bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrative nomothetisch-idiographische Prognose bei jugendlichen und heranwachsenden Gewalt- und Sexualstraftätern
Authors: Hausam Joscha , Lehmann Robert J. B. , Dahle Klaus-Peter
Published: September 2023

Wissenschaftlich fundierte Einschätzungen zur Rückfälligkeit von Straftätern können grundsätzlich mit zwei methodischen Ansätzen vorgenommen werden. Der nomothetische Ansatz liefert eine auf gruppenstatistischen Erkenntnissen basierende Einschätzung und erfolgt zumeist mit standardisierten Instrumenten. Der klinisch-idiographische Ansatz orientiert sich hingegen am Einzelfall, und die Einschätzung folgt einem regelgeleiteten klinisch-diagnostischen Urteilsbildungsprozess, der insoweit von einem klinisch-intuitiven Vorgehen abzugrenzen ist. Die deutsche Gesetzgebung fordert eine streng auf den Einzelfall bezogene prognostische Einschätzung, die nur die idiographische Methodik zu leisten vermag. Um die Vorzüge des nomothetischen Ansatzes zu berücksichtigen, wurde die Integration beider Ansätze vorgeschlagen. Die integrative Vorgehensweise hat sich in Untersuchungen mit erwachsenen Straftätern als vielversprechend erwiesen. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war die Untersuchung der prognostischen Validität der nomothetischen und idiographischen Methodik sowie der Integration beider Ansätze bei jugendlichen und heranwachsenden Gewalt- und Sexualstraftätern. Die Stichprobe setzt sich zusammen aus 152 ehemaligen männlichen Inhaftierten der Jugendstrafanstalt Berlin, die zwischen 1998 und 2002 im Alter von 16 bis 29 Jahren entlassen wurden. Die Prognoseinstrumente leisteten eine signifikante Vorhersage allgemeiner (Area under Curve [AUC] = 0,70–0,71) und gewalttätiger Rückfälle (AUC = 0,65–0,74) innerhalb von 3 Jahren nach der Entlassung. Die prognostische Validität der standardisierten Instrumente, die speziell für Jugendliche entwickelt wurden, war vergleichbar mit den entsprechenden Varianten für Erwachsene. Die klinisch-idiographischen Prognosen sagten ebenfalls allgemeine (AUC = 0,71–0,74) und gewalttätige Rückfälle (AUC = 0,71–0,74) signifikant voraus. Insbesondere die klinisch-idiographische Gewaltprognose war den meisten Instrumenten statistisch überlegen. Regressionsanalysen zeigten darüber hinaus, dass die klinisch-idiographische Prognose im Rahmen eines integrierten Ansatzes einen inkrementellen Beitrag zur Vorhersage des allgemeinen und des gewalttätigen Rückfallrisikos leistete. Die Ergebnisse der Studie zeigen somit, dass der klinisch-idiographische Ansatz nicht nur die gesetzlichen Anforderungen an einen einzelfallbezogenen Ansatz erfüllt, sondern auch die Prognosezuverlässigkeit bei jugendlichen Straftätern signifikant verbessern kann.
Impact of the acceleration voltage on the processing of γ-TiAl via electron beam powder bed fusion
Authors: Reith M. , Franke M. , Körner C.
Published: September 2023

Electron beam powder bed fusion (PBF-EB) is an additive manufacturing (AM) technology that is maturing toward broader industrial applications. However, conventional PBF-EB machines are still limited to 60 kV acceleration voltage (Ub). Therefore, this work presents the first results of a novel prototype PBF-EB machine capable of acceleration voltages up to 150 kV. In general, a higher acceleration voltage enables larger beam powers, which shortens the pre-heating time and makes a larger pre-heating area available. Moreover, a lower beam current is required for the same power during pre-heating, enabling the processing of a gamma titanium aluminide (γ-TiAl) alloy without any process gas. γ-TiAl cuboids are built in a vacuum atmosphere (2×10–5 mbar) with 60 , 125 , and 150 kV acceleration voltage. Additionally, the deeper penetration of higher acceleration voltage should be beneficial for melting as well. Cuboids are examined for defects and aluminum content to show the influence of the acceleration voltage on the process window, melt pool formation, gas porosity, and aluminum evaporation. In short, this work aims to investigate the impact of a higher acceleration voltage on the whole PBF-EB process.
Recent advances in the mechanisms of development and the early diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer
Authors: Jin Donghui , Mao Yousheng
Published: September 2023

The occurrence and development of esophageal cancer (EC) is a multi-stage process involving from inflammation to invasive cancer. However, this process is very complex, and so far there are few relevant studies to reveal this process. Early diagnosis and treatment of EC is the focus of the early diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors project in China. How to screen EC in a lower cost and more efficient way deserves to be explored. Here, we reviewed the recent advances in the mechanisms of the occurrence and development, and early diagnosis and treatment of EC.
Thermal Imaging in Robotics as a Privacy-Enhancing or Privacy-Invasive Measure? Misconceptions of Privacy when Using Thermal Cameras in Robots
Authors: Lintvedt Naomi
Published: September 2023

This article examines the use of thermal imaging in human–robot interactions and its implications for privacy. Thermal imaging is used in robotics research to conceal the identity of individuals by masking identifiable information, such as facial details. The assumption is that by removing clear facial images, individuals become unidentifiable, thus protecting their privacy. However, the definition of personal data does not require information to be linked to a visual observation of a person. Removing the facial image of a person does not exclude the information from being personal data. However, thermal imaging can reveal personal information that is hidden from view. The article argues that privacy in robotics research is often limited to informational privacy and neglects other dimensions of privacy. It emphasises the need for a broader understanding of privacy in the context of robotics, considering the physical embodiment and data processing capabilities of robots. The conclusion of the article suggests that thermal imaging should not be automatically assumed to be more privacy-preserving than regular RGB cameras. It emphasises the importance of understanding personal data and the specific purposes of robot functions when choosing between different sensors. The article calls for a comprehensive approach to privacy in human–robot interaction, taking into account the broader impact of invasive technologies.
Education and women's empowerment: evidence from Uganda
Authors: Bui Thao
Published: September 2023

The government of Uganda introduced an education reform that eliminated school fees for primary school-age children in 1997. This paper finds that an increase in education, generated by the reform, has a positive impact on women's empowerment. Specifically, an increase in schooling, due to the reform, improves women's involvement in decision making within the household by increasing their likelihood of having a final say on issues related to their own health, about large household expenses, and regarding visits to family or relatives. Education enhances women's cognitive ability but has no impact on women's labor market opportunities and attitudes toward gender-based violence.
Estimating the elastic modulus of landfast ice from wave observations
Authors: Voermans Joey J. , Rabault Jean , Marchenko Aleksey , Nose Takehiko , Waseda Takuji , Babanin Alexander V.
Published: September 2023

Progress in our understanding of wave–ice interactions is currently hindered by the lack of in situ observations and information of sea-ice properties, including the elastic modulus. Here, we estimate the effective elastic modulus of sea ice using observations of waves in ice through the deployment of three open-source geophone recorders on landfast sea ice. From observations of low-frequency dispersive waves, we obtain an estimate of the effective elastic modulus in the range of 0.4–0.7 GPa. This is lower than the purely elastic modulus of the ice estimated at 1 GPa as derived from in situ beam experiments. Importantly, our experimental observation is significantly lower than the default value currently in use in wave models. While our estimate is not representative for all sea ice, it does indicate that considerably more measurements are required to provide confidence in the development of parameterizations for this complex sea-ice property for wave models.
A Systematic Review of Interventions Promoting Parental Involvement in the Education of School-Aged Children With Disabilities
Authors: Musendo David John , Scherer Nathaniel , Jepkosgei Joyline , Maweu Lillian , Mupiwa Audrey , Hara Onai , Polack Sarah , Patel Daksha
Published: September 2023

The purpose of this study was to systematically map and synthesise literature on interventions that promote the involvement of parents of school-aged children with disabilities in education. The study focused on peer-reviewed, primary intervention studies published in English between 2000 and 2021. Nine databases were searched, and 21 articles were identified and included in the review. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies, and narrative analysis was used to synthesise the data. The duration of the interventions varied from 7 to 36 months. Most studies were conducted within the context of high-income countries and focused on parents of children with intellectual disabilities. Most studies reported positive effects on one or more groups: parents, children, schools, and communities. However, there was heterogeneity in the outcome measures used, which limits comparability across interventions. The quality assessment revealed high-/medium-bias risks in most articles. Future research should include higher quality studies driven by theoretical models. The results support the need for more research on parental involvement in the education of children with disabilities, especially intervention studies within the context of low- and medium-income countries.
The fall of Trump: mobilization and vote switching in the 2020 presidential election
Authors: Shino Enrijeta , McKee Seth C. , Smith Daniel A.
Published: September 2023

Voters use salient issues to inform their vote choice. Using 2020 Cooperative Election Study (CES) data, we analyze how short-, medium-, and long-term issues informed the vote for president in the 2020 election, which witnessed record-setting participation. To explain the dynamics of presidential vote choice, we employ a voter typology advanced by Key (1966). Specifically, compared to standpatters, who in 2020 registered the same major party vote as in 2016, we find that new voters in 2020 and voters switching their preferences from 2016 cast their ballots in favor of Democrat Joe Biden. In the end, President Donald Trump was denied reelection by new voters and vote switchers principally because certain issues had a notable effect in moving their presidential preferences in the Democratic direction.
The Composition of Descriptive Representation
Authors: GERRING JOHN , JERZAK CONNOR T. , ÖNCEL ERZEN
Published: September 2023

How well do governments represent the societies they serve? A key aspect of this question concerns the extent to which leaders reflect the demographic features of the population they represent. To address this important issue in a systematic manner, we propose a unified approach for measuring descriptive representation. We apply this approach to newly collected data describing the ethnic, linguistic, religious, and gender identities of over fifty thousand leaders serving in 1,552 political bodies across 156 countries. Strikingly, no country represents social groups in rough proportion to their share of the population. To explain this shortfall, we focus on compositional factors—the size of political bodies as well as the number and relative size of social groups. We investigate these factors using a simple model based on random sampling and the original data described above. Our analyses demonstrate that roughly half of the variability in descriptive representation is attributable to compositional factors.
Ambivalence de la valeur. La solution de Gilbert Simondon
Authors: Amat Matthieu
Published: September 2023

Le concept de valeur est souvent disqualifié pour son ambivalence : la valeur croît et décroît ; elle est reconnue par les uns, mais pas par les autres. Les philosophies de la valeur seraient subjectivistes ou contaminées par une rationalité économique. Nous montrons, à partir de Gilbert Simondon, que la valeur peut être conçue comme une grandeur variable sans tomber dans le nivellement ou le relativisme axiologique. Ceci implique de congédier la séparation néokantienne de l'ontologie et de l'axiologie, de rejeter la conception de la culture comme ensemble de valeurs (et la bipolarité des oppositions de valeur), et enfin de mobiliser une analogie physico-mathématique plutôt qu’économique pour penser la valeur.
The endocannabinoid system as a putative target for the development of novel drugs for the treatment of psychiatric illnesses
Authors: Hill Matthew N. , Haney Margaret , Hillard Cecilia J. , Karhson Debra S. , Vecchiarelli Haley A.
Published: September 2023

Cannabis is well established to impact affective states, emotion and perceptual processing, primarily through its interactions with the endocannabinoid system. While cannabis use is quite prevalent in many individuals afflicted with psychiatric illnesses, there is considerable controversy as to whether cannabis may worsen these conditions or provide some form of therapeutic benefit. The development of pharmacological agents which interact with components of the endocannabinoid system in more localized and discrete ways then via phytocannabinoids found in cannabis, has allowed the investigation if direct targeting of the endocannabinoid system itself may represent a novel approach to treat psychiatric illness without the potential untoward side effects associated with cannabis. Herein we review the current body of literature regarding the various pharmacological tools that have been developed to target the endocannabinoid system, their impact in preclinical models of psychiatric illness and the recent data emerging of their utilization in clinical trials for psychiatric illnesses, with a specific focus on substance use disorders, trauma-related disorders, and autism. We highlight several candidate drugs which target endocannabinoid function, particularly inhibitors of endocannabinoid metabolism or modulators of cannabinoid receptor signaling, which have emerged as potential candidates for the treatment of psychiatric conditions, particularly substance use disorder, anxiety and trauma-related disorders and autism spectrum disorders. Although there needs to be ongoing clinical work to establish the potential utility of endocannabinoid-based drugs for the treatment of psychiatric illnesses, the current data available is quite promising and shows indications of several potential candidate diseases which may benefit from this approach.
Depressive symptoms in youth before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: longitudinal investigation of patterns dependent on age, sex, and family history of mental illness
Authors: Howes Vallis Emily , Stephens Meg , Ross Briana , Rempel Sheri , Howard Cynthia , Liu Dara , Villars Kelsey , Mazurka Raegan , Cumby Jill , Alda Martin , Pavlova Barbara , Uher Rudolf
Published: September 2023

Background

Cross-sectional studies report high levels of depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in youth and females. However, longitudinal research comparing depressive symptoms before and during the pandemic is lacking. Little is known about how the pandemic affected individuals with familial history of mental illness. The present study examines the impact of the pandemic on youth depressive symptoms, including offspring of parents with major mood and psychotic disorders.

Methods

Between March 2018 and February 2020, we measured depressive symptoms in 412 youth aged 5–25 years. We measured depressive symptoms again in 371 (90%) of these youth between April 2020 and May 2022. Two thirds (249) participants had a biological parent with a major mood or psychotic disorder. We tested the effect of the pandemic by comparing depression symptoms before and after March 2020. We examined age, sex, and family history as potential moderators.

Results

We found an overall small increase in youth depressive symptoms (b = 0.07, 95% CI −0.01 to 0.15, p = 0.062). This was driven by an increase in female youth without familial history of mental illness (b = 0.35, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.56, p = 0.001). There was no change in depressive symptoms among offspring of parents with mental illness or males.

Conclusions

Our results provide reassurance about the wellbeing of children of parents with mental illness during a period of restricted access to resources outside the family. Rather than increasing symptoms in established risk groups, the pandemic led to a redistribution of depression burden towards segments of the youth population that were previously considered to be low-risk.
Rape in early China: two case studies
Authors: Milburn Olivia
Published: September 2023

With the exception of legal texts, surviving records of rape in early China have been the subject of little academic study to date. This is the result of a number of factors, including the criminalization of both consensual and non-consensual sex outside of marriage in ancient China, the tradition of using euphemistic vocabulary to refer to such topics, considerable variation, depending on time and place, as to what constitutes rape and discomfort that some very famous men are said to have committed crimes of rape and sexual violence. This article examines two famous and well-documented incidents – one concerning the rape of a woman in peacetime, the other an instance of mass gang rape during war – to explore the specific challenges of studying sexual violence in ancient civilizations. Ignoring early accounts of rape serves to significantly distort our understanding of some key events in Chinese history and perverts the textual record.
Phenotypic characterization of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) revealed promising genotypes for moisture stress conditions
Authors: Lora Anusha P. , Ratnakumar P. , Pandey B. B. , Sandhya Rani P. , Umamahesh V. , Reddi Sekhar M. , Chandrika V. , Yadav Praduman , Mohapatra S. , Padmaja D.
Published: September 2023

Soil moisture deficit is the major constraint for sesame crop production during its main rainfed and summer cultivation seasons. In summer cultivation, the crop frequently gets exposed to soil moisture deficit at various crop growth stages. Therefore, it is essential to identify the traits along with promising genotypes adapted to soil moisture deficit. A set of 35 sesame genotypes with checks was used to quantify the variation in morpho-physiological, yield, and quality traits under irrigated (WW) and deficit soil moisture stress (WS) conditions in the summer seasons of 2021 and 2022. The analysis of variance revealed the presence of high variability among the genotypes for various measured traits. The mean performance indicated that WS negatively affects the growth, development, yield and quality traits. Moreover, the correlation, path analysis and D2 analysis studies suggested that the traits, viz. leaf area (LA), total dry matter (TDM), canopy temperature (CT), number of branches per plant (NBP) and number of seeds per capsule (NSC) were significantly associated with seed yield under both the conditions. Quality traits like palmitic acid and oleic acid correlated positively with seed yield, particularly under WS. Furthermore, the genotypes with lower canopy temperatures were found to be better seed yielders under WS. In addition, mean performance and cluster analysis suggested that the genotypes: IC- 205776, JSCDT-112, JCSDT-26, IC-205610, and IC-204300, secured higher seed yield along with superior agronomical traits and net photosynthetic rate. These selected genotypes were most promising and could be used in future sesame crop improvement programmes.
The Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations: Strengthening the humanitarian response to the climate and environment crises
Authors: Grayson Catherine-Lune , Khouzam Amir , Jayamaha Nishanie , Julmy Stephanie
Published: September 2023

Since its launch in 2021, the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations (the Charter) has been signed by hundreds of humanitarian actors across the world, including local and national organizations, United Nations agencies, National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and large international NGOs. The Charter's development grew out of a sector-wide recognition that humanitarians have a role to play in addressing the crises of climate change and environmental degradation, and that fulfilling this role would entail changing how they work. Two years into its existence, the Charter has helped build momentum towards this change and has provided a useful measurement tool for how much remains to be done.

This paper traces the origins, inspiration and process of the Charter from the perspective of the present authors, who co-led the Charter's development. The article highlights some of the challenges that we faced and how these were addressed. In taking stock of progress towards the Charter's goals, the article flags areas where further effort is needed to adequately strengthen the humanitarian response to the climate and environmental crises.
Introducing Cambridge Prisms Water: Solutions for managing an essential resource and critical hazard
Authors: Fenner Richard , Savic Dragan , Adamowski Jan , Ajami Newsha , Ghosh Subimal , Kapetas Leon , Koundouri Phoebe , Rajapakse Jay
Published: September 2023

Water is a vital resource essential for both sustaining life and a healthy environment as well as being a critical hazard in the form of floods or droughts which can destroy people’s livelihoods and property. This gives rise to a multi-faceted set of concerns and issues that affect everybody. For example, when contaminated with pathogens, wastewater can carry and rapidly transmit disease. The global distribution of freshwater is uneven and the problems this creates are likely to get worse due to climate change and the uncertainties associated with changing rainfall patterns and the emergence of more extreme weather events. Water has been described as the “new oil,” with potential conflicts arising out of disputed access to scarce water resources in the rest of this century. Billions of people around the world still do not have access to adequate safe water supplies or basic sanitation facilities, so in bringing basic water services to all there is much still to be done.
Traumatherapie
Authors: Schwartzkopff Laura , Gutermann Jana , Müller-Engelmann Meike
Published: September 2023

Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund: Ein signifikanter Anteil traumatisierter Patient_innen erhält keine spezielle psychotherapeutische Behandlung. Fragestellung: Ziel war die Untersuchung der Versorgungssituation von traumatisierten Patient_innen sowie der Barrieren und Motivationsfaktoren für die Inanspruchnahme einer Traumatherapie. Methoden: Es nahmen 104 traumatisierte Erwachsene teil, die auf der Suche nach einem Behandlungsplatz waren. Mittels halbstrukturierter Einzelinterviews sowie einem Online-Fragebogen, wurden quantitative und qualitative Daten erhoben. Letztere wurden inhaltsanalytisch ausgewertet. Ergebnisse: Im Durchschnitt suchten Patient_innen bereits 13.47 Monate ( SD = 33.88) nach einem traumaspezifischen Therapieplatz, 39 % hatten mehr als vier Stellen kontaktiert. 56.5 % nannten den Therapieplatzmangel, 30.6 % die Wartezeiten als Barrieren. Motivationsfaktoren waren besonders die professionelle Beurteilung der Behandlungsbedürftigkeit sowie die Symptombelastung. Therapieerwartungen umfassten die Hoffnung auf Symptomreduktion, Verbesserungen von Beziehungen und Lebensqualität sowie den Wunsch nach Traumabearbeitung. 63.3 % wünschten sich einen akzeptierenden und verständnisvollen Therapeuten. Schlussfolgerungen: Die Inanspruchnahme einer Traumatherapie ist mit Barrieren verbunden, insbesondere im Hinblick auf verfügbare Plätze. Klinische Implikationen werden diskutiert.
Importance of Dense Aquatic Vegetation in Seasonal Phosphate and Particle Transport in an Agricultural Headwater Stream
Authors: Field Hannah R. , Sawyer Audrey H. , Welch Susan A. , Benefiel Ryan K. , Mathie Devan M. , Hood James M. , Pawlowski Ethan D. , Karwan Diana L. , Kreiling Rebecca M. , Johnson Zackary I. , Hanrahan Brittany R. , King Kevin W.
Published: September 2023

Agricultural headwater streams and ditches commonly host dense stands of aquatic vegetation that grow and decay over seasons and exert physical and biological controls on the transport of nutrients from cropland to larger rivers. This study examined changes in the transport of phosphorus (P) in an agricultural drainage ditch in the Maumee River Basin (Ohio, USA) by conducting constant rate injections of a novel tracer mixture (conservative salt [Cl as NaCl], dissolved P [KH2PO4], and a fluorescent fine particle) in spring, summer, and fall. We quantified transport behavior for solutes and particles using a traditional transient storage modeling framework consisting of mobile and immobile storage zones connected by a first‐order exchange rate constant. Transient storage was greatest during the spring, when thicker vegetation caused more pooling and flow stagnation, and decreased through fall, as vegetation thinned. Soluble P uptake lengths were 8.7 times longer in fall than spring, likely due to declines in biological uptake rates with colder temperatures and immobile zone storage with thinning vegetation. Particle capture lengths also decreased by a factor of 4.3 from fall to spring. With the increasing eutrophication of Lake Erie and waterbodies around the world that lie downstream from agricultural landscapes, it is beneficial to understand nutrient transport across watersheds, including small agricultural streams. This study highlights the physical and biological roles that aquatic vegetation plays in small agricultural streams by creating seasonally variable immobile zones that slow the flow of nutrients, providing surface area for biofilms, and capturing particles that bind nutrients.
Magnetic Field Observations on Interhemispheric Conjugate Chains
Authors: Weimer D. R. , Clauer C. R. , Xu Z. , Coyle S. , Hartinger M. D.
Published: September 2023

A chain of magnetometers has been placed in Antarctica for comparisons with magnetic field measurements taken in the Northern Hemisphere. The locations were chosen to be on magnetic field lines that connect to magnetometers on the western coast of Greenland, despite the difficulty of reaching and working at such remote locations. We report on some basic comparisons of the similarities and differences in the conjugate measurements. Our results presented here confirm that the conjugate sites do have very similar (symmetric) magnetic perturbations in a handful of cases, as expected. Sign reversals are required for two components in order to obtain this agreement, which is not commonly known. More frequently, a strong Y component of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) breaks the symmetry, as well as the unequal conductivities in the opposite hemispheres, as shown in two examples. In one event the IMF Y component reversed signs twice within 2 hours, while the magnetometer chains were approaching local noon. This switch provided an opportunity to observe the effects at the conjugate locations and to measure time lags. It was found that the magnetic fields at the most poleward sites started to respond to the sudden IMF reversals 20 min after the IMF reaches the bow shock, a measure of the time it takes for the electromagnetic signal to travel to the magnetopause, and then along magnetic field lines to the polar ionospheres. An additional 9–14 min is required for the magnetic perturbations to complete their transition.
Where the Ground Gives Way
Authors: Beurteaux Danielle
Published: September 2023

Sinkholes are a significant hazard, but where are they most likely to happen? A new study identifies hot spots in the contiguous United States.
Circadian rhythm disruptions associated with opioid use disorder in synaptic proteomes of human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens
Authors: Puig Stephanie , Xue Xiangning , Salisbury Ryan , Shelton Micah A. , Kim Sam-Moon , Hildebrand Mariah A. , Glausier Jill R. , Freyberg Zachary , Tseng George C. , Yocum Anastasia K. , Lewis David A. , Seney Marianne L. , MacDonald Matthew L. , Logan Ryan W.
Published: September 2023

Opioid craving and relapse vulnerability is associated with severe and persistent sleep and circadian rhythm disruptions. Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of circadian rhythms and opioid use disorder (OUD) may prove valuable for developing new treatments for opioid addiction. Previous work indicated molecular rhythm disruptions in the human brain associated with OUD, highlighting synaptic alterations in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAc)—key brain regions involved in cognition and reward, and heavily implicated in the pathophysiology of OUD. To provide further insights into the synaptic alterations in OUD, we used mass-spectrometry based proteomics to deeply profile protein expression alterations in bulk tissue and synaptosome preparations from DLPFC and NAc of unaffected and OUD subjects. We identified 55 differentially expressed (DE) proteins in DLPFC homogenates, and 44 DE proteins in NAc homogenates, between unaffected and OUD subjects. In synaptosomes, we identified 161 and 56 DE proteins in DLPFC and NAc, respectively, of OUD subjects. By comparing homogenate and synaptosome protein expression, we identified proteins enriched specifically in synapses that were significantly altered in both DLPFC and NAc of OUD subjects. Across brain regions, synaptic protein alterations in OUD subjects were primarily identified in glutamate, GABA, and circadian rhythm signaling. Using time-of-death (TOD) analyses, where the TOD of each subject is used as a time-point across a 24-h cycle, we were able to map circadian-related changes associated with OUD in synaptic proteomes associated with vesicle-mediated transport and membrane trafficking in the NAc and platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta signaling in DLPFC. Collectively, our findings lend further support for molecular rhythm disruptions in synaptic signaling in the human brain as a key factor in opioid addiction.
G protein-biased LPAR1 agonism of prototypic antidepressants: Implication in the identification of novel therapeutic target for depression
Authors: Kajitani Naoto , Okada-Tsuchioka Mami , Inoue Asuka , Miyano Kanako , Masuda Takeshi , Boku Shuken , Iwamoto Kazuya , Ohtsuki Sumio , Uezono Yasuhito , Aoki Junken , Takebayashi Minoru
Published: September 2023

Prototypic antidepressants, such as tricyclic/tetracyclic antidepressants (TCAs), have multiple pharmacological properties and have been considered to be more effective than newer antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, in treating severe depression. However, the clinical contribution of non-monoaminergic effects of TCAs remains elusive. In this study, we discovered that amitriptyline, a typical TCA, directly binds to the lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPAR1), a G protein-coupled receptor, and activates downstream G protein signaling, while exerting a little effect on β-arrestin recruitment. This suggests that amitriptyline acts as a G protein-biased agonist of LPAR1. This biased agonism was specific to TCAs and was not observed with other antidepressants. LPAR1 was found to be involved in the behavioral effects of amitriptyline. Notably, long-term infusion of mouse hippocampus with the potent G protein-biased LPAR agonist OMPT, but not the non-biased agonist LPA, induced antidepressant-like behavior, indicating that G protein-biased agonism might be necessary for the antidepressant-like effects. Furthermore, RNA-seq analysis revealed that LPA and OMPT have opposite patterns of gene expression changes in the hippocampus. Pathway analysis indicated that long-term treatment with OMPT activated LPAR1 downstream signaling (Rho and MAPK), whereas LPA suppressed LPAR1 signaling. Our findings provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the non-monoaminergic antidepressant effects of TCAs and identify the G protein-biased agonism of LPAR1 as a promising target for the development of novel antidepressants.
Childhood growth outcomes 2 years after hypertensive versus normotensive pregnancy: a P4 study
Authors: Gow Megan L. , Vakil Priya , Roberts Lynne , Davis Greg , Khouri Joseph M. , Dosen Ana , Brown Mark A. , Craig Maria E. , Henry Amanda
Published: September 2023

Background

Intrauterine exposure to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including gestational hypertension (GH) and preeclampsia (PE), may influence infant growth and have long-term health implications. This study aimed to compare growth outcomes of infants exposed to a normotensive pregnancy (NTP), GH, or PE from birth to 2 years.

Methods

Infants were children of women enroled in the prospective Postpartum Physiology, Psychology and Paediatric (P4) cohort study who had NTP, GH or PE. Birth, 6-month (age-corrected) and 2-year (age-corrected) weight z-scores, change in weight z-scores, rapid weight gain (≥0.67 increase in weight z-score) and conditional weight gain z-scores were calculated to assess infant growth (NTP = 240, GH = 19, PE = 66).

Results

Infants exposed to PE compared to NTP or GH had significantly lower birth weight and length z-scores, but there were no differences in growth outcomes at 6 months or 2 years. GH and PE-exposed infants had significantly greater weight z-score gain [95% CI] (PE = 0.93 [0.66–1.18], GH = 1.03 [0.37–1.68], NTP = 0.45 [0.31–0.58], p < 0.01) and rapid weight gain (GH = 63%, PE = 59%, NTP = 42%, p = 0.02) from birth to 2 years, which remained significant for PE-exposed infants after confounder adjustment.

Conclusion

In this cohort, GH and PE were associated with accelerated infant weight gain that may increase future cardiometabolic disease risk.

Impact

Preeclampsia exposed infants were smaller at birth, compared with normotensive pregnancy and gestational hypertension exposed infants, but caught up in growth by 2 years of age.

Both preeclampsia and gestational hypertension exposed infants had significantly accelerated weight gain from birth to 2 years, which remained significant for preeclampsia exposed infants after adjustment for confounders including small for gestational age.

Monitoring of growth patterns in infants born following exposure to a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy may be indicated to prevent accelerated weight gain trajectories and obesity.
Recent advances in targeting the “undruggable” proteins: from drug discovery to clinical trials
Authors: Xie Xin , Yu Tingting , Li Xiang , Zhang Nan , Foster Leonard J. , Peng Cheng , Huang Wei , He Gu
Published: September 2023

Undruggable proteins are a class of proteins that are often characterized by large, complex structures or functions that are difficult to interfere with using conventional drug design strategies. Targeting such undruggable targets has been considered also a great opportunity for treatment of human diseases and has attracted substantial efforts in the field of medicine. Therefore, in this review, we focus on the recent development of drug discovery targeting “undruggable” proteins and their application in clinic. To make this review well organized, we discuss the design strategies targeting the undruggable proteins, including covalent regulation, allosteric inhibition, protein–protein/DNA interaction inhibition, targeted proteins regulation, nucleic acid-based approach, immunotherapy and others.
Allicin promotes functional recovery in ischemic stroke via glutathione peroxidase-1 activation of Src-Akt-Erk
Authors: Zhuang Fei , Shi Xin , Qiao Sen , Liu Bin , Wang Zhimei , Huo Huanhuan , Liang Feng , Shen Linghong , Zhu Lijuan , He Ben , Wang Hongmei
Published: September 2023

Allicin exhibits various pharmacological activities and has been suggested to be beneficial in the treatment of stroke. However, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we confirmed that allicin protected the brain from cerebral injury, which could be ascribed to its anti‑apoptotic and anti‑inflammatory effects, as well as the regulation of lipid metabolism, using proteomics and metabolomics analysis. Our results suggested that allicin could significantly ameliorate behavioral characteristics, cerebral infarct area, cell apoptosis, inflammatory factors, and lipid metabolic-related factors (arachidonic acid, 15-hydroperoxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (15S-HPETE), palmitoylcarnitine, and acylcarnitine) by recalibrating astrocyte homeostasis in mice with photothrombotic stroke (PT). In astrocytes, allicin significantly increased glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) levels and inhibited the arachidonic acid-related pathway, which was also observed in the brains of mice with PT. Allicin was proven to inhibit hypoxia-induced astrocyte apoptosis by increasing GPX1 expression, activating proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src (Src)- protein kinase B (AKT)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation, and decreasing lipid peroxidation. Thus, we concluded that allicin significantly prevented and ameliorated ischemic stroke by increasing GPX1 levels to complete the complex physiological process.
The role of the retinal vasculature in age-related macular degeneration: a spotlight on OCTA
Authors: Taylor Thomas R. P. , Menten Martin J. , Rueckert Daniel , Sivaprasad Sobha , Lotery Andrew J.
Published: September 2023

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) remains a disease with high morbidity and an incompletely understood pathophysiological mechanism. The ocular blood supply has been implicated in the development of the disease process, of which most research has focused on the role of the choroid and choriocapillaris. Recently, interest has developed into the role of the retinal vasculature in AMD, particularly with the advent of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), which enables non-invasive imaging of the eye’s blood vessels. This review summarises the up-to-date body of work in this field including the proposed links between observed changes in the retinal vessels and the development of AMD and potential future directions for research in this area. The review highlights that the strongest evidence supports the observation that patients with early to intermediate AMD have reduced vessel density in the superficial vascular complex of the retina, but also emphasises the need for caution when interpreting such studies due to their variable methodologies and nomenclature.
Specialized astrocytes mediate glutamatergic gliotransmission in the CNS
Authors: de Ceglia Roberta , Ledonne Ada , Litvin David Gregory , Lind Barbara Lykke , Carriero Giovanni , Latagliata Emanuele Claudio , Bindocci Erika , Di Castro Maria Amalia , Savtchouk Iaroslav , Vitali Ilaria , Ranjak Anurag , Congiu Mauro , Canonica Tara , Wisden William , Harris Kenneth , Mameli Manuel , Mercuri Nicola , Telley Ludovic , Volterra Andrea
Published: September 2023

Multimodal astrocyte–neuron communications govern brain circuitry assembly and function1. For example, through rapid glutamate release, astrocytes can control excitability, plasticity and synchronous activity2,3 of synaptic networks, while also contributing to their dysregulation in neuropsychiatric conditions4–7. For astrocytes to communicate through fast focal glutamate release, they should possess an apparatus for Ca2+-dependent exocytosis similar to neurons8–10. However, the existence of this mechanism has been questioned11–13 owing to inconsistent data14–17 and a lack of direct supporting evidence. Here we revisited the astrocyte glutamate exocytosis hypothesis by considering the emerging molecular heterogeneity of astrocytes18–21 and using molecular, bioinformatic and imaging approaches, together with cell-specific genetic tools that interfere with glutamate exocytosis in vivo. By analysing existing single-cell RNA-sequencing databases and our patch-seq data, we identified nine molecularly distinct clusters of hippocampal astrocytes, among which we found a notable subpopulation that selectively expressed synaptic-like glutamate-release machinery and localized to discrete hippocampal sites. Using GluSnFR-based glutamate imaging22 in situ and in vivo, we identified a corresponding astrocyte subgroup that responds reliably to astrocyte-selective stimulations with subsecond glutamate release events at spatially precise hotspots, which were suppressed by astrocyte-targeted deletion of vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1). Furthermore, deletion of this transporter or its isoform VGLUT2 revealed specific contributions of glutamatergic astrocytes in cortico-hippocampal and nigrostriatal circuits during normal behaviour and pathological processes. By uncovering this atypical subpopulation of specialized astrocytes in the adult brain, we provide insights into the complex roles of astrocytes in central nervous system (CNS) physiology and diseases, and identify a potential therapeutic target.
In-situ hearing threshold estimation using Gaussian process classification
Authors: Boven Christopher , Roberts Reagan , Biggus Jeff , Patel Malini , Matsuoka Akihiro J. , Richter Claus-Peter
Published: September 2023

One in six Americans suffers from hearing loss. While treatment with amplification is possible for many, the acceptance rate of hearing aids is low. Poor device fitting is one of the reasons. The hearing aid fitting starts with a detailed hearing assessment by a trained audiologist in a sound-controlled environment, using standard equipment. The hearing aid is adjusted step-by-step, following well-described procedures based on the audiogram. However, for many patients in rural settings, considerable travel time to a hearing center discourages them from receiving a hearing test and treatment. We hypothesize that hearing assessment with the patient’s hearing aid can reliably substitute the hearing test in the clinic. Over-the-counter hearing aids could be programmed from a distance and fine-tuned by the hearing aid wearer. This study shows that a patient-controlled hearing assessment via a hearing aid in a non-clinical setting is not statistically different from an audiologist-controlled hearing assessment in a clinical setting. The differences in hearing obtained with our device and the Gaussian Process are within 3 dB of the standard audiogram. At 250 Hz, the sound delivery with the hearing aid used in this study added an additional reduction of sound level, which was not compensated.
Aerosol processes perturb cloud trends over Bay of Bengal: observational evidence
Authors: Kant Sunny , Sarangi Chandan , Wilcox Eric M.
Published: September 2023

Although, the aerosol-cloud interactions and its impact on daily to seasonal radiation/temperature has been well observed over South Asia in last two decade, the role of aerosol-cloud interactions on cloud occurrence trends (and surface temperature) is yet not evident. Here, evidence of aerosol-induced control on cloud occurrence trends over the Northern Bay of Bengal (NBOB) during the monsoon onset period is presented. In last 15 years, increased aerosol emissions over North India have led to an increase in aerosol loading at an elevated altitude of 1–3 km over the NBOB outflow region in monsoon onset period. This elevated aerosol loading induces increases the air temperature at 1–2 km altitude and stabilizes the lower troposphere over the region in recent years. The enhanced atmospheric stability in the region caused low-level cloud occurrences (below 3 km) to increase in recent years by ~20%, potentially contributing to the observed non-intuitive cooling trends in sea surface temperatures. These aerosol-cloud-climate observations emphasize the crucial need for improved aerosol representations in coupled ocean-atmosphere models for accurate predictions of climate change over South Asia.
Majorana corner states on the dice lattice
Authors: Mohanta Narayan , Soni Rahul , Okamoto Satoshi , Dagotto Elbio
Published: September 2023

Lattice geometry continues providing exotic topological phases in condensed matter physics. Exciting recent examples are the higher-order topological phases, manifesting via localized lower-dimensional boundary states. Moreover, flat electronic bands with a non-trivial topology arise in various lattices and can hold a finite superfluid density, bounded by the Chern number C. Here we consider attractive interaction in the dice lattice that hosts flat bands with C = ± 2 and show that the induced superconducting state exhibits a second-order topological phase with mixed singlet-triplet pairing. The second-order nature of the topological superconducting phase is revealed by the zero-energy Majorana bound states at the lattice corners. Hence, the topology of the normal state dictates the nature of the Majorana localization. These findings suggest that flat bands with a higher Chern number provide feasible platforms for inducing higher-order topological superconductivity.
Carbon nanomaterials for designing next-generation membranes and their emerging applications
Authors: Bora Prarthana , Bhuyan Chinmoy , Borah Akhil Ranjan , Hazarika Swapnali
Published: September 2023

Current developments and future prospects of CNM-based polymeric membranes for enantiomeric separation, wastewater treatment, gas separation, and biomolecule separation are highlighted in this feature article.
Deciphering the quest in the divergent total synthesis of natural products
Authors: Fernandes Rodney A.
Published: September 2023

The divergent synthesis of natural products enables efficiency and economy in chemical synthesis, making more molecules with a single route at the beginning and divergence at the late stage.
Boron-based Pd3B26 alloy cluster as a nanoscale antifriction bearing system: tubular core–shell structure, double π/σ aromaticity, and dynamic structural fluxionality
Authors: Feng Lin-Yan , Guo Jin-Chang , Wang Ying-Jin , Zhang Xiao-Ying , Zhai Hua-Jin
Published: September 2023

Boron-based Pd3B26 cluster adopts a tubular core−shell structure akin to an antifriction bearing at the nanoscale, which features double π/σ aromaticity and dynamic structural fluxionality, even at near room temperature.
Design of a multilayer lung chip with multigenerational alveolar ducts to investigate the inhaled particle deposition
Authors: Qiu Yan , Lu Chao , Bao Fubing , Hu Guoqing
Published: September 2023

We present a multilayer lung chip to mimic passive breathing and highlight its potential as an innovative, cost-effective, and ethical approach to study aerosol deposition for health assessment and drug delivery in the lung.
Correction: Design and validation of a flowless gradient generating microfluidic device for high-throughput drug testing
Authors: Bachal Ketaki , Yadav Shital , Gandhi Prasanna , Majumder Abhijit
Published: September 2023

Correction for ‘Design and validation of a flowless gradient generating microfluidic device for high-throughput drug testing’ by Ketaki Bachal et al., Lab Chip, 2023, 23, 261–271, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC00879C.
TargetingMycobacterium tuberculosisiron-scavenging tools: a recent update on siderophores inhibitors
Authors: Kumar Gautam , Adhikrao Patil Amruta
Published: September 2023

Mycobacterium tuberculosissiderophores inhibitors.
Compositional tuning of gas-phase synthesized Pd–Cu nanoparticles
Authors: Franzén Sara M. , Jönsson Linnéa , Ternero Pau , Kåredal Monica , Eriksson Axel C. , Blomberg Sara , Hübner Julia-Maria , Messing Maria E.
Published: September 2023

Tailored Pd–Cu nanoparticles by spark ablation with a broad compositional range. X-ray spectroscopy and electron microscopy were used to show dynamic synthesis, successful mixing, and insights for development of new catalysts.
Dual gold-catalyzed regioselective synthesis of benzofulvenes via 5-endo dig cyclization
Authors: Sreenivasulu Gottam , Sridhar Balasubramanian , Karunakar Galla V.
Published: September 2023

Gold-catalyzed regioselective synthesis of benzofulvenes has been developed from substituted allyloxy 1,5-diynes via 5-endo dig cyclization.