bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The extreme Anthropogen of the Arctic: the formation of the Great Glacier, the emergence a man and the Arctic Ocean in the Early Holocene
Authors: Zhirnov Anatoly
Published: April 2023

The relevance of the article stems from the need to consider recent events in the Arctic in recent time, which are largely contradictory. The aim of the study is to show extreme environmental changes in the Arctic of anthropogenic nature, including the emergence of man and the Arctic Ocean in the Early Holocene. The territory of the Arctic was a landmass with high mountains, in the period preceding the Holocene, on which a large glacier formed 30-18 thousand years ago (Late Pleistocene). The glacier slid irrepressibly southward over great distances, where it covered vast areas of Europe and North America. In the years that followed, a dramatic warming and active melting of the glacier began. By the beginning of the Holocene, the glacier had melted, and a narrow strait of the Atlantic appeared at the foot of Greenland. Coniferous-deciduous forests, numerous rivers and the first human settlements appeared on the flat territory of the Arctic, and various animals – mammoths, horses, bulls - spread out. However, a major catastrophic event occurred by the middle of the Holocene (6.0 thousand years ago), after active volcanism in the Arctic: the collapse of the central part of the Arctic to a depth of about 5 km and the formation of the Central Arctic graben, associated with the appearance of a huge amount of endogenous water. There began a rapid movement of water on the flat parts of the Arctic and the formation of the modern huge, shallow (50-100 m) shelf - the Arctic Ocean. Many human settlements were flooded, animals escaped, in part, on high uplands. For example, huge animal cemeteries were preserved on the Novosibirsk Islands. A new cooling of the climate occurred 4 thousand years ago, and an ice sheet formed on the surface of the ocean, which led to the name of the North Glacial Ocean in Russia. Modern man began to explore the coastal territories of the Arctic shelf since the mid - Holocene, but active industrial development of the Arctic began in the 21st century.
Assessment of hunting pressure on Arctic-nesting shorebirds: first results from the Northeast of Russia
Authors: Klokov Konstantin , Gerasimov Yuri , Syroechkovskiy Eugene
Published: April 2023

Conservation of Arctic migratory birds is based on a holistic approach that considers all habitats of a species within its annual life cycle. Hunting for Arctic-nesting shorebirds in the Northeast of Russia can negatively impact Arctic shorebird populations, especially endangered species. The Arctic Migratory Bird Initiative (AMBI) program was initiated by CAFF in 2015 to improve the conservation status of declining of Arctic migratory bird populations. BirdsRussia began a project to assess hunting pressure on the Arctic shorebirds nesting in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway in 2019 in Kamchatka. This is the first project focused on estimating hunting pressure on Arctic shorebirds in Russia. Its methodology is based on an anonymous survey of hunters. The result showed that about 45,000 shorebirds were hunted per year in Kamchatka, of which 37,000 are Whimbrel, about 1,600 of large and medium-sized shorebirds other than Whimbrel, and about 6,000 small shorebirds of different species. Hunters often do not distinguish between different shorebird species, and by mistake they shoot many birds of protected species; in addition, they often shoot mixed flocks. Such shooting threatens the endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper and other protected shorebirds, such as the Far-Eastern Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit and others.
Effectiveness of the right to health and favorable environment in the Arctic regions
Authors: Markus Jean-Paul , Borisov Uolan
Published: April 2023

The main problem in the realization of the rights to a favorable environment, including in the Arctic regions, is the difficulty of establishing and proving the causal link between economic activity and damage to health. Modern scientific achievements make it possible to establish the connection between the micro-environment and health and, therefore, to provide indemnification of damage. But the causal link between degradation of macro environment and human health is less studied, which leads to complications in judicial practice.
Influence of the arctic climatic conditions of the Kola Peninsula on the reactivity of the sympathetic-adrenal and cardiovascular systems of junior high school children
Authors: Scherbina Fyodor , Shelkov Mikhail , Trotsenko Alla , Scherbina Anatoly , Volkova Tatyana , Zvyagintsev Peter
Published: April 2023

The growth and development of children aged 7-10 years takes place under conditions of continuous learning, and the level of fatigue increases by the end of the school year. Environmental factors of the Kola Peninsula play a special role here. the process of adaptation of the organism takes place in all age and gender groups. The most obvious is the reactivity of the cardiovascular and sympathetic-adrenal systems to physical load, which enhances the correlation links between indicators of the two active systems. It happens in the following way: by the end of the academic year, in all age and gender groups before the polar day, a proven shift of the observed indicators is recorded. The results obtained provide a comprehensive picture of age-related adaptation changes and increase in the level of fatigue in the arctic climate conditions of the Kola Peninsula. Examinations of children aged 7-10 years showed that age dynamics of cardiovascular and sympathoadrenal systems indicators is non-linear and significantly depends on specific parts of the academic year. This may be due to the periodicity of the polar night, namely, as the functional capabilities of particular systems tend to increase with age, certain indicators have a wave-like character of changes.
Strategies for Large Oil and Gas Companies Operating to Support Sustainable Development and Environmental Safety in the Russian Arctic
Authors: Bianco Ishel , Fadeev Alexei , Illinsky Alexander
Published: April 2023

IAs conventional oil and gas sources become less productive, unconventional hydrocarbon sources become more attractive due to new technologies and become the target of expanded exploration. Oil and gas development in the Arctic is challenging but promising, the largest reserves of Oil and Gas in the Arctic are on the Arctic Shelf in Russia. Most Arctic communities, especially indigenous communities, depend on fishing, hunting, and gathering, this requires the preservation of environmental health. In this article we tried to delineate a strategy for large oil and gas companies to diversify risk by proposing a form of social entrepreneurship that works for environmentally vulnerable regions with low infrastructure or skilled labor. With this framework, large oil and gas companies could effectively and reliably support smaller-scale enterprises preserving environmental health and creating an innovative business ecosystem that promotes a Arctic. Our model could also lead to local and indigenous entrepreneurship and a more equitable distribution of wealth in the Arctic.
Cable Ties: Poor Man's Top Closure System
Authors: Choudhary Aditya Narayan , Kumar Sanjeev
Published: April 2023

Scalp electrical burns unsuitable for primary closure after debridement have traditionally been treated by modalities that cause significant morbidity and are aesthetically inferior to tension-free primary wound closure. Due to advances in research on the biomechanical properties of skin, various devices for skin stretching and safe wound closure have been reported in the literature that are expensive and inaccessible to poor people in the developing countries. We present our experience using cable ties as an effective, easy to use, readily available, and inexpensive top closure system.
Development and Validation of Palliative Care Bundle for Advanced Gallbladder Cancer “PALLICR”
Authors: Rohilla Kusum K. , Kalyani C Vasantha , Gupta Amit , Gupta Sweety , Gupta Manoj , Matella Nirmal
Published: April 2023

Background The aim of this study was to develop and validate a comprehensive palliative care bundle “PALLICR” for advanced gallbladder cancer (GBC) patients.

Materials and Methods The present study was an exploratory study with instrument validation design which was conducted at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, India. A total of 25 advance cancer patients were selected using the purposive sampling technique.

Results The newly developed PALLICR bundle consists of six items under three subfactors, that is, functional recovery, resilience, and quality of life. The final version of bundle with six items of PALLICR bundle was validated and showed a good fit to provide palliative care to advanced GBC patients. Standardized scales, that is, palliative care outcome scale, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality-of-life scale for patients and caregiver strain index for caregivers were used for evaluation of PALLICR bundle effectiveness.

Conclusion PALLICR bundle is valid and reliable methods to provide palliative care to advanced GBC patients.
Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Surgery for Resection of Craniopharyngioma in Pediatric Population: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature
Authors: Fouda Mohammed A.
Published: April 2023

Craniopharyngioma is a rare epithelial brain tumor which arises from the embryological remnants of Rathke's pouch—a remnant of the primitive pharynx. The proximity of this tumor to the pituitary stalk, hypothalamus, third ventricle, optic chiasm, and optic nerves, as well as the major intracranial vessels bridging this area, makes safe surgical resection challenging. Given the recent advancement in endoscopic surgical techniques and the intraoperative assistance of neuronavigation and intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging, endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (EETS) can be an alternative to the open transcranial approaches in the management of children with craniopharyngioma who fulfill the appropriate selection criteria. The comparison between the EETS and the open transcranial approach regarding the clinical and surgical outcomes could be subject to an inherent selection bias. In this article, we reviewed the body of the literature on the role of EETS in the management of pediatric craniopharyngioma and the proper selection criteria of children with craniopharyngioma, who might be suitable candidates for tumor resection via this minimally invasive endoscopic approach. We also looked at the preoperative assessment, surgical techniques, surgical and clinical outcomes, and the possible complications of endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery.
Is students’ teamwork a dreamwork? A new DCE-based multidimensional approach to preferences towards group work
Authors: Gajderowicz Tomasz , Jakubowski Maciej , Wrona Sylwia , Alkhadim Ghadah
Published: April 2023

From the characteristics of the learning process, student satisfaction is important for learning effectiveness, motivation, and student well-being. However, student preferences toward learning are not well understood and rarely considered in practice. Thus, this study examines the preferences of lower secondary school students in Poland for different study modes and school subjects. It employs a discrete choice experiment to describe student preferences in light of the time devoted to studying. The study shows significant heterogeneity of student tastes for different study modes. Most students prefer studying in a group of peers, but there are important differences across students at different achievement levels and subjects. This study demonstrates how preferences toward learning can be properly measured using discrete choice experiments. Moreover, the results can inform policy and practice to satisfy student tastes and optimize learning incentives.
Stylistic and linguistic variations in compliments: an empirical analysis of children’s gender schema development with machine learning algorithms
Authors: Liao Xinyu , Zhang Yanhui
Published: April 2023

As hypothesized by Bem (1981)’s Gender Schema Theory, individuals regulate themselves and their expectations towards others according to the gender norms in a community. The current study examines children’s gender schema regarding the language styles in compliments addressed to both the gendered self and others. Two types of oral discourse completion tasks were designed for the purpose, where twenty-five Mandarin-speaking children were instructed to pay compliments in a normal-speaking style and an imitated style of the opposite gender. Machine learning algorithms were implemented to analyze the variations of language features at lexical, discourse-pragmatic, and discourse-semantic levels. The results show that, compared to lexical features such as lexical richness and word choices, discourse-pragmatic features are more prone to gender ideologies and exhibit style-shifting in children’s imitation of the opposite sex when addressing compliments. At the discourse-semantic level, a significantly low probability of positivity was demonstrated in girls’ imitated compliments, according to the results of the logistic regression. In general, the findings support the presence of gender-differentiated language styles among pre-adolescent children. In particular, girls at this age have developed the stereotype that boys tend to use language with a less prosocial sentiment for the manifestation of their “maleness”. Directions for improving the experimental design and uncovering the possible confounding mechanisms were discussed to illuminate the multidimensional complexity of the cross-gender variations in the more nuanced speech traits, such as the use of intensifiers.
Mitigating bias in materials science data
Authors: Thompson Avery
Published: April 2023

Not all types of materials are equally studied, which can lead to bias when using past data to find new options.
Blockade of trans PD-L1 interaction with CD80 augments antitumor immunity
Authors: Zhang Yuankun , Song Qingxiao , Cassady Kaniel , Lee Michael , Tang Haidong , Zheng Moqian , Wang Bixin , Schones Dustin E. , Fu Yang-Xin , Riggs Arthur D. , Martin Paul J. , Feng Ru , Zeng Defu
Published: April 2023

PD-L1 has two receptors: PD-1 and CD80. Previous reports assumed that PD-L1 and CD80 interacted in trans, but recent reports showed that only cis PD-L1/CD80 interactions existed, and prevention of cis PD-L1/CD80 interactions on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) reduced antitumor immunity via augmenting PD-L1/PD-1 and CD80/CTLA4 interactions between T and APCs. Here, using tumor-bearing mice capable of cis and trans or trans only PD-L1/CD80 interactions, we show that trans PD-L1/CD80 interactions do exist between tumor and T cells, and the effects of trans PD-L1/CD80 interactions require tumor cell expression of MHC-I and T cell expression of CD28. The blockade of PD-L1/CD80 interactions in mice with both cis and trans interactions or with only trans interactions augments antitumor immunity by expanding IFN-γ–producing CD8
+
T cells and IFN-γ–dependent NOS2-expressing tumor-associated macrophages. Our studies indicate that although cis and trans PD-L1/CD80 interactions may have opposite effects on antitumor immunity, the net effect of blocking PD-L1/CD80 interactions in vivo augments CD8
+
T cell-mediated antitumor immunity.
Moiré Metasurface with Triple-Band Near-Perfect Chirality
Authors: Lyu Bokun , Li Haojie , Jia Qianwen , Yang Guoxia , Cao Fengzhao , Liu Dahe , Shi Jinwei
Published: April 2023

Chiral metasurfaces have been proven to possess great potential in chiroptical applications. However, the multiband chiral metasurface with near-perfect circular dichroism has not been well studied. Also, the widely used bilayer metasurface usually suffers from the interlayer alignment and weak resonance. Here, we propose a twisted Moiré metasurface which can support three chiral bands with near-unity circular dichroism. The Moiré metasurface can remove the restriction of interlayer alignment, while maintaining a strong monolayer resonance. The two chiral bands in the forward direction can be described by two coupled-oscillator models. The third chiral band is achieved by tuning the interlayer chiral mode on resonance with the intralayer mode, to eliminate the parallel and converted components simultaneously. Finally, we study the robustness and tunability of the triple-layer Moiré metasurface in momentum space. This work provides a universal method to achieve three near-unity circular dichroism bands in one metasurface, which can promote applications of chiral metasurfaces in multiband optical communication, chiral drug separation, sensing, optical encryption, chiral laser, nonlinear and quantum optics, etc.
Stopping Traffic: An Analysis of Number of Scrubbed Personnel and Infection in Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction
Authors: Miller Jonathan E , Raman Shreya , Chishom Taylor A , Mountziaris Paschalia M
Published: April 2023

Background

Postoperative surgical site infection (SSI) is a devastating complication of implant-based breast reconstruction. Its occurrence may require additional hospitalization and ultimately necessitate prosthesis removal. The effect of foot traffic in the operating room has not yet been investigated within plastic surgery.

Objectives

This study analyzed the influence of scrubbed and unscrubbed personnel on postoperative SSI in immediate implant-based breast reconstruction.

Methods

This was a retrospective review of 223 consecutive patients who underwent immediate implant-based reconstruction from 2015 to 2021 at the authors’ institution. Patient demographics, comorbidities, smoking status, laterality, number of personnel, use of drains, and length of surgery were collected. The primary outcome assessed was surgical site infection with secondary outcomes of delayed wound healing, skin necrosis, hematoma, seroma, and reoperation within 90 days.

Results

Patients who had a postoperative SSI had a mean number of 8.7 scrubbed individuals, whereas those who did not have a postoperative SSI had a mean number of 7.9 individuals scrubbed (P < .05). Univariate analysis demonstrated that increasing number of scrubbed individuals was predictive of SSI (odds ratio [OR]: 1.239, CI: 1.064-1.444, P < .05). A multivariate logistic regression demonstrated increased likelihood of SSI with increasing number of individuals scrubbed (OR: 1.232, CI: 1.027-1.478, P < .05).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates an increased risk of SSI in immediate, implant-based breast reconstruction with an increased number of personnel in the operative field. The findings highlight the importance of reducing foot traffic in the operating room when feasible to reduce risk of postoperative SSI and its associated morbidity.
An Analysis of Cosmetic Facial Injectable Treatment Content on TikTok
Authors: Rothchild Evan , Wang Fei , Grande Julia , Ricci Joseph A
Published: April 2023

Background

TikTok is a powerful and popular source of patient education. However, the lack of content regulation allows for the potential spread of medical misinformation.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to analyze the source, content, quality, and reliability of TikTok posts regarding nonsurgical cosmetic facial injectable treatments, including Botox and fillers.

Methods

The TikTok application was queried with 14 popular hashtags related to nonsurgical facial injectable treatments. The top 25 search result videos from each hashtag were included in the analysis. Videos were categorized based on content creator, video type, and descriptive metrics collected for each result. Educational videos were further analyzed for content quality with the validated modified DISCERN score and the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) scales. Univariate and linear regression models were utilized for content analysis between groups.

Results

The included 340 videos totaled 306,552,644 views; 22,715,689 likes; 220,072 comments; and 352,614 shares. Most videos were uploaded by nonphysician healthcare providers (n = 126, 37.1%), and patient experience (n = 130, 38.2%) was the most common video category. Healthcare team content creators had significantly lower median views, likes, comments, shares, and engagement when compared to non-healthcare team content (P < .001). DISCERN scores for information reliability were significantly higher in physician-created videos than nonphysician and nonphysician healthcare provider created videos (2 vs 1.5, P < .001, 2 vs 1.5 P = .001, respectively).

Conclusions

The overall quality of TikTok videos regarding nonsurgical cosmetic facial injectable treatments was low, which may stem from a lack of content from physician content creators.
Role of a single odorant receptor in the chemotaxis behavior of Bombyx mori
Authors: Morinaga Satoshi , Tsubota Takuya , Takasu Yoko , Sezutsu Hideki , Touhara Kazushige
Published: April 2023

Silkworm (Bombyx mori), an insect herbivore, is attracted to cis-jasmone released from mulberry leaves. Its olfactory receptor, BmOr56, specifically responds to cis-jasmone. In this study, we constructed a BmOr56 deletion line and found that the attractive behavior of cis-jasmone was completely lost in the mutant, suggesting the involvement of a single receptor in this specific chemoattractive behavior.
Separate and combined effects of boat noise and a live crab predator on mussel valve gape behavior
Authors: Hubert Jeroen , van der Burg A Daniëlle , Witbaard Rob , Slabbekoorn Hans
Published: April 2023

Noisy human activities at sea are changing the acoustic environment, which has been shown to affect marine mammals and fishes. Invertebrates, such as bivalves, have so far received limited attention despite their important role in the marine ecosystem. Several studies have examined the impact of sound on anti-predator behavior using simulated predators, but studies using live predators are scarce. In the current study, we examined the separate and combined effects of boat sound playback and predator cues of shore crabs (Carcinus maenas) on the behavior of mussels (Mytilus spp.). We examined the behavior of the mussels using a valve gape monitor and scored the behavior from the crabs in one of two types of predator test conditions from video footage to control for effects from potential, sound-induced variation in crab behavior. We found that mussels closed their valve gape during boat noise and with a crab in their tank, but also that the stimulus combination did not add up to an even smaller valve gape. The sound treatment did not affect the stimulus crabs, but the behavior of the crabs did affect the valve gape of the mussels. Future research is needed to examine whether these results stand in situ and whether valve closure due to sound has fitness consequences for mussels. The effects on the well-being of individual mussels from anthropogenic noise may be relevant for population dynamics in the context of pressure from other stressors, their role as an ecosystem engineer, and in the context of aquaculture.
Flexible use of visual and acoustic cues during roost finding in Spix’s disc-winged bat (Thyroptera tricolor)
Authors: Gioiosa Miriam , Araya-Salas Marcelo , Castillo-Salazar Christian , Chaves-Ramírez Silvia , Gioiosa Maurizio , Rojas Nazareth , Sánchez-Chavarría Mariela , Scaravelli Dino , Chaverri Gloriana
Published: April 2023

The ability of an animal to detect environmental cues is crucial for its survival and fitness. In bats, sound certainly plays a significant role in the search for food, spatial navigation, and social communication. Yet, the efficiency of bat’s echolocation could be limited by atmospheric attenuation and background clutter. In this context, sound can be complemented by other sensory modalities, like smell or vision. Spix’s disc-winged bat (Thyroptera tricolor) uses acoustic cues from other group members to locate the roost (tubular unfurled leaves of plants in the order Zingiberales). Our research focused on how individuals find a roost that has not been yet occupied, considering the urge to find a suitable leaf approximately every day, during nighttime or in daylight. We observed the process of roost finding in T. tricolor in a flight cage, manipulating the audio/visual sensory input available for each trial. A broadband noise was broadcast in order to mask echolocation, while experiments conducted at night reduced significantly the amount of light. We measured the time needed to locate the roost under these different conditions. Results show that with limited visual and acoustic cues, search time increases significantly. In contrast bats seemed capable of using acoustic and visual cues in a similarly efficient manner, since roost search showed no strong differences in duration when bats could use only sound, only vision, or both senses at the same time. Our results show that non-acoustic inputs can still be an important source of information for finding critical resources in bats.
Role of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in liver transplantation for unresectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma: multicentre, retrospective cohort study
Authors: Hoogwater Frederik J H , Kuipers Hendrien , de Meijer Vincent E , Maulat Charlotte , Muscari Fabrice , Polak Wojciech G , van Hoek Bart , Jézéquel Caroline , Alwayn Ian P J , Ijzermans Jan N M , Mohkam Kayvan , Mabrut Jean-Yves , Van Vilsteren Frederike G I , Adam Jean-Philippe , Chiche Laurence , Chebaro Alexandre , Boleslawski Emmanuel , Dubbeld Jeroen , Murad Sarwa Darwish , Rayar Michel , Porte Robert J
Published: April 2023

Background

The Mayo protocol for liver transplantation in patients with unresectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma is based on strict selection and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The role of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in this scenario remains unclear. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes after transplantation for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma using strict selection criteria, either with or without neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Methods

This was an international, multicentre, retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent transplantation between 2011 and 2020 for unresectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma using the Mayo selection criteria and receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy or not receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Endpoints were post-transplant survival, post-transplant morbidity rate, and time to recurrence.

Results

Of 49 patients who underwent liver transplantation for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, 27 received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and 22 did not. Overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year post-transplantation survival rates were 65 per cent, 51 per cent and 41 per cent respectively in the group receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and 91 per cent, 68 per cent and 53 per cent respectively in the group not receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (1-year hazards ratio (HR) 4.55 (95 per cent c.i. 0.98 to 21.13), P = 0.053; 3-year HR 2.07 (95 per cent c.i. 0.78 to 5.54), P = 0.146; 5-year HR 1.71 (95 per cent c.i. 0.71 to 4.09), P = 0.229). Hepatic vascular complications were more frequent in the group receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy compared with the group not receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nine of 27 versus two of 22, P = 0.045). In multivariable analysis, tumour recurrence occurred less frequently in the group receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (HR 0.30 (95 per cent c.i. 0.09 to 0.97), P = 0.044).

Conclusion

In selected patients undergoing liver transplantation for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy resulted in a lower risk of tumour recurrence, but was associated with a higher rate of early hepatic vascular complications. Adjustments in neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy reducing the risk of hepatic vascular complications, such as omitting radiotherapy, may further improve the outcome in patients undergoing liver transplantation for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.
A new morphogenetic type of fruit for Hamamelidaceae: the case of Loropetalum
Authors: Zdravchev Nikita S , Bobrov Alexey V F Ch , Romanov Mikhail S , Iovlev Petr S , Timchenko Anton S , Sorokin Alexey N , Mikhaylova Anna A , Stevanovich Milana B , Roslov Maxim S , Romanova Ekaterina S , Vasekha Natalia D
Published: April 2023

With the current reassessment of the phylogeny of Hamamelidaceae, the problem of revealing the apomorphies and plesiomorphies in this group arises and peculiarities of histogenesis of the reproductive structures deserve recognition. With the aim to fill in the gap in the data on fruit structure in Hamamelidaceae, we focused on investigating the processes of fruit organogenesis and histogenesis of the fruit wall in Loropetalum. The fruit of L. chinense is an almost inferior dimerous syncarpous loculicidal (dorsoventrally dehiscent) capsule with the mature fruit wall differentiated into epicarp, mesocarp and endocarp. The main tissue of the epicarp and the peripheral zone of the mesocarp are composed of thin-walled cells with scattered brachysclereids, whereas the inner zone of the mesocarp consists of fibre-like sclereids. The endocarp finishes its differentiation at the young fruit stage and is represented in mature fruit by several layers of thin-walled cells. The fruit of L. chinense represents capsules of the Forsythia type, which have not been previously described for Hamamelidaceae, and it differs from capsules of the Hamamelis type described for Hamamelis, Corylopsis and Fothergilla. The revealed characters of L. chinense fruits indicate the possibility of transformation of the explosive capsule into a pyrenarium.
Predictive performance of established cardiovascular risk scores in the prediabetic population: external validation using the UK Biobank data set
Authors: Li Miaohong , Lin Yifen , Zhong Xiangbin , Huang Rihua , Zhang Shaozhao , Liu Menghui , Liu Sen , Ye Xiaomin , Xu Xinghao , Huang Yiquan , Xiong Zhenyu , Guo Yue , Liao Xinxue , Zhuang Xiaodong
Published: April 2023

Aims

Prediabetes is a highly heterogenous metabolic state with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Current guidelines raised the necessity of CVD risk scoring for prediabetes without clear recommendations. Thus, this study aimed to systematically assess the performance of 11 models, including five general population-based and six diabetes-specific CVD risk scores, in prediabetes.

Methods and results

A cohort of individuals aged 40–69 years with prediabetes (HbA1c ≥ 5.7 and <6.5%) and without baseline CVD or known diabetes was identified from the UK Biobank, which was used to validate 11 prediction models for estimating 10- or 5-year risk of CVD. Model discrimination and calibration were evaluated by Harrell's C-statistic and calibration plots, respectively. We further performed decision curve analyses to assess the clinical usefulness.

Overall, 56 831 prediabetic individuals were included, of which 4303 incident CVD events occurred within a median follow-up of 8.9 years. All the 11 risk scores assessed had modest C-statistics for discrimination ranging from 0.647 to 0.680 in prediabetes. Scores developed in the general population did not outperform those diabetes-specific models (C-statistics, 0.647–0.675 vs. 0.647–0.680), while the PREDICT-1° Diabetes equation developed for Type 2 diabetes performed best [0.680 (95% confidence interval, 0.672–0.689)]. The calibration plots suggested overall poor calibration except that the PREDICT-1° Diabetes equation calibrated well after recalibration. The decision curves generally indicated moderate clinical usefulness of each model, especially worse within high threshold probabilities.

Conclusion

Neither risk stratification schemes for the general population nor those specific for Type 2 diabetes performed well in the prediabetic population. The PREDICT-1° Diabetes equation could be a substitute in the absence of better alternatives, rather than the general population-based scores. More precise and targeted risk assessment tools for this population remain to be established.
Women with unwanted pregnancies, their psychosocial problems, and contraceptive use in primary care in Northern Netherlands: insights from a primary care registry database
Authors: Dijkstra Claartje I , Dalmijn Eline W , Bolt Sophie H , Groenhof Feikje , Peters Lilian L , Jansen Danielle E M C
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Globally an estimated 1 in 16 women per year experience an unwanted pregnancy (UWP). In the Netherlands, general practitioners (GPs) play an important role in providing care for women with UWP; however, it is unknown how many of these women consult their GP about the pregnancy. UWPs are a major life experience with a possible influence on mental health. Data that GPs register about UWPs, psychosocial problems, and contraceptive use could give more insight into care needs.

Aims

To create an overview of (i) the prevalence of UWPs in general practice, (ii) the prevalence of psychosocial problems in women with UWP, and (iii) contraceptive use of women with UWP.

Methods

GP registration data were analysed from 58 general practices located in Northern Netherlands between 2015 and 2019. Patient files were checked for registration of ICPC and ATC codes concerning pregnancy, psychosocial health, and contraceptive use. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test were used to calculate differences between women with a UWP and women with a wanted pregnancy (WP). An analysis of registration dates was conducted to determine when the psychosocial problems were registered in relation to the pregnancy.

Results

Of female patients of reproductive age, 1.6% had a UWP and 11.8% had a WP. Women with a UWP reported statistically significantly more psychosocial problems. Furthermore, statistically significantly more contraceptive methods were prescribed to women with UWP compared with both women with WP and women without pregnancy.

Discussion and conclusion

The finding that women with UWP experience more psychosocial problems can be used to improve aftercare and can be incorporated into current guidelines for GPs.
The politics of Catholic humanitarian aid: missionaries and American relief in Algeria (1942–47)
Authors: Taithe Bertrand
Published: April 2023

This article examines the politics of the Catholic American aid delivered in French-controlled Algeria between 1942 and 1947. Using the archives of the White Fathers (Missionnaires d’Afrique), the Archives Nationales d’Outre Mer and the archives of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops at the Catholic University of America in Washington this article traces how humanitarian relief funds sent in support of missionaries in Algeria altered their status in the colonial order. The article focuses on the transformative aspects of this American intervention in a complex colonial environment. It argues that the American Catholic intervention, with its focus on indigenous patients rather than colonial settlers, renewed older and broader provisions of missionary relief in Algeria. American aid funded missionary work and resourced social work and later aligned Catholic relief with anti-communist activities in France.
The Association of Self-Perception of Aging and Quality of Life in Older Adults: A Systematic Review
Authors: Velaithan Vithya , Tan Min-Min , Yu Ting-Fai , Liem Andrian , Teh Pei-Lee , Su Tin Tin
Published: April 2023

Background and Objectives

Self-perception of aging is an important psychosocial factor that can influence quality of life in older age. This review aimed to synthesize findings on the association between self-perception of aging and quality of life among older adults aged 60 and above.

Research Design and Methods

A systematic search was conducted in 4 electronic databases (Ovid Medline, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and Web of Science). Studies conducted in English and including measures on the perception of aging and quality of life were included in this review. A total of 32 observational studies (21 cross-sectional, 8 longitudinal, 2 mixed-method, and 1 qualitative) met the inclusion criteria. Outcomes reported in the included studies were quality of life, physical health and functioning, psychological health, mental health, and general well-being.

Results

Overall, 20 quantitative studies indicated a strong association between positive perception of aging and increased quality of life. Similarly, 9 quantitative studies demonstrated that negative perception of aging is associated with lower quality of life. Results of the mixed-method and qualitative studies indicated that older adults with higher morale and good physical capability had more positive perceptions of health.

Discussion and Implications

These results suggest that promoting a positive perception of aging and a self-care attitude would help to enhance older adults’ quality of life and should be incorporated into future health promotions and interventions.
Self-Reported Chronic Stress Is Unique Across Lifetime Periods: A Test of Competing Structural Equation Models
Authors: Brasfield Mikenzi B , Bui Chuong , Patihis Lawrence , Crowther Martha R , Allen Rebecca S , McDonough Ian M
Published: April 2023

Background and Objectives

Chronic stress can have deleterious effects on physical and mental health. However, self-report measures of chronic stress typically only assess stress recently, ignoring ongoing or repeated stress throughout the life span. The present study tested whether retrospective judgments of stress across different lifetime periods offer unique information that cannot be ascertained by measures of recent chronic stress.

Research Design and Methods

A survey was given to 271 adults aged 46–81 using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. The questions assessed self-reported stress across multiple domains (e.g., general stress, financial stress, interpersonal stress) from well-known and validated surveys. Also, items were added to assess different lifetime periods of self-reported stress, including one’s childhood, 20s/30s, and 50s/60s. Using structural equation modeling, we tested competing models for how lifetime periods and stress domains might relate to one another.

Results

The best fitting model revealed that different domains of stress (discrimination, loneliness, personal, and general stress) were highly correlated with one another within a given lifetime period but that the different lifetime periods (childhood, 20s/30s, 50s/60s, and current) were relatively independent.

Discussion and Implications

Current measures assessing the frequency or strength of “chronic stress” are misleading because they do not capture ongoing or repeated stress throughout the life span. Past experiences convey unique information about one’s chronic stress, offering a new perspective on the meaning of “chronic stress” from a life-course perspective, consistent with previous stress accumulation models.
Analysis and evaluation of developed and used health scores
Authors: Kaiser Daniel , Schuhmacher Adrian , Schmidtke Justin , Bös Klaus
Published: April 2023

This systematic review provides an overview of existing multidimensional health scores, including an assessment of their holistic value (coverage of all determinants and dimensions of health), and a systematic comparison of their properties. The review is based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Literature searches were conducted in English (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences) and German databases (BISp-Surf, BIBNET). All scores that considered health multidimensional on an individual level were included. Two independent reviewers screened and identified articles. The Quality assessment tool for studies with diverse design was used to assess study quality. Scores were recorded in a criteria grid to make their properties comparable, and the multidimensionality of the individual scores was evaluated using radar chart visualizations. Twenty-six studies met the inclusion criteria. Study quality was strong in eight, fair in twelve, and weak in six studies. Among the 26 studies, 21 different questionnaire-based scores were included, which all covered at least three of the five health dimensions (Five dimensions have been identified in a former literature research). Three scores covered all dimensions, but none covered all of the previously defined determinants. Thus, according to this works created definition (holistic = cover all dimensions with all determinants), no holistic health score exists, only multidimensional scores covering different dimensions and determinants. This review offers good comparability, as all the instruments were questionnaires, and could be used as a basis for future research. A universal (holistic) health construct should be defined and developed to improve the quantification of health.
ALA reverses ABA-induced stomatal closure by modulating PP2AC and SnRK2.6 activity in apple leaves
Authors: Chen Zheng , An Yuyan , Wang Liangju
Published: April 2023

5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA), known as a new natural plant growth regulator, can reverse abscisic acid (ABA)-induced stomatal closure. The protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) played an important role in regulation of stomatal movement by ALA and ABA; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report that ALA promotes MdPP2A activity and gene expression in the leaf epidermis of apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.), and expression of the catalytic subunit MdPP2AC was most significantly correlated with stomatal aperture. Western blotting showed that ALA enhanced MdPP2AC protein abundance and phosphorylation. Y2H (yeast two hybrid), FLC (firefly luciferase complementation imaging) and BiFC (Bimolecular fluorescence complementation) assays showed that MdPP2AC interacted with several other MdPP2A subunits as well as MdSnRK2.6 (Sucrose non-fermenting 1-related protein kinase 2.6), and the latter interaction was further verified by pull-down and MST (microscale thermophoresis) assays. ALA downregulated ABA-induced MdSnRK2.6 gene expression, kinase activity, and protein phosphorylation. In transiently transgenic apple leaves, OE-MdPP2AC promoted stomatal aperture by reducing Ca2+ and H2O2 levels but increasing flavonol levels in guard cells. Conversely, OE-MdSnRK2.6 induced stomatal closure by increasing Ca2+ and H2O2 but reducing flavonols. Partial silencing of these genes had opposite effects on Ca2+, H2O2, flavonols, and stomatal movement. Application of exogenous ALA stimulated PP2A activity, which promoted SnRK2.6 dephosphorylation and lower kinase activity in wild-type and transgenic apple leaves. We therefore propose that PP2AC, which dephosphorylates SnRK2.6 and represses its enzyme activity, mediates ALA signaling to inhibit ABA-induced stomatal closure in apple leaves.
The relationship between adiposity and cognitive function: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study in UK Biobank
Authors: Norris Tom , Salzmann Antoine , Henry Albert , Garfield Victoria , Pinto Pereira Snehal M
Published: April 2023

Background

There may be a bidirectional relationship between cognition and adiposity, whereby poor cognition leads to increased adiposity and vice versa. We aimed to determine whether these findings are causal, by undertaking a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study.

Methods

A total of 378 877 UK Biobank participants had three adiposity indicators [body fat percentage (BF%), body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio] and two cognitive function measures (reaction time, visual memory). We examined observational associations between each adiposity indicator and cognitive function and vice versa. Using bidirectional inverse-variance weighted MR, we estimated the strength of the adiposity-cognitive function association using genetic instruments for adiposity indicators as our exposures, and we repeated this in the opposite direction using instruments for cognitive function.

Results

In the direction adiposity to cognitive function, MR analyses were generally directionally consistent with observational findings, but all confidence intervals contained the null. In the opposite direction, MR estimates for all adiposity measures on reaction time were imprecise and directionally inconsistent. MR estimates for the effects of visual memory on all adiposity measures indicated worse visual memory was associated with lower adiposity. For example, a 1-unit worse visual memory score was associated with a 1.32% [β = −1.32; 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.77,−1.88] and 3.57% (β = −3.64; 95% CI: −1.84,−5.15) lower absolute body fat percentage and relative body mass index, respectively.

Conclusions

Observational associations of adiposity on cognitive function are likely not causal. In the reverse direction, our consistent findings that worse visual memory is associated with three adiposity indicators provide support for a causal link between worse visual memory and lower adiposity.
Pandemic Preparedness and Response: Lessons From COVID-19
Authors: Fauci Anthony S , Folkers Gregory K
Published: April 2023

Astract

The global experience with COVID-19 holds important lessons for preparing for, and responding to, future emergences of pathogens with pandemic potential.
High incidence of carbapenemase-producingPseudomonas aeruginosaclinical isolates from Lagos, Nigeria
Authors: Olalekan Adesola , Bader Baris Kai , Iwalokun Bamidele , Wolf Sophia , Lalremruata Albert , Dike Adobi , Mannie-Udoh Morounke , Lo Presti Libera , Liese Jan , Guther Julia , D’alvise Paul , Peter Silke
Published: April 2023

Background

Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains are on the rise worldwide. This study characterized clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa from three Nigerian hospitals for carbapenem resistance.

Methods

Strains isolated from wounds (n = 88), urine/catheter tips (n = 25), sputum/tracheotomy aspirates (n = 5), ear swabs (n = 4) and vaginal swabs (n = 1) were identified by MALDI-TOF and antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the VITEK 2 system. The genomic DNA of each isolate was subject to sequencing using Illumina and Oxford nanopore technology. Bioinformatics analyses were performed to detect antimicrobial resistance genes, clonal affiliations and phylogenetic relations of 123 non-duplicate P. aeruginosa isolates, whereas assembly of the nanopore reads using the plasmIDent pipeline enabled the identification of plasmids.

Results

Forty-three percent of the isolates were resistant to all antibiotic categories tested. More than 40% of the isolates were resistant to the carbapenems imipenem and/or meropenem (39% and 44%, respectively). Among the meropenem-resistant isolates, 48 (89%) carried at least one carbapenemase gene. The predominant one was blaNDM-1 (n = 34), which conferred resistance to all five antibiotic categories and highly increased the MICs of both meropenem and imipenem. The other recurrent carbapenemase genes were blaVIM-2 (n = 4), and blaVIM-5-like (n = 11), which co-existed with blaNDM-1 in two isolates.

Conclusions

The study revealed a high rate of carbapenem resistance and conjugative, broad host range plasmids carrying carbapenemase-encoding genes, especially the NDM-1 type, among isolates of P. aeruginosa. This may forebode the emergency of ubiquitous carbapenem resistance urging the implementation of infection control and antimicrobial stewardship strategies in Nigerian hospitals.