bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The association of prenatal alcohol exposure with brain development during the first 1000 days of life: a systematic review
Authors: Pielage Marin , Rousian Melek , Heteren Sem van , Groenenberg Irene A.L. , Hillegers Manon H.J. , Steegers Eric , Marroun Hanan El
Published: June 2024

Background The first 1000 days of life form a critical period for
lifelong health, growth and neurodevelopment. Prenatal exposure to toxic
substances, such as alcohol (PAE), can impact both short- and long-term
offspring health. However, knowledge on PAE and brain development in
early life is limited. Objectives This systematic review
investigated associations between PAE and brain development during the
first 1000 days of life. Search strategy This systematic review
was registered in PROSPERO at CRD42022355144. The literature search was
performed from inception until February 2024, in EMBASE, MEDLINE, Web of
Science, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library. Selection criteria
Studies investigating PAE and brain development during the first 1000
days, using ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or diffusion
tensor imaging (DTI) were included. Data collection and analysis
Our search initially identified 3618 articles, of which 16 were
included. Collected information extracted from the articles included:
study period, study population, design, methodology, exposure
information, imaging type (ultrasound, MRI or DTI), brain measurements
and study results. Main results The findings suggest inconsistent
associations between PAE and early brain development. Ultrasound studies
on PAE and brain size report no clear relations. Some postnatal MRI
studies reported smaller thalami, amygdalae and hippocampi in alcohol
exposed neonates. Postnatal DTI studies ( n=5) examining network
integrity and connectivity reported bidirectional results in multiple
brain networks. Conclusions This systematic review highlights the
need for further research on first trimester brain development, timing
and quantity of alcohol exposure. Longitudinal assessments and
standardized procedures for neuroimaging are crucial to understand the
impact of PAE on early brain development.
Wind shapes the growth strategies of trees in a tropical forest
Authors: Jackson Tobias , Bittencourt Paulo , Poffley Jakob , Anderson Juliet , Muller-Landau Helene , Ramos Pablo , Rowland Lucy , Coomes David
Published: June 2024

In tropical forests, trees strategically balance growth patterns to
optimize fitness amid multiple environmental stressors. Wind poses the
primary risk to a tree’s mechanical stability, prompting developments
such as thicker trunks to withstand the bending forces. Therefore, a
trade-off in resource allocation exists between diameter growth and
vertical growth to compete for light. We explore this trade-off by
measuring the relative wind mortality risk for 96 trees in a tropical
forest in Panama and testing how it varies with tree size, species and
wind exposure. Surprisingly, local wind exposure and tree size had
minimal impact on wind mortality risk; instead, species wood density
emerged as the crucial factor. Low wood density species exhibited a
significantly greater wind mortality risk, suggesting a prioritization
of competition for light over biomechanical stability. Our study
highlights the pivotal role of wind safety in shaping the life-history
strategy of trees and structuring diverse tropical forests.
Genetic diversity and ecogeographical niche overlap among hybridizing ox-eye daisies (Leucanthemum, Asteraceae) in the Carpathian Mountains: the impact of anthropogenic disturbances
Authors: Konowalik Kamil , Tomasello Salvatore , Urbaniak Jacek
Published: June 2024

Climate change and human influence are transforming mountain ecosystems,
significantly impacting species distributions and biodiversity. Among
these changes, the upward migration of lowland species into mountain
regions stands out. This study examines the ecogeographical niche
overlap and genetic diversity among three Leucanthemum species in
the Carpathian Mountains distributed along an altitudinal gradient: the
lowland L. ircutianum (4x), the montane L.
rotundifolium (2x), and the alpine L. gaudinii
(2x). By genotyping over 600 individuals using SNP analysis,
followed by Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA), Neighbor-Net Network,
and Structure clustering, we reveal not just distinct genetic groups but
also hybridization across all species, suggesting the potential for
triple hybrids. Genetic admixture is further supported by environmental
background and niche overlap analyses that reveal substantial overlap
among species, particularly in line with their vertical distribution.
Climate envelope plots indicate a likely reduction in available habitat
for mountainous species due to climate change, leading to an increase in
competition and an intensification of hybridization. Anthropogenic
influences are further intensifying these hybridization trends. Among
the studied species, L. gaudinii is most at risk of overwhelming
hybridization, whereas L. ircutianum may experience habitat
expansion. By providing a comprehensive genetic and ecological overview,
our research highlights the significance of hybridization in
biodiversity conservation and the challenges posed by environmental
changes and anthropogenic activities in mountain environments. This
study not only contributes to the understanding of genetic diversity in
the Carpathians but also underscores the broader implications for
molecular ecology and conservation strategies in mountain ecosystems.
The Prevalence of Three Prominent Corticosteroid Side Effects in a Large Asthma Population by Age, Sex and ICD-10 Asthma Severity
Authors: Yao Bowen , Zou Ruitao , Wilson Thomas , Orfan Nicholas
Published: June 2024

Background: The adverse effects of corticosteroid therapy in the
treatment of asthma have been extensively documented and explored over
the past several decades. Prominent among these adverse effects are
osteoporosis, cataracts and osteonecrosis. We assessed the prevalence of
these three well known side effects of corticosteroid therapy for asthma
in asthmatics versus non asthmatics from a general adult population of
3.5 million individuals. Methods: Using the Colorado all payers claims
database with dates of service January 1, 2017 through June 30, 2020, we
determined the prevalence of osteoporosis, cataracts and osteonecrosis
by asthma severity, age and sex as compared with an age and sex matched
non asthmatic comparator group. Results: Asthmatics generally showed an
earlier onset and higher prevalence of these three side effects which
correlated with asthma severity, often reaching statistically
significant divergence from the non asthmatic comparator group. Patterns
of prevalence with regard to both age and sex were distinctive for each
side effect. Conclusion: Based on our findings, we suggest customized
screening guidelines for osteoporosis, cataracts and osteonecrosis for
specific sub-populations of asthmatics as defined by age, sex and asthma
severity.
Partner specificity and latitudinal patterns of diversity in an algal-salamander mutualism
Authors: Bishop Cory , Wallace Shannon , Burns John , Hale Rebecca , Kerney Ryan , Mott Cy
Published: June 2024

The mutualism between the green alga Oophila amblystomatis
((Lambert, 1905 ex Wille, 1909) and egg masses of the spotted
salamander Ambystoma maculatum (Shaw) involves acquisition of
algal cells from water, followed by their population growth within
embryonic capsules of the egg mass. Sampling thus far has been of
insufficient geographic and sequencing scale to quantify the specificity
of partner choice and whether it varies latitudinally. We used PacBio
and Illumina sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene to investigate diversity in
egg capsule fluid harvested from five locales separated by 1° latitude.
We re-analyzed 18S (V4) and chloroplast 16S (V4/V5) reads from previous
work using denoising protocols, which, along with current data, produced
16.37 million reads. We detected no chlorophytes outside the
Oophila clade and detected cercozoan protists and rhizophydialean
fungi in some capsules. There was a mean of 10.14  3.40 amplicon
sequence variants (ASVs) per sample for Oophila, ranging in
prevalence from endemic to omnipresent. We observed among-locale
variation in mean ASVs/sample, but not in a latitudinal pattern.
However, the mean proportion of the two most prevalent ASVs varied as a
function of latitude. Pairwise alignments of ASVs from the V4 region
revealed an inverse relationship between sequence identity and relative
abundance in read counts. We conclude that the specificity of this
mutualism is high, but additional closely related ASVs, with varying
relative abundance and prevalence, are detectable. This mutualism may be
suited as a model with which to test theories of partner choice.
Comparison of Consolidation Strategies for Pediatric Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia -- Results of the Randomized GATLA 8-LMA-P'07 Trial
Authors: gomez sergio , Deana Alejandra , Riccheri Maria Cecilia , Freigeiro Daniel , Moran Lorena , Fynn Alcira Beatriz , Sung Lillian
Published: June 2024

AbstractObjective: The primary objective was to
determine if consolidation with two short chemotherapy cycles using
cytarabine plus idarubicin (AI) and high dose cytarabine plus
mitoxantrone (haM) (two-cycle) reduced the cumulative incidence of
relapse compared to the standard regimen of a 6-week consolidation phase
(CONS) among newly diagnosed pediatric patients with acute myeloid
leukemia (AML).   Methods:  GATLA 8-LMA-P’07 was a phase III
trial conducted in 26 centers in Argentina. We included newly diagnosed
pediatric patients with AML 0-18 years of age. Patients with M3 AML were
excluded. After two cycles of induction, patients in remission were
randomized to either CONS or two-cycle consolidation chemotherapy. High
risk patients received matched family stem cell transplantation or
maintenance therapy for 12 months.  Results: One hundred
seven  patients younger than 18 years with de novo AML were randomized
to CONS (n=52) or two-cycle (n=57). Cumulative incidence (standard
error) of relapse was not significantly different between CONS (31%
(0.1)) and two-cycle (39% (0.1)) consolidation (P=0.25). There was no
significant difference in 5-year event free survival (53.6% (0.8) vs
44.3 (0.7), P= 0.31) or 5-year overall survival (55.0% (0.8) vs. 53.7%
(0.7), P=0.91) for CONS and two-cycle consolidation respectively. 
Conclusions: Consolidation with two cycles of chemotherapy was
not significantly better than the standard consolidation in reducing the
cumulative risk of relapse among newly diagnosed children with AML from
Argentina. Future research should evaluate new approaches to improves
outcomes for pediatric patients with AML.
Population Genomics of Adaptive Radiation
Authors: Combrink Lucia , Benavides Jimena Golcher , Lewanski Alexander , Rick Jessica , Rosenthal William , Wagner Catherine
Published: June 2024

Adaptive radiations are rich laboratories for exploring, testing, and
understanding key theories in evolution and ecology because they offer
spectacular displays of speciation and ecological adaptation. Particular
challenges to the study of adaptive radiation include high levels of
species richness, rapid speciation, and gene flow between species. Over
the last decade, high-throughput sequencing technologies and access to
population genomic data have lessened these challenges by enabling the
analysis of samples from many individual organisms at whole-genome
scales. Here we review how population genomic data have facilitated our
knowledge of adaptive radiation in five key areas: 1) phylogenetics, 2)
hybridization, 3) timing and rates of diversification, 4) genomic basis
of trait evolution, and 5) the role of genome structure in divergence.
We review current knowledge in each area, highlight outstanding
questions, and focus on methods that facilitate detection of complex
patterns in population evolutionary demography. Among patterns that
emerge, we particularly note that hybridization—and the hypothesized
processes by which it shapes diversification—and questions seeking to
bridge the divide between microevolutionary and macroevolutionary
processes as rich areas for future study. Overall, access to population
genomic data have facilitated an exciting era in adaptive radiation
research, with implications for deeper understanding of fundamental
evolutionary processes across the tree of life.
Baseline for the Northeast Atlantic (58 – 70° N) intertidal Mytilus species complex ( Mytilus spp .)
Authors: Strohmeier Tore , Strand Øivind , Haugland Barbro Taraldset , Agüera Antonio
Published: June 2024

Aim: During the last decades mussels have shown a poleward
shift in the distribution along the Atlantic coast conceivably driven by
elevated sea-surface temperatures. We aimed to determine the baseline
for the Northeast Atlantic (58 – 70° N) Mytilus species complex,
and to compare the present distribution to surveys conducted 60 years
ago. Location: Northeast Atlantic Methodology:
Baseline was obtained by investigating a total of 509 stations in the
intertidal zone, in four regions comprising the environmental gradient
from head of fjord to coast, and distributed over the latitudinal
gradient from 58 – 70° N. Results: The baseline shows a range
in continuous abundance of mussels from 12 to 36 %, patchy abundance
from 26 to 57 % and no or very limited mussel abundance from 26 to 46
% between the four regions. The presence of mussels in the southeast
and west region was compared to previous surveys conducted 60 years ago.
The data points to similar past and present presence of mussels in both
regions, yet past major mussel fields in the inner section of region
Southeast was not detected in this study. Main conclusions: The
baseline of Mytilus spp. in the Northeast Atlantic (58 – 70° N)
is now available for future reference. The baseline, compared to surveys
conducted 60 years ago, points to awareness of the population situated
in the southeast section of the investigated region. Continued
monitoring and modelling are needed to clarify drivers of temporal and
spatial variation in the mussel populations along the Northeastern
Atlantic coast.
Quinazolinone acrylamides as anti-Alzheimer agents: Unravelling their modulating efficacy on Amyloidogenic peptide assembly at molecular level
Authors: Kandrakonda Yelamanda Rao , Remya Chandran , V. Dileep K. , Shaik Jeelan Basha , Gajula Navya Naidu , Mothukuru Sreelakshmi , Aramati Bindu Madhava Reddy , Subramanyam Rajagopal , Gangaiah Damu Amooru
Published: June 2024

Amyloid beta peptide (Aβ) aggregation in the brain represents an initial
detrimental episode in the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
Recently, it has been discovered that inhibiting Aβ neurotoxicity by
modulating highly toxic Aβ oligomers (AβOs) is more rewarding than
reducing overall amyloid fibril production. In line with this, here we
discuss the efficiency of multifunctional quinazolinone and vanillin
acrylamide hybrids (QVA1-5) as modulators of aggregation behaviour. ThT
assay inferred the dose dependent intensification of Aβ1-42 aggregation
by QVA1-5. FE-SEM study disclosed enormously distinctive differences
amongst the aggregate morphologies of Aβ1-42 and Aβ1-42 + QVA1-5 which
intensely reinforced the modulatory action of QVA1-5 on the molecular
assembly of Aβ1-42. Alamar Blue assay proved QVA1-5 as effective
neuroprotectors in SH-SY5Y cell line against Aβ1-42 induced toxicity.
Western blot showed increased Aβ1-42 fibrils in SH-SY5Y cells with
QVA1-5. In molecular docking, all ligands had identical binding poses in
sites 4-6 of Aβ fibril structure (PDB ID: 2M4J), where ligands span
across five Aβ monomers that are stacked together and stabilized the
fibril formation by hydrophobic interactions with the residues of Aβ
monomers. In the molecular dynamic simulations, the lesser RMSD and
similar rGyr values for ligands further supported the stability of the
ligands inside the binding pocket of 2M4J Aβ fibril. All in all, the
present study provides a mechanistic explanation at the atomic level for
the impact of QVA1-5 on the Aβ fibril stabilization and shed light for
the discovery of drugs that can manipulate the Aβ aggregates formation.
Pediatric T-lymphoblastic leukemia with an entirely mature immunophenotype: a prompt and challenging diagnosis
Authors: Cheng Jinjun , Wang Yannan , Wistinghausen Birte , Schore Reuven , Toner Keri , Gong Shunyou
Published: June 2024

Children with T-ALL/LBL often requires prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Flow cytometric analysis of T-lineage (such as CD3) and immaturity
markers (TdT, CD34, CD1a) is usually straightforward for a diagnosis,
except in occasional T-ALLs expressing bright CD45 and lack expression
of immature markers. Moreover, occasional mature T-cell lymphomas lack
surface CD3 expression or aberrantly express immature markers. It’s
critical to differentiate T-ALLs from mature T-cell lymphoma in children
because of distinct treatments. Here, we summarize the features of
pediatric T-ALL cases with an entirely mature immunophenotype.
Psychotherapist responsiveness: A latent profile analysis
Authors: Tan Yaqian
Published: June 2024

Although responsiveness has been defined as a therapist-level factor
mediating between client characteristics and treatment outcomes, further
empirical studies are necessary to explore its effect in psychotherapy
process and outcomes. This study aims to identify the subgroups of
therapist responsiveness, and investigate the extent to which it is
related to the working alliance and treatment outcomes. This study
identifies profiles of responsiveness by using a latent profile analysis
on self-reported data from 239 therapists from China. Results showed
that therapists were categorized in terms of high, medium, and low-level
responsiveness. Differences on working alliance, client symptom
improvement, client overall improvement reached significant levels
across the responsiveness profiles. These findings suggest that
therapists vary in delivering responsiveness, which can further affect
the effectiveness of their treatment.
Ferroptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, and necroptosis in the occurrence and development of radiation-induced lung injury
Authors: Wang Cailan , Lin Xinyi , Ning Xin , Wu Qiaoyuan , Liang Shixiong
Published: June 2024

Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is one of the side effects of
thoracic malignancy radiotherapy. Once RILI occurs, delayed or untreated
cases with Grade IV lung damage can lead to respiratory failure or even
death. Therefore, identifying potential biomarkers and treatment targets
to improve the prognosis of thoracic radiotherapy patients is of crucial
clinical significance. Cell death is a genetically determined process.
Active and orderly cell death is ubiquitous in the processes of living
organisms and plays a critical role in regulating life homeostasis.
Based on the speed of occurrence and whether influenced by drugs or
genes, cell death is classified into two categories: accidental cell
death (ACD) and regulated cell death (RCD). Non-apoptotic RCD can be
subdivided into ferroptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis and necroptosis.
Different PCDs have mutual and intricate connections to promote immune
dysregulation and contribute to the development of RILI. Studies have
shown that ferroptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis and necroptosis are
involved in the distinct and progression of a variety of diseases,
including tumors. In this review, we summarized the recent advances in
ferroptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis and necroptosis in the occurrence,
development, and therapeutic potential of RILI.
Modelling hydrological drought and its recovery given natural and anthropogenic scenarios in South America
Authors: Briones Jorge Eduardo Vega , Sutanudjaja Edwin , Jong Steven de , Wanders Niko
Published: June 2024

Changes in groundwater recharge in areas where irrigated agriculture has
increased despite low precipitation and surface water allocation are a
big concern. The increasing water demand has raised global drought
intensities by 10-500%, worsening hydrological drought. Agriculture
accounts for 69% of total groundwater abstraction worldwide, and South
America expects to face unprecedented hydrological drought conditions
within the next 30 years with uncertain impacts (UNESCO 2022, Wada 2016,
Wanders & Wada 2015, Siebert et al. 2015). This study compares coupled
and non-coupled versions of PCR-GLOBWB2.0 with MODFLOW regarding model
selection and scenario comparison. Natural and human scenarios are
presented to understand the effects of groundwater depletion and drought
recovery. The scenario comparison evaluation of groundwater fluxes,
drought characteristics, and recovery reveals changes in the water cycle
due to anthropogenic impacts. This is valuable for identifying drought
vulnerability in regions where water management is critical for human
consumption and ecosystems.
Crop pest and diseases risks mapping using Geographic information System (GIS) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) techniques
Authors: Mashi Sani Abubakar , Muye Aminu Abdullahi , Idris Kabir , Sani Safirat
Published: June 2024

Pests and diseases are important factors contribution to destruction of
biotic components and promoting land degradation. Assessing
vulnerability of areas to them is problematic because multiple factors
(such as soil, topography, weather, and land use/cover need to be
modelled in an integrated manner. Studies are limited that combine
Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Geographic Information Systems
(GIS) to assess crop pest and disease despite the high potentials of the
two techniques in carrying out such an evaluation. In this study, pests
and diseases vulnerability are assessed through the combined use of the
two techniques, using Gwagwalada area council, Nigeria, as area of
focus. A six-phase AHP methodology ensured robust decision-making,
culminating in a risk map depicting vulnerability levels, with land use
and land cover identified as the most influential factors. The
implications emphasized the necessity for tailored management strategies
to safeguard agricultural productivity. Validation against NDVI
supported the vulnerability map’s accuracy, highlighting areas of high
vegetative cover prone to pest and disease occurrences. The study’s
findings emphasized the critical role of agricultural land and
vegetation cover, as well as soil moisture, temperature, and slope
towards the vulnerability. The integrated approach facilitated
comprehensive risk-assessment and decision-making, providing insights to
enhance agricultural resilience and sustainability. Recommendations
include implementing customized management plans, enhancing
surveillance, educating farmers on integrated pest management, improving
soil health, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, adopting modern
technologies, and advocating for supportive policies. These measures
could collectively strengthen agricultural resilience, ensuring food
security and livelihood sustainability in Gwagwalada and similar
regions.
Hydrologically informed estimation of plant species richness across a vernal pool complex using drone-mounted LiDAR
Authors: Nesslage Jacob Ryan , Hestir Erin , Viers Joshua H.
Published: June 2024

Understanding the spatial patterns of plant diversity across vernal pool
complexes remains challenging, as plant communities change rapidly in
time and concurrent collection of relevant data for modeling remain
logistically elusive. In the absence of coupled ecohydrological data, we
demonstrate that the application of drone-mounted light detection and
ranging (LiDAR) systems to vernal pools enables estimation of species
richness using hydrological proxies and spatial modeling. Parameters
related to hydrologic connectivity, soil moisture, and hydroperiod
describe substantial variation in species richness patterns (r2 = 0.28 ±
0.03) across vernal pool complexes. Converging factors, such as
proximity to areas of hydrologic connectivity with low surface
roughness, tend to promote forb richness but describe less of the
variation in grasses. Estimates of species richness are accurate to
within 2-3 species using models derived from UAV-LiDAR, providing an
approximation of potential biodiversity hotspots in lieu of in-situ
surveys.
Influence of Banana Fiber on Mechanical Properties of Luffa Nanoparticles Epoxy Composite
Authors:   Department of Mechanical Engineering Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso, Nigeria, Babatunde I.A , Adetola S.O. , Mudashiru L.O
Published: June 2024

The rapid growing in technology as opened way for the utilization of eco-friendly resources, particularly the use of natural fiber for the creation of polymer composites. In the present work, banana fibers and the luffa were extracted from luffa plant and banana stem by manual stripping into strands. 60 nm luffa fiber was obtained after milling in a planetary ball milling machine and pre-impregnated into epoxy resin matrix. 2, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 wt.% short banana fiber were blended with the matrix for the production of composites using hand lay-up method. The hardness, tensile strength, and flexural strength of the produced composites were evaluated. The hardness, tensile and flexural strengths (47.5 – 52.6 Hv, 12.75 – 14.81 MPa and 143.93 – 165.83 MPa) of the produced composites were observed to increase with increasing short banana fiber content from 2 wt.% - 15 wt.% and decreased at 20 wt.%. Properties of the produced composites can be satisfactorily used in synergy as raw materials for composites manufacturing to widen its applications. Keywords: Polymer Composites, Nanoparticle Luffa fiber, Short Banana fiber, Epoxy Resin Aims Research Journal Reference Format: Babatunde I. A., Adetola S. O. & Mudashiru L. O. (2024): Influence of Banana Fiber on Mechanical Properties of Luffa Nanoparticles Epoxy Composite. Advances in Multidisciplinary and Scientific Research Journal Vol. 10. No. 2. Pp 107-116 www.isteams.net/aimsjournal. dx.doi.org/10.22624/AIMS/V10N2P9
Endovascular treatment of visceral artery aneurysms − case reports
Authors: Batinic Nikola , Manojlovic Vladimir , Nikolic Dragan , Petres Andrej , Petrovic Katarina
Published: June 2024

Introduction. Visceral artery aneurysms, including those affecting the
splenic and hepatic arteries, rank among the most common types of
abnormalities within the visceral arterial system. Treatment options for
visceral artery aneurysms include open surgery and endovascular repair, with
the latter being preferred for anatomically suitable and asymptomatic
patients. Case Report. We present two cases, where the first concerns a
72-year-old male patient with an asymptomatic large common hepatic artery
aneurism measuring 4.5 cm in maximum diameter. Computed tomography
angiography revealed a 1.1 cm enlargement of the aneurism maximum diameter
over a two-year period. The second case involves a 65-year-old female
patient with asymptomatic splenic artery aneurism measuring 3.2 cm in
maximum diameter. Both patients underwent endovascular stent deployment as
part of their treatment regimen. No complications were observed during the
early and late post-procedural phases. Follow-up imaging via control
computed tomography angiography one month after the procedure revealed
transparent stents in both cases without evidence of endoleaks. Conclusion.
Endovascular stent deployment emerges as a safe and most efficient treatment
modality for asymptomatic visceral artery aneurysms
Trefoil Factor 2 Expressed by the Murine Pancreatic Acinar Cells Is Required for the Development of Islets and for β-Cell Function During Aging
Authors: Ortiz Jose A. , Ghazalli Nadiah , Lopez Kassandra , Rawson Jeffrey , McCown Erika M. , Oh Eunjin , Irimia Jose M. , Jou Kevin , Mares Jacob , Chen Min-Hsuan , Wu Xiwei , Zook Heather N. , Quijano Janine C. , Erdem Neslihan , Lizarraga Anahy , Kandeel Fouad , Fueger Patrick T. , Thurmond Debbie C. , Ku Hsun Teresa
Published: June 2024

Exocrine-to-endocrine cross talk in the pancreas is crucial to maintain β-cell function. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this cross talk are largely undefined. Trefoil factor 2 (Tff2) is a secreted factor known to promote the proliferation of β-cells in vitro, but its physiological role in vivo in the pancreas is unknown. Also, it remains unclear which pancreatic cell type expresses Tff2 protein. We therefore created a mouse model with a conditional knockout of Tff2 in the murine pancreas. We find that the Tff2 protein is preferentially expressed in acinar but not ductal or endocrine cells. Tff2 deficiency in the pancreas reduces β-cell mass on embryonic day 16.5. However, homozygous mutant mice are born without a reduction of β-cells and with acinar Tff3 compensation by day 7. When mice are aged to 1 year, both male and female homozygous and male heterozygous mutants develop impaired glucose tolerance without affected insulin sensitivity. Perifusion analysis reveals that the second phase of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from islets is reduced in aged homozygous mutant compared with controls. Collectively, these results demonstrate a previously unknown role of Tff2 as an exocrine acinar cell-derived protein required for maintaining functional endocrine β-cells in mice.

Article Highlights
142-OR: A1C and Average Glucose Discordance—Personalized A1C Improves the Discrepancy, Particularly in Black Individuals
Authors: AJJAN RAMZI , DUNN TIMOTHY , XU YONGJIN , CHOUDHARY PRATIK
Published: June 2024

Introduction: Black individuals with diabetes have greater hypoglycemic hospitalizations, perhaps due to overtreatment of elevated laboratory A1C compared to average glucose (AG), related to altered red blood cell (RBC) biology. Our aim was to evaluate the size of the problem and improve A1C accuracy using a new glycemic marker.

Methods: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and bi-monthly A1C were collected in a 26-week study of adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes across different race groups. RBC personal glycation ratio (PGR) was determined at 12 weeks and used to calculate personalized A1C (pA1C) with this new glycemic marker assessed against paired 56-day AG-derived A1C.

Results: Of 811 A1C and AG-derived A1C comparisons in 245 individuals, 34% displayed greater than 0.5% disagreement. This was reduced to 13% using pA1C, with the largest improvement detected in 56 Black individuals (reducing from 42% deviation rate for A1C to 17% for pA1C, Figure). For A1C values <7%, more than 0.5% discrepancy between A1C and AG-derived A1C for the whole group and Black individuals was lowered from 27% and 34%, respectively, to 5% and 9% with pA1C.

Conclusion: Clinically significant A1C and AG-derived A1C discordance is common, particularly in Black individuals. Personalized A1C addresses this discrepancy potentially improving clinical management in diabetes and reducing health disparities.

Disclosure

R. Ajjan: Research Support; Abbott. Speaker's Bureau; Abbott. Advisory Panel; Abbott, AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk. Speaker's Bureau; Boehringer-Ingelheim. Research Support; Diabetes UK. Advisory Panel; Eli Lilly and Company, Sanofi. T. Dunn: Employee; Abbott. Y. Xu: None. P. Choudhary: Advisory Panel; Abbott, Biolinq. Speaker's Bureau; Dexcom, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi. Advisory Panel; Ypsomed AG, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated.
1932-LB: Cost-Effectiveness of the National Diabetes Prevention Program—A Real-World, Two-Year Prospective Study
Authors: KUO SHIHCHEN , YE WEN , WANG DI , MCEWEN LAURA N. , VILLATORO SANTOS CLAUDIA , HERMAN WILLIAM H.
Published: June 2024

Few studies have examined the cost-effectiveness of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) in real-world settings. We evaluated the real-world cost-effectiveness of the NDPP in people with prediabetes in a large workforce with employer-sponsored health insurance. We performed individual-level, empirical data analyses using surveys and health insurance claims for 6,179 adult employees, dependents, and retirees with prediabetes who enrolled (n=592) or did not enroll (n=5,587) in the NDPP. We assessed direct medical costs the year before NDPP enrollment/index date (baseline) through 2 years afterward, EQ-5D-5L utility scores at baseline and 2 years afterward, and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) over 2 years for NDPP enrollees and non-enrollees. We applied propensity score weighting to adjust for bias due to self-selection for enrollment, multiple imputations to handle missing data, and bootstrap method to produce confidence intervals (CIs). We adopted a health system perspective and discounted costs and QALYs at 3% annually. Costs were expressed in 2020 U.S. dollars. Compared to non-enrollees, the average reduction in direct medical costs per enrollee was $3,979 (95% CI: -$11,962 to $2,019) over 2 years. The cost savings were primarily related to fewer hospitalizations (-$3,016), outpatient visits (-$639), and emergency room visits (-$272) among enrollees. Each enrollee accrued 1.726 QALYs and each non-enrollee accrued 1.702 QALYs over 2 years, representing a gain of 0.024 (95% CI: -0.007 to 0.052) QALY per enrollee. The uncertainty analyses showed a high probability (75%) of cost savings, and an 89% probability of being cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000 per QALY gained, for NDPP enrollees versus non-enrollees. In this real-world population with prediabetes, enrollment in the NDPP was likely to provide cost savings and improve quality-adjusted life-expectancy. Further research is warranted to confirm these findings.

Disclosure

S. Kuo: None. W. Ye: None. D. Wang: None. L.N. McEwen: None. C. Villatoro Santos: None. W.H. Herman: Consultant; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. Advisory Panel; American Diabetes Association. Other Relationship; National Institutes of Health. Advisory Panel; National Committee for Quality Assurance.

Funding

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01DK109995 and P30DK092926), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U18DP006712)
57-OR: Enhancing Diabetic Eye Disease Detection through Autonomous Artificial Intelligence Implementation in a Federally Qualified Health Center
Authors: CASTRO MILIBETH , BISHOP DOUGLAS , WEITZMAN DENA , RAMIREZ RINA
Published: June 2024

Diabetic eye disease (DED), specifically diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME), affects nearly 30 percent of people living with diabetes. Despite the severity of DED, almost half of those living with diabetes do not receive an annual eye exam for diabetes (EED) as recommended by leading professional societies. Zufall Health Center (ZHC), a Federally Qualified Health Center, faced a substantial care gap due to the high demand for annual EEDs surpassing the capacity of their onsite optometrist. In response, in April 2021, ZHC implemented an FDA-cleared autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) system for the detection of DR (including DME) into routine diabetes care. We investigated the impact of AI implementation on patient access to annual EEDs, assessing changes in completion rates before and after. Annual EEDs were defined as completion of an evaluation in the eye for DED by either an eyecare provider or autonomous AI. Completion rates for annual EEDs for patients with diabetes increased from 16.0% (314/1,904) (April 2021) to 35.0% (996/2,819) (June 2023), 529 of which were tested with autonomous AI. Between April 2021 to June 2023, 384 patients received a diagnosis from the autonomous AI. Among all patients examined by the autonomous AI, 24.0% (92/384) were identified as having signs of DED and received prompt referrals to eyecare. 292 patients tested negative, avoiding an unnecessary referral to eyecare. The integration of autonomous AI at the point of care effectively reduces access barriers, resulting in a substantial increase in DED testing rates.

Disclosure

M. Castro: None. D. Bishop: None. D. Weitzman: Employee; Digital Diagnostics. R. Ramirez: None.
Navigating the Work Passion and Safety Behavior Examining the Role of Safety Locus of Control in the Aviation Sector
Authors: Eryılmaz İnan , Öney Tugay , Tüm Kılıç Yeşim , Erhan Tuğba
Published: June 2024

"Safety" is a very essential factor in human-technology interaction in the aviation industry. There are limited number of studies on determining the strong emotions and motivations that improve the safety behavior perceptions of employees under intense workload and stress in the aviation industry, that cares about the importance to compliance with developing information, communication and security technologies. The aim of the research, which focuses on filling this gap in findings, is to reveal the effect of work passion levels of aviation industry employees on their perception of safety behavior and to determine whether safety locus of control plays a mediating role in this relationship. The research sample consists of employees working in different departments in the Turkish civil aviation industry (n = 541). After confirmatory factor analysis was performed to test the model and hypotheses of the research, Medmod macro was used to test multiple regression analysis and indirect effects. Research findings demonstrate that engaging in harmonious passion is a positive predictor of safety behavior. On the other hand, it was found that obsessive passion did not affect safety behavior. Additionally, it was observed that internal locus of control had a full mediating role in the relationship between harmonious passion, obsessive passion, and safety behavior. On the other contrary, it was determined that external locus of control did not play a mediating role in the relationship between harmonious passion, obsessive passion and safety behavior. Inferences were made from the research findings, research limitations were highlighted, and suggestions for the sector and future research were presented.
The Innovation in Air Plasma Spray for Hardfacing
Authors: Vu Duong
Published: June 2024

Thermal spray coating plays a significant role in industry. The wear-resistant deposition helps to provide a longer life cycle for the components. There is an ongoing effort to develop coatings that improve the coefficient of friction. Compared with other deposition techniques, plasma spray coating can be recommended for a wide range of substrate materials to produce a stable, wear-resistant material. The plasma-sprayed deposition not only improves tribological performance but also embeds the desired mechanical and physical properties. In plasma spray technology, the inert gas used is mostly plasma jet. To create the wear-resistant coatings, the engineers apply self-flux or cermet powder, both of which are expensive materials. Some positive results of deposition using the amorphous powder encouraged the engineers and researchers. But in a few of the investigations on the air plasma spray Fe-based powder, the plasma generation gas is ordinary air. This innovation served to save on production costs. The aim of this work is the study of Fe-based spraying, applying the modification of a plasma torch. Both of the innovations help to enhance the hardfacing effect for wear resistance.
Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Network. Case Study: Baku Metropolitan Area
Authors: Imanov Tapdig
Published: June 2024

The development and implementation of the Urban Air Mobility transportation system, using electric vertical takeoff and landing (e-VTOL) aircrafts are the most promising solutions to mitigate growing congestion in big cities. The multiple studies and assumed forecasts indicate a transformation of urban and regional transportation infrastructure while applying the air mobility concept. This study analyzes the feasibility of UAM operations focused on the selection of service segmentation with relevant use cases, which allows for define suitable air vehicle configurations for optimization of possible air network development for Baku city and suburban areas. The result of the study introduces air vehicle features, including flight range, payload ratio, as well as several aspects of weather condition for safe operations, and outlines approaches to defining suitable regulatory framework requirements for public departments. The findings provide a practical perspective for urban planners and involved single companies, which may be useful guidelines at the initial stages of UAM services and obtaining significant information about e-VTOL aircraft and their design configurations to overcome arising barriers in the implementation processes.
Phenology and Molecular Characterization of Annona Genotypes
Authors: Mahla Jagruti S. , Soni N. V. , Patel Ashita , Patel P. C. , Zala H. N. , Dave G. S.
Published: June 2024

The experiment was conducted during July, 2020–January, 2021 at Agroforestry Research Station, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat, India. Annona belongs to the family Annonaceae. The Annonaceae fruits are morphologically uniform but each type has a unique taste, flavour pulp colour and texture. The study revealed three types of leaf shapes (ovate, elliptic and lanceolate), leaf apex (acute, rounded and obtuse), leaf base (acute, rounded and acuminate), fruit shape (cordate, rounded and irregular), medium and late time of harvest maturity, overlapping and smooth segmentation of the surface and only one type for fruit at peduncle end i.e., inflated. The biochemical analysis of Annona species revealed the ranges of TSS (18.39 to 28.32 °B), TA of pulp (0.18–0.80%), reducing sugar (15.02–19.44%), non-reducing sugar (2.77–5.92%), total sugar (17.79–23.70%), ascorbic acid (27.55–43.10 mg 100 g-1) and phenol (0.18–0.36%). The DNA was amplified using fourteen simple sequence repeats primers and twenty-six alleles were found with an average of 1.86 alleles loci-1. The polymorphism information content value of the SSR markers was in the range of 0.09 to 0.38. A dendrogram was developed based on the cluster analysis, which revealed similarity index values varied from 0.58 to 1.00 with an average of 0.83. Based on the dendrogram the genotypes were clustered into two main clusters viz., A and B. Cluster A has sixteen genotypes and cluster B has two genotypes belonging to different Annona species. These results concluded that SSR markers could be efficiently used to study divergence among Annona genotypes.
Modeling of biosurfactant synthesis using Bacillus ssp
Authors:   Lviv Polytechnic National University, Yanvarov Y. B. , Havryliak V. V. ,   Lviv Polytechnic National University
Published: June 2024

Bacteria belonging to the genus Bacillus produce biogenic surface-active compounds which are a sustainable alternative to synthetic ones. The amount of the target products depends significantly on the conditions of microorganism cultivation, especially the components of the medium. In this study, we utilized Bacillus spp. strain that can grow in a glycerol-containing medium. We used the Monod model to determine the growth kinetics of the bacteria depending on the concentration of nutrients in the medium. Our findings indicated that intensive growth of Bacillus spp. bacteria is observed during cultivation in the medium with a glycerol concentration of 30–40 g/L. The surface- active substances from Bacillus spp. was characterized by a sufficient level of foaming and foam stability. The highest value of foam stability was observed on the 7th day of cultivation.
Determination of optimal parameters of the barley brewer’s spent grain filtration drying
Authors:   Lviv Polytechnic National University, Ivashchuk O. S. , Atamanyuk V. M. ,   Lviv Polytechnic National University, Chyzhovych R. A. ,   Lviv Polytechnic National University, Barabakh S. A. ,   Lviv Polytechnic National University
Published: June 2024

In this work, the calculation of specific energy consumption for the process of the barley brewer’s spent grain filtration drying was investigated. It has been determined that the lowest total energy consumption for the evaporation of 1 kg of moisture during the filtration drying of barley brewer’s spent grain from the initial moisture content of the material ω1 = 77.88 % (wt.) to the final value ω2 = 10 % (wt.) is 14898.087 kJ/kg H2O or 4.138 kW/kg H2O for the following process parameters: the height of the layer of dried material H = 120 mm, the thermal agent temperature T = 90 °C, the thermal agent velocity v0 = 1.81 m/sec. Determining the optimal process parameters at which the lowest energy costs for drying the material are possible is important for the design of drying equipment.
Murteen ja murteentutkimuksen olemuksen jäljillä
Authors: Aarikka Lotta
Published: June 2024

Lotta Aarikan suomen kielen alaan kuuluva väitöskirja tarkastettiin Turun yliopistossa perjantaina 9. kesäkuuta 2023. Vastaväittäjänä toimi suomen kielen dosentti, yleisen kielitieteen emeritusprofessori Fred Karlsson Helsingin yliopistosta ja kustoksena suomen kielen dosentti, yliopistonlehtori Tommi Kurki.
Lotta Aarikka: Murre ja sen tutkimus. Näkökulmia fennistisen murteentutkimuksen historiaan ja kieli-ideologioihin 1871–2017. Annales Universitatis Turkuensis. Sarja B. Osa 626. Humaniora. Turku: Turun yliopisto 2023. Kirja on luettavissa osoitteessa https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-29-9301-7
Kuinka monta nollaa on nollassa?
Authors: Varjo Mikael
Published: June 2024

Arvitoitu teos:
Gréte Dalmi, Egor Tsedryk & Piotr Cegłowski (toim.): Null subjects in Slavic and Finno-Ugric. Licensing, structure and typology. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton 2022. 379 s. isbn 97815015 20228.
Samojedikielten tuntemattomista kontaktikielistä
Authors: Kaheinen Kaisla
Published: June 2024

Kaisla Kaheisen suomalais-ugrilaisen kielentutkimuksen alaan kuuluva väitöskirja tarkastettiin Helsingin yliopistossa perjantaina 15. joulukuuta 2023. Vastaväittäjänä toimi saamen kielen professori Ante Aikio Oulun ylipistosta ja kustoksena vanhempi yliopistonlehtori Ekaterina Gruzdeva.
Kaisla Kaheinen: Etymologia ex silentio. Nganasanin äännehistoria ja kielikontaktit. Dissertationes Universitatis Helsingiensis 111. Helsinki: Helsingin yliopisto 2023. Kirja on luettavissa osoitteessa: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-51-9567-8
Monikielinen koulu kaikille tutuksi
Authors: Tiermas Anne
Published: June 2024

Arvioitu teos:
Maria Ahlholm, Irina Piippo & Päivi Portaankorva- Koivisto (toim.): Vasta- saapuneet luokkahuoneissa. Ikkunoita valmistavaan opetukseen ja monikieliseen kouluun. Tampere: Vastapaino 2023. 376 s. isbn 9789523970168
Multistatic Passive Radar for drone detection based Random Finite State
Authors: Milembolo Miantezila Junior , Guo Bin  , Wu Jinshuang  , Ma Weijiao
Published: June 2024

Considering the implication of radar sensors in our daily life and environment. Localizing and identifying drones are becoming a research with  a greater focus in recent years.  Consequently, when an unmanned aerial vehicle is used with bad intention, this can lead to a serious public safety and privacy probem. This study investigate pratical use of spectrum range for multistatic passive radar (MSPR) signal processing . Firstly, signal processing is performed after MSPR sensing detection range ,this include multipath energy detection, reference signal extraction, and receiving antenna configuration.  Secondly, based on the MSPR nature, the reference signal is extracted and analyzed. In addition,taking into consideration the vulnerability of passive radar when comes to a moving target localization and real time tracking detection ,a novel method for spectrum sensing and detection which relies on Gaussian filter is proposed. The main goal is to optimize the use of the reference signal extracted with minimum interference as the shared reference signal in spectrum sensing. This will improve the system detection capability and spectrum access. Finally, a recursive method based on Bernoulli random filter is proposed, this takes consideration of drone’s present and unknown states based on time. Moreover, a system is developed meticulously to track and enhance detection of the target. A careful result of the experiment demonstrated that spectral detection can be achieved accurately even when the drone is moving while chasing its position. It shows that Cramer Rao lower error bounds remains significantly within 3% range.