bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of water quality based on artificial intelligence: performance of multilayer perceptron neural networks and multiple linear regression versus water quality indexes
Authors: Palabıyık Selda , Akkan Tamer
Published: June 2024

A significant problem in the sustainable management of water resources is the lack of funding and long-term monitoring. Today, this problem has been greatly reduced by innovative, adaptive, and sustainable learning methods. Therefore, in this study, a sample river was selected and 14 variables observed at 5 different points for 12 months, traditionally reference values, were calculated by multivariate statistical analysis methods to obtain the water quality index (WQI). The WQI index was estimated using different algorithms including the innovatively used multiple linear regression (MLR), multilayer perceptron artificial neural networks (MLP-ANN) and various machine learning estimation algorithms including neural networks (NN), support vector machine (SVM), gaussian process regression (GPR), ensemble and decision tree approach. By comparing the results, the most appropriate method was selected. The determination of water quality was best estimated by the multiple linear regression (MLR) model. As a result of this MLR modeling, high prediction performance was obtained with accuracy values of R2 = 1.0, RMSE = 0.0025, and MAPE = 0.0296. The root mean square error (RMSE), percent mean absolute error (MAE), and coefficient of determination (R2) were used to determine the accuracy of the models. These results confirm that both MLR model can be used to predict WQI with very high accuracy. It seems that it can contribute to strengthening water quality management. As a result, as with the powerful results of the innovative approaches (MLR and MLP-ANN) and other assessments, it was found that the presence of intense anthropogenic pressure in the study area and the current situation needs immediate remediation.
Attitudes toward genetic testing, family planning and preimplantation genetic testing in families with a germline CDKN2A pathogenic variant
Authors: Onnekink A. M. , Klatte D. C.F. , van Hooft J. E. , van den Berg S. H. , van der Zwaan S. M.S. , van Doorn R. , Hinnen S. C.H. , Potjer T. P. , Bleiker E. M.A. , van Leerdam M. E.
Published: June 2024

Individuals with a germline CDKN2A pathogenic variant (PV) have a highly increased life time risk of melanoma and pancreatic cancer. This cross-sectional study assessed the attitudes among toward genetic testing, family planning, and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) in confirmed CDKN2A PV carriers and individuals with a 50% risk of the PV (at-risk carriers) using of a one-time questionnaire.

A total of 537 individuals were screened for eligibility, of whom 208 of 366 (57%) confirmed carriers (56% female, median age 54 years [IQR 46–63]) and 39 of 171 (23%) at-risk carriers (59% female, median age of 26 years [IQR 22–32]) participated in the study. Primary motivations for genetic testing were to gain control over their personal and children’s cancer risk, as well as increasing cancer surveillance practices. In contrast, concerns about obtaining a mortgage and life insurance were frequently cited as reasons for postponing genetic testing. Family planning decisions remained largely unaffected in both confirmed and at-risk carriers; however, the majority of confirmed carriers were still unaware of their familial or personal cancer risk when starting a family. More than 60% of the participants were unfamiliar with PGT and only a minority (19% of confirmed carriers and 10% of at-risk carriers) would be open to considering PGT as a reproductive option. This study found different attitudes toward genetic testing, family planning, and PGT among individuals affected by the CDKN2A PV. Understanding these different attitudes can help clinicians to address the complexities surrounding these issues, especially for younger individuals facing difficult decisions about the timing of genetic testing, family planning, and the potential use of assisted reproductive options.
A closer look at the relationship between course enrollment size and accident occurrences in hands-on engineering design-based STEM courses
Authors: Love Tyler S.
Published: June 2024

Engaging students in hands-on engineering design-based instruction as called for in national science, and technology and engineering (T&E) education standards in the United States (U.S.) poses inherent hazards and risks that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educators must be adequately prepared to address. Helping students develop safer habits while creating solutions to design challenges can translate to practices they will implement at home, in post-secondary education programs, and in the workplace. This study analyzed responses from 117 P-12 educators delivering hands-on engineering design-based STEM instruction in the U.S. Certain protective factors (e.g., safety training) were found to be significantly associated with reducing the odds of an accident; however, when controlling for course enrollment sizes, the odds of an accident significantly increased. Logistic regression models demonstrated that STEM courses with enrollments of 24 or fewer students had an 87.5% reduction in the odds of an accident occurring. Courses with enrollments surpassing 24 students were 8 times more likely to have had an accident, and courses with more than 30 students were 21 times more likely to have had an accident occurrence within the past five years. The findings from this study provide insight about the importance of occupancy load and overcrowding in hands-on engineering design-based STEM courses. STEM educators can utilize the results from this study to make informed decisions about addressing significant risk and protective factors associated with accident occurrences. Most importantly, this study has implications for improving safety policies and changing legal precedent related to overcrowding and course enrollment sizes in P-12 STEM courses, which the analyses in this study suggest should help reduce accident occurrences.
How Others Matter in Children’s Socialization: The Huotang-Centered Allomothering System Among the Matrilineal Mosuo
Authors: Wang Jue , Endo Toshihiko
Published: June 2024

Allomothering, the practice of child-rearing by caregivers other than childrens’ mothers, has garnered more attention recently. This study examined allomothering within the matrilineal Mosuo, an ethnic group in Southwestern China known for its nonmarital reproductive and dual-residence system, in which partners maintain separate residences, fostering cooperative multigenerational child-rearing. Still, specific parental interactions within the Mosuo have not been completely investigated. Using the grounded theory approach, we conducted two rounds of semi-structured interviews to explore Mosuo’s allomothering system and child socialization practices. Initial interviews (N = 19, M = 53.68) focused on child-rearing beliefs and family relationships. Subsequent interviews with caregivers (N = 17, M = 40.6) and children (N = 19, M = 15.7) delved into detailed intergenerational parental interactions. Our findings show that grandmothers primarily handled children’s daily care, with mothers and sisters dividing responsibilities for financial provisions and co-caregiving. Mothers tended to enforce discipline, and aunts provided nurturing attention. A female-led “Huotang-focused” allomothering system is prevalent, where “Huotang” signifies the communal hearth, central to family interactions. Maternal uncles, while not directly involved in care, oversaw moral and behavioral guidance and assumed economic obligations. Fathers, exhibiting less authority than maternal uncles, predominantly engaged in rough-and-tumble play, marking their interactions with their children by distinctive friend-like characteristics. Children’s socialization reflected legitimate peripheral participation, with the children observing and modeling their maternal caregivers’ behaviors and beliefs. Mosuo’s allomothering interactions offer fresh insights into cooperative strategies and prompt a reconsideration of traditional parental roles in child socialization.
Phylogenetic network-assisted rooting of unrooted gene trees
Authors: Tiuryn Jerzy , Rutecka Natalia , Górecki Paweł
Published: June 2024

Gene trees inferred from molecular sequence alignments are typically unrooted, and determining the most credible rooting edge is a classical problem in computational biology. One approach to solve this problem is unrooted reconciliation, where the rooting edge is postulated based on the split of the root from a given species tree. In this paper, we propose a novel variant of the gene tree rooting problem, where the gene tree root is inferred using a phylogenetic network of the species present in the gene tree. To obtain the best rooting, unrooted reconciliation can be applied, where the unrooted gene tree is jointly reconciled with a set of splits inferred from the network. However, the exponential size of the set induced by display trees of the network makes this approach computationally prohibitive. To address this, we propose a broader and easier-to-control set of splits based on the structural properties of the network. We then derive exact mathematical formulas for the rooting problem and propose two general rooting algorithms to handle cases where the input network does not meet the initial requirements. Our experimental study based on simulated gene trees and networks demonstrates that our algorithms infer gene tree rootings correctly or with a small error in most cases.
Chair Work with the Empathic Other: Providing Basic Need Support for Resolving Unfinished Business
Authors: Holmström Édua , Kykyri Virpi-Liisa , Martela Frank
Published: June 2024

In this case study we present an example of a modification of the chair work technique, called ‘chair work with the empathic other’, and examine the process of emotional change of the participant. We find that talking directly to the empathic other supports the participant’s emotional engagement with the task and guides her emotional processing through the four necessary components of successful empty chair work, specified in previous research: experiential access and intense expression of primary adaptive emotion, expression of thwarted need, and a shift in the representation of self and the other. Drawing on self-determination theory, we conceptualize the trainer’s person-centered communication as a basic need-supporting therapeutic action. Throughout the chair work process, the need-supporting positioning of the ‘empathic other’, provided by the trainer, consistently engages the participant in the emotional processing of unfinished business: it deepens and widens her emotional exploration, leads her to express thwarted need, and finally, to change representation of self and other. We discuss the findings within the framework of self-determination theory and in relation to research on emotional change and therapeutic practice. Previous research has pointed out the difficulties many clients face with engaging in chair work. Introducing need-supportive communication, drawing on self-determination theory, we suggest that the modified technique is a possible intervention to facilitate engagement in chair work and emotional change.
Assessment of Movement Synchrony and Alliance in Problem-Focused and Solution-Focused Counseling
Authors: Hoffmann Christian , Gürtler Magdalene , Fendel Johannes , Lahmann Claas , Schmidt Stefan
Published: June 2024

The present study investigated the differences in movement synchrony and therapeutic alliance between solution-focused and problem-focused counseling. Thirty-four participants each attended two counseling sessions with different counselors, one with a solution-focus and one with a problem-focus, in randomized order. The sessions consisted of three consecutive parts: problem description, standardized intervention and free intervention. Movement synchrony, including leading and pacing synchrony, was measured using Motion Energy Analysis (MEA) and windowed cross-lagged correlation (WCLC) based on video recordings of the sessions. The Helping Alliance Questionnaire (HAQ) was used to assess therapeutic alliance. Results showed that movement synchrony was significantly higher in solution-focused than in problem-focused counseling, driven by differences in the problem description part. This difference may be explained by the allegiance of the counselors to the solution-focused approach, as we observed more leading synchrony during the problem description part in solution-focused sessions. There was no significant difference in therapeutic alliance between the two conditions. This study expands the understanding of counseling approaches in the field of movement synchrony and contributes valuable insights for practitioners and researchers alike.
‘No Pet’ Covenants and the Law: A Harm Assessment Approach to Regulating Companion Animals in Rental Housing Across the World
Authors: Rook Deborah , Jegatheesan Brinda India
Published: June 2024

The covid-19 pandemic, and in particular, the rise in pet ownership, the greater focus on home-life during lockdowns and the normalisation of hybrid-working conditions post-pandemic, has shed light on an under-researched area of law that affects millions of people across the world: the use of ‘no pet’ covenants in private rental housing. This article identifies the prevalence of ‘no pet’ covenants as a socio-legal problem that is of global significance. It assesses the legal regulation of pets in private rental housing through a Harm Assessment approach that has global application. A Harm Assessment approach balances harms to various stakeholders in both the use and restriction of ‘no pet’ covenants. In countries that have no legal regulation of pets in housing it can be used to assess the need for legislation. This approach considers the character, magnitude and likelihood of the harm, something which has had little consideration to date. Drawing, by analogy, on the work of Feinberg and his analysis of harm within the context of the legitimacy of state interference with individual liberty, this article adapts his theory of harm to assess the need for legal regulation of pets in rental housing. The legitimacy of a Harm Assessment approach is supported by the existing literature on ‘no pet’ covenants, from which the dominant theme of harm emerges. Identifying and weighting the types of harm to be balanced varies depending on cultural, religious and geographic considerations and further research is needed to better understand the harms in different countries.
Assessment of the performance of fibre optic sensor designs based on two FBGs
Authors: Palmowski Jacek , Barczak Kamil , Kubicka Natalia , Gołek Franek , Benson Luke , Maciak Erwin , Pustelny Tadeusz , Phang Sendy , Benson Trevor , Bereś-Pawlik Elżbieta
Published: June 2024

The paper presents, and compares the performance of, two optical sensing systems each based on a combination of two fibre Bragg gratings (FBGs) and where a simple measurement of transmitted or reflected power provides an alternative to specialist interrogators. In both configurations one of the FBGs acts as a reference whilst the other is used as the measuring element. It is shown that using FBGs with wide spectra results in higher dynamic range. The measurement of strain is used to demonstrate the behaviour of the proposed sensing systems. The performance of the two systems is compared experimentally and discussed with the insight of the simultaneous measurement of the spectra reaching the detector.
Construction of a Dirichlet form on Metric Measure Spaces of Controlled Geometry
Authors: Butaev Almaz , Luo Liangbing , Shanmugalingam Nageswari
Published: June 2024

Given a compact doubling metric measure space X that supports a 2-Poincaré inequality, we construct a Dirichlet form on $$N^{1,2}(X)$$

N

1
,
2

(
X
)

that is comparable to the upper gradient energy form on $$N^{1,2}(X)$$

N

1
,
2

(
X
)

. Our approach is based on the approximation of X by a family of graphs that is doubling and supports a 2-Poincaré inequality (see [20]). We construct a bilinear form on $$N^{1,2}(X)$$

N

1
,
2

(
X
)

using the Dirichlet form on the graph. We show that the $$\Gamma $$
Γ
-limit $$\mathcal {E}$$
E
of this family of bilinear forms (by taking a subsequence) exists and that $$\mathcal {E}$$
E
is a Dirichlet form on X. Properties of $$\mathcal {E}$$
E
are established. Moreover, we prove that $$\mathcal {E}$$
E
has the property of matching boundary values on a domain $$\Omega \subseteq X$$

Ω
⊆
X

. This construction makes it possible to approximate harmonic functions (with respect to the Dirichlet form $$\mathcal {E}$$
E
) on a domain in X with a prescribed Lipschitz boundary data via a numerical scheme dictated by the approximating Dirichlet forms, which are discrete objects.
Could Avicenna’s god remain within himself?: A reply to the Naṣīrian interpretation
Authors: Taşkın Ferhat
Published: June 2024

Avicenna holds that since God has existed from all eternity and is immutable and impassible, he cannot come to have an attribute or feature that he has not had from all eternity. He also claims for the simultaneous causation. A puzzle arises when we consider God’s creating this world. If God is immutable and impassible, then his attributes associated with his creating this world are unchanging. So, God must have been creating the world from all eternity. But then God’s creative act, one might object, seems to be no different from a matter of natural necessity. This is a threat to divine freedom, for God would then have no choice concerning his creative action. Anthony Ruffus and Jon McGinnis argue that this puzzle can be solved in such a way that Avicenna can consistently affirm divine freedom along with divine simplicity. They suggest that Naṣīr al-Dīn Ṭūsī’s interpretation might help to show that it is false that Avicenna’s God cannot choose absolutely. For it is still open to him to choose either to create eternally or to refrain from creating anything at all. Ruffus and McGinnis argue that since creating or not creating anything at all do not correspond to two distinct concepts, Avicenna’s account of divine simplicity, which denies any multiplicity in divine mind, is safeguarded along with divine freedom. I claim that God’s omnirationality requiring that he always acts for reasons is a serious threat to such an interpretation.
Signaling and herding in reward-based crowdfunding
Authors: Rodríguez-Garnica Gabriel , Gutiérrez-Urtiaga María , Tribo Josep A.
Published: June 2024

This paper investigates how signaling and herding behavior interact in crowdfunding markets to give raise to an information cascade, even when there are no identifiable experts, which is the typical case in reward-based crowdfunding. Using daily funding data for on all the projects launched on Kickstarter during one month, we find that during the initial phase of the campaign, the funding decisions of a reduced number of early backers are based on information and quality signals offered by the creator. However, during the second phase, signaling is substituted by the herding behavior of a large number of late backers, imitating early backers. The results suggest that, even in the absence of identifiable experts, backers self-select into early or late backers depending on their ability to process the information, so that herding after signaling generates an information cascade that ameliorates asymmetric information problems. The findings are relevant for (i) creators, that will obtain better results by targeting their crowdfunding campaigns at better informed potential contributors, and (ii) regulators, that can expect backers’ self-selection and herding to work together to protect uninformed backers from fraud and deception even when participation is not restricted.
Bacterial septicemia and herpesvirus infection in Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) stranded in the São Paulo coast, Brazil
Authors: Duarte-Benvenuto Aricia , Sánchez-Sarmiento A. M. , Ewbank A. C. , Zamana-Ramblas R. , Costa-Silva S. , Silvestre N. , Faita T. , Keid L. B. , Soares R. M. , Pessi C. F. , Sabbadini J. R. , Borges M. F. , Ferioli R. B. , Marcon M. , Barbosa C. B. , Fernandes N. C. C. A. , Ibáñez-Porras P. , Navas-Suárez P. E. , Catão-Dias J. L. , Sacristán Carlos
Published: June 2024

In August 2021, two juvenile male Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) stranded in the southeastern Brazilian coast and were referred to rehabilitation centers. The animals presented increased body temperature, prostration, respiratory distress and despite treatment died. A necropsy following a standardized protocol was performed, and formalin-fixed tissues were processed for microscopic examination. Samples were screened for morbillivirus, herpesvirus, and Brucella spp. by molecular analyses (PCR, RT-PCR). Bacteriological culture was performed in samples collected from the lungs, trachea, and lymph nodes of both cases. The main histopathologic findings were of infectious nature, including multifocal necrotizing and fibrinous mixed interstitial pneumonia, bronchiolitis, and bronchitis, with intralesional myriad bacteria associated with vascular fibrinoid necrosis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from tracheal and lung swabs of Case 1, and Klebsiella oxytoca was found in nostril swabs, tracheobronchial lymph nodes, and lung of Case 2. Gammaherpesvirus infection was detected in both cases, and the sequences retrieved were classified into the genus Percavirus. All tested samples were PCR-negative for Brucella spp. and morbillivirus. We hypothesize that the deficient immunological status in association with starvation predisposed the reactivation of herpesvirus and secondary bacterial co-infections. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first molecular detection of herpesvirus in an Antarctic pinniped. These findings reinforce that Otariid gammaherpesvirus circulating in the Southern Hemisphere are likely endemic in the Arctocephalus genus. This report contributes to the current knowledge of health aspects affecting wild pinnipeds, especially in the poorly studied Antarctic species.
Convergent Neuroimaging and Molecular Signatures in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Data-Driven Meta-Analysis with N = 3,118
Authors: Kang Xiaopeng , Wang Dawei , Lin Jiaji , Yao Hongxiang , Zhao Kun , Song Chengyuan , Chen Pindong , Qu Yida , Yang Hongwei , Zhang Zengqiang , Zhou Bo , Han Tong , Liao Zhengluan , Chen Yan , Lu Jie , Yu Chunshui , Wang Pan , Zhang Xinqing , Li Ming , Zhang Xi , Jiang Tianzi , Zhou Yuying , Liu Bing , Han Ying , Liu Yong ,   The Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative,   The Multi-Center Alzheimer’s Disease Imaging (MCADI) Consortium
Published: June 2024

The current study aimed to evaluate the susceptibility to regional brain atrophy and its biological mechanism in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We conducted data-driven meta-analyses to combine 3,118 structural magnetic resonance images from three datasets to obtain robust atrophy patterns. Then we introduced a set of radiogenomic analyses to investigate the biological basis of the atrophy patterns in AD. Our results showed that the hippocampus and amygdala exhibit the most severe atrophy, followed by the temporal, frontal, and occipital lobes in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD. The extent of atrophy in MCI was less severe than that in AD. A series of biological processes related to the glutamate signaling pathway, cellular stress response, and synapse structure and function were investigated through gene set enrichment analysis. Our study contributes to understanding the manifestations of atrophy and a deeper understanding of the pathophysiological processes that contribute to atrophy, providing new insight for further clinical research on AD.
Chemically engineered essential oils prepared through thiocyanation under solvent-free conditions: chemical and bioactivity alteration
Authors: Lescano Liz E. , Salazar Mario O. , Furlan Ricardo L. E.
Published: June 2024

The generation of chemically engineered essential oils (CEEOs) prepared from bi-heteroatomic reactions using ammonium thiocyanate as a source of bioactive compounds is described. The impact of the reaction on the chemical composition of the mixtures was qualitatively demonstrated through GC–MS, utilizing univariate and multivariate analysis. The reaction transformed most of the components in the natural mixtures, thereby expanding the chemical diversity of the mixtures. Changes in inhibition properties between natural and CEEOs were demonstrated through acetylcholinesterase TLC autography, resulting in a threefold increase in the number of positive events due to the modification process. The chemically engineered Origanum vulgare L. essential oil was subjected to bioguided fractionation, leading to the discovery of four new active compounds with similar or higher potency than eserine against the enzyme. The results suggest that the directed chemical transformation of essential oils can be a valuable strategy for discovering new acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors.

Graphical Abstract
Graduate Teaching Assistants’ Perception of Student Difficulties and Use in Teaching
Authors: Park Jungeun , Rizzolo Douglas
Published: June 2024

Given the important role graduate teaching assistants (TAs) play in undergraduate students’ learning, we investigated what TAs identified as students’ difficulties from students’ written work, their plans to address them, and implementation of their plans in class. Since the difficulties that TAs identified in general matched errors that students made, we analyzed what TAs identified in terms of literature on error handling. We examined levels of specific details of students’ work involved in TAs’ identifying, planning, and teaching. Our results show that (a) TAs often did not identify the most frequent errors students made, which reflected well-documented difficulties from the literature, (b) the errors TAs identified were mainly procedural in nature, (c) specific details of students’ work were mainly included in procedural errors, and (d) the level of specificity of students’ work was generally consistent but showed some drops when going from identifying to planning, then to teaching. Our results highlight interesting questions for future research and could be used as resources to design professional development that helps TAs use students’ errors in teaching to promote students’ learning.
Macroscopic and mesoscopic mechanism of hydration instability of the rock-grout coupled structure
Authors: Rong Haoyu , Wang Wei , Li Guichen , Liang Dongxu , Xu Jiahui
Published: June 2024

In order to investigate the macroscopic and mesoscopic mechanism of hydration instability of rock-grout structure under the influence of moisture content, a direct shear test combined with particle flow code (PFC) simulation was conducted subject to various moisture content levels and normal stresses. The results show that a higher moisture content would compromise the load bearing capacity of soft rock anchorage structures by deteriorating the structural integrity of the surrounding rock and the bonding effect between the anchorage interfaces. The load bearing capacity of the surrounding rock is also rapidly reduced. The rock-grout structure has four main shear damage modes, which are influenced by both moisture content and normal stress. When the saturated moisture content is reached, the anchorage structure has lost its bearing capacity, and the rock is muddied and subsequently debonded from the bolt. The energy required to break the internal adhesion of the rock-grout structure under the effect of hydration is greatly reduced, resulting in easy decoupling and dispersion between the rock skeleton particles. In turn, the rock surface particles bonded by the anchor agent are separated from the deeper particles, resulting in the failure of the bonding surface and weakening the coupling effect between the anchor and the surrounding rock. According to the test results, the control measures for surrounding rock of muddy roadway are put forward.
Quantum optimization for training quantum neural networks
Authors: Liao Yidong , Hsieh Min-Hsiu , Ferrie Chris
Published: June 2024

Training quantum neural networks (QNNs) using gradient-based or gradient-free classical optimization approaches is severely impacted by the presence of barren plateaus in the cost landscapes. In this paper, we devise a framework for leveraging quantum optimization algorithms to find optimal parameters of QNNs for certain tasks. To cast the optimization problem of training QNN into the context of quantum optimization, the parameters in QNN are quantized—moved from being classical to being stored in quantum registers which are in addition to those upon which the QNN is performing its computation. We then coherently encode the cost function of QNNs onto relative phases of a superposition state in the Hilbert space of the QNN parameters. The parameters are tuned with an iterative quantum optimization structure using adaptively selected Hamiltonians. The quantum mechanism of this framework exploits hidden structure in the QNN optimization problem and hence is expected to provide beyond-Grover speed up, mitigating the barren plateau issue.
Calibration and context in human evaluation of machine translation
Authors: Knowles Rebecca , Lo Chi-kiu
Published: June 2024

Human evaluation of machine translation is considered the “gold standard” for evaluation, but it remains a challenging task for which to define best practices. Recent work has focused on incorporating intersentential context into human evaluation, to better distinguish between high-performing machine translation systems and human translations. In this work, we examine several ways that such context influences evaluation and evaluation protocols. We take a close look at annotator variation through the lens of calibration sets and focus on the implications for context-aware evaluation protocols. We then demonstrate one way in which degraded target-side intersentential context can influence annotator scores of individual sentences, a finding that supports the context-aware approach to evaluation and which also has implications for best practices in evaluation protocols.
Assessing the causal relationship of birth weight and childhood obesity on osteoarthritis: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Xin Zengfeng , Xu Lingxiao , Sun Lingling
Published: June 2024

Obesity is associated with osteoarthritis (OA), but few studies have used fetal origin to explore the association. Our study aims to disentangle the causality between birth weight, childhood obesity, and adult OA using Mendelian randomization (MR). We identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to birth weight (n = 298,142) and childhood obesity (n = 24,160) from two genome-wide association studies contributed by the Early Growth Genetics Consortium. Summary statistics of OA and its phenotypes (knee, hip, spine, hand, thumb, and finger OA) from the Genetics of Osteoarthritis Consortium (n = 826,690) were used to estimate the effects of SNPs on OA. Multivariable MR (MVMR) was conducted to investigate the independent effects of exposures. It turned out that genetically predicted standard deviation increase in birth weight was not associated with OA. In contrast, there was a marginally positive effect of childhood obesity on total [odds ratio (OR) = 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.00, 1.15 using IVW], knee (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.05, 1.22 using weighted median), hip (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.24 using IVW), and spine OA (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.03, 1.22 using IVW), but not hand, thumb, or finger OA. MVMR indicated a potential adulthood body mass index-dependent causal pathway between childhood obesity and OA. In conclusion, no association of birth weight with OA was suggested. Childhood obesity, however, showed a causality with OA in weight-bearing joints, which seems to be a general association of obesity with OA.
Lightning NOx in the 29–30 May 2012 Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry (DC3) Severe Storm and Its Downwind Chemical Consequences
Authors: Pickering Kenneth E. , Li Yunyao , Cummings Kristin A. , Barth Mary C. , Allen Dale J. , Bruning Eric C. , Pollack Ilana B.
Published: June 2024

A cloud‐resolved storm and chemistry simulation of a severe convective system in Oklahoma constrained by anvil aircraft observations of NOx was used to estimate the mean production of NOx per flash in this storm. An upward ice flux scheme was used to parameterize flash rates in the model. Model lightning was also constrained by observed lightning flash types and the altitude distribution of flash channel segments. The best estimate of mean NOx production by lightning in this storm was 80–110 mol per flash, which is smaller than many other literature estimates. This result is likely due to the storm having been a high flash rate event in which flash extents were relatively small. Over the evolution of this storm a moderate negative correlation was found between the total flash rate and flash extent and energy per flash. A longer‐term simulation at 36‐km horizontal resolution with parameterized convection was used to simulate the downwind transport and chemistry of the anvil outflow from the same storm. Convective transport of low‐ozone air from the boundary layer decreased ozone in the anvil outflow by up to 20–40 ppbv compared with the initial conditions, which contained stratospheric influence. Photochemical ozone production in the lightning‐NOx enhanced convective plume proceeded at a rate of 10–11 ppbv per day in the 9–11 km outflow layer over the 24‐hr period of downwind transport to the Southern Appalachians. Photochemical production plays a large role in the restoration of upper tropospheric ozone following deep convection.
Isotope Hydrograph Separation Reveals Rainfall on the Glaciers Will Enhance Ice Meltwater Discharge to the Himalayan Rivers
Authors: Roy Nita , Sen Indra S. , Boral Soumita , Shukla Tanuj , Velu Vinoj
Published: June 2024

The Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) and meltwater from the Himalayan are the two most important sources of water in the Indian subcontinent. However, the impact of ISM on Himalayan glaciers and subsequent stream hydrology remains largely unknown. To provide new insight into the impact of rainfall on glacial hydrology, here we present hydro‐meteorological and time‐series observations of meltwater stable water isotope compositions from the snout of the Chorabari glacier in the Upper Ganga Basin, Central Himalayas across the ablation season corresponding to 2019. We observe that rainfall events (>2 mm d−1) on the glacier enhance discharge driven by ice meltwater in River Mandakini. Energy balance calculations reveal that one of the drivers behind enhanced ice meltwater contribution could be rain‐induced melting of the glacier where rainfall on the ice surface melts the glacier producing up to 13% of the total discharge at the glacier snout. Further, rainfall on glacier surface have other control on glacial processes—for example, snow metamorphism, ice flow dynamics such as short‐term acceleration in ice speed flow, and reorganization of the englacial and subglacial drainage network—that are poorly studied and needs further investigation. We conclude rainfall events on the glacier have a complex control on mountain hydrology. This study, therefore, provides an interpretative framework that calls for additional assessments of the direct and indirect impact of rainfall in glacial hydrology.
Sand’s Role in Rerouting Meandering Rivers Is Bigger Than We Thought
Authors: Dieckman Emily
Published: June 2024

Researchers delve into the dirt causing rivers to migrate.
A Magma Ocean Fuels This Exoplanet’s Atmosphere
Authors: Cartier Kimberly
Published: June 2024

The finding is an atmospheric first for astronomers but not for the planet.
Effectiveness of date seed on glycemia and advanced glycation end-products in type 2 diabetes: a randomized placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Mohamadizadeh Mehdi , Dehghan Parvin , Azizi-Soleiman Fatemeh , Maleki Parham
Published: June 2024

Background

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic medical condition affecting more than 95% of people with diabetes. Traditionally, some medicinal plants have been considered as an effective approach in management of T2DM. This trial evaluated the effects of date seed powder (DSP) on glycemia indices and oxidative stress in T2DM patients.

Methods

In this trail, 43 patients with T2DM were randomized to two groups: either 5 g/d of the DSP or placebo for 8 weeks. Levels of glycemic indices, lipolpolysaccharide (LPS), and soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (s-RAGE), as well as other parameters associated with oxidative stress were assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks. Independent t-test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used for between-groups comparisons at baseline and the post-intervention phase, respectively.

Results

The results showed that supplementation with DSP significantly decreased HbA1c (−0.30 ± 0.48%), insulin (−1.70 ± 2.21 μU/ml), HOMA-IR (−1.05 ± 0.21), HOMA-B (−0.76 ± 21.21), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (−3.68 ± 6.05 EU/mL), and pentosidine (118.99 ± 21.67 pg/mL) (P < 0.05, ANCOVA adjusted for baseline and confounding factors). On the other hand, DSP supplementation significantly increased total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (0.50 ± 0.26 mmol/L), superoxide dismutase (SOD) (0.69 ± 0.32 U/ml), and s-RAGE (240.13 ± 54.25 pg/mL) compared to the placebo group. FPG, hs-CRP, GPx, CML, and uric acid had no significant within- or between-group changes.

Conclusion

Supplementation of DSP could be considered an effective strategy to improve glycemic control and oxidative stress in T2DM patients (Registration ID at www.irct.ir: IRCT20150205020965N10).
Regulation of cardiac ferroptosis in diabetic human heart failure: uncovering molecular pathways and key targets
Authors: Gawargi Flobater I. , Mishra Paras K.
Published: June 2024

Diabetes significantly increases the risk of heart failure by inducing myocardial cell death, potentially through ferroptosis—an iron-dependent, non-apoptotic cell death pathway characterized by lipid peroxidation. The role of cardiac ferroptosis in human heart failure, however, remains poorly understood. In this study, we compared cardiac ferroptosis in humans with diabetic heart failure to that in healthy controls. Our findings reveal that diabetes not only intensifies myocardial cell death but also upregulates markers of ferroptosis in human hearts. This is linked to decreased transcription and activity of glutathione peroxidase-4 (GPX4), influenced by reduced levels of activating transcription factor-4 (ATF4) and nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor-2 (NRF2), and downregulation of glutathione reductase (GSR). Additionally, diabetic hearts showed an increased labile iron pool due to enhanced heme metabolism by heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1), elevated iron import via divalent metal transporter-1 (DMT1), reduced iron storage through ferritin light chain (FLC), and decreased iron export via ferroportin-1 (FPN1). The reduction in FPN1 levels likely results from decreased stabilization by amyloid precursor protein (APP) and diminished NRF2-mediated transcription. Furthermore, diabetes upregulates lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase-3 (LPCAT3), facilitating the integration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) into phospholipid membranes, and downregulates acyl-CoA thioesterase-1 (ACOT1), which further promotes ferroptosis. LC–MS/MS analysis identified several novel proteins implicated in diabetes-induced cardiac ferroptosis, including upregulated ceruloplasmin, which enhances iron metabolism, and cytochrome b-245 heavy chain (CYBB), a key component of NADPH oxidase that aids in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), along with downregulated voltage-dependent anion-selective channel protein-2 (VDAC2), essential for maintaining mitochondrial membrane potential. In conclusion, our study not only confirms the presence and potentially predominant role of cardiac ferroptosis in humans with diabetic heart failure but also elucidates its molecular mechanisms, offering potential therapeutic targets to mitigate heart failure complications in diabetic patients.
STAC3 disorder: a common cause of congenital hypotonia in Southern African patients
Authors: Essop Fahmida , Dillon Bronwyn , Mhlongo Felicity , Bhengu Louisa , Naicker Thirona , Lambie Lindsay , Smit Liani , Fieggen Karen , Lochan Anneline , Dawson Jessica , Mpangase Phelelani , Hauptfleisch Marc , Scher Gail , Tabane Odirile , Immelman Marelize , Urban Michael , Krause Amanda
Published: June 2024

STAC3 disorder, or Native American myopathy, is characterised by congenital myopathy, hypotonia, musculoskeletal and palatal anomalies, and susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia. A STAC3 c.851 G > C (p.Trp284Ser) pathogenic variant, common in the Lumbee Native American tribe, has been identified in other populations worldwide, including patients of African ancestry. We report on the frequency of STAC3 c.851 G > C in a cohort of 127 patients presenting with congenital hypotonia that tested negative for spinal muscular atrophy and/or Prader-Willi syndrome. We present a clinical retrospective, descriptive review on 31 Southern African patients homozygous for STAC3 c.851 G > C. The frequencies of various phenotypic characteristics were calculated. In total, 25/127 (20%) laboratory-based samples were homozygous for STAC3 c.851 G > C. A carrier rate of 1/56 and a predicted birth rate of 1/12 500 was estimated from a healthy cohort. A common haplotype spanning STAC3 was identified in four patients. Of the clinical group, 93% had a palatal abnormality, 52% a spinal anomaly, 59% had talipes equinovarus deformity/deformities, 38% had arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, and 22% had a history suggestive of malignant hyperthermia. The novel finding that STAC3 disorder is a common African myopathy has important clinical implications for the diagnosis, treatment and genetic counselling of individuals, with neonatal and/or childhood hypotonia with or without arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, and their families. The spread of this variant worldwide and the allele frequency higher in the African/African-American ancestry than the Admixed Americans, strongly indicates that the STAC3 c.851 G > C variant has an African origin which may be due to an ancient mutation with migration and population bottlenecks.
Peripheral apoptosis and limited clonal deletion during physiologic murine B lymphocyte development
Authors: Simpson Mikala JoAnn , Newen Anna Minh , McNees Christopher , Sharma Sukriti , Pfannenstiel Dylan , Moyer Thomas , Stephany David , Douagi Iyadh , Wang Qiao , Mayer Christian Thomas
Published: June 2024

Self-reactive and polyreactive B cells generated during B cell development are silenced by either apoptosis, clonal deletion, receptor editing or anergy to avoid autoimmunity. The specific contribution of apoptosis to normal B cell development and self-tolerance is incompletely understood. Here, we quantify self-reactivity, polyreactivity and apoptosis during physiologic B lymphocyte development. Self-reactivity and polyreactivity are most abundant in early immature B cells and diminish significantly during maturation within the bone marrow. Minimal apoptosis still occurs at this site, however B cell receptors cloned from apoptotic B cells show comparable self-reactivity to that of viable cells. Apoptosis increases dramatically only following immature B cells leaving the bone marrow sinusoids, but above 90% of cloned apoptotic transitional B cells are not self-reactive/polyreactive. Our data suggests that an apoptosis-independent mechanism, such as receptor editing, removes most self-reactive B cells in the bone marrow. Mechanistically, lack of survival signaling rather than clonal deletion appears to be the underpinning cause of apoptosis in most transitional B cells in the periphery.
A persistent variant telomere sequence in a human pedigree
Authors: Hinchie Angela M. , Sanford Samantha L. , Loughridge Kelly E. , Sutton Rachel M. , Parikh Anishka H. , Gil Silva Agustin A. , Sullivan Daniel I. , Chun-On Pattra , Morrell Matthew R. , McDyer John F. , Opresko Patricia L. , Alder Jonathan K.
Published: June 2024

The telomere sequence, TTAGGG, is conserved across all vertebrates and plays an essential role in suppressing the DNA damage response by binding a set of proteins termed shelterin. Changes in the telomere sequence impair shelterin binding, initiate a DNA damage response, and are toxic to cells. Here we identify a family with a variant in the telomere template sequence of telomerase, the enzyme responsible for telomere elongation, that led to a non-canonical telomere sequence. The variant is inherited across at least one generation and one family member reports no significant medical concerns despite ~9% of their telomeres converting to the novel sequence. The variant template disrupts telomerase repeat addition processivity and decreased the binding of the telomere-binding protein POT1. Despite these disruptions, the sequence is readily incorporated into cellular chromosomes. Incorporation of a variant sequence prevents POT1-mediated inhibition of telomerase suggesting that incorporation of a variant sequence may influence telomere addition. These findings demonstrate that telomeres can tolerate substantial degeneracy while remaining functional and provide insights as to how incorporation of a non-canonical telomere sequence might alter telomere length dynamics.
A dual spin-controlled chiral two-/three-dimensional perovskite artificial leaf for efficient overall photoelectrochemical water splitting
Authors: Lee Hyungsoo , Lee Chan Uk , Yun Juwon , Jeong Chang-Seop , Jeong Wooyong , Son Jaehyun , Park Young Sun , Moon Subin , Lee Soobin , Kim Jun Hwan , Moon Jooho
Published: June 2024

The oxygen evolution reaction, which involves high overpotential and slow charge-transport kinetics, plays a critical role in determining the efficiency of solar-driven water splitting. The chiral-induced spin selectivity phenomenon has been utilized to reduce by-product production and hinder charge recombination. To fully exploit the spin polarization effect, we herein propose a dual spin-controlled perovskite photoelectrode. The three-dimensional (3D) perovskite serves as a light absorber while the two-dimensional (2D) chiral perovskite functions as a spin polarizer to align the spin states of charge carriers. Compared to other investigated chiral organic cations, R-/S-naphthyl ethylamine enable strong spin-orbital coupling due to strengthened π–π stacking interactions. The resulting naphthyl ethylamine-based chiral 2D/3D perovskite photoelectrodes achieved a high spin polarizability of 75%. Moreover, spin relaxation was prevented by employing a chiral spin-selective L-NiFeOOH catalyst, which enables the secondary spin alignment to promote the generation of triplet oxygen. This dual spin-controlled 2D/3D perovskite photoanode achieves a 13.17% of applied-bias photon-to-current efficiency. Here, after connecting the perovskite photocathode with L-NiFeOOH/S-naphthyl ethylamine 2D/3D photoanode in series, the resulting co-planar water-splitting device exhibited a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 12.55%.