bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Iron Absorption in Highly Trained Male Runners: Does it Matter When and Where You Eat Your Iron?
Authors: MCKAY ALANNAH K.A. , ANDERSON BRYCE , PEELING PETER , WHITFIELD JAMIE , TEE NICOLIN , ZEDER CHRISTOPHE , ZIMMERMANN MICHAEL B. , BURKE LOUISE M. , MORETTI DIEGO
Published: December 2023

Purpose

We examined iron absorption and its regulation during two common scenarios experienced by endurance athletes. Our aims were to: (i) compare the effects of preexercise versus postexercise iron intake on iron absorption; and (ii) compare the impact of training at altitude (1800 m) on iron absorption preexercise.

Methods

Male runners (n = 18) completed three exercise trials over a 5-wk period, each preceded by 24 h of standardized low-iron diets. First, athletes completed two 60-min treadmill running trials at 65% V̇O2max at near sea-level (580 m). In a randomized order, preexercise and postexercise test meals labeled with 4 mg of 57Fe or 58Fe were consumed 30 min before or 30 min after exercise. Then, the same exercise trial was performed after living and training at altitude (~1800 m) for 7 d, with the labeled test meal consumed 30 min preexercise. We collected venous blood samples preexercise and postexercise for markers of iron status and regulation, and 14 d later to measure erythrocyte isotope incorporation.

Results

No differences in fractional iron absorption were evident when test meals were consumed preexercise (7.3% [4.4, 12.1]) or postexercise (6.2% [3.1, 12.5]) (n = 18; P = 0.058). Iron absorption preexercise was greater at altitude (18.4% [10.6, 32.0]) than at near sea-level (n = 17; P < 0.001) and hepcidin concentrations at altitude were lower at rest and 3 h postexercise compared with near sea level (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

In an acute setting, preexercise and postexercise iron absorption is comparable if consumed within 30 min of exercise. Preexercise iron absorption increases 2.6-fold at altitude compared with near sea-level, likely due to the homeostatic response to provide iron for enhanced erythropoiesis and maintain iron stores.
AUTOMATED OPERATIONAL MODAL ANALYSIS FOR THE MONITORING OF A WIND TURBINE BLADE
Authors: TAVARES ANDRE , DRAPIER DIOGO , LORENZO EMILIO DI , CSURCSIA PETER ZOLTAN , TROYER TIM DE , DESMET WIM , GRYLLIAS KONSTANTINOS
Published: December 2023

Modal analysis has developed into a major technology for the study of structural dynamics in the past several decades. Through it, complex structural dynamics phenomena can be represented in terms of structural invariants, i.e., the modal parameters: natural frequencies, damping ratios and mode shapes. Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) deals with the estimation of modal parameters on vibration data measured for operational conditions, when the excitation on the structure is not measured. In this work, OMA is performed on a wind turbine blade undergoing wind tunnel testing. These tests included different wind speeds, pitch angles and also different health conditions of the blade, where masses of different magnitude were fixed to the blade on different locations to emulate damage conditions. In order to monitor the modal parameters across multiple days of varied tests in the wind tunnel, the Polymax modal parameter estimator was implemented, coupled with an Automated Modal Analysis methodology. This methodology included an automatic modal parameter selection technique, using a Machine Learning (ML) clustering algorithm, coupled with a modal tracking procedure which applied statistical thresholds on the modal parameters’ values. The tracking procedure searches for modes similar to the ones calculated for healthy conditions. The results show how the modal parameters of the wind turbine blade vary with the different measured conditions in the wind tunnel. Moreover, a damage detection methodology is implemented to differentiate between the healthy and damaged conditions on the blade, by leveraging an anomaly detection algorithm using the Multivariate Gaussian Distribution (MGD). This algorithm takes as input the modal parameters calculated by the previous Automated Modal Analysis methodology and detects statistical deviations among them which could indicate the presence of damage. All steps of this work contribute to developing an automatic framework able to detect damages on a wind turbine blade, and therefore perform Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) for different operational conditions.
EFFECT OF SPACE ENVIRONMENT ON STRUCTURAL DIAGNOSTICS
Authors: NWOKOCHA FUNMILOLA , ZAGRAI ANDREI , ANDERSON MARY
Published: December 2023

Space structures such as rockets, spaceships, and satellites are subject to environmental factors depending on their mission. As mankind becomes more dependent on various space assets, understanding the behavior of structural components in space grows in importance. For commercial space transportation, three environments are of the most interest: suborbital, orbital and interplanetary. Currently, commercialization priorities are focused on suborbital and orbital applications. This contribution explores potential effects of suborbital and orbital environments on structural diagnostics of spaceships. The primary concern for suborbital flight is survivability of structure during launch and re-entry. This is when most of the dynamic loads occur which may cause mechanical failure of the spacecraft. In addition, the suborbital flight is characterized by high thermal loads occurring during re-entry. Given that during suborbital flight, spaceship spends only minutes in space, the contribution of actual space environment to such flight is minor with rather low radiation doses and stable temperature range. The environmental contribution changes when a structure is placed on low earth orbit (LEO). The temperature could vary between -120 oC to +120 oC in this orbit and this thermal variation could cause thermal fatigue on structures leading to formation of cracks. Absence of atmosphere (pressure in the order of a few micropascals) affects a vibration environment. Atomic oxygen (AO) considerably affects non-metallic materials, causing their deterioration on LEO. Materials on LEO are subject to UV, particulate and ionizing radiation with each of them being responsible for different deterioration mechanisms. Micrometeorites with speeds exceeding several km/s could cause notable damage. In this contribution, we study effect of space environment on piezoelectric-based SHM. Thermal effects are considered first, which are followed by the radiation environment. Results of laboratory experiments are presented along with the theoretical developments. Recommendations are suggested for utilization of SHM on LEO.
Sismo en la periferia: Vulnerabilidad frente al evento telúrico del año 1684 en Cumaná
Authors: Rodríguez Alarcón María N.
Published: December 2023

El presente artículo reconstruye y analiza el contexto sociohistórico dentro del cual se manifestó el sismo del 4 de mayo de 1684, develando las carencias que acompañaban la vida de los habitantes de Cumaná, ciudad nororiental del actual territorio venezolano. Carencias que construyeron la base material de condiciones de vulnerabilidad que, al articularse con el sismo, profundizaron la pobreza generalizada de un lugar periférico y desprovisto de atractivo para la Corona Española.
Sismos, Ilustración y religiosidad popular en el reino de Guatemala (1775-1800)
Authors: Arrioja Diaz Viruell Luis Alberto
Published: December 2023

Este artículo examina la relación entre los movimientos sísmicos acaecidos en el Altiplano Occidental de Guatemala en 1765 y la actividad de los volcanes Cerro Quemado y Tajumulco. Con esto en mente, se analizan las afectaciones materiales y las perspectivas sociales que derivaron de estos hechos, prestando atención en las estrategias que desplegaron las autoridades civiles y religiosas para contener la desgracia.
A Companhia de Jesus em Portugal. Identidade e historiografía
Authors: Beites Manso Maria de Deus
Published: December 2023

A ação da Companhia de Jesus constituí um dos temas mais analisados, e um dos mais controversos, da história da Igreja. Pela complexidade que os vários estudos levantam, e para se apreender a história, a dinamica, e a identidade, a historiografia tem de ser contextualizada em etapas. Neste estudo, partimos da historiografia produzida ainda no decurso da fundação da Companhia e indo até a sua supressao, detendo-nos ainda particularmente no modo como a contemporaneidade (do século XIX ao século XXI) observou a prime ira época (1540-1773), quer no ambito de urna história acrítica quer ideológica, narrada dentro e fora da Ordem. No que diz respeito a Portugal continental, procura-se especialmente registar e problematizar diversas conceções historiográficas que sobre a Companhia de Jesus se foram erigindo.
Obraz Anglii w polskim piśmiennictwie geograficznym i podróżniczym w epoce nowożytnej
Authors: Nortowska Paulina
Published: December 2023

In this book, the Author reconstructs the image of England and the English people as perceivedby the inhabitants of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the Modern Era. The basicsources were travel literature, instructions written by family members, popular geographicalpublications, geography textbooks, popular compendia and encyclopaedias affecting the awarenessand the minds of the widest reading circles. Furthermore, a lot of geographical informationwas included in calendars, newspapers as well as the nobility’s ‘silva rerum’. A report of an expeditionbeyond the Polish-Lithuanian borders could be prepared in literary form, and printed.However, the vast majority of accounts were written as journals, existing only in manuscriptform. The aim of the book was to present not only the place and role of travel in old Polishawareness, but also the influence of travel, sightseeing and observation on the shaping of thementality of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth inhabitants.
From Fields to the Throne
Authors: Sudyka Lidia
Published: December 2023

The territory administered by the Nayakas, first from Keladi and later from Ikkeri (c. 1499–1763 CE), first on behalf of the Vijayanagara rulers and then in their own name, was the western strip of Karnataka, known as Kanara-Malnad. The Kanara coast is very fertile and the hills of neighbouring Malnad (Malladeśa) are noted for their biodiversity. The Śivatattvaratnākara, an encyclopaedic work in Sanskrit authored by the Keladi-Ikkeri king, Basavarāja (r. 1697–1714), besides discussions related to various fields of knowledge, holds not only passages describing the region and the history of its rulers, but also other content that may reveal a way of thinking about nature and human-nature relationships. Reference will also be made to Pietro della Valle's account of his travels in the area between 1623 and 1624.
Cidades e literatura: um ensaio tipológico para um vazio investigativo
Authors: Massuchetto Jazar Manoela , Ultramari Clovis
Published: December 2023

Neste artigo, abordamos a literatura como fonte complementar para se entender as complexidades urbanas, considerando que narrativas literárias podem explicitar e sintetizar aspectos da vivência, da história e da cultura de uma cidade, muitas vezes despercebidos por análises técnicas quantitativas e mesmo qualitativas. A partir da leitura de 65 obras literárias variadas, de autores brasileiros e estrangeiros, criamos uma tipologia das possíveis representações da cidade na literatura. Dessa leitura surgem seis “cidades-tipo” que, de modo geral, ocorrem de forma sobreposta: Cidade-retrato, cidade-pseudônimo, não-cidade, cidade-memória, cidade-metáfora e cidade-crítica. Concluímos que este exercício tipológico será sempre inconcluso, porém, com a certeza que pode contribuir para, a um tempo, aprimorar a compreensão sobre nossas cidades, incentivar o debate sobre elas e enriquecer métodos investigativos no campo dos estudos urbanos.
Large-vessel vasculitis and Q fever correlation
Authors: Ramos Joana C. , Santos Daniela , Dias Patrícia
Published: December 2023

Q fever is a zoonotic infection caused by the pathogen Coxiella burnetii, and patients can present with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, depending on whether it is an acute or a chronic infection. We present the case of a 61-year-old male with fatigue, posterior thoracalgia, intermittent fever, night sweats and weight loss for a month. After an extensive workup, he was diagnosed with acute Q fever with large-vessel vasculitis. The FDG-PET/CT scan suggested an active vasculitis specifically in the thoracic aorta, proximal abdominal aorta, subclavian and carotid vessels, suggesting an immunologic response to acute Q fever infection, barely reported worldwide.
Anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic: role of the gut–brain axis
Authors: Milani Payam Gonbari , Vadaei Sima , Nazari Armaghan , Rezaie Farimah , Soleimani Roya Abedi , Rad Aziz Homayouni
Published: December 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic had a profoundly negative impact on the general public's mental health. The crucial role of diet and nutrition in various aspects of mental wellbeing is now widely recognised. People in confinement or isolation may experience heightened tension, anger, panic attacks and anxiety. Psychosocial pressures, including interpersonal loss and social rejection, cause changes in mind–body interactions. An individual's physical health influences their physiological reaction (in terms of psychological stress) in COVID-19-afflicted patients. There is a growing body of research on the phenomenon termed the microbiome and the brain. According to preclinical data, this axis is essential for controlling both brain activity and behaviour. Given the strong connection between our dietary choices and our mental state, this review explores the relationship between diet and mental health. It also considers how food and the use of psychobiotics can alleviate psychological distress caused by stress, anxiety and depression, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The rise of artificial intelligence
Authors: Harrison Penny
Published: December 2023

As artificial intelligence continues to develop, Penny Harrison discusses the impact it is already having on gastrointestinal nursing
Emotional Psychoeducational Group for Psychiatric Inpatients. Findings from a Clinical Study
Authors: Lucattelli R. , Pecorari M. , Mentuccia V. , Biello C. , Riggio F. , Sagliano T. , Marino G. , Nicolò G. , Bernabei L.
Published: December 2023

This research investigates the impact of psychoeducational interventions on emotional well-being within an acute psychiatric setting. Through a comprehensive study conducted in a psychiatric ward, we assess the effectiveness of targeted psychoeducational programs in managing and improving emotional states among individuals facing acute psychiatric conditions.

Results: Repeated measures ANOVA shows significant change in emotional regulation measured by DERS, although not significantly different between group.

Discussion: Preliminary findings suggest promising results, indicating that emotional psychoeducational interventions may play a crucial role in enhancing emotional stability and fostering a more supportive environment within acute psychiatric care. This research contributes valuable insights to the evolving field of mental health interventions, with potential implications for optimizing therapeutic approaches in similar clinical settings.
Should we recommend patellofemoral arthroplasties to patients?
Authors: Vella-Baldacchino Martinique , Webb Jeremy , Selvarajah Bhavana , Chatha Sukhjaad , Davies Andrew , Cobb Justin P. , Liddle Alexander D.
Published: December 2023

Aims

With up to 40% of patients having patellofemoral joint osteoarthritis (PFJ OA), the two arthroplasty options are to replace solely the patellofemoral joint via patellofemoral arthroplasty (PFA), or the entire knee via total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The aim of this study was to assess postoperative success of second-generation PFAs compared to TKAs for patients treated for PFJ OA using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and domains deemed important by patients following a patient and public involvement meeting.

Methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE via OVID, CINAHL, and EBSCO were searched from inception to January 2022. Any study addressing surgical treatment of primary patellofemoral joint OA using second generation PFA and TKA in patients aged above 18 years with follow-up data of 30 days were included. Studies relating to OA secondary to trauma were excluded. ROB-2 and ROBINS-I bias tools were used.

Results

A total of nine studies were included, made up of four randomized controlled trials (domain 1) and five cohort studies (domain 2). PROMs and knee function specific scores developed for reporting TKA were unable to detect any difference between PFA and TKA. There was no significant difference in complications between PFA and TKA. PFAs were found to have a better postoperative range of motion.

Conclusion

TKA and PFA are both viable options for patients with primary PFJ OA. Over time, we have seen an emphasis on patient satisfaction and better quality of life. Recommending sacrificing healthy medial and lateral compartments to treat patellofemoral joint arthritis should be given further thought.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2023;4(12):948–956.
Flora da Bahia: Agarista (Ericaceae)
Authors: Sampaio Ariadne de Aráujo , Romão Gerson Oliveira , Oliveira Reyjane Patrícia de , Dórea Marcos Costa
Published: December 2023

É apresentado aqui a Flora de Agarista (Ericaceae) para o estado da Bahia, Brasil. São reconhecidas dez espécies, sendo duas novas ocorrências para a Bahia, A. glaberrima e A. virgata, e uma espécie endêmica de Morro do Chapéu, A. revolutissima. O presente trabalho inclui chave de identificação para os gêneros de Ericaceae representados na Bahia e espécies de Agarista, descrições, comentários, imagens das plantas e mapas de distribuição das espécies no estado.
Remoteness and Connection on a Congolese Humanitarian Radio Network
Authors: Ross Scott
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT: In northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, local and international non-governmental organizations have, for the last decade, built a network of two-way radios to connect rural communities in order to better protect them from armed groups active in the region. This article moves along this radio network to explore the concepts of remoteness and connection. Rural residents and humanitarians alike describe the region as “enclaved,” drawing on Congolese experiences and conceptions of isolation and vulnerability to appeal for greater connection. The connection oЛered by radios, however, is fragile and contingent, relying on alignments, negotiations, and compromises. The article describes these negotiations at the village level (among NGOs and various local actors) and between NGOs and the state, demonstrating that connection is a negotiated and ongoing process.
Historicizing Invalids in the Early Modern Habsburg Monarchy: A Dis/ability History Approach
Authors: Heinemann Julia
Published: December 2023

Abstract: In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, European rulers established several new measures to support soldiers with disabilities. The term invalid was introduced to designate the men considered worthy of support. The article investigates the case of the Habsburg Monarchy through the lens of dis/ability history: it historicizes the making of invalids as a process connected to shifting concepts of dis/ability, military labor, gender, and the state. The analysis of early modern imperial decrees shows a valorization of disabled soldiers: distinctions between fitness and unfitness to serve, between invalids and other people with disabilities, and between invalids and "mutilants" were central to this process. "Invalidity" was thus intertwined with gendered notions of military honor, cameralist concepts of labor and utility, and a specific form of state formation and patriotism in the Habsburg Monarchy.
Life Stories of Children of Black US Occupation Soldiers and Austrian Women
Authors: Rohrbach Philipp
Published: December 2023

Abstract: This article focuses on a key chapter of contemporary Black Austrian history, namely the life stories of those individuals who were born to Black US soldiers and White Austrian women between 1945 and 1956. It offers a brief overview of the social conditions in which these persons were born, discussing how the mothers met the fathers, the conditions in which the children grew up, and their often long and difficult search for a usable identity. In the concluding section the article briefly surveys the work conducted in the field to date in order to discern the lacunae that require attention in future research.
Romani Activism and Postmigration Experiences in Contemporary Austria
Authors: Steindl-Kopf Sabrina , Üllen Sanda
Published: December 2023

Abstract: Notwithstanding the historical continuity and diversity of Romani migration to Austria, much migration literature discusses Romani migration as a "separate or marginal case," reproducing the image of Roma as the "European Other." As such, Roma are confronted with specific forms of discrimination and marginalization. Despite this, Romani migrants use their post-migration experiences to challenge hegemonic discourses on integration. The article discusses Romani migration as an inclusive part of Austrian migration history, providing an insight into the multilayered experiences of a particular group of migrants who are usually portrayed in a two-dimensional manner in Austrian politics and media.
Adhyāropāpavāda : Revisiting the Interpretations of Svāmi Saccidānandendra Sarasvatī and the Post-Śaṅkarādvaitins
Authors: Hegde Manjushree
Published: December 2023

A fundamental difference in Svāmi Saccidānandendra Sarasvatī’s (SSS) and the Post-Śaṅkarādvaitins’ (PSA) exegeses of Advaita Vedānta lies in the pedagogic method of adhyāropa-apavāda (deliberate attribution of characteristics to the attribute-less brahman , and its corresponding/complementary contradiction). For SSS, adhyāropāpavāda is the sole method to negate avidyā (ignorance); other Upaniṣadic methods— lakṣaṇā and netivāda —are subsumed under it. For the PSA, on the other hand, adhyāropāpavāda plays a subsidiary, less consequential role in engendering gnosis; the primary role is that of mahāvākyas (the ‘great’ Vedāntic statements). SSS denounces the PSA—with the sole exception of Sureśvarācārya—for their (purportedly incorrect) interpretation of the method; he contends that it has led to the lamentable reification of concepts in Advaita Vedānta, and ultimately undermined its basic tenets. In this article, I articulate SSS’ position.
‘Divers voyages into farre countries’: Agency in Rose Throckmorton’s Diary
Authors: Stevenson Emily
Published: December 2023

Abstract: Women played a vital role within mercantile communities in sixteenth-century London as social, cultural and economic agents, but there is comparatively little archival material relating to these activities in comparison with their male counterparts, and as they were seldom able to actively participate in trade, the nuances of their activity are easily overlooked. Using the 1610 diary of Rose Lok Hickman Throckmorton as a case study, this article will examine her role within her community and the ways in which she both exerted and subverted agency, interrogating the text’s preoccupations with questions of trade, faith, and gender.
Agents, Acquisitions, and Agency: Queen Christina of Sweden’s Development of Antiquarian Collections in Stockholm and Rome
Authors: Kutasz Christensen Theresa A.
Published: December 2023

Abstract: Queen Christina of Sweden was a prolific collector both as ruler of Sweden and as abdicated queen in Rome. Working for decades to build nearly autonomous antiquities collections in Stockholm and Rome, Christina employed a robust network of art acquisition agents. Correspondence and travel notes between these agents, artists, their associates, and Christina provide insight into the queen’s reach, ambition, and limitations. This article takes an intersectional approach to women’s mobility in the early modern antiquities market, illuminating the impact of religion, location, gender, and status on the ancient marble trade across Europe and the transnational networks Christina utilised.
The Agency of Muslim Women and ‘the Muslimwoman’ in Early Modern England
Authors: Andrea Bernadette
Published: December 2023

Abstract: Acknowledging that women from Muslim backgrounds arrived on British shores well before the first record of an openly Muslim woman in the 1830s, but that they would have had no real option other than to assimilate to English mores, including religious ones, this article investigates the ‘Muslimwoman’ (miriam cooke’s neologism) as constitutive of English culture from the sixteenth century and into the eighteenth century. Examples include representations of elite women from the Ottoman dynasty in histories, polemics, and plays. Deploying ‘the Muslimwoman’ as a heuristic allows us to assess the impact of historical Muslim women on early modern English culture.
Built on Sand: Situating Extractive Economies in the Mekong Delta
Authors: Büsse Michaela
Published: December 2023

Abstract: This essay discusses the author’s experience doing field work in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, and suggests that the messy entanglements between sand mining, real estate development, and local life afford an analysis that is both situated in and attentive to the global economies of sand. Thinking along the ecological, social, economic, and political dimensions of shifting sands not only challenges systematic analysis; it also affects how we conceive of ourselves as researchers and the responsibility that comes with doing research.
Characterization of sub-20-attosecond timing jitter in mode-locked all-PM Er:NALM fiber lasers
Authors: Rigere Natalija , Brodschelm Andreas , Wilk Rafal , Iglev Hristo
Published: December 2023

Our team reached a remarkable milestone by generating pulses with a timing jitter of less than 20 attoseconds using a 200-MHz all polarisation maintaining (PM) erbium-doped (Er:) nonlinear amplifying loop mirror (NALM) fiber lasers. To precisely quantify these temporal variations, we employed the balanced optical cross-correlation (BOC) technique. Through meticulous investigation, we identified the key parameters responsible for timing jitter, including dispersion, pump energies for oscillators and amplifiers, as well as spectral and temporal pulse half-widths, and empirically validated their influence. This systematic analysis and adjustment of the contributing factors enabled us to showcase an exceptionally low integrated timing jitter of 14.25 attoseconds [10 kHz - 4MHz].
Construction of a recombinant vaccine expressing Nipah virus glycoprotein using the replicative and highly attenuated vaccinia virus strain LC16m8
Authors: Watanabe Shumpei , Yoshikawa Tomoki , Kaku Yoshihiro , Kurosu Takeshi , Fukushi Shuetsu , Sugimoto Satoko , Nishisaka Yuki , Fuji Hikaru , Marsh Glenn , Maeda Ken , Ebihara Hideki , Morikawa Shigeru , Shimojima Masayuki , Saijo Masayuki
Published: December 2023

Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly pathogenic zoonotic virus that causes severe encephalitis and respiratory diseases and has a high mortality rate in humans (>40%). Epidemiological studies on various fruit bat species, which are natural reservoirs of the virus, have shown that NiV is widely distributed throughout Southeast Asia. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop effective NiV vaccines. In this study, we generated recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing the NiV glycoprotein (G) or fusion (F) protein using the LC16m8 strain, and examined their antigenicity and ability to induce immunity. Neutralizing antibodies against NiV were successfully induced in hamsters inoculated with LC16m8 expressing NiV G or F, and the antibody titers were higher than those induced by other vaccinia virus vectors previously reported to prevent lethal NiV infection. These findings indicate that the LC16m8-based vaccine format has superior features as a proliferative vaccine compared with other poxvirus-based vaccines. Moreover, the data collected over the course of antibody elevation during three rounds of vaccination in hamsters provide an important basis for the clinical use of vaccinia virus-based vaccines against NiV disease.

Trial Registration: NCT05398796.
The complete mitochondrial genome of Echinolaelaps fukienensis provide insights into phylogeny and rearrangement in the superfamily Dermanyssoidea
Authors: He Gangxian , Li Wei , Yuan Bili , Dong Wenge
Published: December 2023

Background

Echinolaelaps fukienensisis the dominant mite species parasitic on the body surface of the genusNiviventer. The mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) has its own independent genetic material and genetic system, and is now widely used in population genetics, genealogical biogeography, phylogeny and molecular evolution studies. Species diversity of the superfamily Dermanyssoidea is very rich, but its mitogenomes AT content is high, and it is difficult to amplify the complete mitogenome by routine PCR. To date, we have only obtained the mitogenomes of 6 species, scarcity on sequence data has greatly impeded the studies in the superfamily Dermanyssoidea.

Methods

Echinolaelaps fukienensiswere collected in 2019 from the body surface ofNiviventer confucianus(Rodentia, Muridae) in Yunnan Province. TheE.fukienensismitogenome was determined and analyzed for the first time using the Illumina Novoseq 6000 platform. Phylogenetic analyses of the superfamily Dermanyssoidea were conducted based on the entire mitogenome sequences.

Results

TheE.fukienensismitogenome was 14,402 bp, which is known the smallest genome of the superfamily Dermanyssoidea, encoding a total of 37 genes, including 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, 2 rRNAs and 1 control region. Most protein-coding genes use ATN as the start codon and TAN as the stop codon. AT and GC skew ofatp8genes inE.fukienensiswere both 0. The average length of 22 tRNA genes ofE.fukienensiswas 64 bp, and secondary structures of tRNAs showed base mismatches and missing D-arms in many places. Compared with gene arrangement pattern of the hypothetical ancestor of arthropods, theE.fukienensismitogenome shows a novel arrangement pattern. Phylogenetic tree supported the monophyly of the superfamily Dermanyssoidea.Echinolaelaps fukienensisbeing the least genetic distant (0.2762) and most closely related toVarroa destructor.

Conclusions

This study analyzed comprehensive the structure and evolution of theE.fukienensismitogenome for the first time, enriches molecular data of the genusEchinolaelaps, which will contribute to further understand phylogeny and rearrangement patterns of the superfamily Dermanyssoidea.
Recommended distances for physical distancing during COVID-19 pandemics reveal cultural connections between countries
Authors: Chai Dongwoo , El Mossadeq Layla , Raymond Michel , Courtier-Orgogozo Virginie
Published: December 2023

During COVID-19 pandemic several public health measures were implemented by diverse countries to reduce the risk of COVID-19, including social distancing. Here we collected the minimal distance recommended by each country for physical distancing at the onset of the pandemic and aimed to examine whether it had an impact on the outbreak dynamics and how this specific value was chosen. Despite an absence of data on SARS-CoV-2 viral transmission at the beginning of the pandemic, we found that most countries recommended physical distancing with a precise minimal distance, between one meter/three feet and two meters/six feet. 45% of the countries advised one meter/three feet and 49% advised a higher minimal distance. The recommended minimal distance did not show a clear correlation with reproduction rate nor with the number of new cases per million, suggesting that the overall COVID-19 dynamics in each country depended on multiple interacting factors. Interestingly, the recommended minimal distance correlated with several cultural parameters: it was higher in countries with larger interpersonal distance between two interacting individuals in non-epidemic conditions, and it correlated with civil law systems, and with currency. This suggests that countries which share common conceptions such as civil law systems and currency unions tend to adopt the same public health measures.
Daily, seasonal, and long-distance movements inferred from Fastloc-GPS telemetry of immature green turtles (Chelonia mydas) at a high-latitude, mid-ocean developmental site
Authors: Hardy Robert F. , Meylan Anne B. , Gray Jennifer A. , Meylan Peter A.
Published: December 2023

To characterize the movements and habitat use of juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in benthic developmental habitat, we deployed Fastloc-GPS-enabled satellite transmitters on 16 individuals captured as part of a multi-decade study of green turtles on the Bermuda Platform. We characterized residence areas, distinct use areas within them, and seasonal movements based on an average of 562 Fastloc-GPS positions and 284 tracking days per turtle. We estimated residence area sizes using traditional home range methods, e.g., 90% utilization distribution (UD) (mean 2.29 ±2.71 km2) and 50% UD (mean 0.54 ±0.69 km2). Total residence area size increased significantly over the 8-year study, from <1 km2 before 2013 to ≥3 km2 in 2018 (R2 = 0.51, F1,14 = 14.55, p = 0.0019), corresponding to a period of decline in seagrass habitat and suggesting increased foraging effort. We identified three types of distinct use areas within residence areas where tracked turtles typically exhibited behavioral fidelity: foraging, resting, and cool weather refugia. These distinct use areas were smaller than high-use areas from previous studies; e.g., seagrass meadow foraging areas averaged 0.05 km2. Most turtles made daily transits between foraging and resting sites; for some individuals, these involved crossing frequently used vessel navigation channels. Seasonal variation in behavior suggested that the overwintering strategy for green turtles on the Bermuda Platform involves “optional dormancy,” during which turtles spent less time on seagrass meadows and made brief excursions to distinct deeper habitats. Four individuals made directed (mean path straightness = 0.93 ±0.02 SD) developmental migrations away from Bermuda toward known adult foraging range. Results of our study further knowledge of the green turtle life cycle at a high-latitude site; they demonstrate that green turtles show fidelity to distinct use areas within developmental habitats over many years and exhibit seasonal movements.
A full-document analysis of the semantic relation between European Public Assessment Reports and EMA guidelines using a BERT language model
Authors: Bergman Erik , Pasmooij Anna Maria Gerdina , Mol Peter G. M. , Westman Gabriel
Published: December 2023

In the European Union, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) develop guidelines to guide drug development, supporting development of efficacious and safe medicines. A European Public Assessment Report (EPAR) is published for every medicine application that has been granted or refused marketing authorisation within the EU. In this work, we study the use of text embeddings and similarity metrics to investigate the semantic similarity between EPARs and EMA guidelines. All 1024 EPARs for initial marketing authorisations from 2008 to 2022 was compared to the 669 current EMA scientific guidelines. Documents were converted to plain text and split into overlapping chunks, generating 265,757 EPAR and 27,649 guideline text chunks. Using a Sentence BERT language model, the chunks were transformed into embeddings and fed into an in-house piecewise matching algorithm to estimate the full-document semantic distance. In an analysis of the document distance scores and product characteristics using a linear regression model, EPARs of anti-virals for systemic use (ATC code J05) and antihemorrhagic medicines (B02) present with statistically significant lower overall semantic distance to guidelines compared to other therapeutic areas, also when adjusting for product age and EPAR length. In conclusion, we believe our approach provides meaningful insight into the interplay between EMA scientific guidelines and the assessment made during regulatory review, and could potentially be used to answer more specific questions such as which therapeutic areas could benefit from additional regulatory guidance.
Selective image segmentation driven by region, edge and saliency functions
Authors: Soomro Shafiullah , Niaz Asim , Soomro Toufique Ahmed , Kim Jin , Manzoor Adnan , Choi Kwang Nam
Published: December 2023

Present active contour methods often struggle with the segmentation of regions displaying variations in texture, color, or intensity a phenomenon referred to as inhomogeneities. These limitation impairs their ability to precisely distinguish and outline diverse components within an image. Further some of these methods employ intricate mathematical formulations for energy minimization. Such complexity introduces computational sluggishness, making these methods unsuitable for tasks requiring real-time processing or rapid segmentation. Moreover, these methods are susceptible to being trapped in energy configurations corresponding to local minimum points. Consequently, the segmentation process fails to converge to the desired outcome. Additionally, the efficacy of these methods diminishes when confronted with regions exhibiting weak or subtle boundaries. To address these limitations comprehensively, our proposed approach introduces a fresh paradigm for image segmentation through the synchronization of region-based, edge-based, and saliency-based segmentation techniques. Initially, we adapt an intensity edge term based on the zero crossing feature detector (ZCD), which is used to highlight significant edges of an image. Secondly, a saliency function is formulated to detect salient regions from an image. We have also included a globally tuned region based SPF (signed pressure force) term to move contour away and capture homogeneous regions. ZCD, saliency and global SPF are jointly incorporated with some scaled value for the level set evolution to develop an effective image segmentation model. In addition, proposed method is capable to perform selective object segmentation, which enables us to choose any single or multiple objects inside an image. Saliency function and ZCD detector are considered feature enhancement tools, which are used to get important features of an image, so this method has a solid capacity to segment nature images (homogeneous or inhomogeneous) precisely. Finally, the adaption of the Gaussian kernel removes the need of any penalization term for level set reinitialization. Experimental results will exhibit the efficiency of the proposed method.
Tonal and syllabic encoding in overt Cantonese Chinese speech production: An ERP study
Authors: Wong Andus Wing-Kuen , Chiu Ho-Ching , Tsang Yiu-Kei , Chen Hsuan-Chih
Published: December 2023

This study was conducted to investigate how syllables and lexical tones are processed in Cantonese speech production using the picture-word interference task with concurrent recording of event-related brain potentials (ERPs). Cantonese-speaking participants were asked to name aloud individually presented pictures and ignore an accompanying auditory word distractor. The target and distractor either shared the same word-initial syllable with the same tone (Tonal-Syllable related), the same word-initial syllable without the same tone (Atonal-Syllable related), the same tone only (Tone alone related), or were phonologically unrelated. Participants’ naming responses were faster, relative to an unrelated control, when the target and distractor shared the same tonal- or atonal-syllable but null effect was found in the Tone alone related condition. The mean ERP amplitudes (per each 100-ms time window) were subjected to stimulus-locked (i.e., time-locked to stimulus onset) and response-locked (i.e., time-locked to response onset) analyses. Significant differences between related and unrelated ERP waves were similarly observed in both Tonal-Syllable related and Atonal-Syllable related conditions in the time window of 400–500 ms post-stimulus. However, distinct ERP effects were observed in these two phonological conditions within the 500-ms pre-response period. In addition, null effects were found in the Tone alone related condition in both stimulus-locked and response-locked analyses. These results suggest that in Cantonese spoken word production, the atonal syllable of the target is retrieved first and then associated with the target lexical tone, consistent with the view that tone has an important role to play at a late stage of phonological encoding in tonal language production.
Numerical investigation of the fractional diffusion wave equation with exponential kernel via cubic B-Spline approach
Authors: Shafiq Madiha , Abbas Muhammad , Emadifar Homan , Alzaidi Ahmed SM , Nazir Tahir , Aini Abdullah Farah
Published: December 2023

Splines are piecewise polynomials that are as smooth as they can be without forming a single polynomial. They are linked at specific points known as knots. Splines are useful for a variety of problems in numerical analysis and applied mathematics because they are simple to store and manipulate on a computer. These include, for example, numerical quadrature, function approximation, data fitting, etc. In this study, cubic B-spline (CBS) functions are used to numerically solve the time fractional diffusion wave equation (TFDWE) with Caputo-Fabrizio derivative. To discretize the spatial and temporal derivatives, CBS with θ-weighted scheme and the finite difference approach are utilized, respectively. Convergence analysis and stability of the presented method are analyzed. Some examples are used to validate the suggested scheme, and they show that it is feasible and fairly accurate.
Effect of influenza vaccination on resting metabolic rate and c-reactive protein concentrations in healthy young adults
Authors: Parker Claire Hagan , Sadhir Srishti , Swanson Zane , McGrosky Amanda , Hinz Elena , Urlacher Samuel S. , Pontzer Herman
Published: December 2023

Objectives

Chronic immune activation and severe inflammatory states are positively associated with resting metabolic rate (RMR; kcal/day), but the impacts of mild immune stimuli on metabolism are poorly understood. This study investigates the within-individual association between the inflammatory response to influenza vaccination and RMR in young adults.

Methods

We evaluated RMRs through indirect calorimetry and circulating c-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations (mg/L)—a direct measure of inflammation—via high-sensitivity immunoassays of dried blood spots (n = 17) at baseline and two- and seven-days post-vaccine. Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank tests were used to evaluate the magnitude of the CRP and RMR responses. Type II Wald chi-square tests of linear mixed-effect models assessed whether those responses were correlated.

Results

Baseline CRP was 1.39 ± 1.26 mg/L. On day two post-vaccine, CRP increased by 1.47 ± 1.37 mg/L (p < 0.0001), representing a 106% increase above baseline values. CRP remained higher on day seven post-vaccine, 1.32 ± 2.47 mg/L (p = 0.05) above baseline values. There were no statistically significant changes in RMR from baseline to day two (p = 0.98) or day seven (p = 0.21). Change in CRP from baseline did not predict RMR variation across days (p = 0.46).

Conclusions

We find no evidence that adult influenza vaccination results in a corresponding increase in RMR. These results suggest that the energetic cost of an influenza vaccine’s mild inflammatory stimulus is either too small to detect or is largely compensated by a temporary downregulation of energy allocated to other metabolic tasks.
A phase I study of intra-anal artesunate (suppositories) to treat anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions
Authors: Fang Sandy Hwang , Plesa Mihaela , Carchman Evie H. , Cowell Nicole A. , Staudt Emily , Twaroski Kyleigh Ann , Buchwald Ulrike K. , Trimble Cornelia L.
Published: December 2023

Background

Ablation or surgical excision is the typical treatment of anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). Recurrences are common due to the persistence of underlying human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Additional well-tolerated and effective non-surgical options for HPV-associated anal disease are needed.

Methods

This 3+3 dose escalation Phase I clinical trial evaluated the safety and tolerability of artesunate suppositories in the treatment of patients with biopsy-proven HSIL.

Results

The maximal tolerated dose was 400 mg, administered in 3 cycles. All adverse events associated with the use 200- and 400-mg artesunate suppositories were Grade 1. At the 600-mg dose, patients experienced clinically significant nausea.

Conclusion

Artesunate suppositories are a safe treatment option for anal HSIL.
Stream food webs in tropical mountains rely on allochthonous carbon regardless of land use
Authors: Ramírez Alonso , Vázquez Gabriela , Sosa Vinicio , García Pavel , Castillo Gonzalo , García-Franco José , Martínez Ma. Luisa , Mehltreter Klaus , Pineda Eduardo , Alvarado-Barrientos M. Susana , Escobar Federico , Valdespino Carolina , Campos Adolfo
Published: December 2023

The relative importance of allochthonous and autochthonous carbon (C) as sources of energy for tropical stream food webs remains an open question. Allochthonous C might be the main energy source for small and shaded forest streams, while autochthonous C is more likely to fuel food webs draining land uses with less dense vegetation. We studied food webs in cloud forest streams draining watersheds with forests, coffee plantations, and pastures. Our goal was to assess the effects of those land uses on the C source and structure of stream food webs. The study took place in tropical montane streams in La Antigua Watershed, in eastern Mexico. We selected three streams per land use and sampled biofilm and leaf litter as the main food resources, and macroinvertebrates and aquatic vertebrates from different trophic guilds. Samples were analyzed for δ13C and δ15N isotopes. Using a Bayesian mixing model, we estimated the proportional assimilation of autochthonous and allochthonous carbon by each guild. We found that consumers were mostly using allochthonous C in all streams, regardless of watershed land use. Our findings indicate that montane cloud forest streams are dominated by allochthony even in watersheds dominated by pastures. Abundant precipitation in this life zone might facilitate the movement of allochthonous C into streams. While food webs of streams from coffee plantations and pastures also rely on allochthonous resources, other impacts do result in important changes in stream functioning.
Association between hours of work and subjective well-being. How do physicians compare to lawyers and accountants?
Authors: Núñez-Elvira Alberto
Published: December 2023

Analyses of physician well-being typically rely on small and unrepresentative samples. In April 2011, the UK Office for National Statistics incorporated subjective well-being metrics (SWB) into the Annual Population Survey (APS), a well-established survey. This survey includes variables from the labor market, making APS an ideal source for measuring the association between work hours and SWB metrics and comparing among different professionals. Using APS data from 2011/12 to 2014/15, this study examined the association between SWB levels and work hours using multiple linear models for physicians (primary care physicians and hospital doctors), lawyers, and accountants. Of the 11,810 observations, physicians were more satisfied, happier, and less anxious; females were more stressed (10.7%); and age was negatively associated with happiness and satisfaction. Incorporating information on preferences to work more hours (underemployment) did not affect physicians’ but worsened the well-being of other professionals (lawyers and accountants). Surveyed physicians were less anxious, happier, and more satisfied than lawyers or accountants before Covid. Although the total work hours did not alter the SWB metrics, overtime hours for other professionals did. Increasing the working hours of underemployed physicians (with appropriate compensation) could be a relatively inexpensive solution to tackle the shortage of health workers in the short run.