bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cost-benefit analysis of migration in the context of environmental change in Ben Tre Province of Viet Nam
Authors: Trinh T T D
Published: October 2023

Changes in the natural environment and the socio-economic environment have had both direct and indirect impacts on agricultural production and farmer’s life in three coastal districts of Ben Tre Province of Viet Nam, including Binh Dai, Ba Tri, and Thanh Phu. Natural environment changes are drought, saline intrusion, and landslides while the socio-economic environment changes consist of agricultural market fluctuation, rising labor and agricultural input price, decreasing output price, diseases, etc. One of the solutions that households take to cope with these changes is migration. In this article, the authors examine factors that affected households’ migrating decisions and behaviors using cost-benefit approach. Two research methods used in this study are social surveys and in-depth interviews. The survey was conducted with 79 households that have migrants in 3 coastal districts. The research suggests that migrants themselves made the migration decision in most cases (85%). Three main reasons for migration among farmers in the area have been identified as (1) solving the immediate difficulties of the household, (2) being part of the family’s long-term plan, and (3) being the family’s livelihood strategy in the short term (solving difficulties) and long-term (transforming livelihoods). The costs that migrants and their families can face are direct costs (packing, travel costs, rental housing, etc.) and indirect costs (change in living environment and social relations, anxiety of family members, and social evils at the destination, etc.). The benefits of migration can be immediate benefits (economic and non-economic) as well as long-term effects that have a great impact on household life and the migrants themselves. The research finds that migration provided more benefits related to the living conditions of households. It also points out that migration has become a feasible long-term adaptation strategy for farmers, those who stayed behind, in the context of environmental change.
Apply MIKE models to study the impacts of climate change on flooding and design adaptation measures in Can Tho City in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta.
Authors: Ho B Q , Nguyen T , Vu Kh , Dao K , Dung N A , Huynh N
Published: October 2023

Can Tho City in the Mekong Delta usually has pluvial and fluvial floods every year. The situation will get worst in the future under climate change. This study aims (i) to apply the MIKE 11, MIKE 21, and MIKE FLOOD model to simulate the impact of climate change scenarios on flooding in Can Tho city (ii) to suggest climate change adaptation measures for sustainable social-economic activities of the city. We considered the combined effect of sea-level rise including RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, and RCP 8.5, and changes in climate factor (i.e., precipitation) for the years 2025, 2030, and 2050. The results show that the flood model is appropriate to simulate the flood. The flooded areas of the city under the scenarios of RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5 will be increased from 2025 to 2050, and RCP 4.5 will be increased progressively from the year 2025 to 2030 and reduced to 2050. In the scenario of RCP 8.5, the flooded area of the city will be gradually increased in 2025, 2030, and 2050 at 3,559 ha, 3,719 ha, and 4,476 ha, respectively. Fifteen adaptation measures to climate change from 2021 to 2050 are suggested.
The synthesis and characterization of demulsifying poly vinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) Disc
Authors: Ullah Fida , Sahir Mehtab Ur Rehman , Bahader Ali , Ullah Haseeb , Hafeez Abdul , Ali Yasar , Khan Alamgir , dayan Fazal , Khan Amir Ali , Murtaza Muhmmad , Aziz Gohar , Khan Kamran , Ullah Naseer
Published: October 2023

Oil/water separation is still a challenging universal task. Here we fabricated an amphiphilic polymeric (APD) PVDF disc that can be used to separate free oil/water mixtures and recover the pure water from W/O emulsions. The modification of the disc includes deposition of copper oxide (CuO) was integrated on the surface via the impregnation method; the CTAB was used as a porogen to increase the roughness of the surface, Morphology of the disc was investigated by SEM and the result showed the nanoparticles were entrapped on the surface and inside the disc. FTIR results strongly predicted the correlation of CTAB, PVDF, and CuO nanoparticles of the modified disc. Separation and wettability test of the FRR% (Flux recovery ratio), permeate flux/oil rejection coefficient (R %) and the water-uptake test confirmed the antifouling properties, permeability of water, oil-rejection, and porosity of the disc. The purpose of impregnation CuO enhanced the hydrophilicity and anti-fouling properties of the PVDF disc.
Degradation of Organic pollutant by Green Tea Iron Nanoparticles
Authors: Singh Gurdev preet , Singh Jasvir , Rishita  , Saini Khiyati , Chandel Kanika , Kaur Jasmeet , Singh K.J.
Published: October 2023

Eco Friendly green synthesis method with the use of green tea leaves is used in preparation of Iron nano particles in this research. This method is rarely ever used. Green synthesis methods are one of the recently developed environmentally favorable methods. Green process methods indeed play a crucial role in the advancement of nanotechnology by offering several benefits such as minimizing environmental impact and ensuring the safety of both researchers and end-users. Green manufacturing of catalysts supports sustainable advanced oxidation processes for degradation of organic products. Polyphenol contents which are already in plants prepare the metal nano particles and are revived by non-harmful biodegradable chemical components. High temperature and energy is not required in green synthesis method. The are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterized the synthesized nanoparticles. UV-vis spectrophotometer was used for calculating degradation efficiency of Nanoparticles (NPs). Degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) dye was investigated under sunlight with respect to time and catalyst concentration. MB dye was used as a model dye.
Effect of water retting on the physical and mechanical properties of extracted pine needle fibers
Authors: Kumar Rajesh , Rakesh Pawan Kumar , Sreehari Dungali
Published: October 2023

Due to the negative impact of synthetic fibers on the environment, natural fibers are being increasingly used in composite preparation. The hilly area of Uttarakhand state in India has an abundance of pine needle fibers (PNFs). This study focuses on extracting the PNFs using water retting, varying the retting duration (2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks) and measuring its physical and mechanical properties. After 4-weeks of retting, the extracted PNFs exhibited the lowest moisture content, resulting in improved hydrophobicity and rendering them suitable for reinforcement in composites. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the 4-weeks retting PNFs were 52.89 ± 12.77 MPa and 1.48 ± 0.39 GPa, respectively. Mechanical characteristics of extracted fibers have been assessed using Weibull’s statistical method in terms of tensile strength and Young’s modulus. Based on the findings, PNFs are predicted to serve as a reinforcement in environmentally friendly composites.
Design and synthesis of silver bio-nanocomposite for photocatalytic applications.
Authors: Ramya M , Jyothika V G , Ramanarayanan Rajita
Published: October 2023

One of the major concerns faced by humanity since Industrial Revolution is the contamination of water by the effluents released to the water bodies as a part of modernization and socio-economic development. Water purification is the most researched topic and numerous researches carried out in the past and are still going on in the present which pinpoints the seriousness of the grave issues raised by contamination of water bodies. In this work we have tried to develop a bio-nanocomposite utilizing colloidal silver nanoparticles synthesized via green protocol and arrowroot powder. Nano Silver well known for its photocatalytic properties has been incorporated into biodegradable and ecofriendly arrowroot powder for enhanced photocatalytic action and carried out degradation studies on the common contaminant dye Methylene Blue (MB). The synthesized bio nanocomposite exhibits promising photocatalytic action to be used for water purification.
Induced Wigner crystallization in a coupled electron-hole quantum wire system at finite-temperature
Authors: Rani Preeti , Kaur Kulveer , Garg Vinayak
Published: October 2023

We explore the possibility of induced Wigner crystallization in a coupled electron-hole (e-h) quantum wire system at finite-temperature T by calculating the intra- and inter-wire static structure factors in the dynamic mean-field approximation of Singwi et al (the qSTLS theory). We find that owing to the dynamics of severely correlated particles, the e-h system may favour an induced phase transition from quantum liquid to the Wigner crystal state at a non-zero T and sufficiently low particle (electron/hole) number density in the close proximity of two wires. On the other hand, the static STLS approximation does not predict such phase transition due to complete neglect of the dynamics of particle correlations.
Doping effect on optical properties of pure and malachite green doped polyvinylidene fluoride films
Authors: Ahirwar Girja , Sahu Pooja Devi , Khare P K , Dubey R K
Published: October 2023

The films of pure polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and various concentration of malachite green (MG) doped have been prepared by solution cast method. The absorption spectra recorded by UV-VIS spectrophotometer 1700 Shimadzu. Absorbance versus wavelength spectra of pure and various concentration of MG doped PVDF films were observed in wavelength range 200-800 nm. With increasing malachite green in PVDF, intensity of absorbance edge and refractive index increases.
Analytical solution for fractional order temperature distribution in two dimensional multilayer composite circular discs
Authors: Wange N.J. , Dandale M.N. , Waikar Vinod
Published: October 2023

This article deals with mathematical approach to discuss the time-fractional heat conduction in two dimensional multilayer circular discs. The fractional order heat conduction equation is generated by using caputo time derivative. All the layers of the two dimension multilayer circular are assume to be thermally isotropic and making a perfect thermal contact. The boundary and interface conditions are expressed by the Riemann-Liouville derivative and the combination of first and second kind boundary condition in angular direction of the circular disc and for the third kind boundary condition in the radial direction. This solution is also applicable for composite multiple layers problem with inner radius may be zero. Three multiple layer problem studied numerically and graphically….
Effect of Electroless Nickel Coating on Wear Rate of EN8 Steel
Authors: Ghosh S , Bose B , Gaji S , Lakra A V , Debnath S , Ghosh S
Published: October 2023

Electroless Nickel coating has emerged as a major breakthrough in the development of novel materials with excellent tribological properties. In the present work Ni-P coating has been performed over EN8 steel specimens for an hour. Mechanical and tribological character was determined for the coated samples. Tribological tests were performed for various loads and the wear behavior of coated steel has been analyzed. The coated samples were found to be harder with improved frictional characteristics like lesser wear under similar working conditions.
Determination of Transmission Error and Mesh Stiffness in Spur Gear Pair using CAD-FEM Integration Approach
Authors: Karma V K , Maheshwari G
Published: October 2023

Unwanted sound and sensations are key sources of excitations in gear drives. They developed because of Transmission Error (TE). TE is a consequence of geometric or engineering flaws like profile/pitch error etc. or distortions like spall, indentation, crack, rubs etc. arising due to the diverse load conditions. These distortions and various gear parameters like number of teeth, contact ratio, module, pressure angle etc. have huge effects on TE and produce changes in mesh stiffness. This demands to investigate the effects of these parameters on TE and mesh stiffness for the avoidance or early finding of causes of malfunctions in the transmission system using computer models using CAD-CAE (FEM) software. In this paper the TE and mesh stiffness is determined using CAD-FEM integration approach and the impact of some of the gear parameters, tooth tip radius and geometric flaw-pitch error is analyzed. The modeling of spur gears & assembly to form gear pair is done in CAD software SOLIDWORKS. The gear pair formed is then introduced into FEM software Ansys for simulation using transient structural analysis method to find angular deformations and then TE and mesh stiffness. Several charts are drawn amongst rotation angle of one of the gears (driver gear) and TE/mesh stiffness for different gear parameters. The work demonstrated the use of CAD-CAE integration approach and point out that all these parameters affect TE and mesh stiffness in a meaningful way.
Improving the vortex tube parameters using CFD analysis for sustainable manufacturing
Authors: Selvan S Tamil , Venkataraman K , Balasubramanian K Arun , Venkatesan G
Published: October 2023

Sustainable development will provide innovative methods to lessen manufacturing’s negative environmental effects. Due to the rising desire for a more environmentally conscious populace, sustainability is becoming increasingly crucial in today’s world. Without using power or refrigerant, vortex tubes are a green method of spot cooling. Vortex tubes don’t need to be maintained and are maintenance free. Through this effort, the tube’s parameters will be optimized to raise the cooling temperature. Via CFD study, different vortex tubes with different lengths. Through CFD simulation, the ideal parameters for achieving the lowest cold gas temperature are discovered, including the ideal length of the tube to diameter of the tube ratios, freezing air collection tube diameter (dc), and parameters. By examining the behaviour of vortex tubes with various profiles, length-to-diameter ratios, icy orifice diameters, also a hot end areas using a computerized fluid dynamic tool, it will be possible to demonstrate that they are an alternative and long-lasting instrument for spot cooling in machining operations.
Organic pesticide from non-conventional natural resources
Authors: Bhattacharjee T , Kotame A A , Mahajan A , Ghorpade A , Kothadia A , Mohammadi A , Bhandarkar A
Published: October 2023

The new varieties of organic pesticides and their application as a substitute for chemical pesticides are the main topics of this paper. Due to the residue left on the vegetables, fruits, etc. which we consume on a daily basis, many of the contemporary, chemical pesticides being utilised today are reducing the soil fertility and negatively damaging human health. Study has shown that natural oils also work as pesticides but the emulsion of oil and water is big task so for that We need chemical based emulsifier so to avoid chemicals we are studying on various fruits and vegetable extracts which can be used as emulsifiers. According to the data of year 2020-21 Maharashtra leads with the 13243 MT of usage of pesticides. Orange peel extract contain chemicals such as saponins and flavonoids, which have the property of emulsifier for the emulsion of oil and water. After studying various papers, we found that orange peel extract can definitely work as emulsifier for oil and water emulsion. In this paper we got to know the presence of saponins with the help of froth test (test for saponins), test for flavonoids and the UV-Vis absorbance spectrum of the orange peel. In this we got the yield of orange peel extract using two different solvents. Paper tells us about the different analysis performed with the help of the parameters obtained for finding the presence of emulsifying properties present in orange peel.
Antityrosinase Activity of Phycocyanin and Cream Formulation for Hyperpigmentation
Authors: Muruganandam Aishwarya Raju , Venkatasubramanian Sivasankari , Jagmag Shail Adrian , Veerichetty Veerabhuvaneshwari
Published: October 2023

Free radicals are involved in the catalytic reactions of tyrosinase to give dopaquinone in melanin biosynthesis. Screening of molecules with antioxidant activity from natural sources which inhibit tyrosinase has become important for cosmetic and medicinal topical products. Tyrosinase inhibitors are used in treating hyperpigmentation. Synthetic tyrosinase inhibitors possess side effects such as skin irritation, dermatitis, dryness, and inflammatory reaction. The objective of the study is to evaluate the tyrosinase inhibition potential of phycocyanin, which is a pigment extracted from the blue green algae Spirulina platensis and formulating a cream that can be used to treat hyperpigmentation. Phycocyanin possesses anticancer, antioxidant, antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities and exhibits the regulative ability of tyrosinase expression and thereby modulates melanogenesis. The spectral characterization of phycocyanin is carried out using UV-vis spectroscopy, FTIR and HPTLC. Phycocyanin showed tyrosinase inhibition potential with an IC50 of 30.88-39.87 μg/ml in SK-Mel-28 melanoma cells. In melanogenesis pathway, tyrosinase regulates the production of melanin by the skin cells and by incorporating phycocyanin in cream will reduce the melanin production and treat hyperpigmentation.
Monthly Arctic sea ice prediction based on a data-driven deep learning model
Authors: Huan Xiaohe , Wang Jielong , Liu Zhongfang
Published: October 2023

There is growing interest in sub-seasonal to seasonal predictions of Arctic sea ice due to its potential effects on midlatitude weather and climate extremes. Current prediction systems are largely dependent on physics-based climate models. While climate models can provide good forecasts for Arctic sea ice at different timescales, they are susceptible to initial states and high computational costs. Here we present a purely data-driven deep learning model, UNet-F/M, to predict monthly sea ice concentration (SIC) one month ahead. We train the model using monthly satellite-observed SIC for the melting and freezing seasons, respectively. Results show that UNet-F/M has a good predictive skill of Arctic SIC at monthly time scales, generally outperforming several recently proposed deep learning models, particularly for September sea-ice minimum. Our study offers a perspective on sub-seasonal prediction of future Arctic sea ice and may have implications for forecasting weather and climate in northern midlatitudes.
Disorder unleashes panic in bitcoin dynamics
Authors: Alberto Javarone Marco , Di Antonio Gabriele , Valerio Vinci Gianni , Cristodaro Raffaele , Tessone Claudio J , Pietronero Luciano
Published: October 2023

The behaviour of Bitcoin owners is reflected in the structure and the number of bitcoin transactions encoded in the Blockchain. Likewise, the behaviour of Bitcoin traders is reflected in the formation of bullish and bearish trends in the crypto market. In light of these observations, we wonder if human behaviour underlies some relationship between the Blockchain and the crypto market. To address this question, we map the Blockchain to a spin-lattice problem, whose configurations form ordered and disordered patterns, representing the behaviour of Bitcoin owners. This novel approach allows us to obtain time series suitable to detect a causal relationship between the dynamics of the Blockchain and market trends of the Bitcoin and to find that disordered patterns in the Blockchain precede Bitcoin panic selling. Our results suggest that human behaviour underlying Blockchain evolution and the crypto market brings out a fascinating connection between disorder and panic in Bitcoin dynamics.
Long-range, time-varying statistical prediction of annual precipitation in a Mediterranean remote site
Authors: Diodato Nazzareno , Lanfredi Maria , Bellocchi Gianni
Published: October 2023

In the Mediterranean basin, climate change signals are often representative of atmospheric transients in precipitation patterns. Remote mountaintop rainfall stations are far from human influence and can more easily unveil climate signals to improve the accuracy of long-term forecasts. In this study, the world’s longest annual precipitation time-series (1884–2021) from a remote station, the Montevergine site (1284 m a.s.l.) in southern Italy, was investigated to explain its forecast performance in the coming decades, offering a representative case study for the central Mediterranean. For this purpose, a Seasonal AutoRegressive-exogenous Time Varying process with Exponential Generalised Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (SARX(TVAR)-EGARCH) model was developed for the training period 1884–1991, validated for the interval 1992–2021, and used to make forecasts for the time-horizon 2022–2051, with the support of an exogenous variable (dipole mode index). Throughout this forecast period, the dominant feature is the emergence of an incipient and strong upward drought trend in precipitation until 2035. After this change-point, rainfall increases again, more slightly, but with considerable values towards the end of the forecast period. Although uncertainties remain, the results are promising and encourage the use of SARX(TVAR)-EGARCH in climate studies and forecasts in mountain sites.
The contribution of precipitation recycling to North American wet and dry precipitation extremes
Authors: Skinner Christopher B , Harrington Tyler S , Barlow Mathew , Agel Laurie
Published: October 2023

Over the course of a season, a location’s precipitation is comprised of moisture sourced from a diverse set of geographic regions. Seasonal extremes in precipitation may arise from changes in the contribution of one or several of these sources. Here, we use the Community Earth System Model with numerical water tracers to quantify the contribution of locally sourced, known as precipitation recycling, versus remotely sourced precipitation to seasonal wet and dry extremes across North America. The greatest impact of recycling on both wet and dry extremes is found in the Interior West of the United States where changes to recycling contribute as much as 25%–30% of drought deficit and pluvial surplus. Recycling contributions are smaller across the eastern U.S., generally less than 8%, highlighting the greater role of imported moisture for explaining hydroclimate extremes in these regions. Robust contributions of precipitation recycling to drought and pluvials across the Interior West are driven by consistent changes to local evaporation and the conversion of local evaporation to local precipitation during extreme hydroclimate conditions. The results are consistent with an energy-limited and water-limited evaporation framework and provide a new estimate of the role of local processes in shaping hydroclimate extremes.
Structure of sets of bounded sequences with a prescribed number of accumulation points
Authors: Menet Quentin , Papathanasiou Dimitris
Published: October 2023

For each vector

x
∈

ℓ

∞

x\in \ell ^{\infty }

, we can define the non-empty compact set

L
x

L_x

of accumulation points of

x
x

. Given an infinite subset

A
A

of

N

∖
{
1
}

\mathbb {N}\backslash \{1\}

, we can therefore investigate under which conditions on

A
A

, the set

L
(
A
)
≔
{
x
∈

ℓ
∞

:

|

L
x

|

∈
A
}

L(A)≔\{x\in \ell ^\infty : |L_x|\in A\}

is lineable or even densely lineable. In particular, we show that if

L
(
A
)

L(A)

is lineable then there exists

k
≥
1

k\ge 1

such that

A
∩
(
A
−
k
)

A\cap (A-k)

is infinite and that if

L
(
A
)

L(A)

is densely lineable then

A
∩
(
A
−
1
)

A\cap (A-1)

is infinite. We end up by answering an open question on the existence of a closed non-separable subspace in which each non-zero vector has countably many accumulation points.
Development of a human glioblastoma model using humanized DRAG mice for immunotherapy
Authors: Srivastava Rashmi , Labani-Motlagh Alireza , Chen Apeng , Bohorquez Jose Alejandro , Qin Bin , Dodda Meghana , Yang Fan , Ansari Danish , Patel Sahil , Ji Honglong , Trasti Scott , Chao Yapeng , Patel Yash , Zou Han , Hu Baoli , Yi Guohua
Published: October 2023

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and lethal primary brain tumor. The development of alternative humanized mouse models with fully functional human immune cells will potentially accelerate the progress of GBM immunotherapy. We successfully generated humanized DRAG (NOD.Rag1KO.IL2RγcKO) mouse model by transplantation of human DR4+ hematopoietic stem cells (hHSCs), and effectively grafted GBM patient-derived tumorsphere cells to form xenografted tumors intracranially. The engrafted tumors recapitulated the pathological features and the immune cell composition of human GBM. Administration of anti-human PD-1 antibodies in these tumor-bearing humanized DRAG mice decreased the major tumor-infiltrating immunosuppressive cell populations, including CD4+PD-1+ and CD8+PD-1+ T cells, CD11b+CD14+HLA-DR+ macrophages, CD11b+CD14+HLA-DR−CD15− and CD11b+CD14−CD15+ myeloid-derived suppressor cells, indicating the humanized DRAG mice as a useful model to test the efficacy of GBM immunotherapy. Taken together, these results suggest that the humanized DRAG mouse model is a reliable preclinical platform for studying brain cancer immunotherapy and beyond.
Use of Elasticsearch-based business intelligence tools for integration and visualization of biological data
Authors: Scott-Boyer Marie-Pier , Dufour Pascal , Belleau François , Ongaro-Carcy Regis , Plessis Clément , Périn Olivier , Droit Arnaud
Published: October 2023

The emergence of massive datasets exploring the multiple levels of molecular biology has made their analysis and knowledge transfer more complex. Flexible tools to manage big biological datasets could be of great help for standardizing the usage of developed data visualizations and integration methods. Business intelligence (BI) tools have been used in many fields as exploratory tools. They have numerous connectors to link numerous data repositories with a unified graphic interface, offering an overview of data and facilitating interpretation for decision makers. BI tools could be a flexible and user-friendly way of handling molecular biological data with interactive visualizations. However, it is rather uncommon to see such tools used for the exploration of massive and complex datasets in biological fields. We believe that two main obstacles could be the reason. Firstly, we posit that the way to import data into BI tools are not compatible with biological databases. Secondly, BI tools may not be adapted to certain particularities of complex biological data, namely, the size, the variability of datasets and the availability of specialized visualizations. This paper highlights the use of five BI tools (Elastic Kibana, Siren Investigate, Microsoft Power BI, Salesforce Tableau and Apache Superset) onto which the massive data management repository engine called Elasticsearch is compatible. Four case studies will be discussed in which these BI tools were applied on biological datasets with different characteristics. We conclude that the performance of the tools depends on the complexity of the biological questions and the size of the datasets.
SPA-STOCSY: an automated tool for identifying annotated and non-annotated metabolites in high-throughput NMR spectra
Authors: Han Xu , Wang Wanli , Ma Li-Hua , AI-Ramahi Ismael , Botas Juan , MacKenzie Kevin , Allen Genevera I , Young Damian W , Liu Zhandong , Maletic-Savatic Mirjana
Published: October 2023

Motivation

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) is widely used to analyze metabolites in biological samples, but the analysis requires specific expertise, it is time-consuming, and can be inaccurate. Here, we present a powerful automate tool, SPatial clustering Algorithm-Statistical TOtal Correlation SpectroscopY (SPA-STOCSY), which overcomes challenges faced when analyzing NMR data and identifies metabolites in a sample with high accuracy.

Results

As a data-driven method, SPA-STOCSY estimates all parameters from the input dataset. It first investigates the covariance pattern among datapoints and then calculates the optimal threshold with which to cluster datapoints belonging to the same structural unit, i.e. the metabolite. Generated clusters are then automatically linked to a metabolite library to identify candidates. To assess SPA-STOCSY’s efficiency and accuracy, we applied it to synthesized spectra and spectra acquired on Drosophila melanogaster tissue and human embryonic stem cells. In the synthesized spectra, SPA outperformed Statistical Recoupling of Variables (SRV), an existing method for clustering spectral peaks, by capturing a higher percentage of the signal regions and the close-to-zero noise regions. In the biological data, SPA-STOCSY performed comparably to the operator-based Chenomx analysis while avoiding operator bias, and it required <7 min of total computation time. Overall, SPA-STOCSY is a fast, accurate, and unbiased tool for untargeted analysis of metabolites in the NMR spectra. It may thus accelerate the use of NMR for scientific discoveries, medical diagnostics, and patient-specific decision making.

Availability and implementation

The codes of SPA-STOCSY are available at https://github.com/LiuzLab/SPA-STOCSY.
Right coronary artery kinking after tricuspid valve annuloplasty: a case report
Authors: Florence Jeremy , Duband Benjamin , Souteyrand Géraud , Motreff Pascal
Published: October 2023

Background

Right coronary artery (RCA) injury is a rare complication of valvular surgery. However, complications should be considered, due to the significant clinical consequences. Identifying the coronary injury type and understanding the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms is essential to managing these complications.

Case summary

The case of a 59-year-old man who underwent conservative mitral valve surgery with tricuspid valve annuloplasty is presented. The early post-operative period was complicated by acute coronary syndrome with inferior persistent ST-segment elevation. A coronary angiogram confirmed critical RCA hazy lesions, raising the suspicion of coronary kinking. To confirm the underlying mechanism for these lesions and determine the best treatment strategy, endocoronary imaging was performed, revealing coronary kinking of the RCA. Based on the persistent acute ischaemia, a long-lasting drug-eluting stent (DES) was implanted in the lower and upper knees of the RCA. After angioplasty, electrocardiography showed regression of the ST-segment elevation. Ten days later, coronary angiography and optical coherence tomography showed good results. The patient recovered from his myocardial infarction.

Discussion

Only a few reports describe the use of endocoronary imaging for diagnosing coronary artery injury after tricuspid annuloplasty. The variety of lesion types that could underlie a single post-operative myocardial infarction makes endocoronary imaging a relevant technique to guide management strategy and optimize DES implantation.
Comorbidities in mild autonomous cortisol secretion and the effect of treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Pelsma Iris C M , Fassnacht Martin , Tsagarakis Stylianos , Terzolo Massimo , Tabarin Antoine , Sahdev Anju , Newell-Price John , Marina Ljiljana , Lorenz Kerstin , Bancos Irina , Arlt Wiebke , Dekkers Olaf M
Published: October 2023

Objective

To assess (1) comorbidities associated with and (2) treatment strategies for patients with adrenal incidentalomas and mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS; > 1.8 µg/dL (>50 nmol/L) cortisol level cut-off following the 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test).

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

Seven databases were searched up to July 14, 2022. Eligible studies were (randomized) trials, cohort studies, and cross-sectional studies assessing comorbidities potentially attributable to cortisol excess or mortality in patients with adrenal incidentaloma with or without MACS or the effects of conservative or surgical management of MACS. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate pooled proportions (with 95% CIs).

Results

In 30 cross-sectional and 16 cohort studies (n = 17 156 patients in total), patients with MACS had a higher prevalence of diabetes (relative risk [RR] 1.44 [1.23-1.69]), hypertension (RR = 1.24 [1.16-1.32]), and dyslipidemia (RR = 1.23 [1.13-1.34]). All-cause mortality (adjusted for confounders) in patients with MACS, assessed in 4 studies (n = 5921), was increased (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.54 [1.27-1.81]). Nine observational studies (n = 856) and 2 randomized trials (n = 107) suggest an improvement in glucometabolic control (RR = 7.99 [2.95-21.90]), hypertension (RR = 8.75 [3.99-19.18]), and dyslipidemia (RR = 3.24 [1.19-8.82]) following adrenalectomy.

Conclusions

The present systematic review and meta-analysis highlight the relevance of MACS, since both cardiometabolic morbidities and mortality appeared to have increased in patients with MACS compared to patients with non-functioning incidentalomas. However, due to heterogeneous definitions, various outcomes, selective reporting, and missing data, the reported pooled estimates need to be interpreted with caution. The small number of patients in randomized trials prevents any strong conclusion on the causality between MACS and these comorbidities.
Larval plastic responses to warming and desiccation delay gonadal maturation in postmetamorphic spadefoot toads
Authors: Burraco Pablo , Torres-Montoro Juan Carlos , Gomez-Mestre Ivan
Published: October 2023

Developmental plasticity allows organisms to adjust life-history traits to varying environmental conditions, which can have concomitant effects across life stages. Many amphibians are suitable model systems to study plasticity because their larvae can adjust growth and differentiation under fluctuating environments. It is unknown, however, whether somatic and gonadal differentiation are equally affected by environmentally induced plasticity or whether their decoupling alters gonadal maturation postmetamorphosis, which may affect fitness. We tested if developmental acceleration in response to warming and desiccation risk results in shifts in gonadal maturation during metamorphosis and postmetamorphic growth in western spadefoot toads (Pelobates cultripes). We found additive effects of increased temperature and desiccation risk on development and growth at metamorphosis, which largely constrained gonadal maturation in metamorphic and postmetamorphic individuals of both sexes. Furthermore, the conditions experienced by larvae incurred sex-specific carryover effects on the gonadal maturation of juveniles 5 months after metamorphosis. In females, high temperature delayed ovarian maturation regardless of the water level. In males, exposure to high temperature and high water levels slightly delayed the testes’ maturation. These results highlight the relevance of larval plasticity in the gonadal maturation of species undergoing metamorphosis, which may have implications for population demographics and the evolution of life histories.
Striatal Dopamine Signals and Reward Learning
Authors: Bech Pol , Crochet Sylvain , Dard Robin , Ghaderi Parviz , Liu Yanqi , Malekzadeh Meriam , Petersen Carl C H , Pulin Mauro , Renard Anthony , Sourmpis Christos
Published: October 2023

We are constantly bombarded by sensory information and constantly making decisions on how to act. In order to optimally adapt behavior, we must judge which sequences of sensory inputs and actions lead to successful outcomes in specific circumstances. Neuronal circuits of the basal ganglia have been strongly implicated in action selection, as well as the learning and execution of goal-directed behaviors, with accumulating evidence supporting the hypothesis that midbrain dopamine neurons might encode a reward signal useful for learning. Here, we review evidence suggesting that midbrain dopaminergic neurons signal reward prediction error, driving synaptic plasticity in the striatum underlying learning. We focus on phasic increases in action potential firing of midbrain dopamine neurons in response to unexpected rewards. These dopamine neurons prominently innervate the dorsal and ventral striatum. In the striatum, the released dopamine binds to dopamine receptors, where it regulates the plasticity of glutamatergic synapses. The increase of striatal dopamine accompanying an unexpected reward activates dopamine type 1 receptors (D1Rs) initiating a signaling cascade that promotes long-term potentiation of recently active glutamatergic input onto striatonigral neurons. Sensorimotor-evoked glutamatergic input, which is active immediately before reward delivery will thus be strengthened onto neurons in the striatum expressing D1Rs. In turn, these neurons cause disinhibition of brainstem motor centers and disinhibition of the motor thalamus, thus promoting motor output to reinforce rewarded stimulus-action outcomes. Although many details of the hypothesis need further investigation, altogether, it seems likely that dopamine signals in the striatum might underlie important aspects of goal-directed reward-based learning.
Characterizing genetic variation in the regulation of the ER stress response through computational and cis-eQTL analyses
Authors: Russell Nikki D , Jorde Lynn B , Chow Clement Y
Published: October 2023

Misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) elicit the ER stress response, a large transcriptional response driven by 3 well-characterized transcription factors (TFs). This transcriptional response is variable across different genetic backgrounds. One mechanism in which genetic variation can lead to transcriptional variability in the ER stress response is through altered binding and activity of the 3 main TFs: XBP1, ATF6, and ATF4. This work attempts to better understand this mechanism by first creating a computational pipeline to identify potential binding sites throughout the human genome. We utilized GTEx data sets to identify cis-eQTLs that fall within predicted TF binding sites (TFBSs). We also utilized the ClinVar database to compare the number of pathogenic vs benign variants at different positions of the binding motifs. Finally, we performed a cis-eQTL analysis on human cell lines experiencing ER stress to identify cis-eQTLs that regulate the variable ER stress response. The majority of these cis-eQTLs are unique to a given condition: control or ER stress. Some of these stress-specific cis-eQTLs fall within putative binding sites of the 3 main ER stress response TFs, providing a potential mechanism by which these cis-eQTLs might be impacting gene expression under ER stress conditions through altered TF binding. This study represents the first cis-eQTL analysis on human samples experiencing ER stress and is a vital step toward identifying the genetic components responsible for the variable ER stress response.
Evidence of Site-Specific and Male-Biased Germline Mutation Rate in a Wild Songbird
Authors: Zhang Hongkai , Lundberg Max , Tarka Maja , Hasselquist Dennis , Hansson Bengt
Published: October 2023

Germline mutations are the ultimate source of genetic variation and the raw material for organismal evolution. Despite their significance, the frequency and genomic locations of mutations, as well as potential sex bias, are yet to be widely investigated in most species. To address these gaps, we conducted whole-genome sequencing of 12 great reed warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) in a pedigree spanning 3 generations to identify single-nucleotide de novo mutations (DNMs) and estimate the germline mutation rate. We detected 82 DNMs within the pedigree, primarily enriched at CpG sites but otherwise randomly located along the chromosomes. Furthermore, we observed a pronounced sex bias in DNM occurrence, with male warblers exhibiting three times more mutations than females. After correction for false negatives and adjusting for callable sites, we obtained a mutation rate of 7.16 × 10−9 mutations per site per generation (m/s/g) for the autosomes and 5.10 × 10−9 m/s/g for the Z chromosome. To demonstrate the utility of species-specific mutation rates, we applied our autosomal mutation rate in models reconstructing the demographic history of the great reed warbler. We uncovered signs of drastic population size reductions predating the last glacial period (LGP) and reduced gene flow between western and eastern populations during the LGP. In conclusion, our results provide one of the few direct estimates of the mutation rate in wild songbirds and evidence for male-driven mutations in accordance with theoretical expectations.
Nature As a “Lifeline”: The Power of Photography When Exploring the Experiences of Older Adults Living With Memory Loss and Memory Concerns
Authors: Whitfield Elenyd , Parnell Johnson Sukey , Higgs Paul , Martin Wendy , Morgan-Trimmer Sarah , Burton Alexandra , Poppe Michaela , Cooper Claudia
Published: October 2023

The visual is an underutilized modality through which to investigate experiences of memory loss in older people. We describe a visual ethnography with older adults experiencing subjective or objective memory loss, receiving a cognitive well-being group intervention designed to prevent cognitive decline and dementia (APPLE-Tree program). We aimed to explore lived experiences of people with memory concerns, how participants engaged with this photography and codesign project, and how collaboration with an artist/photographer enhanced this process. Nineteen participants shared photographs reflecting what they valued in their daily lives, their experiences of memory concerns, and the intervention. Fourteen participated in qualitative photo-elicitation interviews, and 13 collaborated with a professional artist/photographer to cocreate an exhibition, in individual meetings and workshops, during which a researcher took ethnographic field notes. Eight participants were reinterviewed after the exhibition launch.We contextualize images produced by participants in relation to discourses around the visual and aging and highlight their relationship with themes developed through thematic analysis that interconnects photographic, observational, and interview data. We present themes around the use of photographs to: (1) celebrate connections to nature as a lifeline; (2) anchor lives within the context of relationships with family; and (3) reflect on self and identity, enduring through aging, memory concerns, pandemic, and aging stereotypes. We explore visual research as a powerful tool for eliciting meaningful accounts from older adults experiencing cognitive change and to connect the arts and social sciences within aging studies.
5. Imperialism and Human Rights
Authors: Ibhawoh Bonny
Published: October 2023

This chapter discusses the correlation between human rights and imperialism. It cites how imperialism is central to the development of human rights ideology by referencing the collapse of the empire following World War II and the rise of the international human rights movement. The human rights language boosted the justification and legitimization of imperialism. The chapter also highlights the impact of imperialism on the rights and liberties of colonized people, which also led to the strategic social reforms, anti-colonial activism, and colonized people's struggles for independence in the human rights movement. The collapse of empires shaped the development of human rights, while decolonisation influenced international human rights.
6. The Social Life of Human Rights
Authors: Short Damien
Published: October 2023

This chapter looks into the development of sociological approaches to the study of human rights. It explains how sociology covered the ride of human rights through shared human vulnerability and collective sympathy, institutional threats, and assertion of powerful class interests, while anthropology deepened the understanding of socially constructed rights. Sociologists tend to view rights as inventions or products of human social interaction and power relations. The chapter then expounds on the concept of social constructionism in relation to power and social structure. It also explains that an ethnographic approach to human rights showcases how human rights function and their meaning to different social actors in varying social contexts.
8. Genocide and Human Rights
Authors: Straus Scott
Published: October 2023

This chapter discusses the correlation between genocide and human rights. It examines Raphael Lemkin's concept of genocide which resulted in an international treaty on the punishment and prevention of genocide. The UN Genocide Convention became the law that embodied the landmark treaty on genocide. Additionally, the chapter explores the social scientific theories on why genocide occurs. Classic theories on genocide tend to highlight intergroup antipathy, authoritarianism, and hardship. The chapter also references the historical background and international responses to the genocides recorded in Rwanda and Darfur. It reflects on the possibilities and limits of the Genocide Convention as a human rights instrument.
13. Forced Migration and Refugees
Authors: Loescher Gil , Mills Kurt
Published: October 2023

This chapter examines the human rights issues of forced migration and refugees. It recognizes refugees as the prima facie evidence of human rights abuses and vulnerability because people who are deprived of their homes and livelihood are forced to cross borders and seek safety overseas. Forced migration is a human rights concern as it raises serious political, economic, and security issues. Moreover, globalization created new opportunities and incentives for international migration and new diaspora networks. The chapter then covers the work of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as the UN's refugee agency. It covers the case study of forced displacement in Myanmar in line with the prolonged Burmese military regime that resulted in decades of political and minority group repression, conflict, poor governance, corruption, and underdevelopment.
16. Social Movements and Human Rights
Authors: Smith Jackie
Published: October 2023

This chapter discusses the significance of the human rights movement to contemporary conflict and local and global democracy. It recognizes how social movement challenges state authority shaping the structure of democracies as activists develop political repertoires designed to expand public participation in political decision-making. Moreover, social movements resulted in the globalization of human rights, which is supported by a growing array of international treaties and institutions. The chapter then looks into the work of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on improving mechanisms for human rights enforcement alongside the Human Rights Council. It considers the important roles of scholars and students in supporting human rights movements.
17. Theory in Practice: Making Human Rights Claims in a Human Rights Way
Authors: Ackerly Brooke
Published: October 2023

This chapter explores the material bases of struggles for human rights that helped shape human rights norms. It highlights the importance of context to illustrate how human rights have been violated. Arguments on human rights politics typically revolve around the notion of cultural relativism and universalism. Cultural relativism refers to the ethics developed within a particular social context; thus, there could be no moral or ethical framework that could apply in all contexts. The chapter lists some human rights struggles, such as the activism of a labour rights organization, rights as entitlements, and making a rights claim. It suggests how public discussion can bring change if there is a transformation in power inequalities, which is often necessary to have aforementioned public discussions.