bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Childhood trauma associated with increased post-awakening cortisol in major depressive disorder
Authors: Sendi Shabaz , Fischer Susanne , Papadopoulos Andrew , Poon Lucia , Rane Lena J. , Fekadu Abebaw , Mondelli Valeria , Cleare Anthony J.
Published: February 2023

Background

Enhanced post-awakening cortisol may serve as a biological marker for individuals with major depressive disorder. However, studies comparing post-awakening cortisol between patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls have produced conflicting findings. The aim of this study was to investigate whether this inconsistency could be due to the effects of childhood trauma.

Methods

A total of N = 112 patients with MDD and healthy controls were divided into four groups according to the presence of childhood trauma. Saliva samples were collected at awakening and 15, 30, 45, and 60 min later. The total cortisol output and the cortisol awakening response (CAR) were calculated.

Results

The total post-awakening cortisol output was significantly higher in patients with MDD as compared to healthy controls, but only in those individuals reporting childhood trauma. The four groups did not differ regarding the CAR.

Conclusions

Elevated post-awakening cortisol in MDD may be confined to those with a history of early life stress. Tailoring and/or augmenting of currently available treatments may be required to meet the specific needs of this population.
Preference organization and possible -isms in institutional interaction: The case of adult second language classrooms
Authors: Tadic Nadja
Published: February 2023

This study examines preference organization in adult second language classrooms in relation to possible -isms—utterances which are hearably racist, classist, (hetero)sexist, or otherwise exclusionary, although their exclusionary nature may be (re)negotiated in situ. A collection of sixty-one possible -isms from a corpus of fifty-five hours of video-recorded English second language classes was examined using conversation analysis and membership categorization analysis. The analysis shows that participants orient to solidarity by supporting -isms, progressivity by deleting -isms, and moral accountability by challenging -isms; however, participants prioritize solidarity, enacting it early, even in cases of deletion and challenges. I argue that this preference organization is rooted in the institutional roles and objectives of adult second language classrooms, where presumably competent members of diverse cultures aim to foster an environment for active participation. Findings underscore the importance of conducting microanalyses of talk-in-interaction to uncover structural constraints which facilitate the reproduction of systemic exclusion. (-isms, preference, conversation analysis, membership categorization analysis, classroom interaction, exclusion in interaction)*
Description invariance: a rational principle for human agents
Authors: Fisher Sarah A.
Published: February 2023

This article refines a foundational tenet of rational choice theory known as the principle of description invariance. Attempts to apply this principle to human agents with imperfect knowledge have paid insufficient attention to two aspects: first, agents’ epistemic situations, i.e. whether and when they recognize alternative descriptions of an object to be equivalent; and second, the individuation of objects of description, i.e. whether and when objects count as the same or different. An important consequence is that many apparent ‘framing effects’ may not violate the principle of description invariance, and the subjects of these effects may not be irrational.
Intersection theorems for finite general linear groups
Authors: ERNST ALENA , SCHMIDT KAI–UWE
Published: February 2023

A subset Y of the general linear group
$\text{GL}(n,q)$
is called t-intersecting if
$\text{rk}(x-y)\le n-t$
for all
$x,y\in Y$
, or equivalently x and y agree pointwise on a t-dimensional subspace of
$\mathbb{F}_q^n$
for all
$x,y\in Y$
. We show that, if n is sufficiently large compared to t, the size of every such t-intersecting set is at most that of the stabiliser of a basis of a t-dimensional subspace of
$\mathbb{F}_q^n$
. In case of equality, the characteristic vector of Y is a linear combination of the characteristic vectors of the cosets of these stabilisers. We also give similar results for subsets of
$\text{GL}(n,q)$
that intersect not necessarily pointwise in t-dimensional subspaces of
$\mathbb{F}_q^n$
and for cross-intersecting subsets of
$\text{GL}(n,q)$
. These results may be viewed as variants of the classical Erdős–Ko–Rado Theorem in extremal set theory and are q-analogs of corresponding results known for the symmetric group. Our methods are based on eigenvalue techniques to estimate the size of the largest independent sets in graphs and crucially involve the representation theory of
$\text{GL}(n,q)$
.
Nepal's Constitutional Foundations between Revolution and Cold War (1950–60)
Authors: Malagodi Mara
Published: February 2023

The 1950s represent a foundational decade in Nepal's constitutional history. In the wake of decolonization in British India, the “year 7 revolution” (1950–51) grew out of the alliance between King Tribhuvan Shah and Nepal's democratic political parties created in India against the Rana autocratic regime in Kathmandu. Eventually the pro-democracy forces prevailed, and a crucial political transition began. Two constitutions were promulgated, the 1951 Interim Constitution and the 1959 Constitution. Both short lived and only partially implemented, these documents, however, laid the foundations of Nepal's constitutional edifice for years to come. Constitution building became a marker of sovereignty understood in terms of independence and an assertion of popular sovereignty. However, in the fraught Cold War context, the preoccupation with securing political stability by constitutional means that centered around the Shah monarchy prevailed, even at the expense of democracy. As such, the shift from a traditional notion of sovereignty from above to a modern concept of sovereignty from below remained incomplete. These aspirations, however, were not extinguished even by 30 years of royal autocracy under the Panchayat regime (1960–90) and lived on to this day to inform demands for constitutional reform, democratization, and inclusion. The present analysis is based on Nepali primary legal sources, archival material from the United Kingdom and United States National Archives, and the Ivor Jennings Private Papers.
Grechaninov's Sister Beatrice and the Consecration of the Stage in Orthodox Russia
Authors: Salkowski David
Published: February 2023

When Alexander Grechaninov's opera Sister Beatrice on a text by Maurice Maeterlinck premiered in Moscow in 1912, it promised to bring together two conceptual worlds, those of symbolist aesthetics and the Russian Orthodox liturgy. Critics who hoped that Grechaninov's experience as a composer of sacred music would help bring alive the ‘unheard music’ of Maeterlinck's symbolist ‘Miracle Play’, however, were sorely disappointed. The opera drew scorn from critics for its overly concrete musical rhetoric, while conservative commentators levelled claims of blasphemy. In this article, I consider the two scenes depicting miracles in Sister Beatrice to demonstrate how it negotiated these competing perspectives, employing insights from religious philosophy as well as symbolist aesthetics. Drawing on new archival evidence, I also demonstrate how church and state censors co-participated with composers and critics debating whether and how the sacred might be displayed on stage and in sound.
Spawning, egg and larval description of the brazilian basslet Gramma brasiliensis Sazima, Gasparini & Moura, 1998 in captivity
Authors: Araújo-Silva Sérgio Leandro , Rocha Vanessa Martins da , Mendonça Raoani Cruz , Mattos Douglas da Cruz , Tsuzuki Mônica Yumi
Published: February 2023

Brazilian basslet Gramma brasiliensis is a fish highly appreciated by the marine ornamental industry. There is an increasing interest in the development of a breeding protocol for this species. However, descriptions of the reproductive biology, eggs and larval development are scarce. This study was the first to describe the spawning, eggs and larvae of G. brasiliensis in captivity, including mouth size information. Six spawning events produced egg masses with 27, 127, 600, 750, 850, and 950 eggs. Larger egg masses showed embryos with at least two different developmental stages. Eggs are spherical (∼1.0 mm diameter), held together by filaments entangling chorionic projections. Larvae with fewer than 12 hph (hours post-hatch) presented 3.55 mm standard-length, well developed eyes, fully absorbed yolk sac, an inflated swim bladder and mouth opened. Exogenous feeding on rotifers began within 12 hph. The average mouth width at first feeding was 0.38 mm. The first settled larva was noted by day 21. This information should help to determine appropriate diets and prey-shift time during the larviculture of the species.
Characteristics of Barotropic Energy Conversion in Rapid Intensifying and Decaying Tropical Cyclones Over the Western North Pacific
Authors: Cao Xi , Wu Renguang , Zhu Peijun , Lan Xiaoqing , Dai Yifeng , Bi Mingyu , Wen Guanhuan , Wang Yuanhao
Published: February 2023

The prediction of the tropical cyclone (TC) intensity remains a difficult issue. This study analyzes local instantaneous barotropic kinetic energy conversion in the lower troposphere in rapid intensifying (RI) and rapid decaying (RD) TCs over the western North Pacific (WNP) during June through November from 1979 to 2017. The kinetic energy conversion to the synoptic eddies is separated for climatological mean, interannual and intraseasonal flows. It is found that the intraseasonal cyclonic flows display a northwest‐southeast orientation in the RI TCs, but a circular feature in the RD TCs. Intraseasonal and climatological mean zonal flows contribute together to the positive kinetic energy conversion in the northwest quadrant of the RI TCs. Intraseasonal meridional flows induce positive (negative) kinetic energy conversion in the northeast (south) part of the RD TCs. The kinetic energy conversion associated with interannual flows is small for both the RI and RD TCs.
Diurnal Cycle and Dipolar Pattern of Precipitation Over Borneo During the MJO: Linear Theory and Nonlinear Sensitivity Experiments
Authors: Zhou Yihao , Wang Shuguang , Fang Juan
Published: February 2023

The precipitation anomaly over Borneo features a dipolar pattern under the influence of the Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO). To understand the formation mechanisms of this pattern, a linear theory is developed to study the factors controlling its diurnal cycles and the dipolar pattern. The theory predicts that the prevailing wind is primarily responsible for the asymmetry over an idealized island, while the topography plays a critical role in the leeward convergence and convection asymmetry. The results are largely consistent with the observed composites of the dipole at Borneo. Nonlinear cloud‐permitting simulations are further conducted to test the effects of island topography and solar radiative heating in different MJO phases. The results show that the island topography can cause the mesoscale flow to split around the mountain due to the topographic blocking, and favor the development of the lee side sea breeze. These processes strengthen the low‐level convergence and convection at the leeside of the island during the late afternoon and night, which is very important to the formation of island dipolar precipitation anomaly. In contrast, the inland convergence is weakened and the dipole disappears when the terrain is flattened. The diurnal cycle of solar insolation is the dominant factor driving the land‐sea breeze circulation, which intensifies the island convection at the leeside. These results indicate that the MJO wind anomaly, island topography and solar insolation play distinct roles in the formation of the dipolar pattern of Borneo precipitation.
Weakening of the Summer Monsoon Over the Past 150 Years Shown by a Tree‐Ring Record From Shandong, Eastern China, and the Potential Role of North Atlantic Climate
Authors: Chen Qiaomei , Zhang Xiaojian , Chen Feng , Zhang Heli , Yuan Yujiang , Yu Shulong , Hadad Martín A. , Roig Fidel A.
Published: February 2023

The causes of the decreased intensity of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) over the past 150 years are still not fully understood, although several studies have linked the monsoon weakening to the warming of tropical oceans. Here, we use pine tree‐rings to reconstruct the precipitation total for April–August from 1810 to 2018, in south‐central Shandong Province, in the EASM region. The reconstruction accounts for 41.8% of the instrumental precipitation variance during 1965–2018. The EASM precipitation reconstruction shows extreme pluvial conditions in 1832, 1833, 1886, and 1998, and extreme droughts in 1878, 1901, and 1910, which correspond precisely to extreme climatic events recorded in historical documents. The reconstructed precipitation reveals a drying trend since the 1870s, which matches well with the decreasing trend of the EASM inferred from stalagmite oxygen isotope (δ18O) records and climate simulations. The trend of decreasing precipitation since the 1870s, indicated by our reconstruction, is significantly correlated with the spring sea surface temperature (SST) of the North Atlantic Ocean, which suggests that the EASM weakening was linked to North Atlantic SST variations during the past 150 years. This potential role of North Atlantic SST variability is supported by climate sensitivity simulations of the Community Earth System Model. North Atlantic SST variability induces two teleconnections of Rossby‐like wave propagation from the North Atlantic into East Asia, resulting in anomalous precipitation in this region.
Therapeutic strategies for autism: targeting three levels of the central dogma of molecular biology
Authors: Hong Derek , Iakoucheva Lilia M.
Published: February 2023

The past decade has yielded much success in the identification of risk genes for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), with many studies implicating loss-of-function (LoF) mutations within these genes. Despite this, no significant clinical advances have been made so far in the development of therapeutics for ASD. Given the role of LoF mutations in ASD etiology, many of the therapeutics in development are designed to rescue the haploinsufficient effect of genes at the transcriptional, translational, and protein levels. This review will discuss the various therapeutic techniques being developed from each level of the central dogma with examples including: CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) and gene replacement at the DNA level, antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) at the mRNA level, and small-molecule drugs at the protein level, followed by a review of current delivery methods for these therapeutics. Since central nervous system (CNS) penetrance is of utmost importance for ASD therapeutics, it is especially necessary to evaluate delivery methods that have higher efficiency in crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB).
Finding the semantic similarity in single-particle diffraction images using self-supervised contrastive projection learning
Authors: Zimmermann Julian , Beguet Fabien , Guthruf Daniel , Langbehn Bruno , Rupp Daniela
Published: February 2023

Single-shot coherent diffraction imaging of isolated nanosized particles has seen remarkable success in recent years, yielding in-situ measurements with ultra-high spatial and temporal resolution. The progress of high-repetition-rate sources for intense X-ray pulses has further enabled recording datasets containing millions of diffraction images, which are needed for the structure determination of specimens with greater structural variety and dynamic experiments. The size of the datasets, however, represents a monumental problem for their analysis. Here, we present an automatized approach for finding semantic similarities in coherent diffraction images without relying on human expert labeling. By introducing the concept of projection learning, we extend self-supervised contrastive learning to the context of coherent diffraction imaging and achieve a dimensionality reduction producing semantically meaningful embeddings that align with physical intuition. The method yields substantial improvements compared to previous approaches, paving the way toward real-time and large-scale analysis of coherent diffraction experiments at X-ray free-electron lasers.
CEGANN: Crystal Edge Graph Attention Neural Network for multiscale classification of materials environment
Authors: Banik Suvo , Dhabal Debdas , Chan Henry , Manna Sukriti , Cherukara Mathew , Molinero Valeria , Sankaranarayanan Subramanian K. R. S.
Published: February 2023

We introduce Crystal Edge Graph Attention Neural Network (CEGANN) workflow that uses graph attention-based architecture to learn unique feature representations and perform classification of materials across multiple scales (from atomic to mesoscale) and diverse classes ranging from metals, oxides, non-metals to hierarchical materials such as zeolites and semi-ordered mesophases. CEGANN can classify based on a global, structure-level representation such as space group and dimensionality (e.g., bulk, 2D, clusters, etc.). Using representative materials such as polycrystals and zeolites, we demonstrate its transferability in performing local atom-level classification tasks, such as grain boundary identification and other heterointerfaces. CEGANN classifies in (thermal) noisy dynamical environments as demonstrated for representative zeolite nucleation and growth from an amorphous mixture. Finally, we use CEGANN to classify multicomponent systems with thermal noise and compositional diversity. Overall, our approach is material agnostic and allows for multiscale feature classification ranging from atomic-scale crystals to heterointerfaces to microscale grain boundaries.
Origin of enhanced passivity of Cr–Fe–Co–Ni–Mo multi-principal element alloy surfaces
Authors: Wang Xueying , Mercier Dimitri , Zanna Sandrine , Seyeux Antoine , Perriere Loïc , Laurent-Brocq Mathilde , Guillot Ivan , Maurice Vincent , Marcus Philippe
Published: February 2023

Surface analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry was applied to investigate the origin of the enhanced surface passivity and resistance to a chloride-induced breakdown provided by the protective ultrathin oxide films formed on Cr–Fe–Co–Ni–Mo single-phase fcc multi-principal element alloys. A bilayer structure of the oxide films is observed with the inner barrier layer mostly constituted of Cr(III) oxide and the outer layer enriched in Cr(III) hydroxides and Mo(IV,VI) oxides. The Mo(VI) and Mo(IV) species are mainly located in the outer and inner parts of the outer layer, respectively. Anodic passivation promotes mainly the growth of the inner layer on the alloy of higher Cr bulk content and the outer layer on the alloy of higher Mo bulk content. Passivation also promotes the enrichment of Cr(III) hydroxide and Mo(IV) and Mo(VI) oxides in the outer layer. Depth distribution analysis suggests that the ultra-thin protective inner barrier contains Cr(III)-depleted heterogeneities acting as weak sites for chloride attack, which are reinforced by the Mo(IV) oxide species concentrated close to the inner barrier layer. This elemental distribution provides an explanation for the reinforcement of the resistance to localized corrosion observed on these Cr–Fe–Co–Ni–Mo alloys.
Semi-synthetic terpenoids with differential adjuvant properties as sustainable replacements for shark squalene in vaccine emulsions
Authors: Fisher Karl J. , Kinsey Robert , Mohamath Raodoh , Phan Tony , Liang Hong , Orr Mark T. , Lykins William R. , Guderian Jeffrey A. , Bakken Julie , Argilla David , Ramer-Denisoff Gabi , Larson Elise , Qi Yizhi , Sivananthan Sandra , Smolyar Karina , Carter Darrick , Paddon Christopher J. , Fox Christopher B.
Published: February 2023

Synthetic biology has allowed for the industrial production of supply-limited sesquiterpenoids such as the antimalarial drug artemisinin and β-farnesene. One of the only unmodified animal products used in medicine is squalene, a triterpenoid derived from shark liver oil, which when formulated into an emulsion is used as a vaccine adjuvant to enhance immune responses in licensed vaccines. However, overfishing is depleting deep-sea shark populations, leading to potential supply problems for squalene. We chemically generated over 20 squalene analogues from fermentation-derived β-farnesene and evaluated adjuvant activity of the emulsified compounds compared to shark squalene emulsion. By employing a desirability function approach that incorporated multiple immune readouts, we identified analogues with enhanced, equivalent, or decreased adjuvant activity compared to shark squalene emulsion. Availability of a library of structurally related analogues allowed elucidation of structure-function relationships. Thus, combining industrial synthetic biology with chemistry and immunology enabled generation of sustainable terpenoid-based vaccine adjuvants comparable to current shark squalene-based adjuvants while illuminating structural properties important for adjuvant activity.
Organogel delivery vehicles for the stabilization of organolithium reagents
Authors: Slavík Petr , Trowse Benjamin R. , O’Brien Peter , Smith David K.
Published: February 2023

Organolithium reagents are a vital tool in modern organic chemistry, enabling the synthesis of carbon–carbon bonds. However, due to their high reactivity, low temperatures, inert atmospheres and strictly dried solvents are usually necessary for their use. Here we report an encapsulating method for the stabilization of sensitive organolithium reagents—PhLi, n-BuLi and s-BuLi—in a low-cost hexatriacontane (C36H74) organogel. The use of this technology is showcased in nucleophilic addition reactions under ambient conditions, low-temperature bromine–lithium exchange, ortho-lithiation and C–H functionalization. The gel substantially enhances organolithium stability, allows simple storage, handling and delivery, and enables reproducible reagent portioning. The use of gels as easily divided delivery vehicles for hazardous organometallics has the potential to transform this area of synthetic chemistry, making these powerful reactions safer and more accessible to non-specialist researchers, and enabling the more widespread use of these common synthetic methods.
Metabolic heterogeneity and cross-feeding within isogenic yeast populations captured by DILAC
Authors: Kamrad Stephan , Correia-Melo Clara , Szyrwiel Lukasz , Aulakh Simran Kaur , Bähler Jürg , Demichev Vadim , Mülleder Michael , Ralser Markus
Published: February 2023

Genetically identical cells are known to differ in many physiological parameters such as growth rate and drug tolerance. Metabolic specialization is believed to be a cause of such phenotypic heterogeneity, but detection of metabolically divergent subpopulations remains technically challenging. We developed a proteomics-based technology, termed differential isotope labelling by amino acids (DILAC), that can detect producer and consumer subpopulations of a particular amino acid within an isogenic cell population by monitoring peptides with multiple occurrences of the amino acid. We reveal that young, morphologically undifferentiated yeast colonies contain subpopulations of lysine producers and consumers that emerge due to nutrient gradients. Deconvoluting their proteomes using DILAC, we find evidence for in situ cross-feeding where rapidly growing cells ferment and provide the more slowly growing, respiring cells with ethanol. Finally, by combining DILAC with fluorescence-activated cell sorting, we show that the metabolic subpopulations diverge phenotypically, as exemplified by a different tolerance to the antifungal drug amphotericin B. Overall, DILAC captures previously unnoticed metabolic heterogeneity and provides experimental evidence for the role of metabolic specialization and cross-feeding interactions as a source of phenotypic heterogeneity in isogenic cell populations.
Full-length transcriptome from different life stages of cobia (Rachycentron canadum, Rachycentridae)
Authors: Ebeneezar Sanal , Krupesha Sharma S. R. , Vijayagopal P. , Sebastian Wilson , Sajina K. A. , Tamilmani G. , Sakthivel M. , Rameshkumar P. , Anikuttan K. K. , Varghese Eldho , Linga Prabu D. , Jeena N. S. , Sumithra T. G. , Gayathri S. , Iyyapparaja Narasimapallavan G. , Gopalakrishnan A.
Published: February 2023

Cobia (Rachycentron canadum, Rachycentridae) is one of the prospective species for mariculture. The transcriptome-based study on cobia was hampered by an inadequate reference genome and a lack of full-length cDNAs. We used a long-read based sequencing technology (PacBio Sequel II Iso-Seq3 SMRT) to obtain complete transcriptome sequences from larvae, juveniles, and various tissues of adult cobia, and a single SMRTcell generated 99 gigabytes of data and 51,205,946,694 bases. A total of 8609435, 7441673 and 9140164 subreads were generated from the larval, juvenile, and adult sample pools, with mean sub-read lengths of 2109.9, 1988.2 and 1996.2 bp, respectively. All samples were combined to increase transcript recovery and clustered into 35661 high-quality reads. This is the first report on a full-length transcriptome from R. canadum. Our results illustrate a significant increase in the identified amount of cobia LncRNAs and alternatively spliced transcripts, which will help improve genome annotation. Furthermore, this information will be beneficial for nutrigenomics and functional studies on cobia and other commercially important mariculture species.
GLORIA - A globally representative hyperspectral in situ dataset for optical sensing of water quality
Authors: Lehmann Moritz K. , Gurlin Daniela , Pahlevan Nima , Alikas Krista , Conroy Ted , Anstee Janet , Balasubramanian Sundarabalan V. , Barbosa Cláudio C. F. , Binding Caren , Bracher Astrid , Bresciani Mariano , Burtner Ashley , Cao Zhigang , Dekker Arnold G. , Di Vittorio Courtney , Drayson Nathan , Errera Reagan M. , Fernandez Virginia , Ficek Dariusz , Fichot Cédric G. , Gege Peter , Giardino Claudia , Gitelson Anatoly A. , Greb Steven R. , Henderson Hayden , Higa Hiroto , Rahaghi Abolfazl Irani , Jamet Cédric , Jiang Dalin , Jordan Thomas , Kangro Kersti , Kravitz Jeremy A. , Kristoffersen Arne S. , Kudela Raphael , Li Lin , Ligi Martin , Loisel Hubert , Lohrenz Steven , Ma Ronghua , Maciel Daniel A. , Malthus Tim J. , Matsushita Bunkei , Matthews Mark , Minaudo Camille , Mishra Deepak R. , Mishra Sachidananda , Moore Tim , Moses Wesley J. , Nguyễn Hà , Novo Evlyn M. L. M. , Novoa Stéfani , Odermatt Daniel , O’Donnell David M. , Olmanson Leif G. , Ondrusek Michael , Oppelt Natascha , Ouillon Sylvain , Pereira Filho Waterloo , Plattner Stefan , Verdú Antonio Ruiz , Salem Salem I. , Schalles John F. , Simis Stefan G. H. , Siswanto Eko , Smith Brandon , Somlai-Schweiger Ian , Soppa Mariana A. , Spyrakos Evangelos , Tessin Elinor , van der Woerd Hendrik J. , Vander Woude Andrea , Vandermeulen Ryan A. , Vantrepotte Vincent , Wernand Marcel R. , Werther Mortimer , Young Kyana , Yue Linwei
Published: February 2023

The development of algorithms for remote sensing of water quality (RSWQ) requires a large amount of in situ data to account for the bio-geo-optical diversity of inland and coastal waters. The GLObal Reflectance community dataset for Imaging and optical sensing of Aquatic environments (GLORIA) includes 7,572 curated hyperspectral remote sensing reflectance measurements at 1 nm intervals within the 350 to 900 nm wavelength range. In addition, at least one co-located water quality measurement of chlorophyll a, total suspended solids, absorption by dissolved substances, and Secchi depth, is provided. The data were contributed by researchers affiliated with 59 institutions worldwide and come from 450 different water bodies, making GLORIA the de-facto state of knowledge of in situ coastal and inland aquatic optical diversity. Each measurement is documented with comprehensive methodological details, allowing users to evaluate fitness-for-purpose, and providing a reference for practitioners planning similar measurements. We provide open and free access to this dataset with the goal of enabling scientific and technological advancement towards operational regional and global RSWQ monitoring.
Investigation of the spatial and temporal variation of soil salinity using Google Earth Engine: a case study at Werigan–Kuqa Oasis, West China
Authors: Ma Shilong , He Baozhong , Xie Boqiang , Ge Xiangyu , Han Lijing
Published: February 2023

Large-scale soil salinity surveys are time-costly and labor-intensive, and it is also more difficult to investigate historical salinity, while in arid and semi-arid regions, the investigation of the spatial and temporal characteristics of salinity can provide a scientific basis for the scientific prevention of salinity, With this objective, this study uses multi-source data combined with ensemble learning and Google Earth Engine to build a monitoring model to observe the evolution of salinization in the Werigan–Kuqa River Oasis from 1996 to 2021 and to analyze the driving factors. In this experiment, three ensemble learning models, Random Forest (RF), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), were established using data collected in the field for different years and some environmental variables, After the accuracy validation of the model, XGBoost had the highest accuracy of salinity prediction in this study area, with RMSE of 17.62 dS m−1, R2 of 0.73 and RPIQ of 2.45 in the test set. In this experiment, after Spearman correlation analysis of soil Electrical Conductivity (EC) with environmental variables, we found that the near-infrared band in the original band, the DEM in the topographic factor, the vegetation index based on remote sensing, and the salinity index soil EC had a strong correlation. The spatial distribution of salinization is generally characterized by good in the west and north and severe in the east and south. Non-salinization, light salinization, and moderate salinization gradually expanded southward and eastward from the interior of the western oasis over 25 years. Severe and very severe salinization gradually shifted from the northern edge of the oasis to the eastern and southeastern desert areas during the 25 years. The saline soils with the highest salinity class were distributed in most of the desert areas in the eastern part of the Werigan–Kuqa Oasis study area as well as in smaller areas in the west in 1996, shrinking in size and characterized by a discontinuous distribution by 2021. In terms of area change, the non-salinized area increased from 198.25 in 1996 to 1682.47 km2 in 2021. The area of saline soil with the highest salinization level decreased from 5708.77 in 1996 to 2246.87 km2 in 2021. overall, the overall salinization of the Werigan–Kuqa Oasis improved.
Hsa_circ_0128846 knockdown attenuates the progression of pancreatic cancer by targeting miR-1270/NR3C1 axis
Authors: Wang Ming , Li Ming , Liu Zehan , Jiang Cuinan , Lv Hailong , Yang Qin
Published: February 2023

The considerable role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) make them prospective biomarkers in cancer therapy. Our study aimed to unveil the function of circ_0128846 in pancreatic cancer (PC). The expressions of circ_0128846, miR-1270 and NR3C1 mRNA were measured via RT-qPCR. The expressions of NR3C1 protein and apoptosis-related markers (Bax and Bcl-2) were measured via western blotting. CCK-8, colony-forming, or wound healing assay was respectively utilized to identify cell proliferation, growth and migration. Xenograft model was developed to evaluate tumor growth affected by circ_0128846 in vivo. The putative binding between miR-1270 and circ_0128846 or NR3C1 was testified by dual-luciferase reporter, RIP or pull-down assay. Circ_0128846 showed elevated expression in PC. Circ_0128846 deficiency restrained cancer cell proliferation, colony formation and migratory ability, enhanced cell apoptotic rate, and also impeded tumor development in vivo. Circ_0128846 directly targeted miR-1270 whose expression was declined in PC. The suppressive effects of silencing circ_0128846 on PC cell malignant phenotypes were largely reversed by miR-1270 inhibition. NR3C1 was targeted by miR-1270 and was highly regulated in PC. The repressive effects of NR3C1 knockdown on PC cell malignant phenotypes were partly abolished by miR-1270 inhibition. Circ_0128846 deficiency blocked PC progression via mediating the miR-1270/NR3C1 pathway, which partly illustrated PC pathogenesis.
Correlation of monocyte counts with clinical outcomes in idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia
Authors: Kim Tae Hun , Kim Hyung-Jun , Song Myung Jin , Kwon Byoung Soo , Kim Yeon Wook , Lim Sung Yoon , Lee Yeon Joo , Cho Young-Jae , Lee Jae Ho , Chung Jin-Haeng , Park Jong Sun
Published: February 2023

Higher blood monocyte counts are related to worse survival in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. However, studies evaluating the association between blood monocyte counts and clinical outcomes of idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (iNSIP) are lacking. We evaluated the impact of monocyte counts on iNSIP prognosis. iNSIP patients (n = 126; median age, 60 years; female, n = 64 [50.8%]) diagnosed by surgical lung biopsy were enrolled and categorized into low (monocyte < 600/µL) and high (monocyte ≥ 600/µL) monocyte groups. The median follow-up duration was 53.0 months. After adjusting for age, sex, and smoking history, the annual decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) showed differences between the monocyte groups (Pinteraction = 0.006) (low vs. high; − 28.49 mL/year vs. − 65.76 mL/year). The high-monocyte group showed a worse survival rate (P = 0.01) compared to low monocyte group. The 5-year survival rates were 83% and 72% in the low- and high-monocyte groups, respectively. In the Cox-proportional hazard analysis, older age, male sex, low baseline FVC, and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide were independent risk factors for mortality. However, monocyte count (Hazard ratio 1.61, P = 0.126) was not an independent prognostic factor. Although high monocyte count might be associated with faster lung function decline, it could not independently predict survival in iNSIP.
Methodology for estimation of undeformed thickness of arterial tissues
Authors: Schwarz David , Fleisman Jiri , Vitasek Radek , Polzer Stanislav
Published: February 2023

Soft tissue sample thickness measurement is one of the major sources of differences between mechanical responses published by different groups. New method for the estimation of unloaded sample thickness of soft tissues is proposed in this study. Ten 30 × 30 mm and ten 20 × 20 mm samples of porcine anterior thoracic aortas were loaded by gradually increased radial force. Their deformed thickness was then recorded in order to generate a pressure-thickness response. Next, the limit pressure to which the response can be considered linear was estimated. Line was fitted to the linear part of the curve and extrapolated towards zero pressure to estimate unloaded thickness (7 kPa fit). For comparison, data near zero pressure were fitted separately and extrapolated towards zero (Near Zero fit). The limit pressure for the linearity of the response was around 7 kPa. The Unloaded thickness for 30 × 30 mm samples was 2.68 ± 0.31 mm and 2.68 ± 0.3 mm for Near Zero fit and 7 kPa fit, respectively. The Unloaded thickness for 20 × 20 mm samples was 2.60 ± 0.35 mm and 2.59 ± 0.35 mm for Near Zero fit and 7 kPa fit, respectively. The median of thickness difference between smaller and larger samples was not found statistically different. Proposed method can estimate unloaded undeformed sample thickness quickly and reliably.
Validity and acceptance of self vs conventional sampling for the analysis of human papillomavirus and Pap smear
Authors: Gibert M. J. , Sánchez-Contador C. , Artigues G.
Published: February 2023

The newest high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) detection techniques were included for cervical cancer primary screening under the Spanish National Health System in 2019. These analyses allow changing population approaches to foster adherence to screening. Therefore, the validity of self versus conventional sampling for HPV and cytology analyses was appraised. Women's preferences concerning samples and devices were also evaluated. This is a diagnostic accuracy cross-sectional study among 120 women recruited from a colposcopy clinic at a general hospital in Illes Balears, Spain. Participants were given written information and asked for a self-sample. One of two sets containing two devices each were handed. One set was transported dry and the second in liquid medium. Next, clinicians collected vaginal samples that were our gold standards. The agreement between both techniques was examined with the Kappa coefficient (κ). Self-sampling evaluation and preferences for different vaginal devices were also surveyed. The agreement between self and conventional samples concerning HPV positivity was very good (κ 0.86 for Mía by XytoTest® and 0.83 for Viba-Brush®) or reasonable (κ 0.73 for Iune and 0.68 for viscose swab). Pap smears from self-samples exhibited moderate agreement (κ 0.41 for Mía® and 0.51 for Viba-Brush® respectively) for negative versus ASC-US and worse results. Most of the participants considered self-sampling as beneficial (110 or 91.7%) and the advantages were, in decreasing order, scheduling, comfort, intimacy and less fear for pain or disturbance. The priority of choice for the devices was Mía® and viscose swab (chosen in first or second place) in opposition to Iune and Viba-Brush® (chosen in third or fourth place). If Viba-Brush® was to collect the best quality samples, 108 women (94.7%) switched their decisions. Our agreement between self and conventional samples was very good or reasonable for HPV, with the best values for devices in a liquid medium, and moderate for cytology. Even so, reflex cytology on self-samples is a valuable tool in promoting adherence. Self-sampling was widely accepted for smooth and thin devices. However, there is no resistance to change to others if a higher quality of the sample is obtained.
Automatic dispersion, defect, curing, and thermal characteristics determination of polymer composites using micro-scale infrared thermography and machine learning algorithm
Authors: Rahman Md Ashiqur , Rahman Mirza Masfiqur , Ashraf Ali
Published: February 2023

Infrared thermography is a non-destructive technique that can be exploited in many fields including polymer composite investigation. Based on emissivity and thermal diffusivity variation; components, defects, and curing state of the composite can be identified. However, manual processing of thermal images that may contain significant artifacts, is prone to erroneous component and property determination. In this study, thermal images of different graphite/graphene-based polymer composites fabricated by hand, planetary, and batch mixing techniques were analyzed through an automatic machine learning model. Filler size, shape, and location can be identified in polymer composites and thus, the dispersion of different samples was quantified with a resolution of ~ 20 µm despite having artifacts in the thermal image. Thermal diffusivity comparison of three mixing techniques was performed for 40% graphite in the elastomer. Batch mixing demonstrated superior dispersion than planetary and hand mixing as the dispersion index (DI) for batch mixing was 0.07 while planetary and hand mixing showed 0.0865 and 0.163 respectively. Curing was investigated for a polymer with different fillers (PDMS took 500 s while PDMS-Graphene and PDMS Graphite Powder took 800 s to cure), and a thermal characteristic curve was generated to compare the composite quality. Therefore, the above-mentioned methods with machine learning algorithms can be a great tool to analyze composite both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Parental education, cognition and functional connectivity of the salience network
Authors: Cermakova Pavla , Chlapečka Adam , Csajbók Zsófia , Andrýsková Lenka , Brázdil Milan , Marečková Klára
Published: February 2023

The aim was to investigate the association of parental education at birth with cognitive ability in childhood and young adulthood and determine, whether functional connectivity of the salience network underlies this association. We studied participants of the Czech arm of the European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood who underwent assessment of their cognitive ability at age 8 (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children) and 28/29 years (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale) and measurement with resting state functional MRI at age 23/24. We estimated the associations of parental education with cognitive ability and functional connectivity between the seeds in the salience network and other voxels in the brain. We found that lower education of both mothers and fathers was associated with lower verbal IQ, performance IQ and full-scale IQ of the offspring at age 8. Only mother´s education was associated with performance IQ at age 28/29. Lower mother´s education correlated with greater functional connectivity between the right rostral prefrontal cortex and a cluster of voxels in the occipital cortex, which, in turn, was associated with lower performance IQ at age 28/29. We conclude that the impact of parental education, particularly father´s, on offspring´s cognitive ability weakens during the lifecourse. Functional connectivity between the right rostral prefrontal cortex and occipital cortex may be a biomarker underlying the transmission of mother´s education on performance IQ of their offspring.
Iron (hydr)oxide formation in Andosols under extreme climate conditions
Authors: Klaes Björn , Thiele-Bruhn Sören , Wörner Gerhard , Höschen Carmen , Mueller Carsten W. , Marx Philipp , Arz Helge Wolfgang , Breuer Sonja , Kilian Rolf
Published: February 2023

Redox-driven biogeochemical cycling of iron plays an integral role in the complex process network of ecosystems, such as carbon cycling, the fate of nutrients and greenhouse gas emissions. We investigate Fe-(hydr)oxide (trans)formation pathways from rhyolitic tephra in acidic topsoils of South Patagonian Andosols to evaluate the ecological relevance of terrestrial iron cycling for this sensitive fjord ecosystem. Using bulk geochemical analyses combined with micrometer-scale-measurements on individual soil aggregates and tephra pumice, we document biotic and abiotic pathways of Fe released from the glassy tephra matrix and titanomagnetite phenocrysts. During successive redox cycles that are controlled by frequent hydrological perturbations under hyper-humid climate, (trans)formations of ferrihydrite-organic matter coprecipitates, maghemite and hematite are closely linked to tephra weathering and organic matter turnover. These Fe-(hydr)oxides nucleate after glass dissolution and complexation with organic ligands, through maghemitization or dissolution-(re)crystallization processes from metastable precursors. Ultimately, hematite represents the most thermodynamically stable Fe-(hydr)oxide formed under these conditions and physically accumulates at redox interfaces, whereas the ferrihydrite coprecipitates represent a so far underappreciated terrestrial source of bio-available iron for fjord bioproductivity. The insights into Fe-(hydr)oxide (trans)formation in Andosols have implications for a better understanding of biogeochemical cycling of iron in this unique Patagonian fjord ecosystem.
Agricultural dust derived bacterial extracellular vesicle mediated inflammation is attenuated by DHA
Authors: Heires Art J. , Samuelson Derrick , Villageliu Daniel , Nordgren Tara M. , Romberger Debra J.
Published: February 2023

Dietary long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) and their pro-resolving metabolites are protective against atherosclerotic disease, and ameliorate systemic inflammatory conditions including lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, and bronchial asthma. Organic bioaerosol inhalation is a common and injurious hazard associated with agricultural occupations such as work in swine concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and is known to increase the risk for developing respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD. Nearly all cells secrete membrane-bound vesicles (extracellular vesicles, EVs) that have the capacity to transmit protein, nucleic acid, and lipid signaling mediators between cells. Using a polymer-based isolation technique (ExoQuick, PEG) followed by ultracentrifugation, EVs were isolated from CAFO dust extracts, and were quantified and partially characterized. Here, we investigated the role of the n-3 PUFA docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as a component of n-6 to n-3 PUFA mixtures used to recapitulate physiologically relevant dietary ratios in the resolution of inflammatory injury caused by exposure to EVs carried by agricultural organic dust in vitro. Primary human bronchial epithelial cells, fibroblasts and monocyte-derived macrophages were exposed to EVs isolated from swine CAFO dust. Cells were treated with mixtures of n-6 and n-3 PUFA during recovery from the EV-induced injury. CAFO dust extract (DE) was found to contain EVs that contributed significantly to the overall consequences of exposure to complete DE. DHA-rich PUFA ratios inhibited DE-derived EV-induced proinflammatory cytokine release dose-dependently. DHA-rich PUFA ratios also reversed the damaging effects of EVs on recellularization of lung matrix scaffolds, accelerated wound healing, and stimulated the release of pro-resolution mediators. These results underscore the importance of n-3 PUFA as anti-inflammatory compounds during recovery from EV-laden environmental dust exposure in the context of cellular responses in vitro, warranting future translational studies.
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide metabolism and arterial stiffness after long-term nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Katayoshi Takeshi , Uehata Sachi , Nakashima Noe , Nakajo Takahisa , Kitajima Natsuko , Kageyama Masakatsu , Tsuji-Naito Kentaro
Published: February 2023

Many animal studies have shown that oral administration of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) precursor nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) prevents the reduction of NAD+ levels in organs and tissues, helping alleviate aging-related diseases. However, there are very few clinical reports of NMN supplementation in humans. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the influence of a 12-week NMN oral supplementation on biochemical and metabolic health parameters. A 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial was conducted. A total of 36 healthy middle-aged participants received one capsule of either 125 mg NMN or placebo twice a day. Among the NAD+ metabolites, the levels of nicotinamide in the serum were significantly higher in the NMN intake group than in the placebo group. Pulse wave velocity values indicating arterial stiffness tended to decrease in the NMN intake group. However, no significant difference was found between the two groups. Long-term NMN supplementation at 250 mg/day was well tolerated and did not cause adverse events. NMN safely and effectively elevated NAD+ metabolism in healthy middle-aged adults. Additionally, NMN supplementation showed potential in alleviating arterial stiffness.