bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BRAF V600E mutation and high expression of PD-L1 in Rosai-Dorfman disease: case report and review of the literature
Authors: Moen Farnoush M. , Youssef Mariam M. , Shukla Mihir , Nierodzik Mary Lynn , Mayerhoefer Marius E. , Park Christopher
Published: November 2024

BRAF V600E mutations are frequently found in histiocytic/dendritic cell neoplasms such as Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) and Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), but few reports have also described BRAF mutations in Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD), and even these cases may predominantly represent mixed histiocytosis. BRAF mutations have been studied in histiocytic/dendritic cell neoplasms and described to be associated with increased risk of relapse and long-term consequences, but few studies have examined BRAF V600E mutation in RDD, which is recognized as a neoplasm given the high frequency of MAPK pathway alterations. Here, we report a case of BRAF V600E-mutated RDD in a patient who presented with generalized lymphadenopathy. During our evaluation of this patient, we also found expression of PD-L1 in neoplastic histiocytes. During our review period, only few cases of RDD reported to harbor BRAF mutation or were evaluated for the expression of PDL1 by neoplastic cells. Given the potential challenges in distinguishing RDD from other histiocytic/dendritic cell neoplasms, including mixed histiocytosis with similar clinicopathological manifestations, we will discuss the current state of knowledge regarding the frequency and clinical impact of BRAF V600E in RDD, as well as the role of BRAF mutations in RDD pathogenesis. Distinction of BRAF V600E mutated histiocytic/dendritic cell neoplasms requires consideration of distinctive histopathological and immunophenotypic findings in appropriate clinical and radiologic setting. Given the increasing use of BRAF inhibitors as well as checkpoint blockade inhibitors to treat a number of cancers, we will discuss the clinical implications of the presence of BRAF V600E mutation and PD-L1 expression in RDD.
Mathematical model and its solution for water-altering-gas (WAG) injection process incorporating the effect of miscibility, gravity, viscous fingering and permeability heterogeneity
Authors: Khan Mohammad Yunus
Published: November 2024

The oil recovery from the water-alternating-gas (WAG) injection process is significantly impacted by gravity, viscous fingering, and the permeability heterogeneity of the reservoir. Therefore, the combined effect of these parameters cannot be neglected in the WAG injection process. This article presents the development of a mathematical model of oil recovery and its solution for the WAG injection process that takes into account the combined effects of miscibility change, viscous fingering, gravity, and permeability heterogeneity in an inclined stratified reservoir. First, the governing equations and fractional flow functions were explained in relation to the effects of gravity, permeability heterogeneity, viscous fingering, and miscibility change in an inclined stratified porous medium. Then, a mathematical model was developed using fractional flow functions and conservation equations for both injected water and solvent. The model was generated in the form of a quasi-linear first-order partial differential equation, which was solved analytically in two dimensions (2-D) utilizing vector calculus. Next, this model was solved analytically by applying wave theory to practical constant pressure boundary conditions, which generate distinct waves at different times to provide pressure and saturation at the displacement front location. The total volumetric flux and breakthrough time are calculated from the analytical solution at various times. The presented analytical solutions can be used to predict different parameters for stratified porous media in a fast and efficient way. Finally, the results of analytical solution validated with high-resolution numerical simulation for a wide range of permeability heterogeneity, which shows excellent agreement for breakthrough time, saturation, and pressure versus displacement location of different waves at different times. This analytical solution will save time and money by offering guidance to engineers for analyzing the saturation and pressure distribution at different times and predicting oil recovery. It will also improve the understanding of the physics underlying the multiphase flow WAG injection process in heterogeneous reservoirs.
Vindicating Lineage Eliminativism
Authors: Suárez Javier , Veigl Sophie
Published: November 2024

This article defends a selective eliminativist position with respect to the concept of “biological lineage” as used in certain areas of contemporary evolutionary biology. We argue that its primary epistemic roles in these contexts—explaining social evolution and cumulative selection—clash with empirical evidence, and that enforcing the concept of “lineage” even obstructs fruitful research avenues in several biological research fields, including phylogenetic research. Drawing on this, we suggest that, in many instances, it would be best to get rid of the concept of “lineage” and think in terms that are more closely aligned with the empirical complexity of the biological world. Specifically, this entails that, instead of looking for the lineage that may have given rise to the entities possessing certain biological characteristics, biologists should generally look for any potential process allowing such possession, with the formation of a lineage just one possibility among many.
Development and evaluation of a kidney health questionnaire and estimates of chronic kidney disease prevalence in the Cooperative Health Research in South Tyrol (CHRIS) study
Authors: Barbieri Giulia , Cazzoletti Lucia , Melotti Roberto , Hantikainen Essi , Lundin Rebecca , Barin Laura , Gögele Martin , Riegler Peter , Ferraro Pietro Manuel , Pramstaller Peter Paul , Gambaro Giovanni , Zanolin Maria Elisabetta , Pattaro Cristian
Published: November 2024

Background

Kidney diseases are a public health burden but are poorly investigated in the general population. In light of inadequate survey tools, we developed a novel questionnaire for use in population-based studies, to retrospectively assess kidney diseases.

Methods

The questionnaire covered general kidney diseases, reduced kidney function, and renal surgeries. It was administered between 2011 and 2018 to 11,684 participants (median age = 45 years) of the Cooperative Health Research in South Tyrol (CHRIS) study. Fasting estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) were measured. By factor analysis we contextualized the questionnaire content with respect to the biochemical measurements. We estimated overall and sex-stratified prevalence of kidney diseases, including possible CKD, calibrating them to the general target population via relative sampling weights.

Results

Population-representative prevalence of glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, and congenital kidney diseases was 1.0%, 3.0%, and 0.2%, respectively, with corresponding odds ratios for females versus males of 1.4 (95% confidence interval: 1.0, 2.0), 8.7 (6.2, 12.3), and 0.7 (0.3, 1.6), respectively. Prevalence of kidney dysfunction (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or UACR > 30 mg/g) was 8.59%, while prevalence of self-reported CKD was 0.69%, indicating 95.3% of lack of disease awareness, with a similar figure in people with diabetes or hypertension. Overall, 15.76% of the population was affected by a kidney disease of any kind.

Conclusion

In the Val Venosta/Vinschgau alpine district, CKD prevalence aligned with Western European estimates. Kidney health questionnaire implementation in population studies is feasible and valuable to assess CKD awareness, which we found to be dramatically low.

Graphical abstract
Adolescents’ Digital Technology Use, Emotional Dysregulation, and Self-Esteem: No Evidence of Same-Day Linkages
Authors: Taylor Madison E. , Schueller Stephen M. , Russell Michael A. , Hoyle Rick H. , Odgers Candice L.
Published: November 2024

Concerns regarding the potential negative impacts of digital technology use on youth mental health and well-being are high. However, most studies have several methodological limitations: relying on cross-sectional designs and retrospective reports, assessing technology use as an omnibus construct, and focusing on between- instead of within-person comparisons. This study addresses these limitations by prospectively following young adolescents (n = 388) over a 14-day ecological momentary assessment study to test whether adolescents’ digital technology use is linked with self-reported emotional dysregulation and self-esteem and whether these relationships are stronger for adolescent girls than boys. We found no evidence that adolescents experienced higher emotional dysregulation (b = − .02; p = .07) and lower self-esteem (b = .004; p = .32) than they normally do on days where they use more technology than they normally do (within-person). Adolescents with higher average daily technology use over the study period did not experience lower levels of self-esteem (between-person, b = − .02; p = .13). Adolescents with higher average daily technology use across the two-week period did report higher levels of emotional dysregulation (p = .01), albeit the between-person relation was small (b = .08). There was no evidence that gender moderated the associations, both between and within adolescents (bs = − .02–.13, p = .06 − .55). Our findings contribute to the growing counter-narrative that technology use does not have as large of an impact on adolescents’ mental health and well-being as the public is concerned about.
Diagnose und Therapie der Echinokokkose
Authors: Deibel Ansgar , Müllhaupt Beat
Published: November 2024

Die alveoläre (AE) und zystische Echinokokkose (CE) sind seltene Zoonosen, bei denen der Mensch durch die Larven des Fuchs- oder Hundebandwurms infiziert wird. Echinococcus multilocularis, der Erreger der AE, kommt hauptsächlich in der nördlichen Hemisphäre vor, einschliesslich Mittel- und Westeuropa. Im Gegensatz dazu ist Echinococcus granulosus, der Erreger der CE, weltweit verbreitet, kommt in Europa vor allem im Mittelmeerraum, in Südosteuropa und Osteuropa vor. In Deutschland, Frankreich, der Schweiz und Österreich wird die CE nahezu ausschliesslich bei Immigranten diagnostiziert. Obwohl die AE selten ist, zeigt sich in Europa seit der Jahrtausendwende ein Anstieg der Inzidenz. Die Diagnose beider Erkrankungen erfolgt durch Bildgebung, Serologie und gelegentlich histopathologische oder molekularbiologische Tests. Die Therapieansätze und Prognosen unterscheiden sich deutlich. Die Therapie der AE hängt von der Ausdehnung der Erkrankung ab. Internationale Leitlinien empfehlen bei operabler AE eine chirurgische Resektion mit anschliessender Rezidivprophylaxe durch Benzimidazole für zwei Jahre. Bei Inoperabilität ist eine lebenslange Therapie mit Benzimidazolen notwendig, wobei ca. ein Drittel der Patienten später einen Therapieabsetzversuch unternehmen kann. Seit der Einführung der Benzimidazoltherapie hat sich die Prognose der AE erheblich verbessert, und die Lebenserwartung der betroffenen Patienten ist nahezu mit der der Normalbevölkerung vergleichbar. Die CE kann je nach Stadium chirurgisch reseziert, interventionell behandelt oder medikamentös therapiert werden. In einigen Fällen wird auch eine Beobachtung (Watch-and-wait-Strategie) empfohlen. Die Prognose der CE ist in der Regel gut.
Spatial heterogeneity analysis between street network configurations and various service activities: evidence from the Wuhan metropolitan area
Authors: Chih-Lin Tung , Yinuo Wang , Sanwei He , Fat-Iam Lam
Published: November 2024

China’s economic growth is increasingly being driven by the contemporary service industry in the context of a new economy. This study aims to examine the spatial heterogeneous relationship between various service industry activities and street network design configurations by integrating multisource big data and geospatial analysis to provide insightful implications for human-centered design for compact cities by taking the case study of an inland megacity in central China, Wuhan. Street configurations under the walking/driving modes including closeness, betweenness, severance and efficiency, are characterized from the perspective of spatial design network analysis and angular distance to effectively reflect network shapes and subjective perceptions when navigating through the streets. The point-like, point-axis and ring patterns of various service activities are identified using the kernel density estimation (KDE). Then two sets of densities are analyzed to investigate whether various service activities are spatially associated with specific street metrics and whether spatial stratified heterogeneity exists. The results show that severance and efficiency are two promising indicators to represent the human-scale street design besides the conventional street centrality indices. The spatial mismatch is mainly observed between street metrics and the tourism sector whereas spatial clusters are detected in other types of service activities. Diverse service activities have distinct location preferences for street designs under different transport modes. The walking mode values global closeness and betweenness, while the driving mode values severance and efficiency.
Review on the current state of iodine compatible neutralizers
Authors: Becke Philipp S. , Kottke Nils Gerrit , Vaupel Max , Kutufa Niccola , Tajmar Martin , Hey Franz Georg
Published: November 2024

The rising deployment numbers of electric propulsion systems and the increased price of noble gas propellants have created the demand for alternative propellants. Iodine is a very promising candidate, which has already been successfully demonstrated with a variety of thruster types. The main challenge remains to design an iodine compatible neutralizer for those thruster types requiring neutralization. This review first gives an overview of the most common neutralizer principles and categorizes them according to their efficiency and current generation. Special consideration is given to plasma bridge hot cathodes, as they allow the broadest scaling of the supplied current levels. Different emitter types and materials are then discussed based on their resistance to iodine corrosion. In the final section, the experimental results of neutralizers tested with iodine are compared and the encountered difficulties are reviewed. A summary presents the best candidates, based on the maximum neutralization current and the technological readiness level. The recommended neutralizer technologies for ultra-low currents are filament cathodes, for low currents radio-frequency-cathodes and for high currents plasma bridge hot cathodes. Filament cathodes have already been flight proven in an iodine propulsion system and radio-frequency-cathodes have been tested successfully in a laboratory environment. While possible in theory, a successful long-term test of an iodine-fueled plasma bridge hot cathode has not been achieved so far.
Ultrasound guided evaluation of muscle wasting in critically ill patients
Authors: Ali Alsayed Gaber , Mostafa Mohamed Faheem , Hammad Mohammad Gamal Mohammad , Zeineldin Khaled H.
Published: November 2024

Background

Muscle wasting constitutes a frequent complication in critical illness and may be most prevalent in chronic critical illness as inpatients with prolonged ICU length of stay.

Objective

To evaluate the incidence and percentage of muscle wasting estimated by ultrasonography during ICU stay in patients with sepsis and receiving medications as corticosteroids, muscle relaxant, and certain antibiotics during ICU stay and hospital stay.

Patients and methods

We enrolled 90 patients diagnosed with sepsis who were admitted to ICU at Kasr Alainy Hospital were subdivided in to 3 groups: Group 1 consists of 30 patients receiving steroids. Group 2 consists of 30 patients receiving antibiotic causing muscle wasting in the form of aminoglycosides. Group 3 consists of 30 patients receiving neuromuscular blocking agents (muscle relaxants) for any indication in ICU.

Results

Our study included 90 patients, with mean age 50.44 ± 6.79 years, with male % 60%, APACHE II score 7.16 ± 3.59, SOFA score 7.16 ± 3.59, results showed there was a significant decline in QMT on both right and left sides as well as RFCSA on both right and left sides when compared with baseline starting from the 3rd day of ICU admission till the end of the study period (15th day of ICU admission) (P < 0.001). Patients who received muscle relaxant had significantly higher QMT% and RFCSA% wasting when compared to patients who received aminoglycosides (P < 0.001) and when compared to patients who received steroids (P < 0.001). Patients who received aminoglycosides had significantly higher QMT% and RFCSA% wasting compared to patients who received steroids (P < 0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between Horowitz index with right side QMT% wasting (r =  − 0.557; P < 0.001), left side QMT% wasting (r =  − 0.444; P < 0.001), right side RFCSA% wasting (r =  − 0.638; P < 0.001), and left side RFCSA% wasting (r =  − 0.621; P < 0.001). Right side QMT% wasting positively correlated with WBCs (r = 0.254; P = 0.016). There was a significant positive correlation between SOFA score with right side QMT% wasting (r = 0.308; P = 0.003) and left side QMT% wasting (r = 0.285; P = 0.006). There was a significant positive correlation between SOFA score with right side RFCSA% wasting (r = 0.210; P = 0.003) and left side RFCSA% wasting (r = 0.303; P = 0.004).

Conclusion

Ultrasound showed significant reduction in QMT and RFCSA from the baseline in patients with sepsis starting from the 3rd day of admission. Patients who received muscle relaxant had the highest incidence of muscle wasting (QMT% wasting and RFCSA% wasting). Patients who received steroids reported the least percentage of muscle wasting.
Introducing the Philosophy of Mathematical Practice
Authors: Carter Jessica
Published: November 2024

This Element introduces a young field, the 'philosophy of mathematical practice'. We first offer a general characterisation of the approach to the philosophy of mathematics that takes mathematical practice seriously and contrast it with 'mathematical philosophy'. The latter is traced back to Bertrand Russell and the orientation referred to as 'scientific philosophy' that was active between 1850 and 1930. To give a better sense of the field, the Element further contains two examples of topics studied, that of mathematical structuralism and visual thinking in mathematics. These are in part presented from a methodological point of view, focussing on mathematics as an activity and questions related to how mathematics develops. In addition, the Element contains several examples from mathematics, both historical and contemporary , to illustrate and support the philosophical points.
The French Disease in Renaissance Italy
Authors: Henderson John
Published: November 2024

This Element provides a fresh approach to the representation and experience of the French Disease, by reassessing a wide range of textual and visual sources through the lens of contemporary medical ideas. It analyses how knowledge about the Great Pox was transmitted to a literate and also a wider public through performance and the circulation of popular prints. Chronicles, satirical and moralistic poems and plays about prostitutes, along with autobiographical accounts, described symptoms and the experience of patients, reflecting how non-medical men and women understood the nature of this terrible new disease and its profound physical and psychological impact. The second major theme is how the French Disease was represented visually. Woodcuts and broadsheets showing the moral and physical decline of courtesans are analysed together with graphic medical illustrations of symptoms and their treatment together with images of the diseased body of St Job, patron saint of the French Disease.
Climate Science
Authors: Parker Wendy S.
Published: November 2024

This Element examines how climate scientists have arrived at answers to three key questions about climate change: How much is earth's climate warming? What is causing this warming? What will climate be like in the future? Resources from philosophy of science are employed to analyse the methods that climate scientists use to address these questions and the inferences that they make from the evidence collected. Along the way, the analysis contributes to broader philosophical discussions of data modelling and measurement, robustness analysis, explanation, and model evaluation.
A note of caution on CJEU databases
Authors: Ovádek Michal
Published: November 2024

The purpose of this short research note is to draw attention to two major pitfalls of working with databases of decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union. The first one is technical in nature and relates to the discrepant coverage of the Curia and Eur-Lex databases. The second one is linguistic in nature and relates to the fact that most scholars using these databases work in English. New work on this front is capable of addressing the first issue but a change to research practices would be required to address the second.
Modelling wind-induced changes to overturning wave shape
Authors: Feddersen Falk , Hanson Kentaro , Mostert Wouter , Fincham Adam
Published: November 2024

Depth-limited overturning wave shape affects water turbulence and sediment suspension. Experiments have shown that wind affects shoaling and overturning wave shape, with uncertain mechanism. Here, we study wind effects (given by the wind Reynolds number) on solitary wave shoaling and overturning with the two-phase direct numerical simulations model Basilisk run in two dimensions on steep bathymetry for fixed wave Reynolds number and Bond number. For all wind, the propagating solitary wave sheds a two-dimensional turbulent air wake and has nearly uniform speed with minimal wave energy changes over the rapidly varying bathymetry. Wave-face slope is influenced by wind, and shoaling wave shape changes are consistent with previous studies. As overturning jet impacts, wind-dependent differences in overturn shape are quantified. The non-dimensional breakpoint location and overturn area have similar wind dependence as previous experience, whereas the overturn aspect ratio has opposite wind dependence. During shoaling, the surface viscous stresses are negligible relative to pressure. Surface tension effects are also small but grow rapidly near overturning. In a wave frame of reference, surface pressure is low in the lee and contributes 2–5 % to the velocity potential rate of change in the surface dynamic boundary condition, which, integrated over time, changes the wave shape. Reasons why the overturn aspect ratio is different than in experiment and why a stronger simulated wind is required are explored. The dramatic wind effects on overturning jet area, and thus to the available overturn potential energy, make concrete the implications of wind-induced changes to wave shape.
Biological Mistake Theory and the Question of Function
Authors: Oderberg David S. , Hill Jonathan , Austin Christopher , Bojak Ingo , Cinotti François , Gibbins Jonathan M.
Published: November 2024

The making of mistakes by organisms and other living systems is a theoretically and empirically unifying feature of biological investigation. Mistake theory is a rigorous and experimentally productive way of understanding this widespread phenomenon. It does, however, run up against the long-standing ‘functions’ debate in philosophy of biology. Against the objection that mistakes are just a kind of malfunction, and that without a position on functions there can be no theory of mistakes, we reply that this is to misunderstand the theory. In this paper we set out the basic concepts of mistake theory and then argue that mistakes are a distinctive phenomenon in their own right, not just a kind of malfunction.
Genetic analysis and hybrid performance of recommended cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) clones for bean yield in Ghana
Authors: Ofori Atta , Padi Francis K. , Owusu-Ansah Frank
Published: November 2024

Attempts to develop high yielding varieties in Ghana have mostly relied on the introduction of new clones to broaden the range of planting materials for yield improvement. The objective of this study was to estimate the genetic variation and heritability for bean yield of six recommended cocoa clones using these as males in crosses with five seed garden parents. Twenty-four families obtained from a 5 × 6 North Carolina II (NC II) incomplete factorial mating design together with 19 high yielding single crosses, of which four were standard mixed hybrids, were planted in a randomized complete block design with four replications and evaluated for bean yield over 6 years. To account for the serial correlation among yield data collected from the same plants over years, six models with different covariance structures were tested. The general covariance model emerged appropriate based on Akaike information criterion values with significant (P < 0.01) family × year interaction. Average bean yield was highest in the NC II families followed by the specific crosses then the standard mixed hybrids. Combining ability analysis among the NC II was significant for female, male and female × male interaction along with a narrow-sense heritability of 0.26. Clone CRG 6035 among the males which had good general combining ability could be added to the seed garden parents, while the promising hybrids (NA 33 × SCA 9, SCA 6 × Pound 10, T60/887 × PA 121 and T79/501 × CRG 6035/103) undergo stability tests before release.
Pelagic Sargassum and some associated mobile fauna: new records for the archipelago of Madeira (subtropical eastern Atlantic)
Authors: Ferreira S. J. , Kaufmann M. , Wirtz P. , Berimbau L. , Araújo R.
Published: November 2024

Starting in the summer 2023 and peaking in late 2023, large amounts of Sargassum were observed floating off the coast of Madeira Islands, Portugal. The analysis of the samples revealed the presence of the three most common morphotypes of the two known species of pelagic Sargassum: S. natans I, S. natans VIII, and S. fluitans III. This is the first record for the subtropical eastern Atlantic Ocean for S. natans VIII and S. fluitans III. Both species were found entangled, and even though the main purpose of the study was to document the occurrence of pelagic Sargassum in the Madeira archipelago, some associated fauna were also recorded: the crab Planes minutus (Linnaeus, 1758), the amphi-Atlantic shrimps Latreutes fucorum (Fabricius, 1798) and Hippolyte coerulescens (Fabricius, 1775), and the nudibranch Scyllaea pelagica Linnaeus, 1758. The last two are new records for the Madeira archipelago.
Sources of children’s difficulties with non-canonical sentence structures: Insights from Mandarin
Authors: Hao Jiuzhou , Chondrogianni Vasiliki , Sturt Patrick
Published: November 2024

The present study investigated whether children’s difficulty with non-canonical structures is due to their non-adult-like use of linguistic cues or their inability to revise misinterpretations using late-arriving cues. We adopted a priming production task and a self-paced listening task with picture verification, and included three Mandarin non-canonical structures with differing word orders and the presence or absence of morphosyntactic cues. Forty five-to-ten-year-old Mandarin-speaking children were tested and compared to adults. Results showed that children were indistinguishable from adults in how they used different cues in real-time, although their performance in offline comprehension and production was more prone to errors but improved given the increase of age. These results suggest that the current child sample has adult-like cue-use patterns and use late-arriving cues to revise misinterpretations. The observed worse offline accuracy and production difficulties relative to adults result from their less developed domain-general abilities in performing tasks.
Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, epidemiology and burden on hospitals
Authors: Bloomfield Lauren Edna , Coombs Geoffrey , Armstrong Paul
Published: November 2024

This study presents surveillance data from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2023 for community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) notified in the Kimberley region of Western Australia (WA) and describes the region’s changing CA-MRSA epidemiology over this period. A subset of CA-MRSA notifications from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2015 were linked to inpatient and emergency department records. Episodes of care (EOC) during which a positive CA-MRSA specimen was collected within the first 48 hours of admission and emergency presentations (EP) during which a positive CA-MRSA specimen was collected on the same day as presentation were selected and analysed further. Notification rates of CA-MRSA in the Kimberley region of WA increased from 250 cases per 100,000 populations in 2003/2004 to 3,625 cases per 100,000 in 2022/2023, peaking at 6,255 cases per 100,000 in 2016/2017. Since 2010, there has been an increase in notifications of Panton-Valentine leucocidin positive (PVL+) CA-MRSA, predominantly due to the ‘Queensland Clone’. PVL+ CA-MRSA infections disproportionately affect younger, Aboriginal people and are associated with an increasing burden on hospital services, particularly emergency departments. It is unclear from this study if PVL+ MRSA are associated with more severe skin and soft-tissue infections, and further investigation is needed.
Adult dietary patterns and their association with iodine nutrition levels and thyroid function: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Abuduwaili Gulinaizeer , Huang Jia , Ma Yan , Sun Hongguang
Published: November 2024

Objective:

To understand the dietary patterns of adults and explore their association with iodine nutritional levels and thyroid function in adults.

Design:

We randomly collected 5 ml of adult urine samples and measured urinary iodine concentration (UIC) by cerium arsenate-catalysed spectrophotometry. A serum sample of 5 ml was collected for the determination of free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine and thyrotropin, and diet-related information was collected through a FFQ. Dietary patterns were extracted by principal component analysis, and the relationship between dietary patterns and iodine nutrition levels and thyroid function was explored.

Settings:

A cross-sectional study involving adults in Xinjiang, China, was conducted.

Participants:

A total of 435 adults were enrolled in the study.

Results:

The overall median urinary iodine of the 435 respondents was 219·73 μg/l. The dietary patterns were PCA1 (staple food pattern), PCA2 (fruit, vegetable and meat pattern), PCA3 (fish, shrimp and legume pattern) and PCA4 (dairy-based protein pattern). The correlation analyses showed that PCA1 and PCA3 were positively correlated with the UIC. The results of the multivariable analysis showed that PCA1, Q1, Q2 and Q3 were associated with an increased risk of iodine deficiency compared with Q4 ((OR): 260·41 (95 % CI: 20·16, 663·70)), 59·89 (5·64, 335·81), and 2·01 (0·15, 26·16), respectively). In PCA2, Q3 was associated with an increased risk of iodine deficiency compared with Q4 (OR: 0·16 (0·05, 0·53)). In PCA3, Q3 was associated with an increased risk of iodine deficiency compared with Q4 (OR: 0·23 (0·06, 0·90)). In PCA4, Q1 was associated with an increased risk of iodine deficiency compared with Q4 (OR: 31·30 (4·88, 200·64)).

Conclusion:

This study demonstrated that of the four dietary patterns, the least dependent staple food pattern (Q1) had a higher risk of iodine deficiency compared with the most dependent staple food pattern (Q4). However, the current evidence on the effect of dietary patterns on thyroid function needs to be validated by further longitudinal studies that include long-term follow-up, larger sample sizes and repeated measures.
Association between air pollution (PM10, PM2.5), greenness and depression in older adults: a longitudinal study in South Korea
Authors: Park H. , Kang C. ,   AiMS-CREATE Team, Kim H.
Published: November 2024

Aims

Although it has been hypothesized that air pollution, particularly PM2.5 and PM10, causes depressed symptoms, their interactions with greenness have not yet been confirmed. This study examined the association between depression symptoms and air pollution, as well as the potential moderating effects of greenness.

Methods

A total of 7657 people from all around South Korea were examined using information from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, for the years 2016, 2018 and 2020. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the CES-D 10 score (Center for Epidemiology Studies of Depression scale, Boston form), and annual air pollution levels (PM2.5, PM10) and greenness (NDVI, Landsat Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) at the district level (si-gun-gu) were considered for the association analysis. The investigation was primarily concerned with determining how the CES-D 10 score changed for each 10

${\mu \text{g/}}{{\text{m}}^{\text{3}}}$

increase in PM2.5 and PM10 according to NDVI quantiles, respectively. The analysis used generalized estimating equation models that were adjusted with both minimal and complete variables. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on age groups (<65, ≥65 years old), sex and exercise status.

Results

The impact of PM10 on depression in the fourth quantile of NDVI was substantially less in the fully adjusted linear mixed model (OR for depression with a 10

${\mu\text{ g/}}{{\text{m}}^{\text{3}}}$

increment of PM10: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.58) than in the first quantile (OR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.58, 2.25). In a similar vein, the effect of PM2.5 on depression was considerably reduced in the fourth quantile of NDVI (OR for depression with a 10

${\mu\text{ g/}}{{\text{m}}^{\text{3}}}$

increment of PM2.5: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.30, 2.44) compared to the first (OR: 3.75, 95% CI: 2.75, 5.10). Subgroup analysis results demonstrated beneficial effects of greenness in the relationship between particulate matter and depression.

Conclusions

This longitudinal panel study found that a higher quantile of NDVI was associated with a significantly reduced influence of air pollution (PM10, PM2.5) on depression among older individuals in South Korea.
Continental Extrusion and Laterally Heterogeneous Deformation Characteristics Within Southeast Tibet
Authors: Zhao Shengzhe , Yao Huajian , Feng Jikun , Liu Ying
Published: November 2024

Southeast Tibet provides a weak window for continental extrusion and plateau expansion, yet there is still limited understanding regarding specific deformation patterns in this region. Here, we construct a 3‐D crustal anisotropic S‐wave velocity model for the SE Tibetan Plateau. Our new observation retrieved from ambient noise interferometry sheds light on the belt of high‐velocity in the Emeishan Large Igneous Province. This belt is strengthened by the potential trajectory of the mantle plume and serves as a relatively rigid block, which obstructs the possible weak crustal materials from the northwest and transmits compressive stress onto the Xiaojiang fault system. With lower strength, the Xiaojiang fault region accommodates continental extrusion by preferentially deforming, while partial melting of the felsic mid‐lower crust shapes extensive low‐velocity anomalies. Within the context of the continental extrusion, lateral heterogeneity in lithospheric rigidity dominates the non‐uniform deformation of SE Tibet.
Reconsidering evidence for psychedelic-induced psychosis: an overview of reviews, a systematic review, and meta-analysis of human studies
Authors: Sabé Michel , Sulstarova Adi , Glangetas Alban , De Pieri Marco , Mallet Luc , Curtis Logos , Richard-Lepouriel Héléne , Penzenstadler Louise , Seragnoli Federico , Thorens Gabriel , Zullino Daniele , Preller Katrin , Böge Kerem , Leucht Stefan , Correll Christoph U. , Solmi Marco , Kaiser Stefan , Kirschner Matthias
Published: November 2024

Background

Persons with schizophrenia are excluded from psychedelic-assisted therapy due to concerns about the risk of triggering or worsening psychosis. However, there is limited meta-analytic data on the risk of psychedelic-induced psychosis in individuals with pre-existing psychotic disorders.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review, meta-analysis, and overview of reviews to assess the incidence of psychedelic-induced psychosis and symptom exacerbation in schizophrenia. Our pre-registered protocol (CRD42023399591) covered: LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, DMT, and MDMA, using data from Embase, PubMed, PsyARTICLES, PsyINFO, and trial registries up to November 2023. A random-effects model was used to calculate psychosis incidence, with standardized assessments of study quality.

Results

From 131 publications, we analyzed 14 systematic reviews, 20 reviews, 35 randomized-controlled trials (RCTs), 10 case-control studies, 30 uncontrolled trials (UCTs), and 22 cohort studies, most of which were low quality. Meta-analysis of nine studies showed an incidence of psychedelic-induced psychosis at 0.002% in population studies, 0.2% in UCTs, and 0.6% in RCTs. In UCTs including individuals with schizophrenia, 3.8% developed long-lasting psychotic symptoms. Of those with psychedelic-induced psychosis, 13.1% later developed schizophrenia. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the results.

Conclusion

In summary, the reviewed evidence suggests that schizophrenia might not be a definite exclusion criterion for clinical trials exploring safety and efficacy of psychedelics for treatment-resistant depression and negative symptoms. However, given the low quality and limited number of studies, more high-quality research is needed, and a conservative approach is recommended until further data is available.
Electronic dynamics created at conical intersections and its dephasing in aqueous solution
Authors: Chang Yi-Ping , Balciunas Tadas , Yin Zhong , Sapunar Marin , Tenorio Bruno N. C. , Paul Alexander C. , Tsuru Shota , Koch Henrik , Wolf Jean-Pierre , Coriani Sonia , Wörner Hans Jakob
Published: November 2024

A dynamical rearrangement in the electronic structure of a molecule can be driven by different phenomena, including nuclear motion, electronic coherence or electron correlation. Recording such electronic dynamics and identifying its fate in an aqueous solution has remained a challenge. Here, we reveal the electronic dynamics induced by electronic relaxation through conical intersections in both isolated and solvated pyrazine molecules using X-ray spectroscopy. We show that the ensuing created dynamics corresponds to a cyclic rearrangement of the electronic structure around the aromatic ring. Furthermore, we found that such electronic dynamics were entirely suppressed when pyrazine was dissolved in water. Our observations confirm that conical intersections can create electronic dynamics that are not directly excited by the pump pulse and that aqueous solvation can dephase them in less than 40 fs. These results have implications for the investigation of electronic dynamics created during light-induced molecular dynamics and shed light on their susceptibility to aqueous solvation.
Digestive contents and food webs record the advent of dinosaur supremacy
Authors: Qvarnström Martin , Vikberg Wernström Joel , Wawrzyniak Zuzanna , Barbacka Maria , Pacyna Grzegorz , Górecki Artur , Ziaja Jadwiga , Jarzynka Agata , Owocki Krzysztof , Sulej Tomasz , Marynowski Leszek , Pieńkowski Grzegorz , Ahlberg Per E. , Niedźwiedzki Grzegorz
Published: November 2024

The early radiation of dinosaurs remains a complex and poorly understood evolutionary event1–4. Here we use hundreds of fossils with direct evidence of feeding to compare trophic dynamics across five vertebrate assemblages that record this event in the Triassic–Jurassic succession of the Polish Basin (central Europe). Bromalites, fossil digestive products, increase in size and diversity across the interval, indicating the emergence of larger dinosaur faunas with new feeding patterns. Well-preserved food residues and bromalite-taxon associations enable broad inferences of trophic interactions. Our results, integrated with climate and plant data, indicate a stepwise increase of dinosaur diversity and ecospace occupancy in the area. This involved (1) a replacement of non-dinosaur guild members by opportunistic and omnivorous dinosaur precursors, followed by (2) the emergence of insect and fish-eating theropods and small omnivorous dinosaurs. Climate change in the latest Triassic5–7 resulted in substantial vegetation changes that paved the way for ((3) and (4)) an expansion of herbivore ecospace and the replacement of pseudosuchian and therapsid herbivores by large sauropodomorphs and early ornithischians that ingested food of a broader range, even including burnt plants. Finally, (5) theropods rapidly evolved and developed enormous sizes in response to the appearance of the new herbivore guild. We suggest that the processes shown by the Polish data may explain global patterns, shedding new light on the environmentally governed emergence of dinosaur dominance and gigantism that endured until the end-Cretaceous mass extinction.
Mindfulness training reduces the preference for proenvironmental outcomes
Authors: Le Houcq Corbi Zarah , Koch Kathrin , Hölzel Britta , Soutschek Alexander
Published: November 2024

Theoretical accounts posit that mindfulness promotes proenvironmental behavior. While this claim is supported by correlational findings, past intervention studies provided no evidence that enhancing mindfulness increases self-report measures of proenvironmental behavior. Here, we tested whether a 31-day mindfulness intervention strengthens preferences for proenvironmental outcomes with decision tasks involving real conflict between participants’ selfish interests and beneficial consequences for the environment. To unravel the psychological mechanisms underlying the impact of mindfulness on proenvironmental behavior, we assessed the impact of mindfulness training on prosociality and future orientation. Contrary to our hypotheses, the mindfulness intervention reduced instead of increased preferences for proenvironmental and prosocial outcomes, whereas no effects were observed on future orientation. Baseline preferences for proenvironmental and prosocial outcomes (and the intervention effects on them) were correlated, providing empirical evidence for a link between proenvironmental behavior and prosociality. Together, the current data suggest that the relationship between mindfulness and proenvironmental behavior as well as prosociality may be more complicated than assumed in the literature.
Effective preparation of low-melting solder materials for atom probe tomography
Authors: Cui Charlotte , Tkadletz Michael , Reisinger Michael , Imrich Peter , Hartner Walter , Brunner Roland
Published: November 2024

Low-melting metal alloys have gained renewed attention for additive manufacturing, energy storage and microelectronics. However, micro- and nanostructure characterisation demands highly sophisticated sample preparation. Here, we optimise the Ga-FIB preparation of atom probe tomography (APT) specimens for low melting SAC305 solder materials utilising different FESEM/FIB stage temperatures. We study the effects of FESEM/FIB stage temperature on the specimen milling behaviour during Ga-FIB preparation and compare the extent of Ga implantation and precipitate coarsening during the preparation utilising energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and APT. We show that cooling the sample to −60 °C during FIB milling utilising a Peltier cooling stage improves the behaviour of the specimen during the final low-keV milling step significantly. We conclude that performing all Ga-FIB-sample interactions at −60 °C with a Pt-protection layer allows for effective and reproducible APT specimen preparation for low-melting alloys, such as SAC305.
A comprehensive study on methylene blue removal via polymer and protein nanoparticle adsorbents
Authors: Fathi Ali , Asgari Esrafil , Danafar Hossein , salehabadi Hafezeh , Fazli Mehran Mohammadian
Published: November 2024

Water pollution, particularly from industrial contaminants such as dyes, is a significant global concern. Various technologies, including nanoscale materials, are employed for water and wastewater treatment. Among these, adsorption process as an effective method due to its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and reliability. This study comprised both theoretical and experimental phases. Initially, computer simulations were utilized to evaluate the interaction between methylene blue and three selected nanoparticles, ultimately choosing Bovine Serum Albumin protein nanoadsorbent based on energy considerations. Subsequently, adsorption experiments were conducted using this nanosorbent. The results indicated a maximum dye removal efficiency of 69% under the conditions of pH 11, an initial dye concentration of 100 mg/L, an adsorbent dose of 0.5 g/L, a contact time of 60 min, and an optimal temperature of 25 °C. The maximum adsorption capacity under optimal conditions was found to be 38.52 mg/g. Additionally, the adsorption isotherm followed the Langmuir equation, and the kinetics adhered to the pseudo-second-order model.
JmjC catalysed histone H2a N-methyl arginine demethylation and C4-arginine hydroxylation reveals importance of sequence-reactivity relationships
Authors: Bonnici Joanna , Oueini Razanne , Salah Eidarus , Johansson Catrine , Pires Elisabete , Abboud Martine , Dawber Robert S. , Tumber Anthony , Rabe Patrick , Saraç Hilal , Schofield Christopher J. , Kawamura Akane
Published: November 2024

2-Oxoglutarate (2OG) dependentNε-methyl lysine demethylases (JmjC-KDMs) regulate eukaryotic transcription. We report studies showing that isolated forms of all human KDM4 and KDM5 JmjC enzymes catalyse demethylation ofN-methylated Arg-3 of histone H2a. Unexpectedly, the results reveal that KDM4E and, less efficiently, KDM4D catalyse C-4 hydroxylation of Arg-20 of H2a on peptides, recombinant H2a, and calf histone extracts, including when the Arg-20 guanidino group isN-methylated. Combined with previous observations, our biochemical results highlight the importance of sequence context in determining the relative efficiencies of lysine and arginine demethylation reactions catalysed by KDM4s and KDM5s. At least in some cases changes in sequence can also enable a different JmjC reaction mode, such as C-4 arginine hydroxylation instead of demethylation. Further work is thus required to define the full scope of JmjC catalysed reactions in cells.