bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of Sex-Induced Crisis, Sexual Function and Marital Satisfaction in Women with Sickle Cell Disease
Authors: Adesoye Oluwatosin B. , Akhigbe Roland E.
Published: September 2022

Background

Sex-induced and orgasm-induced crisis, sexual dysfunction, and marital satisfaction among women with sickle cell disease (SCD) is under-reported.

Aim

This study assessed sexual function in women with SCD and compared sexual function in women with SCD to women without SCD.

Methods

This was a descriptive and comparative cross-sectional survey that involved 435 women with SCD and 406 women without SCD (as controls).

Outcomes

This study demonstrates the predictors of sex-induced crisis, sexual function and marital satisfaction in women with sickle cell disease.

Results

The prevalence of dyspareunia and marital dissatisfaction was higher in women with SCD than those without SCD. In addition, SCD was significantly associated with multiple sexual dysfunctions, with reported symptoms of sexual desire disorder (HSDD), female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD), and female sexual orgasm disorder (FSOD). Genotype, age, age at puberty, dyspareunia, and duration of infertility were the observed independent predictors of sexual dysfunction in women with SCD. Also, most (54.02%) of the SCD subjects experienced sex-induced and orgasm-induced crises. Although water intake before and after sex was reported to be beneficial in preventing sex-induced and orgasm-induced crisis in women with SCD, it was not a predictor of sexual dysfunction.

Clinical implications

SCD patients are at risk of sex-induced and orgasm-induced crisis as well as sexual dysfunction.

Strengths and limitations

No study has ever reported the incidence of sex-and orgasm-induced crisis and sexual dysfunction in women with SCD. Also, we used a reasonably large sample size and utilized widely acceptable validated and reproducible tools like ENRICH Marital Satisfaction (EMS) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) to assess the marital satisfaction and sexual function of the studied participants. This allows for the generalization of our findings. The limitations of the present study include recall bias and the inability to document real-time occurrences of sex-and orgasm-induced crisis and the incidence of female sexual dysfunction. Furthermore, though the risk factors of sexual dysfunction as perceived by women with SCD were elicited, biological risk factors and the possible associated mechanisms were not determined in this study.

Conclusion

Our study shows that sex-induced and orgasm-induced crisis and sexual dysfunction are significant morbidities in women with SCD, and fluid/water intake before and after sexual activity may be beneficial.
Political Competition and the Study of Public Economics
Authors: Winer Stanley L. , Ferris J. Stephen
Published: September 2022

Why is an understanding of political competition essential for the study of public economics and public policy generally? How can political competition be described and understood, and how does it differ from its strictly economic counterpart? What are the implications of the fact that policy proposals in a democracy must always pass a political test? What are the strengths and weaknesses of electoral competition as a mechanism for the allocation of economic resources? Why are tax structures in democratic polities so complicated, and what implications follow from this for normative views about good policy choice? How can we measure the intensity of political competition, why and how does it vary in mature democracies, and what are the consequences? This Element considers the approach to answer these questions, while also illustrating some of the interesting theoretical and empirical work that has been done on them.
“Welcome, Ali, Please go Home”: Muhammad Ali as Diplomat and African Debates on the 1980 Moscow Olympic Boycott
Authors: Ivey James Alexander
Published: September 2022

To rally support within Africa for America’s boycott of the Moscow Olympic Games, President Carter sent Muhammad Ali as his personal diplomat to Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria, Liberia, and Senegal in an attempt to gain political and popular support for the boycott. The mission had limited success, but it inspired a public forum across the continent for criticisms of American foreign policy toward Africa. By analyzing these discussions, primarily within the press, Ivey shows how America was interpreted in Africa and how the issues of the Cold War were considered of secondary importance to the more immediate struggle against apartheid and independent foreign policy.
The Relationship Between Loneliness and Depressive Symptoms in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Dunn Carissa , Sicouri Gemma
Published: September 2022

Objective: To provide a quantitative assessment of the literature examining the cross-sectional association between loneliness and depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. Method: A total of 44 studies from 35 articles (n = 27, 214; mean age 13.63 years; 51% female) met inclusion criteria. Results: A medium, positive correlation between loneliness and depressive symptoms in children and adolescents was found (r = .48). Age and gender did not moderate the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Loneliness may be a particular risk factor for depression. These results have implications for COVID-19 disease containment measures.
BAN GU'S VIEW ON THE “SECOND VICTORY” OF “CONFUCIANISM” AND THE FALL OF THE FORMER HAN
Authors: van Ess Hans
Published: September 2022

This essay, which focuses on the reigns of Emperors Xuan and Yuan in Western Han, complicates the prevailing presumption that Ban Gu identified as a Ru 儒, and valued the Ru contributions to good governance above those who were identified with other forms of expertise. By a close reading of biographies of all major Ru scholars active during the time of these two emperors as well as some later ones, this essay provides further proof in support of points registered by Michael Loewe throughout his long career.
Determining the metabolic fate of human milk oligosaccharides: it may just be more complex than you think?
Authors: Jackson Peter Philip James , Wijeyesekera Anisha , Rastall Robert Adrian
Published: September 2022

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are a class of structurally diverse and complex unconjugated glycans present in breast milk, which act as selective substrates for several genera of select microbes and inhibit the colonisation of pathogenic bacteria. Yet, not all infants are breastfed, instead being fed with formula milks which may or may not contain HMOs. Currently, formula milks only possess two HMOs: 2′-fucosyllactose (2’FL) and lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT), which have been suggested to be similarly effective as human breast milk in supporting age-related growth. However, the in vivo evidence regarding their ability to beneficially reduce respiratory infections along with altering the composition of an infant’s microbiota is limited at best. Thus, this review will explore the concept of HMOs and their metabolic fate, and summarise previous in vitro and in vivo clinical data regarding HMOs, with specific regard to 2’FL and LNnT.
Syntax and object types contribute in different ways to bilinguals’ comprehension of spatial descriptions
Authors: Foltz Anouschka , Martín-Gascón Beatriz , Silva Marytsch Florencia Paz , Olloqui-Redondo Javier , Tenbrink Thora
Published: September 2022

The world’s languages draw on different reference frames to encode spatial relationships between people, objects or places. We address how subtle differences in reference frame preferences across Spanish and English affect Spanish–English bilinguals’ interpretations of spatial descriptions involving the termsleftandright.Bilinguals saw an entity (‘object’; e.g., a vase or a human) with a circle on either side, along with a description of the location of a ball relative to the object (e.g.,The ball is to the right of the vaseorThe ball is on the vase’s right). Their task was to decide which circle indicated the ball’s location. Results showed that syntax and object type contributed differently to bilinguals’ responses: Effects of syntax patterned with Spanish preferences, whereas effects of object type patterned with English preferences. English language exposure subtly affected bilinguals’ response choices. Results are discussed with respect to experience-based theories of language processing.
Transition in dietary quality: evidence from India
Authors: Paul Sourabh , Paul Sohini
Published: September 2022

Despite significant economic growth over the past decades, poor nutritional status in India is a serious concern. The social transformation led by growth in income influences both the composition of food and the quality of diet consumed. Against this backdrop of changing lifestyles and the rise in obesity and non-communicable diseases, in this study, we examined changes in diet quality and the critical socio-economic correlates of this quality from 1983 to 2012 using three rounds of nationally representative surveys providing information on food consumption for more than 100 000 households in each round. We constructed diet quality indices at the household level using deficient and excess intake of macro and micronutrients compared with the recommended daily allowances (RDA) for different age-sex groups of the Indian population. We found that in relation to the RDA, fat consumption increased over time while protein and energy consumption decreased. The average diet quality index improved in the rural sector while it deteriorated in the urban sector. Caste and religion are significant correlates of the diet quality index. The deficiency index of nutrients decreased for poor households as they get richer; however, it increased with affluence level for the non-poor. It is suggested that the Indian Government may play a more proactive role in implementing coherent national policies in trade, food and agriculture to protect public health by promoting the demand for a healthy diet.
Evidence of ore-bearing fluid interaction with Proterozoic metasediments for the genesis of scapolite in parts of the North Delhi Fold Belt, western India
Authors: Sharma Jyoti P. , Sahoo Prabodha R. , Babu E. V. S. S. K.
Published: September 2022

Scapolite occurrences are widely observed in the metasedimentary rocks exposed around the Khetri Copper Belt and adjoining Nim ka Thana copper mineralized area in western India. Amoeboidal to well-developed and rounded/elliptical-shaped marialitic scapolite (Na-rich end-member) rich zones with variable Cl contents ranging from 1.0 wt % to 2.9 wt % have been identified in proximity to the ore-bearing hydrothermal fluid activity zones. Although scapolite is formed as a product of regional metamorphism in many places, in this study, we propose a strong possibility that scapolite was formed by hydrothermal ore-bearing fluid interaction with metasediments. The evidence of hydrothermal activity and Cl sourcing is attributed to (i) the absence of evaporite beds in the area and no Na-rich plagioclase as inclusions within the scapolite suggesting the formation of marialitic scapolite from sodic plagioclase in the metasediments with the interacting hydrothermal fluid; (ii) an epithermal to mesothermal hydrothermal fluid with moderate salinity responsible for the Cu mineralization that is ascribed to be the source of Cl for the formation of marialitic scapolite; (iii) diffusion of SO2in the scapolite in close association with the sulfide mineral phase (chalcopyrite) supporting the involvement of ore-bearing fluid in the development of scapolite; (iv) the absence of zoned scapolite, the spatial distribution of scapolite in a particular lithology, the occasional incorporation of sulfur into marialitic scapolite and the texture/geometry in the scapolite suggesting a broad hydrothermal linkage instead of a pure metamorphic origin.
The association of white matter connectivity with prevalence, incidence and course of depressive symptoms: The Maastricht Study
Authors: Geraets Anouk F. J. , Köhler Sebastian , Vergoossen Laura WM , Backes Walter H. , Stehouwer Coen D.A. , Verhey Frans RJ , Jansen Jacobus FA , van Sloten Thomas T. , Schram Miranda T.
Published: September 2022

Background

Altered white matter brain connectivity has been linked to depression. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of markers of white matter connectivity with prevalence, incidence and course of depressive symptoms.

Methods

Markers of white matter connectivity (node degree, clustering coefficient, local efficiency, characteristic path length, and global efficiency) were assessed at baseline by 3 T MRI in the population-based Maastricht Study (n = 4866; mean ± standard deviation age 59.6 ± 8.5 years, 49.0% women; 17 406 person-years of follow-up). Depressive symptoms (9-item Patient Health Questionnaire; PHQ-9) were assessed at baseline and annually over seven years of follow-up. Major depressive disorder (MDD) was assessed with the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview at baseline only. We used negative binominal, logistic and Cox regression analyses, and adjusted for demographic, cardiovascular, and lifestyle risk factors.

Results

A lower global average node degree at baseline was associated with the prevalence and persistence of clinically relevant depressive symptoms [PHQ-9 ⩾ 10; OR (95% confidence interval) per standard deviation = 1.21 (1.05–1.39) and OR = 1.21 (1.02–1.44), respectively], after full adjustment. On the contrary, no associations were found of global average node degree with the MDD at baseline [OR 1.12 (0.94–1.32) nor incidence or remission of clinically relevant depressive symptoms [HR = 1.05 (0.95–1.17) and OR 1.08 (0.83–1.41), respectively]. Other connectivity measures of white matter organization were not associated with depression.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that fewer white matter connections may contribute to prevalent depressive symptoms and its persistence but not to incident depression. Future studies are needed to replicate our findings.
Valley-floor snowfall in Taylor Valley, Antarctica, from 1995 to 2017: spring, summer and autumn
Authors: Myers Madeline E. , Doran Peter T. , Myers Krista F.
Published: September 2022

We present an analysis of the 20 year snowfall dataset in Taylor Valley and the results of a new snow cover monitoring study. Snowfall has been measured at four sites in Taylor Valley from 1995 to 2017. We focus on valley-floor snowfall when wind does not exceed 5 m s-1, and we exclude winter from our analysis due to poor data quality. Snowfall averaged 11 mm water equivalent (w.e.) from 1995 to 2017 across all stations and ranged from 1 to 58 mm w.e. Standard deviations ranged from 3 to 17 mm w.e., highlighting the strong interannual variability of snowfall in Taylor Valley. During spring and autumn there is a spatial gradient in snowfall such that the coast received twice as much snowfall as more central and inland stations. We identified a changepoint in 2007 from increasing snowfall (3 mm w.e. yr-1) to decreasing snowfall (1 mm w.e. yr-1), which coincides with a shift from decreasing temperature to no detectable temperature trend. Daily camera imagery from 2007 to 2017 augments the snowfall measurements. The camera imagery revealed a near tripling of the average number of days with snow cover from 37 days between 2006 and 2012 to 106 days with snow cover between 2012 and 2017.
Marsquake Locations and 1‐D Seismic Models for Mars From InSight Data
Authors: Drilleau Mélanie , Samuel Henri , Garcia Raphaël F. , Rivoldini Attilio , Perrin Clément , Michaut Chloé , Wieczorek Mark , Tauzin Benoît , Connolly James A. D. , Meyer Pauline , Lognonné Philippe , Banerdt William B.
Published: September 2022

We present inversions for the structure of Mars using the first Martian seismic record collected by the InSight lander. We identified and used arrival times of direct, multiples, and depth phases of body waves, for 17 marsquakes to constrain the quake locations and the one‐dimensional average interior structure of Mars. We found the marsquake hypocenters to be shallower than 40 km depth, most of them being located in the Cerberus Fossae graben system, which could be a source of marsquakes. Our results show a significant velocity jump between the upper and the lower part of the crust, interpreted as the transition between intrusive and extrusive rocks. The lower crust makes up a significant fraction of the crust, with seismic velocities compatible with those of mafic to ultramafic rocks. Additional constraints on the crustal thickness from previous seismic analyses, combined with modeling relying on gravity and topography measurements, yield constraints on the present‐day thermochemical state of Mars and on its long‐term history. Our most constrained inversion results indicate a present‐day surface heat flux of 22 ± 1 mW/m2, a relatively hot mantle (potential temperature: 1740 ± 90 K) and a thick lithosphere (540 ± 120 km), associated with a lithospheric thermal gradient of 1.9 ± 0.3 K/km. These results are compatible with recent seismic studies using a reduced data set and different inversion approaches, confirming that Mars' potential mantle temperature was initially relatively cold (1780 ± 50 K) compared to that of its present‐day state, and that its crust contains 10–12 times more heat‐producing elements than the primitive mantle.
Lithogenic Particle Flux to the Subantarctic Southern Ocean: A Multi‐Tracer Estimate Using Sediment Trap Samples
Authors: Traill Christopher D. , Weis Jakob , Wynn‐Edwards Cathryn , Perron Morgane M. G. , Chase Zanna , Bowie Andrew R.
Published: September 2022

Mineral dust is a key source of essential micronutrients, particularly iron (Fe), for phytoplankton in the Southern Ocean. However, observations of dust deposition over the Southern Ocean are sparse, hindering assessments of its influence on marine biogeochemistry. We present a time series (2010–2019) of lithogenic particle flux estimates using sediment trap samples collected at 1,000 m depth at the subantarctic Southern Ocean Time Series (SOTS) site. Lithogenic flux was estimated using individual Fe, aluminium (Al), titanium, and thorium concentrations in sediment trap particles less than 1 mm in size. These tracers showed good agreement with one another, and their average was investigated as a proxy for mineral dust deposition. This multi‐tracer average lithogenic flux exhibited strong seasonality, peaking in late spring and summer. No significant Fe enrichment was observed compared to the average upper continental crust, indicating that lithogenic material dominates particulate Fe flux at SOTS. Similar Fe:Al ratios in our samples compared to those reported in marine aerosols off southern Australia, coupled with particle trajectory analysis, suggested Australian dust constitutes the primary lithogenic source to SOTS sinking particles. Lead enrichment in our samples also highlighted an anthropogenic contribution to sinking particles, which might represent an additional aeolian source of more bio‐available Fe to subantarctic waters. This study contributes a new long‐term estimate of lithogenic particle fluxes and aeolian deposition over the subantarctic Southern Ocean. These estimates may enhance model representation of trace metal contribution to biogeochemical processes in the Southern Ocean.
Autocorrelation R2 on Mars
Authors: Deng Sizhuang , Levander Alan
Published: September 2022

A purpose of the Interior Exploration Using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) mission is to reveal the Martian interior structure with seismic data. In this work, ambient noise autocorrelation of the continuously recorded vertical‐component seismic signals has extracted the Rayleigh waves that propagate around Mars for one cycle, R2. The Mars orbiting surface waves are observed at a lag time of ∼6,000 s in the stacked autocorrelation series filtered between 0.005 and 0.01 Hz. Synthetic seismograms from a set of radially concentric velocity models were computed to find the best‐fitting one as the starting model for a Monte Carlo inversion. The starting model was randomly perturbed iteratively to increase the correlation coefficients and reduce the absolute time shifts between the synthetic and observed R2. An S‐wave low‐velocity layer in the inverted velocity model extends to ∼400 km depth, consistent with Marsquake observations, geophysical inversion, and high‐pressure experiments.
A Physically Based Statistical Model With the Parameterized Topographic Effect for Predicting the Weakening of Tropical Cyclones After Landfall Over China
Authors: Liu Lu , Wang Yuqing
Published: September 2022

Accurate prediction of tropical cyclone (TC) intensity is important but challenging. In this study, a physically based algebraic decay model for predicting TC weakening after landfall over China is introduced, which assumes the TC weakening rate is proportional to the square of the TC maximum near‐surface wind speed. In this algebraic decay model, a decay parameter including the topographic effect by modifying the surface drag coefficient with the normalized terrain height is determined by minimizing the forecast errors for all landfalling TCs over mainland China during 1980–2020. Results show that the algebraic decay model with topographic effect considered performs better than the commonly used exponential decay model for TCs after landfall over mainland China, especially when TCs move further inland. This new model has a time‐dependent decay parameter along the TC track due to the topographic variation, which is different from the previous exponential decay model.
Reinterpreting Precipitation Stable Water Isotope Variability in the Andean Western Cordillera Due To Sub‐Seasonal Moisture Source Changes and Sub‐Cloud Evaporation
Authors: Welp Lisa R. , Olson Elizabeth J. , Valdivia Adriana Larrea , Larico Juan Reyes , Arhuire Efraín Palma , Paredes Lino Morales , DeGraw Jonathan T. , Michalski Greg M.
Published: September 2022

Precipitation in the arid Central Andean Western Cordillera is strongly sensitive to large‐scale atmospheric circulation patterns which transport moisture from different source regions. As a result, the stable water isotopes of precipitation in this region have been difficult to interpret. We analyzed daily rainfall in the southern Peruvian city of Arequipa for water stable isotopes during the 2019 monsoon season to study sub‐seasonal precipitation dynamics. At 2,300 masl elevation, most rain was sourced from easterly moisture transported over the Altiplano, and was isotopically enriched (δ18O = −5.2‰), likely due to sub‐cloud evaporation. This was contrary to literature expectations that enriched isotopic values indicate Pacific moisture. During a 2‐week period of northerly moisture transport and intense rainfall, we observed rain stable water isotopes shifted to depleted values (δ18O = −10.3‰). This study provides new context for interpreting time‐varying and elevation‐varying moisture source influence in the Western Cordillera.
Dust, Sand, and Winds Within an Active Martian Storm in Jezero Crater
Authors: Lemmon M. T. , Smith M. D. , Viudez‐Moreiras D. , de la Torre‐Juarez M. , Vicente‐Retortillo A. , Munguira A. , Sanchez‐Lavega A. , Hueso R. , Martinez G. , Chide B. , Sullivan R. , Toledo D. , Tamppari L. , Bertrand T. , Bell J. F. , Newman C. , Baker M. , Banfield D. , Rodriguez‐Manfredi J. A. , Maki J. N. , Apestigue V.
Published: September 2022

Rovers and landers on Mars have experienced local, regional, and planetary‐scale dust storms. However, in situ documentation of active lifting within storms has remained elusive. Over 5–11 January 2022 (LS153°–156°), a dust storm passed over the Perseverance rover site. Peak visible optical depth was ∼2, and visibility across the crater was briefly reduced. Pressure amplitudes and temperatures responded to the storm. Winds up to 20 m s−1rotated around the site before the wind sensor was damaged. The rover imaged 21 dust‐lifting events—gusts and dust devils—in one 25‐min period, and at least three events mobilized sediment near the rover. Rover tracks and drill cuttings were extensively modified, and debris was moved onto the rover deck. Migration of small ripples was seen, but there was no large‐scale change in undisturbed areas. This work presents an overview of observations and initial results from the study of the storm.
Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation Regulates Cloud Condensation Nuclei in the Global Remote Troposphere
Authors: Liu Mingxu , Matsui Hitoshi
Published: September 2022

Formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) through the atmospheric oxidation of organic vapors has potential to enable particle growth to cloud condensation nuclei (CCN)‐relevant sizes. In this work, we constrain a global aerosol model by using aircraft measurements to reveal the global importance of SOA formation in CCN production. Our improved model, with explicit size‐resolved aerosol microphysics and parametrizations of semivolatile organic oxidation products, presents a state‐of‐the‐art performance in simulating both particle number concentrations and organic aerosol concentrations dominated (80–95%) by SOA in the remote atmosphere, which have been challenges in previous modeling studies. The SOA formation in concert with aerosol nucleation contributes to more than 50% of CCN concentrations in those pristine environments featuring low background aerosol concentrations. We estimate that the SOA‐derived CCN alters the magnitude of cloud radiative forcing by ∼0.1 W m−2. Our findings underscore the necessity for aerosol‐climate models to represent controls on CCN concentrations by SOA production.
Contribution of Atmospheric Rivers to Antarctic Precipitation
Authors: Maclennan Michelle L. , Lenaerts Jan T. M. , Shields Christine , Wille Jonathan D.
Published: September 2022

Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are efficient mechanisms for transporting atmospheric moisture from low latitudes to the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS). While AR events occur infrequently, they can lead to extreme precipitation and surface melt events on the AIS. Here we estimate the contribution of ARs to total Antarctic precipitation, by combining precipitation from atmospheric reanalyses and a polar‐specific AR detection algorithm. We show that ARs contribute substantially to Antarctic precipitation, especially in East Antarctica at elevations below 3,000 m. ARs contribute substantially to year‐to‐year variability in Antarctic precipitation. Our results highlight that ARs are an important component for understanding present and future Antarctic mass balance trends and variability.
Microseismic Constraints on the Mechanical State of the North Anatolian Fault Zone 13 Years After the 1999 M7.4 Izmit Earthquake
Authors: Beaucé Eric , van der Hilst Robert D. , Campillo Michel
Published: September 2022

The 17 August 1999 Mw7.4 Izmit earthquake ruptured the western section of the North Anatolian Fault Zone and strongly altered the fault zone properties and stress field. Consequences of the co‐ and post‐seismic stress changes were seen in the spatio‐temporal evolution of the seismicity and in the surface slip rates. Thirteen years after the Izmit earthquake, in 2012, the seismic network Dense Array for North Anatolia (DANA) was deployed for 1.5 years. We built a new catalog of microseismicity (M < 2) by applying our automated detection and location method to the DANA data set. Our method combines a systematic backprojection of the seismic wavefield and template matching. We analyzed the statistical properties of the catalog by computing the Gutenberg‐Richter b‐value and by quantifying the amount of temporal clustering in groups of nearby earthquakes. We found that the microseismicity mainly occurs off the main fault and that the most active regions are the Lake Sapanca step‐over and near the Akyazi fault. Based on previous studies, we interpreted the b‐values and temporal clustering (a) as indicating that the Akyazi seismicity is occurring in high background stresses and is driven by the Izmit earthquake residual stresses, and (b) as suggesting evidence that an intricate combination of seismic and aseismic slip was taking place on heterogeneous faults at the eastern Lake Sapanca, near the brittle‐ductile transition. Combined with geodetic evidence for enhanced north‐south extension around Lake Sapanca following the Izmit earthquake, the seismicity supports the possibility of slow slip at depth in the step‐over.
Effects of Lunar Near‐Surface Geology on Moonquakes Ground Motion Amplification
Authors: Amrouche Mohamed , Weber Renee C. , Schmerr Nicholas , Iqbal Wajiha
Published: September 2022

Lunar seismology has focused on exploring the Moon's seismic activity and its internal structure. However, less attention has been given to site specific, near‐surface geology‐related amplification of seismic waves on the Moon. Here, we quantified ground‐motion amplifications of seismic waves due to local site conditions at the Apollo landing sites. We analyzed Apollo Passive Seismic Experiments seismometer recordings of 30 artificial and natural impacts and estimated the mid‐period (0.1–3 Hz) ground‐motion amplification at each site. We applied techniques commonly used in engineering seismology to understand the local site effects, such as the Horizontal over Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) and the Reference Site Method (RSM) on lunar seismic data. The HVSR and the RSM show convergent spectral ratios specific for each landing site. To correlate these empirical results estimated from lunar artificial and meteoroid impact events with the local site geology, we simulated ground motion amplification using 2D finite difference modeling of lunar geological models and estimated the best geological setting capable of producing a similar frequency response to those observed at each Apollo landing site. Correlation results from the empirical methods and the simulated models show similarities ranging between 79% and 92%, a correlation more than 90% between the RSM and the HVSR results, and similarity exceeding 96% between RSM estimations using different reference sites. These results demonstrate the prominence of a local site geology dependent amplification for frequencies between 0.1 and 3 Hz.
Global and local ancestry modulate APOE association with Alzheimer’s neuropathology and cognitive outcomes in an admixed sample
Authors: Naslavsky Michel Satya , Suemoto Claudia K. , Brito Luciano Abreu , Scliar Marília Oliveira , Ferretti-Rebustini Renata Eloah , Rodriguez Roberta Diehl , Leite Renata E. P. , Araujo Nathalia Matta , Borda Victor , Tarazona-Santos Eduardo , Jacob-Filho Wilson , Pasqualucci Carlos , Nitrini Ricardo , Yaffe Kristine , Zatz Mayana , Grinberg Lea T.
Published: September 2022

Dementia is more prevalent in Blacks than in Whites, likely due to a combination of environmental and biological factors. Paradoxically, clinical studies suggest an attenuation of APOE ε4 risk of dementia in African ancestry (AFR), but a dearth of neuropathological data preclude the interpretation of the biological factors underlying these findings, including the association between APOE ε4 risk and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology, the most frequent cause of dementia. We investigated the interaction between African ancestry, AD-related neuropathology, APOE genotype, and functional cognition in a postmortem sample of 400 individuals with a range of AD pathology severity and lack of comorbid neuropathology from a cohort of community-dwelling, admixed Brazilians. Increasing proportions of African ancestry (AFR) correlated with a lower burden of neuritic plaques (NP). However, for individuals with a severe burden of NP and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), AFR proportion was associated with worse Clinical Dementia Rating sum of boxes (CDR-SOB). Among APOE ε4 carriers, the association between AFR proportion and CDR-SOB disappeared. APOE local ancestry inference of a subset of 309 individuals revealed that, in APOE ε4 noncarriers, non-European APOE background correlated with lower NP burden and, also, worse cognitive outcomes than European APOE when adjusting by NP burden. Finally, APOE ε4 was associated with worse AD neuropathological burden only in a European APOE background. APOE genotype and its association with AD neuropathology and clinical pattern are highly influenced by ancestry, with AFR associated with lower NP burden and attenuated APOE ε4 risk compared to European ancestry.
A novel uterine leiomyoma subtype exhibits NRF2 activation and mutations in genes associated with neddylation of the Cullin 3-RING E3 ligase
Authors: Mehine Miika , Ahvenainen Terhi , Khamaiseh Sara , Härkönen Jouni , Reinikka Siiri , Heikkinen Tuomas , Äyräväinen Anna , Pakarinen Päivi , Härkki Päivi , Pasanen Annukka , Levonen Anna-Liisa , Bützow Ralf , Vahteristo Pia
Published: September 2022

Uterine leiomyomas, or fibroids, are the most common tumors in women of reproductive age. Uterine leiomyomas can be classified into at least three main molecular subtypes according to mutations affecting MED12, HMGA2, or FH. FH-deficient leiomyomas are characterized by activation of the NRF2 pathway, including upregulation of the NRF2 target gene AKR1B10. Here, we have identified a novel leiomyoma subtype showing AKR1B10 expression but no alterations in FH or other known driver genes. Whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing revealed biallelic mutations in key genes involved in neddylation of the Cullin 3-RING E3 ligase, including UBE2M, NEDD8, CUL3, and NAE1. 3′RNA sequencing confirmed a distinct molecular subtype with activation of the NRF2 pathway. Most tumors displayed cellular histopathology, perivascular hypercellularity, and characteristics typically seen in FH-deficient leiomyomas. These results suggest a novel leiomyoma subtype that is characterized by distinct morphological features, genetic alterations disrupting neddylation of the Cullin 3-RING E3 ligase, and oncogenic NRF2 activation. They also present defective neddylation as a novel mechanism leading to aberrant NRF2 signaling. Molecular characterization of uterine leiomyomas provides novel opportunities for targeted treatment options.
Lengths of inpatient stay and sick leave of patients with mental diseases: disorder-specific effects of flexible and integrated treatment programs in Germany
Authors: Baum Fabian , Schmitt Jochen , Seifert Martin , Kliemt Roman , Kubat Denise , March Stefanie , Häckl Dennis , Pfennig Andrea , Swart Enno , Neumann Anne
Published: September 2022

Mental disorders pose a worldwide growing public health burden. One of the major challenges for healthcare systems remains to respond to the need of patients with mental disorders for continuous and flexible treatment. The EVA64 study evaluates novel programs of flexible and integrative treatment (FIT) in hospitals. This manuscript presents results from the evaluation of FIT hospitals in comparison to hospitals from regular routine care. In addition to data from adult patients, we also present data from affiliated child and adolescent psychiatric wards employing FIT programs. Using comprehensive claims data, primary outcomes are the utilization of inpatient care and sick leave for a priori defined clusters of mental disorders. We stratify between patients already under treatment (ongoing treatment) and patients with incident treatment cases (initial treatment) at the point of inclusion in the study. In the initial treatment group, we found a significant reduction in the length of inpatient stay of 4.1 days in FIT hospitals compared to routine care. While patients with mood affective disorders (−1.8 days) and patients with neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders (−3.6 days) showed an even stronger effect of the reduction of inpatient lengths of stay, the effect was significantly weaker in patients with mental and behavioral disorders due to use of alcohol (+3.3 days). Regarding the duration of sick leave, we found no significant treatment effect of FIT programs compared to routine care. In the ongoing treatment group of adult patients, we found a significantly lower utilization of inpatient treatment by 1.3 days as well as a shorter duration of sick leave by 4.3 days in FIT hospitals compared to routine care. In the cohort of children and adolescent patients, we also did not observe a significant treatment effect in either the initial treatment group or the ongoing treatment group. Registration: this study was registered in the database “Health Services Research Germany” (trial number: VVfD_EVA64_15_003713).
Long Covid: where we stand and challenges ahead
Authors: Mantovani Alberto , Morrone Maria Concetta , Patrono Carlo , Santoro M. Gabriella , Schiaffino Stefano , Remuzzi Giuseppe , Bussolati Giovanni ,   On behalf of the Covid-19 Commission of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Cappuccinelli Pietro , Fitzgerald Garrett , Bacci Massimo Livi , Melino Gennaro , Parisi Giorgio , Rappuoli Rino , Rezza Giovanni , Vineis Paolo
Published: September 2022

Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC), also known as Post-Covid Syndrome, and colloquially as Long Covid, has been defined as a constellation of signs and symptoms which persist for weeks or months after the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection. PASC affects a wide range of diverse organs and systems, with manifestations involving lungs, brain, the cardiovascular system and other organs such as kidney and the neuromuscular system. The pathogenesis of PASC is complex and multifactorial. Evidence suggests that seeding and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in different organs, reactivation, and response to unrelated viruses such as EBV, autoimmunity, and uncontrolled inflammation are major drivers of PASC. The relative importance of pathogenetic pathways may differ in different tissue and organ contexts. Evidence suggests that vaccination, in addition to protecting against disease, reduces PASC after breakthrough infection although its actual impact remains to be defined. PASC represents a formidable challenge for health care systems and dissecting pathogenetic mechanisms may pave the way to targeted preventive and therapeutic approaches.
LINC00152 induced by TGF-β promotes metastasis via HuR in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Xu Wei , Chen Linna , Liu Jiheng , Zhang Zhezhe , Wang Ranran , Zhang Qianqian , Li Huiting , Xiang Juanjuan , Fang Li , Xu Ping , Li Zheng
Published: September 2022

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is one of the main causes of cancer-related mortality, with a strong tendency to metastasize early. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling is a powerful regulator to promote metastasis of LUAD. Here, we screened long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) responsive to TGF-β and highly expressed in LUAD cells, and finally obtained our master molecular LINC00152. We proved that the TGF-β promoted transcription of LINC00152 through the classical TGF-β/SMAD3 signaling pathway and maintained its stability through the RNA-binding protein HuR. Moreover, LINC00152 increased ZEB1, SNAI1 and SNAI2 expression via increasing the interactions of HuR and these transcription factors, ultimately promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition of LUAD cell and enhancing LUAD metastasis in vivo. These data provided evidence that LINC00152 induced by TGF-β promotes metastasis depending HuR in lung adenocarcinoma. Designing targeting LINC00152 and HuR inhibitors may therefore be an effective therapeutic strategy for LUAD treatment.
Modern groundwater reaches deeper depths in heavily pumped aquifer systems
Authors: Thaw Melissa , GebreEgziabher Merhawi , Villafañe-Pagán Jobel Y. , Jasechko Scott
Published: September 2022

Deep groundwater is an important source of drinking water, and can be preferable to shallower groundwaters where they are polluted by surface-borne contaminants. Surface-borne contaminants are disproportionately common in ‘modern’ groundwaters that are made up of precipitation that fell since the ~1950s. Some local-scale studies have suggested that groundwater pumping can draw modern groundwater downward and potentially pollute deep aquifers, but the prevalence of such pumping-induced downwelling at continental scale is not known. Here we analyse thousands of US groundwater tritium measurements to show that modern groundwater tends to reach deeper depths in heavily pumped aquifer systems. These findings imply that groundwater pumping can draw mobile surface-borne pollutants to deeper depths than they would reach in the absence of pumping. We conclude that intensive groundwater pumping can draw recently recharged groundwater deeper into aquifer systems, potentially endangering deep groundwater quality.
Gate-controlled skyrmion and domain wall chirality
Authors: Fillion Charles-Elie , Fischer Johanna , Kumar Raj , Fassatoui Aymen , Pizzini Stefania , Ranno Laurent , Ourdani Djoudi , Belmeguenai Mohamed , Roussigné Yves , Chérif Salim-Mourad , Auffret Stéphane , Joumard Isabelle , Boulle Olivier , Gaudin Gilles , Buda-Prejbeanu Liliana , Baraduc Claire , Béa Hélène
Published: September 2022

Magnetic skyrmions are localized chiral spin textures, which offer great promise to store and process information at the nanoscale. In the presence of asymmetric exchange interactions, their chirality, which governs their dynamics, is generally considered as an intrinsic parameter set during the sample deposition. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate that a gate voltage can control this key parameter. We probe the chirality of skyrmions and chiral domain walls by observing the direction of their current-induced motion and show that a gate voltage can reverse it. This local and dynamical reversal of the chirality is due to a sign inversion of the interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction that we attribute to ionic migration of oxygen under gate voltage. Micromagnetic simulations show that the chirality reversal is a continuous transformation, in which the skyrmion is conserved. This control of chirality with 2–3 V gate voltage can be used for skyrmion-based logic devices, yielding new functionalities.
Ca2+-modulated photoactivatable imaging reveals neuron-astrocyte glutamatergic circuitries within the nucleus accumbens
Authors: Serra Irene , Esparza Julio , Delgado Laura , Martín-Monteagudo Cristina , Puigròs Margalida , Podlesniy Petar , Trullás Ramón , Navarrete Marta
Published: September 2022

Astrocytes are key elements of brain circuits that are involved in different aspects of the neuronal physiology relevant to brain functions. Although much effort is being made to understand how the biology of astrocytes affects brain circuits, astrocytic network heterogeneity and plasticity is still poorly defined. Here, we have combined structural and functional imaging of astrocyte activity recorded in mice using the Ca2+-modulated photoactivatable ratiometric integrator and specific optostimulation of glutamatergic pathways to map the functional neuron-astrocyte circuitries in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). We showed pathway-specific astrocytic responses induced by selective optostimulation of main inputs from the prefrontal cortex, basolateral amygdala, and ventral hippocampus. Furthermore, co-stimulation of glutamatergic pathways induced non-linear Ca2+-signaling integration, revealing integrative properties of NAc astrocytes. All these results demonstrate the existence of specific neuron-astrocyte circuits in the NAc, providing an insight to the understanding of how the NAc integrates information.
Generalised optical printing of photocurable metal chalcogenides
Authors: Baek Seongheon , Ban Hyeong Woo , Jeong Sanggyun , Heo Seung Hwae , Gu Da Hwi , Choi Wooyong , Choo Seungjun , Park Yae Eun , Yoo Jisu , Choi Moon Kee , Lee Jiseok , Son Jae Sung
Published: September 2022

Optical three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques have attracted tremendous attention owing to their applicability to mask-less additive manufacturing, which enables the cost-effective and straightforward creation of patterned architectures. However, despite their potential use as alternatives to traditional lithography, the printable materials obtained from these methods are strictly limited to photocurable resins, thereby restricting the functionality of the printed objects and their application areas. Herein, we report a generalised direct optical printing technique to obtain functional metal chalcogenides via digital light processing. We developed universally applicable photocurable chalcogenidometallate inks that could be directly used to create 2D patterns or micrometre-thick 2.5D architectures of various sizes and shapes. Our process is applicable to a diverse range of functional metal chalcogenides for compound semiconductors and 2D transition-metal dichalcogenides. We then demonstrated the feasibility of our technique by fabricating and evaluating a micro-scale thermoelectric generator bearing tens of patterned semiconductors. Our approach shows potential for simple and cost-effective architecturing of functional inorganic materials.
devCellPy is a machine learning-enabled pipeline for automated annotation of complex multilayered single-cell transcriptomic data
Authors: Galdos Francisco X. , Xu Sidra , Goodyer William R. , Duan Lauren , Huang Yuhsin V. , Lee Soah , Zhu Han , Lee Carissa , Wei Nicholas , Lee Daniel , Wu Sean M.
Published: September 2022

A major informatic challenge in single cell RNA-sequencing analysis is the precise annotation of datasets where cells exhibit complex multilayered identities or transitory states. Here, we present devCellPy a highly accurate and precise machine learning-enabled tool that enables automated prediction of cell types across complex annotation hierarchies. To demonstrate the power of devCellPy, we construct a murine cardiac developmental atlas from published datasets encompassing 104,199 cells from E6.5-E16.5 and train devCellPy to generate a cardiac prediction algorithm. Using this algorithm, we observe a high prediction accuracy (>90%) across multiple layers of annotation and across de novo murine developmental data. Furthermore, we conduct a cross-species prediction of cardiomyocyte subtypes from in vitro-derived human induced pluripotent stem cells and unexpectedly uncover a predominance of left ventricular (LV) identity that we confirmed by an LV-specific TBX5 lineage tracing system. Together, our results show devCellPy to be a useful tool for automated cell prediction across complex cellular hierarchies, species, and experimental systems.
Surgical amputation of a limb 31,000 years ago in Borneo
Authors: Maloney Tim Ryan , Dilkes-Hall India Ella , Vlok Melandri , Oktaviana Adhi Agus , Setiawan Pindi , Priyatno Andika Arief Drajat , Ririmasse Marlon , Geria I. Made , Effendy Muslimin A. R. , Istiawan Budi , Atmoko Falentinus Triwijaya , Adhityatama Shinatria , Moffat Ian , Joannes-Boyau Renaud , Brumm Adam , Aubert Maxime
Published: September 2022

The prevailing view regarding the evolution of medicine is that the emergence of settled agricultural societies around 10,000 years ago (the Neolithic Revolution) gave rise to a host of health problems that had previously been unknown among non-sedentary foraging populations, stimulating the first major innovations in prehistoric medical practices1,2. Such changes included the development of more advanced surgical procedures, with the oldest known indication of an ‘operation’ formerly thought to have consisted of the skeletal remains of a European Neolithic farmer (found in Buthiers-Boulancourt, France) whose left forearm had been surgically removed and then partially healed3. Dating to around 7,000 years ago, this accepted case of amputation would have required comprehensive knowledge of human anatomy and considerable technical skill, and has thus been viewed as the earliest evidence of a complex medical act3. Here, however, we report the discovery of skeletal remains of a young individual from Borneo who had the distal third of their left lower leg surgically amputated, probably as a child, at least 31,000 years ago. The individual survived the procedure and lived for another 6–9 years, before their remains were intentionally buried in Liang Tebo cave, which is located in East Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo, in a limestone karst area that contains some of the world’s earliest dated rock art4. This unexpectedly early evidence of a successful limb amputation suggests that at least some modern human foraging groups in tropical Asia had developed sophisticated medical knowledge and skills long before the Neolithic farming transition.