bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lowland forest fragment characteristics and anthropogenic disturbances determine alien plant species richness and composition
Authors: Šipek Mirjana , Šajna Nina
Published: March 2024

Loss of habitat and biological invasion are the main threats to biodiversity. In intensive agricultural or urban landscapes, forest fragments, even if they are small and isolated represent biodiversity refugia. Environmental variables such as landscape structure, abiotic conditions and anthropogenic disturbance affect the biodiversity of the fragments. In this study, we explored plant species richness in 48 forest fragments embedded in predominantly agricultural landscapes on the alluvial plains of the Mura and Drava rivers in NE Slovenia. We determined several forest fragment characteristics such as perimeter, area, shape complexity, length and proportion of edge shared with adjacent land-cover types and anthropogenic disturbance indicated by the presence of footpaths and waste disposed in fragments. The abiotic condition of these fragments was assessed by Ellenberg indicator values. We built generalized linear models and ordination analyses to assess the importance of environmental variables for the richness and composition of alien plant species and other ecologically meaningful plant groups. Shape complexity had a consistent positive effect on the richness of native and alien plants species. Major drivers of alien plant composition in forest fragments included adjacent land-cover and urbanization level. An increasing proportion of arable land along the forest fragment perimeter negatively affected the richness of alien plants, while the effect of urban areas was positive. Our results confirmed that forest fragments in the rural–urban matrix represent biodiversity refugia and support native plant species; however, they are not resistant to invasions; instead invasion depends on the land-cover type in the surroundings of a given forest fragment.
The variable two-step BDF method for parabolic equations
Authors: Akrivis Georgios , Chen Minghua , Han Jianxing , Yu Fan , Zhang Zhimin
Published: March 2024

The two-step backward difference formula (BDF) method on variable grids for parabolic equations with self-adjoint elliptic part is considered. Standard stability estimates for adjacent time-step ratios $$r_j:=k_j/k_{j-1}\leqslant 1.8685$$

r
j

:
=

k
j

/

k

j
-
1

⩽
1.8685

and 1.9104, respectively, have been proved by Becker (BIT 38:644–662, 1998) and Emmrich (J Appl Math Comput 19:33–55, 2005) by the energy technique with a single multiplier. Even slightly improving the ratio is cumbersome. In this paper, we present a novel technique to examine the positive definiteness of banded matrices that are neither Toeplitz nor weakly diagonally dominant; this result can be viewed as a variant of the Grenander–Szegő theorem. Then, utilizing the energy technique with two multipliers, we establish stability for adjacent time-step ratios up to 1.9398.
Associations of Mental Health Service Utilization and Mental Health Diagnosis with Placement Instability Among Foster Children in a Southeastern State
Authors: Soto-Ramírez Nelís , Xu Yanfeng , Martin Taylor , Babalola Oluranti , Weist Mark , Flynn Cynthia
Published: March 2024

Placement instability for children in foster care is high, with children experiencing nearly 4.5 placement moves per 1,000 days in care on average. While prior research has demonstrated a predictive relationship between mental health problems and placement instability, few studies have examined the associations of specific mental health diagnoses or utilization of mental health (MH) services. To this end, this study seeks to investigate associations between MH service utilization, mental health diagnosis, and placement instability (rate of placement moves) for foster children. We analyzed statewide integrated administrative data to examine MH service utilization and mental health diagnosis on placement instability among foster children. We used SAS 9.4 to conduct descriptive, bivariate, and multiple linear regression models to address the objectives of the study. The retrospective cohort was composed of 1,002 children in foster care. The multivariable linear regression reveals that receiving in-patient services, receiving out-patient services, being diagnosed with conduct disorder, being Black children, older children, and female children, being placed in intensive case management, being sexually abused, having a single household family structure at time of removal, and having a high number of intakes significantly increased the rate of placement moves. The findings of this study have significant implications for the provision of mental health services to foster children and the promotion of placement stability, highlighting the role of child welfare professionals in fostering protective factors and mitigating risk factors to promote placement stability. Implications for practice and policy improvement are discussed.
Tracing human settlements: analyzing the spatio-temporal distribution of Buddhist temples in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Authors: Patnukao Areerut , Cheewinsiriwat Pannee , Bamrungkhul Settawut , Vannametee Ekkamol
Published: March 2024

Buddhist temples offer invaluable historical insights into the movement of people across different historical periods and their interactions with the environment. This study focuses on the examination of temple locations in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, with two primary objectives: analyzing the spatial distribution characteristics of temples across periods to trace the development of temples and settlements, and exploring the relationships between temple locations in each period and physical environmental factors/landforms. To achieve these objectives, GIS tools, including average nearest neighbor (ANN) analysis, kernel density estimation (KDE), and standard deviational ellipse (SDE) analysis, are employed. The study reveals significant patterns. Temples exhibit varying concentrations and shifts over periods, primarily along the ancient trans-peninsular route, with the area around Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan emerging as a prominent center. Over time, temples were built at higher elevations and moving away from waterways. The preference for constructing temples on flat terrains is predominant. In the Sukhothai period (prior to 1349 CE), temples were often situated on flood-resistant sandbars. In the Ayutthaya period (1350 CE – 1767 CE), temples were strategically positioned on plains near waterways and trade routes. During the Thonburi period (1768 CE – 1781 CE), temples were primarily located at higher elevations. From Rattanakosin to present (1782 CE – present), temples expanded to higher elevations due to economic crop cultivation, population growth, and road network development. This study sheds light on the dynamic development of temples and their relationship with environmental factors, contributing to our understanding of historical human settlements and interactions with the landscape.
Design of a microwave spectrometer for high-precision Lamb shift spectroscopy of antihydrogen atoms
Authors: Tanaka T. A. , Blumer P. , Janka G. , Ohayon B. , Regenfus C. , Asari M. , Tsukida R. , Higuchi T. , Tanaka K. S. , Crivelli P. , Kuroda N.
Published: March 2024

We have developed a microwave spectrometer for a measurement of the $$\varvec{2S_{1/2}-2P_{1/2}}$$

2

S

1
/
2

-
2

P

1
/
2

Lamb shift of antihydrogen atoms towards the determination of the antiproton charge radius. The spectrometer consists of two consecutive apparatuses, of which the first apparatus, Hyperfine Selector (HFS), filters out $$\varvec{2S_{1/2}(F=1)}$$

2

S

1
/
2

(
F
=
1
)

hyperfine states and pre-selects the $$\varvec{2S_{1/2}(F=0)}$$

2

S

1
/
2

(
F
=
0
)

state, and the second apparatus, MicroWave Scanner (MWS), sweeps the frequency around the target transition to obtain the spectrum. We optimized the geometry of the apparatuses by evaluating the S-parameter that represents the ratio of the reflected microwave signal over the input, utilizing microwave simulations based on the finite element method. The HFS was designed to obtain a resonant property at 1.1 GHz for an efficient removal of the $$\varvec{2S_{1/2}(F=1)}$$

2

S

1
/
2

(
F
=
1
)

hyperfine states, and the MWS was designed to realize weak frequency-dependency in the signal reflection. Also, the spatial distributions of microwave electric field were simulated. We report the design of the spectrometer and discuss an expected precision of the first measurement.
Novel Presentation of Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Deficiency with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis
Authors: Alroqi Fayhan J. , Alhezam Musaab A. , Almojali Abdullah I. , Barhoumi Tlili , Althubaiti Nouf , Alharbi Yousef , Al Balwi Mohammed A. , Alrasheed Abdulrahman
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II deficiency is one of the combined immune deficiency disorders caused by defects in the MHC class II regulatory genes leading to abnormal T cells development and function. Therefore, patients mainly present with increased susceptibility to infections, diarrhea, and failure to thrive. In this report, we present one MHC class II deficient patient with a novel presentation with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).

Methods

Immunophenotyping of lymphocyte subpopulations and HLA-DR expression was assess by flow cytometry. Gene mutational analysis was performed by whole exome and Sanger sequencing.

Results

We reported a 7-year-old girl, who was diagnosed at age of 2 years with MHC class II deficiency by genetic testing and flow cytometry. Two years later, she developed disseminated BCGitis which was treated with proper antimicrobial agents. At the age of 7 years, she presented with clinical features fulfilling 6 diagnostic criteria of HLH including evidence of hemophagocytic activity in bone marrow aspiration. Accordingly, the diagnosis of HLH was established and the patient was started on IV Dexamethasone, Anakinra and IVIG. Eventually, patient started to improve and was discharged in good condition. Few months later, the patient was readmitted with severe pneumonia and sepsis leading to death.

Conclusion

Patients with MHC class II deficiency might present with disseminated BCGitis especially if the patient has severe T cell lymphopenia. Additionally, this immune defect might be added to the list of inborn errors of immunity that can be complicated with HLH.
Computing the recession cone of a convex upper image via convex projection
Authors: Kováčová Gabriela , Ulus Firdevs
Published: March 2024

It is possible to solve unbounded convex vector optimization problems (CVOPs) in two phases: (1) computing or approximating the recession cone of the upper image and (2) solving the equivalent bounded CVOP where the ordering cone is extended based on the first phase. In this paper, we consider unbounded CVOPs and propose an alternative solution methodology to compute or approximate the recession cone of the upper image. In particular, we relate the dual of the recession cone with the Lagrange dual of weighted sum scalarization problems whenever the dual problem can be written explicitly. Computing this set requires solving a convex (or polyhedral) projection problem. We show that this methodology can be applied to semidefinite, quadratic, and linear vector optimization problems and provide some numerical examples.
Naïve Truth and the Evidential Conditional
Authors: Iacona Andrea , Rossi Lorenzo
Published: March 2024

This paper develops the idea that valid arguments are equivalent to true conditionals by combining Kripke’s theory of truth with the evidential account of conditionals offered by Crupi and Iacona. As will be shown, in a first-order language that contains a naïve truth predicate and a suitable conditional, one can define a validity predicate in accordance with the thesis that the inference from a conjunction of premises to a conclusion is valid when the corresponding conditional is true. The validity predicate so defined significantly increases our expressive resources and provides a coherent formal treatment of paradoxical arguments.
Associations between Shared Sanitation, Stunting and Diarrhoea in Low-Income, High Density Urban Neighbourhoods of Maputo, Mozambique - a Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Braun Laura , MacDougall Amy , Sumner Trent , Adriano Zaida , Viegas Edna , Nalá Rassul , Brown Joe , Knee Jackie , Cumming Oliver
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Shared sanitation facilities are used by over 500 million people around the world. Most research evidence indicates that shared sanitation conveys higher risk than household sanitation for many adverse health outcomes. However, studies often fail to account for variation between different types of shared facilities. As informal housing development outpaces sanitation infrastructure, it is imperative to understand which components of shared facilities may mitigate the health risks of shared sanitation use.

Methods

This cross-sectional study determines whether sanitation improvement or compound hygiene were associated with stunting or diarrhoeal prevalence in children under five living in Maputo, Mozambique who rely on shared sanitation facilities. The study uses logistic and linear multivariable regression analysis to search for associations and control for potential confounding factors.

Results

346 children (43.9%) in the study population were stunted. Each unit increase in sanitation score was associated with an approximate decrease of 22% in the odds of stunting (OR: 0.78, CI: 0.66, 0.92), and an increase in height of 0.23 height-for-age z-scores (CI: 0.10, 0.36). There was no evidence that the compound hygiene score was associated with height as measured by stunting (OR: 1.05, CI: 0.87, 1.26) or z-score (-0.06, CI: -0.21, 0.09). Neither sanitation nor compound hygiene score were associated with diarrhoea in the population.

Conclusions

Use of an improved shared latrine is associated with decreased odds of stunting. There is no evidence of an association between latrine improvement and diarrhoea. Further investigation is necessary to isolate attributes of shared sanitation facilities that may reduce health risks.
Mechanisms of intermittent theta-burst stimulation attenuating nerve injury after ischemic reperfusion in rats through endoplasmic reticulum stress and ferroptosis
Authors: Shen Xin-Ya , Zhang Xing-Yu , Han Ping-Ping , Zhao Yi-Ning , Xu Guo-Hui , Bi Xia
Published: March 2024

Background

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) exerts neuroprotective effects early in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Intermittent theta-brust stimulation (iTBS), a more time-efficient modality of rTMS, improves the efficiency without at least decreasing the efficacy of the therapy. iTBS elevates cortical excitability, and in recent years it has become increasingly common to apply iTBS to patients in the early post-IS period. However, little is known about the neuroprotective mechanisms of iTBS. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), and ferroptosis have been shown to be involved in the development of I/R injury. We aimed to investigate the potential regulatory mechanisms by which iTBS attenuates neurological injury after I/R in rats.

Methods

Rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operated group, MCAO/R group, and MCAO/R + iTBS group, and were stimulated with iTBS 36 h after undergoing middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) or sham-operated. The expression of ERS, ferroptosis, and apoptosis-related markers was subsequently detected by western blot assays. We also investigated the mechanism by which iTBS attenuates nerve injury after ischemic reperfusion in rats by using the modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS) and the balance beam test to measure nerve function.

Results

iTBS performed early in I/R injury attenuated the levels of ERS, ferroptosis, and apoptosis, and improved neurological function, including mNSS and balance beam experiments. It is suggested that this mode of stimulation reduces the cost per treatment by several times without compromising the efficacy of the treatment and could be a practical and less costly intervention.
Simultaneous control of head pose and expressions in 3D facial keypoint-based GAN
Authors: Hatakeyama Tomoyuki , Furuta Ryosuke , Sato Yoichi
Published: March 2024

In this work, we present a novel method for simultaneously controlling the head pose and the facial expressions of a given input image using a 3D keypoint-based GAN. Existing methods for controlling head pose and expressions simultaneously are not suitable for real images, or they generate unnatural results because it is not trivial to capture head pose (large changes) and expressions (small changes) simultaneously. In this work, we achieve simultaneous control of head pose and facial expressions by introducing 3D facial keypoints for GAN-based facial image synthesis, unlike the existing 2D landmark-based approach. As a result, our method can handle both large variations due to different head poses and subtle variations due to changing facial expressions faithfully. Furthermore, our model takes audio input as an additional modality for further enhancing the quality of generated images. Our model was evaluated on the VoxCeleb2 dataset to demonstrate its state-of-the-art performance for both facial reenactment and facial image manipulation tasks, and our model tends not to be affected by the driving images.
Midline invasion predicts poor prognosis in diffuse hemispheric glioma, H3 G34-mutant: an individual participant data review
Authors: Kegoya Yasuhito , Otani Yoshihiro , Inoue Yohei , Mizuta Ryo , Higaki Fumiyo , Washio Kana , Koizumi Shinichiro , Kurozumi Kazuhiko , Ishida Joji , Fujii Kentaro , Yamamoto Norio , Tanaka Yoshihiro , Date Isao
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Diffuse hemispheric glioma, H3 G34-mutant (DHGs), is a newly categorized tumor in pediatric-type diffuse high-grade gliomas, World Health Organization grade 4, with a poor prognosis. Although prognostic factors associated with genetic abnormalities have been reported, few reports have examined the clinical presentation of DHGs, especially from the viewpoint of imaging findings. In this study, we investigated the relationship between clinical factors, including imaging findings, and prognosis in patients with DHGs.

Methods

We searched Medline through the PubMed database using two search terms: “G34” and “glioma”, between 1 April 2012 and 1 July 2023. We retrieved articles that described imaging findings and overall survival (OS), and added one DHG case from our institution. We defined midline invasion (MI) as invasion to the contralateral cerebrum, brainstem, corpus callosum, thalamus, and basal ganglia on magnetic resonance imaging. The primary outcome was 12-month survival, estimated using Kaplan–Meier curves and logistic regression.

Results

A total of 96 patients were included in this study. The median age was 22 years, and the proportion of male patients was 48.4%. Lesions were most frequently located in the frontal lobe (52.6%). MI was positive in 39.6% of all patients. The median OS was 14.4 months. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that OS was significantly worse in the MI-positive group compared with the MI-negative group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that MI was an independent prognostic factor in DHGs.

Conclusions

In this study, MI-positive cases had a worse prognosis compared with MI-negative cases.

Previous presentations

No portion of this study has been presented or published previously.
Breaking Time Invariance: Assorted-Time Normalization for RNNs
Authors: Pospisil Cole , Zadorozhnyy Vasily , Ye Qiang
Published: March 2024

Methods such as Layer Normalization (LN) and Batch Normalization have proven to be effective in improving the training of Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs). However, existing methods normalize using only the instantaneous information at one particular time step, and the result of the normalization is a preactivation state with a time-independent distribution. This implementation fails to account for certain temporal differences inherent in the inputs and the architecture of RNNs. Since these networks share weights across time steps, it may also be desirable to account for the connections between time steps in the normalization scheme. In this paper, we propose a normalization method called Assorted-Time Normalization (ATN), which preserves information from multiple consecutive time steps and normalizes using them. This setup allows us to introduce longer time dependencies into the traditional normalization methods without introducing any new trainable parameters. We present theoretical derivations for the gradient propagation and prove the weight scaling invariance property. Our experiments applying ATN to LN demonstrate consistent improvement on various tasks, such as Adding, Copying, and Denoise Problems and Language Modeling Problems.
Power analyses for measurement model misspecification and response shift detection with structural equation modeling
Authors: Verdam M. G. E.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Statistical power for response shift detection with structural equation modeling (SEM) is currently underreported. The present paper addresses this issue by providing worked-out examples and syntaxes of power calculations relevant for the statistical tests associated with the SEM approach for response shift detection.

Methods

Power calculations and related sample-size requirements are illustrated for two modelling goals: (1) to detect misspecification in the measurement model, and (2) to detect response shift. Power analyses for hypotheses regarding (exact) overall model fit and the presence of response shift are demonstrated in a step-by-step manner. The freely available and user-friendly R-package lavaan and shiny-app ‘power4SEM’ are used for the calculations.

Results

Using the SF-36 as an example, we illustrate the specification of null-hypothesis (H0) and alternative hypothesis (H1) models to calculate chi-square based power for the test on overall model fit, the omnibus test on response shift, and the specific test on response shift. For example, we show that a sample size of 506 is needed to reject an incorrectly specified measurement model, when the actual model has two-medium sized cross loadings. We also illustrate power calculation based on the RMSEA index for approximate fit, where H0 and H1 are defined in terms of RMSEA-values.

Conclusion

By providing accessible resources to perform power analyses and emphasizing the different power analyses associated with different modeling goals, we hope to facilitate the uptake of power analyses for response shift detection with SEM and thereby enhance the stringency of response shift research.
Analysis on open data as a foundation for data-driven research
Authors: Numajiri Honami , Hayashi Takayuki
Published: March 2024

Open Data, one of the key elements of Open Science, serves as a foundation for “data-driven research” and has been promoted in many countries. However, the current status of the use of publicly available data consisting of Open Data in new research styles and the impact of such use remains unclear. Following a comparative analysis in terms of the coverage with the OpenAIRE Graph, we analyzed the Data Citation Index, a comprehensive collection of research datasets and repositories with information of citation from articles. The results reveal that different countries and disciplines tend to show different trends in Open Data. In recent years, the number of data sets in repositories where researchers publish their data, regardless of the discipline, has increased dramatically, and researchers are publishing more data. Furthermore, there are some disciplines where data citation rates are not high, but the databases used are diverse.
Non-reflective Propagation of Kink Waves in Magnetic-Flux Tubes in the Solar Atmosphere
Authors: Ruderman M. S. , Petrukhin N. S.
Published: March 2024

We study the non-reflective propagation of kink waves in inhomogeneous magnetic-flux tubes. We use the thin-tube and zero-beta plasma approximations. The wave equation with the variable velocity is reduced to the Euler–Poisson–Darboux equation. This equation contains one dimensionless parameter. There are two infinite sequences of this parameter, one monotonically increasing and the other monotonically decreasing, when exact analytical solutions for the Euler–Poisson–Darboux equation can be obtained. For the monotonically increasing sequences the Euler–Poisson–Darboux equation becomes the equation describing spherically symmetric waves in multi-dimensional spaces. The general results are applied to kink-wave propagation in coronal magnetic loops. We consider a coronal magnetic loop of a half-circular shape. We find that for a fixed loop height there is a one-parametric family of dependences of the loop cross-sectional radius on the coordinate along the loop corresponding to the non-reflective kink-wave propagation.
Urban sound classification using neural networks on embedded FPGAs
Authors: Belloch Jose A. , Coronado Raul , Valls Oscar , del Amor Rocío , Leon German , Naranjo Valery , Dolz Manuel F. , Amor-Martin Adrian , Piñero Gema
Published: March 2024

Sound classification using neural networks has recently produced very accurate results. A large number of different applications use this type of sound classifiers such as controlling and monitoring the type of activity in a city or identifying different types of animals in natural environments. While traditional acoustic processing applications have been developed on high-performance computing platforms equipped with expensive multi-channel audio interfaces, the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm requires the use of more flexible and energy-efficient systems. Although software-based platforms exist for implementing general-purpose neural networks, they are not optimized for sound classification, wasting energy and computational resources. In this work, we have used FPGAs to develop an ad hoc system where only the hardware needed for our application is synthesized, resulting in faster and more energy-efficient circuits. The results show that our developments are accelerated by a factor of 35 compared to a software-based implementation on a Raspberry Pi.
Reactive Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study on Atomic-Scale Adhesive Wear Mechanisms of Single Crystalline Body-Centered Cubic Iron
Authors: Ootani Yusuke , Tsuchiko Masaki , Kawaura Masayuki , Yokoi Mizuho , Chen Qian , Asano Yuta , Ozawa Nobuki , Kubo Momoji
Published: March 2024

The adhesive wear of steel is a crucial issue in many industrial fields because it can lead to serious machine failure. However, the adhesive wear mechanism is still under debate owing to its complexity. Therefore, in this work, we performed reactive molecular dynamics-based sliding simulations of single crystalline body-centered cubic iron and investigated the fundamental atomic-scale adhesive wear mechanism for improving the wear resistance of steel. The effects of surface orientation, sliding direction, and humid atmosphere on the adhesive wear property were analyzed. In the sliding simulation, we observed two adhesive wear types. One is the wear accompanying surface deformation, in which the surface asperities gradually deform by slip and adhere severely. The other is the wear accompanying surface fracture with crack generation. The former can lead to seizures, whereas the latter can lead to wear debris formation. We propose that the rubbing surface orientation and sliding direction alter the atomic-scale adhesive wear type. Wear with surface deformation occurred when the deformation by slip was favorable, whereas wear with surface fracture occurred when slip was not favorable. Understanding the adhesive wear mechanism of iron in humid atmospheres is also important in many industrial fields. When water molecules were present at the sliding interface, both types of adhesive wear were suppressed. At the sliding interface, Fe–OH and Fe–O–Fe groups were formed on the scars through the tribochemical reaction with water. These groups passivated the nascent Fe surfaces and suppressed adhesion to the counter surface, thereby reducing adhesive wear. Therefore, we conclude that the surface orientation and sliding direction determine the atomic-scale adhesive wear type, whereas a humid atmosphere affects the wear amount at the atomic scale.
Anaplasma capra: a new emerging tick-borne zoonotic pathogen
Authors: Altay Kursat , Erol Ufuk , Sahin Omer Faruk
Published: March 2024

The genus Anaplasma includes A. marginale, A. centrale, A. bovis, A. ovis, A. platys, and A. phagocytophilum transmitted by ticks, some of which are zoonotic and cause anaplasmosis in humans and animals. In 2012, a new species was discovered in goats in China. In 2015, the same agent was detected in humans in China, and it was provisionally named Anaplasma capra, referring to 2012. The studies conducted to date have revealed the existence of A. capra in humans, domestic animals, wild animals, and ticks from three different continents (Asia, Europe, and Africa). Phylogenetic analyses based on gltA and groEL sequences show that A. capra clearly includes two different genotypes (A. capra genotype-1 and A. capra genotype-2). Although A. capra human isolates are in the genotype-2 group, goat, sheep, and cattle isolates are in both groups, making it difficult to establish a host genotype-relationship. According to current data, it can be thought that human isolates are genotype-2 and while only genotype-1 is found in Europe, both genotypes are found in Asia. Anaplasma capra causes clinical disease in humans, but the situation is not yet sufficient to understand the zoonotic importance and pathogenicity in animals. In the present review, the history, hosts (vertebrates and ticks), molecular prevalence, pathogenic properties, and genetic diversity of A. capra were evaluated from a broad perspective.
Antimicrobial and anti-biofilm efficacy of different inorganic and organic zinc forms against multidrug-resistant Escherichia, Klebsiella, Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas
Authors: Karahutová Lívia , Bujňáková Dobroslava
Published: March 2024

In our study antibacterial and anti-biofilm efficacy of 2 inorganics (Zn(II) sulphate monohydrate; Zn(II) sulphate heptahydrate) and 3 organic Zn(II) substances (Zn(II) chelate of protein hydrolysate: Zn-Bio; Zn(II) chelate of amino acid hydrate: Zn-AMK; Zn(II) chelate of glycine hydrate: Zn-Gly) were explored and compared against multidrug resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Klebsiella oxytoca (K. oxytoca) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) using by the 96- wells microtiter plate-based resazurin and/or crystal violet assay. Our finding confirmed that Zn(II)-sulphates and Zn(II)-amino acid complexes exhibit dose and genus-based antibacterial and anti-biofilm potential. Organic compounds (Zn-AMK and Zn-Gly) were more effective against bacterial growth, except P. aeruginosa. Besides Zn-AMK, others organic and inorganic forms of Zn(II) caused predominantly statistically significant decrease of biofilm production in all of tested bacteria. Current data highlights that Zn(II) in various forms has a great potential to be developed as antibacterial and anti-biofilm agents.
An exploratory investigation of the CSF metabolic profile of HIV in a South African paediatric cohort using GCxGC-TOF/MS
Authors: Thirion Anicia , Loots Du Toit , Williams Monray E. , Solomons Regan , Mason Shayne
Published: March 2024

Introduction

 Because cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples are difficult to obtain for paediatric HIV, few studies have attempted to profile neurometabolic dysregulation.

Aim and objective

The aim of this exploratory study was to profile the neurometabolic state of CSF from a South African paediatric cohort using GCxGC-TOF/MS. The study included 54 paediatric cases (< 12 years), 42 HIV-negative controls and 12 HIV-positive individuals.

Results

The results revealed distinct metabolic alterations in the HIV-infected cohort. In the PLS-DA model, 18 metabolites significantly discriminated between HIV-infected and control groups. In addition, fold-change analysis, Mann–Whitney U tests, and effect size measurements verified these findings. Notably, lactose, myo-inositol, and glycerol, although not significant by p-value alone, demonstrated practical significance based on the effect size.

Conclusions

This study provided valuable insights on the impact of HIV on metabolic pathways, including damage to the gut and blood–brain barrier, disruption of bioenergetics processes, gliosis, and a potential marker for antiretroviral therapy. Nevertheless, the study recognized certain constraints, notably a limited sample size and the absence of a validation cohort. Despite these limitations, the rarity of the study’s focus on paediatric HIV research underscores the significance and unique contributions of its findings.
Variational Estimation for Multidimensional Generalized Partial Credit Model
Authors: Cui Chengyu , Wang Chun , Xu Gongjun
Published: March 2024

Multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) models have generated increasing interest in the psychometrics literature. Efficient approaches for estimating MIRT models with dichotomous responses have been developed, but constructing an equally efficient and robust algorithm for polytomous models has received limited attention. To address this gap, this paper presents a novel Gaussian variational estimation algorithm for the multidimensional generalized partial credit model. The proposed algorithm demonstrates both fast and accurate performance, as illustrated through a series of simulation studies and two real data analyses.
Aliphatic hydrocarbons in fin spines of adult sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) and their relationship with potentially toxic elements in the northern and southern regions of the Caspian Sea
Authors: Bakhshalizadeh Shima , Nasibulina Botagoz , Kurochkina Tatyana , Ali Attaala , Mora-Medina Rafael , Ayala-Soldado Nahúm
Published: March 2024

Currently, the pollution of the Caspian Sea by the oil industry is one of the highest problems in this area. Critically endangered species inhabit this sea, such as sturgeons, whose ecological value is incalculable. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the level of contamination of aliphatic hydrocarbons of petroleum and its relation with several toxic elements directly on sturgeons spines. A total of 40 adult starry sturgeons (Acipenser stellatus) were obtained within a repopulation programme in the northern and southern coastal waters of the Caspian Sea. The marginal pectoral fin was extracted from each fish to determine aliphatic hydrocarbons, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel, lead, and vanadium. Subsequently, the sturgeons were released. Clearly, the presence of hydrocarbons was evidenced in all the sampled areas finding higher concentrations in the northern areas (N1 = 1.35 ± 0.4; N2 = 1.65 ± 0.46; N3 = 1.27 ± 0.40; S1 = 0.61 ± 0.22; S2 = 0.85 ± 0.43 mg/kg). Furthermore, to a greater or lesser extent, some toxic elements, mainly Hg and As, have been linked to aliphatic hydrocarbons.
Paeoniflorin attenuates cuproptosis and ameliorates left ventricular remodeling after AMI in hypobaric hypoxia environments
Authors: Fang Xin , Ji Yaoxuan , Li Shuang , Wang Lei , He Bo , li Bo , Liang Boshen , Yin Hongke , Chen Haotian , Dingda Duojie , Wu Bing , Gao Fabao
Published: March 2024

This study investigates the cardioprotective effects of Paeoniflorin (PF) on left ventricular remodeling following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) under conditions of hypobaric hypoxia. Left ventricular remodeling post-AMI plays a pivotal role in exacerbating heart failure, especially at high altitudes. Using a rat model of AMI, the study aimed to evaluate the cardioprotective potential of PF under hypobaric hypoxia. Ninety male rats were divided into four groups: sham-operated controls under normoxia/hypobaria, an AMI model group, and a PF treatment group. PF was administered for 4 weeks after AMI induction. Left ventricular function was assessed using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Biochemical assays of cuproptosis, oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, and fibrosis were performed. Results demonstrated PF significantly improved left ventricular function and remodeling after AMI under hypobaric hypoxia. Mechanistically, PF decreased FDX1/DLAT expression and serum copper while increasing pyruvate. It also attenuated apoptosis, inflammation, and fibrosis by modulating Bcl-2, Bax, NLRP3, and oxidative stress markers. Thus, PF exhibits therapeutic potential for left ventricular remodeling post-AMI at high altitude by inhibiting cuproptosis, inflammation, apoptosis and fibrosis. Further studies are warranted to optimize dosage and duration and elucidate PF’s mechanisms of action.
Die Grenzen des Sagbaren
Authors: Niehr Thomas
Published: March 2024

Der Beitrag beschäftigt sich mit den im öffentlichen Diskurs oftmals kritisierten Grenzen des Sagbaren, die als Einschränkung der grundgesetzlich garantieren Meinungsfreiheit gesehen werden. Es wird die Auffassung vertreten, dass Meinungsfreiheit nicht mit dem Recht auf Äußerung jeglicher Meinungen verwechselt werden darf. Abgesehen von rechtlichen Bestimmungen wird auf gesellschaftliche Konventionen verwiesen, die ebenfalls eine wichtige Rolle dabei spielen, was als sagbar bzw. unsagbar in einer Gesellschaft gilt. Die Klage über Einschränkungen der Meinungsfreiheit geht häufig mit dem politisch motivierten Bestreben einher, sprachliche Konventionen in Bezug auf Minderheiten und die brisanten Themen Migration sowie Vergangenheitsbewältigung zu unterlaufen.
Comparative Analysis of Parasite Load on Recently Established Invasive Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus (Actinopterygii: Centrarchidae) in Europe
Authors: Dudliv Ivanna , Kvach Yuriy , Tkachenko Maria Yu. , Nazaruk Kateryna , Ondračková Markéta
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The aim of this study was the comparative analysis of the parasite communities of new populations of invasive pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) in western Ukraine with pumpkinseed from Czechia, where populations have rapidly expanded over the last two decades.

Methods

Sampling took place at three localities in the western part of Ukraine (i.e. Dobrotvir Reservoir (Vistula basin), Burshtyn Reservoir (Dniester basin), Mynai Pond (Danube basin)) and four in Czechia (i.e. Oxbow D2, Heršpický Pond (Danube basin), and Kolín oxbow and Římov Reservoir (Elbe basin).

Results

In total, 11 parasite taxa were recorded in Ukraine and 17 in Czechia. Four species were co-introduced from North America with their host, i.e. the myxosporean Myxobolus dechtiari, the monogeneans Onchocleidus dispar and Onchocleidus similis, and metacercariae of a trematode Posthodiplostomum centrarchi. High dominance indices were related to a high abundance of co-introduced parasites, i.e. O. similis in Mynai pond and P. centrarchi in Dobrotvir Reservoir. Overall abundance of acquired parasites was generally low.

Conclusion

This study shows that parasite communities in recently established pumpkinseed populations in the western part of Ukraine and Czechia are less diverse than those established in Europe for decades. The generally low parasite load in these new populations may play an important role in their ability to successfully establish and create strong populations by providing a competitive advantage over local species.
Trace Minerals in Laying Hen Diets and Their Effects on Egg Quality
Authors: Elnesr Shaaban S. , Mahmoud Bothaina Y. , da Silva Pires Paula Gabriela , Moraes Priscila , Elwan Hamada A. M. , El-Shall Nahed Ahmed , El-Kholy Mohamed S. , Alagawany Mahmoud
Published: March 2024

With the advancement in the egg industry sector, egg quality has assumed great significance in certain countries. Enhancements in the nutritional value of eggs may have direct affirmative consequences for daily nutrient intake and therefore for human health. Thus, affirmative improvement in egg quality boosts consumer preferences for eggs. Also, the improvement in eggshell quality can avoid the disposal of broken eggs and consequently economic losses. Therefore, poultry nutrition and mineral supplements have a significant impact on egg quality. Minerals are crucial in poultry feed for a number of biological processes, including catalytic, physiologic, and structural processes. For instance, they contribute to the biological processes necessary for forming and developing eggshells. To produce high-quality eggs for sale, diets must therefore contain the right amount of minerals. This review aims to highlight the role of both organic and inorganic minerals in improving egg quality, in addition to reviewing the interactions of mineral supplements with intestinal microbiota and subsequent effects on the egg quality.
Adolescent gaming and parent–child emotional closeness: bivariate relationships in a longitudinal perspective
Authors: Boson Karin , Gurdal Sevtap , Claesdotter-Knutsson Emma , Kapetanovic Sabina
Published: March 2024

The aim of this study was to add knowledge of the longitudinal associations between gaming and emotional closeness between parents and their children. We hypothesized that parent–child emotional closeness was linked to less gaming activity over time and that more gaming activity was linked to less parent–child emotional closeness over time. We also tested the moderating effect of child gender on these anticipated links. This study involved a sample of Swedish adolescents, spanning the developmental years from age 12.5 to 17, and included data from two time points (T1; year 2013 and T2; years 2017/2018) with N = 782 participants (T1 Mage = 12.10, SD = 0.40; 49.6% girls). Utilizing a series of Cross-Lagged Panel Models, we found that emotional closeness to both mother and father predicted less time spent on gaming over time. More time spent on gaming predicted less emotional closeness to mother over time. Additionally, gaming activity among girls was specifically related to less emotional closeness to their father over time. Strengthening parent–child relationships and emotional bonds may be crucial in safeguarding adolescents from developing habits of excessive gaming that could potentially pose problems for their psychosocial development.
A Test for Global Attractivity of Linear Dynamic Equations with Delay
Authors: Alsharif Nour H. M. , Karpuz Basak
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we consider the delay dynamic equation Based on Lyapunov’s method, we study global attractivity of the trivial solution of ($$*$$

∗

). Our new result generalizes some well-known results in the theory of difference and differential equations to dynamic equations of the form ($$*$$

∗

). We also present some examples on nonstandard time scales to illustrate the importance of the new result.
Molecular Dynamic Study on the Structure and Thermal Stability of Mutant Pediocin PA-1 Peptides Engineered with Cysteine Substitutions
Authors: SEVİM Büşra , GÜNEŞ ALTUNTAŞ Evrim
Published: March 2024

Pediocin and analogous bacteriocins, valued for thermal stability, serve as versatile antimicrobials in the food sector. Improving their resilience at high temperatures and deriving derivatives not only benefit food production but also offer broad-spectrum antimicrobial potential in pharmaceuticals, spanning treatments for peptic ulcers, women’s health, and novel anticancer agents. The study aims to create mutant peptides capable of establishing a third disulfide bond or enhanced through cysteine substitutions. This involves introducing additional Cys residues into the inherent structure of pediocin PA-1 to facilitate disulfide bond formation. Five mutants (Mut 1–5) were systematically generated with double Cys substitutions and assessed for thermal stability through MD simulations across temperatures (298–394 K). The most robust mutants (Mut 1, Mut 4–5) underwent extended analysis via MD simulations, comparing their structural stability, secondary structure, and surface accessibility to the reference Pediocin PA-1 molecule. This comprehensive assessment aims to understand how Cys substitutions influence disulfide bonds and the overall thermal stability of the mutant peptides. In silico analysis indicated that Mut 1 and Mut 5, along with the reference structure, lose their helical structure and one natural disulfide bond at high temperatures, and may impacting antimicrobial activity. Conversely, Mut 4 retained its helical structure and exhibited thermal stability similar to Pediocin PA-1. Pending further experimental validation, this study implies Mut 4 may have high stability and exceptional resistance to high temperatures, potentially serving as an effective antimicrobial alternative.
The urgency for a change in genetics healthcare provision: views from Portuguese medical geneticists
Authors: Costa Catarina , Guimarães Lídia , Baião Ruxanda Lungu , Lemos Marina Serra de , Azevedo Luís Filipe , Paneque Milena
Published: March 2024

In the last decades, genetics has experienced significant technological advancements worldwide. However, in Portugal, serious limitations persist, compromising the functioning of healthcare in medical genetics. This study aimed to promote sharing and discussion among genetic medical professionals, to outline concrete actions to address gaps in clinical practice. Three focus groups were conducted with 19 specialists in medical genetics. The data were analyzed using the thematic analysis method to extract the main themes from the discussions. From the analysis, four conceptual themes emerged: (i) framing Portuguese genetic services in light of the European context; (ii) improvement of medical genetics education and population literacy; (iii) transforming of medical genetics services; and (iv) operationalizing the change. The results demonstrated that increasing training resources and strengthening multiprofessional teams by hiring more genetic professionals, such as clinical geneticists, molecular geneticists, and other genetic specialists, is crucial to enhancing the responsiveness of genetic services. Integrating medical genetics into all specialties and primary care, as well as updating the national network of medical genetics, are critical points for increasing equity and enabling healthcare to be provided more fairly. Including other medical genetics professionals such as genetic counsellors, nurses and psychologists also plays a significant role in providing comprehensive and quality care. This collaborative approach aims to provide effective genetic assistance and enhance the adequacy of genetic healthcare. The findings are compiled as recommendations to support the profession moving forward that can be applied to other healthcare contexts worldwide.
PLGA-PEI nanoparticle covered with poly(I:C) for personalised cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Gonzalez-Melero Lorena , Santos-Vizcaino Edorta , Varela-Calvino Ruben , Gomez-Tourino Iria , Asumendi Aintzane , Boyano Maria Dolores , Igartua Manoli , Hernandez Rosa Maria
Published: March 2024

Melanoma is the main cause of death among skin cancers and its incidence worldwide has been experiencing an appalling increase. However, traditional treatments lack effectiveness in advanced or metastatic patients. Immunotherapy, meanwhile, has been shown to be an effective treatment option, but the rate of cancers responding remains far from ideal. Here we have developed a personalized neoantigen peptide-based cancer vaccine by encapsulating patient derived melanoma neoantigens in polyethylenimine (PEI)-functionalised poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) and coating them with polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)). We found that PLGA NPs can be effectively modified to be coated with the immunoadjuvant poly(I:C), as well as to encapsulate neoantigens. In addition, we found that both dendritic cells (DCs) and lymphocytes were effectively stimulated. Moreover, the developed NP was found to have a better immune activation profile than NP without poly(I:C) or without antigen. Our results demonstrate that the developed vaccine has a high capacity to activate the immune system, efficiently maturing DCs to present the antigen of choice and promoting the activity of lymphocytes to exert their cytotoxic function. Therefore, the immune response generated is optimal and specific for the elimination of melanoma tumour cells.

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