bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A-294 Mind-Wandering in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Multi-Case Study
Authors: Cap Caitlyn J , Canella Rachel M , Armstrong Sharon L
Published: August 2022

Objective: Executive dysfunction has become a recent topic of interest in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) due to proposed contributions to functional impairments and decreased quality of life. Executive function in ASD is not conclusive; thus, a novel performance measure to explore a constellation of executive function subsets is mind-wandering. This multi-case study aimed to explore mind-wandering through the executive failure hypothesis and the meta-awareness hypothesis with autistic teens and young adults.

Methods: Six autistic individuals with intact intellectual functioning were extensively investigated using a sustained attention task, thought probes, open-ended interviews, and retrospective trait questionnaires. Inclusion criteria included an FSIQ > 80 on either the WISC-V or WAIS-IV. Executive function was measured using the DKEFS Verbal Fluency subtest. Retrospective trait questionnaires included: Metacognitions Questionnaire-30, Spontaneous and Deliberate Mind-Wandering Scales, and Mind Excessively Wandering Scale.

Results: Responses revealed that the sampled autistic individuals engaged in a variety of task-related, task-unrelated, intentional, unintentional, directed, and undirected mind-wandering events, both with and without awareness. Notably, autistic individuals in this sample reported engaging in intentional mind-wandering without awareness as well as unintentional mind-wandering despite exceptional executive functioning, raising questions about the validity of the executive failure and meta-awareness hypotheses in ASD.

Conclusion: Overall, despite underlying difficulties in executive control and meta-awareness, autistic individuals in this multi-case study successfully reported on their own experience of thought and were able to exert control over their own thinking. As such, future research should further explore how extent of mind-wandering ability may relate to cognitive-based interventions as well as diagnostic differentials within ASD.
A-296 Meta-Prospective Memory Accuracy in Healthy Older Adults and Older Adults with Suspected Mild Cognitive Impairment in a Rural Setting
Authors: Huber Becca N , Fulton Erika K
Published: August 2022

Objective: This study examined if the relationship between generalized appraisals and task-specific appraisals of one’s prospective memory (PM) and actual PM performance (i.e., meta-PM accuracy) differed between healthy and suspected mild cognitive impairment (sMCI) older adults.

Method: 50 healthy and 30 sMCI older adults were recruited from a rural community and outpatient neuropsychology clinic. Data collected included self-reported appraisals and task-specific predictions/postdictions of PM performance, objective PM performance, and executive functioning (EF) measures.

Results: The sMCI group had significantly lower scores on objective PM tasks (t = 5.13, p<.001), as well as EF measures related to simple (t = -3.72, p<.001) and complex task-switching (t = 4.82, p<.001). Moreover, sMCI participants displayed higher task-specific meta-PM inaccuracies compared to the healthy group (t = -3.72, p < .001), but displayed relatively equivalent generalized meta-PM (Z = 1.58, p = .11). Notably, the sMCI group’s task-specific inaccuracies became non-significant compared to the healthy group on the final long-term PM tasks (item 3: t = -1.64, p = .11; item 4: t = -0.66, p = .51) after exposure to metacognitive reflection on the first PM tasks. Despite lower scores on EF measures and more inaccurate task-specific meta-PM, EF performance did not explain task-specific meta-PM differences between groups beyond neurocognitive status, utilizing hierarchical regression.

Conclusions: Using these data, sMCI patients may be better assisted by metacognitive calibration strategies, EF protocols, and the implementation of general compensatory memory strategies as targets for early intervention and prevention of neurocognitive decline.
A-300 Differences in MMPI-2 scores for Individuals with and without Acquired Brain Injuries
Authors: Nunez Christina , Heavens Brittany , Tchienga Ines , Stafford Claire , Herndon Hayley , Golden Charles
Published: August 2022

Objective: To compare personality features as measured by the MMPI-2 for individuals with and without acquired brain injuries.

Methods: Participants were selected from a de-identified clinical database. Thirty-seven (Mage=41.07, Medu=13.05, 59.5% white, and 61.9% male) individuals were identified as having an acquired brain injury and 377 (Mage=32.69, Medu=13.71, 50.2% white, and 56.7% female) did not but had other diagnosis. Significant differences between groups existed for age, education, and gender. An ANCOVA was utilized to test the difference in endorsement of symptoms between individual with and without acquired brain injuries controlling for the significant covariates.

Results: Of the ten clinical scales on the MMPI-2, only hypomania (Scale 9) was significantly different between the two groups F(1,412)=7.074, p=.008 with the group with the acquired brain injuries endorsing more hypomanic symptoms than the non-acquired brain injury group.

Conclusions: The non-acquired brain injury group fell within the normal range while the individuals in the acquired brain injury group experienced moderate elevation of hypomania. This suggest that individuals in the acquired brain injury group may find themselves experiencing restrictions, agitation, and dissatisfaction on their activity level secondary to the brain injury. Implications for these findings suggest that individuals with acquired brain injuries may benefit from some form of acceptance therapy following the injury as well as continued monitoring of symptoms. Limitation to this study include lack of specificity to the type, timing since incident, and location of the acquired brain injury; limited number of individuals with acquired brain injuries; and lack of diversity within the sample.
A-306 MoCA-22: Criterion Validity and Classification Accuracy of the MoCA’s Auditory Items
Authors: Lord Alinda , González David , Sabet Atash
Published: August 2022

Objective: Our research aims to evaluate criterion validity of the auditory Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-22; also disseminated as telephone-MoCA and MoCA-blind) when compared to individuals with and without vision impairment and of different dementia syndromal stages. Additionally, we explore the classification accuracy of MoCA-22 in distinguishing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from unimpaired cognition and mild-to-moderate dementia from MCI.

Methods: The National Alzheimer’s Coordinated Center database included 11,284 participants who completed a portion of the MoCA during their first visit to an Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Participants were mostly women (57.64%), self-identified as White (77.98%), were older adults (M age=69.22), and college educated (M education years=15.89). Dementia stages included: unimpaired (43.73%), MCI (40.99%), and mild-to-moderate dementia (14.87%) with 71.7% having some visual impairment and 2.8% not benefitting from lenses. ANOVAs and t-tests were used to evaluate criterion validity. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were investigated for diagnostic accuracy.

Results: The visually mediated MoCA items had larger differences among those with and without visual impairment compared to the MoCA-22. There were also strong differences across the dementia syndromal stages which carried over to strong classification accuracy in distinguishing MCI from normal cognition (AUC = .79), and mild-to-moderate dementia from MCI (AUC = .85).

Conclusions: These findings add to the evidence of the MoCA-22’s utility for visual impaired individuals who otherwise cannot complete the full version of the MoCA. The MoCA-22 serves as a useful cognitive screening tool in differentiating between cognitive severities.
Morin improves dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy by modulating atrophy-related genes and oxidative stress in female mice
Authors: Ulla Anayt , Osaki Kanae , Rahman Md Mizanur , Nakao Reiko , Uchida Takayuki , Maru Isafumi , Mawatari Kazuaki , Fukawa Tomoya , Kanayama Hiro-Omi , Sakakibara Iori , Hirasaka Katsuya , Nikawa Takeshi
Published: August 2022

This study investigated the effect of morin, a flavonoid, on dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy in C57BL/6J female mice. Dexamethasone (10 mg/kg body weight) for 10 days significantly reduced body weight, gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscle mass, and muscle protein in mice. Dexamethasone significantly upregulated muscle atrophy-associated ubiquitin ligases, including atrogin-1 and MuRF-1, and the upstream transcription factors FoxO3a and Klf15. Additionally, dexamethasone significantly induced the expression of oxidative stress-sensitive ubiquitin ligase Cbl-b and the accumulation of the oxidative stress markers malondialdehyde and advanced protein oxidation products in both the plasma and skeletal muscle samples. Intriguingly, morin treatment (20 mg/kg body weight) for 17 days effectively attenuated the loss of muscle mass and muscle protein and suppressed the expression of ubiquitin ligases while reducing the expression of upstream transcriptional factors. Therefore, morin might act as a potential therapeutic agent to attenuate muscle atrophy by modulating atrophy-inducing genes and preventing oxidative stress.
Fec: a fast error correction method based on two-rounds overlapping and caching
Authors: Zhang Jun , Nie Fan , Huang Neng , Ni Peng , Luo Feng , Wang Jianxin
Published: August 2022

The third-generation sequencing technology has advanced genome analysis with long-read length, but the reads need error correction due to the high error rate. Error correction is a time-consuming process especially when the sequencing coverage is high. Generally, for a pair of overlapping reads A and B, the existing error correction methods perform a base-level alignment from B to A when correcting the read A. And another base-level alignment from A to B is performed when correcting the read B. However, based on our observation, the base-level alignment information can be reused. In this article, we present a fast error correction tool Fec, using two-rounds overlapping and caching. Fec can be used independently or as an error correction step in an assembly pipeline. In the first round, Fec uses a large window size (20) to quickly find enough overlaps to correct most of the reads. In the second round, a small window size (5) is used to find more overlaps for the reads with insufficient overlaps in the first round. When performing base-level alignment, Fec searches the cache first. If the alignment exists in the cache, Fec takes this alignment out and deduces the second alignment from it. Otherwise, Fec performs base-level alignment and stores the alignment in the cache. We test Fec on nine datasets, and the results show that Fec has 1.24–38.56 times speed-up compared to MECAT, CANU and MINICNS on five PacBio datasets and 1.16–27.8 times speed-up compared to NECAT and CANU on four nanopore datasets.

Availability and implementation

Fec is available at https://github.com/zhangjuncsu/Fec.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Immune mechanisms induced by sublingual immunotherapy in allergic respiratory diseases
Authors: Gazi Umut , Bahceciler Nerin Nadir
Published: August 2022

Allergic respiratory diseases (ARDs) are still a major burden on global public health. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a mode of allergen immunotherapy (AIT) which involves administration of the allergen under the tongue, and benefits from tolerogenic properties of the oral mucosa. Studies revealed reduced levels of eosinophilia and eosinophil-dominated inflammation in airways of both animals and humans after SLIT. SLIT was also suggested to lower basophil responsiveness and innate lymphoid cell-2 function in blood samples collected from patients with ARD. Moreover, apart from shifting pathogenic type 2 (TH2) to a type 1 (TH1) and protective regulatory (Treg) polarization of helper T-cell immune response, antibody isotype switch from IgE to IgG1, IgG2, IgG4 and IgA was also reported in patients with ARD receiving SLIT. Today, the literature on SLIT-mediated activities is still scarce and more studies are required to further enlighten the mechanisms utilized by SLIT for the induction of tolerance. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge about the immune-regulatory mechanisms induced by SLIT against ARDs.
The future of the corporate office? Emerging trends in the post-Covid city
Authors: Fiorentino Stefania , Livingstone Nicola , McAllister Pat , Cooke Howard
Published: August 2022

Part of an ongoing longitudinal study, this article provides evidence on the emerging impacts of Covid-19 on the demand for, configuration and role of offices in cities, drawing on primary data from semi-structured interviews with UK-based corporate real estate managers. The research is grounded on a ‘theory of change’ framework combining real estate, institutional economics and economic geography literature. Our findings confirm an acceleration towards hybrid working patterns. While some changes in the current use of offices may be temporary or more dynamic, other adjustments may be permanent (for example working from home, portfolio rationalisations) and trigger structural changes across cities.
MEDFORD: A human- and machine-readable metadata markup language
Authors: Shpilker Polina , Freeman John , McKelvie Hailey , Ashey Jill , Fonticella Jay-Miguel , Putnam Hollie , Greenberg Jane , Cowen Lenore , Couch Alva , Daniels Noah M
Published: August 2022

Reproducibility of research is essential for science. However, in the way modern computational biology research is done, it is easy to lose track of small, but extremely critical, details. Key details, such as the specific version of a software used or iteration of a genome can easily be lost in the shuffle or perhaps not noted at all. Much work is being done on the database and storage side of things, ensuring that there exists a space-to-store experiment-specific details, but current mechanisms for recording details are cumbersome for scientists to use. We propose a new metadata description language, named MEtaData Format for Open Reef Data (MEDFORD), in which scientists can record all details relevant to their research. Being human-readable, easily editable and templatable, MEDFORD serves as a collection point for all notes that a researcher could find relevant to their research, be it for internal use or for future replication. MEDFORD has been applied to coral research, documenting research from RNA-seq analyses to photo collections.
Artificial intelligence-enabled electrocardiogram to distinguish cavotricuspid isthmus dependence from other atrial tachycardia mechanisms
Authors: Sau Arunashis , Ibrahim Safi , Ahmed Amar , Handa Balvinder , Kramer Daniel B , Waks Jonathan W , Arnold Ahran D , Howard James P , Qureshi Norman , Koa-Wing Michael , Keene Daniel , Malcolme-Lawes Louisa , Lefroy David C , Linton Nicholas W F , Lim Phang Boon , Varnava Amanda , Whinnett Zachary I , Kanagaratnam Prapa , Mandic Danilo , Peters Nicholas S , Ng Fu Siong
Published: August 2022

Aims

Accurately determining atrial arrhythmia mechanisms from a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) can be challenging. Given the high success rate of cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation, identification of CTI-dependent typical atrial flutter (AFL) is important for treatment decisions and procedure planning. We sought to train a convolutional neural network (CNN) to classify CTI-dependent AFL vs. non-CTI dependent atrial tachycardia (AT), using data from the invasive electrophysiology (EP) study as the gold standard.

Methods and results

We trained a CNN on data from 231 patients undergoing EP studies for atrial tachyarrhythmia. A total of 13 500 five-second 12-lead ECG segments were used for training. Each case was labelled CTI-dependent AFL or non-CTI-dependent AT based on the findings of the EP study. The model performance was evaluated against a test set of 57 patients. A survey of electrophysiologists in Europe was undertaken on the same 57 ECGs. The model had an accuracy of 86% (95% CI 0.77–0.95) compared to median expert electrophysiologist accuracy of 79% (range 70–84%). In the two thirds of test set cases (38/57) where both the model and electrophysiologist consensus were in agreement, the prediction accuracy was 100%. Saliency mapping demonstrated atrial activation was the most important segment of the ECG for determining model output.

Conclusion

We describe the first CNN trained to differentiate CTI-dependent AFL from other AT using the ECG. Our model matched and complemented expert electrophysiologist performance. Automated artificial intelligence-enhanced ECG analysis could help guide treatment decisions and plan ablation procedures for patients with organized atrial arrhythmias.
Multiple mediating effects of self-efficacy and physical activity on the relationship between frailty and health-related quality of life in adults with cardiovascular disease
Authors: Won Mi Hwa , Choi JiYeon , Son Youn-Jung
Published: August 2022

Aims

Poor health-related quality of life is prevalent among individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and may be associated with frailty as well as low levels of self-efficacy and physical activity. This study aimed to identify the multiple mediating effects of exercise self-efficacy and physical activity on the relationship between frailty and health-related quality of life among community-dwelling adults with CVD.

Methods and results

This cross-sectional study included 489 Korean patients aged >20 years diagnosed with CVD. Data were collected through an online survey conducted in June 2021. The mediation hypothesis was tested using a serial multiple mediation model and the bootstrapping method. Approximately, 39.5% of patients in this study were in a frail state. Our main finding revealed that frailty had an indirect effect on health-related quality of life through all three different pathways: each single mediation of exercise self-efficacy and physical activity, and the serial multiple mediation of exercise self-efficacy and physical activity as the first and second mediators, respectively. The direct effect of frailty on the health-related quality of life was also significant.

Conclusion

Frail adults with CVD tended to have lower levels of self-efficacy, physical activity, and poor health-related quality of life. Thus, early identification of frailty and interventions targeting the promotion of self-efficacy and physical activity may improve health-related quality of life in adults with CVD. Longitudinal studies are necessary to further refine our findings across other samples and to address the limitations of the current study.
A Comparison of Multivariate and Univariate Time Series Models Applied in Tree Sap Flux Analyses
Authors: Zhao Xiaowei , Zhao Ping , Zhu Liwei , Zhang Gaoyang
Published: August 2022

Accurate model predictions of the tree sap flux in sapwood are critical for forestry water management, primarily due to data availability limitations. Time series models have been used in tree sap flux analyses since 2005. Classic autoregressive models such as the ARIMA (autoregressive integrated moving average), ARIMAX (ARIMA with exogenous variables), SARIMA (seasonal ARIMA) and SARIMAX (seasonal ARIMAX) models are designed and tested for two common exotic species (Eucalyptus citriodora Hook. f. and Acacia auriculaeformis A. Chun) in dry and wet seasons in South China. The performance of the models is assessed with a scoring system for integrating six statistical indices. The results show that taking both seasonal term and exogenous variables into account could improve day sap flux prediction accuracy.
Insights from the genomes of 4 diploid Camelina spp.
Authors: Martin Sara L , Lujan Toro Beatriz , James Tracey , Sauder Connie A , Laforest Martin
Published: August 2022

Plant evolution has been a complex process involving hybridization and polyploidization making understanding the origin and evolution of a plant’s genome challenging even once a published genome is available. The oilseed crop, Camelina sativa (Brassicaceae), has a fully sequenced allohexaploid genome with 3 unknown ancestors. To better understand which extant species best represent the ancestral genomes that contributed to C. sativa’s formation, we sequenced and assembled chromosome level draft genomes for 4 diploid members of Camelina: C. neglecta C. hispida var. hispida, C. hispida var. grandiflora, and C. laxa using long and short read data scaffolded with proximity data. We then conducted phylogenetic analyses on regions of synteny and on genes described for Arabidopsis thaliana, from across each nuclear genome and the chloroplasts to examine evolutionary relationships within Camelina and Camelineae. We conclude that C. neglecta is closely related to C. sativa’s sub-genome 1 and that C. hispida var. hispida and C. hispida var. grandiflora are most closely related to C. sativa’s sub-genome 3. Further, the abundance and density of transposable elements, specifically Helitrons, suggest that the progenitor genome that contributed C. sativa’s sub-genome 3 maybe more similar to the genome of C. hispida var. hispida than that of C. hispida var. grandiflora. These diploid genomes show few structural differences when compared to C. sativa’s genome indicating little change to chromosome structure following allopolyploidization. This work also indicates that C. neglecta and C. hispida are important resources for understanding the genetics of C. sativa and potential resources for crop improvement.
Chromosome-scale genome assemblies and annotations for Poales species Carex cristatella, Carex scoparia, Juncus effusus, and Juncus inflexus
Authors: Planta Jose , Liang Yu-Ya , Xin Haoyang , Chansler Matthew T , Prather L Alan , Jiang Ning , Jiang Jiming , Childs Kevin L
Published: August 2022

The majority of sequenced genomes in the monocots are from species belonging to Poaceae, which include many commercially important crops. Here, we expand the number of sequenced genomes from the monocots to include the genomes of 4 related cyperids: Carex cristatella and Carex scoparia from Cyperaceae and Juncus effusus and Juncus inflexus from Juncaceae. The high-quality, chromosome-scale genome sequences from these 4 cyperids were assembled by combining whole-genome shotgun sequencing of Nanopore long reads, Illumina short reads, and Hi-C sequencing data. Some members of the Cyperaceae and Juncaceae are known to possess holocentric chromosomes. We examined the repeat landscapes in our sequenced genomes to search for potential repeats associated with centromeres. Several large satellite repeat families, comprising 3.2–9.5% of our sequenced genomes, showed dispersed distribution of large satellite repeat clusters across all Carex chromosomes, with few instances of these repeats clustering in the same chromosomal regions. In contrast, most large Juncus satellite repeats were clustered in a single location on each chromosome, with sporadic instances of large satellite repeats throughout the Juncus genomes. Recognizable transposable elements account for about 20% of each of the 4 genome assemblies, with the Carex genomes containing more DNA transposons than retrotransposons while the converse is true for the Juncus genomes. These genome sequences and annotations will facilitate better comparative analysis within monocots.
In search of a Drosophila core cellular network with single-cell transcriptome data
Authors: Yang Ming , Harrison Benjamin R , Promislow Daniel E L
Published: August 2022

Along with specialized functions, cells of multicellular organisms also perform essential functions common to most if not all cells. Whether diverse cells do this by using the same set of genes, interacting in a fixed coordinated fashion to execute essential functions, or a subset of genes specific to certain cells, remains a central question in biology. Here, we focus on gene coexpression to search for a core cellular network across a whole organism. Single-cell RNA-sequencing measures gene expression of individual cells, enabling researchers to discover gene expression patterns that contribute to the diversity of cell functions. Current efforts to study cellular functions focus primarily on identifying differentially expressed genes across cells. However, patterns of coexpression between genes are probably more indicative of biological processes than are the expression of individual genes. We constructed cell-type-specific gene coexpression networks using single-cell transcriptome datasets covering diverse cell types from the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. We detected a set of highly coordinated genes preserved across cell types and present this as the best estimate of a core cellular network. This core is very small compared with cell-type-specific gene coexpression networks and shows dense connectivity. Gene members of this core tend to be ancient genes and are enriched for those encoding ribosomal proteins. Overall, we find evidence for a core cellular network in diverse cell types of the fruit fly. The topological, structural, functional, and evolutionary properties of this core indicate that it accounts for only a minority of essential functions.
Idiosyncratic Purifying Selection on Metabolic Enzymes in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with Escherichia coli
Authors: Maddamsetti Rohan
Published: August 2022

Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya all share a common set of metabolic reactions. This implies that the function and topology of central metabolism has been evolving under purifying selection over deep time. Central metabolism may similarly evolve under purifying selection during long-term evolution experiments, although it is unclear how long such experiments would have to run (decades, centuries, millennia) before signs of purifying selection on metabolism appear. I hypothesized that central and superessential metabolic enzymes would show evidence of purifying selection in the long-term evolution experiment with Escherichia coli (LTEE). I also hypothesized that enzymes that specialize on single substrates would show stronger evidence of purifying selection in the LTEE than generalist enzymes that catalyze multiple reactions. I tested these hypotheses by analyzing metagenomic time series covering 62,750 generations of the LTEE. I find mixed support for these hypotheses, because the observed patterns of purifying selection are idiosyncratic and population-specific. To explain this finding, I propose the Jenga hypothesis, named after a children’s game in which blocks are removed from a tower until it falls. The Jenga hypothesis postulates that loss-of-function mutations degrade costly, redundant, and non-essential metabolic functions. Replicate populations can therefore follow idiosyncratic trajectories of lost redundancies, despite purifying selection on overall function. I tested the Jenga hypothesis by simulating the evolution of 1,000 minimal genomes under strong purifying selection. As predicted, the minimal genomes converge to different metabolic networks. Strikingly, the core genes common to all 1,000 minimal genomes show consistent signatures of purifying selection in the LTEE.
How Skin Tone Influences Relationships Between Discrimination, Psychological Distress, and Self-Rated Mental Health Among Older African Americans
Authors: Hamler Tyrone C , Nguyen Ann W , Keith Verna , Qin Weidi , Wang Fei
Published: August 2022

Objectives

As within-group differences have emerged as a key area of inquiry for health disparities among African Americans, skin tone has been identified as an important factor. This study aims to examine: (a) the moderating role of skin tone in the relationship between discrimination, self-rated mental health, and serious psychological distress (SPD) and (b) whether this moderating effect differs across genders in a nationally representative sample of older African Americans.

Methods

Analyses were conducted on a subsample of African Americans aged 55+ (N = 837) from the National Survey of American Life. The mental health outcomes were SPD and self-rated mental health. Discrimination was assessed with the Everyday Discrimination Scale. Skin tone was self-reported. Multiple linear regressions tested the study aims.

Results

Discrimination was associated with worse self-rated mental health and SPD in the total sample and among women. Skin tone moderated the association between discrimination and SPD in the total sample and among men and women. The associations between discrimination and mental health outcomes were stronger among darker-skinned respondents than lighter respondents. Gender-stratified analyses indicated skin tone moderated the association between discrimination and self-rated mental health for men but not women.

Discussion

This study contributes to the emerging body of literature on skin tone, discrimination, and mental health. Uncovering mechanisms behind the “why” is an important next step in understanding how skin tone influences the relationship between discrimination and mental health. The negative psychological effects associated with darker complexion provide several areas to be examined.
Approximate reflection and transmission coefficients at an interface between two contrasting viscoelastic anisotropic half-spaces
Authors: Wu Jianlu , Zhou Bing , Greenhalgh Stewart , Bouzidi Youcef , Zhang Zhiming
Published: August 2022

We present and compare two new methods to calculate the reflection and transmission coefficients of qP, qSV and qSH waves at a flat interface between two contrasting viscoelastic anisotropic half-spaces. The first method is a new version of the real ray tracing method that extends the traditional real ray tracing method to tackle the triplications of the qSV wave. This new version is valid for computing the reflection and transmission coefficients of the qP and qSV waves for all pre- and post-critical angles of incidence, which cannot be handled by the previous approach. The second method employs the real slowness direction and Snell's law to provide approximate reflection and transmission coefficients for such wave modes. This approximate method has attractive advantages which are not only the avoidance of the searching process inherent in the real ray tracing method but also offers competitive economical solutions to the first method. Many viscoelastic VTI models are utilized to validate the two methods. The numerical results show that (1) the ray angles, ray velocities, ray Q-factors, and the magnitudes of the reflection and transmission coefficients obtained by the two methods closely agree with each other, except in the vicinity of the critical angles and (2) the phase angles of the reflected and transmitted waves exhibit complexities due to the existence of some reverse phenomena between the approximate and the real ray tracing solutions. However, such phase discrepancies do not affect the magnitudes of the reflection and transmission coefficients. Moreover, the energy ratios of the different wave modes satisfy the energy conservation criterion at the interface.
Active tectonics and fault evolution in the Western Balkans
Authors: D’Agostino N , Copley A , Jackson J , Koçi R , Hajrullai A , Duni L , Kuka N
Published: August 2022

The western Balkans occupy a region influenced by two major active tectonic processes: the collision between the Adriatic Region and the Dinarides in the west, and the extension of the Aegean Region and its surroundings as they move towards the Hellenic Trench. An understanding of the kinematics and dynamics of the western Balkans has significance for our understanding of continental tectonics in general, and is the object of this paper. The region is rich in observational data, with many well-studied earthquakes, good geodetic coverage by GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) and abundant exposure of active faulting and its associated geomorphology, especially within the Mesozoic carbonates that cover large sectors of the extensional areas. We first use such observations to establish the regional kinematic patterns, by which we mean a clarification of how active faulting achieves the motions observed in the deforming velocity field obtained from GNSS measurements. We then use geomorphological observations on the evolution of drainage systems to establish how kinematic and faulting patterns have changed and migrated during the Late Neogene-Quaternary. The kinematics, and its evolution, can then be used to infer characteristics of the dynamics, by which we mean the origin and effect of the forces that control the overall deformation. The principal influences are: (i) the distribution and evolution of gravitational potential energy (GPE) contrasts arising from crustal thickness variations and elevation, in particular the growth of topography by shortening in the Albanides–Hellenides mountain ranges and the high elevation of mainland Greece relative to the Mediterranean seafloor and (ii) the ability of the boundaries of the region, along the Adriatic coast and in the Hellenic Trench, to support the forces arising from those GPE contrasts. The evolution in space and time indicates an interaction between the anisotropic strength fabric of the upper crust associated with faulting, and the more distributed and smoother patterns of flow that are likely to characterize the ductile deformation of the lower, aseismic part of the lithosphere—both of which influence the deformation on the scale of 100–200 km. The persistent argument about whether continental deformation is best described by a continuum or by rigid-block motions is largely a matter of scale and particular location: both are influential in establishing the patterns we see.
Magnetic resonance sounding signal extraction using the shaping-regularized Prony method
Authors: Lin Tingting , Li Yue , Lin Yusheng , Chen Jian , Wan Ling
Published: August 2022

Magnetic resonance sounding (MRS) can be used to implement groundwater detection non-invasively because of the direct relationship between the signal parameters and aquifer properties. Most current approaches to extracting MRS parameters need to use prior knowledge of the precise Larmor frequency to detect the signal envelope, and are vulnerable to the residual noise after de-noising. In this paper, we use a shaping-regularized Prony method to extract MRS signals from high-frequency oscillating data instead of from envelopes of data. Only an approximate Larmor frequency is required in advance. Besides, irrelevant noise components can be dropped during the extraction process. We investigate the selection of an appropriate decomposition quantity for the SRP method and present an intuitive regularization method to control the shape of the estimated coefficients. Impact of different types and magnitudes of noise on the proposed method are analysed. The extraction results obtained from numerical simulations and field surveys reveal that the SRP method yields accurate and reliable parameters estimation and preserves complete signal information. The tolerance to the interference in signal extraction of the proposed method is obviously better than that of the SD method.
Spectral induced polarization monitoring of induced calcite precipitation in subsurface sediments
Authors: Placencia-Gόmez Edmundo , Robinson Judith , Slater Lee , Qafoku Nikolla P
Published: August 2022

Co-precipitation of contaminants within the crystalline structure of calcite is a promising natural attenuation or remedial technology being considered at contaminated sites. We explore the sensitivity of the spectral induced polarization (SIP) method to induced calcite precipitation in natural sediments as a path forward to non-invasively monitor these sites. We performed time-lapse column experiments using phased (I–IV) injections over 40 d on natural sediments from the Hanford Site (WA, USA). In the phased injections, abiotic calcite precipitation was induced and confirmed to have occurred. Previous work on glass beads and homogeneous sand was limited to high frequency detection of calcite, however in this work we observed the development of two polarization mechanisms, one at high frequency (>100 Hz) and one at low frequency (<100 Hz). Based on the characteristic frequencies from the SIP high and low frequency regimes, characteristic length scales (L) were computed where the adsorption mode of Na+ versus Ca2+ was compared by using diffusion coefficients corresponding to Na+ versus an arithmetically averaged value for Na+ and Ca2+. Using the diffusion coefficient of Na+, the high frequency L was found to correlate well with the size of the calcite crystals. The low frequency L correlated well with the individual natural sediment grain sizes within the columns. During late experimental times (day 36 and 40), the characteristic low frequency in two of the experimental columns shifted to lower frequencies (<0.001 Hz) which may signify SIP sensitivity of the formed calcite with the sediment grains. In field applications, the development of a low frequency polarization length scale to monitor calcite precipitation is promising for field monitoring applications, however further laboratory work needs to be performed to examine the SIP sensitivity of calcite formation in the presence of natural sediments.
Fatal Intoxications from a Combination of 4-Fluoroamphetamine and 25C-NBOMe
Authors: Gerostamoulos Dimitri , Glowacki Linda , Pricone Maria , Crump Kerryn , Di Rago Matthew , Joubert Samantha , Lynch Matthew J , Woodford Noel W , Drummer Olaf H
Published: August 2022

Six fatalities have occurred from the ingestion of a combination of new psychoactive substances (NPSs), 4-fluoroamphetamine (4FA) and 2-(4-chloro-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-[(2-methoxyphenyl)methyl]ethanamine (25C-NBOMe) over a 9-month period. Four of these fatalities (one older female and three young males) were from direct adverse effects of drugs, and one each from a fall while being intoxicated and during restraint. All cases were subject to full postmortem examinations that included collection of femoral blood. The four drug-caused fatalities had postmortem blood concentrations for 4FA and 25C-NBOMe of 330–682 ng/L (median 417) and 1.4–12 ng/mL (median 4.3), respectively. The other two cases (both young males) where death was considered to have been caused indirectly by drug intoxication had 4FA and 25C-NBOMe postmortem concentrations of 21 and 123 ng/mL, and 1.8 and 4.5 ng/mL, respectively. None of these cases showed concentrations of drugs that suggested use of high recreational doses. In one drug-caused death, capsules and a brown powder obtained from the scene were found to contain a mixture of these two NPSs. With the exception of one drug-caused death, other drugs were detected; however, the effects of the two NPSs together were regarded as the primary triggers for the deaths. There were no consistent symptoms or pathology in these cases; however, agitation/aggression was observed in two cases prior to their collapse, with seizures in possibly three cases. Pulmonary and/or cerebral edema was noted in three cases. Potentially significant natural disease (a mildly enlarged heart) was only observed in one drug-caused case. These cases illustrate a possible increased risk of sudden death with this combination of drugs, both of which can elevate serotonin concentrations as well as act as strong stimulants. These cases also illustrate the difficulty in detecting NPS in cases where no prior information is available that might suggest their use.
A New Chapter in China’s Stance on Labour Protection? An Assessment of the China–EU CAI
Authors: Yan Yueming
Published: August 2022

China overhauled its pre-existing image of being insufficiently friendly to sustainable development in international investment agreements (IIAs) with its sweeping, specific, and strong commitments to labour rights protection in the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) recently concluded with the European Union. This article provides an assessment of these labour provisions and examines their impact on China’s national, regional, and global stances on labour protection. Firstly, it analyses the features and purposes of different types of labour provision and the integrated mechanism for settling disputes on labour issues. This article then identifies the gap between China’s commitments under the CAI and its actual practices and presents a wish list for China to enhance labour protection, including efforts to ratify fundamental International Labour Organization conventions, improve domestic legislation on core labour principles, and enhance corporate social responsibility among Chinese investors. Further, this article assesses the macro-level impacts of these labour provisions. It argues that the CAI presents an opportunity to strengthen sustainable development and labour rights protection within China, along the Belt and Road Initiative, and globally. China is advised to continue incorporating modernized labour standards into its future IIAs.
Quantitative Trait Locus Determining the Time of Blood Feeding in Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae)
Authors: Hickner Paul V , Mori Akio , Rund Samuel S C , Severson David W
Published: August 2022

Mosquitoes and other blood feeding arthropods are vectors of pathogens causing serious human diseases, such as Plasmodium spp. (malaria), Wuchereria bancrofti (lymphatic filariasis), Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), and viruses causing dengue, Zika, West Nile, chikungunya, and yellow fever. Among the most effective strategies for the prevention of vector-borne diseases are those aimed at reducing human–vector interactions, such as insecticide applications and insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs). In some areas where ITNs are widely used, behavioral adaptations have resulted in mosquitoes shifting their time of blood feeding to earlier or later in the night when the bed nets are not being employed. Little is known about the genetic basis of these behavioral shifts. We conducted quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis using two strains of Culex pipiens sensu lato with contrasting blood feeding behaviors, wherein the lab adapted Shasta strain blood feeds at any time of the day or night, while the newly established Trinidad strain feeds only at night. We identified a single locus on chromosome 2 associated with the observed variation in feeding times. None of the core clock genes period, timeless, clock, cycle, PAR-domain protein 1, vrille, discs overgrown, cryptochrome 1, or cryptochrome 2 were located within the QTL region. We then monitored locomotor behavior to determine if they differed in their flight activity. The highly nocturnal Trinidad strain showed little daytime activity while the day-feeding Shasta strain was active during the day, suggesting blood feeding behavior and flight activity are physiologically linked.
Pourbiax Diagrams as an Aid to Understanding the Impact of Acid/Base Disturbance on Blood Glucose Point-of-Care Testing
Authors: McPherson Peter A C , McClements Owen S , Johnston Ben M
Published: August 2022

Objective

Assays based on redox reactions that involve proton transfer are vulnerable to artifactual findings in metabolic acidosis/alkalosis. We evaluated the impact of pH on the measurement of blood glucose by the glucose dehydrogenase/pyrroloquinoline quinone system used in point-of-care-testing.

Methods

We applied a series of thermodynamic equations to adjust the Gibbs energy for the pyrroloquinoline quinone couple. This adjusts values taken under standard conditions to those more closely resembling the physiological state.

Results

Under standard conditions, the pyrroloquinoline quinone couple has Eo = −0.125 V whereas adjustment to the physiological state (pH 7.40, ionic strength 0.15 mol/L, and temperature 310.15°K) yields Eo′ = −0.166 V. This corresponds to an uncertainty in blood glucose determination of approximately 0.13 mmol/L.

Conclusion

We have demonstrated that the impact of pH on blood glucose determination by the glucose dehydrogenase/pyrroloquinoline quinone system (under physiologically relevant conditions of ionic strength and temperature) is not clinically significant.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α maintains NAD+ bioavailability protecting against steatohepatitis
Authors: Shen Weiyan , Wan Xingyong , Hou Jiahui , Liu Zhu , Mao Genxiang , Xu Xiaogang , Yu Chaohui , Zhu Xudong , Ju Zhenyu
Published: August 2022

Hepatic metabolic derangements are pivotal incidences in the occurrence of hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), a master regulator that mediates adipose metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis, its role in hepatic steatosis and progression to steatohepatitis remains elusive. By surveying genomic data on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients available in the Gene Expression Omnibus, we found that PGC-1α was significantly down-regulated compared with healthy controls, implicating the restoration of PGC-1α may ameliorate the hepatopathy. Using a hepatocyte-specific PGC-1α overexpression (LivPGC1α) mouse model, we demonstrated that PGC-1α attenuated hepatic steatosis induced by methionine–choline-deficient diet (MCD). Biochemical measurements and histological examination indicated less inflammatory infiltration, collagen deposition, NF-kB activation, and less lipid accumulation in LivPGC1α liver fed MCD. Further analyses indicated that the NAD+-dependent deacetylase sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) interacted with and deacetylated PGC-1α. Congruently, ablation of SIRT2 accelerated the NASH progression in mice fed MCD, while NAD+ repletion via its precursor mimicked the beneficial effect of PGC-1α overexpression and was sufficient to alleviate NASH in mice. These findings indicate that hepatic-specific overexpression of PGC-1α exerts a beneficial role in the regulation of steatohepatitis and that pharmacological activation of the SIRT2-PGC-1α-NAD+ axis may help to treat NASH.
High-contrast imaging of HD 29992 and HD 196385 with the Gemini Planet Imager
Authors: García Luciano H , Petrucci R , Jofré E , Gómez M
Published: August 2022

Based on high-contrast images obtained with the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI), we report the discovery of two point-like sources at angular separations ρ ∼ 0.18 and 0.80 arcsec from the stars HD 29992 and HD 196385. A combined analysis of the new GPI observations and images from the literature indicates that the source close to HD 29992 could be a companion to the star. Concerning HD 196385, the small number of contaminants (∼0.5) suggests that the detected source may be gravitationally bound to the star. For both systems, we discarded the presence of other potential companions with m > 75 MJup at ρ ∼ 0.3–1.3 arcsec. From stellar model atmospheres and low-resolution GPI spectra, we derive masses of ∼0.2–0.3 M⊙ for these sources. Using a Markov-chain Monte Carlo approach, we performed a joint fit of the new astrometry measurements and published radial velocity data to characterize the possible orbits. For HD 196385B, the median dynamic mass is in agreement with that derived from model atmospheres, whilst for HD 29992B the orbital fit favours masses close to the brown dwarf regime (∼0.08 M⊙). HD 29992 and HD 196385 might be two new binary systems with M-type stellar companions. However, new high angular resolution images would help to confirm definitively whether the detected sources are gravitationally bound to their respective stars, and permit tighter constraints on the orbital parameters of both systems.