bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aleukemic congenital leukemia cutis preceding monocytic leukemia with favorable outcome: A case report
Authors: Lo Presti Caroline , Szymanski Gautier , Lefebvre Christine , Jacob Marie‐Christine , Mossuz Pascal , Gil Hugo
Published: February 2024

A newborn girl had typical “blueberry muffin” skin lesions, which shows histopathologic features of monocytic leukemia cutis. The systemic leukemia was demonstrated after one month of life. She was treated by chemotherapy, including induction and three consolidation cures, according to the ELAM02 protocol, which led to complete remission. This case report with congenital form of AML5 cutaneous localization, preceding systemic involvement, with a 5‐year follow‐up and positive outcome is remarkable.
COVID‐19 vaccine uptake, conspiracy theories, and health literacy among Black individuals in Canada: Racial discrimination, confidence in health, and COVID‐19 stress as mediators
Authors: Cénat Jude Mary , Farahi Seyed Mohammad Mahdi Moshirian , Dalexis Rose Darly , Yaya Sanni , Caulley Lisa , Chomienne Marie‐Hélène
Published: February 2024

Factors influencing vaccine uptake in Black individuals remain insufficiently documented. Understanding the role of COVID‐19 related stress, conspiracy theories, health literacy, racial discrimination experiences, and confidence in health authorities can inform programs to increase vaccination coverage. We sought to analyze these factors and vaccine uptake among Black individuals in Canada. A representative sample of 2002 Black individuals from Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, British Columbia, and Manitoba, aged 14 years or older completed questionnaires assessing vaccine uptake, health literacy, conspiracy theories, racial discrimination experiences, COVID‐19‐related stress, and confidence in health authorities. Mediation analyses were conducted to assess (1) the effect of health literacy on COVID‐19 vaccination uptake through confidence and need, COVID‐19 related traumatic stress, and racial discrimination, and (2) the effect of conspiracy beliefs on COVID‐19 vaccination uptake through the same factors. Overall, 69.57% (95% confidence interval, 67.55%–71.59%) of the participants were vaccinated and 83.48% of them received two or more doses. Those aged 55 years and older were less likely to be vaccinated, as well as those residing in British Columbia and Manitoba. Mediation models showed that the association between health literacy and COVID‐19 vaccine uptake was mediated by confidence in health authorities (B = 0.02, p < 0.001), COVID‐19‐related stress (B = −0.02, p < 0.001), and racial discrimination (B = −0.01, p = 0.032), but both direct and total effects were nonsignificant. Lastly, conspiracy beliefs were found to have a partial mediation effect through the same mediators (B = 0.02, p < 0.001, B = −0.02, p < 0.001, B = −0.01, p = 0.011, respectively). These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address vaccine hesitancy and inform approaches to improve access to vaccinations among Black communities.
Prediction and visualization of moisture content in Tencha drying processes by computer vision and deep learning
Authors: You Jie , Li Dengshan , Wang Zhen , Chen Quansheng , Ouyang Qin
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND

It is important to monitor and control the moisture content throughout the Tencha drying processing procedure so that its quality is ensured. Workers often rely on their senses to perceive the moisture content, leading to relative subjectivity and low reproducibility. Traditional drying methods, which are used for measuring moisture content, are destructive to samples. This research was conducted using computer vision combined with deep learning to detect moisture content during the Tencha drying process. Different color space components of Tencha drying sample images were first extracted by computer vision. The color components were preprocessed using MinMax and Z score. Subsequently, one‐dimensional convolutional neural networks (1D‐CNN), partial least squares, and backpropagation artificial neural networks models were built and compared.

RESULTS

The 1D‐CNN model and Z score preprocessing achieved superior predictive accuracy, with correlation coefficient of prediction (Rp) = 0.9548 for moisture content. The migration of moisture content during the Tencha drying process was eventually visualized by mapping its spatial and temporal distributions.

CONCLUSION

The results indicated that computer vision combined with 1D‐CNN was feasible for moisture prediction during the Tencha drying process. This study provides technical support for the industrial and intelligent production of Tencha. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Identification and functional validation of a novel pathogenic POT1 germline variant p.G95V in familial melanoma
Authors: Bakr Farrah , Kulkarni Anjana , Mounsey Stephen , Mitchell Tracey , Whittaker Sean , Lacy Katie
Published: February 2024

POT1 variants have been identified in familial melanoma (FM) as well as a number of other germline and somatic malignancies. The functional validation of variants identified from the screening of patients with melanoma gene susceptibility panels is key to understanding the clinical significance of identified variants. Here we report a novel, likely pathogenic POT1 missense variant (p.G95V) in FM and investigate its functional impact. We demonstrate loss of function owing to the inability of the mutant POT1 protein to bind telomeric DNA compared to its wild‐type counterpart. This study provides important functional validation of a novel POT1 variant in FM.
MAKING WAVES: A LEADER WHO HAPPENS TO BE A WOMAN
Authors: McArthur Sarah
Published: February 2024

The author discusses her work with Lisa Lutoff–Perlo, an author in this issue of Leader to Leader. Lutoff–Perlo rose in the corporate ranks to be CEO of Celebrity Cruises. The latter’s leadership journey is told with the background of the author’s work with the late Frances Hesselbein, our founder and longtime editor‐in‐chief. Toward the end of her life (she passed away in 2022 at 107), she and the author shared the title. She writes, “I shared with Lisa Frances Hesselbein’s response when introduced as a ‘woman leader’ as if her gender was the most important attribute of her leadership.” Frances would reply to the introduction that she was rather “a leader who happens to be a woman. I am a leader first.” With that simple statement, “we immediately understood that her focus on being a leader was more important to her than her gender.” And she notes that Lutoff–Perlo, “through diligence, determination, and a lot of heart, courage, and smarts ‘scaled the corporate ladder’ and become a great leader. More than that, as one who includes, inspires, and encourages she raises the rest of us up with her.”
Multiscale modeling of granular dynamics on flowslide triggering and runout
Authors: Yang Ming , Buscarnera Giuseppe
Published: February 2024

A hierarchical multiscale modeling framework is proposed to simulate flowslide triggering and runout. It couples a system‐scale sliding‐consolidation model (SCM) resolving hydro‐mechanical feedbacks within a flowslide with a local‐scale solver based on the discrete element method (DEM) replicating the sand deformation response in the liquefied regime. This coupling allows for the simulation of a seamless transition from solid‐ to fluid‐like behavior following liquefaction, which is controlled by the grain‐scale dynamics. To investigate the role of grain‐scale interactions, the DEM simulations replace the constitutive model within the SCM framework, enabling the capture of the emergent rate‐dependent behavior of the sand during the inertial regime of motion. For this purpose, a novel algorithm is proposed to ensure the accurate passage of the strain rate from the global analysis to the local DEM solver under both quasi‐static (pre‐triggering) and dynamic (post‐triggering) regimes of motion. Our findings demonstrate that the specifics of the coupling algorithm do not bear significant consequences to the triggering analysis, in that the grain‐scale dynamics is negligible. By contrast, major differences between the results obtained with traditional algorithms and the proposed algorithm are found for the post‐triggering stage. Specifically, the existing algorithms suffer from loss of convergence and require proper numerical treatment to capture the micro‐inertial effects arising from the post‐liquefaction particle agitation responsible for viscous‐like effects that spontaneously regulate the flowslide velocity. These findings emphasize the important role of rate‐dependent feedback for the analysis of natural hazards involving granular materials, especially for post‐failure propagation analysis.
Has the introduction of increased genetic prenatal testing affected rates of termination of pregnancy due to fetal abnormality?
Authors: Raaby Line , Lou Stina , Lodberg Ivarsen Rikke Ramløv , Sørensen Jette , Larsen Ole Halfdan , Vogel Ida
Published: February 2024

Objective

Genetic high‐resolution analyses and improved diagnostic imaging have impacted the ability to detect fetal disorders. It is unknown if this resulted in an alteration in the number of terminations of pregnancy due to fetal anomalies (TOPFA). The objective was to describe the incidence and indication of TOPFA.

Methods

A descriptive study based on records from the Regional Abortion Council in the Central Denmark Region from 2008 to 2021 consisting of 1895 TOPFA.

Results

A consistent incidence of TOPFA was observed, accounting for 0.96% of the total births during that period. When examining fetal indications, there was a small increase in the occurrence of genetic aberrations, primarily caused by deletions, duplications, and single nucleotide variations, whereas the number of chromosomal aberrations remained stable. Of 35.5% of the cases with malformations, the central nervous system was the most affected organ system, followed by malformations of the heart 29.6%. Overall, the total number of cases remained stable.

Discussion and conclusion

Unexpectedly, despite the development of new diagnostic tools, the incidence of TOPFA from 2008 to 2021 remained stable. However, the number of cases with genetic aberrations increased. This may be attributed to increased genetic testing for fetuses with identified malformations, resulting in more accurate diagnoses.
Reactive extrusion of post‐irradiated poly(ethylene terephthalate) to improve the interfacial interactions in compounding with its immiscible polyethylene blends
Authors: Jamalzadeh Mansoureh , Sobkowicz Margaret J.
Published: February 2024

The aggregation of plastic waste results in immiscible polymer blends with inferior properties. This study explores the application of irradiation technology on polymer processing for its potential to increase the compatibility of immiscible polymer blends composed of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE). When PET is radiated, it undergoes chain‐scission reactions resulting in the formation of free radicals. The extended lifespan of these free radicals in post‐irradiated PET provides an opportunity for inducing interface reactions with LLDPE during compounding through reactive extrusion. PET was irradiated with up to 50 and 200 kGy irradiation absorbance doses of gamma irradiation and then compounded with LLDPE in a twin‐screw extruder at three blend compositions. Analysis of rheological, morphological, and mechanical properties demonstrates the compatibility improvement in this immiscible polymer blend attributed to irradiation‐induced free radical interface reactions using post‐irradiated PET up to 50 kGy to conduct the reactive extrusion process.

Highlights

Reactive extrusion process with post‐irradiated PET.

Formation of interface reactions.

Improving the compatibility of immiscible polymer blend.
Development of ‘TN16‐520R1’: A drought‐tolerant soybean cultivar with glyphosate resistance
Authors: Smallwood Christopher J. , Shekoofa Avat , Allen Fred L. , Pantalone Vincent R.
Published: February 2024

The glyphosate‐tolerant soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] line ‘TN16‐520R1’ (Reg. no. CV‐560, PI 703273) was released as a high‐yielding cultivar by University of Tennessee Agricultural Research in 2018. TN16‐520R1 is a BC4F2 cultivar derived from the recurrent parent ‘Ellis’, with drought tolerance and a maturity group (MG) of V‐early. It has white flowers, gray pubescence, tan podwall, and a determinate growth habit. The seed has buff hila, is yellow with smooth seed coat, and contains 40% protein and 22% oil on a dry weight basis. TN16‐520R1 has good resistance to lodging and good seed quality (1.8 and 1.6, respectively, on 1–5 scale), and a seed size of 11.8 g per 100 seed. Like Ellis, TN16‐520R1 has performed competitively throughout much of the mid‐South United States over several years, with testing occurring over a 6‐year period in 100 environments. Further, TN16‐520R1 is remarkably like the recurrent parent Ellis for yield, maturity, lodging, height, protein, and oil. Also, like Ellis, TN16‐520R1 is resistant to stem canker [caused by Diaporthe phaseolorum (Cooke & Ellis) Sacc. var. caulivora K.L. Athow & R.M. Caldwell] and southern root‐knot nematode [Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood] and has field tolerance to frogeye leafspot [caused by Cercospora sojina (Hara)]. This combination of beneficial traits and broad adaptability make TN16‐520R1 an excellent choice as a soybean cultivar for producers or a crossing parent for breeders.
Experimental and theoretical study on reactive oxygen and nitrogen species generation in plasma bubbles with ammonia solution
Authors: Deng Siqi , Xing Wenwu , Sato Takeru , Zen Shungo , Takeuchi Nozomi
Published: February 2024

Low‐temperature plasma‐assisted nitrogen fixation is a promising method for organic‐polluted soil/water remediation, that improves N‐fertilizer performance and mitigates ammonia emission. Our study explores a novel approach: plasma bubbles‐assisted ammonia treatment, and investigates the role played by various reactive substances in the oxidation of ammonia. The specific reaction pathways and the contribution of OH radicals in the ammonia oxidation process in O2 plasma treatment are determined. Air emerges as the optimal feed gas owing to a positive feedback loop in the reaction between NO2− and H2O2. Air plasma treatment enriches N in the ammonia solution and minimizes ammonia loss during treatment. This study offers new insights into an advanced plasma‐assisted ammonia treatment method.
Three‐dimensional path following control of underactuated autonomous underwater vehicles with nonzero roll dynamics: A novel line‐of‐sight‐guided approach
Authors: Zhang Yuwei , Li Shaoshi , Wang Weijie , Wang Shaoping , Mu Rui
Published: February 2024

Most existing path following control approaches for underactuated Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) assumed that the roll angle can be passively stabilized at zero, and simplified the problem to the 5‐degree‐of‐freedom model. However, in practice, the roll motion suffers from undesirable oscillations induced by environmental disturbances, unbalanced propeller torque, etc. To preserve the stability of the system under nonzero roll dynamics, this paper proposes a novel line‐of‐sight‐ (LOS) guided path following control approach. Firstly, the spatial path following error dynamics model is derived to comprehensively reveal the negative effect of roll dynamics. Secondly, an improved LOS guidance law is designed to compensate for the nonzero roll angle. A salient feature is that the proposed guidance law can be applied to the underwater vehicle no matter it is underactuated in the roll motion or not. Thirdly, by assigning the guidance angles to the desired attitude angles, a robust attitude tracking controller is developed, in which the adaptive estimation technique is employed to handle the lumped uncertainties. The tanh‐based saturation function is incorporated such that the resultant control signals are inherently bounded. The closed‐loop path following and attitude tracking errors are proved to be globally asymptotically stable at the origin. Comparative simulation results are provided to substantiate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method.
The impact of a multiple‐row Tamarix windbreak on grain size parameters of aeolian sand flux
Authors: Miri Abbas , Webb Nicholas P.
Published: February 2024

Understanding the effects of windbreaks on aeolian sediment transport rates, and the size distribution of aeolian sediments transported through them, is important for designing windbreaks to optimize their wind erosion mitigation benefits. This field study determines the size distribution of aeolian sediments upwind (x = −100 m), within (x = 100 and 256 m) and downwind (x = 448 and 560 m) (where x is the distance from the first row of windbreak) of a multi‐row Tamarix windbreak as the basis for further investigation of the influence of vegetation on aeolian sediment characteristics. The volumetric percentage of grains around the peaks of 100 and 20–30 µm showed variability with distance and between the three measured events. We found that the vertical distribution of grain size parameters indicated that mean grain size (Mz) may decrease with height upwind of the windbreak, and inflections were observed in the profiles of sorting (σ1), skewness (SK), and kurtosis (KG) within the windbreak, which may be attributable to blocking and trapping effect of the vegetation. Sediments were poorly sorted with the distributions of grain sizes being fine‐skewed and leptokurtic. The horizontal distribution of grain size indicated that Mz increased from x = −100 m to x = 100 m and then decreased at x = 256 m, indicating that the windbreak was unable to retain small particles. The windbreak could trap particle sizes <50 µm and particles >50 µm transported to downwind region of windbreak. Within the windbreak, SK and KG increased, and σ1 decreased. Downwind of the windbreak (at x = 448 and 560 m), Mz and KG increased, and σ1 and SK decreased. The results of the current study provide preliminary information on the variability of aeolian sediment grain sizes during transport relative to vegetation and suggest that multirow windbreaks could influence downwind particulate matter size concentrations and soil health.
Selective Capacitive Removal of Pb2+ from Wastewater over Biochar Electrodes by Zinc Regulation
Authors: Wu Yangfeng , Feng Haopeng , Tang Jing , Yang Zhenhao , Lan Chenrui , Guo Yuyao , Tang Lin
Published: February 2024

Biochar materials have shown great potential for broad catalytic application. However, using these materials in the capacitive deionization technology (CDI) system for heavy metal removal still faces a significant challenge due to their low specific capacity and removal capability. Here, a comprehensive regulation on the interfacial/bulk electrochemistry of biochar by Zn doping is reported, which suggests a high renewable capacity (20 mg g−1) and outstanding selective capacitive removal ability (SCR) of Pb2+ from leachate. The SCR efficiency of Pb2+ is as high as 99% compared to K+ (8%), Na+ (13%), and Cd2+ (37%). This work proves that the doped Zn on the biochar can combine with OH− generated by water splitting to form M─OH bonds, which is beneficial for improving the specific capacity. Significantly, the relationship between double‐layer capacitance and pseudo‐capacitance can also be optimized by regulating the content of Zn, leading to different removal abilities of heavy metals. Therefore, this work offers insights into charge‐storage kinetics, which provide valuable guidelines for designing and optimizing the biochar electrode for broader environmental applications.
Built‐In Electric Field Boosted Overall Water Electrolysis at Large Current Density for the Heterogeneous Ir/CoMoO4 Nanosheet Arrays
Authors: Chang Yanan , Lu Xuyun , Wang Shasha , Li Xiaoxuan , Yuan Zeyu , Bao Jianchun , Liu Ying
Published: February 2024

Advanced bifunctional electrocatalysts are essential for propelling overall water splitting (OWS) progress. Herein, relying on the obvious difference in the work function of Ir (5.44 eV) and CoMoO4 (4.03 eV) and the constructed built‐in electric field (BEF), an Ir/CoMoO4/NF heterogeneous catalyst, with ultrafine Ir nanoclusters (1.8 ± 0.2 nm) embedded in CoMoO4 nanosheet arrays on the surface of nickel foam skeleton, is reported. Impressively, the Ir/CoMoO4/NF shows remarkable electrocatalytic bifunctionality toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), especially at large current densities, requiring only 13 and 166 mV to deliver 10 and 1000 mA cm−2 for HER and 196 and 318 mV for OER. Furthermore, the Ir/CoMoO4/NF||Ir/CoMoO4/NF electrolyzer demands only 1.43 and 1.81 V to drive 10 and 1000 mA cm−2 for OWS. Systematical theoretical calculations and tests show that the formed BEF not only optimizes interfacial charge distribution and the Fermi level of both Ir and CoMoO4, but also reduces the Gibbs free energy (ΔGH*, from 0.25 to 0.03 eV) and activation energy (from 13.6 to 8.9 kJ mol−1) of HER, the energy barrier (from 3.47 to 1.56 eV) and activation energy (from 21.1 to 13.9 kJ mol−1) of OER, thereby contributing to the glorious electrocatalytic bifunctionality.
Visualization of Nanocrystallites in Organic Semiconducting Blends Using Cryo‐Electron Microscopy
Authors: Bothra Urvashi , Venugopal Hariprasad , Kabra Dinesh , McNeill Christopher R. , Liu Amelia C. Y.
Published: February 2024

The efficiency of an organic solar cell is highly dependent on the complex, interpenetrating morphology, and molecular order within the composite phases of the bulk heterojunction (BHJ) blend. Both these microstructural aspects are strongly influenced by the processing conditions and chemical design of donor/acceptor materials. To establish improved structure‐function relationships, it is vital to visualize the local microstructural order to provide specific local information about donor/acceptor interfaces and crystalline texture in BHJ blend films. The visualization of nanocrystallites, however, is difficult due to the complex semi‐crystalline structure with few characterization techniques capable of visualizing the molecular ordering of soft materials at the nanoscale. Here, it is demonstrated how cryo‐electron microscopy can be utilized to visualize local nanoscale order. This method is used to understand the distribution/orientation of crystallites in a BHJ blend. Long‐range (>300 nm) texturing of IEICO‐4F crystallites oriented in an edge‐on fashion is observed, which has not previously been observed for spin‐coated materials. This approach provides a wealth of quantitative information about the texture and size of nanocrystallites, which can be utilized to understand charge generation and transport in organic film. This study guides tailoring the material design and processing conditions for high‐performance organic optoelectronic devices.
Static and dynamic responses to hyperoxia of normal placenta across gestation with T2*‐weighted MRI sequences
Authors: Bartin R. , Melbourne A. , Bobet L. , Gauchard G. , Menneglier A. , Grevent D. , Bussieres L. , Siauve N. , Salomon L. J.
Published: February 2024

Objectives

T2*‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences have been identified as non‐invasive tools with which to study placental oxygenation in vivo. This study aimed to use these to investigate both static and dynamic responses to hyperoxia of the normal placenta across gestation.

Methods

We conducted a single‐center prospective study including 52 uncomplicated pregnancies. Two T2*‐weighted sequences (T2* relaxometry) were performed, one before and one after maternal hyperoxia. The distribution of placental T2* values was modeled by fitting a gamma probability density function (T2* ), describing the structure of the histogram using the mean T2* value, the shape parameter (α) and the rate (β). A dynamic acquisition (blood‐oxygen‐level‐dependent (BOLD) MRI) was also performed before and during maternal oxygen supply, until placental oxygen saturation had been achieved. The signal change over time was modeled using a sigmoid function, to determine the intensity of enhancement (ΔBOLD (% with respect to baseline)), a temporal variation coefficient (λ (min–1), controlling the slope of the curve) and the maximum steepness (Vmax (% of placental enhancement/min)).

Results

The histogram analysis of the T2* values in normoxia showed a whole‐placenta variation, with a decreasing linear trend in the mean T2* value (Pearson's correlation coefficient (R) = −0.83 (95% CI, −0.9 to −0.71), P < 0.001), along with an increasingly peaked and narrower distribution of T2* values with advancing gestation. After maternal hyperoxia, the mean T2* ratios (mean T2*hyperoxia/mean T2*baseline) were positively correlated with gestational age, while the other histogram parameters remained stable, suggesting a translation of the histogram towards higher values with a similar appearance after maternal hyperoxia. ΔBOLD showed a non‐linear increase across gestation. Conversely, λ showed an inverted trend across gestation, with a weaker correlation (R = −0.33 (95% CI, −0.58 to −0.02), P = 0.04, R2 = 0.1). As a combination of ΔBOLD and λ, the changes in Vmax throughout gestation were influenced mainly by the changes in ΔBOLD and showed a positive non‐linear correlation with gestational age.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the decrease in the T2* placental signal as gestation progresses does not reflect placental dysfunction. The BOLD dynamic signal change is representative of a free‐diffusion model of oxygenation and highlights the increasing differences in oxygen saturation between mother and fetus as gestation progresses (ΔBOLD) and in the placental permeability to oxygen (λ). © 2024 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Dalits and their territorial rights in India
Authors: Momen Md Nurul , Shahen Md Abu
Published: February 2024

A caste is one of the conventional four social strata into which Hindu society seperates its members. The scriptures from ancient India make reference to it. The four classes are the Brahmins (priestly people), the Kshatriyas (rulers, administrators, and warriors; also known as Rajanyas), the Vaishyas (artisans, merchants, businessmen, and farmers), and the Shudras are the lowest of the caste system (laboring classes). However, an individual of the lowest class in traditional Indian society falls outside of the Hindu caste system and is subject to severe social restrictions. This commentary is divided into three parts; the first part highlights the caste system, the second part examines the constitutional and legislative safeguards for them, and the third part illustrates the current social disparity of Dalits in India.
Thermal entry problem for a tube with prescribed heat flux condition using viscoplastic fluid: An extended Graetz problem for Casson fluid with axial conduction and viscous dissipation
Authors: Khan Muhammad Waris Saeed , Asghar Zeeshan , Shatanawi Wasfi , Gondal Muhammad Asif
Published: February 2024

This study explores the impact of axial conduction and viscous dissipation on heat transfer inside a tube by employing the Casson fluid model. A semianalytical approach is employed to handle the considered problem. The application of the separation of variable technique converts the heat equation into a set of ordinary differential equations. A built‐in function bvp4c in Matlab is adopted for numerical solutions in terms of eigenvalues and eigenfunctions. The obtained results are thoroughly discussed through pictorial representations. The finding shows that the Peclet and Brinkman numbers could not be ignored where an accurate temperature is essential for the final product. The both Peclet numbers and Brinkman numbers have a strong influence on the entrance temperature profile of the tube. In addition, the viscoplastic parameter raises the local Nusselt number in developing and fully developed regions of the tube. This analysis may be helpful in the advancement of thermal devices that are used to diagnose many diseases.
Curves in $$\mathbb {R}^n$$
Authors: Pinkall Ulrich , Gross Oliver
Published: February 2024

Differential Geometry studies smoothly curved shapes, called manifolds. One-dimensional shapes are called curves and two-dimensional shapes are called surfaces.
Willmore Surfaces
Authors: Pinkall Ulrich , Gross Oliver
Published: February 2024

The analog for a surface $$f\colon M\to \mathbb {R}^3$$
f
:
M
→

ℝ

3

of the bending energy $$\int _a^b\kappa ^2\,ds$$

∫

a

b

κ

2

d
s
is the Willmore functional$$W(f)=\int _M H^2\det $$
W
(
f
)
=

∫

M

H

2

det
.
Integration and Stokes’ Theorem
Authors: Pinkall Ulrich , Gross Oliver
Published: February 2024

For a curve $$\gamma \colon [a,b]\to \mathbb {R}^n$$
γ
:
[
a
,
b
]
→

ℝ

n

, global quantities like the length or the bending energy were defined as integrals over arclength of certain functions on $$[a,b]$$
[
a
,
b
]
.
Levi-Civita Connection
Authors: Pinkall Ulrich , Gross Oliver
Published: February 2024

The Levi-Civita connection of a surface $$f\colon M \to \mathbb {R}^3$$
f
:
M
→

ℝ

3

provides a geometrically meaningful way to take directional derivatives of a vector field Y  on M. Based on the Levi-Civita connection we derive two important equations that are satisfied by the curvature of a surface in $$\mathbb {R}^3$$

ℝ

3

: the Gauss equation and the Codazzi equation.
Structure and Functioning of China’s Dryland Ecosystems in a Changing Environment
Authors: Li Changjia , Fu Bojie , Wang Shuai , Stringer Lindsay C. , Zhou Wenxin , Lu Tong , Wu Xutong , Hu Rina , Ren Zhuobing
Published: February 2024

China has one of the largest dryland areas worldwide, covering 6.6 million km2 and supporting approximately 580 million people. Conflicting findings showing a drier China’s drylands with increasing aridity and observed greenness indicate the complexity of environmental processes, highlighting a pressing research need to improve understanding of how active dryland processes, ecosystem structure and functioning will alter. This chapter synthesizes the changes, impacts, and their drivers in China’s dryland ecosystems. Results from analyses covering the period 2000–2015 showed that 58.69% of the vegetated area exhibited an increase in vegetation greenness, cover, and productivity, while 4.29% of those showed a decrease in all three aspects. However, 37.02% of the vegetated area showed inconsistent trends in vegetation greenness, cover, and productivity, suggesting high uncertainty in estimations of vegetation dynamics in drylands. China’s drylands are nevertheless at risk of expansion and could pass an irreversible tipping point with increasing aridity, particularly in the country’s semi-arid regions. Nitrogen enrichment and overgrazing generally reduce plant species diversity. Wind erosion, water erosion, salinization, and freeze–thaw erosion are typical processes of desertification in China’s drylands. Large-scale ecological restoration projects enhance greening and ecosystem services of China’s drylands, but also impose substantial pressure on these water-limited environments. Future research is needed to examine interactions among different drivers of environmental change (e.g., the relationships between CO2 fertilization and increased aridity). Such research could usefully include complex systems approaches to link patterns and processes across spatial and time scales, and long-term experiments on physical‐chemical‐biological process interactions.
Dryland Dynamics in the Mediterranean Region
Authors: Zeng Hongwei , Wu Bingfang , Elnashar Abdelrazek , Fu Zhijun
Published: February 2024

Mediterranean drylands are rich in biodiversity and play an important role in global ecosystem sustainable management. This study summarizes the characteristics, dynamic change, and change drivers of Mediterranean drylands. The drylands showed strong spatial heterogeneity, hyperarid and arid regions were dominant in North Africa and West Asia, and semiarid and dry subhumid regions were widely distributed in European countries. Mediterranean dryland is experiencing a warming trend that would become stronger under representative concentration pathways (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5, which would increase the risk of land degradation and desertification. Arid North Africa and West Asia faced rapid population growth that put considerable pressure on food supply and water consumption. The conflicts among land, water, food, and the ecosystem intensified under the warming trend. The significant expansion of cropland and urbanization was widely observed in arid areas, such as Egypt, while the rotation of land reclamation, degradation, abandonment, and reclamation was observed in arid areas and caused large-scale cross-border migration. The Mediterranean region had low food self-sufficiency due to a booming population, and the crop structure of cash crops was dominant. The expansion of cropland also significantly increased the water consumption in the arid area of the Mediterranean region, and water consumption increased by 684.54 × 106 m3 from 2000 to 2020 in Egypt. More robust models and fine spatial resolution data should be developed for the sustainable development of Mediterranean drylands.
Zbtb16 increases susceptibility of atrial fibrillation in type 2 diabetic mice via Txnip-Trx2 signaling
Authors: Wei Zhi-Xing , Cai Xing-Xing , Fei Yu-Dong , Wang Qian , Hu Xiao-Liang , Li Cheng , Hou Jian-Wen , Yang Yu-Li , Chen Tai-Zhong , Xu Xiao-Lei , Wang Yue-Peng , Li Yi-Gang
Published: February 2024

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent sustained cardiac arrhythmia, and recent epidemiological studies suggested type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an independent risk factor for the development of AF. Zinc finger and BTB (broad-complex, tram-track and bric-a-brac) domain containing 16 (Zbtb16) serve as transcriptional factors to regulate many biological processes. However, the potential effects of Zbtb16 in AF under T2DM condition remain unclear. Here, we reported that db/db mice displayed higher AF vulnerability and Zbtb16 was identified as the most significantly enriched gene by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis in atrium. In addition, thioredoxin interacting protein (Txnip) was distinguished as the key downstream gene of Zbtb16 by Cleavage Under Targets and Tagmentation (CUT&Tag) assay. Mechanistically, increased Txnip combined with thioredoxin 2 (Trx2) in mitochondrion induced excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) release, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) overactivation, and spontaneous Ca2+ waves (SCWs) occurrence, which could be inhibited through atrial-specific knockdown (KD) of Zbtb16 or Txnip by adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) or Mito-TEMPO treatment. High glucose (HG)-treated HL-1 cells were used to mimic the setting of diabetic in vitro. Zbtb16-Txnip-Trx2 signaling-induced excess ROS release and CaMKII activation were also verified in HL-1 cells under HG condition. Furthermore, atrial-specific Zbtb16 or Txnip-KD reduced incidence and duration of AF in db/db mice. Altogether, we demonstrated that interrupting Zbtb16-Txnip-Trx2 signaling in atrium could decrease AF susceptibility via reducing ROS release and CaMKII activation in the setting of T2DM.

Graphical Abstract
FBP1 inhibits NSCLC stemness by promoting ubiquitination of Notch1 intracellular domain and accelerating degradation
Authors: He Tianyu , Wang Yanye , Lv Wang , Wang Yiqing , Li Xinye , Zhang Qingyi , Shen Han-Ming , Hu Jian
Published: February 2024

The existence of cancer stem cells is widely acknowledged as the underlying cause for the challenging curability and high relapse rates observed in various tumor types, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Despite extensive research on numerous therapeutic targets for NSCLC treatment, the strategies to effectively combat NSCLC stemness and achieve a definitive cure are still not well defined. The primary objective of this study was to examine the underlying mechanism through which Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 1 (FBP1), a gluconeogenic enzyme, functions as a tumor suppressor to regulate the stemness of NSCLC. Herein, we showed that overexpression of FBP1 led to a decrease in the proportion of CD133-positive cells, weakened tumorigenicity, and decreased expression of stemness factors. FBP1 inhibited the activation of Notch signaling, while it had no impact on the transcription level of Notch 1 intracellular domain (NICD1). Instead, FBP1 interacted with NICD1 and the E3 ubiquitin ligase FBXW7 to facilitate the degradation of NICD1 through the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway, which is independent of the metabolic enzymatic activity of FBP1. The aforementioned studies suggest that targeting the FBP1-FBXW7-NICD1 axis holds promise as a therapeutic approach for addressing the challenges of NSCLC recurrence and drug resistance.
FDA-approved disulfiram as a novel treatment for aggressive leukemia
Authors: Karsa Mawar , Xiao Lin , Ronca Emma , Bongers Angelika , Spurling Dayna , Karsa Ayu , Cantilena Sandra , Mariana Anna , Failes Tim W. , Arndt Greg M. , Cheung Laurence C. , Kotecha Rishi S. , Sutton Rosemary , Lock Richard B. , Williams Owen , de Boer Jasper , Haber Michelle , Norris Murray D. , Henderson Michelle J. , Somers Klaartje
Published: February 2024

Acute leukemia continues to be a major cause of death from disease worldwide and current chemotherapeutic agents are associated with significant morbidity in survivors. While better and safer treatments for acute leukemia are urgently needed, standard drug development pipelines are lengthy and drug repurposing therefore provides a promising approach. Our previous evaluation of FDA-approved drugs for their antileukemic activity identified disulfiram, used for the treatment of alcoholism, as a candidate hit compound. This study assessed the biological effects of disulfiram on leukemia cells and evaluated its potential as a treatment strategy. We found that disulfiram inhibits the viability of a diverse panel of acute lymphoblastic and myeloid leukemia cell lines (n = 16) and patient-derived xenograft cells from patients with poor outcome and treatment-resistant disease (n = 15). The drug induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in leukemia cells within hours of treatment and was able to potentiate the effects of daunorubicin, etoposide, topotecan, cytarabine, and mitoxantrone chemotherapy. Upon combining disulfiram with auranofin, a drug approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis that was previously shown to exert antileukemic effects, strong and consistent synergy was observed across a diverse panel of acute leukemia cell lines, the mechanism of which was based on enhanced ROS induction. Acute leukemia cells were more sensitive to the cytotoxic activity of disulfiram than solid cancer cell lines and non-malignant cells. While disulfiram is currently under investigation in clinical trials for solid cancers, this study provides evidence for the potential of disulfiram for acute leukemia treatment.

Key messages

Disulfiram induces rapid apoptosis in leukemia cells by boosting oxidative stress.

Disulfiram inhibits leukemia cell growth more potently than solid cancer cell growth.

Disulfiram can enhance the antileukemic efficacy of chemotherapies.

Disulfiram strongly synergises with auranofin in killing acute leukemia cells by ROS induction.

We propose testing of disulfiram in clinical trial for patients with acute leukemia.
Funktionelle Ergebnisse und Wiederaufnahme von Sport, Arbeit und Alltagsaktivitäten nach Revision eines Monoschlittens im Vergleich zur Primärimplantation eines Mono- und Doppelschlittens
Authors: Scheele Christian B. , Pietschmann Matthias F. , Wagner Thomas C. , Müller Peter E.
Published: February 2024

Hintergrund

Neben dem etablierten Doppelschlitten (bikondylärer Kniegelenksersatz [TKA]) hat sich, bei geeigneter Patientenselektion, der Monoschlitten (unikondylärer Kniegelenksersatz [UKA]) in der operativen Therapie der Gonarthrose bewährt. In klinischen Studien zeigt er überlegene funktionelle Ergebnisse bei geringeren Komplikationsraten. Im klinischen Alltag sind diese Vorteile, insbesondere bei jüngeren, sportlich und beruflich aktiven Patienten gegen den Nachteil einer erhöhten Revisionsrate abzuwiegen. Das Ergebnis einer ggf. früheren Revision erscheint hier relevant.

Fragestellung

Ziel dieser Studie war es, sowohl funktionelles Ergebnis als auch den Zeitraum bis zur Wiederaufnahme von Alltags-, beruflichen und sportlichen Aktivitäten nach Revision eines Mono- auf einen Doppelschlitten denen von primären Mono- und Doppelschlitten anhand einer Matched-Pair-Vergleichsanalyse gegenüberzustellen.

Methodik

Die Studie basierte auf einer Matched-Pair-Vergleichsanalyse zu zwei definierten Zeitpunkten und verglich stets 28 Patienten, die entweder die Revision eines Mono- auf einen Doppelschlitten, eine primäre Implantation eines Monoschlittens oder die eines Doppelschlittens erhielten. Die Patienten beantworteten im Rahmen eines standardisierten Follow-ups den Oxford Knee Score, den UCLA-Score, den Knee Society Score sowie den WOMAC-Score. Darüber hinaus wurden die postoperative Patientenzufriedenheit sowie die Wiederaufnahme von Alltags-, beruflichen und sportlichen Aktivitäten standardisiert erfasst und eine klinische Untersuchung durchgeführt.

Ergebnisse

Die vier untersuchten Funktions-Scores zeigten einen gemeinsamen Trend zugunsten der Monoschlitten, gefolgt von den primären Doppelschlitten und Revisionsdoppelschlitten. Die Unterschiede der Revisionsdoppelschlitten und der primären Doppelschlitten waren hierbei nicht signifikant. Allerdings lagen die Ergebnisse der konvertierten Monoschlitten 3,2 Jahre nach der letzten Operation signifikant unter denen der primären Monoschlitten. Die Rückkehr zur beruflichen und sportlichen Aktivität gelang nach Monoschlitten tendenziell am frühesten, gefolgt von Doppelschlitten und Revisionsgruppe. In allen Gruppen zeigte sich ein Trend zur Durchführung sog. Low-Impact-Sportarten.

Diskussion

Die funktionellen Ergebnisse eines konvertierten Monoschlittens zeigen sich denen der Primärimplantation auf Basis des 3‑Jahres-Follow-ups signifikant unterlegen. Die Rückkehr in Beruf, Sport und Alltag dauerte nach Revision tendenziell länger als nach Primärimplantation eines Mono- oder Doppelschlittens.
Family-oriented versus career seekers: mixture regression separation
Authors: Delsalle Lara , Birulin Oleksii
Published: February 2024

Using a finite mixture regression approach, we identify two groups of individuals, family- and career-oriented. Depending on whether the employment status is treated as a binomial or trinomial (with part-time work) variable, 55–70% of women and 4–10% of men belong to the family-oriented group. Children variables are the main source of differences between the two identified groups and between the family-oriented group and the average woman. Treating all women as one group leads to averaged-out estimates of children effects and underestimates the importance of part-time work for family-oriented women. Our results are important for studying women’s labour supply and for designing policies aimed at encouraging women’s labour market involvement.
A green-footprint approach for parallel multiclass analysis of contaminants in roasted coffee via LC-HRMS
Authors: España Amórtegui Julio César , Ekroth Susanne , Pekar Heidi , Guerrero Dallos Jairo Arturo
Published: February 2024

The development and validation of a simple, comprehensive, and environment-friendly procedure to determine pesticide residues, naturally occurring and processing contaminants in roasted coffee is presented. A solid-liquid extraction of pesticides and mycotoxins with ethyl acetate and the concurrent partition of acrylamide to an aqueous phase follows a parallel analytical strategy that requires a single analytical portion to determine contaminants that are typically analyzed by dedicated single residue methods. The partition rules the lipids out of the aqueous extract before an “in-tube” dispersive solid phase microextraction (dSPME) for acrylamide retention. This is followed by the elution with buffer prior to injection. This extract is independently introduced into the system front end followed by the injection of the compounds from the organic phase, yet all spotted in the same run. A novel liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) method setup enables the quantification of 186 compounds at 10 µg/kg, 226 at 5 µg/kg, and the acrylamide at 200 µg/kg for a total of 414 molecules, with acceptable recoveries (70–120%) and precision (RSD < 20%) making this strategy significantly faster and cost-effective than the dedicated single residue methods. Even though the presence of chlorpyrifos, acrylamide, and ochratoxin A was confirmed on samples of different origins, the findings were below the limit of quantification. During the storage of raw coffee, no proof of masking of OTA was found; however, condensation with glucose was evidenced during thermal processing experiments with sucrose by using stable isotope labeling (SIL). No detected conjugates were found in roasted nor in commercial sugar-added torrefacto samples, an industrial processing usually carried out above the decomposition temperature of the disaccharide.

Graphical abstract
Targeting monoamine oxidase A: a strategy for inhibiting tumor growth with both immune checkpoint inhibitors and immune modulators
Authors: Ma Yifan , Chen Hanmu , Li Hui , Zhao Zhite , An Qingling , Shi Changhong
Published: February 2024

Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) is a membrane-bound mitochondrial enzyme present in almost all vertebrate tissues that catalyzes the degradation of biogenic and dietary-derived monoamines. MAOA is known for regulating neurotransmitter metabolism and has been implicated in antitumor immune responses. In this review, we retrospect that MAOA inhibits the activities of various types of tumor-associated immune cells (such as CD8+ T cells and tumor-associated macrophages) by regulating their intracellular monoamines and metabolites. Developing novel MAOA inhibitor drugs and exploring multidrug combination strategies may enhance the efficacy of immune governance. Thus, MAOA may act as a novel immune checkpoint or immunomodulator by influencing the efficacy and effectiveness of immunotherapy. In conclusion, MAOA is a promising immune target that merits further in-depth exploration in preclinical and clinical settings.