bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Birth Experience Among Black Women in the United States: A Qualitative Meta‐Synthesis
Authors: Spurlock Elizabeth J. , Pickler Rita H.
Published: April 2024

Introduction

There are striking disparities in perinatal health outcomes for Black women in the United States. Although the causes are multifactorial, research findings have increasingly identified social and structural determinants of health as contributors to perinatal disparities. Maltreatment during perinatal care, which is disproportionately experienced by Black women, may be one such contributor. Qualitative researchers have explored Black women's perinatal care experiences, but childbirth experience data has yet to be analyzed in‐depth across studies. The aim of this meta‐synthesis was to explore the birthing experience of Black women in the United States.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL databases were searched. Inclusion criteria were qualitative research studies that included birth experience data shared by self‐identified Black or African American women who had given birth in the United States. Exclusion criteria were reports that did not include rich qualitative data or only included experience data that did not specify the race of the participant (eg, data pooled for women of color). The search began February 2022 and ended June 2022. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research was used to appraise the research. Results were synthesized using content analysis.

Results

Fifteen studies met inclusion criteria. Main themes included (1) trust: being known and seen; (2) how race influences care; (3) preserving autonomy; and (4) birth as trauma.

Discussion

Fragmented care resulted in reports of poor birth experiences in several studies. Open communication and feeling known by perinatal care providers was influential in improving childbirth experiences among Black women; these themes are consistent with existing research. Further prospective research exploring relationships among these themes and perinatal outcomes is needed. Limitations of this report include the use of content analysis and meta‐synthesis which may lose the granularity of the original reports; however, the aggregation of voices may provide valuable, transferable, actionable insight that can inform future supportive care interventions.
Tattoo Artists as Religious Figures
Authors: Morello SJ Gustavo , Franco De Paula Tiago
Published: April 2024

If tattoos have a religious function, tattooists play a role in crafting a spiritual object. Hence, we explore the religious function of the tattooist and how tattooists deal with religion in their work. We used a “Lived Religion” approach that focuses on religious practices instead of religious organizations, because neither tattooists nor tattoo parlors are religiously legitimized figures or institutions. We collected data from tattooists from five different countries, with 23 semistructured interviews, 110 photos, and 4 video clips. After doing a content analysis of the interviews, and a denotative analysis of the photos and videos, we found that tattooists are aware of the religious overtones of their work. They understand themselves as figures that perform spiritual tasks. We also verified that tattoo parlors are spaces of religious negotiation, where tattooists, tattooed, and other actors exercise power. Finally, we established that a religious tattoo is the result of the negotiation among the actors involved, and that tattooists play a role as religious authorities.
Epigenetic age estimation of wild mice using faecal samples
Authors: Hanski Eveliina , Joseph Susan , Raulo Aura , Wanelik Klara M. , O'Toole Áine , Knowles Sarah C. L. , Little Tom J.
Published: April 2024

Age is a key parameter in population ecology, with a myriad of biological processes changing with age as organisms develop in early life then later senesce. As age is often hard to accurately measure with non‐lethal methods, epigenetic methods of age estimation (epigenetic clocks) have become a popular tool in animal ecology and are often developed or calibrated using captive animals of known age. However, studies typically rely on invasive blood or tissue samples, which limit their application in more sensitive or elusive species. Moreover, few studies have directly assessed how methylation patterns and epigenetic age estimates compare across environmental contexts (e.g. captive or laboratory‐based vs. wild animals). Here, we built a targeted epigenetic clock from laboratory house mice (strain C57BL/6, Mus musculus) using DNA from non‐invasive faecal samples, and then used it to estimate age in a population of wild mice (Mus musculus domesticus) of unknown age. This laboratory mouse‐derived epigenetic clock accurately predicted adult wild mice to be older than juveniles and showed that wild mice typically increased in epigenetic age over time, but with wide variation in epigenetic ageing rate among individuals. Our results also suggested that, for a given body mass, wild mice had higher methylation across targeted CpG sites than laboratory mice (and consistently higher epigenetic age estimates as a result), even among the smallest, juvenile mice. This suggests wild and laboratory mice may display different CpG methylation levels from very early in life and indicates caution is needed when developing epigenetic clocks on laboratory animals and applying them in the wild.
Toward a deeper appreciation of correlative thinking: A comparative analysis of Zhuangzi's Fish Parable and Merleau‐Ponty's philosophy of body
Authors: Zhu Kefu
Published: April 2024

This paper argues that correlative thinking, a fundamental aspect of Chinese thought often distinguished from rational thinking, is rooted in our situated bodily experiences, constituting a unique mode of sensemaking. It performs a comparative analysis between Zhuangzi's Fish Parable and Merleau‐Ponty's philosophy of embodied perception, focusing on the self‐attunement in our embodied experience and Dao, which remains invisible but gradually reveals its presence as the parable unfolds. The paper illuminates the embodied nature of correlative thinking by exposing the intricate interplay between the self and others, as well as the self and its lived environment. This analysis underscores the reciprocal relationship between Dao and correlative thinking: Dao acts as the origin of correlative thinking, while correlative thinking, in turn, unveils the presence of Dao. This analysis could enrich our understanding of the interplay between the self, others, and the world they inhabit.
Ecological drivers of flower–leaf sequences: aridity and proxies for pollinator attraction select for flowering‐first in the American plums
Authors: Buonaiuto D. M. , Davies T. J. , Collins S. C. , Wolkovich E. M.
Published: April 2024

Across temperate forests, many tree species produce flowers before their leaves emerge. This flower–leaf phenological sequence, known as hysteranthy, is generally described as an adaptation for wind pollination. However, this explanation does not address why hysteranthy is also common in biotically pollinated taxa.

We quantified flower–leaf sequence variation in the American plums (Prunus, subg. Prunus sect. Prunocerasus), a clade of insect‐pollinated trees, using herbaria specimens and Bayesian hierarchical modeling. We tested two common, but rarely interrogated hypotheses – that hysteranthy confers aridity tolerance and/or pollinator visibility – by modeling the associations between hysteranthy and related traits. To understand how these phenology–trait associations were sensitive to taxonomic scale and flower–leaf sequence classification, we then extended these analyses to all Prunus species in North America.

Our findings across two taxonomic levels support the hypotheses that hysteranthy may help temporally partition hydraulic demand to reduce water stress and increase pollinator visibility – thereby reducing selective pressure on inflorescence size.

Our results provide foundational insights into the evolution of flower–leaf sequences in the genus Prunus, with implications for understanding these patterns in biotically pollinated plants in general. Our approach suggests a path to advance these hypotheses to other clades, but teasing out drivers fully will require new experiments.
Preoperative depression and outcomes after metabolic and bariatric surgery: A systematic narrative review
Authors: Diep Calvin , Lee Sandra , Xue Yuanxin , Xiao Maggie , Pivetta Bianca , Daza Julian F. , Jung James J. , Wijeysundera Duminda N. , Ladha Karim S.
Published: April 2024

Preoperative depression is prevalent among patients undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) and is a potentially modifiable risk factor. However, the impact of preoperative depression on MBS outcomes has not been systematically reviewed. A search of MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, and PsychINFO (inception to June 2023) was conducted for studies reporting associations between preoperative depression and any clinical or patient‐reported outcomes after MBS. Eighteen studies (5 prospective and 13 retrospective) reporting on 5933 participants were included. Most participants underwent gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy. Meta‐analyses were not conducted due to heterogeneity in reported outcomes; findings were instead synthesized using a narrative and tabular approach. Across 13 studies (n = 3390) the associations between preoperative depression and weight loss outcomes at 6–72 months were mixed overall. This may be related to differences in cohort characteristics, outcome definitions, and instruments used to measure depression. A small number of studies reported that preoperative depression was associated with lower quality of life, worse acute pain, and more perioperative complications after surgery. Most of the included studies were deemed to be at high risk of bias, resulting in low or very low certainty of evidence according to the Risk of Bias In Non‐randomized Studies ‐ of Exposure (ROBINS‐E) tool. While the impact of preoperative depression on weight loss after MBS remains unclear, there is early evidence that depression has negative consequences on other patient‐important outcomes. Adequately powered studies using more sophisticated statistical methods are needed to accurately estimate these associations.
Changes in Patellar Height and Tibial Posterior Slope after Biplanar High Tibial Osteotomy with Computer‐Designed Personalized Surgical Guides: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Liu Chang , Luo Wei , Ma Jianxiong , Ye Songqing , Zhao Bin , Bai Haohao , Xing Fei , Jiang Xuan , Ma Xinlong
Published: April 2024

Objective

Medial opening‐wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) is a surgical procedure to treat medial compartment osteoarthritis in the knee with varus deformity. However, factors such as patellar height (PH) and the sagittal plane's posterior tibial slope angle (PTSA) are potentially overlooked. This study investigated the impact of alignment correction angle guided by computer‐designed personalized surgical guide plate (PSGP) in MOWHTO on PH and PTSA, offering insights for enhancing surgical techniques.

Methods

This retrospective study included patients who underwent 3D‐printed PSGP‐assisted MOWHTO at our institution from March to September 2022. The paired t‐tests assessed differences in all preoperative and postoperative measurement parameters. Multivariate linear regression analysis examined correlations between PTSA, CDI (Caton–Deschamps Index), and the alignment correction magnitude. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis determined the threshold of the correction angle, calculating sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve.

Results

A total of 107 patients were included in our study. The CDI changed from a preoperative mean of 0.97 ± 0.13 (range 0.70–1.34) to a postoperative mean of 0.82 ± 0.13 (range 0.55–1.20). PTSA changed from a preoperative mean of 8.54 ± 2.67 (range 2.19–17.55) to a postoperative mean of 10.54 ± 3.05 (range 4.48–18.05). The t‐test revealed statistically significant changes in both values (p < 0.05). A significant alteration in patellar height occurred when the correction angle exceeded 9.39°. Moreover, this paper illustrates a negative correlation between CDI change and the correction angle and preoperative PTSA. Holding other factors constant, each 1‐degree increase in the correction angle led to a 0.017 decrease in postoperative CDI, and each 1‐degree increase in preoperative PTSA resulted in a 0.008 decrease in postoperative CDI. PTSA change was positively correlated only with the correction angle; for each 1‐degree increase in the opening angle, postoperative PTS increased by 0.188, with other factors constant.

Conclusion

This study highlights the effectiveness and precision of PSGP‐assisted MOWHTO, focusing on the impact of alignment correction on PH and PTSA. These findings support the optimization of PSGP technology, which offers simpler, faster, and safer surgeries with less radiation and bleeding than traditional methods. However, PSGP's one‐time use design and the learning curve required for its application are limitations, suggesting areas for further research.
Clothing the female life. Self‐fashioning and memory making at the Malatesta network of women between the fourteenth and the fifteenth centuries
Authors: Tosi Brandi Elisa
Published: April 2024

This article discusses the relationship between women and their garments by examining written, visual, and material sources about dress drawn from the historical records of the Malatesta family. The objective of this research is to understand whether women of this House had any degree of autonomy regarding the garments that they chose to ‘self‐fashion’ their identity, and whether they were aware of the multiple meanings the clothing held beyond economic, political, and social status, in addition to their cultural and symbolic values. Indeed, these last two factors rendered these objects into powerful and immediate transmitters of expression and communication that surpassed the conventions of their time, as will be shown in this analysis that includes secular and religious clothing. From two different perspectives, that of the clothing of nobility as emblems of luxury, in line with the conventions of the time, and that of the clothing of religious orders as emblems of abstention perceived as unconventional when the abstention was radical, this article aim to discuss the strong relationship between women and clothing and the diverse ways adopted by women to identify themselves and their radius of action, to reinforce their social networks and their authority.
Children and adolescents weathering the storm: Resilience in the presence of bullying victimization, harassment, and pandemic lockdown in northern Norway
Authors: Thorvaldsen Steinar , Hansen Karl T. , Forsberg June T.
Published: April 2024

Resilience is a concept of growing interest because it can systematically inform prevention measures and psychosocial interventions for children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to explore resilience factors among young people who are victims of bullying and harassment (age 9 to 16 years old). In 2021 the burden of the pandemic lockdown became an additional adversity. The study used a repeated cross‐sectional design. Two datasets with a total of 2,211 participants from 2017 (N = 972) and 2021 (N = 1,239) were included. The strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) was applied to define the resilient and non‐resilient groups, and the quality‐of‐life questionnaire (KINDL) was used to map resilience factors. A total of 227 participants reported that they were being bullied, and 604 participants reported harassments from their peers. We used correlation and regression analyses to identify which factors predicted the highest resistance to the negative effects of bullying and harassment. The results were that 77.2% of the participants stayed resilient when facing these maladjustments, but this dropped to 61.7% during the pandemic. The most important resilience factors before the pandemic were the school environment, emotional well‐being, and good relations with their friends. The impact of these predictors changed during the pandemic. Emotional well‐being increased in strength, school environment was reduced, and friends did not predict resilience anymore. The effect sizes were generally large to medium. As it is common to experience adversity at some stage in life, it is vital for families, schools, social and healthcare workers to be aware of the factors associated with resilience. The results of this study may contribute towards an evidence base for developing plans to increase the capacity of resilience among young people.
Modeling the associations between emotion regulation, suicide crisis syndrome and suicidal behavior: Results in community and clinical samples
Authors: Colmenero‐Navarrete Lidia , García‐Sancho Esperanza , Salguero José M.
Published: April 2024

Background

Emotion Regulation (ER) and Suicide Crisis Syndrome (SCS) are psychological processes involved in suicide. Within ER, both the use of rumination and dysfunctional emotion beliefs are associated with suicide. SCS, a pre‐suicidal mental state involving cognitive and affective dysregulation, is related to short‐term suicide risk.

Aims

Here, we first examined associations between ER (beliefs about the uncontrollability of emotions and rumination), SCS and suicide behavior, and second, we test a multistep model in which ER factors are linked to suicide behavior through SCS.

Materials & Methods

We conducted two cross‐sectional studies to address this issue by self‐reports. Study 1 used a community sample (N = 421). Study 2 used a clinical sample (N = 70).

Results

Results from both studies showed that beliefs about the uncontrollability of emotions and rumination were associated with higher levels of SCS symptoms and suicide behavior, and that SCS was associated with suicide behavior. In addition, path analyses showed that uncontrollability beliefs were linked to rumination, which in turn was associated with SCS, and this variable mediated the association between ER factors and suicide ideation (in both community and clinical samples) and suicide attempts (in the community sample).

Discussion

As we expected, in both samples, uncontrollability of emotions and rumination were positively related with SCS and suicide behavior.

Conclusion

We emphasize the importance of addressing uncontrollability beliefs and rumination in suicide prevention.
Gender Identity Revisited among Gender‐Open Parents: New Perspectives from Classical Models of the Self
Authors: Rahilly Elizabeth , Seeber Andrew
Published: April 2024

As transgender and non‐binary (TNB) identities grow more visible in Western culture, some parents seek to ensure their children's gender self‐determination versus assuming their gender from birth. Such “gender‐open parenting” practices, however, can impact the parents' gender as much as the children's. Using interview data and thematic analysis from a larger project on gender‐open parenting, we examine a sub‐group of parents who started questioning their own gender identity after embarking on the practice. Parents also expressed concerns, however, about whether they were gender‐variant or non‐binary “enough” to claim a new label, echoing a growing literature on the limits of “transnormativity” and conventional identity development frameworks for encapsulating TNB experience. Instead of these frameworks, we turn to classical sociological models of the self to conceptualize parents' gender journeys, which emphasize the reflective, interactional processes of self‐development. Under these models, parents' identities are re‐born from the parenting work itself. We discuss the findings' implications for expanding understandings of gender identity throughout the life course, as well as for popular discourse and debates about who “counts” as TNB or gender‐variant in today's culture.
English in Europe: A research bibliography
Authors: Modiano Marko
Published: April 2024

This research bibliography lists some of the most important scholarly work on Englishes in mainland Europe and on English in the European Union. The bibliography comprises books, journal articles, book chapters, and doctoral dissertations, concerned with pan‐European issues. It is intended that this bibliography will provide a useful starting point for continuing research on this topic for the years to come.
The efficacy of mindfulness‐based programs in reducing anxiety among nurses in hospital settings: A systematic review
Authors: Alkhawaldeh Ja’far M. , Khawaldeh Mahmoud A. , Mrayyan Majd T. , Yehia Dalal , Shudifat Raed M. , Anshasi Huda A. , Al‐Shdayfat Noha M. , Alzoubi Majdi M. , Aqel Ahmad
Published: April 2024

Background

The increasing pressure of their professional duties has led to a notable concern regarding the mounting anxiety levels among nurses. The ongoing discussion revolves around the efficacy of mindfulness as a means to alleviate anxiety in nurses.

Aim

This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of mindfulness in reducing anxiety among nurses.

Methods

The evaluation followed the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses. An extensive and comprehensive search was conducted across eight databases to identify studies that utilized randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and were published in English between 2011 and 2022. Independently, two reviewers assessed the validity of the randomized controlled trials using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials criteria. Additionally, two authors independently employed the Risk of Bias in Non‐Randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS‐2) method to evaluate the potential bias in the RCTs.

Results

Eight randomized controlled trial studies that were deemed eligible were included in the current analysis. Based on the literature review, it was determined that mindfulness‐based training can assist nurses in reducing their anxiety levels. Furthermore, the effectiveness of mindfulness‐based programs in enhancing nurses' mindfulness and self‐compassion has been firmly established.

Linking Evidence to Action

Based on existing literature, mindfulness‐based interventions have proven to be effective in reducing anxiety levels among nurses. However, in order to enhance the overall quality of research, it is necessary to implement more rigorous controlled designs that include randomization. Additionally, larger sample sizes with a diverse range of participants are needed to establish and validate the effectiveness of mindfulness‐based programs in alleviating anxiety among nurses. Implementing mindfulness‐based training in healthcare organizations can offer numerous benefits. One such advantage is that it can help nurses in reducing anxiety and enhancing their ability to handle the pressures associated with their profession.

Study Registration

PROSPERO Protocol registration ID: CRD42023475157.
Impact of capillary and sarcolemmal proximity on mitochondrial structure and energetic function in skeletal muscle
Authors: Parry Hailey A. , Willingham T. Bradley , Giordano Kevin A. , Kim Yuho , Qazi Shureed , Knutson Jay R. , Combs Christian A. , Glancy Brian
Published: April 2024

Mitochondria within skeletal muscle cells are located either between the muscle contractile apparatus (interfibrillar mitochondria, IFM) or beneath the cell membrane (subsarcolemmal mitochondria, SSM), with several structural and functional differences reported between IFM and SSM. However, recent 3D imaging studies demonstrate that mitochondria are particularly concentrated in the proximity of capillaries embedded in sarcolemmal grooves rather than in proximity to the sarcolemma itself (paravascular mitochondria, PVM). To evaluate the impact of capillary vs. sarcolemmal proximity, we compared the structure and function of skeletal muscle mitochondria located either lateral to embedded capillaries (PVM), adjacent to the sarcolemma but not in PVM pools (SSM) or interspersed between sarcomeres (IFM). Mitochondrial morphology and interactions were assessed by 3D electron microscopy coupled with machine learning segmentation, whereas mitochondrial energy conversion was assessed by two‐photon microscopy of mitochondrial membrane potential, content, calcium, NADH redox and flux in live, intact cells. Structurally, although PVM and SSM were similarly larger than IFM, PVM were larger, rounder and had more physical connections to neighbouring mitochondria compared to both IFM and SSM. Functionally, PVM had similar or greater basal NADH flux compared to SSM and IFM, respectively, despite a more oxidized NADH pool and a greater membrane potential, signifying a greater activation of the electron transport chain in PVM. Together, these data indicate that proximity to capillaries has a greater impact on resting mitochondrial energy conversion and distribution in skeletal muscle than the sarcolemma alone.

image

Key points

Capillaries have a greater impact on mitochondrial energy conversion in skeletal muscle than the sarcolemma.

Paravascular mitochondria are larger, and the outer mitochondrial membrane is more connected with neighbouring mitochondria.

Interfibrillar mitochondria are longer and have greater contact sites with other organelles (i.e. sarcoplasmic reticulum and lipid droplets).

Paravascular mitochondria have greater activation of oxidative phosphorylation than interfibrillar mitochondria at rest, although this is not regulated by calcium.
Classification of Chip-Level Defect Types in Wafer Bin Maps Using Only Wafer-Level Labels
Authors: Lee Hyuck , Kim Hyeonwoo , Kim Heeyoung
Published: April 2024

Defective chips in wafer bin maps (WBMs) form different spatial patterns depending on the root causes of process failures. Therefore, the identification of defect patterns in WBMs can help practitioners identify the root causes. Previous studies have focused on wafer-level classification even though chip-level classification can provide additional information regarding defect locations and defect sizes. Chip-level classification is more challenging than wafer-level classification because existing chip-level classification methods require chip-level labels, which are laborious to collect. We propose a method for chip-level defect classification using only wafer-level labels based on weakly supervised semantic segmentation. We first train a classification network using wafer-level labels and extract class activation maps (CAMs), which are visualizations of the discriminative regions. We then generate chip-level pseudo-labels using the extracted CAMs and use these labels to train a segmentation network, which predicts chip-level defect types. Experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Redundant Non-Serial Implicit Manipulator Kinematics and Dynamics
Authors: Haug Edward J.
Published: April 2024

Redundant non-serial manipulators that include a spectrum of parallel and non-parallel heavy load bearing construction and material handling equipment are treated, using foundations of differential geometry. Kinematics of this category of manipulator are defined in manipulator configuration space by algebraic equations in input and output coordinates that cannot be explicitly solved for either as a function of the other. New sets called assembly components of manipulator configuration space are defined that partition the space into maximal, path-connected, disjoint, topological components. All configurations within an assembly component can be connected by one or more continuous paths within that component, but configurations in different assembly components cannot be connected by continuous paths. Forward and inverse kinematically singular configurations are characterized by criteria that partition each assembly component into path-connected, singularity-free assembly components in which equations of kinematics and dynamics are well behaved. It is shown that a generalized inverse velocity-based kinematic formulation that is problematic for serial manipulators is likewise plagued with problems for non-serial implicit manipulators that can be avoided using the methods presented. Singularity-free differentiable manipulator configuration space components are defined and parameterized by both input and operational coordinates, leading to well-posed ordinary differential equations of manipulator dynamics in both input and operational coordinates. Three typical applications and associated model problems are studied throughout the paper to illustrate the methods and results presented.
Online Self-Calibration of Cable-Driven Parallel Robots Using Covariance-Based Data Quality Assessment Metrics
Authors: Caverly Ryan J. , Cheah Sze Kwan , Bunker Keegan R. , Patel Samir , Sexton Niko , Nguyen Vinh L.
Published: April 2024

This article presents an algorithm to perform self-calibration of cable-driven parallel robots (CDPRs), where the CDPR’s end-effector pose is estimated in conjunction with the calibration of biases in CDPR’s measurements. Two new metrics, known as the position dilution of precision (PDOP) and orientation dilution of precision (ODOP), are introduced as a means to quantify the quality of data collected with regards to self-calibration. These metrics are based on a covariance matrix that is computed online as part of the proposed self-calibration algorithm, which results in the PDOP and ODOP directly corresponding to the standard deviation of the position and orientation errors, respectively. These metrics are used to intuitively select which data points contribute to improved calibration, resulting in a computationally efficient algorithm requiring few data points to maintain accurate calibration. In addition, the PDOP and ODOP provide a means to assess when sufficient calibration data have been collected. Numerical results involving an inverse kinematic simulation with rigid cables and a dynamic simulation with flexible cables indicate that the proposed algorithm is capable of performing self-calibration in a computationally efficient manner. Moreover, the simulation results indicate that the proposed PDOP and ODOP metrics result in smaller position and orientation errors when used to prune the dataset compared to the observability indices found in the literature. Accuracy of the proposed algorithm is also confirmed through experiments when compared to ground-truth pose data.
NiCrBSi/WC Composite Claddings Processed on AISI 316L Steel Alloy by the Direct Laser Deposition Process: Studies on Dry Sliding Wear Behavior and Wear Mechanism Maps
Authors: Birada Lakshmi Manasa , Vyshnavi Pullela , Rao Thella Babu
Published: April 2024

This study presented the wear behavior of the NiCrBSi/WC composite claddings processed on an AISI 316L steel alloy substrate by laser cladding approach. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) morphology of the claddings has shown excellent substrate–cladding interface bonding, good WC particulate distribution, and no noticeable cracks and voids. The electron dispersion spectroscope (EDS) spectra have confirmed the presence of respective NiCrBSi alloy matrix and WC elements. The XRD spectra have identified various phases and compounds such as gamma-Ni, FeNi3, Ni3B, Cr23C6, Ni3Si, and W2C commonly in all the processed composite claddings. The microhardness of the claddings was measured between 791 and 1086 HV0.2 for increasing the reinforcement WC particulate percentage from 15 wt% to 60 wt%. It is about 470% surface hardness enhancement with the processed composite claddings compared with the substrate alloy. The reinforcement of WC from 15 wt% to 60 wt% with the composite claddings resulted in wear resistance enhancement from 21.85% to 60.64% and the coefficient of friction from 56.87% to 77.92% against the substrate. The wear-rate maps and their respective cladding's worn surface morphology have described the wear mechanisms typically as adhesive, abrasive, oxidation, and delamination. The wear mechanisms are mainly influenced by the WC particulate percentage. The increased WC particulate content has increased the dominance of the abrasive wear mechanism while reducing the window of the adhesive wear mechanism. The windows of various wear mechanisms and their ranges, such as adhesive 0.0033 to 0.028, abrasion 0.010 to 0.067, oxidation 0.012 to 0.093, and delamination 0.015 to 0.120 mm3/m, for NiCrBSi/WC composite claddings comprehensibly represented the wear behavior for the varied conditions of dry sliding wear parameters.
Analytic Center-Based Tension Distribution for Cable-Driven Platforms
Authors: Di Paola Vincenzo , Goldsztejn Alexandre , Zoppi Matteo , Caro Stéphane
Published: April 2024

A redundant cable-driven platform (CDP) is composed of m cables that exceed the degree-of-freedom (DoF) of the end-effector. The choice of tension along the cables admits infinite solutions. This paper proposes the use of the analytic center to solve the tension distribution problem. Adopting this technique allows finding tensions far from the tension limits, namely, robust as well as tension profiles continuous and differentiable in time. The continuity, differentiability, and uniqueness of the solution are also proven. Moreover, the possibility of including non-linear constraints acting on the tensions (e.g., friction) is a further contribution. The computational time with the proposed approach is compared to the existing techniques to assess its real-time applicability. Finally, several simulations using several cable-driven parallel robots’ (CDPRs) architectures are reported to demonstrate the method’s capabilities.
Characteristics of wild moose (Alces alces) vocalizations
Authors: Zager Alex , Ahlberg Sonja , Boyan Olivia , Brierley Jocelyn , Eddington Valerie , Moll Remington J. , Kloepper Laura N.
Published: April 2024

Moose are a popular species with recreationists but understudied acoustically. We used publicly available videos to characterize and quantify the vocalizations of moose in New Hampshire separated by age/sex class. We found significant differences in peak frequency, center frequency, bandwidth, and duration across the groups. Our results provide quantification of wild moose vocalizations across age/sex classes, which is a key step for passive acoustic detection of this species and highlights public videos as a potential resource for bioacoustics research of hard-to-capture and understudied species.
Introduction to the special issue on fish bioacoustics: Hearing and sound communication
Authors: Popper Arthur N. , Amorim Clara , Fine Michael L. , Higgs Dennis M. , Mensinger Allen F. , Sisneros Joseph A.
Published: April 2024

Fish bioacoustics, or the study of fish hearing, sound production, and acoustic communication, was discussed as early as Aristotle. However, questions about how fishes hear were not really addressed until the early 20th century. Work on fish bioacoustics grew after World War II and considerably in the 21st century since investigators, regulators, and others realized that anthropogenic (human-generated sounds), which had primarily been of interest to workers on marine mammals, was likely to have a major impact on fishes (as well as on aquatic invertebrates). Moreover, passive acoustic monitoring of fishes, recording fish sounds in the field, has blossomed as a noninvasive technique for sampling abundance, distribution, and reproduction of various sonic fishes. The field is vital since fishes and aquatic invertebrates make up a major portion of the protein eaten by a signification portion of humans. To help better understand fish bioacoustics and engage it with issues of anthropogenic sound, this special issue of The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (JASA) brings together papers that explore the breadth of the topic, from a historical perspective to the latest findings on the impact of anthropogenic sounds on fishes.
De novo design of drug-binding proteins with predictable binding energy and specificity
Authors: Lu Lei , Gou Xuxu , Tan Sophia K. , Mann Samuel I. , Yang Hyunjun , Zhong Xiaofang , Gazgalis Dimitrios , Valdiviezo Jesús , Jo Hyunil , Wu Yibing , Diolaiti Morgan E. , Ashworth Alan , Polizzi Nicholas F. , DeGrado William F.
Published: April 2024

The de novo design of small molecule–binding proteins has seen exciting recent progress; however, high-affinity binding and tunable specificity typically require laborious screening and optimization after computational design. We developed a computational procedure to design a protein that recognizes a common pharmacophore in a series of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase–1 inhibitors. One of three designed proteins bound different inhibitors with affinities ranging from <5 nM to low micromolar. X-ray crystal structures confirmed the accuracy of the designed protein-drug interactions. Molecular dynamics simulations informed the role of water in binding. Binding free energy calculations performed directly on the designed models were in excellent agreement with the experimentally measured affinities. We conclude that de novo design of high-affinity small molecule–binding proteins with tuned interaction energies is feasible entirely from computation.
Worries about bird flu in U.S. cattle intensify
Authors: Cohen Jon
Published: April 2024

Farm worker becomes infected as H5N1 appears to spread between dairy cows in five states
Utah flouts FDA with new placental stem cell law
Authors: Wadman Meredith
Published: April 2024

Measure declares that patients can be given unapproved treatments
A randomized assessors-blind clinical trial to evaluate the safety and the efficacy of albendazole alone and in combination with mebendazole or pyrantel for the treatment of
Trichuris trichiura
infection in school-aged children in Lambaréné and surroundings
Authors: Nguema Moure Paul Alvyn , Nzamba Maloum Moustapha , Manouana Gédéon Prince , Laclong Lontchi Roméo-Aimé , Mbong Ngwese Mirabeau , Edoa Jean Ronald , Fréjus Zinsou Jeannot , Meulah Brice , Mahmoudou Saidou , N'noh Dansou Elsy Mirna , Josiane Honkpehedji Yabo , Romeo Adegbite Bayode , Agnandji Selidji Todagbe , Ramharter Michael , Lell Bertrand , Borrmann Steffen , Kremsner Peter G. , Dejon-Agobé Jean Claude , Adegnika Ayôla Akim
Published: April 2024

Helminthiasis remains a public health issue in endemic areas. Various drugs have been proposed to improve efficacy against helminths. The study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of three different anthelmintic combinations to treat
Trichuris trichiura
infections. We conducted a randomized assessors-blind clinical trial involving children aged 2–17 years with
T. trichiura
. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three treatment arms. On the first and third days, all participants got albendazole 400 mg, and on the second day, albendazole (arm A), mebendazole 500 mg (arm B), or pyrantel 125 mg/kg (arm C). We assessed treatment efficacy using the cure rate (CR) and egg reduction rate (ERR) at 3 and 6 weeks post-treatment. At 3 weeks post-treatment, ERR and CR were highest in study arm A [ERR = 94%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 92–95; CR = 71%; 95% CI: 58–81] compared to the B and C arms. Decrease in ERR was significant only for arm B versus arm A (
P
-value <0.001); decrease in ERR was significant for arms B and C (
P
-value <0.001). No statistical difference was observed in CR when comparing arms A and B (
P
-value =1.00) and C (
P
-value =0.27). At 6 weeks, a decrease in ERR was observed in three arms, significant only for arm C, 81% (95% CI: 78–83). A significant increase in egg counts was observed between 3 and 6 weeks post-treatment. All treatments were safe with mild adverse events. Albendazole 400 mg/day (arm A) showed the highest efficacy against trichuriasis. Nonetheless, this treatment regimen was able to cure half of the treated individuals highlighting concerns about controlling the transmission of
T. trichiura
.

CLINICAL TRIAL

Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (
NCT04326868
).
Alginate oligosaccharide assimilation by gut microorganisms and the potential role in gut inflammation alleviation
Authors: Ma Xiao-Qing , Wang Bing , Wei Wei , Tan Fang-Cheng , Su Hang , Zhang Jun-Zhe , Zhao Chen-Yang , Zheng Hua-Jun , Feng Yan-Qin , Shen Wei , Yang Jin-Bo , Li Fu-Li
Published: April 2024

Dietary fiber metabolism by gut microorganisms plays important roles in host physiology and health. Alginate, the major dietary fiber of daily diet seaweeds, is drawing more attention because of multiple biological activities. To advance the understanding of alginate assimilation mechanism in the gut, we show the presence of unsaturated alginate oligosaccharides (uAOS)-specific alginate utilization loci (AUL) in human gut microbiome. As a representative example, a working model of the AUL from the gut microorganism
Bacteroides clarus
was reconstructed from biochemistry and transcriptome data. The fermentation of resulting monosaccharides through Entner-Doudoroff pathway tunes the metabolism of short-chain fatty acids and amino acids. Furthermore, we show that uAOS feeding protects the mice against dextran sulfate sodium-induced acute colitis probably by remodeling gut microbiota and metabolome.

IMPORTANCE

Alginate has been included in traditional Chinese medicine and daily diet for centuries. Recently discovered biological activities suggested that alginate-derived alginate oligosaccharides (AOS) might be an active ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine, but how these AOS are metabolized in the gut and how it affects health need more information. The study on the working mechanism of alginate utilization loci (AUL) by the gut microorganism uncovers the role of unsaturated alginate oligosaccharides (uAOS) assimilation in tuning short-chain fatty acids and amino acids metabolism and demonstrates that uAOS metabolism by gut microorganisms results in a variation of cell metabolites, which potentially contributes to the physiology and health of gut.
Promoter regulatory mode evolution enhances the high multidrug resistance of
tmexCD1-toprJ1
Authors: Wang Chengzhen , Yang Jun , Xu Zeling , Lv Luchao , Chen Sheng , Hong Mei , Liu Jian-Hua
Published: April 2024

Antibiotic resistance could rapidly emerge from acquiring the mobile antibiotic resistance genes, which are commonly evolved from an intrinsic gene. The emergence of the plasmid-borne mobilized efflux pump gene cluster
tmexCD1-toprJ1
renders the last-resort antibiotic tigecycline ineffective, although its evolutionary mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we investigate the regulatory mechanisms of the progenitor NfxB-MexCD-OprJ, a chromosomally encoded operon that does not mediate antibiotic resistance in the wild-type version, and its homologs, TNfxB1-TMexCD1-TOprJ1 mediating high-level tigecycline resistance, and TNfxB3-TMexCD3-TOprJ1. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that in
nfxB-mexCD-oprJ
, MexCD expression was under a weaker promoter, P
mexC
and inhibited by a strong repressor NfxB. For
tmexCD1-toprJ1
, TMexCD1 was highly expressed owing to the presence of a strong promoter, P
tmexC1
, and an inactive suppressor, TNfxB1, with a T39R mutation that rendered it unable to bind to promoter DNA. In
tnfxB3-tmexCD3-toprJ1b
, TMexCD3 expression was intermediate because of the local regulator TNfxB3, which binds to two inverted repeat sequences of P
tmexC
. Additionally, TNfxB3 exhibited lower protein expression and weaker DNA binding affinity than its ancestor NfxB, together with their promoter activities difference explaining the different expression levels of
tmexCD-toprJ
homologs. Distinct fitness burdens on these homologs-carrying bacteria were observed due to the corresponding expression level, which might be associated with their global prevalence. In summary, our data depict the mechanisms underlying the evolution and dissemination of an important mobile antibiotic resistance gene from an intrinsic chromosomal gene.

IMPORTANCE

As antibiotic resistance seriously challenges global health, tigecycline is one of the few effective drugs in the pipeline against infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens. Our previous work identified a novel tigecycline resistance efflux pump gene cluster
tmexCD1-toprJ1
in animals and humans, together with its various variants, a rising clinical concern. Herein, this study focused on how the local regulation modes of
tmexCD1-toprJ1
evolved to a highly expressed efflux pump. Through comparative analysis between three
tnfxB-tmexCD-toprJ
homologs and their progenitor
nfxB-mexCD-oprJ
, modes, we demonstrated the evolutionary dynamics from a chromosomal silent gene to an active state. We found the de-repression of the local regulator and an increase of the promoter activity work together to promote a high production of drug efflux machines and enhance multidrug resistance. Our findings revealed that TMexCD1-TOprJ1 adopts a distinct evolutionary path to achieve higher multidrug resistance, urgently needing tight surveillance.
Persistence and evolution of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
following initiation of highly effective modulator therapy in cystic fibrosis
Authors: Armbruster Catherine R. , Hilliam Yasmin K. , Zemke Anna C. , Atteih Samar , Marshall Christopher W. , Moore John , Koirala Junu , Krainz Leah , Gaston Jordan R. , Lee Stella E. , Cooper Vaughn S. , Bomberger Jennifer M.
Published: April 2024

Today, more than 90% of people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) are eligible for the highly effective cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator therapy called elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) and its use is widespread. Given the drastic respiratory symptom improvement experienced by many post-ETI, clinical studies are already underway to reduce the number of respiratory therapies, including antibiotic regimens, that pwCF historically relied on to combat lung disease progression. Early studies suggest that bacterial burden in the lungs is reduced post-ETI, yet it is unknown how chronic
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
populations are impacted by ETI. We found that pwCF remain infected throughout their upper and lower respiratory tract with their same strain of
P. aeruginosa
post-ETI, and these strains continue to evolve in response to the newly CFTR-corrected airway. Our work underscores the continued importance of CF airway microbiology in the new era of highly effective CFTR modulator therapy.

IMPORTANCE

The highly effective cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator modulator therapy Elexakaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor (ETI) has changed cystic fibrosis (CF) disease for many people with cystic fibrosis. While respiratory symptoms are improved by ETI, we found that people with CF remain infected with
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. How these persistent and evolving bacterial populations will impact the clinical manifestations of CF in the coming years remains to be seen, but the role and potentially changing face of infection in CF should not be discounted in the era of highly effective modulator therapy.