bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interaction and Binding Kinetics of Different Substituted Pyrazines with HSA: Based on Multispectral, Physiological Activity, and Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Tong Wenhua , Wang Shuqin , Xu Haoran , Qiao Zongwei , Zhao Liming , Yang Ying
Published: March 2024

Pyrazine is a kind of compound containing pyrazine ring structure, which has attracted the attention of researchers because of its special aroma and healthcare function. It is currently used in spices, pharmaceuticals, food additives, and other industries. Human serum albumin (HSA) is a transport and storage protein in the human circulatory system. Previous research reported that pyrazine can interact with albumin, but the interaction between pyrazine and HSA has not been reported. Consequently, this study is based on the multispectral method and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, exploring the interaction between different pyrazines and HSA. The results show that the four pyrazines mainly quench the endogenous fluorescence of HSA through the static quenching mechanism. Molecular docking indicates that hydrophobic forces play a major role in the binding of pyrazines with HSA. At the same time, synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD), three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy, and resonance light scattering (RLS) showed that each pyrazine compound can change the conformation of HSA. MD simulation results show that the combination of four pyrazines and HSA can enhance the stability of HSA. Among them, 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine (TTMP) and 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine (TMTP) binding is the most stable and the most unstable combination with HSA, respectively. In addition, the four pyrazines could affect the physiological activity of HSA. This study is of great significance to explore the mechanism of action of pyrazine compounds in vivo and can provide useful information for the application of pyrazine compounds in food.
Cerebral Tau Deposition in Comorbid Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: An [18F]-Flortaucipir and 7T MRI Study
Authors: Cheong Ian , Du Yong , Smith Gwenn , Hua Jun , Li Xu , Pantelyat Alexander
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a four-repeat tauopathy characterized by multiple clinicopathologic subtypes. Advanced neuroimaging techniques have shown an early ability to distinguish PSP subtypes noninvasively for improved diagnosis. This study utilized tau PET imaging and MRI techniques at 7T to determine the neuroimaging profile of a participant with comorbid PSP and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Method: [18F]-flortaucipir PET imaging was performed on one participant with PSP-ALS, one participant with typical PSP (Richardson’s syndrome; PSP-RS), and 15 healthy control volunteers. Standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) in each brain region was compared between PSP participants and controls. Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) and inflow-based vascular-space occupancy MRI at 7T were performed on the two PSP participants and on two age-matched healthy controls to evaluate for differences in regional brain iron content and arteriolar cerebral blood volume (CBVa), respectively. Results: In the participant with PSP-ALS, the precentral gyrus demonstrated the highest [18F]-flortaucipir uptake of all brain regions relative to controls (z-score 1.94). In the participant with PSP-RS, [18F]-flortaucipir uptake relative to controls was highest in subcortical regions, including the pallidum, thalamus, hippocampus, and brainstem (z-scores 1.08, 1.41, 1.49, 1.32, respectively). Susceptibility values as a measure of brain iron content were higher in the globus pallidus and substantia nigra than in the midbrain and pons in each participant, regardless of group. CBVa values tended to be higher in the subcortical gray matter in PSP participants than in controls, although large measurement variability was noted in controls across multiple regions. Conclusion: In vivo tau PET imaging of an individual with PSP-ALS overlap demonstrated increased tau burden in the motor cortex that was not observed in PSP-RS or control participants. Consistent with prior PET studies, tau burden in PSP-RS was mainly observed in subcortical regions, including the brainstem and basal ganglia. QSM data suggest that off-target binding to iron may account for some but not all of the increased [18F]-flortaucipir uptake in the basal ganglia in PSP-RS. These findings support existing evidence that tau PET imaging can distinguish among PSP subtypes by detecting distinct regional patterns of tau deposition in the brain. Larger studies are needed to determine whether CBVa is sensitive to changes in brain microvasculature in PSP.
Exacerbation of Diabetic Retinopathy following Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Prolyl Hydroxylase Inhibitor Administration: A Case Report
Authors: Ariyoshi Nobuaki , Higashijima Fumiaki , Wakuta Makiko , Ogata Tadahiko , Ohta Manami , Kimura Kazuhiro
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Hypoxia-inducible factor-prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PH) inhibitors, used in the treatment of renal anemia, hold the potential to increase the production of vascular endothelial growth factors. Therefore, HIF-PH inhibitors may exacerbate retinal hemorrhage in diseases such as diabetic retinopathy. Here, we present a case involving the administration of an HIF-PH inhibitor, resulting in the exacerbation of retinal hemorrhage in a patient with diabetic retinopathy. Case Presentation: A 32-year-old man with diabetes mellitus and renal anemia caused by diabetic nephropathy was referred to our department for ophthalmic examination, revealing diabetic retinopathy with scattered retinal hemorrhages, exudates, and diabetic maculopathy in both eyes. Darbepoetin alfa was initially administered and switched to the HIF-PH inhibitor roxadustat on day 74. By day 88, fresh retinal hemorrhage was observed in the right eye. On day 132, the retinal hemorrhage had further worsened, with new preretinal hemorrhage in both eyes. Roxadustat was discontinued, replaced with darbepoetin alfa, resulting in retinal hemorrhage improvement by day 181 (49 days post-roxadustat cessation). On day 201, fundus hemorrhage further improved, optical coherence tomography showed no macular edema or subretinal fluid, and the retina was thinning. Fluorescein angiography showed neovascular vessels, active fluorescein leakage, and extensive avascular areas in both eyes, prompting pan-retinal photocoagulation. Visual acuity remained stable throughout treatment. Conclusion: Patients with advanced diabetic retinopathy taking HIF-PH inhibitors should be aware of retinal hemorrhage exacerbations. If observed, the treatment plan, including discontinuation of the HIF-PH inhibitor or switching to another agent, should be discussed with a diabetologist, nephrologist, and ophthalmologist.
Combined Effect of a Bioinspired Self-Assembling Peptide and Fluoride Varnish on Remineralisation of Artificial Early Enamel Caries Lesion: An in vitro Study
Authors: Chen Kerry , Li Kai Chun , Ekambaram Manikandan , Zhang Ya , Fu Yipeng , Mei May Lei
Published: March 2024

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the remineralisation effect of combined use of a bioinspired self-assembling peptide (P26) and fluoride varnish on artificial early enamel caries lesions. Methods: Bovine enamel blocks with artificial early enamel caries lesions were prepared. The blocks were randomly allocated to four experimental groups to receive the following treatments: A = P26 + fluoride varnish, B = P26, C = fluoride varnish, and D. distilled water (negative control). The treated blocks were subjected to pH cycling. Enamel blocks were collected at time points of 7 days (d7) and 21 days (d21). The mineral gain, elemental analysis and crystal characteristics of the caries lesion were assessed by micro-computed tomography, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Results: The mean ± standard deviation of mineral gain of group A to D were 17.4 ± 4.2%, 10.7 ± 2.2%, 10.1 ± 1.2%, and 6.8 ± 0.5% at d7, respectively, and 15.2 ± 2.6%, 8.7 ± 3.1%, 9.7 ± 1.2%, and 7.8 ± 2.3% at d21, respectively. A significant higher mineral gain was observed in group A when compared to other groups at both d7 and d21 (p < 0.05). The calcium-to-phosphate ratio remained consistent across all groups, ranging between 1.2 and 1.4. XRD analysis indicated that crystal composition on the surfaces was apatite for all groups. Conclusion: In conclusion, the present study provided a first indication of better remineralisation effects of the combined use of the bioinspired self-assembling peptide P26 and fluoride varnish compared to the effects of the respective individual uses of P26 or fluoride varnish.
Prevention of Anaphylaxis Episodes in Idiopathic Anaphylaxis by Omalizumab
Authors: Košnik Mitja , Zugan Lea , Rijavec Matija
Published: March 2024

Introduction: In 15–35 percent of patients with anaphylaxis, the triggering allergen cannot be found; therefore, a diagnosis of idiopathic anaphylaxis (IA) is made. We report on the outcomes in patients with IA treated with omalizumab. Methods: We included consequent omalizumab-treated IA adult patients treated with omalizumab 300 mg every 4 weeks. Results: Out of 7 patients, 6 were female, median age 40 years with the frequency of anaphylaxis episodes from 3 in 2 years to 5 in 4 months. Baseline tryptase ranged from 1.71 to 12.0 μg/L. An increase in tryptase during anaphylaxis was documented in 6 patients. Activating KIT p.D816V variant was detected in 2 patients. One patient also had hereditary alpha-tryptasemia (HαT). The duration of omalizumab treatment was 0.5–7.5 years. None of the patients have experienced an anaphylactic reaction since the start of treatment. Mild systemic reactions were reported in 6 patients (86%). The presence of underlying cMCD had no impact on the treatment outcome. Conclusion: All patients in our study had complete responses to omalizumab. The presence of KIT p.D816V and HαT did not influence the response to omalizumab treatment.
Serum Myostatin at Dialysis Initiation May Predict 1-Year Mortality and Hospitalization
Authors: Sakashita Midori , Hamasaki Yoshifumi , Oki Rikako , Komaru Yohei , Miyamoto Yoshihisa , Yoshida Teruhiko , Matsuura Ryo , Doi Kent , Nangaku Masaomi
Published: March 2024

Objective: Myostatin, which is known as a negative skeleton muscle regulator, is associated with mortality in maintenance hemodialysis patients. However, the significance of serum myostatin concentrations at dialysis initiation has not been established. We investigated the relation between serum myostatin concentrations and mortality or hospitalization within 1 year in incident dialysis patients. Methods: After a patient initiating hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis during 2016–2018 was enrolled, the patient’s serum myostatin at dialysis initiation was measured. Composite outcomes comprising mortality and hospitalization within 1 year after dialysis initiation were compared between two groups divided according to myostatin levels. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess significant relations between myostatin and outcomes. Results: This study examined 104 incident dialysis patients with a mean age of 65.5 ± 14.0 years (68% male). Kaplan-Meier analyses indicated the 1-year hospitalization-free and survival rate as significantly lower in the lower myostatin group than in the higher myostatin group (p = 0.0020). Cox proportional hazards regression analyses revealed that the value of myostatin logarithm at dialysis initiation was inversely associated with the occurrence of a composite outcome, independently of age (hazard ratio 0.16, 95% confidence interval: 0.05–0.57). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed the area under the curve of serum myostatin for predicting death or hospitalization within 1 year as higher than those of clinical indices of nutritional disturbance and frailty. Conclusion: Serum myostatin concentration at dialysis initiation is inversely associated with adverse outcomes in these dialysis-initiated patients.
Diagnostic Performance of Carotid Ring Sign on CT-Angiography in Internal Carotid True Occlusion
Authors: Yi Tingyu , Sui Yi , Zheng Dinghuan , Ren Xinwen , Lin Xiaohui , Wu Yanmin , Lin Dinglai , Pan Zhinan , Zheng Xiufen , Hong Ganji , Wu Meihua , Zeng Lisan , Chen Wenhuo
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND:

To differentiate between pseudo occlusion (PO) and true occlusion (TO) of internal carotid artery (ICA) is important in thrombectomy treatment planning for patients with acute ischemic stroke. Although delayed contrast filling has been differentiated carotid PO from TO, its application has been limited by the implementations of multiphasic computed tomography angiography. In this study, we hypothesized that carotid ring sign, which is readily acquired from single-phasic CTA, can sufficiently differentiate carotid TO from PO.

METHODS:

One thousand four hundred and twenty patients with anterior circulation stroke receiving endovascular therapy were consecutively recruited through a hospital- and web-based registry. Two hundred patients with nonvisualization of the proximal ICA were included in the analysis after a retrospective screening. Diagnosis of PO or TO of the cervical segment of ICA was made based on digital subtraction angiography. Diagnostic performances of carotid ring sign on arterial-phasic CTA and delayed contrast filling on multiphasic computed tomography angiography were evaluated and compared.

RESULTS:

One-hundred twelve patients had ICA PO and 88 had TO. Carotid ring sign was more common in patients with TO (70.5% versus 6.3%;
P
<0.001), whereas delayed contrast filling was more common in PO (94.9% versus 7.7%;
P
<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of carotid ring sign in diagnosing carotid TO were 0.70 and 0.94, respectively, whereas sensitivity and specificity of delayed contrast filling was 0.95 and 0.92 in judging carotid PO.

CONCLUSIONS:

Carotid ring sign is a potent imaging marker in diagnosing ICA TO. Carotid ring sign could be complementary to delayed contrast filling sign in differentiating TO from PO, in particular in centers with only single-phasic CTA.
R-tPA Resistance Is Specific for Platelet-Rich Stroke Thrombi and Can Be Overcome by Targeting Nonfibrin Components
Authors: Vandelanotte Sarah , François Olivier , Desender Linda , Staessens Senna , Vanhoorne Alexander , Van Gool Fréderick , Tersteeg Claudia , Vanhoorelbeke Karen , Vanacker Peter , Andersson Tommy , De Meyer Simon F.
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND:

Resistance to r-tPA (recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator) is a well-known but poorly understood phenomenon that hampers successful recanalization in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Using clinically relevant thrombi from patients with acute ischemic stroke, we investigated if and how thrombus composition impacts r-tPA-mediated lysis. In addition, we explored strategies to overcome r-tPA resistance.

METHODS:

Thrombi were split into 2 parts, 1 of which was used for thrombolysis and the other for detailed histological analysis. Thrombolysis was performed in normal human plasma using r-tPA alone, using r-tPA in combination with DNase-1 or using r-tPA in combination with N,N′-diacetyl-
l
-cystine. Thrombus lysis was calculated as the percentage of residual thrombus weight compared with its initial weight and the degree of lysis was linked to thrombus composition determined via histology.

RESULTS:

Interestingly, we found that the efficacy of r-tPA-mediated thrombolysis was strongly correlated with the composition of the thrombi. Thrombi containing high amounts of red blood cells and low amounts of DNA and von Willebrand Factor were efficiently degraded by r-tPA, whereas thrombi containing low amounts of red blood cells and higher amounts of DNA and von Willebrand Factor were resistant to r-tPA. Importantly, combination of r-tPA with DNase-1 or N,N′-diacetyl-
l
-cystine significantly and specifically improved the lysis of these r-tPA-resistant thrombi.

CONCLUSIONS:

Using patient thrombus material, our results for the first time show that the composition of stroke thrombi largely determines their susceptibility to r-tPA-mediated thrombolysis. Red blood cell-poor thrombi have a specific resistance to r-tPA, which can be overcome by targeting nonfibrin components using DNase-1 or N,N′-diacetyl-
l
-cystine.
Invaluable Benefits of 10 Years of the International Collaboration of Aphasia Trialists (CATs)
Authors: Breitenstein Caterina , Wallace Sarah J. , Gilmore Natalie , Finch Emma , Pettigrove Kathryn , Brady Marian C. , Brady Marian C. , Breitenstein Caterina , Hilari Katerina , Wallace Sarah J. , McMenanim Ruth , Gram Simonsen Hanne , Jagoe Caroline , Antwi Abena Asiedua Owusu , Gilmore Natalie , Ali Myzoon , Godecke Erin , Arslan Seçkin , Peñaloza Claudia , Price Cathy , Filipovic Saša , Rose Miranda L. , Dipper Lucy , Beeke Suzanne , Anemaat Lisa , Copland David , Méndez-Orellana Carolina , Douglas Natalie , Shrubsole Kirstine
Published: March 2024

Aphasia research has traditionally been considered a (unidisciplinary) niche topic in medical science. The international Collaboration of Aphasia Trialists (CATs) is a global collaboration of multidisciplinary aphasia researchers. Over the past 10 years, CATs has collectively taken a rigorous approach to systematically address persistent challenges to aphasia research quality. This article summarizes the achievements over the past decade. CATs’ achievements include: standardizing terminology, advancing aphasia research design by aphasia expert consensus recommendations, developing a core data set and intervention descriptors, facilitating the involvement of people with the language impairment aphasia in the research process, translating, and adapting assessment tools into global languages, encouraging data sharing, developing innovative secondary data analysis methodologies and promoting the transparency and accessibility of high quality aphasia research reports. CATs’ educational and scientific achievements over the past 10 years far exceed what individual researchers in the field could have ever achieved.
Familiarity Alters the Bandwidth of Perceptual Awareness
Authors: Cohen Michael A. , Sung Skyler , Alaoui Zaki
Published: March 2024

Results from paradigms like change blindness and inattentional blindness indicate that observers are unaware of numerous aspects of the visual world. However, intuition suggests that perceptual experience is richer than these results indicate. Why does it feel like we see so much when the data suggests we see so little? One possibility stems from the fact that experimental studies always present observers with stimuli that they have never seen before. Meanwhile, when forming intuitions about perceptual experience, observers reflect on their experiences with scenes with which they are highly familiar (e.g., their office). Does prior experience with a scene change the bandwidth of perceptual awareness? Here, we asked if observers were better at noticing alterations to the periphery in familiar scenes compared with unfamiliar scenes. We found that observers noticed changes to the periphery more frequently with familiar stimuli. Signal detection theoretic analyses revealed that when observers are unfamiliar with a stimulus, they are less sensitive at noticing (d′) and are more conservative in their response criterion (c). Taken together, these results suggest that prior knowledge expands the bandwidth of perceptual awareness. It should be stressed that these results challenge the widely held idea that prior knowledge fills in perception. Overall, these findings highlight how prior knowledge plays an important role in determining the limits of perceptual experience and is an important factor to consider when attempting to reconcile the tension between empirical observation and personal introspection.
Prefrontal–Amygdala Pathways for Object and Social Value Representation
Authors: Pujara Maia S. , Murray Elisabeth A.
Published: March 2024

This special focus article was prepared to honor the memory of our National Institutes of Health colleague, friend, and mentor Leslie G. Ungerleider, who passed away in December 2020, and is based on a presentation given at a symposium held in her honor at the National Institutes of Health in September 2022. In this article, we describe an extension of Leslie Ungerleider's influential work on the object analyzer pathway in which the inferior temporal visual cortex interacts with the amygdala, and then discuss a broader role for the amygdala in stimulus–outcome associative learning in humans and nonhuman primates. We summarize extant data from our and others' laboratories regarding two distinct frontal–amygdala circuits that subserve nonsocial and social valuation processes. Both neuropsychological and neurophysiological data suggest a role for the OFC in nonsocial valuation and the ACC in social valuation. More recent evidence supports the possibility that the amygdala functions in conjunction with these frontal regions to subserve these distinct, complex valuation processes. We emphasize the dynamic nature of valuation processes and advocate for additional research on amygdala–frontal interactions in these domains.
Cortical and Subcortical Mechanisms of Orthographic Word-form Learning
Authors: Tao Yuan , Schubert Teresa , Wiley Robert , Stark Craig , Rapp Brenda
Published: March 2024

We examined the initial stages of orthographic learning in real time as literate adults learned spellings for spoken pseudowords during fMRI scanning. Participants were required to learn and store orthographic word forms because the pseudoword spellings were not uniquely predictable from sound to letter mappings. With eight learning trials per word form, we observed changes in the brain's response as learning was taking place. Accuracy was evaluated during learning, immediately after scanning, and 1 week later. We found evidence of two distinct learning systems—hippocampal and neocortical—operating during orthographic learning, consistent with the predictions of dual systems theories of learning/memory such as the complementary learning systems framework [McClelland, J. L., McNaughton, B. L., & O'Reilly, R. C. Why there are complementary learning systems in the hippocampus and neocortex: Insights from the successes and failures of connectionist models of learning and memory. Psychological Review, 102, 419–457, 1995]. The bilateral hippocampus and the visual word form area (VWFA) showed significant BOLD response changes over learning, with the former exhibiting a rising pattern and the latter exhibiting a falling pattern. Moreover, greater BOLD signal increase in the hippocampus was associated with better postscan recall. In addition, we identified two distinct bilateral brain networks that mirrored the rising and falling patterns of the hippocampus and VWFA. Functional connectivity analysis revealed that regions within each network were internally synchronized. These novel findings highlight, for the first time, the relevance of multiple learning systems in orthographic learning and provide a paradigm that can be used to address critical gaps in our understanding of the neural bases of orthographic learning in general and orthographic word-form learning specifically.
On the Role of Sensorimotor Experience in Facial Expression Perception
Authors: Japee Shruti
Published: March 2024

Humans recognize the facial expressions of others rapidly and effortlessly. Although much is known about how we perceive expressions, the role of facial experience in shaping this remarkable ability remains unclear. Is our perception of expressions linked to how we ourselves make facial expressions? Are we better at recognizing other's facial expressions if we are experts at making the same expressions ourselves? And if we could not make facial expressions at all, would it impact our ability to recognize others' facial expressions? The current article aims to examine these questions by explicating the link between facial experience and facial expression recognition. It includes a comprehensive appraisal of the related literature and examines three main theories that posit a connection between making and recognizing facial expressions. First, recent studies in individuals with Moebius syndrome support the role of facial ability (i.e., the ability to move one's face to make facial expressions) in facial expression recognition. Second, motor simulation theory suggests that humans recognize others' facial expressions by covertly mimicking the observed expression (without overt motor action) and that this facial mimicry helps us identify and feel the associated emotion. Finally, the facial feedback hypothesis provides a framework for enhanced emotional experience via proprioceptive feedback from facial muscles when mimicking a viewed facial expression. Evidence for and against these theories is presented as well as some considerations and outstanding questions for future research studies investigating the role of facial experience in facial expression perception.
New teleomorphic and anamorphic taxa of Asterinaceous black mildew from Western coast of India
Authors: NATEKAR PRATIK D. , PATIL ANJALI P. , PATIL CHANDRAHAS R. , BHISE MAHENDRA R. , KAMBHAR SIDANAND V.
Published: March 2024

Asterinaceous black mildews are ectophytic, obligate biotrophs that live on many flowering plants, shrubs, and trees. Five new species were found in forests in the south western part of Maharashtra state. Two of these species produce sexual spores and are described in the genus Asterina. Two asexually reproducing species are described in Asterostomella and a third species in Asterostomula. All species are illustrated by photographs and line drawings.
An illustrated guide to lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) of the Indian Subcontinent. Part 3. Tribe Aspidimerini
Authors: POORANI J.
Published: March 2024

The tribe Aspidimerini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is entirely Asiatic in distribution and most of the known species are primarily aphidophagous and occasionally feed on mealybugs, scales, and whiteflies. This illustrated guide to 26 species in four genera of Asidimerini of the Indian subcontinent is presented with diagnostic descriptions and supporting illustrations, including genitalia, wherever available. Details of distribution, prey and plant associations, and seasonal occurrence are provided based on collections, label data and literature. Immature stages are illustrated for three species of Pseudaspidimerus Kapur and one species of Trigonocarinatus Huo & Ren. One new species, Aspidimerus dissimilis sp. n., is described from Arunachal Pradesh, Northeastern India. Cryptogonus bilineatus Kapur, 1948, and Cryptogonus bryanti Kapur, 1948 are transferred to Trigonocarinatus Huo & Ren, 2015 (new combinations). The following new specific synonyms are proposed (junior synonym listed first): Cryptogonus kapuri Ghorpade, 1974 (=Trigonocarinatus bryanti (Kapur, 1948)); Cryptogonus nepalensis Bielawski, 1972 and C. nepalensis bhutanensis Bielawski, 1979 (=Cryptogonus ariasi (Mulsant, 1853)) (new synonyms). An updated checklist of the tribe Aspidimerini of the Indian subcontinent is also provided.
Twelve
Authors: Felsenstein Frank
Published: March 2024

Vera’s parents join her in London. They plan to leave Gretel at an asylum in Idstein until they are properly settled, due to her mental debilities. However, on 26 March 1935, they receive a telegram reporting her death.
Thirteen
Authors: Felsenstein Frank
Published: March 2024

This chapter features diary entries describing some of Vera’s start working at Marks & Spencer along with the story of her ill-fated relationship with a man named Mitja.
Fifteen
Authors: Felsenstein Frank
Published: March 2024

This chapter features many letters from Mope about his experiences in exploring Palestine in the hope of relocating there with his mother. Entries from Vera’s journal tell of her life in London at the same time, highlighting the way in which her mind continually drifts to Mope.
Twenty-Three
Authors: Felsenstein Frank
Published: March 2024

Mope proceeds with plans to transfer his and his mother’s assets out of Nazi Germany. He leaves the family business and begins working as an independent “commission agent”, this leads him to the Soviet Union for his work.
Twenty-Nine
Authors: Felsenstein Frank
Published: March 2024

During their time in France, Vera becomes pregnant. The correspondence features some brief disagreements between the couple regarding Vera’s increased workload when she is informed she will be put in charge of the new store, and how this might affect her pregnancy. The welfare department then ruled that the promotion would be too demanding for an expectant mother, Vera is disappointed by the news. The situation for Jews in Germany continues to decline, and Vera receives much correspondence requesting her assistance in escaping the country.
Thirty-One
Authors: Felsenstein Frank
Published: March 2024

Mope returns to the Soviet Union after having visited his wife in England, in their time apart, Mope’s work is intermittent and he questions how much use it is to be so far from home, he misses Vera terribly. Vera’s letters are filled with concern for his health and the truth of any health issues she faces. Tensions across the world rise, hinting at the upcoming war, Mope begins to apply for transit visas in the hope of returning to Vera.
Insights into the Causes and Predictability of the 2022/23 California Flooding
Authors: Schubert Siegfried D. , Chang Yehui , DeAngelis Anthony M. , Lim Young-Kwon , Thomas Natalie P. , Koster Randal D. , Bosilovich Michael G. , Molod Andrea M. , Collow Allison , Dezfuli Amin
Published: March 2024

In late December of 2022 and the first half of January 2023, an unprecedented series of atmospheric rivers (ARs) produced near-record heavy rains and flooding over much of California. Here, we employ the NASA GEOS AGCM run in a “replay” mode, together with more idealized simulations with a stationary wave model, to identify the remote forcing regions, mechanisms, and underlying predictability of this flooding event. In particular, the study addresses the underlying causes of a persistent positive Pacific–North American (PNA)-like circulation pattern that facilitated the development of the ARs. We show that the pattern developed in late December as a result of vorticity forcing in the North Pacific jet exit region. We further provide evidence that this vorticity forcing was the result of a chain of events initiated in mid-December with the development of a Rossby wave (as a result of forcing linked to the MJO) that propagated from the northern Indian Ocean into the North Pacific. As such, both the initiation of the event and the eventual development of the PNA depended critically on internally generated Rossby wave forcings, with the North Pacific jet playing a key role. This, combined with contemporaneous SST (La Niña) forcing that produced a circulation response in the AGCM that was essentially opposite to the positive PNA, underscores the fundamental lack of predictability of the event at seasonal time scales. Forecasts produced with the GEOS-coupled model suggest that useful skill in predicting the PNA and extreme precipitation over California was in fact limited to lead times shorter than about 3 weeks.
Unsupervised Classification Identifies Warm, Fresh, and Dense Regimes of the Antarctic Margins
Authors: Sohail T. , Zika J. D.
Published: March 2024

The ocean surrounding Antarctica, also known as the Antarctic margins, is characterized by complex and heterogeneous process interactions, which have major impacts on the global climate. A common way to understand changes in the Antarctic margins is to categorize regions into similar “regimes,” thereby guiding process-based studies and observational analyses. However, this categorization is traditionally largely subjective and based on temperature, density, and bathymetric criteria that are bespoke to the dataset being analyzed. In this work, we introduce a method to classify Antarctic shelf regimes using unsupervised learning. We apply Gaussian mixture modeling to the across-shelf temperature and salinity properties along the Antarctic margins from a high-resolution ocean model, ACCESS-OM2-01. Three clusters are found to be optimum based on the Bayesian information criterion and an assessment of regime properties. The three clusters correspond to the fresh, dense, and warm regimes identified canonically via subjective approaches. Our analysis allows us to track changes to these regimes in a future projection of the ACCESS-OM2-01 model. We identify the future collapse of dense water formation, and the merging of dense and fresh shelf regions into a single fresh regime that covers the entirety of the Antarctic shelf except for the West Antarctic. Our assessment of these clusters indicates that the Antarctic margins may shift into a two-regime system in the future, consisting only of a strengthening warm shelf in the West Antarctic and a fresh shelf regime everywhere else.

Significance Statement

The Antarctic margins are characterized by complex interactions of surface and ocean processes, producing distinct regions or “regimes.” Understanding where these regimes are and their future state is critical to understanding climate change. Based on a subjective assessment of ocean conditions, past research has identified fresh, dense, and warm regimes in the Antarctic margins. In this work, we use an unsupervised classification tool, Gaussian mixture modeling, to objectively identify the location of regimes around the Antarctic margins. Our method detects three regimes in an ocean model, which match the location of subjectively identified fresh, dense, and warm regimes, and indicates a future shrinking of the dense regime. Our method is adaptable to multiple datasets, enabling us to identify trends and processes in the Antarctic margins.
Outcome of Seatbelt Education and Safety Program Among Teenagers
Authors: Phelps Trevor B. , Archer Allen D. , Leonard Matthew , Collins Hannah , Burns J. Bracken
Published: March 2024

Despite the effectiveness of seatbelts, concerns persist about compliance, especially among teenagers. Survey data from a local high school and registry data from a level 1 trauma center were used to observe seatbelt and motor vehicle accident trends. The survey data was analyzed to gauge student’s sentiments on seatbelt education. The trauma center data was analyzed to identify characteristics and trends among teenage motor vehicle accidents. Social media was the most common strategy selected for seatbelt safety awareness. Random seatbelt checks performed over 4 months revealed seatbelt compliance rates of 90%, 93.55%, and 96.94% after education intervention. Trauma center data showed that lack of seatbelt usage resulted in greater morbidity. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions. This study provides insights into creating effective education campaigns that can be used to enhance safety belt compliance and potentially reduce injury.
Surgical Resident Education and Performance in Extended Focused Abdominal Sonography for Trauma
Authors: Tan Hannah , Pham Cassidy L. , Regen Ramsey N. , Rutherford Noah R. , Armstrong Landon R. , Smith Lou M. , Heidel Robert E.
Published: March 2024

Extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (eFAST) is a rapid triage tool aiding the detection of life-threatening injuries. In academic settings, residents perform most eFAST; however, the ACGME has no recommendations for eFAST training standards. We surveyed general surgery programs (GSPs) regarding eFAST training and established a baseline for sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for resident-performed eFAST. US GSP eFAST surveys were conducted by email and phone. We prospectively collected patient variables and evaluated resident performance from May to September 2022 and 2023 at an academic level I trauma center. A total of 60/339 general surgery residency programs (GSRPs) responded: Ten use Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) only, n = 7 group training, n = 8 on-the-job only, and n = 33 several methods. Resident-performed eFAST had accuracy = 85.6%, sensitivity = 35.6%, specificity = 97.2%, PPV = 75%, and NPV = 87%. General surgery residency program training in eFAST is non-standardized. Sensitivity was considerably lower than the literature suggests. Positive resident-performed eFAST is generally accurate. We recommend a standardized approach to resident training in eFAST.
A Mixed-Methodological Inquiry of Correctional Population Responses Toward the Prison Rape Elimination Act
Authors: Ferdik Frank , Smith Hayden p. , Dunton Creaig A.
Published: March 2024

For the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) to prevent sexual victimization in the correctional system, incarcerated persons and corrections staff must hold favorable views of this law, and behave in manners conducive toward its mission. In regards to behavior, both populations must report allegations of sexual misconduct, and be cautious in their interactions with one another. Currently, no study has researched whether these perceptual and behavioral expectations are being followed, or the factors influencing them. Mixed-methodological questionnaire data gathered from incarcerated persons ( n = 490) and corrections staff ( n = 222) who were in three state prisons located in the southeastern United States revealed how our custodial sample, compared to staff, were less likely to view PREA favorably, or to adopt behaviors supportive of this policy. Statistically significant correlates of self-reported behaviors included age, sex, and race. Discussion of results centers around ways of creating institutional cultures embracing of PREA.
Opportunism in Performance Goal Setting in the Public Sector: Evidence from South Korea
Authors: Lee Hyung-Woo , Park Soonae
Published: March 2024

This study examines the circumstances under which public organizations establish easy performance goals, analyzing nationwide data collected from cabinet departments in central and local government agencies in South Korea. Several factors have been identified as contributing to the tendency of public organizations to set easily achievable goals. Firstly, local governments tend to establish less challenging performance standards compared to central government agencies. Secondly, public organizations with higher financial resources per employee ratios are inclined to set easy performance goals. Lastly, the presence of a strong innovation-oriented culture or transparency requirements decreases the likelihood of setting easy performance goals.
Why Trust Weighs More? Investigating the Endogenous Relationship Between Trust and Perceived Institutional Effectiveness
Authors: Xiao Hanyu , Gong Ting , Tu Wenyan
Published: March 2024

This study investigates the intricate interplay between citizens’ trust in government institutions and their perceptions of institutional effectiveness. The two may have an endogenous relationship as they influence each other. Yet, since they stem from different sources and have distinct dynamics, their relationship may exhibit a directional bias in terms of causality: citizens’ trust may impact the perception of institutional effectiveness more than vice versa. As the survey results from Hong Kong suggest here, this may indicate that trust is not only performance-based but also character-based, with the latter lasting longer and exerting a greater impact on perceptions of institutional performance.
Model-based adaptive security control strategy against false data injection attacks in cyber–physical systems
Authors: Xu Xiangnan , Wang Zhiwen , Sun Hong-Tao , Shi Jing
Published: March 2024

This paper addresses the problem of adaptive security control for cyber–physical systems (CPSs) under external nonlinear disturbances and false data injection (FDI) attacks on actuators. To address FDI attacks, a full-order disturbance estimator is proposed for eliminating disturbances in the forward channel. Furthermore, an attack model based on the system state vector is developed to estimate the attack vector by considering potential attacks that can induce state errors between the reference model and the actual system. Subsequently, a novel model-based adaptive security control (MASC) strategy is devised using attack compensation and state feedback. The key advantage of our proposed strategy lies in its ability to effectively mitigate the adverse effects of attacks while accounting for nonlinear disturbances. Finally, experimental validation conducted on a brushless DC motor speed control system demonstrates the capability of achieving high output tracking accuracy.
Microscopic pore-throat structure variability in low-permeability sandstone reservoirs and its impact on water-flooding efficacy: Insights from the Chang 8 reservoir in the Maling Oilfield, Ordos Basin, China
Authors: Wang Zhen , Ren Zhanli , Li Pan , Liu Jian
Published: March 2024

The Chang 8 reservoir of the Maling Oilfield in the Ordos Basin, China is facing a series of challenges in hydrocarbon resource development, including rapidly decreasing production rates, declining dynamic fluid levels, and elevated water cuts in oil wells, along with heterogeneity in microscopic pore-throat structures and notable interstratal inconsistencies. To systematically address these issues, this study selected representative samples from the reservoir and conducted rigorous microscopic percolation experiments on them. A comprehensive evaluation of the heterogeneity in microscopic pore structures was conducted using an integrative methodological approach, involving physical property quantification, petrographic thin-section analysis, scanning electron microscopy, constant-rate mercury intrusion, and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. The primary objective of this investigation is to elucidate the underlying formation mechanisms, states of occurrence, and spatial distributions of residual oil. Understanding of these issues will facilitate the establishment of empirical correlations between diverse microscopic pore structures and water-flooding efficiencies, and aid in the identification of key variables governing the distribution of residual oil. Analytical outcomes reveal substantial variations in seepage characteristics contingent upon the nature of microscopic seepage conduits. Specifically, the Chang 8 reservoir manifests four discernible categories of microscopic seepage pathways: solely intergranular pores, a confluence of dissolution and intergranular pores, exclusively dissolution pores, and micropores. A correlative decline in oil displacement efficiency is observed across these conduit types. Critical variables such as throat radius and its distribution patterns emerge as pivotal determinants influencing oil displacement efficiency, eclipsing the impact of conventional physical properties and mobile fluid saturation levels. Remarkably, samples characterized by a composite of dissolution and intergranular pores demonstrate superior displacement efficiency. Distinct types of pore structures correspond to noticeably different water-flooding oil pathways and oil displacement efficiencies. During the water-flooding process, fingering network displacement is dominant, and it exerts a significant control on oil displacement efficiency. Key factors affecting this efficiency include the injected water volume multiples and displacement pressure, values of which should be optimized during the actual water-flooding process.
Self-cleaning anti-fog micro-nanostructures by laser marker patterning nickel-coated glass
Authors: Chen Xiaojie , Liu Chengling , Mi Longfei , Cui Hongtao
Published: March 2024

To minimise potential damage and crack on glass induced by direct laser patterning, this study employed a cost-effective laser marker for the rapid ablation of nickel (Ni)-coated glass substrates to fabricate super-hydrophilic micro-nanostructures. Most of laser energy was consumed by ablating Ni film with minimal deposited on glass, leading to shallow micron structure to support the nanostructure. The investigation systematically explored the influence of Ni thickness and laser scan hatch distance on the resultant properties of the treated glass by scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), confocal microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), gonoimeter, spectrophotometer and real-time assessments of anti-fogging and self-cleaning performance. The treated glass surface exhibited a hierarchical micro-nanostructure featuring a quasi-periodical hillock-hollow micron structure and widely distributed nanoparticles. This unique surface structure yielded an exceptionally low contact angle of 0°, exhibiting remarkable self-cleaning and antifogging capabilities that persisted for over 9 months without apparent degradation. Such durable exceptional self-cleaning and anti-fog performance was rarely been reported in the literature and was attributed to the stable micro-nanostructure and robust chemical bondings present on the surface, showcasing significant potential for widespread commercial applications.
Clinical Outcomes of Different Management Techniques for Medial Meniscal Type 3 Ramp Lesions in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Comparative Analysis Between All-inside Repair, Suture Hook Repair, and Lesions Left In Situ
Authors: Saint-Etienne Adrien , Benhenneda Rayane , Vieira Thais Dutra , Fayard Jean-Marie , Thaunat Mathieu
Published: March 2024

Background:

There is ongoing debate about the best way to manage ramp lesions at the time of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR). Type 3 lesions are not visible by the transnotch approach without superior debridement, making the management debate even more problematic.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rate of secondary surgical interventions according to the management method of a type 3 ramp lesion concomitant with primary ACLR. The hypothesis was that the rate of secondary ACL or meniscal interventions would be higher in patients who underwent all-inside repair.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent primary ACLR with a type 3 ramp lesion between January 2012 and May 2020, regardless of the treatment method, was performed. The main criterion analyzed in this cohort was a secondary surgical intervention, defined as revision ACLR or a reintervention of the repaired meniscus. A survivorship analysis was performed to evaluate secondary surgical interventions in 3 groups: all-inside repair, suture hook repair, and left in situ. The following data were collected preoperatively and at the last follow-up: patient characteristics, time to surgery, side-to-side difference in laxity, pivot shift, Lysholm score, subjective International Knee Documentation Committee score, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Tegner score, and meniscal repair failure rate.

Results:

A total of 113 patients who underwent type 3 ramp lesion repair concomitant with ACLR were included: 52 (46.0%) in the all-inside repair group, 23 (20.4%) in the suture hook repair group, and 38 (33.6%) in the lesion left in situ group. There were 17 patients (15.0%) who underwent a secondary intervention because of ACL graft failure (n = 6) or meniscal repair failure (n = 15 [4 of whom underwent a concomitant ACL reintervention]). Overall, 62 patients (54.9%) underwent combined ACLR and anterolateral ligament reconstruction, while 51 patients (45.1%) underwent isolated ACLR. In the adjusted Cox model, the type of meniscal repair was not statistically significantly associated with secondary surgical interventions. The only risk factor for secondary surgical interventions in this cohort was isolated ACLR (hazard ratio, 8.077; P = .007).

Conclusion:

The rates of secondary surgical interventions after medial meniscal type 3 ramp lesion repair concomitant with ACLR were similar regardless of the management method of the meniscal lesion. Despite not being associated with meniscal treatment, this rate was 8 times higher for patients who underwent isolated ACLR in this cohort; this is probably because of the protection that lateral extra-articular procedures provide to the ACL graft.