bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Circular economy strategies and environmental management in post-war recovery of Ukraine
Authors: Mikhno Inesa , Filipishyna Liliya , Rohoza Kostiantyn , Paska Ihor , Ponedilchuk Tetiana , Vasylenko Olena
Published: December 2024

The study analyzes the issue of rebuilding Ukrainian territories destroyed by military actions based on circular economy and environmental management. The analysis of pollution levels (Numbeo) in countries with military conflicts showed an average pollution level (62.1), which may influence the recovery process in Ukraine compared to countries with high pollution levels, such as Lebanon (89.4) and Syria (74.9). However, Ukraine has a low waste recycling rate (4.5%), which could complicate environmental recovery. The implementation of the circular economy in reconstructing Ukraine’s infrastructure and the waste recycling process is suggested based on mobile laser sorting installations. The technology of mobile laser sorting installations allows efficient sorting of various materials, including metals, plastics, and construction debris, which can reduce recovery costs and optimize the use of available resources. To reduce environmental consequences and improve post-war recovery, it is suggested that pollution monitoring strategies be developed, investments in implementing the circular economy should be increased, and modern waste recycling technologies should be adopted. The analysis of the international experience in the recovery of affected regions highlights the importance of integrating environmental strategies into the recovery process, particularly by increasing the waste recycling rate and utilizing advanced technologies.
Engineering Management of Energy Utilities for Sustainable Development
Authors: Hrinchenko Hanna , Antonenko Nataliia , Tarasov Igor , Trokhymenko Ganna , Magas Nataliia , Sarzhynskyi Serhii
Published: December 2024

The study proposes a model of engineering management of energy enterprises for sustainable development, which includes monitoring and evaluation of the technical condition of energy facilities, planning maintenance work based on the assessment results, and forecasting violations of normal operating conditions. Based on these data, the life cycle of energy equipment is managed, and the effectiveness of engineering decision-making is determined within the engineering management framework. The engineering management model is based on an integrated approach covering all equipment life cycle stages. On the example of pipeline systems of nuclear power plants, the article proposes to manage degradation processes and the sustainability of operations by reducing vibration load, which significantly impacts the efficiency, reliability, and safety of all power plant equipment. A damping vibration isolating support with an elastic rubber element is proposed, the advantage of which is the ability to adjust the stiffness of the support. Studies with the adjustment of the rigidity of the fasteners and the study of the amplitude-frequency characteristics of the pipeline section with additional damping supports showed a decrease in the maximum amplitudes of oscillations from 800 microns to 35 microns in section 1 and from 425 microns to 20 microns in section 2 and the effectiveness of their use for frequency restoration and reduction of oscillations.
The Effect of Indonesian Coal Characteristics on The Pyrolysis Activation Energy
Authors: Putri Wijayanti Meilinda , Haris Widayat Agus , Anggayana Komang , Halim Nurulhuda , Al Hamda Aisyah
Published: December 2024

Coal is one of the primary energy sources in Indonesia. As the demand for thermal coal has increased, global environmental concern has also raised. Implementation of clean coal technology such as gasification is therefore a challenge and opportunity for future coal beneficiation. Pyrolysis is an early stage of gasification process which in this study would be investigated. Samples of three coals were taken from different coal basins to evaluate their characteristics. Sample B1, B2 and B3 are from Meulaboh, Kutai and South Sumatra Basins, respectively. The characterization included proximate, ultimate, calorific value and thermogravimetric analyses. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) supports the understanding coal thermal behavior, specifically on the pyrolysis stage. The data can also be used for activation energy (Ea) determination. The results of this study show that sample B1 is classified as sub-bituminous C with an Ea value of 64.27 kJ/mol, sample B2 is categorized as sub-bituminous A with an Ea value of 79.41 kJ/mol, and sample B3 is ranked higher, classified as high volatile C bituminous, with an Ea value of 96.24 kJ/mol. The higher coal rank, the higher Ea is needed for pyrolysis decomposition.
Free-space propagation of double-ring perfect optical vortex beams
Authors: Kumar Das B , Buitrago C , Krüger M , Ciappina M F
Published: December 2024

Single-ring perfect optical vortex (SR-POV) beams have received significant attention from the singular optics community due to their topological charge (TC)-independent ring radius, which offers certain advantages over conventional vortex beams such as Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) and Bessel-Gaussian (BG) beams in applications like particle trapping, optical communication, and imaging. However, the generation of double-ring perfect optical vortices (DR-POVs), embedded with two TCs, offers greater advantages over SR-POVs in terms of robustness during propagation and enhanced channel capacity in communication networks. In our theoretical analysis, we first highlight the differences between true and approximated representations of DR-POV beams. We then investigate the propagation of DR-POV beams in free-space, demonstrating how their evolution is influenced by factors such as the TCs of the inner and outer rings and the ratio of the beam radius to beam width at the waist plane. Similar to SR-POV beams, DR-POV beams exhibit non-diffracting behavior over short propagation distances, with little to no impact on the beam’s propagation when the TCs of the inner and outer rings are altered. However, phase wandering characteristics are observed, even over short propagation distances. Our research could find potential applications in the field of free-space optical communication.
Optimization of SiC reinforced Al7039/Cu composites for enhanced thermal conductivity and hardness via response surface methodology
Authors: Teferi Fetene Teshome , Kolhe Kishor Purushottam , Tsegaw Assefa Asmare , Fatoba Samuel Olawale
Published: December 2024

Advancements in engineering technologies are fundamentally driven by the development of superior materials with tailored properties to meet stringent application demands. Metal matrix composites (MMCs) have emerged as essential solutions for such customization. This study presents the synthesis and optimization of Al7039/Cu/SiC MMCs to significantly enhance thermal conductivity and hardness using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The composites were fabricated by combining aluminum 7039 alloy with high-purity copper (99.98%) and reinforcing them with silicon carbide (SiC) particles. Specimens were efficiently produced using a cost-effective stir casting method with silica sand shell molds using an induction melting furnace. The optimization process involved varying the weight fractions of Al7039 (73%–91%), Cu (4%–12%), and SiC (5%–15%) across 20 experimental runs. Hardness and thermal conductivity were measured using a Rockwell B tester and steady-state linear testing, respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) confirmed that weight fraction variations significantly influenced the measured properties. Statistically significant quadratic models were developed, exhibiting less than 5% variation at a 95% confidence level. Numerical optimization indicated that decreasing Al7039 content while increasing Cu and SiC fractions maximizes thermal conductivity and hardness. This process identified 34 viable solutions, with the optimal composition being 69.22 wt% Al7039, 12 wt% Cu, and 15 wt% SiC. This formulation achieved a thermal conductivity of 167.2 W/m. K and a hardness of 186.1 BHN, corresponding to a desirability score of 0.859 (86%). For robust validation, experiments were meticulously conducted in triplicate using the same procedures and equipment as in the predictive modeling. The experimental results closely matched the predicted values, yielding 169.6 W/m. K and 190.4 BHN improvements of 17.5% and 30% in thermal conductivity and hardness over the base Al7039 alloy, respectively. The optimized Al7039/Cu/SiC composites exhibit significant enhancements over the base alloy, offering excellent properties suitable for demanding applications such as heat sinks, heat exchangers, mold tooling, and critical components in the automotive and aerospace sectors. This study emphasizes the potential of optimized MMCs to efficiently and cost-effectively fulfill advanced engineering requirements, promoting their adoption in innovative technologies.
Evaluating regional sustainable energy potential through hierarchical clustering and machine learning
Authors: Avcı Azkeskin Selen , Aladağ Zerrin
Published: December 2024

Energy is an essential resource for sustaining daily life and achieving economic growth. The increase in global energy demand, combined with the adverse environmental impacts of fossil fuels, has highlighted the urgency of transitioning to sustainable energy sources. In large and heterogeneous countries like Türkiye, region-specific analyses of sustainable energy potential (SEP) are crucial for formulating effective policies and optimizing resource allocation. This study introduces a novel two-step hierarchical clustering and classification framework to evaluate the SEP of Türkiye’s provinces comprehensively. The framework combines fuzzy and crisp clustering methods to capture the complex relationships among socioeconomic, geographical, and renewable energy potential criteria. First, the Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) algorithm is employed to perform fuzzy clustering using three main criteria and three different distance metrics—Euclidean, Manhattan, and Minkowski—, resulting in 21 clustering scenarios. Membership degrees from the fuzzy clustering phase are then integrated into a new dataset, which undergoes crisp clustering using the K-Means algorithm. This approach provides both granular and definitive cluster structures, enabling a robust analysis of regional energy characteristics. To validate the clustering results, supervised classification methods—including K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Support Vector Machines (SVM), Random Forest (RF), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost)—are utilized, alongside ensemble models based on RF and XGBoost. The classification results are compared with traditional clustering evaluation indices, such as the Silhouette and Calinski-Harabasz indices, demonstrating the feasibility of using classification models to assess clustering accuracy. This study’s key contributions lie in integrating clustering and classification methods systematically and providing actionable insights into which renewable energy sources are most suitable for each cluster. By tailoring policy recommendations to the unique characteristics of each cluster, this framework not only corroborates existing findings in the literature but also extends them by offering a practical methodology for regional energy planning.
Association of immune-mediated diseases with the risk of dementia and brain structure in UK Biobank participants
Authors: Cai Jinhua , Rong Heng , Chen Jiongxue , Deng Zhenhong , Chen Sitai , Liao Huanquan , Pan Dong , Chen Yanting , Shi Zhongshan , Li Yi , Li Honghong , Xu Yongteng , Tang Yamei
Published: December 2024

Background

Immunity and inflammation may be essential to the pathogenesis of dementia. However, the association of immune-mediated diseases with the risk of incident dementia has not been well characterised.

Objectives

We aimed to investigate the prospective association of 27 immune-mediated diseases and incident dementia risk and to explore the underlying mechanisms driven by brain structures.

Methods

We included 487 459 UK Biobank participants aged 37–73 years without dementia at enrolment. Immune-mediated diseases and dementia cases were ascertained according to the International Classification of Diseases codes. Time-varying Cox proportional hazards regression and general linear regression models were used to examine the association of immune-mediated disease with incident dementia risk and brain morphometric measures, respectively.

Results

Over a median follow-up of 12.3 years, 1654 cases of incident dementia were documented in 86 243 patients with immune-mediated diseases. Overall, immune-mediated diseases were associated with a higher all-cause dementia risk (hazard ratio [HR], 1.24; 95% confidence interval, 1.17–1.32). Five out of 27 immune-mediated diseases were associated with an increased risk of dementia individually. Comorbidity of multiple immune-mediated diseases further increased the risk. Moreover, the immune-mediated disease was associated with smaller total surface areas of both left (β, −286.51; SE, 102.58; P = .014) and right hemispheres (β, −298.56; SE, 103.96; P = .016), greater white matter hyperintensities volume (β, 1.02; SE, 0.13; P < .001) and less healthy white matter microstructures.

Conclusions

Immune-mediated diseases were associated with an increased risk of incident dementia, and the association of those diseases with brain structural abnormalities might provide clues to the underlying mechanisms.
Genome-wide association neural networks identify genes linked to family history of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Ghose Upamanyu , Sproviero William , Winchester Laura , Amin Najaf , Zhu Taiyu , Newby Danielle , Ulm Brittany S , Papathanasiou Angeliki , Shi Liu , Liu Qiang , Fernandes Marco , Adams Cassandra , Albukhari Ashwag , Almansouri Majid , Choudhry Hani , van Duijn Cornelia , Nevado-Holgado Alejo
Published: December 2024

Augmenting traditional genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with advanced machine learning algorithms can allow the detection of novel signals in available cohorts. We introduce “genome-wide association neural networks (GWANN)” a novel approach that uses neural networks (NNs) to perform a gene-level association study with family history of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In UK Biobank, we defined cases (n = 42 110) as those with AD or family history of AD and sampled an equal number of controls. The data was split into an 80:20 ratio of training and testing samples, and GWANN was trained on the former followed by identifying associated genes using its performance on the latter. Our method identified 18 genes to be associated with family history of AD. APOE, BIN1, SORL1, ADAM10, APH1B, and SPI1 have been identified by previous AD GWAS. Among the 12 new genes, PCDH9, NRG3, ROR1, LINGO2, SMYD3, and LRRC7 have been associated with neurofibrillary tangles or phosphorylated tau in previous studies. Furthermore, there is evidence for differential transcriptomic or proteomic expression between AD and healthy brains for 10 of the 12 new genes. A series of post hoc analyses resulted in a significantly enriched protein–protein interaction network (P-value < 1 × 10−16), and enrichment of relevant disease and biological pathways such as focal adhesion (P-value = 1 × 10−4), extracellular matrix organization (P-value = 1 × 10−4), Hippo signaling (P-value = 7 × 10−4), Alzheimer’s disease (P-value = 3 × 10−4), and impaired cognition (P-value = 4 × 10−3). Applying NNs for GWAS illustrates their potential to complement existing algorithms and methods and enable the discovery of new associations without the need to expand existing cohorts.
Social Representations of the Jihadist: A Study of an Emerging Identity in Street Culture
Authors: Tutenges Sébastien , Wästerfors David , Hedlund Anna
Published: December 2024

Over the last two decades, the social identity of the jihadist has become a central part of street culture. Depictions of jihadists can be found in popular music, movies and media reports. Propaganda celebrating or condemning jihadism circulates online, and a significant number of individuals with a background in street crime have flirted with or converted to jihadism. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in Oslo, this article analyses how Muslims involved in street life and crime construct and relate to the social identity of the jihadist. The Durkheimian theory of representations is employed to show how the joint construction of this identity shapes the ways in which people on the street make sense of themselves, their enemies, and the actions they take towards jihadi extremism. In conclusion, we argue that the theory of representations, including the concepts of anchoring and objectification, should be incorporated into the analytical toolboxes of cultural criminology and narrative criminology to deepen our understanding of how meaning-making unfolds in cultural context.
Offering security or incentives: The relationship among sector type, organizational support, and turnover intentions of social workers in China
Authors: Zhao Fangdu , Cao Yaqin , Zhang Huimin
Published: December 2024

High turnover rates are a global issue, prompting discussions on stabilizing social work employment, especially in China, where the Ministry of Social Work is being established. This study examined the relationship between the support received by social workers and their intention to leave under these two modes of employment, public-sector employment and third-sector employment. The research sample consisted of 6,776 social workers from the 2019 China Longitudinal Study of Social Work. Multiple regression techniques and mediation analysis were used to analyse the data. Our findings indicate that agency social workers employed in the public sector had lower turnover intentions, whereas those employed in the third sector were less stable. Social workers employed in the public sector might receive more support from social networks and social security benefits, which reduces turnover intentions under the influence of social reputation and career stability. In contrast, social workers employed in the public sector possess lower work incentives and autonomy, and their lack of collective psychological ownership could increase turnover intentions. Future development of the social work workforce should focus on combining stable employment with incentive reforms, such as strengthening autonomy, to optimize the career development environment for social workers while promoting stability.
Age at onset mediates genetic impact on disease severity in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy
Authors: Zheng Fuze , Lin Yawen , Qiu Liangliang , Zheng Ying , Zeng Minghui , Lin Xiaodan , He Qifang , Lin Yuhua , Chen Long , Lin Xin , Chen Xinyue , Lin Lin , Wang Lili , He Junjie , Lin Feng , Yang Kang , Wang Ning , Lin Minting , Lian Sheng , Wang Zhiqiang
Published: December 2024

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1 (FSHD1) patients exhibit marked variability in both age at onset (AAO) and disease severity. Early onset FSHD1 patients are at an increased risk of severe weakness, and early onset has been tentatively linked to the length of D4Z4 repeat units (RUs) and methylation levels. The present study explored potential relationships among genetic characteristics, AAO and disease severity in FSHD1.

This retrospective and observational cohort study was conducted at the Fujian Neuromedical Centre (FNMC) in China. Genetically confirmed participants with FSHD1 recruited from 2001 to 2023 underwent distal D4Z4 methylation assessment. Disease severity was assessed by FSHD clinical score, age-corrected clinical severity score (ACSS) and onset age of lower extremity involvement. Mediation analyses were used to explore relationships among genetic characteristics, AAO and disease severity. Finally, machine learning was employed to explore AAO prediction in FSHD1.

A total of 874 participants (including 804 symptomatic patients and 70 asymptomatic carriers) were included. Multivariate Cox regression analyses indicated that male gender, low DUZ4 RUs, low CpG6 methylation levels, non-mosaic mutation and de novo mutation were independently associated with early onset in FSHD1. Early onset patients (AAO < 10 years) had both a significantly higher proportion and an earlier median onset age of lower extremity involvement compared to the typical adolescent onset (10 ≤ AAO < 20 years), typical adult onset (20 ≤ AAO < 30 years) and late onset (AAO ≥ 30 years) subgroups. AAO was negatively correlated with both clinical score and ACSS. We found that AAO exerted mediation effects, accounting for 12.2% of the total effect of D4Z4 RUs and CpG6 methylation levels on ACSS and 38.6% of the total effect of D4Z4 RUs and CpG6 methylation levels on onset age of lower extremity involvement. A random forest model that incorporated variables including gender, age at examination, inheritance pattern, mosaic mutation, D4Z4 RUs and D4Z4 methylation levels (at CpG3, CpG6 and CpG10 loci) performed well for AAO prediction. The predicted AAO (pAAO) was negatively correlated with ACSS (Spearman’s ρ = −0.692).

Our study revealed independent contributions from D4Z4 RUs, D4Z4 methylation levels, mosaic mutation and inheritance pattern on AAO variation in FSHD1. AAO mediates effects of D4Z4 RUs and methylation levels on disease severity. The pAAO values from our random forest model informatively reflect disease severity, offering insights that can support efficacious patient management.
Distinctive clinical features in biopsy-proven nerve large-arteriole vasculitis and microvasculitis
Authors: Soontrapa Pannathat , Pinto Marcus V , Shouman Kamal , Mandrekar Jay , Engelstad JaNean K , Aragon Pinto Catarina , Taylor Sean , Mauermann Michelle L , Berini Sarah E , Bosch E Peter , Rubin Devon I , Koster Matthew J , Weyand Cornelia M , Warrington Kenneth J , Klein Christopher J , Dyck Peter J , Dyck P James B
Published: December 2024

Vasculitic neuropathy is caused by inflammatory destruction of nerve blood vessels resulting in nerve ischaemia. Nerve vasculitis can be divided into two categories based on vessel size: large-arteriole vasculitis (≥75 µm) and microvasculitis (<75 µm). Herein, we characterize the clinical features of nerve large-arteriole vasculitis in comparison to nerve microvasculitis.

This is a retrospective cohort study of patients evaluated and biopsied at Mayo sites between 2001 and 2020. We collected clinical and histopathological data from patients whose nerve biopsies were either diagnostic or highly suggestive of nerve vasculitis.

Two hundred and seventy-eight cases were identified: 125 cases of large-arteriole vasculitis and 153 cases of microvasculitis. Nerve large-arteriole vasculitis presented with a more acute (50.4% versus 26.8%) versus chronic onset (33.6% versus 57.5%) than nerve microvasculitis (P = 0.0001). Nerve microvasculitis had longer mean time to diagnosis (10.5 versus 4.3 months; P < 0.0001) and longer time to plateau (8.9 versus 3.5 months; P < 0.0001). Nerve large-arteriole vasculitis typically presented as distal asymmetric polyneuropathy (48.0%), whereas nerve microvasculitis typically presented as radiculoplexus neuropathy/polyradiculoneuropathy (more proximal involvement of shoulder and thigh) (43.8%) (P < 0.0001). Systemic autoimmune disease was more common in nerve large-arteriole vasculitis (70.4% versus 22.9%, odds ratio, 8.0; 95% confidence interval, 4.7–13.7; P < 0.0001). Nerve microvasculitis was significantly related to non-systemic vasculitis (71% versus 23%, odds ratio, 7.9; 95% confidence interval, 4.6–13.6; P < 0.0001). Nerve microvasculitis had more autonomic involvement (24.2% versus 7.2%, odds ratio, 4.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.9–8.9; P = 0.0002).

Nerve large-arteriole vasculitis and nerve microvasculitis have different but overlapping clinical features. Nerve large-arteriole vasculitis usually presents with acute onset, distal asymmetric polyneuropathy, associated with other autoimmune diseases and systemic involvement. In contrast, nerve microvasculitis usually presents with a subacute/chronic onset, as radiculoplexus neuropathy/polyradiculopathy (distal and proximal pattern) with autonomic involvement, and is more often a form of non-systemic vasculitis.
Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex does not directly affect muscle sympathetic nerve activity in humans
Authors: McCarthy Brendan , Sesa-Ashton Gianni , Rim Donggyu , Henderson Luke A , Macefield Vaughan G
Published: December 2024

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is applied both in research settings and clinically, notably in treating depression through the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). We have recently shown that transcranial alternating current stimulation of the dlPFC partially entrains muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) to the stimulus. We, therefore, aimed to further explore the sympathetic properties of the dlPFC, hypothesizing that single-pulse TMS could generate de novo MSNA bursts. Microneurography was performed on the right common peroneal nerve in 12 participants. TMS pulses were then delivered to the ipsilateral dlPFC at resting motor threshold (MT) of the first dorsal interosseous muscle and at powers 20 below, 10 below, 10% above, and 20% above MT. The MT and 10% above MT intensities were also used to stimulate the right motor cortex and shoulder. Comparisons between stimulus intensities at the same site and between sites at the same intensities revealed no differences in MSNA burst frequency, burst incidence, or single MSNA spikes. Most stimulus trains, however, showed reduced burst frequency and incidence from baseline, regardless of site. This suggests that the TMS itself was evoking arousal-based sympathoinhibition, independent of dlPFC influences. It seems the dlPFC is capable of modulating MSNA but cannot directly generate bursts.
The Current and Future State of Vaccines for Lyme Disease
Authors: Plotkin Stanley A , Shapiro Eugene D
Published: December 2024

Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia species that are transmitted by Ixodes ticks prevalent in parts of the United States and Europe. A Lyme vaccine containing the outer surface protein A (OspA) antigens from the single Borrelia species most prevalent in the United States was marketed in the 1990s, but was withdrawn because of unproven concerns about safety, which led to insufficient sales. Since then, the incidence of Lyme disease has increased in the United States owing to the geographical spread of infected ticks. Lyme disease due to multiple different species of Borrelia is also widely prevalent in many European countries. New Lyme vaccines, using OspA antigens from multiple species of American and European Borrelia, are in advanced clinical development, and one such vaccine is in phase 3 trials. When licensed, new vaccines are likely to have an impact in preventing Lyme disease, although the need for periodic boosters remains to be defined.
Symbolic value and embeddedness of an industrial megaproject: Tesla’s Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg
Authors: Roessler Max , Prenzel Paula , Schiller Daniel
Published: December 2024

Large-scale industrial settlements, such as the establishment of multinational enterprise (MNE) subsidiaries, are megaprojects that face additional challenges when embedding the subsidiary in the region. Part of these challenges may be due to contrasting symbolic values of the industrial project, which can facilitate or hinder embeddedness. This study considers the relevance of symbolic value for the embeddedness of an industrial megaproject through the case of Tesla’s Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg. Based on 23 interviews, we examine differences in the symbolic representation of the project among stakeholder groups and show that symbolic value can have supportive or divisive effects on the settlement process and embeddedness.
Small Remnants versus Large Triglyceride-Rich Lipoproteins in Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Wadström Benjamin N , Wulff Anders B , Pedersen Kasper M , Nordestgaard Børge G
Published: December 2024

Background

Small remnants may penetrate the arterial intima more efficiently compared to large triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TGRL). We tested the hypothesis that the importance of remnant cholesterol for the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) may depend on the size of the remnants and TGRL carrying cholesterol.

Methods

The cholesterol content of small remnants and large TGRL were measured in 25 572 individuals from the Copenhagen General Population Study (2003–2015) and in 222 721 individuals from the UK Biobank (2006–2010) using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In the Copenhagen cohort during up to 15 years of follow-up and in the UK Biobank cohort during up to 16 years of follow-up, the numbers of individuals diagnosed with ASCVD (=myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and peripheral artery disease) in national health registries were 3869 and 11 424, respectively.

Results

Compared to individuals with low cholesterol content in both small remnants and large TGRL (cutpoints were median cholesterol content), multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios for risk of ASCVD were 1.21 (95% confidence interval: 1.07–1.37) for individuals with high cholesterol content in small remnants only and 0.94 (0.83–1.07) for individuals with high cholesterol content in large TGRL only; the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio for risk of ASCVD per 10 percentile-units higher cholesterol content in small remnants vs that in large TGRL was 1.04 (1.01–1.07). In the UK Biobank cohort, corresponding hazard ratios were 1.11 (1.03–1.20), 1.01 (0.93–1.09), and 1.05 (1.04–1.07), respectively.

Conclusion

The importance of remnant cholesterol for the risk of ASCVD may depend on the size of the TGRL and remnants carrying cholesterol.
HMB/Arg/Gln may improve short-term outcomes after esophagectomy in patients with thoracic esophageal cancer
Authors: Takebayashi Katsushi , Kaida Sachiko , Otake Reiko , Fukuo Asuka , Miyake Toru , Kojima Masatsugu , Tani Soichiro , Maehira Hiromitsu , Mori Haruki , Ishikawa Hajime , Tani Masaji
Published: December 2024

Background

The wound healing effects of a specialized amino acid supplement containing calcium beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, L-arginine, and L-glutamine (HMB/Arg/Gln) have been reported. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of HMB/Arg/Gln in the perioperative management of patients with thoracic esophageal cancer.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 131 patients who underwent esophagectomy for thoracic esophageal cancer between January 2016 and November 2023. Postoperative infectious complications (PICs) were compared between patients who received HMB/Arg/Gln for 7 days before surgery (n = 95) and those who did not (control group, n = 36).

Results

Among the 111 male and 20 female patients (median age 68 years, range 38–84 years), stage I disease was found in 37 patients, stage II in 26, stage III in 61, and stage IVa in 7. Of the 131 patients, 36 (27.5%) had PICs, with PICs occurring in 20 (21%) of the HMB/Arg/Gln group and 16 (44.4%) of the control group. The PIC rate was significantly lower in the HMB/Arg/Gln than in the control group (p = 0.007). Propensity score matching analysis showed lower rates of anastomotic leakage (5.5% vs. 22.2%; p = 0.04) and Clavien–Dindo grade III or higher PICs (5.5% vs. 27.8%; p = 0.011) in the HMB/Arg/Gln than in the control group. The healing time for anastomotic leakage was shorter in the HMB/Arg/Gln (18 days, range 7–25 days) than in the control group (25 days, range 21–56 days) (p = 0.033).

Conclusions

HMB/Arg/Gln supplementation was associated with reduced risk of anastomotic leakage and PIC severity following esophagectomy.
3D computed tomography integration guiding permanent Aveir AR leadless pacemaker implantation: a case report
Authors: Magdy Mohamed , Botros Maichel , Mostafa Mohammed , Gharbi Maro , Alnooryani Arif
Published: December 2024

Background

The use of single-chamber, right ventricular (RV) leadless pacemakers (LPs) has been well established, the introduction of a right atrial LPs has opened the door for dual-chamber leadless pacing. Cardiac computed tomography (CT) segmentation integration might provide proper visual guide during the procedure.

Case summary

A 58-year-old male patient was brought to the emergency department with dizziness and complete heart block. The patient underwent single-chamber permanent LP implantation. During the upgrade to a dual-chamber LP, 3D CT image fusion with fluoroscopy was utilized to accurately identify the ideal and safe implantation site for the device.

Discussion

Integrating CT image guidance with fluoroscopy could enhance procedure safety, success rates, and reduces fluoroscopy time.
Influence of age and sex on the diagnostic yield of inherited cardiac conditions in sudden arrhythmic death syndrome decedents
Authors: Gray Belinda , Behr Elijah R , Papatheodorou Efstathios , Bakalakos Athanasios , Raju Hariharan , Wijeyeratne Yanushi D , Finocchiaro Gherardo , Malhotra Aneil , Whiffin Nicola , Ware James S , Esteban Maria Tome , Sheppard Mary N , Sharma Sanjay , Papadakis Michael
Published: December 2024

Aims

Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) refers to a sudden death, which remains unexplained despite comprehensive post-mortem examination and a toxicological screen. We aimed to investigate the impact of age and sex on the overall diagnostic yield and underlying aetiology in decedents with SADS using a combined approach of familial evaluation (FE) and molecular autopsy (MA).

Methods and results

Consecutive referrals to a single centre for FE only, MA only or both, following a SADS death were included. First-degree family members underwent comprehensive FE and decedents with post-mortem DNA were sequenced with a 36 cardiac gene panel for MA. A Bayesian framework for analysis was performed to identify associations. Among 760 SADS decedents (66% male; mean age 31 ± 12 years) the overall diagnostic yield for an inherited cardiac condition was 37% (32–42%) and 9% (6–12%) for FE and MA cohorts. In a subset where both FE and MA were performed the diagnostic yield was 45% (38–61%). The relative risk of an FE diagnosis of long QT syndrome (LQTS) or Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) vs. remaining unexplained declined by 5.6% [RR 0.94 (0.91–0.98)] and by 11% [RR 0.89 (0.81–0.97)], for each year increase in age. Females were more likely to have a diagnosis by both FE [40% (34–45%) vs. 36% (31–41%)] and MA [15% (10–21%) vs. 6% (3–8%)]. Females [8.1% (4.1–13.4%)], were more likely to be diagnosed with LQTS than males [1.2% (0.2–2.7%)] in the MA cohort.

Conclusion

After a SADS death, the diagnostic yield of comprehensive FE, MA, or both in an expert setting can be up to 45% with a combined approach. Females had higher diagnostic yield than males, most notable with LQTS. CPVT and LQTS diagnoses declined with increasing age. These data highlight the relative utility of FE and MA depending on age and sex for determining underlying diagnoses following SADS deaths.
Did organs precede organisms in the origin of life?
Authors: Baquero Fernando , Bever Gabriel S , de Lorenzo Victor , Fernández-Lanza Val , Briones Carlos
Published: December 2024

Evolutionary processes acting on populations of organized molecules preceded the origin of living organisms. These prebiotic entities were independently and repeatedly produced [i.e. (re)-produced] by the assembly of their components, following an iterative process giving rise to nearly but not fully identical replicas, allowing for a prebiotic form of Darwinian evolution. Natural selection favored the more persistent assemblies, some possibly modifying their own internal structure, or even their environment, thereby acquiring function. We refer to these assemblies as proto-organs. In association with other assemblies (e.g. in a coacervate or encapsulated within a vesicle), such proto-organs could evolve and acquire a role within the collective when their coexistence favored the selection of the ensemble. Along millions of years, an extraordinarily small number of successful combinations of those proto-organs co-occurring in spatially individualizing compartments might have co-evolved forming a proto-metabolic and proto-genetic informative network, eventually leading to the selfreplication of a very few. Thus, interactions between encapsulated proto-organs would have had a much higher probability of evolving into proto-organisms than interactions among simpler molecules. Multimolecular forms evolve functions; thus, functional organs would have preceded organisms.
Effect of copper and nickel exposure on ribosomal DNA variation in Daphnia pulex mutation accumulation lines
Authors: Elguweidi Abir , Cristescu Melania E , Crease Teresa J
Published: December 2024

The release of heavy metals from industrial, agricultural, and mining activities poses significant risks to aquatic ecosystems by degrading water quality and generating reactive oxygen species that can damage DNA in aquatic organisms. Daphnia is a widespread keystone species in freshwater ecosystems that is routinely exposed to a range of anthropogenic and natural stressors. With a fully sequenced genome, a well-understood life history and ecology, and an extensive library of responses to toxicity, Daphnia serves as an ideal model organism for studying the impact of environmental stressors on genomic stability. Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) encodes ribosomal RNA (rRNA), which is essential for protein synthesis, and the spacers that separate the rRNA genes contain regulatory elements. However, the effects of heavy metals on this region of the genome are not well documented. We used short-read whole-genome sequences to analyze copy number and sequence variation in Daphnia pulex mutation accumulation lines exposed to nickel and copper, both individually and in combination, at concentrations that mimic levels often found at contaminated sites. We found no significant direct effect of chronic exposure to either metal on rDNA copy number or sequence variation. However, the results suggest that nickel and copper exposure may indirectly influence rDNA by altering recombination rates. We also emphasize the importance of interval length between generational samples for accurately assessing the frequency and magnitude of rDNA copy number changes. In addition, we observed differential expansion of rDNA haplotypes, suggesting that they may be clustered within the rDNA array.
Investigating the Impact of Whole-Genome Duplication on Transposable Element Evolution in Teleost Fishes
Authors: Mallik Rittika , Wcisel Dustin J , Near Thomas J , Yoder Jeffrey A , Dornburg Alex
Published: December 2024

Transposable elements (TEs) can make up more than 50% of any given vertebrate's genome, with substantial variability in TE composition among lineages. TE variation is often linked to changes in gene regulation, genome size, and speciation. However, the role that genome duplication events have played in generating abrupt shifts in the composition of the mobilome over macroevolutionary timescales remains unclear. We investigated the degree to which the teleost genome duplication (TGD) shaped the diversification trajectory of the teleost mobilome. We integrate a new high coverage genome of Polypterus bichir with data from over 100 publicly available actinopterygian genomes to assess the macroevolutionary implications of genome duplication events on TE evolution in teleosts. Our results provide no evidence for a substantial shift in mobilome composition following the TGD event. Instead, the diversity of the teleost mobilome appears to have been shaped by a history of lineage-specific shifts in composition that are not correlated with commonly evoked drivers of diversification such as body size, water column usage, or latitude. Collectively, these results provide additional evidence for an emerging perspective that TGD did not catalyze bursts of diversification and innovation in the actinopterygian mobilome.
Two shikimate dehydrogenases play an essential role in the biosynthesis of galloylated catechins in tea plants
Authors: Wang Liubin , Wang Yongxin , Wang Yueqi , Wu Liyun , He Mengdi , Mao Zhuozhuo , Liu Guanhua , Wei Kang , Wang Liyuan
Published: December 2024

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is widely cultivated throughout the world for its unique flavor and health benefits. Galloylated catechins in tea plants serve as important secondary metabolites that play a pivotal role in tea taste determination and pharmacological effects. However, the genetic basis of galloylated-catechins traits remains elusive. We identified a stable and major-effect quantitative trait locus (QTL) associated with galloylated catechins index (GCI), designated qGCI6.2. Within the QTL’s confidence interval, two shikimate dehydrogenases (CsSDH4, CsSDH3) were identified. These enzymes catalyze gallic acid (GA) production from 3-dehydroquinate dehydratase, thereby contributing to galloylated catechins accumulation. RT-qPCR analysis revealed that CsSDH4 and CsSDH3 expression levels and GA and galloylated catechins contents were positively correlated. Furthermore, overexpressing CsSDH4 and CsSDH3 in transgenic tomato plants markedly increased GA and galloylated catechin contents. RNA-seq analysis of transgenic tomato indicated that CsSDH4 and CsSDH3 primarily regulate genes related to shikimic acid and flavonoid pathways, and jointly promote galloylated catechins synthesis. Our findings have further elucidated the galloylated catechins synthesis pathway and provided a theoretical basis for cultivation of tea cultivars with high galloylated catechin contents.
Modelled marine migrations of Atlantic salmon post-smolts from Irish and Scottish rivers vary interannually with local currents and salinity
Authors: Borland Aislinn , Banas Neil , Gallego Alejandro , Speirs Douglas , Tyldesley Emma , Bull Colin
Published: December 2024

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations have suffered declines across their range in recent decades, largely attributed to decreasing marine survival rates. The first few months at sea are thought to be a time of particular vulnerability, but investigation into drivers of survival is limited by a lack of knowledge of migratory paths. Here, we model the early marine migration of Atlantic salmon from Scottish and Irish rivers over 27 years. Movement is simulated over the first 3 months at sea using a Lagrangian particle tracking model (FVCOM i-state configuration model) coupled with an active swimming model that is dependent on ocean currents, salinity, and compass direction. Our model is driven by the reanalysis of a high-resolution ocean model (Scottish Shelf Waters Reanalysis Service). Differences in the speed of migrations, the proportion of time spent in different oceanographic regions, and the proportion of migrations reaching the Norwegian Sea are seen between years. These differences are related to changes in local ocean conditions: years with lower on-shelf salinity, stronger on-shelf northwest currents, and stronger shelf-edge currents were associated with greater migration success. Within years, differences in modelled migrations between rivers were best explained by their minimum distance from the continental shelf edge.
Impact of neoadjuvant therapy on angioplastic lobectomy: a retrospective study
Authors: Benkiran Tayeb , Hireche Kheira , Frey Sebastien , Morisot Adeline , Nguyen Aude , Rudondy Quentin , Alcaraz Florent , Guarino Mauro , Cohen Charlotte , Gomez-Caro Abel , Berthet Jean-Phillippe
Published: December 2024

OBJECTIVES

The efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy (NT) prior to angioplastic lobectomy (AL) in non-small cell lung cancer is unclear. This study assessed its impact on morbidity, mortality and 5-year survival.

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed 114 patients who underwent AL at 2 tertiary centres from January 2000 to December 2020. Comparisons were made between patients who received NT and those who did not.

RESULTS

Among the patients, 78 (68.4%) underwent upfront surgery, and 36 (31.6%) received NT. There were no significant differences in postoperative complications (46.2% vs 31.6%, P = 0.42) or mortality rates (0% vs 3.8%, P = 0.55). Pathological upstaging differed significantly (37.2% vs 5.6%, P = 0.0008). Five-year survival rates were comparable (54% vs 38%, P = 0.3).

CONCLUSIONS

Neoadjuvant therapy does not adversely affect morbidity, arterial repair complications or mortality in AL. There are no survival differences at 5 years. AL remains a safe option following NT.
A mediastinal angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma radically resected with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass and transection of the ascending aorta
Authors: Rabelo Luis Gisli , Tolman Christine , Jonsdottir Brynja , Gudbjartsson Tomas
Published: December 2024

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) is a rare soft tissue tumour that rarely behaves malignant. We report a radical resection of a mediastinal angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma, which grew invasively into the pulmonary artery wall, was adherent to the posterior aorta and close to the main stem of the left coronary artery. A transection of the aorta was performed using cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest for a safe and radical removal that resulted in symptom relief.
Understanding Government Public Opinion: How Conspiracy Mentality and Policy Issue Concerns Shape Government Performance Evaluations
Authors: Zhang Bingbing , Mateos Araceli , Gil de Zúñiga Homero
Published: December 2024

Citizens’ assessments of government performance are rooted in their judgement on how public policy responds to their concerns, a key element for a sustainable democracy. However, conspiracy mentality, where individuals believe in larger plans orchestrated by powerful entities or the government, may impact such judgement. To examine the antecedents to people’s assessment about how well the government responds to salient issues in society, this study examines the connection between citizens’ policy concerns, conspiracy mentality, and their assessment of government performance. Analyzing data from an original two-wave panel survey conducted in the United States using cross-sectional, lagged, and autoregressive causal ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models, the study shows that conspiracy mentality is positively related to policy issue concerns, while policy issue concerns are negatively associated with the perception of government performance. Importantly, policy issues concerns significantly mediated this relationship. Individuals with higher levels of conspiracy mentality are more likely to have issue concerns that ultimately shape their negative views on how well the government addresses important problems in society.
Phyletic patterns of bacterial growth temperature in Pseudomonas and Paenibacillus reveal gradual and sporadic evolution towards cold adaptation
Authors: Lee Kihyun , Kim Seong-Hyeon , Moon Seongjoon , Kim Sangha , Lee Changhan
Published: December 2024

Bacterial species adapt to cold environments with diverse molecular mechanisms enabling their growth under low ambient temperature. The emergence of cold-adapted species at macro-evolutionary scale, however, has not been systematically explored. In this study, we performed phylogenetic analysis on the growth temperature traits in the genera that occupy broad environmental and host niches and contain known cold-adapted species. Our results demonstrate that in the genus Pseudomonas, cold-adapted species formed a distinct and conserved clade, whereas in Paenibacillus, cold-adapted species were sporadically distributed throughout the phylogenetic tree. The cold-adapted clade of Pseudomonas exhibited genome-wide signatures of adaptation and possessed clade-specific genes. This indicates that there are diverse evolutionary patterns in the divergence of cold-adapted species among different bacterial genera.