bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Open Access to the JESS Chemical Reaction Database
Authors: May Peter M. , Filella Montserrat
Published: June 2023

The JESS (Joint Expert Speciation System) Thermodynamic Database (v8.9) is now available as a set of freely available PDF files. This reaction database contains about 280,000 thermodynamic parameters (equilibrium constants, enthalpies, etc.) as published in the literature for over 80,000 chemical reactions. It is grounded in the tradition of the Stability Constants Special Publications (by the Chemical Society) but it has become much more extensive and it includes some quantitative indication of parameter reliability based mainly on intra- and extra-reaction consistency.
Explanatory machine learning for sequential human teaching
Authors: Ai Lun , Langer Johannes , Muggleton Stephen H. , Schmid Ute
Published: June 2023

The topic of comprehensibility of machine-learned theories has recently drawn increasing attention. Inductive logic programming uses logic programming to derive logic theories from small data based on abduction and induction techniques. Learned theories are represented in the form of rules as declarative descriptions of obtained knowledge. In earlier work, the authors provided the first evidence of a measurable increase in human comprehension based on machine-learned logic rules for simple classification tasks. In a later study, it was found that the presentation of machine-learned explanations to humans can produce both beneficial and harmful effects in the context of game learning. We continue our investigation of comprehensibility by examining the effects of the ordering of concept presentations on human comprehension. In this work, we examine the explanatory effects of curriculum order and the presence of machine-learned explanations for sequential problem-solving. We show that (1) there exist tasks A and B such that learning A before learning B results in better comprehension for humans in comparison to learning B before learning A and (2) there exist tasks A and B such that the presence of explanations when learning A contributes to improved human comprehension when subsequently learning B. We propose a framework for the effects of sequential teaching on comprehension based on an existing definition of comprehensibility and provide evidence for support from data collected in human trials. Our empirical study involves curricula that teach novices the merge sort algorithm. Our results show that sequential teaching of concepts with increasing complexity (a) has a beneficial effect on human comprehension and (b) leads to human re-discovery of divide-and-conquer problem-solving strategies, and (c) allows adaptations of human problem-solving strategy with better performance when machine-learned explanations are also presented.
A matter of needs: Basic need satisfaction as an underlying mechanism between perfectionism and employee well-being
Authors: Kleszewski Emily , Otto Kathleen
Published: June 2023

Why do dimensions of perfectionism have different effects on employees’ engagement, exhaustion, and job satisfaction? Combining the perfectionism literature and self-determination theory, we expected self-oriented perfectionism (SOP) and socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP) to be differently related to employee well-being through the fulfilment or lack of autonomy, competence, and relatedness satisfaction. We attributed a unique role to autonomy satisfaction in fostering work engagement. Data were collected at 2 time points, with a 3-month interval, in an online study. Several results from path analyses including data from 328 (T1) and 138 (T2) employees were consistent with our expectations. SPP was negatively related to work engagement and job satisfaction via a lack of autonomy satisfaction and positively related to exhaustion via a lack of relatedness satisfaction. Additionally, SOP and SPP showed different associations with competence satisfaction. Overall, our findings highlight the motivational differences inherent in perfectionism that translate into well-being via need satisfaction and unique effects of the three needs.
The vibration propagation and damage distribution characteristics of deep-buried underground cavern blasting
Authors: Lv Junlin , Liu Zhen , Huang Junhong
Published: June 2023

With the increase of the scale of an underground cavern, more and more towering underground side walls are left behind by blasting operation, which leaves a huge hidden danger to the structure safety of an underground cavern. Taking the propagation mechanism and damage distribution characteristics of blasting vibration along the elevation direction as the research subject, the propagation mechanism of blasting vibration along the elevation direction of high side wall of a deep-buried underground cavern can be obtained by comprehensive application of theoretical analysis, dimensional analysis, formula derivation, numerical analysis, and other research methods. Through multiangle comparative analysis, the internal mechanism of blasting vibration under elevation effect in underground caverns is revealed, and combined with the relationship between surrounding rock damage and blasting vibration velocity, the distribution characteristics of blasting vibration and damage under the elevation effect are proposed. In addition, through the establishment of a mechanical model of the response of blasting vibration of underground high side walls, the prediction formula of particle vibration velocity along the elevation direction under blasting vibration condition is analyzed, and the formula is adjusted and modified, which can meet the developing requirements of surrounding rock damage control precision.
A single-variable proof of the omega SPT congruence family over powers of 5
Authors: Smoot Nicolas Allen
Published: June 2023

In 2018, Liuquan Wang and Yifan Yang proved the existence of an infinite family of congruences for the smallest parts function corresponding to the third-order mock theta function $$\omega (q)$$

ω
(
q
)

. Their proof took the form of an induction requiring 20 initial relations, and utilized a space of modular functions isomorphic to a free rank 2 $${\mathbb {Z}}[X]$$

Z
[
X
]

-module. This proof strategy was originally developed by Paule and Radu to study families of congruences associated with modular curves of genus 1. We show that Wang and Yang’s family of congruences, which is associated with a genus 0 modular curve, can be proved using a single-variable approach, via a ring of modular functions isomorphic to a localization of $${\mathbb {Z}}[X]$$

Z
[
X
]

. To our knowledge, this is the first time that such an algebraic structure has been applied to the theory of partition congruences. Our induction is more complicated, and relies on sequences of functions which exhibit a somewhat irregular 5-adic convergence. However, the proof ultimately rests upon the direct verification of only 10 initial relations, and is similar to the classical methods of Ramanujan and Watson.
Evolution of Solar and Stellar Dynamo Theory
Authors: Charbonneau Paul , Sokoloff Dmitry
Published: June 2023

In this paper, written as a general historical and technical introduction to the various contributions of the collection “Solar and Stellar Dynamo: A New Era”, we review the evolution and current state of dynamo theory and modelling, with emphasis on the solar dynamo. Starting with a historical survey, we then focus on a set of “tension points” that are still left unresolved despite the remarkable progress of the past century. In our discussion of these tension points we touch upon the physical well-posedness of mean-field electrodynamics; constraints imposed by magnetic helicity conservation; the troublesome role of differential rotation; meridional flows and flux transpost dynamos; competing inductive mechanisms and Babcock–Leighton dynamos; the ambiguous precursor properties of the solar dipole; cycle amplitude regulation and fluctuation through nonlinear backreaction and stochastic forcing, including Grand Minima; and the promises and puzzles offered by global magnetohydrodynamical numerical simulations of convection and dynamo action. We close by considering the potential bridges to be constructed between solar dynamo theory and modelling, and observations of magnetic activity in late-type stars.
Transport and Fate of Ureolytic Sporosarcina pasteurii in Saturated Sand Columns: Experiments and Modelling
Authors: Sang Guijie , Lunn Rebecca J. , El Mountassir Grainne , Minto James M.
Published: June 2023

Abstarct

Despite a broad application of ureolytic bacteria in many bioremediation and biocementation processes, very limited studies have reported their transport and retention behaviors under various physical–chemical–biological conditions. In this study, we report transport and retention of Sporosarcina pasteurii in saturated sand, based on a series of column breakthrough experiments under different conditions including ionic strengths (ISs: 0.5 mM–1 M), flow velocity (50, 100, 200 cm/h), bacteria optical density (OD600 = 1.0, 0.48), column length (280 mm, 150 mm), and changes in IS conditions (0.5 M CaCl2 or deionised water). We use a two-site kinetic model, representing (1) attachment on grain surfaces, and (2) straining at crevices and constrictions, to quantify and predict the bacterial attachment and straining. Model parameters were calibrated by tracer (NaCl) breakthrough curves (BTCs) and bacteria BTCs at different IS/velocity conditions. The model was then applied to successfully predict the bacteria BTCs at lower initial bacteria density (OD600 = 0.48) and for shorter column lengths (150 mm). We demonstrated that higher ionic strength (from 0.5 to 1000 mM) dramatically enhanced the retention efficiency of S. pasteurii through an enhancement of attachment (from 9.4 to 69.6%) and straining (from 8.1 to 34.2%), whilst the bacterial survival and the urease activity were unaffected at high IS conditions (500 and 1000 mM NaCl) within 5 h. Increasing flow velocity (from 50 to 200 cm/h) caused a decrease in attachment (from 39.5 to 22.4%) and decrease in straining (from 40.5 to 19.3%) as a result of the increased hydrodynamic shear forces, which tends to reduce the attachment at the secondary minimum and decrease the extent of flow stagnation regions for straining. Lower initial bacteria OD600 (from 1.0 to 0.48) enhanced the attachment (from 31.8 to 40.9%) and the straining (from 22.9 to 42.2%) as a result of reducing the site-blockage effect. In addition, 0.5 M CaCl2 with a stronger IS increased the retention of in the column, whilst deionised water with a lower IS caused bacterial release. These findings provide useful information for a better understanding of the transport and fate of Sporosarcina pasteurii in saturated soil, and can be used to optimise bioaugmentation strategy and cementation efficiency for soil improvement.

Article Highlights

Transport of S. pasteurii in sands is highly affected by ionic strength, flow velocity, bacteria density, and even column size

Straining was enhanced (from 8.1% to 34.2%) if increasing IS (from 0.5 to 500 mM) without affecting bacterial survival

Bacteria coagulation among 2–3 bacterial cells occurs under ISs of 500 and 1000 mM without forming large flocculation
Digestate from Biowaste and Sewage Sludge as Carriers of Microplastic into the Environment: Case Study of a Thermophilic Biogas Plant in Ostrobothnia, Finland
Authors: Öling-Wärnå Viveka , Åkerback Nina , Engblom Sten
Published: June 2023

Microplastic contamination in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is well documented, but only a few studies have investigated plastic pollutants in waste fractions from biogas plants. We have analysed microplastic contaminants in reject water and digestate from biowaste digestion (at three time points) and sewage sludge digestion (at two time points). Samples were collected from a thermophilic biogas plant in Ostrobothnia in the western part of Finland. Plastic particles in the samples were identified with µ-FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy or attenuated total reflection (ATR)-FTIR, and the grain sizes of the investigated particles were > 40 µm and < 5 mm. All investigated sample matrices contained microplastic particles, but the numbers differed significantly at each sampling time. In reject water from biowaste digestion, the numbers of microplastic particles were between 80 and 3320/L. In digestate from biowaste digestion, the number of microplastic particles was between 2290 and 7200/L. Only 20–30 microplastic particles per litre were found in reject water from sewage sludge digestion, but in the digestate, the quantity of microplastic particles was between 1870 and 36,800/L. Seventeen different polymer types were identified from the samples all together. Our results show that digestate from biowaste and sewage sludge digestion can both be carriers of microplastic into the environment and can contain higher numbers of microplastics at specific time.
Role of MTHFR 677C>T and 1298A>C gene polymorphisms on renal toxicity caused by lead exposure in wastewater treatment plant workers
Authors: Saad-Hussein Amal , Shousha Wafaa Ghoneim , Al-Sadek Sara Yahya Mohamed , Ramadan Shimaa Shawki
Published: June 2023

Environmental and occupational lead (Pb) exposures continue to pose major public health problems. Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) workers proved are exposing to high Pb concentrations in sludge departments. The aim of the work was to investigate the role of MTHFR C677T and MTHFR A1298C gene polymorphisms on alteration of oxidative stress and homocysteine levels in WWTP workers exposed to high Pb concentrations, and study its relations with renal functions. The study included 90 WWTP workers from Abu-Rawash WWTP. Homocysteine, creatinine, urea, malondialdehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured. Polymorphisms of MTHFR C677CT and MTHFR A1298C genes were studied using PCR/RFLP. Urine Pb concentrations were also measured. About 32.2% of the workers were with detectable Pb levels. Pb, homocysteine, and MDA levels were significantly higher among workers carrying TT polymorphism compared to other MTHFR C677T gene polymorphisms, while TAC was significantly lower among them compared to other polymorphisms. The same results were found among workers carrying CC compared to other MTHFR A1298C gene polymorphisms. WWTP workers carrying MTHFR 677TT and MTHFR 1298CC are more susceptible to elevation of homocysteine and the urinary Pb compared to the workers with the other polymorphisms. Furthermore, those workers were found to have increase in urea and creatinine. Therefore, MTHFR C677T and MTHFR A1298C gene polymorphisms could be used for prediction of the susceptibility to the risk of kidney impairments among WWTP workers in the sludge departments caused by their exposure to high Pb in their workplace.
Forum posts, communication patterns, and relational structures: A multi-level view of discussions in online courses
Authors: Poquet Oleksandra , Trenholm Sven , Santolini Marc
Published: June 2023

Interpersonal online interactions are key to digital learning pedagogies and student experiences. Researchers use learner log and text data collected by technologies that mediate learner interactions online to provide indicators about interpersonal interactions. However, analytical approaches used to derive these indicators face conceptual, methodological, and practical challenges. Existing analytical approaches are not well aligned with the theories of digital learning, lack rigor, and are not easily replicable. To address these challenges, we put forward a multi-level framework linking indicators of individual posting with group-level communication and emergent relational structures. We exemplify the use of the framework by analyzing twenty online and blended courses. Empirical insights demonstrate how indicators at these three levels relate to each other and to potential instructor decisions. Our conclusion highlights current gaps in the framework and the areas for future work.
The Impact of Longitudinal Substance Use Patterns on the Risk of Opioid Agonist Therapy Discontinuation: A Repeated Measures Latent Class Analysis
Authors: Cui Zishan , Karamouzian Mohammad , Law Michael , Hayashi Kanna , Milloy M-J , Kerr Thomas
Published: June 2023

Polysubstance use is prevalent among individuals on opioid agonist treatment (OAT), yet past studies have focused primarily on distinct substances and their association with OAT retention. Data was collected from two prospective cohorts between 2005 and 2020 in Vancouver, Canada. Among 13,596 visits contributed by 1445 participants receiving OAT, we employed repeated measures latent class analysis using seven indicators and identified four longitudinal substance use classes. Using marginal structural Cox modeling, we found that compared to the primarily crack use class, the two opioid and stimulant use classes carried a higher risk of OAT discontinuation, while the primarily cannabis and crack use class had a lower OAT discontinuation risk. Our findings highlight the need for integrated treatment strategies to manage the co-use of opioids and stimulants during receipt of OAT and suggest future research should explore the potential of cannabis as a harm reduction strategy or adjunctive treatment to OAT.

Word count: 150/150.
Gesundheits-Apps in der hausärztlichen Versorgung
Authors: Breinbauer Mareike , Jansky Michael
Published: June 2023

Hintergrund

Gesundheits-Apps sind vor dem Hintergrund der Ausweitung der digitalen Transformation im Gesundheitswesen höchst relevant. Es gibt eine Vielzahl an Studien, die sich mit dem Nutzen bestimmter Gesundheits-Apps oder ihrer Verbreitung in der Allgemeinbevölkerung befassen. Wenig ist allerdings bekannt über die tatsächliche Nutzung und Verbreitung von Gesundheits-Apps unter Patient:innen in der hausärztlichen Versorgung.

Methoden

Zwischen Juli 2021 und Februar 2022 wurde eine schriftliche Wartezimmerbefragung in hausärztlichen Praxen in Rheinland-Pfalz durchgeführt. Insgesamt wurden 1024 Patient:innen in 25 Praxen befragt. Aufgrund des explorativen Ansatzes erfolgte hauptsächlich eine deskriptive und bivariate Datenanalyse.

Ergebnisse

Rund 46 % der Patient:innen nutzen Gesundheits-Apps, 29 % können sich eine Nutzung in Zukunft vorstellen und 25 % lehnen die Nutzung ab. Die Nutzer:innen sind hauptsächlich jüngere, gesunde und formal höher gebildete Patient:innen. Die Anwendung erfolgt überwiegend aus Fitness- und Lifestylegründen und weniger aus medizinischen Gründen oder zur Prävention. Die Mehrheit (86 %) nutzt Gesundheits-Apps ohne Absprache mit Hausärzt:innen. Bedenken bestehen hinsichtlich des Datenschutzes und der Weitergabe sensibler Daten. Unabhängig davon würden 76 % der Patient:innen Apps auf Rezept nutzen.

Schlussfolgerung

Gesundheits-Apps erreichen bereits viele, jedoch längst nicht alle Patient:innen in der hausärztlichen Versorgung. Um das Potenzial voll ausschöpfen zu können und mehr Patient:innen zu erreichen, sind verschiedene Voraussetzungen erforderlich. Die Nutzung von Gesundheits-Apps generell, wie auch die Ergebnisse aus den genutzten Apps, sollten stärker mit den behandelnden Ärzt:innen abgestimmt werden. Durch Aufklärung über die Nützlichkeit und die Empfehlung von medizinischen und niederschwelligen Gesundheits-Apps kann der Zugang zu Prävention für Patient:innengruppen erleichtert werden, die ansonsten (noch) nicht von digitalen Gesundheitsanwendungen profitieren.
Hypertonic Saline Versus Other Intracranial-Pressure-Lowering Agents for Patients with Acute Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Bernhardt Keeley , McClune William , Rowland Matthew J. , Shah Akshay
Published: June 2023

Acute traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of mortality and disability worldwide. Intracranial pressure (ICP)-lowering is a critical management priority in patients with moderate to severe acute TBI. We aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of hypertonic saline (HTS) versus other ICP-lowering agents in patients with TBI. We conducted a systematic search from 2000 onward for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing HTS vs. other ICP-lowering agents in patients with TBI of all ages. The primary outcome was the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score at 6 months (PROSPERO CRD42022324370). Ten RCTs (760 patients) were included. Six RCTs were included in the quantitative analysis. There was no evidence of an effect of HTS on the GOS score (favorable vs. unfavorable) compared with other agents (risk ratio [RR] 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.48–1.40; n = 406; 2 RCTs). There was no evidence of an effect of HTS on all-cause mortality (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.60–1.55; n = 486; 5 RCTs) or total length of stay (RR 2.36, 95% CI − 0.53 to 5.25; n = 89; 3 RCTs). HTS was associated with adverse hypernatremia compared with other agents (RR 2.13, 95% CI 1.09–4.17; n = 386; 2 RCTs). The point estimate favored a reduction in uncontrolled ICP with HTS, but this was not statistically significant (RR 0.52, 95% CI 0.26–1.04; n = 423; 3 RCTs). Most included RCTs were at unclear or high risk of bias because of lack of blinding, incomplete outcome data, and selective reporting. We found no evidence of an effect of HTS on clinically important outcomes and that HTS is associated with adverse hypernatremia. The included evidence was of low to very low certainty, but ongoing RCTs may help to the reduce this uncertainty. In addition, heterogeneity in GOS score reporting reflects the need for a standardized TBI core outcome set.
Work-family enrichment and parental burnout: the mediating effects of parenting sense of competence and parenting stress
Authors: Wang Wei , Song Tingting , Chen Shen , Li Yimin , Li Yongxin
Published: June 2023

Recently, the topic of parental burnout has gathered much attention and studies have begun to integrate the parenting and work domain. In this regard, this study aimed to explore the association between work-family enrichment and parental burnout, and the mediation effects of parenting sense of competence and parenting stress. Data were collected at three different time points and questionnaires were distributed to 507 mothers of adolescents. Mothers were asked to report their work-family enrichment and parental burnout at Time (1) Then, their parenting sense of competence and parenting stress at Time (2) Finally, their parental burnout at Time (3) The results of bootstrapping indicated the following: (1) work-family enrichment showed negative association with parental burnout; (2) parenting sense of competence showed negative association with parental burnout, while parenting stress showed positive relation with parental burnout; (3) the relations between work-family enrichment and parental burnout was mediated by parenting sense of competence and parenting stress. Mothers should be made aware that resources from the work domain could buffer against parental burnout directly and indirectly and that when dealing with parental burnout, it is better to take a comprehensive perspective from both family and work domains and pay more attention to the relationships between the two domains.
US and Japanese adolescents’ emotions across time: variation by valence and arousal
Authors: Kyeong Yena , Knapp Sarah E. , Takahashi Yusuke , Davis Elizabeth L. , Cheung Cecilia
Published: June 2023

Experiencing emotions is a complex process that varies across social contexts (e.g., culture) and over time. The current research examined the levels and trajectories of self-reported emotions among US (n = 321) and Japanese (n = 388) adolescents (age range: 11–14 at Time 1). Emotions were conceptualized as high arousal positive (HAP), low arousal positive (LAP), high arousal negative (HAN), and low arousal negative (LAN). At each time point, US adolescents (vs. Japanese) showed greater positive and lower negative emotions (both arousal levels). Positive and negative emotions were negatively associated in the US, but the associations were not present or were positive in Japan. While US adolescents’ HAP and LAN emotions remained stable, Japanese adolescents showed increases in HAP and LAN emotions over time. However, both groups showed increases at similar rates for HAN and no change in LAP emotions. Collectively, findings suggest that emotions are both pancultural and culture-specific and highlight the value of considering valence and arousal in cross-cultural examinations of emotions.
The Concept of Agent in Biology: Motivations and Meanings
Authors: Okasha Samir
Published: June 2023

Biological agency has received much attention in recent philosophy of biology. But what is the motivation for introducing talk of agency into biology and what is meant by “agent”? Two distinct motivations can be discerned. The first is that thinking of organisms as agents helps to articulate what is distinctive about organisms vis-à-vis other biological entities. The second is that treating organisms as agent-like is a useful heuristic for understanding their evolved behavior. The concept of agent itself may be understood in at least four different ways: minimal agent, intelligent agent, rational agent, and intentional agent. Which understanding is most appropriate depends on which of the two motivations we are concerned with.
The Impact of Preoperative abnormal Electrocardiography on Anesthesia management among older surgical patients in southern Ethiopia: Prospective cohort study
Authors: Mossie Addisu , Besha Aschalew , Getachew Hailemariam , Girma Timsel , Gedeno Kanbiro
Published: June 2023

Abstract

Background

Due to their advanced age and the prevalence of numerous co-morbid conditions, elderly patients scheduled for surgery are at risk for preoperative ECG abnormalities. Although preoperative ECG is frequently used to identify cardiovascular diseases and reduce intraoperative morbidity and mortality, its impact in predicting perioperative cardiovascular complications is under debate.

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of preoperative abnormal ECG on anesthesia management among older surgical patients in southern Ethiopia, 2022.

Method

ology: A multicenter prospective observational study on 246 elderly surgical patients recruited consecutively was conducted at three teaching hospitals in southern Ethiopia. Data were entered into Epidata version 4.6, then exported and analyzed in STATA version 16. The data was presented in the appropriate manner, using numbers, frequencies, tables, charts, and figures. To test categorical variables, the Chi-square test was used. P-values of 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Result

In this study, 120 (48.78%) of older surgical patients had abnormal preoperative ECGs. In terms of severity, 55.3% were classified as minor, while 44.16% were major ECG abnormalities. 26 (21.66%) of patients with abnormal ECG were decided as unfit for anesthesia and reasons for the decision were the need for further investigation, consultation, and optimization. In addition, 7.31% of patients were delayed due to an abnormal ECG with a mean operative delay of 4.23 days. Preoperative abnormal ECG influenced the decision of anesthesia plan in four (1.62%) of the cases. Patients with an abnormal ECG prior to surgery were more likely to experience an intraoperative arrhythmia (p-value = 0.001).

Conclusion

and recommendation: Almost half (48.78%) of elderly patients presenting for surgery have an abnormal ECG, which impacts patients by postponing surgery and necessitating further investigation. Preoperative ECG is recommended prior to any elective surgery as early as 50 years, especially for those with risk factors.

Highlights
Ayer on Religious Language
Authors: Law Stephen
Published: June 2023

Here is a brief introduction to Ayer's radical criticism of religious belief. According to Ayer, a sentence like ‘God exists’ doesn't assert something false; rather, it fails to assert anything at all.
A Cloud‐Free Approach to Modeling Daily Downwelling Longwave Irradiance at Global Scale
Authors: Bright Ryan M. , Eisner Stephanie
Published: June 2023

Parametric modeling of downwelling longwave irradiance under all‐sky conditions (LW↓) typically involves “correcting” a clear‐ (or non‐overcast) sky model estimate using solar‐irradiance‐based proxies of cloud cover in lieu of actual cloud cover given uncertainties and measurement challenges of the latter. While such approaches are deemed sound, their application in time and space is inherently limited. We report on a correction model free of solar irradiance‐derived cloud proxies that is applicable at the true daily (24 hr) and global scales. The new “cloud‐free” correction model demonstrates superior performance in a range of environments relative to existing cloud‐free modeling approaches and to corrections based on solar‐derived cloudiness proxies. Literature‐based performance benchmarking indicates a performance that is often comparable to—and in some cases superior to—performances yielded by conventional parametric modeling approaches employing locally or regionally calibrated parameters, as well as to performances of satellite‐based algorithms.
Non-targeted analysis (NTA) and suspect screening analysis (SSA): a review of examining the chemical exposome
Authors: Manz Katherine E. , Feerick Anna , Braun Joseph M. , Feng Yong-Lai , Hall Amber , Koelmel Jeremy , Manzano Carlos , Newton Seth R. , Pennell Kurt D. , Place Benjamin J. , Godri Pollitt Krystal J. , Prasse Carsten , Young Joshua A.
Published: June 2023

Non-targeted analysis (NTA) and suspect screening analysis (SSA) are powerful techniques that rely on high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and computational tools to detect and identify unknown or suspected chemicals in the exposome. Fully understanding the chemical exposome requires characterization of both environmental media and human specimens. As such, we conducted a review to examine the use of different NTA and SSA methods in various exposure media and human samples, including the results and chemicals detected. The literature review was conducted by searching literature databases, such as PubMed and Web of Science, for keywords, such as “non-targeted analysis”, “suspect screening analysis” and the exposure media. Sources of human exposure to environmental chemicals discussed in this review include water, air, soil/sediment, dust, and food and consumer products. The use of NTA for exposure discovery in human biospecimen is also reviewed. The chemical space that has been captured using NTA varies by media analyzed and analytical platform. In each media the chemicals that were frequently detected using NTA were: per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and pharmaceuticals in water, pesticides and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil and sediment, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds in air, flame retardants in dust, plasticizers in consumer products, and plasticizers, pesticides, and halogenated compounds in human samples. Some studies reviewed herein used both liquid chromatography (LC) and gas chromatography (GC) HRMS to increase the detected chemical space (16%); however, the majority (51%) only used LC-HRMS and fewer used GC-HRMS (32%). Finally, we identify knowledge and technology gaps that must be overcome to fully assess potential chemical exposures using NTA. Understanding the chemical space is essential to identifying and prioritizing gaps in our understanding of exposure sources and prior exposures.

Impact statement

This review examines the results and chemicals detected by analyzing exposure media and human samples using high-resolution mass spectrometry based non-targeted analysis (NTA) and suspect screening analysis (SSA).
Engram neurons: Encoding, consolidation, retrieval, and forgetting of memory
Authors: Guskjolen Axel , Cembrowski Mark S.
Published: June 2023

Tremendous strides have been made in our understanding of the neurobiological substrates of memory – the so-called memory “engram”. Here, we integrate recent progress in the engram field to illustrate how engram neurons transform across the “lifespan” of a memory — from initial memory encoding, to consolidation and retrieval, and ultimately to forgetting. To do so, we first describe how cell-intrinsic properties shape the initial emergence of the engram at memory encoding. Second, we highlight how these encoding neurons preferentially participate in synaptic- and systems-level consolidation of memory. Third, we describe how these changes during encoding and consolidation guide neural reactivation during retrieval, and facilitate memory recall. Fourth, we describe neurobiological mechanisms of forgetting, and how these mechanisms can counteract engram properties established during memory encoding, consolidation, and retrieval. Motivated by recent experimental results across these four sections, we conclude by proposing some conceptual extensions to the traditional view of the engram, including broadening the view of cell-type participation within engrams and across memory stages. In collection, our review synthesizes general principles of the engram across memory stages, and describes future avenues to further understand the dynamic engram.
Microglial Galectin3 enhances endothelial metabolism and promotes pathological angiogenesis via Notch inhibition by competitively binding to Jag1
Authors: Zhou Zi-Yi , Chang Tian-Fang , Lin Zhi-Bin , Jing Yu-Tong , Wen Li-Shi , Niu Ya-Li , Bai Qian , Guo Chang-Mei , Sun Jia-Xing , Wang Yu-Sheng , Dou Guo-Rui
Published: June 2023

Microglia were considered as immune cells in inflammation until their angiogenic role was widely understood. Although the pro-inflammatory role of microglia in retinal angiogenesis has been explored, little is known about its role in pro-angiogenesis and the microglia–endothelia interaction. Here, we report that galectin-3 (Gal3) released by activated microglia functions as a communicator between microglia and endothelia and competitively binds to Jag1, thus inhibiting the Notch signaling pathway and enhancing endothelial angiogenic metabolism to promote angiogenesis. These results suggest that Gal3 may be a novel and effective target in the treatment of retinal angiogenesis.
The dynamics of pattern matching in camouflaging cuttlefish
Authors: Woo Theodosia , Liang Xitong , Evans Dominic A. , Fernandez Olivier , Kretschmer Friedrich , Reiter Sam , Laurent Gilles
Published: June 2023

Many cephalopods escape detection using camouflage1. This behaviour relies on a visual assessment of the surroundings, on an interpretation of visual-texture statistics2–4 and on matching these statistics using millions of skin chromatophores that are controlled by motoneurons located in the brain5–7. Analysis of cuttlefish images proposed that camouflage patterns are low dimensional and categorizable into three pattern classes, built from a small repertoire of components8–11. Behavioural experiments also indicated that, although camouflage requires vision, its execution does not require feedback5,12,13, suggesting that motion within skin-pattern space is stereotyped and lacks the possibility of correction. Here, using quantitative methods14, we studied camouflage in the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis as behavioural motion towards background matching in skin-pattern space. An analysis of hundreds of thousands of images over natural and artificial backgrounds revealed that the space of skin patterns is high-dimensional and that pattern matching is not stereotyped—each search meanders through skin-pattern space, decelerating and accelerating repeatedly before stabilizing. Chromatophores could be grouped into pattern components on the basis of their covariation during camouflaging. These components varied in shapes and sizes, and overlay one another. However, their identities varied even across transitions between identical skin-pattern pairs, indicating flexibility of implementation and absence of stereotypy. Components could also be differentiated by their sensitivity to spatial frequency. Finally, we compared camouflage to blanching, a skin-lightening reaction to threatening stimuli. Pattern motion during blanching was direct and fast, consistent with open-loop motion in low-dimensional pattern space, in contrast to that observed during camouflage.
Amifostine attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice through inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway
Authors: Yang Wenting , Pan Lin , Cheng Yiju , Wu Xiao , Huang Songsong , Du Juan , Zhu Honglan , Zhang Menglin , Zhang Yuquan
Published: June 2023

Amifostine is a normal cell protection agent, not only used in the adjuvant therapy of lung cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, bone tumor, digestive tract tumor, blood system tumor and other cancers in order to reduce the toxicity of chemotherapy drugs, and recent studies have reported that the drug can also reduce lung tissue damage in patients with pulmonary fibrosis, but its mechanism of action is not yet fully understood. In this study, we explored the potential therapeutic effects and molecular mechanisms of AMI on bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. A mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis was established using BLM. We then assessed histopathological changes, inflammatory factors, oxidative indicators, apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, extracellular matrix changes, and levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway-related proteins in the BLM-treated mice to determine the effect of AMI treatment on these factors. BLM-treated mice had substantial lung inflammation and abnormal extracellular matrix deposition. Overall, treatment with AMI significantly improved BLM-induced lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis. More specifically, AMI alleviated BLM-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, alveolar cell apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and extracellular matrix deposition by regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. This finding that AMI can alleviate pulmonary fibrosis in a mouse model by inhibiting activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway lays a foundation for potential future clinical application of this agent in patients with pulmonary fibrosis.
Genomic analysis of Anderson typing phages of Salmonella Typhimrium: towards understanding the basis of bacteria-phage interaction
Authors: Mohammed Manal , Casjens Sherwood R. , Millard Andrew D. , Harrison Christian , Gannon Lucy , Chattaway Marie Anne
Published: June 2023

The Anderson phage typing scheme has been successfully used worldwide for epidemiological surveillance of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Although the scheme is being replaced by whole genome sequence subtyping methods, it can provide a valuable model system for study of phage-host interaction. The phage typing scheme distinguishes more than 300 definitive types of Salmonella Typhimurium based on their patterns of lysis to a unique collection of 30 specific Salmonella phages. In this study, we sequenced the genomes of 28 Anderson typing phages of Salmonella Typhimurium to begin to characterize the genetic determinants that are responsible for the differences in these phage type profiles. Genomic analysis of typing phages reveals that Anderson phages can be classified into three different groups, the P22-like, ES18-like and SETP3-like clusters. Most Anderson phages are short tailed P22-like viruses (genus Lederbergvirus); but phages STMP8 and STMP18 are very closely related to the lambdoid long tailed phage ES18, and phages STMP12 and STMP13 are related to the long noncontractile tailed, virulent phage SETP3. Most of these typing phages have complex genome relationships, but interestingly, two phage pairs STMP5 and STMP16 as well as STMP12 and STMP13 differ by a single nucleotide. The former affects a P22-like protein involved in DNA passage through the periplasm during its injection, and the latter affects a gene whose function is unknown. Using the Anderson phage typing scheme would provide insights into phage biology and the development of phage therapy for the treatment of antibiotic resistant bacterial infections.
Electrochemical, surface analysis, computational and anticorrosive studies of novel di-imine Schiff base on X65 steel surface
Authors: Nasser Ahmed. , Migahed M. A. , EL Basiony N. M. , Abd-El-Bary H. M. , Mohamed Tarek A.
Published: June 2023

The inhibitory effect of di-imine-SB namely ((N1Z, N4E)-N1, N4-bis (4 (dimethylamino) benzylidene) butane 1,4-diamine) on X65-steel in 1 M HCl has been investigated experimentally and theoretically. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), and weight loss outcomes display the anticorrosion properties of “di-imine- SB”. The inhibitory efficiency exceeds 90% at the optimal concentration of 1 × 10–3 M “di-imine- SB”. The metal surface was examined further using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The effectiveness of the di-imine-SB is returned into its adsorption on X65-steel surface and found in agreement with Langmuir adsorption isotherm. According to the standard Gibbs free energy of adsorption$$({\Delta G}_{ads}^{^\circ })$$(ΔGads∘), di-imine-SB adsorption tends to be chemical rather than physical, it increases the activation energy ($${\mathrm{E}}_{a}$$Ea) of metal dissolution reaction and makes it hard to occur. The PDP data suggested anodic and cathodic type of the di-imine-SB inhibitor. Meanwhile, increasing the resistance of X65-steel to 301 Ω cm2after adding 1 mM of di-imine-SB confirms its protective effect. Whereas, the positive value of the fraction of electron transference (ΔN, 0.746), confirms the affinity of di-imine-SB to share electrons to the partially filed 3d-orbital of Fe forming strong protective film over X65-steel surface. Aided by Monte Carlo (MC) simulation, the calculated adsorption energy (Eads) suggests excessive adsorption affinity of di-imine-SB on metal surface over the corrosive chlorides and hydronium ions. A good correlation between the theoretical hypothesis and the experimental inhibition efficiency has been achieved. The comparative study showed the superior of the di-imine-SB as potential corrosion inhibitor compared with those reported before. Finally, global reactivity descriptors; electron affinity (A), ionization potential (I), electronegativity (χ), dipole moment (µ), global hardness ($$\eta$$η), electrophilicity index and, Fukui indices were also calculated and found well correlated to the reactivity of di-imine-SB.
Glazes induced degradation of tea catechins
Authors: Xin Yunzi , Shido Sota , Kato Kunihiko , Shirai Takashi
Published: June 2023

In present work, the degradation behavior of tea catechins on various commercial glazes was elucidated for the first time. Four kinds of Japanese typical commercial glaze powders (Oribe /Namako/Irabo /Toumei) based on Fe/Co /Cu /Ti oxides were utilized and deposited on ceramic tiles. Tea solution extracted from green tea leaves at 80 °C and then utilized for the examination of degradation behavior with glazes to meet a nearly identical condition in human daily tea drinking with ceramicwares. It was found that the degradation of tea catechins significantly dependent on the chemical structure of glazes, that is: Fe/Cu/Co oxides contained glazes can promote the degradation of epigallocatechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin gallate and epicatechin gallate, while Ti oxide contained glaze stimulated the degradation of epigallocatechin gallate selectively. Coloring pigments were produced in degraded tea solutions, whose color shows glaze dependent property. We presume that these color pigments can be assigned as oxytheotannin, especially theaflavin and its oxides as well as thearubigins, that produced through the polymerization of intermediate free radical catechin and/or the ortho-quinone generated by catalytic effect of glaze oxides worked as Lewis’s acids. The specific function of glazes on degradation of catechins discovered here not only provides principal information for design and development of functional materials but also bring new impacts on daily tea drinking and long-term human health-related issues.
An Alzheimer’s disease category progression sub-grouping analysis using manifold learning on ADNI
Authors: van der Haar Dustin , Moustafa Ahmed , Warren Samuel L. , Alashwal Hany , van Zyl Terence
Published: June 2023

Many current statistical and machine learning methods have been used to explore Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and its associated patterns that contribute to the disease. However, there has been limited success in understanding the relationship between cognitive tests, biomarker data, and patient AD category progressions. In this work, we perform exploratory data analysis of AD health record data by analyzing various learned lower dimensional manifolds to separate early-stage AD categories further. Specifically, we used Spectral embedding, Multidimensional scaling, Isomap, t-Distributed Stochastic Neighbour Embedding, Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection, and sparse denoising autoencoder based manifolds on the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset. We then determine the clustering potential of the learned embeddings and then determine if category sub-groupings or sub-categories can be found. We then used a Kruskal–sWallis H test to determine the statistical significance of the discovered AD subcategories. Our results show that the existing AD categories do exhibit sub-groupings, especially in mild cognitive impairment transitions in many of the tested manifolds, showing there may be a need for further subcategories to describe AD progression.
Decomposing acute malnutrition by educational inequality of mother’s among under five children in Jammu and Kashmir
Authors: Tariq Insha , Khan Javaid Iqbal , Malik Manzoor Ahmad
Published: June 2023

Health outcomes in the state of Jammu and Kashmir have shown improvement in recent decades. However, nutritional achievements, particularly among children under the age of five, have not seen similar progress. Various factors influence the nutritional status of this age group, with the socio-cultural and biological attributes of mothers being considered significant determinants. While some studies have examined these attributes, there is a scarcity of research exploring the causal link between socio-culturally determined factors, such as maternal education, and child nutritional achievements, especially in Indian states located in North India. This paper aims to address this gap by analysing the prevalence of acute malnutrition (stunting) among children under five in Jammu and Kashmir in relation to educational inequality among mothers. The latest round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) is used to assess the levels of stunting (low height for age) among children, considering the literacy status of mothers and other control variables. Bivariate and multivariable methods are employed to study the association and identify risk factors. Additionally, the Oaxaca decomposition method is used to analyse the educational gap in factors associated with child stunting. The results indicate a higher prevalence of stunting among children of uneducated mothers (29%) compared to those of educated mothers (25%). The findings demonstrate a lower risk of stunting among children whose mothers are literate (OR 0.89). The Oaxaca decomposition analysis reveals a statistically significant difference in stunting between children based on their mother's education. These results highlight the wide disparities in acute malnutrition among children due to variations in maternal education. It is therefore crucial for policymakers to prioritize efforts to reduce educational disparities in order to alleviate the nutritional burden faced by children.
Observe without disturbing: tracer particles sense local stresses in cell collectives without affecting the cancer cell dynamics
Authors: Sinha Sumit , Samanta Himadri , Thirumalai D.
Published: June 2023

Pressure on cancer cells, inferred by embedding inert compressible tracer particles in a growing multicellular spheroid (MCS), decreases monotonically as the distance from the core of the MCS increases.
Non-invasive detection of bladder cancer via microfluidic immunoassay of the protein biomarker NMP22
Authors: Guan Xiali , Lu Da , Chen Zhigang , Wang Zhuya , Zhou Gang , Fan Yubo
Published: June 2023

A novel PDMS chip with the right-moon arrays is designed and modified for the early detection of bladder cancer.