bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PSVII-29 The Nebraska Beef Industry Scholars Program develops employability skills and improves career development
Authors: McCarthy Kacie L , Karr Lisa
Published: September 2024

The Nebraska Beef Industry Scholars (NBIS) program is designed to bring elite undergraduate students together to learn more about issues that affect beef production, network with industry leaders, and develop leadership skills in the beef industry. Therefore, our objectives were to better understand how prepared the NBIS students are for a career related to beef cattle post-graduation by completing a survey. The procedures of the survey were reviewed and approved by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Institutional Review Board (IRB #19684). The assessment was provided to graduates of the program via an email list provided by the college. The survey was sent to 78 students who completed the NBIS program (certificate or minor) between 2010 and 2018 in the Animal Science Department at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Survey results were summarized and means and standard deviations were calculated for individual statements in the Likert scale format and were considered significant if the average was greater than 3. Fifty-one students responded to the survey, 51% of respondents were female, 72.5% majored in Animal Science with the remaining respondents majoring in Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication (21.6 and 5.9%, respectively). In terms of the NBIS program preparing students for a career, 22 respondents felt very satisfied with educational experiences through the NBIS program, whereas 14 respondents were extremely satisfied. Thirty-five respondents noted that they are currently working in the beef industry and 27 of them had found a job at graduation. Twenty-six students felt that the NBIS program provided a great deal of networking opportunities throughout their program which prepared them for their career. Overall, students who have completed the NBIS program value the experiences gained and felt prepared going into careers relative to the beef industry.
PSIV-28 Determination of the extent and rate of nutrient degradation of potato and other byproducts by rumen microorganisms in vitro
Authors: Smithyman Cassandra , Cruickshank Keira , Smithyman Mackenzie M , Carter Boone H , Loest Clint A
Published: September 2024

Byproducts in livestock diets have the potential to reduce the environmental impact of food production and the cost of animal feeding. The objective was to evaluate the extent and rate of nutrient degradability of potato and other byproducts by rumen microorganisms in vitro. Byproducts included barley malt sprouts, fries, dry peel, and hopper, which were supplied by Performix Nutrition Solutions (Nampa, ID). Two in vitro incubators (DAISYII, ANKOM Technology) each with four incubation jars were used to evaluate ruminal degradability of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Each jar contained 1,600 mL buffer solution (ANKOM Technology), 400 mL rumen contents (collected from two ruminally cannulated cows), 14 filter bags (F57, ANKOM Technology) with 0.5 g of ground byproduct, 14 filter bags with 0.5 g of ground corn (standard), and 14 blank bags. Each jar was purged with CO2 and filter bags were incubated at 39°C for 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, and 48 h, then removed, rinsed, dried at 55˚C for 48 h, weighed, and analyzed for DM and NDF. Each byproduct was incubated in 3 jars on two different d (6 replicates). Degradation of DM was separated into fractions A (disappearance at 0 h), C (DM remaining after 48 h) and B (100%-A-C). Rate of degradation for fraction B was the slope of the natural logarithms of the DM disappearance. All byproducts were compared with standard corn grain as the control. Fraction A for DM was not different (P > 0.40) for barley malt sprouts (35.4%) and hopper (33.7%), and less (P < 0.05) for dry peel (27.8%) and fries (13.2%) when compared with corn grain (33.4%). Fraction B for DM was greater (P < 0.05) for fries (74.0%), not different (P = 0.44) for hopper (56.1%), and less (P < 0.05) for dry peel (43.6%) and sprouts (37.0%) when compared with corn grain (53.9%). Rate of DM degradation for fraction B was greater (P < 0.05) for fries (9.9%/h) and hopper (7.0%/h), and not different (P > 0.16) for dry peel (4.6%/h) and sprouts (3.0%/h) when compared with corn grain (3.8%/h). Fraction C for DM was greater (P < 0.05) for dry peel (28.6%) and sprouts (27.6%), and not different (P = 0.20) for fries (12.9%) and hopper (10.3%) when compared with corn grain (12.7%). The indigestible fraction of NDF after 48 h of incubation was greatest for dry peel (58.5%), intermediate for sprouts (40.1%) and hopper (36.7%), and least for fries (25.4%; P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that the extent and rate of ruminal DM degradability of various potato and other byproducts differ and may be more or less degradable in the rumen compared with corn grain.
PSIV-29 Efficacy of a chute-side pregnancy test on early pregnancy determination in mature Rambouillet ewes
Authors: Luna Karime L , Ward Marcy , Austin Molly M , Arellanes Jeffrey Dominguez , Ochoa Luis , Gurule Sara C , Sirois Shaina , May Meghan , Lawrence John , Scholljegerdes Eric J , Soto-Navarro Sergio A , Gifford Jennifer A
Published: September 2024

Distinguishing pregnant from non-pregnant ewes in early pregnancy allows for more efficient flock management by producers. While early pregnancy detection techniques like ultrasonography and hormone quantification are well established, these techniques are often not adaptable to field conditions or require specialized equipment and training. The objective of this study was to evaluate a validated bovine commercial on-farm pregnancy test on efficacy for detecting early pregnancy in distinct blood constituents of ewes. Rambouillet ewes [n = 30; average body weight (BW) = avg 60.9 ± 1.1 kg; age 2 to 8 yr) were estrous synchronized using a 5 d CIDR protocol followed by 2 injections of PGF2α at 0 and 4 h. A rattle-painted ram was subsequently placed with ewes for a 35-d breeding season. Blood constituents including whole blood (WB), plasma (PL), and serum (SE) were collected via jugular venipuncture prior to synchronization (d 0) and on d 20, 35, and 70 after breeding. Blood constituents were individually evaluated using the IDEXX Alertys OnFarm pregnancy test for pregnancy detection. Trans-abdominal ultrasonography was performed on d 35 and d 70 post-breeding. Serum progesterone (P4) was quantified on d 100 of gestation to confirm pregnancy status. Progesterone concentrations ≥ 4 ng/mL were considered pregnant. On d 20 of gestation, IDEXX tests agreed with P4 concentrations on d 100 (χ2 = 0.30) in WB, SE and PL at 35.7, 53.6, and 53.6%, respectively. Pregnancy detection accuracy increased on d 35 of gestation as IDEXX tests agreed with P4 at d 100 (χ2 = 1.00) in WB, SE, and PL at 60.7, 60.7 and 60.7% accuracy, respectively. On d 70 of gestation, IDEXX tests agreed with P4 at d 100 (χ2 = 0.81) in WB, SE, and PL at 90.7, 93.3 and 93.3% accuracy, respectively indicating similarity in pregnancy diagnosis in the two methods. Detection of pregnancy using ultrasonography at d 35 identified 33% of pregnant ewes, while d 70 ultrasound detected 93% of pregnant ewes when compared with d 100 serum P4. Results suggest that the IDEXX pregnancy test provides early diagnosis of pregnancy with d 70 results comparable to d 100 serum P4 quantification regardless of blood constituent type.
Comparison of the Effectiveness of Thymoquinone, St. John Wort Oil and Silver Sulfadiazine in Experimental Burn Wounds
Authors: Canbaz Yasin , Karakol Percin , Erten Remzi , Mercantepe Tolga , Alp Hamit Hakan , Turan Canbaz Esra , Turel Idris , Ragbetli Murat Cetin , Yüce Serdar
Published: September 2024

We aimed to compare the effectiveness of thymoquinone (TQ), the most important bioactive component of black cumin, St. John wort (SJW) oil, a traditional medicinal plant used in burns, and silver sulfadiazine (AgSD), a well-known antiinflammatory agent used in modern medicine, in an experimental burn rat-model. Sixty-three Wistar-Albino rats were randomly divided into 9 groups (n = 7). TQ and SJW were administered topically and systemically but AgSD was applied topically. Epithelialization, inflammatory cell response, granulation tissue, vascularization, and fibrosis were evaluated. Malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), vitamin E, 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) were analyzed in serum. Topical TQ accelerated the epithelialization, enabled granulation, vascularization, and fibrosis in wounds (P = .001). Topical and systemic TQ increased Vitamin E levels (P = .003) but reduced TOS and 8-OHdG levels (P = .001). Topical SJW reduced granulation and vascularization. Topical and systemic SJW decreased TOS, MDA, and 8-OHdG levels (P = .001) but increased TAS (P = .001) and Vitamin E levels (P = .003). Topical AgSD reduced TOS, 8-OHdG, and MDA levels (P = .001). Topical and systemic TQ demonstrated significant advantages in accelerating the wound healing process while also enhancing antioxidant defenses and reducing oxidative damage. SJW oil, particularly in topical application, improved epithelialization, and antioxidant status but showed less efficacy in systemic use. AgSD, while effective in reducing oxidative stress, was less successful in promoting wound healing and appeared to delay granulation and fibrosis. Thymoquinone offers superior protective and healing benefits, SJW is effective locally but less so systemically, and AgSD should be used cautiously, potentially combined with antioxidants to mitigate its negative impact on wound healing.
Eiken syndrome with parathyroid hormone resistance due to a novel parathyroid hormone receptor type 1 mutation: clinical features and functional analysis
Authors: Calder Alistair D , Allgrove Jeremy , Höppner Jakob , Cheung Moira , Alexander Saji , Garagnani Lorenzo , Thakker Rajesh , Jüppner Harald , Gardella Thomas J , Holder-Espinasse Muriel
Published: September 2024

We report on 2 patients of East African ancestry with the same novel homozygous variant in the parathyroid hormone receptor type 1 (PTH1R). Both patients shared skeletal features, including brachydactyly, extensive metacarpal pseudo-epiphyses, elongated cone-shaped epiphyses, ischiopubic hypoplasia, and deficient sacral ossification, suggestive of Eiken syndrome. Strikingly, both patients exhibited clinically manifest parathyroid hormone (PTH) resistance with hypocalcemia and elevated serum phosphate levels. These laboratory and clinical abnormalities initially suggested pseudohypoparathyroidism, which is typically associated with GNAS abnormalities. In both patients, however, a homozygous novel PTH1R variant was identified (c.710 T > A; p.IIe237Asn, p.I237N) that is located in the second transmembrane helical domain. Previously, others have reported a patient with a nearby PTH1R mutation (D241E) who presented with similar clinical features (eg, delayed bone mineralization as well as clinical PTH resistance). Functional analysis of the effects of both novel PTH1R variants (I237N- and D241E-PTH1R) in HEK293 reporter cells transfected with plasmid DNA encoding the wild-type or mutant PTH1Rs demonstrated increased basal cAMP signaling for both variants, with relative blunting of responses to both PTH and PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) ligands. The clinical presentation of PTH resistance and delayed bone mineralization combined with the functional properties of the mutant PTH1Rs suggest that this form of Eiken syndrome results from alterations in PTH1R-mediated signaling in response to both canonical ligands, PTH and PTHrP.
Lower limb joint loading during high-impact activities: implication for bone health
Authors: Altai Zainab , Hayford Claude Fiifi , Phillips Andrew , Moran Jason , Zhai Xiaojun , Liew Bernard X W
Published: September 2024

Osteoporosis results in low-trauma fractures affecting millions globally, in particular elderly populations. Despite the inclusion of physical activity in fracture prevention strategies, the optimal bone-strengthening exercises remain uncertain, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of lower limb joint loading dynamics across various exercise types and levels. This study examines lower limb joint loading during high-impact exercises across different intensities. A total of 40 healthy, active participants were recruited (mean ± SD: age of 40.3 ± 13.1 years; height 1.71 ± 0.08 m; and mass 68.44 ± 11.67 kg). Motion capture data and ground reaction forces of six different exercises: a self-selected level of walking, running, counter-movement jump, squat jump, unilateral hopping, and bilateral hopping were collected for each participant. Joint reaction forces were estimated using lower body musculoskeletal models developed in OpenSim. Running and hopping increased joint forces compared to walking, notably at the hip (83% and 21%), knee (134% and 94%), and ankle (94% and 77%), while jump exercises reduced hip and ankle loading compared to walking (36% and 19%). Joint loading varied with exercise type and intensity with running faster increasing forces on all joints, particularly at the hip. Sprinting increased forces at the hip but lowered knee and ankle forces. Higher jumps intensified forces on all joints, while faster hopping reduced forces. The wide variation of lower limb joint loading observed across the exercises tested in this study underscores the importance of implementing diverse exercise routines to optimize overall bone health and strengthen the musculoskeletal structure. Practitioners must therefore ensure that exercise programs include movements that are specifically suitable for their intended purpose.
Targeting the osteoclastogenic cytokine IL-9 as a novel immunotherapeutic strategy in mitigating inflammatory bone loss in post-menopausal osteoporosis
Authors: Sapra Leena , Saini Chaman , Sharma Shivani , Nanda Dibyani , Nilakhe Aishwarya , Chattopadhyay Naibedya , Meena Avtar Singh , Mishra Pradyumna K , Gupta Sarika , Garg Bhavuk , Manhas Vikrant , Srivastava Rupesh K
Published: September 2024

Recent discoveries have established the pivotal role of IL-9-secreting immune cells in a wide spectrum of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. However, little is known about how IL-9 contributes to the etiology of inflammatory bone loss in PMO. We observed that IL-9 has a pathological impact on inflammatory bone loss in ovariectomized (Ovx) mice. Our in vivo temporal kinetics analysis revealed that estrogen deprivation enhanced the production of IL-9 from Th cells (majorly Th9 and Th17). Both our ex vivo and in vivo studies corroborated these findings in Ovx mice, as estrogen diminishes the potential of Th9 cells to produce IL-9. Mechanistically, Th9 cells in an IL-9-dependent manner enhance osteoclastogenesis and thus could establish themselves as a novel osteoclastogenic Th cell subset. Therapeutically neutralizing/blocking IL-9 improves bone health by inhibiting the differentiation and function of osteoclasts, Th9, and Th17 cells along with maintaining gut integrity in Ovx mice. Post-menopausal osteoporotic patients have increased IL-9-secreting Th9 cells, which may suggest a potential role for IL-9 in the development of osteoporosis. Collectively, our study identifies IL-9-secreting Th9 cells as a driver of bone loss with attendant modulation of gut-immune-bone axis, which implies IL-9-targeted immunotherapies as a potential strategy for the management and treatment of inflammatory bone loss observed in PMO.
Genital courtship and female-active roles in mating: sexual selection by mate choice in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Eberhard William G
Published: September 2024

A new bridge between studies of sexual selection and the massive literature on Caenorhabditis elegans behaviourand nervous system properties promise to provide important new insights into both fields. This paper shows that mate choice likely occurs in hermaphrodite C. elegans on the basis of stimulation from the male genital spicules, making it possible to apply the toolkit of extensive background knowledge of C. elegans and powerful modern techniques to test in unprecedented detail the leading hypotheses regarding one of the most sweeping trends in all of animal evolution, the especially rapid divergence of genital morphology. The recognition that sexual selection by mate choice may also occur in other contexts in C. elegans suggests additional payoffs from exploring previously unrecognized possibilities that female-active hermaphrodite reproductive behaviours are triggered by male stimulation. These facultative behaviours include attracting males, fleeing from or otherwise resisting males, opening the vulva to allow intromission, guiding sperm migration, avoiding rapid oviposition following copulation that results in sperm loss, expelling recently received sperm, and increasing feeding rates following copulation.
Seismic shear wave noise suppression and application to well tie
Authors: Sun Hongri , Liu Enliang , Zhang Feng , Wang Weihong , Li Xiangyang
Published: September 2024

Seismic shear waves have been used in oil and gas exploration for decades. A 2D seismic shear wave inline was acquired in the Sanhu area, located in the Qaidam Basin in western China. Although the acquired shear wave data showed high resolution and comparable bandwidth to the compressional wave, it was contaminated by various types of noise, including linear noise, single-frequency noise, and especially internal multiples. Internal multiples seriously compromise the primary reflections at both near offset and far offset and are difficult to suppress. This paper presents a case study of noise attenuation for the seismic shear wave. First, single-frequency noise and linear noise are attenuated through filtering methods. Then, two methods (the Radon transform and the frequency-wavenumber (F-K) filtering) are evaluated for their effectiveness in multiple suppression and amplitude preservation. The results indicate that both methods successfully reduce long-period multiples at the far offset, enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio. We show that F-K filtering retains the characteristic ‘strong–weak–strong’ amplitude variation in the SV-SV-wave data gather, making it preferable for subsequent amplitude variation with offset analysis and inversion. Finally, a wave equation-based multiple suppression inversion method is used to suppress near-offset internal multiples. This involves iteratively predicting internal multiples and adaptively subtracting them from the original data. Stacked sections of different offsets are compared to demonstrate the de-multiple result, and the result is also validated by the improvement of well calibration with the seismic shear wave data.
Seismic data interpolation with a recurrent inference mechanism
Authors: Sun Huimin , Zhang Hao , Liu Zhao , Ma Jianwei
Published: September 2024

Seismic data interpolation is a significant procedure in seismic data processing as the highly complete data are extremely useful for the subsequent imaging and interpretation workflows. Recently, numerous deep learning-based techniques have been utilized to help improve the reconstruction quality. Supervised learning approaches can predict the results in a second, but they depend heavily on the training data, which therefore limits the generalized applications. By contrast, unsupervised learning methods are applicable to any data, but they need much more computational time and prior knowledge to be implemented. Especially, the recovery of aliased and consecutively missing data is incredibly challenging. To solve this problem, we propose a novel framework for seismic interpolation using a recurrent inference mechanism (SIRIM). Integrating the advantages of supervised and unsupervised learning paradigms, we build a specific convolutional recurrent inference network such that it can learn the dynamic priors when plugged in the physics-informed iterative algorithm, as well as directly reconstruct various types of incomplete data. We validate SIRIM in comparison with some traditional and learning-based methods. The performance on synthetic and field data illustrates the effectiveness and robustness of our proposed approach, which outperforms baseline methods in terms of aliased and consecutively missing data.
Genetic reassessment of population subdivision in Yellowstone National Park bison
Authors: Stroupe Sam , Geremia Chris , Wallen Rick L , White P J , Derr James N
Published: September 2024

Yellowstone National Park is home to the only plains bison population that has continually existed as wildlife, on the same landscape, through the population bottleneck of the late 19th century. Nevertheless, by the early 1900s, only 23 wild bison were known to have survived poaching. Salvation efforts included the addition of 18 females from Montana and 3 bulls from Texas to augment this population. A century later, nuclear microsatellite-based population-level assessment revealed two genetically distinct bison subpopulations. However, in 2016, an analysis of mitochondrial haplotypes showed the two founding lineages were distributed throughout the park. This study is designed to delineate any current substructure in the Yellowstone bison population by strategically sampling the two major summer breeding herds and the two major winter ranges. Population-level metrics were derived using the same microsatellite loci as the original study along with a newly developed set of highly informative bison-specific single nucleotide polymorphisms. Our analyses reveal that the modern bison in Yellowstone National Park currently consists of one interbreeding population, composed of two subunits.
Safe Sex and the Debate over Condoms on Campus in the 1980s: Sperm Busters at Harvard and Protection Connection at the University of Texas at Austin
Authors: Osseo-Asare Abena Dove
Published: September 2024

During the 1980s, college students in the United States helped to destigmatize the distribution and use of condoms. They shifted their aims from preventing unwanted pregnancy to stopping the spread of sexually transmitted infections including the newly identified acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Two student-led initiatives to deliver condoms after hours at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts and the University of Texas at Austin show regional and temporal differences in sexual mores as awareness of AIDS increased. These male students adopted a non-pharmaceutical intervention to prevent pregnancy and disease in the context of increased marketing of Trojan® brand condoms. Interviews with co-founders reveal how the students grappled with backlash from family members and campus administrators less enthusiastic about their popularization of condoms. Co-founders described how media attention affected their college experiences and how condom companies changed campus culture. Overall, large non-pharmaceutical companies such as Trojan® and small condom-resellers such as those at Harvard and the University of Texas at Austin reshaped cultural norms around safe sex as awareness of AIDS grew between 1985 and 1987.
Is core decompression and bone marrow concentrate with demineralized bone matrix and platelet-rich fibrin suitable for treating femoral head osteonecrosis?
Authors: Cevolani Luca , Focaccia Marco , Spazzoli Benedetta , Bruschi Alessandro , Staals Eric Lodewijk , Dozza Barbara , Laranga Roberta , Frisoni Tommaso , Sambri Andrea , Montanari Andrea , Bianchi Giuseppe , Donati Davide Maria
Published: September 2024

The aim of this article is to determine the safety and efficacy of core decompression (CD) combined with injection of autologous bone marrow concentrate (BMC), demineralized bone matrix (DBM), and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) for treating femoral head osteonecrosis. Seventy-seven patients (53 males and 24 females) for a total of 87 hips were treated for hip osteonecrosis with CD combined with injection of autologous BMC, DBM, and PRF at Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute from September 2008 to December 2019. Patients were assessed at baseline, at 45 days, and at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months postoperatively. The primary outcome was the survival rate of hips not converted to total hip arthroplasty (THA). The secondary outcomes were (I) radiographic positive evolution assessed by X-ray films and magnetic resonance imaging and (II) the clinical symptoms evaluated with the Harris Hip Score (HHS). Eighty-seven hips from 77 patients with femoral head osteonecrosis (FHON), 60 males and 27 females, with a median age of 34 years (range 15–55) were included. The cause of necrosis was steroid treatment in 30 patients (17 of these for hematological malignancies, 2 for lupus, 1 for Churg–Strauss syndrome, and the remaining for other causes), 1 was alcohol-related, 4 followed hip injury, while 15 patients had idiopathic causes. THA was carried out in 20 hips (40%). These patients had lesions classified as IIa on the Ficat stage in four cases, six were IIb, nine were III, and one was 4. No CD-related complications were found during THA surgery or at the last follow-up in these cohorts of patients. Radiographic progression of the FHON was found in 14 hips (28%), with a higher percentage on Ficat’s stage IIb. There were procedure-related complications in two hips, including one femoral neck fracture and one deep infection. Nineteen hips with successful treatment had good to excellent functional results at a 3-year follow-up or more (HHS ≥ 80). The long-term outcomes of treatment with CD and injection with BMC combined with DBM and PRF are promising to prevent femoral head collapse in patients with FHON. Moreover, CD does not influence the outcome in cases of THA.
Cave Myotis (Myotis velifer) consume diverse prey items and provide important ecosystem services
Authors: Fitzgerald Katheryn V , Ammerman Loren K
Published: September 2024

Insectivorous bats play an essential role as predators in natural ecosystems and contribute to pest control in agricultural landscapes. However, characterizing diets of specific bat species is difficult using conventional methods that cannot capture detailed dietary information. In this study, we used metabarcoding of the cytochrome oxidase I mitochondrial gene to analyze fecal samples of Myotis velifer and provide insight into the seasonal variation of diet from a colony located in the Chihuahuan Desert region of Texas. After filtering sequence reads, we recovered and analyzed 706 molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) in the diet of M. velifer. We found 484 taxa (species and genus level) belonging to 11 insect orders in 66 fecal samples collected from March to October 2021. The orders containing the most MOTUs were Diptera (n = 353), Lepidoptera (n = 160), and Blattodea (n = 59). In their diet, we identified important insect crop pests, non-native insects, and substantial consumption of mosquitoes. Dietary composition shifted throughout seasons. Bats captured in summer months consumed the highest diversity of arthropod orders, and those captured in the spring consumed more diet items but were less diverse in arthropod orders. Our results uncovered 2 additional orders consumed by M. velifer, Blattodea and Odonata, that have not been previously described in their diet.
Glycemic control in diabetic patients improved overall lung cancer survival across diverse populations
Authors: Wu Wayne Y , Luke Brian , Wu Xiao-Cheng , Lee J Jack , Yi Yong , Okpechi Samuel C , Gause Barry , Mehta Paras , Sherman Steven I , Ochoa Augusto , Dmitrovsky Ethan , Liu Xi
Published: September 2024

Background

The consequence of diabetes on lung cancer overall survival (OS) is debated. This retrospective study used 2 large lung cancer databases to assess comprehensively diabetes effects on lung cancer OS in diverse demographic populations, including health disparity.

Methods

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center database (32 643 lung cancer patients with 11 973 patients with diabetes) was extracted from electronic health records (EHRs) using natural language processing (NLP). Associations were between diabetes and lung cancer prognostic features (age, sex, race, body mass index [BMI], insurance status, smoking, stage, and histopathology). Hemoglobin A1C (HgbA1c) and glucose levels assessed glycemic control. Validation was with a Louisiana cohort (17 768 lung cancer patients with 5402 patients with diabetes) enriched for health disparity cases. Kaplan-Meier analysis, log-rank test, multivariable Cox proportional hazard models, and survival tree analyses were employed.

Results

Lung cancer patients with diabetes exhibited marginally elevated OS or no statistically significant difference versus nondiabetic patients. When examining OS for 2 glycemic levels (HgbA1c > 7.0 or glucose > 154 mg/dL vs HgbA1c > 9.0 or glucose > 215 mg/dL), a statistically significant improvement in OS occurred in lung cancer patients with controlled versus uncontrolled glycemia (P < .0001). This improvement spanned sex, age, smoking status, insurance status, stage, race, BMI, histopathology, and therapy. Survival tree analysis revealed that obese and morbidly obese patients with controlled glycemia had higher lung cancer OS than comparison groups.

Conclusion

These findings indicate a need for optimal glycemic control to improve lung cancer OS in diverse populations with diabetes.
Can AI tell good stories? Narrative transportation and persuasion with ChatGPT
Authors: Chu Haoran , Liu Sixiao
Published: September 2024

Storytelling is a human universal. The ubiquity of stories and the rapid development in Artificial Intelligence (AI) pose important questions: can AI like ChatGPT tell engaging and persuasive stories? If so, what makes a narrative engaging and persuasive? Three pre-registered experiments comparing human-generated narratives from existing research and the ChatGPT-generated versions using descriptions and materials from these studies show that labeling AI as a narrative source led to lower transportation, higher counterarguing, and lower story-consistent beliefs. However, AI-generated narratives led to lower (Study 1 and 3) or similar levels (Study 2) of counterarguing than the human-generated version. Readers showed lower (Study 2) or similar levels of transportation (Study 1 and 3) when reading the AI- than the human-generated stories. We suggest the AI model’s linguistic competence and logical coherence contribute to its stories’ verisimilitude. However, AI’s lack of lived experience and creativity may limit its storytelling ability.
Three Faces of Innovation Competition: Choosing the Framework for Horizontal Merger Assessment
Authors: Puccioni de Oliveira Lyra Marcos , Cabral Pires-Alves Camila
Published: September 2024

This article discusses the assessment of horizontal mergers and harm to innovation when there is innovation competition. The goal is to establish a methodology for selecting the appropriate analytical framework for each situation, outlining mechanisms for recognizing innovation competition, defining relevant markets, evaluating the competitive significance of firms, identifying suitable theories of harm, and gathering pertinent evidence for each scenario. We review the literature on Competition Policy and on Economics of Innovation and take examples from the US and European case law. We also briefly discuss the strategic management literature to provide insights for the assessment. Considering post-merger reductions on innovation incentives as harm to innovation, we find differences of traditional merger procedure adequacy and challenges to build evidence, considering three faces of innovation, including possible combinations of these faces within a same merger case: (i) continuous innovation efforts in the product market, (ii) ongoing innovation efforts for developing new products, and (iii) future innovation efforts. In instances where the conventional approach to mergers falls short, exploring a capabilities-based assessment is recommended. Given the gaps found in the existing literature, we provide insights to the analysis as steps towards an agenda of capabilities-based merger assessment.
The constellations of design: Architects’ practice modalities when working with embodied individuals and virtual collectives in later life facilities in the UK
Authors: Annandale Ellen , Nettleton Sarah , Martin Daryl , Buse Christina , Beynon-Jones Siân
Published: September 2024

Architects’ practice is characterized by a narrative of progressive unease about lack of autonomy coupled with a recent steer from professional figureheads towards the benefits of connected ways of working with other occupations, such as contractors and developers, rather than boundary protection. We explore this through a study of UK architects working on residential facilities for later life, involving semi-structured interviews with architects and ethnographic fieldwork of two building projects followed over time. We show that architects experience key stakeholders in their intersection on two axes: as ‘virtual-embodied’ and ‘individual(s)-collective(s)’. Facility end-users (residents, staff) are encountered more commonly in virtual (abstract) than in embodied (tangible, visible) form, and as collectives rather than as individuals (as ‘virtual collectives’). In juxtaposition, they tend to encounter clients (facility owners, developers), building contractors, and planners in embodied rather than virtual form and as individuals rather than as collectives (as ‘embodied individuals’). We explore the consequences for architects’ ‘practice modalities’, broadly defined as how something happens, is done, or is experienced. We show that ‘embodied individuals’ foster a practice modality of ‘dependency and contingency’ where stakeholders tend to have more sway, whereas ‘virtual communities’ enable a practice modality of ‘autonomy and personal artistry’. However, ‘embodied individuals’ and ‘virtual collectives’ are mutually informing rather than independent sets of relationships; that is, they bear on each other during the architect’s work, sometimes in challenging, even conflicting, ways. An analysis of how architects navigate this helps to understand how a build evolves as it does from architects’ perspectives.
A noisy-input generalized additive model for relative sea-level change along the Atlantic coast of North America
Authors: Upton Maeve , Parnell Andrew , Kemp Andrew , Ashe Erica , McCarthy Gerard , Cahill Niamh
Published: September 2024

We propose a Bayesian, noisy-input, spatial–temporal generalized additive model to examine regional relative sea-level (RSL) changes over time. The model provides probabilistic estimates of component drivers of regional RSL change via the combination of a univariate spline capturing a common regional signal over time, random slopes and intercepts capturing site-specific (local), long-term linear trends and a spatial–temporal spline capturing residual, non-linear, local variations. Proxy and instrumental records of RSL and corresponding measurement errors inform the model and a noisy-input method accounts for proxy temporal uncertainties. Results highlight the decomposition of regional RSL changes over 3,000 years along North America’s Atlantic coast. The physical process glacial isostatic adjustment prevailed before 1800 CE, with anthropogenic forcing dominating after 1900 CE.
Decoding the root lignification mechanism of Angelica sinensis through genome-wide DNA methylation analysis
Authors: Yuan Chengxiao , Li Lesong , Zhou Pinhan , Xiang Chunfan , Huang Chunli , Huang Guilin , Liu Guanze , Li Mengfei , Yang Shengchao , Liang Yanli , Zhao Yan
Published: September 2024

Angelica sinensis is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine with significant economic and medicinal value. Early bolting and flowering can occur during the second year of the vegetative growth period, rendering the roots unviable for medicinal use and resulting in substantial economic losses. Consequently, there is growing interest in studying the molecular mechanisms underlying early bolting and increased root lignification in A. sinensis. Here, we conducted whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and observed an increase in whole-genome DNA methylation levels after bolting. Comparative analysis revealed differential methylation patterns of genic regions and transposable elements in the upstream, gene body, and downstream regions in the context of CG, CHG, and CHH, suggesting a possible association between CHH-type methylation of promoters and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Furthermore, combined analysis of transcriptomic and methylomics data revealed a positive correlation between DNA methylation and gene expression. We identified the hyperDMR gene in the CHH context within the promoter region of key gene AsCOMT1, which exhibits a dual catalytic activity and facilitates the synthesis of both ferulic acid and lignin. Enzyme kinetic analysis demonstrated that AsCOMT1 preferentially catalyses the synthesis of lignin monomer precursors. These findings highlight the important regulatory role of DNA methylation in bolting and the synthesis of secondary metabolites in A. sinensis, providing valuable insights into the underlying molecular mechanism.
Entry into the Market
Authors: Sourgens Frédéric G , Baldwin Edward , Banet Catherine
Published: September 2024

This chapter highlights the challenges faced by independent power producers (IPPs) when entering new energy markets. It examines the differences between deregulating and regulated markets and outlines the hurdles IPPs encounter in gaining market access in both types of jurisdictions. It also stresses the importance of competition in deregulated markets and the regulatory tools used to address market power abuse. The chapter demonstrates how IPPs can participate in regulated markets through power purchase agreements (PPAs) and outlines the technical and financial prequalification processes involved. It describes the role of prequalification in international economic law and its relationship with local content requirements in renewable energy projects and points out the importance of conducting environmental and human rights due diligence in both deregulated and regulated markets.
Payment Terms and Financial Support Structures in Cost-of-service Markets
Authors: Sourgens Frédéric G , Baldwin Edward , Banet Catherine
Published: September 2024

This chapter compares market design and financial support mechanisms in deregulated and cost-of-service markets for promoting renewable generation. While deregulated markets use these mechanisms alongside potential distortions like feed-in tariffs, the cost-of-service markets rely more on governmental control and view independent power producers (IPPs) as service providers. It details how deregulated and cost-of-service markets share overlaps in payment terms and face potential over-compensation issues. The chapter reviews the auction and tender processes, which were shown to be effective in both German deregulated and Brazilian cost-of-service markets. It considers renewable auctions as the best practice for setting renewable price terms and financial support in both deregulated and cost-of-service markets.
Construction of Renewable Power Projects
Authors: Sourgens Frédéric G , Baldwin Edward , Banet Catherine
Published: September 2024

This chapter delves into the commercial aspects of how independent power producers construct renewable power projects. It addresses the commercial framework for constructing renewable energy projects, beginning with utility-scale solar as a model due to its common use of engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contracts. It also discusses smaller-scale solar and non-utility-scale projects that face different but equally fundamental construction challenges. Drawing from the open solar contracts of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the chapter serves as a model for commercial contracting in the renewables sector. It supports the goal of increasing global renewable energy penetration through both large utility-scale projects and smaller projects that provide electricity access to populations suffering from energy poverty.
Joint Operations in Renewable Energy Projects
Authors: Sourgens Frédéric G , Baldwin Edward , Banet Catherine
Published: September 2024

This chapter describes the operation of renewable energy projects involving multiple stakeholders, focusing on key commercial structuring concerns for financing and operation. It analyzes the regulatory context of operations and addresses the overlap between regulation and commercial concerns, particularly through the lens of joint operations. It outlines the economics of joint operations and explains why multiple parties might jointly operate a power project. Drawing from the open solar contracts initiative, the chapter considers relevant agreements like the operating and management agreement, the power purchase agreement, and the implementation agreement. It compares solutions in the renewables sector with those in the hydrocarbons sector, suggesting that the hydrocarbons experience can provide insights into resolving challenges of joint operations in renewables.
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Regimes
Authors: Sourgens Frédéric G , Baldwin Edward , Banet Catherine
Published: September 2024

The chapter highlights the significant and continuing impact of insolvency on renewable energy projects, sponsors, and lenders. It covers the renewable energy industry, which is characterized by rapid evolution and uncertainty that stems from both over-regulation and under-regulation. It also discusses insolvency risks that are compounded by the industry’s reliance on government support and technological challenges. The chapter looks at differences in insolvency rules among jurisdictions that can have profound effects on projects and emphasizes the importance of proactive risk management. It underscores the need for stakeholders to be vigilant and strategic in addressing the challenges posed by insolvency in renewable energy projects.
Conclusion
Authors: Sourgens Frédéric G , Baldwin Edward , Banet Catherine
Published: September 2024

This chapter discusses renewable energy’s global significance and proposes transnational principles for its governance, emphasizing the need to reduce risks in renewable energy projects through a transnational legal regime. It highlights the vital role of the global energy industry in the transition, given its expertise in developing new energy value chains around renewables. It also stresses the importance of global collaboration and innovation in navigating the energy transition successfully. The chapter challenges the notion of renewable energy as exclusive to clubs and market leaders, favouring a more egalitarian approach with a focus on independent power producers. It highlights the contributions of various states and companies to renewable energy development, suggesting a lasting shift towards renewables globally.
The complex landscape of immune dysregulation in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children with COVID-19
Authors: Guo Jing , Wang Lie
Published: September 2024

The immune responses following SARS-CoV-2 infection in children are still under investigation. While coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is usually mild in the paediatric population, some children develop severe clinical manifestations or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) after infection. MIS-C, typically emerging 2–6 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 exposure, is characterized by a hyperinflammatory response affecting multiple organs. This review aims to explore the complex landscape of immune dysregulation in MIS-C, focusing on innate, T cell-, and B cell-mediated immunity, and discusses the role of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein as a superantigen in MIS-C pathophysiology. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for improving the management and outcomes for affected children.
Ultra-fast Digital DPC Yielding High Spatio-temporal Resolution for Low-Dose Phase Characterization
Authors: Bekkevold Julie Marie , Peters Jonathan J P , Ishikawa Ryo , Shibata Naoya , Jones Lewys
Published: September 2024

In the scanning transmission electron microscope, both phase imaging of beam-sensitive materials and characterization of a material’s functional properties using in situ experiments are becoming more widely available. As the practicable scan speed of 4D-STEM detectors improves, so too does the temporal resolution achievable for both differential phase contrast (DPC) and ptychography. However, the read-out burden of pixelated detectors, and the size of the gigabyte to terabyte sized data sets, remain a challenge for both temporal resolution and their practical adoption. In this work, we combine ultra-fast scan coils and detector signal digitization to show that a high-fidelity DPC phase reconstruction can be achieved from an annular segmented detector. Unlike conventional analog data phase reconstructions from digitized DPC-segment images yield reliable data, even at the fastest scan speeds. Finally, dose fractionation by fast scanning and multi-framing allows for postprocess binning of frame streams to balance signal-to-noise ratio and temporal resolution for low-dose phase imaging for in situ experiments.
Evaluation of Saccadic Component Measure on Smooth Pursuit Tests
Authors: King John E , Pape Marcy M , Keenan Justin , Zhang Dong
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Despite the advancement of eye-tracking technology for smooth pursuit (SP) eye movement evaluation, qualitative observation offers much information that is not captured by computers; hence, both objective and qualitative information should be utilized to evaluate SP. This study examined the consistency among our clinicians when evaluating SP using normal (N), grossly normal (GN), mildly abnormal (MA), and abnormal (AB) as classifications. We then evaluated the effect of combining GN and MA into a single subclinical (SUBC) category. We also evaluated the computerized percent saccade (PS) metric by determining its sensitivity and specificity in classifying SP.

Materials and Methods

Retrospective horizontal and vertical SP test videos and numerical data for 70 participants were obtained from the Neuro Kinetics Neuro-Otologic Test Center and de-identified. From this, eye-tracking videos, time plots of eye-tracking positional data, and tables of SP eye-tracking performance data were generated for 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 Hz in both horizontal and vertical planes, totaling 6 tests per subject. Three clinicians rated each subject’s SP performance as N, GN, MA, or AB for a total of 6 ratings (3 frequencies, horizontal and vertical). This process was repeated using N, SUBC, and AB as rating categories. Clinicians also provided an overall SP rating for each plane as follows: AB if the results were abnormal for 2 or more frequencies tested. Alternatively, if fewer than 2 frequencies presented with a rating of AB, then an overall rating of MA, GN, or N was determined at the respective clinician’s discretion.

Results

When the 3 clinicians were tasked with classifying SP videos using 4 clinical categories, fair overall agreement was demonstrated. However, when MA and GN categories were combined into an SUBC category, the overall agreement for the 3 clinicians improved slightly for both horizontal SP (HSP) and vertical SP (VSP). This pattern of agreement did not differ considerably when comparing HSP versus VSP, and good consistency and reliability was observed across clinicians. Again, inter-rater consistency was smaller for VSP versus HSP despite the reduction in clinical categories. Cut-off values were generated for the PS metric and demonstrated good specificity and sensitivity when they were exceeded for 2 or more frequencies in a particular plane when evaluating a subject’s SP test.

Conclusions