bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Approach to Measure Wellbeing: A Case Study on Bangladesh
Authors: Hasan Mohammad Rajib , Jayasinghe Maneka , Selvanathan Eliyathamby A.
Published: February 2024

Understanding wellbeing is fundamental to any effort to enhance it. Using the latest World Values Survey (WVS), this study examines the incidence, intensity, and determinants of wellbeing in Bangladesh by constructing a multidimensional wellbeing index (MDWI). The study also provides some insights into how wellbeing changed during 2002–2018 in Bangladesh. The MDWI is calculated using twenty-five indicators corresponding to seven domains. The results indicate that, on average, Bangladeshi people experience a moderate level of wellbeing, and the health domain is the main contributor to wellbeing followed by finance, culture, safety, governance, religion, and science and technology. Intertemporal analysis reveals that over time, people’s wellbeing has increased. Notable differences in wellbeing were observed among the social class groups and administrative divisions. Gender, education, and social class groups appeared to be significantly and positively associated with wellbeing in Bangladesh while age and political party affiliation have significant and negative associations with the MDWI. The regression estimation results based on MDWI appeared robust with those of the widely used self-rated life satisfaction. The results can be used as valuable policy guidelines that improve human wellbeing, which is critical for achieving sustainable development goals in Bangladesh and other developing countries.
Boosting HPC data analysis performance with the ParSoDA-Py library
Authors: Belcastro Loris , Giampà Salvatore , Marozzo Fabrizio , Talia Domenico , Trunfio Paolo , Badia Rosa M. , Ejarque Jorge , Mammadli Nihad
Published: February 2024

Developing and executing large-scale data analysis applications in parallel and distributed environments can be a complex and time-consuming task. Developers often find themselves diverted from their application logic to handle technical details about the underlying runtime and related issues. To simplify this process, ParSoDA, a Java library, has been proposed to facilitate the development of parallel data mining applications executed on HPC systems. It simplifies the process by providing built-in scalability mechanisms relying on the Hadoop and Spark frameworks. This paper presents ParSoDA-Py, the Python version of the ParSoDA library, which allows for further support of commonly used runtimes and libraries for big data analysis. After a complete library redesign, ParSoDA can be now easily integrated with other Python-based distributed runtimes for HPC systems, such as COMPSs and Apache Spark, and with the large ecosystem of Python-based data processing libraries. The paper discusses the adaptation process, which takes into consideration the new technical requirements, and evaluates both usability and scalability through some case study applications.
Patient Experiences Navigating Care Coordination For Long COVID: A Qualitative Study
Authors: MacEwan Sarah R. , Rahurkar Saurabh , Tarver Willi L. , Forward Cortney , Eramo Jennifer L. , Teuschler Lauren , Gaughan Alice A. , Rush Laura J. , Stanwick Stacy , McConnell Erin , Schamess Andrew , McAlearney Ann Scheck
Published: February 2024

Background

Little is known about how to best evaluate, diagnose, and treat long COVID, which presents challenges for patients as they seek care.

Objective

Understand experiences of patients as they navigate care for long COVID.

Design

Qualitative study involving interviews with patients about topics related to seeking and receiving care for long COVID.

Participants

Eligible patients were at least 18 years of age, spoke English, self-identified as functioning well prior to COVID infection, and reported long COVID symptoms continued to impact their lives at 3 months or more after a COVID infection.

Approach

Patients were recruited from a post-COVID recovery clinic at an academic medical center from August to September 2022. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Key Results

Participants (n=21) reported experiences related to elements of care coordination: access to care, evaluation, treatment, and ongoing care concerns. Some patients noted access to care was facilitated by having providers that listened to and validated their symptoms; other patients reported feeling their access to care was hindered by providers who did not believe or understand their symptoms. Patients reported confusion around how to communicate their symptoms when being evaluated for long COVID, and they expressed frustration with receiving test results that were normal or diagnoses that were not directly attributed to long COVID. Patients acknowledged that clinicians are still learning how to treat long COVID, and they voiced appreciation for providers who are willing to try new treatment approaches. Patients expressed ongoing care concerns, including feeling there is nothing more that can be done, and questioned long-term impacts on their aging and life expectancy.

Conclusions

Our findings shed light on challenges faced by patients with long COVID as they seek care. Healthcare systems and providers should consider these challenges when developing strategies to improve care coordination for patients with long COVID.
Lack of Informed and Affirming Healthcare for Sexual Minority Men: A Call for Patient-Centered Care
Authors: Hascher Kevin , Jaiswal Jessica , LoSchiavo Caleb , Ezell Jerel , Duffalo Danika , Greene Richard E. , Cox Amanda , Burton Wanda M. , Griffin Marybec , John Tejossy , Grin Benjamin , Halkitis Perry N.
Published: February 2024

Background

Sexual minority men (SMM) face severe health inequities alongside negative experiences that drive avoidance of medical care. Understanding how SMM experience healthcare is paramount to improving this population’s health. Patient-centered care, which emphasizes mutual respect and collaboration between patients and providers, may alleviate the disparaging effects of the homophobia that SMM face in healthcare settings.

Objective

To explore how SMM perceive their experiences with healthcare providers and how care can most effectively meet their needs.

Design

Semi-structured qualitative interviews focused on healthcare experiences, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and HIV-related beliefs were conducted between July and November 2018.

Participants

The study included a sample of 43 young adult SMM (ages 25–27), representing diverse socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds, in New York City.

Approach

Researchers utilized a multiphase, systematic coding method to identify salient themes in the interview transcripts.

Key Results

Analyses revealed three main themes: (1) SMM perceived that their clinicians often lack adequate skills and knowledge required to provide care that considers participants’ identities and behaviors; (2) SMM desired patient-centered care as a way to regain agency and actively participate in making decisions about their health; and (3) SMM felt that patient-centered care was more common with providers who were LGBTQ-affirming, including many who felt that this was especially true for LGBTQ-identified providers.

Conclusions

SMM expressed a clear and strong desire for patient-centered approaches to care, often informed by experiences with healthcare providers who were unable to adequately meet their needs. However, widespread adoption of patient-centered care will require improving education and training for clinicians, with a focus on LGBTQ-specific clinical care and cultural humility. Through centering patients’ preferences and experiences in the construction of care, patient-centered care can reduce health inequities among SMM and empower healthcare utilization in a population burdened by historic and ongoing stigmatization.
Archaeometallurgical Study of a 16th–17th Century “Rapier” Sword Manufactured in Caino (Northern Italy)
Authors: Merico Paolomarco , Faccoli Michela , Gotti Roberto , Cornacchia Giovanna
Published: February 2024

A metallurgical study was performed on a 16th–17th century “rapier” sword manufactured in Caino (northern Italy). Metallographic investigations and Vickers microhardness measurements indicate that the rapier was forged by assembling via hammer-welding different hypoeutectoid and near eutectoid steel bars. The rapier blade was heat treated by slack-quenching to increase its hardness, especially near the blade tip, improving the thrusting performance. The chemical composition of slag inclusions was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy coupled with X-ray dispersive spectroscopy. Compositional data of slag inclusions were analyzed by a multivariate statistical strategy aimed to distinguish and classify slag inclusions on the basis of their origin. It was estimated that the temperature reached during the finery and forging processes was at least 1270 °C and 1160 °C, respectively.
Strategies for Identifying Patients for Deprescribing of Blood Pressure Medications in Routine Practice: An Evidence Review
Authors: Sheppard James P. , Benetos Athanase , Bogaerts Jonathan , Gnjidic Danijela , McManus Richard J.
Published: February 2024

Purpose of Review

To summarise the evidence regarding which patients might benefit from deprescribing antihypertensive medications.

Recent Findings

Older patients with frailty, multi-morbidity and subsequent polypharmacy are at higher risk of adverse events from antihypertensive treatment, and therefore may benefit from antihypertensive deprescribing. It is possible to examine an individual’s risk of these adverse events, and use this to identify those people where the benefits of treatment may be outweighed by the harms. While such patients might be considered for deprescribing, the long-term effects of this treatment strategy remain unclear.

Evidence now exists to support identification of those who are at risk of adverse events from antihypertensive treatment. These patients could be targeted for deprescribing interventions, although the long-term benefits and harms of this approach are unclear.

Perspectives

Randomised controlled trials are still needed to examine the long-term effects of deprescribing in high-risk patients with frailty and multi-morbidity.
The Application of Aptamer and Research Progress in Liver Disease
Authors: Xu Cheng , Tan Yong , Zhang Li-Ye , Luo Xiao-Jie , Wu Jiang-Feng , Ma Lan , Deng Fei
Published: February 2024

Aptamers, as a kind of small-molecule nucleic acid, have attracted much attention since their discovery. Compared with biological reagents such as antibodies, aptamers have the advantages of small molecular weight, low immunogenicity, low cost, and easy modification. At present, aptamers are mainly used in disease biomarker discovery, disease diagnosis, treatment, and targeted drug delivery vectors. In the process of screening and optimizing aptamers, it is found that there are still many problems need to be solved such as the design of the library, optimization of screening conditions, the truncation of screened aptamer, and the stability and toxicity of the aptamer. In recent years, the incidence of liver-related diseases is increasing year by year and the treatment measures are relatively lacking, which has attracted the people’s attention in the application of aptamers in liver diseases. This article mainly summarizes the research status of aptamers in disease diagnosis and treatment, especially focusing on the application of aptamers in liver diseases, showing the crucial significance of aptamers in the diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases, and the use of Discovery Studio software to find the binding target and sequence of aptamers, and explore their possible interaction sites.

Graphical Abstract
Analytical Modeling of [001] Orientation in Silicon Trigate Rectangular Nanowire Using a Tight-Binding Model
Authors: Paramasivam Pattunnarajam , Gowthaman Naveenbalaji , Srivastava Viranjay M.
Published: February 2024

In the realm of electronics, the performance of Silicon Trigate Rectangular Nanowires (Si-TRNW) and the structural characteristics of <001> orientation using tight-binding models have been analyzed. The fast algorithm based on the tight-binding model for Trigate Silicon nanowires yielded a remarkable ION/IOFF ratio of 1.49 × 1010 and leakage current (ILeak or IOFF) of 3.7 × 10−17μA. Furthermore, a maximum conduction band energy level (Ecmax) of −0.003 eV and a Subthreshold Slope (SS) of 120 mV has been obtained for a channel length of 15 nm. At an energy level of 3 eV, a high Transmission coefficient, T(ε), of 4 has been attained using the E-k dispersion method. This analysis also involved the calculation of three ∆ valleys pertinent to the channel’s effectiveness in <001> orientation, with proximity nearer to 1 m0. The Schrodinger-Poisson equation has been analyzed with the Ballistic transport along the [001] z-direction in channel potential. A comparative assessment has been also performed between the lateral dimensions of rectangular nanowires with equal energy levels, utilizing both the tight-binding model and Density Functional Theory (DFT) techniques. In some high-frequency applications, a high transmission coefficient is beneficial to maximize the amount of energy or information that gets transmitted. Reducing leakage current would offer a technological pathway for performance improvement of high-frequency applications. The high ON-current (ION) has been obtained through the DFT approach between source and drain terminals is particularly desirable for applications demanding for fast switching speeds and high-performance computing. The strengths of both methods in hybrid approaches is a common strategy to achieve simulations that are both accurate and efficient. Notably, the nanowires subjected to hydrostatic strain, exhibiting enhanced mobility and exceptional electrostatic integrity, emerged as pivotal components for forthcoming technology nodes. This research augments the potential feasibility of strain-based Si nanowires, even at the 3 nm scale, in subsequent technological advancements.
Predicting the coefficient of friction in a sliding contact by applying machine learning to acoustic emission data
Authors: Gutierrez Robert , Fang Tianshi , Mainwaring Robert , Reddyhoff Tom
Published: February 2024

It is increasingly important to monitor sliding interfaces within machines, since this is where both energy is lost, and failures occur. Acoustic emission (AE) techniques offer a way to monitor contacts remotely without requiring transparent or electrically conductive materials. However, acoustic data from sliding contacts is notoriously complex and difficult to interpret. Herein, we simultaneously measure coefficient of friction (with a conventional force transducer) and acoustic emission (with a piezoelectric sensor and high acquisition rate digitizer) produced by a steel–steel rubbing contact. Acquired data is then used to train machine learning (ML) algorithms (e.g., Gaussian process regression (GPR) and support vector machine (SVM)) to correlated acoustic emission with friction. ML training requires the dense AE data to first be reduced in size and a range of processing techniques are assessed for this (e.g., down-sampling, averaging, fast Fourier transforms (FFTs), histograms). Next, fresh, unseen AE data is given to the trained model and the resulting friction predictions are compared with the directly measured friction. There is excellent agreement between the measured and predicted friction when the GPR model is used on AE histogram data, with root mean square (RMS) errors as low as 0.03 and Pearson correlation coefficients reaching 0.8. Moreover, predictions remain accurate despite changes in test conditions such as normal load, reciprocating frequency, and stroke length. This paves the way for remote, acoustic measurements of friction in inaccessible locations within machinery to increase mechanical efficiency and avoid costly failure/needless maintenance.
Decentralized Clinical Trials in the Development of Drugs and Biological Products
Authors: Robinson Ryan , Sacks Leonard
Published: February 2024

Decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) are trials where some or all of the trial-related activities occur at locations other than traditional clinical trial sites. FDA supports decentralization to improve participation in clinical trials. While there are benefits of DCTs, including convenience for participants, sponsors and investigators should be aware of potential challenges such as coordination of trial activities at locations other than traditional trial sites and supervision of delegated trial-activities performed remotely. Appropriate training, oversight, and up-front risk assessment and management will be key to implementing a DCT successfully.
Germicidal efficacy of continuous and pulsed ultraviolet-C radiation on pathogen models and SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Rufyikiri Anne Sophie , Martinez Rebecca , Addo Philip W. , Wu Bo-Sen , Yousefi Mitra , Malo Danielle , Orsat Valérie , Vidal Silvia M. , Fritz Jörg H. , MacPherson Sarah , Lefsrud Mark
Published: February 2024

Ultraviolet radiation’s germicidal efficacy depends on several parameters, including wavelength, radiant exposure, microbial physiology, biological matrices, and surfaces. In this work, several ultraviolet radiation sources (a low-pressure mercury lamp, a KrCl excimer, and four UV LEDs) emitting continuous or pulsed irradiation were compared. The greatest log reductions in E. coli cells and B. subtilis endospores were 4.1 ± 0.2 (18 mJ cm−2) and 4.5 ± 0.1 (42 mJ cm−2) with continuous 222 nm, respectively. The highest MS2 log reduction observed was 2.7 ± 0.1 (277 nm at 3809 mJ cm−2). Log reductions of SARS-CoV-2 with continuous 222 nm and 277 nm were ≥ 3.4 ± 0.7, with 13.3 mJ cm−2 and 60 mJ cm−2, respectively. There was no statistical difference between continuous and pulsed irradiation (0.83–16.7% [222 nm and 277 nm] or 0.83–20% [280 nm] duty rates) on E. coli inactivation. Pulsed 260 nm radiation (0.5% duty rate) at 260 nm yielded significantly greater log reduction for both bacteria than continuous 260 nm radiation. There was no statistical difference in SARS-CoV-2 inactivation between continuous and pulsed 222 nm UV-C radiation and pulsed 277 nm radiation demonstrated greater germicidal efficacy than continuous 277 nm radiation. Greater radiant exposure for all radiation sources was required to inactivate MS2 bacteriophage. Findings demonstrate that pulsed irradiation could be more useful than continuous UV radiation in human-occupied spaces, but threshold limit values should be respected. Pathogen-specific sensitivities, experimental setup, and quantification methods for determining germicidal efficacy remain important factors when optimizing ultraviolet radiation for surface decontamination or other applications.

Graphical abstract
Pragmatics, Utterance Meaning, and Representational Gesture
Authors: Wilson Jack
Published: February 2024

Humans produce utterances intentionally. Visible bodily action, or gesture, has long been acknowledged as part of the broader activity of speaking, but it is only recently that the role of gesture during utterance production and comprehension has been the focus of investigation. If we are to understand the role of gesture in communication, we must answer the following questions: Do gestures communicate? Do people produce gestures with an intention to communicate? This Element argues that the answer to both these questions is yes. Gestures are (or can be) communicative in all the ways language is. This Element arrives at this conclusion on the basis that communication involves prediction. Communicators predict the behaviours of themselves and others, and such predictions guide the production and comprehension of utterance. This Element uses evidence from experimental and neuroscientific studies to argue that people produce gestures because doing so improves such predictions.
Effects of electrostatic interaction on clustering and collision of bidispersed inertial particles in homogeneous and isotropic turbulence
Authors: Ruan Xuan , Gorman Matthew T. , Ni Rui
Published: February 2024

In sandstorms and thunderclouds, turbulence-induced collisions between solid particles and ice crystals lead to inevitable triboelectrification. The charge segregation is usually size dependent, with small particles charged negatively and large particles charged positively. In this work, we perform numerical simulations to study the influence of charge segregation on the dynamics of bidispersed inertial particles in turbulence. Direct numerical simulations of homogeneous isotropic turbulence are performed with the Taylor Reynolds number

${Re}_{\lambda }=147.5$

, while particles are subjected to both electrostatic interactions and fluid drag, with Stokes numbers of 1 and 10 for small and large particles, respectively. Coulomb repulsion/attraction is shown to effectively inhibit/enhance particle clustering within a short range. Besides, the mean relative velocity between same-size particles is found to rise as the particle charge increases because of the exclusion of low-velocity pairs, while the relative velocity between different-size particles is almost unaffected, emphasizing the dominant roles of differential inertia. The mean Coulomb-turbulence parameter,

${Ct}_0$

, is then defined to characterize the competition between the Coulomb potential energy and the mean relative kinetic energy. In addition, a model is proposed to quantify the rate at which charged particles approach each other and to capture the transition of the particle relative motion from the turbulence-dominated regime to the electrostatic-dominated regime. Finally, the probability distribution function of the approach rate between particle pairs is examined, and its dependence on the Coulomb force is further discussed using the extended Coulomb-turbulence parameter.
Hydrodynamic instabilities in a two-dimensional sheet of microswimmers embedded in a three-dimensional fluid
Authors: Škultéty Viktor , Bárdfalvy Dóra , Stenhammar Joakim , Nardini Cesare , Morozov Alexander
Published: February 2024

A collection of microswimmers immersed in an incompressible fluid is characterised by strong interactions due to the long-range nature of the hydrodynamic fields generated by individual organisms. As a result, suspensions of rear-actuated ‘pusher’ swimmers such as bacteria exhibit a collective motion state often referred to as ‘bacterial turbulence’, characterised by large-scale chaotic flows. The onset of collective motion in pusher suspensions is classically understood within the framework of mean-field kinetic theories for dipolar swimmers. In bulk two and three dimensions, the theory predicts that the instability leading to bacterial turbulence is due to mutual swimmer reorientation and sets in at the largest length scale available to the suspension. Here, we construct a similar kinetic theory for the case of a dipolar microswimmer suspension restricted to a two-dimensional plane embedded in a three-dimensional incompressible fluid. This setting qualitatively mimics the effect of swimming close to a two-dimensional interface. We show that the in-plane flow fields are effectively compressible in spite of the incompressibility of the three-dimensional bulk fluid, and that microswimmers on average act as sources (pushers) or sinks (pullers). We analyse the stability of the homogeneous and isotropic state, and find two types of instability that are qualitatively different from the bulk, three-dimensional case: first, we show that the analogue of the orientational pusher instability leading to bacterial turbulence in bulk systems instead occurs at the smallest length scale available to the system. Second, an instability associated with density variations arises in puller suspensions as a generic consequence of the effective in-plane compressibility. Given these qualitative differences with respect to the standard bulk setting, we conclude that confinement can have a crucial role in determining the collective behaviour of microswimmer suspensions.
Flow resistance over heterogeneous roughness made of spanwise-alternating sandpaper strips
Authors: Frohnapfel Bettina , von Deyn Lars , Yang Jiasheng , Neuhauser Jonathan , Stroh Alexander , Örlü Ramis , Gatti Davide
Published: February 2024

The Reynolds number dependent flow resistance of heterogeneous rough surfaces is largely unknown at present. The present work provides novel reference data for spanwise-alternating sandpaper strips as one idealised case of a heterogeneous rough surface. Experimental data are presented and analysed in direct comparison with drag measurements of homogeneous sandpaper surfaces and numerical simulations. Based on the homogeneous roughness data, the related challenges and sensitivities for the evaluation of roughness functions from experiments and simulations are discussed. A hydraulic channel height is suggested as an alternative measure for the drag impact of rough surfaces in internal flows. For the investigated heterogeneous roughness, it is found that turbulent flow does not exhibit a fully rough flow behaviour, indicating that the assignment of an equivalent sand grain height as commonly applied for homogeneous roughness is not possible. A prediction of the drag behaviour of rough strips based on an average between rough and smooth drag curves appears promising, but requires further refinement to capture the impact of turbulent secondary flows and spatial transients linking smooth and rough surface parts. While turbulent secondary flow induced by the roughness strips yield significant spanwise variation of the mean velocity profile for the investigated rough strips, we show that the spanwise averaged velocity profiles collapse reasonably well with a smooth or homogeneous rough wall flow. This allows to extract a global roughness function from the spanwise averaged flow field in good agreement with the one deduced from global pressure drop measurements.
A two-dimensional numerical study of ion-acoustic turbulence
Authors: Liu Zhuo , White Ryan , Francisquez Manaure , Milanese Lucio M. , Loureiro Nuno F.
Published: February 2024

We investigate the linear and nonlinear evolution of the current-driven ion-acoustic instability in a collisionless plasma via two-dimensional (2-D) Vlasov–Poisson numerical simulations. We initialise the system in a stable state and gradually drive it towards instability with an imposed, weak external electric field, thus avoiding physically unrealisable super-critical initial conditions. A comprehensive analysis of the nonlinear evolution of ion-acoustic turbulence (IAT) is presented, including the detailed characteristics of the evolution of the particles’ distribution functions, (2-D) wave spectrum and the resulting anomalous resistivity. Our findings reveal the dominance of 2-D quasi-linear effects around saturation, with nonlinear effects, such as particle trapping and nonlinear frequency shifts, becoming pronounced during the later stages of the system's nonlinear evolution. Remarkably, the Kadomtsev–Petviashvili (KP) spectrum is observed immediately after the saturation of the instability. Another crucial and noteworthy result is that no steady saturated nonlinear state is ever reached: strong ion heating suppresses the instability, which implies that the anomalous resistivity associated with IAT is transient and short-lived, challenging earlier theoretical results. Towards the conclusion of the simulation, electron-acoustic waves are triggered by the formation of a double layer and strong modifications to the particle distribution induced by IAT.
“All the world at the palm of the hand”: imagining history through the life of an early Afghan saint
Authors: Ahmed Tanvir
Published: February 2024

In this article I explore hagiographical narratives about Khwāja Yaḥyā Kabīr (d. 1430), among the earliest of the Sufi masters to be identified as Afghan. The social memory of Yaḥyā Kabīr's life exemplifies the function of hagiography as a key arena for the production of historical knowledge, generating a vivid and specific imaginary of the past for devotees. My goal here is to present a reading of the hagiography, but first I will situate it within the discursive nexus of Persian historical writing, which often essentialized Afghans as innately barbarous while peripheralizing Afghan homelands (identified with the Sulaiman Mountains). Yaḥyā Kabīr's hagiography is both reflective of Indo-Afghan anxieties about social hierarchies and a device by which marginalizing traditions could be subverted through a highly textured portrayal of the past. As such, it exemplifies how saints’ lives can index not only the hierarchies of imperial life, but also the techniques by which to escape them.
Seroconversion and seroprevalence of TORCH infections in a pregnant women cohort study, Mombasa, Kenya, 2017–2019
Authors: Hunsperger Elizabeth , Osoro Eric , Munyua Peninah , Njenga M. Kariuki , Mirieri Harriet , Kikwai Gilbert , Odhiambo Dennis , Dayan Moshe , Omballa Victor , Agogo George O. , Mugo Cyrus , Widdowson Marc-Alain , Inwani Irene
Published: February 2024

Women infected during pregnancy with TORCH (Toxoplasmosis, Other, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpes simplex viruses) pathogens have a higher risk of adverse birth outcomes including stillbirth / miscarriage because of mother-to-child transmission. To investigate these risks in pregnant women in Kenya, we analyzed serum specimens from a pregnancy cohort study at three healthcare facilities. A sample of 481 participants was selected for TORCH pathogen antibody testing to determine seroprevalence. A random selection of 285 from the 481 participants was selected to measure seroconversion. These sera were tested using an IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay against 10 TORCH pathogens. We found that the seroprevalence of all but three of the 10 TORCH pathogens at enrollment was >30%, except for Bordetella pertussis (3.8%), Treponema pallidum (11.4%), and varicella zoster virus (0.5%). Conversely, very few participants seroconverted during their pregnancy and were herpes simplex virus type 2 (n = 24, 11.2%), parvovirus B19 (n = 14, 6.2%), and rubella (n = 12, 5.1%). For birth outcomes, 88% of the participant had live births and 12% had stillbirths or miscarriage. Cytomegalovirus positivity at enrolment had a statistically significant positive association with a live birth outcome (p = 0.0394). Of the 10 TORCH pathogens tested, none had an association with adverse pregnancy outcome.
Visualising Success: the Kanban Approach to Improving Collaboration and Communication in the Library
Authors: Griffiths Laura , Tyson Alice
Published: February 2024

Kanban is a framework that is commonly used in the technology sector and other industries to help teams work more effectively, but it has not been widely adopted in LIS contexts. As many of us continue to adapt to hybrid workplaces, kanban could prove to be a useful tool for organising work and communicating. In this article Laura Griffiths and Alice Tyson of the IALS Library explain how Kanban boards work and offer a case study of how a Kanban board was used in a recent project at the IALS Library. The article also discusses the wider value of kanban to the LIS sector.
What is Public Information Online?
Authors: Ravenhill Donna
Published: February 2024

Public Information Online (PIO) is an online service from Dandy Booksellers Ltd offering a wide range of official documents going back, in many cases, more than a century. PIO is safeguarding the accessibility to historic government decisions which have changed the face of our constitution. Here Donna Ravenhill, Managing Director of Dandy Booksellers, takes LIM through the origins and history of PIO, explains how you can make the most of its facilities, and outlines its plans for the future.
A Critical Appraisal of the Sensitivity of Detrital Zircon U–Pb Provenance Data to Constrain Drainage Network Evolution in Southeast Tibet
Authors: Li Shihu , Najman Yani , Vermeesch Pieter , Barfod Dan N. , Millar Ian , Carter Andy
Published: February 2024

Provenance tools, particularly detrital zircon U–Pb analysis, have been widely employed to test drainage network evolution in southeast Tibet and its linkage with the growth of the Tibetan Plateau. Numerous provenance studies have been conducted on the sediments in the paleo‐Yangtze and paleo‐Red River drainage basins. Nevertheless, it is still hotly debated as to whether a “Mississippi” (dendritic) pattern Greater paleo‐Red River, originating from southeast Tibet and draining to the South China Sea, existed in the early Cenozoic, and was subsequently captured by the paleo‐lower Yangtze due to uplift of southeastern Tibet. In this study, in addition to presenting new data from the Gonjo and Jianchuan basins along which the Greater paleo‐Red River is proposed to have flowed, we compiled all the published detrital zircon U–Pb data from the paleo‐upper Yangtze and paleo‐Red River drainage basins from Triassic and younger rocks. Our large database of detrital zircon U–Pb analyses shows that the different terranes in the paleo‐upper Yangtze and paleo‐Red River drainage basins have similar zircon U–Pb signatures since the Late Triassic closure of the Paleo‐Tethys Ocean. Therefore, most of the sediments in the Cenozoic sedimentary basins in southeast Tibet could have been either deposited by long‐distance transport in large rivers from southeast Tibet or recycled from local bedrock. Given the potential importance of sedimentary recycling that we have demonstrated, this poses challenges to the use of detrital zircon U–Pb analyses to determine paleodrainage in this region. We therefore further explored the previously relatively limited use of Sr–Nd isotopes on mudstones and detrital mica 40Ar/39Ar ages, with new analyses from the Gonjo and Jianchuan Basins, to determine if these techniques were better suited to reconstruct paleodrainage evolution. Whilst these techniques do show some promise, more analyses and strategic sampling are required to obtain a full understanding of the extent of their potential utility. Overall, our integrated provenance study indicates that the available data are not sufficiently conclusive to support or refute the Greater paleo‐Red River capture model.
Comparing Carbon-Trapping Capacities of Anoxic Basins
Authors: Sidik Saima
Published: February 2024

Low-oxygen regions in the ocean could be prime spots for sequestering biomass—a potential strategy for fighting climate change. But each site has its pros and cons.
Human iN neuronal model of schizophrenia displays dysregulation of chromogranin B and related neuropeptide transmitter signatures
Authors: Podvin Sonia , Jones Jeffrey , Kang Austin , Goodman Ryan , Reed Patrick , Lietz Christopher B. , Then Joshua , Lee Kelly C. , Eyler Lisa T. , Jeste Dilip V. , Gage Fred H. , Hook Vivian
Published: February 2024

Schizophrenia (SZ) is a serious mental illness and neuropsychiatric brain disorder with behavioral symptoms that include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized behavior, and cognitive impairment. Regulation of such behaviors requires utilization of neurotransmitters released to mediate cell-cell communication which are essential to brain functions in health and disease. We hypothesized that SZ may involve dysregulation of neurotransmitters secreted from neurons. To gain an understanding of human SZ, induced neurons (iNs) were derived from SZ patients and healthy control subjects to investigate peptide neurotransmitters, known as neuropeptides, which represent the major class of transmitters. The iNs were subjected to depolarization by high KCl in the culture medium and the secreted neuropeptides were identified and quantitated by nano-LC-MS/MS tandem mass spectrometry. Several neuropeptides were identified from schizophrenia patient-derived neurons, including chromogranin B (CHGB), neurotensin, and natriuretic peptide. Focusing on the main secreted CHGB neuropeptides, results revealed differences in SZ iNs compared to control iN neurons. Lower numbers of distinct CHGB peptides were found in the SZ secretion media compared to controls. Mapping of the peptides to the CHGB precursor revealed peptides unique to either SZ or control, and peptides common to both conditions. Also, the iNs secreted neuropeptides under both KCl and basal (no KCl) conditions. These findings are consistent with reports that chromogranin B levels are reduced in the cerebrospinal fluid and specific brain regions of SZ patients. These findings suggest that iNs derived from SZ patients can model the decreased CHGB neuropeptides observed in human SZ.
YAP1 controls the N-cadherin-mediated tumor-stroma interaction in melanoma progression
Authors: Xiao Yao , Zhou Linli , Andl Thomas , Zhang Yuhang
Published: February 2024

The hallmark of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the switch from epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin) to neural cadherin (N-cadherin), allowing melanoma cells to form a homotypic N-cadherin-mediated adhesion with stromal fibroblasts. However, how cadherin switching is initiated, maintained, and regulated in melanoma remains elusive. Here, we report a novel mechanism underlying cadherin switching in melanoma cells that is regulated by stromal Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) signaling. The progression of a BRAF-mutant mouse melanoma was suppressed in vivo upon YAP1 ablation in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). On the contrary, overexpressing YAP1 in CAFs accelerated melanoma development. By RNA-Seq, N-cadherin was identified as a major downstream effector of YAP1 signaling in CAFs. YAP1 silencing reduced N-cadherin expression in CAFs, leading to the downregulation of N-cadherin in neighboring melanoma cells. N-cadherin ablation inhibited the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway in melanoma cells and melanoma cell proliferation. The findings suggest that YAP1 depletion in CAFs induces the downregulation of p-AKT signaling in melanoma cells through the N-cadherin-mediated interaction between melanoma cells and CAFs. The data underscore an important role of CAFs in regulating N-cadherin-mediated adhesion and signaling in melanoma and highlight that disentangling cadherin-mediated cell-cell interactions can potentially disrupt tumor-stroma interactions and reverse the tumor cell invasive phenotype.
Antibody discovery identifies regulatory mechanisms of protein arginine deiminase 4
Authors: Zhou Xin , Kong Sophie , Maker Allison , Remesh Soumya G. , Leung Kevin K. , Verba Kliment A. , Wells James A.
Published: February 2024

Unlocking the potential of protein arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) as a drug target for rheumatoid arthritis requires a deeper understanding of its regulation. In this study, we use unbiased antibody selections to identify functional antibodies capable of either activating or inhibiting PAD4 activity. Through cryogenic-electron microscopy, we characterized the structures of these antibodies in complex with PAD4 and revealed insights into their mechanisms of action. Rather than steric occlusion of the substrate-binding catalytic pocket, the antibodies modulate PAD4 activity through interactions with allosteric binding sites adjacent to the catalytic pocket. These binding events lead to either alteration of the active site conformation or the enzyme oligomeric state, resulting in modulation of PAD4 activity. Our study uses antibody engineering to reveal new mechanisms for enzyme regulation and highlights the potential of using PAD4 agonist and antagonist antibodies for studying PAD4-dependency in disease models and future therapeutic development.
De novo Phased Genome Assembly, Annotation and Population Genotyping of Alectoris Chukar
Authors: Zhou Hao , Huang Xunhe , Liu Jiajia , Ding Jinmei , Xu Ke , Zhu Wenqi , He Chuan , Yang Lingyu , Zhu Jianshen , Han Chengxiao , Qin Chao , Luo Huaixi , Chen Kangchun , Jiang Shengyao , Shi Yurou , Zeng Jinyuan , Weng Zhuoxian , Xu Yongjie , Wang Qing , Zhong Ming , Du Bingwang , Song Sen , Meng He
Published: February 2024

The Alectoris Chukar (chukar) is the most geographically widespread partridge species in the world, demonstrating exceptional adaptability to diverse ecological environments. However, the scarcity of genetic resources for chukar has hindered research into its adaptive evolution and molecular breeding. In this study, we have sequenced and assembled a high-quality, phased chukar genome that consists of 31 pairs of relatively complete diploid chromosomes. Our BUSCO analysis reported a high completeness score of 96.8% and 96.5%, with respect to universal single-copy orthologs and a low duplication rate (0.3% and 0.5%) for two assemblies. Through resequencing and population genomic analyses of six subspecies, we have curated invaluable genotype data that underscores the adaptive evolution of chukar in response to both arid and high-altitude environments. These data will significantly contribute to research on how chukars adaptively evolve to cope with desertification and alpine climates.
Mitigation of water stress in broccoli by soil application of humic acid
Authors: Ibrahim Ehab A. , Ebrahim Noura E. S. , Mohamed Gehan Z.
Published: February 2024

The main challenge to plant productivity is water scarcity, which is predicted to get worse with climate change, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas. Humic acid could improve plant tolerance to mitigate drought damage, which is an effective strategy to improve crop production and agriculture sustainability under limited water conditions in these regions, but its effective application rates should also be established. Thus, two field experiments were carried out at the Qaha Vegetable Research Farm in Qalubia Governorate, Egypt, during the two seasons of 2020–21 and 2021–22 on clay soil. The present study investigated the effect of three rates of humic acid application (0, 4.8, and 9.6 kg ha-1) on growth, yield, and quality of broccoli cv. Montop F1 hybrid under well-watered and drought conditions. Drought was induced by missing alternate irrigation. Soluble humic acid as potassium-humate was applied three times with irrigation water at the time of the first three irrigations of drought treatment. Water-stressed plants had a decrease in growth, yield, leaf chlorophyll, and nutrient content, while they showed an increase in the contents of leaf proline and curd dry matter and total soluble solids as well as water use efficiency, in both seasons. Soil application of humic acid was effective in mitigating the adverse effects of water deficit stress on the growth and yield of broccoli. Water-stressed plants had the highest WUE value (9.32 and 9.36 kg m3−1 in the first and second seasons, respectively) when the maximal humic acid rate was applied. Humic acid at a high level (9.6 kg ha−1) had the most promising results and represents an opportunity that must be applied to improve broccoli yield and its production sustainability in arid and semiarid regions.
Joint effect of BMI and metabolic status on mortality among adults: a population-based longitudinal study in United States
Authors: Chen Feilong , Shi Yunping , Yu Miao , Hu Yuehua , Li Tao , Cheng Yijing , Xu Tao , Liu Junting
Published: February 2024

We explored the joint effects of different metabolic obesity phenotypes on all-cause and disease-specific mortality risk among the American population. Data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2018. Mortality outcome data were from mortality files linked to National Death Index record and follow-up information was up to December 31, 2019. 50,013 participants were finally included. Four metabolic obesity phenotypes were defined based on obesity and metabolic status: metabolically healthy obese (MHO), metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO), metabolically healthy non-obese (MHNO), and metabolically unhealthy non-obese (MUNO). Population-weighted Cox proportional hazards models were used to explore the all-cause and disease-specific mortality risk of metabolic obesity phenotypes. The all-cause mortality risk of MUO and MUNO was significantly higher than MHNO. MUNO was associated with a significantly increased risk of death from heart disease (HR: 1.40, 95% CI 1.16–1.70), hypertension (HR: 1.68, 95% CI 1.34–2.12), diabetes (HR: 2.29, 95% CI 1.67–3.15), and malignant neoplasms (HR:1.29, 95% CI 1.09–1.53). Metabolic unhealth significantly increased the risk of all-cause mortality, regardless of obesity status. Among individuals with metabolic unhealthy status, obesity significantly reduced the risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 0.91, 95% CI 0.85–0.98). Our study highlights the importance of identifying and characterizing metabolic obesity phenotypes in obese and metabolically abnormal patients, as well as healthy adults. Comprehensive evaluation of obesity and metabolic status is necessary to adopt appropriate interventions and treatment measures and maximize patient benefit.
Amlexanox attenuates LPS-induced neuroinflammatory responses in microglial cells via inhibition of NF–κB and STAT3 signaling pathways
Authors: Phan Van Thach , Huyen Ton Nu Bao Tien , Leya Mwense , Zhou Zixiong , Jeong Hyuneui , Lim Chae-Woong , Kim Bumseok
Published: February 2024

Amlexanox is an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic agent used clinically for the treatment of aphthous ulcers, allergic rhinitis, and asthma. Recent studies have demonstrated that amlexanox, a selective inhibitor of IkB kinase epsilon (IKKε) and TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), suppresses a range of diseases or inflammatory conditions, such as obesity-related metabolic dysfunction and type 2 diabetes. However, the effects of amlexanox on neuroinflammatory responses to amlexanox have not yet been comprehensively studied. In this study, we investigated the novel therapeutic effect of amlexanox on LPS-induced neuroinflammation in vivo, and intraperitoneal injection of amlexanox markedly reduced LPS-induced IKKε levels, proinflammatory cytokines, and microglial activation, as evidenced by ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1) immunostaining. Furthermore, amlexanox significantly reduced proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in LPS-induced bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM), murine BV2, and human HMC3 microglial cells. This data provided considerable evidence that amlexanox can be used as a preventive and curative therapy for neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. In terms of mechanism aspects, our results demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory action of amlexanox in BV2 microglial cells was through the downregulation of NF-κB and STAT3 signaling pathways. In addition, the combination of amlexanox and SPI (a STAT3 selective inhibitor) showed high efficiency in inhibiting the production of neurotoxic and pro-inflammatory mediators. Overall, our data provide rational insights into the mechanisms of amlexanox as a potential therapeutic strategy for neuroinflammation-related diseases.
Identification and preliminary analysis of hub genes associated with bladder cancer progression by comprehensive bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Wang Han , Liu Junjie , Lou Yanyan , Liu Yang , Chen Jieqing , Liao Xinhui , Zhang Xiuming , Zhou Chengzhi , Mei Hongbing , Tang Aifa
Published: February 2024

Bladder cancer (BC) is a crisis to human health. It is necessary to understand the molecular mechanisms of the development and progression of BC to determine treatment options. Publicly available expression data were obtained from TCGA and GEO databases to spot differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between cancer and normal bladder tissues. Weighted co-expression networks were constructed, and Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed. Associations in hub genes, immune infiltration, and immune therapy were evaluated separately. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks for the genes identified in the normal and tumor groups were launched. 3461 DEGs in the TCGA dataset and 1069 DEGs in the GSE dataset were identified, including 87 overlapping genes between cancer and normal bladder groups. Hub genes in the tumor group were mainly enriched for cell proliferation, while hub genes in the normal group were related to the synthesis and secretion of neurotransmitters. Based on survival analysis, CDH19, RELN, PLP1, and TRIB3 were considerably associated with prognosis (P < 0.05). CDH19, RELN, PLP1, and TRIB3 may play important roles in the development of BC and are potential biomarkers in therapy and prognosis.