bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tilting and untilting for ideals in perfectoid rings
Authors: Dine Dimitri , Ishizuka Ryo
Published: June 2024

For a perfectoid ring R of characteristic 0 with tilt $$R^{\flat }$$

R
♭

, we introduce and study a tilting map $$(-)^{\flat }$$

(
-
)

♭

from the set of p-adically closed ideals of R to the set of ideals of $$R^{\flat }$$

R
♭

and an untilting map $$(-)^{\sharp }$$

(
-
)

♯

from the set of radical ideals of $$R^{\flat }$$

R
♭

to the set of ideals of R. The untilting map $$(-)^{\sharp }$$

(
-
)

♯

is defined purely algebraically and generalizes the analytically defined untilting map on closed radical ideals of a perfectoid Tate ring of characteristic p introduced in the first author’s previous work. We prove that the two maps $$\begin{aligned} J\mapsto J^{\flat }~\text {and}~I\mapsto I^{\sharp } \end{aligned}$$

J
↦

J
♭

and

I
↦

I
♯

define an inclusion-preserving bijection between the set of ideals J of R such that the quotient R/J is perfectoid and the set of $$p^{\flat }$$

p
♭

-adically closed radical ideals of $$R^{\flat }$$

R
♭

, where $$p^{\flat }\in R^{\flat }$$

p
♭

∈

R
♭

corresponds to a compatible system of p-power roots of a unit multiple of p in R. Finally, we prove that the maps $$(-)^{\flat }$$

(
-
)

♭

and $$(-)^{\sharp }$$

(
-
)

♯

send (closed) prime ideals to prime ideals and thus define a homeomorphism between the subspace of $${{\,\textrm{Spec}\,}}(R)$$

Spec

(
R
)

consisting of prime ideals $$\mathfrak {p}$$
p
of R such that $$R/\mathfrak {p}$$

R
/
p

is perfectoid and the subspace of $${{\,\textrm{Spec}\,}}(R^{\flat })$$

Spec

(

R
♭

)

consisting of $$p^{\flat }$$

p
♭

-adically closed prime ideals of $$R^{\flat }$$

R
♭

. In particular, we obtain a generalization and a new proof of the main result of the first author’s previous work which concerned prime ideals in perfectoid Tate rings.
Scaling up a targeted exposome LC-MS/MS biomonitoring method by incorporating veterinary drugs and pesticides
Authors: Hossain Md Zakir , Feuerstein Max L. , Gu Yunyun , Warth Benedikt
Published: June 2024

Humans are exposed to a cocktail of food-related and environmental contaminants, potentially contributing to the etiology of chronic diseases. Better characterizing the “exposome” is a challenging task and requires broad human biomonitoring (HBM). Veterinary drugs (VDs)/antibiotics, widely used and regulated in food and animal production, however, are typically not yet included in exposomics workflows. Therefore, in this work, a previously established multianalyte liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method covering >80 diverse xenobiotics was expanded by >40 VDs/antibiotics and pesticides. It was investigated if the generic workflow allowed for the successful integration of a high number of new analytes in a proof-of-principle study. The expanded method was successfully in-house validated and specificity, matrix effects, linearity, intra- and inter-day precision, accuracy, limits of quantification, and detection were evaluated. The optimized method demonstrated satisfactory recovery (81–120%) for most of the added analytes with acceptable RSDs (<20%) at three spiking levels. The majority of VDs/antibiotics and pesticides (69%) showed matrix effects within a range of 50–140%. Moreover, sensitivity was excellent with median LODs and LOQs of 0.10 ng/mL and 0.31 ng/mL, respectively. In total, the expanded method can be used to detect and quantify more than 120 highly diverse analytes in a single analytical run. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this work represents the first targeted biomonitoring method integrating VDs with various other classes of pollutants including plasticizers, PFAS, bisphenols, mycotoxins, and personal care products. It demonstrates the potential to expand targeted multianalyte methods towards additional groups of potentially toxic chemicals.

Graphical Abstract
A new HPLC method with multiple detection systems for impurity analysis and discrimination of natural versus synthetic cannabidiol
Authors: Brighenti Virginia , Marani Matilde , Caroli Clarissa , Bertarini Laura , Gaggiotti Alessio , Pollastro Federica , Durante Caterina , Cannazza Giuseppe , Pellati Federica
Published: June 2024

Cannabidiol (CBD) is the main non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid derived from Cannabis sativa L. It is now an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), given its usage in treating some types of pediatric epilepsy. For this reason, this compound requires a deep characterization in terms of purity and origin. Previous research work has shown two impurities in CBD samples from hemp inflorescences, namely, cannabidivarin (CBDV) and cannabidibutol (CBDB), while abnormal-cannabidiol (abn-CBD) has been described as the primary by-product that is generated from CBD synthesis. Both natural and synthetic CBD samples exhibit the presence of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and Δ8-THC. This study aimed to develop a new analytical method based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with different detection systems to study the purity of CBD and to define its origin based on the impurity profile. In addition to the above-mentioned cannabinoids, other compounds, such as cannabigerovarin (CBGV), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromevarin (CBCV), and cannabichromene (CBC), were examined as potential discriminating impurities. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were carried out by UHPLC-HRMS and HPLC-UV/Vis, respectively. Principal component analysis was applied for statistical exploration. Natural CBD samples exhibited purities ranging between 97.5 and 99.7%, while synthetic samples were generally pure, except for three initially labeled as synthetic, revealing natural-derived impurities. To further confirm the origin of CBD samples, the presence of other two minor impurities, namely cannabidihexol (CBDH) and cannabidiphorol (CBDP), was assessed as unequivocal for a natural origin. Finally, an enantioselective HPLC analysis was carried out and the results confirmed the presence of the (–)-trans enantiomer in all CBD samples. In conclusion, the HPLC method developed represents a reliable tool for detecting CBD impurities, thus providing a clear discrimination of the compound origin.

Graphical Abstract
Cohort-based strategies as an in-house tool to evaluate and improve phenotyping robustness of LC–MS/MS lipidomics platforms
Authors: Zöhrer Benedikt , Gómez Cristina , Jaumot Joaquim , Idborg Helena , Torekov Signe S. , Wheelock Åsa M. , Wheelock Craig E. , Checa Antonio
Published: June 2024

In recent years, instrumental improvements have enabled the spread of mass spectrometry–based lipidomics platforms in biomedical research. In mass spectrometry, the reliability of generated data varies for each compound, contingent on, among other factors, the availability of labeled internal standards. It is challenging to evaluate the data for lipids without specific labeled internal standards, especially when dozens to hundreds of lipids are measured simultaneously. Thus, evaluation of the performance of these platforms at the individual lipid level in interlaboratory studies is generally not feasible in a time-effective manner. Herein, using a focused subset of sphingolipids, we present an in-house validation methodology for individual lipid reliability assessment, tailored to the statistical analysis to be applied. Moreover, this approach enables the evaluation of various methodological aspects, including discerning coelutions sharing identical selected reaction monitoring transitions, pinpointing optimal labeled internal standards and their concentrations, and evaluating different extraction techniques. While the full validation according to analytical guidelines for all lipids included in a lipidomics method is currently not possible, this process shows areas to focus on for subsequent method development iterations as well as the robustness of data generated across diverse methodologies.

Graphical abstract
Non-thin rank jumps for double elliptic K3 surfaces
Authors: Pasten Hector , Salgado Cecília
Published: June 2024

For an elliptic surface $$\pi :X\rightarrow \mathbb {P}^1$$

π
:
X
→

P

1

defined over a number field K, a theorem of Silverman shows that for all but finitely many fibres above K-rational points, the resulting elliptic curve over K has Mordell-Weil rank at least as large as the rank of the group of sections of $$\pi $$
π
. When X is a K3 surface with two distinct elliptic fibrations, we show that the set of K-rational points of $$\mathbb {P}^1$$

P

1

for which this rank inequality is strict, is not a thin set, under certain hypothesis on the fibrations. Our results provide one of the first cases of this phenomenon beyond that of rational elliptic surfaces.
Whole-body parametric mapping of tumour perfusion in metastatic prostate cancer using long axial field-of-view [15O]H2O PET
Authors: Jochumsen Mads Ryø , Christensen Nana L , Iversen Peter , Gormsen Lars C , Sørensen Jens , Tolbod Lars P
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Tumour perfusion is a nutrient-agnostic biomarker for cancer metabolic rate. Use of tumour perfusion for cancer growth assessment has been limited by complicated image acquisition, image analysis and limited field-of-view scanners. Long axial field-of-view (LAFOV) PET scan using [15O]H2O, allows quantitative assessment of whole-body tumour perfusion. We created a tool for automated creation of quantitative parametric whole-body tumour perfusion images in metastatic cancer.

Methods

Ten metastatic prostate cancer patients underwent dynamic LAFOV [15O]H2O PET (Siemens, Quadra) followed by [18F]PSMA-1007 PET. Perfusion was measured as [15O]H2O K1 (mL/min/mL) with a single-tissue compartment model and an automatically captured cardiac image-derived input function. Parametric perfusion images were automatically calculated using the basis-function method with initial voxel-wise delay estimation and a leading-edge approach. Subsequently, perfusion of volumes-of-interest (VOI) can be directly extracted from the parametric images. We used a [18F]PSMA-1007 SUV 4 fixed threshold for tumour delineation and transferred these VOIs to the perfusion map.

Results

For 8 primary tumours, 64 lymph node metastases, and 85 bone metastases, median tumour perfusion were 0.19 (0.15–0.27) mL/min/mL, 0.16 (0.13–0.27) mL/min/mL, and 0.26 (0.21–0.39), respectively. The correlation between calculated perfusion from time-activity-curves and parametric images was excellent (r = 0.99, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

LAFOV PET imaging using [15O]H2O enables truly quantitative parametric images of whole-body tumour perfusion, a potential biomarker for guiding personalized treatment and monitoring treatment response.
Supraorbital Bone Shaving (S.O.S Procedure) in Restoration of Upper Lateral Convexity in Sunken Eyes
Authors: Askeroglu Ufuk , Ceran Fatih , Pilanci Ozgur
Published: June 2024

Background

Sunken eyes have become a most important target of periorbital area aesthetics. Throughout history, the aesthetics of the periorbital region have been emphasized, and various surgical techniques related to this region have been described. Most of these techniques provide only soft tissue solutions; therefore, additional surgical interventions may be required. The aim of our study was to introduce an endoscopic supraorbital shaving (SOS) technique for the treatment of individuals with sunken eyes.

Methods

Between 2020 and 2021, 34 patients (30 females, 4 males; mean age 36.2 years) with sunken eyes were treated with our described technique. All patients underwent an endoscopic SOS procedure under general anesthesia.

Results

A total of 34 patients (30 women and four men), aged 23–59 years old (mean = 36.2 years), underwent the endoscopic SOS procedure. The mean follow-up period was 13 months (range: 12–16 months). Postoperatively, significant improvement in lateral convexity was achieved in all patients. Physical examinations performed at the control visits revealed no functional problems in any patients and no visible or palpable irregularities or contour deformities. No complications were encountered regarding the SOS procedure.

Conclusions

The technique described here provides significant improvement in lateral convexity compared to other techniques used in patients with sunken eyes. No additional eyelid intervention is needed. Unlike the techniques previously described in the literature, intervention is made in the bone structure, thereby providing more accurate results.

Level of Evidence V

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.
Effects of material type and surface roughness of settlement tiles on macroalgal colonisation and early coral recruitment success
Authors: Fong Jenny , Ramsby Blake D. , Flores Florita , Dada Tewodros , Antunes Elsa , Abdul Wahab Muhammad Azmi , Severati Andrea , Negri Andrew P. , Diaz-Pulido Guillermo
Published: June 2024

Sexual propagation of corals is a promising strategy for coral restoration, but one of the main challenges is the high mortality of coral spat due to competitive interactions with macroalgae during the early life history stages. Optimising the properties of settlement substrates such as material types and surface roughness has the potential to improve the survival of spat by limiting the recruitment and growth of macroalgae. In this study, we assessed the effects of modifying surface roughness across three different tile materials (alumina-based ceramic, calcium carbonate (CaCO3), and concrete) on the settlement success and post-settlement survivorship of Acropora kenti coral larvae in six mesocosm tanks, each with different established macroalgal communities. The macroalgal community compositions on the tiles were significantly different among material types, but not surface roughness, although the type and abundance of macroalgal species were heavily influenced by the established tank communities. Increasing surface roughness did not affect larval settlement success or spat survivorship. Substantially higher larval settlement density was found on concrete tiles (1.92 ± 0.10 larvae cm−2), but spat survival was the highest on CaCO3 tiles (73.4 ± 4.2% survived). Very strong competitive interactions were observed between spat and macroalgae, with overgrowth by the crustose coralline alga Crustaphytum sp. and the brown alga Lobophora sp. being the primary cause of spat mortality. Overall, when taking into account both settlement and survival rates, concrete was the best performing among the tile types tested here.
Normalised Clustering Accuracy: An Asymmetric External Cluster Validity Measure
Authors: Gagolewski Marek
Published: June 2024

There is no, nor will there ever be, single best clustering algorithm. Nevertheless, we would still like to be able to distinguish between methods that work well on certain task types and those that systematically underperform. Clustering algorithms are traditionally evaluated using either internal or external validity measures. Internal measures quantify different aspects of the obtained partitions, e.g., the average degree of cluster compactness or point separability. However, their validity is questionable because the clusterings they endorse can sometimes be meaningless. External measures, on the other hand, compare the algorithms’ outputs to fixed ground truth groupings provided by experts. In this paper, we argue that the commonly used classical partition similarity scores, such as the normalised mutual information, Fowlkes–Mallows, or adjusted Rand index, miss some desirable properties. In particular, they do not identify worst-case scenarios correctly, nor are they easily interpretable. As a consequence, the evaluation of clustering algorithms on diverse benchmark datasets can be difficult. To remedy these issues, we propose and analyse a new measure: a version of the optimal set-matching accuracy, which is normalised, monotonic with respect to some similarity relation, scale-invariant, and corrected for the imbalancedness of cluster sizes (but neither symmetric nor adjusted for chance).
Outcomes comparison of robotic-assisted versus laparoscopic and open surgery for patients undergoing rectal cancer resection with concurrent stoma creation
Authors: Goldstone Robert N. , Francone Todd , Milky Gediwon , Shih I-Fan , Bossie Hannah , Li Yanli , Ricciardi Rocco
Published: June 2024

Background

Despite widespread adoption of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) in rectal cancer resection, there remains limited knowledge of its clinical advantage over laparoscopic (Lap) and open (OS) surgery. We aimed to compare clinical outcomes of RAS with Lap and OS for rectal cancer.

Methods

We identified all patients aged ≥ 18 years who had elective rectal cancer resection requiring temporary or permanent stoma formation from 1/2013 to 12/2020 from the PINC AI™ Healthcare Database. We completed multivariable logistic regression analysis accounting for hospital clustering to compare ileostomy formation between surgical approaches. Next, we built inverse probability of treatment-weighted analyses to compare outcomes for ileostomy and permanent colostomy separately. Outcomes included postoperative complications, in-hospital mortality, discharge to home, reoperation, and 30-day readmission.

Results

A total of 12,787 patients (OS: 5599 [43.8%]; Lap: 2872 [22.5%]; RAS: 4316 [33.7%]) underwent elective rectal cancer resection. Compared to OS, patients who had Lap (OR 1.29, p < 0.001) or RAS (OR 1.53, p < 0.001) were more likely to have an ileostomy rather than permanent colostomy. In those with ileostomy, RAS was associated with fewer ileus (OR 0.71, p < 0.001) and less bleeding (OR 0.50, p < 0.001) compared to Lap. In addition, RAS was associated with lower anastomotic leak (OR 0.25, p < 0.001), less bleeding (OR 0.51, p < 0.001), and fewer blood transfusions (OR 0.70, p = 0.022) when compared to OS. In those patients who had permanent colostomy formation, RAS was associated with fewer ileus (OR 0.72, p < 0.001), less bleeding (OR 0.78, p = 0.021), lower 30-day reoperation (OR 0.49, p < 0.001), and higher discharge to home (OR 1.26, p = 0.013) than Lap, as well as OS.

Conclusion

Rectal cancer patients treated with RAS were more likely to have an ileostomy rather than a permanent colostomy and more enhanced recovery compared to Lap and OS.
Assessment of gingival translucency at the mandibular incisors with two different probing systems. A cross sectional study
Authors: Kloukos Dimitrios , Roccuzzo Andrea , Staehli Alexandra , Koukos George , Sculean Anton , Kolokitha Olga Elpis , Katsaros Christos
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Increasing evidence indicates that the thickness of periodontal soft tissues plays an important role in various clinical scenarios, thus pointing to the need of further clinical research in this area. Aim of the present study was to assess gingival thickness at the mandibular incisors by translucency judgement with two different probes and to validate if these methods are comparable and applicable as diagnostic tools.

Materials and methods

A total of 200 participants were included; gingival tissue thickness was measured by judging probe translucency at both central mandibular incisors, mid-facially on the buccal aspect of each tooth using a standard periodontal probe and a set of color-coded probe, each with a different color at the tip, i.e. Colorvue Biotype Probe (CBP). Frequencies and relative frequencies were calculated for probe visibility. Agreement between the standard periodontal probe and the CBP was evaluated via the kappa statistic.

Results

When the periodontal probe was visible, the frequency of CBP being visible was very high. Kappa statistic for the agreement between the standard periodontal probe and the CBP was 0.198 (71.5% agreement; p-value < 0.001) for tooth 41 and 0.311 (74.0% agreement; p-value < 0.001) for tooth 31, indicating a positive association of the two methods.

Conclusions

An agreement that reached 74% was estimated between the standard periodontal probe and the color-coded probe at central mandibular incisors. 

Clinical relevance

In the context of the present study, the two methods of evaluating gingival thickness seem to produce comparable measurements with a substantial agreement. However, in the 1/4 of the cases, the visibility of the color-coded probe could not assist in the categorization of the gingival phenotype.
Impact of right ventricle-pulmonary artery coupling in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation
Authors: Mendes Lígia Fernandes , Brandão Mariana , Diaz Silvia O. , Almeida Marta Catarina , Barros António S. , Saraiva Francisca , Ribeiro José , Rodrigues Alberto , Braga Pedro , Carvalho Ricardo Fontes , Sampaio Francisco
Published: June 2024

Right ventricle-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling has been linked to clinical outcomes in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter valve implantation (TAVI). However, the best timing for prognostic assessment remains uncertain. Our aim was to determine the impact of RV longitudinal function parameters and RV-PA coupling on mortality in patients undergoing TAVI.  Retrospective, single center, analysis including patients with AS who underwent TAVI between 2007 and 2021. Echocardiographic evaluation was performed before, shortly after the procedure, and during follow-up. RV-PA uncoupling was defined as a TAPSE/PASP ratio<0.55 (severe RV uncoupling was defined as TAPSE/PASP ratio<0.32. The effect of RV parameters on all-cause mortality up to 12 months was assessed.  Among the 577 patients included, pre-procedural TAPSE/PASP ratio data were available for 205. RV-PA uncoupling was present in 113 patients (55.1%), with severe uncoupling observed in 31 (15.1%). Within the first 12 months after TAVI, 51 patients (9%) died. Severe RV-PA uncoupling was associated with mortality in univariable Cox regression; however, this association was lost after adjusting for EuroSCORE II. A significant association was found between the TAPSE/PASP ratio (per 0.1-unit increase) after the procedure and the primary endpoint (HR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.56, 0.97; p=0.029). Higher postprocedural PASP (HR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.06; p<0.001 was also associated with all-cause mortality.  V-PA uncoupling and PASP after TAVI are associated with all-cause mortality in patients and may be valuable for patient selection and for planning post-procedural care.
Who Benefits from Acute Psychiatric Home Treatment? A Systematic Review
Authors: Bergamaschi Vera , Baumann Felix , Warnke Ingeborg , Corbisiero Salvatore , Ludwig Fabian , Riedel Andreas , Gabriel-Felleiter Kerstin , Schmidt Stefanie J.
Published: June 2024

Home treatment (HT) treats patients in an acute crisis through an interdisciplinary team with daily appointments for a short treatment period. The effectiveness of HT has already been confirmed. However, only few studies addressed specific patient characteristics associated outcome of treatment. This study aimed to identify patient characteristics associated with successful outcomes of HT. A systematic literature search was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 13 studies were included in the systematic review. Being employed, having a regular income, having an anxiety disorder and family involvement were associated with a successful treatment outcome in HT. High symptom severity and former hospital admissions were associated with unsuccessful treatment outcome in HT in the selected studies. HT seems to be especially beneficial for patients with paid employment or regular income, patients with anxiety disorders, and patients with familial or other social support.
Comparative metabolomic analysis of the phloem sap of nine citrus relatives with different degrees of susceptibility to Huanglongbing disease
Authors: Herranz María C. , Navarro Jose Antonio , Locascio Antonella , Peña Leandro , Manzanares Paloma , Marcos Jose F. , Pallás Vicente
Published: June 2024

Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) disease, also known as “citrus greening”, is currently considered the most devastating citrus disease due to its rapid spread, and high severity. Presently, research efforts are focused on searching for either curative treatments or resistant cultivars to combat the HLB-associated bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas).

Metabolomics can help to unravel the mechanisms supporting the potential tolerance/resistance of citrus relatives. Herein, we carried out a metabolomic analysis to determine whether the level of resistance of nine citrus-related genotypes is influenced by their pre-existing metabolic background before infection. For this purpose, the healthy phloem of nine Citrinae genotypes previously categorized according to their different responses to HLB was analyzed. A total of 53 different metabolites were targeted, including amino acids, organic and inorganic acids, and sugars. Interestingly, we observed that resistant and partially resistant genotypes exhibited higher accumulations of organic acids such as quinic acid and citric acid. In contrast, the amount of total sugars showed a clear upward trend in the susceptible genotypes. Notably, within this last group of metabolites, sugar acids increase in both partially resistant and resistant accessions, being more evident in the resistant group.

Alterations potentially linked to resistance levels were detected in specific amino acids belonging to the aspartate and glutamate families. Notably, only lysine levels exhibited a significant increase in the susceptible cultivars. The evaluation of five genes associated with lysine catabolism by RT-qPCR revealed differences in transcript abundance between resistant and susceptible samples suggesting a potential key role in plant defence. These findings open a new avenue to identify metabolites and/or substances that could aid in developing resistance strategies to this devastating disease.
Determining ecological footprints for sustainable cities; sample of Sakarya city
Authors: Özdamar Zeynep , Yiğit Mahnaz Gümrükçüoğlu
Published: June 2024

Unchecked growth, or urban expansion, causes a host of negative environmental effects in cities and produces a myriad of ecological issues. Planning initiatives in cities must include a “ecological city” perspective in order to tackle these urgent problems and combat the global climate disaster. A vital first step in accomplishing this sustainability goal is determining the size and scope of a city’s ecological footprint. The main objective of this study was to calculate the ecological footprints of Sakarya for the years 2010 and 2018. This comprehensive evaluation encompassed a range of key components, including energy consumption from fossil fuels, heating and transportation costs, food consumption patterns, waste generation, recycling rates, and urban land usage. In 2010 and 2018, the total ecological footprints resulting from these variables were 1,125,856 and 1,226,490 global hectares, respectively. Most significant drivers behind the increase in Sakarya’s ecological footprint during this period found were the utilization of fossil fuels and energy consumption. Consequently, our findings underscore the importance of implementing alternative energy sources, such as biofuels and waste-produced energy, alongside adopting alternative transportation methods to reduce the ecological footprint. We also provide insights into the associated costs of these measures and propose innovative solutions to be considered.
Using best-worst scaling to inform agroecological interventions in Western Kenya
Authors: Zander Kerstin K. , Drucker Adam G. , Aluso Lillian , Mengistu Dejene K. , Fadda Carlo , Termote Céline , Davis Kristin
Published: June 2024

Both the demand for food and the environmental impacts of food production are estimated to significantly increase by 2050. Agroecological interventions have proven effective in facilitating the transition from current food production systems to more sustainable ones. These interventions can not only ensure more equitable food and nutritional security but also address poverty and reduce environmental impacts. As such, agroecological interventions can generate both private and public ecosystem services. Farmers play a key role in how food is produced, as the practices they use are linked with their preferences and expertise, as well as the constraints they face. Understanding farmers’ preferences for the adoption of different agroecological practices and their perceptions of the associated costs and benefits is critical to informing policies that can effectively support farmers in transitioning to more sustainable practices, including those that contribute to the generation of ecosystem services highly valued by broader society. To assess such preferences, we conducted a survey among farmers in Western Kenya which included a best-worst scaling experiment augmented by qualitative questions about the reasons for farmers’ views about the importance of the benefits arising from agroecological practices. Results show that farmers have strong preferences for adopting agroecological practices that generate private goods and are directly related to increasing productivity and food security, including improving health of household members. These may also include practices that have some public good elements as well, such as increasing agrobiodiversity. However, practices that generate broader public good benefits, including improved forest quality/coverage, reduced off-farm environmental impacts, greater community-level resilience to shocks, and improved landscape and wildlife management, were less important to farmers. Such findings can be used to inform policies that support farmer adoption of agroecological interventions best suited to different farming communities, as well as indicating the need for additional types of market-based incentives, such as through Payments for Ecosystem Service mechanisms.
The Varieties of Russellianism
Authors: Atkins Philip
Published: June 2024

Russellianism is the view that the meaning of a proper name is the individual designated by the name. Together with other plausible assumptions, Russellianism entails the following: Sentences containing proper names express Russellian propositions, which involve the individual designated by the name as a direct constituent, and which can be represented as sets of individuals and properties. Moreover, as they occur in ordinary belief reports, ‘that’-clauses designate Russellian propositions. Such belief reports are true if and only if the subject of the belief report bears the belief relation to the proposition designated by the ‘that’-clause. In defending this doctrine, some Russellians appeal to propositional guises, which, roughly speaking, are ways of grasping propositions. However, some Russellians don’t appeal to such entities. In this paper, I explain the varieties of Russellianism and then argue for Modest Russellianism: Believing a Russellian proposition is essentially mediated by guises, so that an agent can’t believe a Russellian proposition without standing in some appropriate relation to both the proposition and a guise. Nonetheless, guises don’t feature in the semantics of ordinary belief reports, so that an adequate account of the meaning of such belief reports needn’t invoke guises.
Sensing volatile organic compounds with CVD graphene: insights from quartz crystal microbalance and surface plasmon resonance studies
Authors: Selvi Hakan , Capan Inci , Capan Rifat , Acikbas Yaser
Published: June 2024

This study explores the sensing capabilities of chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-grown graphene in detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) techniques. Two distinct sensing devices were developed, each tailored for QCM and SPR transducing mechanisms, utilizing CVD graphene as the sensing element. The sensors demonstrated consistent and reproducible responses when exposed to various concentrations of dichloromethane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, benzene, toluene, and m-xylene. Notably, both sensors exhibited unparalleled sensitivity to dichloromethane, with the graphene-coated SPR sensor displaying a sensitivity value of 294 × 10−3 ppm−1 and a limit of detection (LOD) value of 10.62 ppm. Additionally, the SPR sensor showcased remarkably swift response and recovery times, both under 3 sec. Results indicate that the adsorption of VOC molecules on the CVD graphene surface increases with the rising dipole moments and vapor pressure values of the molecules. The utilization of CVD graphene in both sensing approaches demonstrates good reproducibility in detecting ultralow concentrations of VOCs at room temperature.
Steady spectra of supreme resolution and lowest noise in high-order optimized derivative fast Fourier transform for ovarian NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Belkić Dževad , Belkić Karen
Published: June 2024

The optimized derivative fast Fourier transform (dFFT) simultaneously increases resolution and reduces noise in spectra reconstructed from encoded time signals. The pertinent applications have recently been published for time signals encoded with and without water suppression by in vitro and in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Even with the employed lower derivative orders, genuine resonances were narrowed, their intensities enhanced and the background baselines flattened. This unequivocally separated many overlapped peaks that are the thorniest problem in data analysis by signal processing. However, it has been common knowledge that higher-order derivative spectra quickly deteriorate with the increased derivative order. The optimized dFFT can challenge such findings. An unprecedented resilience of this processor to derivative-induced distortions is presently demonstrated for high derivative orders (up to 20). The salient illustrations are given for the water residual, lactate quartet and lactate doublet alongside their close surroundings. These applications of diagnostic relevance for patients with cancer are reported for time signals encoded with water suppression by in vitro proton MRS of human ovary.
pyDarwin machine learning algorithms application and comparison in nonlinear mixed-effect model selection and optimization
Authors: Li Xinnong , Sale Mark , Nieforth Keith , Craig James , Wang Fenggong , Solit David , Feng Kairui , Hu Meng , Bies Robert , Zhao Liang
Published: June 2024

Forward addition/backward elimination (FABE) has been the standard for population pharmacokinetic model selection (PPK) since NONMEM® was introduced. We investigated five machine learning (ML) algorithms (Genetic algorithm [GA], Gaussian process [GP], random forest [RF], gradient boosted random tree [GBRT], and particle swarm optimization [PSO]) as alternatives to FABE. These algorithms were applied to PPK model selection with a focus on comparing the efficiency and robustness of each of them. All machine learning algorithms included the combination of ML algorithms with a local downhill search. The local downhill search consisted of systematically changing one or two “features” at a time (a one-bit or a two-bit local search), alternating with the ML methods. An exhaustive search (all possible combinations of model features, N = 1,572,864 models) was the gold standard for robustness, and the number of models examined leading prior to identification of the final model was the metric for efficiency.

All algorithms identified the optimal model when combined with the two-bit local downhill search. GA, RF, GBRT, and GP identified the optimal model with only a one-bit local search. PSO required the two-bit local downhill search. In our analysis, GP was the most efficient algorithm as measured by the number of models examined prior to finding the optimal (495 models), and PSO exhibited the least efficiency, requiring 1710 unique models before finding the best solution. Additionally, GP was also the algorithm that needed the longest elapsed time of 2975.6 min, in comparison with GA, which only required 321.8 min.
Early-life bisphenol A exposure causes neuronal pyroptosis in juvenile and adult male rats through the NF-κB/IL-1β/NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling pathway: exploration of age and dose as effective covariates using an in vivo and in silico modeling approach
Authors: Al-Shami Ahmed S. , Abd Elkader Heba-Tallah Abd Elrahim , Moussa Nermine , Essawy Amina E. , Haroun Medhat
Published: June 2024

Bisphenol A (BPA), a common endocrine-disrupting chemical, is found in a wide range of home plastics. Early-life BPA exposure has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders; however, the link between neuroinflammation, pyroptosis, and the development of psychiatric disorders is rarely studied. The current study attempted to investigate the toxic effect of BPA on inflammatory and microglial activation markers, as well as behavioral responses, in the brains of male rats in a dose- and age-dependent manner. Early BPA exposure began on postnatal day (PND) 18 at dosages of 50 and 125 mg/kg/day. We started with a battery of behavioral activities, including open field, elevated plus- and Y-maze tests, performed on young PND 60 rats and adult PND 95 rats. BPA causes anxiogenic-related behaviors, as well as cognitive and memory deficits. The in vivo and in silico analyses revealed for the first time that BPA is a substantial activator of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), interleukin (IL)-1β, -2, -12, cyclooxygenase-2, and the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, with higher beclin-1 and LC3B levels in BPA rats' PFC and hippocampus. Furthermore, BPA increased the co-localization of caspase-1 immunoreactive neurons, as well as unique neurodegenerative histopathological hallmarks. In conclusion, our results support the hypothesis that neuroinflammation and microglial activation are involved with changes in the brain after postnatal BPA exposure and that these alterations may be linked to the development of psychiatric conditions later in life. Collectively, our findings indicate that BPA triggers anxiety-like behaviors and pyroptotic death of nerve cells via the NF-κB/IL-1β/NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway.
Chromosomal copy number and mutational status are required to authenticate ovarian cancer cell lines as appropriate cell models
Authors: Stordal Britta , Farrelly Angela M. , Hennessy Bryan T.
Published: June 2024

Background

The mutational status of ovarian cancer cell line IGROV-1 is inconsistent across the literature, suggestive of multiple clonal populations of the cell line. IGROV-1 has previously been categorised as an inappropriate model for high-grade serous ovarian cancer.

Methods

IGROV-1 cells were obtained from the Netherlands Cancer Institute (IGROV-1-NKI) and the MD Anderson Cancer Centre (IGROV-1-MDA). Cell lines were STR fingerprinted and had their chromosomal copy number analysed and BRCA1/2 genes sequenced. Mutation status of ovarian cancer-related genes were extracted from the literature.

Results

The IGROV-1-NKI cell line has a tetraploid chromosomal profile. In contrast, the IGROV-1-MDA cell line has pseudo-normal chromosomes. The IGROV-1-NKI and IGROV-MDA are both STR matches (80.7% and 84.6%) to the original IGROV-1 cells isolated in 1985. However, IGROV-1-NKI and IGROV-1-MDA are not an STR match to each other (78.1%) indicating genetic drift. The BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene sequences are 100% identical between IGROV-1-MDA and IGROV-1-NKI, including a BRCA1 heterozygous deleterious mutation. The IGROV-1-MDA cells are more resistant to cisplatin and olaparib than IGROV-1-NKI. IGROV-1 has a mutational profile consistent with both Type I (PTEN, PIK3CA and ARID1A) and Type II ovarian cancer (BRCA1, TP53) and is likely to be a Type II high-grade serous carcinoma of the SET (Solid, pseudo-Endometroid and Transitional cell carcinoma-like morphology) subtype.

Conclusions

Routine testing of chromosomal copy number as well as the mutational status of ovarian cancer related genes should become the new standard alongside STR fingerprinting to ensure that ovarian cancer cell lines are appropriate models.
A modified flying-spot laser eye-surgery platform for hyperopic correction
Authors: Abdelhalim Ibrahim , Hassan Aziza Ahmed , Abdelkawi Salwa , Elnaby Salah Hassab , Hamdy Omnia
Published: June 2024

Laser corneal reshaping is an eye surgery utilizes UV lasers to modify a targeted corneal surface to correct vision disorders such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. The most commonly used laser type in such treatment is a pulsed gas laser namely argon fluoride (ArF) excimer laser (193 nm). A mixture of Argon, Fluorine and high percentage of Neon gas is utilized for producing the required laser. However, the availability of Neon gas is currently very limited due to the existent Russian-Ukraine war as this region is considered the main supplier of pure Neon gas. The present work provides a novel alternative system for the commercially available corneal reshaping eye surgery devices with a special opening for entering the operational laser beam from external sources. The proposed system is a flying spot platform coupled with a solid state laser, that is a forth harmonic of Nd: YAG laser. The aperture in the system’s design enables it to take in the generated UV-laser beam (266 nm) from the external Nd: YAG laser source. The beam is then modified and directed at the treatment area. The device was tested for hyperopia laser profile algorithm on different targets. Furthermore, the hyperopia profile procedure was also applied to the ex-vivo rabbit eye to investigate the ablation effect on the corneal tissues. The obtained results showed an appropriate ablation effect for hyperopic correction via a complete corneal reshaping platform. Although, the device’s current state may not be appropriate for immediate clinical use. It holds significant value as a training and educational platform.
Influence of the Bulb Geometry and Electrical Supply Parameters on the UV Emission of DBD Excimer Lamps
Authors: Wiesner Arnold , Diez Rafael , Piquet Hubert
Published: June 2024

The aim of this article is to improve the performance of DBD excimer lamps systems for UV production. Within this framework, our approach considers two distinct directions: the geometric dimensions of the double-barrier lamp bulb and the characteristics of the power supply. To explore these directions, a sampling of 19 bulbs of different geometries is considered, and a specially designed power supply is used, capable of controlling the shape (duration and magnitude) and frequency of current pulses injected into the plasma. A dedicated test bench, including a supervisory program that drives the power supply and collects system performance data, is used to perform parametric sweeps and guarantee measurement repeatability: the set of electrical parameters is fully explored for each lamp, and each experiment is characterized by UV emission performance and electrical generator operating conditions. Multiquadric response surfaces, used to format the results of this multi-variable exploration, reveal the most efficient directions for system optimization: increasing gas volume and, at a given operating frequency, providing the shortest possible current pulses with high amplitude can increase both UV emission and conversion efficiency.
Exploring the perception of quality of life in urban daily commuting for sustainable urban transport in Bangkok, Thailand
Authors: Iamtrakul Pawinee , Chayphong Sararad , Yoshitsugu Hayashi
Published: June 2024

Quality of life (QoL) in daily travel is increasing in popularity as a research topic since transportation infrastructures and services are instrumental in accessing basic services and social capital benefits in areas such as public health, employment, housing, etc. This accessibility has consequently led to improved QoL for the Bangkok population. In this study, the evaluation of the perception of QoL during the daily travel of Bangkokians in Sukhumvit District, Thailand is conducted using face-to-face interview questionnaires with 500 respondents. The structural equation model (SEM) is employed to quantify QoL and its related multidimensional determinants. Four statistically significant factors affect QoL from the travel perspective: (1) accessibility (p-value 0.001), (2) travel cost (p-value 0.05), (3) environment (p-value 0.05), and (4) information (p-value 0.05). Interestingly, accessibility was found to have the most influence on QoL in daily travel. Therefore, policymakers are recommended to consider the degree to which QoL may be affected to establish transportation policies that are more acceptable, practical, and efficient.
Integrative approaches in modern agriculture: IoT, ML and AI for disease forecasting amidst climate change
Authors: Delfani Payam , Thuraga Vishnukiran , Banerjee Bikram , Chawade Aakash
Published: June 2024

Plant disease forecasting models, driven by concurrent data and advanced technologies, are reliable tools for accurate prediction of disease outbreaks in achieving sustainable and productive agricultural systems. Optimal integration of Internet of Things (IoTs), machine learning (ML) techniques and artificial intelligence (AI), further augment the capabilities of these models in empowering farmers with proactive disease control measures towards modern agriculture manifested by efficient resource management, reduced diseases and higher crop yields. This article summarizes the role of disease forecasting models in crop management, emphasizing the advancements and applications of AI and ML in disease prediction, challenges and future directions in the field via (a) The technological foundations and need for validation testing of models, (b) The advancements in disease forecasting with the importance of high-quality publicly available data and (c) The challenges and future directions for the development of transparent and interpretable open-source AI models. Further improvement of these models needs investment in continuous innovative research with collaboration and data sharing among agricultural stakeholders.
Identification and Molecular Mechanism of Anti-inflammatory Peptides Isolated from Jack Bean Protein Hydrolysates: in vitro Studies with Human Intestinal Caco-2BBe Cells
Authors: Wijatniko Bambang Dwi , Yamamoto Yoshinari , Hirayama Makoto , Suzuki Takuya
Published: June 2024

Jack bean (JB), Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC, is a commonly cultivated legume in Indonesia. It is rich in protein, which can be hydrolyzed, making it potentially a good source of bioactive peptides. Intestinal inflammation is associated with several diseases, and the production of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in intestinal epithelial cells induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α has an important role in inflammatory reaction. The present study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of peptides generated from enzymatic hydrolysis of JB protein on human intestinal Caco-2BBe cells. Additionally, in silico approaches were used to identify potential bioactive peptides. JB protein hydrolysate (JBPH) prepared using pepsin and pancreatin reduced the IL-8 expression at protein and mRNA levels in Caco-2BBe cells stimulated with TNF-α. Immunoblot analysis showed that the JBPH reduced the TNF-α-induced phosphorylation of c-Jun-NH(2)-terminal kinase, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and p38 proteins. Anti-inflammatory activity was observed in the 30% acetonitrile fraction of JBPH separated on a Sep-Pak C18 column. An ultrafiltration method revealed that relatively small peptides (< 3 kDa) had a potent inhibitory effect on the IL-8 production. Purification of the peptides by reversed-phase and anion-exchange high performance chromatography produced three peptide fractions with anti-inflammatory activities. A combination of mass spectrometry analysis and in silico approaches identified the potential anti-inflammatory peptides. Peptides derived from JB protein reduces the TNF-α-induced inflammatory response in Caco-2BBe cells via NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. Our results may lead to a novel therapeutic approach to promote intestinal health.