bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nate Shalev Q+A: Trans inclusion and advocating for LGBTQ and Jewish people
Authors: May Rachel
Published: June 2024

When Nate Shalev navigated their previous jobs, they found themselves constantly having to train their supervisors and colleagues on trans inclusion. They decided to pivot — embracing the opportunity to launch a career based on advocacy. Now an inclusivity speaker and advisor at Revel Impact, they help organizations examine their biases and implement education and policies that make all members feel safe.
Helical Ni‐Cluster Organic Framework Constructed from Enantiopure Lactate Derivative: Synthesis, Structure and Properties
Authors: Xu Zhong‐Xuan , Ying Xiu‐Ju , Fei Fei
Published: June 2024

Under hydrothermal condition, lactate derivative (R)‐4‐(1‐ carboxyethoxy)‐2‐methylbenzoic acid ((R)‐H2cma) as chiral synthon assembled with 4,4′‐di(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)‐1,1′‐biphenyl (4,4’‐dib) and Ni(II) ions to obtain complex {[Ni2((R)‐cma)2(4,4’‐dib)2(H2O)] ⋅ 2H2O}n (HU20‐R). In complex HU20‐R, carboxyl group from lactate unit of (R)‐cma2− anion and coordinating H2O molecule adopt a μ2‐coordination mode to obtain dinuclear [Ni2(CO2)2(H2O)]2+ cluster. (R)‐cma2− anions and Ni(II) ions build single left‐handed (R)‐cma‐Ni‐chain, while 4,4’‐dib ligands are bridged by different Ni(II) centers to form double left‐handed 4,4’‐dib‐Ni‐chain. These helical secondary structures are further connected together to result in an 8‐connected 3D framework. PXRD tests indicated that complex HU20‐R has well hydro‐stability. UV‐vis absorption experiment confirmed that HU20‐R is a semi‐conducting material with strong absorption capacity for ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐vis) light. Additionally, electrochemical experiment revealed that HU20‐R has low impedance and high charge transport capacity. Further test results confirm that HU20‐R has noticeable photo‐catalytic effect in photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and antiferromagnetic property.
Istanbul as the Symbolic Space of the Neo-Ottomanist Narrative: Nostalgia, Romanticism and Domestic Imperial Greed
Authors: Tokdoğan Nagehan
Published: June 2024

This chapter focuses on the symbolic and emotional manifestations of Neo-Ottomanist narratives on space. As one of the leading symbols of Neo-Ottomanism, Istanbul has always had a significant value for the Islamic conservative tradition and has been instrumentalized as a site of emotional and financial investment under AKP rule. The Islamic dream of reconquering the city has been realised through interventions in the abstract and concrete textures of the city. In this chapter I analyse the AKP’s symbolic reconquest of Istanbul, which mainly derived from ontological ressentiment, urge for revenge, nostalgia, romanticism and imperial greed.
Towards the Construction of a Neo-Ottomanist Myth: The ‘Legend’ of 15 July and National Narcissism
Authors: Tokdoğan Nagehan
Published: June 2024

The coup attempt of 15 July 2016 was another turning point in the emotional climate of Turkey, characterized by the victimhood claim of the Islamic conservatives, from which the AKP arose. It transformed a historical narrative, largely dominated by defeat and suppression, into a completely different narrative of the present, one characterized by triumph and self-worship. This chapter focuses on the AKP’s efforts to create a national myth through the 15 July incident, and discusses whether these efforts have been successful drawing on the notions of ‘national narcissism’ and ‘collective narcissism’.
Positioning Rural Geography into Platform Economies: Why We Need to Ask New Questions When Researching the Rural Platform Economy
Authors: Zhang Qian , Webster Natasha A.
Published: June 2024

A rapidly growing body of work explores platform-mediated economy and work under the umbrella term ‘Platform Urbanism’. This focus and academic discourse risk keeping digital spaces and practices in the rural context in the shadow or subordinated to urban-based understandings. Concurrently, digital studies on the rural have for long focused on technocratic approaches to improving information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and connectivity. While recently the potentials of digitalization in transforming agriculture, small businesses, health care, and transportation in rural areas are receiving significant attention, these debates remain surprisingly disconnected from vibrant discussions of the platform economy. Thus, the remaking of rural geographies through the platform economy, and vice versa, remains under-examined. This chapter addresses the importance of spatiality and geography in considering the platform economy with examples of rural small business and agriculture. It illustrates why the nuances and complexity of rural spaces need to become part of understanding the dynamics of the platform economy. Centring rural as important and spatially significant not only lifts the complexity of rural platform processes but also creates opportunities for new questions and patterns. Rural geographical perspectives highlight relational and interlocking spaces found in the rural platform economy and offer the potential for a deeper understanding of social-technical-spatial relations.
Making Sense of Marine-Based Search and Rescue Response Time Using Network Analysis
Authors: Stoddard Mark A. , Pelot Ronald , Goerlandt Floris , Etienne Laurent
Published: June 2024

Navigation in polar waters follows standard navigational practice, with special consideration for the presence of sea ice and its expected impact on safe ship operation. Experienced polar ship operators rely on timely access to authoritative sea ice analysis and knowledge of the safe operational limits of their ship to determine the navigability of polar waters. Several sea ice risk assessment frameworks exist to assist ship operators with onboard decision-making, most notably, the Polar Operational Limit Assessment Risk Indexing System (POLARIS). The result from POLARIS is referred to as the Risk Index Outcome (RIO). By adjusting ship speed in response to the RIO value, it is possible to account for sea ice risk in the estimation of ship transit time in polar waters. In this chapter we discuss the use of network analysis techniques to generate the fastest route between two locations in the Arctic and to compute surface ship incident response service areas (IRSA) and incident response isochrones (IRI) for different times of year and ship ice classes. The use of IRSA and IRI to support area-based management (ABM) tools that aim to formally incorporate historical observations of shipping activity into quantitative assessments is also discussed. Incorporating IRSA and IRI results into ABM tools would provide decision-makers with a useful tool to possibly help plan and coordinate incident response in polar waters and support ABM of commercial vessel operation and search and rescue provision.
Conclusion
Authors: Pelot Ronald , Chircop Aldo , Goerlandt Floris , Aporta Claudio
Published: June 2024

This concluding chapter serves to elaborate and extrapolate some of the main points delivered throughout this book’s collection of complementary perspectives on area-based management (ABM) applied to maritime shipping. Researchers and practitioners in this continuously developing field of ABM can benefit from the diverse perspectives provided in this text, which are synthesized according to key facets, namely, the purpose of ABM and basic principles that mould its construction and application; the role of risk governance and risk analysis in shaping ABM applications and for determining how shipping-related risks may thus be mitigated; how marine spatial planning (MSP), another rapidly growing tool that systematically advances sustainable management of marine areas, intersects with the suite of ABM tools; and what comprises good practices when implementing ABM processes and tools. The chapter concludes with some remarks on fruitful areas for additional research that may further strengthen ABM.
Vessel Traffic Management in the Era of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships and Digitalization: Experiences in European Waters
Authors: Hebbar Anish Arvind , Schröder-Hinrichs Jens-Uwe , Yildiz Serdar
Published: June 2024

The safety of navigation in approaches to harbours and along coasts has been a concern since the beginning of maritime trade approximately 2000 years ago. The ways and means for facilitating the safety and efficiency of maritime navigation have undergone a remarkable transformation from lighthouses, first established in 300–280 BC in Alexandria, Egypt, combined with the use of flag signals by ships to announce their arrival when approaching a harbour, through the use of radars for electronic monitoring combined with radio communications by ships, to the use of satellite-based automatic identification systems combined with automated digital information exchange between maritime autonomous surface ships and geographically distant shore control centres.

This chapter examines vessel traffic management from an interwoven, regulatory, and technological perspective. It attempts to trace the evolution of international and European Union regulatory and organizational frameworks in response to the emerging needs of navigational safety and efficiency. In this context, essential technical jargon as key to an understanding of the topic of vessel traffic management is unpacked. Relevant work of the International Maritime Organization, International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities, European Commission, and European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) is discussed. The transformative role of the European Maritime Single Window environment stands out while traversing the contribution of technological advancements in the maritime domain leading to the development of vessel traffic management system architecture and capabilities. Digitalization and automation in maritime infrastructure are explored for their influence and significance of contribution to navigational safety. The ensuing discussion highlights the role of maritime single windows and the EMSA’s SafeSeaNet as key pillars for enhanced situational awareness in European waters together with the cutting-edge approach of sea traffic management. The chapter concludes with a fascinating outlook on the vessel traffic management system of the future in the emerging context of the fourth industrial revolution driven by artificial intelligence, machine learning, and maritime autonomous surface ships.
Revealing molecular determinants governing mambalgin-3 pharmacology at acid-sensing ion channel 1 variants
Authors: Cristofori-Armstrong Ben , Budusan Elena , Smith Jennifer J. , Reynaud Steve , Voll Kerstin , Chassagnon Irène R. , Durek Thomas , Rash Lachlan D.
Published: June 2024

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are trimeric proton-gated cation channels that play a role in neurotransmission and pain sensation. The snake venom-derived peptides, mambalgins, exhibit potent analgesic effects in rodents by inhibiting central ASIC1a and peripheral ASIC1b. Despite their distinct species- and subtype-dependent pharmacology, previous structure-function studies have focussed on the mambalgin interaction with ASIC1a. Currently, the specific channel residues responsible for this pharmacological profile, and the mambalgin pharmacophore at ASIC1b remain unknown. Here we identify non-conserved residues at the ASIC1 subunit interface that drive differences in the mambalgin pharmacology from rat ASIC1a to ASIC1b, some of which likely do not make peptide binding interactions. Additionally, an amino acid variation below the core binding site explains potency differences between rat and human ASIC1. Two regions within the palm domain, which contribute to subtype-dependent effects for mambalgins, play key roles in ASIC gating, consistent with subtype-specific differences in the peptides mechanism. Lastly, there is a shared primary mambalgin pharmacophore for ASIC1a and ASIC1b activity, with certain peripheral peptide residues showing variant-specific significance for potency. Through our broad mutagenesis studies across various species and subtype variants, we gain a more comprehensive understanding of the pharmacophore and the intricate molecular interactions that underlie ligand specificity. These insights pave the way for the development of more potent and targeted peptide analogues required to advance our understating of human ASIC1 function and its role in disease.
On the infiltration of cellular solids by sheet molding compound: process simulation and experimental validation
Authors: Bernardi Federico , Sensini Alberto , Raimondi Luca , Donati Lorenzo
Published: June 2024

This study examines a numerical method to simulate the production of novel multi-material metal-composite components, where an additive-manufactured cellular solid is infiltrated by a sheet molding compound (SMC) in a single-step compression molding operation. A single-fiber numerical approach is adopted to predict microstructural changes, such as fiber orientation, fiber-matrix separation, and fiber volume content variations during molding. The accuracy of the numerical predictions is confirmed by physical samples using micro-computed tomography and optical microscopy investigations at both the qualitative and quantitative scales. From optical microscopy observations, there emerged a positive correlation between experimental outcomes and simulation results, accurately capturing fiber swirling, wrinkling, and draping that occurred during molding. At a quantitative scale, a 0.6% mismatch was observed when void volume and unfilled areas were compared, as measured by micro-computed tomography and numerical simulation.
In silico prediction of the interaction of legacy and novel per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) with selected human transporters and of their possible accumulation in the human body
Authors: Tiburtini G. A. , Bertarini L. , Bersani M. , Dragani T. A. , Rolando B. , Binello A. , Barge A. , Spyrakis F.
Published: June 2024

Per- and poly-fluorinated compounds constitute a wide group of fluorocarbon chemicals with widespread industrial applications, ranging from non-stick coating in cookware to water surfactants, from fire-fighting foams to water-repellent coatings on textiles. Presently, over 12,000 PFAS are known worldwide. In recent years, extensive research has focused on investigating the biological effects of these molecules on various organisms, including humans. Here, we conducted in silico simulations to examine the potential binding of a representative selection of PFAS to various human proteins known to be involved in chemical transportation and accumulation processes. Specifically, we targeted human serum albumin (HSA), transthyretin (TTR), thyroxine binding protein (TBG), fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs), organic anion transporters (OATs), aiming to assess the potential for bioaccumulation. Molecular docking simulations were employed for this purpose, supplemented by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to account for protein flexibility, when necessary. Our findings indicate that so-called “legacy PFAS” such as PFOA or PFOS exhibit a higher propensity for interaction with the analysed human protein targets compared to newly formulated PFAS, characterised by higher branching and hydrophilicity, and possibly a higher accumulation in the human body.
Gemcitabine-loaded chitosan nanoparticles enhanced apoptotic and ferroptotic response of gemcitabine treatment alone in the pancreatic cancer cells in vitro
Authors: Aydemir Duygu , Öztürk Kıvılcım , Arslan Fatma Betül , Çalis Sema , Ulusu Nuriye Nuray
Published: June 2024

Gemcitabine (GEM) is a first-line treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients, causing side effects and poor overall survival. Eighty percent of patients often develop resistance rapidly to GEM. Developing therapeutic approaches and increasing sensitivity to gemcitabine in PDAC has become one of the challenges in cancer research. We synthesized GEM-loaded NPs prepared with a method that combines ultrasonication and ionotropic gelation to overcome GEM-related limitations in PDAC. CFPAC-1 cells were treated with increased concentrations of GEM, empty chitosan, and GEM-loaded NPs (0.66, 1.32, 2.64, 5.32 µg/ml) for up to 48 h. Empty chitosan NPs did not show toxicity on L929 cells. Antioxidant enzyme activities, including glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione s-transferase (GST), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), significantly reduced in GEM-loaded NPs compared to the GEM associated with increased oxidative stress, PPP, and glycolysis. Bcl-xL, NOXA/mcl-1, and Ca2+ levels significantly increased in GEM-loaded NP-administered cells compared to the GEM and control groups. In contrast, JNK, p38, STAT3, Akt, and CREB levels significantly decreased in the GEM-loaded NP group, addressing enhanced apoptotic response compared to the GEM alone. Increased ferroptosis activity in GEM-loaded NP-administered groups has been validated via decreased antioxidant enzyme activities, increased cytosolic Fe, Zn, Mg, and Mn levels, and reduced GPx activity compared to the GEM and control groups. For the first time in the literature, we showed biocompatible GEM-loaded NPs enhanced apoptotic and ferroptotic response in CFPAC-1 cells via downregulation of antioxidant, glycolysis, and PPP metabolism compared to the GEM alone.

Graphical abstract
$$H(\textrm{div})$$-conforming HDG methods for the stress-velocity formulation of the Stokes equations and the Navier–Stokes equations
Authors: Qiu Weifeng , Zhao Lina
Published: June 2024

In this paper we devise and analyze a pressure-robust and superconvergent HDG method in stress-velocity formulation for the Stokes equations and the Navier–Stokes equations with strongly symmetric stress. The stress and velocity are approximated using piecewise polynomial space of order k and $$H(\textrm{div};\Omega )$$

H
(
div
;
Ω
)

-conforming space of order $$k+1$$

k
+
1

, respectively, where k is the polynomial order. In contrast, the tangential trace of the velocity is approximated using piecewise polynomials of order k. Moreover, the characterization of the proposed schemes shows that the globally coupled unknowns are the normal trace and the tangential trace of velocity, and the piecewise constant approximation for the trace of the stress. The discrete $$H^1$$

H
1

-stability is established for the discrete solution. The proposed formulation yields divergence-free velocity, but causes difficulties for the derivation of the pressure-independent error estimate given that the pressure variable is not employed explicitly in the discrete formulation. This difficulty can be overcome by observing that the $$L^2$$

L
2

projection to the stress space has a nice commuting property. Moreover, superconvergence for velocity in discrete $$H^1$$

H
1

-norm is obtained, with regard to the degrees of freedom of the globally coupled unknowns. Then the convergence of the discrete solution to the weak solution for the Navier–Stokes equations via the compactness argument is rigorously analyzed under minimal regularity assumption. The strong convergence for velocity and stress is proved. Importantly, the strong convergence for velocity in discrete $$H^1$$

H
1

-norm is achieved. Several numerical experiments are carried out to confirm the proposed theories.
From plactic monoids to hypoplactic monoids
Authors: Guilherme Ricardo P.
Published: June 2024

The plactic monoids can be obtained from the tensor product of crystals. Similarly, the hypoplactic monoids can be obtained from the quasi-tensor product of quasi-crystals. In this paper, we present a unified approach to these constructions by expressing them in the context of quasi-crystals. We provide a sufficient condition to obtain a quasi-crystal monoid for the quasi-tensor product from a quasi-crystal monoid for the tensor product. We also establish a sufficient condition for a hypoplactic monoid to be a quotient of the plactic monoid associated to the same seminormal quasi-crystal.
Using a DNA mini-barcode within the ITS region to identify toxic Amanita in mushroom poisoning cases
Authors: Xing Ran-Ran , Bai Wen-Ming , Hu Di , Deng Ting-Ting , Zhang Jiu-Kai , Chen Ying
Published: June 2024

Mushroom poisoning contributes significantly to global foodborne diseases and related fatalities. Amanita mushrooms frequently cause such poisonings; however, identifying these toxic species is challenging due to the unavailability of fresh and intact samples. It is often necessary to analyze residues, vomitus, or stomach extracts to obtain DNA sequences for the identification of species responsible for causing food poisoning. This usually proves challenging to obtain usable DNA sequences that can be analyzed using conventional molecular biology techniques. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a DNA mini-barcoding method for the identification of Amanita species. Following the evaluation and optimization of universal primers for DNA mini-barcoding in Amanita mushrooms, we found that the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene sequence primer ITS-a was the most suitable DNA barcode primer for identifying Amanita species. Forty-three Amanita samples were subsequently amplified and sequenced. The sequences obtained were analyzed for intra- and inter-species genetic distances, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed. The findings indicated that the designed primers had strong universality among the Amanita samples and could accurately identify the target gene fragment with a length of 290 bp. Notably, the DNA mini-barcode accurately identified the 43 Amanita samples, demonstrating high consistency with the conventional DNA barcode. Furthermore, it effectively identified DNA from digested samples. In summary, this DNA mini-barcode is a promising tool for detecting accidental ingestion of toxic Amanita mushrooms. It may be used as an optimal barcode for species identification and traceability in events of Amanita-induced mushroom poisoning.

Key points

• Development of a DNA mini-barcoding method for Amanita species identification without fresh samples.

• The ITS-a primer set was optimized for robust universality in Amanita samples.

• The mini-barcode is suitable for screening toxic mushroom species in mushroom poisoning cases.

Graphical Abstract
Connectivity based on glucose dynamics reveals exaggerated sensorimotor network coupling on subject-level in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Ruppert-Junck Marina C. , Heinecke Vanessa , Librizzi Damiano , Steidel Kenan , Beckersjürgen Maya , Verburg Frederik A. , Schurrat Tino , Luster Markus , Müller Hans-Helge , Timmermann Lars , Eggers Carsten , Pedrosa David
Published: June 2024

Purpose

While fMRI provides information on the temporal changes in blood oxygenation, 2- [18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([18F]FDG)-PET has traditionally offered a static snapshot of brain glucose consumption. As a result, studies investigating metabolic brain networks as potential biomarkers for neurodegeneration have primarily been conducted at the group level. However, recent pioneering studies introduced time-resolved [18F]FDG-PET with constant infusion, which enables metabolic connectivity studies at the individual level.

Methods

In the current study, this technique was employed to explore Parkinson’s disease (PD)-related alterations in individual metabolic connectivity, in comparison to inter-subject measures and hemodynamic connectivity. Fifteen PD patients and 14 healthy controls with comparable cognition underwent sequential resting-state dynamic PET with constant infusion and functional MRI. Intrinsic networks were identified by independent component analysis and interregional connectivity calculated for summed static PET images, PET time series and functional MRI.

Results

Our findings revealed an intrinsic sensorimotor network in PD patients that has not been previously observed to this extent. In PD, a significantly higher number of connections in cortical motor areas was observed compared to elderly control subjects, as indicated by both static PET and functional MRI (pBonferroni−Holm = 0.027), as well as constant infusion PET and functional MRI connectomes (pBonferroni−Holm = 0.012). This intensified coupling was associated with disease severity (ρ = 0.56, p = 0.036).

Conclusion

Metabolic connectivity, as revealed by both static and dynamic PET, provides unique information on metabolic network activity. Subject-level metabolic connectivity based on constant infusion PET may serve as a potential marker for the metabolic network signature in neurodegeneration.
Population and clonal structure of Acropora cf. hyacinthus to inform coral restoration practices on the Great Barrier Reef
Authors: Howlett Lorna , Camp Emma F. , Locatelli Nicolas S. , Baums Iliana B. , Strudwick Paige , Rassmussen Sage , Suggett David J.
Published: June 2024

A key goal of coral restoration is to re-establish self-sustaining coral populations and ensure resilience to future stressors, which requires that genetic diversity is maximised. However, coral genetic and genotypic (clonal) diversity is variable across reef sites via success of sexual recruitment, and cryptic species diversity can complicate breeding efforts. Assessing genotypic and genetic diversity of colonies to be used in restoration is therefore critical to avoid founder, inbreeding or outbreeding effects. Considering recent efforts to upscale coral propagation on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), we examined species, population and clonal structure of a commonly out-planted tabular Acropora species—Acropora hyacinthus (Dana, 1864). A total of 189 colonies were sampled from six reef systems throughout the northern-central GBR and genotyped using an Acropora-specific Affymetrix microarray, which resulted in 1387 variant sites that passed quality control. Cryptic species were readily resolved and all sampled A. hyacinthus colonies represented unique genotypes within sites at three reefs. At reefs that contained multi-ramet genets (clonal genotypes), the mean and maximum between-ramet distances were 0.68 and 1.99 m, respectively. Therefore, sampling colonies > 2 m apart increases the likelihood these colonies represent distinct genets. Such a sampling design therefore maximises genotypic diversity when sourcing colonies for propagation and out-planting. Based on these variant sites, we found no between-reef genetic divergence based on locality. Furthermore, through unintentional sampling of non-target tabular Acroporid species, we show how this genotyping method may be used for resolving taxonomic uncertainty as well as population dynamics.
Visual analysis of fitness landscapes in architectural design optimization
Authors: Abdelaal Moataz , Galuschka Marcel , Zorn Max , Kannenberg Fabian , Menges Achim , Wortmann Thomas , Weiskopf Daniel , Kurzhals Kuno
Published: June 2024

In architectural design optimization, fitness landscapes are used to visualize design space parameters in relation to one or more objective functions for which they are being optimized. In our design study with domain experts, we developed a visual analytics framework for exploring and analyzing fitness landscapes spanning data, projection, and visualization layers. Within the data layer, we employ two surrogate models and three sampling strategies to efficiently generate a wide array of landscapes. On the projection layer, we use star coordinates and UMAP as two alternative methods for obtaining a 2D embedding of the design space. Our interactive user interface can visualize fitness landscapes as a continuous density map or a discrete glyph-based map. We investigate the influence of surrogate models and sampling strategies on the resulting fitness landscapes in a parameter study. Additionally, we present findings from a user study (N= 12), revealing how experts’ preferences regarding projection methods and visual representations may be influenced by their level of expertise, characteristics of the techniques, and the specific task at hand. Furthermore, we demonstrate the usability and usefulness of our framework by a case study from the architecture domain, involving one domain expert.
New online dynamic nomograms to predict recurrence-free and overall survival after resection of endometrial cancer: a single-institution retrospective cohort study
Authors: Hu Zhen , Li Junying , Du Junqiang
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The significant global burden of endometrial cancer (EC) and the challenges associated with predicting EC recurrence indicate the need for a dynamic prediction model. This study aimed to propose nomograms based on clinicopathological variables to predict recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) after surgical resection for EC.

Methods

This single-institution retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent surgical resection for EC. Web-based nomograms were developed to predict RFS and OS following resection for EC, and their discriminative and calibration abilities were assessed.

Results

This study included 289 patients (median age, 56 years). At a median follow-up of 51.1 (range, 4.1–128.3) months, 13.5% (39/289) of patients showed relapse or died, and 10.7% (31/289) had non-endometrioid tumors (median size: 2.8 cm). Positive peritoneal cytology result (hazard ratio [HR], 35.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–1095.64; P = 0.0428), age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (AACCI) (HR, 52.08; 95% CI, 12.35–219.61; P < 0.001), and FIGO (Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) stage IV (HR, 138.33; 95% CI, 17.38–1101.05; P < 0.001) were predictors of RFS. Similarly, depth of myometrial invasion ≥ 1/2 (HR, 1; 95% CI, 0.46–2.19; P = 0.995), AACCI (HR, 93.63; 95% CI, 14.87–589.44; P < 0.001), and FIGO stage IV (HR, 608.26; 95% CI, 73.41–5039.66; P < 0.001) were predictors of OS. The nomograms showed good predictive capability, positive discriminative ability, and calibration (RFS: 0.895 and OS: 0.891).

Conclusion

The nomograms performed well in internal validation when patients were stratified into prognostic groups, offering a personalized approach for risk stratification and treatment decision-making.
Variations in orientation relationships between rutile inclusions and garnet host relate to magmatic growth zoning
Authors: Kohn Victoria , Griffiths Thomas A. , Alifirova Taisia , Daneu Nina , Ageeva Olga , Abart Rainer , Habler Gerlinde
Published: June 2024

Rutile inclusions in almandine-spessartine garnet from a peraluminous pegmatoid from the Moldanubian zone (Bohemian Massif, AT) show distinct changes in aspect ratio, shape preferred orientations (SPO) and crystallographic orientation relationships (COR) along the transition between microstructurally different growth zones in the garnet core and rim. For identification of the COR characteristics we pool specific CORs based on their common axial relationship into three COR groups: Group 103R/111G, Group 001R/111G and Group 001R/100G. The rutile inclusions in the garnet core domains are elongated along the four Grt$$\langle$$
⟨
111$$\rangle$$
⟩
directions and are dominated by COR Group 103R/111G. The garnet rim zone additionally contains rutile needles elongated along Grt$$\langle$$
⟨
100$$\rangle$$
⟩
. Here, Group 001R/111G and 001R/100G are more abundant than in the garnet core. Needle-shaped rutile in the rim shows a systematic correlation between SPOs and CORs as needles elongated parallel to Grt$$\langle$$
⟨
111$$\rangle$$
⟩
are dominated by Group 103R/111G and 001R/111G, whereas those needles elongated parallel to Grt$$\langle$$
⟨
100$$\rangle$$
⟩
exclusively pertain to CORs of 001R/100G. Furthermore, the frequency of each particular SPO in the garnet rim clearly depends on the local growth direction of the particular Grt{112} sector. Facet-specific variations in rutile SPO frequencies in different sectors and growth zones of garnet were observed even between equivalent directions, indicating that the microstructures and textures of rutile inclusions reflect varying parameters of garnet growth. The characteristic differences in COR groups of different garnet growth zones are referred to compositional changes in the bulk melt or compositional boundary layer, associated with magmatic fractional crystallisation.
On the origin of alkali feldspar megacrysts in granitoids. Part 2: evidence for nucleation and growth under magmatic conditions from crystal size distributions of the Cathedral Peak Granodiorite, California, USA
Authors: Seitz Susanne , Gualda Guilherme A. R. , Harmon Lydia J.
Published: June 2024

The mechanisms whereby alkali feldspar megacrysts form have been debated for several decades; yet, we do not understand well the processes that lead to their formation. We take advantage of glacially polished outcrop surfaces from the Cathedral Peak Granodiorite in the Tuolumne Intrusive Complex, CA to quantitatively characterize alkali feldspar textures, to provide better insight into their origin. On the glacially polished surfaces, we traced alkali feldspar crystals > 10 mm in the field. From the same localities, we also collected large slabs and stained them to reveal feldspar textures for crystals < 20 mm in size. We scaned the resulting field tracings and rock slabs to quantify CSDs using image processing techniques with the software ImageJ. The CSDs from glacially polished outcrop surfaces and complementary polished and stained rock slabs reveal two stages of crystallization. Crystals > 20 mm show log-linear CSDs with shallow slopes, suggesting magmatic nucleation and growth on timescales of thousands of years. Crystals < 20 mm define a second stage of crystallization, with much steeper slopes, suggesting a period of enhanced nucleation leading to formation of a groundmass during the final stages of solidification on timescales of decades to centuries. We do not find any evidence for CSDs affected by textural coarsening, or any effects of subsolidus processes. Our data suggest that these megacrysts form in large, slowly cooling magma, where low nucleation rates dominate. These crystals are not special in their magmatic formation—only in their size. A change in solidification conditions led to the formation of a groundmass, which warrants further study to better understand this crystallization stage in a plutonic environment.
COVID-19 and silent hypoxemia in a minimal closed-loop model of the respiratory rhythm generator
Authors: Diekman Casey O. , Thomas Peter J. , Wilson Christopher G.
Published: June 2024

Silent hypoxemia, or “happy hypoxia,” is a puzzling phenomenon in which patients who have contracted COVID-19 exhibit very low oxygen saturation ($$\text {SaO}_2$$

SaO
2

< 80%) but do not experience discomfort in breathing. The mechanism by which this blunted response to hypoxia occurs is unknown. We have previously shown that a computational model of the respiratory neural network (Diekman et al. in J Neurophysiol 118(4):2194–2215, 2017) can be used to test hypotheses focused on changes in chemosensory inputs to the central pattern generator (CPG). We hypothesize that altered chemosensory function at the level of the carotid bodies and/or the nucleus tractus solitarii are responsible for the blunted response to hypoxia. Here, we use our model to explore this hypothesis by altering the properties of the gain function representing oxygen sensing inputs to the CPG. We then vary other parameters in the model and show that oxygen carrying capacity is the most salient factor for producing silent hypoxemia. We call for clinicians to measure hematocrit as a clinical index of altered physiology in response to COVID-19 infection.
Hepatic infarction occurred after 125I particle stent treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus: A case report
Authors: Yang Jiemin , Qin Yang , Lv Zhongyuan , Xiao Qingqing , Miao Ying , Huang Huiping , Wei Bing , Mao Jingsong
Published: June 2024

Background

Hepatic infarction is a rare liver condition. The purpose of this study is to report a case of hepatic infarction caused by thrombus formation following portal vein stent implantation in a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein tumor thrombus, and to explore the underlying causes.

Case report

The patient in this study was a 52-year-old male admitted with diffuse hepatocellular carcinoma involving the right lobe and portal vein tumor thrombus. After undergoing portal vein stent implantation and 125I particle strand implantation treatment, the portal vein was patent, and the pressure decreased. However, multiple instances of hepatic artery chemoembolization combined with targeted immunotherapy resulted in gradual reduction in the diameter of the hepatic artery and affecting hepatic arterial blood flow. Two months post-stent implantation, thrombus formation within the stent was noted, and the patient’s condition did not improve with anticoagulant therapy, as evidenced by follow-up CT scans showing an increase in thrombi. Six months later, the patient suffered from gastrointestinal bleeding and, despite emergency esophagogastric variceal ligation and hemostatic treatment, developed hepatic parenchymal infarction and liver function failure.

Conclusions

We reveal the underlying cause is that (1) thrombus formation within the portal vein stent, leading to portal vein embolism and obstructed blood flow due to exacerbate portal hypertension after various treatments; and (2) the effect of hepatic artery chemoembolization, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy on tumor angiogenesis, causing reduced hepatic artery diameter and impaired arterial blood flow. These factors disrupt the liver’s dual blood supply system, ultimately contributing to hepatic infarction. To our knowledge, this is the first report of hepatic infarction as a complication following portal vein stent implantation for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus, and it holds significant reference value for guiding the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with concurrent portal vein tumor thrombus in a clinical setting.
Did steam boost the height and growth rate of the giant Hunga eruption plume?
Authors: Mastin Larry G. , Van Eaton Alexa R. , Cronin Shane J.
Published: June 2024

The eruption of Hunga volcano on 15 January 2022 produced a higher plume and faster-growing umbrella cloud than has ever been previously recorded. The plume height exceeded 58 km, and the umbrella grew to 450 km in diameter within 50 min. Assuming an umbrella thickness of 10 km, this growth rate implied an average volume injection rate into the umbrella of 330–500 km3 s−1. Conventional relationships between plume height, umbrella-growth rate, and mass eruption rate suggest that this period of activity should have injected a few to several cubic kilometers of rock particles (tephra) into the plume. Yet tephra fall deposits on neighboring islands are only a few centimeters thick and can be reproduced using ash transport simulations with only 0.1–0.2 km3 erupted volume (dense-rock equivalent). How could such a powerful eruption contain so little tephra? Here, we propose that seawater mixing at the vent boosted the plume height and umbrella growth rate. Using the one-dimensional (1-D) steady plume model Plumeria, we find that a plume fed by ~90% water vapor at a temperature of 100 °C (referred to here as steam) could have exceeded 50 km height while keeping the injection rate of solids low enough to be consistent with Hunga’s modest tephra-fall deposit volume. Steam is envisaged to rise from intense phreatomagmatic jets or pyroclastic density currents entering the ocean. Overall, the height and expansion rate of Hunga’s giant plume is consistent with the total mass of fall deposits plus underwater density current deposits, even though most of the erupted mass decoupled from the high plume. This example represents a class of high (> 10 km), ash-poor, steam-driven plumes, that also includes Kīlauea (2020) and Fukutoku-oka-no-ba (2021). Their height is driven by heat flux following well-established relations; however, most of the heat is contained in steam rather than particles. As a result, the heights of these water-rich plumes do not follow well-known relations with the mass eruption rate of tephra.
Performant almost-latch-free data structures using epoch protection in more depth
Authors: Li Tianyu , Chandramouli Badrish , Madden Samuel
Published: June 2024

Multi-core scalability presents a major implementation challenge for data system designers today. Traditional methods such as latching no longer scale in today’s highly parallel architectures. While the designer can make use of techniques such as latch-free programming to painstakingly design specialized, highly-performant solutions, such solutions are often intricate to build and difficult to reason about. Of particular interest to data system designers is a class of data structures we call almost-latch-free; such data structures can be made scalable in the common case, but have rare complications (e.g., dynamic resizing) that prevent full latch-free implementations. In this work, we present a new programming framework called Epoch-Protected Version Scheme (EPVS) to make it easy to build such data structures. EPVS makes use of epoch protection to preserve performance in the common case of latch-free operations, while allowing users to specify critical sections that execute under mutual exclusion for the rare, non-latch-free operations. We showcase the use of EPVS-based concurrency primitives in a few practical systems to demonstrate its competitive performance and intuitive guarantees. EPVS is available in open source as part of Microsoft’s FASTER project (Epoch Protected Version Scheme (source code) 2022; Microsoft FASTER 2022).
High-energy emulsification of Allium sativum essential oil boosts insecticidal activity against Planococcus citri with no risk to honeybees
Authors: Modafferi Antonino , Giunti Giulia , Urbaneja Alberto , Laudani Francesca , Latella Ilaria , Pérez-Hedo Meritxell , Ricupero Michele , Palmeri Vincenzo , Campolo Orlando
Published: June 2024

The ecotoxicological consequences of synthetic pesticides have encouraged stakeholders to search for eco-friendly pest control tools, like essential oils (EOs). Nano-delivery systems (nanoparticles and nano-emulsions) seem ideal for developing EO-based biopesticides, although production processes should be standardized and implemented. In this study, nano-emulsions loaded with a high amount of Allium sativum L. EO (15%) were developed using different mixed bottom-up/top-down processes. Garlic EO was chemically analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and formulations were physically characterized using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) apparatus. The insecticidal activity against Planococcus citri Risso (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and selectivity toward Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) worker bees was evaluated. Garlic EO was mainly composed of sulphur components (96.3%), with diallyl disulphide and diallyl trisulphide as the most abundant compounds (37.26% and 28.15%, respectively). Top-down processes could produce stable nano-emulsions with droplet size in the nanometric range (< 200nm) and good polydispersity index (PDI < 0.2). In contrast, the bottom-up emulsion was unstable, and its droplet size was around 500nm after 24 hours. High-energy emulsification processes significantly increased the residual toxicity of garlic EO against 3rd instar P. citri nymphs, whereas the developed formulations were harmless to A. mellifera workers in topical application. This study confirmed that the production process significantly affected the physical properties and efficacy against target pests. The lack of adverse impact on honeybees denotated the potential of these formulations as bioinsecticides in organic and/or IPM programs, although further extended ecotoxicological studies are necessary.
A theoretical comparison among macroseismic scales used in Italy
Authors: Vannucci Gianfranco , Lolli Barbara , Gasperini Paolo
Published: June 2024

In a recent work, we evidenced some empirical discrepancies between the macroseismic intensity estimates in Italy in the last decade with respect to those made previously. A possible reason might be the progressive adoption by Italian researchers of the European Macroseismic Scale (EMS) in place of the Mercalli Cancani Sieberg (MCS) scale mostly used up to 2009. In theory, in modern settlements where reinforced concrete (RC) buildings are increasingly replacing those in masonry, EMS should overestimate MCS because the former accounts for the lower vulnerability of RC whereas the latter does not because RC buildings were not considered at all by the MCS scale since they were almost absent at the time (1912–1932) when it was compiled by Sieberg. However, such theoretical inference is contradicted by the empirical evidence that, on average, MCS intensities really estimated in Italy over the past decade slightly overestimate EMS and not vice versa as it should be. A possible explanation is that the EMS scale had not been well calibrated to reproduce the MCS, as its authors intended to do. Another possible reason for the discrepancies between the last decade and the previous ones might be that the MCS scale applied today is not the same as that defined by Sieberg at the beginning of the twentieth century. In order to better understand the possible causes of such discrepancies, we present here a formal comparison between the definitions of the different degrees of such macroseismic scales. After such analysis, we might argue that another possible reason for the observed discrepancy may come from the inaccurate assessment of building vulnerability when assessing the EMS intensity.
The adult plant resistance (APR) genes Yr18, Yr29 and Yr46 in spring wheat showed significant effect against important yellow rust races under North-West European field conditions
Authors: Zelba Ondřej , Wilderspin Sarah , Hubbard Amelia , Nellist Charlotte F. , Mortensen Anders Krogh , Schulz Philipp , Huerta-Espino Julio , Singh Ravi , Sørensen Chris Khadgi
Published: June 2024

Yellow rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) is one of the most important wheat diseases. Adult plant resistance (APR) genes have gained the attention of breeders and scientists because they show higher durability compared to major race-specific genes. Here, we determined the effect of the APR genes Yr18, Yr29 and Yr46 in North-West European field conditions against three currently important Pst races. We used three pairs of sibling wheat lines developed at CIMMYT, which consisted of a line with the functional resistance gene and a sibling with its non-functional allele. All APR genes showed significant effects against the Pst races Warrior and Warrior (–), and a race of the highly aggressive strain PstS2. The effects of Yr18 and Yr46 were especially substantial in slowing down disease progress. This effect was apparent in both Denmark, where susceptible controls reached 100 percent disease severity, and in United Kingdom where disease pressure was lower. We further validated field results by quantifying fungal biomass in leaf samples and by micro-phenotyping of samples collected during early disease development. Microscopic image analyses using deep learning allowed us to quantify separately the APR effects on leaf colonization and pustule formation. Our results show that the three APR genes can be used in breeding yellow rust resistant varieties of spring wheat to be grown in North-West European conditions, and that deep learning image analysis can be an effective method to quantify effects of APR on colonisation and pustule formation.