bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the elemental and particle load of patient exhaled breath condensate and comparison with pulmonary lavages
Authors: Marie-Desvergne Caroline , Dubosson Muriel , Leclerc Lara , Campo Catherine , Bitounis Dimitrios , Forest Valérie , Pourchez Jérémie , Cottier Michèle , Vergnon Jean-Michel , Tarantini Adeline , Chamel-Mossuz Véronique
Published: November 2022

In the field of biomonitoring, exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is described as a potentially useful matrix for assessing inhalation exposure biomarkers in a non-invasive way. However, it is still unclear to what extent EBC is representative of the deep lung. To address this knowledge gap, EBC, bronchial washes (BWs), and bronchoalveolar lavages (BALs) were collected from 82 patients suffering from interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). The particulate contents and elemental composition of EBC, BW, and BAL were then compared in the same patients. The size distribution of particles in EBC was assessed with dynamic light scattering while inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to quantify its elemental composition. In addition, transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry were used to further characterize samples of interest. EBC was found to be representative of both the sub-micron and nano-sized particle fractions of BAL and BW, with lower overall levels of elements in EBC than in BW and BAL. Silicon (Si) was the main component for all respiratory matrices with median levels of 2525 µg l−1, 5643 µg l−1 and 5169 µg l−1 in the nano/ion fractions of EBC, BAL and BW, respectively. Moreover, Si levels in EBC from patients in this study were elevated compared to the levels reported in the literature for healthy subjects. Interestingly, Si levels in the EBC of ILD patients were inversely related to those in BAL and BW. In conclusion, the particulate content of EBC is associated with the lung particle burden and potentially correlates with pathologies, rendering it a relevant biomonitoring technique for the occupational and clinical fields.
The role of hydrogen from electrolysis in the overproduction of energy fromrenewable sources
Authors: Pozio A , Galli S
Published: November 2022

The annual production from renewable electricity sources in Italy has been considerably growing and in some areas, in particular Southern Italy, there is constantly an overproduction of electricity during the peak hours of insulation due to the photovoltaic systems. Such excess electric energy could be used to produce large amount of hydrogen by electrolysis, thus covering approximately 3.3% of the yearly national industrial hydrogen demand and avoiding emissions of approximately 85,000 tons of carbon dioxide.This work shows that few large alkaline electrolysis plants, located in strategic sites and supplied with this excess energy, can just now produce hydrogen for industrial use at competitive costs. Furthermore, the presence of electrolysis plants connected to the main electricity grid would represent a controllable element useful for its regulation and stability.
Mercapto-Benzamide Inhibitors effects on HIV NCp7 Protein: a parameter-free DFT based structural study
Authors: Cappellini G , Cardia R , Valentini M , Pieroni E
Published: November 2022

The action of the Mercapto-Benzamide (MB) class of molecules on the HIV Nucleocapsid protein (HIV NCp7), a zinc finger protein, is an issue of relatively recent research interest, relevant to develop a new class of effective and well tolerated HIV antivirals, able to overcome virus escape strategies. MB molecules are easily and cheaply synthesized, and show the ability to unfold the HIV Zinc-finger region, thus avoiding effective viral replication. This effect is not still fully understood, and moreover is highly influenced by the precise composition of MB aromatic ring and chain. Our approach to this biological problem is to adopt a quantum parameter-free (ab-initio: AI) geometrical scheme based on density functional theory (DFT) for the treatment of the electronic degrees of freedom to study with atomistic resolution the action mechanism of MB molecules on NCp7. In particular with respect to the role played by each MB functional group.We report and discuss the outcomes of the here proposed DFT simulations with respect to the different final configurational structures obtained.
Ab initio circular dichroism with the Yambo code: applications to dipeptides
Authors: Molteni Elena , Cappellini Giancarlo , Sangalli Davide
Published: November 2022

Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy is a useful technique for characterizing chiral molecules. It is more sensitive than total absorption to molecule conformation, and it is routinely used to identify enantiomers. We present here a first principles implementation of CD with application to three cyclo-dipeptides. Our CD approach for molecules has been integrated in the 5.0 release of the Yambo code, distributed under GPL.
Comparison of different correlative AFM-SEM workflows on calcite moonmilk
Authors: Dinarelli S , Mura F , Mancini C , La Penna G , Rinaldi T , Rossi M
Published: November 2022

In recent years, high resolution microscopy techniques are evolving toward a fast combination of different microscopies and spectroscopies, generally labelled under the title of correlative microscopy, each capable to provide unique information and a more comprehensive characterization of the sample under analysis. Among them stands out the Correlative Probe to Electron Microscopy (CPEM), where Scanning Electron Microscopy and Scanning Probe Microscopy are combined. This kind of technique is relatively new, and its range of capabilities is still not fully explored. In this paper, a demonstration of different CPEM workflows to characterize the moonmilk, a particular type of nanostructured calcium carbonate, extracted from ancient tombs of the Etruscan Necropolis of Tarquinia, is provided. Besides, the advantages of an innovative AFM-in-SEM setup, even respect to the standard standalone AFM measurement, are presented, showing how the analysis of the moonmilk nano-fibers, a rather challenging sample to be analysed with probe microscopies, is simplified and with less risk of artefacts or contamination of the AFM probe.
3D X-ray Microscopy (XRM) investigation of exogenous materials inside mussels’ organs
Authors: Cognigni F , Dinarelli S , Girasole M , Longo G , Fabi G , Rossi M
Published: November 2022

The diffusion of pollutants in the marine environment is nowadays a well-recognized issue that is attracting growing interest from the scientific and social communities. One of the possible strategies to study the effect of pollutants is to quantify their presence inside marine organisms that are directly exposed for a certain period to the polluted environment. Among them, mussels, commonly considered as “biological water filters”, stand out as ideal candidates since they are stationary animals and their food intake comes only from the filtering of the surrounding water. Thus, the evaluation of the accumulation of exogenous pollutants, in particular high-density or metallic, inside the mussel’s organs and specifically in its digestive glands, is of particular interest. In this paper we characterize the accumulation of exogenous materials in digestive glands of three different mussels by means of X-ray microscopy analysis. We provide evidence of how the unique capabilities of this technique allow reconstructing a full 3D image of an entire organ and how this image can provide valuable information to identify exogenous (non-biological) pollutants. Moreover, we take full advantage from the segmentation analysis of the images by discriminating different regions of the sample according to the density. With this experimental approach we measured the sizes of the exogenous pollutants and provided evidences that they accumulate preferentiality in the low-density regions of the organ, that are richer in ducts and secretive glands.
Determination of Stokes fluctuations and Stokes scintillations for an electromagnetic beam
Authors: Singh Hemant Kumar , Arya Gaytri , Kanseri Bhaskar
Published: November 2022

In this article, we report the experimental determination of Stokes fluctuations and Stokes scintillations for a generalized electromagnetic Gaussian–Schell model (EMGSM) beam. We have used an experimental scheme comprising three different interferometers which are aimed to tailor the correlation between orthogonal field components, synthesis of the generalized EMGSM beam, and observation of the spatial features of the light beam in the far zone. Stokes fluctuations matrix elements are measured for a partially polarized and unpolarized light beam. The weight value of the matrix elements is found to be dependent on the correlation strength parameter (

|

B

x
y

|

) of the source. Experimental results for Stokes scintillations are also determined which depend drastically on the modulus value of B

xy
. For asymmetrical coherence widths, variation in the Stokes scintillations is discerned across the beam diameter. The obtained results show a reasonable match with the theoretically expected values. The study reveals the source properties which can find applications in the areas of optical imaging, optical communication, etc.
A novel testing and theoretical approach for air-source heat-pump water heater with flash tank vapor-injection
Authors: Xianglong Liu , Guang Hu , Zhi Zeng , Ping Wang , Liping Zeng , Xiaohua Li
Published: November 2022

Air-source heat-pump (ASHP) water heater provides an important low-carbon solution for domestic water heating, which regains interest in the context of pursuing global carbon neutrality. In this study, a novel testing and theoretical approach is proposed for ASHP water heater with flash tank vapor-injection by retrofitting the testing methods of state points. Five flash tank vapor-injections with different temperature levels are tested and verified the testing method for ASHP water heater. On basis of the tested compressor suction temperature, exhaust temperature, electronic expansion valve pre-throttle temperature, electronic expansion valve throttling temperature and vapor-injection temperature, a thermodynamic analysis is conducted to determine the system performances. The relationship between the vapor-injection pressure ratio, system heating capacity and COP is identified by adjusting the expansion valve opening degree of the system. The results show that the COP of the system firstly decreases and subsequently increases with the increase in vapor-injection pressure ratio, and the minimum COP appears when the vapor-injection pressure ratio is 0.3. This study provides new insights into the advanced ASHP water heater.
Training neural networks using Metropolis Monte Carlo and an adaptive variant
Authors: Whitelam Stephen , Selin Viktor , Benlolo Ian , Casert Corneel , Tamblyn Isaac
Published: November 2022

We examine the zero-temperature Metropolis Monte Carlo (MC) algorithm as a tool for training a neural network by minimizing a loss function. We find that, as expected on theoretical grounds and shown empirically by other authors, Metropolis MC can train a neural net with an accuracy comparable to that of gradient descent (GD), if not necessarily as quickly. The Metropolis algorithm does not fail automatically when the number of parameters of a neural network is large. It can fail when a neural network’s structure or neuron activations are strongly heterogenous, and we introduce an adaptive Monte Carlo algorithm (aMC) to overcome these limitations. The intrinsic stochasticity and numerical stability of the MC method allow aMC to train deep neural networks and recurrent neural networks in which the gradient is too small or too large to allow training by GD. MC methods offer a complement to gradient-based methods for training neural networks, allowing access to a distinct set of network architectures and principles.
Improved uniform error bounds of the time-splitting methods for the long-time (nonlinear) Schrödinger equation
Authors: Bao Weizhu , Cai Yongyong , Feng Yue
Published: November 2022

We establish improved uniform error bounds for the time-splitting methods for the long-time dynamics of the Schrödinger equation with small potential and the nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) with weak nonlinearity. For the Schrödinger equation with small potential characterized by a dimensionless parameter

ε
∈
(
0
,
1
]

\varepsilon \in (0, 1]

, we employ the unitary flow property of the (second-order) time-splitting Fourier pseudospectral (TSFP) method in

L
2

L^2

-norm to prove a uniform error bound at time

t
ε

=
t

/

ε

t_\varepsilon =t/\varepsilon

as

C
(
t
)

C
~

(
T
)
(

h
m

+

τ
2

)

C(t)\widetilde {C}(T)(h^m +\tau ^2)

up to

t
ε

≤

T
ε

=
T

/

ε

t_\varepsilon \leq T_\varepsilon = T/\varepsilon

for any

T
>
0

T>0

and uniformly for

ε
∈
(
0
,
1
]

\varepsilon \in (0,1]

, while

h
h

is the mesh size,

τ
\tau

is the time step,

m
≥
2

m \ge 2

and

C
~

(
T
)

\tilde {C}(T)

(the local error bound) depend on the regularity of the exact solution, and

C
(
t
)
=

C
0

+

C
1

t

C(t) =C_0+C_1t

grows at most linearly with respect to

t
t

with

C
0

C_0

and

C
1

C_1

two positive constants independent of

T
T

,

ε
\varepsilon

,

h
h

and

τ
\tau

. Then by introducing a new technique of regularity compensation oscillation (RCO) in which the high frequency modes are controlled by regularity and the low frequency modes are analyzed by phase cancellation and energy method, an improved uniform (w.r.t

ε
\varepsilon

) error bound at

O
(

h

m
−
1

+
ε

τ
2

)

O(h^{m-1} + \varepsilon \tau ^2)

is established in

H
1

H^1

-norm for the long-time dynamics up to the time at

O
(
1

/

ε
)

O(1/\varepsilon )

of the Schrödinger equation with

O
(
ε
)

O(\varepsilon )

-potential with

m
≥
3

m \geq 3

. Moreover, the RCO technique is extended to prove an improved uniform error bound at

O
(

h

m
−
1

+

ε
2

τ
2

)

O(h^{m-1} + \varepsilon ^2\tau ^2)

in

H
1

H^1

-norm for the long-time dynamics up to the time at

O
(
1

/

ε
2

)

O(1/\varepsilon ^2)

of the cubic NLSE with

O
(

ε
2

)

O(\varepsilon ^2)

-nonlinearity strength. Extensions to the first-order and fourth-order time-splitting methods are discussed. Numerical results are reported to validate our error estimates and to demonstrate that they are sharp.
Decolonizing Renaissance Humanism
Authors: McManus Stuart Michael
Published: November 2022

This article traces the origins of the Eurocentric vision of Renaissance humanism and shows that in fact the revival of letters in thirteenth-century Italy had a much wider impact than traditionally thought. This “decolonized” vision of Renaissance humanism is centered on three trends: imperial humanism (humanist ideas of empire, both within and beyond the metropole), Indo-humanism (syncretic humanisms, especially in Asia and the Americas), and post-humanism (the movement’s long shadow into the eighteenth century). When placed in this new light, Renaissance humanism emerges as neither purely graciously cosmopolitan and proto-liberal, nor chauvinistically imperialist and statist, although it was very frequently embedded in imperial and evangelization projects. Rather, at a fundamental level it represented a toolbox of ideas and scholarly techniques that could be put to differing ends depending on the circumstances, while retaining certain common features that endured well into the age of “Enlightenment.” In making its argument about the past, present, and future of the scholarship on Renaissance humanism, this article also relies on a large corpus of little-known texts in various languages by a host of non- and extra-European humanists
The Limits of Brotherhood
Authors: Preston Andrew
Published: November 2022

Historians now recognize the political significance the Protestant ecumenical movement of the early twentieth century. American ecumenists contributed to the architecture of international organization and were among the first to promote a global discourse of human rights, and ecumenical plans for world order were designed for the peaceful spread of national self-determination and to combat racial prejudice. Ecumenical missionaries were at the forefront in reconceiving race relations, globally as well as in the United States. But the overriding ecumenical concern was the creep of secularism, which, despite their modernism and liberalism, ecumenists saw as the root of all evil. In 1945, when forced to choose between their vision of world peace as secured through international organization and their desire for racial equality, ecumenists sacrificed the latter so as to protect religious liberty and advance the Protestant interest. Ironically, despite their longstanding criticisms, ecumenists had to accept the dictates of national sovereignty for the sake of religious universalism. The contours of the liberal international system that resulted from this compromise remain to this day. In addition to primary-source research, this article is based on a synthesis of a tsunami of recent secondary literature on liberal Protestant internationalism.
The Mouth as a Site of Compound Injustices: A Structural Intersectionality Approach to the Oral Health of Working-Age US Adults
Authors: Bastos João L , Constante Helena M , Schuch Helena S , Haag Dandara G , Jamieson Lisa M
Published: November 2022

Knowledge of and practice around health inequities have been limited by scarce investigations on intersecting forms of structural oppression, including the extent to which their effects are more severe among multiply marginalized groups. We addressed these insufficiencies by adopting a structural intersectionality approach to the study of edentulism (i.e., complete tooth loss), the dental equivalent of mortality. While individual information was gathered from approximately 200,000 adult (ages 18–64 years) respondents to the 2010 US Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, state-level data for 2000 and 2010 were obtained from a 2021 study by Homan et al. (J Health Soc Behav. 2021;62(3):350–370) and the US Census. These 3 sources provided information on edentulism, race, sex, structural racism, structural sexism, and income inequality, in addition to multiple covariates. Analyses showed that the intersections between structural sexism and state-level income inequality and structural racism were associated with 1.4 (95% confidence interval: 1.1, 1.9) and 1.5 (95% confidence interval: 1.1, 2.2) times’ increased odds of complete tooth loss, respectively. The frequency of edentulism was highest among non-Hispanic Black men residing in states with high structural racism, high structural sexism, and high economic inequality. Based on these and other findings, we highlight the importance of a structural intersectionality approach to research and policy related to health inequities in the United States and elsewhere.
Ambulatory care pharmacy practice: Findings from the 2019 National Pharmacist Workforce Survey
Authors: K Bakken Brianne , Bozymski Kevin M , Foster Brooke , Blaeser Sean D , Mott David A , Doucette William R , Witry Matthew J , Arya Vibhuti , Gaither Caroline A , Kreling David H , Schommer Jon C
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to describe the demographics, training, clinical specialties, and practice activities of ambulatory care pharmacists using data from the 2019 National Pharmacist Workforce Study (NPWS).

The 2019 NPWS was conducted using a 3-contact electronic survey sent to a random sample of 94,803 pharmacists using the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Foundation e-Profile system. The 2019 NPWS had a response rate of 67.3% (5,705/8,466), based on the number of prospective respondents who clicked the survey link. A subset of pharmacists’ responses (n = 4,557) was used for this analysis, which included those who selected an employment status of “practicing as a pharmacist.” Of the 4,557 actively practicing pharmacists responding, 338 (8.0%) reported working in the ambulatory care setting. Ambulatory care pharmacists were predominately White (71.6%), women (67.5%), and/or between the ages of 31 and 40 years (36.9%). A total of 41.3% had completed PGY1 residency training, 14% had completed PGY2 residency training, and 29.3% had completed one or more board certifications. Their most common clinical specialty areas were anticoagulation (21.7%), endocrinology (19.7%), hematology/oncology (16.2%), and primary care (16.2%). A total of 49.6% reported using a collaborative practice agreement.

Conclusion

Ambulatory care pharmacists reported more training and certifications than the overall sample of pharmacists. These pharmacists practiced in a variety of clinical specialty areas and engaged in a range of in-person and telecommunication medication management activities. This study provides a baseline assessment of the ambulatory care pharmacist workforce that can be used to assess changes over time.
Homozygous COQ7 mutation: a new cause of potentially treatable distal hereditary motor neuropathy
Authors: Jacquier Arnaud , Theuriet Julian , Fontaine Fanny , Mosbach Valentine , Lacoste Nicolas , Ribault Shams , Risson Valérie , Carras Julien , Coudert Laurent , Simonet Thomas , Latour Philippe , Stojkovic Tanya , Piard Juliette , Cosson Anne , Lesca Gaëtan , Bouhour Françoise , Allouche Stéphane , Puccio Hélène , Pegat Antoine , Schaeffer Laurent
Published: November 2022

Distal hereditary motor neuropathy represents a group of motor inherited neuropathies leading to distal weakness. We report a family of two brothers and a sister affected by distal hereditary motor neuropathy in whom a homozygous variant c.3G>T (p.1Met?) was identified in the COQ7 gene. This gene encodes a protein required for coenzyme Q10 biosynthesis, a component of the respiratory chain in mitochondria. Mutations of COQ7 were previously associated with severe multi-organ disorders characterized by early childhood onset and developmental delay.

Using patient blood samples and fibroblasts derived from a skin biopsy, we investigated the pathogenicity of the variant of unknown significance c.3G>T (p.1Met?) in the COQ7 gene and the effect of coenzyme Q10 supplementation in vitro.

We showed that this variation leads to a severe decrease in COQ7 protein levels in the patient’s fibroblasts, resulting in a decrease in coenzyme Q10 production and in the accumulation of 6-demethoxycoenzyme Q10, the COQ7 substrate. Interestingly, such accumulation was also found in the patient’s plasma. Normal coenzyme Q10 and 6-demethoxycoenzyme Q10 levels were restored in vitro by using the coenzyme Q10 precursor 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, thus bypassing the COQ7 requirement. Coenzyme Q10 biosynthesis deficiency is known to impair the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Seahorse experiments showed that the patient’s cells mainly rely on glycolysis to maintain sufficient ATP production. Consistently, the replacement of glucose by galactose in the culture medium of these cells reduced their proliferation rate. Interestingly, normal proliferation was restored by coenzyme Q10 supplementation of the culture medium, suggesting a therapeutic avenue for these patients.

Altogether, we have identified the first example of recessive distal hereditary motor neuropathy caused by a homozygous variation in the COQ7 gene, which should thus be included in the gene panels used to diagnose peripheral inherited neuropathies. Furthermore, 6-demethoxycoenzyme Q10 accumulation in the blood can be used to confirm the pathogenic nature of the mutation. Finally, supplementation with coenzyme Q10 or derivatives should be considered to prevent the progression of COQ7-related peripheral inherited neuropathy in diagnosed patients.
Nurses as adverse drug reaction reporting advocates
Authors: Schjøtt Jan , Pettersen Trond R , Andreassen Lillan Mo , Bjånes Tormod K
Published: November 2022

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is a challenge in modern healthcare, particularly given the increasing complexity of drug therapy, an ageing population, rising multimorbidity, and a high patient turnover. The core activity of detecting potential ADRs over the last half century has been spontaneous reporting systems. A recent Norwegian regulation commits healthcare professionals other than physicians and dentists to report serious ADRs. In this discussion paper, we share our preliminary experience with a training programme using nurses as ADR advocates to stimulate ADR reporting among the clinical staff in a hospital department.
Joint Analysis of Phenotypic and Genomic Diversity Sheds Light on the Evolution of Xenobiotic Metabolism in Humans
Authors: Mouterde Médéric , Daali Youssef , Rollason Victoria , Čížková Martina , Mulugeta Anwar , Al Balushi Khalid A , Fakis Giannoulis , Constantinidis Theodoros C , Al-Thihli Khalid , Černá Marie , Makonnen Eyasu , Boukouvala Sotiria , Al-Yahyaee Said , Yimer Getnet , Černý Viktor , Desmeules Jules , Poloni Estella S
Published: November 2022

Variation in genes involved in the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs (ADME) can influence individual response to a therapeutic treatment. The study of ADME genetic diversity in human populations has led to evolutionary hypotheses of adaptation to distinct chemical environments. Population differentiation in measured drug metabolism phenotypes is, however, scarcely documented, often indirectly estimated via genotype-predicted phenotypes. We administered seven probe compounds devised to target six cytochrome P450 enzymes and the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) activity to assess phenotypic variation in four populations along a latitudinal transect spanning over Africa, the Middle East, and Europe (349 healthy Ethiopian, Omani, Greek, and Czech volunteers). We demonstrate significant population differentiation for all phenotypes except the one measuring CYP2D6 activity. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) evidenced that the variability of phenotypes measuring CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP2D6 activity was associated with genetic variants linked to the corresponding encoding genes, and additional genes for the latter three. Instead, GWAS did not indicate any association between genetic diversity and the phenotypes measuring CYP1A2, CYP3A4, and P-gp activity. Genome scans of selection highlighted multiple candidate regions, a few of which included ADME genes, but none overlapped with the GWAS candidates. Our results suggest that different mechanisms have been shaping the evolution of these phenotypes, including phenotypic plasticity, and possibly some form of balancing selection. We discuss how these contrasting results highlight the diverse evolutionary trajectories of ADME genes and proteins, consistent with the wide spectrum of both endogenous and exogenous molecules that are their substrates.
Heterogeneous seismic anisotropy beneath Madeira and Canary archipelagos revealed by local and teleseismic shear wave splitting
Authors: Schlaphorst David , Silveira Graça , Mata João , Krüger Frank , Dahm Torsten , Ferreira Ana M G
Published: November 2022

Mid-plate upward mantle flow is a key component of global mantle convection, but its patterns are poorly constrained. Seismic anisotropy is the most direct way to infer mantle flow as well as melt distribution, yet the convection patterns associated with plume-like mantle upwelling are understudied due to limited seismic data coverage. Here, we investigate seismic anisotropy beneath the Madeira and Canary hotspots using a dense set of shear wave splitting observations and combining teleseismic and local events recorded by three-component broad-band and short-period seismic stations. Using a total of 26 stations in the Madeira archipelago and 43 stations around the Canary Islands, we obtain 655 high-quality measurements that reveal heterogeneous flow patterns. Although local event results are sparse around most islands, we can observe a small average of S-wave splitting times of 0.16 ± 0.01 s, which significantly increase with source depth beneath El Hierro (>20 km) and Tenerife (>38 km) up to 0.58 ± 0.01 and 0.47 ± 0.05 s. This suggests an influence of melt pocket orientation in magma reservoirs developed at uppermost-mantle depths. Likewise, anisotropy increases significantly beneath the islands with shield stage volcanism (up to 9.81 ± 1.78 per cent at El Hierro, western Canaries, against values up to 1.76 ± 0.73 per cent at Lanzarote, eastern Canaries). On average, teleseismic SKS-wave splitting delay times are large (2.19 ± 0.05 s), indicating sublithospheric mantle flow as the primary source for anisotropy in the region. In the Canaries, the western islands show significantly smaller average SKS delay times (1.93 ± 0.07 s) than the eastern ones (2.25 ± 0.11 s), which could be explained by destructive interference above the mantle upwelling. Despite complex patterns of fast polarization directions throughout both regions, some azimuthal pattern across close stations can be observed and related to present-day mantle flow and anisotropy frozen in the lithosphere since before 60 Ma. Additionally, we infer that the current presence of a mantle plume beneath the archipelagos leads to the associated complex, small-scale heterogeneous anisotropy observations.
Normal mode observability of radial anisotropy in the Earth’s mantle
Authors: Restelli F , Koelemeijer P , Ferreira A M G
Published: November 2022

Observations of seismic anisotropy provide useful information to infer directions of mantle flow. However, existing global anisotropic tomography models are not consistent, particularly in the lower mantle. Therefore, the interpretation of seismic anisotropy in terms of mantle dynamics and evolution remains difficult. While surface and body waves are commonly used to build radially anisotropic tomography models, they provide heterogeneous data coverage and the radial anisotropy structure retrieved using these data may be biased by the use of imperfect crustal corrections. Normal modes, the free oscillations of the Earth, automatically provide global data coverage and their sensitivity to shear wave (vs) and compressional wave (vp) velocity makes them suitable to study both vs and vp anisotropy in the mantle. In this study, we assess whether current normal mode splitting data have sufficient sensitivity to lower mantle anisotropy to potentially constrain it. We consider the uncertainties in the data and the effect of inaccuracies in crustal thickness corrections and the assumed scaling between vp and vs. We perform forward modelling of normal mode data using six different 3-D global radially anisotropic tomography models to document how strong and widespread anisotropy has to be to be observable in current normal mode data. We find that, on average 50% of the spheroidal and 55% of the toroidal modes investigated show significant sensitivity to vs anisotropy, while roughly 57% of the spheroidal modes also have strong sensitivity to vp anisotropy. Moreover, we find that the normal mode data fit varies substantially for the various anisotropic tomography models considered, with the addition of anisotropy not always improving the data fit. While we find that crustal thickness corrections do not strongly impact modes that are sensitive to the lower mantle, we observe a trade-off between radial anisotropy and vp scaling for these modes. As long as this is taken into consideration, our findings suggest that existing normal mode data sets can provide valuable information on both vs and vp anisotropy in the mantle.
Coagulation Alterations in Major Burn Patients: A Narrative Review
Authors: Guilabert Patricia , Martin Nuria , Usúa Gemma , Vendrell Marina , Colomina Maria J , Barret Juan P
Published: November 2022

Major burn patients (MBP) can present multifactorial coagulation alterations induced by trauma and endothelial damage, fluid replacement therapy, hypothermia, hypoperfusion, acidosis, and activation of the inflammatory cascade. However, the multiple coagulation alterations that occur are still poorly defined. The aim of this review is to combine the results of the different coagulation tests currently used to study coagulation changes in these patients. The PubMed database was searched for articles reporting factor levels or coagulation tests using the keywords “Burns” and “Blood Coagulation”. Of the 720 articles retrieved from the search, 20 were finally included in the review. Coagulopathy in the MBP differs from that of the trauma patient, insofar as the former present with an increase in factors VIII, IX, and vW on admission accompanied by an increase in fibrin and thrombin production. This is followed by activation of fibrinolysis and prolonged prothrombin (PT) and thromboplastin (aPTT) times in the first 24 hours, increased fibrinogen after 48 hours, and thrombocytosis between the second and third week. Viscoelastic testing shows a pattern that shifts from normal coagulation to a hypercoagulable state with no evidence of hyperfibrinolysis. Alterations in PT and aPTT together with elevated Factor VIII have been associated with mortality, while normalization of antithrombin, and protein C and S levels are associated with a good prognosis. Although standard coagulation tests initially show alterations, the MBP does not appear to be hypocoagulable, and viscoelastic testing shows a trend toward hypercoagulability over time. Coagulation disorders affect prognosis in the MBP.
Frictional contact analysis in a spherical roller bearing
Authors: Blanco-Lorenzo Julio , Liu Sheng , Santamaria Javier , Meehan Paul A , Vadillo Ernesto G
Published: November 2022

Numerical analyses of the roller–raceway contact have been carried out in a spherical roller bearing using frictional contact models of different complexity. The models used in the study include an implementation of Kalker’s exact contact theory named CECT (Conformal Exact Contact Theory) and detailed Finite Element models. The adequacy of the more simplified contact solutions is assessed by contrasting them with the solutions obtained with the more comprehensive models. Additionally, the use of the exact contact theory, well known in the wheel–rail application, is demonstrated in contact mechanics analyses in rolling bearings, describing relevant details of its implementation for this application. Situations with different normal loads and friction levels have been analysed, and two distinct steady equilibrium configurations of the roller have been identified.
Jasmonate-regulated seed germination and crosstalk with other phytohormones
Authors: Pan Jinjing , Wang Houping , You Qiugui , Cao Rui , Sun Guiling , Yu Diqiu
Published: November 2022

Seed plants have evolved mechanisms that maintain the dormancy of mature seeds until the time is appropriate for germination. Seed germination is a critical step in the plant life cycle, and it is an important trait in relation to agricultural production. The process is precisely regulated by various internal and external factors, and in particular by diverse endogenous hormones. Jasmonates (JAs) are one of the main plant hormones that mediate stress responses, and recent studies have provided evidence of their inhibitory effects on seed germination. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulatory roles of JAs during the seed germination stage. We describe the crosstalk between JA and other phytohormones that influence seed germination, such as abscisic acid and gibberellic acid.
Testing Association of Previously Implicated Gene Sets and Gene-Networks in Nicotine Exposed Mouse Models with Human Smoking Phenotypes
Authors: Mize Travis J , Funkhouser Scott A , Buck Jordan M , Stitzel Jerry A , Ehringer Marissa A , Evans Luke M
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Smoking behaviors are partly heritable, yet the genetic and environmental mechanisms underlying smoking phenotypes are not fully understood. Developmental nicotine exposure (DNE) is a significant risk factor for smoking and leads to gene expression changes in mouse models; however, it is unknown whether the same genes whose expression is impacted by DNE are also those underlying smoking genetic liability. We examined whether genes whose expression in D1-type striatal medium spiny neurons due to DNE in the mouse are also associated with human smoking behaviors.

Methods

Specifically, we assessed whether human orthologs of mouse-identified genes, either individually or as a set, were genetically associated with five human smoking traits using MAGMA and S-LDSC while implementing a novel expression-based gene-SNP annotation methodology.

Results

We found no strong evidence that these genes sets were more strongly associated with smoking behaviors than the rest of the genome, but ten of these individual genes were significantly associated with three of the five human smoking traits examined (p < 2.5e-6). Three of these genes have not been reported previously and were discovered only when implementing the expression-based annotation.

Conclusions

These results suggest the genes whose expression is impacted by DNE in mice are largely distinct from those contributing to smoking genetic liability in humans. However, examining a single mouse neuronal cell type may be too fine a resolution for comparison, suggesting that experimental manipulation of nicotine consumption, reward, or withdrawal in mice may better capture genes related to the complex genetics of human tobacco use.

Implications

Genes whose expression is impacted by DNE in mouse D1-type striatal medium spiny neurons were not found to be, as a whole, more strongly associated with human smoking behaviors than the rest of the genome, though ten individual mouse-identified genes were associated with human smoking traits. This suggests little overlap between the genetic mechanisms impacted by DNE and those influencing heritable liability to smoking phenotypes in humans. Further research is warranted to characterize how developmental nicotine exposure paradigms in mice can be translated to understand nicotine use in humans and their heritable effects on smoking.
Engineering the enzyme toolbox to tailor glycosylation in small molecule natural products and protein biologics
Authors: Ouadhi Sara , López Dulce María Valdez , Mohideen F Ifthiha , Kwan David H
Published: November 2022

Many glycosylated small molecule natural products and glycoprotein biologics are important in a broad range of therapeutic and industrial applications. The sugar moieties that decorate these compounds often show a profound impact on their biological functions, thus biocatalytic methods for controlling their glycosylation are valuable. Enzymes from nature are useful tools to tailor bioproduct glycosylation but these sometimes have limitations in their catalytic efficiency, substrate specificity, regiospecificity, stereospecificity, or stability. Enzyme engineering strategies such as directed evolution or semi-rational and rational design have addressed some of the challenges presented by these limitations. In this review, we highlight some of the recent research on engineering enzymes to tailor the glycosylation of small molecule natural products (including alkaloids, terpenoids, polyketides, and peptides), as well as the glycosylation of protein biologics (including hormones, enzyme-replacement therapies, enzyme inhibitors, vaccines, and antibodies).
The use of integrative taxonomy in Octocorallia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa): a literature survey
Authors: Kessel Gustav M , Alderslade Philip , Bilewitch Jaret P , Schnabel Kareen E , Gardner Jonathan P A
Published: November 2022

Octocorals are problematic in their systematics, and the extent of their biodiversity is poorly understood. Integrative taxonomy (the use of two or more lines of evidence for the delimitation and description of taxa) is seen as a promising way to produce more robust species hypotheses and achieve taxonomic progress in this group. However, many octocoral descriptions continue to rely on morphological evidence alone, and the prevalence of integrative methods is unclear. Here, a literature survey was conducted to gain an overview of historical description rates and to examine trends in the publication of integrative descriptions between the years 2000 and 2020. We find that recent description rates are among the highest in the history of octocoral taxonomy, and although increasing, integrative taxon descriptions remain in the minority overall. We also find that integrative taxonomy has been applied unevenly across octocoral groups and geographical regions. Description rates show no signs of slowing, and no ceiling of total species richness has yet come into view. Coupled with a continued overreliance on morphological variation, particularly at the species level, this suggests that we might be adding to the workload of taxa requiring future revision faster than such instances can be resolved.
Automatic Detection of Twitter Users Who Express Chronic Stress Experiences via Supervised Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing
Authors: Yang Yuan-Chi , Xie Angel , Kim Sangmi , Hair Jessica , Al-Garadi Mohammed , Sarker Abeed
Published: November 2022

Americans bear a high chronic stress burden, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although social media have many strengths to complement the weaknesses of conventional stress measures, including surveys, they have been rarely utilized to detect individuals self-reporting chronic stress. Thus, this study aimed to develop and evaluate an automatic system on Twitter to identify users who have self-reported chronic stress experiences. Using the Twitter public streaming application programming interface, we collected tweets containing certain stress-related keywords (eg, “chronic,” “constant,” “stress”) and then filtered the data using pre-defined text patterns. We manually annotated tweets with (without) self-report of chronic stress as positive (negative). We trained multiple classifiers and tested them via accuracy andF1score. We annotated 4195 tweets (1560 positives, 2635 negatives), achieving an inter-annotator agreement of 0.83 (Cohen's kappa). The classifier based on Bidirectional Encoder Representation from Transformers performed the best (accuracy of 83.6% [81.0-86.1]), outperforming the second best-performing classifier (support vector machines: 76.4% [73.5-79.3]). The past tweets from the authors of positive tweets contained useful information, including sources and health impacts of chronic stress. Our study demonstrates that users' self-reported chronic stress experiences can be automatically identified on Twitter, which has a high potential for surveillance and large-scale intervention.
Management and outcome of pancreatic trauma: a 6-year experience at a level I trauma center
Authors: Anand Abhinav , Dar Parvez Mohi Ud Din , Rani Preksha , Kaur Supreet , James Joses Dany , Alam Junaid , Priyadarshini Pratyusha , Kumar Abhinav , Bagaria Dinesh , Choudhary Narendra , Kumar Subodh , Gupta Amit , Sagar Sushma , Mishra Biplab
Published: November 2022

Background

Pancreatic trauma (PT) accounts for less than 1% of all trauma admissions. Occasionally, PT is undetected during the primary survey and becomes apparent only when complications arise. It occurs in up to 5% of blunt abdominal trauma cases and 12% of individuals with penetrating abdominal injuries. Management is determined by the status of the main pancreatic duct and associated injuries.

Methods

This was an ambispective study conducted at the Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, from January 2015 to December 2017 (retrospective), and January 2019 to December 2020 (prospective). In total, 113 patients with PT were included in this study.

Results

We analyzed the data of 113 patients with PT included in this study, of which males predominated (93.7%). Blunt PT was present in 101 patients (89.4%) and penetrating PT in 12 patients (10.6%). Half of the patients (51.3%) had the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grade III PT, followed by grade II (18.6%), and grade I (15%). Of the total 113 patients, 68 (60.2%) were treated with operative management, and 45 (39.8%) with nonoperative management. Distal pancreatectomy, with or without splenectomy, was the most common procedure performed in our study, followed by drainage. There were 27 mortalities (23.8%) during the study period, of which 7 were directly related to PT and 20 were due to other organ-related sepsis and hemorrhagic shock.

Conclusion

Pancreatic trauma is rare but challenging for trauma surgeons, with persistent management controversies. Early diagnosis is important for favorable results; however, a delay in diagnosis has been associated with higher morbidity and mortality. Low-grade pancreatic injuries can be successfully managed nonoperatively, whereas high-grade pancreatic injuries require surgical intervention.
Recent developments in the diagnosis and management of N1 penile cancer
Authors: O’Brien Jonathan S. , McVey Aoife , Kelly Brian D. , Chee Justin , Lawrentschuk Nathan
Published: November 2022

Purpose of review

This article presents a critical review of the current literature to provide a brief update on the contemporary advances in diagnosing and managing N1 penile cancer.

Recent findings

Penile squamous cell carcinoma (pSCC) has evolved from being an orphan field for cancer innovation. Advances in the understanding tumour biology have enabled sophisticated diagnostics and predictive modelling to better characterize inguinal disease. Minimally invasive inguinal lymph node dissection is emerging as a technique that reduces morbidity while maintaining oncological safety. Furthermore, robust clinical trials are underway ,which will provide level one evidence to guide treatment decisions. Exciting advances in the field of immune-oncology offer promise as adjuvant therapies. International collaboration and centralisation of care will be essential to driving translational research and equitable evidence-based care.

Improving outcomes for men with pSCC remains a global challenge. Radical inguinal lymph node dissection remains the gold standard for diagnosing and curing N1 disease. Although many promising developments are on the horizon, high-level evidence is required to guide therapy.