bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Facilities play a large role in astronomy’s carbon footprint
Authors: Allen Michael
Published: August 2022

Building and running space missions, telescopes and other facilities produces more greenhouse-gas emissions than any other aspect of doing astronomy and cosmology research according to a new study.
MANDELA laboratories open in South Africa
Authors: Makoni Munyaradzi
Published: August 2022

South Africa has completed the construction of two new nuclear labs that will be used to train students and develop novel nuclear-physics detector technology.
China collider set for major upgrade
Authors: Xin Ling
Published: August 2022

Scientists in China have begun a transformation of the Beijing Electron Positron Collider that could pave the way for a future Higgs factory. Ling Xin finds out.
Schrödinger lecture theatre renamed after sexual-abuse reports
Authors: Banks Michael
Published: August 2022

The school of physics at Trinity College Dublin has renamed a lecture theatre named in honour of the Nobel-prize-winning physicist Erwin Schrödinger in response to revelations that Schrödinger sexually abused young girls.
A sense of success
Authors: Harris Margaret
Published: August 2022

Why quantum sensors are the “stepchild” of quantum technologies.
The Earth through alien eyes
Authors: Romero James
Published: August 2022

Aliens spying on us from across interstellar space is a classic trope of science fiction. But working out what those extraterrestrials might see if they pointed their telescopes at us could help in our quest for finding life on distant Earth-like planets, as James Romero explains.
The legacy of Liverpool’s forgotten synchrocyclotron
Authors: Lea Rob
Published: August 2022

The University of Liverpool’s synchrocyclotron helped define physics in the 20th century, yet little trace of it remains. Rob Lea looks into the history of this lost machine.
A steampunk guide to quantum physics
Authors: Ball Philip
Published: August 2022

Philip Ball reviews Quantum Steampunk: the Physics of Yesterday’s Tomorrow by Nicole Yunger Halpern.
Opening up innovation and change
Authors: Brazil Rachel
Published: August 2022

Roland Harwood is a physicist who is fascinated by the art of open innovation. He tells Rachel Brazil how he has helped organizations ranging from Lego to the UN to implement change and why he believes that physics is leading the way when it comes to collaboration.
Atomic quantum processors make their debut
Authors: Wogan Tim
Published: August 2022

Two research groups demonstrate quantum algorithms using neutral atoms as qubits. Tim Wogan reports.
No simple matter: how bacteria swim in complex fluids
Authors: Steffel Catherine
Published: August 2022

Scientists have carried out experiments and theoretical modelling to investigate how bacteria are able to travel quickly through complex fluids.
Small tweaks to chaotic systems could change weather
Authors: Cartlidge Edwin
Published: August 2022

Scientists in Japan used computer simulations based on a “butterfly attractor” to show how even the smallest perturbations could prevent extreme events such as tornadoes or heavy downpours.
Machine learning detects seismic activity in noisy cities
Authors: Jarman Sam
Published: August 2022

A machine-learning algorithm that filters seismic data to remove noise from human activity has been developed by researchers in the US and China.
US calls for ice-giants missions
Authors: Gwynne Peter
Published: August 2022

The “decadal survey” of US planetary science prioritizes large-scale probes to Uranus and Saturn’s moon Enceladus. Peter Gwynne reports.
China Initiative continues to prosecute scientists with links to China
Authors: Gwynne Peter
Published: August 2022

A federal jury in Illinois has found Mingquin Xiao, a mathematician at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, guilty of failing to report a Chinese bank account to tax authorities.
IOP responds to ‘girls don’t like physics’ comment
Authors: Banks Michael
Published: August 2022

The Institute of Physics (IOP) says that it is “alarmed” by comments made by the UK government’s social mobility commissioner that more girls decide not to study A-level physics because there is too much “hard maths”.
Netherlands invests €1.1bn in photonics
Authors: Boerkamp Martijn
Published: August 2022

The Dutch photonic chip industry has received €1.1bn of public and private investment to create hundreds of photonic start-up companies and boost production.
US outlines shift to ‘post-quantum cryptography’
Authors: Banks Michael
Published: August 2022

The US government has released a new national security memorandum to protect US leadership in quantum technologies and increase “quantum-resistant cryptography”.
Blown away by the wonders of glass
Authors: Crease Robert P
Published: August 2022

Robert P Crease visits the Corning Museum of Glass in upstate New York, which claims to house the largest collection of glass art and artefacts in the world.
A glassy solution to nuclear waste
Authors: Brazil Rachel
Published: August 2022

Ancient glass is not just of interest to historians and archaeologists – it may also hold the key to understanding the durability of vitrified nuclear waste. Rachel Brazil investigates.
The unsung hero of the smartphone
Authors: McKenzie James
Published: August 2022

James McKenzie reflects on the wonders of Gorilla Glass – an invention that protects billions of smartphones, tablets and laptops around the world from unwanted damage.
Commanding missions, making history
Authors: Glester Andrew
Published: August 2022

Andrew Glester reviews Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars: the Story of the First American Woman to Command a Space Mission by Eileen M Collins with Jonathan H Ward.
ITER seeks new boss after Bigot dies
Authors: Banks Michael
Published: August 2022

ITER Council searches for a long-term successor to Bernard Bigot as ITER deputy director Eisuke Tada takes over as interim head of the France-based fusion project. Michael Banks reports.
South African telescope begins search for the afterglow of cosmic events
Authors: Makoni Munyaradzi
Published: August 2022

A new optical telescope in South Africa that will measure the brightness of transient sources will begin operation in mid-July.
White men have systematic advantages in science
Authors: Allen Michael
Published: August 2022

Survey data from more than 25,000 STEM professionals in the US suggests that white able-bodied heterosexual men working in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) are uniquely privileged and experience a wide range of advantages at work compared with other groups.
China releases most detailed geological map of the Moon to date
Authors: Banks Michael
Published: August 2022

Using data from China’s suite of Chang’e lunar exploration missions and other information, scientists in China have released a highly detailed geologic map of the Moon.
Citations in science are biased towards a handful of nations
Authors: Allen Michael
Published: August 2022

An analysis by sociologists in the US finds that scientists from a handful of “core” countries – including China, the US and the UK – tend to be cited much more than those working in “periphery” nations.
Green-sky thinking
Authors: McKenzie James
Published: August 2022

The airline industry is emerging from COVID-19 with progress on de-carbonizing air travel, as James McKenzie discovers.
How to become a better supervisor
Authors: Plougmann Rikke
Published: August 2022

Rikke Plougmann argues that PhD students can only thrive if their wellbeing – and not just their scientific development – is properly supported.
Quick and dirty fusion
Authors: Matthews Guy
Published: August 2022

A response to James McKenzie’s Transactions article “Fusion: it’s hotting up”, which looks at recent commercial investment in fusion power.
Demonic thoughts
Authors: Galloway Ian
Published: August 2022

In response to the feature by Robert P Crease “Letting demons do the teaching”, which argues that demons are a great way to teach science to both scientists and humanities students.
Lovely Liverpool
Authors: Edgington John
Published: August 2022

A response to the feature by Rob Lea about the University of Liverpool’s former synchrocyclotron, which was built after the Second World War on the site of what is now the city’s Catholic Cathedral.
Where next for high-energy physics?
Authors: Riordan Michael
Published: August 2022

A decade after the discovery of the Higgs boson at CERN, Michael Riordan worries that the glory days of international co-operation in particle physics could be endangered following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Keep on keeping on
Authors: Whiteson Daniel , Cham Jorge
Published: August 2022

Exactly a decade after the announcement that the Higgs boson had been found, particle physicist Daniel Whiteson and artist Jorge Cham wonder how we can sustain the excitement of 4 July 2012 and what new particles – if any – might be awaiting discovery.
Multifaceted control of E-cadherin dynamics by Adaptor Protein Complex 1 during epithelial morphogenesis
Authors: Moreno Miguel Ramírez , Boswell Katy , Casbolt Helen L. , Bulgakova Natalia A.
Published: August 2022

A mechanism that regulates epithelial morphogenesis by the AP-1 complex is presented. It combines trafficking of integrins with inhibition of E-cadherin endocytosis and is accompanied by adjustment of E-cadherin transcription.
Plasma membrane protrusions mediate host cell–cell fusion induced by Burkholderia thailandensis
Authors: Kostow Nora , Welch Matthew D.
Published: August 2022

Live-cell imaging reveals the cellular-level pathway for B. thailandensis-induced cell–cell fusion and resolves how bacterial motility, plasma membrane protrusions, and the type VI secretion system-5 components VgrG5 and TagD5 work together to induce cell–cell fusion.
Preprint Highlight: Deciphering the tumor-specific immunopeptidome in vivo with genetically engineered mouse models
Authors: Lim Grace
Published: August 2022

Developing cancer immunotherapies relies on an accurate understanding of the diversity of cancer antigen–MHC complexes presented by immune cells, yet popular in vitro cell culture systems do not fully replicate the native tumor microenvironment. To characterize the cancer antigen fragments presented by immune cells in vivo, the authors engineered a mouse model with an affinity tag linked to the MHC heavy chain protein H2-Kb, enabling cell type-specific purification of cancer antigen–MHC complexes. In a mouse model of lung adenocarcinoma, this system revealed context-dependent changes in the peptide signatures obtained at different stages of tumorigenesis, including potential immunotherapeutic targets. Overall, this model offers a new way for the scientific community to evaluate in vivo immune cell interactions that is applicable across multiple cancer and disease settings.
Preprint Highlight: PGC1α regulates the endothelial response to fluid shear stress via telomerase reverse transcriptase control of heme oxygenase‐1
Authors: Seldin Lindsey
Published: August 2022

Endothelial cell alignment in response to fluid flow is critical for normal vascular function; however, the regulatory pathways that underlie this planar polarized cell behavior remain elusive. Applying both cell culture and in vivo mouse model approaches, the authors reveal a novel peroxisome proliferator gamma coactivator‐1α (PGC‐1α)‐driven signaling pathway that is required for endothelial alignment in response to laminar fluid shear stress. This work proposes a noncanonical function of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) in modulating mitochondrial dynamics in endothelial cells, unique from its established role in telomere maintenance. This study is of broad interest, as this novel molecular pathway shown to regulate endothelial homeostasis, polarity, stress response, and quiescence may also impact these properties in diverse tissues.
Preprint Highlight: Multiplexed bioluminescence microscopy via phasor analysis
Authors: Takao Daisuke
Published: August 2022

Luciferase‐based bioluminescence imaging requires no excitation light and thus can be advantageous over fluorescence imaging, but multicolor imaging has been a challenge due to the difficulties of spectral and substrate unmixing. To achieve effective multiplexing of bioluminescence imaging, this study applies phasor analysis that can cluster profiles, in the phasor space, of acquired light intensity according to specific bioluminescence probes. The authors demonstrate that bioluminescence phasor imaging can distinguish heterogeneous cell populations expressing up to six unique reporters. They also resolve two distinct reporters localized to the nucleus and plasma membrane within a single cell. The workflow and optical setup are simple and easily accessible to most cell and developmental biologists, which enables multicolor live‐cell imaging without concerns of photodamage.
Preprint Highlight: Shelterin components modulate nucleic acids condensation and phase separation in the context of telomeric DNA
Authors: Zhang Huaiying
Published: August 2022

Many DNA‐binding proteins undergo liquid‐liquid phase separation (LLPS) with DNA. Whether these proteins function through LLPS remains to be determined. This study explores the behavior of telomeric DNA‐binding protein TRF2 with DNA using an array of advanced techniques including optical traps, magnetic tweezers, turbidity assays, and quantitative microscopy. By combining experimental observations with simulation, the authors demonstrate that TRF2 compacts single‐chain DNA and undergoes LLPS with multiple DNAs under different conditions but uses the same multivalent interactions. The idea that the same interactions at the molecular level can generate different organizational outcomes at the micro/mesoscale provides a new framework for understanding how multivalence drives DNA‐binding protein functions.
Preprint Highlight: All-optical visualization of specific molecules in the ultrastructural context of brain tissue
Authors: Bonet-Ponce Luis
Published: August 2022

Resolving the molecular structure of the brain requires mapping specific proteins and cellular structures with a level of detail beyond the capabilities of conventional light microscopy. Electron microscopy enables visualization at the ultrastructural level, but there are limited methods for localizing specific proteins. The authors present pan-expansion microscopy of tissue (pan-ExM-t), a new method that combines ∼24-fold expansion microscopy with fluorescent pan-staining of proteins and immunostaining of specific protein targets. The authors visualize the structure of brain slices at the synaptic level with outstanding detail using a standard confocal microscope. This new method enhances the ability to visualize the nanoarchitecture of the brain and the subcellular localizations of specific proteins.
The FASTQ+ format and PISA
Authors: Shi Quan , Liu Shiping , Kristiansen Karsten , Liu Longqi
Published: August 2022

The FASTQ+ format is designed for single-cell experiments. It extends various optional tags, including cell barcodes and unique molecular identifiers, to the sequence identifier and is fully compatible with the FASTQ format. In addition, PISA implements various utilities for processing sequences in the FASTQ format and alignments in the SAM/BAM/CRAM format from single-cell experiments, such as converting FASTQ format to FASTQ+, annotating alignments, PCR deduplication, feature counting and barcodes correction. The software is open-source and written in C language.

Availability and implementation

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7007056 or https://github.com/shiquan/PISA

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Bayesian sample size determination in basket trials borrowing information between subsets
Authors: Zheng Haiyan , Grayling Michael J , Mozgunov Pavel , Jaki Thomas , Wason James M S
Published: August 2022

Basket trials are increasingly used for the simultaneous evaluation of a new treatment in various patient subgroups under one overarching protocol. We propose a Bayesian approach to sample size determination in basket trials that permit borrowing of information between commensurate subsets. Specifically, we consider a randomized basket trial design where patients are randomly assigned to the new treatment or control within each trial subset (“subtrial” for short). Closed-form sample size formulae are derived to ensure that each subtrial has a specified chance of correctly deciding whether the new treatment is superior to or not better than the control by some clinically relevant difference. Given prespecified levels of pairwise (in)commensurability, the subtrial sample sizes are solved simultaneously. The proposed Bayesian approach resembles the frequentist formulation of the problem in yielding comparable sample sizes for circumstances of no borrowing. When borrowing is enabled between commensurate subtrials, a considerably smaller trial sample size is required compared to the widely implemented approach of no borrowing. We illustrate the use of our sample size formulae with two examples based on real basket trials. A comprehensive simulation study further shows that the proposed methodology can maintain the true positive and false positive rates at desired levels.
Cross-modal functional connectivity supports speech understanding in cochlear implant users
Authors: Fullerton Amanda M , Vickers Deborah A , Luke Robert , Billing Addison N , McAlpine David , Hernandez-Perez Heivet , Peelle Jonathan E , Monaghan Jessica J M , McMahon Catherine M
Published: August 2022

Sensory deprivation can lead to cross-modal cortical changes, whereby sensory brain regions deprived of input may be recruited to perform atypical function. Enhanced cross-modal responses to visual stimuli observed in auditory cortex of postlingually deaf cochlear implant (CI) users are hypothesized to reflect increased activation of cortical language regions, but it is unclear if this cross-modal activity is “adaptive” or “mal-adaptive” for speech understanding. To determine if increased activation of language regions is correlated with better speech understanding in CI users, we assessed task-related activation and functional connectivity of auditory and visual cortices to auditory and visual speech and non-speech stimuli in CI users (n = 14) and normal-hearing listeners (n = 17) and used functional near-infrared spectroscopy to measure hemodynamic responses. We used visually presented speech and non-speech to investigate neural processes related to linguistic content and observed that CI users show beneficial cross-modal effects. Specifically, an increase in connectivity between the left auditory and visual cortices—presumed primary sites of cortical language processing—was positively correlated with CI users’ abilities to understand speech in background noise. Cross-modal activity in auditory cortex of postlingually deaf CI users may reflect adaptive activity of a distributed, multimodal speech network, recruited to enhance speech understanding.
Anxiety disrupts performance monitoring: integrating behavioral, event-related potential, EEG microstate, and sLORETA evidence
Authors: Nash Kyle , Leota Josh , Kleinert Tobias , Hayward Dana A
Published: August 2022

Anxiety impacts performance monitoring, though theory and past research are split on how and for whom. However, past research has often examined either trait anxiety in isolation or task-dependent state anxiety and has indexed event-related potential components, such as the error-related negativity or post-error positivity (Pe), calculated at a single node during a limited window of time. We introduced 2 key novelties to this electroencephalography research to examine the link between anxiety and performance monitoring: (i) we manipulated antecedent, task-independent, state anxiety to better establish the causal effect; (ii) we conducted moderation analyses to determine how state and trait anxiety interact to impact performance monitoring processes. Additionally, we extended upon previous work by using a microstate analysis approach to isolate and sequence the neural networks and rapid mental processes in response to error commission. Results showed that state anxiety disrupts response accuracy in the Stroop task and error-related neural processes, primarily during a Pe-related microstate. Source localization shows that this disruption involves reduced activation in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and compensatory activation in the right lateral prefrontal cortex, particularly among people high in trait anxiety. We conclude that antecedent anxiety is largely disruptive to performance monitoring.
Cardiac magnetic resonance diagnosis of Fabry disease leads to incidental diagnosis of Klinefelter syndrome: a case report
Authors: Binda Giulia , Bridgman John Cameron , Chapman Ian , Selvanayagam Joseph B
Published: August 2022

Background

Fabry disease is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder resulting in deficient activity of alpha-galactosidase. Males are general more severely affected however heterozygous females can variably express the disease depending on the degree of random X chromosome inactivation (Lyonization). We present a case where cardiac magnetic resonance diagnosis of late onset Fabry Disease leads to an incidental diagnosis of Klinefelter syndrome.

Case summary

A 55-year-old male was referred for cardiology assessment after developing atrial fibrillation. Echocardiography demonstrated moderate, concentric LVH (left ventricular hypertrophy). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the presence of concentric increase in LV wall thickness and increased LV (left ventricular) mass. T1 mapping values (Shortened Modified Look-Locker Inversion recovery sequences) were elevated in the basal-mid inferolateral segments and low in the remaining segments. Late gadolinium acquisition showed a pattern suggestive of Fabry disease. Genetic testing of the GLA gene revealed a null variant classified as pathogenic. The variant was found to be heterozygous. This raised the possibility of Klinefelter's syndrome and the diagnosis was confirmed by chromosomal microarray and karyotype. The patient was then referred to Fabry clinic for consideration of enzyme replacement therapy and to the endocrine clinic for testosterone replacement.

Discussion

The atypical ’cardiac variant‘ Fabry disease should be included in differential diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy. In a ‘late onset’ presentation of Fabry Disease, the concomitant presence of Klinefelter syndrome cannot be excluded due to GLA variant present in the heterozygous state.
Association between sleep duration and ideal cardiovascular health in Chinese adults: results from the China health and nutrition survey
Authors: Zhao Min , Chen Ting , Huang Chenglong , Zhong Qiuan
Published: August 2022

Background

Ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) is related to the future risk of cardiovascular disease. Sleep duration is an important factor influencing health outcomes. The association between sleep duration and CVH is unclear.

Objectives

We aimed to explore the associations between sleep duration and CVH among Chinese adults.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was based on nationally representative samples from 2009 China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). Sleep duration was categorized as ≤6, 7, 8, and ≥9 h. The CVH scores were evaluated. Generalized linear regressions and restricted cubic splines were used to determine the association between sleep duration and CVH.

Results

A total of 8,103 Chinese adults with a mean age of 50.29 (14.97) years were included. The mean (SD) CVH score was 3.96 (1.43). Only 36.7% of the participants had ideal CVH. Sleep duration was positively associated with ideal CVH (P-trend < 0.05). When comparing the long sleep duration with the short sleep duration, short sleep duration significantly decreased the mean CVH score, β = −0.24 (95% CI: −0.36, −0.13) and increased the risk of nonideal CVH, OR = 1.38 (95% CI: 1.15, 1.67) by generalized linear regressions. The restricted cubic splines showed CVH did not have a significant nonlinear relationship with sleep duration. The P-value for nonlinear was 0.161. The association of sleep duration with CVH had no obvious threshold.

Conclusion

Short sleep duration was associated with decreased odds of ideal CVH and lower mean CVH score. Confirmation through longitudinal studies is needed.
From bugs to bedside: functional annotation of human genetic variation for neurological disorders using invertebrate models
Authors: Mew Melanie , Caldwell Kim A , Caldwell Guy A
Published: August 2022

The exponential accumulation of DNA sequencing data has opened new avenues for discovering the causative roles of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in neurological diseases. The opportunities emerging from this are staggering, yet only as good as our abilities to glean insights from this surplus of information. Whereas computational biology continues to improve with respect to predictions and molecular modeling, the differences between in silico and in vivo analysis remain substantial. Invertebrate in vivo model systems represent technically advanced, experimentally mature, high-throughput, efficient and cost-effective resources for investigating a disease. With a decades-long track record of enabling investigators to discern function from DNA, fly (Drosophila) and worm (Caenorhabditis elegans) models have never been better poised to serve as living engines of discovery. Both of these animals have already proven useful in the classification of genetic variants as either pathogenic or benign across a range of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders—including autism spectrum disorders, ciliopathies, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Pathogenic SNPs typically display distinctive phenotypes in functional assays when compared with null alleles and frequently lead to protein products with gain-of-function or partial loss-of-function properties that contribute to neurological disease pathogenesis. The utility of invertebrates is logically limited by overt differences in anatomical and physiological characteristics, and also the evolutionary distance in genome structure. Nevertheless, functional annotation of disease-SNPs using invertebrate models can expedite the process of assigning cellular and organismal consequences to mutations, ascertain insights into mechanisms of action, and accelerate therapeutic target discovery and drug development for neurological conditions.
Preparation and oxygen reduction performance of nitrogen-doped cotton stalk-derived carbon
Authors: Sun Akang , Liu Yuemei , Ma Junhong , Yang Lijing , Wang Yuanhao
Published: August 2022

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a key step in the operation of fuel cells and metal air cells, which needs some economic and efficient catalysts to improve its reaction kinetics process. In this work, nitrogen-doped carbon (N-C) catalyst material was prepared by one-step high-temperature pyrolysis with biomass waste cotton stalk as carbon/nitrogen precursor material and urea as auxiliary nitrogen source. The effect of temperature on the structure and performance of the prepared N-C catalyst was investigated. The experimental results show that a small temperature change of 25°C will cause a significant change in the structure of N-C material. N-C-900 samples prepared at 900°C had a larger specific surface area of 620 m2 g−1, significantly improved graphitization degree and nitrogen content (7.30 at%) and showed significantly better ORR performance than other samples in alkaline medium. The ORR activity of N-C-900 sample is the best, indicated by the highest Eonset (0.92 V) and E1/2 (0.85 V) of ORR, which are positively shifted by 20 and 30 mV compared with commercial Pt/C. Its ORR initial potential and half-wave potential are similar to those of commercial Pt/C, and it shows better ORR stability and methanol resistance than Pt/C.
Research on low-carbon supply chain decision-making under carbon cap-and-trade and subsidy policy
Authors: Peng XinXin , Tao YuHong , Wang ChunMei , Zhong Zhen
Published: August 2022

Under the background of carbon cap and carbon subsidy policies implemented by the government, considering a low-carbon supply chain led by a manufacturer and followed by a retailer, the market demand is influenced by the level of emission reduction and promotion of low-carbon products. Stackelberg game theory is used to construct four models, one with no carbon cap and three with a carbon cap respectively. And we get the equilibrium solutions of the degree of emission reduction, degree of promotion, sharing ratio, market demand, manufacturer and retailer profit of low-carbon products. Through comparative analysis, it is found that the MKM model is the optimal one in which the government implements carbon cap and carbon subsidy policies and the manufacturer shares the cost of low-carbon promotion. In this model, the degree of manufacturer’s emission reduction is positively correlated with the influence coefficient of low-carbon emission reduction, manufacturer’s marginal revenue, government unit subsidy for low-carbon emission reduction and the initial price of carbon trading. Meanwhile, it is negatively correlated with the government’s carbon emission quota, elastic coefficient of carbon emission quota and the cost coefficient of low-carbon emission reduction. The results are closely related to the government unit subsidies for low-carbon emission reduction and the government carbon allowances. The manufacturer is more willing to accept the MKM model only when they exceed a certain threshold. Finally, the validity of the models would be verified by a numerical example.
Characterization of Casirivimab Plus Imdevimab, Sotrovimab, and Bamlanivimab Plus Etesevimab-Derived Interference in Serum Protein Electrophoresis and Immunofixation Electrophoresis
Authors: Scholl Ashley Rose , Korentzelos Dimitrios , Forns Taylor E , Brenneman Ethan K , Kelm Matthew , Datto Michael , Wheeler Sarah E , Carlsen Eric D
Published: August 2022

Background

Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies can be a source of assay interference in clinical serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) and immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE), producing monoclonal bands that can be misinterpreted as a monoclonal gammopathy related to a B-cell or plasma cell neoplasm. The extent to which new anti-COVID-19 monoclonal antibodies produce this interference is unknown.

Methods

Casirivimab plus imdevimab, sotrovimab, and bamlanivimab plus etesevimab were spiked into patient serum samples to evaluate for SPEP/IFE interference, to characterize the position of therapy-derived bands relative to a reference band (either combined beta band or beta 1 band, depending on instrument platform), and to confirm heavy and light chain utilization of each medication. Serum samples from patients who had recently received casirivimab plus imdevimab or sotrovimab were also evaluated for comparison.

Results

When spiked into serum samples, all tested anti-COVID-19 monoclonal antibodies generated interference in SPEP/IFE. Importantly, the patterns of interference differed between spiked serum samples and serum from patients who had recently received casirivimab plus imdevimab or sotrovimab.

Conclusions

Imdevimab can be added to the growing list of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies that produce sustained interference in SPEP/IFE. Although casirivimab and sotrovimab also produce assay interference in vitro, these antibodies are not reliably detected in serum from recently infused patients. The value of relative band position in recognizing bands that may represent therapeutic monoclonal antibodies is also emphasized. Clinicians and laboratorians should consider therapeutic monoclonal antibody interference in diagnostic SPEP/IFE and review a patient’s medication list when new or transient monoclonal bands are identified.
Acute exposure of minimally oxLDL elicits survival responses by downregulating the mediators of NLRP3 inflammasome in cultured RAW 264.7 macrophages
Authors: Thankam Finosh G , Khwaja Bisma , Nguyen Megan , Ahsan Osama , Agrawal Devendra K
Published: August 2022

Lipid burden in macrophages driven by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) accelerates the foam cell formation and the activation of sterile inflammatory responses aggravating the atherosclerosis. However, there is limited information on the mediators and the pathways involved in the possible survival responses, especially at the initial phase, by lipid burden in macrophage cells on encountering oxLDL. The present study was designed to assess the expression status of major mediators involved in the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway of sterile inflammation and the cellular responses in oxLDL-challenged cultured RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. OxLDL-treated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells displayed a decreased expression of the key sterile inflammatory mediators, TLR4, TLR2, ASC, NLRP3 and IL-18 at protein and transcript levels; however, they displayed increased level of IL-1β, RAGE and TREM1 at protein level. Biological responses including lipid uptake, lipid peroxidation, cellular hypertrophy, mitochondrial density and mitochondrial membrane potential were significantly increased in oxLDL-treated macrophages. Moreover, superoxide production was significantly decreased in the oxLDL-treated macrophages compared to the control. Overall, the findings revealed the expression status of key sterile mediators and the macrophage response during the initial phase of oxLDL exposure tend towards the prevention of inflammation. Further understanding would open novel translational opportunities in the management of atherosclerosis.
Three-dimensionally visualized rhizoid system of moss, Physcomitrium patens, by refraction-contrast X-ray micro-computed tomography
Authors: Yamaura Ryohei , Tamaoki Daisuke , Kamachi Hiroyuki , Yamauchi Daisuke , Mineyuki Yoshinobu , Uesugi Kentaro , Hoshino Masato , Suzuki Tomomi , Shimazu Toru , Kasahara Haruo , Kamada Motoshi , Hanba Yuko T , Kume Atsushi , Fujita Tomomichi , Karahara Ichirou
Published: August 2022

Land plants have two types of shoot-supporting systems, root system and rhizoid system, in vascular plants and bryophytes. However, since the evolutionary origin of the systems is different, how much they exploit common systems or distinct systems to architect their structures is largely unknown. To understand the regulatory mechanism of how bryophytes architect the rhizoid system responding to environmental factors, we have developed the methodology to visualize and quantitatively analyze the rhizoid system of the moss, Physcomitrium patens, in 3D. The rhizoids having a diameter of 21.3 µm on the average were visualized by refraction-contrast X-ray micro-computed tomography using coherent X-ray optics available at synchrotron radiation facility SPring-8. Three types of shape (ring-shape, line and black circle) observed in tomographic slices of specimens embedded in paraffin were confirmed to be the rhizoids by optical and electron microscopy. Comprehensive automatic segmentation of the rhizoids, which appeared in three different form types in tomograms, was tested by a method using a Canny edge detector or machine learning. The accuracy of output images was evaluated by comparing with the manually segmented ground truth images using measures such as F1 score and Intersection over Union, revealing that the automatic segmentation using machine learning was more effective than that using the Canny edge detector. Thus, machine learning-based skeletonized 3D model revealed quite dense distribution of rhizoids. We successfully visualized the moss rhizoid system in 3D for the first time.
Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity: causative factors and possible interventions
Authors: Jones Isobel C , Dass Crispin R
Published: August 2022

Objectives

Doxorubicin (Dox) belongs to the anthracycline drug classification and is a widely administered chemotherapeutic. However, Dox use in therapy is limited by its cardiotoxicity, representing a significant drawback of Dox treatment applicability. A large amount of current research is on reducing Dox-induced cardiotoxicity by developing targeted delivery systems and investigating cardiotoxicity mechanisms. Recently, discrepancies have challenged the traditional understanding of Dox metabolism, mechanisms of action and cardiotoxicity drivers. This review summarises the current knowledge around Dox’s metabolism, mechanisms of anticancer activity, and delivery systems and offers a unique perspective on the relationships between several proposed mechanisms of Dox-induced cardiotoxicity.

Key findings

While there is a strong understanding of Dox’s pharmacokinetic properties, it is unclear which enzymes contribute to Dox metabolism and how Dox induces its cytotoxic effect in neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells. Evidence suggests that there are several potentially synergistic mechanisms involved in Dox-induced cardiotoxicity.

It has become clear that Dox operates in a multifactorial fashion dependent on cellular context. Accumulation of oxidative stress appears to be a common factor in cardiotoxicity mechanisms, highlighting the importance of novel delivery systems and antioxidant therapies.
Comparison of acute gastrointestinal toxicities between 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy including prophylactic regions in chemoradiotherapy with S-1 for pancreatic cancer—importance of dose volume histogram parameters in the stomach as the predictive factors-
Authors: Umezawa Rei , Nakagawa Kei , Mizuma Masamichi , Katsuta Yoshiyuki , Tanaka Shohei , Kadoya Noriyuki , Suzuki Yu , Takeda Kazuya , Takahashi Noriyoshi , Yamamoto Takaya , Unno Michiaki , Jingu Keiichi
Published: August 2022

The purpose of this study was to compare acute gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities in patients who underwent 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with S-1 including prophylactic regions for pancreatic cancer. We also investigated the predictive factor of acute GI toxicities in dose volume histogram (DVH) parameters. Patients who received CRT with S-1 for pancreatic cancer between January 2014 and March 2021 were included. Radiotherapy (RT) with a total dose of 50-54 Gy was delivered. We examined the differences in the frequencies of acute GI toxicity of grade 2 or higher and DVH parameters of the stomach (ST) and duodenum (DU) between the 3DCRT group and the IMRT group. The RT-related predictive factors of acute GI toxicities were investigated by univariate and multivariate analyses. There were 25 patients in the 3DCRT group and 31 patients in the IMRT group. The frequencies of acute GI toxicity of G2 or higher were 36% in the 3DCRT group and 9.7% in the IMRT group (p = 0.035). ST V50 was the most predictive factor (p = 0.001), and the incidences of acute GI toxicity of G2 or higher in ST V50 ≥ 4.1 cc and < 4.1cc were 43.7% and 7.7%, respectively. ST V40 was also a significant predictive factor of acute GI toxicity (p = 0.002). IMRT could reduce acute GI toxicities in CRT with S-1 including prophylactic regions for pancreatic cancer. Acute GI toxicities may be affected by moderate to high doses to the ST.
Two unique cases of Bouveret syndrome with review of literature
Authors: Dixon Austin , Williams Michael D , Makiewicz Kristine , Khokar Amna , Bonomo Steven
Published: August 2022

Bouveret syndrome is a rare form of gallstone ileus in which a proximally lodged gallstone in the duodenum causes a gastric outlet obstruction. It is a rare condition that can be challenging to manage. Although endoscopic management remains first line, a surgical approach can be needed. We present two cases of Bouveret syndrome. A 65-year-old man with oral squamous cell carcinoma treated with endoscopic management and a 63-year-old woman treated with surgery.
Plant environmental sensing relies on specialized plastids
Authors: Mackenzie Sally A , Mullineaux Philip M
Published: August 2022

In plants, plastids are thought to interconvert to various forms that are specialized for photosynthesis, starch and oil storage, and diverse pigment accumulation. Post-endosymbiotic evolution has led to adaptations and specializations within plastid populations that align organellar functions with different cellular properties in primary and secondary metabolism, plant growth, organ development, and environmental sensing. Here, we review the plastid biology literature in light of recent reports supporting a class of ‘sensory plastids’ that are specialized for stress sensing and signaling. Abundant literature indicates that epidermal and vascular parenchyma plastids display shared features of dynamic morphology, proteome composition, and plastid–nuclear interaction that facilitate environmental sensing and signaling. These findings have the potential to reshape our understanding of plastid functional diversification.
Physiologic Fidelity as a Domain in Assessing Mixed Reality Trauma Simulation
Authors: Evans Andrew J , Russo Christopher M , Tovar Matthew A , Liu Alan , Conley Sean P
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Mixed reality has been used in trauma and emergency medicine simulation for more than a decade. As mixed reality potential in trauma simulation continues to expand, so too does the need to validate it as a surrogate for real-life emergency scenarios. Validation of these simulations can occur by measuring fidelity, or the degree to which a computing system can reproduce real-world experiences. After performing a literature review, we determined that most fidelity assessments of trauma and emergency simulations focus on how the user subjectively experiences the simulation. Although subjective user assessment is an important component of determining fidelity, we pose an introductory three-part framework that may assess mixed reality trauma simulation more adequately.

Materials and Methods

A literature review was conducted using Google Scholar, PubMed, and the Uniformed Services University PowerER search database. Relevant articles were assessed to identify how studies measured fidelity in trauma simulation. We then designed the three-part framework to aid researchers in assessing the fidelity of mixed reality trauma simulations.

Results

The domains we determined to best assess mixed reality emergency simulation are as follows:

1. Continue assessing fidelity via subjective user assessments. This allows the researcher to know how real the simulation looked and felt to the user based on their individual report.

2. Determine whether the trauma simulation changes the medical decision-making capacity of the user. If the user’s decision-making capacity changes with a stress-inducing trauma simulation versus a non–stress-inducing simulation, then the stress-inducing trauma environment would be approaching greater fidelity.

3. Study the domain of our newly proposed concept: physiologic fidelity. We define physiologic fidelity as the degree to which the simulation elicits a measurable, autonomic response independent of observed emotion or perceived affect. Recreating objective autonomic arousal may be the best way to ensure a trauma simulation reaches fidelity.

Conclusion

We propose a methodology to assess mixed reality trauma simulation fidelity. Once fidelity is more fully known to the researcher and the simulation user, adjustments can be made to approach reality more closely. Improved simulators may enrich the preparedness of both junior and senior learners for real-life emergencies. We believe assessing the three domains using the Wide Area Virtual Experience at the Val G. Hemming simulation center in Bethesda, MD, will validate mixed reality-trauma simulators as invaluable surrogates for real-life emergency scenarios and ultimately contribute to improved clinical outcomes for clinicians and their patients.
Modal compression of the redshift-space galaxy bispectrum
Authors: Byun Joyce , Krause Elisabeth
Published: August 2022

We extend the modal decomposition method, previously applied to compress the information in the real-space bispectrum to the anisotropic redshift-space galaxy bispectrum. In the modal method approach, the bispectrum is expanded on a basis of smooth functions of triangles and their orientations, such that a set of modal expansion coefficients can capture the information in the bispectrum. We assume a reference survey and compute Fisher forecasts for the compressed modal bispectrum and two other basis decompositions of the redshift-space bispectrum in the literature, one based on (single) spherical harmonics and another based on tripolar spherical harmonics. In each case, we compare the forecasted constraints from the compressed statistic with forecasted constraints from the full uncompressed bispectrum which includes all triangles and orientations. Our main result is that all three compression methods achieve good recovery of the full information content of the bispectrum, but the modal decomposition approach achieves this the most efficiently: only 14 (42) modal expansion coefficients are necessary to obtain constraints that are within 10 (2) per cent of the full bispectrum result. The next most efficient decomposition is the one based on tripolar spherical harmonics, while the spherical harmonic multipoles are the least efficient.
Superhumps in the cataclysmic variable BG Triangulum
Authors: Stefanov S Y , Latev G , Boeva S , Moyseev M
Published: August 2022

We present a detailed photometric study of the bright cataclysmic variable, BG Triangulum (BG Tri), using ground-based observations mainly from the Rozhen Observatory, the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN), the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and the Wide Angle Search for Planets (WASP). We report on the discovery of a negative superhump with P−sh = 0.1515(2) d and a co-existing superorbital variation with P = 3.94(53) d in data from 2019 and 2020. A positive superhump with P+sh = 0.1727(14) d is also discovered in data from 2006. The obtained negative superhump deficit ε− = 0.044(1) and the positive superhump excess ε+ = 0.090(9) give us an independent photometric evaluation of the mass ratio (q) of the system, which we find to be q− = 0.37(2) and q+ = 0.40(5), respectively. We also present a study of the quasi-periodic oscillations and stochastic variability (flickering) in BG Tri. The light curves show a rich mixture of simultaneously overlapping quasi-periods ranging from 5 to 25 min. The multicolour (UBVRI) photometric observations from the Rozhen Observatory reveal the typical increase of the flickering amplitudes to the shorter wavelengths. The recently introduced A60 amplitude of the flickering light source in all studied photometric bands is systematically lower when the negative superhump is gone in season 2021.