bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cognitive screening and rehabilitation after cardiac arrest: only a few hurdles to take
Authors: van Til Janine A. , Hemels Martin E. W. , Hofmeijer Jeannette
Published: December 2023

Dutch and European guidelines recommend systematic screening for cognitive and emotional impairments in cardiac arrest survivors. We aimed to clarify opinions on cognitive screening and rehabilitation, identify barriers and facilitators for implementation in the Netherlands, and arrive at recommendations in this field. We conducted 22 semi-structured interviews with various stakeholders using the Tailored Implementation in Chronic Diseases checklist. There is broad-based acknowledgement of the relevance of cognitive impairment and a positive attitude regarding early cognitive screening among health professionals and patients. Barriers to implementation include a lack of practical recommendations on how, where and when to screen, insufficient knowledge of cognitive consequences of cardiac arrest, insufficient collaboration and knowledge sharing among different specialties within hospitals, insufficient resources, and insufficient evidence of the effectiveness of screening and therapy to justify financial compensation. Most of the identified barriers to implementation are solvable: national guidelines need practical recommendations and knowledge gaps among healthcare workers can be bridged by in-hospital collaboration. Fulfilling these requirements should be sufficient for the implementation of simple screening and tailored advice. More extensive cognitive rehabilitation therapy needs stronger evidence of efficacy in order to warrant stronger guideline recommendations and financial reimbursement.
Comparison of the Clinical Effectiveness of Intra-Articular Injection with Different Substances After TMJ Arthroscopy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: López Juan Pablo , Orjuela María Paula , González Luis Vicente , Peraza-Labrador Alberto Jose , Díaz-Baez David
Published: December 2023

Objective

This systematic review aims to describe the clinical outcomes after TMJ arthroscopy followed by intra articular infiltration with different substances.

Materials and Methods

A literature search was carried out, the variables were Arthroscopy with different substances, pain and maximal mouth opening. The inclusion criteria were articles that reported infiltration of different substances after arthroscopy. Case series, observational studies, and randomized clinical trials were included. Exclusion criteria were studies that included arthrocentesis, animal studies, connective tissue disease, patients with previous surgeries.

Results

Of the 5 studies finally included, the population studied were 346 subjects, of which 315 were female. The mean age was 34.7 (16–77). Regarding diagnoses, Wilkes III and Wilkes IV were taken into account. The most commonly used substance was sodium hyaluronate/hyaluronic acid in 4 of the 5 studies.

Conclusion

Multiple substances have been infiltrated within the temporomandibular joint, with sodium hyaluronate/hyaluronic acid being the most studied. However, the benefit of substances like ATM artroscopia adyuvantes has not been clearly established. It is recommended in future studies that the substances and results be evaluated in the same way to obtain more homogeneous studies.
Prediction of proppant distribution as a function of perforation orientations
Authors: Alajmei Shabeeb
Published: December 2023

In treatments that involve multiple stages and clusters, one of the most important challenges is ensuring that the proppant is evenly distributed across all clusters. It is crucial to distribute the proppant equally to ensure that all perforation clusters are contributing to production. To forecast the proppant distribution between perforation clusters, an experimental correlation was established using data from the literature on horizontal wellbores. A dimensional analysis was performed using the Buckingham Pi-theorem to develop the correlation. Data from different independent variables, such as completion designs and orientations, were incorporated. In this study, an improved novel experimental correlation is proposed to accurately forecast the proppant distribution using various perforation configurations and orientations. The correlation can predict the proppant distribution with a low percentage difference of less than 20%. This correlation may be upscaled to predict the distribution of proppants across multiple clusters in a single-stage hydraulic fracturing stimulation. The developed correlation illustrates that injecting more proppant at a higher rate may help to allocate the proppant more evenly across perforation clusters. However, a nonuniform proppant distribution is obtained by increasing the proppant median diameter.
Stratified Virtue Epistemology
Authors: Carter J. Adam
Published: December 2023

This accessible Element defends version of virtue epistemology shown to have all-things-considered advantages over other views on the market. The view is unorthodox, in that it incorporates Sosa's animal/reflective knowledge distinction, which has thus far had few takers. The author shows why embracing a multi-tiered framework is not a liability within virtue epistemology but instead affords it an edge not attainable otherwise. The particular account of knowledge goes beyond Sosa's own view by introducing and incorporating several theoretical innovations (regarding both basing and risk, as well as the introduction of multiple species of reflective knowledge) which are aimed at revamping how we think about 'high-grade' knowledge, how we attain it, and what it demands of us. The result is a new and improved stratified virtue epistemology that can hold up against scrutiny.
Early Canal Systems in the North American Southwest
Authors: Huckleberry Gary
Published: December 2023

Current evidence suggests that Indigenous farmers in the North American Southwest began canal irrigation in the second millennium BC, marking an important change in food production technology. Early canal systems are preserved in alluvial floodplains of the US-Mexico Borderlands region, tend to be deeply buried, and can appear as natural fluvial features. Here I discuss some of the challenges in identifying early canals and associated fields and present case studies from the Santa Cruz River in southern Arizona where buried channels dating as early as 1600–1400 BC were likely human constructed. These small channels share several stratigraphic properties and are consistent with hypotheses of early canal irrigation practiced by small family groups reliant on mixed farming and foraging. Through time, irrigation canal systems expanded in size, resulting in increased labor investment, sedentism, and productivity and facilitating the development of larger irrigation communities. Stratigraphic and geomorphic properties of early canal systems thus far identified along the Santa Cruz River provide a framework for identifying potential early canal evidence in other fine-grained floodplains of the Southwest, thereby improving our understanding of Indigenous agricultural intensification.
Aesthetic Blame
Authors: KUBALA ROBBIE
Published: December 2023

One influential tradition holds that blame is a moral attitude: blame is appropriate only when the target of blame has violated a moral norm without excuse or justification. Against this, some have recently argued that agents can be blameworthy for their violation of epistemic norms even when no moral norms are thereby violated. This paper defends the appropriateness of aesthetic blame: agents can be blameworthy for their violation of aesthetic norms as such, where aesthetic norms are the norms of social practices that aim at aesthetic values. I adapt a generic account of blame as protest, which can take variable forms, and then argue that aesthetic distortion cases—cases in which an existing artwork is distorted in its presentation—most clearly warrant blame even in the absence of violations of moral norms.
Tamoxifen exacerbates morbidity and mortality in male mice receiving medetomidine anaesthesia
Authors: Rashbrook Victoria S , Denti Laura , Ruhrberg Christiana
Published: December 2023

Tamoxifen-induced CreER-LoxP recombination is often used to induce spatiotemporally controlled gene deletion in genetically modified mice. Prior work has shown that tamoxifen and tamoxifen-induced CreER activation can have off-target effects that should be controlled. However, it has not yet been reported whether tamoxifen administration, independently of CreER expression, interacts adversely with commonly used anaesthetic drugs such as medetomidine or its enantiomer dexmedetomidine in laboratory mice (Mus musculus). Here, we report a high incidence of urinary plug formation and morbidity in male mice on a mixed C57Bl6/J6 and 129/SvEv background when tamoxifen treatment was followed by ketamine-medetomidine anaesthesia. Medetomidine is therefore contra-indicated for male mice after tamoxifen treatment. As dexmedetomidine causes morbidity and mortality in male mice at higher rates than medetomidine even without tamoxifen treatment, our findings suggest that dexmedetomidine is not a suitable alternative for anaesthesia of male mice after tamoxifen treatment. We conclude that the choice of anaesthetic drug needs to be carefully evaluated in studies using male mice that have undergone tamoxifen treatment for inducing CreER-LoxP recombination.
Perceived Threat of Disaster, Efficacy, and Psychological Distress Among Individuals with a Physical Disability: A Longitudinal Model
Authors: Reed Ashley E. , Rohrbeck Cynthia A. , Wirtz Philip W. , Marceron Jennifer E.
Published: December 2023

Objective:

Individuals with physical disabilities experience distress when faced with the threat of human-made and natural disasters, yet little is known about how to reduce that distress. This study used Protection Motivation Theory to longitudinally test the relationships between psychological distress and disaster-related cognitive appraisals, including perceived threat, emergency preparedness self-efficacy, and response efficacy, in a sample of individuals with physical disabilities.

Methods:

A nationwide convenience sample of 106 adults completed 2 surveys approximately 5 years apart. Structural equation modeling was used to assess effects of perceived threat, self-efficacy, and response efficacy on psychological distress across the 2 waves.

Results:

Our results suggest that the associations of proximal perceived threat and self-efficacy with psychological distress remain stable across time, while the effect of response efficacy is variable and may be more context-specific. Importantly, individuals who reported an increase in self-efficacy over time also reported (on average) a decrease in psychological distress.

Conclusions:

In addition to broadening our understanding of factors related to psychological distress, these results have potentially important intervention implications; for example, to the extent that self-efficacy is a malleable construct, one way of reducing disaster-related psychological distress may be to increase an individual’s self-efficacy.
Diffusioosmotic dispersion of solute in a long narrow channel
Authors: Teng Jian , Rallabandi Bhargav , Ault Jesse T.
Published: December 2023

Solute–surface interactions have garnered considerable interest in recent years as a novel control mechanism for driving unique fluid dynamics and particle transport with potential applications in fields such as biomedicine, the development of microfluidic devices and enhanced oil recovery. In this study, we will discuss dispersion induced by the diffusioosmotic motion near a charged wall in the presence of a solute concentration gradient. Here, we introduce a plug of salt with a Gaussian distribution at the centre of a channel with no background flow. As the solute diffuses, the concentration gradient drives a diffusioosmotic slip flow at the walls, which results in a recirculating flow in the channel; this, in turn, drives an advective flux of the solute concentration. This effect leads to cross-stream diffusion of the solute, altering the effective diffusivity of the solute as it diffuses along the channel. We derive theoretical predictions for the solute dynamics using a multiple-time-scale analysis to quantify the dispersion driven by the solute–surface interactions. Furthermore, we derive a cross-sectionally averaged concentration equation with an effective diffusivity analogous to that from Taylor dispersion. In addition, we use numerical simulations to validate our theoretical predictions.
Kinks on elliptical convergent shock waves in hypersonic flow
Authors: Si Dongxian , Li Zhufei
Published: December 2023

Kinks commonly appear on the convergent shock surface when an internal conical flow deviates from the axisymmetric state. In this paper, the formation mechanisms of kinks on internal conical shocks (ICSs) generated by elliptical ring wedges with typical entry aspect ratios (

$AR{\rm s}$

) in a Mach 6 flow are revealed using a theoretical method, in which the spatial evolution of the three-dimensional elliptical ICS is converted into a temporal evolution of a two-dimensional elliptical moving shock (EMS) using the hypersonic equivalence principle. To simultaneously track the shock front of the EMS and the disturbances propagating along it, a front-disturbance tracking method (FDTM) based on geometrical shock dynamics is proposed. It is found that the shock–compression disturbances from the same family initially near the major axis catch up with the disturbance initially emitted from the major axis to form kinks on the EMS. The equivalent kink formation positions predicted by the FDTM always lag behind the real kink formation positions on the elliptical ICS because the applicability of the hypersonic equivalence principle decays as the shock strengthens along the incoming flow direction. The accuracy of the equivalent kink formation positions predicted by the FDTM gradually declines with the reduction in

$AR$

, but it can be significantly improved for all

$AR{\rm s}$

after a modification of the equivalent relationship using the shock angle in the major plane of the elliptical ICS, which provides a new way to solve the kinks on the elliptical ICS.
Non-local eddy diffusivity model based on turbulent energy density in scale space
Authors: Hamba Fujihiro
Published: December 2023

Recently, a non-local eddy diffusivity model for the turbulent scalar flux was proposed to improve the local model and was validated using direct numerical simulation (DNS) of homogeneous isotropic turbulence with an inhomogeneous mean scalar (Hamba, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 950, 2022, A38). The non-local eddy diffusivity was assumed to be proportional to the two-point velocity correlation that was expressed in terms of the energy spectrum. Because the Fourier transform of velocity in the homogeneous directions was used to define the energy spectrum, it is not yet understood whether the proposed model can be applied to inhomogeneous turbulence. Thus, this study aimed to improve the non-local model using the scale-space energy density instead of the energy spectrum. First, the scale-space energy density based on filtered velocities was examined using the DNS data of homogeneous isotropic turbulence to obtain its simple form corresponding to the Kolmogorov energy spectrum. Subsequently, the two-point velocity correlation was expressed in terms of the scale-space energy density. Using these expressions, a new non-local eddy diffusivity model was proposed and validated using the DNS data. The one-dimensional non-local eddy diffusivity obtained from the new model agrees with the DNS value. The temporal behaviour of the three-dimensional non-local eddy diffusivity was improved compared with the previous model. Because the scale-space energy density was already examined in turbulent channel flow, it is expected that the new non-local model can also be applied to inhomogeneous turbulence and is useful for gaining insight into turbulent scalar transport.
Modulation of coaxial cone-jet instability in active co-flow focusing
Authors: Mu Kai , Qiao Ran , Ding Hang , Si Ting
Published: December 2023

The breakup of coaxial cone-jet interfaces to compound droplets in axisymmetric co-flow focusing (CFF) upon actuation is studied through numerical simulations. Due to the coupling effect of double interfaces, the response behaviours of coaxial cone-jet flow to actuation are more complex than those of a single-layered interface structure. Particularly, the coaxial jet presents totally different response modes between weak and strong interface coupling situations. In this work, the phase diagrams of response modes for coaxial jet breakup are depicted, considering the effect of perturbation frequency, amplitude and liquid flow rates. In particular, the breakup of a coaxial jet can be synchronized with actuation within a frequency range containing the natural breakup frequency, resulting in uniform compound droplets with a single core inside the shell, and the size of droplets can be adjusted by frequency. As the perturbation frequency exceeds the upper critical value, the external perturbation is unable to dominate the jet breakup, while below the lower critical frequency, the jet breaks up with multiple droplets generated in one period. The perturbation amplitude mainly affects the jet breakup length and also leads to the transition between different response modes. The coaxial cone upstream of the orifice can act as a buffer layer, regulating the perturbation amplitude of the coaxial jet downstream. The degree of buffering effect is affected by the perturbation frequency and amplitude. As the perturbation amplitude approaches unity, the decrease of perturbation frequency leads to the intermittent jet behaviour from the cone tip with a vibrating manner of the coaxial cone. Based on the linear instability analysis on the simplified single jet models for weak-coupled and strong-coupled jets, scaling analyses are carried out, which predict the jet breakup length and the natural frequency and critical frequency for the synchronized breakup. Finally, a strong pulse is added on the perturbation to produce compound droplets with a controllable number of cores. The present work provides valuable guidance for the practical application of on-demand compound droplet generation through active CFF.
Testing the Robustness of the ANES Feeling Thermometer Indicators of Affective Polarization
Authors: TYLER MATTHEW , IYENGAR SHANTO
Published: December 2023

Affective polarization (AP)—the tendency of political partisans to view their opponents as a stigmatized “out group”—is now a major field of research. Relevant evidence in the United States derives primarily from a single source, the American National Election Studies (ANES) feeling thermometer time series. We investigate whether the design of the ANES produces overestimates of AP. We consider four mechanisms: overrepresentation of strong partisans, selection bias conditional on strong identification, priming effects of partisan content, and survey mode variation. Our analysis uses the first-ever collaboration between ANES and the General Social Survey and a novel experiment that manipulates the amount of political content in surveys. Our tests show that variation in survey mode has caused an artificial increase in the mixed-mode ANES time series, but the general increase in out-party animus is nonetheless real and not merely an artifact of selection bias or priming effects.
REGULATING TRANSNATIONAL DISSIDENT CYBER ESPIONAGE
Authors: Anstis Siena
Published: December 2023

Remote-access cyber espionage operations against activists, dissidents or human rights defenders abroad are increasingly a feature of digital transnational repression. This arises when State or State-related actors use digital technologies to silence or stifle dissent from human rights defenders, activists and dissidents abroad through the collection of confidential information that is then weaponized against the target or their networks. Examples include the targeting of Ghanem Al-Masarir (a Saudi dissident living in the United Kingdom), Carine Kanimba (a United States–Belgian dual citizen and daughter of Rwandan activist Paul Rusesabagina living in the United States) and Omar Abdulaziz (another Saudi dissident living in Canada) with NSO Group's mercenary spyware. This practice erodes human rights, democracy and the rule of law and has a negative impact on targeted communities, including social isolation, self-censorship, the fragmentation and impairment of transnational political and social advocacy networks, and psychological and social harm. Despite this, international law does little to restrain this practice. Building on momentum around the regulation of mercenary spyware and transnational repression, this article elaborates on how States could consider regulating dissident cyber espionage and streamlines a unified approach among ratifying States addressing issues such as State immunity, burden of proof, export control and international and public–private sector collaboration.
‘The enemy of my enemy is my enemy’: Markus Barth's awkward hostility to critics of his theology of reconciliation
Authors: Lindsay Mark
Published: December 2023

Markus Barth (1915–1994) is best-known for his pioneering work in Jewish-Christian dialogue, and his Anchor Bible commentaries. Convinced that Ephesians 2:14–16 is the core of Paul's gospel, Barth concluded that the ‘one new man’ in Christ not only necessitates an indissoluble solidarity between Christians and Jews, but entails that all enmities have been negated by Christ's reconciliatory work. Ironically, this conviction provoked in him an antagonism towards many of his Jewish interlocutors. Their refusal to ‘forget Auschwitz’ caused Barth to accuse them of not being sufficiently conciliatory, and in turn led him, with sadly supersessionistic logic, to eschew reconciliation with them, because he did not think they took reconciliation seriously enough.
Mapping artificial intelligence-based methods to engineering design stages: a focused literature review
Authors: Khanolkar Pranav Milind , Vrolijk Ademir , Olechowski Alison
Published: December 2023

Engineering design has proven to be a rich context for applying artificial intelligence (AI) methods, but a categorization of such methods applied in AI-based design research works seems to be lacking. This paper presents a focused literature review of AI-based methods mapped to the different stages of the engineering design process and describes how these methods assist the design process. We surveyed 108 AI-based engineering design papers from peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings and mapped their contribution to five stages of the engineering design process. We categorized seven AI-based methods in our dataset. Our literature study indicated that most AI-based design research works are targeted at the conceptual and preliminary design stages. Given the open-ended, ambiguous nature of these early stages, these results are unexpected. We conjecture that this is likely a result of several factors, including the iterative nature of design tasks in these stages, the availability of open design data repositories, and the inclination to use AI for processing computationally intensive tasks, like those in these stages. Our study also indicated that these methods support designers by synthesizing and/or analyzing design data, concepts, and models in the design stages. This literature review aims to provide readers with an informative mapping of different AI tools to engineering design stages and to potentially motivate engineers, design researchers, and students to understand the current state-of-the-art and identify opportunities for applying AI applications in engineering design.
Setting the Agenda on the United Kingdom's Policy towards the European Community: Miriam Camps at Chatham House
Authors: Seidel Katja
Published: December 2023

Historical analysis of the UK government's policy towards European integration is mostly confined to the ‘official’ sphere, that is government, civil service and professional diplomacy. Non-governmental actors within the wider field of para-diplomacy such as policy entrepreneurs or elite foreign policy think tanks have not yet been systematically incorporated in this history. This article explores when and under what circumstances such diplomatic actors can influence government foreign policy formulation. The case explored here is that of Miriam Camps (1916–94), a scholar, former US diplomat and senior researcher at Chatham House. Camps utilised her Chatham House contacts, including key Foreign Office officials as well as her wider transnational network, to influence the Foreign Office's stance on the so-called ‘empty chair’ crisis of the European Economic Community in 1965/6. The article argues that during the crisis Camps acted as a policy entrepreneur with the aim of advancing her own ideas and changing the UK government's position towards the European Economic Community. Besides demonstrating the influence of unofficial diplomats on policy formulation, the article also contributes to the growing literature on the varied roles of women in international relations and diplomacy.
The Relationship Between Interpersonal Sensitivity and Emotion Regulation in Youths
Authors: Razvaliaeva Anna Yu. , Polskaya Natalia A.
Published: December 2023

Abstract: Background: In clinical psychology, interpersonal sensitivity is defined as a vulnerability to perceived signs of rejection in interpersonal situations; it plays an important role in the development of psychopathology, especially mood disorders. We investigated the relationship between interpersonal sensitivity, emotion-regulation strategies, and emotional reactivity in a group of youths without mental health issues. Method: Participants ( N = 231, 46 men, 185 women, 18–25 years old) were recruited from online groups focusing on education, social activism, and psychological self-help. Measures: Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure, Perth Emotional Reactivity Scale, and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Results: Negative emotional reactivity predicted all dimensions of interpersonal sensitivity. Positive emotional reactivity negatively predicted fear of rejection and dependence on the opinion of others. Only expressive suppression predicted the fear of rejection. Activation and intensity of negative emotions moderated the link between expressive suppression and fear of rejection. The Interpersonal Sensitivity subscales predicted negative emotional reactivity and expressive suppression. Discussion: The present study corroborates and broadens the results of previous studies that utilized rejection sensitivity – a narrower construct than interpersonal sensitivity. Expressive suppression and emotional reactivity emerge as differential predictors of individual dimensions of interpersonal sensitivity.
Water in Omphacite and Garnet From Pristine Xenolithic Eclogite: T‐X‐fO2 Controls, Retentivity, and Implications for Electrical Conductivity and Deep H2O Recycling
Authors: Aulbach Sonja , Stalder Roland , Massuyeau Malcolm , Stern Richard A. , Ionov Dmitri A. , Korsakov Andrey V.
Published: December 2023

Kimberlite‐borne eclogite xenoliths having Precambrian oceanic crustal protoliths and entrained from ≥100 km depth can retain pristine geochemical features despite extended residence in the cratonic lithospheric mantle, making them valuable archives of deep chemical cycling including that of water. We determined, by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, structural OH contents in clinopyroxene and garnet from 15 unmetasomatized eclogite xenoliths. Calculated total c(H2O) is 100–510 wt.ppm for clinopyroxene and below detection (∼2 wt.ppm) to 200 wt.ppm for garnet, while garnet δ18O, determined by Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry, ranges from +5.0‰ to +7.3‰, (similar to high‐ and low‐temperature seawater‐altered oceanic crust). Estimated electrical conductivity in pristine eclogites increases with temperature (i.e., depth for conductive geotherms), while clinopyroxene‐garnet H2O partition coefficients decrease with increasing temperature and garnet grossular component (i.e., Ca#), similar to other incompatible components. Various considerations suggest the retention of primary H2O in the samples, likely occurring in km‐sized pods of coarse‐grained eclogite. High Al2O3 in clinopyroxene as omphacite component, stabilized during high‐pressure metamorphism, facilitates H2O uptake. Therefore, the high bulk c(H2O) estimated for samples with plagioclase‐rich, deep crustal protoliths (median 290 wt.ppm) may indicate an interaction with fluids expelled at depth from serpentinites. The c(H2O) of ancient and modern subducted bulk oceanic crust (∼220–240 wt.ppm) are similar, suggesting constant mantle ingassing since at least 3 Ga ago. This places constraints on factors, such as mantle temperatures, that determine the efficiency of deep water cycling.
Effects of Urbanization and Forest Fragmentation on Atmospheric Nitrogen Inputs and Ambient Nitrogen Oxide and Ozone Concentrations in Mixed Temperate Forests
Authors: Rindy Jenna E. , Pierce Erin A. , Geddes Jeffrey , Garvey Sarah M. , Gewirtzman Jonathan , Driscoll Charles T. , Hutyra Lucy R. , Templer Pamela H.
Published: December 2023

Urban ecosystems around the globe experience greater atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition compared to rural areas and are particularly vulnerable to fragmentation due to land use change. However, while the influences of urbanization and forest fragmentation on atmospheric inputs to temperate forests have been determined separately, the combined effects of the two changes on temperate forest ecosystems have yet to be assessed. To investigate these combined effects, we deployed throughfall collectors to measure atmospheric N inputs and passive samplers to measure nitrogen oxides (NOx) and ozone (O3) throughout the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons in seven temperate forest sites along an urbanization gradient from Boston to central Massachusetts. We found a positive relationship between the amount of impervious surface area (% ISA) surrounding each site and throughfall nitrate () inputs at the forest edge, with urban edge inputs nearly double the rate at rural edge sites. There were higher rates of inputs in the rural forest interior than edge sites, while urban sites experienced significantly higher concentrations of NOx and O3 both in the interior and at the edge compared to rural sites. Atmospheric N inputs were significantly elevated in the early (May–July) compared to the late (August–November) growing season and concentrations of NOx and O3 were also elevated in the midgrowing season (June–September). Our results demonstrate that together, urbanization and forest fragmentation lead to greater rates of atmospheric N inputs and ambient pollutant concentrations of NOx and O3 in temperate forests of the northeastern U.S.
Geographical approach analysis of the impact of air pollution on newborn intrauterine growth and cord blood DNA damage in Mexico City
Authors: Maciel-Ruiz Jorge A. , Reynoso-Noverón Nancy , Rodríguez-Moreno David A. , Petrosyan Pavel , Limón-Pacheco Jorge H. , Nepomuceno-Hernández Andrés E. , Ayala-Yañez Rodrigo , Robles-Morales Rogelio , Osorio-Yáñez Citlalli , García-Cuellar Claudia María , Gonsebatt María E.
Published: December 2023

Background

Few epidemiologic studies have focused on the specific source of ambient air pollution and adverse health effects in early life. Here, we investigated whether air pollutants from different emission sources were associated with decreased birth anthropometry parameters and increased DNA adduct formation in mother-child pairs residing in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA).

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 190 pregnant women recruited during their last trimester of pregnancy from two hospitals at MCMA, and a Modeling Emissions Inventory (MEI) to calculate exposure to ambient air pollutants from different emissions sources (area, point, mobile, and natural) for two geographical buffers 250 and 750 m radii around the participants households.

Results

Contaminants were positively correlated with umbilical cord blood (UCB) adducts, but not with maternal blood (MB) adducts. PM10 emissions (area and point sources, overall emissions), PM2.5 (point sources), volatile organic compounds (VOC), total organic compounds (TOC) from point sources were positively correlated with UCB adducts. Air pollutants emitted from natural sources were correlated with a decrease in MB and UCB adducts. PM10 and PM2.5 were correlated (p < 0.05) with a decrease in birth weight (BW), birth length (BL) and gestational age at term (GA). In multivariate analyses adjusted for potential confounders, PM10 was associated with an increase in UCB adducts. PM10 and PM2.5 from overall emissions were associated with a decrease in BW, BL and GA at term.

Impact

Results suggested higher susceptibility of newborns compared to mothers to damage related to ambient air pollution. PMs are associated with birth anthropometry parameters and DNA damage in adjusted models, highlighting the need for more strict regulation of PM emissions.
Muscle and fat composition in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma
Authors: Abdallah Nadine H. , Nagayama Hiroki , Takahashi Naoki , Gonsalves Wilson , Fonder Amie , Dispenzieri Angela , Dingli David , Buadi Francis K. , Lacy Martha Q. , Hobbs Miriam , Gertz Morie A. , Binder Moritz , Kapoor Prashant , Warsame Rahma , Hayman Suzanne R. , Kourelis Taxiarchis , Hwa Yi L. , Lin Yi , Kyle Robert A. , Rajkumar S. Vincent , Broski Stephen M. , Kumar Shaji K.
Published: December 2023

Measures of muscle and adipose tissue mass have been associated with outcomes in several malignancies, but studies in multiple myeloma (MM) are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between muscle and fat areas and radiodensity, and overall survival (OS) in patients with newly diagnosed MM. We included 341 patients diagnosed with MM from 2010–2019 who had an 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography at diagnosis. A cross-sectional image at the third lumbar vertebrae was segmented into muscle and fat components. Median follow up was 5.7 years. There was no association between sarcopenia and baseline disease characteristics or OS. Low muscle radiodensity was associated with higher disease stage, anemia, and renal failure. OS was 5.6 vs. 9.0 years in patients with muscle radiodensity in the lower vs. middle/upper tertiles, respectively (P = 0.02). High subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) radiodensity was associated with higher stage, anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypercalcemia, renal failure, and high LDH. OS was 5.4 years vs. not reached in patients with SAT radiodensity in the upper vs. middle/lower tertiles, respectively (P = 0.001). In conclusion, sarcopenia was not associated with OS in MM patients. High SAT radiodensity and low muscle radiodensity were associated with advanced disease stage and adverse laboratory characteristics.
Inhibition of demethylase by IOX1 modulates chromatin accessibility to enhance NSCLC radiation sensitivity through attenuated PIF1
Authors: Li Qian , Qin Kexin , Tian Yushan , Chen Biao , Zhao Guoping , Xu Shengmin , Wu Lijun
Published: December 2023

Chromatin accessibility is a critical determinant of gene transcriptional expression and regulated by histones modification. However, the potential for manipulating chromatin accessibility to regulate radiation sensitivity remains unclear. Our findings demonstrated that the histone demethylase inhibitor, 5-carboxy-8-hydroxyquinoline (IOX1), could enhance the radiosensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, IOX1 treatment reduced chromatin accessibility in the promoter region of DNA damage repair genes, leading to decreased DNA repair efficiency and elevated DNA damage induced by γ irradiation. Notably, IOX1 treatment significantly reduced both chromatin accessibility and the transcription of phytochrome interacting factor 1 (PIF1), a key player in telomere maintenance. Inhibition of PIF1 delayed radiation-induced DNA and telomeric DNA damage repair, as well as increased radiosensitivity of NSCLC in vitro and in vivo. Further study indicated that the above process was regulated by a reduction of transcription factor myc-associated zinc finger protein (MAZ) binding to the distal intergenic region of the PIF1. Taken together, IOX1-mediated demethylase inactivation reduced chromatin accessibility, leading to elevated telomere damage which is partly due to PIF1 inhibition, thereby enhancing NSCLC radiosensitivity.
Metal toxin threat in wildland fires determined by geology and fire severity
Authors: Lopez Alandra Marie , Pacheco Juan Lezama , Fendorf Scott
Published: December 2023

Accentuated by climate change, catastrophic wildfires are a growing, distributed global public health risk from inhalation of smoke and dust. Underrecognized, however, are the health threats arising from fire-altered toxic metals natural to soils and plants. Here, we demonstrate that high temperatures during California wildfires catalyzed widespread transformation of chromium to its carcinogenic form in soil and ash, as hexavalent chromium, particularly in areas with metal-rich geologies (e.g., serpentinite). In wildfire ash, we observed dangerous levels (327-13,100 µg kg−1) of reactive hexavalent chromium in wind-dispersible particulates. Relatively dry post-fire weather contributed to the persistence of elevated hexavalent chromium in surficial soil layers for up to ten months post-fire. The geographic distribution of metal-rich soils and fire incidents illustrate the broad global threat of wildfire smoke- and dust-born metals to populations. Our findings provide new insights into why wildfire smoke exposure appears to be more hazardous to humans than pollution from other sources.
California’s zero-emission vehicle adoption brings air quality benefits yet equity gaps persist
Authors: Yu Qiao , He Brian Yueshuai , Ma Jiaqi , Zhu Yifang
Published: December 2023

Zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) adoption is a key climate mitigation tool, but its environmental justice implications remain unclear. Here, we quantify ZEV adoption at the census tract level in California from 2015 to 2020 and project it to 2035 when all new passenger vehicles sold are expected to be ZEVs. We then apply an integrated traffic model together with a dispersion model to simulate air quality changes near roads in the Greater Los Angeles. We found that per capita ZEV ownership in non-disadvantaged communities (non-DACs) as defined by the state of California is 3.8 times of that in DACs. Racial and ethnic minorities owned fewer ZEVs regardless of DAC designation. While DAC residents receive 40% more pollutant reduction than non-DACs due to intercommunity ZEV trips in 2020, they remain disproportionately exposed to higher levels of traffic-related air pollution. With more ZEVs in 2035, the exposure disparity narrows. However, to further reduce disparities, the focus must include trucks, emphasizing the need for targeted ZEV policies that address persistent pollution burdens among DAC and racial and ethnic minority residents.
CENP-A and CENP-B collaborate to create an open centromeric chromatin state
Authors: Nagpal Harsh , Ali-Ahmad Ahmad , Hirano Yasuhiro , Cai Wei , Halic Mario , Fukagawa Tatsuo , Sekulić Nikolina , Fierz Beat
Published: December 2023

Centromeres are epigenetically defined via the presence of the histone H3 variant CENP-A. Contacting CENP-A nucleosomes, the constitutive centromere associated network (CCAN) and the kinetochore assemble, connecting the centromere to spindle microtubules during cell division. The DNA-binding centromeric protein CENP-B is involved in maintaining centromere stability and, together with CENP-A, shapes the centromeric chromatin state. The nanoscale organization of centromeric chromatin is not well understood. Here, we use single-molecule fluorescence and cryoelectron microscopy (cryoEM) to show that CENP-A incorporation establishes a dynamic and open chromatin state. The increased dynamics of CENP-A chromatin create an opening for CENP-B DNA access. In turn, bound CENP-B further opens the chromatin fiber structure and induces nucleosomal DNA unwrapping. Finally, removal of CENP-A increases CENP-B mobility in cells. Together, our studies show that the two centromere-specific proteins collaborate to reshape chromatin structure, enabling the binding of centromeric factors and establishing a centromeric chromatin state.
Cell-type-directed design of synthetic enhancers
Authors: Taskiran Ibrahim I. , Spanier Katina I. , Dickmänken Hannah , Kempynck Niklas , Pančíková Alexandra , Ekşi Eren Can , Hulselmans Gert , Ismail Joy N. , Theunis Koen , Vandepoel Roel , Christiaens Valerie , Mauduit David , Aerts Stein
Published: December 2023

Transcriptional enhancers act as docking stations for combinations of transcription factors and thereby regulate spatiotemporal activation of their target genes1. It has been a long-standing goal in the field to decode the regulatory logic of an enhancer and to understand the details of how spatiotemporal gene expression is encoded in an enhancer sequence. Here we show that deep learning models2–6, can be used to efficiently design synthetic, cell-type-specific enhancers, starting from random sequences, and that this optimization process allows detailed tracing of enhancer features at single-nucleotide resolution. We evaluate the function of fully synthetic enhancers to specifically target Kenyon cells or glial cells in the fruit fly brain using transgenic animals. We further exploit enhancer design to create ‘dual-code’ enhancers that target two cell types and minimal enhancers smaller than 50 base pairs that are fully functional. By examining the state space searches towards local optima, we characterize enhancer codes through the strength, combination and arrangement of transcription factor activator and transcription factor repressor motifs. Finally, we apply the same strategies to successfully design human enhancers, which adhere to enhancer rules similar to those of Drosophila enhancers. Enhancer design guided by deep learning leads to better understanding of how enhancers work and shows that their code can be exploited to manipulate cell states.
Deep in situ microscopy for real-time analysis of mammalian cell populations in bioreactors
Authors: Guez Jean-Sébastien , Lacroix Pierre-Yves , Château Thierry , Vial Christophe
Published: December 2023

An in situ microscope based on pulsed transmitted light illumination via optical fiber was combined to artificial-intelligence to enable for the first time an online cell classification according to well-known cellular morphological features. A 848 192-image database generated during a lab-scale production process of antibodies was processed using a convolutional neural network approach chosen for its accurate real-time object detection capabilities. In order to induce different cell death routes, hybridomas were grown in normal or suboptimal conditions in a stirred tank reactor, in the presence of substrate limitation, medium addition, pH regulation problem or oxygen depletion. Using such an optical system made it possible to monitor real-time the evolution of different classes of animal cells, among which viable, necrotic and apoptotic cells. A class of viable cells displaying bulges in feast or famine conditions was also revealed. Considered as a breakthrough in the catalogue of process analytical tools, in situ microscopy powered by artificial-intelligence is also of great interest for research.
A hybrid dependency-based approach for Urdu sentiment analysis
Authors: Sehar Urooba , Kanwal Summrina , Allheeib Nasser I. , Almari Sultan , Khan Faiza , Dashtipur Kia , Gogate Mandar , Khashan Osama A.
Published: December 2023

In the digital age, social media has emerged as a significant platform, generating a vast amount of raw data daily. This data reflects the opinions of individuals from diverse backgrounds, races, cultures, and age groups, spanning a wide range of topics. Businesses can leverage this data to extract valuable insights, improve their services, and effectively reach a broader audience based on users’ expressed opinions on social media platforms. To harness the potential of this extensive and unstructured data, a deep understanding of Natural Language Processing (NLP) is crucial. Existing approaches for sentiment analysis (SA) often rely on word co-occurrence frequencies, which prove inefficient in practical scenarios. Identifying this research gap, this paper presents a framework for concept-level sentiment analysis, aiming to enhance the accuracy of sentiment analysis (SA). A comprehensive Urdu language dataset was constructed by collecting data from YouTube, consisting of various talks and reviews on topics such as movies, politics, and commercial products. The dataset was further enriched by incorporating language rules and Deep Neural Networks (DNN) to optimize polarity detection. For sentiment analysis, the proposed framework employs predefined rules to trigger sentiment flow from words to concepts, leveraging the dependency relations among different words in a sentence based on Urdu language grammatical rules. In cases where predefined patterns are not triggered, the framework seamlessly switches to its sub-symbolic counterpart, passing the data to the DNN for sentence classification. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed framework surpasses state-of-the-art approaches, including LSTM, CNN, SVM, LR, and MLP, achieving an improvement of 6–7% on Urdu dataset. In conclusion, this research paper introduces a novel framework for concept-level sentiment analysis of Urdu language data sourced from social media platforms. By combining language rules and DNN, the proposed framework demonstrates superior performance compared to existing methodologies, showcasing its effectiveness in accurately analyzing sentiment in Urdu text data.
Direct ink writing of high-resolution cellulose structures
Authors: Rezaei Farnaz , Carlsson Daniel O. , Hedin Dahlstrom Jimmy , Lindh Jonas , Johansson Stefan
Published: December 2023

3D printing is envisioned to play an important role in the production of membranes for e.g., water purification and bio-separation applications due to the prospect of creating new and cleverly designed structures. Among different 3D printing techniques, direct ink writing offers the opportunity to print a wide variety of materials with high-detail resolution. There is a range of parameters that need to be optimized in order to develop robust printing techniques at that scale. In this study, cellulose acetate (CA), which is a biocompatible material, has been used as an ink. In order to examine the printability and the possibility of printing features as small as a few µm, nozzles with different diameters and inks with varying amounts and molecular weights of CA were investigated. Findings in this study indicate that, depending on the wetting on the underlaying structure, the nozzle's internal and external diameter affects the detail resolution of the printed structure. Different inks result in different widths of printed strands and generally a higher amount and higher molecular weights of CA results in higher detail resolution. However, too high amount of CA and molecular weight will increase the clogging risk in the nozzle. In this study, the internal size of the nozzle was 3 µm, and by selecting a  suitable ink, it was possible to print strands down to 1 µm size and 6 µm inter-strand distance in the air, bridging supports with limited sagging. Furthermore, wall structures consisting of 300 layers, corresponding to about 300 µm in total height, were successfully printed.