bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Randomised controlled trials of antipsychotics for people with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and a meta-analysis
Authors: Deb Shoumitro , Roy Meera , Limbu Bharati , Akrout Brizard Basma , Murugan Meena , Roy Ashok , Santambrogio Jacopo
Published: August 2023

Background

Despite unclear evidence to support the long-term use of antipsychotics to treat challenging (problem) behaviours in people with autism in the absence of a psychiatric disorder, this practice is common.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving antipsychotics for people with autism of all ages, irrespective of the outcomes assessed. We searched seven databases and hand-searched ten relevant journals. Two authors independently screened titles, abstracts and full papers and extracted data using the Cochrane Handbook template. We conducted meta-analyses of outcomes and the rate of adverse events.

Results

We included 39 papers based on 21 primary RCTs that recruited 1482 people with autism. No RCT assessed any psychiatric disorder outcome, such as psychoses or bipolar disorder. A meta-analysis of ten placebo-controlled RCTs showed a significantly improved Aberrant Behaviour Checklist-Irritability score in the antipsychotic group with an effect size of −6.45 [95% confidence interval (CI) −8.13 to −4.77] (low certainty). Pooled Clinical Global Impression data on 11 placebo-controlled RCTs showed an overall effect size of 0.84 (95% CI 0.48 to 1.21) (moderate certainty). There was a significantly higher risk of overall adverse effects (p = 0.003) and also weight gain (p < 0.00001), sedation (p < 0.00001) and increased appetite (p = 0.001) in the antipsychotic group.

Conclusions

There is some evidence for risperidone and preliminary evidence for aripiprazole to significantly improve scores on some outcome measures among children with autism but not adults or for any other antipsychotics. There is a definite increased risk of antipsychotic-related different adverse effects.
How to present L2 Chinese words effectively for learning: Exploring learning outcomes and learner perceptions
Authors: He Xuehong (Stella) , Loewen Shawn
Published: August 2023

Second language (L2) research on input manipulation has focused mainly on increasing the salience of target structures, but presentation formats of L2 input can be another important aspect for manipulation. This study compared the horizontal, vertical, and adjacent formats for presenting the characters, pinyin, and English meaning of L2 Chinese vocabulary, by recruiting 69 English native speakers to study 30 Chinese words in these formats. Learning outcomes were indexed with vocabulary gain scores from pretest to posttest. Learner perceptions of the learning process were recorded with ratings and reasons for preference among these formats. The quantitative results showed the adjacent format generally led to higher gain scores than the other two formats and that L2 proficiency also contributed positively. To learners, the adjacent format was the least preferred, but preference ratings were not associated with gain scores. The qualitative findings suggested format familiarity and layout features as main factors of learner preference.
Off-label psychopharmacological interventions for autism spectrum disorders: strategic pathways for clinicians
Authors: Gupta Nihit , Gupta Mayank
Published: August 2023

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continues to see a trend upward with a noticeable increase to 1 in 36 children less than 8 years of age in the recent MMWR. There are many factors linked to the substantially increased burden of seeking mental health services, and clinically these individuals are likely to present for impairments associated with co-occurring conditions. The advances in cutting-edge research and the understanding of co-occurring conditions in addition to psychosocial interventions have provided a window of opportunity for psychopharmacological interventions given the limited availability of therapeutics for core symptomatology. The off-label psychopharmacological treatments for these co-occurring conditions are central to clinical practice. However, the scattered evidence remains an impediment for practitioners to systematically utilize these options. The review collates the crucial scientific literature to provide stepwise treatment alternatives for individuals with ASD; with an aim to lead practitioners in making informed and shared decisions. There are many questions about the safety and tolerability of off-label medications; however, it is considered the best practice to utilize the available empirical data in providing psychoeducation for patients, families, and caregivers. The review also covers experimental medications and theoretical underpinnings to enhance further experimental studies. In summary, amidst the growing clinical needs for individuals with ASD and the lack of approved clinical treatments, the review addresses these gaps with a practical guide to appraise the risk and benefits of off-label medications.
Francis Robinson: personal recollections
Authors: Brown Peter
Published: August 2023

The three years that I spent at Royal Holloway, University of London between 1975 and 1978, as professor and head of the History Department, were among the happiest and most purposive of my entire academic life. This was due, in no small part, to my instant friendship with Francis Robinson. We soon realised that our interests converged to a remarkable degree, despite the gulf of almost two millennia between my own concern for the world of Late Antiquity and his with religion and politics in contemporary India and Pakistan.
The first neotropical ground beetle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) from the Eocene of Ukraine: finding the first Old World ant nest beetle related to Eohomopterus in the Rovno amber
Authors: KIRICHENKO-BABKO Marina , PERKOVSKY Evgeny E.
Published: August 2023

The first record of the tribe Paussini Latreille is reported based on a specimen from late Eocene Rovno amber. It is the first known close relative of the genus Eohomopterus (subtribe Carabidomemnina) in the Old World. The recent and Neogene distribution of Eohomopterus is Neotropical, with extant representatives in Ecuador, Brazil and the West Indies, and extinct species in Dominican and Mexican amber. The occurrence of the Neotropical Carabidomemnina in Rovno amber and the presence of the Oriental Protopaussini in Dominican amber are of significant interest as evidence of the probable transarctic migrations of their ant host in the early Eocene.
Do values and political attitudes affect help-seeking? Exploring reported help-seeking for mental health problems in a general population sample using a milieu framework
Authors: Spahlholz J. , Baumann E. , Müller-Hilmer R. , Hilmer R. , Sander C. , Schindler S. , Speerforck S. , Angermeyer M. C. , Schomerus G.
Published: August 2023

Aims

Help-seeking for mental health problems is facilitated and hindered by several factors at the individual, interpersonal and community level. The most frequently researched factors contributing to differences in help-seeking behaviour are based on classical socio-demographic variables, such as age, gender and education, but explanations for the observed differences are often absent or remain vague. The present study complements traditional approaches in help-seeking research by introducing a milieu approach, focusing on values and political attitudes as a possible explanation for differences in help-seeking for emotional mental health problems.

Methods

A representative cross-sectional survey of N = 3,042 respondents in Germany was conducted through face-to-face interviews about past help-seeking for mental health problems, socio-demographic characteristics and values and political attitudes

Results

Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that belonging to a cosmopolitan intellectual milieu group was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of past help-seeking for mental health issues (psychotherapeutic/psychological help-seeking [OR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.11–3.93, p < 0.05) and primary care (OR = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.15–4.24, p < 0.05]), whereas members of individualist and conservative milieu groups were less likely to report having sought help from a psychotherapist, but not from a general practitioner. Increased odds ratios were also found for a number of socio-demographic variables, such as being aged 26 years and over, a female gender and more than 12 years of formal education. Associations between socio-demographic variables remained significant, and the explained variance of the used models improved considerably when milieu variables were added.

Conclusions

We discuss how milieu-specific patterns were relevant for explaining differences in mental health service use in addition to socio-demographic factors. It seems promising to consider help-seeking from a milieu perspective to improve disparities in access to and the use of psychotherapy as well as to resource allocation.
ENSO‐Related Southern Hemisphere Blocking Dynamics
Authors: Zhang Bo , Dong Li , Ding Hairu , Xie Zhiang
Published: August 2023

This study establishes a new blocking climatology in the Southern Hemisphere (SH) by using the improved detection method with the reanalysis data from 1979 to 2016. Furthermore, it investigates the dynamical linkage between SH blocking and ENSO phases. It is found that the ENSO warm phase is more conducive to the blocking formation than the cold phase while the blocking intensity is not affected by the ENSO phases. In addition, blocking in ENSO warm phase is characterized with upper‐level divergence anomaly and the cold phase with convergence anomaly equatorward of blocking onset region. Through the diagnostic analysis of tropopause divergence for the composite blocking events via an improved divergence tendency equation, the study shows that the ageostrophic effect exhibits dual effects, namely, it induces anticyclonic ageostrophic vorticity favoring the formation of blocking whereas it results in convergence anomaly close to the blocking onset region thus inhibiting blocking locally. In addition, the nonlinear term in the divergence tendency equation is found to be a dominant forcing for favoring blocking onset. Nevertheless, despite the primary contributions from the ageostrophic effect and nonlinear term to blocking formation, they could barely explain the SH blocking onset preference in ENSO warm phase. Finally, through the localized Eliassen‐Palm flux this study reveals that in ENSO warm phase the composite blocking onset region and the immediate upstream region are characterized by more localized EP flux convergence, thereby leading to more effective westerly wind weakening and favoring the blocking formation.
The Nature of Opal Burial in the Equatorial Atlantic During the Deglaciation
Authors: Gil I. M. , McManus J. F. , Rebotim A. , Narciso A. , Salgueiro E. , Abrantes F.
Published: August 2023

Relatively high opal concentrations are measured in equatorial Atlantic sediments from the most recent deglaciation. To shed light on their causes, seven cores were analyzed for their content of siliceous (diatom, silicoflagellates, radiolarians, phytoliths, and sponge spicules) and calcareous (coccolithophores) microfossils. An early deglacial signal is detected at the time of rising boreal summer insolation ca. 18 ka by the coccolithophores. The surface freshening is likely due to the rain belt associated with the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), implying its southward shift relatively to its present‐day average positioning. The diatom assemblages corresponding to the following increase in diatom abundances ca. 15.5 ka suggest the formation of a cold tongue of upwelled water associated with tropical instability waves propagating westward. Such conditions occur at present during boreal summer, when southerly trade winds are intensified, and the ITCZ shifts northward. The presence of the diatom Ethmodiscus rex (Wallich) Hendey and the coccolithophore Florisphera profunda indicates a deep thermocline and nutrient enrichment of the lower photic zone, revealing that Si‐rich southern sourced water (SSW) likely contributed to enhanced primary productivity during this time interval. The discrepancies between the maximum opal concentrations and siliceous marine microfossils records evidence the contribution of freshwater diatoms and phytoliths, indicative of other processes. The definition of the nature of the opal record suggests successive productivity conditions associated with specific atmospheric settings determining the latitudinal ITCZ positioning and the development of oceanic processes; and major oceanic circulation changes permitting the contribution of SSW to marine productivity at this latitude.
Glacial Isostatic Adjustment Modulates Lateral Migration Rate and Morphology of the Red River (North Dakota, USA and Manitoba, Canada)
Authors: Kodama Samuel T. , Pico Tamara , Finnegan Noah J. , Lapôtre Mathieu G. A. , Willenbring Jane K.
Published: August 2023

The lateral migration of a river meander is driven by erosion on the outer bank and deposition on the inner bank, both of which are affected by shear stress (and therefore channel slope) through complex morphodynamic feedbacks. To test the sensitivity of lateral migration to channel slope, we quantify slope change induced by glacial isostatic adjustment along the Red River (North Dakota, USA and Manitoba, Canada) and two of its tributaries over the past 8.5 ka. We demonstrate a statistically significant, positive relationship between normalized cutoff count, which we interpret as a proxy for channel lateral migration rate, and slope change. We interpret this relationship as the signature of slope change modulating the magnitude of shear stress on riverbanks, suggesting that slope changes that occur over thousands of years are recorded in river floodplain morphology.
Longitudinal pilot study of oxygen saturation indices in healthy preterm infants
Authors: Falconer Olivia , Ivy Savannah , Le Carpentier Dana , Gavlak Johanna , Liddle Natasha , Senior Emily , Lowe Paula , Crowley Philippa , Young Aneurin , Johnson Mark J. , Beattie Robert Mark , Evans Hazel J.
Published: August 2023

Background

This study aimed to determine patterns of nocturnal pulse oximetry indices in moderate to late preterm infants, and investigate the relationship between oxygen desaturations, the apnoea hypopnoea index, and both corrected gestational and postnatal age.

Methods

21 healthy infants born at 32 + 0 - 36 + 6 weeks gestation underwent serial nocturnal pulse oximetry studies and respiratory polygraphy studies until 40 weeks corrected gestational age (CGA). The main outcome measures were number of >3% oxygen desaturations/hour (ODI3), mean oxygen saturations, and number of apnoeas and hypopnoeas/hour.

Results

Median ODI3 increased between weeks 1 and 3 from 49.9 to 85.4/hour (p = 0.017). Mean oxygen saturations reached a corresponding nadir of 96.0% in week 3, then increased to 96.8% in week 6 (p = 0.019). Mixed effects modelling demonstrated that ODI3 and mean saturations were influenced by postnatal age but not CGA (p < 0.05). Desaturations frequently occurred without an apnoea or hypopnoea.

Conclusion

ODI3 rises then falls during the first 8 weeks of life in moderate to late preterm infants, independently of CGA. These interesting preliminary results highlight the importance of further serial data collection to generate age-specific normal ranges, and develop a better understanding of respiratory control in preterm infants.

Impact

The frequency of >3% oxygen desaturations (ODI3) in healthy moderate to late preterm infants rises then falls after birth, peaking in postnatal week 3. There is a corresponding nadir in mean saturations.

There were significant non-linear relationships between ODI3/mean saturations and postnatal age, but not corrected gestational age.

The majority of brief oxygen desaturations occurred without an apnoea or hypopnoea.

Normal ranges for oxygen saturation indices are not known in this population. These results demonstrate the need for further serial data collection to generate age-specific normal ranges and inform oxygen prescribing guidelines.
Low back pain and osteoarthritis pain: a perspective of estrogen
Authors: Pang Huiwen , Chen Shihui , Klyne David M. , Harrich David , Ding Wenyuan , Yang Sidong , Han Felicity Y.
Published: August 2023

Low back pain (LBP) is the world’s leading cause of disability and is increasing in prevalence more rapidly than any other pain condition. Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration and facet joint osteoarthritis (FJOA) are two common causes of LBP, and both occur more frequently in elderly women than in other populations. Moreover, osteoarthritis (OA) and OA pain, regardless of the joint, are experienced by up to twice as many women as men, and this difference is amplified during menopause. Changes in estrogen may be an important contributor to these pain states. Receptors for estrogen have been found within IVD tissue and nearby joints, highlighting the potential roles of estrogen within and surrounding the IVDs and joints. In addition, estrogen supplementation has been shown to be effective at ameliorating IVD degeneration and OA progression, indicating its potential use as a therapeutic agent for people with LBP and OA pain. This review comprehensively examines the relationship between estrogen and these pain conditions by summarizing recent preclinical and clinical findings. The potential molecular mechanisms by which estrogen may relieve LBP associated with IVD degeneration and FJOA and OA pain are discussed.
SQLE promotes pancreatic cancer growth by attenuating ER stress and activating lipid rafts-regulated Src/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway
Authors: Xu Ruiyuan , Song Jianlu , Ruze Rexiati , Chen Yuan , Yin Xinpeng , Wang Chengcheng , Zhao Yupei
Published: August 2023

Pancreatic cancer (PC), a highly lethal malignancy, commonly exhibits metabolic reprogramming that results in therapeutic vulnerabilities. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying the impacts of aberrant cholesterol metabolism on PC development and progression remain elusive. In this study, we found that squalene epoxidase (SQLE) is a crucial mediator of cholesterol metabolism in PC growth. We observed a profound upregulation of SQLE in PC tissues, and its high expression was correlated with poor patient outcomes. Our functional experiments demonstrated that SQLE facilitated cell proliferation, induced cell cycle progression, and inhibited apoptosis in vitro, while promoting tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, SQLE was found to have a dual role. First, its inhibition led to squalene accumulation-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and subsequent apoptosis. Second, it enhanced de novo cholesterol biosynthesis and maintained lipid raft stability, thereby activating the Src/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Significantly, employing SQLE inhibitors effectively suppressed PC cell proliferation and xenograft tumor growth. In summary, this study reveals SQLE as a novel oncogene that promotes PC growth by mitigating ER stress and activating lipid raft-regulated Src/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, highlighting the potential of SQLE as a therapeutic target for PC.
Realizing metallicity in Sr2IrO4 thin films by high-pressure oxygen annealing
Authors: Song Zhen , Zhang You-Shan , Shen Jing-Yi , Lin Bing , Wu Jie , Xiang Ping-Hua , Duan Chun-Gang , He Rui-Hua
Published: August 2023

Perovskite iridates are a promising material platform for hosting unconventional superconductivity. Transport measurements of Sr2IrO4 thin-film field-effect transistors are expected to provide irrefutable evidence for the existence of superconductivity. However, these experiments have revealed a remarkably robust insulating state over wide electron and hole doping ranges; this finding is in contrast to the case of the bulk material, in which metallicity appears upon moderate electron doping by substituting cations in place of Sr. The nature of this robust insulating state and whether any metallic state can be realized in the Sr2IrO4 thin film are two remaining challenges that preclude further progress in the search for superconductivity in this system. Here, we show that this insulating state is enhanced in Sr2IrO4 thin films by thermal annealing under vacuum conditions, while it can be destroyed upon annealing in an oxygen atmosphere within restricted ranges of oxygen pressure, annealing temperature and ion substitution levels. The resulting films exhibit metallic transport behavior near room temperature and a metal–insulator crossover at ~200 K. Our results point to the potentially important roles of the oxygen vacancies at different atomic sites in the formation of the robust insulating state and the new metallic state and to their interplay in the Sr2IrO4 thin film. This finding opens new possibilities in the search for unconventional superconductivity by further tailoring the as-found metallic state in properly oxygen-annealed Sr2IrO4 thin films.
CRISPR/sgRNA-directed synergistic activation mediator (SAM) as a therapeutic tool for Parkinson´s disease
Authors: Narváez-Pérez Luis Fernando , Paz-Bermúdez Francisco , Avalos-Fuentes José Arturo , Campos-Romo Aurelio , Florán-Garduño Benjamín , Segovia José
Published: August 2023

Parkinson`s disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease, and different gene therapy strategies have been used as experimental treatments. As a proof-of-concept for the treatment of PD, we used SAM, a CRISPR gene activation system, to activate the endogenous tyrosine hydroxylase gene (th) of astrocytes to produce dopamine (DA) in the striatum of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats. Potential sgRNAs within the rat th promoter region were tested, and the expression of the Th protein was determined in the C6 glial cell line. Employing pseudo-lentivirus, the SAM complex and the selected sgRNA were transferred into cultures of rat astrocytes, and gene expression and Th protein synthesis were ascertained; furthermore, DA release into the culture medium was determined by HPLC. The DA-producing astrocytes were implanted into the striatum of 6-OHDA hemiparkinsonian rats. We observed motor behavior improvement in the lesioned rats that received DA-astrocytes compared to lesioned rats receiving astrocytes that did not produce DA. Our data indicate that the SAM-induced expression of the astrocyte´s endogenous th gene can generate DA-producing astrocytes that effectively reduce the motor asymmetry induced by the lesion.
Superscattering emerging from the physics of bound states in the continuum
Authors: Canós Valero Adrià , Shamkhi Hadi K. , Kupriianov Anton S. , Weiss Thomas , Pavlov Alexander A. , Redka Dmitrii , Bobrovs Vjaceslavs , Kivshar Yuri , Shalin Alexander S.
Published: August 2023

We study the Mie-like scattering from an open subwavelength resonator made of a high-index dielectric material, when its parameters are tuned to the regime of interfering resonances. We uncover a novel mechanism of superscattering, closely linked to strong coupling of the resonant modes and described by the physics of bound states in the continuum (BICs). We demonstrate that the enhanced scattering occurs due to constructive interference described by the Friedrich-Wintgen mechanism of interfering resonances, allowing to push the scattering cross section of a multipole resonance beyond the currently established limit. We develop a general non-Hermitian model to describe interfering resonances of the quasi-normal modes, and study subwavelength dielectric nonspherical resonators exhibiting avoided crossing resonances associated with quasi-BIC states. We confirm our theoretical findings by a scattering experiment conducted in the microwave frequency range. Our results reveal a new strategy to boost scattering from non-Hermitian systems, suggesting important implications for metadevices.
A translational regulator MHZ9 modulates ethylene signaling in rice
Authors: Huang Yi-Hua , Han Jia-Qi , Ma Biao , Cao Wu-Qiang , Li Xin-Kai , Xiong Qing , Zhao He , Zhao Rui , Zhang Xun , Zhou Yang , Wei Wei , Tao Jian-Jun , Zhang Wan-Ke , Qian Wenfeng , Chen Shou-Yi , Yang Chao , Yin Cui-Cui , Zhang Jin-Song
Published: August 2023

Ethylene plays essential roles in rice growth, development and stress adaptation. Translational control of ethylene signaling remains unclear in rice. Here, through analysis of an ethylene-response mutant mhz9, we identified a glycine-tyrosine-phenylalanine (GYF) domain protein MHZ9, which positively regulates ethylene signaling at translational level in rice. MHZ9 is localized in RNA processing bodies. The C-terminal domain of MHZ9 interacts with OsEIN2, a central regulator of rice ethylene signaling, and the N-terminal domain directly binds to the OsEBF1/2 mRNAs for translational inhibition, allowing accumulation of transcription factor OsEIL1 to activate the downstream signaling. RNA-IP seq and CLIP-seq analyses reveal that MHZ9 associates with hundreds of RNAs. Ribo-seq analysis indicates that MHZ9 is required for the regulation of ~ 90% of genes translationally affected by ethylene. Our study identifies a translational regulator MHZ9, which mediates translational regulation of genes in response to ethylene, facilitating stress adaptation and trait improvement in rice.
wMel replacement of dengue-competent mosquitoes is robust to near-term climate change
Authors: Vásquez Váleri N. , Kueppers Lara M. , Rašić Gordana , Marshall John M.
Published: August 2023

Rising temperatures are impacting the range and prevalence of mosquito-borne diseases. A promising biocontrol technology replaces wild mosquitoes with those carrying the virus-blocking Wolbachia bacterium. Because the most widely used strain, wMel, is adversely affected by heat stress, we examined how global warming may influence wMel-based replacement. We simulated interventions in two locations with successful field trials using Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 climate projections and historical temperature records, integrating empirical data on wMel’s thermal sensitivity into a model of Aedes aegypti population dynamics to evaluate introgression and persistence over one year. We show that in Cairns, Australia, climatic futures necessitate operational adaptations for heatwaves exceeding two weeks. In Nha Trang, Vietnam, projected heatwaves of three weeks and longer eliminate wMel under the most stringent assumptions of that symbiont’s thermal limits. We conclude that this technology is generally robust to near-term (2030s) climate change. Accelerated warming may challenge this in the 2050s and beyond.
Pixel-level annotated dataset of computed tomography angiography images of acute pulmonary embolism
Authors: de Andrade João Mario Clementin , Olescki Gabriel , Escuissato Dante Luiz , Oliveira Lucas Ferrari , Basso Ana Carolina Nicolleti , Salvador Gabriel Lucca
Published: August 2023

Pulmonary embolism has a high incidence and mortality, especially if undiagnosed. The examination of choice for diagnosing the disease is computed tomography pulmonary angiography. As many factors can lead to misinterpretations and diagnostic errors, different groups are utilizing deep learning methods to help improve this process. The diagnostic accuracy of these methods tends to increase by augmenting the training dataset. Deep learning methods can potentially benefit from the use of images acquired with devices from different vendors. To the best of our knowledge, we have developed the first public dataset annotated at the pixel and image levels and the first pixel-level annotated dataset to contain examinations performed with equipment from Toshiba and GE. This dataset includes 40 examinations, half performed with each piece of equipment, representing samples from two medical services. We also included measurements related to the cardiac and circulatory consequences of pulmonary embolism. We encourage the use of this dataset to develop, evaluate and compare the performance of new AI algorithms designed to diagnose PE.
EUSEDcollab: a network of data from European catchments to monitor net soil erosion by water
Authors: Matthews Francis , Verstraeten Gert , Borrelli Pasquale , Vanmaercke Matthias , Poesen Jean , Steegen An , Degré Aurore , Rodríguez Belén Cárceles , Bielders Charles , Franke Christine , Alary Claire , Zumr David , Patault Edouard , Nadal-Romero Estela , Smolska Ewa , Licciardello Feliciana , Swerts Gilles , Thodsen Hans , Casalí Javier , Eslava Javier , Richet Jean-Baptiste , Ouvry Jean-François , Farguell Joaquim , Święchowicz Jolanta , Nunes João Pedro , Pak Lai Ting , Liakos Leonidas , Campo-Bescós Miguel A. , Żelazny Mirosław , Delaporte Morgan , Pineux Nathalie , Henin Nathan , Bezak Nejc , Lana-Renault Noemí , Tzoraki Ourania , Giménez Rafael , Li Tailin , Zuazo Víctor Hugo Durán , Bagarello Vincenzo , Pampalone Vincenzo , Ferro Vito , Úbeda Xavier , Panagos Panos
Published: August 2023

As a network of researchers we release an open-access database (EUSEDcollab) of water discharge and suspended sediment yield time series records collected in small to medium sized catchments in Europe. EUSEDcollab is compiled to overcome the scarcity of open-access data at relevant spatial scales for studies on runoff, soil loss by water erosion and sediment delivery. Multi-source measurement data from numerous researchers and institutions were harmonised into a common time series and metadata structure. Data reuse is facilitated through accompanying metadata descriptors providing background technical information for each monitoring station setup. Across ten European countries, EUSEDcollab covers over 1600 catchment years of data from 245 catchments at event (11 catchments), daily (22 catchments) and monthly (212 catchments) temporal resolution, and is unique in its focus on small to medium catchment drainage areas (median = 43 km2, min = 0.04 km2, max = 817 km2) with applicability for soil erosion research. We release this database with the aim of uniting people, knowledge and data through the European Union Soil Observatory (EUSO).
Continuous observations of the surface energy budget and meteorology over the Arctic sea ice during MOSAiC
Authors: Cox Christopher J. , Gallagher Michael R. , Shupe Matthew D. , Persson P. Ola G. , Solomon Amy , Fairall Christopher W. , Ayers Thomas , Blomquist Byron , Brooks Ian M. , Costa Dave , Grachev Andrey , Gottas Daniel , Hutchings Jennifer K. , Kutchenreiter Mark , Leach Jesse , Morris Sara M. , Morris Victor , Osborn Jackson , Pezoa Sergio , Preußer Andreas , Riihimaki Laura D. , Uttal Taneil
Published: August 2023

The Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) was a yearlong expedition supported by the icebreaker R/V Polarstern, following the Transpolar Drift from October 2019 to October 2020. The campaign documented an annual cycle of physical, biological, and chemical processes impacting the atmosphere-ice-ocean system. Of central importance were measurements of the thermodynamic and dynamic evolution of the sea ice. A multi-agency international team led by the University of Colorado/CIRES and NOAA-PSL observed meteorology and surface-atmosphere energy exchanges, including radiation; turbulent momentum flux; turbulent latent and sensible heat flux; and snow conductive flux. There were four stations on the ice, a 10 m micrometeorological tower paired with a 23/30 m mast and radiation station and three autonomous Atmospheric Surface Flux Stations. Collectively, the four stations acquired ~928 days of data. This manuscript documents the acquisition and post-processing of those measurements and provides a guide for researchers to access and use the data products.
Proteome changes of fibroblasts and endothelial cells upon incubation with human cytomegalovirus subviral Dense Bodies
Authors: Penner Inessa , Dejung Mario , Freiwald Anja , Butter Falk , Chen Jia-Xuan , Plachter Bodo
Published: August 2023

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a pathogen of high medical relevance. Subviral Dense Bodies (DB) were developed as a vaccine candidate to ameliorate the severe consequences of HCMV infection. Development of such a candidate vaccine for human application requires detailed knowledge of its interaction with the host. A comprehensive mass spectrometry (MS)- based analysis was performed regarding the changes in the proteome of cell culture cells, exposed to DB.
A new approach for evaluating continuous and discontinuous pipeline deformation induced by soil tunnel excavation
Authors: Yang Tao , Deng Bo , Yang Minghui , Fu Daxi
Published: August 2023

The deformation of the overlying pipeline caused by the soil tunnel excavation cannot be ignored in the case of the small spacing between the pipeline and the tunnel. Based on the rigid bar method, the pipeline-soil interaction model was established, with the simply supported beam as the basic system, and the loads acting on the pipeline by the soil are considered to be linearly distributed. Calculation methods for continuous and discontinuous pipeline deformations were established. The results calculated by the proposed method agree well with the experimental data of centrifuge tests and field data. Parametric study on the effect of the volume loss (η = 1%, 2%,3 %), rotational stiffness (β0 = 4.47 × 106N⋅m/rad, 4.47 × 108N⋅m/rad, 4.47 × 1010N⋅m/rad), ratio of pipeline section length to inflection point of soil settlement curve (L/is = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0) and soil elastic modulus (E = 10 MPa, 30 MPa, 50 MPa) on the deflection and joint rotation angle of the discontinuous pipeline were carried out. Results show that: (1) the maximum pipeline deflection and the maximum rotation angle of the joint increase as η increases and decrease as β0 increases; (2) in the "odd" case, the maximum pipeline deflection and the maximum rotation angle of the joint first increase and then decrease as L/is increases, reaching a peak at L/is = 1.5, while in the "even" case, the maximum pipeline deflection decreases as L/is increases and the maximum rotation angle of the joint first increases and then decreases as L/is increases; (3) in the "odd" case, the maximum pipeline deflection and the maximum angle of rotation of the joint decrease as E increases, while the opposite trend is observed in the "even" case. Additionally, the maximum pipeline deflection and the maximum rotation angle of the joint are always greater in the "odd" case than that in the "even" case.
The relevance of NMDA receptor antibody-specific index for diagnosis and prognosis in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
Authors: Hümmert Martin W. , Jendretzky Konstantin F. , Fricke Karin , Gingele Marina , Ratuszny Dominica , Möhn Nora , Trebst Corinna , Skripuletz Thomas , Gingele Stefan , Sühs Kurt-Wolfram
Published: August 2023

The clinical implications of the presence of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-specific intrathecal immunoglobulin G synthesis and whether it determines the diagnosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis have not been thoroughly investigated yet. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the detection of intrathecal anti-NMDAR-specific IgG synthesis contributes to the diagnostic confirmation of anti-NMDAR encephalitis, to disease severity, and to prognosis in patients with positive serum anti-NMDAR-IgG. In this study, patients with detectable anti-NMDAR IgG in serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were included and separated into two groups that either met the 2016 criteria by Graus et al. of definite anti-NMDAR encephalitis (n = 27) or did not (n = 15). In a total, of 80 paired CSF/serum samples, antibody titers were titrated manually and end-point titer levels were carefully determined in a blinded manner to the subgroup attribution. The disease course was assessed via the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and prognosis was estimated by the anti-NMDAR Encephalitis One-Year Functional Status (NEOS) score. With respect to whether the diagnostic Graus criteria for definite anti-NMDAR encephalitis were fulfilled, a significantly unequal distribution of intrathecal anti-NMDAR antibody-specific synthesis could be shown with a high negative predictive value in case of a negative anti-NMDAR antibody-specific index (NMDAR AI, p = .008. OR = 23.9, sensitivity = 1.0, specificity = 0.4, negative predictive value = 1). A weak correlation was found between the CSF antibody titer and mRS value at the time of sample collection (rs = .37, p = .008, 95% CI [.09, .59]). During the disease course a higher delta-mRS value formed of the mRS at initial presentation minus that at the last recorded presentation correlated with a higher NMDAR AI at first lumbar puncture (rs = − .56, p = .017, 95% CI [− .83, − .11]). No association with the prognostic NEOS score was found. In conclusion, a negative antibody-specific index for anti-NMDAR IgG antibodies has a highly negative predictive value for the diagnosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis. Yet, a positive NMDAR AI alone does not allow the diagnosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
Development of a machine learning-based prediction model for sepsis-associated delirium in the intensive care unit
Authors: Zhang Yang , Hu Juanjuan , Hua Tianfeng , Zhang Jin , Zhang Zhongheng , Yang Min
Published: August 2023

Septic patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) often develop sepsis-associated delirium (SAD), which is strongly associated with poor prognosis. The aim of this study is to develop a machine learning-based model for the early prediction of SAD. Patient data were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database and the eICU Collaborative Research Database (eICU-CRD). The MIMIC-IV data were divided into a training set and an internal validation set, while the eICU-CRD data served as an external validation set. Feature variables were selected using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, and prediction models were built using logistic regression, support vector machines, decision trees, random forests, extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), k-nearest neighbors and naive Bayes methods. The performance of the models was evaluated in the validation set. The model was also applied to a group of patients who were not assessed or could not be assessed for delirium. The MIMIC-IV and eICU-CRD databases included 14,620 and 1723 patients, respectively, with a median time to diagnosis of SAD of 24 and 30 h. Compared with Non-SAD patients, SAD patients had higher 28-days ICU mortality rates and longer ICU stays. Among the models compared, the XGBoost model had the best performance and was selected as the final model (internal validation area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC) = 0.793, external validation AUROC = 0.701). The XGBoost model outperformed other models in predicting SAD. The establishment of this predictive model allows for earlier prediction of SAD compared to traditional delirium assessments and is applicable to patients who are difficult to assess with traditional methods.
Artificial neural network approach for prediction of AuNPs biosynthesis by Streptomyces flavolimosus, characterization, antitumor potency in-vitro and in-vivo against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma
Authors: El-Naggar Noura El-Ahmady , Rabei Nashwa H. , Elmansy Mohamed F. , Elmessiry Omar T. , El-Sherbeny Mostafa K. , El-Saidy Mohanad E. , Sarhan Mohamed T. , Helal Manar G.
Published: August 2023

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have emerged as promising and versatile nanoparticles for cancer therapy and are widely used in drug and gene delivery, biomedical imaging, diagnosis, and biosensors. The current study describes a biological-based strategy for AuNPs biosynthesis using the cell-free supernatant of Streptomyces flavolimosus. The biosynthesized AuNPs have an absorption peak at 530–535 nm. The TEM images indicate that AuNPs were spherical and ranged in size from 4 to 20 nm. The surface capping molecules of AuNPs are negatively charged, having a Zeta potential of − 10.9 mV. FTIR analysis revealed that the AuNPs surface composition contains a variety of functional groups as –OH, C–H, N–, C=O, NH3+, amine hydrochloride, amide group of proteins, C–C and C–N. The bioprocess variables affecting AuNPs biosynthesis were optimized by using the central composite design (CCD) in order to maximize the AuNPs biosynthesis. The maximum yield of AuNPs (866.29 µg AuNPs/mL) was obtained using temperature (35 °C), incubation period (4 days), HAuCl4 concentration (1000 µg/mL) and initial pH level 6. Comparison was made between the fitness of CCD versus Artificial neural network (ANN) approach based on their prediction and the corresponding experimental results. AuNPs biosynthesis values predicted by ANN exhibit a more reasonable agreement with the experimental result. The anticancer activities of AuNPs were assessed under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. The results revealed a significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of the MCF-7 and Hela carcinoma cell lines treated with AuNPs with IC50 value of 13.4 ± 0.44 μg/mL and 13.8 ± 0.45 μg/mL for MCF-7 and Hela cells; respectively. Further, AuNPs showed potential inhibitory effect against tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice models. AuNPs significantly reduced the tumor volume, tumor weight, and decreased number of viable tumor cells in EAC bearing mice.
Integrated single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing analysis identifies a prognostic signature related to ferroptosis dependence in colorectal cancer
Authors: Xu Xiaochen , Zhang Xinwen , Lin Qiumei , Qin Yuling , Liu Yihao , Tang Weizhong
Published: August 2023

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of cell death induced by lipid oxidation with an essential role in diseases, including cancer. Since prognostic value of ferroptosis-dependent related genes (FDRGs) in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear, we explored the significance of FDRGs in CRC through comprehensive single-cell analysis. We downloaded the GSE161277 dataset for single-cell analyses and calculated the ferroptosis-dependent gene score (FerrScore) for each cell type. According to each cell type-specific median FerrScore, we categorized the cells into low- and high-ferroptosis groups. By analyzing differentially-expressed genes across the two groups, we identified FDRGs. We further screened these prognosis-related genes used to develop a prognostic signature and calculated its correlation with immune infiltration. We also compared immune checkpoint gene efficacy among different risk groups, and qRT-PCR was performed in colorectal normal and cancer cell lines to explore whether the signature genes could be used as clinical prognostic indicators. In total, 523 FDRGs were identified. A prognostic signature including five signature genes was constructed, and patients were divided into two risk groups. The high-risk group had poor survival rates and displayed high levels of immune infiltration. Our newly developed ferroptosis-based prognostic signature possessed a high predictive ability for CRC.
Antibodies against native proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis can detect pulmonary tuberculosis patients
Authors: Dewi Desak Nyoman Surya Suameitria , Mertaniasih Ni Made , Soedarsono  , Hagino Kimika , Yamazaki Tomoya , Ozeki Yuriko , Artama Wayan Tunas , Kobayashi Haruka , Inouchi Erina , Yoshida Yutaka , Ishikawa Satoshi , Shaban Amina Kaboso , Tateishi Yoshitaka , Nishiyama Akihito , Ato Manabu , Matsumoto Sohkichi
Published: August 2023

Accurate point-of-care testing (POCT) is critical for managing tuberculosis (TB). However, current antibody-based diagnosis shows low specificity and sensitivity. To find proper antigen candidates for TB diagnosis by antibodies, we assessed IgGs responsiveness to Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteins in pulmonary TB (PTB) patients. We employed major secreted proteins, such as Rv1860, Ag85C, PstS1, Rv2878c, Ag85B, and Rv1926c that were directly purified from M. tuberculosis. In the first screening, we found that IgG levels were significantly elevated in PTB patients only against Rv1860, PstS1, and Ag85B among tested antigens. However, recombinant PstS1 and Ag85B from Escherichia coli (E. coli) couldn’t distinguish PTB patients and healthy controls (HC). Recombinant Rv1860 was not checked due to its little expression. Then, the 59 confirmed PTB patients from Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia, and 102 HC were tested to Rv1860 and Ag85B only due to the low yield of the PstS1 from M. tuberculosis. The ROC analysis using native Ag85B and Rv1860 showed an acceptable area under curve for diagnosis, which is 0.812 (95% CI 0.734–0.890, p < 0.0001) and 0.821 (95% CI 0.752–0.890, p < 0.0001). This study indicates that taking consideration of native protein structure is key in developing TB’s POCT by antibody-based diagnosis.
Artificial intelligence inspired design of non-isothermal aging for γ–γ′ two-phase, Ni–Al alloys
Authors: Nandal Vickey , Dieb Sae , Bulgarevich Dmitry S. , Osada Toshio , Koyama Toshiyuki , Minamoto Satoshi , Demura Masahiko
Published: August 2023

In this paper, a state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence (AI) technique is used for a precipitation hardening of Ni-based alloy to predict more flexible non-isothermal aging (NIA) and to examine the possible routes for the enhancement in strength that may be practically achieved. Additionally, AI is used to integrate with Materials Integration by Network Technology, which is a computational workflow utilized to model the microstructure evolution and evaluate the 0.2% proof stress for isothermal aging and NIA. As a result, it is possible to find enhanced 0.2% proof stress for NIA for a fixed time of 10 min compared to the isothermal aging benchmark. The entire search space for aging scheduling was ~ 3 billion. Out of 1620 NIA schedules, we succeeded in designing the 110 NIA schedules that outperformed the isothermal aging benchmark. Interestingly, it is found that early-stage high-temperature aging for a shorter time increases the γ′ precipitate size up to the critical size and later aging at lower temperature increases the γ′ fraction with no anomalous change in γ′ size. Therefore, employing this essence from AI, we designed an optimum aging route in which we attained an outperformed 0.2% proof stress to AI-designed NIA routes.
Compact localized states in magnonic Lieb lattices
Authors: Centała Grzegorz , Kłos Jarosław W.
Published: August 2023

Lieb lattice is one of the simplest bipartite lattices, where compact localized states (CLS) are observed. This type of localization is induced by the peculiar topology of the unit cell, where the modes are localized only on selected sublattices due to the destructive interference of partial waves. We demonstrate the possibility of magnonic Lieb lattice realization, where flat bands and CLS can be observed in the planar structure of sub-micron in-plane sizes. Using forward volume configuration, the Ga-doped YIG layer with cylindrical inclusions (without Ga content) arranged in a Lieb lattice with 250 nm period was investigated numerically (finite-element method). The structure was tailored to observe, for a lowest magnonic bands, the oscillatory and evanescent spin waves in inclusions and matrix, respectively. Such a design reproduces the Lieb lattice of nodes (inclusions) coupled to each other by the matrix with the CLS in flat bands.