bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overcoming Spiritual Dryness: Transformative Processes Among Religious Brothers and Sisters in Germany
Authors: Gerundt Mareike , Beerenbrock Yvonne , Büssing Arndt
Published: November 2023

One should not regard the experience of spiritual dryness as an insurmountable obstacle in one’s spiritual journey; on the contrary, such periods can catalyze processes of profound transformation. Empirical research indicates that individuals who successfully navigate these challenges report heightened spiritual clarity, greater spiritual depth, and a greater inclination towards altruistic behavior. Against this backdrop, the present study explored the effects of overcoming spiritual dryness among religious sisters and brothers who had spent several decades living in monastic / congregational communities. Using a qualitative approach, we conducted in-depth interviews with 16 brothers and 14 sisters to elicit their perspectives on perceived changes and behaviors in response to phases of spiritual dryness. Drawing on the criteria of qualitative content analysis, we conducted a rigorous, inductive analysis of the data collected from 30 interviews, yielding four main categories of transformative experiences: (1) deepened spiritual connection (to God), (2) profound inner and outer changes, (3) renewed focus on sacred scriptures, and (4) personal wounding or hardly any (perceptible) changes. Christian faith is fundamentally relational, and as our personality constantly develops, our faith journey unfolds in parallel with our personal growth and development. In this context, experiences of spiritual dryness are not uncommon; indeed, they might be essential in nurturing a deeper relationship with the divine. Our findings underscore the potential for transformative growth and personal maturation that can emerge from navigating spiritual dryness despite the profound heaviness, sadness, irritation, and pain. Such experiences can foster new perspectives on life and new pathways for personal agency.
Ranking philosophy journals: a meta-ranking and a new survey ranking
Authors: de Bruin Boudewijn
Published: November 2023

This paper presents a meta-ranking of philosophy journals based on existing rankings, and a new ranking of philosophy journals developed through a survey involving a thousand authors (351 respondents, data collection May 2022) of articles from the most recent issues of 40 general philosophy journals. In addition to assessing journal quality, data were gathered on various variables such as gender, age, years in academia, number of refereed publications, area of specialization, and journal affiliation (as an author or editor). Findings indicate that only area of specialization and affiliation have some influence on respondents’ assessments. Authors affiliated with particular journals rate them higher than non-affiliated authors. The paper discusses criticisms of both citation-based and survey-based journal rankings, and offers words of caution regarding the practical use of rankings.
The topology of persons, and surviving to some degree
Authors: Skowron Bartłomiej , Kąkol Tomasz , Król Zbigniew
Published: November 2023

Braddon-Mitchell and Miller put forward the claim that the relation of being-the-same-person is gradable: a person can be the same person tomorrow as today, but only half the same. To justify their thesis, they propose a model of persons that is intended to be metaphysically neutral. This article sets out to show that such a model implicitly contains strong metaphysical assumptions that run contrary to the authors’ own statements. Using Roman Ingarden’s phenomenological ontology, we aim to demonstrate that within the model in question persons exist intentionally, where this leads to a caricature rather than an adequate account of persons. In opposition to Braddon-Mitchell and Miller, we argue that the justification presented for the thesis of the gradability of the relation of being-the-same-person in fact makes it reasonable to demand that an adequate model of persons be posited. We present Kurt Lewin’s holistic topological-dynamic model, and show that in this context it is not being-the-same-person that is gradable, but rather the characteristic (of persons) that is dimension. Thus, we reject the thesis of the gradability of the relation of being-the-same-person involved in personal identity.
Environmental impact of biodegradable and non-biodegradable agricultural mulch film: A case study for Nordic conditions
Authors: de Sadeleer Irmeline , Woodhouse Anna
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Biodegradable mulch film is considered an environmentally friendly alternative to non-biodegradable-based mulch film for agricultural use. The purpose of this study is to compare the environmental impact of non-biodegradable mulch film to biodegradable mulch films for use in Nordic conditions, including assessing their plastic pollution potential.

Methods

A life cycle assessment was conducted to calculate the potential environmental impacts of the films, while the plastic pollution potential was assessed with a dynamic material flow analysis, considering degradation over time and fate to various environmental compartments. The plastic pollution potential was based on empirical degradation data in Nordic conditions.

Results and discussion

The results of the LCA and MFA analyses show that the use of non-biodegradable material in Nordic conditions leads to the lowest environmental impacts and pollution if it is fully collected after use. In fact, biodegradable mulch film leads to higher environmental impacts over its life cycle in most environmental impact categories. However, comparing environmental burdens from non-biodegradable and biodegradable mulch film is difficult due to the lack of data on biodegradable films. The results further highlight that biodegradable films will reach a dynamic equilibrium (a plateau phase) in soils in Nordic conditions between the degradation of old film and the application of new film, if not enough time is given for the films to entirely degrade. Farmers would need to apply biodegradable films with several years of interval, if the films should be entirely degraded.

Conclusions

This study supports the recommendations that biodegradable plastic has potential when used as mulch film, but these recommendations should be situation-specific, depending on farmers’ ability to handle the mulch film properly. The authors highlight that the LCA results are uncertain due to limited data availability and encourage the biodegradable plastic industry to be more transparent by making their LCIA data available.
On free and nearly free arrangements of conics admitting certain $${\textrm{ADE}}$$ singularities
Authors: Pokora Piotr
Published: November 2023

The main purpose of this paper is to provide combinatorial constraints on the constructability of free and nearly free arrangements of smooth plane conics admitting certain $$\textrm{ADE}$$
ADE
singularites.
Primary Care Physicians’ Perspectives on High-Quality Discharge Summaries
Authors: Chatterton Brittany , Chen Jennifer , Schwarz Eleanor Bimla , Karlin Jennifer
Published: November 2023

Background

Successful transitions of care require communication between inpatient and outpatient physicians. The discharge summary is the main communication tool used by physicians during these transitions.

Objective

With the goal of improving care transitions, we explored primary care physicians (PCPs) perspectives on characteristics of high-quality discharge summaries.

Design

We conducted semi-structured individual interviews in this qualitative study and surveyed participants for sociodemographic characteristics.

Participants

PCPs were recruited from multiple health systems in California.

Approach

An interview guide was created by the study authors to solicit PCPs’ experiences with discharge summaries and perspectives on four discharge summary templates previously used by large health systems. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and qualitative data were analyzed interactively through thematic analysis.

Key Results

Twenty PCPs participated in interviews lasting an average of 35 min (range 26–47 min). Sixty percent were female. Most (70%) had trained in internal medicine (IM); 5% had trained in both IM and pediatrics and 25% in family medicine. Some (45%) participants practiced both inpatient and outpatient medicine; 55% had exclusively outpatient practices. Half worked in university-affiliated clinics, 15% community clinics, 15% public health clinics, 5% private practice, and 15% multiple clinic types. Many PCPs (65%) had been in practice for ≥ 10 years. Participants reported multiple concerns with typical discharge summaries, including frustration with lengthy documents containing information irrelevant to outpatient care. Suggested recommendations included beginning the discharge summary with action items, clear identification of incidental findings requiring follow-up, specifying reasons for any medication changes, and including dates for treatment regimens rather than expected duration of treatment. Participants highlighted the importance of feedback to trainees to assist in crafting succinct discharge summaries containing relevant information.

Conclusion

Clinical training programs and healthcare systems must optimize discharge summaries for PCPs to achieve goals of providing high-quality care that improves population health.
Organogenesis versus somatic embryogenesis pathway efficiencies in in vitro propagation of white and water yams
Authors: Ossai Chukwunalu O. , Balogun Morufat O. , Maroya Norbert G.
Published: November 2023

The primary goal of this study was to compare the multiplication rates of yam varieties propagated through organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis (SE). Callus was induced from axillary bud explants of three genotypes of Dioscorea rotundata (Asiedu, Ekiti2a, and Kpamyo) and two genotypes of Dioscorea alata (Swaswa and TDa2014) cultured in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 9.1 µM 2,4-dichlorophenoxylacetic acid and 5.4 µM naphthaleneacetic acid. Plantlets were regenerated in MS containing 4.4 µM benzylaminopurine and 34 µM uniconazole-P through SE. Single-node cuttings of the five genotypes were grown in MS for 8 wk via organogenesis. The SE and organogenesis regenerants were acclimatized and potted in a 2 (propagation techniques (PTs)) × 5 (genotypes) factorial arranged in a completely randomized design (r = 10). The multiplication ratios (MR), number of tubers (NoT) of the SE, and organogenesis regenerants were collected and analyzed using ANOVA, and means were separated using DMRT (P ≤ 0.05). The SE and organogenesis MR ranged from 1:2 (TDa2014) to 1:8 (Asiedu) and 1:4 (Asiedu) to 1:5 (Ekiti2a and TDa2014), respectively. The NoT differed among genotypes, ranging from 1.15 ± 0.49 (Swaswa) to 2.45 ± 1.39 (Asiedu), and between PTs, ranging from 1.42 ± 0.70 (SE) to 1.86 ± 1.11 (organogenesis). The optimum propagation pathway was genotype-specific.
Flash sales: how consumers’ emotional responses to negative word-of-mouth affect diagnosticity and purchase intentions
Authors: Tan Wee-Kheng , Chen Po-Yen
Published: November 2023

Using information–cognition–intention model and by comparing emotional and rational negative word-of-mouth (nWOM), this study considered nWOM’s role in online flash sales by examining whether consumers would find nWOM diagnostic and lower purchase intentions during flash sales. Partial least squares analysis of 308 questionnaires (150 for emotional and 158 for rational nWOM) revealed that worry, skepticism, and optimism emotions resulting from reading nWOM played a more limited than those of gratitude. Perceived diagnosticity of rational nWOM dampened while emotional nWOM did not dampen purchase intentions. Hence, nWOM content influenced whether nWOM acted as a brake on purchase intentions.
Improving Surface Quality and Fatigue Life of Electron Beam Melted Ti6Al4V by Chemical Machining
Authors: Manco Emanuele , Scherillo Fabio , Franchitti Stefania , Borrelli Rosario
Published: November 2023

Due to the high demand for innovative parts from the aerospace, biomedical, and automotive industries, 3D printing of titanium parts is widely researched. Electron beam melting (EBM) is one of the few additive manufacturing techniques that can quickly generate high density components. However, additive manufacturing techniques based on powder beds are characterized by subpar surface finishing, which also results in poor mechanical performances that are not suitable for industrial standards. Thus, surface finishing post processing is generally needed. Since fatigue behavior is strongly affected by surface quality, this work aims to highlight how chemical machining impacts this type of mechanical response. Rotating fatigue beam testing method has been chosen for the experimental campaign since it intrinsically stresses more the sample surfaces, in this way the effect of surface finishing is highlighted.
Mid-term changes of dry grasslands with conservation management in the Hainburger Berge Mountains
Authors: Janišová Monika , Magnes Martin , Devánová Katarína , Dúbravková Daniela
Published: November 2023

Our study focused on evaluating plant diversity and vegetation changes in the dry grasslands of the Hainburger Berge Mountains protected within the NATURA 2000 reserve Hundsheimer Berge. Traditionally, these grasslands have been managed through intensive grazing but have experienced significant land-use changes since the 1950′s, including a prolonged period of abandonment. We investigated rocky and xeric grasslands of Festuco-Brometea, and mesic grasslands of Molinio-Arrhenatheretea using six nested plot series of various spatial scales. We also resampled relevés that were initially recorded in 2007 and analyzed them alongside older relevés (1930–2001) from the Austrian Vegetation Database. The compositional data variation was primarily influenced by moisture and nutrient gradients along the first DCA axis, and soil reaction and light availability along the second DCA axis. Grazing intensity had a significant effect on species richness at small spatial scales, while at larger scales, habitat conditions played a more crucial role. A continuous successional development could be detected in grassland composition, leading to a denser vegetation canopy and increased moisture and nutrient availability. However, plot resampling since 2007 revealed only minor changes, primarily due to interannual dynamics rather than a clear directional trend. We conclude that the current conservation management of rocky and xeric grasslands is proving successful in maintaining grassland biodiversity as well as high number and proportion of endangered plant species. Controlling grazing intensity, involving more farmers, and implementing flexible rules for grazing, mowing, and subsidy eligibility, could be instrumental in achieving conservation targets in the future.
Chatbots for HIV Prevention and Care: a Narrative Review
Authors: van Heerden Alastair , Bosman Shannon , Swendeman Dallas , Comulada Warren Scott
Published: November 2023

Purpose of Review

To explore the intersection of chatbots and HIV prevention and care. Current applications of chatbots in HIV services, the challenges faced, recent advancements, and future research directions are presented and discussed.

Recent Findings

Chatbots facilitate sensitive discussions about HIV thereby promoting prevention and care strategies. Trustworthiness and accuracy of information were identified as primary factors influencing user engagement with chatbots. Additionally, the integration of AI-driven models that process and generate human-like text into chatbots poses both breakthroughs and challenges in terms of privacy, bias, resources, and ethical issues.

Chatbots in HIV prevention and care show potential; however, significant work remains in addressing associated ethical and practical concerns. The integration of large language models into chatbots is a promising future direction for their effective deployment in HIV services. Encouraging future research, collaboration among stakeholders, and bold innovative thinking will be pivotal in harnessing the full potential of chatbot interventions.
Possible roles of deep cortical neurons and oligodendrocytes in the neural basis of human sociality
Authors: Usui Noriyoshi
Published: November 2023

Sociality is an instinctive property of organisms that live in relation to others and is a complex characteristic of higher order brain functions. However, the evolution of the human brain to acquire higher order brain functions, such as sociality, and the neural basis for executing these functions and their control mechanisms are largely unknown. Several studies have attempted to evaluate how human sociality was acquired during the course of evolution and the mechanisms controlling sociality from a neurodevelopment viewpoint. This review discusses these findings in the context of human brain evolution and the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Comparative genomic studies of postmortem primate brains have demonstrated human-specific regulatory mechanisms underlying higher order brain functions, providing evidence for the contribution of oligodendrocytes to human brain function. Functional analyses of the causative genes of ASD in animal models have demonstrated that the neural basis of social behavior is associated with layer 6 (L6) of the neocortex and oligodendrocytes. These findings demonstrate that both neurons and oligodendrocytes contribute to the neural basis and molecular mechanisms underlying human brain evolution and social functioning. This review provides novel insights into sociability and the corresponding neural bases of brain disorders and evolution.
Literatur als koloniale Beute?
Authors: Albers Irene , Schmid Andreas
Published: November 2023

Mit der hier erstmals skizzierten Methode einer philologischen Provenienzforschung lässt sich untersuchen, wie »Oralliteraturen« aus kolonisierten Gebieten nach Europa gelangten. Dieser Transfer wurde in der Forschung bislang weitgehend vernachlässigt, wird aber bereits in der postkolonialen Gegenwartsliteratur verhandelt. Er lieferte das Material für die Poetik der historischen Avantgarden, für Literatur- und Sprachtheorien, aber auch für einen bis heute florierenden Markt an Geschenkbüchern. Um diese exklusiv westlichen Verwertungszusammenhänge aufzubrechen, schlagen wir die Rückgabe von Deutungshoheit als Möglichkeit einer Restitution vor.
Expanding Understandings of ‘Work’ in Response to AI
Authors: Jones Joe Alan
Published: November 2023

The increasing adoption of automated technologies in the world of work results in starkly opposing predictions. Some scholars argue that these technologies could lead to the utopian emancipation of society from economic necessity and meaningless work (Srnicek and Williams 2015, Bastani 2019, Danaher 2019); other scholars warn of the unintended technological unemployment and dystopian social upheaval that these technologies threaten (Ford 2015; Jones 2021; Mueller 2021). In either instance, the increasing presence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation in the world of work is forcing us to consider conceptions of work beyond economic necessity: but the drive to remove necessity as a whole from the human condition can lead to unintendedly bleak and inhuman futures, where meaningful work might be made redundant by the very technologies intended to provide it. In response, this paper will critique conceptions of work as paid employment, while also highlighting the limits of adopting wholly technological means to remove economic necessity. I will offer an alternate understanding of work beyond paid employment, as two distinct modes of activity: labour and work. In doing so, I will recontextualise necessity in work beyond economics, and provide a foundation for pursuing meaningful work, both now and into the future.
Designing primary school grounds for Nature-based learning: A review of the evidence
Authors: Falzon Desiree , Conrad Elisabeth
Published: November 2023

Nature-based learning within the primary school curriculum offers numerous potential benefits. However, there is a lack of clarity about how school grounds can be designed to enable effective nature-based learning. There is also little knowledge of how specific features within green school grounds contribute to specific desirable outcomes, such as improved academic performance or health. To address this gap, a systematised review of peer-reviewed academic literature was undertaken, with 173 databases searched from January to December 2021. The search included studies of nature-based learning on school grounds and literature concerned with the design of green school grounds for fostering nature connectedness and broader educational outcomes for primary school children aged 5 to 11. No date or geographical restrictions were applied. Of a total of 285 articles initially identified, 11 matched the inclusion criteria. Results from these indicate significant research gaps on the design of green learning spaces in schools. While studies note apparent positive links between nature-based learning in school grounds and improved subject-specific learning, wellbeing, and nature connectedness, there is very little empirical evidence of how specific design features are linked to specific outcomes. Furthermore, the current evidence base is poorly representative of different social, cultural, and geographical contexts and not fully reflective of all primary schooling ages. The challenging contexts of urban schools and schools with small footprints are also inadequately addressed. These findings indicate an urgent need for increased research to guide the design of school grounds for the implementation of nature-based learning programmes for primary school learners.
Estimation of the Thermophysical Properties of C/C Plates with Ceramic Nanocoating at Different SiO2 Filling for Aerospace Applications
Authors: Morzhukhina A. V. , Alifanov O. M. , Budnik S. A. , Nenarokomov A. V. , Titov D. M. , Delfini A. , Pastore R. , Santoni F. , Albano M. , Marchetti M.
Published: November 2023

In aerospace industrial and commercial scenario, the reusable launch vehicles (RLV) evolution works constantly toward the lowering of payload conveyance expenses. The thermal protection system (TPS) preserves the integrity of the space vehicle surfaces exposed to huge thermal shock during the re-entry phase: its advanced design and manufacturing, aimed at both reusing and withstanding harsh space environment, result in increasing the production and maintenance charges. The present study introduces a cost-saving concept of TPS component made of carbon/carbon (C/C) tiles coated by a commercial refractory varnish reinforced with ceramic nanoparticles. Using a reliable computing method, known as inverse method, the thermophysical properties such as heat capacity and thermal conductivity of the manufactured materials are assessed in a broad range of temperatures, with the input aid of an in-house developed experimental setup. The described technique is especially suited for approaching such kind of issues, thanks to the capability of taking into account several physical variables simultaneously, with the aim of gaining a robust knowledge of materials’ thermal behavior for potential use in spacecraft TPS.
Regulation of seed traits in soybean
Authors: Hu Yang , Liu Yue , Wei Jun-Jie , Zhang Wan-Ke , Chen Shou-Yi , Zhang Jin-Song
Published: November 2023

Soybean (Glycine max) is an essential economic crop that provides vegetative oil and protein for humans, worldwide. Increasing soybean yield as well as improving seed quality is of great importance. Seed weight/size, oil and protein content are the three major traits determining seed quality, and seed weight also influences soybean yield. In recent years, the availability of soybean omics data and the development of related techniques have paved the way for better research on soybean functional genomics, providing a comprehensive understanding of gene functions. This review summarizes the regulatory genes that influence seed size/weight, oil content and protein content in soybean. We also provided a general overview of the pleiotropic effect for the genes in controlling seed traits and environmental stresses. Ultimately, it is expected that this review will be beneficial in breeding improved traits in soybean.
Dying 2 Talk: Generating a More Compassion Community for Young People
Authors: Booth Jane , Croucher Karina , Walters Elizabeth , Sutton-Butler Aoife , Booth-Boniface Emmelia , Coe Mia
Published: November 2023

People in the Global North often have a problem talking about — and processing — the inevitability of death. This can be because death and care of the dying has been professionalised, with encounters of death within our families and communities no longer being ‘normal and routine’ (Kellehear 2005). Young people are particularly excluded from these conversations, with implications for future mental health and wellbeing (Ainsley-Green 2017). Working in Wolverhampton and Bradford, the Dying 2 Talk (D2T) project aimed to build young people’s future resilience around this challenging topic. We recruited over 20 young people as project ambassadors to co-produce resources that would encourage talk about death, dying and bereavement. The resources were used as the basis of ‘Festivals of the Dead’ which were taken to schools to engage wider audiences of young people (aged 11 +). The project aimed to use alternative ‘ways in’ to open discussion, beginning with archaeology, and ultimately using gaming, dance, creative writing and other creative outputs to facilitate discussion, encourage compassionate relationships and build resilience. The resources succeeded in engaging young people from ages 11–19 years, facilitating a comfortable and supportive environment for these vital conversations. Project evaluations and observations revealed that the Festivals, and the activities co-created by the young ambassadors helped to facilitate spontaneous conversations about death, dying and bereavement amongst young people by providing a comfortable and supportive environment. The project was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AH/V008609/1), building on a pilot project funded by the Higher Education Innovation Fund at the University of Bradford.
Predictive Power of XGBoost_BiLSTM Model: A Machine-Learning Approach for Accurate Sleep Apnea Detection Using Electronic Health Data
Authors: Javeed Ashir , Berglund Johan Sanmartin , Dallora Ana Luiza , Saleem Muhammad Asim , Anderberg Peter
Published: November 2023

Sleep apnea is a common disorder that can cause pauses in breathing and can last from a few seconds to several minutes, as well as shallow breathing or complete cessation of breathing. Obstructive sleep apnea is strongly associated with the risk of developing several heart diseases, including coronary heart disease, heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. In addition, obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of developing irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), which can lead to low blood pressure. To prevent these conditions, this study presents a novel machine-learning (ML) model for predicting sleep apnea based on electronic health data that provides accurate predictions and helps in identifying the risk factors that contribute to the development of sleep apnea. The dataset used in the study includes 75 features and 10,765 samples from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care (SNAC). The proposed model is based on two modules: the XGBoost module assesses the most important features from feature space, while the Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory Networks (BiLSTM) module classifies the probability of sleep apnea. Using a cross-validation scheme, the proposed XGBoost_BiLSTM algorithm achieves an accuracy of 97% while using only the six most significant features from the dataset. The model’s performance is also compared with conventional long-short-term memory networks (LSTM) and other state-of-the-art ML models. The results of the study suggest that the proposed model improved the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea by identifying the risk factors.
EuroSCORE II for Risk Evaluation and Predicting Cardiac Intensive Care Length of Stay in Indian Patients Undergoing Adult Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Kate Shreyas , Shouche Sachin , Singh Shalendra , Sharma Rakesh , Naseem Sufia , Sood Munish , Taank Priya
Published: November 2023

Background

Higher EuroSCORE II values are usually associated with increased postoperative morbidity and longer durations of Cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) stay following cardiac surgery.

Aim/Purpose

The aim is to investigate the predictive performance of EuroSCORE II for the Indian population and its relationship with ICU length of stay.

Methods

Prospective, observational study in 250 adult cardiac patients undergoing CABG under general Anaesthesia. Preoperatively values of EuroSCORE II was calculated by an online calculator available on www.euroscore.org. These patients were followed up after surgery for 30 days to note mortality and length of CICU stay.

Results

Of 250 cases studied, 39 (15.6%) had EuroSCORE II less than 1, 163 (65.2%) had EuroSCORE II between 1 and 3, 36 (14.4%) had EuroSCORE II between 3.1 and 5.0 and 12 (4.8%) had EuroSCORE II more than 5 in the study group. Mean EuroSCORE II and length of stay in CICU after surgery was 2.2 ± 1.4 and 4.2 ± 2.5 days respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) for EuroSCORE II as a sole predictor of mortality in the study group based on receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was 0.919 (95% CI 0.86–0.97). Based on ROC analysis, AUC is significantly higher for predicting mortality (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

EuroSCORE II in Indian cardiac patients undergoing cardiac surgery is lesser than in European patients (mean 2.2 vs 3.7). Incidence of mortality is higher in patients with higher EuroSCORE II. As per our study patients with higher EuroSCORE II tend to stay longer in ICU.
Impact of the Core Deformation on the Tidal Heating and Flow in Enceladus' Subsurface Ocean
Authors: Aygün Burak , Čadek Ondřej
Published: November 2023

We present a novel approach to modeling the tidal response of icy moons with subsurface oceans. The problem is solved in the time domain and the flow in the ocean is calculated simultaneously with the deformation of the core and the ice shell. To simplify the calculations, we assume that the internal density interfaces are spherical and the effective viscosity of water is equal to or greater than 100 Pa s. The method is used to study the effect of an unconsolidated core on tidal dissipation in Enceladus' ocean. We show that the partitioning of tidal heating between the core and the ocean strongly depends on the thickness of the ocean layer. If the ocean thickness is significantly greater than 1 km, heat production is dominated by tidal dissipation in the core and the amount of heat produced in the ocean is negligible. In contrast, when the ocean thickness is less than about 1 km, tidal heating in the core diminishes and dissipation in the ocean increases, leaving the total heat production unchanged. Extrapolation of our results to realistic conditions indicates that tidal flow is turbulent which suggests that the linearized Navier‐Stokes equation may not be appropriate for modeling the tidal response of icy moons. Finally, we compare our results with those obtained by solving the Laplace tidal equations and discuss the limitations of the two‐dimensional models of ocean circulation.
Reduced Ice Loss From Greenland Under Stratospheric Aerosol Injection
Authors: Moore John C. , Greve Ralf , Yue Chao , Zwinger Thomas , Gillet‐Chaulet Fabien , Zhao Liyun
Published: November 2023

Sea level rise (SLR) due to surface melt and to dynamic losses from the ice sheets—that is via accelerated flow of glaciers into the sea—is something that may be potentially mitigated by cooling the ice sheet and oceans via solar geoengineering. We use two ice dynamic models driven by changes in surface mass balance (SMB) from four climate models to estimate the SLR contribution from the Greenland ice sheet under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5, and 8.5, and Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project G4 scenarios. The G4 scenario adds 5 Tg/yr sulfate aerosols to the equatorial lower stratosphere (equivalent of 1/4 the 1991 Mt Pinatubo SO2 eruption) to the IPCC RCP4.5 scenario, which itself approximates the greenhouse gas emission commitments agreed in Paris in 2015. Over the 2020–2090 period, mass loss under G4 is about 31%–38% that under RCP4.5, which is 36%–48% lower than under RCP8.5. Ice lost across the grounding line under both G4 and RCP4.5 is reduced in the future as the termini of many southeast Greenland outlets retreat onto bedrock above sea level. Glaciers with large low‐lying catchments in the west, north, and northeast of Greenland (e.g., Jakobshavn, 79N, Zachariae Isstrøm, and Petermann glaciers) discharge more ice from the ice‐sheet interior under RCP4.5 than under G4. Although calving losses vary much more than the SMB difference between ice dynamic models, both models point to significant ice discharge losses of between 15% and 42% across the scenarios.
Reduction of renal interstitial fibrosis by targeting Tie2 in vascular endothelial cells
Authors: Jiang Lu , Hu Xiaohan , Feng Yajun , Wang Zhen , Tang Hanyun , Lin Qiang , Shen Yunyan , Zhu Yun , Xu Qinying , Li Xiaozhong
Published: November 2023

Background

Tie2, a functional angiopoietin receptor, is expressed in vascular endothelial cells and plays an important role in angiogenesis and vascular stability. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an agonistic Tie2 signal on renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

We established an in vivo mouse model of folic acid-induced nephropathy (FAN) and an in vitro model of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated endothelial cell injury, then an agonistic Tie2 monoclonal antibody (Tie2 mAb) was used to intervent these processes. The degree of tubulointerstitial lesions and related molecular mechanisms were determined by histological assessment, immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and qPCR.

Results

Tie2 mAb attenuated RIF and reduced the level of fibroblast-specific protein 1 (FSP1). Further, it suppressed vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and increased CD31 density in FAN. In the in vitro model, Tie2 mAb was found to decrease the expression of VCAM-1, Bax, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA).

Conclusions

The present findings indicate that the agonistic Tie2 mAb exerted vascular protective effects and ameliorated RIF via inhibition of vascular inflammation, apoptosis, and fibrosis. Therefore, Tie2 may be a potential target for the treatment of this disease.

Impact

This is the first report to confirm that an agonistic Tie2 monoclonal antibody can reduce renal interstitial fibrosis in folic acid-induced nephropathy in mice.

This mechanism possibly involves vascular protective effects brought about by inhibition of vascular inflammation, apoptosis and fibrosis.

Our data show that Tie2 signal may be a novel, endothelium-specific target for the treatment of tubulointerstitial fibrosis.
Leptin receptor+ cells promote bone marrow innervation and regeneration by synthesizing nerve growth factor
Authors: Gao Xiang , Murphy Malea M. , Peyer James G. , Ni Yuehan , Yang Min , Zhang Yixuan , Guo Jiaming , Kara Nergis , Embree Claire , Tasdogan Alpaslan , Ubellacker Jessalyn M. , Crane Genevieve M. , Fang Shentong , Zhao Zhiyu , Shen Bo , Morrison Sean J.
Published: November 2023

The bone marrow contains peripheral nerves that promote haematopoietic regeneration after irradiation or chemotherapy (myeloablation), but little is known about how this is regulated. Here we found that nerve growth factor (NGF) produced by leptin receptor-expressing (LepR+) stromal cells is required to maintain nerve fibres in adult bone marrow. In nerveless bone marrow, steady-state haematopoiesis was normal but haematopoietic and vascular regeneration were impaired after myeloablation. LepR+ cells, and the adipocytes they gave rise to, increased NGF production after myeloablation, promoting nerve sprouting in the bone marrow and haematopoietic and vascular regeneration. Nerves promoted regeneration by activating β2 and β3 adrenergic receptor signalling in LepR+ cells, and potentially in adipocytes, increasing their production of multiple haematopoietic and vascular regeneration growth factors. Peripheral nerves and LepR+ cells thus promote bone marrow regeneration through a reciprocal relationship in which LepR+ cells sustain nerves by synthesizing NGF and nerves increase regeneration by promoting the production of growth factors by LepR+ cells.
Financial incentives for COVID-19 vaccines in a rural low-resource setting: a cluster-randomized trial
Authors: Duch Raymond , Asiedu Edward , Nakamura Ryota , Rouyard Thomas , Mayol Alberto , Barnett Adrian , Roope Laurence , Violato Mara , Sowah Dorcas , Kotlarz Piotr , Clarke Philip
Published: November 2023

We implemented a clustered randomized controlled trial with 6,963 residents in six rural Ghana districts to estimate the causal impact of financial incentives on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination uptake. Villages randomly received one of four video treatment arms: a placebo, a standard health message, a high cash incentive (60 Ghana cedis) and a low cash incentive (20 Ghana cedis). For the first co-primary outcome—COVID-19 vaccination intentions—non-vaccinated participants assigned to the cash incentive treatments had an average rate of 81% (1,733 of 2,168) compared to 71% (1,895 of 2,669) for those in the placebo treatment arm. For the other co-primary outcome of self-reported vaccinations 2 months after the initial intervention, the average rate for participants in the cash treatment was 3.5% higher than for participants in the placebo treatment (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.001, 6.9; P = 0.045): 40% (602 of 1,486) versus 36.3% (672 of 1,850). We also verified vaccination status of participants: in the cash treatment arm, 36.6% (355 of 1,058) of verified participants had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine compared to 30.3% (439 of 1,544) for those in the placebo—a difference of 6.3% (95% CI: 2.4, 10.2; P = 0.001). For the intention and the vaccination outcomes, the low cash incentive (20 Ghana cedis) had a larger positive effect on COVID-19 vaccine uptake than the high cash incentive (60 Ghana cedis). Trial identifier: AEARCTR-0008775.
Real-world treatment outcome of direct-acting antivirals and patient survival rates in chronic hepatitis C virus infection in Eritrea
Authors: Ghebremeskel Ghirmay Ghebrekidan , Berhe Solomon Michael , Achila Oliver Okoth , Mengistu Samuel Tekle , Asmelash Rahel Frezghi , Berhane Mesfin Araia , Hamida Mohammed Elfatih
Published: November 2023

Reliable real-world data on direct acting anti-retroviral (DAA) uptake and treatment outcomes are lacking for patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in sub-Saharan Africa. This study provides data on HCV DAA-based treatment outcomes, mortality, loss-to-follow up, and associated factors among patients in Eritrea. A multicenter retrospective observational cohort study was conducted in two tertiary hospitals in Asmara, Eritrea. A structured checklist was used to collect data from patient’s cards. Descriptive and inferential statistics used included means (± Standard deviation (SD), medians (Interquartile range (IQR), chi-squire (χ2), Kaplan–Meier estimates, and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models. A total of 238 patients with median age of 59 years (IQR 50–69 years) were enrolled in the study. Out of the 227 patients initiated on treatment, 125 patients had viral load measurements at 12 weeks after end of treatment (EOT) whereas 102 patients had no viral load measurements at 12 weeks EOT. Among the patients with HCV RNA data post-EOT 12, 116 (92.8%) had sustained viral response (SVR). The prevalence of death and loss-to-follow up (LTFU) were (7.5%, 95% CI 1.7–4.1) and 67 (28.1%, 95% CI 22.3–33.9) translating into an incidence of 1.1 (95% CI 0.8–1.5) per 10,000 person days. Independent predictors of LTFU included the enrollment year (2020: aHR = 2.2, 95% CI 1–4.7; p value = 0.04); Hospital (Hospital B: aHR = 2.2, 95% CI 1–4.7; p value = 0.03) and the FIB-4 score (FIB-Score < 1.45: aHR = 3.7, 95% CI 1.2–11.5; p value = 0.02). The SVR rates achieved in this cohort were high. However, high LTFU and high mortality driven largely by late presentation and suboptimal population screening/case finding, were uncovered. These challenges can be addressed by test-and-treat programs that simultaneously prioritize programmatic screening, decentralization of care, and better patient tracking in the HCV care cascade.
Radiological landmark of syndesmotic ligament complex by magnetic resonance imaging correlate with fibula free flap harvesting procedure
Authors: Yodrabum Nutcha , Chaikangwan Irin , Tianrungroj Jirapat , Suksantilap Songsak , Chalalaisathaphorn Suttichai , Siriwanarangsun Palanan
Published: November 2023

Preservation of syndesmotic ligaments is crucial for preventing adverse sequelae at the donor site following free fibula osteocutaneous flap harvesting. This study sought to determine the relationship between distal tibiofibular ligaments and the fibular segment to identify radiological landmarks that facilitate safe and precise flap. The distances between the distal tibiofibular ligaments (anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament [AITFL], posterior inferior tibiofibular ligament [PITFL]) and the fibular segment, as well as the lower border of the interosseous membrane, were measured on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 296 patients without any perceivable ankle abnormalities. The mean distances (± SD) between the distal end of the fibula and the AITFL, PITFL, and lower interosseous membrane border were 3.0 ± 0.4 cm, 2.6 ± 0.4 cm, and 3.9 ± 0.6 cm, respectively. The distance between the talar dome and the PITFL exhibited a range of 0.0–0.5 cm. Our findings support preserving a distal fibular remnant of at least 4 cm to avoid injury to the syndesmotic ligament throughout fibula osteocutaneous flap harvesting. The talar dome could serve as a useful radiological landmark for identifying the upper border of PITFL during preoperative evaluation, and thus facilitating precise and safe flap procurement.
Effects of family-based diabetes self-management education and support programme on support behaviour amongst adults with type 2 diabetes in Western Ethiopia
Authors: Diriba Dereje Chala , Leung Doris Y. P. , Suen Lorna K. P.
Published: November 2023

Support from family and peers may enhance the outcomes of diabetes management. This study reported the preliminary effect of a family-based diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) programme on the perceived support status of people with diabetes and the family’s caregiver support behaviour amongst dyads living in Western Ethiopia. A 1:1 two-armed pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) was conducted. A total of 76 dyads were recruited using the convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to either intervention or control groups. The control group continued the usual care, whereas the intervention group continued the usual care and additionally received a 12-h social cognitive theory (SCT)-guided, family-supported DSMES programme in the community. Generalised estimating equations models were computed to test the preliminary effects of the DSMES programme on the outcomes. P-value < 0.05 was set as statistically significant. The pilot RCT shows a statistically significant between-group difference in the changes in support needed at T1 (d = 0.88) and T2 (d = 1.35) and support received at T1 (d = 0.88) and T2 (d = 1.44). The DSMES programme has outperformed usual care with a medium effect size at T1 (d = 0.54) and a large effect size at T2 (d = 0.97) on the family’s supportive behaviour. Although the intervention group was not statistically significant at T1 (d = 0.43), a large effect size was obtained at T2 (d = 0.97) on the family’s non-supportive behaviour. A SCT-guided, family-supported DSMES programme produced a promising positive effect on enhancing the support needed and support received from their family/friends, and it also improved the family’s supportive behaviour. Thus, family support could be incorporated into DSMES programmes for diabetes management in Western Ethiopia. The trial was registered by the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn); Registration number: ChiCTR2000040292.
Single-cell analysis reveals diversity of tumor-associated macrophages and their interactions with T lymphocytes in glioblastoma
Authors: Batchu Sai , Hanafy Khalid A. , Redjal Navid , Godil Saniya S. , Thomas Ajith J.
Published: November 2023

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive primary CNS malignancy and clinical outcomes have remained stagnant despite introduction of new treatments. Understanding the tumor microenvironment (TME) in which tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) interact with T cells has been of great interest. Although previous studies examining TAMs in GBM have shown that certain TAMs are associated with specific clinical and/or pathologic features, these studies used an outdated M1/M2 paradigm of macrophage polarization and failed to include the continuum of TAM states in GBM. Perhaps most significantly, the interactions of TAMs with T cells have yet to be fully explored. Our study uses single-cell RNA sequencing data from adult IDH-wildtype GBM, with the primary aim of deciphering the cellular interactions of the 7 TAM subtypes with T cells in the GBM TME. Furthermore, the interactions discovered herein are compared to IDH-mutant astrocytoma, allowing for focus on the cellular ecosystem unique to GBM. The resulting ligand-receptor interactions, signaling sources, and global communication patterns discovered provide a framework for future studies to explore methods of leveraging the immune system for treating GBM.
Enhancing maize productivity by mitigating alkaline soil challenges through acidified biochar and wastewater irrigation
Authors: ul Shahid Zain , Ali Muqarrab , Shahzad Khurram , Danish Subhan , Alharbi Sulaiman Ali , Ansari Mohammad Javed
Published: November 2023

In alkaline soil conditions, the availability of essential nutrients for plant growth becomes limited, posing a significant challenge for achieving optimal maize growth and yield. Exploring the impact of biochar and waste irrigation on soil alkalinity and maize production in arid regions has received limited attention. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of three levels of acidified biochar (0, 5, and 10 Mg ha−1) in two growing seasons of maize—spring and autumn. The treatments were applied following a randomized complete block design with three replications. Biochar was applied only in the autumn season, and its residual effects were evaluated in the spring season. The study found that using acidifying biochar at a rate of 10 Mg ha−1 significantly increased maize yield by 35.8% compared to no application and by 16.4% compared to a rate of 5 Mg ha−1. In the autumn, applying acidified biochar at 10 Mg ha−1 reduced soil pH by 3.65% and 6.41% compared to 0 and 5 Mg ha−1. In the spring, the same application led to a decrease in soil pH by 5.84% and 7.37% compared to the lower rates. Additionally, using 10 Mg ha−1 of acidifying biochar increased soil phosphorus concentration by 87.6% and soil potassium concentration by 38.0% compared to not using biochar, and by 46.2% and 35.0% compared to the 5 Mg ha−1 application. These findings suggest that the reduction of soil pH by applying biochar at a rate of 10 Mg ha−1 facilitated an increase in nutrient availability in the soil, consequently leading to higher maize yield. Notably, no significant differences were observed in maize productivity and soil properties between the spring and autumn seasons. Therefore, this study paves the way for further exploration into the long-term effects of acidifying biochar on maize productivity and soil properties in similar agroecological contexts.