bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Growth modeling approach with the Verhulst coexistence dynamic properties for regulation purposes
Authors: Morales-Erosa A. J. , Reyes-Reyes J. , Astorga-Zaragoza C. M. , Osorio-Gordillo G. L. , García-Beltrán C. D. , Madrigal-Espinosa G.
Published: July 2023

For this research, the properties of the logistic growth model for independent and coexisting species were used to set definitions for the possible regulation of one or two growth variables through their coupling parameters. The present analysis is done for the single-species Verhulst model without coupling, the single-species Verhulst model coupled with an exogenous signal, and the two-species Verhulst coexistence growth model which represents six different ecological regimes of interaction. The models’ parameters, such as the intrinsic growth rate and the coupling, are defined. Finally, the control results are expressed as lemmas for regulation, and they are shown using a simulation example of a fish population growing independent of human interaction (no harvesting, no fishing) and the simulation of the regulation of said population when the coupling of fish and humans is involved (harvesting, fishing).
Even if you look confident, I am not sure you are telling the truth! The role of sender confidence on truthfulness judgment of emotional narratives
Authors: Battista Fabiana , Luke Timothy J. , Curci Antonietta , Lanciano Tiziana
Published: July 2023

Judging truthfulness and detecting deception are critical in the criminal justice system as well as in many other applied contexts (e.g., clinical and business organizations). The ability to discriminate a truth-teller from a liar might be associated with the content of deception (e.g., emotional or high-stakes lies) or with the deceiver's characteristics, such as his/her level of confidence shown in lying. The two present studies aimed to manipulate the level of the sender’s confidence and to investigate its effect in deception vs. truthfulness judgments of written narratives varying in emotional content. A pilot sample (N = 124) assessed the stimuli validity of sixteen written narratives (Study 1): 8 deceptive vs. truthful narratives x four types of content (i.e., emotional/bereavement vs. emotional/car accident vs. emotional/quarrel vs neutral/holiday) with low confidence in the recall and 8 deceptive vs. truthful narratives x four types of content (i.e., emotional/bereavement vs. emotional/car accident vs. emotional/quarrel vs neutral/holiday) high in the confidence recall. An experimental sample (N = 428) was administered the two sequences of eight written narratives and for each narrative, veracity judgment, detection accuracy, and judgment confidence were assessed (Study 2). We found that the sender’s confidence, the veracity, and the content of the narratives affected receivers’ veracity judgments and detection accuracy. High confidence made receivers prone to judge bereavements and holiday narratives as truthful and quarrels narratives as deceptive. In addition, high confidence made judgments more accurate for truthful narratives on holidays compared with others, and for deceptive narratives on car accidents and quarrels than for other narratives. The present results are discussed in light of their practical implications for the legal field.
The determinants of growing economic inequality within advanced democracies
Authors: Rochat Matthew
Published: July 2023

Beginning with the premise that rising economic inequality is an urgent problem burdening some industrialized democratic societies more than others, this paper seeks to examine the primary factors responsible. The purpose is not to provide novel empirical analysis but rather to unite siloed academic discussions and debates under a common theme, to address a problem of mutual concern. The first section frames the puzzle of economic inequality within advanced democracies. Subsequent sections review seminal contributions in five issue areas suggested as likely determinants of growing economic inequality in advanced democracies: technology, globalization, labor institutions, taxes and transfers, and the concentration of markets. I conclude by suggesting that these factors may, in fact, be separate branches of the same tree in that they are deeply intertwined with the economic systems in which they exist. Future work on economic inequality should therefore embrace the Varieties of Capitalism framework as a useful tool for understanding economic inequality.
Compound-specific carbon isotope analysis of short-chain fatty acids from Pine tissues: characterizing paleo-fire residues and plant exudates
Authors: Jambrina-Enríquez Margarita , de Vera Caterina Rodríguez , Davara Javier , Herrera-Herrera Antonio V. , Mallol Carolina
Published: July 2023

Different types of plant tissues and resin can account for the wax lipids found in sedimentary contexts and archaeological samples. Consequently, there is increasing research to characterize the fatty acid carbon isotope ratios of different plant anatomical parts and their plant exudates (resin). With the aim to explore isotopic differences between plant tissues, state of the fine organic matter, effect of thermal degradation, and to identify plant residues we measured the δ13C values of short-chain fatty acids (δ13C16:0 and δ13C18:0) in: i) dead and fresh (collected and immediately dried) pine needles and branches (Pinus canariensis) and pine resin from laboratory-controlled heating experiments and ii) sediment and charred pine tissue samples from a wild pine forest fire. Our results are compared to previously published experimental open-air fire experiments and pine-fuelled archaeological combustion features. We found that for both fatty acid types, there are differences in δ13C signatures among anatomical parts and initial moisture content. These data allow us to characterize the isotopic signature of pine tissue and the effect of degradation on isotopic biomarkers, as well as to estimate combustion temperatures in pine-fuelled anthropogenic fires.
On the performance of blockchain-based token offerings
Authors: Risius Marten , Breidbach Christoph F. , Chanson Mathieu , von Krannichfeldt Ruben , Wortmann Felix
Published: July 2023

Initial coin offerings (ICOs) and initial exchange offerings (IEOs) are distinct blockchain-based token offerings. Following multiple frauds associated with decentralized and unregulated ICOs, IEOs are emerging as a novel pathway that relies on centralized crypto exchange platforms acting as intermediaries. However, the question as to how this shift affects fundraising processes in what has traditionally been a decentralized environment remains unresolved. We here address this issue by empirically comparing the performance of ICOs and IEOs through the lens of signaling theory, focusing specifically on the impact of social media information across 305 token offerings (ICOs and IEOs). Our work introduces IEOs and explains how and why the volume and sentiment of social media signals may serve as predictors of fundraising performance. We furthermore find that the impact of these electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) media signals is reduced in the case of IEOs—in the presence of a central cryptocurrency exchange platform mediator. We delineate implications for investors, ventures, platform providers, and regulators alike.
Accelerated 2D visualization using adaptive resolution scaling and temporal reconstruction
Authors: Becher Michael , Heinemann Moritz , Marmann Thomas , Reina Guido , Weiskopf Daniel , Ertl Thomas
Published: July 2023

Data visualization relies on efficient rendering to allow users to interactively explore and understand their data. However, achieving interactive frame rates is often challenging, especially for high-resolution displays or large datasets. In computer graphics, several methods temporally reconstruct full-resolution images from multiple consecutive lower-resolution frames. Besides providing temporal image stability, they amortize the rendering costs over multiple frames and thus improve the minimum frame rate. We present a method that adopts this idea to accelerate 2D information visualization, without requiring any changes to the rendering itself. By exploiting properties of orthographic projection, our method significantly improves rendering performance while minimizing the loss of image quality during camera manipulation. For static scenes, it quickly converges to the full-resolution image. We discuss the characteristics and different modes of our method concerning rendering performance and image quality and the corresponding trade-offs. To improve ease of use, we provide automatic resolution scaling in our method to adapt to user-defined target frame rate. Finally, we present extensive rendering benchmarks to examine real-world performance for examples of parallel coordinates and scatterplot matrix visualizations, and discuss appropriate application scenarios and contraindications for usage.

Graphical Abstract
Assessment of text-generated supply chain risks considering news and social media during disruptive events
Authors: Sadeek Soumik Nafis , Hanaoka Shinya
Published: July 2023

Information flow is an important task in a supply chain network. Disruptive events often impede this flow due to confounding factors, which may not be identified immediately. The objective of this study is to assess supply chain risks by detecting significant risks, examining risk variations across different time phases and establishing risk sentiment relationships utilizing textual data. We examined two disruptive events—coronavirus disease 2019 (Omicron phase) and the Ukraine–Russia war—between November 2021 and April 2022. Data sources included news media and Twitter. The Latent Dirichlet Allocation algorithm was applied to the textual data to extract potential text-generated risks in the form of “topics.” A proportion of these risks were analyzed to assess their time-varying nature. Natural language processing-based sentiment analysis was applied to these risks to infer the sentiment coming from the media using the ordered probit model. The results identify various unnoticed risks, for example: logistics tension, supply chain resiliency, ripple effect, regional supply chain, etc. that may adversely affect supply chain operations if not considered. The outcomes also indicate that textual data sources are capable of capturing risks before the events actually occur. The outcomes further suggest that text data could be valuable for strategic decision making and improving supply chain visibility.
Influences on student decisions to enrol in higher-level mathematics courses
Authors: Hine Gregory , Forlin Chris , Chivers Paola
Published: July 2023

Addressing the participation rates in senior secondary mathematics courses in Australian schools remains a critically important issue. In this paper, the authors report on quantitative findings from a study in which all year 11 and year 12 (aged 17–18 years) Australian Tertiary Admissions Ranking (ATAR) students in Western Australia were invited to participate. The aim was to explore the perceptions of these students regarding their enrolment in higher-level mathematics courses. Data from 1633 students were collected using a survey instrument comprised of 12, 5-point, Likert-scale items. Data were analysed by applying two statistical procedures: calculating frequencies of the 12 items in the scale and examining associations with demographic characteristics and individual items through generalised linear modelling. Analyses indicated most students agreed that other courses of study were more attractive, with almost half indicating that they did not like mathematics. In addition, approximately half of the students said that they did not need to enrol in any mathematics course for ATAR or for university entrance. Significant findings were also identified for gender, school type, and school gender. The knowledge gained from this research is valuable in understanding students’ reasons for choosing not to enrol in higher-level mathematics courses when they have the option to do so and, more broadly, to address persistently low or declining participation rates in these areas of study.
The relationship between overprotective parenting, toothbrushing practices and children's behaviour during dental treatments in 4 to 11-year-old Dutch children: a cross sectional study
Authors: de Jong-Lenters M. , Pasman B. , Duijster D.
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Overprotective parenting and its impact on child development has gained increasing public attention. This study explored the association between overprotective parenting and behaviour during dental treatments and toothbrushing behaviour of 4 to 11-year-old-children.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, caregivers of 4-to-11-year-old children who visited a referral practice for dental treatment in Leiden, The Netherlands, completed a questionnaire about overprotective parenting, using the Parental Overprotection Measure (POM), and children’s toothbrushing behaviour. The dentist and dental assistant used the Venham scale to assess children’s behaviour during dental treatments. Associations between the POM and the Venham scale and toothbrushing variables, were analysed using multiple ordered logistic regression.

Results

The sample included 96 children (mean age: 7.3 ± 2.1 years, 59 boys). Overprotective parenting (higher POM scores) was significantly associated with more disruptive behaviour of children during dental treatments (higher Venham categories) (OR: 1.08 (95% CI 1.04; 1.13)) and lower caregiver self-efficacy regarding toothbrushing (OR 0.96 (95% CI 0.93; 0.99)), after adjustment for confounders. No associations between overprotective parenting and toothbrushing frequency or skipping toothbrushing were found.

Conclusions

Overprotective parenting has been associated with children’s negative behaviour during dental treatments and lower caregiver self-efficacy regarding toothbrushing in primary school children who are treated in a referral practice for paediatric dental care.
“GreenComp” as a tool for examining motivation of vocational teachers to create learning opportunities for the green transition
Authors: Sourgiadaki Maria , Karkalakos Sotirios
Published: July 2023

This study aims to investigate the motivation of vocational teachers in Greece to create learning opportunities that develop sustainability competences in students, using the European competence framework “GreenComp”. This monumental task has been defined in the concept of targeted professional development programs that support vocational teachers in their efforts to promote sustainability education. A sample of 173 teachers from different vocational sectors and regions were surveyed and data were analyzed using the expectancy-value theory of motivation. Results reveal that teachers had the lowest ability beliefs, interest, and face the highest associated costs for certain competences and that there were statistically significant differences in motivation depending on factors, such as vocational sector, educational experience, and training in sustainability issues. This research provides important insights into understanding the readiness of vocational teachers to respond to the demands of the green economy transition and can serve as a basis for further research in this area.
inMTSCCA: An Integrated Multi-Task Sparse Canonical Correlation Analysis for Multi-Omic Brain Imaging Genetics
Authors: Du Lei , Zhang Jin , Zhao Ying , Shang Muheng , Guo Lei , Han Junwei
Published: July 2023

Identifying genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an important research topic. To date, different endophenotypes, such as imaging-derived endophenotypes and proteomic expression-derived endophenotypes, have shown the great value in uncovering risk genes compared to case–control studies. Biologically, a co-varying pattern of different omics-derived endophenotypes could result from the shared genetic basis. However, existing methods mainly focus on the effect of endophenotypes alone; the effect of cross-endophenotype (CEP) associations remains largely unexploited. In this study, we used both endophenotypes and their CEP associations of multi-omic data to identify genetic risk factors, and proposed two integrated multi-task sparse canonical correlation analysis (inMTSCCA) methods, i.e., pairwise endophenotype correlation-guided MTSCCA (pcMTSCCA) and high-order endophenotype correlation-guided MTSCCA (hocMTSCCA). pcMTSCCA employed pairwise correlations between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived, plasma-derived, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-derived endophenotypes as an additional penalty. hocMTSCCA used high-order correlations among these multi-omic data for regularization. To figure out genetic risk factors at individual and group levels, as well as altered endophenotypic markers, we introduced sparsity-inducing penalties for both models. We compared pcMTSCCA and hocMTSCCA with three related methods on both simulation and real (consisting of neuroimaging data, proteomic analytes, and genetic data) datasets. The results showed that our methods obtained better or comparable canonical correlation coefficients (CCCs) and better feature subsets than benchmarks. Most importantly, the identified genetic loci and heterogeneous endophenotypic markers showed high relevance. Therefore, jointly using multi-omic endophenotypes and their CEP associations is promising to reveal genetic risk factors. The source code and manual of inMTSCCA are available at https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn/biocode/tools/BT007330.
Embodied and Enactive Approaches to Cognition
Authors: Gallagher Shaun
Published: July 2023

This Element discusses contemporary theories of embodied cognition, including what has been termed the '4Es' (embodied, embedded, extended and enactive cognition). It examines diverse approaches to questions about the nature of the mind, the mind's relation to the brain, perceptual experience, mental representation, sense making, the role of the environment, and social cognition, and it considers the strengths and weaknesses of the theories in question. It contrasts embodied and enactive views with classic cognitivism, and discusses major criticisms and their possible resolutions. This element also provides a strong focus on enactive theory and the prospects for integrating enactive approaches with other embodied and extended theories, mediated through recent developments in predictive processing and the free energy principle. It concludes with a brief discussion of the practical applications of embodied cognition. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Restrictive fertility policy and elderly suicides: evidence from China
Authors: Li Manfei , Sunde Uwe
Published: July 2023

This paper presents an empirical investigation of the hypothesis that exposure to the restrictive fertility policies of the Chinese “Later, Longer, Fewer” campaign in the 1970s contributes to the dynamics and patterns of elderly suicides in China in the period 2004–2017. We apply an identification strategy that exploits variation in exposure to this policy across birth cohorts that is based on the different timing of the implementation of the fertility policies across Chinese provinces. The results show that cohorts with a greater exposure to the restrictive fertility policy in the 1970s exhibit higher suicide rates during old ages.
Colonial Invasion and Environmental Degradation in Wangari Maathai'sUnbowed: A Memoir
Authors: Rawat Garima , Gaurav Vivek Kumar
Published: July 2023

The consequences of colonization have been linked to dehumanizing effects on a given people, but they can also be linked to a discourse that favors “depletion” of natural resources as their “utilization.” This article examines colonization as a subtle process of cultural devastation and ecological hegemony in the light of the memoirUnbowedby the late Nobel laureate from Africa, Wangari Maathai.1Apart from framing the entire discussion with regard to the impact of colonization on environmental degradation, it also provides a glimpse into Maathai's life and works. We have attempted to analyze her thoughts and the efforts shared in her autobiography regarding the conservation of nature and natural resources, from her experiences stretching from the colonial to the postcolonial era.
Causality analysis of large-scale structures in the flow around a wall-mounted square cylinder
Authors: Martínez-Sánchez Álvaro , López Esteban , Le Clainche Soledad , Lozano-Durán Adrián , Srivastava Ankit , Vinuesa Ricardo
Published: July 2023

The aim of this work is to analyse the formation mechanisms of large-scale coherent structures in the flow around a wall-mounted square cylinder, due to their impact on pollutant transport within cities. To this end, we assess causal relations between the modes of a reduced-order model obtained by applying proper orthogonal decomposition to high-fidelity simulation data of the flow case under study. The causal relations are identified using conditional transfer entropy, which is an information-theoretical quantity that estimates the amount of information contained in the past of one variable about another. This allows for an understanding of the origins and evolution of different phenomena in the flow, with the aim of identifying the modes responsible for the formation of the main vortical structures. Our approach unveils that vortex-breaker modes are the most causal modes, in particular, over higher-order modes, and no significant causal relationships were found for vortex-generator modes. We validate this technique by determining the causal relations present in the nine-equation model of near-wall turbulence developed by Moehliset al.(New J. Phys., vol. 6, 2004, p. 56), which are in good agreement with literature results for turbulent channel flows.
Mass-balance and ablation processes of a perennial polar ice patch on the northern coast of Ellesmere Island
Authors: Davesne Gautier , Fortier Daniel , Domine Florent , Kinnard Christophe
Published: July 2023

Ice patches have implications for landscape and ecosystem dynamics in polar deserts, however, the understanding of the driving factors that control their spatio-temporal variability is limited. This study aims to assess the seasonal and long-term evolution of ice patches on Ward Hunt Island (WHI; 83°N, Canadian High Arctic) based on field measurements of surface mass and energy balance. Results show that mass gains of the ice patch systems occur mostly through drifting snow, making them highly linked to the topography as well as the frequency and magnitude of wind events. Summer ablation is primarily driven by net radiation, but the short-term variability in melt rate is driven by sensible heat fluxes. The highest ablation rates occur during the passage of warm fronts that combine strong winds and mild temperatures. Conversely, foggy days reduce fluxes of solar radiation and sensible heat to the snow/ice surface, thereby suppressing ablation. Ice patches are less climate-sensitive than other cryospheric elements due to a feedback between snow accumulation and topography, however, summer ablation is strongly influenced by micrometeorology. Model projections of these factors suggest that conditions will become critical for preserving ice patches at WHI and along the northern coast of Ellesmere Island as early as in the next decades.
The host galaxy of FRB 20171020A revisited
Authors: Lee-Waddell Karen , James Clancy W. , Ryder Stuart D. , Mahony Elizabeth K. , Bahramian Arash , Koribalski Bärbel S. , Kumar Pravir , Marnoch Lachlan , North-Hickey Freya O. , Sadler Elaine M. , Shannon Ryan , Tejos Nicolas , Thorne Jessica E. , Wang Jing , Wayth Randall
Published: July 2023

The putative host galaxy of FRB 20171020A was first identified as ESO 601-G036 in 2018, but as no repeat bursts have been detected, direct confirmation of the host remains elusive. In light of recent developments in the field, we re-examine this host and determine a new association confidence level of 98%. At 37 Mpc, this makes ESO 601-G036 the third closest FRB host galaxy to be identified to date and the closest to host an apparently non-repeating FRB (with an estimated repetition rate limit of$<$$0.011$bursts per day above$10^{39}$erg). Due to its close distance, we are able to perform detailed multi-wavelength analysis on the ESO 601-G036 system. Follow-up observations confirm ESO 601-G036 to be a typical star-forming galaxy with H i and stellar masses of$\log_{10}\!(M_{\rm{H\,{\small I}}} / M_\odot) \sim 9.2$and$\log_{10}\!(M_\star / M_\odot) = 8.64^{+0.03}_{-0.15}$, and a star formation rate of$\text{SFR} = 0.09 \pm 0.01\,{\rm M}_\odot\,\text{yr}^{-1}$. We detect, for the first time, a diffuse gaseous tail ($\log_{10}\!(M_{\rm{H\,{\small I}}} / M_\odot) \sim 8.3$) extending to the south-west that suggests recent interactions, likely with the confirmed nearby companion ESO 601-G037. ESO 601-G037 is a stellar shred located to the south of ESO 601-G036 that has an arc-like morphology, is about an order of magnitude less massive, and has a lower gas metallicity that is indicative of a younger stellar population. The properties of the ESO 601-G036 system indicate an ongoing minor merger event, which is affecting the overall gaseous component of the system and the stars within ESO 601-G037. Such activity is consistent with current FRB progenitor models involving magnetars and the signs of recent interactions in other nearby FRB host galaxies.
A ca. 39,000-year record of vegetation and climate change from the margin of the Namib Sand Sea
Authors: Chase Brian M. , Boom Arnoud , Carr Andrew S. , Meadows Michael E. , Lim Sophak
Published: July 2023

This paper presents the first continuous multi-proxy record of climate and vegetation change from the central Namib Desert extending over much of the last ca. 39,000 years. Derived from rock hyrax middens, evidence from stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes, pollen, and microcharcoal reveals significant differences between glacial-age and Holocene climates and vegetation types. Although still arid to semi-arid, conditions during Marine Oxygen Isotope Stages (MIS) 2–3 were significantly more humid than in the Late Holocene. Considerable associated vegetation change is apparent, with cooler temperatures and higher/more-regular rainfall promoting the westward expansion of relatively mesic shrubby karroid vegetation during MIS 2–3. With the last glacial–interglacial transition, increasing temperatures and less/less-regular rainfall resulted in marked vegetation changes and the establishment of current xeric grasslands. The inter-plant spacing of the karroid vegetation promoted by wetter conditions does not carry fire effectively, and the microcharcoal record indicates that more extensive fires may develop only with the development of grassier vegetation under drier conditions. As with other terrestrial records from the Namib Desert and environs, no Cape flora elements were found to support previously hypothesised expansion of the Fynbos Biome during the last glacial period.
Adverse childhood experiences and food insecurity in emerging adulthood: findings from the EAT 2010–2018 study
Authors: Larson Nicole , Mason Susan M , Bruening Meg , Laska Melissa N , Hazzard Vivienne M , Neumark-Sztainer Dianne
Published: July 2023

Objective:

Low childhood socio-economic status (SES) and adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are associated with poor health outcomes in adulthood. Determining how ACE may be linked to food insecurity among young people from socio-economically diverse households can inform health-protective strategies. This study examined if ACE are associated with food insecurity during the transition to adulthood and investigated prevalence differences across SES strata.

Setting:

Participants were recruited from twenty secondary schools in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota.

Participants:

The analytic sample (n 1518) completed classroom surveys in 2009–2010 (mean age = 14·5 years) and follow-up surveys in 2017–2018 (mean age = 22·0 years).

Design:

Past-year food insecurity was reported at both time points, and ACE were reported at follow-up. Logistic regression models were used to estimate emerging adult food insecurity prevalence by ACE exposure; models were stratified by childhood SES (low, middle and high).

Results:

The adjusted prevalence of food insecurity was 45·3 % among emerging adults who reported three or more ACE compared with 23·6 % among those with one or two ACE and 15·5 % among those with no ACE (P < 0·001). All forms of ACE were related to an elevated prevalence of food insecurity in emerging adulthood. ACE–food insecurity associations were strongest for emerging adults from lower and middle SES households. Among emerging adults from low SES households, childhood experiences of emotional abuse and substance use by a household member were associated with the largest prevalence differences in food insecurity.

Conclusions:

Findings suggest a need for trauma-informed services within food assistance programs to better serve individuals with a history of ACE.
Inoculation Reduces Misinformation: Experimental Evidence from Multidimensional Interventions in Brazil
Authors: Batista Pereira Frederico , Bueno Natália S. , Nunes Felipe , Pavão Nara
Published: July 2023

Misinformation is widely seen as a threat to democracy that should be promptly addressed by scholars, journalists, and policymakers. However, some of the debated solutions are either controversial (internet platform regulation) or may be difficult and costly to implement in many settings (fact-checking corrections). This study investigates the effectiveness of preemptive interventions, a type of solution that has received considerably less attention in this debate. Studies show that interventions through awareness and media literacy campaigns can inoculate citizens against misinformation, but these interventions are restricted to a few contexts and settings. Our paper uses two field experiments, one of which was conducted in partnership with Brazil’s main newspaper, to investigate the effectiveness of multidimensional interventions against misinformation in São Paulo. The findings show that preemptive interventions can indeed reduce rumor acceptance and provide insights into the strategies to combat misinformation in democracies.
A Multifaceted Isoneutral Eddy Transport Diagnostic Framework and Its Application in the Southern Ocean
Authors: Xie Jingwei , Liu Hailong , Lin Pengfei
Published: July 2023

We propose an isoneutral eddy transport diagnostic framework and apply it in the Southern Ocean to analyze eddy potential vorticity (PV) transport dynamics. We leverage a thickness‐weighted spatiotemporal scale separation to define the generalized eddy flux. A local sampling method is employed and validated to estimate the transport tensor. We introduce Leonard's decomposition in Large Eddy Simulations (LES) to split the process into the Reynolds and non‐Reynolds parts. We also use the stationary‐transient decomposition. The non‐Reynolds term and the stationary effect contribute significantly to the transport properties. The Reynolds and transient parts have distinctions, that show oceanic mesoscale dynamics are not synergistic in time and spatial scales. We investigate the spatial scale dependence of each part and find that the transient and stationary components of the Reynolds (non‐Reynolds) term have consistent (dissimilar) scale dependence. The scale dependence of the generalized eddy flux and the transport eigenvalues is controlled by the non‐Reynolds term. We further investigate the eigenvalues in terms of the potential enstrophy and anisotropy. The potential enstrophy in the Southern Ocean holistically has a forward cascade on the researched scales. The Reynolds and transient effects efficiently promote the forward enstrophy cascade. The non‐Reynolds and stationary effects stimulate drastically anisotropic eddy transport. The PV gradient barrier mechanism dominates the drastic anisotropic case. When the anisotropy is weak, a special anisotropic case with a locally balanced potential enstrophy budget overwhelms the case of real isotropy. We also introduce several LES concepts, hoping to enlighten any potential ocean modeling and parameterization.
Mutated Toll-like receptor 9 increases Alzheimer’s disease risk by compromising innate immunity protection
Authors: Cacace Rita , Zhou Lujia , Hendrickx Van de Craen Elisabeth , Buist Arjan , Hoogmartens Julie , Sieben Anne , Cras Patrick , Vandenberghe Rik , De Deyn Peter P. , Oehlrich Daniel , De Bondt An , Engelborghs Sebastiaan , Moechars Diederik , Van Broeckhoven Christine
Published: July 2023

The development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) involves central and peripheral immune deregulation. Gene identification and studies of AD genetic variants of peripheral immune components may aid understanding of peripheral-central immune crosstalk and facilitate new opportunities for therapeutic intervention. In this study, we have identified in a Flanders-Belgian family a novel variant p.E317D in the Toll-like receptor 9 gene (TLR9), co-segregating with EOAD in an autosomal dominant manner. In human, TLR9 is an essential innate and adaptive immune component predominantly expressed in peripheral immune cells. The p.E317D variant caused 50% reduction in TLR9 activation in the NF-κB luciferase assay suggesting that p.E317D is a loss-of-function mutation. Cytokine profiling of human PBMCs upon TLR9 activation revealed a predominantly anti-inflammatory response in contrast to the inflammatory responses from TLR7/8 activation. The cytokines released upon TLR9 activation suppressed inflammation and promoted phagocytosis of Aβ42oligomers in human iPSC-derived microglia. Transcriptome analysis identified upregulation of AXL, RUBICON and associated signaling pathways, which may underline the effects of TLR9 signaling-induced cytokines in regulating the inflammatory status and phagocytic property of microglia. Our data suggest a protective role of TLR9 signaling in AD pathogenesis, and we propose that TLR9 loss-of-function may disrupt a peripheral-central immune crosstalk that promotes dampening of inflammation and clearance of toxic protein species, leading to the build-up of neuroinflammation and pathogenic protein aggregates in AD development.
Investigating trends in interest for benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery options using Google Trends
Authors: Daniels James P. , Patel Devin N. , Galvan Gloria Cecilia , Friedrich Nadine A. , Das Sanjay , Akhavein Arash , Daskivich Timothy , Josephson David , Desai Premal , De Nunzio Cosimo , Freedland Stephen J.
Published: July 2023

Understanding patient interest among surgical options is challenging. We used Google Trends to analyze interest in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) surgeries recommended for prostate volumes <80 cc. Google Trends was queried with five BPH surgeries. Final rank of search terms was TURP, UroLift, Rezum, Aquablation, and Greenlight. Google Trends can be an effective tool for evaluating public interest trends in BPH surgery.
C-type lectin receptor Dectin-1 blockade on tumour-associated macrophages improves anti-PD-1 efficacy in gastric cancer
Authors: Liu Xin , Lv Kunpeng , Wang Jieti , Lin Chao , Liu Hao , Zhang Heng , Li He , Gu Yun , Li Ruochen , He Hongyong , Xu Jiejie
Published: July 2023

Background

This study aimed to investigate the expression and clinical significance of Dendritic cell-associated C-type lectin-1 (Dectin-1) in gastric cancer (GC), and to explore the mechanism of Dectin-1 regulating tumour-associated macrophage (TAM)-mediated immune evasion in GC.

Methods

The association of Dectin-1+ cells with clinical outcomes was inspected by immunohistochemistry on tumour microarrays. Flow cytometry and RNA sequencing were applied to detect characteristics of T cells, phenotypic and transcriptional features of Dectin-1+ TAMs. The effect of Dectin-1 blockade was evaluated using an in vitro intervention experiment based on fresh GC tissues.

Results

High infiltration of intratumoral Dectin-1+ cells predicted poor prognosis in GC patients. Dectin-1+ cells were mainly composed of TAMs, and the accumulation of Dectin-1+ TAMs was associated with T-cell dysfunction. Notably, Dectin-1+ TAMs exhibited an immunosuppressive phenotype. Furthermore, blockade of Dectin-1 could reprogramme Dectin-1+ TAMs and reactivate anti-tumour effects of T cells, as well as enhanced PD-1 inhibitor-mediated cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells against tumour cells.

Conclusions

Dectin-1 could affect T-cell anti-tumour immune response by regulating the immunosuppressive function of TAMs, leading to poor prognosis and immune evasion in GC patients. Blockade of Dectin-1 can be used alone or in combination with current therapeutic strategies in GC.
Vascular nitric oxide resistance in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Bahadoran Zahra , Mirmiran Parvin , Kashfi Khosrow , Ghasemi Asghar
Published: July 2023

Vascular nitric oxide (NO•) resistance, manifested by an impaired vasodilator function of NO• in both the macro- and microvessels, is a common state in type 2 diabetes (T2D) associated with developing cardiovascular events and death. Here, we summarize experimental and human evidence of vascular NO• resistance in T2D and discuss its underlying mechanisms. Human studies indicate a ~ 13-94% decrease in the endothelium (ET)-dependent vascular smooth muscle (VSM) relaxation and a 6-42% reduced response to NO• donors, i.e., sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), in patients with T2D. A decreased vascular NO• production, NO• inactivation, and impaired responsiveness of VSM to NO• [occurred due to quenching NO• activity, desensitization of its receptor soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), and/or impairment of its downstream pathway, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-protein kinase G (PKG)] are the known mechanisms underlying the vascular NO• resistance in T2D. Hyperglycemia-induced overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and vascular insulin resistance are key players in this state. Therefore, upregulating vascular NO• availability, re-sensitizing or bypassing the non-responsive pathways to NO•, and targeting key vascular sources of ROS production may be clinically relevant pharmacological approaches to circumvent T2D-induced vascular NO• resistance.
UBE2S interacting with TRIM21 mediates the K11-linked ubiquitination of LPP to promote the lymphatic metastasis of bladder cancer
Authors: Xiao Kanghua , Peng Shengmeng , Lu Junlin , Zhou Ting , Hong Xuwei , Chen Siting , Liu Guangyao , Li Hong , Huang Jian , Chen Xu , Lin Tianxin
Published: July 2023

Lymphatic metastasis is the most common pattern of bladder cancer (BCa) metastasis and has an extremely poor prognosis. Emerging evidence shows that ubiquitination plays crucial roles in various processes of tumors, including tumorigenesis and progression. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the roles of ubiquitination in the lymphatic metastasis of BCa are largely unknown. In the present study, through bioinformatics analysis and validation in tissue samples, we found that the ubiquitin-conjugating E2 enzyme UBE2S was positively correlated with the lymphatic metastasis status, high tumor stage, histological grade, and poor prognosis of BCa patients. Functional assays showed that UBE2S promoted BCa cell migration and invasion in vitro, as well as lymphatic metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, UBE2S interacted with tripartite motif containing 21 (TRIM21) and jointly induced the ubiquitination of lipoma preferred partner (LPP) via K11-linked polyubiquitination but not K48- or K63-linked polyubiquitination. Moreover, LPP silencing rescued the anti-metastatic phenotypes and inhibited the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of BCa cells after UBE2S knockdown. Finally, targeting UBE2S with cephalomannine distinctly inhibited the progression of BCa in cell lines and human BCa-derived organoids in vitro, as well as in a lymphatic metastasis model in vivo, without significant toxicity. In conclusion, our study reveals that UBE2S, by interacting with TRIM21, degrades LPP through K11-linked ubiquitination to promote the lymphatic metastasis of BCa, suggesting that UBE2S represents a potent and promising therapeutic target for metastatic BCa.
Spatial Transcriptomics-correlated Electron Microscopy maps transcriptional and ultrastructural responses to brain injury
Authors: Androvic Peter , Schifferer Martina , Perez Anderson Katrin , Cantuti-Castelvetri Ludovico , Jiang Hanyi , Ji Hao , Liu Lu , Gouna Garyfallia , Berghoff Stefan A. , Besson-Girard Simon , Knoferle Johanna , Simons Mikael , Gokce Ozgun
Published: July 2023

Understanding the complexity of cellular function within a tissue necessitates the combination of multiple phenotypic readouts. Here, we developed a method that links spatially-resolved gene expression of single cells with their ultrastructural morphology by integrating multiplexed error-robust fluorescence in situ hybridization (MERFISH) and large area volume electron microscopy (EM) on adjacent tissue sections. Using this method, we characterized in situ ultrastructural and transcriptional responses of glial cells and infiltrating T-cells after demyelinating brain injury in male mice. We identified a population of lipid-loaded “foamy” microglia located in the center of remyelinating lesion, as well as rare interferon-responsive microglia, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes that co-localized with T-cells. We validated our findings using immunocytochemistry and lipid staining-coupled single-cell RNA sequencing. Finally, by integrating these datasets, we detected correlations between full-transcriptome gene expression and ultrastructural features of microglia. Our results offer an integrative view of the spatial, ultrastructural, and transcriptional reorganization of single cells after demyelinating brain injury.
Ketones from aldehydes via alkyl C(sp3)−H functionalization under photoredox cooperative NHC/palladium catalysis
Authors: Wang Hai-Ying , Wang Xin-Han , Zhou Bang-An , Zhang Chun-Lin , Ye Song
Published: July 2023

Direct synthesis of ketones from aldehydes features high atom- and step-economy. Yet, the coupling of aldehydes with unactivated alkyl C(sp3)-H remains challenging. Herein, we develop the synthesis of ketones from aldehydes via alkyl C(sp3)-H functionalization under photoredox cooperative NHC/Pd catalysis. The two-component reaction of iodomethylsilyl alkyl ether with aldehydes gave a variety of β-, γ- and δ-silyloxylketones via 1,n-HAT (n = 5, 6, 7) of silylmethyl radicals to generate secondary or tertiary alkyl radicals and following coupling with ketyl radicals from aldehydes under photoredox NHC catalysis. The three-component reaction with the addition of styrenes gave the corresponding ε-hydroxylketones via the generation of benzylic radicals by the addition of alkyl radicals to styrenes and following coupling with ketyl radicals. This work demonstrates the generation of ketyl radical and alkyl radical under the photoredox cooperative NHC/Pd catalysis, and provides two and three component reactions for the synthesis of ketones from aldehydes with alkyl C(sp3)-H functionalization. The synthetic potential of this protocol was also further illustrated by the late-stage functionalization of natural products.
On the mechanisms of lysis triggered by perturbations of bacterial cell wall biosynthesis
Authors: Kawai Yoshikazu , Kawai Maki , Mackenzie Eilidh Sohini , Dashti Yousef , Kepplinger Bernhard , Waldron Kevin John , Errington Jeff
Published: July 2023

Inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis by antibiotics such as β-lactams is thought to cause explosive lysis through loss of cell wall integrity. However, recent studies on a wide range of bacteria have suggested that these antibiotics also perturb central carbon metabolism, contributing to death via oxidative damage. Here, we genetically dissect this connection in Bacillus subtilis perturbed for cell wall synthesis, and identify key enzymatic steps in upstream and downstream pathways that stimulate the generation of reactive oxygen species through cellular respiration. Our results also reveal the critical role of iron homeostasis for the oxidative damage-mediated lethal effects. We show that protection of cells from oxygen radicals via a recently discovered siderophore-like compound uncouples changes in cell morphology normally associated with cell death, from lysis as usually judged by a phase pale microscopic appearance. Phase paling appears to be closely associated with lipid peroxidation.
Safety and immunogenicity of a tetravalent and bivalent SARS-CoV-2 protein booster vaccine in men
Authors: Hannawi Suad , Saf Eldin Linda , Abuquta Alaa , Alamadi Ahmad , Mahmoud Sally A. , Hassan Aala , Xu Shuping , Li Jian , Liu Dongfang , Baidoo Adam Abdul Hakeem , Ibrahim Dima , Alhaj Mojtaba , Chen Yuanxin , Zhou Qiang , Xie Liangzhi
Published: July 2023

The safety and immunogenicity of a protein-based tetravalent vaccine SCTV01E that contains spike protein ectodomain (S-ECD) of Alpha, Beta, Delta and Omicron BA.1 are assessed and compared with bivalent protein vaccine SCTV01C (Alpha and Beta variants) and monovalent mRNA vaccine (NCT05323461). The primary endpoints are the geometric mean titers (GMT) of live virus neutralizing antibodies (nAb) to Delta (B.1.617.2) and Omicron BA.1 at day 28 post-injection. The secondary endpoints include the safety, day 180 GMTs against Delta and Omicron BA.1, day 28 GMTs to BA.5, and seroresponse rates of neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses at day 28 post-injection. 450 participants, comprising of 449 males and 1 female, with a median age (range) of 27 (18–62) years, are assigned to receive one booster dose of BNT162b2, 20 µg SCTV01C or 30 µg SCTV01E and completed 4-week follow-up. All SCTV01E related adverse events (AEs) are mild or moderate and no Grade ≥3 AE, serious AE or new safety concerns are identified. Day 28 GMT of live virus neutralizing antibodies and seroresponse against Omicron BA.1 and BA.5 with SCTV01E are significantly higher than those with SCTV01C and BNT162b2. These data indicate an overall neutralization superiority with tetravalent booster immunization in men.
Probing hyperbolic and surface phonon-polaritons in 2D materials using Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Bergeron Alaric , Gradziel Clément , Leonelli Richard , Francoeur Sébastien
Published: July 2023

The hyperbolic dispersion relation of phonon-polaritons (PhPols) in anisotropic van der Waals materials provides high-momentum states, directional propagation, subdiffractional confinement, large optical density of states, and enhanced light-matter interactions. In this work, we use Raman spectroscopy in the convenient backscattering configuration to probe PhPol in GaSe, a 2D material presenting two hyperbolic regions separated by a double reststrahlen band. By varying the incidence angle, dispersion relations are revealed for samples with thicknesses between 200 and 750 nm. Raman spectra simulations confirm the observation of one surface and two extraordinary guided polaritons and match the evolution of PhPol frequency as a function of vertical confinement. GaSe appears to provide relatively low propagation losses and supports confinement factors matching or exceeding those reported for other 2D materials. Resonant excitation close to the 1s exciton singularly exalts the scattering efficiency of PhPols, providing enhanced scattering signals and means to probe the coupling of PhPols to other solid-state excitations.