bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experiences of Self‐Sampling and Future Screening Preferences in Non‐Attenders Who Returned an HPV Vaginal Self‐Sample in the YouScreen Study: Findings From a Cross‐Sectional Questionnaire
Authors: Drysdale Hannah , Marlow Laura A. V. , Lim Anita , Waller Jo
Published: July 2024

Background

We assessed experiences of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaginal self‐sampling and future screening preferences in an ethnically and socio‐economically diverse group of women overdue for cervical screening.

Setting and Participants

A postal questionnaire was embedded in the YouScreen self‐sampling trial in England: 32.5% (2712/8338) of kit completers returned the survey. Kit non‐completers were encouraged to return a questionnaire, but no responses were received. Participants were ethnically diverse (40.3% came from ethnic minority backgrounds), and 59.1% came from the two most deprived quintiles. Differences in confidence in kit completion, trust in the test results and intention to attend a follow‐up test if HPV‐positive were evaluated using Pearson's χ2 analyses. Binary logistic regression models explored predictors of a future screening choice and preferences for urine versus vaginal self‐sampling.

Results

Most kit‐completers reported high confidence in self‐sampling (82.6%) and high trust in the results (79.9%), but experiences varied by ethnicity and screening status. Most free‐text comments were positive but some reported difficulties using the device, pain or discomfort. Most women would opt for self‐sampling in the future (71.3% vs. 10.4% for a clinician‐taken test) and it was more often preferred by ethnic minority groups, overdue screeners and never attenders. Urine self‐tests were preferred to vaginal tests (41.9% vs. 15.4%), especially among women from Asian, Black or Other Ethnic backgrounds.

Conclusions

Kit‐completers were confident, found the test easy to complete, and trusted the self‐sample results. However, experiences varied by ethnic group and some women highlighted difficulties with the kit. Most women would prefer self‐sampling in the future, but it was not a universal preference, so offering a choice will be important.

Patient or Public Contribution

We did not have direct patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) in the questionnaire design. However, patients and public representatives did input into the design of the YouScreen trial and reviewed the wider study materials (e.g. participant information sheet).

Trial Registration

This questionnaire study was embedded in the YouScreen trial. The protocol for the YouScreen trial is available at https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN12759467. The National Institute for Health Research 43 Clinical Research Network (NIHR CRN) Central Portfolio Management System (CPMS) ID is 4441934.
Perceptions of the Impact of Comorbidity on the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme: Qualitative Study With Bowel Screening Participants and Staff
Authors: Price Delyth , Brain Katherine , Dolwani Sunil , Edwards Adrian , Hood Kerenza , Smits Stephanie
Published: July 2024

Introduction

The impact of multiple health conditions on bowel cancer screening is currently unknown. We explored the impact of multiple health conditions on bowel cancer screening perceptions, experience and clinical management decisions following a positive stool test.

Methods

Semi‐structured qualitative interviews were conducted remotely with Bowel Screening Wales staff (n = 16) stratified by regional location and role and with screening participants (n = 19) stratified by age, gender and comorbidity. Interview topics were guided by the Common‐Sense Model.

Results

Screening participants, regardless of comorbidity status, placed great emphasis on the importance of early detection of cancer and completing the bowel screening process. Screening staff emphasised comorbidities in the clinical decision‐making process; however, screening participants had low awareness of the impact that comorbidities can have on bowel screening. Participants describe how the presence of multiple health conditions can mask potential bowel symptoms and influence beliefs about follow‐up.

Conclusion

Bowel screening staff try to individualise the service to meet participant needs. The potential mismatch in screening staff and participant awareness and expectations of the bowel screening and diagnostic process needs to be addressed. Clearer and more regular communication with screening participants could support the screening process, particularly for those with significant coexisting health conditions or facing time delays. The possible masking effects and misattribution of symptoms because of comorbidities highlight an opportunity for education and raising awareness for screening participants and a potential area of focus for discussions in clinical consultations and staff training.

Patient and Public Contribution

Project funding included costs for patients and public contributors to be compensated for their contributions to the project, in line with current standards. A patient and public contributor was involved in the design of the study, including protocol development, and the interpretation of key findings and implications for patients, which are subsequently reflected within the manuscript.
PAINTING HISTORY: PICTURE, WITNESS, AND ANCIENT HISTORIOGRAPHY
Authors: DE BOER LUUK
Published: July 2024

This article treats an analogy that is used persistently in the history of historiography: the equation of historiography with painting and the identification of the historiographer with the painter. In examining the conceptual stakes of this (auto)identification, the article mobilizes the analogy in order to explore larger issues of historical theory and, through the prism of historical painting, reflects on the problem of representation and narrativist approaches to history as text. The article argues that the historiographic desire surfacing in a comparison with painting does not concern painting's ability to capture the past; rather, it concerns its ability to capture the viewer. Opening with a brief survey of the ut pictura historia analogy in the history of historiography, the article makes this claim by analyzing historiographical engagements with the analogy in antiquity (turning to Herodotus and Polybius) and by exploring ancient history painting itself (offering pride of place to the Alexander Mosaic). In thus engaging with the theory of historiography via concrete historical material, the article leverages a historical episode of interaction between textual media and visual media to find that they are structured by the same simple desire that continues to exert its force today: the desire to see for oneself.
Integrating functional metagenomics to decipher microbiome–immune interactions
Authors: Sardar Puspendu , Almeida Alexandre , Pedicord Virginia A
Published: July 2024

Microbial metabolites can be viewed as the cytokines of the microbiome, transmitting information about the microbial and metabolic environment of the gut to orchestrate and modulate local and systemic immune responses. Still, many immunology studies focus solely on the taxonomy and community structure of the gut microbiota rather than its functions. Early sequencing‐based microbiota profiling approaches relied on PCR amplification of small regions of bacterial and fungal genomes to facilitate identification of the microbes present. However, recent microbiome analysis methods, particularly shotgun metagenomic sequencing, now enable culture‐independent profiling of microbiome functions and metabolites in addition to taxonomic characterization. In this review, we showcase recent advances in functional metagenomics methods and applications and discuss the current limitations and potential avenues for future development. Importantly, we highlight a few examples of key areas of opportunity in immunology research where integrating functional metagenomic analyses of the microbiome can substantially enhance a mechanistic understanding of microbiome–immune interactions and their contributions to health and disease states.
What do we really know about the water repellency of feathers?
Authors: Muzio Frank M. S. , Rubega Margaret A.
Published: July 2024

Feathers are complex integument structures that provide birds with many functions. They are vital to a bird's survival, fundamental to their visual displays, and responsible for the evolutionary radiation of the avian class. Feathers provide a protective barrier for the body; their water repellency is a key feature. Despite hundreds of years of ornithological research, the available literature on how feathers repel water is both limited and puzzling. Most hypotheses from the early 1900s suggested uropygial gland oil provided feathers with a hydrophobic coating. Subsequent studies showed that the feather's hierarchical structure creates a porous substrate that readily repels water with or without oil. Numerous studies and methods have been published attempting to explain, quantify, and compare the water repellency of feathers. Many overlook the role of barbules and the effect of their variation, which both likely play a crucial part in water repellency. The goal of this paper is to synthesize this research to better understand what has been done, what makes sense, and more importantly, what is missing. Previous reviews on this subject are mostly over 30 years old and did not use modern methods for systematic review. Here, we performed a systematic review to capture all relevant published papers on feather water repellency. We emphasize the crucial role of barbules in feather water repellency and why their morphological variation should not be ignored. We answer the question, what do we really know about the water repellency of feathers?
Who are we missing? Language exclusivity of patient‐reported outcomes in atrial fibrillation clinical trials
Authors: Lan Roy H. , Guerrero Eduardo Perez , Lewis Eldrin F. , Wang Paul J.
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) are increasingly used to evaluate quality of life (QoL) in Atrial Fibrillation (AF) patients, providing crucial insights in clinical trials. This study examines the frequency of PRO use in AF trials and the linguistic accessibility of AF‐specific PROs.

Background

As the United States becomes more multilingual, ensuring PROs are available in various languages is vital. The number of people speaking a language other than English at home has tripled from 23.1 million in 1980 to 67.8 million in 2019. This diversity necessitates the availability of PROs in multiple languages for inclusive clinical assessments.

Methods

We queried ClinicalTrials.gov for all US interventional AF trials up to November 28, 2023, reviewing each for PRO usage as primary or secondary outcomes. We identified the five most common AF‐specific and generic PROs, extracting their available translations and original languages from published sources.

Results

Of 233 identified trials, 191 had associated publications, with 180 (94.2%) conducted solely in English. Only one trial (0.4%) used an AF‐specific PRO as a primary outcome, compared to four (1.7%) with a generic PRO. Ten trials (4.3%) used AF‐specific PROs as secondary endpoints, versus 22 (9.4%) using generic PROs. AF‐specific PROs had significantly fewer translations than generic PROs (11.2 vs. 148.8; p < .001). The AF Effect on Quality‐of‐Life (AFEQT) was available in 24 languages, with limited translations in commonly spoken US languages like Arabic and Asian languages.

Conclusion

The limited availability of AF‐specific PRO translations highlights a barrier to inclusive AF clinical trials. Expanding translations for AF‐specific PROs is crucial for equitable QoL assessments.
An EU Sustainable Migration: Institutional Discourse and Migration Politics
Authors: Loxa Alezini
Published: July 2024

From 2015 to 2016 onwards, migration has been subjected to intense political contestation within EU Member States. In this context, sustainable migration has become the new overarching objective of the Commission. Despite the various references to sustainable migration, a closer investigation of EU migration law and policy does not provide a coherent picture of the legal implications of this concept. This article examines the links between sustainability and migration in EU law and policy and suggests that sustainable migration should be perceived as a political concept that was central for EU migration politics following the so‐called migration crisis. Sustainable migration is a powerful tool at the hands of the Commission and has been used to forge consensus between Member States that might profoundly disagree on the future of EU migration. At the same time, the concept offers little guidance in terms of legal obligations for the protection of migrants.
Nurses' knowledge of medical device‐related pressure injuries and risk factors: A descriptive study at a large medical centre from Palestine
Authors: Omar Worod , Asrawi Isam , Awad Mahmoud , Zaitoun Rasha S. Abu , Sakhleh Israa R. , Hayek Mohammed F. , Said Nizar B.
Published: July 2024

Background

Nurses' knowledge of pressure injuries causes and risk factors helps to prevent their occurrences and protect the patient.

Aim

To assess the level of knowledge of medical device‐related pressure injuries and to identify risk factors that affect the knowledge.

Methods

A cross‐sectional design was used in this study considering a convenience sample from critical care nurses. The nurses were invited to complete the Medical Device‐Related Pressure Injuries Knowledge Questionnaire.

Results

About 71 nurses participated in the study. The mean score of MDRPI_KQ was 23.28 ± 4.14 out of 36. Mann–Whitney Test did not show statistically significant relationships between the MDRPI_KQ mean score and related variables (p > 0.05). The regression results indicated that the three predictors explained 46.4% of the variance (R2 = 0.215, F(3, 6.114) = 3.75, p = 0.001). It was found that the Frequency of encountering a patient with MDRPIs significantly predicted MDRPI_KQ score, job position, and assuming the care responsibility for MDRPIs in the department.

Conclusions

Poor knowledge of pressure injuries can negatively affect patient care so training programs and policies should be developed based on the level of knowledge and practices of the staff to be more effective.
Functional stress responses in Glaucophyta: Evidence of ethylene and abscisic acid functions in Cyanophora paradoxa
Authors: Genot Baptiste , Grogan Margaret , Yost Matthew , Iacono Gabriella , Archer Stephen D. , Burns John A.
Published: July 2024

Glaucophytes, an enigmatic group of freshwater algae, occupy a pivotal position within the Archaeplastida, providing insights into the early evolutionary history of plastids and their host cells. These algae possess unique plastids, known as cyanelles that retain certain ancestral features, enabling a better understanding of the plastid transition from cyanobacteria. In this study, we investigated the role of ethylene, a potent hormone used by land plants to coordinate stress responses, in the glaucophyte alga Cyanophora paradoxa. We demonstrate that C. paradoxa produces gaseous ethylene when supplied with exogenous 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid (ACC), the ethylene precursor in land plants. In addition, we show that cells produce ethylene natively in response to abiotic stress, and that another plant hormone, abscisic acid (ABA), interferes with ethylene synthesis from exogenously supplied ACC, while positively regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. ROS synthesis also occurred following abiotic stress and ACC treatment, possibly acting as a second messenger in stress responses. A physiological response of C. paradoxa to ACC treatment is growth inhibition. Using transcriptomics, we reveal that ACC treatment induces the upregulation of senescence‐associated proteases, consistent with the observation of growth inhibition. This is the first report of hormone usage in a glaucophyte alga, extending our understanding of hormone‐mediated stress response coordination into the Glaucophyta, with implications for the evolution of signaling modalities across Archaeplastida.
Greenhouse gas emissions of school lunches provided for children attending school nurseries: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Wall Claire J. , Pearce Jo
Published: July 2024

Background

Schools and early years settings provide an opportunity to promote healthy and sustainable food, but standards and guidance in England focus predominantly on nutritional quality. The present study estimated greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) of school lunches provided for children attending school nurseries, including comparison between meal options.

Methods

Menus, recipes and portion weights for lunches provided for 3–4‐year‐old children attending nine school nurseries were collected daily for one week. GHGE for each food and recipe were calculated using Foodprint functionality of Nutritics software. GHGE were calculated for each menu option (main, vegetarian, jacket potato and sandwich) provided in each school, and for meals with and without meat/fish.

Results

In total, 161 lunches including 273 foods were analysed. Median GHGE across all meals was 0.53 kgCO2e (i.e. kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent) per portion, with significantly higher GHGE associated with main meals (0.71 kgCO2e per portion) compared to all other meal types (0.43–0.50 kgCO2e per portion; p < 0.001) which remained after adjustment for meal size and energy density. Red meat‐based meals were highest in GHGE (median 0.98 kgCO2e per portion and 0.34 kgCO2e per 100 g) and meals containing any meat/fish were significantly higher in GHGE (median 0.58 kgCO2e per portion) than vegetarian meals (median 0.49 kgCO2e per portion) (p = 0.014). Meals with higher adherence to the nutrient framework underpinning the early years guidelines had significantly higher GHGE than meals with lower adherence (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The results were comparable to previous estimates of school lunch GHGE and highlight variation by meal option. Consideration of GHGE alongside the nutritional quality of lunches by caterers could support provision of healthy and sustainable lunches.
Oral size perception and texture preferences for particle‐containing foods in children aged 5–12
Authors: Chow Ching Yue , Bech Anne C. , Olsen Annemarie , Keast Russell , Russell Catherine G. , Bredie Wender L. P.
Published: July 2024

Foods containing bits and pieces are often less liked by children; however, there is a limited understanding of how perceptions and preferences for foods with particles change during childhood. This study aimed to investigate preferences and perceptions of particle‐containing foods in children aged 5–12 years. Children (n = 485) completed a forced‐choice questionnaire on drawings of six pairs of foods, each available with or without particles. Additionally, children tasted yogurts added with muesli differing in particle size (median diameter: 3.9 or 7.5 mm) and evaluated their perception of particle size in mouth and their liking. The questionnaire results showed that children had a clear preference for foods without particles. The average probability of choosing the ‘with‐particle’ foods was 28%, significantly below the midpoint of 50% (p < .0001). Preferences for particle‐containing foods were lowest at age six and increased significantly with age (p = .0007). In the taste test, muesli particle size affected oral size perception (p < .0001) but not liking (p = .60). Older children were better able to differentiate particle size than younger children. However, there was no relationship between individual preferences for particle‐containing foods and oral size perception of muesli particles. The observation that children's texture preferences changed with age highlights the role of increased experience in shaping preferences for foods with particles.
Which components of behavioral weight management programs are essential for weight loss in people living with obesity? A rapid review of systematic reviews
Authors: Hawkins Lily K. , Burns Lorna , Swancutt Dawn , Moghadam Shokraneh , Pinkney Jonathan , Tarrant Mark ,   The PROGROUP Programme Team
Published: July 2024

The optimal treatment and organization of care for people with obesity is one of the greatest challenges facing today's health services. While surgery and pharmacotherapy offer effective treatment options for some people with obesity, behavioral interventions are important to support long‐term behavioral change. However, little is known about the most effective components of behavioral interventions, and this is especially the case for people with complex or severe obesity (i.e. body mass index [BMI] > 35 kg/m2). Accordingly, the current rapid review aimed to identify which behavior change techniques (BCTs) are effective for weight loss in adults with (severe) obesity. A secondary aim was to review the effects of BCTs on dietary behaviors and physical activity, and psychological outcomes, recognizing that behavioral interventions commonly target these. A search of Scopus, Ovid Medline, and Web of Science resulted in 1227 results, with 22 reviews eligible for inclusion. The most commonly reported BCTs were self‐monitoring and goal setting, but these had variable effects on weight in adults with obesity. Combining these BCTs with other self‐regulatory techniques led to increased weight loss. Further, for adults with severe obesity, so‐called ‘nudge’ techniques and self‐regulatory techniques were associated with greater weight loss. Three reviews also found that while self‐monitoring increased physical activity, behavioral commitments increased changes to dietary behaviors. BCTs were not associated with psychological well‐being. The review confirms that behavioral interventions have an impact in weight management, including for individuals with more complex or severe obesity, but highlights the need for further investigation of their use within clinical settings.
Quantitative Analysis of Primary Compressive Trabeculae Distribution in the Proximal Femur of the Elderly
Authors: Xu Cheng , Li Hang , Zhang Chao , Ge Feng , He Qing , Chen Hua , Zhang Licheng , Bai Xuedong
Published: July 2024

Objective

As osteoporosis progresses, the primary compressive trabeculae (PCT) in the proximal femur remains preserved and is deemed the principal load‐bearing structure that links the femoral head with the femoral neck. This study aims to elucidate the distribution patterns of PCT within the proximal femur in the elderly population, and to assess its implications for the development and optimization of internal fixation devices used in hip fracture surgeries.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study conducted from March 2022 to April 2023. A total of 125 patients who underwent bilateral hip joint CT scans in our hospital were enrolled. CT data of the unaffected side of the hip were analyzed. Key parameters regarding the PCT distribution in the proximal femur were measured, including the femoral head's radius (R), the neck‐shaft angle (NSA), the angle between the PCT‐axis and the head–neck axis (α), the distance from the femoral head center to the PCT‐axis (δ), and the lengths of the PCT's bottom and top boundaries (L‐bottom and L‐top respectively). The impact of gender differences on PCT distribution patterns was also investigated. Student's t‐test or Mann–Whitney U test were used to compare continuous variables between genders. The relationship between various variables was investigated through Pearson's correlation analysis.

Results

PCT was the most prominent bone structure within the femoral head. The average NSA, α, and δ were 126.85 ± 5.85°, 37.33 ± 4.23°, and 0.39 ± 1.22 mm, respectively, showing no significant gender differences (p > 0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis revealed strong correlations between α and NSA (r = −0.689, p < 0.001), and R and L‐top (r = 0.623, p < 0.001), with mild correlations observed between δ and NSA (r = −0.487, p < 0.001), and R and L‐bottom (r = 0.427, p < 0.001). Importantly, our study establishes a method to accurately localize PCT distribution in true anteroposterior (AP) radiographs of the hip joint, facilitating precise screw placement in proximal femur fixation procedures.

Conclusion

Our study provided unprecedented insights into the distribution patterns of PCT in the proximal femur of the elderly population. The distribution of PCT in the proximal femur is predominantly influenced by anatomical and geometric factors, such as NSA and femoral head size, rather than demographic factors like gender. These insights have crucial implications for the design of internal fixation devices and surgical planning, offering objective guidance for the placement of screws in hip fracture treatments.
Does Patellar Denervation with Electrocautery Benefits for Total Knee Arthroplasty without Patellar Resurfacing: A Meta‐analysis of Randomized Controlled Trails
Authors: Zhou Xiang , Jiang Yulin , Chen Debin , Chen Tao , Tian Zhiyong
Published: July 2024

To investigate the effects of patellar denervation (PD) and non‐patellar denervation (NPD) after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) without patellar resurfacing, this study conducted systematic electronic searches in November 2023 using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus, adhering to Cochrane Collaboration recommendations. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Additionally, a manual search was performed to identify potentially eligible studies from the reference lists of review articles. Two researchers independently conducted literature reviews, data extraction, and risk of bias assessments. The outcome analysis encompassed the incidence of anterior knee pain (AKP), visual analogue scale (VAS), range of motion (ROM), American Knee Society Score (KSS), Oxford Knee Score (OKS), patellar score (PS), complications, and reoperations. Meta‐analysis was executed using RevMan 5.3 software. To enhance the credibility of the study, TSA v0.9 software was utilized to perform power analysis on the overall efficacy of primary and secondary outcomes. Twelve studies involving 1745 patients (1587 knees) were included, with 852 undergoing PD and 893 undergoing NPD. Results indicated a superior reduction in AKP incidence in the PD group compared to the NPD group. Statistically significant differences were observed between PD and NPD in KSS, OKS, and PS. However, the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval for each outcome fell below the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). No significant differences were found in VAS and ROM between PD and NPD. Additionally, PD was not associated with an increased incidence of complications or reoperations. Within 12 months and beyond, PD was proven to be a beneficial intervention in reducing AKP following TKA without patellar resurfacing, achieved without an increase in complications or reoperations. Regarding KSS, OKS, and PS, the minimal advantage achievable through PD may not be clinically significant.
Genetic and functional traits limit the success of colonisation by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a tomato wild relative
Authors: Chialva Matteo , Stelluti Stefania , Novero Mara , Masson Simon , Bonfante Paola , Lanfranco Luisa
Published: July 2024

To understand whether domestication had an impact on susceptibility and responsiveness to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), we investigated two tomato cultivars (“M82” and “Moneymaker”) and a panel of wild relatives including S. neorickii, S. habrochaites and S. pennellii encompassing the whole Lycopersicon clade. Most genotypes revealed good AM colonisation levels when inoculated with the AMF Funneliformis mosseae. By contrast, both S. pennellii accessions analysed showed a very low colonisation, but with normal arbuscule morphology, and a negative response in terms of root and shoot biomass. This behaviour was independent of fungal identity and environmental conditions. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed in S. pennellii the lack of genes identified within QTLs for AM colonisation, a limited transcriptional reprogramming upon mycorrhization and a differential regulation of strigolactones and AM‐related genes compared to tomato. Donor plants experiments indicated that the AMF could represent a cost for S. pennellii: F. mosseae could extensively colonise the root only when it was part of a mycorrhizal network, but a higher mycorrhization led to a higher inhibition of plant growth. These results suggest that genetics and functional traits of S. pennellii are responsible for the limited extent of AMF colonisation.
ADGEO: A new shore‐based approach to improving spatial accuracy when mapping water bodies using low‐cost drones
Authors: Essel Bernard , Bolger Michael , McDonald John , Cahalane Conor
Published: July 2024

Over the last three decades, satellite imagery has been instrumental in mapping and monitoring water quality. However, satellites often have limitations due to image availability and cloud cover. Today, the spatial resolution of satellite images does not provide finer detail measurements essential for small‐scale water pollution management. Drones offer a complimentary platform capable of operating below cloud cover and acquiring very high spatial resolution datasets in near real‐time. Studies have shown that drone mapping over water can be done via the Direct Georeferencing approach. However, this method is only suitable for high‐end drones with accurate GNSS/IMU. Importantly, this limitation is exacerbated because of the difficulty in placing targets over water, which can be used to improve the accuracy after the survey. This study explored a new method called Assisted Direct Georeferencing which combines the benefits of traditional Bundle Adjustment with Direct Georeferencing. The performance of the approach was evaluated over a variety of different scenarios, demonstrating significant improvement in the planimetric accuracy. From the results, the method reduced the error in XY of drone imagery from MAE of 18.9 to 3.4 m. The result shows the potential of low‐cost drones with Assisted Direct Georeferencing in closing the gap to high‐end drones.
A simple approach to dealing with partial contestation
Authors: Kagalwala Ali , Moreira Thiago M. Q. , Whitten Guy D.
Published: July 2024

Objective

We propose a simple approach to dealing with partial contestation in models of multiparty elections.

Methods

Our proposed approach is to add a tiny value to the vote share of parties that do not contest a district and then to include dummy variables identifying those districts in which parties do not compete. We can then estimate a single system of equations using a seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) approach and Aitchison's log‐ratio transformation. In our SUR system, we interact the dummy variable for a party that partially contested districts with other predictors in the equation that uses the share of votes of the same party in the log‐ratio outcome. Finally, we estimate robust standard errors for predictors in this equation to address heteroscedasticity.

Results

We demonstrate the utility of our approach using simulated data and election results from the English parliamentary elections in 2017.

Conclusion

From our simulations, we find that our recommended approach performs as well as that proposed by Tom, Tucker, and Wittenberg. Our strategy is advantageous in that it is easy to estimate, uses information from all districts, and addresses partial contestation in real‐world elections with a single system of seemingly unrelated regressions.
Race differences in support for anti‐racism policies: Endorsements of anti‐black and anti‐white stereotypes
Authors: Silver Eric , Iceland John , Goff Kerby
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Support for anti‐racism policies such as mandatory diversity training and affirmative action varies by race. Research in the racial resentment and symbolic racism traditions focuses on whites’ endorsements of stereotypes that blame blacks for their unequal position in society, causing whites to be less supportive of anti‐racism policies. Systemic racism theory suggests an additional hypothesis: People who believe whites are not doing enough to dismantle the systemically racist system that disadvantages blacks and other groups should be more supportive of anti‐racism policies.

Methods

We examine both hypotheses using data from a national YouGov survey of 1125 U.S. adults gathered in 2021.

Results

Race differences in support for anti‐racism policies are accounted for by race differences in endorsements of both anti‐black and anti‐white stereotypes.

Conclusion

Future studies of support for anti‐racism policies should consider the influence of both anti‐black and anti‐white stereotypes.
Deep Learning-Based Multifidelity Surrogate Modeling for High-Dimensional Reliability Prediction
Authors: Shi Luojie , Pan Baisong , Chen Weile , Wang Zequn
Published: July 2024

Multifidelity surrogate modeling offers a cost-effective approach to reducing extensive evaluations of expensive physics-based simulations for reliability prediction. However, considering spatial uncertainties in multifidelity surrogate modeling remains extremely challenging due to the curse of dimensionality. To address this challenge, this paper introduces a deep learning-based multifidelity surrogate modeling approach that fuses multifidelity datasets for high-dimensional reliability analysis of complex structures. It first involves a heterogeneous dimension transformation approach to bridge the gap in terms of input format between the low-fidelity and high-fidelity domains. Then, an explainable deep convolutional dimension-reduction network (ConvDR) is proposed to effectively reduce the dimensionality of the structural reliability problems. To obtain a meaningful low-dimensional space, a new knowledge reasoning-based loss regularization mechanism is integrated with the covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy (CMA-ES) to encourage an unbiased linear pattern in the latent space for reliability prediction. Then, the high-fidelity data can be utilized for bias modeling using Gaussian process (GP) regression. Finally, Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) is employed for the propagation of high-dimensional spatial uncertainties. Two structural examples are utilized to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Collective acoustic modes of a bubble plume
Authors: Skvortsov Alexei T. , MacGillivray Ian R. , Moore Stephen , Manasseh Richard , Kocan Martin
Published: July 2024

We derive a simple formula for the lowest natural frequencies of an infinitely long bubble plume with arbitrary cross section. Expressions are derived in terms of bubble volume fraction and equivalent radius of the plume, and a criterion for the existence of collective modes is established. For the plume with the circular cross section, our analytical approach is validated with the results of previous studies and numerical solution.
Evaluating the Validity of Tests to Predict Sprint and Change of Direction Speed in Para-Athletes With Brain Impairments
Authors: Reina Raul , Beckman Emma M. , Connick Mark J. , Spathis Jemima G. , Tweedy Sean M.
Published: July 2024

Maximum running speed is a performance determinant in para-athletics and cerebral palsy football. Sixty international para-athletes with brain impairments completed five activity-limitation tests (standing broad jump, four bounds for distance, split jumps, 10-m speed skip, and running in place) and two criterion tests (40-m sprint and modified agility test). The same three tests (standing broad jump, four bounds for distance, and 10-m speed skip) that correlated with running performance in nondisabled runners (.67 < r < −.82; p < .05; 75% of variance) also correlated in para-athletes with brain impairments (.41 < r <  −.62; p < .01; 55% of variance). Standing broad jump, four bounds for distance, split jumps, and running in place also correlated with change-of-direction speed (.43 < r <  −.63; p < .01; 58% of variance). Results indicate that methods of classification for para-athletics with nondisabled runners are also valid with para-athletes with brain impairments, and new sport-specific relationships were found for assessing the performance of rapid and short sprints toward different directions, specific of a team para-sport like cerebral palsy football.
Detection of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria from commercial tattoo and permanent makeup inks
Authors: Yoon Sunghyun , Kondakala Sandeep , Foley Steven L. , Moon Mi Sun , Huang Mei-Chiung Jo , Periz Goran , Zang Janet , Katz Linda M. , Kim Seong-Jae , Kweon Ohgew
Published: July 2024

Tattooing and use of permanent makeup (PMU) have dramatically increased over the last decade, with a concomitant increase in ink-related infections. Studies have shown evidence that commercial tattoo and PMU inks are frequently contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms. Considering that tattoo inks are placed into the dermal layer of the skin where anaerobic bacteria can thrive and cause infections in low-oxygen environments, the prevalence of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria should be assessed in tattoo and PMU inks. In this study, we tested 75 tattoo and PMU inks using the analytical methods described in the FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual Chapter 23 for the detection of both aerobic and anaerobic bacterial contamination, followed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing for microbial identification. Of 75 ink samples, we found 26 contaminated samples with 34 bacterial isolates taxonomically classified into 14 genera and 22 species. Among the 34 bacterial isolates, 19 were identified as possibly pathogenic bacterial strains. Two species, namely
Cutibacterium acnes
(four strains) and
Staphylococcus epidermidis
(two strains) were isolated under anaerobic conditions. Two possibly pathogenic bacterial strains,
Staphylococcus saprophyticus
and
C. acnes
, were isolated together from the same ink samples (
n
= 2), indicating that tattoo and PMU inks can contain both aerobic (
S. saprophyticus
) and anaerobic bacteria (
C. acnes
). No significant association was found between sterility claims on the ink label and the absence of bacterial contamination. The results indicate that tattoo and PMU inks can also contain anaerobic bacteria.

IMPORTANCE

The rising popularity of tattooing and permanent makeup (PMU) has led to increased reports of ink-related infections. This study is the first to investigate the presence of both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in commercial tattoo and PMU inks under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Our findings reveal that unopened and sealed tattoo inks can harbor anaerobic bacteria, known to thrive in low-oxygen environments, such as the dermal layer of the skin, alongside aerobic bacteria. This suggests that contaminated tattoo inks could be a source of infection from both types of bacteria. The results emphasize the importance of monitoring these products for both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, including possibly pathogenic microorganisms.
Development of a broad-spectrum therapeutic Fc-nanobody for human noroviruses
Authors: Hansman Grant S. , Kher Gargi , Svirina Anna D. , Tame Jeremy R. H. , Hartley-Tassell Lauren , Irie Hiro , Haselhorst Thomas , von Itzstein Mark , Rudd Penny A. , Pancera Marie
Published: July 2024

Human norovirus was discovered more than five decades ago and is a widespread cause of outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis. There are no approved vaccines or antivirals currently available. However, norovirus inhibitors, including capsid-specific monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) and nanobodies, have recently shown promising results. Several Mabs and nanobodies were found to inhibit norovirus replication using a human intestinal enteroid (HIE) culture system and/or could block norovirus attachment to histo-blood group antigen (HBGA) co-factors. In our pursuit to develop a single broad-spectrum norovirus therapeutic, we continued our analysis and development of a cross-reactive and HBGA interfering nanobody (NB26). To improve NB26 binding capacity and therapeutic potential, we conjugated NB26 onto a human IgG Fc domain (Fc-NB26). We confirmed that Fc-NB26 cross-reacts with genetically diverse GII genotype capsid protruding (P) domains (GII.8, GII.14, GII.17, GII.24, GII.26, and GII.NA1) using a direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Furthermore, X-ray crystallography structures of these P domains and structures of other GII genotypes reveal that the NB26 binding site is largely conserved, validating its broad reactivity. We showed that Fc-NB26 has ~100-fold higher affinity toward the norovirus P domain compared to native NB26. We also found that both NB26 and Fc-NB26 neutralize human norovirus replication in the HIE culture system. Furthermore, the mode of inhibition confirmed that like NB26, Fc-NB26 caused norovirus particle disassembly and aggregation. Overall, these new findings demonstrate that structural modifications to nanobodies can improve their therapeutic potential.

IMPORTANCE

Developing vaccines and antivirals against norovirus remains a challenge, mainly due to the constant genetic and antigenic evolution. Moreover, re-infection with genetically related and/or antigenic variants is not uncommon. We further developed our leading norovirus nanobody (NB26) that indirectly interfered with norovirus binding to HBGAs, by converting NB26 into a dimeric Fc-linked Nanobody (Fc-NB26). We found that Fc-NB26 had improved binding affinity and neutralization capacity compared with native NB26. Using X-ray crystallography, we showed this nanobody engaged highly conserved capsid residues among genetically diverse noroviruses. Development of such broadly reactive potent therapeutic nanobodies delivered as a slow-releasing prophylactic could be of exceptional value for norovirus outbreaks, especially for the prevention or treatment of severe acute gastroenteritis in high-risk groups such as the young, elderly, and immunocompromised.
Phenotype-driven assessment of the ancestral trajectory of sulfur biooxidation in the thermoacidophilic archaea Sulfolobaceae
Authors: Willard Daniel J. , H. Manesh Mohamad J. , Bing Ryan G. , Alexander Benjamin H. , Kelly Robert M.
Published: July 2024

Certain members of the family Sulfolobaceae represent the only archaea known to oxidize elemental sulfur, and their evolutionary history provides a framework to understand the development of chemolithotrophic growth by sulfur oxidation. Here, we evaluate the sulfur oxidation phenotype of Sulfolobaceae species and leverage comparative genomic and transcriptomic analysis to identify the key genes linked to sulfur oxidation. Metabolic engineering of the obligate heterotroph
Sulfolobus acidocaldarius
revealed that the known cytoplasmic components of sulfur oxidation alone are not sufficient to drive prolific sulfur oxidation. Imaging analysis showed that Sulfolobaceae species maintain proximity to the sulfur surface but do not necessarily contact the substrate directly. This indicates that a soluble form of sulfur must be transported to initiate cytoplasmic sulfur oxidation. Conservation patterns and transcriptomic response implicate an extracellular tetrathionate hydrolase and putative thiosulfate transporter in a newly proposed mechanism of sulfur acquisition in the Sulfolobaceae.

IMPORTANCE

Sulfur is one of the most abundant elements on earth (2.9% by mass), so it makes sense that the earliest biology found a way to use sulfur to create and sustain life. However, beyond evolutionary significance, sulfur and the molecules it comprises have important technological significance, not only in chemicals such as sulfuric acid and in pyritic ores containing critical metals but also as a waste product from oil and gas production. The thermoacidophilic Sulfolobaceae are unique among the archaea as sulfur oxidizers. The trajectory for how sulfur biooxidation arose and evolved can be traced using experimental and bioinformatic analyses of the available genomic data set. Such analysis can also inform the process by which extracellular sulfur is acquired and transported by thermoacidophilic archaea, a phenomenon that is critical to these microorganisms but has yet to be elucidated.
Colletotrichum fructicola
co-opts cytotoxic ribonucleases that antagonize host competitive microorganisms to promote infection
Authors: Wang Chunhao , Han Mengqing , Min Yanyan , Hu Jiayi , Pan Yuemin , Huang Lili , Nie Jiajun
Published: July 2024

Phytopathogens secrete numerous molecules into the environment to establish a microbial niche and facilitate host infection. The phytopathogenic fungus
Colletotrichum fructicola,
which causes pear anthracnose, can colonize different plant tissues like leaves and fruits, which are occupied by a diversity of microbes. We speculate that this fungus produces antimicrobial effectors to outcompete host-associated competitive microorganisms. Herein, we identified two secreted ribonucleases, CfRibo1 and CfRibo2, from the
C. fructicola
secretome. The two ribonucleases both possess ribonuclease activity and showed cytotoxicity in
Nicotianan benthamiana
without triggering immunity in an enzymatic activity-dependent manner. CfRibo1 and CfRibo2 recombinant proteins exhibited toxicity against
Escherichia coli
,
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
, and, importantly, the phyllosphere microorganisms isolated from the pear host. Among these isolated microbial strains,
Bacillus altitudinis
is a pathogenic bacterium causing pear soft rot. Strikingly, CfRibo1 and CfRibo2 were found to directly antagonize
B. altitudinis
to facilitate
C. fructicola
infection. More importantly, CfRibo1 and CfRibo2 functioned as essential virulence factors of
C. fructicola
in the presence of host-associated microorganisms. Further analysis revealed these two ribonucleases are widely distributed in fungi and are undergoing purifying selection. Our results provide the first evidence of antimicrobial effectors in
Colletotrichum
fungi and extend the functional diversity of fungal ribonucleases in plant-pest-environment interactions.

IMPORTANCE

Colletotrichum fructicola
is emerging as a devastating pathogenic fungus causing anthracnose in various crops in agriculture, and understanding how this fungus establishes successful infection is of great significance for anthracnose disease management. Fungi are known to produce secreted effectors as weapons to promote virulence. Considerable progress has been made in elucidating how effectors manipulate plant immunity; however, their importance in modulating environmental microbes is frequently neglected. The present study identified two secreted ribonucleases, CfRibo1 and CfRibo2, as antimicrobial effectors of
C. fructicola
. These two proteins both possess toxicity to pear phyllosphere microorganisms, and they efficiently antagonize competitive microbes to facilitate the infection of pear hosts. This study represents the first evidence of antimicrobial effectors in
Colletotrichum
fungi, and we consider that CfRibo1 and CfRibo2 could be targeted for anthracnose disease management in diverse crops in the future.
Genome sequence of
Methylobacterium fujisawaense
strain C14, isolated from concrete
Authors: Kiledal E. Anders , Moxley Iz , Shevchenko Olga , Goff Jennifer L. , Maresca Julia A.
Published: July 2024

Methylobacterium fujisawaense
strain C14 was isolated from a weathered concrete cylinder. Using PacBio sequencing, we generated a complete genome for strain C14, which includes one circular chromosome (6,656,731 bp) and six putative plasmids (35,452 to 85,428 bp).