bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Informing future directions for climate anxiety interventions: a mixed-method study of professional perspectives
Authors: Pitt Clare , Norris Kimberley , Pecl Gretta
Published: January 2024

Despite reports of increasing levels of climate change related distress, there remains limited evidence regarding effective interventions for individuals and communities. The current study aims to contribute to this discussion by presenting opinions from study participants who self-identified as having a professional interest in climate anxiety. An international interdisciplinary survey was conducted, with qualitative and quantitative responses from 230 participants, from a range of professional backgrounds, including a range of mental health practitioners, along with climate activists, artists, educators, academics and scientists and others interested in the climate anxiety space. A wide range of potential components of climate anxiety interventions were suggested by participants, including supporting people to connect with others and nature, emotional validation in a group setting, and moving toward climate action. Reflexive thematic analysis of qualitative data resulted in five themes: ‘Climate anxiety is a healthy response to the current situation’, ‘Climate anxiety will continue to increase until there is climate action’, ‘Climate anxiety interventions should be individualised’, ‘Climate anxiety interventions need to include the community and societal level’ and ‘Climate-aware practitioners are required’. These themes provide a significant contribution to the discourse on climate anxiety interventions. They emphasize the need for an understanding of climate anxiety as a legitimate response to the current situation and the imperative of community and society levels being included in intervention strategies. Results from this study provide insights from diverse perspectives to provide valuable guidance for future research and practice in the development of effective interventions for climate anxiety.
Improved Soft-Skill Competencies of ABA Professionals Following Training and Coaching: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Friedman Zahava L. , El Roy Daphna , Kerwin Emily , Tirri Gina , Broff Angela
Published: January 2024

The field of applied behavior analysis currently faces critique regarding the need for increased compassion and interprofessional collaboration training toward culturally and emotionally responsive practice. Mindful self-compassion is evidenced to improve self-compassion and compassion. The purpose of the current study was to improve soft-skill competencies in collaboration and compassion of behavior analytic professionals. In this feasibility study, two cohorts of American behavior analytic professionals (N = 24) received a 4-month training-and-coaching sequence, with a pre-program focus group serving as the program’s needs assessment. The Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey and Self-Compassion Scale, Short Form were administered pre- and post-intervention to ascertain program effectiveness, alongside open-ended survey questions. Training included experiential learning opportunities in small groups, with participants practicing self-compassion and collaboration skills. Coaching included additional individual practice opportunities. Pre- and post-whole test scores were significantly different on both instruments, with p set at .05, demonstrating preliminary effectiveness. Significance on paired-sample t-test for the Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey whole score fell at <.001, while for the Self-Compassion Scale, Short Form, it fell at .004. While prior studies have demonstrated the need for collaboration and compassion training within the ABA workforce, the current study reports on an implementation procedure to improve upon these skill sets, addressing a noted gap. Furthermore, the current study operationalizes collaboration alongside self-compassion, demonstrating the importance of centering collaborative practice within soft-skill awareness and competency. Future research can incorporate direct measures of these skill sets.
Whole-genome sequencing of Fusarium spp. causing sugarcane root rot on both chewing cane and sugar-making cane
Authors: Li Xinyang , Ma Yuming , Zhang Na , Li Yiming , Liang Zhibin , Luo Yibao , Lin Longxin , Zhang Dongliang , He Yongqiang , Wang Ziting , Zhang Zhiquan , Deng Yizhen
Published: January 2024

Previously we isolated three Fusarium strains (a F. sacchari strain namely GXUF-1, and another two F. commune strains namely GXUF-2 and GXUF-3), and we verified that GXUF-3 was able to cause sugarcane root rot to the chewing cane cultivar Badila. Considering that Fusarium spp. are a group of widely distributed fungal pathogens, we tested whether these three Fusarium isolates were able to cause root rot to Badila as well as sugar-making cane cultivar (Guitang42), using a suitable inoculation method established based on infection assays using Badila. We found that the three Fusarium strains were able to cause root rot symptoms to both Badila and Guitang42, to different extents. To better investigate the potential pathogenicity mechanisms, we performed Illumina high-throughput sequencing and analyzed the whole genomic sequence data of these three Fusarium strains. The results reveal that the assembly sizes of the three Fusarium strains were in a range of 44.7–48.2 Mb, with G + C contents of 48.0–48.5%, and 14,154–15,175 coding genes. The coding genes were annotated by multiple public databases, and potential pathogenic genes were predicted using proprietary databases (such as PHI, DFVF, CAZy, etc.). Furthermore, based on evolutionary analysis of the coding sequence, we found that contraction and expansion of gene families occurred in the three Fusarium strains. Overall, our results suggest a potential risk that the root rot disease may occur to the sugar-making canes although it was initially spotted from fruit cane, and provide clues to understand the pathogenic mechanisms of Fusarium spp. causing sugarcane root rot.
Rational belief, epistemic possibility, and the a priori
Authors: Field Claire
Published: January 2024

In this paper, I discuss Whiting’s (2021) account of rational belief and discuss some unresolved issues arising from its reliance on epistemic possibility and, by extension, perspective-relative aprioricity.
Development of a novel primate welfare assessment tool for research macaques
Authors: Paterson Emilie A , O’Malley Carly I , Abney Dawn M , Archibald William J , Turner Patricia V
Published: January 2024

Primates are important species for biomedical research and ensuring their good welfare is critical for research translatability and ethical responsibility. Systematic animal welfare assessments can support continuous programme improvements and build institutional awareness of areas requiring more attention. A multi-facility, collaborative project aimed to develop and implement a novel primate welfare assessment tool (PWAT) for use with research macaques. PWAT development involved: establishing an internal focus group of primate subject matter experts, identifying animal welfare categories and descriptors based on literature review, developing a preliminary tool, beta-testing the tool to ensure practicality and final consensus on descriptors, finalising the tool in a database with semi-automated data analysis, and delivering the tool to 13 sites across four countries. The tool uses input- and outcome-based measures from six categories: physical, behavioural, training, environmental, procedural, and culture of care. The final tool has 133 descriptors weighted based upon welfare impact, and is split into three forms for ease of use (room level, site level, and personnel interviews). The PWAT was trialled across facilities in March and September 2022 for benchmarking current macaque behavioural management programmes. The tool successfully distinguished strengths and challenges at the facility level and across sites. Following this benchmarking, the tool is being applied semi-annually to assess and monitor progress in behavioural management programmes. The development process of the PWAT demonstrates that evidence-based assessment tools can be developed through collaboration and consensus building, which are important for uptake and applicability, and ultimately for promoting global improvements in research macaque welfare.
Narrative review of telemedicine applications in decentralized research
Authors: Cummins Mollie R. , Soni Hiral , Ivanova Julia , Ong Triton , Barrera Janelle , Wilczewski Hattie , Welch Brandon , Bunnell Brian E.
Published: January 2024

Telemedicine enables critical human communication and interaction between researchers and participants in decentralized research studies. There is a need to better understand the overall scope of telemedicine applications in clinical research as the basis for further research. This narrative, nonsystematic review of the literature sought to review and discuss applications of telemedicine, in the form of synchronous videoconferencing, in clinical research. We searched PubMed to identify relevant literature published between January 1, 2013, and June 30, 2023. Two independent screeners assessed titles and abstracts for inclusion, followed by single-reviewer full-text screening, and we organized the literature into core themes through consensus discussion. We screened 1044 publications for inclusion. Forty-eight publications met our inclusion and exclusion criteria. We identified six core themes to serve as the structure for the narrative review: infrastructure and training, recruitment, informed consent, assessment, monitoring, and engagement. Telemedicine applications span all stages of clinical research from initial planning and recruitment to informed consent and data collection. While the evidence base for using telemedicine in clinical research is not well-developed, existing evidence suggests that telemedicine is a potentially powerful tool in clinical research.
Integrating data, knowledge, and expertise for policy advice: understanding the practices of Dutch organized crime control professionals
Authors: van Rij Wybren , Dekker Rianne , Meijer Albert
Published: January 2024

Current research on data in policy has primarily focused on street-level bureaucrats, neglecting the changes in the work of policy advisors. This research fills this gap by presenting an explorative theoretical understanding of the integration of data, local knowledge and professional expertise in the work of policy advisors. The theoretical perspective we develop builds upon Vickers’s (1995, The Art of Judgment: A Study of Policy Making, Centenary Edition, SAGE) judgments in policymaking. Empirically, we present a case study of a Dutch law enforcement network for preventing and reducing organized crime. Based on interviews, observations, and documents collected in a 13-month ethnographic fieldwork period, we study how policy advisors within this network make their judgments. In contrast with the idea of data as a rationalizing force, our study reveals that how data sources are selected and analyzed for judgments is very much shaped by the existing local and expert knowledge of policy advisors. The weight given to data is highly situational: we found that policy advisors welcome data in scoping the policy issue, but for judgments more closely connected to actual policy interventions, data are given limited value.
Carving at the Joints: Distinguishing Epistemic Wrongs from Epistemic Harms in Epistemic Injustice Contexts
Authors: Dunne Gerry , Kotsonis Alkis
Published: January 2024

This paper examines the relatively underexplored relationship between epistemic wrongs and epistemic harms in the context of epistemic injustice. Does the presence of one always imply the presence of the other? Or, is it possible to have one without the other? Here we aim to establish a prima facie case that epistemic wrongs do not always produce epistemic harms. We argue that the epistemic wrongness of an action should never be evaluated solely based on the action's consequences, viz. the epistemic and practical harms suffered by the wronged party. Instead – as we shall show – epistemic harms necessarily follow from epistemic wrongs. To conclude, we suggest ways in which extant accounts of epistemic wrongs and epistemic harms as they cash out in epistemic injustice contexts might be refined in light of our argument.
PL-Genus of surfaces in homology balls
Authors: Hom Jennifer , Stoffregen Matthew , Zhou Hugo
Published: January 2024

We consider manifold-knot pairs

$(Y,K)$

, where Y is a homology 3-sphere that bounds a homology 4-ball. We show that the minimum genus of a PL surface

$\Sigma $

in a homology ball X, such that

$\partial (X, \Sigma ) = (Y, K)$

can be arbitrarily large. Equivalently, the minimum genus of a surface cobordism in a homology cobordism from

$(Y, K)$

to any knot in

$S^3$

can be arbitrarily large. The proof relies on Heegaard Floer homology.
A HOMOMORPHISM BETWEEN BOTT–SAMELSON BIMODULES
Authors: ABE NORIYUKI
Published: January 2024

In the previous paper, we defined a new category which categorifies the Hecke algebra. This is a generalization of the theory of Soergel bimodules. To prove theorems, the existences of certain homomorphisms between Bott–Samelson bimodules are assumed. In this paper, we prove this assumption. We only assume the vanishing of certain two-colored quantum binomial coefficients.
Party Origins, Party Infrastructural Strength, and Governance Outcomes
Authors: Zeng Qingjie
Published: January 2024

Ruling party strength is often associated with positive outcomes in autocracies, but we know little about how the effects of party strength differ across party types or which feature of party organization contributes most to better outcomes. This article argues that party infrastructural strength – the ability of grassroots party organizations to penetrate society and mobilize the masses – improves governance outcomes but only for authoritarian parties that rose to power through social movements that overthrew the existing political system. Parties that relied on mass mobilization to gain power tend to continue utilizing party strength to provide public goods and gather support. I provide empirical support for my theory using data covering all autocratic ruling parties during the post-Second World War period. The findings have major implications for understanding the intellectual and political challenges posed by well-organized one-party regimes.
Impact of primary care triage using the Head and Neck Cancer Risk Calculator version 2 on tertiary head and neck services in the post-coronavirus disease 2019 period
Authors: Tan Jiak-Ying , Callaghan Christopher John , Lewthwaite Alexander William , Chan Claudia Ching Hei , Wee Colette Teng , To Emily Yeg Hei , Summers Isabel , Nelson James William , Smith Mathew Benjamin , Li Lucy Qian , Morton Catriona , Porteous Lorna , Evans Andrew Stewart , Nixon Iain James
Published: January 2024

Objective

This study investigates the impact of primary care utilisation of a symptom-based head and neck cancer risk calculator (Head and Neck Cancer Risk Calculator version 2) in the post-coronavirus disease 2019 period on the number of primary care referrals and cancer diagnoses.

Methods

The number of referrals from April 2019 to August 2019 and from April 2020 to July 2020 (pre-calculator) was compared with the number from the period January 2021 to August 2022 (post-calculator) using the chi-square test. The patients’ characteristics, referral urgency, triage outcome, Head and Neck Cancer Risk Calculator version 2 score and cancer diagnosis were recorded.

Results

In total, 1110 referrals from the pre-calculator period were compared with 1559 from the post-calculator period. Patient characteristics were comparable for both cohorts. More patients were referred on the cancer pathway in the post-calculator cohort (pre-calculator patients 51.1 per cent vs post-calculator 64.0 per cent). The cancer diagnosis rate increased from 2.7 per cent in the pre-calculator cohort to 3.3 per cent in the post-calculator cohort. A lower rate of cancer diagnosis in the non-cancer pathway occurred in the cohort managed using the Head and Neck Cancer Risk Calculator version 2 (10 per cent vs 23 per cent, p = 0.10).

Conclusion

Head and Neck Cancer Risk Calculator version 2 demonstrated high sensitivity in cancer diagnosis. Further studies are required to improve the predictive strength of the calculator.
New microsatellite loci to quantify genetic diversity of the photosymbiodeme-forming lichen Sticta canariensis
Authors: Goss Andrea , Werth Silke
Published: January 2024

Sticta canariensis is a lichen which is rare in all parts of its range in Atlantic Europe and Macaronesia, where it occurs in laurisilva forests, a habitat highly threatened by global change. Thus, this species is of high priority for inclusion in conservation programmes where genetic diversity should be considered. We have established new microsatellite loci and generated a dataset that demonstrates the genetic diversity of the lichen-forming fungus S. canariensis from eight locations across its disjunct range, in Macaronesia, Norway and England. We genotyped 25 microsatellite loci for 65 specimens and detected five genetic clusters which resemble major geographical divisions, specifically among the Macaronesian archipelagos. The total number of observed alleles ranged from 2 to 22. These are the first microsatellite markers developed for S. canariensis and they will be useful for population genetic studies and for conservation assessments.
Housing affordability and poverty in Europe: on the deteriorating position of market renters
Authors: Hick Rod , Pomati Marco , Stephens Mark
Published: January 2024

There are growing concerns about housing affordability throughout Europe. Recent studies by Housing Europe and the OECD have suggested that we are witnessing a generalised deterioration in housing affordability, while other studies point to worsening housing affordability for specific groups, such as renters or low-income households. The aim of this paper is to explore trends in, and incidences and determinants of, housing affordability in a comparative European context over the period 2010 to 2018. To do this we analyse data from the EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions survey. We examine trends across different measures of housing affordability; examine its association with a variety of socio-economic characteristics and explore country-level differences in housing affordability problems. Our study finds that despite claims of worsening housing affordability, affordability measures show little sign of generalised deterioration over the period in question but that risks of affordability problems have become more concentrated on market renters during this period. At the country level, we find that gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and the at-risk-of-poverty rate are associated with housing affordability problems both between countries as well as within countries over time, while housing allowance coverage and rent regulation stringency are associated with affordability problems between countries.
Solving the inverse kinematics problem of discretely actuated hyper-redundant manipulators using the multi-module searching method
Authors: Motahari Alireza
Published: January 2024

Hyper-redundant manipulators are produced by cascading several mechanisms on top of each other as modules. The discrete actuation makes their control easier because discrete actuators usually do not need any feedback to control. So far, several methods have been proposed to solve the inverse kinematic problem of discretely actuated, hyper-redundant manipulators. The two-by-two searching method is better than the other methods in terms of CPU time and error. In this article, the mentioned method is generalized by choosing an arbitrary number of modules as pending modules in each step of the solution instead of the necessary two. For validation, the proposed method is compared with nine meta-heuristic searching algorithms: simulated annealing, genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization, ant colony optimization, gray wolf optimizer, stochastic fractal search, whale optimization algorithm, Giza pyramid construction, and flying fox optimization. Furthermore, the effect of the number of pending modules on CPU time and error is investigated. All the numerical problems have been solved for two case studies, one is planar and the other is spatial.
RATE-ADAPTIVE BOOTSTRAP FOR POSSIBLY MISSPECIFIED GMM
Authors: Hong Han , Li Jessie
Published: January 2024

We consider inference for possibly misspecified GMM models based on possibly nonsmooth moment conditions. While it is well known that misspecified GMM estimators with smooth moments remain

$\sqrt {n}$

consistent and asymptotically normal, globally misspecified nonsmooth GMM estimators are

$n^{1/3}$

consistent when either the weighting matrix is fixed or when the weighting matrix is estimated at the

$n^{1/3}$

rate or faster. Because the estimator’s nonstandard asymptotic distribution cannot be consistently estimated using the standard bootstrap, we propose an alternative rate-adaptive bootstrap procedure that consistently estimates the asymptotic distribution regardless of whether the GMM estimator is smooth or nonsmooth, correctly or incorrectly specified. Monte Carlo simulations for the smooth and nonsmooth cases confirm that our rate-adaptive bootstrap confidence intervals exhibit empirical coverage close to the nominal level.
The tale of EDCs and trans identities
Authors: Arraiza Zabalegui Maite
Published: January 2024

This paper critically analyses the hypothesis of the aetiological link between EDCs and trans identities from a scientific point of view, evincing its lack of evidence. It also problematizes the hypothesis by drawing from gender studies scholars who have denounced the transsex panic underlying the scientific literature on the effects of EDC on non-human animals, as well as from philosophical, biological, STG studies’, and neuroscientific elaborations that address sex-gender identities. It finds that the hypothesis that causally links prenatal exposure to EDCs and trans identities, which fuses biological determinism with a toxic and perturbing element, not only obscures the dynamic processual and relational character of trans identities, but also offers a pathologising understanding of them.
Repair of iatrogenic left pulmonary artery to left atrial appendage fistula using a covered CP stent: a case report
Authors: Kakimoto Hisako , Fujii Takanari , Tomita Hideshi
Published: January 2024

We report a case of iatrogenic left pulmonary artery–left atrial appendage fistula following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for residual pulmonary artery stenosis in an 11-year-old boy. This rare complication could have been predicted by understanding the anatomical relationship of these structures. In this study, simulation using three-dimensional printing greatly contributed to successful stent placement.
A rare case of severe Ebstein’s anomaly and hepatoblastoma in a neonate
Authors: Bendorf Julia R. , Albaro Cecilia A. , Turbendian Harma K.
Published: January 2024

Primary liver tumours in neonates with single-ventricle palliation are exceedingly rare. We present the first reported case of neonatal hepatoblastoma with severe Ebstein’s anomaly following Starnes procedure. The patient’s postoperative course highlights the challenges and complications in simultaneous management of these diagnoses. Transition from shunted single-ventricle physiology to bidirectional cavopulmonary connection improved end-organ function, permitting more aggressive hepatic malignancy treatment.
Defining a balance by compromising with fear: A grounded theory study on returning to eating after a total gastrectomy
Authors: Baldi Licia , D’Incà Marco , Wildner Jürgen , Tecce Francesca , De Pasca Romina , Finotto Stefano , Díaz Crescitelli Matías Eduardo , Di Leo Silvia , Ghirotto Luca
Published: January 2024

Objectives

Gastric cancer patients undergoing total gastrectomy face nutrition-related complications and worsening quality of life after surgery. In this context, gastrectomized cancer patients are required to cope with new conditions. Little is known about their accommodating feeding to the new life condition as a negotiated process among stakeholders in real contexts. This study aimed to investigate the shaping of this process as influenced by the perspectives of patients, health-care professionals (HPs), and caregivers (CGs).

Methods

A constructivist grounded theory study, through semi-structured interviews and interpretative coding, was designed to answer the following research question: “what is the process of returning to eating and feeding after a gastrectomy?”

Results

The final sample included 18 participants. “Defining a balance by compromising with fear” is the core category explaining returning to eating as a process negotiated by all actors involved, with patients trying to find a feeding balance through a multi-layer compromise: with the information received by HPs, the proprioception drastically altered by gastric resection, new dietary habits to accept, and complex and often minimized conviviality. This process involves 4 main conceptual phases: relying on the doctors’ advice, perceptive realignment, rearranging food intake, and food-regulated social interaction. Those categories are also shaped by the fear of being unwell from eating and the constant fear of tumor relapse.

Significance of results

Multiple actors can meet patients’ and their CGs’ nutritional, care, and psychosocial needs. A multidisciplinary approach involving nutritionists, psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, and anthropologists can be key to effectively managing these patients’ survivorship care. We suggest training all the professionals on the first level of nutritional counseling.
Characterizing Space‐Time Channel Network Dynamics in a Mediterranean Intermittent Catchment of Central Italy Combining Visual Surveys and Cameras
Authors: Noto Simone , Durighetto Nicola , Tauro Flavia , Grimaldi Salvatore , Botter Gianluca
Published: January 2024

Non‐perennial streams have a global prevalence, but quantitative knowledge of the temporal dynamics of their flowing length—namely the extent of the wet portion of the stream network—remains limited, as the monitoring of the spatiotemporal configuration of wet channels is challenging in most settings. This work combines the high spatial resolution of visual surveys and the high temporal resolution of camera‐based approaches to reconstruct the space‐time stream network dynamics in a 3.7 km2 Mediterranean catchment of central Italy. Information on the hydrological status of the stream network derived from 40 field surveys and sub‐hourly images collected with 21 stage‐cameras are combined exploiting the hierarchical principle. The latter postulates the existence of a Bayesian chain, defined from the local persistence of the nodes that dictates their wetting/drying order during expansion/retraction cycles of the flowing stream network. Our results highlight the complexity of network dynamics in the study area: while the number of wet nodes decreases during the dry season and increases during the wet season, the local persistency exhibits a highly heterogeneous non‐monotonic spatial pattern, originating a dynamically disconnected network. Despite this heterogeneity, the hierarchical model well approximates the temporal evolution of the state of the network nodes, with an accuracy that exceeds 99%. Crucially, the model allows the reconstruction of the wet portion even in cases in which part of the network was not observed. This work provides a novel conceptual approach for the reconstruction of the wet portion of the network in poorly accessible sites.
Trump, Haley Tell Voters: Economic Prosperity Requires Fossil Fuels
Authors: van Deelen Grace
Published: January 2024

Both Republican front-runners promise a better economy via oil and gas production.
The attitudes of dental therapists, dental therapy educators and dental therapy students in the South of England towards domiciliary dentistry: a qualitative study
Authors: Emanuel Robert , Quach Joshua , Patel Parul , Witton Robert , Machuca-Vargas Carolina , Taylor Eleanor
Published: January 2024

Introduction Dental therapists (DTs) are members of the dental team with a wide scope of practice, who support the provision of dental care to patient groups including those with vulnerabilities. One such group are older patients who are often unable to attend general dental practices to access their dental care. A domiciliary or ‘home visit' may be required to deliver this care in a non-clinical setting.

Aim To identify how dental therapists and dental therapy educators working in Southern England perceive domiciliary dental services and to explore the possible role of dental therapists in providing domiciliary dentistry.

Method A qualitative research design using a thematic approach.

Results A total of five focus groups from the three professional groups were held representing a diverse community of therapists. A number of themes emerged including: knowledge of the domiciliary patient; barriers to the provision of domiciliary care; barriers to accessing domiciliary dentistry; overcoming barriers; and benefits of providing domiciliary care.

Conclusion The concept of DTs providing domiciliary care was in general viewed positively. Several perceived barriers were reported including contractual, education and training issues. These barriers would need to be overcome to improve dental workforce skill-mix in delivery of domiciliary dental care.
Electrical pulse stimulation parameters modulate N2a neuronal differentiation
Authors: Martín Daniel , Ruano Diego , Yúfera Alberto , Daza Paula
Published: January 2024

Electrical pulse stimulation has been used to enhance the differentiation or proliferation of neuronal progenitor cells in tissue engineering and cancer treatment. Therefore, a comprehensive investigation of the effects caused by its parameters is crucial for improvements in those fields. We propose a study of pulse parameters, to allow the control of N2a cell line fate and behavior. We have focused on designing an experimental setup that allows for the knowledge and control over the environment and the stimulation signals applied. To map the effects of the stimulation on N2a cells, their morphology and the cellular and molecular reactions induced by the pulse stimulation have been analyzed. Immunofluorescence, rt-PCR and western blot analysis have been carried out for this purpose, as well as cell counting. Our results show that low-amplitude electrical pulse stimulation promotes proliferation of N2a cells, whilst amplitudes in the range 250 mV/mm–500 mV/mm induce differentiation. Amplitudes higher than 750 mV/mm produce cell damage at low frequencies. For high frequencies, large amplitudes are needed to cause cell death. An inverse relation has been found between cell density and pulse-induced neuronal differentiation. The best condition for neuronal differentiation was found to be 500 mV/mm at 100 Hz. These findings have been confirmed by up-regulation of the Neurod1 gene. Our preliminary study of the molecular effects of electrical pulse stimulation on N2a offers premonitory clues of the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway implications on the neuronal differentiation process through ES. In general, we have successfully mapped the sensitivity of N2a cells to electrical pulse stimulation parameters.
Roadmapping the next generation of silicon photonics
Authors: Shekhar Sudip , Bogaerts Wim , Chrostowski Lukas , Bowers John E. , Hochberg Michael , Soref Richard , Shastri Bhavin J.
Published: January 2024

Silicon photonics has developed into a mainstream technology driven by advances in optical communications. The current generation has led to a proliferation of integrated photonic devices from thousands to millions-mainly in the form of communication transceivers for data centers. Products in many exciting applications, such as sensing and computing, are around the corner. What will it take to increase the proliferation of silicon photonics from millions to billions of units shipped? What will the next generation of silicon photonics look like? What are the common threads in the integration and fabrication bottlenecks that silicon photonic applications face, and which emerging technologies can solve them? This perspective article is an attempt to answer such questions. We chart the generational trends in silicon photonics technology, drawing parallels from the generational definitions of CMOS technology. We identify the crucial challenges that must be solved to make giant strides in CMOS-foundry-compatible devices, circuits, integration, and packaging. We identify challenges critical to the next generation of systems and applications—in communication, signal processing, and sensing. By identifying and summarizing such challenges and opportunities, we aim to stimulate further research on devices, circuits, and systems for the silicon photonics ecosystem.
Investigating the etiologies of non-malarial febrile illness in Senegal using metagenomic sequencing
Authors: Levine Zoë C. , Sene Aita , Mkandawire Winnie , Deme Awa B. , Ndiaye Tolla , Sy Mouhamad , Gaye Amy , Diedhiou Younouss , Mbaye Amadou M. , Ndiaye Ibrahima M. , Gomis Jules , Ndiop Médoune , Sene Doudou , Faye Paye Marietou , MacInnis Bronwyn L. , Schaffner Stephen F. , Park Daniel J. , Badiane Aida S. , Colubri Andres , Ndiaye Mouhamadou , Sy Ngayo , Sabeti Pardis C. , Ndiaye Daouda , Siddle Katherine J.
Published: January 2024

The worldwide decline in malaria incidence is revealing the extensive burden of non-malarial febrile illness (NMFI), which remains poorly understood and difficult to diagnose. To characterize NMFI in Senegal, we collected venous blood and clinical metadata in a cross-sectional study of febrile patients and healthy controls in a low malaria burden area. Using 16S and untargeted sequencing, we detected viral, bacterial, or eukaryotic pathogens in 23% (38/163) of NMFI cases. Bacteria were the most common, with relapsing feverBorreliaand spotted feverRickettsiafound in 15.5% and 3.8% of cases, respectively. Four viral pathogens were found in a total of 7 febrile cases (3.5%). Sequencing also detected undiagnosedPlasmodium, including one putativeP. ovaleinfection. We developed a logistic regression model that can distinguishBorreliafrom NMFIs with similar presentation based on symptoms and vital signs (F1 score: 0.823). These results highlight the challenge and importance of improved diagnostics, especially forBorrelia, to support diagnosis and surveillance.
Robustly federated learning model for identifying high-risk patients with postoperative gastric cancer recurrence
Authors: Feng Bao , Shi Jiangfeng , Huang Liebin , Yang Zhiqi , Feng Shi-Ting , Li Jianpeng , Chen Qinxian , Xue Huimin , Chen Xiangguang , Wan Cuixia , Hu Qinghui , Cui Enming , Chen Yehang , Long Wansheng
Published: January 2024

The prediction of patient disease risk via computed tomography (CT) images and artificial intelligence techniques shows great potential. However, training a robust artificial intelligence model typically requires large-scale data support. In practice, the collection of medical data faces obstacles related to privacy protection. Therefore, the present study aims to establish a robust federated learning model to overcome the data island problem and identify high-risk patients with postoperative gastric cancer recurrence in a multicentre, cross-institution setting, thereby enabling robust treatment with significant value. In the present study, we collect data from four independent medical institutions for experimentation. The robust federated learning model algorithm yields area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values of 0.710, 0.798, 0.809, and 0.869 across four data centres. Additionally, the effectiveness of the algorithm is evaluated, and both adaptive and common features are identified through analysis.
Enantioselective synthesis of [4]helicenes by organocatalyzed intermolecular C-H amination
Authors: Liu Xihong , Zhu Boyan , Zhang Xiaoyong , Zhu Hanwen , Zhang Jingying , Chu Anqi , Wang Fujun , Wang Rui
Published: January 2024

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of helically chiral molecules has remained an outstanding challenge and witnessed fairly limited progress in the past decades. Current methods to construct such compounds almost entirely rely on catalytic enantiocontrolled fused-ring system extension. Herein, we report a direct terminal peri-functionalization strategy, which allows for efficient assembling of 1,12-disubstituted [4]carbohelicenes via an organocatalyzed enantioselective amination reaction of 2-hydroxybenzo[c]phenanthrene derivates with diazodicarboxamides. The key feature of this approach is that the stereochemical information of the catalyst could be transferred into not only the helix sense but also the remote C-N axial chirality of the products, thus enabling the synthesis of [4]- and [5]helicenes with both structural diversity and stereochemical complexity in good efficiency and excellent enantiocontrol. Besides, the large-scale preparations and representative transformations of the helical products further demonstrate the practicality of this protocol. Moreover, DFT calculations reveal that both the hydrogen bonds and the C-H---π interactions between the substrates and catalyst contribute to the ideal stereochemical control.
LNP-RNA-engineered adipose stem cells for accelerated diabetic wound healing
Authors: Xue Yonger , Zhang Yuebao , Zhong Yichen , Du Shi , Hou Xucheng , Li Wenqing , Li Haoyuan , Wang Siyu , Wang Chang , Yan Jingyue , Kang Diana D. , Deng Binbin , McComb David W. , Irvine Darrell J. , Weiss Ron , Dong Yizhou
Published: January 2024

Adipose stem cells (ASCs) have attracted considerable attention as potential therapeutic agents due to their ability to promote tissue regeneration. However, their limited tissue repair capability has posed a challenge in achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes. Herein, we conceive a series of lipid nanoparticles to reprogram ASCs with durable protein secretion capacity for enhanced tissue engineering and regeneration. In vitro studies identify that the isomannide-derived lipid nanoparticles (DIM1T LNP) efficiently deliver RNAs to ASCs. Co-delivery of self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) and E3 mRNA complex (the combination of saRNA and E3 mRNA is named SEC) using DIM1T LNP modulates host immune responses against saRNAs and facilitates the durable production of proteins of interest in ASCs. The DIM1T LNP-SEC engineered ASCs (DS-ASCs) prolong expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12), which show superior wound healing efficacy over their wild-type and DIM1T LNP-mRNA counterparts in the diabetic cutaneous wound model. Overall, this work suggests LNPs as an effective platform to engineer ASCs with enhanced protein generation ability, expediting the development of ASCs-based cell therapies.
Quantum state preparation of normal distributions using matrix product states
Authors: Iaconis Jason , Johri Sonika , Zhu Elton Yechao
Published: January 2024

State preparation is a necessary component of many quantum algorithms. In this work, we combine a method for efficiently representing smooth differentiable probability distributions using matrix product states with recently discovered techniques for initializing quantum states to approximate matrix product states. Using this, we generate quantum states encoding a class of normal probability distributions in a trapped ion quantum computer for up to 20 qubits. We provide an in depth analysis of the different sources of error which contribute to the overall fidelity of this state preparation procedure. Our work provides a study in quantum hardware for scalable distribution loading, which is the basis of a wide range of algorithms that provide quantum advantage.
Differential recruitment of brain circuits during fear extinction in non-stressed compared to stress resilient animals
Authors: Pearson-Leary Jiah , Abramenko Alexander P. , Estela-Pro Valerie , Feindt-Scott Elizabeth , Yan Jason , Vigderman Abigail , Luz Sandra , Bangasser Debra , Ross Richard , Kubin Leszek , Bhatnagar Seema
Published: January 2024

Dysfunctional fear responses in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be partly explained by an inability to effectively extinguish fear responses elicited by trauma-related cues. However, only a subset of individuals exposed to traumatic stress develop PTSD. Therefore, studying fear extinction deficits in animal models of individual differences could help identify neural substrates underlying vulnerability or resilience to the effects of stress. We used a rat model of social defeat in which rats segregate into passively and actively coping rats. In previous work, we showed that passively coping rats exhibit disruptions in social interaction whereas actively coping rats do not display behaviors differently from controls, indicating their resilience. Here, adult male rats exposed to 7 days of social defeat were tested for fear extinction, retention of extinction, and persistence of retention using contextual fear and ethologically-relevant fear tests. Passively coping rats exhibited elevated freezing in response to the previously extinguished context. Analyses of cFos expressing cells across select brain regions showed high correlations within dorsal hippocampal subregions, while passively coping rats had high correlations between the dorsal hippocampus CA1 and the central and basolateral subregions of the amygdala. Importantly, although control and actively coping rats showed similar levels of behavioral extinction, there was little similarity between activated structures, suggesting stress resilience in response to chronic social defeat involves an adaptive differential recruitment of brain circuits to successfully extinguish fear memories.
Fluorescent polymer as a biosensing tool for the diagnosis of microbial pathogens
Authors: Krishnan Selvi , Jose Stephen , Periyasamy Bhuvana K. , Angayarkanny S. , Bensingh R. Joseph
Published: January 2024

Diseases and diagnoses are predominant in the human population. Early diagnosis of etiological agents plays a vital role in the treatment of bacterial infections. Existing standard diagnostic platforms are laborious, time-consuming, and require trained personnel and cost-effective procedure, though they are producing promising results. These shortcomings have led to a thirst for rapid diagnostic procedures. Fluorescence-based diagnosis is one of the efficient rapid diagnostic methods that rely on specific and sensitive bacterial detection. Emerging bio-sensing studies on conducting polymers (CPs) are gaining popularity in medical diagnostics due to their promising properties of high fluorescence efficiency, good light stability, and low cytotoxicity. Poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV), is the first identified soluble polymer and model material for understanding the fundamental photophysics of conventional CPs. In this present study, MEH-PPV is used as a fluorescent dye for direct pathogen detection applications by interacting with the microbial cell surface. An optimized concentration of MEH-PPV solution used to confirm the presence of selective bacterial structures. The present study endeavours towards bacterial detection based on the emission from bacteria due to interfacial interaction between polymer and bacterial surface.
Knowledge as a key determinant of public support for autonomous vehicles
Authors: Tan Hao , Liu Jiayan , Chen Cong , Zhao Xue , Yang Jialuo , Tang Chao
Published: January 2024

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) have the potential to revolutionize transportation safety and mobility, but many people are still concerned about the safety of AVs and hesitate to use them. Here we survey 4112 individuals to explore the relationship between knowledge and public support for AVs. We find that AV support has a positive relationship with scientific literacy (objective knowledge about science) and perceived understanding of AV (self-assessed knowledge). Respondents who are supportive of AVs tended to have more objective AV knowledge (objective knowledge about AVs). Moreover, the results of further experiments show that increasing people's self-assessed knowledge or gaining additional objective AV knowledge may contribute to increasing their AV support. These findings therefore improve the understanding of the relationship between public knowledge levels and AV support, enabling policy-makers to develop better strategies for raising AV support, specifically, by considering the role of knowledge, which in turn may influence public behavioural intentions and lead to higher levels of AV acceptance.
Development of a pseudo-typed virus particle based method to determine the efficacy of virucidal agents
Authors: Thomas Jordan , Mughal Farah , Roper Kelly J. , Kotsiri Aurelia , Albalawi Wejdan , Alshehri Abdullateef , Reddy Yugandhar B. S. , Mukherjee Sayandip , Pollakis Georgios , Paxton William A. , Hoptroff Michael
Published: January 2024

The ongoing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has highlighted the threat that viral outbreaks pose to global health. A key tool in the arsenal to prevent and control viral disease outbreaks is disinfection of equipment and surfaces with formulations that contain virucidal agents (VA). However, assessment of the efficacy of virus inactivation often requires live virus assays or surrogate viruses such as Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara (MVA), which can be expensive, time consuming and technically challenging. Therefore, we have developed a pseudo-typed virus (PV) based approach to assess the inactivation of enveloped viruses with a fast and quantitative output that can be adapted to emerging viruses. Additionally, we have developed a method to completely remove the cytotoxicity of virucidal agents while retaining the required sensitivity to measure PV infectivity. Our results indicated that the removal of cytotoxicity was an essential step to accurately measure virus inactivation. Further, we demonstrated that there was no difference in susceptibility to virus inactivation between PVs that express the envelopes of HIV-1, SARS-CoV-2, and Influenza A/Indonesia. Therefore, we have developed an effective and safe alternative to live virus assays that enables the rapid assessment of virucidal activity for the development and optimization of virucidal reagents.