bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cytotoxicity and immunological impact of Trypanosoma sp. infection on blood parameters of wild African catfish, Clarias gariepinus
Authors: Fouad Alamira Marzouk , Abd El-Lateif Rasha S. A. , Abo-Al-Ela Haitham G. , Abdel-Hakeem Sara Salah
Published: December 2023

Fish trypanosomiasis is a common blood parasitic disease transmitted by aquatic invertebrates, such as leeches. This study aims to shed light on the cytotoxicity of Trypanosoma sp. on erythrocytes and its impacts on the innate immune response (serum lysozyme activity, nitric oxide production, phagocytic activity, serum total protein, and globulin) in wild African catfish, Clarias gariepinus. One hundred catfish were examined using blood smears stained with Giemsa and confirmed with PCR. The prevalence of infection was found to be 10% by microscope detection and 15% by PCR. The morphological identification of Trypanosoma as Trypanosoma mukasai was determined. Additionally, this study included previously undescribed features of Trypanosoma, such as the width of the anterior and posterior body, the length of the posterior pale region, and the number of folds. Various alterations in erythrocytes were observed, totaling 54.57%. Nuclear abnormalities, including fragmented nuclei, eccentric nuclei, and micronuclei, were also reported. Infected fish showed a reduction in serum total protein and globulin levels, while nitric oxide production, lysozyme activity, and phagocytic activity exhibited a significant increase compared to non-infected fish. We believe that our findings will contribute valuable data to the morphological and molecular identification of Trypanosoma sp. in African catfish, as well as their cytotoxic impact.
100 years since the publication of the suramin formula
Authors: Steverding Dietmar , Troeberg Linda
Published: December 2023

Suramin was the first drug developed using the approach of medicinal chemistry by the German Bayer company in the 1910s for the treatment of human African sleeping sickness caused by the two subspecies Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesienese. However, the drug was politically instrumentalized by the German government in the 1920s in an attempt to regain possession of its former African colonies lost after the First World War. For this reason, the formula of suramin was kept secret for more than 10 years. Eventually, the French pharmacist Ernest Fourneau uncovered the chemical structure of suramin by reverse engineering and published the formula of the drug in 1924. During the Nazi period, suramin became the subject of colonial revisionism, and the development of the drug was portrayed in books and films to promote national socialist propaganda. Ever since its discovery, suramin has also been tested for bioactivity against numerous other infections and diseases. However, sleeping sickness caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense is the only human disease for which treatment with suramin is currently approved.
Maßgeschneiderte Sanierungsverfahren für die Tunnelentwässerung – „DrainRepair“ Teil 2: Ergebnisbericht
Authors: Arbeiter Florian , Schachinger Tobias , Wenighofer Robert , Riess Gisbert , Steiner Michael , Batka Vesna Micić , Griebaum Michael , Laufer Viktor , Galler Robert
Published: December 2023

Zur Sanierung beschädigter Drainagerohre in Tunnelbauwerken wurde im VIF-2019 Projekt „DrainRepair-das CIPP“ („Cured in Place Pipe“) bzw. Liner-Verfahren hinsichtlich Einsetzbarkeit und Optimierungsmöglichkeiten untersucht. Dabei wurde nachgewiesen, dass bei korrekter Auswahl der Materialien äußerst resistente und langlebige Systeme für die Sanierung von Tunneldrainagerohre möglich sind.

Die Liner wurden dafür dem instrumentierten Durchstoßversuch, Hochdruckspültests und Alterungsversuchen unterzogen. Abschließend wurde ein optimierter Liner auf einer Länge von ca. 85 m in einer Drainage in der Forschungseinrichtung der Montanuniversität Leoben, „Zentrum am Berg“, installiert.

Für die zukünftige Ausschreibung wurden konkrete Anforderungen an das gewünschte „Neurohr“ nach erfolgter Instandsetzung formuliert
Assessment of agricultural water protection strategies at a catchment scale: case of Finland
Authors: Hietala Reija , Virkkunen Henri , Salminen Jani , Ekholm Petri , Riihimäki Juha , Laine Päivi , Kirkkala Teija
Published: December 2023

For decades, water quality monitoring programmes, agri-environment schemes and environmental permits for animal farms have targeted a decrease in agricultural loads. These have been supplemented with more recent policies related to nutrient recycling and a circular economy. However, eutrophication of surface water bodies remains a widespread problem. In this paper, we focus on the nutrient loading and recycling in the catchment of Eurajoki River, Finland. We statistically examine the generation of nutrient loading and its variation on a sub-catchment scale. We extend this examination to the factors behind the loading and estimate the impact of nutrient recycling on it. Our analysis reveals shortcomings in the availability and collection of data on the agricultural nutrient loadings and the parcel-specific data on the presence and application of manure and fertilisers. Nine sub-catchments were responsible for roughly half of the TP loading from the 46 sub-catchments studied. To reveal such hot spots and to better target agricultural water protection measures, we recommend short-term water quality sampling campaigns. Judging from our data, the rate of manure recycling is not high enough to reduce the regional P surplus to manageable levels. Therefore, we suggest facilitated collaboration between animal and crop farms to decrease the nutrient surplus. We also propose setting up a national database containing parcel-specific information, for example, on soil P content, manure and fertiliser application, agricultural practices and the presence of acid sulphate soils. We also suggest an independent soil fertility sampling to provide valid baseline soil P data for field parcels.
Free-living colonies of native honey bees (Apis mellifera mellifera) in 19th and early 20th century Sweden
Authors: Niklasson Mats , Svensson Emil , Leidenberger Sonja , Norrström Niclas , Crawford Elizabeth
Published: December 2023

Little information exists on the history and ecology of free-living colonies of European honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) in Europe, including its dark north-western subspecies (Apis mellifera mellifera). Our aim was to investigate the presence of colonies of free-living, native honey bees (A. m. mellifera) during the last two centuries in Sweden. For this we examined systematic interviews of beekeepers (176 answers from 158 questionnaires) performed in the years 1928–1981, with information dating back to the early 1800s. An overwhelming majority of answers (96%) confirmed the past presence of free-living colonies of honey bees in Sweden. While some stated that free-living colonies were simply absconded swarms from managed hives, the majority of interviewees (69%) believed that free-living colonies were of a truly wild origin. A decreasing trend in first-hand accounts of free-living colonies suggests that free-living populations underwent a dramatic decline at the end of the 19th century. This was also expressed in words by many interviewees, who in 14 cases stated that the loss of old forests and tree-cavity nest sites at the end of the 1800s was the primary cause of the decline. Direct accounts of perennial, free-living colonies, combined with detailed descriptions of the collection of large free-living colonies and/or wild honey, is strong evidence of free-living honey bees being well adapted to winter survival. These accounts contradict the officially supported view that the honey bee is a recently imported, domesticated, non-native species in Sweden. The results give a scientific underpinning and provide inspiration for the restoration of native forests which could facilitate populations of free-living colonies of A. m. mellifera exposed to natural selection. This could potentially lead to its return as a fully wild species. In an uncertain future, allowing for a natural lifestyle could increase resilience and reinstate characteristics that are otherwise lost in honey bees due to the increasing effects of artificial trait selection.

Implications for insect conservation

Our results present strong evidence for populations of free-living colonies of A. m. mellifera in the recent past, which calls for a revised look at its conservation status and management. Allowing and supporting free-living colonies of this subspecies should be evaluated as a method for conservation.
Towards industrial biological hydrogen production: a review
Authors: Teke G. M. , Anye Cho B , Bosman C. E. , Mapholi Z. , Zhang D. , Pott R. W. M.
Published: December 2023

Increased production of renewable energy sources is becoming increasingly needed. Amidst other strategies, one promising technology that could help achieve this goal is biological hydrogen production. This technology uses micro-organisms to convert organic matter into hydrogen gas, a clean and versatile fuel that can be used in a wide range of applications. While biohydrogen production is in its early stages, several challenges must be addressed for biological hydrogen production to become a viable commercial solution. From an experimental perspective, the need to improve the efficiency of hydrogen production, the optimization strategy of the microbial consortia, and the reduction in costs associated with the process is still required. From a scale-up perspective, novel strategies (such as modelling and experimental validation) need to be discussed to facilitate this hydrogen production process. Hence, this review considers hydrogen production, not within the framework of a particular production method or technique, but rather outlines the work (bioreactor modes and configurations, modelling, and techno-economic and life cycle assessment) that has been done in the field as a whole. This type of analysis allows for the abstraction of the biohydrogen production technology industrially, giving insights into novel applications, cross-pollination of separate lines of inquiry, and giving a reference point for researchers and industrial developers in the field of biohydrogen production.
Top Five Stories of the Cellular Landscape and Therapies of Atherosclerosis: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives
Authors: Pan Qi , Chen Cheng , Yang Yue-jin
Published: December 2023

Atherosclerosis (AS) is characterized by impairment and apoptosis of endothelial cells, continuous systemic and focal inflammation and dysfunction of vascular smooth muscle cells, which is documented as the traditional cellular paradigm. However, the mechanisms appear much more complicated than we thought since a bulk of studies on efferocytosis, transdifferentiation and novel cell death forms such as ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and extracellular trap were reported. Discovery of novel pathological cellular landscapes provides a large number of therapeutic targets. On the other side, the unsatisfactory therapeutic effects of current treatment with lipid-lowering drugs as the cornerstone also restricts the efforts to reduce global AS burden. Stem cell- or nanoparticle-based strategies spurred a lot of attention due to the attractive therapeutic effects and minimized adverse effects. Given the complexity of pathological changes of AS, attempts to develop an almighty medicine based on single mechanisms could be theoretically challenging. In this review, the top stories in the cellular landscapes during the initiation and progression of AS and the therapies were summarized in an integrated perspective to facilitate efforts to develop a multi-targets strategy and fill the gap between mechanism research and clinical translation. The future challenges and improvements were also discussed.
X-ray Imaging of Two-Phase Flow Regimes in a Liquid Metal Swirling Downward Flow With Side Wall Gas Injection
Authors: Timmel K. , Shevchenko N. , Fujita K. , Tsukaguchi Y. , Eckert S.
Published: December 2023

The formation and behavior of gas bubbles is experimentally investigated in a liquid metal downward pipe flow, a configuration that largely corresponds to the situation in a submerged entry nozzle (SEN) in the continuous casting process in steel making. The experimental mockup is operated at room temperature using the ternary alloy GaInSn as model fluid. Argon gas is injected through an orifice located in the SEN wall. The gas distribution in the pipe is visualized by means of the X-ray radiography. The set-up is completed by an electromagnetic stirrer, which is used to create a swirling flow in the tube. Depending on the volume flow rates of the gas and the liquid metal, as well as the intensity of the swirl flow generated by the stirrer, 4 flow regimes are observed: (1) the formation of an almost stationary gas pocket in the region below the injection point without any electromagnetic stirring, (2) a twisted void zone along the side wall, (3) a straight void zone in the center of the pipe, and (4) a bubble chain in the core of the pipe flow. The experiments reveal that the wetting conditions at the inner SEN wall have a decisive influence on the resulting flow regime.
Effects of thinning on the understory light environment of different stands and the photosynthetic performance and growth of the reforestation species Phoebe bournei
Authors: Su Shicheng , Jin Nianqing , Wei Xiaoli
Published: December 2023

Light levels determine regeneration in stands and a key concern is how to regulate the light environment of different stand types to the requirements of the understory. In this study, we selected three stands typical in south China (a Cryptomeria japonica plantation, a Quercus acutissima plantation, and a mixed stand of both) and three thinning intensities to determine the best understory light environment for 3-year-old Phoebe bournei seedlings. The canopy structure, understory light environment, and photosynthesis and growth indicators were assessed following thinning. Thinning improved canopy structure and understory light availability of each stand; species composition was the reason for differences in the understory light environment. Under the same thinning intensity, the mixed stand had the greatest light radiation and most balanced spectral composition. P. bournei photosynthesis and growth were closely related to the light environment; all three stands required heavy thinning to create an effective and sustained understory light environment. In a suitable understory light environment, the efficiency of light interception, absorption, and use by seedlings was enhanced, resulting in a higher carbon assimilation the main limiting factor was stomatal conductance. As a shade-avoidance signal, red/far-red radiation is a critical factor driving changes in photosynthesis and growth of P. bournei seedlings, and a reduction increased light absorption and use capacity and height: diameter ratios. The growth advantage transformed from diameter to height, enabling seedlings to access more light. Our findings suggest that the regeneration of shade-tolerant species such as P. bournei could be enhanced if a targeted approach to thinning based on stand type was adopted.
Exploring the Relationship between Capacity to Love and Well-being: A Comparative Study of Emerging Adults and Middle-aged Adults
Authors: Fernandes Maria Inês , Sousa Claúdia , Conde Ana Rita , Silva Frederico , Ferreira Maria José
Published: December 2023

Love is a complex construct of undeniable importance for human beings and an area of research that has progressed over the past decades. The capacity to love, specifically, refers to the capacity for involvement, investment, and maintenance of a committed romantic relationship, resulting from complex developmental processes that begin in childhood and continue to be shaped throughout development. Despite its relevance, there is still little evidence of its relationships with indicators of positive human functioning. This study examines the link between the capacity to love and emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Furthermore, it delves into potential differences in the capacity to love based on life cycle stages (emerging adulthood and midlife) and gender. The research involved 535 participants, with 282 (52.7%) falling under the emerging adulthood category (18–25 years) and 253 (47.3%) classified as middle-aged adults (45–65 years). Multivariate variance analyses indicate emerging adults demonstrate a greater capacity to love in all dimensions except acceptance of loss, grief, and jealousy. Concerning gender, there were no significant differences. Prediction models indicate that age and acceptance of loss and grief are significant and positive predictors of all types of well-being, and basic trust is a significant and positive predictor of emotional well-being. Overall, this research sheds light on the vital role the capacity to love plays in human well-being and emphasizes the need for interventions that focus on nurturing and developing this aspect of human relationships.
The Shifted Wave Equation on Non-flat Harmonic Manifolds
Authors: Brammen Oliver
Published: December 2023

We solve the shifted wave equation $$\begin{aligned} \frac{\partial ^2}{\partial t^2}\varphi (x,t)=(\Delta _x+\rho ^2)\varphi (x,t) \end{aligned}$$

∂
2

∂

t
2

φ

(
x
,
t
)

=

(

Δ
x

+

ρ
2

)

φ

(
x
,
t
)

on a non-compact simply connected harmonic manifold with mean curvature of the horospheres $$2\rho >0$$

2
ρ
>
0

. We give an explicit representation of the solution as the inverse dual Abel transform of the spherical means of their initial conditions using the local injectivity of the Abel transform and symmetry properties of the spherical mean value operator. Furthermore, we investigate the shifted wave equation using the Fourier transform on harmonic manifolds of rank one. Additionally, we obtain a result analogous to the classical Paley–Wiener theorem and use it to show an asymptotic Huygens principle as well as asymptotic equidistribution of the energy of a solution of the shifted wave equation under assumptions on the Harish–Chandra type $$\textbf{c}$$
c
-function.
Mathematical models for the electric vehicle routing problem with time windows considering different aspects of the charging process
Authors: Cataldo-Díaz Cristian , Linfati Rodrigo , Escobar John Willmer
Published: December 2023

This paper addresses the electric vehicle routing problem with time windows (E-VRPTW), considering the battery’s state of charge ($$SoC$$

SoC

) and the recharging process's linearity and non-linearity. We compare two proposed models: the first assumes a linear charging process, and the second evaluates the impact generated by including the non-linearity of the battery recharging process. The non-linear model considers the limitation of the state of charge and restricts the deep battery discharge during movement. Additionally, the effect of overload on the supplied energy process has been evaluated to extend the batteries' useful life. The models are tested on instances commonly used in the literature. The obtained results verify that including the non-linearity recharging process reduces the total time of the routes. Indeed, by accessing the upper sections of the recharge curve ($$> 85\% \; SoC$$

>
85
%

S
o
C

, the more significant degradation), autonomy is obtained to avoid unnecessary visits to stations. In addition, including the option to carry out a fast recharge could reduce the total time, even reducing the number of vehicles necessary to carry out the delivery tasks and the maximum time defined by each route.
Experimental study on the failure characteristic and mechanism of granite time-delayed rockburst under true triaxial condition
Authors: Feng Guang-liang , Ma Qi , Lacidogna Giuseppe , Pan Peng-zhi , Wang Zhao-feng , Su Guo-shao
Published: December 2023

A series of tests for time-delayed rockburst of granite under true triaxial condition was designed and carried out. By using the true triaxial rockburst test system, an acoustic emission (AE) system, a high-speed camera system, and a digital image motion analysis software, the time-delayed rockburst development process was monitored and studied. Four stages were found in the failure of granite time-delayed rockburst, i.e. grains ejection, slab breaks and ejects, first fragments ejection and second fragments ejection. There is a “V” shear crack generated in the time-delayed rockburst sample, and several tensile cracks in the lower part of the rock sample cross through the “V” shear crack. The longer the duration (the time elapsed between the moments the AE hits rises rapidly and the rockburst occurs), the smaller the depth of the rockburst pit. The time-delayed rockburst debris are mainly composed of blocks and fragments. The longer the duration, the smaller the total debris mass, the percentage of ejected debris and the ejection kinetic energy. The fractal dimension of the debris is positively correlated with the duration. The longer the duration, the higher the degree of fragmentation. The cracks generated are tensile-shear composite cracks. In the loading stage, it is dominated by shear cracks. However, in the time-lag stage, it is dominated by tensile cracks. With the increase of the duration, the proportion of tensile cracks increased and the proportion of shear cracks decreased. The research results will have a certain reference value for the warning and risk mitigation of time-delayed rockbursts.
A case study of congressional districting: “Rocks-Pebbles-Sand” approach
Authors: Risk Jimmy , Switkes Jennifer , Zhang Ann
Published: December 2023

As a case study into an algorithmic approach to congressional districting, North Carolina provides a lot to explore. Statistical modeling has called into question whether recent North Carolina district plans are unbiased. In particular, the literature suggests that the district plan used in the 2016 U.S. House of Representatives election yields outlier results that are statistically unlikely to be obtained without the application of bias. Therefore, methods for creating strong and fair district plans are needed. Informed by previous districting models and algorithms, we build a model and algorithm to produce an ensemble of viable Congressional district plans. Our work contributes a “Rocks-Pebbles-Sand” concept and procedure facilitating reasonable population equity with a small overall number of county splits among districts. Additionally, our methodology minimizes the initial need for granular, precinct-level data, thereby reducing the risk of covert gerrymandering. This case study indicates plausibility of an approach built upon an easy-to-understand intuition.
Künneth Geometry
Authors: Hamilton M. J. D. , Kotschick D.
Published: December 2023

This clear and elegant text introduces Künneth, or bi-Lagrangian, geometry from the foundations up, beginning with a rapid introduction to symplectic geometry at a level suitable for undergraduate students. Unlike other books on this topic, it includes a systematic development of the foundations of Lagrangian foliations.
The latter half of the text discusses Künneth geometry from the point of view of basic differential topology, featuring both new expositions of standard material and new material that has not previously appeared in book form. This subject, which has many interesting uses and applications in physics, is developed ab initio, without assuming any previous knowledge of pseudo-Riemannian or para-complex geometry. This book will serve both as a reference work for researchers, and as an invitation for graduate students to explore this field, with open problems included as inspiration for future research.
Fiscal Transfers between Buenos Aires and the Viceregal Interior at the End of the Colonial Period: Fall of the Situado and the Relation with the Regional Royal Treasuries (1800–1810)
Authors: Galarza Antonio
Published: December 2023

This study reconstructs remittances from different regional haciendas to the main treasury of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, located in Buenos Aires, between 1800 and 1810. It estimates the extent and periodization of the decline of the situado of Potosí during the last colonial decade, determining whether the contributions from regional treasuries made up for it. It also estimates the impact of transfers on the regional treasuries. By drawing on the accounting books of various treasuries, the article identifies the main mechanisms that the Royal Treasury of Buenos Aires implemented to seize surplus resources of the viceroyalty’s interior haciendas at the end of the colonial period. The ability of the Royal Treasury to seize those surpluses was significant and implemented through various mechanisms of the ancien régime.
A comprehensive approach to rhinoplasty for thick-skinned patients
Authors: Baser Brajendra , Dev Sreena , Mukhopadhyay Shangorav
Published: December 2023

Objective

This study aimed to propose a systematic approach for managing thick-skinned rhinoplasty patients.

Methods

A retrospective review of the treatment of 26 thick-skinned patients with aesthetic and/or functional problems over a period of three years from January 2018 to January 2021 with a follow up for one year. A presurgical evaluation of skin was carried out initially. Skin thickness due to sebaceous overactivity was treated with retinoic acid derivatives, and skin thickness due to increased adipose tissue or hypertrophic fibrofatty layers was treated surgically. Open rhinoplasty was performed in all patients and a strong osseocartilaginous framework was created with the skin stretched as much as the aesthetic tolerance allowed.

Results

Post-operative outcomes were based on subjective assessment, photographic evaluation and the Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation questionnaire, which indicated significant patient satisfaction.

Conclusion

Using this systemic approach for treating thick-skinned rhinoplasty patients, predictable results with improved aesthetic satisfaction in patients were achieved.
‘One is allowed to show the reality’: The creation of panoptic structures in social media communication
Authors: Møller Janus Spindler
Published: December 2023

This article aims to introduce the notion of panoptic structures as a way of theorizing how people strategically exploit the affordances of digital devices to expose other people's behavior. I argue that Foucault's notion of panopticism becomes relevant in new ways in social life as a consequence of the polymedia repertoires of networked individuals. Central here is the ability to store digital communication and repost it for selected audiences. The data I analyze here were collected from a group of students who had just entered the gymnasium (the Danish equivalent of high school). During the months of multi-sited, online and offline ethnography, a conflict occurred between two groups of students. During this conflict, a repeated activity involved students confronting students from the opposing group with screenshots of their earlier social media activities and doing so in front of larger audiences of other students. On this basis, I argue that a theory of such panoptic practices belongs in the sociolinguistic toolbox. (Panopticism, social media, conflict, polymedia repertoire, audience)*
Euclid’s Fourth Postulate: Its authenticity and significance for the foundations of Greek mathematics
Authors: De Risi Vincenzo
Published: December 2023

Argument

The Fourth Postulate of Euclid’s Elements states that all right angles are equal. This principle has always been considered problematic in the deductive economy of the treatise, and even the ancient interpreters were confused about its mathematical role and its epistemological status. The present essay reconsiders the ancient testimonies on the Fourth Postulate, showing that there is no certain evidence for its authenticity, nor for its spuriousness. The paper also considers modern mathematical interpretations of this postulate, pointing out various anachronisms. It further discusses the validity of the ancient proof by superposition of the Fourth Postulate. Finally, the article proposes an interpretation of the history of the concept of angle in Greek geometry between Euclid and Apollonius, and puts forward a conjecture on the interpolation of the Fourth Postulate in the Hellenistic age. The essay contributes to a general reassessment of the axiomatic foundations of ancient mathematics.
Testing a conceptual Hierarchy of Effects model of food marketing exposure and associations with children and adolescents’ diet-related outcomes
Authors: Kelly Bridget , Boyland Emma , Tatlow-Golden Mimi , Christiansen Paul
Published: December 2023

Objective:

Children’s exposure to unhealthy food marketing contributes to poor diets by influencing the foods that children like, request, buy and consume. This study aimed to use confirmatory mediational analyses to test a hypothetical model of marketing effects, to better understand the mechanisms behind food marketing’s impacts on children.

Design:

Children responded to a cross-sectional online survey about their attitudes towards, and purchase and consumption behaviours of, ten frequently promoted food/beverage brands and their media use. Structural equation modelling tested a priori potential pathways for the effects of food marketing exposure on children’s diets.

Participants:

10–16-year-old children (n 400).

Setting:

Australia.

Results:

There was a significant positive correlation between children’s commercial screen media use and their attitudes towards brands (related to perceived social norms) and their brand purchasing behaviours, including their own purchases and requests to parents. The use of strategies to avoid advertising in commercial screen media reduced but did not remove the association between media use and brand purchases. Other brand exposures (on clothing, outdoor advertising, sponsorships) had a positive association with children’s perceived social norms about brands and their brand purchases and requests. Non-commercial screen media use was not associated with any brand-related outcomes.

Conclusions:

Commercial screen media use and other brand exposures were strongly positively associated with children’s perceptions and purchasing behaviours of frequently marketed food/beverages. Regulations to restrict children’s exposures to food marketing on-screen and through other media are required to reduce the effect of marketing exposure on children’s food purchasing behaviours.
Plasma Wave and Particle Dynamics During Interchange Events in the Jovian Magnetosphere Using Juno Observations
Authors: Daly A. , Li W. , Ma Q. , Shen X.‐C. , Yoon P. H. , Menietti J. D. , Kurth W. S. , Hospodarsky G. B. , Mauk B. H. , Clark G. , Allegrini F. , Connerney J. E. P. , Bolton S. J.
Published: December 2023

Interchange instability is known to drive fast radial transport of particles in Jupiter's inner magnetosphere. Magnetic flux tubes associated with the interchange instability often coincide with changes in particle distributions and plasma waves, but further investigations are required to understand their detailed characteristics. We analyze representative interchange events observed by Juno, which exhibit intriguing features of particle distributions and plasma waves, including Z‐mode and whistler‐mode waves. These events occurred at an equatorial radial distance of ∼9 Jovian radii on the nightside, with Z‐mode waves observed at mid‐latitude and whistler‐mode waves near the equator. We calculate the linear growth rate of whistler‐mode and Z‐mode waves based on the observed plasma parameters and electron distributions and find that both waves can be locally generated within the interchanged flux tube. Our findings are important for understanding particle transport and generation of plasma waves in the magnetospheres of Jupiter and other planetary systems.
Along‐Arc Volcanism in the Western and Central Aleutian From 2015 to 2021 Revealed by Cloud‐Based InSAR Processing
Authors: Wang Jiahui , Lu Zhong , Bekaert David , Marshak Charlie , Govorcin Marin , Sangha Simran , Kennedy Joseph , Gregg Patricia
Published: December 2023

Leveraging a cloud‐based interferometric synthetic aperture radar time‐series processing framework, we map the surface deformation along the western and central Aleutian volcanoes from 2015 to 2021. The observed crustal deformation from more than 15 volcanoes is attributed to a wide range of magmatic or tectonic processes, for example, magma accumulation in the magmatic reservoir, steady cooling or degassing of magma or hydrothermal systems, and faulting. More vigorous magmatism in the central Aleutian is noticed and appears to be related to higher magma production rates or higher magma ascent rates as a result of oblique subduction. New deformation patterns never observed in previous studies are detected and modeled at Tanaga, Great Sitkin and Yunaska. This study showcases the cloud‐processing capability to generate interferograms at scale and processing tools to analyze these time series over large, tectonically active areas.
Physics‐Informed Neural Networks for Fault Slip Monitoring: Simulation, Frictional Parameter Estimation, and Prediction on Slow Slip Events in a Spring‐Slider System
Authors: Fukushima Rikuto , Kano Masayuki , Hirahara Kazuro
Published: December 2023

The episodic transient fault slips called slow slip events (SSEs) have been observed in many subduction zones. These slips often occur in regions adjacent to the seismogenic zone during the interseismic period, making monitoring SSEs significant for understanding large earthquakes. Various fault slip behaviors, including SSEs and earthquakes, can be explained by the spatial heterogeneity of frictional properties on the fault. Therefore, estimating frictional properties from geodetic observations and physics‐based models is crucial for fault slip monitoring. In this study, we propose a Physics‐Informed Neural Network (PINN)‐based new approach to simulate fault slip evolutions, estimate frictional parameters from observation data, and predict subsequent fault slips. PINNs, which integrate physical laws and observation data, represent the solution of physics‐based differential equations. As a first step, we validate the effectiveness of the PINN‐based approach using a simple single‐degree‐of‐freedom spring‐slider system to model SSEs. As a forward problem, we successfully reproduced the temporal evolution of SSEs using PINNs and obtained implications on how to choose the appropriate collocation points by analyzing the residuals of physics‐based differential equations. As an inverse problem, we estimated the frictional parameters from synthetic observation data and demonstrated the ability to obtain accurate values regardless of the choice of first‐guess values. Furthermore, we discussed the potential of the predictability of the subsequent fault slips using limited observation data, taking into account uncertainties. Our results indicate the significant potential of PINNs for fault slip monitoring.
The Heat and Momentum Budgets of Titan's Middle Atmosphere
Authors: Lombardo N. A. , Lora J. M.
Published: December 2023

The thermal and dynamical structure of Titan's middle atmosphere (the stratosphere and mesosphere) has been observed to evolve over seasonal timescales. Measurements from the Composite Infrared Spectrometer on the Cassini spacecraft indicated the presence of a westerly jet with the strongest winds exceeding 200 m s−1 near the autumn and spring poles. The strength of the winds varied substantially with latitude and altitude, and weakened throughout most of winter. The strong winds also served to trap short‐lived trace molecules near the winter pole, leading to a chemically enriched environment. Here, to better understand the evolution of the middle atmosphere jet, we quantify the heat and zonal momentum budgets in Titan's stratosphere and mesosphere over the course of a Titan year using a three‐dimensional general circulation model. We confirm that the dominant heating balance is between the net radiative and adiabatic heating rates, and also show that the convergence of sensible heat by the atmospheric flow is important at low stratospheric altitudes above the winter pole. We show that the polar jet is maintained by the convergence of zonal momentum by the mean meridional flow, while the low‐latitude winds are maintained by an up‐gradient transport of momentum by eddies that occur on time scales of less than one Titan day. The heat and momentum budgets we determine here will be useful in constraining the factors controlling the evolution of Titan's middle atmosphere over the coming decades.
The Geomorphic Effectiveness of Landslides
Authors: Dente E. , Katz O. , Crouvi O. , Mushkin A.
Published: December 2023

Landslides are widely recognized as key components of landscape evolution in areas of steep topography. Here, we present a new framework for examining landslide inventories in the context of the volume‐based impact that different landslide sizes have on shaping the landscape, that is, their geomorphic effectiveness (GE). Focusing on an actively retreating coastal cliff in the Eastern Mediterranean and utilizing a LiDAR‐derived inventory of over 1,100 cliff landslides that occurred between 2014 and 2019, we show that segments of the cliff are characterized by two principal types of GE distributions: (a) A “humped” GE distribution where the accumulated erosion volume of the largest and rarest collapses in the inventory is similar or lower than that of more frequent, mid‐range collapses and (b) Nearly monotonically increasing GE distribution where the cumulative volume of larger collapses consistently surpasses that of smaller magnitude collapses. Regardless of the GE distribution type, we found that the cumulative geomorphic impact of the small and most probable collapses was negligible. Extending this new GE framework to 9 other previously published landslide inventories (coastal and mountainous), we demonstrate that precipitation and seepage‐induced landslide inventories are commonly characterized by monotonic‐type GE distributions, dominated by large landslides (>10−1 of the volume of the largest landslide), and that hump‐shaped GE distributions, dominated by more frequent mid‐size landslides, commonly occur under “dry” triggers (e.g., earthquakes). We propose that the humped GE distribution could reflect the lack of deep mechanical weakening, which exerts a higher probability of the largest landslides in the inventories triggered by “wet” factor.
Mobile health behaviour change support system as independent treatment tool for obesity: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Markkanen Jaakko O. , Oikarinen Noora , Savolainen Markku J. , Merikallio Heta , Nyman Ville , Salminen Ville , Virkkula Teppo , Karppinen Pasi , Oinas-Kukkonen Harri , Hukkanen Janne
Published: December 2023

Background/Objectives

Digital health interventions are increasingly utilized as an adjunct to face-to-face counselling in the treatment of obesity. However, previous studies have shown inconsistent efficacy when digital interventions are used as stand-alone treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a mobile health behaviour change support system (mHBCSS) is effective in weight reduction and weight loss maintenance without additional counselling. Furthermore, changes in cardiometabolic risk factors were investigated.

Methods

In this randomized controlled trial, a mHBCSS intervention was conducted for 200 volunteers with obesity (BMI 30–40 kg/m² and age 18–65 years). The study participants were randomly assigned into two groups: immediate access to mHBCSS intervention or wait-list control with access to mHBCSS after 6 months. Anthropometric and metabolic traits were also measured. The primary outcome was weight loss from the baseline to the 6-month visit.

Results

Among 200 participants (88.5% women), mean BMI (SD) was 34.3 kg/m² (2.8) and age 46.5 years (9.5). The retention rate was 98.5% and 89.0% at the 6- and 12-month visits, respectively. At the 6-month visit, those with immediate access to mHBCSS had significantly greater weight loss (−2.5%, 95% CI −3.4 to −1.6, p < 0.001) compared with the wait-list control group (0.2%, 95% CI –0.4 to 0.9, p = 0.466; between groups p < 0.001). Weight loss was maintained until the 12-month time point in the mHBCSS group (−2.1%, 95% CI −3.3 to −0.9, p = 0.001). The usage of mHBCSS had no significant effect on metabolic traits.

Conclusion

The mHBCSS as a stand-alone treatment of obesity results in weight reduction and weight loss maintenance with remarkable adherence rate. Further studies are needed to establish how to best implement the scalable and resource-efficient mHBCSS into the standard care of obesity to achieve optimal weight loss results.
SALL4 is a CRL3REN/KCTD11 substrate that drives Sonic Hedgehog-dependent medulloblastoma
Authors: Lospinoso Severini Ludovica , Loricchio Elena , Navacci Shirin , Basili Irene , Alfonsi Romina , Bernardi Flavia , Moretti Marta , Conenna Marilisa , Cucinotta Antonino , Coni Sonia , Petroni Marialaura , De Smaele Enrico , Giannini Giuseppe , Maroder Marella , Canettieri Gianluca , Mastronuzzi Angela , Guardavaccaro Daniele , Ayrault Olivier , Infante Paola , Bufalieri Francesca , Di Marcotullio Lucia
Published: December 2023

The Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathway is crucial regulator of embryonic development and stemness. Its alteration leads to medulloblastoma (MB), the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor. The SHH-MB subgroup is the best genetically characterized, however the molecular mechanisms responsible for its pathogenesis are not fully understood and therapeutic benefits are still limited. Here, we show that the pro-oncogenic stemness regulator Spalt-like transcriptional factor 4 (SALL4) is re-expressed in mouse SHH-MB models, and its high levels correlate with worse overall survival in SHH-MB patients. Proteomic analysis revealed that SALL4 interacts with REN/KCTD11 (here REN), a substrate receptor subunit of the Cullin3-RING ubiquitin ligase complex (CRL3REN) and a tumor suppressor lost in ~30% of human SHH-MBs. We demonstrate that CRL3REN induces polyubiquitylation and degradation of wild type SALL4, but not of a SALL4 mutant lacking zinc finger cluster 1 domain (ΔZFC1). Interestingly, SALL4 binds GLI1 and cooperates with HDAC1 to potentiate GLI1 deacetylation and transcriptional activity. Notably, inhibition of SALL4 suppresses SHH-MB growth both in murine and patient-derived xenograft models. Our findings identify SALL4 as a CRL3REN substrate and a promising therapeutic target in SHH-dependent cancers.
Nuclear isoform of RAPH1 interacts with FOXQ1 to promote aggressiveness and radioresistance in breast cancer
Authors: Liu Qun , Cao Yu , Wei Xiaolin , Dong Huiting , Cui Mengyao , Guan Shu , Liu Bo , Wang Xu , Xing Peng
Published: December 2023

Radioresistance limits the efficacy of radiotherapy against breast cancer, especially the most lethal subtype of breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is closely related to tumor radioresistance. In this work, we attempted to identify the key EMT-related transcription factor(s) that can induce radioresistance in breast cancer cells. A set of 44 EMT transcription factors were analyzed in parental and radioresistant TNBC cell lines. The function of FOXQ1, a differentially expressed transcription factor, was determined in TNBC radioresistance. FOXQ1-interacting proteins were identified by co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry. Compared with parental cells, FOXQ1 was significantly upregulated in radioresistant TNBC cells. Silencing of FOXQ1 increased the radiosensitiviy of radioresistant TNBC cells both in vitro and in vivo. FOXQ1 associated with a nuclear isoform of RAPH1 (named RAPH1-i3) in radioresistant TNBC cells. Overexpression of RAPH1-i3 enhanced TNBC cell proliferation and migration, and most interestingly, induced radioresistance in parental TNBC cells when co-expressed with FOXQ1. Similar findings were observed in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cell lines that had co-expression of RAPH1-i3 and FOXQ1. Mechanistically, co-expression of RAPH1-i3 and FOXQ1 activated STAT3 signaling and increased the expression of CCND1, MCL1, Bcl-XL, and MMP2. Depletion of RAPH1-i3 impaired the radioresistance of radioresistant TNBC cells. Additionally, RAPH1-i3 upregulation was associated with advanced tumor stage and reduced disease-free survival in TNBC patients. These results collectively show that RAPH1-i3 interacts with FOXQ1 to promote breast cancer progression and radioresistance. RAPH1-i3 and FOXQ1 represent therapeutic targets for the treatment of breast cancer including TNBC.
Long-term memory of experienced jays facilitates problem-solving by naïve group members in the wild
Authors: Jo Hyein , McCune Kelsey B. , Jablonski Piotr G. , Lee Sang‑im
Published: December 2023

Long-term memory affects animal fitness, especially in social species. In these species, the memory of group members facilitates the acquisition of novel foraging skills through social learning when naïve individuals observe and imitate the successful foraging behavior. Long-term memory and social learning also provide the framework for cultural behavior, a trait found in humans but very few other animal species. In birds, little is known about the duration of long-term memories for complex foraging skills, or the impact of long-term memory on group members. We tested whether wild jays remembered a complex foraging task more than 3 years after their initial experience and quantified the effect of this memory on naïve jay behavior. Experienced jays remembered how to solve the task and their behavior had significant positive effects on interactions by naïve group members at the task. This suggests that natural selection may favor long-term memory of solutions to foraging problems to facilitate the persistence of foraging skills that are specifically useful in the local environment in social birds with long lifespans and overlapping generations.
Impact of hydrocolloid dressings in the prevention of pressure ulcers in high-risk patients: a randomized controlled trial (PENFUP)
Authors: Cortés Olga L. , Herrera Victor M. , Salazar Luz D. , Rojas Yudy A. , Esparza Maribel , Taborda Alejandra , Dennis Rodolfo José
Published: December 2023

It is uncertain whether hydrocolloid dressings, a more costly intervention than offering standard care with petrolatum, is superior to prevent pressure ulcers among hospitalized high-risk adults. Randomized, parallel-group, open-label, superiority trial with an active control group, blinded for investigators, event validators, and analysts (December 1, 2015 to December 12, 2017). Eligible patients were ≥ 18 years of age with intact skin judged as high-risk for skin ulcers (Braden scale), admitted to surgical or medical wards of two tertiary-level hospitals. Participants were randomized (1:1) to protection with hydrocolloid dressings or petrolatum. The primary outcome was the first occurrence of pressure ulcers (with post-injury photographs adjudicated by three judges) under intention-to-treat analysis. Based on prior cost analysis, and the available resources (assumed incidence of 6 ulcers/1000 patient-days in controls), inclusion of up to 1500 participants allowed to surpass a one-sided superiority threshold > 5% based on a target efficacy > 40% for dressings. We planned an economic analysis using a decision tree model based on the effectiveness of the study results from a perspective of the third payer of health care. After inclusion of 689 patients (69 events), the trial was stopped for futility after a planned interim analysis (conditional power < 0.1 for all scenarios if the trial was completed). Pressure ulcers had occurred in 34 (10.2%) patients in the intervention group [9.6 per 1000 patient-days] and 35 (9.9%) participants in the control group [7.9 per 1000 patient-days], HR = 1.07 [95% CI 0.67 to 1.71]. The estimated incremental cost for dressings (a dominated strategy) was USD 52.11 per patient. Using hydrocolloid dressings was found similar to petrolatum for preventing pressure ulcers among hospitalized high-risk patients. As it conveys additional costs, and in this study was unlikely to demonstrate enough superiority, this strategy did not overcome conventional skin care.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT02565745 registered on December 1, 2015.