bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prostate‐specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography in addition to multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging and biopsies to select prostate cancer patients for focal therapy
Authors: Geboers Bart , Meijer Dennie , Counter William , Blazevski Alexandar , Thompson James , Doan Paul , Gondoputro William , Katelaris Athos , Haynes Anne‐Maree , Delprado Warick , O'Neill Gordon , Yuen Carlo , Vis Andre N. , van Leeuwen Pim J. , Ho Bao , Liu Victor , Lee Jonathan , Donswijk Maarten L. , Oprea‐Lager Daniela , Scheltema Matthijs J. , Emmett Louise , Stricker Phillip D.
Published: October 2023

Objective

To evaluate the additional value of prostate‐specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography (PSMA‐PET) to conventional diagnostic tools to select patients for hemi‐ablative focal therapy (FT).

Patients and Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis on a multicentre cohort (private and institutional) of 138 patients who underwent multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), PSMA‐PET, and systematic biopsies prior to radical prostatectomy between January 2011 and July 2021. Patients were eligible when they met the consensus criteria for FT: PSA <15 ng/mL, clinical/radiological T stage ≤T2b, and International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade 2–3. Clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) was defined as ISUP grade ≥2, extracapsular extension >0.5 mm or seminal vesicle involvement at final histopathology. The diagnostic accuracy of mpMRI, systematic biopsies and PSMA‐PET for csPCa (separate and combined) was calculated within a four‐quadrant prostate model by receiver‐operating characteristic and 2 × 2 contingency analysis. Additionally, we assessed whether the diagnostic tools correctly identified patients suitable for hemi‐ablative FT.

Results

In total 552 prostate quadrants were analysed and 272 (49%) contained csPCa on final histopathology. The area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for csPCa were 0.79, 75%, 83%, 81% and 77%, respectively, for combined mpMRI and systematic biopsies, and improved after addition of PSMA‐PET to 0.84, 87%, 80%, 81% and 86%, respectively (P < 0.001). On final histopathology 46/138 patients (33%) were not suitable for hemi‐ablative FT. Addition of PSMA‐PET correctly identified 26/46 (57%) non‐suitable patients and resulted in 4/138 (3%) false‐positive exclusions.

Conclusions

Addition of PSMA‐PET to the conventional work‐up by mpMRI and systematic biopsies could improve selection for hemi‐ablative FT and guide exclusion of patients for whom whole‐gland treatments might be a more suitable treatment option.
Risk aversion and favourite–longshot bias in a competitive fixed‐odds betting market
Authors: Whelan Karl
Published: October 2023

Research on sports betting has generally found a favourite–longshot bias: bets on longshots lose more than bets on favourites. Existing research focuses largely on pari‐mutuel betting, but favourite–longshot bias is also evident in fixed‐odds online betting markets of the type that are growing rapidly around the world. Explanations for this bias in previous work on pari‐mutuel markets cannot explain why it would be a feature of competitive fixed‐odds betting markets. We show how disagreement among gamblers and risk aversion on the part of bookmakers in a competitive market can produce a pattern of favourite–longshot bias resembling the empirical evidence.
Igniting growth surges: Lessons from the past
Authors: Atsebi Jean‐Marc B.
Published: October 2023

‘What exactly’ can countries do to initiate an episode of growth surge? I identify 132 episodes of growth surges occurring between 1980 and 2010 in 117 countries. I find that disproportionate improvements in macroeconomic stability and external factors and endowments favour a higher probability of growth surge. They are followed by structural reforms, investments, labour and productivity, trade diversification and quality and, lastly, by institutions. Countries can maximize the likelihood of igniting growth surges if they jointly achieve significant improvements in macroeconomic stability and external conditions and endowments. Also, macroeconomic stability and to some extent, external factors and endowments may be considered as dominant strategies to ignite a growth surge, as no improvements in these determinants, generally constraint the other determinants to have a smaller effect on growth surges. There is a notable difference between decades, regions and levels of development, which calls for careful tailoring of policies aiming at igniting growth surges to local conditions.
How do tuition fee increases affect international mobility? The case of European Union students in England
Authors: Dias Lopes Alice , Mateos‐Gonzalez Jose Luis , Wakeling Paul
Published: October 2023

This paper presents a descriptive analysis of the impact of tuition fee increases in England on the full‐degree mobility of undergraduate students from the European Union. First, we investigated whether the increase in tuition fees reduced the number of EU students in English higher education institutions. Our analysis shows that, on average, English universities suffered a sudden drop in EU enrolments in 2012/13 but recovered and then expanded their pre‐2012 enrolment levels in subsequent academic years. We observe that those English universities regarded as less prestigious experienced the sharpest decline and took longer to recover their pre‐2012 numbers. Second, we examined how changes in enrolment are associated with EU countries' macro‐level characteristics, using the push‐pull model framework. While there was a significant decrease in the number of students from Northern and Western European countries attending English universities after 2012, the tuition fee increase did not impact the number of students coming from Southern Europe. We found an association between EU countries' youth employment rates and higher education system characteristics with changes in enrolment in English universities. By examining the effect of changes in the tuition fee policy on international student mobility, our research provides new evidence on how tuition fee policies might change the behaviour of students.
Urbanization alters the spatiotemporal dynamics of plant–pollinator networks in a tropical megacity
Authors: Marcacci Gabriel , Westphal Catrin , Rao Vikas S. , Kumar S. Shabarish , Tharini K. B. , Belavadi Vasuki V. , Nölke Nils , Tscharntke Teja , Grass Ingo
Published: October 2023

Urbanization is a major driver of biodiversity change but how it interacts with spatial and temporal gradients to influence the dynamics of plant–pollinator networks is poorly understood, especially in tropical urbanization hotspots. Here, we analysed the drivers of environmental, spatial and temporal turnover of plant–pollinator interactions (interaction β‐diversity) along an urbanization gradient in Bengaluru, a South Indian megacity. The compositional turnover of plant–pollinator interactions differed more between seasons and with local urbanization intensity than with spatial distance, suggesting that seasonality and environmental filtering were more important than dispersal limitation for explaining plant–pollinator interaction β‐diversity. Furthermore, urbanization amplified the seasonal dynamics of plant–pollinator interactions, with stronger temporal turnover in urban compared to rural sites, driven by greater turnover of native non‐crop plant species (not managed by people). Our study demonstrates that environmental, spatial and temporal gradients interact to shape the dynamics of plant–pollinator networks and urbanization can strongly amplify these dynamics.
Morphometric analysis to aid fisheries management of two threatened guitarfish species (Pseudobatos horkelii and Pseudobatos percellens)
Authors: Leite Renata Daldin , Freire Carolina Arruda , Wosnick Natascha
Published: October 2023

This study aimed to provide data for fisheries management of two threatened guitarfish species, by using linear and geometric morphometric analyses. Linear morphometrics (LM) has limitations in determining minimum catch sizes, whereas geometric morphometrics offers a robust approach to quantifying body form variations with the potential to influence metrics set by legislation. Based on LM analysis, Pseudobatos horkelii were larger than Pseudobatos percellens. Based on geometric morphometric analysis body form differed between the two species, particularly in the head, disk, and posterior region. P. percellens were also sexual dimorphic in body form. Our findings provide valuable insights into permissible catch size limits of these threatened guitarfish and also contribute to improvement of fisheries management strategies where catch is still allowed. The study underscores the necessity of species‐specific and sex‐specific management directives to effectively ensure the population recovery of both guitarfish species.
Where we came from: continuing professional development for the 18th century physician and surgeon, the genesis of British medical societies
Authors: Short Bruce
Published: October 2023

Keeping professionally up to date in 18th‐century Britain was not an easy undertaking. Learning on the job was insufficient for the further development of individual medical knowledge. The century witnessed the gradual growth of medical societies to provide a better education than that offered by university institutions. The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London in 1815 was empowered to licence and regulate medical practitioners, today's general practitioners. Societies were established in Edinburgh but not so many as around London, where a particularly successful education body was established in 1773, the prestigious Medical Society of London. In 1805 a breakaway group from the society formed an equally highly respected learned body, the Medical and Chirurgical Society of London, that became the nidus for the amalgamation of numerous specialist societies to form, in June 1907, the extant Royal Society of Medicine. By the end of the 18th century, the medical society had fostered professionalism, education and unification within diverse medical and scientific disciplines.
The use of belimumab in three cases of refractory lupus nephritis
Authors: Malaweera Aruni , Dayan Sukhpal , Pellicano Rebecca , Hoi Alberta , Kitching A Richard , Kent Joanna R.
Published: October 2023

In recent trials for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), belimumab (BLM), in addition to standard immunosuppression, has been shown to improve renal and nonrenal outcomes. We report our experience using BLM in three cases of refractory lupus nephritis (LN), where renal remission was not achieved using cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil and other immunosuppressive medications. In two of the three cases, BLM therapy led to a partial remission of LN, improvement in serological markers of SLE and disease activity, which permitted a reduction in prednisolone dosing. Treatment with efficacious therapies early in the course of LN is a desirable therapeutic strategy, to achieve early remission of proteinuria and curtail the development of irreversible chronic renal damage. Further studies are needed to provide information on the effectiveness of BLM for maintenance of remission, prevention of flares and monitoring for long‐term complications of B‐cell modulation.
Transformation of investor attitude towards financial markets: A perspective on the Russia–Ukraine conflict
Authors: Chowdhury Emon Kalyan , Humaira Umme
Published: October 2023

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has significantly affected global financial markets, requiring investors to adapt their attitudes accordingly. This study aims to explore the transformation of investor attitudes towards financial markets within the context of the Russia–Ukraine conflict. By analysing monthly data spanning from January 2021 to March 2023, including Standard and Poor 500 index, Bitcoin historical price, gross national income, US consumer price index and investor attitude index, various models such as regression, the vector error correction model, generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity and the granger causality model are utilized. The findings reveal a noteworthy and positive impact of investor attitude on returns in both markets. Positive investor sentiment is linked to higher returns and enhanced market confidence. Particularly, investor attitude's influence is particularly pronounced during wartime, as global net income exerts a significant negative effect on both markets. These findings emphasize the necessity of evaluating the financial health of industrial companies prior to making investment decisions amidst periods of conflict. Furthermore, the results provide remarkable guidelines for policymakers and investors, underscoring the necessity of tracking the investor attitudes during wartime and acknowledging their potential impact on investment decision‐making in financial markets.
Pseudo‐single crystal growth of the entropy‐stabilized compound CoTi2O5: Microstructural evolution and kinetics
Authors: Zhang Junyan , Anderson Kevin P. , Rickman Jeffrey M. , Chan Helen M.
Published: October 2023

The solid‐state transformation behavior of cobalt dititanate (CoTi2O5) has been studied at different temperatures. The starting structure consisted of a duplex (1:1 molar) mixture of CoTiO3 and TiO2 grains. A seed layer of CoTi2O5 grains was incorporated at the upper surface of the green, precursor powder samples. Cobalt dititanate is a member of the pseudobrookite family (Cmcm, orthorhombic); it is an entropy‐stabilized compound, hence is stable only at elevated temperatures (T > 1140°C). It was observed that transformation initiated adjacent to the seed layer. First, a narrow layer of CoTi2O5 forms at the diphase boundaries, creating a 3‐D network that propagates at a constant velocity through the structure. The velocity of the reaction front follows an Arrhenius dependence on temperature. Both the rates of nucleation and growth increase with increasing temperature. At 1300°C, the velocity was estimated to be in excess of 10 mm/h. The progression of the reaction front was modelled based on a discontinuous template growth mechanism, with enhanced diffusion along the boundary between the product and reactant phases. The activation energy derived for boundary diffusion was 475 ± 69 kJ/mol. Behind the reaction front, the microstructure consists of a continuous matrix of CoTi2O5, with isolated remnant grains of CoTiO3 and TiO2. Further transformation occurs more slowly by solid‐state diffusion through the CoTi2O5 phase. Studies of the crystallographic orientation of the CoTi2O5 phase showed that it was pseudo‐ single crystal, with a preferred growth direction of [100]. The system exhibits novel features, which have not been reported previously for ceramic systems.
Gender differences in adult atopic dermatitis and clinical implication: Results from a nationwide multicentre study
Authors: Marani A. , Bianchelli T. , Gesuita R. , Faragalli A. , Foti C. , Malara G. , Micali G. , Amerio P. , Rongioletti F. , Corazza M. , Patrizi A. , Peris K. , Pimpinelli N. , Parodi A. , Fargnoli M. C. , Cannavo S. P. , Pigatto P. , Pellacani G. , Ferrucci S. M. , Argenziano G. , Cusano F. , Stingeni L. , Potenza M. C. , Romanelli M. , Bianchi L. , Offidani A. , Campanati A. ,   Collaborators
Published: October 2023

Background

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease that affects both children and adults. However, limited research has been conducted on gender differences in AD.

Objectives

This study aimed to assess gender differences in adult AD patients, focusing on demographic and clinical features, comorbidities and treatment approaches.

Methods

In this multicentre, observational, cross‐sectional study, we enrolled 686 adult patients with AD (357 males and 329 females). For each patient, we collected demographic data (age and sex), anthropometric measurements (weight, height, hip circumference, waist circumference and waist‐to‐hip ratio), clinical information (onset age, disease duration, severity, itching intensity, impact on quality of life) and noted comorbidities (metabolic, atopic and other). We recorded past and current topical and systemic treatments. We analysed all collected data using statistical techniques appropriate for both quantitative and qualitative variables. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) was employed to evaluate the relationships among all clinical characteristics of the patients.

Results

We found no differences in age at onset, disease duration, severity and quality of life impact between males and females. Males exhibited higher rates of hypertriglyceridaemia and hypertension. No significant gender differences were observed in atopic or other comorbidities. Treatment approaches were overlapping, except for greater methotrexate use in males. MCA revealed distinct patterns based on gender, disease severity, age of onset, treatment and quality of life. Adult males with AD had severe disease, extensive treatments and poorer quality of life, while adult females had milder disease, fewer treatments and moderate quality of life impact.

Conclusions

Our study reveals that gender differences in adult AD patients are largely due to inherent population variations rather than disease‐related disparities. However, it highlights potential undertreatment of females with moderate AD and quality of life impact, emphasizing the need for equitable AD treatment. JAK inhibitors may offer a solution for gender‐based therapeutic parity.
Coin‐Op conspiracies: Nostalgia and moral panic in the video arcade
Authors: Hahn Eric
Published: October 2023

The Polybius conspiracy theory has been featured in numerous contemporary pop cultural works from The Simpsons to Loki. The conspiracy theory suggests that a government created arcade cabinet was installed in numerous video arcades in the early 1980s as a means of experimenting on unsuspecting children. While the theory itself remains an outlandish and nostalgic remnant of 1980s culture, this paper traces the very real history of suburban border policing, classism, racism, and sensationalism that ultimately gave rise to the enduring myth of Polybius.
Rural‐urban differences in social and emotional protective factors and their association with child health and flourishing
Authors: Hardy Rose Y. , Boch Samantha J. , Davenport Mattina A. , Chavez Laura J. , Kelleher Kelly J.
Published: October 2023

Background

Children in rural communities experience higher mortality rates and less access to health care services than those in urban communities. Protective factors like social support also vary by geography, but their contribution to differences in child health is understudied. Understanding geographic variation in protective health factors could provide insight into their impact on health and guide future intervention strategies.

Research Objective

To examine protective factors’ association with child flourishing and child health status in rural and urban communities.

Methods

Publicly available data from the National Survey of Children's Health, 2018‐2021, with nonmissing geographic data (N = 150,493) were used to assess the relationship between protective factors and child flourishing and health by rurality. Multivariate survey‐weighted probit models examined these relationships, adjusting for child and caregiver characteristics.

Findings

More than a third of children were not flourishing, according to parental report. An estimated 62% of rural children were flourishing compared to 66% of urban children (P<0.001). Urban caregivers also were more likely to report better adult mental and physical health status. Nevertheless, rural children were reported to receive more social support than urban children, while their caregivers reported more emotional support and living in supportive and safe neighborhoods (P<0.001). Rural caregivers reported more support from places of worship and less from counselors/other mental health care providers than urban caregivers.

Conclusions

Despite higher reported caregiver emotional support and child social support, fewer rural children are flourishing. Health systems and community organizations able to leverage these existing social and emotional protective factors in rural communities could help close this gap.
Quantitative characterizations of visual fibrousness in meat analogues using automated image analysis
Authors: Ma Yizhou , Schlangen Miek , Potappel Jelle , Zhang Lu , van der Goot Atze Jan
Published: October 2023

A desirable quality of plant‐based meat analogues is to resemble the fibrous structure of cooked muscle meat. While texture analysis can characterize fibrous structures mechanically, assessment of visual fibrous structures remains subjective. Quantitative assessment of visual fibrous structures of meat analogues relies on expert knowledge, is resource‐intensive, and time‐consuming. In this study, a novel image‐based method (Fiberlyzer) is developed to provide automated, quantitative, and standardized assessment of visual fibrousness of meat analogues. The Fiberlyzer method segments fibrous regions from 2D images and extracts fiber shape features to characterize the fibrous structure of meat analogues made from mung bean, soy, and pea protein. The computed fiber scores (the ratio between fiber length and width) demonstrate a strong correlation with expert panel evaluations, particularly on a per‐formulation basis (r2 = 0.93). Additionally, the Fiberlyzer method generates fiber shape features including fiber score, fiber area, and the number of fiber branches, facilitating comparisons of structural similarity between meat analogue samples and cooked chicken meat as a benchmark. With a simple measurement setup and user‐friendly interface, the Fiberlyzer method can become a standard tool integrated into formulation development, quality control, and production routines of plant‐based meat analogue. This method offers rapid, cheap, and standardized quantification of visual fibrousness, minimizing the need for expert knowledge in the process of quality control.
Signals of differential introgression in the genome of natural hybrids of Caribbean anoles
Authors: Farleigh Keaka , Ascanio Alfredo , Farleigh Mackenzie E. , Schield Drew R. , Card Daren C. , Leal Manuel , Castoe Todd A. , Jezkova Tereza , Rodríguez‐Robles Javier A.
Published: October 2023

Hybridization facilitates recombination between divergent genetic lineages and can be shaped by both neutral and selective processes. Upon hybridization, loci with no net fitness effects introgress randomly from parental species into the genomes of hybrid individuals. Conversely, alleles from one parental species at some loci may provide a selective advantage to hybrids, resulting in patterns of introgression that do not conform to random expectations. We investigated genomic patterns of differential introgression in natural hybrids of two species of Caribbean anoles, Anolis pulchellus and A. krugi in Puerto Rico. Hybrids exhibit A. pulchellus phenotypes but possess A. krugi mitochondrial DNA, originated from multiple, independent hybridization events, and appear to have replaced pure A. pulchellus across a large area in western Puerto Rico. Combining genome‐wide SNP datasets with bioinformatic methods to identify signals of differential introgression in hybrids, we demonstrate that the genomes of hybrids are dominated by pulchellus‐derived alleles and show only 10%–20% A. krugi ancestry. The majority of A. krugi loci in hybrids exhibit a signal of non‐random differential introgression and include loci linked to genes involved in development and immune function. Three of these genes (delta like canonical notch ligand 1, jagged1 and notch receptor 1) affect cell differentiation and growth and interact with mitochondrial function. Our results suggest that differential non‐random introgression for a subset of loci may be driven by selection favouring the inheritance of compatible mitochondrial and nuclear‐encoded genes in hybrids.
Malaria sporozoites evade host complement attack
Authors: Jiao Shiming , Tan Nie , Zhu Chengyu , Ding Yan , Xu Wenyue
Published: October 2023

Complement is the first line of the host innate immune response against bacterial and viral infections; however, its role in the development of the malaria liver stage remains undefined. We found that sporozoite infection by either a mosquito bite or intravenous injection activated systemic complement, but neither depletion of C3 nor knockout of C3 had a significant effect on malaria liver stage development. Incubation of mouse serum with trypsin‐treated sporozoites, but not naive sporozoites, led to the deposition of a membrane attack complex (MAC) on the surface of sporozoites and greatly reduced the number of exo‐erythrocytic forms (EEF). Further studies have shown that the recruitment of complement H factor (CFH) may be associated with the prevention of MAC deposition on the surface of naïve sporozoites. Our data strongly suggest that sporozoites can escape complement attacks and provide us with a novel strategy to prevent malaria infection.
How do students learn definite integrals? Exploring students' learning opportunities
Authors: Hong Dae S.
Published: October 2023

This study explores calculus students' opportunities to learn the concepts of integral by examining one mathematician's videotaped lessons and the textbook. Results show that both lessons and the textbook introduce important cognitive resources briefly and focus on other units of knowledge. Implications to these results are also discussed.
Acoustic properties of the monophthongs of Assamese Indian English speakers
Authors: Sarmah Priyankoo , Wiltshire Caroline R.
Published: October 2023

This study investigates acoustic properties of the monophthongal vowels of English as spoken by 20 Assamese speakers in North East India, based on their medium of education being English or Assamese. Research suggests that English in India may be converging to a more homogenous standard, at least among educated speakers, despite common first language (L1) differences (Maxwell & Fletcher, 2009; Sirsa & Redford, 2013; Wiltshire, 2020). Assamese, a member of the Indo‐Aryan language family, shares phonological characteristics with surrounding languages from the Tibeto‐Burman family. We find that the vowels of Assamese Indian English speakers maintain characteristics reflecting their L1, especially those similar to local Englishes spoken by L1 Tibeto‐Burman speakers. However, English‐medium educated speakers do more closely approximate the norms of the central Indian standard, suggesting that although North East Indian English norms diverge from those of central India, there is some convergence across India among English‐medium educated speakers, regardless of L1s.
DUMBO CATFISH (CLARIAS GARIEPINUS) MICROPLASTIC EXPOSURE ON ABNORMALITIES AND LEVEL OF BLOOD COMPONENT USING A COMPLETELY RANDOMIZED DESIGN
Authors: Mangkunegara A. A. , Fadjar M. , Iranawati F.
Published: October 2023

Recently, the increase in environmental pollution has been studied by researchers, especially the increase in abnormalities and blood level in aquatic organisms. In this regard, one of the reasons is the presence of plastic causes that are often found in water. The existence of plastic waste in the water is divided into 3 categories, namely macroplastic (>25 mm), mesoplastic (5-25 mm), and microplastic (<5 mm). Microplastics occur from the degradation of macroplastics and mesoplastics in waters. Microplastics in lakes, rivers, and estuaries cause a stress response in the bodies of aquatic organisms including dumbo catfish (Claries gariepinus). The stress response of fish can be seen in the changes in blood components and levels of blood, which are used to determine the condition or health status of fish by counting the number of erythrocytes, leucocytes, hemoglobin, and differential leucocytes. This study aims to analyze the stress response of dumbo catfish caused by microplastic exposure to hematology. This used research method was a completely randomized design (CRD) with one factor and three treatment levels. The results showed that the increase in rearing time was from 0 to 30 days and varied of doses mixture commercial fish feed and microplastic. The results showed the highest erythrocyte value of 2.78(x106) cell/mm3 in 15 days of rearing time by adding mixed commercial feed and microplastics of 15%.
THE EFFECT OF OZONE EXPOSURE TO EXTEND THE SHELF LIFE OF CARROTS (DAUCUS CARROTA L.) AGAINST VITAMIN C LEVELS AND HARDNESS
Authors: Astuti Suryani Dyah , Susilo Yunus , Yaqubi Ahmad Khalil , Wahyuni Tri , Khasanah Miratul , Syahrom Ardiyansyah
Published: October 2023

The handling of post-harvest agricultural products has an impact on agricultural production. The handling should prevent factors that can lead to a decrease in the quality of agricultural products. Ozone exposure is done to find out the most effective shelf life for carrots. The sample consisted of 3 groups: the control group without ozone treatment (T0), the ozone exposure group through air or spray (T1), the ozone exposure group through immersion in water or soak (T2), and the spray and soak combination group (T3). Ozone exposure time is given for 10 minutes in a closed container. Further observed organoleptic changes, pH, hardness, and vitamin C levels contained in carrots after 1–5 days of storage. The research results showed that ozone treatment with various methods resulted in significant differences (p = 0) in mass loss, pH, and hardness of carrots. Ozone treatment with spray and soak on days 1–5 resulted in the stability of mass loss, pH, and hardness when compared to other treatment methods. The effect of ozone exposure on carrots by spray and soak can extend shelf life with the smallest percentage decrease based on the results of organoleptic tests, mass loss (58%), hardness (35%), and pH (22%), on the 5th day. So, ozone treatment is able to extend the shelf life of carrots based on their organoleptic and physical parameters.
IN-SITU FABRICATION OF FUNCTIONALIZED STARCH MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLES FOR IMMOBILIZATION OF LACCASE
Authors: Suhaimi Suhaily , Jaafar Nardiah Rizwana , Jailani Nashriq , A. Rahman Roshanida , Ngadi Norzita , Abdul Murad Abdul Munir , Hashim Noor Haza Fazlin , Md. Illias Rosli
Published: October 2023

Surface chemistry of magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) is crucial to provide a strong protein-support interaction for the immobilization process. The stability and biocompatibility of the MNP can be structurally enhanced by integrating with organic materials. In this study, MNP from KI/FeCl3 has successfully synthesized that showed a stronger magnetic strength (72.5 emu/g) compared to common standard precursors, FeCl2/FeSO4 (< 60 emu/g). The synthesized MNP was then incorporated via in-situ with functionalized starch; dialdehyde (DAS-MNP), thiol (TS-MNP), and carboxymethyl (CMS-MNP) for Laccase (Lac) immobilization. From docking analysis, CMS-MNP portrayed the highest binding affinity and interacted with highest number of Lac amino acids residues compared to DAS- and TS-MNP. Aligned with this result, immobilized Lac using CMS-MNP achieved the highest recovery activity (80.3%), highly stable at 75 °C for 4 h, and retained more than 50% of its initial activity after 10 cycles. The CMS-MNP-Lac also showed about the same catalytic efficiency with free Lac (1.19 and 1.58 mM-1s-1, respectively). It is demonstrated that the functional group of the starch-MNP plays a crucial role in attaining a stable immobilized Lac. Therefore, yield a promising biocatalyst to be applied in various fields.
Vector Field-Based Volume Peeling for Multi-Axis Machining
Authors: Dutta Neelotpal , Zhang Tianyu , Fang Guoxin , Yigit Ismail E. , Wang Charlie C. L.
Published: October 2023

This paper presents an easy-to-control volume peeling method for multi-axis machining based on the computation taken on vector fields. The current scalar field-based methods are not flexible and the vector field-based methods do not guarantee the satisfaction of the constraints in the final results. We first conduct an optimization formulation to compute an initial vector field that is well aligned with those anchor vectors specified by users according to different manufacturing requirements. The vector field is further optimized to be an irrotational field so that it can be completely realized by a scalar field’s gradients. Iso-surfaces of the scalar field will be employed as the layers of working surfaces for multi-axis volume peeling in the rough machining. Algorithms are also developed to remove and process singularities of the fields. Our method has been tested on a variety of models and verified by physical experimental machining.
From green to red: Urban heat stress drives leaf color evolution
Authors: Fukano Yuya , Yamori Wataru , Misu Hayata , Sato Mitsuhiko P. , Shirasawa Kenta , Tachiki Yuuya , Uchida Kei
Published: October 2023

Prevalence of impervious surface and resulting higher temperatures in urban areas, known as urban heat islands, comprises prominent characteristics in global cities. However, it is not known whether and how urban plants adapt to such heat stress. This study focused on
Oxalis corniculata
, which has intraspecific polymorphism in leaf color (green and red) and examined whether the leaf color variation is associated with urban heat stress. Field observations revealed that green-leaved plants were dominant in green habitats, and red-leaved individuals were dominant in urban habitats, at local (<500 meters), landscape (<50 kilometers), and global scales. Growth and photosynthesis experiments demonstrated that red-leaved individuals performed better under heat stress, while green-leaved individuals performed better under nonstressful conditions. Genome-wide SNP analysis suggests that the red leaf may have evolved multiple times from the ancestral green leaf. Overall, the results suggest that the red leaves of
O. corniculata
observed in cities worldwide are evidence of plant adaptive evolution due to urban heat islands.
Polyamines and hypusination are important for
Clostridioides difficile
toxin B (TcdB)-mediated activation of group 3 innate lymphocytes (ILC3s)
Authors: Sah Prakash , Knighten Bailey A. , Reidy Megan A. , Zenewicz Lauren A.
Published: October 2023

Clostridioides difficile
is the most common cause of nosocomial gastrointestinal tract bacterial infections. We lack fully effective reliable treatments for this pathogen, and there is a critical need to better understand how
C. difficile
interacts with our immune system. Group 3 innate lymphocytes (ILC3s) are rare immune cells localized within mucosal tissues that protect against bacterial infections. Upon activation, ILC3s secrete high levels of the cytokine interleukin-22 (IL-22), which is a critical regulator of tissue responses during infection.
C. difficile
toxin B (TcdB), the major virulence factor, directly activates ILC3s, resulting in high IL-22 levels. We previously reported that polyamines are important in the activation of ILC3s by the innate cytokine interleukin-23 (IL-23) but did not identify a specific mechanism. In this study, we examine how a pathogen impacts a metabolic pathway important for immune cell function and hypothesized that polyamines are important in TcdB-mediated ILC3 activation. We show that TcdB upregulates the polyamine biosynthesis pathway, and the inhibition of the pathway decreases TcdB-mediated ILC3 activation. Two polyamines, putrescine and spermidine, are involved. Spermidine is the key polyamine in the hypusination of eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF5A), and the inhibition of eIF5A reduced ILC3 activation. Thus, there is potential to leverage polyamines in ILC3s to promote activation of ILC3s during
C. difficile
infection and other bacterial infections where ILC3s serve a protective role.
Cross-sectional study of rapid tapering of opioid prescriptions following medical regulatory intervention in Alberta from 2013 to 2020
Authors: Hernandez-Ceron Nancy , Gilani Fizza , Hurava Iryna , Kain Nicole Allison , Ashworth Nigel
Published: October 2023

Objective

To determine if inappropriate tapering/discontinuation of opioids to Alberta patients occurred from mid-2013–2020, as unintended consequences of prescribing guidelines, regulations and policies in response to the North American opioid crisis.

Design

A population-based, repeated cross-sectional time-series study.

Setting

Alberta, Canada.

Participants

Residents of Alberta, Canada aged 18 and older who received an opioid dispense from a community pharmacy from 2013 to 2020.

Main outcome measures

The prevalence of potential rapid tapering was measured at a given date (reference day), enveloped by a data window. Dose changes were measured as oral morphine equivalents (OME) per patient, at multiple time points (‘data window’ around a reference day). Chronic recipients were identified, and their prescriptions were contrasted 90 days before and after the reference day to measure OME/day changes.

Results

Approximately 9000 dispenses (totalling ~6 million OME) per day were analysed from 2013 to 2020. The total number of opioid recipients was highly cyclic in nature (peaking in winter). The number of chronic opioid recipients remained somewhat stable from ~70K in 2013 to ~86K at the end of 2020. The number of chronic high and very high dose recipients presented a significant decrease after 2017. Approximately 11%–12% of chronic high-dose recipients experienced potential rapid dose tapering at a rate of 50% or more prereference to postreference day at any given point of time. For chronic very high dose recipients, approximately 11.5% experience potential rapid dose tapering at a rate of 50% or more prereference to postreference day at any given point of time. Potential discontinuation remained constant and the interventions did not have a significant impact on the trend.

Conclusion

The evidence suggests that changes in prescribing guidelines were not associated with an increase of rapid opioid tapering/discontinuation in Alberta.
Pre–post analysis of the impact of British Columbia nurse practitioner primary care clinics on patient health and care experience
Authors: Contandriopoulos Damien , Bertoni Katherine , Duhoux Arnaud , Randhawa Gurprit K
Published: October 2023

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the impact of a primary care nurse practitioner (NP)-led clinic model piloted in British Columbia (Canada) on patients’ health and care experience.

Design

The study relies on a quasi-experimental longitudinal design based on a pre-and-post survey of patients receiving care in NP-led clinics. The prerostering survey (T0) was focused on patients’ health status and care experiences preceding being rostered to the NP clinic. One year later, patients were asked to complete a similar survey (T1) focused on the care experiences with the NP clinic.

Setting

To solve recurring problems related to poor primary care accessibility, British Columbia opened four pilot NP-led clinics in 2020. Each clinic has the equivalent of approximately six full-time NPs, four other clinicians plus support staff. Clinics are located in four cities ranging from urban to suburban.

Participants

Recruitment was conducted by the clinic’s clerical staff or by their care provider. A total of 437 usable T0 surveys and 254 matched and usable T1 surveys were collected.

Primary outcome measures

The survey instrument was focused on five core dimensions of patients’ primary care experience (accessibility, continuity, comprehensiveness, responsiveness and outcomes of care) as well as on the SF-12 Short-form Health Survey.

Results

Scores for all dimensions of patients’ primary care experience increased significantly: accessibility (T0=5.9, T1=7.9, p<0.001), continuity (T0=5.5, T1=8.8, p<0.001), comprehensiveness (T0=5.6, T1=8.4, p<0.001), responsiveness (T0=7.2, T1=9.5, p<0.001), outcomes of care (T0=5.0, T1=8.3, p<0.001). SF-12 Physical health T-scores also rose significantly (T0=44.8, T1=47.6, p<0.001) but no changes we found in the mental health T scores (T0=45.8, T1=46.3 p=0.709).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the NP-led primary care model studied here likely constitutes an effective approach to improve primary care accessibility and quality.
Identification of tumor-intrinsic drivers of immune exclusion in acral melanoma
Authors: Augustin Ryan C , Newman Sarah , Li Aofei , Joy Marion , Lyons Maureen , Pham Mary P , Lucas Peter , Smith Katelyn , Sander Cindy , Isett Brian , Davar Diwakar , Najjar Yana G , Zarour Hassane M , Kirkwood John M , Luke Jason John , Bao Riyue
Published: October 2023

Acral melanoma (AM) has distinct characteristics as compared with cutaneous melanoma and exhibits poor response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Tumor-intrinsic mechanisms of immune exclusion have been identified in many cancers but less studied in AM. We characterized clinically annotated tumors from patients diagnosed with AM at our institution in correlation with ICI response using whole transcriptome RNAseq, whole exome sequencing, CD8 immunohistochemistry, and multispectral immunofluorescence imaging. A defined interferon-γ-associated T cell-inflamed gene signature was used to categorize tumors into non-T cell-inflamed and T cell-inflamed phenotypes. In combination with AM tumors from two published studies, we systematically assessed the immune landscape of AM and detected differential gene expression and pathway activation in a non-T cell-inflamed tumor microenvironment (TME). Two single-cell(sc) RNAseq AM cohorts and 11 bulk RNAseq cohorts of various tumor types were used for independent validation on pathways associated with lack of ICI response. In total, 892 specimens were included in this study. 72.5% of AM tumors showed low expression of the T cell-inflamed gene signature, with 23.9% of total tumors categorized as the non-T cell-inflamed phenotype. Patients of low CD3+CD8+PD1+intratumoral T cell density showed poor prognosis. We identified 11 oncogenic pathways significantly upregulated in non-T cell-inflamed relative to T cell-inflamed TME shared across all three acral cohorts (MYC, HGF, MITF, VEGF, EGFR, SP1, ERBB2, TFEB, SREBF1, SOX2, and CCND1). scRNAseq analysis revealed that tumor cell-expressing pathway scores were significantly higher in low versus high T cell-infiltrated AM tumors. We further demonstrated that the 11 pathways were enriched in ICI non-responders compared with responders across cancers, including AM, cutaneous melanoma, triple-negative breast cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer. Pathway activation was associated with low expression of interferon stimulated genes, suggesting suppression of antigen presentation. Across the 11 pathways, fatty acid synthase and CXCL8 were unifying downstream target molecules suggesting potential nodes for therapeutic intervention. A unique set of pathways is associated with immune exclusion and ICI resistance in AM. These data may inform immunotherapy combinations for immediate clinical translation.
THE INFLUENCE OF GREEN FINANCE ON THE HIGH-QUALITY DEVELOPMENT OF CITIES: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON THE YELLOW RIVER BASIN
Authors: ZHANG XIUFAN , ZHOU JIASONG , LIAO ZHONGJU , XU HUIXIA
Published: October 2023

The establishment of the Equator Principles provides strict industry standards for promoting green environmental protection. Ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin are major national strategies and frameworks in China. This study aims to provide a theoretical basis for promoting the efficient development of the Yellow River Basin and to explore the imbalance between the development level and the development quality of green finance in various regions of the Yellow River Basin. The study implements an evaluation index system to quantify the economic development level and green finance development level of the Yellow River Basin. Moreover, a panel model analyzes the impact mechanism of green finance on the high-quality development of the basin as well as the moderating role of government supervision. The results show that most cities in the Yellow River Basin of China are at a medium level of green financial development, and some cities have a low level. Green financial development can promote high-quality development, and green regulatory and fiscal policies play a moderating role in this process. This study makes relevant policy recommendations for improving top-level design and preserving the environment.
Energy Spectrum of the Strongly Coupled Superconducting Artificial Atoms
Authors: Sundaram Raveendharan , Chien Wei-Chen , Chang Yu-Han , Wu Chien-Yi , Wu Cen-Shawn , Kuo Watson
Published: October 2023

We experimentally investigated the energy spectrum of two strongly coupled tunable transmon atoms with a coupling energy of 300[Formula: see text]MHz. The energy levels are dispersively probed through a readout resonator coupled to the atoms. The higher excited level energies could be probed by 2-photon or 3-photon processes. The power dependence of the readout transmission showed that the n-photon process satisfies the power law with a power of [Formula: see text]1. We also observed the Autler-Townes splitting, by probing the Rabi frequencies resonant to one of the higher levels driven by an external microwave field. Coherent operations on the atoms reveal that the relaxation time (T1) and dephasing time (T2) are approximately 62[Formula: see text]ns and 51[Formula: see text]ns, respectively.
A comprehensive study on electronic properties of monolayer MOS2 with spin-orbit coupling
Authors: Khan MD Niloy , Ferdous Naim , Al Asad MD. Abdullah , Chowdhury Shahbaz Kamal , Rabbi Fazle
Published: October 2023

Monolayer Molybdenum disulfide (ML-MoS2) has emerged as a promising two-dimensional (2D) material with unique electronic, optical and mechanical properties. In this paper, with the aid of first-principles calculations, we explain the optimization of the structural and computational parameters and discuss the electrical properties of ML-MoS2. The electronic properties were studied comparatively with and without considering the spin-orbit coupling (SOC) effect that shows, ML-MoS2 has a direct bandgap. A decrease in bandgap energy by 100 meV and a [Formula: see text]-valley splitting of 100 mV were observed with the inclusion of SOC. The electronic properties were further analyzed using fat band structures and projected density of states (PDOS), which depict the predominant contribution of Mo [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]2[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]2, [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] and Mo [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]2 orbital to the valence band maximum (VBM) and conduction band minimum (CBM), respectively. Strain-induced bandgap variation was also observed due to the deformation of the crystal structures by shifting and splitting of the energy levels.
Adrenal Tumor Segmentation on U-Net: A Study About Effect of Different Parameters in Deep Learning
Authors: Solak Ahmet , Ceylan Rahime , Bozkurt Mustafa Alper , Cebeci Hakan , Koplay Mustafa
Published: October 2023

Adrenal lesions refer to abnormalities or growths that occur in the adrenal glands, which are located on top of each kidney. These lesions can be benign or malignant and can affect the function of the adrenal glands. This paper presents a study on adrenal tumor segmentation using a modified U-Net model with various parameter selection strategies. The study investigates the effect of fine-tuning parameters, including k-fold values and batch sizes, on segmentation performance. Additionally, the study evaluates the effectiveness of different preprocessing techniques, such as Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT), Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE), and Image Fusion, in enhancing segmentation accuracy. The results show that the proposed model outperforms the original U-Net model, achieving the highest scores for Dice, Jaccard, sensitivity, and specificity scores of 0.631, 0.533, 0.579, and 0.998, respectively, on the T1-weighted dataset with DWT applied. These results highlight the importance of parameter selection and preprocessing techniques in improving the accuracy of adrenal tumor segmentation using deep learning.