bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The historical trajectory of a coffee agri-food system: A case study in Oaxaca, Mexico
Authors: Ramírez-León Alejandra , Avila-Foucat Veronique Sophie , Ezzine-de-Blas Driss
Published: July 2023

Agri-food social-ecological systems (AFSES) embrace complex interactions and processes of food production, processing, and commercialization that are subject to constant changes. This study develops a heuristic approach using the adaptive cycle (AC) and a transformation potential measure to identify the historical trajectory of a coffee AFSES at a watershed scale in Copalita, Mexico, over 40 years from 1980 to 2020. Primary information was collected through semistructured interviews. The results show that the system interactions depend on economic, social, and environmental stressors and shocks affecting different temporal and spatial scales. The cumulative effects of driving forces and adaptive strategies have influenced the system to not complete the AC phases. Additionally, the results show that some adaptive strategies can become new stressors with time. Driving forces, adaptive strategies, tipping points, trade-offs and interactions within the AFSES could be identified as the main aspects defining system resilience.
Sustainable utilization and valorization of potato waste: state of the art, challenges, and perspectives
Authors: Khanal Sonali , Karimi Keikhosro , Majumdar Sneha , Kumar Vinod , Verma Rachna , Bhatia Shashi Kant , Kuca Kamil , Esteban Jesús , Kumar Dinesh
Published: July 2023

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) are starchy tuberous crops that represent the world’s fourth most important crop. According to the “Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations,” 376 million metric tonnes of potatoes were produced globally in 2021. It is anticipated that around 8000 kilotons of potato peel waste might be generated in 2030, with related greenhouse gas emissions of 5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Waste generated throughout the food supply chain, from potato farms to forks, contributes considerably to global warming. Apart from animal feed, technical processes in the potato processing industry generate waste organic residues with high amounts of bioactive compounds and carbohydrates, and thus extraction and bioconversion processes can produce high-value products. These include the isolation of functional ingredients for the formulation of nutraceuticals and pharma products, bioenergy-related products, enzymes, and fertilizers for the market, hence contributing to a more responsible production and consumption and, overall, circular economy. This review focuses on studies involving potato waste from industries such as pulp, processed water, peels, and mash showing the great prospects of the by-products from this crop for value-added supply chains and the reduction of undesired environmental effects. This work attempts to adhere upon several Sustainable Development Goals, specifically goals 7, 12, and 13, while also contributing to long-term growth targets and reducing negative environmental consequences produced by the food sector.
Geoid model determination for the Hellenic area “Hellas Geoid 2023”
Authors: Paraskevas Melissinos , Papadopoulos Nestoras , Ampatzidis Dimitrios
Published: July 2023

The latest geoid model "HELLAS GEOID 2023" (HG2023) derived by the Hellenic Military Geographical Service is the most comprehensive model for the entire Hellenic area. Long-term gravity data, orthometric and geometric heights, seabed topography and a high-resolution digital terrain model were implemented in the calculations. Data evaluation and their accuracy estimation were of major importance to ascertain compatibility among data sources. In this study, data from neighboring countries were used as they were essential for the completeness of the model developed. The technique remove–compute–restore was adopted for the separation of the gravity signal in the heterogeneous data utilizing EIGEN 6C4 (full degree and order 2190), since the global geodynamic model was found to fit best in the Greek region. Mean gravity residual contribution to the local geoid model was calculated using Stokes' theorem in the frequency domain and implementing the Fourier transform using the Wang and Core modification. The final surface of the resulting gravimetric geoid was adapted to the existing height system of the State utilizing the Least Squares Collocation method by fitting points of known orthometric and geometric heights, distributed throughout Greece. The external accuracy of the estimated geoid model was estimated at the level of 6 cm.
Construction and validation of a risk prediction model for intraoperative hypothermia in elderly patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty
Authors: zhao Bin , zhu Zhe , Qi Wenwen , Liu Qiuli , Zhang Qi , Jiang Liping , Wang Chenglong , Weng Xiaojian
Published: July 2023

Aims

To construct and validate an intraoperative hypothermia risk prediction model for elderly patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Methods

We collected data from 718 patients undergoing THA in a tertiary hospital from January 2021 to December 2022. Of these patients, 512 were assigned to the modeling group from January 2021 to April 2022, and 206 participants were assigned to the validation group from May 2022 to December 2022. A logistic regression analysis was performed to construct the model. The area under the curve (AUC) was used to test the model’s predictive ability.

Results

The incidence rate of intraoperative hypothermia was 51.67%. The risk factors entered into the risk prediction model were age, preoperative hemoglobin level, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hemoglobin level, and postoperative systolic blood pressure. The model was constructed as follows: logit (P) = − 10.118 + 0.174 × age + 1.366 × 1 (preoperative hemoglobin level) + 0.555 × 1 (postoperative hemoglobin level) + 0.009 × 1 (intraoperative blood loss) + 0.066 × 1 (postoperative systolic blood pressure). Using the Hosmer–Lemeshow test, the P value was 0.676 (AUC, 0.867). The Youden index, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.602, 0.790, and 0.812, respectively. The incidence rates of intraoperative hypothermia in the modeling and validation groups were 53.15% and 48.06%, respectively. The correct practical application rate was 89.81%. This model had good application potential.

Conclusions

This risk prediction model has good predictive value and can accurately predict the occurrence of intraoperative hypothermia in patients who undergo THA, which provides reliable guidance for clinical work and has good clinical application value.
Natural gas odorants: A scoping review of health effects
Authors: Michanowicz Drew R. , Leventhal Olivia M. , Domen Jeremy K. , Williams Samuel R. , Lebel Eric D. , Hill Lee Ann L. , Buonocore Jonathan J. , Nordgaard Curtis L. , Bernstein Aaron S. , Shonkoff Seth B.C.
Published: July 2023

Purpose of Review

Organosulfur compounds are intentionally added to natural gas as malodorants with the intent of short-term nasal inhalation to aid in leak detection. Regulatory exposure limits have not been established for all commonly used natural gas odorants, and recent community-level exposure events and growing evidence of indoor natural gas leakage have raised concerns associated with natural gas odorant exposures. We conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed scientific publications on human exposures and animal toxicological studies of natural gas odorants to assess toxicological profiles, exposure potential, health effects and regulatory guidelines associated with commonly used natural gas odorants.

Recent Findings

We identified only 22 studies which met inclusion criteria for full review. Overall, there is limited evidence of both transient nonspecific health symptoms and clinically diagnosed causative neurotoxic effects associated with prolonged odorant exposures. Across seven community-level exposure events and two occupational case reports, consistent symptom patterns included: headache, ocular irritation, nose and throat irritation, respiratory complaints such as shortness of breath and asthma attacks, and skin irritation and rash. Of these, respiratory inflammation and asthma exacerbations are the most debilitating, whereas the high prevalence of ocular and dermatologic symptoms suggest a non-inhalation route of exposure.

The limited evidence available raises the possibility that organosulfur odorants may pose health risks at exposures much lower than presently understood, though additional dose-response studies are needed to disentangle specific toxicologic effects from nonspecific responses to noxious organosulfur odors. Numerous recommendations are provided including more transparent and prescriptive natural gas odorant use practices.
A Paradigm Shift from International to Transnational Medical Education
Authors: Patel Dhaval , Mullen Michael , Eley Diann S.
Published: July 2023

In recent years, the number of medical students seeking international opportunities has grown. To satisfy these demands, collaborative international programs have been developed. However, the benefits of these programs are limited as they employ an international medical education (IME) approach where only the students are exchanged. In this commentary, we discuss the current models of IME and propose a paradigm shift to a transnational approach wherein the student, faculty, and curriculum are exchanged allowing for increased integration and awareness of cultural and educational approaches to treatment that can be retained and incorporated into future practice to advance healthcare across the globe.
The Solutrean Antlerworking in Hort de Cortés–Volcán del Faro (Valencia, Spain) in the Southwest Europe Context: a Preliminary Study
Authors: Borao M. , Pérez L. , Vadillo Conesa M. , Vidal Matutano P. , Soler Mayor B. , Aura Tortosa J. E.
Published: July 2023

In this work, we present a preliminary analysis of the Solutrean antlerworking at Hort de Cortés–Volcán del Faro (Valencia, Spain) (ca. 26–21 ka cal BP). A restudy of its archaeological sequence, which came to encompass the Early Upper Palaeolithic to the Magdalenian period, has been a mandatory subject in the last years. This site became an archaeological reference since the beginning of its excavation in the 1960s but has not been systematically studied. The implementation of more specialized studies is used a) to observe the distribution of technical pieces in the stratigraphy and identify possible stratigraphic alterations and b) to restudy a huge lithic, osseous, and faunal collection which can provide new information that may clarify them. The aim is to develop a systematic study, from a technological point of view, to identify and characterize operational schemes and to define the modalities of antlerworking. The technological analysis of waste products, blanks, roughouts, and objects allows us to observe how raw material is obtained and transformed into a toolkit following the refitting by default method. It will help us analyze some questions about the raw material acquisition and transformation like (1) selection between hunted and shed antlers and its possible explanation, (2) the existence of planning of tool manufacture, and (3) the step-by-step production of the debitage. We will extract conclusions and analyze different social aspects: (1) by identifying technical traditions and comparing them with other studied sites and periods and (2) by knowing a new aspect of the way of life of these human groups.
Physiological and Agronomic Responses and Nutrient Uptake of Soybean Genotypes Cultivated Under Various Sowing Dates
Authors: Shahin Mostafa G. , Saudy Hani S. , El-Bially Mohamed E. , Abd El-Momen Wasfi R. , El-Gabry Yasser A. , Abd El-Samad Gomaa A. , Sayed Amany N.
Published: July 2023

Late or early sowing subjecting crop plants to stress conditions, this is simulating the climatic change effects. The global warming and climate change are critical issues in agriculture since progressive rise in temperature leads to exposure the crops to heat stress, hence low productivity. Since weather conditions are uncontrollable, it is impossible to modulate their negative impacts against crop growth and development. However, scientists should not be handcuffed about this serious problem. So, in open field conditions, the performance of some soybean genotypes was evaluated under different sowing dates. Along the two seasons of 2019 and 2020, field experiments were designed in a split-plot design using three replicates to evaluate the performance of four soybean genotypes (Giza-21, Giza-35, Giza-111, and Crawford) under four sowing dates (15th April, 30th April, 15th May, and 30th May). Various physiological and growth traits, yield attributes, seed nutrient contents, and oil and protein contents were estimated. Sowing Crawford (in both seasons) and Giza-35 (in the first season) on 15th April as well as Giza-111 either on 30th April or 15th May produced the highest catalase activity. In plots sown on 30th April, Crawford and Giza-21 (in the first season) and Giza-111 (in both seasons) exhibited the highest leaves area plant−1. Plots sown by Giza-111 on 30th April was the potent interaction for enhancing seed yield in both seasons. Under any sowing date in the second season and the sowing date of 30th April in the first season, Giza-111 was the effective genotype for recording the maximum seed oil content. For adopting a specific stress condition scenario, it is advisable to insert Giza-111 as an effective gene pool to improve soybean genotypes under unfavorable conditions, expressed in sowing dates.
Inverse design of composite xylophone beams using finite element-based machine learning
Authors: Kimura Tatsuro , Ji Ming , Onodera Ryu , Sekiguchi Yu , Sato Chiaki
Published: July 2023

Wood, as one of the important materials to make music instruments, has many drawbacks, including its sensitivity to changes in temperature and humidity, the lack of available wood resources, the significant variability of wood, and the demanding level of expertise needed. New materials such as composites are needed to be developed to be substitutes for woods. In this study, a finite element (FE)-based machine learning method is proposed to design a xylophone using sandwich beam as a substitute to wood. A finite element (FE) procedure based on a higher order layer-wise beam theory is developed. In addition, a machine learning model is developed to predict the natural frequencies of sandwich beams. The model is designed and trained to consider the results obtained from developed FE procedure as input and predict accurate natural frequencies. The results recorded from this model are compared with the experimental values. Then, inverse analysis is performed to design sandwich beam of different geometric sizes for constrained natural frequencies using machine learning.
Automating Intervention in Chinese Justice: Smart Courts and Supervision Reform
Authors: Papagianneas Straton
Published: July 2023

This article examines how smart courts enhance the reform of judicial responsibility and the “trial supervision and management” mechanism. It holds that smart courts, while meant to provide better judicial services and improve access to justice, have the additional goal of enhancing the restructuring of accountability and power structures. It argues that automation and digitization help institutionalize and codify political supervision. Smart courts help resolve tension between the two opposing requirements of Chinese courts to maintain legal rationality and independent adjudication on the one hand, and the need for flexibility to allow intervention on the other. This article provides an account of the automation of “trial supervision and management” and explores the role of technology in enhancing political intervention in China’s legal system. This investigation draws on internal court reports and central and local judicial documents, supplemented with a review of Chinese empirical scholarship.
Sound-symbolic association between speech sound and spatial meaning in relation to the concepts of up/down and above/below
Authors: Vainio Lari , Wikström Alexandra , Repetto Claudia , Vainio Martti
Published: July 2023

Research has shown sound-symbolic associations between speech sounds and conceptual and/or perceptual properties of a referent. This study used the choice response time method to investigate hypothesized associations between a high/low vowel and spatial concepts of up/down and above/below. The participants were presented with a stimulus that moved either upward or downward (Experiments 1 and 2), or that was located above or below the reference stimulus (Experiment 3), and they had to pronounce a vowel ([i] or [æ]) based on the spatial location of the stimulus. The study showed that the high vowel [i] was produced faster in relation to the up-directed and the above-positioned stimulus, while the low vowel [æ] was produced faster in relation to the down-directed and the below-positioned stimulus. In addition, the study replicated the pitch-elevation effect showing a raising of the vocalization pitch when vocalizations were produced to the up-directed stimulus. The article discusses these effects in terms of the involvement of sensorimotor processes in representing spatial concepts.
Materializing the Global: Textiles, Color, and Race in a Genoese Portrait by Anthony van Dyck
Authors: Howie Ana
Published: July 2023

The global dimensions of Anthony van Dyck's portrait of Genoese noblewoman Elena Grimaldi Cattaneo have been largely overlooked by art historians. Seventeenth-century Genoa was immersed in the global movement of goods, knowledge, and peoples; these encounters and exchanges shaped Genoa's fashion system. This article situates the portrait within networks of international exchange to explore the meaningful representation of dress and globalized materials. The global is not restricted to Elena Grimaldi Cattaneo's attire, however; it extends to the African servant, whose presence and dress bring the portrait into dialogue with histories of global commodities, race, and Atlantic and Mediterranean slavery.
The regulation of the rural market in waged labour in fourteenth-century England
Authors: Bailey Mark
Published: July 2023

This article reconstructs the size and organisation of the rural market in hired labour in fourteenth-century England, providing a comparative reference point for arrangements elsewhere in medieval Europe. Quantitative assessment of 1,445 manorial court sessions from six manors casts new light on the English labour market, which was larger and less regulated than previously assumed and the government's wide-ranging labour legislation in the wake of the Black Death was novel in its scale and provisions. Contrary to received wisdom, manorial authorities made few efforts to regulate labour. The older view had placed an over-reliance on the early work of W.O. Ault and had ignored the significance of nil returns. The reasons for the lack of regulation, and its implications for our understanding of the complex interaction between pandemics, labour markets, and legal responses are explored. Finally, the study illustrates how legal responses to pandemics can have inadvertent yet profound consequences.
Deservingness and the Politics of Student Debt Relief
Authors: SoRelle Mallory E. , Laws Serena
Published: July 2023

As the pandemic accelerated calls to provide relief to millions of student borrowers, President Biden announced executive action to cancel $10,000 of student debt for most federal student loan holders. Both prior to and following his announcement, policymakers have debated the merits and details of student debt relief, focusing particular attention on the perceived deservingness of student loan borrowers. But we have little systematic evidence about how the public evaluates borrower deservingness, or whether elite arguments framing support or opposition to debt relief in terms of deservingness influence public preferences for student debt cancellation. We employ original conjoint and framing experiments conducted just prior to Biden’s announcement to explore each query. We find that, while certain borrower characteristics indicating need (e.g., amount of debt), responsibility for debt (e.g., type of institution attended), and reciprocity (e.g., time in repayment) can influence people’s evaluations of whether borrowers deserve debt relief, those results may not translate to broader deservingness arguments for or against student debt cancellation in a clear manner. Ultimately, our results shed light on a timely policy issue, while extending scholarly understandings of deservingness for a critical and understudied aspect of the American welfare state.
Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Greek Personality Psychopathology Inventory (GPPI-5)
Authors: Thomadakis Christoforos , Tsaousis Ioannis , Douzenis Athanasios , Stogiannidou Ariadni
Published: July 2023

Abstract. The 5th version of DSM ( American Psychiatric Association, 2013 ) employed a dimensional approach to describe and assess personality disorders, namely, the alternative model of personality disorders (AMPD). So far, AMPD has been translated and validated in many countries. Herein, the results of a series of studies conducted to develop and validate the Greek Personality Psychopathology Inventory (GPPI-5) following the AMPD are reported. Data from more than 1,200 adults were analyzed to examine factor structure. The ESEM approach was applied (1) to examine the proposed personality model, (2) to confirm previous validity studies on AMPD, and (3) to examine the invariance of GPPI-5 across gender. Results successfully replicated the AMPD at both the domain and facet levels. Measurement invariance across gender supported the GPPI-5 structure. Reliability and validity studies were conducted, providing evidence that GPPI-5 is a valid and psychometrically sound measure for assessing personality disorders in clinical and research settings.
Profiling of plasma biomarkers in the context of memory assessment in a tertiary memory clinic
Authors: Bucci Marco , Bluma Marina , Savitcheva Irina , Ashton Nicholas J. , Chiotis Konstantinos , Matton Anna , Kivipelto Miia , Di Molfetta Guglielmo , Blennow Kaj , Zetterberg Henrik , Nordberg Agneta
Published: July 2023

Plasma biomarkers have shown promising performance in research cohorts in discriminating between different stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Studies in clinical populations are necessary to provide insights on the clinical utility of plasma biomarkers before their implementation in real-world settings. Here we investigated plasma biomarkers (glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), tau phosphorylated at 181 and 231 (pTau181, pTau231), amyloid β (Aβ) 42/40 ratio, neurofilament light) in 126 patients (age = 65 ± 8) who were admitted to the Clinic for Cognitive Disorders, at Karolinska University Hospital. After extensive clinical assessment (including CSF analysis), patients were classified as: mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (n = 75), AD (n = 25), non-AD dementia (n = 16), no dementia (n = 9). To refine the diagnosis, patients were examined with [18F]flutemetamol PET (Aβ-PET). Aβ-PET images were visually rated for positivity/negativity and quantified in Centiloid. Accordingly, 68 Aβ+ and 54 Aβ– patients were identified. Plasma biomarkers were measured using single molecule arrays (SIMOA). Receiver-operated curve (ROC) analyses were performed to detect Aβ-PET+ using the different biomarkers. In the whole cohort, the Aβ-PET centiloid values correlated positively with plasma GFAP, pTau231, pTau181, and negatively with Aβ42/40 ratio. While in the whole MCI group, only GFAP was associated with Aβ PET centiloid. In ROC analyses, among the standalone biomarkers, GFAP showed the highest area under the curve discriminating Aβ+ and Aβ– compared to other plasma biomarkers. The combination of plasma biomarkers via regression was the most predictive of Aβ-PET, especially in the MCI group (prior to PET, n = 75) (sensitivity = 100%, specificity = 82%, negative predictive value = 100%). In our cohort of memory clinic patients (mainly MCI), the combination of plasma biomarkers was sensitive in ruling out Aβ-PET negative individuals, thus suggesting a potential role as rule-out tool in clinical practice.
Safety and anti-tumour activity of the IgE antibody MOv18 in patients with advanced solid tumours expressing folate receptor-alpha: a phase I trial
Authors: Spicer James , Basu Bristi , Montes Ana , Banerji Udai , Kristeleit Rebecca , Miller Rowan , Veal Gareth J. , Corrigan Christopher J. , Till Stephen J. , Figini Mariangela , Canevari Silvana , Barton Claire , Jones Paul , Mellor Sarah , Carroll Simon , Selkirk Chris , Nintos George , Kwatra Vineet , Funingana Ionut-Gabriel , Doherty Gary , Gould Hannah J. , Pellizzari Giulia , Nakamura Mano , Ilieva Kristina M. , Khiabany Atousa , Stavraka Chara , Chauhan Jitesh , Gillett Cheryl , Pinder Sarah , Bax Heather J. , Josephs Debra H. , Karagiannis Sophia N.
Published: July 2023

All antibodies approved for cancer therapy are monoclonal IgGs but the biology of IgE, supported by comparative preclinical data, offers the potential for enhanced effector cell potency. Here we report a Phase I dose escalation trial (NCT02546921) with the primary objective of exploring the safety and tolerability of MOv18 IgE, a chimeric first-in-class IgE antibody, in patients with tumours expressing the relevant antigen, folate receptor-alpha. The trial incorporated skin prick and basophil activation tests (BAT) to select patients at lowest risk of allergic toxicity. Secondary objectives were exploration of anti-tumour activity, recommended Phase II dose, and pharmacokinetics. Dose escalation ranged from 70 μg–12 mg. The most common toxicity of MOv18 IgE is transient urticaria. A single patient experienced anaphylaxis, likely explained by detection of circulating basophils at baseline that could be activated by MOv18 IgE. The BAT assay was used to avoid enrolling further patients with reactive basophils. The safety profile is tolerable and maximum tolerated dose has not been reached, with evidence of anti-tumour activity observed in a patient with ovarian cancer. These results demonstrate the potential of IgE therapy for cancer.
Overcoming attenuation bias in regressions using polygenic indices
Authors: van Kippersluis Hans , Biroli Pietro , Dias Pereira Rita , Galama Titus J. , von Hinke Stephanie , Meddens S. Fleur W. , Muslimova Dilnoza , Slob Eric A. W. , de Vlaming Ronald , Rietveld Cornelius A.
Published: July 2023

Measurement error in polygenic indices (PGIs) attenuates the estimation of their effects in regression models. We analyze and compare two approaches addressing this attenuation bias: Obviously Related Instrumental Variables (ORIV) and the PGI Repository Correction (PGI-RC). Through simulations, we show that the PGI-RC performs slightly better than ORIV, unless the prediction sample is very small (N < 1000) or when there is considerable assortative mating. Within families, ORIV is the best choice since the PGI-RC correction factor is generally not available. We verify the empirical validity of the simulations by predicting educational attainment and height in a sample of siblings from the UK Biobank. We show that applying ORIV between families increases the standardized effect of the PGI by 12% (height) and by 22% (educational attainment) compared to a meta-analysis-based PGI, yet estimates remain slightly below the PGI-RC estimates. Furthermore, within-family ORIV regression provides the tightest lower bound for the direct genetic effect, increasing the lower bound for the standardized direct genetic effect on educational attainment from 0.14 to 0.18 (+29%), and for height from 0.54 to 0.61 (+13%) compared to a meta-analysis-based PGI.
A novel perspective for M-polynomials to compute molecular descriptors of borophene nanosheet
Authors: Ismail Rashad , Baby Annmaria , Xavier D. Antony , Varghese Eddith Sarah , Ghani Muhammad Usman , Nair A. Theertha , Karamti Hanen
Published: July 2023

Nanomaterials feature exceptional, one-of-a-kind qualities that might be used in electronics, medicine, and other industries. Two-dimensional nanomaterials called borophene have a variety of intriguing characteristics, which helped them to leave an indelible impression in the fields of chemistry, material science, nanotechnology, and condensed matter physics. The concept of modelling the structure of a molecule or chemical network to a chemical graph and then quantitatively analysing them with the aid of topological descriptors was a major advance in the fields of mathematics and chemistry, with a wide range of applications. M-polynomial approach is a very versatile and quick method for computing the degree-based descriptors of chemical graphs or networks. The degree-based descriptors of the $$\beta _{12}$$

β
12

-Borophene nanosheet are established in this study utilising the M-polynomial technique. A program code that enables to generate the M-polynomial of any chemical structure was developed in Java platform and the same is displayed. At the conclusion, the numerical and graphical comparison based on the identified analytic expressions is also provided. Additionally, the QSPR analysis was also carried out and the outcoms are presented therein.
Comparative effects of CFTR modulators on phagocytic, metabolic and inflammatory profiles of CF and nonCF macrophages
Authors: Aridgides Daniel S. , Mellinger Diane L. , Gwilt Lorraine L. , Hampton Thomas H. , Mould Dallas L. , Hogan Deborah A. , Ashare Alix
Published: July 2023

Macrophage dysfunction has been well-described in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and may contribute to bacterial persistence in the lung. Whether CF macrophage dysfunction is related directly to Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) in macrophages or an indirect consequence of chronic inflammation and mucostasis is a subject of ongoing debate. CFTR modulators that restore CFTR function in epithelial cells improve global CF monocyte inflammatory responses but their direct effects on macrophages are less well understood. To address this knowledge gap, we measured phagocytosis, metabolism, and cytokine expression in response to a classical CF pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa in monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) isolated from CF F508del homozygous subjects and nonCF controls. Unexpectedly, we found that CFTR modulators enhanced phagocytosis in both CF and nonCF cohorts. CFTR triple modulators also inhibited MDM mitochondrial function, consistent with MDM activation. In contrast to studies in humans where CFTR modulators decreased serum inflammatory cytokine levels, modulators did not alter cytokine secretion in our system. Our studies therefore suggest modulator induced metabolic effects may promote bacterial clearance in both CF and nonCF monocyte-derived macrophages.
Conductive nerve conduit with piezoelectric properties for enhanced PC12 differentiation
Authors: Javidi Hamideh , Ramazani Saadatabadi Ahmad , Sadrnezhaad S. K. , Najmoddin Najmeh
Published: July 2023

Restoration of nerve tissue remains highly challenging, mainly due to the limited regeneration capacity of the nervous system and the development of fibrosis. This limitation necessitates designing new nerve guidance channel to promote nerve repairing. In this study, we developed a novel core/shell conduit to induce PC12 differentiation. Co-electrospinning method was utilized to produce a fibrous shell containing polycaprolactone/polyvinylidene fluoride PCL/PVDF, gelatin and polyaniline/graphene (PAG) nanocomposite. The core section of the conduit was filled with chitosan–gelatin hydrogel containing PAG and ZnO nanoparticles. Such conduit shows antibacterial activity, electrical conductivity and piezoelectric property. The effect of such engineered conduit on PC12 differentiation was investigated by analyzing differentiation markers Nestin and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) through immunocytochemistry and PCR-RT techniques. The result revealed that such conduit could significantly induce Nestin and MAP2 gene expression in the PC12 cells and, thus, it is a viable option for effective cell differentiation and nerve regeneration.
Alterations in skeletal muscle morphology and mechanics in juvenile male Sprague Dawley rats exposed to a high-fat high-sucrose diet
Authors: Delgado-Bravo Mauricio , Hart David A. , Reimer Raylene A. , Herzog Walter
Published: July 2023

Although once a health concern largely considered in adults, the obesity epidemic is now prevalent in pediatric populations. While detrimental effects on skeletal muscle function have been seen in adulthood, the effects of obesity on skeletal muscle function in childhood is not clearly understood. The purpose of this study was to determine if the consumption of a high-fat high-sucrose (HFS) diet, starting in the post-weaning period, leads to changes in skeletal muscle morphology and mechanics after 14 weeks on the HFS diet. Eighteen 3-week-old male CD-Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to a HFS (C-HFS, n = 10) or standard chow diet (C-CHOW, n = 8). Outcome measures included: weekly energy intake, activity levels, oxygen consumption, body mass, body composition, metabolic profile, serum protein levels, and medial gastrocnemius gene expression, morphology, and mechanics. The main findings from this study were that C-HFS rats: (1) had a greater body mass and percent body fat than control rats; (2) showed early signs of metabolic syndrome; (3) demonstrated potential impairment in muscle remodeling; (4) produced lower relative muscle force; and (5) had a shift in the force–length relationship, indicating that the medial gastrocnemius had shorter muscle fiber lengths compared to those of C-CHOW rats. Based on the results of this study, we conclude that exposure to a HFS diet led to increased body mass, body fat percentage, and early signs of metabolic syndrome, resulting in functional deficits in MG of childhood rats.
Evapotranspiration estimation using Surface Energy Balance Model and medium resolution satellite data: An operational approach for continuous monitoring
Authors: Pareeth S. , Karimi P.
Published: July 2023

Monitoring spatial and temporal trends of water use is of utmost importance to ensure water and food security in river basins that are challenged by water scarcity and climate change induced abnormal weather patterns. To quantify water consumption by the agriculture sector, continuous monitoring is required over different spatial scales ranging from field (< 1 ha) to basin. The demand driven requirement of covering large areas yet providing spatially distributed information makes the use of in-situ measurement devices unfeasible. Earth observation satellites and remote sensing techniques offer an effective alternative in estimating the consumptive use of water (Actual EvapoTranspiration (ETa) fluxes) by using periodic observations from the visible and infrared spectral region. Optical satellite data, however, is often hindered by noises due to cloud cover, cloud shadow, aerosols and other satellite related issues such as Scan Line Corrector (SLC) failure in Landsat 7 breaking the continuity of temporal observations. These gaps have to be statistically filled in order to compute aggregated seasonal and annual estimates of ETa. In this paper, we introduce an approach to develop a gap-filled multi-year monthly ETa maps at medium spatial resolution of 30 m. The method includes two major steps: (i) estimation of ETa using the python based implementation of surface energy balance model called PySEBAL and (ii) temporal interpolation using Locally Weighted Regression (LWR) model followed by spline based spatial interpolation to fill the gaps over time and space. The approach is applied to a large endorheic Lake Urmia Basin (LUB) basin with a surface area of ~ 52,970 km2 in Iran for the years 2013–2015 using Landsat 7 and 8 satellite data. The results show that the implemented gap filling approach could reconstruct the monthly ETa dynamics over different agriculture land use types, while retaining the high spatial variability. A comparison with a similar dataset from FAO WaPOR reported a very high correlation with R2 of 0.93. The study demonstrates the applicability of this approach to a larger basin which is extendible and reproducible to other geographical areas.
Characterization of cytoskeletal and structural effects of INF2 variants causing glomerulopathy and neuropathy
Authors: Ueda Hiroko , Tran Quynh Thuy Huong , Tran Linh Nguyen Truc , Higasa Koichiro , Ikeda Yoshiki , Kondo Naoyuki , Hashiyada Masaki , Sato Chika , Sato Yoshinori , Ashida Akira , Nishio Saori , Iwata Yasunori , Iida Hiroyuki , Matsuoka Daisuke , Hidaka Yoshihiko , Fukui Kenji , Itami Suzu , Kawashita Norihito , Sugimoto Keisuke , Nozu Kandai , Hattori Motoshi , Tsukaguchi Hiroyasu
Published: July 2023

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a common glomerular injury leading to end-stage renal disease. Monogenic FSGS is primarily ascribed to decreased podocyte integrity. Variants between residues 184 and 245 of INF2, an actin assembly factor, produce the monogenic FSGS phenotype. Meanwhile, variants between residues 57 and 184 cause a dual-faceted disease involving peripheral neurons and podocytes (Charcot–Marie–Tooth CMT/FSGS). To understand the molecular basis for INF2 disorders, we compared structural and cytoskeletal effects of INF2 variants classified into two subgroups: One (G73D, V108D) causes the CMT/FSGS phenotype, and the other (T161N, N202S) produces monogenic FSGS. Molecular dynamics analysis revealed that all INF2 variants show distinct flexibility compared to the wild-type INF2 and could affect stability of an intramolecular interaction between their N- and C-terminal segments. Immunocytochemistry of cells expressing INF2 variants showed fewer actin stress fibers, and disorganization of cytoplasmic microtubule arrays. Notably, CMT/FSGS variants caused more prominent changes in mitochondrial distribution and fragmentation than FSGS variants and these changes correlated with the severity of cytoskeletal disruption. Our results indicate that CMT/FSGS variants are associated with more severe global cellular defects caused by disrupted cytoskeleton-organelle interactions than are FSGS variants. Further study is needed to clarify tissue-specific pathways and/or cellular functions implicated in FSGS and CMT phenotypes
Characterization of the two tandem repeats for the KPC-2 core structures on a plasmid from hospital-derived Klebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Ma Liman , Wang Wenji , Qu Ying , Wang Dongguo
Published: July 2023

Today, Klebsiella pneumoniae strains are sophisticatedly associated with the transmission of KPC, and ST11 clones carrying KPC-2 are an important target for anti-infective clinical therapy, posing a very high threat to patients. To present the detailed genetic features of two KPC-2 core structures of F94_plasmid pA, the whole genome of K. pneumoniae strain F94 was sequenced by nanopore and illumina platform, and mobile genetic elements associated with antibiotic-resistance genes were analyzed with a series of bioinformatics methods. K. pneumoniae strain F94, identified as a class A carbapenemase-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, was resistant to most tested antibiotics, especially to low-levels of ceftazidime/avibactam (avibactam ≤ 4 mg/L), owing to overexpression of the two KPC-2 in F94_plasmid pA. However, strain F94 was sensitive to high-levels of ceftazidime/avibactam (avibactam ≥ 8 mg/L), which correlated with further inhibition of ceftazidime hydrolysis by the KPC-2 enzyme due to the multiplication of avibactam. Collinearity analysis indicated that multi-drug resistance (MDR) regions of plasmids with the tandam repeats of two or more KPC-2 core structures share highly similar structures. This study characterized the MDR region of the F94_ plasmid pA as homologous to plasmids pKPC2_090050, pKPC2_090374, plasmid unnamed 2, pC2414-2-KPC, pKPC2-020037, pBS1014-KPC2, pKPC-J5501, and pKPC2-020002, which contained the tandem repeats of one, two, or more KPC-2 core structures, providing insight into the evolution of multidrug resistance in K. pneumoniae. An alternative theoretical basis for exploring the tandem repeats of two or more KPC-2 core structures was developed by analyzing and constructing the homologous sequence of F94_ plasmid pA.
Impaired ATF3 signaling involves SNAP25 in SOD1 mutant ALS patients
Authors: Yazar Volkan , Kühlwein Julia K. , Knehr Antje , Grozdanov Veselin , Ekici Arif B. , Ludolph Albert C. , Danzer Karin M.
Published: July 2023

Epigenetic remodeling is emerging as a critical process for several neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Genetics alone fails to explain the etiology of ALS, the investigation of the epigenome might therefore provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of the disease. In this study, we interrogated the epigenetic landscape in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of familial ALS (fALS) patients with either chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72) or superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) mutation and aimed to identify key epigenetic footprints of the disease. To this end, we used an integrative approach that combines chromatin immunoprecipitation targeting H3K27me3 (ChIP-Seq) with the matching gene expression data to gain new insights into the likely impact of blood-specific chromatin remodeling on ALS-related molecular mechanisms. We demonstrated that one of the hub molecules that modulates changes in PBMC transcriptome in SOD1-mutant ALS patients is ATF3, which has been previously reported in an SOD1G93A mouse model. We also identified potential suppression of SNAP25, with impaired ATF3 signaling in SOD1-mutant ALS blood. Together, our study shed light on the mechanistic underpinnings of SOD1 mutations in ALS.
A comparative study of severe thunderstorm among statistical and ANN methodologies
Authors: Bhattacharya Sonia , Bhattacharyya Himadri Chakraborty
Published: July 2023

Severe Thunderstorms are the extreme weather convective features. It causes local calamities in various ways. Proper prediction with lead time is an important factor to prevent such calamities from saving people. Here, both probabilistic and machine learning techniques are applied to weather data to obtain proper predictions. Traditional methodologies are already available for such prediction purposes. However, Naïve Bayes and RBFN (Radial Basis Function Network) methodology have been introduced here with some specific weather parameters that has not done before remarkably. A comparative study was performed on weather data including Naïve Bayes, Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), K-nearest neighbor (KNN) and Radial Basis Function Network (RBFN). All these data have been procured from Kolkata located in north-east India. The result obtained by applying the Radial Basis Function Network is better among the three methods, yielding a correct prediction of 95% for severe “squall-storms” and 94% for “no storm”. The predictions have a sufficient lead time of 10- 12 h.
Benefits of pancreatic parenchymal endoscopic ultrasonography in predicting microscopic precancerous lesions of pancreatic cancer
Authors: Yamakawa Kohei , Inomata Noriko , Masuda Atsuhiro , Takenaka Mamoru , Toyama Hirochika , Sofue Keitaro , Sakai Arata , Kobayashi Takashi , Tanaka Takeshi , Tsujimae Masahiro , Ashina Shigeto , Gonda Masanori , Abe Shohei , Masuda Shigeto , Uemura Hisahiro , Kohashi Shinya , Nagao Kae , Harada Yoshiyuki , Miki Mika , Irie Yosuke , Juri Noriko , Shiomi Hideyuki , Kanzawa Maki , Itoh Tomoo , Fukumoto Takumi , Kodama Yuzo
Published: July 2023

Pancreatic cancer primarily arises from microscopic precancerous lesions, such as pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM). However, no established method exists for predicting pancreatic precancerous conditions. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) can detect changes in pancreatic parenchymal histology, including fibrosis. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between pancreatic parenchymal EUS findings and microscopic precancerous lesions. We retrospectively analyzed 114 patients with pancreatobiliary tumors resected between 2010 and 2020 and evaluated the association between pancreatic parenchymal EUS findings and the number of PanIN, ADM, and pancreatic duct gland (PDG). Of the 114 patients, 33 (29.0%), 55 (48.2%), and 26 (22.8%) had normal EUS findings, hyperechoic foci/stranding without lobularity, and hyperechoic foci/stranding with lobularity, respectively. Multivariate analyses revealed that abnormal EUS findings were significantly associated with the frequency of PanIN (hyperechoic foci/stranding without lobularity: OR [95% CI] = 2.7 [1.0–7.3], with lobularity: 6.5 [1.9–22.5], Ptrend = 0.01) and ADM (hyperechoic foci/stranding without lobularity: 3.1 [1.1–8.2], with lobularity: 9.7 [2.6–36.3], Ptrend = 0.003) but not with PDG (hyperechoic foci/stranding without lobularity: 2.2 [0.8–5.8], with lobularity: 3.2 [1.0–10.2], Ptrend = 0.12). We observed a trend toward a significantly higher number of precancerous lesions in the following order: normal findings, hyperechoic foci/stranding without lobularity, and hyperechoic foci/stranding with lobularity. Pancreatic parenchymal EUS findings were associated with the increased frequency of PanIN and ADM. Lobularity may help predict the increased number of precancerous lesions.
Surgically treated cervical cancer in a high-risk group in the era of the 2018 FIGO staging schema: a nationwide study
Authors: Shigeta Shogo , Shimada Muneaki , Tsuji Keita , Watanabe Zen , Tanase Yasuhito , Matsuo Koji , Nakanishi Toru , Saito Toshiaki , Aoki Daisuke , Mikami Mikio
Published: July 2023

The 2018 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) revision to the staging criteria for uterine cervical cancer adopted pathological staging for patients who underwent surgery. We investigated the correlation between clinicopathological factors and prognosis in patients with high-risk factors in accordance with the FIGO 2018 staging criteria by analyzing a real-world database of 6,192 patients who underwent radical hysterectomy at 116 institutions belonging to the Japan Gynecologic Oncology Group. A total of 1,392 patients were categorized into the high-risk group. Non-squamous cell carcinoma histology, regional lymph node metastasis, pT2 classification, and ovarian metastasis were identified as independent risk factors for mortality. Based on pathological findings, 313, 1003, and 76 patients were re-classified into FIGO 2018 stages IIB, IIIC1p, and IIIC2p, respectively. Patients with stage IIIC2p disease showed worse prognoses than those with stage IIB or IIIC1p disease. In patients with stage IIIC1p disease, overall survival was significantly better if their tumors were localized in the uterine cervix, except for single lymph node metastasis, with a 5-year overall survival rate of 91.8%. This study clarified the heterogeneity of the high-risk group and provided insights into the feasibility of upfront radical hysterectomy for a limited number of patients harboring high-risk factors.