bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Exocrine Pancreatic Function Following Bariatric/Metabolic Surgery: a Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Çiçek Okuyan Gülten , Akkuş Doğukan
Published: November 2022

Background

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) can be seen after bariatric/metabolic surgery. Fecal elastase level is a simple test in diagnosing and grading EPI. Quality of life changes in patients with bariatric/metabolic surgery related to gastrointestinal complaints is debated.

Aim

This study aimed to investigate rates and grades of EPI via fecal elastase levels and association between EPI and quality of life in bariatric surgery patients.

Methods

A prospective study was performed for patients with bariatric/metabolic surgery at their second-year follow-up. Fecal elastase levels were used to diagnose and grade EPI as severe or moderate. Patient’s gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) was calculated. Patients were grouped as sleeve gastrectomy (SG), one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB), single-anastomosis sleeve ileal bypass (SASI), and transit bipartition (TB). Rates of severe or moderate EPI were primary outcome. Secondary outcome was an association between fecal elastase and GIQLI.

Results

There were 17, 29, 21, and 15 patients in OAGB, SG, TB, and SASI groups. There was no significant difference between groups in GIQLI scores and fecal elastase levels (p = 0.152 and p = 0.361). Rates of patients with moderate EPI in the groups OAGB, SG, TB, and SASI were 23.5%, 17.2%, 14.3%, and 20.0%. GIQLI scores were not significantly correlated with age, postoperative morphometric data, and fecal elastase values (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Rates of patients with moderate EPI ranged from 14.3 to 23.5% at second-year follow-up. There was no patient with severe EPI. GIQLI scores were not significantly correlated with fecal elastase levels and different types of bariatric/metabolic surgery.

Graphical Abstract
A Push–Pull Mechanism Between PRRT2 and β4-subunit Differentially Regulates Membrane Exposure and Biophysical Properties of NaV1.2 Sodium Channels
Authors: Valente Pierluigi , Marte Antonella , Franchi Francesca , Sterlini Bruno , Casagrande Silvia , Corradi Anna , Baldelli Pietro , Benfenati Fabio
Published: November 2022

Proline-rich transmembrane protein 2 (PRRT2) is a neuron-specific protein implicated in the control of neurotransmitter release and neural network stability. Accordingly, PRRT2 loss-of-function mutations associate with pleiotropic paroxysmal neurological disorders, including paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia, episodic ataxia, benign familial infantile seizures, and hemiplegic migraine. PRRT2 is a negative modulator of the membrane exposure and biophysical properties of Na+ channels NaV1.2/NaV1.6 predominantly expressed in brain glutamatergic neurons. NaV channels form complexes with β-subunits that facilitate the membrane targeting and the activation of the α-subunits. The opposite effects of PRRT2 and β-subunits on NaV channels raises the question of whether PRRT2 and β-subunits interact or compete for common binding sites on the α-subunit, generating Na+ channel complexes with distinct functional properties. Using a heterologous expression system, we have observed that β-subunits and PRRT2 do not interact with each other and act as independent non-competitive modulators of NaV1.2 channel trafficking and biophysical properties. PRRT2 antagonizes the β4-induced increase in expression and functional activation of the transient and persistent NaV1.2 currents, without affecting resurgent current. The data indicate that β4-subunit and PRRT2 form a push–pull system that finely tunes the membrane expression and function of NaV channels and the intrinsic neuronal excitability.
Efficacy and safety of equine anti-thymocyte immunoglobulin (eATG) in three Japanese patients with moderate to very severe aplastic anemia: a case series
Authors: Kanda Yoshinobu , Mori Takehiko , Narita Atsushi , Wolter Kevin D. , Yoshimatsu Hiroki , Nishimura Kazuma
Published: November 2022

Aplastic anemia results from lymphocyte-mediated destruction of hematopoietic stem cells. Immunosuppressive therapy with anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) and cyclosporine is the standard front-line treatment for patients with severe aplastic anemia who are not suitable candidates for stem cell transplants. PF-06462700 is a potent equine ATG that targets T-lymphocytes and has been approved as a treatment for aplastic anemia outside of Japan for over 30 years. Due to the high medical need for PF-06462700, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare requested its development for Japanese patients with aplastic anemia. In this case series, the efficacy and safety of PF-06462700, administered intravenously at 40 mg/kg/day for 4 days, were assessed over a 24-week period. This was as an open-label, single-arm, multicenter clinical study designed to enroll a minimum of three Japanese participants with aplastic anemia. Two participants met the primary outcome of hematologic response at week 12 and improvements in disease severity were observed. No deaths or serious adverse events were reported. The efficacy results from this case series suggest that administration of PF-06462700 is generally well-tolerated and produces a hematologic response in Japanese patients with aplastic anemia, which should be further evaluated in real-world studies.

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04350606.
The Effect of Extracellular Vesicles on Thrombosis
Authors: He Youfu , Wu Qiang
Published: November 2022

The risk of cardiovascular events caused by acute thrombosis is high, including acute myocardial infarction, acute stroke, acute pulmonary embolism, and deep vein thrombosis. In this review, we summarize the roles of extracellular vesicles of different cellular origins in various cardiovascular events associated with acute thrombosis, as described in the current literature, to facilitate the future development of a precise therapy for thrombosis caused by such vesicles. We hope that our review will indicate a new horizon in the field of cardiovascular research with regard to the treatment of acute thrombosis, especially targeting thrombosis caused by extracellular vesicles secreted by individual cells. As more emerging technologies are being developed, new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies related to EVs are expected to be identified for related diseases in the future.
Amphilagus plicadentis (Lagomorpha, Mammalia) from the Tagay locality (Olkhon Island, Baikal region, Eastern Siberia)
Authors: Erbajeva Margarita A. , Daxner-Höck Gudrun , Mörs Thomas
Published: November 2022

New excavations in the Tagay locality have revealed the presence of Amphilagus plicadentis Erbajeva, 2013, which belongs to the palaeolagine Lagomorpha rather than leporids, previously referred to Procaprolagus sp. (Logachev et al., 1964). Herein, we report a comprehensive morphological description of this species and compare it with the other known species of the genus Amphilagus. The Tagay lagomorph is conspecific with the Early Miocene species Amphilagus plicadentis found at locality Unkheltseg (UNCH-A) (biozone D; Early Miocene) in the Valley of Lakes, Central Mongolia. The Tagay specimens suggest a more advanced evolutionary stage of A. plicadentis and an age around Early/Middle Miocene transition.
Computer simulation of molecular recognition in biomolecular system: from in silico screening to generalized ensembles
Authors: Fukunishi Yoshifumi , Higo Junichi , Kasahara Kota
Published: November 2022

Prediction of ligand-receptor complex structure is important in both the basic science and the industry such as drug discovery. We report various computation molecular docking methods: fundamental in silico (virtual) screening, ensemble docking, enhanced sampling (generalized ensemble) methods, and other methods to improve the accuracy of the complex structure. We explain not only the merits of these methods but also their limits of application and discuss some interaction terms which are not considered in the in silico methods. In silico screening and ensemble docking are useful when one focuses on obtaining the native complex structure (the most thermodynamically stable complex). Generalized ensemble method provides a free-energy landscape, which shows the distribution of the most stable complex structure and semi-stable ones in a conformational space. Also, barriers separating those stable structures are identified. A researcher should select one of the methods according to the research aim and depending on complexity of the molecular system to be studied.
How intercultural experience affects university students’ gender views: potential for transforming higher education in Japan
Authors: Uematsu‑Ervasti Kiyoko , Kawachi Kumiko
Published: November 2022

Reducing gender disparities in Japan is an urgent issue that requires the attention of multilevel stakeholders, including higher education institutions. Under Sustainable Development Goal 4, target 4.7 calls for educational institutions, including universities, to explore innovative approaches to tackle issues such as gender inequality. The transition from student life to adulthood is a crucial time for university students as they face and become aware of gender inequalities in society. This study examines various opportunities in higher education, such as short study-abroad programs and globalization-related coursework, that positively influence university students’ understanding of others and potentially broaden their gender perspectives. Historically, the impacts of studying abroad and intercultural experiences have only been subjectively assessed based on participants’ self-evaluation. However, by using the Beliefs, Events, and Values Inventory, quantified data can be used to evaluate the nature and form of depth-based growth and compare three cases for potential changes before, after, or during educational programs. The study’s findings shed light on opportunities and barriers to transforming students’ views especially on gender issues. The study reveals (1) signs of improvement in students’ gender perspectives after participating in a short study-abroad program, (2) that international students with diverse experiences tend to demonstrate lower gender traditionalism, and (3) that freshmen and sophomores have relatively moderate views on gender norms, indicating that further intervention could improve their gender perspectives. The results showcase the possibility of developing meaningful study-abroad programs and other coursework to drive the positive change in students’ perspectives, especially regarding gender.
The radical inclusive curriculum: contributions toward a theory of complete education
Authors: de la Herrán Gascón Agustín , Herrero Pablo Rodríguez
Published: November 2022

This paper contributes to curriculum theory from the perspective of a fundamental critique of education. Its objective is two-fold: to analyze both traditional and critical approaches to the curriculum and the types of education that flow from them and to propose changes that could result in significant improvements to the curricula through the radical and inclusive approach. The principles of pedagogy are redefined from the standpoint of this approach, aiming to enhance the educational potential of the curricula. The method of the paper is hermeneutic and dialectical, critically disputing the utility of curriculum theory and of the international policies that drive current educational practice. The essay’s arguments are developed throughout in the dialogical space between the critique and the proposed changes. These arguments are oriented toward complementarity and aim to redefine education and the curriculum in terms of complexity and a higher level of consciousness. The conclusions suggest that the radical and inclusive approach can produce significant, thoroughgoing change in curricula, education, and pedagogy.
Coherent causal control: a new distinction within causation
Authors: Weber Marcel
Published: November 2022

The recent literature on causation has seen the introduction of several distinctions within causation, which are thought to be important for understanding the widespread scientific practice of focusing causal explanations on a subset of the factors that are causally relevant for a phenomenon. Concepts used to draw such distinctions include, among others, stability, specificity, proportionality, or actual-difference making. In this contribution, I propose a new distinction that picks out an explanatorily salient class of causes in biological systems. Some select causes in complex biological systems, I argue, have the property of enabling coherent causal control of these systems. Examples of such control variables include hormones and other signaling molecules, e.g., TOR (target of rapamycin), morphogens or the products of homeotic selector genes in embryonic pattern formation. I propose an analysis of this notion based on concepts borrowed from causal graph theory.
AI, Suicide Prevention and the Limits of Beneficence
Authors: Halsband Aurélie , Heinrichs Bert
Published: November 2022

In this paper, we address the question of whether AI should be used for suicide prevention on social media data. We focus on algorithms that can identify persons with suicidal ideation based on their postings on social media platforms and investigate whether private companies like Facebook are justified in using these. To find out if that is the case, we start with providing two examples for AI-based means of suicide prevention in social media. Subsequently, we frame suicide prevention as an issue of beneficence, develop two fictional cases to explore the scope of the principle of beneficence and apply the lessons learned to Facebook’s employment of AI for suicide prevention. We show that Facebook is neither acting under an obligation of beneficence nor acting meritoriously. This insight leads us to the general question of who is entitled to help. We conclude that private companies like Facebook can play an important role in suicide prevention, if they comply with specific rules which we derive from beneficence and autonomy as core principles of biomedical ethics. At the same time, public bodies have an obligation to create appropriate framework conditions for AI-based tools of suicide prevention. As an outlook we depict how cooperation between public and private institutions can make an important contribution to combating suicide and, in this way, put the principle of beneficence into practice.
A Novel Approach to Measuring Spatiotemporal Changes in Social Vulnerability at the Local Level in Portugal
Authors: Santos Pedro Pinto , Zêzere José Luís , Pereira Susana , Rocha Jorge , Tavares Alexandre Oliveira
Published: November 2022

Social vulnerability, as one of the risk components, partially explains the magnitude of the impacts observed after a disaster. In this study, a spatiotemporally comparable assessment of social vulnerability and its drivers was conducted in Portugal, at the civil parish level, for three census frames. The first challenging step consisted of the selection of meaningful and consistent variables over time. Data were normalized using the Adjusted Mazziotta-Pareto Index (AMPI) to obtain comparable adimensional-normalized values. A joint principal component analysis (PCA) was applied, resulting in a robust set of variables, interpretable from the point of view of their self-grouping around vulnerability drivers. A separate PCA for each census was also conducted, which proved to be useful in analyzing changes in the composition and type of drivers, although only the joint PCA allows the monitoring of spatiotemporal changes in social vulnerability scores and drivers from 1991 to 2011. A general improvement in social vulnerability was observed for Portugal. The two main drivers are the economic condition (PC1), and aging and depopulation (PC2). The remaining drivers highlighted are uprooting and internal mobility, and daily commuting. Census data proved their value in the territorial, social, and demographic characterization of the country, to support medium- and long-term disaster risk reduction measures.
Mechanisms for Combined Hypoxic Conditioning and Divergent Exercise Modes to Regulate Inflammation, Body Composition, Appetite, and Blood Glucose Homeostasis in Overweight and Obese Adults: A Narrative Review
Authors: Tee Chris Chow Li , Cooke Matthew B. , Chong Mee Chee , Yeo Wee Kian , Camera Donny M.
Published: November 2022

Obesity is a major global health issue and a primary risk factor for metabolic-related disorders. While physical inactivity is one of the main contributors to obesity, it is a modifiable risk factor with exercise training as an established non-pharmacological treatment to prevent the onset of metabolic-related disorders, including obesity. Exposure to hypoxia via normobaric hypoxia (simulated altitude via reduced inspired oxygen fraction), termed hypoxic conditioning, in combination with exercise has been increasingly shown in the last decade to enhance blood glucose regulation and decrease the body mass index, providing a feasible strategy to treat obesity. However, there is no current consensus in the literature regarding the optimal combination of exercise variables such as the mode, duration, and intensity of exercise, as well as the level of hypoxia to maximize fat loss and overall body compositional changes with hypoxic conditioning. In this narrative review, we discuss the effects of such diverse exercise and hypoxic variables on the systematic and myocellular mechanisms, along with physiological responses, implicated in the development of obesity. These include markers of appetite regulation and inflammation, body conformational changes, and blood glucose regulation. As such, we consolidate findings from human studies to provide greater clarity for implementing hypoxic conditioning with exercise as a safe, practical, and effective treatment strategy for obesity.
A novel non-linear neuron model based on multiplicative aggregation in quaternionic domain
Authors: Kumar Sushil , Singh Rishitosh Kumar , Chaudhary Aryan
Published: November 2022

The learning algorithm for a three-layered neural structure with novel non-linear quaternionic-valued multiplicative (QVM) neurons is proposed in this paper. The computing capability of non-linear aggregation in the cell body of biological neurons inspired the development of a non-linear neuron model. However, unlike linear neuron models, most non-linear neuron models are built on higher order aggregation, which is more mathematically complex and difficult to train. As a result, building non-linear neuron models with a simple structure is a difficult and time-consuming endeavor in the neurocomputing field. The concept of a QVM neuron model was influenced by the non-linear neuron model, which has a simple structure and the great computational ability. The suggested neuron’s linearity is determined by the weight and bias associated with each quaternionic-valued input. Non-commutative multiplication of all linearly connected quaternionic input-weight terms accommodates the non-linearity. To train three-layered networks with QVM neurons, the standard quaternionic-gradient-based backpropagation (QBP) algorithm is utilized. The computational and generalization capabilities of the QVM neuron are assessed through training and testing in the quaternionic domain utilizing benchmark problems, such as 3D and 4D chaotic time-series predictions, 3D geometrical transformations, and 3D face recognition. The training and testing outcomes are compared to conventional and root-power mean (RPM) neurons in quaternionic domain using training–testing MSEs, network topology (parameters), variance, and AIC as statistical measures. According to these findings, networks with QVM neurons have greater computational and generalization capabilities than networks with conventional and RPM neurons in quaternionic domain.
Bioinspired MXene-Based Soft Actuators Exhibiting Angle-Independent Structural Color
Authors: Xue Pan , Chen Yuanhao , Xu Yiyi , Valenzuela Cristian , Zhang Xuan , Bisoyi Hari Krishna , Yang Xiao , Wang Ling , Xu Xinhua , Li Quan
Published: November 2022

In nature, many living organisms exhibiting unique structural coloration and soft-bodied actuation have inspired scientists to develop advanced structural colored soft actuators toward biomimetic soft robots. However, it is challenging to simultaneously biomimic the angle-independent structural color and shape-morphing capabilities found in the plum-throated cotinga flying bird. Herein, we report biomimetic MXene-based soft actuators with angle-independent structural color that are fabricated through controlled self-assembly of colloidal SiO2 nanoparticles onto highly aligned MXene films followed by vacuum-assisted infiltration of polyvinylidene fluoride into the interstices. The resulting soft actuators are found to exhibit brilliant, angle-independent structural color, as well as ultrafast actuation and recovery speeds (a maximum curvature of 0.52 mm−1 can be achieved within 1.16 s, and a recovery time of ~ 0.24 s) in response to acetone vapor. As proof-of-concept illustrations, structural colored soft actuators are applied to demonstrate a blue gripper-like bird’s claw that can capture the target, artificial green tendrils that can twine around tree branches, and an artificial multicolored butterfly that can flutter its wings upon cyclic exposure to acetone vapor. The strategy is expected to offer new insights into the development of biomimetic multifunctional soft actuators for somatosensory soft robotics and next-generation intelligent machines.
The future of coastal monitoring through satellite remote sensing
Authors: Vitousek Sean , Buscombe Daniel , Vos Kilian , Barnard Patrick L. , Ritchie Andrew C. , Warrick Jonathan A.
Published: November 2022

Satellite remote sensing is transforming coastal science from a “data-poor” field into a “data-rich” field. Sandy beaches are dynamic landscapes that change in response to long-term pressures, short-term pulses, and anthropogenic interventions. Until recently, the rate and breadth of beach change have outpaced our ability to monitor those changes, due to the spatiotemporal limitations of our observational capacity. Over the past several decades, only a handful of beaches worldwide have been regularly monitored with accurate yet expensive in situ surveys. The long-term coastal-change data of these few well-monitored beaches have led to in-depth understanding of many site-specific coastal processes. However, because the best-monitored beaches are not representative of all beaches, much remains unknown about the processes and fate of the other >99% of unmonitored beaches worldwide. The fleet of Earth-observing satellites has enabled multiscale monitoring of beaches, for the very first time, by providing imagery with global coverage and up to daily frequency. The long-standing and ever-expanding archive of satellite imagery will enable coastal scientists to investigate coastal change at sites vulnerable to future sea-level rise, that is, (almost) everywhere. In the past decade, our capability to observe coastal change from space has grown substantially with computing and algorithmic power. Yet, further advances are needed in automating monitoring using machine learning, deep learning, and computer vision to fully leverage this massive treasure trove of data. Extensive monitoring and investigation of the causes and effects of coastal change at the requisite spatiotemporal scales will provide coastal managers with additional, valuable information to evaluate problems and solutions, addressing the potential for widespread beach loss due to accelerated sea-level rise, development, and reduced sediment supply. Monitoring from Earth-observing satellites is currently the only means of providing seamless data with high spatiotemporal resolution at the global scale of the impending impacts of climate change on coastal systems.
Vortex-induced vibration of a two degree-of-freedom flexibly mounted circular cylinder in the crossflow direction
Authors: Mousavisani Seyedmohammad , Chowdhury Naumi Noshin , Samsam-Khayani Hadi , Samandari Hamed , Seyed-Aghazadeh Banafsheh
Published: November 2022

Vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of a two degree-of-freedom (DOF) circular cylinder, placed in the test section of a recirculating water tunnel and free to oscillate in its first two vibrational modes in the crossflow direction, is studied experimentally. The dynamic response of the cylinder is studied for a reduced velocity range of

$U^*=4\unicode{x2013}30$

for eigenfrequency ratios in the range of 1.3–3.0. For the two DOF system, while the onset of the VIV response followed a similar lock-in region as those observed for a classical VIV response of a single DOF system, by increasing the reduced velocity a secondary lock-in region was observed over which the oscillations of the cylinder were locked into the system's second mode. In addition, there existed an intermediate range of reduced velocity over which the VIV response consisted of oscillations at a combination of the first two natural modes of the system. As the eigenfrequency ratio between the first two modes increased, the secondary lock-in range was extended to higher reduced velocities and the reduced velocity range over which multi-modal oscillations were observed was decreased. A full map of vortex dynamics in the wake of the cylinder was developed qualitatively and quantitatively using hydrogen bubble flow visualization and time-resolved volumetric particle tracking velocimetry techniques, respectively. A Q-criterion analysis revealed the existence of highly three-dimensional vortex structures in the wake of the cylinder. The spatiotemporal mode analysis using the proper orthogonal decomposition technique revealed strong coupling between the vortex shedding modes in the wake of the cylinder and the structural vibration modes.
Self-radiation force on a moving monopolar source
Authors: Roux A. , Martischang J.-P. , Baudoin M.
Published: November 2022

The radiation force exerted on an object by an acoustic wave is a widely studied phenomenon since the early work of Rayleigh, Langevin and Brillouin, and has led in the last decade to tremendous developments for acoustic micromanipulation. Despite extensive work on this phenomenon, the expressions of the acoustic radiation force applied on a particle have so far been derived only for a steady particle, hence neglecting the effect of its displacement on the radiated wave. In this work, we study the acoustic radiation force exerted on a monopolar source translating at a constant velocity that is small compared to the sound speed. We demonstrate that the asymmetry of the emitted field resulting from the Doppler effect induces a radiation force on the source opposite to its motion.
Micro-level network dynamics of scientific collaboration and impact: Relational hyperevent models for the analysis of coauthor networks
Authors: Lerner Jürgen , Hâncean Marian-Gabriel
Published: November 2022

We discuss a recently proposed family of statistical network models—relational hyperevent models (RHEMs)—for analyzing team selection and team performance in scientific coauthor networks. The underlying rationale for using RHEM in studies of coauthor networks is that scientific collaboration is intrinsically polyadic, that is, it typically involves teams of any size. Consequently, RHEM specify publication rates associated with hyperedges representing groups of scientists of any size. Going beyond previous work on RHEM for meeting data, we adapt this model family to settings in which relational hyperevents have a dedicated outcome, such as a scientific paper with a measurable impact (e.g., the received number of citations). Relational outcome can on the one hand be used to specify additional explanatory variables in RHEM since the probability of coauthoring may be influenced, for instance, by prior (shared) success of scientists. On the other hand, relational outcome can also serve as a response variable in models seeking to explain the performance of scientific teams. To tackle the latter, we propose relational hyperevent outcome models that are closely related with RHEM to the point that both model families can specify the likelihood of scientific collaboration—and the expected performance, respectively—with the same set of explanatory variables allowing to assess, for instance, whether variables leading to increased collaboration also tend to increase scientific impact. For illustration, we apply RHEM to empirical coauthor networks comprising more than 350,000 published papers by scientists working in three scientific disciplines. Our models explain scientific collaboration and impact by, among others, individual activity (preferential attachment), shared activity (familiarity), triadic closure, prior individual and shared success, and prior success disparity among the members of hyperedges.
The GLEAMing of the first supermassive black holes: II. A new sample of high-redshift radio galaxy candidates
Authors: Broderick J. W. , Drouart G. , Seymour N. , Galvin T. J. , Wright N. , Carnero Rosell A. , Chhetri R. , Dannerbauer H. , Driver S. P. , Morgan J. S. , Moss V. A. , Prabu S. , Afonso J. M. , De Breuck C. , Emonts B. H. C. , Franzen T. M. O. , Gutiérrez C. M. , Hancock P. J. , Heald G. H. , Hurley-Walker N. , Ivison R. J. , Lehnert M. D. , Noirot G. , Read M. , Shabala S. S. , Stern D. , Sutherland W. J. , Sutorius E. , Turner R. J. , Vernet J.
Published: November 2022

While unobscured and radio-quiet active galactic nuclei are regularly being found at redshifts$z > 6$, their obscured and radio-loud counterparts remain elusive. We build upon our successful pilot study, presenting a new sample of low-frequency-selected candidate high-redshift radio galaxies (HzRGs) over a sky area 20 times larger. We have refined our selection technique, in which we select sources with curved radio spectra between 72–231 MHz from the GaLactic and Extragalactic All-sky Murchison Widefield Array (GLEAM) survey. In combination with the requirements that our GLEAM-selected HzRG candidates have compact radio morphologies and be undetected in near-infrared$K_{\rm s}$-band imaging from the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy Kilo-degree Infrared Galaxy (VIKING) survey, we find 51 new candidate HzRGs over a sky area of approximately$1200\ \mathrm{deg}^2$. Our sample also includes two sources from the pilot study: the second-most distant radio galaxy currently known, at$z=5.55$, with another source potentially at$z \sim 8$. We present our refined selection technique and analyse the properties of the sample. We model the broadband radio spectra between 74 MHz and 9 GHz by supplementing the GLEAM data with both publicly available data and new observations from the Australia Telescope Compact Array at 5.5 and 9 GHz. In addition, deep$K_{\rm s}$-band imaging from the High-Acuity WidefieldK-band Imager (HAWK-I) on the Very Large Telescope and from the SouthernHerschelAstrophysical Terahertz Large Area Survey Regions$K_{\rm s}$-band Survey (SHARKS) is presented for five sources. We discuss the prospects of finding very distant radio galaxies in our sample, potentially within the epoch of reionisation at$z \gtrsim 6.5$.
Embodiment in distributed information processing: “Solid” plants versus “liquid” ant colonies
Authors: van Schijndel Laura , Snoek Basten L. , ten Tusscher Kirsten
Published: November 2022

Information processing is an essential part of biology, enabling coordination of intra-organismal processes such as development, environmental adaptation and inter-organismal communication. Whilst in animals with specialised brain tissue a substantial amount of information processing occurs in a centralised manner, most biological computing is distributed across multiple entities, such as cells in a tissue, roots in a root system or ants in a colony. Physical context, called embodiment, also affects the nature of biological computing. While plants and ant colonies both perform distributed computing, in plants the units occupy fixed positions while individual ants move around. This distinction, solid versus liquid brain computing, shapes the nature of computations. Here we compare information processing in plants and ant colonies, highlighting how similarities and differences originate in, as well as make use of, the differences in embodiment. We end with a discussion on how this embodiment perspective may inform the debate on plant cognition.
Multispectral satellite imaging improves detection of large individual fossils
Authors: Ghezzo Elena , Massironi Matteo , Davis Edward B.
Published: November 2022

Palaeontological field surveys in remote regions are a challenge, because of uncertainty in finding new specimens, high transportation costs, risks for the crew and a long time commitment. The effort can be facilitated by using high-resolution satellite imagery. Here we present a new opportunity to investigate remote fossil localities in detail, mapping the optical signature of individual fossils. We explain a practical workflow for detecting fossils using remote-sensing platforms and cluster algorithms. We tested the method within the Petrified Forest National Park, where fossil logs are sparse in a large area with mixed lithologies. We ran both unsupervised and supervised classifications, obtaining the best estimations for the presence of fossil logs using the likelihood and spectral angle mapper algorithms. We recognized general constraints and described logical and physical pros and cons of each estimated map. We also explained how the outcomes should be critically evaluated with consistent accuracy tests. Instead of searching for fossiliferous outcrops, our method targets single fossil specimens (or highly condensed accumulations), obtaining a significant increase in potential efficiency and effectiveness of field surveys. When repeatedly applied to the same region over time, it could also be useful for monitoring palaeontological heritage localities. Most importantly, the method here described is feasible, easily applicable to both fossil logs and bones, and represents a step towards standard best practices for applying remote sensing in the palaeontological field.
Central Counterparty Default Waterfalls and Systemic Loss
Authors: Ghamami Samim , Paddrik Mark , Zhang Simpson
Published: November 2022

Central counterparty (CCP) default waterfalls act as the last lines of defense in over-the-counter markets by managing and allocating resources to cover payment defaults. This article examines the impact of variations in waterfall design on financial system losses in the presence of payment network dependencies and frictions in the cleared and noncleared portion of the system. Through the development of a structural model, we draw several theoretical conclusions about the effectiveness of CCP default waterfalls under severe payment stress. These findings are empirically quantified by testing the model using supervisory data for the U.S. credit default swap market.
Imperial inheritance: The transnational lives of Gurkha families in Asian contexts, 1948–1971
Authors: Kiruppalini Hema
Published: November 2022

While there is burgeoning scholarship on the transnational lives of Nepali Gurkhas and their families, research on their migration history and lived experiences in Asian contexts is few and far between. Building upon Vron Ware’s concept of Gurkha families as ‘military migrants’ and using an inter-Asia approach as a framework, this article foregrounds the interconnections between military service and migrant pathways during the period of decolonization, particularly in Southeast Asia, and in so doing, offers a gendered perspective on labour migration. Drawing on multi-sited archival and ethnographic research, it seeks to argue that from 1948 to 1971, the Asian region(s) were a dominant feature in the global migration process of Gurkha families who circulated within the arc of a declining British empire. The article further advances that their gendered mobility patterns problematizes the ‘migration–left behind’ nexus as binary opposites as Gurkha wives and children engaged with mobility and mediated their transnational lives in complex ways. It also expands upon the notion of dukha—meaning ‘sadness’ or ‘suffering’ in Nepali—as an analytical theme to yield further insights into their lived experiences and to revisit colonial historiography about Gurkha society.
Impact of obesity and diet on brain structure and function: a gut–brain–body crosstalk
Authors: Medawar Evelyn , Witte A. Veronica
Published: November 2022

Most societies witness an ever increasing prevalence of both obesity and dementia, a scenario related to often underestimated individual and public health burden. Overnutrition and weight gain have been linked with abnormal functionality of homoeostasis brain networks and changes in higher cognitive functions such as reward evaluation, executive functions and learning and memory. In parallel, evidence has accumulated that modifiable factors such as obesity and diet impact the gut–brain axis and modulate brain health and cognition through various pathways. Using neuroimaging data from epidemiological studies and randomised clinical trials, we aim to shed light on the underlying mechanisms and to determine both determinants and consequences of obesity and diet at the level of human brain structure and function. We analysed multimodal 3T MRI of about 2600 randomly selected adults (47 % female, 18–80 years of age, BMI 18–47 kg/m2) of the LIFE-Adult study, a deeply phenotyped population-based cohort. In addition, brain MRI data of controlled intervention studies on weight loss and healthy diets acquired in lean, overweight and obese participants may help to understand the role of the gut–brain axis in food craving and cognitive ageing. We find that higher BMI and visceral fat accumulation correlate with accelerated brain age, microstructure of the hypothalamus, lower thickness and connectivity in default mode- and reward-related areas, as well as with subtle grey matter atrophy and white matter lesion load in non-demented individuals. Mediation analyses indicated that higher visceral fat affects brain tissue through systemic low-grade inflammation, and that obesity-related regional changes translate into cognitive disadvantages. Considering longitudinal studies, some, but not all data indicate beneficial effects of weight loss and healthy diets such as plant-based nutrients and dietary patterns on brain ageing and cognition. Confounding effects of concurrent changes in other lifestyle factors or false positives might help to explain these findings. Therefore a more holistic intervention approach, along with open science tools such as data and code sharing, in-depth pre-registration and pooling of data could help to overcome these limitations. In addition, as higher BMI relates to increased head micro-movements during MRI, and as head motion in turn systematically induces image artefacts, future studies need to rigorously control for head motion during MRI to enable valid neuroimaging results. In sum, our results support the view that overweight and obesity are intertwined with markers of brain health in the general population, and that weight loss and plant-based diets may help to promote brain plasticity. Meta-analyses and longitudinal cohort studies are underway to further differentiate causation from correlation in obesity- and nutrition-brain research.
Rural electrification in Spain: territorial expansion and effects on the agricultural sector (c. 1900–c. 2000)
Authors: Garrués-Irurzun Josean , Iriarte-Goñi Iñaki
Published: November 2022

Rural electrification is closely linked one way or another to rural development, and enables the understanding of the complexity of social and economic development paths. The objective of this work is to analyse rural electrification in a European peripherical country like Spain throughout the twentieth century, contributing to the international debate on the issue. The article studies the territorial expansion of electricity in the Spanish countryside, tracing different phases and explaining the delay in the construction of a national network. It also analyses the relationship that arose in the long term between electrification and the evolution of the agricultural sector. The article concludes that, in the Spanish case, rural electrification played a modest role in agricultural change until the 1980s and was, to a great extent, the consequence, rather than the cause, of the modernisation of the sector to these years.
Sensing, Sharing, and Listening to Musicking Animals across the Sonic Environments of Social Media
Authors: GALLOWAY KATE
Published: November 2022

This article explores the strategies employed by user-creators as they listen to, sense, make, and share digital audiovisual memes of musicking non-human animals on social media. Memes, reels, and other forms of audiovisual social media posts are a form of cultural expression that reveals the varied ways humans relate to, connect with, and represent non-human animals – especially their pets – through sound, music, and the moving image. By listening to the plurality of musicking animals circulating on social media platforms and networks, I argue that user-creators conspicuously use music and performance to express alternative ideas of what it means to be musical, to feel closer to and connect with the important animals in their lives, and to explore the ways they can represent non-human animals using sound and music to explore musical concepts. Using a varied selection of viral musicking animal memes shared across social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter, I frame musicking animal participatory media as a creative space for exploring different approaches to listening, performing with, and scoring sound and music to the behaviour, movement, and acoustic communication of the non-human animal. Non-human animal musicking takes a variety of forms across this particular kind of participatory media making by online user-creators.
All Songs Considered: The Persuasive Listening of Music Podcasts
Authors: MCDANIEL BYRD
Published: November 2022

Music podcasts have proliferated as public discourse about popular music. A significant part of the expanding podcast industry, music podcasts include titles such as All Songs Considered, Switched on Pop, Song Exploder, Sound Opinions, New York Times Popcast, and Lost Notes. These podcasts often feature a combination of conversation and musical selections, which highlight aspects of the music for podcast listeners. In this article, I argue that we should think of music podcasts as persuasive demonstrations of music consumption. Music podcasts present music as a subject for discussion and also implicitly model listening techniques, convincing podcast listeners to adopt specific approaches to music recordings. I explore three podcasts: All Songs Considered, Switched on Pop, and Disability Visibility. I examine how these podcasts present music as their subject, while advancing particular theories of listening that can serve or subvert privileged modes of music reception.
Longitudinal effects of a common UMOD variant on kidney function, blood pressure, cognitive and physical function in older women and men
Authors: Algharably Engi Abdel–Hady , Villagomez Fuentes Linda Elizabeth , Toepfer Sarah , König Maximilian , Regitz-Zagrosek Vera , Bertram Lars , Bolbrinker Juliane , Demuth Ilja , Kreutz Reinhold
Published: November 2022

Genetic variants in UMOD associate with kidney function and hypertension. These phenotypes are also linked to sex-related differences and impairment in cognitive and physical function in older age. Here we evaluate longitudinal associations between a common UMOD rs4293393-A>G variant and changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), blood pressure (BP), cognitive and physical function parameters in older participants in the BASE-II after long-term follow-up as part of the GendAge study. Overall, 1010 older participants (mean age 75.7 ± 3.7 years, 51.6% women) were analyzed after follow-up (mean 7.4 years) both in cross-sectional analysis and in longitudinal analysis as compared to baseline. In cross-sectional analysis, heterozygous G–allele carriers exhibited significantly higher eGFR values (AA, 71.3 ml/min/1.73 m2, 95% CI, 70.3–72.3 vs. AG, 73.5 ml/min/1.73 m2, 95% CI, 72.1–74.9, P = 0.033). Male heterozygous G-allele carriers had lower odds of eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (OR 0.51, 95% CI, 0.28–0.95, P = 0.032) and in Timed Up and Go-Test ≥ 10 s (OR 0.50, 95% CI, 0.29–0.85, P = 0.011) whereas women were less likely to have hypertension (OR 0.58, CI, 0.37–0.91, P = 0.018). UMOD genotypes were not significantly associated with longitudinal changes in any investigated phenotype. Thus, while the impact of UMOD rs4293393 on kidney function is maintained in aging individuals, this variant has overall no impact on longitudinal changes in BP, kidney, cognitive or functional phenotypes. However, our results suggest a possible sex-specific modifying effect of UMOD on eGFR and physical function in men and hypertension prevalence in women.
Teloxantron inhibits the processivity of telomerase with preferential DNA damage on telomeres
Authors: Maciejewska Natalia , Olszewski Mateusz , Jurasz Jakub , Baginski Maciej , Stasevych Maryna , Zvarych Viktor , Folini Marco , Zaffaroni Nadia
Published: November 2022

Telomerase reactivation is one of the hallmarks of cancer, which plays an important role in cellular immortalization and the development and progression of the tumor. Chemical telomerase inhibitors have been shown to trigger replicative senescence and apoptotic cell death both in vitro and in vivo. Due to its upregulation in various cancers, telomerase is considered a potential target in cancer therapy. In this study, we identified potent, small-molecule telomerase inhibitors using a telomerase repeat amplification protocol assay. The results of the assay are the first evidence of telomerase inhibition by anthraquinone derivatives that do not exhibit G-quadruplex-stabilizing properties. The stability of telomerase in the presence of its inhibitor was evaluated under nearly physiological conditions using a cellular thermal shift assay. Our data showed that the compound induced aggregation of the catalytic subunit (hTERT) of human telomerase, and molecular studies confirmed the binding of the hit compound with the active site of the enzyme. The ability of new derivatives to activate DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) was determined by high-resolution microscopy and flow cytometry in tumor cell lines differing in telomere elongation mechanism. The compounds triggered DSBs in TERT-positive A549 and H460 lung cancer cell lines, but not in TERT-negative NHBE normal human bronchial epithelial and ALT-positive U2OS osteosarcoma cell lines, which indicates that the induction of DSBs was dependent on telomerase inhibition. The observed DNA damage activated DNA damage response pathways involving ATM/Chk2 and ATR/Chk1 cascades. Additionally, the compounds induced apoptotic cell death through extrinsic and intrinsic pathways in lung cancer cells. Taken together, our study demonstrated that anthraquinone derivatives can be further developed into novel telomerase-related anticancer agents.