bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parenting stress and child behavior problems: Developmental psychopathology perspectives
Authors: Crnic Keith A.
Published: October 2024

The growing base of research on parenting stress and its relation to child behavior problems has largely paralleled the emergence of developmental psychopathology as a field of inquiry. Specifically, the focus on mechanism rather than main effects has begun to elevate explanatory models in the connection between parenting stress and a variety of adverse child and parent conditions. Still, work on parenting stress is limited by conceptual confusion, the absence of attention to developmental differentiation, a focus on child-specific rather than system influences. Recent research on these parenting stress issues is briefly reviewed, highlighting studies that have illustrated developmental psychopathology perspectives. A conceptual model is offered to illustrate the complex recursive nature of connections between parenting stress, parenting behavior, parent well-being, and children’s adjustment, and I make a case for the adoption of a more systemic perspective to influence the next generation of developmental psychopathology research on parenting stress.
An account of the kings of Kanu'l as recorded on the hieroglyphic stair of K'an II of Caracol
Authors: Helmke Christophe , Vepretskii Sergei
Published: October 2024

Many questions remain about the hieroglyphic stair dedicated in a.d. 642 by K'an II, the great king of Caracol. Constituent panels have been found at Caracol, Ucanal, Naranjo, and Xunantunich—archaeological sites spread between Guatemala and Belize. The most recently discovered Panels 3 and 4 at Xunantunich shed light on the tumultuous decades of the seventh century. Panel 4, which opened the hieroglyphic stair, makes a surprising statement from the outset, clarifying that Kanu'l political authority was irrevocably established at Calakmul. This bold statement serves as a synoptic précis for the entire narrative and explains why the deeds of K'an II are related, but only to the extent that these could be interwoven with the history of the Kanu'l. This makes the hieroglyphic stair such an important source, because it tracks the rulers of the Kanu'l dynasty from the vantage of a close ally. These monuments attest to the fissioning of the Kanu'l dynasty and its eventual restoration at Calakmul, from whence Classic Maya politics would be overseen for the remainder of the seventh century. In this article, we build on earlier studies and add our most recent observations and new readings based on renewed inspections of the existing panels.
Patent ductus arteriosus closure in small infants weighing less than 1500 g using KA micro plug: steps and tips
Authors: Mohammad Nijres Bassel , Hassan Moeez , Windsor Jimmy , Bischoff Adrianne Rahde , McNamara Patrick J. , Aldoss Osamah
Published: October 2024

Background:

Transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus closure in premature infants is gaining attention with rapidly growing experience. The KA micro plug device poses many favourable features for ductus arteriosus closure in premature infants. The study aimed to describe the technique and outcomes of a KA micro plug in closing the ductus arteriosus in premature infants weighing less than 1500 g.

Methods:

This is a single-centre retrospective study in premature infants with patent ductus arteriosus weighing less than 1500 g who underwent off-label use of a KA micro plug at the Stead Family Children’s Hospital from February 2022 to December 2023.

Results:

Eighteen premature infants weighing less than 1500 g underwent attempted transcatheter ductus arteriosus closure using a KA micro plug device. Median weight, age, and corrected gestational age at the procedure were 943 g (682–1225), 26 days (9–79), and 28.5 weeks (25.6–32), respectively. The procedure was successful with complete closure achieved in all patients. No major haemodynamic instabilities were encountered. No catheterization-related complications were encountered. On a median follow-up of 10.9 months (0.1–19), all patients are alive with the device in a good position without residual shunt or abnormal findings.

Conclusion:

KA micro plug device for patent ductus arteriosus in infants weighing less than 1500 g is feasible, safe, and effective. We recommend that manufacturers of devices used to close the ductus arteriosus in small infants enhance both the devices and their delivery systems to simplify the procedure and mitigate the risk of haemodynamic instability.
Adherence to the EAT-Lancet sustainable diet and ultra-processed food consumption: findings from a nationwide population-based study in Brazil
Authors: Cacau Leandro Teixeira , Souza Thays Nascimento , Louzada Maria Laura da Costa , Marchioni Dirce Maria Lobo
Published: October 2024

Objective:

To evaluate the association between ultra-processed food consumption and adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet in a representative sample of the Brazilian population.

Design:

The study used data from the Brazilian National Dietary Survey 2017–2018 and employed linear regression models to evaluate the association between ultra-processed food consumption and adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet, as measured by the Nova food system and Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI), respectively.

Setting:

Nationally representative sample of the Brazilian population.

Participants:

The study included 46 164 Brazilians ≥ 10 years old.

Results:

The average PHDI total score was 45·9 points (95 % CI 45·6, 46·1). The ultra-processed food consumption was, with dose-response, inversely associated with the adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet. The PHDI total score was 5·38 points lower (95 % CI –6·01, –4·75) in individuals in the highest quintile of consumption of ultra-processed foods, as compared to those in the first quintile. The PHDI score was also inversely associated with the share of processed culinary ingredients and processed foods and positively associated with the share of unprocessed or minimally processed foods.

Conclusions:

Our study showed an inverse relationship between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and the adherence to a healthy and sustainable diet.
Limitations of hypocrisy as a strategy of critique in international politics
Authors: Millar Katharine M.
Published: October 2024

Hypocrisy, when addressed at all, is typically considered a functional, even valuable, aspect of international political practice within international relations theory. It is alternatively seen as necessary to the exercise of sovereignty and a rhetorical device used to seek pragmatic political change. Utilising insights from feminist, queer, and postcolonial theory, this article challenges this understanding of hypocrisy. The article demonstrates that hypocrisy is animated and elided by an investment in a particularly liberal vision of politics and international order (and concomitant obfuscation of the racialised, sexual, gendered, and colonial underpinnings of those same assumptions). The notion of hypocrisy relies upon a unitary and stable subject whose moral consistency is to be expected across time and space – a luxury less afforded to those disadvantaged within intersectional international hierarchies. Consequently, although the charge of hypocrisy appears to be about holding power to account, the article finds that it serves less to uphold normative principles than to re-centre the privileged and powerful subject – typically, the sovereign state of liberal international order – and its consistency with itself, as the unit and basis of moral concern. The article concludes by outlining the limitations of hypocrisy as a strategy of critique.
Kongomania and the Haitian Revolution
Authors: Geggus David
Published: October 2024

The article critiques the scholarly emphasis on the centrality of West-Central Africans in the Haitian Revolution. It argues that two highly influential articles published 30 years ago by John Thornton greatly exaggerated the presence of such “Congos” in the colony, and overstated that of Africans in general. Amplified in subsequent works by Thornton and others, this exaggeration has become the prevailing orthodoxy and the issue has gone entirely unnoticed down to today. To make its point, the article draws on a data set of more than 31,000 enslaved workers of known origin and it attempts to calculate population change on the eve of the revolution. It lays out the way the ethnic composition of the black population varied by crop type and region, and produces for the first time estimates for the whole of Saint Domingue. It additionally makes two excursions into African studies. The first is to investigate the ethnic/geographic origins of the “Congos.” The second relates to the nature of slavery in West-Central Africa and certain items of Kikongo vocabulary. This forms part of a critique of an ambitious article by James Sweet concerning the influence of Kongolese in Saint-Domingue that constitutes the article's final section.
Kongomania Redux, The Haitian Revolution: David Geggus Responds to John Thornton, Christina Mobley, and James Sweet
Authors: Geggus David
Published: October 2024

David Geggus offers a detailed response to the three critiques of his “Kongomania” article by John Thornton, Christina Mobley, and James Sweet. Centered on demographic statistics and their link to cultural influence, the rebuttal examines evidentiary support for various assertions and hypotheses. The debate ranges over the use of certain ethnonyms (Creole, Congo, Mondongue); the creation of Vodou; the significance of Baudry des Lozières's Vocabulaire Congo; and the organization and aims of the 1791 uprising and the Haitian War of Independence.
Debating the Haitian Revolution and ‘Kongomania’: An African Rebellion on the Other Side of the Atlantic, or a French Creole Revolution in the Caribbean?
Authors: Childs Matt D.
Published: October 2024

Over the past 30 years, scholarship has shifted from viewing the Haitian Revolution as largely an extension of the French Revolution to understanding it as a revolt from the perspective of Africa and Africans. Four related factors contribute to explanations of this change in perspective. First, historians trained in pre-colonial Africa began to study slavery in the Americas. The second factor is the emergence of Atlantic History as a field of study, the third is the Bicentennial commemorations of the start (1991) and the end (2004) of the Haitian Revolution, and the fourth is Michel-Rolph Trouillot's much celebrated, widely circulated, and extremely influential essay “Unthinkable History” (from Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History; 1995), in which he critiqued the entire historiography of the Haitian Revolution and called for new perspectives. Taken collectively, the confluence of these four factors, all emerging prominently in the 1990s, contributed to the historiographical shift in Haitian scholarship that David Geggus labels “Kongomania.”

The two main points of Geggus's contribution to this issue of The Americas is to challenge this recent understanding of the Haitian Revolution as essentially an African revolt in the Caribbean led by Kongos, and to give scholars reason to focus more attention on the active role of Creoles. Collectively, the responses by John Thornton, James H. Sweet, and Christina Mobley to Geggus's article emphasize that the point of their scholarship was to offer a Kongo perspective on the Haitian Revolution from their training and expertise in African history, not produce a new orthodoxy.
Comprehensive Comparison of Two Global Multi‐Species MHD Models of Mars
Authors: Sun Wenyi , Sakata Ryoya , Ma Yingjuan , Seki Kanako , Russell Christopher T. , Terada Naoki , Sakai Shotaro , Shinagawa Hiroyuki , Brain David , Toth Gabor
Published: October 2024

Understanding the interaction between Mars and the solar wind is crucial for comprehending the atmospheric evolution and climate change on Mars. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the Martian plasma environment, global numerical simulations are essential in addition to spacecraft observations. However, there are still discrepancies among different simulation models. This study investigates how these discrepancies stem from the considered physical processes and numerical implementations. We compare two global multispecies MHD models: the “Sun model” based on the BATS‐R‐US code and the “Sakata model” based on a newly developed multifluid model MAESTRO. By employing the same typical upstream conditions and the same neutral atmosphere for current Mars, along with similar numerical implementations such as inner boundary conditions, we obtain simulation results that exhibit unprecedented agreement between the two models. The dayside results are nearly identical, especially along the subsolar line, indicating the robustness of MHD models to predict dayside interaction under given upstream conditions and ionosphere assumptions. The escape rates of planetary ions are also in good agreement. However, discrepancies remain in the terminator and nightside regions. Detailed numerical implementations, including inner boundary conditions, magnetic field divergence control methods, and radial resolutions, are shown to influence certain aspects of the results greatly, such as magnetotail configuration and ion diffusion.
Rancho Palos Verdes Landslides Have Residents Seeking Science
Authors: Kornei Katherine
Published: October 2024

Residents of Rancho Palos Verdes are looking to the scientific community for help in understanding the slow-moving landslides that are destroying their community.
The Global Biogeochemical Cycle of Rhenium
Authors: Ghazi L. , Grant K. E. , Chappaz A. , Danish M. , Peucker‐Ehrenbrink B. , Pett‐Ridge J. C.
Published: October 2024

This paper is the first comprehensive synthesis of what is currently known about the different natural and anthropogenic fluxes of rhenium (Re) on Earth's surface. We highlight the significant role of anthropogenic mobilization of Re, which is an important consideration in utilizing Re in the context of a biogeochemical tracer or proxy. The largest natural flux of Re derives from chemical weathering and riverine transport to the ocean (dissolved = 62 × 106 g yr−1 and particulate = 5 × 106 g yr−1). This review reports a new global average [Re] of 16 ± 2 pmol L−1, or 10 ± 1 pmol L−1 for the inferred pre‐anthropogenic concentration without human impact, for rivers draining to the ocean. Human activity via mining (including secondary mobilization), coal combustion, and petroleum combustion mobilize approximately 560 × 106 g yr−1 Re, which is more than any natural flux of Re. There are several poorly constrained fluxes of Re that merit further research, including: submarine groundwater discharge, precipitation (terrestrial and oceanic), magma degassing, and hydrothermal activity. The mechanisms and the main host phases responsible for releasing (sources) or sequestrating (sinks) these fluxes remain poorly understood. This study also highlights the use of dissolved [Re] concentrations as a tracer of oxidation of petrogenic organic carbon, and stable Re isotopes as proxies for changes in global redox conditions.
The Interdecadal Changes of the Relationship Between May‐June and July‐August NWPSH and Their Physical Mechanisms
Authors: Li Shuai , Kucharski Fred , Yang Jie , Gong ZhiQiang , Zhao Yuxuan , Feng Guolin
Published: October 2024

Unlike prior researches focusing on interannual or interdecadal changes of the Northwest Pacific subtropical high (NWPSH), this paper emphasizes the interdecadal changes in the relationship between May‐June and July‐August NWPSH. The correlation coefficients between them are 0.66 (passing the 99.9% confidence level) and 0.12 during 1979–2002 and 2003–2023. Therefore, the May‐June NWPSH has a strong connection with July‐August East Asian precipitation during 1979–2002, but not during 2003–2023. The interdecadal variations in the relationship of NWPSH are due to interdecadal changes of ENSO. During 1979–2002, the eastern‐type ENSO in prior winter, having longer durations, can influence May‐June and July‐August NWPSH and the North Indian Ocean. However, the central‐type ENSO in prior winter only persists it's influence until May‐June, and changes into a Pacific Dipole pattern in July‐August during 2003–2023. Despite the North Indian Ocean continually warms during 2003–2023, the tropical Pacific Dipole offsets its impacts on the NWPSH.
Fire in Feces: Bats Reliably Record Fire History in Their Guano
Authors: Tsalickis Alexandra , Vachula Richard S. , Welch J. Conner , Campbell Joshua W. , Waters Matthew N.
Published: October 2024

New approaches are needed to resolve persistent geographic gaps and biases in paleofire research. Most sedimentary paleofire research relies on lake and peat sediments. We present an unconventional sedimentary charcoal record preserved in a modern, post‐bomb bat guano deposit and compare its accumulation to historical fire data. We find strong correlations between charcoal accumulation rates (CHAR) and non‐winter prescribed burns. CHAR in bat guano is more strongly correlated with prescribed fire than wildfire or total area burned, likely due to bats seeking out areas burned by prescribed fire for better foraging opportunities and/or bats avoiding wildfire. We attribute the CHAR in guano being a better recorder of area burned during non‐winter months to winter bat hibernation. Our analyses show that charcoal preserved in bat guano is a reliable paleofire proxy system, which has important implications for the paleofire field and encourages future research using bat guano as a viable archive.
Two‐Streams Revisited: General Equations, Exact Coefficients, and Optimized Closures
Authors: Ho Dion J. X. , Pincus Robert
Published: October 2024

Two‐Stream Equations are the most parsimonious general models for radiative flux transfer with one equation to model each of upward and downward fluxes; these are coupled due to the transfer of fluxes between hemispheres. Standard two‐stream approximation of the Radiative Transfer Equation assumes that the ratios of flux transferred (coupling coefficients) are both invariant with optical depth and symmetric with respect to upwelling and downwelling radiation. Two‐stream closures are derived by making additional assumptions about the angular distribution of the intensity field, but none currently works well for all parts of the optical parameter space. We determine the exact values of the two‐stream coupling coefficients from multi‐stream numerical solutions to the Radiative Transfer Equation for shortwave radiation. The resulting unique coefficients accurately reconstruct entire flux profiles but depend on optical depth. More importantly, they generally take on unphysical values when symmetry is assumed. We derive a general form of the Two‐Stream Equations for which the four coupling coefficients are guaranteed to be physically explicable. While non‐constant coupling coefficients are required to reconstruct entire flux profiles, numerically optimized constant coupling coefficients (which admit analytic solutions) reproduced shortwave reflectance and transmittance with relative errors no greater than over a large range of optical parameters. The optimized coefficients show a dependence on solar zenith angle and total optical depth that diminishes as the latter increases. This explains why existing coupling coefficients, which often omit the former and mostly neglect the latter, tend to work well for only thin or only thick atmospheres.
Evolving understanding of autoimmune mechanisms and new therapeutic strategies of autoimmune disorders
Authors: Song Yi , Li Jian , Wu Yuzhang
Published: October 2024

Autoimmune disorders are characterized by aberrant T cell and B cell reactivity to the body’s own components, resulting in tissue destruction and organ dysfunction. Autoimmune diseases affect a wide range of people in many parts of the world and have become one of the major concerns in public health. In recent years, there have been substantial progress in our understanding of the epidemiology, risk factors, pathogenesis and mechanisms of autoimmune diseases. Current approved therapeutic interventions for autoimmune diseases are mainly non-specific immunomodulators and may cause broad immunosuppression that leads to serious adverse effects. To overcome the limitations of immunosuppressive drugs in treating autoimmune diseases, precise and target-specific strategies are urgently needed. To date, significant advances have been made in our understanding of the mechanisms of immune tolerance, offering a new avenue for developing antigen-specific immunotherapies for autoimmune diseases. These antigen-specific approaches have shown great potential in various preclinical animal models and recently been evaluated in clinical trials. This review describes the common epidemiology, clinical manifestation and mechanisms of autoimmune diseases, with a focus on typical autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and sjögren’s syndrome. We discuss the current therapeutics developed in this field, highlight the recent advances in the use of nanomaterials and mRNA vaccine techniques to induce antigen-specific immune tolerance.
Neoadjuvant toripalimab plus axitinib for clear cell renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus: NEOTAX, a phase 2 study
Authors: Gu Liangyou , Peng Cheng , Liang Qiyang , Huang Qingbo , Lv Deqiang , Zhao Houming , Zhang Qi , Zhang Yu , Zhang Peng , Li Shichao , Xu Junnan , Chen Luyao , Xie Yongpeng , Li Jinhang , Guo Gang , Zhang Xu , Wang Baojun , Ma Xin
Published: October 2024

The potential benefit of neoadjuvant toripalimab plus axitinib in cases with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and inferior vena cava tumor thrombus (IVC-TT) remains unclear. NEOTAX was a phase 2 study to investigate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant toripalimab plus axitinib in patients with ccRCC and IVC-TT (ChiCTR2000030405). The primary endpoint was the down-staging rate of IVC-TT level. Secondary endpoints included change in TT length, response rate, percentage change in surgical approach, surgical morbidity, progression-free survival (PFS), safety, and biomarker analyses. In all, 25 patients received study treatment, 44.0% (11/25) patients had a reduction in thrombus level, and none experienced an increase in Mayo level. The median change in tumor thrombus length was −2.3 cm (range: −7.1 to 1.1 cm). Overall, 61.9% (13/21) patients experienced changes in surgical strategy compared with planned surgery, three patients experienced major complications. The median PFS was 25.3 months (95% CI: 17.0-NE). The 1-year PFS was 89.1% (95% CI: 62.7–97.2). No any of grade 4 or 5 treatment-related adverse event was identified. Biopsy samples of non-responders exhibited increased T cytotoxic cell infiltration, but these cells were predominantly PD-1 positive. Biopsy samples of responders exhibited lower T helper cells, however, their subtype, regulatory T cells remained unchanged. In surgical samples of the TT, non-responders exhibited increased CD8T_01_GZMK_CXCR4 subset T cells. NEOTAX met preset endpoints proving that toripalimab in combination with axitinib downstages IVC-TT in a significant proportion of patients leading to simplification in the procedure of surgery.
Regulation of HNRNP family by post-translational modifications in cancer
Authors: Li Bohao , Wen Mingxin , Gao Fei , Wang Yunshan , Wei Guangwei , Duan Yangmiao
Published: October 2024

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (HNRNPs) represent a large family of RNA-binding proteins consisting of more than 20 members and have attracted great attention with their distinctive roles in cancer progression by regulating RNA splicing, transcription, and translation. Nevertheless, the cancer-specific modulation of HNRNPs has not been fully elucidated. The research of LC-MS/MS technology has documented that HNRNPs were widely and significantly targeted by different post-translational modifications (PTMs), which have emerged as core regulators in shaping protein functions and are involved in multiple physiological processes. Accumulating studies have highlighted that several PTMs are involved in the mechanisms of HNRNPs regulation in cancer and may be suitable therapeutic targets. In this review, we summarize the existing evidence describing how PTMs modulate HNRNPs functions on gene regulation and the involvement of their dysregulation in cancer, which will help shed insights on their clinical impacts as well as possible therapeutic tools targeting PTMs on HNRNPs.
Burst plasma preparation of metallic nanoparticles on carbon fabrics for antibacterial and electrocatalytic applications
Authors: Xu Guiyin , Meng Zheyi , Cao Yunteng , Tao Zixu , Li Qing-Jie , Stapelberg Myles , Han Bing , Gao Rui , Yu Qipeng , Gu Meng , Marelli Benedetto , Wang Hailiang , Zhu Meifang , Li Ju
Published: October 2024

Metal nanoparticles have extraordinary properties, but their integration into mesostructures has been challenging. Producing uniformly dispersed nanoparticles attached to substrates in industrial quantities is difficult. Herein, a “plasmashock” method was developed to synthesize metal nanoparticles anchored on different types of carbonaceous substrates using liquid salt solution precursors. These self-supporting, nanoparticle-loaded carbon fabrics are mechanically robust and have been tested as antibacterial substrates and electrocatalysts for reducing carbon dioxide and nitrite. A piece of silver–carbon nanotube paper with a silver loading of ~0.13 mg cm−2 treated after a few-second plasmashock presents good antibacterial and electrocatalytic properties in wastewater, even after 20 bactericidal immersion cycles, due to the strong bonding of the nanoparticles to the substrate. The results prove the effectiveness of this plasmashock method in creating free-standing functional composite films or membranes.
Adaptation of a methanogen to Fe0 corrosion via direct contact
Authors: Kawaichi Satoshi , Kotoky Rhitu , Fiutowski Jacek , Rotaru Amelia-Elena
Published: October 2024

Due to unique genomic adaptations, Methanococcus maripaludis Mic1c10 is highly corrosive when in direct contact with Fe0. A critical adaptation involves increased glycosylation of an extracellular [NiFe]-hydrogenase, facilitating its anchoring to cell surface proteins. Corrosive strains adapt to the constructed environment via horizontal gene transfer while retaining ancestral genes important for intraspecies competition and surface attachment. This calls for a reevaluation of how the built environment impacts methane cycling.
The impact of gravity on perceived object height
Authors: Jörges Björn , Bury Nils , McManus Meaghan , Bansal Ambika , Allison Robert S. , Jenkin Michael , Harris Laurence R.
Published: October 2024

Altering posture relative to the direction of gravity, or exposure to microgravity has been shown to affect many aspects of perception, including size perception. Our aims in this study were to investigate whether changes in posture and long-term exposure to microgravity bias the visual perception of object height and to test whether any such biases are accompanied by changes in precision. We also explored the possibility of sex/gender differences. Two cohorts of participants (12 astronauts and 20 controls, 50% women) varied the size of a virtual square in a simulated corridor until it was perceived to match a reference stick held in their hands. Astronauts performed the task before, twice during, and twice after an extended stay onboard the International Space Station. On Earth, they performed the task of sitting upright and lying supine. Earth-bound controls also completed the task five times with test sessions spaced similarly to the astronauts; to simulate the microgravity sessions on the ISS they lay supine. In contrast to earlier studies, we found no immediate effect of microgravity exposure on perceived object height. However, astronauts robustly underestimated the height of the square relative to the haptic reference and these estimates were significantly smaller 60 days or more after their return to Earth. No differences were found in the precision of the astronauts’ judgments. Controls underestimated the height of the square when supine relative to sitting in their first test session (simulating Pre-Flight) but not in later sessions. While these results are largely inconsistent with previous results in the literature, a posture-dependent effect of simulated eye height might provide a unifying explanation. We were unable to make any firm statements related to sex/gender differences. We conclude that no countermeasures are required to mitigate the acute effects of microgravity exposure on object height perception. However, space travelers should be warned about late-emerging and potentially long-lasting changes in this perceptual skill.
Tailoring the natural rare sugars D-tagatose and L-sorbose to produce novel functional carbohydrates
Authors: Hernandez-Hernandez Oswaldo , Sabater Carlos , Calvete-Torre Inés , Doyagüez Elisa G. , Muñoz-Labrador Ana M. , Julio-Gonzalez Cristina , de las Rivas Blanca , Muñoz Rosario , Ruiz Lorena , Margolles Abelardo , Mancheño José M. , Moreno F. Javier
Published: October 2024

This multidisciplinary study details the biosynthesis of novel non-digestible oligosaccharides derived from rare sugars, achieved through transfructosylation of D-tagatose and L-sorbose by levansucrase from Bacillus subtilis CECT 39 (SacB). The characterization of these carbohydrates using NMR and molecular docking was instrumental in elucidating the catalytic mechanism and substrate preference of SacB. Tagatose-based oligosaccharides were higher in abundance than L-sorbose-based oligosaccharides, with the most representative structures being: β-D-Fru-(2→6)-β-D-Fru-(2→1)-D-Tag and β-D-Fru-(2→1)-D-Tag. In vitro studies demonstrated the resistance of tagatose-based oligosaccharides to intestinal digestion and their prebiotic properties, providing insights into their structure-function relationship. β-D-Fru-(2→1)-D-Tag was the most resistant structure to small-intestinal digestion after three hours (99.8% remained unaltered). This disaccharide and the commercial FOS clustered in similar branches, indicating comparable modulatory properties on human fecal microbiota, and exerted a higher bifidogenic effect than unmodified tagatose. The bioconversion of selected rare sugars into β-fructosylated species with a higher degree of polymerization emerges as an efficient strategy to enhance the bioavailability of these carbohydrates and promote their interaction with the gut microbiota. These findings open up new opportunities for tailoring natural rare sugars, like D-tagatose and L-sorbose, to produce novel biosynthesized carbohydrates with functional and structural properties desirable for use as emerging prebiotics and low-calorie sweeteners.
Plateau depolarizations in spontaneously active neurons detected by calcium or voltage imaging
Authors: Milicevic Katarina D. , Ivanova Violetta O. , Lovic Darko D. , Platisa Jelena , Andjus Pavle R. , Antic Srdjan D.
Published: October 2024

In calcium imaging studies, Ca2+ transients are commonly interpreted as neuronal action potentials (APs). However, our findings demonstrate that robust optical Ca2+ transients primarily stem from complex “AP-Plateaus”, while simple APs lacking underlying depolarization envelopes produce much weaker photonic signatures. Under challenging in vivo conditions, these “AP-Plateaus” are likely to surpass noise levels, thus dominating the Ca2+ recordings. In spontaneously active neuronal culture, optical Ca2+ transients (OGB1-AM, GCaMP6f) exhibited approximately tenfold greater amplitude and twofold longer half-width compared to optical voltage transients (ArcLightD). The amplitude of the ArcLightD signal exhibited a strong correlation with the duration of the underlying membrane depolarization, and a weaker correlation with the presence of a fast sodium AP. Specifically, ArcLightD exhibited robust responsiveness to the slow “foot” but not the fast “trunk” of the neuronal AP. Particularly potent stimulators of optical signals in both Ca2+ and voltage imaging modalities were APs combined with plateau potentials (AP-Plateaus), resembling dendritic Ca2+ spikes or “UP states” in pyramidal neurons. Interestingly, even the spikeless plateaus (amplitude > 10 mV, duration > 200 ms) could generate conspicuous Ca2+ optical signals in neurons. Therefore, in certain circumstances, Ca2+ transients should not be interpreted solely as indicators of neuronal AP firing.
Longitudinal assessment of health-related quality of life in Japanese patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma receiving immune check point inhibitors
Authors: Miyake Makito , Nishimura Nobutaka , Oda Yuki , Miyamoto Tatsuki , Iida Kota , Tomizawa Mitsuru , Shimizu Takuto , Owari Takuya , Ohnishi Kenta , Hori Shunta , Morizawa Yosuke , Gotoh Daisuke , Nakai Yasushi , Torimoto Kazumasa , Fujii Tomomi , Tanaka Nobumichi , Fujimoto Kiyohide
Published: October 2024

Real-world data on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC) receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are limited. This study included 42 patients with aUC who received second-line or later pembrolizumab (n = 19), maintenance avelumab followed by first-line chemotherapy (n = 13), or adjuvant nivolumab after radical surgery (n = 10). Time-course changes in the domains and scales related to HRQoL were evaluated using the EORTC QLQ-C30, FACT-G, and SF-8 questionnaires during ICI therapy. Anchor-based approaches for minimally important differences were determined as ‘improved’, ‘stable’, and ‘deteriorated’. We found significant improvements after the start of pembrolizumab treatment on many scales. Almost none of the scales changed significantly in the avelumab and nivolumab groups. Approximately 80% of the pembrolizumab group had deteriorated social/family well-being in FACT-G. Approximately 60% of the patients in the avelumab group had deteriorated general health and vitality in SF-8. In the nivolumab group, none of the scales deteriorated in > 50% of the patients. Deterioration of physical function in the SF-8 was associated with occurrence of treatment-related adverse events ≥ grade 2 during ICI therapy (P = 0.013). Our findings demonstrated that majority of patients with aUC who received ICI therapy had a stable HRQoL, which was consistent with evidence from clinical trials.
Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation of various vasopressin doses and routes of administration in a neonatal piglet model
Authors: Ramsie Marwa , Cheung Po-Yin , O’Reilly Megan , Lee Tze-Fun , Schmölzer Georg M.
Published: October 2024

Epinephrine is the only recommended vasopressor during neonatal cardiopulmonary resuscitation. However, there are concerns about the potential adverse effects of epinephrine, which might hamper efficacy during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. An alternative might be vasopressin, which has a preferable adverse effect profile, however, its optimal dose and route of administration is unknown. We aimed to compare the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of various vasopressin doses administered via intravenous (IV), intraosseous (IO), endotracheal (ETT), and intranasal (IN) routes in healthy neonatal piglets. Forty-four post-transitional piglets (1–3 days of age) were anesthetized, intubated via a tracheostomy, and randomized to receive vasopressin via intravenous (control), IO, ETT, or IN route. Heart rate (HR), arterial blood pressure, carotid blood flow, and cardiac function (e.g., stroke volume, ejection fraction) were continuously recorded throughout the experiment. Blood was collected prior to drug administration and throughout the observation period for pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic analysis. Significant changes in hemodynamic parameters were observed following IO administration of vasopressin while pharmacokinetic parameters were not different between IV and IO vasopressin. Administration of vasopressin via ETT or IN did not change hemodynamic parameters and had significantly lower maximum plasma concentrations and systemic absorption compared to piglets administered IV vasopressin (p < 0.05). The IV and IO routes appear the most effective for vasopressin administration in neonatal piglets, while the ETT and IN routes appear unsuitable for vasopressin administration.
The discovery of a fossil whitefly from Lower Lusatia (Germany) presents a challenge to current ideas about Baltic amber
Authors: Drohojowska Jowita , Zmarzły Marzena , Szwedo Jacek
Published: October 2024

The whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) are small sternorrhynchan insects, which have the potential to cause significant economic damage to agricultural crops. There is a paucity of knowledge regarding the diversity, disparity, and evolutionary history of these insects, with classification based on the immatures, called puparia. The fossil record of whiteflies is sparse and incomplete, with the majority of fossils representing imaginal forms preserved as inclusions in fossilized resins. In this study, we present the first inclusion in succinite associated with the layers of Lower/Middle Miocene 2nd Lusatian Lignite Seam of Wanninchen in Brandenburg, Germany. The objective of the present study is to elaborate this fossil, and as a consequence, a new fossil genus and species, Pudrica christianottoi  gen. et sp. nov., is described. This fossil is a representative of the subfamily Aleyrodinae, and it is the third fossil genus of this whitefly subfamily to be described. The discovery of the fossil inclusion in the succinite from the lignite deposits of Lower Lusatia challenges the current understanding of the character and conditions of formation and deposition of central and east European Paleogene fossil resins. Succinite is a fossil resin that occurs in the Eocene deposits of the Gulf of Gdańsk, belonging to the Prussian Formation, containing a glauconite-rich horizon known as the ‘Blue Earth’. Similarly, glauconite-rich deposits are present in the Lublin area of Poland, where they are associated with the occurrence of succinite. Additionally, succinite has been found in deposits in the Rovno-Zhitomir area of Ukraine, which are alluvial deposits containing glauconite and lignite layers. Succinite was also identified in Eocene strata of Spitsbergen and in Axel Heiberg Island in the Canadian Arctic. Succinite has also been discovered in early Miocene deposits in Bitterfeld, Germany, where it occurs alongside lignite deposits (the deposit actually encompasses different fossil resins, so potentially originating from different source plants). Furthermore, it has been identified in younger (Pleistocene) deposits across Europe. The autochthonous (parautochthonous) character of the lignite deposits in Lower Lusatia raises questions regarding the time range of the succinite-producing gymnosperm trees and the autochthonous or allochthonous character of the lignite layers associated fossilized resins.
Preselection of potential target spaces based on partial information by the supplementary eye field
Authors: Yokoyama Osamu , Nishimura Yukio
Published: October 2024

Before selecting a saccadic target, we often acquire partial information about the location of the forthcoming target and preselect a region of visual space even before the target becomes visible. To determine whether the supplementary eye field (SEF) represents information signifying the potential target space, we examined neuronal activity in the SEF of monkeys performing a behavioral task designed to isolate the process of visuospatial preselection under uncertainty from the process of selecting a specified location. Our data showed that the activity of SEF neurons represented information about the potential target space instructed by symbolic cues. Increased activity of visuospatially selective SEF neurons encoded the potential target space, which could be a mechanism facilitating subsequent selection of an appropriate target. Furthermore, electrical stimulation of the SEF during the preselection period disrupted subsequent target selection. These results demonstrate that the SEF contributes to the preselection of potential target spaces based on partial information.
Super-resolved analysis of colocalization between replication and transcription along the cell cycle in a model of oncogene activation
Authors: Privitera Anna Provvidenza , Scalisi Silvia , Paternò Greta , Cerutti Elena , D’Amico Morgana , Pelicci Pier Giuseppe , Faretta Mario , Dellino Gaetano Ivan , Diaspro Alberto , Lanzanò Luca
Published: October 2024

To understand how oncogenes affect genome organization, it is essential to visualize fundamental processes such as DNA replication and transcription at high resolution in intact cells. At the same time, it is important to determine the progression of the cell along the cell cycle, as cell cycle regulation is crucial for the control of cell proliferation and oncogenesis. Here, we present a super-resolution imaging-based method to analyze single cell nuclei sorted according to specific phases of the cell cycle. The sorting is based on the evaluation of the number and the intensity of pixels in the replication foci image and the colocalization analysis is based on image cross-correlation spectroscopy (ICCS). We evaluate the colocalization between replication and transcription, at different cell cycle phases, in a model of PML-RARα oncogene activation. We find that colocalization between replication and transcription is higher in cells in early S phase compared to cells in middle and late S phase. When we turn on the PML-RARα oncogene, this colocalization pattern is preserved but we detect an increase of colocalization between replication and transcription in the early S phase which points to an effect of the PML-RARα oncogene on the coordination between replication and transcription.
Digital twin simulation modelling shows that mass testing and local lockdowns effectively controlled COVID-19 in Denmark
Authors: Græsbøll Kaare , Eriksen Rasmus Skytte , Kirkeby Carsten , Christiansen Lasse Engbo
Published: October 2024

Background

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to evaluate different mitigation strategies for future preparedness. Mass testing and local lockdowns were employed during the Alpha wave in Denmark, which led to ten times more tests than the typical European member state and incidence-based restrictions at the parish level. This study aims to quantify the effects of these interventions in terms of hospital admissions and societal freedom.

Methods

This study assesses the effectiveness of these strategies via counterfactual scenarios using a detailed, individual-based simulation model that replicates the entire Danish population. The model considers multiple factors, including evolving societal restrictions, vaccination roll-out, seasonal influences, and varying intensities of PCR and antigen testing across different age groups and degree of completed vaccination. It also integrates adaptive human behavior in response to changes in incidences at the municipality and parish levels.

Results

The simulations show, that without mass testing in Denmark, there would have been a 150% increase in hospital admissions, and additional local lockdowns equivalent to 21 days of strict national lockdown. Without the policy of local lockdowns, hospitalizations would have increased by 50%.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the combination of mass testing and local lockdowns likely prevented a large increase in hospitalizations while increasing overall societal freedom during the Alpha wave in Denmark. In future epidemics, mass testing and local lockdowns can likely prevent overwhelming healthcare systems in phases of high transmission and hospitalization risks.
CaGA nanozymes with multienzyme activity realize multifunctional repair of acute wounds by alleviating oxidative stress and inhibiting cell apoptosis
Authors: Chen Zenghong , Zhao Xinyu , Lin Liting , Cui Yuyu , Cao Dongsheng , Chen Xu-Lin , Wang Xianwen
Published: October 2024

(A) Schematic of the synthesis of CaGA nanozymes. (B) Schematic diagram of the treatment of acute wounds.
Functional nanochaperones for PEGylated insulin delivery in long-term glycemic control
Authors: Wu Xiaohui , Zhang Yanli , Song Shuoshuo , Liu Sainan , Ma Feihe , Ma Rujiang , Shi Linqi
Published: October 2024

A novel strategy developed by combining PEGylated insulin with nanochaperone carriers to enhance insulin bioavailability for long-term glucose management.
Recyclable copper(i)-catalyzed cascade C–S and C–N bond formation between 2-iodoanilines and 2-bromobenzenethiols towards functionalized phenothiazines
Authors: Wang Yan , Luo Chengkai , Wei Li , Cai Mingzhong
Published: October 2024

Heterogeneous copper-catalyzed heterocyclization between 2-iodoanilines and 2-bromothiophenols has been developed for the assembly of substituted phenothiazines.
Computer vision enabled high-quality electrochemical experimentation
Authors: Okubo Keiichi , Thik Jaydeep , Yamaguchi Tomoya , Ling Chen
Published: October 2024

We have developed a convolutional neural network-based method that utilizes microscopic images of prepared electrodes to directly assess sample quality. This method paves the way towards high-quality, automated electrochemical experimentation.
Synergistic force of green-synthesized zero-valent iron nanocomposites combined with different fertilizers for inhibiting cadmium accumulation in wheat
Authors: Peng Lei , Liu Yinglin , Xu Nan , Feng Yifei , Xiong Jilong , Wang Xuelian , Jiang Wenxin , Jin Jin
Published: October 2024

A sustainable approach for agricultural production using green-synthesized nano-amendments together with fertilizer management synergistically inhibited Cd accumulation in wheat.
DNAsome with self-boosting ROS generation via tumour acidosis for enhanced and targeted chemodynamic cancer therapy
Authors: Raj Gowtham , Prasad Justin , Ghosh Tamraparni , D. S. Vasudev , V. B. Athul , Kalita Joyraj , Kumar Devu B. , Varghese Reji
Published: October 2024

A CDT nanoagent loaded with a pH regulator for the improvement of CDT action by decreasing the pH at the TME for targeted cancer therapy is reported.
Introduction to ‘Conducting ceramic membranes for energy conversion and storage’
Authors: Brinkman Kyle , Chen Fanglin (Frank) , Ding Dong , Zhou Xiao-Dong
Published: October 2024

Kyle Brinkman, Frank Chen, Dong Ding and Xiao-Dong Zhou introduce the Materials Advances themed collection on conducting ceramic membranes for energy conversion and storage.
Optical, magnetic, and transport properties of two-dimensional III-nitride semiconductors (AlN, GaN, and InN) due to acoustic phonon scattering
Authors: Dan Ho Kim , Vinh Pham Tuan , Hien Nguyen Dinh
Published: October 2024

The magneto-optical transport properties of III-nitride Pöschl–Teller quantum well semiconductors due to acoustic phonon scattering are more dominant than those of the square QW ones.
Highly selective recognition of fluoride using a trapezoidal cage
Authors: Wu Ruiye , Mao Caihong , Ruan Feiying , Cai Yan , Hu Xiaobo
Published: October 2024

By forming 1 : 2 receptor–anion complexes, extremely high selectivity (S > 1000) for F− is achieved in highly competitive environments.
Photochromism-induced multi-mode optical modulations and fluorescent temperature sensing in Sr/Er-codoped (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3 ceramics
Authors: Yu Fangyuan , Lin Qifa , Zeng Xiangfu , Zhou Ping , Wu Xiao , Lin Cong , Zhao Chunlin , Gao Min , Lin Tengfei , Jiang Xingan , Luo Laihui , Zhang Qiwei
Published: October 2024

Sr/Er was codoped in KNN ceramics to induce the coexistence of O and T phases, resulting in improving optical transparency, maintaining moderate ferroelectricity, inducing excellent PC behavior and fluorescence temperature sensing performance.
Highly defective and conductive Cu-doped 1T/2H-MoS2 nanosheets as high-capacity cathode materials for enhanced magnesium-ion storage
Authors: Xu Ao , Liu Yan , Wang Jiahui , Wang Yijing , Jiang Fuyi , Zhou Yanli
Published: October 2024

Limited by the poor electronic conductivity and strong interaction between Mg2+ and MoS2, the 2H phase of MoS2 as a cathode material exhibits low capacity and poor rate capability.