bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combination of coffee peel from Gayo arabica extract and patchouli from South Aceh as antioxidants : gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) studies
Authors: Lestari W , Ismida F D , Sakdiah S , Hajar S , Sari N L , Alsandi A M
Published: July 2024

Indonesia is among of the massive coffee producers country in the world. Aceh is the fourth biggest coffee producer in Indonesia. Coffee processing produces a side-product called coffee peel. Apart from coffee, there are other natural ingredients that have antioxidant benefits, such as patchouli which is a typical Acehnese product. Almost 90% of the world’s patchouli oil supply are from Indonesia, 70% of which comes from Aceh Special Region. The patchouli planted in Tapak Tuan, South Aceh Regency is one of the major varieties. The investigation’s goal is to determine and identify the antioxidant compounds in this combination. Combining coffee peel extract and patchouli extract is necessary because this combination can increase the diversity of antioxidant compounds in the combined extract. The 10% coffee peel extract and 1% patchouli extract that have been combined will be examined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. There were 36 compounds from this combination, but only twelve compounds were detected to have antioxidant activity. According to the findings in this study, the combination of 10% coffee peel extract and 1% patchouli extract has antioxidant compounds. The antioxidant compounds can be beneficial in dermatology.
Morphometric variations and length-weight relationships of chue snail Faunus ater (Linnaeus, 1758) in the southwest coast estuary of Aceh, Indonesia
Authors: Khalidin K , Muchlisin Z A , Firdus F , Razi N M , Savira D , Najmi I , Mahfud M , Dermawan F
Published: July 2024

Chuesnail,Faunus ateris commonly found on the south-west coast of Aceh. This snail is consumed by the Aceh people and is an important ingredient in the traditional food of the Acehnese. Presently, there is limited information related tochuesnails in Aceh waters, including morphological variations and length-weight relationships. These details are crucial for better management planning for this species. Therefore, this research aims to analyze the morphological variations and length-weight relationships ofF. ateron the southwest coast of Aceh, Indonesia. Sampling was carried out from July to August 2023 in six estuaries as the presentative of six popula tions covered six districts, namely: Jantang Aceh Besar, Kuala Teunom Aceh Jaya, Kuala Ujong Kalak Aceh Barat, Kuala Trang Nagan Raya, Kuala Lama Tuha Aceh Barat Daya, and Jembatan Kembar Aceh Singkil. A total of 60 samples from each location were used for morphometric analysis using traditional morphometric approaches and the Linear Allometric Model (LAM) for growth patterns. The results showed that theF. aterpopula tion was divided into three groups based on the scatter plot, where one group consisted of four populations, namely Jantang (Aceh Besar), Teunom (Aceh Jaya), Ujong Kalak (West Aceh), Kuala Trang (Nagan Raya) and the other two groups were represented by one popula tion or location. The growth pattern ofF. ateron the south-west coast of Aceh is classified as negative allometric, the rela tive weight condition factor tends to 100, and the Fulton condition factor is in the range of 1.35-3.33.
Antimicrobial activities from mangrove extract (Rhizophora stylosa)
Authors: Riski C D , Ginting B , Saidi N , Lini Z , Asma N , Mulya M I , Murniana  , Bahi M
Published: July 2024

Mangrove, Indonesian locals have long used the several members of the Rhizophora genus as medicine. This study set out to identify the antimicrobial activities of Rhizophora stylosa’s roots, flowers, leaves, and bark. R. Stylosa was progressively macerated using n-hexane, ammonia-dichloromethane, and methanol as the solvent. The disc diffusion method (Kirby-Bauer) was used to investigate R. Stylosa’s antimicrobial activity against the microorganisms Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. Root and flower of dichloromethane extracts at concentrations of 20%, 10%, and 5% each showed an inhibitory zone against bacteria S. aureus of 9.32 mm, 8.25 mm, and 10.11 mm, 9.89 mm, 8.25 mm. Root and stem bark n-hexane extracts at concentrations of 20%, 10%, and 5% also demonstrated an inhibitory zone against bacteria S. aureus of 11.04 mm, 10.3 mm, 6.53 mm and 9.45 mm; 7.97mm; 5.43 mm. In fraction groups of R. stylosa dicloromethane extract (RSD), RSD fraction 2 (20% concentration; 15.12 mm) and RSD fraction 3 (20% concentration; 12.05 mm), the antibacterial activity of the fraction groups was demonstrated against the bacteria S. aureus. GC-MS results showed that the dichloromethane extract of R. stylosa roots contained lupeol and ß-Sitosterol compounds.
Analysis of landslide-prone areas in Tripe Jaya district, Gayo Lues Regency
Authors: Murdawati  , Nizamuddin  , Fatimah E
Published: July 2024

Tripe Jaya District is one of the sub-districts of Gayo Lues regency, which has hilly and mountainous morphological areas with steep slopes and landslides in several regions of the road area. This study aims to identify and map the location of landslides and analyze landslide areas. A quantitative method for measuring landslide-prone levels from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation 2005, the method used is the score and weight of the parameters that cause landslide-prone. The causes of landslide-prone sites are rainfall data, soil type, elevation, land use, and slope. The results of this study have five classes of landslide vulnerability, including very low landslide vulnerability level covering an area of 279.21 Ha (1%), low vulnerability level covering an area of 3639.80 Ha (9%), medium vulnerability level covering an area of 17893.07 Ha (43%), high vulnerability level covering an area of 19822.91 Ha (47%), and very high vulnerability level covering an area of 150.23 Ha (0.36%). Landslide events in Tripe Jaya District based on field observations, there are landslide events in high and very high classes. This research provides an overview of landslide-prone areas so the results of the study can be used as a basis for planning mitigation strategies and as a consideration for the government in building the required mitigation developing mitigation measures related to landslide-prone risks in the Tripe Jaya.
Deaf space concept in designing classroom interior for learning motivation of deaf students in special schools
Authors: Humam M K , Kahfi S , Andryansyah R , Taqiuddin Z , Bashair F , Rida M R
Published: July 2024

Deaf children, individuals with hearing limitations, require a supportive environment for effective communication. Regular classrooms, designed for typically hearing children, present communication challenges for deaf students. Deaf classrooms follow specific principles and approaches known as “deaf space,” including furniture arrangement, larger spaces, sensory accessibility, lighting, and color choices. This research aims to design a classroom that creates a comfortable atmosphere for deaf students to enhance their oral communication and learning. The study utilizes a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. Classroom simulations were conducted to observe and compare the responses of deaf students in both regular classrooms and those designed with a “deaf space” approach. Simulation results revealed changes in learning activities and oral communication among deaf students. Deaf students responded positively and expressed satisfaction with the layout of the learning space and furniture aligned with the “deaf space” concept. The choice of a calming green color enhanced the comfort of deaf students during learning, allowing for better focus. The final classroom design provides a solution to address existing classroom challenges, accommodating the needs and activities of users. This design is expected to motivate the learning interests of deaf children while serving as a guide for planning and implementation.
The tribological properties of PPS-PTFE/SiO2 coating deposited on the textured surfaces processed by ultrasonic rolling
Authors: Wu Jiaxing , Deng Jianxin , Zhang Zhihui , Bao Yichen
Published: July 2024

In this paper, ultrasonic rolling textures were fabricated on 42CrMo steel substrates, and the polyphenylene sulfide-polytetrafluoroethylene/silicon dioxide (PPS-PTFE/SiO2) lubricating coatings were deposited on the textured surfaces to improve the tribological properties of the coating-substrate system. The influences of textures with different shapes (spiral, linear, wavy textures) and step distances (100, 150, 200, 250 μm) on the surface morphologies and strengthening effects of the substrates were investigated. The results showed the wavy texture with a step distance of 200 μm had the best strengthening effect, which increased the surface hardness and residual compressive stress by 126.1% and 5.1 times compared to the substrate, respectively. The influences of different textures on the friction and wear properties of lubricating coatings were studied by dry reciprocating friction testings. The results showed that the coating on the spiral textured surface with a step distance of 250 μm had the best tribological properties, and the average friction coefficient and wear rate were reduced by 45.5% and 49.5% compared to the coating on the substrate. The influence of ultrasonic rolling texture on the tribological properties of the lubricating coating was a combined result of the strengthening effect and texture structure. The strengthening effect provided a steady gain, while the texture structure provided either a gain or a deterioration.
Physical computing: a category theoretic perspective on physical computation and system compositionality
Authors: Dehghani Nima , Caterina Gianluca
Published: July 2024

This paper introduces a category theory-based framework to redefine physical computing in light of advancements in quantum computing and non-standard computing systems. By integrating classical definitions within this broader perspective, the paper rigorously recontextualizes what constitutes physical computing devices and processes. It demonstrates how the compositional nature and relational structures of physical computing systems can be coherently formalized using category theory. This approach not only encapsulates recent formalisms in physical computing but also offers a structured method to explore the dynamic interactions within these systems.
Early-life famine exposure may modify the association between long-term temperature variability and cardio-cerebrovascular diseases: a nationwide study
Authors: Wu Yao , Su BinBin , Xie Junqing , Wen Bo , Wu Xiaolan , Wang Mengfan , Dong Yanhui , Song Yi , Ma Jun
Published: July 2024

We aimed to evaluate whether the association between long-term temperature variability (TV) and cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (CCVDs) was affected by famine exposure in different age stages. We used data from the fourth national urban and rural elderly population survey (2015). Participants were categorized into six groups based on their age at famine exposure (famine exposure under age 5, between ages 5 and 18, and during adulthood) and the severity (severely affected areas versus mildly affected areas) of the Great Chinese Famine (1959–1961) in their province of residence. Mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to quantify the association between long-term TV and the prevalence of CCVDs across six famine-exposed groups. A total of 222 179 participants were included. In severely affected areas, the odds ratio (OR) of CCVDs associated with per 1 °C increase in 5 year average TV were 1.07 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02, 1.13) for those exposed to famine during adulthood, 1.28 (95% CI: 1.17, 1.40) under the age of 5 years. Urban residence, higher education, increased household income, and more frequent physical activity could mitigate the association between TV and CCVDs, particularly among those exposed to severe famine before the age of 5. Individuals exposed to famine before the age of 5 are more susceptible to TV-related CCVDs compared to those exposed during adulthood. Our findings highlight the importance of early-life nutrition in lowering susceptibility to CCVDs later in life.
Estimating dementia incidence in insured older Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in California: an application of inverse odds of selection weights
Authors: Hayes-Larson Eleanor , Zhou Yixuan , Wu Yingyan , Rojas-Saunero L Paloma , Seamans Marissa J , Gee Gilbert C , Brookmeyer Ron , Gilsanz Paola , Whitmer Rachel A , Mayeda Elizabeth Rose
Published: July 2024

Literature shows heterogeneous age-standardized dementia incidence rates across US Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI), but no estimates of population-representative dementia incidence exist due to lack of AANHPI longitudinal probability samples. We compared harmonized characteristics between AANHPI Kaiser Permanente Northern California members (KPNC cohort) and the target population of AANHPI 60+ with private or Medicare insurance using the California Health Interview Survey. We used stabilized inverse odds of selection weights (sIOSW) to estimate ethnicity-specific crude and age-standardized dementia incidence rates and cumulative risk by age 90 in the target population. Differences between the KPNC cohort and target population varied by ethnicity. The sIOSW eliminated most differences in larger ethnic groups; some differences remained in smaller groups. Estimated crude dementia incidence rates using sIOSW (vs unweighted) were similar in Chinese, Filipinos, Pacific Islanders and Vietnamese, and higher in Japanese, Koreans, and South Asians. Unweighted and weighted age-standardized incidence rates differed for South Asians. Unweighted and weighted cumulative risk were similar for all groups. We estimated the first population-representative dementia incidence rates and cumulative risk in AANHPI ethnic groups. We encountered some estimation problems, and weighted estimates were imprecise, highlighting challenges using weighting to extend inferences to target populations.
Could differential underreporting of loneliness between men and women bias the gender-specific association between loneliness duration and rate of memory decline? A probabilistic bias analysis of effect modification
Authors: Yu Xuexin , Zahodne Laura B , Gross Alden L , Needham Belinda L , Langa Kenneth M , Cho Tsai-Chin , Kobayashi Lindsay C
Published: July 2024

Gender is an observed effect modifier of the association between loneliness and memory aging. However, this effect modification may be a result of information bias due to differential loneliness underreporting by gender. We applied probabilistic bias analyses to examine whether effect modification of the loneliness–memory decline relationship by gender is retained under three simulation scenarios with various magnitudes of differential loneliness underreporting between men and women. Data were from biennial interviews with adults aged ≥ 50 years in the US Health and Retirement Study from 1996-2016 (5646 women and 3386 men). Loneliness status (yes vs no) was measured from 1996-2004 using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale loneliness item, and memory was measured from 2004-2016. Simulated sensitivity and specificity of the loneliness measure were informed by a validation study using the UCLA Loneliness Scale as a gold standard. The likelihood of observing effect modification by gender was higher than 90% in all simulations, although the likelihood reduced with an increasing difference in magnitude of the loneliness underreporting between men and women. The gender difference in loneliness underreporting did not meaningfully affect the observed effect modification by gender in our simulations. Our simulation approach may be promising to quantify potential information bias in effect modification analyses.
DrugMetric: quantitative drug-likeness scoring based on chemical space distance
Authors: Li Bowen , Wang Zhen , Liu Ziqi , Tao Yanxin , Sha Chulin , He Min , Li Xiaolin
Published: July 2024

The process of drug discovery is widely known to be lengthy and resource-intensive. Artificial Intelligence approaches bring hope for accelerating the identification of molecules with the necessary properties for drug development. Drug-likeness assessment is crucial for the virtual screening of candidate drugs. However, traditional methods like Quantitative Estimation of Drug-likeness (QED) struggle to distinguish between drug and non-drug molecules accurately. Additionally, some deep learning-based binary classification models heavily rely on selecting training negative sets. To address these challenges, we introduce a novel unsupervised learning framework called DrugMetric, an innovative framework for quantitatively assessing drug-likeness based on the chemical space distance. DrugMetric blends the powerful learning ability of variational autoencoders with the discriminative ability of the Gaussian Mixture Model. This synergy enables DrugMetric to identify significant differences in drug-likeness across different datasets effectively. Moreover, DrugMetric incorporates principles of ensemble learning to enhance its predictive capabilities. Upon testing over a variety of tasks and datasets, DrugMetric consistently showcases superior scoring and classification performance. It excels in quantifying drug-likeness and accurately distinguishing candidate drugs from non-drugs, surpassing traditional methods including QED. This work highlights DrugMetric as a practical tool for drug-likeness scoring, facilitating the acceleration of virtual drug screening, and has potential applications in other biochemical fields.
CARTAR: a comprehensive web tool for identifying potential targets in chimeric antigen receptor therapies using TCGA and GTEx data
Authors: Hernandez-Gamarra Miguel , Salgado-Roo Alba , Dominguez Eduardo , Goiricelaya Seco Elena María , Veiga-Rúa Sara , Pedrera-Garbayo Lucía F , Carracedo Ángel , Allegue Catarina
Published: July 2024

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy has emerged as a ground-breaking advancement in cancer treatment, harnessing the power of engineered human immune cells to target and eliminate cancer cells. The escalating interest and investment in CAR therapy in recent years emphasize its profound significance in clinical research, positioning it as a rapidly expanding frontier in the field of personalized cancer therapies. A crucial step in CAR therapy design is choosing the right target as it determines the therapy’s effectiveness, safety and specificity against cancer cells, while sparing healthy tissues. Herein, we propose a suite of tools for the identification and analysis of potential CAR targets leveraging expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Genotype-Tissue Expression Project, which are implemented in CARTAR website. These tools focus on pinpointing tumor-associated antigens, ensuring target selectivity and assessing specificity to avoid off-tumor toxicities and can be used to rationally designing dual CARs. In addition, candidate target expression can be explored in cancer cell lines using the expression data for the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia. To our best knowledge, CARTAR is the first website dedicated to the systematic search of suitable candidate targets for CAR therapy. CARTAR is publicly accessible at https://gmxenomica.github.io/CARTAR/.
Analysing common topics of secure patient messages in hidradenitis suppurativa: a text-embedding and natural language-processing approach
Authors: Chen Michael L , Kim Jiyeong , Naik Haley B , Aleshin Maria A , Sarin Kavita Y , Barnes Leandra A , Linos Eleni
Published: July 2024

Our study of 410 patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and 12 805 direct patient messages identified common message topics, including scheduling; medication refills; itch, bleeding and burning symptoms; insurance and cost; pain; and wound care. Compared with the overall cohort of patients with HS, a lower proportion of Black and Hispanic patients utilized patient portal messaging. Our study provides insights into message topics among patients with HS and identifies opportunities for optimizing care via secure messaging.
Amyloid-β-activated microglia can induce compound proteinopathies
Authors: Lee Sang Hwan , Bae Eun-Jin , Perez-Acuna Dayana , Jung Min Kyo , Han Jong Won , Mook-Jung Inhee , Lee Seung-Jae
Published: July 2024

Neuropathological features of Alzheimer’s disease include amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and Lewy bodies, with the former preceding the latter two. However, it is not fully understood how these compound proteinopathies are interconnected. Here, we show that transplantation of amyloid-β oligomer-activated microglia into the striatum of naïve mice was sufficient to generate all the features of Alzheimer’s disease, including widespread tauopathy and synucleinopathy, gliosis, neuroinflammation, synapse loss, neuronal death, and cognitive and motor deficits. These pathological features were eliminated by microglia depletion and anti-inflammatory drug administration.

Our results suggest the crucial roles of microglia-driven inflammation in development of mixed pathology. This study provides not only mechanistic insights into amyloid-β oligomer-triggered proteinopathies but also a novel animal model recapitulating the salient features of Alzheimer’s disease.
Inhibition of the TIM-1 and -3 signaling pathway ameliorates disease in a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Nozaki Yuji , Akiba Hisaya , Akazawa Hiroki , Yamazawa Hirotaka , Ishimura Kaori , Kinoshita Koji , Matsumura Itaru
Published: July 2024

Members of the T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin (TIM) family, which is crucial for T-cell function, are implicated in autoimmunity. TIM-1 and -3 play distinct roles in autoimmunity, with TIM-1 acting as a costimulatory molecule and TIM-3 regulating Th1 responses. We investigated the therapeutic potential of anti-TIM-1 (RMT1-10) and anti-TIM-3 (RMT3-23) antibodies in an autoimmune arthritis model. Zymosan A was used to induce arthritis in female SKG mice. The arthritis scores, histology, mRNA expression, cytokine levels, micro-computed tomography, and flow cytometry results were obtained. The application of RMT1-10 reduced the arthritis scores, histological damage, and CD4+ T-cell infiltrations, and it suppressed interleukin (IL)-6 and -17A and reduced TIM-3 mRNA expressions. RMT3-23 also lowered arthritis severity, improved histology, and reduced serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-17A. RMT3-23 inhibited intracellular TNF-α and IL-6 and early apoptosis. An amelioration of autoimmune arthritis was achieved by blocking the TIM-1 and -3 signaling pathways via RMT1-10 and RMT3-23 administration, leading to a widespread decrease in inflammatory cytokines. Both antibodies exhibited therapeutic effects, suggesting TIM-1 and -3 as potential targets for rheumatoid arthritis.
Jurisdiction of a State Party under Article 2(1) of the ICCPR: A Comment on A.S. and Others v. Italy
Authors: Wei Wumei
Published: July 2024

In A.S. and others v. Italy, the question of the jurisdiction of a State party under Article 2(1) of the ICCPR is formulated as “whether the alleged victims could be considered to have been within the power or effective control of the State party”. Per HRC’s earlier views, one form of “within the power or effective control” of a State party may be identified by the impact on the enjoyment of rights caused by a State party’s action. This can be considered as the “functional impact model”. Apparently this is what the HRC applied in this case. But a State party’s inaction cannot cause any impact unless it owes prior positive obligations towards the allegedly impacted person. As the applicable instruments allow considerable discretion to a State party to decide whether to rescue the persons in distress at sea, Italy’s “obligations” to rescue and to cooperate do not necessarily trigger Italy’s positive obligations towards the relevant persons. Taking Italy’s jurisdiction as a consequence of the causal link between the sinking of the vessel and the resulting sufferings (and deaths in some cases) of the persons on the vessel and Italy’s decisions (inaction) is the result of an expansive and improper application of the special approach adopted in other cases. To be non-arbitrary, one may find that affected persons are “within the power or effective control” of a State party: (1) where harm is caused by affirmative acts of a State party, the impact can be deemed as a manifestation that the person impacted is “within the power or effective control” of the State party; or (2) where harm is caused by an omission of a State party, there must be a prior specific legal relationship between the allegedly impacted person and the State party.
Complex management of Fabry cardiomyopathy: a case report on the use of alcohol septal ablation and chaperone therapy
Authors: Neculae Gabriela , Predescu Lucian , Popa Oana , Rusu Elena , Jurcut Ruxandra
Published: July 2024

Background

Cardiac involvement in Fabry disease (FD) usually manifests as a concentric left ventricular hypertrophy with rare cases developing left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO), symptoms varying from fatigue and exercise associated dyspnoea to angina or arrhythmias.

Case summary

We present the case of a 54-year-old man with cardiovascular risk factors and aggravated exertional dyspnoea in the past year, in whom the echocardiography showed hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Cardiac magnetic resonance was used as differential diagnosis tool between sarcomeric HOCM and other phenocopies, suggesting a cardiac involvement of FD. Final diagnosis was formulated based on genetic testing and enzymatic activity of α-galactosidase. Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction was addressed by alcohol septal ablation successfully both in short term as well as at 1-year follow-up.

Discussion

The present case illustrates the complex clinical pathway of a patient with HOCM due to FD, where multimodality imaging was instrumental from differential diagnosis to therapeutic choices, which addressed both the pathogenic background and the organ involvement. Although at the moment the number of patients with of FD cardiomyopathy undergoing LVOTO reduction therapies is scarce, current recommendations should be extended to also include these patients.
Risk factors and prognosis of postoperative spinal cord injury in type A aortic dissection
Authors: Wei Jinhua , Hu Zhan , Wang Wei , Ding Runyu , Xu Fei
Published: July 2024

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the risk factors and prognosis of spinal cord injury (SCI) after surgical procedure in type A aortic dissection (AAD).

METHODS

Between January 2013 and December 2021, a total of 1647 patients with AAD underwent surgical procedure. Postoperative SCI occurred in 58 patients, including 24 patients with paraplegia and 34 patients with paraparesis. Factors associated with SCI were identified through comparison between patients with and without SCI.

RESULTS

The mean age was 48.8 ± 10.8 years for patients with SCI and 50.1 ± 12.1 years for those without SCI (P = 0.43), with a comparable gender distribution. Median numbers of intercostal and lumbar arteries with involvement were significantly higher in the SCI group (both P < 0.001). The highest (P = 0.033) and lowest (P = 0.001) levels of intraoperative mean arterial pressure (MAP) were significantly lower in the SCI group. Multivariable analysis revealed the number of segmental arteries involved (odds ratio = 1.14, 95% CI 1.08–1.20, P = 0.000), and the duration of hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) (odds ratio  = 1.04, 95% CI 1.01–1.08, P = 0.042) was positively associated with the occurrence of SCI. Conversely, the lowest level of MAP was negatively associated with SCI (odds ratio = 0.98, 95% CI 0.96–0.99, P = 0.031). During the long-term follow-up, 14 patients with paraplegia needed a wheel chair, while only 1 patient with paraparesis needed one (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of postoperative SCI increases when AAD patients experience segmental arteries involved, longer HCA duration and decreased intraoperative MAP during operation.
Cladistic species definitions can lead to under-representation of biodiversity from adaptive radiations
Authors: Turner George F
Published: July 2024

Many species are paraphyletic, but current taxonomic practices often do not recognize this, and attempts are made to apply a monophyletic species concept. While allowing the recognition of ecomorphologically equivalent, or even phenotypically indistinguishable allopatric, taxa as species, this often leads to combining distinctive local forms (such as cave-adapted populations) or even whole adaptive radiations (often in lakes) with widespread paraphyletic species to force species monophyly. It is suggested that this has negative consequences for our documentation and understanding of biodiversity, as well as for conservation, through issues such as lack of IUCN red-listing.
Geometric morphometrics analysis of forensically important Sarcophaga species
Authors: Reis Carina I C , Mascarenhas Paulo , Farinha Ana C , Menezes Marco A , Rebelo Maria Teresa
Published: July 2024

Geometric morphometrics is a method that offers a mathematical description of biological forms based on geometric definitions of their size and shape, enabling the discrimination between species. In this study, we aimed to utilize geometric morphometrics as a valuable tool for identifying Sarcophagidae species, a family of flies that are challenging to distinguish morphologically. We collected a total of 80 wings (both left and right) from male individuals representing nine species (Sarcophaga africa, S. argyrostoma, S. hirticrus, S. jacobsoni, S. lehmanni, S. melanura, S. pandellei, S. portschinskyi, and S. teretirostris). These wings were removed, mounted on microscope slides, photographed, and digitized using 15 landmarks. The results demonstrated effective differentiation among seven species, representing significant progress in the expedited identification of Sarcophaga species. Due to its speed, affordability, and user-friendly nature, the wing landmark-based geometric morphometrics, when combined with taxonomy, can enhance the robustness of Sarcophagidae analyses and prove useful for discriminating flesh flies in forensic contexts.
Genome-Wide Gene Birth–Death Dynamics Are Associated with Diet Breadth Variation in Lepidoptera
Authors: Dort Hanna , van der Bijl Wouter , Wahlberg Niklas , Nylin Sören , Wheat Christopher W
Published: July 2024

Comparative analyses of gene birth–death dynamics have the potential to reveal gene families that played an important role in the evolution of morphological, behavioral, or physiological variation. Here, we used whole genomes of 30 species of butterflies and moths to identify gene birth–death dynamics among the Lepidoptera that are associated with specialist or generalist feeding strategies. Our work advances this field using a uniform set of annotated proteins for all genomes, investigating associations while correcting for phylogeny, and assessing all gene families rather than a priori subsets. We discovered that the sizes of several important gene families (e.g. those associated with pesticide resistance, xenobiotic detoxification, and/or protein digestion) are significantly correlated with diet breadth. We also found 22 gene families showing significant shifts in gene birth–death dynamics at the butterfly (Papilionoidea) crown node, the most notable of which was a family of pheromone receptors that underwent a contraction potentially linked with a shift to visual-based mate recognition. Our findings highlight the importance of uniform annotations, phylogenetic corrections, and unbiased gene family analyses in generating a list of candidate genes that warrant further exploration.
Getting Nosy: Olfactory Rosette Morphology and Lamellar Microstructure of Two Chondrichthyan Species
Authors: Simonitis Lauren Eve , Clark Aubrey E , Barskaya Elizaveta , Castillo Gabriella , Porter Marianne , Meredith Tricia
Published: July 2024

Synopsis

To smell, fish rely on passive water flow into their olfactory chambers and through their olfactory rosettes to detect chemical signals in their aquatic environment. The olfactory rosette is made up of secondarily folded tissues called olfactory lamellae. The olfactory morphology of cartilaginous fishes varies widely in both rosette gross morphology and lamellar microstructure. Previous research has shown differences in lamellar sensory morphology depending on the position along the rosette in hammerheads (family Sphyrnidae). Here, we investigate if this pattern continues in members of two other chondrichthyan families: Squalidae and Chimaeridae. Using contrast-enhanced microCT and scanning electron microscopy, we investigated patterns in lamellar morphology based on lamellar position along the olfactory rosette in Pacific spiny dogfish (Squalus suckleyi) and spotted ratfish (Hydrolagus colliei). We describe the gross olfactory rosette anatomy and lamellar microstructure of both species. We also put forth a new method, combining 3D morphological microCT data with 2D SEM microstructure data to better approximate lamellar sensory surface area. We found that in both species, lamellae in the center of the rosette were larger with more secondary folds. However, we found no significant differences in lamellar sensory surface area among lamellar positions. Previously, differences in lamellar sensory morphology have been tied to the internal fluid dynamics of the olfactory chamber. It is possible that the internal flow dynamics of these species are like other chondrichthyan models, where water flow patterns differ in the lateral vs the medial part of the organ, and the consistent distribution of sensory tissue does not correspond to this flow. Alternatively, the olfactory morphology of these species may result in uniform flow patterns throughout the olfactory chamber, correlating with the consistent distribution of sensory tissue throughout the organ. This study emphasizes that further investigations into chondrichthyan fluid dynamics is paramount to any future studies on the correlations between distribution of sensory tissues and water flow.
Y-shaped graft replacement of an isolated innominate artery aneurysm via the transmanubrial approach
Authors: Matsuzaki Kanji , Mitomi Kisato , Imai Akito , Sato Masataka
Published: July 2024

We report the rare case of an obese woman with a 32-mm isolated innominate artery aneurysm. Due to the deep location of the aneurysm within the thoracic inlet, we selected a transmanubrial osteomuscular sparing approach to obtain a clear field of vision. During the aneurysmectomy and reconstruction with a Y-shaped graft, we performed a temporary bypass using a contralateral leg of the graft to the right common carotid artery. Through these techniques, we successfully achieved complete resection and reconstruction of the aneurysm without the need for cardiopulmonary bypass.
Misinformation Detection in the Context of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine: Evidence From Original Survey Data Collected in 19 Democracies
Authors: Gehle Luisa , Hameleers Michael , Tulin Marina , de Vreese Claes , Aalberg Toril , Van Aelst Peter , S. Cardenal Ana , Corbu Nicoleta , van Erkel Patrick , Esser Frank , Halagiera Denis , Hopmann David , Koç-Michalska Karolina , Matthes Jörg , Meltzer Christine , Splendore Sergio , Stanyer James , Stępińska Agnieszka , Štětka Václav , Strömbäck Jesper , Terren Ludovic , Theocharis Yannis , Zoizner Alon
Published: July 2024

It can be difficult for citizens to discern factually accurate information from mis- and disinformation. Particularly in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the omnipresence of counterfactual narratives, propaganda, and partisan content may increase the likelihood that citizens select and accept mis -or disinformation. To assess citizens’ performance in discerning false statements from factually accurate information on the war, we utilized original survey data across 19 countries (N = 19,037) with soft quotas for age, education, and gender to approximate population characteristics. Our main findings indicate that people perform relatively well in discerning factually accurate information from false statements and that self-perceived media literacy and the need for cognition corresponds with better performance. Stronger pro-Russia views on the war correspond with a lower performance in misinformation detection, whereas anti-Russia attitudes are associated with better evaluations of the statements’ truthfulness. We find little cross-country variation in these patterns. As a key implication, we show that discernment between factually accurate information and mis- or disinformation is driven by both accuracy and partisan motivation and that these effects are similar across most different national contexts.
Misinformation as a Determinant of Response to COVID 19
Authors: Deo Shilpa , Mohanty Abhijit , Sharma Deependra , Sharma Sushil , Khisti Dinesh
Published: July 2024

Most of the micro and macro effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy have been investigated in the past two years. Few studies have examined COVID disinformation in non-Western countries. India produced the most social media disinformation, probably due to its high internet penetration, increased social media consumption, and low internet literacy (Al-Zaman, 2022a). To quantify the influence of disinformation on pandemic response, this study used mixed methods. The variables were examined through in-depth interviews. As they use digital media more than others, participants under 40 provided quantifiable data (The Future of India Foundation. (2022). Politics of disinformation: Why the current approaches are geared to fail and possible path forward. Retrieved from https://futureofindia.in/reports). It is mainly collected from metro cities of India. Moderation analysis using PLS-SEM examined whether self-perceived media literacy moderates the link between fake social media news and COVID-19 anxiety. The study findings have been linked to the theoretical foundation, the availability heuristic. This study holds significance as its implications will be beneficial in tackling the challenges associated with misinformation and its influence on response to pandemics that might be experienced in the future.
Sources of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infections Among Men Who Have Sex With Men With a Migration Background: A Viral Phylogenetic Case Study in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Authors: Blenkinsop Alexandra , Pantazis Nikos , Kostaki Evangelia Georgia , Sofocleous Lysandros , van Sighem Ard , Bezemer Daniela , van de Laar Thijs , van der Valk Marc , Reiss Peter , de Bree Godelieve , Ratmann Oliver
Published: July 2024

Background

Men and women with a migration background comprise an increasing proportion of incident human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases across Western Europe.

Methods

To characterize sources of transmission in local transmission chains, we used partial HIV consensus sequences with linked demographic and clinical data from the opt-out AIDS Therapy Evaluation in the Netherlands (ATHENA) cohort of people with HIV in the Netherlands and identified phylogenetically and epidemiologically possible HIV transmission pairs in Amsterdam. We interpreted these in the context of estimated infection dates, and quantified population-level sources of transmission to foreign-born and Dutch-born Amsterdam men who have sex with men (MSM) within Amsterdam transmission chains.

Results

We estimate that Dutch-born MSM were the predominant sources of infections among all Amsterdam MSM who acquired their infection locally in 2010–2021, and among almost all foreign-born Amsterdam MSM subpopulations. Stratifying by 2-year intervals indicated time trends in transmission dynamics, with a majority of infections originating from foreign-born MSM since 2016, although uncertainty ranges remained wide.

Conclusions

Native-born MSM have predominantly driven HIV transmissions in Amsterdam in 2010–2021. However, in the context of rapidly declining incidence in Amsterdam, the contribution from foreign-born MSM living in Amsterdam is increasing, with some evidence that most local transmissions have been from foreign-born Amsterdam MSM since 2016.
Comparison of 2 Serum Free Light Chain Assays with Creatinine Normal and Abnormal Populations Demonstrates the Need for Standardization
Authors: Griffiths Mark , Cheng Pow Lee , Wang Xiao Yan , Schneider Randal , Kulasingam Vathany
Published: July 2024

Background

The objective of this study was to compare The Binding Site’s Freelite on Optilite and Diazyme’s Kappa/Lambda free light chains (K/L FLC) on Abbott Architect c8000 with healthy and renal insufficient populations and to evaluate their respective reference intervals for serum free light chains (sFLCs).

Methods

Two hundred sixty serum samples were measured for creatinine and sFLCs by both assays and a subset by immunofixation electrophoresis. Verification of manufacturer-defined reference intervals was assessed.

Results

Kappa free light chains (KFLC) showed excellent correlation of 0.998 R2 with a slope of 0.73. For Lambda free light chains (LFLC), an acceptable correlation of 0.953 R2 was found with a slope of 1.50 as well as a skewness-based difference with a −12.70 intercept. Healthy estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥60 reference interval verification of central 95% could not be confirmed for either Freelite or Diazyme although LFLC was much closer than KFLC for both assays with Freelite KFLC recovering only 37% of values within reference interval claims. The K/L FLC ratio did not meet 100% claim for both Freelite (91%) and Diazyme (95%) among those with eGFR ≥60. Samples with eGFR ≤59 had increasingly higher levels of KFLC and LFLC for both assays. When comparing worsening eGFR status, Freelite recovered increasingly higher ratios while Diazyme recovered increasingly lower ratios.

Conclusions

Healthy reference intervals could not be verified for either Freelite or Diazyme. Renal reference intervals for Freelite are currently warranted while they are not recommended for Diazyme. The differences between these 2 assays can be minimized by standardization efforts such as recalibration.
Modulation of human gut microbiota by linear and branched fructooligosaccharides in anin vitrocolon model (TIM-2)
Authors: Popov Igor V , Koopmans Bram , Venema Koen
Published: July 2024

Aims

This study aimed to compare the effects of linear and branched fructooligosaccharides (FOS) extracted from chicory and grass (Lolium perenne), respectively on human microbiota composition, diversity, and metabolism.

Methods and results

To test the effects of linear and branched FOS on human microbiota we used the artificial in vitro human colon model (TIM-2). Microbiota composition and diversity were assessed by V3–V4 16S rRNA metagenomic sequencing, followed by differential taxa abundance and alpha/beta diversity analyses. SCFA/BCFA production was evaluated by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. As a result, branched FOS had the most beneficial effects on microbial diversity and metabolite production. Also, branched FOS significantly increased the abundance of commensal bacteria associated with maintaining healthy gut functions and controlling inflammation, such as Butyricicoccus, Erysipelotrichaceae, Phascolarctobacterium, and Sutterella. Linear FOS also significantly increased the abundance of some other commensal gut bacteria (Anaerobutyricum, Lachnospiraceae, Faecalibacterium), but there were no differences in diversity metrics compared to the control.

Conclusions

The study revealed that branched FOS had the most beneficial effects compared to the linear FOS in vitro, concerning microbiota modulation, and metabolite production, making this a good candidate for further studies in food biotechnology.
Fabricated Legality
Authors: Parsi Lavinia
Published: July 2024

In the wake of the increased regulation of armed conflicts, legal interpretation by government lawyers has become crucial in shaping state policies, particularly during times of war. This article explores the scenarios where state policies that have been positively sanctioned by legal professionals potentially amount to international crimes, raising questions of accountability. By examining historical and contemporary instances, the article explores if and to what extent government legal advisers may be considered accomplices in such crimes. It suggests that their responsibility could be framed within the mode of liability of aiding and abetting, as outlined in Article 25(3)(c) of the Rome Statute. Additionally, the article addresses alternative modes of liability specified under Article 25(3)(a) and 25(3)(d). It finally expands to the further consequences of legal advice on the liability of the principal perpetrator, questioning whether the latter may invoke a defence of mistake of law or a breach of the principle of legality. In an attempt to embrace the revolutionary potential of international criminal law, this article aims to make legal interpretation itself the object of scrutiny, through the lenses of international criminal responsibility.
Effect on neutrophil migration and antimicrobial functions by the Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors tolebrutinib, evobrutinib, and fenebrutinib
Authors: De Bondt Mirre , Renders Janne , Petit de Prado Paloma , Berghmans Nele , Pörtner Noëmie , Vanbrabant Lotte , de Oliveira Vívian Louise Soares , Duran Gayel , Baeten Paulien , Broux Bieke , Gouwy Mieke , Matthys Patrick , Hellings Niels , Struyf Sofie
Published: July 2024

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative, autoimmune disease that is still incurable. Nowadays, a variety of new drugs are being developed to prevent excessive inflammation and halt neurodegeneration. Among these are the inhibitors of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK). Being indispensable for B cells, this enzyme became an appealing therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases. Recognizing the emerging importance of BTK in myeloid cells, we investigated the impact of upcoming BTK inhibitors on neutrophil functions. Although adaptive immunity in MS has been thoroughly studied, unanswered questions about the pathogenesis can be addressed by studying the effects of candidate MS drugs on innate immune cells such as neutrophils, previously overlooked in MS. In this study, we used 3 BTK inhibitors (evobrutinib, fenebrutinib, and tolebrutinib), and found that they reduce neutrophil activation by the bacterial peptide fMLF and the chemokine interleukin-8/CXCL8. Furthermore, they diminished the production of reactive oxygen species and release of neutrophil extracellular traps. Additionally, the production of CXCL8 and interleukin-1β in response to inflammatory stimuli was decreased. Inhibitory effects of the drugs on neutrophil activation were not related to toxicity. Instead, BTK inhibitors prolonged neutrophil survival in an inflammatory environment. Finally, treatment with BTK inhibitors decreased neutrophil migration toward CXCL8 in a Boyden chamber assay but not in a transendothelial setup. Also, in vivo CXCL1-induced migration was unaffected by BTK inhibitors. Collectively, this study provides novel insights into the impact of BTK inhibitors on neutrophil functions, thereby holding important implications for autoimmune or hematological diseases in which BTK is crucial.