bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TNFR1/p38αMAPK signaling in Nex+ supraspinal neurons regulates sex-specific chronic neuropathic pain
Authors: Swanson Kathryn A. , Nguyen Kayla L. , Gupta Shruti , Ricard Jerome , Bethea John R.
Published: August 2023

Upregulation of soluble tumor necrosis factor (sTNF) cytokine signaling through TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) and subsequent neuronal hyperexcitability are observed in both animal models and human chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) [1–4]. To test the hypothesis that supraspinal circuitry is critical to pain chronification, we studied the intersect between supraspinal TNFR1 mediated neuronal signaling and sex specificity by selectively removing TNFR1 in Nex + neurons in adult mice (NexCreERT2::TNFR1f/f). We determined that following chronic constriction injury (CCI), pain resolves in males; however, female acute pain transitions to chronic. Subsequently, we investigated two downstream pathways, p38MAPK and NF-κB, important in TNFR1 signaling and injury response. We detected p38αMAPK and NF-κB activation in male cortical tissue; however, p38αMAPK phosphorylation was reduced in NexCreERT2::TNFR1f/f males. We observed similar behavioral results following CCI in NexCreERT2::p38αMAPKf/f mice. Previously, we established estrogen’s ability to modulate sTNF/TNFR1 signaling in CNP, which may contribute to female prevalence of CNP [5–9]. To explore the intersection between estrogen and inflammation in CNP we used a combination therapy of an estrogen receptor β (ER β) inhibitor with a sTNF/TNFR1 or general p38MAPK inhibitor. We determined both combination therapies lend “male-like” therapeutic relief to females following CCI. These data suggest that TNFR1/p38αMAPK signaling in Nex + neurons in CNP is male-specific and lack of therapeutic efficacy following sTNF inhibition in females is due to ER β interference. These studies highlight sex-specific differences in pathways important to pain chronification and elucidate potential therapeutic strategies that would be effective in both sexes.
Assessing the impact of sustained and regulated deficit irrigation on field-grown olive cultivar ‘Zard’ (Olea europaea L.) in semi-arid condition
Authors: Arji Isa , Ahmadipour Samira , Ebadi Ali , Abdossi Vahid
Published: August 2023

Research has shown that moderate regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) can enhance the fruit and oil yield of olive trees in Mediterranean conditions. However, there is limited research on the effects of deficit irrigation on olive trees in marginal regions. To address this, a study was conducted on the Zard olive cultivar over two consecutive years. Six irrigation regimes were tested, including control (C) (100% ETc) during the growing season, sustained deficit irrigation (SDI1) at 75% ETc throughout the growing season, regulated deficit irrigation (RDI1) at 75% ETc from 4 to 9 weeks after full bloom, sustained deficit irrigation (SDI2) at 50% ETc throughout the growing season, regulated deficit irrigation (RDI2) at 50% ETc from 4 to 9 weeks after full bloom, and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI3) at 50% ETc 2 weeks before harvest. The results showed that sustained and regulated deficit irrigation negatively impacted flower number and perfect flowers in inflorescence, except for RDI3. The study found that the fruit set was not significantly impacted by the irrigation treatments RDI1 and RDI3 compared to the control. However, the irrigation treatment of SDI2 resulted in the most significant reduction in both fruit weight and pulp-to-pit ratio. Fruit yield and oil content did show significant differences among all treatments. Overall, the study showed a 25% reduction in water usage during the 4 to 9 weeks after flowering or 2 weeks before harvesting did not significantly affect fruit yield compared to the control treatment. A minor reduction in applied water (RDI1 and RDI3) is recommended for semiarid regions (excluding Mediterranean regions) to achieve high fruit and oil content.
Oral administration of Manuka honey modulates gut microbiota composition and enhances anti-tumor immunity in a preclinical model of colorectal cancer
Authors: Masad Razan J. , Bashir Ghada , Al-Sbiei Ashraf , Mohamed Yassir A. , Al-Marzooq Farah , Al-Tahrawi Abeer , Fernandez-Cabezudo Maria J. , al-Ramadi Basel K.
Published: August 2023

Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that oral administration of MH induces specific alterations in the gut microbiota and triggers innate and adaptive mucosal immune responses through the activation of type I/II IFN signaling pathways. This culminates in rendering the tumors more immunogenically responsive. Our data highlight the immunostimulatory properties of MH and demonstrate its potential utilization in cancer prevention.
Background: There is increasing interest in exploring alternative natural products for cancer prevention and treatment. Among these, we recently highlighted the potential utilization of Manuka honey (MH) as an immunomodulatory agent. In the present study, we characterized mechanistically the immunomodulatory properties of MH in a preclinical model of colorectal cancer (CRC).
Methods: MH was administered orally over a 4 week-period. A solution containing equivalent concentrations of the main sugars in MH was used as a control (SC). Mucosal and systemic lymphoid tissues were examined for alterations in cellular composition and activation status by multi-color flow cytometry (FACS). Fecal pellets were collected before and after treatment and used for bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing. Pretreated mice were implanted with CRC cells and followed for tumor growth. Tumors, lymph nodes, and spleens were analyzed by FACS, immunohistochemistry, and qRT-PCR 3-weeks post-implantation.
Results: Pretreatment with MH, but not SC solution, induced type I/II IFN response in mucosal and systemic lymphoid tissues, resulting in enhanced expression of IFN-inducible stem cell antigen-1 (Sca-1) and MHC class II proteins. In an implantable model of CRC, tumor growth was significantly retarded in MH-pretreated mice. These tumors had increased infiltration of immune cells, ~2.0-fold increase in the percentage of intratumoral CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and a 50% decrease in the percentage of Ly6G+ myeloid cells. Immunohistochemical analysis of tumor tissues revealed an increase in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and granzyme-B-expressing cells following MH treatment. Moreover, FACS analysis showed significantly elevated expression of MHC class I on tumors of MH-treated mice. qRT-PCR analysis of purified tumor-infiltrating leucocytes highlighted changes in the expression of various chemokines and inflammatory cytokines that underlie the increased tumor immunogenicity. Finally, bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing revealed unique enrichment of >20 bacterial genera in MH-treated mice.
Research on wideband dissipative soliton generation and the dynamics process
Authors: Zhou Yong , Wang Yangyang , Wang Xian , Zhang Kai , Ma Xiaohui , Fang Wentan , Chen Xiaolin , Zhang Wei , Huang Song , Gao Weiqing
Published: August 2023

Wideband dissipative soliton is generated in a passively mode-locked cavity by optimizing the distribution of chromatic dispersion and gain filtering in cavity. The maximal 3 dB bandwidth of 61.1 nm is obtained. The corresponding pulse width is compressed to 222 fs with chirp, which could be further compressed to 42 fs according to the Fourier transform limitation. The signal-to-noise ratio is 80.3 dB. The single pulse energy is 0.18 nJ. The dynamics process is investigated by dispersive Fourier transformation during the building-up. The simulation investigation on dissipative soliton formation is provided according to the modified nonlinear Schrödinger equation, which are relatively consistent with the experiment. The results demonstrate that a weak normal net dispersion close to zero and efficient gain bandwidth are critical to the formation of wideband dissipative soliton.
Prevalence and risk factors associated with hypertension among police officers in the Goma Garrison, DR Congo.
Authors: Lampard Omari Omari M. , Etebe Bukavu Molangi
Published: August 2023

Introduction:
The objective of this study was to measure the prevalence of hypertension and to examine its risk factors among police officers in the garrison of the city of Goma in North Kivu, D.R.Congo.
Material and methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted among police officers in the garrison of the city of Goma in February 2020. The garrison had a total of 3428 police officers. We used a sample of 440 police officers drawn in clusters in proportion to their respective numbers. Blood pressure (BP) was measured after 4 minutes of relaxation in a seated position on the left arm at the level of the heart using a mercury sphygmomanometer. Hypertension was defined by a BP ≥ 140/90mm Hg (SBP and DBP) or the notion of antihypertensive treatment regardless of BP. Logistic regression was used to find the odds ratios, 95% confidence interval and p-value.
Results
The prevalence was 42.5% among police officers in Goma. Factors associated with a higher likelihood of having hypertension among police officers were age 60–79 years versus 20–39 years (AOR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.45–2.74, p < 0.001); PNC seniority greater than 21 years (AOR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.21–2.09, p < 0.001): 1.21–2.09, p = 0.002); abdominal obesity (AOR = 2.20, 95% CI:1.82–2.66, p < 0.001); alcohol intake (AOR = 1.45, 95% CI : 1.13–1.86, p = 0.002); sedentary (AOR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.69–3.18, p < 0.001); family history of hypertension (AOR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.52–2.30, p = 0.001).
Conclusion
The adoption of regular sports practice among and the reduction of alcohol intake would contribute to the reduction of cases of hypertension.
An Efficient Algorithm for Optimal Route Node Sensing in Smart Tourism Urban Traffic Based on Priority Constraints
Authors: Ding Xichen , Yao Rongju , Khezri Edris
Published: August 2023

The public transportation system is now dealing with a number of problems brought on by the sharp increase in automobile ownership in cities as well as the buildup of vehicles as a result of events and accidents. However, the city's limited road network capacity cannot keep up with the increasing traffic demand, which further worsens travel conditions and results in a waste of time and money. Given that it is challenging to enhance the capacity of the road network in practice, efficient vehicle travel and evacuation using algorithms has emerged as a recent study focus. It is crucial to learn how to manage urban traffic issues during emergencies and maintain smooth and safe traffic flow. The existing studies only considers the optimized route selection for individual vehicles, signal cycle of traffic lights and deploy historical data to disperse the vehicles on alternative routes. However, such works do not consider the conflict of routes between vehicles, the customized traffic demand of each vehicle and uncertain traffic conditions. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel approach to facilitate the user to select the optimal route with real-time traffic scenario. Furthermore, the Nash equilibrium is established by mutual information swapping and self-adaptive learning method. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm has better route selection capability in real-time personalized road traffic as compared with existing algorithms.
Robust and Optimal Alignment of High-Dimensional Data Using Maximum Likelihood Estimation through a Random Sample Consensus Framework
Authors: Watts Adam Christopher , Harvey Dustin Yewell
Published: August 2023

Correcting spatial orientations of groups of high-dimensional data sets such that they are all in a consistent coordinate system is often a time consuming and error-prone process. Automation of this process can be accomplished by using Generalized Procrustes Analysis to estimate the relative orientations among a population of high-dimensional data sets. A least squares Procrustes solution is applied through a maximum likelihood estimation and random sample consensus framework for robustness. The likelihood model is comprised of a mixture distribution where inliers are assumed to originate from a Student's t-distribution and outliers from a uniform distribution. Applications will focus on a synthetic data set that emulates tri-axial acceleration data from a population of accelerometers. Outliers represent either non-rigid body responses, data acquisition, and/or sensor issues. The intended application for the methodology is to robustly automate the rotation of populations of experimentally collected tri-axial accelerometer data sets to a single global coordinate system.
Failure to Adjust CT Scanners to Pediatric Settings is a Major Cause of Unnecessary Radiation Exposure to Children
Authors: Lin Jianna , Zhang Jeremy , Anzia Lucille , Hayes Laura L.
Published: August 2023

CT scans are an indispensable tool for evaluating head injuries and neurological symptoms, yet they are the leading contributor to medical radiation exposure in the United States. High levels of such exposure pose significant health risks for children, whose developing bodies are less resilient to radiation injury. Here we review mean radiation dose (Total Exam DLP) and CTDlvol from head CT scans of 149 cases to assess for factors thought to be potential contributors to excess radiation exposure. Such factors included scan indication (trauma, shunts, other head complaints), number of repeat scans, and the type of facility the scan was performed (adult vs. pediatric). Analyses revealed that among scans performed to evaluate head trauma or routine indications (e.g. headache, vomiting focal neurologic deficits), the mean radiation dose a administered was significantly higher in adults hospitals when compared to pediatric hospitals. Findings highlight the importance of ensuring appropriate dose settings to increase the safety of CT scans for children. Based on our results identifying suboptimal scanner settings as a fundamental cause of excess radiation exposure, the evidence supports adjusting protocols to appropriate settings as the most effective method of reducing excess radiation exposure to children receiving head CT scans.
High dimensional predictions of suicide risk in 4.2 million US Veterans using ensemble transfer learning
Authors: Dhaubhadel Sayera , Ganguly Kumkum , Ribeiro Ruy M. , Cohn Judith , Hyman James M. , Hengartner Nicolas W. , Kolade Beauty , Singley Anna , Bhattacharya Tanmoy , Finley Patrick D. , Levin Drew , Thelen Haedi , Cho Kelly , Costa Lauren , Ho Yuk-Lam , Justice Amy C. , Pestian John , Santel Daniel , Zamora-Resendiz Rafael , Crivelli Silvia , Tamang Suzanne , Martins Susana , Trafton Jodie , Oslin David W. , Bekham Jean C. , Kimbrel Nathan A. , Group Million Vetaran Program Suicide Exemplar Work , McMahon Benjamin H.
Published: August 2023

We present an ensemble transfer learning model to predict suicide from Veterans Affairs (VA) electronic medical records (EMR). A diverseset of base models was trained to predict a binary outcome constructed from reported suicide, suicide attempt, and overdose diagnoseswith varying choices of study design and prediction methodology. Each model used twenty cross-sectional and 190 longitudinal variablesobserved in eight time intervals covering 7.5 years prior to the time of prediction. Ensembles of seven base models were created andfine-tuned with ten additional variables, expected to change with study design and outcome definition, in order to predict suicide andcombined outcome in a prospective cohort. The ensemble models achieved c-statistics of 0.73 on 2-year suicide risk and 0.83 onthe combined outcome when predicting on a prospective cohort of ∼ 4.2M veterans. The ensembles rely heavily on nonlinear basemodels trained using a retrospective nested case-control (Rcc) study cohort and show good calibration across a diversity of subgroups,including risk strata, age, sex, race, and level of healthcare utilization. In addition, a linear Rcc base model provided a rich set of biologicalpredictors, including indicators of suicide, substance use disorder, mental health diagnoses and treatments, hypoxia and vascular damage,and demographics.
Bone scan findings of Paget's disease of bone in patients with VCP Multisystem Proteinopathy 1 (MSP1)
Authors: Columbres Rod Carlo , Din Sarosh , Gibbs Liliane , Kimonis Virginia
Published: August 2023

MSP1 disease is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the Valosin-Containing Protein (VCP) gene with clinical features of inclusion body myopathy (IBM), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and Paget's disease of bone (PDB). We performed bone scan imaging in twelve patients (6 females, 6 males) with confirmed VCP gene mutation six (50%) of which has myopathy alone, four (33%) with both PDB and myopathy, and two (15%) were presymptomatic carriers. We aim to characterize the PDB in diagnosed individuals, and potentially identify PDB in the myopathy and presymptomatic groups. Interestingly, two patients with previously undiagnosed PDB had positive diagnostic findings from bone scan and subsequent radiograph imaging. Among the individuals with PDB, increased radiotracer uptake of the affected bones were of typical distribution as seen in conventional PDB and those reported in other MSP1 cohorts which are the thoracic spine and ribs (75%), pelvis (75%), shoulder (75%) and calvarium (15%). Overall, we show that technetium-99m bone scans done at regular intervals are a sensitive screening tool in patients with MSP1 associated VCP variants at risk for PDB, and diagnostic confirmation should be correlated with clinical history, biochemical analysis, and skeletal radiographs, to enable early treatment and prevention of complications.
The effect of increased reward sensitivity on risk decision making in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury
Authors: Chen Qiuyu , Xie Sisi , Zhou Yi , Wang Yuebing , Geng Feng , Dong Yi , Tian Yanghua , Zhu Li , Zhang Lei , Wang Kai
Published: August 2023

Background
Many studies have demonstrated decision making (DM) deficits in adolescents with self-harm, but few studies have investigated the DM ability of adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) under different conditions (ambiguity and risk). The difference between the two is about implicit vs. explicit rule of reward and punishment.
Method
We recruited 39 adolescents with NSSI and 38 healthy controls (HCs) matched for age, sex, and education level. The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and the Game of Dice Task (GDT) were used to compare the performance of DM between the two groups.
Results
The total IGT net score of NSSIs was lower than HCs, and NSSIs chose more unfavorable decks with large immediate rewards. In the GDT, the total GDT net score and positive feedback utilization rate of NSSIs were higher than controls, and NSSIs chose more safe options with high reward probability.
Conclusions
Our study confirmed that NSSI adolescents tend to make decisions based on the satisfaction of immediate rewards.
Neuroprotective effect of Sterculia setigera leaves hydroethanolic extract
Authors: Kantati Yendubé T. , Kodjo Magloire K. , Lefranc Benjamin , Basille-Dugay Magali , Leprince Jérôme , Gbeassor Messanvi , Vaudry David
Published: August 2023

Plants are a valuable source of information for pharmacological research and new drug discovery. The present study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective potential of the leaves of the medicinal plant Sterculia setigera. In vitro, the effect of Sterculia setigera leaves dry hydroethanolic extract (SSE) was tested on cultured cerebellar granule neurons (CGN) survival when exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), using the viability probe fluorescein diacetate (FDA), a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity assay, an immunocytochemical staining against Gap 43, and quantification of the expression of genes involved in apoptosis, necrosis or oxidative stress. In vivo, the effect of intraperitoneal (ip) injection of SSE was assessed on the developing brain of 8-day-old Wistar rats exposed to ethanol neurotoxicity by measuring caspase-3 activity on cerebellum homogenates, the expression of some genes in tissue extracts, the thickness of cerebellar cortical layers and motor coordination. In vitro, SSE protected CGN against H2O2 and 6-OHDA induced cell death at a dose of 10 µg/mL, inhibited the expression of genes Casp3 and Bad, and upregulated the expression of Cat and Gpx7. In vivo, SSE significantly blocked the deleterious effect of ethanol by reducing the activity of caspase-3, inhibiting the expression of Bax and Tp53, preventing the reduction of the thickness of the internal granule cell layer of the cerebellar cortex and restoring motor functions. Sterculia setigera exerts neuroactive functions as claimed by traditional medicine and should be a good candidate for the development of a neuroprotective treatment against neurodegenerative diseases.
Circulating CD3+ CD8+ T lymphocytes as indicators of disease status in patients with early breast cancer
Authors: Chen Yi-Ling , Chung Wei-Pang , Loh Zhu-Jun , Lee Kuo-Ting , Lai Ming-Derg , Hsu Hui-Ping
Published: August 2023

Background Identifying breast cancer markers with superior sensitivity, cost-effectiveness, and practicality is imperative. Circulating immune cells and plasma cytokines hold promise as potential breast cancer markers. Methods Using flow cytometry, we investigated circulating immune cell profiles in patients with breast cancer and healthy controls. To validate clinical observations, an orthotopic breast cancer model was established. Results Analysis of 19 healthy controls and 27 patients with breast cancer revealed distinct populations, including CD3+CD4+T lymphocytes, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs; CD3+CD8+), polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs; CD11b+Ly6C−Ly6G+), and monocytic (M)-myeloid-derived suppressive cells (CD11b+Ly6C+Ly6G−). Patients with breast cancer exhibited reduced CD3+CD4+T lymphocyte, CD3+CD8+CTL, and CD33+CD15−M-MDSC levels compared with healthy controls. Diminished CD3+CD8+CTL levels correlated with advanced cancer grade, extensive intraductal components, and positive lymphatic tumor emboli. Treatment effects included decreased T lymphocyte/PMN-MDSC levels, contrasting with elevated circulating CD3+CD8+cell levels posttreatment, subsequently declining upon recurrence. Elevated plasma chemokine (C–C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) levels distinguished patients with breast cancer from healthy controls. Furthermore, our orthotopic model supported that decreased circulating CD3+CD8+CTL levels in cancer-bearing mice, followed by a postresection increase. Conclusions Circulating CD3+CD8+CTL and plasma CCL2 levels emerged as promising dual-purpose biomarkers and therapeutic targets in breast cancer management.
Development of poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(lactic acid) blend as sustainable biopolymer for dental applications (Running Title) PMMA/PLA blend as biopolymer for dental applications
Authors: Charasseangpaisarn Taksid , Wiwatwarrapan Chairat , Thunyakitpisal Pasutha , Srimaneep Viritpon
Published: August 2023

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is gaining popularity in manufacturing due to environmental concerns. When comparing to poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), PLA exhibits low thermal properties. To enhance the properties of these polymers, a PMMA/PLA blend has been introduced. This study aimed to investigate the optimal ratio of PMMA/PLA blends for potential dental applications based on their mechanical properties, physical properties, and biocompatibility. The PMMA/PLA blends were manufactured by melting and mixing using twin screw extruder and prepared into thermoplastic polymer beads. The specimens of neat PMMA (M100), three different ratios of PMMA/PLA blends (M75, M50, and M25), and neat PLA (M0) were fabricated with injection molding technique. The neat polymers and polymer blends were investigated in terms of flexural properties, glass transition temperature (Tg), miscibility, residual monomer, water sorption, water solubility, degradation, and biocompatibility. The data was statistically analyzed. The results indicated that Tg of PMMA/PLA blends improved with increasing PMMA content. PMMA/PLA blends were miscible in all composition ratios. The flexural properties of polymer blends were superior to those of neat PMMA and neat PLA. The biocompatibility was not different among different composition ratios. Additionally, the other parameters of PMMA/PLA blends were improved as the PMMA ratio decreased. Thus, the optimum ratio of PMMA/PLA blends have the potential to serve as novel sustainable biopolymer for extensive dental applications.
A Redox Proteomics Approach for Decoding Lignin to Lipid Conversion by Rhodococci
Authors: Li Xiaolu , Gluth Austin , Feng Song , Qian Wei-Jun , Yang Bin
Published: August 2023

Background:
Rhodococciare studied for their bacterial ligninolytic capabilities and proclivity to accumulate lipids. Lignin utilization is a resource intensive process requiring a variety of redox active enzymes and cofactors. Studying both protein abundance and regulation helps decode the metabolic rewiring that stymies lignin to lipid conversion in these bacteria. Herein, a redox proteomics approach was applied to investigate a fundamental driver of carbon catabolism and lipid anabolism: redox balance.
Results:
In this study, the importance of redox balance as it relates to nutrient availability is demonstrated from an unique angle by employing a modified bottom-up proteomics workflow to acquire a general relationship between protein abundance and protein redox states. In support of this, a previously demonstrated consortium of Rhodococcus strains was grown on glucose vs. lignin under nitrogen limitation, which is generally conducive to lipid accumulation. Global proteomics results affirm downregulation of enzymes involved in sugar catabolism and upregulation of those involved in lignin degradation and aromatics catabolism compared to glucose-fed cultures. Several enzymes in the lipid biosynthetic pathways were downregulated, whereas many involved in β-oxidation were upregulated. Interestingly, proteins involved in oxidative stress response were also upregulated perhaps in response to lignin degradation and aromatics catabolism, which require oxygen and reactive oxygen species. Enzymes displaying little-to-no change in abundance but differences in protein cysteine oxidation (i.e. redox state) were observed in various pathways for carbon utilization (e.g., β‑ketoadipate pathway), fatty acid and lipid metabolism, as well as nitrogen metabolism (e.g., purine scavenging/synthesis), suggesting potential redox-dependent regulation beyond protein expression.
Conclusions:
Efficient lipid production requires a steady carbon and energy flux while balancing fundamental requirements for enzyme production and cell maintenance. For lignin, we theorize that this balance is difficult to establish due to resource expenditure for enzyme production and oxidative stress response. This is supported by significant changes to protein abundances and protein cysteine oxidation in various pathways.
RETRACTED: Performance Enhancement of a PMSM Drive using ANFIS- HCC for Electric Vehicles
Authors: Sangar Brijendra , Singh Madhusudan , Sreej Mini
Published: August 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Multi-decadal trend analysis and forest disturbance assessment of European tree species: concerning signs of a subtle shift
Authors: Bonannella Carmelo , Parente Leandro , de Bruin Sytze , Herold Martin
Published: August 2023

Climate change poses a significant threat to the distribution and composition of forest tree species worldwide. European forest tree species' range is expected to shift to cope with the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, pests and diseases caused by climate change. Despite numerous regional studies, a continental scale assessment of current changes in species distributions in Europe is missing due to the difficult task of modeling a species realized distribution and to quantify the influence of forest disturbances on each species. In this study we conducted a trend analysis on the realized distribution of 6 main European forest tree species (Abies alba Mill., Fagus sylvatica L., Picea abies L. H. Karst., Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold, Pinus sylvestris L. and Quercus robur L.) to capture and map the prevalent trends in probability of occurrence for the period 2000–2020. We also analyzed the impact of forest disturbances on each species' range and identified the dominant disturbance drivers. Our results revealed an overall trend of stability in species' distributions (85% of the pixels are considered stable by 2020 for all species) but we also identified some hot spots characterized by negative trends in probability of occurrence, mostly at the edges of each species' latitudinal range. Additionally, we identified a steady increase in disturbance events in each species' range by disturbance (affected range doubled by 2020, from 3.5% to 7% on average) and highlighted species-specific responses to forest disturbance drivers such as wind and fire. Overall, our study provides insights into distribution trends and disturbance patterns for the main European forest tree species. The identification of range shifts and the intensifying impacts of disturbances call for proactive conservation efforts and long-term planning to ensure the resilience and sustainability of European forests.
High-g Impacts and Vibrational g-Forces can Dislodge Bacillus spp. Spores from Spacecraft Surfaces
Authors: Schuerger Andrew , Borrell Adriana V.
Published: August 2023

Mars spacecraft encounter numerous g-loads that occur along the launch or landing vectors (i.e., called axial vectors) or along lateral off-axes vectors. The goal of this research was to determine if there was a threshold for dislodging spores under brute-force dynamic shock compressional impacts (i.e., henceforth called shock-impacts) or long-term vibrationally induced g-loads that might simulate spacecraft launches or landings profiles. Results indicated that spores of Bacillus subtilis 168 and B. atrophaeus ATCC 9372 were dislodged from ChemFilm-coated aluminum coupons during shock-impact events of 60 g’s or higher. In contrast, the threshold for dislodging B. pumilus SAFR-032 spores was approx. 80 g’s. Vibrational g-loading was conducted at approx. 12–15 g’s (z-axis) and 77 Hz. All three Bacillus spp. exhibited very modest spore dislodgement at 1, 4, or 8 min of induced vibrational g-loads. However, the numbers of spores released depended on the Earth’s g-vector relative to the bacterial monolayers. When the experimental hardware was placed in an ‘Up’ orientation (def. as the spores sat on the upper surface of the coupons and the coupons pointed up and away from the Earth’s g-vector), zero to only a few spores were dislodged. When the experimental hardware was inverted and the coupon surfaces were in a ‘Down’ orientation, the numbers of spores released increased by 20–30 times. Overall, results of both assays suggest that spores on spacecraft surfaces will not likely be be dislodged during nominal launch and landing scenarios, with the exception of jettisoned hardware (e.g., heat shields or backshells) during landing that might hit the Martian terrain at high g’s. Thus, off-nominal landings hitting the Martian surface at > 60 g’s are likely to release spores into the atmosphere and regolith. [Submitted to the journal, Microorganisms, on 08-22-23 for review.]
Neem oil and pomegranate leaf extract coating on urea to reduced nitrous oxide emission; improved nitrogen use efficiency and crop yield: A step towards sustainable N use and green production
Authors: Nawaz Allah
Published: August 2023

Nitrogen (N) is widely regarded as the most important essential plant nutrient in agricultural cropping systems. However, the use efficiency of applied N fertilizer is as low as 20-30% from farm to fork, due to losses including runoff, leaching and emission of nitrous oxide (N2O) which has huge environmental and economic consequences. The use of synthetic nitrification inhibitors (NIs), such as dicyandiamide (DCD) has been suggested to minimize N emission significantly and enhance N recovery in cereals. But the use of natural plant products that may act as NIs has been less studied so far. Field experiments were conducted in central Punjab, Pakistan, to assess the impact of neem oil and pomegranate leaf extract coating on urea, and urea plus dicyandiamide (DCD) on N2O emission, N recovery efficiency and grain yield, in wheat and rice crops. All NIs reduced N2O emission compared with the inorganic fertilizer (urea treatment), with emission reductions from 21 to 88% in wheat and 25 to 72% in rice. The maximum reduction in N2O emission was with the DCD treatment (72-88%). The application of all NIs (natural and synthetic) improved grain yield compared with inorganic fertilizer, by 3 to 10% in wheat and 4 to 12% in rice. Neem oil-coated urea gave the maximum increase in grain yields and N recovery in both the crops. Thus, it is recommended that neem oil and pomegranate leaf extract coated urea may be used for mitigating N2O emission along with increased N recovery and optimum yield benefits.
FamFac – A Database of Famous Faces for Psychology Experiments
Authors: Monteiro Fábio , Rodrigues Paulo , Santos Isabel M. , Bem-Haja Pedro , Rosa Pedro J.
Published: August 2023

Introduction. High variation in the low-level proprieties of visual stimuli and varying degrees of familiarity with famous faces may have caused a bias in the results of investigations that tried to disentangle the processes involved in familiar and unfamiliar face processing (e.g., temporal differences in the detection of the first event-related potentials specialized in face processing may have been caused by different methods of controlling variance in the low-level proprieties of visual stimuli). Objective. To address these problems, we developed a freely available database of 183 famous faces whose low-level proprieties (brightness, size, resolution) have been homogenized and the level of familiarity established. Method. The brightness of the stimuli was standardized by a custom-developed algorithm. The size and the resolution of the pictures were homogenized in Gimp. The familiarity level of the famous faces was established by a group of 48 Portuguese college students. Results. Our results suggest that the brightness of each image did not differ significantly from the mean brightness value of the stimuli set, confirming the standardizing ability of the algorithm. Forty-one famous faces were classified as highly familiar. Main findings and implications. This study provides two important resources, as both the algorithm and the database are freely available for research purposes. The homogenization of the low-level features and the control of the level of familiarity of the famous faces included in our database should ensure that they do not elicit confounding effects such as the ones verified in past studies.
Degradation of R35 Steel in 5% NaCl environment at 10°C
Authors: LIPIŃSKI T.
Published: August 2023

Abstract. Carbon steels are willingly used due to the favorable price-performance ratio. They usually do not operate in a non-corrosive state. However, there are products that are hard to protect against corrosion in their entirety. These products include pipes. It is easy to protect the outer layer of the pipe against aggressive environment. The problem with protection is caused by their inner surface. Typically, the working medium is the protective factor, usually filling the internal volume of the pipes completely. It happens, however, that corrosion occurs as a result of long storage of pipes in warehouses, usually in the open air. They are also used as working elements with partial liquid filling. They are then exposed to the environment. One of the corrosive agents is NaCl. The paper presents the results of corrosion rate tests of samples taken from R35 pipes in the environment of a 5% aqueous solution of NaCl at 10oC. The analyzes were carried out based on the determination of mass losses. On the basis of the tests carried out, the relationship between the rate of corrosion and the soaking time of the samples was determined. It was confirmed that on the basis of roughness parameters it is possible to draw conclusions about the suitability of steel for further operation.
Enhancing Materials Science through Computer Image Analysis and IQA Approaches
Authors: PIWOWARCZYK A.
Published: August 2023

Abstract. Computer image analysis allows for various object detection and classification as well as conducting measurements on microscope images. Technological development, including the application of artificial intelligence solutions, speeds up the classification of large data sets. In the context of image analysis, an essential issue is image quality assessment (IQA). Applying the tools of image analysis, or artificial intelligence, linked with the appropriate IQA approach reveals the opportunity to develop materials with better functional and technological properties more sustainably and effectively.
Temporal Trends in Cardiovascular Health Status Among Chinese School-Aged Children From 1989 to 2018: Multiwave Cross-Sectional Analysis
Authors: Wang Xijie , Dong Bin , Huang Feifei , Zhang Ji , He Rongxin , Du Shufa , Zhang Jiguo , Ma Jun , Wang Huijun , Zhang Bing , Liang Wannian
Published: August 2023

Background

Despite the release of updated metrics for Life’s Essential 8 (LE8), key indicators for assessing cardiovascular health (CVH) status, there is currently no report on their distribution among Chinese children.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the nationwide distribution of CVH in Chinese school-aged children using LE8 scores and analyze temporal changes in these scores over time.

Methods

Participants aged 7 to 19 years from 11 waves (between 1989 and 2018) of the China Health and Nutrition Survey were included in this study. LE8 components were grouped into 2 domains of health behaviors (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep) and health factors (BMI, blood lipids, blood glucose, blood pressure). Scores of overall CVH and each LE8 metric were calculated individually. Temporal changes were assessed with joint point regression models by rural and urban living residence. The causal relationships between health behaviors and health factors that changed the most over time were built with cross-lagged panel models.

Results

A total of 21,921 participants, 52.6% (n=11,537) of whom were male, who had data for at least 4 CVH components were included in the analysis. The mean age was 13 (SD 3.6) years. The overall CVH score remained stable in most regions, with the lowest found in Shandong from East China, which had a mean between 67 (SD 10.9) and 67.2 (SD 12.4). In contrast, the highest score was found in Guizhou from Southwest China, with a mean between 71.4 (SD 10.8) and 74.3 (SD 10.3). In rural areas, the diet score decreased significantly from 1997 onward with a speed of 0.18 (95% CI: 0.15-0.21; P<.001) per year, and the BMI score decreased significantly from 2005 onward with a speed of 0.56 (95% CI 0.44-0.68; P<.001) per year. In urban areas, the diet score decreased from 1994 onward with a speed of 0.03 (95% CI: 0.001-0.07; P=.04) per year, and the BMI score decreased from 2002 onward with a speed of 0.63 (95% CI 0.47-0.79; P<.001) per year. The sleep score dropped constantly in both urban and rural areas, with a speed of 0.69 (95% CI 0.58-0.80; P<.001) and 0.69 (95% CI: 0.52-0.86; P<.001) per year, respectively. A decline in the diet score led to a decline in the BMI score with a coefficient of 0.190 (95% CI 0.030-0.351; P=.02), while a decline in the BMI score led to a decline in sleep health with a coefficient of 0.089 (95% CI 0.010-0.168; P=.03).

Conclusions

Chinese school-aged children and adolescents were generally of moderate CVH status, but mutual influences existed between CVH metrics. Dietary interventions should be prioritized for promoting overall CVH in the future.
An mHealth-Delivered Sexual Harm Reduction Tool (PartyPack) for Men Who Have Sex With Men in Malaysia: Usability Study
Authors: Gautam Kamal , Paudel Kiran , Jacobs Jerome , Wickersham Jeffrey A , Ikhtiaruddin Wan Mohd , Azwa Iskandar , Saifi Rumana , Lim Sin How , Shrestha Roman
Published: August 2023

Background

Chemsex—the use of psychoactive drugs to enhance the sexual experience—is an increasing phenomenon globally. Despite the increasing burden and associated harms of chemsex, evidence-based interventions (ie, behavioral and pharmacological) for chemsex users are nonexistent.

Objective

In this study, we assessed the usability and acceptability of a mobile health (mHealth)–delivered safer chemsex package (“PartyPack”) as a sexual harm reduction strategy among men who have sex with men in Malaysia—a setting where chemsex is becoming increasingly prevalent.

Methods

This study is part of a larger smartphone app-based intervention (ie, JomPrEP; University of Connecticut) designed to improve access to HIV prevention services among Malaysian men who have sex with men. A total of 50 participants were recruited from the Greater Kuala Lumpur region of Malaysia to use the JomPrEP app, which included a feature allowing participants to order PartyPack, for 30 days (March-April 2022). The usability and acceptability of the PartyPack were assessed using self-report, app analytics, and exit interviews (n=20).

Results

Overall, 8% (4/50) of participants reported having engaged in chemsex in the past 6 months; however, engagement in condomless sex (34/50, 68%) and group sex (9/50, 18%) was much higher. A total of 43 (86%) participants ordered PartyPack, of which 27 (63%) made multiple orders during the 30 days. Most participants (41/43, 95%) reported being satisfied with the PartyPack order feature in the app, with 91% (39/43) indicating the order and tracking process was easy. Thematic data exploration further revealed important information for understanding (eg, items included in the package, use of mHealth platform to order package, and discreetness of the PartyPack box and order and delivery) and refining the logistical preferences (eg, using branded items and allowing customization during order).

Conclusions

Our findings provide strong evidence of the usability and acceptability of a mHealth-delivered safer chemsex package as a potential sexual harm reduction tool among this underserved population. Replication in a study with a larger sample size to test the efficacy of the PartyPack is warranted.
Serious Game for Fine Motor Control Rehabilitation for Children With Epileptic Encephalopathy: Development and Usability Study
Authors: Vidal Elizabeth , Castro-Gutierrez Eveling , Arisaca Robert , Paz-Valderrama Alfredo , Albiol-Pérez Sergio
Published: August 2023

Background

Epileptic encephalopathy (EE) is defined as the presence of frequent epileptiform activity that adversely impacts development, typically causing the slowing or regression of developmental skills, and is usually associated with frequent seizures. One of the main disturbances in EE is in the coordination of the upper extremities and hands. Traditional rehabilitation for this type of pathology focuses on the alleviation of gross or fine motor disability. In the last few years, the use of low-cost devices together with customized serious games has shown improvements in motor disorders and enrichments in activities of daily living.

Objective

This study aims to explore the feasibility of a new serious game for improving fine motor control in children with EE.

Methods

The participants were 4 children with EE (male: n=2, 50%; female: n=2, 50%) who were classified as belonging to level 1 in the Gross Motor Classification System. The children were tested over 10 sessions during the intervention period (before and after treatment). The clinical tests performed were the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, 2nd edition and Pittsburgh Rehabilitation Participation Scale. The subscales of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, 2nd edition were fine motor precision, fine motor integration, manual dexterity, and upper-limb coordination. At the end of the first session, we used the User Satisfaction Evaluation Questionnaire to analyze user satisfaction.

Results

The significance outcomes for a Student t test (1-tailed) were as follows: P=.009 for fine motor precision, P=.002 for fine motor integration, P=.56 for manual dexterity, and P=.99 for upper-limb coordination. The participation rate as measured using the Pittsburgh Rehabilitation Participation Scale was between good and very good, which means that, based on the therapist’s evaluation, interest, independence, and motivation were achieved by each participant. The mean User Satisfaction Evaluation Questionnaire score was close to 30, which is the maximum value.

Conclusions

The results support the use of the proposed serious game as a complement in therapeutic sessions during the rehabilitation processes for children with EE. Significant improvements in fine motor control and activities of daily living revealed that the proposed serious game is beneficial for fine motor disorders of this pathology.
Bayesian Networks for Prescreening in Depression: Algorithm Development and Validation (Preprint)
Authors: Maekawa Eduardo , Grua Eoin Martino , Nakamura Carina Akemi , Scazufca Marcia , Araya Ricardo , Peters Tim , van de Ven Pepijn
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND

Identifying individuals with depressive symptomatology (DS) promptly and effectively is of paramount importance for providing timely treatment. Machine learning models have shown promise in this area; however, studies often fall short in demonstrating the practical benefits of using these models and fail to provide tangible real-world applications.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to establish a novel methodology for identifying individuals likely to exhibit DS, identify the most influential features in a more explainable way via probabilistic measures, and propose tools that can be used in real-world applications.

METHODS

The study used 3 data sets: PROACTIVE, the Brazilian National Health Survey (Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde [PNS]) 2013, and PNS 2019, comprising sociodemographic and health-related features. A Bayesian network was used for feature selection. Selected features were then used to train machine learning models to predict DS, operationalized as a score of ≥10 on the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire. The study also analyzed the impact of varying sensitivity rates on the reduction of screening interviews compared to a random approach.

RESULTS

The methodology allows the users to make an informed trade-off among sensitivity, specificity, and a reduction in the number of interviews. At the thresholds of 0.444, 0.412, and 0.472, determined by maximizing the Youden index, the models achieved sensitivities of 0.717, 0.741, and 0.718, and specificities of 0.644, 0.737, and 0.766 for PROACTIVE, PNS 2013, and PNS 2019, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.736, 0.801, and 0.809 for these 3 data sets, respectively. For the PROACTIVE data set, the most influential features identified were postural balance, shortness of breath, and how old people feel they are. In the PNS 2013 data set, the features were the ability to do usual activities, chest pain, sleep problems, and chronic back problems. The PNS 2019 data set shared 3 of the most influential features with the PNS 2013 data set. However, the difference was the replacement of chronic back problems with verbal abuse. It is important to note that the features contained in the PNS data sets differ from those found in the PROACTIVE data set. An empirical analysis demonstrated that using the proposed model led to a potential reduction in screening interviews of up to 52% while maintaining a sensitivity of 0.80.

CONCLUSIONS

This study developed a novel methodology for identifying individuals with DS, demonstrating the utility of using Bayesian networks to identify the most significant features. Moreover, this approach has the potential to substantially reduce the number of screening interviews while maintaining high sensitivity, thereby facilitating improved early identification and intervention strategies for individuals experiencing DS.

CLINICALTRIAL