bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RETRACTED ARTICLE: The Application of Artificial Immune Network in E-Commerce Credit Risk Assessment
Authors: Zhang Ruijuan
Published: September 2023

In order to improve the accuracy of e-commerce credit risk assessment, this paper suggests utilizing an artificial immune network to upgrade the text mining algorithm. Through this process, a new e-commerce risk assessment model reliant on the improved algorithm can be constructed with the intention of decreasing the likelihood of risk in digital transactions. The results show that the accuracy and loss rate of the improved clustering algorithm are 97.3% and 4.3%, respectively, both of which are better than the comparison algorithm. Then, the empirical analysis of the e-commerce credit risk assessment model proposed in the study shows that the average fitness and accuracy of the model after stability are 0.0022 and 95.63%, respectively, demonstrating superior performance compared to the comparison model. The above results show that the improved algorithm and the risk assessment model have good performance. Therefore, using this model to evaluate the credit risk of e-commerce can not only improve the accuracy of credit evaluation and promote the sustainable development of e-commerce. Furthermore, it can catalyze the adoption of innovative credit evaluation methods and promote the application of artificial intelligence technology in e-commerce.
The migrant pay gap in Spain: Where do the differences come from?
Authors: Pinto Fernando , Martínez Rosa , Delgado Rodriguez María Jesús , Murillo Encarnación
Published: September 2023

This paper focuses on the migrant pay gap in Spain. Going beyond descriptive evidence of the differences between immigrants and nationals in terms of wages, we analyse which part of the gross wage is most affected by features that cannot be captured using econometric models. Relying on microdata from the Wage Structure Survey, we divide the total gross wage into two main parts: base wage and wage supplements. Then we decompose the migrant wage gap into the explained and the unexplained terms, using a simple decomposition methodology, the Oaxaca-Blinder model. Our results show that a part of the differences in wage supplements does not seem to be explained by the set of control variables introduced in the model and that this effect is more pronounced when only men are considered. These findings offer a new perspective on the migrant pay gap in Spain and point to the importance of wage-setting practices related to wage supplements in explaining (and widening) the total migrant pay gap in our country.
Constraints on subglacial melt fluxes from observations of active subglacial lake recharge
Authors: Malczyk George , Gourmelen Noel , Werder Mauro , Wearing Martin , Goldberg Dan
Published: September 2023

Active subglacial lakes provide a rare glimpse of the subglacial environment and hydrological processes at play. Several studies contributed to establishing active subglacial lake inventories and document lake drainage and connection, but few focused on the period between lake drainage when the melt production and transport contribute to the refilling of these lakes. In this study, we employ high-resolution CryoSat-2 altimetry data from 2010 to 2021 to compile an inventory of recharging lakes across Antarctica. We extract recharge rates from these lakes, which serve as a lower limit on subglacial melt production. These recharge rates are compared against predictions obtained by routing modelled subglacial meltwater at the ice-sheet's base. Our findings indicate that modelled recharge rates are consistent with observations in all but one of the investigated lakes, providing a lower bound on geothermal heat fluxes. Lake Cook E2 displays recharge rates far exceeding predictions, indicating that processes are taking place that are currently unaccounted for. Considering recharge in hydrologically connected lake networks instead of individually provides a stricter constraint on melt production. Recharge rates extracted from the Thwaites Lake system suggest that subglacial melt production has been underestimated.
New contributions to the subfamily Polycerinae (Nudibranchia, Polyceridae): description of three new species and one new genus
Authors: Pola Marta , Miguel-González María , Paz-Sedano Sofía
Published: September 2023

The subfamily Polycerinae includes eight genera, from the monospecific Lamellana and Lecithophorus to the diverse Polycera and Gymnodoris, with 33 and 26 valid species, respectively. The monophyly of the subfamily has been tested by molecular data although not all genera were included. To date, relationships within the subfamily are not supported. In the present paper, three new species of polycerid nudibranchs are fully described based on specimens collected in Marshall Islands and Australia: one Palio species (Palio gaeli sp. nov.), one Polycera species (Polycera nimbsi sp. nov.) and a new genus (Paliota galactica gen. and sp. nov.). The new genus is described based on its peculiar radular teeth and genetic divergence.

The internal anatomy was studied by dissections and scanning electron microscope photographs. Partial sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI) and 16S ribosomal RNA (16S) as well as nuclear histone H3 (H3) were also obtained. A phylogenetic framework for two of these three species is proposed, also including for the first time the species Paliolla templadoi and Polycera melanosticta.
Informal third-party actors in street-level welfare decisions: a case study of Pakistan social assistance
Authors: Farwa Aniqa , Henman Paul
Published: September 2023

Research on street-level bureaucracy has tended to focus on individual and organisational factors that influence street-level practice. To date, empirical research has insufficiently explored the contribution of wider socio-cultural factors in street-level decision making. Drawing on data from a qualitative study of social assistance in Pakistan, this article examines how cultural patronage practices of sifarish intersect with street-level social welfare operations. Results highlight the importance of sifarish in informing decision-making processes and in enabling access to social assistance. In this manner, people providing sifarish (called sifarishie) operate as informal third-party actors. The findings challenge the dominant view of street-level operation that the decision making at street level is solely guided by individual and organisational factors.
Intersections of phenomenology, voice beliefs and distress in bipolar disorder: a comparison with schizophrenia
Authors: Smith Lindsay , Rossell Susan L. , Thomas Neil , Toh Wei Lin
Published: September 2023

Background:

Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH), or voice-hearing, can be a prominent symptom during fluctuating mood states in bipolar disorder (BD).

Aims:

The current study aimed to: (i) compare AVH-related distress in BD relative to schizophrenia (SCZ), (ii) examine correlations between phenomenology and voice beliefs across each group, and (iii) explore how voice beliefs may uniquely contribute to distress in BD and SCZ.

Method:

Participants were recruited from two international sites in Australia (BD=31; SCZ=50) and the UK (BD=17). Basic demographic-clinical information was collected, and mood symptoms were assessed. To document AVH characteristics, a 4-factor model of the Psychotic Symptoms Rating Scale and the Beliefs about Voices Questionnaire-Revised were used. Statistical analyses consisted of group-wise comparisons, Pearson’s correlations and multiple hierarchical regressions.

Results:

It was found that AVH-related distress was not significantly higher in BD than SCZ, but those with BD made significantly more internal attributions for their voices. In the BD group, AVH-related distress was significantly positively correlated with malevolence, omnipotence and resistance, However, only resistance, alongside mania and depressive symptoms, significantly contributed to AVH-related distress in BD.

Discussion:

Our findings have several clinical implications, including identification of voice resistance as a potential therapeutic target to prioritise in BD. Factoring in the influence of mood symptoms on AVH-related distress as well as adopting more acceptance-oriented therapies may also be of benefit.
A Revolution in Property: Tocqueville and Beaumont on Democratic Inheritance Reform
Authors: Holland Thomas James
Published: September 2023

Among the most controversial reforms investigated by Alexis de Tocqueville and Gustave de Beaumont was the idea of using inheritance as an instrument to diffuse property ownership. This article offers the first comparative account of the development of this concept across each of their major works. By situating their interventions within wider inheritance law debates, it is demonstrated how their evolving visions of democracy forced them to innovatively combine two normative arguments: (i) diffusing property ownership via inheritance was a precondition for placing democracy upon stable political foundations, and (ii) this could counter the rise of pauperism and the extreme wealth inequality of nineteenth-century industrial society. Far from being an anachronistic republican notion, such reforms were long considered too radical to be implemented in England and Ireland.
Tempering the Marital Mind: Civic Regimens of Love and Marriage in German Mid-Eighteenth-Century Moral Weeklies
Authors: Rydberg Andreas
Published: September 2023

This article contributes to the historiography of romantic marriage in the eighteenth century by analyzing discourses on marital love and happiness in the moral weeklies of the German writers Georg Friedrich Meier and Samuel Gotthold Lange. Meier and Lange raise overarching questions about why so many marriages are unhappy and argue that long-term marital contentment requires spouses to discover and confirm each other's qualities and abilities on a daily basis. Each must reflect and affirm the other while also practicing a kind of de-escalation in conflict situations, for instance by withdrawing and calming oneself before facing problems anew. I argue that this apparently modern therapeutic approach to marital relationships was part of a civic morality in the making, a morality that pointed forward to the emergence of a modern individual self while also being rooted in a long tradition of spiritual exercises and therapeutic regimens.
Typen von Familienzentren
Authors: Knör Emely , Rüdisüli Janine , Sechtig Jutta , Vogt Franziska
Published: September 2023

Zusammenfassung. Familienzentren sind Orte, die Angebote für Familien in einer Einrichtung bündeln. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht in einer länderübergreifenden Perspektive Familienzentren in der Bodenseeregion. Berichtet werden Ergebnisse einer Online-Befragung von 129 Familienzentren zu Angeboten, Strukturen sowie Zugangswegen und Strategien zur Erreichbarkeit von Familien. Eine latente Klassenanalyse identifizierte vier Typen von Familienzentren: „Vielfalt und Fokus Sprache“, „Vielfalt und Fokus Kita“, „Fokus Elternbildung und -beratung“, „Fokus Eltern-Kind-Angebote“. Sie unterscheiden sich u.a. hinsichtlich der Strategien zur Erreichbarkeit von Familien. Konsequenzen für die Weiterentwicklung von Familienzentren werden diskutiert.
Characteristics and Dynamics of the Interannual Eddy Kinetic Energy Variation in the Central Pacific Sector of the Southern Ocean
Authors: Fu Guanqi , Yang Yang , Liang X. San , Zhao Yuhui
Published: September 2023

Mesoscale eddies play a crucial role in the dynamical balance of the Southern Ocean (SO) circulation. Yet, it remains unclear why the SO transient eddy activity has significant variations on interannual time scales, and to what extent these low‐frequency variations are attributed to wind forcing changes. Here we use a functional analysis tool, namely, the multiscale window transform (MWT), the MWT‐based theory of canonical transfer and a time‐dependent energetics framework to investigate these issues. Our focus is on the central Pacific sector of the SO in which there is a significant time‐mean and interannual variability of the eddy kinetic energy (EKE). It is found that wind stress does not directly contribute to the interannual EKE variability through wind power injection to the eddies; instead, the influence is fulfilled indirectly through two internal pathways. First, the baroclinic pathway in which the wind‐generated mean kinetic energy (MKE) is converted to the mean available potential energy (APE), and is further released to eddy APE and finally to EKE through baroclinic instability, is the dominant one. Second, the barotropic pathway, in which MKE directly fuels EKE through barotropic instability, is faster but secondary, and its influence is only concentrated along the axis of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Our results highlight the dynamical connections between the internal and external processes in the SO energy system, and provide insights into the predictability of the SO eddies on interannual time scales.
Freshwater Displacement Effect on the Weddell Gyre Carbon Budget
Authors: Taylor Benjamin A. , MacGilchrist Graeme A. , Mazloff Matthew R. , Talley Lynne D.
Published: September 2023

The Weddell Gyre mediates carbon exchange between the abyssal ocean and atmosphere, which is critical to global climate. This region also features large and highly variable freshwater fluxes due to seasonal sea ice, net precipitation, and glacial melt; however, the impact of these freshwater fluxes on the regional carbon cycle has not been fully appreciated. Using a novel budget analysis of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) mass in the Biogeochemical Southern Ocean State Estimate, we highlight two freshwater‐driven transports. Where freshwater with minimal DIC enters the ocean, it displaces DIC‐rich seawater outwards, driving a lateral transport of 75 ± 5 Tg DIC/year. Additionally, sea ice export requires a compensating import of seawater, which carries 48 ± 11 Tg DIC/year into the gyre. Though often overlooked, these freshwater displacement effects are of leading order in the Weddell Gyre carbon budget in the state estimate and in regrouped box‐inversion estimates, with implications for evaluating basin‐scale carbon transport.
Sources of Air Pollution Health Impacts and Co‐Benefits of Carbon Neutrality in Santiago, Chile
Authors: Nawaz M. Omar , Henze Daven K. , Huneeus Nicolás J. , Osses Mauricio , Álamos Nicolás , Opazo Mariel A. , Gallardo Laura
Published: September 2023

The population of Santiago, Chile, experiences air pollution above global health guidelines that is attributable in part to large anthropogenic emissions. This is compounded by geographic features and meteorological conditions that are prone to pollution accumulation as well as secondary pollution production. In recent years, there have been improvements in air quality; however, the future of air pollution in Santiago remains unclear due to its growing population and increased vehicle use. Mitigation efforts can be supported by characterizing sources of air pollution and estimating how changes in emissions could affect air quality in future years. In this study, we conduct simulations using a chemical transport model (GEOS‐Chem) and perform adjoint calculations to characterize the relationship between health impacts associated with exposure to PM2.5, O3, and NO2 and anthropogenic emissions. We incorporate model updates in a new nested domain simulation over Central South America including local and regional anthropogenic emissions inventories for Chile. We estimate that 2,490 (1,360, 4,060) PM2.5‐ and O3‐related premature deaths and 5,350 (1,320, 11,330) NO2‐related new pediatric asthma cases were associated with pollution exposure in Santiago in 2015 and that a majority of these health impacts were attributable to anthropogenic emissions. We identify emissions from transportation, energy generation, and residential combustion as the leading contributors to these health impacts. Additionally, we estimate that Chile's commitment to attain carbon neutrality by 2050 could result in benefits in Santiago of 3,230 (1,240, 7,160) avoided deaths and 2,590 (640, 5,500) avoided pediatric asthma cases in 2050 compared to business‐as‐usual emissions.
Predictive Deep Learning for High‐Dimensional Inverse Modeling of Hydraulic Tomography in Gaussian and Non‐Gaussian Fields
Authors: Guo Quan , Liu Ming , Luo Jian
Published: September 2023

Inverse modeling of hydraulic tomography (HT) is computationally expensive for estimating high‐dimensional hydrogeologic parameter fields. In this work, we develop a novel method called HT‐INV‐NN, which combines dimensionality reduction techniques with a predictive deep learning (DL) model to estimate high‐dimensional Gaussian and non‐Gaussian channel fields. The HT‐INV‐NN model consists of a predictor that directly learns the inverse process from hydraulic head measurements to latent variables of random fields, and a decoder that generates high‐dimensional parameter fields from predicted latent variables. For Gaussian spatially correlated fields, the decoder utilizes principal components derived from spatial covariance, and for non‐Gaussian channel fields, a generative adversarial network (GAN) is trained using generated realizations based on a training image (TI). The predictor is a deep neural network calibrated using the reference data obtained from HT forward simulations, which can be implemented in parallel. HT‐INV‐NN is successfully tested in multiple numerical experiments including steady‐state and transient HT for estimating Gaussian fields in 2D and 3D, as well as binary discontinuous or continuous non‐Gaussian channel fields. The training process is efficient, and the model structure demonstrates robustness for input data with perturbations. The model performance on multiple validation data sets are satisfactory when compared with other numerical and deep learning methods.
Double heterozygous pathogenic mutations in KIF3C and ZNF513 cause hereditary gingival fibromatosis
Authors: Chen Jianfan , Xu Xueqing , Chen Song , Lu Ting , Zheng Yingchun , Gan Zhongzhi , Shen Zongrui , Ma Shunfei , Wang Duocai , Su Leyi , He Fei , Shang Xuan , Xu Huiyong , Chen Dong , Zhang Leitao , Xiong Fu
Published: September 2023

Hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) is a rare inherited condition with fibromatoid hyperplasia of the gingival tissue that exhibits great genetic heterogeneity. Five distinct loci related to non-syndromic HGF have been identified; however, only two disease-causing genes, SOS1 and REST, inducing HGF have been identified at two loci, GINGF1 and GINGF5, respectively. Here, based on a family pedigree with 26 members, including nine patients with HGF, we identified double heterozygous pathogenic mutations in the ZNF513 (c.C748T, p.R250W) and KIF3C (c.G1229A, p.R410H) genes within the GINGF3 locus related to HGF. Functional studies demonstrated that the ZNF513 p.R250W and KIF3C p.R410H variants significantly increased the expression of ZNF513 and KIF3C in vitro and in vivo. ZNF513, a transcription factor, binds to KIF3C exon 1 and participates in the positive regulation of KIF3C expression in gingival fibroblasts. Furthermore, a knock-in mouse model confirmed that heterozygous or homozygous mutations within Zfp513 (p.R250W) or Kif3c (p.R412H) alone do not led to clear phenotypes with gingival fibromatosis, whereas the double mutations led to gingival hyperplasia phenotypes. In addition, we found that ZNF513 binds to the SOS1 promoter and plays an important positive role in regulating the expression of SOS1. Moreover, the KIF3C p.R410H mutation could activate the PI3K and KCNQ1 potassium channels. ZNF513 combined with KIF3C regulates gingival fibroblast proliferation, migration, and fibrosis response via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathways. In summary, these results demonstrate ZNF513 + KIF3C as an important genetic combination in HGF manifestation and suggest that ZNF513 mutation may be a major risk factor for HGF.
Epithelial specific splicing regulator proteins as emerging oncogenes in aggressive prostate cancer
Authors: Advani Rahul , Luzzi Sara , Scott Emma , Dalgliesh Caroline , Weischenfeldt Joachim , Munkley Jennifer , Elliott David J.
Published: September 2023

Prostate cancer progression is connected to the activity of conventional oncogenes and tumour suppressors and driven by circulating steroid hormones. A key issue has been how to identify and care for aggressively developing prostate tumours. Here we discuss how expression of the splicing regulators ESRP1 and ESRP2, and how their role as “masterminds” of epithelial splicing patterns, have been identified as markers of aggressively proliferating prostate primary tumours. We suggest that the origin of prostate cancer within epithelial cells, and the subsequent association of ESRP1 and ESRP2 expression with more aggressive disease progression, identify ESRP1 and ESRP2 as lineage survival oncogenes. To move this field on in the future it will be important to identify the gene expression targets controlled by ESRP1/2 that regulate prostate cancer proliferation. Potential future therapies could be designed to target ESRP1 and ESRP2 protein activity or their regulated splice isoforms in aggressive prostate tumours. Design of these therapies is potentially complicated by the risk of producing a more mesenchymal splicing environment that might promote tumour metastasis.
PPM1K mediates metabolic disorder of branched-chain amino acid and regulates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by activating ferroptosis in neurons
Authors: Li Tao , Zhao Lili , Li Ye , Dang Meijuan , Lu Jialiang , Lu Ziwei , Huang Qiao , Yang Yang , Feng Yuxuan , Wang Xiaoya , Jian Yating , Wang Heying , Guo Yingying , Zhang Lei , Jiang Yu , Fan Songhua , Wu Shengxi , Fan Hong , Kuang Fang , Zhang Guilian
Published: September 2023

Ischemic stroke is a neurological disorder caused by vascular stenosis or occlusion, accounting for approximately 87% of strokes. Clinically, the most effective therapy for ischemic stroke is vascular recanalization, which aims to rescue neurons undergoing ischemic insults. Although reperfusion therapy is the most effective treatment for ischemic stroke, it still has limited benefits for many patients, and ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a widely recognized cause of poor prognosis. Here, we aim to investigate the mechanism of protein phosphatase Mg2+/Mn2+ dependent 1 K (PPM1K) mediates metabolic disorder of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) by promoting fatty acid oxidation led to ferroptosis after cerebral I/R injury. We established the I/R model in mice and used BT2, a highly specific BCAA dehydrogenase (BCKD) kinase inhibitor to promote BCAA metabolism. It was further verified by lentivirus knocking down PPM1K in neurons. We found that BCAA levels were elevated after I/R injury due to dysfunctional oxidative degradation caused by phosphorylated BCKD E1α subunit (BCKDHA). Additionally, the level of phosphorylated BCKDHA was determined by decreased PPM1K in neurons. We next demonstrated that BCAA could induce oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and ferroptosis in primary cultured cortical neurons in vitro. Our results further showed that BT2 could reduce neuronal ferroptosis by enhancing BCAA oxidation through inhibition of BCKDHA phosphorylation. We further found that defective BCAA catabolism could induce neuronal ferroptosis by PPM1K knockdown. Furthermore, BT2 was found to alleviate neurological behavior disorders after I/R injury in mice, and the effect was similar to ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1. Our findings reveal a novel role of BCAA in neuronal ferroptosis after cerebral ischemia and provide a new potential target for the treatment of ischemic stroke.
The oleic/palmitic acid imbalance in exosomes isolated from NAFLD patients induces necroptosis of liver cells via the elongase-6/RIP-1 pathway
Authors: Scavo Maria Principia , Negro Roberto , Arrè Valentina , Depalo Nicoletta , Carrieri Livianna , Rizzi Federica , Mastrogiacomo Rita , Serino Grazia , Notarnicola Maria , De Nunzio Valentina , Lippolis Tamara , Pesole Pasqua Letizia , Coletta Sergio , Armentano Raffaele , Curri Maria Lucia , Giannelli Gianluigi
Published: September 2023

Excessive toxic lipid accumulation in hepatocytes underlies the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), phenotypically characterized by necrosis and steato-fibrosis, whose molecular mechanism is not yet fully understood. Patients with NAFLD display an imbalanced palmitic (PA) to oleic acid (OA) ratio. Moreover, increasing experimental evidence points out a relevant involvement of the exosomal content in disease progression. Aim of the study was to highlight the PA/OA imbalance within circulating exosomes, the subsequent intracellular alterations, and the impact on NALFD. Liver cells were challenged with exosomes isolated from both healthy subjects and NAFLD patients. The exosomal PA/OA ratio was artificially modified, and biological effects were evaluated. A NAFLD-derived exosomal PA/OA imbalance impacts liver cell cycle and cell viability. OA-modified NAFLD-derived exosomes restored cellular viability and proliferation, whereas the inclusion of PA into healthy subjects-derived exosomes negatively affected cell viability. Moreover, while OA reduced the phosphorylation and activation of the necroptosis marker, Receptor-interacting protein 1 (phospho-RIP-1), PA induced the opposite outcome, alongside increased levels of stress fibers, such as vimentin and fibronectin. Administration of NAFLD-derived exosomes led to increased expression of Elongase 6 (ELOVL6), Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), Mixed-lineage-kinase-domain-like-protein (MLKL) and RIP-1 in the hepatocytes, comparable to mRNA levels in the hepatocytes of NAFLD patients reported in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Genetic and pharmacological abrogation of ELOVL6 elicited a reduced expression of downstream molecules TNF-α, phospho-RIP-1, and phospho-MLKL upon administration of NAFLD-derived exosomes. Lastly, mice fed with high-fat diet exhibited higher phospho-RIP-1 than mice fed with control diet. Targeting the Elongase 6–RIP-1 signaling pathway offers a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of the NALFD-induced exosomal PA/OA imbalance.
A linear weighted combination of polygenic scores for a broad range of traits improves prediction of coronary heart disease
Authors: Norland Kristjan , Schaid Daniel J. , Kullo Iftikhar J.
Published: September 2023

Polygenic scores (PGS) for coronary heart disease (CHD) are constructed using GWAS summary statistics for CHD. However, pleiotropy is pervasive in biology and disease-associated variants often share etiologic pathways with multiple traits. Therefore, incorporating GWAS summary statistics of additional traits could improve the performance of PGS for CHD. Using lasso regression models, we developed two multi-PGS for CHD: 1) multiPGSCHD, utilizing GWAS summary statistics for CHD, its risk factors, and other ASCVD as training data and the UK Biobank for tuning, and 2) extendedPGSCHD, using existing PGS for a broader range of traits in the PGS Catalog as training data and the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC) cohort for tuning. We evaluated the performance of multiPGSCHD and extendedPGSCHD in the Mayo Clinic Biobank, an independent cohort of 43,578 adults of European ancestry which included 4,479 CHD cases and 39,099 controls. In the Mayo Clinic Biobank, a 1 SD increase in multiPGSCHD and extendedPGSCHD was associated with a 1.66-fold (95% CI: 1.60–1.71) and 1.70-fold (95% CI: 1.64–1.76) increased odds of CHD, respectively, in models that included age, sex, and 10 PCs, whereas an already published PGS for CHD (CHD_PRSCS) increased the odds by 1.50 (95% CI: 1.45–1.56). In the highest deciles of extendedPGSCHD, multiPGSCHD, and CHD_PRSCS, 18.4%, 17.5%, and 16.3% of patients had CHD, respectively.
Prevalence, temporal course and risk factors for phantom eye symptoms in uveal melanoma
Authors: Brown Stephen L. , Hope-Stone Laura , Hussain Rumana N. , Heimann Heinrich , van der Voort Nicola , Cherry M. Gemma
Published: September 2023

Background

Phantom eye symptoms (PES), particularly phantom visual sensations (PVS) and phantom eye pain (PEP), are common in enucleated patients and can lead to psychological distress. Current cross-sectional studies cannot examine the temporal course of symptoms, nor can they identify dynamic risk factors or consequences of PES.

Methods

Cohort study of 105 enucleated uveal melanoma patients returning self-report questionnaires, within 4 weeks of diagnosis and 6-, 12- and 24-months post-treatment. Questionnaires measuring PVS and PEP symptoms in the week prior to completion, pain severity, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy scale (FACT-G) measuring quality of life.

Results

PVS and PEP emerged after 6 months, were relatively stable over the study and did not remit. PVS showed 6-, 12- and 24-month prevalence rates of 44.6%, 48.2% and 30.2%, and PEP 16.1%, 18.4% and 17.5% respectively. PVS were generally elementary, with only 10–15% of the total cohort experiencing complex sensations. PEP was generally neither prolonged nor intense, except in a small proportion. PVS and PEP were showed moderate associations but did not predict each other prospectively. Anxiety within 4 weeks of diagnosis was a risk factor for the initiation of PEP. Neither PVS nor PEP prospectively predicted anxiety, depression or quality of life.

Conclusions

PES were prevalent and non-remitting, beginning within 6 months of enucleation. PVS and PEP may not represent symptoms of a coherent syndrome. We discuss findings with reference to theories of phantom sensations, and directions for clinical practise and research.
Previous infection with seasonal coronaviruses does not protect male Syrian hamsters from challenge with SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Francis Magen E. , Jansen Ethan B. , Yourkowski Anthony , Selim Alaa , Swan Cynthia L. , MacPhee Brian K. , Thivierge Brittany , Buchanan Rachelle , Lavender Kerry J. , Darbellay Joseph , Rogers Matthew B. , Lew Jocelyne , Gerdts Volker , Falzarano Darryl , Skowronski Danuta M. , Sjaarda Calvin , Kelvin Alyson A.
Published: September 2023

SARS-CoV-2 variants and seasonal coronaviruses continue to cause disease and coronaviruses in the animal reservoir pose a constant spillover threat. Importantly, understanding of how previous infection may influence future exposures, especially in the context of seasonal coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2 variants, is still limited. Here we adopted a step-wise experimental approach to examine the primary immune response and subsequent immune recall toward antigenically distinct coronaviruses using male Syrian hamsters. Hamsters were initially inoculated with seasonal coronaviruses (HCoV-NL63, HCoV-229E, or HCoV-OC43), or SARS-CoV-2 pango B lineage virus, then challenged with SARS-CoV-2 pango B lineage virus, or SARS-CoV-2 variants Beta or Omicron. Although infection with seasonal coronaviruses offered little protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge, HCoV-NL63-infected animals had an increase of the previously elicited HCoV-NL63-specific neutralizing antibodies during challenge with SARS-CoV-2. On the other hand, primary infection with HCoV-OC43 induced distinct T cell gene signatures. Gene expression profiling indicated interferon responses and germinal center reactions to be induced during more similar primary infection-challenge combinations while signatures of increased inflammation as well as suppression of the antiviral response were observed following antigenically distant viral challenges. This work characterizes and analyzes seasonal coronaviruses effect on SARS-CoV-2 secondary infection and the findings are important for pan-coronavirus vaccine design.
A systematic review of neuroimaging studies of clozapine-resistant schizophrenia
Authors: Pang Tiffanie Sze Wing , Chun Johnny Siu Wah , Wong Ting Yat , Chu Sin Ting , Ma Chak Fai , Honer William G. , Chan Sherry Kit Wa
Published: September 2023

This systematic review aimed to review neuroimaging studies comparing clozapine-resistant schizophrenia patients with clozapine-responding patients, and with first-line antipsychotic responding (FLR) patients. A total of 19 studies including 6 longitudinal studies were identified. Imaging techniques comprised computerized tomography (CT, n = 3), structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, n = 7), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS, n = 5), functional MRI (n = 1), single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT, n = 3) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI, n = 1). The most consistent finding was hypo-frontality in the clozapine-resistant group compared with the clozapine-responding group with possible differences in frontal-striatal-basal ganglia circuitry as well as the GABA level between the two treatment-resistant groups. Additional statistically significant findings were reported when comparing clozapine-resistant patients with the FLR group, including lower cortical thickness and brain volume of multiple brain regions as well as lower Glx/Cr level in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Both treatment-resistant groups were found to have extensive differences in neurobiological features in comparison with the FLR group. Overall results suggested treatment-resistant schizophrenia is likely to be a neurobiological distinct type of the illness. Clozapine-resistant and clozapine-responding schizophrenia are likely to have both shared and distinct neurobiological features. However, conclusions from existing studies are limited, and future multi-center collaborative studies are required with a consensus clinical definition of patient samples, multimodal imaging tools, and longitudinal study designs.
Comparison of conventional mechanical ventilation and high-frequency oscillatory ventilation in congenital diaphragmatic hernias: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yang Hee-Beom , Pierro Agostino , Kim Hyun-Young
Published: September 2023

Outcomes of conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) and high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) in patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) were compared through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Outcome measures included mortality and incidence of chronic lung disease (CLD). Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were evaluated. Subgroup analyses were performed according to the strategy for applying HFOV in CDH patients. Group A: CMV was initially applied in all CDH patients, and HFOV was applied in unstable patients. Group B: chronologically analyzed. (CMV and HFOV era) Group C: CMV or HFOV was used as the initial MV. Of the 2199 abstracts screened, 15 full-text articles were analyzed. Regarding mortality, 16.7% (365/2180) and 32.8% (456/1389) patients died in CMV and HFOV, respectively (OR, 2.53; 95%CI 2.12–3.01). Subgroup analyses showed significantly worse, better, and equivalent mortality for HFOV than that for CMV in group A, B, and C, respectively. CLD occurred in 32.4% (399/1230) and 49.3% (369/749) patients in CMV and HFOV, respectively (OR, 2.37; 95%CI 1.93–2.90). The evidence from the literature is poor. Mortality and the incidence of CLD appear worse after HFOV in children with CDH. Cautious interpretation is needed due to the heterogeneity of each study.
Dual-sense slot-based CP MIMO antenna with polarization bandwidth reconfigurability
Authors: Hussain Niamat , Aljaloud Khaled , Hussain Rifaqat , Alqahtani Ali H. , Khan Zia Ullah , Tahir Farooq A. , Abbasi Qammer H.
Published: September 2023

In this letter, a compact, planar circularly polarized (CP) sub-GHz slot-based multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna with dual sense CP along with polarization bandwidth reconfigurability is presented. The pentagonal reactively loaded slot is fed by two folded tapered feedlines to achieve CP. The antenna offers left-hand-circular polarization (RHCP) with the as well as right hand circular polarization (LHCP). The antenna exhibit linearly polarization (LP) by exciting two ports simultaneously. Moreover, the antenna CP resonance can be reconfigured by varying the capacitance of the varactor diode. The antenna has a wide −10 dB operating frequency band from 578–929 MHz. while the axial ratio (AR) bandwidth ranges from 490–810 MHz. Moreover, the two elements MIMO are optimized and placed on compact dimensions 100 × 100 × 0.76 mm3 to realize pattern diversity. The antenna’s key characteristics are compact size, wide-band sub-GHz operation, dual sense CP, polarization bandwidth reconfigurability and good MIMO performance. Thus, it is a suitable candidate to be utilized in CubeSats applications in sub-GHz bands.
Sunlight perception and outdoor thermal comfort in college campuses: a new perspective
Authors: Ning Shaobo , Jing Wenqiang , Ge Zhemin
Published: September 2023

The thermal comfort of outdoor spaces in colleges and universities is crucial for promoting outdoor activities and relieving psychological pressure. To evaluate outdoor thermal comfort from a new perspective, this study investigated subjects' sunlight perception through physical measurements and questionnaires. Sunlight perception was delineated through a combination of subjective assessments and objective measurements. Subjective assessments encapsulated thermal comfort and sensation votes, and sunlight sensitivity. Objective measurements incorporated physical environmental data such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, illumination, and solar radiation. The Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) was used to examine the thermal sensation of subjects under different sun perceptions to reveal the effect of sunshine sensitivity on subjects. The results showed that in terms of subjective perception, the proportion of people who felt hot outdoors increased with the increase in sunlight perception. Additionally, with the change of sunlight perception, the expected temperature of the crowd also changed. As the sunlight perception changed from weak to strong, the desired temperature of the winter population changed from 21.2 °C to 17.7 °C, and the desired temperature of the autumn population changed from 23.8 °C to 19.8 °C. Appropriately increasing shade outdoors in autumn would enhance the comfort of the crowd, while appropriately increasing the light place in the winter outdoors would enhance the comfort of the crowd. These findings provide valuable insights for thermal comfort design and future research in colleges located in cold areas.
Differences in the phospholipid profile of melanocytes and melanoma cells irradiated with UVA and treated with cannabigerol and cannabidiol
Authors: Łuczaj Wojciech , Dobrzyńska Izabela , Skrzydlewska Elżbieta
Published: September 2023

UV radiation inducing mutations in melanocytes might cause melanoma. As changes in lipid composition and metabolism are associated with many types of cancer including skin cancer, we aimed to evaluate the effects of two phytocannabinoids cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG), on changes in phospholipid and ceramide (CER) profiles induced by UVA irradiation in human melanocytes and melanoma. UVA radiation caused a significant up-regulation PC, PI and SM species and decrease of CERs content in both types of cells, while up-regulation of PEo was only observed in melanocytes. Exposure of UVA-irradiated melanocytes or melanoma cells to CBD and/or CBG led to significant decrease in relative content of PC, PI and SM specie; however, this effect was more pronounced in cancer cells. Interestingly, only in UVA-irradiated melanocytes and not in melanoma, PEo content was lowered after CBD treatment, while CBG led to additional up-regulation of PEo species. CBD and CBG used together caused decrease of zeta potential, inhibiting PS externalization, and different changes in relative contents of CER and SM species of irradiated and non-irradiated melanoma cells. Obtained results are quite promising due to CBD and CBG abilities to partial reverse pro-cancerogenic changes in phospholipid and CER profiles induced by UVA.
Use of biomarkers for predicting a malignant course in acute ischemic stroke: an observational case–control study
Authors: Guimarães de Almeida Barros Alexandre , Roquim e Silva Lucas , Pessoa Alberlúcio , Eiras Falcão Antonio , Viana Magno Luiz Alexandre , Valadão Freitas Rosa Daniela , Aurelio Romano Silva Marco , Marques de Miranda Debora , Nicolato Rodrigo
Published: September 2023

Acute ischemic stroke is a sudden neurological event caused by brain ischemia. Patients with large vessel occlusion are at high risk of developing significant cerebral edema, which can lead to rapid neurological decline. The optimal timing for decompressive hemicraniectomy to prevent further brain damage is still uncertain. This study aimed to identify potential predictors of severe brain edema. The data indicate that specific cytokines may help identify patients with a higher risk of developing life-threatening brain swelling in the early phase post-stroke. The association between a positive biomarker and the outcome was calculated, and three biomarkers—S100B protein, MMP-9, and IL-10—were found to be significantly associated with malignant edema. A model was derived for early predicting malignant cerebral edema, including S100B protein and IL-1 beta. These findings suggest that molecular biomarkers related to the ischemic cascade may be a helpful way of predicting the development of malignant cerebral edema in ischemic stroke patients, potentially widening the time window for intervention and assisting in decision-making. In conclusion, this study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of severe brain edema and highlights the potential use of biomarkers in predicting the course of ischemic stroke.
Low dosage combination treatment with metformin and simvastatin inhibits obesity-promoted pancreatic cancer development in male KrasG12D mice
Authors: Teper Yaroslav , Ye Linda , Waldron Richard T. , Lugea Aurelia , Sun Xiaoying , Sinnett-Smith James , Hines Oscar J. , Pandol Stephen J. , Rozengurt Enrique , Eibl Guido
Published: September 2023

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a highly lethal disease with limited therapeutic options, may benefit from repurposing of FDA-approved drugs in preventive or interceptive strategies in high-risk populations. Previous animal studies demonstrated that the use of metformin and statins as single agents at relatively high doses restrained PDAC development. Here, four-week-old mice expressing KrasG12D in all pancreatic lineages (KC mice) and fed an obesogenic high fat, high calorie diet that promotes early PDAC development were randomized onto low dosage metformin, simvastatin, or both drugs in combination administered orally. Dual treatment attenuated weight gain, fibro-inflammation, and development of advanced PDAC precursor lesions (pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia [PanIN]-3) in male KC mice, without significant effect in females or when administered individually. Dual-treated KC mice had reduced proliferation of PanIN cells and decreased transcriptional activity of the Hippo effectors, YAP and TAZ, which are important regulators of PDAC development. Metformin and simvastatin also synergistically inhibited colony formation of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. Together, our data demonstrated that a combination of low doses of metformin and simvastatin inhibits PDAC development and imply that both drugs are promising agents for being tested in clinical trials for preventing pancreatic cancer progression.
Tomato growth stage modulates bacterial communities across different soil aggregate sizes and disease levels
Authors: Dong Menghui , Kuramae Eiko E , Zhao Mengli , Li Rong , Shen Qirong , Kowalchuk George A
Published: September 2023

Soil aggregates contain distinct physio-chemical properties across different size classes. These differences in micro-habitats support varied microbial communities and modulate the effect of plant on microbiome, which affect soil functions such as disease suppression. However, little is known about how the residents of different soil aggregate size classes are impacted by plants throughout their growth stages. Here, we examined how tomato plants impact soil aggregation and bacterial communities within different soil aggregate size classes. Moreover, we investigated whether aggregate size impacts the distribution of soil pathogen and their potential inhibitors. We collected samples from different tomato growth stages: before-planting, seedling, flowering, and fruiting stage. We measured bacterial density, community composition, and pathogen abundance using qPCR and 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. We found the development of tomato growth stages negatively impacted root-adhering soil aggregation, with a gradual decrease of large macro-aggregates (1–2 mm) and an increase of micro-aggregates (<0.25 mm). Additionally, changes in bacterial density and community composition varied across soil aggregate size classes. Furthermore, the pathogen exhibited a preference to micro-aggregates, while macro-aggregates hold a higher abundance of potential pathogen-inhibiting taxa and predicted antibiotic-associated genes. Our results indicate that the impacts of tomatoes on soil differ for different soil aggregate size classes throughout different plant growth stages, and plant pathogens and their potential inhibitors have different habitats within soil aggregate size classes. These findings highlight the importance of fine-scale heterogeneity of soil aggregate size classes in research on microbial ecology and agricultural sustainability, further research focuses on soil aggregates level could help identify candidate tax involved in suppressing pathogens in the virtual micro-habitats.
Arctic bacterial diversity and connectivity in the coastal margin of the Last Ice Area
Authors: Girard Catherine , Vincent Warwick F , Culley Alexander I
Published: September 2023

Arctic climate change is leading to sea-ice attrition in the Last Ice Area along the northern coast of Canada and Greenland, but less attention has been given to the associated land-based ecosystems. Here we evaluated bacterial community structure in a hydrologically coupled cryo-ecosystem in the region: Thores Glacier, proglacial Thores Lake, and its outlet to the sea. Deep amplicon sequencing revealed that Polaromonas was ubiquitous, but differed genetically among diverse niches. Surface glacier-ice was dominated by Cyanobacteria, while the perennially ice-capped, well-mixed water column of Thores Lake had a unique assemblage of Chloroflexi, Actinobacteriota, and Planctomycetota. Species richness increased downstream, but glacier microbes were little detected in the lake, suggesting strong taxonomic sorting. Ongoing climate change and the retreat of Thores Glacier would lead to complete drainage and loss of the lake microbial ecosystem, indicating the extreme vulnerability of diverse cryohabitats and unique microbiomes in the Last Ice coastal margin.
Ultrasensitive detection of thiram based on surface-enhanced Raman scatteringviaAu@Ag@Ag core/shell/shell bimetallic nanorods
Authors: Wang Yuqiu , Liu Shuchang , Hu Yongjun , Fu Cuicui , Chen Weiqiang
Published: September 2023

We developed a sensitive and stable SERS-active substrate of Au@Ag@Ag core/shell/shell nanorods, formed by encapsulating Au nanorods into a bilayer silver shell with Raman reporter molecules (4-mercaptobenzoic acid and thiram) in shell–shell gap.
Rapid fabrication of hydrophobic/hydrophilic patterns on paper substrates for paper spray mass spectrometry
Authors: Arias Austin , Windham Peyton E. , Cheyne Natalie A. , Gilliland William M.
Published: September 2023

Substrates for paper spray mass spectrometry can be rapidly coated and patterned using silanes followed by oxygen/plasma treatment. Creating channels in the paper improves detection of antiretrovirals in a neat matrix and in urine.
Electrochemiluminescence resonance energy transfer immunoassay based on a porphyrin metal–organic framework and AuNPs/NSG for the sensitive detection of zearalenone
Authors: Fan Xiaolin , Yao Xun , Qiu Mengqi , Wu Kang , Deng Anping , Li Jianguo
Published: September 2023

A novel electrochemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (ECL-RET) system using porphyrin metal-organic framework (PCN-222) as a novel donor and AuNPs/NSG nanocomposites as the acceptor has been designed as well as applied in an immunosensor for detecting zearalenone (ZEN) in grain.