bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of sudanese camel-hair fibres under subtropical desert condition
Authors: Agamy Rania , Mahouda Sabry F. , Azzam Ali H. , Gad Allah Aymen A.I. , Abdel-Mageed Ibrahim I.
Published: March 2024

The study assessed the quality and variability of camel hair fibres in arid regions of Egypt. Raw camel-hair samples were collected from fifteen Sudanese camels divided into seven males (414.60 ± 38.19 kg, BW) and eight females (401.67 ± 26.76 kg BW), and the study investigated the influences of animal sex on both the physical and chemical traits of camel-hair fibers. The relationships among physical properties and both mineral and amino acid content were studied. Camel’s sex had no significant effect on any of the studied traits including fibre diameter (FD), prickle factor (PF), medullated fibre (MF), staple length (SL) and staple strength (SS). In the meantime, no significant differences were found between males and females in fibers’ minerals contents except potassium, where fibres of females had significantly higher potassium content than those of males. For amino acids contents in camel fibres, camel sex had a significant effect only on glutamic acid, since fibres of males showed higher (P < 0.05) content than females. Fibre diameter had positive (P < 0.01) correlations with prickle factor (r = 0.83) and medullated fibres (r = 0.73). Zinc content in camel fibres was positively correlated with fibre diameter (r = 0.57;P < 0.05) and medullated fibres (r = 0.73;P < 0.01). Moreover, a significant (negative correlation coefficientP < 0.05) was found between fibre diameter and both sulfur and proline contents (r=-0.39 and − 0.56). Ammonia content in fibres was correlated negatively (P < 0.05) with prickle factor and elongation (r=-0.62 and − 0.58, respectively). The variability in the physical properties and chemical composition of Sudanese camel-hair fibers under subtropical desert conditions may shed light on the possibility of improving fiber quality.
Dynamic occupancy analyses of native birds in an urban ecological reserve reveal seasonal changes in site occupancy and preference for adjacent urbanized areas
Authors: Zúñiga-Vega J. Jaime , Suárez-Rodríguez Monserrat , Ramírez-Cruz Gonzalo A. , Solano-Zavaleta Israel
Published: March 2024

Urban ecological reserves are large green areas immersed within cities where native and exotic species of plants and animals coexist. Here, we examined the environmental features that facilitate the occurrence of nine species of native birds in an urban ecological reserve located within one of the largest cities in the world, Mexico City. We also searched for changes in occupancy rates among the three distinct climatic seasons that occur in central Mexico: warm-dry, rainy, and cold-dry. Using data collected during four years and multi-season occupancy models, we found that most of our study species prefer the urbanized sites that surround the reserve over the core conservation areas. This urban affinity can be explained by the diverse vegetation that prevails in such urban sites, which offers a high habitat heterogeneity that facilitates the presence of bird species with distinct ecological needs. In contrast, the reserve consists of a relatively homogeneous xerophytic scrubland where a few species of shrubs and small trees are dominant. We also detected seasonal changes in five species, with highest occupancy during the warm-dry season of each year, which coincides with both their breeding season and the driest period of the year. This finding indicates that these birds find in the reserve and surrounding urban areas enough food and water during this limiting season as well as safe nesting sites. Our study provides evidence that some native birds can become urban exploiters and that the benefits that they obtain from urban settings are greatest during their breeding season.
A Multi-step Data Assimilation Framework to Investigate the Effect of Measurement Uncertainty in the Reduction of Water Distribution Network Model Errors
Authors: Fayaz Ibrahim Miflal , Castro-Gama Mario , Alfonso Leonardo
Published: March 2024

Water distribution network (WDN) models are a common decision support tool for understanding the behavior and performance of WDNs, aiding in the planning and management of WDN systems. The increasing availability of real-time data has recently promoted the exploration of Data Assimilation (DA) techniques to improve these models. However, flow, pressure and demand data are uncertain, particularly due to sensor characteristics such as precision and noise. An open question is to what extent DA can still improve hydraulic models when the data used to this end is uncertain. This paper proposes a three-step Ensemble Kalman Filter based DA approach for WDNs (3-EnKF-WDN), building on previous approaches, and advancing in two main fronts: the use of extended period simulation, and the use of pressure-dependent demand (PDD) analysis. Different scenarios considering uncertain sensor data, with varied precision and noise, are applied to two networks of different sizes, representative of real-world WDNs. The computational demand of the 3-EnKF-WDN method is also assessed. Results show that increasing sensor’s precision and decreasing the noise in state measurements reduce model error, as expected. However, we also found that model errors: 1) are reduced more effectively by using 3-EnKF-WDN than by increasing sensors’ precision; 2) are not reduced if certain noise thresholds are surpassed; 3) can be reduced without assimilating demand data if the WDNs are fully monitored with head sensors in all the nodes and flow sensors in all the links.
Positive response of a hemodialysis patient with pure red cell aplasia on recombinant human erythropoietin therapy to cyclosporine and Roxadustat
Authors: Ma Xuejuan , Pai Pearl , Zhu Wenjuan , Chen Xiaowei , Cui Liwen
Published: March 2024

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) is commonly used to treat anemia associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). EPO-induced Pure Red Cell Aplasia (PRCA) is a rare condition of profound anemia with EPO treatment. Upon finding the development of EPO-induced PRCA, the treatment requires immediate withdrawal of EPO therapy and initiate new treatments with immunosuppression or renal transplantation. Anti-EPO antibody assay is not always positive in EPO-induced PRCA. Here, we report a case on the sudden development of PRCA in a hemodialysis patient receiving EPO and how we treated the condition successfully with cyclosporine and subsequently maintained the hemoglobin with Roxadustat, a hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (HIF-PHI). Even though the anti-EPO antibody was negative by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) in our case, the clinical course, the markedly reduced reticulocyte count < 10,000/μL, the bone marrow (BM) biopsy revealing reduced erythroblasts, and its subsequent response to cyclosporine, were similar to EPO-induced PRCA. The clinical picture of EPO-induced PRCA, the limitation of the EPO-neutralizing antibody (Ab) assay, and treatment strategies were discussed.
The Pannonian-Carpathian-Alpine seismic experiment (PACASE): network description and implementation
Authors: Schlömer Antje , Hetényi György , Plomerová Jaroslava , Vecsey Luděk , Bielik Miroslav , Bokelmann Götz , Csicsay Kristian , Czuba Wojciech , Fojtíková Lucia , Friederich Wolfgang , Fuchs Florian , Grad Marek , Janik Tomasz , Kampfová Exnerová Hana , Kolínský Petr , Malinowski Szymon , Meier Thomas , Mendecki Maciej , Papčo Juraj , Środa Piotr , Szűcs Eszter , Süle Bálint , Timkó Máté , Gyarmati Anett , Wéber Zoltán , Wesztergom Viktor , Žlebčíková Helena ,   AlpArray-PACASE Working Group
Published: March 2024

The Pannonian-Carpathian-Alpine Seismic Experiment (PACASE) is a collaborative project based on a large, passive seismic network comprising 214 temporary stations. Among the primary aims are the imaging of the Earth’s crustal, lithospheric and upper mantle structure, including joint inversions; monitoring and mapping of seismic activity; and interpretation of the data from seismotectonic and geodynamic perspectives. The base of the cooperation is a high-quality, broadband seismic network covering the very centre of Europe: the Eastern Alpine and Western Carpathian Mountain ranges, the Bohemian Massif, and the sedimentary Molasse and Pannonian Basins. In this overview, we focus on the implementation and achieved field goals of PACASE, such as seismic station configuration, general network organization, data availability and access to the dataset. With selected seismological examples, we demonstrate the good usability of the records of earthquake detection, and a first publication attests to the structural imaging capability of the PACASE data. We assess the background noise level at various stations and its variations in time and space. Our aim is to collect all practical information relevant to serve as a long-term reference for the PACASE.
Toward local Madelung mechanics in spacetime
Authors: Waegell Mordecai
Published: March 2024

It has recently been shown that relativistic quantum theory leads to a local interpretation of quantum mechanics wherein the universal wavefunction in configuration space is entirely replaced with an ensemble of local fluid equations in spacetime. For want of a fully relativistic quantum fluid treatment, we develop a model using the nonrelativistic Madelung equations, and obtain conditions for them to be local in spacetime. Every particle in the Madelung fluid is equally real, and has a definite position, momentum, kinetic energy, and potential energy. These are obtained by defining quantum momentum and kinetic energy densities for the fluid and separating the momentum into average and symmetric parts, and kinetic energy into classical kinetic and quantum potential parts. The two types of momentum naturally give rise to a single classical kinetic energy density, which contains the expected kinetic energy, even for stationary states, and we define the reduced quantum potential as the remaining part of the quantum kinetic energy density. We treat the quantum potential as a novel mode of internal energy storage within the fluid particles, which explains most of the nonclassical behavior of the Madelung fluid. For example, we show that in tunneling phenomena, the quantum potential negates the barrier so that nothing prevents the fluid from flowing through. We show how energy flows and transforms in this model, and that enabling local conservation of energy requires defining a quantum potential energy current that flows through the fluid rather than only flowing with it. The nonrelativistic treatment generally contains singularities in the velocity field, which undermines the goal of local dynamics, but we expect a proper relativistic treatment will bound the fluid particle velocities at c.
Lipschitz constants and quadruple symmetrization by Möbius transformations
Authors: Rainio Oona , Vuorinen Matti
Published: March 2024

Due to the invariance properties of cross-ratio, Möbius transformations are often used to map a set of points or other geometric object into a symmetric position to simplify a problem studied. However, when the points are mapped under a Möbius transformation, the distortion of the Euclidean geometry is rarely considered. Here, we identify several cases where the distortion caused by this symmetrization can be measured in terms of the Lipschitz constant of the Möbius transformation in the Euclidean or the chordal metric.
Firm performance and markets: survival analysis of medium and large manufacturing enterprises in Indonesia
Authors: Afin Rifai , Tibor Keresztély , Ilona Cserháti
Published: March 2024

This study identifies the effect of firm performance, especially efficiency, on firm survival. This study applies efficiency calculations using a translog model based on both time-invariant and time-varying production functions and the Ackerberg–Caves–Frazer (ACF) model to overcome the endogeneity problem in the estimation of the production function. The data used are firm-level data, which are medium and large manufacturing company censuses with an observation period from 1995 to 2015. This study used two estimation techniques: the Cox proportional hazard model and Poisson regression. I estimate the Cox regression with firm-level data, whereas the Poisson regression is estimated with aggregate data for 2-digit ISIC. Estimates at the aggregate 2-digit ISIC level are intended to not only see the effect of efficiency on companies that survive but also on companies that enter and exit. Firm-level evidence shows that a company’s efficiency reduces the hazard ratio or increases its survival time. Moreover, consistent with firm-level results, the aggregate-level estimation shows that efficiency increases the chances of survival and entry of companies into Indonesia and reduces the rate of company exit from the Indonesian market. This shows that a company's level of technical efficiency makes an important contribution to the survival of manufacturing companies in Indonesia.
The complex web of land use planning, legislation and urban mobility in Maseru, Lesotho
Authors: Kalaoane Rets’epile C. , Matamanda Abraham R. , Bhanye Johannes I.
Published: March 2024

Applying an exploratory case study design, the study analyses urban mobility along the Main North 1 Road. We argue that urban mobility in Maseru, Lesotho is compromised by a complex web of issues including inconsistent urban transport policies, inadequate road infrastructure, and land use activities along some roads. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources, including key informant interviews, direct observations, and a review of policy documents on urban mobility. We show that urban mobility along the Main North 1 Road is jeopardised by outdated land use planning schemes and legislation that are out of sync with local realities as they support vehicular movement while neglecting pedestrians’ needs, compromising their safety. The state of the infrastructure also contributes to urban mobility inefficiencies. The study concludes that the urban mobility system needs to be understood holistically to identify leverage points critical for interventions and planning for sustainable urban mobility.
Technical skills teaching to MD students: a blinded, randomized controlled trial investigating video assistance in the education of the single-handed knot tie
Authors: Raythatha Jineel , Hameed Ahmer , Lee Taina , Yuen Lawrence , Nahm Christopher B. , Pang Tony , Pleass Henry
Published: March 2024

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant changes to medical education, particularly for procedural and surgical skills, which inherently require face-to-face education. The utility of adding an instructional video remains uncertain. To guide future curricula, our aim was to assess whether the addition of an optional instructional video improves the acquisition and retention of one-handed surgical knot-tying.

Methods

Naïve year one medical students were randomised to video before face-to-face instruction versus face-to-face instruction only. Blinded surgeons assessed their performance at the end of a workshop and 4 weeks later by counting the number of knots tied in 1 min and a global Likert score assessing knot quality. The students also completed surveys for qualitative assessment and feedback.

Results

Students with access to the video tied significantly more knots in 1 min than the control group (median ± IQR: 15 ± 4 N = 14, vs 12.5 ± 10 N = 15, p = 0.012). After 4 weeks, the intervention group showed a non-significant trend towards being able to tie more knots (16.5 ± 6 N = 6, vs 3.5 ± 16 N = 8, p = 0.069), and the knots tied were of significantly better quality (global score: 3 ± 1.4 vs 1 ± 1.8, p = 0.027). Compared to the control group, the intervention group expressed greater confidence in their ability to retain their skills after the workshop and at follow-up (p = 0.04). Additionally, they experienced significantly less stress during the workshop (p = 0.028).

Conclusion

A non-interactive video can improve learning and retention of single-handed knot tying. As medical education continues to evolve, supplementary videos should be considered an important part of new surgical skill curricula.
Study on the performance of ternary blended cement with calcined clay and recycled concrete powder
Authors: Li Shusen , Liu Jiaping , Yu Cheng , Li Zhen , Xie Weixiao
Published: March 2024

Recycled concrete powder (RCP) has a large amount of calcium carbonate, which suggests that it can be used to make limestone - calcined clay (CC) cement (LC3) system by replacing limestone powder. So that it can promote the recycling of construction demolition waste and reduce the requirement of the natural resource for LC3. In this study, the fresh and hardened properties of CC-RCP cement system were comprehensively characterized by varying the CC/RCP ratio and dosage, including rheological, mechanical properties, hydration products and pore structure. The results indicate that the addition of CC prolong the setting time, but the effect could be mitigated by the recombination of RCP. By comparing with RCP, CC had a less obvious effect on increasing viscosity, but it could improve the shear thickening behavior of paste. In the case of less total content of CC and RCP, a ratio of 1:1 CC/RCP was better for the development of long-term strength. Whereas, with the increasing of substitution, the mixtures with CC alone or blending with RCP in a 2:1 ratio achieved higher strength. The incorporating of CC and RCP could make the conversion of C4AH13 into hemicarboaluminate (Hc) and monocarboaluminate (Mc), and it resulted in a denser structure with more medium capillary pores and gel pores than that mixtures with CC only.
Martin Mariner
Authors: Braas Nico
Published: March 2024

In 1937 The Glen Martin company started with the design of the model I62. This was a design for a twin engine high-wing monoplane flying boat with an inverted gull wing. As power plant one of the most powerful air-cooled radial engines then available was selected: the Wright R-200-6 Cyclone of 1600 hp maximum take-off power.
Towards a public sustainable finance paradigm for the green transition
Authors: Golka Philipp , Murau Steffen , Thie Jan-Erik
Published: March 2024

Sustainable finance is often discussed as a solution to the climate crisis, but its impacts are limited and its discourse focuses on mobilising private investments through public de-risking, without considering direct government action. We argue that this is due to an implicit reference to mainstream economic theory assuming that an active state leads to time inconsistency problems and crowding-out effects. However, these assumptions have been sufficiently refuted as public investments may actually crowd-in private capital. We therefore propose a paradigm shift towards what we call Public Sustainable Finance, aimed at empowering the role of the state in the green transition on the discursive, policy, and political economy levels. Studying the case of Germany, we show how Public Sustainable Finance can be introduced despite tight fiscal regimes. To this end, we propose that the Climate- and Transformation Fund be given its own borrowing powers. By borrowing an average of 23 billion euros annually from 2024 to 2030, the existing financing gap that has been exacerbated following the November 2023 constitutional court ruling can be closed, enabling a more rapid and effective green transition.
Segregation–rheology feedback in bidisperse granular flows: a coupled Stokes’ problem
Authors: Trewhela Tomás
Published: March 2024

The feedback between particle-size segregation and rheology in bidisperse granular flows is studied using the Stokes’ problem configuration. A method of lines scheme is implemented to solve the coupled momentum and segregation equations for a normally graded particle size distributed bulk at constant solids volume fraction. The velocity profiles develop quickly into a transient state, decoupled from segregation yet determined by the particle size. From this transient state, the velocity profile changes due to the particles’ relative movement, which redistributes the frictional response, hence its rheology. Additionally, the particles’ relative friction is modified via a frictional coefficient ratio, by analogy with the particles’ size ratio. While positive values of this coefficient exacerbate the nonlinearity of the velocity profiles induced by size differences, negative values dampen this behaviour. The numerical solutions reproduce well the analytical solutions for the velocity profile, which can be obtained from the steady-state conditions of the momentum and segregation equations for the transient and steady states, respectively. Segregation–momentum balances and four characteristic time scales can be established to propose two non-dimensional quantities, including specific Schmidt and Péclet numbers that describe broadly the segregation–rheology feedback. The proposed scheme, theoretical solutions and non-dimensional numbers offer a combined approach to understand segregation and flow dynamics within a granular bulk, extensible across many flow configurations.
“Todos somos familia aquí”: Familia, alianza y reproducción etnocultural entre los Calós (Gitanos) de Ciudad de México
Authors: Lagunas David
Published: March 2024

En este texto se analiza la relevancia del parentesco y la cultura familiar en la reproducción cultural de los Calós (Gitanos) que forman la comunidad de Ciudad de México. La metodología ha sido de orientación cualitativa empleando técnicas de inmersión antropológica. El objetivo es analizar cómo el sistema de parentesco se construye desde la genealogía como un constructo que permite la comparación cultural y corroborar el funcionamiento de una sociedad bilateral con un colorido patrilineal. Asimismo, se subraya la importancia de la preservación de la diferencia etnocultural, no solo a través de la organización social y familiar, sino a través de la endogamia sociobiológica. El hecho es que los Calós se sienten “un poco parientes entre sí”, aunque genealógicamente no lo sean. Esta lógica imprecisa de funcionamiento del sistema de parentesco plantea interesantes cuestiones al campo de los Romani Studies.
Vietnamese Buddhist encounters with South Asia in the 1950s
Authors: Gadkar-Wilcox Wynn
Published: March 2024

This article presents a comparison of two Vietnamese Buddhist monks who travelled to and spent time in South Asia in the 1950s. The first, Thích Tố Liên (1903–1977), travelled to Calcutta and then on to Sri Lanka in May 1950 to participate in the First General Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists. Though his encounter was relatively brief, it left a lasting impression. Tố Liên returned as an ardent advocate for the World Fellowship and for an internationalist view of Buddhism more generally. The second, Thích Minh Chàu (1918–2012), had a very different encounter with Sri Lanka and India. He spent most of the 1950s studying Pali manuscripts and earning his doctoral degree from the Nalanda Institute (then a part of the University of Bihar, now Nalanda University). During this time, he became an important popularizer of contemporary Indian ideas. While in South Asia, he contributed many articles to Buddhist journals back in Vietnam. He recounted his pilgrimage to major Buddhist sites, considered the contemporary influence of Buddhism in India, and analysed the works of everyone from Tagore to the Dalai Lama. This article will compare the South Asian experiences of these two Vietnamese Buddhist monks and analyse their impact on Buddhist unification and the Vietnamese Buddhist movement in the 1960s.
Phylogenetic evidence of a possible Trichuris globulosa species complex in Arabian camels from Kuwait
Authors: Henedi Adawia , Chan Abigail Hui En , Youssef Wessam , Taha Hoda A. , Thaenkham Urusa , Ashour Ameen A.
Published: March 2024

During a 1-year study, Trichuris adults were obtained after necropsy of Arabian camels (Camelus dromedarius) from a slaughterhouse in Kuwait. Morphological and molecular identification was performed to confirm the identity of the Trichuris specimens obtained from C. dromedarius. Fifteen male Trichuris specimens were selected, and molecular identification was performed using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, 12S ribosomal RNA, 16S ribosomal RNA genes and the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region. Through phylogenetic analysis, 2 distinct groups were obtained using the mitochondrial genes, where group 1 showed a close relationship to Trichuris globulosa while group 2 showed a close relationship to Trichuris ovis, providing molecular evidence of a possible T. globulosa species complex. Additionally, the nuclear ITS2 region did not provide enough resolution to distinguish between the 2 groups of Trichuris specimens. Observation of morphological characters revealed variations in the shape of the male spicule sheath, where specimens present either a globular posteriorly truncated swelling or the absence of posteriorly truncated swelling. Moreover, the variations in male spicule sheath does not corroborate with the results of molecular data, suggesting the limited use of this character for identification of T. globulosa. In conclusion, molecular analysis suggests a possible species complex in T. globulosa, with the mitochondrial genetic markers successfully differentiating between the 2 groups. The limited use of the male spicule sheath as a diagnostic character for identification of T. globulosa is suggested.
Testing for proficiency effects and crosslinguistic influence in L2 processing: Filler-gap dependencies in L2 English by Jordanian-Arabic and Mandarin speakers
Authors: Al-Maani Alaa , Sloggett Shayne , Grillo Nino , Marsden Heather
Published: March 2024

This study expands on previous research into filler-gap dependency processing in second language (L2) English, by means of a replication of Canales’s (2012) self-paced reading study. Canales, among others, found that advanced L2-English speakers exhibited the same processing behavior that Stowe (1986) found for native English processing: On encountering a filler, they posited gaps in licensed positions and avoided positing gaps in grammatically unlicensed island positions. However, the previous L2 studies focused on advanced-level L2 proficiency and did not test specifically for first language (L1) influence. The present study compares two groups of intermediate-level L2-English speakers with contrasting non-wh-movement L1s, Jordanian Arabic and Mandarin, to investigate the effects of L1 influence and individual differences in proficiency. Our results provide evidence that at intermediate level, too, L2 filler-gap processing adheres to grammatical constraints. L1 did not affect this behavior, but proficiency effects emerged, with larger licensed filled-gap effects at higher proficiency.
Development of Flood Preparedness Behavior Scale: A Methodological Validity and Reliability Study
Authors: Osman Marwa , Taşdelen Teker Gülşen , Altıntaş Kerim Hakan
Published: March 2024

Background:

Floods are the most frequent natural disasters with a significant share of their mortality. Preparedness is capable of decreasing the mortality of floods by at least 50%. This paper aims to present the psychometric properties of a scale developed to evaluate the behavior of preparedness to floods in Sudan and similar settings.

Methods:

In this methodological scale development study, experts assessed the content validity of the items of the developed scale. Data were collected from key persons of 413 households living in neighborhoods affected by the 2018 floods in Kassala City in Sudan. A pre-tested questionnaire of sociodemographic data and the Flood Preparedness Behavior Scale (FPBS) were distributed to the participants’ houses and recollected. Construct validity of the scale was checked using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Internal consistency of the scale was checked using Cronbach’s alpha. Test-retest reliability was assessed by Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Item analyses and tests of significance of the difference in the mean scores of the highest and lowest score groups were carried out to ensure discriminatory power of the scale items.

Results:

Experts agreed on the scale items. Construct validity of the scale was achieved using EFA by removing 34 items and retaining 25 items that were structured in three factors, named as: measures to be done before, during, and after a flood. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the construct obtained by EFA. The loadings of the items on their factors in both EFA and CFA were all > 0.3 with significant associations and acceptable fit indices obtained from CFA. The three factors were found to be reliable in terms of internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for all factors were > 0.7) and test-retest reliability coefficient. In item analysis, the corrected total item correlations for all the items were > 0.3, and significant differences in the means of the highest and lowest score groups indicated good item discrimination power.

Conclusion:

The developed 25 items scale is an instrument which produces valid and reliable measures of preparedness behavior for floods in Sudan and similar settings.
Layered Mantle Flow Field Associated With Plate Kinematics and Slab Modulation Underneath the Horseshoe‐Shaped Banda Arc‐Islands
Authors: Li Sijia , Kong Fansheng , Liu Kelly H. , Gao Stephen S.
Published: March 2024

The Banda arc‐continent collision zone signifies one of the most seismically active and tectonically intricate zones. The high convergence rate across the region, coupled with the exceptionally arcuate arc and subducted slab, makes it an ideal locale for investigating interactions between plate (slab) kinematics and plastic flow in the asthenosphere, which can be diagnosed by seismic anisotropy from shear wave splitting analyses. In total, 206 pairs of splitting measurements using teleseismic SKS, SKKS, and PKS, along with 43 pairs using local S phases, are obtained by utilizing broadband seismic data from five permanent seismic stations. To reduce the ambiguity in determining the origin of anisotropy leading to the teleseismic splittings, which lack vertical resolution, crustal anisotropy is constrained according to the sinusoidal moveout of converted S phases at the Moho using receiver functions. A layered anisotropic structure based on joint analyses of the anisotropy measurements characterizing different depth layers suggests the presence of trench‐parallel flow both in the mantle wedge and the sub‐slab region. The northeastward motion of the slab, entrained by the fast‐moving Australian Plate, deflects asthenospheric materials. The modulation results in trench‐parallel plastic mantle flows and leads to the steepening of the southern portion of the asymmetric spoon‐shaped Banda slab. In the shallower part of the sub‐slab region, the northeastward Australian Plate motion produces simple shear in the transitional layer between the rigid lithosphere and the viscous asthenosphere. The shear deformation induces seismic anisotropy with resulting fast orientations in accordance with the plate motion direction.
Low-Level Clouds Disappear During a Solar Eclipse
Authors: Kornei Katherine
Published: March 2024

Cumulus clouds rapidly dissipate as the land surface cools, a finding that has implications for Sun-obscuring geoengineering efforts.
Kappa-opioid receptor stimulation in the nucleus accumbens shell and ethanol drinking: Differential effects by rostro-caudal location and level of drinking
Authors: Pirino Breanne E. , Hawks Annie , Carpenter Brody A. , Candelas Pelagia G. , Gargiulo Andrew T. , Curtis Genevieve R. , Karkhanis Anushree N. , Barson Jessica R.
Published: March 2024

Although the kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) and its endogenous ligand, dynorphin, are believed to be involved in ethanol drinking, evidence on the direction of their effects has been mixed. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell densely expresses KORs, but previous studies have not found KOR activation to influence ethanol drinking. Using microinjections into the NAc shell of male and female Long-Evans rats that drank under the intermittent-access procedure, we found that the KOR agonist, U50,488, had no effect on ethanol drinking when injected into the middle NAc shell, but that it promoted intake in males and high-drinking females in the caudal NAc shell and high-drinking females in the rostral shell, and decreased intake in males and low-drinking females in the rostral shell. Conversely, injection of the KOR antagonist, nor-binaltorphimine, stimulated ethanol drinking in low-drinking females when injected into the rostral NAc shell and decreased drinking in high-drinking females when injected into the caudal NAc shell. These effects of KOR activity were substance-specific, as U50,488 did not affect sucrose intake. Using quantitative real-time PCR, we found that baseline gene expression of the KOR was higher in the rostral compared to caudal NAc shell, but that this was upregulated in the rostral shell with a history of ethanol drinking. Our findings have important clinical implications, demonstrating that KOR stimulation in the NAc shell can affect ethanol drinking, but that this depends on NAc subregion, subject sex, and ethanol intake level, and suggesting that this may be due to differences in KOR expression.
Secondary use of genomic data: patients’ decisions at point of testing and perspectives to inform international data sharing
Authors: Martyn Melissa , Forbes Emily , Lee Ling , Kanga-Parabia Anaita , Weerasuriya Rona , Lynch Elly , Gleeson Penny , Gaff Clara
Published: March 2024

International sharing of genomic data files arising from clinical testing of patients is essential to further improve genomic medicine. Whilst the general public are reluctant to donate DNA for research, the choices patients actually make about sharing their clinical genomic data for future re-use (research or clinical) are unknown. We ascertained the data-sharing choices of 1515 patients having genomic testing for inherited conditions or cancer treatment from clinical consent forms. To understand the experiences and preferences of these patients, surveys were administered after test consent (RR 73%). Almost all patients (98%) consented to share their data. Survey respondents’ decision recall was high (90%), but poorer if English was an additional language (p < 0.001). Parents deciding on behalf of children were over-represented amongst data-sharing decliners (p = 0.047) and decliners were more likely to believe that stored data could be easily reidentified (p < 0.001). A quarter of respondents did not know if reidentification would be easy and 44% of them were concerned about this possibility. Of those willing to share data overseas (60%), 23% indicated the recipient researcher’s country would affect their decision. Most respondents (89%) desired some ongoing control over research use of their data. Four preliminary data-sharing profiles emerged; their further development could inform tailored patient resources. Our results highlight considerations for establishment of systems to make clinical genomic data files available for reanalysis locally and across borders. Patients’ willingness to share their data – and value of the resulting research – should encourage clinical laboratories to consider sharing data systematically for secondary uses.
Transcriptome free energy can serve as a dynamic patient-specific biomarker in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Uechi Lisa , Vasudevan Swetha , Vilenski Daniela , Branciamore Sergio , Frankhouser David , O’Meally Denis , Meshinchi Soheil , Marcucci Guido , Kuo Ya-Huei , Rockne Russell , Kravchenko-Balasha Nataly
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is prevalent in both adult and pediatric patients. Despite advances in patient categorization, the heterogeneity of AML remains a challenge. Recent studies have explored the use of gene expression data to enhance AML diagnosis and prognosis, however, alternative approaches rooted in physics and chemistry may provide another level of insight into AML transformation. Utilizing publicly available databases, we analyze 884 human and mouse blood and bone marrow samples. We employ a personalized medicine strategy, combining state-transition theory and surprisal analysis, to assess the RNA transcriptome of individual patients. The transcriptome is transformed into physical parameters that represent each sample’s steady state and the free energy change (FEC) from that steady state, which is the state with the lowest free energy.

We found the transcriptome steady state was invariant across normal and AML samples. FEC, representing active molecular processes, varied significantly between samples and was used to create patient-specific barcodes to characterize the biology of the disease. We discovered that AML samples that were in a transition state had the highest FEC. This disease state may be characterized as the most unstable and hence the most therapeutically targetable since a change in free energy is a thermodynamic requirement for disease progression. We also found that distinct sets of ongoing processes may be at the root of otherwise similar clinical phenotypes, implying that our integrated analysis of transcriptome profiles may facilitate a personalized medicine approach to cure AML and restore a steady state in each patient.
The evolutionary drivers and correlates of viral host jumps
Authors: Tan Cedric C. S. , van Dorp Lucy , Balloux Francois
Published: March 2024

Most emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases stem from viruses that naturally circulate in non-human vertebrates. When these viruses cross over into humans, they can cause disease outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics. While zoonotic host jumps have been extensively studied from an ecological perspective, little attention has gone into characterizing the evolutionary drivers and correlates underlying these events. To address this gap, we harnessed the entirety of publicly available viral genomic data, employing a comprehensive suite of network and phylogenetic analyses to investigate the evolutionary mechanisms underpinning recent viral host jumps. Surprisingly, we find that humans are as much a source as a sink for viral spillover events, insofar as we infer more viral host jumps from humans to other animals than from animals to humans. Moreover, we demonstrate heightened evolution in viral lineages that involve putative host jumps. We further observe that the extent of adaptation associated with a host jump is lower for viruses with broader host ranges. Finally, we show that the genomic targets of natural selection associated with host jumps vary across different viral families, with either structural or auxiliary genes being the prime targets of selection. Collectively, our results illuminate some of the evolutionary drivers underlying viral host jumps that may contribute to mitigating viral threats across species boundaries.
Piezo1 regulates meningeal lymphatic vessel drainage and alleviates excessive CSF accumulation
Authors: Choi Dongwon , Park Eunkyung , Choi Joshua , Lu Renhao , Yu Jin Suh , Kim Chiyoon , Zhao Luping , Yu James , Nakashima Brandon , Lee Sunju , Singhal Dhruv , Scallan Joshua P. , Zhou Bin , Koh Chester J. , Lee Esak , Hong Young-Kwon
Published: March 2024

Piezo1 regulates multiple aspects of the vascular system by converting mechanical signals generated by fluid flow into biological processes. Here, we find that Piezo1 is necessary for the proper development and function of meningeal lymphatic vessels and that activating Piezo1 through transgenic overexpression or treatment with the chemical agonist Yoda1 is sufficient to increase cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) outflow by improving lymphatic absorption and transport. The abnormal accumulation of CSF, which often leads to hydrocephalus and ventriculomegaly, currently lacks effective treatments. We discovered that meningeal lymphatics in mouse models of Down syndrome were incompletely developed and abnormally formed. Selective overexpression of Piezo1 in lymphatics or systemic administration of Yoda1 in mice with hydrocephalus or Down syndrome resulted in a notable decrease in pathological CSF accumulation, ventricular enlargement and other associated disease symptoms. Together, our study highlights the importance of Piezo1-mediated lymphatic mechanotransduction in maintaining brain fluid drainage and identifies Piezo1 as a promising therapeutic target for treating excessive CSF accumulation and ventricular enlargement.
Evaluating and optimizing Acid-pH and Direct Lysis RNA extraction for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection in whole saliva
Authors: LaBute Brayden , Fong Jackie , Ziaee Farinaz , Gombar Robert , Stover Mathew , Beaudin Terry , Badalova Maria , Geng Qiudi , Corchis-Scott Ryland , Podadera Ana , Lago Kyle , Xu ZhenHuan , Lim Fievel , Chiu Felix , Fu Minghua , Nie Xiaofeng , Wu Yuanmin , Quan Corrina , Hamm Caroline , McKay R. Michael , Ng Kenneth , Porter Lisa A. , Tong Yufeng
Published: March 2024

COVID-19 has been a global public health and economic challenge. Screening for the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been a key part of disease mitigation while the world continues to move forward, and lessons learned will benefit disease detection beyond COVID-19. Saliva specimen collection offers a less invasive, time- and cost-effective alternative to standard nasopharyngeal swabs. We optimized two different methods of saliva sample processing for RT-qPCR testing. Two methods were optimized to provide two cost-efficient ways to do testing for a minimum of four samples by pooling in a 2.0 mL tube and decrease the need for more highly trained personnel. Acid-pH-based RNA extraction method can be done without the need for expensive kits. Direct Lysis is a quick one-step reaction that can be applied quickly. Our optimized Acid-pH and Direct Lysis protocols are reliable and reproducible, detecting the beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) mRNA in saliva as an internal control from 97 to 96.7% of samples, respectively. The cycle threshold (Ct) values forB2Mwere significantly higher in the Direct Lysis protocol than in the Acid-pH protocol. The limit of detection forN1gene was higher in Direct Lysis at ≤ 5 copies/μL than Acid-pH. Saliva samples collected over the course of several days from two COVID-positive individuals demonstrated Ct values for N1 that were consistently higher from Direct Lysis compared to Acid-pH. Collectively, this work supports that each of these techniques can be used to screen for SARS-CoV-2 in saliva for a cost-effective screening platform.
Identification of the shared hub gene signatures and molecular mechanisms between HIV-1 and pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Mai Huanzhuo , Yang Xing , Xie Yulan , Zhou Jie , Wei Yiru , Luo Tingyan , Yang Jing , Cui Ping , Ye Li , Liang Hao , Huang Jiegang
Published: March 2024

The close link between HIV-1 infection and the occurrence of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of their interrelation remain unclear. The microarray data of HIV-1 and PAH were downloaded from GEO database. We utilized WGCNA to identify shared genes between HIV-1 and PAH, followed by conducting GO and pathway enrichment analyses. Subsequently, differentially genes analysis was performed using external validation datasets to further filter hub genes. Immunoinfiltration analysis was performed using CIBERSORT. Finally, hub gene expression was validated using scRNA-seq data. We identified 109 shared genes through WGCNA, primarily enriched in type I interferon (IFN) pathways. By taking the intersection of WGCNA important module genes and DEGs, ISG15 and IFI27 were identified as pivotal hub genes. Immunoinfiltration analysis and scRNA-seq results indicated the significant role of monocytes in the shared molecular mechanisms of HIV-1 and PAH. In summary, our study illustrated the possible mechanism of PAH secondary to HIV-1 and showed that the heightened IFN response in HIV-1 might be a crucial susceptibility factor for PAH, with monocytes being pivotal cells involved in the type I IFN response pathway. This provides potential new insights for further investigating the molecular mechanisms connecting HIV-1 and PAH.
Ising-like model replicating time-averaged spiking behaviour of in vitro neuronal networks
Authors: Sampaio Filho Cesar I. N. , de Arcangelis Lucilla , Herrmann Hans J. , Plenz Dietmar , Kells Patrick , Ribeiro Tiago Lins , Andrade José S.
Published: March 2024

We analyze time-averaged experimental data from in vitro activities of neuronal networks. Through a Pairwise Maximum-Entropy method, we identify through an inverse binary Ising-like model the local fields and interaction couplings which best reproduce the average activities of each neuron as well as the statistical correlations between the activities of each pair of neurons in the system. The specific information about the type of neurons is mainly stored in the local fields, while a symmetric distribution of interaction constants seems generic. Our findings demonstrate that, despite not being directly incorporated into the inference approach, the experimentally observed correlations among groups of three neurons are accurately captured by the derived Ising-like model. Within the context of the thermodynamic analogy inherent to the Ising-like models developed in this study, our findings additionally indicate that these models demonstrate characteristics of second-order phase transitions between ferromagnetic and paramagnetic states at temperatures above, but close to, unity. Considering that the operating temperature utilized in the Maximum-Entropy method is $$T_{o}=1$$

T
o

=
1

, this observation further expands the thermodynamic conceptual parallelism postulated in this work for the manifestation of criticality in neuronal network behavior.
Integrated image and location analysis for wound classification: a deep learning approach
Authors: Patel Yash , Shah Tirth , Dhar Mrinal Kanti , Zhang Taiyu , Niezgoda Jeffrey , Gopalakrishnan Sandeep , Yu Zeyun
Published: March 2024

The global burden of acute and chronic wounds presents a compelling case for enhancing wound classification methods, a vital step in diagnosing and determining optimal treatments. Recognizing this need, we introduce an innovative multi-modal network based on a deep convolutional neural network for categorizing wounds into four categories: diabetic, pressure, surgical, and venous ulcers. Our multi-modal network uses wound images and their corresponding body locations for more precise classification. A unique aspect of our methodology is incorporating a body map system that facilitates accurate wound location tagging, improving upon traditional wound image classification techniques. A distinctive feature of our approach is the integration of models such as VGG16, ResNet152, and EfficientNet within a novel architecture. This architecture includes elements like spatial and channel-wise Squeeze-and-Excitation modules, Axial Attention, and an Adaptive Gated Multi-Layer Perceptron, providing a robust foundation for classification. Our multi-modal network was trained and evaluated on two distinct datasets comprising relevant images and corresponding location information. Notably, our proposed network outperformed traditional methods, reaching an accuracy range of 74.79–100% for Region of Interest (ROI) without location classifications, 73.98–100% for ROI with location classifications, and 78.10–100% for whole image classifications. This marks a significant enhancement over previously reported performance metrics in the literature. Our results indicate the potential of our multi-modal network as an effective decision-support tool for wound image classification, paving the way for its application in various clinical contexts.