bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Written and Unwritten
Authors: Newman Jon O. , Levy Marin K.
Published: November 2024

Although the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals are the final word on 99 percent of all federal cases, there is no detailed account of how these courts operate. How do judges decide which decisions are binding precedents and which are not? Who decides whether appeals are argued orally? What administrative structures do these Courts have? The answers to these and hundreds of other questions are largely unknown, not only to lawyers and legal academics, but by many within the judiciary itself. Written and Unwritten is the first book to provide an inside look at how these courts operate. An unprecedented contribution to the field of judicial administration, the book collects the differing local rules and internal procedures of each Court of Appeals. In-depth interviews of the Chief Judges of all thirteen circuits and surveys of all Clerks of Court reveal previously undisclosed practices and customs.
Masculinity in Byzantium, c. 1000–1200
Authors: Perisanidi Maroula
Published: November 2024

What does it mean to be a man? What makes one effeminate or manly? What renders a man 'Byzantine'? Drawing from theories of gender, posthumanism and disability, this book explores the role of learning, violence and animals in the construction of Byzantine masculinities. It foregrounds scholars and clerics, two groups who negotiated the hegemonic ideal of male violence in contrasting and unexpected ways. By flaunting their learning, scholars accumulated enough masculine capital to present more “feminine” emotional dispositions and to reject hunting and fighting without compromising their masculinity. Clerics often appear less peaceable. Some were deposed for fighting, while many others seem to have abandoned their roles to pursue warfare, demonstrating the fluidity of religious and gender identity. For both clerics and scholars, much of this gender-work depended on animals, whose entanglements with humans ranged from domination to mutual transformation.
Theology and the Mythic Sensibility
Authors: Shamel Andrew
Published: November 2024

How do stories change the way we see both ourselves and the world? That question is the starting-point of this accomplished new contribution to narrative theology. Dr Shamel addresses what he calls mythopoieic fantasy: the fictionalised myth-making occupying those twilight borderlands between contemporary secularity and a religious worldview. Exploring key writers such as J. R. R. Tolkien, Terry Pratchett, and J. K. Rowling, the author argues that the mythic turn of popular culture signals an ongoing hunger for something 'more': more dense, more present, more 'real'. For Dr Shamel, mythopoieic fantasy and Christian theology represent the same human impulse: a desire to participate in the divine. Despite the avowed secularity of many authors of fantasy literature, the creativity of their mythic fictions reveals something of the theological character of all human making. The stories we tell in order to encounter the world as meaningful, argues Dr Shamel, in fact emerge within a theological horizon.
Disparate Datasets and Data Squishiness: Growing Data Awareness at the National Gallery of Art
Authors: McPherson Rachel
Published: November 2024

This article was based on a presentation that was given at the IFLA-Art Libraries Section Satellite Conference. In an effort to push toward a more multidisciplinary and holistic approach to the data generated throughout the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, staff have been investigating new ways in which to amass, organize, and use that data. Segueing from a GIS mapping initiative, one such project sought to amalgamate disparate kinds of data centering around pigment analysis. This led to a multidepartment team trialing software solutions, raising questions and identifying challenges about how the institution creates and standardizes its data, and what changes are needed as we look to the future.
Preserving cultural narratives: the quest for museum archives in the Netherlands
Authors: Ubink Roosmarijn , Goosen Michiel
Published: November 2024

The current situation in Dutch museum archives is heavily influenced by developments in the museum sector in recent decades. The privatization of Dutch museums in the 1990s and the subsequent variations in legal character among these institutions has resulted in inconsistent management structures and inexplicit legal obligations, which have slowed the development of a cohesive approach to the management of museum archives in the Netherlands. Research conducted by Roosmarijn Ubink into the current state of information and archive management in the Dutch museum sector has revealed a structural lack of resources and frameworks for the management of museums’ institutional archives. Beginning in 2022, museum archivists and information professionals in the Netherlands have come together to respond to this situation.
Specialized and Decentralized: Stewardship of the Art Research Collective Collection
Authors: Weber Chela Scott , Procaccini Mercy , Massie Dennis , Lavoie Brian
Published: November 2024

Art libraries play a vital role in building, managing and sustaining collections to support art scholarship. Ensuring that these valuable collections remain available long into the future requires innovative thinking about collection development, resource sharing and stewardship. The specialized and decentralized nature of the art research collective collection suggests that multi-institutional collaboration is an important option for art libraries as they seek sustainable pathways for their collections. Findings and recommendations from the Operationalizing the Art Research Collective Collection (OpArt) project show that data-driven analysis, as well as the practical experiences and lessons learned from real-world partnerships, are important sources of intelligence for art libraries as they address their sustainability challenges through collaborative approaches.
Positive public sector stereotypes and their impact on public service delivery: an audit experiment
Authors: Szydlowski Gabriela , de Boer Noortje , Tummers Lars
Published: November 2024

There are both negative and positive stereotypes about public sector workers. Most studies focus on negative stereotypes, like the idea that public servants are lazy. We, however, do the opposite. We focus on a positive stereotype: public sector workers are seen as caring and helpful. We test the effects of positive stereotypes on the quality of public service delivery. Using a pre-registered audit experiment in elderly care in the Netherlands and Belgium, we find that activating a pro-social stereotype does not affect the outcome of public service quality in terms of response rate and information provision. However, it does improve the bureaucratic process: public sector workers are friendlier toward citizens. They say around 12% more ‘thank you’ in their replies. Moreover, the citizens’ gender affects the response rate: female citizens receive around 10% more replies. Concluding, we show that positive stereotyping can improve parts of the quality of public service delivery but not all.
A pilot intervention trial to reduce the use of post-procedural antimicrobials after common endourologic surgeries
Authors: Livorsi Daniel J. , Packiam Vignesh T. , Shi Qianyi , Alberding Steven Y. , Carter Knute D. , Brown James A. , Mason James B. , Weiss Jeffrey P. , Steinberg Ryan L.
Published: November 2024

Objective:

Post-procedural antimicrobial prophylaxis is not recommended by professional guidelines but is commonly prescribed. We sought to reduce use of post-procedural antimicrobials after common endoscopic urologic procedures.

Design:

A before-after, quasi-experimental trial with a baseline (July 2020–June 2022), an implementation (July 2022), and an intervention period (August 2022–July 2023).

Setting:

Three participating medical centers.

Intervention:

We assessed the effect of a bundled intervention on excess post-procedural antimicrobial use (ie, antimicrobial use on post-procedural day 1) after three types of endoscopic urologic procedures: ureteroscopy and transurethral resection of bladder tumor or prostate. The intervention consisted of education, local champion(s), and audit-and-feedback of data on the frequency of post-procedural antimicrobial-prescribing.

Results:

1,272 procedures were performed across all 3 sites at baseline compared to 525 during the intervention period; 644 (50.6%) patients received excess post-procedural antimicrobials during the baseline period compared to 216 (41.1%) during the intervention period. There was no change in the use of post-procedural antimicrobials at sites 1 and 2 between the baseline and intervention periods. At site 3, the odds of prescribing a post-procedural antimicrobial significantly decreased during the intervention period relative to the baseline time trend (0.09; 95% CI 0.02–0.45). There was no significant increase in post-procedural unplanned visits at any of the sites.

Conclusions:

Implementation of a bundled intervention was associated with reduced post-procedural antimicrobial use at one of three sites, with no increase in complications. These findings demonstrate both the safety and challenge of guideline implementation for optimal perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis.

This trial was registered on clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04196777.
The FossilSimShiny app for simulating under the fossilized birth–death process and plotting the results
Authors: Chambe Titouan , Warnock Rachel C. M. , Barido-Sottani Joëlle
Published: November 2024

Phylogenetic inferences using combined datasets of both extant and extinct species have grown increasingly popular, in part thanks to the development of the fossilized birth–death (FBD) process. The FBD process provides a powerful model for the evolution of past and present lineages and can be used for both inference and simulation. Simulations in particular are very helpful for new users to gain better understanding of the model and its different components. In this work, we present FossilSimShiny, a visual application for simulating phylogenies, fossil samples, and fossil taxonomies under the FBD process. The app integrates a wide range of simulation models and presents the simulation results in clear, customizable figures. As a teaching tool, FossilSimShiny allows lecturers to create illustration plots and students to directly experiment with the model. For research applications, the app can help researchers save time and effort by testing and calibrating simulation setups before running them on a large scale.
Vision-based dynamic modeling of wheeled-legged robot considering slippage using Gibbs–Appell formulation
Authors: Korayem M. H. , Nikseresht N. , Asadi A. H.
Published: November 2024

This study focuses on the kinematic and dynamic modeling of a wheeled-legged robot (WLR), taking into account kinematic and dynamic slippage. In this regard, the Gibbs–Appell formulation was utilized to derive dynamic equations. Determining the slippage in the wheels for movement equations is a challenging task due to its dependency on factors such as the robot’s postures, velocities, and surface characteristics. To address this challenge, machine vision was used to quantify the slippage of the wheels on the body based on the pose estimation method. This data served as input for movement equations to analyze the robot’s deviation from its path and posture. In the following, the robot’s movement was simulated using Webots and MATLAB, followed by various experimental tests involving acceleration and changes in leg angles on the WLR. The results were then compared to the simulations to demonstrate the accuracy of the developed system modeling. Additionally, an IMU sensor was utilized to measure the robot’s motion and validate against machine vision data. The findings revealed that neglecting the slippage of the wheels in the robot’s motion modeling resulted in errors ranging from 5% to 11.5%. Furthermore, lateral slippage ranging from 1.1 to 5.2 cm was observed in the robot’s accelerated movement. This highlights the importance of including lateral slippage in the equations for a more precise modeling of the robot’s behavior.
Response to “A Case Study of Academic Facilitation of the Global Illicit Trade in Cultural Objects: Mary Slusser in Nepal,” International Journal of Cultural Property (2023), 1–20, Emiline Smith and Erin Thompson
Authors: Proctor Ann
Published: November 2024

While I believe that the authors, Emiline Smith and Erin Thompson, have legitimate concerns regarding the theft of cultural objects, I consider that, in the article “A Case Study of Academic Facilitation of the Global Illicit Trade in Cultural Objects: Mary Slusser in Nepal”, International Journal of Cultural Property (2023), 1–20, the authors present a number of serious misrepresentations.
Making a market for “The Art of Nepal”: Tracing the flow of Nepali cultural property into the United States
Authors: Sijapati Alisha , Thompson Erin L.
Published: November 2024

A growing number of institutions that hold cultural heritage artifacts are now considering voluntary repatriations in which they choose to return an artifact despite unfilled gaps in their knowledge of its ownership history. But how are institutions to judge whether it is more probable that such gaps conceal theft and illicit export or are innocuous? Attempting to answer this question for Nepal, we examine published and archival records to trace the history of the growth in collecting of Nepali cultural heritage in the United States, with special attention to a 1964 exhibition at New York’s Asia Society Gallery, “The Art of Nepal,” and the activity of the New York dealers Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck. We conclude that the majority of Nepali heritage items in America entered after Nepal prohibited their export.
A free boundary model for transport-induced neurite growth
Authors: Marino Greta , Pietschmann Jan-Frederik , Winkler Max
Published: November 2024

We introduce a free boundary model to study the effect of vesicle transport onto neurite growth. It consists of systems of drift-diffusion equations describing the evolution of the density of antero- and retrograde vesicles in each neurite coupled to reservoirs located at the soma and the growth cones of the neurites, respectively. The model allows for a change of neurite length as a function of the vesicle concentration in the growth cones. After establishing existence and uniqueness for the time-dependent problem, we briefly comment on possible types of stationary solutions. Finally, we provide numerical studies on biologically relevant scales using a finite volume scheme. We illustrate the capability of the model to reproduce cycles of extension and retraction.
The Geneticization of Education and Its Bioethical Implications
Authors: Matthews Lucas J.
Published: November 2024

The day has arrived that genetic tests for educational outcomes are available to the public. Today parents and students alike can send off a sample of blood or saliva and receive a ‘genetic report’ for a range of characteristics relevant to education, including intelligence, math ability, reading ability, and educational attainment. DTC availability is compounded by a growing “precision education” initiative, which proposes the application of DNA tests in schools to tailor educational curricula to children’s genomic profiles. Here I argue that these happenings are a strong signal of the geneticization of education; the process by which educational abilities and outcomes come to be examined, understood, explained, and treated as primarily genetic characteristics. I clarify what it means to geneticize education, highlight the nature and limitations of the underlying science, explore both real and potential downstream bioethical implications, and make proposals for mitigating negative impacts.
Prevalence of and factors associated with overweight and obesity in patients with severe mental disorders in Shenzhen: results from the urban Chinese population
Authors: Shan Wei , Zhou Zhijian , Wang Guojun , Peng Xiaodong
Published: November 2024

Objective:

To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in patients with severe mental disorders (SMD) and the factors associated with their socio-demographic and disease characteristics in a cross-sectional population-based study.

Design:

This analysis examined the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 14 868 managed SMD patients in an urban area of Shenzhen city based on data from the health information monitoring system in 2021. Multivariate logistic regression were used to identify the factors associated with the prevalence of overweight and obesity in patients with SMD.

Setting:

China.

Participants:

14 868 patients with SMD.

Results:

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in patients with SMD in this study was 32·6 % and 16·1 %, respectively. In multivariate analysis, married status, Shenzhen household registration, management durations of 5–10 years and >10 years, participation in family physician services, taking clozapine or aripiprazole, FPG > 6·1 mmol/l, hypertension, TC ≥ 5·2 mmol/l, TG ≥ 1·7 mmol/l, and more frequent follow-ups in the past year were associated with higher odds of overweight and obesity. Compared to their respective reference categories, living with parents, spouse and children, taking risperidone, aripiprazole, amisulpride and perphenazine, FPG > 6·1 mmol/l, hypertension, TC ≥ 5·2 mmol/l, TG ≥ 1·7 mmol/l, and more frequent follow-ups in the past year were associated with higher odds of obesity.

Conclusion:

We observed a high prevalence of overweight and obesity in patients with SMD in this study. The findings highlight the need for integrated management of overweight and obesity risk factors among patients with SMD.
Primary healthcare as a strategy for eliminating hepatitis C: the METRIC toolkit
Authors: Baptista-Leite Ricardo , Lopes Henrique , Franco Diogo , Clemens Timo , Brand Helmut
Published: November 2024

Aim:

This paper presents the development of the METRIC toolkit, aimed at enhancing primary healthcare interventions in the context of hepatitis C control, thus contributing to the World Health Organization’s global strategy to achieve the elimination of the disease by 2030.

Background:

At the global level, most people living with hepatitis C are unaware of their condition. As such, the eradication of hepatitis C necessitates comprehensive strategies within primary healthcare settings, as it provides an opportunity to reach the general population, facilitates the identification of potential patients who may be unfamiliar with hepatitis C, and guides them toward adequate care. Herein, we propose the METRIC toolkit as a means to optimize the efficiency and efficacy of healthcare services dedicated to hepatitis C control.

Methods:

The development of the METRIC toolkit was guided by a thorough review of pertinent literature, focusing on primary healthcare interventions in hepatitis C control. Key components were identified, encompassing systematic problem identification, solution formulation, outcome evaluation, and feedback integration.

Findings:

The METRIC toolkit represents a valuable resource for strengthening primary healthcare interventions in hepatitis C control. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement and data-driven decision-making, this framework holds promise in advancing the global agenda towards hepatitis C elimination. However, its successful application requires careful consideration of contextual factors and ongoing adaptation to local needs and circumstances.
Effects of Tropospheric Turbulence on Radio Signal Data Passing Atmospheric Communication Links
Authors: Bronfman I. , Ben‐Shimol Y. , Blaunstein N.
Published: November 2024

This paper analyzes the effects of turbulent structures of different sizes on the structural parameter of the refractive index and, consequently, on the scintillation index of radio waves passing through atmospheric channels with fading. The relationships between these parameters are analyzed and discussed not only for weak turbulence, but also for moderate and strong turbulences occurring in the mid‐latitude troposphere. By using the relationship between the scintillation index of signal intensity and the well‐known Rician parameter of fast fading, and by obtaining the relationships between the signal data stream parameters, capacity, spectral efficiency, and bit error rate, and factor of fast fading, we have numerically analyzed various cases of data transmission over tropospheric communication links with fading. This analysis considers the effects of weak, moderate, and strong turbulence on the quality of data transmission over such communication links. The results of this study can be used to improve the design and performance of tropospheric communication links in the presence of turbulence.
Separating Storm Intensity and Arrival Frequency in Nonstationary Rainfall Frequency Analysis
Authors: O’Shea Declan , Nathan Rory , Wasko Conrad , Sharma Ashish
Published: November 2024

Nonstationary Rainfall frequency analysis (RFA) is used to assess how climate change is impacting the likelihood of extreme storms. A key limitation of covariate‐based approaches to nonstationary RFA is that without a physical basis, models selected based on the quality of fit to historical data cannot be reliably projected to estimate future quantiles. Here we propose to improve the physical representation of rainfall processes by using a peaks‐over‐threshold approach to separate the processes of storm intensity (impacted by thermodynamic drivers related to changes in atmospheric moisture) and storm arrival frequency (impacted by dynamic drivers that lead to changes in regional weather systems). Through stochastic experiments we demonstrate that quantiles can only be accurately projected beyond the observed climate when nonstationary models reflect the underlying nonstationary process. Through a case study we demonstrate how climate model projections of rainfall can be utilized to deduce nonstationary model structures, showing that changes in both the storm intensity and storm arrival frequency are needed to accurately estimate future quantiles. While here we propose a single simple physically informed approach for storm intensity, structuring the arrival frequency component requires a detailed understanding of atmospheric dynamics in the region of interest.
South America Is Drying Up
Authors: Rodrigues Meghie
Published: November 2024

A new study shows that dry, warm, and flammable conditions have skyrocketed across the continent, favoring the spread of uncontrolled fire.
Convective and Orographic Origins of the Mesoscale Kinetic Energy Spectrum
Authors: Kouhen Salah , Storer Benjamin A. , Aluie Hussein , Marshall David P. , Christensen Hannah M.
Published: November 2024

The mesoscale spectrum describes the distribution of kinetic energy in the Earth's atmosphere between length scales of 10 and 400 km. Since the first observations, the origins of this spectrum have been controversial. At synoptic scales, the spectrum follows a −3 spectral slope, consistent with two‐dimensional turbulence theory, but a shallower −5/3 slope was observed at the shorter mesoscales. The cause of the shallower slope remains obscure, illustrating our lack of understanding. Through a novel coarse‐graining methodology, we are able to present a spatio‐temporal climatology of the spectral slope. We find convection and orography have a shallowing effect and can quantify this using “conditioned spectra.” These are typical spectra for a meteorological condition, obtained by aggregating spectra where the condition holds. This allows the investigation of new relationships, such as that between energy flux and spectral slope. Potential future applications of our methodology include predictability research and model validation.
Deducing Aerodynamic Roughness Length From Abundant Anemometer Tower Data to Inform Wind Resource Modeling
Authors: Wang Jiamin , Yang Kun , Yuan Ling , Liu Jiarui , Peng Zhong , Ren Zuhuan , Zhou Xu
Published: November 2024

Aerodynamic roughness length () fundamentally affects land surface momentum loss and wind resource simulation, but ground truth data of are sparse in space, causing datasets used in atmospheric models are empirically estimated from land cover types through a look‐up table. In this study, we derived values from 101 anemometer towers in China. Taking them as ground truth, we show that existing gridded datasets determined from either a look‐up table or a machine‐learning method contain considerable uncertainty and fail to capture the variability of within each land cover type, although the latter performs better. Even for the widely used ERA5, its is overestimated in wind‐rich regions of China, causing an underestimation of near‐surface wind speed. This highlights the necessity to improve data in atmospheric models. Current rapidly expanding anemometer towers may substantially enrich truth data and thus provide potential to improve wind resource modeling.
Role of Quasi‐Biweekly Cloud‐Radiative Feedback in Modulating and Simulating Extreme Rainfall Intensity Over Asian Monsoon Regions
Authors: Chen Hongli , Hsu Pang‐Chi , Hu Shuzhen
Published: November 2024

Although Cloud‐radiative feedback (CRF) has been investigated in terms of its modulation of extreme precipitation over tropical oceans, the specific timeframe of CRF variability and the associated processes driving extreme rainfall over Asian monsoon regions remain unclear. Based on observational analyses and model sensitivity experiments, this study reveals that longwave CRF at the quasi‐biweekly timescale is most closely linked to the intensity of persistent (≥3‐day) heavy rainfall events in southern China and northern India by efficiently maintaining the large‐scale convective perturbations. When CRF is disabled, the quasi‐biweekly convective anomalies supporting extreme precipitation are weakened. Additional assessments of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project historical simulations confirm that models with more accurate quasi‐biweekly longwave CRF exhibit smaller biases in capturing the amplitude of persistent heavy rainfall. These results have implications for improving model capability in simulating and forecasting quasi‐biweekly CRF to mitigate the risks of extreme precipitation events in monsoonal Asia.
Cryo-electron tomography reveals how COPII assembles on cargo-containing membranes
Authors: Pyle Euan , Miller Elizabeth A. , Zanetti Giulia
Published: November 2024

Proteins traverse the eukaryotic secretory pathway through membrane trafficking between organelles. The coat protein complex II (COPII) mediates the anterograde transport of newly synthesized proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum, engaging cargoes with a wide range of size and biophysical properties. The native architecture of the COPII coat and how cargo might influence COPII carrier morphology remain poorly understood. Here we reconstituted COPII-coated membrane carriers using purified Saccharomyces cerevisiae proteins and cell-derived microsomes as a native membrane source. Using cryo-electron tomography with subtomogram averaging, we demonstrate that the COPII coat binds cargo and forms largely spherical vesicles from native membranes. We reveal the architecture of the inner and outer coat layers and shed light on how spherical carriers are formed. Our results provide insights into the architecture and regulation of the COPII coat and advance our current understanding of how membrane curvature is generated.
Performance and safety evaluation of a cold ablation robot-guided laser osteotome (CARLO) in 28 midface osteotomies
Authors: Köhnke Robert , Chin Shih-Jan , Assaf Alexandre T. , Helmbold Katja , Müller Andreas A. , Juergens Philipp , Wilken Tobias , Hirsch Sibylle , Morawska Marta M. , Wolff Jan , Smeets Ralf , Kluwe Lan , Holzinger Daniel , Schicho Kurt , Millesi Gabriele
Published: November 2024

The CARLO (cold ablation robot-guided laser osteotome) is a compact device with integrated multiple sensory, steering and safety checking elements. A multi-center study was performed to evaluate the CARLO device for the linear part of midface osteotomy in 28 patients. Feasibility, success rate, safety, performance and experience of the surgeons were assessed and evaluated. All 28 procedures were completed with CARLO without falling back to the conventional methods, giving a technical success rate of 100%. For 27 (96%) cases, procedural success was achieved with cutting lines deviation less than 2 mm. For 25 procedures, the CARLO-cutting was conducted smoothly. In the other 3 cases, some minor difficulties related to the reference markers were reported. For 18 procedures, no change for the cutting path was necessary. For the other 10 cases, cut path was adapted. Intraoperative re-planning was possible, easy and quick without significant delay of the procedures. No CARLO-related adverse events were recorded. Especially, there was no unexpected and unusual bleeding during the CARLO-conducted osteotomy. The time needed for the registration ranged from 1 to 12 min (median = 4). The CARLO-cutting lasted for 5 to 21 min (median = 7). The present study demonstrated feasibility, simplicity, safety, reliability and accuracy of CARLO for the linear part of midface osteotomy.
Method for extracting the surface impedance of a generic reflective metasurface
Authors: Smith J. G. , Hooper I. R. , Clow N. , Hibbins A. P. , Horsley S. A. R.
Published: November 2024

We develop a method for the extraction of the surface impedance tensor of a generic reflective metasurface using an analytic relation between the tensorial surface impedance and the four polarisation-dependent reflection coefficients. We apply this technique to experimental data obtained from a metasurface with a rhomboidal unit cell in the 16–26 GHz range, but note that it could be applied to reflective metasurfaces in any frequency regime. The extraction method can also be applied to model data to facilitate the design process of spatially graded tensorial metasurfaces that allow for full control of the form of the scattered field.
Settlement patterns and temporal successions of coral reef cryptic communities affect diversity assessments using autonomous reef monitoring structures (ARMS)
Authors: Couëdel Marion , Dettai Agnes , Guillaume Mireille M. M. , Bonillo Céline , Frattini Baptiste , Bruggemann J. Henrich
Published: November 2024

Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) are used worldwide to assess cryptic diversity, especially on coral reefs. They were developed as standardised tools, yet conditions of deployment, such as immersion duration and/or deployment and retrieval seasons, vary among studies. Here we studied temporal and seasonal variability in coral reef cryptic communities sampled with 15 ARMS on a single coral reef slope site at Reunion Island, Southwest Indian Ocean. Settlement patterns and temporal succession of Eukaryote communities were investigated across three immersion times (6 months, 1 year, 2 years), two immersion seasons (hot vs. cool) and three fractions (500–2000 μm, 106–500 μm, sessile) using two genetic markers (18S, COI). Both markers detected different taxa with different resolutions, but broadly similar patterns of community composition and structure. While OTU diversity of communities did not change with immersion time and season, these parameters significantly affected community structure and composition. Our results showed a decrease of the similarity of ARMS communities with duration of immersion, and a strong temporal turnover of species with only a small proportion of the diversity persisting over time. The small proportion of OTUs assigned at phylum level highlights the uniqueness of the Mascarene cryptobiome.
Repurposing of sericin combined with dactolisib or vitamin D to combat non-small lung cancer cells through computational and biological investigations
Authors: Helmy Maged W. , Youssef Mariam H. , Yamari Imane , Amr Alaa , Moussa Farouzia I. , El Wakil Abeer , Chtita Samir , El-Samad Lamia M. , Hassan Mohamed A.
Published: November 2024

This study aims to repurpose sericin in combating non-small lung cancer cells (A549 and H460) by combining it with dactolisib or vitamin D to reduce the dose of dactolisib and boost the anticancer effectiveness of dactolisib and vitamin D. Therefore, the binding affinities of individual and combined drugs were examined using in silico and protein-protein interaction studies, targeting NF-κB, Cyclin D1, p-AKT, and VEGF1 proteins. The findings manifested remarkable affinities for combinatorial drugs compared to individual compounds. To substantiate these findings, the combined IC50 for each combination (sericin + dactolisib and sericin + vitamin D) were determined, reporting 31.9 and 41.8 µg/ml, respectively, against A549 cells and 47.9 and 55.3 µg/ml, respectively, against H460 cells. Furthermore, combination indices were assessed to lower the doses of each drug. Interestingly, in vitro results exhibited marked diminutions in NF-κB, Cyclin D1, p-AKT, and VEGF1 after treatment with sericin + dactolisib and sericin + vitamin D compared to control lung cancer cells and those treated with a single drug. Moreover, A549 and H460 cells treated with both combinations demonstrated augmented caspase-3 levels, implying substantial apoptotic activity. Altogether, these results accentuated the prospective implementation of sericin in combination with dactolisib and vitamin D at low doses to preclude lung cancer cell proliferation.
A comparative study of temperature-dependent characteristics and non-local behavior in a submerged microstretch thermoelastic medium using two models
Authors: Othman Mohamed I. A. , Eraki Ebtesam E. M. , Ismail Mohamed F.
Published: November 2024

This article is concerned with a thermoelastic response in a non-local micro-stretch completely covered in the endless non-viscous fluid under temperature dependent, the medium is investigated employing the theory of Green-Naghdi (G-N III) and the model of three-phase-lag (3PHL).Basic equations are derived based on these models. The normal mode technique is employed to achieve an analysis solution to the problem. The study used a magnesium crystal element to compare non-local measurements of thermo-micro-stretch elasticity in water using the (G-N III) theory and the (3PHL) model. The non-local effect has been discovered to have a considerable impact on all physical quantities. Furthermore, comparisons are made between three different frequency values.
Exploring geothermal energy prospects through radioelement enrichment zones in Gabal Abu Hashim area in southeastern Aswan by geophysical and remote sensing data integration
Authors: El-Hadidy Shaimaa M. , Youssef Mohamed A. S.
Published: November 2024

Alteration zones in the Eastern Desert are promising for minerals and geological resources exploration. Remote sensing and geophysical techniques offer cost-effective tools for identifying new exploration sites. Additionally, their use in mapping potential alteration zones is crucial for enhancing exploration. Geophysical and remote sensing data are integrated to perform a comprehensive study of minerals alteration associated with radioactive materials under controlling geological structures. This study aims to explore the associated radiogenic heat and geothermal energy to expand the geothermal resources assessments. The study utilizes Spectral Angle Mapper classification, band algebra, principal component analysis (PCA), surface lineament density, and decorrelation stretch techniques and Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis to enhance the mapping of mineralized alterations in the study area. It uses VNIR-SWIR ASTER data to identify hydrothermal alteration minerals and dominant alteration zones, also Landsat 8 Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) offers two adjacent thermal bands, benefiting land surface temperature (LST) radiation from space in the Gabal Abu Hashim area. The area contains minerals alteration indicators like chlorite, alunite, illite, kaolinite, sericite, with less abundant ferrous minerals and epidote. Airborne gamma-ray spectrometry (AGRS) was used to identify naturally occurring radioactive anomalous zones, including potassium (K), equivalent uranium (eU), and equivalent thorium (eTh), to estimate the radiogenic heat production (RHP) in selected areas of the study area. The examination of AGRS data indicated that the studied region has radioelement concentrations ranging from 2.8 to 148 ppm, 18 to 144 ppm, and 0.004 to 9% of (eU), (eTh), and (K), respectively, indicating the existence of various rock types. The Radioelements Composite Image (RCI) successfully highlighted the radioelements enriched zones associated with younger granite, older granite, and metamorphic rocks, particularly those with extensive hydrothermal alteration. The results successfully discriminated alteration zones associated with radioelements K, U, and Th potential parts in the regional shear oblique zone. The weighted overlay GIS model was used to produce the alteration zones potentiality map, and to identify five zones of significant variations in heat production across different geological formations. The northern and southeastern regions demonstrate high alterations and land surface temperature corresponding to areas of high fault density and shear zones. The results of this study reveal that the proposed methods of remote sensing and AGRS data are effective in detecting areas rich in K, eU, and eTh in alteration zones associated with high radiogenic heat production in younger granite, older granite, and metamorphic rocks.
Clinical and angiographic characteristics of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Elmaghraby Khaled M. , Abdel-Galeel Ahmed , Osman Amira Harby , Hasan-Ali Hosam , Abdelmegid Mohamed Aboel-Kassem F.
Published: November 2024

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a world public health problem that enhances the risk of premature coronary artery disease (CAD) with a high incidence of acute coronary syndrome. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and angiographic characteristics of the patients with and without FH who had ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). It included 690 patients who presented with the first attack of STEMI and underwent primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PPCI). The patients were analyzed to diagnose FH according to the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network (DLCN) criteria. All angiograms were analyzed for the number of diseased vessels, Syntax score, thrombus burden grade, and final Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade. The majority of patients were male (72.6%) with a mean age of 54 ± 12 years. Based on DLCN criteria, they were classified into unlikely/possible FH (86.1%) and probable/definite FH (13.9%) groups. Probable/definite FH patients were significantly younger, and higher incidence of males < 55 years compared with unlikely/possible FH patients (p < 0.001 for each). Moreover, probable/definite FH patients had a higher frequency of three-vessel disease (p = 0.007) and Syntax score (p < 0.001) with a moderate positive correlation with the DLCN score (r = 0.592, p < 0.001). Furthermore, probable/definite FH patients showed a higher thrombus burden and final TIMI slow/no-reflow when compared to the unlikely/possible FH patients (p = 0.006 and p = 0.027, respectively). Patients with probable/definite FH and LDL-C level were independent predictors of high thrombus burden besides males < 55 years, and the number of diseased vessels. In conclusion, STEMI patients with FH were younger males and associated with severe CAD with frequent multivessel CAD, high anatomical complexity of CAD, and frequent high thrombus burden. Furthermore, FH was one of the predictors of high thrombus burden.
Leveraging large-scale Mycobacterium tuberculosis whole genome sequence data to characterise drug-resistant mutations using machine learning and statistical approaches
Authors: Pruthi Siddharth Sanjay , Billows Nina , Thorpe Joseph , Campino Susana , Phelan Jody E. , Mohareb Fady , Clark Taane G.
Published: November 2024

Tuberculosis disease (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is a major global public health problem, resulting in > 1 million deaths each year. Drug resistance (DR), including the multi-drug form (MDR-TB), is challenging control of the disease. Whilst many DR mutations in the Mtb genome are known, analysis of large datasets generated using whole genome sequencing (WGS) platforms can reveal new variants through the assessment of genotype-phenotype associations. Here, we apply tree-based ensemble methods to a dataset comprised of 35,777 Mtb WGS and phenotypic drug-susceptibility test data across first- and second-line drugs. We compare model performance across models trained using mutations in drug-specific regions and genome-wide variants, and find high predictive ability for both first-line (area under ROC curve (AUC); range 88.3–96.5) and second-line (AUC range 84.1–95.4) drugs. To aggregate information from low-frequency variants, we pool mutations by functional impact and observe large improvements in predictive accuracy (e.g., sensitivity: pyrazinamide + 25%; ethionamide + 10%). We further characterise loss-of-function mutations observed in resistant phenotypes, uncovering putative markers of resistance (e.g., ndh 293dupG, Rv3861 78delC). Finally, we profile the distribution of known DR-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms across discretised minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data generated from phenotypic testing (n = 12,066), and identify mutations associated with highly resistant phenotypes (e.g., inhA − 779G > T and 62T > C). Overall, our work demonstrates that applying machine learning to large-scale WGS data is useful for providing insights into predicting Mtb binary drug resistance and MIC phenotypes, thereby potentially assisting diagnosis and treatment decision-making for infection control.
Quantifying the recovery process of skeletal muscle on hematoxylin and eosin stained images via learning from label proportion
Authors: Yamaoka Yu , Chan Weng Ian , Seno Shigeto , Iwamori Kanako , Fukada So-ichiro , Matsuda Hideo
Published: November 2024

Visual observing muscle tissue regeneration is used to measure experimental effect size in biological research to discover the mechanism of muscle strength decline due to illness or aging. Quantitative computer imaging analysis for support evaluating the recovery phase has not been established because of the localized nature of recovery and the difficulty in selecting image features for cells in regeneration. We constructed MyoRegenTrack for segmenting cells and classifying their regeneration phase in hematoxylin–eosin (HE) stained images. A straightforward approach to classification is supervised learning. However, obtaining detailed annotations for each fiber in a whole slide image is impractical in terms of cost and accuracy. Thus, we propose to learn individual recovery phase classification utilizing the proportions of cell class depending on the days after muscle injection to induce regeneration. We extract implicit multidimensional features from the HE-stained tissue images and train a classifier using weakly supervised learning, guided by their class proportion for elapsed time on recovery. We confirmed the effectiveness of MyoRegenTrack by comparing its results with expert annotations. A comparative study of the recovery relation between two different muscle injections shows that the analysis result using MyoRegenTrack is consistent with findings from previous studies.
Kinetic study, byproducts characterization and photodegradation pathway of profoxydim in a biochar water soil system
Authors: Cervantes-Díaz Álvaro , Nieto-Carmona Juan Carlos , Sevilla-Morán Beatriz , Alonso-Prados José Luis , Sandín-España Pilar
Published: November 2024

The study focused on the photodegradation of profoxydim, a low-toxicity cyclohexanedione herbicide commonly used in rice crops, under simulated sunlight conditions. Profoxydim’s behavior in paddy field conditions is not well understood, and this research aimed to fill that gap, particularly examining the effect of commonly utilized organic amendments such as biochar (BC) on its degradation. Results indicated that profoxydim degrades rapidly, with a half-life of 2.4 ± 0.3 h in paddy water and 1.03 ± 0.1 h in paddy soil. However, when BC was introduced, the degradation slowed significantly, extending the half-lives to 3.1 ± 0.2 h in water and 3.07 ± 0.5 h in soil. The study identified five degradation products (DPs) using TOF mass accuracy measurements and MS/MS spectra fragmentation. Two of these DPs were found to be more stable than profoxydim itself. Additionally, the research proposed a novel photodegradation pathway, highlighting processes such as homolytic C-N bond cleavage, photoisomerization, and photoinduced oxidation. The study’s findings contribute new insights into the environmental fate of profoxydim, offering a deeper understanding of its transformation in rice paddy fields and aiding in the assessment of potential risks associated with its residues in agricultural environments.
Non-linear relationship between lipid accumulation products and risk of diabetes in Japanese adults
Authors: Zha Fubing , Chen Miaoling , Shan Linlin , Zhao Jingpu , Cao Changchun , Wang Yulong
Published: November 2024

The lipid accumulation product (LAP) is a novel, sex-specific indicator of lipid accumulation. While previous studies have investigated the relationship between LAP and diabetes, they have not specifically addressed potential sex differences in this association. The present study explores the potential sex-specific differences in the relationship between LAP and diabetes mellitus (DM) risk in the Japanese population. From 2004 to 2015, a total of 15,263 Japanese individuals without DM underwent physical assessments at Murakami Memorial Hospital. The association between LAP and incident diabetes was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression models, incorporating cubic spline functions and smooth curve fitting to identify potential non-linear relationships. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis assessments were conducted to validate the robustness of our findings. After adjusting for covariates, a positive association between LAP and DM risk was observed in both females (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00-1.03, P = 0.0138) and males (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00-1.01, P = 0.0314). A non-linear association between LAP and incident DM was identified for both sexes. The inflection points for LAP were 16.58 for females and 11.11 for males. In females, the HR to the left and right of the inflection point were 1.09 (95% CI: 1.02–1.17) and 1.01 (95% CI: 1.00-1.03), respectively. In males, the HR to the left and right of the inflection point were 0.92 (95% CI: 0.86–0.98) and 1.01 (95% CI: 1.00-1.01), respectively. Sensitivity analysis indicated a stronger association between LAP and DM risk. Elevated baseline LAP levels were associated with an increased risk of incident DM, with the relationship exhibiting non-linear characteristics. These findings suggest that maintaining lower LAP levels may help mitigate the risk of developing diabetes.
The rise of parent led climate movement from care to climate action
Authors: Rodela Romina
Published: November 2024

In recent years, new social movements advocating climate action have emerged, varying in demographics and tactics. A notable parent-led movement, driven by the moral imperative to care for future generations, offers a unique perspective on climate action. Despite its growing presence in local and regional debates, it remains under-explored. This Brief Communication highlights the movement’s potential to reshape climate action narratives and introduces an open-access database mapping its global reach, suggesting avenues for future research.