bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring relationships between parental stress, coping, and psychological outcomes for parents of infants with CHD
Authors: Casey Tríona , Matthews Catherine , Lavelle Marie , Kenny Damien , Hevey David
Published: September 2024

Objective:

This study aimed to explore relationships between parental stress, coping, and outcomes for parents of infants with CHD, via observational approach reflecting domains of the Parental Stress and Resilience in CHD (PSRCHD) model.

Methods:

Fifty-five parents of 45 infants with CHD completed questionnaires with measures of parental stress, Problem-Focused Coping (PFC), Emotion-Focused Coping (EFC), Avoidant Coping (AC), mental health (symptoms of anxiety and symptoms of depression), post-traumatic growth (PTG) and quality of life (QoL). Demographic and infant clinical data were obtained.

Results:

Parental stress showed significant small to medium positive correlations with MH and PTG, but no significant correlations with QoL. EFC and AC showed significant small to medium positive correlations with MH, and medium negative correlations with parental QoL. EFC and PFC had significant small to medium correlations with PTG. PFC and AC had significant small to medium correlations with infant QoL. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that parental symptoms of anxiety, PTG, parental QoL, infant QoL were significantly predicted by models comprising of parental stress, coping styles, and clinical controls (adjusted R2 = 13.0–47.9%, p range < 0.001–.048), with results for parental symptoms of depression falling marginally above significance (adjusted R2 = 12.3%, p = .056).

Conclusions:

Parental stress, coping styles, and length of hospital stay are related to psychological outcomes in parents of infants with CHD. Future research may use the PSRCHD framework to assess mechanisms underlying CHD parents’ stress and coping experiences and investigate longitudinal relationships between parental factors and parent and child outcomes.
Paediatric survivors of extracorporeal life support functional outcomes at one-year follow-up
Authors: Molloy Meaghan A. , Viamonte Heather , Calamaro Jacob , Golden Cassidy , Xiang Yijin , Davis Joel , Fundora Michael P.
Published: September 2024

Objective:

To investigate functional outcomes in children who survived extracorporeal life support at 12 months follow-up post-discharge.

Background:

Some patients who require extracorporeal life support acquire significant morbidity during their hospitalisation. The Functional Status Scale is a validated tool that allows quantification of paediatric function.

Methods:

A retrospective study that included children placed on extracorporeal life support at a quaternary children’s hospital between March 2020 and October 2021 and had follow-up encounter within 12 months post-discharge.

Results:

Forty-two patients met inclusion criteria: 33% female, 93% veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO), and 12% with single ventricle anatomy. Median age was 1.7 years (interquartile range 10 days–11.9 years). Median hospital stay was 51 days (interquartile range 34–91 days), and median extracorporeal life support duration was 94 hours (interquartile range 56–142 hours). The median Functional Status Scale at discharge was 8.0 (interquartile range 6.3–8.8). The mean change in Functional Status Scale from discharge to follow-up at 9 months (n = 37) was −0.8 [95% confidence interval (CI) −1.3 to −0.4, p < 0.001] and at 12 months (n = 34) was −1 (95% confidence interval −1.5 to −0.4, p < 0.001); the most improvement was in the feeding score. New morbidity (Functional Status Scale increase of ≥3) occurred in 10 children (24%) from admission to discharge. Children with new morbidity were more likely to be younger (p = 0.01), have an underlying genetic syndrome (p = 0.02), and demonstrate evidence of neurologic injury by electroencephalogram or imaging (p = 0.05).

Conclusions:

In survivors of extracorporeal life support, the Functional Status Scale improved from discharge to 12-month follow-up, with the most improvement demonstrated in the feeding score.
Artificial intelligence-supervised vectorcardiography for the diagnosis of a young adult with abnormal origin of the right coronary artery from aorta
Authors: Özyüksel Arda , Salatzki Janek , Steen Henning
Published: September 2024

Coronary anomalies occur in 0.2% to 1.2% of the population, with the anomalous aortic origin of the coronary arteries accounting for one third of these cases. Clinical presentations can vary from asymptomatic to experiencing cardiac symptoms and sudden death, making diagnosis challenging. In this report, we present a novel artificial intelligence-supervised vectorcardiographic analysis and the subsequent successful surgical treatment of a young patient.
Ventriculocoronary connection with mitral stenosis/aortic stenosis hypoplastic left heart: a case report
Authors: Karpuk John , Solorzano Gabriel , Randall Jess
Published: September 2024

Ventriculocoronary connections develop most commonly in children with mitral stenosis/aortic atresia hypoplastic left heart. These connections can lead to myocardial ischaemia and dysfunction. We report a newborn with mitral stenosis/aortic stenosis hypoplastic left heart who endured systemic ventricular injury post-Norwood, secondary to a large ventriculocoronary fistula. He was treated medically and had favourable outcomes following bidirectional Glenn procedure.
The Precariousness of Academic Publishing in a Digital World
Authors: Saugmann Pil Maria
Published: September 2024

The world around us is growing increasingly digital and data-intensive, affecting our lives and practices as citizens and researchers in a multitude of ways. We have to ask how we ensure that academic research remains trustworthy and transparent as digitalization disrupts our practices. This article draws attention to the multifaceted nature of the challenges early-career researchers face with academic publishing in the digital era. Thus, rather than zooming in on one aspect, and losing track of the complexity of the problem, it addresses (1) the purpose of academic publishing, (2) the type of material to be published, (3) the role and use of AI and data in research, (4) the entanglement of academic publishing and research assessment, (5) the role of Open Science, and (6) what makes early-career researchers as a group different from other researchers.
Beyond brain injury: Examining the neuropsychological and psychosocial sequelae of post-traumatic epilepsy
Authors: Kuo Yun-Hsuan , Kuo Jinn-Rung , Nyam Tee-Tau Eric , Wang Che-Chuan , Su Bei-Yi
Published: September 2024

Objective:

This study investigates neuropsychological and psychosocial outcomes in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) compared to a healthy control group.

Method:

Utilizing a quasi-experimental cross-sectional design, the research involved patients with TBI and PTE referred from a Taiwanese medical center. An age- and education-matched control group of healthy adults without traumatic injuries was also recruited. The study involved analyzing retrospective medical records and applying a comprehensive suite of neuropsychological tests and psychosocial questionnaires.

Results:

Executive function measures revealed significantly reduced performance in both the TBI and PTE groups compared to controls. Specifically, the MoCA scores were lowest in the PTE group, followed by the TBI group, and highest in the controls. Measures of subjective symptomatology showed comparably elevated levels in both the TBI and PTE groups relative to controls.

Conclusion:

The research suggests that PTE may intensify the difficulties faced by individuals with TBI, but its impact on overall recovery might not be significant, considering the trajectory of the brain injury itself. Notably, the MoCA results indicate that cognitive deficits are more pronounced in PTE patients compared to those with TBI, underscoring the necessity for targeted neuropsychological assessments. Further investigation is essential to explore PTE’s broader neuropsychological and psychosocial impacts. These findings advocate for tailored care strategies that address both neuropsychological and psychosocial needs, ensuring comprehensive management of TBI and PTE.
Fighting Smart: Living Systems Theory in the US Army's Strategic Thought
Authors: Furse Thomas
Published: September 2024

This article analyzes the relationship between living systems theory (LST) and the army's military doctrine in the 1980s. General Donn Starry, Colonel Mike Malone, and Major James Cary worked with James G. Miller, the founder of LST, to make the army more efficient at fighting a Soviet invasion of Western Europe. LST conceptualized that living organisms organized matter and energy and that its components could function because they worked as a part of the whole to adapt to their environment. The article reveals how these officers employed LST as a framework to model a reciprocal relationship between individual agency and collective unity in the army's hierarchical organization. Situating this doctrinal reform in the years after the end of the draft and the mainstreaming of neoclassical economics in the 1980s, it finds that the army officers were using LST to replace Robert McNamara's mechanical strategic paradigm used in the Vietnam War.
REFERENCE DIGRAPHS OF NON-SELF-REFERENTIAL PARADOXES
Authors: HSIUNG MING
Published: September 2024

All the known non-self-referential paradoxes share a reference pattern of Yablo’s paradox in that they all necessarily contain infinitely many sentences, each of which refers to infinitely many sentences. This raises a question: Does the reference pattern of Yablo’s paradox underlie all non-self-referential paradoxes, just as the reference pattern of the liar paradox underlies all finite paradoxes? In this regard, Rabern et al. [J Philos Logic 42(5): 727–765, 2013] prove that every dangerous acyclic digraph contains infinitely many points with an infinite out-degree. Building upon their work, this paper extends Rabern et al.’s result to the first-order arithmetic language with a primitive truth predicate, proving that all reference digraphs for non-self-referential paradoxes contain infinitely many sentences of infinite out-degree (called “social sentences”). We then strengthen this result in two respects. First, among these social sentences, infinitely many appear in one ray. Second, among these social sentences, infinitely many have infinitely many out-neighbors, none of which will eventually get to a sink. These observations provide helpful information towards the following conjecture proposed by Beringer and Schindler [Bull. of Symb. Logic 23(4): 442–492, 2017]: every dangerous acyclic digraph contains the Yablo digraph as a finitary minor.
Trough‐Scale Slope Countercurrent Over the East China Sea Continental Slope Driven by Upwelling Divergence
Authors: Cui Xuan , Yang Dezhou , Miller Arthur J. , Yin Baoshu , Yang Jiayan
Published: September 2024

Observations have revealed the existence of persistent slope countercurrents (SCCs) that flow southwestward beneath the Kuroshio Current at several locations over the East China Sea (ECS) continental slope. It was not clear whether these flows are localized circulation features or segments of a trough‐scale circulation system in the Okinawa Trough (OT). We demonstrate that there indeed exists a potentially continuous trough‐scale SCC along the ECS slope that is associated with an OT‐wide cyclonic circulation using high‐resolution model simulations and physical interpretations. The detailed features of the deep OT circulation are illustrated by the trajectories of the Lagrangian drifters and the time‐varying distributions of passive tracers. The SCC in the ECS is characterized by its weak yet persistent nature, typically located in narrow sloping regions at the isopycnal layer of 26.6–27.3 kg m−3. It exhibits a characteristic speed of approximately O‐(1) cm s−1. Analyses and experiments suggest that the divergence of upwelling in the SCC layer (26.6–27.3 σθ surface) gives rise to lateral potential vorticity transport, ultimately driving the deep cyclonic circulation. Furthermore, the SCC also displays a substantial connection with the onshore intrusion of the Kuroshio Current, particularly to the northeast of Taiwan Island. The SCC may potentially play a crucial role in the transport of heat and nutrients, as well as in regulating sediment distributions within the deep OT. This mechanism offers fresh insights into explaining the presence of undercurrents in semi‐enclosed marginal seas.
Large‐Scale Extensional Strain in Southern Tibet From Sentinel‐1 InSAR and GNSS Data
Authors: Chen Han , Qu Chunyan , Zhao Dezheng , Shan Xinjian , Li Chenglong , Dal Zilio Luca
Published: September 2024

In this study, we utilize C‐band Sentinel‐1 radar images from 2015 to 2022, combined with interseismic horizontal GNSS velocities, to construct large‐scale, high‐resolution, 3‐D velocity and strain rate maps over a vast region of southern Tibet. We show the distribution of prevailing dilatational strain accumulation along the seven major rift zones. Using 2‐D elastic dislocations invoking a two‐fault model in a Bayesian framework, we quantified the decadal extension rates across the seven rift zones, and we suggest a total extension rate of 18.4 ± 1.7 mm/yr, consistent with geological and geodetic estimates. The resulting strain rate maps, combined with the earthquake catalog, help us identify areas with high earthquake potential. Our study enhances our understanding of the present‐day tectonics and kinematics in southern Tibet and provides important constraints for seismic hazard assessment in this region.
Frozen Saline Sand Can Be Highly Permeable
Authors: Gao Xiangbo , Tian Rongrong , Jiang Yingbo , Guo Zhenqi , Lei Liang
Published: September 2024

Mass transport in frozen ground is typically regarded slow. However, a highly permeable path can exist in frozen saline sand if the unfrozen water is interconnected at the pore scale. We therefore should consider when the unfrozen water is connected and how permeable can frozen saline sand be, yet there are few studies. This research utilizes in‐situ X‐ray CT to evaluate unfrozen water connectivity and permeability in frozen saline sand considering effects of initial salt content, temperature, freezing rate, and temperature gradient. Results show that higher initial salt content and/or temperature, both of which results in a higher unfrozen water content, easily maintains unfrozen water connectivity. Rapid freezing minimizes the brine expulsion and permits a higher unfrozen water content hence better connectivity. Permeability in frozen saline sand can be several orders higher than the typically reported value, highlighting the potential presence of rapid mass transport through the connected unfrozen water.
Effects of Superthermal Plasmas on Hiss Wave‐Driven Scattering Loss of Radiation Belt Electrons
Authors: Ma Xin , Zhu Qi , Lou Yuequn , Cao Xing , Ni Binbin , Chen Shuqin , Jin Taifeng
Published: September 2024

Plasmaspheric hiss plays an important role in the loss of radiation belt electrons via cyclotron resonant interactions. The cold plasma approximation is widely used in the evaluation of hiss‐driven electron losses, which however can break down during disturbed periods of geomagnetic storms and substorms. The kappa particle velocity distribution, characterized by a pronounced high‐energy tail, is well‐established to model the profile of superthermal plasma under disturbed geomagnetic conditions. In the present study, by calculating the electron bounce‐averaged pitch angle diffusion coefficients with kappa plasma dispersion relations, we investigate the sensitivity of hiss‐induced cyclotron‐resonant electron scattering loss to the spectral index κ under a variety of superthermal plasma conditions. Our results demonstrate that, with increasing κ, the diffusion coefficients of ∼20–100 keV radiation belt electrons significantly decrease at lower pitch angles and increase at higher pitch angles. In contrast, for electrons at higher energies, the diffusion coefficients tend to increase at lower pitch angles and decrease at relatively higher pitch angles. We also find that decrease of L‐shell and increase of α* and temperature anisotropy tend to weaken the hiss‐driven pitch angle scattering efﬁciency of electrons at energies from tens to hundreds of keV with a dip at ∼30–50 keV, while the scattering of higher energy electrons can be enhanced. This study confirms the important role of superthermal plasmas in the hiss‐driven electron loss processes and should be carefully incorporated in future modeling of radiation belt electron dynamics.
Genesis and Propagation of Low‐Frequency Abyssal T‐Waves
Authors: Shen Zhichao , Wu Wenbo , Callies Jörn
Published: September 2024

Abyssal T‐waves are seismo‐acoustic waves originating from abyssal oceans. Unlike subduction‐zone‐generated slope T‐waves which are generated through multiple reflections between the sea surface and the gently dipping seafloor, the genesis of abyssal T‐waves cannot be explained by the same theory. Several hypotheses, including seafloor scattering, sea surface scattering, and internal‐wave‐induced volumetric scattering, have been proposed to elucidate their genesis and propagation. The elusive mechanism of abyssal T‐waves, particularly at low‐frequencies, hinders their use to quantify ocean temperatures through seismic ocean thermometry (SOT) and estimate oceanic earthquake parameters. Here, using realistic geophysical and oceanographic data, we first conduct numerical simulations to compare synthetic low‐frequency abyssal T‐waves under different hypotheses. Our simulations for the Romanche and Blanco transform faults suggest seafloor scattering as the dominant mechanism, with sea surface and internal waves contributing marginally. Short‐scale bathymetry can significantly enhance abyssal T‐waves across a broad frequency range. Also, observed T‐waves from repeating earthquakes in the Romanche, Chain, and Blanco transform faults exhibit remarkably high repeatability. Given the dynamic nature of sea surface roughness and internal waves, the highly repeatable T‐wave arrivals further support the seafloor scattering as the primary mechanism. The dominance of seafloor scattering makes abyssal T‐waves useable for constraining ocean temperature changes, thereby greatly expanding the data spectrum of SOT. Our observations of repeating abyssal T‐waves in the Romanche and Chain transform faults could provide a valuable data set for understanding Equatorial Atlantic warming. Still, further investigations incorporating high‐resolution bathymetry are warranted to better model abyssal T‐waves for earthquake parameter estimation.
Bayesian Errors‐in‐Variables Estimation of Specific Climate Sensitivity
Authors: Heslop D. , Rohling E. J. , Foster G. L. , Yu J.
Published: September 2024

Estimation of climate sensitivity is fundamental to assessing how global climate will warm as atmospheric concentration increases. Geological archives of environmental change provide insights into Earth's past climate, but the incomplete nature of paleoclimate reconstructions and their inherent uncertainties make estimation of climate sensitivity challenging. Thus, quantifying climate sensitivity and assessing how it changed through geological time requires statistical frameworks that can handle data uncertainties in a principled fashion. Here we demonstrate some of the hurdles to estimating climate sensitivity, with a focus on current statistical techniques that may underestimate both climate sensitivity and its associated uncertainty. To solve these issues, we present a Bayesian error‐in‐variables regression model, which can yield estimates of climate sensitivity without bias. The regression model is flexible and can account for data point uncertainties with a known parametric form. The utility of this approach is demonstrated by estimating specific climate sensitivity with uncertainty for the Eocene.
A Comprehensive Evaluation of Machine Learning on Coral Trace Element Paleothermometers for Sea Surface Temperature Reconstruction
Authors: Wei Yuxuan , Deng Wenfeng , Chen Xuefei , Wei Gangjian
Published: September 2024

This research introduces a novel approach to reconstruct sea surface temperature (SST) by developing a universal coral thermometer using machine learning (ML) algorithms on monthly resolved Porites coral proxies and SST data. A total of 1,202 data sets from 19 corals, covering SSTs ranging from 21.5 to 31.5°C, with proxies including Sr/Ca, Mg/Ca, Li/Mg, U/Ca, and B/Ca ratios were analyzed. The data were divided into four sub‐datasets by regional and taxon constraints. An exhaustive analysis was conducted, training 1,612 models using various proxy combinations and ML strategies to assess the impact of the non‐SST effect on the universality of ML models. The results indicated that the non‐SST effect is more significantly attributed to regional variations than to taxon differences, underscoring the importance of regional factors in Porites coral proxy‐based SST reconstructions. Sr/Ca and Li/Mg proxies were identified as the most indicative of SST, showing clearer relationships with temperature than other proxies. Non‐linear approaches achieved a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of less than 0.90°C, which further decreased to 0.72°C upon incorporating specific regional and taxon constraints. In an independent test set focusing exclusively on Li/Mg and Sr/Ca proxies, the tree‐based algorithms particularly excelled, achieving an average RMSE improvement of at least 0.52°C over the Universal Multi‐Trace Element Calibration Scheme and the Li/Mg empirical equation. This research underscores the potential of applying ML to coral‐based SST reconstructions, especially highlighting the effectiveness of tree‐based algorithms and the suitability of Sr/Ca and Li/Mg proxies for accurate temperature estimations.
Hydroformer: Frequency Domain Enhanced Multi‐Attention Transformer for Monthly Lake Level Reconstruction With Low Data Input Requirements
Authors: Hou Minglei , Wei Jiahua , Shi Yang , Hou Shengling , Zhang Wenqian , Xu Jiaqi , Wu Yue , Wang He
Published: September 2024

Lake level changes are critical indicators of hydrological balance and climate change, yet long‐term monthly lake level reconstruction is challenging with incomplete or short‐term data. Data‐driven models, while promising, struggle with nonstationary lake level changes and complex dependencies on meteorological factors, limiting their applicability. Here, we introduce the Hydroformer, a frequency domain enhanced multi‐attention Transformer model designed for monthly lake level reconstruction, utilizing reanalysis data. This model features two innovative mechanisms: (a) Frequency‐Enhanced Attention (FEA) for capturing long‐term temporal dependence, and (b) Causality‐based Cross‐dimensional Attention (CCA) to elucidate how specific meteorological factors influence lake level. Seasonal and trend patterns of catchment meteorological factors and lake level are initially identified by a time series decomposition block, then independently learned and refined within the model. Tested across 50 lakes globally, the Hydroformer excelled in reconstruction periods ranging from half to three times the training‐test length. The model exhibited good performance even when training data missing rates were below 50%, particularly in lakes with significant seasonal fluctuations. The Hydroformer demonstrated robust generalization across lakes of varying sizes, from 10.11 to 18,135 km2, with median values for R2, MAE, MSE, and RMSE at 0.813, 0.313, 0.215, and 0.4, respectively. Furthermore, the Hydroformer outperformed data‐driven models, improving MSE by 29.2% and MAE by 24.4% compared to the next best model, the FEDformer. Our method proposes a novel approach for reconstructing long‐term water level changes and managing lake resources under climate change.
Uncovering the connection between obesity and thyroid cancer: the therapeutic potential of adiponectin receptor agonist in the AdipoR2-ULK axis
Authors: Li Changlin , Zhang Jiao , Dionigi Gianlorenzo , Liang Nan , Guan Haixia , Sun Hui
Published: September 2024

Adiponectin, a unique adipose-derived factor, is significantly downregulated in obesity, making it a crucial target for tumor-related metabolic research. AdipoRon is a novel adiponectin receptor agonist with the advantages of a small molecular weight, high stability and a long half-life. By screening the cervical adipose tissue of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients with adipokine antibody array, we found that adiponectin was a potential correlation factor between obesity and PTC progression. AdipoRon has oral activity and is easily absorbed and delivered to target tissues. The effects of AdipoRon on thyroid cancer have not been reported. In this study, we identified adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1) and AdipoR2 on the surface of thyroid cancer cell lines. AdipoRon inhibited the proliferation and migration of thyroid cancer cells, limited energy metabolism in thyroid cancer cells, promoted differentiation of thyroid cancer cells, and induced autophagy and apoptosis. Mechanistic studies revealed that AdipoRon inhibited p-mTOR Ser2448 and p-p70S6K Thr389, and activated ULK1 and p-ULK1. ULK1 knockdown suppressed the effect of AdipoRon on LC3BII/I protein and lysosomes. AdipoR2 knockdown reduced AdipoRon-induced autophagy in thyroid cancer cells. This study is the first to demonstrate the role of AdipoRon in PTC. Our findings illustrate a previously unknown function and mechanism of the AdipoRon-AdipoR2-ULK/p-ULK1 axis in PTC and lay the foundation for clinical translation of AdipoRon to PTC. Targeting the AdipoRon-AdipoR2-ULK/p-ULK1 axis may represent a new therapeutic strategy for PTC.
Association of autosomal mosaic chromosomal alterations with risk of bladder cancer in Chinese adults: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Song Mingyu , Han Yuting , Zhao Yuxuan , Lv Jun , Yu Canqing , Pei Pei , Yang Ling , Millwood Iona Y. , Walters Robin G. , Chen Yiping , Du Huaidong , Yang Xiaoming , Yao Wei , Chen Junshi , Chen Zhengming , Genovese Giulio , Terao Chikashi , Li Liming , Sun Dianjianyi ,   China Kadoorie Biobank Collaborative Group
Published: September 2024

Little is known about the prospective association between autosomal mosaic chromosomal alterations (mCAs), a group of large-scale somatic mutations on autosomes, and bladder cancer. Here we utilized data from 99,877 participants who were free of physician-diagnosed cancer at baseline (2004–2008) of the China Kadoorie Biobank to estimate the associations between autosomal mCAs and bladder cancer (ICD-10: C67). A total of 2874 autosomal mCAs events among 2612 carriers (2.6%) were detected. After a median follow-up of 12.4 years, we discovered that participants with all autosomal mCAs exhibited higher risks of bladder cancer, with a multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) of 2.60 (1.44, 4.70). The estimate of such association was even stronger for mosaic loss events (HR [95% CI]: 6.68 [2.92, 15.30]), while it was not significant for CN-LOH events. Both expanded (cell fraction ≥10%) and non-expanded autosomal mCAs, as well as mosaic loss, were associated with increased risks of bladder cancer. Of interest, physical activity (PA) significantly modified the associations of autosomal mCAs and mosaic loss (Pinteraction = 0.038 and 0.012, respectively) with bladder cancer. The increased risks of bladder cancer were only observed with mCAs and mosaic loss among participants with a lower level of PA (HR [95% CI]: 5.11 [2.36, 11.09] and 16.30 [6.06, 43.81]), but not among participants with a higher level of PA. Our findings suggest that peripheral leukocyte autosomal mCAs may represent a novel risk factor for bladder cancer, and PA may serve as a potential intervention target for mCAs carriers.
KIFC1 depends on TRIM37-mediated ubiquitination of PLK4 to promote centrosome amplification in endometrial cancer
Authors: Zhou Kening , He Yingying , Lin Xi , Zhou Huihao , Xu Xiaomin , Xu Jingui
Published: September 2024

Endometrial cancer (EC), as one of the most common cancers, severely threatens female reproductive health. Our previous study has shown that Kinesin family member C1 (KIFC1) played crucial roles in the progression of EC. In addition, abnormal centrosome amplification, which was reported to be partially regulated by KIFC1, usually occurred in different cancers. However, whether KIFC1 promoted EC through centrosome amplification and the potential mechanism remain to be revealed. The present study demonstrated that overexpressed KIFC1, which exhibited a worse prognosis, had a positive correlation with an increased number of centrosomes in human EC samples. In addition, KIFC1 overexpression in EC cells prompted centrosome amplification, chromosomal instability, and cell cycle progression. Moreover, we demonstrated that KIFC1 inhibited E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase TRIM37 to maintain the stability of PLK4 by reducing its ubiquitination degradation, and finally promoting centrosome amplification and EC progression in vitro. Finally, the contributing role of KIFC1 and the inhibitory effect of TRIM37 on EC development and metastasis was verified in a nude mouse xenograft model. Our study elucidated that KIFC1 depends on TRIM37-mediated reduced ubiquitination degradation of PLK4 to promote centrosome amplification and EC progression, thus providing a potential prognostic marker and promising therapeutic target for EC in the future.
Effect of high-dose N-acetylcysteine on exacerbations and lung function in patients with mild-to-moderate COPD: a double-blind, parallel group, multicentre randomised clinical trial
Authors: Zhou Yumin , Wu Fan , Shi Zhe , Cao Jie , Tian Jia , Yao Weimin , Wei Liping , Li Fenglei , Cai Shan , Shen Yao , Wang Zanfeng , Zhang Huilan , Chen Yanfan , Fu Yingyun , He Zhiyi , Chang Chun , Jiang Yongliang , Chen Shujing , Yang Changli , Yu Shuqing , Tian Heshen , Cheng Qijian , Zhao Ziwen , Ying Yinghua , Zhou Yong , Liu Shengming , Deng Zhishan , Huang Peiyu , Zhang Yunzhen , Luo Xiangwen , Zhao Haiyan , Gui Jianping , Lai Weiguang , Hu Guoping , Liu Cong , Su Ling , Liu Zhiguang , Huang Jianhui , Zhao Dongxing , Zhong Nanshan , Ran Pixin ,   On behalf of China N-acetylcysteine in Mild-to-moderate COPD Study Group, Zhao Zhuxiang , Liu Sha , Wang Zihui , Tang Longhui , Zheng Jinzhen , Zhou Hailin , Cai Yuliang , Zhang Yu , Li Haiqing , Chen Ping , Jiang Fen , Cai Suizheng , Zhou Jian , Xia Hong , Wang Meijia , Chu Jiaojiao , Cai Xueding , Li Yazhen , Bin Yanfei , Zeng Lingshan , Zhang Haiqin , He Hua , He Yichen , Zhou Wenxia , Chen Li
Published: September 2024

Evidence for the treatment of patients with mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is limited. The efficacy of N-acetylcysteine (an antioxidant and mucolytic agent) for patients with mild-to-moderate COPD is uncertain. In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we randomly assigned 968 patients with mild-to-moderate COPD to treatment with N-acetylcysteine (600 mg, twice daily) or matched placebo for two years. Eligible participants were 40-80 years of age and had mild-to-moderate COPD (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1] to forced vital capacity ratio <0.70 and an FEV1 ≥ 50% predicted value after bronchodilator use). The coprimary outcomes were the annual rate of total exacerbations and the between-group difference in the change from baseline to 24 months in FEV1 before bronchodilator use. COPD exacerbation was defined as the appearance or worsening of at least two major symptoms (cough, expectoration, purulent sputum, wheezing, or dyspnoea) persisting for at least 48 hours. Assessment of exacerbations was conducted every three months, and lung function was performed annually after enrolment. The difference between the N-acetylcysteine group and the placebo group in the annual rate of total exacerbation were not significant (0.65 vs. 0.72 per patient-year; relative risk [RR], 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80–1.02; P = 0.10). There was no significant difference in FEV1 before bronchodilator use at 24 months. Long-term treatment with high-dose N-acetylcysteine neither significantly reduced the annual rate of total exacerbations nor improved lung function in patients with mild-to-moderate COPD. Chinese Clinical Trial Registration: ChiCTR-IIR-17012604.
Inverse ceria-nickel catalyst for enhanced C–O bond hydrogenolysis of biomass and polyether
Authors: Zhao Zelun , Gao Guang , Xi Yongjie , Wang Jia , Sun Peng , Liu Qi , Li Chengyang , Huang Zhiwei , Li Fuwei
Published: September 2024

Regulating interfacial electronic structure of oxide-metal composite catalyst for the selective transformation of biomass or plastic waste into high-value chemicals through specific C–O bond scission is still challenging due to the presence of multiple reducible bonds and low catalytic activity. Herein, we find that the inverse catalyst of 4CeOx/Ni can efficiently transform various lignocellulose derivatives and polyether into the corresponding value-added hydroxyl-containing chemicals with activity enhancement (up to 36.5-fold increase in rate) compared to the conventional metal/oxide supported catalyst. In situ experiments and theoretical calculations reveal the electron-rich interfacial Ce and Ni species are responsible for the selective adsorption of C–O bond and efficient generation of Hδ− species, respectively, which synergistic facilitate cleavage of C–O bond and subsequent hydrogenation. This work advances the fundamental understanding of interfacial electronic interaction over inverse catalyst and provides a promising catalyst design strategy for efficient transformation of C–O bond.
Development of a novel elastomer with unique properties as fire and radiation resistance
Authors: Mohamed Tarek Mansour , Mahmoud Ghada A.
Published: September 2024

This study aims to create a novel, distinct form of elastomer with superior ability to resist fire, high resistance to radiation, and resistance to environmental conditions such as temperature and solvents. This type of natural-based elastomer was prepared using carboxymethyl cellulose CMC, polyacrylic acid PAA, crosslinked with tannic acid TA. Most techniques in elastomer manufacture technologies are unfriendly and participate in increasing carbon emissions. Gamma radiation was used as a clean tool for copolymerization and crosslinking the elastomer. The irradiation dose of 5 kGy with a rate of 3.32 kGy/h was enough to produce CMC/PAA/TA elastomer. The properties of the produced elastomer were investigated by Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and limiting oxygen index (LOI). CMC/PAA/TA has high resistance to solvents such as acetone, benzene, HCl, and HNO3. The tensile strength is 3.376 MPa, the elongation percent is 501.689%, and the LOI value is 30%. The produced elastomer possessed excellent gamma radiation resistance. The elastomer was exposed later to 1864 kGy of gamma radiation without showing degradation and retained its properties, as confirmed by FTIR, TGA, and mechanical properties. After investigation, it can be inferred that the produced CMC/PAA/TA elastomer exhibited outstanding properties.
The effects of threat on complex decision-making: evidence from a virtual environment
Authors: Laycock Aaron , Schofield Guy , McCall Cade
Published: September 2024

Individuals living and working in dangerous settings (e.g., first responders and military personnel) make complex decisions amidst serious threats. However, controlled studies on decision-making under threat are limited given obvious ethical concerns. Here, we embed a complex decision-making task within a threatening, immersive virtual environment. Based on the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), a paradigm widely used to study complex decision-making, the task requires participants to make a series of choices to escape a collapsing building. In Study 1 we demonstrate that, as with the traditional IGT, participants learn to make advantageous decisions over time and that their behavioural data can be described by reinforcement-learning based computational models. In Study 2 we created threatening and neutral versions of the environment. In the threat condition, participants performed worse, taking longer to improve from baseline and scoring lower through the final trials. Computational modelling further revealed that participants in the threat condition were more responsive to short term rewards and less likely to perseverate on a given choice. These findings suggest that when threat is integral to decision-making, individuals make more erratic choices and focus on short term gains. They furthermore demonstrate the utility of virtual environments for making threat integral to cognitive tasks.
Design and dynamic emulation of hybrid solar-wind-wave energy converter (SWWEC) for efficient power generation
Authors: Jariwala Aryan Manan , Dash Santanu Kumar , Sahu Umesh Kumar , Chudjuarjeen Saichol
Published: September 2024

As research into wave energy converters progresses and new developers enter the field, there arises a growing requirement for a standardized modelling approach. This article presents a novel design and dynamic emulation for a hybrid solar-wind-wave energy converter (SWWEC) which is the combination of three very well-known renewable energies: solar, wind and wave energy. Photovoltaic (PV) panels and vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) are installed on top of the floating WEC that harness the energies from the sun and wind respectively. The SWWEC is designed with a point absorber capture system. An electrical motor is used to dynamically emulate the performance of the SWWEC under real world conditions to drive the DC generator. The present paper shows the importance and necessity of the required control schemes for the proper control of generator side converters which is present in the offshore marine substation and the most required grid connected onshore converters. The better switching signal generation for the converter control and generated harmonics elimination techniques are also presented in the paper. Outcomes of the present study are discussed and verified.
Uncovering individualised treatment effects for educational trials
Authors: Xiao ZhiMin , Hauser Oliver , Kirkwood Charlie , Li Daniel Z. , Ford Tamsin , Higgins Steve
Published: September 2024

Large-scale Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) are widely regarded as “the gold standard” for testing the causal effects of school-based interventions. RCTs typically present the statistical significance of the average treatment effect (ATE), which captures the effect an intervention has had on average for a given population. However, key decisions in child health and education are often about individuals who may be very different from those averages. One way to identify heterogeneous treatment effects across different individuals, not captured by the ATE, is to conduct subgroup analyses. For example, free school meal (FSM) pupils as required for projects funded by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) in England. These subgroup analyses, as we demonstrate in 48 EEF-funded RCTs involving over 200,000 students, are usually not standardised across studies and offer flexible degrees of freedom to researchers, potentially leading to mixed, if not misleading, results. Here, we develop and deploy an alternative to ATE and subgroup analysis, a machine-learning and regression-based framework to predict individualised treatment effects (ITEs). ITEs could show where an intervention worked, for which individuals, and to what extent. Our findings have implications for decision-makers in fields like education, healthcare, law, and clinical practices concerning children and adolescents.
Multi-year La Niña frequency tied to southward tropical Pacific wind shift
Authors: Wang Guojian , Santoso Agus
Published: September 2024

Multi-year La Niña events cause prolonged climate disruptions worldwide, but a systematic understanding of the underlying mechanisms is not yet established. Here we show using observations and models from the sixth phase of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project that a greater frequency of consecutive La Niña events is tied to the upper equatorial Pacific Ocean when it favors more rapid heat discharge. The propensity for heat discharge is underscored by negative skewness in upper-ocean heat content, underpinned by southward tropical Pacific wind shift during austral summer. Models with stronger westerly anomalies south of the equator simulate steeper east-to-west upward tilt of the thermocline that is favorable for a greater discharge rate. This highlights the crucial role of the southward wind shift in the nonlinear system of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation. The large inter-model spread in multi-year La Niña processes underscores the need in constraining models for reliable climate prediction and projection.
Satellite observations indicate that chia uses less water than other crops in warm climates
Authors: Kirsch Brian , Fisher Joshua B. , Piechota Thomas , Hassani Mohammad , Suardiaz Diego C. , Puri Radhika , Cahill Joseph , Atamian Hagop S.
Published: September 2024

Many parts of the world face severe and prolonged drought conditions, stressing the sustainability of water resources and agriculture. Transitioning to water-efficient crops is one strategy that can help adapt to water scarcity. An emerging drought-tolerant crop of interest is chia (Salvia hispanica). Yet, no study has compared its large-scale water use dynamics to those of widely established crops across the globe. Here, we use satellite data over multiple years to assess the water use efficiency of chia, alfalfa, corn, and soybean globally. Results show that chia consumed 13-38% less water than alfalfa, corn, and soy and assimilated 14-20% more carbon per amount of water used. Substituting 10% of Southwest United States alfalfa cultivation with chia would save 184 million liters of water per growing season, equivalent to the annual water consumption of 1,300 households. Future research shall explore the economic, societal, and environmental ramifications of substituting alfalfa with chia in dry areas worldwide. These insights can guide decision-makers in promoting sustainable agriculture and water resource management.
Poor compliance with germline testing recommendations in colorectal cancer patients undergoing molecular residual disease testing
Authors: Schrock-Kelley Suzanne , Souter Vivienne , Hall Michael J. , Sha Youbao , Sengupta Urmi , ElNaggar Adam C. , Liu Minetta C. , Weitzel Jeffrey N.
Published: September 2024

Background

Approximately 15% of colorectal cancers (CRCs) are associated with germline mutations. There is increasing adoption of DNA-based assays for molecular residual disease (MRD) and growing evidence supporting its clinical utility, particularly for CRC by oncologists in the U.S. We assessed the uptake of germline multi-gene panel testing (MGPT) for hereditary cancer in CRC patients receiving MRD analyses in community oncology settings.

Methods

This retrospective study included 80 patients receiving care for CRC through community oncology practices who were referred for MRD testing at a commercial laboratory (January–March 2022). Clinical data, including test requisition forms, pathology reports, and clinical notes were reviewed. Documentation of tumor microsatellite instability and/or immunohistochemical (IHC) testing for mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency, age of CRC diagnosis, family history of cancer, and any order or recommendation for MGPT were assessed.

Results

Overall, 5/80 (6.3%) patients in the study have documented germline MGPT; 65/80 (81.3%) patients have documented MMR testing of their colorectal tumor. Among the 5 cases with abnormal MMR IHC, 2 have MGPT. Of the 33 patients meeting the 2021 National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) criteria for genetic/familial high-risk assessment, only 2 have MGPT.

Conclusions

Our real-world data suggest that many CRC patients receiving MRD testing and meeting NCCN (v. 2021) criteria for germline MGPT may not be receiving evaluation beyond routine MMR status. Process and educational improvements are needed in community health settings to increase access and uptake of germline testing among CRC patients regardless of age at diagnosis or MMR status.
A review of marine genetic resource valuations
Authors: Krusberg Tilde , Schildt Lova , Jouffray Jean-Baptiste , Zhivkoplias Erik , Blasiak Robert
Published: September 2024

Marine biotechnology is a rapidly growing sector of the ocean economy, but efforts to assess its value, and that of the genetic resources that enable it, remain contentious. Through a comprehensive literature review, we identified 67 distinct valuations of marine genetic resources. We analysed these using the IPBES Values Assessment typology and found a predominance of behaviour-based valuations using economic value indicators to assess monetary benefits from marine drug discovery.
Transition metal homoeostasis is key to metabolism and drug tolerance of Mycobacterium abscessus
Authors: Liu Yi , Murphy Katy , Fernandes Nadia , Moore Rebekah E. T. , Pennisi Ivana , Williams Richard , Rehkämper Mark , Larrouy-Maumus Gerald
Published: September 2024

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the major challenges humans are facing this century. Understanding the mechanisms behind the rise of AMR is therefore crucial to tackling this global threat. The presence of transition metals is one of the growth-limiting factors for both environmental and pathogenic bacteria, and the mechanisms that bacteria use to adapt to and survive under transition metal toxicity resemble those correlated with the rise of AMR. A deeper understanding of transition metal toxicity and its potential as an antimicrobial agent will expand our knowledge of AMR and assist the development of therapeutic strategies. In this study, we investigate the antimicrobial effect of two transition metal ions, namely cobalt (Co2+) and nickel (Ni2+), on the non-tuberculous environmental mycobacterium and the opportunistic human pathogen Mycobacterium abscessus. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of Co2+ and Ni2+ on M. abscessus were first quantified and their impact on the bacterial intracellular metallome was investigated. A multi-omics strategy that combines transcriptomics, bioenergetics, metabolomics, and phenotypic assays was designed to further investigate the mechanisms behind the effects of transition metals. We show that transition metals induced growth defect and changes in transcriptome and carbon metabolism in M. abscessus, while the induction of the glyoxylate shunt and the WhiB7 regulon in response to metal stresses could be the key response that led to higher AMR levels. Meanwhile, transition metal treatment alters the bacterial response to clinically relevant antibiotics and enhances the uptake of clarithromycin into bacterial cells, leading to increased efficacy. This work provides insights into the tolerance mechanisms of M. abscessus to transition metal toxicity and demonstrates the possibility of using transition metals to adjuvant the efficacy of currently using antimicrobials against M. abscessus infections.