bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seabird surveillance: combining CCTV and artificial intelligence for monitoring and research
Authors: Hentati‐Sundberg Jonas , Olin Agnes B. , Reddy Sheetal , Berglund Per‐Arvid , Svensson Erik , Reddy Mareddy , Kasarareni Siddharta , Carlsen Astrid A. , Hanes Matilda , Kad Shreyash , Olsson Olof
Published: March 2023

Ecological research and monitoring need to be able to rapidly convey information that can form the basis of scientifically sound management. Automated sensor systems, especially if combined with artificial intelligence, can contribute to such rapid high‐resolution data retrieval. Here, we explore the prospects of automated methods to generate insights for seabirds, which are often monitored for their high conservation value and for being sentinels for marine ecosystem changes. We have developed a system of video surveillance combined with automated image processing, which we apply to common murres Uria aalge. The system uses a deep learning algorithm for object detection (YOLOv5) that has been trained on annotated images of adult birds, chicks and eggs, and outputs time, location, size and confidence level of all detections, frame‐by‐frame, in the supplied video material. A total of 144 million bird detections were generated from a breeding cliff over three complete breeding seasons (2019–2021). We demonstrate how object detection can be used to accurately monitor breeding phenology and chick growth. Our automated monitoring approach can also identify and quantify rare events that are easily missed in traditional monitoring, such as disturbances from predators. Further, combining automated video analysis with continuous measurements from a temperature logger allows us to study impacts of heat waves on nest attendance in high detail. Our automated system thus produces comparable, and in several cases significantly more detailed, data than those generated from observational field studies. By running in real time on the camera streams, it has the potential to supply researchers and managers with high‐resolution up‐to‐date information on seabird population status. We describe how the system can be modified to fit various types of ecological research and monitoring goals and thereby provide up‐to‐date support for conservation and ecosystem management.
How far are groundwater resource assessments in India reliable?
Authors: Vaishnavi P.N.A. , Kumar M. Dinesh
Published: March 2023

The article critically reviews the methodology adopted by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) for the assessment of groundwater resources in India. The authors developed a water balance equation that simulates the changes in annual and seasonal groundwater storages of an agricultural region, using a water accounting framework; they solved the developed equation using the data of annual and seasonal water level fluctuations for a wet year for Ludhiana district of Punjab to estimate different components of the water balance. The estimated values are used to test the robustness of the CGWB methodology for monsoon recharge. The annual groundwater storage change obtained from solving the water balance equation was compared with the observed change in annual groundwater storage and was found to closely tally. As per the water balance equation, the CGWB estimates of rainfall recharge conform to the annual water level fluctuations recorded by the agency and therefore are not reliable. Hence, we could infer that our methodology is superior to that of CGWB for estimating monsoon recharge. The validated equation was also used to estimate the recharge from rainfall during a dry year. Using these outputs in a simple groundwater balance equation, irrigation return flows were estimated for the wet and dry years. The equation was then extended to the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, a hard rock area, for estimating the surface water import during a wet year, the key unknown in the region's water balance. Hence, our methodology can be employed to estimate rainfall recharge for dry years using annual changes in groundwater storage and estimated consumptive uses of water, when the “WLF approach,” used by CGWB, fails, owing to the presence of an additional variable, that is, monsoon draft. For wet years, it can be used to arrive at the consumptive use of water for various purposes.
A Turn‐On Chromogenic and Fluorogenic 2‐Aminobenzophenyl‐Isoniazid Sensor for Selective Detection of Cu2+ Ions in Water Samples and Vegetables
Authors: Christopher Leslee Denzil Britto , Madheswaran Bharathi , Gunasekaran Jayapratha , Karuppannan Sekar , Bharathi Kuppannan Shanmuga
Published: March 2023

A novel 2‐aminobenzophenyl‐isonazid (BPNH) was developed for Turn‐On green emissive sensor for Cu2+ ions. The probe is highly selective to Cu2+ ions in presence of interfering heavy metals. The presence of acid hydrazide and amine group facilitate the strong interaction of the probe with Cu2+ ion. The optical spectral investigation of the probe (E)‐N′‐((2‐aminophenyl)(phenyl)methylene)isonicotinohydrazide (BPNH) with Cu2+ ions showed Intramolecular Charge Transfer (ICT) process and Ligand‐Metal Charge transfer (LMCT) are responsible for fluorescence Turn‐On emission. The ensemble BPNH+Cu2+ is reversible with addition of S2− ions. The sensor BPNH displayed a lowest detection limit, DL=8.32×10−7 M (nanomolar). The real sample analysis application of the ligand BPNH for Cu2+ quantification has been demonstrated with water samples collected from various sources and vegetable extracts.
A Simple and Sensitive Electrochemical Sandwich‐Like Immunosensor for Interleukin‐8 Utilizing Carbon Black as a Sensing Platform and Silver‐Ferrocene as a Signal Amplifier
Authors: Yang Miao , Wang Yongjie , Huang Lingling , Jiang Yuling , Ke Yue , Chen Wenjie , Yang Lei , Chen Lina , Duan Yanjun
Published: March 2023

Designing sensitive and low‐cost method for interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) determination is of great significance in the early diagnosis of oral cancer. In the present work, a simple, low‐cost and sensitive sandwich‐like electrochemical immunosensor of IL‐8 was developed by introducing perylene tetracarboxylic acid‐carbon black (PTCA‐CB) as sensing platform and silver‐ferrocene (Ag−Fc) as signal amplifier. PTCA‐CB can offer large surface area and high conductivity as well as the stable supporter to assemble primary antibody (Ab1), while Ag could carry Fc probe and secondary antibodies (Ab2) to produce Ab2−Ag−Fc signal amplifier. In the presence of IL‐8 with different concentrations, the peak currents from the formed sandwich‐like structure Ab2−Ag−Fc/IL‐8/Ab1/CB can increase with the increase of IL‐8 concentration, a sensitive and low‐cost electrochemical immunosensor for IL‐8 was thus constructed based on this principle. After optimizing the related control conditions, a wide linear range (3.0 pg mL−1 to 2.0 ng mL−1) and very low detection limit (1.0 pg mL−1) were achieved, it's thus convinced the developed sensor has important clinical applications.
Synthesis of Some New Phthalazine−piperazine−pyrazole Conjugates; In vitro Anti‐Cancer, ADMET And Molecular Docking Studies
Authors: Badithapuram Vinitha , Kumar Nukala Satheesh , Dasari Gouthami , Swamy Thirukovela Narasimha , Bandari Srinivas
Published: March 2023

A new series of phthalazine−piperazine−pyrazole conjugates were synthesised and evaluated for their in vitro anticancer activity against three human cancer cell lines including MCF‐7 (breast), A549 (lung) and DU‐145 (prostate). The result data showed that compound 2‐((3‐(3,5‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐yl)methyl)‐4‐(piperazin‐1‐yl methyl)phthalazin‐1(2H)‐one (5 i) showed comparable activity against all the cell lines with the standard drug Etoposide. As well, compounds 2‐((3‐(3‐methoxyphenyl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐yl) methyl)‐4‐(piperazin‐1‐ylmethyl) phthalazin‐1(2H)‐one (5 j) and 2‐((3‐(3,5‐dimethylphenyl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐yl) methyl)‐4‐(piperazin‐1‐ylmethyl) phthalazin‐1(2H)‐one (5 l) exhibited promising activity against three cancer cell lines as compared to Etoposide. Three potent compounds (5 i, 5 j, and 5 l) were examined against the normal breast cell line in a cell viability assay (MCF‐10A), but none of them showed any apparent cytotoxicity with IC50 values above 78 μM. In addition, compounds 5 i, 5 j, and 5 l were screened for the VEGFR‐2 tyrosine kinase inhibitory activity using sorafenib as the standard drug and found that compound 5 i exhibited more potency in inhibiting the VEGFR‐2 tyrosine kinase as compared to sorafenib. Finally, molecular docking studies of compounds 5 i, 5 j and 5 l were also revealed that these compounds showed more binding interactions with VEGFR‐2 than VEGFR‐1. In accumulation to this, in silico pharmacokinetic profile was carried out for the potent compounds 5 i, 5 j and 5 l by SWISS/ADME and pkCSM. Whereas, 5 i, 5 j and 5 l compounds followed Lipinski, Veber, Egan, and Muegge rules without any deviation.
t‐BuOH Solvent for CuSeO3CatalyzedCsp2‐SeCross‐coupling of Diaryldiselenide with Arylhalides and Boronic acids
Authors: Kumar Pradhan Amit , Kumar Behera Pradyota , Choudhury Prabhupada , Behera Papita , Swain Amlan , Bag Priyanka , Pany Debiprasad , Rout Laxmidhar
Published: March 2023

Formation of carbon‐selenium bond byCsp2‐Secross‐coupling using diaryldiselenides and arylhalides are very few in literature. Herein we report CuSeO3.2H2O as an efficient catalyst for directCsp2‐Secross‐coupling of diaryldiselenides with aryl iodides, bromides and aryl boronic acids. The reaction is performed at low temperature (70 °C) intert‐butanol solvent in absence of ligand. Arylboronic acids are more reactive than aryliodides and bromides.
Oncolytic Virus‐Driven Biotherapies from Bench to Bedside
Authors: Duan Shijie , Wang Shuhang , Qiao Lei , Yu Xinbo , Wang Nan , Chen Liting , Zhang Xinyuan , Zhao Xu , Liu Hongyu , Wang Tianye , Wu Ying , Li Ning , Liu Funan
Published: March 2023

With advances in cancer biology and an ever‐deepening understanding of molecular virology, oncolytic virus (OV)‐driven therapies have developed rapidly and become a promising alternative to traditional cancer therapies. In recent years, satisfactory results for oncolytic virus therapy (OVT) are achieved at both the cellular and organismal levels, and efforts are being increasingly directed toward clinical trials. Unfortunately, OVT remains ineffective in these trials, especially when performed using only a single OV reagent. In contrast, integrated approaches, such as using immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy, alongside OVT have demonstrated considerable efficacy. The challenges of OVT in clinical efficacy include the restricted scope of intratumoral injections and poor targeting of intravenous administration. Further optimization of OVT delivery is needed before OVs become a viable therapy for tumor treatment. In this review, the development process and antitumor mechanisms of OVs are introduced. The advances in OVT delivery routes to provide perspectives and directions for the improvement of OVT delivery are highlighted. This review also discusses the advantages and limitations of OVT monotherapy and combination therapy through the lens of recent clinical trials and aims to chart a course toward safer and more effective OVT strategies.
MXene‐Based Aptameric Fluorosensor for Sensitive and Rapid Detection of COVID‐19
Authors: Luo Yao , Jiang Xin , Zhang Rong , Shen Chen , Li Mei , Zhao Zhenzhen , Lv Mengyuan , Sun Shengjun , Sun Xuping , Ying Binwu
Published: March 2023

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2)‐caused COVID‐19 pandemic has rapidly escalated into the largest global health emergency, which pushes to develop detection kits for the detection of COVID‐19 with high sensitivity, specificity, and fast analysis. Here, aptamer‐functionalized MXene nanosheet is demonstrated as a novel bionanosensor that detects COVID‐19. Upon binding to the spike receptor binding domain of SARS‐CoV‐2, the aptamer probe is released from MXene surface restoring the quenched fluorescence. The performances of the fluorosensor are evaluated using antigen protein, cultured virus, and swab specimens from COVID‐19 patients. It is evidenced that this sensor can detect SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein at final concentration of 38.9 fg mL−1 and SARS‐CoV‐2 pseudovirus (limit of detection: 7.2 copies) within 30 min. Its application for clinical samples analysis is also demonstrated successfully. This work offers an effective sensing platform for sensitive and rapid detection of COVID‐19 with high specificity.
Photocatalytic Activity of the Oxidation Stabilized Ti3C2Tx MXene in Decomposing Methylene Blue, Bromocresol Green and Commercial Textile Dye
Authors: Bury Dominika , Jakubczak Michał , Purbayanto Muhammad Abiyyu Kenichi , Wojciechowska Anita , Moszczyńska Dorota , Jastrzębska Agnieszka Maria
Published: March 2023

Two‐dimensional MXenes are excellent photocatalysts. However, their low oxidation stability makes controlling photocatalytic processes challenging. For the first time, this work elucidates the influence of the oxidation stabilization of model 2D Ti3C2Tx MXene on its optical and photocatalytic properties. The delaminated MXene is synthesized via two well‐established approaches: hydrofluoric acid/tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH‐MXene) and minimum intensive layer delamination with hydrochloric acid/lithium fluoride (MILD‐MXene) and then stabilized by L‐ascorbic acid. Both MXenes at a minimal concentration of 32 mg L−1 show almost 100% effectiveness in the 180‐min photocatalytic decomposition of 25 mg L−1 model methylene blue and bromocresol green dyes. Industrial viability is achieved by decomposing a commercial textile dye having 100 times higher concentration than that of model dyes. In such conditions, MILD‐MXene is the most efficient due to less wide optical band gap than TMAOH‐MXene. The MILD‐MXene required only few seconds of UV light, simulated white light, or 500 nm (cyan) light irradiation to fully decompose the dye. The photocatalytic mechanism of action is associated with the interplay between surface dye adsorption and the reactive oxygen species generated by MXene under light irradiation. Importantly, both MXenes are successfully reused and retained approximately 70% of their activity.
Digital Language Learning: A Sociocultural Theory Perspective
Authors: Lantolf James P. , Xi Jiao
Published: March 2023

The article reviews Digital Language Learning (DLL) research that has used principles and concepts of Sociocultural Theory (SCT) to support the research. We explain several key principles of the theory and shows how they have been misused or used in a superficial way in the DLL research. These include the assumption that SCT is a social rather than a psychological theory as well as misinterpretation of the central concepts of imitation and the Zone of Proximal Development. The article argues that the assumption that Virtual Reality pedagogy—which claims it is a means to avoid a parasitic relationship between L1 and L2—is problematic and not supported by an SCT perspective because the theory assigns a central role to L1 in all aspects of psychological development. It also argues that DLL pedagogy that seeks to avoid explicit instruction in favor of implicit learning through comprehensible input may well hinder full development of a new language. Finally, the article suggests ways in which DLL and SCT‐based language pedagogy can be integrated into a coherent instructional program.
Swietenine inhibited oxidative stress through AKT/Nrf2/HO‐1 signal pathways and the liver‐protective effect in T2DM mice: In vivo and in vitro study
Authors: Duan Jingyu , Zhao Yangqi , Pei Feilong , Deng Wenhao , He Liangliang , Rao Chengdian , Zhai Yutong , Zhang Chunping
Published: March 2023

Swietenia macrophylla King, belongs to the Meliaceae family, is a valuable medicinal plant and its fruits have been processed commercially to a variety of health foods. The seeds have long been known for their ethnomedicinal significance against these diseases. Swietenine (Swi) was isolated from S. macrophylla and could ameliorate inflammation and oxidative stress. In this study, HepG2 cells induced by H2O2 were used to construct oxidative stress model in vitro. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of Swi on H2O2 induced oxidative injury in HepG2 cells and its molecular mechanism, and to explore the effect of Swi on liver injury in db/db mice and its possible mechanism. The results showed that Swi significantly inhibited HepG2 cells viability and reduced oxidative damage in a dose‐dependent manner as evidenced by a range of biochemical analysis and immunoblotting study. Moreover, it induced the protein and mRNA expression of HO‐1 together with its upstream mediator Nrf2 and activated the phosphorylation of AKT in HepG2 cells. LY294002, a PI3K/AKT inhibitor, significantly suppressed the Nrf2 nuclear translocation and HO‐1 expression in H2O2 induced HepG2 cells treated with Swi. In addition, RNA interference with Nrf2 significantly reduced the expression level of Nrf2 and HO‐1 in the nucleus. Swi has a significant protective effect on cell damage in H2O2 induced HepG2 cells by increasing the antioxidant capacity which is achieved through the AKT/Nrf2/HO‐1 pathway. Additionally, in vivo, Swi could protect the liver of type 2 diabetic mice by improving lipid deposition in liver tissue and inhibiting oxidative stress. These findings indicated that Swi can be a promising dietary agent to improve type 2 diabetes.
Ecosystem Processes and Dynamics in Mesic Savannas
Authors: Huntley Brian John
Published: March 2023

An introduction is presented to systems ecology, through models of the pathways, pools and fluxes of materials in terrestrial ecosystems, and the role of feedback mechanisms, and of the first and second laws of thermodynamics. Food chains, food webs and trophic levels provide structure to ecosystem processes. The importance of the C4 photosynthetic pathway of the tropical grasses that dominate mesic and arid savanna biomes is emphasised. Details of the production, consumption and decomposition processes revealed in studies of mesic savanna in southern, central and western Africa illustrate the dynamics of carbon through terrestrial ecosystems. At landscape scale, the dynamics of the savanna/forest interface, that characterise much of northern Angola, is discussed in terms of tree-grass interactions and the existence of alternative stable states determined by fire.
The Mesic Savanna Biome
Authors: Huntley Brian John
Published: March 2023

The Savanna Biomes (Mesic/Dystrophic and Arid/Eutrophic) of Angola cover over 90% of the country. This Chapter presents the case for the recognition, across Africa, of these two distinctive savanna biomes, both defined by the co-dominance of fire-tolerant trees and C4 grasses, falling within seasonal climates of warm, wet summers and mild, dry winters. The Mesic Savanna Biome occurs predominantly on the dystrophic (nutrient-poor) soils of the old peneplains of the Central African Plateau, mostly between 900 and 1400 m above sea level, and where rainfall ranges from 650 to 1400 mm per year. Fire is the main consumer of the grasslands, and is the key determinant of tree/grass dynamics. The biome covers 68% of Angola, and includes six ecoregions, to which may be added two ecoregions with a mosaic of tallgrass mesic savanna and forest patches occupying a further 16%, where Guineo-congolian forests and Zambezian mesic savannas interdigitate in northern Angola. Trees of the genera Brachystegia and Julbernardia characterise what is regionally know as miombo woodland. The physical, physiognomic, floristic and faunistic characteristics and unique natural phenomena of the biome are described in detail. The importance of the catena as a landscape feature determining vegetation pattern, and the role of termitaria in providing nutrient-rich islands in a sea of nutrient-poor soils, plus the abundance of ‘underground forests’ created by woody geoxyles, represent some of the special features of the biome.
The Namib Desert Biome
Authors: Huntley Brian John
Published: March 2023

The Namib Desert is recognised as one of the oldest deserts in the world. In this Chapter, its age and evolution through the past 55 million years are described, and the source and mechanisms of transportation and deposition of the dunes that cover large areas of the Namib coast are summarised. The role of the South Atlantic Anticyclone, the Benguela Current, and wind and fog as key factors in the evolution and maintenance of the desert ecosystems are described. The Namib Desert ecoregion occurs along the Angolan coast as a narrow belt from the Cunene River to the Carunjamba River. The diverse landscapes and their sparse vegetation mantle are photographically illustrated. Both flora and fauna have many disjunct distributions linking them with the Horn of Africa suggesting the existence of an arid corridor across eastern Africa during the Pleistocene. The flora and fauna of the Namib Desert, and in particular, the biology of the enigmatic gymnosperm, Welwitschia mirabilis, are discussed.
Biomes: Concepts, Characteristics and Terminology
Authors: Huntley Brian John
Published: March 2023

A cornerstone of ecology is the mapping and classification of biogeographical and ecological diversity, defining patterns in species distribution and abundance. This Chapter presents the concepts of biomes, biogeographical realms and centres of endemism, and the relationship of Angolan and southern African biogeographic units to the rest of the continent. Key ecological terms are defined and characterised using Angolan examples, within the context of the biomes and transitional mosaics found across Africa. The 16 ecoregions of Angola are mapped and their surface area, altitudinal range, and mean annual rainfall quantified. The ecological characterisation of rain forest, mesic savanna and arid savanna biomes are explained in quantitative and graphic detail.
Landscapes: Geology, Geomorphology and Hydrology
Authors: Huntley Brian John
Published: March 2023

The long history of Angola’s physical environment goes back to its Gondwanan origins, 550 million years ago. To give context to the present landscapes of Angola, a brief geological history of the Earth provides a backdrop to the dramatic evolutionary innovations that occurred in terrestrial ecosystems during the Miocene Epoch (23-5.3 million years ago), which shaped Africa’s savanna biomes as we know them today. The geomorphological patterns of Angola developed in response to periods of uplift (the Mayombe and Bié swells, the Angolan Escarpment), subsidence (the Congo and Kalahari Basins), erosion and deposition (the Planalto, Congo and Zambezian Peneplains). Angola has 12 main landscape groups, with which its ecoregions are closely aligned. The country is drained by six major transnational hydrological basins, providing the ‘water towers’ of southern and central Africa. The ecosystem services which these water resources provide to the region are described in terms of their role in pollution regulation, hydro-electric power generation and biodiversity maintenance.
Soil, Water and Nutrients
Authors: Huntley Brian John
Published: March 2023

This Chapter provides an introduction to basic elements of soil science, from an understanding of the soil profile, its develop and its importance to plant growth. The processes of weathering and the development of laterites, calcretes, salinised and other major soil types and their distribution in Angola are described. Soil water relations and soil chemistry and thus the availability of water and nutrients are fundamental determinants of plant growth, species composition and productivity. The differences between dystrophic (low base status) and eutrophic (high base status) soils and the distribution of the mesic/dystrophic savanna biome and the arid/eutrophic savanna biome, which dominate Angolan landscapes (totaling over 90% of the vegetation mantle of the country) are emphasised. The Key Soil Groups of Angola are mapped and their characteristics summarised. Sandy arenosols cover 53% of Angola, mainly comprising the Kalahari sands of the eastern half of Angola. Ferralsols cover 23% of Angola, occupying the spine of crystalline rocks along the western highlands. Both are of low nutrient status but carry dense miombo woodlands where they have not been transformed by human activities. Richer soils occur along the escarpment and hot coastal lowlands. The processes of land degradation, due to inappropriate soil management threaten the livelihoods of communities living on these fragile soils, are described.
Interprofessional Learning Outcomes-Based Curriculum to Support Behaviour Change in Persons Self-Managing Chronic Disease
Authors: Kerkstra Afke , Baixinho Cristina Lavareda , Félix Isa Brito , Strawbridge Judith , Guerreiro Mara Pereira
Published: March 2023

This chapter sets the stage for the remaining book, by introducing the Train4Health project and by explaining how the learning outcomes presented in subsequent chapters have been derived and linked with content of the book. Firstly, the Train4Health interprofessional competency framework to support behaviour change in persons self-managing chronic disease is briefly presented. This European competency framework was the starting point for developing the learning outcomes-based curriculum, which is succinctly addressed in the subsequent section. Finally, practical considerations about the Train4Health curriculum are discussed, including opportunities and challenges for interprofessional education.
Municipal Cybersecurity—A Neglected Research Area? A Survey of Current Research
Authors: Vestad Arnstein , Yang Bian
Published: March 2023

Municipalities are tasked with ensuring the cybersecurity of critical public services and functions in diverse areas such as safe water supply, healthcare, child protective services, and education with vastly different security requirements—all usually served from a common infrastructure with limited technical and organizational cybersecurity capabilities. This literature review identifies recent research on municipal and local government cybersecurity to identify current research areas, state of the art, and research methods used in research so far. We found research in the areas of smart cities, elections, human factors, operational technology, and crisis management. We also give suggestions for further research to develop better models for cybersecurity in cross-disciplinary organizations.
Heavy neutral leptons at the Electron-Ion Collider
Authors: Batell Brian , Ghosh Tathagata , Han Tao , Xie Keping
Published: March 2023

Abstract

The future Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory, along with its primary capacity to elucidate the nuclear structure, will offer new opportunities to probe physics beyond the Standard Model coupled to the electroweak sector. Among the best motivated examples of such new physics are new heavy neutral leptons (HNLs), which are likely to play a key role in neutrino mass generation and lepton number violation. We study the capability of the EIC to search for HNLs, which can be produced in electron- proton collisions through charged current interactions as a consequence of their mixing with light neutrinos. We find that, with the EIC design energy and integrated luminosity, one is able to probe HNLs in the mass range of 1 – 100 GeV with mixing angles down to the order of 10−4 − 10−3 through the prompt decay signatures, and in the mass range of 1 10 GeV with |Ue|2 ~ 10−6 – 10−4 via the displaced decay signatures. We also consider the invisible mode where an HNL is undetected or decaying to dark sector particles. One could potentially probe heavy HNLs for mixing angles in the window 10−3 – 10−2, provided SM background systematics can be brought under control. These searches are complementary to other probes of HNLs, such as neutrino-less double-β decay, meson decay, fixed-target, and high-energy collider experiments.
No insulin degludec dose adjustment required after aerobic exercise for people with type 1 diabetes: the ADREM study
Authors: Drenthen Linda C. A. , Ajie Mandala , Abbink Evertine J. , Rodwell Laura , Thijssen Dick H. J. , Tack Cees J. , de Galan Bastiaan E.
Published: March 2023

Aims/hypothesis

It is generally recommended to reduce basal insulin doses after exercise to reduce the risk of post-exercise nocturnal hypoglycaemia. Based on its long t½, it is unknown whether such adjustments are required or beneficial for insulin degludec.

Methods

The ADREM study (Adjustment of insulin Degludec to Reduce post-Exercise (nocturnal) hypoglycaeMia in people with diabetes) was a randomised controlled, crossover study in which we compared 40% dose reduction (D40), or postponement and 20% dose reduction (D20-P), with no dose adjustment (CON) in adults with type 1 diabetes at elevated risk of hypoglycaemia, who performed a 45 min aerobic exercise test in the afternoon. All participants wore blinded continuous glucose monitors for 6 days, measuring the incidence of (nocturnal) hypoglycaemia and subsequent glucose profiles.

Results

We recruited 18 participants (six women, age 38 ± 13 years, HbA1c 56 ± 8 mmol/mol [7.3 ± 0.8%], mean ± SD). Time below range (i.e. glucose <3.9 mmol/l) the night after the exercise test was generally low and occurrence did not differ between the treatment regimens. During the subsequent whole day, time below range was lower for D40 compared with CON (median [IQR], 0 [0–23] vs 18 [0–55] min, p=0.043), without differences in the number of hypoglycaemic events. Time above range (i.e. glucose >10 mmol/l) was greater for D20-P vs CON (mean ± SEM, 584 ± 81 vs 364 ± 66 min, p=0.001) and D40 (385 ± 72 min, p=0.003).

Conclusions/interpretation

Post-exercise adjustment of degludec does not mitigate the risk of subsequent nocturnal hypoglycaemia in people with type 1 diabetes. Although reducing degludec reduced next-day time below range, this did not translate into fewer hypoglycaemic events, while postponing degludec should be avoided because of increased time above range. Altogether, these data do not support degludec dose adjustment after a single exercise bout.

Trial registration

EudraCT number 2019-004222-22

Funding

The study was funded by an unrestricted grant from Novo Nordisk, Denmark.

Graphical abstract
Environmental and economical optimization of reinforced concrete overhang bridge slabs
Authors: Khouri Chalouhi Elisa , Zelmanovitz Ciulla Gustavo , García-Brioles Bueno Jorge , Pacoste Costin , Karoumi Raid
Published: March 2023

The dimensioning of overhang slabs in bridge decks is usually based on simplified, thus conservative methods. The resulting over-dimensioned overhang bridge slabs can also affect the design of the girders. In this paper, an optimization procedure for the design of this structural element is presented. The aim is to minimize investment cost and global warming potential in the material production stage simultaneously while fulfilling all safety requirements. The design variables used in this study are the thicknesses of the overhang slab and the height of the edge beam. However, a complete detailed design of reinforcement is performed as well. Both a single-objective and a multi-objective formulation of the nonlinear problem are presented and handled with two well-known optimization algorithms: pattern search and genetic algorithm. The procedure is applied to a case study, which is a bridge in Sweden designed in 2013. One single solution minimizing both objective functions is found and leads to savings in investment cost and CO2-equivalent emissions of 4.2% and 9.3%, respectively. The optimization procedure is then applied to slab free lengths between 1 and 3 m. The outcome is a graph showing the optimal slab thicknesses for each slab length to be used by designers in the early design stage.
Controversial aspects of imaging in child abuse: a second roundtable discussion from the ESPR child abuse taskforce
Authors: Paddock Michael , Choudhary Arabinda K. , Jeanes Annmarie , Mankad Kshitij , Mannes Inès , Raissaki Maria , Adamsbaum Catherine , Argyropoulou Maria I. , van Rijn Rick R. , Offiah Amaka C.
Published: March 2023

This second roundtable discussion was convened at the 56th European Society of Paediatric Radiology (ESPR) 2022 Annual Meeting in Marseille, France, to discuss controversial aspects of imaging in child abuse. The following topics were discussed:

Fracture dating—the published literature is broadly similar with respect to the identification of the radiographic stages of bony healing. The non-expert/general radiologist is encouraged to use broad descriptors of fracture healing (acute, healing or old) within their reports, rather than attempting to date fractures. The more experienced/expert radiologist, who may provide a timeframe/range to assist the courts, should be aware that any published timeframes are not absolute and that recent research indicates that the rate of healing may differ according to the bone affected and the age of the patient.

Whole spine imaging in suspected abusive head trauma—this is recommended to enable a complete assessment of the neuraxis when abusive head trauma is suspected or diagnosed, particularly in the presence of intracranial and cervical subdural haemorrhage and cervical ligamentous injury.

Cranial imaging in suspected physical abuse—both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remain complimentary depending on the clinical context in which they are used with CT remaining first-line in the assessment of children with (suspected abusive) head trauma prior to an early MRI. MRI is superior in its assessment of parenchymal injury and may be employed as first-line in age appropriate asymptomatic siblings of a child with suspected physical abuse.
Pseudotargeted Metabolomics Reveals the Effects of High Root-Zone Temperature Stress on Leaves and Roots of Medicago sativa
Authors: Zhang Yuwen , Li Xuejiao , Zhao Yan
Published: March 2023

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is the most widely planted forage, which have higer economically valuable and better ecological benefits in the world. However, it’s sensitive to high root-zone temperature in tropical and subtropical areas. In order to explore the changes of metabolites in alfalfa under heat stress, the study applied the unique alfalfa landrace ‘Deqin’ to explored the mechanisms on the basis of pseudotargeted metabolomics. The results showed that the phenotype of leaves and roots were changed remarkly, leaf chlorophyll content, electrolyte leakage, H2O2 content and soluble sugar also changed at different treatments. Meanwhile, heat stress may stimulate the germination of new alfalfa roots in response to adverse environment. Metabonomics analysis showed that a total of 809 and 749 metabolites were detected in leaves and roots respectively, which treated with four different ways. Of these, 343 and 383 were identified as differential metabolites in the leaves and roots, respectively; they mainly belongs to phenylpropanoids, polyketides, organic acids and derivatives, organic acids and derivatives. Among them, the differential metabolites were mainly enriched in glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, citrate cycle, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Meanwhile, some metabolites such as phenylpropanoids, polyketides, organic acids and derivatives may play an important role in response to heat stress in M. sativa ‘Deqin’. Overall, this study reports the differential metabolites and pathways in the roots and leaves of ‘Deqin’ in response to high root-zone temperature, which provides new insights into the heat stress mechanisms of alfalfa.
Defecation status, intestinal microbiota, and habitual diet are associated with the fecal bile acid composition: a cross-sectional study in community-dwelling young participants
Authors: Saito Yosuke , Sagae Toyoaki
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Bile acid (BA) metabolism by intestinal bacteria is associated with the risk of gastrointestinal diseases; additionally, its control has become a modern strategy for treating metabolic diseases. This cross-sectional study investigated the influence of defecation status, intestinal microbiota, and habitual diet on fecal BA composition in 67 community-dwelling young participants.

Methods

Feces were collected for intestinal microbiota and BA analyses; data about defecation status and dietary habits were collected using the Bristol stool form scales and a brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire, respectively. The participants were categorized into four clusters based on their fecal BA composition, according to cluster analysis, and tertiles based on deoxycholic acid (DCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA) levels.

Results

The high primary BA (priBA) cluster with high fecal cholic acid (CA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) levels had the highest frequency of normal feces, whereas the second BA (secBA) cluster with high levels of fecal DCA and LCA had the lowest. Alternately, the high-priBA cluster had a distinct intestinal microbiota, with higher Clostridium subcluster XIVa and lower Clostridium cluster IV and Bacteroides. The low-secBA cluster with low fecal DCA and LCA levels had the lowest animal fat intake. Nevertheless, the insoluble fiber intake of the high-priBA cluster was significantly higher than that of the high-secBA cluster.

Conclusion

High fecal CA and CDCA levels were associated with distinct intestinal microbiota. Conversely, high levels of cytotoxic DCA and LCA were associated with increased animal fat intake and decreased frequency of normal feces and insoluble fiber intake.

Clinical trial registry

University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) Center system (UMIN000045639); date of registration: 15/11/2019.
Relationships of BMI, muscle-to-fat ratio, and handgrip strength-to-BMI ratio to physical fitness in Spanish children and adolescents
Authors: Manzano-Carrasco Samuel , Garcia-Unanue Jorge , Haapala Eero A. , Felipe Jose Luis , Gallardo Leonor , Lopez-Fernandez Jorge
Published: March 2023

This study aimed to determine the relationship of body mass index (BMI), muscle-to-fat ratio (MFR), and handgrip strength-to-BMI ratio to physical fitness parameters in an active young population according to sex across four different time points. A total of 2256 Spanish children and adolescents (aged 5–18) from rural areas participating in an extracurricular sport in different municipal sports schools participated in this study. Participants were divided into children (5–10 years) and adolescents (11–18 years), boys and girls, and across four different time points (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021). Data on anthropometric measures (BMI, MFR, appendicular skeletal muscle mass) and physical fitness (handgrip strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, and vertical jump) were collected. Boys who were overweight, but especially boys with obesity, had higher absolute handgrip strength in children and adolescents than their normal weight counterparts in 2020 and 2021. Boys and girls with normal weight presented higher cardiorespiratory fitness and vertical jump than their overweight and obese peers over the years. The MFR was directly correlated with the cardiorespiratory fitness and vertical jump variables, but not with handgrip strength, in boys and girls. The handgrip strength-to-BMI ratio in both sexes was positively correlated to the different physical fitness parameters.

  Conclusion: BMI, MFR, and handgrip strength-to-BMI can be used as health and physical fitness indicators in this population.

What is Known:• BMI is the main indicator commonly used as a proxy for obesity for many years. Nevertheless, it cannot differentiate between fat mass and fat-free mass.• There are other indicators such as MFR and handgrip strength-to-BMI that might be more accurate and can serve to monitor the health and fitness of children and adolescents.

What is New:• MFR showed a positive and significant correlation with cardiorespiratory fitness and vertical jump in both sexes. On the other hand, the handgrip strength-to-BMI presented a positive correlation with cardiorespiratory fitness, vertical jump, and handgrip strength.• The use of these indicators obtained through different parameters of body composition and physical fitness can serve as a tool to identify the relationships of the paediatric population with physical fitness.
VIsoQLR: an interactive tool for the detection, quantification and fine-tuning of isoforms in selected genes using long-read sequencing
Authors: Núñez-Moreno Gonzalo , Tamayo Alejandra , Ruiz-Sánchez Carolina , Cortón Marta , Mínguez Pablo
Published: March 2023

DNA variants altering the pre-mRNA splicing process represent an underestimated cause of human genetic diseases. Their association with disease traits should be confirmed using functional assays from patient cell lines or alternative models to detect aberrant mRNAs. Long-read sequencing is a suitable technique to identify and quantify mRNA isoforms. Available isoform detection and/or quantification tools are generally designed for the whole transcriptome analysis. However experiments focusing on genes of interest need more precise data fine-tuning and visualization tools.

Here we describe VIsoQLR, an interactive analyzer, viewer and editor for the semi-automated identification and quantification of known and novel isoforms using long-read sequencing data. VIsoQLR is tailored to thoroughly analyze mRNA expression in splicing assays of selected genes. Our tool takes sequences aligned to a reference, and for each gene, it defines consensus splice sites and quantifies isoforms. VIsoQLR introduces features to edit the splice sites through dynamic and interactive graphics and tables, allowing accurate manual curation. Known isoforms detected by other methods can also be imported as references for comparison. A benchmark against two other popular transcriptome-based tools shows VIsoQLR accurate performance on both detection and quantification of isoforms. Here, we present VIsoQLR principles and features and its applicability in a case study example using nanopore-based long-read sequencing. VIsoQLR is available at https://github.com/TBLabFJD/VIsoQLR.
Exponential tractability of L2-approximation with function values
Authors: Krieg David , Siedlecki Paweł , Ullrich Mario , Woźniakowski Henryk
Published: March 2023

We study the complexity of high-dimensional approximation in the L2-norm when different classes of information are available; we compare the power of function evaluations with the power of arbitrary continuous linear measurements. Here, we discuss the situation when the number of linear measurements required to achieve an error ε ∈ (0,1) in dimension $d\in \mathbb {N}$
d
∈
ℕ
depends only poly-logarithmically on ε− 1. This corresponds to an exponential order of convergence of the approximation error, which often happens in applications. However, it does not mean that the high-dimensional approximation problem is easy, the main difficulty usually lies within the dependence on the dimension d. We determine to which extent the required amount of information changes if we allow only function evaluation instead of arbitrary linear information. It turns out that in this case we only lose very little, and we can even restrict to linear algorithms. In particular, several notions of tractability hold simultaneously for both types of available information.
Does Professional Development Effectively Support the Implementation of Inclusive Education? A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Donath Johanna L. , Lüke Timo , Graf Elisabeth , Tran Ulrich S. , Götz Thomas
Published: March 2023

Inclusive education is a reform aimed at educating all students in general classrooms, independent of diversity features such as special educational needs, giftedness, or migration. Its successful implementation requires teachers with professional knowledge about inclusive education, skills to address the diverse needs in the classroom, and positive beliefs toward inclusive education. Teachers are provided with professional development opportunities, but are these effective in improving their learning process and positively impacting students’ behavior? We conducted a meta-analysis to address this question. The screening of 12,050 search results revealed 342 eligible studies with more than 155,000 participants and 1123 effects from four outcome categories: teachers’ knowledge, skills, and beliefs and students’ behavior. We observed positive, though varying, effects on all four outcome categories: large effects on teachers' knowledge regarding inclusive education (g = 0.93), moderate effects on teachers’ skills (g = 0.49), small effects on teachers’ beliefs (g = 0.23), and small-to-moderate effects on student behavior (g = 0.37). We also examined factors that might explain the differences in the strength of training effects. The data suggest that long-term training with high practical relevance and active learning opportunities facilitates transfer to schools.
Geospatial variations in socioeconomic conditions and health outcomes in COVID-19 era: insights from South Africa (2020–2022)
Authors: Wand Handan , Vujovich-Dunn Cassandra , Derrick Kate , Moodley Jayajothi , Reddy Tarylee , Naidoo Sarita
Published: March 2023

South Africa also has the highest burden of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related comorbidities in Africa. We aimed to quantify the temporal and geospatial changes in unemployment, food insecurity, and their combined impact on depressive symptoms among South Africans who participated into several rounds of national surveys. We estimated the population-attributable risk percent ($$PAR\%$$

P
A
R
%

) for the combinations of the risk factors after accounting for their correlation structure in multifactorial setting. Our study provided compelling evidence for immediate and severe effect of the pandemic where 60% of South Africans reported household food insecurity or household hunger, shortly after the pandemic emerged in 2020. Despite the grants provided by the government, these factors were also identified as the most influential risk factors (adjusted odds ratios (aORs) ranged from 2.06 to 3.10, p < 0.001) for depressive symptoms and collectively associated with 62% and 53% of the mental health symptoms in men and women, respectively. Similar pattern was observed among pregnant women and 41% of the depressive symptoms were exclusively associated with those who reported household hunger. However, aORs associated with the concerns around pandemic and vaccine were mostly not significant and ranged from 1.12 to 1.26 which resulted substantially lower impacts on depressive symptoms (PAR%:7%-and-14%). Our findings suggest that South Africa still has unacceptably high rates of hunger which is accelerated during the pandemic. These results may have significant clinical and epidemiological implications and may also bring partial explanation for the low vaccine coverage in the country, as priorities and concerns are skewed towards economic concerns and food insecurity.