bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Lingering Fusional Adaptation Influences the Bielschowsky Head Tilt Test in Superior Oblique Paresis
Authors: Irsch Kristina , Guyton David L. , Ying Howard S.
Published: October 2022

Background The lack of a positive Bielschowsky head tilt test (BHTT) is commonly seen as an indicator that superior oblique paresis (SOP) is not present. This study investigated the
influence of fusion on the BHTT in unilateral SOP.

Patients/Methods and Material We analyzed vertical fusional vergence using our eye-tracking haploscope and the value of BHTT difference (BHTTD) in 11 patients who were diagnosed with
congenital unilateral SOP and able to fuse.

Results Patients used one of three different mechanisms of vertical vergence to achieve fusion. The three fusional mechanisms were associated with a significantly different BHTTD
(p < 0.05). Seven of the eleven patients used vertical recti-mediated fusion and had a mean BHTTD ± SD of 21.7 ± 6.3 prism diopters (PD). Three of these patients whom we measured after a
patch test for at least 30 min showed a decreased BHTTD (12.7 ± 3.8 PD). Three of the eleven patients used a mixed (oblique/rectus) fusional mechanism and had a mean BHTTD ± SD of 9.3 ± 8.6
PD. Of these patients, the one whom we measured after patching showed an increase of 11 PD in BHTTD. The remaining patient used oblique muscle-mediated fusion and had a BHTTD of only 3 PD
that increased to 21 PD after patching. One explanation for this BHTT behavior in the latter patient involves lingering vergence adaptation of the “paretic” superior oblique muscle (SOM) and
contralateral inferior oblique muscle, which makes these muscles more effective when activated, as is the case on ipsilateral head tilt (part of the ocular counter-roll mechanism), lessening
the expected increase in hyperdeviation. Similarly, in our patients with mixed fusion, the vergence-adapted “paretic” SOM and contralateral superior rectus muscle are activated on
ipsilateral and contralateral tilt, respectively, lessening the hyperdeviation in both directions. In the other seven patients, however, the vergence-adapted ipsilateral inferior rectus
muscle and contralateral superior rectus muscle are activated on contralateral tilt, accentuating the BHTTD.

Conclusion Depending upon the specific muscles used for vertical fusion, the BHTTD is decreased or increased. The presence of a large BHTTD points to lingering or persisting fusional
tonus involving the vertical rectus muscles. The lack of a positive BHTT does not rule out the diagnosis of SOP, but rather may be caused by lingering or persevering fusional tonus involving
the oblique muscles. Performing the BHTT after a patch test for a minimum of 30 minutes may be necessary to reveal the BHTTD, supporting the diagnosis of SOP.
Successful Late Treatment of Orbital Infantile Haemangiomas in Two Teenagers with Topical Transcutaneous Timolol Maleate 0.5% Alone
Authors: Hildebrand Göran Darius , Sipkova Zuzana
Published: October 2022

We previously described the first successful treatment of deep periocular and, subsequently, orbital infantile haemangiomas (IH) with topical transcutaneous timolol maleate 0.5% (TM 0.5%) alone as the first-line treatment in the acute proliferative phase in infancy. It is not known whether orbital IH with persistent proptosis in later years, untreated in infancy, would still respond to TM 0.5% treatment as well. To our best knowledge, we here present the first reports of the successful late treatment of persistent orbital IH with topical timolol maleate 0.5% applied to the skin overlying the orbital IH in two teenagers. Case 1 was an 11-year-old girl with proptosis measuring 4 mm before and 7 mm after Valsalva manoeuvre that diminished to 1 mm after topical treatment. Case 2 was a 10-year-old girl with 2 mm (before) and 4 mm proptosis (after Valsalva) that decreased to 0 mm proptosis with topical treatment. The time to resolution was 19 months (case 1) and 13 months (case 2). The treatment dose was 3 drops of TM 0.5% applied an average of 1.94 (case 1) and two times daily (case 2). In comparison to proptosis, resolution of periorbital swelling required less treatment time. There was no recurrence of either proptosis or periorbital swelling 1 year after stopping treatment in either case. The findings indicate that beta-blockers are effective not just in the proliferative but also in the late involutional phase in older children. No adverse clinical effects were noted throughout treatment in either case. The presence of increased proptosis with a Valsalva manoeuvre predicts a significant persistent vascular compartment in the orbital IH and may thus serve as a simple predictive clinical sign of likely treatment success. We recommend that a trial with this well-tolerated treatment form is considered in persistent cases of orbital IH, especially in the presence of enhanced proptosis with a Valsalva manoeuvre.
Development and Validation of a GC-FID Method for the Quantitation of 20 Different Acidic and Neutral Cannabinoids
Authors: Gul Waseem , Ibrahim Elsayed A. , Gul Sharjeel W. , Shahzadi Iram , Radwan Mohamed M. , Chandra Suman , Lata Hemant , ElSohly Mahmoud A.
Published: October 2022

For decades, Cannabis sativa had been illegal to sell or consume around the world, including in the United States. However, in light of the recent 2018 Farm Bill and the legalization of hemp across the US, various cannabis preparations have flooded the market, making it essential to be able to quantitate the levels of the different acidic and neutral cannabinoids in C. sativa and to have a complete cannabinoid profile of the different chemovars of the cannabis plant. A GC-FID method was developed and validated for the analysis of 20 acidic and neutral cannabinoids as trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives. The analyzed cannabinoids include cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabinolic acid (CBNA), cannabielsoic acid (CBEA), cannabicyclolic acid (CBLA), cannabichromenic acid (CBCA), trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid (Δ9-THCVA), trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (Δ9-THCAA), cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabidivarin (CBDV), trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabichromene (CBC), trans-Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC), trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabinol (CBN), cannabicitran (CBT), and cannabielsoin (CBE). The method limit of detection (LOD) was as low as 0.1 µg/mL, while the limit of quantitation ranged from 0.25 µg/mL to 0.5 µg/mL. The precision (%RSD) was < 10%, while trueness ranged from 90 – 107%. The developed method is simple, accurate, and sensitive for the quantitation of all 20 acidic and neutral cannabinoids. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to the quantitation of the cannabinoids in different cannabis chemovars grown at the University of Mississippi.
Pacemaker after Sutureless and Rapid-Deployment Prostheses: A Progress Report from the SURD-IR
Authors: Pollari Francesco , Berretta Paolo , Albertini Alberto , Carrel Thierry , Teoh Kevin , Meuris Bart , Villa Emmanuel , Kappert Utz , Andreas Martin , Solinas Marco , Misfeld Martin , Savini Carlo , Fiore Antonio , Shrestha Malakh , Santarpino Giuseppe , Martinelli Gian Luca , Mignosa Carmelo , Glauber Mattia , Yan Tristan , Fischlein Theodor , Di Eusanio Marco
Published: October 2022

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the need for postoperative permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) following sutureless and rapid-deployment aortic valve replacement (SuRD-AVR) in the context of a progress report from a large multicenter international registry (SURD-IR).

Methods We retrospectively analyzed 4,166 patients who underwent SuRD-AVR between 2008 and 2019. The primary outcome was the need for PPI before discharge. The study population was analyzed separately according to the implanted prostheses (Su cohort and RD cohort). Each cohort was divided into two groups based on the operation date: an early group (“EG” = 2008–2016) and a late group (“LG” = 2017–2019).

Results The rate of PPI decreased significantly in the Su cohort over time (EG = 10.8% vs LG = 6.3%, p < 0.001). In the Su cohort, a decrease in age, risk profile, and incidence of bicuspid aortic valve, increased use of anterior right thoracotomy, reduction of cardiopulmonary bypass time and of associated procedures, and more frequent use of smaller prostheses were observed over time. In the RD cohort, the rate of PPI was stable over time (EG = 8.8% vs LG = 9.3%, p = 0.8). In this cohort, a younger age, lower risk profile, and higher incidence of concomitant septal myectomy were observed over time.

Conclusion Our analysis showed a significant decrease in the PPI rate in patients who underwent Su-AVR over time. Patient selection as well as surgical improvements and a more accurate sizing could be correlated with this phenomenon. The RD cohort revealed no significant differences either in patient's characteristics or in PPI rate between the two time periods.
Omental Flap for Complex Sternal Wounds and Mediastinal Infection Following Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Li Jing , Stadlbauer Andrea , Floerchinger Bernhard , Song Zhiyang , Goetz Markus , Lunz Dirk , Schmid Christof
Published: October 2022

Introduction Omental flap (OF) is a traditional surgical option to counteract severe postcardiotomy mediastinal infection and to cover extensive sternal defects. We reviewed our experience with omental flap transfer (OFT) in various clinical circumstances, in which omentoplasty may be considered by cardiac surgeons.

Methods Twenty-one patients, who underwent OFT from January 2012 to December 2021, were studied. The main indication was treatment of infected foreign material implants including vascular grafts and ventricular assist devices or prevention of its infection (16 patients). In five patients, an OFT was used to cure mediastinitis following deep sternal wound infection after median sternotomy.

Results All patients had a high surgical risk with 3 ± 1.9 previous sternotomies and a mean Euro Score II of 55.0 ± 20.1. OF was successful in its prophylactic or therapeutic purpose in all patients, no complications related to the operative procedure were noted, that is, no early or late flap failure and no herniation of abdominal organs occurred. In-hospital mortality was six patients as three patients each died from multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and cerebral hemorrhage. All fifteen patients discharged demonstrated rapid recovery, complete wound healing without fistula, and no late gastrointestinal complications. The mean follow-up of 18 months was uneventful.

Conclusion OFT seems to be an excellent solution for extensive mediastinal and deep sternal wound infections.
Artificial synapse network demonstrates plasticity behaviors
Authors: Johnson-Groh Mara
Published: October 2022

Connected gold nanogap artificial synapses were able to perform synaptic functions for the first time.
Gas scintillation mitigation in gas Cherenkov detectors for inertial confinement fusion (invited)
Authors: Geppert-Kleinrath Hermann , Kim Yongho , Meaney Kevin , Rubery Michael , Carrera Jorge , Mariscal Eddie
Published: October 2022

Gas Cherenkov detectors provide a time resolved measurement of the fusion burn in inertial confinement fusion experiments. The fusion rate delivers critical benchmark figures, such as burn width and bang time. Recent detector improvements pushed temporal resolution to 10 ps to make burn width measurements on igniting targets possible. First high temporal resolution measurements using CO2 gas fills had a background signal with a long decay length (tail), which was caused by gas scintillation. This gas scintillation limits the ability of the detector to resolve short burn width and high frequency features in the fusion rate measurements. A thorough investigation of the cause of the tail and mitigation options for gas scintillation is presented here. As a near-term resolution, neon gas is being used to extract fusion burn histories. Paths forward for the next generation of gas Cherenkov detectors are identified including the usage of oxygen as a Cherenkov medium.
Investigation on the hydrodynamic load fluctuations through passive flexible leading edge
Authors: Brousseau P. , Benaouicha M. , Guillou S.
Published: October 2022

The study presents a numerical investigation of two-dimensional partly flexible plate dynamics. The structure is immersed in a turbulent fluid flow with a Reynolds number based on its chord of 104. The plate is animated by a forced pitching movement. The flexibility effects of the plate's leading edge are analyzed, as it deforms under the hydrodynamic loads. The fluid–structure interaction effects are considered by solving a coupled problem using a strong implicit procedure. Both fluid and solid dynamics are solved. The numerical results of the present study are validated with experimental ones with a good agreement between both approaches for the lower reduced frequencies. Differences are observable for high frequency that could be imputable to the three-dimensional aspects of the experiment. It has been shown that with an appropriate choice of the rigidity of the structure, it is possible to mitigate the unsteady load fluctuations without affecting the load mean values too much. Indeed, at low pitching frequency (drag mode), the leading-edge vortex generation is impacted by the flexible leading edge. As a result, it tends to decrease the hydrodynamic force fluctuation amplitude without really impacting the mean force value. Conversely, at high pitching frequency (propulsive mode), it was found that a flexible leading edge tends to increase both the magnitudes of the hydrodynamic forces and their mean values. Finally, it is shown that the load fluctuation mitigation, or amplification, is maximum for a specific flexibility value depending on the pitching frequency.
Turbulent wakes in a non-uniformly stratified environment
Authors: Nadaf E. , Brown J. M. , Radko T.
Published: October 2022

This study explores the behavior of turbulent wakes generated by a sphere propagating with constant speed in a non-uniformly stratified fluid. The investigation is based on a series of high-resolution direct numerical simulations in which the background stratification is systematically varied. We consider one linear and three nonlinear density profiles and discover that even modest, spatially localized non-uniformities of stratification can profoundly influence the wake dynamics, structure, and evolution. The analysis of microstructure signatures shows that wakes in non-uniformly stratified fluids tend to be more spread horizontally, and internal waves are much stronger than in linear stratification. Simulations performed with Gaussian perturbations are characterized by a vertically asymmetric energy distribution, which is attributed to internal wave reflections from low-gradient regions. Using microstructure decay rates, we estimate the effective persistence period of wakes, showing that it substantially increases with the increasing Froude number. We also find that wakes persist much longer in high-gradient profiles, whereas weak local gradients can substantially reduce the wake longevity.
Manifestations of static and dynamic heterogeneity in single molecule translational measurements in glassy systems
Authors: Mandel Nicole L. , Rehman Talha , Kaufman Laura J.
Published: October 2022

Rotational–translational decoupling in systems near Tg, in which translational diffusion is apparently enhanced relative to rotation, has been observed in ensemble and single molecule experiments and has been linked to dynamic heterogeneity. Here, simulations of single molecules experiencing homogeneous diffusion and static and dynamic heterogeneous diffusion are performed to clarify the contributions of heterogeneity to such enhanced translational diffusion. Results show that time-limited trajectories broaden the distribution of diffusion coefficients in the presence of homogeneous diffusion but not when physically reasonable degrees of static heterogeneity are present. When dynamic heterogeneity is introduced, measured diffusion coefficients uniformly increase relative to input diffusion coefficients, and the widths of output distributions decrease, providing support for the idea that dynamic heterogeneity can drive apparent translational enhancement. Among simulations with dynamic heterogeneity, when the frequency of dynamic exchange is correlated with the initial diffusion coefficient, the measured diffusion coefficient behavior as a function of observation time matches that seen experimentally, the only set of simulations explored in which this occurs. Taken together with experimental results, this suggests that enhanced translational diffusion in glassy systems occurs through dynamic exchange consistent with wide underlying distributions of diffusion coefficients and exchange coupled to local spatiotemporal dynamics.
A polarization-insensitive infrared broadband achromatic metalens consisting of all-silicon anisotropic microstructures
Authors: Xia Chunsheng , Liu Mingze , Wang Junmin , Wang Yilin , Zhang Song , Lin Peicheng , Xu Ting
Published: October 2022

Infrared lenses have a wide range of applications in thermal imaging and detection. Here, by designing a single layer metasurface consisting of anisotropic microstructures, we experimentally demonstrate a polarization-insensitive long-wavelength infrared achromatic metalens. The focal lengths of the fabricated metalens with a numerical aperture of 0.33 remain unchanged and maintain diffraction-limited performance for the incident wavelength varying from 8.5 to 11.5 μm, demonstrating the elimination of chromatic aberration with 30% operation bandwidth. We envision this metalens may pave the way to the development of ultracompact achromatic thermal imaging systems.
Isothermal and non-isothermal spreading of a viscous droplet on a solid surface in total wetting condition
Authors: Bange Prathamesh G. , Upadhyay Gaurav , Patil Nagesh D. , Bhardwaj Rajneesh
Published: October 2022

We study the isothermal and non-isothermal spreading of viscous silicone oil droplets on a glass surface in total wetting condition. In particular, the effects of viscosity, impact velocity, and substrate temperature on the spreading dynamics are reported. We employ high-speed photography to record time-varying droplet shapes from the side. An infrared camera maps the temperature distribution on the liquid–gas interface. In the isothermal inertial-capillary or early regime, the initial spreading is driven by inertial forces, and kinetic energy converts into surface energy and gets dissipated by bulk viscosity. The later stage is governed by the balance of surface energy and viscosity dissipation, i.e., capillary–viscous or late regime. The characteristics timescales of the two regimes are obtained using scaling arguments. The measured crossover time from early to late spreading regimes for different cases of impact velocity and viscosity corroborates with a scaling analysis developed in the present work. Measurements confirm the value of exponents of established power-law spreading with time in early and late regimes r∼tn. At a larger substrate temperature, the spreading magnitude is larger for droplets with larger viscosity and is explained by the reduction of viscous dissipation by heating the droplet. However, in the case of non-isothermal spreading of a low viscosity droplet, recoiling after the early spreading reduces the spreading magnitude compared to the isothermal case. We explain the recoiling and spreading rates obtained in different cases. We analyze unsteady heat transfer between the droplet and substrate by combining measurements and a numerical model.
The fourth-order algebraic diagrammatic construction scheme for the polarization propagator
Authors: Leitner J. , Dempwolff A. L. , Dreuw A.
Published: October 2022

Until today, perturbation-theoretical consistent algebraic diagrammatic construction (ADC) schemes for the polarization propagator had been derived and implemented up to third order. They have turned out to be versatile and reliable ab initio single-reference methods for the quantum chemical investigation of electronic transitions as well as excited-state properties. Here we present, for the first time, the derivation of consistent fourth-order ADC(4) schemes exploiting novel techniques of automated equation and code generation. The accuracies of the resulting ADC(4) excitation energies have been benchmarked against recent high-level, near exact reference data. The mean absolute error for singly and doubly excited states turns out to be smaller than 0.1 and 0.5 eV, respectively. These developments open also new avenues toward highly accurate ADC methods for electron-detached and attached states.
Multiple forms of working memory emerge from synapse–astrocyte interactions in a neuron–glia network model
Authors: De Pittà Maurizio , Brunel Nicolas
Published: October 2022

Persistent activity in populations of neurons, time-varying activity across a neural population, or activity-silent mechanisms carried out by hidden internal states of the neural population have been proposed as different mechanisms of working memory (WM). Whether these mechanisms could be mutually exclusive or occur in the same neuronal circuit remains, however, elusive, and so do their biophysical underpinnings. While WM is traditionally regarded to depend purely on neuronal mechanisms, cortical networks also include astrocytes that can modulate neural activity. We propose and investigate a network model that includes both neurons and glia and show that glia–synapse interactions can lead to multiple stable states of synaptic transmission. Depending on parameters, these interactions can lead in turn to distinct patterns of network activity that can serve as substrates for WM.
Morphological instability and roughening of growing 3D bacterial colonies
Authors: Martínez-Calvo Alejandro , Bhattacharjee Tapomoy , Bay R. Kōnane , Luu Hao Nghi , Hancock Anna M. , Wingreen Ned S. , Datta Sujit S.
Published: October 2022

How do growing bacterial colonies get their shapes? While colony morphogenesis is well studied in two dimensions, many bacteria grow as large colonies in three-dimensional (3D) environments, such as gels and tissues in the body or subsurface soils and sediments. Here, we describe the morphodynamics of large colonies of bacteria growing in three dimensions. Using experiments in transparent 3D granular hydrogel matrices, we show that dense colonies of four different species of bacteria generically become morphologically unstable and roughen as they consume nutrients and grow beyond a critical size—eventually adopting a characteristic branched, broccoli-like morphology independent of variations in the cell type and environmental conditions. This behavior reflects a key difference between two-dimensional (2D) and 3D colonies; while a 2D colony may access the nutrients needed for growth from the third dimension, a 3D colony inevitably becomes nutrient limited in its interior, driving a transition to unstable growth at its surface. We elucidate the onset of the instability using linear stability analysis and numerical simulations of a continuum model that treats the colony as an “active fluid” whose dynamics are driven by nutrient-dependent cellular growth. We find that when all dimensions of the colony substantially exceed the nutrient penetration length, nutrient-limited growth drives a 3D morphological instability that recapitulates essential features of the experimental observations. Our work thus provides a framework to predict and control the organization of growing colonies—as well as other forms of growing active matter, such as tumors and engineered living materials—in 3D environments.
FLASH X-ray spares intestinal crypts from pyroptosis initiated by cGAS-STING activation upon radioimmunotherapy
Authors: Shi Xiaolin , Yang Yiwei , Zhang Wei , Wang Jianxin , Xiao Dexin , Ren Huangge , Wang Tingting , Gao Feng , Liu Zhen , Zhou Kui , Li Peng , Zhou Zheng , Zhang Peng , Shen Xuming , Liu Yu , Zhao Jianheng , Wang Zhongmin , Liu Fenju , Shao Chunlin , Wu Dai , Zhang Haowen
Published: October 2022

DNA-damaging treatments such as radiotherapy (RT) have become promising to improve the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors by enhancing tumor immunogenicity. However, accompanying treatment-related detrimental events in normal tissues have posed a major obstacle to radioimmunotherapy and present new challenges to the dose delivery mode of clinical RT. In the present study, ultrahigh dose rate FLASH X-ray irradiation was applied to counteract the intestinal toxicity in the radioimmunotherapy. In the context of programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) blockade, FLASH X-ray minimized mouse enteritis by alleviating CD8
+
T cell-mediated deleterious immune response compared with conventional dose rate (CONV) irradiation. Mechanistically, FLASH irradiation was less efficient than CONV X-ray in eliciting cytoplasmic double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and in activating cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) in the intestinal crypts, resulting in the suppression of the cascade feedback consisting of CD8
+
T cell chemotaxis and gasdermin E-mediated intestinal pyroptosis in the case of PD-L1 blocking. Meanwhile, FLASH X-ray was as competent as CONV RT in boosting the antitumor immune response initiated by cGAS activation and achieved equal tumor control in metastasis burdens when combined with anti–PD-L1 administration. Together, the present study revealed an encouraging protective effect of FLASH X-ray upon the normal tissue without compromising the systemic antitumor response when combined with immunological checkpoint inhibitors, providing the rationale for testing this combination as a clinical application in radioimmunotherapy.
Photoacoustic image-guided biomimetic nanoparticles targeting rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Chen Jianhai , Zeng Silue , Xue Qiang , Hong Yuchuan , Liu Liangjian , Song Liang , Fang Chihua , Zhang Hai , Wang Benguo , Sedgwick Adam C. , Zhang Peng , Sessler Jonathan L. , Liu Chengbo , Chen Jingqin
Published: October 2022

The high level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) microenvironment (RAM) and its persistent inflammatory nature can promote damage to joints, bones, and the synovium. Targeting strategies that integrate effective RAM regulation with imaging-based monitoring could lead to improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of RA. Here, we report the combined use of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs
T/I
) and Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBNPs) to silence the expression of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α/IL-6 and scavenge the ROS associated with RAM. To enhance the in vitro and in vivo biological stability, biocompatibility, and targeting capability of the siRNAs
T/I
and PBNPs, macrophage membrane vesicles were used to prepare biomimetic nanoparticles, M@P-siRNAs
T/I
. The resulting constructs were found to suppress tumor necrosis factor-α/interleukin-6 expression and overcome the hypoxic nature of RAM, thus alleviating RA-induced joint damage in a mouse model. The M@P-siRNAs
T/I
of this study could be monitored via near-infrared photoacoustic (PA) imaging. Moreover, multispectral PA imaging without the need for labeling permitted the real-time evaluation of M@P-siRNAs
T/I
as a putative RA treatment. Clinical microcomputed tomography and histological analysis confirmed the effectiveness of the treatment. We thus suggest that macrophage-biomimetic M@P-siRNAs
T/I
and their analogs assisted by PA imaging could provide a new strategy for RA diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring.
Bacterial catabolism of acetovanillone, a lignin-derived compound
Authors: Dexter Gara N. , Navas Laura E. , Grigg Jason C. , Bajwa Harbir , Levy-Booth David J. , Liu Jie , Louie Nathan A. , Nasseri Seyed A. , Jang Soo-Kyeong , Renneckar Scott , Eltis Lindsay D. , Mohn William W.
Published: October 2022

Bacterial catabolic pathways have considerable potential as industrial biocatalysts for the valorization of lignin, a major component of plant-derived biomass. Here, we describe a pathway responsible for the catabolism of acetovanillone, a major component of several industrial lignin streams.
Rhodococcus rhodochrous
GD02 was previously isolated for growth on acetovanillone. A high-quality genome sequence of GD02 was generated. Transcriptomic analyses revealed a cluster of eight genes up-regulated during growth on acetovanillone and 4-hydroxyacetophenone, as well as a two-gene cluster up-regulated during growth on acetophenone. Bioinformatic analyses predicted that the hydroxyphenylethanone (Hpe) pathway proceeds via phosphorylation and carboxylation, before β-elimination yields vanillate from acetovanillone or 4-hydroxybenzoate from 4-hydroxyacetophenone. Consistent with this prediction, the kinase, HpeHI, phosphorylated acetovanillone and 4-hydroxyacetophenone. Furthermore, HpeCBA, a biotin-dependent enzyme, catalyzed the ATP-dependent carboxylation of 4-phospho-acetovanillone but not acetovanillone. The carboxylase’s specificity for 4-phospho-acetophenone (
k
cat
/
K
M
= 34 ± 2 mM
−1
s
−1
) was approximately an order of magnitude higher than for 4-phospho-acetovanillone. HpeD catalyzed the efficient dephosphorylation of the carboxylated products. GD02 grew on a preparation of pine lignin produced by oxidative catalytic fractionation, depleting all of the acetovanillone, vanillin, and vanillate. Genomic and metagenomic searches indicated that the Hpe pathway occurs in a relatively small number of bacteria. This study facilitates the design of bacterial strains for biocatalytic applications by identifying a pathway for the degradation of acetovanillone.
Speech competence and speech performance
Authors: Sun Peijian Paul , Zhang Lawrence Jun
Published: October 2022

This study examined Chinese-as-a-second-language (L2 Chinese) learners’ speech production ability from a dual perspective: speech competence and speech performance. A total of 118 valid L2 Chinese learners finished two developed tests in this study, namely, the Chinese speech competence test and the Chinese speech performance test. The results suggested that L2 Chinese learners’ speech competence and speech performance, as a twofold rendering of their L2 speech production ability, not only showed a significant positive correlation with a large effect size (Pearson’sr = .598) but also significantly predicted each other with a large effect size (Cohenf2 = .555). However, such large effect sizes of the correlation and the prediction between speech competence and speech performance were not supported among the upper-intermediate L2 Chinese learners. This suggested that the development between speech competence and speech performance may be more unbalanced among the upper-intermediate L2 Chinese learners compared with their advanced counterparts. The study adds evidence to the call for a multidimensional evaluation of L2 speech production ability. It is hoped that the dual approach (i.e., speech competence and speech performance) proposed in the present study may contribute to a more comprehensive evaluation of learners’ L2 Chinese speech production ability. Consequently, classroom-based teaching can be tailored to facilitate a more balanced development of L2 Chinese learners’ speech competence and speech performance.
Fish waste: Valorisation methods on a local scale
Authors: Essabiri H , Damrani R , Boumalkha O , Hachi T , Laiboud C , Abba E H
Published: October 2022

Fish waste management is being neglected in most parts of the world. Unfortunately, with the worldwide increase of demand, this has generated many environmental impacts. This negligence can be traced to the ridicule of the value of this resource as well as the many difficulties related to its valorization. This work suggests the most efficient methods to valorize fish waste using biological and ecological means. With minimal investments so that they can easily be adopted by local farmers and landowners. These methods can either use bacterial action such as composting to create bio-fertilizer, ensilage to manufacture liquid silage or lastly, the production of fish feed to minimize the cost and the detrimental effects of fish farming.
Evaluation of the anti-Candida albicans and anti-Cryptococcus neoformans activity of the essential oils of three Moroccan medicinal plants
Authors: Lahlou Y , El Amraoui B , El Wahidi M , Moujabbir S , Aboukhalaf A , Bamhaoud T
Published: October 2022

The results reported in this study provide new information about the antifungal activity of these medicinal plants and suggest their uses in the high incidence of fungal infections caused by Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans is due to several factors as resistance to antifungals, a fungistatic than the fungicidal effect of these drugs and the side effects of synthetic antifungals. Then, the search for new sources of molecules effective against pathogenic fungi is a major objective. In this context, the screening of antifungal activity of essential oils of three medicinal plants from Morocco (Lavandula angustifolia, Salvia officinalis, and Rosmarinus officinalis) has been carried out against C. albicans and C. neoformans, using Disk-diffusion assay and micro-dilution method. The essential oils are obtained by Hydrodistillation, the characterization of the most active essential oil was carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results show that L. angustifolia essential oil is the only oil that showed strong fungicidal activity against C. neoformans and against C. albicans. The FTIR analysis of this oil showed the existence of several antifungal compounds, mainly linalool, linalyl acetate, terpinene-4-ol, carvacrol, and citral. S. officinalis essential oil has a fungicidal effect against C. neoformans, but a fungistatic effect against C. albicans. This activity is due to the presence of camphor, 1,8-cineole, and limonene. R. officinalis essential oil showed a fungistatic effect depending on its main chemical components, including eucalyptol, limonene, cymene, α-pinene, and camphor. The results reported in this study provide new information about the antifungal activity of these medicinal plants and suggests their uses in the extraction of active principle for the synthesis of new antifungal drugs.
The problem of access to drinking water in the city of Guercif (Northeast of Morocco): challenges and prospects
Authors: Elyaagoubi M , Aafir M , Elallaoui A
Published: October 2022

In a climatic context, such as that one in our study area, water is a major environmental issue. The combination of several significant causes already explains the scarcity of water in the town of Guercif: lack of rainfall, climate change, and overexploitation of groundwater. In addition to this structural data, it should be remembered that the sustained dynamics of the area from the point of view of urban planning, demographics, as well as industrial and agricultural development accentuate the demand for a matter as vital as water. The need for water in Guercif will follow the trend of population growth and water-consuming activities. In this context, the deficit recorded during 2019 for the water supply, threatened the urban development of a city newly promoted to the status of the chief town of the province. This study was conducted in two phases: an exploratory phase marked by semi-directive interviews with institutional actors, the service concerned with the production and distribution of drinking water in Guercif, complemented by the second phase of a survey with a sample of heads of households. A mass of data from the field surveys during the summer of 2019 guided the analysis of the impacts of the water shortage in Guercif, as well as the behavior of the urban population towards water consumption and saving. This study describes the satisfaction scales of a sample of urban households based on a questionnaire. The results obtained from the surveys carried out during 2019 confirm the vulnerability of the water sector in Guercif, where the local water potential remains largely dependent on external contributions.
The impact of the precipitation on the vegetation and ecological quality in the River of Oued Guigou, Morocco
Authors: Zerkani S. , Abba E.H. , Zerkan H. , Zair T. , Zine N-E.
Published: October 2022

Understanding the impact of climate change on vegetation is essential to manage a new adaptation strategy and preserve the ecology impacted by the flow of suspended matter towards the watercourse. The main purposeof the present article is to study the relationship between the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the precipitation (P), in the Guigou basin, in the Middle Atlas of Morocco. The analysis of the relationship between NDVI and P was carried out in four phases using GIS and remote sensing tools. The NDVI was derived from Landsat TM 5 (1990), LANDSAT ETM + 7 (2000), LANDSAT TM 5 (2010), and LANDSAT OLI 8 (2020). The data on precipitation were homogenized on 2 monitoring stations of AitKabbach and Aitaissa, from 1990 to 2020, using the regional vector method and the variability. The response of vegetation to climatic parameters was represented using zonal statistics. The results show a decrease in annual precipitation during the period (1990-2020) with an increase in the year 2020. In the annual scale, linear regression reported a positive relationship between NDVI and precipitation. Thus, during the study period, the vegetation growth decreased by approximately 90%, between the years 2000 and 2010, in response to the observed climatic variation. The growth of vegetation is affected by climatic variability, in particular the precipitation. Consequently, the pedo-climatic context, favorable to erosive action and runoff, generates the transfer of eroded particles responsible for the clogging of spawning grounds, where salmonid eggs are deposited, in the Guigou wadi.
Effects of meteorological droughts on water resources in Northern Morocco: Case study of the Martil watershed
Authors: El-Khantoury I , Obda K , Achiban H
Published: October 2022

Recent droughts in the Northern Morocco have highlighted the increasing vulnerability of water resources to this natural hazard, with reduced potential for drinking water supply in the city of Tetouan and its coastal area. Therefore, the main objectives of this work are: the identification of dry events that affected the Martil watershed on the one hand, and the study of the effects of meteorological droughts on water resources on the other hand. For this purpose, a meteorological-hydrological modelling framework was adopted, using standardized precipitation index (SPI) values and the volume of surface water resources recorded at the Torreta station. The results obtained show that the last decade of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century have seen the heaviest and most critical droughts in the study area, namely the drought of 1994-95, 1998-99, 2004-05, 2006-07, 2011-12 and 2013-14. Also, water resources have been reduced by 62% to 82% during critical dry years compared to the long-term average for the period 1970-71/2014-15. Finally, this study showed that the rainfall variability is the determining factor in the fluctuations of surface water resources at the Martil watershed because it explains 84% of their total variance.
Panimbang Coastal Area Planning based on Disaster Mitigation
Authors: Heriati A , Solihuddin T , Marzuki M I , Arifin T , Purbani D , Husrin S , Kepel T L , Mustikasari E , Tito C K , Daulat A , Salim H L
Published: October 2022

As an attempt in the improvement of economic interest and areal quality, Sunda Strait is appointed as a National Strategic Area. The strait is quite a busy passage for commerce vessels and also acts as link between provinces. The 2018 tsunami event that affect this area has reminded us the importance of coastal area planning based on disaster mitigation. Panimbang District is one of the areas heavily affected by the tsunami, where the population reside and having their livelihoods around the coast, hence coastal area planning of Panimbang is very much needed. This research was conducted to see the condition of Panimbang District coastal area after the tsunami and how the existing national planning policies is in sync with planning policies at regional level in terms of disaster mitigation. Results of spatial analysis show that coastal areas have not adapted and mitigated optimally, we can see some settlements and tourist areas around coastal area are not heeding the policy on protecting coastal areas, this could happened due to lack of law enforcement or lack of socialization to the local community. This paper might provide recommendation to the local government in arranging coastal protection to keep the residential areas and essential infrastructure safe by making the structural and non-structural approaches.
Perception and Factors associated with Zero Waste Lifestyle among University Students in Medical Faculty, Udayana University, Bali
Authors: Maulana Salma Arifah , Utami Dwipayanti Ni Made
Published: October 2022

Zero waste is a concept of managing waste in sustainable way by minimizing the waste to the minimum level. The adoption of this concept in Indonesia remain limited which causing overburden to landfills and the environment. University students have a good access to updated information on Zero Waste, thus are more ready in accepting the concept. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior, this study explored zero waste behavior and psychosocial factors affecting the behavior. A cross-sectional design is applied for online survey on 122 university students enrolled in Medical Faculty of Udayana University, who were selected using systematic random sampling. Information includes demographic characteristics, behavior, attitude, perceived benefit, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and moral value relevant to Zero Waste concept. Bivariate and multivariate analysis were performed using simple logistic regression and binary logistic regression. Results show that 51.6% of respondents have good behavior regarding zero waste and 50.8% have positive attitude towards zero waste lifestyle. Bivariate analysis shows that students with high perceived benefit (OR 2.12), positive subjective norms (OR 2.36), less perception on barriers (OR 2.63) and positive moral value (OR 2.37) are more likely to perform zero waste behavior (p<0.05). From multivariate analysis, factors that associated with good behavior are gender (AOR=3.68; 95%CI=1.40-9.70), access to information (AOR=2.39; 95%CI=1.09-5.26), and moral values (AOR=2.23; 95%CI=1.03-4.81). These findings indicate that only half respondents adopting zero waste concept. Education and promotion targeting young generation in shaping values and norms towards the environments can support the adoption of zero waste lifestyle.
Fostering the Integrated Coastal Zone Plan for Derawan Island Towards After Covid 19 Pandemic
Authors: Putri Destyariani Liana , Nurmawati  , Harahap Rima Gusriana , Pangestu Joelianto , Arifiyanto Muhammad Adhy , Ridwan Muhammad Wahyu
Published: October 2022

Derawan Islands is a marine tourism destination located in Berau Regency, East Kalimantan Province. The archipelago has four main islands which are including Derawan Island, Kakaban Island, Maratua Island, and Sangalaki Island. To highlight the potential of each island, it is important also to develop the island according to the integrated tourism system to be able to optimize the existing eco-tourism potential and also support economic equity for coastal communities. This integration will then be known as the concept of integrated coastal zone management. In addition, with the condition of the COVID-19 Pandemic, it is also necessary to review the impact of this pandemic on the sustainability of Derawan Islands tourism. For this purpose, the SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and Threat) analysis is expected to produce an appropriate development strategy so that it can also assist local stakeholders and the community in making decisions.
Extreme heat vulnerability assessment in Indonesia at the provincial level
Authors: Setiawati Martiwi Diah , Jarzebski Marcin Pawel , Fukushi Kensuke
Published: October 2022

Over the last decade, the inevitable rise in temperature has resulted in more extreme heat events in Indonesia, despite very little research being conducted to investigate the heat-related vulnerability of the exposed population. The extreme heat vulnerability index (EHVI) was evaluated in this study to identify the most vulnerable districts to extreme heat events. We used both physical and sociodemographic to assess exposure, population sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. A multivariate analysis was applied from eight indicators to determine the extreme heat vulnerability in the chosen region, namely North Sumatra, East Java and Bali. The EHVI was computed by adding the normalized heat indicators and factor scores from the multivariate analysis. Our findings show that the most vulnerable populations are concentrated in the urban and coastal regions. The sources of vulnerability differed among the selected areas, with urbanization and population density increasing vulnerability in urban areas. These findings are helpful in identifying districts vulnerable to extreme heat and assisting regulatory bodies in developing effective adaptation and preparedness strategies to increase population resilience to excessive heat.
Strengthening the Agroclimatology Analysis against Local Wisdom Paddy Planting Time at Coastal Area in Indonesia
Authors: Pramudia Aris , Misnawati  , Awanis  , Sabur Abdul , Hidayanto Muhamad , Sri Ratmini Niluh Putu , Dewi Dina Omayani , Agustini Sri , Fiana Yossita , Bhermana Andy
Published: October 2022

Coastal paddy fields are areas that have distinctive land characteristics that affected local wisdom in the paddy cropping calendar. The local wisdom of the coastal paddy planting schedule is a cultural heritage that is aimed to accelerate the planting time, to minimize the risk, to adapt with the optimum planting time or to implement the local paddy varieties. This paper discusses the agro-climatology analysis to provide scientific strengthening to the local wisdom of the coastal paddy cropping calendar in Banyuasin, Kapuas, Tanah Laut, and Kutai Kertanegara Regency. The results of the analysis illustrate that the local wisdom of paddy planting time in Banyuasin is carried out before the beginning of the rainy season to avoid damage when salty water runoff occurs through rob at the critical paddy growth phase. The paddy planting time in Kapuas is done at the peak of the rainy season to avoid acidity poisoning during paddy growth. The paddy planting time in Tanah Laut is carried out before the start of the rainy season to provide the planting season duration with uses the long-lived local varieties. The paddy planting time in Kutai Kertanegara is done at the peak of the rainy season to avoid high salinity levels that have the potential to interfere with paddy growth and production. The information of the rainy season prediction and agro-climatology analysis provides an important role in determining the planting schedule according to local wisdom and rainfall condition in the four districts.
Environmental monitoring and policy for sustainable public facilities: case study of a hospital in Yogyakarta
Authors: Siswoyo Eko , Mai Nurul Hardina A.
Published: October 2022

Sustainability is one of the most important issues in the recent year for almost all country in the world. Good environmental monitoring and policy is needed to meet the sustainability. Hospital is one of the most important public facilities, especially during pandemic situation. Therefore, environmental monitoring for this building is necessary. The purpose of this research is to know the monitoring result of a hospital in Yogyakarta by using government regulation. Effluent of wastewater (BOD, COD, TSS, TDS, Coliform, etc.), ambient and emission air quality (SO2, NO2, CO, particulate, etc.) and solid waste management are investigated periodically by using standard regulation. The findings of the present study showed that almost all tested parameters are under the permitted level of the local regulation (Yogyakarta Province). Best practice of the hospital should be considered as a good contribution in term of sustainability.