex, and weight, aiming to reveal the patterns of normal and pathological changes in children feet during growth and development. This review article comprised 25 papers in total that satisfied the screening standards. The aim was to investigate how weight changes, age and sex affect foot type, and gain a deeper understanding of the prevalent foot deformities that occur during children growth. Three different foot morphological conditions were discussed, specifically including the effect of sex and age differences, the effect of weight changes, and abnormal foot morphologies commonly documented during growth. This review found that sex, age, and weight changes would affect foot size, bony structure, foot posture, and plantar pressures during child growth. As a result of this biological nature, the children’s feet generally exhibit neutral and internally rotated foot postures, which frequently lead to abnormal foot morphologies (e.g., flat foot, pronated foot, etc.). In the future, attention shall be paid to the causal factors leading to specific foot morphologies during the growth and development of children. However, sufficient evidence could not be provided due to a relatively short period of investigation and non-uniformed research methodology in the current literature. A more comprehensive and in-depth exploration is recommended to provide scientific evidence for the discovery of children foot development and personalized growth pattern.
The interleukin-1 receptor type-1 in disturbed flow-induced endothelial mesenchymal activation
Authors: Kidder Evan , Pea Meleah , Cheng Siyuan , Koppada Satya-Priya , Visvanathan Suren , Henderson Quartina , Thuzar Moe , Yu Xiuping , Alfaidi Mabruka
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease that develops in areas of disturbed flow (d-flow). Progressive atherosclerosis is characterized by bulky plaques rich in mesenchymal cells and high-grade inflammation that can rupture leading to sudden cardiac death or acute myocardial infarction. In response to d-flow, endothelial cells acquire a mesenchymal phenotype through endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). However, the signaling intermediaries that link d-flow to EndMT are incompletely understood.

Methods and Results

In this study we found that in human atherosclerosis, cells expressing SNAI1 (Snail 1, EndMT transcription factor) were highly expressed within the endothelial cell (EC) layer and in the pre-necrotic areas in unstable lesions, whereas stable lesions did not show any SNAI1 positive cells, suggesting a role for EndMT in lesion instability. The interleukin-1 (IL-1), which signals through the type-I IL-1 receptor (IL-1R1), has been implicated in plaque instability and linked to EndMT formation in vitro. Interestingly, we observed an association between SNAI1 and IL-1R1 within ECs in the unstable lesions. To establish the causal relationship between EndMT and IL-1R1 expression, we next examined IL-1R1 levels in our Cre-lox endothelial-specific lineage tracing mice. IL-1R1 and Snail1 were highly expressed in ECs under atheroprone compared to athero-protective areas, and oscillatory shear stress (OSS) increased IL-1R1 protein and mRNA levels in vitro. Exposure of ECs to OSS resulted in loss of their EC markers and higher induction of EndMT markers. By contrast, genetic silencing of IL-1R1 significantly reduced the expression of EndMT markers and Snail1 nuclear translocation, suggesting a direct role for IL-1R1 in d-flow-induced EndMT. In vivo, re-analysis of scRNA-seq datasets in carotid artery exposed to d-flow confirmed the IL-1R1 upregulation among EndMT population, and in our partial carotid ligation model of d-flow, endothelial cell specific IL-1R1 KO significantly reduced SNAI1 expression.

Discussion

Global inhibition of IL-1 signaling in atherosclerosis as a therapeutic target has recently been tested in the completed CANTOS trial, with promising results. However, the data on IL-1R1 signaling in different vascular cell-types are inconsistent. Herein, we show endothelial IL-1R1 as a novel mechanosensitive receptor that couples d-flow to IL-1 signaling in EndMT.
Response of high-altitude clouds to the galactic cosmic ray cycles in tropical regions
Authors: Miyahara Hiroko , Kusano Kanya , Kataoka Ryuho , Shima Shin‐ichiro , Touber Emile
Published: July 2023

Galactic cosmic rays are one of the possible mediators of the solar influence on climate. However, the impacts of GCR on clouds and climate systems are not fully understood. In this paper, we show that the high-altitude clouds associated with deep convective activities are responding to the decadal-scale cycles of GCRs and that the susceptible areas are seasonally variable. Most notable responses were found in August over tropical land areas, suggesting that the susceptivity of clouds to GCRs depends on the depth of convective activities and the abundance of aerosol precursor materials. Furthermore, following the activation of high-altitude cloud formation, an increase in sea surface temperature (SST) gradient was observed over the Pacific. Although the response of sea surface temperature to solar activity has mostly been discussed as mediated by solar radiations, we propose that another mechanism is possible: through the impact of GCRs on clouds and the resultant changes in atmospheric circulations.
Clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic analysis of breast cancer with a hormone receptor status of ER(-)/PR(+)
Authors: Wang Xinli , Xue Yan
Published: July 2023

Background

It is unknown whether ER(-)/PR(+) breast cancer is an independent breast cancer subtype, how it differs from other subtypes, and what its significance is regarding treatment and prognosis. This study compared ER(-)/PR(+) breast cancer with other subtypes to better understand the biological characteristics and prognosis of ER(-)/PR(+) breast cancer, to guide clinical treatment and establish a theoretical foundation.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed data for patients diagnosed with breast cancer in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The clinicopathological characteristics of ER(-)/PR(+) breast cancer, including age, tumor size, lymph node status, HER-2 status, pathological type and histological grade, were compared with other types of breast cancer. A risk scoring system was developed based on independent risk factors influencing prognosis to predict the patient’s prognosis, and a nomogram model was created to predict the patient’s survival rate. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and calibration curve was used to evaluate the predictive performance of the nomogram.

Results

The rates of T3-4, lymph node positivity, HER-2 positivity, infiltrating non-special pathological type, and G3 were significantly higher in ER(-)/PR(+) than in ER(+)/PR(+) cancer (p <0.001). ER(-)/PR(+) was similar to biological activity of ER(-)/PR(-) type. ER(-)/PR(+)/HER-2(+) patients had a better survival prognosis than ER(-)/PR(+) HER-2(-) patients (p<0.05). The prognosis of ER-/PR+ breast cancer was significantly associated with age, HER-2 status, and T stage.

Conclusion

ER(-)/PR(+) breast cancer is more similar to ER(-)/PR(-) breast cancer than other breast cancer subtypes, with an early age of onset, a high proportion of infiltrating non-special types, a high histological grade, and a high HER-2 positivity rate. Whether HER-2 positivity can improve the prognosis of ER(-)/PR(+)breast cancer is worth further discussion. The risk scoring system we developed can effectively distinguish between high-risk and low-risk patients. The nomogram we created had a concordance index of 0.736, and the calibration curve showed good agreement between the predicted and observed outcomes.
Hierarchical transactive power exchange method on expressways for EV energy supplement
Authors: Zeng Long , Chen Si-Zhe , Zhong Chengjun , Xiong Tingting , Tian Ling
Published: July 2023

Electric vehicle (EV) users’ driving requirement is restricted by the long charging period and high cost. In this paper, a hierarchical transactive power exchange method on expressways is proposed to eliminate range anxiety faced by EV users and further reduce their cost. When EVs are driven on expressways, battery swapping is considered the suitable power exchange mode due to high efficiency and adjustability. EVs are scheduled to supplement energy in battery swapping stations (BSSs) according to the remaining energy and battery swapping cost. Then, the power exchange among batteries and the power grid in BSSs is optimized for reducing the operation cost. In the optimization process, battery-to-battery and battery-to-grid modes are considered for reducing the power cost in the high electric price period. Some EVs release battery energy in designated BSSs and supplement energy in other BSSs. It reduces fast charging power of the battery and operation costs in designated BSSs. Several case studies are presented to validate the effectiveness and economy of the proposed method.
Evaluating the pre-treatment protocol required to produce an effective carbonized waste adsorbent for organic pollution control
Authors: Priyanka  , Vashisht Devika , Taylor Martin J. , Mehta Surinder K.
Published: July 2023

With the goal of fostering the circular economy, the present work was devised to minimize and manage agricultural waste by transforming it into biochar; a versatile dye removal adsorbent. Waterways across the globe are frequently fouled and contaminated with organic materials, especially via unregulated industrial effluents, producing toxic water supplies. Rhodamine B (RhB) and Methylene blue (MB) dyes were used as model organic pollutants in water. The contaminants were then readily extracted from environmental samples using sustainable wheat straw derived biochars. These materials were utilized in an effort to link the circular economy directly to environmental protection, reducing organic contamination by using a low carbon solution. Herein, two methods were adopted to refine a low temperature carbonized material, dependent on initial pre-treatment; leaching followed by milling (method-I) and milling followed by leaching (method-II). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), nitrogen physisorption, proximate and ultimate analysis and Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) were used to examine the properties of the synthesized materials. It was found that by altering the process of initial waste pre-treatment, an increase in available surface area (6.284 m2g−1–20.754 m2g−1) and pore structure can be found post feedstock pyrolysis. Additionally, FTIR of the biochar post extraction supported the adsorption process of both dyes, demonstrating a change in dye-adsorbent bonding, depending on the initial waste pre-treatment for the biochar. In batch mode, several operating parameters including pH, concentration, duration, and dose were optimized. Kinetics and adsorption isotherm studies for biochar synthesized by method-II pre-treatment (BC-II) revealed that the system follows Pseudo-first-order kinetics and Freundlich adsorption isotherm model with the relative R2 of 0.9989 and 0.9880 for RhB, comparing with 0.9933 and 0.9932 for MB. The optimal produced biochar, BC-II effectively removed 91.06% of RhB from solution at pH 4 and 92.43% for MB at pH 8. This study brings forth a solution to enhance waste management by creating a circular scenario and alleviate environmental contamination by utilizing wheat straw as a biochar adsorbent, produced under controlled and low temperature conditions.
Molten pool flow behavior and influencing factors in electron beam selective melting of IN738 superalloy
Authors: Zhang Yihui , Fang Xuewei , Zhang Wannian , Guo Wenhua , Wang Zhixiang , Zhao Jiyuan
Published: July 2023

Electron beam selective melting (EBSM) has emerged as a promising technology for additive manufacturing (AM) of superalloys. In this study, a comprehensive multi-physics model is developed to analyze the molten pool flow behavior and influencing factors in the EBSM process. The discrete element method (DEM) and volume of fluid (VOF) method are employed to establish the powder bed model and track the solid-liquid free surface, respectively. The results reveal that the molten pool exhibits a conduction mode characterized by a large width-to-depth ratio driven by the Marangoni effect. Internal vortices cause the molten pool to expand even after the scan ends. The ambient pressure, in comparison to the preheat temperature, has a significant impact on vapor recoil and consequently affects the surface quality of the molten pool. Moreover, a large hatch distance results in cracks and porous morphological features on the surface of the samples. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of numerical simulations in providing detailed insights into the EBSM process of the IN738 superalloy material.
Space exploration as a catalyst for medical innovations
Authors: Scarpa Julia , Parazynski Scott , Strangman Gary
Published: July 2023

Aerospace research has a long history of developing technologies with industry-changing applications and recent history is no exception. The expansion of commercial spaceflight and the upcoming exploration-class missions to the Moon and Mars are expected to accelerate this process even more. The resulting portable, wearable, contactless, and regenerable medical technologies are not only the future of healthcare in deep space but also the future of healthcare here on Earth. These multi-dimensional and integrative technologies are non-invasive, easily-deployable, low-footprint devices that have the ability to facilitate rapid detection, diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of a variety of conditions, and to provide decision-making and performance support. Therefore, they are primed for applications in low-resource and remote environments, facilitating the extension of quality care delivery to all patients in all communities and empowering non-specialists to intervene early and safely in order to optimize patient-centered outcomes. Additionally, these technologies have the potential to advance care delivery in tertiary care centers by improving transitions of care, providing holistic patient data, and supporting clinician wellness and performance. The requirements of space exploration have created a number of paradigm-altering medical technologies that are primed to revitalize and elevate our standard of care here on Earth.
Farm management practices and season dependent factors affect the microbial community and chemical profile of corn and grass-legume silages of farms in Ontario, Québec, and Northern New York
Authors: Huffman Jesse , Drouin Pascal , Renaud Justin B. , Dunière Lysiane , LaPointe Gisèle
Published: July 2023

The effects of farm management practices and seasonal variation on the microbial community and chemical composition of corn and grass-legume silage are largely understudied due to the advantages of controlled mini-silo experiments. This study aims to investigate the effects that some key farm factors (use of an inoculant, farm region, and bunker or tower silo) and seasonal variations have on corn and grass-legume silage from farms across Ontario, Quebec, and New York. The silage was either treated with a commercial inoculant (Lallemand Biotal Buchneri 500® or Chr Hansen SiloSolve FC®) or left untreated. The bacterial communities of silage were compared to those of raw bulk tank milk from the same farm to determine if they were similarly affected by management practices or seasonal variations. Family level analysis of the 16S rRNA V3-V4 gene amplicon bacterial community, the ITS1 amplicon fungal community, NMR water soluble metabolome, and mycotoxin LC–MS were performed on silage over a two-year period. Chemical compounds associated with the use of inoculants in corn and grass-legume silage were higher in inoculated corn (acetate, propane-1,2-diol, γ-aminobutyrate; p < 0.001) and grass-legume (propionate; p = 0.011). However, there was no significant difference in the relative abundance (RA) of Lactobacillaceae in either silage type. Leuconostocaceae was higher in non-inoculated corn (p < 0.001) and grass-legume (p < 0.001) silage than in inoculated silage. Tower silos had higher RA of Leuconostocaceae (p < 0.001) and higher pH (p < 0.001) in corn and grass-legume silage. The one farm that used liquid manure with no other fertilizer type had higher RA of Clostridiaceae (p = 0.045) and other rumen/fecal (p < 0.006) bacteria in grass-legume silage than all other farms. Seasonal variation affected most of the key silage microbial families, however the trends were rarely visible across both years. Few trends in microbial variation could be observed in both silage and bulk tank milk: two farms had higher Moraxellaceae (p < 0.001) in milk and either corn or grass-legume silage. In farms using an inoculant, lower Staphylococcaceae was observed in the raw bulk tank milk.
Comorbidity and polypharmacy impact neurobehavioral symptoms and symptom validity failure among post-9/11 veterans with mild traumatic brain injury
Authors: Swan Alicia A. , Kennedy Eamonn , Cooper Douglas B. , Amuan Megan E. , Mayo Jamie , Tate David F. , Song Kangwon , Eapen Blessen C. , Van Cott Anne C. , Lopez Maria R. , Pugh Mary Jo
Published: July 2023

Objective

The study aimed to examine the association between post-concussive comorbidity burdens [post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and/or headache] and central nervous system (CNS) polypharmacy (five or more concurrent medications) with reported neurobehavioral symptoms and symptom validity screening among post-9/11 veterans with a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Setting

Administrative medical record data from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) were used in the study.

Participants

Post-9/11 veterans with mTBI and at least 2 years of VA care between 2001 and 2019 who had completed the comprehensive traumatic brain injury evaluation (CTBIE) were included in the study.

Design

Retrospective cross-sectional design was used in the study.

Main measures

Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI), International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, and Clinical Modification diagnosis codes were included in the study.

Results

Of the 92,495 veterans with a history of TBI, 90% had diagnoses of at least one identified comorbidity (PTSD, depression, and/or headache) and 28% had evidence of CNS polypharmacy. Neurobehavioral symptom reporting and symptom validity failure was associated with comorbidity burden and polypharmacy after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. Veterans with concurrent diagnoses of PTSD, depression, and headache were more than six times more likely [Adjusted odds ratio = 6.55 (99% CI: 5.41, 7.92)]. to fail the embedded symptom validity measure (Validity-10) in the NSI.

Conclusion

TBI-related multimorbidity and CNS polypharmacy had the strongest association with neurobehavioral symptom distress, even after accounting for injury and sociodemographic characteristics. Given the regular use of the NSI in clinical and research settings, these findings emphasize the need for comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation for individuals who screen positively for potential symptom overreporting, the importance of multidisciplinary rehabilitation to restore functioning following mTBI, and the conscientious utilization of symptom validity measures in research efforts.
Doxorubicin resistance in breast cancer is mediated via the activation of FABP5/PPARγ and CaMKII signaling pathway
Authors: Chen Nan-Nan , Ma Xin-Di , Miao Zhuang , Zhang Xiang-Mei , Han Bo-Ye , Almaamari Ahmed Ali , Huang Jia-Min , Chen Xue-Yan , Liu Yun-Jiang , Su Su-Wen
Published: July 2023

Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy among women. Doxorubicin (Dox) resistance was one of the major obstacles to improving the clinical outcome of breast cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the FABP signaling pathway and Dox resistance in breast cancer. The resistance property of MCF-7/ADR cells was evaluated employing CCK-8, Western blot (WB), and confocal microscopy techniques. The glycolipid metabolic properties of MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADR cells were identified using transmission electron microscopy, PAS, and Oil Red O staining. FABP5 and CaMKII expression levels were assessed through GEO and WB approaches. The intracellular calcium level was determined by flow cytometry. Clinical breast cancer patient’s tumor tissues were evaluated by immunohistochemistry to determine FABP5 and p-CaMKII protein expression. In the presence or absence of FABP5 siRNA or the FABP5-specific inhibitor SBFI-26, Dox resistance was investigated utilizing CCK-8, WB, and colony formation methods, and intracellular calcium level was examined. The binding ability of Dox was explored by molecular docking analysis. The results indicated that the MCF-7/ADR cells we employed were Dox-resistant MCF-7 cells. FABP5 expression was considerably elevated in MCF-7/ADR cells compared to parent MCF-7 cells. FABP5 and p-CaMKII expression were increased in resistant patients than in sensitive individuals. Inhibition of the protein expression of FABP5 by siRNA or inhibitor increased Dox sensitivity in MCF-7/ADR cells and lowered intracellular calcium, PPARγ, and autophagy. Molecular docking results showed that FABP5 binds more powerfully to Dox than the known drug resistance-associated protein P-GP. In summary, the PPARγ and CaMKII axis mediated by FABP5 plays a crucial role in breast cancer chemoresistance. FABP5 is a potentially targetable protein and therapeutic biomarker for the treatment of Dox resistance in breast cancer.
Neuropsychiatric disorders in chronic hepatitis C patients after receiving interferon or direct-acting antivirals: a nationwide cohort study
Authors: Fang Yu , Chen Chung-Yu , Yu Hsien-Chung , Lin Pei-Chin
Published: July 2023

Background: Data on the neuropsychological outcomes after receiving direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) among chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients have not been well-documented.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the difference in incidence of neuropsychological disorders (NPDs) after treatment completion between CHC patients receiving interferon (IFN) therapy and DAA therapy.

Methods: A nationwide retrospective cohort study was performed using Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) between 2010 and 2018. CHC patients without pre-existing mental disorders were included and divided into the treatment (Tx)-naïve DAA group, retreatment (re-Tx) DAA group, and Tx-naïve IFN group based on their HCV therapy. Propensity score matching was used to balance baseline differences between groups. The primary outcome was the incidence of NPDs during 6 months after completion of therapy.

Results: After one-to-one matching, there were 6,461 pairs of patients selected from the Tx-naïve DAA group and Tx-naïve IFN group and 3,792 pairs from the re-Tx DAA group and Tx-naïve IFN group. A lower incidence of NPDs was observed in the Tx-naïve DAA group than in the Tx-naïve IFN group (HR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.55–0.94, and p = 0.017). The risk of NPDs did not differ between the re-Tx DAA group and the Tx-naïve IFN group (HR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.52–1.05, and p = 0.092).

Conclusion: DAA therapy was associated with lower risk of NPDs when compared with IFN therapy among Tx-naïve CHC patients in a 6-month period after treatment completion, especially among the patients less than 65 years, male gender, and cirrhosis.
Apo state pore opening as functional basis of increased EAAT anion channel activity in episodic ataxia 6
Authors: Suslova Mariia , Kortzak Daniel , Machtens Jan-Philipp , Kovermann Peter , Fahlke Christoph
Published: July 2023

SLC1A2 and SLC1A3 encode the glial glutamate transporters EAAT2 and EAAT1, which are not only the predominant glutamate uptake carriers in our brain, but also function as anion channels. Two homologous mutations, which predict substitutions of prolines in the center of the fifth transmembrane helix by arginine (P289R EAAT2, P290R EAAT1), have been identified in patients with epileptic encephalopathy (SLC1A2) or with episodic ataxia type 6 (SLC1A3). Both mutations have been shown to impair glutamate uptake and to increase anion conduction. The molecular processes that link the disease-causing mutations to two major alterations of glutamate transporter function remain insufficiently understood. The mutated proline is conserved in every EAAT. Since the pathogenic changes mainly affect the anion channel function, we here study the functional consequences of the homologous P312R mutation in the neuronal glutamate transporter EAAT4, a low capacity glutamate transporter with predominant anion channel function. To assess the impact of charge and structure of the inserted amino acid for the observed functional changes, we generated and functionally evaluated not only P312R, but also substitutions of P312 with all other amino acids. However, only exchange of proline by arginine, lysine, histidine and asparagine were functionally tolerated. We compared WT, P312R and P312N EAAT4 using a combination of cellular electrophysiology, fast substrate application and kinetic modelling. We found that WT and mutant EAAT4 anion currents can be described with a 11-state model of the transport cycle, in which several states are connected to branching anion channel states to account for the EAAT anion channel function. Substitutions of P312 modify various transitions describing substrate binding/unbinding, translocation or anion channel opening. Most importantly, P312R generates a new anion conducting state that is accessible in the outward facing apo state and that is the main determinant of the increased anion conduction of EAAT transporters carrying this mutation. Our work provides a quantitative description how a naturally occurring mutation changes glutamate uptake and anion currents in two genetic diseases.
Understanding cardiopulmonary interactions through esophageal pressure monitoring
Authors: Spinelli Elena , Scaramuzzo Gaetano , Slobod Douglas , Mauri Tommaso
Published: July 2023

Esophageal pressure is the closest estimate of pleural pressure. Changes in esophageal pressure reflect changes in intrathoracic pressure and affect transpulmonary pressure, both of which have multiple effects on right and left ventricular performance. During passive breathing, increasing esophageal pressure is associated with lower venous return and higher right ventricular afterload and lower left ventricular afterload and oxygen consumption. In spontaneously breathing patients, negative pleural pressure swings increase venous return, while right heart afterload increases as in passive conditions; for the left ventricle, end-diastolic pressure is increased potentially favoring lung edema. Esophageal pressure monitoring represents a simple bedside method to estimate changes in pleural pressure and can advance our understanding of the cardiovascular performance of critically ill patients undergoing passive or assisted ventilation and guide physiologically personalized treatments.
Wildland fire, air pollution and cardiovascular health: is it time to focus on the microvasculature as a risk assessment tool?
Authors: Naserinejad Nazgol , Costanian Christy , Birot Olivier , Barboni Toussaint , Roudier Emilie
Published: July 2023

Climate change favors weather conditions conducive to wildland fires. The intensity and frequency of forest fires are increasing, and fire seasons are lengthening. Exposure of human populations to smoke emitted by these fires increases, thereby contributing to airborne pollution through the emission of gas and particulate matter (PM). The adverse health outcomes associated with wildland fire exposure represent an important burden on the economies and health systems of societies. Even though cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the main of cause of the global burden of diseases attributable to PM exposure, it remains difficult to show reliable associations between exposure to wildland fire smoke and cardiovascular disease risk in population-based studies. Optimal health requires a resilient and adaptable network of small blood vessels, namely, the microvasculature. Often alterations of this microvasculature precede the occurrence of adverse health outcomes, including CVD. Biomarkers of microvascular health could then represent possible markers for the early detection of poor cardiovascular outcomes. This review aims to synthesize the current literature to gauge whether assessing the microvasculature can better estimate the cardiovascular impact of wildland fires.
Purity or perversion? from taboo to fact: kindergarten teachers’ reflections on age-normal sexuality
Authors: Lehn Elisabeth Walsøe , Chahboun Sobh , Page Alexander Gamst
Published: July 2023

Many educators and pedagogues around the world face challenging situations in their everyday work. Being caught off guard when children begin to explore their bodies and show curiosity about body parts and sexual issues is one of the most uncomfortable realities in the work of educating our children and can generate a series of worrying questions, such as, “Is this child* normal? Should I stop him/ her from masturbating? What should I tell him/her?. Although talking to children about body changes and sexual matters may seem strange or embarrassing, providing correct and age-appropriate information is one of the most important things kindergarten employees can do to ensure that children grow up protected, healthy and safe in their bodies. The current study is based on empirical evidence from focus group interviews with 18 kindergarten teachers from four different kindergartens. The aim is to provide a real overview regarding kindergarten employees’ experiences when it comes to their work with sexual development in small children. The findings show that sexuality is still a taboo even in western societies, as it is usually linked to abuse or pathological behavior. Additionally, key information about lack of focus on these topics in pedagogical educational programs is provided. Furthermore, the informants highlight the importance of knowledge and resources for them to feel in control and in confidence to face these challenges. Future directions and tips are provided to improve the educational field and ensure a healthy and balanced development which is after all part of all children’s rights.
Mismatch negativity generation in subjects at risk for psychosis: source analysis is more sensitive than surface electrodes in risk prediction
Authors: Aeberli Tina , Müller Mario , Theodoridou Anastasia , Hagenmuller Florence , Seifritz Erich , Walitza Susanne , Rössler Wulf , Kawohl Wolfram , Heekeren Karsten
Published: July 2023

Background

Deficits of mismatch negativity (MMN) in patients with schizophrenia have been demonstrated many times and there is growing evidence that alterations of MMN already exist in individuals at risk for psychosis. The present study examines differences in MMN between subjects fulfilling ultra-high risk (UHR) or only basic symptoms criteria and it addresses the question, if MMN source analysis can improve prediction of transition to psychosis.

Methods

The MMN to duration, frequency, and intensity deviants was recorded in 50 healthy controls and 161 individuals at risk for psychosis classified into three subgroups: only basic symptoms (n = 74), only ultra-high risk (n = 13) and persons who fulfill both risk criteria (n = 74). Based on a three-source model of MMN generation, we conducted an MMN source analysis and compared the amplitudes of surface electrodes and sources among the three groups.

Results

Significant differences in MMN generation among the four groups were revealed at surface electrodes Cz and C4 (p < 0.05) and at the frontal source (p < 0.001) for duration deviant stimuli. The 15 subjects from the risk groups who subsequently developed a manifest psychosis had a significantly lower MMN amplitude at frontal source (p = 0.019) without showing significant differences at surface electrodes. Low activity at frontal MMN source increased the risk of transition to manifest disease by the factor 3.12 in UHR subjects.

Conclusion

MMN activity differed significantly between subjects presenting only basic symptoms and subjects which additionally meet UHR criteria. The largest differences between groups as well as between individuals with and without transition were observed at the frontal source. The present results suggest that source analysis is more sensitive than surface electrodes in psychosis risk prediction by MMN.
Differentiation of the retinal morphology aging trajectories in schizophrenia and their associations with cognitive dysfunctions
Authors: Domagała Adam , Domagała Lucyna , Kopiś-Posiej Natalia , Harciarek Michał , Krukow Paweł
Published: July 2023

Previous studies evaluating the morphology of the selected retinal layers in schizophrenia showed abnormalities regarding macular thickness, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNLF), and ganglion cell complex (GCC). Concurrently, accumulating neuroimaging results suggest that structural alterations of the brain in this disease might be an effect of accelerated aging. Referring to these findings, we aimed to determine whether the thinning of the retinal layers assessed with the optic coherence tomography (OCT) in a group of schizophrenia patients (n = 60) presents a significant age-related decrease exceeding potential changes noted in the control group (n = 61). Samples of patients and controls were divided into three age subgroups, namely, younger, middle-aged, and older participants. OCT outcomes, such as macular thickness and volume, macular RNFL, peripapillary RNFL, and GCC, were analyzed concerning a diagnosis status (controls vs. patients) and age subgroups. Additionally, associations between retinal parameters, age, and selected cognitive functions were evaluated. post-hoc tests revealed that macular thickness and volume in patients undergo significant age-dependent thinning, which was not observed in the control group. Regression analyses confirmed the association between macular morphology and age. Selected speed-dependent cognitive functions in patients decreased significantly with age, and these features were also significantly associated with some OCT outcomes also after controlling for antipsychotic treatment. Our results suggest that reduced measures of retinal structure detected in schizophrenia may be an effect of accelerated aging; however, further research is needed using computational solutions derived from brain imaging studies based on large datasets covering representatives of all age groups.
Pneumonia knowledge and care seeking behavior for children under-five years in Jigawa, Northwest Nigeria: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Bakare Ayobami A. , King Carina , Salako Julius , Bakare Damola , Uchendu Obioma C. , Burgess Rochelle Ann , Shittu Funmilayo , Iuliano Agnese , Isah Adamu , Ahmed Tahlil , Ahmar Samy , Valentine Paula , Olowookere Temitayo Folorunso , McCollum Eric D. , Colbourn Tim , Falade Adegoke G. , Graham Hamish R.
Published: July 2023

Background

Between 2013 and 2022, Nigeria did not meet globally defined targets for pneumonia control, despite some scale-up of vaccinations, oxygen and antibiotics. A deliberate focus on community-based programs is needed to improve coverage of protective, preventive and treatment interventions. We therefore aimed to describe caregiver knowledge and care seeking behaviour for childhood pneumonia, in a high child mortality setting in Nigeria, to inform the development of effective community-based interventions for pneumonia control.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional household survey in Kiyawa Local Government Area, Jigawa State, Nigeria between December 2019 and March 2020. We asked caregivers about their knowledge of pneumonia symptoms, prevention, risks, and treatment. A score of 1 was assigned for each correct response. We showed them videos of pneumonia specific symptoms and asked (1) if their child had any respiratory symptoms in the 2-weeks prior; (2) their subsequent care-seeking behaviour. Multivariate regressions explored socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with care seeking.

Results

We surveyed 1,661 eligible women, with 2,828 children under-five. Only 4.9% of women could name both cough and difficulty/fast breathing as pneumonia symptoms, and the composite knowledge scores for pneumonia prevention, risks and treatment were low. Overall, 19.0% (536/2828) of children had a report of pneumonia specific symptoms in the prior two-weeks, and of these 32.3% (176/536) were taken for care. The odds of care seeking was higher among children: with fever (AOR:2:45 [95% CI: 1.38–4.34]); from wealthiest homes (AOR: 2:13 [95% CI: 1.03–4.38]) and whose mother first married at 20–26 years compared to 15–19 years (AOR: 5.15 [95% CI: 1.38–19.26]). Notably, the caregiver’s knowledge of pneumonia was not associated with care seeking.

Conclusion

While some socio-demographic factors were associated with care seeking for children with symptoms of Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI), caregiver’s knowledge of the disease was not. Therefore, when designing public health interventions to address child mortality, information-giving alone is likely to be insufficient.
Effects of stimbiotic supplementation on gut health, immune response, and intestinal microbiota in weaned piglets challenged with E. coli
Authors: Song Dongcheol , Lee Jihwan , Kwak Woogi , Oh Hanjin , Chang Seyeon , An Jaewoo , Cho Hyunah , Park Sehyun , Jeon Kyeongho , Cho Jinho
Published: July 2023

In order to make piglet diets more effective, it is necessary to investigate effective methods for breaking down xylan in cereal. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary stimbiotic (STB) supplementation on growth performance, intestinal morphology, immune response and intestinal microbiota in weaned piglets. A total of 24 (Duroc × Yorkshire × Landrace) weaned pigs (initial body weight of 8.01 ± 0.38 kg and 28 ± 3 d old), were assigned to 4 treatments with 6 replicates per treatment. Pigs were housed in individual pens for 17 days, including 5 days adaption period and 12 days after the first Escherichia coli (E. coli) challenge. The experiment was conducted in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments consisting of two levels of challenge (challenge and non-challenge) and two levels of STB (0 and 0.5 g/kg diet). Supplementations of STB 0.5 g/kg improved the gain to feed ratio (G:F) (P < 0.05) in piglets challenged with shiga toxigenic E. coli (STEC). STB supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6. Supplementation of STB improved (P < 0.05) the lymphocytes and neutrophils in piglets challenged with STEC on 12 dpi. Supplementation of STB also improved (P < 0.05) the villus height to-crypt depth ratio of ileum in piglets challenged with STEC. Supplementation of STB increased (P < 0.05) the expression levels of claudin-1 of ileum. In genus level, supplementation of STB increased (P < 0.001) the abundance of Prevotella compared to non-supplementation of STB groups in pre-inoculation period. Also, supplementation of STB decreased (P < 0.05) the abundance of Faecalibacterium and Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group compared to non-supplementation of STB groups in post-inoculation period. In phylum level, supplementation of STB increased (P < 0.05) the abundance of Desulfobacterota and Fibrobacterota in pre-inoculation period. E. coli challenge increased the abundance of Fibrobacterota compared to non-challenged group in post-inoculation period. In conclusion, these findings indicated that STB supplementation could alleviate a decrease of the performance, immune response, and inflammatory response in piglets induced by the STEC challenge.
A Method for Constructing Health Indicators of the Engine Bleed Air System Using Multi-Level Feature Extraction
Authors: Duan Zhaobin , Cao Xidan , Hu Fangyu , Wang Peng , Chen Xi , Dong Lei
Published: July 2023

Traditional methods are unable to effectively assess the health status of engine bleed air systems. To address the limitation, this paper proposes a methodology for constructing health indicators using multi-level feature extraction. First, this approach involves data-level feature extraction from Quick Access Recorder (QAR) data and employs a method of significance compensation to process the QAR data. Second, through unsupervised learning, the ResNet Deep Autoencoder (RDAE) is utilized to do the feature-level feature extraction from the processed data. This can solve the problem of lacking annotated data and obtain the health indicators of the engine bleed air system. Third, the method was experimented on one year of QAR data from a specific airline company. The results demonstrate that the RDAE approach achieves the best performance in constructing health indicators for the system. It achieves a miss rate of 0.0523 for the duct pressure of 5th stage bleed, reducing the miss rate by 0.2810 compared to Kernel Principal Component Analysis (KPCA). It also achieves a miss rate of 0 for the pre-cooler outlet temperature, reducing the miss rate by 0.0035 compared to the Deep Autoencoder (DAE). The results indicate that the proposed method provides a more effective assessment of the health status of the engine bleed air system.
Fecal Proteome Profile in Dogs Suffering from Different Hepatobiliary Disorders and Comparison with Controls
Authors: Cerquetella Matteo , Mangiaterra Sara , Pinnella Francesco , Rossi Giacomo , Marchegiani Andrea , Gavazza Alessandra , Serri Evelina , Di Cerbo Alessandro , Marini Carlotta , Cecconi Daniela , Sorio Daniela , Marchetti Veronica , Vincenzetti Silvia
Published: July 2023

In the present study, the fecal proteomes of clinically healthy dogs (HD = n. 10), of dogs showing clinical, ultrasonographic, and/or laboratory evidence of different hepatobiliary dysfunction (DHD = n. 10), and of dogs suffering from chronic hepatitis (CHD = n. 10) were investigated with an Ultimate 3000 nanoUPLC system, coupled to an Orbitrap Fusion Lumos Tribrid mass spectrometer. Fifty-two different proteins of canine origin were identified qualitatively in the three study groups, and quantitative differences were found in 55 proteins when comparing groups. Quantitatively, a total of 41 and 36 proteins were found differentially abundant in the DHD and CHD groups compared to the control HD, and 38 proteins resulted dysregulated in the CHD group as compared to the DHD group. Among the various proteins, differently abundant fecal fibronectin and haptoglobin were more present in the feces of healthy and DHD dogs than in chronic ones, leading us to hypothesize its possible diagnostic/monitoring role in canine chronic hepatitis. On the other hand, the trefoil factor 2 was increased in DHD dogs. Our results show that the analysis of the fecal proteome is a very promising field of study, and in the case of dogs suffering from different hepatobiliary disorders, it was able to highlight both qualitative and quantitative differences among the three groups included. Results need to be confirmed with western blotting and in further studies.