bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pharyngeal mechanosensory neurons control food swallow in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Qin Jierui , Yang Tingting , Li Kexin , Liu Ting , Zhang Wei
Published: June 2023

As the early step of food ingestion, the swallow is under rigorous sensorimotor control. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying swallow control at a molecular and circuitry level remain largely unknown. Here, we find that mutation of the mechanotransduction channel genes nompC, Tmc, or piezo impairs the regular pumping rhythm of the cibarium during feeding of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. A group of multi-dendritic mechanosensory neurons, which co-express the three channels, wrap the cibarium and are crucial for coordinating the filling and emptying of the cibarium. Inhibition of them causes difficulty in food emptying in the cibarium, while their activation leads to difficulty in cibarium filling. Synaptic and functional connections are detected between the pharyngeal mechanosensory neurons and the motor circuit that controls swallow. This study elucidates the role of mechanosensation in swallow, and provides insights for a better understanding of the neural basis of food swallow.
Autophagosome membrane expansion is mediated by the N-terminus and cis-membrane association of human ATG8s
Authors: Zhang Wenxin , Nishimura Taki , Gahlot Deepanshi , Saito Chieko , Davis Colin , Jefferies Harold BJ , Schreiber Anne , Thukral Lipi , Tooze Sharon A
Published: June 2023

Autophagy is an essential catabolic pathway which sequesters and engulfs cytosolic substrates via autophagosomes, unique double-membraned structures. ATG8 proteins are ubiquitin-like proteins recruited to autophagosome membranes by lipidation at the C-terminus. ATG8s recruit substrates, such as p62, and play an important role in mediating autophagosome membrane expansion. However, the precise function of lipidated ATG8 in expansion remains obscure. Using a real-time in vitro lipidation assay, we revealed that the N-termini of lipidated human ATG8s (LC3B and GABARAP) are highly dynamic and interact with the membrane. Moreover, atomistic MD simulation and FRET assays indicate that N-termini of LC3B and GABARAP associate in cis on the membrane. By using non-tagged GABARAPs, we show that GABARAP N-terminus and its cis-membrane insertion are crucial to regulate the size of autophagosomes in cells irrespectively of p62 degradation. Our study provides fundamental molecular insights into autophagosome membrane expansion, revealing the critical and unique function of lipidated ATG8.
A semi supervised approach to Arabic aspect category detection using Bert and teacher-student model
Authors: Almasri Miada , Al-Malki Norah , Alotaibi Reem
Published: June 2023

Aspect-based sentiment analysis tasks are well researched in English. However, we find such research lacking in the context of the Arabic language, especially with reference to aspect category detection. Most of this research is focusing on supervised machine learning methods that require the use of large, labeled datasets. Therefore, the aim of this research is to implement a semi-supervised self-training approach which utilizes a noisy student framework to enhance the capability of a deep learning model, AraBERT v02. The objective is to perform aspect category detection on both the SemEval 2016 hotel review dataset and the Hotel Arabic-Reviews Dataset (HARD) 2016. The four-step framework firstly entails developing a teacher model that is trained on the aspect categories of the SemEval 2016 labeled dataset. Secondly, it generates pseudo labels for the unlabeled HARD dataset based on the teacher model. Thirdly, it creates a noisy student model that is trained on the combined datasets (∼1 million sentences). The aim is to minimize the combined cross entropy loss. Fourthly, an ensembling of both teacher and student models is carried out to enhance the performance of AraBERT. Findings indicate that the ensembled teacher-student model demonstrates a 0.3% improvement in its micro F1 over the initial noisy student implementation, both in predicting the Aspect Categories in the combined datasets. However, it has achieved a 1% increase over the micro F1 of the teacher model. These results outperform both baselines and other deep learning models discussed in the related literature.
In vitroandin silicoevaluation of the design of nano-phyto-drug candidate for oral use againstStaphylococcus aureus
Authors: Budama-Kilinc Yasemin , Gok Bahar , Cetin Aluc Cigdem , Kecel-Gunduz Serda
Published: June 2023

Onopordum acanthiumis a medicinal plant with many important properties, such as antibacterial, anticancer, and anti-hypotensive properties. Although various studies reported the biological activities ofO. acanthium, there is no study on its nano-phyto-drug formulation. The aim of this study is to develop a candidate nano-drug based on phytotherapeutic constituents and evaluate its efficiencyin vitroandin silico. In this context, poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) ofO. acanthiumextract (OAE) were synthesized and characterized. It was determined that the average particle size of OAE-PLGA-NPs was 214.9 ± 6.77 nm, and the zeta potential was −8.03 ± 0.85 mV, and PdI value was 0.064 ± 0.013. The encapsulation efficiency of OAE-PLGA-NPs was calculated as 91%, and the loading capacity as 75.83%. Thein vitrodrug release study showed that OAE was released from the PLGA NPs with 99.39% over the 6 days. Furthermore, the mutagenic and cytotoxic activity of free OAE and OAE-PLGA-NPs were evaluated by the Ames test and MTT test, respectively. Although 0.75 and 0.37 mg/mL free OAE concentrations caused both frameshift mutation and base pair substitution (p< 0.05), the administered OAE–PLGA NP concentrations were not mutagenic. It was determined with the MTT analysis that the doses of 0.75 and 1.5 mg/mL of free OAE had a cytotoxic effect on the L929 fibroblast cell line (p< 0.05), and OAE-PLGA-NPs had no cytotoxic effect. Moreover, the interaction between the OAE andS. aureuswas also investigated using the molecular docking analysis method. The molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) results were implemented to elucidate theS. aureusMurE inhibition potential of OAE. It was shown that quercetin in the OAE content interacted significantly with the substantial residues in the catalytic pocket of theS. aureusMurE enzyme, and quercetin performed four hydrogen bond interactions corresponding to a low binding energy of −6.77 kcal/mol with catalytic pocket binding residues, which are crucial for the inhibition mechanism ofS. aureusMurE. Finally, the bacterial inhibition values of free OAE and OAE–PLGA NPs were determined againstS. aureususing a microdilution method. The antibacterial results showed that the inhibition value of the OAE–PLGA NPs was 69%. In conclusion, from thein vitroandin silicoresults of the nano-sized OAE-PLGA NP formulation produced in this study, it was evaluated that the formulation may be recommended as a safe and effective nano-phyto-drug candidate againstS. aureus.
La educación ambiental y los estilos de vida sostenibles
Authors: Heras Francisco
Published: June 2023

La educación ambiental (EA) ha sido concebida desde su inicio como una herramienta estratégica frente a la crisis ambiental. En este sentido, uno de los objetivos explícitos de numerosas iniciativas de EA ha sido la promoción de los comportamientos ambientalmente responsables. El presente artículo pasa revista a las principales críticas suscitadas a partir de la práctica orientada a la promoción de comportamientos responsables y analiza la emergencia del concepto de “estilo de vida sostenible” como concepto alternativo para enfocar la acción educativa. Entre los argumentos planteados en favor del cambio de enfoque se destacan: la profundidad de los cambios requeridos para situarnos dentro de los límites planetarios, que hace insuficiente la política de “pequeños gestos”; la necesidad de obtener una visión más global de nuestro impacto y de reconciliar lo individual y lo colectivo en una visión más unificadora. Para finalizar, se identifican diversas aportaciones y circunstancias que pueden facilitar el cambio de enfoque, así como los retos que este cambio conlleva para el propio sector de la EA.
Influence of Different Temperatures and Sexes on the Survival and Stress Responses of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.)
Authors: Macaraeg Niko A. , Vera Cruz Emmanuel M. , Templonuevo Rea Mae C.
Published: June 2023

This study was conducted to assess the influence of different water temperature ranges and sexes on the stress response of Nile tilapia. Sixteen proactive males and sixteen proactive female fish were used in the study. There were eight combinations of factors, and each combination was replicated four times. Changes in eye color pattern (ECP), ventilation rate (VR), and skin color of the fish were monitored after reaching the treatment temperature of the environment. Mortality of fish was also monitored. Results showed that the ECP of fish was significantly (P<0.01) affected by water temperature and sex of fish. Similarly, VR of fish was also significantly (P<0.01) affected by water temperature and sex of fish. Decreased dissolved oxygen (DO) was observed in increasing water temperature which may have also contributed to the stress response of Nile tilapia besides the increasing water temperature. Two out of four fish in T4M died after 6-12 hours of exposure while in T4F three out of four fish died after 2-4 hours. There was a decrease in the final weight of fish in all combinations of factors. On body color, both male and female fish exposed to increasing water temperatures exhibited an intense body color (presence of vertical stripes). From the results of this study, male fish had significantly lower (P<0.01) ECP scores and VR values than female fish when exposed to different ranges of water temperature. Likewise, male fish exposed to high temperatures (39-40°C) survived longer than female fish. Therefore, it can be concluded that male fish are more tolerant to increasing water temperature up to 37°C than female fish since males can easily cope with stress.
Explanatory Models of Dementia among Caregivers of Elderly Persons with Dementia – Analysis of Secondary Data
Authors: Gopalli Navya Aswathareddy , Loganathan Santosh , Murthy Meena Kolar Sridara , Hossien Sk. Altaf
Published: June 2023

Rising life expectancy is associated with an increased prevalence of chronic diseases like dementia. The prevalence of dementia is significantly higher in low- and middle-income countries. The public's awareness of dementia in India is low. Help-seeking is largely dependent on one’s socio-cultural perspective of a sickness episode and one’s beliefs about the aetiology, course, and outcome of the illness. Dementia is still not conceptualised as a health problem, and it is believed to be a consequence of normal ageing. So carers are not concerned about seeking help. We interviewed 35 carers of persons with dementia (as per ICD-10) using the Short Explanatory Model Interview (SEMI). We explored the explanatory models of dementia given by caregivers of people with dementia. Qualitative data analysis was done using ATLAS.ti. We identified four main themes that carers expressed, namely, I) Problems of the patient: Many caregivers reported that memory loss, behavioural problems, and impaired biological functioning were their main concerns. II) Cause of problem: caregivers expressed that psychosocial stress, ageing, and black magic were causes of dementia. III) Reason to visit and expectation: most caregivers consulted doctors due to the worsening of their relatives' problems, and they were advised by others to visit. They expected medicines, better treatment, and a cure from doctors, and IV) Outcome of problem: caregivers were worried about problems with appetite, memory loss, impaired verbal communication, difficulty at work, and their relatives going missing. Caregivers have the idea that their relative had some problem that involved the brain, but most of them attribute this to the consequences of ageing due to psychosocial factors like excessive stress, bad interpersonal relationships, life events, economic crises, and black magic. There is a need for an awareness-raising campaign for dementia in the community at large concerning its cause, symptoms, course, progression, and most importantly, locally available services.
Nursing problems and interventions identified in the nursing consult for people living with HIV / Problemas e intervenções de enfermagem identificados na consulta de enfermagem a pessoas que vivem com HIV
Authors: Fernandes Vianna Santana Vivian Sarah , Kaezer dos Santos Felipe , Neto Mercedes , Costa e Silva Frances Valéria , Castelo Branco Alba Lucia
Published: June 2023

Objetivo: identificar os problemas e as respectivas intervenções registrados pelos profissionais de enfermagem no primeiro atendimento de pessoas que vivem com HIV em um Serviço de Atendimento Especializado de um Centro Municipal de Saúde. Método: trata-se de um estudo descritivo, quantitativo, retrospectivo e documental. Em um universo de 300 pacientes admitidos em 2021, foram incluídos 110 prontuários de ambos os sexos e adultos. Resultados: em 88,5% das consultas, os enfermeiros registraram problemas de natureza biológica/física e 91,6% das intervenções foram solicitações de exames laboratoriais. Em 47,3% não havia conexão entre o problema de enfermagem e a intervenção. Conclusão: os principais problemas e as intervenções identificadas durante a consulta de enfermagem estão relacionados com os aspectos físicos e biológicos das pessoas que vivem com HIV, demonstrando que o cuidado de enfermagem ainda está centrado em um paradigma biomédico e que urge ser superado.
Congress’ Misguided Plan to Ban QALYs
Authors: Rand Leah Z. , Raymakers Adam , Rome Benjamin N.
Published: June 2023

This Viewpoint discusses the flawed assumptions and potential negative impacts of a proposed federal bill that would ban government health care programs from using the quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) and “similar measures” when determining insurance coverage or negotiating prices.
Clinician Job Satisfaction After Peer Comparison Feedback
Authors: Doctor Jason N. , Goldstein Noah J. , Fox Craig R. , Linder Jeffrey A. , Persell Stephen D. , Stewart Emily P. , Knight Tara K. , Meeker Daniella
Published: June 2023

Importance

Interventions that improve clinician performance through feedback should not contribute to job dissatisfaction or staff turnover. Measurement of job satisfaction may help identify interventions that lead to this undesirable consequence.

Objective

To evaluate whether mean job satisfaction was less than the margin of clinical significance among clinicians who received social norm feedback (peer comparison) compared with clinicians who did not.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This secondary, preregistered, noninferiority analysis of a cluster randomized trial compared 3 interventions to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design from November 1, 2011, to April 1, 2014. A total of 248 clinicians were enrolled from 47 clinics. The sample size for this analysis was determined by the number of nonmissing job satisfaction scores from the original enrolled sample, which was 201 clinicians from 43 clinics. Data analysis was performed from October 12 to April 13, 2022.

Interventions

Feedback comparing individual clinician performance to top-performing peers, delivered in monthly emails (peer comparison).

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was a response to the following statement: “Overall, I am satisfied with my current job.” Responses ranged from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).

Results

A total of 201 clinicians (response rate, 81%) from 43 of the 47 clinics (91%) provided a survey response about job satisfaction. Clinicians were primarily female (n = 129 [64%]) and board certified in internal medicine (n = 126 [63%]), with a mean (SD) age of 48 (10) years. The clinic-clustered difference in mean job satisfaction was greater than −0.32 (β = 0.11; 95% CI, −0.19 to 0.42; P = .46). Therefore, the preregistered null hypothesis that peer comparison is inferior by resulting in at least a 1-point decrease in job satisfaction by 1 in 3 clinicians was rejected. The secondary null hypothesis that job satisfaction was similar among clinicians randomized to social norm feedback was not able to be rejected. The effect size did not change when controlling for other trial interventions (t = 0.08; P = .94), and no interaction effects were observed.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial, peer comparison did not lead to lower job satisfaction. Features that may have protected against dissatisfaction include clinicians’ agency over the performance measure, privacy of individual performance, and allowing all clinicians to achieve top performance.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT05575115 and NCT01454947
Rational Design of Heterostructured Ru Cluster‐Based Catalyst for pH Universal Hydrogen Evolution Reaction and High‐Performance Zn‐H2O Battery
Authors: Tang Ranran , Yang Yu , Zhou Yitong , Yu Xin‐Yao
Published: June 2023

Ruthenium (Ru) is an ideal substitute to commercial Pt/C for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Reducing the size of Ru to clusters can greatly increase the utilization of atoms, however, over‐strong RuH binding will be brought about. Additionally, the water dissociation ability of Ru clusters is unfavorable, leading to unsatisfactory activity in alkaline and neutral HER. Herein, a rational and versatile design strategy is proposed by exploring supports with both high work function and facilitated water dissociation ability to boost the pH‐universal HER activity of Ru clusters. As exemplified by Mo2C, density functional calculations verify that the introduction of Mo2C support can optimize the hydrogen adsorption energy and promote the kinetics of water dissociation. Guided by theoretical calculations, heterostructured Mo2C nanoparticles‐Ru clusters anchored carbon spheres (Mo2C‐Ru/C) are designed and prepared. A low overpotential of 22 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a small Tafel slope of 25 mV dec−1 in alkaline solution is demonstrated by Mo2C‐Ru/C. The Mo2C‐Ru/C also exhibits excellent activity in alkaline seawater, acidic, and neutral solutions. When assembling Mo2C‐Ru/C with Zn foil to construct an alkaline‐acid Zn‐H2O battery, the as‐fabricated battery presents high discharge power density and excellent stability for simultaneous generation of electricity and hydrogen (H2).
Functional Material Systems Enabled by Automated Data Extraction and Machine Learning
Authors: Kalhor Payam , Jung Nicole , Bräse Stefan , Wöll Christof , Tsotsalas Manuel , Friederich Pascal
Published: June 2023

The development of new functional materials is crucial for addressing global challenges such as clean energy or the discovery of new drugs and antibiotics. Functional material systems are typically composed of functional molecular building blocks, organized across multiple length scales in a hierarchical order. The large design space allows for precise tuning of properties to specific applications, but also makes it time‐consuming and expensive to screen for optimal structures using traditional experimental methods. Machine learning (ML) models can potentially revolutionize the field of materials science by predicting chemical syntheses and materials properties with high accuracy. However, ML models require data to be trained and validated. Methods to automatically extract data from scientific literature make it possible to build large and diverse datasets for ML models. In this article, opportunities and challenges of data extraction and machine learning methods are discussed to accelerate the discovery of high‐performing functional material systems, while ensuring that the predicted materials are stable, synthesizable, scalable, and sustainable. The potential impact of large language models (LLMs) on the data extraction process are discussed. Additionally, the importance of research data management tools is discussed to overcome the intrinsic limitations of data extraction approaches.
Discovery of Nanoscale Electric Field‐Induced Phase Transitions in ZrO2
Authors: Lomenzo Patrick D. , Collins Liam , Ganser Richard , Xu Bohan , Guido Roberto , Gruverman Alexei , Kersch Alfred , Mikolajick Thomas , Schroeder Uwe
Published: June 2023

The emergence of ferroelectric and antiferroelectric properties in the semiconductor industry's most prominent high‐k dielectrics, HfO2 and ZrO2, is leading to technology developments unanticipated a decade ago. Yet the failure to clearly distinguish ferroelectric from antiferroelectric behavior is impeding progress. Band‐excitation piezoresponse force microscopy and molecular dynamics are used to elucidate the nanoscale electric field‐induced phase transitions present in ZrO2‐based antiferroelectrics. Antiferroelectric ZrO2 is clearly distinguished from a closely resembling pinched La‐doped HfO2 ferroelectric. Crystalline grains in the range of 3 – 20 nm are imaged independently undergoing reversible electric field induced phase transitions. The electrically accessible nanoscale phase transitions discovered in this study open up an unprecedented paradigm for the development of new nanoelectronic devices.
Light‐Induced Thin‐Film Transfer Processes Based on Phase Transition of GeSbTe and ITO Sacrificial Layers
Authors: Park Sang Yoon , Kim Min Kyoo , Kim Jeong Hyeon , Lee Han Eol
Published: June 2023

In the upcoming ubiquitous era, wearable/flexible electronics are spotlighted to get various types of numerous information in real time. Several researchers have investigated flexible materials, and developed diverse thin‐film transfer methods. However, there are some limitations of the intrinsic material unstabilities, and low production yield. Here, light‐induced thin‐film transfer methods are reported by using new transfer mechanism of phase transition in sacrificial materials. Lift‐off conditions with high‐energy laser are delicately optimized by theoretical calculations and experiments to minimize mechanical/thermal damages of the upper thin‐film devices. The selected sacrificial materials of GeSbTe (GST) and indium tin oxide (ITO) with the 300 nm thickness are delaminated from a transparent and rigid glass substrate by irradiating the excimer laser to the surface of the sacrificial layer. The laser‐based exfoliation mechanism of GST and ITO films are comprehended by various material surface analyses. Eventually, flexible oxide thin‐film transistors (TFTs) are successfully demonstrated through light‐induced exfoliation process, showing the usability of the developed transfer technique to future practical applications.
Self‐Assembled Robust 2D Networks from Magneto‐Elastic Bars
Authors: Yang Xinyan , Leng Junqing , Sun Cheng , Keten Sinan
Published: June 2023

Magneto‐elastic materials facilitate features such as shape programmability, adaptive stiffness, and tunable strength, which are critical for advances in structural and robotic materials. Magneto‐elastic networks are commonly fabricated by employing hard magnets embedded in soft matrices to constitute a monolithic body. These architected network materials have excellent mechanical properties but damage incurred in extreme loading scenarios are permanent. To overcome this limitation, we present a novel design for elastic bars with permanent fixed dipole magnets at their ends and demonstrate their ability to self‐assemble into magneto‐elastic networks under random vibrations. The magneto‐elastic unit configuration, most notably the orientation of end dipoles, is shown to dictate the self‐assembled network topology, which can range from quasi‐ordered triangular lattices to stacks or strings of particles. Network mechanics are probed with uniaxial tensile tests and design criteria for forming stable lightweight 2D networks are established. It is shown that these magneto‐elastic networks rearrange and break gracefully at their magnetic nodes under large excitations and yet recover their original structure at moderate random excitations. This work paves the way for structural materials that can be self‐assembled and repaired on‐the‐fly with random vibrations, and broadens the applications of magneto‐elastic soft materials.
Ventilation and Pollutant Dispersion Analysis in the Uneven Building Arrays along with the Green Roof System
Authors: Luo Xiangyu , Zhang Weichen , Qin Zhenqi , Huang Jin , Wang Pengfei , Zhao Wensheng
Published: June 2023

In this study, uneven urban streets are explored with different standard deviations (σH = 0–0.6) through numerical simulations. The ventilation and pollutant diffusion conditions are investigated under the combined action between the thermal buoyancy force and mechanical wind force. When the thermal buoyancy is uniformly distributed, the upstream vortex gradually occupies the most area of the flow unit with the increase in σH. Three configurations of green roof systems (roof, leeward, and windward cooling schemes) are assumed to represent different thermal buoyancy distributions in the street canyon. The average air exchange rate and pollutant retention time (τ) are proposed to evaluate the ventilation efficiency and pollutant dispersion condition. The “free airflow” phenomenon occurs and gradually expands with the increase in the standard deviation of each model. The flow structure and pollutant distribution inside the urban canopy are similar in the uniformly heated and leeward cooling scheme. The windward cooling scheme presents the least local retention time in most working conditions. The roof cooling scheme aggravates the pollutant accumulation conditions inside the street canyon. This study can provide some constructive guidelines in the urban planning process and benefit the design of urban greening with different building morphologies.
Design of AIEgen‐based porphyrin for efficient heterogeneous photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Authors: Bodedla Govardhana Babu , Imran Muhammad , Zhao Jianzhang , Zhu Xunjin , Wong Wai‐Yeung
Published: June 2023

Tetraphenylethylene (TPE)‐conjugated porphyrin TPE‐ZnPF is synthesized in high yield and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The propeller‐shaped TPE groups not only enable exceptional aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) in the solid state but also abolish the strong π‐π stacking of porphyrin moieties and thus prohibit aggregation‐caused quenching (ACQ). TPE‐ZnPF aggregates feature long‐lived photoexcited states, which subsequently suppress non‐radiative decay channels and enhance emission intensity. Moreover, its aggregates show more efficient light‐harvesting ability due to the Förster resonance energy transfer from the TPE energy donor to the porphyrin core energy acceptor, well‐defined nanosphere morphology, and more efficient photoinduced charge separation than the porphyrin Ph‐ZnPF, which possesses ACQ and agglomerated morphology. As a result, an excellent photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate (ηH2) of 56.20 mmol g‒1 h‒1 is recorded for TPE‐ZnPF aggregates, which is 94‐fold higher than that of the aggregates of Ph‐ZnPF (0.60 mmol g‒1 h‒1) without the TPE groups.
Social science as social action to address inequalities
Authors: Staines Zoe , Smith Kiah , Plage Stefanie , Lata Lutfun Nahar , Fay Suzanna , Zheng Zhaoxi , Reeves Laura Simpson , Beazley Helen , Kuskoff Ella , Clarke Andrew , McGowan Glenys , Shevellar Lynda , Prangnell Jonathan
Published: June 2023

In its most recent report, the Academy of the Social Sciences Australia (ASSA, 2021: 10) identified social inequality as a “grand challenge” for the social sciences, arguing that social scientists have a pivotal role to play in “understanding, addressing and guiding us towards a narrowing of a two‐tier society.” Nevertheless, the social sciences continue to be regularly positioned as “soft” and esoteric in relation to the natural sciences, while also sustaining disproportionate funding cuts. In this article, we—a multidisciplinary group of social science researchers forming part of the Inequalities and Social Action Research Cluster based at The University of Queensland (Australia)—draw on the existing literature and our diverse experiences to reflexively consider how academic social scientists might play the active role that ASSA foresees to address social inequalities into the future. This includes by countering the inherent imperialism of the Western academy itself. We explore the roles, barriers and tensions that social scientists face and conclude by offering a framework of key strategies to improve the translational impacts of social science research for addressing social inequalities.
Sex differences in blood biomarkers and cognitive performance in individuals with autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Vila‐Castelar Clara , Chen Yinghua , Langella Stephanie , Lopera Francisco , Zetterberg Henrik , Hansson Oskar , Dage Jeffrey L. , Janelidzde Shorena , Su Yi , Chen Kewei , Pluim McDowell Celina , Martinez Jairo E. , Ramirez‐Gomez Liliana , Garcia Gloria , Aguillon David , Baena Ana , Giraldo‐Chica Margarita , Protas Hillary D. , Ghisays Valentina , Rios‐Romenets Silvia , Tariot Pierre N. , Blennow Kaj , Reiman Eric M. , Quiroz Yakeel T.
Published: June 2023

INTRODUCTION

Plasma tau phosphorylated at threonine 217 (P‐tau217) and neurofilament light (NfL) have emerged as markers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Few studies have examined the role of sex in plasma biomarkers in sporadic AD, yielding mixed findings, and none in autosomal dominant AD.

METHODS

We examined the effects of sex and age on plasma P‐tau217 and NfL, and their association with cognitive performance in a cross‐sectional study of 621 Presenilin‐1 E280A mutation carriers (PSEN1) and non‐carriers.

RESULTS

As plasma P‐tau217 levels increase, cognitively unimpaired female carriers showed better cognitive performance than cognitively unimpaired male carriers. Yet, as disease progresses, female carriers had a greater plasma NfL increase than male carriers. There were no sex differences in the association between age and plasma biomarkers among non‐carriers.

DISCUSSION

Our findings suggest that, among PSEN1 mutation carriers, females had a greater rate of neurodegeneration than males, yet it did not predict cognitive performance.

HIGHLIGHTS

We examined sex differences in plasma P‐tau217 and NfL in Presenilin‐1 E280A (PSEN1) mutation carriers and non‐carriers.

Female carriers had a greater plasma NfL increase, but not P‐tau217, than male carriers.

As plasma P‐tau217 levels increase, cognitively unimpaired female carriers showed better cognitive performance than cognitively unimpaired male carriers.

The interaction effect of sex by plasma NfL levels did not predict cognition among carriers.
Association of brain microbleeds with risk factors, cognition, and MRI markers in MESA
Authors: Jensen Paul N. , Rashid Tanweer , Ware Jeffrey B. , Cui Yuhan , Sitlani Colleen M. , Austin Thomas R. , Longstreth W. T. , Bertoni Alain G. , Mamourian Elizabeth , Bryan R. Nick , Nasrallah Ilya M. , Habes Mohamad , Heckbert Susan R.
Published: June 2023

INTRODUCTION

Little is known about the epidemiology of brain microbleeds in racially/ethnically diverse populations.

METHODS

In the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, brain microbleeds were identified from 3T magnetic resonance imaging susceptibility‐weighted imaging sequences using deep learning models followed by radiologist review.

RESULTS

Among 1016 participants without prior stroke (25% Black, 15% Chinese, 19% Hispanic, 41% White, mean age 72), microbleed prevalence was 20% at age 60 to 64.9 and 45% at ≥85 years. Deep microbleeds were associated with older age, hypertension, higher body mass index, and atrial fibrillation, and lobar microbleeds with male sex and atrial fibrillation. Overall, microbleeds were associated with greater white matter hyperintensity volume and lower total white matter fractional anisotropy.

DISCUSSION

Results suggest differing associations for lobar versus deep locations. Sensitive microbleed quantification will facilitate future longitudinal studies of their potential role as an early indicator of vascular pathology.
Designing electrostatic synergistic nanohybrid interface layer in polyester fiber for asphalt binder modification
Authors: He Lu , Fan Shencheng , Muhammad Yaseen , Cheng Yao , Zhao Zhenxia , Li Jing
Published: June 2023

In this study, a novel multiscale synergistic reinforced polyester fiber (PET) was prepared by a bionic coating and electrostatic synergism. The three‐dimensional (3D) interconnected structure was developed on the surface of PET by electrostatically synergistic hybridization of negatively charged 2D lamellar graphene oxide (GO) and positively charged 1D hollow tubular aminated halloysite nanotubes (HNT). These fibers were applied to prepare fiber incorporated styrene‐butadiene‐styrene modified asphalt (SBS@MA). X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy analyses revealed that the 3D interconnected highly rough structure was constructed on the fiber surface. The surface free energy and adhesion work at the fiber and asphalt were calculated from the contact angle tests, which showed that adhesion work of the modified fibers was improved by 30% compared with the original fibers, confirming the better adhesion performance of GO‐mHNT‐PET fibers with the asphalt. The improved mechanical and viscoelastic characteristics of the modified GO‐mHNT‐PET/SBS@MA were verified by dynamic shear rheometer, and multistress creep recovery tests. At 46°C, the complex modulus of 1.5% GO‐mHNT‐PET/SBS@MA was 31.02% higher compared with that of PET/SBS@MA. This study provides a promising strategy for the preparation of PET/SBS@MA materials with excellent mechanical properties and interfacial bonding.
Ala307Thr variation modulates FSHR structure and impairs its binding affinity for FSH: Implications in polycystic ovarian syndrome
Authors: Amin Asif , Lone Asif , Wani Umer Majeed , Farooq Faizah , Shah Ruchi , Kumar Rakesh , Qadri Raies A.
Published: June 2023

Follicle‐stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) belongs to the family of G‐protein coupled receptors and acts as a cognate receptor for follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH). Among the various polymorphic changes reported in FSHR, rs6165 polymorphism leading to Ala307Thr variation in the extracellular domain of the FSHR (FSHRED) is widely reported. Therefore we attempted to evaluate the functional implications of this variation by studying its effects on FSHRED structure as well as FSH binding. Our atomic‐scale investigations reveal that the hinge region, a key hormone interaction site in the extracellular domain of Wt FSHR, exhibits significantly more flexibility compared with the variant structure. Moreover, the Wt receptor in complex with FSH was observed to form a pocket‐like structure in its hinge region whereas such a structure was not detected in the variant. The study further reveals that the key residue, sTyr335, required for FSH recognition and FSHR activation, exhibits lower binding free energy in the variant structure as compared to the Wt. In conclusion, our results point out that Ala307Thr variation leads to structural and conformational anomalies in FSHRED which may alter its FSH binding and affect its activation.
A Brief Guide to Preparing a Peptide–Drug Conjugate
Authors: Bugatti Kelly
Published: June 2023

Peptide–drug conjugates (PDCs) have recently emerged as interesting hybrid constructs not only for targeted therapy, but also for the early diagnosis of different pathologies. In most cases, the crucial step in the PDC synthesis is the final conjugation step, where a specific drug is bound to a particular peptide‐/peptidomimetic‐targeting unit. Thus, this concept paper aims to give a short guide to determining the finest conjugation reaction, by considering in particular the reaction conditions, the stability of the linker and the major pros and cons of each reaction. Based on the recent PDCs reported in literature, the most common and efficient conjugation methods will be systematically presented and compared, generating a short guide to consult while planning the synthesis of a novel peptide–drug conjugate.
Maximizing blockchain security: Merkle tree hash values generated through advanced vectorized elliptic curve cryptography mechanisms
Authors: Sharma Durgesh M. , Shandilya Shishir Kumar , Satapathy Suresh Chandra
Published: June 2023

Cloud computing is considered as the most fabulous paradigm to accommodate various kinds of user information. However, the privacy conflicts integrated with computational complexities need more hybridized resource efficiency for hassle‐free accession. For this purpose, this article presents a cloud assisted, secured and privacy preserved protocol based on the elliptical curve cryptography (ECC) and blockchain consortium. Blockchain provides an innovative approach for storing information, establishing trust, and various other transactions in an open platform. There exists no single technology as a panacea to obtain optimum privacy and security in the complex cloud environment that needs several desired characteristics. Hence, an elite integration of multiple cryptographic methods by carefully analyzing the potential harms and pitfalls has to be framed to balance the trade‐off between privacy and security. The proposed technique highlights the user privacy preservation through guaranteeing that user information is safeguarded from unauthorized use or access. In accordance with that the present study enrolled the advantages of the ECC algorithm, vectorization, and blockchain methods to rule out the limitations of state of art methods. This article attempts to provide the most required privacy with optimum key generation, encryption, and decryption time. The present study has obtained optimal outcomes and the maximum percentage reduction w.r.t the existing method in key generation time, encryption time, and decryption time is given as 14.89%, 16.67%, and 12.5%, respectively.
Representativeness of samples enrolled in Alzheimer's disease research centers
Authors: Arce Rentería Miguel , Mobley Taylor M. , Evangelista Nicole D. , Medina Luis D. , Deters Kacie D. , Fox‐Fuller Joshua T. , Minto Lex R. , Avila‐Rieger Justina , Bettcher Brianne M.
Published: June 2023

To generalize findings on the mechanisms and prognosis in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), it is critical for ADRD research to be representative of the population. Sociodemographic and health characteristics across ethnoracial groups included in the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center sample (NACC) were compared to the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study (HRS).

Baseline NACC data (n = 36,639) and the weighted 2010 HRS wave (N = 52,071,840) were included. We assessed covariate balance by calculating standardized mean differences across harmonized covariates (i.e., sociodemographic, health).

NACC participants were older, more educated, with worse subjective memory and hearing, but endorsed fewer depressive symptoms compared to HRS participants. While all racial and ethnic groups in NACC differed from HRS participants in the same way overall, these differences were further amplified between racial and ethnic groups.

NACC participants do not represent the U.S. population in key demographic and health factors, which differed by race and ethnicity.

HIGHLIGHTS

We examined selection factors included in NACC studies compared to a nationally representative sample.

Selection factors included demographic and health factors and self‐reported memory concerns.

Results suggest that NACC participants are not representative of the U.S. population.

Importantly, selection factors differed across racial and ethnic groups.

Findings are suggestive of selection bias within NACC studies.
Challenges of copro‐parasitological surveys in wild Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica) populations addressed through a combination of molecular and statistical tools
Authors: Fontoura‐Gonçalves Catarina , Portocarrero Érica , Oliveira Ana , Lozano João , Rinaldi Laura , Cringoli Giuseppe , Madeira de Carvalho Luís , Santos Nuno
Published: June 2023

Copro‐parasitological surveys in wildlife face challenges due to the secretive nature of many species and the unknown performance of the diagnostic tests employed. To overcome these issues, we used a combination of hierarchical models (site‐occupancy and N‐mixture models) applied to copro‐parasitological data obtained from fecal samples assigned to the host species by molecular methods in the Iberian ibex in north‐western Iberian Peninsula. The aims were to compare the performance of four diagnostic tests (Mini‐FLOTAC, McMaster, Willis flotation, and natural sedimentation) and to use this methodological approach (molecular analysis with hierarchical models) to better estimate positivity proportion and shedding intensity in a wild ibex population. Pooled fecal samples were collected, and those confirmed by molecular analyses to be the host species in question were included in the study. Hierarchical models confirmed different performances of each diagnostic test, with Mini‐FLOTAC showing higher sensitivity for eimeriid coccidia, Willis flotation (for proportion positive) and McMaster (for shedding intensity) in gastrointestinal Strongylida, and equal performance of MiniFlotac/Willis flotation (for proportion positive) and MiniFlotac/McMaster (for shedding intensity) in Moniezia spp. This study employed a combination of molecular and statistical methods that improved the estimates of prevalence and shedding intensity and allowed us to compare the performance of four diagnostic tests while assessing the effect of covariates. Such improvements are critical to enhancing inference in non‐invasive wildlife copro‐parasitological studies.
Rising arterial stiffness with accumulating comorbidities associates with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Ali Danish , Tran Patrick , Ennis Stuart , Powell Richard , McGuire Scott , McGregor Gordon , Kimani Peter K. , Weickert Martin O. , Miller Michelle A. , Cappuccio Francesco P. , Banerjee Prithwish
Published: June 2023

Aims

Comorbidities play a significant role towards the pathophysiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), characterized by abnormal macrovascular function and altered ventricular–vascular coupling. However, our understanding of the role of comorbidities and arterial stiffness in HFpEF remains incomplete. We hypothesized that HFpEF is preceded by a cumulative rise in arterial stiffness as cardiovascular comorbidities accumulate, beyond that associated with ageing.

Methods and results

Arterial stiffness was assessed using pulse wave velocity (PWV) in five groups: Group A, healthy volunteers (n = 21); Group B, patients with hypertension (n = 21); Group C, hypertension and diabetes mellitus (n = 20); Group D, HFpEF (n = 21); and Group E, HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) (n = 11). All patients were aged 70 and above. Mean PWV increased from Groups A to D (PWV 10.2, 12.2, 13.0, and 13.7 m/s, respectively) as vascular comorbidities accumulated independent of age, renal function, haemoglobin, obesity (body mass index), smoking status, and hypercholesterolaemia. HFpEF exhibited the highest PWV and HFrEF displayed near‐normal levels (13.7 vs. 10 m/s, P = 0.003). PWV was inversely related to peak oxygen consumption (r = −0.304, P = 0.03) and positively correlated with left ventricular filling pressures (E/e′) on echocardiography (r = −0.307, P = 0.014).

Conclusions

This study adds further support to the concept of HFpEF as a disease of the vasculature, underlined by an increasing arterial stiffness that is driven by vascular ageing and accumulating vascular comorbidities, for example, hypertension and diabetes. Reflecting a pulsatile arterial afterload associated with diastolic dysfunction and exercise capacity, PWV may provide a clinically relevant tool to identify at‐risk intermediate phenotypes (e.g. pre‐HFpEF) before overt HFpEF occurs.
Photoinduced Reaction of α‐Bromoacetophenone with Thiosulfonate: Synthesis of β‐Keto Thiosulfone
Authors: Zhu Wei‐Chen , Jiang Yi‐Fan , Liu Xin‐Yu , Tian Shi‐Yin , Rao Weidong , Shen Shu‐Su , Song Ping , Sheng Daopeng , Wang Shun‐Yi
Published: June 2023

A photoinduced synthesis of β‐keto thiosulfone/β‐keto selenosulfone by the reaction of α‐bromoacetophenone with thiosulfonate/selenosulfonate under metal‐free and visible light irradiation conditions is developed. Two C−S bonds or one C−S bond and one C−Se bond were constructed simultaneously.
Secure Internet of Thing based data communication in blockchain model using novel teaching‐learning optimized fuzzy approach
Authors: Josphineleela R. , Pellakuri Vidyullatha , Thanuja R. , Moses Diana
Published: June 2023

The potential uses in the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain is gaining prominence. It is particularly skillful at storing data in immutable blocks, which is connected to its protected peer‐to‐peer architecture in the face of a growing challenge of transaction authorization in industrial and service‐provider applications. IoT is prolonged to several additional applications as a result of its integration with various technologies, allowing direct engagement with our individual and professional lives. The major aim of this study is to provide the security based IoT data communication in blockchain using novel techniques. The device's security is a significant concern. However, on‐demand security solutions have issues since devices have limited processing and energy resources. IoT devices do not allow for the use of large, costly systems. In order to address these issues, we present a novel optimized fuzzy architecture for a blockchain‐based IoT device data exchange and communication in this research. The TLBO method is used to improve decision‐making capabilities, while the Mamdani fuzzy inference system makes the majority of the decisions. To construct the two input variables (drop ratio and integrated trust level) and reduce the dimensionality of the input information, the TLBO method was used. We examine and illustrate the efficacy of our method with another state‐of‐art method. Based on the experiment, we have obtained 1.8, 2.1, 2.8, 3.2 and 3.8 ms computational time based on the number of users from 2 to 10, respectively. The proposed method attains 96% accuracy and 95.4% F‐score results than other previous methods.
The effect of celery (Apium graveolens) powder on cardiometabolic factors in overweight/obese individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A pilot randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled clinical trial
Authors: Mohsenpour Mohammad Ali , Samadani Mahsa , Shahsavani Zeinab , Golmakani Mohammad Taghi , Pishdad Gholam Reza , Ekramzadeh Maryam
Published: June 2023

Celery (Apium graveolens) was shown to have beneficial effects on cardiometabolic factors in animal models. As the progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) adversely affects cardiometabolic factors, we aimed to assess the effects of celery powder on glycemic and anthropometric indices, lipid profile, liver function, oxidative stress, and blood pressure of individuals with T2DM. In a pilot randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled clinical trial, 50 eligible adults with T2DM were randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control to consume either 750 mg of celery powder (obtained from fresh celery) or placebo along with a low‐calorie diet for 12 weeks, respectively. Dietary intake, physical activity, and cardiometabolic factors were assessed before and at the end of the study. Thirty‐six patients finished the study (18 in each group). Consumption of celery powder significantly reduced body fat percentage (p = .021). Between‐group analysis for changes in cardiometabolic factors did not show significant differences. Although malondialdehyde was reduced in the intervention group and increased in the control group, between‐group changes were not significant. Although the insulin‐level change was statistically insignificant, a clinical improvement was observed in the intervention group. A 750‐mg daily supplementation of celery powder for 12 weeks did not improve the cardiometabolic factors of patients with T2DM. Further studies are suggested.