bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Navigating toward resilient and inclusive seed systems
Authors: Westengen Ola T. , Dalle Sarah Paule , Mulesa Teshome Hunduma
Published: March 2023

Food systems face new climatic and socioecological challenges and farmers need a diversity of new plant varieties to respond to these. While plant breeding is important, institutional innovations in
seed systems
are critical to ensure that new traits and varieties make their way into farmers’ fields. This
Perspective
reviews the state of knowledge on seed system development, outlining insights emerging from the literature that can help navigate the way forward. We synthesize evidence on the contributions and limitations of the different actors, activities, and institutions pertaining to all seed systems smallholder farmers use, formal and informal. To do so, we structure our analysis on three functions—variety development and management, seed production, and seed dissemination—and two contextual factors—seed governance and food system drivers—that can be used to describe any seed system. Our review reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the activities of different actors along the entire chain of functions and demonstrates the multifaceted efforts to strengthen seed systems. We document that a new agenda for seed system development is taking root, based on the view that formal and farmers’ seed systems are complementary. Because needs differ from crop to crop, farmer to farmer, and between agroecological and food system contexts, a variety of pathways are needed to ensure farmers’ seed security. While the complexity of seed systems eludes a simple roadmap, we conclude by planting a “signpost” with principles to guide efforts to develop resilient and inclusive seed systems.
Melatonin and vitamin D, two sides of the same coin, better to land on its edge to improve multiple sclerosis
Authors: Ghareghani Majid , Zibara Kazem , Rivest Serge
Published: March 2023

Previous studies revealed a latitudinal gradient of multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence, increasing by moving from the equator to the poles. The duration and quality of an individual’s exposure to sunlight vary with latitude. Skin exposure to sunlight activates vitamin D synthesis, while light absence, as perceived by the eyes, activates melatonin synthesis in the pineal gland. Vitamin D or melatonin deficiency/insufficiency or overdose can occur at any latitude due to specific lifestyles and diets. Moving away from the equator, especially beyond 37°, decreases vitamin D while raising melatonin. Furthermore, melatonin synthesis increases in cold habitats like northern countries. Since melatonin's beneficial role was shown in MS, it is expected that northern countries whose individuals have higher endogenous melatonin should show a lower MS prevalence; however, these are ranked with the highest scores. In addition, countries like the United States and Canada have uncontrolled over-the-counter usage. In high latitudes, vitamin D deficiency and a higher MS prevalence persist even though vitamin D is typically compensated for by supplementation and not sunlight. Recently, we found that prolonged darkness increased MS melatonin levels, mimicking the long-term increase in northern countries. This caused a reduction in cortisol and increased infiltration, inflammation, and demyelination, which were all rescued by constant light therapy. In this review, we explain melatonin and vitamin D's possible roles in MS prevalence. The possible causes in northern countries are then discussed. Finally, we suggest strategies to treat MS by manipulating vitamin D and melatonin, preferably with sunlight or darkness, not supplements.
A general mechanism for transcription bubble nucleation in bacteria
Authors: Mueller Andreas U. , Chen James , Wu Mengyu , Chiu Courtney , Nixon B. Tracy , Campbell Elizabeth A. , Darst Seth A.
Published: March 2023

Bacterial transcription initiation requires σ factors for nucleation of the transcription bubble. The canonical housekeeping σ factor, σ
70
, nucleates DNA melting via recognition of conserved bases of the promoter −10 motif, which are unstacked and captured in pockets of σ
70
. By contrast, the mechanism of transcription bubble nucleation and formation during the unrelated σ
N
-mediated transcription initiation is poorly understood. Herein, we combine structural and biochemical approaches to establish that σ
N
, like σ
70
, captures a flipped, unstacked base in a pocket formed between its N-terminal region I (RI) and extra-long helix features. Strikingly, RI inserts into the nascent bubble to stabilize the nucleated bubble prior to engagement of the obligate ATPase activator. Our data suggest a general paradigm of transcription initiation that requires σ factors to nucleate an early melted intermediate prior to productive RNA synthesis.
Integrating Indigenous epistemologies into mainstream foreign language teaching
Authors: Wang Danping
Published: March 2023

This study explores teacher perspectives on a government policy that seeks to integrate Indigenous knowledge into mainstream foreign language education in New Zealand schools. Based on in-depth interviews, the study found that language teachers generally support this educational change because trans/languaging involving English and te reo Māori (the Māori language) has become an ordinary practice in their teaching and school lives. However, foreign language teachers expressed a need for discipline-specific materials and professional development to help them integrate mātauranga Māori (Indigenous knowledge of Māori) into their teaching. Their concerns can be understood as a lack of support in interpreting “what,” “how,” and “to what extent” the policy will be implemented. The study suggests using a decolonising approach to help teachers affirm the relevance of Indigenous knowledge in their discipline. It recommends that policymakers adopt a pluriversal stance to ensure that diverse knowledge systems can coexist and interact harmoniously rather than compete with one another in the new National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) curriculum.
Experimental verification of the inhibiting effect of hydraulic pressure on point discharge in oil-paper insulation under constant AC voltage
Authors: Hu Guangcai , Liu Xijun , Dai Mingxiao , Liu Yang , Yang Guolong , Wei Wenfu , Zhu Xinyu , Zhou Chao , Peng Xu , Wu Guangning , Li Kai
Published: March 2023

This paper reports on experimental studies of point discharge in oil-paper insulation under different hydraulic pressures. The point partial discharge of oil-paper insulation under different hydraulic pressure was measured for the first time. With the help of a commercial partial discharge detector, five discharge parameters under constant AC voltage were recorded and plotted as curves. These show that the partial discharge under very low pressure developed very quickly after it was initiated. So, care should be taken with oil-paper equipment operating at high altitudes, because once the discharge is initiated, it would develop into a catastrophe in a relatively short time. The partial discharge inception voltage and breakdown voltage increased with pressure, but the rising rates decreased with the increase of pressure. The discharge parameters decreased with pressure but the difference between the adjacent curves became smaller and smaller, which is called the saturation characteristic of the hydraulic pressure’s effect on discharge. Therefore, very high hydraulic pressure is not necessary for weakening the partial discharge in oil paper insulation. It is believed that the hydraulic pressure influences the discharge in the oil-paper insulation by changing the state of the gas in this compound insulation system. This paper provides a reference for the operation and maintenance of oil-paper insulation equipment running in high-altitude areas. Adjusting hydraulic pressure might be an effective and economical way to reduce the size and weight of oil-paper insulation equipment.
Structure of a semantic segmentation-based defect detection network for laser cladding infrared images
Authors: Deng Shiyi , Gao Ruipeng , Wang Yiran , Mao Wei , Zheng Weikang
Published: March 2023

While selecting the most suitable infrared thermal imaging detection scheme for online inspection during laser cladding processing, this paper designs the RespathU-net semantic segmentation defect detection network for cladding coating defects in infrared images. The network is based on the U-net network framework. It is optimized and improved by redesigning the coding network structure, expanding the network perceptual field, and connecting the paths of residuals, thus enhancing the segmentation effect on the defective areas of the melt coating by addressing the problems that the original network cannot realize the end-to-end output and the poor segmentation effect on the complex objects. The generalization performance test and defect detection experiment of the RespathU-net network were conducted using the Kolektor SDD dataset and the infrared dataset constructed in this paper. The designed network is compared with fully convolutional networks, SegNet, U-net, and DeepLab_V3 in terms of average exchange ratio, similarity coefficient, and running time. The results show that the proposed RespathU-net achieves good multi-size feature recognition, and the effect is much better than other semantic segmentation networks. The via experimental results verify that the actual defect detection accuracy of the designed network is 87.01% .
Ecological drivers of fine-scale distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a semiarid Mediterranean scrubland
Authors: López-Angulo Jesús , Matesanz Silvia , Illuminati Angela , Pescador David S , Sánchez Ana M , Pías Beatriz , Chacón-Labella Julia , de la Cruz Marcelino , Escudero Adrián
Published: March 2023

Background and Aims

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi enhance the uptake of water and minerals by the plant hosts, alleviating plant stress. Therefore, AM fungal–plant interactions are particularly important in drylands and other stressful ecosystems. We aimed to determine the combined and independent effects of above- and below-ground plant community attributes (i.e. diversity and composition), soil heterogeneity and spatial covariates on the spatial structure of the AM fungal communities in a semiarid Mediterranean scrubland. Furthermore, we evaluated how the phylogenetic relatedness of both plants and AM fungi shapes these symbiotic relationships.

Methods

We characterized the composition and diversity of AM fungal and plant communities in a dry Mediterranean scrubland taxonomically and phylogenetically, using DNA metabarcoding and a spatially explicit sampling design at the plant neighbourhood scale.

Key Results

The above- and below-ground plant community attributes, soil physicochemical properties and spatial variables explained unique fractions of AM fungal diversity and composition. Mainly, variations in plant composition affected the AM fungal composition and diversity. Our results also showed that particular AM fungal taxa tended to be associated with closely related plant species, suggesting the existence of a phylogenetic signal. Although soil texture, fertility and pH affected AM fungal community assembly, spatial factors had a greater influence on AM fungal community composition and diversity than soil physicochemical properties.

Conclusions

Our results highlight that the more easily accessible above-ground vegetation is a reliable indicator of the linkages between plant roots and AM fungi. We also emphasize the importance of soil physicochemical properties in addition to below-ground plant information, while accounting for the phylogenetic relationships of both plants and fungi, because these factors improve our ability to predict the relationships between AM fungal and plant communities.
Does skin of colour education make a difference? A cross-sectional study at the University of Bristol
Authors: Hutchison Eliza , Wainman Hannah
Published: March 2023

At the University of Bristol, the dermatology curriculum was updated in 2020 to incorporate more teaching on skin of colour. In this article we summarize the findings of our cross-sectional study to establish whether improving teaching content on skin of colour results in a more confident cohort of students with better diagnostic skills in skin of colour.
Coherent mapping of position and head direction across auditory and visual cortex
Authors: Mertens Paul E C , Marchesi Pietro , Ruikes Thijs R , Oude Lohuis Matthijs , Krijger Quincy , Pennartz Cyriel M A , Lansink Carien S
Published: March 2023

Neurons in primary visual cortex (V1) may not only signal current visual input but also relevant contextual information such as reward expectancy and the subject’s spatial position. Such contextual representations need not be restricted to V1 but could participate in a coherent mapping throughout sensory cortices. Here, we show that spiking activity coherently represents a location-specific mapping across auditory cortex (AC) and lateral, secondary visual cortex (V2L) of freely moving rats engaged in a sensory detection task on a figure-8 maze. Single-unit activity of both areas showed extensive similarities in terms of spatial distribution, reliability, and position coding. Importantly, reconstructions of subject position based on spiking activity displayed decoding errors that were correlated between areas. Additionally, we found that head direction, but not locomotor speed or head angular velocity, was an important determinant of activity in AC and V2L. By contrast, variables related to the sensory task cues or to trial correctness and reward were not markedly encoded in AC and V2L. We conclude that sensory cortices participate in coherent, multimodal representations of the subject’s sensory-specific location. These may provide a common reference frame for distributed cortical sensory and motor processes and may support crossmodal predictive processing.
Experience-dependent effects of passive auditory exposure in infants impact theta phase synchrony and predict later language
Authors: Ortiz-Mantilla Silvia , Roesler Cynthia P , Realpe-Bonilla Teresa , Benasich April A
Published: March 2023

The establishment of cortical representations critical for mounting language is supported by both ongoing neural maturation and experience-expectant plasticity as infants increasingly recognize the linguistic events that occur most often in their surrounding environment. Previous research has demonstrated that enhanced efficiency of syllabic representation and discrimination is facilitated by interactive attention-driven, nonspeech auditory experience. However, experience-dependent effects on syllable processing as a function of nonspeech, passive auditory exposure (PAE), remain unclear. As theta band-specific activity has been shown to support syllabic processing, we chose theta inter-trial phase synchrony to examine the experience-dependent effects of PAE on the processing of a syllable contrast. Results demonstrated that infants receiving PAE increased syllabic processing efficiency. Specifically, compared with controls, the group receiving PAE showed more mature, efficient processing, exhibiting less theta phase synchrony for the standard syllable at 9 months, and at 18 months, for the deviant syllable. Furthermore, the PAE modulatory effect on theta phase synchrony at 7 and 9 months was associated with language scores at 12 and 18 months. These findings confirm that supporting emerging perceptual abilities during early sensitive periods impacts syllabic processing efficiency and aligns with literature demonstrating associations between infant auditory perceptual abilities and later language outcomes.
Subacute changes in brain functional network connectivity after nocturnal sodium oxybate intake are associated with anterior cingulate GABA
Authors: Bavato Francesco , Esposito Fabrizio , Dornbierer Dario A , Zölch Niklaus , Quednow Boris B , Staempfli Philipp , Landolt Hans-Peter , Seifritz Erich , Bosch Oliver G
Published: March 2023

Sodium oxybate (γ-hydroxybutyrate, GHB) is an endogenous GHB/GABAB receptor agonist, clinically used to promote slow-wave sleep and reduce next-day sleepiness in disorders such as narcolepsy and fibromyalgia. The neurobiological signature of these unique therapeutic effects remains elusive. Promising current neuropsychopharmacological approaches to understand the neural underpinnings of specific drug effects address cerebral resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) patterns and neurometabolic alterations. Hence, we performed a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, cross-over pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging study with a nocturnal administration of GHB, combined with magnetic resonance spectroscopy of GABA and glutamate in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). In sum, 16 healthy male volunteers received 50 mg/kg GHB p.o. or placebo at 02:30 a.m. to maximize deep sleep enhancement and multi-modal brain imaging was performed at 09:00 a.m. of the following morning. Independent component analysis of whole-brain rsFC revealed a significant increase of rsFC between the salience network (SN) and the right central executive network (rCEN) after GHB intake compared with placebo. This SN-rCEN coupling was significantly associated with changes in GABA levels in the ACC (pall < 0.05). The observed neural pattern is compatible with a functional switch to a more extrinsic brain state, which may serve as a neurobiological signature of the wake-promoting effects of GHB.
Clinical outcomes of handmade polytetrafluoroethylene trileaflet-valved conduit used for pulmonary valve replacement
Authors: Chang Te-I , Hsu Kang-Hong , Hung Wei-Li , Yeh Shu-Jen , Chen Ming-Ren , Chien Yu-San , Hsu Ron-Bin , Wang Jou-Kou , Chang Ruey-Feng , Chang Chung-I
Published: March 2023

OBJECTIVES

To mitigate the shortage of homograft sources, the use of handmade trileaflet expanded polytetrafluoroethylene valves in pulmonary valve replacement has shown excellent results from multicentre studies conducted in Japan. However, world-wide data outside Japan are relatively insufficient. This study presents the long-term results of a single surgeon’s use of flipped-back trileaflet method in a 10-year case series.

METHODS

We have developed an efficient way to make a trileaflet-valved conduit utilizing flipped-back method for pulmonary valve replacement and have employed the technique since 2011. Retrospective data were studied between October 2010 and January 2020. Echocardiography, electrocardiogram, Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide and Magnetic Resonance Imaging data were analysed.

RESULTS

Fifty-five patients were reviewed and median follow-up duration was 2.9 years. The majority of diagnoses was Tetralogy of Fallot (n = 41), and these patients subsequently underwent secondary pulmonary valve replacement at a median age of 15.6 years. Survival was 92.7% with the longest follow-up period being 10 years. There was no need for reoperation, and freedom from reintervention was 98.0% at 10 years. There were 4 deaths (3 in-hospital and 1 outpatient). One patient eventually received transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation. Postoperative echocardiography showed mild or less pulmonary stenosis and pulmonary regurgitation degree in 92.2% and 92.0% of patients, respectively. Comparable magnetic resonance imaging data (n = 25) showed significant reduction in right ventricular volumes but not in ejection fractions.

CONCLUSIONS

Our series showed satisfactory long-term function of handmade flipped-back trileaflet-valved conduit used in our patients. The simple design is efficiently reproducible without complex fabrication process.
‘Democratic colonialism’, citizenship and the 1937 Godart mission to Indochina
Authors: Edwards M Kathryn
Published: March 2023

In 1937, Justin Godart was despatched by the Popular Front government to undertake a mission of inquiry in French India and Indochina. This article examines the objectives and repercussions of the Godart mission at a time of burgeoning Vietnamese nationalism and its repression by colonial authorities. It highlights the tensions between the Popular Front’s ‘democratic colonialism’—and the French left’s commitment to democratization more generally —and the demands of colonized subjects who were making claims to civil, social and political rights.
Cell type–specific interpretation of noncoding variants using deep learning–based methods
Authors: Sindeeva Maria , Chekanov Nikolay , Avetisian Manvel , Shashkova Tatiana I , Baranov Nikita , Malkin Elian , Lapin Alexander , Kardymon Olga , Fishman Veniamin
Published: March 2023

Interpretation of noncoding genomic variants is one of the most important challenges in human genetics. Machine learning methods have emerged recently as a powerful tool to solve this problem. State-of-the-art approaches allow prediction of transcriptional and epigenetic effects caused by noncoding mutations. However, these approaches require specific experimental data for training and cannot generalize across cell types where required features were not experimentally measured. We show here that available epigenetic characteristics of human cell types are extremely sparse, limiting those approaches that rely on specific epigenetic input. We propose a new neural network architecture, DeepCT, which can learn complex interconnections of epigenetic features and infer unmeasured data from any available input. Furthermore, we show that DeepCT can learn cell type–specific properties, build biologically meaningful vector representations of cell types, and utilize these representations to generate cell type–specific predictions of the effects of noncoding variations in the human genome.
Study on the effect of additives on microbial diversity, predicted functional profiles, and fermentation quality ofBroussonetia papyriferaandPennisetum sinesemixed ensilage in the karst region
Authors: Xu Duhan , Li Maoya , Wang Yuhan , Long Jianhua , Fan Xueying , Lei Yao , Li Ping , Cheng Qiming , Chen Yulian , Chen Chao
Published: March 2023

In this research, we evaluated the effect of exogenous lactic acid bacteria and Amomum villosum essential oil (AVEO) on the chemical composition, microbial community composition, microbial functional diversity, and fermentation quality of Broussonetia papyrifera (BP) and Pennisetum sinese (PS) mixed silages. The BP:PS mixing ratios were 100:0, 70:30, 50:50, 30:70, and 0:100. After 3 and 30 days of ensiling at 22°C–25°C, microbial diversity and function, and fermentation quality, were assessed. Increasing PS content resulted in decreased ammoniacal nitrogen and pH, increased water-soluble carbohydrate content, increased relative abundance of Lactococcus and Acinetobacter, and reduced relative abundance of Caproiciproducens and Pseudomonas. A 50:50 BP:PS ratio effectively improved the fermentation quality compared to anaerobic fermentation with BP or PS alone, while AVEO treatment further improved fermentation quality by increasing Lactococcus relative abundance. Moreover, as fermentation proceeded, ensiling enhanced the ‘Human diseases’, ‘Environmental information processing’, and ‘Cellular processes’ functions at the first level, as well as the ‘Two-component system’ and ‘ABC transporters’ functions at the third level. Different additives affected the fermentation of BP and PS mixed silage by regulating microbial community succession and metabolic pathways during ensiling.
TTV constraints on additional planets in the WD 1856+534 system
Authors: Kubiak Sarah , Vanderburg Andrew , Becker Juliette , Gary Bruce , Rappaport Saul A , Xu Siyi , de Beurs Zoe
Published: March 2023

WD 1856+534 b (or WD 1856 b for short) is the first known transiting planet candidate around a white dwarf star. WD 1856 b is about the size of Jupiter, has a mass less than about 12 Jupiter masses, and orbits at a distance of about 2  per cent of an astronomical unit. The formation and migration history of this object is still a mystery. Here, we present constraints on the presence of long-period companions (where we explored eccentricity, inclination, mass, and period for the possible companion) in the WD 1856+534 planetary system from transit timing variations. We show that existing transit observations can rule out planets with orbital periods less than about 500 d. With additional transit observations over the next decade, it will be possible to test whether WD 1856 also hosts additional long-period planets that could have perturbed WD 1856 b into its current close-in orbit.
Saturation of the magnetorotational instability and the origin of magnetically elevated accretion discs
Authors: Begelman Mitchell C , Armitage Philip J
Published: March 2023

We propose that the strength of angular momentum transport in accretion discs threaded by net vertical magnetic field is determined by a self-regulation mechanism: the magnetorotational instability (MRI) grows until its own turbulent resistivity damps the fastest growing mode on the scale of the disc thickness. Given weak assumptions as to the structure of MRI-derived turbulence, supported by prior simulation evidence, the proposed mechanism reproduces the known scaling of the viscous α-parameter, $\alpha \propto \beta _z^{-1/2}$. Here, $\beta _z = 8\pi p_{\rm g}/B_{z0}^2$ is the initial plasma β-parameter on the disc mid-plane, Bz0 is the net field, and pg is the mid-plane gas pressure. We generalize the argument to discs with strong suprathermal toroidal magnetic fields, where the MRI growth rate is modified from the weak-field limit. Additional sources of turbulence are required if such discs are to become magnetically elevated, with the increased scale heights near the mid-plane that are seen in simulations. We speculate that tearing modes, associated with current sheets broadened by the effective resistivity, are a possible source of enhanced turbulence in elevated discs.
Spatial curvature and thermodynamics
Authors: Banerjee Narayan , Mukherjee Purba , Pavón Diego
Published: March 2023

Reasonable parametrizations of the current Hubble data set of the expansion rate of our homogeneous and isotropic universe, after suitable smoothing of these data, strongly suggest that the area of the apparent horizon increases irrespective of whether the spatial curvature of the metric is open, flat, or closed. Put in another way, any sign of the spatial curvature appears consistent with the second law of thermodynamics.
The RNA-binding protein MdHYL1 modulates cold tolerance and disease resistance in apple
Authors: Shen Xiaoxia , Song Yi , Ping Yikun , He Jieqiang , Xie Yinpeng , Ma Fengwang , Li Xuewei , Guan Qingmei
Published: March 2023

Apple (Malus domestica) trees often experience various abiotic and biotic stresses. However, due to the long juvenile period of apple and its high degree of genetic heterozygosity, only limited progress has been made in developing cold-hardy and disease-resistant cultivars through traditional approaches. Numerous studies reveal that biotechnology is a feasible approach to improve stress tolerance in woody perennial plants. HYPONASTIC LEAVES1 (HYL1), a double-stranded RNA-binding protein, is a key regulator involved in apple drought stress response. However, whether HYL1 participates in apple cold response and pathogen resistance remains unknown. In this study, we revealed that MdHYL1 plays a positive role in cold tolerance and pathogen resistance in apple. MdHYL1 acted upstream to positively regulate freezing tolerance and Alternaria alternata resistance by positively modulating transcripts of MdMYB88 and MdMYB124 in response to cold stress or A. alternata infection. In addition, MdHYL1 regulated the biogenesis of several miRNAs responsive to cold and A. alternata infection in apple. Furthermore, we identified Mdm-miRNA156 (Mdm-miR156) as a negative regulator of cold tolerance and Mdm-miRNA172 (Mdm-miR172) as a positive regulator of cold tolerance, and that Mdm-miRNA160 (Mdm-miR160) decreased plant resistance to infection by A. alternata. In summary, we highlight the molecular role of MdHYL1 regarding cold tolerance and A. alternata infection resistance, thereby providing candidate genes for breeding apple with freezing tolerance and A. alternata resistance using biotechnology.
A Not-so-Simple Rule for ‘I’
Authors: Ciecierski Tadeusz , Rudnicki Jakub
Published: March 2023

Maximilian de Gaynesford has argued against the standard view that the reference of the first-person pronoun ‘I’ is determined by a rule linking the referent to some feature of the context of use. In this paper, we argue that de Gaynesford's arguments are inconclusive. Our main aim, however, is to formulate a novel version of the reference rule for ‘I’. We argue that this version can deal with several problematic cases. Our strategy involves analysing the so-called agent of the context as the person responsible for a particular speech act. From this analysis, we exclude a particular class of uses of ‘I’, uses that we believe are best understood as demonstrative.
Beyond Rainmaking: Climate Engineering on the Nineteenth Century Great Plains
Authors: Suits Robert
Published: March 2023

Settler colonists in the nineteenth-century American West thought humans could engineer climate change. The supposed method varied: agriculturists and boosters argued that farming moderated climates, arboriculturists that forest belts humidified the air, and popular theorists that shooting the sky with artillery could shock rain out of it. This article shows that these theories gained credibility from the ways they mimicked the language and appearance of science and statistics. Climate counter-experts became famous because they could put on a performance of seeming scientific fluency. These techno-optimists produced theory after theory that remaking western environments to be more humid, green, and cultivable required the extension of American empire and ecologies, and the extirpation of Indigenous peoples and ecologies. Each theory fell in turn after material conditions of drought and catastrophe proved them wrong. But these ideas nevertheless survived into the climate politics of the present day.
The association between postvoid residual and response to standard therapy in male and female patients with non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer
Authors: Di Gianfrancesco Luca
Published: March 2023

Background

The urinary retention is recognized as a promoting factor for bladder cancer, but its role as prognostic factor of therapeutic response has not yet been widely considered. To correlate bladder outlet characteristics with short-term response to treatment in non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Materials and methods

We carried out a case-control study on 600 consecutive patients with a first diagnosis of non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer, recruited at the first endoscopic follow-up visit after standard treatment: 200 patients were not tumor-free (cases) and 400 were tumor-free (controls). Patients were compared based on baseline and bladder-outlet characteristics ("functional parameters”: postvoid residual volume [PVR], International Prostatic Symptoms Score, perceived quality of bladder outlet). t Test, χ
2 test, receiver operating characteristic curves, logistic correlations, and multivariate analysis were applied.

Results

The cases had higher statistically significant PVR values compared with controls. We reported a linear correlation of no–tumor-free status with PVR (R
2 = 0.087, p < 0.005); the receiver operating characteristic curves revealed an area under the curve of 0.824 (95%confidence interval, 0.783–0.865; optimal PVR cutoff, 50 mL). In the multivariate analysis, age, American Society of Anesthesiologists score ≥2, risk category ≥intermediate, and all functional parameters represented independent factors for no–tumor-free status.

Conclusions

Urinary retention could represent a prognostic factor of treatment response, and its active treatment should be considered as an important therapeutic step into the clinical management of bladder cancer patients.
Acute on chronic liver failure: prognostic models and artificial intelligence applications
Authors: Gary Phillip J. , Lal Amos , Simonetto Douglas A. , Gajic Ognjen , Gallo de Moraes Alice
Published: March 2023

Critically ill patients presenting with acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) represent a particularly vulnerable population due to various considerations surrounding the syndrome definition, lack of robust prospective evaluation of outcomes, and allocation of resources such as organs for transplantation. Ninety-day mortality related to ACLF is high and patients who do leave the hospital are frequently readmitted. Artificial intelligence (AI), which encompasses various classical and modern machine learning techniques, natural language processing, and other methods of predictive, prognostic, probabilistic, and simulation modeling, has emerged as an effective tool in various areas of healthcare. These methods are now being leveraged to potentially minimize physician and provider cognitive load and impact both short-term and long-term patient outcomes. However, the enthusiasm is tempered by ethical considerations and a current lack of proven benefits. In addition to prognostic applications, AI models can likely help improve the understanding of various mechanisms of morbidity and mortality in ACLF. Their overall impact on patient-centered outcomes and countless other aspects of patient care remains unclear. In this review, we discuss various AI approaches being utilized in healthcare and discuss the recent and expected future impact of AI on patients with ACLF through prognostic modeling and AI-based approaches.
Hepatic C-X-C chemokine receptor type 6–expressing innate lymphocytes limit detrimental myeloid hyperactivation in acute liver injury
Authors: Heymann Felix , Mossanen Jana C. , Peiseler Moritz , Niemietz Patricia M. , Araujo David Bruna , Krenkel Oliver , Liepelt Anke , Batista Carneiro Matheus , Kohlhepp Marlene S. , Kubes Paul , Tacke Frank
Published: March 2023

Background:

Acute liver failure (ALF) is characterized by rapid clinical deterioration and high mortality. Acetaminophen (APAP or paracetamol) overdose is a leading cause of ALF, resulting in hepatocellular necrosis with subsequent inflammation, inflicting further liver damage. Infiltrating myeloid cells are early drivers of liver inflammation. However, the role of the abundant population of liver-resident innate lymphocytes, which commonly express the chemokine receptor CXCR6, is incompletely understood in ALF.

Methods:

We investigated the role of CXCR6-expressing innate lymphocytes using the model of acute APAP toxicity in mice deficient in CXCR6 (Cxcr6

gfp/gfp
).

Results:

APAP-induced liver injury was strongly aggravated in Cxcr6

gfp/gfp
mice compared with wild-type counterparts. Immunophenotyping using flow cytometry revealed a reduction in liver CD4+T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and most prominently, NKT cells, whereas CXCR6 was dispensable for CD8+ T-cell accumulation. CXCR6-deficient mice exhibited excessive neutrophil and inflammatory macrophage infiltration. Intravital microscopy revealed dense cellular clusters of neutrophils in necrotic liver tissue, with higher numbers of clustering neutrophils in Cxcr6

gfp/gfp
mice. Gene expression analysis linked hyperinflammation in CXCR6 deficiency to increased IL-17 signaling. Although reduced in overall numbers, CXCR6-deficient mice had a shift in NKT cell subsets with increased RORγt-expressing NKT17 cells as a likely source of IL-17. In patients with ALF, we found a prominent accumulation of IL-17–expressing cells. Accordingly, CXCR6-deficient mice lacking IL-17 (Cxcr6

gfp/gfp

x Il17

−/−
) had ameliorated liver damage and reduced inflammatory myeloid infiltrates.

Conclusions:

Our study identifies a crucial role of CXCR6-expressing liver innate lymphocytes as orchestrators in acute liver injury containing IL-17–mediated myeloid cell infiltration. Hence, strengthening the CXCR6-axis or downstream inhibition of IL-17 could yield novel therapeutics in ALF.
A 10-year Australian experience of rare intraabdominal venous thrombosis with comparison to deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism
Authors: Oktaviana Jesica , Lui Brandon , Ho Prahlad , Lim Hui Y.
Published: March 2023

Objective

Intra-abdominal venous thromboembolism is rare with heterogeneous management. We aim to evaluate these thrombosis and compare them to deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism.

Method

A 10-year retrospective evaluation of consecutive venous thromboembolism presentations (January 2011–December 2020) at Northern Health, Australia, was conducted. A subanalysis of intraabdominal venous thrombosis involving splanchnic, renal and ovarian veins was performed.

Results

There were 3343 episodes including 113 cases of intraabdominal venous thrombosis (3.4%) – 99 splanchnic vein thrombosis, 10 renal vein thrombosis and 4 ovarian vein thrombosis. Of the splanchnic vein thrombosis presentations, 34 patients (35 cases) had known cirrhosis. Patients with cirrhosis were numerically less likely to be anticoagulated compared to noncirrhotic patients (21/35 vs. 47/64, P = 0.17). Noncirrhotic patients (n = 64) were more likely to have malignancy compared to those with deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism (24/64 vs. 543/3230, P < 0.001), including 10 patients diagnosed at time of splanchnic vein thrombosis presentation. Cirrhotic patients reported more recurrent thrombosis/clot progression (6/34) compared to noncirrhotic patients (3/64) (15.6 vs. 2.3 events/100-person-years; hazard ratio 4.7 (95% confidence interval 1.2–18.9), P = 0.030) and other venous thromboembolism patients (2.6/100-person-years; hazard ratio 4.7, 95% confidence interval 2.1–10.7; P < 0.001) with comparable major bleeding rates. All renal vein thrombosis were provoked including five malignant-related cases while three ovarian vein thrombosis occurred postpartum. No recurrent thrombotic or bleeding complications were reported in renal vein thrombosis and ovarian vein thrombosis.

Conclusion

These rare intraabdominal venous thromboses are often provoked. Splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) patients with cirrhosis have a higher rate of thrombotic complications, while SVT without cirrhosis was associated with more malignancy. Given the concurrent comorbidities, careful assessment and individualized anticoagulation decision is needed.
Disrupted voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity in congenital nystagmus using resting-state fMRI
Authors: Wen Zhi , Kang Yan , Zhang Yu , Yang Huaguang , Xie Baojun
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Idiopathic congenital nystagmus (CN) is a rare eye disease that can cause early blindness (EB). CN deficits are observed most frequently with oculomotor dysfunction; however, it is still unclear what neuromechanics underly CN with EB. Based on that visual experience requires the functional integration of both hemispheres, we hypothesized that CN adolescents with EB might exhibit impaired interhemispheric synchrony. Our study aimed to investigate the interhemispheric functional connectivity alterations using voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) and their relationships with clinical features in CN patients.

Materials and methods

This study included 21 patients with CN and EB, and 21 sighted controls (SC), who were matched for sex, age and educational level. The 3.0 T MRI scan and ocular examination were performed. The VMHC differences were examined between the two groups, and the relationships between mean VMHC values in altered brain regions and clinical variables in the CN group were evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis.

Results

Compared with the SC group, the CN had increased VMHC values in the bilateral cerebellum posterior and anterior lobes/cerebellar tonsil/declive/pyramis/culmen/pons, middle frontal gyri (BA 10) and frontal eye field/superior frontal gyri (BA 6 and BA 8). No particular areas of the brain had lower VMHC values. Furthermore, no correlation with the duration of disease or blindness could be demonstrated in CN.

Conclusion

Our results suggest the existence of interhemispheric connectivity changes and provide further evidence for the neurological basis of CN with EB.
Ronald Ernest Grigg. 1 September 1935—10 January 2021
Authors: Sridharan Visuvanathar , Stevenson Paul J. , Nimal Gunaratne H. Q. , Prasanna de Silva A.
Published: March 2023

Ron Grigg left an indelible mark on heterocyclic chemistry, especially through his pioneering 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions and palladium-catalysed cyclizations. Although he worked with a broad range of organic and organometallic compounds, he was most closely associated with innovations in the synthesis and properties of pyrrole and pyrrolidine derivatives throughout his career. His products and methodologies not only inspired numerous academic laboratories, they also enabled many developments in the pharmaceutical, forensic, environmental and sensing sectors. He established the Queen's University Environmental Science and Technology (QUESTOR) Centre and the Molecular Innovation, Diversity and Automated Synthesis (MIDAS) Centre at the University of Leeds. His spin-out company, Lumichem Ltd, commercialized his chemistry for visualizing latent fingerprints.
Genetic determinants of host tropism inKlebsiellaphages
Authors: Beamud Beatriz , García-González Neris , Gómez-Ortega Mar , González-Candelas Fernando , Domingo-Calap Pilar , Sanjuan Rafael
Published: March 2023

Bacteriophages play key roles in bacterial ecology and evolution and are potential antimicrobials. However, the determinants of phage-host specificity remain elusive. Here, we used 46 newly-isolated phages to challenge 138 representative clinical isolates ofKlebsiella pneumoniae, a widespread opportunistic pathogen. Spot tests revealed a narrow host range for most phages, with <2% of 6319 phage-host combinations tested yielding detectable interactions. Bacterial capsule diversity was the main factor restricting phage host range. Consequently, phage-encoded depolymerases were key determinants of host tropism, and we identified depolymerase sequence types associated with the ability to infect specific capsular types across phage families. Phages showing a capsule-independent mode of entry exhibited a much broader host range, but their infectivity was still restricted by complex intracellular defense mechanisms. These findings expand our knowledge of the complex interactions between bacteria and their viruses, and have implications for the biomedical and biotechnological use of phages.
Multimodal classification of molecular subtypes in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Krali Olga , Marincevic-Zuniga Yanara , Arvidsson Gustav , Enblad Anna Pia , Lundmark Anders , Sayyab Shumaila , Zachariadis Vasilios , Heinäniemi Merja , Suhonen Janne , Oksa Laura , Vepsäläinen Kaisa , Öfverholm Ingegerd , Barbany Gisela , Nordgren Ann , Lilljebjörn Henrik , Fioretos Thoas , Madsen Hans O. , Marquart Hanne Vibeke , Flaegstad Trond , Forestier Erik , Jónsson Ólafur G , Kanerva Jukka , Lohi Olli , Norén-Nyström Ulrika , Schmiegelow Kjeld , Harila Arja , Heyman Mats , Lönnerholm Gudmar , Syvänen Ann-Christine , Nordlund Jessica
Published: March 2023

Genomic analyses have redefined the molecular subgrouping of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Molecular subgroups guide risk-stratification and targeted therapies, but outcomes of recently identified subtypes are often unclear, owing to limited cases with comprehensive profiling and cross-protocol studies. We developed a machine learning tool (ALLIUM) for the molecular subclassification of ALL in retrospective cohorts as well as for up-front diagnostics. ALLIUM uses DNA methylation and gene expression data from 1131 Nordic ALL patients to predict 17 ALL subtypes with high accuracy. ALLIUM was used to revise and verify the molecular subtype of 280 cases with undefined/B-other molecular phenotype, resulting in a single revised subtype for 85.4% of these cases. Our study shows the power of combining DNA methylation and gene expression data for resolving ALL subtypes and provides the first comprehensive population-based retrospective cohort study of molecular subtype frequencies in the Nordic countries, identifying subgroups with differential survival outcomes.
Clinical validation of pneumatic transportation systems for monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Coliat Pierre , Erb Stéphane , Diemer Hélène , Karouby Dan , Banerjee Mainak , Zhu Chen , Demarchi Martin , Cianférani Sarah , Detappe Alexandre , Pivot Xavier
Published: March 2023

Pneumatic transportation systems (PTS) were recently proposed as a method to carry ready-for-injection diluted monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from the pharmacy to the bedside of patients. This method reduces transportation time and improves the efficiency of drug distribution process. However, mAbs are highly sensitive molecules for which subtle alterations may lead to deleterious clinical effects. These alterations can be caused by various external factors such as temperature, pH, pressure, and mechanical forces that may occur during transportation. Hence, it is essential to ensure that the mAbs transported by PTS remain stable and active throughout the transportation process. This study aims to determine the safety profile of PTS to transport 11 routinely used mAbs in a clinical setting through assessment of critical quality attributes (CQA) and orthogonal analysis. Hence, we performed aggregation/degradation profiling, post-translational modifications identification using complementary mass spectrometry-based methods, along with visible and subvisible particle formation determination by light absorbance and dynamic light scattering measurements. Altogether, these results highlight that PTS can be safely used for this purpose when air is removed from the bags during preparation.
Underreported in-water behaviours of the loggerhead sea turtle:Foraging on sea cucumbers
Authors: Papafitsoros Kostas
Published: March 2023

In this article, we report on four observations of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) foraging on sea cucumbers (Holothuria spp.), on Zakynthos Island, Greece. Direct observations of this behaviour are underreported in the literature. Foraging on such prey was in general a challenging process as the turtles used their flippers and their beak to cut the sea cucumbers albeit without success. They ended up shallowing the sea cucumbers most likely in one intact piece. Even though this behaviour is rare in this site, two out of four observations involved the same male sea turtle, indicating potentially specific dietary preferences for this individual.
Clustering scRNA-seq data via qualitative and quantitative analysis
Authors: Li Di , Mei Qinglin , Li Guojun
Published: March 2023

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies have been driving the development of algorithms of clustering heterogeneous cells. We introduce a novel clustering algorithm scQA, which can effectively and efficiently recognize different cell types via qualitative and quantitative analysis. It iteratively extracts quasi-trend-preserved genes to conform a consensus by representing expression patterns with dropouts qualitatively and quantitatively, and, then automatically clusters cells using a new label propagation strategy without specifying the number of cell types in advance. Validated on 20 public scRNA-seq datasets, scQA consistently outperformed 9 salient tools in both accuracy and efficiency across 16 out of 20 datasets tested, and ranked top 2 or 3 across the other 4 datasets. Furthermore, we demonstrate scQA can extract informative genes in both perspectives of biology and data wise by performing consensus, allowing genes used for landmark construction multiple characteristics, which is essential for clustering cells accurately. Overall, scQA could be a useful tool for discovery of cell types that can be integrated into general scRNA-seq analyses.