bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hormonal differences in perpetrators of intimate partner violence
Authors: Cantos Arthur L. , Ontiveros Gabriela , Dearth Robert K. , O’Leary K. Daniel
Published: July 2024

Objective

In order to gain a better understanding of the individual and joint impact of testosterone and cortisol on behavior, the present study was developed to test the differences in each hormone alone and conjointly between perpetrators of IPV and non-violent controls.

Method

Perpetrators of IPV on probation were compared to a control group of non-aggressive males from Hidalgo County in the Rio Grande Valley on baseline testosterone and cortisol, as well as several relevant questionnaires measuring aggression and trait anger. Differences in cortisol following exposure to a stressful event were also examined. Procedures included two laboratory visits consisting of questionnaires, a number of salivary testosterone and cortisol collections, and exposure to a stressor.

Results

Perpetrators had higher basal testosterone and post stressor cortisol levels than non- violent controls as well as a higher T/C ratio. In addition, trait anger moderated the relationship between both testosterone alone, and the testosterone/cortisol ratio and perpetration of IPV.

Conclusion

Results are consistent with the hypothesis that testosterone leads to antisocial behavior, including perpetration of violence. The results are also consistent with the dual hormone hypothesis, i.e., that testosterone and cortisol work together to jointly regulate social dominance and aggression. Both the increased freestanding testosterone and the increased cortisol following exposure to stress places these men at risk for perpetrating violence. Clinical implications are discussed.
Effects of gender and age on sleep EEG functional connectivity differences in subjects with mild difficulty falling asleep
Authors: Luo Xiaodong , Zhou Bin , Shi Jilong , Li Gang , Zhu Yixia
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Difficulty falling asleep place an increasing burden on society. EEG-based sleep staging is fundamental to the diagnosis of sleep disorder, and the selection of features for each sleep stage is a key step in the sleep analysis. However, the differences of sleep EEG features in gender and age are not clear enough.

Methods

This study aimed to investigate the effects of age and gender on sleep EEG functional connectivity through statistical analysis of brain functional connectivity and machine learning validation. The two-overnight sleep EEG data of 78 subjects with mild difficulty falling asleep were categorized into five sleep stages using markers and segments from the "sleep-EDF" public database. First, the 78 subjects were finely grouped, and the mutual information of the six sleep EEG rhythms of δ, θ, α, β, spindle, and sawtooth wave was extracted as a functional connectivity measure. Then, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to extract significant differences in functional connectivity of sleep rhythm waves across sleep stages with respect to age and gender. Finally, machine learning algorithms were used to investigate the effects of fine grouping of age and gender on sleep staging.

Results and discussion

The results showed that: (1) The functional connectivity of each sleep rhythm wave differed significantly across sleep stages, with delta and beta functional connectivity differing significantly across sleep stages. (2) Significant differences in functional connections among young and middle-aged groups, and among young and elderly groups, but no significant difference between middle-aged and elderly groups. (3) Female functional connectivity strength is generally higher than male at the high-frequency band of EEG, but no significant difference in the low-frequency. (4) Finer group divisions based on gender and age can indeed improve the accuracy of sleep staging, with an increase of about 3.58% by using the random forest algorithm. Our results further reveal the electrophysiological neural mechanisms of each sleep stage, and find that sleep functional connectivity differs significantly in both gender and age, providing valuable theoretical guidance for the establishment of automated sleep stage models.
The influence of nationwide COVID-19 lockdown on the functional impairment and long-term survival of dependent people for carrying out basic activities of daily living in a neighborhood of the city of Madrid, Spain: Orcasitas Cohort Longitudinal Study
Authors: Martín Moreno Vicente , Martínez Sanz María Inmaculada , Fernández Gallardo Miriam , Martín Fernández Amanda , Benítez Calderón María Palma , Alonso Samperiz Helena , Pérez Rico Elena , Calderón Jiménez Laura , Guerra Maroto Sara , Sánchez Rodríguez Elena , Sevillano Fuentes Eva , Sánchez González Irene , Recuero Vázquez Miguel , Herranz Hernando Julia , León Saiz Irene
Published: July 2024

Background

Prolonged confinement can lead to personal deterioration at various levels. We studied this phenomenon during the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown in a functionally dependent population of the Orcasitas neighborhood of Madrid, Spain, by measuring their ability to perform basic activities of daily living and their mortality rate.

Methods

A total of 127 patients were included in the Orcasitas cohort. Of this cohort, 78.7% were female, 21.3% were male, and their mean age was 86 years. All participants had a Barthel index of ≤ 60. Changes from pre- to post-confinement and 3 years afterward were analyzed, and the effect of these changes on survival was assessed (2020–2023).

Results

The post-confinement functional assessment showed significant improvement in independence over pre-confinement for both the Barthel score (t = −5.823; p < 0.001) and the classification level (z = −2.988; p < 0.003). This improvement progressively disappeared in the following 3 years, and 40.9% of the patients in this cohort died during this period. These outcomes were associated with the Barthel index (z = −3.646; p < 0.001) and the level of dependence (hazard ratio 2.227; CI 1.514–3.276). Higher mortality was observed among men (HR 1.745; CI 1.045–2.915) and those with severe dependence (HR 2.169; CI 1.469–3.201). Setting the cutoff point of the Barthel index at 40 provided the best detection of the risk of death associated with dependence.

Conclusions

Home confinement and the risk of death due to the COVID-19 pandemic awakened a form of resilience in the face of adversity among the population of functionally dependent adults. The Barthel index is a good predictor of medium- and long-term mortality and is a useful method for detecting populations at risk in health planning. A cutoff score of 40 is useful for this purpose. To a certain extent, the non-institutionalized dependent population is an invisible population. Future studies should analyze the causes of the high mortality observed.
Evaluating the impact of a peer-education digital literacy course on older adults' digital skills and wellbeing: a mixed-methods study protocol
Authors: Pizzul Dario , Sala Emanuela , Caliandro Alessandro , Zaccaria Daniele , Carlo Simone
Published: July 2024

The digital transition poses relevant challenges and opportunities for older adults in aging European societies. To unleash the potential of the digital transition in old age and avoid the risk of exclusion, digital education for older adults seems to be a valuable solution. One of the most suitable approaches to digital education for older adults appears to be the peer-to-peer approach. However, not much literature is available on this topic. Within the ACTIVE-IT project, we aimed to design, implement, and evaluate a digital peer education course for older adults, focusing specifically on the use of smartphones and daily utility apps, such as mailing, e-Gov, and e-commerce. The purpose of this contribution is to document the protocol adopted to evaluate the course. The course involved 32 participants aged 65 or older, who, between March 2024 and June 2024, divided into three groups, attended a 10-lesson weekly course taught by a peer. We aim to measure the effect of the course on participants' digital skills and their perceived wellbeing. To do so, we will adopt a mixed methods approach, employing: digital methods by collecting and analyzing data on participants' smartphone use (i.e., log data on smartphone use before/during/after the intervention); a quasi-experiment, collecting information on course participants' wellbeing before/after the course attendance using a questionnaire survey; ethnographic observation conducted during the course, observing interactions between subjects during the course. The study has been approved by the Ethic Committee of the University of Milano Bicocca (prot.nr. 167541/2024).
The role of magnetar transient activity in time-domain and multimessenger astronomy
Authors: Negro Michela , Younes George , Wadiasingh Zorawar , Burns Eric , Trigg Aaron , Baring Matthew
Published: July 2024

Time-domain and multimessenger astronomy (TDAMM) involves the study of transient and time-variable phenomena across various wavelengths and messengers. The Astro2020 Decadal Survey has identified TDAMM as the top priority for NASA in this decade, emphasizing its crucial role in advancing our understanding of the universe and driving new discoveries in astrophysics. The TDAMM community has come together to provide further guidance to funding agencies, aiming to define a clear path toward optimizing scientific returns in this research domain. This encompasses not only astronomy but also fundamental physics, offering insights into properties of gravity, the formation of heavy elements, the equation of state of dense matter, and quantum effects associated with extreme magnetic fields. Magnetars, neutron stars with the strongest magnetic fields in the universe, play a critical role in this context. We aim to underscore the significance of magnetars in TDAMM, highlighting the necessity of ensuring observational continuity, addressing current limitations, and outlining essential requirements to expand our knowledge in this field.
Effects of heat stress on endocrine, thermoregulatory, and lactation capacity in heat-tolerant and -sensitive dry cows
Authors: Chen Xiaoyang , Li Chenyang , Fang Tingting , Yao Junhu , Gu Xianhong
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Increasing global temperatures present a significant challenge to livestock production. The dry period is an important stage in the production cycle of cow, and environmental heat stress (HS) during this period can have adverse effects on the subsequent lactation performance. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of HS on endocrine, thermoregulatory, and lactation parameters in heat-tolerant dry cows (HTDC) and heat-sensitive dry cows (HSDC).

Methods

We measured the respiratory rate (RR), body temperature (BT), and temperature-humidity index (THI) in 66 dry cows during HS. The slopes of RR and BT to THI were determined through analysis of measurements and dry cows background information using a mixed-effects model. Subsequently, the heat tolerance or sensitivity of dry cows was assessed using clustering method (HTDC = 19 and HSDC = 47).

Results

Compared with that of HSDC, the RR of HTDC significantly increased after exposure to HS (p < 0.05). The average reduction in milk yield from new lactation to the previous lactation was significantly lower in HTDC compared to HSDC (p < 0.05). Plasma cortisol and non-esterified fatty acid levels were significantly lower in HTDC compared to HSDC (p < 0.05), while plasma triiodothyronine (p = 0.07) and growth hormone (p = 0.08) levels tended to be higher in HTDC relative to HSDC.

Discussion

HTDC can more effectively alleviate the impacts of HS through their superior thermoregulation and metabolism, thereby ensuring optimal postpartum lactation performance.
Analysis of Energy Potential of Switchgrass Biomass
Authors: Ioelovich Michael
Published: July 2024

In this research, the energy potential of switchgrass (SG) was analyzed to find promising directions for producing bioenergy from this biomass. The first direction is determining the thermal energy of bioethanol extracted from SG biomass after its pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis (saccharification), and fermentation of the resulting glucose. It was established that after a two-stage pretreatment of 1 ton of SG with dilute solutions of nitric acid and alkali, the largest amount of bioethanol can be extracted with an energy potential of 4.9 GJ. It is also shown that by the utilization of solid and liquid waste, the production cost of bioethanol can be reduced. On the other hand, the direct combustion of 1 ton of the initial SG biomass used as a solid biofuel provides an increased amount of thermal energy of 18.3 GJ, which is 3.7 times higher than the energy potential of the resulting bioethanol extracted from 1 ton of this biomass. Thus, if the ultimate goal is to obtain the maximum energy amount, then another direction for obtaining bioenergy from biomass should be implemented, namely, direct combustion, preferably after pelletizing. Studies have shown that fuel characteristics of SG pellets such as the gross thermal energy and density of thermal energy are lower than those of wood pellets, but they can be improved if the SG biomass is densified into pellets together with binders made from polymer waste.
A Fibroblast-Derived Secretome Stimulates the Growth and Invasiveness of 3D Plexiform Neurofibroma Spheroids
Authors: Ji Kyungmin , Schwenkel George J. , Mattingly Raymond R. , Sundararaghavan Harini G. , Zhang Zheng Gang , Chopp Michael
Published: July 2024

Plexiform neurofibromas (PNs) occur in about a half of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) patients and have garnered significant research attention due to their capacity for growth and potential for malignant transformation. NF1 plexiform neurofibroma (pNF1) is a complex tumor composed of Schwann cell-derived tumor cells (Nf1−/−) and the tumor microenvironment (TME). Although it has been widely demonstrated that the TME is involved in the formation of neurofibromas, little is known about the effects of the TME on the subsequent progression of human pNF1. Elucidating the molecular interactions between tumor cells and the TME may provide new therapeutic targets to reduce the progression of pNF1. In the present study, we focused on the contributions of fibroblasts, the most abundant cell types in the TME, to the growth of pNF1. To simulate the TME, we used a three-dimensional (3D) coculture model of immortalized pNF1 tumor cells (Nf1−/−) and primary fibroblasts (Nf1+/−) derived from pNF1 patients. We performed live-cell imaging of 3D/4D (3D in real-time) cultures through confocal microscopy followed by 3D quantitative analyses using advanced imaging software. The growth of pNF1 spheroids in 3D cocultures with fibroblasts was significantly greater than that of pNF1 spheroids in 3D monocultures. An increase in the growth of pNF1 spheroids also occurred when they were cultured with conditioned media (CM) from fibroblasts. Moreover, fibroblast-derived CM increased the invasive outgrowth and further local invasion of pNF1 spheroids. Interestingly, when small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) were depleted from the fibroblast-derived CM, the stimulation of the growth of pNF1 spheroids was lost. Our results suggest that fibroblast-derived sEVs are a therapeutic target for reducing the growth of pNF1.
Complete Mitochondrial Genomes of the Leptocircini Species Iphiclides podalirius and I. podalirinus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)
Authors: Pan Yue , Zhang Xin , Cotton Adam M. , Hu Shao-Ji
Published: July 2024

The complete mitochondrial genomes of two Iphiclides species, namely I. podalirius and I. podalirinus, were sequenced, assembled, and reported in this article. Both genomes comprise 37 genes, with 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. The gene orders and alignments agree with the reported mitogenomes of Leptocircini butterflies, while the start codon for the COX1 gene in I. podalirinus is CGA instead of the commonly seen ATN type. Codon preference shows that methionine and tryptophan are the poorest, while arginine, leucine, and serine are the richest. Phylogenetic analysis using Bayesian Inference shows both Iphiclides species are sister to the genus Lamproptera and are basal to all remaining Leptocircini species. The Kimura 2-parameter (K2P) distances of I. podalirinus from I. podalirius exceed 5%, demonstrating its solid species status. The K2P distance between the North African feisthamelii and podalirius exceeds 2%, indicating the reasonable elevation of I. feisthamelii to the full specific level as its type locality is Algeria. Future research is required to tackle the relationship between the Iberian feisthamelii and podalirius using more evidence.
Adaptive Segmented Aggregation and Rate Assignment Techniques for Flexible-Length Polar Codes
Authors: Saha Souradip , Mahajan Shubham , Adrat Marc , Gerstacker Wolfgang
Published: July 2024

Polar codes have garnered a lot of attention from the scientific community, owing to their low-complexity implementation and provable capacity achieving capability. They have been standardized to be used for encoding information on the control channels in 5G wireless networks due to their robustness for short codeword lengths. The conventional approach to generate polar codes is to recursively use 2×2 kernels and polarize channel capacities. This approach however, has a limitation of only having the ability to generate codewords of length Norig=2n form. In order to mitigate this limitation, multiple techniques have been developed, e.g., polarization kernels of larger sizes, multi-kernel polar codes, and downsizing techniques like puncturing or shortening. However, the availability of so many design options and parameters, in turn makes the choice of design parameters quite challenging. In this paper, the authors propose a novel polar code construction technique called Adaptive Segmented Aggregation which generates polar codewords of any arbitrary codeword length. This approach involves dividing the entire codeword into smaller segments that can be independently encoded and decoded, thereby aggregated for channel processing. Additionally a rate assignment methodology has been derived for the proposed technique, that is tuned to the design requirement.
Correction: Lan et al. Combined Effects of the Visual–Acoustic Environment on Public Response in Urban Forests. Forests 2024, 15, 858
Authors: Lan Yuxiang , Tang Yuanyang , Liu Zhanhua , Yao Xiong , Zhu Zhipeng , Liu Fan , Li Junyi , Dong Jianwen , Chen Ye
Published: July 2024

In the original publication [...]
Blockchain Financial Statements: Innovating Financial Reporting, Accounting, and Liquidity Management
Authors: Dashkevich Natalia , Counsell Steve , Destefanis Giuseppe
Published: July 2024

The complexity and interconnection within the financial ecosystem demand innovative solutions to improve transparency, security, and efficiency in financial reporting and liquidity management, while also reducing accounting fraud. This paper presents Blockchain Financial Statements (BFS), an innovative accounting system designed to address accounting fraud, reduce data manipulation, and misrepresentation of company financial claims, by enhancing availability of the real-time and tamper-proof accounting data, underpinned by a verifiable approach to financial transactions and reporting. The primary goal of this research is to design, develop, and validate a blockchain-based accounting prototype—the BFS system—that can automate transformation of transactional data, generated by traditional business activity into comprehensive financial statements. Incorporating a Design Science Research Methodology with Domain-Driven Design, this study constructs a BFS artefact that harmonises accounting standards with blockchain technology and business orchestration. The resulting Java implementation of the BFS system demonstrates successful integration of blockchain technology into accounting practices, showing potential in real-time validation of transactions, immutable record-keeping, and enhancement of transparency and efficiency of financial reporting. The BFS framework and implementation signify an advancement in the application of blockchain technology in accounting. It offers a functional solution that enhances transparency, accuracy, and efficiency of financial transactions between banks and businesses. This research underlines the necessity for further exploration into blockchain’s potential within accounting systems, suggesting a promising direction for future innovations in tamper-evident financial reporting and liquidity management.
Revealing Differential RNA Editing Specificity of Human ADAR1 and ADAR2 in Schizosaccharomyces pombe
Authors: Zhang Niubing , Chen Ping , Cui Zilin , Zhou Xiaojuan , Hao Chenhui , Xie Bingran , Hao Pei , Ye Bang-Ce , Li Xuan , Jing Xinyun
Published: July 2024

Adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing is an important post-transcriptional modification mediated by the adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADAR) family of enzymes, expanding the transcriptome by altering selected nucleotides A to I in RNA molecules. Recently, A-to-I editing has been explored for correcting disease-causing mutations in RNA using therapeutic guide oligonucleotides to direct ADAR editing at specific sites. Humans have two active ADARs whose preferences and specificities are not well understood. To investigate their substrate specificity, we introduced hADAR1 and hADAR2, respectively, into Schizosaccharomyces pombe (S. pombe), which lacks endogenous ADARs, and evaluated their editing activities in vivo. Using transcriptome sequencing of S. pombe cultured at optimal growth temperature (30 °C), we identified 483 A-to-I high-confident editing sites for hADAR1 and 404 for hADAR2, compared with the non-editing wild-type control strain. However, these sites were mostly divergent between hADAR1 and hADAR2-expressing strains, sharing 33 common sites that are less than 9% for each strain. Their differential specificity for substrates was attributed to their differential preference for neighboring sequences of editing sites. We found that at the -3-position relative to the editing site, hADAR1 exhibits a tendency toward T, whereas hADAR2 leans toward A. Additionally, when varying the growth temperature for hADAR1- and hADAR2-expressing strains, we observed increased editing sites for them at both 20 and 35 °C, compared with them growing at 30 °C. However, we did not observe a significant shift in hADAR1 and hADAR2’s preference for neighboring sequences across three temperatures. The vast changes in RNA editing sites at lower and higher temperatures were also observed for hADAR2 previously in budding yeast, which was likely due to the influence of RNA folding at these different temperatures, among many other factors. We noticed examples of longer lengths of dsRNA around the editing sites that induced editing at 20 or 35 °C but were absent at the other two temperature conditions. We found genes’ functions can be greatly affected by editing of their transcripts, for which over 50% of RNA editing sites for both hADAR1 and hADAR2 in S. pombe were in coding sequences (CDS), with more than 60% of them resulting in amino acid changes in protein products. This study revealed the extensive differences in substrate selectivity between the two active human ADARS, i.e., ADAR1 and ADAR2, and provided novel insight when utilizing the two different enzymes for in vivo treatment of human genetic diseases using the RNA editing approach.
A Study Examining the Impact of County-Level Demographic, Socioeconomic, and Political Affiliation Characteristics on COVID-19 Vaccination Patterns in Indiana
Authors: Pangan Giuseppe , Woodard Victoria
Published: July 2024

The COVID-19 vaccination campaign resulted in uneven vaccine uptake throughout the United States, particularly in rural areas, areas with socially and economically disadvantaged groups, and populations that exhibited vaccine hesitancy behaviors. This study examines how county-level sociodemographic and political affiliation characteristics differentially affected patterns of COVID-19 vaccinations in the state of Indiana every month in 2021. We linked county-level demographics from the 2016–2020 American Community Survey Five-Year Estimates and the Indiana Elections Results Database with county-level COVID-19 vaccination counts from the Indiana State Department of Health. We then created twelve monthly linear regression models to assess which variables were consistently being selected, based on the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and adjusted R-squared values. The vaccination models showed a positive association with proportions of Bachelor’s degree-holding residents, of 40–59 year-old residents, proportions of Democratic-voting residents, and a negative association with uninsured and unemployed residents, persons living below the poverty line, residents without access to the Internet, and persons of Other Race. Overall, after April, the variables selected were consistent, with the model’s high adjusted R2 values for COVID-19 cumulative vaccinations demonstrating that the county sociodemographic and political affiliation characteristics can explain most of the variation in vaccinations. Linking county-level sociodemographic and political affiliation characteristics with Indiana’s COVID-19 vaccinations revealed inherent inequalities in vaccine coverage among different sociodemographic groups. Increased vaccine uptake could be improved in the future through targeted messaging, which provides culturally relevant advertising campaigns for groups less likely to receive a vaccine, and increasing access to vaccines for rural, under-resourced, and underserved populations.
A Scoping Review on Occupational Noise Mitigation Strategies and Recommendations for Sustainable Ship Operations
Authors: Febriyanto Kresna , Guedes Joana Cristina Cardoso , Mourão Luis João Rodrigues Das Neves Correia
Published: July 2024

Environmental and occupational noise has the potential to result in health risks. The presence of high noise levels aboard ships can cause substantial hazards that affect the well-being of those employed in the maritime industry. The study and implementation of occupational noise reduction aboard ships are of the highest priority for ensuring the well-being of marine workers, compliance with regulatory standards, protection of the environment, and improvement of overall operational efficiency and safety within the maritime sector. A scoping study was conducted to collect and summarize the existing scientific literature about approaches to preventing occupational noise in vessel operations. We searched electronic databases for papers published up to June 2024. Initially, 94 articles were identified for screening, and the present research produced 16 studies, which were finally analyzed. Resultantly, noise control may begin with elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, and hearing protection (ear plugs or muffs). Noise control innovation would be started with engineering techniques. Hearing protection devices (HPDs) could be used to reduce noise and as an instrument of communication between sailors. More research needs to be carried out in order to find the best ways for maritime vessels to reduce noise at work and to see how well they work in lowering the risks that come with noise for workers on board.
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Fundamental Mechanisms, Current Status and Future Directions
Authors: Younis Abdullah , Gribben John
Published: July 2024

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are a promising form of immunotherapy that have significantly changed the therapeutic landscape for many advanced cancers. They have shown unique clinical benefit against a broad range of tumour types and a strong overall impact on survival in studied patient populations. However, there are still many limitations holding back this immunotherapy from reaching its full potential as a possible curative option for advanced cancer patients. A great deal of research is being undertaken in the hope of driving advancements in this area, building a better understanding of the mechanisms behind immune checkpoint inhibition and ultimately developing more effective, safer, and wider-reaching agents. Taking into account the current literature on this topic, this review aims to explore in depth the basis of the use of ICIs in the treatment of advanced cancers, evaluate its efficacy and safety, consider its current limitations, and finally reflect on what the future holds for this very promising form of cancer immunotherapy.
Syntheses and Patterns of Changes in Structural Parameters of the New Quaternary Tellurides EuRECuTe3 (RE = Ho, Tm, and Sc): Experiment and Theory
Authors: Ruseikina Anna V. , Grigoriev Maxim V. , Locke Ralf J. C. , Chernyshev Vladimir A. , Schleid Thomas
Published: July 2024

The layered orthorhombic quaternary tellurides EuRECuTe3 (RE = Ho, Tm, Sc) with Cmcm symmetry were first synthesized. Single crystals of the compounds up to 500 μm in size were obtained by the halide-flux method at 1120 K from elements taken in a ratio of Eu/RE/Cu/Te = 1:1:1:3. In the series of compounds, the changes in lattice parameters were in the ranges a = 4.3129(3)–4.2341(3) Å, b = 14.3150(9)–14.1562(9) Å, c = 11.2312(7)–10.8698(7) Å, V = 693.40(8)–651.52(7) Å3. In the structures, the cations Eu2+, RE3+ (RE = Ho, Tm, Sc), and Cu+ occupied independent crystallographic positions. The structures were built with distorted copper tetrahedra forming infinite chains [CuTe4]7− and octahedra [RETe6]9− forming two-dimensional layers along the a-axis. These coordination polyhedra formed parallel two-dimensional layers CuRETe32−∞2. Between the layers, along the a-axis, chains of europium trigonal prisms [EuTe6]10− were located. Regularities in the variation of structural parameters and the degree of distortion of coordination polyhedra depending on the ionic radius of the rare-earth metal in the compounds EuRECuCh3 (RE = Ho, Er, Tm, Lu, Sc; Ch = S, Se, Te) were established. It is shown that with a decrease in the ionic radius ri(RE3+) in the compounds EuRECuTe3, the unit-cell volume, bond length d(RE–Te), distortion degree [CuTe4]7−, and crystallographic compression of layers [RECuTe3]2− decreased. The distortion degree of tetrahedral polyhedra [CuCh4]7−, as well as the structural parameters in europium rare-earth copper tellurides EuRECuTe3, were higher than in isostructural quaternary chalcogenides. Ab initio calculations of the crystalline structure, phonon spectrum, and elastic properties of compounds EuRECuTe3 (RE = Ho, Tm, and Sc) ere conducted. The types and wave numbers of fundamental modes were determined, and the involvement of ions in IR and Raman modes was assessed. The calculated data of the crystal structure correlated well with the experimental results.
Merging Data with Modeling: An Example from Fatigue
Authors: Harlow D. Gary
Published: July 2024

It is well known that errors are inevitable in experimental observations, but it is equally unavoidable to eliminate errors in modeling the process leading to the experimental observations. If estimation and prediction are to be done with reasonable accuracy, the accumulated errors must be adequately managed. Research in fatigue is challenging because modeling can be quite complex. Furthermore, experimentation is time-consuming, which frequently yields limited data. Both of these exacerbate the magnitude of the potential error. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate a procedure that combines modeling with independent experimental data to improve the estimation of the cumulative distribution function (cdf) for fatigue life. Subsequently, the effect of intrinsic error will be minimized. Herein, a simplified fatigue crack growth modeling is used. The data considered are a well-known collection of fatigue lives for an aluminum alloy. For lower applied stresses, the fatigue lives can range over an order of magnitude and up to 107 cycles. For larger applied stresses, the scatter in the lives is considerably reduced. Consequently, modeling must encompass a variety of conditions. The primary conclusion of the effort is that merging independent experimental data with a reasonably acceptable model vastly improves the accuracy of the calibrated cdfs for fatigue life, given the loading conditions. This allows for improved life estimation and prediction. For the aluminum data, the calibrated cdfs are shown to be quite good by using statistical goodness-of-fit tests, stress-life (S-N) analysis, and confidence bounds estimated using the mean square error (MSE) method. A short investigation into the effect of sample size is also included. Thus, the proposed methodology is warranted.
Study on the Deformation Behavior of Two Phases during the Low Cycle Fatigue of UNS S32750 Duplex Stainless Steel
Authors: Bao Shun , Feng Han , Song Zhigang , He Jianguo , Wu Xiaohan , Gu Yang
Published: July 2024

In this paper, the deformation behavior of UNS S32750 (S32750) duplex stainless steel during low cycle fatigue was studied by controlling the number of cycles. The microstructure of the specimens under different cycles was characterized by optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The microhardness of the two phases was measured by a digital microhardness instrument. The results showed that the microhardness of ferrite increases significantly after the first 4000 cycles, while the austenite shows a higher strain hardening rate after fatigue fracture, and the microhardness of ferrite and austenite increases by 23 HV and 87 HV, respectively. The two-phase kernel average misorientation (KAM) diagram showed that the continuous accumulation of plastic deformation easily leads to the initiation of cracks inside the austenite and at the phase boundaries. The evolution of dislocation morphology in the two phases was obviously different. With the increase in cycle number, the dislocation in ferrite gradually transforms from dislocation bundles and a dislocation array to a sub-grain structure, while the dislocation in austenite gradually develops from dipole array to an ordered Taylor lattice network structure.
Analysis of Human Milk Microbiota in Northern Greece by Comparative 16S rRNA Sequencing vs. Local Dairy Animals
Authors: Tsifintaris Margaritis , Sitmalidis Michail , Tokamani Maria , Anastasiadi Christina , Georganta Maria , Tsochantaridis Ilias , Vlachakis Dimitrios , Tsikouras Panagiotis , Nikolettos Nikolaos , Chrousos George P. , Sandaltzopoulos Raphael , Giannakakis Antonis
Published: July 2024

Milk is a biological fluid with a dynamic composition of micronutrients and bioactive molecules that serves as a vital nutrient source for infants. Milk composition is affected by multiple factors, including genetics, geographical location, environmental conditions, lactation phase, and maternal nutrition, and plays a key role in dictating its microbiome. This study addresses a less-explored aspect, comparing the microbial communities in human breast milk with those in mature milk from species that are used for milk consumption. Since mature animal milk is used as a supplement for both the infant (formula) and the child/adolescent, our main aim was to identify shared microbial communities in colostrum and mature human milk. Using 16S rRNA metagenomic sequencing, we focused on characterizing the milk microbiota in the Northern Greek population by identifying shared microbial communities across samples and comparing the relative abundance of prevalent genera. We analyzed ten human milk samples (from five mothers), with five collected three days postpartum (colostrum) and five collected thirty to forty days postpartum (mature milk) from corresponding mothers. To perform an interspecies comparison of human milk microbiota, we analyzed five goat and five bovine milk samples from a local dairy industry, collected fifty to seventy days after birth. Alpha diversity analysis indicated moderate diversity and stability in bovine milk, high richness in goat milk, and constrained diversity in breast milk. Beta diversity analysis revealed significant distinctions among mammalian species, emphasizing both presence/absence and abundance-based clustering. Despite noticeable differences, shared microbial components underscore fundamental aspects across all mammalian species, highlighting the presence of a core microbiota predominantly comprising the Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteriota phyla. At the genus level, Acinetobacter, Gemella, and Sphingobium exhibit significant higher abundance in human milk compared to bovine and goat milk, while Pseudomonas and Atopostipes are more prevalent in animal milk. Our comparative analysis revealed differences and commonalities in the microbial communities of various mammalian milks and unraveled the existence of a common fundamental milk core microbiome. We thus revealed both species-specific and conserved microbial communities in human, bovine, and goat milk. The existence of a common core microbiome with conserved differences between colostrum and mature human milk underscores fundamental similarities in the microbiota of milk across mammalian species, which could offer valuable implications for optimizing the nutritional quality and safety of dairy products as well as supplements for infant health.
The International Breakfast Research Initiative—Evaluation and Comparison of Breakfast Nutrient Intakes in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines with a View to Proposing a Harmonised Nutrient-Based Breakfast Recommendation
Authors: Gibney Michael , Angeles-Agdeppa Imelda , Mognard Elise , Khusun Helda , Poulain Jean-Pierre , Ducay Apple , Toledo Marvin , Anggraini Roselynne , Februhartanty Judhiastuty , Hopkins Sinéad
Published: July 2024

The International Breakfast Research Initiative is a global study of breakfast nutrition, involving 17 countries in four continents, aiming to derive nutrient-based regional recommendations for breakfast. This study aimed to propose a harmonised recommendation for three South-East Asian countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. For each country, data from nationally representative dietary surveys on the contribution of breakfast to daily nutrient intakes at both the adult population level and at the level of the upper tertile of daily nutrient density using the Nutrient Rich Food (NRF) Index were collated and examined. Energy intakes at breakfast ranged from 26 to 27% of daily energy intake. In all three countries, breakfast was carbohydrate-rich, providing 52 to 72% of breakfast energy intake, while it was higher in total and saturated fat in Malaysia and Indonesia. Intakes of fibre and vitamin C were low in all countries, while Malaysia tended to have higher intakes of most minerals, including sodium. Daily and breakfast nutrient intakes (at the population level and in the upper tertile of the NRF Index) were compared to the Codex Alimentarius nutrient reference values (NRVs) to assess adequacy. A decision tree was established based on these data to guide the development of recommendations for nutrient intakes at breakfast across the three countries.
Mediterranean Diet Adherence, Gut Microbiota and Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review
Authors: Seelarbokus Bibi Aliya , Menozzi Elisa , Schapira Anthony H. V. , Kalea Anastasia Z. , Macnaughtan Jane
Published: July 2024

Background: There is mounting evidence to suggest that high adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) may reduce the risk of age-related diseases, including Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, evidence for the role of the MedDiet in the relief of motor and non-motor symptoms in patients with PD remains limited and inconclusive. We provide a systematic review of the effects of the MedDiet on the clinical features of PD using data from randomised controlled trials (RCT) and prospective observational studies. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMCare, EMBASE, Scopus and PubMed from inception until June 2023. Reference lists and the grey literature were also searched. Human studies with no restriction on language or publication date, examining associations between MedDiet adherence and the symptoms of PD, were included. We employed standard methodological procedures for data extraction and evidence synthesis and used the Quality Criteria Checklist for assessing the studies included. Results: Four studies from three unique cohorts, including two observational studies (n = 1213) and one RCT (n = 70), met the inclusion criteria. Despite the short study duration reported in all included reports, high MedDiet adherence was associated with changes in the gut microbiota (e.g., increased abundance of short-chain fatty acids producers). These outcomes correlated with a significant improvement in several non-motor symptoms including cognitive dysfunction, dyspepsia and constipation. However, there were no significant changes in diarrhoea, gastrointestinal reflux, abdominal pain and motor symptoms. Conclusion: High MedDiet adherence may be associated with significant improvement in global cognition and several gastrointestinal symptoms, possibly associated to changes in gut microbiota composition. Further studies are warranted to clarify potential cause-and-effect relationships and to elucidate MedDiet impact on motor symptoms.
Assessing Carbohydrate Counting Accuracy: Current Limitations and Future Directions
Authors: Amorim Débora , Miranda Francisco , Santos Andreia , Graça Luís , Rodrigues João , Rocha Mara , Pereira Maria Aurora , Sousa Clementina , Felgueiras Paula , Abreu Carlos
Published: July 2024

Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent chronic autoimmune disease with a high impact on global health, affecting millions of adults and resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Achieving optimal blood glucose levels is crucial for diabetes management to prevent acute and long-term complications. Carbohydrate counting (CC) is widely used by patients with type 1 diabetes to adjust prandial insulin bolus doses based on estimated carbohydrate content, contributing to better glycemic control and improved quality of life. However, accurately estimating the carbohydrate content of meals remains challenging for patients, leading to errors in bolus insulin dosing. This review explores the current limitations and challenges in CC accuracy and emphasizes the importance of personalized educational programs to enhance patients’ abilities in carbohydrate estimation. Existing tools for assessing patient learning outcomes in CC are discussed, highlighting the need for individualized approaches tailored to each patient’s needs. A comprehensive review of the relevant literature was conducted to identify educational programs and assessment tools dedicated to training diabetes patients on carbohydrate counting. The research aims to provide insights into the benefits and limitations of existing tools and identifies future research directions to advance personalized CC training approaches. By adopting a personalized approach to CC education and assessment, healthcare professionals can empower patients to achieve better glycemic control and improve diabetes management. Moreover, this review identifies potential avenues for future research, paving the way for advancements in personalized CC training and assessment approaches and further enhancing diabetes management strategies.
The Effects of Long-Term High Fat and/or High Sugar Feeding on Sources of Postprandial Hepatic Glycogen and Triglyceride Synthesis in Mice
Authors: Reis-Costa Ana , Belew Getachew D. , Viegas Ivan , Tavares Ludgero C. , Meneses Maria João , Patrício Bárbara , Gastaldelli Amalia , Macedo Maria Paula , Jones John G.
Published: July 2024

Background: In MASLD (formerly called NAFLD) mouse models, oversupply of dietary fat and sugar is more lipogenic than either nutrient alone. Fatty acids suppress de novo lipogenesis (DNL) from sugars, while DNL inhibits fatty acid oxidation. How such factors interact to impact hepatic triglyceride levels are incompletely understood. Methods: Using deuterated water, we measured DNL in mice fed 18-weeks with standard chow (SC), SC supplemented with 55/45-fructose/glucose in the drinking water at 30% (w/v) (HS), high-fat chow (HF), and HF with HS supplementation (HFHS). Liver glycogen levels and its sources were also measured. For HS and HFHS mice, pentose phosphate (PP) fluxes and fructose contributions to DNL and glycogen were measured using [U-13C]fructose. Results: The lipogenic diets caused significantly higher liver triglyceride levels compared to SC. DNL rates were suppressed in HF compared to SC and were partially restored in HFHS but supplied a minority of the additional triglyceride in HFHS compared to HF. Fructose contributed a significantly greater fraction of newly synthesized saturated fatty acids compared to oleic acid in both HS and HFHS. Glycogen levels were not different between diets, but significant differences in Direct and Indirect pathway contributions to glycogen synthesis were found. PP fluxes were similar in HS and HFHS mice and were insufficient to account for DNL reducing equivalents. Conclusions: Despite amplifying the lipogenic effects of fat, the fact that sugar-activated DNL per se barely contributes suggests that its role is likely more relevant in the inhibition of fatty acid oxidation. Fructose promotes lipogenesis of saturated over unsaturated fatty acids and contributes to maintenance of glycogen levels. PP fluxes associated with sugar conversion to fat account for a minor fraction of DNL reducing equivalents.
Carbazole Derivatives Binding to Bcl-2 Promoter Sequence G-quadruplex
Authors: Głuszyńska Agata , Kosman Joanna , Chuah Shang Shiuan , Hoffmann Marcin , Haider Shozeb
Published: July 2024

In this study, we used ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), fluorescence, and circular dichroism (CD) techniques, as well as molecular modeling, to probe the interactions between carbazole derivatives and the G-quadruplex structure formed in the promoter region of gene Bcl-2. This gene is a rational target for anticancer therapy due to its high expression in a variety of tumors as well as resistance to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. We employed a sequence with a specific dual G-to-T mutation that may form a mixed-type hybrid G-quadruplex structure in the Bcl-2 P1 promoter region. The three tested carbazole compounds differing in substitution on the nitrogen atom of carbazole interact with the Bcl-2 G-quadruplex by the same binding mode with the very comparable binding affinities in the order of 105 M−1. During absorption and fluorescence measurements, large changes in the ligand spectra were observed at higher G4 concentrations. The spectrophotometric titration results showed a two-step complex formation between the ligands and the G-quadruplex in the form of initial hypochromicity followed by hyperchromicity with a bathochromic shift. The strong fluorescence enhancement of ligands was observed after binding to the DNA. All of the used analytical techniques, as well as molecular modeling, suggested the π–π interaction between carbazole ligands and a guanine tetrad of the Bcl-2 G-quadruplex. Molecular modeling has shown differences in the interaction between each of the ligands and the tested G-quadruplex, which potentially had an impact on the binding strength.