bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
First automatic size measurements for the separation of dwarf birch and tree birch pollen in MIS 6 to MIS 1 records from Northern Germany
Authors: Theuerkauf Martin , Nehring Elias , Gillert Alexander , Bodien Philipp Morten , Hein Michael , Urban Brigitte
Published: June 2024

During past glacial periods, the land cover of Northern Eurasia and North America repeatedly shifted between open steppe tundra and boreal/temperate forest. Tracking these changes and estimating the coverage of open versus forested vegetation in past glacial and interglacial landscapes is notoriously difficult because the characteristic dwarf birches of the tundra and the tree birches of the boreal and temperate forests produce similar pollen grains that are difficult to distinguish in the pollen record. One objective approach to separating dwarf birch pollen from tree birch pollen is to use grain size statistics. However, the required grain size measurements are time‐consuming and, therefore, rarely produced. Here, we present an approach to automatic size measurement based on image recognition with convolutional neural networks and machine learning. It includes three main steps. First, the TOFSI algorithm is applied to detect and classify pollen, including birch pollen, in lake sediment samples. Second, a Resnet‐18 neural network is applied to select the birch pollen suitable for measurement. Third, semantic segmentation is applied to detect the outline and the area and mean width of each detected birch pollen grain. Test applications with two pollen records from Northern Germany, one covering the Lateglacial‐Early Holocene transition and the other covering the Mid to Late Pleistocene transition, show that the new technical approach is well suited to measure the area and mean width of birch pollen rapidly (>1000 per hour) and with high accuracy. Our new network‐based tool facilitates more regular size measurements of birch pollen. Expanded analysis of modern birch pollen will help to better understand size variations in birch pollen between birch species and in response to environmental factors as well as differential sample preparation. Analysis of fossil samples will allow better quantification of dwarf birch versus tree birch in past environments.
Behavioural responses of brown bears to roads and hunting disturbance
Authors: Brown Ludovick , Zedrosser Andreas , Kindberg Jonas , Pelletier Fanie
Published: June 2024

Harvest regulations commonly attenuate the consequences of hunting on specific segments of a population. However, regulations may not protect individuals from non‐lethal effects of hunting and their consequences remain poorly understood. In this study, we compared the movement rates of Scandinavian brown bears (Ursus arctos, n = 47) across spatiotemporal variations in risk in relation to the onset of bear hunting. We tested two alternative hypotheses based on whether behavioural responses to hunting involve hiding or escaping. If bears try to reduce risk exposure by avoiding being detected by hunters, we expect individuals from all demographic groups to reduce their movement rate during the hunting season. On the other hand, if bears avoid hunters by escaping, we expect them to increase their movement rate in order to leave high‐risk areas faster. We found an increased movement rate in females accompanied by dependent offspring during the morning hours of the bear hunting season, a general decrease in movement rate in adult lone females, and no changes in males and subadult females. The increased movement rate that we observed in females with dependant offspring during the hunting season was likely an antipredator response because it only occurred in areas located closer to roads, whereas the decreased movement rate in lone females could be either part of seasonal activity patterns or be associated with an increased selection for better concealment. Our study suggests that female brown bears accompanied by offspring likely move faster in high‐risk areas to minimize risk exposure as well as the costly trade‐offs (i.e. time spent foraging vs. time spent hiding) typically associated with anti‐predator tactics that involve changes in resource selection. Our study also highlights the importance of modelling fine‐scale spatiotemporal variations in risk to adequately capture the complexity in behavioural responses caused by human activities in wildlife.
Current and future environmental suitability for bats hosting potential zoonotic pathogens in rural Kenya
Authors: Uusitalo Ruut J. , Jackson Reilly T. , Lunn Tamika J. , Korhonen Essi M. , Ogola Joseph G. , Webala Paul W. , Sironen Tarja A. , Forbes Kristian M.
Published: June 2024

Synanthropic bats live in close proximity to humans and domestic animals, creating opportunities for potential pathogen spillover. We explored environmental correlates of occurrence for a widely distributed synanthropic African bat, Mops pumilus—a species associated with potential zoonotic viruses—and estimated current and future environmental suitability in the Taita Hills region and surrounding plains in Taita–Taveta County in southeast Kenya. To project future environmental suitability, we used four Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 general circulation models that capture temperature and precipitation changes for East Africa. The models were parameterized with empirical capture data of M. pumilus collected from 2016 to 2023, combined with satellite‐based vegetation, topographic, and climatic data to identify responses to environmental factors. The strongest drivers for current environmental suitability for M. pumilus were short distance to rivers, higher precipitation during the driest months, sparse vegetation—often related to urban areas—and low yearly temperature variation. To predict current and future areas suitable for M. pumilus, we created ensemble niche models, which yielded excellent predictive accuracies. Current suitable environments were located southward from the central and southern Taita Hills and surrounding plains, overlapping with urban centers with the highest human population densities in the area. Future projections for 2050 indicated a moderate increase in suitability range in the southern portion of the region and surrounding plains in human‐dominated areas; however, projections for 2090 showed a slight contraction of environmental suitability for M. pumilus, potentially due to the negative impact of increased temperatures. These results show how environmental changes are likely to impact the human exposure risk of bat‐borne pathogens and could help public health officials develop strategies to prevent these risks in Taita–Taveta County, Kenya, and other parts of Africa.
Biologically active adrenomedullin as a marker for residual congestion and early rehospitalization in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure: Data from STRONG‐HF
Authors: Voordes Geert H.D. , Davison Beth , Biegus Jan , Edwards Christopher , Damman Kevin , ter Maaten Jozine M. , Mebazaa Alexandre , Takagi Koji , Adamo Marianna , Ambrosy Andrew P. , Arrigo Mattia , Barros Marianela , Celutkiene Jelena , Čerlinskaitė‐Bajorė Kamilė , Chioncel Ovidiu , Cohen‐Solal Alain , Damasceno Albertino , Deniau Benjamin , Diaz Rafael , Filippatos Gerasimos , Gayat Etienne , Kimmoun Antoine , Lam Carolyn S.P. , Metra Marco , Novosadova Maria , Pagnesi Matteo , Pang Peter , Ponikowski Piotr , Saidu Hadiza , Sliwa Karen , Tomasoni Daniela , Cotter Gad , Voors Adriaan A.
Published: June 2024

Aims

Biologically active adrenomedullin (bio‐ADM) is a promising marker of residual congestion. The STRONG‐HF trial showed that high‐intensity care (HIC) of guideline‐directed medical therapy (GDMT) improved congestion and clinical outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients. The association between bio‐ADM, decongestion, outcomes and the effect size of HIC of GDMT remains to be elucidated.

Methods and results

We measured plasma bio‐ADM concentrations in 1005 patients within 2 days prior to anticipated discharge (baseline) and 90 days later. Bio‐ADM correlated with most signs of congestion, with the exception of rales. Changes in bio‐ADM were strongly correlated with change in congestion status from baseline to day 90 (gamma −0.24; p = 0.0001). Patients in the highest tertile of baseline bio‐ADM concentrations were at greater risk than patients in the lowest tertile for the primary outcome of 180‐day all‐cause mortality or HF rehospitalization (hazard ratio [HR] 2.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.42–3.22) and 180‐day HF rehospitalization (HR 2.33, 95% CI 1.38–3.94). Areas under the receiver‐operating characteristic curves were 0.5977 (95% CI 0.5561–0.6393), 0.5800 (95% CI 0.5356–0.6243), and 0.6159 (95% CI 0.5711–0.6607) for bio‐ADM, N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) and their combination, respectively, suggesting that both bio‐ADM and NT‐proBNP provided similarly modest discrimination for this outcome. A trend towards better discrimination by combined bio‐ADM and NT‐proBNP than NT‐proBNP alone was found (p = 0.059). HIC improved the primary outcome, irrespective of baseline bio‐ADM concentration (interaction p = 0.37). In contrast to NT‐proBNP, the 90‐day change in bio‐ADM did not differ significantly between HIC and usual care.

Conclusions

Bio‐ADM is a marker of congestion and predicts congestion at 3 months after a HF hospitalization. Higher bio‐ADM was modestly associated with a higher risk of death and early hospital readmission and may have added value when combined with NT‐proBNP.
Sleep deprivation and recovery: Endurance racing as a novel model
Authors: Mann Dwayne L. , Pattinson Cassandra L , Allan Alicia , St Pierre Liam , Staton Sally , Thorpe Karen , Rossa Kalina , Smith Simon S.
Published: June 2024

The aim of this study was to investigate sleep‐wake behavior and gain insights into perceived impairment (sleep, fatigue, and cognitive function) of athletes competing in two international multi‐day adventure races. Twenty‐four athletes took part across two independent adventure races: Queensland, Australia and Alaska, USA. Individual sleep periods were determined via actigraphy, and racers self‐reported their perceived sleep disturbances, sleep impairment, fatigue and cognitive function. Each of these indices was calculated for pre‐, during‐ and post‐race periods. Sleep was severely restricted during the race period compared to pre‐race (Queensland, 7:46 [0:29] vs. 2:50 [1:01]; Alaska, 7:39 [0:58] vs. 2:45 [2:05]; mean [SD], hh:mm). As a result, there was a large cumulative sleep debt at race completion, which was not ‘reversed’ in the post‐race period (up to 1 week). The deterioration in all four self‐reported scales of perceived impairment during the race period was largely restored in the post‐race period. This is the first study to document objective sleep‐wake behaviors and subjective impairment of adventure racers, in the context of two geographically diverse, multi‐day, international adventure races. Measures of sleep deprivation indicate that sleep debt was extreme and did not recover to pre‐race levels within 1 week following each race. Despite this objective debt continuing, perceived impairment returned to pre‐race levels quickly post‐race. Therefore, further examination of actual and perceived sleep recovery is warranted. Adventure racing presents a unique scenario to examine sleep, performance and recovery.
Some hope for a dimensional assessment? A critical review of psychometric validated (semi‐)structured interview to assess eating disorders
Authors: Tournayre Lola , Balbinotti Marcos Alencar Abaide , Monthuy‐Blanc Johana
Published: June 2024

Objective

Given that eating disorders (EDs) are considered one of the deadliest mental illnesses, the development of appropriate assessment instruments is a necessity. Despite the extensive literature on assessing EDs, there has been a lack of focus on semi‐structured interviews. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of psychometrically validated semi‐structured interviews for EDs.

Methods

Included studies (N = 24) were required to present a semi‐structured interview for EDs that has been validated through a psychometric process. The APA PsycNet, MEDLINE, APA Psycinfo, Pubmed, and Health & Psychosocial Instruments databases were searched. The literature search included publications through May 2024, with no earliest year restriction.

Results

A total of six instruments were identified and reviewed in terms of conceptual design, purpose and content, psychometric characteristics, and strengths and limitations. Three main findings were highlighted: (a) only half of the instruments are up to date; (b) the instruments are based on either a categorical or a mixed categorical‐dimensional approach; and (c) the predominance of the categorical approach.

Conclusions

The results are discussed regarding the conceptual approaches of the instrument to provide clinical and research implications. Despite the many strengths of the instrument, additional psychometric research is needed.
A hierarchical optimization technique for placement of battery energy storage system to improve grid transient stability
Authors: Shams Sabrina , Chowdhury Abdul H. , Islam Md. Minarul , Shafiullah Md. , Ustun Taha S. , Nahar Samsun , Muttaqi Kashem M. , Sutanto Danny
Published: June 2024

A battery energy storage system (BESS), due to its very fast dynamic response, plays an essential role in improving the transient frequency stability of a grid. The performance of the BESS varies with the system's installation site. Hence, the optimal location of the BESS is of utmost importance for improving transient frequency stability. Therefore, this paper presents a hierarchical approach for optimizing the BESS placement to improve a grid's transient frequency stability. In most research, frequency nadir and rate of change of frequency (ROCOF) have been considered for studying frequency stability. This paper considers two more parameters, along with frequency nadir and ROCOF, to study the transient frequency stability, settling time, and decay ratio. A novel frequency stability index (FSI) using the four transient frequency parameters has been developed. After a significant disturbance in a benchmarked test system, the FSI was used to identify the optimal location of the BESS for stabilizing the frequency. It has been observed that, after a sudden generator outage, the ROCOF and the frequency nadir improve the best when the BESS is located at the bus closest to the generator experiencing the outage. However, considering the other two parameters as well, the value of the FSI is the minimum; that is, the optimum solution is when the BESS is located at the bus that is the second closest to the generator experiencing the outage. Results of similar studies validate the proposed FSI in indicating the optimal location of the BESS in improving the transient frequency behavior of the system.
Integration of artificial intelligence in clinical laboratory medicine: Advancements and challenges
Authors: Xie Heying , Jia Yin , Liu Shanrong
Published: June 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI)‐driven analysis of comprehensive clinical parameters is bringing about a significant transformation in traditional routine clinical laboratory testing. This transformation impacts the prediction, prevention, diagnosis, and prognosis of human diseases. AI possesses the capability to efficiently analyze and process vast and intricate datasets, thereby facilitating the development of diverse and efficient diagnostic or predictive models. This advancement is fueling significant improvements in laboratory quality, automation, and the accuracy of diagnoses. In this context, we conducted a thorough review and discussion on the progression of AI applications in clinical laboratory medicine, encompassing advancements, implementation, and challenges. Our conclusion underscores that integrating AI into clinical laboratory testing will notably propel personalized precision medicine forward and enhance diagnostic accuracy, especially benefiting patients for whom accurate diagnoses are elusive through traditional laboratory testing systems.
Fighting fibrin with fibrin: Vancomycin delivery into coagulase‐mediated Staphylococcus aureus biofilms via fibrin‐based nanoparticle binding
Authors: Scull Grant , Aligwekwe Adrian , Rey Ysabel , Koch Drew , Nellenbach Kimberly , Sheridan Ana , Pandit Sanika , Sollinger Jennifer , Pierce Joshua G. , Flick Matthew J. , Gilbertie Jessica , Schnabel Lauren , Brown Ashley C.
Published: June 2024

Staphylococcus aureus skin and soft tissue infection is a common ailment placing a large burden upon global healthcare infrastructure. These bacteria are growing increasingly recalcitrant to frontline antimicrobial therapeutics like vancomycin due to the prevalence of variant populations such as methicillin‐resistant and vancomycin‐resistant strains, and there is currently a dearth of novel antibiotics in production. Additionally, S. aureus has the capacity to hijack the host clotting machinery to generate fibrin‐based biofilms that confer protection from host antimicrobial mechanisms and antibiotic‐based therapies, enabling immune system evasion and significantly reducing antimicrobial efficacy. Emphasis is being placed on improving the effectiveness of therapeutics that are already commercially available through various means. Fibrin‐based nanoparticles (FBNs) were developed and found to interact with S. aureus through the clumping factor A (ClfA) fibrinogen receptor and directly integrate into the biofilm matrix. FBNs loaded with antimicrobials such as vancomycin enabled a targeted and sustained release of antibiotic that increased drug contact time and reduced the therapeutic dose required for eradicating the bacteria, both in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, these findings suggest that FBN‐antibiotic delivery may be a novel and potent therapeutic tool for the treatment of S. aureus biofilm infections.
Pyrene‐based ratiometric fluorescent chemosensor for sensitive detection of hypochlorite in a perfect aqueous solution
Authors: Kang Munseok , Lee Jae Jun , Gil Dongkyun , Lee Sooseong , Kim Cheal
Published: June 2024

We synthesized a pyrene‐based sensitive fluorescent chemosensor, TPA‐Cl ((E)‐N,N,N‐trimethyl‐2‐oxo‐2‐(2‐(pyren‐1‐ylmethylene)hydrazinyl)ethan‐1‐aminium chloride), to detect hypochlorite in a perfect aqueous solution. TPA‐Cl showed high selectivity for hypochlorite through fluorescence color change from sky blue to blue. The detection limit for hypochlorite was calculated as 0.27 μM, which is a quite low value. Moreover, the presence of other anions or ROS hardly hindered the sensing of hypochlorite by TPA‐Cl. Furthermore, TPA‐Cl could be applied successfully as a test kit for the simple recognition of hypochlorite. Surprisingly, TPA‐Cl is the first pyrene‐based fluorescent chemosensor that can detect ClO− by using the TPA‐Cl‐coated test kit. Moreover, TPA‐Cl could achieve the quantification of ClO− in various environmental water samples. The hydrolytic cleavage and oxidation mechanism of TPA‐Cl by hypochlorite was elucidated through UV–vis and fluorescent spectroscopy, 1H NMR titration, ESI‐MS analysis and DFT calculation.
Moving beyond symptom reduction: A meta‐analysis on the effect of exposure therapy for PTSD on quality of life
Authors: Kaur Kiran , Asnaani Anu , Levy Hannah C. , Miller Madeleine L. , Tolin David F. , McLean Carmen P.
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Quality of life (QOL) is a multidimensional construct including emotional well‐being, life satisfaction, and physical health. Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) consistently report low QOL, highlighting the importance of assessing the effectiveness of first‐line PTSD treatments (e.g., exposure‐based therapies) on QOL. This meta‐analysis examined the efficacy of exposure therapy for PTSD on QOL compared to control conditions (e.g., waitlist, medication, treatment‐as‐usual) at posttreatment and follow‐up (ranging from 1 month to 2 years).

Methods

Building on a previous meta‐analysis of exposure‐based therapy for PTSD, we searched PsycINFO and Medline in December 2021, July 2022, and March 2023 to include randomized controlled trials of exposure‐based treatments for adult PTSD assessing QOL. We screened 295 abstracts for initial eligibility; 20 articles met inclusion criteria and were included (N = 2729 participants). Risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool 2.0.

Results

At posttreatment, exposure‐based therapies showed a medium effect on QOL relative to control conditions (k = 25, g = 0.67). This effect was not observed at follow‐up for the small subset of studies with follow‐up data (k = 8, g = 0.16). At posttreatment, effect size varied significantly as a function of the control condition (p < .0001). There were no differences in QOL effects across exposure therapies at posttreatment or follow‐up (p = .09).

Conclusion

Exposure therapy was associated with greater improvement in QOL compared to control conditions at posttreatment. Exposure was not superior to control conditions at follow‐up, and the longer‐term impact of exposure on QOL is unclear. The implications of these findings are discussed, along with the need for more PTSD treatment studies to examine QOL outcomes at posttreatment and follow‐up.
Development of an efficient process to extract C‐phycocyanin from marine cyanobacterial strains and evaluation of its bioactive potential
Authors: Khazi Mahammed Ilyas , Demirel Zeliha , Liaqat Fakhra , Eltem Rengin , Conk Dalay Meltem
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND

Phycocyanin (PC), a natural blue photosynthetic pigment found in cyanobacteria, rhodophyta and cryptophyta has numerous applications in biotechnology and the food industry. The phycocyanin extraction method has a significant impact on its bioactivities, purity index, cost and potential applications; thus, the development of an efficient extraction strategy continues to be a primary research goal.

RESULTS

This study evaluated the efficacy of different methods for the extraction of cyanobacterial phycocyanin (C‐PC) from three marine cyanobacterial isolates, namely Arthrospira platensis, Phormidium sp. and Pseudoscillatoria sp. wet biomass. The pretreatment step of soaking biomass in extraction buffer for 60 min, followed by a combination of freeze–thaw (one cycle; 2 h) and sonication (2 min) treatment was found to be the most effective extraction strategy, producing the highest C‐PC yield (16.19 ± 0.34%, 15.89 ± 0.61% and 15.56 ± 0.69% dry cell weight for strains A. platensis, Phormidium sp. and Pseudoscillatoria sp., respectively). Furthermore, a biomass‐to‐solvent ratio of 0.02 g mL−1 was optimal to attain food‐grade purity ((A620/A280) ≥ 0.7). Bioactivity evaluation of crude and purified C‐PC exhibited its potential as antioxidant compounds and as an antimicrobial agent with significant inhibitory effects against various pathogenic microorganisms.

CONCLUSION

The study proposed an efficient and cost‐effective C‐PC extraction process for cyanobacteria and highlighted the potential of C‐PC as a valuable bioactive compound with various applications. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
The path forward for protein footprinting, covalent labeling, and mass spectrometry‐based protein conformational analyses
Authors: Borotto Nicholas B.
Published: June 2024

Mass spectrometry‐based approaches to assess protein conformation have become widely utilized due to their sensitivity, low sample requirements, and broad applicability to proteins regardless of size and environment. Their wide applicability and sensitivity also make these techniques suitable for the analysis of complex mixtures of proteins, and thus, they have been applied at the cell and even the simple organism levels. These works are impressive, but they predominately employ “bottom‐up” workflows and require proteolytic digestion prior to analysis. Once digested, it is not possible to distinguish the proteoform from which any single peptide is derived and therefore, one cannot associate distal—in primary structure—concurrent post‐translational modifications (PTMs) or covalent labels, as they would be found on separate peptides. Thus, analyses via bottom‐up proteomics report the average PTM status and higher‐order structure (HOS) of all existing proteoforms. Second, these works predominately employ promiscuous reagents to probe protein HOS. While this does lead to improved conformational resolution, the formation of many products can divide the signal associated with low‐copy number proteins below signal‐to‐noise thresholds and complicate the bioinformatic analysis of these already challenging systems. In this perspective, I further detail these limitations and discuss the positives and negatives of top‐down proteomics as an alternative.
Cytotoxic and viricidal effects of human semen on mumps virus‐infected lymphocytes: In vitro studies
Authors: Wang Fei , Shao Xinyi , Bao Binghao , Yang Yixuan , Wang Yu , Zhang Jing , Wang Siqi , Chen Yongmei , Han Daishu
Published: June 2024

Viruses in human semen may be sexually transmitted via free and cell‐mediated viral infection. The potential effects of semen on the infection and sexual transmission of most viruses in semen remain largely unclear. The present study elucidated the inhibitory effects of human seminal plasma (SP) on Jurkat cell (JC)‐mediated mumps virus (MuV) infection. We demonstrated that MuV efficiently infected JCs and that the JCs infected by MuV (JC‐MuV) mediated MuV infection of HeLa cells. Remarkably, SP was highly cytotoxic to JCs and inhibited JC‐MuV infection of HeLa cells. The cytotoxic factor possessed a molecular weight of less than 3 kDa, whereas that of the viricidal factor was over 100 kDa. The cooperation of cytotoxic and viricidal factors was required for the SP inhibition of JC‐MuV infection, and prostatic fluid (PF) was responsible for both the cytotoxic and viricidal effects of SP. The cytotoxic effects we observed were resistant to the treatment of PF with boiling water, proteinase K, RNase A, and DNase I. Our results provide novel insights into the antiviral properties of SP, which may limit cell‐mediated sexual viral transmission.
Survival analysis of teeth following clinical crown lengthening and crown insertion procedures up to 14 years: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Oh Se‐Lim , Hu Jiaxin , Kwak Kee Hyun , Chung Man‐Kyo
Published: June 2024

Background

The purpose of this study was to conduct survival analysis of teeth following clinical crown lengthening procedures (CLPs) and crown insertions via a retrospective cohort study.

Methods

Patient‐ and tooth‐related data were collected from 268 participants who received CLPs from 2009 to 2015. The Kaplan–Meier curve and the log‐rank tests were used to estimate the probability of survival and compare the survival probabilities among different variables. A Cox multivariate proportional hazard regression model was used to investigate the collective effects of root canal treatment (RCT) and the types of opposing dentition.

Results

The rate of tooth loss was 21.6% during the observation period from 1 to 14 years, with 58 teeth extracted. The most attributable reason for tooth extraction was coronal tooth fracture, followed by endodontic failure such as root fracture. The survival probability was 0.87 at 5 years and 0.7 at 10 years. No significant differences in the survival probabilities were found among different providers and locations, the presence of a post, and the types of crowns. The hazard ratio for tooth loss was 6.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) [2.6 to 20.9] in the teeth with RCT (p < 0.001) and 2.4, 95% CI [1.1 to 4.8] in the teeth occluding implant‐retained prostheses (p = 0.016).

Conclusions

Tooth loss following CLPs and crown insertions appeared least among the teeth without RCT when occluding natural teeth, while tooth loss was most among the teeth with RCT when occluding implants.
The anti‐hyperplasia effect of polysaccharide from Prunella vulgaris L. on mammary gland hyperplasia in rats through regulation of the AKT‐FOXO3a signaling pathway and intestinal flora
Authors: Zhao Hong , Yang Yongyi , Zhou Yingming , Wen Han , Chen Chen , Li Changxu , Feng Yao , Li Lili , Li Xiaoliang
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND

Prunella vulgaris L., a medicinal and edible homologous plant, is often used to treat conditions such as breast hyperplasia, thyroid enlargement and lymphatic tuberculosis. Research has demonstrated that it is particularly effective in the treatment of mammary gland hyperplasia (MGH). However, the material basis and mechanism of its efficacy are still unclear.

RESULTS

Our results showed that in rats with MGH, polysaccharide from Prunella vulgaris L. (PVP) led to a reduction in the levels of estradiol, prolactin and malondialdehyde, while simultaneously increasing the concentrations of progesterone (P), superoxide dismutase (SOD), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and catalase (CAT) in the serum. In addition, results obtained from 16S rRNA sequencing demonstrated that PVP had the capacity to increase the richness and diversity of the intestinal microbiota in MGH rats, as well as modify the structure of the microbiota. Correlation analysis revealed that the levels of P, SOD, MnSOD and CAT were positively associated with Allobaculum, Romboutsia, Faecalibaculum and Clostridium, while negatively correlated with Turicibacter.

CONCLUSIONS

The mechanism of PVP in treating MGH might be through inhibiting the phosphorylation of the AKT‐FOXO3a signaling pathway and then activating the expression of downstream antioxidant enzymes, such as MnSOD and CAT. At the same time, PVP could restore intestinal flora homeostasis in rats with MGH by regulating the flora changes of Allobaculum, Romboutsia, Clostridium and Faecalibaculum, thereby reducing oxidative stress in rats with MGH. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Cover Image
Authors: Ji Jun , Yi Xiangzhou , Gao Xia , Wang Bohui , Zhang Xueying , Shen Xuanri , Xia Guanghua
Published: June 2024

The cover image is based on the Research Article Synergistic effects of tilapia head protein hydrolysate and walnut protein hydrolysate on the amelioration of cognitive impairment in mice by Jun Ji et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.13369.

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Assessing breast cancer‐related lymphedema screening and treatment gaps in a safety‐net hospital
Authors: Young Sara , Geary Alaina , Zhao Xuewei , Kenzik Kelly , Cassidy Michael , Newman Robin , Merrill Andrea L.
Published: June 2024

Background and Objectives

We evaluated the unmet breast cancer‐related lymphedema (BCRL) treatment and education needs at New England's largest safety‐net hospital serving a diverse population by assessing prevalence, risk factors, and treatment.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study examining breast cancer surgery patients from September 2016 to September 2021. The primary outcome was BCRL diagnosis. Secondary outcomes included BCRL risk factors, and physical and occupational therapy (PT/OT) referral frequency and completion.

Results

Of 639 patients, 17% of patients had documented BCRL, which was significantly associated with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). There were no racial, insurance, breast radiation, or BMI category differences between patients with and without a BCRL diagnosis. Of those with BCRL, 58% received a PT/OT referral, and 56% completed their referral. There were no racial, insurance, or BMI category differences between those who received a PT/OT referral and those who did not.

Conclusion

In our high‐risk population, rates of documented BCRL were higher than expected, approaching rates of ALND, despite the majority undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). PT/OT referral and completion rates were low, concerning for an unmet BCRL treatment and education need. No disparities in care delivery were seen, but a program that addresses treatment gaps and ensures accessible and patient‐centered BCRL care is urgently needed.
Unsupervised Learning‐Based Measurement of Ultrasonic Axial Transmission Velocity in Neonatal Bone
Authors: Li Qing , Tran Tho N. H. T. , Guo Jialin , Li Boyi , Xu Kailiang , Le Lawrence H. , Ta Dean
Published: June 2024

Objectives

To develop a robust algorithm for estimating ultrasonic axial transmission velocity from neonatal tibial bone, and to investigate the relationships between ultrasound velocity and neonatal anthropometric measurements as well as clinical biochemical markers of skeletal health.

Methods

This study presents an unsupervised learning approach for the automatic detection of first arrival time and estimation of ultrasonic velocity from axial transmission waveforms, which potentially indicates bone quality. The proposed method combines the ReliefF algorithm and fuzzy C‐means clustering. It was first validated using an in vitro dataset measured from a Sawbones phantom. It was subsequently applied on in vivo signals collected from 40 infants, comprising 21 males and 19 females. The extracted neonatal ultrasonic velocity was subjected to statistical analysis to explore correlations with the infants' anthropometric features and biochemical indicators.

Results

The results of in vivo data analysis revealed significant correlations between the extracted ultrasonic velocity and the neonatal anthropometric measurements and biochemical markers. The velocity of first arrival signals showed good associations with body weight (ρ = 0.583, P value <.001), body length (ρ = 0.583, P value <.001), and gestational age (ρ = 0.557, P value <.001).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that fuzzy C‐means clustering is highly effective in extracting ultrasonic propagating velocity in bone and reliably applicable in in vivo measurement. This work is a preliminary study that holds promise in advancing the development of a standardized ultrasonic tool for assessing neonatal bone health. Such advancements are crucial in the accurate diagnosis of bone growth disorders.
Hydrophobic Aerogels from Vinyl Polymers Derived from Radical Polymerization: Proof‐of‐Concept
Authors: Adolfs Claudia , Altarabeen Razan , Kimmritz Leon , Gibowsky Lara , Schroeter Baldur , Beuermann Sabine , Smirnova Irina
Published: June 2024

Hydrophilicity is one important drawback of bio‐based aerogels. To overcome this issue, a novel approach for the preparation of mesoporous, water repellent aerogels is introduced, which combines synthesis of cross‐linked bio‐based copolymers from methacrylate copolymerizations, followed by solvent exchange and supercritical drying steps. The influence of monomers with different nonpolar ester groups (methyl, vanillin, tetrahydrofurfuryl) on textural properties and water contact angles of the dry products is assessed. Final aerogels show generally high overall porosities (≈96%), low densities (0.07–0.11 g cm−3) as well as fine, mainly mesoporous networks, and specific surface areas in the range of 120–240 m2 g−1. Hereby, choice of the methacrylate ester groups results in differences of the resulting pore‐size distributions. Water repellency tests show stable static water contact angles in the hydrophobic range (≈100°) achieved for the substrate containing the vanillin ester group. On the contrary the other substrates absorb water quickly, which indicates a decisive role of the ester group. The presented approach opens up a new pathway to bio‐based aerogels with intrinsic hydrophobicity. It is suggested that the properties are tailored by the choice of the monomer structure, hence enabling further adaption and optimization of the products.
Analysis compares two treatments for schizophrenia patients
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: June 2024

A new analysis examining long‐acting injectable treatment versus an oral antipsychotic has found a significant reduction in relapse in patients with schizophrenia who used the injectable treatment, regardless of the duration of their illness. The research findings are important to build evidence‐based recommendations for clinical care, researchers stated.
A practical and robust approach for solving the multi‐compartment vehicle routing problem under demand uncertainty using machine learning
Authors: Chamurally Shabanaz , Rieck Julia
Published: June 2024

The multi‐compartment vehicle routing problem is an extension of the vehicle routing problem and consists of designing a set of routes to perform the collection or delivery of different product types from customers with minimal costs. The product types are incompatible with each other and must be transported separately in multiple compartments. In practice, several uncertainties such as uncertainty in demands can arise, where the exact demand of customers is not known at the time of planning. To deal with these uncertainties, decision‐makers have to rely on robust solutions. A solution is considered robust when it can resist perturbations in every possible demand scenario as much as possible. In the day to day business of most logistic companies, historical data about each customer can be stored and used to make intelligent decisions regarding the expected demands. In this article, we propose an adaptive large neighborhood search for solving the robust multi‐compartment vehicle routing problem under demand uncertainty and present a robust solution approach for the problem in practical settings by employing machine learning. We show that by using our approach, the solutions obtained have lower recourse costs and have a lower gap between expected and actual costs, which is a favorable outcome to have in practice.
Transient computational homogenization of heterogeneous poroelastic media with local resonances
Authors: Liupekevicius Renan , van Dommelen Johannes A. W. , Geers Marc G. D. , Kouznetsova Varvara G.
Published: June 2024

A computational homogenization framework is proposed for solving transient wave propagation in the linear regime in heterogeneous poroelastic media that may exhibit local resonances due to microstructural heterogeneities. The microscale fluid‐structure interaction problem and the macroscale are coupled through an extended version of the Hill‐Mandel principle, leading to a variationally consistent averaging scheme of the microscale fields. The effective macroscopic constitutive relations are obtained by expressing the microscale problem with a reduced‐order model that contains the longwave basis and the so‐called local resonance basis, yielding the closed‐form expressions for the homogenized material properties. The resulting macroscopic model is an enriched porous continuum with internal variables that represent the microscale dynamics at the macroscale, whereby the Biot model is recovered as a special case. Numerical examples demonstrate the framework's validity in modeling wave transmission through a porous layer.
On‐Line Analysis of Cigarette Smoke Based on Microwave Plasma Torch Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Tang He , Yuan Kailong , Chu Fengjian , Zhang Xiaobing , Li Qi , Chen Qi , Feng Hongru , Pan Yuanjiang
Published: June 2024

Cigarette smoke contains a large number of chemicals, including both flavor components and harmful substances. The mainstream smoke (MSS) generated by smoking is directly inhaled by individuals, making it crucial to establish an effective method for smoke detection and analysis. One promising technique for analyzing smoke is MPT‐MS (Microwave plasma torch mass spectrometry). This approach offers several advantages in accurately detecting the composition of cigarette smoke. By combining MPT‐MS with a smoke pumping device, we can achieve real‐time online detection of smoke components. We successfully detected 22 flavor compounds present in the smoke. These compounds contribute to the distinct taste of cigarettes. Moreover, we identified 2 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the smoke. PAHs are known carcinogens and are of great concern in terms of their potential health risks. The successful detection and identification of flavor compounds and PAHs using our method confirm the online detection capability of MPT‐MS. This approach provides an efficient and reliable means for analyzing the complex composition of cigarette smoke. By utilizing MPT‐MS, we can gain valuable insights into the chemical composition of cigarette smoke and can inform the development of strategies and policies aimed at reducing the harmful effects of smoking and protecting public health.
Cultural keystone species as a tool for biocultural stewardship. A global review
Authors: Mattalia Giulia , McAlvay Alex , Teixidor‐Toneu Irene , Lukawiecki Jessica , Moola Faisal , Asfaw Zemede , Cámara‐Leret Rodrigo , Díaz Sandra , Franco F. Merlin , Halpern Benjamin S. , O'Hara Casey , Renard Delphine , Uprety Yadav , Wall Jeffrey , Zafra‐Calvo Noelia , Reyes‐García Victoria
Published: June 2024

The cultural keystone species (CKS) concept (i.e. ‘species that shape in a major way the cultural identity of a people’ as defined by Garibaldi and Turner in 2004) has been proposed as part of a common framing for the multiple entangled relationships between species and the socioecological systems in which they exist. However, the blurred and prolific definitions of CKS hamper its univocal application. This work examines the current use of the term CKS to reconcile a definition and explore its practical applications for biocultural stewardship.

We ran a search for the words ‘cultural’ AND ‘keystone’ AND ‘species’. Our search was limited to peer‐reviewed articles published in English between 1994 and 2022 (inclusive) and was conducted using Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. We extracted and analysed bibliometric information as well as information on (i) the CKS components, (ii) humans' support for CKS and (iii) the definitions of CKS.

From the 313 selected documents, the CKS concept appears to be increasingly accepted, as evidenced by a growing corpus of literature. However, the absence of a systematic and precise way of documenting CKS precludes global cross‐cultural comparisons.

The geographical distribution of authors using the concept is biased. We found that 47% of all the CKS reported and 38% of the works identified in our review were located in North America.

Beyond ‘supporting identity’, several other of nature's contributions to people are associated with the CKS definitions. However, the contributions of the sociocultural group to the survival and conservation of the CKS (i.e. stewardship) are made explicit only in one‐third of the documents reviewed.

To advance biocultural stewardship as a conservation paradigm, we suggest (a) defining CKS as an indissoluble combination of a non‐human species and one or more sociocultural groups; (b) acknowledging that species and sociocultural group relations should be classified in a continuum, according to gradients of relationship intensity; and (c) explicitly acknowledging the reciprocal relationships between sociocultural groups and species.

Read the freePlain Language Summaryfor this article on the Journal blog.
Evaluating stakeholder perceptions on drone use in forest restoration using a social–ecological systems framework
Authors: Coldrey Jessica J. , Thompson Benjamin S.
Published: June 2024

Forest restoration is critical for meeting global objectives related to climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods.

Recently, new technologies such as unmanned aerial vehicles (hereafter drones) have been promoted to support activities across the planning, implementation, monitoring and maintenance stages of forest restoration. Yet, there is little empirical data on how the development and application of drones are perceived by restoration managers and stakeholders and how drones intersect with existing forest social–ecological systems (SESs).

Here, we investigate how drone tree planting initiatives in Australia can support ecosystem restoration. Through interviews and focus groups with key actors, we examine the opportunities and challenges that have been experienced or are foreseen with drone use.

Opportunities included the ability of drones to access degraded sites that are difficult or unsafe to access on foot, for example, following bushfires, floods or landslides. They were also perceived to ease the labour shortage of bush regenerators in Australia. Drones were considered particularly useful when operating at scales of around 20–100 ha.

Challenges included restrictive flying regulations that prohibit use of artificial intelligence to plot courses through complex terrain, their unproven ability to control or eradicate weeds and the uncertain supply, germination and survival rates of seeds—upon which drone‐based restoration relies. Drone use may also reduce the emotional, spiritual and cultural connections of people to the land, as compared to hand‐planting seeds or seedlings.

We conclude by conceptualising how drone‐assisted restoration can be embedded within a forest SESs management framework. Ultimately, we argue that drones offer a ‘boutique’ restoration approach that supports, rather than replaces, traditional forest restoration techniques.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
The synergistic effect and origin of strength in carbon fiber reinforced PAEK, PEEK, and PEKK high‐performance thermoplastic composites manufactured by multi‐scale aqueous dispersion coating
Authors: Balakumaran V. , Alagirusamy Ramasamy , Kalyanasundaram Dinesh
Published: June 2024

High‐performance thermoplastic composites of polyketones [poly‐aryl‐ether‐ketone (PAEK), poly‐ether‐ether‐ketone (PEEK), poly‐ether‐ketone‐ketone (PEKK)] reinforced with continuous carbon fiber (CF) were consolidated using towpreg produced by multi‐scale aqueous dispersion coating technique. An intra‐matrix trend of composite strength and void fraction was studied to identify the composite with maximum strength free of voids for each polyketone matrix. The CF/PAEK composite with a flexural strength of ~2047 MPa and ILSS of ~99 MPa with a fiber volume fraction of ~67% had the maximum strength free of voids among CF/PAEK composite and all polyketone composites studied. The highest crystallinity (34.5%), and the highest amount of hydrogen bonding and bonds formed between CF, PI nanoparticle, and PAEK explained the origin of strength in CF/PAEK composite. The maximum strength among CF/PEEK and CF/PEKK composite free of voids had a flexural strength of ~1861 MPa, ~1981 MPa; ILSS of ~74 MPa, ~60 MPa; fiber volume fraction of ~61% and ~ 65%, respectively. The polyimide (PI) nanoparticles layer on CF formed the fiber matrix interface, supported hydrogen bonding in all polyketone composites, and formed bonds with CF and matrices of PAEK and PEEK establishing a synergistic effect.

Highlights

Intra‐matrix trend of strength and voids in polyketone composites studied.

Void‐free, high‐performance, high fiber volume fraction composites developed.

CF/PAEK composite had maximum strength among polyketone composites studied.

PI nanoparticles formed bonds with CF and matrices of PAEK and PEEK.

CF/PAEK composite strength originates from crystallinity, H bond, and bonding.