bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“There is nothing to protect us from dying”: Black women's perceived sense of safety accessing pregnancy and intrapartum care
Authors: Boakye Priscilla N. , Prendergast Nadia
Published: March 2024

Pregnancy and childbirth have become a dangerous journey for Black women as harrowing stories of death and near‐death experiences resonate within Black communities. While the causes of pregnancy‐related morbidity and mortality are well documented, little is known about how Black Canadian women feel protected from undesirable maternal health outcomes when accessing and receiving pregnancy and intrapartum care. This critical qualitative inquiry sheds light on Black women's perceived sense of safety in accessing pregnancy and intrapartum care. Twenty‐four in‐depth interviews were conducted with Black women who were pregnant or had given birth. Five interconnected themes were generated through thematic analysis: (1) There is a lot of prejudice towards us, (2) We are treated as sick bodies, (3) There is a lot of stereotypes towards us, (4) Our care is lacking in quality, and (5) We feel unsafe in the healthcare system. These themes highlight the perils faced by Black women accessing pregnancy and intrapartum care. The right to safe motherhood and equitable care for Black women should be a national priority in Canada to avert a looming crisis.
Comparison of the Skindex‐Teen and the Skindex‐29 quality of life survey instruments in a predominantly American Indian adolescent population
Authors: Pascual Micah G. , Schmiege Sarah J. , Manson Spero M. , Kohn Lucinda L.
Published: March 2024

Background/Objectives

The Skindex‐29 and Skindex‐Teen assess dermatology‐related quality of life among adults and adolescents, respectively. This study directly compared the same adolescents' responses to the Skindex‐29 relative to Skindex‐Teen in a predominantly American Indian and/or Alaska Native population. This population is underrepresented in medical research. Although skin‐related quality‐of‐life issues are widespread, American Indian and/or Alaska Native adolescents are not well‐represented in related studies.

Methods

Data were collected in‐person by self‐report survey at two regional powwows in Denver, Colorado in 2021 and 2022. Respondents completed the full Skindex‐29 and Skindex‐Teen (40 unique items total).

Results

Eighty‐six adolescents, 12–17 years old, completed the survey. The majority (70.9%, 61/86) of respondents self‐identified as American Indian and/or Alaska Native. Analyses were conducted with all respondent survey data. Nearly two‐thirds (64.0%, 55/86) of our respondents had a Skindex‐29 score that revealed their quality of life was impaired at least mildly by skin disease. The Skindex‐29 and Skindex‐Teen demonstrated good reliability; there was substantial concordance between responses to the two measures (r values ranged from 0.88 to 0.97 for similar subscales). Compared to younger adolescents (aged 12–14), older adolescents (aged 15–17) reported worse dermatology‐related quality of life and emotional toll based on higher Skindex‐29 total, Skindex‐Teen total, Skindex‐29 Emotional subscale, and Skindex‐Teen Psychosocial Functioning subscale scores.

Conclusions

American Indian and/or Alaska Native adolescents suffer from skin‐related quality‐of‐life issues. The Skindex‐Teen and Skindex‐29 generated similar information regarding quality of life in young patients with skin disease. While the Skindex‐Teen may be slightly more relevant to adolescents, these surveys were highly concordant. Both the Skindex‐Teen and Skindex‐29 exhibited frequent “never” responses to questions about impact of skin conditions on relationships with others and tendencies to stay home. Thus, careful attention should be paid to such questions to ensure their relevance to adolescents.
Community testing practices for autism within the autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network
Authors: Robinson Williams Ashley , Amoakohene Esther , Maenner Matthew J. , Zahorodny Walter , DiRienzo Monica , Grzybowski Andrea , Hall‐Lande Jennifer , Pas Elise T. , Bakian Amanda V. , Lopez Maya , Patrick Mary , Shenouda Josephine , Shaw Kelly A.
Published: March 2024

Background

No data exist at the population level on what tests are used to aid in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in community practice.

Objectives

To describe autism spectrum disorder testing practices to inform autism spectrum disorder identification efforts.

Methods

Data are from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, a multi‐site surveillance system reporting prevalence estimates and characteristics of 8‐year‐old children with autism spectrum disorder. Percentages of children with autism spectrum disorder who received any autism spectrum disorder test or a ‘gold standard’ test were calculated by site, sex, race, median household income, and intellectual ability status. Risk ratios were calculated to compare group differences.

Results

Of 5058 8‐year‐old children with autism spectrum disorder across 11 sites, 3236 (64.0%) had a record of any autism spectrum disorder test and 2136 (42.2%) had a ‘gold standard’ ADOS or ADI‐R test. Overall, 115 children (2.3%) had both the ADOS and ADI‐R in their records. Differences persisted across race, median household income, and intellectual ability status. Asian/Pacific Islander children had the highest percent receiving any ASD test (71.8%; other groups range: 57.4–66.0%) and White children had the highest percent receiving ‘gold standard’ tests (46.4%; other groups range: 35.6–43.2%). Children in low‐income neighbourhoods had a lower percent of any test (62.5%) and ‘gold standard’ tests (39.4%) compared to medium (70.2% and 47.5%, respectively) and high (69.6% and 46.8%, respectively) income neighbourhoods. Children with intellectual disability had a lower percent of any ASD test (81.7%) and ‘gold standard’ tests (52.6%) compared to children without intellectual disability (84.0% and 57.6%, respectively).

Conclusions

Autism spectrum disorder testing practices vary widely by site and differ by race and presence of co‐occurring intellectual disability, suggesting opportunities to standardise and/or improve autism spectrum disorder identification practices.
Automated, administrative decision‐making and good governance: Synergies, trade‐offs, and limits
Authors: Roehl Ulrik B. U. , Hansen Morten Balle
Published: March 2024

Automated, administrative decision‐making (AADM) is a key component in digital government reforms. It represents an aspiration for a better and more efficient administration but also presents challenges to values of public administration. We systematically review the emerging literature on use of AADM from the perspective of good governance. Recognizing the inherent tensions of values of public administration, the broad review identifies key synergies, trade‐offs, and limits of AADM and good governance associated with nine values: Accountability, efficiency, equality, fairness, resilience, responsiveness, right‐to‐privacy, rule‐of‐law, and transparency. While synergies represent “low‐hanging fruits”, trade‐offs and limits are “hard cases” representing challenges to good governance. Taking the specific decision‐making context into account, practitioners and scholars should attempt to nurture the “fruits” and lessen the tensions of the “hard‐cases” thereby increasing the desirable societal outcomes of use of AADM.
Explaining the longitudinal dynamics of international collaboration in disaster recovery: Friends, partners, or foes?
Authors: Kolpakov Aleksey , Sapat Alka , Esnard Ann‐Margaret
Published: March 2024

Despite a concerted scholarly focus on collaborative management, there is scant research on the evolution of collaboration in international assistance networks. Questions remain on what explains the evolution of collaborative relationships in international assistance collaborative networks, and on the importance of trust, faith‐based status, and geographical homophily in predicting the development of international assistance collaborative networks over time. Similarly, how do organizations from different sectors collaborate over time in international assistance collaborative networks? To address these questions, we analyze the nature and evolution of collaboration between international and local non‐governmental organizations (NGOs), faith‐based organizations (FBOs), and other organizations providing disaster recovery assistance before and after the 2010 Haiti earthquake in three time periods: before 2010, 2010–2012, and 2012–2015. Employing descriptive and inferential network methods, we find that knowledge‐based trust, geographical homophily, and the faith‐based status of organizations predict the development of collaborative relations in different periods of time.
Trade and labor market segregation in Colombia
Authors: Ederington Josh , Minier Jenny , Troske Kenneth R.
Published: March 2024

Gary Becker's theory of discrimination argues that increasing competition will reduce discrimination by reallocating market share to less discriminatory firms. We develop a simple model in which increased competition can also affect discrimination by affecting firm‐level hiring decisions. We use the 1984–1991 Colombian trade liberalization episode and plant‐level data to investigate this claim. We find that plants in industries that faced the greatest reductions in tariff protection increased the female share of their workforce more than plants in industries that saw little or no reduction in tariffs. In addition, we find that exporting plants tended to employ a higher share of female workers than non‐exporters did. In contrast, we find little evidence that trade liberalization drove discriminating plants from the market.
Root response and phosphorus acquisition under partial distribution of phosphorus and water‐soluble organic matter
Authors: Takahashi Yutaro , Katoh Masahiko
Published: March 2024

Understanding how phosphorus and water‐soluble organic matter (WSOM) from animal manure compost contribute to root development is essential for enhancing phosphorus utilization efficiency under their combined application. This study aims to determine mechanisms underlying root responses and phosphorus acquisition based on the partially varying available phosphorus levels in root zone soil following WSOM. The plant growth test was performed using a specifically designed pot where the root elongation was guided into the soil of different root compartments with either phosphorus combined with WSOM or single phosphorus or WSOM. The results revealed high levels of available phosphorus in the root zone soil of individual plants in the presence of WSOM induced small root weight. Phosphorus concentrations in the root exhibited a negative correlation with root weight. Improved root structure development even in the presence of WSOM induced to increase uptake of phosphorus and other nutrients in the plant. Furthermore, a positive linear relationship was observed between nutrient uptake and aboveground dry weight. These findings provide pioneering experimental evidence demonstrating that root development varies to some extent depending on the level of available phosphorus induced by the combined application of phosphorus and WSOM, even within the root zone soil of individual plants. Given that plant growth varied based on partial root development even when phosphorus and WSOM were combined, this study suggests that implementing appropriate phosphorus fertilizer application while considering the augmented availability of phosphorus via the combined application of animal manure compost can promote root development and nutrient uptake, resulting in improved plant growth.
Rh immune globulin immunoprophylaxis after RhD‐positive red cell exposure in RhD‐negative patients via transfusion: A survey of practices
Authors: Lu Wen , Stephens Laura , Shmookler Aaron , O'Brien Kerry , Karp Julie Katz , Hermelin Daniela , Bakhtary Sara , Almozain Nour , George Melissa , Fung Mark
Published: March 2024

Background

Current Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB) standards require transfusion services to have a policy on Rh immune globulin (RhIG) immunoprophylaxis for when RhD‐negative patients are exposed to RhD‐positive red cells. This is a survey of AABB‐accredited transfusion services in the United States (US) regarding institutional policies and practices on RhIG immunoprophylaxis after RhD‐negative patients receive RhD‐positive (i.e., RhD‐incompatible) packed red blood cell (pRBC) and platelet transfusions.

Results

Approximately half of the respondents (50.4%, 116/230) have policies on RhIG administration after RhD‐incompatible pRBC and platelet transfusions, while others had policies for only pRBC (13.5%, 31/230) or only platelet (17.8%, 41/230) transfusions, but not both. In contrast, 18.3% (42/230) report that their institution has no written policies on RhIG immunoprophylaxis after RhD‐incompatible transfusions. Most institutions (70.2%, 99/141) do not have policies addressing safety parameters to mitigate the risk of hemolysis associated with the high dose of RhIG required to prevent RhD alloimmunization after RhD‐incompatible pRBC transfusions.

Discussion

With approximately half of US AABB‐accredited institutions report having policies on RhIG immunoprophylaxis after both RhD‐incompatible pRBC and platelet transfusions, some institutions may not be in compliance with AABB standards. Further, most with policies on RhIG immunoprophylaxis after RhD‐incompatible pRBC transfusion do not have written safeguards to mitigate the risk of hemolysis associated with the high dose of RhIG required.

Conclusion

This survey underscores the diverse and inadequate institutional policies on RhIG immunoprophylaxis after RhD exposure in Rh‐negative patients via transfusion. This observation identifies an opportunity to improve transfusion safety.
The jaguar and the hummingbird: Photo‐ethnography of the walls in Comuna 13 of Medellin
Authors: Riga Claudio
Published: March 2024

This paper presents a study conducted in Comuna 13 of Medellín. The author delves into the history of Comuna 13 by giving voice to five images painted on public walls. Through these images, readers are provided with a deeper understanding of the neighborhood's history, collective memory, communal processes, changes, adaptations, and the political, economic, social, and cultural implications, including conflicts, disputes, and areas of ambiguity. Subsequently, the author analyzes the impact of those images on the daily lives of residents. By combining images and text, this paper aims to contribute to the field of graphic anthropology.
THE STATE OF PLAY: SYMBIOTIC CULTURE OF BACTERIA AND YEASTS (SCOBY) IN TEXTILE INDUSTRY
Authors: Adnan Azila , Sudin Anis Siti Noor Zulaikha
Published: March 2024

The fermentation of Kombucha tea produces SCOBY, or Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast, as a result of the interaction between bacteria and yeast. In order to fully explore the potential of employing this cellulose as a viable raw material in many applications of industry, numerous studies on the Kombucha SCOBY are now being done. According to studies, Zygosaccharomyces and Acetobacter xylinum are the most frequent bacteria found throughout the SCOBY fermentation process. At the air-liquid interface, these microorganisms help produce cellulose fibrils extracellularly, resulting in a biofilm. An overview of the favourable conditions for SCOBY manufacture is provided in more specific, as well as the aspects that may influence the product, and its suitability for textile and fashion sector applications is appraised. The advantages of this biofilm are being explored, including in several industries especially in textile and fashion industry. The microbial consortium's tea fermentation process was able to demonstrate an increase in specific biological activities that had previously been researched. However, there are some limitations in the applications of SCOBY in the textile that need to be highlighted. Thus, this review focuses on the SCOBY properties, challenges and potential available to make it feasible in textile industries.
A NOVEL ANALYTICAL SOLUTION OF MERKEL EQUATION FOR COUNTERFLOW COOLING TOWERS
Authors: Senawi Mohd. Yusoff
Published: March 2024

Accurate performance analysis of direct-contact air-water counterflow cooling towers is important in practice for energy conservation and cost savings purposes. In general, accurate analysis can often be made using Merkel’s theory. However, a simple and accurate analytical solution of the Merkel equation is not yet available.  In this paper, a novel and accurate analytical solution is presented, obtained from direct integration of the Merkel equation. The new method gives excellent agreement when compared with the use of standard Merkel’s method when predicting the outlet water temperatures with maximum root-mean-square error of 0.2% for a practical range of operating conditions. The new method also predicts the outlet water temperatures for four experimental cooling towers with maximum root-mean-square error of 0.8%. A limited validation shows that the method is also applicable to performance analysis of an actual crossflow cooling tower. The new method is a valuable addition to the existing methods of solving the Merkel equation.
APPLICATION OF SPECIAL LIQUID FERTILIZER FROM ORGANIC WASTES TO PROMOTE GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF RED CHILLI PLANTS (CAPSICUM ANNUUM L.)NNUUM L.)
Authors: Abidin Akhmad Zainal , Steven Soen , Rambe Sumriamin , Matin Alex , Yemensia Elsye Veradika , Sari Dian Anggria , Putra Ridwan P.
Published: March 2024

Zero waste management program (Masaro) offers a solution to process fruit, vegetable, and food waste. They were fermented at 32oC using two types of opaque plastic bioreactors with volumes of 60 L (first 14 days of fermentation) and 120 L (next 14 days of fermentation), respectively. The product of fermentation is a special liquid fertilizer. In this study, the fertilizer is applied to promote the growth and productivity of red chilli plants (Capsicum annuum L.) for 77 days. The macro and micronutrients in the fertilizer were analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The microorganisms and the amino acids therein were also characterized. The results inform that 5 mL/L of special liquid fertilizer signifies the average height increase and leaves area enlargement of the chilli plants. The presence of rhizobacteria in the fertilizer is responsible for promoting plant growth and enhancing plant productivity. In addition, this concentration of the fertilizer provides one week earlier of flowering and fruit production, with the highest number of chilli flowers and fruits reaching 28 and 19. Conclusively, the special liquid fertilizer has shown positive impacts on crop production and quality, with lower production costs. It is also effective, sustainable, eco-friendly, and can be applied in various agricultural sectors.
K3 surfaces of Kummer type in characteristic two
Authors: Dolgachev Igor V.
Published: March 2024

We discuss K3 surfaces in characteristic two that contain the Kummer configuration of smooth rational curves.
Pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide and nitric oxide after COVID‐19: A prospective cohort study (the SECURe study)
Authors: Lytzen Anna Agnes , Helt Thora Wesenberg , Christensen Jan , Lund Thomas Kromann , Kalhauge Anna , Rönsholt Frederikke Falkencrone , Podlekavera Daria , Arndal Elisabeth , Lebech Anne‐Mette , Hanel Birgitte , Katzenstein Terese L. , Berg Ronan M. G. , Mortensen Jann
Published: March 2024

Many patients exhibit persistently reduced pulmonary diffusing capacity after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). In this study, dual test gas diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide and nitric oxide (DL,CO,NO) metrics and their relationship to disease severity and physical performance were examined in patients who previously had COVID‐19. An initial cohort of 148 patients diagnosed with COVID‐19 of all severities between March 2020 and March 2021 had a DL,CO,NO measurement performed using the single‐breath method at 5.7 months follow‐up. All patients with at least one abnormal DL,CO,NO metric (n = 87) were revaluated at 12.5 months follow‐up. The DL,CO,NO was used to provide the pulmonary diffusing capacity for nitric oxide (DL,NO), the pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DL,CO,5s), the alveolar–capillary membrane diffusing capacity and the pulmonary capillary blood volume. At both 5.7 and 12.5 months, physical performance was assessed using a 30 s sit‐to‐stand test and the 6 min walk test. Approximately 60% of patients exhibited a severity‐dependent decline in at least one DL,CO,NO metric at 5.7 months follow‐up. At 12.5 months, both DL,NO and DL,CO,5s had returned towards normal but still remained abnormal in two‐thirds of the patients. Concurrently, improvements in physical performance were observed, but with no apparent relationship to any DL,CO,NO metric. The severity‐dependent decline in DL,NO and DL,CO observed at 5.7 months after COVID‐19 appears to be reduced consistently at 12.5 months follow‐up in the majority of patients, despite marked improvements in physical performance.
Bubble Interaction and Heat Transfer Characteristics of Microchannel Flow Boiling With Single and Multiple Cavities
Authors: Priy Akash , Ahmad Israr , Khan Mohd. Kaleem , Pathak Manabendra
Published: March 2024

Flow boiling in microchannels can effectively address the challenges of high power density heat dissipation in electronic devices. However, the intricate bubble dynamics during the two-phase flow in microchannel necessitates understanding the characteristics of complex bubble hydrodynamics. In this study, we perform 2D numerical simulations of flow boiling using the Cahn-Hilliard phase-field method for a 200-µm width microchannel with single and multiple cavities in COMSOL Multiphysics (V5.3). The numerical model successfully captures bubble dynamics, encompassing vapor embryo generation, bubble growth, departure, coalescence, sliding, and stable vapor plug formation. The heat transfer mechanism inside the microchannel is dominated by bubble nucleation and thin-film evaporation. Elevated wall superheats in a single nucleation cavity, and increased mass flux facilitates higher bubble departure frequency and heat transfer performance. Temporal pressure fluctuations are observed inside microchannels in multiple cavities due to bubble coalescence, departure, and subsequent nucleation. Increasing the nucleating cavities from 2 to 5 within the microchannel while maintaining consistent cavity spacing of 100 µm has resulted in nearly 32% enhancement in heat transfer performance. This study offers valuable findings that can help improve the thermal management of electronic devices.
ACERCA DE VOGT EN LOS ALTOS DE CHIAPAS Y OTRAS ETNOGRAFÍAS
Authors: Gómez-Pellón Eloy , Dietz Gunther
Published: March 2024

Cuando Julian Steward llegó al Bureau of American Ethnology, dependiente de la Smithsonian Institution, en los años cuarenta del siglo XX, se encontró con que existía un gran interés en el seno del mismo para que fueran llevados a cabo estudios en sociedades rurales, y especialmente en aquellas cuyo conocimiento resultaba útil a los Estados Unidos. Complementariamente, se encontró con apoyo y financiación para realizar tales investigaciones, tanto en el Caribe como en Centroamérica, Brasil y los Andes. El propio Steward llevó a cabo estudios en Puerto Rico entre 1946 y 1950, pero, al mismo tiempo, fue muy consciente de la importancia que tenía el estudio de las sociedades rurales de otras partes de América, e incluso de Asia y África. Sin embargo, también supo que, por encima de todas estas sociedades, las miras de la Smithsonian Institution estaban puestas en Latinoamérica, con una especial predilección por México, convertido en el laboratorio por excelencia de las ciencias sociales norteamericanas. Las sociedades tradicionales de México y Centroamérica resultaron de interés preferente para todos los científicos sociales, y más aún para los antropólogos. Entre estos investigadores estaba el propio Steward, pero también se hallaba Sol Tax, y otros muchos, como Robert Redfield, que se habían iniciado en el estudio de las sociedades tradicionales de México y Centroamérica tiempo atrás. A propósito, Tax tenía gran interés en hacer lo más efectiva posible la comparación intercultural, de cuya filosofía participaba también Steward, al objeto de establecer regularidades sobre los procesos de cambio de lo que ellos denominaban con el nombre de «sociedades campesinas».
“Everyone’s got a story”: Nursing and allied health students’ attitudes (interest, desire, and intent) to work with older adults on graduation
Authors: Holt Annie , Preston Robyn , Guggisberg Marika
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Our ageing population requires a highly skilled labour force to ensure the increasing needs of older adults within the health sector are responded to appropriately. Working with older adults can be very rewarding. However, for many university students, it is an unpopular career choice. This study aimed at assessing nursing and allied health students’ perceptions and attitudes along with their interests in working with older adults after graduation.
Methods: This study was part of a larger study conducted from July to December 2020. Five focus groups were conducted with 17 first-semester undergraduate students aged 19–43 years, two of whom were male. Semi-structured questions were conducted with thematic analysis to gain insight into interest in working with older adults on graduation.
Results: Results indicated that older adults were perceived on an age continuum that can be described as “young-old” to “old-old”, with age being “just a number” and that there are variations indicating heterogeneity among older adults. Participants discussed that older adults could be interesting to talk to and be a source of wisdom, using examples from their experiences with older relatives. Challenges of ageing were identified, including physical and cognitive decline, loneliness and financial constraints. A perception of stigma working in aged care along with little financial incentives was identified.
Conclusion: This study provides evidence that students require the opportunity to experience working with older adults in placements and given mentorship opportunities to work specifically with older adults. Further research is needed around scholarship of teaching and learning to address attitude- and stereotype-based positive change.
Treatment and aging studies of GaAs(111)B substrates for van der Waals chalcogenide film growth
Authors: Yu Mingyu , Wang Jiayang , Iddawela Sahani A. , McDonough Molly , Thompson Jessica L. , Sinnott Susan B. , Reifsnyder Hickey Danielle , Law Stephanie
Published: March 2024

GaAs(111)B are commercially available substrates widely used for the growth of van der Waals chalcogenide films. Wafer-scale, high-quality crystalline films can be deposited on GaAs(111)B substrates using molecular beam epitaxy. However, two obstacles persist in the use of GaAs(111)B: first, the surface dangling bonds make it challenging for the growth of van der Waals materials; second, the As-terminated surface is prone to aging in air. This study investigated a thermal treatment method for deoxidizing GaAs(111)B substrates while simultaneously passivating the surface dangling bonds with Se. By optimizing the treatment parameters, we obtained a flat and completely deoxidized platform for subsequent film growth, with highly reproducible operations. Furthermore, through first-principle calculations, we find that the most energetically favorable surface of GaAs(111)B after Se passivation consists of 25% As atoms and 75% Se atoms. Finally, we discovered that the common storage method using food-grade vacuum packaging cannot completely prevent substrate aging, and even after thermal treatment, aging still affects subsequent growth. Therefore, we recommend using N2-purged containers for better preservation.
Comparative acute toxicity of pesticides to tadpoles of a tropical anuran (Epipedobates anthonyi), a North American native anuran (Lithobates sphenocephalus) and a standard fish species
Authors: Weir Scott , Weltje Lennart
Published: March 2024

Global amphibian declines have the highest incidence in tropical regions, but most of the ecotoxicological data on amphibians is collected on temperate northern hemisphere anuran species. We tested the hypothesis that tropical anuran larvae (Epipedobates anthonyi) would be more sensitive to pesticides than a North American native species (Lithobates sphenocephalus). For 12 pesticides, 96-hr range-finding acute toxicity tests were conducted to determine if mortality occurred at environmentally relevant levels. Based on those studies, two substances were selected for additional time-to-event analyses in both species as well as median lethal concentration (LC50) calculations. Time-to-event results indicated that the two species appear to be roughly equivalent in their sensitivity to the two tested pesticides. Significant differences between species were not consistent across concentrations for either the insecticide terbufos or the herbicide pendimethalin. The utility of LC50 data was mixed with one LC50 providing an arbitrarily large standard error around the LC50 precluding informative comparisons across species. However, standard LC50 methods allowed data collection that continues to contribute to our understanding of the protectiveness of fish as surrogates for anuran larvae. While our data set is limited, it appears that testing temperate species would be protective for tropical species in ecological risk assessments. Our data also support the continued use of fish as surrogates for amphibian larvae as none of the species were more sensitive to the tested pesticides than rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), the standard sensitive fish species used for acute toxicity testing.
Dolphin short-term auditory fatigue and self-mitigation
Authors: Finneran James J. , Lally Katelin , Mulsow Jason , Houser Dorian S.
Published: March 2024

Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were measured at 57 kHz in two dolphins warned of an impending intense tone at 40 kHz. Over the course of testing, the duration of the intense tone was increased from 0.5 to 16 s to determine if changes in ABRs observed after cessation of the intense sound were the result of post-stimulatory auditory fatigue or conditioned hearing attenuation. One dolphin exhibited conditioned hearing attenuation after the warning sound preceding the intense sound, but little evidence of post-stimulatory fatigue after the intense sound. The second dolphin showed no conditioned attenuation before the intense sound, but auditory fatigue afterwards. The fatigue was observed within a few seconds after cessation of the intense tone: i.e., at time scales much shorter than those in previous studies of marine mammal noise-induced threshold shifts, which feature measurements on the order of a few minutes after exposure. The differences observed between the two individuals (less auditory fatigue in the dolphin that exhibited the conditioned attenuation) support the hypothesis that conditioned attenuation is a form of “self-mitigation.”
Finite difference-embedded UNet for solving transcranial ultrasound frequency-domain wavefield
Authors: Wang Linfeng , Li Jian , Chen Shili , Fan Zheng , Zeng Zhoumo , Liu Yang
Published: March 2024

Transcranial ultrasound imaging assumes a growing significance in the detection and monitoring of intracranial lesions and cerebral blood flow. Accurate solution of partial differential equation (PDE) is one of the prerequisites for obtaining transcranial ultrasound wavefields. Grid-based numerical solvers such as finite difference (FD) and finite element methods have limitations including high computational costs and discretization errors. Purely data-driven methods have relatively high demands on training datasets. The fact that physics-informed neural network can only target the same model limits its application. In addition, compared to time-domain approaches, frequency-domain solutions offer advantages of reducing computational complexity and enabling stable and accurate inversions. Therefore, we introduce a framework called FD-embedded UNet (FEUNet) for solving frequency-domain transcranial ultrasound wavefields. The PDE error is calculated using the optimal 9-point FD operator, and it is integrated with the data-driven error to jointly guide the network iterations. We showcase the effectiveness of this approach through experiments involving idealized skull and brain models. FEUNet demonstrates versatility in handling various input scenarios and excels in enhancing prediction accuracy, especially with limited datasets and noisy information. Finally, we provide an overview of the advantages, limitations, and potential avenues for future research in this study.
A cluster approach to rationalize shear thinning: Application to polymer solutions and suspension fluids
Authors: Wolf Bernhard A.
Published: March 2024

This paper calculates for liquid mixtures of high and low molecular weight components, how many solute molecules flow on the average conjointly. The application of the approach to solutions of poly(dimethyl siloxane) in its pentamer, to suspensions of gibbsite (Al(OH)3) in dimethyl sulfoxide, and to human blood testifies that the approach is applicable without restrictions regarding the chemical nature of the high molecular weight compound. The shear thinning of the systems under investigation can be understood in terms of a reduction of the shear-overlap parameter Σ, where the generalized intrinsic viscosity {η} constitutes the central property governing the composition and shear rate dependence of the viscosities. Furthermore, the present analysis demonstrates that intrinsic viscosities can be determined for all solutes and that they decrease with rising shear rates according to a Boltzmann sigmoid for the systems DMS5/PDMS and blood. The comparison of the hydrodynamic specific volumes of the solutes (i.e., of [η]) with the corresponding specific volumes in the pure state leads to the conclusion that solutes that cannot interpenetrate carry a considerable amount of solvent piggyback with them when flowing. In addition to the pure description of the observations, the approach was able to point to new phenomena, e.g., the solidification of the gibbsite suspensions beyond a characteristic solute concentration, which shifts to higher values with increasing shear rates. Because of its general nature, the present approach should become helpful, above all in the areas of technology (reactions in flowing systems) and health (rheology of blood).
Pre- Versus Postmeal Sedentary Duration—Impact on Postprandial Glucose in Older Adults With Overweight or Obesity
Authors: Chun Elizabeth , Gaynanova Irina , Melanson Edward L. , Lyden Kate
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Reducing sedentary time is associated with improved postprandial glucose regulation. However, it is not known if the timing of sedentary behavior (i.e., pre- vs. postmeal) differentially impacts postprandial glucose in older adults with overweight or obesity. Methods: In this secondary analysis, older adults (≥65 years) with overweight and obesity (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2) wore a continuous glucose monitor and a sedentary behavior monitor continuously in their real-world environments for four consecutive days on four separate occasions. Throughout each 4-day measurement period, participants followed a standardized eucaloric diet and recorded mealtimes in a diary. Glucose, sedentary behavior, and meal intake data were fused using sensor and diary timestamps. Mixed-effect linear regression models were used to evaluate the impact of sedentary timing relative to meal intake. Results: Premeal sedentary time was significantly associated with both the increase from premeal glucose to the postmeal peak (ΔG) and the percent of premeal glucose increase that was recovered 1-hr postmeal glucose peak (%Baseline Recovery; p < .05), with higher levels of premeal sedentary time leading to both a larger ΔG and a smaller %Baseline Recovery. Postmeal sedentary time was significantly associated with the time from meal intake to glucose peak (ΔT; p < .05), with higher levels of postmeal sedentary time leading to a longer time to peak. Conclusions: Pre- versus postmeal sedentary behavior differentially impacts postprandial glucose response in older adults with overweight or obesity, suggesting that the timing of sedentary behavior reductions might play an influential role on long-term glycemic control.
Normative Reference Centiles for Sprint Performance in High-Level Youth Soccer Players: The Need to Consider Biological Maturity
Authors: Ruf Ludwig , Altmann Stefan , Kloss Christian , Härtel Sascha
Published: March 2024

Purpose: To compute reference centiles for 5- and 30-m sprint times relative to chronological and skeletal age in youth soccer players. Subsequently, to compare individual’s sprint performance scores derived from the chronological and skeletal age reference centiles. Methods: Sprint times were collected for a sample of male U11 to U19 soccer players (n = 1745 data points). Skeletal age data were available for a subsample (n = 776 data points). Reference centiles were fitted using generalized additive models for location, scale, and shape. Individual z scores relative to chronological and skeletal age reference centiles were computed and compared for each maturity group (late, on-time, early, and very early) using standardized mean differences (SMD). Results: Reference centiles for chronological age increased more rapidly between 10.5 and 15.5 years, while reference centiles for skeletal age increased more rapidly between 13.0 and 16.5 years. Differences in chronological and skeletal z scores for very early (SMD: −0.73 to −0.43) and late (SMD: 0.58 to 1.29) maturing players were small to large, while differences for early (SMD: −0.30 to −0.19) and on-time (SMD: 0.16 to 0.28) were trivial to small. Conclusion: Reference centiles provide a valuable tool to assist the evaluation of sprint performance in relation to chronological and skeletal age for talent identification purposes in youth soccer players.
Carving Out Spaces of Resistance: Remembering Women’s Ski Jumping, Gendered Spaces, and Built Environments at Canada Olympic Park, 1987–2019
Authors: Mitchell Charlotte
Published: March 2024

This article examines the history of Canada Olympic Park (COP) as it transitioned from the Paskapoo Slopes to a venue for the Calgary 1988 Winter Olympic Games and how the site framed the fight for gender equality in the sport by women ski jumpers in Canada. Ski jumping is a sport that can be considered a “nature sport” as it is practiced in the open air while simultaneously relying on built environments. Understanding the COP ski jumping venue as a “sportscape” and a gendered landscape provides a unique opportunity to explore the tensions between land, air, and the body in this nature sport. Historical analysis of the XV Winter Olympic Games inventories held at the City of Calgary Archives is combined with autoethnographic reflections of my past experiences as a ski jumping athlete who trained at the COP ski jumping venue and plaintiff in the court case to get a women’s ski jumping event added to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games to frame my analysis. This paper argues that women ski jumpers at COP carved out spaces of resistance for themselves, shifted the gendered landscape of the ski jumps, and effected change across generations of women ski jumpers on and off the hill.
TisB protein is the single molecular determinant underlying multiple downstream effects of ofloxacin in
Escherichia
coli
Authors: Cayron Julien , Oms Thierry , Schlechtweg Tatjana , Zedek Safia , Van Melderen Laurence
Published: March 2024

Bactericidal antibiotics can cause metabolic perturbations that contribute to antibiotic-induced lethality. The molecular mechanism underlying these downstream effects remains unknown. Here, we show that ofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone that poisons DNA gyrase, induces a cascade of metabolic changes that are dependent on an active SOS response. We identified the SOS-regulated TisB protein as the unique molecular determinant responsible for cytoplasmic condensation, proton motive force dissipation, loss of pH homeostasis, and H
2
O
2
accumulation in
Escherichia coli
cells treated with high doses of ofloxacin. However, TisB is not required for high doses of ofloxacin to interfere with the function of DNA gyrase or the resulting rapid inhibition of DNA replication and lethal DNA damage. Overall, the study sheds light on the molecular mechanisms by which ofloxacin affects bacterial cells and highlights the role of the TisB protein in mediating these effects.
Surgical tumor–derived nanoplatform targets tumor-associated macrophage for personalized postsurgical cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Qiao Gongxi , Li Shenglin , Pan Xumin , Xie Ping , Peng Ruixi , Huang Xiangrong , He Mengyun , Jiang Jianhui , Chu Xia
Published: March 2024

Directly activating CD8
+
T cells within the tumor through antigen-presenting cells (APCs) hold promise for tumor elimination. However, M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), the most abundant APCs in tumors, hinder CD8
+
T cell activation due to inefficient antigen cross-presentation. Here, we demonstrated a personalized nanotherapeutic platform using surgical tumor–derived galactose ligand–modified cancer cell membrane (CM)–coated cysteine protease inhibitor (E64)–loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles for postsurgical cancer immunotherapy. The platform targeted M2-like TAMs and released E64 within lysosomes, which reshaped antigen cross-presentation and directly activated CD8
+
T cells, thus suppressing B16-OVA melanoma growth. Furthermore, this platform, in combination with anti–PD-L1 antibodies, enhanced the therapeutic efficacy and substantially inhibited 4T1 tumor growth. CMs obtained from surgically resected tumors were used to construct a personalized nanotherapeutic platform, which, in synergy with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), effectively inhibited postsurgical tumor recurrence in 4T1 tumor. Our work offered a robust, safe strategy for cancer immunotherapy and prevention of postsurgical tumor recurrence.
A different interpretation of the DIANA fMRI signal
Authors: Phi Van Valerie Doan , Sen Sajal , Jasanoff Alan
Published: March 2024

Direct detection of neural activity by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been a longstanding goal in neuroscience. A recent study argued that it is possible to detect neuroelectrical potentials using a specialized fMRI scanning approach the authors termed “direct imaging of neuronal activity” (DIANA). We implemented DIANA in anesthetized rats and measured responses to somatosensory stimulation, reproducing core findings of the original study. We show, however, that neural activity is neither sufficient nor necessary to produce such results. We use a combination of control conditions and simulations to demonstrate that DIANA signals can arise from nonideal aspects of the pulse sequence and specimen that help determine spatiotemporal characteristics of the data. Our analysis emphasizes a need for cautious interpretation and mechanistic evaluation of advanced fMRI techniques.
Virtual formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded staining of fresh brain tissue via stimulated Raman CycleGAN model
Authors: Liu Zhijie , Chen Lingchao , Cheng Haixia , Ao Jianpeng , Xiong Ji , Liu Xing , Chen Yaxin , Mao Ying , Ji Minbiao
Published: March 2024

Intraoperative histology is essential for surgical guidance and decision-making. However, frozen-sectioned hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining suffers from degraded accuracy, whereas the gold-standard formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) H&E is too lengthy for intraoperative use. Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy has shown rapid histology of brain tissue with lipid/protein contrast but is challenging to yield images identical to nucleic acid–/protein-based FFPE stains interpretable to pathologists. Here, we report the development of a semi-supervised stimulated Raman CycleGAN model to convert fresh-tissue SRS images to H&E stains using unpaired training data. Within 3 minutes, stimulated Raman virtual histology (SRVH) results that matched perfectly with true H&E could be generated. A blind validation indicated that board-certified neuropathologists are able to differentiate histologic subtypes of human glioma on SRVH but hardly on conventional SRS images. SRVH may provide intraoperative diagnosis superior to frozen H&E in both speed and accuracy, extendable to other types of solid tumors.
Glutamine antagonists may KEAP lung cancer in check
Authors: Blatt Eliot B. , DeBerardinis Ralph J.
Published: March 2024

The glutamine antagonist DRP-104 blocks purine synthesis and combines with checkpoint inhibitors to promote antitumor immunity in KEAP1/NRF2-mutant lung cancers.
Multiple sclerosis endophenotypes identified by high-dimensional blood signatures are associated with distinct disease trajectories
Authors: Gross Catharina C. , Schulte-Mecklenbeck Andreas , Steinberg Olga V. , Wirth Timo , Lauks Sarah , Bittner Stefan , Schindler Patrick , Baranzini Sergio E. , Groppa Sergiu , Bellmann-Strobl Judith , Bünger Nora , Chien Claudia , Dawin Eva , Eveslage Maria , Fleischer Vinzenz , Gonzalez-Escamilla Gabriel , Gisevius Barbara , Haas Jürgen , Kerschensteiner Martin , Kirstein Lucienne , Korsukewitz Catharina , Lohmann Lisa , Lünemann Jan D. , Luessi Felix , Meyer zu Hörste Gerd , Motte Jeremias , Ruck Tobias , Ruprecht Klemens , Schwab Nicholas , Steffen Falk , Meuth Sven G. , Paul Friedemann , Wildemann Brigitte , Kümpfel Tania , Gold Ralf , Hahn Tim , Zipp Frauke , Klotz Luisa , Wiendl Heinz ,   German Competence Network Multiple Sclerosis (KKNMS), Aktas Orhan , Ayzenberg Ilya , Bahn Erik , Bayas Antonios , Berger Klaus , Berthele Achim , Brück Wolfgang , Engel Sina , Friede Tim , Heesen Christoph , Hellwig Kerstin , Hemmer Bernhard , Kallmann Boris , Kleiter Ingo , Korn Thomas , Kowarik Markus , Linker Ralf , Lukas Carsten , Mäurer Mathias , Mühlau Mark , Nischwitz Sandra , Salmen Anke , Sauer Edda , Stadelmann-Nessler Christine , Then Bergh Florian , Trebst Corinna , Tumani Hayrettin , Warnke Clemens , Weber Martin S.
Published: March 2024

One of the biggest challenges in managing multiple sclerosis is the heterogeneity of clinical manifestations and progression trajectories. It still remains to be elucidated whether this heterogeneity is reflected by discrete immune signatures in the blood as a surrogate of disease pathophysiology. Accordingly, individualized treatment selection based on immunobiological principles is still not feasible. Using two independent multicentric longitudinal cohorts of patients with early multiple sclerosis (
n
= 309 discovery and
n
= 232 validation), we were able to identify three distinct peripheral blood immunological endophenotypes by a combination of high-dimensional flow cytometry and serum proteomics, followed by unsupervised clustering. Longitudinal clinical and paraclinical follow-up data collected for the cohorts revealed that these endophenotypes were associated with disease trajectories of inflammation versus early structural damage. Investigating the capacity of immunotherapies to normalize endophenotype-specific immune signatures revealed discrete effect sizes as illustrated by the limited effect of interferon-β on endophenotype 3–related immune signatures. Accordingly, patients who fell into endophenotype 3 subsequently treated with interferon-β exhibited higher disease progression and MRI activity over a 4-year follow-up compared with treatment with other therapies. We therefore propose that ascertaining a patient’s blood immune signature before immunomodulatory treatment initiation may facilitate prediction of clinical disease trajectories and enable personalized treatment decisions based on pathobiological principles.