bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sevoflurane but not propofol enhances ovarian cancer cell biology through regulating cellular metabolic and signaling mechanisms
Authors: Hu Cong , Wang Bincheng , Liu Zhigang , Chen Qiling , Ishikawa Masashi , Lin Han , Lian Qingquan , Li Jun , Li Jia V. , Ma Daqing ,   The ESA-IC Onco-Anaesthesiology Research Group
Published: October 2022

Perioperative risk factors, including the choice of anesthetics, may influence ovarian cancer recurrence after surgery. Inhalational anesthetic sevoflurane and intravenous agent propofol might affect cancer cell metabolism and signaling, which, in turn, may influence the malignancy of ovarian cancer cells. The different effects between sevoflurane and propofol on ovarian cancer cell biology and underlying mechanisms were studied. Cultured ovarian cancer cells were exposed to 2.5% sevoflurane, 4 μg/mL propofol, or sham condition as the control for 2 h followed by 24-h recovery. Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 1 (MPC1), glutamate dehydrogenase 1 (GLUD1), pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), p-Erk1/2, and hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) expressions were determined with immunostaining and/or Western blot. Cultured media were collected for 1H-NMR spectroscopy-based metabolomics analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to analyze metabolomics data. Sevoflurane increased the GLUT1, MPC1, GLUD1, p-Erk1/2, and HIF-1α expressions but decreased the PEDF expression relative to the controls. In contrast to sevoflurane, propofol decreased GLUT1, MPC1, GLUD1, p-Erk1/2, and HIF-1α but increased PEDF expression. Sevoflurane increased metabolite isopropanol and decreased glucose and glutamine energy substrates in the media, but the opposite changes were found after propofol treatment. Our data indicated that, unlike the pro-tumor property of sevoflurane, propofol negatively modulated PEDF/Erk/HIF-1α cellular signaling pathway and inhibited ovarian cancer metabolic efficiency and survival, and hence decreased malignancy. The translational value of this work warrants further study.

Graphical abstract

• Sevoflurane promoted but propofol inhibited ovarian cancer cell biology.

• Sevoflurane upregulated but propofol downregulated the GLUT1, MPC1, and GLUD1 expressions of ovarian cancer cells.

• Sevoflurane enhanced but propofol inhibited ovarian cancer cellular glucose.

metabolism and glutaminolysis.

• Sevoflurane downregulated PEDF but upregulated the Erk pathway and HIF-1α, while propofol had the adverse effects on ovarian cancer cells.
Completely positive factorization by a Riemannian smoothing method
Authors: Lai Zhijian , Yoshise Akiko
Published: October 2022

Copositive optimization is a special case of convex conic programming, and it consists of optimizing a linear function over the cone of all completely positive matrices under linear constraints. Copositive optimization provides powerful relaxations of NP-hard quadratic problems or combinatorial problems, but there are still many open problems regarding copositive or completely positive matrices. In this paper, we focus on one such problem; finding a completely positive (CP) factorization for a given completely positive matrix. We treat it as a nonsmooth Riemannian optimization problem, i.e., a minimization problem of a nonsmooth function over a Riemannian manifold. To solve this problem, we present a general smoothing framework for solving nonsmooth Riemannian optimization problems and show convergence to a stationary point of the original problem. An advantage is that we can implement it quickly with minimal effort by directly using the existing standard smooth Riemannian solvers, such as Manopt. Numerical experiments show the efficiency of our method especially for large-scale CP factorizations.
Seasonal migration and habitat use of adult barbel (Barbus barbus) and nase (Chondrostoma nasus) along a river stretch of the Austrian Danube River
Authors: Panchan Ruamruedee , Pinter Kurt , Schmutz Stefan , Unfer Günther
Published: October 2022

Migration patterns and habitat use of adult barbel (Barbus barbus) and nase (Chondrostoma nasus) were monitored by radio telemetry over a period of 13 months along a 58-km-long section of the Austrian part of the Danube River. The study site is confined upstream and downstream by two hydropower plants, and contains a larger tributary, the Pielach River. Telemetry transmitters were implanted into fish caught in this tributary after spawning in June (25 individuals per species). The results show that both species use the entire available width and depth spectrum of the Danube along the full migratable river length. Nase had an average home range of 22.4 km, while that of barbel was 34.4 km. The habitat use of the two species differs significantly. While the nase was primarily encountered in the free-flowing section, barbel mainly used deep areas of the impoundment during the year. Nase showed a distinct site fidelity to certain areas in the free-flowing reach which were periodically revisited. During the spawning season, distinct homing behavior was observed in both species. All seven nase that could still be detected during the spawning season returned to the tributary (homing rate 100%). Six homing nase migrated up to the first migration barrier in the tributary but did not pass the existing fish passage facility. In contrast, only nine barbel returned to spawn in the tributary (homing rate 50%), while nine barbel were most likely using a spawning location in the head of impoundment section. Homing fish entered the tributary during darkness.
Anti-pandemic restrictions, uncertainty and sentiment in seven countries
Authors: Charemza Wojciech , Makarova Svetlana , Rybiński Krzysztof
Published: October 2022

We investigate how the stringency of government anti-pandemic policy measures might affect economic policy uncertainty in countries with different degrees of press freedom, various press reporting styles and writing conventions. We apply a text-based measure of uncertainty using data from over 400,000 press articles from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, the UK and the USA published before the wide-scale vaccination programmes were introduced. The measure accounts for pandemic-related words and negative sentiment scores weight the selected articles. We then tested the dynamic panel data model where the relative changes in these measures were explained by levels and changes in the stringency measures. We have found that introducing and then maintaining unchanged for a relatively long time a constant level of anti-pandemic stringency measures reduce uncertainty. In contrast, a change in such a level has the opposite effect. This result is robust across the countries, despite their differences in political systems, press control and freedom of speech.
The Inverse Magnetocaloric Effect of MgB2 Superconductor
Authors: Abdelalim Youssef H. , M.Mohamed Ashraf , Hamad Mahmoud A. , Alamri Hatem R. , Harb Mohamed E. , Elghnam Sameh M.
Published: October 2022

The magnetocaloric effect-(MCE) of MgB2 is simulated, considering the effect of sintering temperature on MCE. The results show that MCE of MgB2 samples is an inverse type in a temperature range of diamagnetic-paramagnetic transition. Moreover, the MCE for MgB2 is improved with high sintering temperature. The comparison between MCE of MgB2 samples and other some reported magnetic materials has been done, showing that MCE parameters of MgB2 samples are larger than some MCE parameters of La1-xCdxMnO3, La1.25Sr0.75MnCoO6, Gd1−xCaxBaCo2O5.5, Ni58Fe26Ga28, Ni2+xMn1−xGe, Ge0.95Mn0.05 film, and (001)-oriented MnAs film. It suggested that MgB2 samples could be a promising sharing candidate for MR in cryogenic temperatures.
On the nonlinear hunting stability of a high-speed train bogie
Authors: Bustos Alejandro , Tomas-Rodriguez Maria , Rubio Higinio , Castejon Cristina
Published: October 2022

The hunting phenomenon is an intrinsic swaying motion appearing in railway vehicles due to the vehicle’s forward speed and the wheel–rail contact forces. Hunting motion consists of wheelset and other vehicle’s components oscillations that arise above a certain vehicle’s speed known as critical or hunting speed. These oscillations are of unstable nature and represent a safety hazard as they could lead to the vehicle’s derailment. This article analyses the stability of a bogie nonlinear model for a Spanish high-speed train when this is travelling at speeds near the hunting speed. The vehicle’s stability is studied by means of root loci methods, and the value of the critical speed is found. In addition to this, the behaviour of the vehicle is studied in both stable and unstable regions and the existence of limit cycles is discussed in this work. Finally, a sensitivity analysis of the axle load and suspension parameters is performed. The results show that the axle load, the vertical stiffness of the primary suspension and the lateral damping of the secondary suspension have a significant influence on the value of the critical speed.
Recent advances in the application of microbial diamine oxidases and other histamine-oxidizing enzymes
Authors: Kettner Lucas , Seitl Ines , Fischer Lutz
Published: October 2022

The consumption of foods fraught with histamine can lead to various allergy-like symptoms if the histamine is not sufficiently degraded in the human body. The degradation occurs primarily in the small intestine, naturally catalyzed by the human diamine oxidase (DAO). An inherent or acquired deficiency in human DAO function causes the accumulation of histamine and subsequent intrusion of histamine into the bloodstream. The histamine exerts its effects acting on different histamine receptors all over the body but also directly in the intestinal lumen. The inability to degrade sufficient amounts of dietary histamine is known as the ‘histamine intolerance’. It would be preferable to solve this problem initially by the production of histamine-free or -reduced foods and by the oral supplementation of exogenous DAO supporting the human DAO in the small intestine. For the latter, DAOs from mammalian, herbal and microbial sources may be applicable. Microbial DAOs seem to be the most promising choice due to their possibility of an efficient biotechnological production in suitable microbial hosts. However, their biochemical properties, such as activity and stability under process conditions and substrate selectivity, play important roles for their successful application. This review deals with the advances and challenges of DAOs and other histamine-oxidizing enzymes for their potential application as processing aids for the production of histamine-reduced foods or as orally administered adjuvants to humans who have been eating food fraught with histamine.
Aluminum Cast Alloys Based on the Al–Ce–Si–Mg System: An Influence of Silicon on Crystallization, Phase Composition, and Tensile Properties
Authors: Czerwinski Frank , Shalchi Amirkhiz Babak
Published: October 2022

An attempt at strengthening the aluminum-cerium-based alloys through additions of silicon was assessed using the experimental Al5Ce3Si0.5Mg (wt. pct) cast hypoeutectic composition, designed based on the commercial A356 (Al–7Si–0.3Mg, wt pct) grade by substituting a portion of Si with Ce. To determine a role of Si, the Al5Ce0.5Mg (wt. pct) reference was cast and tested under identical conditions. An addition of 3 wt. pct Si to the Al5Ce0.5Mg base increased the room temperature yield stress almost three times, from 47 to 135 MPa, but reduced its elongation by an order of magnitude from 8 pct to that below 1 pct. A presence of Si led also to essential changes in the alloy crystallization with the melting range widened substantially from 10 °C to 91 °C mainly due to a reduction in the solidus level. As-cast microstructure of the Al5Ce0.5Mg base consisting the primary αAl along with 44 pct of the αAl + Al11Ce3 eutectic was replaced in the Al5Ce3Si0.5Mg alloy with the αAl + AlCeSi2 coarse lamellae ternary eutectic, bulky compounds having the Ce-rich core of AlCe2Si with external shell of Al2CeSi2 along with the quaternary eutectic of fine αAl, Si, Al2MgSi/Al2Mg2Si, and Al–Si–Mg-Ce phases. The fractographic analysis revealed that additions of Si caused a transition from largely ductile fracture to the predominantly brittle mode with crack paths propagating mainly along the interface between the coarse AlCeSi2 lamellae and Al(Si, Mg) solid solution, which explains the measured drastic reduction in the alloy elongation.

Graphical Abstract
Does the Personality of Consumers Influence the Assessment of the Experience of Interaction with Social Robots?
Authors: Forgas-Coll Santiago , Huertas-Garcia Ruben , Andriella Antonio , Alenyà Guillem
Published: October 2022

In recent years, in response to the effects of Covid-19, there has been an increase in the use of social robots in service organisations, as well as in the number of interactions between consumers and robots. However, it is not clear how consumers are valuing these experiences or what the main drivers that shape them are. Furthermore, it is an open research question whether these experiences undergone by consumers can be affected by their own personality. This study attempts to shed some light on these questions and, to do so, an experiment is proposed in which a sample of 378 participants evaluate a simulated front-office service experience delivered by a social robot. The authors investigate the underlying process that explains the experience and find that cognitive-functional factors, emphasising efficiency, have practically the same relevance as emotional factors, emphasising stimulation. In addition, this research identifies the personality traits of the participants and explores their moderating role in the evaluation of the experience. The results reveal that each personality trait, estimated between high and low poles, generates different responses in the evaluation of the experience.
Fluctuations in the Number of Stores by Industry During the COVID-19 Pandemic Based on Japanese Phone Book Entries
Authors: Saito Saki , Ito Mariko I. , Ohnishi Takaaki
Published: October 2022

Currently in Japan, summaries of the number of bankruptcies due to the spread of COVID-19 can only be obtained from surveys conducted by a few research firms targeting particular companies. In this study, we used Japanese telephone directory data containing detailed information on the location and industrial category of stores/facilities nationwide in an effort to infer the influence of COVID-19 on businesses in Japan. We analyzed the temporal change in the number of stores before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. Among other findings, the analysis revealed that the number of travel agencies and facilities offering karaoke and other forms of entertainment declined significantly after the outbreak in some prefectures, with the largest declines in Ibaraki, Osaka, and Hyogo prefectures, and a relatively small decline in Tochigi prefecture. Among the stores and facilities categorized as restaurants and travel-related services, the decline was particularly significant in urban areas such as Tokyo and Osaka prefectures.
Describing local and non-local electron heating by the Fokker–Planck equation
Authors: Czarnetzki Uwe , Alves Luís Lemos
Published: October 2022

The common description of kinetic effects in low-pressure plasmas is based on the Boltzmann equation. This applies especially to the description of Ohmic (collisional) and non-local (stochastic/collisionless) electron heating, where the Boltzmann equation is the starting point for the derivation of the corresponding heating operator. Here, it is shown, that an alternative and fully equivalent approach for describing the interaction between electrons and electric fields can be based on the Fokker–Planck equation in combination with the corresponding Langevin equation. Although, ultimately the final expressions are the same in both cases, the procedures are entirely different. While the Fokker–Planck/Langevin approach provides physical insights in a very natural way, the linearized Boltzmann equation allows straightforward calculation but requires some effort to interpret the mathematical structure in terms of physics. The Fokker–Planck equation for the present problem is derived, with particular emphasis on the consistent treatment of velocity-dependent elastic collision frequencies. The concept is tested for a simple case by comparing it with results from an ergodic Monte-Carlo simulation. Finally, the concept is applied to the problem of combined Ohmic and stochastic heating in inductively coupled plasmas. The heating operator is first analyzed for an exponential model field profile. Self-consistent field profiles are determined subsequently. In this context, a generalization of the plasma dispersion function is introduced, which allows for arbitrary forms of the distribution function and velocity dependence of the elastic collision frequency. Combined with the Fokker–Planck heating operator, a fully self-consistent description of the plasma and the fields is realized. Finally, a concept for integrating the operator in a standard local Boltzmann solver and using the local solver for determination of the global electron velocity distribution function in a low-pressure plasma is provided.
The disappointment of financial support measures during the COVID-19 pandemic among small business managers’ in Sweden
Authors: Tjulin Åsa , Vinberg Stig , Landstad Bodil J , Hedlund Marianne , Nordenmark Mikael
Published: October 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic is viewed as an emergent social phenomenon with several negative effects, e.g., financial decline of small businesses, as well as worsened sense of well-being. The aim of this article is to explore small business managers’ perceptions of governmental financial support measures and relate them to how they experienced their own health and consequences on their work environment. This mixed-method study was performed during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden. A survey was conducted during the period from October 2020 to February 2021 and answered by 729 small business managers, followed by ten interviews in March 2021. The key result shows that the managers were dissatisfied with the governmental financial support measures implemented. The results show that the attitudes of the small business managers towards the financial support measures may have had a negative impact on their subjective health. The study indicates a mismatch between the needs of small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and how society provides resources through support systems. This in turn may have meant a limitation on the government’s ability to assist small business owners with financial support during the pandemic.
Identifying future partner agencies: helping Brazos Valley Food Bank in the fight against food insecurity
Authors: Saari Sanni , Li Ying , Avila Shannon , Knight Ebony
Published: October 2022

Brazos Valley Food Bank (BVFB) is a non-profit organization in the Bryan-College Station area of Texas. It distributes food supplies through partner agencies and special programs to eradicate hunger in Brazos Valley. However, a big gap exists between the meals distributed by BVFB and the size of the food-insecure population. This research is motivated by BVFB’s desire to reach more people by recruiting more sustainable partner agencies. We used Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map food desert areas lacking access to nutritious food. We combined expert knowledge with multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) to address the challenges and time consumption of manually identifying sustainable partner agencies for local food delivery. We identified evaluation criteria for all agencies based on BVFB managers’ preferences using a qualitative approach, and then applied three quantitative decision-making models: the Weighted Sum Model (WSM), the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), and the Multi-criteria Optimization and Compromise Solution (VIKOR) models to obtain ranking results. We compared the quantitative models’ rankings to BVFB managers’ manual choices and discussed the impacts of our research. The key innovation of the research is to develop a mixed method by combining expert knowledge with mathematical decision models and GIS to support spatial decision making in food distribution. Although our results were specific to BVFB, these procedures can be applied to food banks in general. Future studies include finetuning our models to measure and address human biases, wider applications and more data collections.
Effect of the thickness on the photocatalytic and the photocurrent properties of ZnO films deposited by spray pyrolysis
Authors: Ibrahim A. Sulthan , Alex Kevin V. , Latha M. Bhakya , Kamakshi K. , Sathish S. , Silva J. P. B. , Sekhar K. C.
Published: October 2022

In this work, we have investigated the structure, morphology, photoluminescence, photocatalytic and photocurrent properties of ZnO thin films as a function of their film thickness (tZnO) fabricated via ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique. The X-Ray diffraction patterns exhibited the formation of polycrystalline wurtzite phase of ZnO. Scanning electron microscopy images showed the uniform morphology with nanorod structure. The photosensitivity and photocatalytic efficiency are found to be optimum at tZnO = 1200 nm and are attributed to the improved photogeneration of charge carriers and higher concentration of oxygen vacancies. A direct correlation is established between the photosensitivity and photodegradation process. The incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) and photocatalytic efficiency for the ZnO film at tZnO = 1200 nm are estimated to be 31.5% and 100% respectively. The obtained result suggests that ZnO thin films are potential candidates for applications in various optoelectronic devices.
Space Raindrops Splashing on Earth’s Magnetic Umbrella
Authors: Vuorinen Laura , LaMoury Adrian , Masongsong Emmanuel , Hietala Heli
Published: October 2022

Though not as damaging as extreme space weather events, showers of plasma jets hit Earth’s magnetic shield every day—yet we're only beginning to understand their effects.
Climate Change, Pollution, Deforestation, and Mental Health: Research Trends, Gaps, and Ethical Considerations
Authors: Wigand Moritz E. , Timmermann Cristian , Scherp Ansgar , Becker Thomas , Steger Florian
Published: October 2022

Climate change, pollution, and deforestation have a negative impact on global mental health. There is an environmental justice dimension to this challenge as wealthy people and high‐income countries are major contributors to climate change and pollution, while poor people and low‐income countries are heavily affected by the consequences. Using state‐of‐the art data mining, we analyzed and visualized the global research landscape on mental health, climate change, pollution and deforestation over a 15‐year period. Metadata of papers were exported from PubMed®, and both relevance and relatedness of terms in different time frames were computed using VOSviewer. Co‐occurrence graphs were used to visualize results. The development of exemplary terms over time was plotted separately. The number of research papers on mental health and environmental challenges is growing in a linear fashion. Major topics are climate change, chemical pollution, including psychiatric medication in wastewater, and neurobiological effects. Research on specific psychiatric syndromes and diseases, particularly on their ethical and social aspects is less prominent. There is a growing body of research literature on links between mental health, climate change, pollution, and deforestation. This research provides a graphic overview to mental healthcare professionals and political stakeholders. Social and ethical aspects of the climate change‐mental health link have been neglected, and more research is needed.
Associations Between Surface Mining Airsheds and Birth Outcomes in Central Appalachia at Multiple Spatial Scales
Authors: McKnight Molly X. , Kolivras Korine N. , Buttling Lauren G. , Gohlke Julia M. , Marr Linsey C. , Pingel Thomas J. , Ranganathan Shyam
Published: October 2022

A considerable body of research exists outlining ecological impacts of surface coal mining, but less work has explicitly focused on human health, and few studies have examined potential links between health and surface coal mining at fine spatial scales. In particular, relationships between individual birth outcomes and exposure to air contaminants from coal mining activities has received little attention. Central Appalachia (portions of Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, USA), our study area, has a history of resource extraction, and epidemiologic research notes that the region experiences a greater level of adverse health outcomes compared to the rest of the country that are not fully explained by socioeconomic and behavioral factors. The purpose of this study is to examine associations between surface mining and birth outcomes at four spatial scales: individual, Census tract, county, and across county‐sized grid cells. Notably, this study is among the first to examine these associations at the individual scale, providing a more direct measure of exposure and outcome. Airsheds were constructed for surface mines using an atmospheric trajectory model. We then implemented linear (birthweight) and logistic (preterm birth [PTB]) regression models to examine associations between airsheds and birth outcomes, which were geocoded to home address for individual analyses and then aggregated for areal unit analyses, while controlling for a number of demographic variables. This study found that surface mining airsheds are significantly associated with PTB and decreased birthweight at all four spatial scales, suggesting that surface coal mining activities impact birth outcomes via airborne contaminants.
Rayleigh Wave Attenuation and Amplification Measured at Ocean‐Bottom Seismometer Arrays Using Helmholtz Tomography
Authors: Russell Joshua B. , Dalton Colleen A.
Published: October 2022

Shear attenuation provides insights into the physical and chemical state of the upper mantle. Yet, observations of attenuation are infrequent in the oceans, despite recent proliferation of arrays of ocean‐bottom seismometers (OBSs). Studies of attenuation in marine environments must overcome unique challenges associated with strong oceanographic noise at the seafloor and data loss during OBS recovery in addition to untangling the competing influences of elastic focusing, local site amplification, and anelastic attenuation on surface‐wave amplitudes. We apply Helmholtz tomography to OBS data to simultaneously resolve array‐averaged Rayleigh wave attenuation and maps of site amplification at periods of 20–150 s. The approach explicitly accounts for elastic focusing and defocusing due to lateral velocity heterogeneity using wavefield curvature. We validate the approach using realistic wavefield simulations at the NoMelt Experiment and Juan de Fuca (JdF) plate, which represent endmember open‐ocean and coastline‐adjacent environments, respectively. Focusing corrections are successfully recovered at both OBS arrays, including at periods <35 s at JdF where coastline effects result in strong multipathing. When applied to real data, our observations of Rayleigh wave attenuation at NoMelt and JdF revise previous estimates. At NoMelt, we observe a low attenuation lithospheric layer ( > 1,500) overlying a highly attenuating asthenospheric layer ( ∼ 50 to 70). At JdF, we find a broad peak in attenuation ( ∼ 50 to 60) centered at a depth of 100–130 km. We also report strong local site amplification at the JdF Ridge (>10% at 31 s period), which can be used to refine models of crust and shallow mantle structure.
Wave‐Driven Hydrodynamic Processes Over Fringing Reefs With Varying Slopes, Depths, and Roughness: Implications for Coastal Protection
Authors: Buckley Mark L. , Lowe Ryan J. , Hansen Jeff E. , van Dongeren Ap R. , Pomeroy Andrew , Storlazzi Curt D. , Rijnsdorp Dirk P. , da Silva Renan F. , Contardo Stephanie , Green Rebecca H.
Published: October 2022

Wave breaking on the steep fore‐reef slopes of shallow fringing reefs can be effective at dissipating incident sea‐swell waves prior to reaching reef shorelines. However, wave setup and free infragravity waves generated during the sea‐swell breaking process are often the largest contributors to wave‐driven water levels (wave runup) at the shoreline. Laboratory flume experiments and a two‐dimensional vertical phase‐resolving nonhydrostatic wave‐flow model, which includes a canopy model to predict drag forces generated by roughness elements, were used to investigate wave‐driven water levels for along‐shore uniform fringing reefs. In contrast to many previous studies, both the laboratory experiment and the numerical model account for the effects of large bottom roughness. The numerical model reproduced the observations of the wave transformation and runup over both smooth and rough reef profiles. The numerical model was then extended to quantify the influence of reef geometry and compared to simulations of plane beaches lacking a reef. For a fixed offshore forcing condition, the fore‐reef slope controlled wave runup on reef‐fronted beaches, whereas the beach slope controlled wave runup on plane beaches. As a result, the coastal protection utility of reefs is dependent on these slopes. For our examples, with a fore‐reef slope of 1/5 and a 500 m prototype reef flat length, a beach slope of ∼1/30 marked the transition between the reef providing runup reduction for steeper beach slopes and enhancing wave runup for milder slopes. Roughness coverage, spacing, dimensions, and drag coefficient were investigated, with results indicating the greatest runup reductions were due to tall roughness elements on the reef flat.
Measuring Zak phase in room-temperature atoms
Authors: Mao Ruosong , Xu Xingqi , Wang Jiefei , Xu Chenran , Qian Gewei , Cai Han , Zhu Shi-Yao , Wang Da-Wei
Published: October 2022

Cold atoms provide a flexible platform for synthesizing and characterizing topological matter, where geometric phases play a central role. However, cold atoms are intrinsically prone to thermal noise, which can overwhelm the topological response and hamper promised applications. On the other hand, geometric phases also determine the energy spectra of particles subjected to a static force, based on the polarization relation between Wannier-Stark ladders and geometric Zak phases. By exploiting this relation, we develop a method to extract geometric phases from energy spectra of room-temperature superradiance lattices, which are momentum-space lattices of timed Dicke states. In such momentum-space lattices the thermal motion of atoms, instead of being a source of noise, provides effective forces which lead to spectroscopic signatures of the Zak phases. We measure Zak phases directly from the anti-crossings between Wannier-Stark ladders in the Doppler-broadened absorption spectra of superradiance lattices. Our approach paves the way of measuring topological invariants and developing their applications in room-temperature atoms.
MRI-targeted biopsy cores from prostate index lesions: assessment and prediction of the number needed
Authors: Beetz Nick Lasse , Dräger Franziska , Hamm Charlie Alexander , Shnayien Seyd , Rudolph Madhuri Monique , Froböse Konrad , Elezkurtaj Sefer , Haas Matthias , Asbach Patrick , Hamm Bernd , Mahjoub Samy , Konietschke Frank , Wechsung Maximilian , Balzer Felix , Cash Hannes , Hofbauer Sebastian , Penzkofer Tobias
Published: October 2022

Background

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to detect the prostate index lesion before targeted biopsy. However, the number of biopsy cores that should be obtained from the index lesion is unclear. The aim of this study is to analyze how many MRI-targeted biopsy cores are needed to establish the most relevant histopathologic diagnosis of the index lesion and to build a prediction model.

Methods

We retrospectively included 451 patients who underwent 10-core systematic prostate biopsy and MRI-targeted biopsy with sampling of at least three cores from the index lesion. A total of 1587 biopsy cores were analyzed. The core sampling sequence was recorded, and the first biopsy core detecting the most relevant histopathologic diagnosis was identified. In a subgroup of 261 patients in whom exactly three MRI-targeted biopsy cores were obtained from the index lesion, we generated a prediction model. A nonparametric Bayes classifier was trained using the PI-RADS score, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density, lesion size, zone, and location as covariates.

Results

The most relevant histopathologic diagnosis of the index lesion was detected by the first biopsy core in 331 cases (73%), by the second in 66 cases (15%), and by the third in 39 cases (9%), by the fourth in 13 cases (3%), and by the fifth in two cases (<1%). The Bayes classifier correctly predicted which biopsy core yielded the most relevant histopathologic diagnosis in 79% of the subjects. PI-RADS score, PSA density, lesion size, zone, and location did not independently influence the prediction model.

Conclusion

The most relevant histopathologic diagnosis of the index lesion was made on the basis of three MRI-targeted biopsy cores in 97% of patients. Our classifier can help in predicting the first MRI-targeted biopsy core revealing the most relevant histopathologic diagnosis; however, at least three MRI-targeted biopsy cores should be obtained regardless of the preinterventionally assessed covariates.
Sirtuin 4 activates autophagy and inhibits tumorigenesis by upregulating the p53 signaling pathway
Authors: Li Juan , Zhan Hanxiang , Ren Yidan , Feng Maoxiao , Wang Qin , Jiao Qinlian , Wang Yuli , Liu Xiaoyan , Zhang Shujun , Du Lutao , Wang Yunshan , Wang Chuanxin
Published: October 2022

The role of autophagy in cancer is context-dependent. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the regulator and underlying mechanism of autophagy. We found that a sirtuin (SIRT) family member, SIRT4, was significantly associated autophagy pathway in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Specifically, in vitro cell culture experiments and in vivo transgenic and xenografted animal models revealed that SIRT4 could inhibit tumor growth and promote autophagy in PDAC. In terms of the mechanism, we demonstrated that SIRT4 activated the phosphorylation of p53 protein by suppressing glutamine metabolism, which was crucial in SIRT4-induced autophagy. AMPKα was implicated in the regulation of autophagy and phosphorylation of p53 mediated by SIRT4, contributing to the suppression of pancreatic tumorigenesis. Notably, the clinical significance of the SIRT4/AMPKα/p53/autophagy axis was demonstrated in human PDAC specimens. Collectively, these findings suggested that SIRT4-induced autophagy further inhibited tumorigenesis and progression of PDAC, highlighting the potential of SIRT4 as a therapeutic target for cancer.
High-content, arrayed compound screens with rhinovirus, influenza A virus and herpes simplex virus infections
Authors: Olszewski Dominik , Georgi Fanny , Murer Luca , Andriasyan Vardan , Kuttler Fabien , Petkidis Anthony , Witte Robert , Yakimovich Artur , Fischer Lucy , Rozanova Alina , Yamauchi Yohei , Turcatti Gerardo , Greber Urs F.
Published: October 2022

Viruses are genetically and structurally diverse, and outnumber cells by orders of magnitude. They can cause acute and chronic infections, suppress, or exacerbate immunity, or dysregulate survival and growth of cells. To identify chemical agents with pro- or antiviral effects we conducted arrayed high-content image-based multi-cycle infection screens of 1,280 mainly FDA-approved compounds with three human viruses, rhinovirus (RV), influenza A virus (IAV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV) differing in genome organization, composition, presence of an envelope, and tropism. Based on Z’-factors assessing screening quality and Z-scores ranking individual compounds, we identified potent inhibitors and enhancers of infection: the RNA mutagen 5-Azacytidine against RV-A16; the broad-spectrum antimycotic drug Clotrimazole inhibiting IAV-WSN; the chemotherapeutic agent Raltitrexed blocking HSV-1; and Clobetasol enhancing HSV-1. Remarkably, the topical antiseptic compound Aminacrine, which is clinically used against bacterial and fungal agents, inhibited all three viruses. Our data underscore the versatility and potency of image-based, full cycle virus propagation assays in cell-based screenings for antiviral agents.
Validation of reference genes for gene expression analysis in fruit development of Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. using quantitative real-time PCR
Authors: He Feng , Gui Liangxian , Zhang Yan , Zhu Bo , Zhang Xiaoping , Shen Min , Wan Fengying , Yang Lu , Xiao Jiaxin
Published: October 2022

Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. (VBT) is widely distributed in the mountainous areas in eastern and southern China. VBT leaves have great medical value and can be used to stain rice to produce “Wumifan”. Its fruits also contain rich nutrients. However, there has been limited attention to exploring the molecular content of VBT. Previously, we performed RNA-seq on three typical VBT fruits that were at various stages of ripening, although a reliable reference gene was lost in validation.In this study, we selected ten candidate reference genes based on previous studies and transcriptomics analyses. Subsequently, these genes were evaluated using a combination of methods, including geNorm, NormFinder, and Bestkeeper, with a comprehensive ranking assessment. As a result, we found that the actin2, NADH, and ADK genes have high reliability for analysing the expression levels of genes involved in fruit development. Furthermore, the transcript levels of 15 DEGs from transcriptomic analysis were assessed using NADH as a reference gene, and RT-qPCR data were highly consistent with the transcriptomic data. These results provide reliable reference genes for further studying gene expression, which will be beneficial for comprehensively exploring VBT.
Studying the influence of external moment and force on a disc’s motion
Authors: Amer T. S. , Amer W. S. , El-Kafly H.
Published: October 2022

In this work, the influence of a gyrostatic moment vector (GMV) and the Newtonian field (NF) on the rotatory motion of a restricted rigid body (RB) according to disc case around a fixed point is examined. The basic equation of the body motion is used to get the regulating motion’s system as well as the three available independent first integrals. The system’s six equations and these integrals were reduced to two equations of a quasi-linear two-degrees-of-freedom autonomous system and one first integral. The disc has been presumed to be quickly rotating around one of the ellipsoid of inertia's main axis. Poincaré’s method of small parameter (PMSP) is applied to acquire the periodic solutions of the controlling system of the body’s motion. Euler's angles are utilized to characterize the body’s configuration at any instant in which it is graphed, as well as the obtained solutions to explore the good action of the body’s parameters on its motion. The phase plane graphs of these solutions are presented to examine their stabilities. The relevance of this work may be traced to its wide range of applications in fields as diverse as physics, engineering, and life sciences, including assembly and machine design.
Inter-annual variability patterns of reef cryptobiota in the central Red Sea across a shelf gradient
Authors: Villalobos R. , Aylagas E. , Pearman J. K. , Curdia J. , Lozano-Cortés D. , Coker D. J. , Jones B. , Berumen M. L. , Carvalho S.
Published: October 2022

The combination of molecular tools, standard surveying techniques, and long-term monitoring programs are relevant to understanding environmental and ecological changes in coral reef communities. Here we studied temporal variability in cryptobenthic coral reef communities across the continental shelf in the central Red Sea spanning 6 years (three sampling periods: 2013–2019) and including the 2015 mass bleaching event. We used a combination of molecular tools (barcoding and metabarcoding) to assess communities on Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) as a standardized sampling approach. Community composition associated with ARMS for both methodologies (barcoding and metabarcoding) was statistically different across reefs (shelf position) and time periods. The partition of beta diversity showed a higher turnover and lower nestedness between pre-bleaching and post-bleaching samples than between the two post-bleaching periods, revealing a community shift from the bleaching event. However, a slight return to the pre-bleaching community composition was observed in 2019 suggesting a recovery trajectory. Given the predictions of decreasing time between bleaching events, it is concerning that cryptobenthic communities may not fully recover and communities with new characteristics will emerge. We observed a high turnover among reefs for all time periods, implying a homogenization of the cryptobiome did not occur across the cross shelf following the 2015 bleaching event. It is possible that dispersal limitations and the distinct environmental and benthic structures present across the shelf maintained the heterogeneity in communities among reefs. This study has to the best of our knowledge presented for the first time a temporal aspect into the analysis of ARMS cryptobenthic coral reef communities and encompasses a bleaching event. We show that these structures can detect cryptic changes associated with reef degradation and provides support for these being used as long-term monitoring tools.
Individual characteristics of adolescent psychiatric patients accessing psychotherapy in China
Authors: Ma Jinping , Zhou Hai , Li Xinwei , Fu Qinqin , Lu Guohua
Published: October 2022

Most mental health problems develop during childhood and adolescence, so identifying the mental health needs and care pathways of adolescents is crucial to improving prevention. This study aimed to understand the characteristics of adolescent patients with mental disorders receiving psychotherapy in China. Data were collected retrospectively from the psychotherapy records of 116 patients at the Weifang Mental Health Centre. Information collected included demographics, stressors, duration of psychotherapy, and clinical diagnosis. Chi-square tests and negative binomial regression models were used to explore the relationship between demographic and clinical variables. The results showed that depression was the most common diagnosis, followed by anxiety and stress-related disorders and bipolar and related disorders. Rural patients were more likely to report family stress, while urban patients were more likely to report school stress. Female patients were more likely to report family stress and to be diagnosed with depression. Family stress, social stress, school stress, patient origin and economic conditions were all significant predictors of the duration of psychological treatment. This study helps to understand the characteristics and psychotherapeutic needs of adolescents with mental disorders who receive psychotherapy in China so that the positive role of psychotherapy in the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of mental disorders can be better utilised.
Synthesis of titanates for photomineralization of industrial wastewater and organic pollutants
Authors: Gade Ramesh , Basude Manohar , Simhachalam Narendra Babu , V Rama Devi , Pola Someshwar , Chetti Prabhakar
Published: October 2022

The optical parameters of tunnel type titanates NaTO, PdTO and Ag/PdTO were studied and they were used as photocatalysts for the photomineralization of various organic dye pollutants and industrial wastewater (IWW) under visible light irradiation.
Insect olfactory system inspired biosensors for odorant detection
Authors: Lu Yanli , Liu Qingjun
Published: October 2022

Inspired by the remarkable olfaction, olfactory derived materials or biomimetic elements have been integrated with different transducers for odorant detection.
Plasmin Inhibitor in Health and Diabetes: Role of the Protein as a Therapeutic Target
Authors: Alsayejh Basmah , Kietsiriroje Noppadol , Almutairi Mansour , Simmons Katie , Pechlivani Nikoletta , Ponnambalam Sreenivasan , Ajjan Ramzi A.
Published: October 2022

The vascular obstructive thrombus is composed of a mesh of fibrin fibers with blood cells trapped in these networks. Enhanced fibrin clot formation and/or suppression of fibrinolysis are associated with an increased risk of vascular occlusive events. Inhibitors of coagulation factors and activators of plasminogen have been clinically used to limit fibrin network formation and enhance lysis. While these agents are effective at reducing vascular occlusion, they carry a significant risk of bleeding complications. Fibrin clot lysis, essential for normal hemostasis, is controlled by several factors including the incorporation of antifibrinolytic proteins into the clot. Plasmin inhibitor (PI), a key antifibrinolytic protein, is cross-linked into fibrin networks with higher concentrations of PI documented in fibrin clots and plasma from high vascular risk individuals. This review is focused on exploring PI as a target for the prevention and treatment of vascular occlusive disease. We first discuss the relationship between the PI structure and antifibrinolytic activity, followed by describing the function of the protein in normal physiology and its role in pathological vascular thrombosis. Subsequently, we describe in detail the potential use of PI as a therapeutic target, including the array of methods employed for the modulation of protein activity. Effective and safe inhibition of PI may prove to be an alternative and specific way to reduce vascular thrombotic events while keeping bleeding risk to a minimum.

Key Points
Does Timing of Resection Influence the Presence of Inflammation within Congenital Lung Malformations?
Authors: Engall Nick , Sethuraman Chitra , Wilkinson David John , Lansdale Nick , Peters Robert Thomas
Published: October 2022

Introduction Opinion remains divided on whether to resect an asymptomatic congenital lung malformation (CLM) and on optimal timing of resection. This study aimed to determine if age at resection of CLM correlates with the presence of histological inflammation and/or incidence of prior antibiotic administration for lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI).

Materials and Methods A retrospective review of all CLMs resected between 2009 and 2021 was carried out. Data on antenatal detection, incidence of preoperative antibiotic use for LRTI, operative details, and histological reports were analyzed. Fisher's exact test and logistic regression were used to look for correlation between age at resection and (1) histological inflammation and/or (2) preoperative LRTI.

Results A total of 102 patients underwent resection at age 14 months (interquartile range: 6–23). Eighty percent of children were asymptomatic in the neonatal period and 22% of these went on to develop a respiratory symptom. In total, 59% of specimens had histological evidence of inflammation, with a significantly higher rate of inflammation after 10 months of age (71 vs. 35%; p = 0.0012). Logistic regression showed there was a positive correlation between age at resection and treatment for previous LRTI (p = 0.020).

Conclusion Detection rates of inflammation in specimens resected after 10 months of age are double the rates of those resected prior to 10 months. Delaying resection of CLMs showed a higher frequency of treatment of LRTI. Earlier resection may therefore be advantageous for centers pursuing a resection strategy for asymptomatic lesions.