bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anaemia and iron deficiency associate with polymorphism TMPRSS6 rs855791 in Brazilian children attending day care centres
Authors: Silva Natalia Menezes , Lopes Mirella de Paiva , Schincaglia Raquel Machado , Coelho Alexandre Siqueira Guedes , Cominetti Cristiane , Hadler Maria Claret Costa Monteiro
Published: August 2023

Fe-deficiency anaemia is a major public health concern in children under 5 years of age. TMPRSS6 gene, encoding matriptase-2 protein, is implicated in Fe homoeostasis and has been associated with anaemia and Fe status in various populations. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the associations between the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) TMPRSS6 rs855791 and biomarkers of anaemia and Fe deficiency in Brazilian children attending day care centres. A total of 163 children aged 6–42 months were evaluated. Socio-economic, demographic, biochemical, haematological, immunological and genotype data were collected. Multiple logistic and linear regressions with hierarchical selection were used to assess the effects of independent variables on categorised outcomes and blood marker concentrations. Minor allele (T) frequency of rs855791 was 0·399. Each copy of the T allele was associated with a 4·49-fold increased risk of developing anaemia (P = 0·005) and a 4·23-fold increased risk of Fe deficiency assessed by serum soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) (P < 0·001). The dose of the T allele was associated with an increase of 0·18 mg/l in sTfR concentrations and reductions of 1·41 fl and 0·52 pg in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), respectively. In conclusion, the T allele of SNP TMPRSS6 rs855791 was significantly associated with anaemia and Fe deficiency assessed by sTfR in Brazilian children attending day care centres. The effect was dose dependent, with each copy of the T allele being associated with lower MCV and MCH and higher concentrations of sTfR.
Kaehler submanifolds of the real hyperbolic space
Authors: Chion Sergio , Dajczer Marcos
Published: August 2023

The local classification of Kaehler submanifolds $M^{2n}$ of the hyperbolic space $\mathbb{H}^{2n+p}$ with low codimension $2\leq p\leq n-1$ under only intrinsic assumptions remains a wide open problem. The situation is quite different for submanifolds in the round sphere $\mathbb{S}^{2n+p}$, $2\leq p\leq n-1$, since Florit et al. [7] have shown that the codimension has to be $p=n-1$ and then that any submanifold is just part of an extrinsic product of two-dimensional umbilical spheres in $\mathbb{S}^{3n-1}\subset\mathbb{R}^{3n}$. The main result of this paper is a version for Kaehler manifolds isometrically immersed into the hyperbolic ambient space of the result in [7] for spherical submanifolds. Besides, we generalize several results obtained by Dajczer and Vlachos [5].
Trajectory planning of large redundant manipulator considering kinematic constraints and energy efficiency
Authors: Liu Zhenyu , Huang Yu , Liu Daxin , Guo Xuxin , Wang Ke , Tan Jianrong
Published: August 2023

For the large redundant manipulator, due to its long working distance and large mass, the number of links (i.e., manipulator’s arms) that can be driven to move simultaneously is limited. Otherwise, the control accuracy and motion stability of the manipulator will deteriorate. Focusing on that, a weighted Newton iteration (WNI) algorithm for trajectory planning of the manipulator is firstly proposed, where the motion of the manipulator joints is controlled by a weight matrix, which is constant and related to each link’s energy consumption. To dynamically adjust the weight matrix according to kinematic constraints and acquire better energy efficiency, an adaptive WNI (AWNI) algorithm is further proposed. In AWNI, the weight matrix is adjusted in real-time during the planning process, with considerations of the kinematic constraints and the energy consumption of the manipulator. The switch of the links between the working state and the non-working state is made through the weight matrix to achieve flexible control of the manipulator motion. Two evaluation functions are established to validate the effectiveness of AWNI in energy saving and motion stability control. Taking a 6 degrees of freedom (DOF) manipulator as an example, simulation experiments on trajectory planning are carried out and the results show the effectiveness of the proposed AWNI algorithm.
Identifying multilevel predictors of trajectories of psychopathology and resilience among juvenile offenders: A machine learning approach
Authors: Liu Huinan , Hou Wai Kai , Lau Esther Yuet Ying , Birk Jeffrey L. , Bonanno George A.
Published: August 2023

Mental ill health is more common among juvenile offenders relative to adolescents in general. Little is known about individual differences in their long-term psychological adaptation and its predictors from multiple aspects of their life. This study aims to identify heterogeneous trajectories of probable psychiatric conditions and their predictors. Participants included 574 juvenile offenders who were first convicted for serious crimes and without detention history. The participants were assessed at 11 timepoints over seven years (2000–2010). Growth mixture modeling revealed the same three trajectories for both probable anxiety and probable depression: stable low trajectory (75.96%; 75.78%), stable high trajectory (15.16%; 10.98%), and recovery (8.89%, 13.24%). Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression identified three multilevel predictors for memberships of different trajectories. Risk factors against stable low trajectory lay within personal (e.g., neuroticism), relationship (e.g., parental hostility), and contextual levels (e.g., chaotic neighborhood). Resilience factors for stable low trajectory included strong work orientation and low education level of father. Recovery was predicted by Black race, self-identity, high education level of father, and nonincarcerated sentencing. Our findings suggest that both psychopathology and psychological resilience could be predicted by multiple personal, relationship, and contextual factors in the social ecology of juvenile offenders.
Echocardiographic image collection and evaluation in infants with CHD: lessons learned from the imaging core lab for the Residual Lesion Score study
Authors: Levine Jami C. , Colan Steven , Trachtenberg Felicia , Marcus Edward , Ferguson Matthew , Parthiban Anitha , Taylor Carolyn , Dragulescu Andreea , Goot Benjamin , Lacro Ronald V. , McFarland Carol , Narasimhan Shanthi , O’Connor Matthew , Schamberger Marcus , Srivistava Shubhika , Taylor Michael , Nathan Meena
Published: August 2023

Many factors affect patient outcome after congenital heart surgery, including the complexity of the heart disease, pre-operative status, patient specific factors (prematurity, nutritional status and/or presence of comorbid conditions or genetic syndromes), and post-operative residual lesions. The Residual Lesion Score is a novel tool for assessing whether specific residual cardiac lesions after surgery have a measurable impact on outcome. The goal is to understand which residual lesions can be tolerated and which should be addressed prior to leaving the operating room. The Residual Lesion Score study is a large multicentre prospective study designed to evaluate the association of Residual Lesion Score to outcomes in infants undergoing surgery for CHD. This Pediatric Heart Network and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-funded study prospectively enrolled 1,149 infants undergoing 5 different congenital cardiac surgical repairs at 17 surgical centres. Given the contribution of echocardiographic measurements in assigning the Residual Lesion Score, the Residual Lesion Score study made use of a centralised core lab in addition to site review of all data. The data collection plan was designed with the added goal of collecting image quality information in a way that would permit us to improve our understanding of the reproducibility, variability, and feasibility of the echocardiographic measurements being made. There were significant challenges along the way, including the coordination, de-identification, storage, and interpretation of very large quantities of imaging data. This necessitated the development of new infrastructure and technology, as well as use of novel statistical methods. The study was successfully completed, but the size and complexity of the population being studied and the data being extracted required more technologic and human resources than expected which impacted the length and cost of conducting the study. This paper outlines the process of designing and executing this complex protocol, some of the barriers to implementation and lessons to be considered in the design of future studies.
Validity and reliability of Turkish version of the Adult Eating Behaviour Questionnaire for adult participants
Authors: Yardımcı Hülya , Ersoy Nursena , Aslan Çin Nazlı Nur
Published: August 2023

Objective:

The aim of this study is to assess the validity and reliability of the Adult Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (AEBQ-TR) for adults.

Design:

Hunot et al. (2016) developed the original questionnaire, which was modified and translated into Turkish. On data collected from adults, construct validity was assessed using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Pearson’s and Cronbach’s correlation coefficients were used to evaluate reliability and validity (P < 0·05).

Setting:

This research was carried out in Ankara, Turkey.

Participants:

A total of 311 adults from Ankara (148 men and 163 women) took part in the study. Seventy-two of these adults take the retest.

Results:

In the present study, 311 adults with a mean age of 29·3 ± 11·3 years participated. Factor loadings ranged from 0·404 to 0·907. In general, food approach and food avoidance scales showed a positive correlation within themselves. According to the results of confirmatory factor analysis and goodness-of-fit indicators, the seven-factor model showed a better model fit in the Turkish data (chi-square/degrees of freedom = 2·137, root mean error of approximation: 0·061, comparative fit index: 0·884, and normed fit index: 0·850). Higher BMI was associated with higher Emotional Over-eating, higher Enjoyment of the Food, lower Food Satiety and lower Emotional Under-eating.

Conclusions:

The Turkish AEBQ is a valid and reliable tool for 20- to 65-year adults to determine appetitive properties related to the aetiology of weight change and especially obesity risk. Besides, AEBQ testing is required for validation in early and late adulthood.
The cost-effectiveness of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements for prevention of child death and malnutrition and promotion of healthy development: modelling results for Uganda
Authors: Adams Katherine P , Vosti Stephen A , Arnold Charles D , Engle-Stone Reina , Prado Elizabeth L , Stewart Christine P , Wessells K Ryan , Dewey Kathryn G
Published: August 2023

Objective:

Recent meta-analyses demonstrate that small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) for young children significantly reduce child mortality, stunting, wasting, anaemia and adverse developmental outcomes. Cost considerations should inform policy decisions. We developed a modelling framework to estimate the cost and cost-effectiveness of SQ-LNS and applied the framework in the context of rural Uganda.

Design:

We adapted costs from a costing study of micronutrient powder (MNP) in Uganda, and based effectiveness estimates on recent meta-analyses and Uganda-specific estimates of baseline mortality and the prevalence of stunting, wasting, anaemia and developmental disability.

Setting:

Rural Uganda.

Participants:

Not applicable.

Results:

Providing SQ-LNS daily to all children in rural Uganda (> 1 million) for 12 months (from 6 to 18 months of age) via the existing Village Health Team system would cost ∼$52 per child (2020 US dollars) or ∼$58·7 million annually. SQ-LNS could avert an average of > 242 000 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) annually as a result of preventing 3689 deaths, > 160 000 cases of moderate or severe anaemia and ∼6000 cases of developmental disability. The estimated cost per DALY averted is $242.

Conclusions:

In this context, SQ-LNS may be more cost-effective than other options such as MNP or the provision of complementary food, although the total cost for a programme including all age-eligible children would be high. Strategies to reduce costs, such as targeting to the most vulnerable populations and the elimination of taxes on SQ-LNS, may enhance financial feasibility.
Morphological characterization, combining ability and heterosis for important horticultural traits in snowball cauliflower (B. oleracea var. botrytis L.)
Authors: Ram Hanuman , Sureja Amish Kumar , Dey Shyam Sundar
Published: August 2023

Cauliflower is an important vegetable crop grown worldwide. Development and characterization of suitable cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines and male fertile inbreds is instrumental in developing heterotic hybrids. A study was undertaken to estimate heterosis and combining ability in snowball cauliflower lines through line × tester analysis involving five Ogura CMS lines and seven male fertile testers. The assessment of F1s along with their parental lines for different horticultural traits revealed a wide range of heterosis. Ogu-13-01 was the best general combiner for leaf length, leaf width and plant height, Ogu-13-85 for number of leaves/plant, Ogu-101 for days to 50% curd initiation, days to 50% curd maturity and net curd weight and Ogu-119 for harvest index. The lines with better general combining ability (GCA) were involved in majority of the heterotic hybrids. The tester Kt-18 was the best general combiner for leaf width, DB-1305 for number of leaves/plant and DB-187 for leaf length, plant height, gross plant weight and days to 50% curd initiation. However, GCA alone was not sufficient to determine and identify the potential parental lines. Hybrids Ogu-101 × DB-1305 and Ogu-119 × Suprimax Late were the best specific combinations for marketable curd weight, marketable curd yield, net curd weight and net curd yield. The hybrid Ogu-119 × Suprimax Late was the best heterotic combination for marketable curd weight, marketable curd yield, net curd weight and net curd yield, followed by Ogu-101 × DB-1305, Ogu-119 × Sel-26 and Ogu-101 × DB-187. Our findings will be instrumental to identify suitable parental lines and developing heterotic F1 hybrids in cauliflower.
Defining Renewable Groundwater Use and Its Relevance to Sustainable Groundwater Management
Authors: Cuthbert M. O. , Gleeson T. , Bierkens M. F. P. , Ferguson G. , Taylor R. G.
Published: August 2023

Groundwater systems are commonly defined as renewable or non‐renewable based on natural fluxes of recharge or on estimates of aquifer storage and groundwater residence time. However, we show here that the principle of capture (i.e., how recharge and discharge change due to pumping) challenges simple definitions so that a groundwater system cannot be renewable or non‐renewable in and of itself, but only with reference to how the groundwater is being used. We develop and propose more hydraulically informed definitions for flux‐renewable and storage‐renewable groundwater use, and a combined definition that encompasses both the flux‐based and storage‐based perspectives such that: renewable groundwater use allows for dynamically stable re‐equilibrium of groundwater levels and quality on human timescales. Further, we show how a matrix of combinations of (a) the ratio of pumping rate to the maximum rate of capture along with (b) the response or recovery timescales implicit in this definition, leads to a useful four‐quadrant framework for characterizing groundwater use, illustrated using case studies from aquifers around the world. Renewable groundwater use may inform pathways to groundwater sustainability, which encompasses a broader set of dimensions (e.g., socio‐political, economic, ecological and cultural) beyond the scope of groundwater science. We propose that separating physically robust definitions of renewable groundwater use from the inherently value‐based language of sustainability, can help bring much needed clarity to wider discussions about sustainable groundwater management strategies, and the role of groundwater science and scientists in such endeavors.
Determining Undersampled Coastal Tidal Harmonics Using Regularized Least Squares
Authors: Wang Ruo‐Qian , Golparvar Behzad , Mark Morgan
Published: August 2023

Satellite altimetry, which measures water level with global coverage and high resolution, provides an unprecedented opportunity for a wide and refined understanding of the changing tides in the coastal area. But its sampling frequency is too low to satisfy the Nyquist frequency requirement and too few data points per year are available to recognize a sufficient number of tidal constituents to capture the trend of tidal changes on a yearly basis. To address these issues, a novel regularized least‐square approach is developed to relax the sampling interval limit to the range of 9–11 days, reaching the revisit time of the existing satellites. In this method, the prior information of the regional tidal amplitudes is used to support a least square analysis to obtain the amplitudes of the tidal constituents for water elevation time series of different lengths and time intervals. Synthetic data experiments performed in Delaware Bay and Galveston Bay showed that the proposed method can determine the tidal amplitudes with high accuracy and the sampling interval can be extended to the application level of major altimetry satellites. The proposed algorithm was further validated using the data of the altimetry mission, Jason‐3, to show its applicability to irregular and noisy data. The new method could help identify the changing tides with sea‐level rise and anthropogenic activities in coastal areas, informing coastal flooding risk assessment and ecosystem health analysis.
Geochemical and Hydrographic Evolution of the Late Devonian Appalachian Seaway: Linking Sedimentation, Redox, and Salinity Across Time and Space
Authors: Gilleaudeau Geoffrey J. , Wei Wei , Remírez Mariano N. , Song Yi , Lyons Timothy W. , Bates Steven , Anbar Ariel D. , Algeo Thomas J.
Published: August 2023

Continental interiors were flooded by epeiric seas during many intervals of the geologic past. Few modern analogs exist for these environments, however, and basic variables such as redox, salinity, and restriction are difficult to reconstruct in deep time. Despite these challenges, constraining epeiric watermass properties is critical because much of our preserved and accessible sedimentary record was deposited in such settings. Here, we present a four‐dimensional reconstruction of watermass evolution in the Late Devonian Appalachian Seaway of North America. We use combined proxies for sediment supply, paleosalinity, paleoredox, and basin hydrography in six cores through the Upper Devonian Cleveland Shale deposited across a paleo‐depth transect. Cyclic, coupled changes in sedimentation, redox, and salinity are recorded in environments near the Catskill Delta. Additionally, a pronounced salinity gradient was present from low‐brackish conditions near the delta to fully marine conditions in the basin interior, with a lower‐salinity mixing zone recorded across the Cumberland Sill. We also identified two broad sequences—the lower and upper Cleveland Shale—each of which shows distinct watermass signatures. The lower Cleveland Shale records a redox gradient with euxinia only present along the Cumberland Sill, whereas the upper Cleveland Shale records intensification of euxinia (potentially in the photic zone) at all six sites, which may be coincident with the Hangenberg extinction event. Ultimately, this study identifies pronounced epeiric watermass gradients over short timescales (millennia) and distances (hundreds of km or less), highlighting the need for interpreting the geochemistry of epicontinental deposits in the context of basin hydrography and paleosalinity.
Parameters of the Lightning Attachment Processes in a Negative Cloud‐To‐Ground Stroke Observed on a Microsecond Timescale
Authors: Nag Amitabh , Khounate Hamza , Cummins Kenneth L. , Goldberg Dylan J. , Imam Abdullah Y. , Plaisir Mathieu N. , Rassoul Hamid K.
Published: August 2023

We present time‐correlated ultra‐high‐speed video camera and electromagnetic field measurements of the attachment processes in a natural negative cloud‐to‐ground stroke. The video camera frame exposure time and pixel resolution were 740 ns and 0.91 m/pixel, respectively. The common streamer zone (CSZ) was first observed 2.52 µs preceding the first frame showing the return stroke (RS) in progress, when the upward and downward leader‐tips were 9.8 m apart. In the next frame, the two leaders were observed to have propagated toward each other within the CSZ, with their tips being 0.91 m apart. Our observations show with unprecedented precision/clarity that (a) the slow front in the field waveform is associated with the CSZ, and (b) the “proper” start of the RS is marked by the onset of the fast transition in the field waveform which occurs at the completion of the attachment processes (when the upward and downward leaders have merged).
Martian Bow Shock Oscillations Driven by Solar Wind Variations: Simultaneous Observations From Tianwen‐1 and MAVEN
Authors: Cheng Long , Lillis Robert , Wang Yuming , Mittelholz Anna , Xu Shaosui , Mitchell David L. , Johnson Catherine , Su Zhenpeng , Halekas Jasper S. , Langlais Benoit , Zhang Tielong , Wang Guoqiang , Xiao Sudong , Zou Zhuxuan , Wu Zhiyong , Chi Yutian , Pan Zonghao , Liu Kai , Hao Xinjun , Li Yiren , Chen Manming , Espley Jared , Eparvier Frank , Curry Shannon
Published: August 2023

The Martian bow shock stands as the first defense against the solar wind and shapes the Martian magnetosphere. Previous studies showed the correlation between the Martian bow shock location and solar wind parameters. Here we present direct evidence of solar wind effects on the Martian bow shock by analyzing Tianwen‐1 and MAVEN data. We examined three cases where Tianwen‐1 data show rapid oscillations of the bow shock, while MAVEN data record changes in solar wind plasma and magnetic field. The results indicate that the bow shock is rapidly compressed and then expanded during the dynamic pressure pulse in the solar wind, and is also oscillated during the IMF rotation. The superposition of variations in multiple solar wind parameters leads to more intensive bow shock oscillation. This study emphasizes the importance of joint observations by Tianwen‐1 and MAVEN for studying the real‐time response of the Martian magnetosphere to the solar wind.
Antisunward Streaming Westward Sub‐Auroral Ion Drifts (SAID) Developed in the Postmidnight (1–4) Magnetic Local Time Sector During 2013
Authors: Horvath Ildiko , Lovell Brian C.
Published: August 2023

In this study, we have surveyed the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program F15 plots of horizontal ion velocity measurements for the calendar year of 2013 and specified 15 antisunward (westward) sub‐auroral ion drifts (SAID) detections taken in the 1–4 magnetic local time (MLT) sector based on their respective underlying polar convections. We find that during these 15 SAID events, the strong duskside westward polar plasma convection extended across the midnight meridian into the postmidnight 1–4 MLT sector making there the westward SAID flows streaming antisunward. These antisunward (westward) SAID flows were observed only once as a northern‐southern conjugate pair over the Mid Pacific and repeatedly in the South American longitude sector's wider region. We could correlate six antisunward (westward) SAID flows with their respective nearby outward SAID E fields observed by one of the Van Allen Probe (VAP) satellites in the inner magnetosphere. These provided two strong correlations depicting inner‐magnetosphere—topside‐ionosphere conjugate observations and four weak correlations. The VAP observations illustrate (a) the newly‐formed outward SAID E field and (b) its plasma environment still showing (c) the signatures of short‐circuiting across (d) the newly‐formed plasmapause appearing with (e) the hot zone on the earthward/tailward side and sometimes with (f) a localized heat source. Implying different underlying heating mechanisms, the hot zone and the heat source were associated with energetic plasma particles accelerated by plasma turbulence, low‐frequency waves including electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves, and/or auroral kilometric radiation bursts.
Nonlinear Effects of the Stratospheric Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation and ENSO on the North Atlantic Winter Atmospheric Circulation
Authors: Ma Tianjiao , Chen Wen , An Xiadong , Garfinkel Chaim I. , Cai Qingyu
Published: August 2023

Previous studies have shown that both the stratospheric Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation (QBO) and the El Niño‐South Oscillation (ENSO) can influence the North Atlantic winter circulation. Here we use reanalysis and model output data to show that the QBO and ENSO interact to produce a nonlinear effect on the North Atlantic winter circulation. Specifically, during El Niño winters, the QBO teleconnection mainly takes a subtropical pathway with changes in the North Pacific–Atlantic subtropical jet (STJ); during La Niña winters, the QBO connects with the troposphere predominantly through a polar pathway, that is, stratospheric polar vortex (SPV) changes. Further, the QBO‐induced STJ changes in El Niño lead to anomalous Rossby wave propagation toward the North Atlantic, and the QBO‐induced SPV during La Niña anomaly exerts a downward effect on the North Atlantic. Hence, the various interactions between ENSO and QBO teleconnections result in nonlinear, and even synergistic, impacts on the North Atlantic circulation.
Association between maternal hyperglycemia in pregnancy and offspring anthropometry in early childhood: the pandora wave 1 study
Authors: Titmuss Angela , Barzi Federica , Barr Elizabeth L. M. , Webster Vanya , Wood Anna , Kelaart Joanna , Kirkwood Marie , Connors Christine , Boyle Jacqueline A. , Moore Elizabeth , Oats Jeremy , McIntyre H. David , Zimmet Paul , Brown Alex D. H. , Shaw Jonathan E. , Craig Maria E. , Maple-Brown Louise J.
Published: August 2023

Background

In-utero hyperglycemia exposure influences later cardiometabolic risk, although few studies include women with pre-existing type 2 diabetes (T2D) or assess maternal body mass index (BMI) as a potential confounder.

Objective

To explore the association of maternal T2D and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with childhood anthropometry, and the influence of maternal BMI on these associations.

Methods

The PANDORA cohort comprises women (n = 1138) and children (n = 1163). Women with GDM and T2D were recruited from a hyperglycemia in pregnancy register, and women with normoglycemia from the community. Wave 1 follow-up included 423 children, aged 1.5–5 years (median follow-up age 2.5 years). Multivariable linear regression assessed associations between maternal antenatal variables, including BMI and glycemic status, with offspring anthropometry (weight, height, BMI, skinfold thicknesses, waist, arm and head circumferences).

Results

Greater maternal antenatal BMI was associated with increased anthropometric measures in offspring independent of maternal glycemic status. After adjustment, including for maternal BMI, children exposed to maternal GDM had lower mean weight (−0.54 kg, 95% CI: −0.99, −0.11), BMI (−0.55 kg/m2, 95% CI: −0.91, −0.20), head (−0.52 cm, 95% CI: −0.88, −0.16) and mid-upper arm (−0.32 cm, 95% CI: −0.63, −0.01) circumferences, and greater mean suprailiac skinfold (0.78 mm, 95% CI: 0.13, 1.43), compared to children exposed to normoglycemia. Adjustment for maternal BMI strengthened the negative association between GDM and child weight, BMI and circumferences. Children exposed to maternal T2D had smaller mean head circumference (−0.82 cm, 95% CI: −1.33, −0.31) than children exposed to normoglycemia. Maternal T2D was no longer associated with greater child mean skinfolds (p = 0.14) or waist circumference (p = 0.18) after adjustment for maternal BMI.

Conclusions

Children exposed to GDM had greater suprailiac skinfold thickness than unexposed children, despite having lower mean weight, BMI and mid-upper arm circumference, and both GDM and T2D were associated with smaller mean head circumference. Future research should assess whether childhood anthropometric differences influence lifetime cardiometabolic and neurodevelopmental risk.
Intense ultraviolet–visible–infrared full-spectrum laser
Authors: Hong Lihong , Liu Liqiang , Liu Yuanyuan , Qian Junyu , Feng Renyu , Li Wenkai , Li Yanyan , Peng Yujie , Leng Yuxin , Li Ruxin , Li Zhi-Yuan
Published: August 2023

A high-brightness ultrabroadband supercontinuum white laser is desirable for various fields of modern science. Here, we present an intense ultraviolet-visible-infrared full-spectrum femtosecond laser source (with 300–5000 nm 25 dB bandwidth) with 0.54 mJ per pulse. The laser is obtained by sending a 3.9 μm, 3.3 mJ mid-infrared pump pulse into a cascaded architecture of gas-filled hollow-core fiber, a bare lithium niobate crystal plate, and a specially designed chirped periodically poled lithium niobate crystal, under the synergic action of second and third order nonlinearities such as high harmonic generation and self-phase modulation. This full-spectrum femtosecond laser source can provide a revolutionary tool for optical spectroscopy and find potential applications in physics, chemistry, biology, material science, industrial processing, and environment monitoring.
Dissecting the pathogenic effects of smoking and its hallmarks in blood DNA methylation on colorectal cancer risk
Authors: Zhou Xuan , Xiao Qian , Jiang Fangyuan , Sun Jing , Wang Lijuan , Yu Lili , Zhou Yajing , Zhao Jianhui , Zhang Han , Yuan Shuai , Timofeeva Maria , Spiliopoulou Athina , Mesa-Eguiagaray Ines , Farrington Susan M. , Law Philip J. , Houlston Richard S. , Ding Kefeng , Dunlop Malcolm G. , Theodoratou Evropi , Li Xue
Published: August 2023

Background

Tobacco smoking is suggested as a risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC), but the complex relationship and the potential pathway are not fully understood.

Methods

We performed two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) analyses with genetic instruments for smoking behaviours and related DNA methylation in blood and summary-level GWAS data of colorectal cancer to disentangle the relationship. Colocalization analyses and prospective gene-environment interaction analyses were also conducted as replication.

Results

Convincing evidence was identified for the pathogenic effect of smoking initiation on CRC risk and suggestive evidence was observed for the protective effect of smoking cessation in the univariable MR analyses. Multivariable MR analysis revealed that these associations were independent of other smoking phenotypes and alcohol drinking. Genetically predicted methylation at CpG site cg17823346 [ZMIZ1] were identified to decrease CRC risk; while genetically predicted methylation at cg02149899 would increase CRC risk. Colocalization and gene-environment interaction analyses added further evidence to the relationship between epigenetic modification at cg17823346 [ZMIZ1] as well as cg02149899 and CRC risk.

Discussion

Our study confirms the significant association between tobacco smoking, DNA methylation and CRC risk and yields a novel insight into the pathogenic effect of tobacco smoking on CRC risk.
A cell cycle centric view of tumour dormancy
Authors: Weston William A. , Barr Alexis R.
Published: August 2023

Tumour dormancy and recurrent metastatic cancer remain the greatest clinical challenge for cancer patients. Dormant tumour cells can evade treatment and detection, while retaining proliferative potential, often for years, before relapsing to tumour outgrowth. Cellular quiescence is one mechanism that promotes and maintains tumour dormancy due to its central role in reducing proliferation, elevating cyto-protective mechanisms, and retaining proliferative potential. Quiescence/proliferation decisions are dictated by intrinsic and extrinsic signals, which regulate the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) to modulate cell cycle gene expression. By clarifying the pathways regulating CDK activity and the signals which activate them, we can better understand how cancer cells enter, maintain, and escape from quiescence throughout the progression of dormancy and metastatic disease. Here we review how CDK activity is regulated to modulate cellular quiescence in the context of tumour dormancy and highlight the therapeutic challenges and opportunities it presents.
Leigh-like syndrome with progressive cerebellar atrophy caused by novel HIBCH variants
Authors: Taura Yoshihiro , Tozawa Takenori , Isoda Kenichi , Hirai Satori , Chiyonobu Tomohiro , Yano Naoko , Hayashi Takahiro , Yoshida Takeshi , Iehara Tomoko
Published: August 2023

Pathogenic variants in theHIBCHgene cause HIBCH deficiency, leading to mitochondrial disorders associated with valine metabolism. Patients typically present with symptoms such as developmental regression/delay, encephalopathy, hypotonia and dystonia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows bilateral lesions in the basal ganglia with/without brainstem involvement. Here, we report a case of a Japanese patient with Leigh-like syndrome caused by novelHIBCHvariants. Long-term follow-up MRI revealed progressive cerebellar atrophy, which expands the phenotypic spectrum of HIBCH deficiency.
Dynamic light filtering over dermal opsin as a sensory feedback system in fish color change
Authors: Schweikert Lorian E. , Bagge Laura E. , Naughton Lydia F. , Bolin Jacob R. , Wheeler Benjamin R. , Grace Michael S. , Bracken-Grissom Heather D. , Johnsen Sönke
Published: August 2023

Dynamic color change has evolved multiple times, with a physiological basis that has been repeatedly linked to dermal photoreception via the study of excised skin preparations. Despite the widespread prevalence of dermal photoreception, both its physiology and its function in regulating color change remain poorly understood. By examining the morphology, physiology, and optics of dermal photoreception in hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus), we describe a cellular mechanism in which chromatophore pigment activity (i.e., dispersion and aggregation) alters the transmitted light striking SWS1 receptors in the skin. When dispersed, chromatophore pigment selectively absorbs the short-wavelength light required to activate the skin’s SWS1 opsin, which we localized to a morphologically specialized population of putative dermal photoreceptors. As SWS1 is nested beneath chromatophores and thus subject to light changes from pigment activity, one possible function of dermal photoreception in hogfish is to monitor chromatophores to detect information about color change performance. This framework of sensory feedback provides insight into the significance of dermal photoreception among color-changing animals.
Emergent increase in coral thermal tolerance reduces mass bleaching under climate change
Authors: Lachs Liam , Donner Simon D. , Mumby Peter J. , Bythell John C. , Humanes Adriana , East Holly K. , Guest James R.
Published: August 2023

Recurrent mass bleaching events threaten the future of coral reefs. To persist under climate change, corals will need to endure progressively more intense and frequent marine heatwaves, yet it remains unknown whether their thermal tolerance can keep pace with warming. Here, we reveal an emergent increase in the thermal tolerance of coral assemblages at a rate of 0.1 °C/decade for a remote Pacific coral reef system. This led to less severe bleaching impacts than would have been predicted otherwise, indicating adaptation, acclimatisation or shifts in community structure. Using future climate projections, we show that if thermal tolerance continues to rise over the coming century at the most-likely historic rate, substantial reductions in bleaching trajectories are possible. High-frequency bleaching can be fully mitigated at some reefs under low-to-middle emissions scenarios, yet can only be delayed under high emissions scenarios. Collectively, our results indicate a potential ecological resilience to climate change, but still highlight the need for reducing carbon emissions in line with Paris Agreement commitments to preserve coral reefs.
Efficient and selective capture of thorium ions by a covalent organic framework
Authors: Liu Xiaojuan , Gao Feng , Jin Tiantian , Ma Ke , Shi Haijiang , Wang Ming , Gao Yanan , Xue Wenjuan , Zhao Jing , Xiao Songtao , Ouyang Yinggen , Ye Guoan
Published: August 2023

The selective separation of thorium from rare earth elements and uranium is a critical part of the development and application of thorium nuclear energy in the future. To better understand the role of different N sites on the selective capture of Th(IV), we design an ionic COF named Py-TFImI-25 COF and its deionization analog named Py-TFIm-25 COF, both of which exhibit record-high separation factors ranging from 102to 105. Py-TFIm-25 COF exhibits a significantly higher Th(IV) uptake capacity and adsorption rate than Py-TFImI-25 COF, which also outperforms the majority of previously reported adsorbents. The selective capture of Py-TFImI-25 COF and Py-TFIm-25 COF on thorium is via Th-N coordination interaction. The prioritization of Th(IV) binding at different N sites and the mechanism of selective coordination are then investigated. This work provides an in-depth insight into the relationship between structure and performance, which can provide positive feedback on the design of novel adsorbents for this field.
Cholesterol removal improves performance of a model biomimetic system to co-deliver a photothermal agent and a STING agonist for cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Li Lin , Zhang Mengxing , Li Jing , Liu Tiantian , Bao Qixue , Li Xi , Long Jiaying , Fu Leyao , Zhang Zhirong , Huang Shiqi , Liu Zhenmi , Zhang Ling
Published: August 2023

Biological membranes often play important functional roles in biomimetic drug delivery systems. We discover that the circulation time and targeting capability of biological membrane coated nanovehicles can be significantly improved by reducing cholesterol level in the coating membrane. A proof-of-concept system using cholesterol-reduced and PD-1-overexpressed T cell membrane to deliver a photothermal agent and a STING agonist is thus fabricated. Comparing with normal membrane, this engineered membrane increases tumor accumulation by ~2-fold. In a melanoma model in male mice, tumors are eliminated with no recurrence in >80% mice after intravenous injection and laser irradiation; while in a colon cancer model in male mice, ~40% mice are cured without laser irradiation. Data suggest that the engineered membranes escape immune surveillance to avoid blood clearance while keeping functional surface molecules exposed. In summary, we develop a simple, effective, safe and widely-applicable biological membrane modification strategy. This “subtractive” strategy displays some advantages and is worth further development.
Histone H3 serine-57 is a CHK1 substrate whose phosphorylation affects DNA repair
Authors: Parisis Nikolaos , Dans Pablo D. , Jbara Muhammad , Singh Balveer , Schausi-Tiffoche Diane , Molina-Serrano Diego , Brun-Heath Isabelle , Hendrychová Denisa , Maity Suman Kumar , Buitrago Diana , Lema Rafael , Nait Achour Thiziri , Giunta Simona , Girardot Michael , Talarek Nicolas , Rofidal Valérie , Danezi Katerina , Coudreuse Damien , Prioleau Marie-Noëlle , Feil Robert , Orozco Modesto , Brik Ashraf , Wu Pei-Yun Jenny , Krasinska Liliana , Fisher Daniel
Published: August 2023

Histone post-translational modifications promote a chromatin environment that controls transcription, DNA replication and repair, but surprisingly few phosphorylations have been documented. We report the discovery of histone H3 serine-57 phosphorylation (H3S57ph) and show that it is implicated in different DNA repair pathways from fungi to vertebrates. We identified CHK1 as a major human H3S57 kinase, and disrupting or constitutively mimicking H3S57ph had opposing effects on rate of recovery from replication stress, 53BP1 chromatin binding, and dependency on RAD52. In fission yeast, mutation of all H3 alleles to S57A abrogated DNA repair by both non-homologous end-joining and homologous recombination, while cells with phospho-mimicking S57D alleles were partly compromised for both repair pathways, presented aberrant Rad52 foci and were strongly sensitised to replication stress. Mechanistically, H3S57ph loosens DNA-histone contacts, increasing nucleosome mobility, and interacts with H3K56. Our results suggest that dynamic phosphorylation of H3S57 is required for DNA repair and recovery from replication stress, opening avenues for investigating the role of this modification in other DNA-related processes.
Transparent dynamic infrared emissivity regulators
Authors: Jia Yan , Liu Dongqing , Chen Desui , Jin Yizheng , Chen Chen , Tao Jundong , Cheng Haifeng , Zhou Shen , Cheng Baizhang , Wang Xinfei , Meng Zhen , Liu Tianwen
Published: August 2023

Dynamic infrared emissivity regulators, which can efficiently modulate infrared radiation beyond vision, have emerged as an attractive technology in the energy and information fields. The realization of the independent modulation of visible and infrared spectra is a challenging and important task for the application of dynamic infrared emissivity regulators in the fields of smart thermal management and multispectral camouflage. Here, we demonstrate an electrically controlled infrared emissivity regulator that can achieve independent modulation of the infrared emissivity while maintaining a high visible transparency (84.7% at 400–760 nm). The regulators show high degree of emissivity regulation (0.51 at 3–5 μm, 0.41 at 7.5–13 μm), fast response ( < 600 ms), and long cycle life ( > 104 cycles). The infrared emissivity regulation is attributed to the modification of the carrier concentration in the surface depletion layer of aluminum-doped zinc oxide nanocrystals. This transparent infrared emissivity regulator provides opportunities for applications such as on-demand smart thermal management, multispectral displays, and adaptive camouflage.
Evaporation-induced hydrodynamics control plasmid transfer during surface-associated microbial growth
Authors: Ruan Chujin , Borer Benedict , Ramoneda Josep , Wang Gang , Johnson David R.
Published: August 2023

Droplet evaporation is a general process in unsaturated environments that results in micro-scale hydrodynamic flows which in turn determine the spatial distributions of microbial cells across surfaces. These spatial distributions can have significant effects on the development and functioning of surface-associated microbial communities, with consequences for important processes such as the spread of plasmids. Here, we experimentally quantified how evaporation-induced hydrodynamic processes modulate the initial deposition patterns of microbial cells (via the coffee ring effect and Marangoni convection) and how these patterns control the spread of an antibiotic resistance-encoding plasmid during surface-associated growth. We found that plasmid spread is a function of the initial density of cells deposited along the droplet periphery, which is a manifestation of the coffee ring effect. Using an individual-based model, we systematically linked how the different initial cell deposition patterns caused by the relative strengths of the coffee ring effect and Marangoni convection determine the extent of plasmid transfer during surface-associated growth. Our study demonstrates that evaporation-induced hydrodynamic processes that are common in nature can alter crucial ecological properties of surface-associated microbial communities and control the proliferation of plasmids, with consequences on the spread of antibiotic resistance and other plasmid-encoded traits.
Visualizing oxygen transport pathways during intergranular oxidation in Ni-Cr
Authors: Weiser Martin , Olszta Matthew J. , Engelhard Mark H. , Zhu Zihua , Schreiber Daniel K.
Published: August 2023

The transport paths of O during intergranular oxidation in binary Ni-Cr were investigated. To isolate the selective oxidation of Cr, oxidation was performed with a CO/CO2 gas mixture in which the oxygen partial pressure was kept under the NiO dissociation pressure. A combination of electron microscopy and atom probe tomography (APT) was used to study the nanometer-scale details of the passivation and penetrative intergranular oxidation processes at high-energy grain boundaries. Oxygen transport towards the terminating oxidation front is elucidated with dedicated usage of oxygen tracer exchange experiments. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy and APT support classical theories of internal oxidation, revealing preferred transport paths at the oxide/alloy interface with sub-nanometer resolution.
Standardizing practices and flux predictions in membrane science via simplified equations and membrane characterization
Authors: Tiraferri Alberto , Malaguti Marco , Mohamed Madina , Giagnorio Mattia , Aschmoneit Fynn Jerome
Published: August 2023

The development of membranes and membrane-based separation processes should be accompanied by a standardization of the protocols applied for membrane characterization and for data analysis. Here, streamlined equations for the estimation of the water flux and of the observed salt permeability coefficient in pressure-driven processes deploying dense membranes are presented. Also, a protocol for the experimental characterization of the transport properties of dense membranes is presented and the results are validated against the proposed equations. The proposed water flux equation is algebraic, whereas the ordinary equation needs to be solved iteratively. Moreover, in contrast to the traditional expression for the solute transport coefficient, which requires estimation of the concentration polarization, the respective equation proposed in this study only requires bulk parameters. Dimensionless variables for water flux, driving pressure, and mass transfer are introduced, and a filtration efficiency is defined, a useful parameter in terms of process design.
Spatial and Temporal Availability of Cloud-free Optical Observations in the Tropics to Monitor Deforestation
Authors: Flores-Anderson Africa I. , Cardille Jeffrey , Azad Khashayar , Cherrington Emil , Zhang Yingtong , Wilson Sylvia
Published: August 2023

State-of-the-art methodologies to monitor deforestation rely mostly on optical satellite observations. High-density optical time series can enable the detection of deforestation almost as soon as it occurs. However, deforestation monitoring in the tropics can be hindered by high cloud coverage, and thus the responsiveness of managers, enforcement agencies, and scientists. To understand the implications of cloud contamination in freely available optical data we analyzed combined time series from Landsat 7, 8, and Sentinel-2 over the tropics from 2017–2021. Datasets derived for each 30 m × 30 m of the 59.4 M km2 domain include a) number of cloud-free observations per year, b) maximum consecutive days without clear imagery within a year, and c) final date of the longest waiting period. The datasets reflect where and when data gaps in optical time series exist due to cloud contamination. Scripts to access and extend the datasets are shared and documented. The datasets can be used to prioritize areas where complementary observations, such as radar imagery, are needed for implementing effective deforestation alert systems.