bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Questioning the Fairness and Utility of Prior Record Sentence Enhancements
Authors: Frase Richard S
Published: January 2025

Most modern sentencing systems endorse some sort of recidivist premium: they impose substantially more severe punishments on repeat offenders, usually in proportion to the number and nature of their prior crimes. And most offenders appearing for sentencing have one or more prior convictions. But these topics had been ignored by most punishment scholars, and no scholar had given them sustained and comprehensive attention, until Julian V Roberts began to address them in the 1990s. Moreover, while almost all legislatures, sentencing commissions, judges, lawyers, correctional officials, and members of the public assumed the validity of prior record enhancement (PRE), they paid little attention to its underlying rationales. Is a crime more blameworthy and thus deserving of more severe retributive punishment when committed by a repeat offender? If so, why? Do enhanced penalties for repeat offenders prevent future crimes in a cost-effective manner? And even if (or when) PREs are deserved and a cost-effective means of crime prevention, are they acceptable if they increase racial disproportionality in prison populations, undermine proportionality of punishment relative to offence seriousness, or cause other undesirable consequences? In response to Roberts’ work, other scholars began to recognize the magnitude of PREs, their questionable rationales, the importance of identifying and stating more clearly the strongest rationales, and the compelling need to reduce the frequency and size of such enhancements. This chapter shows how Roberts’ work revolutionized thinking on this topic and prompted reforms in several US jurisdictions.
Thirty-Five Years of Research on Attitudes to Punishment
Authors: Hough Mike
Published: January 2025

This chapter discusses the author’s collaboration with Professor Julian V Roberts stretching across thirty-five years of researching public attitudes to crime. It consists of four sections. The first is the author’s account of working with Roberts and describes the origins of their collaboration, the key projects that they worked on, the ‘fit’ of their working styles, and how their programme of research developed over time. The second section is a more conventional academic summary of their work together, exploring key themes and assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the work. The third section considers the political context within which much of the work was done and aims to describe its impact on sentencing policy and practice. The fourth section describes the setting up of the Sentencing Academy, in which Roberts has played a central part.
Victims at Parole
Authors: Padfield Nicola
Published: January 2025

In 2009, the author wrote a chapter with Julian V Roberts exploring the appropriate role for victims at parole hearings (see Nicola Padfield and Julian V Roberts, ‘Victim Input at Parole: Probative or Prejudicial?’ in Anthony E Bottoms and Julian V Roberts (eds), Hearing the Victim: Adversarial Justice, Crime Victims and the State (Willan 2010)). Since then, there have been significant changes in the law (if not so much in practice) in England and Wales, and this chapter reviews their conclusions in light of these developments. The chapter argues that both the rights and needs of victims continue to be misconstrued and indeed misused. The chapter re-explores the purposes of ‘parole’ and highlights the dangers which may arise if victims are encouraged to believe that they can influence the decision to release on retributive, ‘seriousness of the offence’, grounds. Parole is not currently designed as a re-sentencing exercise. The chapter concludes with a tribute to the breadth of Julian V Roberts’ scholarship and a word of thanks.
The Personhood of Children Revealed in Death
Authors: Garroway Kristine Henriksen
Published: January 2025

Given that burial involves a form of commemoration and public ritual, and that burials can provide the dying body a form of protection, they are helpful categories for investigating conceptions of personhood. While the preceding chapters touched upon personhood with respect to these categories, this chapter wraps up the study, asking what we might discern regarding personhood from different rituals and commemorative practices for children. It then moves beyond these categories to think more broadly about the personhood of children displayed in death throughout the different regions of ancient Israel, ending with a focus on Judahite children. The study concludes that across the burials examined, infants and children appear to have had some degree of personhood that was measurable in relationship to that of the adults in their communities. Most importantly, it indicates Judahite bench tombs show intergenerational links by presenting a unified approach to the way in which children and infants were incorporated into death-way rituals, thus setting Judah apart as different from the more immediate surrounding regions.
Cognitive reserve and its impact on cognitive and functional abilities, physical activity and quality of life following a diagnosis of dementia: longitudinal findings from the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) study
Authors: Gamble Laura D , Clare Linda , Opdebeeck Carol , Martyr Anthony , Jones Roy W , Rusted Jennifer M , Pentecost Claire , Thom Jeanette M , Matthews Fiona E
Published: January 2025

Background

The concept of cognitive reserve may explain inter-individual differences in susceptibility to neuropathological changes. Studies suggest that experiences over a lifetime impact on cognitive reserve, and it is hypothesised that following a dementia diagnosis, greater reserve levels are linked to accelerated disease progression.

Objective

To investigate the longitudinal impact of cognitive reserve on cognitive and functional abilities, physical activity and quality of life in people with dementia.

Design

Longitudinal cohort design.

Setting and participants

Participants were 1537 people with mild-to-moderate dementia at baseline, 1183 at 12 months follow-up and 851 at 24 months follow-up, from the IDEAL study.

Methods

A comprehensive latent measure of cognitive reserve incorporated domains from all stages of life: education, occupational attainment and later-life engagement in leisure activities. The impact of cognitive reserve on cognition, functional abilities, physical activity and quality of life at baseline and over time was investigated using latent growth curve modelling.

Results

Higher cognitive reserve was associated with better cognition, fewer functional difficulties, more physical activity and better quality of life at baseline but was associated with accelerated cognitive decline and greater dependence over time. After 2 years, those with higher initial reserve were estimated to still have better cognition than those with low reserve.

Conclusions

Cognitive reserve may be important in initially delaying dementia progression but is linked with accelerated deterioration once dementia becomes clinically evident, likely because of the more advanced neuropathological stage of the condition. Engagement in leisure activities is a potentially modifiable domain of cognitive reserve warranting further investigation.
Rigorous Policy Measurement: causal inference challenges and opportunities
Authors: Schnake-Mahl Alina , Diez Roux Ana V , Bilal Usama , Schwartz Gabriel , Burris Scott
Published: January 2025

Epidemiologists are increasingly asking questions about the effects of policies on health and health disparities, generally using quasi-experimental methods. Researchers have developed a burgeoning body of rigorous methodological work focused on addressing potential inference challenges arising from modeling choices, study design, data availability, and common sources of bias in policy evaluations using observational data. However, epidemiologists have paid less attention to measurement and operationalization of policy exposures. The field of legal epidemiology offers rigorous, formalized methods to address challenges in measuring policy, yet disciplinary divides have impeded the communication of these approaches from lawyers to epidemiologists. In this article, we use terminology familiar to epidemiologists to describe the field of legal epidemiology, and how challenges in measuring policy exposures can compromise causal inference, with a particular focus on addressing information bias and consistency assumptions. Laws and regulations can address or enforce structural inequities, and understanding challenges to their characterization and measurement can enhance epidemiologic research on their health and health equity effects.
Improving accuracy in the estimation of probable dementia in racially and ethnically diverse groups with penalized regression and transfer learning
Authors: Kim Jung Hyun , Glymour M Maria , Langa Kenneth M , Leist Anja K
Published: January 2025

Algorithmic estimations of dementia status are widely used in public health and epidemiological research, however, inadequate algorithm performance across racial/ethnic groups has been a barrier. We present improvements in the accuracy of group-specific "probable dementia" estimation using a transfer learning approach. Transfer learning involves combining models trained on a large "source" dataset with imprecise outcome assessments, alongside models trained on a smaller "target" dataset with high-quality outcome assessments. Transfer learning improves model accuracy by leveraging large source data while refining estimations with smaller, target data. We illustrate with data from the Health and Retirement Study (source data: N=6,630) and the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (target data: N=2,388). Models for dementia status estimation were evaluated through overall accuracy (Brier score), calibration (intercept, slope), and discriminative ability (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, AUR; area under the precision-recall curve, AUPRC). The transfer-learned algorithm showed higher accuracy compared to the best previously reported algorithm among both non-Hispanic Black participants (Brier 0.049 vs. 0.061; AUC 0.84 vs. 0.81; AUPRC 0.52 vs. 0.39) and Hispanic participants (Brier 0.052 vs. 0.056; AUC 0.89 vs. 0.87; AUPRC 0.61 vs. 0.56). Transfer learning can improve dementia status estimation for groups historically underrepresented in research.
Impact of DNAH3 deficiency on sperm energy metabolism and motility leading to asthenozoospermia
Authors: Li Jinli , Liu Yingdong , Kong Pengcheng , Chang Qiurong , Chen Siyu , Yang Wanli , Liu Wenqiang , Teng Xiaoming , Guo Yi
Published: January 2025

Asthenozoospermia, a prevalent contributor to male infertility, exhibits a multifaceted pathogenesis. This study identified a significant downregulation in sperm dynein heavy chain 3 (DNAH3) protein levels in individuals with asthenozoospermia. To elucidate the role of DNAH3 in asthenozoospermia, we constructed Dnah3-knockout mice, which exhibited asthenozoospermia and sterility. The sperm motility of Dnah3-knockout mice significantly declined compared to wild-type mice. However, spermatozoa from Dnah3-knockout mice displayed normal morphology in hematoxylin and eosin staining and transmission electron microscopy analyses. Sperm metabolomics revealed that DNAH3 deficiency disturbed sperm energy metabolism, resulting in substantial reductions of L-palmitoylcarnitine and glycocholic acid. Notably, offspring were successfully obtained from Dnah3-knockout male mice through intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Collectively, these findings indicate that DNAH3 deficiency induces disturbances in energy metabolism, rather than abnormalities in sperm flagellar morphology, culminating in asthenozoospermia development. Our investigation provides valuable insights into understanding asthenozoospermia and offers guidance for clinical consultation.
Polygenic risk scores for atrial fibrillation and heart failure and the risk of stroke and dementia
Authors: Rydén Lina , Seidu Nazib M , Wetterberg Hanna , Najar Jenna , Waern Margda , Kern Silke , Blennow Kaj , Zetterberg Henrik , Skoog Ingmar , Zettergren Anna
Published: January 2025

Atrial fibrillation and heart failure have both been suggested to increase stroke and dementia risk. However, in observational studies, reversed causation and unmeasured confounding may occur. To mitigate these issues, this study aims to investigate if higher genetic risk for atrial fibrillation and heart failure increases dementia and stroke risk. Data were obtained from the population-based Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort Studies in Sweden. Participants (N = 984) were born in 1930 with baseline examinations at age 70, 75, 79 or 85 and follow-ups until age 88–89. Polygenic risk scores at the 5 × 10−8, 1 × 10−5, 1 × 10−3 and 1 × 10−1 thresholds were generated for atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Stroke was diagnosed based on self-reports, close-informant interviews, and the National Patient Register. Dementia was diagnosed based on neuropsychiatric examinations, close-informant interviews, and the National Patient Register. Cox regression analyses were performed, adjusted for sex, age at baseline and the first five principal components to correct for population stratification. Those within the highest atrial fibrillation-polygenic risk score tertile had a 1.5 (95% CI 1.09–2.03) increased risk of dementia (at the 1 × 10−5 threshold) and a 1.5 (95% CI 1.07–2.03) increased risk of stroke (at the 1 × 10−3 threshold) compared to the lowest tertile. Those within the highest heart failure-polygenic risk score tertile had a 1.6 (95% CI 1.19–2.27) increased risk of dementia (at the 5 × 10−8 threshold), but no increased risk of stroke (HR 1.2; 95% CI 0.83–1.60 at the 1 × 10−5 threshold), compared to the lowest tertile. When analysing the polygenic risk scores as a continuous variable, the associations were in the same direction, although weaker. This study, investigating genetic risk of atrial fibrillation and heart failure in relation to stroke and dementia, supports the increasing body of evidence suggesting that atrial fibrillation is associated with both stroke and dementia risk. Whether heart failure increases dementia risk is less established, but the present study found that genetic risk of heart failure increased dementia risk. The finding that genetic risk for heart failure did not increase stroke risk needs to be interpreted with caution, as it may be due to a lack of statistical power. There are guidelines on how to best treat atrial fibrillation to prevent stroke, but more knowledge is needed on how to treat atrial fibrillation and heart failure to prevent dementia.
Analyzing Ocular Comorbidities among Patients with Psoriasis: A Case-Control Study Using All of Us Research Program
Authors: Kooner Amritpal , Sekhon Rawle A , Zeka Beniamin , Anthony Michelle
Published: January 2025

Propensity scores matched case control study on ocular comorbidities in patients with psoriasis in the All of Us Research Program NIH database. Psoriasis has an increased association with ocular pathology, including blepharitis, conjunctivitis, glaucoma, and uveitis in univariate and multivariate odds ratio analysis, controlled for age, sex, race, income, and education level.
To intubate or not? Balancing anesthesia in rodent fMRI: strategies to mitigate confounding effects
Authors: Just Nathalie , Hoehn Mathias
Published: January 2025

More than a decade ago, the introduction of intubation and mechanical ventilation for performing blood oxygen level–dependent functional MRI studies in the rodent brain allowed an improved control over the physiological conditions during scanning sessions. An accurate understanding of respiratory parameters permits to respect the 3Rs in animal research, improves significantly the fMRI outcome, and promises improved translational studies. Developments also prompted a better comprehension on anesthetics and their impact on rodent brain physiology and function, bringing new insights on the buildup of carbon dioxide, interhemispheric connectivity, or arousal, which understanding are paramount for maturing better fMRI protocols in awake rodents. Despite many arguments in favor of intubation and subsequent mechanical ventilation, there are also many valid against it. Most importantly, the choice to intubate depends on the anesthesia protocol, where in some cases intubation is essential and impractical in others. This review does not advocate for one approach over the other. Instead, by examining the literature from the past two decades, we aim to provide a comprehensive review of the pros and cons of intubation and mechanical ventilation in fMRI studies, offering arguments for an informed decision tailored to the respective research question.
Prior thermal acclimation gives White Sturgeon a fin up dealing with low oxygen
Authors: Dichiera Angelina M , Hannan Kelly D , Kwan Garfield T , Fangue Nann A , Schulte Patricia M , Brauner Colin J
Published: January 2025

Assessing how at-risk species respond to co-occurring stressors is critical for predicting climate change vulnerability. In this study, we characterized how young-of-the-year White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) cope with warming and low oxygen (hypoxia) and investigated whether prior exposure to one stressor may improve the tolerance to a subsequent stressor through “cross-tolerance”. Fish were acclimated to five temperatures within their natural range (14-22°C) for one month prior to assessment of thermal tolerance (critical thermal maxima, CTmax) and hypoxia tolerance (incipient lethal oxygen saturation, ILOS; tested at 20°C). White Sturgeon showed a high capacity for thermal acclimation, linearly increasing thermal tolerance with increasing acclimation temperature (slope = 0.55, adjusted R2 = 0.79), and an overall acclimation response ratio (ARR) of 0.58, from 14°C (CTmax = 29.4 ± 0.2°C, mean ± S.E.M.) to 22°C (CTmax = 34.1 ± 0.2°C). Acute warming most negatively impacted hypoxia tolerance in 14°C-acclimated fish (ILOS = 15.79 ± 0.74% air saturation), but prior acclimation to 20°C conferred the greatest hypoxia tolerance at this temperature (ILOS = 2.60 ± 1.74% air saturation). Interestingly, individuals that had been previously tested for thermal tolerance had lower hypoxia tolerance than naïve fish that had no prior testing. This was particularly apparent for hypoxia-tolerant 20°C-acclimated fish, whereas naïve fish persisted the entire 15-h duration of the hypoxia trial and did not lose equilibrium at air saturation levels below 20%. Warm-acclimated fish demonstrated significantly smaller relative ventricular mass, indicating potential changes to tissue oxygen delivery, but no other changes to red blood cell characteristics and somatic indices. These data suggest young-of-the-year White Sturgeon are resilient to warming and hypoxia, but the order in which these stressors are experienced and whether exposures are acute or chronic may have important effects on phenotype.
Adherence to perindopril/amlodipine/atorvastatin combination according to the administration strategy
Authors: Morabito Gabriella , Rea Federico , Corrao Giovanni , Mancia Giuseppe
Published: January 2025

Aims

To compare adherence to perindopril/amlodipine/atorvastatin combination administrated as a polypill (one pill) vs. separate tablets.

Methods and results

Using the healthcare utilization database of Lombardy (Italy), 1110 patients who received the perindopril/amlodipine/atorvastatin polypill during 2019–2021 were matched with 1110 patients prescribed the same combination in separate tablets or as two antihypertensive drugs in a single tablet and the lipid-lowering drug tablet separately. Adherence to treatment was assessed over the year after the first perindopril/amlodipine/atorvastatin dispensation as the proportion of the follow-up days covered by prescription (PDC). Patients with a PDC >75% and <25% were defined as highly and poorly adherent, respectively. Adherence dynamics over time were evaluated through group-based trajectory modelling. Cardiovascular-related healthcare costs were also assessed. Log-binomial regression models were fitted to estimate the risk ratio (RR) of treatment adherence associated with the administration strategy. Among the polypill and the separate-pill combination users, 60% and 18% of patients showed high adherence, respectively; the corresponding figures for the low adherence were 5% and 37%. Compared with the separate-pill combination, the polypill increased the propensity to be highly adherent to treatment by 3.29 times (95% confidence interval: 2.88–3.75) and reduced the low adherence risk (RR = 0.13, 0.10–0.18), irrespective of sex, age, comorbidities, and co-treatment burden also throughout the entire follow-up. The polypill was also associated with lower costs (€676 vs. €1068, P = 0.003).

Conclusion

In a real-life setting, the polypill improved treatment adherence and reduced healthcare costs compared to the corresponding separate-pill combination. These findings support current guidelines in favour of the polypill.
Integrating machine learning and nano-QSAR models to predict the oxidative stress potential caused by single and mixed carbon nanomaterials in algal cells
Authors: Qi Qi , Wang Zhuang
Published: January 2025

In silico methods are increasingly important in predicting the ecotoxicity of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), encompassing both individual and mixture toxicity predictions. It is widely recognized that ENMs trigger oxidative stress effects by generating intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), serving as a key mechanism in their cytotoxicity studies. However, existing in silico methods still face significant challenges in predicting the oxidative stress effects induced by ENMs. Herein, we utilized laboratory-derived toxicity data and machine learning methods to develop quantitative nanostructure-activity relationship (nano-QSAR) classification and regression models, aiming to predict the oxidative stress effects of five carbon nanomaterials (fullerene, graphene, graphene oxide, single-walled carbon nanotubes, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes) and their binary mixtures on Scenedesmus obliquus cells. We constructed five nano-QSAR classification models by combining zeta potential (ζP) with the C4.5 decision tree, support vector machine, artificial neural network, naive Bayes, and K-nearest neighbor algorithms. Moreover, we constructed three classification models by integrating the features including ζP, hydrodynamic diameter (DH), and specific surface area (SSA) with the logistic regression, random forest, and Adaboost algorithms. The Accuracy, Recall, Precision and harmonic mean of Precision and Recall (F1-score) values of these models were all higher than 0.600, indicating an excellent performance in distinguishing whether CNMs have the potential to generate ROS. In addition, using the ζP, DH, and SSA descriptors, we combined decision tree regression, random forest regression, gradient boosting, and the Adaboost algorithm, and successfully constructed four nano-QSAR regression models with applicable application domains (all training and testing data points lie within 95% confidence intervals), goodness-of-fit (Rtrain2 ≥ 0.850), and robustness (cross-validation R2 ≥ 0.650) as well as predictive power (Rtest2 ≥ 0.610). The method developed would establish a fundamental basis for more precise evaluations of ecological risks posed by these materials from a mechanistic standpoint.
Distribution and functional analysis of two types of quorum sensing gene pairs, glaI1/glaR1 and glaI2/glaR2, in Burkholderia gladioli
Authors: Takita Kazumi , Someya Nobutaka , Morohoshi Tomohiro
Published: January 2025

Burkholderia gladioli produces a yellow-pigmented toxin called toxoflavin, and causes disease on a variety of plants. Previous studies have suggested that the pathogenicity of B. gladioli is regulated by an N-acyl-l-homoserine lactone (AHL)-mediated quorum sensing (QS) system. In this study, complete genome sequencing revealed that B. gladioli pv. gladioli MAFF 302385 possesses two types of AHL synthase and AHL receptor gene pairs: glaI1/glaR1 and glaI2/glaR2. Disruption of QS genes revealed that the glaI1/glaR1 QS system regulated swarming motility, biofilm formation, and colony formation via N-octanoyl-l-homoserine lactone. Although Escherichia coli harboring glaI2 produced N-(3-hydroxyoctanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone and N-(3-hydroxydecanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone, the expression of glaI2 was not confirmed in MAFF 302385 cells. We also found that toxoflavin production was regulated by the glaI1/glaR1 QS system in liquid medium, but not on agar medium. When pathogenicity tests were performed on gladiolus leaves, the wild-type and QS mutants showed a similar level of disease. Our results demonstrated that only the glaI1/glaR1-mediated QS system is active in MAFF 302385, but major virulence factors, especially toxoflavin, are not completely dependent on the QS system.
Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Activation Promotes Effector CD4+ T Cell Homeostasis and Restrains Salt-sensitive Hypertension
Authors: Molina Patrick A , Edell Claudia J , Dunaway Luke S , Kellum Cailin E , Muir Rachel Q , Jennings Melissa S , Colson Jackson C , De Miguel Carmen , Rhoads Megan K , Buzzelli Ashlyn A , Harrington Laurie E , Meza-Perez Selene , Randall Troy D , Botta Davide , Müller Dominik N , Pollock David M , Maynard Craig L , Pollock Jennifer S
Published: January 2025

Excess dietary salt and salt-sensitivity contribute to cardiovascular disease. Distinct T cell phenotypic responses to high salt and hypertension as well as influences from environmental cues are not well understood. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is activated by dietary ligands, promoting T cell and systemic homeostasis. We hypothesized that activating AhR supports CD4+ homeostatic functions, such as cytokine production and mobilization, in response to high salt intake while mitigating salt-sensitive hypertension. In the intestinal mucosa, we demonstrate that a high salt diet (HSD) is a key driving factor, independent of hypertension, in diminishing interleukin 17A (IL-17A) production by CD4+ T (Th17) cells without disrupting circulating cytokines associated with Th17 function. Previous studies suggest that hypertensive patients and individuals on a high salt diet are deficient in AhR ligands or agonistic metabolites. We found that activating AhR augments Th17 cells during experimental salt-sensitive hypertension. Further, we demonstrate that activating AhR in vitro contributes to sustaining Th17 cells in the setting of excess salt. Using photoconvertible Kikume GreenRed mice, we also revealed that HSD drives CD4+ T cell mobilization. Next, we found that excess salt augments T cell mobilization markers, validating HSD-driven T cell migration. Also, we found that activating AhR mitigates HSD-induced T cell migration markers. Using telemetry in a model of experimental salt-sensitivity, we found that activating AhR prevents the development of salt-sensitive hypertension. Collectively, stimulating AhR through dietary ligands facilitates immunologic and systemic functions amid excess salt intake and restrains the development of salt-sensitive hypertension.
Assessment of the environmental impacts of soybean production within fields in Madhya Pradesh: a life cycle analysis approach
Authors: Khangar Nihal Singh , Thangavel Mohanasundari
Published: January 2025

Soybean is a versatile crop that can be used as an oilseed or food crop. Increasing soybean production is beneficial to agricultural economies, but significant concerns have been raised about its environmental impacts. This study evaluates the environmental footprint of soybean production using life cycle assessment (LCA) within the “cradle-to-gate” system in Madhya Pradesh (central India) for the first time. The analysis demonstrated that untreated residue on the ground increases the global warming potential by 19.78 kg CO2 eq ha−1 and land use emissions by 3.61 m2a crop eq ha−1. Additionally, burning residue significantly increases global warming potential by 210.80 kg CO2 eq. ha−1. Furthermore, the potential for aquatic eutrophication ranges between 0.38 and 0.80 kg N eq. and between 0.16 and 0.21 kg P eq ha−1 for marine and freshwater systems, respectively. This assessment reinforces that global warming potential, fossil resource scarcity, acidification, and land use emissions are the primary environmental concerns linked to soybean cultivation. These issues predominantly arise from fuel combustion in agricultural machinery and the application of soil nutrients throughout the production process. This investigation provides a basis for informed decision-making and the development of sustainable practices to balance the agricultural significance of soybean with environmental considerations.
Research on pavement maintenance planning using reinforcement learning
Authors: Li Hui , Wang Shuo , Pan Jie , Shan Fei , Jiang Yuzhe , Zhang Haopeng , Dai Zhenhua , Shi Qingjiang
Published: January 2025

A mature theoretical model is an integral component of pavement management systems. Typically, such models encompass pavement performance prediction, cost–benefit analysis of maintenance measures, and decision-making frameworks for maintenance strategies. This paper primarily investigates the economic analysis and decision planning aspects of pavement maintenance measures. Initially, considering greenhouse gas emissions, a comprehensive cost evaluation is conducted for three typical maintenance measures (microsurfacing, slurry sealing, and milling with overlay), encompassing carbon emission costs, delay costs, and construction costs, to establish comprehensive cost indicators for subsequent decision optimization models. Subsequently, an optimization algorithm with Clip pruning is introduced for near-end strategy optimization, along with the development of suitable evaluation functions for maintenance measure effectiveness, thereby establishing a reinforcement learning-based optimization model for pavement maintenance decisions. Regarding the model results, the costs of microsurfacing, 4 cm AC slurry seal, 4 cm SMA slurry seal, and 4 cm milling with overlay are 10 ¥(m2), 50 ¥(m2), 66 ¥(m2), and 60 ¥(m2), respectively. Furthermore, by comparing the reinforcement learning decision model developed in this study with the Q-learning algorithm, the model demonstrates a 60% improvement in convergence speed and a 20% increase in average reward.
Educate, Advocate, Act Now: a sustainable approach to combating antimicrobial resistance TODAY
Authors: Ohemu Godwin Pius , Read Carrie , Onwukwe Chimaobi David , Olorunleke Solomon Olabiyi , Mugo Noel Kambi , Charles Richard , Afegbua Seniyat Larai
Published: January 2025

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a great challenge to health systems all over the world. It is exacerbated by the abuse, misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals, plants and the environment. This viewpoint emphasizes the critical need to address the challenges of AMR through an integrated, long-term approach that focuses on education, advocacy and collective action. This article stresses that the fight against AMR is not a battle for governments and scientists alone but requires engagement at every level. The article concludes that we can reduce the spread of AMR by exploring the potential of education, advocacy and collective action.
Impact of osteosarcopenia on short- and long-term outcomes in patients with gastric cancer
Authors: Kai Wataru , Takano Yasuhiro , Kobayashi Yasunobu , Kanno Hironori , Hanyu Nobuyoshi , Eto Ken
Published: January 2025

Backgrounds

Osteopenia and sarcopenia are associated with adverse clinical outcomes. This study investigated the impact of osteosarcopenia on short- and long-term outcomes after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Methods

The present study included patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Osteopenia was evaluated by bone mineral density measurement in the midvertebral core of the 11th thoracic vertebra on preoperative computed tomography images. Sarcopenia was evaluated by measuring the skeletal muscle cross-sectional area at the third lumbar vertebra level. Osteosarcopenia was defined as the coexistence of osteopenia and sarcopenia. We investigated the relationship of preoperative osteosarcopenia with short- and long-term outcomes after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Results

Of all 122 patients, 38 (31%) patients were diagnosed with osteosarcopenia. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that osteosarcopenia (P = .008) was an independent risk factor for postoperative complications. Furthermore, multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that male sex (P = .007), and osteosarcopenia (P = .038) were independent predictors of disease-free survival, while osteosarcopenia (P = .045) and pathological T stage ≥3 (P = .033) were independent predictors of overall survival.

Conclusions

Osteosarcopenia was a strong predictor of short- and long-term outcomes after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Preoperative screening of osteosarcopenia may be helpful for better management of patients with gastric cancer.
Metastatic multicentric epithelioid angiosarcoma of bone. A case report with pitfalls. Tumor seeding after percutaneous biopsy and hypercalcemia
Authors: Fuentes-Sánchez Jorge , Pena-Burgos Eva Manuela , Tapia-Viñe Mar , Pozo-Kreilinger Jose Juan , Ortiz-Cruz Eduardo Jose
Published: January 2025

Angiosarcomas are a type of malignant tumor of vascular origin. They represent <1% of all primary bone tumors. The multicentric or metastatic does not differ in its high aggressiveness and poor prognosis. A 72-year-old male with bone angiosarcoma initially located in proximal femur. After biopsy in a non-expert sarcoma center, he presented tumor involvement in the needle trajectory and multicentric/metastatic involvement at the sacro-coccygeal level. He associated tumoral-hypercalcemia and was referred to our sarcoma center. He was treated by tumoral resection and tumor prosthesis. In the follow-up he presented pulmonary metastasis and new implants, dying 2 months later. Multicentric or metastatic bone involvement in angiosarcomas has only theoretical relevance for their management. Biopsy should be performed in sarcoma centers due to the risk of dissemination. Although hypercalcemia in sarcomas is uncommon, we highlight its investigation.
The XMM Cluster Survey: automating the estimation of hydrostatic mass for large samples of galaxy clusters – I. Methodology, validation, and application to the SDSSRM-XCS sample
Authors: Turner D J , Giles P A , Romer A K , Pilling J , Lingard T K , Wilkinson R , Hilton M , Upsdell E W , Al-Serkal R , Cheng T , Eappen R , Rooney P J , Bhargava S , Collins C A , Mayers J , Miller C , Nichol R C , Sahlén M , Viana P T P
Published: January 2025

We describe features of the X-ray: Generate and Analyse (xga) open-source software package that have been developed to facilitate automated hydrostatic mass ($M_{\rm hydro}$) measurements from XMM X-ray observations of clusters of galaxies. This includes describing how xga measures global, and radial, X-ray properties of galaxy clusters. We then demonstrate the reliability of xga by comparing simple X-ray properties, namely the X-ray temperature and gas mass, with published values presented by the XMM Cluster Survey (XCS), the Ultimate XMM eXtragaLactic survey project (XXL), and the Local Cluster Substructure Survey (LoCuSS). xga measured values for temperature are, on average, within 1 per cent of the values reported in the literature for each sample. xga gas masses for XXL clusters are shown to be ${\sim }$10 per cent lower than previous measurements (though the difference is only significant at the $\sim 1.8\sigma$ level), LoCuSS $R_{2500}$ and $R_{500}$ gas mass re-measurements are 3 per cent and 7 per cent lower, respectively (representing 1.5$\sigma$ and 3.5$\sigma$ differences). Like-for-like comparisons of hydrostatic mass are made to LoCuSS results, which show that our measurements are $10{\pm }3~{{\rm per\ cent}}$ ($19{\pm }7~{{\rm per\ cent}}$) higher for $R_{2500}$ ($R_{500}$). The comparison between $R_{500}$ masses shows significant scatter. Finally, we present new $M_{\rm hydro}$ measurements for 104 clusters from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) DR8 redMaPPer XCS sample (SDSSRM-XCS). Our SDSSRM-XCS hydrostatic mass measurements are in good agreement with multiple literature estimates, and represent one of the largest samples of consistently measured hydrostatic masses. We have demonstrated that xga is a powerful tool for X-ray analysis of clusters; it will render complex-to-measure X-ray properties accessible to non-specialists.
The JCMT Gould Belt Survey: first results from the Corona Australis molecular cloud and evidence of variable dust emissivity indices in the Coronet region
Authors: Pattle K , Bresnahan D , Ward-Thompson D , Kirk H , Kirk J M , Berry D S , Broekhoven-Fiene H , Hatchell J , Jenness T , Johnstone D , Mottram J C , Duarte-Cabral A , Francesco J Di , Hogerheijde M R , Bastien P , Butner H M , Chen M , Chrysostomou A , Coudé S , Currie M J , Davis C J , Drabek-Maunder E , Fich M , Fiege J , Friberg P , Friesen R , Fuller G A , Graves S , Greaves J , Holland W , Joncas G , Knee L B G , Mairs S , Marsh K , Matthews B C , Moriarty-Schieven G , Mowat C , Rawlings J , Retter B , Richer J , Robertson D , Rosolowsky E , Sadavoy S , Thomas H , Tothill N , Viti S , White G J , Wouterloot J , Yates J , Zhu M
Published: January 2025

We present 450  and 850 $\mu$m James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) observations of the Corona Australis (CrA) molecular cloud taken as part of the JCMT Gould Belt Legacy Survey (GBLS). We present a catalogue of 39 starless and protostellar sources, for which we determine source temperatures and masses using SCUBA-2 450 $\mu$m/850 $\mu$m flux density ratios for sources with reliable 450 $\mu$m detections, and compare these to values determined using temperatures measured by the Herschel Gould Belt Survey (HGBS). In keeping with previous studies, we find that SCUBA-2 preferentially detects high-volume-density starless cores, which are most likely to be prestellar (gravitationally bound). We do not observe any anticorrelation between temperature and volume density in the starless cores in our sample. Finally, we combine our SCUBA-2 and Herschel data to perform SED fitting from 160–850 $\mu$m across the central Coronet region, thereby measuring dust temperature T, dust emissivity index $\beta$, and column density $N({\rm H}_2)$ across the Coronet. We find that $\beta$ varies across the Coronet, particularly measuring $\beta = 1.55 \pm 0.35$ in the colder starless SMM-6 clump to the north of the B star R CrA. This relatively low value of $\beta$ is suggestive of the presence of large dust grains in SMM-6, even when considering the effects of $T\!-\!\beta$ fitting degeneracy and $^{12}$CO contamination of SCUBA-2 850 $\mu$m data on the measured $\beta$ values.
Defining serine tRNA knockout as a strategy for effective repression of gene expression in organisms with a recoded genome
Authors: Voorhees Peter J , Chang Xinyou , Lai Samuel K
Published: January 2025

Whole genome codon compression—the reassignment of all instances of a specific codon to synonymous codons—can generate organisms capable of tolerating knockout of otherwise essential transfer RNAs (tRNAs). As a result, such knockout strains enable numerous unique applications, such as high-efficiency production of DNA encoding extremely toxic genes or non-canonical proteins. However, achieving stringent control over protein expression in these organisms remains challenging, particularly with proteins where incomplete repression results in deleterious phenotypes. One platform enjoying increasing popularity utilizes serine TCA codon compression, relying on the prevailing understanding that deletion of tRNASer(UGA) (serT) would render the serine codon compressed organism incapable of translating any genes containing TCA codons. Here, we report evidence that tRNASer(CGA) (serU) can, surprisingly, also decode TCA, thereby precluding complete control over expression of TCA-containing genes in organisms with serT deletion. We then demonstrate the conditions necessary, including the precise modifications to the GRO and codon usage within the transgene, to overcome this interaction and achieve exceptionally stringent control over protein expression. Our findings provide critical insights and corresponding methods for guiding future use of serine codon compression for absolute control over protein expression, as well as a general strategy for optimizing repression via compression of other codons.
Single-molecule analysis reveals that IPMK enhances the DNA-binding activity of the transcription factor SRF
Authors: Ahn Hyoungjoon , Yu Jeongmin , Ryu Kwangmin , Ryu Jaeseung , Kim Sera , Park Jae Yeong , Kim Ji Kwang , Jung Inhong , An Haejin , Hong Sehoon , Kim Eunha , Park Kihyun , Ahn Myunghwan , Min Sunwoo , Jung Inkyung , Lee Daeyoup , Lee Thomas , Byun Youngjoo , Song Ji-Joon , Kim Jaehoon , Cho Won-Ki , Lee Gwangrog , Kim Seyun
Published: January 2025

Serum response factor (SRF) is a master transcription factor that regulates immediate early genes and cytoskeletal remodeling genes. Despite its importance, the mechanisms through which SRF stably associates with its cognate promoter remain unknown. Our biochemical and protein-induced fluorescence enhancement analyses showed that the binding of SRF to serum response element was significantly increased by inositol polyphosphate multikinase (IPMK), an SRF cofactor. Moreover, real-time tracking of SRF loci in live cell nuclei demonstrated that the chromatin residence time of SRF was reduced by IPMK depletion in fibroblasts. Conversely, elevated IPMK levels extended the SRF–chromatin association. We identified that IPMK binds to the intrinsically disordered region of SRF, which is required for the IPMK-induced stable interaction of SRF with DNA. IPMK-mediated conformational changes in SRF were observed by single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer assays. Therefore, our findings demonstrate that IPMK is a critical factor for promoting high-affinity SRF–chromatin association and provide insights into the mechanisms of SRF-dependent transcription control via chaperone-like activity.
CRISPR/Cas13X-assisted programmable and multiplexed translation regulation for controlled biosynthesis
Authors: Xu Xianhao , Lv Xueqin , Liu Yanfeng , Li Jianghua , Du Guocheng , Chen Jian , Ledesma-Amaro Rodrigo , Liu Long
Published: January 2025

Developing efficient gene regulation tools is essential for optimizing microbial cell factories, but most existing tools only modulate gene expression at the transcriptional level. Regulation at the translational level provides a faster dynamic response, whereas developing a programmable, efficient and multiplexed translational regulation tool remains a challenge. Here, we have developed CRISPRi and CRISPRa systems based on hfCas13X that can regulate gene translation in Bacillus subtilis. First, we constructed a CRISPRi system to regulate gene translation based on catalytically deactivated hfCas13X (dhfCas13X). Second, we designed unique mRNA–crRNA pairs to construct DiCRISPRa (degradation-inhibited CRISPRa) and TsCRISPRa (translation-started CRISPRa) systems, which can activate downstream gene translation by enhancing mRNA stability or initiating mRNA translation. In addition, we found that fusing dhfCas13X with the RNA-binding chaperone BHfq significantly improved the activation efficiency of the DiCRISPRa and TsCRISPRa systems (43.2-fold). Finally, we demonstrated that the constructed CRISPR systems could be used to optimize the metabolic networks of two biotechnologically relevant compounds, riboflavin and 2′-fucosyllactose, increasing their titers by 3- and 1.2-fold, respectively. The CRISPRa and CRISPRi systems developed here provide new tools for the regulation of gene expression at the translation level and offer new ideas for the construction of CRISPRa systems.
The Effect of Gluon Condensate on the Entanglement Entropy in a Holographic Model
Authors: Chen Xun , Yu Bo , Chu Peng-Cheng , Li Xiao-Hua , Fujita Mitsutoshi
Published: January 2025

In this study, we examine the impact of the gluon condensate on holographic entanglement entropy within an Einstein-Dilaton model at both zero and finite temperatures. A critical length exists for the difference in entanglement entropy between connected and disconnected surfaces in this model, which is typically interpreted as an indicator of phase transition. As the gluon condensate increases, the critical length decreases, suggesting that confinement strengthens at zero temperature. Additionally, the entropic C-function abruptly drops to zero at the critical length, indicating the absence of entangled states. At finite temperatures, the results show that the effect of the gluon condensate on the critical length is qualitatively similar to that at zero temperature. We observe that the entropic C-function increases as a function of L at finite temperature, though it exhibits competitive behaviors when the gluon condensate is large.
New moderationism: medical discourses on alcohol and the decline of drunkenness in interwar Britain
Authors: Yokoe Ryosuke
Published: January 2025

This article explores the significant yet underappreciated role of medical experts in consolidating the promotion of moderate drinking as a viable solution to Britain’s alcohol problem during the interwar period. The country’s experience with alcohol regulation in the First World War showed that widespread drunkenness could be effectively managed through policies that restricted the availability of alcohol and encouraged moderation. This realization weakened the political standing of the temperance movement, as support for alcohol prohibition and abstinence waned, leading to the liberalization of social attitudes towards drinking. Such circumstances facilitated the emergence of New Moderationism, a renewed policy approach that regarded moderate drinking as relatively benign while cautioning against the dangers of heavy consumption. Medical professionals provided the conceptual foundation for New Moderationism by reassessing several assumptions on alcohol’s conflicting reputation as either a ‘poison’ or a ‘food’, its benefits to drinkers, and its potential to cause disease. These considerations led to the conclusion that alcohol policy should focus not on whether people should drink, but on how much. This study thus underscores the pivotal contribution of medical professionals in the evolution of the alcohol debate between the two world wars, revealing the transformative impact of expertise on policymaking and social change in modern Britain.