bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mass wasting reveals ongoing asymmetric retreat of the martian north polar ice cap
Authors: Su Shu , Fanara Lida , Xiao Haifeng , Hauber Ernst , Oberst Jürgen
Published: January 2025

Ongoing mass wasting through ice block falls is intensive at the north polar ice cap of Mars. We monitored how this activity is currently shaping the marginal steep scarps of the ice cap, which holds a record of the planet’s climate history. With AI-driven change detection between multi-temporal high-resolution satellite images, we created a comprehensive map of mass wasting across the entire North Polar Layered Deposits (NPLD). Our results show a more active erosion process than previously thought, with scarps retreating by up to ~3 m every kiloyear. The distribution of the active scarps indicates an ongoing asymmetric retreat of the already subcircular ice cap. The active scarps and the interior dune fields correlate strongly with exposures of the underlying, sandier Basal Unit (BU), providing evidence that erosion of the BU undermines the base of the NPLD. Moreover, ice block fall activity suggests potential areas where gypsum is released, given that the interior gypsum-bearing dune fields are located adjacent to these active scarps. Here, our study reveals the rates of present-day topographic change of the north polar ice cap, providing a valuable constraint for study of its past evolution.
Recombinant expression systems for production of stabilised virus-like particles as next-generation polio vaccines
Authors: Sherry Lee , Bahar Mohammad W. , Porta Claudine , Fox Helen , Grehan Keith , Nasta Veronica , Duyvesteyn Helen M. E. , De Colibus Luigi , Marsian Johanna , Murdoch Inga , Ponndorf Daniel , Kim Seong-Ryong , Shah Sachin , Carlyle Sarah , Swanson Jessica J. , Matthews Sue , Nicol Clare , Lomonossoff George P. , Macadam Andrew J. , Fry Elizabeth E. , Stuart David I. , Stonehouse Nicola J. , Rowlands David J.
Published: January 2025

Polioviruses have caused crippling disease in humans for centuries, prior to the successful development of vaccines in the mid-1900’s, which dramatically reduced disease prevalence. Continued use of these vaccines, however, threatens ultimate disease eradication and achievement of a polio-free world. Virus-like particles (VLPs) that lack a viral genome represent a safer potential vaccine, although they require particle stabilization. Using our previously established genetic techniques to stabilize the structural capsid proteins, we demonstrate production of poliovirus VLPs of all three serotypes, from four different recombinant expression systems. We compare the antigenicity, thermostability and immunogenicity of these stabilized VLPs against the current inactivated polio vaccine, demonstrating equivalent or superior immunogenicity in female Wistar rats. Structural analyses of these recombinant VLPs provide a rational understanding of the stabilizing mutations and the role of potential excipients. Collectively, we have established these poliovirus stabilized VLPs as viable next-generation vaccine candidates for the future.
Life-history adaptation under climate warming magnifies the agricultural footprint of a cosmopolitan insect pest
Authors: Burc Estelle , Girard-Tercieux Camille , Metz Moa , Cazaux Elise , Baur Julian , Koppik Mareike , Rêgo Alexandre , Hart Alex F , Berger David
Published: January 2025

Climate change is affecting population growth rates of ectothermic pests with potentially dire consequences for agriculture and global food security. However, current projection models of pest impact typically overlook the potential for rapid genetic adaptation, making current forecasts uncertain. Here, we predict how climate change adaptation in life-history traits of insect pests affects their growth rates and impact on agricultural yields by unifying thermodynamics with classic theory on resource acquisition and allocation trade-offs between foraging, reproduction, and maintenance. Our model predicts that warming temperatures will favour resource allocation towards maintenance coupled with increased resource acquisition through larval foraging, and the evolution of this life-history strategy results in both increased population growth rates and per capita host consumption, causing a double-blow on agricultural yields. We find support for these predictions by studying thermal adaptation in life-history traits and gene expression in the wide-spread insect pest, Callosobruchus maculatus; with 5 years of evolution under experimental warming causing an almost two-fold increase in its predicted agricultural footprint. These results show that pest adaptation can offset current projections of agricultural impact and emphasize the need for integrating a mechanistic understanding of life-history evolution into forecasts of pest impact under climate change.
Cross-trait multivariate GWAS confirms health implications of pubertal timing
Authors: Zhou Siquan , Xu Yujie , Xiong Jingyuan , Cheng Guo
Published: January 2025

Pubertal timing is highly variable and is associated with long-term health outcomes. Phenotypes associated with pubertal timing include age at menarche, age at voice break, age at first facial hair and growth spurt, and pubertal timing seems to have a shared genetic architecture between the sexes. However, puberty phenotypes have primarily been assessed separately, failing to account for shared genetics, which limits the reliability of the purported health implications. Here, we model the common genetic architecture for puberty timing using a multivariate GWAS, with an effective population of 514,750 European participants. We find 266 independent variants in 197 loci, including 18 novel variants. Transcriptomic, proteome imputation and fine-mapping analyses reveal genes causal for pubertal timing, including KDM4C, LEPR, CCNC, ACP1, and PCSK1. Linkage disequilibrium score regression and Mendelian randomisation analysis establish causal associations between earlier puberty and both accelerated ageing and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. We find that alanine aminotransferase, glycated haemoglobin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and Parabacteroides levels are mediators of these relationships, and establish that controlling oily fish and retinol intake may be beneficial for promoting healthy pubertal development.
Enhanced CH4 emissions from global wildfires likely due to undetected small fires
Authors: Zhao Junri , Ciais Philippe , Chevallier Frederic , Canadell Josep G. , van der Velde Ivar R. , Chuvieco Emilio , Chen Yang , Zhang Qiang , He Kebin , Zheng Bo
Published: January 2025

Monitoring methane (CH4) emissions from terrestrial ecosystems is essential for assessing the relative contributions of natural and anthropogenic factors leading to climate change and shaping global climate goals. Fires are a significant source of atmospheric CH4, with the increasing frequency of megafires amplifying their impact. Global fire emissions exhibit large spatiotemporal variations, making the magnitude and dynamics difficult to characterize accurately. In this study, we reconstruct global fire CH4 emissions by integrating satellite carbon monoxide (CO)-based atmospheric inversion with well-constrained fire CH4 to CO emission ratio maps. Here we show that global fire CH4 emissions averaged 24.0 (17.7–30.4) Tg yr−1 from 2003 to 2020, approximately 27% higher (equivalent to 5.1 Tg yr−1) than average estimates from four widely used fire emission models. This discrepancy likely stems from undetected small fires and underrepresented emission intensities in coarse-resolution data. Our study highlights the value of atmospheric inversion based on fire tracers like CO to track fire-carbon-climate feedback.
First-order phase transition of the Schwinger model with a quantum computer
Authors: Angelides Takis , Naredi Pranay , Crippa Arianna , Jansen Karl , Kühn Stefan , Tavernelli Ivano , Wang Derek S.
Published: January 2025

We explore the first-order phase transition in the lattice Schwinger model in the presence of a topological θ-term by means of the variational quantum eigensolver (VQE). Using two different fermion discretizations, Wilson and staggered fermions, we develop parametric ansatz circuits suitable for both discretizations, and compare their performance by simulating classically an ideal VQE optimization in the absence of noise. The states obtained by the classical simulation are then prepared on the IBM’s superconducting quantum hardware. Applying state-of-the art error-mitigation methods, we show that the electric field density and particle number, observables which reveal the phase structure of the model, can be reliably obtained from the quantum hardware. To investigate the minimum system sizes required for a continuum extrapolation, we study the continuum limit using matrix product states, and compare our results to continuum mass perturbation theory. We demonstrate that taking the additive mass renormalization into account is vital for enhancing the precision that can be obtained with smaller system sizes. Furthermore, for the observables we investigate we observe excellent agreement in the continuum limit of both fermion discretizations.
Understanding the microscopic origin of the magnetic interactions in CoNb2O6
Authors: Konieczna Amanda A. , Kaib David A. S. , Winter Stephen M. , Valentí Roser
Published: January 2025

Motivated by the on-going discussion on the nature of magnetism in the quantum Ising chain CoNb2O6, we present a first-principles-based analysis of its exchange interactions with additional modeling, addressing drawbacks of a purely density functional theory ansatz. This method allows us to extract and understand the origin of the magnetic couplings—including all symmetry-allowed terms - and resolve conflicting model descriptions in CoNb2O6. We find that the twisted Kitaev chain and transverse-field ferromagnetic Ising chain views are mutually compatible, although additional off-diagonal exchanges are required for a complete picture. We show that the dominant exchange interaction is a ligand-centered process—involving e

g
electrons -, rendered anisotropic by low-symmetry crystal fields in CoNb2O6, resulting in dominant Ising exchange. Smaller bond-dependent anisotropies are found to originate from d − d kinetic exchange processes involving t
2g
electrons. We demonstrate the validity of our low-energy model by comparing its predictions to measured THz and INS spectra.
HLA I immunopeptidome of synthetic long peptide pulsed human dendritic cells for therapeutic vaccine design
Authors: Kessler Amy L. , Pieterman Roel F. A. , Doff Wouter A. S. , Bezstarosti Karel , Bouzid Rachid , Klarenaar Kim , Jansen Diahann T. S. L. , Luijten Robbie J. , Demmers Jeroen A. A. , Buschow Sonja I.
Published: January 2025

Synthetic long peptides (SLPs) are a promising vaccine modality that exploit dendritic cells (DC) to treat chronic infections or cancer. Currently, the design of SLPs relies on in silico prediction and multifactorial T cells assays to determine which SLPs are best cross-presented on DC human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I). Furthermore, it is unknown how TLR ligand-based adjuvants affect DC cross-presentation. Here, we generated a unique, high-quality immunopeptidome dataset of human DCs pulsed with 12 hepatitis B virus (HBV)-based SLPs combined with either a TLR1/2 (Amplivant®) or TLR3 (PolyI:C) ligand. The obtained immunopeptidome reflected adjuvant-induced differences, but no differences in cross-presentation of SLPs. We uncovered dominant (cross-)presentation on B-alleles, and identified 33 unique SLP-derived HLA-I peptides, several of which were not in silico predicted and some were consistently found across donors. Our work puts forward DC immunopeptidomics as a valuable tool for therapeutic vaccine design.
Accelerometric assessment of fatigue-induced changes in swimming technique in high performance adolescent athletes
Authors: Skorulski Maciej , Stachowicz Małgorzata , Kuliś Szymon , Gajewski Jan
Published: January 2025

The present study analyzed the kinematic changes under fatigue in highly trained adolescent swimmers during a 50-m all-out front cwal test. Twenty-four girls and fourteen boys aged 12–13 participated in the study. The movement of the hip rim was analyzed using a specialized inertial device equipped with a triaxial gyroscope and accelerometer to measure changes in angular velocity and acceleration. Between the first and second lengths of the pool, the following were observed: a significant (F1.36 = 63.6; p < 0.0001; η2 = 0.64) increase (34%) in maximum pelvic angle, significant (F1,36 = 6.0; p = 0.0193; η2 = 0.14;) increase (12.10%) in angular velocity in rotational motion around a vertical axis, and a significant (F1,36 = 11.29; p = 0.0018; η2 = 0.24) increase (6.86%) in angular velocity in yaw rotation motion around the sagittal axis. Significant (F1,36 = 13.96; p = 0.0006; η2 = 0.28) differences in maximum pelvic angle were observed for lap and side. As unfavourable changes in kinematics are already observed in the second half of the distance, it is therefore suspected that performing frequent high-intensity repetitions may lead to the perpetuation of unfavourable movement patterns. Taking this into account, coaches should limit maximum-speed swimming in adolescent athletes to short distances and an appropriate interval and use training methods to reduce asymmetric work such as training snorkels.
Optimization and DFT study for boosted electooxidation of formic acid at NiOx modified Pt using urea derivatives as blending fuels
Authors: Saada Aya M. , Gaith Mohamed E. , El-Sherif Ahmed A. , El-Deab Mohamed S.
Published: January 2025

This paper addresses the enhancement of formic acid electrooxidation (FAO) at Pt and Pt-NiOx nanoparticles based-catalysts assisted with urea derivatives as blending fuels. Blending formic acid with various ratios of urea derivatives showed noticeable enhancements of FAO as demonstrated by a favorable negative shift of its onset potential (E
onset) and increase of its peak current density concurrently with suppression of the amount of CO poisoning reaction intermediate. Among all the used derivatives, phenyl urea (PU) showed superior enhancing effect towards the direct FAO with a minimal CO formation together with a favorable negative shift of E
onset by 150 mV. The superb enhancing effect of PU over U and/or other urea derivatives (investigated herein) is attributed mainly to the withdrawing inductive effect of the phenyl group attached to urea. That is the formation of 8 membered ring via hydrogen bonding between PU and formate anion is thought to enrich the electrode/electrolyte interface by FA in such a favorable orientation facilitating the C-H scissoring resulting in the direct oxidation of FA (to CO2) with almost no possibility for CO formation. DFT calculations are used to support this assumption in line with experimental results.
Naturally russeted and wound russeted skins of mango (cv. ‘Apple’) show no differences in anatomy, chemical composition or gene expression
Authors: Straube Jannis , Athoo Thomas O. , Zeisler-Diehl Viktoria , Suresh Kiran , Schreiber Lukas , Knoche Moritz
Published: January 2025

The mango cultivar ‘Apple’ is commercially important in Kenya but highly susceptible to russeting. Russeting refers to an area of fruit skin where the primary (epidermal) surface has been replaced by a secondary (peridermal) surface. The objective was to establish histologies, gene expressions and chemical compositions of a natural periderm, a wound-induced periderm and of cuticles of an un-russeted skin. Fluorescence microscopy revealed a suberized phellem in natural and wound-induced periderms. Wound-induced periderms had more cell layers and a higher mass than natural periderms. Compared with cuticles, periderms showed decreased expressions of cuticle-related genes (MiSHN1, MiGPAT6, MiCUS1, MiCER1, MiWCB11) and increased expressions of periderm-related genes (MiMYB93, MiNAC058, MiCYP86A1, MiCYP86B1, MiGPAT5, MiABCG20). Natural periderms and wound-induced periderms contained cutin and suberin monomers (C16-C28), including carboxylic, dicarboxylic, and ω-hydroxy acids and primary alcohols. Cuticles of the primary skin contained cutin monomers of similar chemistry but shorter chain lengths (C16-C22). The wax composition in natural and wound-induced periderms was similar to that in cuticles. Lignin monomers in natural and wound-induced periderms contained p-hydroxyphenyl, guaiacyl and syringyl units, but only traces of these occurred in cuticles. In ‘Apple’ mango, the histologies, gene expressions and compositions of natural and wound-induced periderms are largely the same.
Scale-dependent responses to environmental fluctuations in tropical tree species’ crown temperatures
Authors: Bayliss Shannon L. J. , Broadbent Eben N. , Almeyda Zambrano Angélica M. , Cordell Susan , Pau Stephanie
Published: January 2025

Tropical forests may be nearing critical temperatures, yet tree species may respond differently. Using high-resolution thermal, hyperspectral, and LiDAR imagery, we mapped 652 crowns of four Hawaiian tree species to study the effects of crown traits and abiotic conditions on species’ temperatures at two scales (whole crown vs. sunlit leaves). We show scale-dependent, species-specific relationships with environmental fluctuations. Net radiation was consistently the dominant determinant of crown temperature deviations from air temperature (Tdiff), while vapor pressure deficit, wind speed, and crown traits (e.g., roughness) varied in importance by species and scale. Species explained 17% and 44% of Tdiff variation at the crown and leaf scales, respectively, after controlling for climatic factors. Findings suggest that leaf temperatures overestimate larger-scale temperature differences, while canopy-scale observations underestimate leaf heat stress. Because leaf and crown traits can have opposing effects on Tdiff, disentangling these can advance our understanding of species’ thermoregulation under climate change.
Manipulating the interfacial integration mode of a bio-templated porous ZSM-5 platform with an Au/CuZnOx catalyst for enhanced efficiency and recycling stability in glycerol conversion to 1,3-dihydroxyacetone
Authors: Yuan Zhen , Wang Yimin , Xie Weidong , Chen Yuewen , Zhang Xiaoli , Zhang Xiya , Xiong Zhile , Cui Li , Liu Hai
Published: January 2025

A series of metal oxide–zeolite catalysts were synthesized using three integration strategies. The physically milled catalyst showed the highest activity and stability, with glycerol conversion and DHA selectivity above 72% after five cycles.
Structure formation in O-type stars and Wolf–Rayet stars
Authors: Van der Sijpt C. , Sundqvist J. O. , Debnath D. , Driessen F. A. , Moens N.
Published: January 2025

Context. Turbulent small-scale structures in the envelopes and winds of massive stars have long been suggested as the cause for excessive line broadening in the spectra of these stars that could not be explained by other mechanisms such as thermal broadening. However, while these structures are also seen in recent radiation-hydrodynamical simulations, their origin, particularly in the envelope, has not been extensively studied.

Aims. We study the origin of structures seen in 2D radiation-hydrodynamical unified stellar atmosphere and wind simulations of O stars and Wolf–Rayet stars. Particularly, we study whether the structure growth in the simulations is consistent with sub-surface convection, as is commonly assumed to be the origin of this turbulence.

Methods. Using a linear stability analysis of the optically thick, radiation-pressure dominated envelopes of massive stars, we identified multiple instabilities that could be driving structure growth. We quantified the structure growth in the non-linear simulations of O stars and Wolf–Rayet stars by computing density power spectra and tracking their temporal evolution. Then, we compared these results to the analytical results from the stability analysis to distinguish between the different instabilities.

Results. The stability analysis leads to two possible instabilities: the convective instability and an acoustic instability that is a local variant of so-called strange modes. Analytic expressions for the growth rates of these different instabilities are found. In particular, strong radiative diffusion damps the growth rate ω of the convective instability in this regime leading to a distinct ω ∼ 1/k2 dependence on wavenumber k. From our power spectra analysis of the simulations, however, we find that structure growth rather increases with k – tentatively as ω ~ √k.

Conclusions. Our results suggest that, contrary to what is commonly assumed, structures in luminous O and Wolf–Rayet star envelopes do not primarily develop from the sub-surface convective instability. Rather the growth seems compatible with either the acoustic instability in the radiation-dominated regime or with Rayleigh-Taylor type instabilities, although the exact origin remains inconclusive for now.
Sonography of Salivary Gland Tumors and Disorders
Authors: Johnson Felix , Bozzato Alessandro , Mansour Naglaa , Mantsopoulos Konstantinos , Psychogios Georgios , Zengel Pamela , Hofauer Benedikt
Published: January 2025

Diseases of the salivary glands are as common as they are diverse and can have different causes. Clinicians can differentiate salivary gland changes based on chronic systemic diseases, congenital and vascular malformations, and benign and malignant tumors. Acute infectious pathologies can also arise as a result of obstructive pathologies. A large number of diseases with similar clinical presentations have to be differentiated. Due to the improved resolution of ultrasound technology over the last 20 years, it is now used as the first imaging modality to examine salivary gland pathologies. It allows a quick, dynamic, and non-invasive examination of the salivary glands and the soft tissue of the neck. In order to accurately diagnose and treat patients, a very good knowledge of these diseases and their appearance on sonography is required.
Patient Journey von Menschen mit Down-Syndrom und Demenz: Zugang zur
und Schnittstellen in der medizinischen Versorgung – eine qualitative
Analyse
Authors: Walendzik Anke , Weitzel Milena , Giebel Godwin D. , Raszke Pascal , Wasem Jürgen , Levin Johannes , Wagemann Olivia , Wlasich Elisabeth , Nübling Georg , Pantel Johannes , Tesky Valentina A. , Schall Arthur , Hüer Theresa
Published: January 2025

Menschen mit Down-Syndrom haben im Vergleich zur
normativen Bevölkerung genetisch bedingt ein deutlich erhöhtes Risiko, an
einer Alzheimer-Demenz mit frühem Beginn zu erkranken. Dadurch ergeben sich
besondere Herausforderungen sowie die Notwendigkeit einer
zielgruppenspezifischen Patient Journey.

In einer Interviewstudie mit medizinischen
Leitungserbringenden, Vertreter:innen von Selbsthilfeorganisationen und
Wohn- und Arbeitseinrichtungen als Baustein des Innovationsfondsprojektes
„DS-Demenz“ wurden Hürden im medizinischen Versorgungsprozess der Zielgruppe
und Ansätze zu ihrer Überwindung erhoben. Die vorgestellten Ergebnisse
fokussieren auf Zugang zur und Schnittstellengestaltung in der medizinischen
Versorgung. 14 leitfadengestützte Interviews wurden von einem
Moderator:innenteam per Videokonferenz durchgeführt, aufgezeichnet und
transkribiert. Die Auswertung erfolgte über eine qualitative Inhaltsanalyse
in Anlehnung an Mayring.

Im Zugang zur Diagnostik wurde von Verzögerungen durch
Schwierigkeiten bei der Symptomerkennung der Alzheimer Demenz aufgrund der
Variabilität des kognitiven Ausgangsniveaus und der in dem Zusammenhang
fehlenden Sachkunde der Untersucher:innen berichtet. Entsprechend zeigten
sich bei Erstzugang und Weiterleitung im Rahmen der Patient Journey Hürden
aufgrund häufig begrenzter medizinischer Kenntnisse über Erkrankungsrisiko
und -ausprägung in der Regelversorgung sowie eines unzureichenden Angebots
und fehlender Bekanntheit spezialisierter Leistungserbringender. Auch in der
Heilmitteltherapie wurde ein unzureichendes Angebot spezialisierter
Leistungserbringender deutlich. Ein Schwerpunkt der Verbesserungsvorschläge
lag auf einer gezielteren Patient:innensteuerung durch das Versorgungssystem
und einfach zugänglicher Information für Patient:innen und ihre Betreuenden
sowie auf einer verbesserten Schulung der Ärzt:innen.

Die identifizierten Hürden entsprechen sowohl den in
der internationalen Literatur genannten Hürden wie dem unzureichenden
Angebot an spezialisierten Leistungserbringenden und Informationsdefiziten
über die spezifischen Krankheitsrisiken und Symptomatiken der Population als
auch den bekannten Steuerungs- und Koordinationsdefiziten des fragmentierten
deutschen Gesundheitssystems. Lösungsansätze sind einerseits in verbesserten
Informations- und Schulungsangeboten für Betreuende und
Leistungserbringende, andererseits aber in der Verbreiterung des Angebots
spezialisierter Leistungserbringender, hier insbesondere der Medizinischen
Zentren für Erwachsene mit Behinderung (MEZB), zu sehen. Diese
Lösungsansätze gehen im weiteren Verlauf des Forschungsprojekts in die
Entwicklung gesundheitspolitischer Handlungsempfehlungen ein, um die
Versorgungssituation Betroffener nachhaltig zu optimieren.
High-Resolution Vessel Wall Imaging for Treatment Sequencing of Multiple Aneurysms in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Scherschinski Lea , Graffeo Christopher S. , Hartke Joelle N. , Hackett Ashia M. , Catapano Joshua S. , Srinivasan Visish M. , Lawton Michael T.
Published: January 2025

Objectives Approximately 30% of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) present with multiple aneurysms. Identifying the ruptured aneurysm is often difficult, and not all lesions may be accessible through a single craniotomy. Magnetic resonance high-resolution vessel wall imaging (HR-VWI) is an innovative imaging modality that identifies aneurysm wall instability.

Design Technical note and literature review with an illustrative case report and operative videos.

Setting Outpatient, inpatient, and operating room of a quaternary neurosurgical referral center.

Participants SAH was diagnosed in a woman in her early 40s presenting with headache and left arm paresthesias.

Main Outcome Measures HR-VWI for treatment sequencing of multiple aneurysms in SAH.

Results Two saccular aneuryms were identified, arising from the right posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) and basilar artery (BA) bifurcation. HR-VWI suggested the PICA aneurysm as the probable SAH source. Treatment recommendations were far lateral craniotomy for PICA aneurysm clipping, followed by staged orbitozygomatic craniotomy for BA aneurysm clipping at 3 months. Both procedures resulted in successful clip reconstruction of the aneurysm and an excellent neurological outcome.

Conclusion Effective management of SAH patients with multiple aneurysms demands specialized diagnostic and surgical strategies. Rapid, precise identification of the SAH source is imperative, as is comprehensive treatment of all aneurysms. Key educational findings include management pearls for patients with multiple aneurysms, SAH localization with HR-VWI, the importance of inspecting the circle of Willis in patients at high risk, and technical insights for PICA and BA aneurysm clipping.
Language experience influences performance on the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery: A cluster analysis
Authors: Chung-Fat-Yim Ashley , Hayakawa Sayuri , Marian Viorica
Published: January 2025

Studies investigating the effects of bilingualism on cognitive function have often yielded conflicting results, which may stem in part from the use of arbitrary criteria to categorize participants into groups based on language experience. The present study addresses this limitation by using a machine learning algorithm, known as cluster analysis, to identify naturally occurring subgroups of participants with similar language profiles. In a sample of 169 participants with varying degrees of first- and second-language proficiencies and ages of acquisition, the cluster analysis yielded four bilingual subgroups: late-unbalanced, early-unbalanced, late-balanced, and early-balanced. All participants completed the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery. Results revealed that early-balanced and early-unbalanced bilinguals scored higher than late-unbalanced bilinguals on the cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control subtests of the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery, whereas late-unbalanced bilinguals scored higher than early-balanced bilinguals on the verbal working memory subtest of the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery. Bilingual language experience did not impact performance on measures of processing speed, episodic memory, and English vocabulary. These findings demonstrate the utility of data-driven approaches to capture the variability in language experience that exists in the real world. We conclude that different bilingual experiences can shape a wide range of cognitive abilities, from working memory to inhibitory control.
Feature screening for metric space-valued responses based on Fréchet regression with its applications
Authors: Tian Bing , Kang Jian , Zhong Wei
Published: January 2025

In various applications, we need to handle more general types of responses, such as distributional data and matrix-valued data, rather than a scalar variable. When the dimension of predictors is ultrahigh, it is necessarily important to identify the relevant predictors for such complex types of responses. For example, in our Alzheimer’s disease neuroimaging study, we need to select the relevant single nucleotide polymorphisms out of 582 591 candidates for the distribution of voxel-level intensities in each of 42 brain regions. To this end, we propose a new sure independence screening (SIS) procedure for general metric space-valued responses based on global Fréchet regression, termed as Fréchet-SIS. The marginal general residual sum of squares is utilized to serve as a marginal utility for evaluating the importance of predictors, where only a distance between data objects is needed. We theoretically show that the proposed Fréchet-SIS procedure enjoys the sure screening property under mild regularity conditions. Monte Carlo simulations are conducted to demonstrate its excellent finite-sample performance. In Alzheimer’s disease neuroimaging study, we identify important genes that correlate with brain activity across different stages of the disease and brain regions. In addition, we also include an economic case study to illustrate our proposal.
Therapeutic potential of ketone bodies on exercise intolerance in heart failure: looking beyond the heart
Authors: Soni Shubham , Skow Rachel J , Foulkes Stephen , Haykowsky Mark J , Dyck Jason R B
Published: January 2025

Recent evidence suggests that ketone bodies have therapeutic potential in many cardiovascular diseases including heart failure (HF). Accordingly, this has led to multiple clinical trials that use ketone esters to treat HF patients, which we term ketone therapy. Ketone esters, specifically ketone monoesters, are synthetic compounds which, when consumed, are de-esterified into two β-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB) molecules and increase the circulating βOHB concentration. While many studies have primarily focused on the cardiac benefits of ketone therapy in HF, ketones can have numerous favorable effects in other organs such as the vasculature and skeletal muscle. Importantly, vascular and skeletal muscle dysfunction are also heavily implicated in the reduced exercise tolerance, the hallmark feature in HF with reduced (HFrEF) and preserved (HFpEF) ejection fraction, suggesting that some of the benefits observed in HF in response to ketone therapy may involve these non-cardiac pathways. Thus, we review the evidence suggesting how ketone therapy may be beneficial in improving cardiovascular and skeletal muscle function in HF and identify various potential mechanisms that may be important in the beneficial non-cardiac effects of ketones in HF.
Occupational exposure to diesel engine exhaust and first-time acute myocardial infarction: a nationwide register-based cohort study 1976–2018
Authors: Wils Regitze Sølling , Flachs Esben Meulengracht , Stokholm Zara Ann , Gustavsson Per , Plato Nils , Kolstad Henrik A , Sejbæk Camilla Sandal , Brauer Charlotte , Schlünssen Vivi , Hougaard Karin Sørig , Madsen Ida E H , Rugulies Reiner , Ketzel Matthias , Hansen Johnni , Bang Casper Niels Furbo , Kromhout Hans , Mehlum Ingrid Sivesind , Bonde Jens Peter
Published: January 2025

Aims

Exposure to air pollution including diesel engine exhaust (DEE) is associated with increased risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Few studies have investigated the risk of AMI according to occupational exposure to DEE. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between occupational exposure to DEE and the risk of first-time AMI.

Methods and results

The study was a register-based cohort study of the Danish working population and included 903 415 individuals aged 35–50 years in 1995. Exposure estimates of DEE were assigned by linking a quantitative DEE job exposure matrix with the individual job history (1976–2017). National registers provided data on AMI throughout the follow-up period (1996–2018). The incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for AMI were computed using Poisson regression while adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, socioeconomic factors, ambient air pollution and occupational exposure to noise, physically demanding work, and job strain. A total of 35 511 cases of AMI occurred during the follow-up period of 19 357 326 person-years. Incidence rate ratios for cumulative exposure to DEE in the fully adjusted model were 1.04 [95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.00–1.08] for exposure levels between the 50th and 75th percentiles, and 1.08 (95% CI: 1.04–1.12) for exposure levels ≥75th percentile. Recent exposure to DEE was associated with an increased IRR in the highest exposed quartile [IRR = 1.15 (95% CI: 1.05–1.27)], but only when compared within exposed workers.

Conclusion

Increasing exposure to DEE was associated with increasing IRR for first-time AMI across different exposure measures. The results indicate that AMI should be included in the risk assessment of DEE when establishing occupational exposure limits.
Community assembly of gut microbiomes in yolk sac fry of Atlantic salmon: host genetics, environmental microbiomes, and ecological processes
Authors: Mathisen Amalie Johanne Horn , Gómez de la Torre Canny Sol , Gundersen Madeleine S , Østensen Mari-Ann , Olsen Yngvar , Vadstein Olav , Bakke Ingrid
Published: January 2025

In this study, we investigated the influence of host genetics and environmental microbiomes on the early gut microbiome of Atlantic salmon. We aimed at rearing the fish in either r- or K-selected environments, where the r-selected environment would be expected to be dominated by fast-growing opportunistic bacteria and thus represent more detrimental microbial environment than the K-selected water. Eggs from both wild and aquaculture strains of Atlantic salmon were hatched under germ-free conditions. One week after hatching, rearing flasks were inoculated with either r- or K-selected water communities. Three weeks after hatching, no effect of host strain on the gut microbiomes were observed. r-selection was found to take place in the rearing water of all flasks, including in the flasks added K-selected water. Still, the water microbiomes differed significantly between the flasks that had been added r- and K-selected water (Add-r and Add-K flasks, respectively). Lower alpha diversity and higher abundances of Pseudomonas were observed for the Add-K flasks, indicating a potential unfavorable microbial environment. Selection in the host structured the gut microbiomes, but an extensive interindividual variation was explained by stochastic processes in community assembly. The gut microbiomes also differed significantly between the Add-r and Add-K flasks. In Add-K flasks, they had higher similarities to the rearing water microbiomes, and the assembly of gut communities was less influenced by stochastic processes. The fish in Add-K flasks had lower growth rates than in Add-r flasks, probably as a result of negative host–microbe interactions. These findings highlight the importance of, but also the challenges related to, managing the microbial environment when cultivating fish.
Coexisting steatotic liver disease is not associated with long-term liver-related events in patients with chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Uman Navavee , Kaewdech Apichat , Sripongpun Pimsiri , Chamroonkul Naichaya , Piratvisuth Teerha
Published: January 2025

Steatotic liver disease (SLD) is an emerging liver disease, whereas chronic viral hepatitis is the renowned cause of chronic liver disease leading to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The impact of coexisting SLD in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) on liver-related events (LREs) in the long term is still debated. This study aims to compare all-cause mortality and LRE between CHB patients with and without SLD. This retrospective study included CHB patients who underwent transient elastography between 2014 and 2021 at a tertiary-care hospital. Exclusion criteria were those without controlled attenuated parameter (CAP) results, interquartile range/median of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) > 30%, follow-up time < 6 months, and without hepatitis B virus DNA data during follow-up. SLD was defined as CAP ≥ 248 dB/m, significant liver fibrosis (SF) as LSM ≥ 7 kPa, and cirrhosis as LSM ≥11 kPa or imaging evidence. LRE was defined as the development of HCC and/or cirrhosis complications. Among 532 patients (median follow-up 4.3 years), SLD was present in 161 (30.2%) patients, SF was found in 186 (34.5%) patients, and 104 (19.6%) patients had cirrhosis at baseline. SF was insignificantly more common in SLD patients (40.1% vs 32.4%, P = 0.068). Long-term outcomes showed SF, not SLD, was independently associated with higher LRE development with an adjusted HR of 13.85 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.06–62.76, P < 0.001), while the adjusted HR of SLD was 0.49 (95% CI: 0.16–1.53, P = 0.22). In conclusion, SLD commonly coexists with CHB patients. CHB patients with SLD were more likely to have SF at baseline, albeit not significantly. Long-term HCC and cirrhosis complications development are associated with SF but not SLD status.
Identification of association between mitochondrial dysfunction and sarcopenia using summary-data-based Mendelian randomization and colocalization analyses
Authors: Xie Jiale , Hao Jinrong , Xu Xin , Wang Jiachen , Yang Dinglong , Yu Hui , Guo Junfei , Yang Mingyi , Xu Peng
Published: January 2025

Background

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been demonstrated to be an important hallmark of sarcopenia, yet its specific mechanism remains obscure. In this study, mitochondrial-related genes were used as instrumental variables to proxy for mitochondrial dysfunction, and summary data for sarcopenia-related traits were used as outcomes to examine their genetic association.

Methods

A total of 1,136 mitochondrial-related genes from the human MitoCarta3.0 database were extracted. Genetic instruments for them were obtained from gene expression quantitative trait locus (eQTLs) study (n = 31,684). Aggregated data for sarcopenia-related traits [(including low hand grip strength (LHGS), appendiceal lean mass (ALM), and usual walking pace (UWP) were provided by large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWASs). We integrated eQTLs data with GWAS data to estimate genetic association between mitochondrial dysfunction and sarcopenia using summary-data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) analysis. Additionally, we implemented colocalization analysis to strengthen their association. Finally, eQTLs data from skeletomuscular tissue (n = 706) was used to validate the primary findings.

Results

By integrating the analysis results from the three sarcopenia-related traits, two mitochondrial genes genetically associated with sarcopenia were identified, namely UQCC1 (tier 2 evidence) and ETFDH (tier 3 evidence). Specifically, elevated expression levels of UQCC1 increased LHGS risk (OR = 1.114; 95% CI, 1.078–1.152; P-FDR = 1.70 × 10-7), which matched the negative association between it and UWP (Beta = -0.015; 95% CI, -0.021 – -0.010; P-FDR = 6.70 × 10-5). Furthermore, elevated expression levels of ETFDH were found to be associated with both lower ALM (Beta = 0.031; 95% CI, 0.020–0.042; P-FDR = 1.41 × 10-6) and UWP (Beta = 0.013; 95% CI, 0.006–0.021; P-FDR = 0.029). Of note, consistent results were replicated in specific skeletomuscular tissues, further suggesting our findings were robust.

Conclusions

Our analyses revealed the genetic association between two mitochondrial-related genes, i.e., UQCC1 and ETFDH, and sarcopenia, highlighting the pivotal role of mitochondrial dysfunction driven by these genes in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia. Importantly, these candidate genes represent potential clinical drug targets for the treatment of sarcopenia.
Hypergraphs Accumulate
Authors: Conlon David , Schülke Bjarne
Published: January 2025

We showthat for every integer $k\geqslant 3$ the set of Turán densities of $k$-uniform hypergraphs has an accumulation point in $[0,1)$. In particular, $1/2$ is an accumulation point for the set of Turán densities of $3$-uniform hypergraphs.
Dietary inclusion of high Amylose cornstarch increased Lactobacillus and Terrisporobacter and decreased Streptococcus in the cecal digesta of weanling pigs
Authors: Wellington Michael O , Adams Seidu , Lee Jung W , Agyekum Atta K , Woyengo Tofuko A
Published: January 2025

The study investigated the effect of dietary inclusion of high amylose cornstarch (HA-starch) on cecal microbiota composition and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations in weanling pigs fed high levels of cold-pressed canola cake (CPCC). Weaned pigs (240 mixed sex; 7.1 ± 1.2 kg) were housed in 40 pens (6 pigs/pen) and fed a common commercial diet for 7 days, followed by the experimental diets for 28-d, which contained either 0% or 40% CPCC with either 0% or 40% HA-starch. At the end of the study, one pig from each pen (n=8) was selected and euthanized to collect cecal digesta for microbial and VFA composition analyses. The HA-starch increased (p < 0.001) acetate, propionate, and butyrate concentrations, thereby increasing total VFA concentration (p < 0.001). There was a tendency for cecal butyrate and total VFA concentrations to decrease when pigs were fed the 40% CPCC diet without HA-starch but increase when fed the 40% CPCC diet containing 40% HA-starch (CPCC × HA-starch effect; p = 0.09), indicating HA-starch can increase cecal butyrate and total VFA concentrations in pigs fed a diet with high CPCC level. The proportions of Lactobacillus and Terrisporobacter were high, whereas low proportions of Streptococcus genus were observed in the cecal microbiota of pigs fed diets containing 40% HA-starch. Also, pathways consistent with carbohydrate digestion, absorption, and phosphate metabolism were enriched in pigs when the diet included 40% HA-starch. In summary, incorporating high amounts of HA-starch in a weanling pig diet containing high levels of CPCC may benefit intestinal health and digestive performance by enhancing the abundance of probiotic commensal bacteria, contributing to increased enzymatic activity and carbohydrate metabolism.
Spontaneous transomental hernia: a rare cause of closed loop bowel obstruction
Authors: Zhang Caitlin , De Robles Marie Shella
Published: January 2025

Transomental hernias are the rarest subtype of internal hernias, accounting for 0.5%–3% of bowel obstructions. We report an unusual case of a spontaneous transomental hernia in a 47-year-old male presenting with non-specific obstructive symptoms. A CT scan revealed a closed-loop small bowel obstruction, but the diagnosis of a spontaneous transomental hernia was confirmed during emergency diagnostic laparoscopy. The small bowel remained viable, avoiding the need for resection, and the patient had an uncomplicated postoperative recovery. Clinical suspicion for transomental hernias is crucial, especially in patients with no prior abdominal surgery, to ensure early surgical intervention and reduced morbidity.
Predicting metallicities and carbon abundances from Gaia XP spectra for (carbon-enhanced) metal-poor stars
Authors: Ardern-Arentsen Anke , Kane Sarah G , Belokurov Vasily , Matsuno Tadafumi , Montelius Martin , Monty Stephanie , Sanders Jason L
Published: January 2025

Carbon-rich (C-rich) stars can be found at all metallicities and evolutionary stages. They are often the result of mass transfer from a companion, but some of the most metal-poor C-rich objects are likely carrying the imprint of the metal-free First Stars from birth. In this work, we employ a neural network to predict metallicities and carbon abundances for over 10 million stars with Gaia low-resolution XP spectra, down to $\rm {[Fe/H]} = -3.0$ and up to $\rm {[C/Fe]} \approx +2$. We identify ${\sim} 2000$ high-confidence bright ($G\lt 16$) carbon-enhanced metal-poor stars with $\rm {[Fe/H]} \lt -2.0$ and $\rm {[C/Fe]} \gt +0.7$. The majority of our C-rich candidates have $\rm {[Fe/H]} \gt -2.0$ and are expected to be binary mass-transfer products, supported by high barium abundances in the GALAH (GALactic Archaeology with HERMES) survey and/or their Gaia Renormalised Unit Weight Error (RUWE) and radial velocity variations. We confirm previous findings of an increase in C-rich stars with decreasing metallicity, adopting a definition of $3\sigma$ outliers from the [C/Fe] distribution, although our frequency appears to flatten for $-3.0 \lt \rm {[Fe/H]} \lt -2.0$ at a level of $6\!\!-\!\!7{{\ \rm per\, cent}}$. We also find that the fraction of C-rich stars is low among globular cluster stars (connected to their lower binary fraction), and that it decreases for field stars more tightly bound to the Milky Way. We interpret these last results as evidence that disrupted globular clusters contribute more in the inner Galaxy, supporting previous work. Homogeneous samples such as these are key to understanding the full population properties of C-rich stars, and this is just the beginning.
Radiotherapy and radiosurgery for intracranial lesions in Africa: Insights from 3 country case studies: A systematic review
Authors: Shukla Ishav , Wang Jason , Guirguis Mina , Darko Kwadwo , Aoun Salah G , Barrie Umaru , Banson Mabel , Totimeh Teddy
Published: January 2025

Background

Radiotherapy (RT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) are important treatment options for central nervous system (CNS) lesions. This review explores the current evidence on the use of radiotherapy and SRS for CNS lesions across Africa.

Methods

A systematic review of the literature was completed according to the PRISMA guidelines. The results were synthesized to provide an overview of the current landscape of RT and SRS, highlighting treatment gaps and areas for further research and collaboration.

Results

Nine studies, involving a total of 397 patients, were included. South Africa contributed the most studies with 4 (44.4%), followed by Nigeria with 3 studies (33.3%). Brain tumors were the most common lesion type, found in 88.8% of cases (95% CI: 66.9–100.0) with metastatic tumors being prevalent in 37.5% of cases (95% CI: 1.6–73.4). The breast was the most frequent origin of metastases seen in 93.67% (95% CI: 80–100). Whole brain radiation therapy was used in 33.3% of patients (95% CI: 0.7–66.0), stereotactic proton beam therapy in 33.3% (95% CI: 0.7–66.1), and gamma knife radiosurgery in 22.3% (95% CI: 0–51.1).

Conclusion

RT and SRS are being implemented for CNS lesions in settings across Africa. Improving access and efficiency of these treatments will require both local and international collaboration to address challenges related to resource management and distribution.