bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatial analysis of fishing tows with Automatic Identification System (AIS) data to inform offshore wind layouts
Authors: Drew Stephen , Wolterding Martin , Rawson Andrew , Drew Jason
Published: January 2024

Objective

The coexistence of fisheries and offshore wind depends in part on the feasibility of fishing within turbine arrays. This paper explores the value of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to measure tows of commercial trawl and dredge vessels as quantitative indications of their spatial characteristics to inform offshore wind assessments.

Methods

Public records from the AIS provide objective, detailed data supporting the measurement of fishing tows from recent years. Patterns and dimensions were examined from 45 trawl and dredge trips of 35 vessels.

Result

Although vessels spread some trips over large areas, they also make multiple passes in swaths as narrow as 0.3 nautical miles (NM). Turns are made by towing the gear through an arc ranging from 0.2 NM to more than 1 NM in diameter or by hauling gear to the boat and turning in less than 0.1 NM. These practices are confirmed by fishing captains.

Conclusion

These objective data from actual fishing trips could be valuable in considering the feasibility of fishing in wind farms and planning appropriate layouts. This first effort provides too small a sample to be considered representative, but it may demonstrate the concepts and encourage further research. Techniques could be refined and extended to other regions and activities, as expanding marine interests share limited space.
What drives consumers' intention to purchase self‐driving cars
Authors: Wang Yu‐Min , Chiu Wan‐Ching , Wei Chung‐Lun , Wang Hsing‐Hsien , Yang Jih‐Hua , Wang Yi‐Shun
Published: January 2024

This study endeavors to examine the factors influencing consumers' intentions to purchase self‐driving cars. The data collected from 174 respondents underwent analysis using the partial least squares technique. The findings reveal that relative advantage, compatibility, trialability, and observability significantly impact consumer attitudes. Additionally, consumer attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control were identified as significant influencers of the intention to purchase a self‐driving car. Furthermore, achievement vanity was observed to moderate the effect of observability on consumer attitude. These results offer critical theoretical insights and practical implications for the adoption of self‐driving cars.
Urinary incontinence in middle‐aged and older women with hip and knee osteoarthritis: An outpatient study of frequency and risk factors
Authors: de Melo Gisele A. S. C. , Fernandes Vanessa de O. , Costa Henrique Silveira , Lacerda Ana Cristina Rodrigues , Nobre Luciana N. , F. de M. Vitorino Débora , de Carvalho Bastone Alessandra
Published: January 2024

Aims

To investigate the frequency and the factors associated with urinary incontinence (UI) in a sample of middle‐aged and older women with lower limb osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods

Women aged 50 years or older with clinical hip/knee OA diagnoses were recruited for this cross‐sectional study. Self‐reported UI and type, sociodemographic characteristics, medical conditions, physical activity level, anthropometric and body composition measurements, muscle strength, and physical function were assessed. Uni and multivariable logistic regression were used to investigate the factors associated with UI.

Results

Among 100 middle‐aged and older women (mean 67.27 ± 8.77 SD years), 67% reported UI. In the UI group, 33% reported stress UI, 36% reported urgency UI, and 31% reported mixed UI. In the univariate analysis, age, level of physical activity, pulmonary disease, number of medications, body mass index (BMI), number of deliveries, and activity limitation were significantly associated with UI. In the multivariable analysis, older age (60−69 years OR: 4.91, 95% CI: 1.25−19.36; ≥70 years OR: 8.06, 95% CI: 1.96−33.22), compared to 50−59 years, morbid obesity (OR: 14.10, 95% CI: 1.36−146.48), compared to BMI < 30 kg/m2, and activity limitation (OR: 5.31, 95% CI: 1.61−17.54), assessed as short physical performance battery ≤8, remained significantly associated with UI.

Conclusions

UI was highly frequent among middle‐aged and older women with hip/knee OA. Older age, activity limitation, and morbid obesity were independently associated with UI. Interventions targeting physical function and weight management must be considered to prevent and treat UI in this population.
Cold exposure modulates potential brown adipokines in humans, but only FGF21 is associated with brown adipose tissue volume
Authors: Mendez‐Gutierrez Andrea , Aguilera Concepcion M. , Cereijo Rubén , Osuna‐Prieto Francisco J. , Martinez‐Tellez Borja , Rico Maria C. , Sanchez‐Infantes David , Villarroya Francesc , Ruiz Jonatan R. , Sanchez‐Delgado Guillermo
Published: January 2024

Objective

The study objective was to investigate the effect of cold exposure on the plasma levels of five potential human brown adipokines (chemokine ligand 14 [CXCL14], growth differentiation factor 15 [GDF15], fibroblast growth factor 21 [FGF21], interleukin 6 [IL6], and bone morphogenic protein 8b [BMP8b]) and to study whether such cold‐induced effects are related to brown adipose tissue (BAT) volume, activity, or radiodensity in young humans.

Methods

Plasma levels of brown adipokines were measured before and 1 h and 2 h after starting an individualized cold exposure in 30 young adults (60% women, 21.9 ± 2.3 y; 24.9 ± 5.1 kg/m2). BAT volume, 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose uptake, and radiodensity were assessed by a static positron emission tomography‐computerized tomography scan after cold exposure.

Results

Cold exposure increased the concentration of CXCL14 (Δ2h = 0.58 ± 0.98 ng/mL; p = 0.007), GDF15 (Δ2h = 19.63 ± 46.2 pg/mL; p = 0.013), FGF21 (Δ2h = 33.72 ± 55.13 pg/mL; p = 0.003), and IL6 (Δ1h = 1.98 ± 3.56 pg/mL; p = 0.048) and reduced BMP8b (Δ2h = −37.12 ± 83.53 pg/mL; p = 0.022). The cold‐induced increase in plasma FGF21 was positively associated with BAT volume (Δ2h: β = 0.456; R2 = 0.307; p = 0.001), but not with 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose uptake or radiodensity. None of the changes in the other studied brown adipokines was related to BAT volume, activity, or radiodensity.

Conclusions

Cold exposure modulates plasma levels of several potential brown adipokines in humans, whereas only cold‐induced changes in FGF21 levels are associated with BAT volume. These findings suggest that human BAT might contribute to the circulatory pool of FGF21.
Celebrating Optimization With Partnership Programs
Authors: Cheng Robert C.
Published: January 2024

As AWWA celebrates 50 years of publishing Opflow, it's a good opportunity to recognize how the magazine supports the association's founding principles.
Dietary intake and visceral adiposity in older adults: The Multiethnic Cohort Adiposity Phenotype study
Authors: Merritt Melissa A. , Lim Unhee , Lampe Johanna W. , Kaenkumchorn Tanyaporn , Boushey Carol J. , Wilkens Lynne R. , Shepherd John A. , Ernst Thomas , Le Marchand Loïc
Published: January 2024

Background

There are established links between the accumulation of body fat as visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and the risk of developing obesity‐associated metabolic disease. Previous studies have suggested that levels of intake of specific foods and nutrients are associated with VAT accumulation after accounting for total energy intake.

Objective

This study assessed associations between a priori selected dietary factors on VAT quantified using abdominal magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods

The cross‐sectional Multiethnic Cohort Adiposity Phenotype Study included n = 395 White, n = 274 Black, n = 269 Native Hawaiian, n = 425 Japanese American and n = 358 Latino participants (mean age = 69 years ± 3 SD). Participants were enrolled stratified on sex, race, ethnicity and body mass index. General linear models were used to estimate the mean VAT area (cm2) for participants categorized into quartiles based on their dietary intake of selected foods/nutrients adjusting for age, sex, racial and ethnic groups, the total percentage fat from whole‐body dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry and total energy.

Results

There were significant inverse associations with VAT for dietary intake of total vegetables, total fruits (including juice), cereals, whole grains, calcium, copper and dietary fiber (p‐trend ≤0.04). Positive trends were observed for VAT for participants who reported higher intake of potatoes, total fat and saturated fatty acids (SFA) (p‐trend ≤0.02). Foods/nutrients that met the multiple testing significance threshold were total fruits, whole grains, copper, dietary fiber and SFA intake.

Conclusions

These results highlight foods and nutrients including SFA, total fruit, whole grains, fiber and copper as potential candidates for future research to inform dietary guidelines for the prevention of chronic disease among older adults.
Human–wildlife coexistence on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau: The correlation between Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and avian community composition
Authors: Wangjie Gesang , Lou Yingqiang , Song Kai , Li Xinhai , Fang Yun , Hou Jianhua , Sun Yuehua
Published: January 2024

Tibetan Buddhist monasteries are widely distributed throughout the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and are significant locations for human–wildlife coexistence. Given the significance of their historical and contemporary social influence, it is crucial to ascertain whether there exists a non‐negligible correlation between these monasteries and their surrounding wildlife. In contrast to sacred mountains and lakes, there have been few studies that have examined the relationship between Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and wildlife communities.

Using birds as a model ecological community, generalized mixed effect models (GLMM) were employed to examine relationships between the presence of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and the number of individuals (relative abundance), avian species richness and diversity, using data from bird‐watching checklists (n = 262) obtained from the China Bird Report. Our models also included landscape‐wide environmental factors, including the ratio of woodland habitat, grassland habitat and open habitats, human footprint index, distance to nearest human occupation (villages), distance to water, altitude, time, presence of monastery and their interactions. Observation time was included as a model covariate.

The presence of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and the interactions between the presence of monasteries and environmental variables exhibit a significant correlation with the number of individual birds recorded (relative abundance), but not with observed species richness or diversity. Moreover, the relative abundance of birds was found to be significantly higher in areas around monasteries compared to those without monasteries. The abundance of species from eight families, namely Accipitridae, Corvidae, Columbidae, Passeridae, Leiothrichidae, Friningillidae, Musciapidae and Turidae, was significantly positively correlated with the presence of monasteries. Notably, the positive correlation of Accipitridae with the presence of celestial burial grounds around monasteries suggests a relationship between celestial burial practices and Accipitridae abundance at these sites.

Our study reveals a significant positive correlation between Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and aspects of avian community composition in the eastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, thus highlights their potential role in the preservation of avian populations in fragmented landscape habitats. We encourage the government and relevant national parks stakeholders to implement targeted management strategies that take into account the unique patterns of human–wildlife coexistence in these areas, and to leverage the cultural advantages of the region to promote ecological conservation.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Effects of Christian REACH forgiveness intervention to reduce aggressiveness in adolescents with conduct disorder
Authors: Skalski‐Bednarz Sebastian Binyamin
Published: January 2024

While there have been significant advances in the treatment of conduct disorder (CD), there is still a need to seek and develop therapeutic solutions that can overcome the poor long‐term prognosis. In this evidence‐based research, we evaluated the effect of immediate REACH Forgiveness training on the severity of aggressiveness among adolescents with CD. The purposive sample consisted of 32 Catholics aged 15–18 randomly placed in an experimental or nonintervention control group. Participants in the experimental group were subjected to an immediate REACH Forgiveness session for Christians, which lasted 6 h, while participants in the control group played board games and spent time together in the day care center during this time. The scores obtained by adolescents in the experimental group regarding forgiveness (decisional and emotional) and aggressiveness (anger, physical aggression, verbal aggression, and hostility) improved under REACH Forgiveness training, and these positive effects were still evident 1 month after the intervention (while the control scores did not change in a statistically significant way). The data obtained indicate that the Christian version of REACH can provide important support for other forms of psychopedagogical therapy in adolescent Catholics with CD in reducing aggressive behavior.
Challenges in scaling of IPVD deposited Ta barriers on OSG low‐k films: Carbonization of Ta by CHx radicals generated through VUV‐induced decomposition of carbon‐containing groups
Authors: Ryabinkin Alexey N. , Vishnevskiy Alexey S. , Naumov Sergej , Serov Alexander O. , Maslakov Konstantin I. , Seregin Dmitry S. , Vorotyntsev Dmitry A. , Pal Alexander F. , Rakhimova Tatyana V. , Vorotilov Konstantin A. , Baklanov Mikhail R.
Published: January 2024

The effect of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation during ionized physical vapor deposition (IPVD) of tantalum barriers on various porous organosilicate glass low‐k SiCOH films is studied using advanced diagnostics and quantum chemical calculations. VUV photons break the Si–C bonds, releasing hydrocarbon radicals from the pore surfaces. These radicals, trapped in pores that are partially sealed by tantalum deposition, can either react with tantalum to form carbide‐like compounds, TaCx, or be redeposited in the pores as CHx polymers. This is evidenced by a decrease in CH3 groups that correlates with an increase in TaCx. The formation of TaCx poses a significant challenge in the back end of line (BEOL) technology when reducing the barrier thickness.
Magnetic and thermoelectric properties of REMoN3 (RE = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, and Sm): A first‐principles study
Authors: Haq Saeed Ul , Muhammad Raz , Alqorashi Afaf Khadr , Shafiullah Muhammad , Sohail Amir , Laref Amel , Faizan Muhammad
Published: January 2024

We investigated the magnetic and thermoelectric properties of REMoN3 (RE = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm) perovskites using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP‐LAPW) method. To overcome the problem of underestimation of electronic interaction, we employed the DFT + U approach to accurately map the electronic structure of these compounds. Our study shows an increasing trend in the magnetic moments with the increasing number of unpaired electrons in RE. Among these compounds, SmMoN3 possesses a large magnetic moment, which is suitable for applications such as memory devices and sensors. Interestingly, all these perovskites display ferromagnetic behavior except CeMoN3, which exhibits an antiferromagnetic nature. Furthermore, our analysis indicates n‐type thermoelectric behavior in all these materials. The compound, namely PrMoN3, exhibits a high figure of merit among REMoN3, which can be improved by modifying the lattice sites.
Atmospheric solids analysis probe mass spectrometry: An easy bolt‐on for the synthetic undergraduate teaching laboratory
Authors: Bingham Nathaniel M. , Wright James S. , Mathias Simone C. , Douce David , Sears Patrick
Published: January 2024

Rationale

High costs and student numbers can often hinder implementation of mass spectrometry (MS) in the undergraduate teaching laboratory, often with technicians running samples on students' behalf, and the implementation of MS only in discrete or isolated experiments. This study explores the use of atmospheric solids analysis probe MS (ASAP‐MS) as a relatively low‐cost, benchtop instrument, and its potential for application as a ‘bolt‐on’ to existing undergraduate organic chemistry experiments.

Methods

Thirteen products synthesised in undergraduate laboratory experiments were analysed by ASAP‐MS, along with their starting materials. Analysis was carried out with a Waters RADIAN ASAP mass spectrometer, at four different cone voltages simultaneously to provide fragmentation information.

Results

Out of the 13 undergraduate experiments, ASAP‐MS was shown to be complementary in 11 of these, either through simple analysis of the precursor ion or by a more complex analysis of the fragments.

Conclusions

ASAP‐MS provided spectra that both complement and enhance intended learning outcomes in existing organic chemistry experiments, showing its versatility as a bolt‐on technique. Moving forward, ASAP‐MS will be integrated into the University of Surrey's undergraduate teaching laboratory.
Hierarchical rule‐base reduction fuzzy control for constant velocity path tracking of a differential steer vehicle
Authors: Dekhterman Samuel R. , Cichon Maxwel T. , Norris William R. , Nottage Dustin , Soylemezoglu Ahmet
Published: January 2024

Hierarchical rule‐base reduction (HRBR) was used to create a new form of waypoint navigation control for a skid‐steer vehicle, which consists of a multiple input‐single output nonlinear fuzzy angular velocity controller. HRBR enabled an increase in system complexity by only selecting the rules most influential on state errors. The membership functions of the fuzzy controller employed a trapezoidal structure with a completely symmetric rule‐base. The work was motivated by a desire to find the limitations of fuzzy control in terms of accuracy and robustness across environments. To accomplish this, an examination of the proposed controller is completed by employing test courses. The test courses examine the effects of steering disturbance, phase lag, and overshoot. The controller's performance was compared with existing waypoint navigation controllers, pure pursuit, and the Huskić Buck Zell (HBZ) controller. After initial controller development/tuning was completed in the simulation, the controllers were tested outdoors. The HRBR fuzzy was found to outperform the pure pursuit and HBZ in simulation (36.74% and 80.56% improvement in Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) on one course) and on concrete with mixed results on a surface with different dynamics, namely grass (23.13% and 55.64% improvement in RMSE averaging the two on the same course). If a moderate amount of tuning of the fuzzy controller had not been performed in simulation, failure across different environments would be more likely. The present study is important as it illustrates the potential effectiveness of the HRBR for control applications beyond waypoint navigation.
Injectable microcarrier‐hydrogel composite for dental stem cell delivery and tissue regeneration
Authors: Soh Yu Jie , Lin Ruby Yu‐Tong , Sriram Gopu , Toh Wei Seong , Yu Victoria Soo Hoon , Dubey Nileshkumar
Published: January 2024

Conventional methods of stem cell therapy for tissue regeneration often face challenges, such as poor cell viability and integration posttransplantation. To address this, we proposed transplanting cells within synthetic microenvironments that maintain viability, cell phenotype, support extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion, and promote differentiation to enhance the regeneration of damaged host tissue. This hypothesis was tested in dental tissue regeneration using dental pulp stem cell‐laden microcarriers (MCs) mixed in a gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel as a delivery system. The combination of MCs and GelMA exhibited similar physical properties and favorable biological properties compared to GelMA alone. Specifically, cell‐laden MC mixed into GelMA enhanced cell proliferation and ECM secretion and maintained a normal phenotype. Notably, MC‐modified GelMA amplified odontogenic differentiation, mineralization, and vascular endothelial growth factor release. Moreover, the storage of MC‐modified GelMA showed no detrimental effects on its injection force, cell viability, and mineralization potential, which demonstrates that the composite hydrogel is a promising injectable vehicle for therapeutic stem cell delivery. This strategy may be broadly applied to various tissues and organ systems, in which the provision and instruction of a cell population to participate in regeneration may be clinically useful.
Full‐duplex jamming for physical layer security improvement in NOMA‐enabled overlay cognitive radio networks
Authors: Hema P. P. , Babu A. V.
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we analyze the physical layer security (PLS) performance of nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA)‐enabled overlay cognitive radio networks (NOMA‐OCRNs) in the presence of an external passive eavesdropper. Here PLS is expressed in terms of the secrecy outage probabilities (SOPs) experienced by the primary user (PU) and secondary user (SU). We obtain approximate expressions for the SOPs of both PU as well as SU assuming a jamming‐free environment, where both primary and secondary destination nodes are half‐duplex devices. To improve the SOP performance, we propose a jamming‐assisted framework, where full‐duplex destination nodes are employed, which are capable of transmitting jamming signals to confound the eavesdropper. Approximate expressions for the SOPs of PU and SU are derived for the jamming‐assisted framework as well. It is demonstrated that the proposed jamming‐assisted framework significantly reduces the SOPs compared to the jamming‐free scenario. We also determine optimal power allocation coefficients (OPACs) for PU and SU at the secondary transmitter that maximizes the total secrecy throughput of the jamming‐assisted NOMA‐OCRN with FD destinations. It is shown that the suggested OPAC significantly enhances the total secrecy throughput, compared to the default selection of the PAC.
Concept‐Driven Sociology
Authors: Zerubavel Eviatar
Published: January 2024

Excerpted from my book Generally Speaking, this paper introduces “concept‐driven sociology,” a special way of theorizing designed to reveal abstract social patterns. As such, it examines the methodological process by which we can “distill” generic patterns from the culturally, historically, and situationally specific contexts in which we encounter them. It thus champions a “generic sociology” that is pronouncedly transcontextual (transcultural, transhistorical, transsituational, and translevel) in its scope. In order to uncover generic, transcontextual social patterns, we need to collect our data in a wide range of social contexts. Such contextual diversity is manifested multi‐culturally, multihistorically, multisituationally, as well as at multiple levels of social aggregation. True to its message, the book illustrates generic social patterns by drawing on numerous examples from diverse cultural contexts and historical periods and a wide range of diverse social domains, as well as by disregarding scale. Emphasizing cross‐contextual commonality, concept‐driven sociology tries to reveal formal “parallels” across seemingly disparate contexts. The paper features the four main types of cross‐contextual analogies concept‐driven sociologists tend to use—cross‐cultural, cross‐historical, cross‐domain, as well as cross‐level—disregarding conventionally noted substantive differences in order to note conventionally disregarded formal equivalences.
Picking Two out of Three: Defluorinative Annulation of Trifluoromethyl Alkenes for the Synthesis of Monofluorinated Carbo‐ and Heterocycles
Authors: Ling Jiahao , Zhou Lei
Published: January 2024

The increasing demand of organofluorine compounds in medicine, agriculture, and materials sciences makes sophisticated methods for their synthesis ever more necessary. Nowadays, not only the C−F bond formation but also the selective C−F bond cleavage of readily available poly‐ or perfluorine‐containing compounds have become powerful tools for the effective synthesis of organofluorine compounds. The defluorinative cross‐coupling of trifluoromethyl alkenes with various nucleophiles or radical precursors in an SN2’ manner is a convergent route to access gem‐difluoroalkenes, which in turn react with nucleophiles or radical precursors via an SNV‐type reaction. If the SNV reactions occur intramolecularly, the dual C−F bond cleavage of trifluoromethyl alkenes allows facile assembly of monofluorinated cyclic skeletons with structural complexity and diversity. In this personal account, we summarized the advances in this field on the basis of coupling and cyclization partners, including binucleophiles, alkynes, diradical precursors and radical precursors bearing a nucleophilic site. Accordingly, the annulation reactions can be achieved by base‐mediated sequential SN2′/SNV reactions, transition metal catalyzed or mediated reactions, photoredox catalysis, and the combination of photocatalytic reactions with SNV reaction. In the context of seminal works of others in this field, a concise summary of the contributions of the authors is also offered.
Evaluation‐Number Constrained Optimization Problem and its Solution Strategy
Authors: Tamura Kenichi
Published: January 2024

This paper addresses optimization problems subject to an objective function's evaluation‐number constraint arbitrarily given in advance. These problems are practical for black‐box objective functions which cost much money and/or time per evaluation because money and/or time constraints are typically applicable in real‐world projects. This paper suggests a new solution strategy that can be used to adapt metaheuristics to evaluation‐number constraints arbitrarily given in advance. The proposed strategy updates the setting parameters of a target metaheuristic algorithm for every generation by solving a fixed small‐size optimization problem related to the evaluation‐number constraint. It has the advantage of being insensitive to the effects of dimensionality increases in principle. The effectiveness of the proposed strategy is confirmed by numerical experiments with two well‐known metaheuristics, i.e., the particle swarm optimization algorithm and the differential evolution algorithm. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Metformin and chidamide synergistically suppress multiple myeloma progression and enhance lenalidomide/bortezomib sensitivity
Authors: Mao Jianping , Chen Ran , Xue Lianguo , Zhu Yuanxin , Zhao Lidong , Wang Juan
Published: January 2024

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a common hematological malignancy, and patients with MM are recommended to take immunomodulatory drugs such as lenalidomide along with proteasome inhibitors such as bortezomib to extend survival. However, drug resistance influences the efficacy of treatment for MM. In our study, we found that metformin and chidamide both suppressed MM cell growth in a concentration‐ and time‐dependent way (p < .001). Moreover, combined therapy with metformin and chidamide exhibited enhanced inhibition of the growth of MM cells compared with monotherapy (p < .05). Additionally, the triple‐drug combination of metformin and chidamide with lenalidomide or bortezomib was used to stimulate the MM cells, and the results revealed that metformin and chidamide treatment sensitized MM cells to lenalidomide and bortezomib. As a result, the apoptosis (p < .001) together with cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase (p < .05) was stimulated by lenalidomide and bortezomib, and showed significant elevation in the triple‐drug combination group compared with the lenalidomide or bortezomib treatment alone group (p < .05). Furthermore, the impacts of different drugs on glycolysis in MM cells were examined. We found that metformin and chidamide combined treatment significantly promoted glucose uptake and reduced energy production in MM cells treated with lenalidomide and bortezomib (p < .001), suggesting that metformin and chidamide affected glycolysis in MM cells and enhanced the sensitivity of lenalidomide and bortezomib in MM by regulating glucose metabolism. In conclusion, metformin and chidamide synergistically hindered MM cell growth and sensitized cells to lenalidomide/bortezomib. The findings of this study might provide novel clues to improve MM therapy.
Clinical value assessment for serum hsa_tsr013526 in the diagnosis of gastric carcinoma
Authors: Xu Jing , Wang Yue , Li Xian , Zheng Ming , Li Yang , Zhang Weiwei
Published: January 2024

Gastric carcinoma (GC) is a malignant tumor that is detrimental to human health. Transfer RNA‐derived small RNAs are a newly identified class of noncoding small RNAs with specific biological functions that are aberrantly expressed in cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of hsa_tsr013526 as a biomarker for GC. Quantitative real‐time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression level of hsa_tsr013526. The molecular characteristics of hsa_tsr013526 were verified by agarose gel electrophoresis, Sanger sequencing, and separation of nuclear and cytoplasmic RNA fractions. By testing the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, the diagnostic efficiency of GC using hsa_tsr013526 was determined. Finally, we predicted the downstream of hsa_tsr013526 using functional assays and bioinformatics analysis. Serum expression of hsa_tsr013526 was higher in GC patients than in healthy donors. Serum expression showed differential changes in GC patients, gastritis patients, and healthy donors. Chi‐squared tests showed that high expression of hsa_tsr013526 was significantly correlated with T stage, lymphatic metastasis, and tumor node metastasis stage. ROC curve analysis indicated that GC patients could be discriminated from healthy donors or gastritis patients based on their serum levels of hsa_tsr013526. Furthermore, hsa_tsr013526 expression was significantly reduced in postoperative GC patients (p = .0016). High expression of hsa_tsr013526 promotes gastric cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Serum hsa_tsr013526 was stable and specific, and could be used for dynamic monitoring of GC patients. Therefore, hsa_tsr013526 may be a new biomarker for the diagnosis and postoperative monitoring of GC patients.
FERPA and coaches 2
Authors: Rainsberger Richard
Published: January 2024

Are coaches school officials? Although the answer can vary from college to college, the FERPA regulations require each college, in its annual FERPA notification to students, to identify who are school officials at their institution. That's where we left it last month.
Hypertrophic osteopathy in a dog associated with chronic lung lobe torsion
Authors: Villuendas Marta , Jiménez Cristóbal López , Aisa Josep , de la Puerta Anna
Published: January 2024

A 6‐year‐old, male, neutered, crossbreed dog was presented with a history of lethargy, chronic cough, right thoracic limb lameness, bilateral distal thoracic limb swelling and non‐healing skin wounds. Computed tomography showed bilateral forelimb irregular periosteal reaction and chronic right cranial lung lobe torsion, with secondary bronchiectasis. The affected lung lobe was surgically excised, the right radius was biopsied, and postoperative antimicrobial therapy was prescribed. Histopathology and bacterial culture confirmed chronic lung lobe torsion, associated bacterial bronchopneumonia, and right radial hypertrophic osteopathy. Two months after starting treatment, the respiratory signs resolved and the soft tissue swelling and lameness markedly improved. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case report describing hypertrophic osteopathy suspected secondary to chronic lung lobe torsion in a dog.
Quantitative Scrolling into Microporous Nanotubes of the Hydrous Layered Silicate Ilerite
Authors: Uhlig Felix , Pietsch Ingmar , Stich Alexander , Mansfeld Ulrich , Rosenfeldt Sabine , Senker Jürgen , Breu Josef
Published: January 2024

The synthetic hydrous layered silicate ilerite was quantitatively converted into microporous nanoscrolls (NS). Delamination of ilerite that was ion‐exchanged for N‐Methyl‐D‐glucaminium (Meg+), through one‐dimensional (1D) dissolution initially yields lamellar liquid crystalline (nematic) suspensions. Subsequent protonation with acetic acid of tangling Si‐O− to silanol groups reduces the pH‐dependent charge of the basal surfaces. Complete NS formation is then triggered by diluting the nematic suspension below 0.05 wt%. As scrolling commonly has been attributed to hydrophobic interaction of organic counterions, Meg+ was replaced by lithium ions but this showed no detrimental effect on the scrolling efficiency. The resulting NS have a typical length of 2–4 μm that corresponds well with typical diameters of the parent nanosheets. Ar‐physisorption isotherms showed a bimodal micropore size with maxima around 0.8 and 1.9 nm. We attribute the first to the tubular hollow inner diameter of the NS and the latter to wedgelike interparticle porosity. The material showed a large specific surface area of 226 m2 g−1.
Education Is a Political Issue
Authors: Hofstetter Rita , Schneuwly Bernard
Published: January 2024

The model that held the distinction between education and politics to be plausible and even indispensable had given way to the aspirations of formerly colonised countries, which had undergone an education imbued with politics under the auspices of the civilising mission of the empires, which were now confronted with their abuses. By taking their own places and speaking in these forums, the new countries demonstrated that the problems addressed and the solutions proposed were far from being as universal as the IBE and UNESCO proclaimed. This tension translated into an open conflict about the misdeeds of an alienating colonial enterprise, which was considered to violate the very dignity of man. In the case of Portugal, its former African colonies demanded its exclusion.
The Primacy of Education to Pacify the World?
Authors: Hofstetter Rita , Schneuwly Bernard
Published: January 2024

The first six chapters form Part I tell the story of the IBE. This first one shows that the International Bureau of Education (IBE) was the product of a collective genesis. It was the continuation of a plethora of initiatives which, in the nineteenth century already, were working towards the institutionalisation of networks dedicated to education and childhood, in order to pacify the world. The contours of the IBE were furthermore sketched out in a particular context, in effervescent post-war Geneva when the city was designated to host the League of Nations (LoN). The chapter describes the dynamics of this genesis in order to understand what led the intellectuals, psycho-pedagogues and educators grouped around the Institut Rousseau to conceive of their institution as one of the international agencies representing the values of peace, international solidarity and social justice, emblematic of the “spirit of Geneva”. An insert presents the Institut Rousseau.
On the Fate of Women: “Equality Does Not Mean Identity”
Authors: Hofstetter Rita , Schneuwly Bernard
Published: January 2024

Although the IBE produced some pioneering surveys in the 1930s on women and education, the only International Conference entirely devoted to this question took place as late as 1952, on the initiative of the women’s NGOs supported by UNESCO. But the IBE’s recommendations expressly call for broad access to education for women at all levels of schooling, including universities and vocational courses. Contradictions remained: opinions plainly reducing women to their biological reproductive functions faced clearly heard demands for equality in education. After this conference, one can observe an increased awareness of the injustice suffered by girls and women, in access to both courses of study and diplomas.
Facing Equivocations, Tightrope Acrobatics
Authors: Hofstetter Rita , Schneuwly Bernard
Published: January 2024

During the first ten years, the designers of the IBE had to face key problems when trying to make their mark in the complex web of associations and organisations that assumed the mission of preserving peace on earth. The chapter focuses on a selection of controversies with new education organisations like the NEF, with teacher organisations that combatted the LoN and above all the IICI. It shows the difficulty of positioning oneself without generating misunderstanding and dissension, suspicions and reproaches and, worse, blatant ostracism for the IBE promoters. Faced with certain ambiguities, they were constantly debating to clarify among themselves and in respect of their protagonists what the IBE’s position was, aiming to strengthen its independence and legitimacy, without losing supportive alliances. The chapter is completed with an insert on the IBE-WFEA rivalry.
From Scientific to Syncretic Patchwork Storytelling: The Discursive Ecosystem of Italian Stop 5G Refused Knowledge Communities
Authors: Tosoni Simone
Published: January 2024

This chapter addresses the discursive practices, media-related and not, adopted by the Italian Stop 5G RKC to produce, stabilise and transform its shared (refused) knowledge. Adopting an ecological approach, this inquiry has its main focus on the digital sphere as a transmedia circulation environment in which a range of discourses and narratives can coexist and interact in multiple ways, sometimes colliding and competing, sometimes adapting to each other, sometimes merging in new ways. In particular, it shows how, during the pandemic crisis, the Stop 5G RKC transformed its discursive practices (and, consequently, its shared knowledge) from a ‘scientific patchwork’ storytelling approach—based on a rigid definition of borders and selection of scientific sources—to a ‘syncretic patchwork’ storytelling approach—based on combining diverse and sometimes conflicting discursive sources (e.g. scientific knowledge, folklore, new age spirituality and conspiracy theories). This perspective allows to highlight the close relationship between the RKCs’ discursive practices, their forms of organisation and the shared (refused) knowledge they produce and reproduce.
APOB100 transgenic mice exemplify how the systemic circulation content may affect the retina without altering retinal cholesterol input
Authors: El-Darzi Nicole , Mast Natalia , Li Yong , Pikuleva Irina A.
Published: January 2024

Apolipoprotein B (APOB) is a constituent of unique lipoprotein particles (LPPs) produced in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which separates the neural retina from Bruch’s membrane (BrM) and choroidal circulation. These LPPs accumulate with age in BrM and contribute to the development of age-related macular degeneration, a major blinding disease. The APOB100 transgenic expression in mice, which unlike humans lack the full-length APOB100, leads to lipid deposits in BrM. Herein, we further characterized APOB100 transgenic mice. We imaged mouse retina in vivo and assessed chorioretinal lipid distribution, retinal sterol levels, retinal cholesterol input, and serum content as well as tracked indocyanine green-bound LPPs in mouse plasma and retina after an intraperitoneal injection. Retinal function and differentially expressed proteins were also investigated. APOB100 transgenic mice had increased serum LDL content and an additional higher density HDL subpopulation; their retinal cholesterol levels (initially decreased) became normal with age. The LPP cycling between the RPE and choroidal circulation was increased. Yet, LPP trafficking from the RPE to the neural retina was limited, and total retinal cholesterol input did not change. There were lipid deposits in the RPE and BrM, and retinal function was impaired. Retinal proteomics provided mechanistic insights. Collectively, our data suggested that the serum LDL/HDL ratio may not affect retinal pathways of cholesterol input as serum LPP load is mainly handled by the RPE, which offloads LPP excess to the choroidal circulation rather than neural retina. Different HDL subpopulations should be considered in studies linking serum LPPs and age-related macular degeneration.
FOXA2-initiated transcriptional activation of INHBA induced by methylmalonic acid promotes pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm progression
Authors: Hu Chunhua , Ye Mujie , Bai Jianan , Liu Pengfei , Lu Feiyu , Chen Jinhao , Xu Yanling , Yan Lijun , Yu Ping , Xiao Zequan , Gu Danyang , Xu Lin , Tian Ye , Tang Qiyun
Published: January 2024

Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PanNENs) are a group of highly heterogeneous neoplasms originating from the endocrine islet cells of the pancreas with characteristic neuroendocrine differentiation, more than 60% of which represent metastases when diagnosis, causing major tumor-related death. Metabolic alterations have been recognized as one of the hallmarks of tumor metastasis, providing attractive therapeutic targets. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism of metabolic changes regulating PanNEN progression. In this study, we first identified methylmalonic acid (MMA) as an oncometabolite for PanNEN progression, based on serum metabolomics of metastatic PanNEN compared with non-metastatic PanNEN patients. One of the key findings was the potentially novel mechanism of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) triggered by MMA. Inhibin βA (INHBA) was characterized as a key regulator of MMA-induced PanNEN progression according to transcriptomic analysis, which has been validated in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, INHBA was activated by FOXA2, a neuroendocrine (NE) specific transcription factor, which was initiated during MMA-induced progression. In addition, MMA-induced INHBA upregulation activated downstream MITF to regulate EMT-related genes in PanNEN cells. Collectively, these data suggest that activation of INHBA via FOXA2 promotes MITF-mediated EMT during MMA inducing PanNEN progression, which puts forward a novel therapeutic target for PanNENs.

Graphical abstract

Methylmalonic acid (MMA), a serum oncometabolite, increased the expression of inhibin βA (INHBA) by the neuroendocrine-specific transcription factor, FOXA2 to induce MITF-mediated EMT during the progression of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PanNENs), providing an actionable therapeutic vulnerability to metabolic therapy in PanNENs.
Combination of blockade of endothelin signalling and compensation of IGF1 expression protects the retina from degeneration
Authors: Shigesada Naoya , Shikada Naoya , Shirai Manabu , Toriyama Michinori , Higashijima Fumiaki , Kimura Kazuhiro , Kondo Toru , Bessho Yasumasa , Shinozuka Takuma , Sasai Noriaki
Published: January 2024

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and macular dystrophy (MD) cause severe retinal dysfunction, affecting 1 in 4000 people worldwide. This disease is currently assumed to be intractable, because effective therapeutic methods have not been established, regardless of genetic or sporadic traits. Here, we examined a RP mouse model in which theProminin-1(Prom1) gene was deficient and investigated the molecular events occurring at the outset of retinal dysfunction. We extracted the Prom1-deficient retina subjected to light exposure for a short time, conducted single-cell expression profiling, and compared the gene expression with and without stimuli. We identified the cells and genes whose expression levels change directly in response to light stimuli. Among the genes altered by light stimulation,Igf1was decreased in rod photoreceptor cells and astrocytes under the light-stimulated condition. Consistently, the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signal was weakened in light-stimulated photoreceptor cells. The recovery ofIgf1expression with the adeno-associated virus (AAV) prevented photoreceptor cell death, and its treatment in combination with the endothelin receptor antagonist led to the blockade of abnormal glial activation and the promotion of glycolysis, thereby resulting in the improvement of retinal functions, as assayed by electroretinography. We additionally demonstrated that the attenuation of mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), which mediates IGF signalling, leads to complications in maintaining retinal homeostasis. Together, we propose that combinatorial manipulation of distinct mechanisms is useful for the maintenance of the retinal condition.
Modification of wood via biochar particle impregnation
Authors: Langella T. , Mikulijan M. , Han L. , Zouari M. , DeVallance D. B.
Published: January 2024

Thermal-hydro-mechanical (THM) densification was performed on Picea abies (spruce), Abies alba (European fir), Populus nigra (poplar), and Fagus sylvatica (beech). Prior to THM treatment, the wood was impregnated with an aqueous solution containing 1%, 2.5%, and 5% biochar. Mechanical characteristics (modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture), set-recovery, and contact angle were measured and compared for all samples in relation to the percentage of biochar present in the mixture. Impregnation with biochar/water mixture in combination with THM treatment resulted in densified wood with improved properties. Spruce showed the most notable improvement in water resistance, in addition to having the largest reduction in set-recovery at 57% and the highest contact angle value at 120°. There was also significant improvement in the mechanical properties of spruce wood, especially when impregnated with 2.5% and 5% of biochar, with MOE values of 17.09 and 18.61 GPa and MOR values of 190.47 and 176.41 MPa, respectively. The only comparable values were observed in beech impregnated with 2.5% biochar mixture, with a MOR value of 204.6 MPa. These findings highlight the effectiveness of biochar-enhanced impregnation together with THM treatment in improving the structural and mechanical properties of wood, with distinct improvements observed in spruce and a few improvements in beech.
Mathematical model of osteophyte development with the first attempt to identify a biomechanical parameter
Authors: Bednarczyk Ewa , Sikora Szymon , Jankowski Krzysztof , Żołek-Tryznowska Zuzanna , Murawski Tomasz , Bańczerowski Jakub , Lu Yanfei , Senderowski Cezary
Published: January 2024

The paper presents research on identifying a biomechanical parameter from a theoretical model of changes during osteoarthritis. In vitro experiments were carried out on quasi-3D chondrocyte cultures seeded on corn-starch hydrogel materials and subjected to mechanical stress on a designed and constructed stand. The results were adapted to a mathematical model and calculated on a simplified two-dimensional specimen. Numerical simulations have been performed to illustrate the growth of bone spurs. The observed changes of variables which determine osteophytes are qualitative and more correlated to the real-life observations.