bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phytochemistry, Biological, and Toxicity Study on Aqueous and Methanol Extracts of Chromolaena odorata
Authors: Budha Magar Akash , Shrestha Deepa , Pakka Sangita , Sharma Khaga Raj
Published: October 2023

The medicinal plant Chromolaena odorata is traditionally used by people living in different communities of Nepal and the globe against diabetes, soft tissue wounds, skin infections, diarrhea, malaria, and several other infectious diseases. The present study focuses on the qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses and antioxidant, antidiabetic, antibacterial, and toxicity of the plant for assessing its pharmacological potential. The extracts of flowers, leaves, and stems were prepared using methanol and distilled water as the extracting solvents. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were estimated by using the Folin–Ciocalteu phenol reagent method and the aluminum chloride colorimetric method. Antioxidant and antidiabetic activities were assessed using the DPPH assay and α-glucosidase inhibition assay. A brine shrimp assay was performed to study the toxicity, and the antibacterial activity test was performed by the agar well diffusion method. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, quinones, terpenoids, and coumarins as secondary metabolites. The methanol extract of leaves and flowers displayed the highest phenolic and flavonoid content with 182.26 ± 1.99 mg GAE/g, 128.57 ± 7.62 mg QE/g and 172.65 ± 0.48 mg GAE/g, 121.74 ± 7.06 mg QE/g, respectively. The crude extracts showed the highest DPPH free radical scavenging activity with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 32.81 ± 5.26 µg/mL and 41.00 ± 1.10 µg/mL, respectively. The methanol extract of the leaves was found to be effective against bacterial strains such as K. pneumoniae (ZOI = 9.67 ± 0.32 mm), B. subtilis (ZOI = 15.00 ± 0 mm), and E. coli (7.3 ± 0.32 mm). The methanol extract of the flowers showed the most α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50 227.63 ± 11.38 µg/mL), followed by the methanol extract of leaves (IC50 249.50 ± 0.97 µg/mL). The aqueous extract of the flowers showed the toxic effect with LC50 107.31 ± 49.04 µg/mL against the brine shrimp nauplii. In conclusion, C. odorata was found to be a rich source of plant secondary metabolites such as phenolics and flavonoids with potential effects against bacterial infection, diabetes, and oxidative stress in humans. The toxicity study showed that the aqueous extract of flowers possesses pharmacological activities. This study supports the traditional use of the plant against infectious diseases and diabetes and provides some scientific validation.
Enhanced Signal Area Estimation in Radio-Communication Spectrograms Based on Morphological Image Processing
Authors: Alammar Mohammed M. , López-Benítez Miguel , Lehtomäki Janne J. , Umebayashi Kenta
Published: October 2023

The concept of signal area (SA), defined as the rectangular time–frequency region in a spectrogram where a signal is detected, plays an important role in spectrum usage measurements. The need for signal area estimation (SAE) is justified by its role in the process of allocating white space spectrum to secondary users in dynamic spectrum access systems as well as in other interesting applications such as compliance verification and enforcement of spectrum regulations, signal interception, and network planning and optimisation. Existing SAE methods are far from perfect and therefore new solutions capable to provide more accurate estimations are thus required. In this study, a novel approach based on image processing techniques is explored. Concretely, the feasibility of using morphological operations (MOs) is explored to examine its usefulness in the context of SAE. By means of extensive simulations, the performance of different MOs (erosion, dilation, opening, and closing) in the context of SAE is investigated under various configurations, including different shapes and sizes of the structuring element (SE), when used both as standalone SAE methods and in combination with other SAE methods from the literature. Based on the obtained results, an MO-based SAE method is formulated based on the optimum MO and SE configuration for each specific SNR regime, which can improve substantially the performance of other proposed SAE methods when used as a pre- or postprocessing technique. Concretely, the accuracy improvement in terms of F1 score is up to 40% in the low-SNR regime while achieving a perfect accuracy of 100% in the high-SNR regime. This is achieved without having a noticeable impact on the associated computational cost (and even reducing it by up to 15% at high SNR). The performance improvement is thus particularly significant in the low-SNR regime, where most methods’ performances are limited, and as a result the proposed SAE approach can extend the operational SNR range of the existing SAE methods.
Comprehensive Single-Cell Immune Profiling Defines the Patient Multiple Myeloma Microenvironment Following Oncolytic Virus Therapy in a Phase Ib Trial
Authors: Nawrocki Steffan T. , Olea Julian , Villa Celi Claudia , Dadrastoussi Homa , Wu Kaijin , Tsao-Wei Denice , Colombo Anthony , Coffey Matt , Fernandez Hernandez Eduardo , Chen Xuelian , Nuovo Gerard J. , Carew Jennifer S. , Mohrbacher Ann F. , Fields Paul , Kuhn Peter , Siddiqi Imran , Merchant Akil , Kelly Kevin R.
Published: October 2023

Purpose:

Our preclinical studies showed that the oncolytic reovirus formulation pelareorep (PELA) has significant immunomodulatory anti-myeloma activity. We conducted an investigator-initiated clinical trial to evaluate PELA in combination with dexamethasone (Dex) and bortezomib (BZ) and define the tumor immune microenvironment (TiME) in patients with multiple myeloma treated with this regimen.

Patients and Methods:

Patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (n = 14) were enrolled in a phase Ib clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02514382) of three escalating PELA doses administered on Days 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, and 16. Patients received 40 mg Dex and 1.5 mg/m2 BZ on Days 1, 8, and 15. Cycles were repeated every 28 days. Pre- and posttreatment bone marrow specimens (IHC, n = 9; imaging mass cytometry, n = 6) and peripheral blood samples were collected for analysis (flow cytometry, n = 5; T-cell receptor clonality, n = 7; cytokine assay, n = 7).

Results:

PELA/BZ/Dex was well-tolerated in all patients. Treatment-emergent toxicities were transient, and no dose-limiting toxicities occurred. Six (55%) of 11 response-evaluable patients showed decreased paraprotein. Treatment increased T and natural killer cell activation, inflammatory cytokine release, and programmed death-ligand 1 expression in bone marrow. Compared with nonresponders, responders had higher reovirus protein levels, increased cytotoxic T-cell infiltration posttreatment, cytotoxic T cells in significantly closer proximity to multiple myeloma cells, and larger populations of a novel immune-primed multiple myeloma phenotype (CD138+ IDO1+HLA-ABCHigh), indicating immunomodulation.

Conclusions:

PELA/BZ/Dex is well-tolerated and associated with anti–multiple myeloma activity in a subset of responding patients, characterized by immune reprogramming and TiME changes, warranting further investigation of PELA as an immunomodulator.
OvaPrint—A Cell-free DNA Methylation Liquid Biopsy for the Risk Assessment of High-grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Buckley David N. , Lewinger Juan Pablo , Gooden Gerald , Spillman Monique , Neuman Monica , Guo X. Mona , Tew Ben Yi , Miller Heather , Khetan Varun U. , Shulman Lee P. , Roman Lynda , Salhia Bodour
Published: October 2023

Purpose:

High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is the most lethal epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and is often diagnosed at late stage. In women with a known pelvic mass, surgery followed by pathologic assessment is the most reliable way to diagnose EOC and there are still no effective screening tools in asymptomatic women. In the current study, we developed a cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methylation liquid biopsy for the risk assessment of early-stage HGSOC.

Experimental Design:

We performed reduced representation bisulfite sequencing to identify differentially methylated regions (DMR) between HGSOC and normal ovarian and fallopian tube tissue. Next, we performed hybridization probe capture for 1,677 DMRs and constructed a classifier (OvaPrint) on an independent set of cfDNA samples to discriminate HGSOC from benign masses. We also analyzed a series of non-HGSOC EOC, including low-grade and borderline samples to assess the generalizability of OvaPrint. A total of 372 samples (tissue n = 59, plasma n = 313) were analyzed in this study.

Results:

OvaPrint achieved a positive predictive value of 95% and a negative predictive value of 88% for discriminating HGSOC from benign masses, surpassing other commercial tests. OvaPrint was less sensitive for non-HGSOC EOC, albeit it may have potential utility for identifying low-grade and borderline tumors with higher malignant potential.

Conclusions:

OvaPrint is a highly sensitive and specific test that can be used for the risk assessment of HGSOC in symptomatic women. Prospective studies are warranted to validate OvaPrint for HGSOC and further develop it for non-HGSOC EOC histotypes in both symptomatic and asymptomatic women with adnexal masses.
Surface and Global Proteome Analyses Identify ENPP1 and Other Surface Proteins as Actionable Immunotherapeutic Targets in Ewing Sarcoma
Authors: Mooney Brian , Negri Gian Luca , Shyp Taras , Delaidelli Alberto , Zhang Hai-Feng , Spencer Miko Sandra E. , Weiner Amber K. , Radaoui Alexander B. , Shraim Rawan , Lizardo Michael M. , Hughes Christopher S. , Li Amy , El-Naggar Amal M. , Rouleau Melanie , Li Wei , Dimitrov Dimiter S. , Kurmasheva Raushan T. , Houghton Peter J. , Diskin Sharon J. , Maris John M. , Morin Gregg B. , Sorensen Poul H.
Published: October 2023

Purpose:

Ewing sarcoma is the second most common bone sarcoma in children, with 1 case per 1.5 million in the United States. Although the survival rate of patients diagnosed with localized disease is approximately 70%, this decreases to approximately 30% for patients with metastatic disease and only approximately 10% for treatment-refractory disease, which have not changed for decades. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies are urgently needed for metastatic and refractory Ewing sarcoma.

Experimental Design:

This study analyzed 19 unique Ewing sarcoma patient- or cell line–derived xenografts (from 14 primary and 5 metastatic specimens) using proteomics to identify surface proteins for potential immunotherapeutic targeting. Plasma membranes were enriched using density gradient ultracentrifugation and compared with a reference standard of 12 immortalized non–Ewing sarcoma cell lines prepared in a similar manner. In parallel, global proteome analysis was carried out on each model to complement the surfaceome data. All models were analyzed by Tandem Mass Tags–based mass spectrometry to quantify identified proteins.

Results:

The surfaceome and global proteome analyses identified 1,131 and 1,030 annotated surface proteins, respectively. Among surface proteins identified, both approaches identified known Ewing sarcoma–associated proteins, including IL1RAP, CD99, STEAP1, and ADGRG2, and many new cell surface targets, including ENPP1 and CDH11. Robust staining of ENPP1 was demonstrated in Ewing sarcoma tumors compared with other childhood sarcomas and normal tissues.

Conclusions:

Our comprehensive proteomic characterization of the Ewing sarcoma surfaceome provides a rich resource of surface-expressed proteins in Ewing sarcoma. This dataset provides the preclinical justification for exploration of targets such as ENPP1 for potential immunotherapeutic application in Ewing sarcoma.

See related commentary by Bailey, p. 934
Supplementary Figure S7 from Targeting MALAT1 Augments Sensitivity to PARP Inhibition by Impairing Homologous Recombination in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Yadav Anjali , Biswas Tanay , Praveen Ayush , Ganguly Promit , Bhattacharyya Ankita , Verma Ayushi , Datta Dipak , Ateeq Bushra
Published: October 2023

MALAT1 and PARP depletion cooperatively suppress expression of HR genes in HR-deficient as well as HR-proficient PCa cells.
Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Soft Drinks and Risk of Gastrointestinal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies
Authors: Jatho Alfred , Myung Seung-Kwon , Kim Jeongseon , Han Sung-Sik , Kim Sun Young , Ju Woong
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Previous observational studies have reported inconsistent findings on the association between consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks (SSSDs) and the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. This study investigated the associations between SSSD consumption and the risk of GI cancer using a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: Observational epidemiological studies were searched from the PubMed and EMBASE databases until June 2021. We conducted a meta-analysis of all included studies and subgroup meta-analyses based on various factors. Results: In a meta-analysis of 27 studies with nine case-control studies and 18 cohort studies, the consumption of SSSDs was modestly associated with an increased risk of GI cancer (odds ratio [OR]/relative risk [RR]: 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.16), with a significant positive dose-response relationship. In the subgroup meta-analysis by study design, there was a significant positive association between the consumption of SSSDs and GI cancer in cohort studies (RR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.03–1.20; n = 18), but not in case-control studies. In the subgroup meta-analysis by type of cancer, consumption of SSSDs was significantly associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (OR/RR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.07–1.19). Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggests that SSSD consumption significantly increases the risk of GI cancer, specifically colorectal cancer.
Key Considerations regarding the Renal Risks of Iodinated Contrast Media: The Nephrologist’s Role
Authors: Mehta Ravindra , Sorbo David , Ronco Federico , Ronco Claudio
Published: October 2023

Background: The administration of iodinated contrast medium during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures has always been associated with the fear of causing acute kidney injury (AKI) or an exacerbation of chronic kidney disease. This has led, on the one hand, to the deterrence, when possible, of the use of contrast medium (preferring other imaging methods with the risk of loss of diagnostic power), and on the other hand, to the trialling of multiple prophylaxis protocols in an attempt to reduce the risk of kidney injury. Summary: A literature review on contrast-induced (CI)-AKI risk mitigation strategies was performed, focussing on the recognition of individual risk factors and on the most recent evidence regarding prophylaxis. Key Messages: Nephrologists can contribute significantly in the CI-AKI context, from the early stages of the decision-making process to stratifying patients by risk, individualising prophylaxis measures based on the risk profile, and ensuring appropriate evaluation of kidney function and damage post-procedure to improve care.
Neuro-Specific and Immuno-Inflammatory Biomarkers in Umbilical Cord Blood in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
Authors: Toorell Hanna , Carlsson Ylva , Hallberg BouBou , O’Riordian Mairead N. , Walsh Brian Henry , O'Sullivan Marc Paul , Boylan Geraldine B. , Zetterberg Henrik , Blennow Kaj , Murray Deirdre , Hagberg Henrik
Published: October 2023

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate neuronal injury and immuno-inflammatory biomarkers in umbilical cord blood (UCB) at birth, in cases with perinatal asphyxia with or without hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), compared with healthy controls and to assess their ability to predict HIE. Study Design: In this case-control study, term infants with perinatal asphyxia were recruited at birth. UCB was stored at delivery for batch analysis. HIE was diagnosed by clinical Sarnat staging at 24 h. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), the neuronal biomarkers tau and neurofilament light protein (NFL), and a panel of cytokines were analyzed in a total of 150 term neonates: 50 with HIE, 50 with asphyxia without HIE (PA), and 50 controls. GFAP, tau, and NFL concentrations were measured using ultrasensitive single-molecule array (Simoa) assays, and a cytokine screening panel was applied to analyze the immuno-inflammatory and infectious markers. Results: GFAP, tau, NFL, and several cytokines were significantly higher in newborns with moderate and severe HIE compared to a control group and provided moderate prediction of HIE II/III (AUC: 0.681–0.827). Furthermore, the levels of GFAP, tau, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were higher in HIE II/III cases compared with cases with PA/HIE I. IL-6 was also higher in HIE II/III compared with HIE I cases. Conclusions: Biomarkers of brain injury and inflammation were increased in umbilical blood in cases with asphyxia. Several biomarkers were higher in HIE II/III versus those with no HIE or HIE I, suggesting that they could assist in the prediction of HIE II/III.
Association between Sleep and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Bibliometric Analysis from 2003 to 2022
Authors: Tang Ming , Wu Li , Shen Ziyi , Chen Junwen , Yang Yang , Zhang Ming , Zhao Peilin , Jiang Guohui
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) often presents with sleep disorders, which are also an important risk factor for AD, affecting cognitive function to a certain extent. This study aimed to reveal the current global status, present hotspots, and discuss emerging trends of sleep and AD using a bibliometric approach. Methods: Research and review articles related to sleep and AD from 2003 to 2022 were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection. VOSviewer 1.6.18.0, Scimago Graphica, and CiteSpace 6.2.R2 were used to map the productive and highly cited countries, institutions, journals, authors, references, and keywords in the field. Results: Overall, 4,008 publications were included in this bibliometric analysis. The number of publications and citations showed an increasing trend over the past two decades. The USA and China had the largest and second largest, respectively, number of publications and citations and cooperated with other countries more closely. Ancoli-Israel Sonia published the most papers, and Holtzman David M was co-cited most frequently. The most productive journal was Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, and Neurology was the most frequently cited journal. The risk factors, β-amyloid (Aβ), tau, neuroinflammation, astrocytes, glymphatic system, orexin, functional connectivity, and management have been the main research directions of researchers over the past few years and may be the future trend of valuable research. Conclusion: We identified hotspots and emerging trends including risk factors, Aβ, tau, neuroinflammation, the glymphatic system, orexin, and management, which may help identify new therapeutic targets and improve clinical efficacy of sleep and AD.
Disease Burden and Epidemiological Trends of Chronic Kidney Disease at the Global, Regional, National Levels from 1990 to 2019
Authors: Ying Meike , Shao Xue , Qin Hongli , Yin Pei , Lin Yushi , Wu Jie , Ren Jingjing , Zheng Yang
Published: October 2023

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a serious public health issue worldwide, but the disease burden of CKD caused by different etiologies and changing trends has not been fully examined. Methods: We collected data from Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 (GBD 2019), including incident cases, age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and age-standardized DALY rate between 1990 and 2019 by region, etiology, age, and sex, and calculated the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) of the rate to evaluate the epidemiological trends. Results: Globally, incident cases of CKD increased from 7.80 million in 1990 to 18.99 million in 2019, and DALYs increased from 21.50 million to 41.54 million. ASIR increased with an EAPC of 0.69 (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 0.49–0.89) and reached 233.65 per 100,000 in 2019, while the age-standardized DALY rate increased with an EAPC of 0.30 (95% UI 0.17–0.43) and reached 514.86 per 100,000. North Africa and the Middle East, central Latin America, and North America had the highest ASIR in 2019. Central Latin America had the highest age-standardized DALY rate, meanwhile. Almost all countries experienced an increase in ASIR, and over 50% of countries had an increasing trend in age-standardized DALY rate from 1990 to 2019. CKD due to diabetes mellitus type 2 and hypertension accounted for the largest disease burden with 85% incident cases and 66% DALYs in 2019 of known causes, with the highest growth in age-standardized DALY rate and a similar geographic pattern to that of total CKD. Besides, the highest incidence rate of total and four specific CKDs were identified in people aged 70 plus years, who also had the highest DALY rate with a stable trend after 2010. Females had a higher ASIR, while males had a higher age-standardized DALY rate, the gap of which was most distinctive in CKD due to hypertension. Conclusion: The disease burden of CKD remains substantial and continues to grow globally. From 1990 to 2019, global incident cases of CKD have more than doubled and DALYs have almost doubled, and surpassed 40 million years. CKD due to diabetes mellitus type 2 and hypertension contributed nearly 2/3 of DALYs in 2019 of known causes, and had witnessed the highest growth in age-standardized DALY rate. Etiology-specific prevention strategies should be placed as a high priority on the goal of precise control of CKD.
Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association
Authors: Ndumele Chiadi E. , Rangaswami Janani , Chow Sheryl L. , Neeland Ian J. , Tuttle Katherine R. , Khan Sadiya S. , Coresh Josef , Mathew Roy O. , Baker-Smith Carissa M. , Carnethon Mercedes R. , Despres Jean-Pierre , Ho Jennifer E. , Joseph Joshua J. , Kernan Walter N. , Khera Amit , Kosiborod Mikhail N. , Lekavich Carolyn L. , Lewis Eldrin F. , Lo Kevin B. , Ozkan Bige , Palaniappan Latha P. , Patel Sonali S. , Pencina Michael J. , Powell-Wiley Tiffany M. , Sperling Laurence S. , Virani Salim S. , Wright Jackson T. , Rajgopal Singh Radhika , Elkind Mitchell S.V. ,   on behalf of the American Heart Association
Published: October 2023

Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health reflects the interplay among metabolic risk factors, chronic kidney disease, and the cardiovascular system and has profound impacts on morbidity and mortality. There are multisystem consequences of poor cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health, with the most significant clinical impact being the high associated incidence of cardiovascular disease events and cardiovascular mortality. There is a high prevalence of poor cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health in the population, with a disproportionate burden seen among those with adverse social determinants of health. However, there is also a growing number of therapeutic options that favorably affect metabolic risk factors, kidney function, or both that also have cardioprotective effects. To improve cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health and related outcomes in the population, there is a critical need for (1) more clarity on the definition of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome; (2) an approach to cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic staging that promotes prevention across the life course; (3) prediction algorithms that include the exposures and outcomes most relevant to cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health; and (4) strategies for the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease in relation to cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health that reflect harmonization across major subspecialty guidelines and emerging scientific evidence. It is also critical to incorporate considerations of social determinants of health into care models for cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome and to reduce care fragmentation by facilitating approaches for patient-centered interdisciplinary care. This presidential advisory provides guidance on the definition, staging, prediction paradigms, and holistic approaches to care for patients with cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome and details a multicomponent vision for effectively and equitably enhancing cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health in the population.
Re-examination of the distribution and species diversity of the genus Padina (Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae) in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: PAGANA ILARIA , MARROCCIA GENNY , MARLETTA GIULIANA , ALONGI GIUSEPPINA
Published: October 2023

This study aimed to expand knowledge on the distribution and biodiversity of the genus Padina in Sicily and in the Mediterranean Sea. Thanks to the studies of samples collected along the Sicilian coast and the re-examination of herbarium specimens labelled as Padina pavonica, we reported the following five species in Sicily: P. ditristromatica, P. gymnospora, P. pavonica, P. pavonicoides and P. tetrastromatica. Particularly, we documented the first supported occurrence of P. gymnospora in the Mediterranean Sea and the first finding of P. pavonicoides and P. tetrastromatica along the Italian coast. Furthermore, a new key was created for the identification of all species belonging to the genus Padina present in the Mediterranean Sea today.
Attribution of Seasonal Wildfire Risk to Changes in Climate: A Statistical Extremes Approach
Authors: Wixson Troy P. , Cooley Daniel
Published: October 2023

Wildfire risk is greatest during high winds after sustained periods of dry and hot conditions. This paper is a statistical extreme-event risk attribution study that aims to answer whether extreme wildfire seasons are more likely now than under past climate. This requires modeling temporal dependence at extreme levels. We propose the use of transformed-linear time series models, which are constructed similarly to traditional autoregressive–moving-average (ARMA) models while having a dependence structure that is tied to a widely used framework for extremes (regular variation). We fit the models to the extreme values of the seasonally adjusted fire weather index (FWI) time series to capture the dependence in the upper tail for past and present climate. We simulate 10 000 fire seasons from each fitted model and compare the proportion of simulated high-risk fire seasons to quantify the increase in risk. Our method suggests that the risk of experiencing an extreme wildfire season in Grand Lake, Colorado, under current climate has increased dramatically relative to the risk under the climate of the mid-twentieth century. Our method also finds some evidence of increased risk of extreme wildfire seasons in Quincy, California, but large uncertainties do not allow us to reject a null hypothesis of no change.
Multiproduct Characterization of Surface Soil Moisture Drydowns in the United Kingdom
Authors: Tso Chak-Hau Michael , Blyth Eleanor , Tanguy Maliko , Levy Peter E. , Robinson Emma L. , Bell Victoria , Zha Yuanyuan , Fry Matthew
Published: October 2023

The persistence or memory of soil moisture (θ) after rainfall has substantial environmental implications. Much work has been done to study soil moisture drydown for in situ and satellite data separately. In this work, we present a comparison of drydown characteristics across multiple U.K. soil moisture products, including satellite-merged (i.e., TCM), in situ (i.e., COSMOS-UK), hydrological model [i.e., Grid-to-Grid (G2G)], statistical model [i.e., Soil Moisture U.K. (SMUK)], and land surface model (LSM) [i.e., Climate Hydrology and Ecology research Support System (CHESS)] data. The drydown decay time scale (τ) for all gridded products is computed at an unprecedented resolution of 1–2 km, a scale relevant to weather and climate models. While their range of τ differs (except SMUK and CHESS are similar) due to differences such as sensing depths, their spatial patterns are correlated to land cover and soil types. We further analyze the occurrence of drydown events at COSMOS-UK sites. We show that soil moisture drydown regimes exhibit strong seasonal dependencies, whereby the soil dries out quicker in summer than winter. These seasonal dependencies are important to consider during model benchmarking and evaluation. We show that fitted τ based on COSMOS and LSM are well correlated, with a bias of lower τ for COSMOS. Our findings contribute to a growing body of literature to characterize τ, with the aim of developing a method to systematically validate model soil moisture products at a range of scales.

Significance Statement

While important for many aspects of the environment, the evaluation of modeled soil moisture has remained incredibly challenging. Sensors work at different space and time scales to the models, the definitions of soil moisture vary between applications, and the soil moisture itself is subject to the soil properties while the impact of the soil moisture on evaporation or river flow is more dependent on its variation in time and space than its absolute value. What we need is a method that allows us to compare the important features of soil moisture rather than its value. In this study, we choose to study drydown as a way to capture and compare the behavior of different soil moisture data products.
Future Heavy Rainfall and Flood Risks for Native Americans under Climate and Demographic Changes: A Case Study in Oklahoma
Authors: Li Zhi , Tsoodle Theresa , Chen Mengye , Gao Shang , Zhang Jiaqi , Wen Yixin , Yang Tiantian , King Farina , Hong Yang
Published: October 2023

Climate change has posed inequitable risks to different communities. Among communities of color in the United States, Native Americans stand out because 1) they desire resources to sustain resilient nations and 2) they have developed nature-based solutions through experiences with local climate-related challenges, which can provide deep insight for the whole society. Projection of climate risks for Native Americans is essential to assess future risks and support their climate-ready nations, yet there has been lack of useable information. In this study, we projected three climate hazards—heavy rainfall, 2-yr floods, and flash floods—for tribal nations in Oklahoma. To break down into tribal jurisdictions, we utilize a coupled regional climate model at 4 km and flash-flood forecast model at 1 km. A hazard–exposure–vulnerability risk framework is applied to integrate both climate and demographic changes in a high-emissions scenario. It is found that 1) Indigenous people are the most vulnerable community in Oklahoma; 2) heavy rainfall and 2-yr floods have marked increases in risks at 501.1% and 632.6%, respectively, while flash floods have a moderate increase (296.4%); 3) Native Americans bear 68.0%, 64.3%, and 64.0% higher risks in heavy rainfall, 2-yr flooding, and flash flooding, respectively, than the general population in Oklahoma; 4) in comparing climate and demographic changes, it is seen that population growth leads to greater climate hazard risks than does climate change; and 5) emerging tribal nations are projected to have 10 times as much population, resulting in great exposures to climate extremes. This study can raise awareness of the impact of climate changes and draw attention to address climate injustice issues for minoritized communities.

Significance Statement

This study examines the impact of climate change on a marginalized community—Native Americans in Oklahoma, home to 39 federally recognized tribal nations. We utilized the high-resolution climate simulation at 4-km resolution and hydrologic simulation at 1-km resolution to aggregate three climate extremes to tribal jurisdictions. We find that climate and demographic changes disproportionately put many Native Americans at risk. The heavy rainfall, 2-yr floods, and flash floods are all projected to have increased risks by 501.1%, 632.6%, and 296.4%, respectively. Those risks are 68.0%, 64.3%, and 64.0% higher than the state average for the general population, respectively. We urge proper attention to tribal nations to address climate injustice issues as a whole with the acknowledgment of their distinct relationships to their homelands as sovereign peoples.
Privatization of preschool education: The implications for educational inequalities in cross-national perspective
Authors: Janssen Lisa , Zwier Dieuwke , van de Werfhorst Herman
Published: October 2023

Preschool education is regarded by many researchers and policymakers as a potential equalizer of educational opportunities. Yet, cross-national research shows that there exist large variations in the equalizing effects of preschool education across countries. In this paper, we study to what extent the national level of privatization of the preschool sector can explain these cross-national differences by examining its impact on the equalizing effects of preschool education. For this purpose, we use data from the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study 2016 for 24 countries. The results show that having spent more time in preschool is more strongly associated with primary school achievements for children of disadvantaged families. We find some modest support that this compensatory pattern—in which preschool compensates for a reduced set of resources in the home environment—is somewhat weaker in societies with higher levels of privatization, though not reaching conventional standards of statistical significance. The study highlights the relevance of considering the impact of national preschool settings on the distribution of preschool benefits across children with varying socioeconomic backgrounds.
Compensation control strategy of hybrid driven three-dimensional elliptical vibration assisted cutting system based on piezoelectric hysteresis model
Authors: Lu Mingming , Liu Yuyang , Fu Xifeng , Lin Jieqiong , Zhou Jiakang , Du Yongsheng , Hao Zhaopeng
Published: October 2023

Three-dimensional elliptical vibration assisted cutting (3D-EVC) technology has been widely used in many high-precision technical fields due to its high-efficiency processing characteristics. However, the hysteresis and nonlinearity caused by the piezoelectric drive in the 3D-EVC system will impact the system control accuracy. This paper mainly studies the hysteresis and nonlinearity of the system, the feedforward-gray predicted fuzzy PID compound controller based on the generalized Bouc-Wen hysteresis nonlinear model and it is designed to realize the hysteresis compensation of the system. In this paper, input voltage and output displacement are represented by a mathematical relationship, and this relationship of the 3D-EVC system will be described by the generalized Bouc-Wen model. The improved flower pollination algorithm (IFPASO) is adopted in the identification process of parameters. A compound control strategy is formed based on traditional feed-forward control combined with fuzzy PID feedback control to compensate for hysteresis and nonlinearity, and an improved gray prediction model is introduced into the feedback loop. The 3D-EVC system tracking experiment verifies the effectiveness of the designed compound controller. Experiments have proved that the hysteresis component of the system is significantly reduced after the use of the compound controller for hysteresis compensation, and the system has a higher degree of stability.
Parameterization optimal control of an unsteady partial differential equations with convection term by an improved three-term spectrum conjugate gradient algorithm
Authors: Yu Yang , Wang Yu , Pang Xinfu , Yang Guodong , Zhang Fengqi , Qi Yiwen
Published: October 2023

The unsteady partial differential equations (UPDE) with convection term gives a clear descriptions for the solidification process of a slab in dynamic production of continuous casting. To give a suitable setting value of secondary cooling water flow rate for the dynamic control system, this study investigates an optimal control problem (OCP) of UPDE with convection term. Firstly, control vector discretization of OCP and the solution of UPDE are given. Secondly, due to the rapidity for gradient, this paper analyzes the expression of the gradient calculation method based on Hamiltonian function costate system by approximate treatment, matrix calculation and composite trapezoidal integral method. Thirdly, an improved three-term spectrum conjugate gradient algorithm (ITSCGA) is proposed to solve the OCP of UPDE, and the global convergence of the ITSCGA is demonstrated. Lastly, the performance of ITSCGA is demonstrated by experimental simulations. The results demonstrate that the ITSCGA provides a smaller temperature fluctuations, and improves the quality of a slab.
Foreword to the Second Volume of the Special Issue on Veteran Community Engagement
Authors: Franco Zeno , Hooyer Katinka , Ruffalo Leslie , Fung Rae Anne Frey-Ho , Flower Mark , Whittle Jeffrey
Published: October 2023

Veteran community engagement is an evolving discipline informed by traditional community-based participatory research, veteran studies, and veterans themselves. This Special Issue suggests that research collaborations including military veterans, soldiers, and their families as co-researchers is a critical next step toward a design thinking perspective in social and healthcare systems for this population. This Special Issue was conceptualized through a veteran community-academic partnership formed over a decade ago. This partnership hosted several Warrior Summit conferences from 2013 to present, with the last of this series calling for academic contributions. The resulting papers drawn from the conference and other authors form this issue, and include a wide range of topics: veteran microdosing and psychedelic self-medication; a historical view of the impact of education exchange between U.S. and South Korean military nurses; strategies for engaging veterans in research of a theater-based intervention for PTSD; interprofessional approaches to addressing veteran identity considerations through collaborations between chaplain service and psychologists in the VA Healthcare System; an international perspective exploring a community collaborative with veterans in Montréal, Canada; efforts to build long-term and sustainable models for veteran engagement in health services research; community-engaged strategies to address veteran homelessness within broader housing stability efforts; and examining the role of veteran peer mentorship programs in alcohol recovery. These projects represent an emerging movement and offer a multidisciplinary roadmap toward honoring veterans voices in research, clinical services, and program development.
YOLOV4-TinyS: a new convolutional neural architecture for real-time detection of fabric defects in edge devices
Authors: Yang Hulin , Jing Junfeng , Wang Zhen , Huang YanQing , Song ShaoJun
Published: October 2023

Real-time detection of fabric defects is a fairly critical part of industrial production. However, there are still some key issues to be solved in practical detection production, such as low detection speed and delays in traditional cloud detection. To address these issues, in this paper, a new detection network architecture, called YOLOV4-TinyS, is proposed. Firstly, the k-medoids clustering algorithm is used to improve the matching of anchor points and ground truths for datasets with great differences. Secondly, the residual structure is changed to reduce the complexity of the network structure, and a depth-separable convolution is used instead of partial convolution to improve the detection speed. Thirdly, the output feature layer is designed with shallow feature fusion to improve the location information extraction capability and use spatial attention and channel attention to improve the network efficiency. Finally, the whole network is trained and tested on four different datasets and extensive experiments show that the network has higher detection accuracy and faster detection speed compared to existing methods. Compared to the original network, YOLOV4-Tiny, the model complexity is reduced by 67.86% and the highest detection accuracy of 99.91% is achieved. Furthermore, the establishment of an efficient fabric inspection system and the validation of the method allows for the fast detection of fabric defects on conveyor belts. Thus, the proposed method has the potential to lay the foundation for the real-time detection of fabric defects and their application in industry.
Burden or benefit: Is retail marijuana facility siting influenced by LULU- or gentrification-related neighbourhood characteristics?
Authors: Baker Dwayne Marshall
Published: October 2023

As legal marijuana is emerging as an important component of cities across the United States, it is important to understand the factors that contribute to legal marijuana facility siting. Although land use and zoning are expected to determine where commercial marijuana facilities are located, if residential characteristics also enter siting considerations, some neighbourhoods may either bear the burden of undesired facilities or reap the benefits of legal marijuana, underscoring equitable considerations in marijuana facility siting. Thus, this study examines how neighbourhood change associated with locally unwanted land uses and gentrification influences the amount of retail marijuana facilities across three US cities: Denver, Colorado; Portland, Oregon; and Seattle, Washington. Using a series of Poisson-related regressions, this study finds that neighbourhood residential characteristics influence retail marijuana facilities in ways exceeding siting restrictions alone, like zoning. Notably, quantitative results suggest that there are fewer retail marijuana facilities in neighbourhoods experiencing locally unwanted land use-related change than non-locally unwanted land use neighbourhoods in Denver and Seattle; and more retail marijuana facilities in gentrified compared to non-gentrified neighbourhoods in Denver. Overall, these findings advance understanding of the connection between legal marijuana and neighbourhood changes and aim to influence guidelines for integrating legal marijuana facilities into communities.
Acquired methaemoglobinaemia in infancy associated with acute diarrhoea: A case series
Authors: Jajoo Vipul , Masavkar Sanjeevani , Ahmed Zaki Syed , Pawar Pooja
Published: October 2023

Acute diarrhoeal illness remains a common medical problem in children with nearly 1.7 billion cases globally every year. We report five infants who, following severe diarrhoea, developed methaemoglobinemia. This is an altered state of haemoglobin presenting with cyanosis and can pose a diagnostic dilemma. It should be suspected in young infants without cyanotic heart disease presenting with severe diarrhoea, sepsis and cyanosis disproportionate to their clinical status. Its outcome depends on prompt treatment, the severity of underlying sepsis and co-morbidity.
Studying moral distress and moral injury among inpatient and outpatient healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Whitehead Phyllis B. , Haisch Carl E. , Hankey Maria S. , Mutcheson Ryan B. , Dewitt Sarah A. , Stewart Christi A. , Stewart Jonathan D. , Bath Jennifer L. , Boone Sherry M. , Jileaeva Ilona , Faulks Emily R. , Musick David W.
Published: October 2023

Objective: COVID-19 increased moral distress (MD) and moral injury (MI) among healthcare professionals (HCPs). The purpose of this study was to examine MD and MI among inpatient and outpatient HCPs during March of 2022.

The study sought to examine (1) the relationship between MD and MI; (2) the relationship between MD/MI and pandemic-related burnout and resilience; and (3) the degree to which HCPs experienced pandemic-related MD and MI based on background characteristics.

Methods: A survey was conducted to measure MD, MI, burnout, resilience, and intent to leave healthcare at two academic medical centers during a 4-week period. A convenience sample of 184 participants (physicians, nurses, residents, respiratory therapists, advanced practice providers) completed the survey. In this mixed-methods approach, researchers analyzed both quantitative and qualitative survey data and triangulated the findings.

Results: A moderate association was found between MD and MI (r = .47, P < .001). Regression results indicated that burnout was significantly associated with both MD and MI ( P = .02 and P < .001, respectively), while intent to leave was associated only with MD ( P < .001). Qualitative results yielded eight sources of MD and MI: workload, distrust, lack of teamwork/collaboration, loss of connection, lack of leadership, futile care, outside stressors, and vulnerability.

Conclusions: While interrelated conceptually, MD and MI should be viewed as distinct constructs. Many HCPs were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with MD and MI being experienced by those in all HCP categories. Understanding the sources of MD and MI among HCPs could help to improve well-being, work satisfaction, and the quality of patient care.
Administrator Political Orientations and Views on Federal Encroachment
Authors: Uttermark Matthew J.
Published: October 2023

Does a public administrator’s political orientation color how they perceive the actions and activities of the federal government? Using a long-running national survey, I measure the impact of state administrators’ party identification and ideology on several measures of federal encroachment. I find that self-identified Democratic and liberal administrators are less likely to believe that the federal government is encroaching on state actions and hold more positive evaluations of encroachment when it occurs. Additionally, I find that these beliefs are conditioned on the composition of the federal government, with the largest differences occurring under a Democratic-controlled White House and Congress.
Study on reasonable loading mode of small-scale roadway model and its application in mining engineering
Authors: Yin Yanchun , Zhu Yuanhui , Chen Yang , Qiu Yue , Chen Biao
Published: October 2023

The small-scale roadway model is often used in the fine simulation of mining engineering. The determination of the structure and load conditions of the model has an important influence on the accuracy of the simulation. In this paper, a large-scale stratum model and a small-scale roadway model are established by using finite element method. The optimal loading mode of the roadway model and its applicability under different roof-sidewall stiffness ratios are studied. The simulation accuracy of the roadway model is quantitatively evaluated by comparing the distribution laws of stress field and strain field with those of the stratum models. Under the same roof-sidewall stiffness ratio, the similarity between the simulation results of the roadway model and the stratum model under displacement load is much higher than that under stress load. Under the same load mode, the stress and strain similarity between the stratum model and roadway model increases with the increase of the roof-sidewall stiffness ratio. Furtherly, the simulation application of the roadway drilling pressure relief is carried out. Compared with the large-scale stratum model with small-size elements, the small-scale roadway model under displacement load also shows obvious stress transfer after drilling pressure relief, while it has faster computational efficiency. Finally, a small-scale roadway model simulation method suitable for surrounding rock disaster occurrence mechanism and control is proposed.