bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Work: saviour or struggle? A qualitative study examining employment and finances in colorectal cancer survivors living with advanced cancer
Authors: Lim Chloe Yi Shing , Laidsaar-Powell Rebekah C. , Young Jane M. , Steffens Daniel , Koczwara Bogda , Zhang Yuehan ,   The advanced-CRC survivorship authorship group, Lim Chloe Yi Shing , Laidsaar-Powell Rebekah C. , Young Jane M. , Solomon Michael , Steffens Daniel , Koh Cherry , Ansari Nabila , Yeo David , Blinman Prunella , Beale Philip , Koczwara Bogda , Joshy Grace , Zhang Yuehan , Butow Phyllis
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Continuing employment or returning to work (RTW) as a cancer survivor can be meaningful and financially necessary, yet challenging. However, there is a lack of qualitative research on RTW experiences and financial wellbeing of people with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC-A). This study aimed to fill this gap.

Methods

Adults treated for CRC-A were recruited 0.5–2 years post-surgery (or post-diagnosis of CRC-A for palliative chemotherapy participants). Semi-structured telephone interviews, exploring RTW and finances, were subjected to framework analysis. Demographic, clinical, and quality of life data (FACT-C, Distress Thermometer, COST measure) were collected to characterise the sample and inform the framework analysis.

Results

Analysis of 38 interviews revealed five overarching themes: work as a struggle, work as my identity, work as my saviour, work as a financial necessity, and employer and colleague response. Many survivors with CRC-A desired to, and had the capacity to, continue work or RTW, yet faced unique challenges from compounded stigma of both cancer and toileting issues. Inability to RTW negatively impacted financial and psychosocial wellbeing. Workplace support was an important facilitator of RTW.

Conclusion

For survivors with CRC-A, continuing or RTW is fraught with challenges, including physical functioning challenges, financial anxiety, and unsupportive workplace environments. Survivors require psychosocial, financial, and employer support to manage these difficulties. This paper recommends a multiprong approach, including education programmes (facilitated through workers’ union groups, human resource institutions, and/or large consumer CRC groups) and policies, to support workers and for employers to understand the unique challenges of employees with CRC-A.
Event prediction within directional change framework using a CNN-LSTM model
Authors: Rostamian Ahoora , O’Hara John G.
Published: August 2022

Financial forecasting has always been an intriguing research area in the field of finance. The widely accepted approach to forecast financial data is to perform predictions using time series data. In time series analysis, sampling the financial data with a predefined frequency (e.g. hourly, daily) leads to an uneven and discontinued data flow. Directional Change is a newly proposed approach that replaces physical time within the financial data and establishes an event-driven framework. With the emergence of the machine and deep learning-based methods, researchers have utilised them in financial time series. These techniques have shown to outperform conventional approaches. This paper aims to employ the CNN-LSTM model to investigate its predictive competence within the Directional Change (DC) framework to predict DC event prices. To obtain this objective, we first create the tick bars/candles of the GBPUSD, EURUSD, USDCHF, and USDCAD tick prices from January to August 2019. Then, the DC-based summaries of the selected tick bar/candle for each currency pair will be generated and fed to the CNN-LSTM model. The CNN-LSTM network architecture incorporates the robustness of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) in feature extraction and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) in predicting sequential data. The results suggest that the performance of the CNN-LSTM model improves significantly within the DC framework.
Do demographic and clinical features and comorbidities affect the risk of spread to an additional body site in functional motor disorders?
Authors: Ercoli Tommaso , Tinazzi Michele , Geroin Christian , Marcuzzo Enrico , Erro Roberto , Cuoco Sofia , Ceravolo Roberto , Mazzucchi Sonia , Pilotto Andrea , Padovani Alessandro , Romito Luigi Michele , Eleopra Roberto , Zappia Mario , Nicoletti Alessandra , Dallocchio Carlo , Arbasino Carla , Bono Francesco , Spano Giorgio , Demartini Benedetta , Gambini Orsola , Modugno Nicola , Olivola Enrica , Bonanni Laura , Albanese Alberto , Ferrazzano Gina , Tessitore Alessandro , Lopiano Leonardo , Calandra-Buonaura Giovanna , Petracca Martina , Morgante Francesca , Esposito Marcello , Pisani Antonio , Manganotti Paolo , Tesolin Lucia , Teatini Francesco , Stocchi Fabrizio , Defazio Giovanni
Published: August 2022

The aim of this study is to assess changes in the body distribution and the semeiology of functional motor disorder (FMD) in patients who reported only one or more than one body site affected at FMD onset. Data were obtained from the Italian Registry of Functional Motor Disorders, which included patients with a diagnosis of clinically definite FMDs. The relationship between FMD features and spread to other body sites was estimated by multivariate Cox regression analysis. We identified 201 (49%) patients who reported only one body site affected at FMD onset and 209 (51%) who reported multiple body sites affected at onset. FMD spread from the initial site to another site in 43/201 (21.4%) patients over 5.7 ± 7.1 years in those with only one site affected at FMD onset; FMD spread to an another body site in 29/209 (13.8%) over 5.5 ± 6.5 years. The spread of FMD was associated with non-motor functional symptoms and psychiatric comorbidities only in the patients with one body site affected at FMD onset. Our findings provide novel insight into the natural history of FMD. The number of body sites affected at onset does not seem to have a consistent influence on the risk of spread. Furthermore, our findings suggest that psychiatric comorbidities and non-motor functional symptoms may predict the spread of FMD symptoms, at least in patients with one body site affected at onset.
Fast Augmented Lagrangian Method in the convex regime with convergence guarantees for the iterates
Authors: Boţ Radu Ioan , Csetnek Ernö Robert , Nguyen Dang-Khoa
Published: August 2022

This work aims to minimize a continuously differentiable convex function with Lipschitz continuous gradient under linear equality constraints. The proposed inertial algorithm results from the discretization of the second-order primal-dual dynamical system with asymptotically vanishing damping term addressed by Boţ and Nguyen (J. Differential Equations 303:369–406, 2021), and it is formulated in terms of the Augmented Lagrangian associated with the minimization problem. The general setting we consider for the inertial parameters covers the three classical rules by Nesterov, Chambolle–Dossal and Attouch–Cabot used in the literature to formulate fast gradient methods. For these rules, we obtain in the convex regime convergence rates of order $${\mathcal {O}}\left( 1/k^{2} \right) $$

O

1
/

k
2

for the primal-dual gap, the feasibility measure, and the objective function value. In addition, we prove that the generated sequence of primal-dual iterates converges to a primal-dual solution in a general setting that covers the two latter rules. This is the first result which provides the convergence of the sequence of iterates generated by a fast algorithm for linearly constrained convex optimization problems without additional assumptions such as strong convexity. We also emphasize that all convergence results of this paper are compatible with the ones obtained in Boţ and Nguyen (J. Differential Equations 303:369–406, 2021) in the continuous setting.
Larval dispersal from an energetic tidal channel and implications for blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) shellfisheries
Authors: Demmer Jonathan , Neill Simon P. , Andres Olga , Malham Shelagh K. , Jones Trevor , Robins Peter
Published: August 2022

Complex coastal currents control early-stage larval dispersal from intertidal populations, and late-stage settlement patterns, but are often poorly resolved in larval dispersal models. Generally, there is high uncertainty in the timing of larval spawning, which markedly affects larval dispersal. In this study, we describe the physical parameters that induce spawning events in the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, using a variation of the Condition Index (which relates the mass of meat to the mass of the shell) as a proxy. We developed a high-resolution Eulerian coastal hydrodynamic model, coupled with a Lagrangian particle tracking model, to quantify the potential dispersal of early-stage mussel larvae based on differing spawning dates obtained from field data. Our results showed that (1) the timings of larval spawning cannot be explained solely by ‘thermal shocks’ in the sea or air temperatures (i.e. fluctuations in temperature causing stress); (2) larger spawning events generally occurred during neap tides; (3) the simulated larval dispersal was largely but not always predicted by averaged current pathways (calculated over two weeks period); and (4) simulated self-recruitment was low at sites associated with strong tidal currents. These results have important implications for shellfisheries stock management and sustainability. Specific to this study, simulated mussels from shellfishery beds off North Wales dispersed more than 25 km in one week and so could feasibly contribute to the wider population throughout the northern part of the Irish Sea.
Implicit and Explicit Gender-Related Cognition, Gender Dysphoria, Autistic-Like Traits, and Mentalizing: Differences Between Autistic and Non-Autistic Cisgender and Transgender Adults
Authors: Kallitsounaki Aimilia , Williams David M.
Published: August 2022

Evidence indicates a link between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and gender diversity, yet this intersection remains insufficiently understood. Here, we investigated whether (1) ASD affects gender-related cognition (i.e., mental processes of perceiving and interpreting one’s own gender self-concept), (2) autistic people have increased gender dysphoria and recall limited gender-typed behavior from childhood, and (3) transgender individuals have increased ASD-like traits and difficulties in mentalizing. A total of 106 non-autistic cisgender (51 birth-assigned female), 107 autistic cisgender (57 birth-assigned female), 78 non-autistic transgender (41 birth-assigned female), and 56 autistic transgender adults (27 birth-assigned female) participated in the study. The mean age of participants was 31.01 years (range = 18 to 70). Using an explicit as well as an implicit measure, for the first time, we found that ASD affected gender-related cognition only in autistic cisgender people. Sex differences were also observed in this group. Whereas autistic cisgender birth-assigned males showed a stronger implicit gender-group identification than non-autistic cisgender birth-assigned males, autistic cisgender birth-assigned females showed a weaker gender-group identification than non-autistic cisgender birth-assigned females. Furthermore, autistic cisgender people reported significantly more gender dysphoric feelings and recalled significantly less gender-typed behavior from childhood than non-autistic cisgender individuals. No difference was observed between non-autistic and autistic transgender people. We also found that relative to non-autistic cisgender individuals, both non-autistic transgender and autistic transgender people reported significantly more ASD-like traits. However, mentalizing difficulties were observed only in the latter group. This research enhances our understanding of the link between ASD and gender diversity.
Applying Machine Learning for Firebrand Production Prediction
Authors: Jha Anurag , Zhou Aixi
Published: August 2022

This article presents a machine learning (ML) based metamodeling framework for firebrand production prediction. This framework was implemented to predict the firebrand areal mass density (FAMD) and firebrand areal number density (FAND) of landing firebrands using a large set of data from full-scale laboratory firebrand production experiments. The independent variables used in our ML models to predict the dependent variables FAND and FAMD were landing (or travel) distance, wind speed, and fuel type (structural and vegetative fuels). It was demonstrated that the non-linear non-parametric ML model, K-nearest neighbors (KNN), works the best for this purpose. The KNN model predicted discrete FAND and FAMD values with an accuracy higher than 90%. The current ML model can be used to predict locations with high risk of spotting ignition potential. This research is a small step towards the bigger goal of creating a numerical firebrand production simulator.
Short-Term Polar Motion Forecast Based on the Holt-Winters Algorithm and Angular Momenta of Global Surficial Geophysical Fluids
Authors: Luo Jiesi , Chen Wei , Ray Jim , Li Jiancheng
Published: August 2022

By taking into account the variable free polar motion (PM) known as the Chandler wobble (CW) and irregular forced PM excited by quasi-periodic changes in atmosphere, oceans and land water (described by the data of effective angular momenta EAM), we propose a short-term PM forecast method based on the Holt-Winters (HW) additive algorithm (termed as the HW-VCW method, with VCW denoting variable CW). In this method, the variable CW period is determined by minimizing the differences between PM observations and EAM-derived PM for every 8-year sliding timespan. Compared to the X- and Y-pole forecast errors (ΔPMX and ΔPMY) of the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) Bulletin A, our results derived from operational EAM can reduce ΔPMX by up to 38.4% and ΔPMY by up to 34.3% for forecasts ranging from 1 to 30 days. Further, we prove that using EAM forecast instead of operational EAM in the HW-VCW method can achieve similar accuracies.
The Ontogeny of Vocal Sequences: Insights from a Newborn Wild Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii)
Authors: Soldati Adrian , Muhumuza Geresomu , Dezecache Guillaume , Fedurek Pawel , Taylor Derry , Call Josep , Zuberbühler Klaus
Published: August 2022

Observations of early vocal behaviours in non-human primates (hereafter primates) are important for direct comparisons between human and primate vocal development. However, direct observations of births and perinatal behaviour in wild primates are rare, and the initial stages of behavioural ontogeny usually remain undocumented. Here, we report direct observations of the birth of a wild chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in Budongo Forest, Uganda, including the behaviour of the mother and other group members. We monitored the newborn’s vocal behaviour for approximately 2 hours and recorded 70 calls. We categorised the vocalisations both qualitatively, using conventional call descriptions, and quantitatively, using cluster and discriminant acoustic analyses. We found evidence for acoustically distinct vocal units, produced both in isolation and in combination, including sequences akin to adult pant hoots, a vocal utterance regarded as the most complex vocal signal produced by this species. We concluded that chimpanzees possess the capacity to produce vocal sequences composed of different call types from birth, albeit in rudimentary forms. Our observations are in line with the idea that primate vocal repertoires are largely present from birth, with fine acoustic structures undergoing ontogenetic processes. Our study provides rare and valuable empirical data on perinatal behaviours in wild primates.
2-Aminobenzothiazole as an efficient corrosion inhibitor of AA6061-T6 in 0.5 M HCl medium: electrochemical, surface morphological, and theoretical study
Authors: Scaria P. Teenu , Shetty Prakasha , Kumari P. Preethi , Kagatikar Sneha
Published: August 2022

The inhibitive action of 2-aminobenzothiazole (ABT) on the corrosion of AA6061-T6 was evaluated in 0.5 M HCl by electrochemical techniques. The electrochemical results were validated by theoretical calculations using density functional theory (DFT). ABT showed a mixed inhibitor behaviour with 71–90% inhibition efficiency in the 1 × 10−4to 1 × 10−3 M concentration range and at 303 to 323 K temperature. The inhibition power of ABT increases with its concentration and rise in the temperature of the medium. The polarization results showed a reduction in corrosion rate and improvement in inhibition performance on increasing ABT concentrations, which reveal the ABT's adsorption on the alloy. The evaluation of kinetic and thermodynamic results revealed that ABT inhibits the AA6061-T6 corrosion by mixed adsorption, following the Langmuir isotherm model. The observed increase in polarization resistance with increased ABT concentrations indicates the attenuation of AA6061-T6 deterioration. Furthermore, the corroded and inhibited specimen's surface scanning is performed to confirm the ABT's adsorption on the alloy sample by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques.

Graphical abstract
Recombinant human OVGP1 increases intracellular calcium and further potentiates the effects of progesterone on human sperm
Authors: Vanderkooi Sydney C. , Zhao Yuewen , Lima Patricia D. A. , Kan Frederick W. K.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

To investigate the effects of recombinant human oviduct–specific glycoprotein (rHuOVGP1) alone and in combination with progesterone (P4) on intracellular Ca2+concentration [Ca2+]iand to investigate if rHuOVGP1 in combination with P4 can further enhance tyrosine phosphorylation (pY) of sperm proteins during human sperm capacitation.

Methods

Fluorometric flow cytometry was performed to examine the effects of rHuOVGP1 on [Ca2+]iin human sperm during capacitation. Confocal microscopy was used in conjunction with live cell imaging to analyze the influence of rHuOVGP1 and P4 on [Ca2+]iin the sperm tail and to examine the involvement of CatSper channels in their effect on [Ca2+]i. Western blot analysis was performed to assess the protein levels of p105, a major tyrosine-phosphorylated sperm protein.

Results

rHuOVGP1 increases [Ca2+]iin human sperm at the beginning of capacitation and further increases and sustains the level of [Ca2+]iin the sperm tail following the addition of P4. Inhibition of CatSper channels impedes the effects of rHuOVGP1 on [Ca2+]iin the sperm tail. P4 alone can increase pY of a major human sperm protein, p105, yet yields a further increase when used in combination with rHuOVGP1.

Conclusion

The present study revealed that rHuOVGP1 may work with P4 to upregulate [Ca2+]iat the beginning of capacitation in part through CatSper channels which, in turn, leads to the downstream event of pY of sperm proteins and enhancement of sperm capacitation.
A new insight into the different approaches for the ablation of para-Hisian accessory pathways: safety, effectiveness, and mechanism
Authors: Pang Yang , Chen Qingxing , Xu Ye , Cheng Kuan , Ling Yunlong , Ge Junbo , Zhu Wenqing
Published: August 2022

Background

To compare the safety, effectiveness, electrophysiological characteristics, and mechanisms of different approaches for the ablation of para-Hisian accessory pathways (APs).

Method

Eighteen consecutive patients with para-Hisian APs were enrolled in this study. Detailed mapping of retrograde conduction as well as antegrade conduction (if possible) in both the right sided His bundle region and non-coronary cusp (NCC) region was performed before ablation. Ten patients underwent initial ablation in the right septal (RS) region while the remaining 8 patients were ablated in NCC region. Repeat ablation was attempted in an alternative region if ablation at the first site failed.

Results

Among the patients whose procedures were successful, 7 cases were successfully ablated with a NCC approach while 10 were conventionally ablated in RS region. For successful procedures targeting the NCC region, the earliest atrial activation (EAA) in NCC region preceded that at RS region by 4–13 ms. The distance between NCC targets and near-field His potential (NFH) points was longer than that between RS targets and NFH points. Additionally, the risk of complication after ablation in NCC region was lower compared with that following RS-targeted procedure.

Conclusion

NCC approach provided a high success rate and low risk of complication for the ablation of para-Hisian APs as long as EAA was observed in NCC region. Sites of successful para-Hisian AP ablation in NCC region had different retrograde mapping patterns in comparison with successful ablation sites in the RS region.
Unbounded Solutions to a System of Coupled Asymmetric Oscillators at Resonance
Authors: Boscaggin A. , Dambrosio W. , Papini D.
Published: August 2022

We deal with the following system of coupled asymmetric oscillators $$\begin{aligned} \left\{ \begin{array}{l} \ddot{x}_1+a_1x_1^+-b_1x^-_1+\phi _1(x_2)=p_1(t) \\ \ddot{x}_2+a_2\,x_2^+-b_2\,x^-_2+\phi _2(x_1)=p_2(t), \end{array} \right. \end{aligned}$$

x
¨

1

+

a
1

x
1
+

-

b
1

x
1
-

+

ϕ
1

(

x
2

)

=

p
1

(
t
)

x
¨

2

+

a
2

x
2
+

-

b
2

x
2
-

+

ϕ
2

(

x
1

)

=

p
2

(
t
)

,

where $$\phi _i: \mathbb {R} \rightarrow \mathbb {R}$$

ϕ
i

:
R
→
R

is locally Lipschitz continuous and bounded, $$p_i: \mathbb {R} \rightarrow \mathbb {R}$$

p
i

:
R
→
R

is continuous and $$2\pi $$

2
π

-periodic and the positive real numbers $$a_i, b_i$$

a
i

,

b
i

satisfy $$\begin{aligned} \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{a_i}}+\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{b_i}}=\dfrac{2}{n}, \quad \text{ for } \text{ some } n \in \mathbb {N}. \end{aligned}$$

1

a
i

+

1

b
i

=

2
n

,

for

some

n
∈
N
.

We define a suitable function $$L: \mathbb {T}^2 \rightarrow \mathbb {R}^2$$

L
:

T

2

→

R

2

, appearing as the higher-dimensional generalization of the well known resonance function used in the scalar setting, and we show how unbounded solutions to the system can be constructed whenever L has zeros with a special structure. The proof relies on a careful investigation of the dynamics of the associated (four-dimensional) Poincaré map, in action-angle coordinates.
Research Progress of Long Non-coding RNAs in Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Cai Zongyan , Han Xue , Li Ruizhe , Yu Tianci , Chen Lei , Wu XueXue , Jin Jiaxin
Published: August 2022

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can result in a partial or complete loss of motor and sensory function below the injured segment, which has a significant impact on patients' quality of life and places a significant social burden on them. Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) is a 200–1000 bp non-coding RNA that has been shown to have a key regulatory role in the progression of a variety of neurological illnesses. Many studies have demonstrated that differentially expressed LncRNAs following spinal cord injury can participate in inflammatory damage, apoptosis, and nerve healing by functioning as competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA); at the same time, it has a significant regulatory effect on sequelae such neuropathic pain. As a result, we believe that LncRNAs could be useful as a molecular regulatory target in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of spinal cord injury.
Going underground: soil hydraulic properties impacting maize responsiveness to water deficit
Authors: Koehler Tina , Moser Daniel Sebastian , Botezatu Ákos , Murugesan Tharanya , Kaliamoorthy Sivasakthi , Zarebanadkouki Mohsen , Bienert Manuela Désirée , Bienert Gerd Patrick , Carminati Andrea , Kholová Jana , Ahmed Mutez
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Although the coordination between stomatal closure and aboveground hydraulics has extensively been studied, our understanding of the impact of belowground hydraulics on stomatal regulation remains incomplete. Here, we investigated whether and how the water use of maize (Zea mays L.) varied under hydraulically contrasting soil textures. Our hypothesis is that a textural-specific drop in the hydraulic conductivity is associated with a distinct decrease in transpiration during soil drying.

Methods

Maize plants were grown in contrasting soil textures (sand, sandy loam, loam) and exposed to soil drying. We measured the relationships between transpiration rate, soil water content as well as soil and leaf water potential. We used a soil-plant hydraulic model to reproduce the experimental observations and infer the hydraulic conductance of the soil-plant system during soil drying.

Results

We observed the impact of soil texture on plant response to soil drying in various relationships. The soil water potentials at which transpiration decreased were more than one order of magnitude more negative in loam than in sand. The soil-plant conductance decreased not only abruptly but also at less negative soil water potentials in sand than in sandy loam or loam. Stomata closed at less negative leaf water potentials in sand than in loam. The model predictions matched well the experimental observations.

Conclusion

The results elucidated that the critical soil water content and potential at which plants close stomata depends on the soil texture. These findings support our plea to include soil properties for understanding and predicting stomatal regulation during soil drying.
Scaling-up and proteomic analysis reveals photosynthetic and metabolic insights toward prolonged H2 photoproduction in Chlamydomonas hpm91 mutant lacking proton gradient regulation 5 (PGR5)
Authors: Liu Peng , Ye De-Min , Chen Mei , Zhang Jin , Huang Xia-He , Shen Li-Li , Xia Ke-Ke , Xu Xiao-Jing , Xu Yong-Chao , Guo Ya-Long , Wang Ying-Chun , Huang Fang
Published: August 2022

Clean and sustainable H2 production is crucial to a carbon–neutral world. H2 generation by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is an attractive approach for solar-H2 from H2O. However, it is currently not large-scalable because of lacking desirable strains with both optimal H2 productivity and sufficient knowledge of underlying molecular mechanism. We hereby carried out extensive and in-depth investigations of H2 photoproduction of hpm91 mutant lacking PGR5 (Proton Gradient Regulation 5) toward its up-scaling and fundamental mechanism issues. We show that hpm91 is at least 100-fold scalable (up to 10 L) with continuous H2 collection of 7287 ml H2/10L-HPBR in averagely 26 days under sulfur deprivation. Also, we show that hpm91 is robust and active during sustained H2 photoproduction, most likely due to decreased intracellular ROS relative to wild type. Moreover, we obtained quantitative proteomic profiles of wild type and hpm91 at four representing time points of H2 evolution, leading to 2229 and 1350 differentially expressed proteins, respectively. Compared to wild type, major proteome alterations of hpm91 include not only core subunits of photosystems and those related to anti-oxidative responses but also essential proteins in photosynthetic antenna, C/N metabolic balance, and sulfur assimilation toward both cysteine biosynthesis and sulfation of metabolites during sulfur-deprived H2 production. These results reveal not only new insights of cellular and molecular basis of enhanced H2 production in hpm91 but also provide additional candidate gene targets and modules for further genetic modifications and/or in artificial photosynthesis mimics toward basic and applied research aiming at advancing solar-H2 technology.
Local Thermodynamic Description of Isothermal Single-Phase Flow in Simple Porous Media
Authors: Galteland Olav , Rauter Michael T. , Bratvold Mina S. , Trinh Thuat T. , Bedeaux Dick , Kjelstrup Signe
Published: August 2022

Darcy’s law for porous media transport is given a new local thermodynamic basis in terms of the grand potential of confined fluids. The local effective pressure gradient is determined using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics, and the hydraulic conductivity and permeability are investigated. The transport coefficients are determined for single-phase flow in face-centered cubic lattices of solid spheres. The porosity changed from that in the closest packing of spheres to near unity in a pure fluid, while the fluid mass density varied from that of a dilute gas to a dense liquid. The permeability varied between$$5.7 \times {10^{-20}} \hbox {m}^2$$5.7×10-20m2and$$5.5 \times {10^{-17}} \hbox {m}^2$$5.5×10-17m2, showing a porosity-dependent Klinkenberg effect. Both transport coefficients depended on the average fluid mass density and porosity but in different ways. These results set the stage for a non-equilibrium thermodynamic investigation of coupled transport of multi-phase fluids in complex media.
A Deep Learning Approach to Clustering Visual Arts
Authors: Castellano Giovanna , Vessio Gennaro
Published: August 2022

Clustering artworks is difficult for several reasons. On the one hand, recognizing meaningful patterns based on domain knowledge and visual perception is extremely hard. On the other hand, applying traditional clustering and feature reduction techniques to the highly dimensional pixel space can be ineffective. To address these issues, in this paper we propose : a DEep learning approach to cLustering vIsUal artS. The method uses a pre-trained convolutional network to extract features and then feeds these features into a deep embedded clustering model, where the task of mapping the input data to a latent space is jointly optimized with the task of finding a set of cluster centroids in this latent space. Quantitative and qualitative experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed method. can be useful for several tasks related to art analysis, in particular visual link retrieval and historical knowledge discovery in painting datasets.
Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Elizabethkingia miricola isolated from wastewater have biodegradable activity against fluoroquinolone
Authors: Shaker Reham Alaa Eldin , Nagy Yosra Ibrahim , Adly Mina E. , Khattab Rania Abdelmonem , Ragab Yasser M.
Published: August 2022

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) and levofloxacin (LEV), widely used fluoroquinolone antibiotics, are often found in sewage from the sewage treatment plants and marine environment. In this study, CIP and LEV biodegrading bacterial consortia were obtained from industrial wastewater. Microorganisms in these consortia were identified as Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) and Elizabethkingia miricola (E. miricola). The impacts of the critical operating parameters on the elimination of CIP and LEV by bacterial consortia have been investigated and optimized to achieve the maximum levels of CIP and LEV biodegradation. Using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS), possible degradation pathways for CIP and LEV were suggested by analyzing the intermediate degradation products. The role of the enzymes fluoroquinolone-acetylating aminoglycoside (6′-N-acetyltransferase) and cytochrome P450 (CYP450) in the breakdown of fluoroquinolones (FQs) was investigated as well. According to our findings, various biodegradation mechanisms have been suggested, including cleavage of piperazine ring, substitution of F atom, hydroxylation, decarboxylation, and acetylation, as the main biotransformation reactions. This study discovers the ability of non-reported bacterial strains to biodegrade both CIP and LEV as a sole carbon source, providing new insights into the biodegradation of CIP and LEV.

Graphical abstract
Real-world experience with ruxolitinib for steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease: a single center experience
Authors: Spałek Adrianna , Wieczorkiewicz-Kabut Agata , Koclęga Anna , Woźniczka Krzysztof , Węglarz Patryk , Boral Kinga , Kata Dariusz , Zielińska Patrycja , Helbig Grzegorz
Published: August 2022

Steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (SR-aGVHD) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Ruxolitinib (RUX), an oral JAK1 and JAK2 inhibitor, has recently been approved for patients with SR-aGVHD. The aim of this study was to evaluate RUX efficacy and toxicity in a real-world setting. Eighteen patients received RUX at 5 mg or 10 mg twice a day after a median 3 lines of prior unsuccessful immunosuppressive therapy. Median time on RUX therapy was 28 days (range 7–129). Five patients (28%) responded to RUX, including 4 complete responses and 1 partial response. Response to RUX was irrespective of aGVHD grade and the number of involved organs. One-year overall survival (OS) was 60% for RUX-responders versus 31% for non-responders (p = ns). Treatment duration greater than 29.5 days was found to have a positive impact on OS (p < 0.007). Major adverse events during RUX treatment were grade 3–4 thrombocytopenia (61% of patients) and cytomegalovirus reactivation (50%). After median follow-up of 55 days (range 29–706), 14 patients (78%) died, mainly due to further progression of GVHD. RUX may represent a valuable therapeutic option for some patients with advanced SR-aGVHD, but more studies are warranted.
Experimental observations on turbulent boundary layers subjected to a step change in surface roughness
Authors: Gul M. , Ganapathisubramani B.
Published: August 2022

Based on experimental data acquired with particle image velocimetry, we examine turbulent boundary layers that are subjected to an abrupt change in wall roughness in the streamwise direction. Three different sandpapers (P24, P36 and P60) together with a smooth wall are used to form a number of different surface transition cases, including both R 

$\rightarrow$

 S (where upstream surface is rough and second surface is either smooth or smoother compared with the upstream surface) and S 

$\rightarrow$

 R (where upstream surface is smoother compared with the downstream surface; both surfaces are rough). This enables us to investigate the effect of the surface transition strength (

$M = \ln [y_{02}/y_{01}]$

, where

$y_{01}$

and

$y_{02}$

are the roughness lengths of the upstream and downstream surfaces, respectively) on the growth of the internal boundary layer (IBL) and the corresponding flow structure. The results show that for each surface transition group (i.e. R 

$\rightarrow$

 S and S 

$\rightarrow$

 R), the thickness of the IBLs is proportional to the strength of the surface transition, and that the IBLs are thicker for the S 

$\rightarrow$

 R cases compared with their R 

$\rightarrow$

 S counterparts for similar

$|M|$

, when normalised by the initial boundary layer thickness (

$\delta _0$

). The results also show that the growth rates of the IBLs could be represented by a power law, consistent with the previous studies. However, despite a wide range of scatter in the literature for the power-law exponent, an average value of

$0.75$

(varies between

$0.71$

and

$0.8$

with no clear trend) is obtained in the present study considering all the surface transition cases. The pre-factor for the power-law fit, on the other hand, is found to be related to the strength of the surface transition. In addition to the variations in the velocity defect and diagnostic plots with the growth of the IBLs, sweep and ejection events appear to differ significantly (depending on the type of the step change). Two-point spatial correlations, moreover, show that the structure is more elongated in the wall-normal and streamwise directions, as the flow accelerates over the downstream surface (i.e. R 

$\rightarrow$

 S cases). For the reverse transition cases (i.e. S 

$\rightarrow$

 R, where the flow decelerates over the downstream rougher surface), however, the correlation coefficients shrink in size in both directions.
Cognitive performances across individuals at high genetic risk for schizophrenia, high genetic risk for bipolar disorder, and low genetic risks: a combined polygenic risk score approach
Authors: Ohi Kazutaka , Nishizawa Daisuke , Sugiyama Shunsuke , Takai Kentaro , Fujikane Daisuke , Kuramitsu Ayumi , Hasegawa Junko , Soda Midori , Kitaichi Kiyoyuki , Hashimoto Ryota , Ikeda Kazutaka , Shioiri Toshiki
Published: August 2022

Background

Individuals with schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) display cognitive impairments, but the impairments in those with SCZ are more prominent, supported by genetic overlap between SCZ and cognitive impairments. However, it remains unclear whether cognitive performances differ between individuals at high and low genetic risks for SCZ or BD.

Methods

Using the latest Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) data, we calculated PGC3 SCZ-, PGC3 BD-, and SCZ v. BD polygenic risk scores (PRSs) in 173 SCZ patients, 70 unaffected first-degree relatives (FRs) and 196 healthy controls (HCs). Based on combinations of three PRS deciles, individuals in the genetic SCZ, genetic BD and low genetic risk groups were extracted. Cognitive performance was assessed by the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia.

Results

SCZ-, BD-, SCZ v. BD-PRSs were associated with case–control status (R2 = 0.020–0.061), and SCZ-PRS was associated with relative–control status (R2 = 0.023). Furthermore, individuals in the highest decile for SCZ PRSs had elevated BD-PRSs [odds ratio (OR) = 6.33] and SCZ v. BD-PRSs (OR = 1.86) compared with those in the lowest decile. Of the three genetic risk groups, the low genetic risk group contained more HCs, whereas the genetic BD and SCZ groups contained more SCZ patients (p < 0.05). SCZ patients had widespread cognitive impairments, and FRs had cognitive impairments that were between those of SCZ patients and HCs (p < 0.05). Cognitive differences between HCs in the low genetic risk group and SCZ patients in the genetic BD or genetic SCZ groups were more prominent (Cohen's d > −0.20) than those between HCs and SCZ patients in the no genetic risk group. Furthermore, SCZ patients in the genetic SCZ group displayed lower scores in verbal fluency and attention than those in the genetic BD group (d > −0.20).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that cognitive impairments in SCZ are partially mediated through genetic loadings for SCZ but not BD.
“There is Power”: Contemporizing Old Music Traditions for new Gospel Audiences in Kenya
Authors: Kidula Jean Ngoya
Published: August 2022

The genre commonly labelled “gospel” is probably the most lucrative music business in Kenya. Its popularity is facilitated in part by the propensity of musicians to draw on diverse resources for Christian religious songs. Musicians further invoke indigenous Kenyan and contemporary popular music genres in local and international languages for national distinctiveness and global inclusiveness. Top-of-the-line recording facilities in Kenya enable artists to produce a broad spectrum of music at a pace comparable to anywhere in the world. The diversity of repertoire and a ready access to studios have spurred some individuals to venture into the gospel music industry for fame and fortune. This complex, ambiguous position is articulated in an interview with three Kenyan female gospel artists who “are well aware that secular music makes for better business and exposure but the trio is not doing it for either.” They stay with gospel because “gospel music made us” (Kageni 2009).
Eruption Rates, Tempo, and Stratigraphy of Paleocene Flood Basalts on Baffin Island, Canada
Authors: Biasi Joseph , Asimow Paul , Horton Forrest , Boyes Xenia
Published: August 2022

High‐temperature melting in mantle plumes produces voluminous eruptions that are often temporally coincident with mass extinctions. Paleocene Baffin Island lavas—products of early Iceland mantle plume activity—are exceptionally well characterized geochemically but have poorly constrained stratigraphy, geochronology, and eruptive tempos. To provide better geologic context, we measured seven stratigraphic sections of the volcanic deposits and collected paleomagnetic data from 38 sites in the lavas and underlying Cretaceous sediments (Quqaluit Fm.). The average paleomagnetic pole from this study does not overlap with the expected pole for a stable North American locality at 60 Ma, yet the data have sufficient dispersion to average out secular variation. After ruling out other possibilities, we find that the picrites were probably erupted during a polarity transition, over less than 5 kyr. If so, the average eruption interval was ∼67 years per flow for the thickest sequence of exposed lavas. We also calculate that the flood basalts had a minimum total volume of ∼176 km3 (excluding submerged lavas in Baffin Bay). This implies a minimum eruption rate of ∼0.035 km3 yr−1, which is similar to rates found in West Greenland lavas but less than rates found in larger flood basalts. Despite this, the Baffin and West Greenland lavas temporally correlate with the “End C27n event” (a period of ∼2°C global warming) and may be its underlying cause.
Space Geodetic Evidence of Basement‐Involved Thick‐Skinned Orogeny and Fault Frictional Heterogeneity of the Papuan Fold Belt, Papua New Guinea
Authors: Xu Wenbin , Liu Xiaoge , Bürgmann Roland , Xie Lei , Feng Guangcai , Li Zhiwei , Wu Lixin
Published: August 2022

Knowledge of the fault kinematics underlying the Papuan Fold Belt is important for better understanding the evolution of the orogen, but the active and long‐term tectonics of the region remain widely debated. The 2018 Mw 7.5 Papua New Guinea earthquake provides an unprecedented opportunity to probe the active fault structure deep in the Papuan Fold Belt. Here, we use Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar data from four ALOS‐2 acquisitions to study coseismic and postseismic ground deformation and invert for fault slip models. The results show that the oblique reverse earthquake reactivated a flat‐ramp structure and ruptured through most of the crust with the majority of coseismic slip confined between 5 and 25 km. Additionally, we found three separated postseismic slip zones with variable spatial complementarity between coseismic and postseismic slip, dip‐slip/strike‐slip ratio, and seismic/aseismic budget at three separated postseismic slip zones. Our results demonstrate that thick‐skinned tectonics dominate the current state of Papua New Guinea frontal orogen evolution.
Body composition and bone mass among 5-year-old survivors of necrotizing enterocolitis
Authors: Magnusson Amanda , Swolin-Eide Diana , Elfvin Anders
Published: August 2022

Background

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) affects the intestine of preterm infants. Preterm infants risk inadequate bone mineralization. This risk may increase if the intestinal uptake of minerals is affected after NEC.

Methods

This is a study of growth, bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and body composition at 5 years of age among Swedish children born before gestational week 37 + 0 with a history of NEC, minimum stage IIA, compared to matched controls. Fifty children, 25 NEC cases and 25 controls, were examined with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and DXA with laser.

Results

The NEC cases had lower weight, −1.3 SDS vs −0.7 SDS, a lower fat mass and fat percent, 23.4 vs 29.1%, compared to the controls. NEC cases had lower BMC total body head excluded, 355.6 g vs 416.7 g. BMD Z-scores were lower among NEC cases in total body head excluded, −0.7 vs −0.1, and in lumbar spine.

Conclusions

Preterm NEC survivors at 5 years of age had reduced growth, an altered body composition, and indications of a lower bone mass compared to matched controls. The study suggests that preterm infants diagnosed with NEC need special attention during childhood regarding growth and bone health.

Impact

A follow-up longitudinal study of growth, bone health, and body composition at 5 years of age among children born preterm with a history of NEC compared to matched controls.

The NEC cases had lower weight than controls.

NEC cases had an altered body composition with lower fat mass compared to controls.

The DXA results showed that the NEC cases had lower bone mineral content and a tendency to lower bone mineral density.

The study suggests that preterm infants diagnosed with NEC need special attention at follow-up regarding growth and bone health compared to preterm infants without NEC.
EPIKOL, a chromatin-focused CRISPR/Cas9-based screening platform, to identify cancer-specific epigenetic vulnerabilities
Authors: Yedier-Bayram Ozlem , Gokbayrak Bengul , Kayabolen Alisan , Aksu Ali Cenk , Cavga Ayse Derya , Cingöz Ahmet , Kala Ezgi Yagmur , Karabiyik Goktug , Günsay Rauf , Esin Beril , Morova Tunc , Uyulur Fırat , Syed Hamzah , Philpott Martin , Cribbs Adam P. , Kung Sonia H. Y. , Lack Nathan A. , Onder Tamer T. , Bagci-Onder Tugba
Published: August 2022

Dysregulation of the epigenome due to alterations in chromatin modifier proteins commonly contribute to malignant transformation. To interrogate the roles of epigenetic modifiers in cancer cells, we generated an epigenome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout library (EPIKOL) that targets a wide-range of epigenetic modifiers and their cofactors. We conducted eight screens in two different cancer types and showed that EPIKOL performs with high efficiency in terms of sgRNA distribution and depletion of essential genes. We discovered novel epigenetic modifiers that regulate triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and prostate cancer cell fitness. We confirmed the growth-regulatory functions of individual candidates, including SS18L2 and members of the NSL complex (KANSL2, KANSL3, KAT8) in TNBC cells. Overall, we show that EPIKOL, a focused sgRNA library targeting ~800 genes, can reveal epigenetic modifiers that are essential for cancer cell fitness under in vitro and in vivo conditions and enable the identification of novel anti-cancer targets. Due to its comprehensive epigenome-wide targets and relatively high number of sgRNAs per gene, EPIKOL will facilitate studies examining functional roles of epigenetic modifiers in a wide range of contexts, such as screens in primary cells, patient-derived xenografts as well as in vivo models.
FOXA1 prevents nutrients deprivation induced autophagic cell death through inducing loss of imprinting of IGF2 in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Li Junjun , Zhang Yongchang , Wang Li , Li Min , Yang Jianbo , Chen Pan , Zhu Jie , Li Xiayu , Zeng Zhaoyang , Li Guiyuan , Xiong Wei , McCarthy James B. , Xiang Bo , Yi Mei
Published: August 2022

Lung cancer remains one of the most common malignancies and the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Forkhead box protein A1 (FOXA1) is a pioneer factor amplified in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, its role in LUAD remains elusive. In this study, we found that expression of FOXA1 enhanced LUAD cell survival in nutrients deprived conditions through inhibiting autophagic cell death (ACD). FOXA1 bound to the imprinting control region of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) and interacted with DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), leading to initiation of DNMT1-mediated loss of imprinting (LOI) of IGF2 and autocrine of IGF2. Blockage of IGF2 and its downstream insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) abolished the protective effect of FOXA1 on LUAD cells in nutrients deprived conditions. Furthermore, FOXA1 suppressed the expression of the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase 1 (GBA1), a positive mediator of ACD, through ubiquitination of GBA1 enhanced by IGF2. Notably, FOXA1 expression in A549 cells reduced the efficacy of the anti-angiogenic drug nintedanib to inhibit xenograft tumor growth, whereas a combination of nintedanib with IGF1R inhibitor linsitinib or mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin enhanced tumor control. Clinically, high expression level of FOXA1 protein was associated with unfavorable prognosis in LUAD patients of advanced stage who received bevacizumab treatment. Our findings uncovered a previously unrecognized role of FOXA1 in mediating loss of imprinting of IGF2, which confer LUAD cells enhanced survival ability against nutrients deprivation through suppressing autophagic cell death.