bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modification of carotid chemoreceptor‐induced changes in renal haemodynamics and function by carotid baroreflex in dogs.
Authors: Karim F , al‐Obaidi M
Published: October 2023

1. Mongrel dogs were anaesthetized with thiopental sodium and chloralose and artificially ventilated. The carotid sinus regions were vascularly isolated and perfused either with arterial or mixed (arterial and venous) blood (PO2, 44.2 +/‐ 3.3 mmHg, mean +/‐ S.E.M.) to stimulate the chemoreceptors. Cervical vagosympathetic trunks were ligated and atenolol (2 mg kg‐1, I.V.) was given in all dogs and gallamine triethiodide (3 mg kg‐1 h‐1, I.V.) was given in two dogs. Renal blood flow was measured by an electromagnetic flowmeter, glomerular filtration rate by creatinine clearance, sodium excretion by flame photometry and solute excretion by osmometry. The viability of the preparations was tested by recording total vascular capacitance responses to stimulation of carotid baro‐ and chemoreceptors. 2. In eleven tests in seven dogs at a constant aortic pressure of 88.9 +/‐ 2.6 mmHg stimulation of carotid chemoreceptors at a high carotid sinus pressure (194.0 +/‐ 3.6 mmHg) resulted in significant increases in urine flow of 22.8 +/‐ 3.0%, urinary sodium excretion of 30.7 +/‐ 5.2%, fractional sodium excretion of 35.3 +/‐ 18.6%, osmolar excretion of 17.5 +/‐ 4.1% and a decrease in free water clearance of 30.8 +/‐ 3.1% without significant changes in urinary sodium concentration, renal blood flow, glomerular filtration rate, and filtration fraction. 3. In seventeen tests in these seven dogs at a constant aortic pressure of 94.0 +/‐ 2.2 mmHg, stimulation of carotid chemoreceptor at a low carotid sinus pressure (72.0 +/‐ 1.3 mmHg) resulted in significant decreases in renal blood flow of 10.6 +/‐ 2.5%, glomerular filtration rate of 19.6 +/‐ 6.8%, filtration fraction of 13.2 +/‐ 5.5%, urine flow of 23.4 +/‐ 4.1%, urinary sodium concentration of 20.3 +/‐ 4.1%, urinary sodium excretion of 38.5 +/‐ 4.6%, fractional sodium excretion of 20.2 +/‐ 7.7%, osmolar excretion of 23.9 +/‐ 4.0% and an increase in free water clearance of 23.1 +/‐ 2.5%. 4. The results show that moderate stimulation of carotid chemoreceptors at a low carotid sinus pressure, when the activity in renal nerves is high and blood volume is low, can produce significant reflex decreases in renal haemodynamic and functional variables. However, at a high carotid sinus pressure when the renal sympathetic activity is low and blood volume is high, carotid chemoreceptor stimulation produces diuresis and natriuresis but no change in renal haemodynamics.
The Excavation of a Romano-British Site at Netherhall Road, Maryport
Authors:   CFA Archaeology Ltd, Kirby Magnus , Walker Jamie ,   CFA Archaeology Ltd
Published: October 2023

A programme of archaeological trial trenching and excavation was undertaken by CFA Archaeology Ltd between Maryport (Alavna) Roman Fort and Netherhall Road on the north-eastern outskirts of Maryport from 2010 to 2016. The work confirmed the presence of a large sub-square ditched enclosure with two phases of construction, which is interpreted as a Romano-British rural farm site. It contained a variety of pottery deposited in its ditches, dating from the 1st to the 4th century CE. A linear feature, thought to be the line of a Roman road, did not produce definitive evidence of being a Roman road, but a Roman-period cremation cemetery was uncovered adjacent to it. One of the burials excavated held two pottery vessels of mid-3rd-century CE or slightly later date, one of which contained the cremated remains of an adult female along with other finds, while a second burial contained the cremated remains of a young child within a decorated Rhenish beaker.
Delivering Load-Modifying Gait Retraining Interventions via Telehealth in People With Medial Knee Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: D’Souza Nicole , Hutchison Laura , Grayson Jane , Hiller Claire , Kobayashi Sarah , Simic Milena
Published: October 2023

We aimed to investigate the effects of delivering 3 gait retraining interventions (toe-in, toe-out, and placebo gait) on proxy measures of medial knee load (early- and late-stance peak knee adduction moment [KAM], KAM impulse, and varus thrust) in people with knee osteoarthritis, using a hybrid model of face-to-face and telehealth-delivered sessions over 5 months. This was an originally planned 3-arm randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. However, during the 2021 COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown in Sydney, Australia, the study became a pilot randomized controlled trial with the remainder of interventions delivered via telehealth. Nine individuals with symptomatic medial knee osteoarthritis were allocated to receive either a toe-in, toe-out, or posture re-education (placebo) gait retraining intervention. Primary outcomes of early- and late-stance peak KAM, KAM impulse, and varus thrust were assessed at baseline and follow-up. Eight participants returned for their follow-up gait assessment. Participants in both active intervention groups (toe-in and toe-out) achieved foot progression angle changes at follow-up. Overall, knee biomechanics in the placebo group did not change at follow-up. It is possible to achieve biomechanical changes in individuals with medial knee osteoarthritis when delivering gait retraining interventions via a hybrid model of face-to-face and telehealth.
Cost-Utility of an Exercise Referral Scheme Versus Doing Nothing in Flemish Adults: Exploring the Impact of Key Assumptions
Authors: Werbrouck Amber , Schmidt Masja , Putman Koen , Simoens Steven , Verhaeghe Nick , Annemans Lieven
Published: October 2023

Background: This health-economic evaluation assessed the cost-effectiveness of an exercise referral scheme (ERS) versus doing nothing in the Flemish region (Belgium), with a particular focus on the impact of several scenarios. Methods: A 14-state Markov model was applied to compare the expected costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) of 2 alternatives: the Flemish ERS (2019 data, mean age 52 y, 69.1% women) and doing nothing. A health care payer perspective was adopted and a lifetime time horizon was applied. A set of 18 scenario analyses is presented. In addition, univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: Under the assumptions selected for the base-case analysis, the Flemish ERS is moderately cost-effective compared with doing nothing, with an incremental cost-utility ratio of €28,609/QALY. Based on the scenario analyses, the results largely depend on the assumptions regarding the continuation of the intervention effect and the frequency with which the intervention is repeated. The greatest health gains can be made when a sustainable behavioral change is achieved among participants. The probabilistic sensitivity analysis confirmed that the cost-effectiveness results were not robust. Conclusions: If it is possible to induce a sustainable behavioral change with an intervention delivered at 2- or 5-year intervals, then the Flemish ERS is potentially cost-effective compared with doing nothing (given a €40,000/QALY threshold). These results suggest the importance of repeated implementation of the program together with careful monitoring of the adherence and the sustainability of the observed effects in a real-world setting.
Nimbolide targets RNF114 to induce the trapping of PARP1 and synthetic lethality in
BRCA
-mutated cancer
Authors: Li Peng , Zhen Yuanli , Kim Chiho , Liu Zhengshuai , Hao Jianwei , Deng Heping , Deng Hejun , Zhou Min , Wang Xu-Dong , Qin Tian , Yu Yonghao
Published: October 2023

Recent studies have pointed to PARP1 trapping as a key determinant of the anticancer effects of PARP1 inhibitors (PARPi). We identified RNF114, as a PARylation-dependent, E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in DNA damage response. Upon sensing genotoxicity, RNF114 was recruited, in a PAR-dependent manner, to DNA lesions, where it targeted PARP1 for degradation. The blockade of this pathway interfered with the removal of PARP1 from DNA lesions, leading to profound PARP1 trapping. We showed that a natural product, nimbolide, inhibited the E3 ligase activity of RNF114 and thus caused PARP1 trapping. However, unlike conventional PARPi, nimbolide treatment induced the trapping of both PARP1 and PARylation-dependent DNA repair factors. Nimbolide showed synthetic lethality with
BRCA
mutations, and it overcame intrinsic and acquired resistance to PARPi, both in vitro and in vivo. These results point to the exciting possibility of targeting the RNF114-PARP1 pathway for the treatment of homologous recombination-deficient cancers.
High-throughput single-cell analysis reveals progressive mitochondrial DNA mosaicism throughout life
Authors: Glynos Angelos , Bozhilova Lyuba V. , Frison Michele , Burr Stephen , Stewart James B. , Chinnery Patrick F.
Published: October 2023

Heteroplasmic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations are a major cause of inherited disease and contribute to common late-onset human disorders. The late onset and clinical progression of mtDNA-associated disease is thought to be due to changing heteroplasmy levels, but it is not known how and when this occurs. Performing high-throughput single-cell genotyping in two mouse models of human mtDNA disease, we saw unanticipated cell-to-cell differences in mtDNA heteroplasmy levels that emerged prenatally and progressively increased throughout life. Proliferating spleen cells and nondividing brain cells had a similar single-cell heteroplasmy variance, implicating mtDNA or organelle turnover as the major force determining cell heteroplasmy levels. The two different mtDNA mutations segregated at different rates with no evidence of selection, consistent with different rates of random genetic drift in vivo, leading to the accumulation of cells with a very high mutation burden at different rates. This provides an explanation for differences in severity seen in human diseases caused by similar mtDNA mutations.
Draft genome sequence of

Pasteurella multocida

strain BD1769 with untypable capsular serotype isolated from a layer chicken
Authors: Hamada Kyohei , Kawashima Sachiko , Hoshinoo Kaori , Ogawa Yohsuke , Ueno Yuichi
Published: October 2023

We report the draft genome sequence of
Pasteurella multocida
strain BD1769 (GenBank accession numbers
JARFTQ010000001
–
JARFTQ010000021
) isolated in 2021 from a layer chicken in Japan. No gene locus for capsular biosynthesis was annotated in the genome of this strain.
Isolation and genome sequence annotation of KillerTomato, a newly discovered cluster EE bacteriophage infecting
Microbacterium
Authors: Almahie Omer , Danklefsen Breanna , Graves R. Scott , Hepworth Sariah M. , Mathison Rylee T. , Sullivan Emily A. , Wood Paige R. , Bartholomew Skylar , Brewster Reganne , Hunt Dylan J. , Serna Carlos , Shurley Jack F. , Grinath Anna S. , Thomas Michael A.
Published: October 2023

Discovered in Pocatello, Idaho, soil near a tomato garden, siphovirus KillerTomato infects
Microbacterium foliorum
NRRL B-24224. KillerTomato is a lytic cluster EE phage with a 17,442-bp genome and 68.6% GC content. Of 25 genes, 20 were assigned putative functions, including a putative tail assembly chaperone protein with a programmed frameshift and an endolysin.
Erratum to: Fault Striae Analysis and Paleostress Reconstruction of the Northern Tectonic Province (Egyptian Nubian Shield): Insights into the Brittle Deformation History of the Northern East African Orogen
Authors: Hamimi Z. , El Sundoly H. , Delvaux D. , Waheeb A. , Hagag W. , Younis M. H.
Published: October 2023

An Erratum to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016852123120014
Use of bevacizumab in a patient with Whipple’s disease: managing diagnostic uncertainty
Authors: Tjandra Douglas Peter , Brett Andrew , Murugasu Anand
Published: October 2023

A man in his 30s with intellectual disability presented with 1 month of diarrhoea, weight loss and dyspnoea. Investigations were hampered due to significant anxiety. Laboratory tests detected microcytic anaemia and hypoalbuminaemia. CT demonstrated a fat-containing infiltrate in the mediastinum, mesentery and axillae, and pulmonary ground-glass infiltrates. Biopsy of the axilla showed cystic lymphatic malformations involving adipose tissue and lymph nodes, leading to a provisional diagnosis of generalised lymphatic anomaly. Over the subsequent 4 months, the patient’s respiratory status deteriorated, leading to type 1 respiratory failure necessitating intubation. After multidisciplinary discussion, a decision was made to trial bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF agent, with subsequent improvement in respiratory status. While intubated, gastroscopy was performed; duodenal biopsies revealed pathognomonic changes of Whipple’s disease, confirmed on PCR of duodenal and axillae biopsies. This was deemed the most likely unifying diagnosis; antibiotic treatment was commenced, bevacizumab was ceased, and the patient has remained well after 18 months.
About this title - Cretaceous Project 200: Volume 1: the Cretaceous World
Authors: Hart M.B. , Batenburg S.J. , Huber B.T. , Price G.D. , Thibault N. , Wagreich M. , Walaszczyk I.
Published: October 2023

The Cretaceous records some of the highest sea levels, atmospheric temperatures and extreme events in Earth history. These two ‘Cretaceous Project 200’ volumes cover all the major fields of Cretaceous research from dinosaurs and ammonites to volcanism and ocean-wide anoxia and provide a review of Cretaceous strata across the Earth.
A Hierarchical Classification Method for High-accuracy Instruction Disassembly with Near-field EM Measurements
Authors: Iyer Vishnuvardhan V. , Thimmaiah Aditya , Orshansky Michael , Gerstlauer Andreas , Yilmaz Ali E.
Published: October 2023

Electromagnetic (EM) fields have been extensively studied as potent side-channel tools for testing the security of hardware implementations. In this work, a low-cost side-channel disassembler that uses fine-grained EM signals to predict a program's execution trace with high accuracy is proposed. Unlike conventional side-channel disassemblers, the proposed disassembler does not require extensive randomized instantiations of instructions to profile them, instead relying on leakage-model-informed sub-sampling of potential architectural states resulting from instruction execution, which is further augmented by using a structured hierarchical approach. The proposed disassembler consists of two phases: (i) In the feature-selection phase, signals are collected with a relatively small EM probe, performing high-resolution scans near the chip surface, as profiling codes are executed. The measured signals from the numerous probe configurations are compiled into a hierarchical database by storing the min-max envelopes of the probed EM fields and differential signals derived from them, a novel dimension that increases the potency of the analysis. The envelope-to-envelope distances are evaluated throughout the hierarchy to identify optimal measurement configurations that maximize the distance between each pair of instruction classes. (ii) In the classification phase, signals measured for unknown instructions using optimal measurement configurations identified in the first phase are compared to the envelopes stored in the database to perform binary classification with majority voting, identifying candidate instruction classes at each hierarchical stage. Both phases of the disassembler rely on a four-stage hierarchical grouping of instructions by their length, size, operands, and functions. The proposed disassembler is shown to recover ∼97–99% of instructions from several test and application benchmark programs executed on the AT89S51 microcontroller.
Sustainable Computing - Without the Hot Air
Authors: Bashir Noman , Irwin David , Shenoy Prashant , Souza Abel
Published: October 2023

The demand for computing is continuing to grow exponentially. This growth will translate to exponential growth in computing's energy consumption unless improvements in its energy-efficiency can outpace increases in its demand. Yet, after decades of research, further improving energy-efficiency is becoming increasingly challenging, as it is already highly optimized. As a result, at some point, increases in computing demand are likely to outpace increases in its energy-efficiency, potentially by a wide margin. Such exponential growth, if left unchecked, will position computing as a substantial contributor to global carbon emissions. While prominent technology companies have recognized the problem and sought to reduce their carbon emissions, they understandably focus on their successes, which has the potential to inadvertently convey the false impression that this is now, or will soon be, a solved problem. Such false impressions can be counterproductive if they serve to discourage further research in this area, since, as we discuss, eliminating computing's, and more generally society's, carbon emissions is far from a solved problem. To better understand the problem's scope, this paper distills the fundamental trends that determine computing's carbon footprint and their implications for achieving sustainable computing.
The Odd One Out: Energy is Not Like Other Metrics
Authors: Anand Vaastav , Xie Zhiqiang , Stolet Matheus , De Viti Roberta , Davidson Thomas , Karimipour Reyhaneh , Alzayat Safya , Mace Jonathan
Published: October 2023

Energy requirements for datacenters are growing at a fast pace. Existing techniques for making datacenters efficient focus on hardware. However, the gain in energy efficiency that can be achieved without making the applications energy-aware is limited. To overcome this limitation, recent work has proposed making the
software
running in datacenters energy aware. To do so, we must be able to track energy consumption at various granularities at the software level - (i) process level; (ii) application level; (iii) end-to-end request level.

Currently, existing software energy-tracking techniques primarily focus on tracking energy at the process or application level; only a few techniques track energy at an end-to-end request level. However, not tracking energy at an end-to-end request level can lead to false software optimizations and cause a decrease in energy efficiency.

To track energy at an end-to-end request level, we can leverage end-to-end tracking techniques for other metrics such as distributed tracing. However, we posit that energy cannot be treated as just another metric and that we cannot use existing frameworks without modifications. In this paper, we discuss how energy is different from other metrics and describe an energy-tracking workflow that leverages these differences and tracing techniques in order to track energy consumption of end-to-end requests.
Autonomous Driving Research with CARLA Simulator
Authors: Berlincioni Lorenzo
Published: October 2023

The autonomous driving industry, in order to advance through its six levels of automation (as defined by SAE, Society of Automotive Engineers [2]), is going to be increasingly more data-driven. While the number of sensors and their technology has been increasing it is still both cost-effective and, in some cases, necessary to use a simulator, considering that deploying even a single autonomous car could necessitate large funding and manpower in addition to being a liability in terms of safety.
JPEG Column: 94th JPEG Meeting
Authors: Pinheiro Antonio
Published: October 2023

The 94
th
JPEG meeting was held online from 17 to 21 January 2022. A major milestone has been reached at this meeting with the release of the final call for proposals under the JPEG AI project. This standard aims at the joint standardization of the first image coding standard based on machine learning by the IEC, ISO and ITU, offering a single stream, compact compressed domain representation, targeting both human visualization with significant compression efficiency improvement over image coding standards in common use at equivalent subjective quality and effective performance for image processing and computer vision tasks.
Students Report on ACM MMSys 2022
Authors: Storås Andrea M. , Farahani Reza , Xu Xiaokun , Chellappa Sindhu , Fan Tzu-Yi , Hodžié Kerim , De Rus Arance Juan Antonio , Dasí Miguel Fernández , Vijayaratnam Melan , Ooi Chun Wei , Zhu Jingwen
Published: October 2023

The 13th ACM Multimedia Systems Conference (and associated workshops: MMVE 2022, NOSSDAV 2022, GameSys 2022) happened from 14th -- 17th June 2022 in Athlone, Ireland. The MMSys conference is an essential forum for researchers in multimedia systems to present and share their latest research findings in multimedia systems. After two years of online and hybrid editions, MMSys was held onsite in the beautiful Athlone. Besides the many high-quality technical talks spread across different multimedia areas and the wonderful keynote talks, there were a few events targeted especially at students, such as mentoring sessions and the doctoral symposium. The social events were significant this year since they were the first opportunity in two years for multimedia researchers to meet colleagues, collaborators, and friends and discuss the latest hot topics while sharing a pint of Guinness or a glass of wine.

To encourage student authors to participate on-site, SIGMM has sponsored a group of students with Student Travel Grant Awards. Students who wanted to apply for this travel grant needed to submit an online form before the submission deadline. The selected students received either 1,000 or 2,000 USD to cover their airline tickets as well as accommodation costs for this event. Of the recipients, 11 were able to attend the conference. We asked them to share their unique experience attending MMSys'22. In this article, we share their reports of the event.
Towards the Design and Evaluation of More Sustainable Multimedia Experiences: Which Role Can QoE Research Play?
Authors: De Moor Katrien , Fiedler Markus , Raake Alexander , Jhunjhunwala Ashok , Gnanasekaran Vahiny , Subramanian Sruti , Zinner Thomas
Published: October 2023

In this column, we reflect on the environmental impact and broader sustainability implications of resource-demanding digital applications and services such as video streaming, VR/AR/XR and videoconferencing. We put emphasis not only on the experiences and use cases they enable but also on the "cost" of always striving for high Quality of Experience (QoE) and better user experiences. Starting by sketching the broader context, our aim is to raise awareness about the role that QoE research can play in the context of various of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), either directly (e.g., SDG 13 "climate action") or more indirectly (e.g., SDG 3 "good health and well-being" and SDG 12 "responsible consumption and production").
No net utilization of intramuscular lipid droplets during repeated high-intensity intermittent exercise
Authors: Knudsen Christian B. , Nielsen Joachim , Ørtenblad Niels , Mohr Magni , Overgaard Kristian , Vigh-Larsen Jeppe F.
Published: October 2023

Undertaking a severe repeated high-intensity intermittent exercise protocol led to no net decline in neither subsarcolemmal nor intermyofibrillar lipid content in the thigh muscle of young moderately to well-trained participants. However, a temporal remodeling of the subsarcolemmal pool of lipid droplets did occur indicative of potential transient lipid accumulation. Moreover, baseline fiber-type distinctions in subcellular lipid droplet deposition were present underscoring the diversity in lipid droplet storage among fiber types and subcellular regions.
Regional recruitment and differential behavior of motor units during postural control in older adults
Authors: Cohen Joshua W. , Vieira Taian M. , Ivanova Tanya D. , Garland S. Jayne
Published: October 2023

In this study, we observed differences in motor unit recruitment and firing behaviors of distinct subpopulations of motor units in the older adult triceps surae muscle from those observed in the young adult. Our results suggest that the older adult central nervous system may partially lose the ability to regionally recruit and differentially control motor units. This finding may be an underlying cause of balance difficulties in older adults during directionally challenging leaning tasks.
Physicochemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Five Gari Processed from Cassava Roots (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Harvested at Two Different Maturity Stages and Two Seasons
Authors: Laya Alphonse
Published: October 2023

Gari is a partially gelatinized roasted fermented granular white or yellowish product made from storage roots of cassava. It is consumed as fast foods in many countries across the world. Physicochemical composition, particle size, colour, and antioxidant activities of five gari (92/0326, 96/1414, IRAD4115, EN, and AD) processed from fresh storage roots harvested at 12 months after planting (MAP) and 15MAP compared to four (4) commercial gari (M1, M2, M3, and M4) were evaluated. The analytical results revealed that colour value b∗ and particle size varied significantly (p < 0.05) among the gari samples. Bound flavonoid contents were lower than free flavonoids (3.93 to 10.50 mgQE/100 g and 2.40 to 8.85 mgQE/100 g, respectively). Fourier transform infrared confirmed the functional groups in all gari samples. The antioxidant activity of the bound phenolics showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher DPPH scavenging ability than free phenolics (gari M2: 2.70 μgTE/g). Similarly, the bound phenolics showed significant (p < 0.05) variation of HRSA scavenging activity (0.18‐35.09 μgTE/g). However, the best HRSA scavenging activity was found with bound phenolics of gari 96/1414, whereas HRSA scavenging activity was not detected in gari 92/0326, 96/1414, and AD. The value of ABTS scavenging activity of gari varied significantly (p < 0.05) from 20.60 to 30.17 μgTE/g and from 20.70 to 34.39 for free and bound phenolics, respectively, while free phenolics showed higher FRAP value (7.97 mgTE/g) than the bound phenolics (4.59 mgTE/g). Additionally, phenolics and antioxidant activities showed significantly (p < 0.05) a positive correlation. The present study has provided an insight into the physicochemical composition, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activities of various gari processed at different season and maturity period of harvesting. It reveals that consumers of cassava gari can get health benefits apart from the nutritional values.
Yield and Mineral Composition among Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek] Genotypes Grown in Different Agroecologies in East Africa
Authors: Mbeyagala Emmanuel K. , Karimi Rael. , Binagwa Papias H. , Amuge Esther S. , Vemula Anil Kumar. , Nair Ramakrishnan M.
Published: October 2023

Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek var. radiata] also referred to as green gram is a key crop especially in the marginal areas of East Africa. It is rich in micronutrients and protein and thus can help ameliorate malnutrition if incorporated into diets. This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of 26 fixed elite mungbean breeding genotypes for yield and micronutrient composition across different locations in East Africa (Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania). The genotypes displayed significant variability for nutritional, phenology, and yield-related traits across test environments. Significant genotype effects were observed for most of the traits except for average yield per plant and dry matter content (

P

 < 0.05). Random effect of environment was significant for all traits, and significant GXE was observed for all traits except for dry matter and iron content (

P

 < 0.05). Moderate to high broad-sense heritability (H2) was found among traits except for dry matter content which was low (H2 = 10.4%). There was a significant and positive correlation between Fe and Zn (r = 0.58), and Fe and Ca (r = 0.46), indicating the potential to enhance these traits simultaneously through breeding and/or selection. However, the correlation between yield and nutrients (iron, zinc, and calcium) was negative. Environments KAT_SR_2019, KYM_LR_2020, and KYM_LR_2020 were found to be discriminating (informative) and representative of grain yield, calcium, and zinc content, respectively. Genotypes AVMU 1679, AVMU 1685, and AVMU1686 combined both stability and high micronutrient content, while the high yielding and stable genotypes were AVMU 1689, AVMU 1681, and AVMU 16102. The identified genotypes need to be assessed for farmer preference in on-farm trials before they can be recommended for release as new varieties. Additionally, these genotypes will be useful in future breeding efforts as donors aimed at developing nutrient-dense and high yielding mungbean varieties.
Impact of Different Oil Extraction Techniques on the Physicochemical Properties of Adansonia digitata Seed
Authors: Ofori Hayford , Bart-Plange Ato , Addo Ahmad , Dzisi Komla Agbeko
Published: October 2023

The seeds of baobab were found to have both industrial and domestic uses due to their essential oil qualities for topical medication. However, the seeds found in this study area in Ghana are underutilised and sometimes thrown away after being taken off the pulp. The present study is aimed at examining the impact of the two predominant techniques used for oil extraction from nonoily seeds, namely, mechanical extraction and Soxhlet (n-hexane) extraction, on both the oil yield and physicochemical properties of crude oil derived from baobab seeds. The study looked at the iodine value, peroxide value, acid value, colour, density, and other variables. Refractometers, chroma meters, and titration techniques were used for the determination of specific properties using standard methods. The Soxhlet method of oil extraction was superior in terms of maximum oil recovery, recording a value of 27.75%, in contrast to the mechanical method, which yielded a significantly lower recovery rate of 5.422%. The peroxide and iodine values were found to be 15.09 and 11.89 mEq/g and 85.89 and 88.45 g/100 g for the mechanical and Soxhlet extraction methods, respectively. Statistically significant differences (

p
≤
0.05

) were observed between the two oil extraction methods in some of the properties measured. The study discussed the impact of these oil properties on the application of both food and nonfood products. Finally, the study has provided an essential set of data and information to enable product initiators in the cosmetic, food, and other industries to make informed decisions regarding the utilisation of baobab oil as a constituent in the formulation of products.
A Method of Selecting Project Delivery System with Pythagorean Fuzzy Set Group Decision-Making Method and Prospect Theory
Authors: An Xiaowei , Zeng Yuanyuan , Li Ying
Published: October 2023

Project delivery system (PDS) is critical to the success of a construction project. There is a strong link between contract type and project delivery method. Therefore, this paper presents a framework for multiobjective decision-making that combines project delivery method and contract type for the first time. Furthermore, the Pythagorean fuzzy set (PFS) is introduced in the decision-making model. A new method for PDS group decision-making is constructed by combining PFS with the entropy weighting method and prospect theory. In order to improve the reliability of decision-making, this paper proposes a new method for determining decision-maker weights based on comprehensive weights, which is used to distinguish the professional level of decision-makers. Finally, the PDS decision-making process is elaborated through case analysis, the effectiveness of the decision-making model is verified, and the differences between the PDS decision-making method and the traditional method are discussed, which proves the reliability of the method. The method proposed in this paper can provide support for the owner’s PDS selection.
Reactive Transport Modelling of Elevated Dissolved Sulphide Concentrations in Sedimentary Basin Rocks
Authors: Xie Mingliang , Su Danyang , MacQuarrie Kerry T. B. , Mayer K. Ulrich
Published: October 2023

Groundwater with total dissolved sulphide concentrations in excess of

1.0
×

10

−
4

 
mol
 

L

−
1

 

3
 
mg
 

L

−
1

is relatively common at intermediate depths in sedimentary basins. However, the mechanisms responsible for the formation and spatial distribution of these sulphidic waters in sedimentary basins, which have been affected by periods of glaciation and deglaciation, are not fully understood. Sulphate reduction rates depend on many factors including redox conditions, salinity, temperature, and the presence and abundance of sulphate, organic matter, and sulphate-reducing bacteria. Two-dimensional reactive transport modelling was undertaken to provide potential explanations for the presence and distribution of sulphidic waters in sedimentary basins, partially constrained by field data from the Michigan Basin underlying Southern Ontario, Canada. Simulations were able to generally reproduce the observed depth-dependent distribution of sulphide. Sulphate reduction was most significant at intermediate depths due to anoxic conditions and elevated sulphate concentrations in the presence of organic matter in waters with relatively low salinity. The simulations indicate that glaciation-deglaciation periods increase mixing of waters at this interfacial zone, thereby enhancing rates of sulphate reduction and the formation of sulphide. In addition, the simulations indicate that glaciation-deglaciation cycles do not significantly affect sulphide concentrations in low permeability units, even at shallow depths (e.g., 25 m), while concentrations in permeable units remain stable below depths of 500 m.
Mitochondrial Translocase TOMM22 Is Overexpressed in Pancreatic Cancer and Promotes Aggressive Growth by Modulating Mitochondrial Protein Import and Function
Authors: Haastrup Mary Oluwadamilola , Vikramdeo Kunwar Somesh , Anand Shashi , Khan Mohammad Aslam , Carter James Elliot , Singh Seema , Singh Ajay Pratap , Dasgupta Santanu
Published: October 2023

Pancreatic cancer has the worst prognosis among all cancers, underscoring the need for improved management strategies. Dysregulated mitochondrial function is a common feature in several malignancies, including pancreatic cancer. Although mitochondria have their own genome, most mitochondrial proteins are nuclear-encoded and imported by a multi-subunit translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane (TOMM). TOMM22 is the central receptor of the TOMM complex and plays a role in complex assembly. Pathobiologic roles of TOMM subunits remain largely unexplored. Here we report that TOMM22 protein/mRNA is overexpressed in pancreatic cancer and inversely correlated with disease outcomes. TOMM22 silencing decreased, while its forced overexpression promoted the growth and malignant potential of the pancreatic cancer cells. Increased import of several mitochondrial proteins, including those associated with mitochondrial respiration, was observed upon TOMM22 overexpression which was associated with increased RCI activity, NAD+/NADH ratio, oxygen consumption rate, membrane potential, and ATP production. Inhibition of RCI activity decreased ATP levels and suppressed pancreatic cancer cell growth and malignant behavior confirming that increased TOMM22 expression mediated the phenotypic changes via its modulation of mitochondrial protein import and functions. Altogether, these results suggest that TOMM22 overexpression plays a significant role in pancreatic cancer pathobiology by altering mitochondrial protein import and functions.

Implications:

TOMM22 bears potential for early diagnostic/prognostic biomarker development and therapeutic targeting for better management of patients with pancreatic cancer.
Loss-of-Function but Not Gain-of-Function Properties of Mutant TP53 Are Critical for the Proliferation, Survival, and Metastasis of a Broad Range of Cancer Cells
Authors: Wang Zilu , Burigotto Matteo , Ghetti Sabrina , Vaillant François , Tan Tao , Capaldo Bianca D. , Palmieri Michelle , Hirokawa Yumiko , Tai Lin , Simpson Daniel S. , Chang Catherine , Huang Allan Shuai , Lieschke Elizabeth , Diepstraten Sarah T. , Kaloni Deeksha , Riffkin Chris , Huang David C.S. , Li Wai Suen Connie S.N. , Garnham Alexandra L. , Gibbs Peter , Visvader Jane E. , Sieber Oliver M. , Herold Marco J. , Fava Luca L. , Kelly Gemma L. , Strasser Andreas
Published: October 2023

Mutations in the tumor suppressor TP53 cause cancer and impart poor chemotherapeutic responses, reportedly through loss-of-function, dominant-negative effects and gain-of-function (GOF) activities. The relative contributions of these attributes is unknown. We found that removal of 12 different TP53 mutants with reported GOFs by CRISPR/Cas9 did not impact proliferation and response to chemotherapeutics of 15 human cancer cell lines and colon cancer–derived organoids in culture. Moreover, removal of mutant TP53/TRP53 did not impair growth or metastasis of human cancers in immune-deficient mice or growth of murine cancers in immune-competent mice. DepMap mining revealed that removal of 158 different TP53 mutants had no impact on the growth of 391 human cancer cell lines. In contrast, CRISPR-mediated restoration of wild-type TP53 extinguished the growth of human cancer cells in vitro. These findings demonstrate that LOF but not GOF effects of mutant TP53/TRP53 are critical to sustain expansion of many tumor types.

Significance:

This study provides evidence that removal of mutant TP53, thereby deleting its reported GOF activities, does not impact the survival, proliferation, metastasis, or chemotherapy responses of cancer cells. Thus, approaches that abrogate expression of mutant TP53 or target its reported GOF activities are unlikely to exert therapeutic impact in cancer.

See related commentary by Lane, p. 211 .

This article is featured in Selected Articles from This Issue, p. 201
Data from Aerobic Exercise Alters the Melanoma Microenvironment and Modulates ERK5 S496 Phosphorylation
Authors: Savage Hannah , Pareek Sumedha , Lee Jonghae , Ballarò Riccardo , Conterno Minussi Darlan , Hayek Karma , Sadullozoda Mumina , Lochmann Brooke S. , McQuade Jennifer L. , LaVoy Emily C. , Marmonti Enrica , Patel Hetal , Wang Guangyu , Imanishi Masaki , Kotla Sivareddy , Abe Jun-ichi , Schadler Keri
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Exercise changes the tumor microenvironment by remodeling blood vessels and increasing infiltration by cytotoxic immune cells. The mechanisms driving these changes remain unclear. Herein, we demonstrate that exercise normalizes tumor vasculature and upregulates endothelial expression of VCAM1 in YUMMER 1.7 and B16F10 murine models of melanoma but differentially regulates tumor growth, hypoxia, and the immune response. We found that exercise suppressed tumor growth and increased CD8+ T-cell infiltration in YUMMER but not in B16F10 tumors. Single-cell RNA sequencing and flow cytometry revealed exercise modulated the number and phenotype of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells and myeloid cells. Specifically, exercise caused a phenotypic shift in the tumor-associated macrophage population and increased the expression of MHC class II transcripts. We further demonstrated that ERK5 S496A knock-in mice, which are phosphorylation deficient at the S496 residue, “mimicked” the exercise effect when unexercised, yet when exercised, these mice displayed a reversal in the effect of exercise on tumor growth and macrophage polarization compared with wild-type mice. Taken together, our results reveal tumor-specific differences in the immune response to exercise and show that ERK5 signaling via the S496 residue plays a crucial role in exercise-induced tumor microenvironment changes.

See related Spotlight by Betof Warner, p. 1158
Life Satisfaction among Older Adults in Rural and Urban Mongolia: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study
Authors: Otgon Saranchuluun , Burnette Denise , Mukhtar Yerkyebulan , Casati Fabio , Myagmarjav Sugarmaa
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Life satisfaction is a strong indicator of well-being for older adults. In this study, we aimed to assess the level and correlates of life satisfaction among older adults in urban and rural Mongolia. Methods: We recruited 304 community-dwelling older adults in urban and rural regions of Mongolia. We compared levels of life satisfaction for the two groups, and then used hierarchical regression to examine the association of sociodemographic, health, psychosocial factors, and urban/rural status with life satisfaction. Results: Older adults in urban areas reported higher levels of life satisfaction than their rural counterparts. In the final step of the hierarchical regression model, more grandchildren in the household, better self-rated health, and reporting more positive than negative affect were associated with better life satisfaction at p < 0.05 as were engaging in paid work and lower levels of loneliness at p < 0.10. Net the effects of all other variables in the analysis, older adults in rural areas reported lower levels of life satisfaction. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that living in rural areas of Mongolia leads to lower levels of life satisfaction. We identify potential points to intervene through policies, programs, and practices that target the strengths and needs of older adults in rural areas by addressing inequities in socioeconomics, health, mental health, and opportunities for social integration.
Exploring Health Managers’ Views of Factors Influencing Their Acceptance of Electronic Health Services in Aseer Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Alshahrani Abdullah , MacLure Katie
Published: October 2023

Introduction: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is a country with one of the largest land masses and difficult geographical terrain in the Middle East. Health services across the country are accessible through three categories of providers. The Ministry of Health (MOH) which is the dominant health provider responsible for 60% of all health services and facilities. Private health sector and other government run health authorities are the providers for the remaining 40%. The accessibility to advanced health services, especially for people in rural areas, has been considered one of the main health challenges. Utilising Information and Communication Technology (ICT) including Electronic Health (eHealth) as an innovative approach to healthcare delivery was suggested by recent studies. This study aimed to explore the views of health managers in Aseer Province towards factors that influence their acceptance of eHealth services in the KSA. Methods: In-depth face-to-face and telephone interviews with health managers from Aseer province, KSA were conducted. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) was employed as a theoretical framework in this qualitative study. The UTAUT model consists of four domains: performance expectancy (PE); effort expectancy (EE); social influence (SI); and facilitating conditions (FCs). All factors identified in the interviews were mapped against the UTAUT domains. Microsoft Excel and NVivo were used for the data analysis. Ethical approval had been gained. Results: Twenty-one health managers in Aseer province, KSA were interviewed. The most influential factors that influence health managers acceptance of eHealth services were clustered under four UTAUT domains. Three domains out of four showed significance: PE, SI, and FCs. Conclusion: This study confirmed the influence of some factors on health managers’ acceptance of eHealth services in Aseer province, KSA. Original findings have been generated by exploring eHealth practice in the province which is part of KSA that has not previously been explored in the published eHealth literature. Identifying key challenges in accepting eHealth services may help in clarifying the better utilization of technology and making successful and positive transformational and sustainable change to the delivery of healthcare.
The Joint Contributions of Overweight/Obesity and Physical and Mental Working Conditions to Short and Long Sickness Absence among Young and Midlife Finnish Employees: A Register-Linked Follow-Up Study
Authors: Svärd Anna , Lallukka Tea , Oakman Jodi , Roos Eira , Ervasti Jenni , Salmela Jatta
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Overweight/obesity and strenuous working conditions are associated with work disability, but their joint contributions to sickness absence (SA) are unknown. We aimed to examine their joint contributions to SA periods of 1–7 and ≥8 days. Methods: Self-reported data on body mass index and working conditions, including perceived physically and mentally strenuous work and hours per day spent in heavy physical work, were linked to the employer’s SA register for the City of Helsinki, Finland, employees (n = 4,323, women 78%) who were 19–39 years old at baseline. We calculated rate ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for SA periods using negative binomial regression models among participants with healthy weight and overweight/obesity, with and without exposure to strenuous working conditions. The mean follow-up time was 2.1 years. Results: Participants with overweight/obesity and exposure to physically strenuous working conditions had the highest age- and gender-adjusted RRs for SA periods of both 1–7 and ≥8 days (physically strenuous work: RR: 1.38, CI: 1.25–1.52, and RR: 1.87, CI: 1.60–2.18, respectively; ≥3 h per day spent in physical work: RR: 1.40, CI: 1.26–1.55 and 2.04, CI: 1.73–2.40, respectively). The interaction between overweight/obesity and physically strenuous working conditions was additive for SA periods of 1–7 days and weakly synergistic for SA periods of ≥8 days. For mentally strenuous work, participants with overweight/obesity and exposure to mentally strenuous work had the highest age-adjusted RRs for SA periods of ≥8 days, and the interaction was additive. Conclusion: The joint contributions of overweight/obesity and exposure to strenuous working conditions to SA should be considered when aiming to reduce employees’ SA. Employers might benefit from providing employees adequate support for weight management and adherence to healthy lifestyles while improving employees’ working conditions.
Treatment Course and Outcomes of Intracranial Teratomas in Pediatric Patients: A Retrospective 15-Year Case Series Study
Authors: Wu Adela , Jin Michael C. , Vogel Hannes , Hiniker Susan , Campen Cynthia , Prolo Laura M. , Grant Gerald A.
Published: October 2023

Introduction: There is no standard treatment paradigm for intracranial teratomas, a rare subset of primary intracranial non-germinomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCT), which comprise less than 1% of pediatric brain tumors. This case series retrospectively analyzes treatment and outcomes of pediatric intracranial teratomas from a single institution. Methods: Authors reviewed a comprehensive pathology database at Stanford’s Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital for intracranial teratomas in pediatric patients treated from 2006 to 2021; their demographics, treatment, and clinical course were analyzed. Results: Among 14 patients, median follow-up time was 4.6 years and mean age at diagnosis was 10.5 years. Ten had elevated tumor markers and underwent chemotherapy as initial treatment for NGGCT. Ultimately, these patients all required surgery for progressive or residual disease. Two patients did not undergo radiation. After biopsy or resection, 8 patients had pure mature teratoma, five had mixed germ cell tumor with teratoma component, and one had immature teratoma. The patient with immature teratoma died during chemotherapy from septic shock. No patients experienced recurrence. Common sequelae were endocrine (42.8%) and eye movement (50.0%) abnormalities. Discussion/Conclusion: We highlight the variable treatment course and outcome for pediatric patients with intracranial teratomas. Elevated tumor markers at presentation, along with imaging findings, favor chemotherapy initiation for presumed NGGCT. Resection of residual tumor is recommended even if tumor markers return to normal. Prognosis remains excellent; no patients had recurrence with a median follow-up of 4.6 years.