bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Year‐round sampling of the fish community in a boreal lake: differences between summer and winter influence estimates of species composition, catch, and fish size
Authors: Eerola Emmi S. , Megyeri Eszter , Piro Alexander J. , Hayden Brian , Kahilainen Kimmo K.
Published: July 2024

Boreal lakes experience pronounced seasonal variation in abiotic factors, especially light, temperature, and oxygen. A deep boreal humic lake was sampled year‐round to test putative changes in total fish catch, species composition, catch‐per‐unit‐effort (CPUE), habitat use, fish size, and condition. Monthly sampling was conducted in Lake Pääjärvi, southern Finland, during one full year in 2020–2021 as well as in March and August 2021 and 2022. The fish community was dominated by cyprinid species in all months, but the percentage of percid fish caught increased during the warm summer period. Most fish were caught in littoral habitats and the highest catches occurred in summer, but some species (e.g., ruffe, Gymnocephalus cernua, and pikeperch, Sander lucioperca) remained abundant in the winter catch. The body size of fish was larger in the winter catch, while condition factor was higher in summer for most species. Fish species proportions in total catch, CPUE, and average size of fish were closest to the annual mean values in September, which may be used as the optimal period to monitor fish communities of similar deep boreal lakes. Our findings highlight the need for year‐round research to reveal the impacts of rising temperatures and diminishing ice‐covered periods in fish communities and lake food webs.
Cervical cancer in Malaysia
Authors: Noor Mohamad Noor Azura , Omar Jamil
Published: July 2024

Cervical cancer is preventable due to effective screening to detect pre‐malignant lesion, and vaccination against its causative organism namely human papillomavirus (HPV). This review article described current situation of cervical cancer in Malaysia. There is decreasing cervical cancer incidence in the country, with age‐standardized rate of 10.3, versus 14.1 and 7.5 per 100 000 for worldwide and high‐income countries, respectively. School‐based HPV vaccination is part of national immunization since 2010, with yearly coverage rate of 83%–91%. The figure declined during coronavirus disease‐19 pandemic due to scarce vaccine supply and movement‐control order, resulting in about 500 000 students missing their course, with catch‐up program currently onboard. Opportunistic cervical screening program started in 1960s with cervical smear cytology, which is succeeded by HPV DNA screening since 2020. Cervical cytology remains indispensable  screening method in healthcare facility without access to HPV test kit, and used to triage high‐risk HPV positive with abnormal cytology that require urgent colposcopy. Computed tomography is the main imaging modality to assess local and distal extent of cervical cancer. Primary surgical treatment for early‐stage cancer is performed by trained gynecologic oncologist, with long waiting list for radiation therapy in locally advanced disease due to limited available public facility. There is restricted access to targeted therapy due to high treatment cost. In conclusion, Malaysia is heading toward cervical cancer elimination through rigorous investment in primary and secondary prevention, and increase in public engagement with the support of government policy enforcement.
Effects of orthodontic aligners on the ecological report of awake bruxism
Authors: Colonna Anna , Lobbezoo Frank , Capelli Eleonora , Bracci Alessandro , Lombardo Luca , Pollis Matteo , Manfredini Daniele
Published: July 2024

Background

The demand for orthodontic treatment with aligners has recently increased, but their effects on awake bruxism (AB) behaviours have to be evaluated yet.

Objectives

This investigation assessed if aligners can affect oral behaviours (i.e. tooth contact, teeth clenching, teeth grinding and mandible bracing) that are related with the AB spectrum.

Methods

The investigation was performed in a sample of 32 consecutively recruited healthy adult patients who required orthodontic treatment. The study protocol involved three different sessions of 1‐week monitoring without aligners, with passive aligners and with active aligners, respectively. All patients underwent an orthodontic treatment with aligners and used a smartphone‐based application for a real‐time report (i.e. ecological momentary assessment [EMA]) of their AB behaviours. Recording time was set from 8.00 to 12.30 and from 14.30 to 22.00. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the average reported frequency for each activity within and between the different sessions. The coefficient of variation (CV) was assessed to evaluate daily fluctuations within the 7 days monitoring periods.

Results

The average reported frequency of the relaxed condition was 64.9%, 63.0% and 60.0% during the sessions without aligners, with passive aligners and with active aligners, respectively. ANOVA showed no significant differences in any of the AB behaviours within (i.e. between 7 days of evaluation) and between the monitoring sessions (i.e. before orthodontic treatment, with passive aligners, with active aligners). No sex differences were detected, except for the ‘tooth contact’ report that showed a higher frequency in females.

Conclusion

The impact of our results in the orthodontic field is not negligible; clinicians can find support for the hypothesis that from a global point of view, wearing or not wearing aligners (passive and/or active) does not influence the frequency of AB behaviours at the short term.
Phytomelatonin: From Intracellular Signaling to Global Horticulture Market
Authors: Aghdam Morteza Soleimani , Arnao Marino B.
Published: July 2024

Melatonin (N‐acetyl‐5‐methoxytryptamine), a well‐known mammalian hormone, has been having a great relevance in the Plant World in recent years. Many of its physiological actions in plants are leading to possible features of agronomic interest, especially those related to improvements in tolerance to stressors and in the postharvest life of fruits and vegetables. Thus, through the exogenous application of melatonin or by modifying the endogenous biosynthesis of phytomelatonin, some change can be made in the functional levels of melatonin in tissues and their responses. Also, acting in the respective phytomelatonin biosynthesis enzymes, regulating the expression of tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC), tryptamine 5‐hydroxylase (T5H), serotonin N‐acetyltransferase (SNAT), N‐acetylserotonin O‐methyltransferase (ASMT), and caffeic acid O‐methyltransferase (COMT), and recently the possible action of deacetylases on some intermediates offers promising opportunities for improving fruits and vegetables in postharvest and its marketability. Other regulators/effectors such as different transcription factors, protein kinases, phosphatases, miRNAs, protein–protein interactions, and some gasotransmitters such as nitric oxide or hydrogen sulfide were also considered in an exhaustive vision. Other interesting aspects such as the role of phytomelatonin in autophagic responses, the posttranslational reprogramming by protein‐phosphorylation, ubiquitylation, SUMOylation, PARylation, persulfidation, and nitrosylation described in the phytomelatonin‐mediated responses were also discussed, including the relationship of phytomelatonin and several plant hormones, for chilling injury and fungal decay alleviating. The current data about the phytomelatonin receptor in plants (CAND2/PMTR1), the effect of UV‐B light and cold storage on the postharvest damage are presented and discussed. All this on the focus of a possible new action in the preservation of the quality of fruits and vegetables.
Estimating a common break point in means for long‐range dependent panel data
Authors: Xi Daiqing , Fuh Cheng‐Der , Pang Tianxiao
Published: July 2024

In this article, we study a common break point in means for panel data with cross‐sectional dependence through unobservable common factors, in which the observations are long‐range dependent over time and are heteroscedastic and may have different degrees of dependence across panels. First, we adopt the least squares method without taking the data features into account to estimate the common break point and to see how the data features affect the asymptotic behaviors of the estimator. Then, an iterative least squares estimator of the common break point which accounts for the common factors in the estimation procedure is examined. Our theoretical results reveal that: (1) There is a trade‐off between the overall break magnitude of the panel data and the long‐range dependence for both estimators. (2) The second estimation procedure can eliminate the effects of common factors from the asymptotic behaviors of the estimator successfully, but it cannot improve the rate of convergence of the estimator in most cases. Moreover, Monte Carlo simulations are given to illustrate the theoretical results on finite‐sample performance.
Stories of struggle and resilience: Examining the experiences of two Spanish teachers through history in person
Authors: Davin Kristin J. , Donato Richard
Published: July 2024

The purpose of this study was to examine the career trajectories of two teachers in the United States and their decision to leave teaching Spanish. Data for the study emerged from the teachers’ narratives about their school‐based experiences and the consequences of those experiences on their decisions to reorient their work in the educational community. We adopted the theoretical framework of history in person to analyze the interactions between the teachers’ own personal histories with the histories of the institutions in which they taught. Data collection began during the two teachers’ student‐teaching semester and continued for 5 years after their initial induction into the language teaching profession and included interviews and email communications. The context was North Carolina, a state experiencing a severe teacher shortage and conflicts regarding teacher compensation. Findings highlight the challenges these teachers faced and how their interactions with historically institutionalized struggles were consequential to their professional futures. Implications for research, policy, and teacher preparation are discussed.
Amphicarpic development in Cardamine chenopodiifolia
Authors: Emonet Aurélia , Pérez‐Antón Miguel , Neumann Ulla , Dunemann Sonja , Huettel Bruno , Koller Robert , Hay Angela
Published: July 2024

Amphicarpy is an unusual trait where two fruit types develop on the same plant: one above and the other belowground. This trait is not found in conventional model species. Therefore, its development and molecular genetics remain under‐studied. Here, we establish the allooctoploid Cardamine chenopodiifolia as an emerging experimental system to study amphicarpy.

We characterized C. chenopodiifolia development, focusing on differences in morphology and cell wall histochemistry between above‐ and belowground fruit. We generated a reference transcriptome with PacBio full‐length transcript sequencing and analysed differential gene expression between above‐ and belowground fruit valves.

Cardamine chenopodiifolia has two contrasting modes of seed dispersal. The main shoot fails to bolt and initiates floral primordia that grow underground where they self‐pollinate and set seed. By contrast, axillary shoots bolt and develop exploding seed pods aboveground. Morphological differences between aerial explosive fruit and subterranean nonexplosive fruit were reflected in a large number of differentially regulated genes involved in photosynthesis, secondary cell wall formation and defence responses.

Tools established in C. chenopodiifolia, such as a reference transcriptome, draft genome assembly and stable plant transformation, pave the way to study amphicarpy and trait evolution via allopolyploidy.
Efficacy and Safety of Fruquintinib‐Based Treatment in Patients with Refractory Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcoma after Developing Resistance to Several TKIs: A Multicenter Retrospective Study
Authors: Yang Chenchen , Li Binghao , Dong Sen , Xu Jie , Sun Xin , Liang Xin , Liu Kuisheng , Sun Kunkun , Yang Yi , Ji Tao , Ye Zhaoming , Xie Lu , Tang Xiaodong
Published: July 2024

Objective

Multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been approved as second‐line therapy in refractory sarcoma, prolonging progression‐free survival (PFS) but with short‐lived duration of disease control. Fruquintinib is a TKI that specifically inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor receptor‐1,2,3 with no metabolism by liver enzymes. In this retrospective study, we assessed the efficacy and safety of fruquintinib‐based treatment in patients with refractory sarcoma after developing several lines of TKI resistance.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with refractory sarcoma after they had developed several lines of resistance to TKIs and who received fruquintinib‐based treatment from November 2021 to August 2023. The primary endpoint was the progression‐free survival rate at 4 months (4m‐PFSR). Secondary endpoints were the median PFS, overall survival (OS), objective response rate, disease control rate, and adverse effects (AEs). PFS and OS were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. A log‐rank test was used to compare survival curves between different clinical and pathological factors. Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed to identify PFS‐related prognostic factors.

Results

We included 124 patients: 56 (45.2%) with osteosarcoma, 28 (22.6%) with Ewing sarcoma, seven (5.6%) with chondrosarcoma, and 33 (26.6%) with soft tissue sarcomas (STS). Only 18 (14.5%) patients received monotherapy with fruquintinib. With a median follow‐up time of 6.8 (interquartile range [IQR], 4.6–9.4) months, 22 (17.7%) patients had partial response and 78 (62.9%) had stable disease. The 4m‐PFSR was 58.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 49.6%–67.1%). The median PFS and OS were 4.4 (95% CI, 3.9–5.0) months and 11.4 (95% CI, 10.3–12.5) months. In multivariate analysis, a high hazard ratio for progression was associated with target lesions located outside the lung and bone with 1.79 (95% CI, 1.10–2.93; p = 0.020). Eighty‐eight AEs were recorded in 47 (37.9%) patients; the most common were pneumothorax (18/124, 14.5%), diarrhea (8/124, 6.5%), oral mucositis (7/124, 5.6%), and thrombocytopenia (7/124, 5.6%).

Conclusions

Fruquintinib may be a potential option for patients with refractory sarcoma after developing several lines of TKI resistance, with a satisfactory efficacy and safety profile in combination therapy. However, the degree of contribution of fruquintinib to results is unclear when combined with other effective substances. Additional prospective trials of fruquintinib should be conducted, especially involving different pathological types and combination regimens.
Conventional suspension delivery versus tattooing pen‐assisted suspension delivery in non‐cultured epidermal cell suspension procedure for vitiligo: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Meena Akshay , Vinay Keshavamurthy , Kumaran Muthu Sendhil , Kumar Sheetanshu , Bishnoi Anuradha , Parsad Davinder
Published: July 2024

Non‐cultured epidermal suspension (NCES) is one of the most widely used surgical therapy for stable vitiligo patients in which recipient size preparation plays an important role in the outcome of NCES. The primary objective is to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of conventional suspension delivery after manual dermabrasion (CSMD) versus tattooing pen‐assisted suspension delivery (TPSD) in NCES. Paired vitiligo units (VU) in 36 patients, matched with respect to size and location were divided into two groups. The VU in Group 1 underwent suspension delivery by CSMD while the VU in Group 2 underwent same by TPSD. All the VU were followed up at regular intervals until 24 weeks. At the end of 24 weeks, 31 VU (86.1%) in Group 1 achieved >75% repigmentation which was significantly higher (p = .02, chi‐square test) as compared to 22 VU (61.1%) in Group 2. The color matching in both the groups VU was also comparable (p = .84, chi‐square test). The patient global assessment (PGA) was significantly higher in Group 1 VU as compared to Group 2. Treatment response in terms of repigmentation and PGA was significantly better in VU treated with CSMD as compared to TPSD. Recipient site complications were seen more commonly in Group 1 VU as compared to Group 2. Perilesional halo at the recipient site was seen in none of the VU in Group 2 which was significantly lower than 6 VU in Group 1 than (p = .02, chi‐square test). Better results may be possible with technical improvisations in tattooing pen needle diameter and depth of penetration.
Modulation of gene expression in skin wound healing by photobiomodulation therapy: A systematic review in vivo studies
Authors: Pilar Emily Ferreira Salles , Brochado Fernanda Thomé , Schmidt Tuany Rafaeli , Leite Amanda Costa , Deluca Alexia Antunes , Mármora Belkiss Câmara , Siebert Marina , Wagner Vivian Petersen , Martins Manoela Domingues
Published: July 2024

Background

Wound healing is a multistep process involving coordinated responses of a variety of cell types, cytokines, growth factors, and extracellular matrix (ECM) components leading to the physiological restoration of tissue integrity. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has been highlighted as an approach to improve the healing process, nonetheless at the molecular level, the effects of PBMT are not entirely understood.

Aim

To systematically review publications that investigated gene expression after PBMT during in vivo skin repair.

Methods

An electronic search was undertaken in Medline Ovid (Wolters Kluwer), PubMed (National Library of Medicine), Web of Science (Thomson Reuters), Scopus (Elsevier), Embase, and LILACS databases. The search strategy was conducted from the terms: low‐level light therapy, gene expression, and wound healing and their synonyms. The databases were consulted in December 2023 and no publication year limit was used.

Results

Eleven studies were included in this review and the expression of 186 genes was evaluated. PBMT modified the expression of several targets genes studied, such as down‐regulation of genes related to extracellular matrix proteases (MMP2andMMP9) and pro‐inflammatory cytokines (IL10andIL6) and up‐regulation ofDNMT3AandBFGF.

Conclusion

This review demonstrates that PBMT is capable of regulating gene expression during wound healing. Most evidence showed a positive impact of PBMT in regulating genes linked to inflammatory cytokines improving skin wound healing. Yet, the effects of PBMT in genes involved in other mechanisms still need to be better understood.
Reframing Avant‐Garde Texts as Visual Objects
Authors: Lucento Angelina
Published: July 2024

This review essay assesses six early Soviet avant‐garde texts that recently were republished by the European University Press in St. Petersburg. These volumes include incredibly exact, high‐resolution reprints of seminal avant‐garde texts with historical commentary and analytic essays, which offer new insight into the illustrated books’ contributions to the socialist project. This essay describes those contributions and their implications for our current understanding of the visual function of early Soviet poetry. It aims to open space for a discussion of the particular material visuality of avant‐garde books and other static visual objects within contemporary debates about the meaning of text and image in Soviet visual culture.
Determinants of fiscal rules policy credibility in West African Economic and Monetary Union countries
Authors: Da Dakpoulé , Diarra Mahamadou
Published: July 2024

More than a quarter century after implementing fiscal rules, and despite extensions of the convergence phase, West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) countries are still unable to comply with the fiscal rules established. In addition, these countries are facing multiple shocks, exerting pressure on public finances. Based on this context, this paper empirically investigates the drivers of fiscal rules policy credibility of seven WAEMU countries over the period 1994–2019. Using two measures of fiscal rules policy credibility and pooled mean group (PMG) econometric estimator of dynamic panel, we find that internal and external macroeconomic variables are the main determinants of fiscal rules policy credibility in WAEMU countries in the long run. The institutional and political variables have mitigated effects. Specifically, we find that debt accumulation, economic activity fluctuation (gross domestic product), fiscal space reduction, and international commodity price fluctuation harm fiscal rules policy credibility, meaning that these variables deviate the fiscal policy from its target value. Our results suggest that WAEMU governments should pay attention to global shocks to reduce their macroeconomic vulnerabilities and better manage their economic resilience. In addition, they should better manage debt by allocating it to productive sectors, or improve the quality of institutions by establishing a genuine democracy that improves decision‐making and reduces deviant behaviour.
Personality profiles and exercise behaviour across adulthood
Authors: Wang Jin‐Kai , Shao Yun‐Ru , Guo Lu , Mao Zhi‐Xiong
Published: July 2024

Personality has constituted a significant psychological component predicting physical exercise. Prior research mostly focused on how personality domains are associated with exercise behaviour. Yet, focusing more closely on combinations of personality domains may be valuable in the future. The present cross‐sectional study aimed to bridge this gap by investigating the associations between Big Five personality profiles and exercise behaviour based on a person‐centred approach in adults. Data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) were used (N = 28,304), in which participants reported their Big Five personality and exercise behaviour. Latent profile analyses, grounded in young adulthood, middle adulthood, and later adulthood sub‐samples, identified five personality profiles: moderate, reserved, confident, resilient, and vulnerable. Across three age groups, significant differences between the five personality profiles in relation to exercise behaviour were revealed. Individuals with the resilient or confident profiles generally had longer exercise duration while people with the vulnerable profile tended to exercise less. Our findings give greater insight into the relationship between exercise and personality, suggesting that different combinations of personality traits may determine individuals' exercise behaviour. It opens promising avenues for identification of adults at risk of lacking exercise, and for development of personality‐targeted exercise interventions.
Freedom dreaming from the university‐community nexus: Relational praxis as counterspace
Authors: Sonn Christopher C. , Agung‐Igusti Rama P. , Komba Geskeva , Ruach Ruth Nyarout , Deng Ez Eldin
Published: July 2024

In this article we draw on storytelling and bricolage to reflect on critical accompaniment as relational praxis with cultural workers from the African diaspora inside/outside/in‐between the university‐community nexus in Australia. We write together weaving our voices as we re‐member our journey and our coming together fuelled by our shared desire, to tell our own stories on our terms; to contest virulent racisms and misrecognition of the African diaspora in media, academic, and political discourse; and to create spaces, settings, and narratives for identity, community and belonging. In reflecting on this journey we distil some insights on our efforts to enact just methods, our routes and roots of creating praxis inside/outside and with the university. We suggest that our relationships, forged through critical dialogue and examination of racism in settings that we intentionally create, is central to developing communality. Drawing from the rich history of African and diasporic archives, we also advocate for expanding ecologies of knowledge and practice and modalities for endarkened counter storytelling.
Assessing the efficacy of mesotherapy products: Ultra Exo Booster, and Ultra S Line Plus in hair growth: An ex vivo study
Authors: Zhou Shu Yi , Giang Nguyen Ngan , Kim Hyunjee , Chien Pham Ngoc , Le Linh Thi Thuy , Trinh Thuy‐Tien Thi , Nga Pham Thi , Kwon Han Jin , Ham Jung Ryul , Lee Won Ku , Gu Yeon Ju , Zhang Xin Rui , Jin Yong Xun , Nam Sun Young , Heo Chan Yeong
Published: July 2024

In this study, scalp tissues from Korean adults between 20 and 80 without skin disease were used. Scalp tissues were processed, and hair follicles were isolated and cultured with different treatments (including Bioscalp, Ultra Exo Booster, and Ultra S Line Plus) from Ultra V company. Over 12 days, observations and measurements of hair follicle characteristics were recorded at intervals (Days 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12). The study assessed the impact of these substances on hair follicle growth and morphology. Bioscalp, combined with Ultra Exo Booster and Ultra S Line Plus, showed significant hair elongation in ex vivo. Preservation of hair bulb diameter was observed, indicating potential for sustained hair growth by exosome‐based products. The hair growth cycle analysis suggested a lower transition to the catagen stage in test products from Ultra V compared to non‐treated groups. The research findings indicated that the tested formulations, especially the combination of Bioscalp, Ultra Exo Booster, and Ultra S Line Plus, demonstrated significant effectiveness in promoting hair growth, maintaining the integrity of the hair bulb, and reducing the transition to the catagen stage. The study suggests promising alternative treatments for hair loss, illustrating results that were as good as those of the conventional testing product groups.
Epidemiology of infectious diseases in migrant populations from endemic or high‐endemic countries: A multicentric primary care‐based study in Spain
Authors: Cruz Angeline , Sequeira‐Aymar Ethel , Gonçalves Alessandra Queiroga , Camps‐Vila Laura , Monclús‐González Marta M. , Revuelta‐Muñoz Elisa M. , Busquet‐Solé Núria , Sarriegui‐Domínguez Susana , Casellas Aina , Cuxart‐Graell Alba , Rosa Dalmau Llorca M. , Aguilar‐Martín Carina , Requena‐Méndez Ana
Published: July 2024

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of seven infections (Chagas disease, strongyloidiasis, schistosomiasis, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C virus, and active tuberculosis) in migrant populations attended at primary care facilities in Catalonia, Spain.

Methods

This is a cross sectional study conducted from March to December 2018 at eight primary care centres in Catalonia, Spain where health professionals were recommended to systematically screen multiple infections in migrants considering the endemicity of the pathogens in their country of birth. Routine health data were retrospectively extracted from electronic health records of the primary care centres. The proportion of cases among individuals tested for each infection was estimated with its 95% confident interval (CI). Mixed‐effects logistics regression models were conducted to assess any possible association between the exposure variables and the primary outcome.

Results

Out of the 15,780 migrants that attended primary care centres, 2410 individuals were tested for at least one infection. Of the 508 (21.1%) migrants diagnosed with at least one condition, a higher proportion originated from Sub‐Saharan Africa (207, 40.7%), followed by South‐East Europe (117, 23.0%) and Latin‐America (88, 17.3%; p value <0.001). The proportion of migrants diagnosed with Chagas disease was 5/122 (4.1%, 95%CI 0.5–7.7), for strongyloidiasis 56/409 (13.7%, 95%CI 10.3–17.0) and for schistosomiasis 2/101 (2.0%, 95%CI 0.0–4.7) with very few cases tested. The estimated proportion for human immunodeficiency virus was 67/1176 (5.7%, 95%CI 4.4–7.0); 377/1478 (25.5%, 95%CI 23.3–27.7) for hepatitis B virus, with 108/1478 (7.3%, 95%CI 6.0–8.6) of them presenting an active infection, while 31/1433 (2.2%, 95%CI 1.4–2.9) were diagnosed with hepatitis C virus. One case of active tuberculosis was diagnosed after testing 172 migrant patients (0.6%, 95%CI 0.0–1.7).

Conclusions

We estimated a high proportion of the studied infections in migrants from endemic areas. Country‐specific estimations of the burden of infections in migrants are fundamental for the implementation of preventive interventions.
Hoof wall masses removal in 30 standing sedated horses: Surgical technique, postoperative complications and long‐term outcome
Authors: Ross Catherine , White Jonathan M. , Hibner‐Szaltys Maria , Stephenson Richard S. , Withers Jonathan M. , Marcatili Marco
Published: July 2024

Objective

To describe the surgical technique for removal of hoof wall masses in horses under standing sedation (SS) and local anesthesia (LA), and to report complications and long‐term outcome following surgery.

Study design

Observational retrospective study.

Animals

Client‐owned horses (n = 30).

Methods

Horses undergoing keratoma removal under SS and LA in a single equine hospital between August 2016 and July 2023 were included in the study. Signalment, affected foot, history of lameness and/or foot abscesses, degree of lameness on admission, imaging findings (radiography and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] when available), location of the mass, surgical technique, remedial farriery, postoperative care, complications and outcome were recorded. Long‐term follow‐up information was obtained by telephone questionnaire.

Results

A total of 30 horses met the inclusion criteria. Duration of lameness ranged from 1 to 289 days (mean 90 days). The degree of lameness varied from absent to grade 4/5 (AAEP) (mean grade 3/5). All horses underwent preoperative radiographic examination and 14/30 underwent MRI. All horses underwent partial hoof wall resection. The surgery was performed safely in all cases. Postoperative complications included marked lameness in the early postoperative period in 3/30 horses and exuberant granulation tissue formation in 2/30 horses. Long‐term (>6 months) follow‐up information was available for 28 horses, and 26/28 horses returned to previous levels of exercise. Recurrence was suspected in 1/30 horses.

Conclusions

The complication rate was lower than previously reported for keratoma removal under general anesthesia (GA).

Clinical significance

Removal of hoof wall masses under SS and LA can be considered as an alternative to removal under GA.
Estimation of Turbulent Mixing Factor and Study of Turbulent Flow Structures in Pressurized Water Reactor Sub Channel by Direct Numerical Simulation
Authors: Singh R. K. , Mukhopadhyay Deb , Khakhar D. , Joshi J. B.
Published: July 2024

Subchannel analysis codes are presently a requirement for design and safety analysis of nuclear reactors. Among the crucial inputs for these codes, the turbulent mixing factor holds particular significance. However, acquiring this factor through experimental means proves to be a challenging endeavor, primarily due to the necessity for precise pressure equilibrium between subchannels. Consequently, this requirement leads to the undertaking of expensive and intricate experiments for each new reactor or in cases where there are modifications in fuel bundle design. The need for direct numerical simulation (DNS) stems from the challenges and costs involved in experimental techniques, and the uncertainties due to empiricism in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models. In this study, DNS has been conducted across six Reynolds numbers, ranging from 17,640 to 1.176 × 105, in the geometry of a pressurized water reactor (PWR) subchannel. The resulting turbulent flow structures have been computed and their dynamics are examined. Furthermore, this paper presents a methodology for directly calculating the turbulent mixing factor from the fluctuating velocity field obtained from DNS data. The turbulent mixing process has been scrutinized in-depth, and a correlation for the turbulent mixing factor is developed. It is noted that most of the mixing occurs in the near-wall region. The study suggests different mixing factors for mass and momentum mixing. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive insight into the turbulent mixing phenomenon.
Topology Optimization of the Misaligned Water-Lubricated Thrust Bearings
Authors: Gu Chunxing , Tu Jingyi , Zhang Di
Published: July 2024

Misalignment results in uneven force on the contact surface, which not only increases friction loss but also shortens the bearing's service life, especially for water-lubricated bearings. In this study, an advanced approach is investigated to optimize the performance of the water-lubricated thrust bearings, in which the surface textures are introduced and optimized using topological optimization. By this approach, the influence of speed, misalignment angle, surface roughness, and lubrication state can be analyzed. The results demonstrate that with the increase in speed and the decrease in film thickness ratio, the topological texture's shape becomes increasingly slender. Additionally, the increase in misalignment angle results in a simpler texture. When the film thickness ratio remains unchanged, a decrease in surface roughness leads to a greater number of texture branches, resulting in a finer texture overall. When compared to the thrust bearing with the groove type texture, the thrust bearing with the optimized texture was found to have a higher load-carrying capacity, in some cases up to six times higher. The proposed approach offers valuable insights and directions for further research focused on enhancing the efficiency of texture optimization.
Multi-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Assisted Flood Navigation of Waterborne Vehicles Using Deep Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Garg Armaan , Jha Shashi Shekhar
Published: July 2024

During disasters, such as floods, it is crucial to get real-time ground information for planning rescue and response operations. With the advent of technology, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are being deployed for real-time path planning to provide support to evacuation teams. However, their dependency on expert human pilots for command and control limits their operational capacity to the line-of-sight range. In this article, we utilize a deep reinforcement learning algorithm to autonomously control multiple UAVs for area coverage. The objective is to identify serviceable paths for safe navigation of waterborne evacuation vehicles (WBVs) to reach critical location(s) during floods. The UAVs are tasked to capture the obstacle-related data and identify shallow water regions for unrestricted motion of the WBV(s). The data gathered by UAVs is used by the minimum expansion A* (MEA*) algorithm for path planning to assist WBV(s). MEA* addresses the node expansion issue with the standard A* algorithm, by pruning the unserviceable nodes/locations based on the captured information, hence expediting the path planning process. The proposed approach, MEA*MADDPG, is compared with other prevalent techniques from the literature over simulated flood environments with moving obstacles. The results highlight the significance of the proposed model as it outperforms other techniques when compared over various performance metrics.
Dry Grinding: A More Sustainable Manufacturing Process for the Production of Automotive Gears
Authors: Fortunato Alessandro , Liverani Erica , Cestone Lorenzo , Lerra Flavia , Ascari Alessandro , Iqbal Hambal , Lutey Adrian H.A.
Published: July 2024

Gears represent a fundamental component of automotive transmissions, the performance of which is directly influenced by flank surface integrity. With the exception of grinding, gear production does not require the use of lubricants. The elimination of oils in the final finishing phase represents an important opportunity to greatly improve process sustainability and reduce production costs. However, dry grinding presents several challenges, including dimensional tolerances and roughness requirements, microstructural defects due to excessive heat generation, and maintaining the overall surface integrity of flanks such that wear resistance is not compromised. The present work investigates the geometric accuracy, microstructure, and wear resistance of FIAT 500 4/6 speed gears manufactured by FCA/Stellantis, comparing conventional wet grinding with two alternative processes including superfinishing and dry grinding. The material and manufacturing processes employed prior to grinding were the same in all cases, with grinding then performed by the same manufacturer. The dimensional accuracy, roughness, microstructure, residual stress state, and wear resistance of gear flanks were then analyzed to compare the overall performance of each grinding process. The obtained results show that dry grinding can produce gears with acceptable geometric accuracy, no microstructure defects and greater wear resistance than gears finished with conventional wet grinding or superfinishing. As a result, the complete elimination of lubricant in gear production is possible, leading to a more sustainable process without compromising gear performance.
Mitigation of Stress Corrosion Cracking in Additively Manufactured Stainless Steel by Laser Shock Peening
Authors: Over Veronica , Yao Y. Lawrence
Published: July 2024

Use of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) stainless steel in corrosive environments is attractive due to material's high corrosion resistance and fine feature resolution, which is advantageous for fluidic applications. For this implementation to be optimized, LPBF stainless steel parts must have reduced susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking (SCC), a failure mode that is of high risk for stainless steels. Laser shock peening (LSP) surface processing has been used to improve SCC resistance in wrought metals and has also been used to improve other material properties of additively manufactured metals. However, LSP has yet to be investigated for the improvement of SCC behavior in LPBF stainless steel. This article demonstrates that not only does LSP improve time to crack initiation of LPBF 316L stainless steel in SCC testing but also improves SCC behavior differently when applied to different surfaces of the build. To explain these results, residual stress, texture, dislocation distribution, hardness, microstructure, and fracture surfaces are investigated, linking different hydrogen embrittlement mechanisms to each of the two build orientations as well as the peened and un-peened conditions. These results are supported by matching the observed crack morphologies to those simulated with dynamic crack modeling, thereby demonstrating the impact of residual stress and plastic versus brittle failure upon the observed outcome.
Numerical and Analytical Study for the Stochastic Spatial Dependent Prey–Predator Dynamical System
Authors: Baber Muhammad Zafarullah , Yasin Muhammad Waqas , Xu Changjin , Ahmed Nauman , Iqbal Muhammad Sajid
Published: July 2024

Prey and predator are the important factor of the ecosystem. Generally, it is considered that prey–predator models depends on time and it is only required nonlinear system of equations for its dynamical study. But, it is observed that such species can move from one to place to another and in such a way there is a need of nonlinear equations which also depends on spatial as well. The stochastic prey–predator system are investigated numerically and analytically. The proposed stochastic NSFD is used for numerical study; it is consistent with given system and its linear stability analysis showed that it is unconditionally stable. There are two equilibria one is predator free and second is coexistence equilibrium. These equilibria are successfully gained in the numerical case. Extended generalized Riccati equation mapping method is applied for analytical study. The obtained solutions are of the form rational, hyperbolic, and trigonometric. For the comparative study, the unique physical problems are developed and their simulations are drawn for various choices of the parameters. The graphical behavior depicts the efficacy of our study.
The tonotopic cochlea puzzle: A resonant transmission line with a “non-resonant” response peak
Authors: Sisto Renata , Moleti Arturo
Published: July 2024

The peaked cochlear tonotopic response does not show the typical phenomenology of a resonant system. Simulations of a 2 D viscous model show that the position of the peak is determined by the competition between a sharp pressure boost due to the increase in the real part of the wavenumber as the forward wave enters the short-wave region, and a sudden increase in the viscous losses, partly counteracted by the input power provided by the outer hair cells. This viewpoint also explains the peculiar experimental behavior of the cochlear admittance (broadly tuned and almost level-independent) in the peak region.
Fault-tolerant one-bit addition with the smallest interesting color code
Authors: Wang Yang , Simsek Selwyn , Gatterman Thomas M. , Gerber Justin A. , Gilmore Kevin , Gresh Dan , Hewitt Nathan , Horst Chandler V. , Matheny Mitchell , Mengle Tanner , Neyenhuis Brian , Criger Ben
Published: July 2024

Fault-tolerant operations based on stabilizer codes are the state of the art in suppressing error rates in quantum computations. Most such codes do not permit a straightforward implementation of non-Clifford logical operations, which are necessary to define a universal gate set. As a result, implementations of these operations must use either error-correcting codes with more complicated error correction procedures or gate teleportation and magic states, which are prepared at the logical level, increasing overhead to a degree that precludes near-term implementation. Here, we implement a small quantum algorithm, one-qubit addition, fault-tolerantly on a trapped-ion quantum computer, using the[[8, 3, 2]]color code. By removing unnecessary error correction circuits and using low-overhead techniques for fault-tolerant preparation and measurement, we reduce the number of error-prone two-qubit gates and measurements to 36. We observe arithmetic errors with a rate of ∼1.1 × 10−3for the fault-tolerant circuit and ∼9.5 × 10−3for the unencoded circuit.
Indigenous emergence and spread of
kelch13
C469Y artemisinin-resistant
Plasmodium falciparum
in Uganda
Authors: Awor Phyllis , Coppée Romain , Khim Nimol , Rondepierre Laurine , Roesch Camille , Khean Chanra , Kul Chanvong , Eam Rotha , Lorn Thornleaksmey , Athieno Proscovia , Kimera Joseph , Balikagala Betty , Odongo-Aginya Emmanuel I. , Anywar Denis A. , Mita Toshihiro , Clain Jérôme , Ringwald Pascal , Signorell Aita , Lengeler Christian , Burri Christian , Ariey Frédéric , Hetzel Manuel W. , Witkowski Benoit
Published: July 2024

Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) were introduced as the standard of care for uncomplicated malaria in Africa almost two decades ago. Recent studies in East Africa have reported a gradual increase in
kelch13
(
k13
) mutant parasites associated with reduced artesunate efficacy. As part of the Community Access to Rectal Artesunate for Malaria project, we collected blood samples from 697 children with signs of severe malaria in northern Uganda between 2018 and 2020, before and after the introduction of rectal artesunate (RAS) in 2019.
K13
polymorphisms were assessed, and parasite editing and phenotyping were performed to assess the impact of mutations on parasite resistance. Whole-genome sequencing was performed, and haplotype networks were constructed to determine the geographic origin of
k13
mutations. Of the 697 children, 540 were positive for
Plasmodium falciparum
malaria by PCR and were treated with either RAS or injectable artesunate monotherapy followed in most cases by ACT. The most common
k13
mutation was C469Y (6.7%), which was detected more frequently in samples collected after RAS introduction. Genome editing confirmed reduced
in vitro
susceptibility to artemisinin in C469Y-harboring parasites compared to wild-type controls (
P
< 0.001). The haplotypic network showed that flanking regions of the C469Y mutation shared the same African genetic background, suggesting a single and indigenous origin of the mutation. Our data provide evidence of selection for the artemisinin-resistant C469Y mutation. The realistic threat of multiresistant parasites emerging in Africa should encourage careful monitoring of the efficacy of artemisinin derivatives and strict adherence to ACT treatment regimens.
Difference in microbial community structure along a gradient of crater altitude: insights from the Nushan volcano
Authors: Chen Jin , Cui Ye , Xiao Qingchen , Lin Keqin , Wang Boyan , Zhou Jing , Li Xiaoyu
Published: July 2024

The variation in the soil microbial community along the altitude gradient has been widely documented. However, the structure and function of the microbial communities distributed along the altitude gradient in the crater still need to be determined. We gathered soil specimens from different elevations within the Nushan volcano crater to bridge this knowledge gap. We investigated the microbial communities of bacteria and fungi in the soil. It is noteworthy that the microbial alpha diversity peaks in the middle of the crater. However, network analysis shows that bacterial (nodes 760 vs 613 vs 601) and fungal (nodes 328 vs 224 vs 400) communities are most stable at the bottom and top of the crater, respectively. Furthermore, the soil microbial network exhibited a decline, followed by an increase across varying altitudes. The core microorganisms displayed the highest correlation with pH and alkaline phosphatase (AP, as determined through redundancy analysis (RDA) and Mantel tests for correlation analysis. The fungal community has a higher number of core microorganisms, while the bacterial core microorganisms demonstrate greater susceptibility to environmental factors. In conclusion, we utilized Illumina sequencing techniques to assess the disparities in the structure and function of bacteria and fungi in the soil.

IMPORTANCE

These findings serve as a foundation for future investigations on microbial communities present in volcanic soil.
“IF,” Then…
Authors: Ward A. Wesley
Published: July 2024

I have been fascinated by science ever since childhood, through college, during 30 years with the U.S. Geological Survey, and to this day. Younger and smaller than my urban elementary and high-school peers, I developed a great curiosity about the outdoors early in my life. Through capturing specimens and placing them in home terrariums, building plastic models, and attending school science fairs, I looked to learn all I could about the world of science. Yet, in a span of a few years, I went from gifted student to college dropout. After breaking away from school for three years as a college sophomore, I finally found the inspiration, confidence, and an environment for success in the U.S. Army. Taking chances and making changes to live my new dream of being a geologist, I worked in lunar- and Mars-like areas of the Columbia River Plateau and at a workplace staffed by scientists I had seen on television as a teen. I made opportunities or took those that came along to help me reach my goals and became a professional geoscientist, entering perhaps the least diverse of all the sciences. There were wonderful experiences that I had, through outreach programs, activities, and the personal involvement of caring and forthright people. There were other experiences or circumstances, perpetuated against me by people with uncaring, antisocial, and even antiscience motives. Having addressed my own insecurities, I took on these extra challenges and found ways of ignoring or overcoming hatred and contempt by finding and grasping the outreaching hands that wanted to make lasting changes in our profession. Through it all, I persevered and achieved goals and happiness I had previously only dreamed of. Aside from perhaps leaving a scientific or management legacy, I also strove to help as many other underrepresented, underserved, and overlooked students as I could.

Content Warning:

This chapter contains several instances of a racist slur. The editors have chosen to leave this language intact in order to most faithfully convey the power of the author’s experience.