bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy, feasibility and tolerability of ketogenic diet for the treatment of poor response to bariatric surgery
Authors: Vinciguerra F. , Longhitano S. , Carrubba N. , Piazza L. , Di Stefano C. , Arpi M. L. , Baratta R. , Hagnäs M. , Frittitta L.
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Poor response to bariatric surgery, namely insufficient weight loss (IWL) or weight regain (WR), is a critical issue in the treatment of obesity. The purpose of our study was to assess the efficacy, feasibility, and tolerability of very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) for the management of this condition.

Methods

A real-life prospective study was conducted on twenty-two patients who experienced poor response after bariatric surgery and followed a structured VLCKD. Anthropometric parameters, body composition, muscular strength, biochemical analyses, and nutritional behavior questionnaires were evaluated.

Results

A significant weight loss (mean 14.1 ± 4.8%), mostly due to fat mass, was observed during VLCKD with the preservation of muscular strength. The weight loss obtained allowed patients with IWL to reach a body weight significantly lower than that obtained at the post-bariatric surgery nadir and to report the body weight of patients with WR at the nadir observed after surgery. The significantly beneficial changes in nutritional behaviors and metabolic profiles were observed without variations in kidney and liver function, vitamins, and iron status. The nutritional regimen was well tolerated, and no significant side effects were detected.

Conclusion

Our data demonstrate the efficacy, feasibility, and tolerability of VLCKD in patients with poor response after bariatric surgery.
Developing explicit customer preference models using fuzzy regression with nonlinear structure
Authors: Jiang Huimin , Wu Xianhui , Sabetzadeh Farzad , Chan Kit Yan
Published: February 2023

In online sales platforms, product design attributes influence consumer preferences, and consumer preferences also have a significant impact on future product design optimization and iteration. Online review data are the most intuitive feedback from consumers on products. Using the value of online review information to explore consumer preferences is the key to optimize the products, improve consumer satisfaction and meet consumer requirements. Therefore, the study of consumer preferences based on online reviews is of great importance. However, in previous research on consumer preferences based on online reviews, few studies have modeled consumer preferences. The models often suffer from the nonlinear structure and the fuzzy coefficients, making it challenging to build explicit models. Therefore, this study adopts a fuzzy regression approach with a nonlinear structure to model consumer preferences based on online reviews to provide reference and insight for subsequent studies. First, smartwatches were selected as the research object, and the sentiment scores of product reviews under different topics were obtained by text mining on the product online data. Second, a polynomial structure between product attributes and consumer preferences was generated to investigate the association between them further. Afterward, based on the existing polynomial structure, the fuzzy coefficients of each item in the structure were determined by the fuzzy regression approach. Finally, the mean relative error and mean systematic confidence of the fuzzy regression with nonlinear structure method were numerically calculated and compared with fuzzy least squares regression, fuzzy regression, adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and K-means-based ANFIS, and it was found that the proposed method was relatively more effective in modeling consumer preferences.
Feasibility of using bio-mimicking fish scale textures in LPBF for water drag-reducing surfaces
Authors: Scarpellini Alessandro , Schito Paolo , Demir Ali Gökhan
Published: February 2023

In this work, bio-mimicking fish scale textures are produced by LPBF and AlSi7Mg0.6 powder to reduce drag forces on nautical components. For this purpose, a surface texture inspired by the European bass skin was modelled and parametrized. Textures were applied over the external surface of purpose-designed specimens. Additive manufacturing quality of textures was assessed using focus variation microscopy to examine surface roughness as well as geometrical errors. Once the feasibility of producing the desired bio-mimicking surfaces was confirmed, the designed surface patterns were analysed in the computation fluid dynamics modelling environment. The behaviour of the surfaces was characterized in terms of drag force generated over a fixed dimension plate model. The most promising configuration was further investigated in a sensitivity analysis where variations in main stream velocity and in surface roughness are applied. Drag reduction was related to the lowering of the viscous component and was found to be in the order of 1–2%, with respect to a smooth surface, for free stream velocity of 2.5–5 m s−1 and average roughness smaller than the as-built condition. The results confirm that the modelled surfaces can be reproduced with sufficient geometrical fidelity, showing great promise for drag-reducing metallic components produced by additive manufacturing.
Assessment of Local Domestic Solid Fuel Sources: A Kenyan Case Study in Kisii, Bomet and Narok Counties
Authors: Bosire Josephate O. , Osano Aloys M. , Maghanga Justin K. , Forbes Patricia B.C.
Published: February 2023

Proximate analyses and decomposition profiles of solid fuels commonly used in Kenya were studied to determine their relative suitability for use as a clean and efficient source of energy in households. The moisture, volatile matter, ash, and fixed carbon content of firewood, charcoal, and briquette samples were investigated, as well as their decomposition profiles under various temperature regimes. Except for the ash content of the briquette sample, which deviated slightly likely due to the presence of binders, all the values were within acceptable limits according to International Energy Agency and World Health Organization. Decomposition profiles revealed that mass change during combustion tends to occur primarily between 350 and 500 °C once the majority of the volatiles had been released. Briquette samples proved to be the most dependable and suitable household fuel due to their longer combustion time and lower volatile matter content, implying lower emissions.
Partnerships with Families and Communities
Authors: Goff Wendy , Phillipson Sivanes , Clarke Sharryn
Published: February 2023

Partnerships with Families and Communities: Building Dynamic Relationships is a comprehensive and accessible resource that provides pre-service teachers with the tools required to build effective, sustainable and proactive partnerships in both early childhood and primary educational settings. This text introduces models of home-school-community partnerships in educational contexts and presents a comprehensive partnerships approach for best practice in applying and leading effective relationships with key stakeholders. It explores essential underpinning policies, legislation and research theories that position strong, positive and proactive partnerships as a systemic solution to children's learning development. Key topics covered include diversity in partnership work, reflective practice and tools for evaluating working partnerships. Each chapter includes focused pedagogy, key terms and definitions, scenarios and review questions, which enable readers to deeply engage with new concepts. 'Proactive Partners' boxes explore real-world scenarios and encourage readers to link theory with practice.
LABOUR REGULATION AND PRODUCTIVITY IN THE UK SINCE 1945: DEBUNKING MYTHS ABOUT ‘DISEASE’, ‘MIRACLES’ AND ‘PUZZLES’
Authors: Cruddas Jon
Published: February 2023

Over 50 years ago, New Society first identified a new ‘Oxford School’ considered central to British post-war reconstruction. Based around Nuffield College, it contained five key figures: Hugh Clegg, Allan Flanders, Alan Fox, Bill McCarthy and Arthur Marsh. Other identified contributors were Ben Roberts, John Hughes and legal theorist Otto Kahn-Freund. A second generation included the likes of George Bain, Willy Brown, Richard Hyman, Rod Martin and Roger Undy. Intriguingly, as early as the late 1940s its key theorist Flanders described their social democratic approach to build industrial pluralism as the ‘third way’—obviously a phrase given greater prominence in the 1990s by Tony Blair and Tony Giddens.
Influence of chronometer error uncertainties on the Longitude of Shackleton's vessel, Endurance
Authors: Bergman Lars , Mearns David L. , Stuart Robin G.
Published: February 2023

In 1915 while the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition's vessel Endurance was icebound in the Weddell Sea, lunar occultation timings were carried out in order to rate the chronometers and thereby find longitude. The original observations have been re-analysed using modern lunar ephemerides and catalogues of star positions. The times derived in this way are found to differ by an average of 20 s from those obtained during the expedition using positions given from the Nautical Almanac and introduces an additional offset of the true positions to the east of those recorded in the log.
Concrete Leviathan: The Interstate Highway System and Infrastructural Inequality in the Age of Liberalism
Authors: Arcadi Teal
Published: February 2023

This article explores how the construction of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways prompted litigation that altered the course of administrative law and governance from the 1960s onward. By that time, the construction of the interstate system had become synonymous with thedestructionof neighborhoods and parks bulldozed to make way for the “concrete monsters,” as some came to call the interstates. Ensuing protests—“freeway revolts”—pressed for altered construction practices and participatory roles for citizens and communities in the state building process underway. This article explores the legal consequences of interstate highway protest, and advances two arguments. First, freeway revolts brought distinctive reforms to the practices of modern American state building, particularly when they produced the canonical Supreme Court caseCitizens to Preserve Overton Park v. Volpe(1971). Second, despite the reformist inclinations present inOverton Park, the case created an unequal legal and physical landscape of state building. ContrastingOverton ParkwithNashville I-40 Steering Committee v. Ellington(1967), a case dealing with racial discrimination and community destruction, reveals the mechanics of a legal regime that cemented racial and class hierarchies in place across long horizons of space and time via the interstate system's durable, nation-spanning asphalt limbs.
Find the Mistake!
Authors: Breuer Sonja , Scherndl Thomas , Ortner Tuulia M.
Published: February 2023

Abstract: Reasoning ability has commonly been regarded as the best predictor of academic and occupational success. Due to concerns about the validity of multiple-choice (MC) formats, test security breaches, and the fact that the difficulty levels of most existing reasoning assessments target the population mean, there is a constant need for new reliable and valid test instruments that can be applied to assess fluid intelligence in advanced cognitive performance areas. We developed a novel computerized figural matrices test to assess nonverbal reasoning for university student aptitude assessment. In two studies, we generated, revised, and empirically validated the Isometric Matrices Test (IMT). Our results show that the IMT is less prone to test-wiseness strategies than existing reasoning tests. In a third study, we created and evaluated an innovative Find the Mistake (FtM) response format as an alternative to classical multiple-choice formats. Overall, both response formats revealed satisfactory psychometric quality in terms of item difficulties and discrimination, test-retest reliability, construct and criterion validity, and Rasch or two-parameter logistic (2PL) model fit, but in one MC version, the internal consistency was low due to negative discrimination indices. The MC response format turned out to be easier than the FtM format, with men slightly outperforming women in both response modes. We propose the IMT as a useful tool for assessing nonverbal reasoning ability in above-average performance areas and discuss the automatic generation of larger IMT item pools for adaptive testing in order to increase test security and reliability.
Task Demands Differentially Affect Processing of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Object Features in Working Memory
Authors: Kirmsse Alexander , Zimmer Hubert D. , Ecker Ullrich K. H.
Published: February 2023

Abstract. Some argue that visual working memory operates on integrated object representations. Here, we contend that obligatory feature integration occurs with intrinsic but not extrinsic object features. Working memory for shapes and colors was assessed using a change-detection task with a central test probe, while recording event-related potentials (ERPs). Color was either an intrinsic surface feature of a shape or connected to the shape via a proximal but spatially disjunct extrinsic frame. There were two types of test: The direct test required memory for shape and color; the indirect test required only shape memory. Study-test changes of color were therefore either task-relevant or task-irrelevant. We assessed performance costs and event-related potential (ERP) effects arising from color changes. In the direct test, performance was poorer for extrinsic than intrinsic stimuli; task-relevant color changes elicited enhanced frontal negativity (N2, FN400) for both intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli. In the indirect test, performance costs and ERP effects associated with irrelevant color change were larger for intrinsic than extrinsic stimuli. This suggests intrinsic information is more readily integrated into the working-memory representation and evaluated against the test probe. Findings imply that feature integration is not obligatory under all conditions but influenced by stimulus-driven and task-related focus of attention.
Characterization of Gravity Waves in Three Dimensions in the Daytime Thermosphere Using Combined Optical and Radio Measurements and Estimation of Horizontal Neutral Winds
Authors: Kumar Sunil , Mandal Subir , Pallamraju Duggirala
Published: February 2023

Gravity waves, which are considered omnipresent in the Earth's upper atmosphere, are generally investigated by monitoring the fluctuations in different atmospheric parameters. Here, we report the propagation characteristics of thermospheric gravity waves both in horizontal and vertical directions obtained using collocated optical and radio measurements from Ahmedabad, India for February 2021. The measurements of OI 630.0 nm dayglow emission rates over zenith are used to derive time periods of gravity waves. Wave number analyses of variations in the emission over a large field‐of‐view have been performed to derive gravity wave scale sizes and propagation characteristics in the horizontal direction. Time periods, horizontal scale sizes, and propagation directions are found to be in the range of 31–125 min, 78–243 km, and 203°–248° from east, respectively. Vertical wavelengths of the gravity waves are obtained from radio measurements and are in the range of 26–247 km. As the gravity wave characteristics are influenced by the ambient neutral winds, the measured gravity wave propagation characteristics in three dimensions have been used as inputs into the gravity wave dispersion relation to estimate the magnitudes of thermospheric horizontal neutral winds. These estimated daytime winds in the direction of wave propagation are found to be in the range of 1–105 ms−1, and they compare well with those measured independently from MIGHTI added HWM14 model‐derived winds. The daytime winds estimated by this approach are possibly the first of their kind as obtained from ground‐based measurements.
Kelvin‐Helmholtz Billows in the Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere Detected by the PANSY Radar at Syowa Station in the Antarctic
Authors: Minamihara Yuichi , Sato Kaoru , Tsutsumi Masaki
Published: February 2023

We conducted two 10‐day observational campaigns in 2019 targeting turbulence in the troposphere and lower stratosphere by adopting a frequency domain radar interferometric imaging technique using Program of the Antarctic Syowa radar (PANSY radar) and radiosonde observations obtained at Syowa Station in the Antarctic. Seventy three Kelvin‐Helmholtz (K‐H) billows were detected, and two characteristic cases likely excited by the same cyclone were examined in detail. In the first case with the longest observational duration of ∼6.5 hr, the K‐H billows had a thickness of ∼800 m and a horizontal wavelength of ∼2,500 m. According to a numerical simulation, continuously existing gravity waves associated with the cyclone maintained strong vertical wind shear sufficient to cause the K‐H instability. In the second case with the deepest thickness of ∼1,600 m, the K‐H billows had a horizontal wavelength of ∼4,320 m. Numerical simulation suggested that an enhanced upper‐tropospheric jet associated with a well‐developed synoptic‐scale cyclone caused the K‐H instability. Such background conditions, frequently observed in the Antarctic coastal region, are typical mechanisms for K‐H excitation. Linear stability analysis also indicated that the characteristics of the observed K‐H billows were consistent with the most unstable modes. Furthermore, statistical analysis was performed using data of all 73 observed cases. The characteristics of K‐H billows observed at Syowa Station are similar to those observed over Japan. However, the K‐H billows tend to have longer wave periods over Syowa Station than over Japan, likely due to the weaker tropospheric jet in the Antarctic.
An Application of the Maximum Entropy Production Method in the WRF Noah Land Surface Model
Authors: Jia Chunhui , Zhao Ping , Wang Jingfeng , Deng Yi , Li Na , Wang Yingchun , Miao Shiguang
Published: February 2023

The calculation of surface sensible heat (SH) and latent heat (LE) fluxes using the bulk transfer models for complex terrains, tall vegetation regions, and morning and evening transition periods remains a challenging problem in numerical weather and climate models. The maximum entropy production (MEP) model, a new method of calculating surface heat fluxes, is coupled with the Noah land surface model (LSM) in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. Surface heat fluxes and meteorological variables including air temperature, relative humidity, soil temperature, and precipitation data at nine intensive observation stations and 453 routine meteorological operational observation stations in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) from 1 June to 31 August 2015 are used to evaluate the coupled model. The results show that the MEP method improves the nonclosure of the surface energy balance in the WRF (with an energy residual from 24.3 to 1.9 W m−2), reducing the overestimations of SH and LE and the underestimation of the surface ground heat flux over the complex terrain of TP (with the bias decreases of 50.6% and 117.1% for SH and LE in turn), especially during the daytime. The improved SH and LE reduce the cold and wet biases in the TP by 29.4% and 51.7%, respectively. The MEP model also reduces the overestimated soil temperature by 63%. Moreover, the overestimated daily precipitation is reduced by 3% over the TP. The successful application of the MEP method demonstrates its advantage over the bulk transfer method, providing a new approach for reducing the overestimation of surface heat fluxes and wet and cold biases in numerical forecast models in complex terrains.
Breaking the Window of Detection: Using Multi‐Scale Solute Tracer Studies to Assess Mass Recovery at the Detection Limit
Authors: Ward Adam S. , Wondzell Steven M. , Gooseff Michael N. , Covino Tim , Herzog Skuyler , McGlynn Brian , Payn Robert A.
Published: February 2023

Stream solute tracers are commonly injected to assess transport and transformation in study reaches, but results are biased toward the shortest and fastest storage locations. While this bias has been understood for decades, the impact of an experimental constraint on our understanding has yet to be considered. Here, we ask how different our understanding of reach‐ and segment‐scale transport would be if our empirical limits were extended. We demonstrate a novel approach to manipulate experimental conditions and observe mass that is stored at timescales beyond the traditional reach‐scale window of detection. We are able to explain the fate of an average of 26% of solute tracer mass that would have been considered as “lost” in a traditional study design across our 14 replicates, extending our detection limits to characterize flowpaths that would have been previously unmeasured. We demonstrate how this formerly lost mass leads to predicting lower magnitudes of gross gains and losses in individual reaches, and ultimately show that the network turnover we infer from solute tracers represents an upper limit on actual, expected behavior. Finally, we review the evolution of tracer studies and their interpretation including this approach and provide a proposed future direction to extend empirical studies to not‐before‐seen timescales.
Riparian Freshwater Lens Response to Flooding
Authors: Wu Huiqiang , Jazayeri Amir , Werner Adrian D. , Tang Hongwu , Lu Chunhui
Published: February 2023

The freshwater lenses (“lenses” hereafter) within saline floodplain aquifers are sensitive to river flooding events. However, the effects of extensive floodplain inundation on saline aquifers are rarely considered and have not been examined previously under controlled laboratory conditions. We conducted laboratory experiments within a two‐dimensional (cross‐section) sand tank (i.e., representing a saline floodplain aquifer) and built both laboratory‐ and field‐scale numerical models to examine lens responses to flood events. Three sets of experiments were performed to explore different lateral extents of floodplain inundation. The temporal behavior of experimental lenses was quantified and compared to variable‐density numerical models that adopted calibrated laboratory parameters, showing good agreement. Results show that more extensive floodplain inundation leads to larger lenses (as expected). The sensitivity analysis was performed based on field‐scale numerical models, demonstrating that the floodplain inundation extent, hydraulic conductivity, and dispersivity are key factors controlling the post‐flood recession in lens extent and volume. In field‐scale simulations of floodplain inundation, the entire lens was significantly salinized during flood recession due to enhanced dispersion accompanying higher groundwater velocities, which may further split into several isolated freshwater bodies before eventually returning to steady‐state conditions. Importantly, field‐scale numerical results indicated that the salt load to the adjacent river increased immediately following the flood event, consistent with reporting of the River Murray (South Australia). These results provide critical new insights into relationships between flood events and the behavior of lenses, highlighting the significance of flooding events on both intermediate and long‐term conditions of saline floodplains.
A Comprehensive Evaluation of GRACE‐Like Terrestrial Water Storage (TWS) Reconstruction Products at an Interannual Scale During 1981–2019
Authors: Deng Shanshan , Liu Yuxin , Zhang Wenxi
Published: February 2023

Given the success of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission in mapping terrestrial water storage (TWS) since 2002, recent reconstructions of long‐term TWS rely on the use of statistical machine learning to apply GRACE‐derived information to past decades. Evaluating the interannual accuracy during nonobservational periods is a key challenge. This study develops a comprehensive framework to discuss the interannual accuracy of three different TWS reconstructions during 1981–2019, including (a) global‐scale accuracy assessment using GRACE and satellite laser ranging data; (b) regional‐scale accuracy testing across various underlying surfaces (i.e., rivers, lakes, and glaciers); and (c) investigation of relevant evidence from other Earth subsystems (i.e., historic climate events, sea level budget, and polar motion). Among the three reconstructions, the one that additionally corrects glacial TWS changes (REC2) detects a breaking point in the 1990s and further closes the interannual sea level budget with an absolute difference reduction to 5.13 mm; the reconstruction that is forced by local meteorological conditions (REC1), accounting for 54% of the GRACE‐derived signal energy, underestimates glacial TWS variability but outperforms the other reconstructions in reproducing lake levels, basin‐scale water balances, and climate events at the interannual scale, while the others consider 95%–99% of the GRACE‐derived signal energy. The relatively high accuracy of REC1 (and REC2) in reflecting interannual changes in nonglacial (and glacial) regions is further confirmed by explaining the χ2‐ (and χ1‐) component polar motion. Ten to 20% of the interannual polar motion remains unexplained, indicating room for improvement in interannual TWS reconstruction.
Chronically dysregulated corticosterone impairs dopaminergic transmission in the dorsomedial striatum by sex-divergent mechanisms
Authors: Holloway Ashley L. , Schaid Michael D. , Lerner Talia N.
Published: February 2023

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Individuals with MDD exhibit decreased motivation and deficits in reward processing. In a subset of MDD patients, chronic dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis occurs, resulting in increased levels of the ‘stress hormone’ cortisol during the normal rest period (i.e., evening and night). However, the mechanistic relationship between chronically elevated resting cortisol and behavioral deficits in motivation and reward processing remains unclear. Given that women are diagnosed with MDD at twice the rate of men, it is important to understand whether the mechanisms linking cortisol to the symptoms of MDD differ by sex. In this study, we used subcutaneous implants to chronically elevate free plasma corticosterone (the rodent homolog of cortisol; ‘CORT’) during the rest period in male and female mice and examined changes in behavior and dopamine system function. We found that chronic CORT treatment impaired motivated reward-seeking in both sexes. In female but not male mice, CORT treatment reduced dopamine content in the dorsomedial striatum (DMS). In male but not female mice, CORT treatment impaired the function of the dopamine transporter (DAT) in DMS. From these studies, we conclude that chronic CORT dysregulation impairs motivation by impairing dopaminergic transmission in the DMS, but via different mechanisms in male and female mice. A better understanding of these sex-specific mechanisms could lead to new directions in MDD diagnosis and treatment.
PRMT6-CDC20 facilitates glioblastoma progression via the degradation of CDKN1B
Authors: Wang Ji , Xiao Zongyu , Li Peng , Wu Chunwang , Li Yan , Wang Qing , Chen Yanming , Zhou Honglong , Li Zhi , Wang Zhaotao , Lan Qing , Wang Yezhong
Published: February 2023

PRMT6, a type I arginine methyltransferase, di-methylates the arginine residues of both histones and non-histones asymmetrically. Increasing evidence indicates that PRMT6 plays a tumor mediator involved in human malignancies. Here, we aim to uncover the essential role and underlying mechanisms of PRMT6 in promoting glioblastoma (GBM) proliferation. Investigation of PRMT6 expression in glioma tissues demonstrated that PRMT6 is overexpressed, and elevated expression of PRMT6 is negatively correlated with poor prognosis in glioma/GBM patients. Silencing PRMT6 inhibited GBM cell proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase, while overexpressing PRMT6 had opposite results. Further, we found that PRMT6 attenuates the protein stability of CDKN1B by promoting its degradation. Subsequent mechanistic investigations showed that PRMT6 maintains the transcription of CDC20 by activating histone methylation mark (H3R2me2a), and CDC20 interacts with and destabilizes CDKN1B. Rescue experimental results confirmed that PRMT6 promotes the ubiquitinated degradation of CDKN1B and cell proliferation via CDC20. We also verified that the PRMT6 inhibitor (EPZ020411) could attenuate the proliferative effect of GBM cells. Our findings illustrate that PRMT6, an epigenetic mediator, promotes CDC20 transcription via H3R2me2a to mediate the degradation of CDKN1B to facilitate GBM progression. Targeting PRMT6-CDC20-CDKN1B axis might be a promising therapeutic strategy for GBM.
Targeting PSAT1 to mitigate metastasis in tumors with p53-72Pro variant
Authors: Jiang Jingwen , Chen Hai-Ning , Jin Ping , Zhou Li , Peng Liyuan , Huang Zhao , Qin Siyuan , Li Bowen , Ming Hui , Luo Maochao , Xie Na , Gao Wei , Nice Edouard C. , Yu Qiang , Huang Canhua
Published: February 2023

The single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of p53, in particular the codon 72 variants, has recently been implicated as a critical regulator in tumor progression. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here we found that cancer cells carrying codon 72-Pro variant of p53 showed impaired metastatic potential upon serine supplementation. Proteome-wide mapping of p53-interacting proteins uncovered a specific interaction of the codon 72 proline variant (but not p5372R) with phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 (PSAT1). Interestingly, p5372P-PSAT1 interaction resulted in dissociation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) that otherwise bound to p5372P, leading to subsequent nuclear translocation of PGC-1α and activation of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Depletion of PSAT1 restored p5372P-PGC-1α interaction and impeded the OXPHOS and TCA function, resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction and metastasis suppression. Notably, pharmacological targeting the PSAT1-p5372Pinteraction by aminooxyacetic acid (AOA) crippled the growth of liver cancer cells carrying the p5372Pvariant in both in vitro and patient-derived xenograft models. Moreover, AOA plus regorafenib, an FDA-proved drug for hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal cancer, achieved a better anti-tumor effect on tumors carrying the p5372Pvariant. Therefore, our findings identified a gain of function of the p5372Pvariant on mitochondrial function and provided a promising precision strategy to treat tumors vulnerable to p5372P-PSAT1 perturbation.
Effect of climatic parameters on marine atmospheric corrosion: correlation analysis of on-site sensors data
Authors: Daneshian Bahman , Höche Daniel , Knudsen Ole Øystein , Skilbred Anders Werner Bredvei
Published: February 2023

A good understanding of influencing parameters is required to predict corrosivity in marine and coastal environments. This study investigated the influences of real-time data of (i) air temperature, (ii) sensor surface temperature, (iii) relative humidity, (iv) precipitation, and (v) wind on steel corrosion via data analysis. The results revealed that the time when the sensor surface temperature is below the dewpoint temperature reveals the best correlation with corrosion. Wind speed above 5 m s−1 also correlated with corrosion. At the test site, most of the corrosion occurred during autumn and winter, due to more water condensation and more wind. During spring and summer, there was little corrosion, due to little condensation and dry surfaces.
Stability evaluation and validation of appropriate reference genes for real-time PCR expression analysis of immune genes in the rohu (Labeo rohita) skin following argulosis
Authors: Sahoo Pramoda Kumar , Parida Sonali , Parida Subhadarshini , Parida Priyashree , Paul Anirban
Published: February 2023

Argulosis is one of the most unrestrained economically significant freshwater fish ectoparasitic diseases. Proper selection or normalization of the best reference gene governs the accuracy of results of gene expression studies using real-time PCR. Earlier studies in rohu carp (Labeo rohita) have used reference genes without proper validation. Here, seven candidate reference genes viz., acidic ribosomal protein (ARP0), glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, RNA polymerase II (RPo), elongation factor1α (EF1α), α- tubulin (AT), ribosomal protein L 10, and β-actin were evaluated using four algorithms (geNorm, BestKeeper, NormFinder and ∆Ct) followed by a comprehensive gene expression analysis using skin tissue of rohu at varied time points of experimental Argulus siamensis infection. ARP0 and EF1α were found to be the most stable whereas RPo and AT were considered as least stable genes based on basal expression level and variation in expression levels. Validation of candidate reference genes was undertaken by looking into the expression of six immune-related genes using the two most stable and two least stable genes as housekeeping genes in Argulus-infected rohu skin at different time points of infection. An increased expression of immune genes indicated the role of inflammation and the immune modulation process at the site of attachment of parasites in governing infection.
Contribution of sustained attention abilities to real-world academic skills in children
Authors: Gallen Courtney L. , Schaerlaeken Simon , Younger Jessica W. ,   Project iLEAD Consortium, Younger Jessica Wise , O’Laughlin Kristine D. , Anguera Joaquin A. , Bunge Silvia A. , Ferrer Emilio E. , Hoeft Fumiko , McCandliss Bruce D. , Mishra Jyoti , Rosenberg-Lee Miriam , Gazzaley Adam , Uncapher Melina R. , Anguera Joaquin A. , Gazzaley Adam
Published: February 2023

Sustained attention is a critical cognitive ability that improves over the course of development and predicts important real-world outcomes, such as academic achievement. However, the majority of work demonstrating links between sustained attention and academic skills has been conducted in lab-based settings that lack the ecological validity of a more naturalistic environment, like school. Further, most studies focus on targeted academic measures of specific sub-skills and have not fully examined whether this relationship generalizes to broad measures of academic achievement that are used for important, real-world, academic advancement decisions, such as standardized test scores. To address this gap, we examined the role of sustained attention in predicting targeted and broad assessments of academic abilities, where all skills were assessed in group-based environments in schools. In a sample of over 700 students aged 9–14, we showed that attention was positively related to performance on targeted assessments (math fluency and reading comprehension), as well as broad academic measures (statewide standardized test scores). Moreover, we found that attention was more predictive of targeted math sub-skills compared to assessments of broad math abilities, but was equally predictive of reading for both types of measures. Our findings add to our understanding of how sustained attention is linked to academic skills assessed in more ‘real-world’, naturalistic school environments and have important implications for designing tools to support student’s academic success.
A randomized trial on the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Lu Jin-Ying , Ou Horng-Yih , Wu Chung-Ze , Yang Chwen-Yi , Jiang Ju-Ying , Lu Chieh-Hsiang , Jiang Yi-Der , Chang Tien-Jyun , Chang Yi-Cheng , Hsieh Meng-Lun , Wu Wan-Chen , Li Hung-Yuan , Du Ye-Fong , Lin Ching-Han , Hung Hao-Chang , Tien Kai-Jen , Yeh Nai-Cheng , Lee Shang-Yu , Yu Hui-I. , Chuang Lee-Ming
Published: February 2023

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) has been demonstrated to be beneficial in glycemic control in animal models, but its application in humans has not been well studied. We randomly assigned 160 patients with type 2 diabetes on oral antidiabetic drugs 1:1 to the TENS study device (n = 81) and placebo (n = 79). 147 (92%) randomized participants (mean [SD] age 59 [10] years, 92 men [58%], mean [SD] baseline HbA1c level 8.1% [0.6%]) completed the trial. At week 20, HbA1c decreased from 8.1% to 7.9% in the TENS group (− 0.2% [95% CI − 0.4% to − 0.1%]) and from 8.1% to 7.8% in the placebo group (− 0.3% [95% CI − 0.5% to − 0.2%]) (P = 0.821). Glycemic variability, measured as mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (MAGE) at week 20 were significantly different in the TENS group vs. the placebo group (66 mg/dL [95% CI 58, 73] vs. 79 mg/dL [95% CI 72, 87]) (P = 0.009). Our study provides the clinical evidence for the first time in humans that TENS does not demonstrate a statistically significant HbA1c reduction. However, it is a safe complementary therapy to improve MAGE in patients with type 2 diabetes.
The effect of coconut coir substrate on the yield and nutritional quality of sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum) varieties
Authors: Tuckeldoe Roger B. , Maluleke Mdungazi K. , Adriaanse P.
Published: February 2023

The industry standard for estimating the quantity of horticultural produce harvested is crop yield. Producing sufficient amounts of high-quality biochemical ingredients crops can therefore aid in resolving concerns with food security and nutrition. Most producers prefer the use of organic substrate over natural soils when growing crops such as peppers in greenhouses, to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of food all year round. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of coconut coir substrate on the yield and biochemical constituents of peppers varieties grown under greenhouse environment. For two successive seasons [2021 and 2022], two sweet pepper types (Sondela and Ilanga) were cultivated on fertigated coconut coir and loamy soil (control). Fruit number, together with their dry weight and some biochemical constituents, were examined. To evaluate the impact of coconut coir substrate on the growth, yield, and biochemical constituents of different pepper cultivars grown in a greenhouse, dry plant materials and freeze-dried fruit samples were analyzed. Results showed that the coconut coir and variety (Ilanga) treatment combination produced more fruits than other treatments. Biochemical constituents such as vitamins, total phenols, total flavonoids, copper, iron and Zinc were in fruits grown under coir substrate when compared to loamy soil (control). Therefore, farmers are encouraged to grow sweet peppers varieties under coconut coir substrate for better yield, nutritional quality and profit maximisation.
The transnasal endoscopic approach for resection of clival tumors: a single-center experience
Authors: Butenschoen Vicki M. , Krauss Philipp , Bernhardt Denise , Negwer Chiara , Combs Stefanie , Meyer Bernhard , Gempt Jens
Published: February 2023

Clival tumors present challenging entities regarding their treatment options. Due to their proximity to critical neurovascular structures, the operative goal of gross total tumor resection is rendered more difficult by a high risk of neurological deficits. Retrospective cohort study of patients treated for clival neoplasms through a transnasal endoscopic approach between 2009 and 2020. Assessment of preoperative clinical status, length of operation, number of approaches, pre- and postoperative radiotherapy, and the clinical outcome. Presentation and clinical correlation with our new classification. In total, 59 transnasal endoscopic operations were performed on 42 patients over 12 years. Most lesions were clival chordomas; 63% of the lesions did not reach the brainstem. Cranial nerve impairment was present in 67% of the patients, and 75% of the patients with cranial nerve palsy improved after surgical treatment. Interrater reliability for our proposed tumor extension classification showed a substantial agreement (Cohen’s κ = 0.766). The transnasal approach was sufficient to achieve a complete tumor resection in 74% of the patients. Clival tumors exhibit heterogeneous characteristics. Depending on clival tumor extension, the transnasal endoscopic approach can present a safe surgical technique for upper and middle clival tumor resection, with a low risk of perioperative complications and a high rate of postoperative improvement.
Transcranial high-frequency random noise stimulation does not modulate Nogo N2 and Go/Nogo reaction times in somatosensory and auditory modalities
Authors: Yamashiro Koya , Ikarashi Koyuki , Makibuchi Taiki , Anazawa Sayaka , Baba Yasuhiro , Fujimoto Tomomi , Ochi Genta , Sato Daisuke
Published: February 2023

Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) of the primary sensory or motor cortex can improve sensorimotor functions by enhancing circuit excitability and processing fidelity. However, tRNS is reported to have little effect on higher brain functions, such as response inhibition when applied to associated supramodal regions. These discrepancies suggest differential effects of tRNS on the excitability of the primary and supramodal cortex, although this has not been directly demonstrated. This study examined the effects of tRNS on supramodal brain regions on somatosensory and auditory Go/Nogo task performance, a measure of inhibitory executive function, while simultaneously recording event-related potentials (ERPs). Sixteen participants received sham or tRNS stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in a single-blind crossover design study. Neither sham nor tRNS altered somatosensory and auditory Nogo N2 amplitudes, Go/Nogo reaction times, or commission error rates. The results suggest that current tRNS protocols are less effective at modulating neural activity in higher-order cortical regions than in the primary sensory and motor cortex. Further studies are required to identify tRNS protocols that effectively modulate the supramodal cortex for cognitive enhancement.
Impending anthropogenic threats and protected area prioritization for jaguars in the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Bogoni Juliano A. , Boron Valeria , Peres Carlos A. , Coelho Maria Eduarda M. S. , Morato Ronaldo G. , Oliveira-da-Costa Marcelo
Published: February 2023

Jaguars (Panthera onca) exert critical top-down control over large vertebrates across the Neotropics. Yet, this iconic species have been declining due to multiple threats, such as habitat loss and hunting, which are rapidly increasing across the New World tropics. Based on geospatial layers, we extracted socio-environmental variables for 447 protected areas across the Brazilian Amazon to identify those that merit short-term high-priority efforts to maximize jaguar persistence. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and comparisons of measures of central tendency. Our results reveal that areas containing the largest jaguar densities and the largest estimated population sizes are precisely among those confronting most anthropogenic threats. Jaguars are threatened in the world’s largest tropical forest biome by deforestation associated with anthropogenic fires, and the subsequent establishment of pastures. By contrasting the highest threats with the highest jaguar population sizes in a bivariate plot, we provide a shortlist of the top-10 protected areas that should be prioritized for immediate jaguar conservation efforts and 74 for short-term action. Many of these are located at the deforestation frontier or in important boundaries with neighboring countries (e.g., Peruvian, Colombian and Venezuelan Amazon). The predicament of a safe future for jaguars can only be ensured if protected areas persist and resist downgrading and downsizing due to both external anthropogenic threats and geopolitical pressures (e.g., infrastructure development and frail law enforcement).
Clustering-enhanced, nonconventional photoluminescence from a silicone surfactant
Authors: Xu Aoxue , Liu Hailong , Yi Gang , Feng Ning , Li Hongguang
Published: February 2023

The synergetic effect between a nonionic silicone surfactant and an anionic hydrocarbon surfactant leads to strong nonconventional photoluminescence.
Rigid H4OCTAPA derivatives as model chelators for the development of Bi(iii)-based radiopharmaceuticals
Authors: Lucio-Martínez Fátima , Esteban-Gómez David , Valencia Laura , Horváth Dávid , Szücs Dániel , Fekete Anikó , Szikra Dezső , Tircsó Gyula , Platas-Iglesias Carlos
Published: February 2023

Non-macrocyclic H4OCTAPA derivatives form highly stable complexes with Bi(iii), but require an appropriate rigid spacer to enhance the inertness of the complex, as demonstrated by radiolabeling studies with 205/206Bi-nuclides.
A non-centrosymmetric chalcohalide synthesized through the combination of chemical tailoring with aliovalent substitution
Authors: Song Yufei , Qian Zhen , Zhou Boru , Yu Hongwei , Hu Zhanggui , Wang Jiyang , Wu Yicheng , Wu Hongping
Published: February 2023

A new chalcohalide, [Sr4Cl2][Ge3S9], was synthesized through chemical tailoring and aliovalent substitution strategies.
Electrochemical C–N coupling of CO2and nitrogenous small molecules for the electrosynthesis of organonitrogen compounds
Authors: Peng Xianyun , Zeng Libin , Wang Dashuai , Liu Zhibin , Li Yan , Li Zhongjian , Yang Bin , Lei Lecheng , Dai Liming , Hou Yang
Published: February 2023

Electrochemical C–N coupling reaction by renewable electricity for the electrosynthesis of organonitrogen compounds with the abundant CO2and nitrogenous small molecules as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, is a promising sustainable synthetic strategy.
Angle-independent solar radiation capture by 3D printed lattice structures for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting
Authors: Hegde Chidanand , Rosental Tamar , Tan Joel Ming Rui , Magdassi Shlomo , Wong Lydia Helena
Published: February 2023

Illustration of improved solar absorption capabilities of transparent 3D lattice structured electrodes compared to conventional flatbed electrodes for photoelectrochemical water electrolysis.
Ion-imprinted chitosan-stabilized biogenic silver nanoparticles for the electrochemical detection of arsenic (iii) in water samples
Authors: C. G Ann Maria. , Agnihotri Ananya S , Varghese Anitha , M Nidhin
Published: February 2023

A schematic representation showing the modified glassy carbon electrode for the detection of arsenic (iii) in water samples.
Tetrazole-functionalized benzoquinoline-linked covalent organic frameworks with efficient performance for electrocatalytic H2O2production and Li–S batteries
Authors: Wu Zhuangzhuang , Luo Junming , Liang Ying , Yu Xinxin , Zhao Yuzhen , Li Yongpeng , Wang Wenxin , Sui Zhuyin , Tian Xinlong , Chen Qi
Published: February 2023

Tetrazole-functionalized covalent organic frameworksviasuccessive cycloaddition can be applied to efficient electrocatalytic H2O2production and Li–S batteries.
Facile access to gem-difluorocyclopropanes via an N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed radical relay/cyclization strategy
Authors: Li Jibin , Liang Zheng , Ren Yuzhi , Gao Jian , Du Ding
Published: February 2023

N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed difluorocyclopropanation of alkenes with aldehydes and CF2Br2 for a facile and efficacious synthesis of a new class of functionalized gem-difluorocyclopropanes bearing acyl groups was developed.
Cycloaddition enabled mutational profiling of 5-vinyluridine in RNA
Authors: Gupta Mrityunjay , Wang Jingtian , Garfio Chely M. , Vandewalle Abigail , Spitale Robert C.
Published: February 2023

We report the detection of 5-vinyluridine (5-VUrd) in RNA at single nucleotide resolutionviamutational profiling.
An organic superconductor, (TEA)(HEDO-TTF-dc)2·2(H2C2O4), coupled with strong hydrogen-bonding interactions
Authors: Morimachi Yuto , Urai Mizuki , Nakajima Ryota , Kamebuchi Hajime , Miyagawa Kazuya , Kanoda Kazushi , Zhou Biao
Published: February 2023

Very strong intra- and inter-molecular hydrogen-bonding interactions coexist with strong π–π overlaps in a pure organic superconductor (TEA)(HEDO-TTF-dc)2·2(H2C2O4).