bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intermolecular energy transfer-enhanced super-broadband stimulated Raman scattering in cyclohexane–benzene mixtures
Authors: Ren Panpan , Wang Chong , Yang Bo , Xing Lu , Wang Shenghan , Men Zhiwei , Sun Chenglin
Published: January 2023

Supercontinuum radiation has found numerous applications in diverse fields encompassing spectroscopy, pulse compression, and tunable laser sources. Anomalous enhanced stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) of cyclohexane–benzene mixtures was obtained in this study. SRS of the pure solvent, the multi-order Stokes of the strongest fundamental vibration modes, and energy transfer in intra-molecular modes were observed. SRS of the mixture revealed that the cross-pumping effect was generated between the C–H stretching (v2) mode of cyclohexane and the C=C ring skeleton (v1) mode of benzene, thereby producing the intermolecular secondary stimulated Raman emission and the appearance of two super-broadband radiations at 664.36–673.9 nm and 704.62–729.22 nm. The results suggest that the energy transfer of intermolecular vibrational modes, where the strongest vibrational mode excites other vibrational modes, is a simple approach for generating supercontinuum coherent radiation.
Identification and functional analysis of calcium sensor calmodulins from heavy metal hyperaccumulator Noccaea caerulescens
Authors: Han Lu , Wu Xiaohua , Hou Kailin , Zhang Hongshan , Liang Xueshuang , Chen Cheng , Wang Zhijing , Shen Chenjia
Published: January 2023

Noccaea caerulescens (J. Presl & C. Presl) F. K. Mey. is a heavy metal hyperaccumulator exhibiting extreme tolerance to various environmental stresses. To date, the functional role of Ca2+-binding protein in this plant is largely unknown. To investigate the function of calmodulins (CaMs) in N. caerulescens, CaM2, a Ca2+ sensor encoding gene, was identified and functionally characterised. Protein structure analysis showed that NcCaM2 contains four classic exchange factor (EF)-hand motifs with high sequence similarity to the CaM proteins from model plant Arabidopsis thaliana L. Tissue specific expression analysis showed that NcCaM2 is constitutively expressed in stems, leaves, and roots. Expression level of NcCaM2 was significantly upregulated under various environmental stimulus, indicating a potential involvement of NcCaM2 in the tolerance to abiotic stresses. The heterologous expression of NcCaM2 in a yeast mutant strain increased the heavy metal tolerance in yeast cells. Furthermore, the constitutive expression of NcCaM2 enhanced the heavy metal tolerance capability of transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants. Our data suggested an important role of NcCaM2 in the responses to environmental stresses and provided a potential target gene to enhance of the ability to hyperaccumulate metals.
Sources and trophic transfer of trace metals in wild fish from coastal areas in the South China Sea
Authors: Zhang Wenfeng , Zhang Guanwen , Yu Huaming , Cheng Peng , Guo Pengran
Published: January 2023

Context Wild fish is a good source of minerals and other high-quality nutrition; however, many wild fish species potentially accumulate hazardous metals, making them a threat to human health. Aims The aim was to study characteristics and the source of metals in wild fish in the South China Sea by using, for the first time, the correlation of trace metals and stable isotopes. Methods Analytical instruments and statistical methods were respectively used to determine elements and the relative correlations. Key results Lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) tended to accumulate in bluespot mullet and Macao tonguesole. Variation among fish species and spatial differences might be two important factors influencing both the metal concentrations and the selenium (Se):mercury (Hg) molar ratios in biota. Hg, Mn, Pb and tin (Sn) tended to be biomagnified with an increasing trophic level, whereas chromium (Cr) and copper (Cu) showed a trend of biodilution. Conclusions The Se:Hg molar ratios exhibited noticeable species and spatial variation for the wild fish, whereas the main sources of Sn and Pb contamination might be antifouling reagents and surface applications. Implications The speciation of the elements is worth investigating next, so as to obtain valuable insight into the state of the wild environment and the impacts to human wellbeing.
IX International Conference on Forest Fire Research and 17th International Wildland Fire Safety Summit: introduction to special issue (Part 1)
Authors: Viegas Domingos Xavier , Ribeiro Luís Mário
Published: January 2023

The ninth International Conference on Forest Fire Research (ICFFR) was recently held in Coimbra, Portugal, bringing together scientists and fire managers from around world to advance and update knowledge in the area of fire management. The conference was held jointly with the International Association of Wildland Fire’s 17th International Wildland Fire Safety Summit (IWFSS). Here we introduce Part 1 of a special issue series arising from the 2022 ICFFR/IWFFS joint meeting. This issue of the International Journal of Wildland Fire contains eight papers covering a wide variety of topics including: seasonal fire activity and spatio-temporal fire-weather patterns under climate change, the role of atmospheric conditions on fire and flaming zone behaviour, analytical techniques for measuring oxidative pyrolysis gases, particulate morphology of fires in the wildland–urban interface, deep peat fire smouldering and the impact of post-fire treatments on soil. All papers in the issue are published Open Access.
Conservation successes and challenges for wide-ranging sharks and rays
Authors: Pacoureau Nathan , Carlson John K. , Kindsvater Holly K. , Rigby Cassandra L. , Winker Henning , Simpfendorfer Colin A. , Charvet Patricia , Pollom Riley A. , Barreto Rodrigo , Sherman C. Samantha , Talwar Brendan S. , Skerritt Daniel J. , Sumaila U. Rashid , Matsushiba Jay H. , VanderWright Wade J. , Yan Helen F. , Dulvy Nicholas K.
Published: January 2023

Overfishing is the most significant threat facing sharks and rays. Given the growth in consumption of seafood, combined with the compounding effects of habitat loss, climate change, and pollution, there is a need to identify recovery paths, particularly in poorly managed and poorly monitored fisheries. Here, we document conservation through fisheries management success for 11 coastal sharks in US waters by comparing population trends through a Bayesian state-space model before and after the implementation of the 1993 Fisheries Management Plan for Sharks. We took advantage of the spatial and temporal gradients in fishing exposure and fisheries management in the Western Atlantic to analyze the effect on the Red List status of all 26 wide-ranging coastal sharks and rays. We show that extinction risk was greater where fishing pressure was higher, but this was offset by the strength of management engagement (indicated by strength of National and Regional Plan of Action for sharks and rays). The regional Red List Index (which tracks changes in extinction risk through time) declined in all regions until the 1980s but then improved in the North and Central Atlantic such that the average extinction risk is currently half that in the Southwest. Many sharks and rays are wide ranging, and successful fisheries management in one country can be undone by poorly regulated or unregulated fishing elsewhere. Our study underscores that well-enforced, science-based management of carefully monitored fisheries can achieve conservation success, even for slow-growing species.
Gut microbiota biofilms: From regulatory mechanisms to therapeutic targets
Authors: Buret Andre G. , Allain Thibault
Published: January 2023

Gut microbiota contain communities of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and Eukarya, and live as biofilms. In health, these biofilms adhere to the intestinal mucus surface without contacting the epithelium. Disruptions to the equilibrium between these biofilms and the host may create invasive pathobionts from these commensal communities and contribute to disease pathogenesis. Environmental factors appear to dominate over genetics in determining the shifts in microbiota populations and function, including when comparing microbiota between low-income and industrialized countries. The observations discussed herein carry enormous potential for the development of novel therapies targeting phenotype in microbiota dysbiosis.
Cosmic topology. Part I. Limits on orientable Euclidean manifolds from circle searches
Authors: Petersen Pip , Akrami Yashar , Copi Craig J. , Jaffe Andrew H. , Kosowsky Arthur , Starkman Glenn D. , Tamosiunas Andrius , Eskilt Johannes R. , Güngör Özenç , Saha Samanta , Taylor Quinn
Published: January 2023

The Einstein field equations of general relativity constrain the local curvature at every point in spacetime, but say nothing about the global topology of the Universe.
Cosmic microwave background anisotropies have proven to be the most powerful probe of non-trivial topology since, within ΛCDM, these anisotropies have well-characterized statistical properties, the signal is principally from a thin spherical shell centered on the observer (the last scattering surface), and space-based observations nearly cover the full sky.
The most generic signature of cosmic topology in the microwave background is pairs of circles with matching temperature and polarization patterns.
No such circle pairs have been seen above noise in the WMAP or Planck temperature data, implying that the shortest non-contractible loop around the Universe through our location is longer than 98.5% of the comoving diameter of the last scattering surface.
We translate this generic constraint into limits on the parameters that characterize manifolds with each of the nine possible non-trivial orientable Euclidean topologies, and provide a code which computes these constraints.
In all but the simplest cases, the shortest non-contractible loop in the space can avoid us, and be shorter than the diameter of the last scattering surface by a factor ranging from 2 to at least 6.
This result implies that a broader range of manifolds is observationally allowed than widely appreciated.
Probing these manifolds will require more subtle statistical signatures than matched circles, such as off-diagonal correlations of harmonic coefficients.
Ultrahigh Performance of Concrete using Manufactured Sand
Authors: Neeharika M. , Dattatreya Kumar A.
Published: January 2023

The resistance and durability of concrete structures can be improved by using ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC). A crucial component of energy conservation and concrete cost reduction is the use of locally available materials. In this study, the effects of a common type of locally accessible manufactured sand (MS) on the characteristics of UHPC were investigated from both a physical and chemical standpoint. The main objective of the current study is to use locally available materials to create a UHPC with a compressive strength of 100MPa. The impact of fine materials, binder type and content, mixer type, steel fibres, and curing regimes on the concrete’s compressive strength was examined in this study. The use of high strength concrete has various benefits, including a reduction in the size of beams and columns and an increase in the height of buildings with multiple stories. In recent years, high strength concrete has seen increased use in civil engineering. By minimising non-homogeneity, porosity, and micro-cracks in the concrete and its zone of transition, high strength is made achievable. Super plasticizers and additional cementing substances such granulated blast furnace slag, silica fume, and natural pozzolana can be used to achieve it. Concrete with a high modulus of elasticity is strong. On cement, fine aggregate, and coarse aggregate, preliminary studies have been conducted. In the current study, 920KK is employed as a chemical admixture and silica fume is used as a mineral admixture. For M100 concrete, the w/c ratio is taken to be 0.25. The mix proportion for M100 grade concrete can be calculated by following the design process suggested by the ACI Method as 1:0.454:1.527.
Envisaging Sustainable Building Materials for Earthen Construction Practices
Authors: Narendhran PS , Parthasarathy S , Vignesh S , Mouliyarasu A , Prashanth S , Jayaraman A , Vasudevan M
Published: January 2023

Cost-effective construction practices generally rely on the selection of sustainable building materials irrespective of their environmental responsiveness and adaptability towards developing a comforting habitat. Present study aims to address the feasibility of developing soil-based building blocks using natural and recyclable materials by following modified adobe method. Unburnt bricks were manufactured from native red soil using optimized proportion of low cost binders and tested for their durability and thermal behaviour under various experimental conditions. An equi-molal binary mixture of cement and lime (15% each) was turned out to be the best combination to provide excellent compressive strength (6.43±0.15 N/mm2). As per the rate of water absorption and stabilization during the curing process, impounded bricks provided better results compared to the mat curing and spray curing. The rate of change in surface temperature of bricks added with lime and cement showed slightly lower values for cooling cycles (0.2°C/min to 0.5°C/min) compared to the heating cycles (0.6°C/min to 1.0°C/min) when exposed to solar radiation. The prepared bricks are found to be economic by reducing the construction cost by 40% on material. Based on the results, the red soil bricks provide an excellent choice as a sustainable building blocks to meet the increasing housing requirements.
Need for structural health assessment of R.C.C. buildings
Authors: De Souza M B , Savoikar Dr. P. P.
Published: January 2023

As civil engineering structures get older, there is a need to maintain, repair, retrofit and restore the structures once structural health of the structure is checked and found that it is deteriorating. The structural health is checked by performing various Non-Destructive Tests (NDT) or partially destructive tests on different structural members of the given structure and by calculating the service life and residual life of the structure. Sufficient service life remaining and good NDT results and conclusions allow for repair and retrofitting, of the deteriorating structure. The various Non Destructive Tests conducted are Rebound Hammer, Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity, Half Cell Potentiometer Test, Carbonation Test, Core Test, Cover Meter survey, Windsor Probe Test, Chloride Test, Sulphate Test, and Resistivity Measurements, Pull out tests, Radioactive Method of NDT. In the present study, two case studies of structural health monitoring and assessment of residual life of RCC buildings in Goa are undertaken and the need for retrofitting scheme is assessed. From the test results and analysis, it is observed that one structure can be retrofitted while the other structure cannot be retrofitted. Some of the retrofitting methods that will be used for the structure are Shotcrete, Fiber Wrap Technique, RCC Jacketing, and Plate Bonding.
Detection of damage in offshore jacket structure using artificial neural network
Authors: Gomes Lizbeth K , Naik Madhuraj
Published: January 2023

With industrial growth over the years, geologists have begun to search for offshore sources of oil and natural gas. Most offshore oil-production platforms are jacket type. Offshore jacket structures consist of welded steel space frame. Tubular pipes are opted as they reduce hydrodynamic loads making them highly durable structures. However due to natural phenomenon like cyclones, earthquakes, etc. these structures can get adversely damaged. Apart from that the structure also degrades due to corrosion and fatigue due to the severe conditions it is always exposed to. In many cases physical inspection of the structure for checking damages is not possible due to unfavourable onsite conditions or lack of trained professionals. Hence there is a need to develop alternatives solutions. In recent years much research has been done in the application of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) in Civil Engineering. ANN are computation systems that are inspired by biological neural systems. This paper aims at creating an ANN to identify damage in an offshore jacket structure using the modal parameters. The training set for the ANN is obtained by using a finite element software. The ANN is then tested using a test set and then it will be used to predict the structural damage in an offshore jacket structure.
Examining Daily Associations Among Sleep, Stress, and Blood Pressure Across Adulthood
Authors: Newman David B , Gordon Amie M , Prather Aric A , Berry Mendes Wendy
Published: January 2023

Background

Sleep can have consequential effects on people’s health and well-being, and these effects may vary among younger and older adults.

Purpose

The goal of the present study was to investigate how sleep relates to physiologic and stress responses in daily life across adulthood.

Methods

We used an Ecological Momentary Assessment method in a large sample of participants (N = 4,359; Mage = 46.75, SD = 12.39; 69.30% male, 29.85% female) who completed morning sleep diaries, reported subjective stress, and recorded their heart rate and blood pressure for 21 days. Sleep was assessed with self-reports of duration, efficiency, and quality.

Results

Using multilevel modeling, between-person analyses showed that sleep duration, efficiency, and quality were negatively related to morning heart rate and stress, such that people who slept longer, more efficiently, or better experienced lower heart rate and stress compared to those who slept shorter, less efficiently, or worse. Within-person analyses showed that sleep duration, efficiency, and quality predicted morning heart rate, blood pressure (though less consistently), and stress. That is, people experienced lower heart, blood pressure, and stress following nights when they slept longer, more efficiently, or better than they typically did. These within-person relationships were moderated by age, such that the effects of better and longer sleep on lower morning heart rate, blood pressure, and stress were stronger among younger than older adults.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that daily variations in sleep show immediate associations with stress and physiologic responses, but these daily variations have a stronger relationship among younger compared to older adults.
Global stabilizing control of large-scale biomolecular regulatory networks
Authors: An Sugyun , Jang So-Yeong , Park Sang-Min , Lee Chun-Kyung , Kim Hoon-Min , Cho Kwang-Hyun
Published: January 2023

Motivation

Cellular behavior is determined by complex non-linear interactions between numerous intracellular molecules that are often represented by Boolean network models. To achieve a desired cellular behavior with minimal intervention, we need to identify optimal control targets that can drive heterogeneous cellular states to the desired phenotypic cellular state with minimal node intervention. Previous attempts to realize such global stabilization were based solely on either network structure information or simple linear dynamics. Other attempts based on non-linear dynamics are not scalable.

Results

Here, we investigate the underlying relationship between structurally identified control targets and optimal global stabilizing control targets based on non-linear dynamics. We discovered that optimal global stabilizing control targets can be identified by analyzing the dynamics between structurally identified control targets. Utilizing these findings, we developed a scalable global stabilizing control framework using both structural and dynamic information. Our framework narrows down the search space based on strongly connected components and feedback vertex sets then identifies global stabilizing control targets based on the canalization of Boolean network dynamics. We find that the proposed global stabilizing control is superior with respect to the number of control target nodes, scalability, and computational complexity.

Availability and implementation

We provide a GitHub repository that contains the DCGS framework written in Python as well as biological random Boolean network datasets (https://github.com/sugyun/DCGS).

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Strong intraspecific phylogenetic and karyotypic diversification in Isophya modestior (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae)
Authors: Ivković Slobodan , Dey Lara-Sophie , Maria Buzzetti Filippo , Puskás Gellért , Warchałowska‑Śliwa Elżbieta , Horvat Laslo , Chobanov Dragan , Hochkirch Axel
Published: January 2023

Isophya modestior (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) is a species distributed in central and south-eastern Europe, where its distribution is largely separated by two large rivers (Sava and Danube). Since previous studies on the song and morphology of the stridulatory file across its complete geographic range showed that the species is separated into two main groups, we decided to use phylogenetic and karyological analyses in order to evaluate the status of the previously analysed populations.

Phylogenetic analyses showed the existence of two major clades within I. modestior with very high bootstrap values and posterior probabilities—Clade A: present on the Balkan Peninsula, Slovenia (Inner Carniola), Italy, Pannonian Serbia (Vršac Mts and Deronje) and Austria (Burgenland and Lower Austria); Clade B: present in Slovenia (Upper Carniola), Croatia and Austria (Carinthia), Pannonian Serbia (Fruška Gora Mt.) and Hungary.

A comparison of chromosomes of 51 specimens revealed discrete differences between their karyotypes. The physical characteristics of the karyotypes included chromosome number (2n), sex chromosome (X) morphology and C-banding patterns. The standard chromosome complement of 50 specimens from different localities is characterized by 2n = 30 + X0 in males. In one male collected in Fruška Gora Mt. (Andrevlje), the chromosome number was reduced to 2n = 28 + neo-XY. Therefore, further cytogenetic studies involving larger samples, especially from Fruška Gora Mt., are needed in order to gain a more comprehensive view of the chromosome evolution in this group of Isophya species.
Stability-Indicating HPTLC Method for Determination of Remogliflozin Etabonate and Vildagliptin in Tablets
Authors: Muruganathan Gandhimathi , Thangavel Manikandan , Kochupapy Ravi Thengungal
Published: January 2023

A sensitive, selective, precise and stability-indicating high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method is developed for the simultaneous estimation of remogliflozin etabonate and vildagliptin in the presence of their degradation products. The separation was performed in thin layer chromatography plate precoated with silica gel G60F254. The mobile phase consists of methanol:ethyl acetate:toluene:ammonia (1.5:4:4.5:0.1, v/v/v/v). Detection and quantification are performed with densitometer at 212 nm. The Rf values of remogliflozin etabonate and vildagliptin are 0.53 and 0.42, respectively. Degradation studies for the two drugs were carried out in acidic, alkaline, neutral, oxidative, photolytic and thermal stress conditions and analyzed. The suitability of this method for the quantitative determination of the compounds is proved by validation in accordance with the requirements laid down by International Conference on Harmonization (ICH). Linearity was found over the concentration range of 200–1000 ng/band with correlation coefficient of 0.9936 for remogliflozin etabonate and 100–500 ng/band with correlation coefficient of 0.9912 for vildagliptin. The method was successively applied to tablets containing two drugs and found to have no chromatographic interferences from the tablet excipients. The degradant formed was not interfering with estimation of two drugs makes the method more selective for the purpose intended.
Assessing the Diagnostic Performance of New Commercial Interferon-γ Release Assays forMycobacterium tuberculosisInfection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ortiz-Brizuela Edgar , Apriani Lika , Mukherjee Tania , Lachapelle-Chisholm Sophie , Miedy Michele , Lan Zhiyi , Korobitsyn Alexei , Ismail Nazir , Menzies Dick
Published: January 2023

Background

We compared 6 new interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs; hereafter index tests: QFT-Plus, QFT-Plus CLIA, QIAreach, Wantai TB-IGRA, Standard E TB-Feron, and T-SPOT.TB/T-Cell Select) with World Health Organization (WHO)–endorsed tests for tuberculosis infection (hereafter reference tests).

Methods

Data sources (1 January 2007–18 August 2021) were Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and manufacturers’ data. Cross-sectional and cohort studies comparing the diagnostic performance of index and reference tests were selected. The primary outcomes of interest were the pooled differences in sensitivity and specificity between index and reference tests. The certainty of evidence (CoE) was summarized using the GRADE approach.

Results

Eighty-seven studies were included (44 evaluated the QFT-Plus, 4 QFT-Plus CLIA, 3 QIAreach, 26 TB-IGRA, 10 TB-Feron [1 assessing the QFT-Plus], and 1 T-SPOT.TB/T-Cell Select). Compared to the QFT-GIT, QFT Plus’s sensitivity was 0.1 percentage points lower (95% confidence interval [CI], −2.8 to 2.6; CoE: moderate), and its specificity 0.9 percentage points lower (95% CI, −1.0 to −.9; CoE: moderate). Compared to QFT-GIT, TB-IGRA's sensitivity was 3.0 percentage points higher (95% CI, −.2 to 6.2; CoE: very low), and its specificity 2.6 percentage points lower (95% CI, −4.2 to −1.0; CoE: low). Agreement between the QFT-Plus CLIA and QIAreach with QFT-Plus was excellent (pooled κ statistics of 0.86 [95% CI, .78 to .94; CoE: low]; and 0.96 [95% CI, .92 to 1.00; CoE: low], respectively). The pooled κ statistic comparing the TB-Feron and the QFT-Plus or QFT-GIT was 0.85 (95% CI, .79 to .92; CoE: low).

Conclusions

The QFT-Plus and the TB-IGRA have very similar sensitivity and specificity as WHO-approved IGRAs.
Sex-specific aortic valve calcifications in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation
Authors: Hokken Thijmen W , Veulemans Verena , Adrichem Rik , Ooms Joris F , Kardys Isabella , Nuis Rutger-Jan , Daemen Joost , Hirsch Alexander , Budde Ricardo P , Zeus Tobias , Van Mieghem Nicolas M
Published: January 2023

Aims

To study sex-specific differences in the amount and distribution of aortic valve calcification (AVC) and to correlate the AVC load with paravalvular leakage (PVL) post-transcatheter aortic valve intervention (TAVI).

Methods and results

This registry included 1801 patients undergoing TAVI with a Sapien3 or Evolut valve in two tertiary care institutions. Exclusion criteria encompassed prior aortic valve replacement, suboptimal multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) quality, and suboptimal transthoracic echocardiography images. Calcium content and distribution were derived from MDCT. In this study, the median age was 81.7 (25th–75th percentile 77.5–85.3) and 54% male. Men, compared to women, were significantly younger [81.2 (25th–75th percentile 76.5–84.5) vs. 82.4 (78.2–85.9), P ≤ 0.01] and had a larger annulus area [512 mm2 (25th–75th percentile 463–570) vs. 405 mm2 (365–454), P < 0.01] and higher Agatston score [2567 (25th–75th percentile 1657–3913) vs. 1615 (25th–75th percentile 905–2484), P < 0.01]. In total, 1104 patients (61%) had none-trace PVL, 648 (36%) mild PVL, and 49 (3%) moderate PVL post-TAVI. There was no difference in the occurrence of moderate PVL between men and women (3% vs. 3%, P = 0.63). Cut-off values for the Agatston score as predictor for moderate PVL based on the receiver-operating characteristic curve were 4070 (sensitivity 0.73, specificity 0.79) for men and 2341 (sensitivity 0.74, specificity 0.73) for women.

Conclusion

AVC is a strong predictor for moderate PVL post-TAVI. Although the AVC load in men is higher compared to women, there is no difference in the incidence of moderate PVL. Sex-specific Agatston score cut-offs to predict moderate PVL were almost double as high in men vs. women.
Patency of separate tube grafts for intercostal artery reconstruction: Size and length matter
Authors: Shiiya Norihiko , Washiyama Naoki , Takahashi Daisuke , Tsuda Kazumasa , Ohashi Yuko , Natsume Kayoko , Hirano Masahiro , Takeuchi Yuki
Published: January 2023

OBJECTIVES

Low patency is a major concern when using separate tube grafts for intercostal artery reconstruction. Our goal was to elucidate the optimal size and length of grafts from their patency and the computational fluid dynamics (CFD).

METHODS

The patency, size and length of separate tube grafts were evaluated in 41 patients. Simulation of CFD was performed in a model derived from a patient with a patent 12-mm graft that was 15 mm long, with 2 simulation models with a smaller (8-mm) or longer (30-mm) graft.

RESULTS

A total of 49 grafts were used for intercostal artery reconstruction. There was 1 in-hospital death and 2 spinal cord injuries. The patency rate, which could be evaluated in 46 grafts, was 63% (29/46). It was 71% (24/34) in thoracoabdominal aortic replacement and 42% (5/12) in descending aortic replacement. Among 14 patients in whom all grafts were occluded, no patients developed spinal cord injury. All grafts longer than 25 mm were occluded (n = 5). Eight- and 10-mm grafts showed better patency than 12-mm grafts in thoracoabdominal aortic replacement (P = 0.008) when grafts were shorter than 25 mm. Simulation of CFD revealed vortical flow within the 12-mm graft, which did not reach the intercostal orifice, whereas helical flow was maintained throughout the cardiac cycle within the 8-mm graft.

CONCLUSIONS

Eight- and 10-mm grafts seemed better than 12-mm grafts, and grafts should be kept shorter than 25 mm. Simulation of CFD may shed light on the issue of the optimal intercostal artery reconstruction technique.
Greening Family Medicine clinic operations and clinical care, where do we start? A scoping review of toolkits and aids
Authors: Wicklum Sonja C , Nuique Kate , Kelly Martina A , Nesbitt Colleen C , Zhang Jessica J , Svrcek Clark P
Published: January 2023

Background

There is a pressing need for healthcare to respond to the climate crisis. Family physicians, given their central role in community healthcare provision, are strategically placed to lead, support, and promote sustainable healthcare, yet guidance on how to do this is fragmented.

Objective

To identify and evaluate toolkits and aids on sustainable healthcare to act as a curated resource for family physicians and their care teams interested in delivering evidence-based sustainable healthcare in their clinical practices.

Methods

A scoping review was completed of the published and grey literature across 4 databases and 2 search engines to identify articles and aids/toolkits from 1990 to present. Toolkits were subsequently evaluated for purpose, evidence-base, implementation process, adaptability to family medicine, and outcome measures.

Results

The search identified 17,751 articles. Screening resulted in 20 published articles and 11 toolkits. Most articles presented simple checklists to support greening clinic initiatives, 3 studies focussed on partial carbon footprint analyses, and 4 on educational initiatives. Toolkits ranged in sustainability topics and degree of depth covered, and adaptability and outcome measures. None of the resources identified have been formally evaluated for effectiveness.

Conclusions

A range of aids exist to support greening of clinic operations; however, there is a significant gap in the literature for greening clinical care. Two toolkits were found to be comprehensive, one requiring tracking and reporting of sustainability initiatives. This scoping review provides a starting point for motivated family doctors and community clinics to initiate change and support more sustainable healthcare.
Identification of the main proteins secreted byKluyveromyces marxianusand their possible roles in antagonistic activity against fungi
Authors: dos Santos Ana Maria , Albuini Fernanda Matias , Barros Géssica Cabral , Pereira Olinto Liparini , da Silveira Wendel Batista , Fietto Luciano Gomes
Published: January 2023

Lytic enzymes secreted by Kluyveromyces marxianus can lyse Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells. Their ability to hydrolyze yeast cell walls can be used in biotechnological applications, such as the production of glucans and protoplasts, as well as a biological control agent against plant pathogenic fungi. Herein, 27 proteins secreted by K. marxianus were identified by mass spectrometry analyses. Importantly, 14 out of the 27 proteins were classified as hydrolases. Indeed, the enzyme extract secreted by K. marxianus caused damage to S. cerevisiae cells and reduced yeast cell viability. Moreover, K marxianus inhibited spore germination and mycelial growth of the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea in simultaneous cocultivation assays. We suggest that this inhibition may be partially related to the yeast’s ability to secrete lytic enzymes. Consistent with the in vitro antagonistic tests, K. marxianus was able to protect strawberry fruits inoculated with B. cinerea. Therefore, these findings suggest that K. marxianus possesses potential as a biocontrol agent against strawberry gray mold during the postharvest stage and may also have potential against other phytopathogenic fungi by means of its lytic enzymatic arsenal.
Genome-Scale Analysis Reveals Extensive Diversification of Voltage-Gated K+ Channels in Stem Cnidarians
Authors: Lara Adolfo , Simonson Benjamin T , Ryan Joseph F , Jegla Timothy
Published: January 2023

Ion channels are highly diverse in the cnidarian model organism Nematostella vectensis (Anthozoa), but little is known about the evolutionary origins of this channel diversity and its conservation across Cnidaria. Here, we examined the evolution of voltage-gated K+ channels in Cnidaria by comparing genomes and transcriptomes of diverse cnidarian species from Anthozoa and Medusozoa. We found an average of over 40 voltage-gated K+ channel genes per species, and a phylogenetic reconstruction of the Kv, KCNQ, and Ether-a-go-go (EAG) gene families identified 28 voltage-gated K+ channels present in the last common ancestor of Anthozoa and Medusozoa (23 Kv, 1 KCNQ, and 4 EAG). Thus, much of the diversification of these channels took place in the stem cnidarian lineage prior to the emergence of modern cnidarian classes. In contrast, the stem bilaterian lineage, from which humans evolved, contained no more than nine voltage-gated K+ channels. These results hint at a complexity to electrical signaling in all cnidarians that contrasts with the perceived anatomical simplicity of their neuromuscular systems. These data provide a foundation from which the function of these cnidarian channels can be investigated, which will undoubtedly provide important insights into cnidarian physiology.
Statistical power of spatial earthquake forecast tests
Authors: Khawaja Asim M , Hainzl Sebastian , Schorlemmer Danijel , Iturrieta Pablo , Bayona José A , Savran William H , Werner Maximilian , Marzocchi Warner
Published: January 2023

The Collaboratory for the Study of Earthquake Predictability (CSEP) is an international effort to evaluate earthquake forecast models prospectively. In CSEP, one way to express earthquake forecasts is through a grid-based format: the expected number of earthquake occurrences within 0.1° × 0.1° spatial cells. The spatial distribution of seismicity is thereby evaluated using the Spatial test (S-test). The high-resolution grid combined with sparse and inhomogeneous earthquake distributions leads to a huge number of cells causing disparity in the number of cells, and the number of earthquakes to evaluate the forecasts, thereby affecting the statistical power of the S-test. In order to explore this issue, we conducted a global earthquake forecast experiment, in which we computed the power of the S-test to reject a spatially non-informative uniform forecast model. The S-test loses its power to reject the non-informative model when the spatial resolution is so high that every earthquake of the observed catalog tends to get a separate cell. Upon analysing the statistical power of the S-test, we found, as expected, that the statistical power of the S-test depends upon the number of earthquakes available for testing, e.g. with the conventional high-resolution grid for the global region, we would need more than 32 000 earthquakes in the observed catalog for powerful testing, which would require approximately 300 yr to record M ≥ 5.95. The other factor affecting the power is more interesting and new; it is related to the spatial grid representation of the forecast model. Aggregating forecasts on multi-resolution grids can significantly increase the statistical power of the S-test. Using the recently introduced Quadtree to generate data-based multi-resolution grids, we show that the S-test reaches its maximum power in this case already for as few as eight earthquakes in the test period. Thus, we recommend for future CSEP experiments the use of Quadtree-based multi-resolution grids, where available data determine the resolution.
Emerging integrase strand transfer inhibitor drug resistance mutations among children and adults on ART in Tanzania: findings from a national representative HIV drug resistance survey
Authors: Kamori Doreen , Barabona Godfrey , Rugemalila Joan , Maokola Werner , Masoud Salim S , Mizinduko Mucho , Sabasaba Amon , Ruhago George , Sambu Veryeh , Mushi Jeremiah , Mgomella George S , Mcollogi James J , Msafiri Frank , Mugusi Sabina , Boniface Jullu , Mutagonda Ritah , Mlunde Linda , Amani Davis , Mboya Erick , Mahiti Macdonald , Rwebembera Anath , Ueno Takamasa , Pembe Andrea , Njau Prosper , Mutayoba Beatrice , Sunguya Bruno
Published: January 2023

Background

Despite the scale-up of ART and the rollout in Tanzania of dolutegravir, an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI), treatment success has not been fully realized. HIV drug resistance (HIVDR), including dolutegravir resistance, could be implicated in the notable suboptimal viral load (VL) suppression among HIV patients.

Objectives

To determine the prevalence and patterns of acquired drug resistance mutations (DRMs) among children and adults in Tanzania.

Methods

A national cross-sectional HIVDR survey was conducted among 866 children and 1173 adults. Genotyping was done on dried blood spot and/or plasma of participants with high HIV VL (≥1000 copies/mL). HIV genes (reverse transcriptase, protease and integrase) were amplified by PCR and directly sequenced. The Stanford HIVDR Database was used for HIVDR interpretation.

Results

HIVDR genotyping was performed on blood samples from 137 participants (92 children and 45 adults) with VL ≥ 1000 copies/mL. The overall prevalence of HIV DRMs was 71.5%, with DRMs present in 78.3% of children and 57.8% of adults. Importantly, 5.8% of participants had INSTI DRMs including major DRMs: Q148K, E138K, G118R, G140A, T66A and R263K. NNRTI, NRTI and PI DRMs were also detected in 62.8%, 44.5% and 8% of participants, respectively. All the participants with major INSTI DRMs harboured DRMs targeting NRTI backbone drugs.

Conclusions

More than 7 in 10 patients with high HIV viraemia in Tanzania have DRMs. The early emergence of dolutegravir resistance is of concern for the efficacy of the Tanzanian ART programme.
Baseline prevalence of molecular marker of sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine resistance in Ebonyi and Osun states, Nigeria: amplicon deep sequencing ofdhps-540
Authors: Olukosi Adeola Y , Ajibaye Olusola , Omoniwa Omowunmi , Oresanya Olusola , Oluwagbemiga Aina O , Ujuju Chinazo , Ekholuenetale Michael , Maxwell Kolawole , Sutherland Colin J , Tibenderana James K , Beshir Khalid B
Published: January 2023

Background

Chemoprevention plays an important role in malaria control strategy. Perennial malaria chemoprevention (PMC) using sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP) is a WHO-approved strategy to combat malaria in young children and may lead to drug pressure. Introducing SP-PMC may therefore be compromised due to the emergence of Plasmodium falciparum resistant to SP, particularly mutation at K540E of the dihydropteroate synthase (dhps) gene. Molecular surveillance of resistance markers can support assessment of antimalarial efficacy and effectiveness. High prevalence of 540E is associated with reduced effectiveness of SP, and areas with more than 50% prevalence are considered unsuitable for intermittent preventative treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) implementation. Assessing 540E prevalence is an important undertaking before implementation of SP-PMC.

Methods

We conducted a rapid surveillance of dhps-540E to assess the suitability of SP as PMC in field studies from Ebonyi and Osun states in Nigeria. We used an in-house developed amplicon deep-sequencing method targeting part of the dhps gene.

Results

Our data reveal that 18.56% of individuals evaluated carried the 540E mutation mixed with the WT K540. Mutant variant 540E alone was not found, and 80% of isolates harboured only WT (K540). Clonal analysis of the sequencing data shows a very low proportion of 540E circulating in both states.

Conclusions

Our data show that both states are suitable for SP-PMC implementation and, based on this finding, SP-PMC was implemented in Osun in 2022. Continuous monitoring of 540E will be required to ensure the chemoprevention effectiveness of SP in Nigeria.
PPARα activation partially drives NAFLD development in liver-specific Hnf4a-null mice
Authors: Kasano-Camones Carlos Ichiro , Takizawa Masayuki , Ohshima Noriyasu , Saito Chinatsu , Iwasaki Wakana , Nakagawa Yuko , Fujitani Yoshio , Yoshida Ryo , Saito Yoshifumi , Izumi Takashi , Terawaki Shin-Ichi , Sakaguchi Masakiyo , Gonzalez Frank J , Inoue Yusuke
Published: January 2023

HNF4α regulates various genes to maintain liver function. There have been reports linking HNF4α expression to the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. In this study, liver-specific Hnf4a-deficient mice (Hnf4aΔHep mice) developed hepatosteatosis and liver fibrosis, and they were found to have difficulty utilizing glucose. In Hnf4aΔHep mice, the expression of fatty acid oxidation-related genes, which are PPARα target genes, was increased in contrast to the decreased expression of PPARα, suggesting that Hnf4aΔHep mice take up more lipids in the liver instead of glucose. Furthermore, Hnf4aΔHep/Ppara−/− mice, which are simultaneously deficient in HNF4α and PPARα, showed improved hepatosteatosis and fibrosis. Increased C18:1 and C18:1/C18:0 ratio was observed in the livers of Hnf4aΔHep mice, and the transactivation of PPARα target gene was induced by C18:1. When the C18:1/C18:0 ratio was close to that of Hnf4aΔHep mouse liver, a significant increase in transactivation was observed. In addition, the expression of Pgc1a, a coactivator of PPARs, was increased, suggesting that elevated C18:1 and Pgc1a expression could contribute to PPARα activation in Hnf4aΔHep mice. These insights may contribute to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for NAFLD by focusing on the HNF4α and PPARα signaling cascade.
A Novel Approach to TallyAculops cannabicola(Acari: Eriophyidae) for Field and Laboratory Studies
Authors: Falcon-Brindis A , Villanueva R T , Viloria Z , Bradley C L
Published: January 2023

The hemp russet mite, Aculops cannabicola (Farkas) is a key pest of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). Given its microscopic size, estimating the size of its populations can be a major limitation to control this pest. Here, we describe a method to count A. cannabicola using photographs taken with a handheld digital microscope. We compared the consistency and strength of the relationship between photographic- and microscope-based counts of mites from infested plants. Among the three sections of the leaflet, the maximum consistency levels were observed in the proximal (50%) and middle photographs (50%). However, it reached from 64% to 100% when the three sections were considered. Photographic and a microscope-based counts were positively correlated (>0.7). A single photograph can be a good predictor of the total mites per leaflet, however, using two pictures (proximal and middle sections) will increase the consistency of the abundance of A. cannabicola per leaflet. A minimum of 22 leaflets per sampling event can support a strong correlation between the microscope and photographic counts. Our method requires low budget and training and takes short time (0.4 to 1.3 min per leaflet) to count mites per sample. Additionally, photographs can be stored on a smartphone, computer, or tablet, allowing users to share, store and process the photos. This method simplifies counts of A. cannabicola on hemp for research purposes and provides a practical tool for growers to assess mite populations for management decisions. In addition, it may be useful for monitoring eriophyid mites on cultivated plants.
Enhancing the production of a heterologous Trametes laccase (LacA) by replacement of the major cellulase CBH1 in Trichoderma reesei
Authors: Zhang Jiaxin , Hong Yu , Li Kehang , Sun Yu , Yao Cheng , Ling Jianya , Zhong Yaohua
Published: January 2023

The laccases from white-rot fungi exhibit high redox potential in treating phenolic compounds. However, their application in commercial purposes has been limited because of the relatively low productivity of the native hosts. Here, the laccase A-encoding gene lacA of Trametes sp. AH28-2 was overexpressed under the control of the strong promoter of cbh1 (Pcbh1), the gene encoding the endogenous cellobiohydrolase 1 (CBH1), in the industrial workhorse fungus Trichoderma reesei. Firstly, the lacA expression cassette was randomly integrated into the T. reesei chromosome by genetic transformation. The lacA gene was successfully transcribed, but the laccase couldn't be detected in the liquid fermentation condition. Meanwhile, it was found that the endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) was strongly activated, indicating that the expression of LacA probably triggered intense endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Subsequently, the lacA expression cassette was added with the downstream region of cbh1 (Tcbh1) to construct the new expression cassette lacA::Δcbh1, which could replace the cbh1 locus in the genome via homologous recombination. After genetic transformation, the lacA gene was integrated into the cbh1 locus and transcribed. And the unfolded protein response (UPR) and ERAD were only slightly induced, for which the loss of endogenous cellulase CBH1 released the pressure of secretion. Finally, the maximum laccase activity of 168.3 U/l was obtained in the fermentation broth. These results demonstrated that the reduction of secretion pressure by deletion of endogenous protein-encoding genes would be an efficient strategy for the secretion of heterologous target proteins in industrial fungi.

One-Sentence Summary

The reduction of the secretion pressure by deletion of the endogenous cbh1 gene can contribute to heterologous expression of the laccase (LacA) from Trametes sp. AH28-2 in Trichoderma reesei.
Clustering spatial networks through latent mixture models
Authors: Egidi Leonardo , Pauli Francesco , Torelli Nicola , Zaccarin Susanna
Published: January 2023

We consider a Bayesian model-based clustering technique that directly accounts for network relations between territorial units and their position in a geographical space. This proposal is motivated by a practical problem: to design administrative structures that are intermediate between the municipality and the province within an Italian region based on the existence of a relatively (to population) high commuting flow. In our social network model, the commuting flows are explained by the distances between the municipalities, i.e., the nodes, in a 3-dimensional space, where the 2 actual geographical coordinates and the third latent variable are modelled through a Gaussian mixture.