bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Post-myocardial infarction ventricular septal defect closure with Gore Cardioform atrial septal defect occluder to improve tissue interactions: case report
Authors: Hribernik Ines , Bentham James R
Published: July 2023

Background

Gore Cardioform Atrial Septal Defect Occluder (GCA) is composed of a platinum-filled nitinol wire frame covered with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). This makes the device highly occlusive and resistant to residual shunts through the device, as well as conforming well to the surrounding anatomy. In defects with poor rims to hold a device for closure or where one of the ‘rims’ is the free wall of the left ventricle, such as in a post-infarct apical ventricular septal defect (VSD), successful closure with standard nitinol mesh devices can be unachievable.

Case summary

We present the occlusion of a post-myocardial infarction VSD with a GCA device in a critically ill patient at risk for closure failure and intravascular haemolysis with conventional nitinol mesh devices. The device conformed well to the anatomy even in the absence of an apical interventricular septum.

Discussion

GCA can be used for intracardiac high-velocity shunts in selected cases where conventional devices are unsuitable due to haemolysis or poor tissue and poor rims. With growing experience using GCA for the closure of atrial septal defects, interventionists should consider the potential advantages of ePTFE material and apply them to other lesions where these could be beneficial for patients.
Successful surgical repair of adult anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery from the pulmonary artery syndrome complicated by severe mitral regurgitation: a case report
Authors: Saito Tetsuya , Kawamura Masashi , Toda Koichi , Miyagawa Shigeru
Published: July 2023

Background

The number of diagnosed cases of anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) in adults has increased substantially because of modern advances in non-invasive cardiac imaging. Here, we report successful surgical repair in an adult patient with ALCAPA complicated by severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and persistent atrial fibrillation.

Case summary

ALCAPA syndrome was detected in a 65-year-old Asian woman with persistent atrial fibrillation by coronary computed tomographic angiography. An echocardiogram revealed severe MR caused by annular dilation, atrial enlargement, and posterior mitral leaflet tethering. In addition to ALCAPA repair, mitral valve repair and Cox-Maze IV cryoablation were performed. Mitral valve repair was performed using augmentation with an autologous pericardial patch in the posterior leaflet and ring annuloplasty.

Discussion

Because the mechanism of MR with ALCAPA in an adult varies by comorbidity, mitral valve repair should be performed according to the valvular and subvalvular morphologies. It is essential to develop strategies that provide adequate myocardial protection during the surgical treatment of ALCAPA considering coronary steal and non-coronary collateral blood flow.
Composite haemangioendothelioma in the heart: a case report
Authors: Schaeffer Thibault , Glatz Katharina , Eckstein Friedrich S , Matt Peter
Published: July 2023

Background

Primary cardiac neoplasm is rare and generally benign. Epithelioid haemangioendothelioma, a potentially malignant tumour of vascular origin, has been occasionally described in the heart. Composite haemangioendothelioma, characterized by a heterogeneous architecture of vascular components and usually located in soft tissue of the extremities, has only been reported twice in the heart. We herein report another case of this extremely uncommon cardiac tumour.

Case summary

Comprehensive cardiac examination of a 59-year-old female patient with palpitations and personal history of Hodgkin’s lymphoma and chest radiation revealed a mass in the left atrium. After surgical resection, histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis identified a composite haemangioendothelioma. After two years, repeated imaging revealed neither signs of local relapse nor metastasis.

Conclusions

Composite haemangioendothelioma, a very uncommon form of potentially malignant vascular tumour, can also be encountered in the heart. In this present case, the outcome was favourable two years after surgical resection without adjuvant therapy.
Proposal of names for 329 higher rank taxa defined in the Genome Taxonomy Database under two prokaryotic codes
Authors: Chuvochina Maria , Mussig Aaron J , Chaumeil Pierre-Alain , Skarshewski Adam , Rinke Christian , Parks Donovan H , Hugenholtz Philip
Published: July 2023

The Genome Taxonomy Database (GTDB) is a taxonomic framework that defines prokaryotic taxa as monophyletic groups in concatenated protein reference trees according to systematic criteria. This has resulted in a substantial number of changes to existing classifications (https://gtdb.ecogenomic.org). In the case of union of taxa, GTDB names were applied based on the priority of publication. The division of taxa or change in rank led to the formation of new Latin names above the rank of genus that were only made publicly available via the GTDB website without associated published taxonomic descriptions. This has sometimes led to confusion in the literature and databases. A number of the provisional GTDB names were later published in other studies, while many still lack authorships. To reduce further confusion, here we propose names and descriptions for 329 GTDB-defined prokaryotic taxa, 223 of which are suitable for validation under the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP) and 49 under the Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes described from Sequence Data (SeqCode). For the latter, we designated 23 genomes as type material. An additional 57 taxa that do not currently satisfy the validation criteria of either code are proposed as Candidatus.
Discordant Biological and Chronological Age: Implications for Cognitive Decline and Frailty
Authors: Shaaban C Elizabeth , Rosano Caterina , Zhu Xiaonan , Rutherford Bret R , Witonsky Kailyn R , Rosso Andrea L , Yaffe Kristine , Brown Patrick J
Published: July 2023

Background

Older adults with discordant biological and chronological ages (BA and CA) may vary in cognitive and physical function from those with concordant BA and CA.

Methods

To make our approach clinically accessible, we created easy-to-interpret participant groups in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study (N = 2 458, 52% female participants, 65% White participants, age: 73.5 ± 2.8) based on medians of CA, and a previously validated BA index comprised of readily available clinical tests. Joint models estimated associations of BA–CA group with cognition (Modified Mini-Mental State Examination [3MS] and Digit Symbol Substitution Test [DSST]) and frailty over 10 years.

Results

The sample included the following: 32%, Young group (BA and CA < median); 21%, Prematurely Aging group (BA ≥ median, CA < median), 27%, Old group (BA and CA ≥ median), and 20%, Resilient group (BA < median, CA ≥ median). In education-adjusted models of cognition, among those with CA < median, the Prematurely Aging group performed worse than the Young at baseline (3MS and DSST p < .0001), but among those with CA ≥ median, the Resilient group did not outperform the Old group (3MS p = .31; DSST p = .25). For frailty, the Prematurely Aging group performed worse than the Young group at baseline (p = .0001), and the Resilient group outperformed the Old group (p = .003). For all outcomes, groups did not differ on change over time based on the same pairwise comparisons (p ≥ .40).

Conclusions

Discordant BA and CA identify groups who have greater cognitive and physical functional decline or are more protected than their CA would suggest. This information can be used for risk stratification.
Association of Dietary Live Microbes and Nondietary Prebiotic/Probiotic Intake With Cognitive Function in Older Adults: Evidence From NHANES
Authors: Tang Haoxian , Zhang Xuan , Luo Nan , Huang Jingtao , Zhu Yanqiao
Published: July 2023

Background

The current study aims to examine association of dietary live microbes and nondietary prebiotic/probiotic intake with cognitive function among older U.S. adults, examining heterogeneity across demographic characteristics and diseases.

Methods

Participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2014 cycles were selected and administered 3 cognitive function tests: the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease Word Learning subtest (CERAD W-L, including immediate [CERAD-IRT] and delayed [CERAD-DRT] memory), the Animal Fluency Test (AFT), and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Test-specific and global cognition z-score was created. Based on their estimated dietary live microbes intake, participants were categorized into three groups: low, medium, and high. Text mining was employed to identify nondietary prebiotic/probiotic usage by examining the names and ingredients of dietary supplements or drugs.

Results

Participants in the medium (including AFT) and high (including global cognition, AFT, DSST, and CERAD-IRT) dietary live microbes intake group had significantly higher z-score of cognitive function compared to those in the low intake group. Among participants with cardiovascular disease history, nondietary prebiotic intake was associated with higher z-score in global cognition and CERAD-DRT compared to those who did not consume prebiotic. Additionally, probiotic intake was linked to higher z-score in global cognition, AFT, and DSST, particularly in participants with diabetes mellitus or hypertension.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that the intake of dietary live microbes and nondietary probiotic/prebiotic was associated with better cognitive function in older adults, particularly in specific disease states.
Alcohol Use and Mortality Among Older Couples in the United States: Evidence of Individual and Partner Effects
Authors: Birditt Kira S , Turkelson Angela , Polenick Courtney A , Cranford James A , Smith Jennifer A , Ware Erin B , Blow Frederic C
Published: July 2023

Background and Objectives

Spouses with concordant (i.e., similar) drinking behaviors often report better quality marriages and are married longer compared with those who report discordant drinking behaviors. Less is known regarding whether concordant or discordant patterns have implications for health, as couples grow older. The present study examined whether drinking patterns among older couples are associated with mortality over time.

Research Design and Methods

The Health and Retirement Study (HRS) is a nationally representative sample of individuals and their partners (married/cohabiting) over age 50 in the United States, in which participants completed surveys every 2 years. Participants included 4,656 married/cohabiting different-sex couples (9,312 individuals) who completed at least 3 waves of the HRS from 1996 to 2016. Participants reported whether they drank alcohol at all in the last 3 months, and if so, the average amount they drank per week. Mortality data were from 2016.

Results

Analyses revealed concordant drinking spouses (both indicated they drank in the last 3 months) survived longer than discordant drinking spouses (1 partner drinks and the other does not) and concordant nondrinking spouses. Analysis of average drinks per week showed a quadratic association with mortality such that light drinking predicted better survival rates among individuals and their partners compared with abstaining and heavy drinking. Further, similar levels of drinking in terms of the amount of drinking were associated with greater survival, particularly among wives.

Discussion and Implications

This study moves the field forward by showing that survival varies as a function of one’s own and one’s partner’s drinking.
Caregiving Among Older Black Same-Gender-Loving Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From Qualitative Research
Authors: Poteat Tonia , Hall Porsha , Adams Mary Anne , Gautam Dipa Sharma , Ashenden Robynn , Horn Jennifer
Published: July 2023

Background and Objectives

Few data on caregiving during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic use an intersectional lens to attend to how multiple social categories, such as gender, age, race, and sexual orientation, shape caregiving experiences. This analysis sought to explore caregiving experiences of aging Black same-gender-loving women.

Research Design and Methods

Sixteen focus groups were conducted with 4–8 participants each (N = 102) from across the United States. Audio-recorded discussions lasted for approximately 90 min and were transcribed verbatim. Two analysts coded transcripts for discussions related to caregiving and used content analysis to identify themes.

Results

Participants engaged in caregiving for children, parents, family, friends, and neighbors. They provided physical, economical, instrumental, and/or secondary caregiving; and sometimes received care themselves. The pandemic heavily affected their stress level and mental health as well as their intimate partner relationships. Discussions mostly offered descriptions of increased caregiving difficulty caused by the pandemic. However, a few participants identified ways the pandemic made caregiving easier; changed caregiving without making it easier or harder; or thwarted their ability to provide care.

Discussion and Implications

Older Black same-gender-loving women described some pandemic caregiving experiences that diverged from the existing literature, demonstrating the importance of considering how gender, race, age, and sexual orientation affect caregiving experiences during a pandemic fraught with health inequities. Ensuring the multiply marginalized caregivers have access to the practical and emotional support they need is critical for advancing health equity and preparing for future pandemics.
Crustal structure beneath and surrounding the Appalachian Basin region of Eastern North America imaged by joint inversion of P wave receiver functions and surface wave dispersion measurements
Authors: Homman Kyle , Nyblade Andrew
Published: July 2023

To evaluate the plate flexure model for the formation of the Appalachian Basin, we investigate the extent to which crustal structure beneath and surrounding the basin was modified by the Palaeozoic orogenic events that created the basin. We jointly invert receiver functions and surface wave dispersion measurements to obtain 1-D crustal Vs profiles for 261 seismic stations located within and around the basin. The average crustal thickness for the region is 44 km, and the crust gradually thins to the east, consistent with previous studies. Four areas of anomalous crust are identified with respect to the eastward thinning of the crust. An area of thick crust is found along the Grenville Front on the western side of the Appalachian Basin where the crust thickens by ∼5–10 km. Moho depths of up to 54 km in this region likely result from suture-thickening. The crust is thinner beneath the Neoproterozoic Scranton rift by ∼5–7 km, coincident with a ∼40 mGal Bouguer gravity high. Across the Neoproterozoic Rome Trough, the crust thins by ∼4–5 km, coincident with a ∼10 mGal Bouguer gravity high. Density models for these rifts show that the rift-related crustal thinning is sufficient to explain the gravity anomalies. The Vs models obtained for stations in the rifts indicate little, if any, mafic layering in the mid-crust and only a modest amount of mafic layering in the lower crust. In the northwestern portion of the Appalachian Basin in northeastern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania within the Elzevir block, another area of anomalously thick crust (50–52 km) is found. This region is not associated with any known tectonic structures or boundaries or a gravity anomaly. The lower ∼5–10 km of the crust in this region is characterized by high (>3.9 km s−1) shear wave velocities and thus appears to be mafic. The origin of anomalous crustal structure in all four areas is best attributed to Precambrian tectonic events that predate the formation of the Appalachian Basin, indicating that the crystalline crust beneath and surrounding the basin was not significantly affected by the Palaeozoic basin-forming orogenic events, a finding which supports the use of plate flexure models for understanding basin formation.
Tracking aftershock sequences using empirical matched field processing
Authors: Kværna T , Harris D B , Näsholm S P , Köhler A , Gibbons S J
Published: July 2023

Extensive aftershock sequences present a significant problem to seismological data centres attempting to produce near real-time comprehensive seismic event bulletins. An elevated number of events to process and poorer performance of automatic phase association algorithms can lead to large delays in processing and a greatly increased human workload. Global monitoring is often performed using seismic array stations at considerable distances from the events involved. Empirical matched field processing (EMFP) is a narrow-frequency band array signal processing technique that recognizes the inter-sensor phase and amplitude relations associated with wavefronts approaching a sensor array from a given direction. We demonstrate that EMFP, using a template obtained from the first P arrival from the main shock alone, can efficiently detect and identify P arrivals on that array from subsequent events in the aftershock zone with exceptionally few false alarms (signals from other sources). The empirical wavefield template encodes all the narrow-band phase and amplitude relations observed for the main shock signal. These relations are also often robust and repeatable characteristics of signals from nearby events. The EMFP detection statistic compares the phase and amplitude relations at a given time in the incoming data stream with those for the template and is sensitive to very short-duration signals with the required characteristics. Significant deviations from the plane wavefront model that typically degrade the performance of standard beamforming techniques can enhance signal characterization using EMFP. Waveform correlation techniques typically perform poorly for aftershocks from large earthquakes due to the distances between hypocentres and the wide range of event magnitudes and source mechanisms. EMFP on remote seismic arrays mitigates these difficulties; the narrow-band nature of the procedure makes arrival identification less sensitive to the signals’ temporal form and spectral content. The empirical steering vectors derived for the main shock P arrival can reduce the frequency dependency of the slowness vector estimates. This property helps us to automatically screen out arrivals from outside of the aftershock zone. Standard array processing pipelines could be enhanced by including both plane-wave and empirical matched field steering vectors. This would maintain present capability for the plane-wave steering vectors and provide increased sensitivity and resolution for those sources for which we have empirical calibrations.
Identification of potential classes of glycoligands mediating dynamic endothelial adhesion of human tumor cells
Authors: Starzonek Sarah , Maar Hanna , Mereiter Stefan , Freytag Vera , Haider Marie-Therese , Riecken Kristoffer , Huang Yen-Lin , Jacob Francis , Wicklein Daniel , Schumacher Udo , Lange Tobias
Published: July 2023

One critical step of metastasis formation is the extravasation of circulating tumor cells from the bloodstream. This process requires the dynamic interaction of cell adhesion molecules like E-selectin on endothelial cells with carbohydrate ligands on tumor cells. To characterize these glycans in a comprehensible approach, the rolling, tethering, and firm adhesion of nine human tumor cell lines on human umbilical vein endothelial cells was analyzed using laminar flow adhesion assays. The tumor cell lines were grouped into three subsets by their canonical E-selectin ligand status (sialyl-Lewis A and X +/+, −/+, −/−) and their adhesiveness was compared after enzymatic, pharmacologic, chemical treatment or antibody blockade of the tumor cells or endothelial cells, respectively. Tumor cells were also screened regarding their glycosyltransferase expression profile. We found that although E-selectin and terminal α2,3-sialic acid largely determined firm adhesion, adhesive events did not exclusively depend on the presence of sialyl-Lewis A and/or sialyl-Lewis X. Nevertheless, two of the three sialyl-Lewis A/X−/− tumor cells additionally or fully depended on vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 for firm adhesion. The significance of O-GalNAc- and N-glycans for adhesion varied remarkably among the tumor cells. The sialyl-Lewis A/X+/+ subset showed glycoprotein-independent adhesion, suggesting a role of glycolipids as well. All sialyl-Lewis A/X−/− tumor cells lacked FUT3 and FUT7 expression as opposed to sialyl-Lewis A/X+/+ or −/+ cell lines. In summary, the glycans on tumor cells mediating endothelial adhesion are not as much restricted to sialyl-Lewis A /X as previously assumed. The present study specifically suggests α2,3-linked sialic acid, O-GalNAc glycans, glycosphingolipids, and FUT3/FUT7 products as promising targets for future studies.
Sensory Mechanisms of Parent-Offspring Recognition in Fishes, Amphibians, and Reptiles
Authors: Ray Emily J , Maruska Karen P
Published: July 2023

Synopsis

Parental care is important for offspring survival and success. Recognition of offspring by parents is critical to ensure parents direct care behaviors at related offspring and minimize energy lost by caring for unrelated young. Offspring recognition of parents prevents possible aggressive interactions between young and unrelated adults and allows offspring to direct begging behaviors toward the correct adult. Despite its importance and widespread nature, much of the current research has focused on a small range of species, particularly mammals and birds. We review the existing literature on the sensory mechanisms of parent-offspring recognition in fishes, amphibians, and reptiles. Within these groups, there is diversity in the presence and strategies for parent-offspring recognition. Future studies should continue to identify these mechanisms, as well as the neural and endocrine underpinnings in non-model organisms to expand our knowledge of this behavior and inform our understanding of the evolution of parent-offspring recognition.
Ventral Hippocampal Input to Infralimbic Cortex Is Necessary for the Therapeutic-Like Effects of Extinction in Stressed Rats
Authors: Paredes Denisse , Morilak David A
Published: July 2023

Background

Posttraumatic stress disorder is characterized by deficits in cognitive flexibility related to dysfunction of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Exposure therapy can effectively reverse these deficits. Fear extinction in rodents bears similarity to exposure therapy. Extinction reverses chronic stress–induced deficits in cognitive flexibility on the attentional set-shifting test (AST), an mPFC-mediated process. This therapeutic effect requires activity of pyramidal neurons and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling in infralimbic cortex (IL). However, the circuit mechanisms governing BDNF-mediated plasticity initiated by extinction in IL are unknown. The ventral hippocampus (vHipp) plays a role in regulating IL activity during extinction, and plasticity in vHipp is necessary for extinction memory consolidation. Therefore, we investigated the role of vHipp input to IL in the effects of extinction in reversing stress-induced cognitive deficits.

Methods

vHipp input to IL was silenced using a Gi-Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADD) via local infusion of clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) into IL before extinction. A day later, rats were tested on AST. In a separate experiment, we tested whether vHipp input to the IL induces BDNF signaling to exert therapeutic effects. We activated the vHipp using a Gq-DREADD, and injected an anti-BDNF neutralizing antibody into IL. Rats were tested on the AST 24 hours later.

Results

Silencing the vHipp input to IL prevented the beneficial effects of extinction in reversing stress-induced cognitive deficits. Activating vHipp input to IL in the absence of extinction was sufficient to reverse stress-induced deficits in set-shifting. The beneficial effects were blocked by local infusion of a neutralizing anti-BDNF antibody into IL.

Conclusions

vHipp-driven BDNF signaling in IL is critical for extinction to counteract the deleterious cognitive effects of chronic stress.
Discovery and structural assignment of (S)-sydosine from amphipod-derived Aspergillus sydowii MBC15-11F through HRMS, advanced Mosher, and molecular modelling analyses
Authors: Qader Mallique , Mweetwa Larry L , Rämä Teppo , Thissera Bathini , Milne Bruce F , Abdelmohsen Usama R , Orfali Raha , Tawfike Ahmed , Esheli Manal , Oluwabusola Emmanuel T , Jaysainghe Lalith , Jaspars Marcel , Rateb Mostafa E
Published: July 2023

Aims

This study aims to prioritize fungal strains recovered from under-explored habitats that produce new metabolites. HRMS dereplication is used to avoid structure redundancy, and molecular modelling is used to assign absolute configuration.

Methods and results

MBC15-11F was isolated from an amphipod and identified using ITS, 28S, and β-tubulin phylogeny as Aspergillus sydowii. Chemical profiling using taxonomic-based dereplication identified structurally diverse metabolites, including unreported ones. Large-scale fermentation led to the discovery of a new N-acyl adenosine derivative: (S)-sydosine (1) which was elucidated by NMR and HRESIMS analyses. Two known compounds were also identified as predicted by the initial dereplication process. Due to scarcity of 1, molecular modelling was used to assign its absolute configuration without hydrolysis, and is supported by advanced Mosher derivatization. When the isolated compounds were assessed against a panel of bacterial pathogens, only phenamide (3) showed anti-Staphylococcus aureus activity.

Conclusion

Fermentation of A. sydowii yielded a new (S)-sydosine and known metabolites as predicted by HRESIMS-aided dereplication. Molecular modelling prediction of the absolute configuration of 1 agreed with advanced Mosher analysis.
Differential evolution algorithm with improved crossover operation for combined heat and power economic dynamic dispatch problem with wind power
Authors: Li Mengdi , Zou Dexuan , Ouyang Haibin
Published: July 2023

This paper proposes a differential evolution algorithm with improved crossover operation (ICRDE) to deal with combined heat and power dynamic economic dispatch (CHPDED) problems with wind power. First, the improved crossover operation is used to maintain the population diversity by using original individuals, first mutated individuals, and second mutated individuals. Second, the scaling factor and weighted factor are incorporated into the mutation operation to improve the convergence efficiency of the algorithm. Third, adaptive control parameters are introduced to balance local exploitation and global exploration. Moreover, after being updated by the mutation and crossover operation of ICRDE at each generation, the solutions of ICRDE will be further amended using a constraint handling method, which improves the chance of acquiring feasible solutions. Experimental results demonstrate that ICRDE has strong global optimization ability and surpasses the compared algorithms for the CEC2017 benchmark functions, the combined heat and power economic dispatch problems, and the CHPDED problem with and without wind power.
Quantum-inspired African vultures optimization algorithm with elite mutation strategy for production scheduling problems
Authors: Liu Bo , Zhou Yongquan , Luo Qifang , Huang Huajuan
Published: July 2023

The production scheduling (PS) problem is a challenging task that involves assigning manufacturing resources to jobs while ensuring that all constraints are satisfied. The key difficulty in PS is determining the appropriate order of operations. In this study, we propose a novel optimization algorithm called the quantum-inspired African vultures optimization algorithm with an elite mutation strategy (QEMAVOA) to address this issue. QEMAVOA is an enhanced version of the African vulture optimization algorithm that incorporates three new improvement strategies. Firstly, to enhance QEMAVOA’s diversification ability, the population diversity is enriched by the introduction of quantum double-chain encoding in the initialization phase of QEMAVOA. Secondly, the implementation of the quantum rotating gate will balance QEMAVOA’s diversification and exploitation capabilities, leading the vulture to a better solution. Finally, with the purpose of improving the exploitability of QEMAVOA, the elite mutation strategy is introduced. To evaluate the performance of QEMAVOA, we apply it to two benchmark scheduling problems: flexible job shop scheduling problem and parallel machine scheduling. The results are compared to those of existing algorithms in the literature. The test results reveal that QEMAVOA surpasses comparison algorithms in accuracy, stability, and speed of convergence.
Source-independent least-squares reverse time migration in vertical transversely isotropic media based on the Student’s t-distribution
Authors: Ye Zilong , Huang Jianping , Shen Yi , Mu Xinru , Zhan Qiwei
Published: July 2023

Seismic anisotropy exists in various types of strata and should be considered in seismic imaging schemes. Seismic imaging algorithms based on isotropic assumption neglect the effects of anisotropy on seismic data, which cause migration artifacts and waveform distortion. To correct the effects of anisotropy on seismic wave propagation, we propose an imaging algorithm that performs least-squares reverse time migration in vertical transversely isotropic acoustic media. We derive the following operators to implement this algorithm, the de-migration operator, its adjoint migration operator, and the corresponding gradient. However, an inaccurate estimated source wavelet will introduce error in the seismic simulation, and thus increase the mismatch between observed and synthetic data for least-squares reverse time migration. In addition, the noises, especially the noises with abnormal amplitudes in the seismic data, damage the inversion convergence and reduce the imaging resolution. To improve the image quality, we propose to use convolved wavefields between observed and synthetic data so that such a mismatch can be independent of the source wavelets. Also, we use the Student’s t-distribution instead of L2 norm in our inversion scheme to better handle the seismic noise. Its implementation only modifies the gradient of the conventional least-square reverse time migration scheme. Our numerical tests show a clear improvement using our proposed imaging algorithm when compared with the conventional isotropic migration scheme for the anisotropic data. Also, the synthetic examples demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of our proposed source-independent algorithm using the Student’s t-distribution.
HIVEP3 inhibits fate decision of CD8+ invariant NKT cells after positive selection
Authors: Wu Qielan , Bai Shiyu , Su Miya , Zhang Yuwei , Chen Xuran , Yue Ting , Xu Linfeng , Wang Lu , Xie Di , Li Shuhang , Li Xiang , Fu Sicheng , Wang Lili , Tian Chenxi , Pan Jun , Huang Yuanyuan , Cai Yuting , Wang Yu , Hu Fang , Li Fengyin , Zhang Huimin , Bai Li
Published: July 2023

CD8+ invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are functionally different from other iNKT cells and are enriched in human but not in mouse. To date, their developmental pathway and molecular basis for fate decision remain unclear. Here, we report enrichment of CD8+ iNKT cells in neonatal mice due to their more rapid maturation kinetics than CD8− iNKT cells. Along developmental trajectories, CD8+ and CD8− iNKT cells separate at stage 0, following stage 0 double-positive iNKT cells, and differ in HIVEP3 expression. HIVEP3 is lowly expressed in stage 0 CD8+ iNKT cells and negatively controls their development, whereas it is highly expressed in stage 0 CD8− iNKT cells and positively controls their development. Despite no effect on IFN-γ, HIVEP3 inhibits granzyme B but promotes interleukin-4 production in CD8+ iNKT cells. Together, we reveal that, as a negative regulator for CD8+ iNKT fate decision, low expression of HIVEP3 in stage 0 CD8+ iNKT cells favors their development and T helper 1–biased cytokine responses as well as high cytotoxicity.
Neutrophil nucleus: shaping the past and the future
Authors: Salafranca Julia , Ko Jacky Ka , Mukherjee Ananda K , Fritzsche Marco , van Grinsven Erinke , Udalova Irina A
Published: July 2023

Neutrophils are innate immune cells that are key to protecting the host against infection and maintaining body homeostasis. However, if dysregulated, they can contribute to disease, such as in cancer or chronic autoinflammatory disorders. Recent studies have highlighted the heterogeneity in the neutrophil compartment and identified the presence of immature neutrophils and their precursors in these pathologies. Therefore, understanding neutrophil maturity and the mechanisms through which they contribute to disease is critical. Neutrophils were first characterized morphologically by Ehrlich in 1879 using microscopy, and since then, different technologies have been used to assess neutrophil maturity. The advances in the imaging field, including state-of-the-art microscopy and machine learning algorithms for image analysis, reinforce the use of neutrophil nuclear morphology as a fundamental marker of maturity, applicable for objective classification in clinical diagnostics. New emerging approaches, such as the capture of changes in chromatin topology, will provide mechanistic links between the nuclear shape, chromatin organization, and transcriptional regulation during neutrophil maturation.
Exploring Foundational Concepts in Reforestation and Early Stand Improvement—a Recap of the 2022 National Silviculture Workshop
Authors: Bragg Don C , Hinchee Janet , Jain Theresa B
Published: July 2023

The National Silviculture Workshop (NSW) is a biennial forum on silvicultural advances hosted by the USDA Forest Service. In July of 2022, this gathering brought over one hundred seventy silvicultural workers from all parts of the agency, plus some from academia and industry, to Kellogg, Idaho. Against the spectacular backdrop of the northern Rocky Mountains, NSW participants learned about the various challenges and opportunities faced by Forest Service silviculturists and silvicultural researchers, especially on reforestation and early stand improvement challenges on Forest Service lands. Over three days, oral and poster presentations were given on topics ranging from new legislation and agency policies to decision support tools to forest health threats to regeneration and nursery problems. Additionally, a day-long field tour and hours of less formal conversations and networking helped to continue the tradition of knowledge transfer and collegiality long experienced at the NSW.

Study Implications: The 2022 National Silviculture Workshop (NSW) continued a long tradition of bringing together USDA Forest Service silvicultural practitioners and researchers in a forum that helps bridge research with practice and policy. The presentations, field trip, small group meetings, and plenty of networking continued to strengthen the silvicultural work of the Forest Service, laying the groundwork for the next NSW in Olympia, Washington, in July of 2024.
Numerical simulation of density-driven non-Newtonian fluid flow
Authors: Li Yu-Shan , Chen Ching-Yao
Published: July 2023

Density-driven flow is numerically studied. The sinking fluid is set as a power-law non-Newtonian fluid with a higher density than the environmental fluid. During the simulation process, saturation concentration is fixed on the upper boundary; thus downward plumes are formed because of gravitational instability. The dissolution flux undergoes a series of changes, from the initially diffusion-dominated regime to the convection-dominated regime due to the appearance of finger structures, and then to the transition of finger structures merging into larger plumes. Finally, it enters the shutdown regime as the plumes start to reach the impermeable bottom boundary. In the process of plume sinking, different fluid properties have an important impact on the downward velocity, shape of plumes and the dissolution flux of the flow field. The tip velocity of the plumes is slowed until the high-concentration fluid is supplied to further push the plumes downward. For the shear-thinning fluid ambient fluid, this phenomenon is even more drastic. However, for shear-thickening fluid, this phenomenon is almost not observed. In addition, unlike the condition of a Newtonian fluid, protoplumes on the original interface appear at the early stage. Prominent protoplumes have developed between the primary plumes in non-Newtonian fluids throughout the entire process.
Characterization of Vulnerability of Internally Displaced Persons in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Using Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS)
Authors: Pham Phuong N , Johnston Lisa , Keegan Katrina , O’Mealia Thomas , Diallo Dramane Yacouba , Vinck Patrick
Published: July 2023

The Central Sahel region has one of the world's fastest-growing populations of internally displaced persons (IDPs). To better understand the risk factors associated with displacement, this study utilized respondent-driven sampling to recruit otherwise hard-to-reach IDPs in remote and urban areas in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. From August to October 2021, 4144 IDPs were surveyed, and nine targeted vulnerability profiles were measured across the domains of gender, health, and protection. The study revealed a high prevalence of risk factors and vulnerability among IDPs, with notable geographic differences. The majority of IDPs fell into at least one category of vulnerability, with health vulnerabilities being the most common. Internally displaced persons reported overlapping vulnerabilities in health, particularly chronic illness, mental health issues, and disability. Women had higher odds of vulnerability than men. Statistically significant associations were site-specific, and some were inconsistent across contexts, highlighting the cross-cutting and pervasive nature of vulnerability among IDPs.
What Can Data Justice Mean for Asylum Governance? The Case of Smartphone Data Extraction in Germany
Authors: Josipovic Ivan
Published: July 2023

This article takes new digital surveillance policies in European asylum procedures as an occasion to explore possible principles for an ethical use of digital data on asylum seekers. Drawing on three different conceptions of data justice, and considering their respective analytical focus, objectives and principles, it develops an evaluative framework that helps to unpack what just data-driven governance in the field of asylum can mean. Based on the case of Germany, which introduced a policy to extract data from the smartphones of asylum seekers, the article illustrates how each of the three conceptions of data justice practically informs claims that (de)legitimize dataveillance. The article concludes by highlighting the practical relevance and the shortcomings of established principles such as privacy in balancing the interests between asylum seekers and state authorities. It further argues for a consideration of the structural inequalities of data-based visibility in relation to hierarchies of civic stratification.
Crops under past diversification and ongoing climate change: more than just selection of nuclear genes for flowering
Authors: Tiwari Lalit Dev , Kurtz-Sohn Ayelet , Bdolach Eyal , Fridman Eyal
Published: July 2023

Diversification and breeding following domestication and under current climate change across the globe are the two most significant evolutionary events experienced by major crops. Diversification of crops from their wild ancestors has favored dramatic changes in the sensitivity of the plants to the environment, particularly significantly in transducing light inputs to the circadian clock, which has allowed the growth of major crops in the relatively short growing season experienced in the Northern Hemisphere. Historically, mutants and the mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) have facilitated the identification and the cloning of genes that underlie major changes of the clock and the regulation of flowering. Recent studies have suggested that the thermal plasticity of the circadian clock output, and not just the core genes that follow temperature compensation, has also been under selection during diversification and breeding. Wild alleles that accelerate output rhythmicity could be beneficial for crop resilience. Furthermore, wild alleles with beneficial and flowering-independent effects under stress indicate their possible role in maintaining a balanced source–sink relationship, thereby allowing productivity under climatic change. Because the chloroplast genome also regulates the plasticity of the clock output, mapping populations including cytonuclear interactions should be utilized within an integrated field and clock phenomics framework. In this review, we highlight the need to integrate physiological and developmental approaches (physio-devo) to gain a better understanding when re-domesticating wild gene alleles into modern cultivars to increase their robustness under abiotic heat and drought stresses.
Screening and characterization of agarolytic bacteria from different sources
Authors: Labade Dinesh , Tabassum Heena , Wani Minal
Published: July 2023

According to the results of our investigation, distinct bacterial isolates capable of breaking down agar were found in various nonmarine environments. The deficiency of reducing sugar in the control media demonstrates that the agar in the experiment is broken down by the bacteria to produce various oligosaccharides because the viscosity of the medium containing the agar was found to have been extremely high before inoculation, reducing with incubation duration and attaining a maximum after 48 hours. These isolates were subsequently used in tests along with additional investigation since they could create reducing sugar. Interestingly, the deterioration of agar appears to be mainly caused by Gram-negative bacteria. In order to study the agarase properties, the relative quantity of the enzyme secreted by the bacteria that hydrolyze the agar was used. The detection of extracellular agarase surrounding the colonies and the absence of stained halos on iodine-treated agar plates show that the agarase diffusing from the bacteria impacted the characteristics of the gel. Inconclusion, these agarsase-producing bacteria can be exploited for industrial applications. Waste agar from the plant tissue culture business can be utilized for a range of applications and this degraded agar can be explored for reliable and ecologically safe alternatives.
Cross-method assessment of coliphage detection methods in the framework of EPA regulatory standards
Authors: Price Matthew T , Blackwood Angelia D , Noble Rachel T
Published: July 2023

This study aimed to understand the performance and utility of US EPA-approved coliphage methods in comparison to fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and molecular microbial source tracking (MST) methods in recreational waters. We used US EPA Method 1642 to quantify concentrations of coliphage along with culture- and molecular-based enumeration of E. coli and Enterococcus sp, and human fecal source marker HF183. We also conducted a feasibility assessment to determine the utility of US EPA Method 1642 for application to routine recreational water monitoring. Ten sampling events were conducted at three sampling sites over the duration of a year. Average concentrations of somatic (SC) (log10 1.48 PFU/100 mL) and male-specific (MSC) coliphages (log10 1.00 PFU/100 mL) at all sites were low with SC found across a broader range (0.3–3.1 log10 PFU/100 mL) of concentrations compared to MSC (non-detect-1.7 log10 PFU/100 mL). A feasibility assessment was conducted across US EPA Method 1642 for coliphage enumeration, culture-based FIB, defined substrate technology (DST) approaches Enterolert™ and Colilert®, and quantitative microbial source tracking (qMST) US EPA Method 1696. US EPA Method 1642 had the longest processing times, but also was moderate in cost, compared to the DST and qMST molecular methods. Given the poor correlations between MSC and SC with FIB and qMST markers in this study and the cumbersome nature of US EPA Method 1642, the method may not be the most applicable method for use in systems impacted predominantly by stormwater and other non-point source pollution. Findings from this study, however, provide guidance on the application of fecal indicator virus in ambient coastal surface waters.
Carbon Nanotubes Produced After Forest Fire Oxidized and Functionalized with Fluorescein Isothiocyanate Improve Development of Avena sativa
Authors: Marco Antonio Alemán-Méndez , Javier Villegas Moreno , Kumar-Tiwari Dhirendra , Jesús Campos García , Juárez-Cisneros Gladys
Published: July 2023

The use of synthetic carbon nanotubes has been widely studied in plant crops, however, knowledge about carbon nanotubes of natural origin is limited, therefore, in this work the effect of MWCNT obtained in samples after treatment was evaluated. a forest fire on the biomass and germination of Avena sativa, as well as the behavior of these MWCNT when subjected to chemical oxidation and subsequent functionalization, where positive effects were observed both in the germination speed as well as in the percentage, on the other hand there was a significant increase in fresh and dry weight, these results give help us an information for understood better the way the MWCNT improve plant development.
Effect of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes Functionalized with Indol-3-butyric Acid on the Development of Avena sativa
Authors: Fernández-Gómez Daniela , Villegas-Moreno Javier , Kumar-Tiwari Dhirendra , Campos-García Jesús , Juárez-Cisneros Gladys
Published: July 2023

In pioneering research, it has been documented that the CNT influences the development of plants through the balance of phytoregulators. Therefore, in this work the objective is to evaluate the effects of CNT functionalized by non-covalent method with indole-3-butyric acid that they have on Avena sativa. The CNT was characterized by FTIR and Raman to confirm functionalization. It was observed that in the germination stage the seeds treated with IBA inhibited germination, however, when functionalizing the CNT with IBA it was observed that the CNT is contributing to counteract this inhibition.
Effect of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes Functionalized with Kinetin on the Development of Avena sativa
Authors: Fernández-Gómez Daniela , Villegas-Moreno Javier , Kumar-Tiwari Dhirendra , Gómez-Romero Mariela , Juárez-Cisneros Gladys
Published: July 2023

In pioneering research, it has been documented that the CNT influences the development of plants through the balance of phytoregulators. Therefore, in this work the objective is to evaluate the effects of the CNT functionalized by non-covalent method with kinetin that have in Avena sativa. CNT was characterized by FTIR and Raman to confirm functionality. The results showed that the application of CNT with phytoregulators modified plant development.