bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Significance of ISIS's State Building in Syria
Authors: Bakkour Samer , Stansfield Gareth
Published: May 2023

Researchers and policy makers appear to hold a deeply rooted reluctance to acknowledge, let alone address, the significance of ISIS's state building. Those who have engaged with this issue have tended to traverse the analytical dead end of legalistic questions and themes, inevitably concluding that ISIS's efforts fell short of the threshold of statehood. This article sharply diverges from this reasoning and instead focuses on the political extent of ISIS's state building, which was a reaction to the collapse of authority in Iraq and Syria, and the concomitant failure to protect peoples at risk. The study examines the Islamic State on four dimensions: the stabilization of society, the extraction of income, the politicization of religion, and the use of sectarian divisions. It finds that ISIS's efforts were internally contradictory and contained a number of elements that impeded its establishing a conventionally defined state and its carrying out of actions expected of such a state.
The influence of selective attention to specific emotions on the processing of faces as revealed by event‐related brain potentials
Authors: Schmuck Jonas , Schnuerch Robert , Kirsten Hannah , Shivani Vanishree , Gibbons Henning
Published: May 2023

Event‐related potential studies using affective words have indicated that selective attention to valence can increase affective discrimination at early perceptual stages. This effect most likely relies on neural associations between perceptual features of a stimulus and its affective value. Similar to words, emotional expressions in human faces are linked to specific visual elements. Therefore, selectively attending to a given emotion should allow for the preactivation of neural networks coding for the emotion and associated first‐order visual elements, leading to enhanced early processing of faces expressing the attended emotion. To investigate this, we employed an expression detection task (N = 65). Fearful, happy, and neutral faces were randomly presented in three blocks while participants were instructed to respond only to one predefined target level of expression in each block. Reaction times were the fastest for happy target faces, which was accompanied by an increased occipital P1 for happy compared with fearful faces. The N170 yielded an arousal effect (emotional > neutral) while both components were not modulated by target status. In contrast, the early posterior negativity (EPN) arousal effect tended to be larger for target compared with nontarget faces. The late positive potential (LPP) revealed large effects of status and expression as well as an interaction driven by an increased LPP specifically for nontarget fearful faces. These findings tentatively indicate that selective attention to facial affect may enhance early emotional processing (EPN) even though further research is needed. Moreover, late controlled processing of facial emotions appears to involve a negativity bias.
Short‐term storage of sperm in common carp from laboratory research to commercial production—A review
Authors: Shazada Nururshopa Eskander , Alavi Sayyed Mohammad Hadi , Siddique Mohammad Abdul Momin , Cheng Yu , Zhang Songpei , Rodina Marek , Kocour Martin , Linhart Otomar
Published: May 2023

Short‐term storage of fish sperm is a simple and cost‐effective process in fishery research from basic to applied perspectives. It has been used to elucidate and evaluate gamete biology and quality, perform in vitro fertilization, develop sperm cryopreservation. Sperm short‐term storage is used in selective breeding, hatchery production and advanced molecular investigations such as disease detection of commercial species in aquaculture as well as biological conservation of threatened or endangered fishes. Several studies have demonstrated that the quality of common carp Cyprinus carpio sperm can be influenced by their health, age, nutritional status, the dose of administered hormone and environmental factors. When sperm is stored for short time, spermatozoa motility and viability as key determinants of fertility affected by storage parameters including the composition of natural seminal plasma, duration of exposure, temperature, dilution ratio if the extender is used, and additives in addition to the factors that affect sperm quality such as the age of male and spawning period. This is due to damage to the integrity of the plasma membrane, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) causing oxidative stress and epigenetic modification. This review highlights and investigates the recent data regarding worldwide aquaculture production, short‐term storage of common carp sperm and the effects of storage on spermatozoa function with consideration to factors that affect sperm quality during storage. It also highlights the knowledge gap that must be filled in the future for designing methods from laboratory into practical applications of short‐term storage in the breeding program of common carp.
Soil amendments impact root‐associated fungal communities of balsam poplar on a phosphogypsum reclamation site
Authors: Boldt‐Burisch Katja , Dhar Amalesh , Robinson Martin , Naeth M. Anne
Published: May 2023

During reclamation organisms like fungi directly interact at the soil–plant interface and can potentially impact plant growth, health, and overall revegetation success. Therefore, a study was conducted to determine how topsoil amendments (mycorrhizae, biochar, compost, manure) influence root‐associated fungal communities and growth of fast growing Populus balsamifera trees on a phosphogypsum (PG) reclamation site in Alberta, Canada. Tree height, diameter, biomass, and diversity of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were assessed using Illumina MiSeq sequencing targeting the fungal internal transcribed spacer region 1 (ITS1) and ITS2. Topsoil amendments and root location (topsoil vs. PG within a treatment), greatly affected the root fungal community. Basidiomycota preferentially grew in PG, and had a high treatment specific root fungal community with highest diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi and basidiomycete yeast in biochar PG and compost PG. Populus balsamifera roots were associated with a high diversity of Ascomycota, found equally in roots in topsoil and PG, with a trend towards higher diversity and abundance in PG. The core genus found across all samples was Fusarium, a potential plant pathogen. All topsoil amendments strongly reduced abundance of Fusarium and other Ascomycota in poplar roots. Biochar and compost reduced number and abundance of potential fungal pathogens and increased number of potential plant growth promoting Basidiomycota, indicating favorable growth conditions for P. balsamifera on a phosphygypsum reclamation site by application of these amendments. This study indicates compost and biochar can be effective soil amendments to support P. balsamifera establishment and growth on a PG reclamation site.
Locke on the objective nature of miracles
Authors: Barrientos Alexander‐Henri
Published: May 2023

Locke's definition of miracles in “A Discourse of Miracles” is widely cited by scholars as evidence of his subjectivism on the matter. According to this interpretation, Locke held it to be sufficient that an event seems to be a violation of the laws of nature for it to count as a miracle. Nothing supernatural need actually occur. The principal aim of this article is to argue that Locke can and ought to be read as an objectivist about miracles. A subjectivist reading falls short in two crucial respects: It undermines the function of miracles as evidence for divine revelation, so central to his account, and is at odds with his consistent and explicitly objective use of the term, as an event that necessarily involves a violation of the laws of nature. Indeed, it is from their objective nature that Locke thinks miracles derive their evidential force. A key part of my argument lies in distinguishing between ontological and epistemological issues concerning miracles and demonstrating how this distinction is present throughout his work on the matter. Ultimately, I conclude that what is often interpreted as Locke's subjectivism about miracles is his privileging of these epistemic issues.
A phylogenomic perspective on the relationships of subfamilies in the family Geometridae (Lepidoptera)
Authors: Murillo‐Ramos Leidys , Twort Victoria , Wahlberg Niklas , Sihvonen Pasi
Published: May 2023

Geometrid moths, the second largest radiation of Lepidoptera, have been the target of extensive phylogenetic studies. Those studies have flagged several problems in tree topology that have remained unanswered. We address three of those: (i) deep nodes of Geometridae (subfamilies Sterrhinae + Larentiinae, or Sterrhinae alone as sister to all other subfamilies), (ii) the taxonomic status of subfamily Orthostixinae and (iii) the systematic position of the genus Eumelea (classified in Desmobathrinae: Eumeleini or incertae sedis earlier). We address these questions by using a phylogenomic approach, a novel method on these moths, with up to 1000 protein‐coding genes extracted from whole‐genome shotgun sequencing data. Our datasets include representatives from all geometrid subfamilies and we analyse the data by using three different tree search strategies: partitioned models, GHOST model and multispecies coalescent analysis. Despite the extensive data, we found incongruences in tree topologies. Eumelea did not associate with Desmobathrinae as suggested earlier, but instead, it was recovered in three different phylogenetic positions, either as sister to Oenochrominae, Geometrinae or as sister to Oenochrominae + Geometrinae. Orthostixinae, represented by its type species, falls within Desmobathrinae. We propose the following taxonomic changes: we raise Eumeleini to subfamily rank as Eumeleinae stat. nov. and we treat Orthostixinae as a junior synonym of Desmobathrinae syn. nov.
Description of two new HLA‐C alleles, HLA‐C*15:245 and HLA‐C*15:246, identified in Chinese individuals
Authors: Wang Fang , Zhao Shuoxian , Li Ying , Zhang Wei , Zhu Faming
Published: May 2023

Two novel HLA alleles HLA‐C*15:245 and HLA‐C*15:246 alleles detected during routine next generation sequencing.
A Window Into the European City: Exploring Socioeconomic Residential Segregation in Urban Poland
Authors: Marcińczak Szymon , Gentile Michael
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we build on a long research effort aimed at identifying the specific conditions, functional and structural characteristics of urban areas, that produce different levels of residential segregation across cities. We explore segregation levels in Poland's 87 largest cities, cities with more than 50,000 residents, by measuring indices of dissimilarity relating to socio‐professional status. We then proceed by examining core structural determinants of the revealed segregation levels, including city size, and housing market characteristics. The results suggests that the structural characteristics of urban regions are indeed significant predictors of the level of socio‐spatial disparities in urban Poland. As expected, larger cities are more segregated than the smaller ones; higher shares of public housing also appear to contribute to more pronounced socioeconomic spatial divisions. Intriguingly, the share of new housing stock alone is not related to strong residential segregation.
Molecular identification of a laccase that catalyzes the oxidative coupling of a hydroxycinnamic acid amide for hordatine biosynthesis in barley
Authors: Ube Naoki , Ishihara Atsushi , Yabuta Yukinori , Taketa Shin , Kato Yasuo , Nomura Taiji
Published: May 2023

Plants produce dimerized phenolic compounds as secondary metabolites. Hordatine A (HA), a dehydrodimer of p‐coumaroylagmatine (pCA), is an antifungal compound accumulated at high levels in young barley (Hordeum vulgare) seedlings. The enzyme responsible for the oxidative dimerization of pCA, which is the final step of the hordatine biosynthetic pathway, has not been identified. In this study, we first verified the presence of this enzyme activity in the crude extract of barley seedlings. Because the enzyme activity was not dependent on H2O2, the responsible enzyme was not peroxidase, which was previously implicated in HA biosynthesis. The analysis of the dissection lines of wheat (Triticum aestivum) carrying aberrant barley 2H chromosomes detected HA in the wheat lines carrying the distal part of the 2H short arm. This chromosomal region contains two laccase genes (HvLAC1 and HvLAC2) that are highly expressed at the seedling stage and may encode enzymes that oxidize pCA during the formation of HA. Changes in the HvLAC transcript levels coincided with the changes in the HA biosynthesis‐related enzyme activities in the crude extract and the HA content in barley seedlings. Moreover, HvLAC genes were heterologously expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves and in bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra) suspension cells and HA biosynthetic activities were detected in the crude extract of transformed N. benthamiana leaves and bamboo suspension cells. The HA formed by the enzymatic reaction had the same stereo‐configuration as the naturally occurring HA. These results demonstrate that HvLAC enzymes mediate the oxidative coupling of pCA during HA biosynthesis.
Endurance of Difference: Insights from Contemporary Native Hawaiian Media
Authors: Ramones Ikaika
Published: May 2023

Anthropological discussions of difference entail the question of how alterity persists—how counterhegemonic projects are sustained. This article examines Native Hawaiian media practices that subvert hegemonic imaginaries of Hawaiʻi as paradise, critiquing the political cosmology of liberalist settler colonialism, while also maintaining Indigenous alternatives of being in the world. While Indigenous peoples are indeed constituted by capital and settler relations, how does a measure of the alterity of subjects and their worlds endure—resisting commensuration amid entanglement? By examining the stories of a number of contemporary Native Hawaiian filmmakers, their works, and collaborative projects, this article argues that the maintenance of difference be read through sovereignty, and that modes of “endurance,” “resurgence,” or “survivance” emerge from Indigenous understandings of genealogical being and its capacity to make and sustain persons and worlds. In examining the question of how different subjects and their worlds endure, the grounds for persistence are an important part of the social picture.
Hair cortisol concentration, disease severity and quality of life in dogs with atopic dermatitis during lokivetmab therapy
Authors: Stuart Marques Vanessa , Calesso Jéssica Ragazzi , de Carvalho Otávio Valério , da Costa‐Val Bicalho Adriane Pimenta
Published: May 2023

Background

There are no studies which evaluate hair cortisol as a biological marker of stress and anxiety in pruritic dogs during atopic dermatitis therapy.

Objectives

A longitudinal evaluation of hair cortisol concentrations, the severity of disease and the QoL in dogs with cAD during therapy with lokivetmab.

Animals

Ten client‐owned dogs with cAD.

Materials and Methods

Dogs were assessed at three time points: at the initial visit at day (D) 0 and at D28, when lokivetmab (2.2–3.2 mg/kg) was administered, and at D56 for one further evaluation. At all time points, pruritus and lesion severity was assessed using the pruritus Visual Analog Scale (PVAS) and Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index, 4th iteration (CADESI‐04). Dog owners filled out a validated QoL questionnaire and hair cortisol concentrations were measured from samples collected from the same area on each dog.

Results

There was a significant reduction in PVAS (p < 0.001) and improvement in QoL of dogs (QoL1) and owners (QoL2) after lokivetmab administration, with a positive correlation of the PVAS with QoL1 and QoL2 (r = 0.71 and 0.52, respectively). There was no difference in CADESI‐04 scores at the different time points (p = 0.515). A significant reduction in hair cortisol levels at D56 was measured compared with D28 (p < 0.001).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

Hair cortisol may be a useful marker of stress in dogs with cAD. These results highlight the negative impact of cAD on the QoL of dogs and their owners, and the positive benefit of lokivetmab therapy.
Abdominal ultrasonographic evaluation of the urinary tract, adrenal glands, spleen, hepatobiliary, and gastrointestinal tract in juvenile eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus)
Authors: Barkman William D , Connolly Joanne H , Dutton Geoffrey J , Stannard Hayley J , Carstens Ann
Published: May 2023

The purpose of this prospective and anatomic study was to describe the ultrasonographic anatomy of the kidneys, urinary bladder, adrenal glands, spleen, liver, gall bladder, and gastrointestinal tract in healthy juvenile eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus). As ultrasonographic descriptions are lacking in marsupial species, it was also conducted to develop a systematic approach for abdominal ultrasonographic evaluation in the kangaroo and to provide preliminary quantitative and qualitative references. Ten macropod cadavers (eight eastern grey kangaroos and two swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor)) were used for initial dissections and preliminary ultrasonographic examinations. Seven eastern grey kangaroos (four females and three males; mean mass 18 kg (±4.5)) were ultrasonographically examined under heavy sedation in lateral recumbency. The gaseous forestomach occupied a large proportion of the entire abdomen ultrasonographically; therefore, the majority of cranial landmarks were based on an intercostal approach comparable to a deep‐chested dog. Compared to domestic species, ultrasonographic differences in anatomy include the forestomach, hindstomach, liver orientation, distinguishable adrenal glands, splenic branching, and epipubic bones, all of which were described. The study was limited by the small sample size (7) and weight range (14‐25 kg). The systematic approach and description of the normal ultrasonographic anatomy of the abdominal organs in the eastern grey kangaroo should provide a foundation for the ultrasonographic diagnosis and interpretation of abdominal disease in this species.
HOW CULTURE MADE US UNIQUELY HUMAN
Authors: Henrich Joseph
Published: May 2023

This article argues that understanding human uniqueness requires recognizing that we are a cultural species whose evolution has been driven by the interaction among genes and culture for over a million years. Here, I review the basic argument, incorporate recent findings, and highlight ongoing efforts to apply this approach to more deeply understand both the universal aspects of our cognition as well as the variation across societies. This article will cover (1) the origins and evolution of our capacities for culture, (2) examples of specialized mental abilities such as those related to mechanical causality, prestige, and cooperation, and (3) recent efforts to apprehend our capacities for abstraction. I close by discussing common canards that generate confusion in mapping what makes us human.
Transcranial ultrasound simulation with uncertainty estimation
Authors: Stanziola Antonio , Pineda-Pardo José A. , Treeby Bradley
Published: May 2023

Transcranial ultrasound simulations are increasingly used to predict in situ exposure parameters for ultrasound therapies in the brain. However, there can be considerable uncertainty in estimating the acoustic medium properties of the skull and brain from computed tomography (CT) images. This paper shows how the resulting uncertainty in the simulated acoustic field can be predicted in a computationally efficient way using linear uncertainty propagation. Results for a representative transcranial simulation using a focused bowl transducer at 500 kHz show good agreement with unbiased uncertainty estimates obtained using Monte Carlo.
Epigenetic moonlighting: Catalytic-independent functions of histone modifiers in regulating transcription
Authors: Morgan Marc A. J. , Shilatifard Ali
Published: May 2023

The past three decades have yielded a wealth of information regarding the chromatin regulatory mechanisms that control transcription. The “histone code” hypothesis—which posits that distinct combinations of posttranslational histone modifications are “read” by downstream effector proteins to regulate gene expression—has guided chromatin research to uncover fundamental mechanisms relevant to many aspects of biology. However, recent molecular and genetic studies revealed that the function of many histone-modifying enzymes extends independently and beyond their catalytic activities. In this review, we highlight original and recent advances in the understanding of noncatalytic functions of histone modifiers. Many of the histone modifications deposited by these enzymes—previously considered to be required for transcriptional activation—have been demonstrated to be dispensable for gene expression in living organisms. This perspective aims to prompt further examination of these enigmatic chromatin modifications by inspiring studies to define the noncatalytic “epigenetic moonlighting” functions of chromatin-modifying enzymes.
Optical polarization from colliding stellar stream shocks in a tidal disruption event
Authors: Liodakis I. , Koljonen K. I. I. , Blinov D. , Lindfors E. , Alexander K. D. , Hovatta T. , Berton M. , Hajela A. , Jormanainen J. , Kouroumpatzakis K. , Mandarakas N. , Nilsson K.
Published: May 2023

A tidal disruption event (TDE) occurs when a supermassive black hole rips apart a passing star. Part of the stellar material falls toward the black hole, forming an accretion disk that in some cases launches a relativistic jet. We performed optical polarimetry observations of a TDE, AT 2020mot. We find a peak linear polarization degree of 25 ± 4%, consistent with highly polarized synchrotron radiation, as is typically observed from relativistic jets. However, our radio observations, taken up to 8 months after the optical peak, do not detect the corresponding radio emission expected from a relativistic jet. We suggest that the linearly polarized optical emission instead arises from shocks that occur during accretion disk formation, as the stream of stellar material collides with itself.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Rhizobium
sp. Strain 32-5/1, Isolated from Vicia cracca L. Root Nodules in the Russian Arctic
Authors: Guro Polina , Karlov Denis , Kuznetsova Irina , Sazanova Anna , Belimov Andrey , Safronova Vera
Published: May 2023

This study reports the whole-genome sequence of an endosymbiotic bacterium,
Rhizobium
sp. strain 32-5/1, isolated from root nodules of the legume
Vicia cracca
L. in the Arctic region of Russia. The genome consists of two plasmids and one chromosome, with a total length of 5,621,108 bp and 59.5% GC content.
Distinct Features Based on Partitioning of the Endophytic Fungi of Cereals and Other Grasses
Authors: Sun Xiang , Sharon Or , Sharon Amir
Published: May 2023

This study proposes a novel method for diagnosing core microbiotas based on prevalence of community members in a meta-community, which could be determined and supported statistically. Using this approach, the study found stratification in community assembly processes within fungal endophyte communities (FECs) in the stems of wheat and cereal-related wild species.
LexR Positively Regulates the LexABC Efflux Pump Involved in Self-Resistance to the Antimicrobial Di-
N
-Oxide Phenazine in Lysobacter antibioticus
Authors: Zhao Yangyang , Xu Gaoge , Xu Zhizhou , Guo Baodian , Liu Fengquan
Published: May 2023

Antibiotic-producing bacteria exhibit various sophisticated mechanisms for self-protection against their own secondary metabolites. RND efflux pumps that eliminate antibiotics from cells are ubiquitous in Gram-negative bacteria.
Hyper high haemoglobin content in red blood cells and erythropoietic transitions postnatally in infants of 22 to 26 weeks’ gestation: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Larsson Sara Marie , Ulinder Tommy , Rakow Alexander , Vanpee Mireille , Wackernagel Dirk , Sävman Karin , Hansen-Pupp Ingrid , Hellström Ann , Ley David , Andersson Ola
Published: May 2023

Objective

Blood cell populations, including red blood cells (RBC) unique to the extremely preterm (EPT) infant, are potentially lost due to frequent clinical blood sampling during neonatal intensive care. Currently, neonatal RBC population heterogeneity is not described by measurement of total haemoglobin or haematocrit. We therefore aimed to describe a subpopulation of large RBCs with hyper high haemoglobin content, >49 pg (Hyper-He) following EPT birth.

Design

Prospective observational cohort study.

Setting

Two Swedish study centres.

Participants

Infants (n=62) born between gestational weeks 22+0to 26+6.

Methods

Prospective data (n=280) were collected from March 2020 to September 2022 as part of an ongoing randomised controlled trial. Blood was sampled from the umbilical cord, at postnatal day 1–14, 1 month, 40 weeks’ postmenstrual age and at 3 months’ corrected age.

Results

At birth, there was a considerable inter-individual variation; Hyper-He ranging from 1.5% to 24.9% (median 7.0%). An inverse association with birth weight and gestational age was observed; Spearman’s rho (CI) −0.38 (−0.63 to −0.07) and −0.39 (−0.65 to −0.05), respectively. Overall, Hyper-He rapidly decreased, only 0.6%–5.0% (median 2.2%) remaining 2 weeks postnatally. Adult levels (<1%) were reached at corresponding term age.

Conclusion

Our results point to gestational age and birth weight-dependent properties of the RBC population. Future work needs to verify results by different measurement techniques and elucidate the potential role of differing properties between endogenous and transfused RBCs in relation to neonatal morbidities during this important time frame of child development.

Trial registration number

NCT04239690.
Women of reproductive age living in the North of the Netherlands: Lifelines Reproductive Origins of Adult Health and Disease (Lifelines-ROAHD) cohort
Authors: Peters Lilian L , Groen Henk , Sijtsma Anna , Jansen Danielle , Hoek Annemieke
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The Lifelines Reproductive Origins of Adult Health and Disease (Lifelines-ROAHD) cohort provides a uniquely detailed dataset allowing investigations of determinants of reproductive health as well as the influence of reproductive events on future health and disease of mother and child(ren). Lifelines-ROAHD cohort is embedded in the population-based Lifelines cohort study.

Participants

In total, 5412 women of reproductive age (20–45 years) were included in the Lifelines-ROAHD cohort, in the period 2017–2018.

Findings to date

In the population, 45.6% of the women indicated that they had a natural menstrual cycle. In total, 908 women (16.8%) consulted a healthcare provider for infertility; subsequently diagnosed fertility problems were anovulation (24.4%), male partner infertility problems (22.5%) or unexplained infertility (22.2%). Women underwent various consecutive assisted reproductive treatments, for example, ovulation induction (19.8%) or in vitro fertilisation (5.4%). In total, 2808 women experienced 6158 pregnancies and 5068 births. Adverse pregnancy outcomes were miscarriage (14.3%), ectopic pregnancy (0.9%) or termination of pregnancy or medical abortion (2.0 %). The modes of delivery were vaginal births (74.9%), instrumental vaginal births (11.9%), elective caesarean section (3.9%) and emergency caesarean section (9.3%). Birth outcomes were born alive at term (93.6%), born alive (very) pre-term (5.8%), stillbirth (0.316%) and neonatal death (0.197%). Additional data about 2660 most recent pregnancies showed that 19.9% of the women had irregular working hours. One year postpartum, women indicated adverse physical health issues in one or more domains, range 0.5%–12.5%. They also indicated adverse psychological health issues in one or more domains, range 0.7%–1.6%, and 1.6% experienced diminished sexual health.

Future plans

Due to the embedding of Lifelines-ROAHD cohort in the original Lifelines cohort, the women will be longitudinally followed. Additionally, we aim to collect data with a second online questionnaire aiming to complete women’s reproductive histories, by collecting data about potential first and subsequent pregnancies conceived after the date of completion of baseline Lifelines-ROAHD cohort.
Short-term outcomes of perioperative glucocorticoid administration in patients undergoing liver surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Yan Xiangyu , Huang Songhan , Li Feiyu , Jiang Liyong , Jiang Yong , Liu Jun
Published: May 2023

Objective

The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate whether glucocorticoid might be beneficial after hepatectomy.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science.

Eligibility criteria

We included studies assessing the efficacy of perioperative glucocorticoid administration in patients undergoing liver surgery.

Data extraction and synthesis

Four data bases were retrieved for all randomised controlled trials. We considered postoperative complications, hospital stay and postoperative chemistry evaluations as outcomes. Pooled effects of dichotomic variables were expressed as relative risk (RR) with a 95% CI. The mean difference was used for continuous variables and an inverse variance statistical method was adopted.

Results

Fourteen studies with 1205 patients were included. Lower risk of overall complications was associated with glucocorticoid (RR, 0.77; 95% CI 0.64 to 0.92), while no difference was found in hospital stay (RR, 0.02; 95% CI −0.47 to 0.51). There were also improvements in postoperative chemistry evaluations including interleukin 6 on day 1 and 3, C reactive protein on day 1, 2 and 3, international normalised ratio on day 2, total bilirubin on day 1, 2, 3 and 5, albumin on day 1.

Conclusion

Current evidence indicated that perioperative glucocorticoid administration for patients undergoing hepatectomy reduced the risk of overall complications with inhibited postoperative inflammatory response and improved postoperative liver function.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42022307533.
CASCADE protocol: exploring current viral and host characteristics, measuring clinical and patient-reported outcomes, and understanding the lived experiences and needs of individuals with recently acquired HIV infection through a multicentre mixed-methods observational study in Europe and Canada
Authors: Ruiz-Burga Elisa , Tariq Shema , Touloumi Giota , Gill John , Nicholls Emily Jay , Sabin Caroline , Mussini Cristina , Meyer Laurence , Volny Anne Alain , Carlander Christina , Grabar Sophie , Jarrin Inma , Van der Valk Marc , Wittkop Linda , Spire Bruno , Pantazis Nikos , Burns Fiona M , Porter Kholoud
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Despite the availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and antiretroviral therapy (ART), 21 793 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in Europe in 2019. The Concerted action on seroconversion to AIDS and death in Europe study aims to understand current drivers of the HIV epidemic; factors associated with access to, and uptake of prevention methods and ART initiation; and the experiences, needs and outcomes of people with recently acquired HIV.

Methods and analysis

This longitudinal observational study is recruiting participants aged ≥16 years with documented laboratory evidence of HIV seroconversion from clinics in Canada and six European countries. We will analyse data from medical records, self-administered questionnaires, semistructured interviews and participatory photography. We will assess temporal trends in transmitted drug resistance and viral subtype and examine outcomes following early ART initiation. We will investigate patient-reported outcomes, well-being, and experiences of, knowledge of, and attitudes to HIV preventions, including PrEP. We will analyse qualitative data thematically and triangulate quantitative and qualitative findings. As patient public involvement is central to this work, we have convened a community advisory board (CAB) comprising people living with HIV.

Ethics and dissemination

All respective research ethics committees have approval for data to contribute to international collaborations. Written informed consent is required to take part. A dissemination strategy will be developed in collaboration with CAB and the scientific committee. It will include peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and accessible summaries of findings on the study’s website, social media and via community organisations.
Pulmonary sequelae in 2-year-old children after hospitalisation for respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract infection during infancy: an observational study
Authors: Verwey Charl , Ramocha Lesego , Laubscher Marius , Baillie Vicky , Nunes Marta , Gray Diane , Hantos Zoltán , Dangor Ziyaad , Madhi Shabir
Published: May 2023

Background

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of hospitalisation for lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in children. RSV LRTI during early childhood may increase susceptibility to recurrent wheezing and asthma.

Research question

The aim of this study was to describe the pulmonary sequelae at 1 and 2 years of age following RSV LRTI hospitalisation during the first year of life in term infants.

Study design and methods

A longitudinal case–control study was undertaken from April 2016 to December 2019. Cases constituted children hospitalised with PCR-confirmed RSV LRTI during infancy and controls were children not previously hospitalised with LRTI. A questionnaire detailing environmental and medical history, as well as a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies (ISAAC) questionnaire, was administered, and pulmonary function testing, including oscillometry, tidal breath flow-volume loops and multiple breath wash-out, was performed, at one and two years of age.

Results

One (n=308) and two-year-old (n=214) cases were more likely than one (n=292) and two-year-old (n=209) controls to have experienced clinical pulmonary symptoms, including wheezing ((55% vs 24%; p<0.001) and (61% vs 16%; p<0.001)), received treatment for wheezing ((17 vs 8%; p<0.001) and (51 vs 6%; p<0.001)) and had any admissions for wheezing ((31 vs 6%; p<0.001) and (46 vs 1.4%; p<0.001)) or any LRTI ((24 vs 2%; p<0.001) and (32 vs 1.4%; p<0.001)), after the initial RSV hospitalisation. RSV LRTI during infancy was associated with an increase in airway resistance by two years (22.46 vs 20.76 hPa.s.l-1(p=0.022)), along with a decrease in compliance at both one (−4.61 vs −3.09 hPa.s/l (p<0.001)) and two years (−0.99 vs 0.33 hPa.s/l1(p<0.001)). There was an increased work of breathing at one year, but this was no longer present at two years.

Interpretation

RSV LRTI during infancy in cases was associated with more clinical and pulmonary function sequelae through to two years of age.
Palliative physiotherapy in community settings for people with terminal illness
Authors: Woldman Anat , Goldblatt Hadass , Elboim-Gabyzon Michal
Published: May 2023

Objectives

The need for palliative care is constantly growing worldwide. Palliative care is typically provided by a multidisciplinary team in community-based facilities. As part of this team, physiotherapists can effectively address prevalent symptoms, such as pain, breathing difficulties and reduced functional capacity. A few studies reported low physiotherapy services’ utilisation by people who require palliative care. Israel was rated among countries having the highest level of palliative care integration in the array of basic medical services in a global survey. This study’s purpose was to explore, for the first time, the scope of palliative physiotherapy treatments that home dwelling people receive in Israel.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of people who had been referred to home hospice care during the year 2019.

Results

A total of 1587 people were included in this study, of which only 34.7% received community-based physiotherapy treatments during the last 6 months of their lives. People treated by palliative physiotherapy usually received a short intervention of 1–3 treatments, with an average of 5.37 treatments. No differences were found regarding age, gender and geographical location in relation to metropolitan area between people who had received such treatments and people who had not. A high socioeconomic place of residence rating and the presence of chronic life-limiting illness or progressive neurological disorder significantly predicted the possibility of receiving physiotherapy treatments.

Conclusions

Future studies should explore the inhibiting and promoting factors for receiving palliative physiotherapy treatments, focusing on persons’ comorbidities and their sociodemographic characteristics.
Solar cell of Sb2O3:CuO/Si prepared via thermal evaporation technique: structural, morphological properties and efficiency
Authors: Attia Ali A. , Hashim Fouad Sh. , Abass Khalid Haneen
Published: May 2023

Antimonous oxide (Sb2O3) has intriguing physical and chemical features that make it useful in various device applications, including solar cells. Nanofilms of Sb2O3:0.02 wt.% CuO were prepared onto glass and silicon substrates etched by laser using a thermal evaporation process in a vacuum, with different thicknesses of about 20, 30, and 40 nm. The deposited nanofilms have no distinguishing peaks in XRD analysis. The broadening of peak shows due to the absence of long-range symmetry; as a result, the nanocrystalline structure is disorganized. Scanning electron microscope analysis of the surface morphology of the formed nanofilms showed to be spread out uniformly and were devoid of islands and voids. The particles were all about the same size, and the new structures were created with a thickness of 40 nm. Atomic force microscopy scanning images showed the nanofilms’ homogeneous surface morphology with granular shape. As nanofilm thickness increased, so did average roughness, root mean square value, and grain diameter. Optical characteristics revealed a reduction in the transmittance spectrum with increasing thicknesses. Instead, the optical energy gap ([Formula: see text]) was decreased by quantum confinement from 3.56 to 3.48 eV. The electrical properties of the nanofilms were analyzed, and it was found that all were n-type and that mobility (µ) decreased with nanofilm thickness. As shown by the I– V characteristics, the solar cell’s conversion efficiency increases to 6.373% at power = 100 mW/cm2 with 0.138 filling factor, 4 V of open circuit voltage, and 2.6 mA of short circuit .
Nutrient allocation to eggs in female Argentine shortfin squid, Illex argentinus using fatty acids as nutrient indicator
Authors: Zang Na , Lin Dongming , Punt André E. , Chen Xinjun
Published: May 2023

Fatty acids play a critical role in embryonic development of cephalopods. However, little information is available on the allocation of fatty acids to eggs during oogenesis, limiting our understanding regarding how these animals maximize reproductive performance in terms of energy and nutrient use. We explored the nutrients for egg production during maturation for Argentine shortfin squid ( Illex argentinus (Castellanos, 1960)) by comparing the fatty acid profiles between the ovary and eggs in the oviducts. We detected 30 fatty acids in the ovary and eggs, of which 19 constituted more than 0.2% of the total fatty acid content. The overall fatty acids in the ovary varied significantly among maturity stages, while the eggs had a consistent amount of total fatty acids and relative amount of individual fatty acids. There were consequently significant differences in the fatty acid profiles between the ovary and eggs by maturity stage and in total. Additionally, eggs had more saturated fatty acids but less polyunsaturated fatty acids than the ovary. Cumulatively, our results reveal that this squid produces eggs with consistent levels of nutrients virtually regardless of how the nutrient profile of the ovary varies during maturation, providing insight into the egg production process relation to nutrient allocation.
Effects of anthropogenic noise on haul-out numbers of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina)
Authors: Bankhead Kyra , Freeman Grace , Heimbichner Goebel Wyatt , Acevedo-Gutiérrez Alejandro
Published: May 2023

Haul-out sites of harbor seals, Phoca vitulina Linnaeus, 1758, include areas with high levels of anthropogenic noise. In some cases, seals haul out at night when there are lower in-air noise levels. However, it is unclear whether there are additional responses to noise pollution. To determine potential impacts of anthropogenic noise on haul-out behavior, we compared numbers of hauled-out harbor seals relative to in-air noise levels at two sites in Washington state, USA—one close to human activities (Bellingham waterfront) and one more distant (Semiahmoo marina)—between July 2020 and August 2021. We used generalized linear mixed models to identify predictors of seal numbers. The marina had lower mean noise levels than the waterfront (39.7 ± SD 6.1 dB, n = 29 observations versus 51.2 ± SD 5.2 dB, n = 126 observations). The plotted model prediction showed a significantly negative association between noise and seals at the marina, and no association was found at the waterfront. Results indicate that in-air noise levels may influence seal numbers at sites where human activities are low. They also suggest that, besides hauling out at night, seals may become tolerant to in-air noise levels at sites where human activities are high.
Constraining light thermal inelastic dark matter with NA64
Authors: Mongillo Martina , Abdullahi Asli , Banto Oberhauser Benjamin , Crivelli Paolo , Hostert Matheus , Massaro Daniele , Molina Bueno Laura , Pascoli Silvia
Published: May 2023

A vector portal between the Standard Model and the dark sector is a predictive and compelling framework for thermal dark matter. Through co-annihilations, models of inelastic dark matter (iDM) and inelastic Dirac dark matter (i2DM) can reproduce the observed relic density in the MeV to GeV mass range without violating cosmological limits. In these scenarios, the vector mediator behaves like a semi-visible particle, evading traditional bounds on visible or invisible resonances, and uncovering new parameter space to explain the muon $$(g-2)$$

(
g
-
2
)

anomaly. By means of a more inclusive signal definition at the NA64 experiment, we place new constraints on iDM and i2DM using a missing energy technique. With a recast-based analysis, we contextualize the NA64 exclusion limits in parameter space and estimate the reach of the newly collected and expected future NA64 data. Our results motivate the development of an optimized search program for semi-visible particles, in which fixed-target experiments like NA64 provide a powerful probe in the sub-GeV mass range.
Ultrasound harmonic generation and atomic layer deposition of multilayer, deep-UV mirrors and filters with microcavity plasma arrays
Authors: Kim Jinhong , Mironov Andrey , Park Sehyun , Kim Changgong , Park Sung-Jin , Eden J. Gary
Published: May 2023

In honor of Professor Kurt Becker’s pioneering contributions to microplasma physics and applications, we report the capabilities of arrays of microcavity plasmas in two emerging and disparate applications. The first of these is the generation of ultrasound radiation in the 20–240 kHz spectral range with microplasmas in either a static or jet configuration. When a $$10\times 10$$

10
×
10

array of microplasma jets is driven by a 20-kHz sinusoidal voltage, for example, harmonics as high as m = 12 are detected and fractional harmonics are produced by controlling the spatial symmetry of the emitter array. The preferential emission of ultrasound in an inverted cone having an angle of $$\pm \,45^\circ $$

±

45
∘

with respect to the surface normal of the jet array’s exit face is attributed to interference between spatially periodic, outward-propagating waves generated by the arrays. The spatial distribution of ultrasound generated by the arrays is analogous to the radiation patterns produced by Yagi-Uda phased array antennas at RF frequencies for which radiation is emitted broadside to arrays of parallel electric dipoles. Also, the nonperturbative envelope of the ultrasound harmonic spectrum resembles that for high-order harmonic generation at optical frequencies in rare gas plasmas and attests to the strong nonlinearity provided by the pulsed microplasmas in the sub-250-kHz region. Specifically, the relative intensities of the second and third harmonics exceed that for the fundamental, and a “plateau” region is observed extending from the 5th through the 8th harmonics. A strong plasma nonlinearity appears to be responsible for both the appearance of fractional harmonics and the nonperturbative nature of the acoustic harmonic spectrum. Multilayer metal-oxide optical filters designed to have peak transmission near 222 nm in the deep-UV region of the spectrum have been fabricated by microplasma-assisted atomic layer deposition. Alternating layers of ZrO$$_2$$

2

and Al$$_2$$

2

O$$_3$$

3

, each having a thickness in the 20–50 nm range, were grown on quartz and silicon substrates by successively exposing the substrate to the Zr or Al precursor (tetrakis(dimethylamino) zirconium or trimethylaluminum, respectively) and the products of an oxygen microplasma while maintaining the substrate temperature at 300 K. Bandpass filters comprising 9 cycles of 30-nm-thick ZrO$$_2$$

2

/50-nm-thick Al$$_2$$

2

O$$_3$$

3

film pairs transmit 80% at 235 nm but < 35% in the 250–280 nm interval. Such multilayer reflectors appear to be of significant value in several applications, including bandpass filters suppressing long wavelength (240–270 nm) radiation emitted by KrCl (222) lamps.

Graphical abstract
One-parameter Darboux-deformed Fibonacci numbers
Authors: Rosu H. C. , Mancas S. C.
Published: May 2023

One-parameter Darboux deformations are established for the simple ordinary differential equation (ODE) satisfied by the continuous generalizations of the Fibonacci sequence recently discussed by Faraoni and Atieh [Symmetry 13, 200 (2021)], who promoted a formal analogy with the Friedmann equation in the FLRW homogeneous cosmology. The method allows the introduction of deformations of the continuous Fibonacci sequences, hence of Darboux-deformed Fibonacci (noninteger) numbers. Considering the same ODE as a parametric oscillator equation, the Ermakov–Lewis invariants for these sequences are also discussed.
A Novel Multi-Party Authentication Scheme for FCN-based MIoT Systems in Natural Language Processing Environment
Authors: Meng Xiangwei , Yang Ce , Qi Yiren , Liang Wei , Xu Zisang , Li Kuanching , Deng Hai
Published: May 2023

Natural language processing(NLP) assists to increase the efficiency of human andMultimedia Internet of Things(MIoT) interaction. Notably, large-scale NLP tasks can be offloaded from a cloud server to fog nodes closer to a mobile terminal device for lower response latency. But communication security is ongoing issues that need to be addressed. Effective mutual authentication among multiple entities is essential to ensure the security of MIoT systems based on a dynamicFog Computing Network(FCN). However, the existing schemes are unsuitable for the dynamic FCN due to the security vulnerabilities such as the linkable sessions. To solve this problem, anAnonymous Multi-Party Authentication(AMPA) scheme is proposed to address the challenges of secure FCN-based MIoT communications in this paper. The proposed scheme uses a bilinear pairing operation to realize the authentication between the fog nodes and cloud server and to establish the group key. Besides, the scheme allows cloud-authenticated terminal devices to be added to the FCN and reduces the need for the resource-limited terminal device to perform many authentication protocols. The security analysis is carried out to demonstrate that AMPA scheme can meet various safety requirements. Performance evaluations shown that the proposed AMPA scheme achieves satisfactory performance.