bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tackling diet inequalities in the UK food system: is food insecurity driving the obesity epidemic? (The FIO Food project)
Authors: Johnstone Alexandra M. , Lonnie Marta
Published: December 2023

By 2050 the number of adults living with obesity in the UK will rise with approximately one in four in the adult population. This rising trend is not equitable, with higher prevalence in socially disadvantaged groups. There is an apparent paradox of not being able to provide food for the family to eat, a feature of food insecurity and living with obesity. With the current cost-of-living crisis, there is a challenge to afford both food and fuel bills. Environmentally sustainable and healthy diets are proposed to improve public health and reduce the impact of the food system on the environment, while also improving diet quality. However, healthier foods tend to be nearly three times more expensive than unhealthy foods, and this provides a challenge for citizens on low incomes. In this review, we explore some of the evidence for solutions in the retail food environment to support the UK food system to be safe, nutritious, environmentally friendly and fair for all. We highlight the value of co-production in research, to give value and power to the lived experience to address these inequalities. Our multidisciplinary research approach within the FIO Food research grant will generate new insights into modifiable and potentially impactful changes to the UK food system, specifically for the retail food sector. We believe that the co-creation, design and delivery of research with those living with obesity and food insecurity will help to transform the UK food system for health and the environment in this vulnerable group.
Determinants of social norms I – the role of geography
Authors: Voigt Stefan
Published: December 2023

It is now abundantly clear that social norms channel behaviour and impact economic development. This insight leads to the question: How do social norms evolve? This survey examines research that relies on geography to explain the development of social norms. It turns out that many social norms are either directly or indirectly determined by geography broadly conceived and can, hence, be considered largely time invariant. Given that successful economic development presupposes the congruence between formal institutions and social norms, this insight is highly relevant for all policy interventions designed to foster economic development. In a companion paper, the role of religion and family organization as potential mediators between geography and social norms assumes centre stage.
What Americans Know About Statehouse Democracy
Authors: Rogers Steven
Published: December 2023

Political scientists have largely come to a consensus that “most citizens are politically uninformed” (Delli Carpini and Keeter 1997), but even with increased attention to state-level representation and electoral behavior, political scientists know surprisingly little themselves regarding what Americans know about state politics. Past studies of state political knowledge examine narrow domains of knowledge and make few comparisons between individuals’ understanding of national and state politics. To provide a more comprehensive account of Americans’ state political knowledge, I conducted a novel national survey that included over 30 political knowledge questions. In a descriptive and exploratory analysis, I show Americans demonstrated more knowledge about who their Governor is but less knowledge about who represents them in the state legislature, state government institutions, and the state economy, particularly compared to their knowledge of federal politics. The different levels of political knowledge across different domains and levels of government raise concerns for statehouse democracy and should be considered before testing theories at the state level. To guide future research and surveys, I identify political knowledge questions that discriminate well between those who know little, some, and a lot about state politics across different domains of political knowledge.
Introducing Flashiness‐Intensity‐Duration‐Frequency (F‐IDF): A New Metric to Quantify Flash Flood Intensity
Authors: Li Zhi , Gao Shang , Chen Mengye , Zhang Jiaqi , Gourley Jonathan J. , Wen Yixin , Yang Tiantian , Hong Yang
Published: December 2023

Flash flooding is a damaging weather event, yet it remains challenging to quantify its severity. We propose a development—the Flashiness‐Intensity‐Duration‐Frequency (F‐IDF) curve—to quantify flash flood intensity based on the frequency and duration of the event. As a proof‐of‐concept, we mapped Contiguous US (CONUS)‐wide F‐IDF values at 3,722 stream gage locations and explored their relations with basin attributes. It is found that (a) The return periods of flash flood events are highly associated with the return peroids of rainfall events; (b) Climatological precipitation amounts exhibit the most positive correlation with flashiness while a basin's drainage area is the most negatively correlated; (c) Correlation of flashiness with basin attributes decreases with increasing F‐IDF return periods and shorter event durations. Both aspects are attributable to the rainfall signal overwhelming the underlying basin attributes as the intensities become more extreme. This new metric has implications for hydrology and emergency responders.
Anthropogenic Aerosols Contribute to the Recent Decline in Precipitation Over the U.S. Southwest
Authors: Kuo Yan‐Ning , Kim Hanjun , Lehner Flavio
Published: December 2023

The winter‐spring precipitation over the Southwestern United States (SWUS) decreased since 1980. It is frequently attributed to Pacific internal decadal variability, but recent studies found anthropogenic aerosols (AA) can also induce a transition to a negative Pacific Decadal Variability (PDV) phase. We revisit the attribution of SWUS drying by quantifying the contributions of anthropogenically forced decadal Pacific Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs). Applying a low‐frequency component analysis to observations, Community Earth System Model version 2 (CESM2) all‐forcings and single‐forcing large ensembles, we find up to 42% of the observed precipitation trend to be related to the AA‐induced negative PDV‐like pattern, which is driven by the emission shift from the Western to the Eastern Hemisphere. In CESM2, other radiative forcings counteract the influence of AA, but it remains unclear whether the model correctly simulates this balance. This implies that the near‐future trajectories of these forcings, in particular Asian aerosols, are important for projections of SWUS precipitation.
Dry Air Outbreak and Significant Surface Turbulent Heat Loss During Hurricane Ian: Satellite and Saildrone Observations
Authors: Yu Lisan , Chen Yanxu , Gonzalez Alex O. , Zhang Chidong , Foltz Gregory R.
Published: December 2023

This study investigates an exceptional Gulf of Mexico dry air outbreak triggered by Hurricane Ian and fueled by dry air originating from drought‐stricken mid‐latitudes under a high‐pressure system. The convergence of meteorological forces, combining cooler, dry air with a warmer, humid sea surface and strong winds, intensified latent and sensible heat exchanges, resulting in significant oceanic heat loss. Data from the 2022 Atlantic hurricane Saildrone mission and satellite flux analysis revealed that the outbreak's total turbulent heat fluxes peaked above 850 Wm−2, comparable to or even surpassing the hurricane’s impact. Argo float measurements recorded a 40‐m deepening of the mixed layer and a 1.4°C temperature decrease. In the tropical Atlantic, wind effects outweighed humidity in driving flux variability. Saildrone’s high‐frequency linewise measurements, distinct from satellite’s footprint averages, provide unique insights into wind variability under high wind conditions.
The Hunga Tonga‐Hunga Ha'apai Volcanic Eruption as Seen in Satellite Microwave Observations and MiRS Temperature Retrievals
Authors: Lee Yong‐Keun , Hindley Neil , Grassotti Christopher , Liu Quanhua (Mark)
Published: December 2023

The strongest volcanic eruption since the 19th century occurred on 15 January 2022 at Hunga Tonga‐Hunga Ha'apai, generating unprecedented atmospheric waves not seen before in observations. We used satellite microwave observations from (a) Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) on board the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)‐20 and the Suomi‐National Polar‐orbiting Partnership (SNPP) and (b) Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU)‐A on board Meteorological operational satellite (MetOp)‐B/MetOp‐C to study these waves in the stratosphere immediately after the eruption. The NOAA Microwave Integrated Retrieval System (MiRS) was applied to these microwave observations to produce atmospheric temperature profiles. The atmospheric Lamb wave and fast‐traveling gravity waves are clearly revealed in both the brightness temperatures and the MiRS retrieved temperatures, revealing their vertical phase structures. This study is the first attempt to perform a detailed analysis of the stratospheric impact of the Tonga eruption on operational satellite microwave observations and the corresponding MiRS retrievals.
Comprehensive Evaluation and Comparison of AIRS, VASS, and VIRR Water Vapor Products Over Antarctica
Authors: Fan Rongfeng , Zeng Zhaoliang , Wang Xin , Zhang Lei , Cheng Wei , Ding Minghu
Published: December 2023

The detection capability of the water vapor mixing ratio (q) and total precipitable water vapor (PWV) products of the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), the Atmospheric Vertical Sounder System (VASS), and Visible and Infrared Radiometer (VIRR) in Antarctica is unclear due to the harsh environment and the scarcity of ground‐based stations. This study compares these products with data from nine radiosonde stations and 10 Global Navigation Satellite Systems Stations and evaluates them using the CCHZ‐DISO method. In the low atmosphere, the average wet bias of about 22% of VASS q is significantly greater than that of AIRS q (<15%), and the dry bias of AIRS is gradually corrected with increasing cloudiness, but the trend of exacerbated wet bias at 700 hPa requires attention. Meanwhile, VASS should optimize the inversion principle in the presence of clouds and refine the utilization weights of the channels heavily influenced by clouds under different cloud fraction conditions. Furthermore, when the atmospheric pressure is less than 500 hPa, VASS q exhibits a significant wet bias, and these data should be used cautiously. Both AIRS and VIRR detect PWV well in coastal areas, but VIRR PWV is significantly overestimated in the dry ice sheet plateau region. The CCHZ‐DISO value intuitively reveals that AIRS outperforms VASS and VIRR in both q and PWV detection. The findings of this study contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the detection capability of the above satellite water vapor products to promote the wider application of satellite data in the Antarctic region.
Temporal Subsampling Diminishes Small Spatial Scales in Recurrent Neural Network Emulators of Geophysical Turbulence
Authors: Smith Timothy A. , Penny Stephen G. , Platt Jason A. , Chen Tse‐Chun
Published: December 2023

The immense computational cost of traditional numerical weather and climate models has sparked the development of machine learning (ML) based emulators. Because ML methods benefit from long records of training data, it is common to use data sets that are temporally subsampled relative to the time steps required for the numerical integration of differential equations. Here, we investigate how this often overlooked processing step affects the quality of an emulator's predictions. We implement two ML architectures from a class of methods called reservoir computing: (a) a form of Nonlinear Vector Autoregression (NVAR), and (b) an Echo State Network (ESN). Despite their simplicity, it is well documented that these architectures excel at predicting low dimensional chaotic dynamics. We are therefore motivated to test these architectures in an idealized setting of predicting high dimensional geophysical turbulence as represented by Surface Quasi‐Geostrophic dynamics. In all cases, subsampling the training data consistently leads to an increased bias at small spatial scales that resembles numerical diffusion. Interestingly, the NVAR architecture becomes unstable when the temporal resolution is increased, indicating that the polynomial based interactions are insufficient at capturing the detailed nonlinearities of the turbulent flow. The ESN architecture is found to be more robust, suggesting a benefit to the more expensive but more general structure. Spectral errors are reduced by including a penalty on the kinetic energy density spectrum during training, although the subsampling related errors persist. Future work is warranted to understand how the temporal resolution of training data affects other ML architectures.
Predicting Equatorial Ionospheric Convective Instability Using Machine Learning
Authors: Garcia D. , Rojas E. L. , Hysell D. L.
Published: December 2023

The numerical forecast methods used to predict ionospheric convective plasma instabilities associated with Equatorial Spread‐F (ESF) have limited accuracy and are often computationally expensive. We test whether it is possible to bypass first‐principle numeric simulations and forecast irregularities using machine learning models. The data are obtained from the incoherent scatter radar at the Jicamarca Radio Observatory located in Lima, Peru. Our models map vertical plasma drifts, time, and solar activity to the occurrence and location of clusters of echoes telltale of ionospheric irregularities. Our results show that these models are capable of identifying the predictive power of the tested inputs, obtaining accuracies around 75%.
Polarity and Timing of the Deformation Along the Jinsha Suture Zone (Yushu Area, Northeastern Tibet)
Authors: Goussin Fanny , Guillot Stéphane , Ruffet Gilles , Poujol Marc , Oliot Émilien , Replumaz Anne , Cordier Carole , Dupont‐Nivet Guillaume , Roperch Pierrick
Published: December 2023

The Tibetan Plateau was formed by intense Cenozoic shortening (up to 1,100 km) of a composite “proto‐Tibet,” itself the product of a long Paleozoic and Mesozoic history of accretion of Gondwana‐derived continental fragments and volcanic arcs against the Asian continental margin. The difficult access and the scarcity of outcrops have long limited the possibilities of studying these Mesozoic suture zones in the heart of the Plateau. In this work, we present new U‐Pb and 40Ar/39Ar ages from the highly deformed units of the Yushu mélange, along the Jinsha Suture in the northeastern Qiangtang terrane. Early Triassic (c. 253 Ma) to Middle Jurassic ages (c. 165 Ma) complement the existing data set and help to refine the chronology of the Paleo‐Tethyan oceanic subductions which have structured the northeastern part of the Qiangtang terrane. The Yushu mélange records at least three successive tectono‐magmatic events. The opening of a back‐arc basin during the northward Paleo‐Tethyan subduction along the Longmu Co‐Shuanghu Suture during Early to Middle Triassic; then its closure during the southward subduction of the Songpan‐Ganze Ocean along the Jinsha Suture in Late Triassic. Finally, a shortening phase related to the continental collision of the Songpan‐Ganze and Qiangtang blocks from Late Triassic to Early‐Middle Jurassic. No evidence for any high‐ or mid‐temperature Cenozoic reactivation of the Jinsha suture in our study area is recorded.
Impaired learning, memory, and extinction in posttraumatic stress disorder: translational meta-analysis of clinical and preclinical studies
Authors: Sep Milou S. C. , Geuze Elbert , Joëls Marian
Published: December 2023

Current evidence-based treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are efficacious in only part of PTSD patients. Therefore, novel neurobiologically informed approaches are urgently needed. Clinical and translational neuroscience point to altered learning and memory processes as key in (models of) PTSD psychopathology. We extended this notion by clarifying at a meta-level (i) the role of information valence, i.e. neutral versus emotional/fearful, and (ii) comparability, as far as applicable, between clinical and preclinical phenotypes. We hypothesized that cross-species, neutral versus emotional/fearful information processing is, respectively, impaired and enhanced in PTSD. This preregistered meta-analysis involved a literature search on PTSD+Learning/Memory+Behavior, performed in PubMed. First, the effect of information valence was estimated with a random-effects meta-regression. The sources of variation were explored with a random forest-based analysis. The analyses included 92 clinical (N = 6732 humans) and 182 preclinical (N = 6834 animals) studies. A general impairment of learning, memory and extinction processes was observed in PTSD patients, regardless of information valence. Impaired neutral learning/memory and fear extinction were also present in animal models of PTSD. Yet, PTSD models enhanced fear/trauma memory in preclinical studies and PTSD impaired emotional memory in patients. Clinical data on fear/trauma memory was limited. Mnemonic phase and valence explained most variation in rodents but not humans. Impaired neutral learning/memory and fear extinction show stable cross-species PTSD phenotypes. These could be targeted for novel PTSD treatments, using information gained from neurobiological animal studies. We argue that apparent cross-species discrepancies in emotional/fearful memory deserve further in-depth study; until then, animal models targeting this phenotype should be applied with utmost care.
Clonal hematopoiesis related TET2 loss-of-function impedes IL1β-mediated epigenetic reprogramming in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells
Authors: McClatchy J. , Strogantsev R. , Wolfe E. , Lin H. Y. , Mohammadhosseini M. , Davis B. A. , Eden C. , Goldman D. , Fleming W. H. , Conley P. , Wu G. , Cimmino L. , Mohammed H. , Agarwal A.
Published: December 2023

Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is defined as a single hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) gaining selective advantage over a broader range of HSPCs. When linked to somatic mutations in myeloid malignancy-associated genes, such as TET2-mediated clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential or CHIP, it represents increased risk for hematological malignancies and cardiovascular disease. IL1β is elevated in patients with CHIP, however, its effect is not well understood. Here we show that IL1β promotes expansion of pro-inflammatory monocytes/macrophages, coinciding with a failure in the demethylation of lymphoid and erythroid lineage associated enhancers and transcription factor binding sites, in a mouse model of CHIP with hematopoietic-cell-specific deletion of Tet2. DNA-methylation is significantly lost in wild type HSPCs upon IL1β administration, which is resisted by Tet2-deficient HSPCs, and thus IL1β enhances the self-renewing ability of Tet2-deficient HSPCs by upregulating genes associated with self-renewal and by resisting demethylation of transcription factor binding sites related to terminal differentiation. Using aged mouse models and human progenitors, we demonstrate that targeting IL1 signaling could represent an early intervention strategy in preleukemic disorders. In summary, our results show that Tet2 is an important mediator of an IL1β-promoted epigenetic program to maintain the fine balance between self-renewal and lineage differentiation during hematopoiesis.
The amygdala is not necessary for the familiarity aspect of recognition memory
Authors: Basile Benjamin M. , Costa Vincent D. , Schafroth Jamie L. , Karaskiewicz Chloe L. , Lucas Daniel R. , Murray Elisabeth A.
Published: December 2023

Dual-process accounts of item recognition posit two memory processes: slow but detailed recollection, and quick but vague familiarity. It has been proposed, based on prior rodent work, that the amygdala is critical for the familiarity aspect of item recognition. Here, we evaluated this proposal in male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) with selective bilateral excitotoxic amygdala damage. We used four established visual memory tests designed to assess different aspects of familiarity, all administered on touchscreen computers. Specifically, we assessed monkeys’ tendencies to make low-latency false alarms, to make false alarms to recently seen lures, to produce curvilinear ROC curves, and to discriminate stimuli based on repetition across days. Three of the four tests showed no familiarity impairment and the fourth was explained by a deficit in reward processing. Consistent with this, amygdala damage did produce an anticipated deficit in reward processing in a three-arm-bandit gambling task, verifying the effectiveness of the lesions. Together, these results contradict prior rodent work and suggest that the amygdala is not critical for the familiarity aspect of item recognition.
Functional and analytical recapitulation of osteoclast biology on demineralized bone paper
Authors: Park Yongkuk , Sato Tadatoshi , Lee Jungwoo
Published: December 2023

Osteoclasts are the primary target for osteoporosis drug development. Recent animal studies revealed the crucial roles of osteoblasts in regulating osteoclastogenesis and the longer lifespans of osteoclasts than previously thought with fission and recycling. However, existing culture platforms are limited to replicating these newly identified cellular processes. We report a demineralized bone paper (DBP)-based osteoblast culture and osteoclast assay platform that replicates osteoclast fusion, fission, resorption, and apoptosis with high fidelity and analytical power. An osteoid-inspired DBP supports rapid and structural mineral deposition by osteoblasts. Coculture osteoblasts and bone marrow monocytes under biochemical stimulation recapitulate osteoclast differentiation and function. The DBP-based bone model allows longitudinal quantitative fluorescent monitoring of osteoclast responses to bisphosphonate drug, substantiating significantly reducing their number and lifespan. Finally, we demonstrate the feasibility of humanizing the bone model. The DBP-based osteo assay platforms are expected to advance bone remodeling-targeting drug development with improved prediction of clinical outcomes.
Coherent and semicoherent α/β interfaces in titanium: structure, thermodynamics, migration
Authors: Wang Siqi , Wen Tongqi , Han Jian , Srolovitz David J.
Published: December 2023

The α/β interface is central to the microstructure and mechanical properties of titanium alloys. We investigate the structure, thermodynamics and migration of the coherent and semicoherent Ti α/β interfaces as a function of temperature and misfit strain via molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, thermodynamic integration and an accurate, DFT-trained Deep Potential. The structure of an equilibrium semicoherent interface consists of an array of steps, an array of misfit dislocations, and coherent terraces. Analysis determines the dislocation and step (disconnection) array structure and habit plane. The MD simulations show the detailed interface morphology dictated by intersecting disconnection arrays. The steps are shown to facilitate α/β interface migration, while the misfit dislocations lead to interface drag; the drag mechanism is different depending on the direction of interface migration. These results are used to predict the nature of α phase nucleation on cooling through the α-β phase transition.
Nutritional-environmental trade-offs in potato storage and processing for a sustainable healthy diet
Authors: Payne Aubin , Kwofie Ebenezer M. , Agyemang Prince , Baum Jamie I.
Published: December 2023

Over the last decade, poor diets and limited access to nutritious foods have been critical drivers of micronutrient deficiency in human health. However, food fortification at an industrialized scale in developed countries has helped eliminate deficiency-related diseases. In developing countries, fortified foods and biofortified materials have been delivered to nutrient-deficient communities. While these strategies have produced significant and acclaimed results, reports from the Food and Agricultural Organization suggest that over a quarter of the world’s population suffers from micronutrient deficiency. This implies that there are still declines in micronutrients in food products at different nodes along the food value chain (FVC). Hence, this study sets out to track micronutrient leakages at specific nodes of the FVC using potato household storage, processing, and consumption in the United States as a case study. The experiment was laid out in a full factorial design with three storage conditions (cupboard at (17.5–22.4 °C, 32.7–48% RH), refrigerator at (–1.8 – 0.89 °C, 37.5–66.1% RH) and ideal condition at (7.2–11.1 °C, 85.0–92.4% RH)), two storage times (2 weeks (±3 days) and 5 weeks (±3 days)) and three household processing pathways (boiling in water, baking at 204 °C, and frying in vegetable oil at 149–204 °C). Additionally, we explored the dynamics of optimal household storage and processing pathways by placing a high, low, or equal priority on environmental sustainability or nutrient retention. The results show that storing potatoes for 5 weeks (±3 days) and processing through boiling (in water at 100 °C), baking (at 204 °C), and frying (in vegetable oil at 149–204 °C) are associated with 33.5%, 40.3% and 15.0% greater nutrient loss than a similar processing scenario after 2 weeks (±3 days) of storage. Additionally, storing and processing potatoes after 5 weeks (±3 days) results in approximately 2.2 ± 0.7 times more damage to human health, ecosystem safety, and resource availability than storing and processing potatoes after 2 weeks (±3 days), averaged between the different storage conditions. Storing and processing after 5 weeks (±3 days) results in approximately 53.6 ± 10.3 times more damage to human health, species disappearing per year, and USD loss than freshly purchased and processed potatoes. Perhaps the most significant finding from the study is that storing potatoes in cupboards and boiling (BL-CP pathway) is optimal for achieving a sustainable healthy diet, as it yields the optimal combination of nutrient retention and low environmental damage. Insights from the study could be translated to support consumer decision-making as they weigh the value of environmental sustainability against nutrition in the context of household potato storage and processing.
Autophagy and neuroprotection in astrocytes exposed to 6-hydroxydopamine is negatively regulated by NQO2: relevance to Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Janda Elzbieta , Parafati Maddalena , Martino Concetta , Crupi Francesco , George William Jonahunnatha Nesson , Reybier Karine , Arbitrio Mariamena , Mollace Vincenzo , Boutin Jean A.
Published: December 2023

Dopaminergic degeneration is a central feature of Parkinson’s disease (PD), but glial dysfunction may accelerate or trigger neuronal death. In fact, astrocytes play a key role in the maintenance of the blood–brain barrier and detoxification. 6-hydroxydopamine (6OHDA) is used to induce PD in rodent models due to its specific toxicity to dopaminergic neurons, but its effect on astrocytes has been poorly investigated. Here, we show that 6OHDA dose-dependently impairs autophagy in human U373 cells and primary murine astrocytes in the absence of cell death. LC3II downregulation was observed 6 to 48 h after treatment. Interestingly, 6OHDA enhanced NRH:quinone oxidoreductase 2 (NQO2) expression and activity in U373 cells, even if 6OHDA turned out not to be its substrate. Autophagic flux was restored by inhibition of NQO2 with S29434, which correlated with a partial reduction in oxidative stress in response to 6OHDA in human and murine astrocytes. NQO2 inhibition also increased the neuroprotective capability of U373 cells, since S29434 protected dopaminergic SHSY5Y cells from 6OHDA-induced cell death when cocultured with astrocytes. The toxic effects of 6OHDA on autophagy were attenuated by silencing NQO2 in human cells and primary astrocytes from NQO2−/− mice. Finally, the analysis of Gene Expression Omnibus datasets showed elevated NQO2 gene expression in the blood cells of early-stage PD patients. These data support a toxifying function of NQO2 in dopaminergic degeneration via negative regulation of autophagy and neuroprotection in astrocytes, suggesting a potential pharmacological target in PD.
Thermoring basis for the TRPV3 bio-thermometer
Authors: Wang Guangyu
Published: December 2023

The thermosensitive transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are well-known as bio-thermometers with specific temperature thresholds and sensitivity. However, their precise structural origins are still mysterious. Here, graph theory was used to test how the temperature-dependent non-covalent interactions as identified in the 3D structures of thermo-gated TRPV3 could form a systematic fluidic grid-like mesh network with the constrained thermo-rings from the biggest grids to the smallest ones as necessary structural motifs for the variable temperature thresholds and sensitivity. The results showed that the heat-evoked melting of the biggest grids may control the specific temperature thresholds to initiate channel gating while the smaller grids may be required to secure heat efficacy. Together, all the grids along the lipid-dependent minimal gating pathway may be necessary to change with molar heat capacity for the specific temperature sensitivity. Therefore, this graph theory-based grid thermodynamic model may provide an extensive structural basis for the thermo-gated TRP channels.
Investigating the impact of paternal aging on murine sperm miRNA profiles and their potential link to autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Miyahara Kazusa , Tatehana Misako , Kikkawa Takako , Osumi Noriko
Published: December 2023

Paternal aging has consistently been linked to an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), in offspring. Recent evidence has highlighted the involvement of epigenetic factors. In this study, we aimed to investigate age-related alterations in microRNA (miRNA) profiles of mouse sperm and analyze target genes regulated by differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs). Microarray analyses were conducted on sperm samples from mice at different ages: 3 months (3 M), over 12 M, and beyond 20 M. We identified 26 miRNAs with differential expression between the 3 and 20 M mice, 34 miRNAs between the 12 and 20 M mice, and 2 miRNAs between the 3 and 12 M mice. The target genes regulated by these miRNAs were significantly associated with apoptosis/ferroptosis pathways and the nervous system. We revealed alterations in sperm miRNA profiles due to aging and suggest that the target genes regulated by these DEmiRNAs are associated with apoptosis and the nervous system, implying a potential link between paternal aging and an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD. The observed age-related changes in sperm miRNA profiles have the potential to impact sperm quality and subsequently affect offspring development.
Facile synthesis of flower shaped magnesium ferrite (MgFe2O4) impregnated mesoporous ordered silica foam and application for arsenic removal from water
Authors: Uddin Md. Jamal , Jeong Yeon-Koo
Published: December 2023

Magnesium ferrite (MF0.33) impregnated flower-shaped mesoporous ordered silica foam (MOSF) was successfully synthesized in present study. MOSF was added with precursor solution of MF0.33 during MF0.33 synthesis which soaked the materials and further chemical changes occurred inside the pore. Therefore, no additional synthesis process was required for magnesium ferrite impregnated mesoporous ordered silica foam (MF0.33-MOSF) synthesis. MF0.33-MOSF showed higher morphological properties compared to other magnesium ferrite modified nanomaterials and adsorbed arsenic III [As(III)] and arsenic V [As(V)] 42.80 and 39.73 mg/g respectively. These were higher than those of other Fe-modified adsorbents at pH 7. As MOSF has no adsorption capacity, MF0.33 played key role to adsorb arsenic by MF0.33-MOSF. Data showed that MF0.33-MOSF contain about 2.5 times lower Fe and Mg than pure MF0.33 which was affected the arsenic adsorption capacity by MF0.33-MOSF. Adsorption results best fitted with Freundlich isotherm model. The possible mechanism of arsenic adsorption might be chemisorption by electrostatic attraction and inner or outer-sphere surface complex formation.
Platelet-activating factor and protease-activated receptor 2 cooperate to promote neutrophil recruitment and lung inflammation through nuclear factor-kappa B transactivation
Authors: Silva Irismara Sousa , Almeida Aline D. , Lima Filho Antônio C. M. , Fernandes-Braga Weslley , Barra Ayslan , Oliveira Hortência M. C. , Cassali Geovanni D. , Capettini Luciano S. A. , Menezes Gustavo B. , Alvarez-Leite Jacqueline I. , Leite Maria F. , Klein André
Published: December 2023

Although it is well established that platelet-activated receptor (PAF) and protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) play a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of lung and airway inflammatory diseases, a role for a PAR2-PAFR cooperation in lung inflammation has not been investigated. Here, we investigated the role of PAR2 in PAF-induced lung inflammation and neutrophil recruitment in lungs of BALB/c mice. Mice were pretreated with the PAR2 antagonist ENMD1068, PAF receptor (PAFR) antagonist WEB2086, or aprotinin prior to intranasal instillation of carbamyl-PAF (C-PAF) or the PAR2 agonist peptide SLIGRL-NH2 (PAR2-AP). Leukocyte infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), C-X-C motif ligand 1 (CXCL)1 and CXCL2 chemokines, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and N-acetyl-glycosaminidase (NAG) levels in BALF, or lung inflammation were evaluated. Intracellular calcium signaling, PAFR/PAR2 physical interaction, and the expression of PAR2 and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-КB, p65) transcription factor were investigated in RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with C-PAF in the presence or absence of ENMD1068. C-PAF- or PAR2-AP-induced neutrophil recruitment into lungs was inhibited in mice pretreated with ENMD1068 and aprotinin or WEB2086, respectively. PAR2 blockade impaired C-PAF-induced neutrophil rolling and adhesion, lung inflammation, and production of MPO, NAG, CXCL1, and CXCL2 production in lungs of mice. PAFR activation reduced PAR2 expression and physical interaction of PAR2 and PAFR; co-activation is required for PAFR/PAR2 physical interaction. PAR2 blockade impaired C-PAF-induced calcium signal and NF-κB p65 translocation in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. This study provides the first evidence for a cooperation between PAFR and PAR2 mediating neutrophil recruitment, lung inflammation, and macrophage activation.
Ionically crosslinked cellulose nanocrystals by metal nitrates for the preparation of stable emulsions with tunable interface properties
Authors: Batta-Mpouma Joseph , Kandhola Gurshagan , Kim Jin-Woo
Published: December 2023

Biologically extracted cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are rod-like and amphiphilic materials with surface-exposed (hydrophilic sites) and hidden (hydrophobic sites) hydroxyl groups. These physicochemical characteristics make CNCs suitable for use as emulsifying agents to stabilize emulsions. Stable oil-in-water emulsions, using sulfated (i.e., –$${{\text{SO}}}_{3}^{-}$$

SO

3

-

) CNCs that were ionically crosslinked with alkaline-earth (i.e., $${{\text{Mg}}}^{2+}$$

Mg

2
+

) or transition-d-block (i.e., $${{\text{Zn}}}^{2+}$$

Zn

2
+

) metal cations, were developed without the use of any synthetic surfactants or prior functionalization of pure CNCs with hydrophobic molecules. Various emulsion surface properties such as interfacial tension, surface charge, surface chemistry, as well as rheology were characterized. Ionically crosslinked CNCs (iCNCs) adsorbed at the interface of an oil and water and fortified the emulsion droplets (5–30 µm) against coalescence by lowering the interfacial tension from 65 mN/m (i.e., pure CNC mixture with oil) to 25 mN/m (i.e., iCNC mixture with oil) and reducing zeta potential with surface charge values (–30 mV to –10 mV), ideal to maintain droplet layer assembly at the water–oil interface. This study provided an alternative approach to achieve particle-stabilized and surfactant-free emulsions by using divalent metal nitrates to develop “clean” emulsion-based technologies for applications in many industries from agriculture to food to pharmaceuticals.
Sexually transmitted infections and associated risk factors among sexual minority women in China
Authors: Wang Xiaofang , Ouyang Zhaohui , Liu Enwu , Han Mengjie
Published: December 2023

There is a potential for transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) within sexual minority women (SMW) in China. However, research specifically focused on STIs among SMW in China is severely limited. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of STIs and identify associated risk factors among SMW in Beijing, China. This study comprised a baseline assessment followed by a follow-up evaluation. Consistent questionnaire interviews and STI tests were administered during both stages. Participants were recruited online in Beijing between 2020 and 2021 and factors associated with STIs were analyzed using logistic and Cox regression models. The baseline included 219 SMW, and 58.9% (129/219) of these individuals participated in the follow-up. During the baseline assessment, 4.1% (9/219) tested positive for chlamydia infection, while 5.0% (11/219) were HSV-2 seropositive. At the follow-up, the incidence of HSV-2 was 3.7 cases per 100 person-years. Notably, engaging in sexual activity with men and having an increased number of sexual partners were both identified as factors associated with a higher risk of STIs. The findings suggest that SMW in Beijing may face a significant risk of contracting STIs. As a preventive measure, there should be a concerted effort to promote STI testing within the SMW community.
Anti-deadzone adaptive fuzzy dynamic surface control for planar space robot with elastic base and flexible links
Authors: Huang Xiao-qin , Huang Deng-feng
Published: December 2023

In order to combat the impact of the dead zone and reduce vibration of the space robot's elastic base and flexible links, the trajectory tracking and vibration suppression of a multi-flexible-link free-floating space robot system are addressed. First, the elastic connection between the base and the link is considered as a linear spring. Then the assumed mode approach is used to derive the dynamic model of the flexible system. Secondly, a slow subsystem characterizing the rigid motion and a fast subsystem relating to vibration of the elastic base and multiple flexible links are generated utilizing two-time scale hypotheses of singular perturbation. For the slow subsystem with a dead zone in joint input torque, a dynamic surface control method with adaptive fuzzy approximator is designed. Dynamic surface control scheme is adopted to avoid calculation expansion and to simplify calculation. The fuzzy logic function is applied to approximate uncertain terms of the dynamic equation including the dead zone errors. For the fast subsystem, an optimal linear quadratic regulator controller is used to suppress the vibration of the multiple flexible links and elastic base, ensuring the stability and tracking accuracy of the system. Lastly, the simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.
The study on the effect of mercury pollution on soil microorganisms around mercury mining area
Authors: Du Jianxiong , Ren Yuxiang , Li Jianfeng , Zhang Shuqing , Huang Huiqiong , Liu Jie
Published: December 2023

In order to further explore the effects of soil mercury pollution on soil microbial diversity and community structure, soil samples were randomly collected from 2 m, 20 m, 30 m, 500 m and 650 m periphery of Wanshan mining area, as 5 different treatments. Each treatment had 4 replicates. Soil microbial DNA was extracted from 20 soil samples, and then high-throughput sequencing technology was used to analyse the structure and distribution of bacterial and fungal communities. The results showed that the number of bacterial and fungal communities in T0–T30 treatments was significantly larger than that in T500–T650 treatments at order, family and genus level. Whatever, the number of uniquely distributed bacterial and fungal communities among 4 replicates soil samples was quite different at order, family and genus level. The results of the effect on the microbial community structure showed that there were both the same dominant bacterial and fungal communities, and the different dominant bacterial and fungal communities at any classification level, moreover, the number of same dominant bacterial and fungal communities was larger than that of different dominant bacterial and fungal communities. The results of relationship between soil environment factors and bacterial and fungal community structure showed that distance (Hg2+), EC and pH had a high correlation with community structure, especially the distance factor, that is, the content of mercury in soil had the highest effects on community structure. The internal heterogeneity of soil caused significant differences in bacterial and fungal community structure, and the emergence of dominant bacterial and fungal communities was a manifestation of better adaptability to long-term mercury stress and other stresses in soil, which will provide a scientific reference for further exploring the mechanism of mercury enrichment between microorganisms and plants.
First isolation of Mycobacterium saskatchewanense from medical devices
Authors: Bisognin Francesco , Ferraro Vincenzo , Sorella Federica , Lombardi Giulia , Lazzarotto Tiziana , Dal Monte Paola
Published: December 2023

Mycobacterium saskatchewanense is a species of pigmented slow-growing Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM), positive for Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) by AccuProbe system. MAC organisms have frequently been isolated from different medical devices. This is the first study reporting isolation of M. saskatchewanense from medical devices and highlights the importance of correctly identifying the NTMs that often colonize sanitary water. GenoType Mycobacterium CM CE-IVD kit (CM) was used as the first step of NTM strain identification, and all positive cultures were found to be components of MAC. Then, GenoType NTM-DR CE-IVD kit (NTM-DR) was used to differentiate the different species. Sub-culture on solid media were used for: (i) phenotypical confirmation by colony morphology and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry; (ii) molecular confirmation by Next Generation Sequencing. All positive cultures were identified as M. intracellulare by CM and NTM-DR assays, whereas colony morphology showed bright yellow scotochromogenic growth. MALDI-TOF analyses identified the strains as M. saskatchewanense with a high score, and identification was confirmed by NGS analysis based on the hsp-65 region. This paper suggests that it is important to actively monitor NTM contamination in medical devices that use sanitary water, to prevent the possibility of patients becoming infected.
Between-sexes differences in lumbopelvic muscle mechanical properties of non-climacteric adults: a cross-sectional design
Authors: Rodrigues-de-Souza Daiana Priscila , Casas-Castro Azahara , Carmona-Pérez María Cristina , García-Luque Lourdes , Alcaraz-Clariana Sandra , Garrido-Castro Juan Luis , Alburquerque-Sendín Francisco
Published: December 2023

The lumbopelvic muscle mechanical properties (MMPs) are clinically relevant, but their dependence on sex remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to identify if lumbopelvic MMPs depend on the sex in a young adult population. Thirty-five healthy nulliparous women and 35 healthy men were analyzed (age range: 18–50). Lumbopelvic MMPs, that is, tone, stiffness, elasticity, relaxation and creep, assessed with MyotonPRO®, and pelvic floor (PF) health questionnaires were compared between-sexes. Intra-group correlations between sociodemographic and clinical data, and MMPs were also determined. The MMPs of PF were different between healthy non-climacteric adults of both sexes, with women showing higher values of tone and stiffness and lower values of elasticity and viscoelastic properties than men (in all cases, p < 0.03). At lumbar level, tone and stiffness were higher for men at both sides (in all cases, p < 0.04), and relaxation was lower at left side (p = 0.02). The MMPs showed few correlations with sociodemographic data within women. However, within males, there were positive correlations for PF stiffness and viscoelastic parameters with age, BMI and function (0.334 < r < 0.591) and, at lumbar level, negative correlations for tone and stiffness ( − 0.385 < r < −0.590) and positive correlations for viscoelastic properties (0.564 < r < 0.719), with BMI. This indicated that between-sexes differences of lumbopelvic MMPs depend on the specific location of assessment in healthy non-obese young individuals. Women show higher tone and stiffness and lower elasticity and viscoelasticity than men, at PF level.
Analysis of energy loss in the helical hedge flow channel of fruit tree root emitter
Authors: Zhang Jun , Li Xu , Zhang Shouping , Zhang Mengli
Published: December 2023

This paper proposes the design of a helical hedge flow channel with a high energy loss, which shows promising potential for application in fruit tree root emitters. The aim is to investigate the relationship between the energy loss form in the channel and its influencing factors. The hydraulic performance testing method is employed to analyze the factors that affect energy loss. The main influencing factors are determined using the response surface methodology (RSM) for experimental design. Based on the obtained experimental results, the energy loss form and influencing factors are analyzed, and a prediction model for the energy loss coefficient (ξ) is established. The results indicate that the ξ exhibits a decreasing trend with an increase in the diversion angle (α), a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with an increase in the channel width (b), and an increasing trend with an increase in the number of channel units (n). The effects of the straight section length (l1), convergence section length (l2), and bend radius (r) on the ξ can be neglected. The ranking of the geometric parameters' influence on the ξ is as follows: n > b > α > l1 > r > l2. The experimental results reveal that the ξ ranges from 19.2 to 234.3. Furthermore, the head loss along the flow channel constitutes merely 0.06–0.47% of the local head loss, The main form of energy loss in the spiral counter flow channel is local head loss. There is a significant linear relationship between α, b, n and the ξ, The established prediction model (R2 = 0.9691) can accurately predict the ξ of the channel.