bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Motivating a Scientific Modeling Continuum: The Case of “Natural Models” in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Nefdt Ryan M.
Published: April 2023

The COVID-19 global pandemic had a profound effect on scientific practice. During this time, officials crucially relied on the work done by modelers. This raises novel questions for the philosophy of science. Here I investigate the possibility of 'natural models' in predicting the SARS-Cov-2 virus’s trajectory for epidemiological purposes. I argue that to the extent that these can be considered scientific models, they support the possibility of a continuum from scientific models to natural models differing in artifactual commitment. In making my case, I draw from work on both model organisms and natural experiments as well as recent work in epidemiology.
Imperfect Victims? Civilian Men, Vulnerability, and Policy Preferences
Authors: KREFT ANNE-KATHRIN , AGERBERG MATTIAS
Published: April 2023

Who is deemed vulnerable and in need of protection has a bearing on important policy decisions, such as refugee acceptance or provision of aid. In war, dominant narratives construe women as paradigmatic victims, even while civilian men are disproportionately targeted in the most lethal forms of violence. How are such gender-essentialist notions reflected in public opinion? Do regular citizens have inaccurate perceptions of male victimization in war, and with what consequences for their policy preferences? We carried out survey experiments among U.S. and U.K. respondents on both real and hypothetical conflicts, where we emphasized or varied the gender of the victims. In support of our expectations, respondents consistently underestimate the victimization of men, perceive civilian male victims as less innocent, and hold anti-male biases when it comes to accepting refugees and providing aid. However, informing respondents of the vulnerability of male civilians to targeted assassinations and massacres mitigates these effects.
THE LATIN ORIGINS OF A BILINGUAL LETTER COLLECTION (SPECIMINA EPISTVLARIA=P.BON.5)
Authors: Gitner Adam , Scappaticcio Maria Chiara
Published: April 2023

P.Bon.5 preserves the only known collection of ancient Latin model letters, accompanied by a Greek translation. This article argues that the Latin is the primary version and dates the composition to before the early third century. Comparisons with other model letter collections, principally ps.-Demetrius’Epistolary Typesand ps.-Libanius’Epistolary Styles, locate the text within a wider literary genre. A new reconstructed text is provided in the Appendix at the end of this article.
Class Trips beyond Borders: Reimagining the Nation through State-Sponsored Heritage Tourism
Authors: Molnár Virág
Published: April 2023

The article explores how cross-border heritage tourism is promoted in public schools to reimagine Hungary as an ethnically homogeneous nation by incorporating ethnic kin communities that live in neighboring countries. Cross-border heritage tourism has long served to establish strong ties to ethnic diaspora communities that live beyond the territorial borders of the nation-state. National borders in Central and Eastern Europe were repeatedly redrawn across ethnic groups over the twentieth century. Heritage tourism remains a key cultural and economic practice that symbolically questions current national borders and aims to increase the viability of ethnic enclave economies in countries where the given ethnic group is a minority. The article focuses on a large-scale student travel program that was launched by the Hungarian government in 2010, the year that marked the start of a brisk populist turn in Hungarian politics. The program provides funding to public school students for organized class trips to areas of neighboring countries (Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, Croatia, and Ukraine) that belonged to the Hungarian state before World War I. It shows how the Hungarian government mobilizes the public education system to foster a narrow and exclusionary ethnic understanding of cultural membership by selectively overemphasizing Hungarian heritage in regions that have had multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multicultural histories for centuries. This project extends research on identity-based heritage tourism to show how it has become an integral part of the propaganda toolkit of populist governments.
“Our Adriatic”: Comment on Forum on Adriatic Tourism
Authors: Ballinger Pamela
Published: April 2023

This short piece comments on the articles presented in the forum on Adriatic tourism and their analyses of competing historical claims to “our Adriatic.” The comment focuses on questions raised about ownership of the sea and the Adriatic's borders of belonging. While sovereignty over areas of the Adriatic has proven an enduring diplomatic issue in both the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the forum authors instead consider claims by different types of actors: tourists (particularly Czech tourists who claimed a special relationship between Czechs and their South Slav “brothers”); investors in hotels and related infrastructure; socialist Yugoslav tourism planners; and environmentalists concerned with issues of pollution. In tracing out tensions in the agendas of hosts and visitors, as well as planners and scientists, the forum's essays measure and map the socio-ecological metabolism of the modern eastern Adriatic.
Exploring the Origins of EU Peacebuilding in Northern Ireland through the Role of John Hume and the European Parliament
Authors: Lagana Giada , McLoughlin Peter
Published: April 2023

This article explores the origins of the European Union (EU) peacebuilding approach in Northern Ireland through the role of the long-serving MEP and Nobel Laureate, John Hume. It gives particular emphasis to the part played by the European Parliament (EP) in this endeavour, which has been neglected in existing studies of the EU influence on Northern Ireland. The article shows how Hume helped to create better understanding, interest and ultimately engagement by the EU to support peacebuilding efforts in Northern Ireland. Local political shifts would prove decisive in creating the peace process that emerged in the region in the 1990s, but the article argues that Hume's efforts, stretching as far back as the 1970s, both encouraged these shifts and then provided the basis for much greater EU engagement in support of the peace process. This deepens our understanding of the EU role in aiding political change in Northern Ireland.
Effects of back-support exoskeletons with different functional mechanisms on trunk muscle activity and kinematics
Authors: Reimeir Benjamin , Calisti Maité , Mittermeier Ronja , Ralfs Lennart , Weidner Robert
Published: April 2023

Musculoskeletal disorders constitute the leading work-related health issue. Mechanical loading of the lower back contributes as a major risk factor and is prevalent in many tasks performed in logistics. The study aimed to compare acute effects of exoskeletons with different functional mechanisms in a logistic task. Twelve young, healthy individuals participated in the study. Five exoskeletons with different functional mechanisms were tested in a logistic task, consisting of lifting, carrying, and lowering a 13 kg box. By using electromyography (EMG), mean muscle activities of four muscles in the trunk were analyzed. Additionally, kinematics by task completion time and range of motion (RoM) of the major joints and segments were investigated. A main effect was found forMusculus erector spinae,Musculus multifidus, andMusculus latissimus dorsishowing differences in muscle activity reductions between exoskeletons. Reduction in ES mean activity compared to baseline was primarily during lifting from ground level. The exoskeletons SoftExo Lift and Cray X also showed ES mean reduction during lowering the box. Prolonged task duration during the lifting phase was found for the exoskeletons BionicBack, SoftExo Lift, and Japet.W. Japet.W showed a trend in reducing hip RoM during that phase. SoftExo Lift caused a reduction in trunk flexion during the lifting phase. A stronger trunk inclination was only found during lifting from the table for the SoftExo Lift and the Cray X. In conclusion, muscle activity reductions by exoskeleton use should not be assessed without taking their designed force paths into account to correctly interpret the effects for long-term injury prevention.
Thunderstorm Nowcasting With Deep Learning: A Multi‐Hazard Data Fusion Model
Authors: Leinonen Jussi , Hamann Ulrich , Sideris Ioannis V. , Germann Urs
Published: April 2023

Predictions of thunderstorm‐related hazards are needed in several sectors, including first responders, infrastructure management and aviation. To address this need, we present a deep learning model that can be adapted to different hazard types. The model can utilize multiple data sources; we use data from weather radar, lightning detection, satellite visible/infrared imagery, numerical weather prediction and digital elevation models. We demonstrate the ability of the model to predict lightning, hail and heavy precipitation probabilistically on a 1 km resolution grid, with a temporal resolution of 5 min and lead times up to 60 min. Shapley values quantify the importance of the different data sources, showing that the weather radar products are the most important predictors for all three hazard types.
Exploring the Factors Controlling the Long‐Term Trend (1988–2019) of Surface Organic Aerosols in the Continental United States by Simulations
Authors: Liu Yaman , Dong Xinyi , Emmons Louisa K. , Jo Duseong S. , Liu Yawen , Shrivastava Manish , Yue Man , Liang Yuan , Song Zigeng , He Xianqiang , Wang Minghuai
Published: April 2023

Observed surface organic aerosols (OA) concentrations slightly increased in the western US (WUS) but significantly decreased in the eastern US (EUS) in summer, and continuously decreased in winter over the US region. To understand the driving factors for the long‐term surface OA trend, we apply a revised version of the Community Atmosphere Model version 6 with comprehensive tropospheric and stratospheric chemistry representation, considering the heterogeneous formation of isoprene‐epoxydiol‐derived secondary organic aerosols (SOAIE) and fast photolysis rate of monoterpene‐derived secondary organic aerosols (MTSOA) to diagnose the OA evolution in 1988–2019. Compared to older versions, the revised model better reproduces the climatology, seasonal cycle, and long‐term trend of surface OA as evaluated against the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments measurements. We find the decrease in EUS summertime OA is likely attributed to the interplay between SOAIE and MTSOA. With anthropogenic emissions reduction, primary organic aerosols (POA) declined, SOAIE decreased along with sulfate, while MTSOA increased along with biogenic emissions driven by a warming climate. POA from wildfires with a significant trend of 2.9% yr−1 and considerable interannual variation of 62.8% drive the statistically insignificant but increasing WUS summertime OA, while anthropogenic POA dominates the decreasing wintertime OA in the US. Through sensitivity experiments, we find MTSOA show linear responses to the increasing monoterpenes emissions and negligible responses to NOx emissions reduction due to the mutual offsets between MTSOA components from different oxidation pathways. This study reveals the increasingly important role of MTSOA in summertime OA under a warming climate.
Exploring the Influence of 34S Fractionation From Emission Sources and SO2 Atmospheric Oxidation on Sulfate Source Apportionment Based on Hourly Resolution δ34S‐SO2/SO42−
Authors: Feng Xinxin , Chen Yingjun , Liu Zeyu , Feng Yanli , Du Huiyun , Mu Yujing , Chen Jianmin
Published: April 2023

Sulfate (SO42−) sources are unclear leading to the underestimation of its concentration in the model. Hourly resolution δ34S‐SO2 and δ34S‐SO42− values of three haze episodes (EP1‐EP3) were synchronously collected for the first time to quantify the influence of 34S fractionation from emission sources (e.g., coal combustion) and SO2 atmospheric oxidation on SO2/SO42− source apportionment. After considering the 34S fractionation from coal combustion and atmospheric oxidation, the reasonable and logical source contributions of SO42− were obtained, showing highly consistent with that of Positive Matrix Factorization model results. Considering the 34S fraction from atmospheric oxidation, the source apportionment of SO2/SO42− obtained by hourly resolution δ34S‐SO2 and δ34S‐SO42− can more accurately reflect the dynamic changes of emission sources. Traffic emissions (49%) and coal combustion (46%–65%) were the major contributors to SO2/SO42− in EP1 and EP2‐EP3, respectively. However, obvious deviations of coal combustion contribution were found without considering 34S fractionation from coal combustion. Especially for the northwest transmission channels in EP2‐EP3, the deviation values accounted for 17.1%–38.5% of secondary SO42−. Moreover, δ34S was considered as a more sensitive source indicator than SO2 concentration by the results comparison of 34S technique and air quality model (Nested Air Quality Prediction Model System), which can provide more reliable evidence for SO2 emission control.
Integrating genetics and transcriptomics to study major depressive disorder: a conceptual framework, bioinformatic approaches, and recent findings
Authors: Hicks Emily M. , Seah Carina , Cote Alanna , Marchese Shelby , Brennand Kristen J. , Nestler Eric J. , Girgenti Matthew J. , Huckins Laura M.
Published: April 2023

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a complex and heterogeneous psychiatric syndrome with genetic and environmental influences. In addition to neuroanatomical and circuit-level disturbances, dysregulation of the brain transcriptome is a key phenotypic signature of MDD. Postmortem brain gene expression data are uniquely valuable resources for identifying this signature and key genomic drivers in human depression; however, the scarcity of brain tissue limits our capacity to observe the dynamic transcriptional landscape of MDD. It is therefore crucial to explore and integrate depression and stress transcriptomic data from numerous, complementary perspectives to construct a richer understanding of the pathophysiology of depression. In this review, we discuss multiple approaches for exploring the brain transcriptome reflecting dynamic stages of MDD: predisposition, onset, and illness. We next highlight bioinformatic approaches for hypothesis-free, genome-wide analyses of genomic and transcriptomic data and their integration. Last, we summarize the findings of recent genetic and transcriptomic studies within this conceptual framework.
Intracellular carbon storage by microorganisms is an overlooked pathway of biomass growth
Authors: Mason-Jones Kyle , Breidenbach Andreas , Dyckmans Jens , Banfield Callum C. , Dippold Michaela A.
Published: April 2023

The concept of biomass growth is central to microbial carbon (C) cycling and ecosystem nutrient turnover. Microbial biomass is usually assumed to grow by cellular replication, despite microorganisms’ capacity to increase biomass by synthesizing storage compounds. Resource investment in storage allows microbes to decouple their metabolic activity from immediate resource supply, supporting more diverse microbial responses to environmental changes. Here we show that microbial C storage in the form of triacylglycerides (TAGs) and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) contributes significantly to the formation of new biomass, i.e. growth, under contrasting conditions of C availability and complementary nutrient supply in soil. Together these compounds can comprise a C pool 0.19 ± 0.03 to 0.46 ± 0.08 times as large as extractable soil microbial biomass and reveal up to 279 ± 72% more biomass growth than observed by a DNA-based method alone. Even under C limitation, storage represented an additional 16–96% incorporation of added C into microbial biomass. These findings encourage greater recognition of storage synthesis as a key pathway of biomass growth and an underlying mechanism for resistance and resilience of microbial communities facing environmental change.
Disorder-enabled Andreev reflection of a quantum Hall edge
Authors: Kurilovich Vladislav D. , Raines Zachary M. , Glazman Leonid I.
Published: April 2023

We develop a theory of charge transport along the quantum Hall edge proximitized by a superconductor. We note that generically Andreev reflection of an edge state is suppressed if translation invariance along the edge is preserved. Disorder in a “dirty” superconductor enables the Andreev reflection but makes it random. As a result, the conductance of a proximitized segment is a stochastic quantity with giant sign-alternating fluctuations and zero average. We find the statistical distribution of the conductance and its dependence on electron density, magnetic field, and temperature. Our theory provides an explanation of a recent experiment with a proximitized edge state.
Contrasting geochemical and fungal controls on decomposition of lignin and soil carbon at continental scale
Authors: Huang Wenjuan , Yu Wenjuan , Yi Bo , Raman Erik , Yang Jihoon , Hammel Kenneth E. , Timokhin Vitaliy I. , Lu Chaoqun , Howe Adina , Weintraub-Leff Samantha R. , Hall Steven J.
Published: April 2023

Lignin is an abundant and complex plant polymer that may limit litter decomposition, yet lignin is sometimes a minor constituent of soil organic carbon (SOC). Accounting for diversity in soil characteristics might reconcile this apparent contradiction. Tracking decomposition of a lignin/litter mixture and SOC across different North American mineral soils using lab and field incubations, here we show that cumulative lignin decomposition varies 18-fold among soils and is strongly correlated with bulk litter decomposition, but not SOC decomposition. Climate legacy predicts decomposition in the lab, and impacts of nitrogen availability are minor compared with geochemical and microbial properties. Lignin decomposition increases with some metals and fungal taxa, whereas SOC decomposition decreases with metals and is weakly related with fungi. Decoupling of lignin and SOC decomposition and their contrasting biogeochemical drivers indicate that lignin is not necessarily a bottleneck for SOC decomposition and can explain variable contributions of lignin to SOC among ecosystems.
Accounting for assay performance when estimating the temporal dynamics in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in the U.S.
Authors: García-Carreras Bernardo , Hitchings Matt D. T. , Johansson Michael A. , Biggerstaff Matthew , Slayton Rachel B. , Healy Jessica M. , Lessler Justin , Quandelacy Talia , Salje Henrik , Huang Angkana T. , Cummings Derek A. T.
Published: April 2023

Reconstructing the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection is central to understanding the state of the pandemic. Seroprevalence studies are often used to assess cumulative infections as they can identify asymptomatic infection. Since July 2020, commercial laboratories have conducted nationwide serosurveys for the U.S. CDC. They employed three assays, with different sensitivities and specificities, potentially introducing biases in seroprevalence estimates. Using models, we show that accounting for assays explains some of the observed state-to-state variation in seroprevalence, and when integrating case and death surveillance data, we show that when using the Abbott assay, estimates of proportions infected can differ substantially from seroprevalence estimates. We also found that states with higher proportions infected (before or after vaccination) had lower vaccination coverages, a pattern corroborated using a separate dataset. Finally, to understand vaccination rates relative to the increase in cases, we estimated the proportions of the population that received a vaccine prior to infection.
Latent generative landscapes as maps of functional diversity in protein sequence space
Authors: Ziegler Cheyenne , Martin Jonathan , Sinner Claude , Morcos Faruck
Published: April 2023

Variational autoencoders are unsupervised learning models with generative capabilities, when applied to protein data, they classify sequences by phylogeny and generate de novo sequences which preserve statistical properties of protein composition. While previous studies focus on clustering and generative features, here, we evaluate the underlying latent manifold in which sequence information is embedded. To investigate properties of the latent manifold, we utilize direct coupling analysis and a Potts Hamiltonian model to construct a latent generative landscape. We showcase how this landscape captures phylogenetic groupings, functional and fitness properties of several systems including Globins, β-lactamases, ion channels, and transcription factors. We provide support on how the landscape helps us understand the effects of sequence variability observed in experimental data and provides insights on directed and natural protein evolution. We propose that combining generative properties and functional predictive power of variational autoencoders and coevolutionary analysis could be beneficial in applications for protein engineering and design.
Comprehensive assessment of the utilization of manure in China’s croplands based on national farmer survey data
Authors: Zhang Qingsong , Chu Yiyan , Yin Yulong , Ying Hao , Zhang Fusuo , Cui Zhenling
Published: April 2023

China’s rapid increase in mass excreta and its environmental discharge have attracted substantial attention. However, cropland as a main destination of excreta utilization has not been extensively evaluated. Here, a national survey was used to assess the utilization of manure in croplands across China. The data included the inputs of manure nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) for cereals, fruits, vegetables, and other crops, along with the manure proportion of total N, P, and K inputs at the county level. The results showed that the manure N, P, and K inputs were 6.85, 2.14, and 4.65 million tons (Mt), respectively, constituting 19.0%, 25.5%, and 31.1% of the total N, P, and K, respectively. The spatial distribution of the manure proportion of total inputs was lower in Eastern China and higher in Western China. The results provide a detailed description of the utilization of manure nutrients in agricultural areas throughout China, which will serve as basic support for policymakers and researchers involved in future agricultural nutrient management in China.
Insect visuomotor delay adjustments in group flight support swarm cohesion
Authors: Islam Md. Saiful , Faruque Imraan A.
Published: April 2023

Flying insects routinely demonstrate coordinated flight in crowded assemblies despite strict communication and processing constraints. This study experimentally records multiple flying insects tracking a moving visual stimulus. System identification techniques are used to robustly identify the tracking dynamics, including a visuomotor delay. The population delay distributions are quantified for solo and group behaviors. An interconnected visual swarm model incorporating heterogeneous delays is developed, and bifurcation analysis and swarm simulation are applied to assess swarm stability under the delays. The experiment recorded 450 insect trajectories and quantified visual tracking delay variation. Solitary tasks showed a 30ms average delay and standard deviation of 50ms, while group behaviors show a 15ms average and 8ms standard deviation. Analysis and simulation indicate that the delay adjustments during group flight support swarm formation and center stability, and are robust to measurement noise. These results quantify the role of visuomotor delay heterogeneity in flying insects and their role in supporting swarm cohesion through implicit communication.
Understanding the impact of surface roughness: changing from FTO to ITO to PEN/ITO for flexible perovskite solar cells
Authors: Holzhey Philippe , Prettl Michael , Collavini Silvia , Mortan Claudiu , Saliba Michael
Published: April 2023

So far, single-junction flexible PSCs have been lacking in efficiency compared to rigid PSCs. Recently, > 23% have been reported. We therefore focus on understanding the differences between rigid and flexible substrates. One often neglected parameter is the different surface roughness which directly affects the perovskite film formation. Therefore, we adjust the layer thickness of SnO2 and the perovskite layers. Furthermore, we introduce a PMMA layer between the perovskite and the hole transporting material (HTM), spiro-MeOTAD, to mitigate shunting pathways. In addition, the multication perovskite Rb0.02Cs0.05FA0.77MA0.16Pb(I0.83Br0.17)3 is employed, resulting in stabilized performances of 16% for a flexible ITO substrate and 19% on a rigid ITO substrate.
In vitro PCR verification that lysozyme inhibits nucleic acid replication and transcription
Authors: Liu Lu , Jia Xu , Zhao Xiaoyang , Li Ting , Luo Ziren , Deng Ranxi , Peng Bijia , Mao Danting , Liu Hong , Zheng Qian
Published: April 2023

Lysozyme can kill bacteria by its enzymatic activity or through a mechanism involving its cationic nature, which can facilitate electrostatic interactions with the viral capsid, the negatively charged parts of nucleic acids, and polymerase, so binding to nucleic acids may be another biological function of lysozyme. Here, PCR was used as a research tool to detect the effects of lysozyme on the replication and transcription of nucleic acids after treatment in different ways. We found that lysozyme and its hydrolysate can enter cells and inhibit PCR to varying degrees in vitro, and degraded lysozyme inhibited nucleic acid replication more effectively than intact lysozyme. The inhibition of lysozyme may be related to polymerase binding, and the sensitivity of different polymerases to lysozyme is inconsistent. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for further explaining the pharmacological effects of lysozyme, such as antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, and immune regulatory activities, and directions for the development of new pharmacological effects of lysozyme and its metabolites.
Numerical simulation and mathematical modeling for heat and mass transfer in MHD stagnation point flow of nanofluid consisting of entropy generation
Authors: Khan M. Riaz , Puneeth V. , Alqahtani Aisha M. , Alhazmi Sharifah E. , Beinane Sid Ahmed Ould , Shutaywi Meshal , Eldin Sayed M. , Alsenani Theyab R.
Published: April 2023

The primary goal of this article is to explore the radiative stagnation point flow of nanofluid with cross-diffusion and entropy generation across a permeable curved surface. Moreover, the activation energy, Joule heating, slip condition, and viscous dissipation effects have been considered in order to achieve realistic results. The governing equations associated with the modeling of this research have been transformed into ordinary differential equations by utilizing appropriate transformation variable. The resulting system of equations was solved numerically by using Bvp4c built-in package in MATLAB. The impact of involved parameters have been graphically examined for the diverse features of velocity, temperature, and concentration profiles. Throughout the analysis, the volume fraction is assumed to be less than $$5\%$$

5
%

while the Prandtl number is set to be $$6$$

6

. In addition, the entropy generation, friction drag, Nusselt, and Sherwood numbers have been plotted for describing the diverse physical aspects of the underlying phenomena. The major outcomes reveal that the curvature parameter reduces the velocity profile and skin friction coefficient whereas the magnetic parameter, temperature difference parameter, and radiation parameter intensify the entropy generation.
Self-healing perovskite solar cells based on copolymer-templated TiO2 electron transport layer
Authors: Lalpour Nakisa , Mirkhani Valiollah , Keshavarzi Reza , Moghadam Majid , Tangestaninejad Shahram , Mohammadpoor-Baltork Iraj , Gao Peng
Published: April 2023

Inorganic hole-transport materials (HTMs) such as copper indium disulfide (CIS) have been applied in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to improve the poor stability of the conventional Spiro-based PSCs. However, CIS-PSCs' main drawback is their lower efficiency than Spiro-PSCs. In this work, copolymer-templated TiO2 (CT-TiO2) structures have been used as an electron transfer layer (ETL) to improve the photocurrent density and efficiency of CIS-PSCs. Compared to the conventional random porous TiO2 ETLs, copolymer-templated TiO2 ETLs with a lower refractive index improve the transmittance of input light into the cell and therefore enhance the photovoltaic performance. Interestingly, a large number of surface hydroxyl groups on the CT-TiO2 induce a self-healing effect in perovskite. Thus, they provide superior stability in CIS-PSC. The fabricated CIS-PSC presents a conversion efficiency of 11.08% (Jsc = 23.35 mA/cm2, Voc = 0.995, and FF = 0.477) with a device area of 0.09 cm2 under 100 mW/cm2. Moreover, these unsealed CIS-PSCs retained 100% of their performance after aging tests for 90 days under ambient conditions and even increased from 11.08 to 11.27 over time due to self-healing properties.
Tooth brushing practice in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Sahile Addisu Tadesse , Wondimu Mitiku Tesfaye , Fikrie Endeshaw Mulate
Published: April 2023

Oral hygiene refers to taking care and maintaining the cleanness of gum and teeth; a good oral hygiene practice promotes better oral health in general. Oral hygiene is the top public health concern of the population. Tooth brushing is a technique to keep oral hygiene from related complications. Therefore, this study provides the pooled prevalence of tooth brushing practice in Ethiopia. Databases searched for articles systematically across PubMed, Google Scholar, Hinari, EMBASE, and African Journals Online. Two reviewers independently conducted the selection, screening, reviewing, and data extraction using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and used the Joanna Briggs Institute prevalence critical appraisal tools to assess the quality of evidence. All studies conducted in Ethiopia from 2010 to 2020, reporting tooth-brushing practices extracted for and imported into the Comprehensive meta-analysis version 3.0 for further analysis. Beggs and Eggers’s tests evaluated for publication bias with Higgins’s method evaluated for heterogeneity. A random-effects meta-analysis model with a 95% confidence interval was computed to estimate the pooled effect size (prevalence). Furthermore, the authors employed subgroup analysis based on the study area and sample size. After reviewing 36, 10 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of tooth brushing practice was 12.2% (95% CI 7.6–19.2%). The review reported a lower level of tooth-brushing practice in Ethiopia. We recommended that special attention should be given to the oral hygiene of the Ethiopian people.
Hypoglycemia risk with inappropriate dosing of glucose-lowering drugs in patients with chronic kidney disease: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Li Yun-Jhe , Chang Yuh-Lih , Chou Yueh-Ching , Hsu Chia-Chen
Published: April 2023

The incidence rates and consequences of inappropriate dosing of glucose-lowering drugs remain limited in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). A retrospective cohort study was conducted to estimate the frequency of inappropriate dosing of glucose-lowering drugs and to evaluate the subsequent risk of hypoglycemia in outpatients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of < 50 mL/min/1.73 m2. Outpatient visits were divided according to whether the prescription of glucose-lowering drugs included dose adjustment according to eGFR or not. A total of 89,628 outpatient visits were included, 29.3% of which received inappropriate dosing. The incidence rates of the composite of all hypoglycemia were 76.71 and 48.51 events per 10,000 person-months in the inappropriate dosing group and in appropriate dosing group, respectively. After multivariate adjustment, inappropriate dosing was found to lead to an increased risk of composite of all hypoglycemia (hazard ratio 1.52, 95% confidence interval 1.34, 1.73). In the subgroup analysis, there were no significant changes in the risk of hypoglycemia regardless of renal function (eGFR < 30 vs. 30–50 mL/min/1.73 m2). In conclusion, inappropriate dosing of glucose-lowering drugs in patients with CKD is common and associated with a higher risk of hypoglycemia.
TET3 as a non-invasive screening tool for the detection of fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease
Authors: Feng Lin-Lin , Liu Ran-Yang , An Kun , Tang Shuang , Wu Jun , Yang Qin
Published: April 2023

Ten-eleven translocation protein 3 (TET3) is one of the key enzymes in DNA demethylation which can be expressed in liver tissues. However, the clinical value of TET3 for diagnosis and treatment of chronic liver disease have not been reported previously. We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of serum TET3 as a non-invasive screening tool for liver fibrosis. 212 patients with chronic liver disease from were enrolled in this study. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the serum levels of TET3. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) were determined to examine the diagnostic accuracy of TET3 and combination model for diagnosis fibrosis. Serum TET3 level in fibrosis cases was significantly higher than that in non-fibrosis and controls, respectively. The areas under the ROC curve of the TET3 and fibrosis-4 index for liver fibrosis were 0.863 and 0.813, and 0.916 and 0.957 for liver cirrhosis. The combination of TET3 and fibrosis-4 index had a highly promising positive predictive value for detecting liver fibrosis and cirrhosis different stages of (93.5% and 100%) as compared with each diagnostic tool alone. TET3 is related to the development of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. The TET3-fibrosis-4 model enhances discriminatory power and represents a promising non-invasive tool for the diagnosis and screening of liver fibrosis.
Quantitative image-based collagen structural features predict the reversibility of hepatitis C virus-induced liver fibrosis post antiviral therapies
Authors: Gole Laurent , Liu Feng , Ong Kok Haur , Li Longjie , Han Hao , Young David , Marini Gabriel Pik Liang , Wee Aileen , Zhao Jingmin , Rao Huiying , Yu Weimiao , Wei Lai
Published: April 2023

The novel targeted therapeutics for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in last decade solved most of the clinical needs for this disease. However, despite antiviral therapies resulting in sustained virologic response (SVR), a challenge remains where the stage of liver fibrosis in some patients remains unchanged or even worsens, with a higher risk of cirrhosis, known as the irreversible group. In this study, we provided novel tissue level collagen structural insight into early prediction of irreversible cases via image based computational analysis with a paired data cohort (of pre- and post-SVR) following direct-acting-antiviral (DAA)-based treatment. Two Photon Excitation and Second Harmonic Generation microscopy was used to image paired biopsies from 57 HCV patients and a fully automated digital collagen profiling platform was developed. In total, 41 digital image-based features were profiled where four key features were discovered to be strongly associated with fibrosis reversibility. The data was validated for prognostic value by prototyping predictive models based on two selected features: Collagen Area Ratio and Collagen Fiber Straightness. We concluded that collagen aggregation pattern and collagen thickness are strong indicators of liver fibrosis reversibility. These findings provide the potential implications of collagen structural features from DAA-based treatment and paves the way for a more comprehensive early prediction of reversibility using pre-SVR biopsy samples to enhance timely medical interventions and therapeutic strategies. Our findings on DAA-based treatment further contribute to the understanding of underline governing mechanism and knowledge base of structural morphology in which the future non-invasive prediction solution can be built upon.
Development speed of sibling embryo positively reflects live birth rate after fresh day 3 embryo transfer
Authors: Wang Xue , Xiao Yaling , Zhou Yuanzheng , Wang Hanbi
Published: April 2023

The ability of sibling embryos to form blastocysts may reflect the developmental potential of the embryos that were transferred into the uterus. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the development speed of sibling embryos positively reflects the live birth rate following fresh embryo transfer. We examined 1262 cycles of women who underwent day 3 (D3) cleavage embryo transfer in the Peking Union Medical College Hospital in 2015–2020, who were divided into three groups (D5, D5 + D6, and D6) according to blastocyst formation. The live birth rate in patients with blastocysts that formed on D6 was significantly lower than the other two groups (36.1%, 45.6% and 44.7%, P < 0.05). For women with blastocysts that formed on D6, the live birth rate was higher in those with more good quality blastocysts than poor-quality blastocysts (42.4 vs 32.3%, P < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that the blastocyst development speed of sibling embryos was an independent factor affecting live birth after fresh embryo transfer (P < 0.05). We concluded that the blastocyst development speed of sibling embryos may reflect live birth rate following the transfer of D3 cleavage embryos.
Distinctive characteristics of prolonged standing low back pain developers’ and the associated risk factors: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Khoshroo Fatemeh , Seidi Foad , Bayattork Mohammad , Moghadas-Tabrizi Yousef , Nelson-Wong Erika
Published: April 2023

Pain developers (PDs) are considered a pre-clinical low back pain (LBP) population at risk of clinical LBP development and thus exacting great social and economic costs. Therefore, it is necessary to comprehensively investigate their distinctive characteristics and the risk factors of standing-induced LBP based on which appropriate preventive measures can be planned. Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases as well as Google Scholar and ProQuest were systematically searched from inception through 14 July 2022 using a combination of terms relevant to ‘standing’ and ‘LBP’. Studies with low risk of bias in English and Persian using a methodological quality scoring system were deemed eligible for inclusion if they were laboratory studies using prolonged standing duration greater than 42 min to classify adult PDs and non-pain developers (NPDs) without a history of LBP. PDs were compared with NPDs in demographics, biomechanical, and psychological outcomes. Weighted or standardized mean differences, and Hedge’s g were generated to determine the pooled effect sizes using STATA software version 17. 52 papers and theses involving 1070 participants (528 PDs and 542 NPDs) were eligible for inclusion in the systematic review 33 of which were used in meta-analyses. Significant differences between PDs and NPDs in terms of movement patterns, muscular, postural, psychological, structural, and anthropometric variables were evidenced. The following factors were found to have a statistically significant association with standing-induced LBP: lumbar fidgets (Hedge’s g − 0.72, 95% CI − 1.35 to − 0.08, P = 0.03), lumbar lordosis in participants over 25 years (Hedge’s g 2.75, 95% CI 1.89–3.61, P < 0.001), AHAbd test (WMD 0.7, 95% CI 0.36–1.05, P < 0.001), GMed co-activation (Hedge’s g 4.24, 95% CI 3.18–5.3, P < 0.001), and Pain Catastrophizing Scale (WMD 2.85, 95% CI 0.51–5.19, P = 0.02). Altered motor control displayed in AHAbd test and higher lumbar lordosis in individuals over 25 years seem to be probable risk factors for standing-induced LBP. In order to detect standing-induced LBP risk factors, future researchers should investigate the association of the reported distinctive characteristics to the standing-induced LBP and that whether they are manipulable through various interventions.
Silver nanoparticle toxicity on Artemia parthenogenetica nauplii hatched on axenic tryptic soy agar solid medium
Authors: Do Minh Anh , Dang Hoa Thi , Doan Nhinh Thi , Pham Hong Lam Thi , Tran Tuyet Anh , Le Van Cam Thi , Young Tim , Le Dung Viet
Published: April 2023

The use of gnobiotic brine shrimp (Artemia spp.) for ecotoxicology and bacteria-host interaction studies is common. However, requirements for axenic culture and matrix effects of seawater media can be an obstacle. Thus, we investigated the hatching ability of Artemia cysts on a novel sterile Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) medium. Herein, we demonstrate for the first time that Artemia cysts can hatch on a solid medium without liquid, which offers practical advantages. We further optimized the culture conditions for temperature and salinity and assessed this culture system for toxicity screening of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) across multiple biological endpoints. Results revealed that maxima hatching (90%) of embryos occurred at 28 °C and without addition of sodium chloride. When capsulated cysts were cultured on TSA solid medium Artemia were negatively impacted by AgNPs at 30–50 mgL−1 in terms of the embryo hatching ratio (47–51%), umbrella- to nauplii-stage transformation ratio (54–57%), and a reduction in nauplii-stage growth (60–85% of normal body length). At 50–100 mgL−1 AgNPs and higher, evidence of damage to lysosomal storage was recorded. At 500 mgL−1 AgNPs, development of the eye was inhibited and locomotory behavior impeded. Our study reveals that this new hatching method has applications in ecotoxicology studies and provides an efficient means to control axenic requirements to produce gnotobiotic brine shrimp.
A manganese-phenolic network platform amplifying STING activation to potentiate MRI guided cancer chemo-/chemodynamic/immune therapy
Authors: Pang Xinrui , Fu Chaoping , Chen Junbin , Su Miao , Wei Ruili , Wang Ye , Lin Wanxian , Wei Xinhua , Jiang Xinqing , Yang Xianzhu , Yang Huikang , Wang Junxia , Yang Ruimeng
Published: April 2023

We designed a nanoplatform TMPD coated with metal-phenolic networks for the co-delivery of Mn2+ and DOX with the aim to amplify the STING signal and potentiate cancer therapy. This nanoplatform induced a robust innate and adaptive immunity response.
Cr(iii)-bearing schwertmannite transformation by Fe(ii)–oxalic acid catalysis: complexation of Fe(iii)/oxalate and nanoscale redistribution of Cr/C
Authors: Yao Qian , Cai Limiao , Li Xiaofei , Jin Xiaohu , Lu Guining , Guo Chuling , Huang Weilin , Dang Zhi , Yi Xiaoyun
Published: April 2023

In situ ATR-FTIR results showed that the addition of Fe(ii) has changed partly the binding mode of OA on the Sch surface, but it has not changed the priority binding order. The addition of OA reduced the immobilization of Cr regardless of pH.
Self-supporting network-structured MoS2/heteroatom-doped graphene as superior anode materials for sodium storage
Authors: Yang Guanhua , Wang Xu , Li Yihong , Zhang Zhiguo , Huang Jiayu , Zheng Fenghua , Pan Qichang , Wang Hongqiang , Li Qingyu , Cai Yezheng
Published: April 2023

Layered graphene and molybdenum disulfide have outstanding sodium ion storage properties that make them suitable for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs).
Designing negative feedback loops in enzymatic coacervate droplets
Authors: Modi Nisha , Chen Siwei , Adjei Imelda N. A. , Franco Briana L. , Bishop Kyle J. M. , Obermeyer Allie C.
Published: April 2023

Two-way coupling between pH-responsive phase separation of enzyme-polymer mixtures and reaction-induced pH changes creates negative feedback in these active coacervates.
Enhancing thermoelectric performance via relaxed spin polarization upon magnetic impurity doping
Authors: Kim Min Young , Kim Dongwook , Kim Gwansik , Lee Wooyoung , Perez Nicolas , Nielsch Kornelius , Shim Ji Hoon , Jin Hyungyu
Published: April 2023

Here, a significant enhancement of the Seebeck coefficient is reported in magnetic-impurity-doped higher-manganese silicides, which is attributed to a magnetic-doping-induced relaxation of the spin-polarized band structure.
Copper assisted symmetry and size control of gold nanobars
Authors: Li Weilun , Tong Wenming , Etheridge Joanne , Funston Alison M.
Published: April 2023

Gold nanocuboids provide a simple nanoparticle system for investigating nanocrystal growth mechanisms. Symmetry breaking in the presence of copper additive is caused by rapid deposition on {111} facets coupled with slow surface diffusion of Au on Cu.
Sialic acid-targeting multi-functionalized silicon quantum dots for synergistic photodynamic and photothermal cancer therapy
Authors: Liu Fei , Lin Jiayi , Luo Yao , Xie Donglin , Bian Jiang , Liu Xiaobo , Yue Jun
Published: April 2023

Surface engineered silicon quantum dots demonstrate synergistically enhanced photodynamic and photothermal cancer therapy.
High luminescent N,S,P co-doped carbon dots for the fluorescence sensing of extreme acidity and folic acid
Authors: Dong Wenjuan , Wang Lu , Zhang Rongrong , Wen Chaochao , Su Ren , Gong Xiaojuan , Liang Wenting
Published: April 2023

N,S,P-CDs showed excellent photoluminescence properties with a fluorescence quantum yield of up to 41%, which can be applied for fluorescence sensing of pH and folic acid.
19F NMR ON/OFF nanoparticles: a universal approach for the specific detection of DNA-binding cancer biomarkers
Authors: Perumal Devanathan , Krishna Jithu , Harikrishnan Kaloor S. , Raj Gowtham , Kalathil Jemshiya , Saji Minu , M. Kavyasree , Varghese Reji
Published: April 2023

A supramolecular approach for the design of assembly–disassembly-driven 19F ON/OFF nanoparticles, triggered by specific molecular recognition, for the detection of DNA binding cancer biomarkers is reported.
Catalytic asymmetric CO2 utilization reaction for the enantioselective synthesis of chiral 2-oxazolidinones
Authors: Nishiyori Ryuichi , Mori Taiki , Shirakawa Seiji
Published: April 2023

A catalytic asymmetric CO2 utilization reaction for the enantioselective synthesis of chiral 2-oxazolidinones was realized via chiral bifunctional selenide-catalyzed bromocyclization.
Chemoselective and controlled ring-opening copolymerization of biorenewable α-methylene-δ-valerolactone with ε-caprolactone toward functional copolyesters
Authors: Liu Yalei , Kou Xinhui , Xu Chen , Zhou Wei , Zhang Hongshu , Liu Fusheng , Shen Yong , Li Zhibo
Published: April 2023

Functional P(MVL-co-CL) copolyesters with modifiable pendent double bonds were obtained by chemoselective and controlled ring-opening copolymerization of biorenewable MVL with CL using an organophosphazene/urea binary catalyst.
Introduction of seven nitro groups on the 2-azaadamantane scaffold via a two-shell arrangement strategy
Authors: Zhou Qi , Cai Rongbin , Li Huan , Liu Yunzhi , Li Bing , Hou Tianjiao , Zhu Long , Wang Guixiang , Zhang Yu , Luo Jun
Published: April 2023

2,9,9,10,10-Pentanitro-2-azaadamantane-4,8-diyl dinitrate, the first member of the heptanitroazaadamantane family, was synthesized by a two-shell arrangement strategy for nitro group introduction.
Engineering S-scheme Ag2CO3/g-c3N4 heterojunctions sonochemically to eradicate Rhodamine B dye under solar irradiation
Authors: Alsulmi Ali , Shaker Mohamed H. , Basely Abanoob M. , Abdel-Messih M. F. , Sultan Ayman , Ahmed M. A.
Published: April 2023

The use of natural solar radiation is a low-cost significant technology for water pollution remediation and production of clean energy.
Photoelectrochemical properties of copper pyrovanadate (Cu2V2O7) thin films synthesized by pulsed laser deposition
Authors: Fontaine Blandine , Benrkia Youssef , Blach Jean-François , Mathieu Christian , Roussel Pascal , Ayesh Ahmad I. , Sayede Adlane , Saitzek Sébastien
Published: April 2023

The photoelectrochemical properties of copper pyrovanadate (bulk α-Cu2V2O7 and thin films β-Cu2V2O7 elaborated by pulsed laser deposition) were investigated. For thin films, the best photocurrent efficiency was obtained under blue light (450 nm).
Mpemba effect in crystallization of polybutene-1
Authors: Liu Jinghua , Li Jingqing , Liu Binyuan , Hamley Ian W. , Jiang Shichun
Published: April 2023

The Mpemba effect and its inverse can be understood as a result of nonequilibrium thermodynamics.