bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thalamocortical Circuit Controls Neuropathic Pain via Up-regulation of HCN2 in the Ventral Posterolateral Thalamus
Authors: Yan Yi , Zhu Mengye , Cao Xuezhong , Xu Gang , Shen Wei , Li Fan , Zhang Jinjin , Luo Lingyun , Zhang Xuexue , Zhang Daying , Liu Tao
Published: December 2022

The thalamocortical (TC) circuit is closely associated with pain processing. The hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) 2 channel is predominantly expressed in the ventral posterolateral thalamus (VPL) that has been shown to mediate neuropathic pain. However, the role of VPL HCN2 in modulating TC circuit activity is largely unknown. Here, by using optogenetics, neuronal tracing, electrophysiological recordings, and virus knockdown strategies, we showed that the activation of VPL TC neurons potentiates excitatory synaptic transmission to the hindlimb region of the primary somatosensory cortex (S1HL) as well as mechanical hypersensitivity following spared nerve injury (SNI)-induced neuropathic pain in mice. Either pharmacological blockade or virus knockdown of HCN2 (shRNA-Hcn2) in the VPL was sufficient to alleviate SNI-induced hyperalgesia. Moreover, shRNA-Hcn2 decreased the excitability of TC neurons and synaptic transmission of the VPL–S1HL circuit. Together, our studies provide a novel mechanism by which HCN2 enhances the excitability of the TC circuit to facilitate neuropathic pain.
And the Flesh in Between: Towards a Health Semiotics
Authors: Schiller Devon
Published: December 2022

The call for a biosemiotic perspective within medical semiotics has been steadily increasing over the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. In Food and Medicine: A Biosemiotic Perspective, Yogi Hale Hendlin, Johnathan Hope, and the nine contributions in their edited volume boldly seek to bridge the segregation between nature and culture in the medical sciences as well as in the medical humanities. To a large extent, they achieve this aim by explicating the sign relations in food and medicine, the sign relations of medical theory and practice, and the sign relations between the biology in medicine and medicine of society. Taking up a semio-historical approach, I contextualize two select contributions from Hendlin and Hope’s Food and Medicine with the medical semiotics of the Hippocratic tradition. By comparing the biological semiotics from the contributions to the medical semiotics from the Corpus, I critically explicate the ways in which biosemiotics moves this subdiscipline forward and why the perspective is significant not only for the health of humans, but also for the health of other animals, and indeed for the health of the planet that we all inhabit together. On these grounds, I propose a turn from medical semiotics to health semiotics. This program for semiotics would encompass not only food and medicine, but also lifestyle and wellbeing, as well as the subjective, qualitative perspectivism that makes biosemiotics frontier research, thereby constituting a biosemioethics and promoting a semiotic fitness.
The visibility of the human eye in blowing snow with the effect of suspended snow particles’ afterimages
Authors: Sakurai Toshimitsu , Takechi Hirotaka , Kokubu Tetsuya , Matsuzawa Masaru
Published: December 2022

Afterimages of snow particles in blowing snow may cause lower visibility of the human eye compared to images captured by a digital video camera. However, the impact of the afterimage of snow particles on the visibility of the human eye in blowing snow has not been investigated quantitatively. Here we examined visibility taking the effect of afterimages of snow particles on the human eye into consideration. By considering the duration range of afterimages, and changing the windspeed while the snow density remains constant, our numerical model of visibility for the visual duration range of 0.12 to 0.04 s could accurately explain the visibility of the human eye previously observed in blowing snow.
Wilhelm von Humboldt and Transcultural Communication in a Multicultural World
Authors: Walker John
Published: December 2022

Shows that the work of Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767-1835) forms a philosophy of dialogue and communication that is crucially relevant to contemporary debates in the Humanities.
The Memoirs of Ceija Stojka, Child Survivor of the Romani Holocaust
Authors: Stojka Ceija
Published: December 2022

First English translation of the memoirs of Austrian Romani Holocaust survivor, writer, visual artist, musician, and activist Ceija Stojka (1933-2013), along with poems, an interview, historical photos, and reproductions of her artworks.
Common Land in Britain
Authors: Winchester Angus J. L.
Published: December 2022

The first authoritative survey of the history of common land in Great Britain from the medieval period to present day.
Medical Care Among Individuals with a Concussion in Ontario: A Population-based Study
Authors: Langer Laura Kathleen , Bayley Mark Thedore , Levy Charissa , Munce Sarah Elizabeth Patricia , Lawrence David Wyndham , Tam Alan , de Oliveira Claire
Published: December 2022

Background:

Concussion affects 1.2% of the population annually; rural regions and children have higher rates of concussion.

Methods:

Using administrative health care linked databases, all residents of Ontario with a physician diagnosed concussion were identified using ICD-9 code 850 or ICD-10 code S06. Cases were tracked for 2 years for concussion-related health care utilization with relevant specialist physicians (i.e., neurology, otolaryngology, physiatry, psychiatry, ophthalmology). Billing codes, specialist codes, and time from index to visit were analyzed. Factors associated with increased specialist visits were also examined.

Results:

In total, 1,022,588 cases were identified between 2008 and 2014 with 2 years of post-concussion health care utilization available. Follow-up by physician within 3 days of injury occurred in only 14% of cases. Mean time between ED diagnosis and follow-up by a physician was 83.9 days, whereas for rural regions it was >100 days. About half of adults (51.9%) and children (50.3%) had at least 1 specialist visit following concussion. Mean time between injury and first specialist visit was 203.8 (SD 192.9) days for adults, 213.5 (SD 201.0) days for rural adults, and 276.0 (SD 202.6) days for children. There were 67,420 neurology visits, 70,404 psychiatry visits, 13,571 neurosurgery visits, 19,780 physiatry visits, 101,788 ENT visits, and 103,417 ophthalmology visits in the 2 years tracking period. Factors associated with more specialist use included age > 18 years, urban residence, and pre-injury psychiatric history.

Conclusions:

There are discrepancies in post-concussion health care utilization based on age group and rural/urban residence. Addressing these risk factors could improve concussion care access.
Two masks can be worse than one: N95 respirator failure caused by an overlying face mask
Authors: Mueller Jeffrey T. , Geyer Holly D. , Karimi Soroor , Poterack Karl A. , Seville Maria Teresa A. , Buckner Petty Skye , Tipton Steven M.
Published: December 2022

We have demonstrated the effect of covering an N95 filtering facepiece respirator (FFR) with an overlying face mask. In total, 100 participants successfully completed quantitative fit testing wearing a 3M 1870+ FFR. Among them, 13 (13%; 95% CI, 7%–22%) failed subsequent fit testing when simultaneously wearing a Halyard 47117 procedural mask over the FFR.
Response of black swallowwort (Vincetoxicum nigrum) to herbicides plus mowing
Authors: Milbrath Lindsey R. , Biazzo Jeromy , Morris Scott H. , DiTommaso Antonio
Published: December 2022

The invasive vine black swallowwort [Vincetoxicum nigrum (L.) Moench = Cynanchum louiseae Kartesz & Gandhi, Apocynaceae] is difficult to control, and herbicide studies are lacking. This long-lived perennial species is primarily found in high-light environments in natural areas and perennial cropping systems in northeastern North America. We conducted a 3-yr herbicide efficacy study, with or without mowing, in an old-field site infested with V. nigrum in Dutchess County, NY, USA. Experimental plots were either herbicide treated in early July or mowed in early July and subsequently herbicide treated in late August for 2 yr with the potassium salt of glyphosate (2.02 kg ae ha−1), the isopropylamine salt of glyphosate (1.35 kg ae ha−1), or the butoxyethyl ester of triclopyr (1.79 kg ae ha−1). Both glyphosate formulations were effective in reducing V. nigrum aboveground biomass, although they were somewhat less effective in reducing cover or stem densities of V. nigrum plants >10-cm tall after 2 yr compared with untreated plots. Mowing did not always enhance the efficacy of foliar glyphosate applications. Triclopyr, with or without mowing, was generally not effective against V. nigrum in our study. The only significant effect of triclopyr was to increase the cover of grasses in the plots. While annual applications of glyphosate can be useful for management of V. nigrum infestations, higher rates and more frequent applications of triclopyr need to be investigated to determine its usefulness for V. nigrum control.
Latest Maastrichtian middle- and high-latitude mosasaurs and fish isotopic composition: carbon source, thermoregulation strategy, and thermal latitudinal gradient
Authors: Leuzinger Léa , Kocsis László , Luz Zoneibe , Vennemann Torsten , Ulyanov Alexey , Fernández Marta
Published: December 2022

Here we report high-latitude stable isotope compositions of Maastrichtian fossil fish and marine reptiles (mainly mosasaurs) from Antarctica (64°S paleolatitude) and compare them with mid-paleolatitude samples from Argentine Patagonia (45°S). Disparities between the δ13C values of bony fish and marine reptiles correspond to differences in the foraging ground (distance from the shore and depth), while dramatically higher δ13C values (by 18‰) in shark enameloid cannot be explained through ecology and are here imputed to biomineralization. Comparison with extant vertebrates suggests that the diet alone can explain the offset observed between bony fish and mosasaurs; however, breath holding due to a diving behavior in mosasaurs may have had some impact on their δ13C values, as previously suggested. The δ18OPO4 values of the remains confirm a relatively stable, elevated body temperature for marine reptiles, meaning that they were thermoregulators. We calculated a water temperature of ~8°C for Antarctica from the fish δ18OPO4 values, warmer than present-day temperatures and consistent with the absence of polar ice sheets during the latest Maastrichtian. Our fish data greatly extend the latitudinal range of Late Cretaceous fish δ18OPO4 values and result in a thermal gradient of 0.4°C/1° of latitude when combined with literature data.
NEARLY EFFICIENT LIKELIHOOD RATIO TESTS OF A UNIT ROOT IN AN AUTOREGRESSIVE MODEL OF ARBITRARY ORDER
Authors: Brien Samuel , Jansson Michael , Nielsen Morten Ørregaard
Published: December 2022

We study large sample properties of likelihood ratio tests of the unit-root hypothesis in an autoregressive model of arbitrary order. Earlier research on this testing problem has developed likelihood ratio tests in the autoregressive model of order 1, but resorted to a plug-in approach when dealing with higher-order models. In contrast, we consider the full model and derive the relevant large sample properties of likelihood ratio tests under a local-to-unity asymptotic framework. As in the simpler model, we show that the full likelihood ratio tests are nearly efficient, in the sense that their asymptotic local power functions are virtually indistinguishable from the Gaussian power envelopes. Extensions to sieve-type approximations and different classes of alternatives are also considered.
The Drafting of the Constitution of the Union of Burma in 1947: Dominion Status, Indo–Burmese Relations, and the Irish Example
Authors: Coffey Donal K.
Published: December 2022

This paper aims to consider four elements of Burmese constitutional history between 1946 and 1948. The first section considers the negotiations between Burma and the United Kingdom and argues that the debate about whether Burma wanted Dominion status has overlooked the crucial transitional government period. The second section gives a brief overview of the drafting process, paying particular attention to the links between the Indian Constituent Assembly in Delhi and Rangoon. The third section outlines the comparative influences on the Burmese Constitution using the digital humanities and illustrates that the biggest foreign influence was the Irish Constitution of 1937. The final section looks at the Burmese political leadership after World War II along two dimensions—at a nationalist level and at an elite level—and traces some of the links between Burma and Ireland.
Suicide-Focused Group Therapy
Authors: Chalker Samantha A. , Martinez Ceren Camila S. , Ehret Blaire C. , Depp Colin A.
Published: December 2022

Abstract: Background: Although there are several studies focusing on group models for therapy specific to suicidal thoughts and behaviors, scoping reviews providing an overview of these studies’ findings are limited. Aims: The aim of this paper was to conduct a scoping review of group therapies that explicitly target suicidal thoughts and behaviors (i.e., suicide-focused) for adults and their suicide-related outcomes. Methods: Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a literature search using PubMed, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO to identify relevant records published between 2000 and 2021 as well as a review of reference lists from relevant records was conducted. Results: There were 14 records identified with 12 unique suicide-focused group therapies. Even with variable methodological designs, sample sizes ( M = 136, SD = 98), and population targeted, all records showed reductions in suicide-related outcomes by the end of the therapy; although most were not powered to determine effectiveness. Limitations: This review only included records written in English and excluded support groups that were led by peers as the focus was on therapy groups and gray literature. Conclusions: There are few evaluated therapy groups that explicitly address suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Available data indicate suicide-focused group therapy are generally feasible, acceptable, and may reduce suicidal-related outcomes. This is encouraging for future research; recommendations to include randomized controlled trials of the efficacy of suicide-focused group therapy are discussed.
Retrieval of a Real‐Time Sea Surface Vector Field From SAR Doppler Centroid: 2. On the Radial Velocity
Authors: Yang Xiaobo , He Yijun
Published: December 2022

The concept of radial velocity is proposed for high frequency (HF) radar for sea surface current measurement. However, in a spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system, the meaning of this concept has changed greatly. Through the evidence and analysis presented in this paper, the radial velocity observed via spaceborne SAR is revealed from the projection of the satellite's velocity at different points along the range direction, and its distribution on the image presents a strip‐like texture, which is very different from the central radial distribution on the velocity image measured via HF radar. The retrieved sea surface velocity field does not exhibit any radial characteristics, and its value is solely the magnitude of the sea surface velocity.
Constraints on Moon's Orbit 3.2 Billion Years Ago From Tidal Bundle Data
Authors: Eulenfeld Tom , Heubeck Christoph
Published: December 2022

The angular momentum of the Earth‐Moon system was initially dominated by Earth's rotation with a short solar day of around 5 hr duration. Since then, Earth gradually transferred angular momentum through tidal friction to the orbit of the Moon, resulting in an increasing orbital radius and a deceleration of Earth's rotation. Geologic observations of tidal deposits can be used to verify and constrain models of lunar orbital evolution. In this work we reexamine the oldest tidal record suitable for analysis from the Moodies Group, South Africa, with an age of 3.22 billion years. Time frequency analysis of the series of thicknesses of the sandstone‐shale layers yields a periodicity of 15.0 layers, taking into account the possibility of missing laminae. Assuming a mixed tidal system, the duration of two neap‐spring‐neap cycles was 30.0 lunar days for dominant semidiurnal or 30.0 sidereal days for dominant diurnal tides. We derive the relationship between this observation and the past Earth‐Moon distance and re‐visit related published work. We find that the Earth‐Moon distance 3.2 billion years ago was about 70% of today's value. The Archean solar day was around 13 hr long. The ratio of solar to lunar tide‐raising torque controls the leakage of angular momentum from the Earth‐Moon system, but deviation from the assumed ratio of 0.211 results in only moderate changes. A duration of a postulated 21‐hr atmospheric resonance shorter than 200 million years would be consistent with our observation; it would significantly alter the Earth‐Moon distance.
Partitioned Soil Water Balance and Its Link With Water Uptake Strategy Under Apple Trees in the Loess‐Covered Region
Authors: Shi Peijun , Gai Haoqi , Li Zhi
Published: December 2022

It is important, but challenging, to partition soil water balance (SWB) to understand the impacts of afforestation on soil hydrological processes. This study will investigate the partitioning of SWB by combining stable and radioactive water isotopes to quantify the effects of afforestation, and analyze the mechanism by which SWB changes through identifying the water uptake strategies of apple trees of 18 and 26 years old (A18 and A26). Compared to the reference farmland, apple orchards significantly increased evapotranspiration (ET) by 5%–10%, which in turn decreased soil water storage and deep drainage by 5%–14% and 50%–95%, respectively. Further, the partitioning of ET showed that apple tree planting increased transpiration by 15%–28% but decreased evaporation by 17%–30%. The above change in SWB appeared to be closely related to plant water uptake strategies. The apple trees shifted their water source from shallow (0–2 m) to deep soils (below 2 m), utilizing approximately 62% of deep soil water in the late growing season. In particular, 23% of source water may come from soil water older than 50 years. The older apple trees tended to extract more water from deeper soils (45% for A26 vs. 38% for A18). Therefore, the soil water deficit was the cumulative effects of root water uptake. The methods for SWB partitioning provides technical support for similar studies, and the findings are helpful to better understand the hydrological processes in the thick loess deposition.
Plant microbiomes harbor potential to promote nutrient turnover in impoverished substrates of a Brazilian biodiversity hotspot
Authors: Camargo Antonio P , de Souza Rafael S C , Jose Juliana , Gerhardt Isabel R , Dante Ricardo A , Mukherjee Supratim , Huntemann Marcel , Kyrpides Nikos C , Carazzolle Marcelo F , Arruda Paulo
Published: December 2022

The substrates of the Brazilian campos rupestres, a grassland ecosystem, have extremely low concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen, imposing restrictions to plant growth. Despite that, this ecosystem harbors almost 15% of the Brazilian plant diversity, raising the question of how plants acquire nutrients in such a harsh environment. Here, we set out to uncover the taxonomic profile, the compositional and functional differences and similarities, and the nutrient turnover potential of microbial communities associated with two plant species of the campos rupestres-dominant family Velloziaceae that grow over distinct substrates (soil and rock). Using amplicon sequencing data, we show that, despite the pronounced composition differentiation, the plant-associated soil and rock communities share a core of highly efficient colonizers that tend to be highly abundant and is enriched in 21 bacterial families. Functional investigation of metagenomes and 522 metagenome-assembled genomes revealed that the microorganisms found associated to plant roots are enriched in genes involved in organic compound intake, and phosphorus and nitrogen turnover. We show that potential for phosphorus transport, mineralization, and solubilization are mostly found within bacterial families of the shared microbiome, such as Xanthobacteraceae and Bryobacteraceae. We also detected the full repertoire of nitrogen cycle-related genes and discovered a lineage of Isosphaeraceae that acquired nitrogen-fixing potential via horizontal gene transfer and might be also involved in nitrification via a metabolic handoff association with Binataceae. We highlight that plant-associated microbial populations in the campos rupestres harbor a genetic repertoire with potential to increase nutrient availability and that the microbiomes of biodiversity hotspots can reveal novel mechanisms of nutrient turnover.
Restoring mitochondrial cardiolipin homeostasis reduces cell death and promotes recovery after spinal cord injury
Authors: Liu Nai-Kui , Deng Ling-Xiao , Wang Miao , Lu Qing-Bo , Wang Chunyan , Wu Xiangbing , Wu Wei , Wang Ying , Qu Wenrui , Han Qi , Xia Yongzhi , Ravenscraft Baylen , Li Jin-Lian , You Si-Wei , Wipf Peter , Han Xianlin , Xu Xiao-Ming
Published: December 2022

Alterations in phospholipids have long been associated with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, their specific roles and signaling cascades in mediating cell death and tissue repair remain unclear. Here we investigated whether alterations of cardiolipin (CL), a family of mitochondrion-specific phospholipids, play a crucial role in mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal death following SCI. Lipidomic analysis was used to determine the profile of CL alteration in the adult rat spinal cord following a moderate contusive SCI at the 10th thoracic (T10) level. Cellular, molecular, and genetic assessments were performed to determine whether CL alterations mediate mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal death after SCI, and, if so, whether reversing CL alteration leads to neuroprotection after SCI. Using lipidomic analysis, we uncovered CL alterations at an early stage of SCI. Over 50 distinct CL species were identified, of which 50% showed significantly decreased abundance after SCI. The decreased CL species contained mainly polyunsaturated fatty acids that are highly susceptible to peroxidation. In parallel, 4-HNE, a lipid peroxidation marker, significantly increased after SCI. We found that mitochondrial oxidative stress not only induced CL oxidation, but also resulted in CL loss by activating cPLA2 to hydrolyze CL. CL alterations induced mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal death. Remarkably, pharmacologic inhibition of CL alterations with XJB-5-131, a novel mitochondria-targeted electron and reactive oxygen species scavenger, reduced cell death, tissue damage and ameliorated motor deficits after SCI in adult rats. These findings suggest that CL alteration could be a novel mechanism that mediates injury-induced neuronal death, and a potential therapeutic target for ameliorating secondary SCI.
Hippocampus as a sorter and reverberatory integrator of sensory inputs
Authors: Nomoto Masanori , Murayama Emi , Ohno Shuntaro , Okubo-Suzuki Reiko , Muramatsu Shin-ichi , Inokuchi Kaoru
Published: December 2022

The hippocampus must be capable of sorting and integrating multiple sensory inputs separately but simultaneously. However, it remains to be elucidated how the hippocampus executes these processes simultaneously during learning. Here we found that synchrony between conditioned stimulus (CS)-, unconditioned stimulus (US)- and future retrieval-responsible cells occurs in the CA1 during the reverberatory phase that emerges after sensory inputs have ceased, but not during CS and US inputs. Mutant mice lacking N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NRs) in CA3 showed a cued-fear memory impairment and a decrease in synchronized reverberatory activities between CS- and US-responsive CA1 cells. Optogenetic CA3 silencing at the reverberatory phase during learning impaired cued-fear memory. Thus, the hippocampus uses reverberatory activity to link CS and US inputs, and avoid crosstalk during sensory inputs.
Combining genome-wide association studies highlight novel loci involved in human facial variation
Authors: Xiong Ziyi , Gao Xingjian , Chen Yan , Feng Zhanying , Pan Siyu , Lu Haojie , Uitterlinden Andre G. , Nijsten Tamar , Ikram Arfan , Rivadeneira Fernando , Ghanbari Mohsen , Wang Yong , Kayser Manfred , Liu Fan
Published: December 2022

Standard genome-wide association studies (GWASs) rely on analyzing a single trait at a time. However, many human phenotypes are complex and composed by multiple correlated traits. Here we introduce C-GWAS, a method for combining GWAS summary statistics of multiple potentially correlated traits. Extensive computer simulations demonstrated increased statistical power of C-GWAS compared to the minimal p-values of multiple single-trait GWASs (MinGWAS) and the current state-of-the-art method for combining single-trait GWASs (MTAG). Applying C-GWAS to a meta-analysis dataset of 78 single trait facial GWASs from 10,115 Europeans identified 56 study-wide suggestively significant loci with multi-trait effects on facial morphology of which 17 are novel loci. Using data from additional 13,622 European and Asian samples, 46 (82%) loci, including 9 (53%) novel loci, were replicated at nominal significance with consistent allele effects. Functional analyses further strengthen the reliability of our C-GWAS findings. Our study introduces the C-GWAS method and makes it available as computationally efficient open-source R package for widespread future use. Our work also provides insights into the genetic architecture of human facial appearance.
Wind-tunnel tests of synthetic jet control effects on airfoil flow separation
Authors: Zhao Guoqing , Zhao Qijun , Chen Xi
Published: December 2022

To find out the comprehensive principles of synthetic jet control effects on airfoil stall characteristics, fundamental contrastive wind-tunnel tests were conducted systematically. By using six-component balance, Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technology and boundary layer probe, the measurements of model aerodynamic forces, the whole velocity field over airfoil and velocity profiles in the boundary layer were conducted, respectively. Based upon the experimentally parametric analyses of synthetic jet control on airfoil, it is concluded that the incline angle of synthetic jet has an important impact on both the flow in boundary layer and aerodynamic forces of airfoil. A tangential jet inject energy and accelerate the velocity of flow in inner boundary layer thus has a better control effects on delay stall of airfoil when the momentum coefficient of jet is relatively large, and the normal jet helps to enlarge the thickness of boundary layer which is proved to have better control effects on flow separation control and improving the aerodynamic characteristics of airfoil when the momentum coefficient of a jet is relatively small.
Comparative efficacy and tolerability of targeted and immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer: a Bayesian network meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Shu , Wong Heung Yan , Xie Li , Kim Yoojin , Shu Danhua , Zheng Beishi , Liu Naxin , Xing Chungen , Chen Xiaolei , Dong Qiantong
Published: December 2022

The use of target agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors have changed the treatment landscape for AGC in the first-line setting. However, the crosswise comparison between each regimen is rare. Therefore, we estimated the efficacy and safety of targeted therapy or immunotherapy with chemotherapy in AGC patients as the first-line treatment. Included studies were divided into “average” or “specific positivity” group according to whether the patients were selected by a certain pathological expression. We conducted a Bayesian network meta-analysis for all regimens in both groups. In average group, no regimen showed significant improvements in overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS), while pembrolizumab and nivolumab combined with chemotherapy were ranked first and second respectively without an obvious safety difference. In specific positivity group, zolbetuximab plus chemotherapy significantly prolonged OS (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.36–0.79) and PFS (HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.25–0.81). The top three regimens were zolbetuximab-chemotherapy, trastuzumab plus pertuzuma-chemotherapy and nivolumab-chemotherapy respectively, with no significant safety risk. For average patients, immune checkpoint inhibitor PD-1 plus chemotherapy will be the promising regimen. For patients with overexpression of CLDN18.2, zolbetuximab combined with chemotherapy comes with greater survival benefits, while for patients who have PD-L1 expression with no HER-2 or CLDN18.2 positivity, additional immune checkpoint inhibitor of PD-1 will be a good considered option.
Local neuroplasticity in adult glaucomatous visual cortex
Authors: Carvalho Joana , Invernizzi Azzurra , Martins Joana , Renken Remco J. , Cornelissen Frans W.
Published: December 2022

The degree to which the adult human visual cortex retains the ability to functionally adapt to damage at the level of the eye remains ill-understood. Previous studies on cortical neuroplasticity primarily focused on the consequences of foveal visual field defects (VFD), yet these findings may not generalize to peripheral defects such as occur in glaucoma. Moreover, recent findings on neuroplasticity are often based on population receptive field (pRF) mapping, but interpreting these results is complicated in the absence of appropriate control conditions. Here, we used fMRI-based neural modeling to assess putative changes in pRFs associated with glaucomatous VFD. We compared the fMRI-signals and pRF in glaucoma participants to those of controls with case-matched simulated VFD. We found that the amplitude of the fMRI-signal is reduced in glaucoma compared to control participants and correlated with disease severity. Furthermore, while coarse retinotopic structure is maintained in all participants with glaucoma, we observed local pRF shifts and enlargements in early visual areas, relative to control participants. These differences suggest that the adult brain retains some degree of local neuroplasticity. This finding has translational relevance, as it is consistent with VFD masking, which prevents glaucoma patients from noticing their VFD and seeking timely treatment.
Digital restoration of colour cinematic films using imaging spectroscopy and machine learning
Authors: Liu L. , Catelli E. , Katsaggelos A. , Sciutto G. , Mazzeo R. , Milanic M. , Stergar J. , Prati S. , Walton M.
Published: December 2022

Digital restoration is a rapidly growing methodology within the field of heritage conservation, especially for early cinematic films which have intrinsically unstable dye colourants that suffer from irreversible colour fading. Although numerous techniques to restore film digitally have emerged recently, complex degradation remains a challenging problem. This paper proposes a novel vector quantization (VQ) algorithm for restoring movie frames based on the acquisition of spectroscopic data with a custom-made push-broom VNIR hyperspectral camera (380–780 nm). The VQ algorithm utilizes what we call a multi-codebook that correlates degraded areas with corresponding non-degraded ones selected from reference frames. The spectral-codebook was compared with a professional commercially available film restoration software (DaVinci Resolve 17) tested both on RGB and on hyperspectral providing better results in terms of colour reconstruction.
Synthesis and characterization of selenium nanoparticles stabilized with cocamidopropyl betaine
Authors: Blinov Andrey V. , Nagdalian Andrey A. , Siddiqui Shahida A. , Maglakelidze David G. , Gvozdenko Alexey A. , Blinova Anastasiya A. , Yasnaya Mariya A. , Golik Alexey B. , Rebezov Maksim B. , Jafari Seid Mahdi , Shah Mohd Asif
Published: December 2022

In this work, selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) stabilized with cocamidopropyl betaine were synthesized for the first time. It was observed that Se NPs synthesized in excess of selenic acid had a negative charge with ζ-potential of −21.86 mV, and in excess of cocamidopropyl betaine—a positive charge with ξ =  + 22.71 mV. The resulting Se NPs with positive and negative charges had a spherical shape with an average size of about 20–30 nm and 40–50 nm, respectively. According to the data of TEM, HAADF-TEM using EDS, IR spectroscopy and quantum chemical modeling, positively charged selenium nanoparticles have a cocamidopropylbetaine shell while the potential- forming layer of negatively charged selenium nanoparticles is formed by SeO32− ions. The influence of various ions on the sol stability of Se NPs showed that SO42− and PO43− ions had an effect on the positive Se NPs, and Ba2+ and Fe3+ ions had an effect on negative Se NPs, which corresponded with the Schulze-Hardy rule. The mechanism of coagulating action of various ions on positive and negative Se NPs was also presented. Also, influence of the active acidity of the medium on the stability of Se NPs solutions was investigated. Positive and negative sols of Se NPs had high levels of stability in the considered range of active acidity of the medium in the range of 1.21–11.98. Stability of synthesized Se NPs stability has been confirmed in real system (liquid soap). An experiment with the addition of Se NPs stabilized with cocamidopropyl betaine to liquid soap showed that the particles of dispersed phases retain their initial distributions, which revealed the stability of synthesized Se NPs.
Computational analysis of speed-accuracy tradeoff
Authors: Penconek Marcin
Published: December 2022

Speed-accuracy tradeoff (SAT) in the decision making of humans and animals is a well-documented phenomenon, but its underlying neuronal mechanism remains unclear. Modeling approaches have conceptualized SAT through the threshold hypothesis as adjustments to the decision threshold. However, the leading neurophysiological view is the gain modulation hypothesis. This hypothesis postulates that the SAT mechanism is implemented through changes in the dynamics of the choice circuit, which increase the baseline firing rate and the speed of neuronal integration. In this paper, I investigated alternative computational mechanisms of SAT and showed that the threshold hypothesis was qualitatively consistent with the behavioral data, but the gain modulation hypothesis was not. In order to reconcile the threshold hypothesis with the neurophysiological evidence, I considered the interference of alpha oscillations with the decision process and showed that alpha oscillations could increase the discriminatory power of the decision system, although they slowed down the decision process. This suggests that the magnitude of alpha waves suppression during the event related desynchronization (ERD) of alpha oscillations depends on a SAT condition and the amplitude of alpha oscillations is lower in the speed condition. I also showed that the lower amplitude of alpha oscillations resulted in an increase in the baseline firing rate and the speed of neuronal intergration. Thus, the interference of the event related desynchronization of alpha oscillations with a SAT condition explains why an increase in the baseline firing rate and the speed of neuronal integration accompany the speed condition.
Research on an intelligent diagnosis method of mechanical faults for small sample data sets
Authors: Zhao Jun , Shi Yuhua , Tan Feng , Wang Xufeng , Zhang Youqiang , Liao Jiean , Yang Fan , Guo Zhanhong
Published: December 2022

The difficulty of feature extraction and the small sample size are two challenges in the field of mechanical fault diagnosis for a long time. Here we propose an intelligent mechanical fault diagnosis method for scenario with small sample datasets. This method can not only diagnose bearing faults but also gear faults, and has strong generalization performance. We use convolutional neural network to realize automatic feature extraction. Through sliding window scanning, one sample set is expanded to three sub-sample sets with different scales to meet the needs of deep learning training. Three convolutional networks are used to extract the features of the subsets respectively to ensure that their useful features are fully extracted. After feature extraction, the feature is reconstructed through feature splicing. Because of the unique advantages of SVM in dealing with small sample sets, we use SVM to classify the reconstructed features. We use the bearing data set collected by Case Western Reserve University in the United States, the bearing fault data set collected by Xi'an Jiaotong University in China, and the gearbox fault data collected by the University of Connecticut in the United States to conduct experiments. The experimental results show that the accuracy of training, validation and testing of the proposed method on the three data sets all reach 100%. This proves that our method can not only tackle the two challenges, but also has high fault diagnosis accuracy and strong generalization performance. It is hoped that our proposed method can contribute to the development of mechanical fault diagnosis.
Retraction Note: GAS5 knockdown alleviates spinal cord injury by reducing VAV1 expression via RNA binding protein CELF2
Authors: Wang Dan , Xu Xiaoxiao , Pan Junwei , Zhao Shixin , Li Yu , Wang Zhen , Yang Jiahao , Zhang Xi , Wang Yisheng , Liu Ming
Published: December 2022

Editor's Note: this Article has been retracted; the Retraction Note is available at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83145-9.
Applying a microfluidic device to improve the Ca2+ separation performance of the liquid–liquid extraction process
Authors: Jazayeri Seyed Sajjad , Pourahmad Afham , Hassanvand Amin , Mozhdeh Mozhgan , Tahmasbi Goodarz
Published: December 2022

This study investigates the application of extraction solvent in a new microfluidic apparatus to separate calcium ions (Ca2+). Indeed, a serpentine microfluidic device has been utilized to separate calcium ions. The flow regime map shows that it is possible to completely separate organic and aqueous phases using the serpentine microfluidic device. The suggested microfluidic device reaches the extraction efficiency of 24.59% at 4.2 s of the residence time. This research also employs the Box–Behnken design (BBD) strategy in the response surface methodology (RSM) for performing the modeling and optimization of the suggested extraction process using the recorded experimental data. Flow rate and pH of the aquatic phase as well as Dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 (DC18C6) concentration are those independent features engaged in the model derivation task. The optimum values of pH 6.34, the DC18C6 concentration of 0.015 M, and the flow rate = 20 µl/min have been achieved for the aquatic phase. The results indicated that the extraction efficiency of Ca2+ is 63.6%, and microfluidic extraction is 24.59% in this optimum condition. It is also observed that the microfluidic extraction percentage and experimental efficiency achieved by the suggested serpentine microchannel are higher than the previous separation ranges reported in the literature.
Analytical modification of EDFM for transient flow in tight rocks
Authors: Olorode Olufemi , Rashid Harun
Published: December 2022

The commercial development of unconventional resources with multiply fractured horizontal wells has been in the spotlight over the last ten years because of the significant contribution of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) reservoirs to the total US oil and gas production. UOG reservoirs contain multiscale fractures with heterogeneous properties, so the focus has been on efficient and accurate models that can account for these fractures individually. One of such models is the embedded discrete fracture model (EDFM), which has been applied to various types of fractured reservoirs. This work shows that the application of EDFM in fractured tight rocks yields significant errors because it cannot account for the expected transient flow between the matrix and fractures. To address the limitation when EDFM is used in tight rocks with structured Cartesian grids, we modified the matrix/fracture non-neighboring connection (NNC) flux in EDFM by multiplying it with a transient factor. We obtained this factor as in the transient matrix/fracture transfer term for dual-continuum models and implemented it in in our open-source shale simulator. We simulated a single vertical fracture in the middle of a tight reservoir with and without this EDFM modification and show the importance of the proposed modification. We also simulated cyclic gas enhanced oil recovery (CGEOR) in a fractured Bakken shale oil well and analyzed the model results using standard rate-transient analysis plots to evaluate the significance of the proposed modification. The results show that the standard EDFM underestimates oil and gas production by up to 73% at early times. This work presents the first analytical modification of EDFM to account for the nonlinear pressure drop expected near fracture surfaces. Comparing the modified and standard EDFM model results to a reference solution shows that the modified EDFM matches it. In contrast, the standard EDFM cannot match the reference solution when we use structured Cartesian grids with linear spacing. Additionally, by timing the simulation of a representative Bakken shale oil reservoir with 256 fractures, we show that the analytical modification proposed is only 1.5% slower than the standard EDFM.
A flow map for core/shell microdroplet formation in the co-flow Microchannel using ternary phase-field numerical model
Authors: Bariki Saeed Ghasemzade , Movahedirad Salman
Published: December 2022

Core/shell microdroplets formation with uniform size is investigated numerically in the co-flow microchannel. The interface and volume fraction contour between three immiscible fluids are captured using a ternary phase-field model. Previous research has shown that the effective parameters of microdroplet size are the physical properties and velocity of the three phases. By adjusting these variables, five main flow patterns are observed in numerical simulations. A core/shell dripping/slug regime is observed when the inertia of the continuous phase breaks the flow of the core and shell phases and makes a droplet. In the slug regime, the continuous phase has less inertia, and the droplets that form are surrounded by the channel walls, while in the dripping regime, the shell phase fluid is surrounded by the continuous phase. An increase in continuous-fluid or shell-fluid flow rate leads to dripping to a jetting transition. When three immiscible liquids flow continuously and parallel to one another without dispersing, this is known as laminar flow. In the tubing regime, the core phase flows continuously in the channel's central region, the shell phase flows in the annulus formed by the core phase's central region, and the continuous phase flows between the shell phase fluid and channel walls. In order to discriminate between the aforementioned flow patterns using Weber and Capillary numbers and establish regime transition criteria based on these two dimensionless variables, a flow regime map is provided. Finally, a correlation for shell thickness using shell-to-core phase velocity ratio and conducting 51 CFD simulations was proposed.
Magnetized inulin by Fe3O4 as a bio-nano adsorbent for treating water contaminated with methyl orange and crystal violet dyes
Authors: Valizadeh Kamran , Bateni Amir , Sojoodi Nazanin , Ataabadi Maryam Rostami , Behroozi Amir Hossein , Maleki Ali , You Zhenjiang
Published: December 2022

Current work focuses on fabricating a new bio-nano adsorbent of Fe3O4@inulin nanocomposite via an in-situ co-precipitation procedure to adsorb methyl orange (MO) and crystal violet (CV) dyes from aqueous solutions. Different physical characterization analyses verified the successful fabrication of the magnetic nanocomposite. The adsorbent performance in dye removal was evaluated by varying initial dye concentration, adsorbent dosage, pH and temperature in 5110 mg/L, 0.10.8 g/L, 111 and 283–338 K, respectively. Due to the pH of zero point of charge and intrinsic properties of dyes, the optimum pHs were 5 and 7 for MO and CV adsorption, respectively. The correlation of coefficient (R2) and reduced chi-squared value were the criteria in order to select the best isotherm and kinetics models. The Langmuir model illustrated a better fit for the adsorption data for both dyes, demonstrating the maximum adsorption capacity of 276.26 and 223.57 mg/g at 338 K for MO and CV, respectively. As well, the pseudo-second-order model showed a better fitness for kinetics data compared to the pseudo-first-order and Elovich models. The thermodynamic parameters exhibited that the dye adsorption process is endothermic and spontaneous, which supported the enhanced adsorption rate by increasing temperature. Moreover, the nanocomposite presented outstanding capacity and stability after 6 successive cycles by retaining more than 87% of its initial dye removal efficiency. Overall, the magnetized inulin with Fe3O4 could be a competent adsorbent for eliminating anionic and cationic dyes from water.
Global predictions for the risk of establishment of Pierce’s disease of grapevines
Authors: Giménez-Romero Alex , Galván Javier , Montesinos Marina , Bauzà Joan , Godefroid Martin , Fereres Alberto , Ramasco José J. , Matías Manuel A. , Moralejo Eduardo
Published: December 2022

The vector-borne bacteriumXylella fastidiosais responsible for Pierce’s disease (PD), a lethal grapevine disease that originated in the Americas. The international plant trade is expanding the geographic range of this pathogen, posing a new threat to viticulture worldwide. To assess the potential incidence of PD, we have built a dynamic epidemiological model based on the response of 36 grapevine varieties to the pathogen in inoculation assays and on the vectors’ distribution when this information is available. Key temperature-driven epidemiological processes, such as PD symptom development and recovery, are mechanistically modelled. Integrating into the model high-resolution spatiotemporal climatic data from 1981 onward and different infectivity (R0) scenarios, we show how the main wine-producing areas thrive mostly in non-risk, transient, or epidemic-risk zones with potentially low growth rates in PD incidence. Epidemic-risk zones with moderate to high growth rates are currently marginal outside the US. However, a global expansion of epidemic-risk zones coupled with small increments in the disease growth rate is projected for 2050. Our study globally downscales the risk of PD establishment while highlighting the importance of considering climate variability, vector distribution, and an invasive criterion as factors to obtain better PD risk maps.