bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SMPD1 gene variants in patients with β-Thalassemia major
Authors: Dursun Fadime Ersoy , Özen Filiz
Published: February 2023

Background

β-thalassemia major and Niemann-Pick diseases have similar clinical and laboratory findings. We aimed to investigate the effects of sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 1 (SMPD1) gene variants on the clinical and laboratory findings in patients with β-thalassemia major.

Methods and results

This study included 45 patients who were followed up for β-thalassemia major in our clinic. Plasma chitotriosidase, leukocyte acid sphingomyelinase, liver enzymes, ferritin, hemogram, biochemical parameters, SMPD1 gene variant analysis, cardiac T2* MRI, and liver R2 MRI were assessed in all patients. The SMPD1 gene c.132_143del, p.A46_L49del (c.108GCTGGC[4] (p.38AL[4])) (rs3838786) variant was detected in 9 of 45 (20.0%) patients. Plasma chitotriosidase, ferritin, acetyl aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase levels were significantly higher in patients with the gene variant than in those without (p < 0.05). Leukocyte acid sphingomyelinase levels were significantly lower in patients with the gene variant than in those without (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

These results imply that the clinical and laboratory findings and some features of disease progression in patients with β-thalassemia major are similar to those of Niemann-Pick disease. They also suggest that SMPD1 gene c.132_143del, p.A46_L49del (c.108GCTGGC[4] (p.38AL[4])) (rs3838786) variant may underlie these clinical findings in patients with β-thalassemia major.
How I treat recurrent pediatric high-grade glioma (pHGG): a Europe-wide survey study
Authors: Perwein Thomas , Giese Barbara , Nussbaumer Gunther , von Bueren André O. , van Buiren Miriam , Benesch Martin , Kramm Christof Maria
Published: February 2023

Purpose

As there is no standard of care treatment for recurrent/progressing pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGG), we aimed to gain an overview of different treatment strategies.

Methods

In a web-based questionnaire, members of the SIOPE-BTG and the GPOH were surveyed on therapeutic options in four case scenarios (children/adolescents with recurrent/progressing HGG).

Results

139 clinicians with experience in pediatric neuro-oncology from 22 European countries participated in the survey. Most respondents preferred further oncological treatment in three out of four cases and chose palliative care in one case with marked symptoms. Depending on the case, 8–92% would initiate a re-resection (preferably hemispheric pHGG), combined with molecular diagnostics. Throughout all case scenarios, 55–77% recommended (re-)irradiation, preferably local radiotherapy > 20 Gy. Most respondents would participate in clinical trials and use targeted therapy (79–99%), depending on molecular genetic findings (BRAF alterations: BRAF/MEK inhibitor, 64–88%; EGFR overexpression: anti-EGFR treatment, 46%; CDKN2A deletion: CDK inhibitor, 18%; SMARCB1 deletion: EZH2 inhibitor, 12%). 31–72% would administer chemotherapy (CCNU, 17%; PCV, 8%; temozolomide, 19%; oral etoposide/trofosfamide, 8%), and 20–69% proposed immunotherapy (checkpoint inhibitors, 30%; tumor vaccines, 16%). Depending on the individual case, respondents would also include bevacizumab (6–18%), HDAC inhibitors (4–15%), tumor-treating fields (1–26%), and intraventricular chemotherapy (4–24%).

Conclusion

In each case, experts would combine conventional multimodal treatment concepts, including re-irradiation, with targeted therapy based on molecular genetic findings. International cooperative trials combining a (chemo-)therapy backbone with targeted therapy approaches for defined subgroups may help to gain valid clinical data and improve treatment in pediatric patients with recurrent/progressing HGG.
Occupation–Education Mismatch of Immigrant Women in Europe
Authors: Akgüç Mehtap , Parasnis Jaai
Published: February 2023

Against the background of continuing gains in female education and labour market participation and rising migration, we investigate whether women work in occupations which match their educational qualifications and whether migrant women face double penalty in being overqualified for their jobs. Using the data from the European Social Survey covering 2002–2020 with detailed information about occupation and educational attainment, we show that migrant women are significantly more likely to be overqualified in their jobs relative to native women. We explore the role of individual, institutional and workplace factors, as well as attitudes, to explain the overeducation of foreign-born women compared to native-born women. While parental education, workplace and destination country characteristics are all important factors in women’s overqualification, they do not explain the immigrant women’s disadvantage. The overqualification of migrant women is particularly notable amongst low and medium skill groups and in middle income households. These results inform the policy efforts to mitigate the skills waste of migrant women by documenting the gaps, identifying the target groups and suggesting potential channels.
The genus Capparis L. (Capparaceae) in Laos and Cambodia
Authors: Fici Silvio
Published: February 2023

A taxonomic revision of the genus Capparis in Laos and Cambodia was undertaken. Based on examination of historical and recent herbarium collections coupled with field investigations, 25 species and 7 intraspecific taxa, all belonging to sect. Monostichocalyx, were recognised in the study area. Among these, a new species, C. averyanovii, and a new subspecies, C. acutifolia subsp. thamphae, from central and northern Laos are described and illustrated. A key to the species is provided, along with descriptions, synonyms, distribution ranges, autecological and phenological data, and 31 lectotypes are selected. When available, vernacular names and traditional uses of the species are also given, based on information from herbarium labels or bibliography. The occurrence of various taxa known only from type material is underlined. Based on the available data, C. diffusa and C. rotundifolia, two species formerly recorded from Cambodia, are excluded from the flora of the study area.
Review of machine learning application in mine blasting
Authors: Abd Elwahab Ahmed , Topal Erkan , Jang Hyong Doo
Published: February 2023

Mine blasting has adopted machine learning (ML) into its practices with the aims of performance optimization, better decision-making process, and work safety. This study is aimed at reviewing the status of ML method applications to mine blasting issues. One of the most important observations of this research highlights the developed ML methods such as hybrids/ensembles, outperforming the other methods at 61% of the sample of case studies. The first section provides a background on the application of ML methods in mining. Two sections of the review provide the trends in the application of ML methods and the utilization of input parameters in surface and underground blasting problems. The appraisal reveals an increase of hybrid/ensemble or highly developed ML methods for the top four blast issues on the surface (72%) and underground (45%). The sample of studies reviewed indicated through graphical/statistical means a continuing increase in hybrids/ensembles’ use mirrored by high research output for the top four surface blast issues. This is contrasted by a low rate of research in underground blasting, under the encountered operational conditions applied. Regarding the input parameters, controllable parameters (blast design and geometry) were recognized to be steadily used in surface blasting for the top four surface blast issues, along with less involvement from the uncontrollable parameters (geological and geotechnical parameters). On the contrary, underground blasting has a slight involvement of the uncontrollable parameters more than the controllable parameters, in the top four blast issues. In the final section of this paper, the review offers a discussion of the current state of research under the encountered limits and where the efforts should be focused concerning ML methods applied, input parameters involved, and the challenges faced. Such high levels of performances are in demand in a highly complex mining environment. Persistent research, and development of mining employees’ technological skills alongside an increased awareness among mining industry of the benefits of highly developed ML techniques, is greatly needed at this stage. This would establish the role of highly developed ML methods in improving both the blasting process and the overall decision-making and mining management.
Old crimes reported in new bottles: the disclosure of child sexual abuse on Twitter through the case #MeTooInceste
Authors: Aguerri Jesús C. , Molnar Lorena , Miró-Llinares Fernando
Published: February 2023

Movements such as #MeToo have shown how an online trend can become the vehicle for collectively sharing personal experiences of sexual victimisation that often remains unreported to the criminal justice system. These social media trends offer new opportunities to social scientists who investigate complex phenomena that, despite existing since time immemorial, are still taboo and difficult to access. They also bring technical difficulties, as the challenge to identify reports of victimisation, and new questions about the characteristic of the events, the role that victimisation testimonies play and the capacity to detect them by analysing their characteristics. To address these issues, we collected 91,501 tweets under the hashtag #MeTooInceste, posted from the 20 to 27 January 2021. A model was fitted using Latent Dirichlet Allocation that detected 1688 tweets disclosing experiences of child sexual abuse, with an accuracy of 91.3% [± 3%] and a recall of 93.1% [± 5%]. We performed Conjunctive Analysis of Case Configurations on the tweets identified as disclosures of victimisation and found that long tweets posted by users with small accounts, without URL or picture, were more likely to be related to disclosure of child sexual abuse. We discuss the possibilities of these trends and techniques offer for research and practice.
Estimating hydrogen usage of a Crew Transport Vessel fleet for Offshore Windfarm maintenance
Authors: Cramer Habbo , Fitz Annika , Niemi Arto , Skobiej Bartosz , Sill Torres Frank
Published: February 2023

This paper presents an estimate for the mass of hydrogen that would be needed to power the current fleet of Crew Transport Vessels (CTVs) used for maintaining the German offshore wind farms and how this demand may be geographically distributed. The estimate is based on a calculation of the marine diesel oil consumption of the current fleet, which is further employed for estimating the current emissions of these activities. Based on the predicted price of hydrogen, bunkering the CTV fleet with hydrogen may become economically advantageous in the future. Moreover, using hydrogen may reduce CO2 emissions. Results have been obtained by using vessel position data, weather data, and diesel consumption estimates. As a shortcoming, certain effects are excluded from the current estimate. However, this work presents an approach that can be improved and used for estimating hydrogen consumption in future scenarios. In these scenarios, a vessel type and parameters can be set. While here the challenge was to create a generic model that can be applied to multiple types of vessels.
Drawing a line?—Visuo-constructive function as discriminator between healthy individuals, subjective cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease and predictor of disease progress compared to a multimodal approach
Authors: Tokaj Amelie , Lehrner Johann
Published: February 2023

Purpose

One cognitive domain impaired in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is visuo-construction. The Vienna Visuo-constructional Test 3.0 Screening (VVT 3.0 Screening) measures this cognitive domain. This study examines how it works in the differentiation of AD from healthy controls (HC) and the prodromal stages subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and also how it performs in prediction of progress compared to the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Sunderland Clock Drawing Test (CDT).

Methods

Data from 622 patients (33 HC, 68 SCD, 301 MCI, 220 AD) who completed all three tests were obtained. Furthermore, 117 patients were examined in a follow-up. Data were analyzed in a retrospective analysis comparing the validity of tests in diagnosis and prediction using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves and multinominal logistic regression.

Results

The VVT 3.0 Screening shows some ability to discriminate between AD and all other participants (sensitivity: 62.1%, specificity: 83.1%), while of the three examined tests none was able to predict membership to all experimental groups or to predict disease-progress adequately. As the VVT 3.0 Screening is short, easy to apply and largely language independent, it can be considered an alternative to the MMSE in certain situations.

Conclusions

The VVT 3.0 Screening is useful to discriminate between AD and all other participants and can be an alternative to the MMSE in certain situations.
Fracture of aircraft titanium alloys under high-frequency loading
Authors: Nikitin Alexander D. , Shesterkin Pavel S. , Lopatin Sergey S.
Published: February 2023

The paper is devoted to the problem of fatigue failure of two-phase titanium alloy VT3-1 under the action of high-frequency cyclic loading. Samples for the tests were made from the compressor disk of aviation engine D30-Ku installed on Tupolev Tu-154 planes. Repeated alternating loading was carried out by displacements of small amplitude at 20 kHz, coinciding with the first harmonic of longitudinal elastic vibrations of the sample. Analysis of specimen fracture surfaces shows predominant subsurface fracture. Analysis of areas of fatigue nucleation allows identifying elements of microstructure associated with crack nucleation. The results of the study can be used in the interpretation of fracture scenarios of structural elements in operation. Increasing the resource of products under such loads is possible through the use of damping layers or tapes, where possible.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Synchronous restoration of video key frame loss based on digital media communication protocol
Authors: Li Feng
Published: February 2023

This paper presents a synchronous recovery method for video key frame loss, aiming to analyze the experimental video through digital media feature extraction algorithm. By analyzing and designing effective communication protocols in real-time embedded systems, video data can be better processed. On this basis, key frames are restore synchronously through digital media communication protocol, and verified by comparing with other algorithms. Experimental results shows that the recall and precision of this algorithm for key frame extraction are 90.1% and 100% respectively, Among the three algorithms compared, the recall and precision of video key frame extraction based on single feature algorithm are the highest, 80.2% and 85.9% respectively. At the same time, the synchronization restoration time of this algorithm for lost key frames is 12.2 s, which took less time than other algorithms. It can be seen that the algorithm based on digital media feature extraction is of great significance for synchronous restoration of video key frame loss. It can be seen that the algorithm based on digital media feature extraction is of great significance for the synchronous recovery of video key frame loss, and can effectively promote the development of video data diversity and the improvement of information interaction. Under the digital media communication protocol, it can effectively synchronize the audio and video receiving end of multimedia information, and then recover and predict the lost frames in the video sequence. First, it can enhance the internal characteristics of video frames and the similarity and consistency of images between frames. Secondly, it can significantly improve the accuracy and efficiency of video data processing. Finally, from the perspective of practical development, the synchronous recovery of video key frame loss based on digital media communication protocol can effectively promote the sustainable development of media data, which has certain social value and practical significance in the current era of big data.
Critical success factor of PPP for affordable housing provision in Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alshahrani Adnan , Alaboud Naif , Ahmed Yahaya , Karban Abdullah , Majrashi Abdurahman A. , Altowerqi Zayed
Published: February 2023

Saudi Arabia recently established public–private partnerships (PPPs) in order to increase the private sector’s involvement in financing and providing affordable housing. However, the successful implementation of the PPP for affordable housing in Makkah necessitates careful consideration of possible barriers. As a result, the purpose of this study is to assess the critical success factor of the PPP and to introduce a housing affordable model for the low-income community. The survey method was used in the study to determine the critical success factors of PPP for affordable housing provision, with participants from both the private and public sectors. Using a five-point Likert scale, respondents were asked to rate the degree of influence of prospective critical success factors of PPP. The data gathered was analyzed using statistical tools. The study’s findings describe the critical success factors of public–private partnerships for affordable housing and establish the critical success factors of the PPP model for affordable housing in Makkah. As a result, determining the critical success factors and suggesting a way forward for the government to effectively provide affordable housing for low-income groups, as has been successful in other parts of countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and India, among others.
Urban mining. Scoping resources for circular construction
Authors: Markopoulou Areti , Taut Oana
Published: February 2023

Operating with an abundance mindset – rather than from a place of “scarcity” – is a new paradigm, relevant to the practices of design and construction, which expands the definition of “resources” as well as where resources, both raw and non-raw materials, can be found and “mined”.

Within three scales of design and planning, the current research – developed at the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) – examines the applications of computational technologies and life cycle assessment with the goal of setting up protocols for enhancing processes of urban mining and material reuse in future circular construction. In the material scale (i), selected projects experiment with up-cycled waste for the creation of new engineered composites for construction. In the building scale (ii), robotic technologies and computer vision are used to scan and sort the materials from existing buildings or demolition sites. Finally, in the urban scale (iii), google images, satellite data and ML are used to index the existing material stock in building façades in cities.

The research calls for agents involved in design, planning and construction to shift their focus to the anthroposphere as a source of, rather than just a destination for, processed goods. The concept of “urban mining” is revisited to manage the material stock in urban systems and the use of anthropogenic resources in new production cycles.

Through a multi-scalar approach, the outcome challenges the foundation of our material practices, presenting the potential to disrupt linear patterns of design and making in the built environment.
Science and Reading in the Eighteenth Century
Authors: Ellis Markman
Published: February 2023

Science and Reading in the Eighteenth Century studies the reading habits of a group of historians and science administrators known as the Hardwicke Circle. The research is based on an analysis of the reading recorded in the 'Weekly Letter', an unpublished private correspondence written from 1741 to 1766 between Thomas Birch (1705–1766), Secretary of the Royal Society, and Philip Yorke (1720–1790), later second earl of Hardwicke. Birch and Yorke were omnivorous, voracious, and active readers. The analysis uses the Weekly Letter to quantify the texts with which they engaged, and explores the role of reading in their intellectual life. The research argues that this evidence shows that, in the early 1750s, the Hardwicke Circle pivoted from a focus on early-modern British history to a new concern with the reform and renovation of British intellectual institutions, especially the Royal Society.
An investigation of rotor aeroacoustics with unsteady motions and uncertainty factors
Authors: Zhong Siyang , Zhou Peng , Chen Wangqiao , Jiang Hanbo , Wu Han , Zhang Xin
Published: February 2023

The aeroacoustic characteristics of flying vehicles with pitch-fixed rotors differ from traditional helicopters with pitch-controlled rotor blades. Accurate predictions of rotor noise are still challenging because many uncertainty factors and unsteadinesses exist. This work investigates the aeroacoustic effects of rotational speed deviation, rotation speed fluctuation, blade vibration and blade geometric asymmetry. The analysis is based on the efficient computation of rotor noise under different working conditions. The mean aerodynamic variables are computed using the blade element moment theory, while small-amplitude fluctuations are introduced to account for the unsteadiness and uncertainty factors. It is shown that periodic rotation speed fluctuations and blade vibrations can produce significant extra tones. By contrast, if the fluctuations and vibrations are random, the noise level in a wide frequency range is increased. The intriguing result reminds us of the need to revisit the rotor broadband noise sources commonly attributed to turbulent flows. The influences are observer angle dependent, and the extra noise production is more significant in the upstream and downstream directions. The asymmetric blade geometry can cause extra tonal noise at the harmonics of the blade shaft frequency. The noise features of dual rotors are also investigated. Usually, the noise is sensitive to the initial phase difference and rotation directions due to the interference effect. However, the noise features are vastly altered if there are slight differences in the rotation speeds. Although the influences of some factors on rotor noise were already known, the present study provides a more comprehensive analysis of the problem. The results also highlight the need to consider these practical factors for accurate noise prediction of multi-rotor flying vehicles.
Presenteeism as a moral hazard problem: Implications for the human resource management
Authors: Ollo-López Andrea , Nuñez Imanol
Published: February 2023

Information asymmetry about the employee's state of health means that workers may decide to work (or not) when they are sick, which turns presenteeism into a principal-agent relationship. From this new perspective, presenteeism can be explained by some distinct and original factors such as implicit incentives related to motivation and a sense of autonomy (empowerment, job usefulness, and recognition) and explicit incentives given by wages and other non-economic benefits (training and career prospects). In a sample of European workers using multilevel (by country) Tobit models, we find that short-term incentives and workers' empowerment increase presenteeism, while long-term incentives reduce it. As expected, supervision is ineffective in controlling presenteeism, while relationships based on trust have a positive impact. Finally, we propose several practices related to incentives, training, monitoring, occupational health and safety and job design specifically intended to manage presenteeism and its consequences in six areas of the human resources function.
Effect of the alveolate parasite Perkinsus olseni infection on sexual maturation and spawning efficiency of the clam Ruditapes decussatus
Authors: Fernández-Boo Sergio , Duarte Catarina , Guévélou Eric , Sousa Joana , Freitas Rosa , Joaquim Sandra , Costas Benjamin , Magalhães Luisa , Matias Domitília , Cruz Andreia
Published: February 2023

The effect of Perkinsus olseni infection on the reproduction ability of clams has been underestimated so far. Although some studies found evidence of reduction of egg production and delay in gonad maturation after infection, the total effect of the infection is still unclear. In this study, Ruditapes decussatus clams from a naïve population were injected with two different doses of P. olseni parasites, a low dose leading to a light infection and a high dose leading to a heavy infection. Clams were maintained during 2 months for maturation, and at the end of the experiment, the spawning was induced, the number of larvae release and mortality were evaluated. During the maturation period, infection level, gonadal stage, condition index, gross biochemical composition and oxidative status of progenitors were evaluated at days 0, 30 and 60 post-injection. The effects of P. olseni infection on clams showed alterations on biochemical parameters, namely lipid peroxidation, a significant mortality and a delayed gonad maturation, with a greater effect in the highly infected individuals. The reproductive capacity of the clams was impaired in both infected groups showing a lower production and a higher mortality rate of larvae. Finally, this study indicates that the production of natural beds with a high prevalence of P. olseni could be compromised by a deregulation of the natural reproduction cycle and a decrease in larvae production by infected animals, probably due to a combination of lower egg production and lower lipid reserves in larvae from infected clams.
Prognostic value of different anthropometric indices over different measurement intervals to predict mortality in 6–59-month-old children
Authors: Briend André , Myatt Mark , Berkley James A , Black Robert E , Boyd Erin , Garenne Michel , Lelijveld Natasha , Isanaka Sheila , McDonald Christine M , Mwangwome Martha , O’Brien Kieran S , Schwinger Catherine , Stobaugh Heather , Taneja Sunita , West Keith P , Khara Tanya
Published: February 2023

Objective:

To compare the prognostic value of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ) and weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ) for predicting death over periods of 1, 3 and 6 months follow-up in children.

Design:

Pooled analysis of twelve prospective studies examining survival after anthropometric assessment. Sensitivity and false-positive ratios to predict death within 1, 3 and 6 months were compared for three individual anthropometric indices and their combinations.

Setting:

Community-based, prospective studies from twelve countries in Africa and Asia.

Participants:

Children aged 6–59 months living in the study areas.

Results:

For all anthropometric indices, the receiver operating characteristic curves were higher for shorter than for longer durations of follow-up. Sensitivity was higher for death with 1-month follow-up compared with 6 months by 49 % (95 % CI (30, 69)) for MUAC < 115 mm (P < 0·001), 48 % (95 % CI (9·4, 87)) for WHZ < -3 (P < 0·01) and 28 % (95 % CI (7·6, 42)) for WAZ < -3 (P < 0·005). This was accompanied by an increase in false positives of only 3 % or less. For all durations of follow-up, WAZ < -3 identified more children who died and were not identified by WHZ < -3 or by MUAC < 115 mm, 120 mm or 125 mm, but the use of WAZ < -3 led to an increased false-positive ratio up to 16·4 % (95 % CI (12·0, 20·9)) compared with 3·5 % (95 % CI (0·4, 6·5)) for MUAC < 115 mm alone.

Conclusions:

Frequent anthropometric measurements significantly improve the identification of malnourished children with a high risk of death without markedly increasing false positives. Combining two indices increases sensitivity but also increases false positives among children meeting case definitions.
Tooth whorl structure, growth and function in a helicoprionid chondrichthyan Karpinskiprion (nom. nov.) (Eugeneodontiformes) with a revision of the family composition
Authors: LEBEDEV Oleg A. , ITANO Wayne M. , JOHANSON Zerina , ALEKSEEV Alexander S. , SMITH Moya M. , IVANOV Aleksey V. , NOVIKOV Igor V.
Published: February 2023

Restudy of Campyloprion annectans Eastman, 1902 from North America demonstrated that neither specimen included is diagnostic at the species level; thus, the species name is a nomen dubium. Since this species was designated as the type species of the genus, this requires suppression of the generic name also. Another species earlier assigned to Campyloprion, Campyloprion ivanovi Karpinsky, 1924 is used as a type for a newly established genus Karpinskiprion Lebedev et Itano gen. nov. The composition of the family Helicoprionidae Karpinsky, 1911 is reviewed, and a new family Helicampodontidae Itano et Lebedev fam. nov. is erected. A new specimen of Karpinskiprion ivanovi (Karpinsky, 1924) recently discovered in the Volgograd Region of Russia is the most complete Karpinskiprion specimen ever found. It unambiguously demonstrates the coiled nature of these tooth whorls and presents information on their developmental stages. During organogeny, cutting blades of the crown became reshaped, and basal spurs progressively elongated, forming a grater. Whorl growth occurred by addition of new crowns to the earlier mineralised base followed by later spur growth. In contrast to consistently uniform cutting blades, spurs are often malformed and bear traces of growth interruption. Both sides of the outer coil of the tooth whorl bear lifetime wear facets. The youngest (lingual) crowns are as yet unaffected by wear. The best-preserved facets show parallel radially directed scratch marks. The upper jaw dentition of Karpinskiprion is unknown, but we suggest that the faceted areas resulted from interaction with the antagonistic dental structures here. Three possible hypotheses for this interaction are suggested: (a) two opposing whorls acted as scissor blades, moving alternately from one side to another; (b) the lower tooth whorl fitted between paired parasymphyseal tooth whorls of the opposing jaw; or (c) the lower tooth whorl fitted into a dental pavement in the upper jaw.
Assessing Precipitation Over the Amazon Basin as Simulated by a Storm‐Resolving Model
Authors: Paccini L. , Stevens B.
Published: February 2023

In this study, we investigate whether a better representation of precipitation in the Amazon basin arises through an explicit representation of convection and whether it is related to the representation of organized systems. In addition to satellite data, we use ensemble simulations of the ICON‐NWP model at storm‐resolving (2.5–5.0 km) scales with explicit convection (E‐CON) and coarse resolutions, with parameterized convection (P‐CON). The main improvements in the representation of Amazon precipitation by E‐CON are in the distribution of precipitation intensity and the spatial distribution in the diurnal cycle. By isolating precipitation from organized convective systems (OCS), it is shown that many of the well simulated precipitation features in the Amazon arise from the distribution of these systems. The simulated and observed OCS are classified into 6 clusters which distinguish nocturnal and diurnal OCS. While the E‐CON ensembles capture the OCS, especially their diurnal cycle, their frequency is reduced compared to observations. Diurnal clusters are influenced by surface processes such as cold pools, which aid to the propagation of OCS. Nocturnal clusters are rather associated with strong low‐level easterlies, possibly related to the Amazonian low‐level jet. Our results also show no systematic improvement with a twofold grid refinement and remaining biases related to stratiform features of OCS suggest that yet unresolved processes play an important role for correctly representing precipitating systems in the Amazon.
Climate Responses Under an Extreme Quiet Sun Scenario
Authors: Liu Han‐Li , Rempel Matthias , Danabasoglu Gokhan , Solomon Stanley C. , McInerney Joseph M.
Published: February 2023

Fundamental understanding of the climate responses to solar variability is obscured by the large and complex climate variability. This long‐standing issue is addressed here by examining climate responses under an extreme quiet sun (EQS) scenario, obtained by making the sun void of all magnetic fields. It is used to drive a coupled climate model with whole atmosphere and ocean components. The simulations reveal significant responses, and elucidate aspects of the responses to changes of troposphere/surface forcing and stratospheric forcing that are similar and those that are different. Planetary waves (PWs) play a key role in both regional‐scale responses and the mean circulation changes. Intermediate scale stationary waves and regional climate respond to solar forcing changes in the troposphere and stratosphere in a similar way, due to similar subtropical wind changes in the upper troposphere. The patterns of these changes are similar to those found in a warming climate, but with opposite signs. Responses of the largest scale PW during northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere winters differ, leading to hemispheric differences in the interplay between dynamical and radiative processes. The analysis exposes remarkable general similarities between climate responses in EQS simulations and those under nominal solar minimum conditions, even though the latter may not always appear to be statistically significant.
The Near‐Bed Flow Structure and Bed Shear Stresses Within Emergent Vegetation
Authors: Conde‐Frias M. , Ghisalberti M. , Lowe R. J. , Abdolahpour M. , Etminan V.
Published: February 2023

The structure of the bottom boundary layer (BBL) in aquatic flows influences a range of biophysical processes, including sediment transport, hyporheic exchange, and biofilm formation. While the structure of BBL above bare sediment beds has been well studied, little is known about the complex near‐bed flow structure within aquatic vegetation. In this study, we used high‐resolution laboratory measurements and numerical Large Eddy Simulations to investigate the near‐bed mean and turbulent flow properties within staggered‐ordered emergent vegetation under a wide range of flow conditions and densities. There is strong spatial variability of key near‐bed flow characteristics on the scale of the vegetation elements. Measurement locations that provide single‐point flow characteristics closest to the spatially averaged values were identified. The spatially averaged BBL thickness is influenced strongly by vegetation density. This impact of vegetation density is engendered through its direct control of near‐bed turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), which in turn is negatively correlated with BBL thickness, both locally in a given flow and across the range of flow conditions studied here. A model based on the near‐bed TKE is developed to predict the BBL thickness and, ultimately, the bed shear stress. Model predictions were in close agreement with the experimental and numerical results. These findings provide new insights into the physical links between near‐bed flow variables and therefore contribute to the understanding of some of the complex biophysical processes present in vegetated flows.
Chemical mimetics of the N-degron pathway alleviate systemic inflammation by activating mitophagy and immunometabolic remodeling
Authors: Silwal Prashanta , Kim Young Jae , Lee Yoon Jee , Kim In Soo , Jeon Sang Min , Roh Taylor , Kim Jin Kyung , Lee Min Joung , Heo Jun Young , Jo Doo Sin , Lee Sang-Hee , Cho Dong-Hyung , Kim Jin Man , Kwon Yong Tae , Jo Eun-Kyeong
Published: February 2023

The Arg/N-degron pathway, which is involved in the degradation of proteins bearing an N-terminal signal peptide, is connected to p62/SQSTM1-mediated autophagy. However, the impact of the molecular link between the N-degron and autophagy pathways is largely unknown in the context of systemic inflammation. Here, we show that chemical mimetics of the N-degron Nt-Arg pathway (p62 ligands) decreased mortality in sepsis and inhibited pathological inflammation by activating mitophagy and immunometabolic remodeling. The p62 ligands alleviated systemic inflammation in a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic shock and in the cecal ligation and puncture model of sepsis. In macrophages, the p62 ligand attenuated the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in response to various innate immune stimuli. Mechanistically, the p62 ligand augmented LPS-induced mitophagy and inhibited the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species in macrophages. The p62 ligand-mediated anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and mitophagy-activating effects depended on p62. In parallel, the p62 ligand significantly downregulated the LPS-induced upregulation of aerobic glycolysis and lactate production. Together, our findings demonstrate that p62 ligands play a critical role in the regulation of inflammatory responses by orchestrating mitophagy and immunometabolic remodeling.
Superenhancers as master gene regulators and novel therapeutic targets in brain tumors
Authors: Zhuang Hai-Hui , Qu Qiang , Teng Xin-Qi , Dai Ying-Huan , Qu Jian
Published: February 2023

Transcriptional deregulation, a cancer cell hallmark, is driven by epigenetic abnormalities in the majority of brain tumors, including adult glioblastoma and pediatric brain tumors. Epigenetic abnormalities can activate epigenetic regulatory elements to regulate the expression of oncogenes. Superenhancers (SEs), identified as novel epigenetic regulatory elements, are clusters of enhancers with cell-type specificity that can drive the aberrant transcription of oncogenes and promote tumor initiation and progression. As gene regulators, SEs are involved in tumorigenesis in a variety of tumors, including brain tumors. SEs are susceptible to inhibition by their key components, such as bromodomain protein 4 and cyclin-dependent kinase 7, providing new opportunities for antitumor therapy. In this review, we summarized the characteristics and identification, unique organizational structures, and activation mechanisms of SEs in tumors, as well as the clinical applications related to SEs in tumor therapy and prognostication. Based on a review of the literature, we discussed the relationship between SEs and different brain tumors and potential therapeutic targets, focusing on glioblastoma.
ADAMTS4 is involved in the production of the Alzheimer disease amyloid biomarker APP669-711
Authors: Matsuzaki Masaya , Yokoyama Miyabishara , Yoshizawa Yota , Kaneko Naoki , Naito Hiroki , Kobayashi Honoka , Korenaga Akihito , Sekiya Sadanori , Ikemura Kentaro , Opoku Gabriel , Hirohata Satoshi , Iwamoto Shinichi , Tanaka Koichi , Tomita Taisuke
Published: February 2023

Amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition in the brain parenchyma is one of the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer disease (AD). We have previously identified amyloid precursor protein (APP)669-711 (a.k.a. Aβ(-3)-40) in human plasma using immunoprecipitation combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (IP-MALDI-MS). Furthermore, we found that the level of a composite biomarker, i.e., a combination of APP669-711/Aβ1-42 ratio and Aβ1-40/Aβ1-42 ratio in human plasma, correlates with the amyloid PET status of AD patients. However, the production mechanism of APP669-711 has remained unclear. Using in vitro and in vivo assays, we identified A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with a Thrombospondin type 1 motif, type 4 (ADAMTS4) as a responsible enzyme for APP669-711 production. ADAMTS4 cleaves APP directly to generate the C-terminal stub c102, which is subsequently proteolyzed by γ-secretase to release APP669-711. Genetic knockout of ADAMTS4 reduced the production of endogenous APP669-711 by 30% to 40% in cultured cells as well as mouse plasma, irrespectively of Aβ levels. Finally, we found that the endogenous murine APP669-711/Aβ1-42 ratio was increased in aged AD model mice, which shows Aβ deposition as observed in human patients. These data suggest that ADAMTS4 is involved in the production of APP669-711, and a plasma biomarker determined by IP-MALDI-MS can be used to estimate the level of Aβ deposition in the brain of mouse models.
Upregulation of GALNT7 in prostate cancer modifies O-glycosylation and promotes tumour growth
Authors: Scott Emma , Hodgson Kirsty , Calle Beatriz , Turner Helen , Cheung Kathleen , Bermudez Abel , Marques Fernando Jose Garcia , Pye Hayley , Yo Edward Christopher , Islam Khirul , Oo Htoo Zarni , McClurg Urszula L. , Wilson Laura , Thomas Huw , Frame Fiona M. , Orozco-Moreno Margarita , Bastian Kayla , Arredondo Hector M. , Roustan Chloe , Gray Melissa Anne , Kelly Lois , Tolson Aaron , Mellor Ellie , Hysenaj Gerald , Goode Emily Archer , Garnham Rebecca , Duxfield Adam , Heavey Susan , Stopka-Farooqui Urszula , Haider Aiman , Freeman Alex , Singh Saurabh , Johnston Edward W. , Punwani Shonit , Knight Bridget , McCullagh Paul , McGrath John , Crundwell Malcolm , Harries Lorna , Bogdan Denisa , Westaby Daniel , Fowler Gemma , Flohr Penny , Yuan Wei , Sharp Adam , de Bono Johann , Maitland Norman J. , Wisnovsky Simon , Bertozzi Carolyn R. , Heer Rakesh , Guerrero Ramon Hurtado , Daugaard Mads , Leivo Janne , Whitaker Hayley , Pitteri Sharon , Wang Ning , Elliott David J. , Schumann Benjamin , Munkley Jennifer
Published: February 2023

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and it is estimated that over 350,000 men worldwide die of prostate cancer every year. There remains an unmet clinical need to improve how clinically significant prostate cancer is diagnosed and develop new treatments for advanced disease. Aberrant glycosylation is a hallmark of cancer implicated in tumour growth, metastasis, and immune evasion. One of the key drivers of aberrant glycosylation is the dysregulated expression of glycosylation enzymes within the cancer cell. Here, we demonstrate using multiple independent clinical cohorts that the glycosyltransferase enzyme GALNT7 is upregulated in prostate cancer tissue. We show GALNT7 can identify men with prostate cancer, using urine and blood samples, with improved diagnostic accuracy than serum PSA alone. We also show that GALNT7 levels remain high in progression to castrate-resistant disease, and using in vitro and in vivo models, reveal that GALNT7 promotes prostate tumour growth. Mechanistically, GALNT7 can modify O-glycosylation in prostate cancer cells and correlates with cell cycle and immune signalling pathways. Our study provides a new biomarker to aid the diagnosis of clinically significant disease and cements GALNT7-mediated O-glycosylation as an important driver of prostate cancer progression.
Grain refinement in titanium prevents low temperature oxygen embrittlement
Authors: Chong Yan , Gholizadeh Reza , Tsuru Tomohito , Zhang Ruopeng , Inoue Koji , Gao Wenqiang , Godfrey Andy , Mitsuhara Masatoshi , Morris J. W. , Minor Andrew M. , Tsuji Nobuhiro
Published: February 2023

Interstitial oxygen embrittles titanium, particularly at cryogenic temperatures, which necessitates a stringent control of oxygen content in fabricating titanium and its alloys. Here, we propose a structural strategy, via grain refinement, to alleviate this problem. Compared to a coarse-grained counterpart that is extremely brittle at 77 K, the uniform elongation of an ultrafine-grained (UFG) microstructure (grain size ~ 2.0 µm) in Ti-0.3wt.%O is successfully increased by an order of magnitude, maintaining an ultrahigh yield strength inherent to the UFG microstructure. This unique strength-ductility synergy in UFG Ti-0.3wt.%O is achieved via the combined effects of diluted grain boundary segregation of oxygen that helps to improve the grain boundary cohesive energy and enhanced  dislocation activities that contribute to the excellent strain hardening ability. The present strategy will not only boost the potential applications of high strength Ti-O alloys at low temperatures, but can also be applied to other alloy systems, where interstitial solution hardening results into an undesirable loss of ductility.
Breakdown of the scaling relation of anomalous Hall effect in Kondo lattice ferromagnet USbTe
Authors: Siddiquee Hasan , Broyles Christopher , Kotta Erica , Liu Shouzheng , Peng Shiyu , Kong Tai , Kang Byungkyun , Zhu Qiang , Lee Yongbin , Ke Liqin , Weng Hongming , Denlinger Jonathan D. , Wray L. Andrew , Ran Sheng
Published: February 2023

The interaction between strong correlation and Berry curvature is an open territory of in the field of quantum materials. Here we report large anomalous Hall conductivity in a Kondo lattice ferromagnet USbTe which is dominated by intrinsic Berry curvature at low temperatures. However, the Berry curvature induced anomalous Hall effect does not follow the scaling relation derived from Fermi liquid theory. The onset of the Berry curvature contribution coincides with the Kondo coherent temperature. Combined with ARPES measurement and DMFT calculations, this strongly indicates that Berry curvature is hosted by the flat bands induced by Kondo hybridization at the Fermi level. Our results demonstrate that the Kondo coherence of the flat bands has a dramatic influence on the low temperature physical properties associated with the Berry curvature, calling for new theories of scaling relations of anomalous Hall effect to account for the interaction between strong correlation and Berry curvature.
Transcriptional reprogramming of skeletal muscle stem cells by the niche environment
Authors: Lazure Felicia , Farouni Rick , Sahinyan Korin , Blackburn Darren M. , Hernández-Corchado Aldo , Perron Gabrielle , Lu Tianyuan , Osakwe Adrien , Ragoussis Jiannis , Crist Colin , Perkins Theodore J. , Jahani-Asl Arezu , Najafabadi Hamed S. , Soleimani Vahab D.
Published: February 2023

Adult stem cells are indispensable for tissue regeneration, but their function declines with age. The niche environment in which the stem cells reside plays a critical role in their function. However, quantification of the niche effect on stem cell function is lacking. Using muscle stem cells (MuSC) as a model, we show that aging leads to a significant transcriptomic shift in their subpopulations accompanied by locus-specific gain and loss of chromatin accessibility and DNA methylation. By combining in vivo MuSC transplantation and computational methods, we show that the expression of approximately half of all age-altered genes in MuSCs from aged male mice can be restored by exposure to a young niche environment. While there is a correlation between gene reversibility and epigenetic alterations, restoration of gene expression occurs primarily at the level of transcription. The stem cell niche environment therefore represents an important therapeutic target to enhance tissue regeneration in aging.
Binuclear Cu complex catalysis enabling Li–CO2 battery with a high discharge voltage above 3.0 V
Authors: Sun Xinyi , Mu Xiaowei , Zheng Wei , Wang Lei , Yang Sixie , Sheng Chuanchao , Pan Hui , Li Wei , Li Cheng-Hui , He Ping , Zhou Haoshen
Published: February 2023

Li–CO2batteries possess exceptional advantages in using greenhouse gases to provide electrical energy. However, these batteries following Li2CO3-product route usually deliver low output voltage (<2.5 V) and energy efficiency. Besides, Li2CO3-related parasitic reactions can further degrade battery performance. Herein, we introduce a soluble binuclear copper(I) complex as the liquid catalyst to achieve Li2C2O4products in Li–CO2batteries. The Li–CO2battery using the copper(I) complex exhibits a high electromotive voltage up to 3.38 V, an increased output voltage of 3.04 V, and an enlarged discharge capacity of 5846 mAh g−1. And it shows robust cyclability over 400 cycles with additional help of Ru catalyst. We reveal that the copper(I) complex can easily capture CO2to form a bridged Cu(II)-oxalate adduct. Subsequently reduction of the adduct occurs during discharge. This work innovatively increases the output voltage of Li–CO2batteries to higher than 3.0 V, paving a promising avenue for the design and regulation of CO2conversion reactions.