bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Eurocode 3 and Research Contributions
Authors: Kuhlmann Ulrike , Schmidt-Rasche Christina , Spiegler Jennifer , Jörg Fabian , Pourostad Vahid , Euler Mathias
Published: December 2022

This paper gives an overview on recent work regarding the revision of EN 1993 on European level including selected scientific and technical issues and a summary of the activities executed within the European Standardization committee CEN/TC250/SC3 “Design of Steel Structures“ under the chair of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ulrike Kuhlmann. This includes the description of current normative developments for the 2nd Generation of Eurocodes which aim at an evolution by improvements and harmonisation of the existing codes. In addition, a technical review of selected rules is given on a number of issues, which support the code revision and reflect well the recent tendencies in steel structures.
Optimising the Outcome of Embryo Transfer
Authors: Tandulwadkar Sunita , Patil Madhuri , Naik Sejal
Published: December 2022

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a complex procedure, the success of which is dependent on several factors at every step of the process. Despite major advances, successful implantation rates in IVF remain low. Aside from the status of the embryo and endometrium, embryo transfer (ET) plays a major role in implantation. There are numerous variables in ET that are causative factors for IVF success. In this article, the authors discuss whether the stage at which (cleavage versus blastocyst) ET occurs; a fresh or frozen ET; and the technique of ET affects the results of an assisted reproductive technology cycle. Blastocysts had higher implantation potential than cleavage-stage embryos and it was also observed that extended embryo culture was not related to increased adverse obstetric and perinatal outcome. Though freezing has several advantages over fresh cycles, one must remember that evidence is still lacking for its use in all patients. Elective cryopreservation of all embryos with transfer in subsequent frozen ET cycles may be requited in cases at risk of developing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, women undergoing preimplantation genetic screening or preimplantation genetic diagnosis for genetic analysis, polycystic ovarian syndrome patients, and those who have high progesterone levels on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin, but to date it is debatable whether a freeze-all strategy will benefit normal and poor responders. For an optimal ET technique, the use of soft catheters and performing the process under ultrasound guidance will improve results by making it less traumatic, standardised across centres, and more technically precise.
Cryos Symposium on Assisted Reproductive Technology
Authors: Kahr Thomsen Else Marie
Published: December 2022

The Cryos Symposium took place on 3rd May 2019 in Aarhus, Denmark, and gave the invited audience from all over the world the latest news and scientific research within the field of assisted reproductive technology. Experts gave educational lectures on important topics within ethics, legislation and donor children, donor sperm and eggs, and genetics, which are the main focus areas of the Cryos International Sperm and Egg Bank.

The first speaker was Dr Françoise Shenfield from University College London, London, UK, on ethics and cross-border reproductive care. Next was Prof Susan Golombok, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, who spoke about mother–child relationships and children’s psychological adjustment, which was followed by Ms Emma Grønbæk, a 22-year-old student from Aarhus, Denmark, who shared the personal story of her life as a donor child. Prof Steven J. Ory, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA, then presented the International Federation of Fertility Societies’ Surveillance (IFFS) 2019 report: Global Trends in Reproductive Policy and Practice, 8th edition, followed by Mr Ole Schou, the founder of Cryos, who talked about the legal right of every child to know his or her legal parents and spoke of the necessity to change the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Male infertility was next on the agenda, as Prof Allan Pacey, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK, listed five important points to take into consideration regarding male infertility. One of the points raised was the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections, such as human papilloma virus (HPV), which set the stage for Prof Willem Ombelet, Genk & Hasselt Institute for Fertility Technology, Genk, Belgium, to give his lecture on his book titled ‘Intra-Uterine Donor Insemination: Evidence-Based Guidelines for Daily Practice, 1st edition.’ Prof Peter Humaidan, The Fertility Clinic, Skive Regional Hospital, Skive, Denmark, gave his lecture on the many exciting aspects associated with egg freezing, and the Director of European Operations in Cryos, Mrs Saghar Kasiri, talked about the advantages and disadvantages of frozen versus fresh eggs. Prof Joyce Harper, University College London, London, UK, brought up the fact that at least 24 million people around the globe have researched their family tree using online DNA testing databases, leading on to a lecture on genetic screening programme developments within gamete banks by Dr Lone Bruhn Madsen and Lead Clinical Geneticist Dr Henriette Roed Nielsen from Cryos. The symposium ended with Prof Wybo Dondorp, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands, giving a lecture on expanded genetic carrier screening.
Nutrient Quality of Cultured Fish Species in the Black Sea: Evaluation of Fatty Acids, Amino Acids and Fillet Colors
Authors: KAYA ÖZTÜRK Dilara
Published: December 2022

This study aims to examine the nutritional composition (amino acid and fatty acid) and fillet color of commercially produced cultured fish of the Black Sea. All fish species [(sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), sea bream (Sparus aurata), turbot (Scophthalmus maximus), and large rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)] were collected from the Black Sea’s aquaculture sites in 2020. Total amino acid values of fillets were listed as sea bream>turbot>large rainbow trout>sea bass fillet. The highest omega-3/omega-6 ratio was in turbot fillets, and the highest omega-6/omega-3 ratio was in sea bass and sea bream fillets (p<0.05). Consequently, it was concluded that the fish cultured from the Black Sea have excellent nutritional values, including high amounts of unsaturated fatty acids and appropriate amounts of essential amino acids and the cultured fish in the Black Sea are of good quality, nutritious and beneficial for human consumption.
Bimbingan Teknis Pembuatan Kontrol Lampu Berbasis Internet of Things (IoT) di SMKS Satria Kendari
Authors: Faslih Arman , Jaya St Nawal , Soeparyanto Try Sugiyarto , Ikhsan Ainussalbi Al , Nangi Jumadil , Aminur Aminur , Akbar Andi Mulk Rahim , Herdianto Herdianto , Fadli Muh. Miftahul , Sawal Muh. Jun
Published: December 2022

Internet of Things atau disingkat IoT menjadi perkembangan teknologi yang dapat dilihat keberadaanya saat ini, keberadaanya semakin terasa seiring bermunculannya ide tepat guna yang mulai mencakup beberapa sisi dari kehidupan manusia. Menjadikan penggunaan Internet semakin meluas dan berkembang merupakan tujuan dari konsep IoT. Smartphone adalah teknologi perangkat keras  yang penggunaanya telah mendominasi dunia, Pemanfaatan smartphone dibidang IoT sebagai sistem kendali, dapat dipadukan dengan penggunaan mikrokontroler yang telah diisi program terlebih dahulu telah mempermudah kegiatan sehari – hari.  Salah satu kendala masyarakat terutama masyarakat yang memiliki pekerjaan kantoran terkadang lupa untuk menyalakan atau memadamkan lampu pada saat keluar untuk bekerja. Maupun, ketika pulang kerja biasanya lupa untuk memadamkan lampu kantor, hal seperti ini tentunya  berdampak pada keamanan rumah atau kantor, serta menurunya ketahanan dan keawetan lampu dikarenakan menyala terus – menerus, disamping itu tentunya  dapat menambah biaya penggunaan listrik,. Oleh karena itu berdasarkan permasalahan ini, kelompok Kuliah Kerja Nyata (KKN) Tematik Jurusan Teknik Elektro Universitas Halu Oleo membuat “Perancangan Prototype Kontrol Lampu Berbasis IoT”. Dengan harapan Produk ini dapat menyelesaikan permasalahn tersebut melihat dari kemudahan dalam penggunaan dan pengendaliannya. Pengabdian ini dilakukan bersama siswa – siswi SMK SATRIA sebagai mitra kegiatan, yang bertempat dikelurahan Lahundape Kecamatan Kendari Barat, dengan harapan mitra kegiatan mampu memahami dan membuat bahkan mengembangkan ide.
Comparative efficacy of fungicide and gamma radiation for controlling blast of wheat
Authors: Akter Maksuda , Kashem Md. Abul , Swarna Humayara Zannat , Nupu Maher Afrose , Akter Saji Moni , Parvez Md. Rasel , Akter Saji Moni , Hossain Mohammad Delwar
Published: December 2022

This research is conducted for comparison of an eco-friendly gamma radiation method and chemical fungicidal spray in reducing wheat blast incidence and severity in BINA under both artificial and natural conditions during 2019-2022. Wheat blast infection occurred on the leaves, spikes and newly emerged heads contained typical eye shaped blast symptoms. Magnaporthe oryzae Triticum (MoT), a causal agent of wheat blast was isolated by tissue panting method, cultured on OAT medium at 30 ±10C, confirmed by PCR amplified with universal MoT3 primer pairs that resulted 361 bp. The MoT inoculated (@ 5x106 CFU/mL) wheat plants successfully developed blast symptoms after 16 days in four tested wheat varieties/germplasm. An in vitro evaluation of five chemical fungicides was done against MoT where Nativo and Filia completely inhibited (100%) its radial mycelial growth. A total three spray, combination of half doses of Nativo + Filia [(0.3g + 1mL)/L] at 10 days intervals starting from one week of pre-heading or critical stage significantly reduced wheat blast incidence and severity in both artificially inoculated and natural conditions. Gamma radiated M3 population of wheat vars. also showed better performance in reduction of blast severity. Among the four doses of gamma radiation, 300 Gy significantly showed the better performance in reducing blast disease incidence and severity on wheat var. BG 26. Although combined fungicidal spray treatment (TF) significantly reduced 93.1% DI and 94.3 % DS in var. BG26 over control, but the highest percent reduction of wheat blast incidence (97.7%) and severity (98.4%) was observed on gamma irradiated (300 Gy) M3 line (BG26M3L4) under natural condition indicating gamma radiation brought a change in the genetic level positive for developing source of resistance against wheat blast. Moreover, gamma irradiated M3 line BG26M3L4 increased higher vegetative traits / yield than the combined fungicidal spray indicating gamma radiation might be a good replacement of chemical fungicides for management of blast of wheat.
Antihyperlipidemic activity of hydroalcoholic seed extract of Cucumis sativus L in triton X-100 induced hyperlipidemic rats
Authors: Aftab Tayyaba , Rehman Atiq Ur , Albegali Abdullah Abdo , Rashid Amir , Anjum Ahsan , Mohammed Mayada , Javed Hira
Published: December 2022

Hyperlipidemia is linked to an elevated risk of atherosclerosis disease and managing this risk factor is crucial. This study was aimed at investigation of high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis and antihyperlipidemic effect of hydroalcoholic extract of seeds of the plant Cucumis sativus L in Wistar albino rats. The rats were divided into groups A, B, C and D. All the groups except group A were administered with diet having high cholesterol and given intraperitoneal injection of Triton X-100 to induce hyperlipidaemia. Group A served as normal. Group B served as hyperlipidemic control. Group C (standard) and D (plant treated) were administered with simvastatin (10 mg/kg) and hydroalcoholic extract of the plant (400 mg/kg) respectively daily for 7 days after one week of inducing hyperlipidemia. The biochemical parameters of all the groups were estimated after one week of administration of plant extract using kits of Roche Cobas C111 chemistry analyzer. Histological studies of liver and heart tissues were also done. HPLC study showed the presence of compounds in the extract. The plant decreased the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, low and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly. The plant may be used as dietary supplement in combating hyperlipidemia.
Reinforcement of reclaimed sand by stimulating native microorganisms for biomineralization
Authors: Liu Shiyu , Sui Yujia , Dong Bowen
Published: December 2022

The method of biological stimulation to reinforce soil has good environmental benefits. The optimization of stimulation solutions can not only improve soil reinforcement but also effectively reduce treatment costs. Response surface methodology was used to optimize a biostimulation solution to reinforce reclaimed sand by native microorganism-induced mineralization. First, response surface methodology was used to obtain the optimal stimulation solution. Then, the effect of the optimal stimulation solution in inducing mineralization to reinforce reclaimed sand was evaluated. Finally, the reinforcement mechanism was revealed by SEM, XRD, and microbial diversity analysis. The results showed that the urease activity of the sample optimized by response surface methodology was 1.17 times higher than that of the sample treated with the initial stimulation solution. The uniaxial compressive strength of samples treated with the optimal biostimulation solution and 1.0 M cementation solution over 15 cycles reached 3.94 MPa. The product of microbial mineralization was calcite, which was the main substance responsible for the improvement in the mechanical properties of the reclaimed sand. The concentration of the cementation solution not only affected the production of calcium carbonate but also affected the morphology of calcium carbonate crystals. After sample treatment with the stimulation solution, ureolytic microorganisms became the dominant bacteria in the sample. A comprehensive assessment of the reinforcement effect and cost revealed that using the optimal stimulation solution and 1.0 M cementation solution over 10 cycles was ideal for reinforcing reclaimed sand. Biostimulation is an effective method to reinforce reclaimed sand; however, the actual application effect requires further examination.
Sinomenine regulates immune cell subsets: Potential neuro-immune intervene for precise treatment of chronic pain
Authors: Lai Wei-Dong , Wang Song , You Wen-Ting , Chen Si-Jia , Wen Jun-Jun , Yuan Cun-Rui , Zheng Meng-Jia , Jin Yan , Yu Jie , Wen Cheng-Ping
Published: December 2022

Chronic pain is a disease of long-lasting pain with unpleasant feelings mediated by central and (or) peripheral sensitization, its duration usually lasts more than 3 months or longer than the expected recovery time. The patients with chronic pain are manifested with enhanced sensitivity to noxious and non-noxious stimuli. Due to an incomplete understanding of the mechanisms, patients are commonly insensitive to the treatment of first line analgesic medicine in clinic. Thus, the exploration of non-opioid-dependent analgesia are needed. Recent studies have shown that “sinomenine,” the main active ingredient in the natural plant “sinomenium acutum (Thunb.) Rehd. Et Wils,” has a powerful inhibitory effect on chronic pain, but its underlying mechanism still needs to be further elucidated. A growing number of studies have shown that various immune cells such as T cells, B cells, macrophages, astrocytes and microglia, accompanied with the relative inflammatory factors and neuropeptides, are involved in the pathogenesis of chronic pain. Notably, the interaction of the immune system and sensory neurons is essential for the development of central and (or) peripheral sensitization, as well as the progression and maintenance of chronic pain. Based on the effects of sinomenine on immune cells and their subsets, this review mainly focused on describing the potential analgesic effects of sinomenine, with rationality of regulating the neuroimmune interaction.
Tuberculosis: The success tale of less explored dormant Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Verma Akanksha , Ghoshal Antara , Dwivedi Ved Prakash , Bhaskar Ashima
Published: December 2022

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) is an intracellular pathogen that predominantly affects the alveolar macrophages in the respiratory tract. Upon infection, the activation of TLR2 and TLR4- mediated signaling pathways leads to lysosomal degradation of the bacteria. However, bacterium counteracts the host immune cells and utilizes them as a cellular niche for its survival. One distinctive mechanism of M.tb to limit the host stress responses such as hypoxia and nutrient starvation is induction of dormancy. As the environmental conditions become favorable, the bacteria resuscitate, resulting in a relapse of clinical symptoms. Different bacterial proteins play a critical role in maintaining the state of dormancy and resuscitation, namely, DevR (DosS), Hrp1, DATIN and RpfA-D, RipA, etc., respectively. Existing knowledge regarding the key proteins associated with dormancy and resuscitation can be employed to develop novel therapies. In this review we aim to highlight the current knowledge of bacterial progression from dormancy to resuscitation and the gaps in understanding the transition from dormant to active state. We have also focused on elucidating a few therapeutic strategies employed to prevent M.tb resuscitation.
The contribution of gut-brain axis to development of neurological symptoms in COVID-19 recovered patients: A hypothesis and review of literature
Authors: Vakili Kimia , Fathi Mobina , Yaghoobpoor Shirin , Sayehmiri Fatemeh , Nazerian Yasaman , Nazerian Amirhossein , Mohamadkhani Ashraf , Khodabakhsh Pariya , Réus Gislaine Z. , Hajibeygi Ramtin , Rezaei-Tavirani Mostafa
Published: December 2022

The gut microbiota undergoes significant alterations in response to viral infections, particularly the novel SARS-CoV-2. As impaired gut microbiota can trigger numerous neurological disorders, we suggest that the long-term neurological symptoms of COVID-19 may be related to intestinal microbiota disorders in these patients. Thus, we have gathered available information on how the virus can affect the microbiota of gastrointestinal systems, both in the acute and the recovery phase of the disease, and described several mechanisms through which this gut dysbiosis can lead to long-term neurological disorders, such as Guillain-Barre syndrome, chronic fatigue, psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety, and even neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. These mechanisms may be mediated by inflammatory cytokines, as well as certain chemicals such as gastrointestinal hormones (e.g., CCK), neurotransmitters (e.g., 5-HT), etc. (e.g., short-chain fatty acids), and the autonomic nervous system. In addition to the direct influences of the virus, repurposed medications used for COVID-19 patients can also play a role in gut dysbiosis. In conclusion, although there are many dark spots in our current knowledge of the mechanism of COVID-19-related gut-brain axis disturbance, based on available evidence, we can hypothesize that these two phenomena are more than just a coincidence and highly recommend large-scale epidemiologic studies in the future.
The power of woman-to-woman mentorship in creating long-term changes in biodiversity conservation in Southeast Asia
Authors: Sheherazade  , Tsang Susan M. , Lanusi Asnim Alyoihana
Published: December 2022

Growing evidence indicates that women’s involvement and leadership are important to creating inclusive conservation programs, increasing likelihood of success, and achieving sustainability. Effective future women leaders can be created by providing them with dedicated mentorship, as in long-term support and dynamic learning that encompass the entirety of a person, not only their technical training. Mentorship by women is key to ensuring more women are empowered, can advance their careers, and become independent leaders in their domains. The ways mentorship contribute to a woman’s career have been frequently studied in medicine, sports, and education, yet rarely in conservation. Providing real examples of long-term mentorships centered on the perspective of a mentee from the Global South will demonstrate an applicable roadmap towards recruiting and retaining women in conservation. We recount two sets of ten-year long mentor-mentee relationships—one with a foreign mentor and the other domestic—based on our personal experiences in Indonesia. We examined issues raised by Indonesian women in conservation and provided targeted solutions that may be applicable to a broader audience. The resulting group of empowered, capable women can rely on one another for technical and moral support, along with work together to shift social norms towards becoming more inclusive of women in more varied roles and at multiple career levels in conservation. In highlighting real examples, mentees can understand what they should seek out and expect from mentorship, and how women from the Global North and Global South can provide true mentorship to more women without access to the same opportunities. We hope to inspire more women from the Global South to continue their careers and be leaders in conservation.
Harnessing selenocysteine to enhance microbial cell factories for hydrogen production
Authors: Patel Armaan , Mulder David W. , Söll Dieter , Krahn Natalie
Published: December 2022

Hydrogen is a clean, renewable energy source, that when combined with oxygen, produces heat and electricity with only water vapor as a biproduct. Furthermore, it has the highest energy content by weight of all known fuels. As a result, various strategies have engineered methods to produce hydrogen efficiently and in quantities that are of interest to the economy. To approach the notion of producing hydrogen from a biological perspective, we take our attention to hydrogenases which are naturally produced in microbes. These organisms have the machinery to produce hydrogen, which when cleverly engineered, could be useful in cell factories resulting in large production of hydrogen. Not all hydrogenases are efficient at hydrogen production, and those that are, tend to be oxygen sensitive. Therefore, we provide a new perspective on introducing selenocysteine, a highly reactive proteinogenic amino acid, as a strategy towards engineering hydrogenases with enhanced hydrogen production, or increased oxygen tolerance.
Physician antibiotic hydration preferences for biologic antibacterial envelopes during cardiac implantable device procedures
Authors: Deering Thomas F. , Catanzaro John N. , Woodard David A.
Published: December 2022

Background

Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infection is a potentially serious complication of CIED procedures. Infection risk mitigation includes using guideline-recommended pre-operative intravenous antibacterial prophylaxis (IV ABX). The use of antibiotic-eluting CIED envelopes has also been shown to reduce infection risk. The relationship between and potential benefits associated with guideline-recommended IV ABX in combination with antibacterial envelopes have not been characterized.

Methods

Biologic envelopes made from non-crosslinked extracellular matrix (ECM) were implanted into 1,102 patients receiving CIEDs. The implanting physician decided patient selection for using a biologic envelope and envelope hydration solution. Observational data was analyzed on IV ABX utilization rates, antibacterial envelope usage, and infection outcomes.

Results

Overall compliance with IV ABX was 96.6%, and most patients received a biologic envelope hydrated in antibiotics (77.1%). After a mean follow-up of 223 days, infection rates were higher for sites using IV ABX <80% of the time vs. sites using ≥80% (5.6% vs. 0.8%, p = 0.008). Physicians demonstrated preference for hydration solutions containing gentamicin in higher-risk patients, which was found by multivariate analysis to be associated with a threefold reduction in infection risk (OR 3.0, 95% CI, 1.0–10.0).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that use of antibiotics, particularly gentamicin, in biologic envelope hydration solution may reduce infection risk, and use of antibacterial envelopes without adjunct IV ABX may not be sufficient to reduce CIED infections.

Clinical trial registration

[https://clinicaltrials.gov/], identifier [NCT02530970].
A percutaneous treatment strategy of an adult patient with a bicuspid aortic valve, coarctation of the aorta, and an exceptionally large aneurysm of a collateral artery: Case report and literature overview
Authors: Verheijen D. B. H. , Stöger J. Lauran , van der Kley F. , Schalij M. J. , Jongbloed M. R. M. , Vliegen H. W. , Kiès P. , Egorova A. D.
Published: December 2022

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a congenital heart defect that is associated with a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), ascending aorta dilatation, intracerebral aneurysms, and premature atherosclerotic disease. The first presentation during late adulthood is rare and is frequently driven by late sequelae. Hypertrophic collateral arteries can develop aneurysms which are at risk for spontaneous rupture, however, treatment recommendations for these aneurysms are scarce. Here, we describe the clinical course and percutaneous treatment strategy of a patient with a late diagnosis of a pin-point CoA, a BAV with moderate regurgitation, and an exceptionally large aneurysm of a collateral artery. A 59-year-old woman was diagnosed with Streptococcus bovis endocarditis of a BAV with moderate aortic valve regurgitation and small vegetation (<5 mm) on the non-coronary cusp. Work-up revealed hypertension and adenocarcinoma in situ of the ascending colon, considered the bacteremia porte d’entrée, for which a curative hemicolectomy was performed. Echocardiography showed a narrowing of the aorta distal from the origin of the left subclavian artery with the antegrade diastolic flow with a pathognomonic “sawtooth” pattern and an estimated pressure gradient of >70 mmHg. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed a network of well-developed collateral arteries and a levoatriocardinal vein. One of the collateral arteries arising from the left subclavian artery revealed an exceptionally large aneurysmatic dilation (29 × 24 × 24 mm). The invasive assessment confirmed a hemodynamically significant CoA. Treatment involved balloon dilatation and placement of a covered stent at the site of the pin-point CoA and a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the stenosis in the left anterior descending artery. No residual gradient over the CoA was observed. Antihypertensive drugs could be discontinued, and CTA performed 4 months later showed regression and thrombosis of the numerous collaterals and, importantly, thrombosis of the large aneurysm. This case illustrates the late diagnosis of CoA with associated congenital heart defects and late sequelae including hypertension, BAV endocarditis, coronary artery disease, and aneurysm formation of the extensive collateral network. The patient underwent pharmacological and percutaneous treatment, ultimately resulting in the alleviation of the CoA, normalization of the blood pressure, reduction of collateral flow, and thrombosis of the large aneurysm of the collateral artery.
Genetic, epigenetic and enviromental influencing factors on the regulation of precocious and delayed puberty
Authors: Faienza Maria Felicia , Urbano Flavia , Moscogiuri Luigi Antonio , Chiarito Mariangela , De Santis Stefania , Giordano Paola
Published: December 2022

The pubertal development onset is controlled by a network of genes that regulate the gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) pulsatile release and the subsequent increase of the circulating levels of pituitary gonadotropins that activate the gonadal function. Although the transition from pre-pubertal condition to puberty occurs physiologically in a delimited age-range, the inception of pubertal development can be anticipated or delayed due to genetic and epigenetic changes or environmental conditions. Most of the genetic and epigenetic alterations concern genes which encode for kisspeptin, GnRH, LH, FSH and their receptor, which represent crucial factors of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Recent data indicate a central role of the epigenome in the regulation of genes in the hypothalamus and pituitary that could mediate the flexibility of pubertal timing. Identification of epigenetically regulated genes, such as Makorin ring finger 3 (MKRN3) and Delta-like 1 homologue (DLK1), respectively responsible for the repression and the activation of pubertal development, provides additional evidence of how epigenetic variations affect pubertal timing. This review aims to investigate genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors responsible for the regulation of precocious and delayed puberty.
Wnt16 signaling in bone homeostasis and osteoarthristis
Authors: Ye Xiaoping , Liu Xianwen
Published: December 2022

Wnts are secreted cysteine-rich glycoproteins involved in joint development and skeletal homeostasis and have been implicated in the occurrence of osteoarthritis. Over the past decade, Wnt16, a member of the Wnt family, has received widespread attention for its strong association with bone mineral density, cortical bone thickness, bone strength, and osteoporotic fracture risk. In recent years, further studies have shed light on the role of Wnt16 a positive regulator of bone mass and protective regulator of osteoarthritis progression. Transduction mechanisms and crosstalk involving Wnt16 signaling have also been illustrated. More importantly, local Wnt16 treatment has been shown to ease osteoarthritis, inhibit bone resorption, and promote new bone formation in bone defect models. Thus, Wnt16 is now a potential therapeutic target for skeletal diseases and osteoarthritis. This paper reviews our current understanding of the mechanisms by which Wnt16 signaling regulates bone homeostasis and osteoarthritis.
Improving multi-decadal coastal shoreline change predictions by including model parameter non-stationarity
Authors: Ibaceta Raimundo , Splinter Kristen D. , Harley Mitchell D. , Turner Ian L.
Published: December 2022

Our ability to predict sandy shoreline evolution resulting from future changes in regional wave climates is critical for the sustainable management of coastlines worldwide. To this end, the present generation of simple and efficient semi-empirical shoreline change models have shown good skill at predicting shoreline changes from seasons up to several years at a number of diverse sites around the world. However, a key limitation of these existing approaches is that they rely on time-invariant model parameters, and assume that beaches will evolve within constrained envelopes of variability based on past observations. This raises an interesting challenge because the expected future variability in key meteocean and hydrodynamic drivers of shoreline change are likely to violate this ‘stationary’ approach to longer-term shoreline change prediction. Using a newly available, multi-decadal (28-year) dataset of satellite-derived shorelines at the Gold Coast, Australia, this contribution presents the first attempt to improve multi-decadal shoreline change predictions by allowing the magnitude of the shoreline model parameters to vary in time. A data assimilation technique (Ensemble Kalman Filter, EnKF) embedded within the well-established ShoreFor shoreline change model is first applied to a 14-year training period of approximately fortnightly shoreline observations, to explore temporal variability in model parameters. Then, the magnitudes of these observed non-stationary parameters are modelled as a function of selected wave climate covariates, representing the underlying seasonal to interannual variability in wave forcing. These modelled time-varying parameters are then incorporated into the shoreline change model and tested over the complete 28-year dataset. This new inclusion of non-stationary model parameters that are directly modelled as a function of the underlying wave forcing and corresponding time scales of beach response, is shown to outperform the multi-decadal predictions obtained by applying the conventional stationary approach (RMSEnon-stationary = 11.1 m; RMSEstationary = 254.3 m). Based on these results, it is proposed that a non-stationary approach to shoreline change modelling can reduce the uncertainty associated with the misspecification of physical processes driving shoreline change and should be considered for future shoreline change predictions.
The DIC carbon isotope evolutions during CO2 bubbling: Implications for ocean acidification laboratory culture
Authors: Zhang Hongrui , Torres-Romero Ismael , Anjewierden Pien , Jaggi Madalina , Stoll Heather M.
Published: December 2022

Ocean acidification increases pCO2 and decreases pH of seawater and its impact on marine organisms has emerged as a key research focus. In addition to directly measured variables such as growth or calcification rate, stable isotopic tracers such as carbon isotopes have also been used to more completely understand the physiological processes contributing to the response of organisms to ocean acidification. To simulate ocean acidification in laboratory cultures, direct bubbling of seawater with CO2 has been a preferred method because it adjusts pCO2 and pH without altering total alkalinity. Unfortunately, the carbon isotope equilibrium between seawater and CO2 gas has been largely ignored so far. Frequently, the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in the initial seawater culture has a distinct 13C/12C ratio which is far from the equilibrium expected with the isotopic composition of the bubbled CO2. To evaluate the consequences of this type of experiment for isotopic work, we measured the carbon isotope evolutions in two chemostats during CO2 bubbling and composed a numerical model to simulate this process. The isotopic model can predict well the carbon isotope ratio of dissolved inorganic carbon evolutions during bubbling. With help of this model, the carbon isotope evolution during a batch and continuous culture can be traced dynamically improving the accuracy of fractionation results from laboratory culture. Our simulations show that, if not properly accounted for in experimental or sampling design, many typical culture configurations involving CO2 bubbling can lead to large errors in estimated carbon isotope fractionation between seawater and biomass or biominerals, consequently affecting interpretations and hampering comparisons among different experiments. Therefore, we describe the best practices on future studies working with isotope fingerprinting in the ocean acidification background.
A new non-invasive tagging method for leopard coral grouper (Plectropomus leopardus) using deep convolutional neural networks with PDE-based image decomposition
Authors: Wang Yangfan , Xin Chun , Zhu Boyu , Wang Mengqiu , Wang Tong , Ni Ping , Song Siqi , Liu Mengran , Wang Bo , Bao Zhenmin , Hu Jingjie
Published: December 2022

External tagging methods can aid in the research of leopard coral grouper (Plectropomus leopardus) in terms of its spatio-temporal behavior at population and individual scales. However, due to the strong exclusion ability and the damage to the body wall of P. leopardus, the retention rate of traditional invasive tagging methods is low. To develop a non-invasive identification method for P. leopardus, we adopted a multiscale image processing method based on matched filters with Gaussian kernels and partial differential equation (PDE) multiscale hierarchical decomposition with the deep convolutional neural network (CNN) models VGG19 and ResNet50 to extract shape and texture image features of individuals. Then based on image features, we used three classifiers Random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and multilayer perceptron (MLP)) for individual recognition on sequential images of P. leopardus captured for 50 days. The PDE, ResNet50 and MLP combination obtained a maximum accuracy of 0.985 ± 0.045 on the test set. For individual temporal tracking recognition, feature extraction and model training were performed using images taken in 1-20 days. The classifier could achieve an accuracy of 0.960 ± 0.049 on the test set consisting of images collected in the periods of 20-50 days. The results show that CNNs with the PDE decomposition can effectively and accurately identify P. leopardus.
Nitrous oxide production and isotopomer composition by fungi isolated from salt marsh sediments
Authors: Lazo-Murphy Birch Maxwell , Larson Samantha , Staines Sydney , Bruck Heather , McHenry Julianne , Bourbonnais Annie , Peng Xuefeng
Published: December 2022

The emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas and ozone-depleting agent, have been steadily increasing from coastal environments, such as salt marsh sediments, as a result of anthropogenic nutrient loading. Biotic processes, including nitrification and denitrification, are the largest sources of N2O from salt marsh sediments. While it is assumed that the bulk of N2O from salt marsh sediment is produced by nitrification and bacterial denitrification, recent reports suggest fungal denitrification may contribute significantly. In this study, four fungi capable of growth under sulfidic conditions were isolated from salt marsh sediments in North Inlet, South Carolina, USA. Fungal species included Purpureocillium lilacinum, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma virens, and Rhodotorula glutinis, as determined by sequencing the18S and 28S rRNA genes. The isotopomer signatures of N2O produced by these fungi were measured using isotope ratio mass spectrometry, which can be used to estimate the contribution of different sources of N2O. Up to 22.8% of nitrite provided in growth media was converted to N2O by fungal strains isolated from salt marsh sediments. The site preference (SP) of N2O produced by salt marsh sediment fungi ranged from 7.5 ± 1.6‰ to 33.4 ± 1.2‰. These values are lower than the SP of N2O from the model fungal denitrifier Fusarium oxysporum (37.1 ± 2.5‰), which is the SP typically used as an endmember in isotope mass balance considerations. The N2O SP values we measured expand the range of N2O SP used for isotope mass balances calculations to determine the relative contribution of fungi to N2O production in salt marsh sediments.
54 years of microboring community history explored by machine learning in a massive coral from Mayotte (Indian Ocean)
Authors: Alaguarda D. , Brajard J. , Coulibaly G. , Canesi M. , Douville E. , Le Cornec F. , Lelabousse C. , Tribollet A.
Published: December 2022

Coral reefs are increasingly in jeopardy due to global changes affecting both reef accretion and bioerosion processes. Bioerosion processes dynamics in dead reef carbonates under various environmental conditions are relatively well understood but only over a short-term limiting projections of coral reef evolution by 2100. It is thus essential to monitor and understand bioerosion processes over the long term. Here we studied the assemblage of traces of microborers in a coral core of a massive Diploastrea sp. from Mayotte, allowing us to explore the variability of its specific composition, distribution, and abundance between 1964 and 2018. Observations of microborer traces were realized under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The area of coral skeleton sections colonized by microborers (a proxy of their abundance) was estimated based on an innovative machine learning approach. This new method with 93% accuracy allowed analyzing rapidly more than a thousand SEM images. Our results showed an important shift in the trace assemblage composition that occurred in 1985, and a loss of 90% of microborer traces over the last five decades. Our data also showed a strong positive correlation between microborer trace abundance and the coral bulk density, this latter being particularly affected by the interannual variation of temperature and cumulative insolation. Although various combined environmental factors certainly had direct and/or indirect effects on microboring species before and after the breakpoint in 1985, we suggest that rising sea surface temperature, rainfall, and the loss of light over time were the main factors driving the observed trace assemblage change and decline in microborer abundance. In addition, the interannual variability of sea surface temperature and instantaneous maximum wind speed appeared to influence greatly the occurrence of green bands. We thus stress the importance to study more coral cores to confirm the decadal trends observed in the Diploastrea sp. from Mayotte and to better identify the main factors influencing microboring communities, as the decrease of their abundance in living massive stress tolerant corals may have important consequences on their resilience.
Evaluating performance of the 2019 EULAR/ACR, 2012 SLICC, and 1997 ACR criteria for classifying adult-onset and childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Lerkvaleekul Butsabong , Chobchai Pantira , Rattanasiri Sasivimol , Vilaiyuk Soamarat
Published: December 2022

Introduction

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1997, Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) 2012, and European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)/ACR 2019 SLE criteria are often used to classify patients with adult-onset and childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in clinical practice because there are currently no diagnostic criteria for SLE. However, there is scarce evidence regarding which criteria are best for diagnosing patients with adult-onset and childhood-onset SLE.

Methods

We searched Medline and Scopus databases for English-language articles from inception through October 2021. Data were extracted from the included publications by two independent reviewers. We performed bivariate meta-analysis with a random-effects model to pool diagnostic parameters. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were performed to explore heterogeneity sources. We used network meta-analysis to compare diagnosis performance among the three criteria and ranked them in descending order. Publication bias was assessed using Deeks’ funnel plot.

Results

We included 29 studies for systematic review and meta-analysis. Of these, 18 studies involved adult-onset SLE and 11 studies involved childhood-onset SLE. The pooled sensitivities of the three criteria for diagnosis of adult-onset SLE were comparable between SLICC 2012 and EULAR/ACR 2019 [95.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 92.28–97.81 vs. 94.79, 95% CI 92.03–96.63]; pooled specificity was highest in ACR 1997 (92.24, 95% CI 87.06–95.46). In childhood-onset SLE, pooled sensitivity was highest in SLICC 2012 (93.76, 95% CI 89.45–96.39), and pooled specificity was highest in ACR 1997 (95.89, 95% CI 91.73–98.00). In network meta-analysis, the pooled diagnostic odds ratio ranked highest for EULAR/ACR 2019 (131.570, 95% CI 61.50–281.47) in adult-onset SLE and ranked highest for SLICC 2012 (191.07, 95% CI 76.06–480.01) in childhood-onset SLE. Deeks’ funnel plot showed no publication bias.

Conclusion

We found that the diagnostic performance of the ACR 1997, SLICC 2012, and EULAR/ACR 2019 criteria differed between adult-onset and childhood-onset SLE. EULAR/ACR 2019 performed best for adult-onset SLE and SLICC 2012 was best for childhood-onset SLE in classifying patients with SLE.

Systematic review registration

[www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [CRD420 21281586].
Activation of mucosal immunity as a novel therapeutic strategy for combating brucellosis
Authors: Pascual David W. , Goodwin Zakia I. , Bhagyaraj Ella , Hoffman Carol , Yang Xinghong
Published: December 2022

Brucellosis is a disease of livestock that is commonly asymptomatic until an abortion occurs. Disease in humans results from contact of infected livestock or consumption of contaminated milk or meat.Brucellazoonosis is primarily caused by one of three species that infect livestock,Bacillus abortusin cattle,B. melitensisin goats and sheep, andB. suisin pigs. To aid in disease prophylaxis, livestock vaccines are available, but are only 70% effective; hence, improved vaccines are needed to mitigate disease, particularly in countries where disease remains pervasive. The absence of knowing which proteins confer complete protection limits development of subunit vaccines. Instead, efforts are focused on developing new and improved live, attenuatedBrucellavaccines, since these mimic attributes of wild-typeBrucella, and stimulate host immune, particularly T helper 1-type responses, required for protection. In considering their development, the new mutants must addressBrucella’s defense mechanisms normally active to circumvent host immune detection. Vaccination approaches should also consider mode and route of delivery since disease transmission among livestock and humans is believed to occurviathe naso-oropharyngeal tissues. By arming the host’s mucosal immune defenses with resident memory T cells (TRMs) and by expanding the sources of IFN-γ, brucellae dissemination from the site of infection to systemic tissues can be prevented. In this review, points of discussion focus on understanding the various immune mechanisms involved in disease progression and which immune players are important in fighting disease.
Extracellular vesicle-mediated regulation of macrophage polarization in bacterial infections
Authors: Qu Mingjuan , Zhu Hongwei , Zhang Xingxiao
Published: December 2022

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoscale membrane-enveloped vesicles secreted by prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, which are commonly defined as membrane vesicles (MVs) and exosomes, respectively. They play critical roles in the bacteria–bacteria and bacteria–host interactions. In infectious diseases caused by bacteria, as the first line of defense against pathogens, the macrophage polarization mode commonly determines the success or failure of the host's response to pathogen aggression. M1-type macrophages secrete pro-inflammatory factors that support microbicidal activity, while alternative M2-type macrophages secrete anti-inflammatory factors that perform an antimicrobial immune response but partially allow pathogens to replicate and survive intracellularly. Membrane vesicles (MVs) released from bacteria as a distinctive secretion system can carry various components, including bacterial effectors, nucleic acids, or lipids to modulate macrophage polarization in host–pathogen interaction. Similar to MVs, bacteria-infected macrophages can secrete exosomes containing a variety of components to manipulate the phenotypic polarization of “bystander” macrophages nearby or long distance to differentiate into type M1 or M2 to regulate the course of inflammation. Exosomes can also repair tissue damage associated with the infection by upregulating the levels of anti-inflammatory factors, downregulating the pro-inflammatory factors, and regulating cellular biological behaviors. The study of the mechanisms by which EVs modulate macrophage polarization has opened new frontiers in delineating the molecular machinery involved in bacterial pathogenesis and challenges in providing new strategies for diagnosis and therapy.