bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Stochastic Price Duration Model for Estimating High-Frequency Volatility
Authors: Pelletier Denis , Wei Wei
Published: October 2023

We propose a stochastic price duration model to estimate high-frequency volatility. A price duration is directly linked to volatility from the passage time theory for Brownian motions, and it possesses several advantages over returns for estimating volatility. We employ price durations in a parametric model that directly specifies stochastic volatility dynamics. Our approach allows us to estimate intraday spot volatility and our empirical results suggest the presence of important intraday volatility dynamics. We conduct an extensive integrated variance forecast comparison, which demonstrates the superior performance of our proposed models compared with other duration-based or return-based estimators.
Dwarf galaxy archaeology from chemical abundances and star-formation histories
Authors: Johnson James W , Conroy Charlie , Johnson Benjamin D , Peter Annika H G , Cargile Phillip A , Bonaca Ana , Naidu Rohan P , Woody Turner , Ting Yuan-Sen , Han Jiwon Jesse , Speagle Joshua S
Published: October 2023

We model the stellar abundances and ages of two disrupted dwarf galaxies in the Milky Way stellar halo: Gaia-Sausage Enceladus (GSE) and Wukong/LMS-1. Using a statistically robust likelihood function, we fit one-zone models of galactic chemical evolution with exponential infall histories to both systems, deriving e-folding time-scales of τin = 1.01 ± 0.13 Gyr for GSE and $\tau _\text{in} = 3.08^{+3.19}_{-1.16}$ Gyr for Wukong/LMS-1. GSE formed stars for $\tau _\text{tot} = 5.40^{+0.32}_{-0.31}$ Gyr, sustaining star formation for ∼1.5–2 Gyr after its first infall into the Milky Way ∼10 Gyr ago. Our fit suggests that star formation lasted for $\tau _\text{tot} = 3.36^{+0.55}_{-0.47}$ Gyr in Wukong/LMS-1, though our sample does not contain any age measurements. The differences in evolutionary parameters between the two are qualitatively consistent with trends with stellar mass M⋆ predicted by simulations and semi-analytic models of galaxy formation. Our inferred values of the outflow mass-loading factor reasonably match $\eta \propto M_\star ^{-1/3}$ as predicted by galactic wind models. Our fitting method is based only on Poisson sampling from an evolutionary track and requires no binning of the data. We demonstrate its accuracy by testing against mock data, showing that it accurately recovers the input model across a broad range of sample sizes (20 ≤ N ≤ 2000) and measurement uncertainties (0.01 ≤ σ[α/Fe], σ[Fe/H] ≤ 0.5; $0.02 \le \sigma _{\log _{10}(\text{age})} \le 1$). Due to the generic nature of our derivation, this likelihood function should be applicable to one-zone models of any parametrization and easily extensible to other astrophysical models which predict tracks in some observed space.
Reply to Finsterer et al
Authors: Hu Weili , Shankar Pavitra , Yao Yuanhang , Su Xinyi , Kim Jung Eun
Published: October 2023

This letter acknowledges Finsterer and colleagues' insightful comments on pesticide use in fruits and vegetables and impact on eye health. Pesticides can harm eyes through various exposures. Adverse effects occur due to direct entry into ocular tissues, with absorption through eye components. While the potential of organic diets to reduce pesticide exposure is acknowledged, the original paper's cited studies lack clarity on whether organic diet interventions were used. Future systematic reviews comparing organic and nonorganic diets could provide further insights.
From responsibility to risk: ethics in the Bermuda Triangle of EU research and innovation policy
Authors: Nikolova Blagovesta I
Published: October 2023

This paper aims to trace how the meaning of ethics in the research and innovation (R&I) sector is discursively and procedurally revised within two consecutive modes of legitimizing public policies in the European Union (EU), namely, good governance and better regulation. The text draws insight from Ernesto Laclau’s work on discursivity, contingency, and hegemony and Chantal Mouffe’s critique of consensual political theories. It shows that with the policy transition from responsible innovation to breakthrough and disruptive innovation, the possibilities to employ ethics in interrogating the ambiguous nature of science and technology advancement become very limited. Ethics is currently construed as a means for unclogging the innovation process and embracing the collective production of risks. The paper demonstrates that the recent emptying of ethics within EU R&I is an expected effect of hegemonization practices and discursive configurations promoting and stabilizing the science–market alliance in science and policy relations.
Integrating health geography and behavioral economic principles to strengthen context-specific behavior change interventions
Authors: Barber Brittany Victoria , Kephart George , Martin-Misener Ruth , Vallis Michael , Matthews Stephen , Atkins Lou , Cassidy Christine , Curran Janet , Rainham Daniel
Published: October 2023

The long-term economic viability of modern health care systems is uncertain, in part due to costs of health care at the end of life and increasing health care utilization associated with an increasing population prevalence of multiple chronic diseases. Control of health care spending and sustaining delivery of health care services will require strategic investments in prevention to reduce the risk of disease and its complications over an individual’s life course. Behavior change interventions aimed at reducing a range of harmful and risky health-related behaviors including smoking, physical inactivity, excess alcohol consumption, and excess weight, are one approach that has proven effective at reducing risk and preventing chronic disease. However, large-scale efforts to reduce population-level chronic diseases are challenging and have not been very successful at reducing the burden of chronic diseases. A new approach is required to identify when, where, and how to intervene to disrupt patterns of behavior associated with high-risk factors using context-specific interventions that can be scaled. This paper introduces the need to integrate theoretical and methodological principles of health geography and behavioral economics as opportunities to strengthen behavior change interventions for the prevention of chronic diseases. We discuss how health geography and behavioral economics can be applied to expand existing behavior change frameworks and how behavior change interventions can be strengthened by characterizing contexts of time and activity space.
Loss of UCP2 causes mitochondrial fragmentation by OMA1‐dependent proteolytic processing of OPA1 in podocytes
Authors: Yang Qianqian , Wang Lulu , Liang Yuehong , He Qingyu , Sun Qi , Luo Jing , Cao Hongdi , Fang Yi , Zhou Yang , Yang Junwei , Wen Ping , Jiang Lei
Published: October 2023

Mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in the onset and progression of podocyte injury and proteinuria. However, the process by which the change in the podocyte mitochondria occurs is not well understood. Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) is a mitochondrial anion carrier protein, which is located in the mitochondrial inner membrane. Here, we reported that mice with podocyte‐specific Ucp2 deficiency developed podocytopathy with proteinuria with aging. Furthermore, those mice exhibited increased proteinuria in experimental models evoked by Adriamycin. Our findings suggest that UCP2 mediates mitochondrial dysfunction by regulating mitochondrial dynamic balance. Ucp2‐deleted podocytes exhibited increased mitochondrial fission and deficient in ATP production. Mechanistically, opacity protein 1 (OPA1), a key protein in fusion of mitochondrial inner membrane, was regulated by UCP2. Ucp2 deficiency promoted proteolysis of OPA1 by activation OMA1 which belongs to mitochondrial inner membrane zinc metalloprotease. Those finding demonstrate the role of UCP2 in mitochondrial dynamics in podocytes and provide new insights into pathogenesis associated with podocyte injury and proteinuria.
Novel MAFA+, ISL1+, NKX6-1-stem cell derived pancreatic cell clusters secrete insulin and control blood glucose in rodent models of diabetes
Authors: Ratiu J. , Southard S. , Rust W.
Published: October 2023

This article describes a stem cell line derived by reprogramming of native human islet cells that consistently generates pure populations of endocrine pancreatic clusters following a simple differentiation protocol. Surprisingly, the population of stem cell derived pancreatic endocrine clusters that was most consistently capable of regulating blood glucose in rodent models of diabetes lacked robust expression of the key beta cell maturation-associated factor NKX6-1 but did manifest high expression of other key drivers of endocrine cell specification and maturation, ISL1 and MAFA. These data support the hypothesis that multiple pancreatic profiles can be identified in stem cell derived cultures and that these have disparate in vivo potency. The population with low NKX6-1 and high in vivo potency was further characterized by transcriptome profiling as an endocrine-committed population progressively maturing in vitro to a state proximal to the native islet.
SiamEEGNet: Siamese Neural Network-Based EEG Decoding for Drowsiness Detection
Authors: Chang Li-Jen , Chen Hsi-An , Chang Chin , Wei Chun-Shu
Published: October 2023

Recent advancements in deep-learning have significantly enhanced EEG-based drowsiness detection. However, most existing methods overlook the importance of relative changes in EEG signals compared to a baseline, a fundamental aspect in conventional EEG analysis including event-related potential and time-frequency spectrograms. We herein introduce SiamEEGNet, a Siamese neural network architecture designed to capture relative changes between EEG data from the baseline and a time window of interest. Our results demonstrate that SiamEEGNet is capable of robustly learning from high-variability data across multiple sessions/subjects and outperforms existing model architectures in cross-subject scenarios. Furthermore, the model’s interpretability associates with previous findings of drowsiness-related EEG correlates. The promising performance of SiamEEGNet highlights its potential for practical applications in EEG-based drowsiness detection. We have made the source codes available athttp://github.com/CECNL/SiamEEGNet.
Crystallographic, spectroscopic and thermal studies of 1-(4-bromophenyl)-5-(2,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole
Authors: Moreno-Suárez Erika , Avila-Acosta Rafael , Sánchez-Ramírez Karen , Castillo Juan-Carlos , Macías Mario A.
Published: October 2023

The new title pyrrole–pyrazole derivative, C16H16BrN3, was synthesized through a citric acid-catalyzed Paal–Knorr reaction between acetonylacetone and 1-(4-bromophenyl)-3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-amine under mild reaction conditions. This synthetic protocol is noteworthy for its utilization of stoichiometric amounts of the reactants, an ecofriendly solvent and a cost-effective, non-toxic and biodegradable organocatalyst. A comprehensive understanding of the molecular structure was gained through spectroscopic, thermal and X-ray crystallographic analyses. The crystal structure is characterized by weak interactions, where only C—H...π connections contribute to the hydrogen-bond contacts. The supramolecular assembly is controlled by dispersion forces. However, the energy frameworks demonstrate that these forces act in three dimensions, providing enough stability, as observed in TGA–DSC (thermogravimetric analysis–differential scanning calorimetry) studies.
Blockchain for environmental peacebuilding: application in water management
Authors: Huseynov Fariz , Mitchell Jeanene
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to spur further exploration of blockchain technologies for environmental peacebuilding, specifically through water management. Although the environmental peacebuilding field acknowledges the potentially transformative nature of frontier technologies, most existing studies do not address how such technologies can contribute to peacebuilding through improved natural resource governance. Using a theory synthesis research design, this conceptual paper connects these studies to discuss how blockchain technologies in water management may contribute to environmental peacebuilding through the efficient and transparent management of natural resources.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a conceptual approach and a theory synthesis research design to present potential mechanisms through which blockchain technology can potentially contribute to environmental peacebuilding.

Findings

The authors discuss the limitations in the literature on environmental peacebuilding, blockchain and water management, concluding that the third generation of studies should focus on the role of frontier technologies. This approach should especially address the negative consequences of technology for peacebuilding objectives. The authors argue that blockchain applications in water management can potentially contribute to environmental peacebuilding objectives in three ways: (i) creating a mechanism for confidence-building in low-trust contexts through automated and transparent water transactions, (ii) facilitating postconflict economic development through attracting capital and increasing the efficiency of water management and (iii) improving governance through greater transparency and local participation in natural resource management.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to conceptually explore the use of blockchain technology for water management in the context of environmental peacebuilding. The insights from this study can guide policymakers of conflict sides that focus on resolving issues such as lack of governance and low state agency.
Proposal of a facilitating methodology for fuzzy FMEA implementation with application in process risk analysis in the aeronautical sector
Authors: Resende Bianca Arcifa de , Dedini Franco Giuseppe , Eckert Jony Javorsky , Sigahi Tiago F.A.C. , Pinto Jefferson de Souza , Anholon Rosley
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to propose a facilitating methodology for the application of Fuzzy FMEA (Failure Mode and Effect Analysis), comparing the traditional approach with fuzzy variations, supported by a case application in the aeronautical sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on experts' opinions in risk analysis within the aeronautical sector, rules governing the relationship between severity, occurrence, detection and risk factor were defined. This served as input for developing a fuzzyfied FMEA tool using the Matlab Fuzzy Logic Toolbox. The tool was applied to the sealing process in a company within the aeronautical sector, using triangular and trapezoidal membership functions, and the results were compared with the traditional FMEA approach.

Findings

The results of the comparative application of traditional FMEA and fuzzyfied FMEA using triangular and trapezoidal functions have yielded valuable insights into risk analysis. The findings indicated that fuzzyfied FMEA maintained coherence with the traditional analysis in identifying higher-risk effects, aligning with the prioritization of critical failure modes. Additionally, fuzzyfied FMEA allowed for a more refined prioritization by accounting for variations in each variable through fuzzy rules, thereby improving the accuracy of risk analysis and providing a more realistic representation of potential hazards. The application of the developed fuzzyfied FMEA approach showed promise in enhancing risk assessment in the aeronautical sector by considering uncertainties and offering a more detailed and context-specific analysis compared to conventional FMEA.

Practical implications

This study emphasizes the potential of fuzzyfied FMEA in enhancing risk assessment by accurately identifying critical failure modes and providing a more realistic representation of potential hazards. The application case reveals that the proposed tool can be integrated with expert knowledge to improve decision-making processes and risk mitigation strategies within the aeronautical industry. Due to its straightforward approach, this facilitating methodology could also prove beneficial in other industrial sectors.

Originality/value

This paper presents the development and application of a facilitating methodology for implementing Fuzzy FMEA, comparing it with the traditional approach and incorporating variations using triangular and trapezoidal functions. This proposed methodology uses the Toolbox Fuzzy Logic of Matlab to create a fuzzyfied FMEA tool, enabling a more nuanced and context-specific risk analysis by considering uncertainties.
An incentive mechanism contract model to coordinate a vaccine supply chain under demand uncertainty
Authors: Chandra Dheeraj , Jain Vipul , Chan Felix T.S.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The increasing prevalence of a wide range of infectious diseases, as well as the underwhelming results of vaccination rates that may be traced back to problems with vaccine procurement and distribution, have brought to the fore the importance of vaccine supply chain (VSC) management in recent years. VSC is the cornerstone of effective vaccination; hence, it is crucial to enhance its performance, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where immunization rates are not satisfactory.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors focus on VSC performance improvement of India by proposing supply contracts under demand uncertainty. The authors propose three contracts – wholesale price (WSP), cost sharing (CS) and incentive mechanism (IM) for the government-operated immunization program of India.

Findings

The authors' findings indicate that IM is capable of coordinating the supply chain, whereas the other two contracts are inefficient for the government. To validate the model, it is applied to a real-world scenario of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in India, and the findings show that an IM contract improves the overall efficiency of the system by 23.72%.

Originality/value

Previous studies focused mainly on the influenza VSC industry within developed nations. Nonetheless, there exists a dearth of literature pertaining to the examination of supply contracts and their feasibility for immunization programs that are administered by the government and aimed at optimizing societal benefits. The authors' findings can be beneficial to the immunization program of India to optimize their VSC cost.
Integration of metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses reveals the mechanism of nano‐selenium treated to activate phenylpropanoid metabolism and enhance the antioxidant activity of peach
Authors: Ge Xuliyang , Zhang Jiukai , He Lei , Yu Ning , Pan Canping , Chen Ying
Published: October 2023

Foliar spraying to improve the quality of fruits is a general approach nowadays. In this study, 10 ppm nano‐selenium (nano‐Se) diluted with distilled water was sprayed on peach leaves every 10 days for a total of 7 sprays during the fruit set period. And then their fruit quality was compared with that of control group. It was found that the firmness, soluble solid concentration, total phenol, and proanthocyanidin content of the peaches were raised after the nano‐Se treatment. Moreover, the ascorbic acid glutathione loop (ASA‐GSH loop) was fully activated in the nano‐Se treated group, and the associated antioxidant capacity and enzyme activity were significantly increased. Metabolomics revealed that nano‐Se could upregulate some metabolites, such as phenylalanine, naringenin, and pinocembrin, to fully activate the metabolism of phenylpropanoids. Further, based on transcriptomics, nano‐Se treatment was found to affect fruit quality by regulating genes related to phenylpropanoid metabolism, such as arogenate/prephenate dehydratase (ADT), genes related to abscisic acid metabolism such as (+)‐abscisic acid 8′‐hydroxylase (CYP707A), and some transcription factors such as MYB. Based on the comprehensive analysis of physicochemical indicators, metabolomics, and transcriptomics, it was found that nano‐Se improved fruit quality by activating phenylpropanoid metabolism and enhancing antioxidant capacity. This work provides insights into the mechanism of the effect of nano‐Se fertilizer on peach fruit quality.

Practical Application

The firmness and soluble solid concentration of peaches are higher after nano‐Se treatment, which is more in line with people's demand for hard soluble peaches like “Yingzui.” The antioxidant capacity, antioxidant substance content, and antioxidant enzyme activity of nano‐Se‐treated peaches are higher, with potential storage resistance and health effects on human body. The mechanism of nano‐Se affecting peach quality was analyzed by metabolomics and transcriptomics, which is a reference and guide for the research and application of nano‐Se.
Prevalence and diversity of avian malaria parasites in illegally traded white‐winged parakeets in Peruvian Amazonas
Authors: Marzal A. , Magallanes S. , Salas‐Rengifo T. , Muriel J. , Navarro C. , Vecco D. , Guerra‐Saldaña C. , Mendo L. , Paredes V. , González‐Blázquez M. , García‐Longoria L. , Díez‐Fernández A.
Published: October 2023

Illegal or poorly regulated wildlife trade may enhance parasite spread worldwide, leading to pathogen outbreaks and the emergence of diseases affecting native wildlife, domestic animals and humans. The order Psittaciformes has the largest proportion of endangered species among all birds worldwide and is one of the most trafficked taxa in the pet trade. However, despite the large number of parrot species commercialized worldwide, the influence of illegally traded wild birds on the introduction of exotic pathogens is still poorly investigated. Here we molecularly examined the prevalence and genetic diversity of haemosporidian parasites in illegally traded white‐winged parakeets (Brotogeris versicolurus), one of the most trafficked parrots in South America. We found that 18.5% of parakeets harboured Plasmodium relictum GRW04, a highly invasive malaria parasite provoking population decline and even extinctions in native avifauna when established outside its natural range. We also showed that malaria infected birds have lower body condition than uninfected parakeets, revealing the negative effects of malaria on their avian hosts. These outcomes highlight the risk of malaria spill over and disease outbreak in illegally traded wildlife. Our results also reveal epidemiological key concepts in disease transmission, such as the role of poorly studied parrot species as natural reservoir hosts of haemosporidians. These findings stress the importance of enforcing health control regulations and trade policies to fight wildlife trafficking effectively.
Age misreporting: An empirical investigation using the New Zealand contingents in the Second Boer War
Authors: Brooke Geoffrey , Cheung Lydia
Published: October 2023

This is a first focused examination of age misreporting in military recruitment. We take advantage of an original dataset comprised of New Zealand military personnel records in the Second Boer War matched with birth historical records. First, we find that age misrepresentation is common: about one third of soldiers on our dataset misreport their ages. Second, we find that soldiers the estimated age‐specific mean heights do not change significantly when we change from using reported ages to using true ages. Researchers can prioritise the investigation of true ages on those reporting to be 21 or younger.
A call for clarity: a scoping review of predictors of poor outcome after emergency abdominal surgery for inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Bunce J. A. , Wall J. J. S. , Lund J. N. , Tierney G. M.
Published: October 2023

Aim

The medical management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rapidly progressing; however, many patients with the disease still require surgery. Often this is done as an emergency. Initiatives such as the National Emergency Laparotomy Audit have shown how evidence‐based emergency surgery improves outcomes for the patient. The aim of this scoping review is to describe the current evidence base on risk stratification in emergency abdominal surgery for IBD.

Methods

A literature search, abstract and full paper screening resulted in 17 articles representing 63 472 patients from seven countries.

Results

It is likely that age, the American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, comorbidity and organ dysfunction play a similar role in risk stratification in IBD patients as in other emergency abdominal surgery cohorts. However, the reporting of what is considered an IBD emergency is variable. Six studies include clear definitions of emergency in our study. The range of what is considered an emergency is within 12 h of admission to any time within an unplanned admission.

Conclusion

To have data driven, evidence‐based emergency surgical practice in IBD we need consistency of reporting, including the definitions of emergency and urgency. Core descriptor sets in IBD would be valuable.
Ultra‐rapid lispro improved postprandial glucose control compared to insulin lispro in predominantly Chinese patients with type 1 diabetes: A prospective, randomized, double‐blind phase 3 study
Authors: Ma Jianhua , Yan Xiang , Feng Qiong , Liu Wei , Pérez Manghi Federico , García‐Hernández Pedro , Wang Guixia , Xu Jianwei , Yuan Yuan , Zhou Zhiguang
Published: October 2023

Aims

To investigate the efficacy and safety of ultra‐rapid lispro (URLi) versus insulin lispro in predominantly Chinese patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in a prospective, randomized, double‐blind, treat‐to‐target, phase 3 study.

Materials and Methods

Following a lead‐in period, during which insulin glargine U‐100 or insulin degludec U‐100 was optimized, patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to URLi (n = 176) or insulin lispro (n = 178). The primary objective was to test the noninferiority of URLi to insulin lispro in glycaemic control (noninferiority margin = 0.4% for glycated haemoglobin [HbA1c] change from baseline to week 26), with testing for the superiority of URLi to insulin lispro with regard to 1‐ and 2‐hour postprandial glucose (PPG) excursions during a mixed‐meal tolerance test and HbA1c change at week 26 as the multiplicity‐adjusted objectives.

Results

From baseline to week 26, HbA1c decreased by 0.21% and 0.28% with URLi and insulin lispro, respectively, with a least squares mean treatment difference of 0.07% (95% confidence interval −0.11 to 0.24; P = 0.467). URLi demonstrated smaller 1‐ and 2‐hour PPG excursions at week 26 with least squares mean treatment differences of −1.0 mmol/L (−17.8 mg/dL) and −1.4 mmol/L (−25.5 mg/dL), respectively (p < 0.005 for both) versus insulin lispro. The safety profiles of URLi and insulin lispro were similar.

Conclusions

In this study, URLi administered in a basal‐bolus regimen demonstrated superiority to insulin lispro in controlling PPG excursions, with noninferiority of HbA1c control in predominantly Chinese patients with T1D.
Updates on grading mesothelioma
Authors: Schulte Jefree J , Husain Aliya N
Published: October 2023

Mesothelioma is a rare disease with an historically poor prognosis. Over the past decade, a grading system has been developed that is a powerful prognostic tool in epithelioid mesothelioma. Grading of epithelioid mesothelioma is now required or strongly recommended by expert consensus, the College of American Pathologists, the World Health Organization, and the International Mesothelioma Interest Group. The original nuclear grading system for epithelioid mesothelioma, developed in the United States, split epithelioid mesotheliomas into three prognostic groups with marked differences in survival. Now, this three‐tiered nuclear grading system has been combined with the presence or absence of necrosis to form the currently recommended two‐tiered grading system of low‐ and high‐grade epithelioid mesothelioma. This review will focus on the development of this grading system in mesothelioma, the grading system's shortcomings, and the application of the grading system to cytology specimens and other extra‐pleural sites. Lastly, this review will briefly discuss alternative grading systems and future considerations.
Application of microbial exopolysaccharides in packaging films for the food industry: a review
Authors: Guerrero Beatriz Guevara , Santos Kamila de Lima , Kamimura Eliana Setsuko , de Oliveira Carlos Augusto Fernandes
Published: October 2023

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are high‐valued biopolymers produced by microorganisms, which are secreted to the outside of the microbial cell as capsules or soluble slime and have unique characteristics that make their application possible in multiple industries. EPS have shown antioxidant, prebiotic, and antimicrobial activity. In addition, they have been described as non‐toxic, biodegradable, and safe biopolymers for applications in food processes. Due to these characteristics, they became essential complements in the design of environmentally friendly packaging, mainly in the development of bioactive, edible, and intelligent films. In this sense, the objectives of this review were to discuss relevant issues on EPS production for environmentally sustainable food packaging, including principles, recently identified sources, and biosynthesis of different types of EPS produced by microorganisms on different substrates. The potential use of these components in manufacturing packaging films is also discussed as a promising strategy to extend the shelf life of foods.
Development and optimization of an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay employing two murine monoclonal antibodies for absolute quantitation of human beta‐glucuronidase
Authors: Ho KJ
Published: October 2023

We have developed and optimized an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for absolute quantitation of human beta‐glucuronidase. This is a double antibody sandwich system employing two murine monoclonal antibodies specific for human beta‐glucuronidase developed in our laboratories. The method involves (a) coating of the high binding polystyrene microtitration plate with the first antibody (7B6 IgG), (b) blocking of remaining active sites with 3% bovine serum albumin in phosphate‐buffered saline, (c) application of samples, (d) addition of the biotinylated second antibody (6D2 IgG), (e) addition of streptavidin‐horseradish peroxidase, and (f) development of color with o‐phenylenediamine dihydrochloride‐H2O2 and reading in a microplate reader at a wavelength of 490 nm. The method is highly sensitive with an optimal range of 10 to 100 ng/ml of the enzyme and is reproducible with intraday and interday precisions of 3.2 and 4.1%, respectively. The enzyme contents of 20 urine and 20 bile samples quantitated by this ELISA method were, respectively, 148 +/‐ 101 and 6380 +/‐ 3780 ng/ml (means +/‐ SD) which correlated well with their enzyme activities. Such a method for absolute quantitation of human beta‐glucuronidase is essential for studying its pathophysiologic roles in cholelithiasis and carcinogenesis and can also be used clinically as an indicator for tissue damage or malignancy.
Use of conjugates of bovine serum albumin with poly(alkylene oxide)s for solubilization of riboflavin ester
Authors: Topchieva IN , Kurganov BI , Teplova MV , Gorskaya IA , Rudakova IP
Published: October 2023

Solubilization of 2′,3′,4′,5′‐tetrabenzoyl‐5‐acetyl‐1,5‐dihydroriboflavin (benzaflavin) by conjugates of BSA with poly(alkylene oxide)s [poly(ethylene glycol) and block co‐polymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (pluronics)] was investigated. Conjugates of BSA with pluronics were shown to have more solubilizing efficiency towards benzaflavin than BSA itself. Solubilized forms of benzaflavin are able to inhibit NADPH‐dependent peroxidation of lipids in rat liver microsomes. A study of solubilized riboflavin ester transfer to mitochondria demonstrated that conjugates of BSA with pluronics may be advantageously employed for this purpose. Inhibitory properties of solubilized forms of benzaflavin were demonstrated by the study of their influence on the enzyme activity of D‐amino‐acid oxidase from pig kidney. The results show that solubilized forms of biologically active compounds based on conjugates of proteins with poly(alkylene oxide)s may be used for testing of chemical substances in biochemical systems.
Expression and post‐translational processing of a broad‐spectrum organophosphorus‐neurotoxin‐degrading enzyme in insect tissue culture
Authors: Dave K. , Phillips L. , Luckow V. , Wild J.
Published: October 2023

A recombinant baculovirus, Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV), has been utilized to express the opd (organophosphate‐degrading) gene from Pseudomonas diminuta in insect tissue‐culture cells (Sf9) of the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). The broad‐spectrum organophosphate hydrolase (EC 3.1.8.1) encoded by this gene is a member of a general class of enzymes [organophosphate (OP) anhydrolases] that include parathion hydrolases, di‐isopropyl‐fluorophosphatases (DFPases), somanases, and OP phosphotriesterases. This particular enzyme possesses the ability to hydrolyse paraoxon (P‐O bond), DFP, sarin (P‐F bond), VX (P‐S bond) and tabun (P‐CN bond), as well as a number of other extensively used organophosphorus pesticides. The enzyme produced in infected Sf9 cells is post‐translationally processed and resembles the mature form of the enzyme expressed in various bacterial cells as identified by immunoprecipitation on Western blots. N‐terminal sequence analysis of enzyme expressed in insect cells revealed Gly‐29 as the terminal residue, whereas expression in Escherichia coli removes this residue, exposing Ser‐30 at the N‐terminus. Conditions for optimal expression of the enzyme in this system are described. Furthermore, hydrolytic efficiency of some OPs with purified enzyme from this system is discussed in relation to the in situ activity of Pseudomonas diminuta MG cells.
Red/Green Color Discrimination and Stimulus Size
Authors: Nagy Allen L.
Published: October 2023

The model of Boynton and Kambe was used to analyze wavelength discriminationfunctions measured in the fovea by McCree. The long‐wavelength portions of these functions. which were measured with several field sizes at three different luminance levels. are described well by the model. Thresholds decrease with increasing field size. but the relationship between threshold and field size is dependent on the color of the test stimulus. Two factors. summation and opponent‐mechanism adaptation. appear to affect the relationship. These two factors can be described with variations in the two coefficients of the Boynton and Kambe equation for red‐green discriminations.
Dysfunctional Attitudes and Suicidal Ideation in Psychiatric Outpatients
Authors: Beck Aaron T. , Steer Robert A. , Brown Gary
Published: October 2023

To determine if specific sets of dysfunctional attitudes were related to suicidal ideation, the 100‐item Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS) was administered to 908 psychiatric outpatients along with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Self‐Concept Test (BST), and Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI). The SSI was used to classify the outpatients into 97 (10.7%) suicide ideators and 811 (89.3%) nonideators, and the DAS was scored for nine subscales described by Beck, Brown, Steer, and Weissman (1991). None of the DAS subscales discriminated the ideators and nonideators or was significantly related to SSI total scores of the suicide ideators after controlling for sex, age, diagnosis of a mood or panic disorder, comorbidity, presence of a personality disorder, a history of a past suicide attempt, the BDI, the BHS, and the BST. The contributions of sets of dysfunctional attitudes for identifying and explaining suicidal ideation were overshadowed by a history of a past suicide attempt and hopelessness.
Witnessed Suicides
Authors: McDowell Charles P. , Rothberg Joseph M. , Koshes Ronald J.
Published: October 2023

Suicides that take place in the presence of others have not been the topic of systematic scientific inquiry. The so‐called witnessed suicides account for a small percentage of all suicides but offer a unique view into the dynamics of self‐destructive behavior. An epidemiologic and forensic description of 50 witnessed suicides drawn from a 15‐year series of over 1,000 cases is presented. A taxonomy is developed based on the role played by the witness and related to previous work on self‐destructive behavior and its motivation. Brief vignettes are used to illustrate some of the interpersonal dynamics associated with these deaths.
Integrated single cell transcriptome sequencing analysis reveals species‐specific genes and molecular pathways for pig spermiogenesis
Authors: Zhao Ya‐Dan , Yang Cai‐Xia , Du Zhi‐Qiang
Published: October 2023

Mammalian spermatogenesis is a highly complicated and intricately organized process involving spermatogonia propagation (mitosis) and meiotic differentiation into mature sperm cells (spermiogenesis). In pigs, spermatogonia development and the role of somatic cells in spermatogenesis were previously investigated in detail. However, the characterization of key molecules fundamental to pig spermiogenesis remains less explored. Here we compared spermatogenesis between humans and pigs, focusing on spermiogenesis, by integrative testicular single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) analysis. Human and pig testicular cells were clustered into 26 different groups, with cell‐type‐specific markers and signalling pathways. For spermiogenesis, pseudo‐time analysis classified the lineage differentiation routes for round, elongated spermatids and spermatozoa. Moreover, markers and molecular pathways specific to each type of spermatids were examined for humans and pigs, respectively. Furthermore, high‐dimensional weighted gene co‐expression network analysis (hdWGCNA) identified gene modules specific for each type of human and pig spermatids. Hub genes (pig: SNRPD2.1 related to alternative splicing; human: CATSPERZ, Ca[2+] ion channel) potentially involved in spermiogenesis were also revealed. Taken together, our integrative analysis found that human and pig spermiogeneses involve specific genes and molecular pathways and provided resources and insights for further functional investigation on spermatid maturation and male reproductive ability.
Age‐related differences in the capacity and neuromuscular control of the foot core system during quiet standing
Authors: Lai Jiaqi , Ye Yinyan , Huang Dongfeng , Zhang Xianyi
Published: October 2023

The foot core system is essential for upright stability. However, aging‐induced changes in the foot core function remain poorly understood. The present study aimed to examine age‐related differences in postural stability from the perspective of foot core capacity and neuromuscular control during quiet standing. Thirty‐six older and 25 young adults completed foot core capacity tests including toe flexion strength, muscle ultrasonography, and plantar cutaneous sensitivity. The center of pressure (COP) and electromyography (EMG) of abductor hallucis (ABH), peroneus longus (PL), tibialis anterior (TA) and medial gastrocnemius (GM) were simultaneously recorded during double‐leg and single‐leg standing (SLS). EMG data were used to calculate muscle synergy and intermuscular coherence across three frequency bands. Compared to young adults, older adults exhibited thinner hallucis flexors, weaker toe strength, and lower plantar cutaneous sensitivity. The ABH thickness and plantar cutaneous sensitivity were negatively associated with the COP mean peak velocity in older adults, but not in young adults. Besides, older adults had higher cocontraction of muscles spanning the arch (ABH‐PL) and ankle (TA‐GM), and had lower beta‐ and gamma‐band coherence of the ABH‐PL and TA‐PL during SLS. Foot core capacities became compromised with advancing age, and the balance control of older adults was susceptible to foot core than young adults in balance tasks. To compensate for the weakened foot core, older adults may adopt arch and ankle stiffening strategies via increasing muscle cocontraction. Furthermore, coherence analysis indicated that aging may increase the demand for cortical brain resources during SLS.
Social protection, community participation and state‐citizen relations: Evidence from a cash transfer program in south‐central Somalia
Authors: van den Boogaard Vanessa , Santoro Fabrizio , Walker Michael
Published: October 2023

We investigate whether social protection programs can increase participation in community‐driven development programs and examine how this affects state‐citizen relations. Using a randomized controlled trial in south‐central Somalia, we study the impacts of one‐time unconditional cash transfers to vulnerable households that were specifically designed to encourage participation in community development. While the cash transfer is relatively small as a share of annual household expenditure, it is more than sufficient to cover households' anticipated community development contributions. The transfers were funded by an NGO but delivered through state institutions. We collect survey data before and after the intervention with almost 600 individuals eligible to receive cash transfers. We find no substantial differences in participation in community development projects for cash transfer recipient households relative to non‐recipient households. However, we do find positive impacts of the cash transfers on citizen perceptions of clan elders and the local government. Our findings suggest that relatively small social protection interventions may face challenges in increasing vulnerable households' participation in community development and decision‐making, while also highlighting potential positive spillover effects for state‐citizen relations and beliefs about the capacity of local institutions where states institutions are involved in program delivery, even if they do not finance the program.
Two chromosome‐level genome assemblies of Rhodiola shed new light on genome evolution in rapid radiation and evolution of the biosynthetic pathway of salidroside
Authors: Zhang Dan‐Qing , Liu Xiao‐Ying , Qiu Lin‐Feng , Liu Zhao‐Rui , Yang Ya‐Peng , Huang Long , Wang Shi‐Yu , Zhang Jian‐Qiang
Published: October 2023

Rhodiola L. is a genus that has undergone rapid radiation in the mid‐Miocene and may represent a typic case of adaptive radiation. Many species of Rhodiola have also been widely used as an important adaptogen in traditional medicines for centuries. However, a lack of high‐quality chromosome‐level genomes hinders in‐depth study of its evolution and biosynthetic pathway of secondary metabolites. Here, we assembled two chromosome‐level genomes for two Rhodiola species with different chromosome number and sexual system. The assembled genome size of R. chrysanthemifolia (2n = 14; hermaphrodite) and R. kirilowii (2n = 22; dioecious) were of 402.67 and 653.62 Mb, respectively, with approximately 57.60% and 69.22% of transposable elements (TEs). The size difference between the two genomes was mostly due to proliferation of long terminal repeat‐retrotransposons (LTR‐RTs) in the R. kirilowii genome. Comparative genomic analysis revealed possible gene families responsible for high‐altitude adaptation of Rhodiola, including a homolog of plant cysteine oxidase 2 gene of Arabidopsis thaliana (AtPCO2), which is part of the core molecular reaction to hypoxia and contributes to the stability of Group VII ethylene response factors (ERF‐VII). We found extensive chromosome fusion/fission events and structural variations between the two genomes, which might have facilitated the initial rapid radiation of Rhodiola. We also identified candidate genes in the biosynthetic pathway of salidroside. Overall, our results provide important insights into genome evolution in plant rapid radiations, and possible roles of chromosome fusion/fission and structure variation played in rapid speciation.
5‐HT‐1A receptor‐mediated modulation of medullary expiratory neurones in the cat.
Authors: Lalley P M , Bischoff A M , Richter D W
Published: October 2023

The involvement of the 5‐HT‐1A receptor in serotoninergic responses of stage 2 expiratory (E‐2) neurones was investigated in pentobarbitone‐anaesthetized, mechanically ventilated cats. The specific agonist of the 5‐HT‐1A receptor, 8‐hydroxy‐diproplaminotetralin (8‐OH‐DPAT), administered systemically or by ionophoresis directly on to the neurones, had a clear depressant effect. Administration of 8‐OH‐DPAT at doses of 10‐50 micrograms kg‐1 (I.V.) increased the membrane hyperpolarizations of E‐2 neurones during the inspiratory and postinspiratory phases, and shortened their duration of activity in association with shortening of phrenic nerve activity. Discharges of E‐2 neurones were also less intense. At doses of 50‐90 micrograms kg‐1, 8‐OH‐DPAT reduced or abolished inspiratory hyperpolarizations, and reduced expiratory depolarizations of membrane potential and discharge in parallel with inhibition of phrenic nerve discharges. The effects of the larger doses were reversed by I.V. injection of NAN‐190, an antagonist at the 5‐HT‐1A receptor. Dose‐dependent effects on the membrane potential and discharge of E‐2 neurones, but not on phrenic nerve activity, were also seen by ionophoretic administration of 8‐OH‐DPAT on to E‐2 neurones. At low currents, ejection of 8‐OH‐DPAT hyperpolarized the neurones without affecting the duration of inspiratory hyperpolarization and expiratory depolarization. This hyperpolarization depressed the intensity and the duration of expiratory discharges. Ejection with larger currents hyperpolarized the E‐2 neurones further, and depressed expiratory depolarization leading to blockade of expiratory discharges. The effects on membrane potential were accompanied by decreased neuronal input resistance. This depressed the excitability of E‐2 neurones as tested by discharge evoked by intracellular current injection. The amplitudes of action potentials decreased in parallel with the changes in input resistance. The effects were attributed to a postsynaptic effect of 8‐OH‐DPAT leading to a gradually developing inhibition by activation of 5‐HT‐1A receptors. Hyperventilatory apnoea depressed on‐going synaptic activity and unmasked the effect of ionophoretically applied 8‐OH‐DPAT. The responses of the E‐2 neurone were enhanced, as evidenced by increased membrane hyperpolarization and greater reduction of input resistance. Both responses faded appreciably, indicating receptor desensitization. The degree and rate of apparent desensitization depended on the dose/ejecting current. The greater sensitivity and faster desensitization to 8‐OH‐DPAT were attributed to the hyperventilatory alkalinization of the extracellular fluid, which might influence agonist binding to 5HT‐1A receptors and/or receptor properties.