bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The ‘Diderot Objection’ to Plantinga's Reformed Epistemology
Authors: Aijaz Imran
Published: February 2023

In response to Pascal's famous wager argument for adopting Christian belief, Denis Diderot noted that ‘An Imam could just as well reason this way’. In this article, I will show how Diderot's observation about Pascal's argument can legitimately be made about Alvin Plantinga's Reformed Epistemology (RE) and its use in defending the rationality of Christian belief. Plantinga's RE can, with some minor adjustments, easily be adopted by Muslims. I shall argue that an Islamic analogue of Plantinga's Christian RE presents an undercutting rationality defeater for Christian belief for those reflective Christians who adopt Plantinga-style religious epistemology. I call this defeater the ‘Diderot Objection’ to Plantinga's RE. As part of my discussion, I will consider how Plantinga attempts to respond to this sort of objection and will show why his response runs into difficulties.
Wittgensteinian blasphemy: what it's like to be a heretic
Authors: McCraw Benjamin W.
Published: February 2023

In this article, I explore a Wittgensteinian approach to blasphemy. While philosophy of religion tends to have very little to say about blasphemy, we can note two key, typically unchallenged, assumptions about it. First, there is the Assertion from Anywhere Assumption: whether one can successfully blaspheme is entirely independent of one's religious views, commitments, or way of life. Second, there is the Act of Communication Assumption: blasphemy is essentially an act of assertion. I contend that a Wittgensteinian approach rejects both assumptions and, thus, reorients our conception of blasphemy. Take two characteristically Wittgensteinian claims. First, religious statements/beliefs have a different ‘grammar’ than empirical propositions. Second (and relatedly), holding religious beliefs necessarily connects with how one lives. Wittgensteinian blasphemy rejects the Assertion from Anywhere Assumption: to blaspheme, one must be in or have been in the religious framework one blasphemes. Being entirely outside of that context divests one's blasphemy from its proper content. Second, Wittgensteinian blasphemy rejects the Act of Communication Assumption: if religious belief is centrally a form of life, then blasphemy must be lived out as well. Wittgensteinian blasphemy is less about the utterances one makes and more about how one's life intersects (or fails to intersect) with religiosity.
From the pragmatics of charades to the creation of language
Authors: Chater Nick , Christiansen Morten H.
Published: February 2023

We agree with Heintz & Scott-Phillips that pragmatics does not supplement, but is prior to and underpins, language. Indeed, human non-linguistic communication is astonishingly rich, flexible, and subtle, as we illustrate through the game of charades, where people improvise communicative signals when linguistic channels are blocked. The route from non-linguistic charade-like communication to combinatorial language involves (1) local processes of conventionalization and grammaticalization and (2) spontaneous order arising from mutual constraints between different communicative signals.
Metarepresentation, trust, and “unleashed expression”
Authors: Berio Leda , Newen Albert , Moore Richard
Published: February 2023

Heintz & Scott-Phillips's account of human expression leaves a number of central issues unclear – not least, whether the lack of expression in nonhuman species is attributable to their lack of the relevant metarepresentational abilities, an absence of trust, or a consequence of other factors. In place of their view, we propose a gradualistic account of the origins of human expression.
Teaching unleashes expression
Authors: Gärdenfors Peter
Published: February 2023

I propose that the evolution of teaching has been central in extending manipulative intentions. Demonstrating may be the evolutionarily first form of expression that is productive, ostensive, and involves informative intention. Demonstration also involves theory of mind. Then pantomime goes a step further and involves a communicative intention. Pantomime can thereby function as displaced communication used for more complex expressions.
Expression unleashed in artificial intelligence
Authors: Tolstaya Ekaterina I. , Gupta Abhinav , Hughes Edward
Published: February 2023

The problem of generating generally capable agents is an important frontier in artificial intelligence (AI) research. Such agents may demonstrate open-ended, versatile, and diverse modes of expression, similar to humans. We interpret the work of Heintz & Scott-Phillips as a minimal sufficient set of socio-cognitive biases for the emergence of generally expressive AI, separate yet complementary to existing algorithms.
Putting the cart before the horse? The origin of information donation
Authors: Burkart Judith M. , Sehner Sandro , Brügger Rahel K. , Adriaense Jessie E. C. , van Schaik Carel P.
Published: February 2023

Heintz & Scott-Phillips propose that the partner choice ecology of our ancestors required Gricean cognitive pragmatics for reputation management, which caused a tendency toward showing and expecting prosociality that subsequently scaffolded language evolution. Here, we suggest a cognitively leaner explanation that is more consistent with comparative data and posits that prosociality and eventually language evolved along with cooperative breeding.
TGA + IVS + LVOTO: patterns of practice and outcomes
Authors: Esmaeil Husain , Jacobs Jeffrey P. , Tchervenkov Christo I. , Kansy Andrzej , Maruszewski Bohdan , Tobota Zdzislaw , St. Louis James D. , Kirklin James K. , Overman David M. , Vida Vladimiro , Herbst Claudia , Ashfaq Awais , Al-Halees Zohair , Sarris George E.
Published: February 2023

Purpose:

Transposition of great arteries with intact ventricular septum and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (TGA + IVS + LVOTO) is uncommon. We reviewed operations performed in patients with TGA + IVS + LVOTO in the European Congenital Heart Surgeons Association Congenital Database (ECHSA-CD).

Methods:

All 109 patients with a diagnosis of TGA + IVS + LVOTO in ECHSA-CD who underwent cardiac surgery during a 21-year period (01/2000-02/2021, inclusive) were included. Preoperative variables, operative data, and postoperative outcomes were collected.

Results:

These 109 patients underwent 176 operations, including 37 (21.0%) arterial switch operations (ASO), 26 (14.2%) modified Blalock-Taussig-Thomas shunts (MBTTS), 11 (6.2%) Rastelli operations, and 13 (7.3%) other palliative operations (8 superior cavopulmonary anastomosis[es], 4 Fontan, and 1 other palliative procedure). Of 37 patients undergoing ASO, 22 had a concomitant procedure.

There were 68 (38.6%) reoperations, including 11 pacemaker procedures and 8 conduit operations. After a systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt, reoperations included shunt reoperation (n = 4), Rastelli (n = 4), and superior cavopulmonary anastomosis (n = 3).

Overall Operative Mortality was 8.2% (9 deaths), including three following ASO, two following “Nikaidoh, Kawashima, or LV-PA conduit” procedures, and two following Rastelli. Postoperative complications occurred after 36 operations (20.4%). The most common complications were delayed sternal closure (n = 11), postoperative respiratory insufficiency requiring mechanical ventilation >7 days (n = 9), and renal failure requiring temporary dialysis (n = 8).

Conclusion:

TGA + IVS + LVOTO is rare (109 patients in ECHSA-CD over 21 years). ASO, MBTTS, and Rastelli are the most common operations performed for TGA + IVS + LVOTO. Larger international studies with long-term follow-up are needed to better define the anatomy of the LVOTO and to determine the optimal surgical strategy.
SMITH AT 300: EMPATHY AND SYMPATHY: LESSONS FOR OUR TIME
Authors: Fontaine Philippe
Published: February 2023

“Sympathy, however, cannot, in any sense, be regarded as a selfish principle. When I sympathize with your sorrow or your indignation, it may be pretended, indeed, that my emotion is founded in self-love, because it arises from bringing your case home to myself, from putting myself in your situation, and thence conceiving what I should feel in the like circumstances. But though sympathy is very properly said to arise from an imaginary change of situations with the person principally concerned, yet this imaginary change is not supposed to happen to me in my own person and character, but in that of the person with whom I sympathize. When I condole with you for the loss of your only son, in order to enter into your grief I do not consider what I, a person of such a character and profession should suffer, if I had a son, and if that son was unfortunately to die: but I consider what I should suffer if I was really you, and I not only change circumstances with you, but I change persons and characters.”
‘They convert, I also convert’: the neighborhood effects and tea farmers' intention to convert to organic farming
Authors: Van Vu Hong , Heo Yoon , Doanh Nguyen Khanh
Published: February 2023

This study aims to analyze the influence of neighborhood effects (NE) on tea farmers' intention to convert from traditional to organic farming in the mountainous areas of northern Vietnam. It differs from previous studies in two aspects. First, we combine the theory of planned behavior and the theory of herd behavior to explain farmers' intention to convert from traditional to organic farming, focusing on the impact of the NE. Secondly, to measure NE, we use a combination of questionnaires and methods of measuring herd behavior by McCartney and Shah. Using the generalized structural equation modeling and data collected from 263 tea farmers in Thai Nguyen, we found that NE has a positive and direct significant effect on farmers' intention to convert to organic tea production in the case where neighbors both live nearby and have a close relationship with the subject. In addition, it indirectly impacts farmers' conversion intention through attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavior control. To encourage tea farmers to convert to organic farming, policymakers and extension workers should take advantage of the NE to increase farmers' confidence about the benefits and the possibility of successful organic farming.
High-School Students’ Continuous Engagement in Taekwondo Activity
Authors: Son Won Ho , Yang Jae Young
Published: February 2023

Abstract: Background: Previous research has not investigated why and how adolescents decide to continuously engage in Taekwondo activity, which, based on self-determination theory, has positive effects on diverse (physical, psychological, social) aspects. This study examines the structural relationship between three psychological needs (autonomy, competence, relatedness), intrinsic motivation, and intentions for Taekwondo activity continuity among high-school students participating in Taekwondo training programs. Methods: High-school students (130 males, 110 females) representing multiple nationalities participated in Taekwondo lessons for one session. During the last session class, they completed three questionnaires, and the collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results: The results revealed that the satisfaction of three psychological needs was positively and directly associated with intrinsic motivation at a statistically significant level. Additionally, intrinsic motivation directly and positively contributed to intentions for Taekwondo activity continuity and mediated the relationship between the satisfaction of psychological needs and intentions to continue Taekwondo at levels of statistical significance. Discussion: The findings indicate that, if high-school students meet three psychological needs during Taekwondo classes, they are likely to internalize positive feelings such as interest, enjoyment, and satisfaction. Further, intrinsically motivated students would be highly willing to continually engage in Taekwondo activity.
Effects of Magnetic Dips on the Propagation of Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves
Authors: Yu Xiongdong , Yuan Zhigang , Huang Zheng , Xue Zuxiang , Zhao Yufeng
Published: February 2023

Recent studies have found that magnetic dips resulting from the diamagnetic motion of injected plasmas can provide a favorable environment for electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) wave excitation. However, another critical question how magnetic dips affect the propagation of EMIC waves remains uncovered. In this paper, with plasma environment as well as wave properties observed in a typical event, theoretical analysis about this topic has been provided. Our results show that in this event both H+ band and He+ band EMIC waves can be constrained in the magnetic dip, which is consistent with the wave emissions observed inside the magnetic dip. The energetic protons have also been found to fall around the saturated states, suggesting a stable balance built among EMIC waves, energetic protons, and magnetic structures. Our results provide one new insight into the EMIC wave propagation inside a magnetic dip and their important roles in the dynamics of magnetic dips.
A Capillary Bundle Model for the Electrical Conductivity of Saturated Frozen Porous Media
Authors: Luo Haoliang , Jougnot Damien , Jost Anne , Teng Jidong , Thanh Luong Duy
Published: February 2023

Liquid water in frozen porous media provides the path for moisture and solute migration, which is one of the essential problems to study thaw‐weakening and frost‐heave in freezing region engineering. Determining and monitoring liquid water saturation and permeability in saturated frozen porous media are therefore critical issues in cold regions. To this end, geophysical methods are tools of choice given their non‐invasive nature. Electrical conductivity as a physical property is related to both the bulk characteristics of saturated porous medium submitted to frozen temperatures, like porosity as well as liquid water content, and surface properties, such as the solid surface‐liquid water and bulk ice‐liquid water interfaces. In this study, we upscale a microstructural procedure of liquid water‐saturated frozen soils to predict the electrical conductivity with different pore size distributions (PSDs). Then, we analyze the model sensitivity to the model parameters and compare the lognormal and fractal PSD models. Furthermore, the proposed model successfully predicts the experimental data of electrical conductivity for different samples from experiments that are part of this work and published data. The proposed model for characterizing electrical conductivity opens up new possibilities to describe the distribution and dynamics of liquid water with geoelectrical and electromagnetic techniques in frozen environments.
African Easterly Wave Evolution and Tropical Cyclogenesis in a Pre‐Helene (2006) Hindcast Using the Model for Prediction Across Scales‐Atmosphere (MPAS‐A)
Authors: Núñez Ocasio K. M. , Rios‐Berrios R.
Published: February 2023

Tropical cyclogenesis (TCG) remains an elusive phenomenon partly due to the limited understanding of complex water vapor‐convection‐wave interactions. The Model for Prediction Across Scales‐Atmosphere (MPAS‐A) was used to study the TCG of the African easterly wave (AEW) that became Hurricane Helene (2006). The two main objectives were: (a) evaluate the capability of MPAS‐A to simulate TCG from an AEW by comparing MPAS‐A—initialized with the Integrated Forecasting System (IFS) and the Global Forecast System (GFS)—with observations together with reanalysis and, (b) use the hindcast to investigate the role of moisture in the mechanisms that led to Helene's TCG. The more intense GFS‐initialized pre‐Helene was slower propagating and was associated with a wetter and stronger monsoon when compared to both the IFS‐initialized simulation and observed. TCG occurred when net moisture flux within the boundary layer toward the center of the wave increased persistently. The reanalysis pre‐genesis top‐heavy vertical mass flux profile transitioned to a bottom‐heavy profile during TCG, whereas the simulations had top‐heavy and bottom‐heavy profiles simultaneously, resulting from a more‐intense and fast‐occurring TCG than in the reanalysis. Moisture‐vortex instability helped explain the vertical mass fluxes and the co‐location of convection, moisture and wave vortex demonstrating to be an applicable theoretical model for TCG. Moisture mode was tested as a diagnostic tool for AEW evolution and TCG. The case exhibited some moisture mode properties, and it is proposed that AEWs become more moisture‐mode like once reaching western Africa and during TCG. An AEW TCG pathway is proposed.
Spatially Explicit Linkages Between Redox Potential Cycles and Soil Moisture Fluctuations
Authors: Miele Filippo , Benettin Paolo , Wang Simiao , Retti Ivan , Asadollahi Mitra , Frutschi Manon , Mohanty Binayak , Bernier‐Latmani Rizlan , Rinaldo Andrea
Published: February 2023

Reduction‐oxidation cycles measured through soil redox potential (Eh) are associated with dynamic soil microbial activity. Understanding changes in the composition of, and resource use by, soil microbial communities requires Eh predictability under shifting hydrologic drivers. Here, 50‐cm soil column installations are manipulated to vary hydrologic and geochemical conditions, and are extensively monitored by a dense instrumental deployment to record the depth‐time variation of physical and biogeochemical conditions. We contrast measurements of Eh, soil saturation and key compounds in water samples (probing the majority of soil microbial metabolisms) with computations of the relevant state variables, to investigate the interplay between soil moisture and redox potential dynamics. Our results highlight the importance of joint spatially resolved hydrologic flow/transport and redox processes, the worth of contrasting experiments and computations for a sufficient understanding of the Eh dynamics, and the minimum amount of biogeochemistry needed to characterize the dynamics of electron donors/acceptors that are responsible for the patterns of Eh not directly explained by physical oxic/anoxic transitions. As an example, measured concentrations of sulfate, ammonium and iron II suggest coexistence of both oxic and anoxic conditions. We find that the local saturation velocity (a threshold value of the time derivative of soil saturation) exerts a significant hysteretic control on oxygen intrusion and on the cycling of redox potentials, in contrast with approaches using a single threshold saturation level as the determinant of anoxic conditions. Our findings improve our ability to target how and where hotspots of activity develop within soil microbial communities.
Fibulin2: a negative regulator of BMSC osteogenic differentiation in infected bone fracture healing
Authors: Li Shi-Dan , Xing Wei , Wang Shao-Chuan , Li You-Bin , Jiang Hao , Zheng Han-Xuan , Li Xiao-Ming , Yang Jing , Guo De-Bin , Xie Xiao-Yu , Jiang Ren-Qing , Fan Chao , Li Lei , Xu Xiang , Fei Jun
Published: February 2023

Bone fracture remains a common occurrence, with a population-weighted incidence of approximately 3.21 per 1000. In addition, approximately 2% to 50% of patients with skeletal fractures will develop an infection, one of the causes of disordered bone healing. Dysfunction of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) plays a key role in disordered bone repair. However, the specific mechanisms underlying BMSC dysfunction caused by bone infection are largely unknown. In this study, we discovered that Fibulin2 expression was upregulated in infected bone tissues and that BMSCs were the source of infection-induced Fibulin2. Importantly, Fibulin2 knockout accelerated mineralized bone formation during skeletal development and inhibited inflammatory bone resorption. We demonstrated that Fibulin2 suppressed BMSC osteogenic differentiation by binding to Notch2 and inactivating the Notch2 signaling pathway. Moreover, Fibulin2 knockdown restored Notch2 pathway activation and promoted BMSC osteogenesis; these outcomes were abolished by DAPT, a Notch inhibitor. Furthermore, transplanted Fibulin2 knockdown BMSCs displayed better bone repair potential in vivo. Altogether, Fibulin2 is a negative regulator of BMSC osteogenic differentiation that inhibits osteogenesis by inactivating the Notch2 signaling pathway in infected bone.
Signaling pathways in rheumatoid arthritis: implications for targeted therapy
Authors: Ding Qian , Hu Wei , Wang Ran , Yang Qinyan , Zhu Menglin , Li Meng , Cai Jianghong , Rose Peter , Mao Jianchun , Zhu Yi Zhun
Published: February 2023

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an incurable systemic autoimmune disease. Disease progression leads to joint deformity and associated loss of function, which significantly impacts the quality of life for sufferers and adds to losses in the labor force. In the past few decades, RA has attracted increased attention from researchers, the abnormal signaling pathways in RA are a very important research field in the diagnosis and treatment of RA, which provides important evidence for understanding this complex disease and developing novel RA-linked intervention targets. The current review intends to provide a comprehensive overview of RA, including a general introduction to the disease, historical events, epidemiology, risk factors, and pathological process, highlight the primary research progress of the disease and various signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms, including genetic factors, epigenetic factors, summarize the most recent developments in identifying novel signaling pathways in RA and new inhibitors for treating RA. therapeutic interventions including approved drugs, clinical drugs, pre-clinical drugs, and cutting-edge therapeutic technologies. These developments will hopefully drive progress in new strategically targeted therapies and hope to provide novel ideas for RA treatment options in the future.
Quantitative SWATH-based proteomic profiling of urine for the identification of endometrial cancer biomarkers in symptomatic women
Authors: Njoku Kelechi , Pierce Andrew , Geary Bethany , Campbell Amy E. , Kelsall Janet , Reed Rachel , Armit Alexander , Da Sylva Rachel , Zhang Liqun , Agnew Heather , Baricevic-Jones Ivona , Chiasserini Davide , Whetton Anthony D. , Crosbie Emma J.
Published: February 2023

Background

A non-invasive endometrial cancer detection tool that can accurately triage symptomatic women for definitive testing would improve patient care. Urine is an attractive biofluid for cancer detection due to its simplicity and ease of collection. The aim of this study was to identify urine-based proteomic signatures that can discriminate endometrial cancer patients from symptomatic controls.

Methods

This was a prospective case–control study of symptomatic post-menopausal women (50 cancers, 54 controls). Voided self-collected urine samples were processed for mass spectrometry and run using sequential window acquisition of all theoretical mass spectra (SWATH-MS). Machine learning techniques were used to identify important discriminatory proteins, which were subsequently combined in multi-marker panels using logistic regression.

Results

The top discriminatory proteins individually showed moderate accuracy (AUC > 0.70) for endometrial cancer detection. However, algorithms combining the most discriminatory proteins performed well with AUCs > 0.90. The best performing diagnostic model was a 10-marker panel combining SPRR1B, CRNN, CALML3, TXN, FABP5, C1RL, MMP9, ECM1, S100A7 and CFI and predicted endometrial cancer with an AUC of 0.92 (0.96–0.97). Urine-based protein signatures showed good accuracy for the detection of early-stage cancers (AUC 0.92 (0.86–0.9)).

Conclusion

A patient-friendly, urine-based test could offer a non-invasive endometrial cancer detection tool in symptomatic women. Validation in a larger independent cohort is warranted.
Interleukin-35 -producing B cells rescues inflammatory bowel disease in a mouse model via STAT3 phosphorylation and intestinal microbiota modification
Authors: Xie Minxiang , Zhu Yuzhen , Zhou Yunjiao , Wang Qiao , Gu Erli , Chu Yiwei , Wang Luman
Published: February 2023

Interleukin-35 (IL-35)-producing B cells (IL-35+B cells) play an important role in diseases, and the expansion of IL-35+ immune cells have been observed in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, how IL-35+B cells function and the manner in which they perform their roles remain unclear. In this study, human samples and animal models were used to confirm the expansion of IL-35+B cells during IBD. In addition, by using il12a−/− and ebi3−/− mice, we demonstrated that the regulatory role of B cells in IBD depends on IL-35. Mechanically, IL-35+B cells can promote its own expansion through endocrine actions and depend on the transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3. Interestingly, we found that the diversity of intestinal microbes and expression of microbial metabolites decreased during IBD. IL-35+B cells promote the high expression of indoleacetic acid (IAA), and exogenous metabolite supplementation with IAA can further promote the expansion of IL-35+B cells and rescues the disease. This study provides a new concept for the regulatory model of B cells and a new approach for the treatment of IBD.
Mechanism of activation and biased signaling in complement receptor C5aR1
Authors: Feng Yuying , Zhao Chang , Deng Yue , Wang Heli , Ma Liang , Liu Sicen , Tian Xiaowen , Wang Bo , Bin Yan , Chen Peipei , Yan Wei , Fu Ping , Shao Zhenhua
Published: February 2023

The complement system plays an important role in the innate immune response to invading pathogens. The complement fragment C5a is one of its important effector components and exerts diverse physiological functions through activation of the C5a receptor 1 (C5aR1) and associated downstream G protein and β-arrestin signaling pathways. Dysfunction of the C5a-C5aR1 axis is linked to numerous inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases, but the structural basis for activation and biased signaling of C5aR1 remains elusive. Here, we present cryo-electron microscopy structures of the activated wild-type C5aR1–Gi protein complex bound to each of the following: C5a, the hexapeptidic agonist C5apep, and the G protein-biased agonist BM213. The structures reveal the landscape of the C5a–C5aR1 interaction as well as a common motif for the recognition of diverse orthosteric ligands. Moreover, combined with mutagenesis studies and cell-based pharmacological assays, we deciphered a framework for biased signaling using different peptide analogs and provided insight into the activation mechanism of C5aR1 by solving the structure of C5aR1I116A mutant–Gi signaling activation complex induced by C089, which exerts antagonism on wild-type C5aR1. In addition, unusual conformational changes in the intracellular end of transmembrane domain 7 and helix 8 upon agonist binding suggest a differential signal transduction process. Collectively, our study provides mechanistic understanding into the ligand recognition, biased signaling modulation, activation, and Gi protein coupling of C5aR1, which may facilitate the future design of therapeutic agents.
Hybrid graphene electrode for the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy in free-moving animal models
Authors: Lim Jeongsik , Lee Sangwon , Kim Jejung , Hong Jeonghoon , Lim Sooho , Kim Kyungtae , Kim Jeongwoo , Yang Sungchil , Yang Sunggu , Ahn Jong-Hyun
Published: February 2023

Various electrophysiological and imaging techniques have been studied for the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. In particular, electrocorticography (ECoG) provides valuable information that can guide clinical treatment of patients with epilepsy. Currently, it is necessary to define the clinical benefits of ECoG in free-moving animals for the treatment of epilepsy. Here, we present the results of simultaneous recordings of multiple cortical sites and responsive neurostimulations for epilepsy treatment carried out in free-moving rats. In this study, we developed a high-density, flexible electrode array comprising graphene/Au/graphene that stably wraps onto the cortex surface of a living rat brain, exhibiting a superior signal-to-noise ratio. The hybrid graphene multichannel electrode successfully detected brain signals with high-throughput spatiotemporal resolution and substantially suppressed pilocarpine-induced epileptic discharges and behavior. Simultaneous recording and neurostimulation in awake animals can lead to a fundamental change in the treatment of medically intractable epilepsy.
Efficacy of cholecalciferol rodenticide to control wood rat, Rattus tiomanicus and its secondary poisoning impact towards barn owl, Tyto javanica javanica
Authors: Noh Ariff Ateed Mohd , Ahmad Abu Hassan , Salim Hasber
Published: February 2023

Studies were conducted on the potential use of cholecalciferol as an alternative to anticoagulant rodenticides to control common rat pest in oil palm plantations, i.e., wood rats, Rattus tiomanicus, and the secondary poisoning impact of cholecalciferol on barn owls, Tyto javanica javanica. The laboratory efficacy of cholecalciferol (0.075% a.i.) was compared with commonly used first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (FGARs): chlorophacinone (0.005% a.i) and warfarin (0.05% a.i). The 6-day wild wood rat laboratory feeding trial showed cholecalciferol baits had the highest mortality rate at 71.39%. Similarly, the FGAR chlorophacinone recorded a mortality rate of 74.20%, while warfarin baits recorded the lowest mortality rate at 46.07%. The days-to-death of rat samples was in range of 6–8 days. The highest daily consumption of bait by rat samples was recorded for warfarin at 5.85 ± 1.34 g per day while the lowest was recorded in rat samples fed cholecalciferol, i.e., 3.03 ± 0.17 g per day. Chlorophacinone-treated and control rat samples recorded consumption of about 5 g per day. A secondary poisoning assessment on barn owls in captivity fed with cholecalciferol-poisoned rats showed after 7 days of alternate feeding, the barn owls appeared to remain healthy. All the barn owls fed with cholecalciferol-poisoned rats survived the 7-day alternate feeding test and throughout the study, up to 6 months after exposure. All the barn owls did not show any abnormal behavior or physical change. The barn owls were observed to be as healthy as the barn owls from the control group throughout the study.
Serum lactate monitoring may help to predict neurological function impairment caused by acute metabolism crisis
Authors: Liu Dandan , Yao Qing , Song Bin , Sun Yue , Ju Hongyan , Li Guanggang
Published: February 2023

To investigate the predictive value of serum lactate on neurological function impairment and the possible etiology. In this retrospective study, all the adult patients admitted to ICU more than 24 h after general anesthesia elective neurosurgery from January 2018 to January 2019 were recruited. The data of the serum lactate every 8 h during the 24 h of ICU admission were acquired and analyzed. 169 patients were included in the outcomes analysis. The average serum lactate after ICU admission was 3.7(3.4–4.1) mmol/L, higher than normal, and serum lactate elevated commonly after neurosurgery. The serum lactate at ICU admission (lactateserum0h) was not correlated with the outcomes, whereas the predictive value increased as the monitoring time was extended. The result indicated that lactateserum8h, the lactateserum16h, and the lactateserum24h were correlated with the primary outcome (difference of GCS scores before the surgery and after 24 h of ICU admission (ΔGCS24h) (p < 0.05). The lactateserum16h and the lactateserum 24 h were correlated with all the outcomes except for the hospital LOS. The ROC curve suggested that the lactateserum24h achieved the best predictive value. Patients with serum lactate non-recovered trend after 24 h of ICU stay had decreased GCS scores and vice versa, as indicated by the graph of the dynamic changes in the serum lactate. The predictive value of the serum glucose/serum lactate ratio at ICU admission (G/Lserum) was analyzed, and the result indicated that it was correlated with the ΔGCS24h (p < 0.05), the G/Lserum can predict neurological impairment earlier. Dynamic serum lactate monitoring and the G/Lserum at ICU admission have predict value on neurological function impairment after neurosurgery which might be attributed to ACMC.
Modeling cholinergic retinal waves: starburst amacrine cells shape wave generation, propagation, and direction bias
Authors: Tarchick Matthew J. , Clute Dustin A. , Renna Jordan M.
Published: February 2023

Stage II cholinergic retinal waves are one of the first instances of neural activity in the visual system as they are present at a developmental timepoint in which light-evoked activity remains largely undetectable. These waves of spontaneous neural activity sweeping across the developing retina are generated by starburst amacrine cells, depolarize retinal ganglion cells, and drive the refinement of retinofugal projections to numerous visual centers in the brain. Building from several well-established models, we assemble a spatial computational model of starburst amacrine cell-mediated wave generation and wave propagation that includes three significant advancements. First, we model the intrinsic spontaneous bursting of the starburst amacrine cells, including the slow afterhyperpolarization, which shapes the stochastic process of wave generation. Second, we establish a mechanism of wave propagation using reciprocal acetylcholine release, synchronizing the bursting activity of neighboring starburst amacrine cells. Third, we model the additional starburst amacrine cell release of GABA, changing the spatial propagation of retinal waves and in certain instances, the directional bias of the retinal wave front. In total, these advancements comprise a now more comprehensive model of wave generation, propagation, and direction bias.
Ultrasound assessment of gastric contents and volume in patients undergoing endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery: a prospective observational study
Authors: Jia Haitao , He Ertao , Gao Shixiong , Hao Wei , Li Yanli , Liu Wei , Chen Xiaoxia , Jia Yanfei , Wang Yingbin
Published: February 2023

Intraoperative ingestion of blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and irrigation fluid can lead to an increase in gastric volume, resulting in the potential risk of aspiration in patients after endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (EETS). In this prospective observational study, we aimed to assess the volume of gastric contents in patients undergoing this neurosurgical procedure using ultrasound, and to determine the factors associated with volume change. Eighty-two patients diagnosed with pituitary adenoma were recruited consecutively. Semi-quantitative (Perlas scores: 0, 1 and 2) and quantitative (cross-sectional area, CSA) ultrasound assessments of the gastric antrum were performed immediately before and after surgery in the semi-recumbent and semi-recumbent right-lateral positions. Seven (8.5%) patients had antrum scores from preoperative grade 0 to postoperative grade 2; nine (11%) patients had antrum scores from preoperative grade 0 to postoperative grade 1. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of increased gastric volume was 71.0 ± 33.1 mL and 236.5 ± 32.4 mL in postoperative grade 1 and 2 groups, respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that 11 (13.4%) patients (4 in grade 1 and all in grade 2) had postoperative estimated gastric volume > 1.5 mL kg−1 (mean ± SD 3.08 ± 1.67, range 1.51–5.01 mL kg−1). Logistic regression analysis revealed that older age, diabetes mellitus, and long surgical duration were independent risk factors for significant volume change (all P < 0.05). Our results showed a significant increase in gastric volume in some patients who underwent EETS. Bedside ultrasound measurements of gastric volume can be used to assess the postoperative aspiration risk, particularly in older diabetic patients with a longer surgical duration.
Exudate identification in retinal fundus images using precise textural verifications
Authors: Monemian Maryam , Rabbani Hossein
Published: February 2023

One of the most salient diseases of retina is Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) which may lead to irreparable damages to eye vision in the advanced phases. A large number of the people infected with diabetes experience DR. The early identification of DR signs facilitates the treatment process and prevents from blindness. Hard Exudates (HE) are bright lesions appeared in retinal fundus images of DR patients. Thus, the detection of HEs is an important task preventing the progress of DR. However, the detection of HEs is a challenging process due to their different appearance features. In this paper, an automatic method for the identification of HEs with various sizes and shapes is proposed. The method works based on a pixel-wise approach. It considers several semi-circular regions around each pixel. For each semi-circular region, the intensity changes around several directions and non-necessarily equal radiuses are computed. All pixels for which several semi-circular regions include considerable intensity changes are considered as the pixels located in HEs. In order to reduce false positives, an optic disc localization method is proposed in the post-processing phase. The performance of the proposed method has been evaluated on DIARETDB0 and DIARETDB1 datasets. The experimental results confirm the improved performance of the suggested method in term of accuracy.
Amniotic membrane application in surgical treatment of conjunctival tumors
Authors: Furdova Alena , Czanner Gabriela , Koller Jan , Vesely Pavol , Furda Robert , Pridavkova Zuzana
Published: February 2023

The amniotic membrane (AM) has special properties, making it ideal for clinical applications in various surgical fields like ophthalmology. It is used more frequently to cover conjunctival and corneal defects. In our retrospective study we have been combined 68 patients with epibulbar conjunctival tumors they have been surgically treated in the period of 2011–2021. Seven (10.3%) patients have been treated with AM application after surgical removal of the tumor. 54 (79%) cases were malignant, and 14 (21%) were benign. In the analyzed dataset the males had just slightly higher chance of malignancy than females, 80% versus 78.3%. For the significancy calculation the Fisher exact test was used and the result proved no significancy (p = 0.99). Six patients with AM application were malignant. The observed difference in the number of quadrants of the bulbar conjunctiva infiltrated versus significant malignancy with p = 0.050 calculated by Fisher Exact test and with p = 0.023 calculated by Likelihood-ratio test. The results of our study indicate that AM grafts are an effective alternative to cover defects after removal of epibulbar lesions due to their anti-inflammatory properties because the conjunctiva must be preserved, and especially the most important application is in malignant epibulbar conjunctival tumors.
Bidirectional alterations in brain temperature profoundly modulate spatiotemporal neurovascular responses in-vivo
Authors: Boorman Luke W. , Harris Samuel S. , Shabir Osman , Lee Llywelyn , Eyre Beth , Howarth Clare , Berwick Jason
Published: February 2023

Neurovascular coupling (NVC) is a mechanism that, amongst other known and latent critical functions, ensures activated brain regions are adequately supplied with oxygen and glucose. This biological phenomenon underpins non-invasive perfusion-related neuroimaging techniques and recent reports have implicated NVC impairment in several neurodegenerative disorders. Yet, much remains unknown regarding NVC in health and disease, and only recently has there been burgeoning recognition of a close interplay with brain thermodynamics. Accordingly, we developed a novel multi-modal approach to systematically modulate cortical temperature and interrogate the spatiotemporal dynamics of sensory-evoked NVC. We show that changes in cortical temperature profoundly and intricately modulate NVC, with low temperatures associated with diminished oxygen delivery, and high temperatures inducing a distinct vascular oscillation. These observations provide novel insights into the relationship between NVC and brain thermodynamics, with important implications for brain-temperature related therapies, functional biomarkers of elevated brain temperature, and in-vivo methods to study neurovascular coupling.
Induced spawning with gamete release from body ruptures during reproduction of Xenoturbella bocki
Authors: Nakano Hiroaki , Nakano Ako , Maeno Akiteru , Thorndyke Michael C.
Published: February 2023

Xenoturbella is a marine invertebrate with a simple body plan, with recent phylogenomic studies suggesting that it forms the phylum Xenacoelomorpha together with the acoelomorphs. The phylogenetic position of the phylum is still under debate, whether it is an early branching bilaterian or a sister group to the Ambulacraria. Phylogenetic traits often appear during development, and larva resembling the cnidarian planula has been reported for Xenoturbella. However, subsequent developmental studies on Xenoturbella have been scarce. This is mainly due to the difficulties in collecting and keeping adult animals, resulting in the lack of data on the reproduction of the animal, such as the breeding season and the spawning pattern. Here we report on the reproduction of X. bocki and confirm that its breeding season is winter. Spawning induction resulted in gametes being released from body ruptures and not the mouth. No evidence supported the animal as a simultaneous hermaphrodite.
A mathematical model of fibrinogen-mediated erythrocyte–erythrocyte adhesion
Authors: Lopes Catarina S. , Curty Juliana , Carvalho Filomena A. , Hernández-Machado A. , Kinoshita Koji , Santos Nuno C. , Travasso Rui D. M.
Published: February 2023

Erythrocytes are deformable cells that undergo progressive biophysical and biochemical changes affecting the normal blood flow. Fibrinogen, one of the most abundant plasma proteins, is a primary determinant for changes in haemorheological properties, and a major independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. In this study, the adhesion between human erythrocytes is measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and its effect observed by micropipette aspiration technique, in the absence and presence of fibrinogen. These experimental data are then used in the development of a mathematical model to examine the biomedical relevant interaction between two erythrocytes. Our designed mathematical model is able to explore the erythrocyte–erythrocyte adhesion forces and changes in erythrocyte morphology. AFM erythrocyte–erythrocyte adhesion data show that the work and detachment force necessary to overcome the adhesion between two erythrocytes increase in the presence of fibrinogen. The changes in erythrocyte morphology, the strong cell-cell adhesion and the slow separation of the two cells are successfully followed in the mathematical simulation. Erythrocyte-erythrocyte adhesion forces and energies are quantified and matched with experimental data. The changes observed on erythrocyte–erythrocyte interactions may give important insights about the pathophysiological relevance of fibrinogen and erythrocyte aggregation in hindering microcirculatory blood flow.
Copy number variation-associated lncRNAs may contribute to the etiologies of congenital heart disease
Authors: Lu Yibo , Fang Qing , Qi Ming , Li Xiaoliang , Zhang Xingyu , Lin Yuwan , Xiang Ying , Fu Qihua , Wang Bo
Published: February 2023

Copy number variations (CNVs) have long been recognized as pathogenic factors for congenital heart disease (CHD). Few CHD associated CNVs could be interpreted as dosage effect due to disruption of coding sequences. Emerging evidences have highlighted the regulatory roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cardiac development. Whereas it remains unexplored whether lncRNAs within CNVs (CNV-lncRNAs) could contribute to the etiology of CHD associated CNVs. Here we constructed coexpression networks involving CNV-lncRNAs within CHD associated CNVs and protein coding genes using the human organ developmental transcriptomic data, and showed that CNV-lncRNAs within 10 of the non-syndromic CHD associated CNVs clustered in the most significant heart correlated module, and had highly correlated coexpression with multiple key CHD genes. HSALNG0104472 within 15q11.2 region was identified as a hub CNV-lncRNA with heart-biased expression and validated experimentally. Our results indicated that HSALNG0104472 should be a main effector responsible for cardiac defects of 15q11.2 deletion through regulating cardiomyocytes differentiation. Our findings suggested that CNV-lncRNAs could potentially contribute to the pathologies of a maximum proportion of 68.4% (13/19) of non-syndromic CHD associated CNVs. These results indicated that explaining the pathogenesis of CHD associated CNVs should take account of the noncoding regions.
Electrochemical synthesis of 2-alkyl-4-phenylalkan-2-ols via cathodic reductive coupling of alkynes with unactivated aliphatic ketones
Authors: Dapkekar Anil Balajirao , Satyanarayana Gedu
Published: February 2023

Herein, we present an efficient electrochemical method for synthesizing tertiary alcohols through an electrochemically driven cathodic reductive coupling of the alkynes with unactivated aliphatic ketones under mild conditions.
Direct measurement of single-molecule dynamics and reaction kinetics in confinement using time-resolved transmission electron microscopy
Authors: Fung Kayleigh L. Y. , Skowron Stephen T. , Hayter Ruth , Mason Stephen E. , Weare Benjamin L. , Besley Nicholas A. , Ramasse Quentin M. , Allen Christopher S. , Khlobystov Andrei N.
Published: February 2023

We report experimental methodologies utilising transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as an imaging tool for reaction kinetics at the single molecule level, in direct space and with spatiotemporal continuity.
Mg(i)–Fe(–ii) and Mg(0)–Mg(i) covalent bonding in the MgnFe(CO)4− (n = 1, 2) anion complexes: an infrared photodissociation spectroscopic and theoretical study
Authors: Jin Xiaoyang , Wang Guanjun , Zhou Mingfei
Published: February 2023

Heteronuclear magnesium–iron complexes MgFe(CO)4− and Mg2Fe(CO)4− are characterized by infrared photodissociation spectroscopy and theoretical calculations and shown to contain an electron-sharing Mg(i)–Fe(–ii) σ bond and a weak covalent Mg(0)–Mg(i) σ bond.
Surface species in direct liquid phase synthesis of dimethyl carbonate from methanol and CO2: an MCR-ALS augmented ATR-IR study
Authors: Signorile Matteo , Salusso Davide , Crocellà Valentina , Paganini Maria Cristina , Bordiga Silvia , Bonino Francesca , Ferri Davide
Published: February 2023

The reaction mechanism of CO2and methanol toward dimethyl carbonate over ZrO2in the liquid phase is elucidated by means of ATR-IR augmented by MCR-ALS analysis.
First principles approach for promising oxide ion conducting ABGa3O7 melilite structures
Authors: Neitzel-Grieshammer Steffen
Published: February 2023

First principles based evaluation of 20 compositions of ABGa3O7 melilites with respect to the ionic conductivity.
Electrochemical processing in molten salts – a nuclear perspective
Authors: Mirza Mateen , Abdulaziz Rema , Maskell William C. , Wilcock Steven , Jones Arfon H. , Woodall Sean , Jackson Angela , Shearing Paul R. , Brett Dan J. L.
Published: February 2023

A critical review of electrochemistry in molten salts for the processing of materials in the nuclear power sector, covering the design and performance of different reactors and an overview of the electrochemistry of relevant actinides and lanthanides.
Coupling of solvent-free synthesis and reactive extrusion of alumina: an ecologically efficient integration for heterogenous catalyst synthesis
Authors: Dassie Pierre-Igor , Haddad Ryma , Lenez Maud , Chaumonnot Alexandra , Boualleg Malika , Legriel Patrick , Styskalik Ales , Haye Bernard , Selmane Mohamed , Debecker Damien P. , Sanchez Clement , Chaneac Corinne , Boissiere Cedric
Published: February 2023

Solvent-free sol–gel reactive extrusion leads to the direct synthesis and shaping of high quality γ-alumina extrudates with good catalytic properties. Such coupling allows an important process intensification and a strong economy of atoms and energy.