bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
No robust reduction of infarct size and no-reflow by metoprolol pretreatment in adult Göttingen minipigs
Authors: Kleinbongard Petra , Lieder Helmut Raphael , Skyschally Andreas , Heusch Gerd
Published: June 2023

Whereas prior experiments in juvenile pigs had reported infarct size reduction by intravenous metoprolol early during myocardial ischaemia, two major clinical trials in patients with reperfused acute myocardial infarction were equivocal. We, therefore, went back and tested the translational robustness of infarct size reduction by metoprolol in minipigs. Using a power analysis-based prospective design, we pretreated 20 anaesthetised adult Göttingen minipigs with 1 mg kg−1 metoprolol or placebo and subjected them to 60-min coronary occlusion and 180-min reperfusion. Primary endpoint was infarct size (triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining) as a fraction of area at risk; no-reflow area (thioflavin-S staining) was a secondary endpoint. There was no significant reduction in infarct size (46 ± 8% of area at risk with metoprolol vs. 42 ± 8% with placebo) or area of no-reflow (19 ± 21% of infarct size with metoprolol vs. 15 ± 23% with placebo). However, the inverse relationship between infarct size and ischaemic regional myocardial blood flow was modestly, but significantly shifted downwards with metoprolol, whereas ischaemic blood flow tended to be reduced by metoprolol. With an additional dose of 1 mg kg−1 metoprolol after 30-min ischaemia in 4 additional pigs, infarct size was also not reduced (54 ± 9% vs. 46 ± 8% in 3 contemporary placebo, n.s.), and area of no-reflow tended to be increased (59 ± 20% vs. 29 ± 12%, n.s.).

Infarct size reduction by metoprolol in pigs is not robust, and this result reflects the equivocal clinical trials. The lack of infarct size reduction may be the result of opposite effects of reduced infarct size at any given blood flow and reduced blood flow, possibly through unopposed alpha-adrenergic coronary vasoconstriction.
Mutant LRRK2 exacerbates immune response and neurodegeneration in a chronic model of experimental colitis
Authors: Cabezudo Diego , Tsafaras George , Van Acker Eva , Van den Haute Chris , Baekelandt Veerle
Published: June 2023

The link between the gut and the brain in Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathogenesis is currently a subject of intense research. Indeed, gastrointestinal dysfunction is known as an early symptom in PD and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has recently been recognised as a risk factor for PD. The leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is a PD- and IBD-related protein with highest expression in immune cells. In this study, we provide evidence for a central role of LRRK2 in gut inflammation and PD. The presence of the gain-of-function G2019S mutation significantly increases the disease phenotype and inflammatory response in a mouse model of experimental colitis based on chronic dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) administration. Bone marrow transplantation of wild-type cells into G2019S knock-in mice fully rescued this exacerbated response, proving the key role of mutant LRRK2 in immune cells in this experimental colitis model. Furthermore, partial pharmacological inhibition of LRRK2 kinase activity also reduced the colitis phenotype and inflammation. Moreover, chronic experimental colitis also induced neuroinflammation and infiltration of peripheral immune cells into the brain of G2019S knock-in mice. Finally, combination of experimental colitis with overexpression of α-synuclein in the substantia nigra aggravated motor deficits and dopaminergic neurodegeneration in G2019S knock-in mice. Taken together, our results link LRRK2 with the immune response in colitis and provide evidence that gut inflammation can impact brain homeostasis and contribute to neurodegeneration in PD.
Introduction to the Simplified Caving Predicting Tool SCPT
Authors: Folgoso Lozano Elena
Published: June 2023

This publication aims to describe a simple methodology for predicting caving and cave propagation, for mining purposes, using numerical simulations. The methodology is designed to be user-friendly and easy to set up and analyse, making it practical for real-world applications. The algorithm is performed in FLAC3D, version 7.0, and is based on an elastic model due to its simplicity and low running times. The methodology uses a series of routines to describe and quantify the rock failure process during caving. The emphasis is on simplicity, achieved by implementing reasonable assumptions about the caving situation and rock mass behaviour. The caving propagation is driven by plastic behaviour which the algorithm represents by a simplified softening behaviour to make it more practical.

The degradation processes occurring in the rock mass during caving are accounted for by reducing the mechanical properties of the rock mass and the stress state in degraded zones in a controlled and systematic manner. Sensitivity tests are performed to analyse the weight of the mechanical parameters involved in the caving processes and to optimize the reduction rate of the mechanical properties of the rock mass.

The current stage of development for the Simplified Caving Predicting tool, SCPT, is the performance of an extensive sensitivity test of the caving algorithm. In parallel, the outcome is being assessed for verification purposes. This is done by analysing the results obtained in the numerical models and the outcome of the semi-empirical methods available in the literature as well as an analytical comparison of results. The latter analysis aims to determine the weight of the different parameters involved in the simulations.

The caving tool is being developed for its application on the novel Raise Caving (RC) mining method. The tool will provide understanding regarding the caving initiation and propagation for the novel Raise Caving method.
A systematic review of the Woven EndoBridge device—do findings in pre-clinical animal models compare to clinical results?
Authors: Aquarius René , Elbertsen Danique , de Vries Joost , Boogaarts Hieronymus D. , Wever Kimberley E.
Published: June 2023

Background

The Woven Endobridge (WEB) is designed to treat intracranial wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms, preventing subarachnoid hemorrhage. The translational value of animal models used for WEB device testing is unknown. With this systematic review, we aim to identify the existing animal models used in testing the WEB device and compare the efficacy and safety outcomes to those of prospective clinical studies.

Methods

This study was funded by ZonMw: project number 114024133. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed and in EMBASE via the Ovid interface. The following exclusion criteria were used: 1) not an original full-length research paper, 2) not an in vivo animal study or a human study, 3) no WEB implantation, 4) if in humans: not a prospective study. The SYRCLE risk of bias tool (animal studies) and the Newcastle–Ottawa quality assessment scale for cohort studies (clinical studies) were used to assess risks of bias. A narrative synthesis was performed.

Results

Six animal studies and 17 clinical studies met the inclusion criteria. The rabbit elastase aneurysm model was the only animal model used to assess WEB device performance. Safety outcomes were never reported in animal studies. Efficacy outcomes were more heterogeneous in animal studies than in clinical studies, which could be due to limited external validity of the animal models in terms of aneurysm induction and dimensions. Both animal and clinical studies were predominantly single-arm studies, and were at unclear risk of several types of bias.

Conclusions

The rabbit elastase aneurysm model was the only pre-clinical animal model used to assess WEB device performance. Safety outcomes were not evaluated in animal studies and could therefore not be compared to clinical outcomes. Efficacy outcomes were more heterogeneous in animal studies than in clinical studies. Future research should focus on improving methodology and reporting in order to draw accurate conclusions on the performance of the WEB device.
Investigation of the current situation regarding diagnosis and treatment of Alport syndrome in Asian countries: results of survey of the Asian Paediatric Nephrology association (AsPNA) tubular and inherited working group
Authors: Nozu Kandai , Resontoc Lourdes Paula Real , Hooman Nakysa , Vasudevan Anil , Ding Jie , Kang Hee Gyung
Published: June 2023

Background

Alport syndrome is one of the most common inherited kidney diseases worldwide. A genetic test or kidney biopsy is necessary for a definite diagnosis of this disease, and an accurate diagnosis system for this disease is highly desired in each country. However, the current situation in Asian countries is not clear. Therefore, the tubular and inherited disease working group of the Asian Pediatric Nephrology Association (AsPNA) aimed to assess the current situation of diagnosis and treatment for Alport syndrome in Asia.

Methods

The group conducted an online survey among the members of AsPNA in 2021–2022. Collected data included the number of patients for each inheritance mode, availability of gene tests or kidney biopsy, and treatment strategies for Alport syndrome.

Results

A total of 165 pediatric nephrologists from 22 countries in Asia participated. Gene test was available in 129 institutes (78%), but the cost was still expensive in most countries. Kidney biopsy was available in 87 institutes (53%); however, only 70 can access electron microscopy, and 42 can conduct type IV collagen α5 chain staining. Regarding treatment, 140 centers use renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors (85%) for Alport syndrome patients.

Conclusions

This study result might suggest that the system is underdeveloped enough to diagnose all Alport syndrome patients in most Asian countries. However, once diagnosed with Alport syndrome, most of them were treated with RAS inhibitors. These survey results can be used to address knowledge, diagnostic system, and treatment strategy gaps and improve the Alport patients’ outcomes in Asian countries.
Native T1 high region and left ventricular ejection fraction recovery in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Yazaki Mayu , Nabeta Takeru , Takigami Yu , Eda Yuko , Maemura Kenji , Oki Takumi , Fujita Teppei , Iida Yuichiro , Ikeda Yuki , Ishii Shunsuke , Inoue Yusuke , Ako Junya
Published: June 2023

Native T1 mapping is used to assess myocardial tissue characteristics without gadolinium contrast agents. The focal T1 high-intensity region can indicate myocardial alterations. This study aimed to identify the association between the native T1 mapping including the native T1 high region and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) recovery in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Patients with newly diagnosed DCM (LVEF of < 45%) who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with native T1 mapping were included in the analysis. Native T1 high region was defined as a signal intensity of > 5 SD in the remote myocardium. Recovered EF was defined as a follow-up LVEF of ≥ 45% and an LVEF increase of ≥ 10% after 2 years from baseline. Seventy-one patients met the inclusion criteria for this study. Forty-four patients (61.9%) achieved recovered EF. Logistic regression analysis showed that the native T1 value (OR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.96–0.99; P = 0.014) and the native T1 high region (OR: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.05–0.55; P = 0.002), but not late gadolinium enhancement, were independent predictors of recovered EF. Compared with native T1 value alone, combined native T1 high region and native T1 value improved the area under the curve from 0.703 to 0.788 for predicting recovered EF. Myocardial damage, which was quantified using native T1 mapping and the native T1 high region were independently associated with recovered EF in patients with newly diagnosed DCM.
Understanding Scale-Up of High-Current Electrodes
Authors: Halvorsen Svenn Anton , Herland Egil Vålandsmyr , Sparta Manuel , Risinggård Vetle Kjær
Published: June 2023

A simple and generic model for the heat distribution in electrodes for primary metal production has been investigated. The equations have been analyzed focusing on understanding the scale-up of electrodes under both direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) conditions. The analysis provides a theoretical foundation for Westly’s empirical scale-up rule. For graphite and small carbon electrodes, the current-carrying capacity is limited by the ohmic heating, which controls the lateral heat flux and the temperature at the electrode periphery. For these electrodes, the current capacity is higher for DC than for AC. For large carbon or Søderberg electrodes, the electrode current must be limited to avoid large thermal stresses and subsequent breakages, especially in connection with shutdowns or considerable current fluctuations. Thermally, the current capacity is then limited by the maximum temperature difference between the center and the periphery. For this case, AC electrodes can carry more current than DC.
Surgical outcomes and cost analysis of a multi-specialty robotic-assisted surgery caseload in the Australian public health system
Authors: Steffens Daniel , McBride Kate E. , Hirst Nicholas , Solomon Michael J. , Anderson Teresa , Thanigasalam Ruban , Leslie Scott , Karunaratne Sascha , Bannon Paul G.
Published: June 2023

This study aims to compare surgical outcomes and in-hospital cost between robotic-assisted surgery (RAS), laparoscopic and open approaches for benign gynaecology, colorectal and urological patients and to explore the association between cost and surgical complexity. This retrospective cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing RAS, laparoscopic or open surgery for benign gynaecology, colorectal or urological conditions between July 2018 and June 2021 at a major public hospital in Sydney. Patients’ characteristics, surgical outcomes and in-hospital cost variables were extracted from the hospital medical records using routinely collected diagnosis-related groups (DRG) codes. Comparison of the outcomes within each surgical discipline and according to surgical complexity were performed using non-parametric statistics. Of the 1,271 patients included, 756 underwent benign gynaecology (54 robotic, 652 laparoscopic, 50 open), 233 colorectal (49 robotic, 123 laparoscopic, 61 open) and 282 urological surgeries (184 robotic, 12 laparoscopic, 86 open). Patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery (robotic or laparoscopic) presented with a significantly shorter length of hospital stay when compared to open surgical approach (P < 0.001). Rates of postoperative morbidity were significantly lower in robotic colorectal and urological procedures when compared to laparoscopic and open approaches. The total in-hospital cost of robotic benign gynaecology, colorectal and urological surgeries were significantly higher than other surgical approaches, independent of the surgical complexity. RAS resulted in better surgical outcomes, especially when compared to open surgery in patients presenting with benign gynaecology, colorectal and urological diseases. However, the total cost of RAS was higher than laparoscopic and open surgical approaches.
Enhanced Production of 1,3-Propanediol by Glycerol Fermentation Using an Attached-to-Silicone Biofilm Reactor
Authors: Cordeiro Cândida N. , Veras Shyrlane T. S. , Kato Mario T. , Florencio Lourdinha , Sanz José L.
Published: June 2023

Glycerol fermentation for 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) production was studied in an anaerobic up-flow reactor with biomass attached to silicone support. A mixed microbial culture was activated to perform the biofilm formation and attachment to a silicone hose prior the reactor operation. The reactor was operated over 362 days divided into two phases (P). In P1 and P2, the reactor was continuously fed with pure and crude glycerol, respectively. The operation consisted of increasing the glycerol loading rates (gly-LR). The achieved highest 1,3-PDO average yields were 0.43 mol mol-gly−1 and 0.62 mol mol-gly−1 when applied gly-LR was 18 and 46 g L−1 d−1 in P1 and P2, respectively. A maximum 1,3-PDO productivity of 14.7 g L−1 d−1 was obtained in P2. The higher yields of 1,3-PDO when the feed changed from pure to crude glycerol indicated a change in the microbial community. These results show that the studied system can be very promising and cost-effective for converting crude glycerol into value-added products on large scale even at high loads.

Graphical Abstract
Epistemological scientism and the scientific meta-method
Authors: Turunen Petri , Hirvonen Ilmari , Pättiniemi Ilkka
Published: June 2023

This paper argues that the proponents of epistemological scientism must take some stand on scientific methodology. The supporters of scientism cannot simply defer to the social organisation of science because the social processes themselves must meet some methodological criteria. Among such criteria is epistemic evaluability, which demands intersubjective access to reasons. We derive twelve theses outlining some implications of epistemic evaluability. Evaluability can support weak and broad variants of epistemological scientism, which state that sciences, broadly construed, are the best sources of knowledge or some other epistemic goods. Since humanities and social sciences produce epistemically evaluable results, narrow types of scientism that take only natural sciences as sources of knowledge require additional argumentation in their support. Strong scientism, which takes sciences as the only source of knowledge, also needs to appeal to some further principles since evaluability is not an all-or-nothing affair.
The (New) Literacy Studies: The evolving concept of literacy as social practice and its relevance for work with deaf students
Authors: Papen Uta
Published: June 2023

Developed in the 1980s by social anthropologists, education researchers and psychologists, the field of research known as (New) Literacy Studies (NLS) has put forward a sociocultural understanding of literacy as practice. Although the NLS’ core assumption about literacy—that it is more than a set of cognitive abilities—is still as valid nowadays as it was then, new theoretical ideas have been added to their canon. These include multiliteracies, multimodality, real literacies, materiality and affect. With these notions, literacy researchers continue to challenge conventional discourses about literacy and their disregard for the range of literacy practices people engage in. In this paper, I introduce some of these new theoretical developments. I then discuss their conceptual relevance in the context of two action research projects with deaf children and youth in India, Uganda and Ghana. In these projects, my colleagues and I tried an approach to teaching English to deaf children and young adults that was specifically inspired by ideas from real literacies and multiliteracies. Our approach was shaped by the NLS’ commitment to social justice and its belief in literacy teaching having to build on students’ existing literacy practices. In the paper, I discuss some of the challenges we experienced when putting these ideas into practice and look at how the students engaged with them in light of their expectations and desires for learning.
Retirement Guardrails
Authors: Ayres Ian , Curtis Quinn
Published: June 2023

Scores of lawsuits have pushed retirement plan sponsors to shorter, easier-to-navigate menus, but – as Ian Ayres and Quinn Curtis argue in this work – we've only scratched the surface of retirement plan design. Using participant-level plan data and straightforward tests, Ayres and Curtis show how plan sponsors can monitor plans for likely allocation mistakes and adapt menus to encourage success. Beginning with an overview of the problem of high costs and the first empirical evidence on retirement plan fee lawsuits, they offer an overview of the current plan landscape. They then show, based on reforms to a real plan, how streamlining menus, eliminating pitfalls, and adopting static and dynamic limits on participant allocations to certain risky assets or 'guardrails' can reduce mistakes and lead to better retirement outcomes. Focusing on plausible, easy-to-implement interventions, Retirement Guardrails shows that fiduciaries need not be limited to screening out funds but can design menus to actively promote good choices.
Expert Ignorance
Authors: Desai Deval
Published: June 2023

Today, a transnational constellation of 'rule of law' experts advise on 'good' legal systems to countries in the Global South. Yet these experts often claim that the 'rule of law' is nearly impossible to define, and they frequently point to the limits of their own expertise. In this innovative book, Deval Desai identifies this form of expertise as 'expert ignorance'. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, Desai draws on insights from legal theory, sociology, development studies, and performance studies to explore how this paradoxical form of expertise works in practice. With a range of illustrative cases that span both global and local perspectives, this book considers the impact of expert ignorance on the rule of law and on expert governance more broadly. Contributing to the study of transnational law, governance, and expertise, Desai demonstrates the enduring power of proclaiming what one does not know. This title is available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
A framework for optimising flight efficiency of a crossing waypoint by balancing flight conflict frequency and flight-level usage benefits
Authors: Sui D. , Liu K.
Published: June 2023

With the increase of air transportation, some crossing waypoints (CWPs) are becoming bottlenecks in the operation of air traffic networks. This paper presents a CWP operation optimisation framework based on a two-stage optimisation method. First, we considered the interests of airlines and air traffic controllers and established a flight-level dynamic allocation model for the CWP to minimise the flight-level deviation and the number of flight conflicts. A multi-objective, self-adaptive differential evolution-local search hybrid algorithm was used to solve the model in a parallel computing manner. Subsequently, a flight conflict resolution algorithm based on the Monte-Carlo tree search was designed for flight conflicts that existed after the optimisation. Finally, based on real operation data, four experimental scenarios were constructed, and the air traffic operation simulation system was used for experimental validation. For daily traffic and 1.2 times peak traffic scenarios, the average flight-level deviation reduction rates after optimisation were 53% and 39%, and the successful flight conflict resolution rates reached 89% and 75%, respectively. The experimental results showed that this optimisation framework can effectively balance the number of flight conflicts with the efficiency of flight-level usage and directly improve the capacity of the CWP, which can be used as a reference for air traffic control auxiliary decision support systems.
Participatory Health Governance and HIV/AIDS in Brazil
Authors: Touchton Michael , Sugiyama Natasha Borges , Wampler Brian
Published: June 2023

This research note assesses participatory health governance practices for HIV and AIDS in Brazil. By extension, we also evaluate municipal democratic governance to public health outcomes. We draw from a unique dataset on municipal HIV/AIDS prevalence and participatory health governance from 2006–17 for all 5,570 Brazilian municipalities. We use negative binomial regression and coarsened exact matching with treatment effects to estimate the influence of community health governance institutions on HIV/AIDS prevalence. Municipalities with participatory health councils experience 14% lower HIV/AIDS prevalence than other municipalities, all else equal. Family Health Program coverage, municipal state capacity, and municipal per capita health spending are also associated with systematically lower HIV/AIDS prevalence. We conclude that participatory health governance may combat HIV and AIDS through municipal spending, education, and community mobilization. Municipal health councils can facilitate these strategies and offer opportunities for improving well-being around the world.
September 11th Revisited: The Troubled History of Victim Compensation
Authors: Meyerowitz Joanne
Published: June 2023

This article explores some of the less obvious and even surprising repercussions of September 11th. To do so, it draws on an online archive of more than 12,000 emails sent to the Department of Justice (DOJ) in response to the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. Just eleven days after September 11th, Congress created the fund for the express purpose of preventing victims’ families from suing the airlines. After the act passed, the DOJ solicited public comments and posted them to its website, and from the start, the tone was combative. This essay focuses on two especially acrimonious issues: first, gay rights and the recognition of same-sex partnerships and, second, economic inequality and populist anti-elitism. Taken together, the emails showcase how September 11th precipitated fundamental and divisive debates on who deserved the nation's largesse.
Hydra I: An extensible multi-source-finder comparison and cataloguing tool
Authors: Boyce M. M. , Hopkins A. M. , Riggi S. , Rudnick L. , Ramsay M. , Hale C. L. , Marvil J. , Whiting M. T. , Venkataraman P. , O’Dea C. P. , Baum S. A. , Gordon Y. A. , Vantyghem A. N. , Dionyssiou M. , Andernach H. , Collier J. D. , English J. , Koribalski B. S. , Leahy D. , Michałowski M. J. , Safi-Harb S. , Vaccari M. , Alexander E. L. , Cowley M. , Kapinska A. D. , Robotham A. S. G. , Tang H.
Published: June 2023

The latest generation of radio surveys are now producing sky survey images containing many millions of radio sources. In this context it is highly desirable to understand the performance of radio image source finder (SF) software and to identify an approach that optimises source detection capabilities. We have created Hydra to be an extensible multi-SF and cataloguing tool that can be used to compare and evaluate different SFs. Hydra, which currently includes the SFs Aegean, Caesar, ProFound, PyBDSF, and Selavy, provides for the addition of new SFs through containerisation and configuration files. The SF input RMS noise and island parameters are optimised to a 90% ‘percentage real detections’ threshold (calculated from the difference between detections in the real and inverted images), to enable comparison between SFs. Hydra provides completeness and reliability diagnostics through observed-deep (

$\mathcal{D}$

) and generated-shallow (

$\mathcal{S}$

) images, as well as other statistics. In addition, it has a visual inspection tool for comparing residual images through various selection filters, such as S/N bins in completeness or reliability. The tool allows the user to easily compare and evaluate different SFs in order to choose their desired SF, or a combination thereof. This paper is part one of a two part series. In this paper we introduce the Hydra software suite and validate its

$\mathcal{D/S}$

metrics using simulated data. The companion paper demonstrates the utility of Hydra by comparing the performance of SFs using both simulated and real images.
Researching language-focused study abroad through an equity lens: A research agenda
Authors: Kang Hyun-Sook , Shively Rachel L.
Published: June 2023

Study abroad (SA) has long been regarded as a key component of internationalization efforts in higher education and much scholarship has investigated the practices and outcomes of SA from varied perspectives. More recently, scholars have paid growing attention to ways to increase the participation of historically marginalized students in SA, to design SA programs to meet those students’ needs, and to document their experiences abroad. Despite recent scholarship in these areas, relatively little research has employed an equity lens to address research on language-focused SA. This article puts forward language-focused SA as a possible venue to pursue equity and to provide quality education for all students, especially for historically underserved students. More specifically, we address three overarching questions: (1) What theoretical frameworks could be implemented to research SA through an equity lens?; (2) What methodological approaches could inform SA research with an equity lens?; and (3) What topics could be examined to research SA through an equity lens? Drawing on equity as a guiding principle, we discuss relevant research tasks that demonstrate specific ways to address these overarching questions in future research on language-focused SA.
Feedback matters: Thwarting the negative impact of language anxiety
Authors: Gregersen Tammy
Published: June 2023

Elaine Horwitz et al. (1986), in their seminal article that helped jumpstart our current interest in language anxiety, characterized this affective malady as composed of three elements: fear of negative evaluation, communication apprehension, and test anxiety. Notably, all three of these components are linked in different ways to learners’ perceptions about others’ assessment of their linguistic competence. Over the years since Horwitz et al.'s influential publication, research has only reinforced the idea that feedback provided to language learners has a powerful impact on their emotional well-being and levels of linguistic confidence. This article explores research on the various ways that learners can be supported via assessment practices and feedback techniques that not only counter the debilitating effects of language anxiety but also may even work preventatively to increase learner well-being. Among these is Appreciative Inquiry, a feedback technique that focuses on what learners are doing effectively, as well as other nondeficit, strengths-based approaches that concentrate on assets rather than fixing what is broken.
A smoother notion of spread hypergraphs
Authors: Spiro Sam
Published: June 2023

Alweiss, Lovett, Wu, and Zhang introduced
$q$
-spread hypergraphs in their breakthrough work regarding the sunflower conjecture, and since then
$q$
-spread hypergraphs have been used to give short proofs of several outstanding problems in probabilistic combinatorics. A variant of
$q$
-spread hypergraphs was implicitly used by Kahn, Narayanan, and Park to determine the threshold for when a square of a Hamiltonian cycle appears in the random graph
$G_{n,p}$
. In this paper, we give a common generalization of the original notion of
$q$
-spread hypergraphs and the variant used by Kahn, Narayanan, and Park.
Assisted Reproduction and Discussion of Rare Cases in Monozygotic Twinning
Authors: Tan Yuge
Published: June 2023

Assisted reproductive technology is a crucial factor that increases the incidence of monozygotic twinning in humans. This article discusses the impact of various indicators in assisted reproductive technology studies on pregnancy outcomes, especially studies with a large number of clinical cases. Furthermore, three rare cases in multiples pregnancy are discussed: fetus papyraceous of a pair of male monozygotic twins in a set of triplets, two pairs of sesquizygotic twins with sex-discordance, and rare conjoined triplets.
Verbitterung und Posttraumatische Verbitterungsstörung
Authors: Linden Michael
Published: June 2023

Den Zustand der Verbitterung als Reaktion auf Ungerechtigkeit, Herabwürdigung und Vertrauensbruch kennt jeder Mensch. Ist die Verbitterung stark ausgeprägt und hält lange an, kann dies zu erheblichem Leid für die Betroffenen und ihre Umwelt führen. Betroffene sind wegen des störungsimmanenten Fatalismus, der Aggressivität und Zurückweisung von Hilfe schwer zu behandeln. Häufig kommen sie aufgrund unterschiedlichster Fehldiagnosen in Behandlung und sind langfristig arbeitsunfähig.
Die Neubearbeitung des Bandes beschreibt die Posttraumatische Verbitterungsstörung und stellt Modelle zur Entstehung und Aufrechterhaltung von Verbitterungszuständen vor, insbesondere unter Bezugnahme des Konzeptes der Verletzung kognitiver Grundannahmen. Praxisorientiert wird die Behandlung der Verbitterungsstörung mit Methoden der Weisheitstherapie dargestellt, eine Form der kognitiven Verhaltenstherapie, die die grundlagenwissenschaftlichen Ergebnisse der Weisheitspsychologie für die Psychotherapie nutzbar macht. Patientinnen und Patienten erlernen dabei Strategien, die innere Kränkung zu verarbeiten, um so die Voraussetzung für eine innerliche „Aussöhnung“ mit den verbitterungsauslösenden Ereignissen zu schaffen. Es geht darum, aktiv mit der Vergangenheit abzuschließen, um eine Neuorientierung in die Zukunft zu ermöglichen. Ein Weg, dies zu erreichen, ist eine Um- bzw. Neubewertung des kritischen Ereignisses und seiner Folgen. Die Weisheitstherapie stellt dafür verschiedene Methoden zur Verfügung, die anhand zahlreicher Beispiele beschrieben werden. Abschließend geht der Band noch auf sozialmedizinische und forensische Aspekte ein, z.B. auf Fragen der Arbeits- und Erwerbsunfähigkeit sowie der Schuldfähigkeit.
Laser Raman Induced Degradation of Macromolecular Carbon in Coals and Meteorites
Authors: Jakubek Ryan S. , Fries Marc D.
Published: June 2023

Macromolecular carbon (MMC) is a polymeric solid form of carbon formed from numerous natural and anthropogenic processes. MMC is found in geologic samples, such as coals, meteorites, and metamorphic rocks, and the microstructure of the MMC provides details of the thermal history of the sample. Raman spectroscopy allows for a simple, quick examination of the MMC structure and thermal history of the rock. However, accurate Raman analysis necessitates that the Raman incident laser does not photodamage the MMC being measured. Here we examine, in detail, the effect of 532 and 488 nm laser irradiation on the structure of MMC in coals and meteorites. We show that photodegradation does affect the primary “G” and “D” Raman band peak positions, widths, absolute intensities, and relative intensities and we quantify changes with progressive irradiation. These results provide insight into the MMC structural changes that occur with photodegradation. We find that significant photodegradation occurs even with low laser powers (<200 μW). A literature survey of Raman MMC measurements shows that almost all publications use incident laser irradiances that would result in significant photodegradation of MMC within the accumulation time of a single Raman spectrum.
Assessing the Effect of the U.S. Vaccination Program on the Coronavirus Positivity Rate With a Multivariate Framework
Authors: Sanchez‐Vargas A. , Mendez‐Astudillo J. , López‐Vidal Y. , López‐Carr D. , Estrada F.
Published: June 2023

The factors influencing the incidence of COVID‐19, including the impact of the vaccination programs, have been studied in the literature. Most studies focus on one or two factors, without considering their interactions, which is not enough to assess a vaccination program in a statistically robust manner. We examine the impact of the U.S. vaccination program on the SARS‐CoV‐2 positivity rate while simultaneously considering a large number of factors involved in the spread of the virus and the feedbacks among them. We consider the effects of the following sets of factors: socioeconomic factors, public policy factors, environmental factors, and non‐observable factors. A time series Error Correction Model (ECM) was used to estimate the impact of the vaccination program at the national level on the positivity rate. Additionally, state‐level ECMs with panel data were combined with machine learning techniques to assess the impact of the program and identify relevant factors to build the best‐fitting models. We find that the vaccination program reduced the virus positivity rate. However, the program was partially undermined by a feedback loop in which increased vaccination led to increased mobility. Although some external factors reduced the positivity rate, the emergence of new variants increased the positivity rate. The positivity rate was associated with several forces acting simultaneously in opposite directions such as the number of vaccine doses administered and mobility. The existence of complex interactions, between the factors studied, implies that there is a need to combine different public policies to strengthen the impact of the vaccination program.
A Survey of Thunderstorms That Produce Megaflashes Across the Americas
Authors: Peterson Michael
Published: June 2023

We previously observed that long‐horizontal lightning flashes exceeding 100 km in length, known as “megaflashes,” occur preferentially in certain thunderstorms. In this study, we develop a cluster feature approach for automatically documenting the evolutions of thunderstorm systems from continuous lightning observations provided by the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) on NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES). We apply this methodology to GOES‐16 GLM observations from 2018 to mid‐2022 to improve our understanding of megaflash‐producing storms. We find that megaflashes occur in long‐lived (median: 14 hr) storms that grow to exceptional sizes (median: 11,984 km2) while they propagate across long distances (median: 622 km) compared to ordinary storms. The first megaflashes are typically produced within 15 min of the storm reaching its peak intensity and extent. However, most megaflashes occur ≥13 hr after the initial megaflash activity, and are sufficiently close to convection to suggest initiation in the thunderstorm core (where GLM has difficulty detecting faint early light sources from megaflashes). Megaflashes generated outside of convection are rare, accounting for 2.7% of the sample using a 50 km convective distance threshold, but also tend to be larger than normal megaflashes, possibly due to having direct access to electrified stratiform clouds through which megaflashes propagate.
Embracing Uncertainty to Resolve Polar Wander: A Case Study of Cenozoic North America
Authors: Gallo L. C. , Domeier M. , Sapienza F. , Swanson‐Hysell N. L. , Vaes B. , Zhang Y. , Arnould M. , Eyster A. , Gürer D. , Király Á. , Robert B. , Rolf T. , Shephard G. , van der Boon A.
Published: June 2023

Our understanding of Earth's paleogeography relies heavily on paleomagnetic apparent polar wander paths (APWPs), which represent the time‐dependent position of Earth's spin axis relative to a given block of lithosphere. However, conventional approaches to APWP construction have significant limitations. First, the paleomagnetic record contains substantial noise that is not integrated into APWPs. Second, parametric assumptions are adopted to represent spatial and temporal uncertainties even where the underlying data do not conform to the assumed distributions. The consequences of these limitations remain largely unknown. Here, we address these challenges with a bottom‐up Monte Carlo uncertainty propagation scheme that operates on site‐level paleomagnetic data. To demonstrate our methodology, we present an extensive compilation of site‐level Cenozoic paleomagnetic data from North America, which we use to generate a high‐resolution APWP. Our results demonstrate that even in the presence of substantial noise, polar wandering can be assessed with unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution.
The 2016 Menyuan Earthquake: The Largest Self‐Arrested Crustal Earthquake Ever Observed
Authors: Xu Duyuan , Gong Wenzheng , Zhang Zhenguo , Xu Jiankuan , Yu Houyun , Chen Xiaofei
Published: June 2023

The 2016 Mw 5.9 Menyuan earthquake occurred near the Haiyuan fault system in the northeastern Tibetan plateau. Although some kinematic properties of this event have been investigated, more dynamic properties still need to be clarified. First, we use the empirical Green's function method to obtain this event's apparent source time functions (ASTFs), which present a bell shape with a duration of 3s and corresponding smooth spectra. We then conduct dynamic rupture simulations, which are well constrained by the seismic and geodetic observations, to explore more in‐depth source properties. The results show that the characteristics of ASTFs can be explained by the self‐arresting rupture model, which implies that the rupture propagation of this event may spontaneously terminate before reaching the barriers. This result suggests that the initial conditions when this earthquake nucleated may have controlled the rupture process. Our work contributes to understanding the stopping mechanism of some moderate earthquake ruptures.
Is legislation to prevent genetic discrimination necessary in Japan? An overview of the current policies and public attitudes
Authors: Muto Kaori , Nagai Akiko , Ri Izen , Takashima Kyoko , Yoshida Sachie
Published: June 2023

Genetic discrimination (GD) has not been discussed in East Asia as extensively as in Europe and North America. Influenced by UNESCO’s universal declaration in 1997, the Japanese government took a stringent approach toward GD by releasing the Basic Principles on Human Genome Research in 2000. However, Japanese society has mostly been ignoring the prevention of GD for decades, and the principle of prohibiting GD was never adhered to in any of the Japanese laws. We conducted anonymous surveys among the general adult population in 2017 and 2022 to explore their experiences of GD and attitudes toward laws carrying penalties to prevent GD in Japan. In both years, approximately 3% of the respondents had experienced some unfavorable treatment regarding their genetic information. They showed higher recognition of the benefits of using genetic information and lower recognition of concerns about using genetic information and GD in 2022 than in 2017. However, the awareness regarding the need for legislation with penalties on GD had increased over the five-year period. In 2022, the framework of a bill to promote genomic medicine and prevent GD without any relevant penalties was released by the Bipartisan Diet Members Caucus. Considering that the absence of regulations may be a barrier to obtaining genomic medicine, as the initial step toward making the prohibition of GD more effective, legislation that no form of GD will be tolerated may stimulate education and awareness regarding respect for the human genome and its diversity.
piRT-IFC: Physics-informed real-time impedance flow cytometry for the characterization of cellular intrinsic electrical properties
Authors: Luan Xiaofeng , Liu Pengbin , Huang Di , Zhao Haiping , Li Yuang , Sun Sheng , Zhang Wenchang , Zhang Lingqian , Li Mingxiao , Zhi Tian , Zhao Yang , Huang Chengjun
Published: June 2023

Real-time transformation was important for the practical implementation of impedance flow cytometry. The major obstacle was the time-consuming step of translating raw data to cellular intrinsic electrical properties (e.g., specific membrane capacitance Csm and cytoplasm conductivity σcyto). Although optimization strategies such as neural network-aided strategies were recently reported to provide an impressive boost to the translation process, simultaneously achieving high speed, accuracy, and generalization capability is still challenging. To this end, we proposed a fast parallel physical fitting solver that could characterize single cells’ Csm and σcyto within 0.62 ms/cell without any data preacquisition or pretraining requirements. We achieved the 27000-fold acceleration without loss of accuracy compared with the traditional solver. Based on the solver, we implemented physics-informed real-time impedance flow cytometry (piRT-IFC), which was able to characterize up to 100,902 cells’ Csm and σcyto within 50 min in a real-time manner. Compared to the fully connected neural network (FCNN) predictor, the proposed real-time solver showed comparable processing speed but higher accuracy. Furthermore, we used a neutrophil degranulation cell model to represent tasks to test unfamiliar samples without data for pretraining. After being treated with cytochalasin B and N-Formyl-Met-Leu-Phe, HL-60 cells underwent dynamic degranulation processes, and we characterized cell’s Csm and σcyto using piRT-IFC. Compared to the results from our solver, accuracy loss was observed in the results predicted by the FCNN, revealing the advantages of high speed, accuracy, and generalizability of the proposed piRT-IFC.
hMOF induces cisplatin resistance of ovarian cancer by regulating the stability and expression of MDM2
Authors: Cai Mingbo , Xu Sulong , Jin Yuxi , Yu Jingjing , Dai Shan , Shi Xiao-Jing , Guo Ruixia
Published: June 2023

Histone acetyltransferase human males absent on the first (hMOF) is a member of MYST family which participates in posttranslational chromatin modification by controlling the acetylation level of histone H4K16. Abnormal activity of hMOF occurs in multiple cancers and biological alteration of hMOF expression can affect diverse cellular functions including cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and embryonic stem cells (ESCs) self-renewal. The relationship between hMOF and cisplatin resistance was investigated in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) database. Lentiviral-mediated hMOF-overexpressed cells or hMOF-knockdown cells were established to investigate its role on cisplatin-based chemotherapy resistance in vitro ovarian cancer cells and animal models. Furthermore, a whole transcriptome analysis with RNA sequencing was used to explore the underlying molecular mechanism of hMOF affecting cisplatin-resistance in ovarian cancer. The data from TCGA analysis and IHC identification demonstrated that hMOF expression was closely associated with cisplatin-resistance in ovarian cancer. The expression of hMOF and cell stemness characteristics increased significantly in cisplatin-resistant OVCAR3/DDP cells. In the low hMOF expressing ovarian cancer OVCAR3 cells, overexpression of hMOF improved the stemness characteristics, inhibited cisplatin-induced apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential impairment, as well as reduced the sensitivity of OVCAR3 cells to cisplatin treatment. Moreover, overexpression of hMOF diminished tumor sensitivity to cisplatin in a mouse xenograft tumor model, accompanied by decrease in the proportion of cisplatin-induced apoptosis and alteration of mitochondrial apoptosis proteins. In addition, opposite phenotype and protein alterations were observed when knockdown of hMOF in the high hMOF expressing ovarian cancer A2780 cells. Transcriptomic profiling analysis and biological experimental verification orientated that MDM2-p53 apoptosis pathway was related to hMOF-modulated cisplatin resistance of OVCAR3 cells. Furthermore, hMOF reduced cisplatin-induced p53 accumulation by stabilizing MDM2 expression. Mechanistically, the increased stability of MDM2 was due to the inhibition of ubiquitinated degradation, which resulted by increased of MDM2 acetylation levels by its direct interaction with hMOF. Finally, genetic inhibition MDM2 could reverse hMOF-mediated cisplatin resistance in OVCAR3 cells with up-regulated hMOF expression. Meanwhile, treatment with adenovirus expressing shRNA of hMOF improved OVCAR3/DDP cell xenograft sensitivity to cisplatin in mouse. Collectively, the results of the study confirm that MDM2 as a novel non-histone substrate of hMOF, participates in promoting hMOF-modulated cisplatin chemoresistance in ovarian cancer cells. hMOF/MDM2 axis might be a potential target for the treatment of chemotherapy-resistant ovarian cancer.