bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Blue Carbon Stock of Mangrove Ecosystem in Telok Bangko Bontang
Authors: Sumarsih N , Saptarini D , Hidayati D , Ashuri N M , Oktafitria D , Tawakkal R I , Cahya S , Mulyadi Y , Armono H D
Published: November 2023

Mangroves have high primary productivity so they are known as good carbon storage and absorbers (carbon sequestrators). This ability plays a very important role in the regulation of climate mitigation because the ability of mangrove sequestrators can be utilized to absorb CO2 anthropogenic emissions. Telok Bangko, Loktuan Village, North Bontang, East Kalimantan is an area that has a mangrove ecosystem area, but is also surrounded by industrial areas and settlements. For this reason, this study aimed to assess the mangrove tree species, information on biomass, potential carbon stocks, and CO2 absorption values at that location. Sampling was carried out using the crossed quadrant transect method. At each location the transect was carried out four times. Each transect has four crossed quadrants measuring 10 m x 10 m. In each quadrant, species identification was carried out and then the circumference of the trunk at breast height (Diamter at Breast Height) for mangrove trees (diameter > 4 cm) was measured using a tape measure. Calculation of estimated stored biomass in mangroves using allometric equations using DBH data. Next, estimates of carbon stocks and carbon uptake are calculated. These results will be presented quantitatively descriptive. From this study, 11 species were found, namely Rhizophora mucronata, Avicennia marina, Sonneratia alba, Sonneratia ovata, Derris trifoliata, Ceriops tagal, Lumnitzera racemosa, Xylocarpus granatum, Terminalia catappa, Thespesia populnea, and Wedelia biflora. The results of estimating the carbon stock of the mangrove ecosystem in Bangko Bay were 2236.36 tonnes/ha with a biomass value of 4819.74 tonnes/ha. While in the HGB area, the results of carbon stocks were 2980.48 tonnes/ha with a biomass value of 6423.44 tonnes/ha. Estimated mangrove CO2 absorption in Bangko Bay was 8207.44 tons/ha. Meanwhile, mangrove CO2 absorption in HGB land was 10938.35 tons/ha.
Post Consumed Textile Waste Management and its Impacts on the Environment and Economy in Bandung City
Authors: Prayuda A D , Sembiring E
Published: November 2023

The textile industry has a strategic role in Indonesia’s economic growth, from employment to high export value, with Bandung City as one of its icons with export commodities during 2018-2021 reaching $82.3 million, which also have various negative impacts on the environment. Total textile waste globally, 88% ends up in landfills and incinerators, and it will increase to 68% in 2030 if business as usual is maintained. Post-consumed textile waste covers 88% of the total waste and tends to be more difficult to manage than pre-consumed textile waste due to hygiene and collection constraints that depend on the consumers of these textile products. This study aims to determine the amount of post-consumed textile waste generation along with the fate behaviour carried out by the consumer and formulate a post-consumed textile waste management strategy to reduce 31.89% of greenhouse gas and waste generation according to Indonesia’s NDC 2030 target. Waste generation and its handling behaviour by the community were determined using a random sampling survey and projected based on the value of industrial growth and population growth in Bandung City towards 2030. The results were analysed based on emission factors and other environmental impacts based on IPCC, USEPA, and other supporting journals. The study reveals that the generation of post-consumed textile waste in Bandung is 19.87 Gg/year (7.90 kg/person/year) and the fate behaviours currently rely on individual behaviours in donated, sold, reused, disposed of and other treatments. The study proposes a strategy to improve the system by preventing burning and dumping into rivers, increasing sorting to be processed into new textile products, and treating in landfill using incinerator. The strategy can save 144 billion litters of water, 9.256 thousand tons of chemicals, 314.21 tons of dyes, 355.6 m2/year of landfills, and save Rp.1.273 trillion/year of textile production costs, and most importantly, can keep GHG emissions at 0.435 Gg/year and waste generation at 3.552 Gg/year.
Sustainable Leachate Treatment Plant System at Landfill Site: A Multicriteria Analysis Approach
Authors: Chaerul Mochammad , Mauluddina Gina , Agustina Elprida , Nurdiani Dinda Annisa
Published: November 2023

Leachate generated from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfill may cause various negative impacts, therefore it should be treated properly in a Leachate Treatment Plant (LTP). The paper aims to select a more sustainable LTP system in Indonesia by applying Analytic Network Process (ANP) as multicriteria analysis approach. 5 alternative LTP systems were analyzed using 5 criteria namely economic, environmental, social, technical, and institutional capacity with a total of 25 sub-criteria. Total 36 respondents from municipality staffs, academics, professionals, and LTP operators were interviewed by adopting pair wise comparison. The results from Driving Dependence Power Analysis (DDPA) showed that sub-criteria for operating costs (E2), maintenance costs (E3), processing effectiveness (T1) and monitoring needs (T3) have the highest dependence power value. Sub-criteria of the operational cost (E2) and the availability of regulations (K2) have the highest driving power value. Main considerations for selecting LTP system at a final disposal site by respondents were economic criteria (weight 0.3219) and water protection sub-criteria (L2, weight 0.17). Top priority of the technology chosen by respondents were Alternative#1 consist of Anaerobic, Facultative and Maturation ponds and Biofilter.
A sustainable approach to managing city park waste through biochar as a renewable energy source
Authors: Hasfita F , Sembiring E , Damanhuri E
Published: November 2023

An abundant natural resource known as lignocellulosic biomass is seen to be a promising and sustainable alternative to renewable energy. A carbon-rich, porous substance called biochar is created when biomass is thermally decomposed during pyrolysis procedures in order to make biofuels. Biochar can be made in big industrial facilities or on a local scale. In order to limit the usage of fossil fuels and find a solution for managing urban park garbage, this project will examine the potential of biochar made from waste from city parks as a renewable energy source. A 25-gram natural zeolite catalyst was used to produce biochar at temperatures between 100 and 500 °C with sample weights of 50, 100, 150, and 200 grams. Calorimetric analysis, FTIR analysis, SEM analysis, XRF analysis, ultimate analysis, and proximate analysis are used to characterize the product. The results showed that the zeolite process produced the maximum calorific value of biochar at 6009.8 cal/gram, the highest yield of biochar at 200 °C, and the weight of 50 grams of biomass without a catalyst at 96%. Aliphatic OH and CH groups associated with phenols, alcohols, and carboxylic acids can be seen using FTIR analysis. Large holes can be seen in leaf litter biochar according to SEM examination. For biochar products, the XRF examination of the metal elements Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Rb, Sr, Na, Mg, Sr, and Pb is within the permitted limits. Leaf waste can be converted into a non-toxic renewable energy source because biochar has a low sulfur concentration of 4.0%. The findings of this study are anticipated to fill in some gaps left by earlier studies, particularly with regard to the use of garbage from municipal parks and the advancement of renewable energy sources..
Estimation and Spatial Analysis of Agriculture Plastic Waste Case Study: Karangdowo Subdistrict, Klaten Regency, Central Java Indonesia
Authors: Rahmawati S. , Yuriandala Y. , Ega  , Prakoso H. P.
Published: November 2023

Plastic waste is well known as generated from domestic activities; however, agricultural activities, including fertilizing, spraying pesticides, and soil covering, have the potential to generate plastic waste. Many studies indicated that agricultural plastic waste (APW) can cause pollution of agricultural land, impacting soil health, biodiversity, and productivity. Therefore, this study aims to estimate the loading rate of APW and its potential for recycling. The data was collected from farmers in Karangdowo district, Klaten City, Central Java province, Indonesia, based on clustering and random samples. Data on land area, crop type, planting frequency, pesticide and fertilizer application was determined to estimate APW loading rate. Mapping of the estimation of the loading rate of APW and plastic-type in each village was processed using QGIS software. The results show four types of plastic with a total estimation per year: plastic sacks (949.6 kg/year), plastic bottles (182.9 kg/year), plastic bags (697.0 kg/year), and mulch (12913.6 kg/year). There were three types of plastics: High Density polyethylene (HDPE), Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), and polypropylene (PP). Although the horticulture area was less than 10% of total agricultural area in each village, it generated the highest LDPE from the use of mulch. Ringinputih village has the highest estimation of recycle potential HDPE, LDPE, and PP compared with the other villages due to having the most significant horticultural area and variation of crops.
Not just platform, nor cooperatives: worker-owned technologies from below
Authors: Grohmann Rafael
Published: November 2023

This article theorizes about how platform cooperativism is landing in Brazil, challenging dominant notions and presenting a more diverse meaning of worker-owned technologies from below. Drawing on research with platform co-ops under construction in Brazil, the article argues that, in Brazil, platform cooperativism does not necessarily present itself as either a cooperative or a platform. They are prototypes and experiments of worker-owned technologies anchored in local communities and their values. Instead of all these experiences being condensed and captured from Global North epistemic frameworks, there is the production of knowledge by the workers in search of autonomy. The article analyzes potentialities and critiques of platform cooperativism, especially from three dimensions of critique (economics, politics, and technology). It presents perspectives towards diversifying and expanding the meanings of technology in/from Latin America for understanding worker-owned technologies. It discusses two examples of worker-owned technologies: Senoritas Courier and the Homeless Worker Movement.
Contractility measurements for cardiotoxicity screening with ventricular myocardial slices of pigs
Authors: Shi Runzhu , Reichardt Marius , Fiegle Dominik J , Küpfer Linda K , Czajka Titus , Sun Zhengwu , Salditt Tim , Dendorfer Andreas , Seidel Thomas , Bruegmann Tobias
Published: November 2023

Aims

Cardiotoxicity is one major reason why drugs do not enter or are withdrawn from the market. Thus, approaches are required to predict cardiotoxicity with high specificity and sensitivity. Ideally, such methods should be performed within intact cardiac tissue with high relevance for humans and detect acute and chronic side effects on electrophysiological behaviour, contractility, and tissue structure in an unbiased manner. Herein, we evaluate healthy pig myocardial slices and biomimetic cultivation setups (BMCS) as a new cardiotoxicity screening approach.

Methods and results

Pig left ventricular samples were cut into slices and spanned into BMCS with continuous electrical pacing and online force recording. Automated stimulation protocols were established to determine the force–frequency relationship (FFR), frequency dependence of contraction duration, effective refractory period (ERP), and pacing threshold. Slices generated 1.3 ± 0.14 mN/mm2 force at 0.5 Hz electrical pacing and showed a positive FFR and a shortening of contraction duration with increasing pacing rates. Approximately 62% of slices were able to contract for at least 6 days while showing stable ERP, contraction duration–frequency relationship, and preserved cardiac structure confirmed by confocal imaging and X-ray diffraction analysis. We used specific blockers of the most important cardiac ion channels to determine which analysis parameters are influenced. To validate our approach, we tested five drug candidates selected from the Comprehensive in vitro Proarrhythmia Assay list as well as acetylsalicylic acid and DMSO as controls in a blinded manner in three independent laboratories. We were able to detect all arrhythmic drugs and their respective mode of action on cardiac tissue including inhibition of Na+, Ca2+, and hERG channels as well as Na+/Ca2+ exchanger.

Conclusion

We systematically evaluate this approach for cardiotoxicity screening, which is of high relevance for humans and can be upscaled to medium-throughput screening. Thus, our approach will improve the predictive value and efficiency of preclinical cardiotoxicity screening.
Early Versus Late Use of Vedolizumab in Ulcerative Colitis: Clinical, Endoscopic, and Histological Outcomes
Authors: Vermeire Séverine , Hanzel Jurij , Löwenberg Mark , Ferrante Marc , Bossuyt Peter , Hoentjen Frank , Franchimont Denis , Palatka Károly , Peeters Harald , Mookhoek Aart , de Hertogh Gert , Molnár Tamás , van Moerkercke Wouter , Lobatón Triana , Clasquin Esmé , Hulshoff Melanie S , Baert Filip , D’Haens Geert ,   LOVE-UC study group, Vermeire Séverine , Löwenberg Mark , Ferrante Marc , Bossuyt Peter , Hoentjen Frank , Franchimont Denis , Palatka Károly , Peeters Harald , Molnár Tamás , van Moerkercke Wouter , Lobatón Triana , Colard Arnaud , Lambrecht Guy , Louis Edouard , Dutré Joris , Caenepeel Philip , Mares Wout , Jansen Jeroen , van der Woude Janneke , Miheller Pál , Baert Filip , D’Haens Geert
Published: November 2023

Background and Aims

We explored the potential for differential efficacy of vedolizumab between early and late ulcerative colitis [UC] with evaluation of clinical, endoscopic, and histological endpoints.

Methods

This was a multicentre, multinational, open-label study in patients with moderately-to-severely active UC, defining early UC by a disease duration <4 years and bio-naïve and late UC by a disease duration > 4 years and additional exposure to tumour necrosis factor antagonists. Patients received standard treatment with intravenous vedolizumab for 52 weeks [300 mg Weeks 0, 2, 6, every 8 weeks thereafter without escalation]. The primary endpoint was corticosteroid-free clinical remission with endoscopic improvement [total Mayo score ≤2 with no subscore >1] at both Weeks 26 and 52.

Results

A total of 121 patients were included: in the “early” group, 25/59 [42.4%] achieved the primary endpoint versus 19/62 [30.6%] in the “late” group [p = 0.18]. There were no significant differences between the two groups in endoscopic improvement [Week 26: “early” 32/59 [54.2%] versus “late” 29/62 [46.8%]; p = 0.412; Week 52: 27/59 [45.8%] versus 25/62 [40.3%]; p = 0.546] or in histological remission [Robarts Histopathology Index <3 without neutrophils in the epithelium and lamina propria] [Week 26: 24/59 [40.7%] versus 21/62 [33.9%]; p = 0.439; Week 52: 22/59 [37.3%] versus 22/62 [35.5%]; p = 0.837].

Conclusions

No significant differences in clinical, endoscopic, and histological outcomes were observed between “early” and “late” disease.
Left bundle branch pacing better preserves ventricular mechanical synchrony than right ventricular pacing: a two-centre study
Authors: Mao Yankai , Duchenne Jürgen , Yang Yuan , Garweg Christophe , Yang Ying , Sheng Xia , Zhang Jiefang , Ye Yang , Wang Min , Paton Maria F , Puvrez Alexis , Vöros Gabor , Ma Mingming , Fu Guosheng , Voigt Jens-Uwe
Published: November 2023

Aims

Left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) has been shown to better maintain electrical synchrony compared with right ventricular pacing (RVP), but little is known about its impact on mechanical synchrony. This study investigates whether LBBP better preserves left ventricular (LV) mechanical synchronicity and function compared with RVP.

Methods and results

Sixty patients with pacing indication for bradycardia were included: LBBP (n = 31) and RVP (n = 29). Echocardiography was performed before and shortly after pacemaker implantation and at 1-year follow-up. The lateral wall–septal wall (LW–SW) work difference was used as a measure of mechanical dyssynchrony. Septal flash, apical rocking, and septal strain patterns were also assessed. At baseline, LW–SW work difference was small and similar in two groups. SW was markedly decreased, while LW work remained mostly unchanged in RVP, resulting in a larger LW–SW work difference compared with LBBP (1253 ± 687 mmHg·% vs. 439 ± 408 mmHg·%, P < 0.01) at last follow-up. In addition, RVP more often induced septal flash or apical rocking and resulted in more advanced strain patterns compared with LBBP. At 1 year follow-up, LV ejection fraction (EF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) were more decreased in RVP compared with LBBP (ΔLVEF: −7.4 ± 7.0% vs. 0.3 ± 4.1%; ΔLVGLS: −4.8 ± 4.0% vs. −1.4 ± 2.5%, both P < 0.01). In addition, ΔLW–SW work difference was independently correlated with LV adverse remodelling (r = 0.42, P < 0.01) and LV dysfunction (ΔLVEF: r = −0.61, P < 0.01 and ΔLVGLS: r = −0.38, P = 0.02).

Conclusion

LBBP causes less LV mechanical dyssynchrony than RVP as it preserves a more physiologic electrical conduction. As a consequence, LBBP appears to preserve LV function better than RVP.
Epicardial adipose tissue in patients with systemic sclerosis
Authors: Wang Xu , Butcher Steele C , Myagmardorj Rinchyenkhand , Liem Sophie I E , Delgado Victoria , Bax Jeroen J , De Vries-Bouwstra Jeska K , Marsan Nina Ajmone
Published: November 2023

Aims

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has emerged as a mediator between systemic inflammatory disorders and cardiovascular disease, and may therefore play a role in the pathophysiology of cardiac involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc). The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between EAT and left ventricular (LV) function, and to determine the prognostic value of EAT in patients with SSc.

Methods and results

Consecutive patients with SSc who underwent non-contrast thorax computed tomography and echocardiography were included. EAT mass was quantified using dedicated software. The study endpoint was all-cause mortality. A total of 230 SSc patients (age 53 ± 15 years, 14% male) were included. The median value of EAT mass was 67 g (interquartile range: 45–101 g). Patients with increased EAT mass (≥67 g) showed more impaired LV diastolic function as compared with patients with less EAT mass (<67 g), and even after adjusting for age and comorbidities, EAT mass was independently associated with LV diastolic function parameters. During a median follow-up of 8 years, 42 deaths occurred. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that patients with increased EAT mass had higher all-cause mortality rate as compared with patients with less EAT mass (29% vs. 7%; P < 0.001). In the multivariable analysis, EAT was independently associated with all-cause mortality after adjusting for important covariates (HR: 1.006; 95% CI: 1.001–1.010).

Conclusion

In patients with SSc, EAT is independently associated with LV diastolic dysfunction and higher mortality rate.
Influence of BMI percentile on craniofacial morphology and development in adolescents,Part II: elevated BMI is associated with larger final facial dimensions
Authors: Hancock Steven , Carmack Andrea , Kocher Mallory , Rezende Silva Erika , Sulkowski Taylor , Nanney Eleanor , Graves Christina , Mitchell Kelly , Jacox Laura Anne
Published: November 2023

Background

Prevalence of adolescent obesity has markedly increased from 5.2% in 1974 to 19.7% in 2021. Understanding the impacts of obesity is important to orthodontists, as growth acceleration and greater pre-pubertal facial dimensions are seen in children with elevated body mass index (BMI).

Methods

To identify whether adolescent obesity shifts the timing and rate of craniofacial growth resulting in larger post-treatment dimensions, we evaluated cephalometric outcomes in overweight/obese (BMI > 85%, n = 168) and normal weight (n = 158) adolescents (N = 326 total). Cephalometric measurements were obtained from pre- and post-treatment records to measure growth rates and final dimensions and were statistically evaluated with repeated measures analysis of variance and linear regression models.

Results

Overweight and obese adolescents began and finished treatment with significantly larger, bimaxillary prognathic craniofacial dimensions, with elevated mandibular length [articulare-gnathion (Ar-Gn)], maxillary length [condylion-anterior nasal spine (Co-ANS), posterior nasal spine-ANS (PNS-ANS)], and anterior lower face height (ANS-Me), suggesting overweight children grow more overall. However, there was no difference between weight cohorts in the amount of cephalometric change during treatment, and regression analyses demonstrated no correlation between change in growth during treatment and BMI. BMI percentile was a significant linear predictor (P < 0.05) for cephalometric post-treatment outcomes, including Ar-Gn, Co-ANS, ANS-Me, upper face height percentage (UFH:total FH, inverse relationship), lower face height percentage (LFH:total FH), sella-nasion-A-point (SNA), and SN-B-point (SNB).

Limitations

The study is retrospective.

Conclusions

Growth begins earlier in overweight and obese adolescents and continues at a rate similar to normal-weight children during orthodontic treatment, resulting in larger final skeletal dimensions. Orthodontics could begin earlier in overweight patients to time care with growth, and clinicians can anticipate that overweight/obese patients will finish treatment with proportionally larger, bimaxillary-prognathic craniofacial dimensions.
Unhealthy sleep assimilation
Authors: Billari Francesco C , Giuntella Osea , Mazzonna Fabrizio , Stella Luca
Published: November 2023

Migrant health advantages, the ‘healthy immigrant effect’, erode over time, leading to what is known as unhealthy assimilation. Health-related behaviours are central to unhealthy assimilation, and here we focus on an understudied and central part of our daily time: sleep. Building on diverse streams of literature, we conceptualize and empirically study the sleep assimilation patterns of immigrants. With data from Germany, we demonstrate that immigrants sleep significantly more than natives upon arrival, while their sleep ‘advantage’ dissipates with years spent in the host country. We also explore the heterogeneity of the sleep assimilation process by gender, education, wages, work schedules, and job physical intensity.
Involuntary and patient-initiated delays in medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Bronchetti Erin T , Magenheim Ellen B , Bergmann Ethan K
Published: November 2023

This paper uses data from a new, nationally representative survey to study delays in non–COVID-related medical care among US adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. We expand on prior research by taking a comprehensive look at the many reasons patients may have experienced delays in medical care and by studying the longer-run implications of these delays for patients’ self-reported health, use of telemedicine, feelings of regret, and likelihood of delaying care again in the future. Classifying delays in care broadly as involuntary (those due to availability or “supply-side” constraints) or patient-initiated (those due to patient concerns or “demand-side” constraints), we document important differences across demographic groups in the propensity to delay care for these reasons. In contrast to most prior work on this topic, our analyses can disentangle differences in the likelihood of delaying care from differences in pre-pandemic care-seeking behavior. We also demonstrate that the types of medical care that were delayed during the pandemic differed based on whether the delay was involuntary or patient-initiated, as did the duration of the delays and their associations with self-reported health, telemedicine use, and feelings of regret.
COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy: ambiguity in decision-making
Authors: Jones Emma , Neely Eva
Published: November 2023

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, pregnant women/people were identified as an at-risk group of severe COVID-19 disease. Consequently, vaccine uptake among this group became a public health priority. However, the relationship between pregnancy and vaccination decision-making is complex, and the heightened uncertainty and anxiety produced through the pandemic further exacerbated this immunization decision. This study explores COVID-19 vaccination decision-making during pregnancy in Aotearoa New Zealand by using an online story completion survey tool. Ninety-five responses were received and analysed using thematic analysis where ambiguity was a core facet within and across stories. Three ambiguities were identified, including who makes the decision (agential), what the risks are (risk) and how immunity to this threat can be best achieved (immunity). We discuss the implications of this ambiguity and how the strong desire to protect the baby persisted across accounts. The recognition of the rather persistent ambiguity in vaccination decision-making helps conceptualize influencing factors taken into account in a more nuanced manner for further research, public health campaigns and health professionals. Future public health campaigns can consider redistributing responsibility for vaccination decision-making in pregnancy, traverse an either/or perspective of ‘natural’ and ‘artificial’ immunity-boosting and consider how risk is perceived through anecdotes and viral immediacy.
Whole genome sequencing of 4,787 individuals identifies gene-based rare variants in age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Kwong Alan , Zawistowski Matthew , Fritsche Lars G , Zhan Xiaowei , Bragg-Gresham Jennifer , Branham Kari E , Advani Jayshree , Othman Mohammad , Ratnapriya Rinki , Teslovich Tanya M , Stambolian Dwight , Chew Emily Y , Abecasis Gonçalo R , Swaroop Anand
Published: November 2023

Genome-wide association studies have contributed extensively to the discovery of disease-associated common variants. However, the genetic contribution to complex traits is still largely difficult to interpret. We report a genome-wide association study of 2394 cases and 2393 controls for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) via whole-genome sequencing, with 46.9 million genetic variants. Our study reveals significant single-variant association signals at four loci and independent gene-based signals in CFH, C2, C3, and NRTN. Using data from the Exome Aggregation Consortium (ExAC) for a gene-based test, we demonstrate an enrichment of predicted rare loss-of-function variants in CFH, CFI, and an as-yet unreported gene in AMD, ORMDL2. Our method of using a large variant list without individual-level genotypes as an external reference provides a flexible and convenient approach to leverage the publicly available variant datasets to augment the search for rare variant associations, which can explain additional disease risk in AMD.
An Insight into Patients’ Perspectives of Ulcerative Colitis Flares via Analysis of Online Public Forum Posts
Authors: Rubin David T , Torres Joana , Dotan Iris , Xu Lan Terry , Modesto Irene , Woolcott John C , Gardiner Sean , Sands Bruce E
Published: November 2023

Background

The knowledge of patients’ perceptions of factors contributing to ulcerative colitis (UC) flares is limited; however, online patient communications could offer insight. This analysis aimed to identify the most frequent patient-reported triggers and symptoms of UC flares, which could highlight potential interventions for outcome improvement.

Methods

Online posts written pre- and postflare by patients with UC on 8 public forums in 6 countries between January 1, 2019, and February 14, 2021, were identified using flare-related keywords. Flare-related posts were captured and Netbase Quid™ artificial intelligence text analytics and natural language processing software were used to semantically map and identify commonly discussed themes and topics (subsets of themes).

Results

Of >27 000 patient posts, 12 900 were identified as flare related. The most frequent themes were treatment experiences and side effects (28.5% of posts), followed by flare symptoms (22.9% of posts). The most frequent topic was emotional/peer support (9.4% of posts), followed by experiences with mesalamine (and other oral/rectal formulations; 8.0% of posts), and dietary recommendations (6.0% of posts). Stress and anxiety were the most frequently reported flare triggers (37.9% of posts), followed by diet (28.4% of posts). Stress and anxiety were frequently identified as both triggers for, and general symptoms of, flare. Blood in the stool was the most discussed flare indicator (57.8% of posts).

Conclusions

Frequently discussed patient-perceived triggers of UC flares included diet, stress, and anxiety. These results suggest that physicians could incorporate a broader and more holistic approach to UC monitoring and management than is currently practiced.
Treating Autoimmune Diseases With LANCL2 Therapeutics: A Novel Immunoregulatory Mechanism for Patients With Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Tubau-Juni Nuria , Hontecillas Raquel , Leber Andrew J , Alva Sameeksha S , Bassaganya-Riera Josep
Published: November 2023

Lanthionine synthetase C-like 2 (LANCL2) therapeutics have gained increasing recognition as a novel treatment modality for a wide range of autoimmune diseases. Genetic ablation of LANCL2 in mice results in severe inflammatory phenotypes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and lupus. Pharmacological activation of LANCL2 provides therapeutic efficacy in mouse models of intestinal inflammation, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis. Mechanistically, LANCL2 activation enhances regulatory CD4 + T cell (Treg) responses and downregulates effector responses in the gut. The stability and suppressive capacities of Treg cells are enhanced by LANCL2 activation through engagement of immunoregulatory mechanisms that favor mitochondrial metabolism and amplify IL-2/CD25 signaling. Omilancor, the most advanced LANCL2 immunoregulatory therapeutic in late-stage clinical development, is a phase 3 ready, first-in-class, gut-restricted, oral, once-daily, small-molecule therapeutic in clinical development for the treatment of UC and CD. In this review, we discuss this novel mechanism of mucosal immunoregulation and how LANCL2-targeting therapeutics could help address the unmet clinical needs of patients with autoimmune diseases, starting with IBD.
Annotating otoliths with a deep generative model
Authors: Bojesen Troels Arnfred , Denechaud Côme , Malde Ketil
Published: November 2023

Otoliths are a central information source for fish ecology and stock management, conveying important data about age and other life history for individual fish. Traditionally, interpretation of otoliths has required skilled expert readers, but recently deep learning classification and regression models have been trained to extract fish age from images of otoliths from a variety of species. Despite high accuracy in many cases, the adoption of such models in fisheries management has been slow. One reason may be that the underlying mechanisms the model uses to derive its results from the data are opaque, and this lack of legibility makes it challenging to build sufficient trust in the results. Here, we implement a deep learning model that instead of age predicts the location of annotation marks for each of the annuli. This allows an expert to evaluate the model’s performance in detail. The quality of the annotations was judged by a panel of four expert otolith readers in a double-blinded randomized survey. Using a scale from 1 to 5, the generated marks received an average quality score of 4.22, whereas expert annotations received an average score of 4.33. By counting the marks to determine fish age, we obtained an agreement between expert and model annotations of 64% on our test set, which running the model stochastically increased to 69%. Stochastic sampling yields further benefits, including an explicit measure of the model’s uncertainty, the post hoc likelihood of the different age classes for each otolith, and a set of alternative annotation sequences that highlight the structure of the annuli.
The Transnational Social Contract in the Global South
Authors: Sadiq Kamal , Tsourapas Gerasimos
Published: November 2023

How does labor emigration affect state–society relations across postcolonial states? We argue that the opportunity to pursue employment abroad alters a fundamental component of postcolonial states—the post-independence social contract. Such states’ inability to sustain post-independence levels of welfare provision first leads to the development of “emigration management institutions,” which seek to encourage and regulate citizens’ labor emigration, and second, to the widening of the “remittance-welfare gap,” where labor emigration and remittances outpace state-sponsored welfare provision. These mark the emergence of a “transnational social contract,” as states leverage access to employment abroad in exchange for social and political acquiescence. This de-territorialization of the postcolonial social contract leads to de jure and de facto forms of state coercion toward its citizens/migrants, who are commodified by the market-based logic of transnational neo-patrimonialism. We test this argument through a paired comparison and within-case analysis across two postcolonial states in South Asia and the Middle East: Nepal and Jordan. We offer an interregional, South–South migration analysis and a novel framework of understanding the politics of mobility across non-Western states as “migration from below,” which acts as a corrective to the dominance of South–North migration research in international studies.
Evaluation of biochemical assays and optimization of LC–MS-MS analysis for the detection of synthetic urine
Authors: Franke Laura , Fuczik Christian , Hubig Michael , Peters Frank T , Wissenbach Dirk K
Published: November 2023

Ensuring specimen validity is an essential aspect of toxicological laboratories. In recent years, substituting authentic urine specimens for synthetic urine (SU) has become increasingly popular. Such SU products consist of components expected in normal urine and show physiological values for specific gravity and pH. Thus, standard specimen validity testing may fail in revealing adulteration by SU. The present study investigated three methods to distinguish authentic and SU specimens: enzymatic detection of uric acid, the commercially available Axiom Test True SU and liquid chromatography coupled with (tandem) mass spectrometry (LC–MS-MS) analysis of 10 endogenous biomolecules. Additionally, novel direct markers of SU were investigated. Two specimen sets were analyzed by each method. Specimen set A consisted of eight SU products purchased from the Austrian/German market and 43 urine specimens from volunteers of known authenticity, which underwent double-blind analysis. Specimen set B consisted of 137 real urine specimens submitted for drug testing, which were selected due to initial suspicious test results in adulteration testing and reanalyzed by all three methods. Uric acid and LC–MS-MS-based endogenous biomolecule testing showed 100% sensitivity and specificity for set A. The commercial test had 87.5% sensitivity and 97.7% specificity for set A. For set B, uric acid and LC–MS-MS analysis showed almost similar results, even if uric acid was missing one presumptive authentic urine specimen according to LC–MS-MS findings. Nearly half of the SU assignments for the commercial test were presumptive false positives. New SU markers were observed for SU products from the Austrian/German market. One specimen in set B had both an endogenous biomolecule pattern and SU markers suggesting urine dilution with SU. In conclusion, several analytes or methods should be used rather than one, and the most reliable results are achieved if both indirect and direct markers of urine substitution are analyzed.
Using National Agricultural Statistics Service pest management practices survey to assess IPM adoption in California
Authors: Farrar James J
Published: November 2023

Data from the pest management practices survey conducted annually by the National Agriculture Statistics Service were used to estimate the adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) in California. Surveys indicate 75% or greater use rates by acreage of 11 pest management practices in vegetable crop production in 2022 and 7 pest management practices in fruit and nut crop production in 2021. Agronomic crops have fewer pest management practices used on 75% or more of the acreage, with 4 in cotton in 2019, 6 in rice in 2021, 4 in wheat in 2022, and none in barley in 2019. Scouting for diseases, insects and mites, and weeds is the most widely used pest management practice in all the crops. Differences between use rates measured by acreage and use rates measured by farming operations suggest that large and small operations use different pest management practices. Trends indicate flat to increasing use of many pest management practices in general but decreasing use of some pest management practices in small grain crops. Changes in pest management practices and use rates are influenced by many factors, including University of California IPM efforts, changes in pesticide regulations, changes in crop production practices, and consumer pressures. The information from these surveys will support the development of Extension IPM outreach materials by the University of California Statewide IPM Program.
The ubiquity of long-tail lie distributions: seven studies from five continents
Authors: Serota Kim B , Levine Timothy R , Zvi Liza , Markowitz David M , Docan-Morgan Tony
Published: November 2023

Truth-default theory (TDT), a theory of human deception and deception detection, has two propositions that focus on the overall rate of lying and individual variation in the frequency of lying behavior. The distribution of lie prevalence is specified to exhibit a non-normal, positively skewed distribution in which the majority of people are normatively honest, and most lies are told by a few prolific liars. Together, these predictions form the few prolific liars modules in TDT. Although the findings of prior research align with TDT predictions, the pan-cultural scope of TDT warrants testing such predictions with new and diverse samples. The current studies (total N = 3,463) sampled participants from China, Germany, Mexico, Israel, Kenya, Russia, and Brazil. Similar long-tail distributions were observed in each of the seven locations, and in language and cultural subsamples. These findings add to a growing empirical literature providing pan-cultural evidence consistent with TDT.
Pharmaceutical co-crystals: A green way to enhance drug stability and solubility for improved therapeutic efficacy
Authors: Chettri Anisha , Subba Ankita , Singh Govind P , Bag Partha Pratim
Published: November 2023

Pharmaceutical co-crystals have gained significant attention in recent years as a promising green and sustainable method for poorly soluble drugs to improve their solubility, stability, and bioavailability. In the drug development research field, it is an extremely useful technique as it does not require a large number of synthetic steps as well a minimum amount of solvent is utilized or sometimes without solvent. This review presents a comprehensive investigation into the design, synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of pharmaceutical co-crystals. The study focuses on exploring different strategies for co-crystal formation, including co-grinding, solvent evaporation, and liquid-assisted grinding. Various characterization techniques such as SCXRD, PXRD, FTIR, and DSC were employed to confirm the formation and structural features of the co-crystals. The article also highlights the significance of understanding the intermolecular interactions within co-crystals and their influence on physicochemical properties. Furthermore, the article discusses the potential applications of pharmaceutical co-crystals in enhancing drug solubility, dissolution rate, and oral bioavailability, leading to improved therapeutic efficacy. Overall, this review provides valuable insights into the design and development of pharmaceutical co-crystals, offering a promising avenue for overcoming the difficulties brought on by poorly soluble drugs.
Where the bee sucks: a dynamic Bayesian network approach to decision support for pollinator abundance strategies
Authors: Barons Martine J , Shenvi Aditi
Published: November 2023

For policymakers wishing to make evidence-based decisions, one of the challenges is how to combine the relevant information and evidence in a coherent and defensible manner in order to formulate and evaluate candidate policies. Policymakers often need to rely on experts with disparate fields of expertise when making policy choices in complex, multi-faceted, dynamic environments such as those dealing with ecosystem services. The pressures affecting the survival and pollination capabilities of honey bees (Apis mellifera), wild bees, and other pollinators is well documented, but incomplete. In order to estimate the potential effectiveness of various candidate policies to support pollination services, there is an urgent need to quantify the effect of various combinations of variables on the pollination ecosystem service, utilising available information, models and expert judgement. In this paper, we present a new application of the integrating decision support system methodology, using dynamic Bayesian networks, for combining inputs from multiple panels of experts to evaluate policies to support an abundant pollinator population.
Late diagnosis of a giant, pedunculated, cutaneous melanoma: a rare case study in an Australian tertiary centre
Authors: Ganko Annabelle G , Copertino Nicolas
Published: November 2023

Giant melanomas are uncommon tumours that still occur in Australia despite extensive public health messaging on the importance of early detection of skin cancers. We present the case of a 49-year-old female with a giant melanoma of her left arm measuring 101 × 71 × 22 mm, which had been growing for over 1 year and was metastatic on presentation. In this interesting case, we identify reasons for delayed presentation and highlight the importance of multi-disciplinary care in the management of such large tumours, with reference to other cases in the literature.
Coccidioidesspp. exposure among military working dogs in endemic regions of the United States
Authors: Rozier Lege S , Mullaney Sara B , Thompson III George R , Moore Gerald D , Ajufoh Chiweta O , Gerardo Angelina A , Sykes Jane E
Published: November 2023

Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal disease in arid regions of the United States that is predicted to expand with climate change. Cases in military personnel and military working dogs (MWDs) impact personnel readiness and result in healthcare costs. To examine Coccidioides exposure among MWDs, 276 banked serum samples were retrieved from dogs housed in California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah. Using gel immunodiffusion, six (2.1%) specimens were IgG-positive and three (1.1%) were equivocally IgM-positive. The IgG-positive samples were from Arizona (2 [prevalence 8.0%]) and California (4 [3.7%]). These data will guide future efforts to study MWDs as sentinels for human coccidioidomycosis.
Relativistic X-ray reflection and highly ionized absorption in the spectrum of NS LMXB 1A 1744−361
Authors: Mondal Aditya S , Raychaudhuri B , Dewangan G C
Published: November 2023

We present the results from the spectral and timing analysis of the accreting neutron star (NS) 1A 1744−361 from the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope ARray observation performed in its 2022 outbursts. The unabsorbed bolometric X-ray luminosity during this observation in the energy band 0.1–100 keV is 3.9 × 1037 erg s−1, assuming a distance of 9 kpc. During this observation, the source was in the banana branch of the atoll track. The source spectrum exhibits relativistic disc reflection and clear absorption features when an absorbed blackbody and cut-off power-law model describes the continuum emission. The 3–50 keV source spectrum is well fitted using a model combination consisting of an absorbed single-temperature blackbody and a reflection model along with the addition of a warm absorber component. The inner-disc radius, Rin, obtained from the reflection fit is ∼(1.61–2.86)RISCO = (8.4–14.9)Rg (17.6–31.2 km for a 1.4 M⊙ NS). This measurement allowed us to further constrain the magnetic field strength to B ≲ 0.94 × 109 G. The strong absorption features ∼6.91 keV and ∼7.99 keV imply the presence of highly ionized absorbing material with a column density NH of ∼3 × 1022 cm−2, emanating from the accretion disc in the form of disc wind with an outflow velocity of vout ≃ 0.021c ≃ 6300 km s−1.
FRB 20210405I: a nearby Fast Radio Burst localized to sub-arcsecond precision with MeerKAT
Authors: Driessen L N , Barr E D , Buckley D A H , Caleb M , Chen H , Chen W , Gromadzki M , Jankowski F , Kraan-Korteweg R C , Palmerio J , Rajwade K M , Tremou E , Kramer M , Stappers B W , Vergani S D , Woudt P A , Bezuidenhout M C , Malenta M , Morello V , Sanidas S , Surnis M P , Fender R P
Published: November 2023

We present the first sub-arcsecond localized Fast Radio Burst (FRB) detected using MeerKAT. FRB 20210405I was detected in the incoherent beam using the MeerTRAP pipeline on 2021 April 05 with a signal to noise ratio of 140.8 and a dispersion measure of 565.17 pc cm−3. It was detected while MeerTRAP was observing commensally with the ThunderKAT large survey project, and was sufficiently bright that we could use the ThunderKAT 8 s images to localize the FRB. Two different models of the dispersion measure in the Milky Way and halo suggest that the source is either right at the edge of the Galaxy, or outside. This highlights the uncertainty in the Milky Way dispersion measure models, particularly in the Galactic Plane, and the uncertainty of Milky Way halo models. Further investigation and modelling of these uncertainties will be facilitated by future detections and localizations of nearby FRBs. We use the combined localization, dispersion measure, scattering, specific luminosity, and chance coincidence probability information to find that the origin is most likely extra-galactic and identify the likely host galaxy of the FRB: 2MASS J1701249−4932475. Using SALT spectroscopy and archival observations of the field, we find that the host is a disc/spiral galaxy at a redshift of z = 0.066.
Single pulse polarization study of pulsars B0950 + 08 and B1642 − 03: micropulse properties and mixing of orthogonal modes
Authors: Singh Shubham , Gupta Yashwant , De Kishalay
Published: November 2023

We present the results of a high-time resolution polarization study of single pulses from pulsars B0950 + 08 and B1642 − 03. Single pulses from pulsar B0950 + 08 sometimes show isolated micropulses without any significant associated subpulse emission. Assuming that the properties of such micropulses represent the intrinsic nature of micropulse emission, we characterize the width and polarization properties of these ‘intrinsic’ microstructures. Most of the ‘intrinsic’ micropulses ($\sim 90~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$) follow common characteristic polarization properties, while the average width of these micropulses is consistent with the general micropulse population from this pulsar. Single pulses from these pulsars show a diverse range of polarization properties, including depolarization and mixing of two orthogonal modes resulting in polarization position angle jumps. We present a superposition model of the two orthogonal modes which can explain depolarization, the observed position angle jumps, and associated changes in other polarization parameters.