bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
50 Years of Terrorism against the Nuclear Industry: A Review of 91 Incidents in the Global Terrorism Database
Authors: De Cauwer Harald , Barten Dennis G. , Tin Derrick , Mortelmans Luc J. , Ciottone Gregory R. , Somville Francis
Published: January 2023

Background:

The on-going Russo-Ukrainian war has resulted in a renewed global interest in the safety and security of nuclear installations and the possibility of nuclear disasters caused by warfare and terrorism.

The objective of this study was to identify and characterize all documented terrorist attacks against nuclear transport, nuclear facilities, and nuclear scientists as reported to the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) over a 50-year period.

Methods:

The GTD was searched for all terrorist attacks against nuclear facilities, nuclear scientists, nuclear transport, and other nuclear industry-related targets in the period from 1970-2020. Analyses were performed on temporal factors, location, target type, attack and weapon type, perpetrator type, number of casualties, and property value loss.

Results:

Ninety-one incidents that occurred from 1970 through 2020 were included. Incidents took place in 25 countries and nine world regions, with most (42; 46.1%) occurring in Western Europe.

During these 50 years, 91 incidents resulted in 19 fatalities and 117 injuries. One perpetrator was killed during an incident and one other assailant was injured.

Bombings and explosions were the most frequently identified attack type (n = 40; 44.0%), followed by facility/infrastructure damage (n = 24; 26.4%) and armed assaults and assassinations (both n = 7; 7.7%).

Nuclear power plants and reactors under construction were targeted in 13 (14.3%) and eight (8.8%) incidents, respectively. Most of the attacks took place on other nuclear industry-related sites.

Conclusion:

Terrorist attacks carried out by non-state perpetrators against nuclear facilities, nuclear scientists, nuclear transport, and other nuclear industry-related targets are rare, with only 91 incidents in a 50-year period. None of the attacks resulted in radioactive fallout or environmental contamination. Most of the attacks took place outside a nuclear power plant.
(Anti)Barbarous Empires: J.M. Coetzee’s Iconoclasm in Waiting for the Barbarians
Authors: Biti Vladimir
Published: January 2023

Empires usually operate on the premise that only imperial centres are carriers of the historical progress of humanity, whereas imperial peripheries are far removed from this progress’s blessing. According to John Maxwell Coetzee, the Dutch Empire considered South Africa as its own land, which deprived that country’s indigenous people of their citizen rights. Like the residents of European imperial peripheries who were relegated to similar zones of historical indistinction, they were doomed to the twilight of legal illegality. Unlike the regulated area of historical progress, their state of exception was ruled by the whims of imperial officials. ‘The security police could come in and out and blindfold and handcuff you without explaining why, and take you away to an unspecified site and do what they wanted to you’, he wrote in Diary of a Bad Year (1977: 171). In his novel Waiting for the Barbarians, Coetzee strategically ‘unmoors’ and ‘deterritorializes’ this peripheral state of exception, spreading its iconoclastic effects all over the ‘sacrosanct’ territory of history.
Strong Nonlinearity of Land Climate‐Carbon Cycle Feedback Under a High CO2 Growth Scenario
Authors: Zhang Xuanze , Wang Ying‐Ping , Zhang Yongqiang
Published: January 2023

Projections of future climate change for given CO2 and other greenhouse gas emission scenarios depend on the response of global climate‐carbon cycle feedback, which consists of carbon‐concentration feedback (e.g., CO2 physiology effect on land carbon sink) and carbon‐climate feedback (e.g., CO2 radiative effect on land carbon sink). Previous studies have assumed no significant interaction between these two feedbacks within the Earth system. This study quantifies the interaction of these two feedbacks, or the nonlinear feedback on land using the fully, biogeochemically, and radiatively coupled simulations under a 1% yr−1 CO2 increase path from nine Earth system models of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6). The results show that the nonlinear feedback is 1.64 ± 2.92 × 10−2 GtC ppm−1 K−1 at the end of 140‐year simulation with a quadrupling CO2 (4 × CO2), where its strength is 11% ± 18% of the carbon‐concentration feedback or −27% ± 49% of the carbon‐climate feedback on land. Compared to previous assumptions that did not consider this interaction, the nonlinear feedback contributes about 8% ± 12% of the land carbon increase accumulated at the 4 × CO2. The nonlinear feedback largely results from the combined effect of increased CO2‐induced additional fertilization effect on warming‐induced additional leaf area index and vegetation productivity over the Northern Hemisphere. The magnitude of the nonlinear feedback on land decreases with an increase in atmospheric CO2 or warming under the high emission scenario. This study highlights the significance of land nonlinear climate‐carbon cycle feedback in increasing land carbon sink and slowing down future climate change.
Fine‐Scale Electric Fields and Joule Heating From Observations of the Aurora
Authors: Krcelic P. , Fear R. C. , Whiter D. , Lanchester B. , Aruliah A. L. , Lester M. , Paxton L.
Published: January 2023

Optical measurements from three selected wavelengths have been combined with modeling of emissions from an auroral event to estimate the magnitude and direction of small‐scale electric fields on either side of an auroral arc. The temporal resolution of the estimates is 0.1 s, which is much higher resolution than measurements from Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) in the same region, with which we compare our estimates. Additionally, we have used the Scanning Doppler Imager instrument to measure the neutral wind during the event in order to calculate the height integrated Joule heating. Joule heating obtained from the small scale electric fields gives larger values (17 ± 11 and 6 ± 9 mWm−2 on average on each side of the arc) than the Joule heating obtained from more conventionally used SuperDARN data (5 mWm−2). This result is significant, because Joule heating will cause changes in the thermosphere from thermal expansion and thermal conductivity, and may also affect the acceleration of the neutral wind. Our result indicates that high spatial and temporal resolution electric fields may play an important role in the dynamics of the magnetosphere‐ionosphere‐thermosphere system.
Spatiotemporal Variations of Surface Deformation, Shallow Creep Rate, and Slip Partitioning Between the San Andreas and Southern Calaveras Fault
Authors: Li Yuexin , Bürgmann Roland , Taira Taka'aki
Published: January 2023

The Calaveras Fault (CF) branches from the San Andreas Fault (SAF) near San Benito, extending sub‐parallel to the SAF for about 50 km with only 2–6 km separation and diverging northeastward. Both the SAF and CF are partially coupled, exhibit spatially variable aseismic creep and have hosted moderate to large earthquakes in recent decades. Understanding how slip partitions among the main fault strands of the SAF system and establishing their degree of coupling is crucial for seismic hazard evaluation. We perform a timeseries analysis using more than 5 years of Sentinel‐1 data covering the Bay Area (May 2015–October 2020), specifically targeting the spatiotemporal variations of creep rates around the SAF‐CF junction. We derive the surface creep rates from cross‐fault InSAR timeseries differences along the SAF and CF including adjacent Sargent and Quien Sabe Faults. We show that the variable creep rates (0–20 mm/yr) at the SAF‐CF junction are to first order controlled by the angle between the fault strike and the background stress orientation. We further examine the spatiotemporal variation of creep rates along the SAF and CF and find a multi‐annual coupling increase during 2016–2018 the subparallel sections of both faults, with the CF coupling change lagging behind the SAF by 3–6 months. Similar temporal variations are also observed in both b‐values inferred from declustered seismicity and aseismic slip rates inferred from characteristic repeating earthquakes.
Bark Beetle Effects on Fire Regimes Depend on Underlying Fuel Modifications in Semiarid Systems
Authors: Ren Jianning , Hanan Erin J. , Hicke Jeffrey A. , Kolden Crystal A. , Abatzoglou John T. , Tague Christina (Naomi) L. , Bart Ryan R. , Kennedy Maureen C. , Liu Mingliang , Adam Jennifer C.
Published: January 2023

Although natural disturbances such as wildfire, extreme weather events, and insect outbreaks play a key role in structuring ecosystems and watersheds worldwide, climate change has intensified many disturbance regimes, which can have compounding negative effects on ecosystem processes and services. Recent studies have highlighted the need to understand whether wildfire increases or decreases after large‐scale beetle outbreaks. However, observational studies have produced mixed results. To address this, we applied a coupled ecohydrologic‐fire regime‐beetle effects model (RHESSys‐WMFire‐Beetle) in a semiarid watershed in the western US. We found that in the red phase (0–5 years post‐outbreak), surface fire extent, burn probability, and surface and crown fire severity all decreased. In the gray phase (6–15 years post‐outbreak), both surface fire extent and surface and crown fire severity increased with increasing mortality. However, fire probability reached a plateau during high mortality levels (>50% in terms of carbon removed). In the old phase (one to several decades post‐outbreak), fire extent and severity still increased in all mortality levels. However, fire probability increased during low to medium mortality (≤50%) but decreased during high mortality levels (>50%). Wildfire responses also depended on the fire regime. In fuel‐limited locations, fire probability increased with increasing fuel loads, whereas in fuel‐abundant (flammability‐limited) systems, fire probability decreased due to decreases in fuel aridity from reduced plant water demand. This modeling framework can improve our understanding of the mechanisms driving wildfire responses and aid managers in predicting when and where fire hazards will increase.
Glycemic control in gestational diabetes and impact on biomarkers in women and infants
Authors: Hofer Olivia J. , Alsweiler Jane , Tran Thach , Crowther Caroline A.
Published: January 2023

Background

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is linked to the dysregulation of inflammatory markers in women with GDM compared to women without. It is unclear whether the intensity of glycemic control influences these biomarkers. We aimed to assess whether different glycemic targets for women with GDM and compliance influence maternal and infant biomarkers.

Methods

Maternity hospitals caring for women with GDM were randomized in the TARGET Trial to tight or less tight glycemic targets. Maternal blood was collected at study entry, 36 weeks’ gestation, and 6 months postpartum, and cord plasma after birth. We assessed compliance to targets and concentrations of maternal serum and infant biomarkers.

Results

Eighty-two women and infants were included in the study. Concentrations of maternal and infant biomarkers did not differ between women assigned to tighter and less tight glycemic targets; however, concentrations were altered in maternal serum leptin and CRP and infant cord C-peptide, leptin, and IGF in women who complied with tighter targets.

Conclusions

Use of tighter glycemic targets in women with GDM does not change the concentrations of maternal and infant biomarkers compared to less tight targets. However, when compliance is achieved to tighter targets, maternal and infant biomarkers are altered.

Impact

The use of tighter glycemic targets in gestational diabetes does not result in changes to maternal or cord plasma biomarkers. However, for women who complied with tighter targets, maternal serum leptin and CRP and infant cord C-peptide, leptin and IGF were altered compared with women who complied with the use of the less tight targets.

This article adds to the current evidence base regarding the impact of gestational diabetes on maternal and infant biomarkers.

This article highlights the need for further research to assess enablers to meet the tighter target recommendations and to assess the impact on relevant biomarkers.
WTAP-mediated m6A modification modulates bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells differentiation potential and osteoporosis
Authors: You Yunhao , Liu Jincheng , Zhang Lu , Li Xiang , Sun Zhenqian , Dai Zihan , Ma Jinlong , Jiao Guangjun , Chen Yunzhen
Published: January 2023

An imbalance in the differentiation potential of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) is an important pathogenic mechanism underlying osteoporosis (OP). N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most common post-transcriptional modification in eukaryotic cells. The role of the Wilms’ tumor 1-associated protein (WTAP), a member of the m6A functional protein family, in regulating BMSCs differentiation remains unknown. We used patient-derived and mouse model-derived samples, qRT-PCR, western blot assays, ALP activity assay, ALP, and Alizarin Red staining to determine the changes in mRNA and protein levels of genes and proteins associated with BMSCs differentiation. Histological analysis and micro-CT were used to evaluate developmental changes in the bone. The results determined that WTAP promoted osteogenic differentiation and inhibited adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs. We used co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP), RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP), RNA pulldown, and dual-luciferase assay to explore the direct mechanism. Mechanistically, the expression of WTAP increased during osteogenic differentiation and significantly promoted pri-miR-181a and pri-miR-181c methylation, which was recognized by YTHDC1, and increased the maturation to miR-181a and miR-181c. MiR-181a and miR-181c inhibited the mRNA expression of SFRP1, promoting the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Our results demonstrated that the WTAP/YTHDC1/miR-181a and miR-181c/SFRP1 axis regulated the differentiation fate of BMSCs, suggesting that it might be a potential therapeutic target for osteoporosis.
Lineage-specific regulatory changes in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy unraveled by single-nucleus RNA-seq and spatial transcriptomics
Authors: Liu Xuanyu , Yin Kunlun , Chen Liang , Chen Wen , Li Wenke , Zhang Taojun , Sun Yang , Yuan Meng , Wang Hongyue , Song Yunhu , Wang Shuiyun , Hu Shengshou , Zhou Zhou
Published: January 2023

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common cardiac genetic disorder characterized by cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis. Pathological cardiac remodeling in the myocardium of HCM patients may progress to heart failure. An in-depth elucidation of the lineage-specific changes in pathological cardiac remodeling of HCM is pivotal for the development of therapies to mitigate the progression. Here, we performed single-nucleus RNA-seq of the cardiac tissues from HCM patients or healthy donors and conducted spatial transcriptomic assays on tissue sections from patients. Unbiased clustering of 55,122 nuclei from HCM and healthy conditions revealed 9 cell lineages and 28 clusters. Lineage-specific changes in gene expression, subpopulation composition, and intercellular communication in HCM were discovered through comparative analyses. According to the results of pseudotime ordering, differential expression analysis, and differential regulatory network analysis, potential key genes during the transition towards a failing state of cardiomyocytes such as FGF12, IL31RA, and CREB5 were identified. Transcriptomic dynamics underlying cardiac fibroblast activation were also uncovered, and potential key genes involved in cardiac fibrosis were obtained such as AEBP1, RUNX1, MEOX1, LEF1, and NRXN3. Using the spatial transcriptomic data, spatial activity patterns of the candidate genes, pathways, and subpopulations were confirmed on patient tissue sections. Moreover, we showed experimental evidence that in vitro knockdown of AEBP1 could promote the activation of human cardiac fibroblasts, and overexpression of AEBP1 could attenuate the TGFβ-induced activation. Our study provided a comprehensive analysis of the lineage-specific regulatory changes in HCM, which laid the foundation for targeted drug development in HCM.
Effects of the timing of acute mulberry leaf extract intake on postprandial glucose metabolism in healthy adults: a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study
Authors: Takahashi Masaki , Mineshita Yui , Yamagami Jumpei , Wang Chunyi , Fujihira Kyoko , Tahara Yu , Kim Hyeon-Ki , Nakaoka Takashi , Shibata Shigenobu
Published: January 2023

Background/Objectives

Glucose tolerance is controlled by the internal clock and is worse in the evening. From a chrononutrition perspective, diabetes prevention requires evaluating the antidiabetic effects of the timing of functional ingredients and nutrient intake. The purpose of this study was to investigate the timing effects of acute mulberry leaf extract (MLE) intake on postprandial glucose levels in young adults.

Subjects/Methods

Twelve young adults underwent four trials. Blood samples were collected in a fasting state and at 30, 60, 120, and 180 min after eating a mixed meal. The study had a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial design involving: (1) morning placebo trial (08:00 h; MP trial), (2) evening placebo trial (18:00 h; EP trial), (3) morning MLE trial (08:00 h; MM trial), and (4) evening MLE trial (18:00 h; EM trial).

Results

The incremental area under the blood glucose curve (iAUC) in the EM trials was significantly lower than that in the EP trials (P = 0.010). The postprandial glucose concentrations 120 min after the meal were significantly lower in the EM trials than those in the EP trials (P = 0.006). The postprandial insulin concentrations at 120 min were significantly lower in the MM trials than those in the MP trials (P = 0.034). Moreover, the postprandial insulin concentrations 180 min after the meal were significantly lower in the EM trials than those in the EP trials (P = 0.034).

Conclusions

MLE intake in the evening, but not in the morning, was effective in improving glucose tolerance.

Trial registration

Clinical trial reference: UMIN 000045301; website of trial registry: https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000051340.
Finding shortest and nearly shortest path nodes in large substantially incomplete networks by hyperbolic mapping
Authors: Kitsak Maksim , Ganin Alexander , Elmokashfi Ahmed , Cui Hongzhu , Eisenberg Daniel A. , Alderson David L. , Korkin Dmitry , Linkov Igor
Published: January 2023

Dynamic processes on networks, be it information transfer in the Internet, contagious spreading in a social network, or neural signaling, take place along shortest or nearly shortest paths. Computing shortest paths is a straightforward task when the network of interest is fully known, and there are a plethora of computational algorithms for this purpose. Unfortunately, our maps of most large networks are substantially incomplete due to either the highly dynamic nature of networks, or high cost of network measurements, or both, rendering traditional path finding methods inefficient. We find that shortest paths in large real networks, such as the network of protein-protein interactions and the Internet at the autonomous system level, are not random but are organized according to latent-geometric rules. If nodes of these networks are mapped to points in latent hyperbolic spaces, shortest paths in them align along geodesic curves connecting endpoint nodes. We find that this alignment is sufficiently strong to allow for the identification of shortest path nodes even in the case of substantially incomplete networks, where numbers of missing links exceed those of observable links. We demonstrate the utility of latent-geometric path finding in problems of cellular pathway reconstruction and communication security.
Revised historical Northern Hemisphere black carbon emissions based on inverse modeling of ice core records
Authors: Eckhardt Sabine , Pisso Ignacio , Evangeliou Nikolaos , Zwaaftink Christine Groot , Plach Andreas , McConnell Joseph R. , Sigl Michael , Ruppel Meri , Zdanowicz Christian , Lim Saehee , Chellman Nathan , Opel Thomas , Meyer Hanno , Steffensen Jørgen Peder , Schwikowski Margit , Stohl Andreas
Published: January 2023

Black carbon emitted by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass has a net warming effect in the atmosphere and reduces the albedo when deposited on ice and snow; accurate knowledge of past emissions is essential to quantify and model associated global climate forcing. Although bottom-up inventories provide historical Black Carbon emission estimates that are widely used in Earth System Models, they are poorly constrained by observations prior to the late 20th century. Here we use an objective inversion technique based on detailed atmospheric transport and deposition modeling to reconstruct 1850 to 2000 emissions from thirteen Northern Hemisphere ice-core records. We find substantial discrepancies between reconstructed Black Carbon emissions and existing bottom-up inventories which do not fully capture the complex spatial-temporal emission patterns. Our findings imply changes to existing historical Black Carbon radiative forcing estimates are necessary, with potential implications for observation-constrained climate sensitivity.
Bottom-up evolution of perovskite clusters into high-activity rhodium nanoparticles toward alkaline hydrogen evolution
Authors: Lin Gaoxin , Zhang Zhuang , Ju Qiangjian , Wu Tong , Segre Carlo U. , Chen Wei , Peng Hongru , Zhang Hui , Liu Qiunan , Liu Zhi , Zhang Yifan , Kong Shuyi , Mao Yuanlv , Zhao Wei , Suenaga Kazu , Huang Fuqiang , Wang Jiacheng
Published: January 2023

Self-reconstruction has been considered an efficient means to prepare efficient electrocatalysts in various energy transformation process for bond activation and breaking. However, developing nano-sized electrocatalysts through complete in-situ reconstruction with improved activity remains challenging. Herein, we report a bottom-up evolution route of electrochemically reducing Cs3Rh2I9halide-perovskite clusters on N-doped carbon to prepare ultrafine Rh nanoparticles (~2.2 nm) with large lattice spacings and grain boundaries. Various in-situ and ex-situ characterizations including electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance experiments elucidate the Cs and I extraction and Rh reduction during the electrochemical reduction. These Rh nanoparticles from Cs3Rh2I9clusters show significantly enhanced mass and area activity toward hydrogen evolution reaction in both alkaline and chlor-alkali electrolyte, superior to liquid-reduced Rh nanoparticles as well as bulk Cs3Rh2I9-derived Rh via top-down electro-reduction transformation. Theoretical calculations demonstrate water activation could be boosted on Cs3Rh2I9clusters-derived Rh nanoparticles enriched with multiply sites, thus smoothing alkaline hydrogen evolution.
A genome-wide relay of signalling-responsive enhancers drives hematopoietic specification
Authors: Edginton-White B. , Maytum A. , Kellaway S. G. , Goode D. K. , Keane P. , Pagnuco I. , Assi S. A. , Ames L. , Clarke M. , Cockerill P. N. , Göttgens B. , Cazier J. B. , Bonifer C.
Published: January 2023

Developmental control of gene expression critically depends on distal cis-regulatory elements including enhancers which interact with promoters to activate gene expression. To date no global experiments have been conducted that identify their cell type and cell stage-specific activity within one developmental pathway and in a chromatin context. Here, we describe a high-throughput method that identifies thousands of differentially active cis-elements able to stimulate a minimal promoter at five stages of hematopoietic progenitor development from embryonic stem (ES) cells, which can be adapted to any ES cell derived cell type. We show that blood cell-specific gene expression is controlled by the concerted action of thousands of differentiation stage-specific sets of cis-elements which respond to cytokine signals terminating at signalling responsive transcription factors. Our work provides an important resource for studies of hematopoietic specification and highlights the mechanisms of how and where extrinsic signals program a cell type-specific chromatin landscape driving hematopoietic differentiation.
Pollen tube emergence is mediated by ovary-expressed ALCATRAZ in cucumber
Authors: Cheng Zhihua , Liu Xiaofeng , Yan Shuangshuang , Liu Bin , Zhong Yanting , Song Weiyuan , Chen Jiacai , Wang Zhongyi , Che Gen , Liu Liu , Ying Ao , Lv Hanli , Han Lijie , Li Min , Zhao Jianyu , Xu Junqiang , Yang Zhengan , Zhou Zhaoyang , Zhang Xiaolan
Published: January 2023

Pollen tube guidance within female tissues of flowering plants can be divided into preovular guidance, ovular guidance and a connecting stage called pollen tube emergence. As yet, no female factor has been identified to positively regulate this transition process. In this study, we show that an ovary-expressed bHLH transcription factor Cucumis sativus ALCATRAZ (CsALC) functions in pollen tube emergence in cucumber. CsALC knockout mutants showed diminished pollen tube emergence, extremely reduced entry into ovules, and a 95% reduction in female fertility. Further examination showed two rapid alkalinization factors CsRALF4 and CsRALF19 were less expressed in Csalc ovaries compared to WT. Besides the loss of male fertility derived from precocious pollen tube rupture as in Arabidopsis, Csralf4 Csralf19 double mutants exhibited a 60% decrease in female fertility due to reduced pollen tube distribution and decreased ovule targeting efficiency. In brief, CsALC regulates female fertility and promotes CsRALF4/19 expression in the ovary during pollen tube guidance in cucumber.
Two-stage visual speech recognition for intensive care patients
Authors: Laux Hendrik , Hallawa Ahmed , Assis Julio Cesar Sevarolli , Schmeink Anke , Martin Lukas , Peine Arne
Published: January 2023

In this work, we propose a framework to enhance the communication abilities of speech-impaired patients in an intensive care setting via reading lips. Medical procedure, such as a tracheotomy, causes the patient to lose the ability to utter speech with little to no impact on the habitual lip movement. Consequently, we developed a framework to predict the silently spoken text by performing visual speech recognition, i.e., lip-reading. In a two-stage architecture, frames of the patient’s face are used to infer audio features as an intermediate prediction target, which are then used to predict the uttered text. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first approach to bring visual speech recognition into an intensive care setting. For this purpose, we recorded an audio-visual dataset in the University Hospital of Aachen’s intensive care unit (ICU) with a language corpus hand-picked by experienced clinicians to be representative of their day-to-day routine. With a word error rate of 6.3%, the trained system reaches a sufficient overall performance to significantly increase the quality of communication between patient and clinician or relatives.
Experimental–theoretical study of laccase as a detoxifier of aflatoxins
Authors: Zaccaria Marco , Dawson William , Russel Kish Darius , Reverberi Massimo , Bonaccorsi di Patti Maria Carmela , Domin Marek , Cristiglio Viviana , Chan Bun , Dellafiora Luca , Gabel Frank , Nakajima Takahito , Genovese Luigi , Momeni Babak
Published: January 2023

We investigate laccase-mediated detoxification of aflatoxins, fungal carcinogenic food contaminants. Our experimental comparison between two aflatoxins with similar structures (AFB1and AFG2) shows significant differences in laccase-mediated detoxification. A multi-scale modeling approach (Docking, Molecular Dynamics, and Density Functional Theory) identifies the highly substrate-specific changes required to improve laccase detoxifying performance. We employ a large-scale density functional theory-based approach, involving more than 7000 atoms, to identify the amino acid residues that determine the affinity of laccase for aflatoxins. From this study we conclude: (1) AFB1is more challenging to degrade, to the point of complete degradation stalling; (2) AFG2is easier to degrade by laccase due to its lack of side products and favorable binding dynamics; and (3) ample opportunities to optimize laccase for aflatoxin degradation exist, especially via mutations leading to π–π stacking. This study identifies a way to optimize laccase for aflatoxin bioremediation and, more generally, contributes to the research efforts aimed at rational enzyme optimization.
Supporting optimization of thick seam roadway with top coal based on orthogonal matrix analysis
Authors: Jia Ce , Li Sheng , Fan Chaojun , Luo Mingkun , Zhou Lijun , Pu Ziang , Yang Lei
Published: January 2023

Aiming at the problem of large deformation and difficulty in surrounding rock control of the top coal roadway in thick seam, theoretical analysis, theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, orthogonal matrix analysis and other methods were used to study the roof deformation and support parameter optimization of the top coal roadway in thick seam. Firstly, the structural model and roof mechanical model of the top coal roadway in thick seam were established, and the deformation coefficient TK was defined based on the relationship between curvature radius and bending moment, maximum bending moment and ultimate tensile strength of beam. According to the ratio of deformation rate between TK and beam to determine the roof deformation mode of top coal roadway, the discriminant conditions of roadway roof stability under two deformation conditions are obtained. Due to the characteristics of serious coal-rock fragmentation, large roof deformation, and integration of top coal and side coal. Therefore, the combined support method of “high prestressed long and short anchor cables” is proposed by double arch bearing structure control technology. Finally, based on the orthogonal matrix analysis method of supporting parameters optimization of the top coal roadway in thick seam, the analysis amount of supporting scheme is significantly reduced, the comprehensive evaluation of multi-factor and multi-supporting effect of roadway support is realized, and the optimal supporting scheme is obtained. Compared with the surrounding rock of the roadway without support, the deformation of the roof is reduced by 27.27%, the deformation of the two sides is reduced by 45.24%, and the tensile failure volume is reduced by 54.66%. The top coal roadway in thick seam has been effectively controlled, which provides guarantee for high yield and high efficiency of the mine.
Low light image enhancement using curvelet transform and iterative back projection
Authors: Kannoth Sreekala , H. C. Sateesh Kumar , K. B. Raja
Published: January 2023

With the advancement of technology in image capturing, people are accustomed to high-resolution images. One of the primary necessities of an image capturing system is to provide the same. However, in many cases, the image resolution may not be reaching the expectations of the user which leads to a decrease in user experience. This is a common phenomenon that occurs when the images are captured in low light or if the image encounters a distortion either because of lack of exposure or the image capturing devices may be equipped with a small size sensor. In this work, a resolution enhancement technique using the concepts of curvelet transform and iterative back projection is presented. Sparse representation of images can be enhanced using a combination of curvelet transforms with iterative back projection. Application of curvelet transform along with iterative back projection algorithm on low light images results in enhancing the resolution of the images. The resultant images from here then passed through the inverse transform block and gives an image with contrast enhancement which leads to the user experience improvement. The antiquated image enhancement with improvement in the resolution is validated with the measurement of peak signal-to-noise ratio and structural similarity index. The usage of curvelet transform with iterative back projection leads to the restoration of the image resolution by minimizing the distortions, thus leading to an enhanced image whose edge details are retained.
Organic amendment treatments for antimicrobial resistance and mobile element genes risk reduction in soil-crop systems
Authors: Jauregi Leire , González Aitor , Garbisu Carlos , Epelde Lur
Published: January 2023

Agricultural fertilization with organic amendments of animal origin often leads to antibiotic resistance dissemination. In this study, we evaluated the effect of different treatments (anaerobic digestion, biochar application, ozonation, zerovalent iron nanoparticle application, and spent mushroom substrate addition) on the resistome in dairy cow manure-derived amendments (slurry, manure, and compost). Anaerobic digestion and biochar application resulted in the highest reduction in antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) and mobile genetic element (MGE) gene abundance. These two treatments were applied to cow manure compost, which was then used to fertilize the soil for lettuce growth. After crop harvest, ARG and MGE gene absolute and relative abundances in the soil and lettuce samples were determined by droplet digital PCR and high-throughput qPCR, respectively. Prokaryotic diversity in cow manure-amended soils was determined using 16S rRNA metabarcoding. Compared to untreated compost, anaerobic digestion led to a 38% and 83% reduction in sul2 and intl1 absolute abundances in the soil, respectively, while biochar led to a 60% reduction in intl1 absolute abundance. No differences in lettuce gene abundances were observed among treatments. We conclude that amendment treatments can minimize the risk of antibiotic resistance in agroecosystems.
Investigation of Dracocephalum extract based on bulk and nanometer size as green corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in different corrosive media
Authors: Golshani Zahra , Arjmand Faezeh , Amiri Mahnaz , Hosseini Seyed Mohammad Ali , Fatemi S. Jamiladin
Published: January 2023

In recent years, green corrosion inhibitors derived from natural plant resources have garnered much interest. In the present work, at first, we investigated the corrosion behavior of mild steel (st-37) in the presence, and absence ofDracocephalumextract based on bulk size as a corrosion inhibitor in two widely used acidic environments (0.5 M H2SO4, and 1.0 M HCl), at room temperature. Then, we usedDracocephalumextract based on nanometer size to reduce the optimal concentration of inhibitor, increase the corrosion resistant, and efficiency.Dracocephalumextract does not contain heavy metals or other toxic compounds, and also good characteristics such as low cost, eco-friendly, and widespread availability, make it suitable nature candidate as an environmentally safe green inhibitor. The anticorrosive behavior was assessed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and potentiodynamic polarization (PP). In all of the studies, the inhibitory efficiency (IE%) increased as the extract dose was increased. But by using nano extract, in addition to maintaining high efficiency, the amount of inhibitor was reduced significantly. The highestIE% is 94% at the best dose of nano extract (75 ppm), but the highestIE% is 89% at the best dose of the bulk extract (200 ppm) in H2SO4solution. Also, for the HCl solution, the highestIE% is 88% at the best dose of nano extract (100 ppm), but the highestIE% is 90% at the best dose of the bulk extract (400 ppm), by polarization method. The PP results suggest that this compound has an effect on both anodic, and cathodic processes, and that it adsorbs on mild steel surface according to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, and a solid UV–Visible reflection spectrum were used to investigate the alloys' surface morphology.
Standard values of the upper body posture in healthy adults with special regard to age, sex and BMI
Authors: Ohlendorf D. , Avaniadi I. , Adjami F. , Christian W. , Doerry C. , Fay V. , Fisch V. , Gerez A. , Goecke J. , Kaya U. , Keller J. , Krüger D. , Pflaum J. , Porsch L. , Loewe C. , Scharnweber B. , Sosnov P. , Wanke E. M. , Oremek G. , Ackermann H. , Holzgreve F. , Keil F. , Groneberg D. A. , Maurer-Grubinger C.
Published: January 2023

In order to classify and analyze the parameters of upper body posture in clinical or physiotherapeutic settings, a baseline in the form of standard values with special regard to age, sex and BMI is required. Thus, subjectively healthy men and women aged 21–60 years were measured in this project. The postural parameters of 800 symptom-free male (n = 397) and female (n = 407) volunteers aged 21–60 years (Ø♀: 39.7 ± 11.6, Ø ♂: 40.7 ± 11.5 y) were studied. The mean height of the men was 1.8 ± 0.07 m, with a mean body weight of 84.8 ± 13.1 kg and an average BMI of 26.0 ± 3.534 kg/m2. In contrast, the mean height of the women was 1.67 ± 0.06 m, with a mean body weight of 66.5 ± 12.7 kg and an average BMI of 23.9 ± 4.6 kg/m2. By means of video rasterstereography, a 3-dimensional scan of the upper back surface was measured when in a habitual standing position. The means or medians, confidence intervals, tolerance ranges, the minimum, 2.5, 25, 50, 75, 97.5 percentiles and the maximum, plus the kurtosis and skewness of the distribution, were calculated for all parameters. Additionally, ANOVA and a factor analyses (sex, BMI, age) were conducted. In both sexes across all age groups, balanced, symmetrical upper body statics were evident. Most strikingly, the females showed greater thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis angles (kyphosis: Ø ♀ 56°, Ø♂ 51°; lordosis: Ø ♀ 49°, Ø♂ 32°) and lumbar bending angles (Ø ♀ 14°, Ø♂ 11°) than the males. The distance between the scapulae was more pronounced in men. These parameters also show an increase with age and BMI, respectively. Pelvic parameters were independent of age and sex. The upper body postures of women and men between the ages of 21 and 60 years were found to be almost symmetrical and axis-conforming with a positive correlation for BMI or age. Consequently, the present body posture parameters allow for comparisons with other studies, as well as for the evaluation of clinical (interim) diagnostics and applications.
Localization and quantification of glottal gaps on deep learning segmentation of vocal folds
Authors: Pedersen Mette , Larsen Christian Frederik , Madsen Bertram , Eeg Martin
Published: January 2023

The entire glottis has mostly been the focus in the tracking of the vocal folds, both manually and automatically. From a treatment point of view, the various regions of the glottis are of specific interest. The aim of the study was to test if it was possible to supplement an existing convolutional neural network (CNN) with post-network calculations for the localization and quantification of posterior glottal gaps during phonation, usable for vocal fold function analysis of e.g. laryngopharyngeal reflux findings. 30 subjects/videos with insufficient closure in the rear glottal area and 20 normal subjects/videos were selected from our database, recorded with a commercial high-speed video setup (HSV with 4000 frames per second), and segmented with an open-source CNN for validating voice function. We made post-network calculations to localize and quantify the 10% and 50% distance lines from the rear part of the glottis. The results showed a significant difference using the algorithm at the 10% line distance between the two groups of p < 0.0001 and no difference at 50%. These novel results show that it is possible to use post-network calculations on CNNs for the localization and quantification of posterior glottal gaps.
Implementation of safe infant sleep recommendations during night-time sleep in the first year of life in a German birth cohort
Authors: Gaertner Vincent D. , Malfertheiner Sara Fill , Postpischil Janina , Brandstetter Susanne , Seelbach-Göbel Birgit , Apfelbacher Christian , Melter Michael , Kabesch Michael ,   KUNO-Kids study group, Ambrosch Andreas , Arndt Petra A. , Baessler Andrea , Berneburg Mark , Böse-O’Reilly Stephan , Brunner Romuald , Buchalla Wolfgang , Malfertheiner Sara Fill , Franke André , Häusler Sebastian , Heid Iris , Heinze Stefanie , Högler Wolfgang , Kerzel Sebastian , Koller Michael , Leitzmann Michael , Rothfuß David , Rösch Wolfgang , Schaub Bianca , Weidinger Stephan , Wellmann Sven , Kerzel Sebastian
Published: January 2023

The aim of our study was to assess the extent to which families followed recommendations, issued by the German society for sleep medicine, for the prevention of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) during night-time sleep. Analyzing longitudinal data from a birth cohort located at the University Children’s Hospital Regensburg in Bavaria (Germany), we determined data regarding the infant's sleep location, sleep settings and body position, and exposure to environmental factors. Data were collected in a structured interview after birth and by standardized questionnaires at 4 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year of life, respectively. The majority of 1,400 surveyed infants (94% at 4 weeks) were reported to sleep in the parents’ sleeping room during the first months of life. While the most common furniture was a bedside sleeper (used by 48%), we also observed a considerable proportion of families who regularly practiced bed-sharing and, for 16% of infants, the parents’ bed was the default sleeping place. 12% of infants were still put regularly in the prone position. The vast majority (87%) of the infants were breastfed at some timepoint and 17% lived in a household with one or more smokers. Although most parents implemented many SIDS recommendations, our analysis illustrates a considerable gap between recommendations and intentions after birth on the one hand and actual implementation in real life on the other. The number-one deviation from the current SIDS guidelines during night-time sleep was bed-sharing with an adult.
Analysis of time-dependent effects of ambient temperatures on health by vulnerable groups in Korea in 1999–2018
Authors: Park Jongchul , Chae Yeora
Published: January 2023

This study compared the relative risks of heat days on mortalities by vulnerable groups (elderly, single-person households, less-educated) in the past decade (1999–2008) and the recent decade (2009–2018) in four cities, Seoul, Incheon, Daegu, and Gwangju, in Korea. It has been known that the health impacts of heatwaves have gradually decreased over time due to socio-economic development, climate adaptation, and acclimatization. Contrary to general perception, we found that the recent relative risk of mortality caused by heat days has increased among vulnerable groups. It may associate with recent increasing trends of severe heat days due to climate change. The increasing relative risk was more significant in single-person households and less-educated groups than in the elderly. It implies that the impacts of climate change-induced severe heat days have been and will be concentrated on vulnerable groups. It suggests that social polarization and social isolation should be addressed to reduce heatwave impacts. Furthermore, this study shows the necessity of customized heatwave policies, which consider the characteristics of vulnerable groups.
Deep learning classification of active tuberculosis lung zones wise manifestations using chest X-rays: a multi label approach
Authors: Devasia James , Goswami Hridayanand , Lakshminarayanan Subitha , Rajaram Manju , Adithan Subathra
Published: January 2023

Chest X-rays are the most economically viable diagnostic imaging test for active pulmonary tuberculosis screening despite the high sensitivity and low specificity when interpreted by clinicians or radiologists. Computer aided detection (CAD) algorithms, especially convolution based deep learning architecture, have been proposed to facilitate the automation of radiography imaging modalities. Deep learning algorithms have found success in classifying various abnormalities in lung using chest X-ray. We fine-tuned, validated and tested EfficientNetB4 architecture and utilized the transfer learning methodology for multilabel approach to detect lung zone wise and image wise manifestations of active pulmonary tuberculosis using chest X-ray. We used Area Under Receiver Operating Characteristic (AUC), sensitivity and specificity along with 95% confidence interval as model evaluation metrics. We also utilized the visualisation capabilities of convolutional neural networks (CNN), Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) as post-hoc attention method to investigate the model and visualisation of Tuberculosis abnormalities and discuss them from radiological perspectives. EfficientNetB4 trained network achieved remarkable AUC, sensitivity and specificity of various pulmonary tuberculosis manifestations in intramural test set and external test set from different geographical region. The grad-CAM visualisations and their ability to localize the abnormalities can aid the clinicians at primary care settings for screening and triaging of tuberculosis where resources are constrained or overburdened.
Efficient gene–environment interaction testing through bootstrap aggregating
Authors: Lau Michael , Kress Sara , Schikowski Tamara , Schwender Holger
Published: January 2023

Gene–environment (GxE) interactions are an important and sophisticated component in the manifestation of complex phenotypes. Simple univariate tests lack statistical power due to the need for multiple testing adjustment and not incorporating potential interplay between several genetic loci. Approaches based on internally constructed genetic risk scores (GRS) require the partitioning of the available sample into training and testing data sets, thus, lowering the effective sample size for testing the GxE interaction itself. To overcome these issues, we propose a statistical test that employs bagging (bootstrap aggregating) in the GRS construction step and utilizes its out-of-bag prediction mechanism. This approach has the key advantage that the full available data set can be used for both constructing the GRS and testing the GxE interaction. To also incorporate interactions between genetic loci, we, furthermore, investigate if using random forests as the GRS construction method in GxE interaction testing further increases the statistical power. In a simulation study, we show that both novel procedures lead to a higher statistical power for detecting GxE interactions, while still controlling the type I error. The random-forests-based test outperforms a bagging-based test that uses the elastic net as its base learner in most scenarios. An application of the testing procedures to a real data set from a German cohort study suggests that there might be a GxE interaction involving exposure to air pollution regarding rheumatoid arthritis.