bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shrinking body size and climate warming: Many freshwater salmonids do not follow the rule
Authors: Solokas Mary A. , Feiner Zachary S. , Al‐Chokachy Robert , Budy Phaedra , DeWeber J. Tyrell , Sarvala Jouko , Sass Greg G. , Tolentino Scott A. , Walsworth Timothy E. , Jensen Olaf P.
Published: February 2023

Declining body size is believed to be a universal response to climate warming and has been documented in numerous studies of marine and anadromous fishes. The Salmonidae are a family of coldwater fishes considered to be among the most sensitive species to climate warming; however, whether the shrinking body size response holds true for freshwater salmonids has yet to be examined at a broad spatial scale. We compiled observations of individual fish lengths from long‐term surveys across the Northern Hemisphere for 12 species of freshwater salmonids and used linear mixed models to test for spatial and temporal trends in body size (fish length) spanning recent decades. Contrary to expectations, we found a significant increase in length overall but with high variability in trends among populations and species. More than two‐thirds of the populations we examined increased in length over time. Secondary regressions revealed larger‐bodied populations are experiencing greater increases in length than smaller‐bodied populations. Mean water temperature was weakly predictive of changes in body length but overall minimal influences of environmental variables suggest that it is difficult to predict an organism's response to changing temperatures by solely looking at climatic factors. Our results suggest that declining body size is not universal, and the response of fishes to climate change may be largely influenced by local factors. It is important to know that we cannot assume the effects of climate change are predictable and negative at a large spatial scale.
Mechanism of improving the mechanical properties of Si3N4/TiC ceramic tool materials prepared by spark plasma sintering
Authors: Mu Xiaoyu , Chen Zhaoqiang , Zhang Shuai , Chen Hui , Xiao Guangchun , Yi Mingdong , Zhang Jingjie , Zhou Tingting , Xu Chonghai
Published: February 2023

Spark plasma sintering (SPS) is a new sintering method having shorter sintering time and higher densification speed than the traditional sintering methods. In this paper, the Si3N4/TiC ceramic tool material is sintered by SPS. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the material under different sintering parameters are compared. The sintering process of the material is then analyzed, and the best sintering parameters are obtained. Heat the material to 1600°C and keep the temperature for 15 min, then continue to heat to 1700°C and keep the temperature for 10 min, Si3N4/TiC ceramic tool material has high mechanical properties, its bending strength, fracture toughness, and Vickers hardness are 959 MPa, 8.61 MPa·m1/2, and 15.21 GPa, respectively. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis shows that under this condition, the sintering additives and Si3N4/TiC material form the liquid phase, which makes the Si3N4 particles rearrange, dissolve, precipitate, and transform into rod shape β‐Si3N4. In addition, under the action of pulse current and external pressure, electric sparks are generated between TiC particles, which allows the material transfer and particle refinement. Therefore, the β‐Si3N4 has uniform grain size, and it is vertically and horizontally arranged in the structure, which makes the material have excellent mechanical properties.
Evaluación de las prácticas de trabajo decente en las empresas. Análisis de las metodologías de calificación ambiental, social y de gobernanza
Authors: LOUCHE Céline , DELAUTRE Guillaume , BALVEDI PIMENTEL Gabriela
Published: February 2023

Las agencias de calificación ambiental, social y de gobernanza (ASG) han adquirido una función preeminente en el ámbito de la inversión responsable como proveedoras de datos no financieros. La bibliografía anterior sobre la construcción de métricas ASG no esclarece los procedimientos de las agencias para evaluar el trabajo decente. A partir del análisis de seis agencias de calificación, los autores investigan cómo se miden y evalúan los resultados empresariales en la dimensión de trabajo decente, señalando las dificultades conexas. El objetivo es determinar en qué medida la inversión responsable y las calificaciones ASG contribuyen a promover y a mejorar el trabajo decente en las empresas.
The effect of nirmatrelvir‐ritonavir on viral clearance and length of hospital stay in patients infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 omicron variants
Authors: Wang Yu , Zhao Danyang , Chen Xubo , Liu Xinbing , Xiao Wenying , Feng Liuliu
Published: February 2023

Background

The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has caused heavy burdens on national healthcare systems. Nirmatrelvir‐ritonavir (Paxlovid) may be one of the most promising therapeutic drugs, with reports of up to 89% reduction rates in hospitalization risk and death among patients with mild‐to‐moderate COVID‐19 who are at risk of developing severe disease. However, limited studies have investigated the effects of this class of drugs on viral clearance and length of hospital stay.

Methods

In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the characteristics of patients infected with the Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) and investigated the effects of oral nirmatrelvir‐ritonavir on viral clearance and length of hospital stay in mild‐to‐moderate COVID‐19 patients at high risk for progression to severe disease.

Results

The median SARS‐CoV‐2 negative conversion time was 16 (13–20) versus 13 (10–16) days (control group versus nirmatrelvir‐ritonavir group, p < 0.001), the median length of hospital stay was 13 (10–16) versus 12 (13–14) days (control group versus nirmatrelvir‐ritonavir group, p = 0.01), and the SARS‐CoV‐2 negative conversion time and length of hospital stay were significantly shorter in the nirmatrelvir‐ritonavir group than in the control group. When controlling for hypertension, chronic kidney disease, severity status of COVID‐19, use of antibiotic agent, and COVID‐19 vaccine received, multiple stepwise linear regression analysis showed that nirmatrelvir‐ritonavir treatment was negatively associated with the SARS‐CoV‐2 negative conversion time and length of hospital stay.

Conclusion

Nirmatrelvir‐ritonavir reduces the viral clearance time and length of hospital stay in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19. Nirmatrelvir‐ritonavir might be a promising drug to reduce the virus load and the heavy burden of healthcare systems.
Alpha‐ketoglutarate up‐regulates autophagic activity in peri‐implant environment and enhances dental implant osseointegration in osteoporotic mice
Authors: Liu Ruojing , Gao Yi , Huang Li , Shi Bing , Yin Xing , Zou Shujuan
Published: February 2023

Aim

The osseointegration of dental implants is impaired in patients with osteoporosis, leading to significantly higher failure rates. This study set out to investigate the potential effects of alpha‐ketoglutarate (α‐KG) on implant osseointegration in an osteoporotic mouse model.

Materials and Methods

Female C57BL/6 mice received ovariectomy and bilateral first maxillary molar extraction at the age of 7 weeks. Dental implants were inserted 8 weeks after tooth extraction. In one of the groups, α‐KG was administered via drinking water throughout the experimental period. Specimens were collected on post‐implant days (PIDs) 3, 7, 14, and 21 for micro‐CT, histological, and immunohistochemical analyses. At the same time, bone‐marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) treated with α‐KG were interrogated for osteogenic differentiation, autophagic activity, and apoptosis.

Results

α‐KG supplementation in drinking water resulted in enhanced dental implant osseointegration in ovariectomized mice, with up‐regulated osteogenic and autophagic activity and down‐regulated osteoclast differentiation and cell apoptosis. α‐KG‐treated BMMSCs showed enhanced activity in proliferation, survival, colony formation, and osteogenic differentiation, as well as autophagic activity.

Conclusions

Systemic α‐KG supplementation effectively prevents the failure of dental implant osseointegration in mice under an osteoporotic state.
Association between the quality of plant‐based diets and periodontitis in the U.S. general population
Authors: Li An , Qiu Bingjiang , Goettsch Marjolein , Chen Yuntao , Ge Shaohua , Xu Shulan , Tjakkes Geerten‐Has E.
Published: February 2023

Aim

To investigate the relationship between plant‐based diet indices (PDIs) and periodontitis and serum IgG antibodies against periodontopathogens in the U.S. population.

Materials and Methods

We analysed cross‐sectional data on 5651 participants ≥40 years of age from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Food frequency questionnaire data were used to calculate the overall PDI, healthy plant‐based diet index (hPDI), and unhealthy plant‐based diet index (uPDI). Periodontitis was defined using a half‐reduced Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and American Academy of Periodontology case definition. Serum antibodies against 19 periodontopathogens were used to classify the population into two subgroups using hierarchical clustering. Survey‐weighted multivariable logistic regressions were applied to assess the associations of PDI/hPDI/uPDI z‐scores with periodontitis and hierarchical clusters after adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

A total of 2841 (50.3%) participants were defined as having moderate/severe periodontitis. The overall PDI z‐score was not significantly associated with the clinical and bacterial markers of periodontitis. By considering the healthiness of plant foods, we observed an inverse association between hPDI z‐score and periodontitis (odds ratio [OR] = 0.925, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.860–0.995). In contrast, higher uPDI z‐score (adherence to unhealthful plant foods) might increase the risk of periodontitis (OR = 1.100; 95% CI: 1.043–1.161). Regarding antibodies against periodontopathogens, the participants in cluster 2 had higher periodontal antibodies than those in cluster 1. The hPDI z‐score was positively associated with cluster 2 (OR = 1.192; 95% CI: 1.112–1.278). In contrast, an inverse association between uPDI z‐score and cluster 2 was found (OR = 0.834; 95% CI: 0.775–0.896).

Conclusions

Plant‐based diets were associated with periodontitis, depending on their quality. A healthy plant‐based diet was inversely related to an increased risk of periodontitis but positively related to elevated antibody levels against periodontopathogens. For an unhealthy plant‐based diet, the opposite trends were observed.
Risk of fetal undergrowth in the management of gestational diabetes mellitus in Japan
Authors: Kawasaki Maki , Arata Naoko , Sugiyama Takashi , Moriya Tatsumi , Itakura Atsuo , Yasuhi Ichiro , Uchigata Yasuko , Kawasaki Eiji , Sone Hirohito , Hiramatsu Yuji ,   DREAMBee study gestational diabetes mellitus group
Published: February 2023

Aims/Introduction

In Japan, the increasing frequency of underweight among women of reproductive age and the accompanying increase in the rate of low birth weight (LBW) are social issues. The study aimed to establish a prospective registry system for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Japan and to clarify the actual status of GDM according to the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) criteria.

Materials and Methods

Pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus and those in the normal glucose tolerance (NGT) group were enrolled in the Diabetes and Pregnancy Outcome for Mother and Baby study from October 2015. Pregnant women with positive glucose screening in early and mid‐to‐late pregnancy underwent a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test by gestational week 32. Gestational diabetes mellitus was diagnosed according to IADPSG criteria. Women with a positive glucose screening test at mid‐to‐late pregnancy but NGT were enrolled as references (NGT group). Treatment for gestational diabetes mellitus and maternal and neonatal pregnancy data were prospectively collected on outcomes.

Results

In total 1,795 singleton pregnancies (878 women with GDM and 824 NGT women) were analyzed. The risk of LBW and small‐for‐gestational age in the GDM group was significantly higher than in the NGT group. A similar relationship was found for LBW risk in the non‐overweight/obese group but not in the overweight/obese group.

Conclusions

We established a prospective GDM registry system in Japan. In the management of GDM in Japan, suppression of maternal weight gain may be associated with reduced fetal growth, especially in non‐overweight/obese women with GDM; however, further investigation is required.
Insights of Parents and Parents‐To‐Be in Using Chatbots to Improve Their Preconception, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Health: A Mixed Studies Review
Authors: Chua Joelle Yan Xin , Choolani Mahesh , Chee Cornelia Yin Ing , Chan Yiong Huak , Lalor Joan Gabrielle , Chong Yap Seng , Shorey Shefaly
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Chatbots, which are also known as conversational or virtual agents, are digital programs that can interact with humans using voice, text, or animation. They have shown promise in providing preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum care. This review aims to consolidate the insights of parents and parents‐to‐be in using chatbots to improve their preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum health.

Methods

Seven electronic databases were searched from their inception dates until April 2022 (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global) for relevant studies. English language primary studies that were conducted on parents or parents‐to‐be aged ≥18 years old who had undergone interventions involving the use of any type of chatbot were included in this review. The quality of included studies was appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. A convergent qualitative synthesis design for mixed studies reviews was used to synthesize the findings, and results were thematically analyzed.

Results

Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria: quantitative (n = 11), qualitative (n = 1), and mixed method (n = 3). Three main themes were identified: (1) welcoming a new health resource, (2) obstacles blocking the way, and (3) moving toward a digital health era.

Discussion

Parents and parents‐to‐be appreciated the informational, socioemotional, and psychological support provided by chatbots. Recommendations for technological improvements in the functionality of the chatbots were made that include training sessions for health care providers to familiarize them with this new digital technology. Multidisciplinary chatbot development teams could also be established to develop more comprehensive chatbot‐delivered health programs for more diverse populations.
Retrospective study of ovarian reaction and fertility in women with discordant antimullerian hormone and follicle‐stimulating hormone/luteinizing hormone ratios during in vitro fertilization
Authors: Wang Jingjing , Lv Yuzhen , Wang XingLing , Zhu Guangli , Zhao Fang
Published: February 2023

Objective

The objective of this study was to examine the predictive ability of follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH)/luteinizing hormone (LH) ratio and antimullerian hormone (AMH) levels in the same cohort when both are inconsistent and to identify which has an excellent ability to predict live birth and ovarian response to in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed within 6096 IVF cycles executed between January 2016 and August 2019 at the Center for Assisted Reproduction, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, and Jiaozuo Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital. Initially, IVF cycles were classified according to basal FSH/LH ratio and AMH values, and the primary outcome was a comparison of live birth rate per cohort. Secondary outcomes included characteristics of the study individuals such as body mass index (BMI), age, antral follicle count, ovarian sensitivity index, cycle cancellation rate, and cycle outcome data.

Result(s)

Women with FSH/LHhigh ratio and AMHnormal levels had a meaningly higher live birth rate compared with those with FSH/LHnormal ratio and AMHlow levels (46.59% vs. 21.21%, p < 0.001). In addition, women with FSH/LHnormal ratio and AMHlow levels were found to have a higher cancellation rate in their IVF cycles (80.98%). In women with FSH/LHnormal ratio, further multivariate analysis revealed that AMH level, age, number of retrieved oocytes, and FSH dosage were relevant risk factors for live birth. The relative risk of live birth was 0.11 (95% [CI] 0.06–0.20, p < 0.001) in patients with AMHlow compared with patients with AMHnormal. It also suggested that the probability of AMHlow level may be higher as the women's age (≥35 years, odd ratio [OR] 1.94, 95% [CI] 1.44–2.61; p < 0.001) and increasing BMI (≥28 kg/m2, OR 2.38, 95% [CI] 1.33–4.27; p = 0.004). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that AMH had higher sensitivity and specificity to predict live birth compared with FSH/LH (AUC 0.627 vs. 0.539).

Conclusion(s)

AMH levels can be an excellent predictor of the discrepancy between FSH/LH ratio and AMH levels regarding living birth rates in women undergoing IVF.
Publicly housed Black mothers' experiences of structural racism in their everyday lives
Authors: Letiecq Bethany L. , Williams Joseph M. , Vesely Colleen K. , Lee Jocelyn Smith
Published: February 2023

Objective

Drawing upon critical race and feminist theories, the objective of this qualitative study was to understand, through Black mothers' narratives, how structural racism operates within a public housing system located on the outskirts of Washington, D.C.

Background

Structural racism has been identified as a root cause of racialized housing segregation, concentrated poverty, and health inequity—factors that disproportionately affect Black mother‐headed families living in public housing. Yet, more research is needed to delineate the underlying mechanisms of structural racism at play in public housing systems.

Method

Using a community‐based participatory action research (CBPAR) approach, the research team partnered with public housing residents and staff of a non‐profit organization to guide the study. From 2017 to 2019, community partners co‐developed the research protocol, recruited participants for in‐depth interviews (N = 15), and assisted with data analysis, interpretation, and local dissemination of findings.

Results

Black mothers' narratives depicted in detail the structural manifestations of racism perpetuated in public housing systems, including: (a) systemic neglect; (b) economic oppression; (c) eviction threat; and (d) community surveillance. Findings suggest that structural racism is enacted and enforced by many dispersed agents of power, including street‐level bureaucrats (e.g., caseworkers and maintenance workers) and White and wealthier neighbors.

Conclusion

Critical perspectives and community‐driven research approaches can deepen understanding of how structural racism and institutional power relations operate to reproduce Black family marginalization within complex social systems like public housing. Directions for future research are discussed.
Depression with obstructive sleep apnea lead to high cardiovascular disease morbidity/all‐cause mortality: Findings from the SHHS cohort
Authors: Liu Hui , Peng Wanda , Zhou Lin , Shen Yi , Xu Bin , Xie Jun , Cai Tingting , Zhou Jun , Li Chong
Published: February 2023

The aim of this study is to explore the association between depression and obstructive sleep apnea, and cardiovascular disease morbidity/all‐cause mortality using Sleep Heart Health Study data. This post hoc analysis of a prospective study used patient data from the Sleep Heart Health Study conducted between 1995 and 1998. The association between depression and obstructive sleep apnea, and cardiovascular disease morbidity/all‐cause mortality was explored using multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. A total of 4918 participants, 656 (13.3%) with obstructive sleep apnea (obstructive sleep apnea group), 1614 (32.8%) with depression (depression group), 482 (9.8%) with depression and obstructive sleep apnea (depression and obstructive sleep apnea group), and 2166 (44%) with neither obstructive sleep apnea nor depression (health group), were included. The incidence of cardiovascular disease was 24.5%, 31.0%, 31.6% and 41.7% for healthy, depression, obstructive sleep apnea, and depression and obstructive sleep apnea groups, respectively. The risk of cardiovascular disease in depression and obstructive sleep apnea participants was increased compared with that in healthy participants, which was consistent across various definitions of obstructive sleep apnea (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.24 [1.06–1.47]; 1.25 [1.05–1.49]; 1.28 [1.06–1.54]; 1.55 [1.22–1.96] for apnea–hypopnea index ≥ 10 per hr, 15 per hr, 20 per hr, 30 per hr, respectively). The risk of all‐cause mortality was increased in the depression and obstructive sleep apnea participants (hazard ratio: 1.46; 95% confidence interval: 1.07–1.99) compared with that in healthy participants when the definition of obstructive sleep apnea was apnea–hypopnea index ≥ 30. Participants with depression and obstructive sleep apnea might be at a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, and those with higher apnea–hypopnea index might be at a greater risk of all‐cause mortality.
CLASSIC Utterance Boundary: A Chunking‐Based Model of Early Naturalistic Word Segmentation
Authors: Cabiddu Francesco , Bott Lewis , Jones Gary , Gambi Chiara
Published: February 2023

Word segmentation is a crucial step in children's vocabulary learning. While computational models of word segmentation can capture infants’ performance in small‐scale artificial tasks, the examination of early word segmentation in naturalistic settings has been limited by the lack of measures that can relate models’ performance to developmental data. Here, we extended CLASSIC (Chunking Lexical and Sublexical Sequences in Children; Jones et al., 2021), a corpus‐trained chunking model that can simulate several memory and phonological and vocabulary learning phenomena to allow it to perform word segmentation using utterance boundary information, and we have named this extended version CLASSIC utterance boundary (CLASSIC‐UB). Further, we compared our model to the performance of children on a wide range of new measures, capitalizing on the link between word segmentation and vocabulary learning abilities. We showed that the combination of chunking and utterance‐boundary information used by CLASSIC utterance boundary allowed a better prediction of English‐learning children's output vocabulary than did other models.
Imagining God
Authors: Wolfe Judith
Published: February 2023

This article interrogates the role of the human imagination in ordinary perception and orientation, in encounters with art, and in practices of faith. Philosophers and psychologists have long argued that perception is irreducibly imaginative, in the sense that to perceive intelligibly is, in part, to integrate sensory data into forms or wholes that are not simply given. The ability to do this is what continental philosophy calls ‘the imagination’, and the imagination in this sense is central to how humans apprehend and orient themselves in the world. This centrality introduces an element of risk into all human apprehension of the world, other people, and the divine, which cannot be overcome by spiritual or epistemological safeguards. Rather, such risk is inalienable, not least to a life of faith. The article discusses ways to understand and engage this dynamic, especially through theological encounters with art.
Comparing ocular biometry and autorefraction measurements from the Myopia Master with the IOLMaster 700 and the Huvitz HRK‐8000A autorefractor
Authors: Pedersen Hilde R. , Svarverud Ellen , Hagen Lene A. , Gilson Stuart J. , Baraas Rigmor C.
Published: February 2023

Purpose

To compare axial length (AL) and corneal radius (CR) measured with the Oculus Myopia Master and the Zeiss IOLMaster 700, and cycloplegic refractive error measured with the Myopia Master and the Huvitz Auto Ref/Keratometer (HRK‐8000A).

Methods

The study included both eyes of 74 participants (16 male), with a mean (SD) age of 22.8 (3.7) years. The parameters indicated were measured under cycloplegia with these instruments: Myopia Master (AL, CR and refractive error), IOLMaster 700 (AL and CR) and HRK‐8000A (refractive error and CR). Bland–Altman plots with mixed effects 95% limits of agreement (LoA) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were used to assess the agreement in ocular biometry between the Myopia Master and the IOLMaster 700, and for refractive error between the Myopia Master and the HRK‐8000A.

Results

The analysis included 139 eyes, of which 52 were myopic (spherical equivalent refractive error, SER ≤ −0.50 D), 32 emmetropic and 55 hyperopic (SER ≥ 0.50 D). The 95% LoA for AL between the Myopia Master and IOLMaster 700 was −0.097 to 0.089 mm. There was no mean difference in AL [mean (SD) = −0.004 (0.047) mm, p = 0.34]. There was a significant difference in mean CR, with that measured with the Myopia Master being flatter than that found with the IOLMaster 700 [0.035 (0.028) mm, p < 0.001]. The 95% LoA for CR was −0.02 to 0.09 mm. Compared with HRK‐8000A, the Myopia Master measured a significantly more negative SER [−0.19 (0.33) D, p < 0.001], with 95% LoA of −0.86 to 0.46 D.

Conclusion

The LoA for measurements of SER, CR and AL when comparing the Myopia Master with the HRK‐8000A and the IOLMaster 700 were wider than deemed acceptable for making direct comparisons. This indicates that the instruments cannot be used interchangeably in clinical practice or research.
Strategic types, implementation, and capabilities: Sustainability policies of local governments
Authors: Lee Heewon
Published: February 2023

The success of strategic plans is dependent on strategy implementation, yet little research has been conducted on strategy implementation relative to the strategy formulation stage. This article casts research questions on how organizational capabilities and resources affect strategy implementation, and how the implementation differs by strategic type. To address the climate change problem, local governments mobilize and allocate capabilities and resources and implement policy actions. Utilizing Miles and Snow's strategic typology, the article examines the factors for variation in implementation patterns among cities, with some implementing policies as “defenders” and others as “prospectors” across multiple policy domains. Analysis of energy policy action data from US cities reveals the distinct capabilities and resources required for the implementation of each strategic type.
Blue Light Inhibits Proliferation of Metastatic Cancer Cells by Regulating Translational Initiation: A Synergistic Property with Anticancer Drugs
Authors: Oh Phil‐Sun , Kim Eun‐Mi , Boud Fatima , Lim SeokTae , Jeong Hwan‐Jeong
Published: February 2023

The aim of this study was to examine the inhibitory effect of blue light (BL) on the proliferation of metastatic cancer cells and synergistic properties with chemo‐drugs. BL significantly inhibited the proliferation of B cell lymphoma (A20 and RAMOS) cells in a dose‐dependent manner. Anti‐proliferative effect of BL irradiation was identified to be associated with the inhibition of proliferating‐cell nuclear antigen expression and cell cycle by decreasing S‐phase cells. Consistent with its inhibitory effects, BL irradiation at 20 J/cm2 daily for 10 days inhibited metastasis of cancer cells which were distributed and invaded to other organs including bone marrow, liver, kidney, etc., and induced paraplegia, thereby leading to an increased survival rate of tumor‐bearing mice. Anti‐proliferative activity of BL was expanded in solid tumor cells including pancreatic carcinoma (Mia PaCa‐2, PANC‐1), lung carcinoma A549 and colorectal carcinoma HCT116 cells. Additionally, combination with chemo‐drugs such as 5‐FU and gemcitabine resulted in an increase in the anti‐proliferative activity after BL irradiation accompanied by regulating mRNA translational process via inhibition of p70S6K, 4EBP‐1 and eIF4E phosphorylation during cellular proliferation. These results indicate the anti‐metastatic and photo‐biogoverning abilities of BL irradiation as a potent therapeutic potential for repressing the progression of tumor cells.
Common milkweed seeds exhibit latitudinal clines more consistent with adaptation to growing season length than temperature
Authors: Mohl Emily K. , McCall Andrew C. , Wood Madelyn , Sherman Lauren , Reid Mari V. , Saunders Patricia A. , Scanga Sara E. , Danielson Clara , Fisher‐Reid M. Caitlin , Marella Heather , Garneau Danielle E. , Stack Whitney Kaitlin , Cipollini Kendra , Styrsky Jennifer Nesbitt , Styrsky John D. , Rasmussen Spencer , Hopfensperger Kristine N.
Published: February 2023

Overwintering monarch (Danaus plexippus) populations have declined since the 1990s. In response, restoration of milkweeds, including Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed), an important host plant in their breeding grounds, has become increasingly common. However, latitudinal variation in milkweed populations suggests the possibility of regional adaptation and the potential for seed provenance to affect restoration success. Using seeds from 20 populations throughout the range of A. syriaca, we tested whether seed mass, germination success, and germination time in the greenhouse demonstrate geographic clines consistent with available evidence for this species from other studies. In addition, we tested for patterns in germination traits consistent with adaptation to spring thermal conditions by planting seeds from 10 populations in growth chambers simulating Minnesota and Kentucky spring temperatures. Even after accounting for seed mass, seeds from higher latitudes germinated faster on average under all conditions. Elevated temperatures accelerated germination time and leaf development time; however, we did not detect geographic patterns in leaf development time, indicating that the processes underlying the latitudinal cline in germination time may be unique to the germination stage. In the thermal adaptation study, high‐latitude populations produced larger seeds and seeds that germinated at a higher rate; however, neither latitudinal trend was observed in the geographic clines study, even though individual seed mass predicted germination success. High‐latitude populations express more favorable germination traits in every setting measured, perhaps due to reduced dormancy. Consequently, we conclude that latitudinal clines are more consistent with adaptation to growing season length than to spring temperatures.
Real‐world effectiveness of preemptive therapy (PET) for cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease prevention in CMV high‐risk donor seropositive/recipient seronegative (D+R‐) liver transplant recipients (LTxR)
Authors: Doss Kathleen M. , Kling Catherine E. , Heldman Madeleine R. , Singh Nina , Wagener Marilyn , Rakita Robert M. , Fisher Cynthia E. , Limaye Ajit P.
Published: February 2023

Background

Despite superiority of preemptive therapy (PET) compared to universal prophylaxis for prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in the CAPSIL randomized trial among CMV D+R‐ liver transplant recipients (LTxRs), real‐world effectiveness may be lower because of logistical concerns about feasibility of PET.

Methods

We retrospectively assessed PET as standard clinical care at a single transplant center among 50 consecutive adult CMV D+R‐ LTxRs undergoing a first liver transplant between 4/4/2019 and 5/18/2021 and compared outcomes and adherence to those randomized to PET in the CAPSIL study (N = 100). The primary outcome was CMV disease and secondary outcomes were biopsy‐confirmed acute allograft rejection, retransplant, invasive fungal infections, and death, all assessed by 1‐year post‐transplant. Exploratory outcomes included virologic parameters and measures of adherence to protocol‐specified CMV qPCR monitoring.

Results

Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. The cumulative incidence of CMV disease at 1‐year post‐transplant was 4/50 (8%) versus 9/100 (9%) in the real‐world and CAPSIL cohorts, respectively, p = 1.0. The rate of breakthrough CMV disease during the 100‐day PET period was low (2/50 [4%]) and similar to the PET cohort from the CAPSIL study (3/100 [3%]).  All secondary and exploratory outcomes were not significantly different between the real‐world and CAPSIL PET cohorts.

Conclusions

In this first reported study of real‐world PET, the feasibility and effectiveness for CMV disease prevention and for other clinical outcomes in CMV D+R‐ LTxRs were similar to those reported with PET in a clinical trial. Additional studies to confirm feasibility and generalizability in other settings are warranted.

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Weed seed bank as affected by tillage, residue, and fertilization management under sweet corn‐wheat cropping sequence in Iran
Authors: Alijani Khadijeh , Kazemeini Seyed Abdolreza , Bahrani Mohammad Jafar , Ghadiri Hossein
Published: February 2023

Soil weed seed bank is an important factor determining above‐ground floristic composition and weed density in agricultural systems. The quantitative and qualitative measures of weed seed bank can help growers to predict the extent to which they are facing weed problems. Along with tillage, crop residues can affect the fate of weeds in the upcoming crops. To investigate such effects, we compared the effects of tillage systems [conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and no tillage (NT)], wheat residue retention, and nitrogen (N) rates (0, 69, 138, and 207 kg N ha−1) on depth‐related characteristics of the weed seed bank under a sweet corn‐wheat sequence during 2014–2015 growing seasons in Shiraz, Iran. Soil bank was not affected by tillage systems but tended to be slightly higher under RT. The highest (898 seeds m−2) and lowest (322 seeds m−2) weed population at 0–10 cm depth were found when 138 kg N ha−1 in 2015 and 207 kg N ha−1 in 2014 were applied. Species richness and diversity were higher under NT and RT practices at the top layer, but CT system was more diversified at deeper depths. They were higher when crop residues were retained as well. Barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus‐galli [L.] Beauv), common lambsquarter (Chenopodium album L.), common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.), flixweed (Descoreinia sofia [L.] Webb. & Berth.), henbit (Lamium amplexicaule L.), pigweeds (Amaranthus spp.), and stinking goosefoot (Chenopodium vulvaria L.) were the most common weeds found in all tillage systems and soil depths. Grasses were relatively lower than broadleaves regardless of treatments. Weed seed bank was mostly affected by weather conditions than treatments in this short‐term experiment.
Barriers and facilitators to engaging in the practice of medical assistance in dying among providers in Canada: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Légère Karine , Doucet Shelley , Luke Alison , Goudreau Alex
Published: February 2023

Objective:

This review will explore the perceived barriers to and facilitators for engaging in the practice of medical assistance in dying (MAiD) from the perspective of physicians, nurse practitioners, and medical residents in Canada.

Introduction:

The number of MAiD requests in Canada is growing steadily and is predicted to continue to grow with the passing of Bill C-7, which expands access to individuals whose deaths are not reasonably foreseeable. Under federal law, physicians and nurse practitioners are the only health care professionals permitted to assess for and provide MAiD. Providers are not obligated to provide MAiD care; therefore, patient access relies on providers’ readiness to engage in the practice. More information is needed to understand the barriers and facilitators for engaging in MAiD care from the perspective of providers.

Inclusion criteria:

This review will consider studies that identify physicians, nurse practitioners, and medical residents’ perceived barriers and facilitators for engaging in the practice of MAiD in Canada. Physicians, nurse practitioners, and medical residents who do not directly provide MAiD, including those who identify as conscientious objectors or non-participants, will be included in the study. Studies looking at barriers and facilitators for providing MAiD care to individuals with dementia, mental illness, or for individuals under the age of 18 will be excluded.

Methods:

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL with Full-text, and APA PsycINFO will be searched. Studies will be screened and data extracted by 2 independent reviewers using a tool created for the study’s purposes. The scoping review findings will be presented in a narrative format and mapped in tables to address the study aims.

Review registration number:

N/A
Flow Boiling in Flexible Polymer Microgaps for Embedded Cooling in High-Power Applications
Authors: Lorenzini Daniel , Li Wenming , Joshi Yogendra
Published: February 2023

Structural flexibility has become a common feature in emerging microsystems with increasing heat fluxes. The thermal control of such applications is a significant challenge because of both structural and volumetric requirements, where standard cooling solutions are not applicable. Flexible polymer microlayers are a promising solution for the embedded cooling of such microsystems. In the present investigation, a flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microgap is proposed and assessed in an effort to prove its viability for thermal management in the aforementioned applications. The analyzed polymer microgap features a dedicated vapor pathway design which is proven to assist in the efficient removal of vapor from the microsystem. The dielectric refrigerant HFE-7100 is used as the working fluid under flow boiling conditions, reporting on the two-phase flow regime, heat transfer, and pressure drop. In addition to experimental results, the numerical modeling of the relevant features of flow boiling is explored with the use of a mechanistic phase-change model that is proven to accurately predict the flow variables and constitutes a valuable tool in the analysis and design of such microsystems. The results from this study demonstrate that this approach is feasible for the removal of relatively high heat fluxes which are comparable to metallic-based or silicon microchannels, with the added advantage of structural flexibility while also providing a stable two-phase cooling mechanism.
Flow and Convective Exchanges Study in Rotor-Stator System With Eccentric Impinging Jet
Authors: Haidar Chadia , el Hannaoui Abdellatif , Boutarfa Rachid , Harmand Souad
Published: February 2023

This paper investigates numerically and experimentally the flow structure and convective heat transfers in an unconfined air gap of a discoid technology rotor–stator system. The cavity between the interdisk is defined by dimensionless spacing varying between G = 0.02 (Haidar et al., 2020, “Numerical and Experimental Study of Flow and Convective Heat Transfer on a Rotor of a Discoidal Machine With Eccentric Impinging Jet,” J. Therm. Sci. Eng. Appl., 12(2), 021012) and G = 0.16. For experimental data, an infrared thermography is applied to obtain a measurement of the rotor surface temperatures and a steady-state energy equation is solved to evaluate the local convective coefficients. A numerical study is performed with a computational code ansys-fluent and based to apply two different turbulence models named the Reynolds stress model (RSM) and k–ε renormalization group (RNG). The results of the numerical simulation are compared with experimental results on heat transfer for the rotational Reynolds number ranging from 2.38×105 to 5.44×105, the jet Reynolds numbers varying from 16.6×103 to 49.6×103, and for dimensionless spacing G between 0.04 and 0.16. Three heat transfer zones on the rotating disk surface are identified. A good accord between a numerical result and experimental data was obtained. Finally, a correlation relating the Nusselt number to the rotational Reynolds number, jet Reynolds number, and dimensionless spacing varying from 0.02 to 0.16 is proposed.
Optimal Process Planning for Hybrid Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing
Authors: Osman Hany , Azab Ahmed , Baki Mohammed Fazle
Published: February 2023

Hybrid manufacturing technology has enabled manufacturers to combine advantages of mainly subtractive and additive manufacturing technologies. A single machine supports producing products with complex geometry, at high quality, and with a high degree of automation. To benefit from these advantages, decisions taken in the process planning stage of such a sophisticated manufacturing system should be optimized. The objective of this paper is to determine the optimal process plan considering both the engineering and manufacturing aspects of the hybrid technology. A comprehensive process planning model is proposed. The model specifies the optimal sequence of additive and subtractive features that minimizes the production cycle time. In addition, the model sets the optimal part orientations such that the time needed for building support structures, performing post-processing and inspection operations, changing cutting tools and printing nozzles, and unclamping the part is minimized. The model is comprehensive as it considers productive and non-productive times, precedence, technological, quality, and manufacturing restrictions imposed on hybrid manufacturing systems. The proposed model is nonlinear; due to this nonlinearity, the model is intractable. A linearization scheme is applied to formulate an equivalent linear model that is solvable to optimality by commercial solvers. Case studies on test and industrial parts are provided to evaluate the computational performance of the proposed model. Integrating the proposed model in hybrid manufacturing (HM) systems ensures adopting the HM technology in its optimal direction. HM technology is an enabler of establishing a smart manufacturing system which is one of the pillars of Industry 4.0.
Spatial metabolomics reveals skeletal myofiber subtypes
Authors: Luo Lanfang , Ma Wenwu , Liang Kun , Wang Yuefan , Su Jiali , Liu Ruirui , Liu Taoyan , Shyh-Chang Ng
Published: February 2023

Skeletal muscle myofibers are heterogeneous in their metabolism. However, metabolomic profiling of single myofibers has remained difficult. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a powerful tool for imaging molecular distributions

. In this work, we optimized the workflow of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)–based MSI from cryosectioning to metabolomics data analysis to perform high–spatial resolution metabolomic profiling of slow- and fast-twitch myofibers. Combining the advantages of MSI and liquid chromatography–MS (LC-MS), we produced spatial metabolomics results that were more reliable. After the combination of high–spatial resolution MSI and LC-MS metabolomic analysis, we also discovered a new subtype of superfast type 2B myofibers that were enriched for fatty acid oxidative metabolism. Our technological workflow could serve as an engine for metabolomics discoveries, and our approach has the potential to provide critical insights into the metabolic heterogeneity and pathways that underlie fundamental biological processes and disease states.
Nucleic DHX9 cooperates with STAT1 to transcribe interferon-stimulated genes
Authors: Ren Xingxing , Wang Decai , Zhang Guorong , Zhou Tingyue , Wei Zheng , Yang Yi , Zheng Yunjiang , Lei Xuqiu , Tao Wanyin , Wang Anmin , Li Mingsong , Flavell Richard A. , Zhu Shu
Published: February 2023

RNA helicase DHX9 has been extensively characterized as a transcriptional regulator, which is consistent with its mostly nucleic localization. It is also involved in recognizing RNA viruses in the cytoplasm. However, there is no in vivo data to support the antiviral role of DHX9; meanwhile, as a nuclear protein, if and how nucleic DHX9 promotes antiviral immunity remains largely unknown. Here, we generated myeloid-specific and hepatocyte-specific DHX9 knockout mice and confirmed that DHX9 is crucial for host resistance to RNA virus infections in vivo. By additional knockout MAVS or STAT1 in DHX9-deficient mice, we demonstrated that nucleic DHX9 plays a positive role in regulating interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) expression downstream of type I interferon. Mechanistically, upon interferon stimulation, DHX9 is directly bound to STAT1 and recruits Pol II to the ISG promoter region to participate in STAT1-mediated transcription of ISGs. Collectively, these findings uncover an important role for nucleic DHX9 in antiviral immunity.
Observational constraints on the process and products of Martian serpentinization
Authors: Tutolo Benjamin M. , Tosca Nicholas J.
Published: February 2023

The alteration of olivine-rich rocks to serpentine minerals, (hydr)oxides, and aqueous hydrogen

through serpentinization is long thought to have influenced the distribution of habitable environments on early Mars and the evolution of the early Martian hydrosphere and atmosphere. Nevertheless, the planetary importance of Martian serpentinization has remained a matter of debate. To constrain the process and products of Martian serpentinization, we studied serpentinized iron-rich olivines from the 1.1-billion-year Duluth Complex. These data indicate that serpentinized iron-rich olivine would have been accompanied by a fivefold increase in hydrogen

production relative to serpentinized terrestrial mantle peridotites. In contrast to previous expectations, this style of serpentinization yields hisingerite as the dominant iron serpentine mineral at comparatively low temperature and pH, consistent with meteorite mineralogy and in situ rover data. The widespread occurrence of

oxidized iron-bearing phyllosilicates in highly magnetized regions of the Martian crust supports the hypothesis that serpentinization was more pervasive on early Mars than currently estimated.
Topological screen identifies hundreds of Cp190- and CTCF-dependent
Drosophila
chromatin insulator elements
Authors: Kahn Tatyana G. , Savitsky Mikhail , Kuong Chikuan , Jacquier Caroline , Cavalli Giacomo , Chang Jia-Ming , Schwartz Yuri B.
Published: February 2023

Drosophila
insulators were the first DNA elements found to regulate gene expression by delimiting chromatin contacts. We still do not know how many of them exist and what impact they have on the
Drosophila
genome folding. Contrary to vertebrates, there is no evidence that fly insulators block cohesin-mediated chromatin loop extrusion. Therefore, their mechanism of action remains uncertain. To bridge these gaps, we mapped chromatin contacts in
Drosophila
cells lacking the key insulator proteins CTCF and Cp190. With this approach, we found hundreds of insulator elements. Their study indicates that
Drosophila
insulators play a minor role in the overall genome folding but affect chromatin contacts locally at many loci. Our observations argue that Cp190 promotes cobinding of other insulator proteins and that the model, where
Drosophila
insulators block chromatin contacts by forming loops, needs revision. Our insulator catalog provides an important resource to study mechanisms of genome folding.