bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Search-and-rescue in the Central Mediterranean Route does not induce migration: Predictive modeling to answer causal queries in migration research
Authors: Rodríguez Sánchez Alejandra , Wucherpfennig Julian , Rischke Ramona , Iacus Stefano Maria
Published: August 2023

State- and private-led search-and-rescue are hypothesized to foster irregular migration (and thereby migrant fatalities) by altering the decision calculus associated with the journey. We here investigate this ‘pull factor’ claim by focusing on the Central Mediterranean route, the most frequented and deadly irregular migration route towards Europe during the past decade. Based on three intervention periods—(1) state-led Mare Nostrum, (2) private-led search-and-rescue, and (3) coordinated pushbacks by the Libyan Coast Guard—which correspond to substantial changes in laws, policies, and practices of search-and-rescue in the Mediterranean, we are able to test the ‘pull factor’ claim by employing an innovative machine learning method in combination with causal inference. We employ a Bayesian structural time-series model to estimate the effects of these three intervention periods on the migration flow as measured by crossing attempts (i.e., time-series aggregate counts of arrivals, pushbacks, and deaths), adjusting for various known drivers of irregular migration. We combine multiple sources of traditional and non-traditional data to build a synthetic, predicted counterfactual flow. Results show that our predictive modeling approach accurately captures the behavior of the target time-series during the various pre-intervention periods of interest. A comparison of the observed and predicted counterfactual time-series in the post-intervention periods suggest that pushback policies did affect the migration flow, but that the search-and-rescue periods did not yield a discernible difference between the observed and the predicted counterfactual number of crossing attempts. Hence we do not find support for search-and-rescue as a driver of irregular migration. In general, this modeling approach lends itself to forecasting migration flows with the goal of answering causal queries in migration research.
Genotypic variability in patients with clinical diagnosis of Bartter syndrome type 3
Authors: García-Castaño Alejandro , Gómez-Conde Sara , Gondra Leire , Herrero María , Aguirre Mireia , de la Hoz Ana-Belén , Castaño Luis ,   Renaltube group, Santos Fernando , Gil-Peña Helena , Coto Eliecer , Loredo Vanessa , Ordóñez Flor Ángel , Rodríguez Julián , Braga Eva , Hernández Olaya , Fuente Rocío , Claramunt Débora , García-Nieto Víctor Manuel , Claverie-Martín Félix , Ramos-Trujillo Elena , Luis-Yanes Maria Isabel , Córdoba-Lanús Elizabeth , Perdomo-Ramirez Ana , Mura-Escorche Gloria , Castaño Luis , Madariaga Leire , Pérez de Nanclares Gustavo , García-Castaño Alejandro , Aguirre Mireia , Gondra Leire , Herrero María , Aguayo Aníbal , García-Pérez Nélida , Ariceta Gema , Meseguer Anna , Cantero Gerard , Cantos-Pastor Virginia , Pérez-González Elena , Bello-Gutiérrez Pablo , Madariaga Leire
Published: August 2023

Bartter syndrome (BS) is a salt-losing hereditary tubulopathy characterized by hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis with secondary hyperaldosteronism. Confirmatory molecular diagnosis may be difficult due to genetic heterogeneity and overlapping of clinical symptoms. The aim of our study was to describe the different molecular findings in patients with a clinical diagnosis of classic BS. We included 27 patients (26 families) with no identified pathogenic variants in CLCNKB. We used a customized Ion AmpliSeq Next-Generation Sequencing panel including 44 genes related to renal tubulopathies. We detected pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in 12 patients (44%), reaching a conclusive genetic diagnosis. Variants in SLC12A3 were found in 6 (Gitelman syndrome). Median age at diagnosis was 14.6 years (range 0.1–31), with no history of prematurity or polyhydramnios. Serum magnesium level was low in 2 patients (33%) but urinary calcium excretion was normal or low in all, with no nephrocalcinosis. Variants in SLC12A1 were found in 3 (BS type 1); and in KCNJ1 in 1 (BS type 2). These patients had a history of polyhydramnios in 3 (75%), and the mean gestational age was 34.2 weeks (SD 1.7). The median age at diagnosis was 1.8 years (range 0.1–6). Chronic kidney disease and nephrocalcinosis were present in 1 (25%) and 3 (75%) patients, respectively. A variant in CLCN5 was found in one patient (Dent disease), and in NR3C2 in another patient (Geller syndrome). Genetic diagnosis of BS is heterogeneous as different tubulopathies can present with a similar clinical picture. The use of gene panels in these diseases becomes more efficient than the study gene by gene with Sanger sequencing.
Convergent synthesis of phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotides (PMOs) by the H-phosphonate approach
Authors: Tsurusaki Taiki , Sato Kazuki , Imai Hiroki , Hirai Kunihiro , Takahashi Daisuke , Wada Takeshi
Published: August 2023

Phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotides (PMOs) are a promising type of antisense oligonucleotides, but their challenging synthesis makes them difficult to access. This research presents an efficient synthetic approach for PMOs using the H-phosphonate approach. The use of phosphonium-type condensing reagents significantly reduced coupling times compared with the current synthetic approach. Furthermore, phosphonium-type condensing reagents facilitated the fragment condensation of PMO, synthesizing up to 8-mer containing all four nucleobases with remarkable coupling efficacy. This is the first report on the convergent synthesis of PMOs. This approach would facilitate the large-scale synthesis of PMOs and accelerate their popularity and accessibility as a next-generation therapy.
Identification of potentially relevant metals for the etiology of autism by using a Bayesian multivariate approach for partially censored values
Authors: Wegmann Bertil , Tatemoto Patricia , Miemczyk Stefan , Ludvigsson Johnny , Guerrero-Bosagna Carlos
Published: August 2023

Heavy metals are known to be able to cross the placental and blood brain barriers to affect critical neurodevelopmental processes in the fetus. We measured metal levels (Al, Cd, Hg, Li, Pb and Zn) in the cord blood of newborns and in the serum of the same children at 5 years of age, and compared between individuals with or without (controls) autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis. The samples were from a biobank associated with the All Babies in Southeast Sweden (ABIS) registry. We proposed a Bayesian multivariate log-normal model for partially censored values to identify potentially relevant metals for the etiology of ASD. Our results in cord blood suggest prenatal Al levels could be indicative of later ASD incidence, which could also be related to an increased possibility of a high, potentially toxic, exposure to Al and Li during pregnancy. In addition, a larger possibility of a high, potentially beneficial, exposure to Zn could occur during pregnancy in controls. Finally, we found decisive evidence for an average increase of Hg in 5-year-old ASD children compared to only weak evidence for controls. This is concordant with previous research showing an impaired ability for eliminating Hg in the ASD group.
Developing a predictive model for an emerging epidemic on cassava in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Godding David , Stutt Richard O. J. H. , Alicai Titus , Abidrabo Phillip , Okao-Okuja Geoffrey , Gilligan Christopher A.
Published: August 2023

The agricultural productivity of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is severely constrained by pests and pathogens, impacting economic stability and food security. An epidemic of cassava brown streak disease, causing significant yield loss, is spreading rapidly from Uganda into surrounding countries. Based on sparse surveillance data, the epidemic front is reported to be as far west as central DRC, the world’s highest per capita consumer, and as far south as Zambia. Future spread threatens production in West Africa including Nigeria, the world’s largest producer of cassava. Using innovative methods we develop, parameterise and validate a landscape-scale, stochastic epidemic model capturing the spread of the disease throughout Uganda. The model incorporates real-world management interventions and can be readily extended to make predictions for all 32 major cassava producing countries of SSA, with relevant data, and lays the foundations for a tool capable of informing policy decisions at a national and regional scale.
Subject-specific whole-brain parcellations of nodes and boundaries are modulated differently under 10 Hz rTMS
Authors: Belov Vladimir , Kozyrev Vladislav , Singh Aditya , Sacchet Matthew D. , Goya-Maldonado Roberto
Published: August 2023

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has gained considerable importance in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, including major depression. However, it is not yet understood how rTMS alters brain’s functional connectivity. Here we report changes in functional connectivity captured by resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) within the first hour after 10 Hz rTMS. We apply subject-specific parcellation schemes to detect changes (1) in network nodes, where the strongest functional connectivity of regions is observed, and (2) in network boundaries, where functional transitions between regions occur. We use support vector machine (SVM), a widely used machine learning algorithm that is robust and effective, for the classification and characterization of time intervals of changes in node and boundary maps. Our results reveal that changes in connectivity at the boundaries are slower and more complex than in those observed in the nodes, but of similar magnitude according to accuracy confidence intervals. These results were strongest in the posterior cingulate cortex and precuneus. As network boundaries are indeed under-investigated in comparison to nodes in connectomics research, our results highlight their contribution to functional adjustments to rTMS.
The crosstalking immune cells network creates a collective function beyond the function of each cellular constituent during the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Koelsch Nicholas , Mirshahi Faridoddin , Aqbi Hussein F. , Saneshaw Mulugeta , Idowu Michael O. , Olex Amy L. , Sanyal Arun J. , Manjili Masoud H.
Published: August 2023

Abundance of data on the role of inflammatory immune responses in the progression or inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has failed to offer a curative immunotherapy for HCC. This is largely because of focusing on detailed specific cell types and missing the collective function of the hepatic immune system. To discover the collective immune function, we take systems immunology approach by performing high-throughput analysis of snRNAseq data collected from the liver of DIAMOND mice during the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to HCC. We report that mutual signaling interactions of the hepatic immune cells in a dominant-subdominant manner, as well as their interaction with structural cells shape the immunological pattern manifesting a collective function beyond the function of the cellular constituents. Such pattern discovery approach recognized direct role of the innate immune cells in the progression of NASH and HCC. These data suggest that discovery of the immune pattern not only detects the immunological mechanism of HCC in spite of dynamic changes in immune cells during the course of disease but also offers immune modulatory interventions for the treatment of NAFLD and HCC.
Simulation of laser-induced tunnel ionization based on a curved waveguide
Authors: Ben Levy Arnon , Hen Amir , Kahn Merav , Aharon Yoad , Levin Tamar , Mazurski Noa , Levy Uriel , Marcus Gilad
Published: August 2023

The problem of tunneling ionization and the associated questions of how long it takes for an electron to tunnel through the barrier, and what the tunneling rate has fascinated scientists for almost a century. In strong field physics, tunnel ionization plays an important role, and accurate knowledge of the time-dependent tunnel rate is of paramount importance. The Keldysh theory and other more advanced related theories are often used, but their accuracy is still controversial. In previous work, we suggested using a curved waveguide as a quantum simulator to simulate the tunnel ionization process. Here we implemented for the first time such a curved waveguide and observed the simulated tunneling ionization process. We compare our results with the theory.
P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy after complex percutaneous coronary intervention: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
Authors: Sotomi Yohei , Matsuoka Yuki , Hikoso Shungo , Nakatani Daisaku , Okada Katsuki , Dohi Tomoharu , Kida Hirota , Oeun Bolrathanak , Sunaga Akihiro , Sato Taiki , Kitamura Tetsuhisa , Sakata Yasushi
Published: August 2023

It remains unknown whether the recent trend of short dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) followed by P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy can simply be applied to patients undergoing complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy vs. conventional DAPT in patients undergoing complex PCI and non-complex PCI (PROSPERO: CRD42022335723). Primary endpoint was the 1-year Net Adverse Clinical Event (NACE). Among 5,323 screened studies, six randomized trials fulfilled the eligibility criteria. A total of 10,588 complex PCI patients (5,269 vs. 5,319 patients) and 25,618 non-complex PCI patients (12,820 vs 12,798 patients) were randomly assigned to P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy vs. conventional DAPT. In complex PCI patients, P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy was associated with a lower risk of NACE than conventional DAPT [Odds ratio (OR) 0.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63–0.91, P = 0.003], whereas in non-complex PCI patients, P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy was associated with a trend toward lowering the risk of NACE (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.72–1.02, P = 0.09). This meta-analysis across randomized trials demonstrated that a strategy of short DAPT followed by P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy reduces the risk of 1-year NACE in patients undergoing complex PCI.
Unveiling the need of interactions for social N400s and supporting the N400 inhibition hypothesis
Authors: Sinha Sujata , Del Goleto Sarah , Kostova Milena , Debruille J. Bruno
Published: August 2023

When participants (Pps) are presented with stimuli in the presence of another person, they may consider that person’s perspective. Indeed, five recent ERP studies show that the amplitudes of their N400s are increased. The two most recent ones reveal that these social-N400 increases occur even when instructions do not require a focus on the other's perspective. These increases also happen when Pps know that this other person has the same stimulus information as they have. However, in all these works, Pps could see the other person. Here, we tested whether the interaction occurring with this sight is important or whether these social N400 increases also occur when the other person is seated a bit behind Pps, who are aware of it. All had to decide whether the word ending short stories was coherent, incoherent, or equivocal. No social N400 increase was observed: N400s elicited by those words in Pps who were with a confederate (n = 50) were similar to those of Pps who were alone (n = 51). On the other hand, equivocal endings did not elicit larger N400s than coherent ones but triggered larger late posterior positivities (LPPs), like in previous studies. The discussion focuses on the circumstances in which perspective-taking occurs and on the functional significance of the N400 and the LPP.
Role of dopamine D1 receptor in the modulation of memory consolidation by passive and self-administered heroin and associated conditioned stimuli
Authors: Francis Travis , Leri Francesco
Published: August 2023

It has been proposed that opiates modulate memory consolidation, but recent work has indicated that this effect may be mediated by how the drug is experienced (i.e., passive injections vs. self-administration). Because the dopamine (DA) D1 receptor is involved in processing of learning signals and attribution of salience to events experienced by an organism, two studies in male Sprague-Dawley rats tested the effect of blocking this receptor on modulation of memory consolidation by passive and self-administered heroin, in addition to conditioned memory modulation by heroin-paired cues. Using the object location memory task, Study 1 employed SCH23390 (0, 0.05, 0.10 mg/kg, SC) to modulate enhancement of memory consolidation induced by post-training injections of heroin (1 mg/kg, SC) as well as by exposure to the environment paired with heroin injections (6 pairings, 1 h each, 1 mg/kg). Study 2 was conducted in rats that could self-administer heroin (0.05 mg/kg/infusion, IV) and tested whether SCH23390 (0 and 0.1 mg/kg, SC) could prevent memory modulation induced by a change in schedule of self-administration (from fixed to variable ratio). It was found that while repeated passive injections of heroin retained their enhancing effect on memory, when self-administered, heroin enhanced consolidation of object location memory only at the beginning of self-administration and after a change in schedule. Importantly, SCH23390 blocked memory modulation by heroin when passively administered and when the drug was self-administered on a novel schedule. SCH23390 also blocked conditioned memory modulation induced by post-training exposure to heroin-paired cues. Taken together, these results suggest that modulation of memory consolidation by unconditioned and conditioned opiate reinforcers involve a D1-dependent mechanism of salience attribution linked to the anticipation of drug effects.
On the reaction–diffusion type modelling of the self-propelled object motion
Authors: Nagayama Masaharu , Monobe Harunori , Sakakibara Koya , Nakamura Ken-Ichi , Kobayashi Yasuaki , Kitahata Hiroyuki
Published: August 2023

In this study, we propose a mathematical model of self-propelled objects based on the Allen–Cahn type phase-field equation. We combine it with the equation for the concentration of surfactant used in previous studies to construct a model that can handle self-propelled object motion with shape change. A distinctive feature of our mathematical model is that it can represent both deformable self-propelled objects, such as droplets, and solid objects, such as camphor disks, by controlling a single parameter. Furthermore, we demonstrate that, by taking the singular limit, this phase-field based model can be reduced to a free boundary model, which is equivalent to the $$L^2$$

L
2

-gradient flow model of self-propelled objects derived by the variational principle from the interfacial energy, which gives a physical interpretation to the phase-field model.
The association between psychosocial factors, protective factors, and its associated triggers with psychological distress among Bolivian adolescents
Authors: Suanrueang Passakorn , Peltzer Karl , Lkhamsuren Zuchi , Yap Lyen Krenz
Published: August 2023

The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between psychosocial factors, protective factors, and its associated triggers with psychological distress among Bolivian adolescents. This cross-sectional study was conducted by investigating the 2018 Bolivia global school-based student health survey (GSHS). The total number of students who participated in this survey was 7931, and the final sample was 7377. The mean age of the participants was 15.3 years (SD = 1.4). Psychological distress was assessed with a 2-item screener (loneliness and worry induced sleep disturbance). In all 22.3% of participants reported experiencing psychological distress, with 18.1% among adolescent males and 26.2% among adolescent females. In adjusted logistic regression analysis (AOR, 95% CI), there are two significant directions of association. One is the negative association, such as parental involvement as a protective factor. School adolescents who had more parental involvement were less likely to experience psychological distress. Parents understand problems or worries (0.64, 0.54–0.75, p < .001) and parents disregard privacy (0.69, 0.58–0.82, p < .001). On the other hand, many psycho-social factors are significantly positively associated with psychological distress. School adolescents who experience more psychosocial factors are more likely to experience psychological distress. Physical assault in the previous year (1.83, 1.59–2.11, p < .001), being bullied at school (1.27, 1.07–1.52, p < .01), being bullied outside of school (1.36, 1.15–1.61, p < .001), and being cyberbullied (1.60, 1.37–1.88, p < .001), were all significantly associated with psychological distress. Healthy relationships in a family, and interventions to reduce violence and bullying, should be encouraged and promoted.
A porcine model of postoperative hemi-diaphragmatic paresis to evaluate a unilateral diaphragmatic pacemaker
Authors: Kratz Tobias , Ruff Roman , Bernhardt Marit , Katzer David , Herberg Ulrike , Asfour Boulos , Breuer Johannes , Oetzmann von Sochaczewski Christina , Bierbach Benjamin
Published: August 2023

Unilateral phrenic nerve damage is a dreaded complication in congenital heart surgery. It has deleterious effects in neonates and children with uni-ventricular circulation. Diaphragmatic palsy, caused by phrenic nerve damage, impairs respiratory function, especially in new-borns, because their respiration depends on diaphragmatic contractions. Furthermore, Fontan patients with passive pulmonary perfusion are seriously affected by phrenic nerve injury, because diaphragmatic contraction augments pulmonary blood flow. Diaphragmatic plication is currently employed to ameliorate the negative effects of diaphragmatic palsy on pulmonary perfusion and respiratory mechanics. This procedure attenuates pulmonary compression by the abdominal contents. However, there is no contraction of the plicated diaphragm and consequently no contribution to the pulmonary blood flow. Hence, we developed a porcine model of unilateral diaphragmatic palsy in order to evaluate a diaphragmatic pacemaker. Our illustrated step-by-step description of the model generation enables others to replicate and use our model for future studies. Thereby, it might contribute to investigation and advancement of potential improvements for these patients.
Impacts of the COVID-19 economic slowdown on soybean crop yields in the United States
Authors: Christopoulos Julianna , Tong Daniel , Campbell Patrick C. , Ma Siqi
Published: August 2023

It is without question that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on the U.S. economy. Stay-at-home orders led to reduced vehicular traffic and widespread declines in anthropogenic emissions (e.g., nitrogen oxides (NOx)). This study is the first to explore the potential consequences of O3 changes resulting from the economic shutdown in the United States on soybean crop yields for 2020. The pandemic’s impact on surface O3 is quantified using the NOAA’s National Air Quality Forecasting Capability (NAQFC), which is based on the Community Multi-Scale Air Quality (CMAQ) model for May–July 2020. The “would-be”, 2020 level business-as-usual (BAU) emissions are compared to a simulation that uses representative COVID-19 (C19) emissions. For each emissions scenario, crop exposures are calculated using the AOT40 cumulative exposure index and then combined with county-level soybean production totals to determine regional yield losses. Exposure changes ranged between – 2 and 2 ppmVhr−1. It was further shown that increased exposures (0.5 to 1.10 ppmVhr−1) in the Southeast U.S. counteracted decreased exposures (0.8 to 0.5 ppmVhr−1) in the other soybean-producing regions. As a result, corresponding yield improvements counteracted yield losses around the Mississippi River Valley and allowed for minimal improvements in soybean production loss totaling $6.5 million over CONUS.
Increased dietary intake of ultraprocessed foods and mitochondrial metabolism alterations in pediatric obesity
Authors: Coppola Serena , Paparo Lorella , Trinchese Giovanna , Rivieri Andrea Margarita , Masino Antonio , De Giovanni Di Santa Severina Anna Fiorenza , Cerulo Mariapina , Escolino Maria , Turco Assunta , Esposito Ciro , Mollica Maria Pina , Berni Canani Roberto
Published: August 2023

The increased intake of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) in the pediatric age paralleled with the risen prevalence of childhood obesity. The Ultraprocessed Foods in Obesity (UFO) Project aimed at investigating the potential mechanisms for the effects of UPFs in facilitating pediatric obesity, focusing on the direct role of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) on mitochondrial function, the key regulator of obesity pathophysiology. We comparatively investigated the daily dietary intake of UPFs, energy, nutrients, dietary AGEs [Nε -(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), Nε -(1-carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL), and Nδ -(5-hydro-5- methyl-4-imidazolon-2-yl)-ornithine (MG-H1)] in 53 obese patients and in 100 healthy controls visiting the Tertiary Center for Pediatric Nutrition of the Department of Translational Medical Science at the University of Naples “Federico II”. AGEs skin accumulation and mitochondrial function in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were also assessed. A higher intake of UPFs and AGEs, energy, protein, fat, and saturated fatty acids was observed in obese patients. Obese children presented significantly higher skin AGEs accumulation and alterations in mitochondrial metabolism. PBMCs from healthy controls exposed to AGEs showed the same mitochondrial alterations observed in patients. These findings support the UPFs role in pediatric obesity, and the need for dietary strategies limiting UPFs exposure for obesity prevention and treatment.
16S rRNA gene primer choice impacts off-target amplification in human gastrointestinal tract biopsies and microbiome profiling
Authors: Deissová Tereza , Zapletalová Martina , Kunovský Lumír , Kroupa Radek , Grolich Tomáš , Kala Zdeněk , Bořilová Linhartová Petra , Lochman Jan
Published: August 2023

16S rRNA amplicon sequencing or, more recently, metatranscriptomic analysis are currently the only preferred methods for microbial profiling of samples containing a predominant ratio of human to bacterial DNA. However, due to the off-target amplification of human DNA, current protocols are inadequate for bioptic samples. Here we present an efficient, reliable, and affordable method for the bacteriome analysis of clinical samples human DNA content predominates. We determined the microbiota profile in a total of 40 human biopsies of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing with the widely used 515F-806R (V4) primers targeting the V4 region, 68F-338R primers and a modified set of 68F-338R (V1-V2M) primers targeting the V1–V2 region. With the V4 primers, on average 70% of amplicon sequence variants (ASV) mapped to the human genome. On the other hand, this off-target amplification was absent when using the V1–V2M primers. Moreover, the V1–V2M primers provided significantly higher taxonomic richness and reproducibility of analysis compared to the V4 primers. We conclude that the V1–V2M 16S rRNA sequencing method is reliable, cost-effective, and applicable for low-bacterial abundant human samples in medical research.
Social media analysis reveals environmental injustices in Philadelphia urban parks
Authors: Walter Matthew , Bagozzi Benjamin E. , Ajibade Idowu , Mondal Pinki
Published: August 2023

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 11.7 calls for access to safe and inclusive green spaces for all communities. Yet, historical residential segregation in the USA has resulted in poor quality urban parks near neighborhoods with primarily disadvantaged socioeconomic status groups, and an extensive park system that addresses the needs of primarily White middle-class residents. Here we center the voices of historically marginalized urban residents by using Natural Language Processing and Geographic Information Science to analyze a large dataset (n = 143,913) of Google Map reviews from 2011 to 2022 across 285 parks in the City of Philadelphia, USA. We find that parks in neighborhoods with a high number of residents from historically disadvantaged demographic groups are likely to receive lower scores on Google Maps. Physical characteristics of these parks based on aerial and satellite images and ancillary data corroborate the public perception of park quality. Topic modeling of park reviews reveal that the diverse environmental justice needs of historically marginalized communities must be met to reduce the uneven park quality—a goal in line with achieving SDG 11 by 2030.
Photonic synaptic transistors with new electron trapping layer for high performance and ultra-low power consumption
Authors: Kim Taewoo , Yun Kwang-Seok
Published: August 2023

Photonic synaptic transistors are being investigated for their potential applications in neuromorphic computing and artificial vision systems. Recently, a method for establishing a synaptic effect by preventing the recombination of electron–hole pairs by forming an energy barrier with a double-layer consisting of a channel and a light absorption layer has shown effective results. We report a triple-layer device created by coating a novel electron-trapping layer between the light-absorption layer and the gate-insulating layer. Compared to the conventional double-layer photonic synaptic structure, our triple-layer device significantly reduces the recombination rate, resulting in improved performance in terms of the output photocurrent and memory characteristics. Furthermore, our photonic synaptic transistor possesses excellent synaptic properties, such as paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), short-term potentiation (STP), and long-term potentiation (LTP), and demonstrates a good response to a low operating voltage of − 0.1 mV. The low power consumption experiment shows a very low energy consumption of 0.01375 fJ per spike. These findings suggest a way to improve the performance of future neuromorphic devices and artificial vision systems.
Numerical analysis of pore-scale CO2-EOR at near-miscible flow condition to perceive the displacement mechanism
Authors: Behnoud Parisa , Khorsand Movaghar Mohammad Reza , Sabooniha Ehsan
Published: August 2023

Gas flooding through the injection of $$\text{CO}_{2}$$

CO
2

is generally performed to achieve optimum oil recovery from underground hydrocarbon reservoirs. However, miscible flooding, which is the most efficient way to achieve maximum oil recovery, is not suitable for all reservoirs due to challenge in maintaining pressure conditions. In this circumstances, a near-miscible process may be more practical. This study focuses on pore-scale near-miscible $$\text{CO}_{2}$$

CO
2

–Oil displacement, using available literature criteria to determine the effective near-miscible region. For the first time, two separate numerical approaches are coupled to examine the behavior of $$\text{CO}_{2}$$

CO
2

–oil at the lower-pressure boundary of the specified region. The first one, the Phase-field module, was implemented to trace the movement of fluids in the displacement $$\text{CO}_{2}$$

CO
2

–Oil process by applying the Navier–Stokes equation. Next is the TDS module which incorporates the effect of $$\text{CO}_{2}$$

CO
2

mass transfer into the oil phase by coupling classical Fick’s law to the fluids interface to track the variation of $$\text{CO}_{2}$$

CO
2

diffusion coefficient. To better recognize the oil recovery mechanism in pore-scale, qualitative analysis indicates that interface is moved into the by-passed oil due to low interfacial tension in the near-miscible region. Moreover, behind the front ahead of the main flow stream, the $$\text{CO}_{2}$$

CO
2

phase can significantly displace almost all the bypassed oil in normal pores and effectively decrease the large amounts in small pores. The results show that by incorporating mass transfer and capillary cross-flow mechanisms in the simulations, the displacement of by-passed oil in pores can be significantly improved, leading to an increase in oil recovery from 92 to over 98%, which is comparable to the result of miscible gas injection. The outcome of this research emphasizes the significance of applying the $$\text{CO}_{2}$$

CO
2

-EOR process under near-miscible operating conditions.
Functional toner for office laser printer and its application for printing of paper-based superwettable patterns and devices
Authors: Liu Yanhua , Liu Xingfei , Chen Juanning , Zhang Zhuanli , Feng Libang
Published: August 2023

Laserjet printing is a kind of facile and digital do-it-yourself strategies, which is of importance to fabricate inexpensive paper-based microfluidic devices. However, the printed hydrophobic barrier is not hydrophobic enough due to the weak hydrophobicity and requires subsequent heating, which can lead to the pyrolysis of cellulose in the paper and influence the detection results. Here, for the first time, we report a kind of functional toner including toner and polydopamine (PDA) nanocapsules which contains oleic acid modified ferric tetroxide (OA-Fe3O4) and octadecylamine (ODA), which is suitable for printing with desired shapes and sizes to lead to formation of superhydrophobic barriers. Moreover, patterns printed with functional toner have good stability, including resistance to moisture, ultraviolet (UV) and bending. Finally, a proof-of-concept of metal and nitrite ions testing is demonstrated using colorimetric analysis, and the results show that the printed devices successfully perform instant detection of ions. The developed functional toner offers easy fabrication, cost-effectiveness and mass production of paper-based devices. In general, this strategy provides a new idea and technical support for the rapid prototyping of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) using laserjet printing.
Multiquanta flux jumps in superconducting fractal
Authors: Vlasko-Vlasov Vitalii K. , Divan Ralu , Rosenmann Daniel , Welp Ulrich , Glatz Andreas , Kwok Wai-Kwong
Published: August 2023

We study the magnetic field response of millimeter scale fractal Sierpinski gaskets (SG) assembled of superconducting equilateral triangular patches. Directly imaged quantitative induction maps reveal hierarchical periodic filling of enclosed void areas with multiquanta magnetic flux, which jumps inside the voids in repeating bundles of individual flux quanta Φ0. The number Ns of entering flux quanta in different triangular voids of the SG is proportional to the linear size s of the void, while the field periodicity of flux jumps varies as 1/s. We explain this behavior by modeling the triangular voids in the SG with effective superconducting rings and by calculating their response following the London analysis of persistent currents, Js, induced by the applied field Ha and by the entering flux. With changing Ha, Js reaches a critical value in the vertex joints that connect the triangular superconducting patches and allows the giant flux jumps into the SG voids through phase slips or multiple Abrikosov vortex transfer across the vertices. The unique flux behavior in superconducting SG patterns, may be used to design tunable low-loss resonators with multi-line high-frequency spectrum for microwave technologies.
The high-throughput atomization of polymer solutions for fiber synthesis in a single step aided with corona ionizers
Authors: Modesto-López Luis B. , Gañán-Calvo Alfonso M.
Published: August 2023

Polymer microfibers are ubiquitous structures across virtually all technological fields. Their applications include, for instance, filter media, tissue regeneration, wound healing and dressing, and reinforcement materials. The most effective methods for fabrication of fibrous micro and nanomaterials rely on electric fields to spin a liquid jet into an ultrafine thread that rapidly dries up forming a fiber. Continuous spinning and collection leads to formation of fiber mats. Here we report a robust yet simple approach for the massive production of liquid threads, which upon acquiring electrical charges in-flight are collected downstream in the form of fibers. The entire process takes place on-line in a single step. The liquid threads are produced through the fragmentation of a polymer solution bulk due to a turbulent interaction of a gas–liquid interface in the interior of an engineered device, a so-called Flow Blurring atomizer. The particularity of this approach consists precisely in such vigorous interaction, at the micrometer scale, which triggers a bubbly motion in the interior of the device, that is a “micro-mixing”. Subsequently, the threads are passed through ionized air currents, at ambient conditions, and then stretched to sub-micrometer dimensions by electric fields. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as well as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or graphene oxide sheets (GOSs)-containing PVP fibers, with diameters in the range 100–900 nm, were synthesized via this approach. In the cases studied herein the method was operated at liquid flow rates (i.e. production rates) of 0.2 mL/min but it could be readily increased up to a few tens of mL/min. The method requires further improvement and optimization, nevertheless it is a promising alternative for mass production of polymer fibers.
A pilot radiometabolomics integration study for the characterization of renal oncocytic neoplasia
Authors: Klontzas Michail E. , Koltsakis Emmanouil , Kalarakis Georgios , Trpkov Kiril , Papathomas Thomas , Sun Na , Walch Axel , Karantanas Apostolos H. , Tzortzakakis Antonios
Published: August 2023

Differentiating benign renal oncocytic tumors and malignant renal cell carcinoma (RCC) on imaging and histopathology is a critical problem that presents an everyday clinical challenge. This manuscript aims to demonstrate a novel methodology integrating metabolomics with radiomics features (RF) to differentiate between benign oncocytic neoplasia and malignant renal tumors. For this purpose, thirty-three renal tumors (14 renal oncocytic tumors and 19 RCC) were prospectively collected and histopathologically characterised. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) was used to extract metabolomics data, while RF were extracted from CT scans of the same tumors. Statistical integration was used to generate multilevel network communities of -omics features. Metabolites and RF critical for the differentiation between the two groups (delta centrality > 0.1) were used for pathway enrichment analysis and machine learning classifier (XGboost) development. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and areas under the curve (AUC) were used to assess classifier performance. Radiometabolomics analysis demonstrated differential network node configuration between benign and malignant renal tumors. Fourteen nodes (6 RF and 8 metabolites) were crucial in distinguishing between the two groups. The combined radiometabolomics model achieved an AUC of 86.4%, whereas metabolomics-only and radiomics-only classifiers achieved AUC of 72.7% and 68.2%, respectively. Analysis of significant metabolite nodes identified three distinct tumour clusters (malignant, benign, and mixed) and differentially enriched metabolic pathways. In conclusion, radiometabolomics integration has been presented as an approach to evaluate disease entities. In our case study, the method identified RF and metabolites important in differentiating between benign oncocytic neoplasia and malignant renal tumors, highlighting pathways differentially expressed between the two groups. Key metabolites and RF identified by radiometabolomics can be used to improve the identification and differentiation between renal neoplasms.
Bovine milk-derived cells express transcriptome markers of pluripotency and secrete bioactive factors with regenerative and antimicrobial activity
Authors: Danev Nikola , Harman Rebecca M. , Oliveira Leane , Huntimer Lucas , Van de Walle Gerlinde R.
Published: August 2023

The bovine mammary stem/progenitor cell secretome stimulates regeneration in vitro and contains proteins associated with antimicrobial defense. This has led to the exploration of the secretome as a biologic treatment for mastitis, a costly inflammation of the udder commonly caused by bacteria. This study reports on a population of bovine mammary stem/progenitor cells isolated non-invasively from milk (MiDCs). MiDCs were characterized by immunophenotyping, mammosphere formation assays, and single cell RNA sequencing. They displayed epithelial morphology, exhibited markers of mammary stem/progenitor cells, and formed mammospheres, like mammary gland tissue-isolated stem/progenitor cells. Single cell RNA sequencing revealed two sub-populations of MiDCs: epithelial cells and macrophages. Functionally, the MiDC secretome increased fibroblast migration, promoted angiogenesis of endothelial cells, and inhibited the growth of mastitis-associated bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains, in vitro. These qualities of MiDCs render them a source of stem cells and stem cell products that may be used to treat diseases affecting the dairy industry, including mastitis.
The adenine-modified edible chitosan films containing choline chloride and citric acid mixture
Authors: Gierszewska Magdalena , Jakubowska Ewelina , Richert Agnieszka
Published: August 2023

A series of biopolymeric chitosan-based (Ch) films were prepared with choline chloride and citric acid plasticizer (deep eutectic solvent, DES). An effect of adenine (A, vitamin B4) addition on the functional properties of these films was evaluated. Several physicochemical and mechanical properties were tested: Fourier-transformed infrared spectra proved DES's plasticizing and crosslinking effect, while scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy techniques confirmed the possible phase separation after adenine addition. These changes affected the mechanical characteristics and the water vapor and oxygen permeability. The prepared materials are not water soluble because the CA acts as a crosslinker. The adenine addition on antioxidative and antimicrobial properties was also checked. It was found that Ch-DES materials with A exhibit improved antioxidative properties (55.8–66.1% of H2O2 scavenging activity) in contrast to the pristine chitosan-DES material (51.1% of H2O2 scavenging activity), while the material is still non-mutagenic (lack of growth of Salmonella typhimurium) and possesses antimicrobial features (no E. coli observed for all the tested films and inhibition zones noted for S. aureus). The mentioned properties, reduced oxygen transmission (1.6–2.1 g m−2 h−1), and mechanical characteristics within the range of typical food packaging plastics proved the potential of Ch-DES-A films in the packaging sector. Moreover, the antioxidative properties, usage of substrates being allowed as food additives, and the presence of adenine create the advantage of the Ch-DES-A materials as edible coatings, being also a source of Vitamin B4.
The importance of face-shape masculinity for perceptions of male dominance depends on study design
Authors: Dong Junzhi , Leger Kathlyne , Shiramizu Victor K. M. , Marcinkowska Urszula M. , Lee Anthony J. , Jones Benedict C.
Published: August 2023

Dominance perceptions play an important role in social interactions. Although many researchers have proposed that shape masculinity is an important facial cue for dominance perceptions, evidence for this claim has come almost exclusively from studies that assessed perceptions of experimentally manipulated faces using forced-choice paradigms. Consequently, we investigated the role of masculine shape characteristics in perceptions of men’s facial dominance (1) when shape-manipulated stimuli were presented in a forced-choice paradigm and (2) when unmanipulated face images were rated for dominance and shape masculinity was measured from face images. Although we observed large effects of masculinity on dominance perceptions when we used the forced-choice method (Cohen’s ds = 2.51 and 3.28), the effect of masculinity on dominance perceptions was considerably smaller when unmanipulated face images were rated and shape masculinity measured from face images (Cohen’s ds = 0.44 and 0.62). This pattern was observed when faces were rated separately for physical dominance, social dominance, and masculinity, and was seen for two different sets of stimuli. Collectively, these results suggest that shape masculinity may not be a particularly important cue for dominance perceptions when faces vary simultaneously on multiple dimensions, as is the case during everyday social interactions.
Resensitizing multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria to carbapenems and colistin using disulfiram
Authors: Chen Chen , Cai Jinju , Shi Jingru , Wang Zhiqiang , Liu Yuan
Published: August 2023

The increasing incidence of bacterial infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria has deepened the need for new effective treatments. Antibiotic adjuvant strategy is a more effective and economical approach to expand the lifespan of currently used antibiotics. Herein, we uncover that alcohol-abuse drug disulfiram (DSF) and derivatives thereof are potent antibiotic adjuvants, which dramatically potentiate the antibacterial activity of carbapenems and colistin against New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)- and mobilized colistin resistance (MCR)-expressing Gram-negative pathogens, respectively. Mechanistic studies indicate that DSF improves meropenem efficacy by specifically inhibiting NDM activity. Moreover, the robust potentiation of DSF to colistin is due to its ability to exacerbate the membrane-damaging effects of colistin and disrupt bacterial metabolism. Notably, the passage and conjugation assays reveal that DSF minimizes the evolution and spread of meropenem and colistin resistance in clinical pathogens. Finally, their synergistic efficacy in animal models was evaluated and DSF-colistin/meropenem combination could effectively treat MDR bacterial infections in vivo. Taken together, our works demonstrate that DSF and its derivatives are versatile and potent colistin and carbapenems adjuvants, opening a new horizon for the treatment of difficult-to-treat infections.
Inference of long-range cell-cell force transmission from ECM remodeling fluctuations
Authors: Nahum Assaf , Koren Yoni , Ergaz Bar , Natan Sari , Miller Gad , Tamir Yuval , Goren Shahar , Kolel Avraham , Jagadeeshan Sankar , Elkabets Moshe , Lesman Ayelet , Zaritsky Assaf
Published: August 2023

Cells sense, manipulate and respond to their mechanical microenvironment in a plethora of physiological processes, yet the understanding of how cells transmit, receive and interpret environmental cues to communicate with distant cells is severely limited due to lack of tools to quantitatively infer the complex tangle of dynamic cell-cell interactions in complicated environments. We present a computational method to systematically infer and quantify long-range cell-cell force transmission through the extracellular matrix (cell-ECM-cell communication) by correlating ECM remodeling fluctuations in between communicating cells and demonstrating that these fluctuations contain sufficient information to define unique signatures that robustly distinguish between different pairs of communicating cells. We demonstrate our method with finite element simulations and live 3D imaging of fibroblasts and cancer cells embedded in fibrin gels. While previous studies relied on the formation of a visible fibrous ‘band’ extending between cells to inform on mechanical communication, our method detected mechanical propagation even in cases where visible bands never formed. We revealed that while contractility is required, band formation is not necessary, for cell-ECM-cell communication, and that mechanical signals propagate from one cell to another even upon massive reduction in their contractility. Our method sets the stage to measure the fundamental aspects of intercellular long-range mechanical communication in physiological contexts and may provide a new functional readout for high content 3D image-based screening. The ability to infer cell-ECM-cell communication using standard confocal microscopy holds the promise for wide use and democratizing the method.