bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrated analysis of the Neogene–Quaternary Valdera‐Volterra Basin (Northern Apennines). Evidence for composite development of hinterland basins
Authors: Poneti Giovanni , Benvenuti Marco , Scarselli Nicola , Craig Jonathan , Sani Federico
Published: September 2024

The Neogene and Quaternary hinterland basins of the Northern Apennine have been the subject of different tectonic interpretations. Several studies considered these basins as the result of polyphase normal faulting framed in a continuous crustal extensional regime since the middle Miocene. On the contrary, geophysical and geological studies provided evidence of the important role played by out‐of‐sequence thrusts and backthrusts in the evolution of these basins during a prolongated and intense period of shortening. Here we present an integrated analysis of 2D stacked seismic reflection profiles, stratigraphic and geophysical data from deep exploration wells, gravity data, and published geological and biostratigraphic data for the Valdera‐Volterra basin (central Tuscany, Italy). The results support a polyphase and composite evolution of the basin, subdivided into three main phases. During the late Tortonian–Zanclean, the growth of major thrust‐related anticlines controlled the evolution of the sedimentary basin. The growth of a syncline determined the creation of accommodation space for the sediments. This main compressional deformation occurred during the Messinian and ended during the Late Zanclean. NE migration of the depocentre during the Early Zanclean was identified, likely possibly due to a differential activity growth between the bordering anticlines. During the Piacenzian, an extensional phase has been recognised, superposed to the previous compressive phase. During the Latest Piacenzian–Early Pleistocene (?), a final compressional phase took place resulting in the positive inversion of the Piacenzian WSW dipping main border fault.
Robust phylogenomics settles controversies of classification and reveals evolution of male embolic complex of the Laufeia clade (Araneae, Salticidae, Euophryini)
Authors: Yu Kun , Zhang Feng , Wang Yaozhuo , Maddison Wayne P. , Zhang Junxia
Published: September 2024

The Laufeia clade is a peculiar lineage of euophryine jumping spiders showing rapid divergence of male genital structures, especially the embolic complex that directly interacts with female genitalia during sperm transfer. With the rapid growth of species discovery and the perplexing morphology of male genitalia in the Laufeia clade, the controversy in its classification has become a crucial problem. In this study, we applied a phylogenomic approach using ultra‐conserved elements data to infer the phylogeny of the Laufeia clade with extensive taxon sampling. A comparative morphological study was performed to evaluate diagnostic characters and understand the evolution of the male embolic complex within the Laufeia clade. The evolution of microhabitats (foliage, tree trunk, rock and surface litter) was also investigated to uncover the potential link between the microhabitat shifts and male embolic complex divergence. The results provide a strongly supported phylogenetic framework and updated generic concepts for the Laufeia clade. The synapomorphies for the updated genera within the Laufeia clade were identified through character mapping on the phylogeny. Ancestral state reconstruction analyses revealed that the Type I embolic complex (characterized by a disc‐like embolic disc with a lamina as its outer edge) was ancestral and gradually evolved into the Type II (without lamina of embolic disc, base of embolic complex often modified into a functional “conductor”) and Type III (lacking lamina of embolic disc and base of embolic complex) embolic complex, and that some embolic shapes evolved multiple times independently in different lineages of the Laufeia clade. The shift from foliage‐dwelling to tree trunk‐dwelling in the common ancestor of the Laufeia clade may have facilitated the divergent evolution of male embolic complex in the Laufeia clade. This study provides a solid foundation for future studies of systematics and evolution of this group.
A Multi‐Center International Analysis of Lung Transplantation Outcomes in Patients With COVID‐19
Authors: Kashem Mohammed Abul , Loor Gabriel , Emtiazjoo Amir , Hartwig Matthew , Van Raemdonck Dirk , Calvelli Hannah , Leon Pena Andres , Salan‐Gomez Marcelo , Zhao Huaqing , Warnick Michael , Villavicencio Mauricio , Ius Fabio , Ghadimi Kamrouz , Salman Jawad , Chandrashekaran Satish , Machuca Tiago , Sanchez Pablo G. , Subramaniam Kathirvel , Neyrinck Arne , Huddleston Stephen , Ceulemans Laurens , Osho Asishana , D'Silva Ethan , Ramamurthy Uma , Shaffer Andrew , Langer Nathaniel , Toyoda Yoshiya
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Lung transplantation has become increasingly utilized in patients with COVID‐19. While several single‐center and UNOS database studies have been published on lung transplants (LTs) for end‐stage lung disease (ESLD) from Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), there is a lack of multi‐center and international data.

Methods

This is a multicenter analysis from 11 high‐volume lung transplant centers in the United States and Europe. Data were collected through the Multi‐Institutional ECLS Registry and stratified by ESLD due to COVID‐19 versus other etiologies. Demographics and clinical variables were compared using Chi‐square test and Fisher's exact test. Survival was assessed by Kaplan‐Meier curves and compared by log‐rank test with propensity score matching.

Results

Of 1606 lung transplant recipients, 46 (2.9%) were transplanted for ESLD from COVID‐19 compared to 1560 (97.1%) without a history of COVID‐19. Among COVID‐19 patients, 30 (65.2%) had COVID‐19‐associated ARDS and 16 (34.8%) had post‐COVID‐19 fibrosis. COVID‐19 patients had higher lung allocation scores (78.0 vs. 44.4, p < 0.0001), had severely limited functional status (37.0% vs. 2.9%, p < 0.0001), had higher preoperative ECMO usage (65.2% vs. 5.4%, p < 0.0001), and spent less time on the waitlist (32 vs. 137 days, p < 0.0001). A 30‐day survival was comparable between COVID‐19 and non‐COVID‐19 patients before (100% vs. 98.7%, p = 0.39) and after propensity matching (p = 0.15).

Conclusions

Patients who received LTs due to COVID‐19 had short‐term survival comparable to that of patients without COVID‐19. Our findings support the idea that lung transplantation should be considered for select patients with ESLD due to COVID‐19.
Herbage biomass predictions from UAV data using a derived digital terrain model and machine learning
Authors: Aebischer Philippe , Sutter Michael , Birkinshaw Amy , Nussbaum Madlene , Reidy Beat
Published: September 2024

More than 70% of Switzerland's agricultural area is covered by grasslands that often exhibit highly diverse species compositions and heterogeneous growth patterns. An essential requirement for efficient and effective pasture management is the regular estimation of herbage biomass. While various methods exist for estimating herbage biomass, they are often time‐consuming and may not accurately capture the variability within pastures. This highlights the need for more efficient, accurate estimation techniques. To help improve herbage biomass estimation, we present estiGrass3D+, a Random Forest model. This model predicts pasture biomass using a digital terrain model (DTM) derived from a digital surface model (DSM) for sward height modelling, along with vegetation indices and agronomic variables from UAV images only. The model was successfully evaluated with independent test data from different sites on the Swiss central plateau, including both grazed and mown areas. Model performance on an independent validation dataset achieved a NRMSE of 20.3%, while the training dataset had an NRMSE of 21.5%. These consistent results confirm that estiGrass3D+ is both transferable and applicable to unseen data while maintaining accuracy and reliability across different datasets. The wide applicability of our method demonstrates its practicality for predicting herbage biomass under different pasture management scenarios. Additionally, our method of deriving a DTM directly from a DSM simplifies the measurement of grass sward height by UAVs, eliminating the need for prior ground control point (GCP) marking and subsequent aligning, enhancing the efficiency of herbage biomass estimation.
Mitigating the extinction risk of globally threatened and endemic mountainous Orthoptera species: Parnassiana parnassica and Oropodisma parnassica
Authors: Stefanidis Apostolis , Kougioumoutzis Konstantinos , Zografou Konstantina , Fotiadis Georgios , Tzortzakaki Olga , Willemse Luc , Kati Vassiliki
Published: September 2024

Orthoptera species are vulnerable to extinction on a global scale. Greece hosts 35% (380 species) of the European Orthoptera fauna with a high degree of endemic (37%) and threatened species (37%).

We sampled 46 plots (100 m2) to investigate the distribution and ecological requirement of two Greek mountain endemic and red‐listed species: Parnassiana parnassica (Ramme, 1926; Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae; Critically Endangered [CR]) and Oropodisma parnassica (Scudder, 1897; Orthoptera: Caelifera; Endangered [EN]). Species had a restricted geographical range, with two isolated populations confined to high altitudes (1527–2320 m) of Mts. Parnassos and Elikonas.

Species distribution models showed that slope affected their suitable habitat, together with the topographic position index and the annual temperature range (P. parnassica), and the amount of green vegetation and evapotranspiration (O. parnassica).

Connectivity analysis showed that P. parnassica‐suitable habitat consisted of few larger and well‐connected patches (26 patches: effective mesh size of 1.57 km2) and that O. parnassica‐suitable habitat consisted of more but smaller and less connected patches (56 patches: effective mesh size of 0.3 km2).

Generalised linear models showed that the population density of P. parnassica was negatively influenced by the height of herbaceous vegetation and that of O. parnassica was positively influenced by altitude.

The species face three main imminent threats: land take, wildfires and global warming, whereas livestock grazing seems to have a positive impact and skiing a neutral impact on their populations.

We assessed both species as EN after International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria and a suite of conservation measures are suggested for their status improvement.
Extracellular Release of a Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase Correlates With Periodontal Disease Severity
Authors: Aljohmani Ahmad , Heinze Hakon , Gharzia Federico Guillermo , Reda Bashar , Abdrabou Ahmed Mohamed Mostafa , Becker Sören L. , Bischoff Markus , Hannig Matthias , Yildiz Daniela
Published: September 2024

Aim

Periodontal disease is driven by oral pathogens, including Porphyromonas gingivalis, and the release of inflammatory cytokines. These cytokines (e.g., TNF) or their receptors (e.g., IL‐1R) are substrates of a disintegrin and metalloproteinases (ADAMs). In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of ADAMs on periodontal disease phenotypes.

Materials and Methods

Western blot and FRET‐based activity measurements of the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients were compared with those of infected (P. gingivalis) or cytokine‐stimulated oral keratinocytes and primary human neutrophils, respectively. This was accompanied by an analysis of the released extracellular vesicles and MMP9 activity.

Results

In the GCF of patients, ADAM8 protein expression and activity were correlated with disease stage, whereas ADAM10 protein expression was inversely correlated with disease stage. Infection and the resulting cytokine release orchestrated the release of soluble ADAM8 by oral keratinocytes and primary neutrophils as soluble ectodomain and on exosomes, respectively. Furthermore, ADAM8 regulated the release of ADAM10 and MMP9.

Conclusion

Dysregulation of cell‐associated and extracellular ADAM proteolytic activity may be an essential regulatory element in the progression of periodontal disease driven by ADAM8. The influence of ADAM8 on disease onset and the evaluation of targeting ADAM8 as a potential and novel local treatment option should be addressed in future translational in vivo studies.
Efficacy and safety of various corticosteroids in the treatment of children with allergic rhinitis: A systematic review and network meta‐analysis
Authors: Li Yuxin , Xiong Jun , Zhang Zheng , Liao Kai , Zhou Xiaohong , Li Jun , Xiang Jie , Xu Lingling
Published: September 2024

Background

Intranasal corticosteroids were recommended as first‐line drugs for the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) children. A variety of corticosteroids were available for clinical choice; however, which could relieve the clinical symptoms of patients to the greatest extent was currently unknown. Thus, we performed a network meta‐analysis (NMA) to systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of different corticosteroids in treating children with AR, which might provide a basis for more rational clinical treatment decisions.

Methods

Seven electronic databases were searched, and the retrieval time range was the time from their inception to November 2023. The literature screening, data extraction, and assessment of the risk of bias of included studies were completed independently by two reviewers. A frequentist NMA was performed with Stata17.0 software.

Results

A total of 43 RCTs covering 10,897 participants were included. In the improvement of reflective total nasal symptom score (rTNSS) and instantaneous total nasal symptom score (iTNSS), fluticasone furoate nasal spray (FFNS) and beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) nasal aerosol presented the best efficacy. Regarding the incidence of adverse reactions, mometasone furoate aqueous nasal spray (MFANS) and BDP showed a good safety profile. In terms of the influence of cortisol (urinary free cortisol, plasma cortisol) and growth, no significant difference was observed between the different groups.

Conclusion

The results showed that BDP nasal aerosol and FFNS had best efficacy; MFANS and BDP had the best safety profile. However, this conclusion was less convincing because of the limited numbers of patients/controls and study quality.
Caring for dementia caregivers: How well does social risk screening reflect unmet needs?
Authors: Winslow Victoria A. , Lindau Stacy Tessler , Huang Elbert S. , Asay Spencer , Johnson Amber E. , Borson Soo , Thompson Katherine , Makelarski Jennifer A.
Published: September 2024

Background

Unmet social and caregiving needs can make caregiving for a person with dementia more difficult. Although national policy encourages adoption of systematic screening for health‐related social risks (HRSRs) in clinical settings, the accuracy of these risk‐based screening tools for detecting unmet social needs is unknown.

Methods

We used baseline data from dementia caregivers (N = 343) enrolled in a randomized controlled trial evaluating CommunityRx‐Dementia, a social care intervention conducted on Chicago's South Side. We assessed caregivers' (1) unmet social and caregiving needs by querying need for 14 resource types and (2) HRSRs using the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Accountable Health Communities (AHC) screening tool. Using unmet social needs as the reference, we examined the sensitivity of the AHC tool to detect food, housing, and transportation needs. Analyses were stratified by gender.

Results

Most caregivers were women (78%), non‐Hispanic (96%), Black (81%), partnered (58%) and had an annual household income ≥$50K (64%). Unmet social and caregiving needs were similarly prevalent among women and men caregivers (87% had ≥1 need, 43% had ≥5 needs). HRSRs were also prevalent. The most common HRSR was lack of social support (45%). Housing instability, difficulty with utilities and having any HRSRs were significantly more prevalent among women (all p < 0.05). The AHC screener had low sensitivity for detecting unmet food (39%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 27%–53%), housing (42%, 95% CI: 31%–53%), and transportation (22%, 95% CI: 14%–31%) needs. Sensitivity did not differ by gender for food (41% for women and 30% for men, p = 0.72) or housing (44% for women and 29% for men, p = 0.37) needs. For transportation needs, sensitivity was 27% for women versus 0% for men (p = 0.01).

Conclusions

Men and women caregivers have high rates of unmet social needs that are often missed by the CMS‐recommended risk‐based screening method. Findings indicate a role for need‐based screening in implementing social care.
Development of a Simvastatin‐Loaded Copolymer Acid‐Sensitive Nanocarrier and Its Experimental Use in the Treatment of Keloids
Authors: Zhuang Bin‐yu , Hu Fang‐chi , Gao Xuan , Leng Qi , Zhang Ying , You Yan
Published: September 2024

Objective

The lipid‐lowering simvastatin (SIM) has been shown to be an effective inhibitor of keloid proliferation. However, due to its low water solubility and short half‐life, simvastatin aggregates to the liver and does not reach the skin lesions after oral administration, which restricts its widespread clinical use. The development of nanomedicine provides the possibility for us to break through this bottleneck problem clinically. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using complex nanocontrolled delivery system (CNDS), simvastatin‐loaded polyethylene glycol‐poly lactic‐co‐glycolic acid (PEG‐PLGA), in the treatment of keloids.

Methods

In the in vitro study, the release of simvastatin in fibroblasts by CNDS@Simvastatin and its effect on inhibition of the proliferation of fibroblasts, Col Ι, and CTGF by the slow release of simvastatin were assessed. The efficacy of CNDS@Simvastatin in improving keloids and the biocompatibility and safety of CNDS@Simvastatin were examined in vivo by establishing a murine ear keloid model.

Results

CNDS@Simvastatin showed sustained and uniform inhibition of the proliferation of fibroblasts, Col Ι, and CTGF via the gradual release of simvastatin over 72 h. It was efficient in the treatment of the murine ear keloid with no observable toxic side effects on various organs.

Conclusion

Simvastatin‐loaded copolymer acid‐sensitive nanocarriers, CNDS@Simvastatin nanospheres, were successfully developed in this study, and these were characterized by favorable physicochemical properties and biocompatibility.
The effectiveness of aerobic exercise compared to other types of treatment on pain and disability in patients with orofacial pain: A systematic review
Authors: de Oliveira‐Souza Ana lzabela Sobral , Gülker Lisa , Tavares Luiz Felipe , Andrade Angela Viegas , Dennett Liz , Fuentes Jorge , Schnepel Tonia , von Piekartz Harry , Armijo‐Olivo Susan
Published: September 2024

Purpose

To compile and synthesise the evidence regarding the effectiveness of aerobic exercise (AE) compared with other treatments to reduce pain and disability of individuals with orofacial pain (OFP).

Methods

Electronic searches were conducted on five databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Scopus). Randomised controlled trials (RCT) or controlled trials including adults of both sexes with painful OFP diagnoses were targeted. The intervention of interest was AE (e.g., walking, cycling, running, among others), compared to any other conservative and non‐conservative therapy. The primary outcome was pain intensity. The risk of bias (RoB) was determined using a compiled set of items and the Cochrane RoB‐2 tools. The overall certainty of the evidence was evaluated with the GRADE approach.

Results

Out of 4.669 records screened, four manuscripts were included. However, three of them used the same population but presented different outcomes. These studies included subjects with headache associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and general TMD. Both studies used aerobic exercise (AE) as the intervention of interest. Manual therapy (MT) plus exercise (Ex) (strengthening exercise (Str ex) or general exercises) were used as a comparison group. The combined treatment, including a multimodal therapy (AE + MT + Str ex), was superior to MT + Ex (MD: −8.65 points [95% CI −13.73, −3.57]) on pain intensity (orofacial pain [OFP] and headache intensity) at the end of the treatment and also after 12‐week follow‐up (MD: −9.43 points [95% CI −14.97, −3.89]). Also, the combination of three treatment modalities (AE + MT + Ex) was better on quality of life than AE alone (MD: −14.60 points [95% CI −16.74, −12.46]) and MT + Ex (MD: −12.30 point [95% CI −14.50, −10.10]) at the end of the treatment.

Conclusions

Aerobic exercise plus MT and general exercises achieved the greatest positive effects on pain and other outcomes in the short/medium term in patients with OFP. However, the scientific evidence supporting the isolated effects of AE for OFP is limited, indicating the need for more studies. Further studies are also needed to elaborate guidelines when using AE for individuals with OFP.
Exploring the Impact of Cognitive Dysfunction During Recurrent Depression in a Sample of Mid‐to‐Older Age British South Asians: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Akhtar Amirah , Shafiq Shabana , Parveen Sahdia , Nwofe Emmanuel , Windle Karen
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Depression is a major public health issue, increasing the risk of comorbidities. Some people with depression experience cognitive dysfunction, which can persist even after symptomatic recovery. British South Asians are at greater risk of developing depression and are less likely to seek treatment. It is important to understand their experience of subjective cognitive dysfunction in depression and how best to support them.

Aims

This study explored subjective experience of cognitive dysfunction during recurrent depression, in a sample of 12 British South Asians aged between 45 and 60 years.

Methods

We conducted semi‐structured interviews to explore cognitive dysfunction during recurrent depression. We analysed the data using thematic analysis.

Results

Difficulties in attention and concentration resulted in lower quality of social relationships, including not feeling present and social isolation. Learning new information was difficult, thus impacting productivity. Participants found it difficult to engage in enjoyable activities that promoted brain health. The emotional, physical and spiritual impact negatively impacted on quality of life.

Discussion

Cognitive strategies used in therapies could improve brain health and functional recovery in people living with depression.

Implications

Mental health nurses play a pivotal role in providing culturally appropriate information and strategies for managing cognitive dysfunction in recurrent depression.
Discrimination toward the visually impaired and quota policies in the labor market
Authors: Chareyron Sylvain , L'Horty Yannick , Mbaye Louise , Petit Pascale
Published: September 2024

We measure discrimination in access to employment toward people with visual impairment in France and explore its relationship with two public policies designed to facilitate the integration of disabled people into the workforce: the obligation on the employer to adapt the workstation, and a quota policy intended to incentivize the hiring of people with disabilities. We use the correspondence test method in combination with a difference‐in‐differences strategy, to explore the effects of these different policies. We show that applicants with visual impairments face significant discrimination, and we suggest that the level of discrimination is influenced by both policies.
Interplay between vertebrate adaptive immunity and bacterial infectivity genes: Bank vole MHC versus Borrelia afzeliiOspC
Authors: Różańska‐Wróbel Joanna , Migalska Magdalena , Urbanowicz Anna , Grzybek Maciej , Rego Ryan O. M. , Bajer Anna , Dwuznik‐Szarek Dorota , Alsarraf Mohammed , Behnke‐Borowczyk Jolanta , Behnke Jerzy M. , Radwan Jacek
Published: September 2024

Coevolution of parasites with their hosts may lead to balancing selection on genes involved in determining the specificity of host–parasite interactions, but examples of such specific interactions in wild vertebrates are scarce. Here, we investigated whether the polymorphic outer surface protein C (OspC), used by the Lyme disease agent, Borrelia afzelii, to manipulate vertebrate host innate immunity, interacts with polymorphic major histocompatibility genes (MHC), while concurrently eliciting a strong antibody response, in one of its main hosts in Europe, the bank vole. We found signals of balancing selection acting on OspC, resulting in little differentiation in OspC variant frequencies between years. Neither MHC alleles nor their inferred functional groupings (supertypes) significantly predicted the specificity of infection with strains carrying different OspC variants. However, we found that MHC alleles, but not supertypes, significantly predicted the level of IgG antibodies against two common OspC variants among seropositive individuals. Our results thus indicate that MHC alleles differ in their ability to induce antibody responses against specific OspC variants, which may contribute to selection of OspC polymorphism by the vole immune system.
Defence‐relevant gene expression differences in hatchlings among wild Newfoundland and farmed European and North American Atlantic salmon and their hybrids
Authors: Ignatz Eric H. , Xue Xi , Hall Jennifer R. , Islam Shahinur S. , Rise Matthew L. , Fleming Ian A.
Published: September 2024

Escape of genetically distinct farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) raises concerns about their potential interactions with wild populations and the disruption of local adaptation through genetic admixture. It is often unknown whether genetic origin or common domestication effects will have a greater influence on consequences posed by escaped farmed fish. Previous work showed that domestication could have prevalent effects on the behaviour and growth of farmed salmon, independent of their genetic origin. Yet, less is known whether this extends more broadly to gene expression, particularly at critical early life stages. Thus, we compared the expression of 24 transcripts related to the immune response, structural maintenance, stress response and iron metabolism among distinct farmed (North American [NA] and European [EO]), wild (Newfoundland) and F1 hybrid salmon at hatching under controlled conditions using qPCR analyses. A slightly higher number of transcripts were differentially expressed between the wild population relative to EO (i.e. atf3a, atf3b, bnip3, trim37a, ftm, hp and gapdh) than NA‐farmed salmon (i.e. epdl2, hba1a, hba1b, hbb4 and ftm). The most differences existed between the two farmed strains themselves (11 of 24 transcripts), with the fewest differentially expressed transcripts found between the F1 hybrids and the domesticated/wild maternal strains (4 of 24 transcripts). Interestingly, despite similarities in the overall extent of gene expression differences among cross types, the expression patterns differed relative to a past study that compared fry from the same cross types at the end of yolk sac absorption. Overall, our findings suggest that interbreeding of escaped farmed salmon with wild Newfoundland populations would alter transcript expression levels and that developmental stage influences these changes.
Integrated assessment of malignancy in IDH‐mutant astrocytoma with p16 and methylthioadenosine phosphorylase immunohistochemistry
Authors: Masui Kenta , Onizuka Hiromi , Muragaki Yoshihiro , Kawamata Takakazu , Nagashima Yoji , Kurata Atsushi , Komori Takashi
Published: September 2024

In the fifth edition of the World Health Organization's (WHO) classification of tumors of the central nervous system (CNS), molecular analysis is required for not only determining each tumor type but assessing its prognosis based on malignancy (CNS WHO grade). A notable example is the loss of tumor suppressor gene cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A), and CDKN2A homozygous deletion (HD) is a novel CNS WHO grade 4 marker in isocitrate dehydrogenase gene (IDH)‐mutant astrocytoma. However, incorporating molecular workup into the “routine diagnostics” of each brain tumor type remains a major challenge, especially in resource‐limited settings, including low‐ and middle‐income countries. We herein validated the usefulness of p16 and methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) immunohistochemistry (IHC) as potential surrogates for the assessment of CDKN2A status in 20 IDH‐mutant astrocytoma cases. Of note, loss or retention of p16 and MTAP could accurately predict CDKN2A HD (p16: 87.5%, MTAP: 88.9%) or non‐HD (p16: 100%, MTAP: 100%) with a single marker alone. Importantly, we revealed contributing factors to gray‐zone IHC results (p16: 5–20%, MTAP: mosaic), including (1) hemizygous deletion of CDKN2A, (2) degenerative findings, and (3) intratumoral CDKN2A HD heterogeneity, the detailed histologic and molecular assessment of which would be a key to achieving integrated assessment of malignancy in IDH‐mutant astrocytoma. We characterized the pitfalls of each method and provided for the first time a practical flowchart of astrocytoma grading, contributing to a normalization of WHO2021‐based molecular diagnostics in resource‐limited settings.
The relational foundations of epistemic normativity
Authors: Boult Cameron
Published: September 2024

Why comply with epistemic norms? In this paper, I argue that complying with epistemic norms, engaging in epistemically responsible conduct, and being epistemically trustworthy are constitutive elements of maintaining good epistemic relations with oneself and others. Good epistemic relations are in turn both instrumentally and finally valuable: they enable the kind of coordination and knowledge acquisition underpinning much of what we tend to associate with a flourishing human life; and just as good interpersonal relations with others can be good for their own sake, standing in good epistemic relations is good for its own sake. On my account, we have reason to comply with epistemic norms because it is a way of respecting the final value of something that also tends to be an instrumentally valuable thing: good epistemic relations. Situating the account within the recent social turn in debates about epistemic instrumentalism, I argue that the dual‐value aspect of good epistemic relations can explain important anti‐instrumentalist intuitions, in a well‐motivated way, within a broadly instrumentalist framework.
The effect of temporal predictability on sensory gating: Cortical responses inform perception
Authors: Favero Jaspa D. , Luck Camilla , Lipp Ottmar V. , Marinovic Welber
Published: September 2024

Prepulse inhibition of perceived stimulus intensity (PPIPSI) is a phenomenon where a weak stimulus preceding a stronger one reduces the perceived intensity of the latter. Previous studies have shown that PPIPSI relies on attention and is sensitive to stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA). Longer SOAs may increase conscious awareness of the impact of gating mechanisms on perception by allowing more time for attention to be directed toward relevant processing channels. In other psychophysiological paradigms, temporal predictability improves attention to task relevant stimuli and processes. We hypothesized that temporal predictability may similarly facilitate attention being directed toward the pulse and its processing in PPIPSI. To examine this, we conducted a 2 (SOA: 90 ms, 150 ms) × 2 (predictability: low, high) experiment, where participants were tasked with comparing the perceived intensity of an acoustic pulse‐alone against one preceded by a prepulse. The relationship between PPIPSI and cortical PPI (N1‐P2 inhibition) was also investigated. Significant main effects of temporal predictability, SOA, and cortical PPI were revealed. Under high temporal predictability, both SOAs (90 and 150 ms) elicited greater PPIPSI. The findings indicate that temporal predictability enhances the timely allocation of finite attentional resources, increasing PPIPSI observations by facilitating perceptual access to the gated pulse signal. Moreover, the finding that reductions in N1‐P2 magnitude by a prepulse are associated with increased probability of the participants perceiving the pulse “with prepulse” as less intense, suggests that under various experimental conditions, the link between these cortical processes and perception is similarly engaged.
Deserving the Option to Give
Authors: Moriarty Jeffrey
Published: September 2024

This paper argues that people can deserve the option to give. Discussions of desert tend to focus on the benefits and burdens that people might, in some sense, receive, like wealth and jobs. But intuitively, people can also deserve the ability to decide what to do with their wealth or to select who gets a job. Shaping distributive policies and outcomes in accordance with desert is more complicated than philosophers have realised.
Optimising Laparoscopic Artificial Insemination in Lohi Sheep: Effects of Timing, Sperm Concentration and Body Condition on Fertility Outcome in Subtropical Climates
Authors: Khan Muhammad Tayyab , Ahmad Ejaz , Yousaf Muhammad Rizwan , Oneeb Muhammad , Akhtar Muhammad Saleem , Khan Muhammad Irfan‐ur‐Rehman
Published: September 2024

The objective of this study was to determine the optimal timing, sperm concentration, and body condition score (BCS) for laparoscopic artificial insemination (LAI) in the subtropical Lohi sheep breed. In Experiment 1, Lohi ewes (n = 80) were synchronised through progestin‐sponges (day 0–day 11), administering PGF2α (d‐cloprostenol 75 μg/mL; i.m. @ 75 μg /ewe) on day 09 and eCG (i.m. @ 300 IU/ewe) on day 11. Ewes were divided equally into four groups (n = 20 each) and then LAI was performed at 48 (T48), 60 (T60), 72 (T72) and 96 (T96) hours post‐sponge removal using 200 million sperm/insemination. In Experiment 2, ewes (n = 81) were synchronised as in Experiment I. Following synchronisation ewes were divided into four groups, each subjected to LAI employing varying sperm concentrations: 10 (S10; n = 21), 20 (S20; n = 20), 50 (S50; n = 20), or 100 (S100; n = 20) million per insemination. Inseminations were performed within a time window of 48–60 h post‐sponge removal, based on the findings from Experiment 1. In both experiments ewes were categorised according to BCS, that is, medium 3 and high > 3. Results of Experiment 1 revealed a quadratic response that ewes inseminated at 60‐h post‐sponge removal exhibited significantly higher pregnancy and twinning rates (p = 0.02). The results of Experiment 2 revealed that sperm concentration had a quadratic effect, 50 million sperm per insemination resulted in maximal pregnancy rates (p = 0.01). Additionally, ewes with medium BCS (≤ 3) had higher pregnancy rates than high BCS (> 3) ewes. In conclusion, ewes with medium BCS (≤ 3) are ideal candidate for LAI and can be inseminated at 60 h with minimal sperm 50 × 106/dose post‐sponge removal to achieve a maximum pregnancy rate.
Combined forequarter amputation and hemilaminectomy for treatment of canine peripheral nerve sheath tumors of the brachial plexus invading the spinal canal: Surgical technique and outcome in nine dogs
Authors: Potamopoulou Maria , Petite Audrey , Findji Laurent
Published: September 2024

Objective

The aim of the study was to describe the surgical technique and outcome of a combined forequarter amputation and hemilaminectomy (FAHL) for excision of canine peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs) of the brachial plexus extending into the vertebral canal.

Study design

Retrospective case series.

Animals

Nine client‐owned dogs.

Methods

Dogs which underwent FAHL for resection of a brachial plexus PNST extending into the vertebral canal were included. Data from medical records including signalment, clinical findings, MRI data, histopathology reports, interval between appearance of the clinical signs and surgical intervention, affected spinal nerves and nerve roots, time to ambulate postoperatively, survival time, tumor grade and completeness of surgical margins were collected.

Results

In seven of nine cases the PNST affected the eighth cervical nerve root. Five of the nine cases were ambulatory within the first 3 days postoperatively and in one case unassisted ambulation was delayed and achieved 28 days postoperatively. The median survival time was calculated to be 317 days and the mean 522 days (range 120–1620 days). Four of nine dogs were euthanized 120, 270, 306 and 317 days postoperatively, because of suspected tumor recurrence. In one of those four cases the histological margins were reported as complete.

Conclusion

FAHL appeared to be a reliable technique for excision of PNSTs of the brachial plexus invading the spinal canal, with similar outcomes to previously reported for PNSTs not extending into the vertebral canal.
ПРЕДВАРИТЕЛЬНЫЙ АНАЛИЗ ФЛОРЫ АКМОЛИНСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ
Authors: Кубентаев С.А. , Алибеков Д.Т. , Мухтубаева С.К. , Хапилина О.Н.
Published: September 2024

В данной работе представлены предварительные результаты инвентаризации флоры Акмолинской области. По материалам полевых исследований, анализа литературы и пересмотра материалов гербарных коллекций Казахстана и России составлен предварительный список флоры Акмолинской области. Согласно полученным данным флора Акмолинской области насчитывает 1119 видов высших сосудистых растений из 448 родов и 96 семейств.
Крупнейшим семействами в исследуемом регионе являются: Asteraceae (172 видов), Poaceae (87 видов), Brassicaceae (65 видов), Fabaceae (63 видов), Amaranthaceae (58 видов), Cyperaceae (52 видов), Rosaceae (49 идов), Caryophyllaceae (43 вида), Apiaceae (36 видов), Plantaginaceae (33 вида), Ranunculaceae (32 вида), Lamiaceae (31 вид), Boraginaceae (27 видов), Polygonaceae (23 вида), Salicacеае (16 видов), Orobanchaceae (15 видов), Potamogetonaceae (14 видов), Caprifoliaceae (12 видов), Orchidaceae (12 видов), Rubiaceae (11 видов).
Во флоре Акмолинской области представлены наиболее крупные рода: Carex – 41 вид, Artemisia – 28 видов, Astragalus – 26 видов, Ranunculus – 17 видов, Potentilla – 15 видов, Silene – 15 видов, Lepidium – 13 видов, Veronica – 13 видов, Aliium – 11 видов, Galium – 11 видов, Potamogeton – 10 видов, Juncus – 9 видов, Viola – 9 видов, Stipa – 8 видов, Equisetum – 7 видов.
Анализ жизненных форм видового состава флоры Акмолинской области, показал, что в регионе преобладают многолетники – 744 видов, однолетники – 198 видов, двулетники – 63 вида, кустарники – 54 видов, полукустарники – 16 видов, полукустарнички – 8 видов, кустарнички – 12 видов, деревья – 24 вида.
Согласно проведенным исследованиям установлено, что на территории Акмолинской области произрастают 19 видов редких растений, включенных в Красную книгу Республики Казахстан (2014). В исследуемом регионе зарегистрированы 7 эндемиков Казахстана, такие как: Clausia robusta Pachom., Astragalus chaetolobus Bunge, Astragalus juvenalis Delile, Zygophyllum subtrijugum C.A. Mey., Myosotis kazakhstanica O.D. Nikif., Thymus crebrifolius Klokov и Achillea × kasakhstanica Kupr. et Alibekov.
Распределение видового состава флоры Акмолинской области по хозяйственным группам представлено следующим образом: лекарственные растения– 385 видов, пищевые растения – 204 вида, медоносные растения– 172 вида, кормовые растения– 361 видов, декоративные растения – 324 видов.
Изучение флоры Акмолинской области нами продолжается, несомненно, в ходе дальнейшего исследования будут выявлены новые виды растений для этого региона.
Научное исследование проводится в рамках программы BR18574125 «Изучение современного состояния видового разнообразия сосудистых растений Казахстана с использованием современных методов ботаники, молекулярной генетики и биоинформатики» при финансовой поддержке Министерства науки и высшего образования Республики Казахстан.
El arte público como parte del consumo cultural en la parroquia de San Antonio de Ibarra, Ecuador
Authors: Chuquín Cadena Andrea Paola , Posso -Yépez Miguel
Published: September 2024

El arte público da apertura a diversas formas de consumo artístico,  nuevas galerías urbanas exponen la diversidad cultural con libre acceso al expectador, generando una apropiación colectiva de las obras. El objetivo de esta investigación fue recopilar e interpretar la producción artística pública que tiene San Antonio de Ibarra, en base al censo de cuarenta obras entre murales y esculturas, el análisis de la temática, técnicas utilizadas y la visión del consumidor de arte en relación a ellas. Este estudio es cualitativo-descritivo, con enfoque hermeneútico dialéctico. Los resultados obtenidos fueron en base al análisis de  fichas de observación de cada obra y la interpretación desde diferentes contextos, así también el aporte de entrevistas realizadas a dos artistas referentes del  muralismo y la escultura de la parroquía. En conclusión San Antonio de Ibarra, cuenta con obras de mucha valía en su espacio público, que conservan el patrimonio cultural y artístico de su pueblo, y son parte de una galería abierta que da paso a la apropiación de los valores de cada obra por parte del  público que visita el sector, considerándolo como un referente turístico importante en el desarrollo social, cultural, artístico y económico de la parroquia.
Enhancing Lubrication of Electrified Interfaces by Inert Gas Atmosphere
Authors: Farfan-Cabrera Leonardo I. , Lee Seungjoo , Skowron Sean , Erdemir Ali
Published: September 2024

Considering the growing interest in increasing the performance and efficiency of driveline components of modern electric vehicles, this work aims to analyze and report the wear mechanisms and notable enhancement of the lubrication of electrified contact interfaces by inert gas atmospheres. Systematic tribological studies were conducted on AISI 52100 steel test pairs using driveline lubricants under unelectrified and electrified conditions in ambient air and dry N2. Test results showed that in ambient air and electrification, the formation of iron oxides (in particular hematite) was most dominant and gave rise to severe abrasive wear regardless of the lubricant type being used. In dry N2, however, the tribo-oxidation was suppressed but the formation of a carbon-rich tribofilm was favored (especially under electrified conditions). Such a shift from surface oxidation to carbonaceous film formation resulted in dramatic reductions (by factors of 8−10) in the wear of test pairs.
A Deep Learning-Based Method for Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring and Load Disaggregation of 11kV/400V Electrical Substations
Authors: O’Malley Elliott , Pugh Daniel , Wu Jianzhong , Clements David
Published: September 2024

An Artificial Intelligence-based method has been developed to achieve Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM) at 11kV/400V electrical substations, accomplished using the aggregate load measured at the substation and separating it by property. This allows Utility & Power Distribution companies better electricity demand forecasts and aids demand-side response. There has been extensive research of NILM at household-level using household “smart meter” data. However, substation-level disaggregation offers a cost-effective alternative and streamlined approach as only the substation requires monitoring devices rather than every house in the distribution region.

A deep learning eventless NILM approach was taken, using Recurrent Neural Networks with Long Short-Term Memory and Gated Recurrent Unit layers. Disaggregation was achieved using a synthetic dataset for Low-Carbon Technology devices such as Electric vehicles (EVs), Heat Pumps (HP) and Photo-Voltaic Solar (PV) with the relationship with substation load. The accuracies for unseen data compared to the ground truth were 99.20% (EV), 99.39% (PV), 81.39% (HP) and 92.16% for other household loads.

This method proposed in this paper is foundational to future substation-level NILM research, allowing for an evaluation of a scenario-based uptake in low-carbon technologies and an analysis of the required change of the power distribution network.
Enhancing Battery Storage Energy Arbitrage With Deep Reinforcement Learning and Time-Series Forecasting
Authors: Sage Manuel , Campbell Joshua , Zhao Yaoyao Fiona
Published: September 2024

Energy arbitrage is one of the most profitable sources of income for battery operators, generating revenues by buying and selling electricity at different prices. Forecasting these revenues is challenging due to the inherent uncertainty of electricity prices. Deep reinforcement learning (DRL) emerged in recent years as a promising tool, able to cope with uncertainty by training on large quantities of historical data. However, without access to future electricity prices, DRL agents can only react to the currently observed price and not learn to plan battery dispatch. Therefore, in this study, we combine DRL with time-series forecasting methods from deep learning to enhance the performance on energy arbitrage. We conduct a case study using price data from Alberta, Canada that is characterized by irregular price spikes and highly non-stationary. This data is challenging to forecast even when state-of-the-art deep learning models consisting of convolutional layers, recurrent layers, and attention modules are deployed. Our results show that energy arbitrage with DRL-enabled battery control still significantly benefits from these imperfect predictions, but only if predictors for several horizons are combined. Grouping multiple predictions for the next 24-hour window, accumulated rewards increased by 60% for deep Q-networks (DQN) compared to the experiments without forecasts. We hypothesize that multiple predictors, despite their imperfections, convey useful information regarding the future development of electricity prices through a “majority vote” principle, enabling the DRL agent to learn more profitable control policies.
Novel Particle Flow Control Using a Scoop Mechanism for Concentrating Solar Applications
Authors: Arthur-Arhin Winfred J. , Fosheim Jesse R. , Thompson Azariah , Brewster Keaton J. , Jackson Gregory S.
Published: September 2024

Solid oxide particles have been proposed as a cost-effective solution for heat transfer and thermal energy storage (TES) media for next-generation concentrating solar power (CSP) plants because of their ability to operate stably at temperatures > 750 °C. Providing reliable particle flows to particle receivers (RECs) and primary heat exchangers (HXs) for power cycles requires careful design of inlet and outlet flow control valves. To date, sliding gate mechanisms have been used to control the flow of particles in many CSP-TES facilities, but these sliding gate valves can cause particle abrasion. This paper presents the design and testing of a novel particle-flow control mechanism involving a rotating scoop that eliminates abrasion associated with sliding gates. The rotating scoop relies on the particle angle of repose to shut off flow in the closed position. Servo-motor control of the scoop rotation enables setting the rate of particle flow, which falls as a curtain into a freeboard zone of a primary fluidized bed HX or indirect particle REC. Tests with the particle scoop for a multi-channel fluidized bed particle-sCO2 HX demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach to maintain a reliable particle inventory in the HX freeboard zone above the core.