bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Strangers’ property
Authors: Fabbri Marco , Dari-Mattiacci Giuseppe , Rizzolli Matteo
Published: March 2024

Why are impartial institutions such as formalized property rights so important for the emergence of impersonal trade? Previous literature has stressed the role of such institutions in providing third-party enforcement to shield strangers from locals’ opportunism. We document the existence of a second mechanism based on the role of formalized property rights in inducing respect for the property of strangers, regardless of enforcement. Ten years after the randomized introduction of formal property rights across rural Benin, we conducted a taking-dictator-game experiment in which participants could appropriate the endowment of an anonymous stranger from a different village. Even if enforcement institutions are absent and peer effects are silenced by design, participants from villages where the reform was implemented took significantly less than those in control villages. We further give consideration to several possible transmission channels and discuss their plausibility (JEL: D02, D91, K11, K42).
Increased platelet–CD8+ T-cell aggregates displaying high activation, exhaustion, and tendency to death correlate with disease progression in people with HIV-1
Authors: Wu Fengying , Li Yuanchun , Jiang Nan , Jiang Xu , Liu Xiaoqing , Dai Xiaopeng , Wang Fusheng
Published: March 2024

Platelets engage in HIV-1 infection by interacting with immune cells, which has been realized broadly. However, the potential interaction between platelets and CD8+ T cells remains unidentified. Here, treatment-naive individuals with HIV-1, complete immunological responders to antiretroviral therapy, and healthy controls were enrolled. First, we found that treatment-naive individuals with HIV-1 had low platelet numbers and high CD8+ T-cell counts when compared with complete immunological responders to antiretroviral therapy and healthy controls, leading to a low platelet/CD8+ T-cell ratio in peripheral blood, which could effectively differentiate the status of HIV-1 infection. Moreover, cytokines that may have been derived from platelets were higher in the plasma of people with HIV-1 despite viral suppression. Furthermore, we demonstrated that platelet–CD8+ T-cell aggregates were elevated in treatment-naive individuals with HIV-1, which positively correlated with HIV-1 viral load but negatively correlated with CD4+ T-cell count and CD4/CD8 ratio. Finally, we revealed that platelet–CD8+ T-cell aggregates correlate with enhanced activation/exhaustion and pyroptosis/apoptosis compared with free CD8+ T cells. Moreover, platelet-induced caspase 1 activation of CD8+ T cells correlated with IL-1β and IL-18 plasma levels. In brief, we reveal the importance of platelets in HIV-1 infection, which might secrete more cytokines and mediate CD8+ T-cell phenotypic characteristics by forming platelet–CD8+ T-cell aggregates, which are related to poor prognosis.
Effective alignment method using a diamond notch knife for correlative array tomography
Authors: Goto Yumi , Takeda-Kamiya Noriko , Yamaguchi Kaori , Yamazaki Mikio , Toyooka Kiminori
Published: March 2024

Correlative array tomography, combining light and electron microscopy via serial sections, plays a crucial role in the three-dimensional ultrastructural visualization and molecular distribution analysis in biological structures. To address the challenges of aligning fluorescence and electron microscopy images and aligning serial sections of irregularly shaped biological specimens, we developed a diamond notch knife, a new tool for puncturing holes using a diamond needle. The diamond needle featured a triangular and right-angled tip, enabling the drilling of deep holes upon insertion into the polished block face. This study describes the application of the diamond notch knife in correlative array tomography.
All hands on deck: the role of collaborative platforms and lead organizations in achieving environmental goals
Authors: Lee Heewon , Liu Yixin
Published: March 2024

This study examines the effectiveness of collaborative platforms in supporting local collaborations for natural resource management. It also explores how governmental and non-governmental lead organizations adopt differing collaborative implementation approaches and how these variations influence outcomes. Utilizing a natural experiment and a difference-in-differences estimator, we evaluate if the Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program functions as a collaborative platform to foster local-level Clean Cities Collaborations across the US, thereby improving air quality. Our findings suggest that Clean Cities Collaborations have a substantial and enduring impact on reducing air pollution. A series of subgroup analyses suggests that these environmental improvements are most noticeable in collaborations led by non-profits and regional government councils, rather than those directed by state and local governments. A complementary content analysis provides exploratory evidence that issue definition, collaborative group structure, and inclusive decision-making processes are crucial managerial factors that contribute to the environmental improvements. These insights pave the way for more effective management of collaborative governance on a larger scale.
Incidental finding of an ectopic b2 thymoma attached to the pericardium
Authors: Endara Santiago A , Davalos Gerardo A , Ponton M Patricia , Gordon Christian I , Molina Gabriel A
Published: March 2024

Ectopic thymoma is a rare tumor that arises from the abnormal migration of thymus tissue. They are extremely rare and have a broad spectrum of clinical symptoms. Therefore, preoperative diagnosis is complex and can be easily misdiagnosed. Complete resection is the treatment of choice to avoid recurrence, radiotherapy and enhanced survival. Regretfully, many patients arrive at a late stage, limiting our therapeutic options; therefore, pre-operative diagnosis is vital. We present the case of an otherwise healthy 32-year-old woman; after a chest X-ray was done for a routine medical evaluation, a mass was discovered in her mediastinum. After surgery, a B2 thymoma attached to the pericardium was discovered and successfully treated.
Eosinophilic gastritis in adult complicated by gastric ulcer perforation
Authors: Tharakan Joseph A , O’Toole Julianna P , Kharoud Harmeet K , Bunker Mark L , Chen Jennifer Y , Yokota Shinichiro
Published: March 2024

Eosinophilic gastritis is a rare type of eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases. Patients with eosinophilic gastritis usually present with symptoms such as nausea, emesis, abdominal pain, and weight loss. In severe cases, patients can suffer rare complications such as gastric outlet obstruction and spontaneous perforation. Here, we present the case of a young adult male who presented with acute onset abdominal pain for 1 day. The patient was found to have significant mural thickening of gastric antrum with pneumoperitoneum on abdominal CT scan, consistent with a perforated gastric ulcer. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy and required modified graham patch repair. The diagnosis of eosinophilic gastritis was made based on the pathology review of intraoperative endoscopic biopsy specimens.
BMP4 and GREM1 are targets of SHH signaling and downstream regulators of collagen in the penis
Authors: Deng Jiangping , Searl Timothy , Ohlander Samuel , Dynda Danuta , Harrington Daniel A , McVary Kevin T , Podlasek Carol A
Published: March 2024

Background

Cavernous nerve (CN) injury, caused by prostatectomy and diabetes, initiates a remodeling process (smooth muscle apoptosis and increased collagen) in the corpora cavernosa of the penis of patients and animal models that is an underlying cause of erectile dysfunction (ED), and the Sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathway plays an essential role in the response of the penis to denervation, as collagen increases with SHH inhibition and decreases with SHH treatment.

Aim

We examined if part of the mechanism of how SHH prevents penile remodeling and increased collagen with CN injury involves bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) and gremlin1 (GREM1) and examined the relationship between SHH, BMP4, GREM1, and collagen in penis of ED patients and rat models of CN injury, SHH inhibition, and SHH, BMP4, and GREM1 treatment.

Methods

Corpora cavernosa of Peyronie’s disease (control), prostatectomy, and diabetic ED patients were obtained (N = 30). Adult Sprague Dawley rats (n = 90) underwent (1) CN crush (1-7 days) or sham surgery; (2) CN injury and BMP4, GREM1, or mouse serum albumin (control) treatment via Affi-Gel beads or peptide amphiphile (PA) for 14 days; (3) 5E1 SHH inhibitor, IgG, or phosphate-buffered saline (control) treatment for 2 to 4 days; or (4) CN crush with mouse serum albumin or SHH for 9 days.

Outcomes

Immunohistochemical and Western analysis for BMP4 and GREM1, and collagen analysis by hydroxyproline and trichrome stain were performed.

Results

BMP4 and GREM1 proteins were identified in corpora cavernosa smooth muscle of prostatectomy, diabetic, and Peyronie’s patients, and in rat smooth muscle, sympathetic nerve fibers, perineurium, blood vessels, and urethra. Collagen decreased 25.4% in rats with CN injury and BMP4 treatment (P = .02) and increased 61.3% with CN injury and GREM1 treatment (P = .005). Trichrome stain showed increased collagen in rats treated with GREM1. Western analysis identified increased BMP4 and GREM1 in corpora cavernosa of prostatectomy and diabetic patients, and after CN injury (1-2 days) in our rat model. Localization of BMP4 and GREM1 changed with SHH inhibition. SHH treatment increased the monomer form of BMP4 and GREM1, altering their range of signaling.

Clinical implications

A better understanding of penile remodeling and how fibrosis occurs with loss of innervation is essential for development of novel ED therapies.

Strengths and limitations

The relationship between SHH, BMP4, GREM1, and collagen is complex in the penis.

Conclusion

BMP4 and GREM1 are downstream targets of SHH that impact collagen and may be useful in collaboration with SHH to prevent penile remodeling and ED.
SHH regulates penile morphology and smooth muscle through a mechanism involving BMP4 and GREM1
Authors: Deng Jiangping , Martin Sarah , Searl Timothy , Ohlander Samuel , Harrington Daniel A , McVary Kevin T , Podlasek Carol A
Published: March 2024

Background

The cavernous nerve (CN) is frequently damaged in prostatectomy and diabetic patients with erectile dysfunction (ED), initiating changes in penile morphology including an acute and intense phase of apoptosis in penile smooth muscle and increased collagen, which alter penile architecture and make corpora cavernosa smooth muscle less able to relax in response to neurotransmitters, resulting in ED.

Aim

Sonic hedgehog (SHH) is a critical regulator of penile smooth muscle, and SHH treatment suppresses penile remodeling after CN injury through an unknown mechanism; we examine if part of the mechanism of how SHH preserves smooth muscle after CN injury involves bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) and gremlin1 (GREM1).

Methods

Primary cultures of smooth muscle cells were established from prostatectomy, diabetic, hypertension and Peyronie’s (control) (N = 18) patients. Cultures were characterized by ACTA2, CD31, P4HB, and nNOS immunohistochemical analysis. Patient smooth muscle cell growth was quantified in response to BMP4 and GREM1 treatment. Adult Sprague Dawley rats underwent 1 of 3 surgeries: (1) uninjured or CN-injured rats were treated with BMP4, GREM1, or mouse serum albumin (control) proteins via Affi-Gel beads (N = 16) or peptide amphiphile (PA) (N = 26) for 3 and 14 days, and trichrome stain was performed; (2) rats underwent sham (N = 3), CN injury (N = 9), or CN injury and SHH PA treatment for 1, 2, and 4 days (N = 9).

Outcomes

Western analysis for BMP4 and GREM1 was performed; (3) rats were treated with 5E1 SHH inhibitor (N = 6) or IgG (control; N = 6) for 2 and 4 days, and BMP4 and GREM1 localization was examined. Statistics were performed by analysis of variance with Scheffé’s post hoc test.

Results

BMP4 increased patient smooth muscle cell growth, and GREM1 decreased growth. In rats, BMP4 treatment via Affi-Gel beads and PA increased smooth muscle at 3 and 14 days of treatment. GREM1 treatment caused increased collagen and smooth muscle at 3 days, which switched to primarily collagen at 14 days. CN injury increased BMP4 and GREM1, while SHH PA altered Western band size, suggesting alternative cleavage and range of BMP4 and GREM1 signaling. SHH inhibition in rats increased BMP4 and GREM1 in fibroblasts.

Clinical implications

Understanding how SHH PA preserves and regenerates penile morphology after CN injury will aid development of ED therapies.

Strengths and limitations

SHH treatment alters BMP4 and GREM1 localization and range of signaling, which can affect penile morphology.

Conclusion

Part of the mechanism of how SHH regulates corpora cavernosa smooth muscle involves BMP4 and GREM1.
HIV/AIDS
Authors: Fidler Sarah , Peto Timothy E.A. , Goulder Philip , Conlon Christopher P.
Published: March 2024

Since its discovery in 1983, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been associated with a global pandemic that has affected more than 80 million people and caused more than 37 million deaths. Globally, 37.7 million (30.2–45.1 million) people were living with HIV at the end of 2020. New HIV infections globally have reduced by 52% since the peak in 1997. In 2020, around 1.5 million people were newly infected with HIV. An estimated 0.8% of adults aged 15–49 years worldwide are living with HIV, although the burden of the epidemic continues to vary considerably between countries and regions. Sub-Saharan Africa remains most severely affected, with nearly 1 in every 20 adults living with HIV and accounting for nearly 71% of the people living with HIV worldwide. The impact of HIV in some African countries has been sufficient to reverse population growth and reduce life expectancy into the mid-30s, although HIV incidence has declined in some of these high-prevalence countries. However, there are large-scale HIV epidemics elsewhere (e.g. India, the Russian Federation, and Eastern Europe). AIDS-related deaths have been reduced by 64% from the peak in 2004 through global access to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Global access to ART has improved dramatically; in 2020, 84% of people living with HIV knew their status, and amongst those people who knew their status, 87% were accessing ART, with 66% on successful therapy with a suppressed HIV viral load.
Cystic fibrosis
Authors: Bush Andrew , Elston Caroline
Published: March 2024

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a recessively inherited disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis gene, located on the long arm of chromosome 7, which codes for a membrane protein—the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator protein—that is a chloride channel. More than 2,000 CF mutations have been identified, with the F508del mutation being the most common of around approximately 300 mutations that definitely cause disease (70% of CF chromosomes in the European population). Birth incidence varies with country of origin from 1 in 2,000 to 1 in 100,000. The most popular hypothesis is that mutant cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator protein fails to transport chloride ions normally, and there is secondary impairment of sodium, bicarbonate, and water transport. Prognosis is being transformed by early diagnosis on newborn screening and novel gene subclass-specific molecular therapies.
The PAU Survey: a new constraint on galaxy formation models using the observed colour redshift relation
Authors: Manzoni G , Baugh C M , Norberg P , Cabayol L , van den Busch J L , Wittje A , Navarro-Gironés D , Eriksen M , Fosalba P , Carretero J , Castander F J , Casas R , De Vicente J , Fernandez E , García-Bellido J , Gaztanaga E , Helly J C , Hoekstra H , Hildebrandt H , Gonzalez E J , Koonkor S , Miquel R , Padilla C , Renard P , Sanchez E , Sevilla-Noarbe I , Siudek M , Soo J Y H , Tallada-Crespì P , Tortorelli L
Published: March 2024

We use the GALFORM semi-analytical galaxy formation model implemented in the Planck Millennium N-body simulation to build a mock galaxy catalogue on an observer’s past lightcone. The mass resolution of this N-body simulation is almost an order of magnitude better than in previous simulations used for this purpose, allowing us to probe fainter galaxies and hence build a more complete mock catalogue at low redshifts. The high time cadence of the simulation outputs allows us to make improved calculations of galaxy properties and positions in the mock. We test the predictions of the mock against the Physics of the Accelerating Universe Survey, a narrow-band imaging survey with highly accurate and precise photometric redshifts, which probes the galaxy population over a lookback time of 8 billion years. We compare the model against the observed number counts, redshift distribution, and evolution of the observed colours and find good agreement; these statistics avoid the need for model-dependent processing of the observations. The model produces red and blue populations that have similar median colours to the observations. However, the bimodality of galaxy colours in the model is stronger than in the observations. This bimodality is reduced on including a simple model for errors in the GALFORM photometry. We examine how the model predictions for the observed galaxy colours change when perturbing key model parameters. This exercise shows that the median colours and relative abundance of red and blue galaxies provide constraints on the strength of the feedback driven by supernovae used in the model.
Budget equations and astrophysical non-linear mean-field dynamos
Authors: Rogachevskii I , Kleeorin N
Published: March 2024

Solar, stellar and galactic large-scale magnetic fields are originated due to a combined action of non-uniform (differential) rotation and helical motions of plasma via mean-field dynamos. Usually, non-linear mean-field dynamo theories take into account algebraic and dynamic quenching of alpha effect and algebraic quenching of turbulent magnetic diffusivity. However, the theories of the algebraic quenching do not take into account the effect of modification of the source of turbulence by the growing large-scale magnetic field. This phenomenon is due to the dissipation of the strong large-scale magnetic field resulting in an increase of the total turbulent energy. This effect has been studied using the budget equation for the total turbulent energy (which takes into account the feedback of the generated large-scale magnetic field on the background turbulence) for (i) a forced turbulence, (ii) a shear-produced turbulence, and (iii) a convective turbulence. As the result of this effect, a non-linear dynamo number decreases with increase of the large-scale magnetic field, so that that the mean-field αΩ, α2, and α2Ω dynamo instabilities are always saturated by the strong large-scale magnetic field.
Asteroseismic modelling of the chemically peculiar B-type pulsator with an asymptotic period spacing – a Cen
Authors: Walczak Przemysław , Kopacz Agnieszka
Published: March 2024

A Cen is recognized as a magnetic variable star with peculiar helium abundance. The presence of large surface spots induces flux modulation, allowing for the derivation of the surface rotational period (∼8.8 d). TESS photometry has unveiled additional signals that we interpreted as SPB-type pulsation. Furthermore, we managed to find a regular period spacing pattern and hence identified pulsational modes. We performed an asteroseismic analysis that resulted in constraints for internal structure of the star. Taking into account the surface rotation period derived from spots and the internal rotation obtained from asteroseismology, we concluded that the gradient of the rotational velocity in the radial direction is very small, indicating nearly solid body rotation. We also constrained overshooting from the convective core, as well as the mass and metallicity of the star.
Large-scale excess H i absorption around z ≈ 4 galaxies detected in a background galaxy spectrum in the MUSE eXtremely deep field
Authors: Matthee Jorryt , Golling Christopher , Mackenzie Ruari , Pezzulli Gabriele , Lilly Simon , Schaye Joop , Bacon Roland , Kusakabe Haruka , Urrutia Tanya , Boogaard Leindert , Brinchmann Jarle , Maseda Michael V , Garel Thibault , Bouché Nicolas F , Wisotzki Lutz
Published: March 2024

Observationally mapping the relation between galaxies and the intergalactic medium (IGM) is of key interest for studies of cosmic reionization. Diffuse hydrogen gas has typically been observed in H i Lyman-α (Lyα) absorption in the spectra of bright background quasars. However, it is important to extend these measurements to background galaxies as quasars become increasingly rare at high redshift and rarely probe closely separated sight lines. Here, we use deep integral field spectroscopy in the MUSE eXtremely Deep Field to demonstrate the measurement of the Lyα transmission at z ≈ 4 in absorption to a background galaxy at z = 4.77. The H i transmission is consistent with independent quasar sight lines at similar redshifts. Exploiting the high number of spectroscopic redshifts of faint galaxies (500 between z = 4.0–4.7 within a radius of 8 arcmin) that are tracers of the density field, we show that Lyα transmission is inversely correlated with galaxy density, i.e. transparent regions in the Lyα forest mark underdense regions at z ≈ 4. Due to large-scale clustering, galaxies are surrounded by excess H i absorption over the cosmic mean out to 4 cMpc/h70. We also find that redshifts from the peak of the Lyα line are typically offset from the systemic redshift by +170 km s−1. This work extends results from z ≈ 2–3 to higher redshifts and demonstrates the power of deep integral field spectroscopy to simultaneously measure the ionization structure of the IGM and the large-scale density field in the early Universe.
The GUAPOS project – V: The chemical ingredients of a massive stellar protocluster in the making
Authors: López-Gallifa Á , Rivilla V M , Beltrán M T , Colzi L , Mininni C , Sánchez-Monge Á , Fontani F , Viti S , Jiménez-Serra I , Testi L , Cesaroni R , Lorenzani A
Published: March 2024

Most stars, including the Sun, are born in rich stellar clusters containing massive stars. Therefore, the study of the chemical reservoir of massive star-forming regions is crucial to understand the basic chemical ingredients available at the dawn of planetary systems. We present a detailed study of the molecular inventory of the hot molecular core G31.41+0.31 from the project GUAPOS (G31.41+0.31 Unbiased ALMA sPectral Observational Survey). We analyse 34 species for the first time plus 20 species analysed in previous GUAPOS works, including oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and chlorine species. We compare the abundances derived in G31.41+0.31 with those observed in other chemically-rich sources that represent the initial and last stages of the formation of stars and planets: the hot corino in the Solar-like protostar IRAS 16293-2422 B, and the comets 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and 46P/Wirtanen. The comparative analysis reveals that the chemical feedstock of the two star-forming regions are similar. The abundances of oxygen- and nitrogen-bearing molecules exhibit a good correlation for all pair of sources, including the two comets, suggesting a chemical heritage of these species during the process of star formation, and hence an early phase formation of the molecules. However, sulfur- and phosphorus-bearing species present worse correlations, being more abundant in comets. This suggests that while sulfur- and phosphorus-bearing species are pre-dominantly trapped on the surface of icy grains in the hot close surroundings of protostars, they could be more easily released into gas phase in comets, allowing their cosmic abundances to be almost recovered.
Collisions of electrons with interstellar grains
Authors: Flower D R
Published: March 2024

We have computed cross-sections for elastic and inelastic scattering of electrons on small grains at low-collision energies. Significant differences are again found between the results obtained in the presence and the absence of a ‘permanent’ grain dipole moment. In addition to spherical grains, scattering on ellipsoidal grains is investigated. We conclude that the rate of electron attachment to interstellar grains may be substantially lower in regions of molecular clouds from which the radiation field is excluded, and where the grains are less likely to possess a dipole moment.
Cold electrons at a weakly outgassing comet
Authors: Stephenson P , Galand M , Deca J , Henri P
Published: March 2024

Throughout the Rosetta mission, cold electrons (<1 eV) were measured in the coma of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Cometary electrons are produced at ∼10 eV through photoionization or through electron-impact ionization collisions. The cold electron population is formed by cooling the warm population through inelastic electron–neutral collisions. Assuming radial electron outflow, electrons are collisional with the neutral gas coma below the electron exobase, which only formed above the comet surface in near-perihelion high-outgassing conditions (Q > 3 × 1027 s−1). However, the cold population was identified at low outgassing (Q < 1026 s−1), when the inner coma was not expected to be collisional. We examine cooling of electrons at a weakly outgassing comet, using a 3D collisional model of electrons at a comet. Electron paths are extended by trapping in an ambipolar electric field and by gyration around magnetic field lines. This increases the probability of electrons undergoing inelastic collisions with the coma and becoming cold. We demonstrate that a cold electron population can be formed and sustained, under weak outgassing conditions (Q = 1026 s−1), once 3D electron dynamics are accounted for. Cold electrons are produced in the inner coma through electron–neutral collisions and transported tailwards by an E × B drift We quantify the efficiency of trapping in driving electron cooling, with trajectories typically 100 times longer than expected from ballistic radial outflow. Based on collisional simulations, we define an estimate for a region where a cold electron population can form, bounded by an electron cooling exobase. This estimate agrees well with cold electron measurements from the Rosetta Plasma Consortium.
Positive Lynden-Bell derivative as a ticket to the bar trap?
Authors: Zozulia Viktor D , Smirnov Anton A , Sotnikova Natalia Ya
Published: March 2024

We have translated the results of N-body simulations of one barred model into the language of action variables and frequencies. Using this language, we analysed the behaviour of all orbits in the model on a large time-scale at the stage of a mature bar. We show that the orbits join the bar while preserving their adiabatic invariant, which takes into account the three-dimensional structure of the orbits. This allows us to apply the concept of the Lynden-Bell derivative for each of these orbits and trace how the sign of the derivative changes; i.e. how asynchronous changes in angular momentum Lz and orbital precession rate Ωpr (normal orbital mode) change to synchronous (abnormal mode). The transition to the abnormal mode occurs when Ωpr reaches the angular velocity of the pattern Ωp, after which the orbit becomes stuck in the bar trap. All this happens against the background of secular changes in actions (Lz decreases, JR and Jz increase). At the same time, corotating particles near two stable Lagrange points are also subject to secular changes in their actions. They increase Lz and drift to the periphery, shifting corotation outwards. We also show that a change in the orbital mode from normal to abnormal and the trapping of orbits in a bar are possible only when the bar speed decreases with time, regardless of what is causing the bar to slow down. Our findings clarify and expand the picture of bar formation and evolution in numerical models.
Implication of nucleotides near the 3′ end of 16S rRNA in guarding the translational reading frame
Authors: Smart Alexandria , Lancaster Laura , Donohue John Paul , Niblett Dustin , Noller Harry F
Published: March 2024

Loss of the translational reading frame leads to misincorporation and premature termination, which can have lethal consequences. Based on structural evidence that A1503 of 16S rRNA intercalates between specific mRNA bases, we tested the possibility that it plays a role in maintenance of the reading frame by constructing ribosomes with an abasic nucleotide at position 1503. This was done by specific cleavage of 16S rRNA at position 1493 using the colicin E3 endonuclease and replacing the resulting 3′-terminal 49mer fragment with a synthetic oligonucleotide containing the abasic site using a novel splinted RNA ligation method. Ribosomes reconstituted from the abasic 1503 16S rRNA were highly active in protein synthesis but showed elevated levels of spontaneous frameshifting into the -1 reading frame. We then asked whether the residual frameshifting persisting in control ribosomes containing an intact A1503 is due to the absence of the N6-dimethyladenosine modifications at positions 1518 and 1519. Indeed, this frameshifting was rescued by site-specific methylation in vitro by the ksgA methylase. These findings thus implicate two different sites near the 3′ end of 16S rRNA in maintenance of the translational reading frame, providing yet another example of a functional role for ribosomal RNA in protein synthesis.
Impact of Total Indoor Smoking Ban on Cardiovascular Disease Hospitalizations and Mortality: The Case of Chile
Authors: Montes de Oca Daniela , Paraje Guillermo , Cuadrado Cristóbal
Published: March 2024

Introduction

The harmful effects of first and secondhand smoking are well-established. Smoke-free laws aim at protecting nonsmokers. This study aimed to assess the impact of the 2013 total ban on indoor smoking in Chile on hospitalizations and deaths of major cardiovascular events.

Aims and Methods

The logarithm of the monthly hospitalization and death rates, standardized by age for every 100 000 inhabitants, were estimated for ischemic heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, strokes, and a composite outcome of ischemic heart diseases (which includes acute myocardial infarction) and strokes. In addition, interrupted time series with synthetic control groups were used to assess changes in levels and trends after the intervention.

Results

The total ban on indoor smoking caused significant reductions in death rates for the three diseases studied for age groups above 20 years old. In addition, there were substantial decreases in the post-intervention hospitalization rates for ischemic heart disease: for the 20–44 age group, the decrease was 8.7% compared to the pre-intervention period (p < .01). In comparison, such a reduction was 4% (p < .01) for the ≥65 age group. For acute myocardial infarction, the decrease was 11.5% (p < .01) for the 20–44 age group, while for stroke, it was a 1.2% (p < .01) decrease for the total population. It is estimated that the smoking ban averted 15.6% of the deaths compared with the synthetic control groups.

Conclusions

The implementation of total smoke-free environments in Chile contributed to the reduction of mortality for main cardiovascular diseases. This study provides additional evidence of causality linking the policy to health outcomes.

Implications

The total indoor smoking ban significantly affected age-standardized hospitalization and deaths. The number of deaths averted by this policy is estimated at approximately 4758 and 5256 for IHD and stroke, respectively, during the 2013–2017 period (15.6% fewer deaths than predicted by the synthetic control groups). The study contributes to the body of evidence that supports total indoor smoking bans.
A Critical Inquiry into ‘Abuse’ in EU Competition Law
Authors: Akman Pınar
Published: March 2024

Disagreement abounds on what exactly constitutes an ‘abuse’ within article 102 TFEU, EU competition law’s prohibition of an abuse of a dominant position. This situation is highly undesirable, given the important role this prohibition is expected to play in alleviating concerns about substantial market power and its use in important sectors, typified by actions against ‘Big Tech’. This article responds to this problem by analysing and synthesising the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union and its evolution to establish the constituent elements of an exclusionary ‘abuse’. The article corrects crucial legal misconceptions, including the putative dichotomy between violations ‘by object’ and ‘by effect’; the assumed disparate legal tests for pricing and non-pricing conduct; and the lost distinction between the ‘as efficient competitor test’ and the ‘as efficient competitor standard’. This critical inquiry allows one to draw concrete predictions on the future development of this challenging, yet vital, area of law.
Scattering spectra models for physics
Authors: Cheng Sihao , Morel Rudy , Allys Erwan , Ménard Brice , Mallat Stéphane
Published: March 2024

Physicists routinely need probabilistic models for a number of tasks such as parameter inference or the generation of new realizations of a field. Establishing such models for highly non-Gaussian fields is a challenge, especially when the number of samples is limited. In this paper, we introduce scattering spectra models for stationary fields and we show that they provide accurate and robust statistical descriptions of a wide range of fields encountered in physics. These models are based on covariances of scattering coefficients, i.e. wavelet decomposition of a field coupled with a pointwise modulus. After introducing useful dimension reductions taking advantage of the regularity of a field under rotation and scaling, we validate these models on various multiscale physical fields and demonstrate that they reproduce standard statistics, including spatial moments up to fourth order. The scattering spectra provide us with a low-dimensional structured representation that captures key properties encountered in a wide range of physical fields. These generic models can be used for data exploration, classification, parameter inference, symmetry detection, and component separation.
Reforming the Bench: Public Support for Supreme Court Institutional Change
Authors: Fleming Anna McCaghren , Montgomery Matthew D , Rogol Natalie C
Published: March 2024

Approval of the Supreme Court recently hit its lowest point in decades. Calls for reforming the Court have gained traction as a result. In this study, we look at how media framing can influence public support for two specific reforms: Court packing and term limits. In a survey experiment, we provide respondents with either a pro-, anti-, or mixed-valence framed message about one of these two reforms. We find support for the proposition that media messages have the power to decrease support for reform but not to increase support for reform. Additionally, we theorize that highlighting the conflict surrounding the Court activates ideological considerations individuals hold toward the Court. In support of this theory, we find that discussing either Court packing or term limits decreases specific support of the high Court among Democrats and increases specific support among Republicans across all conditions.
Integration through Expansive Unification: The Birth of the European Health Union
Authors: Ferrera Maurizio , Kyriazi Anna , Miró Joan
Published: March 2024

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic pushed the European Union (EU) to centralize several public health functions. With the European Health Union (EHU) initiative, four reforms have been adopted to strengthen the EU’s health security framework: the extension of the European Medicines Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control’s mandates, the creation of the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, and the upgrading of the Decision on serious cross-border threats to health. This article analyses the reconfiguration of authority patterns resulting from these reforms. It argues that the EHU exemplifies a distinct mode of integration (expansive unification) in which national sovereignty is not transferred to the center but is jointly exercised at the center. This mode of integration is suitable for capacity building in core state domains when functional needs confront reluctance from constituent units to surrender control.
Beyond sicca: high prevalence and predictors of baseline and worsening systemic involvement in patients with Sjögren’s disease
Authors: Bandeira Matilde , Silvério-António Manuel , Khmelinskii Nikita , Fonseca João E , Romão Vasco C
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Systemic extraglandular involvement in SS has been reported in one-third of patients but may be more frequent. We aimed to evaluate systemic disease prevalence at baseline and throughout follow-up and find its predictors.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study including SS patients followed in a tertiary centre. The cumulative EULAR SS disease activity index (ESSDAI) was calculated by adding each domain’s maximum score throughout follow-up. We identified independent predictors of systemic involvement (ESSDAI ≥1 at baseline and/or follow-up) through logistic regression modelling. A survival analysis was conducted to identify predictors of new/worsening ESSDAI domains.

Results

A total of 216 patients were included, most of whom had systemic involvement (86%), frequently at diagnosis (76%). Biological (53%) and articular ESSDAI domains (44%) were most commonly involved, but all were affected at least once. Around half of the patients with baseline systemic disease developed an additional/worsening domain throughout follow-up. Although most patients had low disease activity at baseline, 60% eventually reached moderately active disease. Younger age at diagnosis [odds ratio (OR) 0.95 (95% CI 0.91, 0.99)], a positive minor salivary gland biopsy [OR 4.08 (95% CI 1.40, 11.86)] and RF [OR 4.67 (95% CI 1.52, 14.33)] were independent predictors of systemic involvement. Patients with baseline constitutional involvement [hazard ratio (HR) 2.23 (95% CI 1.13, 4.40)] and RF [HR 1.89 (95% CI 1.20, 3.00)] were more likely to develop new/worsening systemic disease activity.

Conclusion

Systemic involvement is seen in most SS patients. Younger and RF and salivary gland biopsy-positive patients are at higher risk of systemic disease. Around half of patients with systemic involvement experienced aggravated disease over time, especially those with constitutional involvement or RF.
Unsmoothing Returns of Illiquid Funds
Authors: Couts Spencer J , Gonçalves Andrei S , Rossi Andrea
Published: March 2024

Funds investing in illiquid assets report returns with spurious autocorrelation. Consequently, investors need to unsmooth these funds’ returns when evaluating their risk exposures. We show that funds with similar investments share a common source of spurious autocorrelation not fully resolved by traditional unsmoothing methods and thereby leading to underestimation of systematic risk. Thus, we propose a generalized unsmoothing technique and apply it to hedge funds and private commercial real estate funds. Our method significantly improves the measurement of funds’ risk exposures and risk-adjusted performance, especially for highly illiquid funds. Overall, the average illiquid fund alpha is lower than previously thought. (JEL G11, G12, G23)
Equity Return Expectations and Portfolios: Evidence from Large Asset Managers
Authors: Dahlquist Magnus , Ibert Markus
Published: March 2024

Collecting large asset managers’ capital market assumptions, we revisit the relationships between subjective equity premium expectations, equity valuations, and financial portfolios. In contrast to the well-documented extrapolative expectations of retail investors, asset managers’ equity premium expectations are countercyclical: they are high (low) when valuations are low (high). We find that asset managers’ portfolios reflect their heterogeneous expectations: allocation funds of asset managers with larger U.S. equity premium expectations invest significantly more in U.S. equities. The sensitivity of portfolios to expectations seems to be muted by investment mandates and is smaller than the one predicted by a standard portfolio choice model.
Reduced GM–WM concentration inside the Default Mode Network in individuals with high emotional intelligence and low anxiety: a data fusion mCCA+jICA approach
Authors: Grecucci Alessandro , Monachesi Bianca , Messina Irene
Published: March 2024

The concept of emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to recognize and regulate emotions to appropriately guide cognition and behaviour. Unfortunately, studies on the neural bases of EI are scant, and no study so far has exhaustively investigated grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) contributions to it. To fill this gap, we analysed trait measure of EI and structural MRI data from 128 healthy participants to shed new light on where and how EI is encoded in the brain. In addition, we explored the relationship between the neural substrates of trait EI and trait anxiety. A data fusion unsupervised machine learning approach (mCCA + jICA) was used to decompose the brain into covarying GM–WM networks and to assess their association with trait-EI. Results showed that high levels trait-EI are associated with decrease in GM–WM concentration in a network spanning from frontal to parietal and temporal regions, among which insula, cingulate, parahippocampal gyrus, cuneus and precuneus. Interestingly, we also found that the higher the GM–WM concentration in the same network, the higher the trait anxiety. These findings encouragingly highlight the neural substrates of trait EI and their relationship with anxiety. The network is discussed considering its overlaps with the Default Mode Network.
Re-considering Re-partnering: New Insights about Gender and Sexuality in the Study of Second Union Formation
Authors: Ophir Ariane , Boertien Diederik
Published: March 2024

Past studies have established the existence of a persistent gender gap in re-partnering, wherein women are less likely to re-partner than men in the general population. Existing theories and explanations focus on women’s and men’s socio-demographic characteristics as mechanisms determining their opportunities, needs, and attractiveness in the re-partnering process. However, this work assumes that people are heterosexual and overlooks sexual minorities despite growing scholarly interest in union formation and dissolution among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) people. We investigate whether and how the gender gap in re-partnering intersects with sexual identity to highlight the role of gender relations as a social force that shapes union formation outcomes among both the heterosexual and LGB population. We use retrospective data on cohabitation and marriage histories from the British Understanding Society survey (UKHLS) to estimate event history models. We confirm the existence of a gender gap favoring men among heterosexuals but find that lesbian women are more likely to re-partner than gay men. We do not observe a gender gap among bisexuals. Results are robust to accounting for compositional differences between groups using exact matching techniques. These findings suggest that the persistent gender gap found in past studies is not as universal as previously presumed and that sexual identity plays a vital role in re-partnering outcomes. Therefore, sociologists should explicitly incorporate the gender relational context into models and theories that explain gender differences in union formation outcomes.
Traffic volume imputation using the attention-based spatiotemporal generative adversarial imputation network
Authors: Duan Yixin , Wang Chengcheng , Wang Chao , Tang Jinjun , Chen Qun
Published: March 2024

With the increasing development of intelligent detection devices, a vast amount of traffic flow data can be collected from intelligent transportation systems. However, these data often encounter issues such as missing and abnormal values, which can adversely affect the accuracy of future tasks like traffic flow forecasting. To address this problem, this paper proposes the Attention-based Spatiotemporal Generative Adversarial Imputation Network (ASTGAIN) model, comprising a generator and a discriminator, to conduct traffic volume imputation. The generator incorporates an information fuse module, a spatial attention mechanism, a causal inference module and a temporal attention mechanism, enabling it to capture historical information and extract spatiotemporal relationships from the traffic flow data. The discriminator features a bidirectional gated recurrent unit, which explores the temporal correlation of the imputed data to distinguish between imputed and original values. Additionally, we have devised an imputation filling technique that fully leverages the imputed data to enhance the imputation performance. Comparison experiments with several traditional imputation models demonstrate the superior performance of the ASTGAIN model across diverse missing scenarios.
The Smallpox Chiefs: Bioterrorism and the Exercise of Power in the Pacific Northwest
Authors: Lutz John Sutton , Carlson Keith Thor
Published: March 2024

Although there has been much writing and speculation on the deliberate use of smallpox as a tool of genocide, this article documents the use of the bluff threat of spreading smallpox as a tool of power and manipulation in the early days of European trade and settlement in the Pacific Northwest. By documenting ten cases when a bluff threat was used, the article argues that it was a common strategy of Europeans when they felt threatened or thwarted. Because it was compatible with existing Indigenous beliefs about the spread of disease, it was highly credible and was occasionally used by Indigenous people to manipulate others. While Europeans in this era did not actually have the power to control smallpox, the fact that outbreaks of the disease often occurred following a threat to spread it gave credence to the threat and to today’s widespread belief that some or all of the epidemics were deliberate genocide. Recognizing bluff threat bioterrorism as a tool in the newcomer’s arsenal is essential to understanding how the heavily outnumbered and out-gunned newcomers were so often able to manipulate Indigenous people and then establish the settlements that eventually evolved into full scale colonial occupations of Indigenous territory.