bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
International actors and national policies: the introduction of the national care system in Uruguay
Authors: Sternkopf Meika
Published: August 2024

This paper aims to understand coalition building between national and international actors in the context of an emerging subsystem. In applying the Advocacy Coalition Framework to the case of Uruguay, where a new field of social policy – the National Care System – was introduced in 2015 after a process involving different national actors from academia, civil society, politics, and administration, but also United Nations agencies, the paper explores the role of these international organizations in coalition building, and examines how a dominant coalition of national and international actors shaped the development of the new system. Using interview data and documents, the findings suggest that the involvement of international organizations in the coalition was based on shared beliefs and personal and institutional relationships. While powerful opposing coalitions were absent due to the nascent nature of the subsystem, the dominant coalition was able to influence the policy’s introduction based on their beliefs regarding gender equality and rights.
Wetland water quality in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region and its relationship to aquatic invertebrate communities: pilot phase monitoring results
Authors: Connor Stephanie J. , Hanisch Justin R. , Cobbaert Danielle
Published: August 2024

Wetlands in the Oil Sands Region of Alberta are vulnerable to direct and indirect effects of human development including land disturbance, hydrologic alteration, and addition of contaminants. Nineteen wetlands in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region were monitored over a five-year period to evaluate differences in water quality and benthic invertebrate composition between sites near to and further afield from surface mining operations. Concentrations of dissolved sulphate, dissolved iron, total dibenzothiophenes and specific conductance were significantly higher in wetlands near to surface mining operations. In addition, beta diversity of wetland invertebrates was higher in wetlands further afield of the industrial centre. Drivers of benthic assemblage differences among sites include specific conductance and pH. Conductance was positively correlated with Caenidae (Ephemeroptera) abundance and pH was negatively correlated with abundance of Naididae (Annelida).
Interobserver Agreement Rates on CXCR4-Directed PET/CT in Patients with Marginal Zone Lymphoma
Authors: Werner Rudolf A. , Zhi Yingjun , Dreher Niklas , Samnick Samuel , Kosmala Aleksander , Higuchi Takahiro , Bundschuh Lena , Lapa Constantin , Buck Andreas K. , Topp Max S. , Einsele Hermann , Duell Johannes , Serfling Sebastian E. , Bundschuh Ralph A.
Published: August 2024

C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4)-directed molecular imaging provides excellent read-out capabilities in patients with marginal zone lymphoma (MZL). We aimed to determine the interobserver agreement rate of CXCR4-targeted PET/CT among readers with different levels of experience.

Methods

50 subjects with MZL underwent CXCR4-targeted PET/CT, which were reviewed by four readers (including two experienced and two less experienced observers). The following 8 parameters were investigated: overall scan result, CXCR4 density in lymphoma tissue, extranodal organ involvement, No. of affected extranodal organs and extranodal organ metastases, lymph node (LN) involvement and No. of affected LN areas and LN metastases. We applied intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC; < 0.4, poor; 0.4–0.59, fair; 0.6–0.74, good and > 0.74 excellent agreement rates).

Results

Among all readers, fair agreement was recorded for No. of affected extranodal organs (ICC, 0.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25–0.68), overall scan result (ICC, 0.42; 95%CI, 0.28–0.57), CXCR4 density in lymphoma tissue (ICC, 0.52; 95%CI, 0.38–0.66), and No. of extranodal organ metastases (ICC, 0.55; 95%CI, 0.41–0.61) and LN involvement (ICC, 0.59; 95%CI, 0.46–0.71). Good agreement rates were observed for No. of LN metastases (ICC, 0.71; 95%CI, 0.60–0.81) and No. of LN areas (ICC, 0.73; 95%CI, 0.63–0.82), while extranodal organ involvement (ICC, 0.35; 95%CI, 0.21–0.51) achieved poor concordance. On a reader-by-reader comparison, the experienced readers achieved significantly higher agreement rates in 4/8 (50%) investigated scan items (ICC, range, 0.21–0.90, P < / = 0.04). In the remaining 4/8 (50%), a similar trend with higher ICCs for the experienced readers was recorded (n.s.).

Conclusion

CXCR4-directed PET/CT mainly provided fair to good agreement rates for scan assessment, while a relevant level of experience seems to be required for an accurate imaging read-out.
Life cycle assessment of culture media with alternative compositions for cultured meat production
Authors: Wali Mohammad El , Karinen Heini , Rønning Sissel Beate , Skrivergaard Stig , Dorca-Preda Teodora , Rasmussen Martin Krøyer , Young Jette Feveile , Therkildsen Margrethe , Mogensen Lisbeth , Ryynänen Toni , Tuomisto Hanna L.
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Cultured meat is produced by cultivating animal cells in a bioreactor in a culture medium that provides nutrients and growth factors. Among other animal sera, fetal bovine serum (FBS) has traditionally been the most common used in the culture medium of mammalian cell cultures, i.e., 10% FBS medium that contains 10% FBS and 90% DMEM/F12 (v/v). As the aim of cultured meat is to replace livestock production, animal component-free culture media needs to be developed.

Methods

We analyzed the environmental impact of replacing the 10% FBS culture medium with serum substitutes, i.e., growth factors, Essential 8™, protein hydrolysates from egg-white, eggshell membrane, poultry residues, pork plasma, and pea concentrate, and Tri-basal 2.0 + ITS medium that contains fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2), fetuin, bovine serum albumin (BSA), and insulin transferrin selenium (ITS). Life cycle assessment with a cradle-to-gate approach was used to quantify global warming potential, freshwater and marine eutrophication, terrestrial acidification, land use, water consumption, fossil resource scarcity, particulate matter formation, cumulative energy demand, and ozone formation of preparing 1-L culture medium. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to examine the impact changes under various production conditions including variations in the impact allocation strategy, production location, and energy sourcing.

Results and discussion

The 2% FBS medium (2% FBS, 96% DMEM/F12, and 2% growth factors (v/v)) reduced all environmental impacts where marine eutrophication had the highest reduction (77%), while land use was the least affected with a reduction of 6%. The Tri-basal 2.0 + ITS and protein hydrolysates media reduced most of the analyzed environmental impacts. Protein hydrolysates from egg-white had the lowest environmental impacts reducing 81% global warming potential, 28% water consumption, 59% fossil scarcity, 87% eutrophying emissions, 91% terrestrial acidification, 82% particulate matter, and 70% ozone formation, compared to FBS-containing medium. Land use and energy demand were reduced the most by 17 and 37%, respectively, when the 10% FBS medium was replaced with the Tri-basal 2.0 + ITS medium.

Conclusions

Changing the input of FBS in culture media from 10 to 2% (v/v) reduced all studied environmental impacts. Further reductions were achieved when FBS was totally replaced by basal media DMEM/F12, Essential 8™, protein hydrolysates, and recombinant growth factors. Land use was the least reduced, as it was driven by starch extraction to produce glucose for the DMEM/F12 basal medium. Culture medium with protein hydrolysates from egg-white achieved the highest impact reductions compared with the FBS-containing medium.
Feasibility and Safety Study of the Use of a New Robot (Maestro™) for Laparoscopic Surgery
Authors: Cadière Guy-Bernard , Himpens Jacques , Poras Mathilde , Boyer Nicolas , Cadière Benjamin
Published: August 2024

Background

In laparoscopic surgery, telerobotic systems such as Da Vinci™ were developed, among other things, to give back exposure and vision control to the operating surgeon. However, new limitations such as the separation of the operating surgeon from the operating table, cost, and size were unveiled. A new device, Maestro™, appears promising in addressing these limitations. The current work evaluates the feasibility, safety, and surgeon satisfaction with the assistance provided by the Maestro System.

Methods

Non-consecutive patients who were candidates for laparoscopic digestive surgery were enrolled in a descriptive prospective, monocentric study. Case selection was solely based on the availability of the device, but not on the patient’s characteristics. Surgery was performed by a leading surgeon with the help of one less experienced surgeon. Feasibility was defined by the maintenance of the initial surgical plan. Safety was assessed by the absence of serious adverse events related to the device and surgeon satisfaction was evaluated by a questionnaire following the intervention.

Results

All 50 procedures were completed without conversion in laparotomy and without adjustment of the surgical team. Four complications were recorded during the study; however, none related to the use of the Maestro System. In 92% of the cases, the surgeon was satisfied with the assistance provided by the Maestro System.

Conclusions

In standard elective digestive procedures by laparoscopy, the use of the Maestro System is feasible and safe. It is beneficial to the surgeon and operative room organization by limiting the size of the surgical team.

Graphical Abstract
Clinical and laboratory remission with rituximab in anti-MuSK-positive myasthenia gravis
Authors: Inan Berin , Orhan Irem Gul , Bekircan-Kurt Can Ebru , Erdem-Ozdamar Sevim , Tan Ersin
Published: August 2024

Background

Increasing data are available on the use and efficacy of rituximab (RTX) in patients with anti-muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK)-positive myasthenia gravis (MG), especially those steroid-dependent or unresponsive to traditional immunotherapies.

Aims

We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment responses of adult patients with generalized anti-MuSK-positive MG treated with RTX.

Methods

We retrospectively recruited 16 patients who were on RTX, between January 2010 and September 2023. RTX was given 1000 mg/day intravenously twice, two weeks apart. Maintenance treatment was administered at intervals of 3—6 months based on clinical evaluation. The outcome was assessed by Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) and Myasthenia Gravis Status and Treatment Intensity (MGSTI) scores. Additionally, anti-MuSK antibody levels were retested after treatment in all patients except one.

Results

Twelve patients were female. The mean age at disease onset was 35.3 ± 17.3 years. The median duration between disease onset and RTX administration was 2.4 years (min-max: 0.5-36.5 years). The worst MGFA class before RTX was between IIIb-V. After RTX treatment, 81.3% of patients achieved MGFA minimal manifestations or better and MGSTI level 1 or better. Anti-MuSK antibodies became negative in 12 patients, while they remained positive in three. The changes in antibody levels seemed associated with clinical outcomes.

Conclusions

RTX is an effective treatment in anti-MuSK-positive MG. Furthermore, our results support the inhibition of antibody production by RTX and we recommend monitoring anti-MuSK antibody titers to follow disease progression and treatment response.
Recent Advances in Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Li P. Jonathan , Shah Sachin , Mehta Neil
Published: August 2024

Opinion Statement

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains an evolving field. Major challenges HCC transplant patients face today include liver organ donor shortages and the need for both better pre-transplant bridging/downstaging therapies and post-transplant HCC recurrence treatment options. The advent of immunotherapy and the demonstrated efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in multiple solid tumors including advanced/unresectable HCC hold promise in expanding both the neoadjuvant and adjuvant HCC transplant treatment regimen, though caution is needed with these immune modulating agents leading up to and following transplant. New options for pre-transplant HCC management will expand access to this curative option as well as ensure patients have adequate control of their HCC prior to transplant to maximize the utility of a liver donor. Machine perfusion has been an active area of investigation in recent years and could expand the organ donor pool, helping address current liver donor shortages. Finally, additional HCC biomarkers such as AFP-L3 and DCP have shown promise in improving risk stratification of HCC patients. Together, these three recent advancements will likely alter HCC transplant guidelines in the coming years.
Responsibility Gap(s) Due to the Introduction of AI in Healthcare: An Ubuntu-Inspired Approach
Authors: Ferlito Brandon , Segers Seppe , De Proost Michiel , Mertes Heidi
Published: August 2024

Due to its enormous potential, artificial intelligence (AI) can transform healthcare on a seemingly infinite scale. However, as we continue to explore the immense potential of AI, it is vital to consider the ethical concerns associated with its development and deployment. One specific concern that has been flagged in the literature is the responsibility gap (RG) due to the introduction of AI in healthcare. When the use of an AI algorithm or system results in a negative outcome for a patient(s), to whom can or should responsibility for that outcome be assigned? Although the concept of the RG was introduced in Anglo-American and European philosophy, this paper aims to broaden the debate by providing an Ubuntu-inspired perspective on the RG. Ubuntu, deeply rooted in African philosophy, calls for collective responsibility, and offers a uniquely forward-looking approach to address the alleged RG caused by AI in healthcare. An Ubuntu-inspired perspective can serve as a valuable guide and tool when addressing the alleged RG. Incorporating Ubuntu into the AI ethics discourse can contribute to a more ethical and responsible integration of AI in healthcare.
Targeted gene therapy for cancer: the impact of microRNA multipotentiality
Authors: Abou Madawi Nourhan A. , Darwish Zeinab E. , Omar Enas M.
Published: August 2024

Cancer is a life-threatening disease and its management is difficult due to its complex nature. Cancer is characterized by genomic instability and tumor-associated inflammation of the supporting stoma. With the advances in omics science, a treatment strategy for cancer has emerged, which is based on targeting cancer-driving molecules, known as targeted therapy. Gene therapy, a form of targeted therapy, is the introduction of nucleic acids into living cells to replace a defective gene, promote or repress gene expression to treat a disease. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that regulate gene expression and thus are involved in physiological processes like cell proliferation, differentiation, and cell death. miRNAs control the actions of many genes. They are deregulated in cancer and their abnormal expression influences genetic and epigenetic alterations inducing carcinogenesis. In this review, we will explain the role of miRNAs in normal and abnormal gene expression and their usefulness in monitoring cancer patients. Besides, we will discuss miRNA-based therapy as a method of gene therapy and its impact on the success of cancer management.
The association of spontaneous self-affirmation with relationship functioning
Authors: Kaynak Malatyalı Meryem , van Koningsbruggen Guido M.
Published: August 2024

In this study, we aimed to investigate whether spontaneous self-affirmation is associated with better functioning in romantic relationships. For this aim, we conducted a pre-registered study with 335 participants (168 women, 164 men, one trans woman, one non-binary, and one genderqueer woman) cohabiting with their partner for at least one year. Participants responded to scales measuring spontaneous self-affirmation, relationship satisfaction, commitment, intimacy, conflict frequency, conflict resolution styles, and attachment anxiety and avoidance. Results indicated that spontaneous self-affirmation is significantly related to relationship satisfaction, commitment, intimacy, and constructive conflict resolution style of positive problem solving but not conflict frequency and destructive conflict resolution styles (i.e., conflict engagement, withdrawal, and compliance) after controlling for age, education, financial status, and the number of children. Results also showed that spontaneous self-affirmation is associated with relationship satisfaction (but no other indicators of relationship functioning) after controlling for the attachment dimensions of anxiety and avoidance. These results provide the first evidence indicating that spontaneous self-affirmation could be a potential resource for a satisfying relationship but its shared variance with attachment is mostly responsible for its association with relationship functioning indicators.
The scent of an archaic wreck: minimally invasive characterisation of archaeological finds
Authors: Emanuela Rizzo , Marco Morelli , Chiara Melchiorre , Alessandro Naso , Angela Amoresano , Andrea Carpentieri
Published: August 2024

The chemical characterisation of archaeological finds necessitates a continuous focus on the development of nano/micro-invasive methodologies. These methodologies yield insights into the historical background, production processes, and conservation state of the items, often revealing astonishing properties of materials that have been unexpectedly preserved over the centuries. This work aims to characterise the molecular composition of a putative historical resin recovered during an archaeological excavation in Campese Bay off the island of Giglio in the 1980s. The resin was sampled from a trade amphora used for wine transport; it was likely employed as a coating to ensure better waterproofing of the containers. The characterisation was performed by detecting specific molecular markers using a GC–MS direct injection approach. In addition, we investigated the volatile fraction of the same sample through solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with GC–MS to address the need for a fast, solvent-free, and field-compatible sample preparation method.

Graphical abstract
Controls on Oxygen Variability and Depletion in the Patuxent River Estuary
Authors: Dreiss Allison , Azarnivand Amir Reza , Hildebrand Anna , Pourreza Ahmadi Seyedeh Fardis , Ali Syeda Sadia , Lucchese Veronica Malabanan , Zhang Qian , Lapham Laura L. , Woodland Ryan J. , Harris Lora , Testa Jeremy M.
Published: August 2024

Oxygen depletion in coastal waters is increasing globally due primarily to eutrophication and warming. Hypoxia responses to nutrient loading and climate change have been extensively studied in large systems like the Chesapeake Bay and the Baltic Sea, while fewer studies have investigated smaller, shallower hypoxic zones. Thus, an improved understanding of the interactions of eutrophication and warming on hypoxia expansion (or reduction) in the wide variety of different estuarine environments is needed. We examined interannual controls on oxygen depletion in the Patuxent River estuary, a eutrophic sub-estuary of Chesapeake Bay where seasonal hypoxia develops annually. We conducted a spatial and temporal analysis of dissolved oxygen (DO) trends, timing, and several metrics of depletion over a long-term record (1985–2021). We found an internally generated hypoxic zone that initiates in the middle estuary, spreading upstream and downstream as the summer progresses, and that hypoxic volume days (HVD) have been increasing (0.11 per year, p = 0.03) over the record despite reduced watershed nitrogen loads and stable phosphorus loads. River flow and temperature have been increasing and are major drivers of increased HVD, with river flow explaining 40% of the interannual variation in HVD (temperature has increased 0.03 and 0.06 °C per year in summer and fall, respectively). Apparent oxygen utilization (AOU) is increasing in bottom waters in the fall, consistent with increasing trends of both water temperature and stratification strength. HVD was negatively related (r2 = 0.34, slope = −0.59*HVD) to the biomass of benthic invertebrates in the middle region of the estuary, suggesting that benthic forage for higher trophic levels will be limited by sustained hypoxia. These results indicate that current and future climate variability plays an important role in regulating oxygen depletion in the Patuxent River estuary, which reinforces the need to factor climate change into strategies for the restoration and management of estuaries.
Meals for the dead: investigating Romano-British accessory vessels in burials using organic residue analysis
Authors: Dunne Julie , Biddulph Edward , Cramp Lucy J. E. , Greenwood Caitlin , Allison Enid , Evans Jeremy , Helm Richard , Hillman Bekky , Lyne Malcolm , Page Nigel , Rann Caroline , Evershed Richard P.
Published: August 2024

Accessory vessels, including platters, dishes, beakers, flagons, jars, and amphorae, are a common feature of Romano-British burials, raising questions as to their provenance; for example, were such vessels recycled from the domestic sphere or made specially for funerary purposes? Furthermore, uncertainty surrounds their purpose: did they contain foods for the deceased, possibly for their final journey to the underworld? Interestingly, organic residue analysis of vessels from Baginton, a site adjacent to The Lunt fort, Coventry, an early (mid to late first century) Roman military cremation cemetery did not yield evidence for food offerings and may have reflected the use of seconds or damaged vessels in burials, perhaps to provide a symbolic meal. In contrast, here we provide, for the first time, direct chemical and isotopic evidence for ‘meals for the dead’, comprising mainly dairy products, often mixed with leafy plants, extracted from somewhat unusual accessory vessels found in a small, enclosed inhumation cemetery, perhaps associated with a family group, which dates to the late (third to late fourth century, or early fifth century A.D) in urban Canterbury. Thus, we can confirm that accessory vessels found in later Romano-British burials were, in this instance, used in the laying out of funerary meals, presumably to nourish the soul on the journey to the underworld. These preliminary insights on vessel use and burial practices across the span of the Roman occupation of Britain thus provide a strong hint at the diversity of Roman burial practices.
Optical soliton parameter dynamics by variational principle: quadratic-cubic and generalized quadratic-cubic laws (super-Gaussian and super-sech pulses)
Authors: Shohib Reham. M. A. , Alngar Mohamed E. M. , Biswas Anjan , Yildirim Yakup , Moraru Luminita , Alshomrani Ali Saleh
Published: August 2024

This article obtains the parameter dynamics of super-Gaussian and super-sech pulses for the perturbed nonlinear Schrödinger’s equation with quadratic-cubic and generalized quadratic-cubic forms of self-phase modulation structures. The implemented variational principle successfully recovers this dynamical system.
Pan-cancer analysis of COL15A1: an immunological and prognostic biomarker
Authors: Zhu Lei , Jiang Qianheng , Meng Jun , Zhao Haichun , Lin Jie
Published: August 2024

Collagen, type XV, alpha 1 (COL15A1) belongs to the collagen superfamily, which can influence disease progression by modulating immune pathways. Although the growing number of investigations demonstrating the indispensable role of COL15A1 in the progression of certain tumors, no pan-cancer assessment of COL15A1 is accessible to date. Therefore, the available data was used to explore the role of COL15A1 in 33 types of tumors and to investigate their potential immune function. Numerous bioinformatics approaches were used to research the potential oncogenic role of COL15A1, including analysis of tumor prognosis, microsatellite instability (MSI), tumor mutational burden (TMB), single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), drug sensitivity, immune cell infiltration, and the correlation between cancer stem cells (CSCs) and COL15A1 expression. The outcome implies that most tumors had a high expression of COL15A1, and COL15A1 manifested different relationships with prognosis in different tumors, including both positive and negative correlations. COL15A1 was also found to have a significant correlation with MSI, TMB, and immune infiltrating cells. Our study suggests that COL15A1 may serve as a prognostic marker for malignancy because of its differential expression in tissues and their function in tumor immunity.
Outcome of resveratrol and resveratrol with donepezil combination on the β-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Rao Y. Lakshmisha , Ganaraja B. , Suresh Pooja K. , Joy Teresa , Ullal Sheetal D. , Manjrekar Poornima A. , Murlimanju B. V. , Sharma B. Gaurav , Massand Amit , Agrawal Amit
Published: August 2024

The goal of this research was to study the effect of different doses of resveratrol (RS) and RS with donepezil (DPZ) on the deposition of amyloid beta (Aβ) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in colchicine-induced Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brain. The study included three months old male Albino Wistar rats and consisted of six animal groups: AD model (group 1), treatment groups, RS 10 mg/kg body weight (group 2), RS 20 mg/kg body weight (group 3), RS 10 mg/kg body weight along with DPZ 1 mg/kg body weight (group 6), prophylaxis groups, RS 10 mg/kg body weight (group 4) and RS 20 mg/kg body weight (group 5). In the treatment groups, RS was given for 7 consecutive days from the day of induction of AD, and in the prophylaxis groups, we started RS 7 days even before the induction of AD and continued for seven days after the induction. The number of Aβs and NFTs at the frontal region, cornu ammonis (CA) 1,2,3,4 and dentate gyrus regions of hippocampus were evaluated. The immunohistochemical analysis was performed by using mouse anti-β-amyloid antibody for the Aβ plaques and polyclonal rabbit anti-human tau for the tau-positive neurons. The present study observed the accumulation of Aβ plaques and tau-positive neurons in the AD model. However, their numbers were significantly decreased in the treatment groups (p < 0.001). The best results were observed when RS 10 mg was given prophylactically (p < 0.01) and RS along with DPZ (p < 0.001), suggesting the neuroprotective effect of RS and its synergistic effect with the DPZ.
Transposable elements contribute to tissue-specific gene regulation in humans
Authors: Ali Arsala , Liang Ping
Published: August 2024

Background

Transposable elements (TEs) contribute to approximately half of the human genome, and along with many other functions, they have been known to play a role in gene regulation in the genome. With TEs’ active/repressed states varying across tissue and cell types, they have the potential to regulate gene expression in a tissue-specific manner.

Objective and methods

To provide a systematic analysis of TEs’ contribution in tissue-specific gene regulation, we examined the regulatory elements and genes in association with TE-derived regulatory sequences in 14 human cell lines belonging to 10 different tissue types using the functional genomics data from the ENCODE project. Specifically, we separately analyzed regulatory regions identified by three different approaches (DNase hypersensitive sites (DHS), histone active sites (HA), and histone repressive sites (HR)).

Results

These regulatory regions showed to be distinct from each other by sharing less than 2.5% among all three types and more than 95% showed to be cell line-specific. Despite a lower total TE content overall than the genome average, each regulatory sequence type showed enrichment for one or two specific TE type(s): DHS for long terminal repeats (LTRs) and DNA transposons, HA for short interspersed nucleotide elements (SINEs), and HR for LTRs. In contrast, SINE was shown to be overrepresented in all three types of regulatory sequences located in gene-neighboring regions. TE-regulated genes were mostly shown to have cell line specific pattern, and tissue-specific genes (TSGs) showed higher usage of TE regulatory sequences in the tissue of their expression. While TEs in the regulatory sequences showed to be older than their genome-wide counterparts, younger TEs were shown to be more likely used in cell line specific regulatory sequences.

Conclusions

Collectively, our study provided further evidence enforcing an important contribution of TEs to tissue-specific gene regulation in humans.
The Growth of V5S8 Single Crystals by Chemical Vapour Transport
Authors: Sonego C. A. , Li H. , Einarsson Nielsen P. , Lashley J. C. , Avila M. A. , Rowley S. E.
Published: August 2024

Single crystals of the d-electron antiferromagnetic metal V5S8 can be prepared by chemical vapour transport with gaseous iodine as a transport agent. We present the outcomes of an endeavour to synthesise high-purity single crystals of V5S8 with reduced crystalline disorder, important to the formation of novel quantum orders. We report results on the residual resistivity ratio of the single crystals as growth parameters are varied including growth temperature, temperature gradient and pre-growth processing of the initial apparatus and reagents. We demonstrate that single crystals of at least a few mm in size can be successfully grown at relatively low temperatures in the range 550–600 °C. The optimisation of this method may imply a better crystallographic organisation, reducing sulphur vacancies and increasing vanadium positional order. The resulting longer electron mean free paths may enhance the probability of finding exotic quantum states of matter at low temperatures. The results presented here may also be of relevance to the development of vanadium sulphide-based energy storage and spintronic devices.
States of Resistance: nosocomial and environmental approaches to antimicrobial resistance in Lebanon
Authors: Haraoui Louis-Patrick , Rizk Anthony , Landecker Hannah
Published: August 2024

Drawing on institutional historical records, interviews and student theses, this article charts the intersection of hospital acquired illness, the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), environments of armed conflict, and larger questions of social governance in the specific case of the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) in Lebanon. Taking a methodological cue from approaches in contemporary scientific work that understand non-clinical settings as a fundamental aspect of the history and development of AMR, we treat the hospital as not just nested in a set of social and environmental contexts, but frequently housing within itself elements of social and environmental history. AMR in Lebanon differs in important ways from the settings in which global protocols for infection control or rubrics for risk factor identification for resistant nosocomial outbreaks were originally generated. While such differences are all too often depicted as failures of low and middle-income countries (LMIC) to maintain universal standards, the historical question before us is quite the reverse: how have the putatively universal rubrics of AMR and hospital infection control failed to take account of social and environmental conditions that clearly matter deeply in the evolution and spread of resistance? Focusing on conditions of war as an organized chaos in which social, environmental and clinical factors shift dramatically, on the social and political topography of patient transfer, and on a missing “meso” level of AMR surveillance between the local and global settings, we show how a multisectoral One Health approach to AMR could be enriched by an answering multisectoral methodology in history, particularly one that unsettles a canonical focus on the story of AMR in the Euro-American context.
Students’ Understanding of Riemann Sums and Double Integrals: The Case of Task Design in APOS Theory
Authors: Borji Vahid , Martínez-Planell Rafael , Trigueros María
Published: August 2024

In this study, we investigate students’ understanding of the relation between a double integral of a continuous function over a rectangle and the corresponding Riemann sums. To do so, we explore the relation between (1) a proposed model (genetic decomposition) of mental constructions that students may do to understand the relation between Riemann sums and double integrals, (2) tasks designed to help students make these constructions, and (3) the results of semi-structured interviews with eleven students who completed the tasks. We focus on the construction differences between students who engaged in tasks designed according to the genetic decomposition and those in a previously studied lecture-based course. The study aimed to underscore the task's effect on students' learning in order to refine the genetic decomposition if needed. This study contributes a set of tasks that enable students to relate Riemann sums and double integrals. The results showed that students using the proposed materials in class and a collaborative didactical strategy provided evidence of constructing the structures proposed in the genetic decomposition. The tasks are based on a genetic decomposition, so the study also contributes by showing that it is an effective model to guide instruction. The constructions inferred from students’ work are discussed in detail and compared to those proposed in the genetic decomposition and those resulting from previous research.
Exploring the Association Between Heart Rate Control and Rehospitalization: A Real-World Analysis of Patients Hospitalized with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction
Authors: Mody Freny Vaghaiwalla , Goyal Ravi K. , Ajmera Mayank , Davis Keith L. , Amin Alpesh N.
Published: August 2024

Background

In patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), lower discharge heart rate (HR) is known to be associated with better outcomes. However, the effect of HR control on patient outcomes, and the demographic and clinical determinants of this association, are not well documented.

Objectives

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the association between the HR control and the risk of post-discharge rehospitalization in patients hospitalized with HFrEF.

Methods

Data were collected using a retrospective medical record review in the USA. Reduction in HR between admission and discharge (“HR control”) defined the primary exposure, categorized as no reduction, > 0 to < 20% reduction, and ≥ 20% reduction. Time to first rehospitalization in the post-discharge follow-up defined the study outcome and was analyzed using multivariable Cox regression modeling.

Results

A total of 1002 patients were analyzed (median age, 63 years; median follow-up duration, 24.2 months). At admission, 59.1% received beta-blockers, 57.4% received diuretics, and 47.5% received angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Most patients (90.5%) achieved some HR control (38.4% achieved > 0 to < 20% reduction, and 52% achieved ≥ 20% reduction). Approximately 39% were rehospitalized during the follow-up (14% within 30 days). In multivariable analysis, patients with > 0 to < 20% reduction in HR had a 39% lower risk of rehospitalization [hazard ratio 0.61; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43–0.85]; patients with ≥ 20% reduction in HR had a 38% lower rehospitalization risk (hazard ratio 0.62; 95% CI 0.45–0.87) than those with no HR reduction.

Conclusions

Reduction in HR between admission and discharge was associated with reduced risk for rehospitalization. Findings indicate HR control as an important goal in the management of patients hospitalized for HFrEF.
EU Lawlessness Law at the EU-Belarusian Border: Torture and Dehumanisation Excused by ‘Instrumentalisation’
Authors: Ganty Sarah , Ancite-Jepifánova Aleksandra , Kochenov Dimitry V.
Published: August 2024

This paper engages with the routine normalisation of mass violations of human rights at the EU–Belarusian border. The direct and indirect victimisation of the racialised ‘other’ on the Eastern border of the Union is a direct extension of the EU-sponsored war on the racialised passport-poor in the Mediterranean. Together, the two form one clear and coherent picture of flagrant mass rights abuse. This EU law approach has claimed more than 27,000 lives over the last eight years and left more than 120,000 innocent people captured and imprisoned, or enslaved and sold for ransom by the criminal proxies enlisted by the EU and its Member States. This dramatic situation has not arisen by chance. An array of legal techniques is deployed by the EU, specifically by FRONTEX, the European Commission and, albeit incidentally and to a lesser extent, the European Court of Justice—to make sure that the full brunt of the denial of the right to life and other vital rights of non-citizens is never presented as a violation of EU law. We call these legal techniques ‘EU lawlessness law’. Focusing on the situation at the EU–Belarusian border allows us to zoom in on the bespoke lawlessness solutions crafted and deployed there by the EU and its Member States. The gross violations of the law are rhetorically justified by the alleged instrumentalisation of migrants by the dictatorial Belarusian regime. Paradoxically, the latter emerges as a de facto partner of the EU and its Member States, in torturing numerous people in complete disregard of any of the legal guarantees that the Union professes to provide.
How to Formalize Different Types of Norms in Multi-agent Systems: A Methodology Focused on the T-Norm Model
Authors: Roshankish Soheil , Fornara Nicoletta
Published: August 2024

In a world where many activities are carried out digitally, it is increasingly urgent to be able to formally represent the norms, policies, and contracts that regulate these activities in order to make them understandable and processable by machine. In multi-agent systems, the process to be followed by a person to choose a formal model of norms and transform a norm written in a natural language into a formal one by using the selected model is a demanding task. In this paper, we introduce a methodology to be followed by people to understand the fundamental elements that they should consider for this transformation. We will focus mainly on a methodology for formalizing norms using the T-Norm model, this is because it allows us to express a rich set of different types of norms. Nevertheless, the proposed methodology is general enough to also be used, in some of its steps, to formalize norms using other formal languages. In the definition of the methodology, we will explicitly state which types of norms can be expressed with a given model and which cannot. Since there is not yet a set of different types of norms that is sufficiently expressive and is recognized as valid by the Normative Mutiagent Systems (NorMAS) community, another goal of this paper is to propose and discuss a rich set of norms types that could be used to study the expressive power of different formal models of norms, to compare them, and to translate norms formalized with one language into norms written in another language.
Psilocybin in pharmacotherapy of obsessive-compulsive disorder
Authors: Owe-Larsson Maja , Kamińska Katarzyna , Buchalska Barbara , Mirowska-Guzel Dagmara , Cudnoch-Jędrzejewska Agnieszka
Published: August 2024

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic mental disease that affects approximately 2% of the population. Obsessions and compulsions are troublesome for patients and may disturb their everyday activities. The pathogenesis of this disease is still not fully elucidated, but dysfunctions of serotonin-, dopamine- and glutamate-mediated neurotransmission together with early maladaptive schemas seem of importance. Pharmacological treatment includes drugs affecting the serotoninergic, dopaminergic, and glutamatergic systems, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Providing that up to 40% of patients with OCD are resistant to the currently available medications, there is a need for novel and effective therapies. Recent discoveries suggest that psilocybin, a non-physically addictive psychoactive substance, may ameliorate disease symptoms. When used in appropriate doses and under strict clinical control, psilocybin appears as a valuable treatment for OCD. This narrative article provides a thorough overview of OCD’s etiology, current treatment options, and the emerging evidence supporting psilocybin’s efficacy in managing OCD symptoms.
Can Party Elites Shape the Rank and File? Evidence from a Recruitment Campaign in India
Authors: GULZAR SAAD , PATHAK DURGESH , THOMPSON SARAH , TÓTH ALIZ
Published: August 2024

Recruiting a large number of ground workers is crucial for running effective modern election campaigns. It is unclear if party leaders can influence the quality and quantity of the unpaid rank-and-file workforce as they can with prized nominations for candidates. We analyze a field experiment conducted by an Indian party that randomized recruitment messages reaching 1% of a 13-million-person electorate to join its rank and file. Contrary to concerns that parties can only attract a few poor-quality volunteers, we show that elite efforts can shape the rank and file. In fact, specific strategies can increase the size, enhance the gender and ethnic diversity, and broaden the education and political skills of recruits. Strategies that signal gender inclusiveness have a lasting impact on some dimensions up to 3 years later. Taken together, this article provides the first causal evidence that rank-and-file recruitment is an opportunity for elites to influence long-term party development.
Space Hurricanes Swirl in the Southern Hemisphere, Mostly in Summer
Authors: Dzombak Rebecca
Published: August 2024

Previous studies of the recently discovered space weather feature focused on the Northern Hemisphere. Dozens hit the Southern Hemisphere each year, new research shows.
Cloud Brightening Could Have Unintended Effects in a Warming World
Authors: Pardikar Rishika
Published: August 2024

New research shows that though marine cloud brightening holds potential to temporarily reduce heat stress regionally, the technique has unpredictable and far-reaching outcomes.
Quantifying External Energy Inputs for Giant Planet Magnetospheres
Authors: Gershman Daniel J. , DiBraccio Gina A.
Published: August 2024

The long‐standing “energy crisis” at the giant planets refers to the anomalous heating of planetary thermospheres compared to the available energy from solar irradiance. The coupling between planetary magnetospheres and their upper atmospheres is thought to address these crises, though the sources and pathways of energy transport have not been fully explored at each system. In particular, the total available energy from the upstream solar wind at each planet has not been comprehensively quantified. Here we apply recently developed models of energy conversion by magnetic reconnection and the Kelvin‐Helmholtz instability to each of the Giant Planets, providing estimates of the average external energy inputs for each system between 1985 and 2020. We find that external energy associated with solar‐wind‐magnetospheric coupling significantly exceeds that from solar extreme ultraviolet photons. While internal energy sources are known to dominate at Jupiter and Saturn, external sources may be significant at Uranus and Neptune.
Dwindling Effective Radiative Forcing of Large Volcanic Eruption: The Compensation Role of Ocean Latent Heat Flux
Authors: Gao Ya , Gao Chaochao
Published: August 2024

Climatic impacts of historical volcanism are principally tied to the eruption size, while observation versus model discrepancies have been commonly attributed to the uncertainties in paleo‐reconstruction or malpresentation of volcanic aerosols in models. Here we present convergent evidence for significant compensation effect of ocean latent heat (LH) in balancing the tropical volcanic‐induced heat loss, by introducing an effective perturbation ratio which is found to decrease with increasing eruption magnitude. Four LH compensation hot spots overlapping with the trade wind regions are identified, together with three western boundary currents regions with intensified LH loss. Comparison between the 1258 Samalas and 1452 Unidentified eruptions suggests considerable modulation of the concurring El Nino‐Southern Oscillation on LH anomaly, which is further verified by CESM large ensemble sensitivity experiments. This study depicts how the interplay between the ocean and the atmosphere could contribute to the overall resilience of the climate system in the face of volcanic disturbances.
Could Developing Frontal Rainfall Influence Warm‐Sector Rainfall?
Authors: Yang Hongpei , Du Yu , Chen Zijian , Fang Junying
Published: August 2024

Forecasting warm‐sector rainfall (WR) remains a major challenge, primarily due to weak synoptic forcing. Through cloud‐permitting numerical simulations, in addition to direct triggering mechanism from low‐level jets, we identify the important role of gravity waves in a heavy WR event in South China via convective preconditioning. The preconditioning manifests as mid‐level moistening and destabilization with wave‐like variations. This process is driven by fast‐propagating (∼24 m s−1) n = 2 waves, associated with lower‐tropospheric ascents and upper‐tropospheric descents. Waves are generated during the evolution of northern frontal rainfall (FR). As FR intensifies, surges in low‐level diabatic cooling mainly resulting from microphysical processes, trigger n = 2 waves, which further precondition the environment along their path. In contrast, a sensitivity experiment involving stably developing FR fails to reproduce the preconditioning process by waves and the subsequent occurrence of WR. Overall, our study illuminates a new pathway through which FR significantly influences WR via gravity waves.
Dynamic Characterization of Equatorial Plasma Bubble Based on Triangle Network‐Joint Slope Approach
Authors: Miao Xirui , Yang Rong , Fu Naifeng , Zhan Xingqun , Morton Y. Jade
Published: August 2024

This paper introduces a Triangle Network‐Joint Slope (TN‐JS) approach to characterize the spatial and temporal dynamics of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles (EPBs) during geomagnetic storms. To collaboratively determine the EPB drift directions from multiple stations, a Delaunay triangle network is constructed, utilizing the distribution of Ionospheric Piercing Points (IPPs). The Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) is extracted through cross‐correlating the Rate of Total Electron Content (ROT). The EPB drift direction can be approximately calculated by considering TDOA and IPP distances within each individual triangle of the network. This calculation is then refined through a joint statistical analysis. Using a reference station as the origin, the remaining stations within the network are projected along the estimated EPB drift direction. A spatial‐temporal color map illustrating regional ionospheric anomaly ROT observations is constructed. The EPB drift velocity among multiple stations can be collectively estimated by fitting the slope of this map, facilitating outlier exclusion. Accounting for satellite dynamic effects and the diverse orbit characteristics of GPS and BDS, corresponding IPP scan velocity compensation is performed and analyzed for EPB dynamic estimation. Using the geomagnetic storm event that occurred on September 8 as a case study, the spatial‐temporal kinetic properties of EPBs is characterized by analyzing Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations from 17 Hong Kong monitoring stations with the proposed TN‐JS approach. The results indicate during this magnetic event, that EPBs exhibit a westward drift trend with velocities ranging from a few tens to hundreds of meters per second in GPS and BDS observations.