bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Foraging rates from metabarcoding: Predators have reduced functional responses in wild, diverse prey communities
Authors: Uiterwaal Stella F. , DeLong John P.
Published: March 2024

Functional responses describe foraging rates across prey densities and underlie many fundamental ecological processes. Most functional response knowledge comes from simplified lab experiments, but we do not know whether these experiments accurately represent foraging in nature. In addition, the difficulty of conducting multispecies functional response experiments means that it is unclear whether interaction strengths are weakened in the presence of multiple prey types. We developed a novel method to estimate wild predators' foraging rates from metabarcoding data and use this method to present functional responses for wild wolf spiders foraging on 27 prey families. These field functional responses were considerably reduced compared to lab functional responses. We further find that foraging is sometimes increased in the presence of other prey types, contrary to expectations. Our novel method for estimating field foraging rates will allow researchers to determine functional responses for wild predators and address long‐standing questions about foraging in nature.
Natural products of plant origin: an emerging therapeutic for dermatomycosis
Authors: Biswas Mangal C. , Mukherjee Khushi , Ghosh Sandipta , Roy‐Chowdhury Moytri , Acharya Krishnendu
Published: March 2024

Dermatomycosis or superficial mycosis is considered one of the chronic fungal infections and a global challenge for the public health system. The severity of dermatomycosis is proportionately increasing with the emerging population of immunocompromised individuals, and it is becoming more prevalent, even life‐threatening, in several tropical countries. In this context, improper long‐term treatment with synthetic antifungal drugs and their related side effects imposes additional challenges in treating dermatomycosis. Thus, the present scenario highlights the need for a novel and accurate treatment with minimal or no side effects. The multifaceted therapeutic properties of various natural products have garnered the interest of scientific communities in recent years. Generally, plant‐based products have low toxicity levels and offer diverse formulations and unique biomolecules for clinical applicability against dermatomycosis. Thus, this study presents an overview of the pathogenesis and different treatment strategies for dermatomycosis. In addition, we highlight the implementation of natural products of plant origin for treating dermatomycosis infections and reducing adverse events. Further, their mode of action and role in the development of pharmaceutical drugs are discussed.
Production of resistant starch type 3 from cassava starch with high shear mixing and centrifugation treatment to increase its total dietary fibre content
Authors: Fatimah Siti , Hafied Marisa Asrietd , Indiasih Putu Ayu Yuliani , Airlangga Bramantyo , Minah Faidliyah Nilna , Hudha Mohammad Istnaeny , Sumarno Sumarno
Published: March 2024

Cassava starch has a big potential to be a source material for producing low‐calorie starch by converting it to resistant starch. However, its original structure can prevent retrogradation of the amylose fraction to produce resistant starch so that reduce the total dietary fibre value. In this research, high shear mixing (HSM) is used to assist the gelatinisation process to provide disintegration of the cassava starch structure. Centrifugation was carried out to separate the top layers which have a high content of free amylose resulting in better retrogradation. The starch–water suspension was processed using HSM at a rotational speed of 9000–12 000 at 95 °C for 15 min. Then, the starch suspension was separated by centrifugation for 30 min. The product was then analysed using total dietary fibre (TDF), component carbohydrate analysis, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and x‐ray diffraction (XRD). From the analysis results, this method can increase the TDF content of the product up to 14.66% at 12 000 rpm.
Ventricular arrhythmias in patients with bicuspid aortic valves
Authors: Ghannam Michael , Kovacs Boldizsar , Liang Jackson , Attili Anil , Cochet Hubert , Latchamsetty Rakesh , Jongnarangsin Krit , Morady Fred , Bogun Frank
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Bicuspid aortic valves (BAV) are the most common congenital heart defects and the extent of ventricular arrhythmias (VA) in patients with BAV is unclear. The objective of this study is to describe VAs and late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (LGE‐CMR) in patients with BAV.

Methods

A total of 19 patients with BAV (18 males, age: 58 ± 13 years) were referred for VA ablation procedures. Ten patients had BAVs at the time of ablation, nine patients had prior aortic valve replacement for a BAV. All but one patient had LGE‐CMR and all patients underwent programmed ventricular stimulation at the time of the ablation.

Results

Frequent PVCs were the targeted VAs in 17/19 patients and VT in 2/19 patients. Monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) was inducible in 6 patients. A total of 15 VTs were inducible (2.5 ± 1.0 VTs per patient with a mean cycle length of 322 ± 83 msec). LGE was present in 13 patients. Patients with inducible VT had larger borderzone and core scar compared to non‐inducible patients (7.8 ± 2.1 cm3 vs. 2.5 ± 3.1 cm3 and 5.1 ± 2.6 cm3 vs. 1.9 ± 3.0 cm3, p‐value < .05 for both). PVCs and VTs were mapped to the periaortic valve area in 12 patients and 4 patients, respectively. The PVC burden was reduced from 27 ± 13 to 3 ± 6 (p < .001) and the ejection fraction improved from 49 ± 13% to 55 ± 9% (p = .005).

Conclusions

VAs in patients with BAV often originate from the perivalvular area and patients often have LGE and inducible VT. LGE may be due to ventricular remodeling secondary to the presence of BAV and harbors the arrhythmogenic substrate for VT.
Immune patterns of cuproptosis in ischemic heart failure: A transcriptome analysis
Authors: Chen Zhebin , Zhu Yunhui , Chen Songzan , Li Zhengwei , Fu Guosheng , Wang Yao
Published: March 2024

Cuproptosis is a recently discovered programmed cell death pattern that affects the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle by disrupting the lipoylation of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex components. However, the role of cuproptosis in the progression of ischemic heart failure (IHF) has not been investigated. In this study, we investigated the expression of 10 cuproptosis‐related genes in samples from both healthy individuals and those with IHF. Utilizing these differential gene expressions, we developed a risk prediction model that effectively distinguished healthy and IHF samples. Furthermore, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the association between cuproptosis and the immune microenvironment in IHF, encompassing infiltrated immunocytes, immune reaction gene‐sets and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes. Moreover, we identified two different cuproptosis‐mediated expression patterns in IHF and explored the immune characteristics associated with each pattern. In conclusion, this study elucidates the significant influence of cuproptosis on the immune microenvironment in ischemic heart failure (IHF), providing valuable insights for future mechanistic research exploring the association between cuproptosis and IHF.
Necroptosis pathway emerged as potential diagnosis markers in spinal cord injury
Authors: Liu Jingcheng , Cao Jiang , Yu Xiao , Chang Jie , Sui Tao , Cao Xiaojian
Published: March 2024

The present research focused on identifying necroptosis‐related differentially expressed genes (NRDEGs) in spinal cord injury (SCI) to highlight potential therapeutic and prognostic target genes in clinical SCI. Three SCI‐related datasets were downloaded, including GSE151371, GSE5296 and GSE47681. MSigDB and KEGG datasets were searched for necroptosis‐related genes (NRGs). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and NRGs were intersected to obtain NRDEGs. The MCC algorithm was employed to select the first 10 genes as hub genes. A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network related to NRDEGs was developed utilizing STRING. Several databases were searched to predict interactions between hub genes and miRNAs, transcription factors, potential drugs, and small molecules. Immunoassays were performed to identify DEGs using CIBERSORTx. Additionally, qRT‐PCR was carried out to verify NRDEGs in an animal model of SCI. Combined analysis of all datasets identified 15 co‐expressed DEGs and NRGs. GO and KEGG pathway analyses highlighted DEGs mostly belonged to pathways associated with necroptosis and apoptosis. Hub gene expression analysis showed high accuracy in SCI diagnosis was associated with the expression of CHMP7 and FADD. A total of two hub genes, i.e. CHMP7, FADD, were considered potential targets for SCI therapy.
ICA/SDF‐1α/PBMSCs loaded onto alginate and gelatin cross‐linked scaffolds promote damaged cartilage repair
Authors: Wang Pengzhen , Zhu Pingping , Yin Wenhui , Wu Jian , Zhang Shaoheng
Published: March 2024

A three‐dimensional alginate‐coated scaffold (GAIS) was constructed in the present study to showcase the multidifferentiation potential of peripheral blood mesenchymal stem cells (PBMSCs) and to investigate the role and mechanism by which Icariin (ICA)/stromal cell‐derived factor (SDF‐1α)/PBMSCs promote damaged articular repair. In addition, the ability of ICA, in combination with SDF‐1α, to promote the migration and proliferation of stem cells was validated through the utilization of CCK‐8 and migration experiments. The combination of ICA and SDF‐1α inhibited the differentiation of PBMSCs into cartilage, as demonstrated by in vivo experiments and histological staining. Both PCR and western blot experiments showed that GAIS could upregulate the expression of particular genes in chondrocytes. In comparison to scaffolds devoid of alginate (G0), PBMSCs seeded into GAIS scaffolds exhibited a greater rate of proliferation, and the conditioned medium derived from scaffolds containing SDF‐1α enhanced the capacity for cell migration. Moreover, after a 12‐week treatment period, GAIS, when successfully transplanted into osteochondral defects of mice, was found to promote cartilage regeneration and repair. The findings, therefore, demonstrate that GAIS enhanced the in vitro capabilities of PBMSCs, including proliferation, migration, homing and chondrogenic differentiation. In addition, ICA and SDF‐1α effectively collaborated to support cartilage formation in vivo. Thus, the ICA/SDF‐1α/PBMSC‐loaded biodegradable alginate‐gelatin scaffolds showcase considerable potential for use in cartilage repair.
FLRT3 and TGF‐β/SMAD4 signalling: Impacts on apoptosis, autophagy and ion channels in supraventricular tachycardia
Authors: Pang Yang , Xu Ye , Chen Qingxing , Cheng Kuan , Ling Yunlong , Jang Jun , Ge Junbo , Zhu Wenqing
Published: March 2024

To explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), this study aimed to analyse the complex relationship between FLRT3 and TGF‐β/SMAD4 signalling pathway, which affects Na+ and K+ channels in cardiomyocytes. Bioinformatics analysis was performed on 85 SVT samples and 15 healthy controls to screen overlapping genes from the key module and differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Expression profiling of overlapping genes, coupled with Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analyses, identified FLRT3 as a hub gene. In vitro studies utilizing Ang II‐stimulated H9C2 cardiomyocytes were undertaken to elucidate the consequences of FLRT3 silencing on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and autophagic processes. Utilizing a combination of techniques such as quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR), western blotting (WB), flow cytometry, dual‐luciferase reporter assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation polymerase chain reaction (ChIP‐PCR) assays were conducted to decipher the intricate interactions between FLRT3, the TGF‐β/SMAD4 signalling cascade and ion channel gene expression. Six genes (AADAC, DSC3, FLRT3, SYT4, PRR9 and SERTM1) demonstrated reduced expression in SVT samples, each possessing significant clinical diagnostic potential. In H9C2 cardiomyocytes, FLRT3 silencing mitigated Ang II‐induced apoptosis and modulated autophagy. With increasing TGF‐β concentration, there was a dose‐responsive decline in FLRT3 and SCN5A expression, while both KCNIP2 and KCND2 expressions were augmented. Moreover, a direct interaction between FLRT3 and SMAD4 was observed, and inhibition of SMAD4 expression resulted in increased FLRT3 expression. Our results demonstrated that the TGF‐β/SMAD4 signalling pathway plays a critical role by regulating FLRT3 expression, with potential implications for ion channel function in SVT.
HBI‐8000 improves heart failure with preserved ejection fraction via the TGF‐β1/MAPK signalling pathway
Authors: Tian Jing , Li Wenjing , Zeng Lu , Li Yang , Du Jiamin , Li Ying , Li Bin , Su Guohai
Published: March 2024

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) accounts for approximately 50% of total heart failure patients and is characterized by peripheral circulation, cardiac remodelling and comorbidities (such as advanced age, obesity, hypertension and diabetes) with limited treatment options. Chidamide (HBI‐8000) is a domestically produced benzamide‐based histone deacetylase isoform‐selective inhibitor used for the treatment of relapsed refractory peripheral T‐cell lymphomas. Based on our in vivo studies, we propose that HBI‐8000 exerts its therapeutic effects by inhibiting myocardial fibrosis and myocardial hypertrophy in HFpEF patients. At the cellular level, we found that HBI‐8000 inhibits AngII‐induced proliferation and activation of CFs and downregulates the expression of fibrosis‐related factors. In addition, we observed that the HFpEF group and AngII stimulation significantly increased the expression of TGF‐β1 as well as phosphorylated p38MAPK, JNK and ERK, whereas the expression of the above factors was significantly reduced after HBI‐8000 treatment. Activation of the TGF‐β1/MAPK pathway promotes the development of fibrotic remodelling, and pretreatment with SB203580 (p38MAPK inhibitor) reverses this pathological change. In conclusion, our data suggest that HBI‐8000 inhibits fibrosis by modulating the TGF‐β1/MAPK pathway thereby improving HFpEF. Therefore, HBI‐8000 may become a new hope for the treatment of HFpEF patients.
Electroacupuncture suppresses neuronal ferroptosis to relieve chronic neuropathic pain
Authors: Xue Chunchun , Kui Wenyun , Huang Aiping , Li Yanan , Li Lingxing , Gu Zhen , Xie Lei , Kong Shuyi , Yu Jun , Ruan Hongfeng , Wang Kaiqiang
Published: March 2024

Growing evidence supports the analgesic efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) in managing chronic neuropathic pain (NP) in both patients and NP models induced by peripheral nerve injury. However, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Ferroptosis, a novel form of programmed cell death, has been found to be activated during NP development, while EA has shown potential in promoting neurological recovery following acute cerebral injury by targeting ferroptosis. In this study, to investigate the detailed mechanism underlying EA intervention on NP, male Sprague‐Dawley rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI)‐induced NP model received EA treatment at acupoints ST36 and GV20 for 14 days. Results demonstrated that EA effectively attenuated CCI‐induced pain hypersensitivity and mitigated neuron damage and loss in the spinal cord of NP rats. Moreover, EA reversed the oxidative stress‐mediated spinal ferroptosis phenotype by upregulating reduced expression of xCT, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), ferritin heavy chain (FTH1) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, and downregulating increased expression of acyl‐CoA synthetase long‐chain family member 4 (ACSL4), malondialdehyde levels and iron overload. Furthermore, EA increased the immunofluorescence co‐staining of GPX4 in neurons cells of the spinal cord of CCI rats. Mechanistic analysis unveiled that the inhibition of antioxidant pathway of Nrf2 signalling via its specific inhibitor, ML385, significantly countered EA's protective effect against neuronal ferroptosis in NP rats while marginally diminishing its analgesic effect. These findings suggest that EA treatment at acupoints ST36 and GV20 may protect against NP by inhibiting neuronal ferroptosis in the spinal cord, partially through the activation of Nrf2 signalling.
Deficiency of heme oxygenase 1a causes detrimental effects on cardiac function
Authors: Wang Hong , Siren Juuso , Perttunen Sanni , Immonen Katariina , Chen Yu‐Chia , Narumanchi Suneeta , Kosonen Riikka , Paavola Jere , Laine Mika , Tikkanen Ilkka , Lakkisto Päivi
Published: March 2024

Humans lacking heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) display growth retardation, haemolytic anaemia, and vulnerability to stress; however, cardiac function remains unclear. We aimed to explore the cardiac function of zebrafish lacking hmox1a at baseline and in response to stress. We generated zebrafish hmox1a mutants using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology. Deletion of hmox1a increases cardiac output and further induces hypertrophy in adults. Adults lacking hmox1a develop myocardial interstitial fibrosis, restrain cardiomyocyte proliferation and downregulate renal haemoglobin and cardiac antioxidative genes. Larvae lacking hmox1a fail to respond to hypoxia, whereas adults are insensitive to isoproterenol stimulation in the heart, suggesting that hmox1a is necessary for cardiac response to stress. Haplodeficiency of hmox1a stimulates non‐mitochondrial respiration and cardiac cell proliferation, increases cardiac output in larvae in response to hypoxia, and deteriorates cardiac function and structure in adults upon isoproterenol treatment. Intriguingly, haplodeficiency of hmox1a upregulates cardiac hmox1a and hmox1b in response to isoproterenol. Collectively, deletion of hmox1a results in cardiac remodelling and abrogates cardiac response to hypoxia and isoproterenol. Haplodeficiency of hmox1a aggravates cardiac response to the stress, which could be associated with the upregulation of hmox1a and hmox1b. Our data suggests that HMOX1 homeostasis is essential for maintaining cardiac function and promoting cardioprotective effects.
Geographic network effects in a circular economy: A field data analysis of reusable packaging services
Authors: Ratay Christoph , Barthel Fabian , Mohnen Alwine
Published: March 2024

Product–service systems (PSS) have the potential to align businesses’ financial incentives with environmental objectives. Conceptual and qualitative research on non‐ownership consumption suggests that such offerings benefit from dense local networks, which motivate system adoption and use. However, geographic network effects and their magnitude have not been examined with field data capturing revealed behavior. This paper leverages a large field dataset from a system for reusable take‐out food containers to evaluate the effect of increased geographic network density of participating restaurants on (a) the acquisition of new users and (b) the frequency of system use. Based on fixed effects Poisson panel models, this paper finds statistically significant and practically meaningful positive effects of increased geographic network density on acquiring new users. Notably, marginal effects of increased geographic network density on user acquisition diminish as networks get denser. In terms of frequency of use, no significant effects of geographic network density are identified. These results contribute to the literature on non‐ownership consumption by presenting nuanced field evidence of indirect, cross‐side network effects in PSS. Furthermore, findings encourage businesses and policymakers to promote PSS with dense local networks.
Exploring the relationship between AM‐PAC scores and mobility components in falls and pressure injury risk assessment tools: A pathway to improve nursing clinical efficiency
Authors: Stenum Jan , McLaughlin Kevin , Collector Ioannis , Funk Karli , Vincent Lydia , Young Daniel , Hendrich Ann , Hoyer Erik H.
Published: March 2024

Background

Nurses routinely perform multiple risk assessments related to patient mobility in the hospital. Use of a single mobility assessment for multiple risk assessment tools could improve clinical documentation efficiency, accuracy and lay the groundwork for automated risk evaluation tools.

Purpose

We tested how accurately Activity Measure for Post‐Acute Care (AM‐PAC) mobility scores predicted the mobility components of various fall and pressure injury risk assessment tools.

Method

AM‐PAC scores along with mobility and physical activity components on risk assessments (Braden Scale, Get Up and Go used within the Hendrich II Fall Risk Model®, Johns Hopkins Fall Risk Assessment Tool (JHFRAT) and Morse Fall Scale) were collected on a cohort of hospitalised patients. We predicted scores of risk assessments based on AM‐PAC scores by fitting of ordinal logistic regressions between AM‐PAC scores and risk assessments. STROBE checklist was used to report the present study.

Findings

AM‐PAC scores predicted the observed mobility components of Braden, Get Up and Go and JHFRAT with high accuracy (≥85%), but with lower accuracy for the Morse Fall Scale (40%).

Discussion

These findings suggest that a single mobility assessment has the potential to be a good solution for the mobility components of several fall and pressure injury risk assessments.
Within‐city roads and urban growth
Authors: Brandily P. , Rauch F.
Published: March 2024

In this paper we study the role of within‐city roads layout in fostering city growth. Within‐city roads networks have not been studied extensively in economics although they are essential to facilitate human interactions, which are at the core of agglomeration economies. We build and compute several simple measures of roads network and construct a sample of over 1800 cities and towns from Sub‐Saharan Africa. Using a simple econometric model and two instrumental variable strategies based on the history of African cities, we then estimate the causal impact of within‐city roads layout on urban growth. We find that over the recent decades, cities with greater road density and road evenness in the centre grew faster.
A raceless legal psychology in a system marked by race
Authors: Gonzales Rubí M. , Plaut Victoria C.
Published: March 2024

Despite the fact that evidence of racial inequality in the U.S. criminal legal system has become overwhelming, the field of legal psychology has largely ignored issues of race and systemic racism. Although legal psychology focuses on a system that has disproportionately affected certain racial groups, and much of the field questions the fairness of the system, its research seems to rarely take a critical approach to account for racial and systemic factors that may shape an individual's psychological experience. The purpose of this article is, therefore, to analyze the lack of attention to race and racism in legal psychology, document the extent to which the field has historically attended to issues of race and systemic racism, and provide best practices for future research to embrace a critical race legal psychology. To document inattention to race and systemic racism, we query, code, and analyze all articles published in two of legal psychology's most influential journals (Law and Human Behavior and Psychology, Public Policy, and Law), finding, indeed, a dearth of articles on these topics.
Hospital usage for oral and dental conditions in Hawaii: A cross‐sectional study using the 2021 Hawaii statewide hospital data
Authors: Matsunaga Masako , Donnelly Patrick , Chen John J.
Published: March 2024

Objective

To investigate the frequency of emergency department (ED) usage primarily for oral/dental conditions in Hawaii and to examine social‐demographic factors associated with the identified ED visits.

Methods

This was a cross‐sectional study of the 2021 Hawaii Statewide Hospital data. We identified records indicating ED usage and a primary diagnosis of non‐traumatic dental conditions (NTDC) and other oral dental conditions (OODC). Descriptive analyses of ED visits for NTDC and OODC were performed to identify vulnerable individuals based on age, sex, race/ethnicity, primary source of payment, county of residence, and total charges per hospital record. A multivariable negative binomial regression model included age, sex, and county of residence was used to obtain adjusted rate ratios (aRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of ED visits for NTDC.

Results

Among hospital records with diagnoses for oral or dental conditions (n = 12,336), 97% indicated ED, of which half had an NTDC diagnosis, and the remaining half had an OODC diagnosis. Distinct differences in the characteristics of ED visits were observed between NTDC and OODC. The median total charges per record indicating ED for NTDC and OODC were $1439 and $2439, respectively. A higher rate of ED visits for NTDC was found for those aged 21–44 (aRR [95%CI] = 3.02 [2.41, 3.80], reference: 0–9 years) and those living in a less populous county (Hawaii: 1.73 [1.43, 2.07]; Kauai: 1.78 [1.45, 2.19], reference: Honolulu).

Conclusions

Continued effort to improve dental health is required to reduce ED visits for oral and dental conditions among Hawaii residents, especially for vulnerable individuals.
Thing causation
Authors: Baron‐Schmitt Nathaniel
Published: March 2024

According to orthodoxy, the most fundamental kind of causation involves one event causing another event. I argue against this event‐causal view. Instead, the most fundamental kind of causation is thing causation, which involves a thing causing a thing to do something. Event causation is reducible to thing causation, but thing causation is not reducible to event causation, because event causation cannot accommodate cases of fine‐grained causation. I defend my view from objections, including C. D. Broad's influential “timing” argument, and I conclude with implications for agent‐causal theories of free will.
Exploring the molecular regulation of vernalization‐induced flowering synchrony in Arabidopsis
Authors: Huang Po‐Kai , Schmitt Johanna , Runcie Daniel E.
Published: March 2024

Many plant populations exhibit synchronous flowering, which can be advantageous in plant reproduction. However, molecular mechanisms underlying flowering synchrony remain poorly understood. We studied the role of known vernalization‐response and flower‐promoting pathways in facilitating synchronized flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Using the vernalization‐responsive Col‐FRI genotype, we experimentally varied germination dates and daylength among individuals to test flowering synchrony in field and controlled environments. We assessed the activity of flowering regulation pathways by measuring gene expression across leaves produced at different time points during development and through a mutant analysis.

We observed flowering synchrony across germination cohorts in both environments and discovered a previously unknown process where flower‐promoting and repressing signals are differentially regulated between leaves that developed under different environmental conditions. We hypothesized this mechanism may underlie synchronization. However, our experiments demonstrated that signals originating from sources other than leaves must also play a pivotal role in synchronizing flowering time, especially in germination cohorts with prolonged growth before vernalization.

Our results suggest flowering synchrony is promoted by a plant‐wide integration of flowering signals across leaves and among organs. To summarize our findings, we propose a new conceptual model of vernalization‐induced flowering synchrony and provide suggestions for future research in this field.
Adaptation of the Australian National University Alzheimer's Disease Risk Index‐Short Form (ANU‐ADRI‐SF) into Turkish
Authors: Bayram Serap , Akkaş Özlem Altınbaş
Published: March 2024

Background

The ‘Australian National University Alzheimer's Disease Risk Index’ (ANU‐ADRI) assesses the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is a potential tool for its prevention.

Objectives

The aim of this study is to adapt the ANU‐ADRI‐SF (the short version of ANU‐ADRI) into the Turkish language and Turkish cultural context.

Methods

The study was methodological and involved the translation and intercultural adaptation of the ANU‐ADRI‐SF into the Turkish language. The study included 384 community‐based participants from a province in the Western Black Sea Region of Türkiye. Data was collected via an online form prepared using Google Forms.

Results

The index was translated from its original language, English, into Turkish and then retranslated to English by bilingual translators. It was then reviewed and evaluated for possible issues related to translation and degrees of equivalence. When TR‐ANU‐ADRI‐SF levels were compared according to sex, the mean risk scores were found to be 11.25 ± 7.02 for males and 11.69 ± 7.99 for females. After cross‐cultural adaptation, the TR‐ANU‐ADRI‐SF was conceptually intelligible to Turkish adults.

Conclusions

The TR‐ANU‐ADRI‐SF is a valid and reliable AD risk assessment tool.

Implications for practice

Given the increase in AD and its impact on people's health, there is a great need for strategies to be implemented by health professionals to improve the lifestyle of the adult population. For use in conjunction with these strategies, a localised AD risk assessment tool that can be applied by clinicians or by individual patients has been adapted and introduced to the Turkish literature.
Methyl jasmonate inducible UGT79A18 is a novel glycosyltransferase involved in the bacoside biosynthetic pathway in Bacopa monnieri
Authors: Kumar Sunil , Singh Neeti , Lahane Vaibhavi , Tripathi Vineeta , Yadav Akhilesh Kumar , Shukla Rakesh Kumar
Published: March 2024

Bacosides are dammarane‐type triterpenoidal saponins in Bacopa monnieri and have various pharmacological applications. All the bacosides are diversified from two isomers, i.e., jujubogenin and pseudojujubogenin. The biosynthetic pathway of bacoside is not well elucidated. In the present study, we characterized a UDP‐glycosyltransferase, UGT79A18, involved in the glycosylation of pseudojujubogenin. UGT79A18 shows higher expression in response to 5 h of wounding, and 3 h of MeJA treatment. The recombinant UGT79A18 shows in vitro activity against a wide range of flavonoids and triterpenes and has a substrate preference for protopanaxadiol, a dammarane‐type triterpene. Secondary metabolite analysis of overexpression and knockdown lines of UGT79A18 in B. monnieri identify bacopasaponin D, bacopaside II, bacopaside N2 and pseudojujubogenin glucosyl rhamnoside as the major bacosides that were differentially accumulated. In the overexpression lines of UGT79A18, we found 1.7‐fold enhanced bacopaside II, 8‐fold enhanced bacopasaponin D, 3‐fold enhanced pseudojujubogenin glucosyl rhamnoside, and 1.6‐fold enhanced bacopaside N2 content in comparison with vector control plant, whereas in the knockdown lines of UGT79A18, we found 1.4‐fold reduction in bacopaside II content, 3‐fold reduction in the bacopasaponin D content, 2‐fold reduction in the pseudojujubogenin glucosyl rhamnoside content, and 1.5‐fold reduction in bacopaside N2 content in comparison with vector control. These results suggest that UGT79A18 is a significant UDP glycosyltransferase involved in glycosylating pseudojujubogenin and enhancing the pseudojujubogenin‐derived bacosides.
Looking beyond the workplace: Trade unions and the politics of poverty in Italy
Authors: Cigna Luca , Fabris Bianca Luna
Published: March 2024

There is ample literature to suggest that labour's interests are at odds with the extension of income protection to ‘outsiders’. Until recently, Italian unions were reluctant, if not outright obstructive, towards the introduction of a minimum income scheme (MIS). After the 2008 financial crisis and its dramatic social and economic consequences, however, the three major labour confederations supported the introduction of a national MIS, openly embracing the fight against income insecurity. Why did trade unions overturn their conservative approach and eventually support social assistance safety nets? Drawing upon textual evidence and semi‐structured interviews, the paper suggests that the Italian labour movement, albeit with differences among the confederations, has radically changed its preferences towards social assistance. Unions gradually shifted from a ‘deservingness’ logic (championing ‘hard work’) to one of reservation wage (the ‘we are all in the same boat’ narrative). Weaknesses in labour market peripheries have encouraged the labour movement to defend those at risk of poverty. The Italian case has wider implications for actors' preferences and roles in welfare reform, showing that structural and strategic factors may encourage labour to join coalitions that support welfare ‘de‐dualisation’ pathways.
Quality of life and cost‐effectiveness of convalescent plasma compared to standard care for hospitalized COVID‐19 patients in the CONCOR‐1 trial
Authors: Tse Preston , Yan Jiajun , Liu Yang , Jamula Erin , Heddle Nancy , Bazin Renée , Robitaille Nancy , Cook Richard , Turgeon Alexis , Fergusson Dean , Glesby Marshall , Loftsgard Kent Cadogan , Cushing Melissa , Chassé Michaël , Daneman Nick , Finzi Andrés , Sachais Bruce , Bégin Philippe , Callum Jeannie , Arnold Donald M. , Xie Feng
Published: March 2024

Background

The CONvalescent Plasma for Hospitalized Adults With COVID‐19 Respiratory Illness (CONCOR‐1) trial was a multicenter randomized controlled trial assessing convalescent plasma in hospitalized COVID‐19 patients. This study evaluates the cost‐effectiveness of convalescent plasma and its impact on quality‐of‐life to provide insight into its potential as an alternative treatment in resource‐constrained settings.

Methods

Individual patient data on health outcomes and resource utilization from the CONCOR‐1 trial were used to conduct the analysis from the Canadian public payer's perspective with a time horizon of 30 days post‐randomization. Baseline and 30‐day EQ‐5D‐5L were measured to calculate quality‐adjusted survival. All costs are presented in 2021 Canadian dollars. The base case assessed the EQ‐5D‐5L scores of hospitalized inpatients reporting at both timepoints, and a utility score of 0 was assigned for patients who died within 30 days. Costs for all patients enrolled were used. The sensitivity analysis utilizes EQ‐5D‐5L scores from the same population but only uses costs from this population.

Results

940 patients were randomized: 627 received CCP and 313 received standard care. The total costs were $28,716 (standard deviation, $25,380) and $24,258 ($22,939) for the convalescent plasma and standard care arms respectively. EQ‐5D‐5L scores were 0.61 in both arms (p = .85) at baseline. At 30 days, EQ‐5D‐5L scores were 0.63 and 0.64 for patients in the convalescent plasma and standard care arms, respectively (p = .46). The incremental cost was $4458 and the incremental quality‐adjusted life day was −0.078.

Discussion

Convalescent plasma was less effective and more costly than standard care in treating hospitalized COVID‐19.
Positive correlation between echocardiographic tricuspid E peak velocity and central venous pressure in dogs: A preliminary study
Authors: Jafari‐Giv Zahra , Vajhi Alireza , Farzad‐Mohajeri Saeed , Hassankhani Mahdi , Alian Samakkhah Shohreh , Hemmati Amin , Mohammadzade‐Akbari Alireza , Noroozzadegan Mohammadhossein
Published: March 2024

In the absence of vascular obstruction, central venous pressure (CVP) is a hydrostatic pressure in the cranial and caudal vena cava, providing valuable information about cardiac function and intravascular volume status. It is also a component in evaluating volume resuscitation in patients with septic shock and monitoring patients with right heart disease, pericardial disease, or volume depletion. Central venous pressure is calculated in dogs by invasive central venous catheterization, which is considered high‐risk and impractical in critically ill patients. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using echocardiographic tricuspid E/E' as a noninvasive method to estimate CVP in anesthetized healthy dogs under controlled hypovolemic conditions. Ten male mixed‐breed dogs were included in the study after a thorough health assessment. For hypovolemia induction, blood withdrawal was performed, and echocardiographic factors of the tricuspid valve, including peak E and E' velocities, were measured during CVP reduction. Repeated measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc tests were employed to compare the average difference between measured echocardiographic indices and CVP values derived from catheterization and intermittent measurement methods. Spearman's ρ correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the correlation between echocardiographic indices and CVP. E peak velocity had a significant negative correlation with venous blood pressure phases (r = −0.44, P = .001), indicating a decrease in peak E velocity with progressive CVP reduction. However, tricuspid valve E' peak velocity and E/E' did not correlate with CVP, suggesting that these parameters are not reliable for CVP estimation in dogs.
The vascular geometry of the choriocapillaris is associated with spatially heterogeneous molecular exchange with the outer retina
Authors: Faust Caitlin D. , Klettner Christian A. , Toso Marc , Hageman Gregory S. , Eames Ian , Luthert Philip J. , Zouache Moussa A.
Published: March 2024

Vision relies on the continuous exchange of material between the photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium and choriocapillaris, a dense microvascular bed located underneath the outer retina. The anatomy and physiology of the choriocapillaris and their association with retinal homeostasis have proven difficult to characterize, mainly because of the unusual geometry of this vascular bed. By analysing tissue dissected from 81 human eyes, we show that the thickness of the choriocapillaris does not vary significantly over large portions of the macula or with age. Assessments of spatial variations in the anatomy of the choriocapillaris in three additional human eyes indicate that the location of arteriolar and venular vessels connected to the plane of the choriocapillaris is non‐random, and that venular insertions cluster around arteriolar ones. Mathematical models built upon these anatomical analyses reveal that the choriocapillaris contains regions where the transport of passive elements is dominated by diffusion, and that these diffusion‐limited regions represent areas of reduced exchange with the outer retina. The width of diffusion‐limited regions is determined by arterial flow rate and the relative arrangement of arteriolar and venular insertions. These analyses demonstrate that the apparent complexity of the choriocapillaris conceals a fine balance between several anatomical and functional parameters to effectively support homeostasis of the outer retina.

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Key points

The choriocapillaris is the capillary bed supporting the metabolism of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium, two critical components of the visual system located in the outer part of the retina.

The choriocapillaris has evolved a planar multipolar vascular geometry that differs markedly from the branched topology of most vasculatures in the human body.

Here, we report that this planar multipolar vascular geometry is associated with spatially heterogenous molecular exchange between choriocapillaris and outer retina.

Our data and analyses highlight a necessary balance between choriocapillaris anatomical and functional parameters to effectively support homeostasis of the outer retina.
Motor unit modes in the calf muscles during a submaximal isometric contraction are changed by brief stretches
Authors: Weinman Logan E. , Del Vecchio Alessandro , Mazzo Melissa R. , Enoka Roger M.
Published: March 2024

The purpose of our study was to investigate the influence of a stretch intervention on the common modulation of discharge rate among motor units in the calf muscles during a submaximal isometric contraction. The current report comprises a computational analysis of a motor unit dataset that we published previously (Mazzo et al., 2021). Motor unit activity was recorded from the three main plantar flexor muscles while participants performed an isometric contraction at 10% of the maximal voluntary contraction force before and after each of two interventions. The interventions were a control task (standing balance) and static stretching of the plantar flexor muscles. A factorization analysis on the smoothed discharge rates of the motor units from all three muscles yielded three modes that were independent of the individual muscles. The composition of the modes was not changed by the standing‐balance task, whereas the stretching exercise reduced the average correlation in the second mode and increased it in the third mode. A centroid analysis on the correlation values showed that most motor units were associated with two or three modes, which were presumed to indicate shared synaptic inputs. The percentage of motor units adjacent to the seven centroids changed after both interventions: Control intervention, mode 1 decreased and the shared mode 1 + 2 increased; stretch intervention, shared modes either decreased (1 + 2) or increased (1 + 3). These findings indicate that the neuromuscular adjustments during both interventions were sufficient to change the motor unit modes when the same task was performed after each intervention.

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Key points

Based on covariation of the discharge rates of motor units in the calf muscles during a submaximal isometric contraction, factor analysis was used to assign the correlated discharge trains to three motor unit modes.

The motor unit modes were determined from the combined set of all identified motor units across the three muscles before and after each participant performed a control and a stretch intervention.

The composition of the motor unit modes changed after the stretching exercise, but not after the control task (standing balance).

A centroid analysis on the distribution of correlation values found that most motor units were associated with a shared centroid and this distribution, presumably reflecting shared synaptic input, changed after both interventions.

Our results demonstrate how the distribution of multiple common synaptic inputs to the motor neurons innervating the plantar flexor muscles changes after a brief series of stretches.
Monocarboxylate transporter 4 deficiency enhances high‐intensity interval training‐induced metabolic adaptations in skeletal muscle
Authors: Tamura Yuki , Jee Eunbin , Kouzaki Karina , Kotani Takaya , Nakazato Koichi
Published: March 2024

High‐intensity exercise stimulates glycolysis, subsequently leading to elevated lactate production within skeletal muscle. While lactate produced within the muscle is predominantly released into the circulation via the monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4), recent research underscores lactate's function as an intercellular and intertissue signalling molecule. However, its specific intracellular roles within muscle cells remains less defined. In this study, our objective was to elucidate the effects of increased intramuscular lactate accumulation on skeletal muscle adaptation to training. To achieve this, we developed MCT4 knockout mice and confirmed that a lack of MCT4 indeed results in pronounced lactate accumulation in skeletal muscle during high‐intensity exercise. A key finding was the significant enhancement in endurance exercise capacity at high intensities when MCT4 deficiency was paired with high‐intensity interval training (HIIT). Furthermore, metabolic adaptations supportive of this enhanced exercise capacity were evident with the combination of MCT4 deficiency and HIIT. Specifically, we observed a substantial uptick in the activity of glycolytic enzymes, notably hexokinase, glycogen phosphorylase and pyruvate kinase. The mitochondria also exhibited heightened pyruvate oxidation capabilities, as evidenced by an increase in oxygen consumption when pyruvate served as the substrate. This mitochondrial adaptation was further substantiated by elevated pyruvate dehydrogenase activity, increased activity of isocitrate dehydrogenase – the rate‐limiting enzyme in the TCA cycle – and enhanced function of cytochrome c oxidase, pivotal to the electron transport chain. Our findings provide new insights into the physiological consequences of lactate accumulation in skeletal muscle during high‐intensity exercises, deepening our grasp of the molecular intricacies underpinning exercise adaptation.

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Key points

We pioneered a unique line of monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) knockout mice specifically tailored to the ICR strain, an optimal background for high‐intensity exercise studies.

A deficiency in MCT4 exacerbates the accumulation of lactate in skeletal muscle during high‐intensity exercise.

Pairing MCT4 deficiency with high‐intensity interval training (HIIT) results in a synergistic boost in high‐intensity exercise capacity, observable both at the organismal level (via a treadmill running test) and at the muscle tissue level (through an ex vivo muscle contractile function test).

Coordinating MCT4 deficiency with HIIT enhances both the glycolytic enzyme activities and mitochondrial capacity to oxidize pyruvate.
Magnetic Flux Leakage Defect Identification Method for Small-Diameter Pipeline Elbow Based on the Improved YOLOv5
Authors: Qin Haodong , Zhang Ying , Zhao Pengcheng , Zhao Yongtao , Sun Jipei , Pan Chuanyu
Published: March 2024

The elbow is an important constituent of oil and gas pipeline systems and plays a key role in changing the direction of pipelines. Corrosion defects pose a significant risk to the safe operation of elbows. Magnetic flux leakage (MFL) detection has been developed as a suitable technique for identifying defects in pipelines. To address the distortion of elbow defect signals in the images arising from variations in the liftoff value of the leakage detector, this paper proposed an image identification method based on an improved YOLOv5 network. The differences in defect images are simulated by analyzing the liftoff value of the magnetization unit. A defect image enhancement method of multiscale retinex with color restoration fusion homomorphic filtering (MSRCR-HF) is employed to enhance the features of defective MFL signal images. To further improve the accuracy of the model, the YOLOv5 network is optimized by integrating the convolutional block attention module (CBAM) and the space-to-depth-nonstrided convolution (SPD-Conv) module. The results show that the proposed image enhancement method effectively accentuates the features of defect images. Moreover, the suggested image identification method exhibits superior accuracy in identification. The mean average precision (mAP) values for the original image set and the enhanced image set are 85.0% and 91.4%, respectively. Consequently, the proposed method is shown to be highly viable for the automatic identification of MFL defects in small-diameter pipe elbows.
Development of Risk Informed Aging Management Program in Decommissioning
Authors: Uesaka Masao , Murakami Kenta
Published: March 2024

This paper proposes to solve the issues related to aging management program (AMP) during the decommissioning phase by using risk information. The AMP for the decommissioning plants has not been established while the number of permanently shut down and decommissioned nuclear power plants are increasing in the world. The first issue is the change of the functional importance of the safety systems at the beginning of decommissioning. We propose to evaluate the importance using the probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) model with the change of specification in the decommissioning plant and to determine new importance grade. The second issue is to make the maintenance based on the appropriate risk information. This risk information should be based on the progress of decommissioning, reflected and evaluated in the PRA model, as well as information obtained from maintenance inspections, including the ROP process, and failure experience during routine operation. To address these issues, the maintenance program in decommissioning that uses the evaluation of risk information according to the decommissioning phase is proposed in this paper.