bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a scale to assess nurses' difficulties in collaborating with physicians in responding to clinical deterioration during night shifts
Authors: Hotta Soichiro , Ashida Kaoru , Tanaka Makoto
Published: September 2024

Aims

To develop a scale to assess difficulties that nurses experience when collaborating with physicians in responding to clinical deterioration during night shifts and identify factors associated with scoring using the developed scale.

Methods

A web‐based questionnaire with a draft scale, the Nighttime Collaboration Difficulties between Nurses and Physicians for Nurses (NCDNP‐N), was distributed to nurses working night shifts in acute‐care hospitals across Japan. Data were collected between July and October 2023. Of 435 responses, 405 were examined for the NCDNP‐N's psychometric validation, including structural validity, criterion‐related validity, and reliability assessments. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed for 385 responses excluded by listwise methods to identify factors associated with NCDNP‐N scores.

Results

The NCDNP‐N has 10 items and three domains: Domain 1, dissatisfaction with physicians' actions; Domain 2, burden of working with night‐shift physicians; and Domain 3, barriers to reporting during night shifts. Estimated reliability coefficients exceeded the recommended values. Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that more years of experience in the current ward and frequency of calling the covering physician at night were markedly associated with higher scores, whereas more nursing experience was associated with lower scores.

Conclusion

We developed the NCDNP‐N and confirmed its validity and reliability. The study results suggest that the responsibilities and competence of nurses working night shifts and communication with the night‐covering physician are associated with difficulties in nighttime collaboration. The NCDNP‐N may help identify challenges in clinical settings as well as can be utilized in the evaluation study for improving nighttime collaboration.
Multiple exostoses and an osteochondroma in a Pliocene canid from Langebaanweg ‘E’ Quarry (South Africa)
Authors: Chinsamy Anusuya , Valenciano Alberto
Published: September 2024

Langebaanweg is a Mio‐Pliocene locality located on the West Coast of South Africa. It is renowned for its rich diversity of both terrestrial and marine vertebrate fossils. Several carnivorans have been identified from this site, amongst which is the recently described jackal‐like canid, Eucyon khoikhoi. One of the skeletons assigned to E. khoikhoi exhibits anatomical deformities on several bones of the skeleton. Here, we use multiple methodologies (anatomical descriptions, CT scanning and histology) to investigate the bony overgrowths or exostoses evident in the radius, and we compare these findings with those of a radius from a healthy individual of the same species from Langebaanweg. Our results show that anatomical observations are important for first level observation of the pathology, but that micro‐CT scanning permits a more precise assessment of how the pathology affected the internal organization of the bone, both periosteally and endosteally. This methodology permitted us to diagnose the tumors as benign rather than cancerous. Our observations of calcified cartilage in the histological thin sections in the region of the exostosis allowed us to further diagnose the exostosis as an osteochondroma. This study has demonstrated the usefulness of applying multiple techniques to characterize and diagnose pathological bony growths in a fossil canivoran. We have also demonstrated the usefulness of histological studies in permitting a more refined diagnosis of the exostosis as an osteochondroma.
Safety and efficacy of a picosecond 755‐nm alexandrite laser combined with topical tranexamic acid in the treatment of melasma
Authors: Zhou Na , Tao Jingjing , Yi Zhen , Wu Linshan , Liu Zhenfeng , Yang Bin
Published: September 2024

Background

The picosecond 755‐nm alexandrite laser and topical tranexamic acid (TA) have shown promise in treating melasma.

Aim

This aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combining to a picosecond 755‐nm alexandrite laser combined with topical TA for melasma treatment.

Patients and Methods

Forty‐eight patients’ facial halves with bilateral symmetrical melasma were randomized to receive either topical TA and picosecond laser treatment or laser monotherapy. All patients received three consecutive picosecond laser treatment sessions at 4‐week intervals, and additional one side facial received topical TA treatment twice daily until 4 weeks after the third treatments. Efficacy was assessed using the Modified Melasma Area and Severity Index (mMASI) score, VISIA (Canfield, USA) red area feature counts, and average pore volume as measured by Antera 3D®. Patient satisfaction was evaluated through questionnaires.

Results

Thirty‐five patients completed the study. Post‐treatment, mMASI scores and VISIA red area feature counts were lower in combination therapy halves and laser monotherapy halves, and average melanin level was lower in the combination therapy halves (p < 0.05). Comparisons between the combination therapy halves and laser monotherapy halves after the third treatment revealed significant differences in mMASI scores, melanin levels, and VISIA red area feature counts (p < 0.05). After treatment, patient satisfaction rates in the combination therapy halves and monotherapy halves was 71.4% and 54.3%, respectively (p < 0.05). No obvious adverse effects were observed in the combination therapy halves; whereas, 10.42% (5/48) of participants in the laser monotherapy halves experienced temporary pigmentation, which resolved within 3 months.

Conclusion

The picosecond 755‐nm alexandrite laser, when used independently and in combination with topical TA, has been proven to be effective in the improvement of melasma. However, the combined treatment approach showed a more pronounced improvement in melasma symptoms, with higher patient satisfaction, and was associated with a lower incidence of adverse effects. These findings strongly support that integrating topical TA with picosecond laser therapy as a superior therapeutic strategy for melasma management.

Clinical Trial Registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2200057771.
Standard operating protocol for utilizing energy‐based devices in aesthetic practice
Authors: Mysore Venkataram , Deepthi M. , Chandrashekar B. S. , Shah Swapnil D. , Gold Michael H. , Shivani S. R. , Kanumuru Pooja , Anirudh P.
Published: September 2024

Background

Lasers and other energy‐based devices are increasingly becoming popular in aesthetic practice. Many centers employ doctors or technicians to perform these procedures where treating doctor and operating doctor may be different. Hence the need for standard operative protocols, to be followed while performing these procedures to avoid mistakes, complications and to get optimum results. In the current review article, group of doctors who have worked with these energy‐based devices over many years worked together and suggested the protocols to be followed for the most commonly used energy‐based procedures.

Aim

To provide Standard operating protocols for the operator and staff to ensure, efficacy, safety, for the patient and for the devices.

Methods

The following protocols have been drafted based on the best practices followed by the authors in their clinics and reflect their consensus opinion. The objective is to provide operating protocols in a standard format, which can be of use by practicing dermatologists and their staff. The protocols include both general guidelines for the laser room and specific protocols for different machines. The draft follows the following schema:

General instructions for all the energy‐based devices.

Specific protocols for different devices: Laser hair removal, fractional lasers, Q‐switched lasers, fractional microneedling radiofrequency and cryolipolysis.

Conclusions

The protocols proposed help to maintain the uniformity and avoid complications. However, these instructions are generalized and not machine or lesion specific. There may be variations in the protocols depending on the treatment lesion and treating doctor as well as machine.
Breastmilk use in preterm infants <29 weeks' gestational age in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore
Authors: Hilditch Cathie , Collins Carmel T , Rumbold Alice , Gomersall Judith , Middleton Philippa , Keir Amy ,   the N‐3 fatty acids for improvement in Respiratory Outcomes (N3RO) Trial Investigators
Published: September 2024

Aims

To describe the prevalence of use of breastmilk and explore demographic characteristics and clinical outcomes associated with breastmilk provision in infants born <29 weeks' gestational age in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

Methods

This is a secondary analysis of data from a randomised controlled trial, which enrolled 1273 infants in 13 neonatal units across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore from 2012 to 2015. Infants were classified as formula‐fed, donor milk‐fed or mother's milk‐fed at their first enteral feed and separately, at hospital discharge.

Results

The percentage of infants receiving mother's own milk differed between centres both at first feed (79% to 100%), and at hospital discharge (47.1% to 71.6%). Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Southeast Asian heritage, drug use and smoking were associated with lower rates of fully breastmilk feeding at hospital discharge. There was no significant difference in growth outcomes, length of stay and feeding tolerance between feeding groups.

Conclusions

Achieving high breastmilk feeding rates at hospital discharge for all preterm infants born <29 weeks' gestational age at hospital discharge is possible; however, targeted support for mothers who are Indigenous, Southeast Asian and/or using recreational drugs and/or smoking and/or experiencing social disadvantage may be needed. A better understanding and shared knowledge of practice variations within neonatal units with high breastfeeding rates could improve breastmilk access and equity for preterm infants.

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12612000503820.
Integration of observational and causal evidence for the association between adiposity and 17 gastrointestinal outcomes: An umbrella review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Kim Min Seo , Lee Inhyeok , Natarajan Pradeep , Do Ron , Kwon Yeongkeun , Shin Jae Il , Solmi Marco , Kim Jong Yeob , Won Hong‐Hee , Park Sungsoo
Published: September 2024

We systematically reviewed observational and Mendelian randomization (MR) articles that evaluated the association between obesity and 17 gastrointestinal (GI) diseases to integrate causal and observational evidence. A total of 594 observational studies from 26 systematic reviews and meta‐analyses and nine MR articles were included. For every 5 kg/m2 increase in body mass index (BMI), there was an increased risk of GI diseases ranging from 2% for rectal cancer (relative risk [RR]: 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01 to 1.03) to 63% for gallbladder disease (RR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.50 to 1.77). MR articles indicated that risks of developing GI diseases elevated with each 1 standard deviation increase in genetically predicted BMI, ranging from 11% for Crohn's disease to 189% for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Moreover, upper GI conditions were less susceptible, whereas hepatobiliary organs were more vulnerable to increased adiposity. Among the associations between obesity and the 17 GI conditions, causal relationships were inferred from only approximately half (10/17, 59%). This study reveals a substantial gap between observational and causal evidence, indicating that a combined approach is necessary to effectively inform public health policies and guide epidemiological research on obesity and GI diseases.
The novel HLA‐A*23:140 allele was identified in a Brazilian bone marrow volunteer donor
Authors: Pirri Alessandro , Slowik Renata , da Graça Bicalho Maria , de Araujo‐Souza Patricia S.
Published: September 2024

The HLA‐A*23:140 allele differs from HLA‐A*23:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution (G > A), position 1968 in exon 5.
Identification of nine novel HLA alleles by next‐generation sequencing in individuals from India
Authors: Archita S. , Shruthi P. S. , Deepika A. , Manpreet K. , Megha P. I.
Published: September 2024

Nine novel HLA alleles were identified when HLA typing individuals from the Indian population.
The impact of unilateral tax treaty terminations on FDI
Authors: Erokhin Dmitry
Published: September 2024

This study analyses the effect of unilateral tax treaty terminations on FDI. It identifies two major patterns—developing countries terminating tax treaties with developed countries for the reasons of tax revenue losses and developed countries terminating treaties with other developed countries for the reasons of non‐taxation of pensioners. The study focuses on the effects of terminations for developing countries. To assess the effects of terminations on FDI, a theoretical model is developed incorporating factors such as the rate of return on FDI, exit and entry costs, termination‐induced distortion and the probability of concluding new treaties. This contributes to our understanding of the impact of tax treaty terminations on FDI and may have significant implications for policymaking and investment strategies.
Comparison of Fine‐Needle Aspiration and Core Needle Biopsy for the Pre‐Operative Diagnosis of Canine and Feline Mammary Gland Tumours
Authors: Pakdeesaneha Thitida , Chankow Katriya , Techarungchaikul Sirichai , Thongsima Thitiporn , Kongtia Mintraporn , Tharasanit Theerawat
Published: September 2024

Mammary gland tumours are common neoplasms that affect female dogs and cats. We compared the accuracy of pre‐surgical fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) and core needle biopsy (CNB) diagnosing feline (n = 64) and canine (n = 83) mammary gland tumours with excisional histopathology as the gold standard for the definitive diagnosis. We also explored the impact of CNB needle sizes (18G and 16G). FNA, 18G CNB and 16G CNB demonstrated similar accuracy regarding the diagnosis of feline mammary tumours, ranging from 90% to 97.7% (p > 0.05). However, these techniques displayed lower diagnostic accuracy for canine mammary gland tumours: 46.7%–50.9% for FNA, 63.3% for 18G CNB and 73.6% for 16G CNB. In conclusion, FNA and CNB can be used optionally as pre‐surgical diagnostic methods for feline and canine mammary gland tumours. However, factors that affect diagnostic accuracy, such as species and diagnostic techniques, should be considered.
Cross‐education of lower limb muscle strength following resistance exercise training in males and females: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Altheyab Abdulmajeed , Alqurashi Helal , England Timothy J. , Phillips Bethan E. , Piasecki Mathew
Published: September 2024

Cross‐education describes the training of one limb that leads to performance enhancements in the contralateral untrained limb, driven by neural changes rather than muscle adaptation. In this systematic review and meta‐analysis, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of cross‐education (vs. a control group) via resistance exercise training (RET) for improving muscle strength in the untrained lower limb of healthy males and females. A literature search from inception to September 2023 was conducted using MEDLINE (via PubMed), the Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), Web of Science (Core Database), Scopus, EBSCO‐host, and Ovid‐EMBASE. Independent screening, data extraction and quality assessment were conducted. The measured outcomes were change in one‐repetition maximum (1‐RM) load, maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), and concentric, eccentric and isometric peak torque. Change in muscle structure (pennation angle and muscle thickness) was also analysed. A total of 29 studies were included. The pooled effect size from the random‐effects model shows that cross‐education significantly increased 1‐RM compared to the control group (standardised mean difference (SMD): 0.59, 95% CI: 0.22–0.97;P = 0.002). Cross‐education also significantly improved MVC (SMD: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.16–0.94;P = 0.006), concentric (SMD: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.39–0.84;P < 0.00001), eccentric (SMD: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.13–0.64;P = 0.003) and isometric (SMD: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.26–0.64;P < 0.00001) peak torque, each compared to the control group. When RET was categorised as eccentric or concentric, subgroup analysis showed that only eccentric training was associated with significantly increased isometric peak torque via cross‐education (SMD: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.13–0.61;P = 0.003) (concentric, SMD: 0.33, 95% CI: −0.09 to 0.74;P = 0.12). This systematic review and meta‐analysis emphasise the potency of cross‐education for improving lower limb muscle strength. These findings have potential implications for clinical situations of impaired unilateral limb function (e.g., limb‐casting or stroke). Future work exploring the mechanisms facilitating these enhancements will help to develop optimised rehabilitation protocols.
A cogent technique to circumvent the use of (some) ratio measures in physiology
Authors: Carson Richard G.
Published: September 2024

Physiologists often express the change in the value of a measurement made on two occasions as a ratio of the initial value. This is usually motivated by an assumption that the absolute change fails to capture the true extent of the alteration that has occurred in attaining the final value – if there is initial variation among individual cases. While it may appear reasonable to use ratios to standardize the magnitude of change in this way, the perils of doing so have been widely documented. Ratios frequently have intractable statistical properties, both when taken in isolation and when analysed using techniques such as regression. A new method of computing a standardized metric of change, based on principal components analysis (PCA), is described. It exploits the collinearity within sets of initial, absolute change and final values. When these sets define variables subjected to PCA, the standardized measure of change is obtained as the product of the loading of absolute change onto the first principal component (PC1) and the eigenvalue of PC1. It is demonstrated that a sample drawn from a population of these standardized measures: approximates a normal distribution (unlike the corresponding ratios); lies within the same range; and preserves the rank order of the ratios. It is also shown that this method can be used to express the magnitude of a physiological response in an experimental condition relative to that obtained in a control condition.

image

Key points

The intractable statistical properties of ratios and the perils of using ratios to standardize the magnitude of change are well known.

A new method of computing a standardized metric, based on principal components analysis (PCA), is described, which exploits the collinearity within sets of initial, absolute change and final values.

A sample drawn from a population of these PCA‐derived measures: approximates a normal distribution (unlike the corresponding ratios); lies within the same range as the ratios; and preserves the rank order of the ratios.

The method can also be applied to express the magnitude of a physiological response in an experimental condition relative to a control condition.
Estimation of Temperature Rise in Magnetorheological Fluid-Based Finishing of Thin Substrate: A Theoretical and Experimental Study
Authors: Dubey Nitesh Kumar , Sidpara Ajay
Published: September 2024

Magnetorheological finishing (MRF) is used to precisely finish various materials such as hard crystals, optical, and brittle materials. In this paper, the thermal behavior of the MRF process is studied theoretically and experimentally on thin copper substrate surface by varying rotational speed and working gap. The wall shear stress (WSS) represents the frictional force per unit area exerted by the flowing magnetorheological (MR) fluid on the workpiece surface and it is determined using three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics numerical simulations that use a dynamic viscosity model based on the variable magnetic flux density. A thermal model is proposed to predict heat generation and temperature rise on the workpiece surface with the help of energy partitioning, heat conduction equations, and WSS. It is observed that the temperature rises with increasing the rotational speed and reducing the working gap. Considering MR fluid with only abrasive particles, the theoretical temperature rise of 21.32 °C was predicted. When MR fluid is with carbonyl iron particles and abrasive particles, the theoretical temperature rise was 19.37 °C. In experiments, the maximum temperature rise of 14.8 °C was obtained. Finite element analysis is performed to estimate magnetic flux density variation on the workpiece surface and viscosity variation over the workpiece surface. Surface roughness (Sa) reduced from an initial value of 0.236 µm to 0.079 µm at 600 rpm tool rotational speed and 3 mm working gap.
Temporal Convolutional Neural Network-Based Cold Load Prediction for Large Office Buildings
Authors: Feng Zengxi , Zhang Lutong , Wang Wenjing , Li Gangting , Xiang Weipeng
Published: September 2024

In heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for large office buildings, accurate cooling load prediction facilitates the elaboration of energy-efficient and energy-saving operation strategies for the system. In this paper, a hybrid prediction model based on gray relational analysis-improved black widow optimization algorithm-temporal convolutional neural network (GRA-IBWOA-TCN) is proposed for cold load prediction of large office buildings. First, the factors influencing cold load in large office buildings were analyzed, with GRA used to identify key features and reduce input data dimensionality for the prediction model. Second, three improvement strategies are proposed to enhance optimization performance at different stages of the black widow optimization algorithm, aimed at establishing a prediction model for optimizing TCN hyper-parameters through IBWOA. Finally, the algorithm optimization and prediction model comparison experiments were conducted with the intra-week dataset (T1) and the weekend dataset (T2) of a large office building as the study samples, respectively. The results show that the mean absolute percentage error values of the GRA-IBWOA-TCN model for the prediction results of the T1 and T2 datasets are 0.581% and 0.348%, respectively, which are 81.1% and 88.3% lower compared to the TCN model, and exhibit the highest prediction accuracy in optimizing the results of the TCN model and the prediction models, such as backpropagation, support vector machine, long short-term memory, and convolutional neural network, with multiple algorithms, good stability, and generalization ability. In summary, the hybrid prediction model proposed in this paper can provide effective technical support for the energy-saving management of HVAC systems in large office buildings.
Hearing aid evaluation for music: Accounting for acoustical variability of music stimuli
Authors: Lesimple Christophe , Kuehnel Volker , Siedenburg Kai
Published: September 2024

Music is an important signal class for hearing aids, and musical genre is often used as a descriptor for stimulus selection. However, little research has systematically investigated the acoustical properties of musical genres with respect to hearing aid amplification. Here, extracts from a combination of two comprehensive music databases were acoustically analyzed. Considerable overlap in acoustic descriptor space between genres emerged. By simulating hearing aid processing, it was shown that effects of amplification regarding dynamic range compression and spectral weighting differed across musical genres, underlining the critical role of systematic stimulus selection for research on music and hearing aids.
Returned samples indicate volcanism on the Moon 120 million years ago
Authors: Wang Bi-Wen , Zhang Qian W. L. , Chen Yi , Zhao Wenhao , Liu Yu , Tang Guo-Qiang , Ma Hong-Xia , Su Bin , Hui Hejiu , Delano John W. , Wu Fu-Yuan , Li Xian-Hua , He Yuyang , Li Qiu-Li
Published: September 2024

There is extensive geologic evidence of ancient volcanic activity on the Moon, but it is unclear how long that volcanism persisted. Magma fountains produce volcanic glasses, which have previously been found in samples of the Moon’s surface. We investigated ~3000 glass beads in lunar soil samples collected by the Chang’e-5 mission and identified three as having a volcanic origin on the basis of their textures, chemical compositions, and sulfur isotopes. Uranium-lead dating of the three volcanic glass beads shows that they formed 123 ± 15 million years ago. We measured high abundances of rare earth elements and thorium in these volcanic glass beads, which could indicate that such recent volcanism was related to local enrichment of heat-generating elements in the mantle sources of the magma.
Serotonin release in the habenula during emotional contagion promotes resilience
Authors: Mondoloni Sarah , Molina Patricia , Lecca Salvatore , Wu Cheng-Hsi , Michel Léo , Osypenko Denys , Cachin Fanchon , Flanigan Meghan , Congiu Mauro , Lalive Arnaud L. , Kash Thomas , Deng Fei , Li Yulong , Mameli Manuel
Published: September 2024

Negative emotional contagion—witnessing others in distress—affects an individual’s emotional responsivity. However, whether it shapes coping strategies when facing future threats remains unknown. We found that mice that briefly observe a conspecific being harmed become resilient, withstanding behavioral despair after an adverse experience. Photometric recordings during negative emotional contagion revealed increased serotonin (5-HT) release in the lateral habenula. Whereas 5-HT and emotional contagion reduced habenular burst firing, limiting 5-HT synthesis prevented burst plasticity. Enhancing raphe-to-habenula 5-HT was sufficient to recapitulate resilience. In contrast, reducing 5-HT release in the habenula made witnessing a conspecific in distress ineffective to promote the resilient phenotype after adversity. These findings reveal that 5-HT supports vicarious emotions and leads to resilience by tuning definite patterns of habenular neuronal activity.
In situ structure and rotary states of mitochondrial ATP synthase in whole
Polytomella
cells
Authors: Dietrich Lea , Agip Ahmed-Noor A. , Kunz Christina , Schwarz Andre , Kühlbrandt Werner
Published: September 2024

Cells depend on a continuous supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the universal energy currency. In mitochondria, ATP is produced by a series of redox reactions, whereby an electrochemical gradient is established across the inner mitochondrial membrane. The ATP synthase harnesses the energy of the gradient to generate ATP from adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and inorganic phosphate. We determined the structure of ATP synthase within mitochondria of the unicellular flagellate
Polytomella
by electron cryo-tomography and subtomogram averaging at up to 4.2-angstrom resolution, revealing six rotary positions of the central stalk, subclassified into 21 substates of the F
1
head. The
Polytomella
ATP synthase forms helical arrays with multiple adjacent rows defining the cristae ridges. The structure of ATP synthase under native operating conditions in the presence of a membrane potential represents a pivotal step toward the analysis of membrane protein complexes in situ.
Oxygen- and proton-transporting open framework ionomer for medium-temperature fuel cells
Authors: Yang Jianwei , Xu Hengyu , Li Jie , Gong Ke , Yue Feiyu , Han Xianghao , Wu Ke , Shao Pengpeng , Fu Qingling , Zhu Yuhao , Xu Wenli , Huang Xin , Xie Jing , Wang Fengchao , Yang Wenxiu , Zhang Teng , Xu Zengshi , Feng Xiao , Wang Bo
Published: September 2024

Medium-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (MT PEMFCs) operating at 100° to 120°C have improved kinetics, simplified thermal and water management, and broadened fuel tolerance compared with low-temperature PEMFCs. However, high temperatures lead to Nafion ionomer dehydration and exacerbate gas transportation limitations. Inspired by osmolytes found in hyperthermophiles, we developed α-aminoketone–linked covalent organic framework (COF) ionomers, interwoven with Nafion, to act as “breathable” proton conductors. This approach leverages synergistic hydrogen bonding to retain water, enhancing hydration and proton transport while reducing oxygen transport resistance. For commercial Pt/C, the MT PEMFCs achieved peak and rated power densities of 18.1 and 9.5 Watts per milligram of Pt at the cathode at 105°C fueled with H
2
and air, marking increases of 101 and 187%, respectively, compared with cells lacking the COF.
The long shadow of biodiversity loss
Authors: Larsen Ashley E. , Engist Dennis , Noack Frederik
Published: September 2024

Technological substitutes are poor proxies for functioning ecosystems
Transient infection of
Euprymna scolopes
with an engineered D-alanine auxotroph of
Vibrio fischeri
Authors: Coppinger Macey , Yang Liu , Popham David L. , Ruby Edward , Stabb Eric V.
Published: September 2024

The symbiosis between
Vibrio fischeri
and the Hawaiian bobtail squid,
Euprymna scolopes
, is a tractable and well-studied model of bacteria-animal mutualism. Here, we developed a method to transiently colonize
E. scolopes
using D-alanine (D-ala) auxotrophy of the symbiont, controlling the persistence of viable infection by supplying or withholding D-ala. We generated alanine racemase (
alr
) mutants of
V. fischeri
that lack avenues for mutational suppression of auxotrophy or reversion to prototrophy. Surprisingly, an ∆
alr
mutant did not require D-ala to grow in a minimal medium, a phenomenon requiring
metC
, which encodes cystathionine β-lyase. Likewise, overexpression of
metC
suppressed D-ala auxotrophy in a rich medium. To block potential mechanisms of suppression, we combined the ∆
alr
mutation with deletions of
metC
and/or
bsrF
, which encodes a broad-spectrum racemase and investigated the suppression rates of four D-ala auxotrophic strains. We then focused on ∆
alr
∆
bsrF
mutant MC13, which has a suppression rate of <10
−9
. When D-ala was removed from a growing culture of MC13, cells rounded and lysed within 40 minutes. Transient colonization of
E. scolopes
was achieved by inoculating squid in seawater containing MC13 and D-ala, and then transferring the squid into water lacking D-ala, which resulted in loss of viable symbionts within hours. Interestingly, the symbionts within crypt 3 persisted longer than those of crypt 1, suggesting a difference in bacterial growth rate in distinct crypt environments. Our study highlights a new approach for inducing transient colonization and provides insight into the biogeography of the
E. scolopes
light organ.

IMPORTANCE

The importance of this study is multi-faceted, providing a valuable methodological tool and insight into the biology of the symbiosis between
Vibrio fischeri
and
Euprymna scolopes
. First, the study sheds light on the critical role of D-ala for bacterial growth, and the underpinnings of D-ala synthesis. Our observations that
metC
obviates the need for D-ala supplementation of an
alr
mutant in minimal medium and that MetC-dependent growth correlates with D-ala in peptidoglycan, corroborate and extend previous findings in
Escherichia coli
regarding a role of MetC in D-ala production. Second, our isolation of robust D-ala auxotrophs led us to a novel method for studying the squid-
Vibrio
symbiosis, allowing for transient colonization without the use of antibiotics, and revealed intriguing differences in symbiont growth parameters in distinct light organ crypts. This work and the methodology developed will contribute to our understanding of the persistence and dynamics of
V. fischeri
within its host.
Structural and functional diversity of Resistance-Nodulation-Division (RND) efflux pump transporters with implications for antimicrobial resistance
Authors: Kavanaugh Logan G. , Dey Debayan , Shafer William M. , Conn Graeme L.
Published: September 2024

The discovery of bacterial efflux pumps significantly advanced our understanding of how bacteria can resist cytotoxic compounds that they encounter. Within the structurally and functionally distinct families of efflux pumps, those of the Resistance-Nodulation-Division (RND) superfamily are noteworthy for their ability to reduce the intracellular concentration of structurally diverse antimicrobials. RND systems are possessed by many Gram-negative bacteria, including those causing serious human disease, and frequently contribute to resistance to multiple antibiotics. Herein, we review the current literature on the structure-function relationships of representative transporter proteins of tripartite RND efflux pumps of clinically important pathogens. We emphasize their contribution to bacterial resistance to clinically used antibiotics, host defense antimicrobials and other biocides, as well as highlighting structural similarities and differences among efflux transporters that help bacteria survive in the face of antimicrobials. Furthermore, we discuss technical advances that have facilitated and advanced efflux pump research and suggest future areas of investigation that will advance antimicrobial development efforts.
Jet Fuel as a Source of Soil Pollution: A Review
Authors: Koroleva T. V. , Semenkov I. N. , Lednev S. A. , Soldatova O. S.
Published: September 2024

Kerosene is widely used in various types of anthropogenic activities. Its environmental safety is mainly discussed in the context of aerospace activities. At all stages of its life cycle, aerospace activity impacts the environment. In aviation, the pollution of atmospheric air and terrestrial ecosystems is caused, first of all, by jet fuel and the products of its incomplete combustion and is technologically specified for a number of models in the case of fuel leak during an emergency landing. In the rocket and space activities, jet fuel enters terrestrial ecosystems as a result of fuel spills from engines and fuel tanks at the crash sites of the first stages of launch vehicles. The jet fuel from the second and third stages of launch vehicles does not enter terrestrial ecosystems. The fuel components have been studied in sufficient detail. However, the papers with representative data sets and their statistical processing not only for the kerosene content, but also for the total petroleum hydrocarbons in the soils affected by aerospace activity are almost absent. Nevertheless, the available data and results of mathematical modeling allow us to assert that an acceptable level of hydrocarbons, not exceeding the assimilation potential, enters terrestrial ecosystems during a regular aerospace activity. Thus, the incoming amount of jet fuel disappears rapidly enough without causing any irreversible damage.
Investigating the impact of multidisciplinary prehabilitation on deconditioning in patients eligible for haematopoietic allogenic stem cell transplantation: protocol for a feasibility trial
Authors: Naumann Karlee , Singh Ben , Bushaway Samuel , Crane Rhiannon , Deepak Swapna , Hartland Amie , Konstantopoulos Peter , Mansell Ella , Marinelli Vanessa , Pallotta Vanessa , Tolfts Annabel , Virieux Alison , Wall Michelle , Wilksch Sarah , Zhuang Mabel , Atkinson Morgan , Maher Carol
Published: September 2024

Background

Assessing multidisciplinary prehabilitation strategies becomes crucial to pre-emptively counter the physical, psychological and social negative impacts experienced during an allogenic haematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) among acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients. Current evidence is restricted to studies during induction chemotherapy, omitting rehabilitation interventions and predominantly using exercise-only approaches without a multidisciplinary framework. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility, safety and preliminary efficacy of multidisciplinary prehabilitation in adults offered allo-HSCT.

Methods and analysis

This 8-week single-group pre-post feasibility study aims to pilot a multidisciplinary prehabilitation intervention for participants undergoing allo-HSCT, with a focus on feasibility and safety. Participants, aged 18 or older, diagnosed with AML or MDS, and offered allo-HSCT, will be recruited between June 2023 and July 2024. The multidisciplinary prehabilitation intervention, conducted by the cancer allied health team at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, includes exercise physiology, physiotherapy, dietetics, social work, occupational therapy and psychology interventions. Consistent with a multidisciplinary treatment approach, each component is tailored to address different aspects of patient care, and adherence calculations will assess patient engagement and compliance. In addition, participants will continue to receive usual care from cancer allied health staff. The primary outcome of the study is to assess the feasibility of a multidisciplinary prehabilitation intervention by evaluating intervention uptake, retention, adherence, acceptability and safety. Secondary outcomes are leg strength, upper-body strength, aerobic fitness, falls risk, anthropometry, nutritional status, quality of life, anxiety, depression, self-efficacy for coping with cancer and distress.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval for this study has been provided by the Central Adelaide Local Health Network (HREC 2022/HRE00284). Recruitment for the study commenced in June 2023 and will continue until July 2024. The methods have been designed and are reported according to the SPIRIT and CONSORT-pilot study checklist.

Trial registration number

The Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12623000052639.
Current situation and relationship between occupational stress, burn-out and sleep quality among ambulance drivers: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Zhang Jianfei , Tan Kaixi , Xiao Xia , Tang Yujun , Tong Jing , Ling Lin
Published: September 2024

Objective

To understand the current status of occupational stress, occupational burn-out and sleep quality among ambulance drivers in Hengyang, China and to analyse the relationship between occupational stress, occupational burn-out and sleep quality of ambulance drivers.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Setting

Prehospital emergency centre of third-class hospital in Hengyang, China.

Participants

From October 2023 to December 2023, a cross-sectional survey was conducted, with 213 ambulance drivers from Hengyang, China, selected as participants.

Methods

General demographic questionnaires, the Chinese Occupational Stress Inventory, the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used for data collection and analysis.

Results

Occupational stress among ambulance drivers was positively correlated with occupational burn-out and sleep quality (r=0.528, 0.447, both p<0.01) while occupational burn-out was positively correlated with sleep quality (r=0.394, p<0.01). Occupational burn-out partially mediated the relationship between occupational stress and sleep quality among ambulance drivers, with a mediation effect value of 0.168, accounting for 26.09% of the total effect.

Conclusion

The sleep quality of ambulance drivers in Hengyang, China is suboptimal, with occupational stress directly predicting sleep quality. Occupational burn-out plays a partial positive mediating role between occupational stress and sleep quality among ambulance drivers. Reducing occupational stress and burn-out is beneficial for improving the sleep quality of ambulance drivers.
Novel perspective of ‘poor sleep’ in public health: a narrative review
Authors: Leger Damien , Ferini-Strambi Luigi , Han Fang , Poyares Dalva , Uchiyama Makoto , Zee Phyllis C
Published: September 2024

A high percentage of people worldwide complain of sleep disturbances; however, the vast majority do not meet the diagnostic criteria for insomnia or other classic sleep disorders. Therefore, the ‘classical’ concept ofpoor sleepremains undetected, and patients stay ignored and unidentified. Also,poor sleephas been strongly associated with increased daytime function impairment, morbidity and mortality and is considered a risk factor for developing mental disorders.Poor sleepis the individual experience of insufficient restorative sleep and/or sleep satisfaction in adults who do not fulfil the criteria for sleep disorders. This article provides a review on the impact ofpoor sleepon a healthy life within the multidimensional concept of sleep health, including the COVID-19-affected period. We propose a wide definition ofpoor sleepand the key characteristics ofpoor sleepersand tools for (self) detection. We discuss sleep assessment methods that combine the ability to capture the subjective perception of the sleep experience and measure objective sleep parameters. We then report selected strategies to improve sleep health, focusing on healthy sleep habits, cognitive behavioural therapy, diet, exercise, food supplements and other sleep aids. Considering the current megalopolis way of life, young people are following a 24/24 hours 7 days/week rhythm of life, with increased exposure to noise and light pollution, night-shift work, higher commute time, increased global temperature and overuse of smartphones and screens. Therefore, there is an urgent need for increasing awareness ofpoor sleepand stimulating educational efforts targeted atpoor sleepersand primary care specialists.
Loss of Annexin A1 in macrophages restrains efferocytosis and remodels immune microenvironment in pancreatic cancer by activating the cGAS/STING pathway
Authors: Hou Zelin , Lu Fengchun , Lin Jiajing , Wu Yuwei , Chen Linjin , Fang Haizong , Chen Linlin , Zhang Shihan , Huang Heguang , Pan Yu
Published: September 2024

Objective

Pancreatic cancer is an incurable malignant disease with extremely poor prognosis and a complex tumor microenvironment. We sought to characterize the role of Annexin A1 (ANXA1) in pancreatic cancer, including its ability to promote efferocytosis and antitumor immune responses.

Methods

The tumor expression of ANXA1 and cleaved Caspase-3 (c-Casp3) and numbers of tumor-infiltrating CD68+macrophages in 151 cases of pancreatic cancer were examined by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. The role of ANXA1 in pancreatic cancer was investigated using myeloid-specific ANXA1-knockout mice. The changes in tumor-infiltrating immune cell populations induced by ANXA1 deficiency in macrophages were assessed by single-cell RNA sequencing and flow cytometry.

Results

ANXA1 expression in pancreatic cancer patient samples correlated with the number of CD68+macrophages. The percentage of ANXA1+tumor-infiltrating macrophages negatively correlated with c-Casp3 expression and was significantly associated with worse survival. In mice, myeloid-specific ANXA1 deficiency inhibited tumor growth and was accompanied by the accumulation of apoptotic cells in pancreatic tumor tissue caused by inhibition of macrophage efferocytosis, which was dependent on cGAS-STING pathway-induced type I interferon signaling. ANXA1 deficiency significantly remodeled the intratumoral lymphocyte and macrophage compartments in tumor-bearing mice by increasing the number of effector T cells and pro-inflammatory macrophages. Furthermore, combination therapy of ANXA1 knockdown with gemcitabine and anti-programmed cell death protein-1 antibody resulted in synergistic inhibition of pancreatic tumor growth.

Conclusion

This research uncovers a novel role of macrophage ANXA1 in pancreatic cancer. ANXA1-mediated regulation of efferocytosis by tumor-associated macrophages promotes antitumor immune response via STING signaling, suggesting potential treatment strategies for pancreatic cancer.
scRNA+ TCR-seq revealed dual TCR T cells antitumor response in the TME of NSCLC
Authors: Peng Qi , Xu Yuanyuan , Yao Xinsheng
Published: September 2024

The intricate origins, subsets, and characteristics of TCR (T Cell Receptor) s, along with the mechanisms underpinning the antitumor response of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes within the tumor microenvironment (TME) remain enigmatic. Recently, the advent of single-cell RNA+TCR-sequencing (scRNA+TCR seq) has revolutionized TME analysis, providing unprecedented insight into the origins, cell subsets, TCR CDR3 compositions, and the expression patterns of response/depletion factors within individual tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes. Our analysis of the shared scRNA+TCR seq dataset revealed a substantial presence of dual TCR T cells, characterized by clonal hyperplasia and remarkable migratory prowess across various tissues, including blood, normal, peritumoral, and tumor tissues in non-small cell lung cancer patients. Notably, dual TCR CD8+T cells predominantly fell within the CXCL13+subset, displaying potent antitumor activity and a strong preference for tumor tissue residency. Conversely, dual TCR CD4+T cells were predominantly classified as CD5+ or LMNA+subsets, exhibiting a more even distribution across diverse tissue types. By harnessing scRNA+TCR seq and other cutting-edge technologies, we can delve deeper into the effects and mechanisms that regulate the antitumor response or tolerance of dual TCR T cells. This innovative approach holds immense promise in offering fresh perspectives and avenues for advancing research on TIL (Tumor infiltrating lymphocyte)s within the TME.
Bounds on ultralight bosons from the Event Horizon Telescope observation of Sgr A$$^*$$
Authors: Saha Akash Kumar , Parashari Priyank , Maity Tarak Nath , Dubey Abhishek , Bouri Subhadip , Laha Ranjan
Published: September 2024

Recent observation of Sagittarius A$$^*$$

∗

(Sgr A$$^*$$

∗

) by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration has uncovered various unanswered questions in black hole (BH) physics. Besides, it may also probe various beyond the Standard Model (BSM) scenarios. One of the most profound possibilities is the search for ultralight bosons (ULBs) using BH superradiance (SR). EHT observations imply that Sgr A$$^*$$

∗

has a non-zero spin. Using this observation, we derive bounds on the mass of ULBs with purely gravitational interactions. Considering self-interacting ultralight axions, we constrain new regions in the parameter space of decay constant, for a certain spin of Sgr A$$^*$$

∗

. Future observations of various spinning BHs can improve the present constraints on ULBs.
Topologically nontrivial B-fields on nodal Calabi–Yau three-folds and hybrid GLSM
Authors: Katz Sheldon , Schimannek Thorsten
Published: September 2024

Our goal in this paper is to give a brief survey of recent developments in the study of M-theory on singular Calabi–Yau three-folds, topological strings in the presence of a flat but topologically nontrivial B-field and their relationship to hybrid phases of certain Gauged Linear Sigma Models (GLSM).
K-theoretic Gromov–Witten invariants of line degrees on flag varieties
Authors: Buch Anders S. , Chen Linda , Xu Weihong
Published: September 2024

A homology class [Formula: see text] of a complex flag variety [Formula: see text] is called a line degree if the moduli space [Formula: see text] of 0-pointed stable maps to X of degree d is also a flag variety [Formula: see text]. We prove a quantum equals classical formula stating that any n-pointed (equivariant, [Formula: see text]-theoretic, genus zero) Gromov–Witten invariant of line degree on X is equal to a classical intersection number computed on the flag variety [Formula: see text]. We also prove an n-pointed analogue of the Peterson comparison formula stating that these invariants coincide with Gromov–Witten invariants of the variety of complete flags [Formula: see text]. Our formulas make it straightforward to compute the big quantum [Formula: see text]-theory ring [Formula: see text] modulo the ideal [Formula: see text] generated by degrees d larger than line degrees.
Sphere partition function and tt∗ geometry in abelian GLSM
Authors: Aleshkin Konstantin
Published: September 2024

Sphere partition function integral for abelian Calabi–Yau GLSM is equal to the pairing of the I-function with its complex conjugate, where the real structure is essentially constructed from Iritani’s integral structure on the cohomology of the target.