bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
When the Going Gets Tough, the Females Get Going: Sex‐Specific Physiological Responses to Simultaneous Exposure to Hypoxia and Marine Heatwave Events in a Ubiquitous Copepod
Authors: Vermandele Fanny , Sasaki Matthew , Winkler Gesche , Dam Hans G. , Madeira Diana , Calosi Piero
Published: October 2024

The existence of sex‐specific differences in phenotypic traits is widely recognized. Yet they are often ignored in studies looking at the impact of global changes on marine organisms, particularly within the context of combined drivers that are known to elicit complex interactions. We tested sex‐specific physiological responses of the cosmopolitan and ecologically important marine copepod Acartia tonsa exposed to combined hypoxia and marine heatwave (MHW) conditions, both of which individually strongly affect marine ectotherms. Females and males were acutely exposed for 5 days to a combination of either control (18°C) or a high temperature mimicking a MHW (25°C), and normoxia (100% O2 sat.) or mild hypoxia (35% O2 sat.). Life‐history traits, as well as sex‐specific survival and physiological traits, were measured. Females had overall higher thermal tolerance levels and responded differently than males when exposed to the combined global change drivers investigated. Females also showed lower metabolic thermal sensitivity when compared to males. Additionally, the MHW exerted a dominant effect on the traits investigated, causing a lower survival and higher metabolic rate at 25°C. However, egg production rates appeared unaffected by hypoxia and MHW conditions. Our results showed that MHWs could strongly affect copepods' survival, that combined exposure to hypoxia and MHW exerted an interactive effect only on CTmax, and that sex‐specific vulnerability to these global change drivers could have major implications for population dynamics. Our results highlight the importance of considering the differences in the responses of females and males to rapid environmental changes to improve the implementation of climate‐smart conservation approaches.
Prior central venous catheter placement and age are associated with earlier intervention after permanent hemodialysis access creation
Authors: Talebi Ramtin , Talebi Ramin , Chen Joshua , Yang Angela , Patil Sanath , DiMuzio Paul J. , Abai Babak , Salvatore Dawn M. , Nooromid Michael J.
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) and grafts are essential for long‐term hemodialysis access in patients with end‐stage renal disease. However, complications and access failure often necessitate re‐intervention. In this study, we aim to delineate the factors associated with earlier failure of permanent hemodialysis access warranting revision procedures.

Methods

This retrospective study aimed to identify factors associated with increased revision rates in AVFs and arteriovenous grafts, using multivariate survival analysis. A cohort of 136 patients who underwent initial arteriovenous access creation between 2005 and 2022 was analyzed. Patient characteristics, including age, comorbidities, access type, and vascular anatomy, were extracted, and hazard ratios (HR) were calculated to identify independent predictors of needing revision.

Findings

A total of 119 patients were included in the final cohort, with a mean age of 55.2 years. Over 40% of patients had a previous central venous catheter placement, while 15% had a previous AVF. The majority of procedures were performed on the left side (74%), and brachiocephalic fistulas were most commonly created (41%). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression revealed that age (adjusted HR = 1.02, p = 0.01) and prior central venous catheter placement (adjusted HR = 1.77, p = 0.01) were independent predictors of earlier revision, while other variables such as sex, hypertension, and diabetes did not show significant associations. Patients with prior central venous catheter placement had a 77% increased risk of revision, even when adjusted for confounders.

Discussion

Understanding predictors of successful long‐term access outcomes can guide decision‐making regarding access type and alternative strategies. In our cohort, increased age and prior central venous catheter placement are associated with a shorter time to failure of permanent hemodialysis access and an increased risk of needing revision.
Trade and inequality in an overlapping generations model with capital accumulation
Authors: Nie Jun , Ravikumar B. , Sposi Michael
Published: October 2024

We study the lifecycle aspect of within‐country inequality that stems from capital and labor services supplied by individuals. Our environment is a combination of a multicountry trade model and an overlapping generations model with production and capital accumulation. Trade liberalization increases the measured total factor productivity in each country, which increases the marginal product of capital and incentivizes capital accumulation. Higher capital stock and higher measured productivity raise the marginal product of labor and, hence, wages. Inequality, measured by the ratio of old agents' income to young agents' income, evolves over time due to capital accumulation during the transition from autarky to an open‐economy world. Immediately after liberalization, inequality increases. Over time, capital accumulates at a diminishing rate and inequality declines.
Comparing methods of measuring interest fit: A large prediction study with career choice satisfaction
Authors: Granillo‐Velasquez Kenneth E. , Hoff Kevin A. , Hanna Alexis , Oswald Frederick L. , Morris Michael L.
Published: October 2024

Vocational interest inventories are widely used in both research and practice to help match people to well‐fitting work environments. However, because there are many different methods to operationalize interest fit, a debate remains regarding the best ways to do so. To empirically inform this debate, our study compared the predictive power of four widely used interest fit indices (i.e., matching scale scores, profile deviance scores, profile correlations, and polynomial regression scores) for predicting career choice satisfaction. Using a large and diverse U.S. sample (N = 257,320), results indicated that among the three single‐term interest fit measures, profile correlations (R2 = .04) explained more variance in career choice satisfaction than matching scale scores (R2 = .02) and profile deviance scores (R2 = .00). By comparison, the full 30‐term polynomial regression model explained the most variance in career choice satisfaction (R2 = .09); in this case, however, the nonlinear terms that capture fit effects only accounted for about 22% (R2 = .02) of the total variance explained by the model. Overall, these results indicate that researchers and practitioners should be cautious of the greater criterion‐related validity of polynomial regression models as fit information may not be a substantial contributor to their predictive capacities. In addition, our findings support the use of profile correlations as a predictive, single‐term measure of interest fit.
The quest for the best target genes for RNAi‐mediated pest control
Authors: Cedden Doga , Bucher Gregor
Published: October 2024

RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as an eco‐friendly alternative to classic pesticides for pest control. This review highlights the importance of identifying the best target genes for RNAi‐mediated pest control. We argue that the knowledge‐based approach to predicting effective targets is limited by our current gaps of knowledge, making unbiased screening a superior method for discovering the best target processes and genes. We emphasize the recent evidence that suggests targeting conserved basic cellular processes, such as protein degradation and translation, is more effective than targeting the classic pesticide target processes. We support these claims by comparing the efficacy of previously reported RNAi target genes and classic insecticide targets with data from our genome‐wide RNAi screen in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Finally, we provide practical advice for identifying excellent target genes in other pests, where large‐scale RNAi screenings are typically challenging.
Detection of H1N1 Influenza Virus in the Bile of a Severe Influenza Mouse Model
Authors: Liu Yan , Xu Jiuyang , Wei Cheng , Xu Yitian , Lyu Chen , Sun Mingzhi , Zheng Ying , Cao Bin
Published: October 2024

Aims

Influenza virus infection may lead to fatal complications including multi‐organ failure and sepsis. The influenza virus was detected in various extra‐pulmonary organs in autopsy studies during the 2009 pandemic. However, limited research has been conducted on the presence of viral particle or viral components in the peripheral blood.

Methods and Results

We established a mouse model for severe H1N1 influenza. The bile and blood samples were collected over time and inoculated into embryonated chicken eggs. We detected live influenza virus in bile and blood samples in early infection. Immunofluorescence showed influenza viral components in the liver tissue. No live virus was isolated in the bile in mice intragastrically administered with influenza virus, indicating that the virus was spread from the blood stream. Targeted metabolomics analysis of bile acid and liver tissues showed that a secondary bile acid (3‐dehydrocholic acid) was decreased after influenza H1N1 infection. Genes related with fatty acid metabolism and bile secretion pathways were down‐regulated in liver after influenza virus infection.

Conclusion

Our study indicated that influenza virus viremia is present in severe influenza, and that the liver is a target organ for influenza viral sepsis.
Multiple Views on Return Migration to Northern Syria
Authors: Idlebi Rafif , Omaish Abdullah Hanadi
Published: October 2024

Media, humanitarian organisations and host governments have increasingly talked about returning refugees affected by a more than a decade‐long conflict in Syria. However, the northern Syria region does not offer adequate living conditions for return; this region is currently unfit for settlement, and it is impossible to attract Syrians to return to it, regardless of the lack of security and the political issues that many scholars have discussed. This study was conducted in early 2023 in two regions including four areas in northern Syria (Jarabulus, Azaz, Al‐Bab and Afrin) and three provinces in Türkiye (Istanbul, Gaziantep and Mersin). We compare the opinions of Syrian refugees in Türkiye and Syrians who had been internally displaced and who resettled in the northern region. The purpose of the comparison is to understand the views of both Syrians in Türkiye and in northern Syria regarding whether the region is attractive to them or not. However, the results confirm that people are not willing to return, as the push factors overcome the pull factors. The data collection among Türkiye‐based Syrians and northern Syria's residents enabled us to work with different opinion‐making processes: The assessment of today's Syrian services results from the direct witness of current dwellers and the views of Türkiye‐based refugees. Through a large‐scale survey, our study aims to identify the push factors that induce refugees to discount the possibility of returning to the northern Syrian region, including the lack of job opportunities and basic services such as potable water, electricity, fuel, Internet, adequate education and healthcare.
Sharing Space and Time in Participatory Artistic Practice
Authors: Hoekstra Marike
Published: October 2024

Gastatelier de Vindplaats is an informal shared art studio in a school building in Amsterdam. Children can join—free of charge—in their own neighbourhood, there is room for everybody to be engaged on their own terms as often as they like, and most materials consist of recycled goods. Gastatelier also aims to be a participatory practice because of the way it engages in school routines, family relations and neighbourhood activities. It is, lastly but distinctively, an artistic residency where artists are allowed time and space to become engaged in a specific social context. After the first year of pioneering, space and time have become essential to understand the methodology of the studio. Artists for example are allowed to spend as much time in the studio as they like, according to the European Unions guideline for artist's residencies, but children's time in the studio remains limited to a weekly hour and a half. The question arises how the role of this unevenly distributed time affects the children's agency of the studio.
Feasibility, Experiences and Short‐Term Outcomes on Challenging Behaviour and Well‐Being of a Partially Online Music Intervention Pilot Study for Adults With Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Smeets Gerianne J. J. , Volkers Karin M. , Swart Eline A. K. , Moonen Xavier M. H. , Scherder Erik J. A.
Published: October 2024

Background

During the COVID‐19 pandemic we implemented a partially online music intervention to examine the feasibility, experiences and short‐term outcomes on the challenging behaviour and well‐being of adults with intellectual disabilities.

Method

This mixed‐methods study included 10 participants with mild or moderate intellectual disabilities who received 16 one‐hour individual music sessions in 10 weeks, either face‐to‐face or online. Data on feasibility and experiences from participants and music workers were collected and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Challenging behaviour and well‐being were measured before and after intervention.

Results

Overall experiences were positive and concerned appreciation, positive feelings, musical abilities, attention span, relatedness and personalisation. Online experiences varied, but most participants preferred face‐to‐face over online sessions. After the intervention, challenging behaviour scores were better than before.

Conclusions

Engaging in a partially online music intervention is feasible for people with intellectual disabilities and seems to improve challenging behaviour. Experiences are discussed and recommendations for future online sessions are provided.
Sex‐ and age‐dependent impacts of nicotine and ethanol binge drinking on the brain: Insights from preclinical research
Authors: Farias Cardozo Stella J. , Lawrence Andrew J. , Anversa Roberta Goncalves
Published: October 2024

Electronic cigarette use among adolescents is a growing concern, not only due to the high incidence of co‐use with other substances, such as alcohol, but also due to the fact brain is still maturing during this period. Combined exposure to alcohol and nicotine leads to plastic adaptation of crucial circuits in the brain, which can contribute to the development of addiction. It is well established that nicotine exposure can facilitate alcohol binge drinking, and vice‐versa, in a sex‐, age‐ and exposure‐dependent manner. Nonetheless, the central mechanisms underlying the synergistic relationship between these two substances and the emergence of differential behavioural traits dependent on these factors remain underexplored. Preclinical studies continue to provide valuable insights into such mechanisms. Here, we discuss recent preclinical findings that report behavioural changes characteristic of addiction following nicotine consumption, primarily in models of vaping and alcohol use; and insights into the neural mechanisms impacted by intake of these two substances, with a focus on the adolescent brain.

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Zinc signaling controls astrocyte‐dependent synapse modulation via the PAF receptor pathway
Authors: Stanton Janelle E. , Hans Sakshi , Zabetakis Ioannis , Grabrucker Andreas M.
Published: October 2024

Astrocytes are important regulators of neuronal development and activity. Their activation plays a key role in the response to many central nervous system (CNS) pathologies. However, reactive astrocytes are a double‐edged sword as their chronic or excessive activation may negatively impact CNS physiology, for example, via abnormal modulation of synaptogenesis and synapse function. Accordingly, astrocyte activation has been linked to neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders. Therefore, the attenuation of astrocyte activation may be an important approach for preventing and treating these disorders. Since zinc deficiency has been consistently linked to increased pro‐inflammatory signaling, we aimed to identify cellular zinc‐dependent signaling pathways that may lead to astrocyte activation using techniques such as immunocytochemistry and protein biochemistry to detect astrocyte GFAP expression, fluorescent imaging to detect oxidative stress levels in activated astrocytes, cytokine profiling, and analysis of primary neurons subjected to astrocyte secretomes. Our results reveal a so far not well‐described pathway in astrocytes, the platelet activation factor receptor (PAFR) pathway, as a critical zinc‐dependent signaling pathway that is sufficient to control astrocyte reactivity. Low zinc levels activate PAFR signaling‐driven crosstalk between astrocytes and neurons, which alters excitatory synapse formation during development in a PAFR‐dependent manner. We conclude that zinc is a crucial signaling ion involved in astrocyte activation and an important dietary factor that controls astrocytic pro‐inflammatory processes. Thus, targeting zinc homeostasis may be an important approach in several neuroinflammatory conditions.

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The Effect of Heart Failure Symptom Clusters on Quality of Life: The Moderating Effect of Self‐Care Behaviours
Authors: Yao Qian , Luo Jian , Song Baomei , Yang Jin , Yuan Xiaorong , Li Xiuchuan , Tian Wei , Wang Tianyi , Zhu Bin , Yang Zheng
Published: October 2024

Background

Although heart failure (HF) symptoms affect patients' quality of life (QoL), improving patients' QoL requires certain self‐care behaviours. However, the specific role of self‐care behaviours in the relationship between HF symptoms and QoL has not been clarified.

Aims

To evaluate the status of symptom clusters, self‐care behaviours and QoL in HF patients, and to analyse and test the moderating effect of self‐care behaviours between symptom clusters and QoL.

Design

This study is a cross‐sectional study.

Methods

A total of 320 HF patients who treated in the three hospitals in Chengdu, China, from December 2022 to July 2023 were selected as the research subjects. The patients were evaluated using The General Information Questionnaire, Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale Heart Failure, Self‐Care of Heart Failure Index and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire. The statistical analysis methods were exploratory factor analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, hierarchical regression analysis and simple slope analysis.

Results

There were five symptom clusters in HF patients: emotional symptom cluster (sadness, anxiety, irritability, feeling nervous), digestive symptom cluster (lack of appetite, dry mouth, weight loss, nausea, abdominal distension), ischemic symptom cluster (dizziness, chest pain, palpitations, fatigue), dyspnoea symptom cluster (difficulty breathing when lying flat, waking up breathless at night, sleep difficulty) and congestion symptom cluster (cough, shortness of breath, oedema). There was a significant correlation between HF symptom group, self‐care behaviours and QoL (p < 0.05). Both self‐care maintenance (β = −0.262, p < 0.001) and self‐care management (β = −0.258, p < 0.001) had a moderating effect between symptom clusters and QoL.

Conclusion

There are a variety of symptom clusters in HF patients. Improving the self‐care behaviours ability of HF patients is conducive to reducing the impact of HF symptom clusters on QoL.

Reporting Method

The study used the STROBE checklist for reporting.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Medical staff should focus on the impact of HF symptom clusters and self‐care behaviours on QoL, and formulate corresponding interventions for HF symptom clusters and self‐care behaviours to improve the QoL of patients.

Patient or Public Contribution

The head nurse of the cardiovascular department actively assisted us in collecting questionnaires from HF patients, and all HF patients surveyed participated in this study seriously.
Parental Gender Stereotypes and Student Well‐Being in China
Authors: Chu Shuai , Zeng Xiangquan , Zimmermann Klaus F.
Published: October 2024

A prominent gender stereotype claims that “boys are better at learning mathematics than girls.” Confronted with such a parental attitude, how does this affect the well‐being of 11‐ to 18‐year‐old students in Chinese middle schools? Although well‐being has often been shown to be not much gender‐diverse, the intergenerational consequences of such stereotypes are not well studied. Expecting too much from boys and too little from girls might damage self‐esteem among school kids. Using large survey data covering districts all over China reveals that one‐quarter of the parents agree with the math stereotype. It is shown that this has strong detrimental consequences for the offspring's well‐being. Students are strongly more depressed, feeling blue, unhappy, not enjoying life, and sad with no male–female differences, whereas parental education does not matter for this transfer. Various robustness tests including other than math stereotypes and an IV analysis confirm the findings. Moderating such effects, which is in line with societal objectives in many countries, not only supports gender equality but also strengthens the mental health of children.
Using eDNA to Supplement Population Genetic Analyses for Cryptic Marine Species: Identifying Population Boundaries for Alaska Harbour Porpoises
Authors: Parsons Kim M. , May Samuel A. , Gold Zachary , Dahlheim Marilyn , Gabriele Christine , Straley Janice M. , Moran John R. , Goetz Kimberly , Zerbini Alexandre N. , Park Linda , Morin Phillip A.
Published: October 2024

Isolation by distance and biogeographical boundaries define patterns of population genetic structure for harbour porpoise along the Pacific coast from California to British Columbia. Until recently, inadequate sample sizes in many regions constrained efforts to characterise population genetic structure throughout the coastal waters of Alaska. Here, tissue samples from beachcast strandings and fisheries bycatch were supplemented with targeted environmental DNA (eDNA) samples in key regions of Alaska coastal and inland waters. Using a geographically explicit, hierarchical approach, we examined the genetic structure of Alaska harbour porpoises, using both mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence data and multilocus SNP genotypes. Despite a lack of evidence of genetic differentiation from nuclear SNP loci, patterns of relatedness and genetic differentiation from mtDNA suggest natal philopatry at multiple geographic scales, with limited gene flow among sites possibly mediated by male dispersal. A priori clustering of sampled areas at an intermediate scale (eastern and western Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska and Southeast Alaska) best explained the genetic variance (12.37%) among regions. In addition, mtDNA differentiation between the Gulf of Alaska and eastern Bering Sea, and among regions within the Gulf of Alaska, indicated significant genetic structuring of harbour porpoise populations in Southeast Alaska. The targeted collection of eDNA samples from strata within Southeast Alaska was key for elevating the statistical power of our mtDNA dataset, and findings indicate limited dispersal between neighbouring strata within coastal and inland waters. These results provide evidence supporting a population boundary within the currently recognised Southeast Alaska Stock. Together, these findings will prove useful for ongoing management efforts to reduce fisheries conflict and conserve genetic diversity in this iconic coastal species.
The learnability of natural concepts
Authors: Douven Igor
Published: October 2024

According to a recent proposal, natural concepts are represented in an optimally designed similarity space, adhering to principles a skilled engineer would use for creatures with our perceptual and cognitive capacities. One key principle is that natural concepts should be easily learnable. While evidence exists for parts of this optimal design proposal, there has been no direct evidence linking naturalness to learning until now. This article presents results from a computational study on perceptual color space, demonstrating that naturalness indeed facilitates learning.
A reassessment of spinal cord pathology in severe infantile spinal muscular atrophy
Authors: Allardyce Hazel , Lawrence Benjamin D. , Crawford Thomas O. , Sumner Charlotte J. , Parson Simon H.
Published: October 2024

Aims

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a life‐limiting paediatric motor neuron disease characterised by lower motor neuron loss, skeletal muscle atrophy and respiratory failure, if untreated. Revolutionary treatments now extend patient survival. However, a limited understanding of the foundational neuropathology challenges the evaluation of therapeutic success. As opportunities to study treatment‐naïve tissue decrease, we have characterised spinal cord pathology in severe infantile SMA using gold‐standard techniques, providing a baseline to measure treatment success and therapeutic limitations.

Methods

Detailed histological analysis, stereology and transmission electron microscopy were applied to post‐mortem spinal cord from severe infantile SMA patients to estimate neuron number at the end of life; characterise the morphology of ventral horn, lateral horn and Clarke's column neuron populations; assess cross‐sectional spinal cord area; and observe myelinated white matter tracts in the clinically relevant thoracic spinal cord.

Results

Ventral horn neuron loss was substantial in all patients, even the youngest cases. The remaining ventral horn neurons were small with abnormal, occasionally chromatolytic morphology, indicating cellular damage. In addition to ventral horn pathology, Clarke's column sensory–associated neurons displayed morphological features of cellular injury, in contrast to the preserved sympathetic lateral horn neurons. Cellular changes were associated with aberrant development of grey and white matter structures that affected the overall dimensions of the spinal cord.

Conclusions

We provide robust quantification of the neuronal deficit found at the end of life in SMA spinal cord. We question long‐accepted dogmas of SMA pathogenesis and shed new light on SMA neuropathology out with the ventral horn, which must be considered in future therapeutic design.
Splenectomy prevents brain orexin, ghrelin, or oxytocin but not GLP‐1‐induced improvement of intestinal barrier function in rats
Authors: Funayama Takuya , Nozu Tsukasa , Ishioh Masatomo , Igarashi Sho , Tanaka Hiroki , Sumi Chihiro , Saito Takeshi , Toki Yasumichi , Hatayama Mayumi , Yamamoto Masayo , Shindo Motohiro , Takahashi Shuichiro , Okumura Toshikatsu
Published: October 2024

Background

Accumulating evidence has suggested that neuropeptides such as orexin, ghrelin, or oxytocin act centrally in the brain to regulate intestinal barrier function through the vagus nerve. It has been reported that the vagal cholinergic anti‐inflammatory pathway was blocked by splenectomy. In the present study, we therefore examined the effect of splenectomy on neuropeptides‐induced improvement of increased intestinal permeability.

Methods

Colonic permeability was determined in vivo by quantifying the absorbed Evans blue in colonic tissue for 15 min spectrophotometrically in rats.

Results

Splenectomy increased colonic permeability. The increased permeability by splenectomy was significantly blocked by vagal activation induced by carbachol or 2‐deoxy‐d‐glucose which was prevented by atropine, suggesting vagal activation could prevent colonic hyperpermeability in splenectomized rats. In the splenectomized rats, intracisternal injection of orexin, ghrelin, oxytocin, or butyrate failed to inhibit increased colonic permeability while intracisternal glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) analogue, liraglutide, potently blocked the increased colonic permeability in a dose‐dependent manner. The liraglutide‐induced improvement of increased colonic permeability was blocked by atropine in splenectomized rats. Intracisternal injection of GLP‐1 receptor antagonist attenuated 2‐deoxy‐d‐glucose‐induced improvement of colonic hyperpermeability in splenectomized rats.

Conclusion

The present results suggested that the spleen is important in the improvement of intestinal barrier function by brain orexin, ghrelin or oxytocin, and butyrate. On the other hand, GLP‐1 acts centrally in the brain to improve colonic hyperpermeability in a spleen‐independent manner. All these results suggest that dual mechanisms (spleen dependent or independent) may exist for the brain‐gut regulation in intestinal barrier function.
Branched‐chain amino acid metabolism: Pathophysiological mechanism and therapeutic intervention in metabolic diseases
Authors: Mansoori Shama , Ho Melody Yuen‐man , Ng Kelvin Kwun‐wang , Cheng Kenneth King‐yip
Published: October 2024

Branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs), including leucine, isoleucine, and valine, are essential for maintaining physiological functions and metabolic homeostasis. However, chronic elevation of BCAAs causes metabolic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and metabolic‐associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and the liver are the three major metabolic tissues not only responsible for controlling glucose, lipid, and energy balance but also for maintaining BCAA homeostasis. Under obese and diabetic conditions, different pathogenic factors like pro‐inflammatory cytokines, lipotoxicity, and reduction of adiponectin and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors γ (PPARγ) disrupt BCAA metabolism, leading to excessive accumulation of BCAAs and their downstream metabolites in metabolic tissues and circulation. Mechanistically, BCAAs and/or their downstream metabolites, such as branched‐chain ketoacids (BCKAs) and 3‐hydroxyisobutyrate (3‐HIB), impair insulin signaling, inhibit adipogenesis, induce inflammatory responses, and cause lipotoxicity in the metabolic tissues, resulting in multiple metabolic disorders. In this review, we summarize the latest studies on the metabolic regulation of BCAA homeostasis by the three major metabolic tissues—adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and liver—and how dysregulated BCAA metabolism affects glucose, lipid, and energy balance in these active metabolic tissues. We also summarize therapeutic approaches to restore normal BCAA metabolism as a treatment for metabolic diseases.
Fatigue in severe pediatric asthma patients: Results of the PANDA study
Authors: van Dijk Yoni E. , Keuker Valerie S. L. , Hashimoto Simone , Rutjes Niels W. , van Muilekom Maud M. , Golebski Kornel , Van Litsenburg Raphaële R. L. , Terheggen‐Lagro Suzanne W. J. , van Ewijk Bart E. , Gemke Reinoud J. B. J. , Maitland‐van der Zee Anke H. , Vijverberg Susanne J. H.
Published: October 2024

Background

Fatigue is a commonly reported clinical symptom, yet research on fatigue in children with severe asthma is missing. We aimed to explore the extent of fatigue in severe pediatric asthma and identify associated factors.

Method

This study was conducted within the Pediatric Asthma Non‐Invasive Diagnostic Approaches (PANDA), an observational cohort of 6‐ to 17‐year‐old Dutch children with severe asthma. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (PedsQL™‐MFS) was used to measure self‐reported fatigue. Fatigue levels were compared with a general pediatric Dutch population using linear regression, and quantifying the prevalence of “fatigued” (−2 < Standard deviations [SD] ≤ −1) and “severely fatigued” (SD ≤ −2) children. Secondly, we performed linear regression analyses to explore whether fatigue levels were independently associated with asthma attacks, comorbidities, medication, pulmonary function, symptom control, and asthma‐related quality of life (QoL).

Results

Severe pediatric asthma patients (n = 78, mean age 11.8 ± 3.1 years) reported significantly more fatigue than Dutch peers (n = 328, mean age 11.8 ± 3.2 years) mean difference in z‐score: −0.68; 95%CI −0.96, −0.40. In the severe asthma group, 28.2% scored as “fatigued” and 15.4% as “severely fatigued,” compared with 14.0% and 3.4% in the general population. In pediatric asthma patients, asthma‐related QoL (β = 0.77, p < .01, ΔR2 = .43), symptom control (β = 0.56, p < .01, ΔR2 = .24) and a dysfunctional breathing pattern (β = −0.36, p < .01, ΔR2 = .12) were most strongly associated with fatigue scores.

Conclusion

Fatigue is a common symptom in children with severe asthma and is associated with multiple clinical factors and patient‐reported outcomes. It should be considered as an important treatment target.
Narrative review: Managing buprenorphine and opioid use disorder in the perioperative setting
Authors: Kohan Lynn , Barreveld Antje , Potru Sudheer , Abd‐Elsayed Alaa , Viscusi Eugene R.
Published: October 2024

The opioid epidemic continues to have a staggering impact on millions of individuals and families across all socioeconomic levels and communities. Recent studies suggest high numbers of patients presenting for surgery with reported opioid misuse and/or opioid use disorder (OUD). Anesthesiologists often lack basic education to treat patients suffering with OUD or patients in recovery from this treatable disease. This manuscript will provide a review of the American Society of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine Multisociety Working Group Practice Advisory recommendations on existing OUD treatment barriers and perioperative management best practices; it will also demonstrate the benefits that greater involvement of the anesthesiologist can have in managing patients with OUD perioperatively.
Assessing Rapid Adaptation Through Epigenetic Inheritance: A New Experimental Approach
Authors: Huber Meret , Chávez Alexandra
Published: October 2024

Summary statement

Epigenetic inheritance is hypothesized to lead to rapid adaptation, yet evidence is scarce, possibly because of the current experimental approaches. We propose a new approach to simultaneously assess whether species adapt through selection of epimutations or formation of stress‐induced epialleles.
Astrocytes Can Be Key Players Against Cerebral Leishmaniasis: In Vitro Co‐Culture Model for the Assessment of Infection
Authors: Islek Zeynep , Ucisik Mehmet Hikmet , Sahin Fikrettin
Published: October 2024

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease, caused by protozoan parasites of Leishmania (L.), and is transmitted by bite of phlebotomine sandflies. There are several studies on central nervous system infection to indicate that Leishmania can cross the blood–brain barrier, resulting in neurological manifestations, known as “cerebral leishmaniasis.” This study highlighted the notions: (i) polarisation of bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMDM) incubated following stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or soluble Leishmania antigen (SLA), (ii) quantification of parasites within co‐culture of Leishmania‐infected macrophages, and astrocytes, and (iii) effect of interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) on the infection rate of co‐culture populations. Accordingly, 83% of overall macrophage population was identified on day 7 for CD11b and F4/80 macrophage markers. Flow cytometry analysis revealed significant increases in CD11b and F4/80 surface markers in LPS and SLA‐stimulated BMDMs at 24 h, compared to untreated cells. TNF‐α levels increased significantly in both LPS and SLA‐treated BMDMs after 48 h. Additionally, SLA treatment induced a more elongated, spindle‐like shape in the cells, indicative of M2 macrophage polarisation over the M1 phenotype. When non‐infected astrocytes with/without stimulation with IFN‐γ before co‐culture, gp63 FITC‐labelled parasite populations (%) in co‐culture decreased to 25% at 72 h, thus indicating a lower infection rate in a time‐dependent manner. IFN‐γ and IL‐6 levels significantly increased to 71.66 ± 3.51 and 184 ± 14.42 pg/mL, resulting in the inflammatory response in the co‐culture system at 48 h (p ≤ 0.0001), when compared to the control (30 ± 2.52 pg/mL for IFN‐γ and 8.66 ± 2.37 pg/mL for IL‐6) at 0 h of the incubation. It is the first study to emphasize the communication between Leishmania‐infected macrophages and astrocytes regarding Leishmania parasite load. The results suggest that astrocytes can lead to the reduction in Leishmania parasites, thereby controlling the incidence of cerebral leishmaniasis.
Seedling recruitment and cover responses to rock detention structures paired with seed in the Chihuahuan Desert
Authors: Prandoni Noel F. , Maxwell Connie M. , Lehnhoff Erik A. , Fernald Alexander G.
Published: October 2024

Drylands are susceptible to erosion by wind and water. Thus, the reestablishment of vegetation is a crucial focus of watershed restoration in order to stabilize soils and improve water infiltration. Currently, limited research exists quantifying vegetation responses to rock detention structures (RDS) in the Chihuahuan Desert, and no studies have quantified the effects of RDS paired with seed introduction. Our study area in the Rincon Arroyo Watershed, in southern New Mexico, tested the hypotheses that two types of RDS, micro‐catchments and stone‐lines paired with seeding, support increases in seedling recruitment and vegetation cover compared to untreated controls. This study also tested whether the application of seed to RDS alters plant communities in comparison to controls. One season after seeded RDS were applied, seedling recruitment, cover, and plant community responses were evaluated at treatment and control areas. Seeded stone‐lines showed significantly greater seedling recruitment (2×) and cover (0.3×) than controls (p < 0.05), whereas seeded micro‐catchments showed significantly greater cover (0.3×) than controls (p < 0.05) but did not exhibit significant differences in seedling recruitment compared to controls (p > 0.05). The lack of a significant difference between plant communities at treatment and control areas (p > 0.05) suggests that the addition of seed had little to no effect on plant communities or positive responses in seedling recruitment and cover. These results suggest that stone‐lines and micro‐catchments, alone, can support vegetation establishment in degraded dryland watersheds without the addition of seed.
Rigid lid limit in shallow water over a flat bottom
Authors: Melinand Benjamin
Published: October 2024

We perform the so‐called rigid lid limit on different shallow water models such as the abcd Bousssinesq systems or the Green–Naghdi equations. To do so, we consider an appropriate nondimensionalization of these models where two small parameters are involved: the shallowness parameter and a parameter which can be interpreted as a Froude number. When the parameter tends to zero, the surface deformation formally goes to the rest state, hence the name rigid lid limit. We carefully study this limit for different topologies. We also provide rates of convergence with respect to and careful attention is given to the dependence on the shallowness parameter .
Efficient numerical approximations for a nonconservative nonlinear Schrödinger equation appearing in wind‐forced ocean waves
Authors: Athanassoulis Agissilaos , Katsaounis Theodoros , Kyza Irene
Published: October 2024

We consider a nonconservative nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NCNLS) with time‐dependent coefficients, inspired by a water waves problem. This problem does not have mass or energy conservation, but instead mass and energy change in time under explicit balance laws. In this paper, we extend to the particular NCNLS two numerical schemes which are known to conserve energy and mass in the discrete level for the cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equation. Both schemes are second‐order accurate in time, and we prove that their extensions satisfy discrete versions of the mass and energy balance laws for the NCNLS. The first scheme is a relaxation scheme that is linearly implicit. The other scheme is a modified Delfour–Fortin–Payre scheme, and it is fully implicit. Numerical results show that both schemes capture robustly the correct values of mass and energy, even in strongly nonconservative problems. We finally compare the two numerical schemes and discuss their performance.
Fluorescent Reporters, Imaging, and Artificial Intelligence Toolkits to Monitor and Quantify Autophagy, Heterophagy, and Lysosomal Trafficking Fluxes
Authors: Rudinskiy Mikhail , Morone Diego , Molinari Maurizio
Published: October 2024

Lysosomal compartments control the clearance of cell‐own material (autophagy) or of material that cells endocytose from the external environment (heterophagy) to warrant supply of nutrients, to eliminate macromolecules or parts of organelles present in excess, aged, or containing toxic material. Inherited or sporadic mutations in lysosomal proteins and enzymes may hamper their folding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and their lysosomal transport via the Golgi compartment, resulting in lysosomal dysfunction and storage disorders. Defective cargo delivery to lysosomal compartments is harmful to cells and organs since it causes accumulation of toxic compounds and defective organellar homeostasis. Assessment of resident proteins and cargo fluxes to the lysosomal compartments is crucial for the mechanistic dissection of intracellular transport and catabolic events. It might be combined with high‐throughput screenings to identify cellular, chemical, or pharmacological modulators of these events that may find therapeutic use for autophagy‐related and lysosomal storage disorders. Here, discuss qualitative, quantitative and chronologic monitoring of autophagic, heterophagic and lysosomal protein trafficking in fixed and live cells, which relies on fluorescent single and tandem reporters used in combination with biochemical, flow cytometry, light and electron microscopy approaches implemented by artificial intelligence‐based technology.
Has trade facilitation of the ‘Belt and Road’ countries promoted China's cross‐border E‐commerce exports?
Authors: Guo Ping , Hamzah Hanny Zurina , Chin Lee
Published: October 2024

This paper investigates the impact of trade facilitation level on China's exports in cross‐border e‐commerce (CBEC) in 56 major ‘Belt and Road’ countries using PPML panel estimation. The total sample and sub‐sample regressions based on the classification of developed and developing countries show that (1) the trade facilitation level of ‘Belt and Road’ countries has a significant positive impact on China's CBEC exports, but the impact of developed countries is greater than that of developing countries. (2) All five trade facilitation sub‐indicators of the ‘Belt and Road’ countries have an impact on China's CBEC exports, but the impact of the logistics and e‐commerce environments are prominent. (3) The impact of the customs environment of developed countries on China's CBEC exports is second only to that of the logistics environment, and the impact of the e‐commerce environment in developing countries is greater than that of the logistics environment. To promote China's CBEC exports to the ‘Belt and Road’ countries, the Chinese government needs to prioritise cooperation in the logistics and e‐commerce environments. In addition, cooperation with developed countries in particular needs to strengthen the customs environment construction, whilst cooperation with developing countries should prioritise the improvement of the e‐commerce environment.
Global existence of weak solutions to the two‐dimensional nematic liquid crystal flow with partially free boundary
Authors: Sire Yannick , Wu Yantao , Zhou Yifu
Published: October 2024

We consider a nematic liquid crystal flow with partially free boundary in a smooth bounded domain in . We prove regularity estimates and the global existence of weak solutions enjoying partial regularity properties, and a uniqueness result.
The Digital Displacement Pump As a Frequency Generator
Authors: Dumnov Daniil , Melling Jonathan , Caldwell Niall , Johnston Nigel , Plummer Andrew , Sell Nathan
Published: October 2024

Digital Displacement® pumps are a type of variable displacement, radial piston hydraulic pump currently being developed for use in efficient mobile hydraulic systems. The pump displacement is controlled by selective enabling of solenoid valves at the inlet of each cylinder and since the pump displacement can be controlled directly by software it is possible to use the pump as a flow source with any arbitrary demand. By enabling precise flow control and reducing leakage and throttling losses they can provide a significant improvement in efficiency over conventional pumps; however, this also leads to a decrease in the overall sources of damping in the system and may result in increased transmission of vibration and fluid-borne noise.

This paper presents a method for characterising vibration sensitivity of a hydraulic system, using the pump as a frequency generator whose flow output follows a sinusoidal ‘chirp’ demand. Simulation results are presented of the pump open-loop frequency response, which show the control bandwidth and demonstrates that the pump can modulate its output flow at frequencies into the audible range. This enables the possibility of using the pump to identify potential sensitivities in a downstream hydraulic system up to 200 Hz. A method is described for characterising the noise and vibration of the connected system within this frequency range. Test data from a hydraulic excavator are presented and analysed to create a characteristic transfer function for the system, relating pump output flow to pressure ripple and vibration in the downstream system.

These system transfer functions can be used to develop control methods to reduce the impact of vibration, either by active damping, filtering of the control signals or choice of cylinder enabling strategy. Test data are presented also showing the effect of some mitigation strategies in the same hydraulic excavator, leading to a reduction of overall vibration in the vehicle cabin.
Development of Boundary/Mixed Friction Models for Cylinder Block/Valve Plate Interface in a Novel Aerospace Electro-Hydrostatic Module
Authors: Lyu Dingchong , Fu Jian , Zhao Shoujun , Chen Siyuan
Published: October 2024

The highly compact Electro-Hydrostatic Module (EHM) is the key technology of future Electro-Hydrostatic Actuation (EHA) in the aerospace industry. Improving the frictional performance of the critical friction pairs is crucial for EHM. To address this issue, this study develops a specific friction model for the cylinder block/valve plate interface that combines rotor dynamics with boundary/mixed friction characteristics. The boundary/mixed friction properties of the interface are characterized by combining a viscous friction model based on Reynolds lubrication theory and the measurement results of a special simulated friction experiment of cylinder block/valve plate. A finite element model for the rotor dynamics is developed, and the rotor models under a wide range of rotational speeds are determined by harmonic response analysis. By merging the rotor dynamics model with the friction model through the exchange of rotor model data and bearing parameters, the coupling effects of rotor vortices and oil film hydrodynamics at the cylinder block/valve plate interface are simulated. The model’s accuracy is verified through experiments to be 85%. It is found that the integrated structure has a critical speed near 20000 rpm through simulation analysis, and the interface friction characteristics near the critical speed are significantly increased. From the perspective of the two critical attributes of reliability and efficiency, this study provides theoretical reference points for the structural optimization of the novel EHM.