bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Installation for measuring the dielectric anisotropy of liquid crystals at low frequencies by the bridge method with constant displacement
Authors: Kalashnikov S V , Romanov N A , Nomoev A V
Published: December 2021

Installation designed to measure the dielectric anisotropy in laboratory studies of liquid crystal polymer films is described. The installation operates on the principle of a balanced alternating current (AC) bridge, allowing the application of a direct external current (bias) to the liquid crystal cell. The internal resistance of the direct current (DC) source, which affects the equilibrium condition of the bridge, is compensated. The frequency of the AC current feeding the bridge and the offset voltage of the cell is regulated within a wide range, which makes it possible to study various functional dependences of the dielectric parameters of liquid crystals and their modifiers.Introduction
Effect of temperature on the structure of Cu/Si composite Janus nanoparticles
Authors: Yumozhapova N V , Nomoev A V , Romanov N A , Ch Khartaeva E
Published: December 2021

This work determined the effect of temperature on the formation of composite Cu/Si nanoparticles by the molecular dynamics (MD) method. For the first time, the temperature dependence of the potential energy of hybrid nanoparticles, which were single-crystal spherical clusters cut from an ideal lattice, was studied. It is shown that phase transitions and structural ordering cause a sharp change in the potential energy of composite nanoparticles. The structural arrangement of copper nanoparticles at high temperatures was found.
Water availability affects the relationship between pollen intensity and seed production
Authors: Recart Wilnelia , Campbell Diane R
Published: November 2021

Seed production can be affected by water availability and also depend on the amount (pollen intensity) and quality of pollen deposited. The way pollen receipt on the stigma translates into seeds produced follows that of a saturating dose–response. Not only can water availability and pollen intensity each influence seed production, these factors could interact in their effects on seed production. Changes to the relationship between seed production and pollen intensity can in turn influence pollinator effectiveness and pollinator-mediated selection. We asked how water availability affected indices of plant fitness (seed set, fruit set and seed mass) and the relationship between pollen intensity and seed production in Phacelia parryi. We conducted a greenhouse experiment where we manipulated water availability (either high- or low-water) to pollen recipient plants and hand-pollinated each plant with a range of pollen intensities. We conducted 703 hand-pollinations on 30 plants. For each hand-pollinated flower we measured pollen deposited, seed production and seed mass. We then generated a piecewise regression of the relationship between pollen intensity and seed production, and determined average effects of water on plant fitness measures. This experiment was paired with a field observational study aimed to document natural variation in pollen deposition. Average seed production per fruit was 21 % higher in the high-watered plants. The relationship between pollen intensity and seed production differed between the two water treatments. Plants under high-water exhibited a wider range in which pollen deposition increased seed production. Average natural pollen intensities fell within different regions of the piecewise regression for low- and high-water plants. Water availability can alter the efficiency by which pollen received is translated into seeds produced. Our greenhouse data suggest that only under certain pollen intensity environments will water availability affect how pollen received is translated into seeds produced.
CRISP: a deep learning architecture for GC × GC–TOFMS contour ROI identification, simulation and analysis in imaging metabolomics
Authors: Mathema Vivek Bhakta , Duangkumpha Kassaporn , Wanichthanarak Kwanjeera , Jariyasopit Narumol , Dhakal Esha , Sathirapongsasuti Nuankanya , Kitiyakara Chagriya , Sirivatanauksorn Yongyut , Khoomrung Sakda
Published: November 2021

Two-dimensional gas chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC–TOFMS) provides a large amount of molecular information from biological samples. However, the lack of a comprehensive compound library or customizable bioinformatics tool is currently a challenge in GC × GC–TOFMS data analysis. We present an open-source deep learning (DL) software called contour regions of interest (ROI) identification, simulation and untargeted metabolomics profiler (CRISP). CRISP integrates multiple customizable deep neural network architectures for assisting the semi-automated identification of ROIs, contour synthesis, resolution enhancement and classification of GC × GC–TOFMS-based contour images. The approach includes the novel aggregate feature representative contour (AFRC) construction and stacked ROIs. This generates an unbiased contour image dataset that enhances the contrasting characteristics between different test groups and can be suitable for small sample sizes. The utility of the generative models and the accuracy and efficacy of the platform were demonstrated using a dataset of GC × GC–TOFMS contour images from patients with late-stage diabetic nephropathy and healthy control groups. CRISP successfully constructed AFRC images and identified over five ROIs to create a deepstacked dataset. The high fidelity, 512 × 512-pixels generative model was trained as a generator with a Fréchet inception distance of <47.00. The trained classifier achieved an AUROC of >0.96 and a classification accuracy of >95.00% for datasets with and without column bleed. Overall, CRISP demonstrates good potential as a DL-based approach for the rapid analysis of 4-D GC × GC–TOFMS untargeted metabolite profiles by directly implementing contour images. CRISP is available at https://github.com/vivekmathema/GCxGC-CRISP.
Consensus on the health education of home-based negative pressure wound therapy for patients with chronic wounds: a modified Delphi study
Authors: Huang Yao , Mao Beiqian , Hu Jiale , Xu Bing , Ni Pengwen , Hou Lili , Xie Ting
Published: November 2021

Background

The study aimed to develop consensus on the components of health education of home-based negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for patients with chronic wounds.

Methods

A Delphi method was used to achieve consensus on the components of health education and 75% agreement and coefficient of variation (CV) <0.25 were used as cutoff. Sixteen experts were recruited purposefully to finish this study.

Results

Two rounds of consultation were implemented. Consensus was achieved on 36 of the 42 statements. The final agreed list of statements represented three domains: health education before carrying out home-based NPWT, health education for the treatment day of NPWT at hospital and health education for NPWT at home.

Conclusions

This study was the first attempt to develop consensus on the comprehensive components of health education of home-based NPWT for patients with chronic wounds. According to the established framework and components of health education, wound professionals can safely and effectively implement health education of home-based NPWT for patients with chronic wounds and improve their self-care ability and treatment experience at home.
Estimated gray matter volume rapidly changes after a short motor task
Authors: Olivo Gaia , Lövdén Martin , Manzouri Amirhossein , Terlau Laura , Jenner Bo , Jafari Arian , Petersson Sven , Li Tie-Qiang , Fischer Håkan , Månsson Kristoffer N T
Published: November 2021

Skill learning induces changes in estimates of gray matter volume (GMV) in the human brain, commonly detectable with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Rapid changes in GMV estimates while executing tasks may however confound between- and within-subject differences. Fluctuations in arterial blood flow are proposed to underlie this apparent task-related tissue plasticity. To test this hypothesis, we acquired multiple repetitions of structural T1-weighted and functional blood-oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) MRI measurements from 51 subjects performing a finger-tapping task (FTT; á 2 min) repeatedly for 30–60 min. Estimated GMV was decreased in motor regions during FTT compared with rest. Motor-related BOLD signal changes did not overlap nor correlate with GMV changes. Nearly simultaneous BOLD signals cannot fully explain task-induced changes in T1-weighted images. These sensitive and behavior-related GMV changes pose serious questions to reproducibility across studies, and morphological investigations during skill learning can also open new avenues on how to study rapid brain plasticity.
Amygdala–prefrontal connectivity in children with maladaptive aggression is modulated by social impairment
Authors: Ibrahim Karim , Kalvin Carla , Morand-Beaulieu Simon , He George , Pelphrey Kevin A , McCarthy Gregory , Sukhodolsky Denis G
Published: November 2021

Aggressive behavior is common across childhood-onset psychiatric disorders and is associated with impairments in social cognition and communication. The present study examined whether amygdala connectivity and reactivity during face emotion processing in children with maladaptive aggression are moderated by social impairment. This cross-sectional study included a well-characterized transdiagnostic sample of 101 children of age 8–16 years old with clinically significant levels of aggressive behavior and 32 typically developing children without aggressive behavior. Children completed a face emotion perception task of fearful and calm faces during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Aggressive behavior and social functioning were measured by standardized parent ratings. Relative to controls, children with aggressive behavior showed reduced connectivity between the amygdala and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) during implicit emotion processing. In children with aggressive behavior, the association between reduced amygdala–ventrolateral PFC connectivity and greater severity of aggression was moderated by greater social impairment. Amygdala reactivity to fearful faces was also associated with severity of aggressive behavior for children without social deficits but not for children with social deficits. Social impairments entail difficulties in interpreting social cues and enacting socially appropriate responses to frustration or provocation, which increase the propensity for an aggressive response via diminished connectivity between the amygdala and the ventral PFC.
Could network structures generated with simple rules imposed on a cubic lattice reproduce the structural descriptors of globular proteins?
Authors: Burak Okan Osman , Turgut Deniz , Atilgan Canan , Rana Atilgan Ali , Ozisik Rahmi
Published: December 2021

A direct way to spot structural features that are universally shared among proteins is to find analogues from simpler condensed matter systems. In the current study, the feasibility of creating ensembles of artificial structures that can automatically reproduce a large number of geometrical and topological descriptors of globular proteins is investigated. Towards this aim, a simple cubic (SC) arrangement is shown to provide the best background lattice after a careful analysis of the residue packing trends from 210 globular proteins. It is shown that a minimalistic set of rules imposed on this lattice is sufficient to generate structures that can mimic real proteins. In the proposed method, 210 such structures are generated by randomly removing residues (beads) from clusters that have a SC lattice arrangement such that all the generated structures have single connected components. Two additional sets are prepared from the initial structures via random relaxation and a reverse Monte Carlo simulated annealing algorithm, which targets the average radial distribution function (RDF) of 210 globular proteins. The initial and relaxed structures are compared to real proteins via RDF, bond orientational order parameters and several descriptors of network topology. Based on these features, results indicate that the structures generated with 40% occupancy closely resemble real residue networks. The structure generation mechanism automatically produces networks that are in the same topological class as globular proteins and reproduce small-world characteristics of high clustering and small shortest path lengths. Most notably, the established correspondence rules out icosahedral order as a relevant structural feature for residue networks in contrast to other amorphous systems where it is an inherent characteristic. The close correspondence is also observed in the vibrational characteristics as computed from the Anisotropic Network Model, therefore hinting at a non-superficial link between the proteins and the defect laden cubic crystalline order.
Benefits and Challenges of Implementing Telehealth in Rural Settings: A Mixed-Methods Study of Behavioral Medicine Providers
Authors: DeHart Dana , King L Bailey , Iachini Aidyn L , Browne Teri , Reitmeier Melissa
Published: November 2021

Social workers and other healthcare professionals face increasing pressure to expand access, efficiency, and quality of healthcare to rural patients. Telehealth has become a viable and necessary tool to address gaps in healthcare for rural areas. Unfortunately, little is known about the benefits and challenges of using these services to meet the needs of rural communities. This mixed-methods study examines telehealth implementation among healthcare organizations in a predominantly rural state. Seventeen providers from 11 organizations were interviewed. Most had used live video conferencing, and about a third used mobile technologies, but fewer providers had experience with store-and-forward or remote patient monitoring. Analyses of qualitative data collected via interviews revealed two main themes among benefits of telehealth implementation: (1) increased inter- and intra-agency coordination and (2) savings in time, travel, and efficiency. Three main themes emerged among barriers to telehealth: (1) organizational capacity, (2) patient skills and comfort, and (3) provider knowledge and skills. Recommendations are provided for social workers and other healthcare professionals related to expanding utilization of telehealth services to improve access to healthcare for rural populations.
TiO2 nano-coated thin film PV glazing with superior thermal resistance, self-cleaning, electricity generation and adaptive optical control
Authors: Cuce Erdem , Cuce Pinar Mert , Riffat Saffa
Published: November 2021

A unique nano-coated photovoltaic (PV) glazing technology with superior multifunctional features, thermally resistive PV glazing (TRPVG), is introduced, and for three different configurations of TRPVG (TRPVG-Air12, TRPVG-Ar12, TRPVG-Ar16), UVC/UVA absorption, noise reduction, thermal insulation, electricity generation, visible light and solar radiation control are evaluated through an extensive experimental methodology. Energy production and acoustic tests are conducted in a simulation house, whereas the rest of the experiments are carried out under real operating conditions. The results reveal that each sample is capable of blocking 100% of incoming UVC and UVA light. Visible light control of TRPVG-Ar12 (Glass 1) is found to be 94.4%, whereas it is 88.9% for TRPVG-Air12 (Glass 2) and 93.6% for TRPVG-Ar16 (Glass 3). Solar radiation blockage of Glasses 1–3 is found to be 93.5%, 90.9% and 94.8%, respectively. Average temperature difference between front and rear glazing is determined to be 21.3°C, 19.9°C and 21.7°C for Glasses 1, 2 and 3, respectively. A total of 25 independent acoustic tests are performed for Glass 3, and the sample is observed to reduce 33% of outdoor noise in dBA. Solar simulator tests reveal that Glass 3 can generate 102.6 W of electricity per square metre of PV module area.
Assessing community pharmacists’ attitudes towards identifying opportunities for deprescribing in clinical practice in Ireland
Authors: Heinrich Clara H , Donovan Maria D
Published: November 2021

Objectives

The main objective of this study was to assess community pharmacists’ thoughts regarding the role they can play in effectively integrating deprescribing into clinical practice in Ireland. The aim was to assess pharmacists’ (1) knowledge of deprescribing, (2) confidence in deprescribing, (3) attitudes towards deprescribing and (4) barriers and facilitators to deprescribing in a community pharmacy setting.

Methods

An online questionnaire was disseminated to pharmacists currently registered with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, with instruction only to complete if working in community pharmacy. Statistical analysis was conducted on the quantitative data, whereas thematic analysis was carried out on the open-ended responses.

Key findings

Results indicate good knowledge scores and positive attitudes surrounding deprescribing, with demographic factors having no significant effect on results. Although deprescribing knowledge is high, willingness to engage is hindered by obstacles such as time. Remuneration was identified as an enabler for deprescribing. Interdisciplinary educational opportunities and bidirectional communication channels with prescribers are viewed as the major facilitators of deprescribing.

Conclusions

Community pharmacists demonstrate that they possess sufficient knowledge, confidence and willingness to play a greater role in facilitating deprescribing. To enable this role expansion, enablers such as education and funding need to be implemented, to overcome barriers such as insufficient time. Further studies are required to assess community pharmacists’ deprescribing competence, to demonstrate their ability to fulfil this role in clinical practice in Ireland.
Epidemiology and Outcomes of Cooking- and Cookstove-Related Burn Injuries: A World Health Organization Global Burn Registry Report
Authors: Mehta Kajal , Thrikutam Nikhitha , Hoyte-Williams Paa Ekow , Falk Henry , Nakarmi Kiran , Stewart Barclay
Published: December 2021

Cooking- and cookstove-related burns (CSBs) comprise a large proportion of burn injuries globally, but there are limited data on cooking behavior patterns to inform prevention and advocacy. Therefore, we aimed to describe the epidemiology, risk factors, and outcomes of these injuries and highlight the potential of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Burn Registry (GBR). Patients with cooking-related burns were identified in the WHO GBR. Patient demographics, cooking arrangement, injury characteristics, and outcomes were described and compared. Bivariate regression was performed to identify risk factors associated with CSBs. Analysis demonstrated that 25% of patients in the GBR sustained cooking-related burns (n = 1723). The cooking environment and cooking fuels used varied significantly by country income level ([electricity use: LIC 1.6 vs MIC 5.9 vs HIC 49.6%; P < .001] [kerosene use: LIC 5.7 vs MIC 10.4 vs HIC 0.0%; P < .001]). Of cooking-related burns, 22% were cookstove-related burns (CSBs; 311 burns). Patients with CSBs were more often female (65% vs 53%; P < .001). CSBs were significantly larger in TBSA size (30%, IQR 15–45 vs 15%, IQR 10–25; P < .001), had higher revised Baux scores (70, IQR 46–95 vs 28, IQR 10–25; P < .001) and more often resulted in death (41 vs 11%; P < .001) than other cooking burns. Patients with CSBs were more likely to be burned by fires (OR 4.74; 95% CI 2.99–7.54) and explosions (OR 2.91, 95% CI 2.03–4.18) than other cooking injuries. Kerosene had the highest odds of CSB compared to other cooking fuels (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.52–3.69). In conclusion, CSBs specifically have different epidemiology than cooking-related burns. CSBs were more likely caused by structural factors (eg, explosion, fire) than behavioral factors (eg, accidental movements) when compared to other cooking burns. These differences suggest prevention interventions for CSBs may require distinctive efforts than typically deployed for cooking-related injuries, and necessarily involve cookstove design and safety regulations to prevent fires and explosions.
Visualization of three-dimensional stigmoid body in FFPE and ultrathin sections of mouse
Authors: Hirayama Masaya , Onouchi Takanori , Shiogama Kazuya , Katoh Yoshimitsu , Takahashi Kazuo , Abe Masato
Published: November 2021

Huntingtin-associated protein 1 (HAP1) is abundantly expressed in the neurons of the central nervous system and forms unique intracytoplasmic inclusions of unknown function called ‘stigmoid bodies’ (STBs). Transmission electron microscopy has revealed that the STBs are aggregates of granules containing cavities with a diameter of 0.5–3 µm. Small STBs fuse to form larger STBs, the size of which is said to vary depending on the developmental growth stage and brain region. Light microscopy can only reveal that these STBs have similar circular shapes due to its limited resolution. Therefore, light microscopy is only fit for the study of the STB distribution and quantitative changes. We, herein, suggest the adoption of correlative light and electron microscopy, which combines confocal laser scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscopy as the method allowing us to identify the huntingtin-associated protein 1–positive STBs in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections. This approach allows us to study the three-dimensional morphology of immunolabeled objects in histopathological specimens. The STBs in FFPE sections of murine hypothalami reflected the transmission electron microscopic images of Epon-embedded STBs, although we were not able to observe any organelle covering the STBs of the FFPE sections. Furthermore, we were able to reconstruct the three-dimensional structure of the STB, and we identified it to be of spherical form, covered with mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum, and bearing a cluster of cavities in the centre. In the future, we might gain new insights by comparing the three-dimensional structure of the STB between different neurons and under a variety of conditions.
Bilobed gallbladder discovered during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a tale of two lobes and one duct
Authors: Plewman Devon , Kudrna Rachel , Rojas Oskar , Ford Jennifer , Smith-Singares Eduardo
Published: November 2021

Bilobed gallbladder (BG) is a rare congenital anomaly with just 24 cases documented in medical literature in the past 127 years. There are only three documented cases of BG’s managed with laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and in all three cases the bilobed anomaly was discovered preoperatively. We present a case of symptomatic cholelithiasis in a BG that was discovered intraoperatively. Both the surgical techniques used to ensure complete and safe removal of all gallbladder components and the elements associated with the preoperative diagnosis of these rare anomalies are discussed.
Plant circadian clock control of Medicago truncatula nodulation via regulation of nodule cysteine-rich peptides
Authors: Achom Mingkee , Roy Proyash , Lagunas Beatriz , Picot Emma , Richards Luke , Bonyadi-Pour Roxanna , Pardal Alonso J , Baxter Laura , Richmond Bethany L , Aschauer Nadine , Fletcher Eleanor M , Rowson Monique , Blackwell Joseph , Rich-Griffin Charlotte , Mysore Kirankumar S , Wen Jiangqi , Ott Sascha , Carré Isabelle A , Gifford Miriam L
Published: November 2021

Legumes house nitrogen-fixing endosymbiotic rhizobia in specialized polyploid cells within root nodules, which undergo tightly regulated metabolic activity. By carrying out expression analysis of transcripts over time in Medicago truncatula nodules, we found that the circadian clock enables coordinated control of metabolic and regulatory processes linked to nitrogen fixation. This involves the circadian clock-associated transcription factor LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL (LHY), with lhy mutants being affected in nodulation. Rhythmic transcripts in root nodules include a subset of nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides (NCRs) that have the LHY-bound conserved evening element in their promoters. Until now, studies have suggested that NCRs act to regulate bacteroid differentiation and keep the rhizobial population in check. However, these conclusions came from the study of a few members of this very large gene family that has complex diversified spatio-temporal expression. We suggest that rhythmic expression of NCRs may be important for temporal coordination of bacterial activity with the rhythms of the plant host, in order to ensure optimal symbiosis.
MicroRNAs as Indicators into the Causes and Consequences of Whole-Genome Duplication Events
Authors: Peterson Kevin J , Beavan Alan , Chabot Peter J , McPeek Mark A , Pisani Davide , Fromm Bastian , Simakov Oleg
Published: November 2021

Whole-genome duplications (WGDs) have long been considered the causal mechanism underlying dramatic increases to morphological complexity due to the neo-functionalization of paralogs generated during these events. Nonetheless, an alternative hypothesis suggests that behind the retention of most paralogs is not neo-functionalization, but instead the degree of the inter-connectivity of the intended gene product, as well as the mode of the WGD itself. Here, we explore both the causes and consequences of WGD by examining the distribution, expression, and molecular evolution of microRNAs (miRNAs) in both gnathostome vertebrates as well as chelicerate arthropods. We find that although the number of miRNA paralogs tracks the number of WGDs experienced within the lineage, few of these paralogs experienced changes to the seed sequence, and thus are functionally equivalent relative to their mRNA targets. Nonetheless, in gnathostomes, although the retention of paralogs following the 1R autotetraploidization event is similar across the two subgenomes, the paralogs generated by the gnathostome 2R allotetraploidization event are retained in higher numbers on one subgenome relative to the second, with the miRNAs found on the preferred subgenome showing both higher expression of mature miRNA transcripts and slower molecular evolution of the precursor miRNA sequences. Importantly, WGDs do not result in the creation of miRNA novelty, nor do WGDs correlate to increases in complexity. Instead, it is the number of miRNA seed sequences in the genome itself that not only better correlate to instances in complexification, but also mechanistically explain why complexity increases when new miRNA families are established.
MicroRNA-106b overexpression suppresses synovial inflammation and alleviates synovial damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Liu Linchen , Chen Haiyan , Jiang Ting , He Dongyi
Published: December 2021

Objectives

To explore the effect of miR-106b on synovial inflammation and damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and further to investigate its possible mechanism.

Methods

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry assay were used to verify the levels of miR-106b and cytokines. Pearson’s correlation analysis was conducted to examine bivariate relationship between miR-106b and cytokines or receptor activator of nuclear factor-κ B ligand (RANKL). Following the isolation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), the cultured cells were separately transfected with or without miR-106b mimic. Thereafter, cell proliferation, invasion and migration were measured by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and Transwell assay, respectively. Furthermore, concentration and expression of cytokines were separately detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot.

Results

Compared with osteoarthritis, RA patients had a lower level of miR-106b and higher levels of RANKL, tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The relative transcription of miR-106b level was negatively correlated to TNF-a, IL-6, and RNKAL levels in both patients (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, miR-106b overexpression suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion capacity of RA-FLS.

Conclusions

miR-106b overexpression suppresses synovial inflammation and alleviates synovial damage; thus, it may be served as a potential therapeutic target for RA patients.
SCOPe: improvements to the structural classification of proteins – extended database to facilitate variant interpretation and machine learning
Authors: Chandonia John-Marc , Guan Lindsey , Lin Shiangyi , Yu Changhua , Fox Naomi K , Brenner Steven E
Published: November 2021

The Structural Classification of Proteins—extended (SCOPe, https://scop.berkeley.edu) knowledgebase aims to provide an accurate, detailed, and comprehensive description of the structural and evolutionary relationships amongst the majority of proteins of known structure, along with resources for analyzing the protein structures and their sequences. Structures from the PDB are divided into domains and classified using a combination of manual curation and highly precise automated methods. In the current release of SCOPe, 2.08, we have developed search and display tools for analysis of genetic variants we mapped to structures classified in SCOPe. In order to improve the utility of SCOPe to automated methods such as deep learning classifiers that rely on multiple alignment of sequences of homologous proteins, we have introduced new machine-parseable annotations that indicate aberrant structures as well as domains that are distinguished by a smaller repeat unit. We also classified structures from 74 of the largest Pfam families not previously classified in SCOPe, and we improved our algorithm to remove N- and C-terminal cloning, expression and purification sequences from SCOPe domains. SCOPe 2.08-stable classifies 106 976 PDB entries (about 60% of PDB entries).
A novel role for gag as a cis-acting element regulating RNA structure, dimerization and packaging in HIV-1 lentiviral vectors
Authors: Vamva Eirini , Griffiths Alex , Vink Conrad A , Lever Andrew M L , Kenyon Julia C
Published: November 2021

Clinical usage of lentiviral vectors is now established and increasing but remains constrained by vector titer with RNA packaging being a limiting factor. Lentiviral vector RNA is packaged through specific recognition of the packaging signal on the RNA by the viral structural protein Gag. We investigated structurally informed modifications of the 5′ leader and gag RNA sequences in which the extended packaging signal lies, to attempt to enhance the packaging process by facilitating vector RNA dimerization, a process closely linked to packaging. We used in-gel SHAPE to study the structures of these mutants in an attempt to derive structure-function correlations that could inform optimized vector RNA design. In-gel SHAPE of both dimeric and monomeric species of RNA revealed a previously unreported direct interaction between the U5 region of the HIV-1 leader and the downstream gag sequences. Our data suggest a structural equilibrium exists in the dimeric viral RNA between a metastable structure that includes a U5–gag interaction and a more stable structure with a U5–AUG duplex. Our data provide clarification for the previously unexplained requirement for the 5′ region of gag in enhancing genomic RNA packaging and provide a basis for design of optimized HIV-1 based vectors.
Fecundity and density dependence can be estimated from mark–recapture data for making population projections
Authors: Şen Bilgecan , Akçakaya H Reşit
Published: November 2021

Forecasting changes in size and distributions of populations is an essential component of conservation assessments. Such forecasts are only useful for species conservation and management when they are based on robust estimators of fecundity, survival, and density dependence. While apparent survival estimation is the main focus of mark–recapture modeling, fecundity and density dependence are rarely the subject of these models. Here, we present a Bayesian hierarchical framework that can estimate fecundity and density dependence along with age-based survival using only robust-design capture–recapture data. We refer to this framework as RD-pop. We used simulated capture histories to demonstrate that RD-pop can estimate vital rates and their density dependence with little bias. We applied RD-pop to capture history data from Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) and showed that estimates of fecundity are consistent with the breeding biology of this species. Finally, we illustrate that density dependence, even when estimated with uncertainty in the RD-pop framework, regularizes population dynamics and reduces the frequent population extinctions and explosions observed under density-independent models. RD-pop is a useful addition to the current mark–recapture modeling toolbox especially when the goal is to build population models that can make medium- and long-term projections. It can be applied to any population for which long-term robust-design mark–recapture data are available, and with slight modifications (incorporation of weather and climate effects on vital rates) has the potential to facilitate demographic projections under climate change.
Motivating Selective Motor Control of Infants at High Risk of Cerebral Palsy Using an In-Home Kicking-Activated Mobile Task: A Pilot Study
Authors: Sargent Barbara , Havens Kathryn L , Kubo Masayoshi , Wisnowski Jessica L , Wu Tai-Wei , Fetters Linda
Published: November 2021

Objective

Decreased selective motor control limits gait function of children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Infants at high risk of CP demonstrate decreased selective motor control by 1 month of age. To motivate more selective hip-knee control, infants at high risk of CP participated in an in-home kicking-activated mobile task. The purpose of this study was to determine whether infants at high risk of CP and infants with typical development (TD) demonstrated increased selective hip-knee control during 2-minute intervals of the mobile task when they demonstrated learning of the association between their leg movement and mobile activation vs during 2-minute intervals when they did not demonstrate learning.

Methods

Participants in this cohort study included 10 infants at high risk of CP based on neuroimaging and 11 infants with TD at 3.5 to 4.5 months of age. Each infant participated in the in-home kicking-activated mobile task for 8 to 10 min/d, 5 d/wk, for 6 weeks. Over 80,000 kicks were extracted and classified for each infant as occurring during 2-minute intervals of the task when the infant demonstrated learning vs not learning based on mobile activation time above baseline.

Results

Infants demonstrated kicks with more selective hip-knee control during 2-minute intervals of the mobile task when they demonstrated learning compared with when they did not demonstrate learning for 4 of 6 weeks in the cohort at high risk of CP and for 2 of 6 weeks in the cohort with TD.

Conclusion

Participation in the in-home kicking-activated mobile task may motivate more selective hip-knee control of infants at high risk of CP.

Impact

This study is a first step toward developing an intervention to promote selective hip-knee control of infants at high risk of CP, with the ultimate goal of optimizing future walking function.

Lay Summary

This study showed that playing with an in-home infant kicking-activated mobile may motivate infants at high risk of CP to produce more age-appropriate leg movements.
Loneliness in young people: a multilevel exploration of social ecological influences and geographic variation
Authors: Marquez J , Goodfellow C , Hardoon D , Inchley J , Leyland A H , Qualter P , Simpson S A , Long E
Published: December 2021

Background

Loneliness is a growing public health concern, yet little is known about loneliness in young people. The current study aimed to identify social ecological factors related to loneliness and examine the extent to which geographic region may account for differences in loneliness.

Methods

The data come from a cross-sectional sample of 6503 young people living in the UK. Loneliness was measured using the UCLA 3-item scale. Bivariate analyses were used to test associations between each predictor and loneliness. Multilevel models were used to identify key social ecological factors related to loneliness, and the extent to which loneliness may vary across geographic regions (local authority districts).

Results

Sociodemographic, social, health and well-being, and community factors were found to be associated with loneliness. Geographic region was associated with 5–8% of the variation in loneliness. The effect of gender, sexual orientation and minority ethnic background on loneliness differed across regions.

Conclusions

This is the first study to highlight modifiable social and community factors related to youth loneliness, and individual vulnerabilities, such as poor mental well-being. Results related to geographic differences suggest that local-level initiatives may be most appropriate in tackling loneliness, rather than wider, less contextualized national efforts.
Vertical Configuration Spaces and Their Homology
Authors: Bianchi Andrea , Kranhold Florian
Published: November 2021

We introduce ordered and unordered configuration spaces of ‘clusters’ of points in an Euclidean space $\mathbb{R}^d$, where points in each cluster satisfy a ‘verticality’ condition, depending on a decomposition $d=p+q$. We compute the homology in the ordered case and prove homological stability in the unordered case.
WINDCATCHER VENTILATION COMPUTATION AND INDOOR 222RN CONCENTRATION IN TRADITIONAL ADOBE HOUSES
Authors: Abbasi Akbar , Algethami Merfat , Bawazeer Omemh , Zakaly Hesham M H
Published: November 2021

Radon-based radiation is a significant issue that can affect resident health as a contributory source of natural radiation from soil construction materials. This study investigates the effect of windcatchers on radon activity concentrations and radon exhalation rate from the soil surface in traditional adobe houses of Yazd, Iran. Radon concentrations were measured by passive detectors in 16 adobe houses. Computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed for different wind speed to calculate ventilation rate. The concentrations of 222Rn were in the ranges of 22 ± 1–117 ± 8 Bq m−3 with an average value of 50 ± 3 Bq m−3. The radon exhalation rates values were in the range of 8.3 ± 0.1 to 47.2 ± 0.5 Bq m−2 h−1. Radon concentration results in only one dwelling site were higher than the level recommended by the World Health Organization. The annual radon inhalation dose was found in seven sites higher than the worldwide average.
Stress-related hippocampus activation mediates the association between polyvictimization and trait anxiety in adolescents
Authors: Corr Rachel , Glier Sarah , Bizzell Joshua , Pelletier-Baldelli Andrea , Campbell Alana , Killian-Farrell Candace , Belger Aysenil
Published: November 2021

Early life stress exposures are associated with adverse health outcomes and heightened anxiety symptoms in adolescents. Stress-sensitive brain regions like the hippocampus and amygdala are particularly impacted by early life adversities and are also implicated in the development of anxiety disorders. However, to date, no studies have specifically examined the neural correlates of polyvictimization (exposure to multiple categories of victimization) or the contribution of stress-sensitive neural nodes to polyvictimization’s impact on mental health. To elucidate these relationships, the current study analyzed associations between polyvictimization, hippocampal and amygdalar activation during an acute stress task and trait anxiety in a sample of 80 children and adolescents aged 9–16 years (33 female participants). Results showed that polyvictimization was associated with higher trait anxiety as well as greater stress-related right hippocampus activation, and this greater hippocampal activity predicted heightened trait anxiety. Robust mediation analyses revealed that stress-related right hippocampus activation partially mediated the relationship between polyvictimization and trait anxiety. Our results expand upon the existing polyvictimization literature by suggesting a possible neurobiological pathway through which polyvictimization is connected to the etiology of mental illness.
Randomized controlled trial of digital cognitive behavior therapy for prenatal insomnia symptoms: effects on postpartum insomnia and mental health
Authors: Felder Jennifer N , Epel Elissa S , Neuhaus John , Krystal Andrew D , Prather Aric A
Published: December 2021

Study Objectives

To evaluate the effects of digital cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia (dCBT-I) delivered during pregnancy on subjective sleep outcomes, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms through 6 months postpartum.

Methods

People up to 28 weeks gestation (N = 208) with insomnia were randomized to 6 weekly sessions of dCBT-I or standard care. We report follow-up data at 3 and 6 months postpartum. The primary outcome was insomnia symptom severity. Secondary sleep outcomes included global sleep quality and insomnia caseness. Mental health outcomes included depressive and anxiety symptom severity. We evaluated between-condition differences in change from baseline for each postpartum timepoint and categorical outcomes.

Results

dCBT-I participants did not experience significantly greater improvements in insomnia symptom severity relative to standard care participants, but they did experience higher rates of insomnia remission and lower rates of insomnia caseness at 6 months postpartum. dCBT-I participants experienced greater improvements in depressive symptom severity from baseline to both postpartum timepoints, and in anxiety symptom severity from baseline to 3 months postpartum. The proportion of participants with probable major depression at 3 months postpartum was significantly higher among standard care (18%) than dCBT-I (4%, p = 0.006) participants; this between-condition difference was pronounced among the subset (n = 143) with minimal depressive symptoms at baseline (18% vs 0%).

Conclusion

dCBT-I use during pregnancy leads to enduring benefits for postpartum insomnia remission. Findings provide strong preliminary evidence that dCBT-I use during pregnancy may prevent postpartum depression and anxiety, which is notable when considering the high frequency and importance of these problems.

Clinical Trials: ClinicalTrials.gov, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02805998, NCT02805998.
Emerging digital technologies in cancer treatment, prevention, and control
Authors: Hesse Bradford W , Kwasnicka Dominika , Ahern David K
Published: December 2021

The very first issue of the journal of Translational Behavioral Medicine (TBM) was dedicated, in part, to the theme of Health Information Technology as a platform for evidence implementation. The topic was timely: legislation in the USA was passed with the intent of stimulating the adoption of electronic health records; mobile smartphones, tablets, and other devices were gaining traction in the consumer market, while members within the Society of Behavioral Medicine were gaining scientific understanding on how to use these tools to effect healthy behavior change. For the anniversary issue of TBM, we evaluated the progress and problems associated with deploying digital health technologies to support cancer treatment, prevention, and control over the last decade. We conducted a narrative review of published literature to identify the role that emerging digital technologies may take in achieving national and international objectives in the decade to come. We tracked our evaluation of the literature across three phases in the cancer control continuum: (a) prevention, (b) early detection/screening, and (c) treatment/survivorship. From our targeted review and analyses, we noted that significant progress had been made in the adoption of digital health technologies in the cancer space over the past decade but that significant work remains to be done to integrate these technologies effectively into the cancer control systems needed to improve outcomes equitably across populations. The challenge for the next 10 years is inherently translational.
Behavioral medicine, cancer control, and NCI: reflections on a fruitful past and auspicious future
Authors: Klein William M P
Published: December 2021

Cancer prevention and control has benefited substantially from behavioral medicine research over the last several decades. The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, ably led by Barbara Rimer and then Bob Croyle since being established in 1997, has been a primary supporter of this research. NCI has made significant investments in many of the topics featured in this special section and will continue to do so. These include research on basic behavioral processes such as affect as well as optimal approaches to health communication. A key and enduring focus has been the support of behavioral interventions, particularly for tobacco, diet, physical activity, and sun exposure. The success of such interventions will be amplified to the extent that they leverage novel research designs, emerging digital technologies, evidence gleaned from the burgeoning field of implementation science, and lessons learned from greater attention to the impact of health disparities and inequities. Moreover, as the cancer survivor population continues to grow given the rapid development of diagnostic and therapeutic science, it will be even more essential to devote attention to understanding and addressing the health care and other needs of survivors such as cognitive dysfunction and financial toxicity. The field of behavioral medicine should be both applauded for its many contributions to reducing the cancer burden and encouraged to continue developing new research ideas in these critical areas.
Embracing policy implementation science to ensure translation of evidence to cancer control policy
Authors: Emmons Karen M , Chambers David , Abazeed Ali
Published: December 2021

Although health-related policies are abundant, efforts to understand how to ensure that these policies serve as an effective vehicle for translating scientific evidence are relatively sparse. This paper explores how policy-focused implementation science (IS) may contribute to understanding the translation of scientific evidence to health-related policy in governmental and nongovernmental sectors. Expanding the focus of implementation science in cancer control could systematically address policy to both increase the use of scientific evidence in general and to address health equity. In this Commentary, we look to relevant work outside of IS that could be informative, most notably from the field of political science. We propose several ideas for future research that could help move the field of policy implementation science in cancer control in the USA forward. Although most efforts to increase uptake of the scientific evidence base reference translation to “practice and policy,” there has been relatively little emphasis in the USA on implementation at the policy level, especially related to cancer control. If we are to achieve the full benefits of scientific discovery on population and public health, we will need to consider policy as a critical mechanism by which evidence can be translated to practice. We have a robust set of methods within implementation science that are increasing the pace of adoption and maintenance of evidence-based programs in a variety of settings. Building on these efforts, the time is right to expand our focus to include policy implementation.