bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cholestatic Pruritus: Pathophysiology, Current Management Approach, and Emerging Therapies
Authors: Kode Vishwajit , Yimam Kidist K.
Published: February 2024

Purpose of Review

Cholestatic pruritus refers to the sensation of itch experienced by patients with disease processes impairing bile flow. This article aims to illustrate the burden of cholestatic pruritus, review the proposed mechanisms, and summarize its available and emerging therapies.

Recent Findings

Pruritus is experienced by many patients with cholestatic liver diseases. It is underdiagnosed and negatively impacts patients’ quality of life. Its direct cause remains unclear though multiple pathways have been explored. Current therapies are insufficient but newly approved ileal bile acid transporter (IBAT) inhibitors and emerging peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonists are promising.

Cholestatic pruritus affects many patients with cholestatic liver diseases and can be debilitating. In moderate to severe cases, current guidelines provide treatment options that are ineffective. Emerging agents such as IBAT inhibitors and PPAR agonists should be considered, including referral to clinical trials. Further exploration into the pathophysiology and effective therapeutic agents is needed.
Effects of Oral Iron Supplementation on Blood Iron Status in Athletes: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Šmid Anja Neža , Golja Petra , Hadžić Vedran , Abazović Ensar , Drole Kristina , Paravlic Armin H.
Published: February 2024

Background

Iron deficiency in athletes is initially treated with a nutritional intervention. If negative iron balance persists, oral iron supplementation (OIS) can be used. Despite the recent proposal for a refinement of treatment strategies for iron-deficient athletes, there is no general consensus regarding the actual efficiency, dosage, or optimal regimen of OIS.

Objective

The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate to what extent OIS affects blood iron parameters and physical performance in healthy adult athletes.

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, PEDro, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and Cochrane were searched from inception to 2 November 2022. Articles were eligible if they satisfied the following criteria: recruited subjects were healthy, adult and physically active individuals, who used exclusively OIS, irrespective of sex and sports discipline. Exclusion criteria: simultaneous supplementation with iron and any other micronutrient(s), intravenous iron supplementation or recent exposure to altitude acclimatisation. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed with the PEDro scale, the completeness of intervention reporting with the TIDieR scale, while the GRADE scale was used for quality of evidence synthesis. The present study was prospectively registered in PROSPERO online registry (ID: CRD42022330230).

Results

From 638 articles identified through the search, 13 studies (n = 449) were included in the quantitative synthesis. When compared to the control group, the results demonstrated that OIS increases serum ferritin (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 1.27, 95% CI 0.44–2.10, p = 0.006), whereas blood haemoglobin (SMD = 1.31, 95% CI − 0.29 to 2.93, p = 0.099), serum transferrin receptor concentration (SMD = − 0.74, 95% CI − 1.89 to 0.41, p = 0.133), and transferrin saturation (SMD = 0.69, 95% CI − 0.84 to 2.22, p = 0.330) remained unaltered. Following OIS, a trend of small positive effect on VO2max (SMD = 0.49, 95% CI − 0.09 to 1.07, p = 0.086) was observed in young healthy athletes. The quality of evidence for all outcomes ranged from moderate to low.

Conclusions

Increase in serum ferritin concentration after OIS was evident in subjects with initial pre-supplementation serum ferritin concentration ≤ 12 µg/l, while only minimal, if any effect, was observed in subjects with higher pre-supplementation serum ferritin concentration. The doses of OIS, that induced a beneficial effect on hematological parameters differed from 16 to 100 mg of elementary iron daily, over the period between 6 and 8 weeks. Shorter supplementation protocols have been shown to be ineffective.
Exploring physico-chemical properties of HIV/AIDS drugs using neighborhood topological indices of molecular graphs
Authors: Yasin Faisal , Afzal Zeeshan , Chaudhary Faryal , Akgul Ali , Hassan Ahmad M. , Karamat Muhammad
Published: February 2024

In this study, we investigate the efficacy of neighborhood-degree-based topological indices in the modeling of drug properties pertinent to HIV/AIDS. By representing molecular structures as graphs, we delve deep into atom-level environments, uncovering intricate relationships between local topological attributes and theoretical characteristics. Through meticulous quantitative structure–property relationship analysis, we establish robust correlations between these indices and drug properties. This breakthrough augurs predictive insights in the realm of pharmaceutical research, reducing the need for exhaustive experimentation. Our research underscores the pivotal role played by neighborhood-degree-based topological indices in advancing drug discovery, offering a powerful tool that resonates with chemists and industry professionals. It marks a transformative step in the trajectory of pharmaceutical development, promising to redefine and enhance the future of drug design and innovation.
Predictive Factors for the Formation of Viable Embryos in Subfertile Patients with Diminished Ovarian Reserve: A Clinical Prediction Study
Authors: Feng Keng , Zhang Zhao , Wu Ling , Zhu Lingling , Li Xiang , Li Derong , Ruan Luhai , Luo Yudi
Published: February 2024

This study aims to construct and validate a nomogram for predicting blastocyst formation in patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) during in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 445 DOR patients who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) at the Reproductive Center of Yulin Maternal and Child Health Hospital from January 2019 to January 2023. A total of 1016 embryos were cultured for blastocyst formation, of which 487 were usable blastocysts and 529 did not form usable blastocysts. The embryos were randomly divided into a training set (711 embryos) and a validation set (305 embryos). Relevant factors were initially identified through univariate logistic regression analysis based on the training set, followed by multivariate logistic regression analysis to establish a nomogram model. The prediction model was then calibrated and validated. Multivariate stepwise forward logistic regression analysis showed that female age, normal fertilization status, embryo grade on D2, and embryo grade on D3 were independent predictors of blastocyst formation in DOR patients. The Hosmer–Lemeshow test indicated no statistical difference between the predicted probabilities of blastocyst formation and actual blastocyst formation (P > 0.05). These results suggest that female age, normal fertilization status, embryo grade on D2, and embryo grade on D3 are independent predictors of blastocyst formation in DOR patients. The clinical prediction nomogram constructed from these factors has good predictive value and clinical utility and can provide a basis for clinical prognosis, intervention, and the formulation of individualized medical plans.
Digital Evidence in Refugee Status Determination
Authors: Hamilton Byrne William , Gammeltoft-Hansen Thomas
Published: February 2024

Digital evidence is rapidly emerging as a tool for migration authorities in refugee status determination (RSD)—the procedure for determining whether a person meets the criteria for protection as a “refugee.” Its growing popularity may be seen as a response to the relative dearth of “hard” evidence in asylum procedures, where decisions often hinge exclusively on the applicant's personal narrative and assessment of her credibility. In this essay, we critically examine the growing use of digital evidence in RSD by authorities and the human rights concerns that arise from some of these practices. We then move to outline some examples of how digital evidence might also present new opportunities for scholars, practitioners, and asylum seekers themselves, helping to substantiate claims and document underlying inequities in existing RSD practices. In the process, we seek to navigate a balance between the techno-solutionism that hails digital evidence as a panacea and those a priori dismissing digitization as techno-hype and inherently problematic.
WIC staff and healthcare professional perceptions of an EHR intervention to facilitate referrals to and improve communication and coordination with WIC: A qualitative study
Authors: McCall Abigail , Strahley Ashley E. , Martin-Fernandez Katy W. , Lewis Kristina H. , Pack Angelina , Ospino-Sanchez Beatriz , Greene Ivy , de la Vega Gabriela , Taxter Alysha J. , Eagleton Sally G. , Montez Kimberly G.
Published: February 2024

Objectives:

Participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has numerous benefits, yet many eligible children remain unenrolled. This qualitative study sought to explore perceptions of a novel electronic health record (EHR) intervention to facilitate referrals to WIC and improve communication/coordination between WIC staff and healthcare professionals.

Methods:

WIC staff in three counties were provided EHR access and recruited to participate. An automated, EHR-embedded WIC participation screening and referral tool was implemented within 8 healthcare clinics; healthcare professionals within these clinics were eligible to participate. The interview guide was developed using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to elicit perceptions of this novel EHR-based intervention. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via telephone. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results:

Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight WIC staff, seven pediatricians, four medical assistants, and one registered nurse. Most participants self-identified as female (95%) and White (55%). We identified four primary themes: (1) healthcare professionals had a positive view of WIC but communication and coordination between WIC and healthcare professionals was limited prior to WIC having EHR access; (2) healthcare professionals favored WIC screening using the EHR but workflow challenges existed; (3) EHR connections between WIC and the healthcare system can streamline referrals to and enrollment in WIC; and (4) WIC staff and healthcare professionals recommended that WIC have EHR access.

Conclusions:

A novel EHR-based intervention has potential to facilitate healthcare referrals to WIC and improve communication/coordination between WIC and healthcare systems.
Multistability of elasto-inertial two-dimensional channel flow
Authors: Beneitez Miguel , Page Jacob , Dubief Yves , Kerswell Rich R.
Published: February 2024

Elasto-inertial turbulence (EIT) is a recently discovered two-dimensional chaotic flow state observed in dilute polymer solutions. Two possibilities are currently hypothesized to be linked to the dynamical origins of EIT: (i) viscoelastic Tollmien–Schlichting waves and (ii) a centre-mode instability. The nonlinear evolution of the centre mode leads to a travelling wave with an ‘arrowhead’ structure in the polymer conformation, a structure also observed instantaneously in simulations of EIT. In this work we conduct a suite of two-dimensional direct numerical simulations spanning a wide range of polymeric flow parameters to examine the possible dynamical connection between the arrowhead and EIT. Our calculations reveal (up to) four coexistent attractors: the laminar state and a steady arrowhead regime (SAR), along with EIT and a ‘chaotic arrowhead regime’ (CAR). The SAR is stable for all parameters considered here, while the final pair of (chaotic) flow states are visually very similar and can be distinguished only by the presence of a weak polymer arrowhead structure in the CAR regime. Analysis of energy transfers between the flow and the polymer indicates that both chaotic regimes are maintained by an identical near-wall mechanism and that the weak arrowhead does not play a role. Our results suggest that the arrowhead is a benign flow structure that is disconnected from the self-sustaining mechanics of EIT.
Exorcising the Ghosts of Prescott from Conquest Historiography
Authors: Dyck Jason
Published: February 2024

This essay reviews the following works:

Collision of Worlds: A Deep History of the Fall of Aztec Mexico and the Forging of New Spain. By David M. Carballo. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020. Pp. xvi + 351. $37.99 hardcover, $23.99 paperback, e-book. ISBN: 9780197661451.

Conquistadores: A New History of Spanish Discovery and Conquest. By Fernando Cervantes. New York: Viking, 2021. Pp. vxiii + 496. $35.00 hardcover, e-book. ISBN: 9781101981269.

Inca Apocalypse: The Spanish Conquest and the Transformation of the Andean World. By R. Alan Covey. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020. Pp. xix + 592. $34.95 hardcover. ISBN: 9780190299125.

Death in the Snow: Pedro de Alvarado and the Illusive Conquest of Peru. By George W. Lovell. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2022. Pp. xv + 280. $39.95 hardcover. ISBN: 9780228014409.

Strike Fear in the Land: Pedro de Alvarado and the Conquest of Guatemala, 1520–1541. By W. George Lovell, Christopher H. Lutz, and Wendy Kramer. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2020. Pp. xvi + 194. $32.95 hardcover, $21.95 paperback, e-book. ISBN: 9780806190044.

German Conquistadors in Venezuela: The Welsers’ Colony, Racialized Capitalism, and Cultural Memory. By Giovanna Montenegro. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 2022. Pp. xvii + 372. $95.00 hardcover, $75.99 e-book. ISBN: 9780268203214.

Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest. By Matthew Restall. Updated edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021. Pp. xix + 272. $21.99 paperback. ISBN: 9780197537299.

Conquistadors and Aztecs: A History of the Fall of Tenochtitlan. By Stefan Rinke. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2023. Pp. ix + 328. $34.95 hardcover. ISBN: 9780197552469.
Digital remembrance: Honouring Srebrenica genocide victims via #ŠtoTeNema
Authors: Jaugaitė Rimantė
Published: February 2024

This article aims to track and tackle the #ŠtoTeNema hashtag to analyse the meanings generated by Twitter end-users who employed #ŠtoTeNema together with other hashtags, texts, visuals, hyperlinks, and metadata.ŠTO TE NEMA(Why are you not here?) first appeared as an alternative commemorative practice (in 2006) to remember the victims of the Srebrenica genocide (1995). In 2012, the #ŠtoTeNema hashtag emerged to commemorate human loss on Twitter and provide even more comprehensive access to this space of memory and suffering. Using multimodal discourse analysis, I examine how Aida Šehović, the artist behindŠTO TE NEMA, with her team and Twitter's end-users, portrayed the Srebrenica genocide by employing #ŠtoTeNema. I argue thatŠTO TE NEMAhas become an influential and recognisable representation of the Srebrenica genocide not only on-site but also online. This research concludes that #ŠtoTeNema gained momentum during the global pandemic peak (2020), creating inclusive access to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the genocide locally, regionally, and transnationally.
Challenges and Opportunities Surrounding Catholic Education
Authors: Haldane John
Published: February 2024

Catholic education faces a number of serious challenges including cultural and political disrespect for, and hostility towards religion in general and Catholicism in particular, and lack of knowledge of, and commitment to, Catholic beliefs and values among Catholic educational administrators, school managers, teachers, and other staff, as well as the diminishing percentage of even nominally Catholic staff. I set these matters within the context of broader challenges surrounding Catholic education, deriving from three cultural movements: the reformation, the emergence of liberalism, and the scientific revolution, which undermined the synthesis of scripture, theology, and speculative and practical philosophy achieved in the high middle-ages. I propose in response a creative critique showing that what is of authentic value in modernity can be accommodated within the traditional synthesis. I also connect that tradition with strands of eastern philosophy suggesting that the movement of people, ideas, and traditions from Eastern cultures into historically Western societies provides an opportunity for further synthesis of a wisdom-based approach to education.
Outdoor LiDAR-inertial SLAM using ground constraints
Authors: Hu Yating , Zhou Qigao , Miao Zhejun , Yuan Hang , Liu Shuang
Published: February 2024

The current LiDAR-inertial odometry is prone to cumulative Z-axis error when it runs for a long time. This error can easily lead to the failure to detect the loop-closing in the correct scenario. In this paper, a ground-constrained LiDAR-inertial SLAM is proposed to solve this problem. Reasonable constraints on the ground motion of the mobile robot are incorporated to limit the Z-axis drift error. At the same time, considering the influence of initial positioning error on navigation, a keyframe selection strategy is designed to effectively improve the flatness and accuracy of positioning and the efficiency of loop detection. If GNSS is available, the GNSS factor is added to eliminate the cumulative error of the trajectory. Finally, a large number of experiments are carried out on the self-developed robot platform to verify the effectiveness of the algorithm. The results show that this method can effectively improve location accuracy in outdoor environments, especially in environments of feature degradation and large scale.
Monitoring antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter isolates of chickens and turkeys at the slaughter establishment level across the United States, 2013–2021
Authors: Sodagari Hamid R. , Agrawal Isha , Sohail Mohammad N. , Yudhanto Setyo , Varga Csaba
Published: February 2024

Foodborne infections with antimicrobial-resistant Campylobacter spp. remain an important public health concern. Publicly available data collected by the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System for Enteric Bacteria related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Campylobacter spp. isolated from broiler chickens and turkeys at the slaughterhouse level across the United States between 2013 and 2021 were analysed. A total of 1,899 chicken-origin (1,031 Campylobacter coli (C. coli) and 868 Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni)) and 798 turkey-origin (673 C. coli and 123 C. jejuni) isolates were assessed. Chicken isolates exhibited high resistance to tetracycline (43.65%), moderate resistance to ciprofloxacin (19.5%), and low resistance to clindamycin (4.32%) and azithromycin (3.84%). Turkey isolates exhibited very high resistance to tetracycline (69%) and high resistance to ciprofloxacin (39%). The probability of resistance to all tested antimicrobials, except for tetracycline, significantly decreased during the latter part of the study period. Turkey-origin Campylobacter isolates had higher odds of resistance to all antimicrobials than isolates from chickens. Compared to C. jejuni isolates, C. coli isolates had higher odds of resistance to all antimicrobials, except for ciprofloxacin. The study findings emphasize the need for poultry-type-specific strategies to address differences in AMR among Campylobacter isolates.
‘It Matters How They See You’: ‘Maternal Activation’ As a Strategy to Navigate Contradictory Discourses of Motherhood and Neoliberal Activism in the Welsh Homelessness System
Authors: England Edith , Henley Josie
Published: February 2024

Despite increasing attention to the importance of gender as an analytic to understanding neoliberal welfare reform, little attention has been paid to how motherhood operates to structure experiences. We propose the term ‘maternal activation’ to describe how homeless mothers as a group are subject to, and yet repurpose and resist, specific forms of social control characterising neoliberal paternalistic welfare structures. Drawing on a Critical Discourse Analysis of semi-structured interviews with fifty-four frontline homelessness workers, and eighteen homeless mothers, within the newly conditionalised Welsh homelessness system, we argue that homeless mothers have distinct experiences of neoliberal welfare governance. They navigate contradictory demands of attentive caregiving and economically engaged citizenship, amid devaluation of care created by a neoliberal emphasis on entrepreneurialism. However, performing intense motherhood offers strategic advantage for homeless mothers by enabling them to be read as ‘legible’. This highlights the utility of motherhood as a framework to understand welfare citizenship.
Bernice Johnson Reagon's Musical Coalition Politics, 1966–81
Authors: Stacks Stephen
Published: February 2024

In 1981, Bernice Johnson Reagon gave a talk at the West Coast Women's Festival, challenging the group of mainly white feminists to embrace coalition politics—a political praxis theorized and advocated by Black and Israeli feminists that sought to build coalitions only after distinct group identities were embraced and nurtured. Long before she articulated this concept as the future of the Movements within which she worked, Reagon piloted it in her post-Civil Rights Movement music making. In her work with the Harambee Singers and the Southern Folk Cultural Revival Project between 1966 and 1974, Reagon developed a musical coalition politics that would inform her later interventions. Not only were Reagon's musical coalition politics during this period a musical embodiment of the vanguard of feminist theory, but they also shed light on how one of the most important musician-scholar-activists of the twentieth century approached the crafting of a new political identity in conversation with the shifting front of the Black Freedom Movement in the immediate wake of the classical phase of the Civil Rights Movement. This little-known period of Reagon's output offers scholars of Black music, scholars of American music, feminists/Black feminists, and activists much to contemplate and incorporate into our work.
Spray interval, application order, and plant height influences control of dicamba-resistant Palmer amaranth
Authors: Foster Delaney C. , Mueller Thomas C. , Steckel Lawrence E.
Published: February 2024

Palmer amaranth, which is resistant to glyphosate and protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitors, remains a threat to cotton and soybean production in Tennessee. This is partly due to the recent evolution of dicamba-resistant Palmer amaranth in western Tennessee, which further complicates weed management. Experiments were conducted in 2021 and 2022 to determine the best timing between sequential applications and the order in which 2,4-D or dicamba should be used with glufosinate to control resistant Palmer amaranth. Palmer amaranth control increased when the interval between postemergence herbicide applications decreased from 21 to 7 d. At the 7-d interval in a dicamba-based system, the order of herbicides did not affect Palmer amaranth control. However, in a 2,4-D-based system, the greatest control was achieved when 2,4-D was applied first, followed by either 2,4-D or glufosinate. While weed height at the time of application had a significant effect on Palmer amaranth control with auxin herbicides, control was still unacceptable in the field at the labeled rates of dicamba or 2,4-D when applied to weeds that were <10 cm tall (48% and 53%, respectively). Neither dicamba nor 2,4-D provided acceptable control of the Palmer amaranth populations evaluated in this study. Sequential applications separated by 7 d provided better weed control than those separated by 21 d. Given that the better 7-d sequential treatments provided less than 90% control and resulted in more than 64,000 surviving Palmer amaranth plants per hectare suggests that relying solely on these herbicides for Palmer amaranth control is not a sustainable weed management strategy.
„Nützlich zu wissen“: Effekte einer direkt-kommunizierten Nützlichkeitsintervention auf die Motivation und die Leistung von Schülern und Schülerinnen
Authors: Mumme Clara , Vollmeyer Regina
Published: February 2024

Zusammenfassung: In Anlehnung an die Erwartungs-Wert-Theorie stellen Erwartungen und subjektive Werte im Schulkontext wichtige Ressourcen für Motivation und Leistungen dar. Bisherige Untersuchungen zeigen, dass direkt-kommunizierte Nützlichkeitsinformationen die Motivation und die Leistung in naturwissenschaftlichen Fächern steigern können, allerdings wurden vorwiegend Studien im Hochschulkontext durchgeführt. Vor diesem Hintergrund wurde in dieser Studie untersucht, ob sich eine direkt-kommunizierte Nützlichkeitsintervention bei Schülern und Schülerinnen im Fach Biologie positiv auf die Leistung in einem Wissenstest auswirkt und ob dieser Effekt über die Erwartung und den subjektiven Wert erklärt werden kann. Die Nützlichkeitsintervention bestand aus einem Text mit Nützlichkeitsinformationen über ein biologisches Fachthema. Gymnasialschüler und -schülerinnen ( N = 141) wurden randomisiert in die Nützlichkeitsbedingung oder in eine Kontrollbedingung eingeteilt. Nach der Intervention wurden Nützlichkeitswerte und Erfolgserwartungen der Schüler und Schülerinnen abgefragt und die Leistung mit einem finalen Wissenstest erfasst. Die Nützlichkeitsintervention konnte die Leistung ( d = .47) und die Erfolgserwartung steigern ( d = .50). Wie zu erwarten war, wurde der Effekt der Nützlichkeitsintervention auf die Leistung über die Erfolgserwartung vermittelt. Über den Nützlichkeitswert konnte die Leistungssteigerung allerdings nicht erklären werden. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass eine kurze und einmalig durchgeführte Intervention mit Nützlichkeitsinformationen positive Effekte auf die Motivation und die Leistung von Schülern und Schülerinnen im Fach Biologie haben kann und erweitert damit die bisherigen Befunde über Nützlichkeitsinterventionen in naturwissenschaftlichen Fächern.
Resting Heart Rate Variability Is Positively Associated With Proneness to Guilt but not Shame in Chinese Young Adults
Authors: Ip Isaac N. , Ching Fiona N. Y. , Chiu Hey Tou , Keung Ariel H. Y. , Wong Savio W. H.
Published: February 2024

Abstract: A high proneness to experience shame and guilt has been associated with psychopathology. Despite their similarity, shame- and guilt-proneness have different psychological and neurobiological correlates. The present study aims to compare the physiological correlates between shame- and guilt-proneness. Resting heart rate variability (HRV), a peripheral biomarker of emotion dysregulation and psychopathology, was measured in a sample of 60 Chinese young adults with two sessions of electrocardiogram recording. Proneness to shame and guilt were measured by the Test of Self-Conscious Affect – 3. Hierarchical linear modeling indicated that guilt-proneness was positively associated with HRV while shame-proneness was not. Our findings implied that shame- and guilt-proneness have different relations with HRV. The distinct physiological relations are discussed with respect to the adaptive/maladaptive nature of shame- and guilt-proneness.
Permafrost Carbon: Progress on Understanding Stocks and Fluxes Across Northern Terrestrial Ecosystems
Authors: Treat Claire C. , Virkkala Anna‐Maria , Burke Eleanor , Bruhwiler Lori , Chatterjee Abhishek , Fisher Joshua B. , Hashemi Josh , Parmentier Frans‐Jan W. , Rogers Brendan M. , Westermann Sebastian , Watts Jennifer D. , Blanc‐Betes Elena , Fuchs Matthias , Kruse Stefan , Malhotra Avni , Miner Kimberley , Strauss Jens , Armstrong Amanda , Epstein Howard E. , Gay Bradley , Goeckede Mathias , Kalhori Aram , Kou Dan , Miller Charles E. , Natali Susan M. , Oh Youmi , Shakil Sarah , Sonnentag Oliver , Varner Ruth K. , Zolkos Scott , Schuur Edward A.G. , Hugelius Gustaf
Published: February 2024

Significant progress in permafrost carbon science made over the past decades include the identification of vast permafrost carbon stocks, the development of new pan‐Arctic permafrost maps, an increase in terrestrial measurement sites for CO2 and methane fluxes, and important factors affecting carbon cycling, including vegetation changes, periods of soil freezing and thawing, wildfire, and other disturbance events. Process‐based modeling studies now include key elements of permafrost carbon cycling and advances in statistical modeling and inverse modeling enhance understanding of permafrost region C budgets. By combining existing data syntheses and model outputs, the permafrost region is likely a wetland methane source and small terrestrial ecosystem CO2 sink with lower net CO2 uptake toward higher latitudes, excluding wildfire emissions. For 2002–2014, the strongest CO2 sink was located in western Canada (median: −52 g C m−2 y−1) and smallest sinks in Alaska, Canadian tundra, and Siberian tundra (medians: −5 to −9 g C m−2 y−1). Eurasian regions had the largest median wetland methane fluxes (16–18 g CH4 m−2 y−1). Quantifying the regional scale carbon balance remains challenging because of high spatial and temporal variability and relatively low density of observations. More accurate permafrost region carbon fluxes require: (a) the development of better maps characterizing wetlands and dynamics of vegetation and disturbances, including abrupt permafrost thaw; (b) the establishment of new year‐round CO2 and methane flux sites in underrepresented areas; and (c) improved models that better represent important permafrost carbon cycle dynamics, including non‐growing season emissions and disturbance effects.
Early Jurassic large igneous province carbon emissions constrained by sedimentary mercury
Authors: Fendley Isabel M. , Frieling Joost , Mather Tamsin A. , Ruhl Micha , Hesselbo Stephen P. , Jenkyns Hugh C.
Published: February 2024

Large igneous province eruptions and their carbon emissions often coincide with, and are hypothesized to have driven, severe environmental perturbations in the geological past. However, the vast scale of large igneous provinces and uncertainties in magmatic volatile contents and radioisotopic dates limit our ability to resolve gas emissions in detail over time. Here we employ high-resolution (~5–200 kyr) sedimentary mercury data from the Llanbedr (Mochras Farm) borehole, Wales, to derive quantitative large igneous province degassing estimates over a 20-million-year-long Early Jurassic interval (195–175 million years ago). Intervals of relatively elevated sedimentary mercury coincide with episodes of carbon-cycle change, including the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event (183–182 million years ago). We use excess mercury loading to estimate large igneous province-associated carbon emissions, revealing that multi-millennial episodes of activity plausibly drove recognized $$p_{{\mathrm{CO}}_2}$$

p

CO

2

and temperature increases. However, previous carbon-cycle model-based carbon emission scenarios require faster and larger carbon inputs than our proposed emissions. Resolving this discrepancy may require climate–carbon-cycle feedbacks or co-emitted gases to substantially exacerbate the carbon-cycle response, processes potentially underestimated in current models. Our long and near-continuous record of Early Jurassic large igneous province activity demonstrates mercury’s potential as a tool to resolve past carbon fluxes.
Core network traffic prediction based on vertical federated learning and split learning
Authors: Li Pengyu , Guo Chengwei , Xing Yanxia , Shi Yingji , Feng Lei , Zhou Fanqin
Published: February 2024

Wireless traffic prediction is vital for intelligent cellular network operations, such as load-aware resource management and predictive control. Traditional centralized training addresses this but poses issues like excessive data transmission, disregarding delays, and user privacy. Traditional federated learning methods can meet the requirement of jointly training models while protecting the privacy of all parties’ data. However, challenges arise when the local data features among participating parties exhibit inconsistency, making the training process difficult to sustain. Our study introduces an innovative framework for wireless traffic prediction based on split learning (SL) and vertical federated learning. Multiple edge clients collaboratively train high-quality prediction models by utilizing diverse traffic data while maintaining the confidentiality of raw data locally. Each participant individually trains dimension-specific prediction models with their respective data, and the outcomes are aggregated through collaboration. A partially global model is formed and shared among clients to address statistical heterogeneity in distributed machine learning. Extensive experiments on real-world datasets demonstrate our method’s superiority over current approaches, showcasing its potential for network traffic prediction and accurate forecasting.
Automated neonatal nnU-Net brain MRI extractor trained on a large multi-institutional dataset
Authors: Chen Joshua V. , Li Yi , Tang Felicia , Chaudhari Gunvant , Lew Christopher , Lee Amanda , Rauschecker Andreas M. , Haskell-Mendoza Aden P. , Wu Yvonne W. , Calabrese Evan
Published: February 2024

Brain extraction, or skull-stripping, is an essential data preprocessing step for machine learning approaches to brain MRI analysis. Currently, there are limited extraction algorithms for the neonatal brain. We aim to adapt an established deep learning algorithm for the automatic segmentation of neonatal brains from MRI, trained on a large multi-institutional dataset for improved generalizability across image acquisition parameters. Our model, ANUBEX (automated neonatal nnU-Net brain MRI extractor), was designed using nnU-Net and was trained on a subset of participants (N = 433) enrolled in the High-dose Erythropoietin for Asphyxia and Encephalopathy (HEAL) study. We compared the performance of our model to five publicly available models (BET, BSE, CABINET, iBEATv2, ROBEX) across conventional and machine learning methods, tested on two public datasets (NIH and dHCP). We found that our model had a significantly higher Dice score on the aggregate of both data sets and comparable or significantly higher Dice scores on the NIH (low-resolution) and dHCP (high-resolution) datasets independently. ANUBEX performs similarly when trained on sequence-agnostic or motion-degraded MRI, but slightly worse on preterm brains. In conclusion, we created an automatic deep learning-based neonatal brain extraction algorithm that demonstrates accurate performance with both high- and low-resolution MRIs with fast computation time.
Typical CIDP, distal variant CIDP, and anti-MAG antibody neuropathy: An ultra-high frequency ultrasound comparison of nerve structure
Authors: Puma Angela , Grecu Nicolae , Badea Raluca Ș. , Morisot Adeline , Zugravu Roxana , Ioncea Mihai B. , Cavalli Michele , Lăcătuș Oana , Ezaru Andra , Hacina Chorfa , Villa Luisa , Raffaelli Charles , Azulay Nicolas , Sacconi Sabrina
Published: February 2024

To date, little is known about the usefulness of ultra-high frequency ultrasound (UHF-US, 50–70 MHz) in clinical practice for the diagnosis of dysimmune neuropathies. We present a prospective study aimed at comparing UHF-US alterations of nerves and fascicles in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP), distal CIDP (d-CIDP) and anti-MAG neuropathy and their relationships with clinical and electrodiagnostic (EDX) features. 28 patients were included (twelve CIDP, 6 d-CIDP and 10 anti-MAG) and ten healthy controls. Each patient underwent neurological examination, EDX and UHF-US study of median and ulnar nerves bilaterally. UHF-US was reliable in differentiating immune neuropathies from controls when using mean and/or segmental nerve and/or fascicle cross-sectional area (CSA); furthermore, fascicle ratio (fascicle/nerve CSA) was a reliable factor for differentiating d-CIDP from other types of polyneuropathies. The fascicle CSA appears to be more increased in CIDP and its variant than in anti-MAG neuropathy. UHF-US offers information beyond simple nerve CSA and allows for a better characterization of the different forms of dysimmune neuropathies.
Smoking and diabetes cause telomere shortening among alcohol use disorder patients
Authors: Inomata Shinsaku , Arima Hiroaki , Fukuda Takahiro , Ozawa Hiroki , Yamamoto Taro
Published: February 2024

The length of telomeres located at the ends of chromosomes has attracted attention as an indicator of cellular and individual aging. Various diseases or stresses cause telomere shortening, and it has been reported that alcohol use disorder patients actually have shorter telomeres than healthy patients. However, the factors that contribute to the reduction in telomere length among alcohol use disorder patients have not been clarified in detail. Therefore, in this study, we explored the factors that reduce telomere length in alcohol use disorder patients. A questionnaire survey and a measurement of leukocyte telomere length were conducted among alcohol use disorder patients. The mean telomere length of leukocyte was measured by ∆∆Ct analysis using a real-time PCR. We compared the telomere length between alcohol use disorder patients and the control group (Japanese special health check-up examinee). Moreover, we searched for factors associated with telomere length from drinking/smoking characteristics and history of comorbidities. A total of 74 subjects had alcohol use disorder, and 68 were in the control group. Compared to the control group, alcohol use disorder patients had significantly shorter telomere lengths (p < 0.001). A multivariate analysis revealed that a longer duration of smoking resulted in a significantly shorter telomere length (p = 0.0129). In addition, a comparison of the telomere length between the groups with and without a history of suffering from each disease revealed that telomere length was significantly shorter in the group with diabetes than in the group without diabetes (p = 0.0371). This study reveals that in individuals with alcohol dependence, particularly, prolonged smoking habits and the presence of diabetes contribute to telomere shortening. Medication and support for abstinence from alcohol has been mainly provided for alcohol use disorder patients. Our findings demonstrate a potential support approach via smoking cessation programs and controlling diabetes, which may be helpful to suppress the shortening of healthy life expectancy among alcohol use disorder patients.
Structure–activity characteristics of phenylalanine analogs selectively transported by L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1)
Authors: Chen Sihui , Jin Chunhuan , Ohgaki Ryuichi , Xu Minhui , Okanishi Hiroki , Kanai Yoshikatsu
Published: February 2024

L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) is a transmembrane protein responsible for transporting large neutral amino acids. While numerous LAT1-targeted compound delivery for the brain and tumors have been investigated, their LAT1 selectivity often remains ambiguous despite high LAT1 affinity. This study assessed the LAT1 selectivity of phenylalanine (Phe) analogs, focusing on their structure–activity characteristics. We discovered that 2-iodo-l-phenylalanine (2-I-Phe), with an iodine substituent at position 2 in the benzene ring, markedly improves LAT1 affinity and selectivity compared to parent amino acid Phe, albeit at the cost of reduced transport velocity. l-Phenylglycine (Phg), one carbon shorter than Phe, was found to be a substrate for LAT1 with a lower affinity, exhibiting a low level of selectivity for LAT1 equivalent to Phe. Notably, (R)-2-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-naphthoic acid (bicyclic-Phe), with an α-methylene moiety akin to the α-methyl group in α-methyl-l-phenylalanine (α-methyl-Phe), a known LAT1-selective compound, showed similar LAT1 transport maximal velocity to α-methyl-Phe, but with higher LAT1 affinity and selectivity. In vivo studies revealed tumor-specific accumulation of bicyclic-Phe, underscoring the importance of LAT1-selectivity in targeted delivery. These findings emphasize the potential of bicyclic-Phe as a promising LAT1-selective component, providing a basis for the development of LAT1-targeting compounds based on its structural framework.
Cerebral white matter hyperintensities indicate severity and progression of coronary artery calcification
Authors: Kneihsl Markus , Gattringer Thomas , Hofer Edith , Rainer Peter P. , Ranner Gerhard , Fandler-Höfler Simon , Haidegger Melanie , Perl Sabine , Enzinger Christian , Schmidt Reinhold
Published: February 2024

Cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMH) have been associated with subclinical atherosclerosis including coronary artery calcification (CAC). However, previous studies on this association are limited by only cross-sectional analysis. We aimed to explore the relationship between WMH and CAC in elderly individuals both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. The study population consisted of elderly stroke- and dementia-free participants from the community-based Austrian Stroke Prevention Family Study (ASPFS). WMH volume and CAC levels (via Agatston score) were analyzed at baseline and after a 6-year follow-up period. Of 324 study participants (median age: 68 years), 115 underwent follow-up. Baseline WMH volume (median: 4.1 cm3) positively correlated with baseline CAC levels in multivariable analysis correcting for common vascular risk factors (p = 0.010). While baseline CAC levels were not predictive for WMH progression (p = 0.447), baseline WMH volume was associated CAC progression (median Agatston score progression: 27) in multivariable analysis (ß = 66.3 ± 22.3 [per cm3], p = 0.004). Ten of 11 participants (91%) with severe WMH (Fazekas Scale: 3) at baseline showed significant CAC progression > 100 during follow-up. In this community-based cohort of elderly individuals, WMH were associated with CAC and predictive of its progression over a 6-year follow-up. Screening for coronary artery disease might be considered in people with more severe WMH.
Production, acceptability, nutritional and pasting properties of orange-flesh sweet potato, cowpea and banana flour mix
Authors: Olaniran Abiola Folakemi , Okonkwo Clinton Emeka , Osemwegie Omorefosa Osarenkhoe , Iranloye Yetunde Mary , Adewumi Adejoke Deborah , Taiwo Abiola Ezekiel , Erinle Oluwakemi Christianah , Ajayi Iyanuoluwa Esther , Ojo Oluwafemi Adeleke
Published: February 2024

Promoting the intake of foods rich in vitamin A is key to combating the increase in vitamin A deficiency. This research focused on the utilization of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (a tuber-based food), cowpea (a pulse), and ripe bananas (a fruit) for the production of flour mix as a means to reduce Vitamin A deficiency in children. Different ratios of sweet potato-cowpea-banana (PCB) mix, resulting in 8 different blended samples, were optimized. The flour mix was evaluated for its overall acceptability, vitamin A content, beta-carotene, and other nutritional and functional properties. The panelists rated the sweet potato-cowpea banana blends labeled PCB8 (60% OFSP, 30% cowpea, 5% ripe banana flour, and 5% sugar) as most preferred and acceptable with average scores of 8.96 points for color, 8.75 points for flavor, 8.88 points for appearance, 8.33 points for taste, 8.07 points for texture, and 8.39 points for overall acceptability on a 9-point hedonic scale. The vitamin A and beta-carotene contents ranged 7.62 to 8.35 mg/100 g and 0.15–0.17 mg/100 g for all blends. A significant difference in the functional properties of the flour mix were observed with an increase in the ratio of sweet potato flour addition. Findings from this study show that the flour mix PCB4 (65% sweet potato, 30% cowpea, and 5% ripe banana flour) was acceptable (8.15) and is recommended based on its vitamin A content (8.35 mg/100 g), nutritional properties, and functional properties. The study showed that locally available food commodities have good nutritional value that will help reduce vitamin A deficiency in children.
Hepatitis C virus antibody seropositivity is associated with albuminuria but not peripheral artery disease in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Cheng Yu-Cheng , Lee Teng-Yu , Li Yu-Hsuan , Lu Chin-Li , Liu Hsiu-Chen , Sheu Meei Ling , Lee I-Te
Published: February 2024

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is prevalent in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). We aimed to investigate whether HCV antibody (Ab) seropositivity is associated with diabetic micro- and macro-vascular diseases. In this hospital-based cross-sectional study, we retrospectively collected data from patients who participated in the diabetes pay-for-performance program and underwent HCV Ab screening in the annual comprehensive assessment between January 2021 and March 2022. We examined the relationships of HCV Ab seropositivity with the spot urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) in patients aged ≥ 50 years with type 2 DM. A total of 1758 patients were enrolled, and 85 (4.83%) of the enrolled patients had HCV Ab seropositivity. Multivariable regression analyses revealed that albuminuria showed a dose-dependent association with HCV Ab seropositivity (UACR [30–299 mg/g]: odds ratio [OR] = 1.463, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.872‒2.456); UACR [≥ 300 mg/g]: OR = 2.300, 95% CI 1.160‒4.562; P for trend = 0.015) when compared with normal albuminuria (UACR < 30 mg/g). However, the proportion of patients with peripheral arterial disease, defined as an ABI ≤ 0.9, was not significantly different between the groups with and without HCV Ab seropositivity (3.5% vs. 3.9%, P = 0.999). In conclusion, severely increased albuminuria, but not the ABI, showed a significant association with HCV Ab seropositivity in patients aged ≥ 50 years with type 2 DM.
Pyromeconic acid-enriched Erigeron annuus water extract as a cosmetic ingredient for itch relief and anti-inflammatory activity
Authors: Kang Minkyoung , Kang Minji , Kim Tae Hee , Jeong Seong Un , Oh Sangnam
Published: February 2024

Erigeron annuus (EA), traditionally used to treat disorders such as diabetes and enteritis, contains a variety of chemicals, including caffeic acid, flavonoids, and coumarins, providing antifungal and antioxidative benefits. However, the ingredients of each part of the EA vary widely, and there are few reports on the functionality of water extracts in skin inflammation and barrier protection. We assessed the therapeutic properties of the extract of EA without roots (EEA) and its primary ingredient, pyromeconic acid (PA), focusing on their antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative capabilities using HMC-1(human mast cells) and human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells). Our findings revealed that histamine secretion, which is closely related to itching, was notably reduced in HMC-1 cells following pretreatment with EEA (0.1% and 0.2%) and PA (corresponding concentration, 4.7 of 9.4 µg/mL). Similarly, they led to a marked decrease in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-8, IL-6, and IFN-γ. Furthermore, EA and PA enhanced antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) production, and showed reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity in HaCaT cells. Moreover, at the molecular level, elevated levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, TARC, and MDC induced by TNF-α/IFN-γ in HaCaT cells were mitigated by treatment with EEA and PA. We also revealed the protective effects of EEA and PA against SDS-induced skin barrier dysfunction in HaCaT cells by enhancing the expression of barrier-related proteins. Using NanoString technology, a comprehensive analysis of gene expression changes indicated significant modulation of autoimmune and inflammatory genes by EEA and PA. In summary, this study suggests that EEA and the corresponding concentration of PA as an active ingredient have functional cosmetic applications to alleviate itching and improve skin health.