bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using payment for ecosystem services to meet national reforestation commitments: impacts of 20+ years of forestry incentives in Guatemala
Authors: Patrick Evan , Butsic Van , Potts Matthew D
Published: September 2023

International environmental initiatives, such as the Bonn Challenge and the UN Decade on Restoration, have prompted countries to put the management and restoration of forest landscapes at the center of their land use and climate policies. To support these goals, many governments are promoting forest landscape restoration and management through financial forestry incentives, a form of payment for ecosystem services. Since 1996, Guatemala has implemented a series of forestry incentives that promote active forest landscape restoration and management on private and communal lands. These programs have been widely hailed as a success with nearly 600 000 ha enrolled since 1998. However, there has been no systematic assessment of the effectiveness of these programs on preserving and restoring Guatemalan forests. This study evaluates the impacts of over 16 000 individual PES projects funded through two incentive programs using a synthetic control counterfactual. Overall, a program for smallholders resulted in lower rates of forest loss, while a program for industrial timber owners led to greater gains in forest cover. Across policies, we found dramatically higher forest cover increases from restoration projects (15% forest cover increase) compared to plantation and agroforestry projects (3%–6% increase in forest cover). Projects that protected natural forest also showed a 6% reduction in forest loss. We found forest cover increases to be under 10% of total enrolled area, although positive local spillovers suggest this is an underestimate. Restoration projects show the most promise at promoting forest landscape restoration, but these benefits need to be weighed against priorities like resilience and rural development, which may be better served by other projects.
Exhaled nitric oxide in intubated ICU patients on mechanical ventilation—a feasibility study
Authors: Kofoed Andreas , Hindborg Mathias , Hjembæk-Brandt Jeppe , Sørensen Christian Dalby , Kolpen Mette , Bestle Morten H
Published: September 2023

It can be a clinical challenge to distinguish inflammation from infection in critically ill patients. Therefore, valid and conclusive surrogate markers for infections are desired. Nitric oxide (NO) might be that marker since concentrations of exhaled NO have shown to change in the presence of various diseases. This observational, prospective, single-center feasibility study aimed to investigate if fractional exhaled NO (FeNO) can be measured in intubated patients with or without infection, pneumonia and septic shock in a standardized, reliable setting. 20 intubated patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) were included for analysis. FeNO mean values were measured in the endotracheal tube via the suction channel using a chemiluminescence based analyzer. We developed a pragmatic method to measure FeNO repeatedly and reliably in intubated patients using a chemiluminescence based analyzer. We found a median of 0.98 (0.59–1.44) FeNO mean (ppb) in exhaled breath from all 20 intubated patient. Intubated patient with suspected infection had a significantly lower median FeNO mean compared with the intubated patients without suspected infection. Similarly did patients with septic shock demonstrate a significantly lower median FeNO mean than without septic shock. We found no statistical difference in median FeNO mean for intubated patients with pneumonia. It was feasible to measure FeNO in intubated patients in the ICU. Our results indicate decreased levels of FeNO in infected intubated patients in the ICU. The study was not powered to provide firm conclusions, so larger trials are needed to confirm the results and to prove FeNO as a useful biomarker for distinguishment between infection and inflammation in the ICU.
Improving quantum state transfer: correcting non-Markovian and distortion effects
Authors: Peñas Guillermo F , Puebla Ricardo , José García-Ripoll Juan
Published: September 2023

Quantum state transfer is a key operation for quantum information processing. The original pitch-and-catch protocols rely on flying qubits or single photons with engineered wavepacket shapes to achieve a deterministic, fast and high-fidelity transfer. Yet, these protocols overlook two important factors, namely, the distortion of the wavepacket during the propagation and non-Markovian effects during the emission and reabsorption processes due to time-dependent controls. Here we address both difficulties in a general quantum-optical model and propose a correction strategy to improve quantum state transfer protocols. Including non-Markovian effects in our theoretical description, we show how to derive control pulses that imprint phases on the wavepacket that compensate the distortion caused by propagation. Our theoretical results are supported by detailed numerical simulations showing that a suitable correction strategy can improve state transfer fidelities up to three orders of magnitude.
Theory-based Trial to Promote Uptake and Sustained Use of Face Coverings During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Armitage Christopher J , Keyworth Chris , Gartland Nicola , Coleman Anna , Fishwick David , Johnson Sheena , van Tongeren Martie
Published: September 2023

Background

Transmission of airborne viruses can be mitigated by wearing face coverings but evidence suggests that face covering declines with the removal of relevant legislation, partly due to low automatic motivation.

Purpose

Test whether an intervention based on implementation intentions could support people’s automatic motivation and promote face covering during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Randomized controlled design. At baseline (May 20 to June 6, 2022), 7,835 UK adults reported how much time they spent wearing face coverings in work, public transport, and indoor leisure settings as well as their capabilities, opportunities, and motivations. 3,871 participants were randomized to form implementation intentions; 3,964 control participants completed questionnaires only. Measures were repeated 6 months postbaseline (November 1 to November 14, 2022). Data were analyzed using mixed measures ANOVAs and Bayes Factors to examine whether the observed data supported the experimental hypothesis.

Results

The proportion of time spend wearing face coverings declined substantially across the 6-month study period, from 15.28% to 9.87% in work settings, 38.31% to 24.55% on public transport, and 9.58% to 7.85% in leisure settings. Bayes Factors indicated moderate relative evidence of no effect of implementation intentions on behavior in work and leisure settings, and inconclusive evidence of a positive effect on public transport.

Conclusions

In the context of declining COVID-19 rates and removal of legal mandates, implementation intentions were not effective in sustaining face covering. Further research is required to ensure that evidence-based interventions are prepared and deployed in the event of future pandemics.
TikTok in Plastic Surgery: A Systematic Review of Its Uses
Authors: Zargaran Alexander , Sousi Sara , Zargaran David , Mosahebi Afshin
Published: September 2023

TikTok (San Jose, CA) is a popular and rapidly growing social media platform. With beauty and skincare among the top 5 most popular categories, TikTok represents an important platform for plastic surgery education and communication. However, given the vast array of content shared daily, regulating content for veracity is challenging. It may also be an important and potentially overlooked avenue for the dissemination of inaccurate information pertaining to plastic surgery. This systematic review evaluates TikTok's impact on plastic surgery. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Guidelines, a systematic literature review was performed of the use of TikTok within the plastic surgery field. The following databases were queried: PubMed (National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, MD), EMBASE (Elsevier; Amsterdam, the Netherlands), and PsychInfo (American Psychological Association; Washington, DC). The search captured 31 studies of which 7 were included in the final analysis. The studies examined the following areas: gender-affirming surgery (n = 1), breast reconstruction (n = 1), aesthetic surgical procedures (n = 1), plastic surgeon profiles (n = 1), and profiles of videos relating to plastic surgery hashtags (n = 3). The videos’ quality was assessed using the DISCERN scale. Physician videos scored notably higher than nonphysician videos. The mean DISCERN score across all the videos (n = 386) was 1.91 (range: 1.44-3.00), indicating poor quality. TikTok is a popular medium for sharing plastic surgery content. The existing literature has demonstrated overall poor-quality information on plastic surgery, and further study is needed to evaluate its impact in terms of perceptions of the specialty and healthcare behaviors. Future work should focus on promoting accurate, high-quality videos, potentially including a peer-review function for healthcare content. This can leverage TikTok's potential for disseminating content while upholding patient safety.

Level of Evidence: 3
Criminology and Propaganda Studies: Charting New Horizons in Criminological Thought
Authors: Drake Deborah H , Walters Reece , Wood Mark , Koumouris Greg
Published: September 2023

Criminology and propaganda studies have both substantially influenced political, public and commercial thought yet not as a co-ordinated, embedded twine. Propaganda studies identify how narratives are constructed, conveyed and embedded within public and political discourses. To enhance existing debates, this article stirs the criminological cauldron with critical insights from propaganda analyses. Criminology is an evolving crucible, a gravitational black hole that imbues, harnesses and inculcates diverse perspectives in the pursuit of originality, criticality and creativity. By drawing on historical and contemporary propaganda scholarship we aim to enrich criminological theory, policy and practice. Our intention is not to critique, supplant or subvert existing criminological discourse but to invigorate it with the proponents, and prospects of propaganda studies.
The aphid Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) acquires chloroplast DNA during feeding on host plants
Authors: Byrd Dawson , Tran Mona , Kenney Jaimie R , Wilson-Rankin Erin E , Mauck Kerry E
Published: September 2023

Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) extract nutrients from host plant phloem via stylets that facilitate salivation and sap uptake. When navigating to the phloem, aphids periodically puncture nonvascular cells and sample cell contents, but rarely cause significant cell damage. As a result, aphids are considered “stealthy” feeders. In contrast, insects that do cause damage, such as chewing herbivores, will take up host cell contents—including DNA—into their guts. Researchers can use molecular barcoding methods to identify recent host use patterns of chewing herbivores. This information is valuable for both pest management and basic ecological studies. Because of their stealthy feeding style, it was assumed that host plant DNA could not be recovered from aphids and other Sternorrhyncha. However, several recent studies document host plant DNA uptake by psyllids, which feed in a similar manner to aphids. Therefore, we hypothesized that aphids may also acquire DNA from host plants. Since aphids puncture and sample cytosol contents from cells, we predicted that aphids would be most likely to acquire DNA from chloroplasts. To test this, we performed host feeding and host transfer experiments with Myzus persicae (Sulzer), then used PCR to recover and sequence a region between the trnT and trnF genes from acquired chloroplast DNA. We found that M. persicae readily acquires chloroplast DNA, even prior to phloem contact, and that fragment sizes sufficient for host plant identification can be recovered. Our work suggests that molecular gut content analysis is a viable tool for studying aphid–host interactions.
Transcatheter mitral valve replacement to treat severe calcified rheumatic native mitral stenosis: role of three-dimensional printing—a case report
Authors: Zhai Meng-En , Mao Yu , Liu Yang , Yang Jian
Published: September 2023

Background

Rheumatic heart disease is a major disease that seriously affects human health and survival worldwide. Rheumatic mitral stenosis often has relatively complex pathological changes, and its progression leads to various manifestations of mitral valve dysfunction and adverse clinical events.

Case summary

We present a 60-year-old patient who developed chest tightness, shortness of breath, and bilateral lower limb oedema in 2018 (New York Heart Association functional class III). Systolic and diastolic murmurs could be heard in the mitral auscultation area. In December 2021, the patient was admitted to the hospital with stroke. Thereafter, transthoracic echocardiography and computed tomography were performed, and the progress of rheumatic mitral stenosis was recorded. Due to the patient’s high surgical risk, a patient-specific three-dimensional printed model was used to observe anatomical structures and simulate main procedures, and the surgeons finally chose to perform transcatheter mitral valve replacement. The balloon-expandable bioprothesis was released from the right femoral artery to treat the rheumatic mitral stenosis. The patient remained asymptomatic at the 6-month follow-up.

Discussion

For patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis with high surgical risk, it is feasible to conduct transcatheter mitral valve replacement under the guidance of three-dimensional printing.
Successful transcatheter mitral valve repair for functional mitral regurgitation in a patient with mitochondrial cardiomyopathy: a case report
Authors: Hiruma Takashi , Saji Mike , Nanasato Mamoru , Isobe Mitsuaki
Published: September 2023

Background

Mitochondrial diseases are a group of genetic disorders caused by nuclear or mitochondrial DNA gene mutations and characterized by multiorgan disorders, including cardiomyopathy. Mitochondrial cardiomyopathy is occasionally complicated by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with/without left ventricular systolic dysfunction, dilated cardiomyopathy, and left ventricular non-compaction. In such cases, the dilated left ventricle impairs coaptation of the mitral leaflets and leads to functional mitral regurgitation. To date, valvular interventions in patients with mitochondrial cardiopathy have not been investigated.

Case summary

A 64-year-old woman with mitochondrial cardiopathy was referred to our hospital owing to dyspnoea. She experienced her first admission with heart failure at age 60 years. At 62 years old, she was diagnosed with maternally inherited diabetes and deafness with mitochondrial cardiomyopathy based on mitochondrial DNA sequencing. Despite administration of guideline-directed medical therapy and high-dose taurine supplementation, she was repeatedly hospitalized for heart failure. At admission, transthoracic echocardiography revealed severe functional mitral regurgitation due to left ventricular dilatation. Surgical risk was considered high (Society of Thoracic Surgeons score of 12.6%); therefore, transcatheter edge-to-edge repair with the MitraClip system was performed. Two devices deployed at the middle segment of the anterior and posterior leaflet successfully reduced mitral regurgitation. The patient was free from cardiovascular events during the 2-year follow-up period.

Discussion

Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair is a less invasive and effective treatment for severe drug-refractory mitral regurgitation in patients with mitochondrial disease. Given the limited therapeutic options for mitochondrial cardiopathy, further studies are required to uncover the mechanism underlying mitochondrial diseases and establish disease-specific treatments.
Characteristics and outcomes in patients with a prior myocardial infarction treated with extended dual antiplatelet therapy with ticagrelor 60 mg: findings from ALETHEIA, a multi-country observational study
Authors: Bonaca M P , Lesén E , Giannitsis E , Hedberg J , Jernberg T , Lambrelli D , Duong M , Maggioni A P , Ariza-Solé A , ten Berg J , Storey R F
Published: September 2023

Background

Guidelines recommend extended dual antiplatelet therapy, including ticagrelor 60 mg twice daily, in high-risk post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients who have tolerated 12 months and are not at high bleeding risk. The real-world utilization and bleeding and ischaemic outcomes associated with long-term ticagrelor 60 mg in routine clinical practice have not been well described.

Methods

Register and claims data from the USA (Optum Clinformatics, IBM MarketScan, and Medicare) and Europe (Sweden, Italy, UK, and Germany) were extracted. Patients initiating ticagrelor 60 mg ≥12 months after MI, meeting eligibility criteria for the PEGASUS-TIMI (Prevention of Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Prior Heart Attack Using Ticagrelor Compared to Placebo on a Background of Aspirin – Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 45) 54 trial, were included. The cumulative incidence of the composite of MI, stroke, or all-cause mortality and that of bleeding requiring hospitalization were calculated. Meta-analyses were performed to combine estimates from each source.

Results

A total of 7035 patients treated with ticagrelor 60 mg met eligibility criteria. Median age was 67 years and 29% were females; 12% had a history of multiple MIs. The majority (95%) had been treated with ticagrelor 90 mg prior to initiating ticagrelor 60 mg. At 12 months from initiation of ticagrelor 60 mg, the cumulative incidence [95% confidence interval (CI)] of MI, stroke, or mortality was 3.33% (2.73–4.04) and was approximately three-fold the risk of bleeding (0.96%; 0.69–1.33).

Conclusions

This study provides insights into the use of ticagrelor 60 mg in patients with prior MI in clinical practice. Observed event rates for ischaemic events and bleeding generally align with those in the pivotal trials, support the established safety profile of ticagrelor, and highlight the significant residual ischaemic risk in this population.

Clinical Trials.gov Registration NCT04568083.
Structural variants and short tandem repeats impact gene expression and splicing in bovine testis tissue
Authors: Bhati Meenu , Mapel Xena Marie , Lloret-Villas Audald , Pausch Hubert
Published: September 2023

Structural variants (SVs) and short tandem repeats (STRs) are significant sources of genetic variation. However, the impacts of these variants on gene regulation have not been investigated in cattle. Here, we genotyped and characterized 19,408 SVs and 374,821 STRs in 183 bovine genomes and investigated their impact on molecular phenotypes derived from testis transcriptomes. We found that 71% STRs were multiallelic. The vast majority (95%) of STRs and SVs were in intergenic and intronic regions. Only 37% SVs and 40% STRs were in high linkage disequilibrium (LD) (R2 > 0.8) with surrounding SNPs/insertions and deletions (Indels), indicating that SNP-based association testing and genomic prediction are blind to a nonnegligible portion of genetic variation. We showed that both SVs and STRs were more than 2-fold enriched among expression and splicing QTL (e/sQTL) relative to SNPs/Indels and were often associated with differential expression and splicing of multiple genes. Deletions and duplications had larger impacts on splicing and expression than any other type of SV. Exonic duplications predominantly increased gene expression either through alternative splicing or other mechanisms, whereas expression- and splicing-associated STRs primarily resided in intronic regions and exhibited bimodal effects on the molecular phenotypes investigated. Most e/sQTL resided within 100 kb of the affected genes or splicing junctions. We pinpoint candidate causal STRs and SVs associated with the expression of SLC13A4 and TTC7B and alternative splicing of a lncRNA and CAPP1. We provide a catalog of STRs and SVs for taurine cattle and show that these variants contribute substantially to gene expression and splicing variation.
The Promise of Participation: European Reconstruction Work in Early Weimar Germany’s Political Culture
Authors: Karla Anna
Published: September 2023

Material reconstruction after the First World War was closely linked to German reparations, yet it is curiously underrepresented in the historiography of the Treaty of Versailles as well as in studies on interwar Germany. In the Weimar Republic, political leaders, economic actors and large parts of the population supported the idea of sending building material and even labourers to neighbouring countries. This far-reaching planning process began before and continued after the signing of the peace treaty, as the Allies remained hesitant but not fully hostile to the German proposals. Material reparation potentially mobilized a wide range of goods and labour, and it was thus particularly prone to expectation, but also to disappointment in a broad segment of the population. Against the backdrop of war destruction and the international peace negotiations in 1919, this article investigates the way in which European reconstruction was discussed formally and informally in Weimar Germany. By focusing on the communicative channels and media that promoted German participation in building work abroad, it discusses how expectations were raised, managed and disappointed at the intersection of foreign and domestic policies. While there had only been minor destruction in German territory between 1914 and 1918, the republic’s political culture proved to be deeply affected by the material reconstruction on the European continent, even though most of the far-reaching plans did not result in building sites on the ground.
System-based integrated metabolomics and microRNA analysis identifies potential molecular alterations in human X-linked cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy brain
Authors: Poisson Laila M , Kaur Navtej , Felicella Michelle M , Singh Jaspreet
Published: September 2023

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy is a severe demyelinating neurodegenerative disease mainly affecting males. The severe cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (cALD) phenotype has a poor prognosis and underlying mechanism of onset and progression of neuropathology remains poorly understood. In this study we aim to integrate metabolomic and microRNA (miRNA) datasets to identify variances associated with cALD. Postmortem brain tissue samples from five healthy controls (CTL) and five cALD patients were utilized in this study. White matter from ALD patients was obtained from normal-appearing areas, away from lesions (NLA) and from the periphery of lesions- plaque shadow (PLS). Metabolomics was performed by gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry and miRNA expression analysis was performed by next generation sequencing (RNAseq). Principal component analysis revealed that among the three sample groups (CTL, NLA and PLS) there were 19 miRNA, including several novel miRNA, of which 17 were increased with disease severity and 2 were decreased. Untargeted metabolomics revealed 13 metabolites with disease severity-related patterns with 7 increased and 6 decreased with disease severity. Ingenuity pathway analysis of differentially altered metabolites and miRNA comparing CTL with NLA and NLA with PLS, identified several hubs of metabolite and signaling molecules and their upstream regulation by miRNA. The transomic approach to map the crosstalk between miRNA and metabolomics suggests involvement of specific molecular and metabolic pathways in cALD and offers opportunity to understand the complex underlying mechanism of disease severity in cALD.
Low Antioxidant Glutathione Levels Lead to Longer Telomeres: A Sex-Specific Link to Longevity?
Authors: Romero-Haro A A , Figuerola J , Alonso-Alvarez C
Published: September 2023

Synopsis

Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences at the end of chromosomes that protect them from degradation. They have been the focus of intense research because short telomeres would predict accelerated ageing and reduced longevity in vertebrates. Oxidative stress is considered a physiological driver of the telomere shortening and, consequently, short lifespan. Among molecules fighting against oxidative stress, glutathione is involved in many antioxidant pathways. Literature supports that oxidative stress may trigger a compensatory “hormetic” response increasing glutathione levels and telomere length. Here, we tested the link between total glutathione concentration and telomere length in captive birds (zebra finches; Taeniopygia guttata). Total glutathione levels were experimentally decreased during birds’ growth using a specific inhibitor of glutathione synthesis (buthionine sulfoximine; BSO). We monitored the birds’ reproductive performance in an outdoor aviary during the first month of life, and their longevity for almost 9 years. Among control individuals, erythrocyte glutathione levels during development positively predicted erythrocyte telomere length in adulthood. However, BSO-treated females, but not males, showed longer telomeres than control females in adulthood. This counterintuitive finding suggests that females mounted a compensatory response. Such compensation agrees with precedent findings in the same population where the BSO treatment increased growth and adult body mass in females but not males. BSO did not influence longevity or reproductive output in any sex. However, early glutathione levels and adult telomere length interactively predicted longevity only among control females. Those females with “naturally” low (non-manipulated) glutathione levels at the nestling age but capable of producing longer telomeres in adulthood seem to live longer. The results suggest that the capability to mount a hormetic response triggered by low early glutathione levels can improve fitness via telomere length. Overall, the results may indicate a sex-specific link between glutathione and telomere values. Telomerase activity and sexual steroids (estrogens) are good candidates to explain the sex-biased mechanism underlying the early-life impact of oxidative stress on adult telomere length.
The standard problem
Authors: Coiera Enrico
Published: September 2023

Objective

This article proposes a framework to support the scientific research of standards so that they can be better measured, evaluated, and designed.

Methods

Beginning with the notion of common models, the framework describes the general standard problem—the seeming impossibility of creating a singular, persistent, and definitive standard which is not subject to change over time in an open system.

Results

The standard problem arises from uncertainty driven by variations in operating context, standard quality, differences in implementation, and drift over time. As a result, fitting work using conformance services is needed to repair these gaps between a standard and what is required for real-world use. To guide standards design and repair, a framework for measuring performance in context is suggested, based on signal detection theory and technomarkers. Based on the type of common model in operation, different conformance strategies are identified: (1) Universal conformance (all agents access the same standard); (2) Mediated conformance (an interoperability layer supports heterogeneous agents); and (3) Localized conformance (autonomous adaptive agents manage their own needs). Conformance methods include incremental design, modular design, adaptors, and creating interactive and adaptive agents.

Discussion

Machine learning should have a major role in adaptive fitting. Research to guide the choice and design of conformance services may focus on the stability and homogeneity of shared tasks, and whether common models are shared ahead of time or adjusted at task time.

Conclusion

This analysis conceptually decouples interoperability and standardization. While standards facilitate interoperability, interoperability is achievable without standardization.
Curcumin analog GO-Y030 inhibits tumor metastasis and glycolysis
Authors: MaruYama Takashi , Miyazaki Hirofumi , Komori Taishi , Osana Shion , Shibata Hiroyuki , Owada Yuji , Kobayashi Shuhei
Published: September 2023

Tumor metastasis is one of the worst prognostic features of cancer. Although metastasis is a major cause of cancer-related deaths, an effective treatment has not yet been established. Here, we explore the antitumor effects of GO-Y030, a curcumin analog, via various mechanisms using a mouse model. GO-Y030 treatment of B16-F10 melanoma cells inhibited TGF-β expression and glycolysis. The invasion assay results showed almost complete invasion inhibition following GO-Y030 treatment. Mouse experiments demonstrated that GO-Y030 administration inhibited lung tumor metastasis without affecting vascular endothelial cells. Consistent with this result, GO-Y030 treatment led to the downregulation of MMP2 and VEGFα, inhibiting tumor invasion and metastasis. The silencing of eIF4B, a downstream molecule of S6, attenuated MMP2 expression. Our study demonstrates the novel efficacy of GO-Y030 in inhibiting tumor metastasis by regulating metastasis-associated gene expression via inhibiting dual access, glycolytic and TGF-β pathways.
Attitudinal and behavioral correlates of algorithmic awareness among German and U.S. social media users
Authors: Oeldorf-Hirsch Anne , Neubaum German
Published: September 2023

With the increase in algorithms on social media, scholarship is increasingly focused on “algorithmic literacy,” or users’ understanding of algorithms. Algorithmic literacy is multi-faceted (knowledge, attitudes, and behavior), and researchers are still uncovering how these facets are connected. This article presents a preregistered survey of social media users from two western countries: the United States (n = 990) and Germany (n = 1117). Results show key predictors of algorithmic awareness—age, education, frequency of social media use—are the same in both countries. Nevertheless, U.S. social media users show higher algorithmic awareness and more positive attitudes toward algorithms than German social media users, likely due to their higher overall social media usage. Results also indicate that algorithmic awareness predicts attitudes about filtering algorithms depending on users’ defense motivations or accuracy motivations and behaviors to counteract filtering. These patterns have implications for literacy interventions and for increasing algorithmic transparency.
Toxicity of spray adjuvants and tank mix combinations used in almond orchards to adult honey bees (Apis mellifera)
Authors: Shannon Brandon , Walker Emily , Johnson Reed M
Published: September 2023

Commercial beekeepers transporting honey bees across the United States to provide almond pollination services have reported honey bee deaths, possibly due to pesticide applications made during crop bloom. Pesticides are often applied as “tank mixes”, or mixtures of fungicides and insecticides combined into a single application. Spray adjuvants are often added to tank mixes to improve the application characteristics of a pesticide and include spreaders, stickers, or surfactants. The goal of this research was to determine toxicity of adjuvants to adult worker honey bees, both when applied alone and in adjuvant-pesticide tank mixtures. Field-relevant combinations of formulated products were applied to 3-day-old adult worker honey bees using a Potter Spray Tower, and mortality was assessed 48 h following exposure. Adjuvants tested included Activator-90, Attach, Choice Weather Master, Cohere, Dyne-Amic, Induce, Kinetic, LI 700, Liberate, Nu-Film P, PHT Latron B-1956, and Surf-90; fungicides tested include Luna Sensation (Fluopyram and Trifloxystrobin), Pristine (Pyraclostrobin and Boscalid), Tilt (Propiconazole), and Vangard (Cyprodinil), and insecticides tested include Altacor (Chlorantraniliprole), Intrepid 2F (Methoxyfenozide), and a positive control Mustang Maxx (Zeta-cypermethrin). Results demonstrated that exposure to some adjuvants causes acute honey bee mortality at near-field application rates, both when applied alone and in combination with pesticides. Some adjuvant-pesticide combinations demonstrated increased toxicity compared with the adjuvant alone, while others demonstrated decreased toxicity. A better understanding of adjuvant and adjuvant-pesticide tank mixture toxicity to honey bees will play a key role in informing “Best Management Practices” for pesticide applicators using spray adjuvants during bloom when honey bee exposure is likely.
Diversity and taxonomic distribution of bacterial biosynthetic gene clusters predicted to produce compounds with therapeutically relevant bioactivities
Authors: Beck Max L , Song Siyeon , Shuster Isra E , Miharia Aarzu , Walker Allison S
Published: September 2023

Bacteria have long been a source of natural products with diverse bioactivities that have been developed into therapeutics to treat human disease. Historically, researchers have focused on a few taxa of bacteria, mainly Streptomyces and other actinomycetes. This strategy was initially highly successful and resulted in the golden era of antibiotic discovery. The golden era ended when the most common antibiotics from Streptomyces had been discovered. Rediscovery of known compounds has plagued natural product discovery ever since. Recently, there has been increasing interest in identifying other taxa that produce bioactive natural products. Several bioinformatics studies have identified promising taxa with high biosynthetic capacity. However, these studies do not address the question of whether any of the products produced by these taxa are likely to have activities that will make them useful as human therapeutics. We address this gap by applying a recently developed machine learning tool that predicts natural product activity from biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) sequences to determine which taxa are likely to produce compounds that are not only novel but also bioactive. This machine learning tool is trained on a dataset of BGC-natural product activity pairs and relies on counts of different protein domains and resistance genes in the BGC to make its predictions. We find that rare and understudied actinomycetes are the most promising sources for novel active compounds. There are also several taxa outside of actinomycetes that are likely to produce novel active compounds. We also find that most strains of Streptomyces likely produce both characterized and uncharacterized bioactive natural products. The results of this study provide guidelines to increase the efficiency of future bioprospecting efforts.

One-Sentence Summary

This paper combines several bioinformatics workflows to identify which genera of bacteria are most likely to produce novel natural products with useful bioactivities such as antibacterial, antitumor, or antifungal activity.
Food habits of 3 myrmecophilous bug species on myrmecophyticMacaranga(Malpighiales: Euphorbiaceae) vary from herbivory to predation
Authors: Shimizu-kaya Usun , Hyodo Fujio , Ueda Shouhei , Komatsu Takashi , Meleng Paulus , Itioka Takao
Published: September 2023

Myrmecophytes have mutualistic relationships with symbiotic ants. Although myrmecophytic Macaranga (Malpighiales: Euphorbiaceae) species are well protected by aggressive Crematogaster (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) ants, some bug species occur on the myrmecophytes. To clarify the associations of these bugs with the plants and the ants, we studied the food habits of 3 bug species, Pilophorus lambirensis Nakatani et Komatsu, 2013 (Hemiptera: Miridae: Phylinae), Phylinae sp. 1, and Arbela sp. 1 (Hemiptera: Nabidae). We conducted field observations in a Bornean rainforest. First, we located these bugs and studied their behavioral responses to the ants on Macaranga species; we then conducted stable isotope analyses. All bugs avoided direct contact with ants, but they occurred only on trees with active ants. Pilophorus lambirensis and Phylinae sp. 1 were most commonly observed on the apical parts of host trees, whereas Arbela sp. 1 was mainly in areas distant from the apical parts where ants were sparse. The stable isotope ratios indicated that Phylinae sp. 1 fed on food bodies, which are nutrient-rich spherical bodies produced by Macaranga trees on the apical parts for ants. Although the main diet of the other 2 species remains unclear, nitrogen isotopic signatures demonstrated that P. lambirensis is herbivorous, whereas Arbela sp. 1 is carnivorous. However, the distant location from ants and its isotopic signatures indicated that Arbela sp. 1 rarely fed on the ants. At least 2 mirid bug species might obtain enemy-free space in addition to the food provided by the myrmecophytes.
‘An Industrial Revelation’ – The Political Apocalyptic in Gaskell’s North and South
Authors: Otero Joseph M
Published: September 2023

This essay examines the religious contents of Elizabeth Gaskell’s 1854–1855 novel, North and South, within the context of Apocalyptic literary traditions from Antiquity, and in the literary and historical contexts accessible to Victorians. Inviting this comparison is the character Bessy Higgins, a terminally ill factory seamstress who quotes the Book of Revelation and reports prophetic dreams of some actual merit. By placing this anachronistically apocalyptic voice amid the working poor of her industrial urban setting, Gaskell effects a return to the original political function of the Apocalyptic genre: the vindication of a disenfranchised underclass. Drawing upon examples from Christian and pre-Christian Antiquity, this essay establishes the generic features of Apocalyptic literature as they pertain to its political function, and identifies key points at which Gaskell’s text aligns with them. Though Gaskell does not replicate the genre’s form in full, North and South being a novel rather than a dream-vision, she nonetheless uses the character Bessy to incorporate apocalyptic concepts, images, arguments, and rhetoric into her otherwise realistic narrative of nineteenth-century class struggle. The result, coded in layers of Biblical reference, is an indictment of the capitalist class, comparing them to the sinners who temporarily inherit the Earth in the Apocalypse of John, after the righteous have been purged from it. The final part of this essay further contextualizes Bessy Higgins within the Methodist traditions contemporary to North and South, and within Gaskell’s intersecting religious and political views.
A non-linear solution to the S8 tension – II. Analysis of DES Year 3 cosmic shear
Authors: Preston Calvin , Amon Alexandra , Efstathiou George
Published: September 2023

Weak galaxy lensing surveys have consistently reported low values of the S8 parameter compared to the Planck lambda cold dark matter (ΛCDM) cosmology. Amon & Efstathiou used KiDS-1000 cosmic shear measurements to propose that this tension can be reconciled if the matter fluctuation spectrum is suppressed more strongly on non-linear scales than assumed in state-of-the-art hydrodynamical simulations. In this paper, we investigate cosmic shear data from the Dark Energy Survey (DES) Year 3. The non-linear suppression of the matter power spectrum required to resolve the S8 tension between DES and the Planck ΛCDM model is not as strong as inferred using KiDS data, but is still more extreme than predictions from recent numerical simulations. An alternative possibility is that non-standard dark matter contributes to the required suppression. We investigate the redshift and scale dependence of the suppression of the matter power spectrum. If our proposed explanation of the S8 tension is correct, the required suppression must extend into the mildly non-linear regime to wavenumbers $k\sim 0.2 \, h\, {\rm Mpc}^{-1}$. In addition, all measures of S8 using linear scales should agree with the Planck ΛCDM cosmology, an expectation that will be testable to high precision in the near future.
A search for Kuiper belt occultations using the Weizmann Fast Astronomical Survey Telescope
Authors: Nir Guy , Ofek Eran O , Polishook David , Zackay Barak , Ben-Ami Sagi
Published: September 2023

Measuring the size distribution of small (kilometre-scale) Kuiper belt objects (KBOs) can help constrain models of Solar system formation and planetary migration. Such small, distant bodies are hard to detect with current or planned telescopes, but can be identified as sub-second occultations of background stars. We present the analysis of data from the Weizmann Fast Astronomical Survey Telescope, consisting of fast photometry of ∼106 star-hours at a frame rate of 10–25 Hz. Our pipeline utilizes a matched-filter approach with a large template bank, including red-noise treatment, and injection of simulated events for estimating the detection efficiency. The KBO radius at which our survey is 10 per cent (50 per cent) efficient is 1.1 (2.0) km. The data from 2020–2021 observing seasons were analysed and no occultations were identified. We discuss a sample of sub-second false-positive events, both occultation-like and flare-like, which are still not fully understood but could be instructive for future surveys looking for short-duration events. We use our null-detection result to set limits on the kilometre-scale KBO number density. Our individual radius bin limits are consistent with most previous works, with N(r > 1 km) ⪅ 106 deg−2 (95 per cent confidence limit). Our integrated (all size) limits, assuming a power law normalized to large (≈45 km) KBOs give a power-law index q < 3.93 (95 per cent confidence limit). Finally, our results are in tension with a recently reported KBO detection from the ground, at the p = 4 × 10−4 level.
Repurposing sunscreen as an antibiotic: zinc-activated avobenzone inhibits methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Andrews Rachel M , Bollar Gretchen E , Giattina A Sophia , Dalecki Alex G , Wallace Jr John R , Frantz Leah , Eschliman Kayla , Covarrubias-Zambrano Obdulia , Keith Johnathan D , Duverger Alexandra , Wagner Frederic , Wolschendorf Frank , Bossmann Stefan H , Birket Susan E , Kutsch Olaf
Published: September 2023

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major healthcare concern with associated healthcare costs reaching over ${\$}$1 billion in a single year in the USA. Antibiotic resistance in S. aureus is now observed against last line of defense antibiotics, such as vancomycin, linezolid, and daptomycin. Unfortunately, high throughput drug discovery approaches to identify new antibiotics effective against MRSA have not resulted in much tangible success over the last decades. Previously, we demonstrated the feasibility of an alternative drug discovery approach, the identification of metallo-antibiotics, compounds that gain antibacterial activity only after binding to a transition metal ion and as such are unlikely to be detected in standard drug screens. We now report that avobenzone, the primary active ingredient of most sunscreens, can be activated by zinc to become a potent antibacterial compound against MRSA. Zinc-activated avobenzone (AVB-Zn) potently inhibited a series of clinical MRSA isolates [minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC): 0.62–2.5 µM], without pre-existing resistance and activity without zinc (MIC: >10 µM). AVB-Zn was also active against clinical MRSA isolates that were resistant against the commonly used zinc–salt antibiotic bacitracin. We found AVB-Zn exerted no cytotoxicity on human cell lines and primary cells. Last, we demonstrate AVB-Zn can be deployed therapeutically as lotion preparations, which showed efficacy in a mouse wound model of MRSA infection. AVB-Zn thus demonstrates Zn-activated metallo-antibiotics are a promising avenue for future drug discovery.
Molecular Characterization of HER2-Low Invasive Breast Carcinoma by Quantitative RT-PCR Using Oncotype DX Assay
Authors: Lin Hao-Kuen , Can Thuy , Kahn Adriana , Flannery Cynthia A , Hoag Jess , Akkunuri Alekhya , Bailey Helen , Baehner Rick , Pusztai Lajos , Rozenblit Mariya
Published: September 2023

Background

HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) reproducibility is suboptimal for HER-low cases (IHC 1+ or 2+).

Methods

The Yale cohort included 214 stages I-II estrogen receptor positive breast cancers with IHC scores 0, 1+, and 2+ and routine Oncotype DX Recurrence Score (RS) results. The Exact Sciences (ES) cohort included 9 57 624 patients who had an Oncotype DX RS assay that assigns HER2-negative, equivocal, or positive status based on HER2 mRNA levels.

Results

HER2 mRNA levels varied across IHC categories but with increasing medians of 9.10 (n = 89), 9.20 (n = 71), and 9.45 (n = 54) in IHC 0, 1+, and 2+, respectively. 22.4% of HER2-low (1+/2+) cancer had RS > 25. Over 98% of HER-low cancers were HER2-negative by Oncotype DX assignment.

Conclusions

Cancers with higher mRNA levels exist within IHC 0 and low categories, most of the HER2-low patients by IHC have low RS indicating no benefit from current adjuvant chemotherapies.
C-Sections, Obesity, and Healthcare Specialization: Evidence from Mexico
Authors: Herrera-Almanza Catalina , Marquez-Padilla Fernanda , Prina Silvia
Published: September 2023

This study explores whether hospitals with higher increases in obesity levels have higher cesarean section (CS) rates and the consequential effects on maternal and newborn health in Mexico for 2008–2015. It models how changes in the obesity level of hospitals’ patient pools may affect the quantity and quality of care by focusing on the use of CS and the potential returns to specialization. And it creates a measure of hospital-level obesity, based on the fraction of obesity-related discharges for women of childbearing age. Exploiting temporal and hospital variation of this measure, results show that higher hospital-level obesity increases a woman’s probability of having a CS. Also, delivery-related birth outcomes improve: maternal mortality, birth injuries, and birth trauma decrease. The evidence is consistent with hospital-level specialization in CS leading to better birth outcomes.
Association of Neuraxial Labor Analgesia With Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Lumbreras-Marquez M.I. , Capdeville G. , Ferrigno A.S. , Villela-Franyutti D. , Bain P.A. , Campos-Zamora M. , Butwick A.J. , Farber M.K.
Published: September 2023

(Int J Obstet Anesth. 2022;52:103577)

Conflicting results exist on the association between neuraxial labor analgesia (NLA) exposure in parturients and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk in their children. An assessment of the occurrence and extent of published studies up to December 16, 2021, was performed via systematic review and meta-analysis to provide the most up-to-date information on the potential association between NLA and ASD.
Emergencies in Obstetric Anesthesia: A Narrative Review
Authors: Prior C.H. , Burlinson C.E.G. , Chau A.
Published: September 2023

(Anaesthesia. 2022;77:1416–1429)

Anesthesia providers are essential team members when managing obstetric emergencies. Based on the examination of primary research, practice guidelines, and professional recommendations in the last 5 years, a focused review was developed around 6 key topics in obstetric emergency management: category-1 cesarean delivery (CD), difficult or failed airway, massive hemorrhage (PPH), hypertensive crisis, neuraxial anesthesia emergency, and maternal cardiac arrest. The importance of staying current on research and guidelines is highlighted to ensure patient safety and the development of best practices.
Cytokine See-Saw Across Pregnancy, Its Related Complexities and Consequences
Authors: Meyyazhagan A. , Bhotla H.K. , Pappuswamy M. , Tsibizova V. , Al Qasem M. , Di Renzo G.C.
Published: September 2023

(Int J Gynecol Obstet. 2023;160:516–525)

Pregnancy causes a shift in the mother’s immune response that causes the maternal immune system to protect the fetus from outside antigens but not reject the fetus itself. Cytokines are cells largely responsible for this selective immunity that ignores the fetus, and a balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory molecules is necessary for a healthy pregnancy. An imbalance in cytokines and other types of immune cells associated with them can lead to complications, one of the most prevalent being hypertension and pre-eclampsia. This article is a review of available data on cytokine imbalance during pregnancy and associated issues.