bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Opportunities and challenges of trilateral South‒South cooperation for transforming development assistance for health: evidence from a DRC–UNICEF–China maternal, newborn, and child health project
Authors: Huang Aidan , Cao Chunkai , Xiao Angela Y. , Karemere Hermès , Christian Molima E. , Nicolas Kenanewabo K. , Xue Meng , Tang Kun
Published: June 2023

Background

Trilateral South‒South cooperation is envisioned as an equal and empowering partnership model but still faces certain challenges. This study addresses whether and how trilateral South‒South cooperation can transform traditional development assistance for health (DAH) and explores the opportunities and challenges of trilateral South‒South cooperation for transforming future DAH, in the theme of “the emerging development partner’s DAH transformation facilitated by a multilateral organization”.

Methods

We evaluate a maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) project involving the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and China (hereinafter referred to as the “DRC–UNICEF–China project”). We analyze data from project documents and seventeen semi-structured interviews using a pragmatic analytical framework based on the DAH program logic model and the OECD’s trilateral cooperation framework.

Results

Evidence from the DRC–UNICEF–China MNCH project suggests that trilateral South‒South cooperation facilitated by a multilateral organization can provide transformative opportunities for emerging development partners’ DAH to generate and deliver context-based, demand-oriented solutions, harmonize rules and procedures, institutionalize mutual learning and knowledge sharing, and increase the visibility of emerging development partners as sources for South‒South development experience transfer. However, the project revealed some challenges, including the neglect of key stakeholders in the complex governance structure, the high transaction costs needed to ensure transparency, and the harm local absence of the emerging development partner poses to long-term DAH engagement.

Conclusions

This study echoes some of the findings in trilateral SSC literature that claim power structures and philanthropic, normative justification for health equity are often juxtaposed in trilateral SSC partnerships. The opportunities offered by the DRC–UNICEF–China project align with China’s cognitive learning process for strengthening international engagement and global image building. However, challenges may arise as a result of complex governance structures and the entrustment of facilitating partners, which can threaten the effectiveness of trilateral cooperation. We call for strengthening the beneficiary partner’s ownership at all levels, engaging the emerging development partner to better understand the beneficiary partner’s local context(s) and needs, and ensuring available resources to support programmatic activities and long-term partnerships for the health and well-being of the beneficiaries.
Design of an Arabidopsis thaliana reporter line to detect heat-sensing and signaling mutants
Authors: Guihur Anthony , Bourgine Baptiste , Rebeaud Mathieu E. , Goloubinoff Pierre
Published: June 2023

Background

Global warming is a major challenge for plant survival and growth. Understanding the molecular mechanisms by which higher plants sense and adapt to upsurges in the ambient temperature is essential for developing strategies to enhance plant tolerance to heat stress. Here, we designed a heat-responsive Arabidopsis thaliana reporter line that allows an in-depth investigation of the mechanisms underlying the accumulation of protective heat-shock proteins (HSPs) in response to high temperature.

Methods

A transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana reporter line named “Heat-Inducible Bioluminescence And Toxicity” (HIBAT) was designed to express from a conditional heat-inducible promoter, a fusion gene encoding for nanoluciferase and d-amino acid oxidase, whose expression is toxic in the presence of d-valine. HIBAT seedlings were exposed to different heat treatments in presence or absence of d-valine and analyzed for survival rate, bioluminescence and HSP gene expression.

Results

Whereas at 22 °C, HIBAT seedlings grew unaffected by d-valine, and all survived iterative heat treatments without d-valine, 98% died following heat treatments on d-valine. The HSP17.3B promoter was highly specific to heat as it remained unresponsive to various plant hormones, Flagellin, H2O2, osmotic stress and high salt. RNAseq analysis of heat-treated HIBAT seedlings showed a strong correlation with expression profiles of two wild type lines, confirming that HIBAT does not significantly differ from its Col-0 parent. Using HIBAT, a forward genetic screen revealed candidate loss-of-function mutants, apparently defective either at accumulating HSPs at high temperature or at repressing HSP accumulation at non-heat-shock temperatures.

Conclusion

HIBAT is a valuable candidate tool to identify Arabidopsis mutants defective in the response to high temperature stress. It opens new avenues for future research on the regulation of HSP expression and for understanding the mechanisms of plant acquired thermotolerance.
General public’s understanding of rare diseases and their opinions on medical resource allocation in Japan: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Nakada Haruka , Watanabe Saori , Takashima Kyoko , Suzuki Shohei , Kawamura Yuki , Takai Yutori , Matsui Kenji , Yamamoto Keiichiro
Published: June 2023

Background

Rare diseases (RDs) may impose a considerable financial burden on patients and their families. Public acceptance is essential to ensure sustainable public systems supporting RDs, especially in countries with universal healthcare coverage, such as Japan. This study aimed to explore the public’s understanding of RDs and identify crucial factors associated with the public acceptance of prioritizing financial support for RDs in Japan.

Methods

An online questionnaire was sent to 131,220 Japanese residents aged 20–69 years. The items included in the questionnaire were general interest in medical science and medical care, general knowledge regarding RDs and health care systems, opinions on the cost of medical care, opinions on the research and development of RDs and common diseases, and individual characteristics.

Results

The responses of 11,019 respondents were analyzed. Several respondents agreed to partially cover the medication cost of adult and pediatric RDs (59.5% and 66.8%, respectively) with public funding. The major reasons for agreeing were the huge financial burden imposed on patients and their families, limited available treatment options, effects of RDs on the life planning of patients, and difficulties caused by RDs in the patient’s social life. Furthermore, the respondents ranked RDs (56.0%) higher than common diseases (44.0%) for government funding for research and development. The reasons for supporting government-funded research and development for RDs included the lack of treatment options for numerous RDs (34.9%) and difficulty of studying RDs owing to the small number of researchers (25.9%). The chief reasons for supporting government-funded research and development for common diseases were the large number of affected patients (59.7%) and the possibility of more treatment options becoming available through the promotion of research and development (22.1%).

Conclusions

The general public considers burdens associated with daily living or finance more than the epidemiological characteristics of RD while making funding decisions, demonstrating that rarity was less prioritized. A gap appears to exist between the general public and RD experts regarding the understanding of the epidemiological characteristics of RD and its thresholds. This gap should be bridged to ensure that prioritization of financial support for RDs is accepted by the society.
Aspartame and Phenylketonuria: an analysis of the daily phenylalanine intake of aspartame-containing drugs marketed in France
Authors: Maler Victor , Goetz Violette , Tardieu Marine , Khalil Abderrahmane El , Alili Jean Meidi , Meunier Philippe , Maillot François , Labarthe François
Published: June 2023

Background

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare genetic metabolic disorder in which especially high phenylalanine (Phe) concentrations cause brain dysfunction. If untreated, this brain dysfunction results in severe microcephaly, intellectual disability, and behavioral problems. Dietary restriction of Phe is the mainstay of PKU treatment, with long-term successful outcomes. Aspartame, an artificial sweetener sometimes added into medications, is metabolized in the gut into Phe. Then, patients suffering from PKU on a Phe-restricted diet should avoid consumption of aspartame. The aim of our study was to evaluate the number of drugs containing aspartame and/or Phe as an excipient, and to quantify their corresponding Phe intake.

Methods

The list of drugs marketed in France containing aspartame and/or Phe was established using a national medication database called “Theriaque”. For each drug, the corresponding daily Phe intake was calculated according to age and weight and was distributed into 3 categories: high (> 40 mg/d), medium (10 to 40 mg/d) and low (< 10 mg/d) Phe intake.

Results

The number of drugs containing Phe or its precursor aspartame remained very limited (n = 401). Among the aspartame containing drugs, Phe intakes were significant (medium or high) for only half of them whereas there were negligible for the others. Furthermore, these medications with a significant Phe intake were limited to few pharmaceutical classes (mainly antiinfectives agents, analgesics, and drugs for nervous system), and within these classes the drugs were limited to a small number of molecules, including principally amoxicillin, amoxicillin + clavulanic acid and paracetamol/ acetaminophen.

Discussion

In situations requiring the use of these molecules, we propose as an alternative, the use of an aspartame-free form of these molecules or a form with a low Phe intake. If it is not possible, we propose as second-line the use of another antibiotics or analgesics. Finally, we have to remember the benefits-risk balance to use medications containing significant Phe intake in PKU patients. Indeed, it may be better to use a Phe containing medication in the absence of an aspartame-free form of this drug rather than to leave a person with PKU without treatment.
A nationwide questionnaire survey of physicians regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients and treatment system of psychosomatic medicine
Authors: Yamanaka Yukari , Yoshiuchi Kazuhiro , Kubo Chiharu , Fukudo Shin ,   Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Medicine, Kusumi Ichiro , Sato Ken , Ebana Shoichi , Kawai Keisuke , Takeuchi Takeaki , Nakao Mutsuhiro , Hashizume Masahiro , Maruoka Shuichiro , Kaneko Hiroshi , Kawasaki Yasuhiro , Fukunaga Mikihiko , Koyama Atsuko , Hashizume Makoto , Okada Hiroki , Harada Toshihide , Sudo Nobuyuki , Asakawa Akihiro , Matsubayashi Sunao
Published: June 2023

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the treatment system of medical institutions across the world. Studies of the populations and patients have reported mental health problems caused by the pandemic. However, there are few large-scale studies that have examined the effects of the COVID-19 on diseases from the perspective of psychosomatic medicine. The purpose of this study was to examine changes made to the psychosomatic treatment system of Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the pandemic on patients with diseases treated in psychosomatic medicine.

Methods

We conducted a nationwide questionnaire survey of members of the Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Medicine and the Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine from December 24, 2021 to January 31, 2022.

Results

Of the 325 respondents, 23% reported restrictions in initial outpatient admissions, 66% implemented telemedicine, 46% reported a decrease in outpatient admissions, and 31% working in facilities with inpatient units reported decreased inpatient admissions. To reduce in-person visits, 56% of the respondents decreased the frequency of patient visits and 66% introduced telemedicine. Seventy-eight percent of the respondents reported that the COVID-19 pandemic affected the onset or exacerbation of diseases treated in psychosomatic medicine, including psychosomatic disorders, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, adjustment disorders, and eating disorders.

Conclusions

This study revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic might have affected the practice of psychosomatic treatment in Japan and that various alternative measures were taken to prevent infection. In addition, although the items in this study were not compared to pre-pandemic data, the COVID-19 pandemic, it could have significant psychosocial effects on Japanese patients requiring psychosomatic care. Furthermore, respondents believed that numerous psychosocial factors were behind the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with diseases treated in psychosomatic medicine.
Values and practice of collaboration in a mental health care system in the Netherlands: a qualitative study
Authors: Kroon Suzanne J.C. , Alma Manna A. , Bak Meike , van der Krieke Lian , Bruggeman Richard
Published: June 2023

Background

To offer optimal care, the mental health system needs new routes for collaboration, involving both interprofessional and interorganizational aspects. The transition from intramural to extramural mental health care has given rise to new dynamics between public and mental health care, introducing a challenge for interprofessional and interorganizational collaboration. This study aims to determine values and expectations of collaboration and to understand how collaboration in mental health care organizations takes shape in daily practice.

Methods

We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and a focus group, in the setting of the Program for Mentally Vulnerable Persons (PMV). Data were analysed following thematic analysis.

Results

We found three aspect that were considered important in collaboration: commonality, relationships, and psychological ownership. However, our findings indicate a discrepancy between what is considered essential in collaboration and how this materializes in day-to-day practice: collaboration appears to be less manageable than anticipated by interviewees. Our data suggest psychological ownership should be added as value to the interorganizational collaboration theory.

Conclusion

Our study offers a new definition of collaboration and adding “psychological ownership” to the existing literature on collaboration theory. Furthermore, we gained insight into how collaboration between different organizations works in practice. Our research points to a discrepancy between what all the partners find important in collaboration, and what they actually do in practice. Finally, we expressed ways to improve the collaboration, such as choosing between a chain or a network approach and acting on it and re-highlighting the goal of the Program Mentally Vulnerable persons.
Efficacy and safety of intravenous imatinib in COVID-19 ARDS: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Authors: Atmowihardjo Leila N. , Schippers Job R. , Duijvelaar Erik , Bartelink Imke H. , Bet Pierre M. , Swart Noortje E. L. , van Rein Nienke , Purdy Keith , Cavalla David , McElroy Andrew , Fritchley Sarah , Vonk Noordegraaf Anton , Endeman Henrik , van Velzen Patricia , Koopmans Matty , Bogaard Harm Jan , Heunks Leo , Juffermans Nicole , Schultz Marcus J. , Tuinman Pieter R. , Bos Lieuwe D. J. , Aman Jurjan
Published: June 2023

Purpose

A hallmark of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is hypoxaemic respiratory failure due to pulmonary vascular hyperpermeability. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib reversed pulmonary capillary leak in preclinical studies and improved clinical outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. We investigated the effect of intravenous (IV) imatinib on pulmonary edema in COVID-19 ARDS.

Methods

This was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Invasively ventilated patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 ARDS were randomized to 200 mg IV imatinib or placebo twice daily for a maximum of seven days. The primary outcome was the change in extravascular lung water index (∆EVLWi) between days 1 and 4. Secondary outcomes included safety, duration of invasive ventilation, ventilator-free days (VFD) and 28-day mortality. Posthoc analyses were performed in previously identified biological subphenotypes.

Results

66 patients were randomized to imatinib (n = 33) or placebo (n = 33). There was no difference in ∆EVLWi between the groups (0.19 ml/kg, 95% CI − 3.16 to 2.77, p = 0.89). Imatinib treatment did not affect duration of invasive ventilation (p = 0.29), VFD (p = 0.29) or 28-day mortality (p = 0.79). IV imatinib was well-tolerated and appeared safe. In a subgroup of patients characterized by high IL-6, TNFR1 and SP-D levels (n = 20), imatinib significantly decreased EVLWi per treatment day (− 1.17 ml/kg, 95% CI − 1.87 to − 0.44).

Conclusions

IV imatinib did not reduce pulmonary edema or improve clinical outcomes in invasively ventilated COVID-19 patients. While this trial does not support the use of imatinib in the general COVID-19 ARDS population, imatinib reduced pulmonary edema in a subgroup of patients, underscoring the potential value of predictive enrichment in ARDS trials.

Trial registrationNCT04794088, registered 11 March 2021. European Clinical Trials Database (EudraCT number: 2020-005447-23).
Multielement analysis coupled with chemometrics modelling for geographical origin classification of teff [Eragrostis tef (Zuccagni) Trotter] grains from Amhara Region, Ethiopia
Authors: Reta Chaltu , Asmellash Tihitinna , Atlabachew Minaleshewa , Mehari Bewketu
Published: June 2023

Teff [Eragrostis tef (Zuccagni) Trotter] is an indigenous crop in Ethiopia, and Amhara region is the predominant teff producing region in the country. This study was aimed at developing an analytical methodology useful to determine the geographical origin of teff produced in the Amhara Region, based on multielement analysis combined with multivariate statistical techniques. For this, a total of 72 teff grain samples were collected from three zones (West Gojjam, East Gojjam, and Awi) and analysed for K, Na, Mg, Ca, Mn, Cu, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Cr, and Cd contents using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The digestion and ICP-OES analysis method were accurate, with percentage recovery ranging 85.5 to 109% across the different metals analysed. Principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were applied to discriminate samples based on their production regions. Magnesium, Ca, Fe, Mn, and Zn were the most discriminating elements among the samples. The LDA model provided 96% correct classification of samples into production regions and varietal types, with an average prediction ability of 92%. Hence, the multielement analysis combined with statistical modeling can be used in the authentication of the geographical origin and varietal type of teff from Amhara region.
Green construction and release mechanism of lignin-based double-layer coated urea
Authors: Chen Xiaojuan , Yang Huchen , Zhang Lidan , Li Zhongli , Xue Yunna , Wang Rongfeng , Fan Xiaolin , Sun Shaolong
Published: June 2023

Background

Lignin played an important role in the establishment of coated fertilizers coating material as a substitute for petrochemical raw materials. However, so far, the lignin-based coated fertilizers was limited in only the poor slow-release performance. To achieve good slow-release performance of lignin-based coated fertilizers, hydrophilic of lignin need to be resolved to establish an green and better controllable lignin-based coated fertilizers.

Results

In the study, a novel green double layer coating with lignin-based polyurethane (LPU) as the inner coating and epoxy resin (EP) as the outer coating was effectively constructed for coated urea. Fourier transform infrared spectra confirmed that lignin and polycaprolactone diol successfully reacted with Hexamethylene diisocyanate. The loss weight and water contact angle (WCA, 75.6–63.6°) of the LPUs decreased with the increased lignin content. The average particle hardness of the lignin-based double-layer coated urea (LDCU) first increased from 58.1 N (lignin of 30%) to 67.0 N (lignin of 60%), but then decreased to 62.3 N (lignin of 70%). The release longevity of the coated urea was closely related to the preparation parameters of the coating material. The optimal cumulative nutrient release rate (79.4%) of LDCU was obtained (lignin of 50%, –CNO/–OH molar ratios of 1.15, EP of 35%, and coating ratio of 5%). The aggregates of hydrone on the LDCU caused the dissolution and swelling of nutrients, and then the diffusion of nutrients through the concentration gradient.

Conclusions

A though the nutrient release of the LDCUs was affected by many factors, the successful development of the LDCUs will help improve the rapid development of the coated fertilizer industry.
Enthesitis indices identify different patients with this characteristic in axial and peripheral spondyloarthritis and also in psoriatic arthritis: ASAS-PerSpA data
Authors: Granados Raquel Ena María , Ladehesa-Pineda M. Lourdes , Puche-Larrubia M. Ángeles , Escudero-Contreras Alejandro , Dougados Maxime , Collantes-Estevez Eduardo , López-Medina Clementina
Published: June 2023

Background

In axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), peripheral SpA (pSpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), enthesitis is a hallmark clinical feature that can be assessed by the SPARCC index, LEI, MASES and MEI. These indices evaluate different locations, which may identify different numbers of patients with enthesitis among SpA subtypes. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether the proportion of patients with at least one enthesitis across these three most prevalent SpA subtypes differs according to the index used and to evaluate the level of agreement among indices in detecting patients with enthesitis.

Methods

A total of 4185 patients (2719 axSpA, 433 pSpA and 1033 PsA) from the international and cross-sectional ASAS-PerSpA study were included. The proportion of patients with enthesitis identified by the indices was evaluated across the three diseases. Pairwise agreement between indices was computed using Cohen’s kappa.

Results

The prevalence rates of patients with at least one enthesitis according to the MEI, MASES, SPARCC index and LEI were 17.2%, 13.5%, 10.7%, and 8.3%, respectively. In axSpA, the indices that identified the most patients with enthesitis were the MEI and MASES (98.7% and 82.4%, respectively); in pSpA and PsA, the indices that identified the most patients with enthesitis were the MEI and SPARCC index (MEI: 100% and SPARCC: 84.6%; MEI: 97.3% and SPARCC: 77%, respectively). In the total population, the MASES vs. MEI showed the strongest agreement (absolute agreement 96.3%; kappa: 0.86); similar results were obtained in axSpA patients (97.3%; 0.90). In pSpA and PsA patients, the SPARCC vs. MEI (97.2%; 0.90 and 95.4%; 0.83, respectively) showed the strongest agreement.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the prevalence of patients with enthesitis across SpA subtypes differs depending on the disease and the index used. The MEI and MASES appeared best for assessing enthesis in SpA and axSpA, while the MEI and SPARCC index appeared best for assessing enthesitis in pSpA and PsA.
Valuable effects of lactobacillus and citicoline on steatohepatitis: role of Nrf2/HO-1 and gut microbiota
Authors: El-Baz Ahmed M. , El-Ganiny Amira M. , Hellal Doaa , Anwer Hala M. , El-Aziz Hend A. Abd , Tharwat Ibrahim E. , El-Adawy Mohamed A. , Helal Shehab El-Din M. , Mohamed Menna Tallah A. , Azb Tassnim M. , Elshafaey Hanya M. , Shalata AbdulRahman A. , Elmeligi Sahar M. , Abdelbary Noran H. , El-kott Attalla F. , Al-Saeed Fatimah A. , Salem Eman T. , El-Sokkary Mohamed M. Adel , Shata Ahmed , Shabaan Ahmed A.
Published: June 2023

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a more dangerous form of chronic non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In the current investigation, the influence of citicoline on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NASH was examined, both alone and in combination with Lactobacillus (probiotic). NASH was induced by feeding HFD (10% sugar, 10% lard stearin, 2% cholesterol, and 0.5% cholic acid) to rats for 13 weeks and received single i.p. injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 30 mg/kg) after 4 weeks. Citicoline was given at two dose levels (250 mg and 500 mg, i.p.) at the beginning of the sixth week, and in combination with an oral suspension of Lactobacillus every day for eight weeks until the study’s conclusion. HFD/STZ induced steatohepatitis as shown by histopathological changes, elevated serum liver enzymes, serum hyperlipidemia and hepatic fat accumulation. Moreover, HFD convinced oxidative stress by increased lipid peroxidation marker (MDA) and decreased antioxidant enzymes (GSH and TAC). Upregulation of TLR4/NF-kB and the downstream inflammatory cascade (TNF-α, and IL-6) as well as Pentaraxin, fetuin-B and apoptotic markers (caspase-3 and Bax) were observed. NASH rats also had massive increase in Bacteroides spp., Fusobacterium spp., E. coli, Clostridium spp., Providencia spp., Prevotella interrmedia, and P. gingivalis while remarkable drop in Bifidobacteria spp. and Lactobacillus spp. Co-treatment with citicoline alone and with Lactobacillus improve histopathological NASH outcomes and reversed all of these molecular pathological alterations linked to NASH via upregulating the expression of Nrf2/HO-1 and downregulating TLR4/NF-kB signaling pathways. These results suggest that citicoline and lactobacillus may represent new hepatoprotective strategies against NASH progression.
An environment safety monitoring system for agricultural production based on artificial intelligence, cloud computing and big data networks
Authors: Wei Yunxiao , Han Chao , Yu Zuolong
Published: June 2023

Monitoring the agricultural production environment is crucial for optimal crop growth and resource efficiency. Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Big Data have revolutionized traditional agriculture, promising improved output and product quality. The popularity of these technologies drives their application in safety monitoring. This system facilitates data collection and transmission among equipment, overcoming challenges of traditional systems like investment, costs, and maintenance. In this paper, cloud computing-based AI optimization technology and big data network were proposed to monitor the safety of the agricultural production environment, and the shortcomings of traditional distance vector hop (DV hop) positioning algorithms were analyzed in depth. RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) technology improved the traditional DV Hop location method. The paper analyses direct and indirect transmission for data transmission between WSN and cloud nodes and favors indirect transmission because it consumes less invalid energy. Finally, the article compares several evaluations of alternative algorithms for monitoring system performance, including data transmission reliability, data reception rate, and data delay. The experimental results in this paper showed that in the data reception rate test, the data reception rate of System 2 was 97% at the lowest and 99% at the highest, both exceeding 95%.
Enhanced energy savings in enzymatic refining of hardwood and softwood pulp
Authors: Nagl Martin , Haske-Cornelius Oskar , Bauer Wolfgang , Nyanhongo Gibson S. , Guebitz Georg M.
Published: June 2023

Background

Pulp refining is an energy consuming, but integral part of paper production with the aim to increase tensile strength and smoothness of paper sheets. Commercial enzyme formulations are used to lower the energy requirements by pre-treatment of pulp before refining. However, a high number of different commercial enzyme products are available on the market containing enzymes of varying origin and composition, which complicates the prediction of their behavior, especially using different pulp types.

Results

Endoglucanase-rich enzyme formulations were characterized regarding enzyme activity at different temperatures, resulting in a significant decrease of activity above 70 °C. Some enzyme preparations additionally contained arabinosidase, xylanase and β-glucosidase activity consequently resulting in a release of xylose and glucose from pulp as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Interestingly, one enzyme formulation even showed lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMO) activity of 3.05 nkat mg−1. A correlation between enzyme activity using the endoglucanase specific derivatized cellopentaose (CellG5) substrate and enzyme performance in laboratory PFI (Papirindustriens forskningsinstitut) refining trials was observed on softwood pulp resulting in a maximum increase in the degree of refining values from 27.7°SR to 32.7°SR. When added to a purified endoglucanase enzyme (31.6°SR), synergistic effects were found for cellobiohydrolase II (34.7°SR) or β-glucosidase enzymes (35.7°SR) in laboratory refining. Comparison with previously obtained laboratory refining results on hardwood pulp allowed differences in enzyme performance based on varying pulp types to be elucidated.

Conclusions

Interestingly, the individual enzymes indeed showed different refining effects on softwood and hardwood pulp. This difference could be predicted after development of an adapted enzyme activity assay by combination of the derivatized cellopentaose CellG5 substrate with either softwood or hardwood sulfate pulp.
Symbiotic mycorrhizal types affect patterns of tree aboveground and belowground C allocation in Northeast China
Authors: Wang Qinggui , Yan Guoyong , Luo Xi , Liu Guancheng , Wang Honglin , Xing Yajuan
Published: June 2023

Background

Given the ubiquitous nature of mycorrhizal symbioses, different symbiotic fungi have obvious differences in structure and function, which may affect associated tree aboveground and belowground C allocation dynamics. However, the mechanisms underlying tree aboveground and belowground C allocation and its response to symbiotic mycorrhizal types and other factors (e.g., resource availability) remain poorly understood.

Results

We used forest inventory data to explore the potential mechanism of tree aboveground and belowground C allocation patterns in Northeast China. Our results showed that tree-fungal symbioses were related to the patterns of tree C allocation. The ratio of aboveground to belowground C pool was significantly higher in ectomycorrhizal (EM)-associated trees than that in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM)-associated trees. Symbiotic mycorrhizal types were associated with the responses of tree aboveground and belowground C allocation to different factors, such as mean annual precipitation (MAP) and mean annual temperature (MAT). Almost all factors significantly increased aboveground C allocation in AM-associated trees but significantly decreased it in EM-associated trees. Moreover, after controlling the other factors, the effects of climate factors (MAT and MAP) on the C allocation of AM- and EM-associated trees were similar. Increases in MAT and MAP significantly increased belowground and aboveground C allocation, respectively.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate symbiotic mycorrhizal types play an important role in controlling tree aboveground and belowground C allocation and dynamics.
Meningitis after elective intracranial surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence
Authors: Chojak Rafał , Koźba-Gosztyła Marta , Gaik Magdalena , Madej Marta , Majerska Aleksandra , Soczyński Oskar , Czapiga Bogdan
Published: June 2023

Meningitis is a potential complication of elective intracranial surgery (EIS). The prevalence of meningitis after EIS varies greatly in the literature. The objective of this study was to estimate the overall pooled prevalence of meningitis following EIS. Four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase) were searched to identify relevant studies. Meta-analyses of proportions were used to combine data. Cochran's Q and I2 statistics were used to assess and quantify heterogeneity. Additionally, several subgroup analyses were conducted to investigate the source of heterogeneity and examine differences in the prevalence based on variables such as geographical regions, income level, and meningitis type. The meta-analysis included 83 studies (30 959 patients) from 26 countries. The overall pooled prevalence of meningitis after EIS was 1.6% (95% CI 1.1–2.1), with high heterogeneity present (I2 = 88%). The pooled prevalence in low- to middle-income countries and high-income countries was 2.7% (95% CI 1.6–4.1) and 1.2% (95% CI 0.8–1.7), respectively. Studies that reported only aseptic meningitis had a pooled prevalence of 3.2% (95% CI 1.3–5.8). The pooled prevalence was 2.8% (95% CI 1.5–4.5) in studies that reported only bacterial meningitis. Similar prevalence rates of meningitis were observed in the subgroups of tumor resection, microvascular decompression, and aneurysm clipping. Meningitis is a rare but not exceptional complication following EIS, with an estimated prevalence of 1.6%.
Defective lysosomal acidification: a new prognostic marker and therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases
Authors: Lo Chih Hung , Zeng Jialiu
Published: June 2023

Lysosomal acidification dysfunction has been implicated as a key driving factor in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Multiple genetic factors have been linked to lysosomal de-acidification through impairing the vacuolar-type ATPase and ion channels on the organelle membrane. Similar lysosomal abnormalities are also present in sporadic forms of neurodegeneration, although the underlying pathogenic mechanisms are unclear and remain to be investigated. Importantly, recent studies have revealed early occurrence of lysosomal acidification impairment before the onset of neurodegeneration and late-stage pathology. However, there is a lack of methods for organelle pH monitoring in vivo and a dearth of lysosome-acidifying therapeutic agents. Here, we summarize and present evidence for the notion of defective lysosomal acidification as an early indicator of neurodegeneration and urge the critical need for technological advancement in developing tools for lysosomal pH monitoring and detection both in vivo and for clinical applications. We further discuss current preclinical pharmacological agents that modulate lysosomal acidification, including small molecules and nanomedicine, and their potential clinical translation into lysosome-targeting therapies. Both timely detection of lysosomal dysfunction and development of therapeutics that restore lysosomal function represent paradigm shifts in targeting neurodegenerative diseases.
Impacts of climate-resilient push–pull technology on farmers’ income in selected counties in Kenya and Tanzania: propensity score matching approach
Authors: Ouya Fredrick O. , Murage Alice W. , Pittchar Jimmy O. , Chidawanyika Frank , Pickett John A. , Khan Zeyaur R.
Published: June 2023

Background

Agricultural research and technology adoption play a key role in improving productivity and therefore generate impact on household livelihoods. The push–pull technology developed by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology and collaborators/partners has been recognized for its multiple roles in productivity improvement and income generation. However, the subsequent impacts after its adaptation to drier agro-ecologies have not been ascertained. Anex-poststudy was conducted to evaluate the impact of the climate-resilient push–pull technology on farmers’ income.

Methodology

This study was conducted in eight counties in Kenya and Mara region in Tanzania, involving 486 farmers; half were climate-resilient push–pull technology adopters. The study adopted the propensity score matching (PSM) technique in order to correct the self-selection bias in adoption.

Results

From the results, education of the farmer, household size, Tropical Livestock Unit and group membership positively and significantly influenced adoption. The average treatment effect on the treated was positive for all the matching methods; USD 455.8 for Nearest Neighbor Matching, USD 474.2 for the Kernel Matching and USD 439.1 for the Radius/Caliper Matching. The balancing test for self-selection bias showed that none of the observed covariates was significant after matching. The results demonstrate that adopting climate-resilient push–pull technology has a positive impact on the adopter farmers’ income. Adopter farmers were able to earn much more in terms of gross margin.

Conclusion

The positive change in income for adopters was attributable to the technology. With increased incomes, farmers were able to access alternative foodstuff, hence had more food security and diversity than those without. Efforts to expand dissemination and adoption of climate-resilient push–pull technology will have positive impacts on adopting families and hence to the economy.
The impact of global changes in near-term climate forcers on East Africa’s climate
Authors: Opio Ronald , Mugume Isaac , Nakatumba-Nabende Joyce , Nimusiima Alex , Okurut Isaac Tom
Published: June 2023

Climate change and air pollution are two interconnected daunting environmental challenges of the twenty-first century. Globally, stringent public health and environmental policies are set to mitigate the emissions of near-term climate forcers (NTCFs) because they double as air pollutants. While the global climate impact of NTCF mitigation has been investigated using coarse resolution climate models, the fine scale regional climate impacts over East Africa are not fully known. This study presents the first 2021–2055 downscaled model results of two future scenarios which both have increasing greenhouse gas emissions but with weak (SSP3-7.0) versus strong (SSP3-7.0_lowNTCF) levels of air quality control. NTCF mitigation is defined here as SSP3-7.0_lowNTCF–SSP3-7.0. The results reveal that NTCF mitigation could cause an increase in annual mean surface temperature ranging from 0.005 to 0.01 °C decade−1 over parts of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia. It could also cause an increase in annual mean precipitation ranging from 0.1 to 1 mm month−1 decade−1 over parts of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan and Ethiopia. Majority of the precipitation increase is projected to occur during the MAM season. On the other hand, Zambia, Malawi and southern Tanzania could also experience a decrease in annual mean precipitation by up to 0.5 mm month−1 decade−1. Majority of this decrease is projected to occur during the DJF season. These findings suggest that pursuing NTCF mitigation alone while ignoring greenhouse gas emissions will cause additional climate change over East Africa. Mitigating both of them concurrently would be a better policy option.
A new approach of microbiome monitoring in the built environment: feasibility analysis of condensation capture
Authors: Hampton-Marcell Jarrad T. , Ghosh Aritra , Gukeh Mohamad Jafari , Megaridis Constantine M.
Published: June 2023

Background

Humans emit approximately 30 million microbial cells per hour into their immediate vicinity. However, sampling of aerosolized microbial taxa (aerobiome) remains largely uncharacterized due to the complexity and limitations of sampling techniques, which are highly susceptible to low biomass and rapid sample degradation. Recently, there has been an interest in developing technology that collects naturally occurring water from the atmosphere, even within the built environment. Here, we analyze the feasibility of indoor aerosol condensation collection as a method to capture and analyze the aerobiome.

Methods

Aerosols were collected via condensation or active impingement in a laboratory setting over the course of 8 h. Microbial DNA was extracted from collected samples and sequenced (16S rRNA) to analyze microbial diversity and community composition. Dimensional reduction and multivariate statistics were employed to identify significant (p < 0.05) differences in relative abundances of specific microbial taxa observed between the two sampling platforms.

Results

Aerosol condensation capture is highly efficient with a yield greater than 95% when compared to expected values. Compared to air impingement, aerosol condensation showed no significant difference (ANOVA, p > 0.05) in microbial diversity. Among identified taxa, Streptophyta and Pseudomonadales comprised approximately 70% of the microbial community composition.

Conclusion

The results suggest that condensation of atmospheric humidity is a suitable method for the capture of airborne microbial taxa reflected by microbial community similarity between devices. Future investigation of aerosol condensation may provide insight into the efficacy and viability of this new tool to investigate airborne microorganisms.

Importance

On average, humans shed approximately 30 million microbial cells each hour into their immediate environment making humans the primary contributor to shaping the microbiome found within the built environment. In addition, recent events have highlighted the importance of understanding how microorganisms within the built environment are aerosolized and dispersed, but more importantly, the lack in development of technology that is capable of actively sampling the ever-changing aerosolized microbiome, i.e., aerobiome. This research highlights the capability of sampling the aerobiome by taking advantage of naturally occurring atmospheric humidity. Our novel approach reproduces the biological content in the atmosphere and can provide insight into the environmental microbiology of indoor spaces.
How to decrease Test Anxiety: a focus on Academic Emotion Regulation, L2 grit, resilience, and self-assessment
Authors: Alazemi Asmaa Falah Theiyab , Jember Biruk , Al-Rashidi Anwar Hammad
Published: June 2023

Effective education and evaluation may be achieved when the mental and emotional health of the students being evaluated are taken into consideration. As a consequence of this, the purpose of this research was to try to highlight the dynamic that exists between Test Anxiety (TA), Academic Emotion Regulation (AER), L2 grit (L2G), academic resilience (AR), and core of self-assessment (CAS). In order to accomplish this goal, 417 English as a foreign language (EFL) students from Kuwait were provided with copies of the Test Anxiety Scale, the Academic Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, the Language-domain-specific Grit Scale, the Academic Resilience Scale, and the Core of Self‑Assessment Questionnaire. The screening of the data using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) explicitly determined the impacts AER, L2G, AR, and CAS had on TA. It means that students who has developed a healthy state of AER, L2G, AR, and CSA could modulate their Test Anxiety skillfully. The implications of the study, which might lead to enhancements in language instruction and evaluation, are discussed in detail.
Large scale performance analysis of distributed deep learning frameworks for convolutional neural networks
Authors: Aach Marcel , Inanc Eray , Sarma Rakesh , Riedel Morris , Lintermann Andreas
Published: June 2023

Continuously increasing data volumes from multiple sources, such as simulation and experimental measurements, demand efficient algorithms for an analysis within a realistic timeframe. Deep learning models have proven to be capable of understanding and analyzing large quantities of data with high accuracy. However, training them on massive datasets remains a challenge and requires distributed learning exploiting High-Performance Computing systems. This study presents a comprehensive analysis and comparison of three well-established distributed deep learning frameworks—Horovod, DeepSpeed, and Distributed Data Parallel by PyTorch—with a focus on their runtime performance and scalability. Additionally, the performance of two data loaders, the native PyTorch data loader and the DALI data loader by NVIDIA, is investigated. To evaluate these frameworks and data loaders, three standard ResNet architectures with 50, 101, and 152 layers are tested using the ImageNet dataset. The impact of different learning rate schedulers on validation accuracy is also assessed. The novel contribution lies in the detailed analysis and comparison of these frameworks and data loaders on the state-of-the-art Jülich Wizard for European Leadership Science (JUWELS) Booster system at the Jülich Supercomputing Centre, using up to 1024 A100 NVIDIA GPUs in parallel. Findings show that the DALI data loader significantly reduces the overall runtime of ResNet50 from more than 12 h on 4 GPUs to less than 200 s on 1024 GPUs. The outcomes of this work highlight the potential impact of distributed deep learning using efficient tools on accelerating scientific discoveries and data-driven applications.

Graphical Abstract
Lateral epicondyle to the joint line distance is a precise landmark for determination of an accurate knee joint line: an observational retrospective study
Authors: Aljuhani Wazzan S. , Alsaeed Abdullah A. , Alrashed Maali O. , Alanazi Abdullah M. , Alsalman Mohammed J.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

To assess a quantitative and reproducible association between the position of the knee joint line and recognizable anatomical landmarks around it in order to help in restoring joint line in arthroplasty cases.

Methods

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 130 normal knees were investigated. Anatomical measurements of the knee joint distances on the obtained planes were performed manually by distance measurements using a ruler tool, followed by 6 anatomical bony landmarks determination about the knee to identify the joint line which included the joint line, medial epicondyle, lateral epicondyle, medial flare, lateral flare, and proximal tibiofibular joint. The entire process was examined twice by two independent fellowship trained musculoskeletal radiologists, with a 2‐week interval between the first and second sets of readings.

Results

The lateral epicondyle to the joint line of the knee (LEJL) could be a reliable landmark for accurate distance measurements for the knee joint line level, with an absolute distance of 24.4 ± 2.8 mm. The analysis showed that the femorotibial ratio between the LEJL and proximal tibiofibular joint (PTFJ) was 1.0 (LEJL/PTFJJL = 1.0 ± 0.1), confirming the location of the knee joint at the midpoint between the lateral epicondyle and PTFJ, revealing two identifiable landmarks.

Conclusions

LEJL is the most precise landmark for determination of an accurate knee joint line because the knee is located at the midline between the lateral epicondyle and PTFJ. These reproducible quantitative relationships can be widely employed in various imaging modalities to help restore the knee JL in arthroplasty surgeries.