bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alternative per-protocol estimates: secondary analyses of data from the Balanced randomised controlled trial
Authors: Young Jim , Short Tim , Steiner Luzius A , Dell-Kuster Salome
Published: October 2024

Background The Balanced trial was designed to answer the question of whether anaesthetic depth affects postoperative mortality when a vulnerable patient undergoes major surgery. Patients were recruited between 2012 and 2017 at 73 centres in seven countries. In the intention-to-treat analysis (n=6644), there was no significant difference in one year mortality between patients randomised to surgery under deep (target BIS 35) or light anaesthesia (target BIS 50). However the separation between randomised groups was only 8.4 BIS units and the trial was criticised for being underpowered. Methods In a secondary analysis of this trial's data, we made alternative per-protocol estimates designed to improve the power of the trial. We added an additional covariate - each patient's deviation from target BIS - to the original analysis, statistically recreating the desired separation of 15 BIS units between randomised groups. We used multiple imputation to recover missing BIS values. We also assessed whether a proportional hazards Cox model was appropriate for the analysis of one year mortality. Results Our alternative per-protocol estimates did not differ materially from the original per-protocol estimate. The gain in precision through using all intent-to-treat patients for our per-protocol estimates was offset by the additional variance introduced when modelling missing BIS values. When modelling missing BIS, we found regional differences: in China, the separation between randomised groups was far higher (13.6 BIS units) than in any other region. Estimates and plots assessing proportional hazards suggested increasing late mortality under deep anaesthesia, most notably in China. Conclusion Our hypothesis is that deep anaesthesia in the Balance trial led to higher postoperative delirium, which in turn led to an increase in late mortality. In future trials, patients should be followed for more than a year and cause of death recorded.
Cell-type-informed genotyping of mosaic focal epilepsies reveals cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous disease-associated transcriptional programs
Authors: Bizzotto Sara , Stronge Edward A. , Talukdar Maya , Hu Qiwen , Zhou Zinan , Huang August Yue , Chhouk Brian H. , D’Gama Alissa M. , Yang Edward , Green Timothy E. , Reutens David C. , Mullen Saul A. , Hildebrand Michael S. , Buono Russell J , Poduri Annapurna H. , Khoshkhoo Sattar , Walsh Christopher A.
Published: October 2024

Recent studies demonstrate growing roles for genetic mosaicism in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, with the paradigm being drug-resistant pediatric focal epilepsy related to activating somatic variants in the PI3K-mTOR pathway. While identifying the genotype-associated changes at the single-cell level is fundamental to understanding disease pathophysiology, this remains technically challenging in human tissue samples with existing methods. Here, we performed single-nucleus RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) of 20 focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) samples removed surgically for treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy, and 10 non-FCD controls, and we developed a new approach, Genotyping Of Transcriptomes Enhanced with Nanopore sequencing (GO-TEN), that combines targeted complementary (c)DNA sequencing with snRNA-seq to perform concurrent single-nucleus genotyping and transcriptional analysis. We find that mosaic pathogenic variants in FCD do not produce a detectable novel cell identity, but instead we observe conserved cell types present both in FCD cases and non-FCD control specimens. Similarly, GO-TEN analysis shows that most pathogenic variant-carrying cells have well-differentiated neuronal or glial identities and are enriched for layer II-III excitatory neurons. We identify cell-intrinsic disruption of glutamate and GABA-A signaling pathways in variant-carrying neurons and altered intercellular signaling, making potential mechanisms for epileptogenesis in FCD. In summary, by addressing genotype-specific changes in mosaic epilepsy-associated lesions, our study highlights new potential disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets.
Enhanced bacterial chemotaxis in confined microchannels: Optimal performance in lane widths matching circular swimming radius
Authors: Yue Caijuan , Zhang Chi , Zhang Rongjing , Yuan Junhua
Published: October 2024

Understanding bacterial behavior in confined environments is crucial for elucidating microbial ecology and developing strategies to manage bacterial infections. While extensive research has focused on bacterial motility on surfaces and in porous media, chemotaxis in confined spaces remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the chemotaxis ofEscherichia coliwithin microfluidic lanes under a linear concentration gradient of L-aspartate. We demonstrate thatE. coliexhibits significantly enhanced chemotaxis in lanes with sidewalls compared to open surfaces, primarily due to cells aligning and swimming along the right sidewalls. By varying lane widths, we identify that an 8 μm width—approximating the radius of bacterial circular swimming on surfaces—maximizes chemotactic drift velocity. These results are supported by both experimental observations and stochastic simulations, establishing a clear proportional relationship between optimal lane width and the radius of bacterial circular swimming. Further geometric analysis provides an intuitive understanding of this phenomenon. Our results offer new insights into bacterial navigation in complex biological environments such as host tissues and biofilms, shedding light on microbial ecology in confined habitats and suggesting new avenues for controlling bacterial infections.
TheTrypanosoma cruzicell atlas; a single-cell resource for understanding parasite population heterogeneity and differentiation
Authors: Laidlaw Ross , Sanchez Marta Garcia , Pacheco Juliana Da Silva , Paradela Luciana De Sousa , Otto Thomas D , De Rycker Manu
Published: October 2024

Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, exhibits a complex life cycle with multiple hosts, stages and differentiation steps. We present a complete cell atlas for theT. cruzilife cycle, based on single cell transcriptomes for over 31,000 cells and population-based transcriptomics. The atlas reveals many life cycle associated genes and can be utilised to accurately annotate life cycle stages. It provides detailed insights into cell heterogeneity, including cell-specific repertoires of surface antigens in trypomastigotes, with key implications for immune responses. Enabled by single-cell resolution, we define the transcriptomic changes that occur across the epimastigote to metacyclic trypomastigote differentiation axis. Furthermore, we provide comprehensive UTR annotation, identifying previously unannotated transcripts as well as revealing alternative poly-adenylation and an unanticipated complexity of reverse strand and antisense transcripts. ThisT. cruziatlas provides a comprehensive resource and unlocks a range of new avenues for research on this important human pathogen.
Longhorn Beetles Form Structural Colour Using Calcium Phosphate Biominerals
Authors: Chang Yin , Tseng Hsiang-Han , Tanahashi Masahiko , Pohl Darius , Rellinghaus Bernd , Bertinetti Luca , Politi Yael
Published: October 2024

Brilliant structural colors originating from diverse photonic crystals are found across many phyla, including the striking iridescent colors of beetles and butterflies, produced by three-dimensional photonic crystal structures in the specialized cuticular scales. However, the precise composition of these structures remains largely unknown, although it is key to unravelling colour production mechanisms and morphogenesis. The longhorn beetleDoliops similisdisplays vibrant green patterns on its otherwise dark elytra. These patterns are formed by arrays of minute scales that encompass a three-dimensional photonic crystal made of orderly packed nanospheres. We found that these nanospheres are composed of carbonated amorphous calcium phosphate biomineral. By accurately parameterizing the structure and calculating the refractive index deduced from the relative fractions of the organic and inorganic phases, we derived reflection wavelengths that match the observed green hue, demonstrating the biomineral’s role in colour production. Our study further reveals that biomineralization is widespread in the Lamiinae subfamily, with colour diversity achieved through variations in nanosphere size, packing, and composition. This study opens new avenues for developing bioinspired mineral-based optical devices with high refractive indices and defect-resistance, overcoming the shortcomings of current polymer-based designs.
High-Complexity Barcoded Rabies Virus for Scalable Circuit Mapping Using Single-Cell and Single-Nucleus Sequencing
Authors: Shin David , Urbanek Madeleine E. , Larson H. Hanh , Moussa Anthony J. , Lee Kevin Y. , Baker Donovan L. , Standen-Bloom Elio , Ramachandran Sangeetha , Bogdanoff Derek , Cadwell Cathryn R. , Nowakowski Tomasz J.
Published: October 2024

Single cell genomics has revolutionized our understanding of neuronal cell types. However, scalable technologies for probing single-cell connectivity are lacking, and we are just beginning to understand how molecularly defined cell types are organized into functional circuits. Here, we describe a protocol to generate high-complexity barcoded rabies virus (RV) for scalable circuit mapping from tens of thousands of individual starter cells in parallel. In addition, we introduce a strategy for targeting RV-encoded barcode transcripts to the nucleus so that they can be read out using single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq). We apply this tool in organotypic slice cultures of the developing human cerebral cortex, which reveals the emergence of cell type– specific circuit motifs in midgestation. By leveraging the power and throughput of single cell genomics for mapping synaptic connectivity, we chart a path forward for scalable circuit mapping of molecularly-defined cell types in healthy and disease states.
Incorporating spatial diffusion into models of bursty stochastic transcription
Authors: Miles Christopher E.
Published: October 2024

The dynamics of gene expression are both stochastic and spatial at the molecular scale. Mechanistic models of mRNA count distributions have revealed countless insights but largely neglect the frontier of subcellular spatial resolution. The spatial distribution of mRNA encodes their dynamics, including inherently spatial processes like transport to the nuclear boundary for export. Due to the technical challenges of spatial stochastic processes, tools for studying these subcellular spatial patterns are still limited. Here, we introduce a spatial stochastic model of nuclear mRNA with telegraph transcriptional dynamics. Observations of the model can be concisely described as following a spatial Cox process driven by a stochastically switching partial differential equation (PDE). We derive analytical solutions for spatial and demographic moments and validate them with simulations. We show that the distribution of mRNA counts can be accurately approximated by a Poisson-Beta distribution with tractable parameters, even with complex spatial dynamics. This observation allows for efficient parameter inference demonstrated on synthetic data. Altogether, our work adds progress toward a new frontier of subcellular spatial resolution in inferring the dynamics of gene expression from static snapshot data.
Rotational migration in human pancreatic ductal organoids depends on actin and myosin activity
Authors: Xie Gengqiang , Wang Yue Julia , Thirumalai D. , Li Xin , Irianto Jerome
Published: October 2024

Rotational migration is one specific form of collective cell migration when epithelial cells are confined in a spherical geometry, such as in the epithelial acini. This tissue-level rotation motion is crucial for the morphogenesis of multiple epithelial systems. Here, we introduce a new primary human model for the study of rotational migration, pancreatic ductal organoids. Live imaging revealed the persistent rotation of the organoids over time. By tracking the nuclei, the three-dimensional trajectory of the cellular movement was reconstructed and the velocity of the rotation was quantified. The presence of focal adhesion clusters and prominent actin stress fibers were observed at the basal side of the organoids, suggesting the interactions between the cells and the surrounding extracellular matrix. Finally, our inhibition study showed the dependence of pancreatic ductal organoid rotational migration on myosin activity, actin polymerization, and actin branching. We hope that this model will enable future studies with human primary cells, which are more faithful to normal epithelial cells.
Spin-reorientation phase transition and induced spin reversals in
NdFeO3
: Theory and experiment
Authors: Zubov E. E. , Fita I. , Puzniak R. , Wisniewski A.
Published: October 2024

Spin-reorientation (SR) phase transition (PT), spin reversals, hysteresis, and thermal phenomena in neodymium orthoferrite are studied within the framework of the previously presented model of the magnetic properties of orthoferrites []. A rigorous proof of an appearance of the SR second-order PT at temperature TSR in infinitesimal magnetic field along one of the crystal symmetry axes is given. It is done without introduction of high-order anisotropy constants used in traditional phenomenological theories for the orthoferrite thermodynamics. The expression for temperature TSR considers a complex competition of existing anisotropies. Unfortunately, due to the displacement of domain boundaries, this temperature is quite difficult to determine. Since the anisotropy at temperature TSR is predicted to disappear, a method for TSR determination is proposed. Particular attention is paid to the study of an influence of demagnetizing field on the structure of phase diagrams as well as to the analysis of the experimental data on temperature and field dependence of the magnetization. It has been established that the specimen shape essentially influences temperature dependences of the PT critical fields. Using the experimental temperature dependence of the spin-reversal critical fields, the microscopic anisotropic interaction parameters in neodymium orthoferrite are determined, on the basis of which the magnetization, spin-reversal energies, specific heat capacity, and hysteresis loops are calculated. The results of the experiment and theory are in good agreement.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Machine learning a fixed point action for SU(3) gauge theory with a gauge equivariant convolutional neural network
Authors: Holland Kieran , Ipp Andreas , Müller David I. , Wenger Urs
Published: October 2024

Fixed point lattice actions are designed to have continuum classical properties unaffected by discretization effects and reduced lattice artifacts at the quantum level. They provide a possible way to extract continuum physics with coarser lattices, thereby allowing one to circumvent problems with critical slowing down and topological freezing toward the continuum limit. A crucial ingredient for practical applications is to find an accurate and compact parametrization of a fixed point action, since many of its properties are only implicitly defined. Here we use machine learning methods to revisit the question of how to parametrize fixed point actions. In particular, we obtain a fixed point action for four-dimensional SU(3) gauge theory using convolutional neural networks with exact gauge invariance. The large operator space allows us to find superior parametrizations compared to previous studies, a necessary first step for future Monte Carlo simulations and scaling studies.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Lightening up primordial black holes in the galaxy with the QCD axion: Signals at the LOFAR telescope
Authors: Ferreira Ricardo Z. , Muyor Ángel Gil
Published: October 2024

In this work, we study the luminosity that results from the conversion of QCD axion particles into photons in the magnetic field of the plasma accreting onto black holes (BHs). For the luminosities to be large two conditions need to be met: (i) there are large numbers of axions in the primordial BH surroundings as a result of the so-called superradiant instability; (ii) there exists a point inside the accreting region where the plasma and axion masses are similar and there is resonant axion-photon conversion. For BHs accreting from the interstellar medium in our Galaxy, the above conditions require the black hole to have subsolar masses and we are therefore led to consider a population of primordial black holes (PBHs). In the conservative window, where we stay within the nonrelativistic behavior of the plasma and neglect the possibility of nonlinear enhancement via magnetic stimulation, the typical frequencies of the emitted photons lie on the low-radio band. We thus study the prospects for detection using the LOFAR telescope, assuming the PBH abundance to be close to the maximal allowed by observations. We find that for PBH and QCD axion with masses in the range 10−5–10−4M⊙ and 4×10−8 and 4×10−7  eV, respectively, the flux density emitted by the closest PBH, assuming it accretes from the warm ionized medium, can be detected at the LOFAR telescope. Coincidentally, the PBH mass range coincides with the range that would explain the microlensing events found in OGLE. This might further motivate a dedicated search of these signals in the LOFAR data and other radio telescopes.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Doubly special relativity as a nonlocal quantum field theory
Authors: Relancio J. J. , Santamaría-Sanz L.
Published: October 2024

In this work, we explore the quantum theories of the free massive scalar, the massive fermionic, and the electromagnetic fields in a doubly special relativity scenario. This construction is based on a geometrical interpretation of the kinematics of this kind of theory. In order to describe the modified actions, we find that a higher (indeed infinite) derivative field theory is needed, from which the deformed kinematics can be read. From our construction, we are able to restrict the possible models of doubly special relativity to those that preserve linear Lorentz invariance. We quantize the theories and also obtain a deformed version of the Maxwell equations. We analyze the electromagnetic vector potential for both an electric pointlike source and magnetic dipole. We observe that the electric and magnetic fields do not diverge at the origin for some models described with an anti–de Sitter momentum space, but they do for a de Sitter space in both problems.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Light-induced fictitious magnetic fields for quantum storage in cold atomic ensembles
Authors: Wang Jianmin , Dong Liang , Wang Xingchang , Zhou Zihan , Huang Jinshuai , Zuo Ying , Siviloglou Georgios A. , Chen J. F.
Published: October 2024

In this paper, we have demonstrated that optically generated fictitious magnetic fields can be utilized to extend the lifetime of quantum memories in cold atomic ensembles. All the degrees of freedom of an AC Stark shift, such as polarization, spatial profile, and temporal waveform, can be readily controlled in a precise manner. Temporal fluctuations over several experimental cycles and spatial inhomogeneities along a cold atomic gas have been compensated by an optical beam. The advantage of employing fictitious magnetic fields for quantum storage lies in the speed and spatial precision with which these fields can be synthesized. Our simple and versatile technique can find widespread application in coherent pulse and single-photon storage across various atomic species.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Non‐senescent species are not immortal: Stress and decline in two planaria species
Authors: Deere Jacques A. , Holland Penelope , Aboobaker Aziz , Salguero‐Gómez Roberto
Published: October 2024

Potential immortality is observed in several species (e.g. prickly pear cactus, hydra and flatworms) and is indicative of their negligible or even negative senescence rates. Unlike in senescent species, which experience reduced individual performance with age due to physiological degradation, species with negligible or negative senescence display mortality rates that remain constant or decline with age, respectively. These rates vary across taxa and are correlated with life history traits. Yet, the extent to which variable resource availability, a key driver of variation in life history traits, impacts species that show negligible or negative senescence is currently unknown.

Here, we examine whether and how variation in the quantity, quality and feeding interval of resources impact population structure, population performance and life history trait trade‐offs in two long‐lived planaria that do not senesce: Schmidtea mediterranea and Dugesia tahitiensis. In a full factorial design, different combinations of resource quantity (reduced intake, standard intake and high intake) and quality (high and low quality) were provided in two different feeding intervals (7‐day and 14‐day intervals) for 19 weeks.

We show that variability in resource availability, via decreases in quantity, quality and frequency of resources, does not diminish population viability in either species but does result in suboptimal conditions of stress in S. mediterranea.

The high population viability we report can be attributed to two different mechanisms: increased reproduction or increased investment into maintenance at the expense of reproduction. Moreover, which mechanism was responsible for said high population viability was context‐dependent and modulated by the specific life history strategy of the two planaria species.

We show that suboptimal conditions can cause stress responses that have significant impacts on non‐senescent species. The context‐dependent response we observe suggests that species that do not senesce but are subject to suboptimal conditions of stress may ultimately exhibit declines in performance and ultimately die. A clearer understanding of the impact of suboptimal conditions of resource availability on non‐senescent species is needed to determine the extent of stress experienced and ultimately whether a species can truly be immortal.
The interplay of drought, human–wildlife conflict and food security: Insights from rural Zimbabwe
Authors: Kairiza Terrence , Pallegedara Asankha , Chigusiwa Lloyd
Published: October 2024

The frequency and severity of drought has been increasing in Southern Africa against the backdrop of an increase in the population of both humans and wildlife, most notably elephants. This has increased the incidents of human–wildlife conflict (HWC) due to competition for food and water, further complicating both conservation efforts and food security for farmer‐households juxtaposed to wildlife corridors. We seek insights into these issues by examining the role of drought in inducing HWC in rural Zimbabwe and investigate the effect of HWC on the food‐security status of rural households. We utilise data from the 2023 nationally representative survey of rural Zimbabwean households in this endeavour. To avoid the confounding problem associated with self‐selection into a HWC household and taking into account the count nature of our outcome variable, we employ the endogenous switching regression model with count data. The results provide three major insights. First, drought occurrence increases the likelihood of HWC among rural farmer‐households. Second, HWC increases rural household vulnerability to food insecurity. Finally, the HWC shock is inconsequential on farmer‐household food insecurity if the farmer‐household has already suffered the drought shock.
No Level Playing Field: Barriers to Disability Representation in Politics
Authors: Reher Stefanie , Evans Elizabeth
Published: October 2024

While one in five people in the UK are disabled, their number among elected representatives remains disproportionately low. In ongoing efforts to make politics more inclusive and diverse, disabled people often remain sidelined. As a politically relevant identity, disability is associated with a shared set of experiences and policy interests which are often overlooked. This is at least in part owing to the under‐representation of disabled politicians, which is likely also contributing to a sense of political alienation. Thus, tackling the barriers that disabled people experience in the political recruitment process is not only a matter of democratic justice and equality, but also essential for ensuring that disabled people's needs and concerns are recognised and met. This article outlines the obstacles that disabled people experience in pursuing elected office—including inaccessibility, inadequate financial resources and ableist institutions and cultures—and offers recommendations to political parties, parliaments and governments on how to mitigate them.
Should we still teach or learn coding? A postgraduate student perspective on the use of large language models for coding in ecology and evolution
Authors: Campbell Heather , Bluck Thomas , Curry Ella , Harris Derrick , Pike Billie , Wright Bethany
Published: October 2024

The extent to which coding skills are taught within ecology and evolution curricula remains largely unquantified. While coding, and especially R, proficiency is increasingly demanded in academic and professional contexts, many students encounter coding for the first time as postgraduates, presenting a steep learning curve alongside learning advanced statistics.

With the emergence of large language models (LLMs), questions arise regarding the relevance of teaching coding when many of these tasks can now be automated. Here, we explore students' experiences with using LLMs for coding, highlighting both benefits and limitations.

Through qualitative analysis of student perspectives, we identify several advantages of using LLMs for coding tasks, including enhanced search capabilities, provision of starting points and clear instructions, and troubleshooting support. However, limitations such as a lack of responsiveness to feedback and the prerequisite of extensive prior knowledge pose challenges to the effectiveness of student use of LLMs for coding at a beginner level. Concerns also arise regarding future access to LLMs, potentially exacerbating inequities in education.

Despite the potential of LLMs, we argue for the continued importance of teaching coding skills alongside their integration with LLM support. Tutor‐supported learning is essential for building foundational knowledge, facilitating comprehension of LLM outputs and fostering students' confidence in their abilities. Moreover, reliance solely on LLMs risks hindering deep learning and comprehension, thereby undermining the educational process. Our experiences underscore the significance of maintaining a balanced approach, leveraging LLMs as supplementary tools rather than substitutes for coding education in ecology and evolution courses.
Pressure to publish introduces large‐language model risks
Authors: Johnson Thomas F. , Simmons Benno I. , Millard Joseph , Strydom Tanya , Danet Alain , Sweeny Amy R. , Evans Luke C.
Published: October 2024

Large‐language models (LLMs) have the potential to accelerate research in ecology and evolution, cultivating new insights and innovation. However, whilst revelling in the plethora of opportunities, researchers need to consider that LLM use could also introduce risks.

An important piece of context underpinning this perspective is the pressure to publish, where research careers are defined, at least partly, by publication metrics like number of papers, impact factor, citations etc. Coupled with academic employment insecurity, especially during early career, researchers may reason that LLMs are a low‐risk and high‐reward tool for publication.

However, this pressure to publish can introduce risks if LLMs are used as a shortcut to game publication metrics instead of a tool to support true innovation. These risks may ultimately reduce research quality, stifle researcher development and incur reputational damage for researchers and the entire scientific record.

We conclude with a series of recommendations to mitigate the magnitude of these risks and encourage researchers to apply caution whilst maximising LLM potential.
Dysregulated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide metabolome in patients hospitalized with COVID‐19
Authors: Valderrábano Rodrigo J. , Wipper Benjamin , Pencina Karol Mateusz , Migaud Marie , Shang Yili Valentine , Latham Nancy K. , Montano Monty , Cunningham James M. , Wilson Lauren , Peng Liming , Memish‐Beleva Yusnie , Bhargava Avantika , Swain Pamela M. , Lehman Phoebe , Lavu Siva , Livingston David J. , Bhasin Shalender
Published: October 2024

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) depletion has been postulated as a contributor to the severity of COVID‐19; however, no study has prospectively characterized NAD+ and its metabolites in relation to disease severity in patients with COVID‐19. We measured NAD+ and its metabolites in 56 hospitalized patients with COVID‐19 and in two control groups without COVID‐19: (1) 31 age‐ and sex‐matched adults with comorbidities, and (2) 30 adults without comorbidities. Blood NAD+ concentrations in COVID‐19 group were only slightly lower than in the control groups (p < 0.05); however, plasma 1‐methylnicotinamide concentrations were significantly higher in patients with COVID‐19 (439.7 ng/mL, 95% CI: 234.0, 645.4 ng/mL) than in age‐ and sex‐matched controls (44.5 ng/mL, 95% CI: 15.6, 73.4) and in healthy controls (18.1 ng/mL, 95% CI 15.4, 20.8; p < 0.001 for each comparison). Plasma nicotinamide concentrations were also higher in COVID‐19 group and in controls with comorbidities than in healthy control group. Plasma concentrations of 2‐methyl‐2‐pyridone‐5‐carboxamide (2‐PY), but not NAD+, were significantly associated with increased risk of death (HR = 3.65; 95% CI 1.09, 12.2; p = 0.036) and escalation in level of care (HR = 2.90, 95% CI 1.01, 8.38, p = 0.049). RNAseq and RTqPCR analyses of PBMC mRNA found upregulation of multiple genes involved in NAD+ synthesis as well as degradation, and dysregulation of NAD+‐dependent processes including immune response, DNA repair, metabolism, apoptosis/autophagy, redox reactions, and mitochondrial function. Blood NAD+ concentrations are modestly reduced in COVID‐19; however, NAD+ turnover is substantially increased with upregulation of genes involved in both NAD+ biosynthesis and degradation, supporting the rationale for NAD+ augmentation to attenuate disease severity.
Reactivation of stable neovascular age‐related macular degeneration following treat‐and‐extend regimen discontinuation
Authors: Artiaga Jose Carlo M. , Wong Shiao Wei , Menon Deepthy , Kumar Swetha , Dhoble Pankaja , Thottarath Sridevi , Nicholson Luke
Published: October 2024

Background

To describe the incidence and pattern of reactivation of neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (nAMD) following successful treatment with treat‐and‐extend intravitreal anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor therapy.

Methods

Consecutive patients with treated nAMD who did not require further treatment over a 6‐month period and who attended their 3‐monthly optical coherence tomography monitoring clinic in Moorfields Eye Hospital from 1 November 2019 to 31 January 2020 were included. Patients with diagnoses of macular neovascularization other than AMD, and patients with incomplete data were excluded. Baseline demographics recorded were age, sex, race, laterality, cause of macular neovascularization, drug, number of injections, and duration of treatment. Date, setting, symptoms, and time to retreatment were collected among patients with disease reactivation.

Results

The medical records of 286 patients were included. Most patients were female (64.3%), white (68.18%), and were receiving aflibercept monotherapy (55.2%). Mean number of injections at baseline was 17.79 ± 11.74 (range 3–62) with a mean treatment duration of 39.47 ± 30.68 months (range 2–139). Reactivation of AMD was identified in 32.2% of cases with 87% of recurrences identified via scheduled visit. The most common symptom was blurring of vision in 44.6%, while 39.1% were asymptomatic. Mean time from baseline to retreatment was 29.37 ± 22.40 months (range 5–104), with 20.7%, 73.9% and 88.04% of these patients requiring retreatment within 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively.

Conclusions

Despite prior treatment with no reactivation in 6 months, 32.2% reactivate, 73.9% of which within 3 years. A significant proportion, 39.1%, reactivated without symptoms necessitating regular monitoring in the first 5 years.
Exploring the dyeing potential of annatto dye on linen substrate: An inquiry into the effects of different mordants
Authors: Marquardt André Luiz , de Oliveira Carlos Rafael Silva , Volkmann Ana Carolina , Francisco Isadora Bertini Martins , da Silva Júnior Afonso Henrique , de de Aguiar Catia Rosana Lange
Published: October 2024

This study aimed to compare the dyeing capacity of annatto dye on linen textile substrates under the influence of different mordants, such as ferrous sulphate, alum, chitosan, and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDACl). Annatto dye was extracted in an alcoholic medium, and the concentrations of the dye compounds bixin and norbixin were determined using ultraviolet‐visible spectrophotometry. Dyeing experiments were conducted with 10% and 20% weight of material (s.p.m.) concentrations, both on mordant‐treated substrates and on substrates pre‐bleached only. The colour evaluation indicated better colour yields for substrates pretreated with alum and PDDACl, with colour strength (K/S) values of 41.14 and 38.74, respectively, for dyeing with 20% s.p.m. However, these substrates exhibited the highest colour deviation (∆E) values in washing and lightfastness tests. The substrate pretreated with ferrous sulphate and the substrate pre‐bleached only showed K/S values of 25.99 and 18.68, respectively, with the ferrous sulphate‐treated substrate exhibiting the lowest ∆E values in washing and lightfastness tests among all evaluated substrates. Chitosan‐cationised samples showed the lowest colour yield, with a K/S of 12.51. Regarding washing and lightfastness, the pre‐bleached only substrate and the chitosan‐pretreated substrate displayed intermediate ∆𝐸 values. The dyeing kinetics of pre‐bleached substrates exhibited pseudo‐first‐order behaviour, while for ferrous sulphate‐pretreated samples, pseudo‐second‐order behaviour was observed. Langmuir's adsorption model was suitable for pre‐bleached substrate dyeing and ferrous sulphate‐pretreated sample dyeing in adsorption isotherms. However, for mordanted samples, higher adsorption intensity was observed.
1110. Hibiscus glaber Matsum. ex Nakai
Authors: Vélez‐Esperilla Fernando , Takayama Koji , Takegami Minako , Yamanaka Masumi
Published: October 2024

Hibiscus glaber is a symbolically significant endemic species found exclusively on the Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands. It is one of the main tree species in the natural forests of the island. This species is illustrated here, and its natural history, ecology, pollination, and cultivation are described.
Targeting ICAM1 to Ameliorate Vaso‐Occlusion and Inflammation in Sickle Cell Disease
Authors: Gupta Parul , Kumar Ravindra
Published: October 2024

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary disorder characterized by vaso‐occlusion, inflammation, and tissue damage. Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM‐1) plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of SCD by promoting the adhesion of sickle cells to the endothelium, contributing to vaso‐occlusion and tissue damage. The ICAM‐1 gene encodes a glycoprotein that interacts with lymphocyte function–associated antigen 1 (LFA‐1) and macrophage 1‐antigen (Mac‐1) receptors, perpetuating inflammation, and oxidative stress. The NF‐κB signaling pathway regulates ICAM‐1 expression, which is elevated in patients with SCD, leading to increased endothelial cell activation and damage. Targeting ICAM‐1 and its interactions with sickle cells and the endothelium has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy for managing SCD. This review highlights the complex interplay between ICAM‐1, sickle cells, and the endothelium, and discusses the potential of ICAM‐1‐targeted therapies for mitigating VOC and improving the quality of life for patients with SCD.
Impact of nitrogen and phosphorus amendments on nitrogen‐cycling microbial abundances and potentials: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Tang Yuqian , Jia Yanru , Zhang Siqin , Zhang Yanjie
Published: October 2024

The rapid increase in nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availabilities in terrestrial ecosystems has led to sustained shifts in soil microbial communities and microbially‐mediated N‐cycling. However, the specific effects of N and P amendments on N‐cycling microbes are poorly understood. This meta‐analysis synthesizes the effects of N and/or P amendments on the abundances and functional potentials of N‐cycling genes involved in N₂ fixation, organic N mineralization, nitrification, and denitrification across natural ecosystems and diverse soil conditions in China. Our findings indicate that ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB) showed greater responsiveness to N amendment than ammonia‐oxidizing archaea (AOA), and AOB amoA abundance increased while AOA amoA abundance decreased with P amendments. Additionally, the abundance of nirS declined, while nirK abundance remained unresponsive to both N and P amendments. These findings highlight the distinct ecological niches occupied by microbial groups with equivalent functions in response to N and P amendments. Moreover, our findings indicate that soil N and P availabilities, along with soil acidification induced by N additions and microbial biomass carbon content, are key factors regulating N‐cycling gene abundances and potentials. The driving mechanisms for N‐cycling genes and their corresponding potentials appear to be distinct, with gene abundance showing only a limited influence on functional potentials. This suggests that factors such as soil properties and microbial community compositions may be more critical determinants of N‐cycling processes than functional gene abundances with regard to scenarios of increasing N and P deposition.
Masting and Efficient Production of Seedlings: Balancing Costs of Variation Through Synchronised Fruiting
Authors: Bogdziewicz Michal , Chybicki Igor , Szymkowiak Jakub , Ulaszewski Bartosz , Burczyk Jaroslaw , Szarek‐Łukaszewska Grażyna , Meyza Katarzyna , Sztupecka Ewa , Ledwoń Mateusz , Piechnik Łukasz , Seget Barbara , Kondrat Katarzyna , Holeksa Jan , Żywiec Magdalena
Published: October 2024

The efficient conversion of tissues into reproductive success is a crucial aspect affecting the evolution of life histories. Masting, the interannually variable and synchronous seed production in perennial plants, is a strategy that can enhance reproductive efficiency by mitigating seed predation and pollen limitation. However, evaluating benefits is insufficient to establish whether efficiency has improved, as such assessments neglect the associated costs of masting, particularly during the critical seed‐to‐seedling stage. We conducted a parentage analysis of seedlings and adults in a population of 209 Sorbus aucuparia trees, monitored over 23 years, providing pioneering documentation of the effects of masting on the fitness of individual trees beyond the seed stage. Our results show high costs of interannual variation that can be mitigated by high synchrony and reveal the existence of phenotypes that appear to reap the benefits of masting while avoiding its costs through regular reproduction.
Fatigue Crack Propagation Life of Metallic Materials Under Random Loading: A Coupling Analysis Method in the Frequency Domain
Authors: Fu Dingkun , Li Piao , Sun Jiachen , Yao Weixing
Published: October 2024

This paper proposes an equivalent spectrum method to predict the fatigue crack propagation (FCP) life of metallic materials subjected to random loading. To adequately account for the coupling effects between crack propagation and the random response of structures, a coupling analysis model is introduced. The stress intensity factor (SIF) can be estimated based on the power spectral density (PSD) of an equivalent displacement. Random vibration fatigue tests were conducted to evaluate the proposed model on aluminum alloy specimens. Results indicate significant variations in natural frequency with crack length. The predicted results are compared with the experimental values, demonstrating satisfactory prediction accuracy of the proposed coupling analysis model. This model enables the assessment of coupling effects between crack length and random response, facilitating more precise predictions of FCP life in metallic materials and guiding the expanded application of damage tolerance criteria in structural engineering.
Estimation of CZM Parameters for Investigating the Interface Fracture of Adhesively Bonded Joints Under Mode I, Mode II, and Mixed‐Mode (I/II) Loading
Authors: Saikia P. J. , Muthu N.
Published: October 2024

The mechanical performance of joints for any engineering applications requires accurate characterization of joint interfaces. This paper presents a simplified experimental procedure to estimate the cohesive zone model (CZM) parameters for predicting the interface failure of adhesively bonded joints subjected to mode I (opening) and mode II (shear) loading. The novelty of this procedure lies in predicting all CZM parameters—cohesive stiffness, strength, and cohesive energy (fracture toughness), of the bonded interface using one common experimental setup. It is observed that the cohesive strength and cohesive energy in shear loading are approximately 3.8 and 11.6 times, respectively, compared to the opening loading condition. Employing a triangular cohesive law, the CZM parameters are combined with appropriate damage initiation (quadratic stress) and evolution (power law) criteria. The proposed methodology is verified against experimental load–displacement responses of the bonded interface under mixed‐mode I/II (opening/shear) loading across a wide range of mode mixity (α = 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, and 90°). The maximum error between the experimental and the numerical peak load is 5.11%. The acceptable agreement between the numerical and experimental results confirms the effectiveness of this method in investigating interface fracture in adhesively bonded joints under different loading conditions.
Long‐term injury records reveal the role of biting in male–male combat in the Japanese giant salamander
Authors: Takahashi Mizuki K. , McGuire Brigid , Horsley Luna
Published: October 2024

Biting is a common male–male combat tactic across jawed vertebrates, in which teeth or bony beaks serve as weapons. Because biting can cause severe injuries in some species, bite scars provide critical information about the degrees and patterns of fights.

Amphibians have a remarkable diversity in tooth morphology and arrangement. However, the functional ecology of amphibian teeth is poorly studied. For example, unlike aquatic suction‐feeding frogs that lost teeth, aquatic salamanders that suction‐feed prey retain numerous sharp teeth, suggesting that teeth as weapons may partially explain their retention.

Here, we analysed long‐term injury records of one of the fully aquatic, suction‐feeding salamanders (Japanese Giant Salamander, Andrias japonicus) to examine the previously unexplored potential of amphibian teeth as weapons for male–male combat. The majority of the injuries were missing toes and limbs, which most likely occurred during intra‐specific combat. We explored associations between injuries and independent variables such as sex, body size, body condition and stream sections. We also investigated possible injury‐pattern biases along the lateral (i.e. right vs. left) and longitudinal (i.e. anterior vs. posterior) axes, which could reveal how these animals fight.

We found that males had more injuries, larger individuals had more injuries, and males with poorer conditions had more injuries. There was no association between injuries and stream sections. In addition, we found that salamanders had more injuries on the right and posterior sides of the body. The lateral asymmetry in injuries is likely associated with turning asymmetry during combat.

Our results revealed the intense male–male combats of giant salamanders, providing evidence of the use of teeth as weapons. Combats via biting in amphibians may be much more common and severe than currently known. Our research suggests the function of amphibian teeth as weapons, which is likely to be a vital selective agent shaping its remarkable diversity.
Integrated Health Education Programmes With Physical Activity Among Community‐Dwelling Older Adults at Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: An Integrative Review of Experimental Studies
Authors: Lo Flora M. W. , Wong Eliza M. L. , Lam Katherine Ka Wai , Liu Qi , Yang Funa , Jiang Ling , Huang Xinlin , Ho Ka Yan
Published: October 2024

Aims

To examine the effects of integrated health education programmes with physical activity among community‐dwelling older adults at risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Design

Integrative review.

Data Sources

A systematic search of experimental studies was conducted in six electronic databases and one registry from inception to December 2022.

Methods

Two researchers independently conducted the eligibility screening, quality appraisal and data extraction. A total of 11 studies, which were published between 1996 and 2021, were included in the review and were analysed by narrative synthesis.

Results

The 11 included studies involved 1973 participants. The findings indicate that integrated health education programmes with physical activity have potential benefit in short‐term weight management among community‐dwelling older adults at risk of ASCVD. Nevertheless, the programmes appear ineffective on body mass index, short‐term lipid profiles, diastolic blood pressure (BP) and blood glucose. Further investigation is recommended to confirm the programme effects on physical activity level, exercise self‐efficacy, systolic BP, waist circumference, long‐term lipid profiles, long‐term weight management and cardiac endurance. The findings suggest that body mass index may not be a sensitive indicator of obesity in the elderly population and should be measured along with waist circumference to better predict the risk of ASCVD. The available evidence is restricted in its robustness and generalisability. As most included studies were conducted in the United States, more studies should be implemented in other countries to enhance study generalisability.

Conclusions

The effects of integrated health education programmes with physical activity among community‐dwelling older adults at risk of ASCVD remain inconclusive. Further research with adequate statistical power and good methodology is warranted.

Impact

The findings provide insights into whether health education programmes with physical activity effectively improve various outcomes, and suggest that researchers should include exercise self‐efficacy and cardiac endurance in future studies.

Reporting Method

Adhered to PRISMA reporting guidelines.

No Patient or Public Contribution

This review was conducted without patient or public participation.
Taxonomic notes on types of Curimatus Oken 1817 (Teleostei: Curimatidae) of the Naturhistorisches Museum of Vienna
Authors: Melo Bruno F.
Published: October 2024

Incorrect catalogue numbers and incomplete information regarding types of Curimatus Oken of the Naturhistorisches Museum of Vienna (NMW) have been successively replicated in the ichthyology literature. Using evidence compiled directly from NMW types and data, this study formally presents the correct type numbers of Curimatus abramoides Kner 1858 (= Cyphocharax) and Curimatus knerii Steindachner 1876 (= Curimata) and clarifies the taxonomic status and availability of types of Curimatus elegans var. amazonica Steindachner 1911, Curimatus helleri Steindachner 1910, Curimatus surinamensis Steindachner 1910, and Curimatus naegelii Steindachner 1881.