bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Avalanche Education Is Associated with Increased Avalanche Safety Practices in the New Hampshire Backcountry
Authors: Reyes-Zaragoza Miguel A. , D’Agostino Erin N. , Daniel Nicholas J.
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Avalanche risk can be mitigated by adhering to certain safety practices. Previous studies of these practices have focused on western United States and European cohorts. We conducted a survey of backcountry users in the White Mountains of New Hampshire to determine local adherence to 5 previously studied avalanche safety practices. We assessed whether participants were carrying transceiver, probe, and shovel (TPS); had formal avalanche education; had awareness of the day’s avalanche danger level; had a route plan; and were traveling in a group.

Methods

Backcountry users in the White Mountains were directed to an online survey from December 2020 to June 2021. The survey was completed individually and queried demographics and avalanche safety practices.

Results

A total of 133 users participated. Not all surveyed participants answered all questions. Avalanche training was reported by 87% of users, 86% checked the avalanche forecast prior to recreating, 93% had a travel plan, 87% traveled in a group, and 59% carried TPS. All 3 items were carried by all group members only 48% of the time. Only 28% of users met all 5 safety practices.

Conclusions

White Mountains backcountry users are less likely to meet avalanche safety practices than users in previous studies. There is an association between meeting these defined safety practices and formal avalanche education.
The Philosophy and Practice of Science
Authors: Teplow David B.
Published: September 2023

This book is a novel synthesis of the philosophy and practice of science, covering its diverse theoretical, metaphysical, logical, philosophical, and practical elements. The process of science is generally taught in its empirical form: what science is, how it works, what it has achieved, and what it might achieve in the future. What is often absent is how to think deeply about science and how to apply its lessons in the pursuit of truth, in other words, knowing how to know. In this volume, David Teplow presents illustrative examples of science practice, history and philosophy of science, and sociological aspects of the scientific community, to address commonalities among these disciplines. In doing so, he challenges cherished beliefs and suggests to students, philosophers, and practicing scientists new, epistemically superior, ways of thinking about and doing science.
Spectral Contamination of the 6300 Å Emission in Single‐Etalon Fabry‐Perot Interferometers
Authors: Kerr R. B. , Kapali S. , Harding B. J. , Riccobono J. , Migliozzi M. A. , Souza J. R. , Mesquita R. , Dandenault P. , Wu Q. , Pimenta A. A. , Peres L. , Silva R.
Published: September 2023

The spectral line profile of the atomic oxygen O1D2—3P2 transition near 6300 Å in the airglow has been used for more than 50 years to extract neutral wind and temperature information from the F‐region ionosphere. A new spectral model and recent samples of this airglow emission in the presence of the nearby lambda‐doubled OH Meinel (9‐3) P2(2.5) emission lines underscores earlier cautions that OH can significantly distort the OI line center position and line width observed using a single‐etalon Fabry‐Perot interferometer (FPI). The consequence of these profile distortions in terms of the emission profile line width and Doppler position is a strong function of the selected etalon plate spacing. Single‐etalon Fabry‐Perot interferometers placed in the field for thermospheric measurements have widely varying etalon spacings, so that systematic wind biases caused by the OH line positions differ between instruments, complicating comparisons between sites. Based on the best current determinations of the OH and O1D line positions, the ideal gap for a single‐etalon FPI wind measurements places the OH emissions in the wings of the O1D spectral line profile. Optical systems that can accommodate prefilters with square passbands less than ∼3 Å in the optical beam can effectively block the OH contamination. When that is not possible, a method to fit for OH contamination and remove it in the spectral background of an active Fabry‐Perot system is evaluated.
A mechanical biosensor based on membrane-mediated magneto-stress-electric coupled sensitization for human serum albumin detection
Authors: Zhao Dong , Xiao Pengli , Dong Xiushan , Ge Yang , Guo Xing , Ji Jianlong , Cheng Yongqiang , Sang Shengbo
Published: September 2023

The membrane-mediated magneto-stress-electric-coupled-sensitization biosensor (MSEC-MMB) was developed with a LOD of 24 pg mL−1 for HSA. The biosensor showed a high sensitivity and practicality, providing a platform for early nephropathy diagnosis.
Unveiling optical signatures of outflows in accreting white dwarfs
Authors: Cúneo V. A. , Muñoz-Darias T. , Jiménez-Ibarra F. , Panizo-Espinar G. , Sánchez-Sierras J. , Armas Padilla M. , Casares J. , Mata Sánchez D. , Torres M. A. P. , Vincentelli F. , Ambrifi A.
Published: September 2023

Accreting white dwarfs are known to show signatures of wind-type outflows in the ultraviolet. However, at optical wavelengths, wind detections have only been reported for a few sources. We present GTC-10.4 m optical spectroscopy of four accreting white dwarfs (BZ Cam, V751 Cyg, MV Lyr, and V425 Cas) observed during luminous epochs, when their optical emission is expected to be dominated by the accretion disc. Our analysis focuses on four emission lines: Hα and He Iλ5876, λ6678, and λ7065. Line profiles are complex and variable on short (minutes) and long (days to weeks) timescales, with transient absorption and emission components. Among them, we detect strong blueshifted absorptions at ≳1000 km s−1. These high-velocity components, present only in the blue wing of the emission lines, are observed in all four sources and could be associated with accretion disc winds. For MV Lyr and V425 Cas, these would represent the first detection of optical outflows in these objects, while in the cases of BZ Cam and V751 Cyg, the presence of outflows has been previously reported. This study suggests that, in addition to ultraviolet winds, optical outflows might also be common in accreting white dwarfs. We discuss the observational properties of these winds and their possible similarity to those detected in accreting black holes and neutrons stars.
Classical cadherins in the testis: how are they regulated?
Authors: Nguyen Ha Tuyen , Martin Luc J.
Published: September 2023

Cadherins (CDH) are crucial intercellular adhesion molecules, contributing to morphogenesis and creating tissue barriers by regulating cells’ movement, clustering and differentiation. In the testis, classical cadherins such as CDH1, CDH2 and CDH3 are critical to gonadogenesis by promoting the migration and the subsequent clustering of primordial germ cells with somatic cells. While CDH2 is present in both Sertoli and germ cells in rodents, CDH1 is primarily detected in undifferentiated spermatogonia. As for CDH3, its expression is mainly found in germ and pre-Sertoli cells in developing gonads until the establishment of the blood–testis barrier (BTB). This barrier is made of Sertoli cells forming intercellular junctional complexes. The restructuring of the BTB allows the movement of early spermatocytes toward the apical compartment as they differentiate during a process called spermatogenesis. CDH2 is among many junctional proteins participating in this process and is regulated by several pathways. While cytokines promote the disassembly of the BTB by enhancing junctional protein endocytosis for degradation, testosterone facilitates the assembly of the BTB by increasing the recycling of endocytosed junctional proteins. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are also mediators of the BTB kinetics in many chemically induced damages in the testis. In addition to regulating Sertoli cell functions, follicle stimulating hormone can also regulate the expression of CDH2. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge on regulatory mechanisms of cadherin localisation and expression in the testis.
Damage detection and localization based on different types of actuators using the electromechanical impedance method in 3D-printed material
Authors: Singh Shishir Kumar , Fakih Mohammad Ali , Malinowski Paweł H
Published: September 2023

Electromechanical impedance (EMI) measurement, using piezoelectric transducers (PZTs) in the high-frequency range is a potential method for assessing the health of lightweight structures. The major objective of this work is to comprehend how different actuators react to damage in additively manufactured (AM) polymer structures. A novel frequency-range selection technique was suggested based on the maxima of the standard deviation of the impedance frequency spectra gathered for the referential and damage cases. A 3D-printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plate was used for the investigation, where two PZT and one macro fiber composite (MFC) actuator were glued to the surface. Small magnets were used to simulate damage and were positioned at increasing distances from each transducer as EMI measurements were made using the MFC and 1 PZT. This served both in studying the transducers’ sensitivity to damage and selecting the proper frequency range for damage detection utilizing the standard-deviation approach. The EMI-acquired data from the MFC actuator displays damage-sensitive peaks in a low-frequency band (0–58

kHz

), while the PZT shows a good sensitivity in a higher frequency range (94–304

kHz

). In order to evaluate the PZT and MFC actuators’ sensitivity to damage in the 3D-printed ABS plate, impact damage is also generated in the plate’s center. The impedance-based damage indices obtained from different types of PZTs (2 PZTs and 1 MFC) were projected to the same base level and then fused—for the first time—for impact-damage localization and further added magnetic mass damage localization. The obtained damage index values of impedance are encouraging for the evaluation of AM polymer structures with a 4.48 mm positional error from a real location by fusing data in the different frequency ranges for PZTs and MFC. The damage localization error increases significantly to the new location beyond the damage sensitivity range of the PZT2 and MFC for the added magnetic mass on the 3D printed structure.
“No wonder you have a diversity problem”: Hollywood’s systemic gatekeeping against assistants of color
Authors: Bennett Kiah E
Published: September 2023

This article examines the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color (BIPOC) assistants in Hollywood, focusing on those who work for above-the-line creatives and executives. I argue that despite Hollywood industry’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, the logics and mechanisms of whiteness remain deeply ingrained in Hollywood’s treatment of entry-level workers. The article is divided into three sections: first, it historicizes post-Civil Rights Hollywood and maps it onto present-day US and Hollywood cultural whiteness; second, it analyzes how Hollywood industry gatekeeps BIPOC assistants using interviews, demographic information, and survey responses; and finally, it considers ways to create more equitable working structures within Hollywood. The article highlights the unpublicized harm behind entertainment media and the need for greater attention to the experiences of BIPOC workers in Hollywood.
People interact closer when a face mask is worn but risk compensation is at best partial
Authors: Aranguren Martin , Cartaud Alice , Cissé Ibrahima , Coello Yann
Published: September 2023

Background

Wearing a face mask and keeping a minimal distance from others are common nonpharmaceutical interventions that governments may mandate or recommend to contain the spread of infectious diseases. The article addresses the following questions: (i) Do people interact closer when the face mask is worn? (ii) Do people interact closer because they believe that the mask reduces the risk of contagion? (iii) If the mask induces people to interact closer, does the increase in risk entailed by shorter distances entirely offset the decrease in risk offered by the mask?

Methods

With a view to maximizing both the external and the internal validity of the study, between 2021 and 2022 we performed a large field experiment on real-life interactions (n > 4500) and a controlled laboratory experiment in virtual reality.

Results

Converging between the field and the lab, the results indicate that in general people interact closer when the mask is worn, and in particular when they believe that the mask reduces the risk of contagion. However, even assuming a very low filtration efficacy and an extremely large distance-reducing effect of the mask, the counteracting effect of shorter interpersonal distances is never strong enough to entirely offset the mask’s protection.

Conclusion

The distance-reducing effect of the mask is real but warrants no serious objection against a face mask policy.
Trends in the long-term impact of childhood visual impairment on health and social outcomes in the UK: a cross-cohort study across three decades of disability-related legislation and policy implementation
Authors: Bountziouka Vasiliki , Horvat-Gitsels Lisanne Andra , Cortina-Borja Mario , Rahi Jugnoo Sangeeta
Published: September 2023

Background

Childhood vision impairment (VI) can adversely impact health and social outcomes and limit life chances. We investigated whether its adverse impacts into adult life changed during a period in which legislation, policy and services to address inequalities relating to disability were implemented.

Methods

Cross-cohort study comprising 14 247 participants from the 1946, 1958 and 1970 British birth cohorts (BC). Participants dichotomized as VI at age 15/16 (distance visual acuity was 6/12 or worse in the better-seeing eye) or normally sighted. Associations of childhood VI with health, well-being, socioeconomic and social participation outcomes in mid-adult life were investigated using regression models adjusted for participants’ early life socioeconomic markers and sex. Change in adjusted odds ratios of >10% in the same direction in successive cohorts, or a > 20% difference between 1970BC and one older cohort were considered meaningful.

Results

Trends over time in impacts of childhood onset VI into mid-adult life were complex. This included worsening of odds of poorer physical health (odds ratio 1.47; 95% confidence interval 1.02–2.14), living in unsatisfactory (1.54; 1.03–2.29) or overcrowded (2.34; 1.26–4.06) households, being unemployed (2.19; 1.19–3.97) and not gaining additional educational qualifications during mid-adult life (1.61; 1.08–2.47). By contrast the odds of not participating in some social activities (e.g. seeing friends) improved over time. Associations with other outcomes were unchanged.

Conclusions

Many adverse impacts of childhood VI do not appear ameliorated over time by legislation, policies and provision that would have been expected to reduce inequalities. Moreover, some were increased. Childhood VI continues to cast a life-long shadow.
CRISPR screen identifies CEBPB as contributor to dyskeratosis congenita fibroblast senescence via augmented inflammatory gene response
Authors: Westin Erik R , Khodadadi-Jamayran Alireza , Pham Linh K , Tung Moon Ley , Goldman Frederick D
Published: September 2023

Aging is the consequence of intra- and extracellular events that promote cellular senescence. Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is an example of a premature aging disorder caused by underlying telomere/telomerase-related mutations. Cells from these patients offer an opportunity to study telomere-related aging and senescence. Our previous work has found that telomere shortening stimulates DNA damage responses (DDRs) and increases reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby promoting entry into senescence. This work also found that telomere elongation via TERT expression, the catalytic component of the telomere-elongating enzyme telomerase, or p53 shRNA could decrease ROS by disrupting this telomere–DDR–ROS pathway. To further characterize this pathway, we performed a CRISPR/Cas9 knockout screen to identify genes that extend life span in DC cells. Of the cellular clones isolated due to increased life span, 34% had a guide RNA (gRNA) targeting CEBPB, while gRNAs targeting WSB1, MED28, and p73 were observed multiple times. CEBPB is a transcription factor associated with activation of proinflammatory response genes suggesting that inflammation may be present in DC cells. The inflammatory response was investigated using RNA sequencing to compare DC and control cells. Expression of inflammatory genes was found to be significantly elevated (P < 0.0001) in addition to a key subset of these inflammation-related genes [IL1B, IL6, IL8, IL12A, CXCL1 (GROa), CXCL2 (GROb), and CXCL5]. which are regulated by CEBPB. Exogenous TERT expression led to downregulation of RNA/protein CEBPB expression and the inflammatory response genes suggesting a telomere length-dependent mechanism to regulate CEBPB. Furthermore, unlike exogenous TERT and p53 shRNA, CEBPB shRNA did not significantly decrease ROS suggesting that CEBPB's contribution in DC cells’ senescence is ROS independent. Our findings demonstrate a key role for CEBPB in engaging senescence by mobilizing an inflammatory response within DC cells.
Contrasting Evolutionary Patterns Between Sexual and Asexual Lineages in a Genomic Region Linked to Reproductive Mode Variation in the pea aphid
Authors: Rimbault Maud , Legeai Fabrice , Peccoud Jean , Mieuzet Lucie , Call Elsa , Nouhaud Pierre , Defendini Hélène , Mahéo Frédérique , Marande William , Théron Nicolas , Tagu Denis , Le Trionnaire Gaël , Simon Jean-Christophe , Jaquiéry Julie
Published: September 2023

Although asexual lineages evolved from sexual lineages in many different taxa, the genetics of sex loss remains poorly understood. We addressed this issue in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum, whose natural populations encompass lineages performing cyclical parthenogenesis (CP) and producing one sexual generation per year, as well as obligate parthenogenetic (OP) lineages that can no longer produce sexual females but can still produce males. An SNP-based, whole-genome scan of CP and OP populations sequenced in pools (103 individuals from 6 populations) revealed that an X-linked region is associated with the variation in reproductive mode. This 840-kb region is highly divergent between CP and OP populations (FST = 34.9%), with >2,000 SNPs or short Indels showing a high degree of association with the phenotypic trait. In OP populations specifically, this region also shows reduced diversity and Tajima’s D, consistent with the OP phenotype being a derived trait in aphids. Interestingly, the low genetic differentiation between CP and OP populations at the rest of the genome (FST = 2.5%) suggests gene flow between them. Males from OP lineages thus likely transmit their op allele to new genomic backgrounds. These genetic exchanges, combined with the selection of the OP and CP reproductive modes under different climates, probably contribute to the long-term persistence of the cp and op alleles.
Criminal Responsibility by Omission for Failures to Stop Autonomous Weapon Systems
Authors: Bo Marta
Published: September 2023

This article deals with establishing the criminal responsibility, through the model of commission by omission, of autonomous weapon systems (AWS) users in situations where failures to suspend AWS-driven attacks have caused a war crime. The author tackles the question of whether an omission to stop such an AWS may amount to the actus reus of war crimes of unlawful attacks and does so by establishing how the doctrine of commission by omission can be applied on the basis of the grave breaches regime in the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. In deconstructing the status of commission by omission under both these legal frameworks, this article analyses whether the substantive conditions of commission by omission, namely, the legal duty to act and the capacity to act, are met. The author suggests that ‘human control’, manifested in the ability to supervise, intervene and stop an AWS-driven attack, should be considered a necessary pre-condition for the imputation of criminal responsibility in at least some expected scenarios of AWS use. In the absence of such human control, there would be no accountability for unlawful attacks, including indiscriminate attacks, caused by AWS, which would lead to impunity for such crimes. On the one hand, the attribution of responsibility by omission has, therefore, crucial implications for closing the ‘responsibility gap’ within this context. On the other hand, based on the analysis of ‘control’ as the key principle for criminal responsibility by omission, the author argues that an additional treaty obligation should be adopted to ensure human control over AWS and preserve accountability for potential unlawful attacks.
Do Work Permits Work? The Impacts of Formal Labor Market Integration of Syrian Refugees in Jordan
Authors: Peitz Laura , Baliki Ghassan , Ferguson Neil T N , Brück Tilman
Published: September 2023

The integration of refugees into host countries’ formal labor markets is increasingly recommended as a durable solution to forced migration. Yet, this policy response is a contentious political topic with little empirical evidence, especially in low- and middle-income host countries available to support policy. This article examines the impacts of integrating Syrian refugees into Jordan’s formal labor market. We use robust greedy one-to-one propensity score matching on comprehensive high-quality data from almost 75,000 Syrian refugee households collected between 2017 and 2019 to generate novel evidence on the socio-economic benefits of refugee labor market integration. Our findings show that the ability to access formal jobs, reflected by holding a work permit, is significantly associated with increased refugee income, strengthens food security, and reduces protection needs and child labor. These findings contribute to a better and knowledge-based understanding of a prominent policy response for forced migrants.
‘The Decision to Return to Syria Is Not in My Hands’: Syria’s Repatriation Regime as Illiberal Statebuilding
Authors: Abboud Samer
Published: September 2023

Many Syrian refugees are being forcibly repatriated under the guise of the war’s end, while other refugees are returning to Syria voluntarily. Drawing on an interview study with displaced Syrians, and an analysis of conflict-era policy and legal changes, I show how the Syrian government’s repatriation regime has been constructed outside of international norms and practices. An absentee must apply to return through a settlement process in which the state determines who is a ‘loyal returnee’ and thus permitted to return. Returnees must construct a genealogy of loyalty that attributes responsibility for their displacement towards several of the Syrian government’s enemies. Wartime Housing, Land, and Property (HLP) laws have created a surrogate legal category for the displaced as absentee subjects who are targeted for punishment through HLP seizures. As Syria’s repatriation regime is delinked from restitution, returnees are forced to navigate HLP laws to regain ownership of assets and property.
Pilonidal cyst of the scalp
Authors: Gao Yingjun , Hui Yun , Liu Haibo , An Binyi , Liu Fang
Published: September 2023

A 19-year-old male patient presented with a slow-growing mass on his scalp over a 10-year history. After resecting the mass, he was diagnosed with pilonidal cyst based on the clinical and histological findings. An unusual pilonidal disease is observed on the scalp in this report.
Metastatic osseous disease of unknown primary origin: a case report and review of literature
Authors: Dougherty Alleyna , Moore Lauren , Atkins Lori
Published: September 2023

Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) is a heterogeneous group of metastatic tumors in the absence of a clinically identifiable site. We describe the case of a 66-year-old female with an extensive history of non-specific imaging concerning for malignancy who did not undergo further workup and in whom a diagnosis of CUP was made. The patient initially presented to her specialist with concern of right leg pain. Imaging at that time was concerning for a progressive malignant process. Given this, the patient was referred urgently for surgery. Final surgical pathology and breast prognostic panel were consistent with metastatic breast carcinoma at that time. Follow-up imaging performed 1-week postoperatively did not show suspicious findings in either breast, further supporting a diagnosis of CUP. To this end, we highlight the importance of follow-up imaging but recognize the challenges facing healthcare professionals in navigating the ethical principles of nonmalificience and beneficence in diagnostic workup.
Liver transplantation for polycystic liver disease: a case report
Authors: Niibek Maris , Uksov Andrei
Published: September 2023

A 57-year-old man complained about abdominal distension and pain, constant feeling of early satiety. He was diagnosed with polycystic kidneys at the age of 24 and liver cysts discovered at the age of 38. The CT scan revealed 33 x 21 x 27 cm polycystic liver with cysts up to 7 cm in diameter. In 2009–2019 the patient was repeatedly punctured for liver cysts. Considering the continued enlargement of the liver and the worsening of complaints, the patient was put on the waiting list for a liver transplant in the spring of 2019. The patient went through liver transplantation on 11th of July 2022, the liver measures were 53 x 37 x 39 x 16 cm and weight 14,75 kg. The postoperative course was uneventful. Liver transplantation can be very effective treatment method that significantly improves the quality of life in PLD patients.
Bilateral enlarged concha bullosa: a case report and literature review
Authors: Alsalamah Shmokh , Jarman Yazeed , Alsanea Mohammd , Asiri Mohammed , Alhedaithy Riyadh
Published: September 2023

Concha Bullosa (CB) is a common sinonasal anatomical variant, which commonly extends into the middle turbinate. Generally, patients presenting with CB are asymptomatic and often incidentally diagnosed with a non-contrast computed tomography scan of the paranasal sinuses. In cases of extensive pneumatization, large CB may cause significant signs and symptoms—commonly, headaches, nasal obstruction, and hyposmia. With only a few reported cases of large CB in the literature; we herein, report a rare case of an unusually massive bilateral CB that resulted in complete obstruction of the left nasal cavity and partial obstruction of the right nasal cavity, in addition to a review of relevant literature.
Unusual cause of chronic abdominal pain in a 17-year-old female: a case report of an epithelial adrenal cyst
Authors: Zakkor Mohammed D , Alafandi Bana Z , Danial Aghyad K , Lbabidi Nour , Almohandes Reda A , Agha Sarab , Al Hussein Hachem , Ayoub Kusay
Published: September 2023

Adrenal cysts are rare lesions that make up 4% of all adrenal masses. They are often found incidentally during imaging or surgery and can vary in symptoms depending on their size and location; with cysts < 10 cm often being asymptomatic. These cysts are more common in adults in their 30s or 60s and can be divided into four histological subtypes, with epithelial cysts being less common. We present a case of a 17-year-old female who experienced recurrent right flank pain for a year. Ultrasonography revealed a cystic mass on the right kidney, and computerized tomography showed a well-defined suprarenal cyst measuring ~8 cm misdiagnosed as mesenteric cyst. However, during laparoscopy, an adrenal cyst was discovered, which was excised along with the right adrenal gland. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of an epithelial adrenal cyst. This case highlights the occurrence of adrenal cysts in younger individuals and the uncertainty of preoperative diagnosis.
A case of life-threatening, early postoperative refeeding syndrome in an obese young female undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy
Authors: Chiu Tricia R , Waller Jake H , Meslin Sylvain M M , Talbot Michael L , Jorgensen John J , Fisher Oliver M
Published: September 2023

Early complications after a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) include bleeding, leaks, strictures and bowel obstructions. Patients post-LSG experience rapid but intended weight loss and may be on a restricted diet before and following surgery. Thus, many of these patients are in a malnourished state, placing them at a risk of developing potentially life-threatening refeeding syndrome (RFS). We describe the case of an 18-year-old female who developed RFS 2 weeks after LSG. We examine potential causes, review literature and discuss RFS pathophysiology as well as the guidelines that could help prevent RFS in bariatric surgery. Currently, not much is known about the risk of RFS in bariatric surgery and to our knowledge, this is the first report of RFS occurring in the early postoperative phase after LSG. A globally accepted definition of RFS should be established for guidelines to encompass wider patient groups.
Anesthesia for awake craniotomy: a case report
Authors: Alanzi Ahmed Khaled , Hakmi Samah , Adeel Shahid , Ghazzal Samar Yaser
Published: September 2023

Awake craniotomy (AC) is a neurosurgical technique that enables the precise localization of functional neural networks through intraoperative brain mapping and real-time monitoring. This operative method has been popularized in recent years due to decreased postoperative morbidities. We present a case of 31-year-old female who was presented with episodes of generalized tonic colonic seizures. She had a history of recurring seizures. Upon further investigations, she was diagnosed with brain space-occupying lesions initially suspected as low-grade glioma. Considering the lesion site, the patient was deemed a suitable candidate for an AC. To achieve conscious sedation, the patient received infusions of remifentanil and propofol at varying rates. During the procedure, the patient was under sedation and was regularly tested for response to predetermined commands. The tumor was successfully excised by using a combination of local anesthesia on the scalp and by the administration of propofol and boluses through a systemic infusion.
Challenges in diagnosis and treatment: a case report on a mixed malignant Müllerian tumor
Authors: Saenz Daniela , Fernández Jorge D , Cóbar Juan P
Published: September 2023

Mixed malignant Müllerian tumors (MMMTs) are rare and aggressive neoplasms made up of both carcinomatous and sarcomatous components that primarily appear in the female reproductive tract. The cellular origin of this malignancy has eluded advancements in molecular and immunohistochemical techniques contributing to the limited diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This case report presents a 41-year-old female with a history of abnormal uterine bleeding and dysmenorrhea who was later diagnosed with an MMMT. This case highlights the importance of considering MMMTs in patients with a long-standing history of abnormal uterine bleeding because the prompt recognition and diagnosis of this condition may lead to an improved overall survival for these patients.
The role of non-genetic parents in a surrogate-born child’s identity: an argument for removal of the genetic link requirement
Authors: Park-Morton Lottie
Published: September 2023

For the court to grant a parental order recognising intended parents as legal parents of a surrogate-born child, the gametes of at least one of the intended parents must have been used to create the embryo, under section 54(1)(b) and section 54A(1)(b) Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008. In the Law Commission and Scottish Law Commission’s consultation paper, there was a provisional proposal to remove the genetic link requirement in cases of medical necessity. However, this proposal was not included in the Law Commissions’ Final Report, instead recommending the retention of the requirement for a genetic link in almost all circumstances. This article contends that the Law Commissions’ recommendation should be reconsidered in light of the child’s right to identity. By reviewing how identity has been used by the courts when determining whether to grant a parental order, as well as a developing interpretation of Article 8 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and European Convention on Human Rights, it can be asserted that the identity of surrogate-born children necessitates recognition of the relationship between the child and intended parent(s), irrespective of a genetic link. On this basis, it is argued that there should be the possibility for intended parents to establish legal parenthood following surrogacy without the requirement for a genetic link.
Boolean-Valued Sets as Arbitrary Objects
Authors: Horsten Leon
Published: September 2023

This article explores the connection between Boolean-valued class models of set theory and the theory of arbitrary objects in roughly Kit Fine’s sense of the word. In particular, it explores the hypothesis that the set-theoretic universe as a whole can be seen as an arbitrary entity. According to this view, the set-theoretic universe can be in many different states. These states are structurally like Boolean-valued models, and they contain sets conceived of as variable or arbitrary objects.
Zinc and aging: a narrative review of the effects on hematopoiesis and its link with diseases
Authors: Lima Fabiana Da Silva , Gonçalves Carlos Eduardo Da Silva , Fock Ricardo Ambrósio
Published: September 2023

There has been a global increase in the older population in recent decades and, as age advances, complex metabolic and epigenetic changes occur in the organism, and these may trigger some health complications commonly found among this population. Additionally, several changes occur in older people that can reduce the dietary intake or the process of nutrient absorption. In this way, tissues with high nutrient requirements are more affected. Hematopoiesis is the process of formation, development, and maturation of blood cells and is a process with a high turnover. This high demand makes the integrity of the hematopoietic process susceptible to various factors that impair physiological function, such as aging and micronutrient bioavailability. Among these micronutrients, Zinc is considered an important micronutrient, playing diverse roles across various tissues and cell types. Some of the alterations in hematopoiesis that appear as a consequence of aging and due to insufficient micronutrient intake are well described in the literature; however, not much is known about how zinc deficiency contributes towards the development of diseases seen in aging. Considering the importance of zinc to act on several biological processes, this narrative review discusses several studies related to the physiological requirements, deficiency, or excess of zinc, including studies in experimental models and humans, and aimed to shed light on the relationship between zinc and the regulation of hematopoietic tissue, exploring possible links between this mineral with common disorders that appear during aging.
Personality and Survey Satisficing
Authors: Sturgis Patrick , Brunton-Smith Ian
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we consider the role of personality as a component of motivation in promoting or inhibiting the tendency to exhibit the satisficing response styles of midpoint, straightlining, and Don’t Know responding. We assess whether respondents who are low on the Conscientiousness and Agreeableness dimensions of the Big Five Personality Inventory are more likely to exhibit these satisficing response styles. We find large effects of these personality dimensions on the propensity to satisfice in both face-to-face and self-administration modes and in probability and nonprobability samples. People who score high on Conscientiousness and Agreeableness were less likely to be in the top decile of straightlining and midpoint distributions. The findings for Don’t Know responding were weaker and only significant for Conscientiousness in the nonprobability sample. We also find large effects across all satisficing indicators for a direct measure of cognitive ability, where existing studies have mostly relied on proxy measures of ability such as educational attainment. Sensitivity analysis suggests the personality effects are likely to be causal in nature.
The Effects of Elite Attacks on Copartisan Media: Evidence from Trump and Fox News
Authors: Archer Allison M N
Published: September 2023

Individuals seeking news content face a variety of options in the current media landscape, yet scholarly research provides little evidence regarding the conditions under which they might become more or less open to different partisan news outlets. Drawing on the case of Donald Trump’s critiques of Fox News, I argue that elite rhetoric plays an important role in this process for members of both parties. I first conduct an original content analysis of Trump’s tweets from 2017 to 2020 and find that he increasingly attacked Fox News on this platform. Notably, Trump’s increasingly critical rhetoric about Fox correlates significantly with decreases in both Fox’s daytime and prime-time ratings. Two survey experiments shed light on how individuals respond to this intraparty conflict, and I find that Trump’s rhetoric affects both Republicans and Democrats. Republicans view Fox as less conservative and more critical of Trump when exposed to his critiques of the outlet. However, Republicans do not change their viewing habits until Trump promotes an alternative to Fox like OANN. Democrats respond to Trump’s rhetoric by updating their perceptions of Fox’s coverage and ideology as well as increasing their willingness to watch the channel, both in isolation and relative to an alternative like OANN. The results suggest that elite rhetoric is instrumental in shaping views of and demand for partisan outlets among members of both parties and can elevate more ideologically extreme sources among followers. Thus, elite rhetoric serves as a meaningful cue for individuals navigating an increasingly fragmented partisan media landscape.
Warnings of declining research productivity: Does Italy buck the trend?
Authors: Abramo Giovanni , D’Angelo Ciriaco Andrea
Published: September 2023

The paper takes a scientometric approach to measure the change in research productivity of Italian academics before the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. We propose a composite output/input bibliometric indicator and apply it at the field level, conducting a longitudinal analysis. Although the number of academics in the national academic system has decreased, we register very strong growth in both the number of publications and their scholarly impact. The growth in productivity, with only rare exceptions, crosses almost all fields. However, in areas that are traditionally very internationalized (Biology, Physics, and Chemistry), growth is less sustained than overall average, and also the variability of productivity across fields seems reduced. The main reason for this detail would be the smaller margins for improvement in the fields that had already reached high international standing. What emerges from the analysis goes counter to some alarms of declining scientific productivity at the global level. The Italian case is partly explained by the historic adoption of policies aimed at strengthening competitive mechanisms, in particular through the introduction of systems of performance-based research funding, and bibliometric accreditation for professorship.
Laser Capture Microdissection Transcriptome Reveals Spatiotemporal Tissue Gene Expression Patterns of Medicago truncatula Roots Responding to Rhizobia
Authors: Schnabel Elise , Thomas Jacklyn , El-Hawaz Rabia , Gao Yueyao , Poehlman William L. , Chavan Suchitra , Pasha Asher , Esteban Eddi , Provart Nicholas , Feltus F. Alex , Frugoli Julia
Published: September 2023

We report a public resource for examining the spatiotemporal RNA expression of 54,893 Medicago truncatula genes during the first 72 h of response to rhizobial inoculation. Using a methodology that allows synchronous inoculation and growth of more than 100 plants in a single media container, we harvested the same segment of each root responding to rhizobia in the initial inoculation over a time course, collected individual tissues from these segments with laser capture microdissection, and created and sequenced RNA libraries generated from these tissues. We demonstrate the utility of the resource by examining the expression patterns of a set of genes induced very early in nodule signaling, as well as two gene families (CLE peptides and nodule specific PLAT-domain proteins) and show that despite similar whole-root expression patterns, there are tissue differences in expression between the genes. Using a rhizobial response dataset generated from transcriptomics on intact root segments, we also examined differential temporal expression patterns and determined that, after nodule tissue, the epidermis and cortical cells contained the most temporally patterned genes. We circumscribed gene lists for each time and tissue examined and developed an expression pattern visualization tool. Finally, we explored transcriptomic differences between the inner cortical cells that become nodules and those that do not, confirming that the expression of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthases distinguishes inner cortical cells that become nodules and provide and describe potential downstream genes involved in early nodule cell division.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
A Sorghum F-Box Protein Induces an Oxidative Burst in the Defense AgainstColletotrichum sublineola
Authors: Wolf Emily S. A. , Vela Saddie , Cuevas Hugo E. , Vermerris Wilfred
Published: September 2023

The hemibiotrophic fungal pathogen Colletotrichum sublineola is the causal agent of anthracnose in sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor), resulting in leaf blight, stalk rot, and head blight in susceptible genotypes, with yield losses of up to 50%. The development of anthracnose-resistant cultivars can reduce reliance on fungicides and provide a more sustainable and economical means for disease management. A previous genome-wide association study of the sorghum association panel identified the candidate resistance gene Sobic.005G172300 encoding an F-box protein. To better understand the role of this gene in the defense against C. sublineola, gene expression following infection with C. sublineola was monitored by RNA sequencing in seedlings of sorghum accession SC110, which harbored the resistance allele, and three accessions that harbored a susceptible allele. Only in SC110 did the expression of Sobic.005G172300 increase during the biotrophic phase of infection. Subsequent transcriptome analysis, gene co-expression networks, and gene regulatory networks of inoculated and mock-inoculated seedlings of resistant and susceptible accessions suggest that the increase in expression of Sobic.005G172300 induces an oxidative burst by lowering the concentration of ascorbic acid during the biotrophic phase of infection. Based on gene regulatory network analysis, the protein encoded by Sobic.005G172300 is proposed to target proteins involved in the biosynthesis of ascorbic acid for polyubiquitination through the SCF E3 ubiquitin ligase, causing their degradation via the proteasome.
Comparative Spatial Modeling of Bretziella fagacearum Distribution in Northern Wisconsin, United States
Authors: Stevens Caleb , Zhu Jun , Bushman Matt , Huang Jingyi
Published: September 2023

Bretziella fagacearum, the ascomycete fungus oak wilt, is considered a virulent threat to North American oaks, but the influence of the physical environment on this pathosystem remains unclear, particularly at the forest scale. This study explored the influence of terrain and soil factors on B. fagacearum infections, applying discrete and continuous spatial models to investigate the question, besides proximity to other infections, which environmental factors influenced B. fagacearum incidence? Locations of infections were recorded from 586 confirmed B. fagacearum sites, identified from 2004 through 2021 in a 76 km2 area of deep, sandy glacial outwash in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, northern Wisconsin. Public datasets derived from remote sensing were incorporated as covariates, describing terrain elevation (USGS 10-m DEM), soil physical and chemical properties (POLARIS), and forest composition (WiscLand2). Spatial models included generalized additive models (GAMs) and Neyman-Scott cluster process models. The results indicated that spatial dependence and the distribution of oak forests were the most important drivers of B. fagacearum distribution in this area, with more minor influence from elevation, hill shade, and drainage patterns. Comparison between modeling approaches indicated that—at this scale and in this area—the most accurate models were those that included host distribution, spatial dependence, and quantitative terrain and soil descriptions. However, a close approximation could be attained using nonlinear models (GAMs) that incorporated only host distribution and spatial dependence.
Analysis of the Worldwide Diversity of Xanthomonas hortorum pv. carotae, the Agent of Bacterial Blight of Carrot, Reveals Two Distinct Populations
Authors: Dupas Enora , Durand Karine , Jacques Marie-Agnès
Published: September 2023

Xanthomonas hortorum pv. carotae is a pathogen responsible for the bacterial blight of carrot. Although it infects carrot fields worldwide, its diversity remains unknown. Here, we validated by PCR the identification as X. hortorum pv. carotae of most of the strains isolated from symptomatic carrots. We studied their diversity by sequencing seven housekeeping genes. The analysis confirmed the identity of most of the strains previously identified as X. hortorum pv. carotae and highlighted the presence of two clusters inside the pathovar carotae. The 18 non- X. hortorum pv. carotae have been identified as Xanthomonas from other species. As the X. hortorum pv. carotae strains clustered only in two groups by this analysis, a new multilocus variable number of tandem repeats analysis scheme was developed. It allowed us to validate the subclustering in two groups and observe diversity among them. At the same time, based on this study and data from the literature, we proposed the strain CFBP 7900 as the neopathotype strain of the pathovar. The strain should replace the holopathotype strain CFBP 4997, as it is no longer available in international collections.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
Genome Sequence Resource of Bacillus altitudinis KRS010, a Potential Biocontrol Agent Against Verticillium dahliae
Authors: Shan Yujia , Wang Dan , Zhang Dan-Dan , Li Ran , Li Nan-Yang , Kong Zhi-Qiang , Dai Xiao-Feng , Chen Jie-Yin , Han Dongfei , Zhang Xiao-Jun
Published: September 2023

Bacillus altitudinis strain KRS010 was isolated from the seed of Verticillium wilt-resistant Gossypium hirsutum cultivar Zhongzhimian No. 2. An in vitro assay revealed that the isolate KRS010 exhibited significant antagonistic activity against Verticillium dahliae. Strain KRS010 could be used as a potential biocontrol agent against Verticillium wilt. The KRS010 genome consisted of a single circular chromosome 3,753,708 bp in length, with an average GC content of 41.85%. Genome annotation predicted 3,519 protein-coding genes and 128 noncoding RNA. The complete genome sequence generated in this study will provide a better understanding and application of this strain.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .