bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Financial impact of injury in older workers: use of a national retrospective e-cohort to compare income patterns over 3 years in a universal injury compensation scheme
Authors: Davie Gabrielle , Lilley Rebbecca
Published: March 2023

Objective

The study aims to quantify the impact of injury on the financial well-being of older workers. The hypothesis was that injured older workers have substantially reduced income from work following injury, but that New Zealand’s (NZ) universal injury compensation scheme mitigates the difference for total income.

Design, setting and participants

An e-cohort of 617 722 workers aged 45–64 years old was created using de-identified linked administrative data in NZ’s Integrated Data Infrastructure. Person-level data from numerous government agencies were used to compare 21 639 with an injury-related entitlement claim in 2009 with the remaining 596 133. Event date was the date of injury, or for the comparison group, a randomly selected date in 2009.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Geometric mean ratios (GMRs) were used to compare income from work and total income from all taxable sources between those injured and the comparison group. Adjusted GMRs estimated income differences up to 36 months following the event date.

Results

Differences in total income increased over time. In the third year, those injured received 6.7% less (adjusted GMR 0.933 (95% CI 0.925 to 0.941)) than the comparison group, equivalent to an average loss of $NZ2628. Restricting to income from work, those injured received 29.2% less than the comparison group at 3 years (adjusted GMR 0.708 (95% CI 0.686 to 0.730)). For both men and women, those injured at 45–49 years consistently had the greatest relative income loss compared with those aged 50–54, 55–59 or 60–64 years.

Conclusions

Although the substantial impacts of injury on income were mainly mitigated by public income transfers, relative losses in income in those aged 45–64 years increased in the 3 years following injury. Policies focused on adequate compensation and reducing the time away from employment could reduce these financial impacts in older workers.
Exploring the feasibility and acceptability of a recovery-focused group therapy intervention for adults with bipolar disorder: trial protocol
Authors: Beck Alison K , Baker Amanda , Jones Steven , Lobban Fiona , Kay-Lambkin Frances , Attia John , Banfield Michelle
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Improving accessible, acceptable recovery-oriented service provision for people with bipolar disorder (BD) is an important priority. Mindfulness and acceptance-based cognitive and behavioural therapies (or ‘third -wave’ CBT) may prove fruitful due to the considerable overlap between these approaches and key features of personal recovery. Groups also confer therapeutic benefits consistent with personal recovery and may improve recovery-oriented service provision by adding another modality for accessing support. The primary objective of this trial is to explore the feasibility and acceptability of a new recovery-focused group therapy (RfGT) intervention for adults with BD. This is the first published feasibility assessment of a time-limited RfGTrecovery-focused group therapy intervention for BD.

Methods/ analysis

This protocol describes an open feasibility study, utilising a pre-treatment design versus post- treatment design and nested qualitative evaluation. Participants will be recruited from the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, from primary care providers, specialist mental health services, non-government organisations and via self-referral. The primary outcomes are feasibility and acceptability as indexed by recruitment, retention, intervention adherence, adverse events (if any) and detailed consumer feedback. Clinical outcomes and process measures will be assessed to inform future research. Primary outcome data will utiliseuse descriptive statistics (eg, summarizingsummarising recruitment, demographics, attendance, attrition and intervention adherence). Secondary outcomes will be assessed using repeated-measures analysis of covariance across all time points (including change, effect size and variability).

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval has been granted by the Northern Sydney Local Health District HREChuman research ethics committee (HREC) (HREC/16/HAWKE/69) and The University of Newcastle HREC (H-2016–0107). The Ffindings will be used to improve the intervention per user needs and preferences, and inform what amendments and/or information are required before a follow-on trial would be possible. This study contributes to a growing body of innovative, recovery-oriented innovations of psychological treatments for adults with BD.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12616000887471; Pre-results.
Familial and socio-cultural barriers in maintaining tobacco-free homes in Bangladesh: a comparative cross-sectional study
Authors: Haque Md Imdadul , Zafar Ullah Abu Naser , Akter Tasnim , Chowdhury ABM Alauddin , Mamun Abdullah al , Tamanna Tabassum Islam , Hossain Md Kamrul , Khan Hafiz TA , Harun Md Golam Dostogir
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Children, pregnant women and the elderly at a global level are all being dangerously exposed to tobacco use in the household (HH). However, there is no understanding of the familial and socio-cultural factors that provide barriers to ensuring tobacco-free homes in Bangladesh either in urban or rural areas (U&RAs). This study therefore investigates those barriers to help enable a move towards tobacco-free homes in Bangladesh.

Design

Comparative cross-sectional study.

Settings

Data were collected from both urban and rural settings in Bangladesh.

Participants

A probability proportional sampling procedure was used to select 808 participants in U&RAs out of a total of 3715 tobacco users. Semi-structured interviews through the use of a questionnaire were conducted with the participants followed by a multivariate logistic regression analysis of the data in order to explore the familial and socio-cultural factors associated with tobacco use at home.

Results

The prevalence of tobacco use at home was 25.7% in urban areas and 47.6% in rural areas. In urban areas: marital status (adjusted OR (AOR)=3.23, 95% CI 1.37 to 6.61), education (AOR=2.14, 95% CI 1.15 to 3.99), the smoking habits of elderly family members (AOR=1.81, 95% CI 0.91 to 2.89), offering tobacco as a traditional form of leisure activity at home (AOR=1.85, 95% CI 0.94 to 2.95) and lack of religious practices (AOR=2.39, 95% CI 1.27 to 4.54) were identified as significant socio-cultural predictors associated with tobacco use at home. In rural areas: age (AOR=5.11, 95% CI 2.03 to 12.83), extended family (AOR=3.08, 95% CI 1.28 to 7.38), lack of religious practices (AOR=4.23, 95% CI 2.32 to 7.72), using children to buy or carry tobacco (AOR=3.33, 95% CI 1.11 to 9.99), lack of family guidance (AOR=4.27, 95% CI 2.45 to 7.42) and offering tobacco as a traditional form of leisure activity at home (AOR=3.81, 95% CI 2.23 to 6.47) were identified as significant determinants for tobacco use at home.

Conclusion

This study concludes that socio-cultural traditions and familial norms in Bangladesh provide significant barriers for enabling tobacco-free homes. The identification of these barriers can aid policymakers and programme planners in Bangladesh in devising appropriate measures to mitigate the deadly consequences of tobacco use in the home. The consequences also include the dangers involved in family members being exposed to secondhand smoke.
European Association for Study of the Liver (EASL) clinical practice guidelines on haemochromatosis
Authors: Cathcart Jennifer , Mukhopadhya Ashis
Published: March 2023

The European Association for the Study of the Liver has recently updated guidance on haemochromatosis with a more extensive discussion on investigation and management.[ The new guidance focuses on non-invasive methods for fibrosis assessment and early diagnosis to include more extensive genetic testing if needed. Early diagnosis and treatment is vital as it reduces morbidity and mortality. We review this guideline and offer key updated messages with a focus on new developments since the last guidance and key aspects of current practice.
Performance evaluation of stabilized base courses comprising TSRU materials and bitumen froth derived from Alberta oil sands
Authors: Sheonty Sabrina Rashid , Saleh Mohamed , Kamran Farshad , Moghaddam Taher Baghaee , Hashemian Leila
Published: March 2023

In this research, the properties of two tailings solvent recovery unit (TSRU) samples, one bitumen froth sample and two aggregates, are evaluated using various laboratory tests. The TSRU-modified mixtures are prepared at different concentrations of bitumen froth (0%–6% of weight of mixture increasing in 1% intervals) where TSRU materials were added based on optimum moisture content of the mixture. The properties of the mixtures are investigated using indirect tensile strength and Marshall stability tests. The results show that TSRU modification results in a higher tensile strength. The granular layer thickness can be reduced by 42% and 60% for modified samples made with both aggregates. It should be noted that the modified samples fail to meet the soaked indirect tensile strength requirement. A potential solution to improve the indirect tensile strength of the soaked mixture is using cementitious additives such as Portland cement.
Page curve and phase transition in deformed Jackiw–Teitelboim gravity
Authors: Lu Cheng-Yuan , Yu Ming-Hui , Ge Xian-Hui , Tian Li-Jun
Published: March 2023

We consider the entanglement island in a deformed Jackiw–Teitelboim black hole in the presence of the phase transition. This black hole has the van der Waals–Maxwell-like phase structure as it is coupled with a Maxwell field. We study the behavior of the Page curve of this black hole by using the island paradigm. In the fixed charge ensemble, we discuss different situations with different charges that influence the system’s phase structure. There is only a Hawking–Page phase transition in the absence of charges, which leads to an unstable small black hole. Hence, the related Page curve does not exist. However, a van der Waals–Maxwell-like phase transition occurs in the presence of charges. This yields three black hole solutions. The Page curve of the middle size black hole does not exist. For the extremal black hole, the Page time approaches zero in the phase transition situation but becomes divergent without the phase transition. In a word, we study the Page curve and the island paradigm for different black hole phases and in different phase transition situations.
OPTIMIZATION OF WEAR STUDIES ON LASER CLADDED AZ61 MAGNESIUM ALLOY WITH NANO-TITANIUM DIOXIDE USING GREY RELATIONAL ANALYSIS
Authors: SUNDARASELVAN S. , SENTHILKUMAR N. , RAJKUMAR K. , BALAMURUGAN T.
Published: March 2023

Laser cladding (LC) is mostly employed to enhance the wear resistance of magnesium alloy substrates. Adding nanoparticles will further strengthen the tribo surface properties, making them suitable for applications requiring lightweight components. This work investigated a dry sliding wear analysis for the laser-cladded AZ61 magnesium alloy with TiO2 nanoparticles at different volume ratios through the LC method. The spatial dispersion of the TiO2 nanoparticles in the AZ61 magnesium alloy microstructure was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The reinforcement ratio, sliding speed, and normal load were selected to study the tribo performance of the cladded surface. Coefficient of friction (COF) and wear loss analyses were performed using a pin on the disc dry sliding wear test. The effect of dry sliding variables on reinforcement ratio was analyzed with an orthogonal array experimental design. Grey relational analysis (GRA) studied multiple wear test responses to reveal optimal conditions to decrease the wear and friction coefficient of the AZ61 laser cladded surface. The reinforcement percentage of nanoceramic TiO2 particles in the AZ61 alloy surface was the most significant factor, contributing 97.76%, followed by a contribution of 0.26% by sliding speed and a normal load of 1.82%, confirmed with the grey relational grade. Both SEM and GRA confirmed that the reinforcement ratio of 10% exhibited lower wear loss and friction coefficient. The revealed wear mechanism operating on the worn surface of laser-cladded AZ61 magnesium alloy was micro-grooving exerted by a counter surface at all sliding conditions. This study shows that the LC of magnesium alloys will be preferred in sliding seal and lightweight gear applications.
Role of Strontium on Sensitization and Unusual Passivation Behavior of a 5xxx Series Aluminum Alloy Containing a Trace Amount of Chromium
Authors: Raja V. S. , Eatoo Muzzamil Ahmad , Agrawal Rahul Kumar , Palli Srinivas , Krishnan M. Ajay
Published: March 2023

This paper reports the beneficial effects of strontium (Sr) on the sensitization kinetics and an unusually high passivation behavior in Al-5.7 wt% Mg alloy. The presence of strontium has aided not only in retarding the sensitization kinetics of Al-5.7 wt% Mg alloy but also significantly enhanced the intergranular corrosion resistance. The surface enrichment of Cr and Sr as oxides and hydroxides has caused an unusual increase in the passivity and pitting potential of Al-5.7 wt% Mg alloy. The presence of both Cr and Sr helped in retaining the passivity of the alloy even in the sensitized condition.
Inhibition of glutaminase 1 activity reverses airway hyperresponsiveness and decreases IL-1β+ M1s and IL-17 producing ILC3s in high-fat diet-fed obese mice
Authors: Shim Ji-Su , Lee Hyun-Seung , Kwon Hyuktae , Kim Min-Hye , Cho Young-Joo , Park Heung-Woo
Published: March 2023

In obesity, disturbed glutamine metabolism contributes to enhanced inflammation by inducing alterations in immune cells. As macrophages and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are known to be involved in the pathogenesis of obesity-related asthma, we tested our hypothesis that altered glutamine metabolism may link obesity to airway hyperresponsivenss (AHR), a cardinal feature of asthma, focusing on these innate immune cells. Four-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 13 wk in the presence or absence of BPTES [Bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)ethyl sulfide, a selective inhibitor of glutaminase 1 which converts glutamine to glutamate] and their blood, lung, and adipose tissues were analyzed. We then conducted in vitro experiments using bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and mouse alveolar macrophage cell line. Furthermore, we investigated plasma glutamine and glutamate levels in obese and nonobese asthmatics. BPTES treatment prevented HFD-induced AHR and significantly decreased IL-1β+ classically activated macrophages (M1s) and type 3 ILCs (ILC3s) which increased in the lungs of HFD-fed obese mice. In in vitro experiments, BPTES treatment or glutamine supplement significantly reduced the proportion of IL-1β+NLRP3+ M1s in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated BMDMs and mouse alveolar macrophage cell line. BPTES treatment also significantly reduced the IL-17 producing ILC3s differentiated from ILCs in naïve mouse lung. In addition, plasma glutamate/glutamine ratios were significantly higher in obese asthmatics compared to nonobese asthmatics. Inhibition of glutaminolysis reverses AHR in HFD-induced obese mice and decreases IL-1β + NLRP3+ M1s and IL-17 producing ILC3s, which suggests altered glutamine metabolism may have a role in the pathogenesis of obesity-related AHR.
Mechanism of SOX10 in ferroptosis of hippocampal neurons after intracerebral hemorrhage via the miR-29a-3p/ACSL4 axis
Authors: Chen Hui , Ren Lejia , Ma Wenbin
Published: March 2023

SOX10 promotes the expression of Mir-29a-3p by binding to the promoter region of Mir-29a-3p, thereby targeting the expression of ACSL4 and inhibiting the iron death of hippocampal neuronal cells in mice with ICH.
Research on Vibration Fatigue Damage Locations of Offshore Oil and Gas Pipelines Based on the GA-Improved BP Neural Network
Authors: Xie Yaoguo , Gao Chengang , Wang Puzhe , Zhou Lei , Zhang Chuanjie , Qu Xianqiang
Published: March 2023

To study vibration fatigue damage localization of offshore oil and gas pipelines, aiming at the location error caused by uncertainty of the initial parameters in backpropagation (BP) neural network training, an improved BP neural network based on the genetic algorithm (GA) is proposed to locate pipeline damage. This approach was verified by experiments and simulations. First, a BP neural network for structural damage location was constructed, and a method to optimize the BP neural network parameters based on the GA was established. Then, a finite element model was established based on the measured data from modal tests of a physical pipeline model, and a large number of vibration neural network training samples were obtained using the finite element model. Finally, to show that the improved BP neural network based on the GA had a better damage location accuracy, the location results of the original BP and GA BP methods were compared for cases with no noise and with 5% noise. The results show that the average error of the BP neural network based on the GA was less than 3%, which was 11.6% lower than that of the original BP neural network.
Akkermansia muciniphila Ameliorates Lung Injury in Smoke-Induced COPD Mice by IL-17 and Autophagy
Authors: Zhang Li , Lu Junjuan , Liu Caihong
Published: March 2023

Objective. Smoking is a primary hazard factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which induced a decrease in intestinal Akkermansia muciniphila abundance and Th17 imbalance in COPD. This study analyzed the changes of gut microbiota metabolism and Akkermansia abundance in patients with smoking-related COPD and explored the potential function of Akkermansia muciniphila in smoke-induced COPD mice. Methods. Gut microbiota diversity and metabolic profile were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequence and metabolomics in COPD patients. The IL-1β, IL-17, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels were tested by ELISA. Lung tissue damage was observed by HE staining. The expression of cleave-caspase 3, trophoblast antigen 2 (TROP2), and LC3 in lung tissues were analyzed by IHC or IF. The p-mTOR, mTOR, p62, and LC3 expression in lung tissues were tested by western blot. Results. The levels of IL-17, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 in the peripheral blood of COPD patients increased significantly. The number and alpha diversity of gut microbiota were decreased in COPD patients. The abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila in gut of COPD patients was decreased, and the metabolic phenotype and retinol metabolism were changed. In the retinol metabolism, the retinol and retinal were significantly changed. Akkermansia muciniphila could improve the alveolar structure and inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue, reduce the IL-17, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels in peripheral blood, promote the p-mTOR expression, and inhibit the expression of autophagy-related proteins in smoke-induced COPD mice. Conclusion. The number and alpha diversity of gut microbiota were decreased in patients with smoking-related COPD, accompanied by decreased abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, and altered retinol metabolism function. Gut Akkermansia muciniphila ameliorated lung injury in smoke-induced COPD mice by inflammation and autophagy.
Deep Learning Joint Inversion of Electrical Data for Ahead-Prospecting in Tunneling
Authors: Jiang Peng , Liu Benchao , Wang Chuanwu , Chen Lei , Tang Yuting
Published: March 2023

Water inrush has become one of the bottlenecks restricting tunnel construction. Among various advanced forecasting techniques, the direct current method is more cost-effective and sensitive to water-bearing structures. It has been widely used in exploring water inrush disasters in practical engineering. Although traditional resistivity linear inversion methods are reasonably practical, they usually suffer from volume effects and cannot accurately locate the location and morphology of water-bearing bodies. Therefore, nonlinear techniques such as deep learning have recently become popular to directly approximate the inversion function by learning the mapping of apparent resistivity data to the geoelectric model. This work presents a novel deep learning-based electrical approach that combines resistivity and polarizability to estimate water-bearing location and morphology. Specifically, we design an encoder-decoder network. A shared encoder extracts features from the input data, two encoders output resistivity, and polarizability models, respectively, and fine-tuned collinear regularization for both outputs reduces solutions’ multiplicity. Compared with traditional linear inversion methods and independent parameter inversion, our proposed joint inversion method shows superiority in locating and delineating anomalous bodies.
Efficacy and Safety of Eplerenone for Treating Chronic Kidney Disease: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hu Honglei , Cao Mengdie , Sun Yao , Jin Xingqian , Zhao Xiaodong , Cong Xiangguo
Published: March 2023

Background. In recent years, a large amount of clinical evidence and animal experiments have demonstrated the unique advantages of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) for treating chronic kidney disease (CKD). Aims. Accordingly, the present study aimed to systematically assess the second-generation selective MRAs eplerenone’s safety and effectiveness for treating CKD. Methods. Four databases (PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science) were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCT) correlated with eplerenone for treating CKD up to September 21, 2022. By complying with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, literature screening, and data extraction were conducted. Results. A total of 19 randomized controlled articles involving 4501 cases were covered. As suggested from the meta-analysis, significant differences were reported with the 24-h urine protein (MD = −42.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -76.72 to −7.73,

P

 = 0.02), urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) (MD = −23.57, 95% CI = −29.28 to −17.86,

P

 < 0.00001), the systolic blood pressure (SBP) (MD = −2.73, 95% CI = −4.86 to −0.59,

P

 = 0.01), and eGFR (MD = −1.56, 95% CI = −2.78 to −0.34,

P

 = 0.01) in the subgroup of eplerenone vs placebo. The subgroups of eplerenone vs placebo (MD = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.07 to 0.18,

P

 < 0.00001) and eplerenone vs thiazide diuretic (MD = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.13 to 0.23,

P

 < 0.00001) showed the significantly increased potassium levels. However, no statistical significance was reported between the eplerenone treatment groups and the control in the effect exerted by serum creatinine (MD=0.03, 95% CI = −0.01 to 0.07,

P

 = 0.12) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (MD = 0.11, 95% CI = −0.41 to 0.63,

P

 = 0.68). Furthermore, significant risks of hyperkalemia were reported in the eplerenone group (K+ ≥ 5.5 mmol/l, RR = 1.70, 95%CI = 1.35 to 2.13,

P

 =< 0.00001; K+ ≥ 6.0 mmol/l, RR = 1.61, 95% CIs = 1.06 to 2.44,

P

 = 0.02), respectively. Conclusions. Eplerenone has beneficial effects on CKD by reducing urinary protein and the systolic blood pressure, but it also elevates the risk of hyperkalemia.
Synthesis of Electrospun Polyvinyl Butyral/Bentonite Nanofiber Film for Cationic Dye Removal
Authors: Abdul Jalil Aiizat Ikhwan , Azha Syahida Farhan , Bonilla-Petriciolet Adrian , Shahadat Mohammad , Ismail Suzylawati
Published: March 2023

The textile industry is a common and relevant sector worldwide that generates significant environmental pollution via the discharge of dye-containing wastewater. In this direction, the electrospinning technology can be used to produce adsorbing nanofibers for the treatment of wastewater polluted by dyes and other toxic compounds. The nanofibers obtained by this technology are light and thin, thus providing several advantages (e.g., high surface area) to improve the efficacy of adsorption processes. In this direction, this study reports the preparation of nanofibers from polyvinyl butyral (PVB) and bentonite via electrospinning. This study also reports PVB/bentonite nanofiber mat and its application in adsorbing the cationic dye (methylene blue) from an aqueous solution. The morphology and water contact angles of these nanofibers were analyzed. Results showed that the maximum dye adsorption of these nanofibers was 66.63 mg/g along with 32% removal at pH 9 and 27 ± 2°C. The dye adsorption on these nanofibers was exothermic and pH-dependent, with the best adsorption capacities obtained under alkaline conditions. The adsorption mechanism of this dye molecule on these PVB/bentonite nanofiber mats was associated with van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic interactions. This novel composite is an interesting material with improved properties that can be applied to the removal of cationic dyes from wastewater.
Mixed Convection in a Double Lid-Driven Wavy Shaped Cavity Filled with Nanofluid Subject to Magnetic Field and Internal Heat Source
Authors: Chowdhury Kakali , Alim Md. Abdul
Published: March 2023

A numerical investigation is carried out to analyze the impacts of internal heat source size, solid concentration of nanoparticles, magnetic field, and Richardson number on flow characteristics in an oppositely directed lid-driven wavy-shaped enclosure. The left and right vertical walls of the enclosure are cooled isothermally and moving with fixed velocity in upward and downward directions, respectively. The bottom wall is wavy shaped and isothermally cooled as the vertical walls while the top wall is kept adiabatic. A rectangular heater is placed horizontally in the center of the cavity. The physical problems are characterized by 2D governing partial differential equations accompanying proper boundary conditions and are discretized using Galerkin’s finite element formulation. The study is executed by analyzing different ranges of geometrical and physical parameters, namely, internal heat source length

0.2
≤
CH
≤
0.6

, solid concentration of nanoparticles

0
≤
φ
≤
0.09

, Hartmann’s number

0
≤
Ha
≤
70

, and Richardson’s number

0.1
≤
Ri
≤
10

. The results indicate that the overall heat transfer rate declines with the increasing length of internal heat source. The presence and rising values of solid concentration of nanoparticles cause the augmentation of heat transfer whereas the magnetic field has a negative influence and the Richardson number has a positive influence on heat transfer.
Strategies to Reduce Purge Losses in Meat Products Stuffed in Plastic Casings
Authors: Flores Tatiana , Rojas-Graü Alejandra , Maté Juan Ignacio , Esparza Jesús
Published: March 2023

Two different meat emulsions were prepared with different physical stability: R1 with 6.28 ± 1.13% total expressible fluid and R2 with 17.7 ± 1.48%. The emulsions were placed in plastic casings at three different surface tensions (ST), expressed as contact angle, and three distinct overstuffing percentages (OS). The stuffed samples were cooked in an industrial oven. After cooling, purge losses (PL) and texture profile analysis (TPA) were measured. The reduced surface tension of the plastic casings significantly decreased the PL of both recipes. In the case of R2, a combination of high OS and low ST was necessary to reduce PL in a 60%. In the case of TPA, OS had a statistical influence on parameters like chewiness, cohesiveness, and hardness. Plastic casings with different surface tension (to increase adherence of meat emulsion to the casing) stuffed at different levels of overstuffing percentages (to reduce free space between meat emulsion and casing) represent a potential tool to reduce PL of products based on low stability meat emulsions.
FPR2 Shapes an Immune-Excluded Pancreatic Tumor Microenvironment and Drives T-cell Exhaustion in a Sex-Dependent Manner
Authors: He Fei , Tay Apple H.M. , Calandigary Ahmed , Malki Enana , Suzuki Sayaka , Liu Tianjie , Wang Qi , Fernández-Moro Carlos , Kaisso Marina , Olofsson-Sahl Peter , Melssen Marit , Sze Siu Kwan , Björnstedt Mikael , Löhr Matthias J. , Karlsson Mikael C.I. , Heuchel Rainer , Sarhan Dhifaf
Published: March 2023

Sex-driven immune differences can affect tumor progression and the landscape of the tumor microenvironment. Deeper understanding of these differences in males and females can inform patient selection to improve sex-optimized immunotherapy treatments. In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing and protein analyses uncovered a subpopulation of myeloid cells in pancreatic lesions associated with an immune-excluded tumor phenotype and effector T-cell exhaustion exclusively in females. This myeloid subpopulation was positively correlated with poor survival and genetic signatures of M2-like macrophages and T-cell exhaustion in females. The G-protein coupled receptor formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) mediated these immunosuppressive effects. In vitro, treatment of myeloid cells with a specific FPR2 antagonist prevented exhaustion and enhanced cytotoxicity of effector cells. Proteomic analysis revealed high expression of immunosuppressive secretory proteins PGE2 and galectin-9, enriched integrin pathway, and reduced proinflammatory signals like TNFα and IFNγ in female M2-like macrophages upon FPR2 agonist treatment. In addition, myeloid cells treated with FPR2 agonists induced TIM3 and PD-1 expression only in female T cells. Treatment with anti-TIM3 antibodies reversed T-cell exhaustion and stimulated their ability to infiltrate and kill pancreatic spheroids. In vivo, progression of syngeneic pancreatic tumors was significantly suppressed in FPR2 knockout (KO) female mice compared with wild-type (WT) female mice and to WT and FPR2 KO male mice. In female mice, inoculation of tumors with FPR2 KO macrophages significantly reduced tumor growth compared with WT macrophages. Overall, this study identified an immunosuppressive function of FPR2 in females, highlighting a potential sex-specific precision immunotherapy strategy.

Significance:

FPR2 is a sex-dependent mediator of macrophage function in pancreatic cancer and can be targeted to reprogram macrophages and stimulate antitumor immunity in females.
The Emerging Value of Circular Noncoding RNA Research in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
Authors: Jagtap Urmila , Anderson Erik S. , Slack Frank J.
Published: March 2023

Circular RNAs (circRNA) are a recently described class of RNA molecules that have attracted substantial attention as new components of disease mechanisms and as potential biomarkers in multiple diseases, including cancer. CircRNAs are often highly conserved and exhibit developmental stage- and disease-specific expression. Several studies have reported circRNA expression patterns that are associated with specific cancer types and with patient prognosis. Here, we overview the active registered clinical trials that investigate the value of circRNAs as cancer biomarkers and discuss the potential of circRNAs in clinical cancer care. Taken together, circRNAs are actively being investigated as diagnostic, predictive, and prognostic biomarkers, and their potential to serve as therapeutic intervention points motivates ongoing translational and clinical research.
Discovery of Podofilox as a Potent cGAMP–STING Signaling Enhancer with Antitumor Activity
Authors: Han Jing , Hu Shuiqing , Hu Yawei , Xu Yifang , Hou Yanfei , Yang Yinlong , Su Huili , Zhang Zhengyin , Liu Peng , Sun Xuxu , Zhang Conggang
Published: March 2023

Cyclic GMP–AMP (cGAMP) is a second messenger that activates the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) innate immune pathway to induce the expression of type I IFNs and other cytokines. Pharmacologic activation of STING is considered a potent therapeutic strategy in cancer. In this study, we used a cell-based phenotypic screen and identified podophyllotoxin (podofilox), a microtubule destabilizer, as a robust enhancer of the cGAMP–STING signaling pathway. We found that podofilox enhanced the cGAMP-mediated immune response by increasing STING-containing membrane puncta and the extent of STING oligomerization. Furthermore, podofilox changed the trafficking pattern of STING and delayed trafficking-mediated STING degradation. Importantly, the combination of cGAMP and podofilox had profound antitumor effects on mice by activating the immune response through host STING signaling. Together, these data provide insights into the regulation of cGAMP–STING pathway activation and demonstrate what we believe to be a novel approach for modulating this pathway and thereby promoting antitumor immunity.
Circulating Iron in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease Mediates the Release of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps
Authors: Van Avondt Kristof , Schimmel Marein , Bulder Ingrid , van Mierlo Gerard , Nur Erfan , van Bruggen Robin , Biemond Bart J. , Luken Brenda M. , Zeerleder Sacha
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Neutrophils promote chronic inflammation and release neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) that can drive inflammatory responses. Inflammation influences progression of sickle cell disease (SCD), and a role for NETs has been suggested in the onset of vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC). We aimed to identify factors in the circulation of these patients that provoke NET release, with a focus on triggers associated with hemolysis. Methods: Paired serum and plasma samples during VOC and steady state of 18 SCD patients (HbSS/HbSβ0-thal and HbSC/HbSβ+-thal) were collected. Cell-free heme, hemopexin, and labile plasma iron have been measured in the plasma samples of the SCD patients. NETs formation by human neutrophils from healthy donors induced by serum of SCD patients was studied using confocal microscopy and staining for extracellular DNA using Sytox, followed by quantification of surface coverage using ImageJ. Results: Eighteen patients paired samples obtained during VOC and steady state were available (11 HbSS/HbSβ0-thal and 7 HbSC/HbSβ+-thal). We observed high levels of systemic heme and iron, concomitant with low levels of the heme-scavenger hemopexin in sera of patients with SCD, both during VOC and in steady state. In our in vitro experiments, neutrophils released NETs when exposed to sera from SCD patients. The release of NETs was associated with high levels of circulating iron in these sera. Although hemin triggered NET formation in vitro, addition of hemopexin to scavenge heme did not suppress NET release in SCD sera. By contrast, the iron scavengers deferoxamine and apotransferrin attenuated NET formation in a significant proportion of SCD sera. Discussion: Our results suggest that redox-active iron in the circulation of non-transfusion-dependent SCD patients activates neutrophils to release NETs, and hence, exerts a direct pro-inflammatory effect. Thus, we propose that chelation of iron requires further investigation as a therapeutic strategy in SCD.
Differential Effects of Metformin on Immune-Mediated and Androgen-Mediated Non-Cancer Skin Diseases in Diabetes Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Tseng Chin-Hsiao
Published: March 2023

Background: Metformin’s effects on non-cancer skin diseases are rarely investigated. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate immune-mediated (urticaria, allergic contact dermatitis, and psoriasis) and androgen-mediated (acanthosis nigricans, hidradenitis suppurativa, and acne) skin diseases associated with metformin use. Methods: Metformin initiators (n = 234,585) and non-metformin initiators (n = 125,921) within the initial 12 months of antidiabetic drug prescription during 1999–2009 were followed up until December 31, 2011. Cox regression weighted for propensity score was used to estimate hazard ratios for metformin initiators versus non-metformin initiators in intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses. Results: For immune-mediated skin diseases, hazard ratios were 0.930 (95% confidence interval: 0.920–0.940) and 0.930 (0.918–0.943) in ITT and PP analyses, respectively, and the hazard ratios for each specific outcome were all significantly below unity. For androgen-mediated skin diseases, the ITT and PP hazard ratios were 1.110 (1.060–1.162) and 0.990 (0.935–1.048), respectively, and all hazard ratios were not significant for each specific outcome except for acne in the ITT analysis (hazard ratio: 1.116, 95% confidence interval: 1.064–1.170). Conclusion: Metformin use is associated with a significantly lower risk of immune-mediated skin diseases but lacks a preventive effect on androgen-mediated skin diseases.
A cluster and association analysis visualization using Moodle activity log data
Authors: Reimondo Tamba Andri , Lumbantoruan Krista , Pakpahan Aulia , Situmeang Samuel
Published: March 2023

The course activity log is where a learning management system (LMS) like Moodle keeps track of the various learning activities. In order to conduct a quicker and more in-depth examination of the students' behaviors, the instructor may either directly examine the log or make use of more complex methodologies such as data mining. The majority of the proposed methods for analyzing this log data center mostly on predictive analysis. In this research, cluster analysis and association analysis, two separate data mining functions, are investigated in order to analyze the log. The students' activities are used in the cluster analysis performed with K-Means++, and the association analysis performed with Apriori is used to investigate the connections between the students' various activities. A dashboard presentation of the findings is provided in order to facilitate clearer comprehension. Based on the findings of the analysis, it can be concluded that the structure of the student cluster is medium, whereas the association between the activities undertaken by students is positively correlated and well-balanced. The subjective review of the dashboard reveals that the visualization is already sufficient, but there are some recommendations for making it even better.
New Procuratorial Role in Marine Environmental Public Interest Litigation
Authors: Zou Keyuan , Niu Bingru
Published: March 2023

Recent developments in marine environmental public interest litigation in China raise questions about the procedure and operation of the procuratorial organ – a body that can support public interest aspects of litigation. This article examines the legal basis of public interest litigation in both a civil and criminal context. It considers the practice of other States, including the United States, as a point of comparison. A key issue is to determine the meaning of public interest, and how this relates to national or social interests, since this will influence the work of procuratorial organs.
Site as Archive in Company SJ’s The Women Speak
Authors: Duane Chloé
Published: March 2023

This article focuses on Company SJ’s The Women Speak as performed at the National Ballroom, Dublin, in 2015, and explores how a space, including through social relations and through its position in a cultural landscape, can function as a form of archive when utilized as the site of a theatrical performance. The article investigates how Company SJ’s site-specific production (which features performances of Not I, Footfalls, Rockaby and Come and Go) functioned as a kind of archive, an archaeological record of human interaction, which was framed by the scenographic design to prompt and draw on the audience’s embodied responses.
A Theoretical War: Accounting for American Imperialism in the Middle East
Authors: Mundy Jacob
Published: March 2023

This review surveys two decades of academic research on the question of contemporary imperialism and holds it up against the historical record of America’s increasingly violent entanglements in the Middle East over the course of the previous half century, though particularly since 2001. While early contributions to this literature emerged from a different context than the one they often sought or were expected to explain, others attributed a simplistic and problematic understanding of the relationship between US foreign policy and the political-economy of petroleum. Later contributions then eschewed a close analysis of imperialism in the Middle East in favor of a broader accounting of the dynamics of global capitalism. This review ultimately critiques the widespread assumption that the vitality of hegemony and capital must be assessed in relation to their ability to secure control and homogenous conditions of reproduction. A more robust understanding must be based in an approach that views the economic and the political not as fundamental units of analysis but as sites of struggle in the historical and contemporary constitution of imperialism.
Pheretimoid earthworms (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) cultivated in a vermifacility in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, with description of a new species
Authors: ASPE NONILLON M. , OBUSAN MARIE CHRISTINE M.
Published: March 2023

We report two pheretimoid earthworm species cultivated in Folia Tropica vermifacility in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. One species is Pheretima losbanosensis sp. nov., which belongs to P. dubia group in Sims & Easton 1972, characterized by having three pairs of spermathecal pores in 6/7–8/9. It has an adult size of 220–228 mm x 8–9 mm; and has 26–36 and 56–66 setae on vii and xx, respectively. The other species is Metaphire bahli Gates, 1945, characterized by having three pairs of spermathecal pores in 6/7–8/9 and post-clitellar genital markings at 17/18 and 18/19. The vermicasts of the two species are commercially produced and are harvested as organic fertilizers. We promote the utilization of native species for vermiculture and vermicomposting rather than using the introduced vermicomposting species African nightcrawler Eudrilus eugeniae.
A new semiaquatic worm (Annelida, Oligochaeta) from southeastern Mexican tropical rain forests
Authors: FRAGOSO CARLOS , ROJAS PATRICIA
Published: March 2023

A new Oligochaete worm genus with a single species is described from tropical rain forests of Southern Mexico. Lacandodrilus paludosus Fragoso & Rojas gen. et sp. nov., found in sandy and acid poor swampy soils, presented a characteristic morphology of semiaquatic oligochaetes. The new taxon is holandric, with male pores and ovaries in segment 13, with genital prostatic- like lobular glands in segments 13 and 14 and with long seminal vesicles contained within ovisacs. It is also characterized by exonephric holonephridia covered by a peritoneal granular layer, septal glands and long vascular commissures in former segments. It presents a pair of spermathecae without diverticula in segment 10 and it lacks gizzards, typhlosole or esophagus glands. The new taxon is tentatively placed in family Alluroididae, waiting for additional histological studies that will clarify some characters.
Recent High Missouri River Basin Runoff Was Unlikely Caused by Climate Change
Authors: Hoell Andrew , Hoerling Martin , Quan Xiao-Wei , Robinson Rachel
Published: March 2023

October–September runoff increased 6% and 17% in the upper (UMRB) and lower (LMRB) Missouri River basins, respectively, in a recent (1990–2019) climate in comparison with a past (1960–89) climate. The runoff increases were unanticipated, given various projections for semipermanent drought and/or aridification in the North American Great Plains. Here, five transient coupled climate model ensembles are used to diagnose the effects of natural internal variability and anthropogenic climate change on the observed runoff increases and to project UMRB and LMRB runoff to the mid-twenty-first century. The runoff increases observed in the recent climate in comparison with the past climate were not due to anthropogenic climate change but rather resulted mostly from an extreme occurrence of internal multidecadal variability. High runoff resulted from large, mostly internally generated, precipitation increases (6% in the UMRB and 5% in the LMRB) that exceeded simulated increases attributable to climate change forcing alone (0%–2% intermodel range). The precipitation elasticity of runoff, which relates runoff sensitivity to precipitation differences in the recent climate in comparison with the past climate, led to one–threefold and two–fourfold amplifications of runoff versus precipitation in the UMRB and LMRB, respectively. Without the observed precipitation increases in the recent climate in comparison with the past climate, effects of human-induced warming of about 1°C would alone have most likely induced runoff declines of 7% and 13% in the UMRB and LMRB, respectively. Ensemble model simulations overwhelmingly project lower UMRB and LRMB runoff by 2050 when compared with 1990–2019, a change found to be insensitive to whether individual realizations experienced high flows in the recent climate.

Significance Statement

Declines in Missouri River basin runoff under climate change pose serious threats to communities that depend on riverine transport, irrigated agriculture, and aquatic recreation. Concerns arising from reports and projections of semipermanent drought in the basin have yet to be realized; observed runoff was greater in a recent climate (1990–2019) than in a past climate (1960–89). We found that the observed runoff increase from past to recent climates was due not to anthropogenic influences but rather to internal multidecadal variability that led to unlikely precipitation increases (<10% probability) that overwhelmed the drying effect of warming temperatures. Model simulations indicate that a modest reduction in runoff of ∼7%–15% was most likely from the past climate to the recent climate.
Connections between Upper Tropospheric and Lower Stratospheric Circulation Responses to Increased CO2
Authors: Menzel Molly E. , Waugh Darryn W. , Orbe Clara
Published: March 2023

There are myriad ways atmospheric circulation responds to increased CO2. In the troposphere, the region of the tropical upwelling narrows, the Hadley cells expand, and the upper-level subtropical zonal winds that comprise the subtropical jet strengthen. In the stratosphere, the tropical upwelling narrows and strengthens, enhancing the Brewer–Dobson circulation. Despite the robustness of these projections, dynamical coupling between the features remains unclear. In this study, we analyze output from the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) ModelE coupled climate model to examine any connection between the upper tropospheric and lower stratospheric circulation by considering the features’ seasonality, hemispheric asymmetry, scaling, and transient response to a broad range of CO2 forcings. We find that a narrowing and strengthening of upper tropospheric upwelling occurs with a strengthening of the subtropical jet. There is also a narrowing and strengthening of lower stratospheric upwelling that is related to an equatorward shift in critical latitude for wave breaking and the associated strengthening of the subtropical lower stratosphere’s zonal winds. However, the stratospheric responses display different seasonal, hemispheric, and transient patterns than those in the troposphere, indicating independent circulation changes between the two domains.