bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of point-of-use (POU) filter system for removal of contaminants from water
Authors: Manoleva N P , Bankova E K , Traykov I T
Published: February 2024

Groundwater supplies most of the drinking water in the small settlements in the Danubian plain region of Bulgaria. The region is mostly agricultural, leading to chemical pollution, mostly with nitrogen, of the shallow groundwater. Direct health concerns, linked to nitrates contamination of water, determine the increased popularity of drinking water point-of-use (POU) filtration pitchers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a commercial pitcher filtration system in removing select pollutants, such as metal ions, namely, copper and iron, nitrate nitrogen, and suspended solids (algal culture of Monoraphidium contortum) from augmented tap water. In addition, we have studied the effects on electrical conductivity and pH of water. The POU system of choice was a widely used brand name in Bulgaria, providing cartridges that fit most of the European pitcher filter brands. We have evaluated the performance of the filters at three different exploitation intervals – pre-washed new filter (0%), 50%, and 100% of the exploitation capacity set according to manufacturers’ claims of recommended volume of water, as well as at different contact times between the water and the filter media. The results indicate that the efficiency of the filters diminishes with aging and increases with increasing contact time – multiple filtrations.

The efficiency in terms of electrical conductivity and amount of iron decreases proportionally with filter age, and in terms of phosphates, the maximum effect is observed in filters at 50% capacity. Water filtration reduced water conductivity by 12% in a single filtration and stabilized the pH values towards the neutral range. The effect on pH values is inversely proportional to the buffering capacity of the water. The filters removed 85–98% of copper ions and 20% of iron ions. Nitrate removal efficiency averages 40% and doubling the contact time increases the efficiency to 70%. The efficiency of removing suspended solids is on average 17%, mainly due to the small size of the particles.

Overall, the POU systems are an effective way to purify water at home. The filter cartridges effectively reduce contaminants, such as metals and nitrates, which are particularly problematic in areas supplied by groundwater sources.
Effect of different lanthanide ions on the catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate with lanthanide metal-organic frameworks (Ln-MOFs) with terephthalic acid
Authors: Elenkova D. K. , Gagashev D. A. , Encheva E. D. , Tsvetkov M. P.
Published: February 2024

Ln-MOFs with four different Ln-ions (La, Ce, Gd, Tb) and terephthalic acid (H2BDC) were synthesised by solvothermal method. The crystals structure was confirmed by powder XRD and infrared spectroscopy (IR) corresponding to [Ln2(BDC)2(H2O)4]∞ and microstructural information of all samples was extracted by applying Rietveld refinement. By scanning electron microscopy (SEM) the morphology of the samples was revealed. First time applying Ln-MOFs for the catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) demonstrated their potential application as catalysts in a Fenton-like reaction for water purification from the antibiotic tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). For the best performing Ce-MOF degradation of TCH reached 80% that’s why additional experiment for determination of activation energy and the mechanism of the catalytic reaction were performed. The stability of the catalyst was also confirmed by powder XRD after the reaction.
Hepatoprotective effect of the flavonoid fustin in a rat model of paracetamol-induced acute liver damage
Authors: Salbashian M , Stefanova N , Tzaneva M , Pavlov D , Novakovic M , Tesevic V , Georgieva A , Eftimov M , Reyzov M , Nikolova M , Valcheva-Kuzmanova S
Published: February 2024

Paracetamol (PCM)-induced toxicity is a well-established pharmacological model. Cotinus coggygria is a medicinal plant rich in polyphenols, including the flavonoid fustin. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the flavonoid fustin isolated from Cotinus coggygria heartwood in a model of PCM-induced liver damage. Male Wistar rats (n=48) were allocated to four groups: Control, PCM, F5+PCM, F10+PCM. The rodents were treated daily orally for nine consecutive days as follows: groups F5+PCM and F10+PCM – with fustin (suspended in a vehicle) at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg, respectively; groups Control and PCM – with the vehicle. PCM was injected intraperitoneally (1.0 g/kg) on day 7. At the end of the experiment, serum and liver samples were prepared. PCM caused a severe liver damage confirmed by histopathological, immunohistochemical and biochemical indices. Compared to PCM group, in F5+PCM and F10+PCM groups, the hepatic necrosis, steatosis, ballooning degeneration, inflammation and expression of NF-κB were significantly reduced. Fustin treatment resulted in a significant reduction of serum activities of alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase to levels that did not differ from the control values. The present study demonstrated a hepatoprotective effect of the flavonoid fustin in a rat model of acute paracetamol-induced toxicity.
Biosensor-based serological assay for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection
Authors: Kolev P , Hikova E , Kisov H , Dyankov G
Published: February 2024

Helicobacter pylori causes the most common bacterial infection involving 50% of the global population. According to the World Health Organization H. pylori infection contributes to approximately 75% of the stomach cancer cases and 5.5% of all types of cancer. Therefore, timely diagnosis of the infection is highly desirable. Serological assays are widely performed for diagnosing H. pylori infection, the most frequently used one being ELISA. In the present study we showed that a serological assay can also be carried out using a biosensor based on Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). Unlike our previous studies where we used amplitude detection of the binding reactions, here we applied phase-sensitive detection. It was performed with a the channeled spectroscopic ellipsometer, which allowed fast measurement with high sensitivity. Thus, the detection limit achieved was more than two times lower than that of the amplitude detection. In terms of CFU, phase detection was sensitive even at 200 CFU, while amplitude detection was applicable at 3000 CFU.
Ultrasonic non-destructive evaluation study of molecular diffusion bonding of thin copper-aluminum electrode sheets
Authors: Li Shengtao , Hou Huaishu , Yun Han , Li Jinhao
Published: February 2024

The weld quality of copper and aluminum thin electrode sheets in molecular diffusion bonding was non-destructively evaluated using ultrasonic resonance techniques. During the welding process, the intermediate layer material nickel diffuses into the molecules of both the copper sheet and aluminum sheet, resulting in the formation of a solid solution phase layer. This leads to a 5-layer structure in the welded body. If there are defects in this solid solution phase layer, it can cause mutations in the ultrasonic resonance signals within the weld body. In order to characterize the weld quality between copper and aluminum sheets, an acoustic attenuation coefficient was introduced. The ultrasonic resonance signals within the weld body of copper and aluminum thin electrode sheets were analyzed under four different welding states. Experimental testing revealed significant differences in acoustic attenuation coefficients among these different welding states. A smaller acoustic attenuation coefficient indicates better welding quality. Therefore, by setting a reasonable threshold for this coefficient, it is possible to effectively evaluate the welding quality of molecular diffusion bonding between copper and aluminum thin electrode sheets.
Analyzing land use land cover (LULC) changes induced by the run-of river project and respondent survey: a case of Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Project on Indus River, Pakistan
Authors: Inam Ullah Ehsan , Ahmad Shakil , Khokhar Muhammad Fahim , Khayyam Umer , Azmat Muhammad , Arshad Muhammad , ur Rehman Qaiser Faizan
Published: February 2024

Land use land cover (LULC) change determination caused by development projects is always mandatory as land is the major source of local livelihoods and regional economy. Worldwide, very limited studies have been conducted to determine LULC changes caused by run-of-the-river projects, which are generally considered safe due to their design. Present study used Google Earth Engine (GEE) to examine the LULC changes caused by Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Project (GBHP), which is a run-of-the-river project, built in 2002 on Indus River in Pakistan. The project diverts river water from Ghazi barrage, for a 6,600 GWh annual power production, through an open concrete power channel of 100 m width and 9 m depth. Field surveys were carried out to assess respondents’ opinions about LULC changes and their major causes. LULC determination was carried out from 1990–2020 through processing Landsat images in GEE, and Random Forest (RF) machine learning technique was used for supervised classification of the study area. 384 respondents were consulted during the field survey and their responses were collected using semi-structured self-administered proformas. Results showed that after functioning, GBHP caused major LULC changes in project downstream areas from 2002–2010, as there was a significant decrease in area under agriculture by 29.10% and 47%, during summer and winter seasons respectively. The trend was concurrent with a decrease in area under water and was also followed by a marked increase in area under vegetation and baresoil. However, from 2010–2020, agriculture area again increased by 75.61% and 84.53% in summer and winter seasons respectively, as compared to 2002–2010. Respondents during the field survey revealed that agriculture reduction from 2002–2010 was due to water scarcity caused by GBHP; also leading to vegetation and baresoil increase. Recovery of agriculture from 2010–2020 was attributed to groundwater development intervention, better seeds, and farmers’ capacity building.
Compound drought and hot events assessment in Australia using copula functions
Authors: Páscoa Patrícia , Gouveia Célia M , Ribeiro Andreia F S , Russo Ana
Published: February 2024

The occurrence of compound drought and hot events has been shown to cause stronger socio-economic, environmental and health impacts than the isolated events. Moreover, the frequency of these compound events has increased unevenly throughout the world and is expected to keep increasing in several regions. In this work, an assessment of compound drought and hot events in the summer months in Australia was made, using copula functions. Drought and hot conditions were identified by the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and the indices Number of Hot Days (NHD) and Number of Hot Nights (NHN) for the summer months, respectively. We analysed drought conditions in the current and the previous 1 to 3 months and the periods 1950–1978 and 1979–2020. The results show that the conditional probability of the occurrence of hot events given drought conditions is very high for the concurrent month in most of the study area, reaching 0.9 in some cases. Considering previous drought conditions, the higher probabilities are obtained in the southeastern region in December and in the north in February but, in most of the study area, these values are higher than for the case of non-drought conditions, pointing to an effect of previous drought conditions on hot events of up to 3 months. Moreover, an increased frequency of compound drought and hot events from the first to the second period was identified in more than half of the study area for lags of 1 and 2 months. We show that, although the conditional probabilities are mostly higher when computed with NHD, NHN is also affected by drought conditions, and should also be considered in this analysis, since nights can have a relieving contribution when impacts in health and wildfires are being analysed.
Short review on the development of electrical discharge machine
Authors: Sisodiya Mangal Singh , Agarwal Pankaj
Published: February 2024

The electrical discharge machine (EDM) is an unconventional machine process. It uses thermoelectric energy to erode the work material. Usually, the EDM is employed to machine the hard to cut materials. The extraordinary characteristics of the EDM make the process more versatile for advanced manufacturing. The process is used to attend the intricate geometry with a high degree of accuracy. In the present scenario the manufacturing industries are meeting new challenges at frequent intervals due to the market competition and unique attributes of the materials. Ever changing customer requirement forces the continuous improvement in the machining technology, especially in unconventional machining processes like EDM. The present work reviews the progress of the key technology of the EDM which mainly affects output of the process. The reported work supplies the rigorous analysis of the major elements of the EDM in phase manner which includes the Power generation, control Units and servomechanism. In each section the concern issues are highlighted and reported proper remedies. In nutshell the EDM development from the start to the present stage is reported.
Solvent effects on the electrochemical performance of few layered MoS2 electrodes fabricated using FTO substrates
Authors: Philip Abin , Kumar A Ruban
Published: February 2024

Owing to its exceptional structural, electrical, and optical features, Molybdenum disulphide (MoS2), a two-dimensional (2D) layered material with tuneable bandgap, finds its application in electrochemical supercapacitors for superior energy and power density. Because of their low toxicity and long-term energy storage, the development of MoS2-based supercapacitors is inevitable. The study of solvent effects on the electrochemical performance of a few layered MoS2 using FTO substrates is done for the first time to the best of our knowledge. Exfoliating bulk MoS2 powder in different solvents with variable surface tensions such as Ethanol, Ethylene Glycol (EG), Dimethylformamide (DMF), and Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) results in the formation of few-layered MoS2 structures. The sample’s structural, optical, and electrochemical behaviours are investigated using x-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), cyclic-voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). XRD confirms the formation of a 2D MoS2 film with (002) planes and the optical investigation revealed the variation of layer-dependent bandgap with solvents. We observe both faradaic and non-faradaic charge storage mechanisms in the samples and demonstrate a superior pseudocapacitive behaviour for MoS2 in DMF with a maximum specific capacitance of 34.25 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A/g.
BMP signaling to pharyngeal muscle in the C. elegans response to a bacterial pathogen regulates anti-microbial peptide expression and pharyngeal pumping
Authors: Ciccarelli Emma Jo , Bendelstein Moshe , Yamamoto Katerina K. , Reich Hannah , Savage-Dunn Cathy
Published: February 2024

Host response to pathogens recruits multiple tissues in part through conserved cell signaling pathways. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) like DBL-1 signaling pathway has a role in the response to infection in addition to other roles in development and postdevelopmental functions. In the regulation of body size, the DBL-1 pathway acts through cell autonomous signal activation in the epidermis (hypodermis). We have now elucidated the tissues that respond to DBL-1 signaling upon exposure to two bacterial pathogens. The receptors and Smad signal transducers for DBL-1 are expressed in pharyngeal muscle, intestine, and epidermis. We demonstrate that expression of receptor-regulated Smad (R-Smad) gene sma-3 in the pharynx is sufficient to improve the impaired survival phenotype of sma-3 mutants and that expression of sma-3 in the intestine has no effect when exposing worms to bacterial infection of the intestine. We also show that two antimicrobial peptide genes – abf-2 and cnc-2 – are regulated by DBL-1 signaling through R-Smad SMA-3 activity in the pharynx. Finally, we show that pharyngeal pumping activity is reduced in sma-3 mutants and that other pharynx-defective mutants also have reduced survival on a bacterial pathogen. Our results identify the pharynx as a tissue that responds to BMP signaling to coordinate a systemic response to bacterial pathogens.
Cytoplasmic redox imbalance in the thioredoxin system activates Hsf1 and results in hyperaccumulation of the sequestrase Hsp42 with misfolded proteins
Authors: Goncalves Davi , Duy Duong Long , Peffer Sara , Morano Kevin A.
Published: February 2024

Cells employ multiple systems to maintain homeostasis when experiencing environmental stress. For example, the folding of nascent polypeptides is exquisitely sensitive to proteotoxic stressors including heat, pH, and oxidative stress, and is safeguarded by a network of protein chaperones that concentrate potentially toxic misfolded proteins into transient assemblies to promote folding or degradation. The redox environment itself is buffered by both cytosolic and organellar thioredoxin and glutathione pathways. How these systems are linked is poorly understood. Here, we determine that specific disruption of the cytosolic thioredoxin system resulted in constitutive activation of the heat shock response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and accumulation of the sequestrase Hsp42 into an exaggerated and persistent juxtanuclear quality control (JUNQ) compartment. Terminally misfolded proteins also accumulated in this compartment in thioredoxin reductase ( TRR1)-deficient cells, despite apparently normal formation and dissolution of transient cytoplasmic quality control (CytoQ) bodies during heat shock. Notably, cells lacking TRR1 and HSP42 exhibited severe synthetic slow growth exacerbated by oxidative stress, signifying a critical role for Hsp42 under redox-challenged conditions. Finally, we demonstrated that Hsp42 localization patterns in trr1∆ cells mimic those observed in chronically aging and glucose-starved cells, linking nutrient depletion and redox imbalance with management of misfolded proteins via a process of long-term sequestration.
Fluorescence complementation-based FRET imaging reveals centromere assembly dynamics
Authors: Dou Zhen , Liu Ran , Gui Ping , Fu Chuanhai , Lippincott-Schwartz Jennifer , Yao Xuebiao , Liu Xing
Published: February 2024

Visualization of specific molecules and their assembly in real time and space is essential to delineate how cellular dynamics and signaling circuit are orchestrated during cell division cycle. Our recent studies reveal structural insights into human centromere-kinetochore core CCAN complex. Here we introduce a method for optically imaging trimeric and tetrameric protein interactions at nanometer spatial resolution in live cells using fluorescence complementation-based Förster resonance energy transfer (FC-FRET). Complementary fluorescent protein molecules were first used to visualize dimerization followed by FRET measurements. Using FC-FRET, we visualized centromere CENP-SXTW tetramer assembly dynamics in live cells, and dimeric interactions between CENP-TW dimer and kinetochore protein Spc24/25 dimer in dividing cells. We further delineated the interactions of monomeric CENP-T with Spc24/25 dimer in dividing cells. Surprisingly, our analyses revealed critical role of CDK1 kinase activity in the initial recruitment of Spc24/25 by CENP-T. However, interactions between CENP-T and Spc24/25 during chromosome segregation is independent of CDK1. Thus, FC-FRET provides a unique approach to delineate spatiotemporal dynamics of trimerized and tetramerized proteins at nanometer scale and establishes a platform to report the precise regulation of multimeric protein interactions in space and time in live cells.
Prevalence, incidence density and standardized morbidity rate of melanoma among patients with congenital melanocytic naevi: a systematic review
Authors: Tan Songtao , Hu Haoyue , Li Guiying , Zhao Jiaqi , Wu Di
Published: February 2024

Background

Congenital melanocytic naevi (CMN) are the result of aberrations in the mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway. The risk of melanoma is the most important concern among patients with CMN because of its poor prognosis. However, as a result of the great variability between studies, the reported risk of melanoma varies considerably, making it difficult to provide reliable information.

Objectives

To evaluate the prevalence, incidence density and standardized morbidity ratio (SMR) of melanoma among patients with CMN.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature search of studies providing data on the risk of melanoma in patients with CMN following our registered and published protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42022383009).

Results

Overall, 27 studies with a total of 11 480 patients with CMN and 82 patients developing melanoma were included for analysis. The prevalence of melanoma was 1.84% [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13–2.99] in patients with CMN and 2.73% (95% CI 1.67–4.43) in the subgroup of patients with large CMN (LCMN). The incidence of melanoma was 237.56 (95% CI 97.79–575.96) per 100 000 person-years in patients with CMN and 585.73 (95% CI 315.39–1085.29) per 100 000 person-years in the LCMN subgroup. The SMR of melanoma was 122.27 (95% CI 11.84–1262.88) among all patients with CMN and 285.97 (95% CI 50.65–1614.59) in the subgroup of patients with LCMN.

Conclusions

Our research suggests that the risk of melanoma in the CMN population seems to have been overestimated in previous studies, but it is still significantly higher than that in the general population. In addition to the risk of melanoma, aesthetic improvement and mental health should also be taken into account when making management decisions.
Comparative Effectiveness of Perioperative Antibiotic Regimens to Prevent Surgical Site Infections in Pediatric Liver Transplant Recipients
Authors: Kitt Eimear , Stephens-Shields Alisa J , Huang Yuan-shung (Vera) , Bittermann Therese , Fisher Brian T
Published: February 2024

Background

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a common complication in liver transplant (LT) recipients. Lack of pediatric prophylaxis guidelines results in variation in preventative antibiotic regimens.

Methods

We performed a retrospective observational study of LT recipients <18 years old using a merged data set that included data from the Pediatric Health Information System and the United Network for Organ Sharing between 2006 and 2017. The exposure was defined as the antibiotic(s) received within 24 hours of LT, with 6 categories, ranging from narrow (category 1: cefazolin), to broad). The primary outcome was presence or absence of SSI in the index admission. Mixed-effects logistic regression compared the effectiveness of each category in preventing SSI, relative to category 1.

Results

Of the 2586 LT, 284 (11%) met SSI criteria. The SSI rate was higher in the younger subcohort (16.2%) than in the older (8.6%), necessitating a stratified analysis. Antibiotics from category 5 were most commonly used. In the younger subcohort, the adjusted risk was increased in all categories compared with the reference, most notably in category 3 (odds ratio [OR], 2.58 [95% confidence interval: .69–9.59]) and category 6 (2.76 [.66–11.56]). In the older subcohort, estimated ORs were also increased for each category, most notably in category 4 (2.49 [95% confidence interval: .99–6.27]). None of the ORs suggested benefit from broader-spectrum prophylaxis. Our E-value assessment suggests that it's unlikely there is unmeasured confounding by indication to the degree necessary to revert ORs to protective.

Conclusions

There was wide variation in antibiotic prophylaxis. Adjusted analyses did not reveal a protective benefit of broader-spectrum prophylaxis in either subcohort, suggesting that narrower regimens may be adequate.
Health parameters for wild Carnaby's cockatoo (Zanda latirostris) nestlings in Western Australia: results of a long-term study
Authors: Le Souëf Anna T , Bruce Mieghan , Barbosa Amanda , Shephard Jill M , Mawson Peter R , Dawson Rick , Saunders Denis A , Warren Kristin S
Published: February 2024

The collection of baseline health data is an essential component of an endangered species conservation program. As for many wildlife species, there are minimal health data available for wild populations of the endangered Carnaby’s cockatoo (Zanda latirostris). In this study, 426 wild Carnaby’s cockatoo nestlings were sampled from nine breeding sites throughout the range of the species over an 11-year period. In addition to a physical examination, samples were collected to test for hematologic and biochemical parameters, psittacine beak and feather disease virus (BFDV), avian polyomavirus (APV), psittacine adenovirus, psittacine herpesvirus, Chlamydia, disease serology and endoparasites. Environmental sampling was performed to screen for BFDV and APV in nest hollows. Descriptive health data are presented for nestlings of this species, with BFDV, APV and Chlamydia infections reported. Reference intervals for hematologic and biochemical parameters are presented in three age groups, and factors affecting blood analytes and body condition index are discussed. This longitudinal dataset provides insights into health parameters for Carnaby’s cockatoo nestlings and a reference for future monitoring of breeding populations.
New pharmacological agents and novel cardiovascular pharmacotherapy strategies in 2023
Authors: Tamargo Juan , Agewall Stefan , Borghi Claudio , Ceconi Claudio , Cerbai Elisabetta , Dan Gheorghe A , Ferdinandy Péter , Grove Erik Lerkevang , Rocca Bianca , Magavern Emma , Sulzgruber Patrick , Semb Anne Grete , Sossalla Samuel , Niessner Alexander , Kaski Juan Carlos , Dobrev Dobromir
Published: February 2024

Although cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide, their pharmacotherapy remains suboptimal. Thus, there is a clear unmet need to develop more effective and safer pharmacological strategies. In this review, we summarize the most relevant advances in cardiovascular pharmacology in 2023, including the approval of first-in-class drugs that open new avenues for the treatment of atherosclerotic CVD and heart failure (HF). The new indications of drugs already marketed (repurposing) for the treatment of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypercholesterolaemia, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and HF; the impact of polypharmacy on guideline-directed drug use is highlighted as well as results from negative clinical trials. Finally, we end with a summary of the most important phase 2 and 3 clinical trials assessing the efficacy and safety of cardiovascular drugs under development for the prevention and treatment of CVDs.
The role of primary care attributes in preventing loss or change of usual source of care: a nationwide cohort study
Authors: Aoki Takuya , Zukeran Sota , Matsushima Masato
Published: February 2024

Background

The existence of a stable usual source of care (USC) is fundamental to the provision of quality health care. However, no longitudinal studies have examined whether core primary care attributes influence the stability of USC status.

Objectives

We aimed to examine the association between primary care attributes (first contact, longitudinality, coordination, comprehensiveness, and community orientation) and the loss or change of USC.

Methods

This nationwide cohort study was conducted during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic using a representative sample of the Japanese adult population aged 40–75 years. The primary outcome measures were loss of USC and voluntary change in USC during the 12-month follow-up period. Primary care attributes were evaluated in the baseline survey using the Japanese version of Primary Care Assessment Tool (JPCAT).

Results

Data were analyzed for 725 participants who had a USC at baseline. Among them, 93 (12.8 %) lost their USC and 46 (6.3%) changed their USC during the follow-up period. Multivariable multinominal logistic regression analyses showed that the JPCAT total score was associated with decreased loss of USC and change in USC. Among the JPCAT domains, longitudinality, comprehensiveness (services available), and community orientation were associated with reductions in both USC loss and change.

Conclusions

Our study indicates that primary care attributes play an important role in preventing the loss or change of USC and contribute to the stability of USC status. These findings provide additional rationale for policymakers, healthcare providers, and managers to seek to strengthen core attributes of primary care.
Enhancement of yellow pigments production via high CaCl2 stress fermentation of Monascus purpureus
Authors: Bai Yuqing , Zhang Wei , Guo Ruonan , Yu Jiyuan , Wang Yurong
Published: February 2024

Monascus pigments (MPs) are a kind of natural ingredient fermented by Monascus spp., which contains three types of pigments: red, orange, and yellow ones. Monascus yellow pigments have a restricted yield and cannot meet industrial application. The method and mechanism of CaCl2 improving yellow pigments production by liquid fermentation of Monascus purpureus M8 were studied in order to overcome the low yield of yellow pigments produced by liquid fermentation. Changes in physiological and biochemical indicators explained the effects of CaCl2 on the production of Monascus yellow pigments from solid fermentation. The intracellular yellow pigments, orange pigments, and red pigments increased by 156.08%, 43.76%, and 42.73%, respectively, with 60 g/l CaCl2 addition to culture medium. The amount of red and orange pigments reduced, while the proportion of yellow pigments increased and the relative peak area of intracellular yellow pigments accounted for a dominant 98.2%, according to thin layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography analyses. Furthermore, the influence of CaCl2 extended to the modulation of pigments synthesis-related gene expression in M8 strain. This modulation led to a pronounced upregulation in the expression of the yellow pigments synthesis-related gene, mppE, signifying a pivotal role played by CaCl2 in orchestrating the intricate machinery behind yellow pigments biosynthesis.
A Density Management Diagram for Pitch Pine to Illustrate Tradeoffs between Carbon and Wildfire Risk
Authors: Isaacson Bernard N , Zipse William E , Grabosky Jason C
Published: February 2024

Pitch pine (Pinus rigida Mill.) can be found across a broad range in eastern North America but assumes local dominance only on poor soils in the northeastern United States. Contemporary management goals in the Northeast for areas dominated by pitch pine are focused on noncommercial benefits of forests, such as carbon density, reduced wildfire risk, habitat for rare species, and water provisioning. We present a density management diagram that empirically articulates the size-density limits of even-aged pitch pine stands. Included in the diagram are wildfire risk and carbon density, which are inversely related for most stand sizes. Maximum possible aboveground live tree carbon begins to decline at a quadratic mean diameter greater than 9 in., while crown fire risk remains high along the size-density limit until a quadratic mean diameter above 12 in. is achieved.

Study Implications: Modern silvicultural tools that illustrate forest stand conditions have not been developed for pitch pine, but this species occurs in a region with much public attention on forests. We develop and present a density management diagram to show the interplay of different social goals for the forest and how they relate to the maximum size-density relationship. Pitch pine stands with high levels of aboveground live carbon are at high risk of crown fire, particularly in the smaller size classes.
Phase transition and higher order analysis of Lq regularization under dependence
Authors: Huang Hanwen , Zeng Peng , Yang Qinglong
Published: February 2024

We study the problem of estimating a $k$-sparse signal ${\boldsymbol \beta }_{0}\in{\mathbb{R}}^{p}$ from a set of noisy observations $\mathbf{y}\in{\mathbb{R}}^{n}$ under the model $\mathbf{y}=\mathbf{X}{\boldsymbol \beta }+w$, where $\mathbf{X}\in{\mathbb{R}}^{n\times p}$ is the measurement matrix the row of which is drawn from distribution $N(0,{\boldsymbol \varSigma })$. We consider the class of $L_{q}$-regularized least squares (LQLS) given by the formulation $\hat{{\boldsymbol \beta }}(\lambda )=\text{argmin}_{{\boldsymbol \beta }\in{\mathbb{R}}^{p}}\frac{1}{2}\|\mathbf{y}-\mathbf{X}{\boldsymbol \beta }\|^{2}_{2}+\lambda \|{\boldsymbol \beta }\|_{q}^{q}$, where $\|\cdot \|_{q}$  $(0\le q\le 2)$ denotes the $L_{q}$-norm. In the setting $p,n,k\rightarrow \infty $ with fixed $k/p=\epsilon $ and $n/p=\delta $, we derive the asymptotic risk of $\hat{{\boldsymbol \beta }}(\lambda )$ for arbitrary covariance matrix ${\boldsymbol \varSigma }$ that generalizes the existing results for standard Gaussian design, i.e. $X_{ij}\overset{i.i.d}{\sim }N(0,1)$. The results were derived from the non-rigorous replica method. We perform a higher-order analysis for LQLS in the small-error regime in which the first dominant term can be used to determine the phase transition behavior of LQLS. Our results show that the first dominant term does not depend on the covariance structure of ${\boldsymbol \varSigma }$ in the cases $0\le q\lt 1$ and $1\lt q\le 2,$ which indicates that the correlations among predictors only affect the phase transition curve in the case $q=1$ a.k.a. LASSO. To study the influence of the covariance structure of ${\boldsymbol \varSigma }$ on the performance of LQLS in the cases $0\le q\lt 1$ and $1\lt q\le 2$, we derive the explicit formulas for the second dominant term in the expansion of the asymptotic risk in terms of small error. Extensive computational experiments confirm that our analytical predictions are consistent with numerical results.
Are SMART goals fit-for-purpose? Goal planning with mental health service-users in Australian community pharmacies
Authors: Stewart Victoria , McMillan Sara S , Hu Jie , Collins Jack C , El-Den Sarira , O’Reilly Claire L , Wheeler Amanda J
Published: February 2024

Goal planning is an important element in brief health interventions provided in primary healthcare settings, with specific, measurable, achievable, realistic/relevant, and timed (SMART) goals recommended as best practice. This study examined the use of SMART goals by Australian community pharmacists providing a brief goal-oriented wellbeing intervention with service-users experiencing severe and persistent mental illnesses (SPMIs), in particular, which aspects of SMART goal planning were incorporated into the documented goals. Goal data from the PharMIbridge Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) were used to investigate how community pharmacists operationalized SMART goals, goal quality, and which SMART goal planning format aspects were most utilized. Goals were evaluated using the SMART Goal Evaluation Method (SMART-GEM) tool to determine how closely each documented goal met the SMART criteria. Goals were also categorized into five domains describing their content or purpose. Descriptive analysis was used to describe the SMART-GEM evaluation results, and the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to compare the evaluation results across the goal domains. All goals (n = 512) co-designed with service-users (n = 156) were classified as poor quality when assessed against the SMART guidelines for goal statements, although most goals contained information regarding a specific behaviour and/or action (71.3% and 86.3%, respectively). Less than 25% of goals identified how goal achievement would be measured, with those related to lifestyle and wellbeing behaviours most likely to include measurement information. Additionally, the majority (93.5%) of goals lacked details regarding monitoring goal progress. Study findings raise questions regarding the applicability of the SMART goal format in brief health interventions provided in primary healthcare settings, particularly for service-users experiencing SPMIs. Further research is recommended to identify which elements of SMART goals are most relevant for brief interventions. Additionally, further investigation is needed regarding the impact of SMART goal training or support tools on goal quality.
Women with ovarian cancer’s information seeking and avoidance behaviors: an interview study
Authors: Chi Yu , Hui Vivian , Kunsak Hannah , Brusilovsky Peter , Donovan Heidi , He Daqing , Lee Young Ji
Published: February 2024

Objectives

Despite the importance of using information for ovarian cancer (OvCa) disease management and decision-making, some women with OvCa do not actively seek out information. The purpose of this study is to investigate factors that influence information seeking behaviors and information avoidance behaviors and information resources among women with OvCa and their caregivers.

Materials and methods

We conducted in-depth interviews with OvCa patients or caregivers of OvCa (n = 20) and employed deductive and inductive coding methodologies for analysis.

Results

Our analysis revealed 5 emerging themes associated with active information seeking behavior, 5 themes of passive information acquisition, and 4 themes of information avoidance behavior. Additionally, we identified participants’ preferred information sources for OvCa management, such as health organization or government operated resources and web-based social groups.

Discussion

To enhance information access, strategies should be developed to motivate people with OvCa to seek rather than avoid information. The study emphasizes the significance of promoting patient–provider communication and leveraging strong social support networks for effective information acquisition.

Conclusion

Our findings provide valuable implications for clinical practice and policymaking, emphasizing the need to improve access to information for individuals with OvCa. By addressing the identified factors influencing information seeking behaviors, healthcare professionals and policymakers can better support patients and caregivers in their information-seeking journey, ultimately enhancing disease management and decision-making outcomes.
Seedcorn maggot response to planting date, cover crops, and tillage in organic cropping systems
Authors: Regan Karly H , Voortman Christina A , Barbercheck Mary E
Published: February 2024

Seedcorn maggot, Delia platura (Meigen) (Diptera: Anthomyiidae), is an economically important early-season pest of corn and soybean in the United States. Adult seedcorn maggot is attracted to decomposing plant residues for oviposition, creating potential management issues where growers typically use tillage to incorporate fertility amendments and to create a seedbed. The use of growing degree-day models to time planting dates is an important tool for effectively managing this pest, but their use has not been examined in organic crop production. Here, we report the results of experiments to determine the effects of cover crops, tillage, and relative planting date on seedcorn maggot in corn and soybean in 2 experiments: The first during the transition to organic from conventional management and the second during the 3 yr following organic certification in central Pennsylvania, United States. Overall, delaying the planting date by 1–2 wk reduced fly emergence in corn, but not in soybean in both experiments. Seedcorn maggot emergence was also consistently greater in corn than in soybean, with 6 times more flies in corn than in soy. About 15 times more seedcorn maggot flies emerged from corn in treatments in which cover crops were managed with tillage compared to treatments in which cover crops were terminated with a roller-crimper followed by no-till planting of corn. Fly emergence was negatively related to the proportion of legumes in the cover crop mixture preceding corn. These results can help inform soil, cover crop, and crop decisions for organic growers in the Mid-Atlantic United States.
Highly abundant bacteria in the gut of Triatoma dimidiata (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) can inhibit the growth of Trypanosoma cruzi (Kinetoplastea: Trypanosomatidae)
Authors: Cambronero-Heinrichs Juan Carlos , Rojas-Gätjens Diego , Baizán Mónica , Alvarado-Ocampo Johan , Rojas-Jimenez Keilor , Loaiza Randall , Chavarría Max , Calderón-Arguedas Ólger , Troyo Adriana
Published: February 2024

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is a zoonosis primarily found in rural areas of Latin America. It is considered a neglected tropical disease, and Triatoma dimidiata is the main vector of the parasite in Central America. Despite efforts, Chagas disease continues to be a public health concern, and vector control remains a primary tool to reduce transmission. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that highly abundant bacteria in the gut of T. dimidiata inhibit the growth of T. cruzi. To achieve this, bacterial diversity in the gut of T. dimidiata specimens from Costa Rica was characterized by metabarcoding of the 16S rRNA, microbial isolation was performed, and the effect of freeze-dried supernatants of the isolates on T. cruzi was investigated. Metabarcoding showed that the most abundant genera in the gut were Corynebacterium, Tsukamurella, Brevibacterium, and Staphylococcus. Barcoding and sequences comparison confirmed that 8 of the 30 most abundant amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were isolated, and 2 of them showed an inhibitory effect on the growth of T. cruzi epimastigotes. These bacteria correspond to isolates of Tsukamurella and Brevibacterium, which were respectively the second and sixth most abundant ASVs in the gut of T. dimidiata. Notably, only the isolate of Brevibacterium showed a significant difference in growth inhibition against epimastigotes of both T. cruzi strains tested. These findings suggest that the gut microbiota of T. dimidiata may play an active role in modulating parasite development.
Experimental demonstration of the transmission of Spiroplasma between different arthropod taxa
Authors: Ogata Shohei , Hayashi Naoki , Eshita Yuki , Nagasawa Yasuha , Nonaka Nariaki , Nakao Ryo
Published: February 2024

Spiroplasma (Mycoplasmatales: Spiroplasmataceae) is one of the most widely distributed symbionts of arthropods. Spiroplasma species can infect their hosts via vertical or horizontal transmission. However, the mode of transmission of Spiroplasma between different arthropod taxa has not been elucidated. In this study, we investigated the potential for the transmission of Spiroplasma to non-native arthropod species, using 2 Spiroplasma spp. isolated from ticks, namely Spiroplasma ixodetis and Spiroplasma mirum, and 3 species of mosquito laboratory colonies, namely Aedes albopictus, Aedes aegypti, and Culex pipiens pallens (Diptera: Culicidae). After feeding the adult mosquitoes with Spiroplasma-containing artificial meals, they were kept at 25 °C for 10 days. Homogenates prepared from Spiroplasma-fed mosquitoes were used to re-isolate Spiroplasma using the in vitro culture method. Nine weeks after culture initiation, the presence of Spiroplasma was tested using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results revealed that only S. ixodetis was detected from all 3 species of mosquitoes and re-isolated from 2 of them. The differences in the infection ability of different Spirolasma species could be attributed to several factors, including environmental effects. Nevertheless, this is the first experimental demonstration of Spiroplasma transmission among different arthropod taxa. Further studies are needed to elucidate the evolutionary mechanism that supports the survival of Spiroplasma in nature.
The highest mass Kepler red giants – I. Global asteroseismic parameters of 48 stars
Authors: Crawford Courtney L , Bedding Timothy R , Li Yaguang , Stello Dennis , Huber Daniel , Yu Jie , Sreenivas K R , Li Tanda , Kerrison Emily F
Published: February 2024

When low- and intermediate-mass stars evolve off the main sequence, they expand and cool into the red giant stages of evolution, which include those associated with shell H burning (the red giant branch), core He burning (the red clump), and shell He burning (the asymptotic giant branch). The majority of red giants have masses <2 M⊙, and red giants more massive than this are often excluded from major studies. Here, we present a study of the highest mass stars (M > 3.0 M⊙) in the Kepler sample of 16 000 red giants. We begin by re-estimating their global seismic properties with new light curves, highlighting the differences between using the simple aperture photometry and presearch data conditioning of simple aperture photometry light curves provided by Kepler. We use the re-estimated properties to derive new mass estimates for the stars, ending with a final sample of 48 confirmed high-mass stars. We explore their oscillation envelopes, confirming the trends found in recent works such as low mean mode amplitude and wide envelopes. We find, through probabilistic means, that our sample is likely all core He burning stars. We measure their dipole and quadrupole mode visibilities and confirm that the dipole mode visibility tends to decrease with mass.
Constraining planetary formation models using conditional occurrences of various planet types
Authors: Gajendran Sridhar , Jiang Ing-Guey , Yeh Li-Chin , Sariya Devesh P
Published: February 2024

We report the conditional occurrences between three planetary types: super-Earths (m sin i < 10 M⊕, P < 100 d), warm Jupiters (m sin i > 95 M⊕, 10 < P < 100 d), and cold Jupiters (m sin i > 95 M⊕, P > 400 d) for sun-like stars. We find that while the occurrence of cold Jupiters in systems with super-Earths is $22.2\substack{+8.3 \\ -5.4}$ per cent, compared to 10 per cent for the absolute occurrence rate of cold Jupiters, the occurrence of super-Earths in systems with cold Jupiters is $66.0\substack{+18.0 \\ -16.0}$ per cent, compared to 30 per cent for the absolute occurrence rate of super-Earths for Sun-like stars. We find that the enhancement of super-Earths in systems with cold Jupiters is evident for Sun-like stars, in agreement with several previous studies. We also conduct occurrence studies between warm Jupiters and super-Earths, and between warm Jupiters and cold Jupiters, to consolidate our methods. We conduct an independent observational test to study the effects of cold Jupiters against the inner multiplicity using the well-established giant planet host star metallicity correlation for all transiting planets found to date. The conditional occurrences we find here can be used to constrain the validity of various planetary formation models. The extremely interesting correlations between the super-Earths, cold Jupiters, and warm Jupiters can also be used to understand the formation histories of these planetary types.