bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A global synthesis and conceptualization of the magnitude and duration of soil carbon losses in response to forest disturbances
Authors: Mayer Mathias , Baltensweiler Andri , James Jason , Rigling Andreas , Hagedorn Frank
Published: October 2023

Aim

Forest disturbances are increasing around the globe due to changes in climate and management, deteriorating forests' carbon sink strength. Estimates of global forest carbon budgets account for losses of plant biomass but often neglect the effects of disturbances on soil organic carbon (SOC). Here, we aimed to quantify and conceptualize SOC losses in response to different disturbance agents on a global scale.

Location

Global.

Time Period

1983–2022.

Major Taxa Studied

Forest soils.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive global analysis of the effects of harvesting, wildfires, windstorms and insect infestations on forest SOC stocks in the surface organic layer and top mineral soil, synthesizing 927 paired observations from 151 existing field studies worldwide. We further used global mapping to assess potential SOC losses upon disturbance.

Results

We found that both natural and anthropogenic forest disturbances can cause large SOC losses up to 60 Mg ha−1. On average, the largest SOC losses were found after wildfires, followed by disturbances from windstorms, harvests and insects. However, initial carbon stock size, rather than disturbance agent, had the strongest influence on the magnitude of SOC losses. SOC losses were greatest in cold‐climate forests (boreal and mountainous regions) with large accumulations of organic matter on or near the soil surface. Negative effects are present for at least four decades post‐disturbance. In contrast, forests with small initial SOC stocks experienced quantitatively lower carbon losses, and their stocks returned to pre‐disturbance levels more quickly.

Main Conclusions

Our results indicate that the more carbon is stored in the forest's organic layers and top mineral soils, the more carbon will be lost after disturbance. Robust estimates of forest carbon budgets must therefore consider disturbance‐induced SOC losses, which strongly depend on site‐specific stocks. Particularly in cold‐climate forests, these disturbance‐related losses may challenge forest management efforts to sequester CO2.
Categorization using the Dementia Assessment Sheet for Community‐Based Integrated Care System 8‐items (DASC‐8) based on cognitive function and activities of daily living predicts frailty, disability and mortality in older adults
Authors: Katsumata Yuu , Toyoshima Kenji , Tamura Yoshiaki , Murao Yuji , Sato Motoya , Watanabe So , Kodera Remi , Oba Kazuhito , Ishikawa Joji , Chiba Yuko , Awata Shuichi , Araki Atsushi
Published: October 2023

Aim

This longitudinal study aimed to determine whether categorization by the Dementia Assessment Sheet for Community‐based Integrated Care System 8‐items (DASC‐8) is associated with risk of frailty onset, disability, and mortality.

Methods

We analyzed longitudinal data from outpatients aged 65 years and older evaluated for the DASC‐8 at the Frailty Clinic. The outcomes during the 3‐year follow‐up period were (Study A) frailty onset (Kihon Checklist ≥8) and (Study B) disability (new certification of nursing care needs) or mortality. Multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to examine independent associations between the DASC‐8 category and outcomes, and hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated after adjustment for age, sex, and the presence or absence of diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.

Results

(Study A) Out of the 216 patients without frailty in Categories I or II at baseline, 40 (20.4%) and 11 (55.0%) developed frailty, respectively. The adjusted hazard ratio was 3.62 (95% CI: 1.69–7.76, P < 0.001). (Study B) Out of the 350 patients who did not require long‐term care at baseline, disability or death occurred for 20 (7.3%) in Category I, 14 (23.0%) in Category II, and 9 (56.3%) in Category III. The adjusted hazard ratios were 2.40 (Category I vs. II; 95% CI: 1.13–5.11, P = 0.023) and 5.43 (Category I vs. III; 95% CI: 2.23–13.3, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Categorization according to DASC‐8 is associated with the risk of frailty, disability, and mortality in older patients. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 150–155.
Diagnosis with confidence: deep learning for reliable classification of laryngeal dysplasia
Authors: Lubrano Mélanie , Bellahsen‐Harrar Yaëlle , Berlemont Sylvain , Atallah Sarah , Vaz Emmanuelle , Walter Thomas , Badoual Cécile
Published: October 2023

Background

Diagnosis of head and neck (HN) squamous dysplasias and carcinomas is critical for patient care, cure, and follow‐up. It can be challenging, especially for grading intraepithelial lesions. Despite recent simplification in the last WHO grading system, the inter‐ and intraobserver variability remains substantial, particularly for nonspecialized pathologists, exhibiting the need for new tools to support pathologists.

Methods

In this study we investigated the potential of deep learning to assist the pathologist with automatic and reliable classification of HN lesions following the 2022 WHO classification system. We created, for the first time, a large‐scale database of histological samples (>2000 slides) intended for developing an automatic diagnostic tool. We developed and trained a weakly supervised model performing classification from whole‐slide images (WSI). We evaluated our model on both internal and external test sets and we defined and validated a new confidence score to assess the predictions that can be used to identify difficult cases.

Results

Our model demonstrated high classification accuracy across all lesion types on both internal and external test sets (respectively average area under the curve [AUC]: 0.878 (95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.834–0.918]) and 0.886 (95% CI: [0.813–0.947])) and the confidence score allowed for accurate differentiation between reliable and uncertain predictions.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that the model, associated with confidence measurements, can help in the difficult task of classifying HN squamous lesions by limiting variability and detecting ambiguous cases, taking us one step closer to a wider adoption of AI‐based assistive tools.
Updates on lung adenocarcinoma: invasive size, grading and STAS
Authors: Willner Jonathan , Narula Navneet , Moreira Andre L
Published: October 2023

Advancements in the classification of lung adenocarcinoma have resulted in significant changes in pathological reporting. The eighth edition of the tumour–node–metastasis (TNM) staging guidelines calls for the use of invasive size in staging in place of total tumour size. This shift improves prognostic stratification and requires a more nuanced approach to tumour measurements in challenging situations. Similarly, the adoption of new grading criteria based on the predominant and highest‐grade pattern proposed by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) shows improved prognostication, and therefore clinical utility, relative to previous grading systems. Spread through airspaces (STAS) is a form of tumour invasion involving tumour cells spreading through the airspaces, which has been highly researched in recent years. This review discusses updates in pathological T staging, adenocarcinoma grading and STAS and illustrates the utility and limitations of current concepts in lung adenocarcinoma.
Sensory nerves, but not sympathetic nerves, promote reparative dentine formation after dentine injury via CGRP‐mediated angiogenesis: An in vivo study
Authors: Zhan Chaoning , Huang Minchun , Chen Junyang , Lu Yanli , Yang Xiaojun , Hou Jin
Published: October 2023

Aim

Dental pulp is richly innervated by nerve fibres, which are mainly involved in the sensation of pain. Aside from pain sensation, little is known regarding the role of dental innervation in reparative dentine formation. We herein generated a mouse model of experimental dentine injury to examine nerve sprouting within the odontoblast and subodontoblastic layers and investigated the potential effects of this innervation in reparative dentinogenesis.

Methodology

Mouse tooth cavity model (bur preparation + etching) was established, and then nerve sprouting, angiogenesis and reparative dentinogenesis were determined by histological and immunofluorescent staining at 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days postoperatively. We also established the mouse‐denervated molar models to determine the role of sensory and sympathetic nerves in reparative dentinogenesis, respectively. Finally, we applied calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist to analyse the changes in angiogenesis and reparative dentinogenesis.

Results

Sequential histological results from dentine‐exposed teeth revealed a significant increase in innervation directly beneath the injured area on the first day after dentine exposure, followed by vascularisation and reparative dentine production at 3 and 7 days, respectively. Intriguingly, abundant type H vessels (CD31+Endomucin+) were present in the innervated area, and their formation precedes the onset of reparative dentine formation. Additionally, we found that sensory denervation led to blunted angiogenesis and impaired dentinogenesis, while sympathetic denervation did not affect dentinogenesis. Moreover, a marked increase in the density of CGRP+ nerve fibres was seen on day 3, which was reduced but remained elevated over the baseline level on day 14, whereas the density of substance P‐positive nerve fibres did not change significantly. CGRP receptor antagonist‐treated mice showed similar results as those with sensory denervation, including impairments in type H angiogenesis, which confirms the importance of CGRP in the formation of type H vessels.

Conclusions

Dental pulp sensory nerves act as an essential upstream mediator to promote angiogenesis, including the formation of type H vessels, and reparative dentinogenesis. CGRP signalling governs the nerve‐vessel‐reparative dentine network, which is mostly produced by newly dense sensory nerve fibres within the dental pulp.
pH studies to elucidate the chemical mechanism of penicillin acylase from Kluyvera citrophila
Authors: Martin J. , Prieto I. , Mancheno JM , Barbero JL , Arche R.
Published: October 2023

The variation with pH of the kinetic parameters of penicillin acylase from Kluyvera citrophila has been used to gain information about the chemical mechanism of the reaction catalysed by the enzyme. The pH‐dependence of log (V/Km) for penicillin G showed that a group with a pK value over 4.7 must be deprotonated and that a group with a pK value over 9.7 must be protonated in the free enzyme for activity. The solvent perturbation and temperature studies indicated that these groups are respectively of cationic and neutral acid type with ionization enthalpies of 29.7 and 111 kJ/mol. It was proved that penicillin G sulphoxide is a reversible linear competitive inhibitor with respect to the hydrolysis of penicillin G. The similarity of the pH profile and the magnitude of the pK values derived from the dissociation constant, Ki, suggest that both groups are concerned with the binding of penicillin G and its analogues to the enzyme. It is proposed that binding of substrate involves the formation of hydrogen bonds between the substrate and the essential ionizable groups in the enzyme which lie within the hydrophobic environment of the active site of penicillin acylase. This suggestion is supported by the finding that the profile of V (Vmax.) is similar to the V/Km profile, except that the low and high pK values are respectively shifted downward and upward due to the entry of substrate. Moreover, the bell shape of the V profile indicated that they are also essential in the catalytic steps subsequent to binding.
Preparation, properties and application of Aspergillus oryzae S1 nuclease covalently bound to aminobutyl‐Bio‐Gel P‐2 through its carbohydrate moiety
Authors: Gite S. , Shankar V.
Published: October 2023

Purified Aspergillus oryzae S1 nuclease, when covalently coupled to aminobutyl‐(AB)‐Bio‐Gel P‐2, via its carbohydrate moiety, retained 40–50% activity of the soluble enzyme. Optimization of coupling conditions showed that the most active immobilized preparations are obtained when 50–60 units of 1 mM periodate‐oxidized enzyme are allowed to react with 1 ml (packed volume) of AB‐Bio‐Gel P‐2 at 4 degrees C, in the presence of 20% (v/v) ethylene glycol, for 15 h. Immobilization did not change the pH and temperature optima of the enzyme, but it increased the temperature‐stability. Immobilization brought about an approx. 2‐fold increase in the Km and a slight decrease in the Vmax. On repeated use, the bound enzyme retained 60–65% of its initial activity after six cycles. Immobilized S1 nuclease could be stored, in a wet state, for more than 45 days without any significant loss in its initial activity. The application of AB‐Bio‐Gel‐ and concanavalin A‐Sepharose‐bound S1 nuclease in removing restriction‐endonuclease‐generated single‐stranded tails in plasmid DNA is demonstrated.
Engineering of the human‐immunodeficiency‐virus‐type‐1 (HIV‐1) reverse transcriptase gene to prevent dimerization of the expressed chimaeric protein: purification and characterization of a monomeric HIV‐1 reverse transcriptase
Authors: SK Sharma , Basu A. , Fan N. , DB Evans
Published: October 2023

We report here a human‐immunodeficiency‐virus‐type‐1 (HIV‐1) recombinant reverse transcriptase (RT) engineered to contain a 26‐amino‐acid linker insertion from the tether domain of feline leukaemia virus (FLV) RT. The chimaeric protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and migrated on SDS/PAGE as a 68 kDa band. A monomeric form of the chimaeric HIV‐1 RT has been prepared by the coordinated applications of immobilized‐metal‐affinity chromatography and gel filtration on Superose 12 columns. The monomeric nature of this chimaeric HIV‐I RT was further characterized by cross‐linking studies using disuccinimidyl suberate. The RNA‐dependent DNA polymerase activity of the monomeric chimaeric HIV‐1 RT was 35% that of the heterodimeric (p66/p51) HIV‐1 RT. These results support our recent studies on the monomeric polymerase domain (p51 RT) which exhibited an RNA‐dependent DNA polymerase activity equal to 33% of that of the p66/p51 heterodimeric HIV‐1 RT (Evans, Kezdy, Tarpley and Sharma [1993] Biotechnol. Appl. Biochem. 17, 91‐102). The inability of the monomeric chimaeric HIV‐1 RT to display polymerase activity like that of the heterodimeric HIV‐1 RT is attributed to a decrease in the processive rate of DNA synthesis (75%) and DNA binding (65%). However, the monomeric chimaeric HIV‐1 RT (p68) exhibited RNAase H activity like that of the heterodimeric form (p66/p51) of HIV‐1 RT. These results suggest that the linker insertion from FLV RT does not interfere with the RNAase H activity associated with the monomeric HIV‐1 RT.
Gene expression of a thermostable beta‐galactosidase in mammalian cells and its application in assays of eukaryotic promoter activity
Authors: Cannio R. , de Pascale D. , Rossi M. , Bartolucci S.
Published: October 2023

The gene (lacS) encoding a thermostable beta‐galactosidase enzyme (Ss beta‐gal) from the archaebacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus has been cloned and expressed in simian CV1 and murine NIH3T3 cell lines. The recombinant protein is an active enzyme that shows the same properties of thermophilicity and thermostability as the wild‐type Ss beta‐gal and has no cytotoxic effect on the host cells. Its possible use as a reporter gene is also proposed, and a comparison with other reporter gene systems is made.
Heterologous gene expression and protein secretion from Candida glabrata
Authors: Macreadie I. , Castelli L. , Mehra R. , Thorvaldsen J. , Winge D.
Published: October 2023

We have examined heterologous protein secretion from Candida glabrata with the aid of a stable C. glabrata vector and a secretion reporter cassette comprising the Saccharomyces cerevisiae PGK‐gene promoter and a Kluveromyces Iactis secretion signal to drive secretion of Escherichia coli beta‐lactamase. Abundant secretion of beta‐lactamase from C. glabrata indicates that the S. cerevisiae PGK promoter functions in C. glabrata. Furthermore, we show that C. glabrata processes the secreted beta‐lactamase in a manner similar to, but not identical with, S. cerevisiae and K. lactis. C. glabrata may be a suitable new host for the expression of foreign genes.
Effect of targeted erythrocytes coated with recombinant human interleukin 2 on T‐lymphocyte proliferation in vitro
Authors: Kirch H. , Moyes R. , Chiarantini L. , DeLoach J.
Published: October 2023

Mouse red blood cells (RBC) were incubated with recombinant human interleukin 2 (rIL 2) in protein‐free media. Of the added cytokine, about 20% was bound to the cells. Dissociation of rIL 2 from RBC commenced when the carrier cells were transferred into fresh media. The release from the RBC vehicle was enhanced in the presence of soluble protein. When rIL 2‐coated RBC (RBC‐IL2) were incubated in protein‐containing media for 24 h to release the majority of bound rIL 2, and then were subsequently incubated in fresh media with an IL 2‐dependent cytotoxic T cell line (CTLL), residual bound rIL 2 was still released as demonstrated by CTLL proliferation. RBC were covalently coupled to specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) towards the lymphocyte cell‐surface marker Thyl.2, coated with rIL 2, subsequently exposed to the target CTLL cells, then evaluated for CTLL/RBC rosette formation. The attachment of mAb to the RBCs surface did not markedly change the succeeding rIL 2 adsorption, and the bound rIL 2 did not impair antigen recognition by the mAb. At higher rIL 2 concentrations (1200‐1500 i.u./10(8) cells), RBC‐IL2 plus Thy1.2 mAb provided higher CTLL response than when RBC‐IL2 plus non‐specific mAb was used thus demonstrating enhancement by targeting. However, the targeting effects were not seen with lower rIL 2 concentrations (80‐110 i.u./10(8) cells).
Spectrophotometric determination of paraoxonase within mouse carrier red blood cells
Authors: Pei L. , WD McGuinn , Omburo G. , AH Zitzer , Petrikovics I. , JL Way
Published: October 2023

A method has been developed to continuously measure paraoxonase activity spectrophotometrically in carrier red blood cells (RBCs) containing paraoxonase. This enzyme has a broad substrate specificity that includes parathion, paraoxon, soman, sarin, di‐isopropyl fluorophosphate and many other organophosphorus compounds. Paraoxon is hydrolysed by paraoxonase to the less toxic 4‐nitrophenol and diethyl phosphate. Determination of enzymic activity was based on the liberation of 4‐nitrophenol in the presence of mouse RBCs. Paraoxonase was encapsulated within murine RBCs by hypotonic dialysis with subsequent resealing and annealing. The enzyme within resealed RBCs actively hydrolyses paraoxon in biological fluids to its less toxic metabolites. Paraoxonase incorporated within RBCs, like other enzymes, was found to be quite stable once encapsulated into RBCs and this formed the basis for this spectrophotometric method. Increasing absorbance at 400 nm indicated paraoxon hydrolysis and was the basis employed to determine enzymic activity. The Km of the enzyme within erythrocytes was 0.04 mM. This method offers a convenient, rapid and continuous way to monitor paraoxonase activity inside the carrier cell.
A general method for immobilization of glycoproteins on regenerable immobilized metal‐ion carriers: application to glucose oxidase from Penicillium chrysogenum and horseradish peroxidase
Authors: Chaga G.
Published: October 2023

A general method for immobilization of glycoproteins on immobilized metal‐ion carriers is described. The method includes oxidation of the carbohydrate moiety of the glycoprotein with potassium periodate, covalent modification with histidine and immobilization on bivalent metal ion‐iminodiacetic acid‐agarose. The method is exemplified with horseradish peroxidase and glucose oxidase from Penicillium chrysogenum. The modified and immobilized enzymes are stable for at least 2 months at 4 degrees C. The immobilized enzymes were used as enzyme electrodes for the determination of the glucose concentration.
Color‐Discrimination Thresholds Translated from the CIE (x, y, Y) Space to the CIE 1976 (L*,a*,b*)
Authors: Melgosa M. , Hita E. , Romero J. , del Barco L. Jiménez
Published: October 2023

Departures from exact ellipticity when color‐discrimination ellipsoids or ellipses are translated to CIELAB have been numerically analyzed. The greatest distortions for ellipses were around 5% at the most saturated orange‐red centers. The distortions for ellipsoids were of the same order as those of the ellipses at the five CIE centers. These small distortions are well covered by the interobserver variability and could be ignored in most cases, but an appropriate method must be used for the translation of color‐threshold results to CIELAB. Experimental results published by Luo and Rigg for 132 chromaticity‐discrimination ellipses are expressed in CIELAB. These results may be useful in checking the performance of new color‐difference Jormulas.
Evaluation of Uniform Color Spaces Developed after the Adoption of CIELAB and CIELUV
Authors: Mahy M. , Van Eycken L. , Oosterlinck A.
Published: October 2023

Since the adoption of the color spaces CIELAB and CIELUV by the CIE in 1976, several other uniform spaces have been developed. We studied most of these spaces and evaluated their uniformity for small as well as larger color differences. Therefore, several criteria have been defined based on color discrimination data and appearance systems. The main difference between color spaces based on discrimination data and spaces that model appearance systems is reflected in a different size of the chroma distance unit compared with the lightness unit. If spaces based on the same kind of data (discrimination data or appearance systems) are compared with each other, they are all almost equally uniform. BFD (l:c), for example, is said to be more uniform than CMC(l:c), but, based on confidence intervals of 65%, there is no significant difference between them. If the proposed color difference formula of the CIE is compared with these distance functions, it also performs equally well. The SVF space and OSA 90 space on the other hand should be better than OSA 74. However, as opposed to what was expected, OSA 74 is slightly better; but, also in this case, the difference between the spaces is insignificant.
Spacing in the Munsell Color System Relative to the Coloroid Color Systems
Authors: Nemcsics Antal
Published: October 2023

Spacing defined by various Munsell hue and chroma steps are analyzed, applying diagrams resulting from transformations between the Colorid and the Munsell color systems, displaying colors of both color systems with the same Y tristimulus values. After comments on spacings derived from identities, similarities and differences between both color systems, unevennesses uninter‐pretable from differences of color system constructions are attributed either to uniform variation of color stimult followed by uneven variation of color perceptions, or to uncertainties of human color perception at several spots of the color space sufficient to be noticeable in spacings in perceptually uniform color system, such as the Munsell color order system © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, inc.
Color and Sound: Physical and Psychophysical Relations*
Authors: Caivano José Luis
Published: October 2023

Many artists and scientists have been concerned, throughout time, with the correspondences between color and sound. Numerous studies on the subject have been written. There are approaches based on intuition as well as approaches based on psychology, psychophysics, physics, and physiology The classical comparison relies on the fact that the stimuli for the sensations of pitch in sound and hue in color are mainly determined by the wavelength of the auditory energy and the visible energy. both taken as undulatory phenomena. On this basis. a comparison is usually drawn between the chromatic scale of sounds and the hue circle. This criterion has been followed to such extent to relate a sound of specific frequency with a determined spectral color. The comparison can be expanded and refined by considering the other variables of sound and color. too. This article relates luminosity of color with loudness of sound. saturation of color with timbre of sound, and size of color with duration of sound. There are psychological and physical arguments to support such a comparison. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A Life Course Theory of Suicide Risk
Authors: Chew Kenneth S. Y. , McCleary Richard
Published: October 2023

The three distinct suicide cycles reported since the late 19th century have been explained using sociological and biological theories. Despite their obvious differences, both theories operate through motivation. Like other aspects of suicide, however, such cycles can also be explained by opportunity. Analysis of recent findings on age‐ and sex‐specific suicide cycles illustrates a fundamental confound of motivation and opportunity, and underscores the need for a theory of suicide that is based on risk (risk = motivation x opportunity), and that is situated in a framework of age‐ and sex‐specific life course contingencies.
Fall From Power: Suicide of an Executive
Authors: Hendin Herbert
Published: October 2023

An influential corporate executive apparently killed himself and two others when faced with public exposure and perhaps imprisonment for illegal use of his corporate position to raise money for political and charitable causes he favored. Clinical and psychological descriptions of such cases are rare. Because an extensive psychological autopsy enabled a detailed description of this case, it is presented with the aim of shedding light on a type of suicide that needs to be understood.
Do You See What I See? Patient and Clinician Perceptions of Underlying Dimensions of Suicidality
Authors: Eddins Carolyn L. , Jobes David A.
Published: October 2023

The clinical suicidology literature strongly emphasizes the importance of risk assessment. However, limited empirical data are available about the assessment process. The present study investigated the ways in which clinicians and patients perceive several theoretical dimensions related to suicide: psychological pain, external pressures/stressors, agitation/emotional upsetness, self‐regard, and hopelessness. Data from the current sample suggest that clinicians and parasuicidal patients independently perceived most of these dimensions similarly, with the exception of agitation/emotional upsetness (perturbation). The implications of these findings are discussed.
A Measure of Adolescent Potential for Suicide (MAPS): Development and Preliminary Findings
Authors: Eggert Leona L. , Thompson Elaine A. , Herting Jerald R.
Published: October 2023

This paper describes an instrument designed to assess the suicide potential of youth 14–18 years of age who are at risk for suicidal behaviors. A comprehensive measurement theory provides the basis for three central constructs in the Measure of Adolescent Potential for Suicide (MAPS): direct suicide risk factors, related risk factors, and protective factors. The MAPS entails an introductory questionnaire followed by a computer‐assisted, structured interview. Two samples were used to examine psychometric properties of the MAPS (n = 43; n = 123). Results revealed generally strong validity (content, criterion, construct) and reliability (internal consistency) for the MAPS. Further verification studies with large and diverse samples are warranted.
Interpersonal Problem‐Solving Skills Training in the Treatment of Self‐Poisoning Patients
Authors: McLeavey B. C. , Daly R. J. , Ludgate J. W. , Murray C. M.
Published: October 2023

The present study evaluated the effectiveness of interpersonal problem‐solving skills training (IPSST) for the treatment of self‐poisoning patients. Thirty‐nine self‐poisoning patients were assigned randomly either to IPSST or to a control treatment condition (a brief problem‐oriented approach). Both conditions were equally effective in reducing the number of presenting problems and in reducing hopelessness levels. However, the IPSST condition was significantly more effective than the control condition as determined by other outcome measures (measures of interpersonal cognitive problem solving, self‐rated personal problem‐solving ability, perceived ability to cope with ongoing problems, and self‐perception). Follow‐up studies showed maintenance of IPSST treatment gains at 6 months and a greater reduction of repetition of self‐poisoning in the IPSST group at 1 year posttreatment.
Echinorhinus brucus (Bonnaterre, 1788) in the Caribbean Sea: A recurrent visitor, or are the artisanal fisheries exploiting deeper waters?
Authors: Ehemann N. R. , Zambrano‐Vizquel L. A.
Published: October 2023

Documentation of Echinorhinus brucus, (Bonnaterre, 1788) in the western Atlantic primarily relies on chance observations. Georeferenced records in this area remain notably scarce. This study contributes the second Venezuelan and seventh Caribbean Sea specimens, increasing the western Atlantic count to 15 individuals. All specimens gathered here were sexually mature, with a slight dominance of females. Our bramble shark record appears to be driven more by the interplay of its biology and environmental factors than being a deliberate deep‐sea fishery activity, which likely occurs in the Southern Caribbean area.
Energy auditing of a soy‐paneer (tofu) processing unit: A case study
Authors: Sabat Mousumi , Nalawade Rohit D. , Shelake Pramod S. , Jena Prakash C.
Published: October 2023

Nowadays, limited energy resources and higher energy prices have increased the importance of energy management. Energy use has also grown over time due to the increased production capacity of food industries in response to the growing demand for high‐quality processed foods. The present investigation studies a small‐scale soy‐paneer processing unit's energy consumption methods and patterns. Energy (both direct and indirect) involved in each unit operation was evaluated, and the scope for increasing energy efficiency was highlighted. The specific energy expenditure in the soy‐paneer‐making process was 10.77 MJ/kg. The unit operation that demands the highest energy requirement was steaming (92.43% of the total energy input), as it was produced through a less efficient burner‐based boiler. As a result, it was advised to switch out the present burner‐based steam‐generating boiler system to a more efficient electrical steam generation system, which would also result in decreased cost and better energy utilization.

Practical application

Energy auditing of the processing unit aids in assessing energy consumption and proposing measures to reduce energy use and cost. The soy processing sector holds a vital position in producing soy‐derived products. Notably, soy‐paneer stands out as a prominently consumed product within this industry. Energy auditing can play a crucial role in optimizing energy consumption and efficiency in soy processing units.
Consistent predictors of microbial community composition across spatial scales in grasslands reveal low context‐dependency
Authors: Radujković Dajana , Vicca Sara , van Rooyen Margaretha , Wilfahrt Peter , Brown Leslie , Jentsch Anke , Reinhart Kurt O. , Brown Charlotte , De Gruyter Johan , Jurasinski Gerald , Askarizadeh Diana , Bartha Sandor , Beck Ryan , Blenkinsopp Theodore , Cahill James , Campetella Giandiego , Canullo Roberto , Chelli Stefano , Enrico Lucas , Fraser Lauchlan , Hao Xiying , Henry Hugh A. L. , Hohn Maria , Jouri Mohammad Hassan , Koch Marian , Lawrence Lodge Rachael , Li Frank Yonghong , Lord Janice M. , Milligan Patrick , Minggagud Hugjiltu , Palmer Todd , Schröder Birgit , Szabó Gábor , Zhang Tongrui , Zimmermann Zita , Verbruggen Erik
Published: October 2023

Environmental circumstances shaping soil microbial communities have been studied extensively. However, due to disparate study designs, it has been difficult to resolve whether a globally consistent set of predictors exists, or context‐dependency prevails. Here, we used a network of 18 grassland sites (11 of those containing regional plant productivity gradients) to examine (i) if similar abiotic or biotic factors predict both large‐scale (across sites) and regional‐scale (within sites) patterns in bacterial and fungal community composition, and (ii) if microbial community composition differs consistently at two levels of regional plant productivity (low vs. high). Our results revealed that bacteria were associated with particular soil properties (such as base saturation) and both bacteria and fungi were associated with plant community composition across sites and within the majority of sites. Moreover, a discernible microbial community signal emerged, clearly distinguishing high and low‐productivity soils across different grasslands independent of their location in the world. Hence, regional productivity differences may be typified by characteristic soil microbial communities across the grassland biome. These results could encourage future research aiming to predict the general effects of global changes on soil microbial community composition in grasslands and to discriminate fertile from infertile systems using generally applicable microbial indicators.
Emotions in time: The temporal unity of emotion phenomenology
Authors: Goffin Kris , Viera Gerardo
Published: October 2023

According to componential theories of emotional experience, emotional experiences are phenomenally complex in that they consist of experiential parts, which may include cognitive appraisals, bodily feelings, and action tendencies. These componential theories face the problem of emotional unity: Despite their complexity, emotional experiences also seem to be phenomenologically unified. Componential theories have to give an account of this unity. We argue that existing accounts of emotional unity fail and that instead emotional unity is an instance of experienced causal‐temporal unity. We propose that felt emotional unity arises from our experience of the temporal‐causal order of the world.
Using (1,3)‐β‐D‐glucan concentrations in serum to monitor the response of azole therapy in patients with eumycetoma caused by Madurella mycetomatis
Authors: Nyuykonge Bertrand , Siddig Emmanuel E. , Nyaoke Borna A. , Zijlstra Eduard E. , Verbon Annelies , Bakhiet Sahar M. , Fahal Ahmed H. , van de Sande Wendy W. J.
Published: October 2023

Introduction

(1,3)‐β‐D‐glucan is a panfungal biomarker secreted by many fungi, including Madurella mycetomatis, the main causative agent of eumycetoma. Previously we demonstrated that (1,3)‐β‐D‐glucan was present in serum of patients with eumycetoma. However, the use of (1,3)‐β‐D‐glucan to monitor treatment responses in patients with eumycetoma has not been evaluated.

Materials and Methods

In this study, we measured (1,3)‐β‐D‐glucan concentrations in serum with the WAKO (1,3)‐β‐D‐glucan assay in 104 patients with eumycetoma treated with either 400 mg itraconazole daily, or 200 mg or 300 mg fosravuconazole weekly. Serial serum (1,3)‐β‐D‐glucan concentrations were measured at seven different timepoints. Any correlation between initial and final (1,3)‐β‐D‐glucan concentrations and clinical outcome was evaluated.

Results

The concentration of (1,3)‐β‐D‐glucan was obtained in a total of 654 serum samples. Before treatment, the average (1,3)‐β‐D‐glucan concentration was 22.86 pg/mL. During the first 6 months of treatment, this concentration remained stable. (1,3)‐β‐D‐glucan concentrations significantly dropped after surgery to 8.56 pg/mL. After treatment was stopped, there was clinical evidence of recurrence in 18 patients. Seven of these 18 patients had a (1,3)‐β‐D‐glucan concentration above the 5.5 pg/mL cut‐off value for positivity, while in the remaining 11 patients, (1,3)‐β‐D‐glucan concentrations were below the cut‐off value. This resulted in a sensitivity of 38.9% and specificity of 75.0%. A correlation between lesion size and (1,3)‐β‐D‐glucan concentration was noted.

Conclusion

Although in general (1,3)‐β‐D‐glucan concentrations can be measured in the serum of patients with eumycetoma during treatment, a sharp decrease in β‐glucan concentration was only noted after surgery and not during or after antimicrobial treatment. (1,3)‐β‐D‐glucan concentrations were not predictive for recurrence and seem to have no value in determining treatment response to azoles in patients with eumycetoma.
A literature review of evidence for primary prevention of overweight and obesity in healthy weight children and adolescents: A report produced by a working group of the Danish Council on Health and Disease Prevention
Authors: Olsen Nanna J. , Østergaard Jane N. , Bjerregaard Lise G. , Høy Teresa V. , Kierkegaard Lene , Michaelsen Kim F. , Sørensen Thorkild I. A. , Grønbæk Morten K. , Bruun Jens M. , Heitmann Berit L.
Published: October 2023

Primary prevention targets development of overweight in individuals with healthy weight and is a great challenge. This paper summarizes the main findings of a working group of the Danish Council on Health and Disease Prevention that reviewed the literature on primary prevention of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents. The results were presented in a Danish report, in which a 2019 Cochrane review on childhood obesity prevention was complemented by searches in PubMed to include all relevant subsequent studies published from January 2018 until March 2020. In this paper, the review was updated until June 2023. Numerous childhood overweight prevention interventions have been developed during the past decades, primarily targeting diet and/or physical activity. Several of these interventions showed positive effects on diet and physical activity level but did not show effects on risk of developing overweight. The evidence foundation is inconsistent as four out of five interventions did not show positive effects. Previously observed intervention effects may not reflect excessive weight gain prevention among children with healthy weight but rather bodyweight reduction among those with overweight or obesity. We do not have sufficient knowledge about how to prevent children with healthy weight from developing overweight, and creative solutions are urgently needed.
How Do the Morphological Abnormalities of Femoral Head and Neck, Femoral Shaft and Femoral Condyle Affect the Occurrence and Development of Medial Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Qin Shiqi , Li Ming , Jia Yanfeng , Gao Wei , Xu Juncai , Zhang Boxuan , Guo Hailong , Feng Ao , Sun Ran
Published: October 2023

Objective

At present, the main viewpoint is that tibial varus is the main reason of medial knee osteoarthritis (OA), and high tibial osteotomy (HTO) is also the main alignment correction method to correct medial knee OA. In contrast, the impact of the anatomical alignment of the femur on medial knee OA is often overlooked. We evaluated the increased risk for medial knee OA because a varus alignment could be attributed to the anatomical reasons that include hip anatomy, femoral shaft bowing (FSB) and femoral condylar dysplasia.

Methods

The present research adopted a cross‐sectional study method. We selected 62 patients with HTO in the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from June 2021 to March 2022 as the HTO group and 55 healthy volunteers as the control group. Femoral neck‐shaft angle (NSA), lateral FSB, mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA) and hip‐knee‐ankle (HKA) was radiographically examined within the two groups. The femoral neck length and offset were also measured, and the ratio is represented by the ratio of the femoral neck length to off‐set (N/O). The 2‐tailed Student t‐test was used to compare the differences between groups when the data were in accordance with a normal distribution. Otherwise, the Mann–Whitney U tests was used to compare the differences between groups.

Result

Compared to the control group, the HTO group had a higher offset (p < 0.05), greater femoral neck length (p < 0.05), and decreased (more varus) NSA (p < 0.05). The HKA in the HTO group was 172.20 ° (3.50°), which was significantly lower than that of the control group 177.00° (3.05°), (p < 0.001), while the medial OA was associated with more varus HKA. The mean mLDFA was 89.10 ° (2.35°) and 87.50° (2.85°) in the HTO and control groups (p < 0.005), respectively. The mean lateral FSB values of the full‐length radiographs were larger (p < 0.001) in the HTO group (4.24° ± 3.25°) than that in control group (1.16° ± 2.32°).

Conclusion

The reduction of NSA (coxa vara) and the increase of the mLDFA can lead to medial knee OA, while the lateral FSB also affects medial OA. We believe that femoral deformity is also one of the cause of the medial knee OA. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the joint deformity of the femur and tibia before surgery in order to determine whether to use HTO alone to correct the lower limb alignment.
The MFSD12 p.Tyr182His common variant is sufficient to alter mouse agouti coat color
Authors: Watkins‐Chow Dawn E. , Incao Arturo A. , Rivas Cecelia , Elliott Gene , Garrett Lisa J. , Pavan William J.
Published: October 2023

MFSD12 functions as a transmembrane protein required for import of cysteine into melanosomes and lysosomes. The MFSD12 locus has been associated with phenotypic variation in skin color across African, Latin American, and East Asian populations. The frequency of a particular MFSD12 coding variant, rs2240751 (MAF = 0.08), has been reported to correlate with solar radiation and occur at highest frequency in Peruvian (PEL MAF = 0.48) and Han Chinese (CHB MAF = 0.40) populations, suggesting it could be causative for associated phenotypic variation in skin color. We have generated a mouse knock‐in allele, Mfsd12Y182H, to model the human missense p.Tyr182His human variant. We demonstrate that the variant transcript is stably expressed and that agouti mice homozygote for the variant allele are viable with an altered coat color. This in vivo data confirms that the MFSD12 p.Tyr182His variant functions as a hypomorphic allele sufficient to alter mammalian pigmentation.
Mongolian micro‐continental blocks in Columbia/Nuna: Zircon U–Pb–Hf isotopic evidence for long‐lasting Mongolia–Western Siberia connection
Authors: Collett Stephen , Soejono Igor , Peřestý Vít , Schulmann Karel , Štípská Pavla , Míková Jitka , Novotná Nikol
Published: October 2023

The Mongolian micro‐continental fragments play an important geodynamic role in the Palaeozoic evolution of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. However, the original provenance of individual blocks within the Nuna/Columbia and Rodinia supercontinents is not well constrained. In this work, we present zircon U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopic data from the Mesoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic metamorphosed cover of the Baidrag Block in central Mongolia. These data reveal important maxima in the Neoarchean, Palaeoproterozoic and locally Neoproterozoic. Although the majority of the new data can be attributed to local sources within the basement of the Mongolian micro‐continental fragments, an important contribution of juvenile 2.0 Ga zircons is linked to the western margin of the Siberian Craton, and 1.5 Ga zircons are either directly derived from North Australia or indirectly recycled from sediments in NW Laurentia.
Differences in the characteristics of people who purchase pesticides from shops for self‐harm versus those who use pesticides available in the domestic environment in Sri Lanka
Authors: Weerasinghe Manjula , Jobe Lei , Konradsen Flemming , Eddleston Michael , Pearson Melissa , Jayamanne Shaluka , Hawton Keith , Gunnell David , Agampodi Suneth
Published: October 2023

Objective

Data from South Asia indicate that for 15%–20% of suicide attempts, pesticides are purchased from shops; otherwise, pesticides are obtained from an individual's house or nearby environment. We aimed to investigate the difference between individuals who directly purchase pesticides from shops for suicide attempts and suicide deaths versus those related to accessing the pesticides from an individual's house or nearby environment.

Methods

We conducted two comparative studies in rural Sri Lanka: (1) non‐fatal shop cases (n = 50) were survivors of self‐poisoning with pesticides who ingested the pesticides after purchasing them from a shop; non‐fatal domestic cases (n = 192) were survivors who accessed pesticides from their house or nearby environment. (2) fatal shop cases (n = 50) were individuals who died after ingesting pesticides they purchased for the act; fatal domestic cases (n = 102) were patients who died after ingesting pesticides they accessed at house or nearby environment. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the characteristics which distinguished between the shop and domestic cases.

Results

Data indicate that 20.7% and 32.9% of individuals who used pesticides for suicide attempts and suicide deaths had purchased them from shops, respectively. Being a non‐farmer was the main distinguishing characteristic of shop cases: adjusted odds ratios (AOR) 8.9, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 3.2–24.4 for non‐fatal shop cases, and AOR 4.0, 95% CI 1.5–10.6 for fatal shop cases. Non‐fatal shop cases also had higher suicide intent (AOR 3.0, CI 1.0–8.9), and ingesting an insecticide (AOR 4.8, CI 1.8–1.0–8.9) than non‐fatal domestic cases.

Conclusion

A high suicide intent of individuals who purchase pesticides for the event explains the high proportion of such fatal cases. Such high suicide intent makes the prevention implications difficult to spell out for those individuals who purchase pesticides for self‐poisoning. However, our findings are valuable for clinicians to assess pesticide poisoning cases in hospitals.
Detection of pro‐inflammatory cytokines in healthy canine tears using Canine Cytokine SpikeMix™ mass spectrometry via multiple reaction monitoring
Authors: Spitznagel Katya M. , Mikeska Railey , Jost Haley , McGrath Stephanie , Mehaffy Carolina , Henriksen Michala de Linde
Published: October 2023

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy of the Canine Cytokine SpikeMix™ and MRM‐MS for detecting pro‐inflammatory cytokines in canine tears from healthy research Beagles.

Methods

A complete ophthalmic examination was performed on 15 healthy research Beagles to verify no ophthalmic diseases. Tears were collected OU by placing a Weck‐Cel® cellulose spear in the ventral conjunctival fornix for 1 min. The Weck‐Cel® spear was placed in a 2.0 mL tube with a centrifuge filter forcing tears to flow through the filter into the bottom of the tube. The tears were analyzed using the Canine Cytokine SpikeMix™ and MRM‐MS. Descriptive data from this study was reported as the normalized total peak area (nTPA) and median (range) using data imported from the online MRM‐MS Skyline program.

Results

The level of 16 pro‐inflammatory cytokines was successfully detected in all 15 dogs. The four cytokines with the highest median amounts in the samples were IL‐2 = 0.1243 (0.019–6.7289), IL‐6 = 0.964 (0.0036–16.9365), TNFα = 0.1644 (0.0096–0.7138), and CSF‐2 = 0.4022 (0.1475–2.6208).

Conclusions

This study revealed that 16 pro‐inflammatory cytokines in canine tears from healthy dogs can be detected with Canine Cytokine SpikeMix™ and MRM‐MS.