bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extensive countrywide field investigation of somatic cell counts and total bacterial counts in bulk tank raw milk in goat herds in Greece
Authors: Lianou Daphne T. , Michael Charalambia K. , Vasileiou Natalia G.C. , Petinaki Efthimia , Cripps Peter J. , Tsilipounidaki Katerina , Katsafadou Angeliki I. , Politis Antonis P. , Kordalis Nikos G. , Ioannidi Katerina S. , Gougoulis Dimitris A. , Trikalinou Constantina , Orfanou Denise C. , Fragkou Ilektra A. , Liagka Dimitra V. , Tzora Athina , Albenzio Marzia , Mavrogianni Vasia S. , Caroprese Mariangela C. , Fthenakis George C.
Published: August 2021

Dairy goat farming is an important sector of the agricultural industry in Greece, with an annual total milk production exceeding 450 000 l and accounting for over 25% of all goat milk produced in the European Union; this milk is used mainly for cheese production. Despite the importance of goat milk for the agricultural sector in Greece, no systematic countrywide investigations in the bulk-tank milk of goats in Greece have been reported. Objectives were to investigate somatic cell counts (SCC) and total bacterial counts (TBC) in raw bulk-tank milk of goat herds in Greece, study factors influencing SCC and TBC therein and evaluate their possible associations with milk content. Throughout Greece, 119 dairy goat herds were visited for milk sampling for somatic cell counting, microbiological examination and composition measurement. Geometric mean SCC and TBC were 0.838 × 106 cells ml−1 and 581 × 103 cfu ml−1, respectively. Multivariable analyses revealed annual frequency of check-ups of milking system and total milk quantity per goat (among 53 variables) to be significant for increased SCC; no factor emerged (among 58 variables) to be significant for increased TBC. Negative correlation of SCC with total protein was found; mean total protein content in the bulk-tank milk in herds with SCC >0.75 × 106 cells ml−1 was 5.1% lower and in herds with SCC >1.5 × 106 cells ml−1, it was 7.8% lower.
The COVID-19 Pandemic and Corporate Dividend Policy
Authors: Cejnek Georg , Randl Otto , Zechner Josef
Published: August 2021

This article shows that, for major equity markets, the proportion of index values attributable to the first 5 years of dividends dropped substantially in the first quarter of 2020 and that this drop was not reversed by the end of the year. In the cross section, this breakdown of dividend smoothing due to COVID-19 was less severe for firms with higher operating cash flows and more positively coskewed stock returns, and it was more pronounced for those with higher leverage and in the financial sector. Heavy dividend cutters also experienced a substantial increase in exposure to systematic risk.
Sex differences in language competence of 4-year-old children: Female advantages are mediated by phonological short-term memory
Authors: Lange Benjamin P. , Zaretsky Eugen
Published: August 2021

For some time now, psycholinguistic research has involved the study of sex differences in language development. Overall, girls seem to have an early advantage over boys, mainly in regard to vocabulary, which appears to decrease and, eventually, vanish with age. While there are numerous studies on sex differences in the acquisition of vocabulary as well as grammar, early sex differences in phonological short-term memory (PSTM) have been mostly neglected, or if research was conducted, it resulted in null findings, for the most part. In the present study, we examined sex differences in language competence (in a wide array of linguistic domains) of German children 4 years of age. Several tests were administered to assess articulation, vocabulary, grammar, speech comprehension, and, most importantly, PSTM (by means of the repetition of non-words and sentences). Girls performed better than boys in all domains, although some effect sizes were small. Most importantly, we found evidence for a female advantage in PSTM performance. Furthermore, mediation analyses revealed that the obtained sex differences in articulation, vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension were partially or fully mediated by (sex differences in) PSTM.
An approach to drastically reduce the required legs DOFs for bipedal robots and lower-limb exoskeletons
Authors: Jamisola Rodrigo S. , Roberts Rodney G.
Published: August 2021

We present a method to drastically reduce the required number of degrees-of-freedom (DOFs) needed for walking for each leg of bipedal robots and lower-limb exoskeletons. This approach releases more legs DOFs in the null space to do other tasks, instead of unnecessarily constraining them. It uses relative reference frames to control relative motion between the two feet, instead of the usual method of controlling foot movement with respect to fixed reference frames. In its basic form, it controls the bipedal walking holistically using two controllers: (1) world space control using relative feet motion and (2) null-space control of the legs posture.
Impact of weather conditions on cheetah monitoring with scat detection dogs
Authors: Mutoro Noreen M. , Eberle Jonas , Petermann Jana S. , Schaab Gertrud , Wykstra Mary , Habel Jan Christian
Published: August 2021

Knowledge on cheetah population densities across their current range is limited. Therefore, new and efficient assessment tools are needed to gain more knowledge on species distribution, ecology and behaviour. Scat detection dogs have emerged as an efficient and non-invasive method to monitor elusive and vulnerable animal species, like cheetahs, due to the dog’s superior olfactory system. However, the success of locating scat using detection dogs can be significantly improved under suitable weather conditions. We examined the impact of temperature, humidity and wind speed on detection rates of scat from cheetahs during a scat detection dog survey in Northern Kenya. We found that average wind speed positively influences the scat detection rate of detection dogs working on leash. Humidity showed no significant influence. Temperature showed a strong negative correlation with humidity and thus was excluded from our model analyses. While it is likely that wind speed is especially invalid for dogs working off leash, this study did not demonstrate this. Wind speed could thus influence the success of monitoring cheetahs or other target species. Our findings help to improve the survey and thus maximise the coverage of study area and the collection of target samples of elusive and rare species.
Half-a-Century of Terrorist Attacks: Weapons Selection, Casualty Outcomes, and Implications for Counter-Terrorism Medicine
Authors: Tin Derrick , Margus Colton , Ciottone Gregory R.
Published: August 2021

Background:

High profile terrorist attacks in major capital cities have seemingly become a regular occurrence and the resultant mass-casualty events continue to challenge health care systems. Counter-Terrorism Medicine (CTM) addresses unique terrorism-related issues relating to the mitigation, preparedness, and response measures to asymmetric, multi-modality terrorist attacks. This study is an epidemiological examination of all terrorism-related events sustained from 1970-2019, analyzing historical weapon types used and the resulting fatal injuries (FI) and non-fatal injuries (NFI) sustained.

Methods:

The Global Terrorism Database (GTD) was searched for all attacks from 1970-2019. Attacks met inclusion criteria if they fulfilled the three terrorism-related criteria, as set by the GTD codebook. Ambiguous events were excluded. State-sponsored terrorist events do not meet the codebook’s definition, and as such, are excluded from the study. Available counts of FI and NFI in each incident were then sorted and aggregated by weapon type to enable mean and standard deviation calculations.

Results:

In total, 168,003 events were recorded from the years 1970-2019. Explosives, bombs, and/or dynamite (E/B/D) were the most commonly used weapon type and accounted for 48.78% of all terrorism events, followed by the use of firearms in 26.77% of events. A total of 339,435 FI and 496,225 NFI resulted from all terrorism events that occurred during the study period. Combined, E/B/D and firearms accounted for 75.55% of all events, 67.1% of all FI, and 79.3% of all NFI. Each individual terrorism event inflicted a mean FI rate of 2.14 FI per event (SD = 10.2) and a mean NFI rate of 3.22 NFI per event (SD = 45.19).

Conclusions:

Although terrorism is complex and does not solely rely on death tolls as a measure of success, this analysis shows a historic mean FI rate of 2.14 and NFI rate of 3.22 per event over the past 50 years. Proven weapons such as E/B/D and firearms combine to account for over 75% of weapon types used in all events. Use of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) such as chemical, biological, radiation, and nuclear (CBRN) weapons has been rare (0.2%), yet has extreme high potential to inflict mass casualties with mean NFI rates of 49.62 and 28.75 for chemical and biological weapons, respectively.
Neurophysiology of non-native sound discrimination: Evidence from German vowels and consonants in successive French–German bilinguals using an MMN oddball paradigm
Authors: Wottawa Jane , Adda-Decker Martine , Isel Frédéric
Published: August 2021

The present electroencephalographical multi-speaker MMN oddball experiment was designed to study the phonological processing of German native and non-native speech sounds. Precisely, we focused on the perception of German /ɪ-iː/, /ɛ-ɛː/, /a-aː/ and the fricatives [ʃ] and [ç] in German natives (GG) and French learners of German (FG). As expected, our results showed that GG were able to discriminate all the critical vowel contrasts. In contrast, FG, despite their high L2 proficiency level, were only marginally sensitive to vowel length variations. Finally, neither GG nor FG discriminated the opposition between [ʃ] and [ç], as revealed by the absence of MMN response. This latter finding was interpreted in terms of low perceptual salience. Taken together, the present findings lend partial support to the Perceptual Assimilation Model for late bilinguals (PAM-L2) for speech perception of non-native phonological contrasts.
Potential of existing online 24-h dietary recall tools for national dietary surveys
Authors: Gazan Rozenn , Vieux Florent , Mora Ségolène , Havard Sabrina , Dubuisson Carine
Published: August 2021

Objective:

To describe existing online, 24-h dietary recall (24-h DR) tools in terms of functionalities and ability to tackle challenges encountered during national dietary surveys, such as maximising response rates and collecting high-quality data from a representative sample of the population, while minimising the cost and response burden.

Design:

A search (from 2000 to 2019) was conducted in peer-reviewed and grey literature. For each tool, information on functionalities, validation and user usability studies, and potential adaptability for integration into a new context was collected.

Setting:

Not country-specific

Participants:

General population

Results:

Eighteen online 24-h DR tools were identified. Most were developed in Europe, for children ≥10 years old and/or for adults. Eight followed the five multiple-pass steps but used various methodologies and features. Almost all tools (except three) validated their nutrient intake estimates, but with high heterogeneity in methodologies. User usability was not always assessed, and rarely by applying real-time methods. For researchers, eight tools developed a web platform to manage the survey and five appeared to be easily adaptable to a new context.

Conclusions:

Among the eighteen online 24-h DR tools identified, the best candidates to be used in national dietary surveys should be those that were validated for their intake estimates, had confirmed user and researcher usability, and seemed sufficiently flexible to be adapted to new contexts. Regardless of the tool, adaptation to another context will still require time and funding, and this is probably the most challenging step.
Analysing Co-creation and Co-production Initiatives for the Development of Age-friendly Strategies: Learning from the Three Capital Cities in the Basque Autonomous Region
Authors: Zuniga Martin , Buffel Tine , Arrieta Felix
Published: August 2021

Driven by the ageing process taking place in the Basque Autonomous Region (BAR), the ‘Age-Friendly Cities and Communities’ (AFCC) initiative has become a major political reference for the development of ageing policies in the territory. This article addresses this subject by means of a qualitative study that analyses how the three main capital cities in the region are implementing age-friendly strategies, with a focus on co-creation and co-production processes. The article examines the challenges they are currently facing in the development of the aforementioned participatory processes. Our research suggests that political involvement, even if necessary, is meaningless if the strategy is not embedded in the work of influential stakeholders. Moreover, the success of communities in becoming more age friendly will, to a large extent, depend on whether older people, including those facing social exclusion, become involved as key actors in future research and policies around age-friendly developments.
Magmatism and Extension in the Anaconda Metamorphic Core Complex of Western Montana and Relation to Regional Tectonics
Authors: Howlett Caden J. , Reynolds Aislin N. , Laskowski Andrew K.
Published: August 2021

Metamorphic core complexes (MCCs) are a product of crustal extension, but their dynamics are still debated. Early research suggests that the formation of MCCs in the western United States was due to gravitational collapse of crust that had been thickened during Cordilleran orogenesis. However, the instability of overthickened crust alone cannot explain the diachronous formation of core complexes with a strong spatial dependency, as there was relatively uniform crustal thickness along strike of the Cordillera. For this reason, there is an interest in what role other lithospheric processes (such as subducted slab removal) play in the evolution of MCCs. We investigate the role of such processes by determining the temporal relation between magmatism and extension in the Anaconda MCC (AMCC) of western Montana. Geologic mapping, zircon U‐Pb geochronology, and zircon (U‐Th)/He thermochronology reveal that the initiation of extension in the AMCC in the Eocene (∼53 Ma) began at least 3 Myr after the emplacement of voluminous Paleocene two‐mica plutons. We interpret that the AMCC is an example of a core complex that was primed for extension by magmatic thermal weakening and suggest that foundering of the Farallon flat slab and the onset of the ignimbrite flareup in western Montana was responsible for the initiation of AMCC extension. An updated compilation of MCC cooling ages and Cenozoic volcanic activity across the western United States supports previous interpretations that the removal of Farallon oceanic lithosphere likely initiated MCC exhumation in some regions.
L‐Band Synthetic Aperture Radar Observation of Ionospheric Density Irregularities at Equatorial Plasma Depletion Region
Authors: Sato Hiroatsu , Kim Jun Su , Otsuka Yuichi , Wrasse Cristiano Max , Rodrigues de Paula Eurico , Rodrigues de Souza Jonas
Published: August 2021

Plasma density irregularities in the equatorial ionosphere are thought to cause the distortions of L‐band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images, which have been observed in recent years, but the origin of the image distortion has not yet been clearly identified experimentally. We report on the first simultaneous observation of equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) by the ALOS‐2/PALSAR‐2 satellite and ground 630‐nm airglow imager in northern Brazil. We observe stripe‐like distortions of SAR signal power that are aligned in the direction of local magnetic field lines. The stripe‐like patterns are observed in the vicinity of airglow depletion. The result shows that the observed L‐band SAR stripes are caused by ionospheric scintillation due to plasma irregularities with the scale size of hundreds of meters associated with EPBs. We show that the SAR scintillation stripes are predominantly found at the location of sharp density gradients in the two‐dimensional form.
A Bayesian Machine Learning Algorithm for Predicting ENSO Using Short Observational Time Series
Authors: Chen Nan , Gilani Faheem , Harlim John
Published: August 2021

A simple and efficient Bayesian machine learning (BML) training algorithm, which exploits only a 20‐year short observational time series and an approximate prior model, is developed to predict the Niño 3 sea surface temperature (SST) index. The BML forecast significantly outperforms model‐based ensemble predictions and standard machine learning forecasts. Even with a simple feedforward neural network (NN), the BML forecast is skillful for 9.5 months. Remarkably, the BML forecast overcomes the spring predictability barrier to a large extent: the forecast starting from spring remains skillful for nearly 10 months. The BML algorithm can also effectively utilize multiscale features: the BML forecast of SST using SST, thermocline, and windburst improves on the BML forecast using just SST by at least 2 months. Finally, the BML algorithm also reduces the forecast uncertainty of NNs and is robust to input perturbations.
The Origin of Systematic Forecast Errors of Extreme 2020 East Asian Summer Monsoon Rainfall in GloSea5
Authors: Ham Yoo‐Geun , Kim Ji‐Gwang , Lee Jeong‐Gil , Li Tim , Lee Myong‐In , Son Seok‐Woo , Hyun Yu‐Kyung
Published: August 2021

This study examined the origin of the systematic underestimation of rainfall anomalies over East Asia during July–August 2020 in operational forecasts. Through partial nudging experiments, we found that the East Asian rainfall anomalies were successfully predicted in GloSea5 with corrected tropical sea surface temperature (SST) forcing. Once the observed SST is applied over the Indian Ocean and tropical central‐eastern Pacific, a low‐level anticyclonic anomaly over the subtropical western Pacific, which transports warm‐moist air from the tropics to increase the East Asian precipitation, is well reproduced as observed. By further separating the SST into climatological and anomalous components, we revealed that the cold and dry mean state bias over the Indian Ocean and central‐eastern Pacific is responsible for the weak anomalous atmospheric teleconnection patterns from the tropics to East Asia. This implies that correcting the model mean climatological fields can directly impact the operational seasonal forecast skill.
Ozone Anomalies in the Free Troposphere During the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Authors: Bouarar Idir , Gaubert Benjamin , Brasseur Guy P. , Steinbrecht Wolfgang , Doumbia Thierno , Tilmes Simone , Liu Yiming , Stavrakou Trissevgeni , Deroubaix Adrien , Darras Sabine , Granier Claire , Lacey Forrest , Müller Jean‐François , Shi Xiaoqin , Elguindi Nellie , Wang Tao
Published: August 2021

Using the CAM‐chem Model, we simulate the response of chemical species in the free troposphere to scenarios of primary pollutant emission reductions during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Zonally averaged ozone in the free troposphere during Northern Hemisphere spring and summer is found to be 5%–15% lower than 19‐yr climatological values, in good agreement with observations. About one third of this anomaly is attributed to the reduction scenario of air traffic during the pandemic, another third to the reduction scenario of surface emissions, the remainder to 2020 meteorological conditions, including the exceptional springtime Arctic stratospheric ozone depletion. For the combined emission reductions, the overall COVID‐19 reduction in northern hemisphere tropospheric ozone in June is less than 5 ppb below 400 hPa, but reaches 8 ppb at 250 hPa. In the Southern Hemisphere, COVID‐19 related ozone reductions by 4%–6% were masked by comparable ozone increases due to other changes in 2020.
Urban Basin Structure Imaging Based on Dense Arrays and Bayesian Array‐Based Coherent Receiver Functions
Authors: Wang Xin , Zhan Zhongwen , Zhong Minyan , Persaud Patricia , Clayton Robert W.
Published: August 2021

Urban basin investigation is crucial for seismic hazard assessment and mitigation. Recent advances in robust nodal‐type sensors facilitate the deployment of large‐N arrays in urban areas for high‐resolution basin imaging. However, arrays typically operate for only one month due to the instruments' battery life, and hence, only record a few teleseismic events. This limits the number of available teleseismic events for traditional receiver function (RF) analysis‐the primary method used in sediment‐basement interface imaging in passive source seismology. Insufficient stacking of RFs from a limited number of earthquakes could, however, introduce significant biases to the results. In this study, we present a novel Bayesian array‐based Coherent Receiver Function (CRF) method that can leverage datasets from short‐term dense arrays to constrain basin geometry. We cast the RF deconvolution as a sparsity‐promoted inverse problem, in which the deconvolution at a single‐station involves the constraints from neighboring stations and multiple events. We solve the inverse problem using a trans‐dimensional Markov chain Monte Carlo Bayesian algorithm to find an ensemble of RF solutions, which provides a quantitative way of deciding which features are well resolved and warrant geological interpretation. An application in the northern Los Angeles basin demonstrates the ability of our method to produce reliable and easy‐to‐interpret RF images. The use of dense seismic networks and the state‐of‐the‐art Bayesian array‐based CRF method can provide a robust approach for subsurface structure imaging.
Climatology of Melting Layer Heights Estimated From Cloud Radar Observations at Various Locations
Authors: Song Jae In , Yum Seong Soo , Park Sung‐Hwa , Kim Ki‐Hoon , Park Ki‐Jun , Joo Sang‐Won
Published: August 2021

A melting layer (ML) detection algorithm for cloud radar with polarimetric capability was developed and applied to the cloud radar data collected from five different sites around the world for several years. The retrieved melting layer top height (MLH) showed a very good correspondence with the ECMWF Reanalysis 5 zero degree level data for all five sites. The ML characteristics were distinctively different for different sites, revealing climatological characteristics of ML forming clouds in different regions. Generally, ML tended to occur more frequently in summer than in winter except for a maritime site, where low stratiform clouds formed frequently in summer, the top of which might be lower than the freezing level. In contrast, at two Arctic sites, ML occurred almost exclusively in summer because it was too cold to have an ML in the other seasons. The MLH also varied significantly from site to site but generally was higher during warmer seasons. Based on MLH, two new indices, bulk temperature lapse rate (BLR) and relative depth (RD) of liquid cloud below MLH (RD) were developed, which were useful to explain the environmental characteristics of the five sites. BLR generally increased with the surface temperature at all sites except at the marine site that showed an opposite trend, where a unique synoptic pattern in winter generated high BLR in this cold season. These findings confirm that studies on thermodynamic structures using cloud radars can be broadened, taking advantage of BLR and RD information, as these indices can represent environmental thermodynamic characteristics of the clouds that have ML.
Kicking in Diabetes Support (KIDS) Intervention Effects: Parent Reports of Diabetes Management
Authors: Kichler Jessica C. , Kaugars Astrida S.
Published: August 2021

Objectives: The Kicking In Diabetes Support (KIDS) Project is a semistructured multifamily group therapy (MGT) intervention for adolescents who have type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their parents, which incorporates both peer support and family systems processes to improve diabetes management skills. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the clinical utility of this intervention by examining parent perspectives and health-related outcomes. Methods: Adolescents and their parents participated in the 8-session (6 core sessions and 2 booster follow-up sessions at 2 and 4 months) intervention in 1 of 8 waves of the group administration over a four-year period. Parents completed self-report measures (e.g., readiness to change behaviors, self-management, and responsibility in T1D management) at baseline, posttreatment, and follow-up. A medical chart review documented health care utilization and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels. Results: Of the 38 families that completed baseline assessments, 20 families had parent self-report measures for all 3 timepoints. There were significant improvements in parents’ reports of readiness to change behaviors and self-management. There was variability in reports of parent-adolescent division of T1D responsibility across the 3 timepoints. In addition, adolescent HbA1c levels, the number of clinic visits, and emergency room utilization were significantly reduced over time. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that parents are amenable to a MGT intervention for adolescents with T1D conducted in a clinical setting. Further, there are sustained improvements in the parent–child interactional processes related to T1D management, glycemic levels, and health care utilization during an often-difficult developmental period.

Implications for Impact Statement

The present study suggests that from a parent perspective, a multifamily group intervention for adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their parents may be helpful in improving family process constructs (such as shifting responsibility for diabetes care and self-management) and adolescents’ health-related outcomes (such as glycemic levels and health care utilization). This brief diabetes group intervention may be able to be incorporated into a variety of clinical settings, used within different diabetes subpopulations (such as with adolescents recently diagnosed with diabetes), and adapted to various types of diabetes treatment regimens.
Evaluating the Feasibility of the ABCs of SLEEPING Mobile Application: Exploring Implementation, Acceptability, and Limited Efficacy
Authors: Jemcov Anastasija , Keys Elizabeth , Corkum Penny
Published: August 2021

Objective: Behaviourally based sleep problems are common among school-age children. Due to a number of barriers, few children receive evidence-based behavioural interventions for their sleep problems. The ABCs of SLEEPING mobile application was developed to provide parents with individualized and prioritized evidence-based sleep recommendations. Method: The current study assessed the feasibility of the intervention using a cohort pretest posttest design. Acceptability was assessed by collecting parent ratings of satisfaction/suitability and qualitative feedback through open-ended questions. Implementation was assessed weekly for 4 weeks to examine if the intervention was used as intended. Preliminary-efficacy was explored by assessing changes in children’s sleep and bedtime behaviours using parent report. Results: Parents generally reported satisfaction with the each of the three intervention components (questionnaire, report, and tips) and suitability of the tips for their child’s age and sleep problems. Descriptive statistics of the implementation data revealed parents did not use the intervention as much as intended. Content analysis of the qualitative data indicated that some changes to the intervention are needed (e.g., reminders to implement). Statistically significant evidence for preliminary-efficacy was found based on parent-reported questionnaires, but sleep was not normalized. Conclusion: The results indicate that while the ABCs of SLEEPING mobile application was found to have a moderate level of feasibility, it is not yet ready for large-scale testing. Future research should focus on modifying the intervention to imbed features to support implementation of the intervention.

Implications for Impact Statement

In this study we describe the feasibility testing of a smartphone-application designed to improve access to individualized information about sleep and healthy sleep practices entitled “ The ABCs of SLEEPING.” Our results demonstrated its acceptability and preliminary efficacy; however, the app was not implemented daily as intended. This research also demonstrates the importance of evaluating interventions for the end-user.
“Quiero Soy Un Niño!”: Family-Based Treatment of a Mexican American Child with Gender Dysphoria and Disruptive Behaviors
Authors: Christian-Brandt Allison S. , Philpott Jaqueline , Edwards-Leeper Laura
Published: August 2021

Objective: Research among transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) youth is growing, but sparse among prepubertal children. Given that TGNC youth experience higher rates of psychological difficulties than peers, and family support of gender identity serves as a protective factor, experts have called for gender-affirmative psychological services as part of comprehensive gender care. However, research on evidence-based practices for TGNC youth is lacking, particularly among young children. The present case report seeks to add the literature on culturally-responsive, family-based treatment for TGNC children. Method: Authors describe adapting positive attending and relationship-enhancement skills from behavioral parent training for six-year-old “Dani,” a Mexican American child referred to treatment for ADHD symptoms, who also exhibited behavioral issues in the context of gender dysphoria. Treatment adaptations included adjunctive parent and child sessions for gender psychoeducation and support, exclusion of a limit-setting phase, and applying positive parenting skills to affirmation of Dani’s gender identity and expression. Services were also tailored for the family’s cultural values and level of acculturation. Results: As parents’ use of positive attending skills increased alongside support for Dani’s diverse gender expression in the first phase of treatment, disruptive behaviors markedly decreased. In the second phase of treatment, family understanding and communication regarding gender was enhanced, while parent distress related to Dani’s gender dysphoria reduced. Conclusions: Continued research on affirmative interventions provided in a culturally-responsive manner, such as described in this case report, are imperative, given the negative psychological outcomes among TGNC youth and the significant health service disparities among this underserved, vulnerable population.

Implications for Impact Statement

The present case study describes adapting positive attending and relationship-enhancement skills from traditional behavioral parent training to provide culturally-responsive, gender-affirmative therapy with the family of a young Mexican American child with ADHD, disruptive behaviors, and gender dysphoria.
From Planning to Implementation: Creating and Adapting Universal Screening Protocols to Address Caregiver Mental Health and Psychosocial Complexity
Authors: Buchholz Melissa , Ashby Bethany , Costello Lisa , Ehmer Amy , Serrano Verenea , von Schulz Jonna , Wolcott Catherine , Talmi Ayelet
Published: August 2021

Objective: Children are accompanied to primary care settings by caregivers who present with their own mental health and psychosocial distress. Primary care is an optimal place to identify negative impacts on child health. Clinics with integrated behavioral health (IBH) clinicians are well-positioned to implement and respond to caregiver screenings. Methods: Universal screening to address perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) and psychosocial distress was implemented in 3 primary care clinics within 1 hospital system. Pediatric psychologists supported implementation across all clinics. Screening frequencies, average scores of elevated screeners, and most common treatment recommendations made by IBH clinicians were extracted from medical records. Results: Universal caregiver screening effectively identified mental health and psychosocial concerns and was a driver of increased behavioral health access in pediatric primary care. A total of 6,080 caregivers were screened over 3 years. Results showed 10% and 16.4% of caregivers had elevated PMADs screening results, 33% to 46% identified social determinants of health needs, and 6.6% to 11.5% identified mental health concerns. Responses to screeners including follow up with the IBH team, brief interventions, and caregiver referral to mental health services. Conclusions: Caregiver screening is an essential component of comprehensive well-child care. Without universal screening processes, caregiver mental health and psychosocial concerns may go undetected and unaddressed.

Implications for Impact Statement

This paper describes the importance of screening caregivers for behavioral health concerns and psychosocial adversity during pediatric primary care visits. The role of pediatric psychologists in developing universal screening protocols is described. Results indicate that caregiver screening yields increased behavioral health involvement.
Introduction to the Special Interest Issue on Parent/Guardian Interventions in Pediatric Psychology: The Role of the Pediatric Psychologist Working with Caregivers as the Target of Intervention
Authors: Kahhan Nicole A. , Junger Katherine W.
Published: August 2021

Objective: There is a complex and bidirectional relationship between parent/guardian wellbeing and child physical and mental health. The role of a pediatric psychologist in this relationship has historically emphasized working with the parent as an agent of change to disseminate evidence-based skills and techniques toward improving child functioning. Increasingly, the role a pediatric psychologist can play in directly impacting the health and wellbeing of the parent/guardian of the identified patient is being explored, especially with expanded integration of behavioral health into primary care and medical home models that approach child health through a holistic, preventative lens. Furthermore, parents of children with acute/chronic illness are at increased risk of mental health concerns themselves; thus, considering parent functioning as its own outcome when working with pediatric patients may confer additional benefits in optimizing family adjustment. Method: Articles inclusive of topics on screening, early intervention, treatment, and program development targeting the parent/guardian of pediatric patients were considered for this issue. Results: This Special Issue includes 10 articles highlighting novel interventions targeting parent well-being in primary care and medical subspecialty settings using a range of service delivery modalities. Additionally, this issue explores the ethical, logistical, and systems considerations that can pose challenges to responding to parent mental health needs within the pediatric health care system, which pediatric psychology as a field is still learning to negotiate. Conclusions: This issue highlights clinical practice approaches and novel research in which the primary target of intervention is the caregiver of a pediatric patient.

Implications for Impact Statement

The aim of this Special Issue is to contribute to the research base for pediatric psychology providers with regards to models and methodology for parent/guardian specific screening and intervention in the pediatric health care system. Ethical issues in addressing caregivers as the primary point of intervention also are explored while promoting a holistic family care model.
Organizational principles of amygdalar input-output neuronal circuits
Authors: Huang Limeng , Chen Yiwen , Jin Sen , Lin Li , Duan Shumin , Si Ke , Gong Wei , Julius Zhu J.
Published: August 2021

The amygdala, one of the most studied brain structures, integrates brain-wide heterogeneous inputs and governs multidimensional outputs to control diverse behaviors central to survival, yet how amygdalar input-output neuronal circuits are organized remains unclear. Using a simplified cell-type- and projection-specific retrograde transsynaptic tracing technique, we scrutinized brain-wide afferent inputs of four major output neuronal groups in the amygdalar basolateral complex (BLA) that project to the bed nucleus of the stria terminals (BNST), ventral hippocampus (vHPC), medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAc), respectively. Brain-wide input-output quantitative analysis unveils that BLA efferent neurons receive a diverse array of afferents with varied input weights and predominant contextual representation. Notably, the afferents received by BNST-, vHPC-, mPFC- and NAc-projecting BLA neurons exhibit virtually identical origins and input weights. These results indicate that the organization of amygdalar BLA input-output neuronal circuits follows the input-dependent and output-independent principles, ideal for integrating brain-wide diverse afferent stimuli to control parallel efferent actions. The data provide the objective basis for improving the virtual reality exposure therapy for anxiety disorders and validate the simplified cell-type- and projection-specific retrograde transsynaptic tracing method.
Glucose-sensitive acetylation of Seryl tRNA synthetase regulates lipid synthesis in breast cancer
Authors: Zhao Jin , Bai Hangming , Li Xiaoyu , Yan Jie , Zou Gengyi , Wang Longlong , Li Xiru , Liu Ze , Xiang Rong , Yang Xiang-Lei , Shi Yi
Published: August 2021

Abnormally enhanced de novo lipid biosynthesis has been increasingly realized to play crucial roles in the initiation and progression of varieties of cancers including breast cancer. However, the mechanisms underlying the dysregulation of lipid biosynthesis in breast cancer remain largely unknown. Here, we reported that seryl tRNA synthetase (SerRS), a key enzyme for protein biosynthesis, could translocate into the nucleus in a glucose-dependent manner to suppress key genes involved in the de novo lipid biosynthesis. In normal mammary gland epithelial cells glucose can promote the nuclear translocation of SerRS by increasing the acetylation of SerRS at lysine 323. In SerRS knock-in mice bearing acetylation-defective lysine to arginine mutation, we observed increased body weight and adipose tissue mass. In breast cancer cells the acetylation and nuclear translocation of SerRS are greatly inhibited. Overexpression of SerRS, in particularly the acetylation-mimetic lysine to glutamine mutant, dramatically inhibits the de novo lipid synthesis and hence greatly suppresses the proliferation of breast cancer cells and the growth of breast cancer xenografts in mice. We further identified that HDAC4 and HDAC5 regulated the acetylation and nuclear translocation of SerRS. Thus, we identified a SerRS-meditated inhibitory pathway in glucose-induced lipid biosynthesis, which is dysregulated in breast cancer.
Sleep disturbances are associated with cortical and subcortical atrophy in alcohol use disorder
Authors: Zhang Rui , Tomasi Dardo , Manza Peter , Shokri-Kojori Ehsan , Demiral Sukru B. , Feldman Dana E. , Kroll Danielle S. , Biesecker Catherine L. , McPherson Katherine L. , Wang Gene-Jack , Wiers Corinde E. , Volkow Nora D.
Published: August 2021

Sleep disturbances are prominent in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and predict relapse. So far, the mechanisms underlying sleep disruptions in AUD are poorly understood. Because sleep-related regions vastly overlap with regions, where patients with AUD showed pronounced grey matter (GM) reduction; we hypothesized that GM structure could contribute to sleep disturbances associated with chronic alcohol use. We combined sleep EEG recording and high-resolution structural brain imaging to examine the GM-sleep associations in 36 AUD vs. 26 healthy controls (HC). The patterns of GM-sleep associations differed for N3 vs. REM sleep and for AUD vs. HC. For cortical thickness (CT), CT-sleep associations were significant in AUD but not in HC and were lateralized such that lower CT in right hemisphere was associated with shorter N3, whereas in left hemisphere was associated with shorter REM sleep. For the GM density (GMD), we observed a more extensive positive GMD-N3 association in AUD (right orbitofrontal cortex, cerebellum, dorsal cingulate and occipital cortex) than in HC (right orbitofrontal cortex), and the GMD-REM association was positive in AUD (midline, motor and paralimbic regions) whereas negative in HC (the left supramarginal gyrus). GM structure mediated the effect of chronic alcohol use on the duration of N3 and the age by alcohol effect on REM sleep. Our findings provide evidence that sleep disturbances in AUD were associated with GM reductions. Targeting sleep-related regions might improve sleep in AUD and enhance sleep-induced benefits in cognition and emotional regulation for recovery.
An urgent call to raise the bar in oncology
Authors: Schnog John-John B. , Samson Michael J. , Gans Rijk O. B. , Duits Ashley J.
Published: August 2021

Important breakthroughs in medical treatments have improved outcomes for patients suffering from several types of cancer. However, many oncological treatments approved by regulatory agencies are of low value and do not contribute significantly to cancer mortality reduction, but lead to unrealistic patient expectations and push even affluent societies to unsustainable health care costs. Several factors that contribute to approvals of low-value oncology treatments are addressed, including issues with clinical trials, bias in reporting, regulatory agency shortcomings and drug pricing. With the COVID-19 pandemic enforcing the elimination of low-value interventions in all fields of medicine, efforts should urgently be made by all involved in cancer care to select only high-value and sustainable interventions. Transformation of medical education, improvement in clinical trial design, quality, conduct and reporting, strict adherence to scientific norms by regulatory agencies and use of value-based scales can all contribute to raising the bar for oncology drug approvals and influence drug pricing and availability.
Risk of COVID-19 death in cancer patients: an analysis from Guy’s Cancer Centre and King’s College Hospital in London
Authors: Russell Beth , Moss Charlotte L. , Shah Vallari , Ko Thinzar Ko , Palmer Kieran , Sylva Rushan , George Gincy , Monroy-Iglesias Maria J. , Patten Piers , Ceesay Muhammed Mansour , Benjamin Reuben , Potter Victoria , Pagliuca Antonio , Papa Sophie , Irshad Sheeba , Ross Paul , Spicer James , Kordasti Shahram , Crawley Danielle , Wylie Harriet , Cahill Fidelma , Haire Anna , Zaki Kamarul , Sita-Lumsden Ailsa , Josephs Debra , Enting Deborah , Swampillai Angela , Sawyer Elinor , D’Souza Andrea , Gomberg Simon , Harrison Claire , Fields Paul , Wrench David , Rigg Anne , Sullivan Richard , Kulasekararaj Austin ,   Guy’s Cancer Real World Evidence, Jones Eleanor , Seeva Pavetha , Karampera Christina , Devi Aarani , Rahman Fareen , Smith Daniel , Owczarczyk Kasia , Tsotra Eirini , Gousis Charalampos , Lei Mary , Ghosh Sharmistha , Nintos George , Raj Kavita , Gleeson Mary , Bailey Katherine , Dillon Richard , Streetly Matthew , Mera Anca , Timbres Jasmine , Dolly Saoirse , Van Hemelrijck Mieke
Published: August 2021

Background

Using an updated dataset with more patients and extended follow-up, we further established cancer patient characteristics associated with COVID-19 death.

Methods

Data on all cancer patients with a positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction swab for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) at Guy’s Cancer Centre and King’s College Hospital between 29 February and 31 July 2020 was used. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to identify which factors were associated with COVID-19 mortality.

Results

Three hundred and six SARS-CoV-2-positive cancer patients were included. Seventy-one had mild/moderate and 29% had severe COVID-19. Seventy-two patients died of COVID-19 (24%), of whom 35 died <7 days. Male sex [hazard ratio (HR): 1.97 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15–3.38)], Asian ethnicity [3.42 (1. 59–7.35)], haematological cancer [2.03 (1.16–3.56)] and a cancer diagnosis for >2–5 years [2.81 (1.41–5.59)] or ≥5 years were associated with an increased mortality. Age >60 years and raised C-reactive protein (CRP) were also associated with COVID-19 death. Haematological cancer, a longer-established cancer diagnosis, dyspnoea at diagnosis and raised CRP were indicative of early COVID-19-related death in cancer patients (<7 days from diagnosis).

Conclusions

Findings further substantiate evidence for increased risk of COVID-19 mortality for male and Asian cancer patients, and those with haematological malignancies or a cancer diagnosis >2 years. These factors should be accounted for when making clinical decisions for cancer patients.
Dynamic regulation of mitochondrial-endoplasmic reticulum crosstalk during stem cell homeostasis and aging
Authors: Lin Weiping , Chen Shuxun , Wang Yan , Wang Ming , Lee Wayne Yuk-Wai , Jiang Xiaohua , Li Gang
Published: August 2021

Cellular therapy exerts profound therapeutic potential for curing a broad spectrum of diseases. Adult stem cells reside within a specified dynamic niche in vivo, which is essential for continuous tissue homeostatic maintenance through balancing self-renewal with lineage selection. Meanwhile, adult stem cells may be multipotent or unipotent, and are present in both quiescent and actively dividing states in vivo of the mammalians, which may switch to each other state in response to biophysical cues through mitochondria-mediated mechanisms, such as alterations in mitochondrial respiration and metabolism. In general, stem cells facilitate tissue repair after tissue-specific homing through various mechanisms, including immunomodulation of local microenvironment, differentiation into functional cells, cell “empowerment” via paracrine secretion, immunoregulation, and intercellular mitochondrial transfer. Interestingly, cell-source-specific features have been reported between different tissue-derived adult stem cells with distinct functional properties due to the different microenvironments in vivo, as well as differential functional properties in different tissue-derived stem cell-derived extracellular vehicles, mitochondrial metabolism, and mitochondrial transfer capacity. Here, we summarized the current understanding on roles of mitochondrial dynamics during stem cell homeostasis and aging, and lineage-specific differentiation. Also, we proposed potential unique mitochondrial molecular signature features between different source-derived stem cells and potential associations between stem cell aging and mitochondria–endoplasmic reticulum (ER) communication, as well as potential novel strategies for anti-aging intervention and healthy aging.