bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrative taxonomy ofUrocleidoidesspp. (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae) parasites of characiform and gymnotiform fishes from the coastal drainages of the Eastern Amazon, Brazil
Authors: Santos Neto J.F. , Domingues M.V.
Published: August 2023

Eight species (four new) ofUrocleidoidesare reported from Characiformes and Gymnotiformes fishes of the coastal drainages of the Eastern Amazon.Urocleidoides vaninin. sp. is characterized by having a male copulatory organ (MCO) with three and a half counterclockwise rings, absence of vaginal sclerite, and a V-shaped ventral bar.Urocleidoides atilaiamarinoin. sp. has MCO with two and a half counterclockwise rings, dumbbell-shaped accessory piece, similar anchors, open V-shaped ventral bar, and open U-shaped dorsal bar.Urocleidoides macrosoman. sp. exhibits an elongate and robust body, MCO comprising one counterclockwise ring, similar anchors with wavy point, and dumbbell-shaped ventral and dorsal bars.Urocleidoides nataliapasternakaen. sp. has MCO comprising two and a half counterclockwise rings, vaginal canal convoluted, point of the dorsal anchor with ornamentation as sclerotized shredded filaments, elongate dumbbell-shaped ventral bar, and U-shaped dorsal bar.Urocleidoides narisandUrocleidoides brasiliensisfromH. malabaricus(Characiformes) and theincertae sedisspecies,Urocleidoides gymnotusandUrocleidoides carapus, fromSternopygus macrurus(Gymnotiformes) are reported, and their molecular sequences are presented in this study. Phylogenetic analyses based on molecular data (28S rDNA and COI mtDNA) reveal that species ofUrocleidoideslacking vaginal sclerite are closely related to species that possess vaginal sclerite, suggesting that the absence of vaginal sclerite inUrocleidoidesmay be the result of a secondary loss. The relationships between species ofUrocleidoidesand other Neotropical dactylogyrids are also addressed.
“An Imperial Clearing House for Commercial Information and Suggestions:” The British Imperial Council of Commerce, 1911–1925
Authors: Olukoju Ayodeji
Published: August 2023

This paper departs from the preoccupation in the literature with the pressure group activity of single chambers of commerce by examining an influential but previously neglected federated business pressure group, the British Imperial Council of Commerce (BICC). Set within interlocking dynamics of British Imperial and global history and the clamour for imperial preference, it focuses on BICC's interface with the British government and its overseas dependencies in the context and vortex of Imperial economic policy, the First World War, interimperial competition, especially Anglo–German rivalry, and the vagaries of the world political economy. This essay provides insights into the internal affairs of the BICC, business–government relations in the British Empire, and the political economy of the Empire between 1911 and 1925. It demonstrates how the BICC, focused on Imperial economic governance, navigated the conflict between the prevailing ideology of laissez faire (free trade) and the clamour for xenophobic protectionism during the First World War and its aftermath. The paper highlights the limits of business pressure group activity, and the impact of the war and its aftermath on the BICC.
Gender, conflict and the environment: Surfacing connections in international humanitarian law
Authors: O'Rourke Catherine , Martin Ana
Published: August 2023

Both gender and the environment have traditionally been positioned at the periphery of international humanitarian law (IHL). In recent decades, there has been important progress in moving both concerns closer to its centre; to date, however, an understanding of the intersection of gender and the environment in the legal regulation of armed conflict remains largely underdeveloped. Nevertheless, as the present article documents, there are important similarities in strategies pursued to advance both gender and the environment from the periphery to the mainstream of IHL, namely: first, a focus on sources of IHL, in particular concretizing arguably limited specific treaty content with interpretive guidance and implementation frameworks; second, a conceptual critique of prevailing definitions of “harm” in IHL; and third, advancing, through close empirical documentation and household-level analysis of conflict's effects, understandings of harm that capture so-called “second-round” effects of conflict. Recognizing these important affinities between gender and environment work in IHL, this article draws on these insights to propose a typology of gendered environmental harm in conflict. The article concludes with proposals for enhancing the legal and operational capture under IHL of the gender–conflict–environment nexus.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, global justice and the environment
Authors: Armstrong Chris
Published: August 2023

The recent fortieth anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has sparked a good deal of reflection and retrospection. Looking back, it is clear that the Convention’s architects carefully navigated, and selectively absorbed, a number of competing visions of oceanic governance, from freedom to enclosure to visions of Global North–South equality. This made the Convention’s construction period a very drawn-out and painful one – longer than for any other international treaty in history – and while some hopes were realized, others were dashed. Forty years on, it is important not to let its current canonical status blind us to the fact that the Convention came close to being a failure, and that things could have gone differently at a number of critical junctures. Nor should it stop us asking whether UNCLOS is really fit for purpose today. In this article, I situate the Convention within wider developments in the global economy and the global environment, and consider the role it has played in promoting goals of global justice and environmental protection.
Airborne Bioaerosol Observations Imply a Strong Terrestrial Source in the Summertime Arctic
Authors: Perring Anne E. , Mediavilla Braden , Wilbanks G. Dewey , Churnside James H. , Marchbanks Richard , Lamb Kara D. , Gao Ru‐Shan
Published: August 2023

Primary biological aerosol (PBA) is a component of coarse mode aerosol which may affect climate and health. The possible climate impacts arise from interactions between PBA and water vapor, especially since some PBA nucleate ice at warm temperatures. The health impacts span from seasonal allergies to transmission of pathogens. Despite their potential importance, the emissions, transport, and atmospheric distribution of PBA are poorly understood, especially at high latitudes where cloud effects could be pronounced. Here we report summertime measurements of fluorescent aerosol (a proxy for PBA) over the Bering and Chukchi Seas using a Wide‐Band Integrated Bioaerosol Sensor aboard a Twin Otter, alongside a lidar which detected water column productivity. Most observations occurred at 300 m over the ocean with periodic excursions to 60 and 900 m. Loadings were always low in the marine boundary layer, despite the presence of subsurface plankton layers and in contrast to other recent reports, likely indicating low oceanic emissions during our study. Large variability was observed in PBA aloft, with higher concentrations approaching those observed over the Continental US. Back trajectory analysis showed that high loadings were associated with recent transit through the continental boundary layer and we estimate PBA emissions from the Arctic tundra of up to 300 m−2 s−1 at the warmest observed temperatures. On days with strong transport from land (∼50% of our flights), PBA accounts for 12% of supermicron number and 64% of supermicron volume, indicating potentially significant effects on the albedo, glaciation and lifetime of Arctic clouds.
Rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective and diastereodivergent access to diaxially chiral heterocycles
Authors: Wang Yishou , Zhu Xiaohan , Pan Deng , Jing Jierui , Wang Fen , Mi Ruijie , Huang Genping , Li Xingwei
Published: August 2023

N-N axially chiral biaryls represent a rarely explored class of atropisomers. Reported herein is construction of diverse classes of diaxially chiral biaryls containing N-N and C-N/C-C diaxes in distal positions in excellent enantioselectivity and diastereoselectivity. The N-N chiral axis in the products provides a handle toward solvent-driven diastereodivergence, as has been realized in the coupling of a large scope of benzamides and sterically hindered alkynes, affording diaxes in complementary diastereoselectivity. The diastereodivergence has been elucidated by computational studies which revealed that the hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) solvent molecule participated in an unusual manner as a solvent as well as a ligand and switched the sequence of two competing elementary steps, resulting in switch of the stereoselectivity of the alkyne insertion and inversion of the configuration of the C-C axis. Further cleavage of the N-directing group in the diaxial chiral products transforms the diastereodivergence to enantiodivergence.
Single-cell transcriptomics of human cholesteatoma identifies an activin A-producing osteoclastogenic fibroblast subset inducing bone destruction
Authors: Shimizu Kotaro , Kikuta Junichi , Ohta Yumi , Uchida Yutaka , Miyamoto Yu , Morimoto Akito , Yari Shinya , Sato Takashi , Kamakura Takefumi , Oshima Kazuo , Imai Ryusuke , Liu Yu-Chen , Okuzaki Daisuke , Hara Tetsuya , Motooka Daisuke , Emoto Noriaki , Inohara Hidenori , Ishii Masaru
Published: August 2023

Cholesteatoma, which potentially results from tympanic membrane retraction, is characterized by intractable local bone erosion and subsequent hearing loss and brain abscess formation. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying bone destruction remain elusive. Here, we performed a single-cell RNA sequencing analysis on human cholesteatoma samples and identify a pathogenic fibroblast subset characterized by abundant expression of inhibin βA. We demonstrate that activin A, a homodimer of inhibin βA, promotes osteoclast differentiation. Furthermore, the deletion of inhibin βA /activin A in these fibroblasts results in decreased osteoclast differentiation in a murine model of cholesteatoma. Moreover, follistatin, an antagonist of activin A, reduces osteoclastogenesis and resultant bone erosion in cholesteatoma. Collectively, these findings indicate that unique activin A-producing fibroblasts present in human cholesteatoma tissues are accountable for bone destruction via the induction of local osteoclastogenesis, suggesting a potential therapeutic target.
Boreal conifers maintain carbon uptake with warming despite failure to track optimal temperatures
Authors: Dusenge Mirindi Eric , Warren Jeffrey M. , Reich Peter B. , Ward Eric J. , Murphy Bridget K. , Stefanski Artur , Bermudez Raimundo , Cruz Marisol , McLennan David A. , King Anthony W. , Montgomery Rebecca A. , Hanson Paul J. , Way Danielle A.
Published: August 2023

Warming shifts the thermal optimum of net photosynthesis (ToptA) to higher temperatures. However, our knowledge of this shift is mainly derived from seedlings grown in greenhouses under ambient atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) conditions. It is unclear whether shifts in ToptA of field-grown trees will keep pace with the temperatures predicted for the 21st century under elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Here, using a whole-ecosystem warming controlled experiment under either ambient or elevated CO2 levels, we show that ToptA of mature boreal conifers increased with warming. However, shifts in ToptA did not keep pace with warming as ToptA only increased by 0.26–0.35 °C per 1 °C of warming. Net photosynthetic rates estimated at the mean growth temperature increased with warming in elevated CO2 spruce, while remaining constant in ambient CO2 spruce and in both ambient CO2 and elevated CO2 tamarack with warming. Although shifts in ToptA of these two species are insufficient to keep pace with warming, these boreal conifers can thermally acclimate photosynthesis to maintain carbon uptake in future air temperatures.
Segmenting functional tissue units across human organs using community-driven development of generalizable machine learning algorithms
Authors: Jain Yashvardhan , Godwin Leah L. , Joshi Sripad , Mandarapu Shriya , Le Trang , Lindskog Cecilia , Lundberg Emma , Börner Katy
Published: August 2023

The development of a reference atlas of the healthy human body requires automated image segmentation of major anatomical structures across multiple organs based on spatial bioimages generated from various sources with differences in sample preparation. We present the setup and results of the Hacking the Human Body machine learning algorithm development competition hosted by the Human Biomolecular Atlas (HuBMAP) and the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) teams on the Kaggle platform. We create a dataset containing 880 histology images with 12,901 segmented structures, engaging 1175 teams from 78 countries in community-driven, open-science development of machine learning models. Tissue variations in the dataset pose a major challenge to the teams which they overcome by using color normalization techniques and combining vision transformers with convolutional models. The best model will be productized in the HuBMAP portal to process tissue image datasets at scale in support of Human Reference Atlas construction.
Surface passivation for highly active, selective, stable, and scalable CO2 electroreduction
Authors: Zhu Jiexin , Li Jiantao , Lu Ruihu , Yu Ruohan , Zhao Shiyong , Li Chengbo , Lv Lei , Xia Lixue , Chen Xingbao , Cai Wenwei , Meng Jiashen , Zhang Wei , Pan Xuelei , Hong Xufeng , Dai Yuhang , Mao Yu , Li Jiong , Zhou Liang , He Guanjie , Pang Quanquan , Zhao Yan , Xia Chuan , Wang Ziyun , Dai Liming , Mai Liqiang
Published: August 2023

Electrochemical conversion of CO2 to formic acid using Bismuth catalysts is one the most promising pathways for industrialization. However, it is still difficult to achieve high formic acid production at wide voltage intervals and industrial current densities because the Bi catalysts are often poisoned by oxygenated species. Herein, we report a Bi3S2 nanowire-ascorbic acid hybrid catalyst that simultaneously improves formic acid selectivity, activity, and stability at high applied voltages. Specifically, a more than 95% faraday efficiency was achieved for the formate formation over a wide potential range above 1.0 V and at ampere-level current densities. The observed excellent catalytic performance was attributable to a unique reconstruction mechanism to form more defective sites while the ascorbic acid layer further stabilized the defective sites by trapping the poisoning hydroxyl groups. When used in an all-solid-state reactor system, the newly developed catalyst achieved efficient production of pure formic acid over 120 hours at 50 mA cm–2 (200 mA cell current).
A seasonally ice-free Arctic Ocean during the Last Interglacial
Authors: Vermassen Flor , O’Regan Matt , de Boer Agatha , Schenk Frederik , Razmjooei Mohammad , West Gabriel , Cronin Thomas M. , Jakobsson Martin , Coxall Helen K.
Published: August 2023

The extent and seasonality of Arctic sea ice during the Last Interglacial (129,000 to 115,000 years before present) is poorly known. Sediment-based reconstructions have suggested extensive ice cover in summer, while climate model outputs indicate year-round conditions in the Arctic Ocean ranging from ice free to fully ice covered. Here we use microfossil records from across the central Arctic Ocean to show that sea-ice extent was substantially reduced and summers were probably ice free. The evidence comes from high abundances of the subpolar planktic foraminifera Turborotalita quinqueloba in five newly analysed cores. The northern occurrence of this species is incompatible with perennial sea ice, which would be associated with a thick, low-salinity surface water. Instead, T. quinqueloba’s ecological preference implies largely ice-free surface waters with seasonally elevated levels of primary productivity. In the modern ocean, this species thrives in the Fram Strait–Barents Sea ‘Arctic–Atlantic gateway’ region, implying that the necessary Atlantic Ocean-sourced water masses shoaled towards the surface during the Last Interglacial. This process reflects the ongoing Atlantification of the Arctic Ocean, currently restricted to the Eurasian Basin. Our results establish the Last Interglacial as a prime analogue for studying a seasonally ice-free Arctic Ocean, expected to occur this century.
Structural characterisation and degradation of Mg–Li thin films for biodegradable implants
Authors: Hanke Lisa , Jessen Lea K. , Weisheit Felix , Bhat Krathika , Westernströer Ulrike , Garbe-Schönberg Dieter , Willumeit-Römer Regine , Quandt Eckhard
Published: August 2023

Freestanding thin films of Mg–Li (magnesium–lithium) alloys with a Li mass fraction between 1.6% (m/m) and 9.5% (m/m) were prepared and studied with respect to their structure and degradation properties. With increasing Li content, the microstructure deviates from hexagonal Mg–Li with strict columnar growth and preferred orientation, and additional cubic Mg–Li and Li2CO3 occur. The corrosion rate was measured in Hanks’ balanced salt solution by potentiodynamic polarisation and weight loss measurements to investigate biodegradation. Influences of the orientation, phase and protective layer formation lead to an increase in corrosion from 1.6 to 5.5% (m/m) from 0.13 ± 0.03 to 0.67 ± 0.29 mm/year when measured by potentiodynamic polarisation but a similar corrosion rate for 9.5% (m/m) and 3% (m/m) of Li of 0.27 ± 0.07 mm/year and 0.26 ± 0.05 mm/year.
Colistin resistance mutations in phoQ can sensitize Klebsiella pneumoniae to IgM-mediated complement killing
Authors: van der Lans Sjors P. A. , Janet-Maitre Manon , Masson Frerich M. , Walker Kimberly A. , Doorduijn Dennis J. , Janssen Axel B. , van Schaik Willem , Attrée Ina , Rooijakkers Suzan H. M. , Bardoel Bart W.
Published: August 2023

Due to multi-drug resistance, physicians increasingly use the last-resort antibiotic colistin to treat infections with the Gram-negative bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae. Unfortunately, K. pneumoniae can also develop colistin resistance. Interestingly, colistin resistance has dual effects on bacterial clearance by the immune system. While it increases resistance to antimicrobial peptides, colistin resistance has been reported to sensitize certain bacteria for killing by human serum. Here we investigate the mechanisms underlying this increased serum sensitivity, focusing on human complement which kills Gram-negatives via membrane attack complex (MAC) pores. Using in vitro evolved colistin resistant strains and a fluorescent MAC-mediated permeabilization assay, we showed that two of the three tested colistin resistant strains, Kp209_CSTR and Kp257_CSTR, were sensitized to MAC. Transcriptomic and mechanistic analyses focusing on Kp209_CSTR revealed that a mutation in the phoQ gene locked PhoQ in an active state, making Kp209_CSTR colistin resistant and MAC sensitive. Detailed immunological assays showed that complement activation on Kp209_CSTR in human serum required specific IgM antibodies that bound Kp209_CSTR but did not recognize the wild-type strain. Together, our results show that developing colistin resistance affected recognition of Kp209_CSTR and its killing by the immune system.
Theoretical studies of magneto-optical Kerr and Faraday effects in two-dimensional second-order topological insulators
Authors: Zhu Wan-Qing , Shan Wen-Yu
Published: August 2023

Optical approaches are useful for studying the electronic and spin structure of materials. Here, based on the tight-binding model and linear response theory, we investigate the magneto-optical Kerr and Faraday effects in two-dimensional second-order topological insulators (SOTI) with external magnetization. We find that orbital-dependent Zeeman term induces band crossings for SOTI phase, which are absent for trivial phase. In the weak-magnetization regime, these crossings give rise to giant jumps (peaks) of Kerr and Faraday angles (ellipticity) for SOTI phase. In the strong-magnetization regime, we find that two nearly flat bands are formed at the high-symmetry point of Brillouin zone of SOTI phase. These flat bands give rise to two successive giant jumps (peaks) of Kerr and Faraday angles (ellipticity). These phenomena provide new possibilities to characterize and detect the two-dimensional SOTI phase.
Increased incidence of teicoplanin-non-susceptible Staphylococcus epidermidis strains: a 6-year retrospective study
Authors: Kim Subin , Choi Jae-Phil , Oh Dong Hyun , Ahn Mi Young , Yang Eunmi
Published: August 2023

Glycopeptide antibiotics (vancomycin and teicoplanin) are usually used for the treatment of Staphylococcus epidermidis infections owing to their increased oxacillin resistance. However, S. epidermidis strains with decreased susceptibility to teicoplanin have become increasingly incident in recent years. We aimed to identify the characteristics of teicoplanin-non-susceptible (Teico-NS) S. epidermidis isolated at our hospital and analyze its relationship with teicoplanin usage. We retrospectively evaluated 328 S. epidermidis strains isolated from clinical isolates between January 2016 and December 2021. All strains were susceptible to vancomycin (minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ≤ 4 mg/L). The annual incidence for S. epidermidis strains with an elevated teicoplanin MIC of 8 mg/L ranged from 22.2 to 28.9%. In addition, in 2021, the number of S. epidermidis strains with teicoplanin MIC ≥ 16 mg/L rapidly increased (n = 13, 32.5%). Furthermore, teicoplanin use increased annually until 2019; however, in 2020, it decreased abruptly due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Thus, we could not confirm the existence of a clear correlation between teicoplanin usage and increased incidence of S. epidermidis with reduced teicoplanin-susceptibility. We showed the increased incidence of Teico-NS S. epidermidis in recent years. Further studies are needed to identify the mechanisms and risk factors for teicoplanin-resistance in S. epidermidis.
Predicting BRAFV600E mutations in papillary thyroid carcinoma using six machine learning algorithms based on ultrasound elastography
Authors: Agyekum Enock Adjei , Wang Yu-guo , Xu Fei-Ju , Akortia Debora , Ren Yong-zhen , Chambers Kevoyne Hakeem , Wang Xian , Taupa Jenny Olalia , Qian Xiao-qin
Published: August 2023

The most common BRAF mutation is thymine (T) to adenine (A) missense mutation in nucleotide 1796 (T1796A, V600E). The BRAFV600E gene encodes a protein-dependent kinase (PDK), which is a key component of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and essential for controlling cell proliferation, differentiation, and death. The BRAFV600E mutation causes PDK to be activated improperly and continuously, resulting in abnormal proliferation and differentiation in PTC. Based on elastography ultrasound (US) radiomic features, this study seeks to create and validate six distinct machine learning algorithms to predict BRAFV6OOE mutation in PTC patients prior to surgery. This study employed routine US strain elastography image data from 138 PTC patients. The patients were separated into two groups: those who did not have the BRAFV600E mutation (n = 75) and those who did have the mutation (n = 63). The patients were randomly assigned to one of two data sets: training (70%), or validation (30%). From strain elastography US images, a total of 479 radiomic features were retrieved. Pearson's Correlation Coefficient (PCC) and Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) with stratified tenfold cross-validation were used to decrease the features. Based on selected radiomic features, six machine learning algorithms including support vector machine with the linear kernel (SVM_L), support vector machine with radial basis function kernel (SVM_RBF), logistic regression (LR), Naïve Bayes (NB), K-nearest neighbors (KNN), and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were compared to predict the possibility of BRAFV600E. The accuracy (ACC), the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPEC), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), decision curve analysis (DCA), and calibration curves of the machine learning algorithms were used to evaluate their performance. ① The machine learning algorithms' diagnostic performance depended on 27 radiomic features. ② AUCs for NB, KNN, LDA, LR, SVM_L, and SVM_RBF were 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.65–0.91), 0.87 (95% CI 0.73–0.95), 0.91(95% CI 0.79–0.98), 0.92 (95% CI 0.80–0.98), 0.93 (95% CI 0.80–0.98), and 0.98 (95% CI 0.88–1.00), respectively. ③ There was a significant difference in echogenicity,vertical and horizontal diameter ratios, and elasticity between PTC patients with BRAFV600E and PTC patients without BRAFV600E. Machine learning algorithms based on US elastography radiomic features are capable of predicting the likelihood of BRAFV600E in PTC patients, which can assist physicians in identifying the risk of BRAFV600E in PTC patients. Among the six machine learning algorithms, the support vector machine with radial basis function (SVM_RBF) achieved the best ACC (0.93), AUC (0.98), SEN (0.95), SPEC (0.90), PPV (0.91), and NPV (0.95).
Comparison of nasotracheal versus orotracheal intubation for sedation, assisted spontaneous breathing, mobilization, and outcome in critically ill patients: an exploratory retrospective analysis
Authors: Grensemann Jörn , Gilmour Sophie , Tariparast Pischtaz Adel , Petzoldt Martin , Kluge Stefan
Published: August 2023

Nasotracheal intubation (NTI) may be used for long term ventilation in critically ill patients. Although tracheostomy is often favored, NTI may exhibit potential benefits. Compared to orotracheal intubation (OTI), patients receiving NTI may require less sedation and thus be more alert and with less episodes of depression of respiratory drive. We aimed to study the association of NTI versus OTI with sedation, assisted breathing, mobilization, and outcome in an exploratory analysis. Retrospective data on patients intubated in the intensive care unit (ICU) and ventilated for > 48 h were retrieved from electronic records for up to ten days after intubation. Outcome measures were a Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale (RASS) of 0 or − 1, sedatives, vasopressors, assisted breathing, mobilization on the ICU mobility scale (ICU-MS), and outcome. From January 2018 to December 2020, 988 patients received OTI and 221 NTI. On day 1–3, a RASS of 0 or − 1 was attained in OTI for 4.0 ± 6.1 h/d versus 9.4 ± 8.4 h/d in NTI, p < 0.001. Propofol, sufentanil, and norepinephrine were required less frequently in NTI and doses were lower. The NTI group showed a higher proportion of spontaneous breathing from day 1 to 7 (day 1–6: p < 0.001, day 7: p = 0.002). ICU-MS scores were higher in the NTI group (d1–d9: p < 0.001, d10: p = 0.012). OTI was an independent predictor for mortality (odds ratio 1.602, 95% confidence interval 1.132–2.268, p = 0.008). No difference in the rate of tracheostomy was found. NTI was associated with less sedation, more spontaneous breathing, and a higher degree of mobilization during physiotherapy. OTI was identified as an independent predictor for mortality. Due to these findings a new prospective evaluation of NTI versus OTI should be conducted to study risks and benefits in current critical care medicine.
Label-free measurement of antimicrobial peptide interactions with lipid vesicles and nanodiscs using microscale thermophoresis
Authors: Rainsford Philip , Rylandsholm Fredrik G. , Jakubec Martin , Silk Mitchell , Juskewitz Eric , Ericson Johanna U. , Svendsen John-Sigurd , Engh Richard A. , Isaksson Johan
Published: August 2023

One strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance is the discovery of new classes of antibiotics. Most antibiotics will at some point interact with the bacterial membrane to either interfere with its integrity or to cross it. Reliable and efficient tools for determining the dissociation constant for membrane binding (KD) and the partitioning coefficient between the aqueous- and membrane phases (KP) are therefore important tools for discovering and optimizing antimicrobial hits. Here we demonstrate that microscale thermophoresis (MST) can be used for label-free measurement of KD by utilising the intrinsic fluorescence of tryptophan and thereby removing the need for chromophore labelling. As proof of principle, we have used the method to measure the binding of a set of small cyclic AMPs to large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) and two types of lipid nanodiscs assembled by styrene maleic acid (SMA) and quaternary ammonium SMA (SMA-QA). The measured KD values correlate well with the corresponding measurements using surface plasmon resonance (SPR), also broadly reflecting the tested AMPs’ minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) towards S. aureus and E. coli. We conclude that MST is a promising method for fast and cost-efficient detection of peptide-lipid interactions or mapping of sample conditions in preparation for more advanced studies that rely on expensive sample preparation, labelling and/or instrument time.
Assessment of lead exposure in indoor shooters in central Poland
Authors: Darago Adam , Klimczak Michał , Jurewicz Joanna , Kucharska Małgorzata , Kilanowicz Anna
Published: August 2023

A steady increase in shooting practices is observed worldwide. Potential lead exposure at shooting ranges poses a risk to their employees and users, which is not widely reported outside of the USA, especially in Poland. Exposure to lead results from the use of bullets containing lead and the main route of exposure to this metal at shooting ranges is inhalation, i.e., during shooting or cleaning. The aim of this study was to assess lead exposure of employees and users in selected indoor shooting ranges in central Poland. Airborne lead concentrations at all locations in the shooting ranges were above Polish occupational exposure limit (OEL, 0.05 mg m−3). Elevated blood and urine lead levels, and decreased 4-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity (ALA-D) were found in subjects participating in shooting even for only a few (< 10) hours per week. Lead exposure at shooting ranges in central Poland, as indicated by elevated blood lead levels and decreased ALA-D activity, could represent an elevated risk for adverse health effects. Thus, information on the possible health consequences of lead exposure should be provided at these sites, and biomonitoring appears to be reasonable for regular workers and shooters.
Bacteria associated with Zn-hyperaccumulators Arabidopsis halleri and Arabidopsis arenosa from Zn–Pb–Cd waste heaps in Poland as promising tools for bioremediation
Authors: Oleńska Ewa , Małek Wanda , Wójcik Małgorzata , Szopa Sebastian , Swiecicka Izabela , Aleksandrowicz Olgierd , Włostowski Tadeusz , Zawadzka Weronika , Sillen Wouter M. A. , Vangronsveld Jaco , Cholakova Iva , Langill Tori , Thijs Sofie
Published: August 2023

To identify metal adapted bacteria equipped with traits positively influencing the growth of two hyperaccumulator plant species Arabidopsis arenosa and Arabidopsis halleri, we isolated bacteria inhabiting rhizosphere and vegetative tissues (roots, basal and stem leaves) of plants growing on two old Zn–Pb–Cd waste heaps in Bolesław and Bukowno (S. Poland), and characterized their potential plant growth promoting (PGP) traits as well as determined metal concentrations in rhizosphere and plant tissues. To determine taxonomic position of 144 bacterial isolates, 16S rDNA Sanger sequencing was used. A metabolic characterization of isolated strains was performed in vitro using PGP tests. A. arenosa and A. halleri accumulate high amounts of Zn in their tissues, especially in stem leaves. Among in total 22 identified bacterial taxa, the highest level of the taxonomical diversity (H’ = 2.01) was revealed in A. halleri basal leaf endophytes originating from Bukowno waste heap area. The 96, 98, 99, and 98% of investigated strains showed tolerant to Cd, Zn, Pb and Cu, respectively. Generally, higher percentages of bacteria could synthesize auxins, siderophores, and acetoin as well as could solubilize phosphate. Nine of waste heap origin bacterial strains were tolerant to toxic metals, showed in vitro PGP traits and are potential candidates for bioremediation.
Machine learning approaches that use clinical, laboratory, and electrocardiogram data enhance the prediction of obstructive coronary artery disease
Authors: Lee Hyun-Gyu , Park Sang-Don , Bae Jang-Whan , Moon SungJoon , Jung Chai Young , Kim Mi-Sook , Kim Tae-Hun , Lee Won Kyung
Published: August 2023

Pretest probability (PTP) for assessing obstructive coronary artery disease (ObCAD) was updated to reduce overestimation. However, standard laboratory findings and electrocardiogram (ECG) raw data as first-line tests have not been evaluated for integration into the PTP estimation. Therefore, this study developed an ensemble model by adopting machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) algorithms with clinical, laboratory, and ECG data for the assessment of ObCAD. Data were extracted from the electronic medical records of patients with suspected ObCAD who underwent coronary angiography. With the ML algorithm, 27 clinical and laboratory data were included to identify ObCAD, whereas ECG waveform data were utilized with the DL algorithm. The ensemble method combined the clinical-laboratory and ECG models. We included 7907 patients between 2008 and 2020. The clinical and laboratory model showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.747; the ECG model had an AUC of 0.685. The ensemble model demonstrated the highest AUC of 0.767. The sensitivity, specificity, and F1 score of the ensemble model ObCAD were 0.761, 0.625, and 0.696, respectively. It demonstrated good performance and superior prediction over traditional PTP models. This may facilitate personalized decisions for ObCAD assessment and reduce PTP overestimation.
Rapid growth and high cloud-forming potential of anthropogenic sulfate aerosol in a thermal power plant plume during COVID lockdown in India
Authors: Singh Aishwarya , Raj Subha S. , Panda Upasana , Kommula Snehitha M. , Jose Christi , Liu Tianjia , Huang Shan , Swain Basudev , Pöhlker Mira L. , Reyes-Villegas Ernesto , Ojha Narendra , Vaishya Aditya , Bigi Alessandro , Ravikrishna R. , Zhu Qiao , Shi Liuhua , Allen James , Martin Scot T. , McFiggans Gordon , Andreae Meinrat O. , Pöschl Ulrich , Coe Hugh , Bianchi F. , Su Hang , Kanawade Vijay P. , Liu Pengfei , Gunthe Sachin S.
Published: August 2023

The COVID lockdown presented an interesting opportunity to study the anthropogenic emissions from different sectors under relatively cleaner conditions in India. The complex interplays of power production, industry, and transport could be dissected due to the significantly reduced influence of the latter two emission sources. Here, based on measurements of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity and chemical composition of atmospheric aerosols during the lockdown, we report an episodic event resulting from distinct meteorological conditions. This event was marked by rapid growth and high hygroscopicity of new aerosol particles formed in the SO2 plume from a large coal-fired power plant in Southern India. These sulfate-rich particles had high CCN activity and number concentration, indicating high cloud-forming potential. Examining the sensitivity of CCN properties under relatively clean conditions provides important new clues to delineate the contributions of different anthropogenic emission sectors and further to understand their perturbations of past and future climate forcing.
Predicting extreme floods and droughts in East Africa using a deep learning approach
Authors: Patil Kalpesh Ravindra , Doi Takeshi , Behera Swadhin K.
Published: August 2023

The East African region is highly susceptible to severe floods and persistent droughts, which greatly impact the livelihood of millions of people. Early warnings, at least a few seasons in advance, would help implement mitigation measures. However, most prediction systems using dynamical models perform poorly at long lead times. In this study, we propose a statistical deep learning approach based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) to predict extreme floods and droughts during the short rains season (October–December). The proposed CNN model captures the phase of extreme floods and droughts two to three seasons ahead, except for a few cases. By diagnosing the model’s skills using heatmaps, we find that predicted extreme floods and droughts are linked with the sea surface temperature anomalies of the Indian Ocean Dipole at shorter leads and with western and southern Indian Ocean, equatorial Pacific, and southern Atlantic Ocean at longer leads. Although there were a few poorly predicted exceptions, the superior skill of our CNN-based predictions at longer leads provides a significant advantage in developing mitigation measures.
Extensive screening reveals previously undiscovered aminoglycoside resistance genes in human pathogens
Authors: Lund David , Coertze Roelof Dirk , Parras-Moltó Marcos , Berglund Fanny , Flach Carl-Fredrik , Johnning Anna , Larsson D. G. Joakim , Kristiansson Erik
Published: August 2023

Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat to human health, caused in part by pathogens accumulating antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) through horizontal gene transfer. New ARGs are typically not recognized until they have become widely disseminated, which limits our ability to reduce their spread. In this study, we use large-scale computational screening of bacterial genomes to identify previously undiscovered mobile ARGs in pathogens. From ~1 million genomes, we predict 1,071,815 genes encoding 34,053 unique aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes (AMEs). These cluster into 7,612 families (<70% amino acid identity) of which 88 are previously described. Fifty new AME families are associated with mobile genetic elements and pathogenic hosts. From these, 24 of 28 experimentally tested AMEs confer resistance to aminoglycoside(s) in Escherichia coli, with 17 providing resistance above clinical breakpoints. This study greatly expands the range of clinically relevant aminoglycoside resistance determinants and demonstrates that computational methods enable early discovery of potentially emerging ARGs.
The serotonin transporter sustains human brown adipose tissue thermogenesis
Authors: Suchacki Karla J. , Ramage Lynne E. , Kwok T’ng Choong , Kelman Alexandra , McNeill Ben T. , Rodney Stewart , Keegan Matthew , Gray Calum , MacNaught Gillian , Patel Dilip , Fletcher Alison M. , Simpson Joanna P. , Carter Roderick N. , Semple Robert K. , Homer Natalie Z. M. , Morton Nicholas M. , van Beek Edwin J. R. , Wakelin Sonia J. , Stimson Roland H.
Published: August 2023

Activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in humans is a strategy to treat obesity and metabolic disease. Here we show that the serotonin transporter (SERT), encoded by SLC6A4, prevents serotonin-mediated suppression of human BAT function. RNA sequencing of human primary brown and white adipocytes shows that SLC6A4 is highly expressed in human, but not murine, brown adipocytes and BAT. Serotonin decreases uncoupled respiration and reduces uncoupling protein 1 via the 5-HT2B receptor. SERT inhibition by the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) sertraline prevents uptake of extracellular serotonin, thereby potentiating serotonin’s suppressive effect on brown adipocytes. Furthermore, we see that sertraline reduces BAT activation in healthy volunteers, and SSRI-treated patients demonstrate no 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake by BAT at room temperature, unlike matched controls. Inhibition of BAT thermogenesis may contribute to SSRI-induced weight gain and metabolic dysfunction, and reducing peripheral serotonin action may be an approach to treat obesity and metabolic disease.
Density functional theory calculation of two-dimensional transition metal–hexaiminotriphenylene (TM-HITP) electrocatalytic CO2 reduction
Authors: Zeng Xianshi , Liao Luliang , Wang Meishan , Wang Hongming
Published: August 2023

Computational screening of two-dimensional transition metal–hexaiminotriphenylene as efficient catalysts for carbon dioxide reduction reactions.
Crystalline/amorphous composite interface of CoP@Ni/Fe–P as a boosted electrocatalyst for full water splitting
Authors: Yu Lijuan , Wu Peilin , Tian Tenghui , He Xingquan , Fan Meihong , Cui Lili
Published: August 2023

A crystalline–amorphous CoP@Ni/Fe–P heterojunction is constructed. Due to the adjusted electron state and synergistic effect of crystalline and amorphous interfaces, it exhibits good performance for HER and OER.
Regulating the thickness of nanofiltration membranes for efficient water purification
Authors: Tang Ke , Zhu LinSheng , Lan Piao , Chen YunQiang , Chen Zhou , Lan Yihong , Lan WeiGuang
Published: August 2023

We report a novel strategy to fabricate a high-performance nanofiltration membrane, and the optimized TFN-GP10-0.2 membrane exhibits higher water flux than nanofiltration membranes without sacrificing the rejection rate.
Enantioselective synthesis of 3-hydroxy- and 3-amino-3-alkynyl-2-oxindoles by the dimethylzinc-mediated addition of terminal alkynes to isatins and isatin-derived ketimines
Authors: Prieto Elena , Martín Jorge D. , Nieto Javier , Andrés Celia
Published: August 2023

A highly enantioselective alkynylation of isatins and isatin-derived ketimines is described. In isatins, the alkynylation occurs at the Si face of the carbonyl group, whereas in the ketimine derivatives it occurs at the Re face of the imine.
A structurally engineered flower shaped magnetic hierarchical sorbent for rapid and selective uptake of Pb2+ ions from water samples
Authors: Solanki Kanika , Sharma Shivani , Rana Pooja , Kaushik Bhawna , Yadav Sneha , Dixit Ranjana , Birdar Ankush V. , Gupta Ashu , Sharma R. K.
Published: August 2023

Considering the noxious effects of Pb2+ ions on living organisms as well as the environment, we focus our attention to achieve rapid and selective uptake of Pb2+ ions from aqueous solutions.
Chevrel phases: synthesis, structure, and electrocatalytic applications
Authors: Zhang Wanling , Zhang Wenbiao , Tan Jingwen , Tang Yi , Gao Qingsheng
Published: August 2023

This review summarizes the current advancements of Chevrel phases as electrocatalysts, covering the crystalline structures, synthesis methods, and electrocatalysis applications, with a focus on how crystal structure affects the performance.
Achieving desirable charge transport by porous frame engineering for superior 3D printed rechargeable Ni–Zn alkaline batteries
Authors: Cao Wenyu , Li Haojie , Ma Hui , Fan Jintao , Tian Xiaocong
Published: August 2023

Engineering Ni–Zn alkaline batteries in 3D porous frames efficiently enhances the charge carrier transport of electrode structures, thus boosting the overall electrochemical performance and practicality of 3D printed batteries.
A binuclear guanidinate yttrium carbyne complex: unique reactivity toward unsaturated C–N, C–O and C–S bonds
Authors: Jiang Wen , Kong Feng , Rosal Iker del , Li Meng , Wang Kai , Maron Laurent , Zhang Lixin
Published: August 2023

We describe the synthesis and versatile reactivity of a guanidinato-stabilized binuclear yttrium carbyne complex. The rare-earth-metal carbyne complex induced deoxygenative coupling reaction of CO was presented firstly, and a possible reaction mechanism was elucidated by DFT calculations.
A CO2-philic ferrocene-based porous organic polymer for solar-driven CO2 conversion from flue gas
Authors: Fang Zhou , Wang Yuqi , Hu Yue , Yao Bing , Ye Zhizhen , Peng Xinsheng
Published: August 2023

A ferrocene based polymer (Fc-POP) is designed for solar-driven CO2 cycloaddition from flue gas, resulting in high CO2-philic (adsorption capacity, 5.38 wt%, 0.15 bar) and outstanding styrene carbonate productivity (93%, 15 vol% CO2).
Controlled boron incorporation tuned two-phase interfaces and Lewis acid sites in bismuth nanosheets for driving CO2electroreduction to formate
Authors: Xu You , Guo Yiyi , Sheng Youwei , Zhou Qingsong , Yu Hongjie , Deng Kai , Wang Ziqiang , Wang Hongjing , Wang Liang
Published: August 2023

Synergistic engineering of amorphous/crystalline two-phase interfaces and Lewis acid sites in Bi nanosheets could enhance the adsorption and activation capability of Bi active sites for electrocatalytic CO2reduction reaction.
Metabolische Chirurgie
Authors: Stroh Christine , Luderer Daniel
Published: August 2023

Die metabolische Chirurgie ist aktuell die effektivste Therapie zur Behandlung der morbiden Adipositas und der assoziierten Begleiterkrankungen. Der Beitrag stellt die Operationsverfahren und deren Stellenwert vor.
Postpneumonectomy Empyema in the Presence of COVID-19 Pneumonia after Non-COVID-19 ARDS
Authors: Leneis Veronika , Nemeth Attila , Schlensak Christian , Steger Volker
Published: August 2023

Development of pleural empyema with or without bronchopleural fistula following pneumonectomy presents a major complication with a mortality of 10 to 20%. The surgical goals of bronchopleural fistula treatment are infection control, pus drainage, and lung re-expansion. The main goal is closure of the fistula. This can be achieved with various surgical methods, such as the Clagett or accelerated Weder procedure, omentoplasty, or a transpericardial approach, according to Abruzzini. We present the case of a 58-year-old patient with pleural empyema within the postpneumonectomy cavity in the presence of severe COVID-19 pneumonia after non-COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy. The patient had undergone right-sided pneumonectomy for destroyed lung syndrome after invasive pulmonary aspergillosis
Transarterial Radioembolization for Hepatic Malignancies in North and South America
Authors: Kawakami Willian Yoshinori , de Assis Andre Moreira , Cohen Emil Israel , Frenk Nathan Elie
Published: August 2023

Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) with yttrium 90 is increasingly utilized for the treatment of hepatic neoplasms, whether primary (particularly hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]) or metastatic (particularly colorectal). Extensive data and practical experience have led to a better understanding of its most appropriate usage and optimal techniques, particularly regarding dosimetry. Different clinical contexts and technical parameters allow its use with either palliative or curative intent. Improved patient outcomes have led to its inclusion in management guidelines of HCC and colorectal cancer. While available in multiple centers in the United States and Canada, its availability in South America is still very limited. The objective of this article is to review available treatment platforms, indications, techniques, recent advances, and clinical results, as well as briefly explore the disparities in availability throughout the United States.
Grower Power for Value Creation in High-Value Horticulture? The Case of Citrus in South Africa
Authors: Chisoro Shingie , Roberts Simon
Published: August 2023

This paper analyses how the reconfiguration of power relationships in high-value fresh fruit value chains impacts on upgrading for export performance. The citrus industry in South Africa stands out internationally for its strong export growth and productive capabilities in which collective action by the Citrus Growers Association has played an important role. South Africa is the second largest citrus exporter in the world, after Spain. The industry’s export success has been built on investments and coordination to support shared capabilities and upgrading. The performance relates to improvements from inputs, through to growing, packing and marketing. We find that the upgrading is associated with the relatively powerful position of citrus growers, due to the way they organised themselves through the industry association and their engagement with the state. This has simultaneously supported value creation and inclusion. Through the case study of South Africa’s citrus industry, we demonstrate the potential for growers to organise themselves to reconfigure power relations in the value chain.