bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Testing the contribution of dispersal to microbial succession following a wildfire
Authors: Barbour Kristin M. , Weihe Claudia , Walters Kendra E. , Martiny Jennifer B. H.
Published: September 2023

Given increased wildfire activity, there is growing interest in understanding the drivers of microbial succession after fire. Dispersal may be especially important to post-fire succession as biotic communities can be more susceptible to invasion following a disturbance. Here, we experimentally manipulated dispersal into disturbed leaf litter communities collected following a wildfire and tracked bacterial and fungal dispersal assemblages over time. We show that the identity and source of microbes immigrating into the soil surface post-fire change across time with seasonal shifts and the reemergence of aboveground vegetation. Further, dispersal significantly contributed to the reassembly of leaf litter microbial communities after the fire, producing an increasingly distinct assembly trajectory. The effect of dispersal on α-diversity and β-diversity was ecosystem dependent but, unexpectedly, influenced bacterial and fungal communities in a similar manner within ecosystems. Collectively, these results demonstrate that dispersal explicitly alters the course of microbial community succession following a wildfire and may impact bacteria and fungi in parallel ways, despite differing in traits expected to alter dispersal patterns.

IMPORTANCE

Identifying the mechanisms underlying microbial community succession is necessary for predicting how microbial communities, and their functioning, will respond to future environmental change. Dispersal is one mechanism expected to affect microbial succession, yet the difficult nature of manipulating microorganisms in the environment has limited our understanding of its contribution. Using a dispersal exclusion experiment, this study isolates the specific effect of environmental dispersal on bacterial and fungal community assembly over time following a wildfire. The work demonstrates the potential to quantify dispersal impacts on soil microbial communities over time and test how dispersal might further interact with other assembly processes in response to environmental change.
The association between BMI and serum uric acid is partially mediated by gut microbiota
Authors: Duan Zhuo , Fu Jingxiang , Zhang Feng , Cai Yijia , Wu Guangyan , Ma Wenjun , Zhou Hongwei , He Yan
Published: September 2023

Obesity is a risk factor for the development of hyperuricemia, both of which were related to gut microbiota. However, whether alterations in the gut microbiota lie in the pathways mediating obesity’s effects on hyperuricemia is less clear. Body mass index (BMI) and serum uric acid (SUA) were separately important indicators of obesity and hyperuricemia. Our study aims to investigate whether BMI-related gut microbiota characteristics would mediate the association between BMI and SUA levels. A total of 6,280 participants from Guangdong Gut Microbiome Project were included in this study. Stool samples were collected for 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results revealed that BMI was significantly and positively associated with SUA. Meanwhile, BMI was significantly associated with the abundance of 102 gut microbial genera, 16 of which were also significantly associated with SUA. The mediation analysis revealed that the association between BMI and SUA was partially mediated by the abundance of
Proteobacteria
(proportion mediated: 0.94%,
P
< 0.05). At the genus level, 25 bacterial genera, including
Ralstonia, Oscillospira, Faecalibacterium
, etc., could also partially mediate the association of BMI with SUA (the highest proportion is mediated by
Ralstonia
, proportion mediated: 2.76%,
P
< 0.05). This study provided evidence for the associations among BMI, gut microbiota, and SUA, and the mediation analysis suggested that the association of BMI with SUA was partially mediated by the gut microbiota.

IMPORTANCE

Using 16S rRNA sequencing analysis, local interpretable machine learning technique analysis and mediation analysis were used to explore the association between BMI with SUA, and the mediating effects of gut microbial dysbiosis in the association were investigated.
Factors impacting the regulation of
nos
gene expression in
Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Brandwein Jessica N. , Sculthorpe Tiffany S. , Ridder Miranda J. , Bose Jeffrey L. , Rice Kelly C.
Published: September 2023

Staphylococcus aureus
nitric oxide synthase (saNOS) contributes to oxidative stress resistance, antibiotic tolerance, virulence, and modulation of aerobic and nitrate-based cellular respiration. Despite its involvement in these essential processes, the genetic regulation of
nos
expression has not been well characterized. 5′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends on
nos
RNA isolated from
S. aureus
UAMS-1 (USA200 strain) and AH1263 (USA300 strain) revealed that the
nos
transcriptional start site mapped to an adenine nucleotide in the predicted Shine-Dalgarno site located 11 bp upstream of the
nos
ATG start codon, suggesting that the
nos
transcript may have a leaderless organization or may be subject to processing. The SrrAB two-component system (TCS) was previously identified as a positive regulator of
nos
RNA levels, and experiments using a β-galactosidase reporter plasmid confirmed that SrrAB is a positive regulator of
nos
promoter activity. In addition, the quorum-sensing system Agr was identified as a negative regulator of low-oxygen
nos
expression in UAMS-1, with activity epistatic to SrrAB. Involvement of Agr was strain dependent, as
nos
expression remained unchanged in an AH1263
agr
mutant, which has higher Agr activity compared to UAMS-1. Furthermore,
nos
promoter activity and RNA levels were significantly stronger in AH1263 relative to UAMS-1 during late-exponential low-oxygen growth, when
nos
expression is maximal. Global regulators Rex and MgrA were also implicated as negative regulators of low-oxygen
nos
promoter activity in UAMS-1. Collectively, these results provide new insight into factors that control
nos
expression.

IMPORTANCE

Bacterial nitric oxide synthase (bNOS) has recently emerged in several species as a key player in resistance to stresses commonly encountered during infection. Although
Staphylococcus aureus
(sa)NOS has been suggested to be a promising drug target in
S. aureus
, an obstacle to this in practice is the existence of mammalian NOS, whose oxygenase domain is like bacterial NOS. Increased understanding of the
nos
regulatory network in
S. aureus
could allow targeting of saNOS through its regulators, bypassing the issue of also inhibiting mammalian NOS. Furthermore, the observed strain-dependent differences in
S. aureus nos
regulation presented in this study reinforce the importance of studying bacterial NOS regulation and function at both the strain and species levels.
Water table level controls methanogenic and methanotrophic communities and methane emissions in a
Sphagnum
-dominated peatland
Authors: Tian Wen , Wang Hongmei , Xiang Xing , Loni Prakash C. , Qiu Xuan , Wang Ruicheng , Huang Xianyu , Tuovinen Olli H.
Published: September 2023

Peatlands are important sources of the greenhouse gas methane emissions equipoised by methanogens and methanotrophs. However, knowledge about how microbial functional groups associated with methane production and oxidation respond to water table fluctuations has been limited to date. Here, methane-related microbial communities and the potentials of methane production and oxidation were determined along sectioned peat layers in a subalpine peatland across four
Sphagnum
-dominated sites with different water table levels. Methane fluxes were also monitored at these sites. The results showed that
mcrA
gene copies for methanogens were the highest in the 10- to 15-cm peat layer, which was also characterized by the maximum potential methane production (24.53 ± 1.83 nmol/g/h). Copy numbers of the
pmoA
gene for type Ia and Ib methanotrophs were enriched in the 0–5 cm peat layer with the highest potential methane oxidation (43.09 ± 3.44 nmol/g/h). For the type II methanotrophs, the
pmoA
gene copies were higher in the 10- to 15-cm peat layer. Hydrogenotrophic methanogens and type II methanotrophs dominated the methane functional groups. Deterministic process contributed more to methanogenic and methanotrophic community assemblages in comparison with stochastic process. The level of water table significantly shaped methanogenic and methanotrophic community structures and regulated methane fluxes. Compared with vascular plants,
Sphagnum
mosses significantly reduced the methane emissions in peatlands. Collectively, these findings enhance a comprehensive understanding of the effect of the water table level on methane functional groups, with consequential implications for reducing methane emissions within peatland ecosystems.

IMPORTANCE

The water table level is recognized as a critical factor in regulating methane emissions, which are largely dependent on the balance of methanogens and methanotrophs. Previous studies on peat methane emissions have been mostly focused on spatial-temporal variations and the relationship with meteorological conditions. However, the role of the water table level in methane emissions remains unknown. In this work, four representative microhabitats along a water table gradient in a
Sphagnum
-dominated peatland were sampled to gain an insight into methane functional communities and methane emissions as affected by the water table level. The changes in methane-related microbial community structure and assembly were used to characterize the response to the water table level. This study improves the understanding of the changes in methane-related microbial communities and methane emissions with water table levels in peatlands.
Unusual presentation of pyostomatitis vegetans and its management
Authors: O'Gorman Conor , Smyth Sophia , Willis Amanda
Published: September 2023

A man in his early 50s was referred to the oral medicine clinic regarding a 6-month history of ulceration affecting the palate and gingivae. Intra-oral examination revealed multiple friable pustules on a background of erythema affecting the gingival sulci and ‘snail-track’ like ulceration affecting the palate. Histopathological analysis of the gingivae revealed features in keeping with a diagnosis of pyostomatitis vegetans (PV). Although he did not report any gastrointestinal symptoms, the patient was referred to gastroenterology and underwent colonoscopy and small bowel series examination. Colonic biopsies showed no features to suggest a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In 11 years since diagnosis of PV, the patient still shows no signs or symptoms suggestive of IBD. This case highlights a rare occurrence of PV without IBD, but emphasises the importance of appropriate referral to relevant medical specialities based on clinical and histopathological findings.
Global health security and the health-security nexus: principles, politics and praxis
Authors: McCoy David , Roberts Stephen , Daoudi Salma , Kennedy Jonathan
Published: September 2023

The past four decades have seen a steady rise of references to ‘security’ by health academics, policy-makers and practitioners, particularly in relation to threats posed by infectious disease pandemics. Yet, despite an increasingly dominant health security discourse, the many different ways in which health and security issues and actors intersect have remained largely unassessed and unpacked in current critical global health scholarship. This paper discusses the emerging and growing health-security nexus in the wake of COVID-19 and the international focus on global health security. In recognising the contested and fluid concept of health security, this paper presents two contrasting approaches to health security: neocolonial health security and universal health security. Building from this analysis, we present a novel heuristic that delineates the multiple intersections and entanglements between health and security actors and agendas to broaden our conceptualisation of global health security configurations and practices and to highlight the potential for harmful unintended consequences, the erosion of global health norms and values, and the risk of health actors being co-opted by the security sector.
Confusion among doctors regarding sports and exercise medicine as a specialty: an Australian multidisciplinary, cross-sectional survey
Authors: Ooi James Jian Yun , Hutchinson Robin , Harris Gregory A
Published: September 2023

Objectives

This cross-sectional study aims to characterise the understanding and attitudes medical practitioners have towards sports and exercise medicine (SEM). By identifying knowledge gaps, misunderstandings and barriers to SEM referral, interventions may be suggested to improve the integration of SEM within a multidisciplinary approach to healthcare.

Design

A survey was constructed with a multidisciplinary expert panel. Refinement and consensus were achieved through a modified Delphi method. Both quantitative and qualitative data were analysed and intergroup comparisons made using χ2test of independence and post-hoc paired comparisons.

Setting

The questionnaire was distributed across Australian public and private health sectors, in community and hospital-based settings.

Participants

Australian medical doctors practising in specialties likely to intersect with SEM were invited; including general practice, orthopaedics, emergency, rheumatology and anaesthetics/pain. Invitation was uncapped with no reportable response rate. A total of 120 complete responses were collected

Results

The minority (42.5%) of respondents understood the role and scope of sports and exercise physicians. SEM was poorly recognised and comprehended, with the most common misconception being that SEM is solely for elite athletes and performance. Few (20%) doctors were familiar with referral pathways to SEM services. Lack of awareness, clear scope and public presence were seen as major barriers. There was near unanimous (92.5%) agreement that ‘exercise is medicine’. A strong majority felt SEM would be valuable to collaborate with more in their current practice (63.3%) and as a part of the Australian public health system (82.5%). There were some significant differences among subgroups, including that junior doctors were more likely to express confusion about SEM.

Conclusions

Among non-SEM doctors, there is significant lack of clarity regarding the role of SEM and its optimal integration. Interdisciplinary education and addressing misconceptions may improve the contribution of SEM to community healthcare.
Longitudinal observational study protocol – Preterm Infants: Microbiome Establishment, Neuro-CrossTalk and Origins (PIMENTO)
Authors: Healy David , Wang Shuo , Grimaud Ghjuvan , Warda Alicja Katarzyna , Ross Paul , Stanton Catherine , Dempsey Eugene M
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Very preterm infants are at risk of abnormal microbiome colonisation in the first weeks to months of life. Several important associated factors have been identified including gestational age, mode of delivery, antibiotic exposure and feeding. Preterm infants are at risk of a number of pathologies for which the microbiome may play a central role, including necrotising enterocolitis and sepsis. The objective of this study is to determine detailed microbiome changes that occur around implementation of different management practices including empiric antibiotic use, advancement of feeds and administration of probiotics during admission to the neonatal intensive care unit.

Methods and analysis

A single-site, longitudinal observational study of infants born less than 32 weeks gestation, including collection of maternal samples around delivery and breastmilk and infant samples from admission through discharge from the neonatal unit.

Ethics and dissemination

The protocol was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Cork Teaching Hospitals.

The findings from this study will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals, during scientific conferences, and directly to the study participants. Sequencing data will be deposited in public databases.

Trial registration number

NCT05803577.
Classification of gravitational waves in higher-dimensional space-time and possibility of observation
Authors: Liu Yu-Qiang , Dong Yu-Qi , Liu Yu-Xiao
Published: September 2023

The direct detection of gravitational waves opens the possibility to test general relativity and its alternatives in the strong field regime. Here we focus on the test of the existence of extra dimensions. The classification of gravitational waves in metric gravity theories according to their polarizations in higher-dimensional space-time and the possible observation of these polarizations in three-dimensional subspace are discussed in this work. We also show that the difference in the response of gravitational waves in detectors with and without extra dimensions can serve as evidence for the existence of extra dimensions.
MATOQ: a Monte Carlo simulation of electron transport in environmental-friendly gas mixtures for Resistive Plate Chambers
Authors: Bianchi Antonio
Published: September 2023

The increasing interest in environmental-friendly gas mixtures for gaseous particle detectors, especially tetrafluoropropene-based gas mixtures for Resistive Plate Chambers (RPCs), has prompted in recent years the need for simulating electron transport coefficients and reaction rates in these mixtures. MATOQ is a Monte Carlo simulation program that calculates electron transport parameters, specifically designed for studying and optimizing environmental-friendly gas mixtures for RPCs. Unlike other existing codes, MATOQ allows for the simulation of electron avalanches by including the effect of space charge electric field, which can significantly impact the avalanche evolution in gaseous detectors such as RPCs. After the validation of the MATOQ simulation in the temporal and spatial growth configurations, we present the electron transport coefficients and the reaction rates in tetrafluoropropene-based gas mixtures, which may represent a valid alternative to the standard gas mixtures currently used for RPCs.
Quasinormal modes, Hawking radiation and absorption of the massless scalar field for Bardeen black hole surrounded by perfect fluid dark matter
Authors: Sun Qi , Li Qian , Zhang Yu , Li Qi-Quan
Published: September 2023

We study the quasinormal modes, Hawking radiation and absorption cross-section of the Bardeen black hole surrounded by perfect fluid dark matter for a massless scalar field. Our results show that the oscillation frequency of quasinormal modes is enhanced as magnetic charge [Formula: see text] or the dark matter parameter [Formula: see text] increases. For damping rate of quasinormal modes, the influence of them is different. Specifically, the increase of dark matter parameter [Formula: see text] makes the damping rate increasing at first and then decreasing. While the damping rate is continuously decreasing with the increase of the magnetic charge [Formula: see text]. Moreover, we find that the increase of the dark matter parameter [Formula: see text] enhances the power emission spectrum whereas magnetic charge [Formula: see text] suppresses it. This means that the lifespan of black holes increases for smaller value of [Formula: see text] and larger value of [Formula: see text] when other parameters are fixed. Finally, the absorption cross-section of the considered black hole is calculated with the help of the partial wave approach. Our results suggest that the absorption cross-section decreases with the dark matter parameter [Formula: see text] or the magnetic charge [Formula: see text] increasing.
The significant role of Darcy–Forchheimer and thermal radiation on Casson fluid flow subject to stretching surface: A case study of dusty fluid
Authors: Ali Liaqat , Kumar Pardeep , Poonia Hemant , Areekara Sujesh , Apsari Retna
Published: September 2023

This paper addresses the problem of steady two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) migration of dusty fluid across a stretching sheet with the inclusion of Darcy–Forchheimer porosity and Brownian dispersion. The most significant aspect of the ongoing problem is elaborating the entire context with dusty and fluid phases. The governing partial differential equations (PDEs) are transmuted into non-dimensional ordinary differential equations (ODEs) by implementing similarity transformations. The MATLAB script has used the bvp4c strategy to accumulate a visualization of the computational observations. Also, this study illustrates an assessment of the effects of significant parameters on non-Newtonian fluids and fluids with a dusty phase. It is observed that the thermal boundary layer is enhanced with the increasing strength of the mass concentration of dusty granules ([Formula: see text]) and Eckert number (Ec) for both scenarios, while in the case of fluid interaction temperature parameter ([Formula: see text]) the scenario is opposite for dusty and fluid phases. Moreover, the heat transfer rate intensifies with the increasing effect of thermal radiation, and magnetic field. The significant variations in the various physical quantities are represented through tabular and graphs.
Take a Look around You
Authors: Hanlon J.
Published: September 2023

By joining SICCAS we have expressed a concern with the impact of computers on society. But how many of us have extended that concern to our own work?
What Pausing the AI Arms Race is and isn't: the Right Side of History or Wishful Thinking
Authors: Blumenthal Richard
Published: September 2023

"Once upon a time on Tralfamdore there were creatures who weren't anything like machines...And these poor creatures were obsessed by the idea that everything that existed had to have a purpose...And the machines did everything so expertly that they were finally given the job of finding out what the highest purpose of the creatures could be...The machines reported that in all honesty that the creatures couldn't really be said to have any purpose...The creatures thereupon began slaying each other...And they discovered that they weren't even very good at slaying. So they turned that job over to the machines, too. And the machines finished up the job in less time than it takes to say, 'Tralfamadore'" [45].
Lepton Flavor Violation and Lepton Flavor Universality Violation in b and c Decays
Authors: Guadagnoli Diego , Koppenburg Patrick
Published: September 2023

Two topics have recently risen to prominence within the ongoing searches of beyond–Standard Model effects in b and c decays: observables that test lepton flavor universality (LFU) and those that test lepton flavor violation (LFV). A coherent set of measurements suggests nonstandard LFU effects. General arguments relate LFU to LFV, and the observed size of the former gives hope of observable signals for the latter. We attempt a comprehensive discussion of both theoretical and experimental aspects of these tests. The main final message is that all the instruments necessary to fully establish the putative new effects are at hand, thanks to running experiments and their upgrades. Therefore, this subject stands a concrete chance of ushering in genuinely unexpected discoveries.
High-Throughput Electrochemical Characterization of Aqueous Organic Redox Flow Battery Active Material
Authors: Fell Eric M. , Aziz Michael J.
Published: September 2023

The development of redox-active organics for flow batteries providing long discharge duration energy storage requires an accurate understanding of molecular lifetimes. Herein we report the development of a high-throughput setup for the cycling of redox flow batteries. Using common negolyte redox-active aqueous organics, we benchmark capacity fade rates and compare variations in measured cycling behavior of nominally identical volumetrically unbalanced compositionally symmetric cells. We propose figures of merit for consideration when cycling sets of identical cells, and compare three common electrochemical cycling protocols typically used in battery cycling: constant current, constant current followed by constant voltage, and constant voltage. Redox-active organics exhibiting either high or low capacity fade rates are employed in the cell cycling protocol comparison, with results analyzed from over 50 flow cells.
Caveolin-3 negatively regulates endocytic recycling of cardiac KATP channels
Authors: Huo Jian-Yi , Feng Yu-Long , Chen Yue-Tong , Yang Bo , Zhi Ya-Ting , Wang Hao-Jie , Yang Hua-Qian
Published: September 2023

Cardiac KATP channels physically interact with caveolin-3 in caveolae. In this study, we investigated the functional effect of caveolin-3 on KATP channel activity and identified a novel segment (MAD1) in the C-terminus domain of Caveolin-3 that negatively regulates KATP channel surface density and current amplitude by impairing KATP channel recycling. The peptide corresponding to the MAD1 segment abolished the cardioprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning.
RAGE potentiates EGFR signaling and interferes with the anticancer effect of gefitinib on NSCLC cells
Authors: Liao Wan-Ling , Lin Ho , Li Yu-Hsuan , Yang Tsung-Ying , Chen Mei-Chih
Published: September 2023

This study represents a pioneering endeavor in comprehending the intricate interplay between RAGE and EGFR signaling within NSCLC. The findings reveal that RAGE serves to enhance EGFR phosphorylation and activation, consequently modulating apoptosis regulators through the EGFR-STAT3 and EGFR-Erk1/2 signaling pathways. Through this mechanism, RAGE potentially imparts resistance to the toxicity induced by EGFR-TKIs in NSCLC cells.
Subdiaphragmatic vagal nerve stimulation attenuates the development of hypertension and alters nucleus of the solitary tract transcriptional networks in the spontaneously hypertensive rat
Authors: Dirr Elliott W. , Jiracek Ladan G. , Baekey David M. , J. Martyniuk Christopher , Otto Kevin J. , Zubcevic Jasenka
Published: September 2023

We show that stimulation of the ventral subdiaphragmatic vagal nerve branch may be a promising potential approach to treating hypertension. The data are especially encouraging given that rodents received only 30 min per day of intermittent stimulation therapy and in view of the potential of long-term blood pressure effects that are not stimulus-locked.
Hand-Controller Latency and Aiming Accuracy in 6-DOF VR
Authors: Kelkkanen Viktor , Lindero David , Fiedler Markus , Zepernick Hans-Jürgen
Published: September 2023

All virtual reality (VR) systems have some inherent hand-controller latency even when operated locally. In remotely rendered VR, additional latency may be added due to the remote transmission of data, commonly conducted through shared low-capacity channels. Increased latency will negatively affect the performance of the human VR operator, but the level of detriment depends on the given task. This work quantifies the relations between aiming accuracy and hand-controller latency, virtual target speed, and the predictability of the target motion. The tested context involves a target that changes direction multiple times while moving in straight lines. The main conclusions are, given the tested context, first, that the predictability of target motion becomes significantly more important as latency and target speed increase. A significant difference in accuracy is generally observed at latencies beyond approximately 130 ms and at target speeds beyond approximately 3.5°/s. Second, latency starts to significantly impact accuracy at roughly 90 ms and approximately 3.5°/s if the target motion cannot be predicted. If it can, the numbers are approximately 130 ms and 12.7°/s. Finally, reaction times are on average 190–200 ms when the target motion changes to a new and unpredictable direction.
Spatiotemporal Variability and Trends in Rainfall and Temperature in South Ethiopia: Implications for Climate Change Adaptations in Rural Communities
Authors: Dalle Daniel , Gecho Yisak , Bedeke Sisay Belay
Published: September 2023

Climate change is an environmental challenge for rural communities that rely heavily on rainwater-based agriculture. The main goal of this study is to investigate spatiotemporal variability and trends in rainfall and temperature in southern Ethiopia. Extreme temperature and rainfall indices were computed using the ClimPACT2 software. The detection and quantification of trends in rainfall and temperature extremes were analyzed using a nonparametric modified Mann–Kendall (MMK) test and Sen’s slope estimator. Results indicated that the mean annual rainfall has a declining trend at Boditi School and Mayokote stations with a statistically significant amount at magnitudes of 0.02 mm and 0.04 mm, respectively. The highest average monthly rainfall in the catchment was observed in the months of April, May, June, July, and August up to maximum rainfall of 117.50 mm, 177.43 mm, and 228.84 mm in Bilate Tena, Boditi, and Mayakote stations, respectively. On a seasonal scale, rainfall in Bilate Tena station was highly variable in all months, ranging from 49.54% to 126.92%, and three seasons except spring which showed moderate variation at 40.65%. In addition, the three locations over the catchment exhibited varied drought signs such as severe (1.28 < SRA < 1.65) and extreme drought (SRA > 1.65). The temperature indices, on the other hand, exhibited a warming trend over the catchment which was observed through an increased annual number of warm days (TX90p) and warm nights (TN90p) ranges from 0.274 to 6.03 and 0.274 to 3.16, respectively. The annual maximum value of the daily maximum temperature (TXx) ranges from 30.10 to 33.76°C in the three agroecological zones and showed low, medium, and high values in Dega, Woyna Dega, and Kola agroecologies, while the annual maximum value of the daily minimum temperature (TNx) ranged between 17 and 17.44°C at Dega and Kola, respectively. Therefore, based on trends in rainfall variability and persistent temperature rise, appropriate adaptation strategies should be adopted.
Agrofood Waste and By-Product Valorization, Extraction, and Characterization of Pectin from the Waste Biomass Fruit Peel of Aframomum angustifolium Using Response Surface Methodology as Alternative Sources of a Functional Pectin
Authors: Mbaku Akuro Blaise , Ngwasiri Pride Ndasi , Ambindei Wilson Agwanande , Ngwabie Ngwa Martin , Ngassoum Martin Benoit
Published: September 2023

Applications of pectin in the food industry are strongly influenced by their source, structures, and extraction methods, which affect their functionalities. This research aims to extract and assess pectin’s physicochemical and functional properties from waste biomass peels of Aframomum angustifolium as an alternate source using acid (AAE) and microwave extraction (MAE) methods. Pectin extracted from A. angustifolium was compared based on yield, color, moisture, equivalent weight, methoxyl content (MC), and degree of esterification (DegE). Response surface experimental design was used to study the effect of the extraction process pectin such as the yield and the DegE. MAE had a significantly higher % yield of 4.74 ± 0.1% and a lower equivalent weight of 852.49 ± 16.59 mg/ml than AAE with 3.09 ± 0.03% and 882.1 ± 9.04 mg/ml, respectively, with light brown color. The lower moisture contents of 6.5%, MC of 33.06%, and DegE of 67.96% were obtained by MAE compared to 6.9%, 31.85%, and 66.61%, respectively, for AAE. The time and temperature had a positive significant effect (

p

 < 0.05) on % pectin yield for MAE and AAE, while time and pH squared had a negative. Temperature squared had a negative significance on % DE, and pH had a positive significance using AAE and MAE. Optimal conditions for MAE obtained were the power of 555.18W, pH of 2.79, and time of 40.69 min with optimum desirability of 0.829, while for acid extraction, the temperature of 72.95°C, pH of 2.31, and time of 142.55 min with the desirability of 0.88. A highly functionalized pectin can be extracted from the peels of A. angustifolium as an alternate source.
Modeling the Compression Behavior of Dredged Sandy Clays Considering the Effect of Initial Water Contents and Sand Fractions
Authors: Yang Jian , Zeng Yiwen , Sun Xian , Weng Jiaxing
Published: September 2023

Dredged sandy clays are widely utilized as fill material in geotechnical projects, and their compressibility is crucial to the engineering design. It is well recognized that the compression behavior of dredged sandy clays is significantly affected by the initial water content and sand fraction. Besides, these two physical properties are usually spatially dependent due to the process of hydraulic filling. In this study, an effective compression model is formulated based on the equivalent void ratio concept. The compression curve of pure clays is first established as a reference, which depends on the initial void ratio and liquid limit. Then, the effect of sand fraction has been incorporated by directly implementing the equivalent void ratio into the reference curve. A structural variable is introduced to describe the evolving intergranular structure with coarse content and stress level. Only one additional structural parameter is required, and it can be readily calibrated by one traditional compression test. Validation shows that the model is effective in reproducing the compression behavior of dredged sandy clays with a wide range of initial water content and sand fraction. The proposed equation can provide a reasonable reference for establishing the hardening law and the corresponding general constitutive model of dredged sandy clays.
Inferior Vena Cava Thrombosis in a Patient with Factor V Leiden Syndrome Presenting with Scrotal Pain
Authors: Elhag Helmy , Al-Tairy Fadl , Dahdaha Mohammed Shakeeb , Shaeshaa Ahmed , Yigit Yavuz
Published: September 2023

Thrombosis in the inferior vena cava (IVC) is a rare but serious condition that can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. We present a case report of a 39-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with right flank pain that had progressed to severe back pain, bilateral flank pain, scrotal pain, and leg pain over the course of two days. The pain was severe enough to affect his daily activities. Laboratory investigations revealed a D-dimer level of 17 ng/mL, creatinine level of 110 µmol/L, and a white blood cell count of 10 × 109/L with a CRP level of 5 mg/L. Urine analysis was positive for blood. Doppler ultrasound of both legs showed deep vein thrombosis extending from the external iliac veins to the distal veins of both legs. Further investigation with computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a large thrombus in the distal vena cava extending to the renal artery and both external and internal iliac veins. The patient was diagnosed with Factor V Leiden syndrome based on genetic testing, which revealed a heterozygous mutation in the F5 gene. He was successfully treated with low molecular weight heparin and warfarin, and after five days of hospitalization, he was discharged with warfarin for long-term anticoagulation. This case report emphasizes the importance of considering IVC thrombosis in patients with a constellation of symptoms, including scrotal pain, and the role of genetic testing in identifying underlying hypercoagulable states.
Mechanical Properties of Improved Multiple-Layers Viscoelastic Damper
Authors: Tchamo Joaquim Mimusse , Xiao Yi , Zhou Ying
Published: September 2023

Viscoelastic dampers (VEDs) have been implemented successfully to reduce structural vibrations due to earthquakes and wind events. Conventional VEDs consist of two viscoelastic (VE) layers chemically bounded at their entire contact surface to three steel plates. This configuration has proven to be efficient in controlling the structure vibration. It has also been reported that VEDs can dissipate energy at any level of vibration, producing damping forces. However, when very large damping forces are required, the shear area of the VE layers and the steel plates should be increased to reach the target damping force since the energy is dissipated by hysteretic shear deformation developed in the VE material. Two main issues are associated with this large area. First, the steel plates are more susceptible to experiencing buckling due to out-of-plane deformations. Second, the overall size of the damper becomes larger which is not desirable from the architectural perspective and sometimes from the space usage perspective. As a solution, this study proposes an innovative VED so-called multiple-layers viscoelastic damper (MLVED) able to produce larger damping forces. The proposed MLVED consists of four VE layers bounded between five steel plates. The dynamic mechanical properties of MLVED are initially investigated through a full-scale test. With the test results, the finite element model is developed and calibrated using the commercial software ABAQUS. At a later stage, the calibrated model was used to investigate numerically the mechanical performance of MLVED if different VE layers areas and thicknesses are considered. Results indicated that the proposed MLVED possesses good energy dissipation capacity and its mechanical properties are strongly influenced by strain amplitude rather than loading frequency. Numerical results also showed that the damper is effective in dissipating energy even if different VE layers areas and thicknesses are considered. However, an optimal combination between the area and thickness of the VE layers needs to be found to maximize the damper performance.
Human Dental Follicle Cell-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Attenuate Temporomandibular Joint Cartilage Damage through Inhibiting HIF-2α
Authors: Mao Enyu , Hu Yu , Xin Yinzi , Sun Zheyi , Zhang Jun , Li Song
Published: September 2023

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapies for articular cartilage regeneration are effective mostly due to paracrine signals mediated by extracellular vesicles, especially small extracellular vesicles (sEV). However, it is unknown whether dental follicle cell-derived sEV (DFC-sEV) affect cartilage regeneration in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA). In this study, the effects of DFC-sEV on IL-1β-induced mandibular condylar chondrocytes (MCCs) were determined using CCK8 assays, scratch assays, flow cytometry, and Western blot analysis of matrix synthesis and catabolic proteins. Furthermore, we used an abnormal occlusion-induced rat model and intra-articular injection of DFC-sEV, the pathological changes of which were observed by HE staining, safranin O staining, immunohistochemistry, and micro-CT analysis of subchondral bone loss. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to determine the related mechanism involved in the effect of DFC-sEV. Immunofluorescence analysis and Western blotting were used to evaluate the expression of HIF-1α, HIF-2α, MMP13, and VEGF in MCCs. Then, lentivirus-induced Epas1 overexpression and Western blot analysis of the downstream regulators of HIF-2α were performed. We found that DFC-sEV promoted MCCs proliferation and migration and protected against cartilage matrix destruction induced by IL-1β. In addition, DFC-sEV prevented cartilage destruction in an abnormal occlusion rat model. Furthermore, we found that DFC-sEV reduced the expression of HIF-1α and HIF-2α in vitro and in vivo and decreased the downstream regulators of HIF-2α, including MMP13 and VEGF. Our study indicated that DFC-sEV attenuated TMJ cartilage damage in vitro and in vivo, which might be involved in the regulation of HIF-2α.
Predictive Performance Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio of Acute Tonsillitis with Deep Neck Space Infection in Adult Patients
Authors: Lee Sun Hwa , Oh Jong Seok , Choi Yun Hyung , Lim Ji Yeon
Published: September 2023

The aim of this study was to examine the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients diagnosed with a deep neck infection (DNI) to identify helpful indicators for the initial differential diagnosis. This study was conducted as a single-center, retrospective cohort study that utilized data from the electronic medical records of patients who visited the emergency department in a tertiary university hospital between February 2018 and April 2022. The study enrolled patients aged ≥18 years who were diagnosed with tonsillitis with or without DNI during the study period. The NLR of patients without DNI was 6.1 ± 5.03, and the NLR of patients with acute tonsillitis with DNI was 8.0 ± 5.67, showing significant differences. The rate of admission in the general wards (GWs) and ICUs was significantly higher in patients with DNI, and the length of hospital stay was also significantly longer in patients with DNI. Older age, male, lower body temperature, C-reactive protein, and NLR were significant independent risk factors for DNI in patients with tonsillitis. The cutoff value for predicting DNI in patients with body temperature <37.5 was 3.09. The NLR of patients with tonsillitis, especially those with normal body temperature, can be used to predict their prognosis.
Nonconvex Regularization with Multi‐Weighted Strategy for Real Color Image Denoising
Authors: Shi Ying , Liu Tianyu , Hu Dong , Li Chuan , Wang Zhi
Published: September 2023

Most existing image denoising methods commonly assume that the image is contaminated by additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN). However, real‐world color image noise exhibits more complicated distribution properties, making it challenging to develop an accurate model. Consequently, denoising methods designed for AWGN often fail to achieve satisfactory performance on real‐world images. In this paper, we present a novel multi‐channel optimization model for real‐world color images denoising within the multi‐weighted Schatten p‐norm minimization. Our proposed model utilizes the weighted Schatten p‐norm as the regularization term, while the data fidelity term employs two weight matrices to balance the noise level across channels and regions. Besides, it helps to preserve as much detail as possible in the recovered image while removing noise. Although our proposed model is nonconvex and has no analytical solution, an accurate and efficient optimization algorithm is established based on the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMMs) framework. Finally, we demonstrate the superior performance of our proposed method over existing state‐of‐the‐art models on three real image datasets.
Fish and Shellfish Aquaculture Impact on the Sediment Bacterial Communities in Xiangshan Bay, China
Authors: Liu Hanren , Liao Yibo , Zhang Huajun , Song Xiaoyue , Tang Yanbin , Liu Qinghe , Zhang Rongliang , Shou Lu , Zeng Jiangning
Published: September 2023

As the increase of demand for seafood supplies, a large amount of high-protein feed has been added to mariculture aeras, which causes hazards for the cultured organisms and environment. Here, we used 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing to evaluate the bacterial communities in the sediments of two aquaculture systems (fish and oyster culture) in Xiangshan Bay, China for four seasons. Analysis of variance results showed that the abundance and biodiversity differed significantly between the culture areas and control areas, and different seasons as well. Proteobacteria, Planctomycetes, and Bacteroidetes were the three most abundant phyla. Gammaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, and Bacteroidia were the three most abundant classes. Principal co-ordinates analysis showed that sediment bacterial community composition in the fish and oyster culture areas significantly differed from that in the control areas. Analysis of the function prediction of pathways related to the nitrogen cycle in sediments revealed a higher proportion of genes involved in denitrification in aquaculture farms. Nitrate respiration particularly occurred in fish areas, whereas nitrate reduction occurred both in fish and oyster areas, and the proportions in winter were significantly higher than that in other seasons. It also provides insights into the indirect effects of human aquaculture activities on coastal algal blooms.
Clinical Research Progress of the Post-Stroke Upper Limb Motor Function Improvement via Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Authors: Shi Xiaolong , Zhao Jingjun , Xu Shutian , Ren Meng , Wu Yuwei , Chen Xixi , Zhou Zhiqing , Chen Songmei , Huang Yu , Li Yuanli , Shan Chunlei
Published: September 2023

Stroke is a disease with high morbidity and disability, and motor impairment is a common sequela of stroke. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a type of non-invasive stimulation, which can effectively improve post-stroke motor dysfunction. This review discusses stimulation parameters, intervention timing, and the development of innovative devices for taVNS. We further summarize the application of taVNS in improving post-stroke upper limb motor function to further promote the clinical research and application of taVNS in the rehabilitation of post-stroke upper limb motor dysfunction.
Figure S6 from HER2-Selective and Reversible Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Tucatinib Potentiates the Activity of T-DM1 in Preclinical Models of HER2-positive Breast Cancer
Authors: Olson Devra , Taylor Janelle , Willis Kelsi , Hensley Kelly , Allred Sean , Zaval Margo , Farr Lauren , Thurman Robert , Jain Nishi , Hein Renee , Ulrich Michelle , Peterson Scott , Kulukian Anita
Published: September 2023

Tucatinib suppresses growth of CNS tumors
Figure S5 from HER2-Selective and Reversible Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Tucatinib Potentiates the Activity of T-DM1 in Preclinical Models of HER2-positive Breast Cancer
Authors: Olson Devra , Taylor Janelle , Willis Kelsi , Hensley Kelly , Allred Sean , Zaval Margo , Farr Lauren , Thurman Robert , Jain Nishi , Hein Renee , Ulrich Michelle , Peterson Scott , Kulukian Anita
Published: September 2023

Effect of tucatinib, T-DM1, or combination treatment on mouse body weight in HER2+ xenograft models
Figure S4 from HER2-Selective and Reversible Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Tucatinib Potentiates the Activity of T-DM1 in Preclinical Models of HER2-positive Breast Cancer
Authors: Olson Devra , Taylor Janelle , Willis Kelsi , Hensley Kelly , Allred Sean , Zaval Margo , Farr Lauren , Thurman Robert , Jain Nishi , Hein Renee , Ulrich Michelle , Peterson Scott , Kulukian Anita
Published: September 2023

Pulsed internalization assay with trastuzumab labeled with quenched fluor demonstrate increased internalization and lysosomal targeting with tucatinib
FIGURE 2 from HER2-Selective and Reversible Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Tucatinib Potentiates the Activity of T-DM1 in Preclinical Models of HER2-positive Breast Cancer
Authors: Olson Devra , Taylor Janelle , Willis Kelsi , Hensley Kelly , Allred Sean , Zaval Margo , Farr Lauren , Thurman Robert , Jain Nishi , Hein Renee , Ulrich Michelle , Peterson Scott , Kulukian Anita
Published: September 2023

Tucatinib mediates an increase in HER2 through reduced ubiquitination of the receptor. QFACS of total (A) and cell surface (B) HER2 after treatment with tucatinib or lapatinib. Data shown as mean ± SEM. C, Schematic of IP assays/whole-exome sequencing analysis of stable HA-ubiquitin–expressing cell lines treated with TKIs. D, Analysis of HA-ubiquitin incorporated into HER2 (normalized to total HER2 protein levels). Results are representative of at least 2 independent experiments. IP, immunoprecipitation.