bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research progress of oxazole derivatives in the discovery of agricultural chemicals
Authors: Wang Sheng , Song Hongyi , Cai Qingfeng , Chen Jixiang
Published: November 2023

The search for new scaffolds is one of the important goals in the discovery of new pesticides, and the oxazoles as an important five‐membered heterocyclic compound are widely used in the discovery of new pesticides. Oxazoles ring are often used as the scaffolding structure or bridging chain to connect different reactive groups. In recent years, oxazoles have made rapid progress in the discovery of new pesticides, especially in the discovery of fungicides, insecticides, and acaricides. A systematic review of the recent research progress of oxazoles in the discovery of new pesticides is of interest. Therefore, we comprehensively reviewed the application of oxazole compounds in the discovery of new pesticides from 2003 to 2023; summarized the fungicidal, antibacterial, insecticidal, acaricidal, and herbicidal activities of oxazoles; and discussed the structure–activity relationship, physiochemical and mechanism of action, with the aim of providing inspiration and ideas for the discovery of oxazoles as novel agrochemicals.
Superoxide dismutase 2 scavenges ROS to promote osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells by regulating Smad3 in alveolar bone‐defective rats
Authors: Qiu Wei , Sun Qian , Li Na , Chen Zehao , Wu Hongle , Chen Zhao , Guo Xiaolan , Fang Fuchun
Published: November 2023

Background

Osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) is an essential event in alveolar bone regeneration. Oxidative stress may be the main inhibiting factor of hPDLSC osteogenesis. Superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) is a key antioxidant enzyme, but its effect on hPDLSC osteogenic differentiation is unclear.

Methods

Several surface markers were detected by flow cytometry, and the differentiation potential of hPDLSCs was validated by alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Alizarin Red S, and Oil Red O staining. Osteogenic indicators of hPDLSCs were detected by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR), Western blotting, and ALP staining. Furthermore, alveolar bone defect rat models were analyzed through micro‐CT, hematoxylin and eosin, and Masson staining. The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was evaluated by a ROS assay kit. Finally, the expression of SOD2, Smad3, and p‐Smad3 in hPDLSCs was detected by RT‐qPCR and Western blotting (WB).

Results

SOD2 positively regulated the gene and protein expressions of ALP, BMP6, and RUNX2 in hPDLSCs (p < 0.05). Ideal bone formation and continuous cortical bone were obtained by transplanting LV‐SOD2 hPDLSCs (lentivirus vector for overexpressing SOD2 in hPDLSCs) in vivo. Exogenous H2O2 downregulated osteogenic indicators (ALP, BMP6, RUNX2) in hPDLSCs (p < 0.05); this was reversed by overexpression of SOD2. WB results showed that the Smad3 and p‐Smad3 signaling pathways participated in the osteogenic process of SOD2 in hPDLSCs.

Conclusion

SOD2 positively regulated hPDLSC osteogenic differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, SOD2 promotes hPDLSC osteogenic differentiation by regulating the phosphorylation of Smad3 to scavenge ROS. This work provides a theoretical basis for the treatment of alveolar bone regeneration.
l‐Theanine delays d‐galactose‐induced senescence by regulating the cell cycle and inhibiting apoptosis in rat intestinal cells
Authors: Xu Wei , Xiang Xi , Lin Ling , Gong Zhi‐Hua , Xiao Wen‐Jun
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND

Intestinal senescence is associated with several aging‐related diseases. l‐Theanine (LTA) has demonstrated strong potential as an antioxidant and antisenescence agent. This study investigated the regulatory effect of LTA on cellular senescence using an in vitro model of d‐galactose (D‐Gal)‐induced senescence in the rat epithelial cell line, intestinal epithelioid cell‐6 (IEC‐6).

RESULTS

Treatment of IEC‐6 cells with 40 mg/mL D‐Gal for 48 h resulted in the successful development of the senescent cell model. Compared with D‐Gal alone, both LTA preventive and delayed intervention increased cell viability and the ratio of JC‐1 monomers to aggregates, increased the antioxidant capacity, and decreased the advanced glycation end product (AGE) levels and the overall number of senescent cells. Preventive and delayed intervention with 1000 μM LTA alleviated the D‐Gal‐induced cell cycle arrest by regulating p38, p53, CDK4, and CDK6 expression at the mRNA and protein levels, and further induced CycD1 proteins. Moreover, LTA preventive intervention reduced apoptosis to a greater degree than delayed intervention by upregulating the expression of the receptors of AGEs, Bax, Bcl‐2, and NF‐κB at the mRNA and protein levels.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that LTA intervention could attenuate senescence in IEC‐6 cells by regulating the cell cycle and inhibiting apoptosis. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
The International Grief Questionnaire (IGQ): A new measure of ICD‐11 prolonged grief disorder
Authors: Hyland Philip , Redican Enya , Karatzias Thanos , Shevlin Mark
Published: November 2023

Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is included in the 11th version of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD‐11). This study sought to test the validity and reliability of a new brief measure to screen for ICD‐11 PGD—the International Grief Questionnaire (IGQ). The psychometric properties of the IGQ were tested using data collected from two bereaved samples of adults from the United Kingdom (n = 1,012) and Ireland (n = 1,011). Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that a correlated two‐factor model best captured the latent dimensionality of the IGQ in both samples. Estimates of internal reliability were high, whereas the convergent and concurrent validity of the scale were supported through strong associations with external measures. Measurement invariance and differential item functioning testing showed no statistically significant difference in the latent structure of the IGQ nor the functioning of the IGQ items by age, sex, and nationality. For participants who were bereaved for more than 6 months, the rates of probable PGD derived from the IGQ were 10.9% and 15.3% for the Irish and U.K. samples, respectively. The IGQ is a brief, easy‐to‐use, self‐report screening measure that captures all diagnostic criteria of PGD set forth in the ICD‐11. Findings from this study provide initial support for the validity, measurement invariance, and reliability of the IGQ among two national samples.
Soil patch heterogeneity improves plant productivity and nutrients regulated by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Authors: Xia Tingting , Guo Yun , Wu Pan , Zhao Ying , Xu Xinyang , Han Xu , Shen Kaiping , Wu Bangli , Sun Yan , Ren Wenda , Li Qing , Li Jinting , Hu Xiaorun , Wang Li , He Yuejun
Published: November 2023

The interlacing and mosaic distribution of karst soil and rock result in the high spatial heterogeneity of the natural karst habitat. Karst plants are suffered from spatially heterogeneous microhabitats with different‐sized patches. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are crucial in regulating plant productivity and nutrients in heterogeneous karst environments. However, how spatial patch heterogeneity influences plant productivity and nutrient utilization by AM fungi regulation in karst soil remains unclear. A simulated heterogeneity experiment regarding soil grid patches was conducted by planting Bidens pilosa into a microcosm of a square device. Experimental treatments included the mycorrhizal fungus treatments inoculation with (M+) or non‐inoculation with (M−) Glomus etunicatum fungus, and the spatial heterogeneity treatments involved homogeneous patches (HO), heterogeneity‐small patches (HS), and heterogeneity‐large patches (HL). The growth and nutritional traits of plants were analyzed. The results showed that AM fungus promoted the productivity and nutrient uptake of B. pilosa by substantial increases in biomass, nitrogen (N) accumulation, phosphorus (P) accumulation, and N/P ratio. The spatial heterogeneity promoted the biomass and N and P accumulations of B. pilosa when inoculating with AM fungus. The mycorrhizal colonization rate and hyphae length were greater in HS than in HO and HL under the M+ treatment, with a greater response ratio of biomass, N and P under HS conditions. These indicated that the heterogeneous small patches had a greater promotion of the biomass production and nutrients of B. pilosa with inoculation of AM fungus because extensive fungal hyphae can acquire soil resources in more distant patches outside the root zone with more economical metabolic costs compared to roots. We thus conclude that patch heterogeneity contributes to plant productivity and nutrient utilization regulated by AM fungi in karst soil, and the broader nutrient capture induced by extraradical hyphae of AM fungi may be an adaptive mechanism for karst plants to cope with heterogeneous environmental conditions.
Dynamical behavior of nonclassical diffusion equations with memory and lacking instantaneous damping
Authors: Xie Zhe , Li Jun , Xie Yongqin
Published: November 2023

In this paper, the asymptotic behavior of nonclassical diffusion equations with time‐dependent perturbed parameter and lacking instantaneous damping is considered on whole space
. The existence and regularity of time‐dependent global attractors are proved by using a new analytical technique. It is remarkable that there is not any restriction on the upper growth of the nonlinearity
. The result obtained essentially extends and improves earlier ones.
Effects of polycaprolactone viscosity on morphology, mechanical properties, water uptake, and cellular viability in poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate)/polycaprolactone blends for tissue engineering
Authors: Cavalcante Maxwell de Paula , de Menezes Lívia Rodrigues
Published: November 2023

In this study, two polycaprolactones (PCLs) with different molar masses were evaluated regarding their influence on the melt processability, morphology viscoelastic and mechanical properties, water uptake, and fibroblast and pre‐osteoblast viability of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate)/polycaprolactone (PHB/PCL) blends. PHB/PCL blends were prepared in a mixing chamber following 90/10 and 70/30 ratios and later compression molded. The torque rheometry results show that the blends' processability is influenced by the ratio and molar mass of the PCL used in its obtaining, those being more strongly affected by the PCL with lower molar mass. The results indicate that the polymeric blend was immiscible in any proportion and molar mass of PCL used. The blends showed a sea‐island morphology in which the diameter of the dispersed phase depended on the composition. In general, even though the molar mass of PCL differed, the blends showed similar behaviors. However, a great difference was observed in the fracture mechanism for the blend with PCL of lower molar mass, which did not present the ability to fibrillate before rupture, due to its low mechanical resistance. The blends showed greater water uptake capabilities when compared to the pure polymers due to the diffusion of water through the gaps in between the phases. The blends showed high cell viability when tested in fibroblast cells of the L929 lineage and pre‐osteoblast cells of the MCT3‐E1 lineage, indicating that these materials are promising for application in bone tissue engineering.
Cellulose acetate superhydrophobic coatings for efficient oil–water separation using a combination of electrostatic spraying and chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Fang Shao‐Kang , Li Hui‐Rong , Feng Shi‐Da , Wang Peng‐Xiang , Yu Yue , Zhang Hong , Guo Jing
Published: November 2023

The efficient and simple separation of oil–water mixtures has been a global challenge due to the growing problem of oily wastewater. To address this issue, various materials with special wetting properties and functionality have been developed in the past decades for oil–water separation. In this study, a superhydrophobic cellulose acetate (CA) functional coating was prepared by electrostatic spraying of CA and chemical vapor deposition of methyltrichlorosilane (MTCS) on a stainless steel mesh (SSM). Water contact angle in air (WCA) of the resulting coating is154° or more, and oil under water contact angle (UWOCA) is 0°. Simultaneously, the separation flux of the resulting coating for oil–water mixtures is as high as 23977.77 L·m−2·h−1, with separation efficiencies exceeding 99%. Due to its excellent water repellency, the CA functional coating can effectively separate oil and water, and can be easily dried for continuous use. Furthermore, the CA functional coating exhibits good stability in salt solutions and acidic environments, making it an ideal material for addressing oily wastewater challenges.

Highlights

The coating obtained by electrostatic spraying and CVD was superhydrophobic.

The separation flux and separation efficiencies of coatings is 23977.77 L·m−2·h−1 and 99%.

Coatings remain stable under polar environment conditions (pH = 2–12 and NaCl = 1–3 mol/L).
Site coordinators’ perspectives on implementing a school‐based telebehavioral health program
Authors: Zhang E , Engel Ilana , Giovanetti Annaleis , Punt Stephanie , Aniel Anna Nicole , Bellinger Skylar , Nelson Eve‐Lynn
Published: November 2023

School‐based telebehavioral health service is increasingly important in addressing the health disparities youth in rural communities face. The study examines barriers and successes of implementation and sustainability of a rural school‐based telebehavioral health program from the perspective of site coordinators or school champions informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research framework. Six coordinators participated in semi‐structured interviews and completed a self‐report questionnaire (organizational readiness for implementing change) to describe their experiences with telebehavioral health. The authors used thematic analysis to extract themes. The overarching themes included (1) benefits, challenges, and opportunities; (2) resources and support; and (3) work processes and challenges. Site coordinators endorsed their workplaces’ commitment to telebehavioral health but shared uncertainty about the telebehavioral health program's sustainability. The emphasis coordinators place on relationships, communication, continuity, and advocacy for families and students underscores their critical role in providing high‐quality telehealth services in schools and the broader community. Their perspectives are vital to ensuring these services’ continued successful implementation and sustainability. Site coordinators’ focus on the need for school‐based champions and increased awareness of telehealth services in their communities highlights a need for outreach efforts to continue engaging relevant stakeholders.
Teacher moves for supporting student reasoning in mathematics instruction
Authors: Bozkus Figen , Guner Pınar
Published: November 2023

Interest in teachers' moves to classroom discourse has started to increase since how teachers respond to students' thinking influences students' learning. The purpose of this study was to investigate the moves used by one sixth grade mathematics teacher at a public middle school in Turkey to support student reasoning in mathematics instruction and their influence on classroom discourse. Six 80‐min lessons were analyzed with particular attention to how the teacher elicits, responds to, facilitates, and extends student reasoning. The results revealed that teacher moves mainly included low‐potential moves in all categories. The teacher mainly tried to elicit student answers in the lessons and aimed to facilitate their understanding through questioning. He also tended to confirm students' answers and re‐represent their thoughts to the class, occasionally adding further information. However, the results showed that the teacher had a dominant role in classroom interactions. Besides, from time to time, the teacher did not focus on student responses and postpone the student reactions. However, the teacher moves that limit student contribution, such as ignoring students' answers and insisting on their own points of view, reduce the depth of classroom interactions and student understanding. In general, the teacher's ability to support student reasoning and facilitate productive classroom discourse was not sufficient.
Predictors of recurrent wheezing in late preterm infants
Authors: Gustafson Brooke , Britt Rodney D. , Eisner Mariah , Narayanan Deepika , Grayson Mitchell H.
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Premature infants have an increased risk of respiratory morbidity, including the development of recurrent wheezing. We sought to determine perinatal factors in late preterm infants associated with an increased risk of recurrent wheezing in the first 3 years of life.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of infants born between 32 and 36 weeks gestational age at a tertiary hospital from 2013 to 2016 was performed. Infants with any co‐morbid medical conditions were excluded. Recurrent wheezing was identified by two or more visit diagnoses for reactive airway disease, wheezing‐associated respiratory infection, wheezing, or asthma during the first 3 years of life. Those with recurrent wheezing were compared to matched preterm infants who did not develop wheezing.

Results

Three hundred and fourteen late preterm infants were included in this study; 210 infants developed recurrent wheezing while 104 did not. Gender, sex, and race were comparable between both groups. Development of wheezing was associated with positive family history of asthma (p = .014), receiving antibiotics during the neonatal period (p < .001), requiring continuous positive airway pressure for <24 h (p = .019), and receiving supplemental oxygen during the newborn period (p = .023).

Conclusion

This study retrospectively identified risk factors associated with development of wheezing in late preterm infants. Prospective studies are needed to determine whether these factors will predict recurrent wheeze in this patient population.
An Investigation on CdSeTe/CdTe Stacks Deposited by Evaporation: Impact of Halide Treatment Depending on the Applied Surface
Authors: Çiriş Ali , Atasoy Yavuz , Tomakin Murat , Bacaksız Emin
Published: November 2023

Among the methods applied to modify the characteristics of CdSeTe/CdTe stacks, one of the most well‐known and widely used procedures is the CdCl2halide treatment. In this connection, the influence of CdCl2on microstructural properties, phase distribution, and optical properties of CdSeTe/CdTe stack depending on location of the employed surface is investigated. In CdSeTe/CdTe stacks deposited by evaporation in vacuum, CdCl2halide treatment is applied to the interface of CdSeTe and CdTe, the upper surface of CdTe, and both surface regions of the stack. CdCl2treatment applied depending on the region has a definite effect on the phase structure, interlayer CdSexTe1−xalloying rate, and crystallization quality of the stack structure. Regardless of the applied region, all CdCl2‐treated stacks exhibit a granular and compact surface morphology. On the other hand, CdCl2treated only on single surface results in a shift of the absorption edge to the shorter wavelength, but rather to the long spectral region for both surfaces. The photoluminescence spectra reveal the presence of band emissions of the CdTe layer and CdSeTe alloys. Overall, the findings of the study indicate that only the upper‐surface application of CdCl2has more promising features for potential solar cell applications.
Gravity Data Inversion by Adiabatic Quantum Computing
Authors: Siddi Moreau Giuliana , Pisani Lorenzo , Mameli Andrea , Podda Carlo , Cao Giacomo , Prati Enrico
Published: November 2023

A quantum‐enhanced implementation of the binary inversion method for gravity data acquisition is discussed. The subsurface structure of a single density anomaly with an assigned density contrast is calculated by using a D‐Wave adiabatic quantum computer. In particular, an iterative heuristic based on quantum annealing that recovers a sharp shape of the subsurface anomaly is developed. Such a task is accomplished by collecting partial images obtained by quantum annealing processes for optimal Lagrange penalty coefficients. The results are compared with those obtained according to the same cost function minimized via genetic algorithms by conventional hardware on a realistic 2D dataset. The outcomes of this work are promising as the reconstructed model is obtained in tenths of iterations instead of the hundreds required in conventional methods. Moreover, for the part of the computation that resides in the quantum processing unit, the computational cost of the single quantum annealing descent is constant with respect to the number of degrees of freedom of the subsurface grid. The implemented method is likely to reveal its full potential on forthcoming quantum annealing devices, outperforming existing techniques.
Can green credit policies improve corporate ESG performance?
Authors: Han Linzhi , Shi Yafang , Zheng Jianghua
Published: November 2023

Green credit policy, as an environmental regulation instrument in the financial sector, is gradually having an impact on corporate performance in environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG). Based on the implementation of the Green Credit Guidelines policy, this paper investigates the impact of green credit policies on corporate ESG performance from 2011 to 2019 using the double‐difference propensity score matching method (PSM‐DID) and the Heckman two‐stage method, using a sample of A‐share listed companies. It was found that the implementation of the Green Credit Guidelines effectively improved the ESG performance of firms in green credit‐restricted industries relative to non‐green credit‐restricted industries. It is further found that this is mainly due to the increased green focus of corporate executives, while the incremental effect of green credit policies on corporate ESG performance is further strengthened by the increased quality and quantity of corporate green technology innovation. Finally, heterogeneity analysis reveals that the boosting effect of green credit policy on ESG performance of enterprises in green credit‐restricted industries is more prominent in the sample of enterprises with more analyst attention, less financially developed regions and private ones. How to leverage the green credit policy dividend to enhance the ESG performance of enterprises, further refine, and improve the green credit policy to help enterprises' sustainable development are the most direct policy implications of this paper.
Bacterial Flagellum–Drug Nanoconjugates for Carrier‐Free Immunochemotherapy
Authors: Fu Zhenzhen , Wang Lu , Guo Haiyan , Lin Sisi , Huang Wei , Pang Yan
Published: November 2023

The combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy to ablate tumors has attracted substantial attention due to the ability to simultaneously elicit antitumor immune responses and trigger direct tumor cell death. However, conventional combinational strategies mainly focus on the employment of drug carriers to deliver immunomodulators, chemotherapeutics, or their combinations, always suffering from complicated preparation and carrier‐relevant side effects. Here, the fabrication of bacterial flagellum‐drug nanoconjugates (FDNCs) for carrier‐free immunochemotherapy is described. FDNCs are simply prepared by attaching chemotherapeutics to amine residues of flagellin through an acid‐sensitive and traceless cis‐aconityl linker. By virtue of native nanofibrous structure and immunogenicity, bacterial flagella not only show long‐term tumor retention and highly efficient cell internalization, but also provoke robust systemic antitumor immune responses. Meanwhile, conjugated chemotherapeutics exhibit an acid‐mediated release profile and durable intratumoral exposure, which can induce potent tumor cell inhibition via direct killing. More importantly, this combination is able to augment immunoactivation effects associated with chemotherapy‐enabled immunogenic tumor cell death to further enhance antitumor efficacy. By leveraging the innate response of the immune system to pathogens, the conjugation of therapeutic agents with self‐adjuvant bacterial flagella provides an alternative approach to develop carrier‐free nanotherapeutics for tumor immunochemotherapy.
A Interacting Model: How TRIM21 Orchestrates with Proteins in Intracellular Immunity
Authors: Huang Yisha , Gao Xuejuan , He Qing‐Yu , Liu Wanting
Published: November 2023

Tripartite motif‐containing protein 21 (TRIM21), identified as both a cytosolic E3 ubiquitin ligase and FcR (Fragment crystallizable receptor), primarily interacts with proteins via its PRY/SPRY domains and promotes their proteasomal degradation to regulate intracellular immunity. But how TRIM21 involves in intracellular immunity still lacks systematical understanding. Herein, it is probed into the TRIM21‐related literature and raises an interacting model about how TRIM21 orchestrates proteins in cytosol. In this novel model, TRIM21 generally interacts with miscellaneous protein in intracellular immunity in two ways: For one, TRIM21 solely plays as an E3, ubiquitylating a glut of proteins that contain specific interferon‐regulatory factor, nuclear transcription factor kappaB, virus sensors and others, and involving inflammatory responses. For another, TRIM21 serves as both E3 and specific FcR that detects antibody‐complexes and facilitates antibody destroying target proteins. Correspondingly delineated as Fc‐independent signaling and Fc‐dependent signaling in this review, how TRIM21's interactions contribute to intracellular immunity, expecting to provide a systematical understanding of this important protein and invest enlightenment for further research on the pathogenesis of related diseases and its prospective application is elaborated.
Microstructural Parameters of Cold‐Rolled and Annealed Fe–24Mn–3Al–1Ni–2Si–0.06C Steel Obtained by X‐Ray Diffraction
Authors: de Lima Janaína Rosa , Siqueira Guilherme Oliveira , Freitas Neto Ernesto Soares , Nakagomi Fábio , Santos Dagoberto Brandão , Renzetti Reny Angela
Published: November 2023

Twinning‐induced plasticity steel is characterized by the presence of twins and austenite at room temperature. In this work, Fe–24Mn–3Al–1Ni–2Si–0.06C steel is cold‐rolled at 30, 50, and 80% thickness reduction and subsequently annealed at temperatures between 300 and 1100 °C for 15 min. The microstructure and hardness are analyzed, and dislocation density, stacking fault, and twin probability are calculated using the diffraction method based on the intensity of X‐rays generated in a synchrotron facility. The Rietveld analysis using Materials Analysis Using Diffraction (MAUD) software is performed, and Popa Model is employed. Cold rolling increases hardness due to the formation of deformation twins, stacking fault, and dislocation in different degrees depending on the thickness reduction. During annealing, recrystallization influences the parameters obtained by X‐Ray diffraction such as stacking fault probability and dislocation density.
Experimental studies on flexural behavior of full iron tailings concrete beams
Authors: Ma Xinxin , Sun Jianheng , Zhang Ruolan , Yang Mingjing , Meng Zhiliang , Yuan Jing , Zhang Fengshuang
Published: November 2023

Iron tailings have been extensively studied as mineral admixtures and as coarse and fine aggregates. However, few studies have been conducted on the mechanical properties of iron tailings concrete structures. Using iron tailings powder as an mineral admixture, and iron tailings gravel and sand as coarse and fine aggregates, respectively, the flexural behavior of full iron tailings concrete (FITC) beams was investigated experimentally. Compared with conventional concrete (CC) beam, we showed that the crack‐resistant, yield, and ultimate moments of FITC beams are similar to those of the concrete strain of FITC beams, which is in good agreement with the plane section assumption before cracks appear. The low elastic modulus of FITC makes the deflection of three FITC beams larger than that of a CC beam. The current design code of China is appropriate for calculating the load‐carrying capacity of FITC beam; however, the deflection calculation formula should be modified.
Yeasts from tropical forests: Biodiversity, ecological interactions, and as sources of bioinnovation
Authors: Rosa Carlos A. , Lachance Marc‐André , Limtong Savitree , Santos Ana R. O. , Landell Melissa F. , Gombert Andreas K. , Morais Paula B. , Sampaio José P. , Gonçalves Carla , Gonçalves Paula , Góes‐Neto Aristóteles , Santa‐Brígida Rosângela , Martins Marlúcia B. , Janzen Daniel H. , Hallwachs Winnie
Published: November 2023

Tropical rainforests and related biomes are found in Asia, Australia, Africa, Central and South America, Mexico, and many Pacific Islands. These biomes encompass less than 20% of Earth's terrestrial area, may contain about 50% of the planet's biodiversity, and are endangered regions vulnerable to deforestation. Tropical rainforests have a great diversity of substrates that can be colonized by yeasts. These unicellular fungi contribute to the recycling of organic matter, may serve as a food source for other organisms, or have ecological interactions that benefit or harm plants, animals, and other fungi. In this review, we summarize the most important studies of yeast biodiversity carried out in these biomes, as well as new data, and discuss the ecology of yeast genera frequently isolated from tropical forests and the potential of these microorganisms as a source of bioinnovation. We show that tropical forest biomes represent a tremendous source of new yeast species. Although many studies, most using culture‐dependent methods, have already been carried out in Central America, South America, and Asia, the tropical forest biomes of Africa and Australasia remain an underexplored source of novel yeasts. We hope that this review will encourage new researchers to study yeasts in unexplored tropical forest habitats.
Island formula in Planck brane
Authors: Chang Jing-Cheng , He Song , Liu Yu-Xiao , Zhao Long
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Double holography offers a profound understanding of the island formula by describing a gravitational system on AdSd coupled to a conformal field theory on ℝ1,d−1, dual to an AdSd+1 spacetime with an end-of-the-world (EOW) brane. In this work, we extend the proposal in [12] by considering that the dual bulk spacetime has two EOW branes: one with a gravitational system and the other with a thermal bath. We demonstrate an equivalence between this proposal and the wedge holographic theory. We examine it in both Anti-de Sitter gravity and de Sitter gravity by calculating the entanglement entropy of the Hawking radiation. Finally, we employ the doubly holographic model to verify the formula for the entanglement entropy in a subregion within conformally flat spacetime.
Holding the economy by the tail: analysis of short- and long-run macroeconomic risks
Authors: Franta Michal , Libich Jan
Published: November 2023

We put forward a macro-financial empirical modeling framework that can examine the tails of distributions of macroeconomic variables and the implied risks. It does so without quantile regression, also allowing for non-normal distributions. The framework offers a number of relevant insights into higher moments of the US output growth distribution, as well as the effects of monetary policy and financial (risk premia) shocks on downside macroeconomic risk. This is not only from the short-run perspective but also from the long-run perspective, which has remained largely unexamined in the existing Macro-at-Risk literature. In particular, we estimate the short-run (conditional) and long-run US output growth distributions and study their evolution. The short-run analysis finds that monetary policy and financial shocks render the conditional output growth distribution asymmetric. As such, they affect downside risk over and above their impact on the conditional mean that policymakers routinely focus on. The long-run analysis indicates that US output growth left-tail risk showed a general downward trend in the two decades preceding the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), but this trend got reversed post-2008. Our examination strongly points to the adopted unconventional monetary policy framework featuring quantitative easing as a potential source of elevated long-run downside tail risk in the post-GFC period.
Personality and gender prototypes for predicting health: a multilevel and cluster analysis
Authors: Esteban-Gonzalo Sara , Fernández-Gonzalo Juan Carlos , González-Pascual Juan Luis , Bouzas-Mosquera Carmen , Esteban-Gonzalo Laura
Published: November 2023

Prior studies have identified that mentally healthy people tend to share common characteristics and common ways of coping with stressful life events; they show similar patterns of behavior and more flexible and adaptive social roles. The objectives of the study are to assess the influence of personality factors on gender roles and mental health, to identify personality patterns along with gender roles, and to assess the influence of the patterns identified on mental health. Data collection from a sample of 795 university students was carried out during 2019. Multilevel analyses tested the associations between gender (BSRI) and personality (TIPI) and between personality and health -mental health (GHQ12) and wellbeing (MHC-SF). Cluster analysis explored tendencies of gender and personality, and each cluster showed different health patterns. Individuals with high scores in extraversion, conscientiousness, emotional stability, openness to experience, and very high agreeableness score, as well as high femininity and masculinity scores, presented a decreased psychological morbidity (β= −3.62, 0.57 (SE), p<0.001) and an increased well-being (β=7.68, 1.15 (SE), p<0.001). The most relevant indicators of mental health were identified in androgynous individuals, those individuals with high scores in masculinity and femininity, as well as high scores in extraversion, openness to experience, emotional stability, agreeableness, and conscientiousness.
The effect of calcium channel blockers on digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis: data from a prospective cohort study
Authors: Ross Laura , Hansen Dylan , Maltez Nancy , Morrisroe Kathleen , Kumar Kimti , Walker Jennifer , Stevens Wendy , Sahhar Joanne , Ngian Gene-Siew , Host Lauren , Nikpour Mandana , Proudman Susanna
Published: November 2023

Digital ulcers (DU) are a common, severe vascular manifestation of systemic sclerosis (SSc) with few effective treatment options. Using data from the Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study (ASCS), we sought to evaluate the effect of calcium channel blockers (CCB) on the treatment and prevention of DU.

Using data from 1953 participants, with a median of 4.34 years of follow-up, we used generalised estimating equations to evaluate the clinical characteristics associated with CCB use and ascertain the risk factors for the presence of DU at subsequent study visits. A time-dependent Cox-proportional hazard model was applied to evaluate the risk of future occurrence of DU with CCB use.

Sixty-six percent of participants received CCB and patients with a history of DU were more likely to be prescribed a CCB (76.76% vs 53.70%, p < 0.01). CCB use was more frequent in patients with severe complications of DU including chronic DU (OR 1.47, p = 0.02), need for hospitalisation for iloprost (OR 1.30, p = 0.01) or antibiotics (OR 1.36, p = 0.04) and digital amputation (OR 1.48, p < 0.01). Use of CCB was more likely in patients who experienced DU at subsequent study visits (OR 1.32, p < 0.01) and was not associated with a decreased risk of the development of a first DU (HR 0.94, p = 0.65).

CCB are frequently used in the management of SSc in the ASCS and their use is associated with severe peripheral vascular manifestations of SSc. However, our results suggest that CCB may not be effective in the healing or prevention of DU.

Key Points• Calcium channel blockers (CCB) are commonly used in patients with vascular manifestations of systemic sclerosis (SSc).• CCB did not reduce the risk of the development of the first episode of digital ulcers when used prior to the onset of SSc digital ulcers.• CCB use was not associated with a reduction in the rate of digital ulcer recurrence.
GPS data on tourists: a spatial analysis on road networks
Authors: D’Angelo Nicoletta , Abbruzzo Antonino , Ferrante Mauro , Adelfio Giada , Chiodi Marcello
Published: November 2023

This paper proposes a spatial point process model on a linear network to analyse cruise passengers’ stop activities. It identifies and models tourists’ stop intensity at the destination as a function of their main determinants. For this purpose, we consider data collected on cruise passengers through the integration of traditional questionnaire-based survey methods and GPS tracking data in two cities, namely Palermo (Italy) and Dubrovnik (Croatia). Firstly, the density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise algorithm is applied to identify stop locations from GPS tracking data. The influence of individual-related variables and itinerary-related characteristics is considered within a framework of a Gibbs point process model. The proposed model describes spatial stop intensity at the destination, accounting for the geometry of the underlying road network, individual-related variables, contextual-level information, and the spatial interaction amongst stop points. The analysis succeeds in quantifying the influence of both individual-related variables and trip-related characteristics on stop intensity. An interaction parameter allows for measuring the degree of dependence amongst cruise passengers in stop location decisions.
Generating and detecting true ambiguity: a forgotten danger in DNN supervision testing
Authors: Weiss Michael , Gómez André García , Tonella Paolo
Published: November 2023

Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) are becoming a crucial component of modern software systems, but they are prone to fail under conditions that are different from the ones observed during training (out-of-distribution inputs) or on inputs that are truly ambiguous, i.e., inputs that admit multiple classes with nonzero probability in their labels. Recent work proposed DNN supervisors to detect high-uncertainty inputs before their possible misclassification leads to any harm. To test and compare the capabilities of DNN supervisors, researchers proposed test generation techniques, to focus the testing effort on high-uncertainty inputs that should be recognized as anomalous by supervisors. However, existing test generators aim to produce out-of-distribution inputs. No existing model- and supervisor independent technique targets the generation of truly ambiguous test inputs, i.e., inputs that admit multiple classes according to expert human judgment. In this paper, we propose a novel way to generate ambiguous inputs to test DNN supervisors and used it to empirically compare several existing supervisor techniques. In particular, we propose AmbiGuess to generate ambiguous samples for image classification problems. AmbiGuess is based on gradient-guided sampling in the latent space of a regularized adversarial autoencoder. Moreover, we conducted what is $${-}$$
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the most extensive comparative study of DNN supervisors, considering their capabilities to detect 4 distinct types of high-uncertainty inputs, including truly ambiguous ones. We find that the tested supervisors’ capabilities are complementary: Those best suited to detect true ambiguity perform worse on invalid, out-of-distribution and adversarial inputs and vice-versa.
A comparative study on precision of pairwise comparison matrices
Authors: Cavallo Bice , Mazurek Jir̆í , Ramík Jaroslav
Published: November 2023

Pairwise comparisons have been a long-standing technique for comparing alternatives/criteria and their role has been pivotal in the development of modern decision-making methods such as the Analytic Hierarchy/Network Process (AHP/ANP), the Best-Worst method (BWM), PROMETHEE and many others. Pairwise comparisons can be performed within several frameworks such as multiplicative, additive and fuzzy representations of preferences, which are particular instances of a more general framework based on Abelian linearly ordered groups. Though multiplicative, additive and fuzzy representations of preferences are widely used in practice, it is unknown whether decision makers are equally precise in the three aforementioned representations when they measure objective data. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to design, carry out and analyse an experiment with over 200 respondents (undergraduate university students) from two countries, Czechia and Italy, to compare precision of the respondents in all three representations. In the experiment, respondents pairwise compared (by approximation) the areas of four geometric figures and then, the imprecision of their assessments was measured by computing the distance with the exact pairwise comparisons. We grouped the respondents in such a way that each participant was allowed to deal with a unique type of representation. The outcomes of the experiment indicate that the multiplicative approach is the most precise.
The post-racial myth: rethinking Chinese university students’ experiences and perceptions of racialised microaggressions in the UK
Authors: Yu Jingran , Rai Rohini , Lim Miguel Antonio , Li Hanwei
Published: November 2023

As the world recovers from the pandemic and anti-Asian hate crimes have been gradually disappearing from the headlines, this article offers a timely reflection on Chinese international students’ experiences and perceptions of racialised microaggressions during the pandemic, and, more importantly, takes the discussion further by deconstructing and challenging the underlying post-racial discourse. Based on 54 interviews with Chinese students from 13 universities across the UK, this article examines four phrases used by Chinese international students in making sense of their racialised experiences, in terms of the denial of racism (‘it is not racism’), the justification of racism (‘it is normal’), taking the blame of racism (‘it is my fault’) and in some rare cases, their reflections on anti-Asian racism in the so-called post-racial universities in the UK (‘we are invisible’). It argues that such expressions are induced by and reflects neo-racism, neo-orientalism and everyday racism embedded within the wider post-racial discourse in the UK, which affirms the relevance of anti-Asian racism in the post-pandemic era rather than negates it. We thus make recommendations to UK universities to better support international students and combat anti-Asian particularly anti-Chinese racism.
Kant on the Normativity of Obligatory Ends
Authors: Sticker Martin
Published: November 2023

I propose a novel way to understand the stringency of Kant’s conception of beneficence. This novel understanding can ground our intuition that we do not have to forego (almost) all pursuit of our personal ends. I argue that we should understand the application of imperfect duties to specific cases according to the framework set by the adoption and promotion of ends. Agents have other ends than obligatory ones and they must weigh obligatory ends against these other ends. Obligatory ends are special among ends only insofar as their adoption is not optional. My reading of the normative status of imperfect duties affords a way of thinking about beneficence modelled on the everyday ways in which agents pursue their personal projects and weigh different ends against each other. This establishes a middle-ground between an extremely demanding conception of beneficence and an overly latitudinarian one. Furthermore, it helps us understand why we do not have to be maximally beneficent and why there is a bias towards the near in our thinking about rescue cases.
Impacts of COVID-19 on Young Children and Families: A Qualitative Study Using Best Starts for Kids Health Survey Data in King County, WA
Authors: Nair Mohit , Moore Kristin , Sanford Sara Jaye , McNair Anne , Matheson Alastair , Wong Eva
Published: November 2023

Objectives

To evaluate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on parents and caregivers with young children in King County, Washington using data from a local population-based survey, the Best Starts for Kids Health Survey (BSKHS).

Methods

7033 parents and caregivers in King County, Washington with children 5th grade and younger participated in the BSKHS in 2021. Three evaluators adopted a framework method approach to thematic analysis for open-ended survey responses regarding the impacts of COVID-19 on families.

Results

Children aged 0–5 years missed important social development opportunities, while elementary-school children missed social interactions and felt isolated during remote schooling. Parents were exhausted by the competing demands of work and schooling/childcare, with mothers bearing the brunt of additional responsibilities. Many families faced financial uncertainty and were unable to meet basic needs. Yet, families were grateful for more quality time with family members.

Conclusions for Practice

Parents expressed that children aged 0–5 years missed out on social development opportunities with both adults and children their own age and elementary-school children and felt isolated while schools were closed to in-person schooling.
Myocardial infarction elevates endoplasmic reticulum stress and protein aggregation in heart as well as brain
Authors: Mainali Nirjal , Li Xiao , Wang Xianwei , Balasubramaniam Meenakshisundaram , Ganne Akshatha , Kore Rajshekhar , Shmookler Reis Robert J. , Mehta Jawahar L. , Ayyadevara Srinivas
Published: November 2023

Cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction (MI), constitute the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Protein-aggregate deposition is a hallmark of aging and neurodegeneration. Our previous study reported that aggregation is strikingly elevated in hearts of hypertensive and aged mice; however, no prior study has addressed MI effects on aggregation in heart or brain. Here, we present novel data on heart and brain aggregation in mice following experimental MI, induced by left coronary artery (LCA) ligation. Infarcted and peri-infarcted heart tissue, and whole cerebra, were isolated from mice at sacrifice, 7 days following LCA ligation. Sham-MI mice (identical surgery without ligation) served as controls. We purified detergent-insoluble aggregates from these tissues, and quantified key protein constituents by high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Infarct heart tissue had 2.5- to 10-fold more aggregates than non-infarct or sham-MI heart tissue (each P = 0.001). Protein constituents from MI cerebral aggregates overlapped substantially with those from human Alzheimer’s disease brain. Prior injection of mice with mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) exosomes, shown to limit infarct size after LCA ligation, reduced cardiac aggregation ~ 60%, and attenuated markers of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in heart and brain (GRP78, ATF6, P-PERK) by 50–75%. MI also elevated aggregate constituents enriched in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) aggregates, such as proteasomal subunits, heat-shock proteins, complement C3, clusterin/ApoJ, and other apolipoproteins. These data provide novel evidence that aggregation is elevated in mouse hearts and brains after myocardial ischemia, leading to cognitive impairment resembling AD, but can be attenuated by exosomes or drug (CDN1163) interventions that oppose ER stress.