bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrative analyses of ferroptosis and immune related biomarkers and the osteosarcoma associated mechanisms
Authors: Li Guibin , Lei Jie , Xu Dexin , Yu Wenchang , Bai Jinping , Wu Ge
Published: April 2023

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone tumor with high metastatic potential and relapse risk. To study the regulatory mechanism of the OS microenvironment, a complex regulatory network involving the ferroptosis- and immune response-related genes remains to be established. In the present study, we determined the effect of a comprehensive evaluation system established on the basis of ferroptosis- and immune-related genes on the immune status, related biomarkers, prognosis, and the potential regulatory networks underlying OS based on the TARGET and Gene Expression Omnibus databases that contain information on OS patients by bioinformatics analyses. We first characterized individual ferroptosis scores and immune scores through gene set variation analysis (GSVA) against TARGET-OS datasets. We then identified differentially expressed genes by score groups. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was performed to identify the most relevant ferroptosis-related and immune-related gene modules, which facilitated the identification of 327 ferroptosis gene and 306 immune gene candidates. A 4-gene (WAS, CORT, WNT16, and GLB1L2) signature was constructed and valuation using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator-Cox regression models to effectively predict OS prognosis. The prediction efficiency was further validated by GSE39055. We stratified patients based on the prognostic scoring systems. Eight hub genes (namely CD3D, CD8A, CD3E, IL2, CD2, MYH6, MYH7, and MYL2) were identified, and TF–miRNA target regulatory networks were constructed. Furthermore, Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, gene set enrichment analysis, and GSVA were used to determine the signature’s potential pathways and biological functions, which showed that the hub genes were enriched in ferroptosis-associated biological functions and immune-associated molecular mechanisms. Thereafter, we investigated the proportion and infiltration extent of 22 infiltrating immune cells by using CIBERSORT, which revealed significant subgroup differences in CD8 + T cells, M0 macrophages, and M2 macrophages. In conclusion, we determined a new ferroptosis-related and immune-related gene signature for predicting OS patients’ prognosis and further explored the ferroptosis and immunity interactions during OS development, which provides insights into the exploration of molecular mechanisms and targeted therapies in patients with OS.
Sb2Te3 nanoparticle-containing single-walled carbon nanotube films coated with Sb2Te3 electrodeposited layers for thermoelectric applications
Authors: Eguchi Rikuo , Hoshino Koki , Takashiri Masayuki
Published: April 2023

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are promising thermoelectric materials owing to their flexibility and excellent durability when exposed to heat and chemicals. Thus, they are expected to be used in power supplies for various sensors. However, their thermoelectric performances are inferior to those of inorganic thermoelectric materials. To improve the thermoelectric performance while maintaining the excellent characteristics of SWCNTs, a novel approach to form inorganic thermoelectric layers on the SWCNT bundle surfaces using electrodeposition is proposed. We synthesized Sb2Te3 nanoparticle-containing SWCNT films and coated them with electrodeposited Sb2Te3 layers. The Sb2Te3 nanoparticles were synthesized via a spontaneous redox reaction, which were then added to a SWCNT dispersion solution, and films were produced via vacuum filtration. At higher nanoparticle contents in the films, the Sb2Te3 electrodeposited layers completely covered the SWCNT bundles owing to the increase in the concentration of precursor ions near the SWCNT bundle surface, which in turn was the result of melted nanoparticles. The thermoelectric performance improved, and the maximum power factor at approximately 25 °C was 59.5 µW/(m K2), which was 4.7 times higher than that of the normal SWCNT film. These findings provide valuable insights for designing and fabricating high-performance flexible thermoelectric materials.
A fabric-based wearable sensor for continuous monitoring of decubitus ulcer of subjects lying on a bed
Authors: Lee Soyeon , Kim Seung-Rok , Jeon Kun-Hoo , Jeon Jun-Woo , Lee Ey-In , Jeon Jiwan , Oh Je-Heon , Yoo Ju-Hyun , Kil Hye-Jun , Park Jin-Woo
Published: April 2023

For multifunctional wearable sensing systems, problems related to wireless and continuous communication and soft, noninvasive, and disposable functionality issues should be solved for precise physiological signal detection. To measure the critical transitions of pressure, temperature, and skin impedance when continuous pressure is applied on skin and tissue, we developed a sensor for decubitus ulcers using conventional analog circuitry for wireless and continuous communication in a disposable, breathable fabric-based multifunctional sensing system capable of conformal contact. By integrating the designed wireless communication module into a multifunctional sensor, we obtained sensing data that were sent sequentially and continuously to a customized mobile phone app. With a small-sized and lightweight module, our sensing system operated over 24 h with a coin-cell battery consuming minimum energy for intermittent sensing and transmission. We conducted a pilot test on healthy subjects to evaluate the adequate wireless operation of the multifunctional sensing system when applied to the body. By solving the aforementioned practical problems, including those related to wireless and continuous communication and soft, noninvasive, and disposable functionality issues, our fabric-based multifunctional decubitus ulcer sensor successfully measured applied pressure, skin temperature, and electrical skin impedance.
The Apple Watch spO2 sensor and outliers in healthy users
Authors: Schröder Christina , Förster Robert , Zwahlen Daniel R. , Windisch Paul
Published: April 2023

It is unclear how frequently the Apple Watch produces spO2 measurements outside of the normal range in healthy individuals at rest. We conducted a head-to-head comparison in 38 healthy individuals between two watches and two medical-grade pulse oximeters. Fourteen percent of watch measurements yielded spO2 values below 95%, with no values below 92%. Results suggest that outliers measured by the watch should not be a cause for concern in otherwise healthy individuals.
Uncovering biology by single-cell proteomics
Authors: Mansuri M. Shahid , Williams Kenneth , Nairn Angus C.
Published: April 2023

Recent technological advances have opened the door to single-cell proteomics that can answer key biological questions regarding how protein expression, post-translational modifications, and protein interactions dictate cell state in health and disease.
A tailored tetravalent peptide displays dual functions to inhibit amyloid β production and aggregation
Authors: Sato Waka , Watanabe-Takahashi Miho , Murata Takuya , Utsunomiya-Tate Naoko , Motoyama Jun , Anzai Masataka , Ishihara Seiko , Nishioka Nanako , Uchiyama Hina , Togashi Juri , Nishihara Saeka , Kawasaki Kiyoshi , Saito Takashi , Saido Takaomi C. , Funamoto Satoru , Nishikawa Kiyotaka
Published: April 2023

Inhibition of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) accumulation in the brain is a promising approach for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Aβ is produced by β-secretase and γ-secretase in endosomes via sequential proteolysis of amyloid precursor protein (APP). Aβ and APP have a common feature to readily cluster to form multimers. Here, using multivalent peptide library screens, we identified a tetravalent peptide, LME-tet, which binds APP and Aβ via multivalent interactions. In cells, LME-tet-bound APP in the plasma membrane is transported to endosomes, blocking Aβ production through specific inhibition of β-cleavage, but not γ-cleavage. LME-tet further suppresses Aβ aggregation by blocking formation of the β-sheet conformation. Inhibitory effects are not observed with a monomeric peptide, emphasizing the significance of multivalent interactions for mediating these activities. Critically, LME-tet efficiently reduces Aβ levels in the brain of AD model mice, suggesting it may hold promise for treatment of AD.
Two distinct types of turbidity currents observed in the Manila Trench, South China Sea
Authors: Liu Meng , Wang Zhiwen , Yu Kaiqi , Xu Jingping
Published: April 2023

Sediment gravity flows are the most direct and efficient transport mechanisms for moving terrestrial sediments into deep oceans. Scarcity of firsthand measurements, however, has hindered the quantitative, even qualitative characterization of such flows. Here we present a unique year-long data record from ~4000 m depth in the Manila Trench that captured two very different gravity flows in terms of their hydraulic and sedimentary properties. The first flow was of slow speed (~40 cm s−1) and long duration (~150 h), thus nicknamed ‘Tortoises’, and carried very fine sediment with low concentration (~0.01%). The fast (~150 cm s−1) but short-lived (~40 h) flow, nicknamed ‘Hares’, carried much coarser sediment with higher concentration (~1.2%). Clay mineral compositions suggest that the ‘Tortoises’ originated from upstream canyon wall slumping, whereas the ‘Hares’ was likely submarine canyons southwest of Taiwan Island due to typhoon. Grain size is a key factor in determining evolution of turbidity currents.
Molecular dynamics study of plasmon-mediated chemical transformations
Authors: Wu Xiaoyan , van der Heide Tammo , Wen Shizheng , Frauenheim Thomas , Tretiak Sergei , Yam ChiYung , Zhang Yu
Published: April 2023

Heterogeneous catalysis of adsorbates on metallic surfaces mediated by plasmons has potential high photoelectric conversion efficiency and controllable reaction selectivity.
A molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor for specific and ultrasensitive determination of an aminoglycoside drug: the role of copper ions in the determination
Authors: A. Z. Alanazi , Alhazzani Khalid , Alaseem Ali M. , Alanzi Abdullah R. , Al Awadh Saeed Abdullah , Alenazi Fahaad S. , Obaidullah Ahmad J. , El-Wekil Mohamed M.
Published: April 2023

A molecular imprinted polymer was fabricated for determination of aminoglycoside drug. It is based on creation of cavities suitable for Cu (II)-kanamycin where Cu(II) acts as signal tracer and amplifier.
Highly efficient and stable oxygen evolution from seawater enabled by a hierarchical NiMoSx microcolumn@NiFe-layered double hydroxide nanosheet array
Authors: Zhang Longcheng , Li Ling , Liang Jie , Fan Xiaoya , He Xun , Chen Jie , Li Jun , Li Zixiao , Cai Zhengwei , Sun Shengjun , Zheng Dongdong , Luo Yongsong , Yan Hong , Liu Qian , Alshehri Abdulmohsen Ali , Guo Xiaodong , Sun Xuping , Ying Binwu
Published: April 2023

In situ Raman spectroscopy studies indicate that the high-valent molybdate ions can promote the generation of disordered NiOOH active species and protect catalysts from Cl− corrosion during seawater oxidation.
Cobalt(iii)–salen decorated stereoregular optically active helical polyisocyanides enable highly effective cooperative asymmetric catalysis toward the kinetic resolution of epoxides
Authors: Kang Shu-Ming , Song Xue , Zhang Ting-Ting , Xu Lei , Zhu Yuan-Yuan , Wu Zong-Quan
Published: April 2023

The decoration of  Co(iii)–salen onto stereoregular optically active helical polyisocyanides considerably increased efficiency and enantioselectivity of kinetic resolution of epoxides through improved cooperative asymmetric catalysis mode.
Copper phthalocyanine modified hydrogel inverse opal beads for enhanced photocatalytic removal of dyes
Authors: Shen Fengtong , Wang Jingzhen , Wang Libin , Zang Linlin , Xu Qing , Sun Liguo , Zhang Yanhong
Published: April 2023

Copper phthalocyanine modified hydrogel inverse opal beads (CuPc-PACA HIOBs) were prepared with enhanced light absorption and photocatalytic degradation.
Syntheses and properties of 11-ring-fused linear thienoacenes
Authors: Liu Shihui , Xia Debin , Wang Jinghao , Ge Congwu , Hao Sue , Zhang Jian , Wang Ping , Lin Kaifeng , Dong Shaoqiang , Tretyakov Evgeny , Yang Yulin , Gao Xike
Published: April 2023

A novel class of π-extended 11-ring-fused linear thienoacenes (BBDTB-H, BBDTB-TIPS, and BBDTB-Br) with four thieno[3,2-b;4,5-b′]dithiophenes and three benzene rings were synthesized and fully characterized.
A metastable molecular array guided by the synergy of confinement and charge repulsion for piezochromic sensors
Authors: Liu Jing , Wang Ruixing , Wang Xinrui , Liang Kaixiang , Shi Wenying , Lu Chao
Published: April 2023

Piezochromic fluorescent materials have attracted the interest of the scientific community due to their obvious fluorescence emission or color change in response to external pressure or mechanical grinding stimulation.
Recent progress and prospects of fluorescent materials based on narrow emission
Authors: Li Hao-Ze , Xie Feng-Ming , Li Yan-Qing , Tang Jian-Xin
Published: April 2023

MR-TADF emitters with narrow emission have been developed and are expected to become fourth-generation emitters for HD-OLEDs, with molecular design guidelines and commercial prospects outlined in this review.
Kinematically engaged yoke system for segmented lens-based space telescope integration and testing
Authors: Esparza Marcos , Choi Heejoo , Brar Nicholas , Wang Zichan , Kim Youngsik , Fellows Chuck , Bog Mingab , Kim Gunhee , Yi Allen , Milster Tom D. , Apai Dániel , Kim Daewook
Published: April 2023

One of the most profound and philosophically captivating foci of modern astronomy is the study of Earth-like exoplanets in the search for life in the Universe. The paradigm-shifting investigation described here calls for a new type of scalable space telescope that redefines the available light-collecting area in space. The Nautilus Space Observatory, enabled by multiple-order diffractive optics (the MODE lens), is ushering in the advent of large space telescope lenses designed to search for biosignatures on a thousand exo-earths. The Kinematically Engaged Yoke System (KEYS) was developed to align a segmented version of the MODE lens. A technology demonstration prototype of KEYS was built and tested using scanning white light interferometry and deflectometry. A deflectometry system was also developed to monitor the closed-loop alignment of the segmented MODE lens during its UV (i.e., Ultraviolet) curing.
Impact of Molecular Status on Metastasectomy of Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases
Authors: Wang Yan-Yan , Xin Ze-Chang , Wang Kun
Published: April 2023

Although surgical resection could provide better survival for patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM), the recurrence rate after resection of CRLM remains high. The progress of genome sequencing technologies has greatly improved the molecular understanding of colorectal cancer. In the era of genomics and targeted therapy, genetic mutation analysis is of great significance to guide systemic treatment and identify patients who can benefit from resection of CRLM. RAS and BRAF mutations and microsatellite instability/deficient deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) mismatch repair status have been incorporated into current clinical practice. Other promising molecular biomarkers such as coexisting gene mutations and circulating tumor DNA are under active investigation. This study aimed to review the prognostic significance of molecular biomarkers in patients with CRLM undergoing metastasectomy based on the current evidence.
Experience with “Select Crowd Review” in Peer Review for The
Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon: 1-Year Experience
Authors: Gottardi Roman , Henning Peter Thomas , Bogensberger Jessica , Heinemann Markus K.
Published: April 2023

Objective To evaluate the experience with a new peer review method, “Select Crowd Review” (SCR): anonymized PDFs of manuscripts are accessible to a reviewer crowd via an online platform. It has access for 10 days to enter anonymized comments directly into the manuscript. A SCR-Editor summarizes the annotations, giving a recommendation. Both reviewed PDF and summary are sent back to authors. Upon submission, authors are given a choice to accept or decline SCR.

Design All manuscript submissions since introduction in July 2021 until July 2022 were analyzed regarding acceptance and quality. Manuscripts were sent to a crowd of 45 reviewers and regular double-blinded peer review at the same time. Efficiency and performance of the crowd's reviews were compared with those of regular review. For thoracic manuscripts, a crowd was not yet available.

Results SCR was accepted by the authors for 73/179 manuscripts (40.8%). After desk rejections, 51 cardiac manuscripts entered SCR. For five manuscripts, the crowd did not respond. In all remaining papers, the crowd's recommendation concurred with that of the normal reviewers. Regular peer review took up to 6 weeks. Twelve manuscripts underwent repeated SCR after revision. A median of 2 (0–9) crowd members sent in reviews. In revisions, average response was one reviewer responding.

Conclusion SCR encountered good acceptance by authors. As the first experience showed concordant recommendations compared with traditional review, we have extended SCR to thoracic manuscripts for more experience. SCR may become the sole review method for eligible manuscripts. Efficiency should be increased, especially for re-review of revisions.
Prosthesis–Patient Mismatch after Aortic Valve Replacement with the Mosaic Ultra Bioprosthesis
Authors: Dzemali Omer , Haeussler Achim , Ntinopoulos Vasileios , Biefer Hector Rodriguez Cetina , Dushaj Stak , Rings Laura , Fleckenstein Philine
Published: April 2023

Background Several studies have reported high rates of prosthesis–patient mismatch (PPM) after aortic valve replacement (AVR) with the Mosaic prosthesis. This work assesses the incidence of PPM after AVR with a modified version of the Mosaic prosthesis, the Mosaic Ultra.

Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of the data of 532 patients who underwent AVR with implantation of the Mosaic Ultra prosthesis in the period 2007–2016 in our institution. Patients were classified according to their indexed effective orifice area (EOAi) to severe (EOAi < 0.65 cm2/m2), moderate (EOAi 0.65–0.85 cm2/m2), and absent/mild PPM (EOAi > 0.85 cm2/m2). In-hospital postoperative outcomes and the impact of PPM on mean transvalvular pressure gradient after stratification by prosthesis size were assessed.

Results Overall, 3 (0.6%) patients had severe, 92 (17.3%) moderate, and 437 (82.1%) absent/mild PPM. There was a significant difference in PPM proportions (moderate/severe vs absent/mild PPM) across different prosthesis sizes overall (p < 0.0001), observing gradually increasing rates of PPM with decreasing prosthesis sizes. Patients with moderate/severe PPM had higher mean transvalvular pressure gradients (19 [13–25] vs 13 [10–17] mm Hg, p < 0.0001) than patients with absent/mild PPM. There was a significant difference in mean transvalvular pressure gradient between the different aortic valve prosthesis sizes overall (p < 0.0001), observing gradually increasing gradients with decreasing prosthesis sizes.

Conclusion Patients undergoing AVR with the smaller sized (19, 21, and 23 mm) Mosaic Ultra aortic valve prostheses exhibit a higher risk for moderate/severe PPM and higher mean aortic transvalvular pressure gradients than patients receiving the larger sized (25, 27, and 29 mm) prostheses.
Improving the entrepreneurial ability of rural migrant workers returning home in China: Study based on 5,675 questionnaires
Authors: Lu Yan , Zhou Yuqi , Liu Pengling
Published: April 2023

Innovation and entrepreneurship play a key role in the development of a country’s economy and society. In recent years, along with the comprehensive implementation of China’s rural revitalization strategy, the government has issued many policies to support and benefit farmers, and the investment environment in villages has been greatly improved, attracting more and more migrant workers to return to their hometowns to start businesses. Improving the entrepreneurial ability of China’s returning migrant workers is very important. A review of the previous literature showed that both internal personal factors and external environmental factors can affect the entrepreneurial ability of entrepreneurs. Combining the results of the questionnaire survey, this paper incorporates eight internal personal factors and eight external environmental factors into the index system for assessing entrepreneurial ability and uses a combination of SWOT analysis and AHP analysis to prioritize the factors influencing the entrepreneurial ability of returning migrant workers in China. The results are as follows: (1) The factors influencing the entrepreneurial ability of returnee entrepreneurs could be divided into two types: the individual factors of returnee entrepreneurs, and the external environmental factors. (2) Among the internal factors, technical experience and business management ability are the two main factors influencing entrepreneurial activity. (3) Among the external environmental factors, the opportunity for industrial structure adjustment and low technical content would have a higher influence on the entrepreneurial activity of returnee entrepreneurs. Accordingly, this study proposes some policy recommendations on how to improve the entrepreneurial ability of returnee entrepreneurs. Finally, the research methodology of this paper can be used as a reference for other scholars, and the research results can also be used for administrators to develop relevant policies to better improve the entrepreneurial ability of returnee entrepreneurs.
Scaling and similarity laws in three-dimensional wall jets
Authors: di Mare Luca
Published: April 2023

Wall jets appear in many situations of technological and scientific interest. In gas turbines, flows produced by the film as well as impingement cooling devices are three-dimensional wall jets. High-lift devices produce flows that can easily be represented by two-dimensional wall jets. It has been known for a long time that wall jets in both stagnant and moving environments display a layered structure and only partially obey similarity laws. In this paper, we derive scaling laws and obtain self-similar velocity defect and Reynolds stress profiles for the outer part of three-dimensional wall jets in the high-Reynolds-number limit. The scaling laws are derived from prime principles under realistic assumptions about the behavior of the flow. We show that the leading term in an expansion of the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) as a series of powers of the distance from the source must scale like the transversal velocity causing the jet to spread laterally. Only the second term in the TKE expansion is shown to scale like the square of the velocity defect. The scaling laws are tested on numerical and experimental data representing two commonly used film cooling devices.
‘Gregor, are you Unstable? Check your Bandwidth…’: Adapting Kafka for Zoom in Hijinx Theatre’s Metamorphosis
Authors: Broadribb Benjamin
Published: April 2023

First performed live via Zoom in August 2020, Hijinx Theatre’s Metamorphosis was overtly tied to the cultural moment of the COVID-19 pandemic, offering a sense of shifting between perspectives on reality in its adaptation of Franz Kafka’s 1915 novella. The production itself appeared to be in a continual state of transformation: it shifted between scenes adapted from the novella, ‘behind-the-scenes’ vignettes in which the cast played fictionalised versions of themselves, and interactive interludes hosted by a compère-like character known as ‘the barman’. This article explores the effect of adapting Kafka’s story for the world of 2020 not only through the innovative ways in which Hijinx engaged with Zoom performance through their production at a time when experimentation with the platform as a theatrical space/medium was still very much in its infancy; but also through the manner in which the company adapted Kafka’s novella to reflect the cultural moment of the early months of lockdown. In doing so, this article considers the ways in which Hijinx’s Metamorphosis mercurially embodied both the hopelessness of life at the height of lockdown, and the optimism of being able to emerge from the tragedy and loss of the pandemic into a world with renewed hope.
Transmedia Adaptation and Transmedia Practices in the Long Nineteenth Century
Authors: Primorac Antonija
Published: April 2023

This review essay examines new trends in transmedia studies and their relationship to adaptation studies by focusing on two recent publications: Lissette Lopez Szwydky’s monograph Transmedia Adaptation in the Nineteenth Century (The Ohio State UP: Ohio, 2020) and the collection of essays entitled Transmedia Practices in the Long Nineteenth Century (Routledge: London, 2022) edited by Christina Meyer and Monika Pietrzak-Franger. The essay analyses the recent shift in focus in transmedia research from storytelling to practices. This shift is part of the trend to historicize the development of convergence media and draw parallels between transmedia practices in the long nineteenth century and those at work today. The essay concludes by investigating the role that adaptation and adaptation studies play in these two volumes’ explorations of nineteenth-century transmedia.
Comparative Analysis of Three Workload Measurement Methodologies in Surgical Pathology: Conclusions and Implications on Public Health Care and Costing of Pathology Services
Authors: Pantelakos Stavros , Agrogiannis Georgios
Published: April 2023

Objectives

To carry out a comparative analysis between 3 different workload measurement systems in surgical pathology: the Resource-Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS), the Level 4 Equivalent (L4E), and the Automatable Activity-Based Approach to Complexity Unit Scoring (AABACUS). The RBRVS is one of the most widely used systems in terms of attempting to measure workload, whereas it has been proposed as a means of costing (and thus setting reimbursement rates) of surgical pathology services in Greece, despite being widely criticized for its inaccurate design.

Methods

Surgical pathology workload for 1 representative month at Evaggelismos General Hospital was assessed using both the RBRVS and the 2 newer methods.

Results

Pearson correlation showed a high level of correlation (0.902, P < .01) between the L4E and AABACUS but less so between either of those and the RBRVS (0.712 and 0.626, respectively; P < .01). The highest level of discrepancy was observed in the subspecialties of genitourinary, breast, dermatopathology, and gastrointestinal pathology. In addition, total and average working hours as calculated by the RBRVS were significantly lower compared with the other 2 systems.

Conclusions

The RBRVS tends to underestimate actual workload as a result of its inability to take specific workload parameters into account, such as slide count or the need for intradepartmental consultation.
Getting a load of linguistic reasoning: How L1 student teachers process rules of thumb and linguistic manipulations in discussions about grammar
Authors: Van Rijt Jimmy , Banga Arina , Goudbeek Martijn
Published: April 2023

An important skill for L1 language teachers when teaching grammar is the ability to produce and quickly evaluate arguments that underpin a grammatical analysis. Previous research has revealed that the strongest arguments in favour of a particular grammatical analysis are based on linguistic manipulations (LM) rather than on rules of thumb (RoT). This makes it critical for teachers to be able to handle arguments based on LM. If LM are considered too difficult to process compared to RoT, however, (student) teachers may avoid grammatical argumentation based on LM altogether, and they might struggle to evaluate their pupils’ LM-based grammatical argumentation. The current study has therefore examined whether LM impose a higher cognitive load on Dutch student teachers than RoT, using grammatical discussion tasks in which participants (N = 298) evaluated arguments based on RoT and on LM. Multilevel analyses indicate that LM are indeed more difficult to process than RoT, as measured by response times, correct classifications, and perceived difficulty ratings. This effect is partly influenced by student teachers’ need for cognition and their willingness to engage in grammar.
Low incidence of cannibalism among brood parasitic cuckoo catfish embryos
Authors: Zimmerman Holger , Tolman Deryk , Reichard Martin
Published: April 2023

Brood parasites have demanding needs of host resources. Brood parasitic offspring are highly competitive and frequently cause the failure of host broods and the survival of a single parasitic offspring. Accordingly, virulent brood parasites lay a single egg in the same host nest to avoid sibling competition. In the cuckoo catfish (Synodontis multipunctatus), which parasitize mouthbrooding cichlid fishes in Lake Tanganyika, the modes of host and parasite oviposition lead to frequent cases of multiple parasitism. We experimentally tested the prediction that multiple parasitism leads to frequent cannibalism among offspring. Cuckoo catfish embryos prey upon host offspring to obtain nourishment during their 3-week development in the host buccal cavity and may also consume conspecific embryos. The potential benefits of cannibalism in the system are, therefore, twofold; to decrease competition for limited resources (i.e., host brood with rich yolk sacs) and to directly obtain nourishment by consuming rivals. We found that cannibalism indeed provided measurable benefits in terms of increased growth of the cannibals, but cannibalism was rare and typically occurred once all host offspring had been consumed. This implies that cannibalism among cuckoo catfish embryos emerges to mitigate starvation rather than eliminate competition.
FLAN: feature-wise latent additive neural models for biological applications
Authors: Nguyen An-Phi , Vasilaki Stefania , Martínez María Rodríguez
Published: April 2023

Motivation

Interpretability has become a necessary feature for machine learning models deployed in critical scenarios, e.g. legal system, healthcare. In these situations, algorithmic decisions may have (potentially negative) long-lasting effects on the end-user affected by the decision. While deep learning models achieve impressive results, they often function as a black-box. Inspired by linear models, we propose a novel class of structurally constrained deep neural networks, which we call FLAN (Feature-wise Latent Additive Networks). Crucially, FLANs process each input feature separately, computing for each of them a representation in a common latent space. These feature-wise latent representations are then simply summed, and the aggregated representation is used for the prediction. These feature-wise representations allow a user to estimate the effect of each individual feature independently from the others, similarly to the way linear models are interpreted.

Results

We demonstrate FLAN on a series of benchmark datasets in different biological domains. Our experiments show that FLAN achieves good performances even in complex datasets (e.g. TCR-epitope binding prediction), despite the structural constraint we imposed. On the other hand, this constraint enables us to interpret FLAN by deciphering its decision process, as well as obtaining biological insights (e.g. by identifying the marker genes of different cell populations). In supplementary experiments, we show similar performances also on non-biological datasets.

Code and data availability

Code and example data are available at https://github.com/phineasng/flan_bio.
Environmental noise exposure and health outcomes: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analysis
Authors: Chen Xia , Liu Mingliang , Zuo Lei , Wu Xiaoyi , Chen Mengshi , Li Xingli , An Ting , Chen Li , Xu Wenbin , Peng Shuang , Chen Haiyan , Liang Xiaohua , Hao Guang
Published: April 2023

Background

Environmental noise is becoming increasingly recognized as an urgent public health problem, but the quality of current studies needs to be assessed. To evaluate the significance, validity and potential biases of the associations between environmental noise exposure and health outcomes.

Methods

We conducted an umbrella review of the evidence across meta-analyses of environmental noise exposure and any health outcomes. A systematic search was done until November 2021. PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase and references of eligible studies were searched. Quality was assessed by AMSTAR and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE).

Results

Of the 31 unique health outcomes identified in 23 systematic reviews and meta-analyses, environmental noise exposure was more likely to result in a series of adverse outcomes. Five percent were moderate in methodology quality, the rest were low to very low and the majority of GRADE evidence was graded as low or even lower. The group with occupational noise exposure had the largest risk increment of speech frequency [relative risk (RR): 6.68; 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.41–13.07] and high-frequency (RR: 4.46; 95% CI: 2.80–7.11) noise-induced hearing loss. High noise exposure from different sources was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (34%) and its mortality (12%), elevated blood pressure (58–72%), diabetes (23%) and adverse reproductive outcomes (22–43%). In addition, the dose–response relationship revealed that the risk of diabetes, ischemic heart disease (IHD), cardiovascular (CV) mortality, stroke, anxiety and depression increases with increasing noise exposure.

Conclusions

Adverse associations were found for CV disease and mortality, diabetes, hearing impairment, neurological disorders and adverse reproductive outcomes with environmental noise exposure in humans, especially occupational noise. The studies mostly showed low quality and more high-quality longitudinal study designs are needed for further validation in the future.
Concurrent trajectories of residential region in relation to a sustainable working life among Swedish twins
Authors: Ropponen Annina , Wang Mo , Alaie Iman , Narusyte Jurgita , Svedberg Pia
Published: April 2023

Background

Residential regions may impact the possibilities to achieve a sustainable working life (SWL, i.e. not having interruptions due to sickness absence, disability pension or unemployment) due to disparities in social security and labour market. We aimed to investigate concurrent trajectories of regions and SWL among Swedish twins.

Methods

National register data were used for the degree of SWL in each year, old-age pension, emigration, death and residential regions classified in three categories (cities; towns and suburbs; or rural areas) of Swedish twins in 1998–2016 (n = 80 398). Group-based multi-trajectory modelling and multinomial regression for relative risks with 95% confidence intervals were calculated.

Results

The six-group solution had the best fit to data with trajectories: stable living in towns and suburbs with SWL (33.8%); stable living in cities with SWL (22.1%); stable living in towns and suburbs with increasing SWL (13.9%); stable living in towns and suburbs with lack of SWL (13.2%); stable living towns and suburbs with decreasing SWL (8.8%); and stable living towns and suburbs with decreasing and ultimately lack of SWL (8.3%). Age and being woman increased and being married and higher education decreased the likelihood of belonging to groups 2–6 (vs. 1).

Conclusions

The simultaneous assessment of trajectories of three residential regions and SWL indicated that most people in Sweden seem to live continuously over time in towns and suburbs, but the degree of SWL may vary. More fine-grained assessment of residential regions would be needed to clarify the associations with SWL.
The living forms of Microcoleus vaginatus and their contributions to the aggregate structure of biocrusts
Authors: Xiao Jingshang , Lan Shubin , Farías María E , Qian Long , Xia Ling , Song Shaoxian , Wu Li
Published: April 2023

Microcoleus vaginatus has been regarded as the important contributor for biocrust formation and ecological services. However, little is known about its living forms in biocrusts, and whether the living form is related to biocrust structure. Therefore, in this study, natural biocrusts collected from the Gurbantunggut Desert were divided into different aggregate/grain fractions, aiming at investigating the living forms of M. vaginatus in biocrusts at fine scale, and exploring its roles in aggregate structure and ecological functions of biocrusts. The results showed that two distinct living forms of M. vaginatus had been identified from the biocrusts. The non-bundling M. vaginatus was mainly distributed in the fractions of > 0.5 mm, forming aggregate structure by cementing sand particles firmly; while the bundling M. vaginatus, distributed mainly among the free sand particles with diameter < 0.5 mm, and easily migrated up to biocrust surface after hydration. Furthermore, the aggregate structure formed by non-bundling M. vaginatus supported a higher biomass, nutrient contents, and enzyme activities. Altogether, our results suggest that the strong migrating ability of bundling M. vaginatus contributes to the environmental adaptation and light resource acquirement, while non-bundling M. vaginatus acts as the constructor of the aggregate structure in biocrusts.
Experiences with information blocking in the United States: a national survey of hospitals
Authors: Everson Jordan , Healy Daniel , Patel Vaishali
Published: April 2023

Objective

The 21st Century Cures Act Final Rule’s information blocking provisions, which prohibited practices likely to interfere with, prevent, or materially discourage access, exchange, or use of electronic health information (EHI), began to apply to a limited set of data elements in April 2021 and expanded to all EHI in October 2022. We sought to describe hospital leaders’ perceptions of the prevalence of practices that may constitute information blocking, by actor and hospital characteristics, following the rule’s applicability date.

Materials and Methods

Cross-sectional analysis of a national survey of hospitals fielded in 2021. The analytic sample included 2092 nonfederal acute care hospitals in the United States. We present descriptive statistics on the perception of the prevalence of information blocking and results of multivariate regression models examining the association between hospital, health information technology (IT) developer and market characteristics and the perception of information blocking.

Results

Overall, 42% of hospitals reported observing some behavior they perceived to be information blocking. Thirty-six percent of responding hospitals perceived that healthcare providers either sometimes or often engaged in practices that may constitute information blocking, while 17% and 19% perceived that health IT developers (such as EHR developers) and State, regional and/or local health information exchanges did the same, respectively. Prevalence varied by health IT developer market share, hospital for-profit status, and health system market share.

Conclusions and Relevance

These results support the value of efforts to further reduce friction in the exchange of EHI and support the need for continued observation to provide a sense of the prevalence of information blocking practices and for education and awareness of information blocking regulations.
Laboratory evaluation of the life history of hibiscus mealybug,Nipaecocus viridis(Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), on selected citrus and potential non-citrus hosts in Florida
Authors: Olabiyi David , Stelinski Lukasz L , Diepenbrock Lauren M
Published: April 2023

Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is an emerging invasive pest of citrus. There is no information on the life history of N. viridis in relation to citrus cultivars produced in Florida. Here, we quantified the life-history parameters of N. viridis on 6 citrus and 3 non-citrus host plant species under laboratory conditions. We also investigated the effect of mode of reproduction (sexual vs. parthenogenic) on the fecundity of N. viridis. Nipaecoccus viridis was able to develop to maturity and reproduce on all host plant taxa tested. The individual host plants affected the developmental and survival rate, adult longevity, and offspring production of N. viridis. All citrus genotypes commercially grown in Florida were susceptible to N. viridis, with the exception of Citrus aurantium L., which suggests that there is need for management of this invasive pest in Florida citrus groves. Murraya paniculata L., Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L., and Punica granatum L. were also acceptable hosts for N. viridis. Sexually reproducing female N. viridis produced significantly more eggs than those reproducing asexually. Based on our results, propagation of M. paniculata and other citrus relatives should be discouraged around citrus groves in Florida. Given the fitness benefit of sexual reproduction in this pest, pheromone-based tools like mating disruption and mass trapping of adult males could be considered as part of an integrated pest management program with insecticides.
Passive collection of ticks in New Hampshire reveals species-specific patterns of distribution and activity
Authors: Fernández-Ruiz Natalia , Estrada-Peña Agustín , McElroy Sharon , Morse Kaitlyn
Published: April 2023

Ticks and tick-borne diseases are increasing in the United States, including New Hampshire (NH). We report on the findings of an ongoing free crowdsourcing program spanning four years within NH. The date of tick’s submission was recorded along with species, sex, stage, location they were collected (translated into latitude and longitude), the activity the individual was doing when the tick was found, and host species. A total of 14,252 ticks belonging to subclass Acari, family Ixodidae and genera Ixodes, Dermacentor, Amblyomma, and Haemaphysalis was recorded from the period 2018–2021 throughout NH. A total of 2,787 Ixodes scapularis and 1,041 Dermacentor variabilis, were tested for the presence of Borrelia sp. (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae), B. burgdorferi sensu lato, B. miyamotoi, B. mayonii, Babesia microti (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae), Francisella tularensis (Thiotrichales: Francisellaceae), and Rickettsia rickettsii (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) by PCR. For the I. scapularis ticks tested, the pathogen prevalence was 37% B. burgdorferi s.l. 1% B. miyamotoi, 6% A. phagocytophilum, and 5% Ba. microti. Only one D. variabilis resulted positive to F. tularensis. We created state-wide maps informing the differences of ticks as detailed by administrative divisions. Dermacentor variabilis peaked in June and I. scapularis peaked in May and October. The most reported activity by people with tick encounters was while walking/hiking, and the least was biking. Using the reported distribution of both species of ticks, we modeled their climate suitability in the target territory. In NH, I. scapularis and D. variabilis have distinct patterns of emergence, abundance, and distribution. Tick prevention is important especially during April–August when both tick species are abundant and active.
Evidence of Uranotaenia sapphirina (Diptera: Culicidae) feeding on annelid worms in the Northeastern United States
Authors: Khalil Noelle , Shepard John J , Foss Kimberly , Molaei Goudarz
Published: April 2023

Mosquito host-feeding behavior is an important parameter for determining the vector potential of mosquito species in a given locale. Despite the recent discovery of Uranotaenia sapphirina Osten Sacken feeding on annelid hosts in Florida, host association studies for this mosquito species in the United States remain limited. To investigate the blood-feeding pattern of Ur. sapphirina in the northeastern United States, mosquitoes were collected from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Jersey using CDC miniature light traps, peat fiber resting boxes, gravid traps, and backpack aspirators. Vertebrate and invertebrate hosts of this mosquito species were identified through PCR amplification and nucleotide sequencing of portions of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and the 28S ribosomal RNA gene, respectively. Of 21 (24.7%) specimens successfully identified to host species, 47.6% contained solely annelid blood, 14.3% mammalian blood, 14.3% avian blood, and 23.8% with mixed blood of annelid and avian origin. The mud earthworm, Sparganophilus tennesseensis Reynolds (Haplotaxida: Sparganophilidae), was identified as the most common host (n = 14, including mixed bloods), followed by American robin, Turdus migratorius (n = 7, including mixed bloods). Testing of these blood engorged mosquitoes for West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis virus did not result in any positive specimens. This is the first report of Ur. sapphirina feeding on annelids and on both vertebrate and invertebrate hosts in mixed bloodmeals in the northeastern United States. Our findings support the recent report of Ur. sapphirina feeding on invertebrates and further emphasizes the inclination of some mosquito species to feed on a wider range of hosts spanning nontraditional taxonomic groups.
Optimizing Data Collection Interventions to Balance Cost and Quality in a Sequential Multimode Survey
Authors: Coffey Stephanie M , Elliott Michael R
Published: April 2023

High-quality survey data collection is getting more expensive to conduct because of decreasing response rates and rising data collection costs. Responsive and adaptive designs have emerged as a framework for targeting and reallocating resources during the data collection period to improve survey data collection efficiency. Here, we report on the implementation and evaluation of a responsive design experiment in the National Survey of College Graduates that optimizes the cost-quality tradeoff by minimizing a function of data collection costs and the root mean squared error of a key survey measure, self-reported salary. We used a Bayesian framework to incorporate prior information and generate predictions of estimated response propensity, self-reported salary, and data collection costs for use in our optimization rule. At three points during the data collection process, we implement the optimization rule and identify cases for which reduced effort would have minimal effect on the mean squared error (RMSE) of mean self-reported salary while allowing us to reduce data collection costs. We find that this optimization process allowed us to reduce data collection costs by nearly 10 percent, without a statistically or practically significant increase in the RMSE of mean salary or a decrease in the unweighted response rate. This experiment demonstrates the potential for these types of designs to more effectively target data collection resources to reach survey quality goals.
Analysis of metallicities of open clusters in the Galactic disc
Authors: Deng Yangyang , Li Zhongmu
Published: April 2023

The metallicities of open clusters (OCs) are probes for many Galactic disc properties, such as age-metallicity relation and abundance gradient evolution. In recent years, a large number of newly found OCs or OC candidates have been reported. However, the metallicity values of OCs in the Galactic disc in different works vary from each other. In particular, the cluster metallicities in our previous work (hereafter LISC I), which are determined from Gaia’s photometric data, are obviously smaller than most other catalogues. This work aims to investigate the metallicities of Galactic disc OCs in LISC I. We redetermine the mean metallicities of 79 OCs using the spectroscopic data of Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope DR8 and get obvious discrepancies between the two works. The causes of the difference are studied by using two different isochrones and uncertainties in colour-magnitude diagram fitting process. We find that the evolutionary models adopted and, to a lesser extent, the fitting methods are mainly responsible for the discrepant values of LISC I metallicities. We also propose a linear relationship to correct for the LISC I metallicity, which should only be used to provide more reliable [Fe/H] values in the absence of spectroscopic determinations.