bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Propagation of 2-D SH waves in random media: Insights from ab initio numerical simulations and transport theory
Authors: Celorio Malcon , Chaljub Emmanuel , Margerin Ludovic , Stehly Laurent 
Published: November 2022

Increasing the frequency range of physics-based predictions of earthquake ground motions requires to account for small-scale heterogeneities, which can only be described in a stochastic way. Although many studies have addressed the impact of random heterogeneities on ground motion intensity parameters obtained by numerical simulation, very few have verified the accuracy of their numerical solutions or controlled the scattering regime they were simulating. Here we present a comprehensive analysis ofSHwave propagation in 2D random media which covers a broad range of propagation regimes from ballistic to diffusive. The coherent and incoherent parts of the wavefield are examined independently. The random media consist in correlated density and velocity fluctuations described by a von Kármán autocorrelation function with a Hurst coefficient of 0.25 and a correlation lengtha= 500 m. The Birch correlation coefficient which relates density to velocity fluctuations takes 4 possible values between 0.5 and 1, and the standard deviation of the perturbations is either 5% or 10%. Spectral element simulations of SH wave propagation excited by a plane wave are performed for normalized wavenumbers (ka) up to 5. Analysis of the decay of the coherent wave amplitude, obtained through different averaging procedures, allows for a direct measure of the scattering attenuation, which we successfully compare with the predictions of the Dyson mean field theory. We also present the comparison between the energy envelopes measured from the synthetics and their theoretical counterpart provided by the radiative transfer theory and the diffusion approximation. Excellent agreement is found between numerical simulations and theoretical predictions of radiative transfer theory for the mean intensity. The numerical study highlights the difference of attenuation length between the mean field and the mean intensity. In the forward scattering regime, the peak intensity appears to decay exponentially over a length scale known as the transport mean free path. Furthermore, the fluctuations of intensity in the ballistic peak exhibit a transition from Log-normal to Exponential statistics. This transition occurs for a propagation distance of the order of the mean free path, which offers an alternative method of estimating this parameter.
The hidden (overlooked) impact of living through a pandemic: How parents of children with disabilities fared during COVID-19?
Authors: Rakap Salih , Vural-Batik Meryem , Kalkan Sinan , Karnas Mustafa , Sari Halil Ibrahim , Bayrakdar Uygar 
Published: November 2022

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life of families of children with disabilities and the mediating roles of perceived social support, perceived parental self-efficacy, psychological health, psychological resilience, and perceived family burden on this relationship.BackgroundChildren with disabilities and their families are among the most affected populations from the restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus, as the special education and rehabilitation services they had been receiving were interrupted.MethodA correlational survey design was used to collect data from 824 parents of children with disabilities in Turkey. Path analysis was used to examine the direct and indirect effects of COVID-19 on family quality of life.ResultsResults indicated that COVID-19 had a significant total effect on family quality of life and perceived social support, parental self-efficacy and psychological resilience had a mediating role on the relationship between impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and family quality of life. Perceived social support was found to the strongest mediator of the relationship between the impact of COVID-19 and the family quality of life, while perceived family burden did not have a statistically significant association with these variables.ConclusionFamily quality of life for children with disabilities decreased as the impact of COVID-19 pandemic increased. Perceived social support, parental self-efficacy and psychological resilience had mediating roles in the relationship between the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and family quality of life.ImplicationsCOVID-19 has resulted in disruption of special education and rehabilitation services for children with disabilities and their families. Changes in daily routines have brought up additional responsibilities to parents of children with disabilities. These additional responsibilities may adversely affect and increase the burden and stress families of children with disabilities experience. The high levels of stress in families negatively affect the welfare and quality of life and result in decreased parental attention to support their children. Findings of this study show the mediating link of perceived social support, parental self-efficacy and psychological resilience in the relationship between the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and family quality of life. Policymakers and service providers should develop and implement specific care actions to support children with disabilities and their families during and after the pandemic.
Inferring causal effects of homocysteine and B-vitamin concentrations on bone mineral density and fractures: Mendelian randomization analyses
Authors: Fu Liwan , Wang Yuquan , Hu Yue-Qing 
Published: November 2022

ObjectivesIn the progress of bone metabolism, homocysteine (Hcy) and B vitamins play substantial roles. However, the causal associations of homocysteine, B-vitamin concentrations with bone mineral density (BMD), and fractures remain unclear. Therefore, we employed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design to infer the causal effects of Hcy and B vitamins on BMD and fractures.MethodsWe selected instrumental variables from large genome-wide association studies (GWASs). Specifically, the exposures mainly included Hcy (sample size: 44,147), vitamin B12 (sample size: 45,576), folate (sample size: 37,465), and vitamin B6 (sample size: 1,864). The outcome variables included total body BMD (sample size: 66,628), heel BMD (sample size: 142,487), femoral neck BMD (sample size: 32,735), lumbar spine BMD (sample size: 28,498), and forearm BMD (sample size: 8143). Additionally, the total body BMD in several age strata was also included. Furthermore, the fractures of the forearm, femoral neck, lumbar spine, heel corresponding with the BMD regions, and femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD in men and women, separately, were added as additional outcomes. Two-sample MR approaches were utilized in this study. Inverse variance weighting (IVW) was adopted as the main analysis. MR-PRESSO, MR-Egger, the weighted median estimate, and multivariable MR were performed as sensitivity methods.ResultsIn the main analysis, Hcy concentrations have an inverse association with heel BMD (Beta = 0.046, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.073 to -0.019, P = 9.59E-04) per SD unit. In addition, for one SD increase of vitamin B12, the total body BMD decreased 0.083 unit (95%CI -0.126 to -0.040, P = 1.65E-04). The trend was more obvious in age over 45 years (Beta = -0.135, 95%CI -0.203–0.067, P = 9.86E-05 for age 45-60; Beta = -0.074, 95%CI -0.141 to -0.007, P = 0.031 for age over 60 years). No association of B vitamins and Hcy levels with the risk of fractures and femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD in men and women was found in this study. Other sensitivity MR methods elucidated consistent results.ConclusionsOur findings indicated that there exist the inversely causal effects of Hcy and vitamin B12 on BMD in certain body sites and age strata. These give novel clues for intervening bone-related diseases in public health and nutrition.
Combination of transsphenoidal endoscopic surgery and presurgical somatostatin analogs in thyrotropin (TSH)-secreting pituitary adenomas: Treatment outcome and long-term remission at a single pituitary center
Authors: Liu Jie , Yang Yamei , Duan Lian , Chai Xiaofeng , Zhu Huijuan , Deng Kan , Lian Xiaolan , Yao Yong 
Published: November 2022

BackgroundThyrotropin (TSH)-secreting pituitary adenomas (TSHomas) account for an extremely rare group of pituitary adenomas. Few studies examined the sensitivity and efficacy of presurgical somatostatin analogs (SSAs) and described the long-term remission under such treatment modality. The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of presurgical SSA treatment and long-term remission after surgery.MethodsA retrospective cohort of 65 TSHoma patients who received endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary surgery between 2011 and 2020 in a single pituitary center in China was established. Data were analyzed for sex differences and different types of SSA and ultimately to explore the hormonal cutoff for remission prediction.ResultsTSHomas had a predominant female preference in this cohort (43 women vs. 22 men). Baseline FT3 was higher in men [7.543 ± 2.407 vs. 5.58 (4.99, 6.58), p = 0.019], which was consistent with its longer diagnosis time and larger tumor volume. The median medication time for hormonal control was 2. 5 days for short-acting SSA and 4. 0 weeks for long-term SSA. Patients with long-acting SSA had a shrinking maximum tumor diameter at a median of 1.0 (−1.6, 4.925) mm. Only 10 patients (15.38%) were not in complete remission among whom 8 patients were not en-bloc resected and 2 patients had tumor recurrence after 81.6 and 10. 7 months of complete removal. Postsurgical thyroid hormones (within 1 week) of TSH &lt;0.094 μIU/ml were identified as the cutoff for remission using the ROC curve.ConclusionsThe combination of endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery and presurgical SSA TSHomas provided a higher long-term remission for TSHomas.
Biomass burning-agriculture coupling in the Orinoco savannas—Particulate matter emission scenarios
Authors: Jimenez Rodrigo , Ardila Andres V. , Vargas-Burbano Angela C. , Hernandez Andrea J. , Leon-Velasquez Elizabeth 
Published: November 2022

The Colombian Orinoco savannas (254 thousand km2), also known as Orinoquia or Llanos, have been steadily transformed into pastures for more than a century, and since the 1990s, into commodity crop intensified production. The cropland area expanded at 12% yr−1 during the 2007–2018 period (65% larger than in 1996–2007). Yet, we estimate that cattle ranching occupied ten times more area (34%) than cropland (3.2%) in 2018. The rest of Orinoquia, including indigenous reservations and protected areas, was in a semi-natural state, although also exposed to seasonal fire. The three main crops, oil palm, corn, and rice (72% of the sown area in 2017), accounted for 68% of the expansion, with permanent crops expanding two times faster (18% yr−1) than short-cycle crops. An extrapolation of trends indicates that the cultivated area will double by 2040 (reaching 20 thousand km2), with oil palm as the dominant crop. Satellite measurements show that 7% of Orinoquia burned every year during the 1997–2016 period, yet with large spatial and interannual variations (±26%), and significant decrease trends (up to −4% yr−1). Up to 40% of the burned area (BA) interannual variability was linked to irregular rainfall and drought. The areas with the larger fractional BA were also those with the least fractional cropland cover. A model developed to describe this coupling, along with rainfall and other effects, successfully explained most of Orinoquia’s BA variability (r2 = 0.93). The fitted model indicates that each sown hectare reduced the BA by 0.17 ha. This model predicts that the combination of cropland expansion and independent BA decline will lead to a fourfold reduction of Orinoquia’s BA by 2040 referred to 1997. Orinoquia’s crop production generated 3 Gg of PM10 (particulate matter &lt;10 µm) in 2016, mostly from short-cycle crops, while biomass burning generated 57 Gg, i.e., 95% of the combined emissions. These are expected to halve during the 2017–2040 period, despite an 83% increase in crop production emissions, as total and seasonal emissions will remain controlled by biomass burning. Such a large pollution burden reduction should have tremendous positive impacts on public health in Orinoquia and the Andes.
Baseline immune signature score of Tregs × HLA-DR+CD4+ T cells × PD1+CD8+ T cells predicts outcome to immunotherapy in cancer patients
Authors: Mispelbaum Rebekka , Hattenhauer Sandra Tessa , Held Stefanie Andrea Erika , Brossart Peter , Heine Annkristin 
Published: November 2022

BackgroundThe use of immunotherapy (IT) is rapidly increasing across different tumor entities. PD-L1 expression is primarily used for therapy evaluation. The disadvantages of PD-L1 status are spatial and temporal heterogeneity as well as tumor type-dependent variation of predictive value. To optimize patient selection for IT, new prediction markers for therapy success are needed. Based on the systemic efficacy of IT, we dissected the immune signature of peripheral blood as an easily accessible predictive biomarker for therapeutic success.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective clinical study of 62 cancer patients treated with IT. We assessed peripheral immune cell counts before the start of IT via flow cytometry. The predictive value for therapy response of developed immune signature scores was tested by ROC curve analyses and scores were correlated with time to progression (TTP).ResultsHigh score values of “Tregs ÷ (CD4+/CD8+ ratio)” (Score A) and high score values of “Tregs × HLA-DR+CD4+ T cells × PD1+CD8+ T cells” (Score B) significantly correlated with response at first staging (p = 0.001; p &lt; 0.001). At the optimal cutoff point, Score A correctly predicted 79.1% and Score B correctly predicted 89.3% of the staging results (sensitivity: 86.2%, 90.0%; specificity: 64.3%, 87.5%). A high Score A and Score B statistically correlated with prolonged median TTP (6.13 vs. 2.17 months, p = 0.025; 6.43 vs. 1.83 months, p = 0.016). Cox regression analyses for TTP showed a risk reduction of 55.7% (HR = 0.44, p = 0.029) for Score A and an adjusted risk reduction of 73.2% (HR = 0.27, p = 0.016) for Score B.ConclusionThe two identified immune signature scores showed high predictive value for therapy response as well as for prolonged TTP in a pan-cancer patient population. Our scores are easy to determine by using peripheral blood and flow cytometry, apply to different cancer entities, and allow an outcome prediction before the start of IT.
Identification of molecular subtypes based on liquid–liquid phase separation and cross-talk with immunological phenotype in bladder cancer
Authors: Sun Le , Liu Xiao-Ping , Yan Xin , Wu Shaojie , Tang Xiaoyu , Chen Chen , Li Gang , Hu Hankun , Wang Du , Li Sheng 
Published: November 2022

BackgroundMounting evidence has demonstrated that an imbalance in liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) can induce alteration in the spatiotemporal coordination of biomolecular condensates, which plays a role in carcinogenesis and cachexia. However, the role of LLPS in the occurrence and progression of bladder cancer (BLCA) remains to be elucidated. Identifying the role of LLPS in carcinogenesis may aid in cancer therapeutics.MethodsA total of 1,351 BLCA samples from six cohorts were retrieved from publicly available databases like The Cancer Genome Atlas, Gene Expression Omnibus, and ArrayExpress. The samples were divided into three distinct clusters, and their multi-dimensional heterogeneities were explored. The LLPS patterns of all patients were determined based on the LLPS-related risk score (LLPSRS), and its multifaceted landscape was depicted and experimentally validated at the multi-omics level. Finally, a cytotoxicity-related and LLPSRS-based classifier was established to predict the patient’s response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) treatment.ResultsThree LLPS-related subtypes were identified and validated. The differences in prognosis, tumor microenvironment (TME) features, cancer hallmarks, and certain signatures of the three LLPS-related subtypes were validated. LLPSRS was calculated, which could be used as a prognostic biomarker. A close correlation was observed between clinicopathological features, genomic variations, biological mechanisms, immune infiltration in TME, chemosensitivity, and LLPSRS. Furthermore, our classifier could effectively predict immunotherapy response in patients with BLCA.ConclusionsOur study identified a novel categorization of BLCA patients based on LLPS. The LLPSRS could predict the prognosis of patients and aid in designing personalized medicine. Further, our binary classifier could effectively predict patients’ sensitivity to immunotherapy.
Where and how - new insight for brown algal forest restoration in the Adriatic
Authors: Orlando-Bonaca Martina , Savonitto Gilda , Asnaghi Valentina , Trkov Domen , Pitacco Valentina , Šiško Milijan , Makovec Tihomir , Slavinec Petra , Lokovšek Ana , Ciriaco Saul , Chiantore Mariachiara , Kaleb Sara , Descourvières Emmanuelle Patricia , Srijemsi Marina , Falace Annalisa 
Published: November 2022

Several anthropogenic factors are responsible for the decline of Cystoseira sensu lato (hereafter Cystoseira) forests along Mediterranean coasts. Some Cystoseira species are already regionally extinct, and their decline has been widely recorded. Sustainable and efficient techniques for the restoration of Cystoseira are needed. In this context, the objectives of this study were i) to analyse the reproductive traits of three populations of Gongolaria barbata from three nearby donor sites in the northern Adriatic Sea, assessing the differences in their reproductive potential and reproductive success; and ii) to evaluate the outplanting success in terms of the effectiveness of G. barbata restoration, in relation to the different donor and receiving sites (Miramare MPA and in front of the Marine Biology Station Piran - MBSP) and implemented methods (ex situ and hybrid method combining a mesocosm cultivation and a suspended culture in the field). After 2 weeks of cultivation in mesocosms, half of the tiles with germlings were transported to the receiving sites and placed on suspended lantern nets (hybrid method), which were later (after 3 months) transferred to the seabed on concrete plates with protective cages. The remaining tiles were placed on the seabed on concrete plates with protective cages after a 4-week culture (ex situ method). At both sites, lantern nets and plates were randomly placed at 3 m depth. Thallus length was measured monthly in each treatment. Seedlings in suspended culture showed lower performance at the Miramare MPA, most likely due to the unfavourable environmental conditions. The satisfactory results obtained at MBSP demonstrate the efficiency of the hybrid method and confirm its potential to reduce the cost and time required for cultivation. Since unpredictable climatic events pose the greatest threat to restoration performance, these challenges must be considered when establishing new restoration practices. Moreover, herbivore regulation is extremely urgent and should be planned and implemented on a larger regional scale.
Contribution of gut microbiomes and their metabolomes to the performance of Dorper and Tan sheep
Authors: Ma Yuhao , Yang Xue , Hua Guoying , Deng Xiaotian , Xia Tianlan , Li Xinhai , Feng Dengzhen , Deng Xuemei 
Published: November 2022

BackgroundLivestock is an excellent source of high nutritional value protein for humans; breeding livestock is focused on improving meat productivity and quality. Dorper sheep is a distinguished breed with an excellent growth performance, while Tan sheep is a Chinese local breed famous for its delicious meat. Several studies have demonstrated that the composition of gut microbiome and metabolome modulate host phenotype.MethodsIn the present study, we performed 16S amplicon sequencing and metabolomic analyses of the rumen and hindgut microbiome of 8-month-old Dorper and Tan sheep, raised under identical feeding and management conditions, to explore the potential effects of gut microbiome and its metabolites on growth performance and meat quality.ResultsOur study identified Lactobacillus, a marker genus in the rumen, to be significantly associated with the levels of fumaric acid, nicotinic acid, and 2-deoxyadenosine (P-value &lt; 0.05). Statistical analysis showed that nicotinic acid was significantly negatively correlated with body weight (P-value &lt; 0.01), while 2-deoxyadenosine was significantly positively correlated with fatty acids content (P-value &lt; 0.05). There was a biologically significant negative correlation between Phascolarctobacterium and deoxycytidine levels in the hindgut. Deoxycytidine was significantly positively correlated with body weight, protein, and amino acid content. Differences in rumen fermentation patterns that are distinctive among breeds were identified. Tan sheep mainly used Lactobacillus and fumaric acid-mediated pyruvic acid for energy supply, while Dorper sheep utilize glycogenic amino acids. The difference of iron metabolism in the hindgut of Dorper sheep affects lipid production, while Phascolarctobacterium in Tan sheep is related to roughage tolerance. The accumulation of nucleosides promotes the growth performance of Dorper sheep.ConclusionThese findings provide insights into how the microbiome-metabolome-dependent mechanisms contribute to growth rate and fat contents in different breeds. This fundamental research is vital to identifying the dominant traits of breeds, improving growth rate and meat quality, and establishing principles for precision feeding.
Gel polymer electrolyte for reversible metal electrodeposition dynamic windows enables dual-working electrodes for faster switching and reflectivity control
Authors: Cai Yuchun , Hernandez Tyler S. , Yeang Andrew L. , Strand Michael T. , Yavitt F. Max , Abraham Eldho , McGehee Michael D. 
Published: November 2022

Dynamic windows based on reversible metal electrodeposition are an attractive way to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings and show great commercial potential. Dynamic windows that rely on liquid electrolytes are at risk of short circuiting when two electrodes contact, especially at larger-scale. Here we developed a poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) with 85% transmittance, that is, sufficiently stiff to act as a separator. The GPE is implemented into windows that exhibit comparable electrochemical and optical properties to windows using a liquid electrolyte. Furthermore, the GPE enables the fabrication of windows with dual-working electrodes (WE) and a metal mesh counter electrode in the center without short-circuiting. Our dual-WE PVA GPE window reaches the 0.1% transmittance state in 101 s, more than twice the speed of liquid windows with one working electrode (207 s). Additionally, each side of the dual-WE GPE window can be tinted individually to demonstrate varied optical effects (i.e., more reflective, or more absorptive), providing users and intelligent building systems with greater control over the appearance and performance of the windows in a single device architecture.