bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanosecond pulsed electric fields increase antibiotic susceptibility in methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Chittams-Miles Alexandra E. , Malik Areej , Purcell Erin B. , Muratori Claudia
Published: December 2023

Staphylococcus aureus
is the leading cause of skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs). SSTIs caused by bacteria resistant to antimicrobials, such as methicillin-resistant
S. aureus
(MRSA), are increasing in incidence and have led to higher rates of hospitalization. In this study, we measured MRSA inactivation by nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF), a promising new cell ablation technology. Our results show that treatment with 120 pulses of 600 ns duration (28 kV/cm, 1 Hz), caused modest inactivation, indicating cellular damage. We anticipated that the perturbation created by nsPEF could increase antibiotic efficacy if nsPEF were applied as a co-treatment. To test this hypothesis, we used three antibiotics approved to treat SSTI, daptomycin, doxycycline, and vancomycin, and compared the cytotoxic effects of these antibiotics administered either before or after nsPEF. Co-treatment with nsPEF and daptomycin greatly potentiated the effects of each monotherapy regardless of their order. Conversely, the sensitivity of MRSA to both doxycycline and vancomycin was increased only when nsPEF preceded the antibiotic incubation. Finally, MRSA cells grown in biofilms were efficiently killed by co-treatment with nsPEF/vancomycin, suggesting that their mutual enhancement is maintained even when treating sessile communities known for their inherent antimicrobial resistance. Altogether our results show that MRSA perturbation by nsPEF potentiates the effect of multiple antibiotics and that the order of the combined treatment can have a major impact on efficacy. Since SSTIs are accessible for physical interventions such as nsPEF stimulus, combinatorial treatments could be used to increase the efficacy of antibiotics used to treat such infections.

IMPORTANCE

We have found that treatment with short electric pulses potentiates the effects of multiple antibiotics against methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
. By reducing the dose of antibiotic necessary to be effective, co-treatment with electric pulses could amplify the effects of standard antibiotic dosing to treat
S. aureus
infections such as skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs). SSTIs are accessible to physical intervention and are good candidates for electric pulse co-treatment, which could be adopted as a step-in wound and abscess debridement.
Lactococcus lactis
mutants resistant to lactococcin A and garvicin Q reveal missense mutations in the sugar transport domain of the mannose phosphotransferase system
Authors: van Belkum Marco J. , Aleksandrzak-Piekarczyk Tamara , Lamer Tess , Vederas John C.
Published: December 2023

Lactococcin A is a bacteriocin from
Lactococcus lactis
that permeabilizes the membrane of sensitive lactococcal cells and requires the presence of the membrane-bound components IIC and IID of the mannose phosphotransferase system (man-PTS). Recently, it was reported through cryo-electron microscopy analyses of man-PTS and several bacteriocins fused to a maltose-binding protein, including lactococcin A, that these bacteriocins create pores by inserting themselves between the Core and Vmotif domains of man-PTS. In our study, we obtained a dozen spontaneous mutants of
L. lactis
IL1403 resistant to lactococcin A. All but one of the mutants of IL1403 have mutations located in the genes encoding the IIC or IID proteins. These mutations also resulted in resistance to garvicin Q, a bacteriocin from
Lactococcus garvieae
with a broad inhibition spectrum and very little sequence homology to lactococcin A. Missense mutations were found in the sugar transport domain of man-PTS of bacteriocin-resistant IL1403 mutants, which also impeded the uptake of mannose. When lactococcin A, garvicin Q, or pediocin PA-1, an anti-listerial bacteriocin, were fused to a maltose-binding protein, we observed reduced or no antibacterial activity. Taken together, the precise mechanism of action of bacteriocins using the man-PTS remains to be fully understood.

IMPORTANCE

Many bacteriocins target the sugar transporter mannose phosphotransferase system (man-PTS) to exert their antibacterial activity. The elucidation in recent years of the structure of man-PTS has facilitated our understanding of how bacteriocins might interact with the receptor and which domains of the transporter are involved in bacteriocin resistance. Here, we show that missense mutations in the sugar-binding domain of the man-PTS not only impede the uptake of sugars but also prevent the antibacterial activity of the bacteriocins lactococcin A and garvicin Q.
A Generator of Nanosecond High-Voltage Pulses Based on Shock-Ionized Dynistors
Authors: Korotkov S. V. , Zhmodikov A. L. , Korotkov D. A.
Published: December 2023

Abstract—

A generator of high-power nanosecond pulses consisting of four stages that are switched on in a relay-race mode is described. Each stage contains a storage capacitor with an operating voltage of 8 kV and an assembly of series-connected shock-ionized dynistors. The possibility of switching current pulses with an amplitude of 800 А to a load of 30 Ω a rise time of 4 ns, and a repetition rate of 100 Hz is demonstrated. The prospects for increasing the output voltage and the output energy of the generator are determined.
Consensus statement on the interhospital transfer of patients with acute aortic syndrome: TRAVERSING Delphi study
Authors: Staniszewska Aleksandra , Gaba Kamran , Patterson Benjamin , Wilson Sarah , Bell Rachel , Bicknell Colin , Brooks Marcus , Callaway Mark , Goode Stephen , Grier Scott , Hobson Alex , Mouton Ronelle , Neequaye Simon , Owens Gareth , Rajakaruna Cha , Redfern Emma , Tsang Geoffrey , Hinchliffe Robert
Published: December 2023

Background

Standardisation of referral pathways and the transfer of patients with acute aortic syndromes (AAS) to regional centres are recommended by NHS England in the Acute Aortic Dissection Toolkit. The aim of the Transfer of Thoracic Aortic Vascular Emergencies to Regional Specialist INstitutes Group study was to establish an interdisciplinary consensus on the interhospital transfer of patients with AAS to specialist high-volume aortic centres.

Methods

Consensus on the key aspects of interhospital transfer of patients with AAS was established using the Delphi method, in line with Conducting and Reporting of Delphi Studies guidelines. A national patient charity for aortic dissection was involved in the design of the Delphi study. Vascular and cardiothoracic surgeons, emergency physicians, interventional radiologists, cardiologists, intensivists and anaesthetists in the United Kingdom were invited to participate via their respective professional societies.

Results

Three consecutive rounds of an electronic Delphi survey were completed by 212, 101 and 58 respondents, respectively. Using predefined consensus criteria, 60 out of 117 (51%) statements from the survey were included in the consensus statement. The study concluded that patients can be taken directly to a specialist aortic centre if they have typical symptoms of AAS on the background of known aortic disease or previous aortic intervention. Accepted patients should be transferred in a category 2 ambulance (response time <18 min), ideally accompanied by transfer-trained personnel or Adult Critical Care Transfer Services. A clear plan should be agreed in case of a cardiac arrest occurring during the transfer. Patients should reach the aortic centre within 4 hours of the initial referral from their local hospital.

Conclusions

This consensus statement is the first set of national interdisciplinary recommendations on the interhospital transfer of patients with AAS. Its implementation is likely to contribute to safer and more standardised emergency referral pathways to regional high-volume specialist aortic units.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with demyelinating neurophysiology and a motor band sign
Authors: Megens Matthew , de Souza Aaron
Published: December 2023

We describe an unusual case of clinical amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with initial neurophysiological studies suggesting demyelination, along with neuroimaging findings that helped to support the eventual diagnosis. An otherwise well 68-year-old man had 8 weeks of left upper limb weakness. On examination, there were widespread lower and upper motor neurone findings suggesting ALS. However, nerve conduction studies identified sensorimotor demyelinating changes suggesting chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP), a diagnosis further supported by cerebrospinal fluid analysis. MR scan of the brain revealed a ‘motor band’, a feature seen commonly in ALS. His condition was refractory to immunotherapy with clinical progression in-keeping with ALS, establishing the diagnosis. ALS is rarely associated with demyelinating neurophysiological changes resembling CIDP. The clinical phenotype is crucial to support the correct diagnosis and imaging findings may help.
Hidden strange $$B_{c}$$-like molecular states
Authors: Wang Zhong-Yu , Sun Zhi-Feng
Published: December 2023

With the chiral unitary approach, we evaluate the hidden strange $$B_{c}$$

B
c

-like molecular states of $$b{\bar{c}}s{\bar{s}}$$

b

c

¯

s

s

¯

systems $${\bar{B}}_{s}{\bar{D}}_{s}$$

B

¯

s

D

¯

s

, $${\bar{B}}_{s}^{*}{\bar{D}}_{s}$$

B

¯

s

∗

D

¯

s

, $${\bar{B}}_{s}{\bar{D}}_{s}^{*}$$

B

¯

s

D

¯

s

∗

, and $${\bar{B}}_{s}^{*}{\bar{D}}_{s}^{*}$$

B

¯

s

∗

D

¯

s

∗

coupled to the non-strange channels. The S-wave scattering amplitudes are calculated based on the vector meson exchange, four pseudoscalar mesons contact interactions, and four vector mesons contact interactions obtained from the extended local hidden gauge approach. We find six states below the threshold of the most relevant channel. The binding energies of these states are around 1–10 MeV and the widths are around 0.2–0.7 MeV. Our research is a supplement to the mass spectra of $$B_{c}$$

B
c

-like states, which may be useful for the experimental search in the future.
Hall effects and Cattaneo–Christov heat flux on MHD flow of hybrid nanofluid over a varying thickness stretching surface
Authors: Ali Aamir , Khan Hajra Safdar , Noor Ifra , Pasha Amjad Ali , Irshad Kashif , Al Mesfer Mohammad K. , Danish Mohd
Published: December 2023

The study of nanofluids and hybrid nanofluids is gaining conceivable importance due to their characteristics of being so useful in various daily life applications. This study deals with the motion of an electro conductive, incompressible magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) hybrid nanofluid across a stretched surface of variable thickness. The objective of this study is motivated by a number of manufacturing and machine-building applications. However, no attempt has been made to establish MHD flow of hybrid nanofluid along a stretching sheet (a sheet with variable thickness) while keeping an eye on the impact of Hall current. In real-life situations, variable-thickness sheets are crucial in the creation of flexible containers and, additionally, in the layout and production of aerospace wings and auto body components. This study extends our fundamental knowledge of fluid dynamics and heat transmission in intricate systems. Recognizing how magnetic effects, nanofluid traits and heat conduction interplay can help researchers make valuable developments and breakthroughs in the areas of fluid mechanics and heat transfer. Hall effects are vital for applications including conductive fluids or plasma as they provide a more precise understanding of the movement of charged nanoparticles in the presence of a magnetic field. For hybrid nanofluid, we mixed the nanoparticles of titanium dioxide and copper (TiO2–Cu) into the water. Due to the low noxiousness and chemical strength of titanium dioxide-based nanoparticles, they have great uses in research. We also consider the effects of Cattaneo–Christov heat flux to analyze the heat transfer of nanoparticles and Hall current effects, which make the flow three-dimensional. For both fundamental research and real-world applications, it is of the utmost importance to take into account the Hall effects and Cattaneo–Christov heat flux in the MHD flow analysis of hybrid nanofluid over stretched surface. It makes it possible to describe the phenomenon more precisely and can enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of numerous technical procedures. By using appropriate transformations, the equations that govern the flow are transformed into a system of non-dimensional ordinary differential equations. The non-dimensional system of equations has been solved numerically by using the ND Solve command in Mathematica Software, which is based on a multistep predictor-corrector method. For velocity and temperature profiles, the interplay of numerous developing parameters on flow is depicted graphically. The Hall parameter enhances the axial velocity but reduces the transverse velocity, while the magnetic field has the opposite effects. The temperature increases with the volume fraction of nanoparticles but decreases with the thermal relaxation parameter.
INFLUENCE OF NETWORK STRUCTURE AND AGENT PROPERTY ON SYSTEM PERFORMANCE
Authors: DENG HONGZHONG , LI JI , WU HONGQIAN , GE BINGFENG
Published: December 2023

System structure can affect or decide the system function. Many pioneers have analyzed the impact of system’s macro-statistical characteristics, such as degree distribution and giant component, on system performance. But only few research works were conducted on the relation of mesoscopic structure and agent property with system task performance. In this paper, we designed a scenario that, in a multiagent system, agents will try their best to form a qualified team to fulfill more system tasks under the requirements from agent property, structure and task. The theoretical and simulation results show that the agent link network, agent properties and task requirement will co-affect the dynamic team formation and at last have serious effects on a system’s task completion ratio and performance. Some factors such as network density and task introduction period have positive influence. Task execution time and team size have negative influence. Some factors show a counter-intuitive influence. The clustering coefficient has not much influence as people expected and the task publicity time isn’t bigger the better. Notably, system performance is affected by the coupling effect, instead of the independent effects of all factors. The effect of system structure on system function conditionally relies on the support from agent ability and task requirement.
Simplifying polylogarithms with machine learning
Authors: Dersy Aurélien , Schwartz Matthew D. , Zhang Xiaoyuan
Published: December 2023

Polylogarithmic functions, such as the logarithm or dilogarithm, satisfy a number of algebraic identities. For the logarithm, all the identities follow from the product rule. For the dilogarithm and higher-weight classical polylogarithms, the identities can involve five functions or more. In many calculations relevant to particle physics, complicated combinations of polylogarithms often arise from Feynman integrals. Although the initial expressions resulting from the integration usually simplify, it is often difficult to know which identities to apply and in what order. To address this bottleneck, we explore to what extent machine learning methods can help. We consider both a reinforcement learning approach, where the identities are analogous to moves in a game, and a transformer network approach, where the problem is viewed analogously to a language-translation task. While both methods are effective, the transformer network appears more powerful and holds promise for practical use in symbolic manipulation tasks in mathematical physics.
Heterogeneity of International Productivity Spillover Through the Channel of Import Flow
Authors: Lee Jin
Published: December 2023

This paper explores the heterogeneity of international productivity spillover by applying spatial production models with various weight matrices. Specifically, the direction and magnitude of productivity spillover through the channel of import flow is examined empirically by dividing the sample countries into three groups: the Group of 7 (G7), the G12 (the 12 countries that belong to the G20 but not the G7), and the non-G20 (the rest of the countries in our sample). The empirical findings are as follows: (i) international productivity spillovers are significantly heterogeneous, (ii) the G7 triggers productivity spillover but does not benefit from productivity spillover from the rest of the world, (iii) the non-G20 accommodates positive productivity spillover from the G20 countries, and (iv) the G12 does not trigger spillover toward G7 nor benefit from G7, whereas the G12 and the non-G20 have ambidirectional productivity spillover.
Seismic geomorphology: subsurface analyses, data integration and palaeoenvironment reconstructions – an introduction
Authors: Newton Andrew M. W. , Andresen Katrine J. , Blacker Kieran J. , Harding Rachel , Lebas Elodie
Published: December 2023

Since the last Special Publication on seismic geomorphology, the application of seismic data has grown substantially, revolutionizing our understanding of basin evolution in the process. The papers presented here provide an insight into the direction of travel for seismic geomorphological analyses and how the science has evolved since 2007. New methods of data collection, new methods of processing and visualization, and the integration of new types of complementary data, all have played a role in maximizing the potential palaeo-environmental insights that can be derived from such studies. The submissions range across different geological settings, consisting of glacial, fluvial, volcanic, deltaic and slope settings. Many of these studies integrate different methods, showing what can be achieved by combining multiple datasets to understand the subsurface. As more legacy datasets become available, the observed acceleration in seismic data availability and the associated publications will likely continue. Newer methods and greater knowledge of the subsurface are yielding a greater understanding of not just the palaeoenvironments, but also what generates seismic reflectivity in the subsurface. The study of seismic geomorphology remains in its infancy, and much exciting research potential is yet to be realized.
Toward Egocentric Compositional Action Anticipation with Adaptive Semantic Debiasing
Authors: Zhang Tianyu , Min Weiqing , Liu Tao , Jiang Shuqiang , Rui Yong
Published: December 2023

Predicting the unknown from the first-person perspective is expected as a necessary step toward machine intelligence, which is essential for practical applications including autonomous driving and robotics. As a human-level task, egocentric action anticipation aims at predicting an unknown action seconds before it is performed from the first-person viewpoint. Egocentric actions are usually provided as verb-noun pairs; however, predicting the unknown action may be trapped in insufficient training data for all possible combinations. Therefore, it is crucial for intelligent systems to use limited known verb-noun pairs to predict new combinations of actions that have never appeared, which is known as compositional generalization. In this article, we are the first to explore the egocentric compositional action anticipation problem, which is more in line with real-world settings but neglected by existing studies. Whereas prediction results are prone to suffer from semantic bias considering the distinct difference between training and test distributions, we further introduce a general and flexible adaptive semantic debiasing framework that is compatible with different deep neural networks. To capture and mitigate semantic bias, we can imagine one counterfactual situation where no visual representations have been observed and only semantic patterns of observation are used to predict the next action. Instead of the traditional counterfactual analysis scheme that reduces semantic bias in a mindless way, we devise a novel counterfactual analysis scheme to adaptively amplify or penalize the effect of semantic experience by considering the discrepancy both among categories and among examples. We also demonstrate that the traditional counterfactual analysis scheme is a special case of the devised adaptive counterfactual analysis scheme. We conduct experiments on three large-scale egocentric video datasets. Experimental results verify the superiority and effectiveness of our proposed solution.
Towards Effective and Efficient Sparse Neural Information Retrieval
Authors: Formal Thibault , Lassance Carlos , Piwowarski Benjamin , Clinchant Stéphane
Published: December 2023

Sparse representation learning based on Pre-trained Language Models has seen a growing interest in Information Retrieval. Such approaches can take advantage of the proven efficiency of inverted indexes and inherit desirable IR priors such as explicit lexical matching or some degree of interpretability. In this work, we thoroughly develop the framework of sparse representation learning in IR, which unifies term weighting and expansion in a supervised setting. We then build on SPLADE—a sparse expansion-based retriever—and show to which extent it is able to benefit from the same training improvements as dense bi-encoders by studying the effect of distillation, hard negative mining, as well as the Pre-trained Language Model’s initialization on itseffectiveness, leading to state-of-the-art results in both in- and out-of-domain evaluation settings (SPLADE++). We furthermore proposeefficiencyimprovements, allowing us to reach latency requirements on par with traditional keyword-based approaches (Efficient-SPLADE).
Ethics in the Age of AI: An Analysis of AI Practitioners’ Awareness and Challenges
Authors: Pant Aastha , Hoda Rashina , Spiegler Simone V. , Tantithamthavorn Chakkrit , Turhan Burak
Published: December 2023

Ethics in AI has become a debated topic of public and expert discourse in recent years. But what do people who build AI—AI practitioners—have to say about their understanding of AI ethics and the challenges associated with incorporating it into the AI-based systems they develop? Understanding AI practitioners’ views on AI ethics is important as they are the ones closest to the AI systems and can bring about changes and improvements. We conducted a survey aimed at understanding AI practitioners’
awareness
of AI ethics and their
challenges
in incorporating ethics. Based on 100 AI practitioners’ responses, our findings indicate that the majority of AI practitioners had a
reasonable
familiarity with the concept of AI ethics, primarily due to
workplace rules and policies
.
Privacy protection and security
was the ethical principle that the majority of them were aware of. Formal education/training was considered
somewhat
helpful in preparing practitioners to incorporate AI ethics. The challenges that AI practitioners faced in the development of
ethical
AI-based systems included (i) general challenges, (ii) technology-related challenges, and (iii) human-related challenges. We also identified areas needing further investigation and provided recommendations to assist AI practitioners and companies in incorporating ethics into AI development.
Report on the 16th ACM International Conference on Web Search and Data Mining (WSDM 2023)
Authors: Lauw Hady W. , Chua Tat-Seng , Si Luo , Terzi Evimaria , Tsaparas Panayiotis , Tomkins Andrew
Published: December 2023

The 16th ACM International Conference on Web Search and Data Mining (WSDM 2023) was held in Singapore. It was held as in-person conference that also featured rich virtual elements. This brief report provides an overview of WSDM 2023 with organization and program details and statistics from Conference Chairs and Program Committee Chairs, as well as a message from the WSDM Steering Committee Chair.

Date:
27 February-3 March 2023.

Website:
https://www.wsdm-conference.org/2023.
Label Free Detection of Programmed Death Ligand 1 Protein Biomarker by Quartz Tuning Fork-Based Biosensor
Authors: Al-Gawati Mahmoud , Ain Qura Tul , Alzahrani Khalid E , Assaifan Abdulaziz K. , Neairat Tajweed , Alarifi Nahed , Alarifi Abdulaziz , Alshamsan Aws , Alodhayb Abdullah N. , Albrithen Hamad
Published: December 2023

Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is expressed on the membrane of many types of cancer cells such as breast and lung cancer cells. PD-L1 helps the cancerous cells to escape the surveillance of the immune system. PD-L1 also exists in a soluble form, reaching detectable levels in cancer patient’s serum. The available detection techniques for PD-L1 are time and cost demanding, requiring advance instrumentations and efforts. To overcome the challenges of the current detection techniques, functionalized quartz tuning forks are employed as biosensors for the real-time detection of PD-L1. In this study, the QTF gold coated biosensors have been functionalized by Anti PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies as a probe layer. The functionalized QTF biosensors were tested against different concentrations of PD-L1 protein ranging from 0.05 up to 500 ng ml−1, with an incubation time of 15 min. It has been observed that the QTF resonance frequency shifted correlatively with the PD-L1 concentration. Testing of other proteins has not shown significant responses indicating the suitability of the probe layer’s selectivity for PD-L1. This result is expected to open the way for a fast and early yet simple approach for the possible discovery of cancer cells in initial stages, and cancer treatment monitoring.
Influence of Transition Metal Elements on Ni Migration in Solid Oxide Cell Fuel Electrodes
Authors: Ouyang Zhufeng , Sciazko Anna , Komatsu Yosuke , Nishimura Katsuhiko , Shikazono Naoki
Published: December 2023

In the present study, the electrochemical performance and microstructure evolutions of Ni-M (M = Fe, Cu, Mn) bimetallic fuel electrodes were investigated under SOFC and SOEC operations. Ni-Fe, Ni-Mn, Ni-Cu and pure Ni patterned fuel electrodes were sputtered on YSZ pellets. During the SOFC tests, the electrochemical performance of all Ni-M bimetallic fuel electrodes were lower than pure Ni electrode, while the degradation rates of Ni-Fe and Ni-Mn electrodes were smaller than the others. The spreading of Ni film on YSZ surface was observed for all samples, and such Ni migration was suppressed by Fe and Mn addition, whereas it was enhanced by Cu addition. During the SOEC tests, the cell performance degraded with Cu and Fe addition, but improved with Mn addition. The adhesion between Ni film and YSZ substrate was enhanced by doping Fe and Mn, which correlated well with the inhibited degradation in both fuel cell and electrolysis operations. The Ni migration phenomenon is discussed by the strength of Ni-O bond, surface tension and melting point, which are influenced by the addition of transition metal elements.
Nano-Si Filled Graphite Anode Particles by Mechanofusion
Authors: Jiang Hairui , Salehabadi M. , Yasmin S. , Wang Jun , Obrovac M. N.
Published: December 2023

Silicon-graphite composite anode materials for Li-ion cells were synthesized by embedding nano-Si into voids within natural graphite by mechanofusion, followed by carbon coating by chemical vapor deposition. In the resulting structure, voids within the natural graphite were completely filled with silicon nanoparticles encapsulated in carbon. This resulted in the silicon being protected from reaction with the electrolyte. The as-prepared silicon-graphite composites were shown to cycle well in electrodes with no special binders (PVDF) and in conventional electrolytes without any additives (i.e. no fluoroethylene carbonate). Furthermore, nearly all the Si within the voids were fully active. This provides a promising and simple strategy for silicon-graphite composites that can be used as a drop-in replacement for graphite to increase Li-ion cell capacity.
Neuroprotective Effects of Rosa damascena Extract against Aluminum Chloride-Induced Brain Damage in Rat Offspring
Authors: Beigom Hejazian Leila , Hosseini Seyed Mohammad , Salehi Alireza
Published: December 2023

Aluminum (Al) is a popular metal in the industry, and its usage has greatly increased recently. The dose of this metal has been proven to be toxic to rats, but its effects on the offspring of the original receivers and prevention methods to reduce this damage are unknown. Rosa damascena is a well-known plant for its high antioxidant capabilities. In this study, the protective effect of Rosa damascena extract (RDA) on aluminum-induced lesions in the brain tissue of a rat offspring was investigated. In this regard, female rats were divided into seven groups, including the control group, the sham group, the aluminum group at the dose of 100 mg/kg, the extract groups at the doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg, and the treatment groups that received the extract and Al at the same doses. After the treatment ended, the offsprings were subjected to exploratory behavioral tests, and finally, the tissues of the brain including the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and hypothalamus were pathologically examined. It was observed that RDA at the dose of 1000 mg/kg reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) levels significantly (

P
<
0.0001

), while raising the catalase and FRAP indices in Al-treated rats. Moreover, it increased neuronal counts significantly and reduced necrosis and vacuolar degeneration in both the cortex and hippocampus compared to the Al-receiving group. In addition, the administration of RDA 1000 improved the behavioral test scores of the offspring. In conclusion, RDA can effectively reduce Al-induced damage in the brain tissue of the offspring.
Generalized Enriched Nonexpansive Mappings and Their Fixed Point Theorems
Authors: Shukla Rahul , Panicker Rekha
Published: December 2023

This paper introduces a novel category of nonlinear mappings and provides several theorems on their existence and convergence in Banach spaces, subject to various assumptions. Moreover, we obtain convergence theorems concerning iterates of

α

-Krasnosel’skiĭ mapping associated with the newly defined class of mappings. Further, we present that

α

-Krasnosel’skiĭ mapping associated with

b

-enriched quasinonexpansive mapping is asymptotically regular. Furthermore, some new convergence theorems concerning

b

-enriched quasinonexpansive mappings have been proved.
Assessment of Carbon Sequestration in Private Forests across Two Different Physiographic Regions of Nepal: Implications for Conservation and Climate Change Mitigation
Authors: Joshi Rajeev , Shrestha Tej Kumar , Mishra Bijaya , Gautam Jeetendra , Maharjan Bijay , Gosai Kamal Raj , Maraseni Tek , Neupane Bijaya
Published: December 2023

Private forests offer diverse ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation, which are crucial for Nepal. However, there is a notable absence of comprehensive research on these services. Assessing carbon sequestration in private forests can have economic advantages for forest owners by promoting resource conservation and contributing to greenhouse gas reduction. This study aims to estimate and compare carbon stocks in private forests located in two distinct physiographic regions of Nepal while also identifying the factors influencing these carbon stocks. The analysis focuses on 16 private forests (with 0.1 to 0.5 hectares) each from Chitwan district (Terai region) and Kavrepalanchok district (Hilly region). Field data collection involved direct measurements of tree and sapling diameter at breast height (DBH), as well as height and class of trees and poles, utilizing a total enumeration method. These collected values were utilized to calculate aboveground biomass (AGTB), aboveground sapling biomass (AGSB), belowground biomass, and carbon stock. Private forests of Terai region were dominated by Shorea borneensis, Tectona grandis, and Dalbergia sissoo, whereas the Hilly region was dominated by Pinus patula, Alnus nepalensis, Schima wallichii, and Quercus leucotrichophora. The aboveground biomass carbon in the Terai region’s private forests was estimated to be 83.53 t·ha−1, while in the Hilly region, it was 37.32 t·ha−1. The belowground biomass carbon in the Terai region’s private forests was found to be 21.72 t·ha−1, compared to 9.70 t·ha−1 in the Hilly region. Consequently, the estimated total carbon stock in the Terai and Hilly regions’ private forests was 105.25 t·ha−1 (386.26 t·ha−1 CO2-eq) and 47.02 t·ha−1 (172.57 t·ha−1 CO2-eq), respectively. Carbon sequestration in the Terai region’s private forests was discovered to be 2.24 times higher than that in the Hilly region. These findings underscore the significant potential of private forests, which can generate economic benefits through carbon trading and leverage mechanisms such as REDD+/CDM to promote sustainable conservation practices.
A Case of TAFRO Syndrome Developed after COVID-19 Vaccination
Authors: Hirose Hitomi , Suzuki Hitoshi , Umezawa Yukako , Iwasaki Masako , Fukuda Hiromitsu , Takahara Hisatsugu , Tomita Shigeki , Suzuki Yusuke
Published: December 2023

TAFRO syndrome is a systemic inflammatory disorder, which is characterized by thrombocytopenia, anasarca, fever, reticulin myelofibrosis, renal dysfunction, and organomegaly. It often presents with progressive clinical symptoms and can be fatal. COVID-19 vaccination is important to reduce the number of COVID-19-infected populations and lower the risk of becoming severe. However, serious adverse events have been reported. TAFRO syndrome that progresses after the COVID-19 mRNA vaccination has not yet been reported. A 45-year-old man developed fever, gross hematuria, renal dysfunction, pleural effusions, and ascites immediately after vaccination. This case fulfilled three major categories (thrombocytopenia, anasarca, and systemic inflammation) and two minor categories (renal insufficiency and myelofibrosis) and was diagnosed with TAFRO syndrome. High-dose steroid treatment was initiated, followed by prednisolone administration. After treatment, renal dysfunction and fluid retention were resolved. Universal vaccination against COVID-19 is important for lowering the risk of spreading COVID-19 infection. Several complications, such as renal, hematological, and heart diseases, have been reported; however, its pathogenesis is unclear. The possibility of various complications after the COVID-19 vaccination, including TAFRO syndrome, should be considered.
Evaluation of the SSTR2-targeted Radiopharmaceutical 177Lu-DOTATATE and SSTR2-specific 68Ga-DOTATATE PET as Imaging Biomarker in Patients with Intracranial Meningioma
Authors: Kurz Sylvia C. , Zan Elcin , Cordova Christine , Troxel Andrea B. , Barbaro Marissa , Silverman Joshua S. , Snuderl Matija , Zagzag David , Kondziolka Douglas , Golfinos John G. , Chi Andrew S. , Sulman Erik P.
Published: December 2023

Purpose:

There are no effective medical therapies for patients with meningioma who progress beyond surgical and radiotherapeutic interventions. Somatostatin receptor type 2 (SSTR2) represents a promising treatment target in meningiomas. In this multicenter, single-arm phase II clinical study (NCT03971461), the SSTR2-targeting radiopharmaceutical 177Lu-DOTATATE is evaluated for its feasibility, safety, and therapeutic efficacy in these patients.

Patients and Methods:

Adult patients with progressive intracranial meningiomas received 177Lu-DOTATATE at a dose of 7.4 GBq (200 mCi) every eight weeks for four cycles. 68Ga-DOTATATE PET-MRI was performed before and six months after the start of the treatment. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) at 6 months (PFS-6). Secondary endpoints were safety and tolerability, overall survival (OS) at 12 months (OS-12), median PFS, and median OS.

Results:

Fourteen patients (female = 11, male = 3) with progressive meningiomas (WHO 1 = 3, 2 = 10, 3 = 1) were enrolled. Median age was 63.1 (range 49.7–78) years. All patients previously underwent tumor resection and at least one course of radiation. Treatment with 177Lu-DOTATATE was well tolerated. Seven patients (50%) achieved PFS-6. Best radiographic response by modified Macdonald criteria was stable disease (SD) in all seven patients. A >25% reduction in 68Ga-DOTATATE uptake (PET) was observed in five meningiomas and two patients. In one lesion, this corresponded to >50% reduction in bidirectional tumor measurements (MRI).

Conclusions:

Treatment with 177Lu-DOTATATE was well tolerated. The predefined PFS-6 threshold was met in this interim analysis, thereby allowing this multicenter clinical trial to continue enrollment. 68Ga-DOTATATE PET may be a useful imaging biomarker to assess therapeutic outcome in patients with meningioma.
Elevating understanding: Linking high-altitude hypoxia to brain aging through EEG functional connectivity and spectral analyses
Authors: Coronel-Oliveros Carlos , Medel Vicente , Whitaker Grace Alma , Astudillo Aland , Gallagher David , Z-Rivera Lucía , Prado Pavel , El-Deredy Wael , Orio Patricio , Weinstein Alejandro
Published: December 2023

High-altitude hypoxia triggers brain function changes reminiscent of those in healthy aging and Alzheimer’s disease, compromising cognition and executive functions. Our study sought to validate high-altitude hypoxia as a model for assessing brain activity disruptions akin to aging. We collected EEG data from 16 healthy volunteers during acute high-altitude hypoxia (at 4,000 masl) and at sea level, focusing on relative changes in power and aperiodic slope of the EEG spectrum due to hypoxia. Additionally, we examined functional connectivity using wPLI, and functional segregation and integration using graph theory tools. High altitude led to slower brain oscillations, that is, increased δ and reduced α power, and flattened the 1/f aperiodic slope, indicating higher electrophysiological noise, akin to healthy aging. Notably, functional integration strengthened in the θ band, exhibiting unique topographical patterns at the subnetwork level, including increased frontocentral and reduced occipitoparietal integration. Moreover, we discovered significant correlations between subjects’ age, 1/f slope, θ band integration, and observed robust effects of hypoxia after adjusting for age. Our findings shed light on how reduced oxygen levels at high altitudes influence brain activity patterns resembling those in neurodegenerative disorders and aging, making high-altitude hypoxia a promising model for comprehending the brain in health and disease.
More cryptic diversity among spiny lizards of the Sceloporus torquatus complex discovered through a multilocus approach
Authors: Campillo-García Gustavo , Flores-Villela Oscar Alberto , Butler Brett Oliver , Benabib Miriam , Castiglia Riccardo
Published: December 2023

A phylogenetic reassessment of the Sceloporus torquatus species complex is presented using a multilocus approach. Topological conflicts related to a clade belonging to disjunct southern populations of S. madrensis are resolved, confirming the identity of such populations as distinct from the nominal populations of S. madrensis located 175 kilometres to the north. We describe this southern clade as a new species distributed in the Sierra Madre Oriental based on its phylogenetic distinctiveness and a combination of morphological characters and measurements, increasing the number of recognised species in the S. torquatus complex to seven.
Hit Me(n)
Authors: Joubert Leonie Skene
Published: December 2023

In the Global South, the adoption of the so-called Western diet in recent decades has resulted in a global pandemic of obesity and lifestyle-related diseases. However some academics argue that this diet should be reframed as the ‘neoliberal’ diet, one which is the outcome of a profit-driven industrial food system in which large multi-national corporations have disproportionate power to make, distribute, promote, and sell their products. Instead of framing lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases (NCD s) as the personal failure of the individual, this lens calls for a critique of a food system which shapes individual food and lifestyle choices. Yet social attitudes remain slow to respond to this shifting view of this pressing food-related NCD public health issue. Sugar is a key part of the formulation of many ultra-processed foods that are responsible for poor diet-related health outcomes. Hit Me(n) uses protest art as a communications tool to reframe the issue for the audience. It draws attention to the dopamine system in the brain by juxtaposing sugar alongside other addictive substances and behaviours that drive similar pleasure-seeking patterns. It further draws attention to the role that corporate and product branding plays in normalising and glorifying certain addiction-linked substances and behaviours. It questions who has the power to shape the system, and who does not.
Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and faecal microbiota transplantation can improve colitis in mice by affecting gut microbiota and metabolomics
Authors: Yin S. , Liao Y. , Ma Y. , Han X. , Yang Z. , Fang J. , Alahmadi R.M. , Hatamleh A.A. , Duraipandiyan V. , Gurusunathan V.R. , Arokiyaraj S. , Liu G.
Published: December 2023

Gut microbiota may have therapeutic effects on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Regulating intestinal microbiota through Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) and faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a novel approach to treating IBD. This study aimed to explore the effect of L. plantarum and FMT pretreatment in alleviating colitis in mice. Five groups of mice (n = 6 per group) were included: CON group, DSS group (dextran sodium sulphate-induced colitis mice), LP-DSS pretreatment group (colitis mice were given strain L. plantarum and 5% DSS), DSS-FMT group (mice pretreated with faecal microbiota transplantation were given 5% DSS), and LP-FMT pretreatment group (mice pretreated with faecal microbiota transplantation and L. plantarum were given 5% DSS). Serum metabolites and intestinal microbiota were analysed by 16S rRNA sequencing liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The results demonstrated that L. plantarum and FMT improved gut microbiota in mice by increasing Firmicutes and decreasing the Bacteroidetes. In the serum metabolomics analysis, there were 11 differential metabolites in the DSS-FMT and LP-FMT pretreatment groups, and these differential metabolites were mainly glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids. It is worth noting that Lachnospira and Lactobacillus were positively associated with 8 differential metabolites. These results suggest that L. plantarum and FMT can regulate intestinal microorganisms and serum metabolomics to alleviate inflammation.
The South American Tropopause Aerosol Layer (SATAL)
Authors: Bresciani Caroline , Herdies Dirceu Luis , Figueroa Silvio Nilo , Buchard Virginie , da Silva Arlindo M. , Jones Charles , Carvalho Leila M. V.
Published: December 2023

The presence of an aerosol layer in the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere (UT/LS) in South America was identified with the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA-2). This layer, which we shall refer to as the South American tropopause aerosol layer (SATAL), was identified over the Amazon basin at altitudes between 11 and 14 km. It exhibits a seasonal behavior similar to the Asian tropopause aerosol layer (ATAL) and the North American tropopause aerosol layer (NATAL). The SATAL is observed from October to March, coinciding with the presence of the South American monsoon. It forms first in the eastern Amazon basin in October, then moves to the southern Amazon, where it weakens in December–January and finally dissipates in February–March. We hypothesize that two main factors influence the SATAL formation in the UT/LS: 1) the source of aerosols from Africa and 2) the updraft mass flux from deep convective systems during the active phase of the South American monsoon system that transports aerosols to the UT/LS. Further satellite observations of aerosols and field campaigns are needed to provide useful information to find the origin and composition of the aerosols in the UT/LS during the South American monsoon.
Effects of administration of local aminophylline on patients undergoing ureteroscopic lithotripsy
Authors: Lubana Anantbir Singh , Priyadarshi Shivam , Sharma Govind , Bansal Somendra , Agarwal Neeraj , Vyas Nachiket
Published: December 2023

Introduction:

The presence of ureteral stones can cause pain, infections of urinary tract and hydronephrosis, resulting in the loss of renal function. For two decades, Ureteroscopy and laser stone fragmentation (URSL) attained a big rise and is the first line management for large ureteric stones and renal stones up to 2 cm. The present study was conducted to assess the success rate of ureteroscopic lithotripsy in treatment of ureteric calculus after local administration of aminophylline.

Materials and methods:

100 patients having ureteric calculi <20 mm in size, aged 20–60 years were included in the study and randomly divided into Group A ( n = 50) with administration of local aminophylline and Group B ( n = 50) with administration of saline infusion. Ureteroscopy was performed after 5 min of administration of the solution. URSL was done using pneumatic lithoclast and/or laser. Various parameters like duration of procedure, ease of ureteral access, requirement of DJ Stent and need of further operative interventions were compared between case and control groups. The data was collected and then subjected to statistical analysis using IBM SPSS 20.0 version at significance level of p < 0.05.

Results:

The mean age of study subjects having ureteral stones was found to be between 31 and 40 years of age with males being more affected. We observed less mean duration of surgery, higher success rate, easy ureteral access ( p-value < 0.05) with aminophylline use than control group. The need of ureteral stent and Auxiliary procedures was significantly higher in the control than in the case group (38%).

Conclusion:

The use of aminophylline has been found to be highly useful and effective in reducing the need of stents and secondary surgery, decreased pain, and increased success rate. Thus, the use of aminophylline is recommended during URSL procedure for the successful management of ureteral calculi.
Entropy-based damage model for assessing the remaining useful fatigue life
Authors: Mahmoudi Ali , Jirandehi Arash P , Amooie Mohammad Ali , Khonsari MM
Published: December 2023

A reliable approach based on an entropy-damage model for assessing remaining useful fatigue life is presented. Two damage models are presented and evaluated to assess their effectiveness in predicting remaining useful life. The first model focuses on reduced toughness caused by fatigue degradation, while the second is based on accumulating entropy during fatigue loading. The entropy-based approach employs infrared thermography to anticipate entropy accumulation and damage status. Outcomes reveal that the entropy-driven technique offers enhanced precision. Moreover, its damage growth rate remains consistent, regardless of the number of cycles leading to failure, ensuring a more stable tracking of damage evolution. It successfully predicts the remaining useful life and can treat variable load sequencing without knowing the loading history. An extensive set of experimental results with carbon steel 1018 are presented to illustrate the utility of the approach.