bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Response to Seawater Exposure During the Flowering Stage of Two Dune-Building Grasses: Calamagrostis arenaria (L.) Roth and Thinopyrum junceum (L.) Á.Löve
Authors: Cerrato M. D. , Ribas-Serra A. , Mir-Rosselló P. M. , Cortés-Fernández I. , Douthe C. , Cardona C. , Sureda A. , Flexas J. , Gil L.
Published: March 2024

Human disturbance and seawater intrusion have unpredictable effects on coastal species. Dune systems are crucial coastal habitats because they provide natural front protection against seawater influence. Adult plant stands in dunes are important since they maintain dune structure. This study evaluated salinity stress responses in adult plants of two key dune-building grasses differing in salt tolerance: Thinopyrum junceum (tolerant) and Calamagrostis arenaria (less tolerant). Cultivated plants were exposed to various seawater (SW) dilutions (Tap-Water, 6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, 50%, and 100%) and gas exchange measurements and oxidative stress biomarkers were determined after two months of treatment. Stress conditions were maintained until flowering to assess effects on the reproductive effort. The reproductive response showed high plasticity at various inflorescence stages in T. junceum, minimizing abortion processes. C. arenaria showed lower plasticity and higher abortion rates. Physiological traits responded similarly to salinity in both species, with greater effect on Fv/Fm decrease and non-photochemical quenching increase for T. junceum. Biochemical patterns of response were also similar, with increasing enzymatic activities at 25% SW treatment, mainly for glutathione reductase and peroxidase (GSH and GPx), and stress damage occurring at 50% and 100% SW treatments for increased malonaldehyde (MDA) levels. These findings provide insight into the salinity tolerance mechanisms of dune-building grasses. Higher salinity tolerance is suggested for T. junceum based on better reproductive effort. Higher juvenile tolerance, faster growth, and plant cycle adjustments are indicated as key traits for higher salinity tolerance of T. junceum in contrast to C. arenaria.
Association between the American Heart Association’s new “Life’s Essential 8” metrics and kidney stone
Authors: Dong Xingmo , Liao Lihua , Wang Yani , Lin Xueqin , Chen Weihua , Luo Huaijing , Yi Yi , Zhong Dewen , Wang Haifeng , Ma Zecong , Liu Yongfei , Liao Ying
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The incidence of kidney stone disease has increased worldwide, resulting in high medical costs and social burden. Kidney stone disease shares some common features with the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We investigated the association between cardiovascular health (CVH) based on the Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) score developed by the American Heart Association and the incidence of kidney stone disease.

Methods

We analyzed the data of 29,469 US adults aged 20 years or above from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007–2018. According to the LE8 score, CVH was divided into three categories: poor, intermediate, and ideal. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between CVH and the incidence of kidney stone disease by estimating odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

The average age of the participants was 48.6 years, and 50% of the participants were women. The numbers of participants with poor, intermediate, and ideal CVH were 4149, 19,782, and 5538, respectively. After adjusting for related confounding factors, ideal CVH was associated with a reduction in the odds of kidney stone occurrence as compared to poor CVH (adjusted OR [aOR]: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.35–0.57, p < 0.001). Moreover, if the ideal CVH metrics was ≥ 6, the odds of kidney stone occurrence decreased by up to 61% (aOR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.30–0.51).

Conclusions

In the present study, ideal CVH, a factor indicative of a healthy lifestyle, was associated with lower odds of kidney stone occurrence.
Intercomparison of initialization methods for seasonal-to-decadal climate predictions with the NorCPM
Authors: Garcia-Oliva Lilian , Counillon François , Bethke Ingo , Keenlyside Noel
Published: March 2024

Initialization is essential for accurate seasonal-to-decadal (S2D) climate predictions. The initialization schemes used differ on the component initialized, the Data Assimilation method, or the technique. We compare five popular schemes within NorCPM following the same experimental protocol: reanalysis from 1980 to 2010 and seasonal and decadal predictions initialized from the reanalysis. We compare atmospheric initialization—Newtonian relaxation (nudging)—against ocean initialization—Ensemble Kalman Filter—(ODA). On the atmosphere, we explore the benefit of full-field (NudF-UVT) or anomaly (NudA-UVT) nudging of horizontal winds and temperature (U, V, and T) observations. The scheme NudA-UV nudges horizontal winds to disentangle the role of wind-driven variability. The ODA+NudA-UV scheme is a first attempt at joint initialization of ocean and atmospheric components in NorCPM. During the reanalysis, atmospheric nudging improves the synchronization of the atmosphere and land components with the observed data. Conversely, ODA is more effective at synchronizing the ocean component with observations. The atmospheric nudging schemes are better at reproducing specific events, such as the rapid North Atlantic subpolar gyre shift. An abrupt climatological change using the NudA-UV scheme demonstrates that energy conservation is crucial when only assimilating winds. ODA outperforms atmospheric-initialized versions for S2D global predictions, while atmospheric nudging is preferable for accurately initializing phenomena in specific regions, with the technique’s benefit depending on the prediction’s temporal scale. For instance, atmospheric full-field initialization benefits the tropical Atlantic Niño at 1-month lead time, and atmospheric anomaly initialization benefits longer lead times, reducing hindcast drift. Combining atmosphere and ocean initialization yields sub-optimal results, as sustaining the ensemble’s reliability—required for ODA’s performance—is challenging with atmospheric nudging.
Adolescents’ voices on self-engagement in mental health treatment: a scoping review
Authors: Svamo Nina Therese Øversveen , Haug Sigrid Helene Kjørven , DeMarinis Valerie , Hertzberg Urd
Published: March 2024

Introduction: According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, adolescents’ involvement in their healthcare is a fundamental right, and self-engagement in mental health treatment is vital for realizing their potential within person-centered care (PCC). Research exists that highlights barriers to involving adolescents in their care decisions. However, research on adolescents’ own voices about self-engagement in mental health treatment has been scarce. This scoping review aimed to examine and summarize current knowledge on adolescents’ voices regarding self-engagement in mental health treatment. Method: The review followed the scoping methodology of Arksey and O’Malley from 2005, updated by Levac and colleagues in 2010, involving five stages: (1) identifying the research question, (2) identifying relevant studies, (3) study selection, (4) charting the data, and (5) collating, summarizing and reporting the results. Results: Nineteen studies were included. The following themes on adolescents` voices regarding self-engagement in mental health treatment were identified: (1) the therapeutic alliance, (2) the need for active engagement in treatment, (3) different experiences due to time of data collection, (4) treatment context and healthcare system, and (5) adolescent-caregiver interaction. Conclusion: Adolescents’ understanding of self-engagement was multilevel and comprehensive, including individual, contextual and relational factors. A strong therapeutic alliance with healthcare providers, and a need to be actively engaged in treatment were highlighted. To succeed in strengthening PCC in mental healthcare for adolescents, health professionals must take this complex understanding into consideration, as treatment without adolescents` self-engagement may worsen their clinical outcomes. Future research should explore specific PCC interventions and incorporate diverse methodologies in various clinical contexts. Additionally, insights from healthcare providers and caregivers on self-engagement in mental health treatment will complement these findings.
Changes in grassland cover in Europe from 1990 to 2018: trajectories and spatial patterns
Authors: Pazúr Robert , Nováček Jozef , Bürgi Matthias , Kopecká Monika , Lieskovský Juraj , Pazúrová Zuzana , Feranec Ján
Published: March 2024

Grasslands are one of the most widespread terrestrial biomes. In Europe, the majority of grasslands depends on human management, and as a result, grassland areas are facing different dynamics and transitions to other land cover types. This study identifies the trajectories in grassland cover in Europe from 1990 to 2018. Using a 1 km × 1 km grid spanning most European countries, we identified increasing, decreasing and mixed development trajectories of grassland cover. For each development trajectory, we selected four representative hotspots and identified the land cover and its changes over different periods. Our results reveal that the decreasing development trajectory occurred on 35% of the aggregated grids with hotspots in Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean region and the UK. The increasing development trajectory occurred on 20% of the aggregated grids, centred in Central Europe, and the mixed development trajectory occurred on 3% of the aggregated grids. Within the selected hotspots, the development trajectories were linked to transitions among agricultural land cover classes or to transitions with shrubs and urban areas. The development trajectories also indicated strong country-specific differences, suggesting a strong impact of national policies. The generated outcomes of this study can be used to support decision-making on future pathways for grassland habitats on a European scale.
Quantification of Unencapsulated Drug in Target Tissues Demonstrates Pharmacological Properties and Therapeutic Effects of Liposomal Topotecan (FF-10850)
Authors: Kimura Toshifumi , Okada Ken , Morohashi Yasushi , Kato Yukio , Mori Mikinaga , Kato Hiroshi , Matsumoto Takeshi , Shimoyama Susumu
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Quantifying unencapsulated drug concentrations in tissues is crucial for understanding the mechanisms underlying the efficacy and safety of liposomal drugs; however, the methodology for this has not been fully established. Herein, we aimed to investigate the enhanced therapeutic potential of a pegylated liposomal formulation of topotecan (FF-10850) by analyzing the concentrations of the unencapsulated drug in target tissues, to guide the improvement of its dosing regimen.

Methods

We developed a method for measuring unencapsulated topotecan concentrations in tumor and bone marrow interstitial fluid (BM-ISF) and applied this method to pharmacokinetic assessments. The ratios of the area under the concentration–time curves (AUCs) between tumor and BM-ISF were calculated for total and unencapsulated topotecan. DNA damage and antitumor effects of FF-10850 or non-liposomal topotecan (TPT) were evaluated in an ES-2 mice xenograft model.

Results

FF-10850 exhibited a much larger AUC ratio between tumor and BM-ISF for unencapsulated topotecan (2.96), but not for total topotecan (0.752), than TPT (0.833). FF-10850 promoted milder DNA damage in the bone marrow than TPT; however, FF-10850 and TPT elicited comparable DNA damage in the tumor. These findings highlight the greater tumor exposure to unencapsulated topotecan and lower bone marrow exposure to FF-10850 than TPT. The dosing regimen was successfully improved based on the kinetics of unencapsulated topotecan and DNA damage.

Conclusions

Tissue pharmacokinetics of unencapsulated topotecan elucidated the favorable pharmacological properties of FF-10850. Evaluation of tissue exposure to an unencapsulated drug with appropriate pharmacodynamic markers can be valuable in optimizing liposomal drugs and dosing regimens.
Increased risk of nephrolithiasis: an emerging issue in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency
Authors: Chiarito Mariangela , Lattanzio Crescenza , D’Ascanio Vito , Capalbo Donatella , Cavarzere Paolo , Grandone Anna , Aiello Francesca , Pepe Giorgia , Wasniewska Malgorzata , Zoller Thomas , Salerno Mariacarolina , Faienza Maria Felicia
Published: March 2024

Purpose

To investigate the incidence of nephrolithiasis in a cohort of children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), and to study if there is an association with the metabolic control of the disease.

Methods

This study was designed as a multicenter 1 year-prospective study involving 52 subjects (35 males) with confirmed molecular diagnosis of CAH due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD). Each patient was evaluated at three different time-points: T0, T1 (+6 months of follow-up), T2 (+12 months of follow up). At each follow up visit, auxological data were collected, and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), Δ4-androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) serum levels, and urinary excretion of creatinine, calcium, oxalate and citrate were assayed. Moreover, a renal ultrasound was performed.

Results

The incidence of nephrolithiasis, assessed by ultrasound was 17.3% at T0, 13.5% at T1 and 11.5% at T2. At T0, one subject showed nephrocalcinosis. In the study population, a statistically significant difference was found for 17-OHP [T0: 11.1 (3.0–25.1) ng/mL; T1: 7.1 (1.8–19.9) ng/mL; T2: 5.9 (2.0–20.0) ng/mL, p < 0.005], and Δ4-androstenedione [T0: 0.9 (0.3–2.5) ng/mL; T1: 0.3 (0.3–1.1) ng/mL; T2: 0.5 (0.3–1.5) ng/mL, p < 0.005] which both decreased over the follow up time. No statistically significant difference among metabolic markers was found in the group of the subjects with nephrolithiasis, even if 17-OHP, DHEAS and Δ4-androstenedione levels showed a tendency towards a reduction from T0 to T2. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to study possible hidden patterns of associations/correlations between variables, and to assess the trend of them during the time. PCA revealed a decrease in the amount of the variables 17-OHP, Δ4-androstenedione, and ACTH that occurred during follow-up, which was also observed in subjects showing nephrolithiasis.

Conclusions

our data demonstrated that children affected with 21-OHD can be at risk of developing nephrolithiasis. Additional studies are needed to clarify the pathogenesis and other possible risk factors for this condition, and to establish if regular screening of kidney ultrasound in these patients can be indicated.
Remaining useful life prediction of lithium-ion batteries combined with SVD-SDAE and support vector quantile regression
Authors: Sun Lin , Huang Xiaojie , Liu Jing , Song Jing
Published: March 2024

Lithium-ion batteries are important energy storage materials, and the prediction of their remaining useful life has practical importance. Since traditional feature extraction methods depend on parameter settings and have poor adaptability, singular value decomposition was used to extract 15 health indicators from the degradation data of lithium-ion batteries. To eliminate redundancy among the extracted health indicators, Spearman correlation analysis was subsequently used to determine the most appropriate health indicators. On this basis, the selected health indicators were processed by the denoising stack autoencoder, and a fusion health indicator was obtained. Finally, the support vector quantile regression model was used to predict the battery capacity interval by the fusion health indicator. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration battery dataset and Massachusetts Institute of Technology battery dataset were used to verify the validity and generalizability of our proposed model, and our proposed model was compared with the existing four classical prediction models. The experimental results showed that our proposed prediction model had higher prediction accuracy and better robustness than the other models and could effectively improve the prediction effect of the remaining useful life of batteries. The mean value of the root mean square error of the predicted results using our proposed model remained within 1.3%, and the mean value of the coefficient of determination was above 0.97.
Exploring the opportunities and challenges of ChatGPT in academia
Authors: Islam Iyolita , Islam Muhammad Nazrul
Published: March 2024

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) natural language model ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer), often referred to as ChatGPT-4, has a wide range of possible uses in the fields of research, business, academia, health, and similar fields. This language model can accomplish a number of academic jobs that were previously completed by people, taking a significant amount of time and effort. The purpose of the article is to investigate ChatGPT’s potential opportunities and challenges in academia. To attain this objective, a review of relevant literature and online resources (news, articles, etc.) was carried out. The noticing-collecting-thinking approach was adopted to explore and categorize all observed concerns. The outcome of this study reveals that research, education, personal skill development, and social aspects constitute the four broad perspectives that articulate the opportunities and constraints of ChatGPT in academia. For instance, from the education perspective, ChatGPT can help students have a personalized learning experience. On the other hand, it might provide false information as well as lack the ability to generate responses on its own because those responses depend on training datasets, which may contain errors. Similarly, from the point of view of the personal skill development, this model may impair a person’s capacity for critical thought and content production; while providing reading and writing practice sessions and relevant content, it can improve a person’s language proficiency.
Safe at home? Examining the extension of criminal penalties for marital rape in cross-national context, 1979–2013
Authors: Davis Andrew P. , Johnstonbaugh Morgan
Published: March 2024

While sociologists have focused on the national adoption of public-sphere women’s rights such as the right to vote in elections or participate fully in economic matters, less work has examined the diffusion of private-sphere women’s rights, rights of women in the home. We address this gap by examining the cross-national adoption of laws that criminalize marital rape. Building on prior research that finds that women’s rights organizations and women’s rights focused treaties, we explore the cross-national determinants of the criminalization of marital rape. Using an event history analysis covering 131 countries from 1979 to 2013, we find support for the global institutionalist framework that contends that socialization into the global system and direct advocacy efforts of global organizations contribute to faster rates of criminalization of marital rape. Further, we suggest that these global institutionalist processes become amplified when they are focused by events that set the agenda for international organizations. Implications for world-society scholarship on the global adoption of women’s rights are further discussed.
DISCUSSION: PRESENTATION OF ATMOSPHERIC 14CO2 DATA
Authors: Schwartz Stephen E , Hua Quan , Andrews David E , Keeling Ralph F , Lehman Scott J , Turnbull Jocelyn C , Reimer Paula J , Miller John B , Meijer Harro A J
Published: March 2024

Observations of radiocarbon (14C) in Earth’s atmosphere and other carbon reservoirs are important to quantify exchanges of CO2 between reservoirs. The amount of 14C is commonly reported in the so-called Delta notation, i.e., Δ14C, the decay- and fractionation-corrected departure of the ratio of 14C to total C from that ratio in an absolute international standard; this Delta notation permits direct comparison of 14C/C ratios in the several reservoirs. However, as Δ14C of atmospheric CO2, Δ14CO2 is based on the ratio of 14CO2 to total atmospheric CO2, its value can and does change not just because of change in the amount of atmospheric14CO2 but also because of change in the amount of total atmospheric CO2, complicating ascription of change in Δ14CO2 to change in one or the other quantity. Here we suggest that presentation of atmospheric 14CO2 amount as mole fraction relative to dry air (moles of 14CO2 per moles of dry air in Earth’s atmosphere), or as moles or molecules of 14CO2 in Earth’s atmosphere, all readily calculated from Δ14CO2 and the amount of atmospheric CO2 (with slight dependence on δ13CO2), complements presentation only as Δ14CO2, and can provide valuable insight into the evolving budget and distribution of atmospheric 14CO2.
Prediction of internalizing and externalizing symptoms in late childhood from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in early childhood
Authors: Mlodnicka Agnieszka , Mansolf Maxwell , Chandran Aruna , Aris Izzuddin M. , Calub Catrina A. , Ahmad Shaikh , Shapiro Allison , Cochran David , Restrepo Bibiana , Schmidt Rebecca , Hertz-Picciotto Irva , Bennett Deborah , Gold Diane R. , O’Shea T. Michael , Leve Leslie , Schweitzer Julie B.
Published: March 2024

Limited analyses based on national samples have assessed whether early attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms predict later internalizing and externalizing symptoms in youth and the influence of sex and pubertal timing on subsequent psychiatric symptoms. This study analyzed data (n = 2818) from the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes Program national cohort. Analyses used data from early childhood (mean age = 5.3 years) utilizing parent-reported ADHD symptoms to predict rates of internalizing and externalizing symptoms from late childhood/adolescence (mean age = 11.9 years). Within a subsample age at peak height velocity (APHV) acted as a proxy to assess pubertal timing from early childhood (mean age = 5.4 years) to adolescence (mean age = 12.3 years). Early-childhood ADHD symptoms predicted later psychiatric symptoms, including anxiety, depression, aggressive behavior, conduct problems, oppositional defiant disorder, and rule-breaking behavior. Earlier APHV was associated with increased Conduct Disorder symptoms from late childhood to adolescence for females only. A stronger relation between ADHD symptoms and later aggression was observed in females with earlier APHV, whereas this same pattern with aggression, conduct problems and depression was observed in males with later APHV. Clinicians should consider that both young girls and boys with elevated ADHD symptoms, particularly with off-set pubertal timing, may be at risk for later psychiatric symptoms.
(Den) eneste måten – When the Prenominal Determiner Can Be Omitted from Norwegian Double Definite Phrases
Authors: van Baal Yvonne
Published: March 2024

Norwegian, like Swedish and Faroese, exhibits double definiteness: modified definite phrases normally contain both a prenominal determiner and a suffixed definite article on the noun. However, exceptions—phrases with only the determiner or only the suffixed article—can be found. This article investigates adjectives which do not need to be preceded by the prenominal determiner in Norwegian. Corpus data and acceptability judgments are used to describe these exceptions and to propose a syntactic analysis. The study shows that there are three types of adjectives in Norwegian: regular ones that require double definiteness, exceptional adjectives that allow determiner omission, and quantifier adjectives that never occur with a determiner. I argue that phrases with exceptional adjectives can be accounted for by the same movement that is proposed for determiner-less phrases in Icelandic and Northern Swedish (Julien 2002, 2005). Finally, the article presents a brief exploration of the patterns of variation in omission versus presence of the determiner, including historical and dialectal variation.
Jihadist Terrorist Attacks and Far-Right Party Preferences: An “Unexpected Event During Survey Design” in Four European Countries
Authors: Vlandas Tim , Halikiopoulou Daphne
Published: March 2024

This article presents new empirical evidence about the impact of Jihadist terrorist attacks on far-right preferences using the “unexpected event during survey” research design. This strategy allows us to match individual-level data from the European Social Survey (ESS) to data on Jihadist terrorist attacks to compare respondents’ party preferences before and after a terrorist attack during the same survey period in the Netherlands, Sweden, France, and Germany. We theorise and test three distinct hypotheses about how different combinations of attitudinal changes including out-group prejudice and trust in institutions impact far-right preferences. We find no statistically significant effects. Analyses of the two indirect mechanisms— i.e., prejudice and trust—yield mixed results consistent with the null effect on far-right party preferences. By showing that terrorist attacks are unlikely to decisively change party support despite attracting significant public attention and affecting political attitudes, our results challenge the argument that Jihadist terrorism necessarily benefits the far-right and highlight the importance of null effects for overcoming confirmation bias in the study of voting behaviour.
Evaluation of the Empirical Scaling Factor of Joule Heating Rates in TIE‐GCM With EISCAT Measurements
Authors: Günzkofer Florian , Liu Huixin , Stober Gunter , Pokhotelov Dimitry , Borries Claudia
Published: March 2024

Joule heating is one of the main energy inputs into the thermosphere‐ionosphere system. Precise modeling of this process is essential for any space weather application. Existing thermosphere‐ionosphere models tend to underestimate the actual Joule heating rate quite significantly. The Thermosphere‐Ionosphere‐Electrodynamics General‐Circulation‐Model applies an empirical scaling factor of 1.5 for compensation. We calculate vertical profiles of Joule heating rates from approximately 2,220 hr of measurements with the EISCAT incoherent scatter radar and the corresponding model runs. We investigate model runs with the plasma convection driven by both the Heelis and the Weimer model. The required scaling of the Joule heating profiles is determined with respect to the Kp index, the Kan‐Lee merging electric field EKL, and the magnetic local time. Though the default scaling factor of 1.5 appears to be adequate on average, we find that the required scaling varies strongly with all three parameters ranging from 0.46 to ∼20 at geomagnetically disturbed and quiet times, respectively. Furthermore, the required scaling is significantly different in runs driven by the Heelis and Weimer model. Adjusting the scaling factor with respect to the Kp index, EKL, the magnetic local time, and the choice of convection model would reduce the difference between Joule heating rates calculated from measurement and model plasma parameters.
The End of the Eclipse
Authors: Benningfield Damond
Published: March 2024

Scientists are studying how the Earth–Moon distance has changed over time, and what effect that change might have had on our planet. Future changes will extinguish total solar eclipses entirely.
Eclipse Science Along the Path of Totality
Authors: Kornei Katherine
Published: March 2024

When a total solar eclipse sweeps across the United States on 8 April, scientists and enthusiasts alike will be there to document it.
Total Eclipse of the Sun
Authors: Micalizio Caryl-Sue
Published: March 2024

Things are looking up as millions of North Americans prepare to be dazzled by a celestial spectacle.
Assessment of the Origin of a Plasma Depletion Band Over the United States During the 8 September 2017 Geomagnetic Storm
Authors: Kil Hyosub , Sun Andrew K. , Lee Woo Kyoung , Chang Hyeyeon , Lee Jiyun
Published: March 2024

The development of an intense total electron content (TEC) depletion band over the United States during the 8 September 2017 geomagnetic storm was understood as the extension of an equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) to midlatitudes in previous studies. However, this study reports non‐EPB aspects within this phenomenon. First, the simultaneous emergence of the TEC depletion band at midlatitudes and EPBs in the equatorial region indicates that the midlatitude TEC depletion band is not initiated by an EPB. Second, the intensification of TEC depletion at midlatitudes during the decay of TEC depletion at intermediate latitudes is anomalous. Third, the location of the TEC depletion band at midlatitudes is inconsistent with the EPB location estimated from zonal plasma motion. Given ionospheric perturbations in North America from the beginning of the storm, it is plausible that the TEC depletion band was locally generated in association with these perturbations.
Involvement of DJ-1 in the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration via hexokinase 2-mediated mitophagy
Authors: Lin Jialiang , Wang Longjie , Wu Yuhao , Xiang Qian , Zhao Yongzhao , Zheng Xuanqi , Jiang Shuai , Sun Zhuoran , Fan Dongwei , Li Weishi
Published: March 2024

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is an important pathological basis for degenerative spinal diseases and is involved in mitophagy dysfunction. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying mitophagy regulation in IDD remain unclear. This study aimed to clarify the role of DJ-1 in regulating mitophagy during IDD pathogenesis. Here, we showed that the mitochondrial localization of DJ-1 in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) first increased and then decreased in response to oxidative stress. Subsequently, loss- and gain-of-function experiments revealed that overexpression of DJ-1 in NPCs inhibited oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis, whereas knockdown of DJ-1 had the opposite effect. Mechanistically, mitochondrial translocation of DJ-1 promoted the recruitment of hexokinase 2 (HK2) to damaged mitochondria by activating Akt and subsequently Parkin-dependent mitophagy to inhibit oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in NPCs. However, silencing Parkin, reducing mitochondrial recruitment of HK2, or inhibiting Akt activation suppressed DJ-1-mediated mitophagy. Furthermore, overexpression of DJ-1 ameliorated IDD in rats through HK2-mediated mitophagy. Taken together, these findings indicate that DJ-1 promotes HK2-mediated mitophagy under oxidative stress conditions to inhibit mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in NPCs and could be a therapeutic target for IDD.
Host metabolomic responses in recurrent P. vivax malaria
Authors: Yakubu Michael N. , Mwangi Victor I. , Netto Rebeca L. A. , Alecrim Maria G. C. , Alves Jessica R. S. , Almeida Anne C. G. , Santos Gabriel F. , Lima Gesiane S. , Machado Lucas S. , Koolen Hector H. F. , Guimarães Tiago P. , Chaves Andrea R. , Vaz Boniek G. , Monteiro Wuelton M. , Costa Fabio T. M. , Lacerda Marcus V. G. , Gardinassi Luiz G. , de Melo Gisely C.
Published: March 2024

Malaria is the leading parasitic disease worldwide, with P. vivax being a major challenge for its control. Several studies have indicated metabolomics as a promising tool for combating the disease. The study evaluated plasma metabolomic profiles of patients with recurrent and non-recurrent P. vivax malaria in the Brazilian Amazon. Metabolites extracted from the plasma of P. vivax-infected patients were subjected to LC–MS analysis. Untargeted metabolomics was applied to investigate the metabolic profile of the plasma in the two groups. Overall, 51 recurrent and 59 non-recurrent patients were included in the study. Longitudinal metabolomic analysis revealed 52 and 37 significant metabolite features from the recurrent and non-recurrent participants, respectively. Recurrence was associated with disturbances in eicosanoid metabolism. Comparison between groups suggest alterations in vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, 3-oxo-10-octadecatrienoate β-oxidation, and alkaloid biosynthesis II. Integrative network analysis revealed enrichment of other metabolic pathways for the recurrent phenotype, including the butanoate metabolism, aspartate and asparagine metabolism, and N-glycan biosynthesis. The metabolites and metabolic pathways predicted in our study suggest potential biomarkers of recurrence and provide insights into targets for antimalarial development against P. vivax.
A deep inverse convolutional neural network-based semantic classification method for land cover remote sensing images
Authors: Wang Ming , She Anqi , Chang Hao , Cheng Feifei , Yang Heming
Published: March 2024

The imbalance of land cover categories is a common problem. Some categories appear less frequently in the image, while others may occupy the vast majority of the proportion. This imbalance can lead the classifier to tend to predict categories with higher frequency of occurrence, while the recognition effect on minority categories is poor. In view of the difficulty of land cover remote sensing image multi-target semantic classification, a semantic classification method of land cover remote sensing image based on depth deconvolution neural network is proposed. In this method, the land cover remote sensing image semantic segmentation algorithm based on depth deconvolution neural network is used to segment the land cover remote sensing image with multi-target semantic segmentation; Four semantic features of color, texture, shape and size in land cover remote sensing image are extracted by using the semantic feature extraction method of remote sensing image based on improved sequential clustering algorithm; The classification and recognition method of remote sensing image semantic features based on random forest algorithm is adopted to classify and identify four semantic feature types of land cover remote sensing image, and realize the semantic classification of land cover remote sensing image. The experimental results show that after this method classifies the multi-target semantic types of land cover remote sensing images, the average values of Dice similarity coefficient and Hausdorff distance are 0.9877 and 0.9911 respectively, which can accurately classify the multi-target semantic types of land cover remote sensing images.
Mutations overlying the miR172 target site of TOE-type genes are prime candidate variants for the double-flower trait in mei
Authors: Gattolin Stefano , Calastri Elisa , Tassone Maria Rosaria , Cirilli Marco
Published: March 2024

Mutations affecting flower shape in many plants have been favored by human selection, and various fruit trees are also grown for ornamental purposes. Mei (Prunus mume) is a dual purpose tree originated in China well known in the Western world for its generous early blooms, often bearing double flowers. Building on the knowledge of its genomic location, a candidate gene approach was used to identify a 49 bp deletion encompassing the miR172 target site of the euAP2 gene pmTOE (PmuVar_Ch1_3490) as a prime variant linked to flower doubleness. Searching within a large dataset of genome sequencing data from Eastern germplasm collections demonstrated a tight variant-trait association, further confirmed in a panel of commercial and non-commercial varieties available in Italy. Moreover, two SNP mutations in the miR172 target site of pmPET (PmuVar_Ch1_1333) were identified in some double flower accessions. The mei orthologue of PETALOSA genes already found responsible for the phenotype in other plants suggests that independent variants may have been selected throughout mei domestication history.
Application and configuration analysis of electric muck transfer equipment in plateau railway tunnel: a case study in southwest China
Authors: Yang Xiaoxu , Liu Yuming , Liu Kai , Wei Jianying , Hu Guangzhong , Pei Shifan
Published: March 2024

The burgeoning development of railway construction in plateau regions of southwest China necessitates innovative and environmentally sustainable approaches, particularly in the realm of tunnel construction, where the transfer of muck poses significant operational and environmental challenges. This research, pivoting around the application and configuration of electric muck transfer equipment in plateau railway tunnels, seeks to dissect the potentialities and impediments of transitioning from conventional diesel-powered machinery to electric alternatives, with a spotlight on mitigating environmental impacts and enhancing operational efficiency. Through an analytical lens, the study employs a case study methodology, leveraging data and insights from existing electric equipment models and their applications, provided by major manufacturers in China, to weave a comprehensive narrative around the practicalities, specifications, and challenges embedded in the adoption of electric machinery in plateau environments. The findings unveil a nuanced landscape, where the environmental and operational advantages of electric equipment are juxtaposed against a backdrop of technological, financial, and infrastructural hurdles, thereby crafting a complex tapestry of opportunities and challenges. The research further extrapolates policy recommendations and practical guidelines, advocating for a harmonized amalgamation of governmental policies, technological advancements, and strategic planning to navigate through the identified challenges and optimize the integration of electric equipment in tunnel construction practices. Envisaging future research pathways, the study underscores the criticality of perpetuating technological innovations, policy adaptations, and interdisciplinary research to further refine and enhance the application of electric muck transfer equipment in plateau railway tunnel projects, thereby contributing to the broader narrative of sustainable construction practices in challenging terrains.
Comparative metabolomics reveals serum metabolites changes in goats during different developmental stages
Authors: Li Qing , Chao Tianle , Wang Yanyan , Xuan Rong , Guo Yanfei , He Peipei , Zhang Lu , Wang Jianmin
Published: March 2024

Goats can provide meat, milk and skins for humans and are livestock with high economic benefits. However, despite their economic significance, the comprehensive analysis of goats’ serum metabolic profile and its intricate alterations throughout their developmental journey remains conspicuously absent. To investigate the stage-specificity and dynamic change characteristics of metabolites during the growth and development of goats, this study compared the alterations in serum hormone levels and serum biochemical markers across different developmental stages of female goats (1, 60, 120 and 180 days old; n = 5). Additionally, a serum untargeted LC–MS metabolomics analysis was conducted. A total of 504 DAMs were identified with age. The results indicated that PE, PC, Lyso-PE, Lyso-PC and FAFHA may play important roles in lipid metabolism in goats after birth. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified two metabolite modules (Turquoise and Yellow) and key metabolites within these modules that were significantly associated with phenotypic features. l-carnitine may be a metabolite related to muscle development in goats. The findings of this study demonstrate notable variations in serum metabolites across distinct developmental phases in goats. Lipids and organic acids play important roles in different developmental stages of goats.
Cellular electrophysiological effects of the citrus flavonoid hesperetin in dog and rabbit cardiac ventricular preparations
Authors: Mohammed Aiman Saleh A. , Mohácsi Gábor , Naveed Muhammad , Prorok János , Jost Norbert , Virág László , Baczkó István , Topal Leila , Varró András
Published: March 2024

Recent experimental data shows that hesperetin, a citrus flavonoid, affects potassium channels and can prolong the QTc interval in humans. Therefore, in the present study we investigated the effects of hesperetin on various transmembrane ionic currents and on ventricular action potentials. Transmembrane current measurements and action potential recordings were performed by patch-clamp and the conventional microelectrode techniques in dog and rabbit ventricular preparations. At 10 µM concentration hesperetin did not, however, at 30 µM significantly decreased the amplitude of the IK1, Ito, IKr potassium currents. Hesperetin at 3–30 µM significantly and in a concentration-dependent manner reduced the amplitude of the IKs current. The drug significantly decreased the amplitudes of the INaL and ICaL currents at 30 µM. Hesperetin (10 and 30 µM) did not change the action potential duration in normal preparations, however, in preparations where the repolarization reserve had been previously attenuated by 100 nM dofetilide and 1 µg/ml veratrine, caused a moderate but significant prolongation of repolarization. These results suggest that hesperetin at close to relevant concentrations inhibits the IKs outward potassium current and thereby reduces repolarization reserve. This effect in certain specific situations may prolong the QT interval and consequently may enhance proarrhythmic risk.
Use of the Tubridge flow diverter in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms: a single center experience
Authors: Li Li , Gao Bu-Lang , Wu Qiao-Wei , Shao Qiu-Ji , Wang Zi-Liang , Zhang Kun , Li Tian-Xiao
Published: March 2024

To investigate the safety and effect of Tubridge flow diverter deployment for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms, 85 patients with intracranial aneurysms treated with the Tubridge flow diverter were retrospectively enrolled. The clinical data including the baseline data, aneurysm parameters before and after treatment, and follow-up outcomes were assessed. Among 85 patients, there were 35 (41.2%) males and 50 females (58.8%) aged 17–77 (mean 56.7 ± 11.1) years with 110 aneurysms. Five (5.9%) patients initially presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage from aneurysm rupture. The aneurysm size was 2–30 (mean 8.6) mm, and the aneurysm neck was 2–10.6 (mean 5.7 ± 2.3) mm. Ninety-three Tubridge stents were deployed. Twenty-five (29.4%) patients experienced adjunctive loose coiling. Blood flow was significantly reduced from entering the aneurysm after stent deployment. Periprocedural complications occurred in three (3.5%) patients, including in-stent thrombosis during embolization in one patient (1.2%), conjunctiva edema on the right in one patient (1.2%), and acute multiple cerebral infarctions in one patient (1.2%). Angiographic follow-up was conducted in 67 (78.8%) patients 3–36 (mean 15.3 ± 5.6) months later. In 11 (16.4% or 11/67) patients, blood flow still entered the aneurysm with the O’Kelly-Marotta (OKM) grade B in two (3.0%) patients and grade C in nine (13.4%), whereas complete occlusion (OKM grade D) was achieved in the other 56 (83.6% or 56/67) aneurysms. In-stent stenosis was present in five (7.5%) patients with approximately 25% stenosis in three (4.5%) patients and 50% in two (3.0%). In conclusion, the Tubridge flow diverter can be safely and efficiently applied in the treatment of small and large intracranial aneurysms, with a low periprocedural complication rate, a high occlusion degree, and a low in-stent stenosis rate at follow-up even though large aneurysms may necessitate a longer surgical time and adjunctive coiling.
Variable plate kinematics promotes changes in back-arc deformation regime along the north-eastern Eurasia plate boundary
Authors: Ficini Eleonora , Cuffaro Marco , Doglioni Carlo , Gerya Taras
Published: March 2024

The stretching of the lithosphere leading to back-arc basins formation generally develops behind arc-trench systems and is considered the consequence of slab retreat relative to the upper plate. Here, we examine the deformation regime evolution within the overriding plate due to subduction processes, using thermo-mechanical numerical simulations. We explore the north-eastern Eurasia plate boundary and the mechanisms of subducting Pacific plate since 57 Ma. During this time interval, several extensional basins formed along the Eurasia margin, such as the East China Sea, the Japan Sea, and the Kuril basin. Here, we increased the simulation complexity, with the inclusion of (i) the kinematic variability of the Pacific plate over the geological past with respect to a fixed Eurasia, incorporating time-dependent (i.e., temporally evolving) velocities computed from plate motion reconstructions; (ii) a Low-Velocity Zone within the asthenosphere, and (iii) a horizontal eastward mantle flow. Our results show a crucial role of the mantle flow for the development of lithospheric extension and back-arc basin opening, and a main kinematic control of the subduction trench position, which advances and retreats, into distance intervals in the order of $$\sim$$
∼
 100 km, and providing stages of compression and extension in a back-arc basin.
Combination of S100A12/TLR2 signaling molecules and clinical indicators in a new predictive model for IVIG-resistant Kawasaki disease
Authors: Wu Yali , Liu Pan , Zhou Yang , Yang Youjun , Li Shiyu , Yin Wei , Liu Fan , Ding Yan
Published: March 2024

Although intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)-resistant Kawasaki disease (KD) presents with persistent inflammatory stimulation of the blood vessels and an increased risk of coronary artery dilatation. However, the pathogenesis of this disease is unclear, with no established biomarkers to predict its occurrence. This study intends to explore the utility of S100A12/TLR2-related signaling molecules and clinical indicators in the predictive modeling of IVIG-resistant KD. The subjects were classified according to IVIG treatment response: 206 patients in an IVIG-sensitive KD group and 49 in an IVIG-resistant KD group. Real-time PCR was used to measure the expression of S100A12, TLR2, MYD88, and NF-κB in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients, while collecting demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, and laboratory test results of KD children. Multi-factor binary logistic regression analysis identified procalcitonin (PCT) level (≥ 0.845 ng/mL), Na level (≤ 136.55 mmol/L), and the relative expression level of S100A12 (≥ 10.224) as independent risk factors for IVIG-resistant KD and developed a new scoring model with good predictive ability to predict the occurrence of IVIG-resistant KD.
Quantifying the effect of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency on glycated hemoglobin values in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Ripoli Carlo , Ricciardi Maria Rossella , Angelo Maria Rosaria , Ripoli Daniela
Published: March 2024

The primary objectives of the study were (a) to confirm that glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency affects HbA1c values in a sample of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and (b) to quantify this effect so that a correction can be applied to the HbA1c values found in current clinical practice. The following data were collected: age, sex, G6PD, number of daily capillary blood glucose measurements, 90-day average blood glucose levels prior to the study, HbA1c, and glycated hemoglobin estimated (eA1c) obtained from blood glucose levels. Patients were divided into three groups based on G6PD values: deficient, intermediate, and nondeficient. In each group, a comparison between the average eA1C and HbA1c values was performed. Then, the difference between the eA1c and HbA1c values of each patient and the mean of the differences (MD) of all patients was calculated within the three groups. Finally, a comparison of the MD values between groups was performed. Seventy-four subjects with T1D were studied. Based on the G6PD value, 33 subjects were deficient, 8 were intermediate, and 33 subjects were nondeficient. In deficient patients, the eA1c values were significantly higher than the HbA1c values. In the other two groups, however, there were no differences. The MD values between the three groups were significantly different. In deficient patients, MD values were higher than those in intermediate and in nondeficient patients. No difference was found between intermediate and nondeficient subjects. Our study confirms that G6PD deficiency affects HbA1c values in children and adolescents with T1D, both in deficient subjects and, to a much lesser extent, in intermediate subjects. In deficient subjects, there is an average reduction in HbA1c attributable to enzyme deficiency of 1.3% (14 mmol/mol) and in intermediate subjects of 0.3% (3 mmol/mol).