bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measurement of Gaussian laser beam radius using nanosecond-pulse laser etching of titanium film
Authors: Lu Wenxuan , Chen Qinrui , Sun Wanshou , Guo Liang , Zhang Qingmao
Published: July 2024

A method for measuring the Gaussian laser beam radius based on nanosecond-pulse laser etching (NPLE) was proposed. The NPLE method has the advantages of simple operation, low cost and high accuracy. It can be used to directly measure the laser beam size in the range of 0.25 ∼ 6 W without attenuating the laser energy. In the experiments, 1064 nm pulsed laser beam was used to etch titanium film, the size and position of the laser beam waist were measured. The experimental results are consistent with the calibration values of the CCD method, it indicates that the NPLE method is feasible.
Mechanical characteristics and electrochemical corrosion of NiCoCr alloys
Authors: Lu Yu-Sheng , Bui Thi-Xuyen , Fang Te-Hua
Published: July 2024

Previous studies have shown that NiCoCr medium entropy alloys (MEAs) have perfect strength-ductility balance and significant escape fracture toughness. This work aimed to determine the effects of annealing temperature and alloy composition on the mechanical characteristics and corrosion behaviors of the NiCoCr MEAs. The results showed that the grains generated in the NiCoCr MEAs became more petite with the cooling rate increasing. The Vickers hardness (HV) of annealed NiCoCr MEAs increased with increasing annealing temperature. For NiCoCr alloys with different alloy compositions, the potentiodynamic polarization results showed that the NiCoCrFeMn alloy has the highest polarisation resistance, lowest current density, and lowest corrosion rate. However, the composition of Fe2O3-based passivation film makes it highly reactive and easily cleaved by Cl−. The NiCoCr and NiCoCrFe MEAs with high Ni content had a denser and slowly dissolved NiO passivation layer and better corrosion resistance. Moreover, the hardness of corroded NiCoCr MEAs decreased by 7.7%.
Investigation of numerical transport models in protein-based molecular junctions with cofactors of diverse chemical natures
Authors: Ramya Kunchanapalli , Mukhopadhyay Sabyasachi
Published: July 2024

The cofactors of proteins dictate the charge transport mechanism across molecular junctions when self-assembled protein monolayers are sandwiched between two metal electrodes. Here, we summarized how the chemical coordination nature of cofactors in various proteins modulates electrical conductance by investigating electronic transport studies across different protein-based molecular junctions under various forces applied under the AFM tip. We have utilized several numerical techniques of electronic transport to analyse the experimentally obtained current–voltage measurements across various protein-based molecular junctions and depicted the origin of electronic modulation in the electrical conductance under different external stimuli. We could also find the origin of electronic conductance modulation under external stimuli at various applied forces by obtaining several analytical transport parameters such as energy barrier, coupling strength, and electrical conductance values. Utilizing density-functional-theory calculations, we further validate that the electronic density of states present in the cofactors within the proteins dominates the electronic transport behaviours across protein-based molecular junctions. Our findings reveal the limiting factor for applying various external stimuli on different proteins, which could be further valuable in bioelectronic applications. We have also found that the organic cofactor containing protein follows all the tunneling mechanism-related numerical transport models and the electronic transport across proteins with pure inorganic cofactors follows Landauer transport formalism.
How to design optimal brain stimulation to modulate phase-amplitude coupling?
Authors: Duchet Benoit , Bogacz Rafal
Published: July 2024

Objective. Phase-amplitude coupling (PAC), the coupling of the amplitude of a faster brain rhythm to the phase of a slower brain rhythm, plays a significant role in brain activity and has been implicated in various neurological disorders. For example, in Parkinson’s disease, PAC between the beta (13–30 Hz) and gamma (30–100 Hz) rhythms in the motor cortex is exaggerated, while in Alzheimer’s disease, PAC between the theta (4–8 Hz) and gamma rhythms is diminished. Modulating PAC (i.e. reducing or enhancing PAC) using brain stimulation could therefore open new therapeutic avenues. However, while it has been previously reported that phase-locked stimulation can increase PAC, it is unclear what the optimal stimulation strategy to modulate PAC might be. Here, we provide a theoretical framework to narrow down the experimental optimisation of stimulation aimed at modulating PAC, which would otherwise rely on trial and error. Approach. We make analytical predictions using a Stuart–Landau model, and confirm these predictions in a more realistic model of coupled neural populations. Main results. Our framework specifies the critical Fourier coefficients of the stimulation waveform which should be tuned to optimally modulate PAC. Depending on the characteristics of the amplitude response curve of the fast population, these components may include the slow frequency, the fast frequency, combinations of these, as well as their harmonics. We also show that the optimal balance of energy between these Fourier components depends on the relative strength of the endogenous slow and fast rhythms, and that the alignment of fast components with the fast rhythm should change throughout the slow cycle. Furthermore, we identify the conditions requiring to phase-lock stimulation to the fast and/or slow rhythms. Significance. Together, our theoretical framework lays the foundation for guiding the development of innovative and more effective brain stimulation aimed at modulating PAC for therapeutic benefit.
Connectivity study on resting-state EEG between motor imagery BCI-literate and BCI-illiterate groups
Authors: Park Hanjin , Jun Sung Chan
Published: July 2024

Objective. Although motor imagery-based brain-computer interface (MI-BCI) holds significant potential, its practical application faces challenges such as BCI-illiteracy. To mitigate this issue, researchers have attempted to predict BCI-illiteracy by using the resting state, as this was found to be associated with BCI performance. As connectivity’s significance in neuroscience has grown, BCI researchers have applied connectivity to it. However, the issues of connectivity have not been considered fully. First, although various connectivity metrics exist, only some have been used to predict BCI-illiteracy. This is problematic because each metric has a distinct hypothesis and perspective to estimate connectivity, resulting in different outcomes according to the metric. Second, the frequency range affects the connectivity estimation. In addition, it is still unknown whether each metric has its own optimal frequency range. Third, the way that estimating connectivity may vary depending upon the dataset has not been investigated. Meanwhile, we still do not know a great deal about how the resting state electroencephalography (EEG) network differs between BCI-literacy and -illiteracy. Approach. To address the issues above, we analyzed three large public EEG datasets using three functional connectivity and three effective connectivity metrics by employing diverse graph theory measures. Our analysis revealed that the appropriate frequency range to predict BCI-illiteracy varies depending upon the metric. The alpha range was found to be suitable for the metrics of the frequency domain, while alpha + theta were found to be appropriate for multivariate Granger causality. The difference in network efficiency between BCI-literate and -illiterate groups was constant regardless of the metrics and datasets used. Although we observed that BCI-literacy had stronger connectivity, no other significant constructional differences were found. Significance. Based upon our findings, we predicted MI-BCI performance for the entire dataset. We discovered that combining several graph features could improve the prediction’s accuracy.
Recording of single-unit activities with flexible micro-electrocorticographic array in rats for decoding of whole-body navigation
Authors: Lo Yu Tung , Jiang Lei , Woodington Ben , Middya Sagnik , Braendlein Marcel , Lam Jordan Lewis William , Lim Mervyn Jun Rui , Ng Vincent Yew Poh , Rao Jai Prashanth , Chan Derrick Wei Shih , Ang Beng Ti
Published: July 2024

Objective. Micro-electrocorticographic (μECoG) arrays are able to record neural activities from the cortical surface, without the need to penetrate the brain parenchyma. Owing in part to small electrode sizes, previous studies have demonstrated that single-unit spikes could be detected from the cortical surface, and likely from Layer I neurons of the neocortex. Here we tested the ability to use μECoG arrays to decode, in rats, body position during open field navigation, through isolated single-unit activities. Approach. μECoG arrays were chronically implanted onto primary motor cortex (M1) of Wistar rats, and neural recording was performed in awake, behaving rats in an open-field enclosure. The signals were band-pass filtered between 300–3000 Hz. Threshold-crossing spikes were identified and sorted into distinct units based on defined criteria including waveform morphology and refractory period. Body positions were derived from video recordings. We used gradient-boosting machine to predict body position based on previous 100 ms of spike data, and correlation analyses to elucidate the relationship between position and spike patterns. Main results. Single-unit spikes could be extracted during chronic recording from μECoG, and spatial position could be decoded from these spikes with a mean absolute error of prediction of 0.135 and 0.090 in the x- and y- dimensions (of a normalized range from 0 to 1), and Pearson’s r of 0.607 and 0.571, respectively. Significance. μECoG can detect single-unit activities that likely arise from superficial neurons in the cortex and is a promising alternative to intracortical arrays, with the added benefit of scalability to cover large cortical surface with minimal incremental risks. More studies should be performed in human related to its use as brain–machine interface.
Limitations to extracellular concentration sensing through signaling cascades
Authors: Biswal Swoyam Srirupa , Wasnik Vaibhav
Published: July 2024

Signaling cascades refer to sequential biochemical reactions that occur in the cytoplasm of living cells in response to the binding of a ligand to a cell surface receptor, triggering a cellular response. Living cells need to sense extracellular concentrations with high precision. In this paper, we study the limitations of extracellular concentration measurement in linear signaling cascades. We find that as long as the cascade is linear and measurement times are much larger or much smaller than the timescales of the cytoplasmic reactions, the error in concentration measurement is independent of cascade length, the nature of the reactions and their rates. Our results can also be extended to generic non-linear signal cascades when the measurement time is much smaller than the timescales of cytoplasmic reactions. We illustrate this by considering the specific example of the accuracy of concentration detection in E. coli.
Corrigendum: Matrix numerical method for probability densities of stochastic delay differential equations (2024 J. Phys. A: Math. Theor.
57 235001)
Authors: Antary Nils , Holubec Viktor
Published: July 2024

We correct typos in equations (8), (9), and (12) of the original paper.
Discharge and mass transfer characteristics of atmospheric pressure gas-solid two-phase gliding arc
Authors: ZHU 朱 Min 珉 , PING 平 Yuchen 宇辰 , ZHANG 张 Yinghao 英豪 , ZHANG 张 Chaohai 潮海 , WU 吴 Shuqun 淑群
Published: July 2024

In this work, a gas-solid two-phase gliding arc discharge (GS-GAD) reactor was built. Gliding arc was formed in the gap between the blade electrodes, and solid powder was deposited on the sieve plate positioned beneath the blade electrodes. A range of experimental parameters, including the inter-electrode spacing, gas flow rate, applied voltage, and the type of the powder, were systematically varied to elucidate the influence of solid powder matter on the dynamics of gliding arc discharge (GAD). The discharge images were captured by ICCD and digital camera to investigate the mass transfer characteristics of GS-GAD, and the electrical parameters, such as the effective values of voltage, current, and discharge power were record to reveal the discharge characteristics of GS-GAD. The results demonstrate that powder undergoes spontaneous movement towards the upper region of the gliding arc due to the influence of electric field force. Increasing the discharge voltage, decreasing relative dielectric constant of the powder and reducing the electrode-to-sieve-plate distance all contribute to a greater involvement of powder in the GAD process, subsequently resulting in an enhanced powder concentration within the GAD region. Additionally, powder located beneath the gliding arc experiences downward resistance caused by the opposing gas flow and arc. Excessive gas flow rate notably hampers the powder concentration within the discharge region, and the velocity of powder motion in the upper part of the GAD region is reduced. Under the condition of electrode-to-sieve-plate distance of 30 mm, gas flow rate of 1.5 L/min, and peak-to-peak voltage of 31 kV, the best combination of arc gliding and powder spark discharge phenomena can be achieved with the addition of Al2O3 powder.
TFG regulates inner COPII coat recruitment to facilitate anterograde secretory protein transport
Authors: Kasberg William , Luong Peter , Minushkin Kayla , Pustova Iryna , Swift Kevin A. , Zhao Meixian , Audhya Anjon
Published: July 2024

Coat protein complex II (COPII) governs the initial steps of biosynthetic secretory protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), facilitating the movement of a wide variety of cargoes. Here, we demonstrate that Trk-fused gene (TFG) regulates the rate at which inner COPII coat proteins are concentrated at ER subdomains. Specifically, in cells lacking TFG, the GTPase-activating protein (GAP) Sec23 accumulates more rapidly at budding sites on the ER as compared with control cells, potentially altering the normal timing of GTP hydrolysis on Sar1. Under these conditions, anterograde trafficking of several secretory cargoes is delayed, irrespective of their predicted size. We propose that TFG controls the local, freely available pool of Sec23 during COPII coat formation and limits its capacity to prematurely destabilize COPII complexes on the ER. This function of TFG enables it to act akin to a rheostat, promoting the ordered recruitment of Sec23, which is critical for efficient secretory cargo export.
Leisure-time physical activity and the incidence of atrial fibrillation in senior adults: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Mei Yunting , Huang Li , Gong Cong , Zhao Wenjing , Gui Ming , Qiu Quan , Wang Zhiwei , Chen Yufeng , Xie Yuanling , Cai Xueqing , Yuan Yue-Shuang , Zheng Zhen-Feng , Xue Yumei , Deng Hai , Liu Xudong
Published: July 2024

Objective

Whether physical activity could reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unclear. This study was to investigate the relationship of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) with AF incidence among Chinese older adults.

Methods

A total of 3253 participants aged ≥60 years from the Guangzhou Heart Study were successfully followed between March 2018 and September 2019. LTPA was assessed using a modified Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. AF was ascertained by 12-lead electrocardiograms, 24-hour single-lead Holter and clinical examination. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to the estimate hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) after adjustment for confounders, and the population-attributable fraction (PAF) was estimated.

Results

A total of 76 (2.34%) new-onset cases of AF were identified during a median of 31.13 months of follow-up. After adjustment for confounders, subjects who had LTPA at least 10.0 metabolic equivalent (MET)-hours/week had a 55% lower risk of developing AF (HR: 0.45, 95%CI: 0.25–0.81), and at least 20 MET-hours/week reduced the risk by 45% (HR: 0.55, 95%CI: 0.34–0.92). At least 11% (PAF: 11%, 95%CI: 0%–20%) or 14% (PAF: 14%, 95%CI: 0%–26%) of AF cases could be avoided, respectively, if the subjects do LTPA at least 10 MET-hours/week or 20 MET-hours/week. A significant exposure-response trend was also observed between LTPA and AF risk (Plinear-trend = 0.002). For a specific LTPA, doing housework was associated with a 43% reduced risk, while engaging in ball games was associated with an increased risk.

Conclusion

This prospective cohort study indicated that a higher LTPA volume was associated with a lower AF risk in Chinese older adults.
Metaethics and the Nature of Properties
Authors: Sinclair Neil
Published: July 2024

This paper explores connections between theories of morality and theories of properties. It argues that (1) moral realism is in tension with predicate, class and mereological nominalism; (2) moral non-naturalism is incompatible with standard versions of resemblance nominalism, immanent realism and trope theory; and (3) the standard semantic arguments for property realism do not support moral realism. I also raise doubts about trope-theoretic explanations of moral supervenience and argue against one version of the principle that we should accept theories that maintain neutrality.
GLDADec: marker-gene guided LDA modeling for bulk gene expression deconvolution
Authors: Azuma Iori , Mizuno Tadahaya , Kusuhara Hiroyuki
Published: July 2024

Inferring cell type proportions from bulk transcriptome data is crucial in immunology and oncology. Here, we introduce guided LDA deconvolution (GLDADec), a bulk deconvolution method that guides topics using cell type-specific marker gene names to estimate topic distributions for each sample. Through benchmarking using blood-derived datasets, we demonstrate its high estimation performance and robustness. Moreover, we apply GLDADec to heterogeneous tissue bulk data and perform comprehensive cell type analysis in a data-driven manner. We show that GLDADec outperforms existing methods in estimation performance and evaluate its biological interpretability by examining enrichment of biological processes for topics. Finally, we apply GLDADec to The Cancer Genome Atlas tumor samples, enabling subtype stratification and survival analysis based on estimated cell type proportions, thus proving its practical utility in clinical settings. This approach, utilizing marker gene names as partial prior information, can be applied to various scenarios for bulk data deconvolution. GLDADec is available as an open-source Python package at https://github.com/mizuno-group/GLDADec.
CTRP6 alleviates endometrial fibrosis by regulating Smad3 pathway in intrauterine adhesion
Authors: Yan Sisi , Ding Jinli , Wang Zehao , Zhang Yi , Xu Yong , Jia Yifan , Yang Jing , Qiu Hui
Published: July 2024

Intrauterine adhesion (IUA) is manifestations of endometrial fibrosis and excessive extracellular matrix deposition. C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein-6 (CTRP6) is a newly identified adiponectin paralog which has been reported to modulate the fibrosis process of several diseases; however, the endometrial fibrosis function of CTRP6 remains unknown. Our study aimed to assess the role of CTRP6 in endometrial fibrosis and further explore the underlying mechanism. Here, we found that the expression of CTRP6 was downregulated in the endometrial tissues of IUA. In vitro experiments demonstrated the reduced level of CTRP6 in facilitated transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs). In addition, CTRP6 inhibited the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen I in TGF-β1-treated HESCs. Mechanistically, CTRP6 activated the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and protein kinase B (AKT) pathway in HESCs, and AMPK inhibitor (AraA) or PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) pretreatment abolished the protective effect of CTRP6 on TGF-β1-induced fibrosis. CTRP6 markedly decreased TGF-β1-induced Smad3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, and AMPK or AKT inhibition reversed these effects. Notably, CTRP6-overexpressing treatment alleviated the fibrosis of endometrium in vivo. Therefore, CTRP6 ameliorates endometrial fibrosis, among which AMPK and AKT are essential for the anti-fibrotic effect of CTRP6 via the Smad3 pathway. Taken together, CTRP6 may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of intrauterine adhesion.
Drought as an emergent driver of ecological transformation in the twenty-first century
Authors: Moss Wynne E , Crausbay Shelley D , Rangwala Imtiaz , Wason Jay W , Trauernicht Clay , Stevens-Rumann Camille S , Sala Anna , Rottler Caitlin M , Pederson Gregory T , Miller Brian W , Magness Dawn R , Littell Jeremy S , Frelich Lee E , Frazier Abby G , Davis Kimberley T , Coop Jonathan D , Cartwright Jennifer M , Booth Robert K
Published: July 2024

Under climate change, ecosystems are experiencing novel drought regimes, often in combination with stressors that reduce resilience and amplify drought’s impacts. Consequently, drought appears increasingly likely to push systems beyond important physiological and ecological thresholds, resulting in substantial changes in ecosystem characteristics persisting long after drought ends (i.e., ecological transformation). In the present article, we clarify how drought can lead to transformation across a wide variety of ecosystems including forests, woodlands, and grasslands. Specifically, we describe how climate change alters drought regimes and how this translates to impacts on plant population growth, either directly or through drought's interactions with factors such as land management, biotic interactions, and other disturbances. We emphasize how interactions among mechanisms can inhibit postdrought recovery and can shift trajectories toward alternate states. Providing a holistic picture of how drought initiates long-term change supports the development of risk assessments, predictive models, and management strategies, enhancing preparedness for a complex and growing challenge.
Justice Work: Sisters (Having to) Do It for Themselves
Authors: Lombard Nancy , Proctor Katy
Published: July 2024

This article outlines findings from our research which sought to explore the lived experiences of victim/survivors of stalking and/or coercive control as they navigated their way through the Scottish Criminal Justice System (SCJS), commissioned by the Scottish Government. Building on the work of Acker (1990), Hochschild (1983), Fishman (1978), Kelly (2016) and Vera-Gray (2018; 2020) our findings show that women’s involvement as victim-survivors with the criminal justice system insists they perform elements of both hidden (behind the scenes) and visible (but unacknowledged) work. These types of work replicate already identified elements of emotional, safety and violence work. In addition, however, we uncovered a new form of work that women must undertake when seeking justice which we have conceptualized as ‘Justice Work’.
Microstructure of monolayered aggregate of 5-(4-carboxyphenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphine self-assembled at the toluene/water interface
Authors: Gusman Tania Avianda , Tsukahara Satoshi
Published: July 2024

5-(4-Carboxyphenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphine (TPPCOOH) was acid-dissociated and its salt with alkali metal ions (TPPCOO−M+, M+=Li+, Na+, and K+) formed ordered needlelike monolayered aggregates at the toluene/water interface under alkaline conditions. The light absorption of the aggregates at 451 nm depended on the polarization direction. The dependence revealed 2 types of TPPCOO−M+ aggregates with different growth direction, but their microstructure and interfacial concentration were almost the same. The height of the aggregates measured by atomic force microscopy was approximately equivalent to that of titled TPPCOO−.
Polyarchy and societas: an extended continuum of discrete structural alternatives
Authors: Grandori Anna , Varella Miranda Bruno
Published: July 2024

Horizontal, multilateral and polycentric forms of governance, albeit important in reality, represent a challenge for the now dominant use of the ‘market and hierarchy’ continuum of structural alternatives. This paper proposes a broader characterisation of both poles of the continuum of governance forms that would enhance the understanding of both intra- and inter-organisational governance. One side of the continuum would encompass examples of ‘societas’, for example, legal entities (among which firms) unifying property rights and deliberately coordinating actions through a wide set of voice-based mechanisms, including non-hierarchical ones. The other side of the continuum would encompass ‘polyarchies’, that is, forms of decentralised coordination among nodes deciding autonomously, but not necessarily linked by transactions of goods and services coordinated by prices, such as market exchanges. This paper uses several cases from the agri-food sector to show that many ‘strange’ unclassified forms can be described, explained and assessed as hybrids between polyarchy and societas. The final section of the paper proposes some refinements in the independent variables to be used in the comparative assessment of organisation forms and new propositions that can be derived for future research.
Close-to-nature management of tropical timber plantations is economically viable and provides biodiversity benefits
Authors: Pinnschmidt Arne , Yousefpour Rasoul , Nölte Anja , Hanewinkel Marc
Published: July 2024

Reforestation of tropical forests is crucial to mitigate the climate crisis and restore ecosystems. However, past efforts have been criticized for establishing monoculture timber plantations with exotic tree species. Close-to-nature (CTN) practices aim to minimize negative forest management impacts on forests ecosystems by mimicking natural dynamics. So far, CTN management practices are rarely applied in tropical plantation forestry. This study evaluates the economic, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity potential of CTN management in tropical mixed-species plantations in Central America using a simulation-optimization approach. To our knowledge, this study is the first to assess the potential of tropical CTN-managed plantations on the basis of detailed process-based forest growth simulations. CTN practices such as selective harvesting, retention forestry, and shelterwood cutting of mixed-species stands were compared to even-aged mixtures and conventional monoculture practices. Results showed that CTN management was economically viable for certain species mixtures and management practices at an 8 % discount rate and had the potential to increase carbon storage and biodiversity in the modeled plantations. At current carbon prices, CTN-managed plantations may only become financially competitive with monocultures, if monocultures are excluded from carbon certification schemes that increasingly aim at co-producing non-carbon benefits like biodiversity conservation. If carbon prices increase, the sale of carbon credits could finance the transformation of monocultures to CTN-managed mixed-species stands. The competitiveness of CTN management could also be improved through performance-based biodiversity payments, such as the sale of biodiversity credits.
From innovation to participation: connectivity and the conduct of contemporary warfare
Authors: Ford Matthew
Published: July 2024

The war in Ukraine is the first conventional war to ever take place in an entirely connected information ecology. The internet has not been switched off. Mundane smart devices are ubiquitous. Soldiers and ordinary civilians are participating in the conflict in ways that have never previously been possible. This stretches participation beyond the information domain and the kinds of connectivity that shaped conflicts in places like Syria, Tigray and Mali. Now the smartphone is routinely being used by soldiers and civilians alike to geolocate enemy columns, control drones to range find for artillery, and produce and broadcast the damage assessment for online audiences to watch. Surveillance technology already makes it possible to track individual smartphone users. In times of peace these forms of surveillance are curtailed. During a conventional war, however, private organizations and governments have reason to circumvent peacetime legal conventions. The result is that mundane connected technology forms part of an extended chain of sensors that feeds data and information to those involved in information warfare and targeting activities. In effect, the smartphone has collapsed the means to fight and represent war into the functionality of one device. This article maps the policy and military implications of these developments in relation to participation, the conduct of war and the law of armed conflict.
Genotype-specific Expression of Uncle Fester Suggests a Role in Allorecognition Education in a Basal Chordate
Authors: Taketa Daryl A , Cengher Liviu , Rodriguez Delany , Langenbacher Adam D , De Tomaso Anthony W
Published: July 2024

Synopsis

Histocompatibility is the ability to discriminate between self and non-self tissues, and has been described in species throughout the metazoa. Despite its universal presence, histocompatibility genes utilized by different phyla are unique—those found in sponges, cnidarians, ascidians, and vertebrates are not orthologous. Thus, the origins of these sophisticated recognition systems, and any potential functional commonalities between them, are not understood. We are studying histocompatibility in the botryllid ascidians, members of the chordate subphylum, Tunicata, which provide a powerful model to understand both the origins and functional aspects of this process. Histocompatibility in the botryllids occurs at the tips of an extracorporeal vasculature that come into contact when two individuals grow into proximity. If compatible, the vessels will fuse, forming a parabiosis between the two individuals. If incompatible, the two vessels will reject—an inflammatory reaction that results in melanin scar formation at the point of contact, blocking anastomosis. Compatibility is determined by a single, highly polymorphic locus called the fuhc with the following rules: individuals that share one or both fuhc alleles will fuse, while those who share neither will reject. The fuhc locus encodes at least six proteins with known roles in allorecognition. One of these genes, called uncle fester, is necessary and sufficient to initiate the rejection response. Here, we report the existence of genotype-specific expression levels of uncle fester, differing by up to eight-fold at the mRNA-level, and that these expression levels are constant and maintained for the lifetime of an individual. We also found that these differences had functional consequences: the expression level of uncle fester correlated with the speed and severity of the rejection response. These findings support previous conclusions that uncle fester levels modulate the rejection response, and may be responsible for controlling the variation observed in the timing and intensity of the reaction. The maintenance of genotype specific expression of uncle fester is also evidence of an education process reminiscent of that which occurs in mammalian Natural Killer cells. In turn, this suggests that while histocompatibility receptors and ligands evolve via convergent evolution, they may utilize conserved intracellular machinery to interpret binding events at the cell surface.
Adding the risk of stock collapse over time to stock assessments and harvest allocation decisions
Authors: Blanz Benjamin , Cormier Roland , Swain Douglas , Held Hermann
Published: July 2024

Globally, many fisheries have experienced collapse even though most of these fisheries had management plans with harvest control rules and were supported by scientific modelling that explicitly accounted for uncertainty. Recognizing that an informed decision on risks of a stock collapse versus harvest is only possible when the outcomes of the technical measures are described explicitly. We propose that the cumulative probability of stock collapse over a range of harvest levels would provide a perspective of the future consequences of harvesting decisions. Adding to the harvest level negotiations the consideration of how long a fishery should sustain the livelihoods of fishers may provide managers, fishers, and other stakeholders with a more tangible understanding of the risks within the context of precautionary principles in decision-making. We use a time series from the Canadian Cod fishery of the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, from which we construct and calibrate a simplified model as an emulator of more comprehensive models to demonstrate the approach. The implications of adding an analysis of the probabilities of stock collapse for a range of harvest levels and using a risk matrix to inform decision-making are discussed for four selected years 1974, 1986, 1993, and 2017.
A study of prehospital EMS response time and influencing factors in the main urban area of Chongqing, China
Authors: Chen Saijuan , Xing Dianguo , Wang Qiuting , An Yunyi , Chen Ying , Zhou Xinyun , Tan Weijie , Liu Hua , Zhang Yan
Published: July 2024

Shortening the prehospital emergency medical service (EMS) response time is crucial for saving lives and lowering mortality and disability rates in patients with sudden illnesses. Descriptive analyses of prehospital EMS response time and each component were conducted separately using ambulance trip data from the 120 Dispatch Command Centre in the main urban area of Chongqing in 2021, and then, logistic regression analyses were used to explore the influencing factors. The median prehospital EMS response time in the main urban area of Chongqing was 14.52 min and the mean was 16.14 min. A 44.89% of prehospital EMS response time exceeded 15 min. Response time was more likely to surpass this threshold during peak hours and in high population density areas. Conversely, lower probabilities exceeding 15 min were observed during the night shift, summer, and autumn seasons, and areas with a high density of emergency station. 33.28% of preparation time was >3 min, with the night shift and high population density areas more likely to be >3 min, while for the summer and autumn seasons, high Gross National Product (GDP) per capita areas had a lower likelihood of having preparation time >3 min. 45.52% of travel time was >11 min, with peak hours, summer and autumn, and high GDP per capita areas more likely to have had a travel time >11 min, while night shift and high emergency station density areas had a lower likelihood of travel time >11 min. The primary factors influencing prehospital EMS response time were shifts, traffic scenarios, seasons, GDP per capita, emergency station density, and population density. Relevant departments can devise effective interventions to reduce response time through resource allocation and department coordination, staff training and work arrangement optimisation, as well as public participation and education, thereby enhancing the efficiency of prehospital emergency medical services.
Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the defined daily dose of antimicrobials in patients requiring elective and emergency surgical procedures
Authors: Aguilar-Del-Castillo Fátima , Álvarez-Aguilera Miriam , Tinoco-González José , Vaca Iván , Herrera-Hidalgo Laura , Paniagua María , Cisneros José Miguel , Padillo-Ruiz Francisco Javier , Jiménez-Rodríguez Rosa M
Published: July 2024

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in great incertitude and overwhelming changes in healthcare that have had a direct impact on antibiotic prescription. However, the influence of this pandemic on antibiotic consumption in patients undergoing surgery has not yet been analysed. The goal of this study was to analyse antimicrobial consumption and prescription in the same period of 2019 (pre-COVID-19), 2020 (beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic) and 2021 (established COVID-19) according to the DDD system in surgical patients at a tertiary-level hospital.

Methods

A prospectively maintained database was analysed. All patients who underwent elective or emergency gastrointestinal surgery during the same period (2019, 2020 and 2021) were included. Those who received at least 1 of the 10 most frequently prescribed antimicrobials during those periods were analysed.

Results

A total of 2975 patients were included in this study. In 2020, the number of procedures performed decreased significantly (653 versus 1154 and 1168 in 2020 versus 2019 and 2021, respectively; P = 0.005). Of all patients who underwent surgery during these periods, 45.08% received at least one of the antimicrobials studied (45.8% in 2020 versus 22.9% and 22.97% in 2019 and 2021, respectively; P = 0.005). Of these, 22.97% of the patients received a combination of these antimicrobials, with ceftriaxone/metronidazole being the most frequent. Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary and Liver Transplant, Emergency Surgery and Colorectal Surgery units had higher antibiotic consumption.

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant decrease in surgical activity and higher post-operative antimicrobial prescription compared with previous and subsequent years.
Occupational health staff’s involvement contributes to supervisor’s perceived organizational support in Japanese workforce: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Mori Takahiro , Nagata Tomohisa , Odagami Kiminori , Adi Nuri Purwito , Mori Koji ,   for the W2S-Ohpm II study
Published: July 2024

Objectives

Enhancing employees’ perceived organizational support (POS) is crucial for organizations, and one effective approach is enhancing supervisors’ POS. However, there is limited research focusing specifically on enhancing supervisors’ POS. We aimed to investigate the influence of occupational health staff’s involvement for supervisors on their POS.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was conducted using an online survey targeting supervisors in various industries across Japan. We assessed supervisors’ POS using 8 effective items of the Japanese version of the Survey of Perceived Organizational Support. Data were collected on the involvement of occupational health staff in providing supervisors with training on workplace health management and guidance on addressing specific subordinates with health concerns. The association between this involvement and POS was assessed through multiple regression analyses.

Results

The study involved 541 supervisors with occupational health staff at their workplace in the final analysis. Training from occupational health staff was significantly associated with an increase in POS at follow-up after adjustment for potential confounders, including demographic variables and POS at baseline. Similarly, guidance from occupational health staff was also significantly associated with increased POS. This effect was particularly notable in small workplaces.

Conclusions

Our study indicates that occupational health staff’s involvement in supporting supervisors can contribute to enhancing supervisors’ POS, especially in small workplaces. These findings suggest that by developing structured systems and establishing specific roles for occupational health staff, organizations may effectively enhance supervisors’ POS.
Hepatitis B infection and immunity in migrant children and pregnant persons in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Hobart Carla , Pescarini Julia M , Evans Laith , Adil Haleema S , Adil Shehzhore T , Deal Anna , Carter Jessica , Matthews Philippa C , Hargreaves Sally , Sanchez Clemente Nuria
Published: July 2024

Background

The WHO’s global hepatitis strategy aims to achieve viral hepatitis elimination by 2030. Migrant children and pregnant persons represent an important target group for prevention strategies. However, evidence on the burden of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection and the factors affecting its incidence is lacking.

Methods

EMBASE, Global Health, Global Index Medicus, Web of Science and Medline were searched for articles in any language from 1 January 2012 to 8 June 2022. Studies reporting CHB prevalence, disease severity, complications and/or prevention strategies, including vaccination, prevention of vertical transmission and access to care/treatment for migrant children and pregnant migrants, were included. Pooled estimates of CHB prevalence and hepatitis B vaccination (HBV) coverage among migrant children were calculated using random effects meta-analysis.

Findings

42 studies were included, 27 relating to migrant children and 15 to pregnant migrants across 12 European countries, involving data from 64 773 migrants. Migrants had a higher incidence of CHB than host populations. Among children, the pooled prevalence of CHB was higher for unaccompanied minors (UAM) (5%, [95% CI: 3–7%]) compared to other child migrants, including internationally adopted children (IAC) and refugees (1%, [95% CI: 1–2%]). Region of origin was identified as a risk factor for CHB, with children from Africa and pregnant migrants from Africa, Eastern Europe and China at the highest risk. Pooled estimates of HBV vaccine coverage were lower among UAM (12%, [95% CI: 3–21%]) compared to other child migrants (50%, [95% CI: 37–63%]).

Conclusion

A range of modifiable determinants of HBV prevalence in migrant children and pregnant persons were identified, including sub-optimal screening, prevention and continuum of care. There is a need to develop evidence-based approaches in hepatitis care for these groups, thereby contributing towards global viral hepatitis elimination goals.
The role of chloroplast SRP54 domains and its C-terminal tail region in post- and co-translational protein transport in vivo
Authors: Bischoff Annika , Ortelt Jennifer , Dünschede Beatrix , Zegarra Victor , Bedrunka Patricia , Bange Gert , Schünemann Danja
Published: July 2024

In the chloroplast, the 54 kDa subunit of the signal recognition particle (cpSRP54) is involved in the post-translational transport of the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-binding proteins (LHCPs) and the co-translational transport of plastid-encoded subunits of the photosynthetic complexes to the thylakoid membrane. It forms a high-affinity complex with plastid-specific cpSRP43 for post-translational transport, while a ribosome-associated pool coordinates its co-translational function. CpSRP54 constitutes a conserved multidomain protein, comprising a GTPase (NG) and a methionine-rich (M) domain linked by a flexible region. It is further characterized by a plastid-specific C-terminal tail region containing the cpSRP43-binding motif. To characterize the physiological role of the various regions of cpSRP54 in thylakoid membrane protein transport, we generated Arabidopsis cpSRP54 knockout (ffc1-2) lines producing truncated cpSRP54 variants or a GTPase point mutation variant. Phenotypic characterization of the complementation lines demonstrated that the C-terminal tail region of cpSRP54 plays an important role exclusively in post-translational LHCP transport. Furthermore, we show that the GTPase activity of cpSRP54 plays an essential role in the transport pathways for both nuclear as well as plastid-encoded proteins. In addition, our data revealed that plants expressing cpSRP54 without the C-terminal region exhibit a strongly increased accumulation of a photosystem I assembly intermediate.
The mean longitudinal magnetic field and its uses in radial-velocity surveys
Authors: Rescigno F , Mortier A , Dumusque X , Lakeland B S , Haywood R , Piskunov N , Nicholson B A , López-Morales M , Dalal S , Cretignier M , Klein B , Cameron A Collier , Ghedina A , Gonzalez M , Cosentino R , Sozzetti A , Saar S H
Published: July 2024

This work focuses on the analysis of the mean longitudinal magnetic field as a stellar activity tracer in the context of small exoplanet detection and characterization in radial-velocity (RV) surveys. We use Solar Dynamics Observatory/Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager filtergrams to derive Sun-as-a-star magnetic field measurements, and show that the mean longitudinal magnetic field is an excellent rotational period detector and a useful tracer of the solar magnetic cycle. To put these results into context, we compare the mean longitudinal magnetic field to three common activity proxies derived from HARPS-N Sun-as-a-star data: the full width at half-maximum, the bisector span, and the S-index. The mean longitudinal magnetic field does not correlate with the RVs and therefore cannot be used as a one-to-one proxy. However, with high cadence and a long baseline, the mean longitudinal magnetic field outperforms all other considered proxies as a solar rotational period detector, and can be used to inform our understanding of the physical processes happening on the surface of the Sun. We also test the mean longitudinal magnetic field as a ‘stellar proxy’ on a reduced solar data set to simulate stellar-like observational sampling. With a Gaussian Process regression analysis, we confirm that the solar mean longitudinal magnetic field is the most effective of the considered indicators, and is the most efficient rotational period indicator over different levels of stellar activity. This work highlights the need for polarimetric time series observations of stars.
High-priority targets for transient gravitational waves from glitching pulsars
Authors: Yim Garvin , Shao Lijing , Xu Renxin
Published: July 2024

Glitching pulsars are expected to be important sources of gravitational waves (GWs). In this paper, we explore six different models that propose the emission of transient continuous waves, lasting days to months, coincident with glitches. The maximal GW energy is calculated for each model, which is then used to determine whether associated GWs could be detectable with LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA’s O4 detectors. We provide an analytical approximation to calculate the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) which includes information about the source’s sky position, improving on previous estimates that assume isotropic or sky and orientation averaged sensitivities. By analysing the entire glitching population, we find that certain models predict detectable signals in O4, whereas others do not. We also rank glitching pulsars by SNR, based on archival data, and we find that for all models, the Vela pulsar (PSR J0835$-$4510) would provide the strongest signal. Moreover, PSR J0537$-$6910 is not expected to yield a detectable signal in O4, but will start becoming relevant for next-generation detectors. Our analysis also extends to the entire pulsar population, regardless of whether they have glitched, and we provide a list of pulsars that would present a significant signal, if they were to glitch. Finally, we apply our analysis to the 2024 April Vela glitch and find that a signal should be detectable under certain models. The non-detection of a supposedly detectable signal would provide an efficiency factor that quantifies a model’s contribution to GW emission, eventually leading to a differentiation of models and independent constraints on physical parameters.