bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel roles of bovine milk‐derived exosomes in skin antiaging
Authors: Lu Lu , Bai Wei , Wang Miao , Han Chunle , Du Huanqing , Wang Na , Gao Mengya , Li Dan , Dong Fengwei , Ge Xiaohu
Published: December 2023

Background

Exosomes are small vesicles released from cells and are found in various mammalian biological fluids, such as bovine milk, which has been employed in skincare for many years, apart from its dairy applications. In addition, exosomes have been recognized as vehicles for intercellular communication.

Aims

In this study, we aimed to investigate the novel effects of bovine milk‐derived exosomes (MK‐Exo) on antiaging in human skin.

Methods

Initially, MK‐Exo were co‐cultured with keratinocytes and fibroblasts; subsequent analysis involved qPCR and western blotting to assess induced gene expression. Subsequently, MK‐Exo were topically applied to the facial skin of 31 female volunteers twice daily for 28 days. The functions were evaluated after conducting safety assessments in vivo.

Results

Purified MK‐Exo demonstrated the ability to be taken up directly by keratinocytes and fibroblasts in vitro, resulting in the upregulation of natural factors associated with skin moisturization, including filaggrin (FLG), aquaporin 3 (AQP3), and CD44 in keratinocytes, as well as hyaluronidase (HAS2) in fibroblasts. Concurrently, MK‐Exo promoted fibroblast cell migration and restored the expression of type I and III collagen (Col I and Col III) following exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Furthermore, phototoxicity, photoallergy, repeated skin irritation, skin allergy, and patch tests confirmed the safety of MK‐Exo for skin application. Finally, we elucidated the roles of MK‐Exo in preserving moisture and reducing wrinkles in humans.

Conclusion

Our findings unveil the novel contributions of MK‐Exo to human skin aging, presenting a new avenue in the field of skincare.
Predictors of changes in resilience among spousal caregivers of patients with advanced cancer within the first 6 months after initial treatment
Authors: Sun Haiyan , Chen Shuqiao , Chen Xi , Yang Qin , Zhang Hu , Wacharasin Chintana , Hengudomsub Pornpat
Published: December 2023

Background

While previous research has established that resilience is affected by various factors, these studies have primarily focussed on individual variables associated with resilience, without providing insights into how to influence the rate of change in resilience.

Aim

To examine the trajectory of resilience and identify the factors associated with changes in resilience among spousal caregivers of patients with newly diagnosed advanced cancer receiving treatment during the first 6 months.

Design

An observational longitudinal study.

Methods

A total of 312 spousal caregivers of patients with newly diagnosed advanced cancer were recruited from January 2022 to December 2022 in Yancheng, China. Three data collection points were established, spanning from the first month to 6 months after initial cancer treatment. A latent growth model was employed to depict the resilience trajectory at various time points. A latent growth model with time‐invariant covariates was adopted to determine the factors influencing resilience trajectory. The study adhered to the STROBE checklist for proper reporting.

Results

Throughout the follow‐up period, the participants experienced a significant increase in resilience. Gender, family income, the patient's health status, spirituality and belief in familism were significantly associated with the baseline resilience level. Moreover, family income, the patient's health status, spirituality, caregiver burden and belief in familism were significantly associated with the rate of resilience change over time.

Conclusions

Spousal caregivers demonstrated a linear increase in resilience during the first 6 months after initial treatment. Meanwhile, changes in resilience were influenced by multiple factors during the early phase of cancer treatment. Thus, more attention should be paid to early identification and implementation of targeted interventions.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Healthcare professionals should understand the change in resilience among spousal caregivers and conduct timely mental health interventions to enhance the resilience of families affected by cancer.

Patient or Public Contribution

The Guidance for Reporting Involvement of Patients and the Public‐Short Form reporting checklists were used to improve patient and public involvement.
Experiences of consumers, carers and clinicians during borderline personality disorder presentations to the emergency department—An integrative review
Authors: Miller Joseph , Nguyen Elle , Lam Amanda Yu Hui , Brann Peter , Innes Stanley , Buntine Paul , Broadbear Jillian , Hope Judy
Published: December 2023

Introduction

People with a borderline personality disorder (BPD) diagnosis or symptoms may experience emotional crises which necessitate use of the emergency department (ED). No existing reviews focus specifically on experiences of consumersa, carersb and clinicians in relation to ED presentations by people diagnosed with BPD.

Aim/Question

The aim of this study was to synthesise knowledge on consumer, carer and clinician experiences of BPD in the ED.

Method

An integrative review methodology was chosen as it best captures the complexity of varied perspectives and emergent phenomena from diverse literature sources. EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycInfo and Medline were searched for papers published before 16 February 2022.

Results

Nine papers met the inclusion criteria (five qualitative, one quantitative, one mixed methods and two letters to the editor). Key themes were barriers to timely and adequate care, and stigmatising attitudes and practices towards people diagnosed with BPD. Negative attitudes were perceived to perpetuate harmful outcomes and further ED visits.

Discussion

Predominantly negative ED experiences were expressed by clinicians, consumers and carers. Further work is needed in ED models of care and staff education to improve the experience of care for consumers, carers and clinicians alike.

Implications for Practice

Opportunities for change will exist through co‐designed innovation, education, advocacy and leadership.
God as the Condition of Speech: An Interpretation of Eugen Rosenstock‐Huessy's and Franz Rosenzweig's New Thinking
Authors: Katwan Ron
Published: December 2023

The article offers an interpretation of the New Thinking of Rosenstock‐Huessy and Rosenzweig. It first explains the New Thinking in juxtaposition with a philosophical tradition that views reality as a problem of knowledge and conceptualizes the I's relation to reality as accomplished primarily through thought. The New Thinking is defined by its effort to understand the human being's relation to reality as constitutively shaped by speech, and speech not as means of knowing or representing things but as means of establishing relations among speakers. The article then reconstructs an argument central to the New Thinking that begins with the analysis of the structure of speech in order to discover the relations between the human being, the world, and God that are the conditions without which speech would not accomplish what it always already accomplishes, namely, to establish relations among speakers. The idea that emerges from this analysis is that prior to, and presupposed by, our capacity to know reality objectively, our very encounter with reality in speech and time is inescapably a response to God's address. For the New Thinking, God is not an object of knowledge or experience, but the perpetual address that is the condition of speech.
A rare cause and an even rarer treatment of hypertension in a 5‐year‐old boy: Mid‐aortic syndrome
Authors: İriz Erkan , Tak Sercan , Yiğiter Eda Nur , Leventoğlu Emre , Demirtaş Hüseyin , Akkuzu Emine , Uysal Yazıcı Mutlu , Fidan Kibriya , Dalgıç Aydın
Published: December 2023

Renal artery stenosis is one of the common vascular diseases that cause hypertension in children. However, renal artery aneurysms and abdominal aortic aneurysms, which may be components of mid‐aortic syndrome, are rarely associated with renal artery stenosis. Despite its rarity, early diagnosis and treatment are critical to prevent fatal complications. Currently, non‐surgical invasive techniques are considered the first choice for treatment, but in some cases, surgery is inevitable. Here, we present a 5‐year‐old boy with a mid‐aortic syndrome. The patient presented with a history of severe headache and epistaxis 5–6 times a day and was diagnosed with hypertension. A 9 × 9 mm saccular aneurysm on the anterior surface of the abdominal aorta at the level of the left renal artery ostium, and a 12 mm aneurysm in the left renal artery after a stenotic segment at the hilum level was detected in the doppler USG and contrast‐enhanced imaging techniques. The patient was operated on electively. We used a PTFE patch to repair the abdominal aorta and, saphenous vein which was taken from his father to repair the renal artery. The patient recovered well and was discharged on the 18th day.

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Interplay between Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, the bacteriome and phytopathogens in Lycoris radiata
Authors: Zhou Jiayu , Stringlis Ioannis A. , Wen Jian , Liu Yifang , Xu Sheng , Wang Ren
Published: December 2023

Alkaloids are a large group of plant secondary metabolites with various structures and activities. It is important to understand their functions in the interplay between plants and the beneficial and pathogenic microbiota.

Amaryllidaceae alkaloids (AAs) are unique secondary metabolites in Amaryllidaceae plants. Here, we studied the interplay between AAs and the bacteriome in Lycoris radiata, a traditional Chinese medicinal plant containing high amounts of AAs.

The relationship between AAs and bacterial composition in different tissues of L. radiata was studied. In vitro experiments revealed that AAs have varying levels of antimicrobial activity against endophytic bacteria and pathogenic fungi, indicating the importance of AA synthesis in maintaining a balance between plants and beneficial/pathogenic microbiota. Using bacterial synthetic communities with different compositions, we observed a positive feedback loop between bacteria insensitive to AAs and their ability to increase accumulation of AAs in L. radiata, especially in leaves. This may allow insensitive bacteria to outcompete sensitive ones for plant resources. Moreover, the accumulation of AAs enhanced by insensitive bacteria could benefit plants when challenged with fungal pathogens.

This study highlights the functions of alkaloids in plant–microbe interactions, opening new avenues for designing plant microbiomes that could contribute to sustainable agriculture.
Activation of liver X receptors suppresses the abundance and osteoclastogenic potential of osteoclast precursors and periodontal bone loss
Authors: Zhao Yanfang , Yang Kai , Ferreira Thalyta Amanda , Kang Xuejia , Feng Xu , Katz Jannet , Michalek Suzanne M , Zhang Ping
Published: December 2023

Liver‐X receptors (LXRs) are essential nuclear hormone receptors involved in cholesterol and lipid metabolism. They are also believed to regulate inflammation and physiological and pathological bone turnover. We have previously shown that infection with the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) in mice increases the abundance of CD11b+c‐fms+Ly6Chi cells in bone marrow (BM), spleen (SPL), and peripheral blood. These cells also demonstrated enhanced osteoclastogenic activity and a distinctive gene profile following Pg infection. Here, we investigated the role of LXRs in regulating these osteoclast precursors (OCPs) and periodontal bone loss. We found that Pg infection downregulates the gene expression of LXRs, as well as ApoE, a transcription target of LXRs, in CD11b+c‐fms+Ly6Chi OCPs. Activation of LXRs by treatment with GW3965, a selective LXR agonist, significantly decreased Pg‐induced accumulation of CD11b+c‐fms+Ly6Chi population in BM and SPL. GW3965 treatment also significantly suppressed the osteoclastogenic potential of these OCPs induced by Pg infection. Furthermore, the activation of LXRs reduces the abundance of OCPs systemically in BM and locally in the periodontium, as well as mitigates gingival c‐fms expression and periodontal bone loss in a ligature‐induced periodontitis model. These data implicate a novel role of LXRs in regulating OCP abundance and osteoclastogenic potential in inflammatory bone loss.
Drug‐induced aseptic meningitis after an interlaminar lumbar epidural steroid injection
Authors: Nguyen Trong P. , Kant Ishu , Cartagena Alec , Kim Jung H.
Published: December 2023

Background

This case report describes a rare instance of drug‐induced aseptic meningitis after an interlaminar lumbar epidural steroid injection.

Case Presentation

A 74 year‐old female patient presented to the ED post‐procedure day three after an L4‐L5 interlaminar lumbar epidural steroid injection with fever, nausea, and vomiting. The patient had previously undergone numerous lumbar epidurals without complications and used identical medications, which included 1% lidocaine, iohexol contrast, methylprednisolone (Depo‐medrol), and normal saline. Pertinent labs included a WBC of 15,000 cells/μL. Lumbar MRI revealed L4‐S1 aseptic arachnoiditis. Two bone scans with Gallium and T‐99 confirmed no infectious process. The patient then had a second admission months later with similar presenting symptoms and hospital course after repeating the lumbar epidural steroid injection. Lumbar MRI and CSF studies confirmed aseptic meningitis.

Conclusion

This patient's repeated admissions from aseptic meningitis were likely caused by irritation of the meningeal layers from a medication used during the procedure.
Glycine‐serine‐rich effector PstGSRE4 in Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici targets and stabilizes TaGAPDH2 that promotes stripe rust disease
Authors: Liu Cong , Wang Yanfeng , Du Yuanyuan , Kang Zhensheng , Guo Jia , Guo Jun
Published: December 2023

Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) secretes effector proteins that enter plant cells and manipulate host processes. In a previous study, we identified a glycine‐serine‐rich effector PstGSRE4, which was proven to regulate the reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathway by interacting with TaCZSOD2. In this study, we further demonstrated that PstGSRE4 interacts with wheat glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase TaGAPDH2, which is related to ROS signalling. In wheat, silencing of TaGAPDH2 by virus‐induced gene silencing increased the accumulation of ROS induced by the Pst virulent race CYR31. Overexpression of TaGAPDH2 decreased the accumulation of ROS induced by the avirulent Pst race CYR23. In addition, TaGAPDH2 suppressed Pst candidate elicitor Pst322‐triggered cell death by decreasing ROS accumulation in Nicotiana benthamiana. Knocking down TaGAPDH2 expression attenuated Pst infection, whereas overexpression of TaGAPDH2 promoted Pst infection, indicating that TaGAPDH2 is a negative regulator of plant defence. In N. benthamiana, PstGSRE4 stabilized TaGAPDH2 through inhibition of the 26S proteasome‐mediated destabilization. Overall, these results suggest that TaGAPDH2 is hijacked by the Pst effector as a negative regulator of plant immunity to promote Pst infection in wheat.
Variation in xylem vulnerability to cavitation shapes the photosynthetic legacy of drought
Authors: Tonet Vanessa , Brodribb Timothy , Bourbia Ibrahim
Published: December 2023

Increased drought conditions impact tree health, negatively disrupting plant water transport which, in turn, affects plant growth and survival. Persistent drought legacy effects have been documented in many diverse ecosystems, yet we still lack a mechanistic understanding of the physiological processes limiting tree recovery after drought. Tackling this question, we exposed saplings of a common Australian evergreen tree (Eucalyptus viminalis) to a cycle of drought and rewatering, seeking evidence for a link between the spread of xylem cavitation within the crown and the degree of photosynthetic recovery postdrought. Individual leaves experiencing >35% vein cavitation quickly died but this did not translate to a rapid overall canopy damage. Rather, whole canopies showed a gradual decline in mean postdrought gas exchange rates as water stress increased. This gradual loss of canopy function postdrought was due to a significant variation in cavitation vulnerability of leaves within canopies leading to diversity in the capacity of leaves within a single crown to recover function after drought. These results from the evergreen E. viminalis emphasise the importance of within‐crown variation in xylem vulnerability as a central character regulating the dynamics of canopy death and the severity of drought legacy through time.
The connections—and misconnections—between the public and politicians over climate policy: A social psychological perspective
Authors: Sherman David K. , Van Boven Leaf
Published: December 2023

We review findings from social psychology and related fields to examine the bidirectional relationship between the public—what are their views about climate change and the need for policies to address the climate crisis—and the politicians who are making (or not making) climate policy and beholden to electoral constraints. We illustrate social psychological pressures that influence policy support and their relevance to how policies emerge from coordinated action and how barriers impede policy progress. We review two factors that have been the focus of research within communication, political science, and psychology and that are relevant to how climate policies are promoted (or undermined): activists and the media. We examine the process by which activists amplify and transmit the preferences of the public to politicians, and how research on persuasion and social norms helps understand how this effect can be amplified or diminished. We also describe how the media environment can amplify or diminish the roles of the public and the politicians in influencing each other. As the world confronts the climate crisis, research from social psychologists, environmental psychologists, political scientists, and communication scholars has examined the interrelations between the public, politicians, media, and activists, but largely in a disconnected way. The current paper provides a social psychological framework to integrate these approaches and, in so doing, suggest new directions for research and theory‐guided ways to influence policy around climate change.
Efficiency of Gear Drives: An Accurate Method of Testing
Authors: Allen C. M. , Roys F. W.
Published: December 2023

The usual method employed in determining the efficiency of a gear drive is one in which the power loss is obtained by measuring the input and output and subtracting the latter from the former. In good drives, however, the efficiency is high and the input and output are very nearly equal, and any error in their measurement will result in a large per cent error in their difference, or the power loss. It is therefore evident that a method by which the power loss may be directly measured will be much more accurate.

The authors describe such a method, developed recently in the Mechanical Engineering Laboratories of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. In the apparatus used an electric motor is so suspended in a cradle that both its armature and field are free to turn. The armature shaft is connected directly to the pinion gear shaft and the driven shaft directly to an Alden absorption dynamometer. The reaction of the motor field is balanced by the action of the dynamometer through a simple lever the arms of which are accurately proportioned to the ratio of the gears.

Results of tests on bevel-gear and worm-gear drives are given in tables and charts, and from the form of the curves presented and the consistency of the data the authors conclude that the method described is apparently the best yet devised for testing gear drives of all types.
The Measurement of Thread Gages
Authors: Van Keuren H. L.
Published: December 2023

In this paper the author describes the apparatus used and the methods employed at the Bureau of Standards for the measurement of thread gages. This is of particular interest to the members of the Society, inasmuch as through the Gage Committee it was recommended that the Bureau of Standards be designated as the official place for the certification of gages for the various departments of the Federal Government.

In the measurement of both plug thread gages and ring thread gages, there are five distinct operations, namely:

a The measurement of pitch or lead

b The measurement of form and angle of thread

c The measurement of core diameter

d The measurement of full diameter

e The measurement of effective diameter.

The optical pitch-measuring machines designed and constructed by the Bureau of Standards after the original design by the National Physical Laboratory of Great Britain, have been found to be very well adapted for the rapid measurement of working and inspection thread gages, as well as for the precision measurement of master thread gages, and details are given of their design and operation.

The Bureau of Standards’ projection lantern, used for the examination of the form and included angle of thread gages is also described and its convenience and accuracy of operation are pointed out.

Complete as well as approximate general formulæ for the compulation of effective diameters from measurements taken by the three-wire method for 60-deg. United States standard threads, 55-deg. Whitworth threads, 53-deg. 8-min. Lowenhertz threads, and other threads of a similar nature, are given. There is also included a simplified formula for 60-deg. threads which will be found more convenient than the corresponding formula as given in most engineering handbooks.

Various devices and accessories used in the measurement of pitch, angle and form of ring thread gages are described, and in addition there is discussed the measurement of the effective diameter of ring thread gages by the use of a check gage and also by the three-ball method, which is similar to the three-wire method.
The British Engineering Standards Association
Authors: le Maistre C.
Published: December 2023

To secure interchangeability of parts, to cheapen manufacture by the elimination of waste and material and to expedite delivery are the primary objects of standardization. The British Engineering Standards Association includes over 900 members and deals under one central authority with standards relating to practically the whole field of engineering. As part of the work accomplished by the Association the author mentions the standardization of steel-section materials, tramway rails, special steels used in the automobile industry, screw-thread tolerances, rules for electrical machinery, designs for locomotives, specifications for portland cement, road material, aircraft material and parts. The most recent activity has been the standardization of details in the construction of ships and their machinery. Much of this work has been undertaken at Government request as war measures.

The funds for the work have been provided by the Government and industries concerned. The sole executive authority of the Association is vested in the Main Committee, consisting of members nominated by the leading technical institutions.

A considerable amount of work of an international character has been undertaken and local committees of engineers and traders are being set up in the more important trading centers of the world.
Combined Stresses
Authors: Jenkins A. Lewis
Published: December 2023

The author discusses the six possible hypotheses upon which a formula for combined normal and shearing stresses may be based, namely, the maximum apparent and the maximum true or equivalent stresses in tension, compression and shear. His conclusion is that the equivalent stresses are a refinement over the apparent stresses, and he finds that both theoretical and experimental results show them to be the more accurate.

Equivalent-stress formulæ for tensile, compressive and shear stresses are given in the paper, and their uses are indicated (1) with respect to the value found for the ratio of the unit tensile and shearing stresses at the yield point, and (2) with respect to the nature of the failure of the material.

The design of shafts subjected to bending and twisting is dealt with at length and formulæ are recommended for use with hard or brittle materials, such as cast iron or hard steel, and with soft or ductile materials, such as very mild steels.
Rapid emergence of empirical Green's functions from cross-correlations of ambient sound on continental shelf
Authors: Tan Tsuwei , Godin Oleg A.
Published: December 2023

Applications of acoustic noise interferometry to passive remote sensing of the ocean rely on retrieval of empirical Green's functions (EGFs) from cross-correlations of ambient sound at spatially separated points. At ranges of tens of ocean depths, obtaining stable and accurate EGF estimates usually requires noise averaging periods of hours or days. Using data acquired in the Shallow Water 2006 experiment on the continental shelf off New Jersey, it is found that at ranges of 40–70 ocean depths, the EGFs can be retrieved with noise averaging times as short as 64 s. The phenomenon is observed for various receiver pairs but does not occur simultaneously in all azimuthal directions. The rapidly emerging EGFs have a wider frequency band and a richer normal mode content than the EGFs obtained in previous studies using long averaging times and are better suited for monitoring physical processes in the water column. Available acoustic and environmental data is examined to understand the conditions leading to rapid EGF emergence from diffuse noise. Strong intermittency is observed in the horizontal directionality of ambient sound. Rapid emergence of EGF in shallow-water waveguide is found to occur when the directionality of diffuse ambient noise is favorable.
Testing a computational model for aural detection of aircraft in ambient noise
Authors: Oh Yonghee , Lerud Karl D. , Hoglund Evelyn , Klyn Niall , Large Edward W. , Feth Lawrence L.
Published: December 2023

Computational models are used to predict the performance of human listeners for carefully specified signal and noise conditions. However, there may be substantial discrepancies between the conditions under which listeners are tested and those used for model predictions. Thus, models may predict better performance than exhibited by the listeners, or they may “fail” to capture the ability of the listener to respond to subtle stimulus conditions. This study tested a computational model devised to predict a listener's ability to detect an aircraft in various soundscapes. The model and listeners processed the same sound recordings under carefully specified testing conditions. Details of signal and masker calibration were carefully matched, and the model was tested using the same adaptive tracking paradigm. Perhaps most importantly, the behavioral results were not available to the modeler before the model predictions were presented. Recordings from three different aircraft were used as the target signals. Maskers were derived from recordings obtained at nine locations ranging from very quiet rural environments to suburban and urban settings. Overall, with a few exceptions, model predictions matched the performance of the listeners very well. Discussion focuses on those differences and possible reasons for their occurrence.
Auditory enhancement in younger and older listeners with normal and impaired hearing
Authors: Kreft Heather A. , Oxenham Andrew J.
Published: December 2023

Auditory enhancement is a spectral contrast aftereffect that can facilitate the detection of novel events in an ongoing background. A single-interval paradigm combined with roved frequency content between trials can yield as much as 20 dB enhancement in young normal-hearing listeners. This study compared such enhancement in 15 listeners with sensorineural hearing loss with that in 15 age-matched adults and 15 young adults with normal audiograms. All groups were presented with stimulus levels of 70 dB sound pressure level (SPL) per component. The two groups with normal hearing were also tested at 45 dB SPL per component. The hearing-impaired listeners showed very little enhancement overall. However, when tested at the same high (70-dB) level, both young and age-matched normal-hearing listeners also showed substantially reduced enhancement, relative to that found at 45 dB SPL. Some differences in enhancement emerged between young and older normal-hearing listeners at the lower sound level. The results suggest that enhancement is highly level-dependent and may also decrease somewhat with age or slight hearing loss. Implications for hearing-impaired listeners may include a poorer ability to adapt to real-world acoustic variability, due in part to the higher levels at which sound must be presented to be audible.
Hermite-scan imaging for differentiating glioblastoma from normal brain: Simulations and ex vivo studies for applications in intra-operative tumor identification
Authors: Kakkar Manik , Patil Jagruti M. , Trivedi Vishwas , Yadav Anushka , Saha Ratan K. , Rao Shilpa , Vazhayil Vikas , Pandya Hardik J. , Mahadevan Anita , Shekhar Himanshu , Mercado-Shekhar Karla P.
Published: December 2023

Hermite-scan (H-scan) imaging is a tissue characterization technique based on the analysis of raw ultrasound radio frequency (RF) echoes. It matches the RF echoes to Gaussian-weighted Hermite polynomials of various orders to extract information related to scatterer diameter. It provides a color map of large and small scatterers in the red and blue H-scan image channels, respectively. H-scan has been previously reported for characterizing breast, pancreatic, and thyroid tumors. The present work evaluated H-scan imaging to differentiate glioblastoma tumors from normal brain tissue ex vivo. First, we conducted 2-D numerical simulations using the k-wave toolbox to assess the performance of parameters derived from H-scan images of acoustic scatterers (15–150 μm diameters) and concentrations (0.2%–1% w/v). We found that the parameter intensity-weighted percentage of red (IWPR) was sensitive to changes in scatterer diameters independent of concentration. Next, we assessed the feasibility of using the IWPR parameter for differentiating glioblastoma and normal brain tissues (n = 11 samples per group). The IWPR parameter estimates for normal tissue (44.1% ± 1.4%) were significantly different (p < 0.0001) from those for glioblastoma (36.2% ± 0.65%). These findings advance the development of H-scan imaging for potential use in differentiating glioblastoma tumors from normal brain tissue during resection surgery.
Modelling a simplified device—a wind musical instrument—as an educational tool to study the behavior of a one-dimensional resonator
Authors: Potel Catherine , Bruneau Michel , Gatignol Philippe
Published: December 2023

The aim of this paper is to show how the analytical modelling of a simplified acoustic device (herein a simplified wind musical instrument) may be a relevant educational way to study several aspects of the behavior of an idealized component [herein a one-dimensional (1-D) resonator], which is the core component of the device considered. A time-dependent source, whether sinusoidal, impulse, or representing approximate valve-effects of the reed, is coupled to the resonator in the analytical modelling. The unavoidable thermo-viscous parietal dissipation, as well as an approximate radiation effect, are accounted for. After a brief presentation of the problem, precisely posed and solved in detail analytically in an approximate manner, results in both the frequency domain and in the time domain are presented. These results include the properties of the transient behaviors (both the starting transient and the transient decay), illustrating the main features of the resonator.
Brownian dynamics simulation on the parallel superposition rheology of a colloidal gel
Authors: Lee Young Jin , Jin Howon , Ahn Kyung Hyun
Published: December 2023

Parallel superposition rheology has been explored using Brownian dynamics simulations on a model colloidal gel by imposing a small amplitude probing oscillation parallel to the main shear flow. This study aims to investigate the constituting principles behind the material functions in parallel superposition rheometry (PSR) and to elucidate the principles behind the structure responses. The viscoelastic spectra under frequency sweeps show that in a high-frequency region, each curve can be superimposed onto a single master curve using horizontal shift factors equal to viscosity which is a reminiscence of time-shear rate superposition in orthogonal superposition rheometry. This corresponds to the region where a parallel superposition analysis can be adequately performed as the shear rate controls the viscoelastic spectra of the gel independently from probing perturbation. On the other hand, in the low-frequency region, this principle breaks down and even negative storage modulus is observed due to the strong flow coupling effect, which is also found in experiments. By introducing the spatial moduli, it is found that the negative modulus originates from the attractive potential region. In the flow conditions where negative modulus occurs, the shear force is strong enough to break down every surface bond between the particles. In this state, the increase in structural factor in response to the rise in the shear rate dominates particle stress, even within the attractive potential region. This arises because the isolated particles have more opportunities to interact with other particles as the shear rate of the imposed perturbation increases. This structural response, influenced by the attractive potential, results in a negative storage modulus and a positive loss modulus after performing Fourier transformation. This paper, for the first time by a simulation approach, demonstrates the essential characteristics of the material functions obtained using PSR. Also, this study is expected to enhance our understanding on the flowing materials and suggest a criterion for the reliable application of superposition rheology using a viscoelastic master curve.
Assessing the Role of Sports Participation on Depression, Suicide Ideation, and Suicide Behaviors Among Adolescents Before and During COVID-19
Authors: Veliz Philip , Mutumba Massy
Published: December 2023

Purpose: To assess the association between sports participation, depression, suicide ideation, and suicide behaviors in a nationally representative sample of US adolescents before COVID-19 and during COVID-19. Methods: Data from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (n = 13,526) and the 2021 Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (n = 7677) were used to analyze the association between past-year depression/suicide ideation/suicide behaviors and past-year sports participation. Results: The analysis found that 57.4% of adolescents indicated participating in at least 1 sport in 2019; this dropped to 47.7% in 2021. Furthermore, 36.7% of adolescents indicated feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for 2 weeks or more in a row in 2019; this increased to 44.2% in 2021. The percentage of adolescents who indicated considering suicide, making a suicide plan, attempting suicide, and attempted suicide that lead to an injury was similar during 2019 and 2021. Multivariable analysis found that participation in 2 or more sports in 2019 was associated with lower odds of each of the outcomes for depression, suicide ideation, and suicide behaviors, whereas in 2021, participation in 2 or more sports was only associated with lower odds of indicating being sad or hopeless (an indicator for depression) for a 2-week period (adjusted odds ratios = 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.58–0.85). Conclusions: Participation in 2 or more sports lowered the risk of feeling sad or hopeless, suicide ideation, and suicide behaviors in 2019, but this effect was absent in 2021. Given the presence of multiple stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic, sports participation alone may not offer sufficient protective effects against suicide behaviors as it did pre pandemic.
Alterations of oral and gut viromes in hypertension and/or periodontitis
Authors: Ye Hui-Lin , Zhi Meng-Fan , Chen Bo-Yan , Lin Wen-Zhen , Li Yu-Lin , Huang Shi-Jia , Zhou Lu-Jun , Xu Shuo , Zhang Jun , Zhang Wu-Chang , Feng Qiang , Duan Sheng-Zhong
Published: December 2023

The microbiota plays an important role in both hypertension (HTN) and periodontitis (PD), and PD exacerbates the development of HTN by oral and gut microbiota. Previous studies have focused on exploring the importance of the bacteriome in HTN and PD but overlooked the impact of the virome, which is also a member of the microbiota. We collected 180 samples of subgingival plaques, saliva, and feces from a cohort of healthy subjects (nHTNnPD), subjects with HTN (HTNnPD) or PD (PDnHTN), and subjects with both HTN and PD (HTNPD). We performed metagenomic sequencing to assess the roles of the oral and gut viromes in HTN and PD. The HTNnPD, PDnHTN, and HTNPD groups all showed significantly distinct beta diversity from the nHTNnPD group in saliva. We analyzed alterations in oral and gut viral composition in HTN and/or PD and identified significantly changed viruses in each group. Many viruses across three sites were significantly associated with blood pressure and other clinical parameters. Combined with these clinical associations, we found that
Gillianvirus
in subgingival plaques was negatively associated with HTN and that
Torbevirus
in saliva was positively associated with HTN. We found that
Pepyhexavirus
from subgingival plaques was indicated to be transferred to the gut. We finally evaluated viral-bacterial transkingdom interactions and found that viruses and bacteria may cooperate to affect HTN and PD. Correspondingly, HTN and PD may synergize to improve communications between viruses and bacteria.

IMPORTANCE

Periodontitis (PD) and hypertension (HTN) are both highly prevalent worldwide and cause serious adverse outcomes. Increasing studies have shown that PD exacerbates HTN by oral and gut microbiota. Previous studies have focused on exploring the importance of the bacteriome in HTN and PD but overlooked the impact of the virome, even though viruses are common inhabitants in humans. Alterations in oral and gut viral diversity and composition contribute to diseases. The present study, for the first time, profiled the oral and gut viromes in HTN and/or PD. We identified key indicator viruses and their clinical implications in HTN and/or PD. We also investigated interactions between viruses and bacteria. This work improved the overall understanding of the viromes in HTN and PD, providing vital insights into the role of the virome in the development of HTN and PD.
Sr–Nd Isotopic Evidence of a Heterogeneous Magmatic Source of Alkaline–Carbonatite Rocks of the Odikhincha Alkaline–Carbonatite Massif (Maimecha-Kotui Province, Siberia)
Authors: Kostitsyn Y. A. , Tskhovrebova A. R. , Rass I. T. , Anosova M. O.
Published: December 2023

This study focuses on the igneous rocks composing the Odikhincha massif. The massif is typical ring alkaline–ultrabasic massif with carbonatites, second largest in the Maimecha-Kotui province. The Sr-Nd isotopic values of the traps of the Arydzhang Formation and the host dolomites were also determined for comparison. The Rb–Sr isotope system of phlogopite and calcite from the Od-16-19 carbonatite of the Odikhincha massif is disturbed; the obtained age on the mineral isochrone (245 ± 3 Ma) is close to the time of formation of the Siberian traps and rocks of the ultrabasic–alkaline Maimecha-Kotui complex, but the large scatter of analytical points (MSWD = 22) does not allow this date to be considered as reliable. The disturbance of the isotope system is probably related to the fact that the strontium isotope ratio in the fluid was not constant during autometasomatic phlogopitization of carbonatite. The U–Pb isotopic system of titanite and perovskite from the same carbonatite sample Od-16-19 also appeared to be disturbed, since data points formed discordia. The U–Pb age obtained for titanite and perovskite are 244 ± 5 Ma (MSWD = 1.8) and 247 ± 18 Ma (MSWD = 4), respectively. Apparently, the age values provided by the two isotopic systems (245 ± 3 Ma by Rb–Sr and 247 ± 18 and 244 ± 5 Ma by U–Pb) are consistent with each other and reflect the time of metasomatic processes, i.e., phlogopitization and iolitization. Rb–Sr and Sm–Nd isotope data for ultrabasic–alkaline intrusive rocks with carbonatites of the Odikhincha massif and volcanics of the Arydzhang Formation indicate an enriched, relative to the composition of the convecting mantle, isotopically heterogeneous source of their parent melts. This source could be a combination of ultrabasic mantle rocks and rocks of basic composition (basites). The latter played the role of an enriched component. No signs of contamination of the melts with the host sedimentary rocks in situ were found, however, variations of Sr and Nd isotopic ratios in the rocks of the Odikhincha massif may indicate that during the introduction of deep magmas their interaction and substance exchange with the surrounding rocks of the lithosphere continued up to complete solidification of the melts, as indicated by the nature of local isotopic heterogeneity within the Odikhincha intrusion.
Assessing the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on maternal healthcare usage: evidence from routine health data in Kenya and Ethiopia
Authors: Chipeta Michael Give , Peterson Maame Brayie , Vellemu Ruth , Mohamed Sahra , Mzembe Themba , Chifungo Chimwemwe , Madise Nyovani Janet
Published: December 2023

Objectives

Lockdowns and fear of COVID-19 may have reduced access to antenatal care (ANC) and skilled birth attendance (SBA) in sub-Saharan Africa, which could undermine progress towards maternal and child survival and the sustainable development goals (SDGs). We analysed COVID-19’s impact on maternal healthcare usage, focusing on subnational levels, to identify healthcare disruption hotspots that require targeted interventions and help policymakers prioritise resources to accelerate progress.

Methods and analysis

Using monthly health management information system (HMIS) data, we tracked changes in healthcare access at subnational levels in Ethiopia and Kenya during the pandemic. We compared service usage before and during the pandemic, using interrupted time series and counterfactual analyses to evaluate the pandemic’s impact on healthcare usage trends. We also performed geospatial mapping of the affected regions to identify hotspots.

Results

Our results show significant changes at subnational levels. ANC declined in several Kenyan counties during the pandemic, with improvements observed in others. SBA disruptions were observed in two counties. In Ethiopia, ANC declined in the north but remained unchanged in the south, with some improvements observed in the two regions. Southern regions showed resilience in SBA, experiencing gains, while northern regions showed no change.

Conclusion

Future disease outbreaks may continue to cause further disruptions to health service delivery, affecting maternal and child health outcomes. Our analysis highlights the low resilience of subnational health systems to shocks, underscoring the need to strengthen healthcare systems and HMIS data capture for better data quality. Evidence-based research is essential in identifying hotspots and supporting targeted interventions to achieve the SDGs and improve maternal and child health outcomes.
Costs and health effects of CT perfusion-based selection for endovascular thrombectomy within 6 hours of stroke onset: a model-based health economic evaluation
Authors: van Voorst Henk , Hoving Jan W , Koopman Miou S , Daems Jasper D , Peerlings Daan , Buskens Erik , Lingsma Hester , Marquering Henk A , de Jong Hugo W A M , Berkhemer Olvert A , van Zwam Wim H , van Walderveen Marianne A A , van den Wijngaard Ido R , Dippel Diederik W J , Yoo Albert J , Campbell Bruce , Kunz Wolfgang G , Majoie Charles B , Emmer Bart J ,   CLEOPATRA,   MR CLEAN Registry
Published: December 2023

Background

Although CT perfusion (CTP) is often incorporated in acute stroke workflows, it remains largely unclear what the associated costs and health implications are in the long run of CTP-based patient selection for endovascular treatment (EVT) in patients presenting within 6 hours after symptom onset with a large vessel occlusion.

Methods

Patients with a large vessel occlusion were included from a Dutch nationwide cohort (n=703) if CTP imaging was performed before EVT within 6 hours after stroke onset. Simulated cost and health effects during 5 and 10 years follow-up were compared between CTP based patient selection for EVT and providing EVT to all patients. Outcome measures were the net monetary benefit at a willingness-to-pay of €80 000 per quality-adjusted life year, incremental cost-effectiveness ratio), difference in costs from a healthcare payer perspective (ΔCosts) and quality-adjusted life years (ΔQALY) per 1000 patients for 1000 model iterations as outcomes.

Results

Compared with treating all patients, CTP-based selection for EVT at the optimised ischaemic core volume (ICV≥110 mL) or core-penumbra mismatch ratio (MMR≤1.4) thresholds resulted in losses of health (median ΔQALYs for ICV≥110 mL: −3.3 (IQR: −5.9 to −1.1), for MMR≤1.4: 0.0 (IQR: −1.3 to 0.0)) with median ΔCosts for ICV≥110 mL of −€348 966 (IQR: −€712 406 to −€51 158) and for MMR≤1.4 of €266 513 (IQR: €229 403 to €380 110)) per 1000 patients. Sensitivity analyses did not yield any scenarios for CTP-based selection of patients for EVT that were cost-effective for improving health, including patients aged ≥80 years

Conclusion

In EVT-eligible patients presenting within 6 hours after symptom onset, excluding patients based on CTP parameters was not cost-effective and could potentially harm patients.
Multi-Objective Green 4-Dimensional Transportation Problem for Incompatible Damageable Items with Optimum Use of Transport Vehicles’ Space
Authors: Aktar Md Samim , Kar Chaitali , De Manoranjan , Mazumder Sanat Kumar , Maiti Manoranjan , Rathour Laxmi
Published: December 2023

In the transportation system, an item is transported from sources to destinations. In this process, as well as the weight of the items volume of the items also plays a crucial role in obtaining minimum objectives. In general, one of these constraints becomes binding. Few transportation problems (TPs) have been formulated with the restriction on vehicle volume capacity. Surface transport is one of the most powerful carbon emitters, which leads to global climate change. Thus, in addition to the usual travel cost and time minimization, carbon emission (CE) minimization and maximum vehicle space utilization should also be considered. A TP for damageable and incompatible items in a multi-objective green 4-dimensional environment is presented in this paper. The model is developed with four objectives: minimizing transportation cost, transportation time, vehicles’ vacant space, and carbon emission amount. The model is solved by six multi-objective optimization methods, and their results are compared. A multi-criteria decision-making method, “MetaRanking,” is used to compare the results of the different multi-objective methods. The model is illustrated with some numerical data using the Generalized Reduced Gradient method through Lingo 11.0. A real-life example is also presented. Several particular models are deduced. The numerical results demonstrate the importance of each objective. Pareto fronts represent that each objective is conflicting with the other.