bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of a Ti/SnO2-Sb/Fe-PVP-PbO2 Electrode Deposited from Methanesulfonate Bath and Application in Electrocatalytic Degradation of MO
Authors: Liu Shuna , Yang Ben , Zuo Anran , Tang Yongming
Published: September 2023

Ti/SnO2-Sb/PbO2 anodes were electrodeposited from methanesulfonate-based baths, and the effect of dopants such as PVP and Fe on the surface morphology, phase composition, electrocatalytic activity and stability was investigated. It is revealed that the inclusion of Fe effectively enhances the stability of PbO2 anode, while PVP can significantly improve its electrocatalytic activity. The Fe,PVP-codoped anode, Ti/SnO2-Sb/Fe-PVP-PbO2, exhibits the higher stability and electrocatalytic activity compared to the respective inclusion of Fe and PVP. The gradation efficiency of methyl orange (MO) on the Ti/SnO2-Sb/Fe-PVP-PbO2 anode is affected by the applied current density and the initial MO concentration. During degradation, the azo structure of MO is firstly cleaved, resulting in the rapid decolorization of solution. Demethylated MO and the anion of sulfanilic acid are detected as intermediates, and thus a plausible pathway of MO degradation is proposed.
SIRT7: the seventh key to unlocking the mystery of aging
Authors: Raza Umar , Tang Xiaolong , Liu Zuojun , Liu Baohua
Published: September 2023

Aging is a chronic yet natural physiological decline of the body. Throughout life, humans are continuously exposed to a variety of exogenous and endogenous stresses, which engender various counteractive responses at the cellular, tissue, organ, as well as organismal levels. The compromised cellular and tissue functions that occur because of genetic factors or prolonged stress (or even the stress response) may accelerate aging. Over the last two decades, the sirtuin (SIRT) family of lysine deacylases has emerged as a key regulator of longevity in a variety of organisms. SIRT7, the most recently identified member of the SIRTs, maintains physiological homeostasis and provides protection against aging by functioning as a watchdog of genomic integrity, a dynamic sensor and modulator of stresses. SIRT7 decline disrupts metabolic homeostasis, accelerates aging, and increases the risk of age-related pathologies including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, pulmonary and renal disorders, inflammatory diseases, and cancer, etc. Here, we present SIRT7 as the seventh key to unlock the mystery of aging, and its specific manipulation holds great potential to ensure healthiness and longevity.
LncRNA FAM225B Regulates PDIA4-Mediated Ovarian Cancer Cell Invasion and Migration via Modulating Transcription Factor DDX17
Authors: Yao Chanjiao , Zeng Lingjuan , Liu Qin , Qiu Xiaoxin , Chen Chunyan
Published: September 2023

Objective. This study aimed to explore the roles and mechanisms of lncRNA FAM225B and PDIA4 in ovarian cancer. Methods. RT-qPCR and Western blot assays were performed to detect the expression levels of the lncRNAs FAM225B, DDX17, and PDIA4 in the serum of patients with ovarian cancer and cell lines. Cells were transfected with lncRNA FAM225B- and PDIA4-related vectors to determine the malignant phenotypes using functional experiments. The mutual binding of lncRNA FAM225B and DDX17 was verified using RNA pull-down and RIP assays. Results. The expression of lncRNAs FAM225B and PDIA4 was decreased in the serum of patients with ovarian cancer and cell lines. Restoration of lncRNA FAM225B or PDIA4 reduced cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities and elevated the apoptosis rate, whereas suppression of lncRNA FAM225B or PDIA4 exhibited an inverse trend. RNA pull-down and RIP assays revealed a direct interaction between lncRNA FAM225B and DDX17. ChIP assay revealed a relationship between DDX17 and the PDIA4 promoter. LncRNA FAM225B and DDX17 positively regulate PDIA4 expression. Downregulation of PDIA4 expression counteracts the suppressive effect of lncRNA FAM225B overexpression in ovarian cancer cells. Conclusion. This research study supports the fact that lncRNA FAM225B in ovarian cancer can upregulate PDIA4 by directly binding to DDX17, inhibiting the activities of ovarian cancer cells.
Robot-Assisted Repair of Bladder Rupture following Penile Ring Entrapment
Authors: Skalak Matthew , Jirjis Rami , Anderson Barrett G. , Miller Brandi D.
Published: September 2023

Penile rings have been used to help sustain erection and enhance sexual pleasure for centuries. Constriction of the penis reduces the outflow of blood from the cavernosal tissue. However, if left for an extended time period, a condition called penile ring entrapment can occur. This may result in severe edema, gangrene, necrosis, and even penile amputation. Penile ring entrapment is a very rare condition; complete urinary obstruction with concomitant bladder rupture as a result renders this case even more extraordinary. We discuss our experience in the management of a 64-year-old man, who presented with altered mental status and inability to urinate, found to have penile ring entrapment and intraperitoneal bladder rupture. Removal of the constricting ring was performed in the ED, and bladder injury and penile necrosis were subsequently repaired with robot-assisted laparoscopic cystorrhaphy, penectomy, and perineal urethrostomy.
Evaluation of Platelet Distribution Width as an Early Predictor of Acute Kidney Injury in Extensive Burn Patients
Authors: Jiang Ming , Zhang Qingrong , Zhang Chuwei , Li Zihan , Li Qiqi , Qu Xun , Zhang Yi , Hu Kesu
Published: September 2023

Background. The extensive burns devastate trauma. The research was designed to analyse the predictive value of early platelet (PLT) indices on the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) after severe burns. Methods and Results. 186 patients with extensive burns (burn area ≥30%) were eventually involved. Multivariate analyses pointed out that platelet distribution width (PDW) in the first 24 h after admission was an independent risk factor for AKI, severe AKI, and RRT requirement in patients with severe burns, and AKI risk showed an increase of 30.9% per increase of 1% in PDW (OR = 1.309, CI, 1.075–1.594, and P = 0.007). It was found that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of PDW predicting AKI was 0.735 and that the AUC value was 0.81 for AKI after combining PDW and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Based on the cut-off value PDW = 17.7%, patients were divided into high- (PDW ≥17.7%) and low-risk (PDW <17.7%) groups. In the KM analysis, there was a higher cumulative incidence of AKI if patients were in a high-risk group (in 30 days); and the stages of AKI showed a linear upward trend (chi-square test for linear trend

P
 
<
 
0.001

) as there was an increase in the risk level. Conclusion. The PDW level in the early stage serves as an important risk factor for AKI, severe AKI, and RRT requirement in extensive burns. When PDW >17.7%, burn patients are not only at a higher risk for AKI but may also have higher AKI severity. Due to low cost and wide availability, PDW has the potential to be the tool that can predict AKI in extensive burn patients.
Targeting the Metabolic Enzyme PGAM2 Overcomes Enzalutamide Resistance in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer by Inhibiting BCL2 Signaling
Authors: Li Zhen , Ning Kang , Zhao Diwei , Zhou Zhaohui , Zhao Junliang , Long Xingbo , Yang Zhenyu , Chen Dong , Cai XinYang , Hong Lexuan , Zhang Luyao , Zhou Fangjian , Wang Jun , Li Yonghong
Published: September 2023

The next-generation androgen receptor (AR) inhibitor enzalutamide is the mainstay treatment for metastatic prostate cancer. Unfortunately, resistance occurs rapidly in most patients, and once resistance occurs, treatment options are limited. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify effective targets to overcome enzalutamide resistance. Here, using a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 library screen, we found that targeting a glycolytic enzyme, phosphoglycerate mutase PGAM2, significantly enhanced the sensitivity of enzalutamide-resistant prostate cancer cells to enzalutamide both in vivo and in vitro. Inhibition of PGAM2 together with enzalutamide treatment triggered apoptosis by decreasing levels of the antiapoptotic protein BCL-xL and increasing activity of the proapoptotic protein BAD. Mechanistically, PGAM2 bound to 14–3-3ζ and promoted its interaction with phosphorylated BAD, resulting in activation of BCL-xL and subsequent resistance to enzalutamide-induced apoptosis. In addition, high PGAM2 expression, which is transcriptionally regulated by AR, was associated with shorter survival and rapid development of enzalutamide resistance in patients with prostate cancer. Together, these findings provide evidence of a nonmetabolic function of PGAM2 in promoting enzalutamide resistance and identify PGAM2 inhibition as a promising therapeutic strategy for enzalutamide-resistant prostate cancer.

Significance:

PGAM2 promotes resistance to enzalutamide by activating antiapoptotic BCL-xL and suppressing apoptosis, indicating that PGAM2 is a potential target for overcoming enzalutamide resistance in prostate cancer.
FIGURE 1 from A Druggable FOXA1-Glucocorticoid Receptor Transcriptional Axis Drives Tumor Growth in a Subset of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Dorso M. , Patel Payal T. , Pankov Aleksandr , Boyer Jacob A. , Soni Rajesh K. , Del Priore Isabella S. , Hayatt Omar , Kulick Amanda , Hagen Connor J. , de Stanchina Elisa , Junttila Melissa R. , Daemen Anneleen , Friedman Lori S. , Hendrickson Ronald C. , Chandarlapaty Sarat
Published: September 2023

A subset of NSCLC cell lines is FOXA1 dependent. A, Scatterplot depicting FOXA1 gene effect, or degree of essentiality, as a function of its expression. Each dot represents a cell line. Data are curated from The Cancer Dependency Map (Broad Institute). Red text, breast cancer; blue text, prostate cancer; green text, lung cancer cell lines. B, Bar graph depicting FOXA1 gene effect in NSCLC cell lines as in A arranged in order of increasing FOXA1 expression. Positive gene effect values signify a proliferative advantage conferred by FOXA1 knockout, whereas negative gene effect values signify a proliferative disadvantage conferred by FOXA1 knockout. C, Immunoblot demonstrating knockdown of FOXA1 in Renilla and FOXA1 knockdown in NCI-H441 cells. D, Effect of FOXA1 knockdown by shRNA on cell proliferation in NSCLC. Datapoints are means ± SD, n = 6. Measurements are fluorescence of Resazurin at 590 nm taken on day 7 after plating. P value calculated by Student two-tailed t test (*, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001; ****, P < 0.0001).
ADAMTS-7 Modulates Atherosclerotic Plaque Formation by Degradation of TIMP-1
Authors: Sharifi M. Amin , Wierer Michael , Dang Tan An , Milic Jelena , Moggio Aldo , Sachs Nadja , von Scheidt Moritz , Hinterdobler Julia , Müller Philipp , Werner Julia , Stiller Barbara , Aherrahrou Zouhair , Erdmann Jeanette , Zaliani Andrea , Graettinger Mira , Reinshagen Jeanette , Gul Sheraz , Gribbon Philip , Maegdefessel Lars , Bernhagen Jürgen , Sager Hendrik B. , Mann Matthias , Schunkert Heribert , Kessler Thorsten
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND:

The
ADAMTS7
locus was genome-wide significantly associated with coronary artery disease. Lack of the ECM (extracellular matrix) protease ADAMTS-7 (A disintegrin and metalloproteinase-7) was shown to reduce atherosclerotic plaque formation. Here, we sought to identify molecular mechanisms and downstream targets of ADAMTS-7 mediating the risk of atherosclerosis.

METHODS:

Targets of ADAMTS-7 were identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry of atherosclerotic plaques from Apoe
−/−
and Apoe
−/−
Adamts7
−/−
mice. ECM proteins were identified using solubility profiling. Putative targets were validated using immunofluorescence, in vitro degradation assays, coimmunoprecipitation, and Förster resonance energy transfer–based protein-protein interaction assays.
ADAMTS7
expression was measured in fibrous caps of human carotid artery plaques.

RESULTS:

In humans,
ADAMTS7
expression was higher in caps of unstable as compared to stable carotid plaques. Compared to Apoe
−/−
mice, atherosclerotic aortas of Apoe
−/−
mice lacking Adamts-7 (Apoe
−/−
Adamts7
−/−
) contained higher protein levels of Timp-1 (tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease-1). In coimmunoprecipitation experiments, the catalytic domain of ADAMTS-7 bound to TIMP-1, which was degraded in the presence of ADAMTS-7 in vitro. ADAMTS-7 reduced the inhibitory capacity of TIMP-1 at its canonical target MMP-9 (matrix metalloprotease-9). As a downstream mechanism, we investigated collagen content in plaques of Apoe
−/−
and Apoe
−/−
Adamts7
−/−
mice after a Western diet. Picrosirius red staining of the aortic root revealed less collagen as a readout of higher MMP-9 activity in Apoe
−/−
as compared to Apoe
−/−
Adamts7
−/−
mice. To facilitate high-throughput screening for ADAMTS-7 inhibitors with the aim of decreasing TIMP-1 degradation, we designed a Förster resonance energy transfer–based assay targeting the ADAMTS-7 catalytic site.

CONCLUSIONS:

ADAMTS-7, which is induced in unstable atherosclerotic plaques, decreases TIMP-1 stability reducing its inhibitory effect on MMP-9, which is known to promote collagen degradation and is likewise associated with coronary artery disease. Disrupting the interaction of ADAMTS-7 and TIMP-1 might be a strategy to increase collagen content and plaque stability for the reduction of atherosclerosis-related events.
Sodium as an Important Regulator of Immunometabolism
Authors: Miyauchi Hidetaka , Geisberger Sabrina , Luft Friedrich C. , Wilck Nicola , Stegbauer Johannes , Wiig Helge , Dechend Ralf , Jantsch Jonathan , Kleinewietfeld Markus , Kempa Stefan , Müller Dominik N.
Published: September 2023

Salt sensitivity concerns blood pressure alterations after a change in salt intake (sodium chloride). The heart is a pump, and vessels are tubes; sodium can affect both. A high salt intake increases cardiac output, promotes vascular dysfunction and capillary rarefaction, and chronically leads to increased systemic vascular resistance. More recent findings suggest that sodium also acts as an important second messenger regulating energy metabolism and cellular functions. Besides endothelial cells and fibroblasts, sodium also affects innate and adaptive immunometabolism, immune cell function, and influences certain microbes and microbiota-derived metabolites. We propose the idea that the definition of salt sensitivity should be expanded beyond high blood pressure to cellular and molecular salt sensitivity.
Undiagnosed Pediatric Elevated Blood Pressure Is Characterized by Induction of Proinflammatory and Cytotoxic Mediators
Authors: Thürmann Loreen , Bauer Mario , Ferland Maike , Messingschlager Marey , Schikowski Tamara , von Berg Andrea , Heinrich Joachim , Herberth Gunda , Lehmann Irina , Standl Marie , Trump Saskia
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND:

Inflammatory processes have been suggested as a culprit of vascular damage in pediatric hypertension. We aimed to investigate transcriptional changes of immune modulators and determine their association with office blood pressure in adolescents who were not diagnosed with hypertension at the time of the study visit.

METHODS:

Office blood pressure measurements and blood samples were taken from adolescents of 2 German birth cohorts, GINIplus (The German Infant Study on the Influence of Nutrition Intervention Plus Air Pollution and Genetics on Allergy Development; discovery cohort, n=1219) and LISA (Influences of Lifestyle-related factors on the Immune System and the Development of Allergies in Childhood; validation cohort, n=809), during the 15-year follow-up visit and categorized based on the European Society of Hypertension Guideline. Hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) and expression of 51 genes encoding cytokines/receptors and transcription factors were analyzed.

RESULTS:

The prevalence of elevated systolic blood pressure (overweight/obese) was 14.0% (5.1%) and 16.4% (5.2%) in the discovery and validation cohorts, respectively. An enhanced cytotoxic (
GZMB, PRF1, IL2RB
) and proinflammatory (
FOS, IL1B
, hs-CRP) immune profile was observed in association with the hypertension class in both cohorts. Expression of hs-CRP and
IL1B
was driven by overweight with
IL1B
being identified as a mediator between body mass index and elevated systolic blood pressure (adj.β/95% CI, 0.01/0.0002–0.02). The association of
GZMB
(adjusted odds ratio/95% CI, 1.67/1.26–2.21;
P
=0.0004) and
PRF1
(adjusted odds ratio/95% CI, 1.70/1.26–2.29;
P
=0.0005) in the hypertension class remained significant in normal-weight individuals without parental predisposition. These effects were confirmed in LISA.

CONCLUSIONS:

Adolescent hypertension is not limited to known risk groups. As adolescents in the hypertension class show an inflammatory profile similar to that of established hypertension in adults, blood pressure monitoring at a young age is critical to ensure early intervention and prevention of adverse sequelae.
The Impact of Emotions on Habitual Inhibition
Authors: Mata-Marín David , Redgrave Peter , Obeso Ignacio
Published: September 2023

Emotional information prioritizes human behavior. How much emotions influence ongoing behavior critically depends on the extent of executive control functions in a given context. One form of executive control is based on stimulus–stop associations (i.e., habitual inhibition) that rapidly and effortlessly elicits control over the interruption of ongoing behavior. So far, no behavioral accounts have explored the emotional impact on habitual inhibition. We aimed to examine the emotional modulation on habitual inhibition and associated psycho-physiological changes. A go/no-go association task asked participants to learn stimulus–stop and stimulus–response associations during 10-day training to form habitual inhibition (without emotional interference). Probabilistic feedback guided learning with varying probabilities of congruent feedback, generating stronger versus weaker pairings. A reversal test measured habitual inhibition strength counteracted by emotional cues (high-arousal positive and negative stimuli compared with neutral ones). Our training protocol induced stable behavioral and psycho-physiological responses compatible with habitual behavior. At reversal, habitual inhibition was evident as marked by significant speed costs of reversed no-go trials for strongly associated stimuli. Positive and negative emotional cues produced larger impact on habitual inhibition. We report first evidence on a cognitive control mechanism that is vulnerable to emotional stimuli and suggest alternative explanations on how emotions may boost or counteract certain behavioral abnormalities mediated by habitual inhibition.
Monastic Authority and Legitimizing Religio-Political Activism: Buddhist Nationalist Monks in Myanmar
Authors: Foxeus Niklas
Published: September 2023

The Buddhist nationalist movements that emerged during the political and economic liberalization of the second parliamentarian period (2011–2021) in Burma/Myanmar provide unique material for the study of monastic authority. The aim of this article is to examine two overlapping dynamics regarding how monastic authority is established and undermined. As for the first dynamic, the article examines three strategies in Buddhist nationalist sermons aiming to provide legitimacy for the nationalist monks. The second dynamic is a political outgroup criticism that became more common during the period in question. The article makes a distinction between generic monastic authority, which is the fundamental one, and nationalist monastic authority, as they are legitimized and established in different ways. Finally, the article argues that recognition of monastic authority by laypeople is based not merely on trust and respect but tends to be a more complex process.
What is “Race” in Algorithmic Discrimination on the Basis of Race?
Authors: Hu Lily
Published: September 2023

Machine learning algorithms bring out an under-appreciated puzzle of discrimination, namely figuring out when a decision made on the basis of a factor correlated with race is a decision made on the basis of race. I argue that prevailing approaches, which are based on identifying and then distinguishing among causal effects of race, in their metaphysical timidity, fail to get off the ground. I suggest, instead, that adopting a constructivist theory of race answers this puzzle in a principled manner. On what I call a “thick constructivist” account of race, to be raced is to be socially positioned in the way indicated by a certain set of statistical regularities on the basis of particular phenotypical traits. A thick constructivist sees that acting on the basis of correlations that constitute race qua social position just is acting on the basis of race, because races just are social positions that subject their member individuals to a particular matrix of social relations that define the raced position. This conclusion has considerable ramifications for our understanding of discrimination, algorithms and beyond.
The Pendulum that Diagnoses and Cures
Authors: Guillemain Hervé , Morfee Adrian
Published: September 2023

The example of medical radiesthesia illustrates how a new discipline may be elaborated and taken up by amateurs on the fringes of official academic science. Driven by scholarly discoveries about waves, it broke with the long tradition of dowsing while expanding its initial ambition, that of discovering hidden things by using an object to prolong the individual’s sensitivity. This break was materialised by the shift from rods to pendulums in the 1930s. Medical radiesthesia consists in using a pendulum—a simple object made of a solid or hollow ball of varying material oscillating on a cord—for diagnosis and therapy. It may be characterized as an amateur practice because radiesthesia was devised in the 1930s as a new discipline on the margins of professional scientific circles; and because it was theorised by non-doctors and practised mainly by people not involved in the world of professional healthcare.
New insights into the diversity and distribution of the genus Spirotaenia (Mesotaeniaceae, Streptophyta) in the Neotropics, including the description of S. tetrahelica sp. nov.
Authors: RAMOS GERALDO JOSÉ PEIXOTO , SOUZA BRUNA FADUL DE , RIBEIRO SYLVIA MARIA MOREIRA SUSINI , MOURA CARLOS WALLACE DO NASCIMENTO
Published: September 2023

Spirotaenia is one of the main genera within the family Mesotaeniaceae (Streptophyta), and it is mostly known for its cells with helical chloroplasts. During a taxonomic survey of microalgae in the Bahia State, Brazil, three taxa of Spirotaenia were found, including a new species (S. tetrahelica), which is described herein, and two pioneer records for the Neotropics (S. beijerinckii and S. erythrocephala). This study provides detailed information on these species and other taxa of Spirotaenia reported in the Neotropical region, including a taxonomic key, descriptions, illustrations, comments, and some ecological data. As a result, we now have a better understanding of the diversity and geographic distribution of that genus in the Neotropics, which currently consists of eight species. Brazil has the highest diversity of the genus in that region, with seven species, two of which are likely endemic.
Rohdea tuberculata (Asparagaceae), a new species from Central Sichuan, China
Authors: FENG HUI ZHE , YING ZHAO YAN , HUI BI MING , HUI LI WEN , CHEN JING
Published: September 2023

Rohdea tuberculata is described and illustrated as a new species from Sichuan province of China. In the new species the blade elliptical, perianth lobes reflexed, and the stamen filaments are obvious, ca. 3 mm long and strongly curved. In these features, the new species is morphologically similar to R. wattii but differs in larger blade (ca. 40×15 cm), perianth lobes densely with tuberculate protrusions, longer tube (ca. 10 mm long) and the stigma below the base of the free part of the filaments.
On the taxonomy of the jumping spider genus Matinta Ruiz & Maddison, 2019, with a taxonomic revision of the vicana species-group (Araneae: Salticidae: Amycini)
Authors: MATOS TAINÁ D.S. , RUIZ GUSTAVO R.S.
Published: September 2023

The male of Matinta opiparis (Simon, 1900) is redescribed based on fresh material, and the female is described for the first time. Matinta tatianae sp. nov. (male) is described from Acre and Pará, Brazil. The vicana species-group of Matinta is revised, as follows: the males of M. silvae (Crane, 1943), M. fonsecai (Soares & Camargo, 1948), and M. vicana (Simon, 1900), and the female of M. silvae are redescribed based on fresh material. Three new species of the group are described: Matinta maddisoni sp. nov. from Morona Santiago, Ecuador (♂♀); Matinta pereirae sp. nov. from Amazonas, Brazil (♂); and Matinta aragog sp. nov. from French Guiana (♂). Detailed description of cheliceral dentition is given and commented. We conclude that the complex dentition within Amycini should be revised and more carefully studied.
Diagnosing Mechanisms of Hydrologic Change under Global Warming in the CESM1 Large Ensemble
Authors: Siler Nicholas , Bonan David B. , Donohoe Aaron
Published: September 2023

Global warming is expected to cause significant changes in the pattern of precipitation minus evaporation (P − E), which represents the net flux of water from the atmosphere to the surface or, equivalently, the convergence of moisture transport within the atmosphere. In most global climate model simulations, the pattern of P − E change resembles an amplification of the historical pattern—a tendency known as “wet gets wetter, dry gets drier.” However, models also predict significant departures from this approximation that are not well understood. Here, we introduce a new method of decomposing the pattern of P − E change into contributions from various dynamic and thermodynamic mechanisms and use it to investigate the response of P − E to global warming within the CESM1 Large Ensemble. In contrast to previous decompositions of P − E change, ours incorporates changes not only in the monthly means of atmospheric winds and moisture, but also in their temporal variability, allowing us to isolate the hydrologic impacts of changes in the mean circulation, transient eddies, relative humidity, and the spatial and temporal distributions of temperature. In general, we find that changes in the mean circulation primarily control the P − E response in the tropics, while temperature changes dominate at higher latitudes. Although the relative importance of specific mechanisms varies by region, at the global scale departures from the wet-gets-wetter approximation over land are primarily due to changes in the temperature lapse rate, while changes in the mean circulation, relative humidity, and horizontal temperature gradients play a secondary role.
Deep Learning–Based Summertime Turbulence Intensity Estimation Using Satellite Observations
Authors: Lee Yoonjin , Kim Soo-Hyun , Noh Yoo-Jeong , Kim Jung-Hoon
Published: September 2023

Turbulence is what we want to avoid the most during flight. Numerical weather prediction (NWP) model–based methods for diagnosing turbulence have offered valuable guidance for pilots. NWP-based turbulence diagnostics show high accuracy in detecting turbulence in general. However, there is still room for improvements such as capturing convectively induced turbulence. In such cases, observation data can be beneficial to correctly locate convective regions and help provide corresponding turbulence information. Geostationary satellite data are commonly used for upper-level turbulence detection by utilizing its water vapor band information. The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-16 carries the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI), which enables us to observe further down into the atmosphere with improved spatial, temporal, and spectral resolutions. Its three water vapor bands allow us to observe different vertical parts of the atmosphere, and from its infrared window bands, convective activity can be inferred. Such multispectral information from ABI can be helpful in inferring turbulence intensity at different vertical levels. This study develops U-Net based machine learning models that take ABI imagery as inputs to estimate turbulence intensity at three vertical levels: 10–18, 18–24, and above 24 kft (1 kft ≈ 300 m). Among six different U-Net-based models, U-Net3+ model with a filter size of three showed the best performance against the pilot report (PIREP). Two case studies are presented to show the strengths and weaknesses of the U-Net3+ model. The results tend to be overestimated above 24 kft, but estimates of 10–18 and 18–24 kft agree well with the PIREP, especially near convective regions.

Significance Statement

Turbulence is directly related to aviation safety as well as cost-effective aircraft operation. To avoid turbulence, turbulence diagnostics are calculated from numerical weather prediction (NWP) model outputs and are provided to pilots. The goal of this study is to develop a satellite data–driven machine learning model that estimates turbulence intensity in three different vertical layers to provide additional information along with the NWP-based turbulence diagnostics. Validation results against pilot reports show that the machine learning model performs comparable to NWP-based turbulence diagnostics. Furthermore, results with different channel selections reveal that using multiple water vapor channels can help extract additional information for estimating turbulence intensity at lower levels.
Validating Social Control, Self-Control, and Social Learning Constructs Among a Sample of Youth in Nine English-Speaking Caribbean Nations
Authors: Cheon Hyunjung , Katz Charles M. , Freemon Kayla
Published: September 2023

Measures in international self-report surveys drawn from criminological theories have rarely been validated. Instruments that have been tested suggest that they might lack reliability and validity depending on the nation. The present study uses a large sample of school-attending youth in nine English-speaking Caribbean countries to examine the reliability and validity of three theoretical constructs—social control, self-control, and social learning—included in the Eurogang Youth Survey instrument. Our findings suggest that the theoretical constructs contained in the Eurogang Youth Survey instrument are relevant to explaining Caribbean delinquency and show adequate reliability levels. Our results also show consistency in the measurement structure of these theoretical constructs across the study nations.
The impact of access to electricity on mental health in conflict-affected territories: An exploratory study in Gaza
Authors: AbuQamar Mazen , Eltayyan Dalia , Kuznetsova Irina , Dhesi Surindar , Catling Jonathan , AL-Dadah Raya , Saad Mahmoud , Abuhaiba Mohammad
Published: September 2023

Background:

Access to affordable and clean energy is an essential component of the Sustainable Development Goals and a determinant of physical and mental health. However, the occupied Palestinian territory, the Gaza Strip, has experienced prolonged issues with electricity, water and gas supplies. This has significantly impacted on daily life and the area is on the verge of disaster. This research focused on the mental health effects of the lack of electricity in Gaza which have not been previously documented.

Methods:

A cross-sectional analytic approach was adopted. A survey was administrated face-to-face with respondents from 350 participating households. Inferential statistical analysis was used to examine the relationship between the domains of anxiety, depression, wellbeing and electricity supply factors. A multiple linear regression model was also utilised.

Results:

There is a highly statistically significant link between continuity of electricity and level of anxiety ( p < .001). The same effect was reported in the level of depression, and a higher level was observed among residents with an intermittent or disrupted electricity supply, with a statistically significant link between the level of depression and continuity of electricity.

Conclusion:

Electricity issues, especially when combined with other stressors associated with living in Gaza, lead to serious mental health concerns. Urgent attention must be given to developing sustainable, reliable and affordable energy supplies for short- and long-term health and community development.
Networked Participants, Networked Meanings: Using Networks to Visualize Ethnographic Data
Authors: Hanson Kenneth R. , Theis Nicholas
Published: September 2023

Researchers can use data visualization techniques to explore, analyze, and present data in new ways. Although quantitative data are visualized most often, recent innovations have brought attention to the potential benefits of visualizing qualitative data. In this article, the authors demonstrate one way researchers can use networks to analyze and present ethnographic interview data. The authors suggest that because many respondents know one another in ethnographic research, networks are a useful tool for analyzing the implications of respondents’ familiarity with one another. Moreover, respondents often share familiar cultural references that can be visualized. The authors show how visualizing respondents’ ties in conjunction with their shared cultural references sheds light on the different systems of meaning that respondents within a field site use to make sense of the social phenomena under investigation.
Role of microRNA in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH): a comprehensive review
Authors: Kan Changez Mah I , Mubeen Maryam , Zehra Monezahe , Samnani Inara , Abdul Rasool Aniqa , Mohan Anmol , Wara Um Ul , Tejwaney Usha , Kumar Vikash
Published: September 2023

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent liver condition that affects people who do not overconsume alcohol. Uncertainties exist over how microRNAs (miRNAs) in the blood and liver relate to NAFLD. The aim of this narrative review was to investigate the role of miRNAs in the onset and progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) from NAFLD, and explore their potential as diagnostic tools and treatment targets for NAFLD patients. Liver miRNA-34a levels were found to accurately represent the degree of liver damage, with lower levels suggesting more damage. In patients with NAFLD and severe liver fibrosis, higher levels of miRNA-193a-5p and miRNA-378d were found. Moreover, miRNA-34a, miRNA-122, and miRNA-192 levels might aid in differentiating NASH from NAFLD. Similar to this, miRNA-21 and miRNA-27 levels in rats were able to distinguish between steatosis and steatohepatitis. High-fat diets enhanced the expression of 15 distinct miRNAs in rats, and there were substantial differences in the miRNA expression patterns between obese and lean people. The results from the present review imply that miRNA microarrays and sequencing may be helpful diagnostic tools, and miRNAs may be a possible treatment target for patients with NAFLD.
“At the End of the Day, My Goal is to Help People Feed Their Babies Human Milk”: A Qualitative Exploration of the Pumping Attitudes of Lactation Care Providers
Authors: Anders Lisa A. , Yasin Reham
Published: September 2023

Background:

Parents who express milk by pumping often feel this is judged as inferior to direct breastfeeding by healthcare providers, leaving parents feeling unsupported. Healthcare provider attitudes can influence decisions about human milk feeding directly at the chest. Yet, there is a gap in knowledge regarding lactation care provider attitudes about pumping.

Research Aim:

To explore the attitudes and feelings of lactation care providers about pumping.

Method:

A qualitative descriptive design was utilized. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with a convenience sample of 15 lactation care providers in the United States, recruited via social media. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results:

Four themes emerged: (1) I Support You, (2) But It’s Not the Same, (3) Frustration with Social Media, and (4) Changing Perspectives. Participants held positive attitudes toward pumping as a tool to meet human milk feeding goals. They strived to provide judgement-free support but stressed the importance of setting realistic expectations and sharing the difference in benefits and work between direct breastfeeding and pumping. Providers held negative attitudes about the portrayal of pumping on social media. The participants’ perspectives were that, while there has been stigma surrounding pumping in the past, views are changing.

Conclusion:

Lactation care providers strive to provide judgement-free support for pumping, but communicating challenges about pumping may be perceived negatively by parents. More research is needed on lactation care provider education on pumping, interventions to reduce bias, and how these affect providers’ pumping beliefs, attitudes, and provision of judgement-free delivery of care.
New optimum configuration for the FGM rotating disc in gas turbines using combined thermal-mechanical analysis: An analytical approach
Authors: Babazadeh Mohammad Amin , Babaelahi Mojtaba , Saadatfar Mahdi
Published: September 2023

The gas turbine is one of the most suitable equipment for various applications. Usually, a gas turbine comprises a set of discs to maintain turbine blades. The rotating disc in gas turbines is one of the critical components affected by various thermal and mechanical loads. The current article considers a new rotating disc with variable thickness (power-law profile). The functionally graded material has been used as the disc material, and the disc’s properties vary with temperature and location. Therefore, the mechanical and thermal behaviours of the disc are a function of temperature and location. The differential energy balance equation has been derived for analysing the new disc. In the performed analysis, the conduction and convection heat transfer coefficients vary with temperature and location; thus, the derived final heat transfer equation has high nonlinearity. One of the efficient expansion methods, the so-called Differential Transformation Method (DTM), is used for the governed equation’s analytical solution, and the numerical solution is used for validation. Then, the stress analysis is performed using analytical expressions according to the temperature profile. The impacts of geometrical and thermophysical characteristics on the temperature and stress distribution are evaluated using the analytical solution in the new disc. The comparison of displacement and stresses in the new FGM disc and old discs shows that the thermo-mechanical performance of the new proposed disc is improved significantly.
Applying the healthcare failure mode and effects analysis approach to improve the quality of an organised colorectal cancer screening programme
Authors: Chiereghin Angela , Squillace Lorena , Pizzi Lorenzo , Bazzani Carmen , Roti Lorenzo , Mezzetti Francesca
Published: September 2023

Objective

The first level of a colorectal cancer (CRC) screening process was systematically analysed using the Healthcare Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (HFMEA) approach by a multidisciplinary team aiming to improve the programme quality.

Setting

The study was conducted at the Local Health Authority of Bologna, Northern Italy.

Methods

Seven brainstorming sessions were conducted and all the activities performed were recorded on a FMEA worksheet consisting of individual records reporting the specific phases of the analysed process along with associated activities, possible failure modes, their causes and effects, the obtained risk priority numbers (RPNs) and the control measures to plan.

Results

Twenty-three failure modes, 14 effects and 12 possible causes were identified. Nine failure modes were prioritised according to the RPN obtained; most resulted in possible false-negative faecal immunochemical test (FIT) results (66.7%), followed by sample loss (22.2%) and not reaching the entire target population (11.1%). This leads to 66.7% of corrective/preventive actions being applied to the phase of returning the stool sample by the citizen. For this phase reorganisation, the local pharmacies were involved not only as FIT kit delivery points but also as specimen collection and sending points to the laboratory. These organisational changes allowed the introduction of complete traceability of kits and specimens flow, as well as temperature control. A re-evaluation of the prioritised failure modes 6 months after launching the implemented screening process showed that HFMEA application decreased the risk of potential errors by 75.9%.

Conclusion

HFMEA application in CRC screening programme is a useful tool to reduce potential errors.
Comparison of Infrared Thermometer with Digital Thermometer in Neonates During Delivery Room Care
Authors: Behura Sushree Smita , Hasa Vetsa Snigdha , Jena Chinmay , Panda Santosh Kumar
Published: September 2023

Objective

To compare an infrared thermometer (IRT) at the forehead with a Digital thermometer (DT) at the axillary site in neonates in the delivery room.

Methods

Temperature was assessed simultaneously in 65 neonates born at ≥34 weeks in the delivery room with IRT at the forehead site and DT at the axillary site at 1 and 5 min of age. Immediately after delayed cord clamping, skin-to-skin contact (SSC) was given for vaginal-born neonates, and a radiant warmer was used for cesarean-born neonates.

Results

In a total of 130 paired measurements, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between the IRT and the DT was good, ICC = 0.859, P < 0.001; the bias (SD) was –0.16(0.42)°C in Bland-Altman analysis. The correlation between IRT and DT during SSC was ICC = 0.881, P < .001, and the bias (SD) was –0.14(0.33)°C; and for neonates cared under radiant warmer, the ICC was 0.846, P < .001 with bias (SD) of –0.17(0.47)°C.

Conclusion

Temperature assessed by IRT at the forehead site shows good reliability with DT at the axillary site in neonates for thermal management in the delivery room.
Sharing uncertainty: Music in humanistic and scientific understandings
Authors: Cross Ian
Published: September 2023

The idea that science either can or does provide definitive ways of understanding music arose in the middle of the past century and almost immediately stimulated severe criticism, much of it from a perspective that came to elevate culture to the status to which science had been assumed to presume. It can be suggested that by the turn of the millennium the terms of this debate had begun to fragment. The idea of a positivistic science as the incremental accrual of a body of facts increasingly approximating to monadic truth was replaced by ideas of the sciences as multiple epistemologies that are mutually irreducible but somehow commensurable, as a set of related processes that result in highly instrumental yet still provisional bodies of knowledge. Simultaneously, the idea of culture as a stable and clearly identifiable set of features and practices was undermined by the realization of the political nature of the term and its applications—by a growing understanding of processes of cultural fluidity, hybridity, value, and identity formation—while the concept of the musical work was contested, as was the very idea of music as a discrete domain of thought and behavior. We have thus been left with a field of uncertainties that is too often used as an interdisciplinary battleground rather than as a meeting place to examine and negotiate the ideas and ontological commitments of our own and others’ disciplines. These uncertainties sometimes appear in plain sight but more often constitute implicit elements of disciplinary practice. We need to ensure that we negotiate encounters between disciplinary practices and commitments with our uncertainties in plain sight to develop mutual understanding across the broad worlds of humanistic and scientific research.
The Super-Short Form of Career Adapt-Abilities Scale: Cross-Cultural Validation in China and the United Kingdom
Authors: Wang Yiming , Liu Doudou , Li Chaoping
Published: September 2023

To facilitate future research on career adaptability, this study aims to validate the super-short form of the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale (CAAS-SSF) through two studies across three samples. In Study 1, the full scale is shortened to a 4-item scale based on a Chinese sample (Sample 1, N = 616), considering both reliability and validity. Study 2 aims to validate the 4-item CAAS-SSF across two additional samples: Sample 2 in China ( N = 332) and Sample 3 in the United Kingdom ( N = 317). Results show that the CAAS-SSF demonstrates satisfactory reliability and good fit with the unidimensional model of career adaptability. Furthermore, the super-short scale exhibits acceptable measurement invariance across gender and culture groups. Moreover, criterion-related validity of the CAAS-SSF is supported by its positive correlations with criterions (i.e., job performance, career satisfaction, and occupational self-efficacy) that parallel results of the CAAS and CAAS-Short Form. Overall, the findings support the CAAS-SSF as a reliable and valid representation of the 24-item CAAS. Limitations and directions for future research are also discussed.
Competitive Psychological Climate in China: Scale Development and Validation
Authors: Xu Yan , Liu Doudou , Li Chaoping
Published: September 2023

To provide a comprehensive understanding of the competitive psychological climate, this research developed and validated the Competitive Psychological Climate Scale (CPCS) in China through three studies. In Study 1 ( N = 293), a large pool of items were developed and exploratory factor analysis was conducted, resulting in three 4-item scales representing competition of performance, competition of Guanxi with superior, and competition inspired by coworkers. In Study 2 ( N = 291), confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that a three-factor model offered the strongest fit to the data. Configural, metric, and scalar invariance were achieved. Moreover, concurrent validity, convergent, discriminant validity was preliminarily evidenced. In Study 3 ( N = 411), results from the two-wave data evidenced predictive validity by demonstrating that the three dimensions of the CPCS had unique and significant impacts in predicting silence and career satisfaction through emotional exhaustion. The development of CPCS provides a useful tool for researchers and practitioners to understand the mixed effects of competitive psychological climate.
Systemic Inflammatory Biomarkers Predict Survival of Patients Treated With Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Wang Zhaojuan , Qin Yujie , Chai Xuxia , Lu Lina , Xue Ping , Lu Runrun , Miao Chengrui , Ma Haimei , Hu Xiaoyi , Yao Jiaxi
Published: September 2023

Objective

We aimed to retrospectively investigate whether the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR) can predict the prognosis of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) treated with sunitinib or sorafenib.

Methods

We retrospectively identified 210 patients with mRCC treated with sunitinib or sorafenib from 2007 to 2017 at Fudan University- and Hexi University-affiliated hospitals. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were evaluated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Multivariate regression analysis was used to evaluate predictors of PFS and OS.

Results

Low NLR (<2.85) and MLR (<.30) were strongly associated with increased PFS and OS. Multivariable analyses verified that the NLR and MLR were both independent prognostic factors. Additionally, the NLR was negatively correlated with CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell infiltration in tumors.

Conclusion

In patients with mRCC treated with sunitinib and sorafenib, an NLR <2.85 and MLR <.30 was associated with superior PFS and OS, which may be related to the reduced lymphocytic infiltration of tumors.