bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TBX2 affects proliferation, apoptosis and cholesterol generation by regulating mitochondrial function and autophagy in bovine cumulus cell
Authors: Li Sheng‐Peng , Jiang Hao , Liu Zi‐Bin , Yu Wen‐Jie , Cai Xiao‐Shi , Liu Chang , Xie Wen‐Yin , Quan Fu‐shi , Gao Wei , Kim Nam‐Hyung , Yuan Bao , Chen Cheng‐Zhen , Zhang Jia‐Bao
Published: November 2022

Background

T‐box transcription factor 2 (TBX2) is a member of T‐box gene family whose members are highly conserved in evolution and encoding genes and are involved in the regulation of developmental processes. The encoding genes play an important role in growth and development. Although TBX2 has been widely studied in cancer cell growth and development, its biological functions in bovine cumulus cells remain unclear.

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the regulatory effects of TBX2 in bovine cumulus cells.

Methods

TBX2 gene was knockdown with siRNA to clarify the function in cellular physiological processes. Cell proliferation and cycle changes were determined by xCELLigence cell function analyzer and flow cytometry. Mitochondrial membrane potential and autophagy were detected by fluorescent dye staining and immunofluorescence techniques. Western blot and quantitative real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) were used to detect the expression changes of proliferation and autophagy‐related proteins. Aadenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, glucose metabolism, and cholesterol synthesis of cumulus cells were measured by optical density and chemiluminescence analysis.

Results

After inhibition of TBX2, the cell cycle was disrupted. The levels of apoptosis, ratio of light chain 3 beta II/I, and reactive oxygen species were increased. The proliferation, expansion ability, ATP production, and the amount of cholesterol secreted by cumulus cells were significantly decreased.

Conclusions

TBX2 plays important roles in regulating the cells’ proliferation, expansion, apoptosis, and autophagy; maintaining the mitochondrial function and cholesterol generation of bovine cumulus cells.
Sustainable Safety: A Short History of a Safe System Approach in the Netherlands
Authors: Wegman Fred , Aarts Letty , van der Knaap Peter
Published: November 2022

Although it has never been a real top priority, road safety is an important issue in the Netherlands and much progress has been made. In the last 50 years, the country experienced an enormous growth in population (+30%) and in kilometers travelled (+300%), but the mortality rate dropped by 80%. Many effective interventions were taken. Over time, new insights in traffic risks and causes of crashes led to the adoption of a new road safety vision in the early 1990s: Sustainable Safety, the first attempt worldwide of a Safe System approach (1992). This vision was inspired by the UN-Brundtland report Our Common Future (1987) and applied to road safety. Its basis originated in the knowledge and experiences in the decades before.

In a sustainably safe road transport system, risks of crashes and serious injuries are drastically reduced or even eliminated by an infrastructure that is adapted to the limitations of human capacity by proper road design, by vehicles fitted with ways to simplify the tasks of man and constructed to protect the vulnerable human being as effectively as possible, and by road users who are adequately educated, informed, and, where necessary, controlled. If crashes still do occur, serious injuries must be excluded. The vision Sustainable Safety has been translated into a set of characteristics and into Sustainable Safety principles.

Sustainable Safety was welcomed by Dutch road safety professionals and received great political support. A massive implementation program was initiated and carried out as from 1995. Many stakeholders were engaged. An evaluation study covering the period 1998–2007 revealed a 30% reduction in the number of fatalities. Benefits of the investments were four times higher than costs. Sustainable Safety empowered and strengthened the Dutch road safety research community and heavily influenced the discourse on road safety in the country.

As from 2000, several developments (a different planning structure of road transport, less political priority for road safety – perhaps as a result of successes in the past – and decentralization of policies) caused that Sustainable Safety became less prominent and safety effects less visible. However, the vison and the principles remain a solid basis for making progress towards a casualty-free road transport system and to respond to new developments, such as a changing demography, changing transport modes and traffic patterns, and new technologies. Two more editions have been published (2005 and 2018). Results and impacts are being discussed.
Towards a Potential Paradigm Shift: The Role of Vision Zero in Global Road Safety Policy Making
Authors: Kristianssen Ann-Catrin
Published: November 2022

Vision Zero is a term mainly connected to road traffic safety and has its roots in the Swedish road safety policy, although similar concepts are used in other countries. It was adopted by the Swedish Parliament in 1997, and due to the success of lowering the number of deaths in traffic crashes significantly, it has become an inspiration to road safety strategies in countries and cities all over the world. An important factor as to why Vision Zero diffuses is the incorporation of the vision in reports and strategies from international intergovernmental organizations and through the work of nongovernmental organizations. The development of finding a common global strategy for road safety has been an ongoing process for many years, and the purpose of this chapter is to map the role of Vision Zero in this global development process. This is performed by studying the integration of Vision Zero in the road safety work and strategies of key international intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations. The chapter also contains an account of possible opportunities and advantages of working with Vision Zero as a tool on the global level as well as the criticism towards the approach. This chapter discusses the content of what is being diffused, why it is diffused, who is diffusing, and how it is diffusing. The material consists of key global policy documents and 29 semi-structured interviews with senior experts working with road safety on a global level. The main conclusions are that Vision Zero is a well-established global road safety policy program and a road safety philosophy integrated into both the work and texts of the major intergovernmental organizations working with road safety. There is a widespread opinion that Vision Zero and other safe system approaches constitute a paradigm shift in global road safety work. It is regarded as an innovative and inspiring policy based primarily on its ethical approach. It is also regarded as a coherent policy program and rests firmly upon years of progress and experience. Even though many of the respondents are positive towards the ethical base and the systematic approach, there are still those who argue that Vision Zero cannot be used as a policy tool, at least not in low- and middle-income countries. It is obvious that Vision Zero is not interpreted and reproduced in the same way in all contexts, but the question is if that is part of a natural transformation process leading to new interpretations or if it is a problem for the Vision Zero trademark.
Automated Vehicles: How Do They Relate to Vision Zero
Authors: Lie Anders , Tingvall Claes , Håkansson Maria , Boström Ola
Published: November 2022

The ideas to develop and introduce partially or fully automated vehicles are not recent but are not used on any larger scale at this moment. It is though likely that automating different functions, or moving vehicles driverless, will be common sooner or later. In this text, it is discussed how Vision Zero principles relate to the automation of the road transport system. Key findings are that automated vehicles will have to be better than human drivers and their safety system horizon will be key to limiting their functionality. The road transport system will have to be adapted to both failing humans and failing automated vehicles.
Suicide in the Transport System
Authors: Andersson Anna-Lena , Svensson Kenneth
Published: November 2022

The Swedish Transport Administration (STA) work to reduce the number of suicides in the transport system. Fatalities, i.e., on roads, railways, and bridges, originate from either accidents or suicides, natural death excluded. Knowing the correct manner of death is needed to work with optimal prevention strategies. The aims are to separate fatalities due to suicides, follow the development, and implement measures for suicide prevention. Methods are developed for suicide classification and criteria for the selection in which suicides were suspected. Fatalities in level one and two of five were classified as suicides. Data from the STA’s databases are used and so are data from the psychosocial investigations done by a trained investigator in the topic and with clinical experience from counselling at hospitals. 2129 persons died on the roads in Sweden, 10% (206 persons) were classified as suicides. 336 persons died after being hit by trains, 85% (284 persons) were suicides. 130 persons died by jumping from bridges.

The number of suicides increases with population density. Suicide in the transport system is a major problem; firstly personal tragedies, it is also a work environment problem for truck and train drivers and for the emergency staff. It generates delays and costs for passenger and cargo transport. By analyzing the results of countermeasures in the form of obstructive barriers, the physical environment can be improved and high-risk areas can be accentuated. Restricting access to the means of suicide is important in suicide prevention. Strategies for the STA include suicide prevention in the design of new roads, railways, and bridges, as well as by identifying and reducing existing high-risk locations. Sharing the results with other authorities and organizations and cooperation within suicide prevention missions are vital for the enhancement of the overall suicide prevention work in society.
Vision Zero in Suicide Prevention and Suicide Preventive Methods
Authors: Wasserman Danuta , Tadić I. , Bec C.
Published: November 2022

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), suicide is a global public health issue, and countries need to be working toward a comprehensive and holistic response to prevent suicide and suicidal behaviors. Vision Zero for suicide is an aspiring goal that aims to lower suicide occurrence through a combined action of public health and healthcare sectors. Vision Zero for suicide has a multilevel and multidisciplinary approach that intends to provide a systemic change in society to facilitate and put suicide prevention on the agenda. This chapter explores the origins of Vision Zero for suicide by first presenting theoretical models that influenced suicidal behavior preventive programs. Then, Vision Zero for suicide goals, advantages, challenges, and examples of implementation in some countries will be presented. Further, evidence-based suicide prevention programs in existing public health and healthcare settings will be described as they support the Vision Zero aims. Vision Zero is an ambitious goal, but one that is worth aspiring to achieve, as the potential outcomes for suicide prevention implementation and research are very worthwhile.
Vision Zero in Disease Eradication
Authors: Rosenberg Mark , Laney Emaline , Tingvall Claes
Published: November 2022

The eradication of smallpox – the first and so far only human disease to be eradicated – generated a tremendous amount of excitement and attention to the idea of disease eradication and elimination. In the twentieth century alone, smallpox had claimed the lives of more than 300,000,000 people (Sneed A, Scientific American, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/who-remember-smallpox/, 2014). The last natural case occurred in 1977, almost 200 years after the smallpox vaccine was discovered, and in 1979 the World Health Organization declared that the disease had been eradicated (WHO, Smallpox, World Health Organization. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/csr/disease/smallpox/en/, 2019c). Most importantly, it demonstrated that eradication was possible; that through the use of science, we could change our future for the better in ways that we had not even dared to think about previously. This achievement also helped to focus attention on clear definitions of disease eradication and elimination. Since then, these definitions have been continuously evolving. In 1993, the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE I) defined disease control, elimination, and eradication. With that, they evaluated over 90 potential infectious disease candidates and concluded that six were eradicable. Subsequently in 1997, the Dahlem Workshop focused on the science of eradication and defined a range of public health approaches to infectious diseases from control, to elimination of disease, elimination of infections, eradication, and extinction. Three years later, the second International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE II) convened in 2000 to review the progress over the past decade.

Inspired by these efforts, we reviewed our own experience and interviewed leaders of several disease eradication and elimination campaigns to identify lessons learned from a variety of disease elimination campaigns including smallpox, polio, Guinea worm, and onchocerciasis. Our aim was to identify lessons that might be applied to road traffic injuries. We identified 12 lessons from these infectious disease campaigns: (1) this is a cause and effect world; (2) know the truth; (3) coalitions are absolutely essential and absolutely hard; (4) avoid certainty (the Achilles heel of science); (5) measure frequently and build in continuous improvement; (6) respect the culture and work with the people you are trying to help; (7) the best decisions are based on the best science, but the best results, on the best management; (8) the best solutions move us closer to global health equity; (9) do not underestimate the time, resources, or tenacity it will take succeed; (10) eradication does not always require a vaccine or a cure; (11) start in the most difficult places first; and (12) you don’t begin at the end. These concepts from infectious disease campaigns have broader public health applications, and we discuss some of the implications for reducing road traffic injuries.
Basic Digital Image Acquisition, Design, Processing, Analysis, Management, and Presentation
Authors: D’Antuono Rocco
Published: November 2022

What You Will Learn in This Chapter

Understand what is a single image or what a more complex multidimensional dataset represents; identify the technique used for the acquisition and read the metadata; consider the limits deriving from the imaging technique; be able to visualize and render the dataset using different software tools; apply basic image analysis workflows to get data out of images.

Present images and data analysis results in an unbiased way.
Effect of sodium addition on structural and magnetic properties of solid state processed SrFe12−xAlxO19 (x ≤ 4)
Authors: Choi Jae-Young , Baek Youn-Kyung , Lee Jung-Goo , Kim Young-Kuk
Published: November 2022

Aluminum-substituted M-type strontium hexaferrite (SrM-Al, SrFe12−xAlxO19, 0 ≤ x ≤ 4) with uniform microstructure and excellent magnetic properties was synthesized by conventional ceramic processing based on solid state reaction. Coercive field was highly enhanced by heavy doping with Al3+ although magnetization was significantly reduced. However, formation of coarse microstructure and poor development of Hc with low level doping of Al3+ disturbed practical application. To promote phase formation and to suppress growth of coarse grains which were induced by incorporation of Al3+ ions, SrM-Al ceramics was processed with NaOH. Such Na-assisted processing of SrM-Al reduced formation of non-magnetic phases and assisted development of uniform fine grains. In addition, the large residual strain by Al3+ doping was partially relieved by the same approach. As a result, saturation magnetization of SrFe12−xAlxO19 was remarkably enhanced and the BHmax of randomly oriented hard magnetic ceramics was improved to 1.23MGOe by concomitant addition of Na and Al ions.
Comparison of clinical outcomes of VISIONAIRE patient-specific instrumentation with conventional instrumentation in total knee arthroplasty: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tibesku Carsten O. , Haas Steven B. , Saunders Christopher , Harwood David A.
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Malalignment and resulting complications are major challenges in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) which patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) is proposed to alleviate. Previous PSI meta-analyses of TKA outcomes typically do not differentiate between PSI systems and assess relatively few outcomes, so the value of their findings is limited. VISIONAIRE™ cutting guides (Smith + Nephew Inc., Memphis, TN, USA) is a PSI system based on preoperative magnetic resonance and X-ray imaging. A systematic literature review (SLR) and meta-analysis, focussed specifically on VISIONAIRE, were conducted to assess TKA accuracy, intraoperative outcomes, and postoperative outcomes, compared with conventional instrumentation (CI).

Materials and methods

The SLR was performed using PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar databases to identify relevant studies published until March 2022. Depending on statistical heterogeneity, meta-analyses were performed for outcome measures with fixed effect (I2 < 50%) or random-effects models (I2 ≥ 50%). Dichotomous outcomes were reported as odds ratios and continuous outcomes were reported as mean differences. Descriptive analyses were performed for outcomes not amenable to meta-analysis.

Results

Outcomes for VISIONAIRE versus CI were reported in 25 studies. Compared with CI, VISIONAIRE reduced odds of mechanical outliers by 40% (p < 0.0001), with no statistically significant differences in odds of overall coronal, sagittal, or rotational plane component outliers. VISIONAIRE improved surgical efficiency (operating room, turnover, and tourniquet times reduced by 7.3% (p = 0.02), 42% (p = 0.022), and 15.9% (p = 0.01), respectively), lowering the odds of blood transfusion by 53% (p = 0.01) and shortening patients’ hospital stays (11.1% reduction; p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences between groups in incidence of postoperative complications and (descriptively analyzed) return-to-function outcomes.

Conclusion

Options for PSI in TKA differ substantially, and it is important to assess the outcomes of individual systems. The current findings suggest that VISIONAIRE guides can lead to improved alignment accuracy and surgical efficiency compared with CI, without compromising postoperative safety and return-to-function outcomes.
Gaspreisdeckel, Strommarkt und Makroeffekte in Deutschland und der EU
Authors: Röger Werner , Welfens Paul J. J.
Published: November 2022

Die Politik in Deutschland und vielen anderen EU-Ländern hat seit Spätsommer 2022 zunehmend die Option einer Gaspreisbremse und von Transferzahlungen an private Haushalte bei Gas-, Wärme- und Strombezug diskutiert. Wie eine Gaspreisbremse ausgestaltet sein soll — für jede Gaskundschaft im Haushalts- und Industriebereich oder nur für bestimmte gasverbrauchende Sektoren -, ist bislang analytisch kaum ausgeleuchtet. In Deutschland hat die Kommission für Gas und Wärme Vorschläge gegen die Energiepreisschocks geliefert, wobei von der Politik auch noch eine EU-Verzahnung angedacht ist: Von der Bundesregierung wurde auf dem Brüsseler EU-Ratsgipfel im Oktober bislang nur grünes Licht für ein Mehr an gemeinschaftlichem Gaseinkauf gegeben. Auf Basis eines makroökonomischen Modells wird aufgezeigt, dass ein spezieller Gaspreisdeckel nur beim Strommarkt — ergänzt um bestimmte Transfermaßnahmen — für die Volkswirtschaft ökonomisch optimal ist.
Inflation ist kein wirksames Heilmittel gegen eine hohe Staatsschuldenquote
Authors: Grömling Michael , Matthes Jürgen
Published: November 2022

Weltweit sind die Volkswirtschaften mit hohen Preissteigerungen konfrontiert. Unter anderem beeinflusst die Inflation den Staatshaushalt sowie die Tragfähigkeit der öffentlichen Schulden. Wie und in welchem Ausmaß wird die Staatsschuldenquote durch die höhere Inflationsrate beeinflusst? Es wird gezeigt, dass eine hohe Inflation kein Heilmittel gegen eine hohe Staatsschuldenquote ist.
Kapitalmarktbewertung der Amtszeiten der Vorstandsvorsitzenden der Deutschen Telekom
Authors: Gerpott Torsten J. , Schwetz Roman
Published: November 2022

Die Deutsche Telekom ist die mit Abstand größte Betreiberin von Fest- und Mobilfunknetzen in Deutschland. Deshalb kommt ihrer strategischen Positionierung nationale Bedeutung für die Entwicklung der infrastrukturellen Grundlagen der Digitalisierung zu. Nachfolgend wird angenommen, dass diese Positionierung wesentlich durch die Vorstandsvorsitzenden der Deutschen Telekom geprägt wird. Die Kapitalmarktbewertung des Konzerns während der Amtszeiten der vier bisherigen Vorstandsvorsitzenden werden unter Einbezug von drei Börsenindizes und den Big-Five-Tech-Unternehmen verglichen. Daraus werden Schlussfolgerungen zu aus Kapitalmarktsicht sinnvollen Strategieelementen der Deutschen Telekom und zur Berechtigung wirtschaftspolitischer Forderungen nach Netzinvestitionsabgaben von großen Over-The-Top-Unternehmen gezogen.
Schuldenbremse: Schätzmethode des Produktionspotenzials auf dem Prüfstand
Authors:   ZG Überblick
Published: November 2022

Im Koalitionsvertrag der Bundesregierung ist festgehalten, dass die Details der Schuldenbremse und vor allem die Regeln zur Bestimmung des Produktionspotenzials überprüft werden sollen. Insbesondere die Methodik zur Berechnung der konjunkturellen Defizite wird diskutiert, da diese entscheidend für das mögliche Maß an Neuverschuldung ist. Welche Eigenschaften eine solche Methodik haben sollte, ist umstritten. Ein grundsätzlicher Kritikpunkt des aktuellen Verfahrens ist die Revisionssensitivität und Prozyklizität, was tendenziell dazu führt, die konjunkturellen Defizite zu unterschätzen.
Die Konjunkturbereinigung der Schuldenbremse: ein Plädoyer für methodische Reformen
Authors: Ochsner Christian , Zuber Christopher
Published: November 2022

The cyclical adjustment procedure of the debt brake is one of the most important elements of the German deficit rule. The cyclical adjustment enables governments that are borrowing to take account of current business cycle developments: In economic upturns, the scope for net borrowing shrinks, and in downturns, it grows. Recently, various aspects of this procedure have been criticised. We argue that methodical reforms to the estimation procedure can reduce revisions and are better suited to quantify estimation uncertainty. However, revisions cannot be completely avoided. In our view, improving the estimation method with a lagged consideration of revisions seems appropriate for fiscal policy. In contrast, the technical component of the cyclical adjustment procedure should not be the starting point for a political reorientation of the German debt brake.
Konjunkturbereinigung in der Schuldenbremse reformieren: Revisionen erst zeitverzögert einrechnen
Authors: Kremer Jana , Kuckuck Jan , Wendorff Karsten
Published: November 2022

In this article, we point out requirements for potential output estimates used for cyclical adjustment in the German debt brake. Further, we propose supplementing the cyclical component in the debt break with an error term — regardless of the specific potential output estimation approach. The error term provides fiscal policy more time to adjust to potential output revisions and tax revenue forecast errors. Simulations based on past data show that the error term reduces erratic budgetary adjustments and strengthens automatic stabilisers.
Implementation and Mental Health Outcomes of a Service Cascade Linking Child Welfare and Children’s Mental Health Systems: A Case Study of the Gateway CALL Demonstration
Authors: Bunger Alicia C. , Yoon Susan , Maguire-Jack Kathryn , Phillips Rebecca , West Kristopher Y. , Clark-Hammond Gretchen , Kranich Christiana
Published: November 2022

The mental health needs of children and youth involved in the child welfare system remain largely unmet. Service cascades are an emerging approach to systematizing mental health screening, assessment, and treatment referral processes. However, evidence is minimal and inconsistent regarding the effectiveness of such approaches for improving mental health service access and outcomes. In an effort to address this gap, this study presents a case-study of the implementation fidelity and treatment outcomes of the Gateway CALL service cascade. Study analyses involved longitudinal data collected as part of a larger evaluation of Gateway CALL. Specifically, descriptive and linear mixed model analyses were conducted to assess the implementation of service cascade components, and changes in mental health outcomes (behavior problems) among 175 children placed out-of-home during the study. Study analyses found that although fidelity was strong early in the service cascade, implementation began to break down once components involved more than one service system (child welfare, mental health). However, results also indicated that parent-reported child behavior problems decreased significantly over time, despite later cascade components being implemented with poor fidelity to the Gateway CALL service model. For children and youth involved in child welfare systems, service cascades like Gateway CALL have the potential to significantly improve both mental health service receipt and outcomes. To maximize the effectiveness of such approaches, later phases of implementation may require increased attention and support, particularly regarding processes and outcomes that cross child welfare and mental health service systems.
Restoration of calcareous grasslands by natural recolonization after forest clearing and its impact on the genetic variation of three common herb species
Authors: Iberl Katerina , Poschlod Peter , Reisch Christoph
Published: November 2022

Species-rich calcareous grasslands in Europe strongly declined during the twentieth century due to drastic land use changes. Many grasslands were converted into more productive pastures or are covered by shrubs or forests today, since they were overgrown after abandonment or afforested. Restoration of calcareous grasslands by shrub or forest clearing and subsequent recolonization of grassland species from adjacent grasslands is, therefore, an important conservation approach. Restored populations of calcareous grassland species may, however, differ from their source populations in genetic diversity and differentiation due to potential founder and bottleneck effects. In our study we analyzed, therefore, the impact of restoration by forest clearing and natural recolonization on the genetic variation of three common calcareous grassland species (Agrimonia eupatoria, Campanula rotundifolia, and Knautia arvensis) without a contribution of persistent seed bank, in South Western Germany. We used molecular markers AFLPs (Amplified fragment length polymorphisms) to compare genetic diversity within and differentiation between spontaneously recovered subpopulations with adjacent historically old, natural subpopulations at eight study sites. Restored parts of the grasslands have been re-established during the 1990s. Molecular markers revealed broadly similar levels of genetic diversity in source and restored subpopulations of the study species. Only A. eupatoria exhibited slightly higher diversity in restored subpopulations, which may be explained by higher dispersal potential due to the hooky fruits of the species. Genetic differentiation between source and restored subpopulations was not significant, indicating strong gene flow between the subpopulations. Our study underlines, therefore, that restoration of calcareous grasslands by natural recolonization after forest clearing is an efficient method to re-establish genetically variable subpopulations comparable to their sources.
Can learning presence be the fourth community of inquiry presence? Examining the extended community of inquiry framework in blended learning using confirmatory factor analysis
Authors: ElSayad Ghada
Published: November 2022

Researchers continue to extend the community of inquiry (COI) framework, highlighting its utility in online and blended learning environments for providing a successful learning experience. Recent studies have added the learning presence dimension to the classic COI framework which contains teaching, social, and cognitive presences, to represent online students’ traits of self-regulation. However, there is a need to examine whether this additional presence structurally represents relationships with other COI presences. Attempting to fill this gap, this study examines the statistical structure of the extended COI framework (integrating the classic COI presences with the additional learning presence) as well as the structural path between the four presences, using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Data were collected from 205 undergraduate students who were enrolled in blended courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Study findings revealed that learning presence has strong correlations with the classic COI counterparts, especially cognitive presence. Furthermore, learning presence has significant positive relationships with cognitive presence and social presence. Overall, the validity and reliability of the extended COI framework (which integrates the classic COI presences with the additional learning presence) had been proven in this study. This study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive framework of the extended COI framework, proving their multi-dimensionality and inter-relationality.
Ensemble and Self-supervised Learning for Improved Classification of Seismic Signals from the Åknes Rockslope
Authors: Lee Daesoo , Aune Erlend , Langet Nadège , Eidsvik Jo
Published: November 2022

A case study with seismic geophone data from the unstable Åknes rock slope in Norway is considered. This rock slope is monitored because there is a risk of severe flooding if the massive-size rock falls into the fjord. The geophone data is highly valuable because it provides 1000 Hz sampling rates data which are streamed to a web resource for real-time analysis. The focus here is on building a classifier for these data to distinguish different types of microseismic events which are in turn indicative of the various processes occurring on the slope. There are 24 time series from eight 3-component geophone data for about 3500 events in total, and each of the event time series has a length of 16 s. For the classification task, novel machine learning methods such as deep convolutional neural networks are leveraged. Ensemble prediction is used to extract information from all time series, and this is seen to give large improvements compared with doing immediate aggregation of the data. Further, self-supervised learning is evaluated to give added value here, in particular for the case with very limited training data.
Salsolinol Protects SH-SY5Y Cells Against MPP+ Damage and Increases Enteric S100-Immunoreactivity in Wistar Rats
Authors: Kurnik-Łucka Magdalena , Latacz Gniewomir , Goryl Joanna , Aleksandrovych Veronika , Gil Krzysztof
Published: November 2022

A dopamine derivative, 1-methyl-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, known as salsolinol (SAL), has increasingly gained attention since its first detection in the urine of Parkinson’s disease patients treated with levodopa, and has been proposed as a possible neurotoxic contributor to the disease. Yet, so far, the neurobiological role of SAL remains unclear. Thus, the main aims of our study were to compare the neurotoxic potential of SAL with MPP+ (1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion) in vitro, and to examine intestinal and metabolic alterations following intraperitoneal SAL administration in vivo. In vitro, SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line was monitored following MPP+ and SAL treatment. In vivo, Wistar rats were subjected to SAL administration by either osmotic intraperitoneal mini-pumps or a single intraperitoneal injection, and after two weeks, biochemical and morphological parameters were assessed. SH-SY5Y cells treated with MPP+ (1000 μM) and SAL (50 µM) showed increase in cell viability and fluorescence intensity in comparison with the cells treated with MPP+ alone. In vivo, we predominantly observed decreased collagen content in the submucosal layer, decreased neuronal density with comparable ganglionic area in the jejunal myenteric plexus, and increased glial S100 expression in both enteric plexuses, yet with no obvious signs of inflammation. Besides, glucose and triglycerides levels were lower after single SAL-treatment (200 mg/kg), and low- to high-density lipoprotein (LDL/HDL) ratio and aspartate to alanine aminotransferases (AST/ALT) ratio levels were higher after continuous SAL-treatment (200 mg/kg in total over 2 weeks). Low doses of SAL were non-toxic and exhibited pronounced neuroprotective properties against MPP+ in SH-SY5Y cell line, which supports the use of SAL as a reference compound for in vitro studies. In vivo results give insight into our understanding of gastrointestinal remodeling following intraperitoneal SAL administration, and might represent morphological correlates of a microglial-related enteric neurodegeneration and dopaminergic dysregulation.
Optimization of Lung Surfactant Coating of siRNA Polyplexes for Pulmonary Delivery
Authors: Baldassi Domizia , Ngo Thi My Hanh , Merkel Olivia M.
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The aim of this study was to understand how coating with a pulmonary surfactant, namely Alveofact, affects the physicochemical parameters as well as in vitro behavior of polyethylenimine (PEI) polyplexes for pulmonary siRNA delivery.

Methods

Alveofact-coated polyplexes were prepared at different Alveofact:PEI coating ratios and analyzed in terms of size, PDI and zeta potential as well as morphology by transmission electron microscopy. The biological behavior was evaluated in a lung epithelial cell line regarding cell viability, cellular uptake via flow cytometry and gene downregulation by qRT-PCR. Furthermore, a 3D ALI culture model was established to test the mucus diffusion and cellular uptake by confocal microscopy as well as gene silencing activity by qRT-PCR.

Results

After optimizing the coating process by testing different Alveofact:PEI coating ratios, a formulation with suitable parameters for lung delivery was obtained. In lung epithelial cells, Alveofact-coated polyplexes were well tolerated and internalized. Furthermore, the coating improved the siRNA-mediated gene silencing efficiency. Alveofact-coated polyplexes were then tested on a 3D air-liquid interface (ALI) culture model that, by expressing tight junctions and secreting mucus, resembles important traits of the lung epithelium. Here, we identified the optimal Alveofact:PEI coating ratio to achieve diffusion through the mucus layer while retaining gene silencing activity. Interestingly, the latter underlined the importance of establishing appropriate in vitro models to achieve more consistent results that better predict the in vivo activity.

Conclusion

The addition of a coating with pulmonary surfactant to polymeric cationic polyplexes represents a valuable formulation strategy to improve local delivery of siRNA to the lungs.

Graphical Abstract
The efficacy and safety of tenecteplase versus alteplase for acute ischemic stroke: an updated systematic review, pairwise, and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Abuelazm Mohamed , Seri Amith Reddy , Awad Ahmed K. , Ahmad Unaiza , Mahmoud Abdelrahman , Albazee Ebraheem , Kambalapalli Soumya , Abdelazeem Basel
Published: November 2022

Tenecteplase (TNK) is a promising candidate to replace alteplase as the standard of care for acute ischemic stroke (AIS); however, the optimal dosage is still to be investigated. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TNK versus alteplase and to investigate the optimal TNK dosage. A systematic review, pairwise, and network meta-analysis synthesizing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from WOS, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and PubMed until July 26th, 2022. We used the risk ratio (RR) for dichotomous outcomes presented with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). We registered our protocol in PROSPERO with ID: CRD42022352038. Nine RCTs with a total of 3,707 patients were included. TNK significantly led to complete recanalization (RR: 1.27 with 95% CI [1.02, 1.57], P = 0.03); however, we found no difference regarding early neurological improvement (RR: 1.07 with 95% CI [0.94, 1.21], P = 0.33) and excellent neurological recovery (RR: 1.03 with 95% CI [0.96, 1.10], P = 0.42). Also, TNK was similar to alteplase regarding mortality (RR: 0.99 with 95% CI [0.82, 1.18], P = 0.88), intracranial haemorrhage (RR: 1.00 with 95% CI [0.85, 1.18], P = 0.99), and parenchymal hematoma (RR: 1.13 with 95% CI [0.83, 1.54], P = 0.44). TNK in the dose of 0.25 mg is a viable candidate to displace alteplase as the standard of care in patients with an AIS within 4.5 h of presentation due to its better rate of early neurological recovery and non-inferiority in terms of safety outcomes. However, the evidence regarding TNK’s role in AIS presenting after 4.5 h from symptoms onset, wake-up stroke, and minor stroke/TIA is still lacking, necessitating further double-blinded pragmatic RCTs in this regard.
Selective Catalytic Reduction with Hydrogen for Exhaust gas after-treatment of Hydrogen Combustion Engines
Authors: Borchers Michael , Lott Patrick , Deutschmann Olaf
Published: November 2022

In this work, two palladium-based catalysts with either ZSM-5 or Zeolite Y as support material are tested for their performance in selective catalytic reduction of NOx with hydrogen (H2-SCR). The ligh-toff measurements in synthetic exhaust gas mixtures typical for hydrogen combustion engines are supplemented by detailed catalyst characterization comprising N2 physisorption, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), hydrogen temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR) and ammonia temperature programmed desorption (NH3-TPD). Introducing 10% or 20% TiO2 into the catalyst formulations reduced the surface area and the number of acidic sites for both catalysts, however, more severely for the Zeolite Y-supported catalysts. The higher reducibility of the Pd particles that was uncovered by H2-TPR resulted in an improved catalytic performance during the light-off measurements and substantially boosted NO conversion. Upon exposition to humid exhaust gas, the ZSM-5-supported catalysts showed a significant drop in performance, whereas the Zeolite Y-supported catalyst kept the high levels of conversion while shifting the selectivity from N2O more toward NH3 and N2. The 1%Pd/20%TiO2/HY catalyst subject to this work outperforms one of the most active and selective benchmark catalyst formulations, 1%Pd/5%V2O5/20%TiO2-Al2O3, making Zeolite Y a promising support material for H2-SCR catalyst formulations that allow efficient and selective NOx-removal from exhaust gases originating from hydrogen-fueled engines.
Heavy metals and micronutrients assessment in soil and groundwater using geospatial analyses under agricultural exploitation in dry areas
Authors: Metwaly Mohamed M. , AbdelRahman Mohamed A. E. , Abdellatif Bassam
Published: November 2022

This study used a geospatial model to evaluate the regional distributions and buildup of various Heavy Metals (HM) and micronutrients as a result of groundwater irrigation used for lengthy periods in Egypt’s El-Kharga and El-Farafra oases, which were formed on western desert terrain, were the subject of the study. To fulfill this aim, field sampling of soil and groundwater was integrated with cartographic modeling. The evaluated HM concentrations in the water samples are below the permitted level for irrigation. The surface soil’s element concentrations were within acceptable limits. However, protracted mobility and a potency risk for soil smearing were not spotted. The apportionment of HM concentricity versus soil profundity showed that the assemblage was primarily in the topsoil. Future management plans should consider ongoing HM level monitoring. The lands are divided into three classes: II, III, and IV, according to their capabilities, while the soils are divided into three classes based on their suitability: moderately suitable class S2, marginally acceptable class S3, and permanently unsuitable class N2. Additionally, soil fertility and quality were categorized into low and moderate categories. Land evaluations indicate that they are promising areas for agricultural investment under the conditions of using modern agricultural techniques. The most important results of the study are that the non-technical use of irrigation water in some areas has exacerbated the problems of salinity, especially in those where the drainage characteristics are poor. Concentrations of HM were found only in agricultural areas adjacent to urban areas and poor drainage, especially in agricultural areas reclaimed for more than 50 years. High concentrations of HM were also found in shallow wells close to the same places, and there were no significant concentrations in blind wells. The main recommendation of the study is the necessity of using modern agricultural and irrigation systems in those places.
Genes that are Used Together are More Likely to be Fused Together in Evolution by Mutational Mechanisms: A Bioinformatic Test of the Used-Fused Hypothesis
Authors: Bolotin Evgeni , Melamed Daniel , Livnat Adi
Published: November 2022

Cases of parallel or recurrent gene fusions in evolution as well as in genetic disease and cancer are difficult to explain, because unlike point mutations, they can require the repetition of a similar configuration of multiple breakpoints rather than the repetition of a single point mutation. The used-together-fused-together hypothesis holds that genes that are used together repeatedly and persistently in a specific context are more likely to undergo fusion mutation in the course of evolution for mechanistic reasons. This hypothesis offers to explain gene fusion in both evolution and disease under one umbrella. Using bioinformatic data, we tested this hypothesis against alternatives, including that all gene pairs can fuse by random mutation, but among pairs thus fused, those that had interacted previously are more likely to be favored by selection. Results show that across multiple measures of gene interaction, human genes whose orthologs are fused in one or more species are more likely to interact with each other than random pairs of genes of the same genomic distance between pair members; that an overlap exists between genes that fused in the course of evolution in non-human species and genes that undergo fusion in human cancers; and that across six primate species studied, fusions predominate over fissions and exhibit substantial evolutionary parallelism. Together, these results support the used-together-fused-together hypothesis over its alternatives. Multiple implications are discussed, including the relevance of mutational mechanisms to the evolution of genome organization, to the distribution of fitness effects of mutation, to evolutionary parallelism and more.
Politik auf der Straße? Zum Forschungsstand zu sozialen Bewegungen, Protest und Zivilgesellschaft
Authors: Weisskircher Manès
Published: November 2022

Soziale Bewegungen prägen zeitgenössische Gesellschaften. Dieser Beitrag diskutiert die wesentlichen Erkenntnisse der internationalen Bewegungs- und Protestforschung und ordnet den Forschungsstand ein. Das Ziel ist es, die Aufmerksamkeit sozialwissenschaftlicher Forschung verstärkt auf Politik „auf der Straße“ zu lenken. Dabei fokussiert der Artikel auf vier zentrale Fragestellungen: die definitorische Annäherung an das Phänomenon (was sind soziale Bewegungen?), ihre Formierung (wann und warum entstehen soziale Bewegungen?), ihre Aktionsformen (wie agieren soziale Bewegungen?) sowie ihre Auswirkungen (welchen Einfluss haben soziale Bewegungen?). Abschließend plädiert der Beitrag für eine enge Verknüpfung von Bewegungs- und Protestforschung mit der Parteienforschung und der politischen Soziologie. Protest ist nicht bloßl’art pour l’art: Ohne eine Bezugnahme auf Parteipolitik und Gesellschaftsanalyse bleibt das Verständnis von sozialen Bewegungen begrenzt. Andererseits würde die Analyse von (Partei‑)Politik und gesellschaftlichen Makro-Entwicklungen von einer verstärkten Berücksichtigung sozialer Bewegungen profitieren.
New species from the early Eocene London Clay suggest an undetected early Eocene diversity of the Leptosomiformes, an avian clade that includes a living fossil from Madagascar
Authors: Mayr Gerald , Kitchener Andrew C.
Published: November 2022

We report the first records of the leptosomiform taxonPlesiocathartesfrom the early Eocene London Clay of Walton-on-the-Naze (Essex, UK). Two species could be distinguished, one of which is described asPlesiocathartes insolitipes, sp. nov. (the other is classified asPlesiocathartessp.). We furthermore describe two small leptosomiform-like birds from Walton-on-the-Naze,Waltonavis paraleptosomus, gen. et sp. nov. andW. danielsi, gen. et sp. nov., which are represented by partial skeletons of multiple individuals. In plesiomorphic characters of the coracoid and furcula, the new taxonWaltonavisis distinguished fromPlesiocathartesand the extantLeptosomus; the skull ofWaltonavisfurthermore exhibits basipterygoid processes, which are absent inLeptosomus. Another new species,Lutavis platypelvis, gen. et sp. nov., is based on a partial skeleton from Walton-on-the-Naze and closely resemblesPlesiocathartesin the overall shape of the tarsometatarsus. However,L. platypelvisis clearly distinguished from leptosomiform birds in the morphology of the hypotarsus, the more massive coracoid, and other skeletal features. Although we consider close affinities toPlesiocathartesand, hence, the Leptosomiformes to be possible, we could not identify derived characters that enable an unambiguous phylogenetic placement ofL. platypelvis. In any case, the new species document an unexpected diversity ofPlesiocathartes-like fossil in the London Clay and may open a new perspective for a reconstruction of the ancestral morphology of the avian clade Afroaves, which includes the Leptosomiformes and other arboreal landbirds.
Assessment the impact of different fuels used in cement industry on pollutant emissions and ambient air quality: a case study in Egypt
Authors: Sayad Tarek , Moursy Fawzia Ibrahim , El-Tantawi Attia M. , Saad Mohamed , Morsy Mostafa
Published: November 2022

This study aims to assess the impact of using different fuels in Egyptian Titan Alexandria Portland Cement Company on emissions and concentrations of pollutants (Total suspended particles (TSP), nitrogen dioxide (NO2‎), and sulfur dioxide (SO2)) and their influence on ambient air quality during the period 2014–2020 using AERMOD dispersion model. The results showed that changing the fuel from natural gas in 2014 to coal mixed with alternative fuels (Tire-Derived Fuel (TDF), Dried Sewage Sludge (DSS), and Refuse Derived Fuels (RDF)) in 2015–2020 caused fluctuating variations in pollutant emissions and concentrations. The highest and lowest maximum concentrations of TSP occurred in 2017 and 2014 respectively, where the TSP is positively correlated with coal, RDF, and DSS and negatively correlated with natural gas, diesel, and TDF. Also, the lowest and highest maximum NO2 concentrations were detected in 2020 and 2016 followed by 2017 respectively, where NO2 is positively correlated with DSS and negatively correlated with TDF and varies with diesel, coal, and RDF. Moreover, the maximum concentrations of SO2 were the lowest in 2018 and highest in 2016 followed by 2017 because of its considerable positive correlation with natural gas and DSS and negative correlation with RDF, TDF, and coal. Generally, it was found that increasing the percentage of TDF and RDF with decreasing the percentage of DSS, diesel, and coal will reduce pollutant emissions and concentrations and enhance ambient air quality.