bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evidence for Distinctive Mechanisms of
S
-Nitrosoglutathione Metabolism by AdhC in Two Closely Related Species,
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
and
Neisseria meningitidis
Authors: Potter Adam J. , Kidd Stephen P. , Jennings Michael P. , McEwan Alastair G.
Published: January 2007

The
adhC
gene from 11 strains of
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
was distinguished from its homologue in
Neisseria meningitidis
by the presence of a premature stop codon caused by a single base insertion. Mutational analysis showed that NADH
S
-nitrosoglutathione oxidoreductase activity was associated with
adhC
in
Neisseria meningitidis
but not in
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
.
Pneumolysin, PspA, and PspC Contribute to Pneumococcal Evasion of Early Innate Immune Responses during Bacteremia in Mice
Authors: Quin Lisa R. , Moore Quincy C. , McDaniel Larry S.
Published: January 2007

The pneumococcal virulence factors include capsule, PspA, PspC, and Ply. Cytometric analysis demonstrated that the greatest levels of C3 deposition were on a ΔplyPspA−PspC−mutant. Also, Ply, PspA, and PspC expression resulted in C3 degradation in vitro and in vivo. Finally, blood clearance assays demonstrated that there was enhanced clearance of ΔplyPspA−PspC−pneumococci compared to the clearance of nonencapsulated pneumococci.
The HP0165-HP0166 Two-Component System (ArsRS) Regulates Acid-Induced Expression of HP1186 α-Carbonic Anhydrase in
Helicobacter pylori
by Activating the pH-Dependent Promoter
Authors: Wen Yi , Feng Jing , Scott David R. , Marcus Elizabeth A. , Sachs George
Published: January 2007

The periplasmic α-carbonic anhydrase of
Helicobacter pylori
is essential for buffering the periplasm at acidic pH. This enzyme is an integral component of the acid acclimation response that allows this neutralophile to colonize the stomach. Transcription of the HP1186 α-carbonic anhydrase gene is upregulated in response to low environmental pH. A binding site for the HP0166 response regulator (ArsR) has been identified in the promoter region of the HP1186 gene. To investigate the mechanism that regulates the expression of HP1186 in response to low pH and the role of the HP0165-HP0166 two-component system (ArsRS) in this acid-inducible regulation, Northern blot analysis was performed with RNAs isolated from two different wild-type
H. pylori
strains (26695 and 43504) and mutants with HP0165 histidine kinase (
ArsS
) deletions, after exposure to either neutral pH or low pH (pH 4.5). ArsS-dependent upregulation of HP1186 α-carbonic anhydrase in response to low pH was found in both strains. Western blot analysis of
H. pylori
membrane proteins confirmed the regulatory role of ArsS in HP1186 expression in response to low pH. Analysis of the HP1186 promoter region revealed two possible transcription start points (TSP
1
and TSP
2
) located 43 and 11 bp 5′ of the ATG start codon, respectively, suggesting that there are two promoters transcribing the HP1186 gene. Quantitative primer extension analysis showed that the promoter from TSP
1
(43 bp 5′ of the ATG start codon) is a pH-dependent promoter and is regulated by ArsRS in combating environmental acidity, whereas the promoter from TSP
2
may be responsible for control of the basal transcription of HP1186 α-carbonic anhydrase.
Structural Biology of Shared Cytokine Receptors
Authors: Wang Xinquan , Lupardus Patrick , LaPorte Sherry L. , Garcia K. Christopher
Published: January 2007

Recent structural information for complexes of cytokine receptor ectodomains bound to their ligands has significantly expanded our understanding of the macromolecular topology and ligand recognition mechanisms used by our three principal shared cytokine signaling receptors—gp130, γc, and βc. The gp130 family receptors intricately coordinate three structurally unique cytokine-binding sites on their four-helix bundle cytokine ligands to assemble multimeric signaling complexes. These organizing principles serve as topological blueprints for the entire gp130 family of cytokines. Novel structures of γcand βccomplexes show us new twists, such as the use of a nonstandard sushi-type α receptors for IL-2 and IL-15 in assembling quaternary γcsignaling complexes and an antiparallel interlocked dimer in the GM-CSF signaling complex with βc. Unlike gp130, which appears to recognize vastly different cytokine surfaces in chemically unique fashions for each ligand, the γc-dependent cytokines appear to seek out some semblance of a knobs-in-holes shape recognition code in order to engage γcin related fashions. We discuss the structural similarities and differences between these three shared cytokine receptors, as well as the implications for transmembrane signaling.
Regulatory T Cells: Mechanisms of Differentiation and Function
Authors: Josefowicz Steven Z. , Lu Li-Fan , Rudensky Alexander Y.
Published: January 2007

The immune system has evolved to mount an effective defense against pathogens and to minimize deleterious immune-mediated inflammation caused by commensal microorganisms, immune responses against self and environmental antigens, and metabolic inflammatory disorders. Regulatory T (Treg) cell–mediated suppression serves as a vital mechanism of negative regulation of immune-mediated inflammation and features prominently in autoimmune and autoinflammatory disorders, allergy, acute and chronic infections, cancer, and metabolic inflammation. The discovery that Foxp3 is the transcription factor that specifies the Treg cell lineage facilitated recent progress in understanding the biology of regulatory T cells. In this review, we discuss cellular and molecular mechanisms in the differentiation and function of these cells.
Endogenous and exogenous NO attenuates conduction of vasoconstrictions along arterioles in the microcirculation
Authors: Rodenwaldt Barbara , Pohl Ulrich , de Wit Cor
Published: January 2007

Vascular coordination in the microcirculation depends on gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC), which is reflected by the conduction of locally initiated vasomotor responses. However, little is known about the regulation of GJIC in vivo. We hypothesized that endothelial NO regulates GJIC and therefore studied whether conduction of constrictions and dilations along the vessel wall is modulated by modifying the level of microcirculatory NO. Arterioles were focally stimulated using high K+ or acetylcholine in the cremaster muscle in situ, and diameter changes were assessed at the local and remote upstream sites by intravital microscopy. Local stimulation with K+ initiated a constriction that conducted along the arteriole with diminishing amplitude (length constant λ: 371 ± 42 μm). After Nω-nitro-l-arginine (l-NNA), λ increased to 507 ± 30 μm, indicating that GJIC is attenuated by endogenous NO. Exogenous NO, but not adenosine, reduced λ after l-NNA in a reversible, concentration-dependent, and mainly cGMP-dependent manner as assessed by inhibition of soluble guanylate cyclase. In endothelial NO synthase-deficient mice, λ was 530 ± 80 μm and thus similar to that in wild-type mice after l-NNA. Exogenous NO likewise reduced λ in these mice. The effects of NO were comparable to those of wild-type animals in Cx40-deficient mice, which excludes Cx40 as a specific target of NO. In contrast to constrictions, the amplitude of conducted dilations on acetylcholine did not diminish up to 1,300 μm and were not altered by l-NNA or exogenous NO. We conclude that endogenously released NO attenuates the conduction of vasoconstrictions most likely due to a modulation of gap junctional conductivity. We suggest that this effect is specific for smooth muscle cells, which probably transmit constricting signals, and involves connexins other than Cx40. This mechanism may support the dilatory potency of NO by preventing the conduction of remote vasoconstrictions into areas with basal or activated NO release.
Resveratrol increases vascular oxidative stress resistance
Authors: Ungvari Zoltan , Orosz Zsuzsanna , Rivera Aracelie , Labinskyy Nazar , Xiangmin Zhao , Olson Susan , Podlutsky Andrej , Csiszar Anna
Published: January 2007

Epidemiological studies suggest that Mediterranean diets rich in resveratrol are associated with reduced risk of coronary artery disease. However, the mechanisms by which resveratrol exerts its vasculoprotective effects are not completely understood. Because oxidative stress and endothelial cell injury play a critical role in vascular aging and atherogenesis, we evaluated whether resveratrol inhibits oxidative stress-induced endothelial apoptosis. We found that oxidized LDL and TNF-α elicited significant increases in caspase-3/7 activity in endothelial cells and cultured rat aortas, which were prevented by resveratrol pretreatment (10−6–10−4 mol/l). The protective effect of resveratrol was attenuated by inhibition of glutathione peroxidase and heme oxygenase-1, suggesting a role for antioxidant systems in the antiapoptotic action of resveratrol. Indeed, resveratrol treatment protected cultured aortic segments and/or endothelial cells against increases in intracellular H2O2 levels and H2O2-mediated apoptotic cell death induced by oxidative stressors (exogenous H2O2, paraquat, and UV light). Resveratrol treatment also attenuated UV-induced DNA damage (comet assay). Resveratrol treatment upregulated the expression of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and heme oxygenase-1 in cultured arteries, whereas it had no significant effect on the expression of SOD isoforms. Resveratrol also effectively scavenged H2O2 in vitro. Thus resveratrol seems to increase vascular oxidative stress resistance by scavenging H2O2 and preventing oxidative stress-induced endothelial cell death. We propose that the antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects of resveratrol, together with its previously described anti-inflammatory actions, are responsible, at least in part, for its cardioprotective effects.
Formulating Abstraction: Conceptual Art and the Architectural Object
Authors: Tierney Therese
Published: January 2007

Digital techniques, primarily software appropriated from the entertainment and industrial design sectors, have destabilized the essential status of the architectural image-object formulated in classical philosophical thought. Western European art experienced a similar crisis when conceptual art movements of the 1960s challenged Clement Greenberg's notion of medium specificity. The author examines work by conceptual artists whose theories posit alternative views of spatial and social relations based on open-ended systems and indeterminacy. An examination of the relationship between materiality and abstraction as exemplified in new media's reformulation of architectural design processes indicates how a more inclusive and mutable profession has been realized.
The Art and Science of Visualizing Simulated Blood-Flow Dynamics
Authors: Steinman Dolores A. Hangan , Steinman David A.
Published: January 2007

The increasing use of computer enhancement and simulation to reveal the unseen human body brings with it challenges, opportunities and responsibilities at the interface of art and science. Here they are presented and discussed in the context of efforts to understand the role of blood-flow dynamics in vascular disease.
MWL fraction with a high concentration of lignin-carbohydrate linkages: Isolation and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis
Authors: Balakshin Mikhail Yu. , Capanema Ewellyn A. , Chang Hou-min
Published: January 2007

A preparation enriched in lignin-carbohydrate fragments (LCC-AcOH) was isolated in the course of purification of loblolly pine crude milled wood lignin (MWL). The preparation contained approximately equal amounts of lignin and carbohydrates, with high amounts of arabinose and galactose compared to their levels in wood. LCC-AcOH was investigated by 2D 1H-13C (HMQC and HMBC) correlation NMR techniques and quantitative 13C NMR. The HMQC spectra allowed direct detection of phenyl glycoside, ester and benzyl ether lignin-carbohydrates linkages in high amounts. The assignment of these structures was supported by the HMBC technique. It is noteworthy that in the ester lignin-carbohydrate linkages, a uronic acid residue was attached not to the benzylic position of lignin, as commonly believed, but to the γ-position of the side chain.
Violet light causes photodegradation of wood beyond the zone affected by ultraviolet radiation
Authors: Kataoka Yutaka , Kiguchi Makoto , Williams R. Sam , Evans Philip D.
Published: January 2007

The limited penetration of wood by light explains why the weathering of wood exposed outdoors is a surface phenomenon. Wood is rapidly degraded by short-wavelength UV radiation, but the penetration of light into wood is positively correlated with its wavelength. Hence, sub-surface degradation is likely to be caused by longer-wavelength light that still has sufficient energy to degrade wood. In this paper we test this hypothesis and determine the wavelengths of visible light that extend photodegradation into wood beyond the zone affected by UV radiation. Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) earlywood was exposed to UV and visible light with narrow band gaps (20 nm) and the penetration of light into the wood was measured using a photodetector. Photodegradation was depth-profiled using FT-IR microscopy. There was a positive correlation between the penetration of light into sugi earlywood and the wavelength of the incident radiation within the range 246–496 nm. The depth of photodegradation also increased with wavelength up to and including the violet region (403 nm) of the visible spectrum. Blue light (434–496 nm) penetrated wood to a greater extent than violet light and was capable of bleaching the wood, but it did not significantly modify lignin, and hence it was not responsible for sub-surface photodegradation of wood. We conclude that violet light is the component of the visible spectrum that extends photodegradation into wood beyond the zone affected by UV radiation. Accordingly, surface treatments designed to protect wood used outdoors should shield wood from the effects of violet light.
Effect of treatments with 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxy-ethyleneurea (DMDHEU) on the tensile properties of wood
Authors: Xie Yanjun , Krause Andreas , Militz Holger , Turkulin Hrvoje , Richter Klaus , Mai Carsten
Published: January 2007

The thin-veneer strip technique was applied to investigate the modifying effects of 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) on the tensile strength of wood. Pinewood veneers treated with solutions of DMDHEU alone and in combination with magnesium chloride (MgCl2) as a catalyst showed considerable strength losses of up to 50% in zero-span and up to 70% in finite-span testing modes. The higher strength losses in the latter case are due to hemicellulose degradation, which cannot be assessed in zero-span testing. Strength loss observed after treatment with DMDHEU and MgCl2 was approximately as high as the sum of the strength losses determined after individual treatments with MgCl2 or DMDHEU. Micrographs of veneers after finite-span testing revealed that catalysed DMDHEU treatment changed the predominant failure mode from interfibre fracture (in controls) to intrafibre fracture. The mechanism of strength loss resulting from treatment with DMDHEU is discussed.
External and internal fungal flora of pine sapwood (Pinus sylvestris L.) specimens in above-ground field tests at six different sites in south-west Germany
Authors: Råberg Ulrika , Brischke Christian , Rapp Andreas O. , Högberg Nils O.S. , Land Carl Johan
Published: January 2007

The occurrence of fungal species on pine sapwood samples obtained from an above-ground field test study was analysed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP), cloning, and sequencing. Samples were taken from eight double-layer set-ups that were exposed to the environment at six different locations in south-west Germany. The occurrence of fungal species was correlated with decay intensity and rot types on one hand, and characteristics of the test sites, such as precipitation, average temperature and height above sea level on the other hand. In total, 62 different fungal species were found based on T-RFLP, cloning and sequencing. Of the 39 species that were found four or more times, 30 were ascomycetes, five were basidiomycetes, and four could not be classified. The most common fungus found in this study was Coniochaeta ligniaria ((Grev.) Cooke), a soft rot fungus that occurred in 87 of 152 samples (57%). No single factor at the test sites seemed to be decisive for the abundance of fungal species or decay intensity. Within the first years of this study, soft rot fungi was found more frequently in pine sapwood specimens than basidiomycetes.
Effects of Signal Probability on Individual Differences in Vigilance
Authors: Methot Laura L. , Huitema Bradley E.
Published: January 2007

Decrements in the proportion of signals detected over time on task and large individual differences in performance are typical findings in studies of vigilance. This study investigates the effects of signal probability on individual differences in vigilance performance. Participants monitored stimulus events on computer displays over 2-h periods at three signal probability levels (.01, .04, & .12). Results were analyzed between groups, within groups, and within subjects. Detection decrements were found to be inversely related to signal probability levels across groups. High signal probabilities generated consistent within-group and within-subject performance, whereas low probabilities generated both lower performance and larger within-subject variance. This relationship between signal probability and within-group and within-subject variance has not been previously demonstrated. Future investigations should focus on the sources of both between-subjects and within-subject variation in vigilance performance in order to identify optimal interventions. Actual or potential applications include designing work to minimize vigilance decrement and maximize human performance under conditions that require sustained attention.
Monitoring Working Memory Load during Computer-Based Tasks with EEG Pattern Recognition Methods
Authors: Gevins Alan , Smith Michael E. , Leong Harrison , McEvoy Linda , Whitfield Susan , Du Robert , Rush Georgia
Published: January 2007

We assessed working memory load during computer use with neural network pattern recognition applied to EEG spectral features. Eight participants performed high-, moderate-, and low-load working memory tasks. Frontal theta EEG activity increased and alpha activity decreased with increasing load. These changes probably reflect task difficulty-related increases in mental effort and the proportion of cortical resources allocated to task performance. In network analyses, test data segments from high and low load levels were discriminated with better than 95% accuracy. More than 80% of test data segments associated with a moderate load could be discriminated from high- or low-load data segments. Statistically significant classification was also achieved when applying networks trained with data from one day to data from another day, when applying networks trained with data from one task to data from another task, and when applying networks trained with data from a group of participants to data from new participants. These results support the feasibility of using EEG-based methods for monitoring cognitive load during human-computer interaction.
Trunk Muscle Use during Pulling Tasks: Effects of a Lifting Belt and Footing Conditions
Authors: Lavender Steven A. , Chen Sung-Hsiung , Li Yi-Chun , Andersson Gunnar B. J.
Published: January 2007

Pulling tasks require the torso to act as a rigid link in order to facilitate the force transmission between the ground and the hands. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that a lifting belt increases the rigidity of the torso, thereby increasing pulling strength or reducing trunk muscle forces, or both, as pulling tasks are performed. Twelve volunteers performed maximal and submaximal isometric pulling exertions; the latter were performed on nonslippery and slippery surfaces. Electromyographic data from 8 trunk muscles, trunk kinematic data, and ground reaction forces were sampled during each exertion. Results indicated that the lifting belt had no effect during maximal exertions on the maximal pull forces generated or the muscle recruitment levels, irrespective of the pulling posture. The lifting belt did not affect the EMG data obtained during the submaximal (40% of maximum) exertions, even when participants pulled on a slippery surface. However, the slippery surface increased the coactivation within the trunk musculature, perhaps stiffening the torso in the event of a slip. The absence of a statistical interaction effect between the lifting belt and the footing condition (slipperiness) indicates that the belt did not alter the coactivation pattern and hence was not relied upon by the participants as a protective mechanism. The data presented here will assist those who must make decisions regarding lifting-belt use and those who train individuals in manual materials handling techniques.
Principles for Stakeholder Engagement in Observational Health Research
Authors: Thomas Tainayah W. , Hooker Stephanie A. , Schmittdiel Julie A.
Published: March 2024

This Viewpoint advocates for the inclusion of patients and other stakeholders in interpreting data for observational research studies.
Pain Exposure and Brain Connectivity in Preterm Infants
Authors: Selvanathan Thiviya , Ufkes Steven , Guo Ting , Chau Vann , Branson Helen M. , Ibrahim George M. , Ly Linh G. , Kelly Edmond N. , Grunau Ruth E. , Miller Steven P.
Published: March 2024

Importance

Early-life exposure to painful procedures has been associated with altered brain maturation and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants, although sex-specific differences are largely unknown.

Objective

To examine sex-specific associations among early-life pain exposure, alterations in neonatal structural connectivity, and 18-month neurodevelopment in preterm infants.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This prospective cohort study recruited 193 very preterm infants from April 1, 2015, to April 1, 2019, across 2 tertiary neonatal intensive care units in Toronto, Canada. Structural connectivity data were available for 150 infants; neurodevelopmental outcomes were available for 123 infants. Data were analyzed from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023.

Exposure

Pain was quantified in the initial weeks after birth as the total number of invasive procedures.

Main Outcome and Measure

Infants underwent early-life and/or term-equivalent-age magnetic resonance imaging with diffusion tensor imaging to quantify structural connectivity using graph theory measures and regional connection strength. Eighteen-month neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition. Stratifying by sex, generalized estimating equations were used to assess whether pain exposure modified the maturation of structural connectivity using an interaction term (early-life pain exposure × postmenstrual age [PMA] at scan). Generalized estimating equations were used to assess associations between structural connectivity and neurodevelopmental outcomes, adjusting for extreme prematurity and maternal education.

Results

A total of 150 infants (80 [53%] male; median [IQR] gestational age at birth, 27.1 [25.4-29.0] weeks) with structural connectivity data were analyzed. Sex-specific associations were found between early-life pain and neonatal brain connectivity in female infants only, with greater early-life pain exposure associated with slower maturation in global efficiency (pain × PMA at scan interaction P = .002) and local efficiency (pain × PMA at scan interaction P = .005). In the full cohort, greater pain exposure was associated with lower global efficiency (coefficient, −0.46; 95% CI, −0.78, to −0.15; P = .004) and local efficiency (coefficient, −0.57; 95% CI, −1.04 to −0.10; P = .02) and regional connection strength. Local efficiency (coefficient, 0.003; 95% CI, 0.001-0.004; P = .005) and regional connection strength in the striatum were associated with cognitive outcomes.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of very preterm infants, greater exposure to early-life pain was associated with altered maturation of neonatal structural connectivity, particularly in female infants. Alterations in structural connectivity were associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes, with potential regional specificities.
Miniaturized Optical Glucose Sensor Using 1600–1700 nm Near‐Infrared Light
Authors: Yang Mingjie , Dhanabalan Shanmuga Sundar , Robel Md Rokunuzzaman , Thekkekara Litty Varghese , Mahasivam Sanje , Rahman Md Ataur , Borkhatariya Sagar , Sen Suvankar , Walia Sumeet , Sriram Sharath , Bhaskaran Madhu
Published: March 2024

Blood glucose measurement is crucial for diabetes diagnosis and treatment, but invasive sampling methods have drawbacks. Non‐invasive near‐infrared (NIR) spectroscopy‐based optical glucose sensing has gained attention but faces challenges due to the strong absorbance of NIR light by water and the need for complex equipment. Here, four distinct glucose fingerprints at specific NIR wavelengths: 1605, 1706, 2145, and 2275 nm are identified. Utilizing a surface‐mounted LED with a spectral range of 1600–1700 nm and focusing on the most prominent peaks at 1605 and 1706 nm, a miniaturized and non‐invasive glucose sensor is developed. The device successfully detects in vitro assays of glucose solutions within the physiological range of 50–400 mg dL−1, attaining a limit of detection as low as 10 mg dL−1. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of NIR spectroscopy‐based glucose sensing and its potential applications in non‐invasive point‐of‐care diagnostics, with the potential for extension to other biomarkers in future.
Data‐Driven Detection of Integrated Energy Theft Based on VMD‐MIC and Informer
Authors: Liu Yang , Wang Lei , Liu Hongwei , Zhang Pengchao , Jiang Qiaoyong
Published: March 2024

Integrated energy systems (IES) may experience energy theft through disinformation injection attacks. With electricity as the primary target, the attacks are essentially two way. They gain additional benefits by manipulating meter readings on both the consumer and supply side. Regression based deep learning models with feature engineering can be used to detect these attacks. To detect energy theft more efficiently, this paper proposes an integrated energy systems theft detection (IESTD) based on variational modal decomposition‐maximal information coefficient (VMD‐MIC) and Informer. And using kernel density estimation (KDE), the error between the predicted and true values is fitted as a probability density function (PDF).The thresholds for the confidence intervals of the PDF and the thresholds for the number of outliers are set as the detection metrics. Simulations are performed on the three generated datasets. The results show that the model has good detection accuracy and strong robustness.
Area and Device Count Efficient Binary Logic Circuits using Anti‐Ambipolar Switch Devices
Authors: Jun Jae Hyeon , Lee Yongsu , Lee Hae‐Won , Kim Minjae , Hwang Hyeon Jun , Lee Byoung Hun
Published: March 2024

The unique characteristics of an anti‐ambipolar switch (AAS) device exhibit Λ‐shaped transfer responses (namely delta conductance) and present unique opportunities to overcome the limit of silicon‐based, complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor (CMOS) logic circuits. It is crucial because a device that only turns on under a certain bias range can be utilized to simplify the logic circuit and reduce the device count and circuit area required to perform logic functions. In this study, a physically scalable AAS device is investigated using ZnO and dinaphtho[2,3‐b:2′,3′‐f]thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene as heterojunction structures to reduce the operating voltage and enhance the peak current and peak‐to‐valley ratio of the AAS device. Moreover, novel logic circuits for AND, OR, XOR, DEMUX, and half‐adder functions are demonstrated using AAS devices. AAS device‐based logic circuits exhibit power‐efficiency characteristics (≈49 times lower than that of the 90‐nm silicon‐based CMOS inverter) and reduce the transistor count and the circuit area by ≈67% and ≈70%, respectively. These results indicate that the use of AAS device‐based logic circuits can be a promising approach to overcome the physical scaling limit of current CMOS technology.
Compromised health: Examining growth and health in a late antique Roman infant and child cemetery
Authors: Malis Sierra W. , Wilson Jordan A. , Zuckerman Molly Kathleen , Osterholtz Anna J. , Paige Julianne , Miller Shane , Paraman Lujana , Soren David
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Combining research from infant and child development, public health, anthropology, and history, this research examines the relationship between growth, growth disruption, and skeletal indicators of chronic and/or episodic physiological stress (stress) among juvenile individuals (n = 60) interred at the late antique infant and child cemetery at Poggio Gramignano (PG) (ca. 5th century CE), associated with a rural agricultural community.

Materials and methods

Growth disruption—evidenced by decreased long bone length compared to dental age—and stress experience—evidenced by skeletal stress indicators—within these individuals are compared to those within juveniles from a comparative sample (n = 66) from two urban Roman‐era cemeteries, Villa Rustica (VR) (0–250 CE) and Tragurium City Necropolis (TCN) (0–700 CE).

Results

Results indicate that individuals from PG had significantly smaller femoral lengths‐for‐age than those from VR and TCN; however, the frequency of skeletal stress indicators was higher among juveniles from VR and TCN.

Discussion

These differences in growth and stress experience are likely related to the different biosocial and ecological environments present in these two regions. For the community at PG, internal and external violent conflicts, as well as social, political, and economic turmoil, and subsistence shortages, endemic and epidemic infectious disease, nutritional deficiencies, and inherited or acquired anemia may have synergized to create chronically and/or episodically deleterious conditions for its juveniles.
High‐performance ZSR/P(MMA/BA) composites with enhanced thermal and excellent water resistance properties
Authors: Chen Lijing , Wu Jianxin , Gu Yuxin , Liu Liang , Li Yong , Lin Xiaofeng , Lin Wenjing , Ji Lei , Peng Yanhong , Yi Guobin
Published: March 2024

Acrylate had developed rapidly because of its excellent chemical resistance, high‐gloss surface, and weather resistance. However, the poor heat resistance of acrylate limited its application in coatings. To overcome this problem, an organic–inorganic hybrid polymer of zirconium silicone resin (ZSR)‐modified acrylate has been successfully synthesized by solution polymerization. The results indicated that the heat resistance of acrylate was significantly improved due to the SiOSi and SiOZr structures of ZSR and the increased cross‐linking density induced by ZSR. After the incorporation of ZSR, the decomposition temperatures of 5% of acrylate increased from 300.4 and 349.2°C. The performance of the ZSR/(P(MMA/BA)) showed no significant change in uniformly heating at 200°C for 24 h. The composite films showed hydrophobicity, with the contact angles increasing to more than 90°. The S4 sample displayed the outstanding comprehensive performance, that is, 5% weight loss at 341.3°C, water contact angle of 97.9°, elongation at break of 852%, and tensile strength of 9.9 MPa. The high‐performance heat resistant coating is a promising material for application in architecture, decoration, and mechanical equipment.
The nasal spine suture: A novel approach for membrane stabilization
Authors: Bane William E. , Blyleven Gary M. , Lincicum Adam R. , Stancoven Brian W. , Inouye Kimberly A. , Johnson Thomas M.
Published: March 2024

Background

Current evidence acknowledges guided bone regeneration (GBR) as a predictable therapeutic modality in the augmentation of a deficient alveolar ridge. Such deficiencies often reveal inadequate bone volume to support implant placement in a position amenable to prosthetic reconstruction. Additionally, an evolving body of literature demonstrates that membrane fixation may lead to improved clinical bone gain through positively influencing blood clot formation, stability, and the eventual osteogenic potential of the defect. Alternative benefits to membrane fixation, such as reduced graft displacement and reduction in wound micromotion, have also been cited as mechanisms for an increased regenerative response.

Methods and Results

The aim of this report was to present a case, including diagnosis, treatment, and follow‐up for the reconstruction of a horizontal ridge deficiency. The patient's deficiency in ridge volume was found to be a developmental sequelae of lateral incisor agenesis, resulting in an underdeveloped midfacial region of the alveolar process subjacent to sites #7 and #10. The fixation protocol outlined in this report demonstrated adequate horizontal ridge augmentation to facilitate future prosthetic reconstruction with the use of implants.

Conclusions

Numerous protocols have been established in an attempt to achieve effective barrier membrane stabilization for bone augmentation procedures. However, some techniques are poorly suited for the anatomically challenging region of the anterior maxilla. A case report describing the utilization of the anterior nasal spine for anchorage of a membrane‐stabilizing suture may present a novel, safe, and effective technique for stabilizing the intended region of augmentation, as well as preventing graft migration beyond the membrane–maxilla interface.

Key points

Regarding guided bone regeneration (GBR) procedures, micromotion of the membrane or of the underlying particulate graft may negatively influence the volume of the augmented site.

The ability to adequately stabilize the graft–membrane interface is recognized as a necessary prerequisite to predictably achieve optimal surgical outcomes.

To the authors’ knowledge, there is no clinical or scientific evidence regarding the use of the anterior nasal spine for membrane anchorage in maxillary GBR procedures, and thus a novel approach to membrane stabilization is introduced.
Bibenzyl–Phenylpropane Hybrids with Immunosuppressive Activities from Dendrobium Nobile Lindl
Authors: Wang Qing‐Tao , Wang Chao‐Fan , Liu Ying , Zhan Rui
Published: March 2024

Fifteen bibenyls and four fluorenones, including five new bibenzyl–phenylpropane hybrids, were isolated from the aerial part of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods. Bioassay on the LPS–induced proliferations of mouse splenic B lymphocytes, and Con A‐induced T lymphocytes showed that compounds 1, 2, and 14 showed excellent immunosuppressive activities with IC50 values of 1.23, 1.01, and 3.87 μM, respectively, while compounds 3–4, 7, 10, 13, and 15 exhibited moderate immunosuppressive activities with IC50 values ranging from 6.89 to 14.2 μM.
Police shootings, violent crime, race and socio‐economic factors in municipalities in the United States of America
Authors: Henderson Howard , Bourgeois Jennifer Wyatt , Smith Sven , Ferguson Christopher J. , Barthelemy Juan
Published: March 2024

Background

Both police shootings and violent crime remain high in the United States of America compared to other developed nations but debates continue about whether race, mental health or other social factors are related to them.

Aims

Our aim was to test relationships between community factors indicative of socio‐economic status, racial demographics, police shootings, and violent crime.

Methods

Data on police shootings, violent crime and community sociodemographic factors were drawn from two publicly accessible datasets: health and police records of 100 US municipalities and relationships between them explored using regression analyses.

Results

Data were from the 100 largest US municipalities as designated by the mapping police violence database. The median per capital violent crime rate was 5.94 and median killings by police per 10 thousand arrests was 13.7. Violent crime was found to be related mainly to income inequality and lower academic achievement in the community. Race was unrelated to violent crime after controlling for other factors. Police shootings were found to be related to community level mental health concerns, food insecurity and the municipality's violent crime rate.

Conclusion

The evidence suggests that socio‐economic factors are the primary drivers of both violent crime perpetration and police shootings. Policy approaches aimed at improving education and reducing poverty are likely to mitigate both violent crime and police shootings. However, it is important to recognise that being Black is an indicator of particular disadvantage within this context. This underscores the need for comprehensive strategies that address the systemic issues of racial disparities and socio‐economic inequality, while also acknowledging the complex interplay of race, poverty and policing in the context of violent crime and police shootings.
Roles of Oxygen‐Containing Functional Groups in Carbon for Electrocatalytic Two‐Electron Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Zhao Guoqiang , Chen Tianci , Tang Aidong , Yang Huaming
Published: March 2024

Recent years have witnessed great research interests in developing high‐performance electrocatalysts for the two‐electron (2e−) oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) that enables the sustainable and flexible synthesis of H2O2. Carbon‐based electrocatalysts exhibit attractive catalytic performance for the 2e− ORR, where oxygen‐containing functional groups (OFGs) play a decisive role. However, current understanding is far from adequate, and the contribution of OFGs to the catalytic performance remains controversial. Therefore, a critical overview on OFGs in carbon‐based electrocatalysts toward the 2e− ORR is highly desirable. Herein, we go over the methods for constructing OFGs in carbon including chemical oxidation, electrochemical oxidation, and precursor inheritance. Then we review the roles of OFGs in activating carbon toward the 2e− ORR, focusing on the intrinsic activity of different OFGs and the interplay between OFGs and metal species or defects. At last, we discuss the reasons for inconsistencies among different studies, and personal perspectives on the future development in this field are provided. The results provide insights into the origin of high catalytic activity and selectivity of carbon‐based electrocatalysts toward the 2e− ORR and would provide theoretical foundations for the future development in this field.
Logging response alters trajectories of reorganization after loss of a foundation tree species
Authors: Barker Plotkin Audrey , Orwig David A. , MacLean Meghan Graham , Ellison Aaron M.
Published: March 2024

Forest insect outbreaks cause large changes in ecosystem structure, composition, and function. Humans often respond to insect outbreaks by conducting salvage logging, which can amplify the immediate effects, but it is unclear whether logging will result in lasting differences in forest structure and dynamics when compared with forests affected only by insect outbreaks. We used 15 years of data from an experimental removal of Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr. (Eastern hemlock), a foundation tree species within eastern North American forests, and contrasted the rate, magnitude, and persistence of response trajectories between girdling (emulating mortality from insect outbreak) and timber harvest treatments. Girdling and logging were equally likely to lead to large changes in forest structure and dynamics, but logging resulted in faster rates of change. Understory light increases and community composition changes were larger and more rapid in the logged plots. Tree seedling and understory vegetation abundance increased more in the girdled plots; this likely occurred because seedlings grew rapidly into the sapling‐ and tree‐size classes after logging and quickly shaded out plants on the forest floor. Downed deadwood pools increased more after logging but standing deadwood pools increased dramatically after girdling. Understory light levels remained elevated for a longer time after girdling. Perhaps because the window of opportunity for understory species to establish was longer in the girdled plots, total species richness increased more in the girdled than logged plots. Despite the potential for greater diversity in the girdled plots, Betula lenta L. (black birch) was the most abundant tree species recruited into the sapling‐ and tree‐size classes in both the girdled and logged plots and is poised to dominate the new forest canopy. The largest difference between the girdling and logging treatments—deadwood structure and quantity—will persist and continue to bolster aboveground carbon storage and structural and habitat diversity in the girdled plots. Human responses to insect outbreaks hasten forest reorganization and remove structural resources that may further alter forest response to ongoing climate stress and future disturbances.
Can ecological niche models be used to accurately predict the distribution of invasive insects? A case study of Hyphantria cunea in China
Authors: Wen Xuanye , Fang Guofei , Chai Shouquan , He Chuanjie , Sun Shouhui , Zhao Guanghua , Lin Xiao
Published: March 2024

In recent decades, ecological niche models (ENMs) have been widely used to predict suitable habitats for species. However, for invasive organisms, the prediction accuracy is unclear. In this study, we employed the most widely used maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model and ensemble model (EM) Biomod2 and verified the practical effectiveness of the ENM in predicting the distribution areas of invasive insects based on the true occurrence of Hyphantria cunea in China. The results showed that when only limited data of invasive areas were used, the two ENMs could not effectively predict the distribution of suitable habitats of H. cunea, although the use of global data can greatly improve the prediction accuracy of ENMs. When analyzing the same data, Biomod2's prediction accuracy was significantly better than that of MaxEnt. For long‐term predictions, the area of suitable habitat predicted by the ENMs was much greater than the occurrence area; for short‐term predictions, the accuracy of the predicted area was significantly improved. Under the current conditions, the area of suitable habitat for H. cunea in China is 118 × 104 km2, of which 59.32% is moderately or highly suitable habitat. Future climate change could significantly increase the suitable habitat area of H. cunea in China, and the predicted area of suitable habitats in all climate scenarios exceeded 355 × 104 km2, accounting for 36.98% of the total land area in China. This study demonstrates the use of ENMs to study invasive insects and provides a reference for the management of H. cunea in China.
Residency Requirements for Medical Aid in Dying
Authors: Dresser Rebecca
Published: March 2024

In 1997, when Oregon became the first U.S. jurisdiction authorizing medical aid in dying (MAID), its law included a requirement that patients be legal residents of the state. Other U.S. jurisdictions legalizing MAID followed Oregon in adopting residency requirements. Recent litigation challenges the legality, as well as the justification, for such requirements. Facing such challenges, Oregon and Vermont eliminated their MAID residency requirements. More states could follow this move, for, in certain circumstances, the U.S. Constitution's privileges and immunities clause protects citizens’ right to travel to secure medical care. Policy considerations could also motivate states to reexamine whether such requirements are justified in light of existing evidence of how MAID laws have been applied.
The lasting impact of the Go for 2&5 campaign
Authors: Pettigrew Simone , Myers Gael , Jongenelis Michelle
Published: March 2024

Issue Addressed

Little is known about the executional techniques that are most likely to make healthy eating messages memorable over the longer term. The aim of this exploratory study was to identify factors contributing to the ongoing salience of the Go for 2&5 social marketing campaign among older audience members.

Methods

Interviews were conducted with 75 Western Australians aged 60+ years. A peer‐interviewing method was used whereby eight older people recruited and interviewed members of their extended peer groups. The interview guide included questions about interviewees' recollections of healthy eating messages across their lifespans.

Results

Around one in five interviewees discussed the Go for 2&5 campaign that was on air in Western Australia between 2002 and 2011. These discussions focused on either specific advertisement features that were considered to be especially memorable (in particular, humour and the use of anthropomorphised depictions of produce) and/or their recollection of the number of daily servings of fruits and vegetables recommended in the campaign. Few were able to recall other healthy eating campaigns, and in some cases it was assumed that advertisements for specific food stores or products constituted health advice.

Conclusions

Different campaign attributes may influence shorter‐term attitudinal and behavioural responses versus longer‐term recall. The characteristics of the Go for 2&5 campaign appear to have enabled it to achieve relatively high levels of recall among older people.

So What?

The study results suggest that some advertising approaches that activate the peripheral route to persuasion may achieve recall over a longer period of time.
Private health insurance in the United States and Sweden: A comparative review
Authors: Dave Udit , Lewis Emma G. , Patel Jenilkumar H. , Godbole Nikhil
Published: March 2024

Background and Aims

The United States of America and Sweden both contain a public and private component to their healthcare systems. While both countries spend a similar amount per capita on public healthcare expenditures, the United States spends significantly more in the private healthcare sector. Sweden has a social democratic model of health care, and given its identity as a welfare state, private health insurance providers have a small and nuanced role.

Methods

This paper was completed after searches were queried for “Sweden,” “United States,” and variants of the words “insurance,” “public,” “private,” “Medicare,” “Medicaid,” “public,” and “costs.” A preliminary search in May 2022, yielded 78 articles, of which 45 were ultimately considered relevant for this review. Inclusion criteria consisted of English language articles, topic relevance, and verification of MEDLINE‐indexed journals. These searches were performed in PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, and Cochrane. Summary findings of these searches are compiled in this review.

Results

Sweden guarantees low‐cost appropriate care to all citizens with equitable access; however, drawbacks of its system include high financial burden, lack of primary care infrastructure, as well as geographical and socioeconomic inequities. On the other hand, the United States' healthcare system is built around the private sector with public health insurance reserved only for the most vulnerable patient populations.

Conclusion

Our goal is to provide an overview, compare the role of private health insurance in both countries, and highlight policies that have had beneficial effects in each nation. Possible solutions to the drawbacks of each nation's health insurance policies could be addressed by additional support to Sweden's vulnerable population by developing a program similar to the US' Medicare Advantage program. Conversely, the United States may benefit from increasing access to public health insurance, especially in instances where families face unemployment.