bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fraunhofer diffraction pattern due to spatial self-phase modulation of a Gaussian beam by a photorefractive crystal
Authors: Navarro Angie Solano , Torres Yezid , Mendoza-Castro Jesús , Rodriguez Henry , Jerez Vladimir
Published: January 2023

The phase shift induced on a Gaussian beam interacting with a nonlinear medium determines the far field diffraction pattern characteristics. It is usual to consider that the induced phase shift by a nonlinear media is due only to the effects of the radius of curvature of the wavefront and the modulation of the refractive index triggered by the Gaussian intensity distribution of the incident beam. Accordingly, these equations have limited applicability when the nonlinear medium is a photorefractive crystal PRC. In this contribution, the equations are derived considering the influence of the photorefractive phenomenon on the induced phase shift. The Fresnel-Kirchhoff diffraction theory is used to obtain the intensity distribution of the far-field diffraction pattern of a Gaussian beam propagating through a photorefractive crystal. Simulations of this effect are presented and discussed.
A new model of Notch signalling: Control of Notch receptor cis-inhibition via Notch ligand dimers
Authors: Chen Daipeng , Forghany Zary , Liu Xinxin , Wang Haijiang , Merks Roeland M. H. , Baker David A.
Published: January 2023

All tissue development and replenishment relies upon the breaking of symmetries leading to the morphological and operational differentiation of progenitor cells into more specialized cells. One of the main engines driving this process is the Notch signal transduction pathway, a ubiquitous signalling system found in the vast majority of metazoan cell types characterized to date. Broadly speaking, Notch receptor activity is governed by a balance between two processes: 1) intercellular Notch transactivation triggered via interactions between receptors and ligands expressed in neighbouring cells; 2) intracellular cis inhibition caused by ligands binding to receptors within the same cell. Additionally, recent reports have also unveiled evidence of cis activation. Whilst context-dependent Notch receptor clustering has been hypothesized, to date, Notch signalling has been assumed to involve an interplay between receptor and ligand monomers. In this study, we demonstrate biochemically, through a mutational analysis of DLL4, both in vitro and in tissue culture cells, that Notch ligands can efficiently self-associate. We found that the membrane proximal EGF-like repeat of DLL4 was necessary and sufficient to promote oligomerization/dimerization. Mechanistically, our experimental evidence supports the view that DLL4 ligand dimerization is specifically required for cis-inhibition of Notch receptor activity. To further substantiate these findings, we have adapted and extended existing ordinary differential equation-based models of Notch signalling to take account of the ligand dimerization-dependent cis-inhibition reported here. Our new model faithfully recapitulates our experimental data and improves predictions based upon published data. Collectively, our work favours a model in which net output following Notch receptor/ligand binding results from ligand monomer-driven Notch receptor transactivation (and cis activation) counterposed by ligand dimer-mediated cis-inhibition.
Multienzyme deep learning models improve peptide de novo sequencing by mass spectrometry proteomics
Authors: Gueto-Tettay Carlos , Tang Di , Happonen Lotta , Heusel Moritz , Khakzad Hamed , Malmström Johan , Malmström Lars
Published: January 2023

Generating and analyzing overlapping peptides through multienzymatic digestion is an efficient procedure for de novo protein using from bottom-up mass spectrometry (MS). Despite improved instrumentation and software, de novo MS data analysis remains challenging. In recent years, deep learning models have represented a performance breakthrough. Incorporating that technology into de novo protein sequencing workflows require machine-learning models capable of handling highly diverse MS data. In this study, we analyzed the requirements for assembling such generalizable deep learning models by systemcally varying the composition and size of the training set. We assessed the generated models’ performances using two test sets composed of peptides originating from the multienzyme digestion of samples from various species. The peptide recall values on the test sets showed that the deep learning models generated from a collection of highly N- and C-termini diverse peptides generalized 76% more over the termini-restricted ones. Moreover, expanding the training set’s size by adding peptides from the multienzymatic digestion with five proteases of several species samples led to a 2–3 fold generalizability gain. Furthermore, we tested the applicability of these multienzyme deep learning (MEM) models by fully de novo sequencing the heavy and light monomeric chains of five commercial antibodies (mAbs). MEMs extracted over 10000 matching and overlapped peptides across six different proteases mAb samples, achieving a 100% sequence coverage for 8 of the ten polypeptide chains. We foretell that the MEMs’ proven improvements to de novo analysis will positively impact several applications, such as analyzing samples of high complexity, unknown nature, or the peptidomics field.
Geometric analysis enables biological insight from complex non-identifiable models using simple surrogates
Authors: Browning Alexander P. , Simpson Matthew J.
Published: January 2023

An enduring challenge in computational biology is to balance data quality and quantity with model complexity. Tools such as identifiability analysis and information criterion have been developed to harmonise this juxtaposition, yet cannot always resolve the mismatch between available data and the granularity required in mathematical models to answer important biological questions. Often, it is only simple phenomenological models, such as the logistic and Gompertz growth models, that are identifiable from standard experimental measurements. To draw insights from complex, non-identifiable models that incorporate key biological mechanisms of interest, we study the geometry of a map in parameter space from the complex model to a simple, identifiable, surrogate model. By studying how non-identifiable parameters in the complex model quantitatively relate to identifiable parameters in surrogate, we introduce and exploit a layer of interpretation between the set of non-identifiable parameters and the goodness-of-fit metric or likelihood studied in typical identifiability analysis. We demonstrate our approach by analysing a hierarchy of mathematical models for multicellular tumour spheroid growth experiments. Typical data from tumour spheroid experiments are limited and noisy, and corresponding mathematical models are very often made arbitrarily complex. Our geometric approach is able to predict non-identifiabilities, classify non-identifiable parameter spaces into identifiable parameter combinations that relate to features in the data characterised by parameters in a surrogate model, and overall provide additional biological insight from complex non-identifiable models.
Global greenhouse gases emissions effect on extreme events under an uncertain future: A case study in Western Cape, South Africa
Authors: He Bowen , Ding Ke Jack
Published: January 2023

The growing effect of CO2 and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on the extreme climate risks in the Western Cape, South Africa, calls for the need for better climate adaptation and emissions-reduction strategies to protect the region’s long-term social-economic benefits. This paper presents a comprehensive evaluation of changes in the future extreme events associated with drought and heatwave under three different greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions scenarios: Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 2.6, RCP 4.5, and RCP 8.5, from moderate to severe, respectively. Various diagnostic indices were used to determine how future heatwaves and drought will respond to each different RCP climate scenario in Western Cape based on Max Planck Institute-Earth System Model/REMO (MPI-ESM/REMO). The projected simulation results revealed that drought and heatwave extreme climate indices suggest strong relationships between future extreme climate risks and GHG emissions for Western Cape, South Africa. Anthropogenic activities and growing GHG emissions will lead to severer extreme climate stress in terms of drought and the duration, frequency, and magnitude of heatwave stresses. As a result, we believe that reducing the GHG emissions to alleviate future extreme climate stress becomes a practical solution to protect the local’s socio-economic system and further maintain the region’s economic prosperity.
A correlational study between microstructural, macrostructural and functional age-related changes in the human visual cortex
Authors: Malakshan Sahar Rahimi , Daneshvarfard Farveh , Abrishami Moghaddam Hamid
Published: January 2023

Age-related changes in the human brain can be investigated from either structural or functional perspectives. Analysis of structural and functional age-related changes throughout the lifespan may help to understand the normal brain development process and monitor the structural and functional pathology of the brain. This study, combining dedicated electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approaches in adults (20–78 years), highlights the complex relationship between micro/macrostructural properties and the functional responses to visual stimuli. Here, we aimed to relate age-related changes of the latency of visual evoked potentials (VEPs) to micro/macrostructural indexes and find any correlation between micro/macrostructural features, as well. We studied age-related structural changes in the brain, by using the MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) as preferred imaging methods for extracting brain macrostructural parameters such as the cortical thickness, surface area, folding and curvature index, gray matter volume, and microstructural parameters such as mean diffusivity (MD), radial diffusivity (RD) and axial diffusivity (AD). All the mentioned features were significantly correlated with age in V1 and V2 regions of the visual cortex. Furthermore, we highlighted, negative correlations between structural features extracted from T1-weighted images and DWI. The latency and amplitude of the three dominants peaks (C1, P1, N1) of the VEP were considered as the brain functional features to be examined for correlation with age and structural features of the corresponding age. We observed significant correlations between mean C1 latency and GM volume averaged in V1 and V2. In hierarchical regression analysis, the structural index did not contribute to significant variance in the C1 latency after regressing out the effect of age. However, the age explained significant variance in the model after regressing out the effect of structural feature.
Omnicrobe, an open-access database of microbial habitats and phenotypes using a comprehensive text mining and data fusion approach
Authors: Dérozier Sandra , Bossy Robert , Deléger Louise , Ba Mouhamadou , Chaix Estelle , Harlé Olivier , Loux Valentin , Falentin Hélène , Nédellec Claire
Published: January 2023

The dramatic increase in the number of microbe descriptions in databases, reports, and papers presents a two-fold challenge for accessing the information: integration of heterogeneous data in a standard ontology-based representation and normalization of the textual descriptions by semantic analysis. Recent text mining methods offer powerful ways to extract textual information and generate ontology-based representation. This paper describes the design of the Omnicrobe application that gathers comprehensive information on habitats, phenotypes, and usages of microbes from scientific sources of high interest to the microbiology community. The Omnicrobe database contains around 1 million descriptions of microbe properties. These descriptions are created by analyzing and combining six information sources of various kinds, i.e. biological resource catalogs, sequence databases and scientific literature. The microbe properties are indexed by the Ontobiotope ontology and their taxa are indexed by an extended version of the taxonomy maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information. The Omnicrobe application covers all domains of microbiology. With simple or rich ontology-based queries, it provides easy-to-use support in the resolution of scientific questions related to the habitats, phenotypes, and uses of microbes. We illustrate the potential of Omnicrobe with a use case from the food innovation domain.
Do powerful CEOs matter for earnings quality? Evidence from Bangladesh
Authors: Arif H. M. , Mustapha Mohd Zulkhairi , Abdul Jalil Azlina
Published: January 2023

This study investigates the effects of powerful Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) on earnings quality in a setting where CEOs have strong dominance over other top executives and occasionally attempt to exert their influence over corporate regulatory bodies. Using 10-year longitudinal data for the period from 2010 to 2019 and 1,395 firm-year observations from listed non-financial firms in Bangladesh, we found that CEOs’ political power and CEOs with high structural and expert power have a significant detrimental effect on earnings quality. Ownership and prestige power have an insignificant impact on earnings quality. These powerful CEOs use accrual and real activity manipulation techniques together to manage the earnings. This study uses the system-generalized method of moment estimates for estimation purposes, and the results remain robust when alternative earnings quality proxies are used. Taken together, our results suggest that CEOs’ political duality (i.e., serving simultaneously as a member of parliament and a CEO) should be restricted and that a CEO’s tenure should be limited to a reasonable period. This research adds to the existing body of knowledge by offering empirical support for CEO power dynamics on earnings quality, specifically political and prestige power.
Effect of silver nanoparticles associated with fluoride on the progression of root dentin caries in vitro
Authors: Dias Flaviana Alves , Vidal Cristina M. P. , Comnick Carissa L. , Xie Xian Jin , Berger Sandrine Bittencourt
Published: January 2023

Objectives

To assess the anti-proteolytic effect and potential to inhibit dentin root caries progression of a silver nanoparticle and fluoride solution (CNanoF) in comparison to silver diamine fluoride (SDF).

Methods

48 specimens of root dentin artificial caries lesion were treated with 38% SDF, CNanoF, CNano or F (n = 6 per group). Ph cycling with demineralization and remineralization solutions simulated caries lesion progression. In addition, specimens were incubated with or without bacterial collagenase in the remineralization solution to induce dentin proteolytic degradation. Dentin degradation was assessed by weight loss rate and hydroxyproline (Hyp) release. Changes in cross-sectional microhardness, and lesion permeability and collagen integrity as determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy indicated potential for further demineralization inhibition. The effect of the solutions on the activity of metalloproteinases (MMP) -2 and -9 was also investigated. Statistical analysis consisted of ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, and linear mixed models with post-hoc pairwise Tukey, Dunn, and t-tests (α = 0.05).

Results

Treatment with SDF resulted in lower weight loss rate than did other solutions, but all groups showed similar Hyp release (p = 0.183). SDF resulted in greater microhardness at superficial layers of the caries lesions (p<0.05), while there were no differences among CNanoF, CNano, and F. Lesion permeability was similar among all groups after pH cycling (p>0.05), with or without the use of collagenase (p = 0.58). No statistically significant difference was noted among solutions regarding collagen integrity after pH cycling; however, SDF-treated dentin had a significant decrease in collagen integrity when collagenase was used (p = 0.003). Interestingly, only SDF was able to completely inactivate MMP-2 and -9.

Conclusions

CNanoF and SDF both potentially prevent dentin degradation during caries lesion progression in vitro; however, SDF was more effective at inhibiting further tissue demineralization.
Characterization of the external exposome and its contribution to the clinical respiratory and early biological effects in children: The PROMESA cohort study protocol
Authors: Marín Diana , Orozco Luz Yaneth , Narváez Diana María , Ortiz-Trujillo Isabel Cristina , Molina Francisco José , Ramos Carlos Daniel , Rodriguez-Villamizar Laura , Bangdiwala Shrikant I. , Morales Olga , Cuellar Martha , Hernández Luis Jorge , Henao Enrique Antonio , Lopera Verónica , Corredor Andrea , Toro María Victoria , Groot Helena , Villamil-Osorio Milena , Muñoz Diego Alejandro , Hincapié Roberto Carlos , Amaya Ferney , Oviedo Ana Isabel , López Lucelly , Morales-Betancourt Ricardo , Marín-Ochoa Beatriz Elena , Sánchez-García Oscar Eduardo , Marín Juan Sebastián , Abad José Miguel , Toro Julio Cesar , Pinzón Eliana , Builes Juan José , Rueda Zulma Vanessa
Published: January 2023

Background

Air pollution contains a mixture of different pollutants from multiple sources. However, the interaction of these pollutants with other environmental exposures, as well as their harmful effects on children under five in tropical countries, is not well known.

Objective

This study aims to characterize the external exposome (ambient and indoor exposures) and its contribution to clinical respiratory and early biological effects in children.

Materials and methods

A cohort study will be conducted on children under five (n = 500) with a one-year follow-up. Enrolled children will be followed monthly (phone call) and at months 6 and 12 (in person) post-enrolment with upper and lower Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) examinations, asthma development, asthma control, and genotoxic damage. The asthma diagnosis will be pediatric pulmonologist-based and a standardized protocol will be used. Exposure, effect, and susceptibility biomarkers will be measured on buccal cells samples. For environmental exposures PM2.5 will be sampled, and questionnaires, geographic information, dispersion models and Land Use Regression models for PM2.5 and NO2 will be used. Different statistical methods that include Bayesian and machine learning techniques will be used for the ambient and indoor exposures-and outcomes. This study was approved by the ethics committee at Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana.

Expected study outcomes/findings

To estimate i) The toxic effect of particulate matter transcending the approach based on pollutant concentration levels; ii) The risk of developing an upper and lower ARI, based on different exposure windows; iii) A baseline of early biological damage in children under five, and describe its progression after a one-year follow-up; and iv) How physical and chemical PM2.5 characteristics influence toxicity and children’s health.
AIDS-related mortality in Pará Province, Brazilian Amazon region: Spatial and temporal analysis
Authors: Rodrigues Taymara Barbosa , Dias Bruna Rafaela Leite , Gomes Dulce , Arcêncio Ricardo Alexandre , Andrade Jorge Alberto Azevedo , Ferreira Glenda Roberta Oliveira Naiff , Gonçalves Lucia Hisako Takase , Botelho Eliã Pinheiro
Published: January 2023

Despite considerable therapeutic advances in the care of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and an overall reduction of 47% in the AIDS mortality rate in the last decade, the AIDS-mortality rates remains high. The social determinants of health (SDH) have a direct influence on the dynamics of this phenomenon. However, changes in SDH caused by the implemented policies against HIV have been poorly investigated. Moreover, the Brazilian rainforest has had the highest and continuously increasing AIDS mortality rate in Brazil since the 1980s. In this study, AIDS mortality in a province of the Brazilian rainforest was examined by using temporal and spatial analyses. Methods. In this ecological study, data from 2007 to 2018 were extracted from the Mortality Information System provided by the State Department of Public Health of Pará. For the temporal analysis, the integrated autoregressive model of moving average (ARIMA) and locally weighted polynomial regression (STLF) were used to forecast AIDS mortality from 2019 to 2022. For the spatial analysis, spatial autocorrelation and geographically weighted regression (GWR) analyses were employed. Results. The samples consisted of 6,498 notifications for AIDS-related deaths. From 2007 to 2013, the AIDS mortality rates showed an upward trend, followed by a stabilization until 2018 and an upward forecasted trend from 2019 to 2022. High mortality rates and high-high clusters were found in economic pole municipalities. Furthermore, AIDS mortality risk was directly associated with per capita income and demographic density, except in the southwestern region of Pará, which exhibited an inverse association with population density. Conclusion. Although the policies against HIV may have contributed to the stabilization of AIDS mortality rates from 2013 in Pará, the upward forecasted trend until 2022 raises an alert and concern to health authorities to provide reinforcement of the policies. The geographic variability of AIDS mortality promoted by SDH provides subsidies to health authorities to implement SDH-focused strategies for AIDS mortality reduction.
A prognostic model for predicting the duration of 20,049 sickness absence spells due to shoulder lesions in a population-based cohort in Sweden
Authors: Gémes Katalin , Holm Johanna , Frumento Paolo , Almondo Gino , Bottai Matteo , Friberg Emilie , Alexanderson Kristina
Published: January 2023

Main objective

Sickness absence duration for shoulder lesion patients is difficult to prognosticate, and scientific evidence for the sick-listing practice is lacking. Our objective was to develop a clinically implementable prediction model for the duration of a sickness absence spell due to shoulder lesions.

Methods

All new sickness absence spells due to shoulder lesions (ICD-10-code: M75) issued in the period January 2010—June 2012 that were longer than 14 days were identified through the nationwide sickness absence insurance register. Information on predictors was linked from four other nationwide registers. Piecewise-constant hazards regression models were fitted to predict duration of sickness absence. The model was developed and validated using split sample validation. Variable selection was based on log-likelihood loss ranking when excluding a variable from the model. The model was evaluated using calibration plots and the c-statistic.

Results

20 049 sickness absence spells were identified, of which 34% lasted >90 days. Predictors included in the model were age, sex, geographical region, occupational status, educational level, birth country, specialized healthcare at start of the spell, number of sickness absence days in the last 12 months, and specialized healthcare the last 12 months, before start date of the index sickness absence spell. The model was satisfactorily specified and calibrated. Overall c-statistic was 0.54 (95% CI 0.53–0.55). C-statistic for predicting durations >90, >180, and >365 days was 0.61, 0.66, and 0.74, respectively.

Significance

The model can be used to predict the duration of sickness absence due to shoulder lesions. Covariates had limited predictive power but could discriminate the very long sickness absence spells from the rest.
Decoupling agriculture pollution and carbon reduction from economic growth in the Yangtze River Delta, China
Authors: Yuan Ruxue , Xu Caiyao , Kong Fanbin
Published: January 2023

Agriculture is the foundation of the national economy, and agricultural nonpoint source pollution and carbon emissions are the main environmental problems limiting the development of the agricultural economy. This study takes the Yangtze River Delta as the research object and measures agricultural carbon emissions and nonpoint source pollution in the study area from 2010 to 2020 respectively. The Tapio decoupling model is used to study types of decoupling between agricultural pollution and carbon reduction and economic growth in the Yangtze River Delta from 2010 to 2020, and the GM (1,1) model is used to predict the decoupling relationship between the agricultural environment and economic growth over the next ten years. The results show the following: (1) Agricultural COD emissions come mainly from livestock and poultry breeding, dropped from 1,130,120 tons in 2010 to 908,460 tons in 2020. Agricultural TN and TP emissions come mainly from plantations. Agricultural TN emissions dropped from 892,310 tons in 2010 to 788,020 tons in 2020. Agricultural TP emissions dropped from 149,590 tons in 2010 to130,770 tons in 2020. Agricultural carbon emissions dropped from 17,115,900 tons in 2010 to 15,786,600 tons in 2020, and come mainly from agricultural fertilizer and diesel fuel and pig breeding. (2) The decoupling effect of agricultural pollution reduction and carbon reduction in the Yangtze River Delta and economic growth has been in a long-term state, with negative decoupling occurring in a few regions, mainly in 2011, 2014 and 2020. (3) In the next ten years, except for 2021, when the coordination between agricultural pollution reduction and economic growth is poor, the two show good decoupling in the remaining years. Based on the results, this study makes recommendations on how to carry out comprehensive environmental management and promote green agricultural development.
Face mask ownership/utilisation and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy amongst patients recovering from COVID-19 in Cameroon: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Cho Frederick Nchang , Ngah Yayah Emerencia , Tassang Andrew N. , Fru Celestina Neh , Kuku Elad Peter Canisius , Jokwi Patrick Kofon , Folefac Valmie Ngassam , Esa Ismaila , Fru Paulette Ngum
Published: January 2023

Introduction

This study aimed to establish pre-/post Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) diagnosis/treatment symptoms, ownership/utilisation of face masks (FMs), as well as vaccine hesitancy (VH) amongst patients recovering from COVID-19.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted from April - October 2021. Data was collected with structured self-administered questionnaires. Multinomial regression was used to determine associations between ownership/utilisation of FMs with respondents’ characteristics.

Results

Unproductive cough and fatigue were prevalent before and after treatment. Pre-/Post COVID-19 symptoms severity ranged from mild to moderate. There was a COVID-19 VH rate of 492 (74%). The prevalence of FM ownership and utilisation were, respectively, 613 (92.2%) and 271 (40.8%). One main factor was associated with FM ownership; respondent’s sex (p; 5.5x10-2, OR; 0.5, 95%C.I; 0.3 – 1.0). The main reasons for irregular utilisation were; inability to be consistent, only used outdoors, and boredom.

Conclusion

The treatment of COVID-19 does not mean immediate recovery as mild to moderate grade severity still persists. Face mask availability and ownership does not mean appreciable utilisation. This study advocates for an intensification of COVID-19 preventive practices, as well as elaborate education on the importance of vaccination.
Green transition in manufacturing: Dynamics and simulation
Authors: Lu Lin , Su Xue , Hu Song , Luo Xiaochun , Liao Zhangzheyi , Ren Yuelin , Kang Kai , Li Beibei
Published: January 2023

Under the dual background of global industrial value chain and low-carbon emission reduction, the green transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry is an important way to promote production and promote sustainable economic development. Considering that the green transformation of the manufacturing industry is a typical complex adaptation system, based on the intrinsic relationship between the dynamic theory and the green transformation of the manufacturing industry, this paper takes the endogenous variable of the transformation of manufacturing enterprises as the entry point, simulates the transformation of new and old dynamic energy of green transformation, and explores the mechanism of green transformation and upgrading of manufacturing industry and the conversion process. According to the model, it is concluded that the green transformation of manufacturing enterprises is the result of the multi-stage transformation of enterprises. In this process, the change inertia overcomes old dynamic inertia and promotes the new dynamic to gradually replace the old dynamic. At the end of the article, specific suggestions are given to promote the green transformation of manufacturing enterprises from the aspects of ideology, policy support, digital empowerment, financial service guarantee system and communication and cooperation.
Spatial co-occurrence patterns of sympatric large carnivores in a multi-use African system
Authors: Strampelli Paolo , Henschel Philipp , Searle Charlotte E. , Macdonald David W. , Dickman Amy J.
Published: January 2023

Interspecific interactions can be a key driver of habitat use, and must be accounted for in conservation planning. However, spatial partitioning between African carnivores, and how this varies with scale, remains poorly understood. Furthermore, most studies have taken place within small or highly protected areas, rather than in the heterogeneous, mixed-use landscapes characteristic of much of modern Africa. Here, we provide one of the first empirical investigations into population-level competitive interactions among an African large carnivore guild. We collected detection/non-detection data for an eastern African large carnivore guild in Tanzania’s Ruaha-Rungwa conservation landscape, over an area of ~45,000 km2. We then applied conditional co-occupancy models to investigate co-occurrence between lion, leopard, and African wild dog, at two biologically meaningful scales. Co-occurrence patterns of cheetah and spotted hyaena could not be modelled. After accounting for habitat and detection effects, we found some evidence of wild dog avoidance of lion at the home range scale, and strong evidence of fine-scale avoidance. We found no evidence of interspecific exclusion of leopard by lion; rather, positive associations were observed at both scales, suggesting shared habitat preferences. We found little evidence of leopard habitat use being affected by wild dog. Our findings also reveal some interspecific effects on species detection, at both scales. In most cases, habitat use was driven more strongly by other habitat effects, such as biotic resources or anthropogenic pressures, than by interspecific pressures, even where evidence of the latter was present. Overall, our results help shed light on interspecific effects within an assemblage that has rarely been examined at this scale. We also demonstrate the effectiveness of sign-based co-occurrence modelling to describe interspecific spatial patterns of sympatric large carnivores across large scales. We conclude by discussing the implications of our findings for large carnivore conservation in modern African systems.
Bioinformatics reveal elevated levels of Myosin Vb in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma patients which correlates to increased cell metabolism and poor prognosis
Authors: Engevik Kristen A. , Engevik Melinda A. , Engevik Amy C.
Published: January 2023

Carcinoma of the endometrium of the uterus is the most common female pelvic malignancy. Although uterine corpus endometrial cancer (UCEC) has a favorable prognosis if removed early, patients with advanced tumor stages have a low survival rate. These facts highlight the importance of understanding UCEC biology. Computational analysis of RNA-sequencing data from UCEC patients revealed that the molecular motor Myosin Vb (MYO5B) was elevated in the beginning stages of UCEC and occurred in all patients regardless of tumor stage, tumor type, age, menopause status or ethnicity. Although several mutations were identified in the MYO5B gene in UCEC patients, these mutations did not correlate with mRNA expression. Examination of MYO5B methylation revealed that UCEC patients had undermethylated MYO5B and undermethylation was positively correlated with increased mRNA and protein levels. Immunostaining confirmed elevated levels of apical MYO5B in UCEC patients compared to adjacent tissue. UCEC patients with high expressing MYO5B tumors had far worse prognosis than UCEC patients with low expressing MYO5B tumors, as reflected by survival curves. Metabolic pathway analysis revealed significant alterations in metabolism pathways in UCE patients and key metabolism genes were positively correlated with MYO5B mRNA. These data provide the first evidence that MYO5B may participate in UCEC tumor development.
Early pregnancy cardio metabolic risk factors and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome 10 years after the first pregnancy
Authors: Andraweera Prabha H. , Plummer Michelle D. , Garrett Amy , Leemaqz Shalem , Wittwer Melanie R. , Aldridge Emily , Pathirana Maleesa M. , Dekker Gus A. , Roberts Claire T. , Arstall Margaret A.
Published: January 2023

Background

We aimed to compare risk factors for CVD 10 years postpartum among women who had ≥ 1 compared to no cardio metabolic risk factor in early first pregnancy.

Methods

Women of the SCOPE (Screening fOr Pregnancy Endpoints) study from Adelaide, South Australia were invited to participate in a cardiovascular risk assessment 10 years after the delivery of the first child. Data from 141 women who completed all the assessments are included in the analyses.

Result

Compared to women who did not have any cardio metabolic risk factor at 15 ± 1 weeks’ gestation during the first pregnancy, those who had ≥ 1 risk factor were 5.5 times more likely to have metabolic syndrome 10 years postpartum (aOR = 5.5, 95% CI 1.8–17.3, p = 0.004). Women who had ≥ 1cardio metabolic risk factor during the first pregnancy were more likely to be obese (p = 0.001), have high total cholesterol levels (p <0.001) or have increased insulin resistance (p <0.001) 10 years later compared to women who had no risk factor during the first pregnancy. 63.5% of the women with no cardio metabolic risk factor compared to 39% of women who had ≥ 1 risk factor in first pregnancy, had neither a complicated first pregnancy nor was diagnosed with MetS 10 years postpartum (p = 0.023).

Conclusion

Cardio metabolic risk factors at the booking visit in the first pregnancy may be useful in identifying young women at risk of future CVD.
Implementation and effectiveness of a linkage to HIV care intervention in rural South Africa (ANRS 12249 TasP trial)
Authors: Plazy Mélanie , Diallo Adama , Hlabisa Thabile , Okesola Nonhlanhla , Iwuji Collins , Herbst Kobus , Boyer Sylvie , Lert France , McGrath Nuala , Pillay Deenan , Dabis François , Larmarange Joseph , Orne-Gliemann Joanna ,   for the ANRS TasP Study Group
Published: January 2023

Background

Timely linkage to care and ART initiation is critical to decrease the risks of HIV-related morbidity, mortality and HIV transmission, but is often challenging. We report on the implementation and effectiveness of a linkage-to-care intervention in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Methods

In the ANRS 12249 TasP trial on Universal Testing and Treatment (UTT) implemented between 2012–2016, resident individuals ≥16 years were offered home-based HIV testing every six months. Those ascertained to be HIV-positive were referred to trial clinics. Starting May 2013, a linkage-to-care intervention was implemented in both trial arms, consisting of tracking through phone calls and/or home visits to “re-refer” people who had not linked to care to trial clinics within three months of the first home-based referral. Fidelity in implementing the planned intervention was described using Kaplan-Meier estimation to compute conditional probabilities of being tracked and of being re-referred by the linkage-to-care team. Effect of the intervention on time to linkage-to-care was analysed using a Cox regression model censored for death, migration, and end of data follow-up.

Results

Among the 2,837 individuals (73.7% female) included in the analysis, 904 (32%) were tracked at least once, and 573 of them (63.4%) were re-referred. Probabilities of being re-referred was 17% within six months of first referral and 31% within twelve months. Compared to individuals not re-referred by the intervention, linkage-to-care was significantly higher among those with at least one re-referral through phone call (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.82; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.47–2.25), and among those with re-referral through both phone call and home visit (aHR = 3.94; 95% CI = 2.07–7.48).

Conclusions

Phone calls and home visits following HIV testing were challenging to implement, but appeared effective in improving linkage-to-care amongst those receiving the intervention. Such patient-centred strategies should be part of UTT programs to achieve the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets.
Development and validation of an instrument to measure personality in adolescence: The HEXACO Medium School Inventory Extended (MSI-E)
Authors: Gnisci Augusto , Mottola Francesca , Perugini Marco , Senese Vincenzo Paolo , Sergi Ida
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we aimed at developing and validating a novel instrument to evaluate personality in 10–14 years old adolescents with six basic traits, with two dedicated studies. In Study 1, we generated a large pool of items (384 items) from three basic items sources, which we administered to 714 Italian adolescents. Using principal component analysis (PCA) and extension factor analysis, we selected the best eight items for each facet, and so the best 32 items for each factor, except for the Unconventionality facet of Openness to Experience (O) for which we selected the best six items. This resulted in a total of 190 items. The 190-item HEXACO-MSI had very good levels of dimensional validity and reliability, but it fell short in containing 8 items for each facet (i.e., for Unconventionality) and in balancing normal and reversed items within each facet. Therefore, in a second study we added items to the scale and verified again the dimensionality and reliability with the goal of developing a final version of the scale. In Study 2, we administered a version of the HEXACO-MSI consisting of 219 items to 1175 Italian adolescents. Using principal component analysis (PCA), we selected the best eight items for each facet equally balanced between normal and reversed items within each facet and factor. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed the six-factor structure and its invariance. The results showed that the HEXACO-MSI-E had a clear six-factor structure in adolescents, that was invariant across gender and across the three middle school classes, and was reliable. Finally, we established temporal stability of each factor in two measurements after one year. Together with the positive results of this contribution, we discussed some aspects for future studies.
Qualitative changes in children’s physical activity and sedentary behaviours throughout the COVID-19 pandemic: The HomeSPACE project
Authors: Richards Amie B. , Sheldrick Michael P. , Swindell Nils , Barker Harriet G. , Hudson Joanne , Stratton Gareth
Published: January 2023

Opportunities for children to be physically active during the COVID-19 pandemic were limited, resulting in a decrease in overall physical activity and an increase in sedentary behaviour during the lockdown restrictions of the pandemic. This study further explored these changes across various stages of the restrictions, starting during the first UK-wide lockdown in March 2020 through to the “new normal” in December 2021. Nine families, consisting of eleven children (36% girls, 64% boys; aged 13.38 years ± 1.14), eight mothers and one father were tracked throughout this time, using semi-structured interviews to explore the fluctuations in physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the home environment in the context of self-determination theory. Findings indicate that as restrictions eased, physical activity within the home decreased, as children were exposed to more opportunities at school and in the community; these opportunities seemingly increased children’s motivation to be physically active through increasing levels of their basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Some children’s physical activity levels have returned to pre-COVID-19 levels, with a newfound enjoyment for being physically active. Whilst others now prefer to pursue more sedentary behaviours that became habitual during the lockdown restrictions. Accessible opportunities now need to be promoted to drive up children’s motivations to be physically active following the years of uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic.
Different CprABC amino acid sequences affect nisin A susceptibility in Clostridioides difficile isolates
Authors: Ide Noriaki , Kawada-Matsuo Miki , Le Mi Nguyen-Tra , Hisatsune Junzo , Nishi Hiromi , Hara Toshinori , Kitamura Norikazu , Kashiyama Seiya , Yokozaki Michiya , Kawaguchi Hiroyuki , Ohge Hiroki , Sugai Motoyuki , Komatsuzawa Hitoshi
Published: January 2023

Clinical isolates of Clostridioides difficile sometimes exhibit multidrug resistance and cause diarrhea after antibiotic administration. Metronidazole and vancomycin are often used as therapeutic agents, but resistance to these antibiotics has been found clinically. Therefore, the development of alternative antimicrobial agents is needed. Nisin A, produced by Lactococcus lactis, has been demonstrated to be effective against C. difficile infection. In this study, we evaluated the susceptibility of 11 C. difficile clinical isolates to nisin A and found that they could be divided into 2 groups: high and low susceptibility. Since CprABC and DltDABC, which are responsible for nisin A efflux and cell surface charge, respectively, have been reported to be related to nisin A susceptibility, we investigated the expression of cprA and dltA among the 11 strains. cprA expression in all strains was induced by nisin A, but dltA expression was not. The expression levels of both genes did not correlate with nisin A susceptibility in these clinical isolates. To evaluate cell surface charge, we performed a cytochrome C binding assay and found no relationship between charge and nisin A susceptibility. Then, we determined the whole genome sequence of each clinical isolate and carried out phylogenetic analysis. The 11 isolates separated into two major clusters, which were consistent with the differences in nisin A susceptibility. Furthermore, we found common differences in several amino acids in the sequences of CprA, CprB, and CprC between the two clusters. Therefore, we speculated that the different amino acid sequences of CprABC might be related to nisin A susceptibility. In addition, C. difficile strains could be divided in the same two groups based on susceptibility to epidermin and mutacin III, which are structurally similar to nisin A. These results suggest that genotypic variations in C. difficile strains confer different susceptibilities to bacteriocins.
Challenges and commonly used countermeasures in the implementation of lifelong antiretroviral therapy for PMTCT in Central Uganda: Health providers’ perspective
Authors: Mukose Aggrey David , Bastiaens Hilde , Makumbi Fredrick , Buregyeya Esther , Naigino Rose , Musinguzi Joshua , Van Geertruyden Jean-Pierre , Wanyenze Rhoda K.
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Uganda has implemented lifelong antiretroviral therapy for the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission since September 2012. Implementation of this strategy has been met with health provider and client challenges which have persisted up to date. This study explored providers’ perspectives on the challenges and countermeasures of the implementation and scale-up of lifelong ART among pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Methods

A qualitative descriptive study was conducted whereby 54 purposively selected participants from six facilities in three districts of Central Uganda namely; Masaka, Mityana, and Luwero were recruited. A key informant interview guide was used to collect data from the study participants. The data were thematically analysed using Atlas-ti, Version 7.

Results

Study participants reported challenges under the themes of 1) inadequacy of HIV service delivery (lack of relevant training, health provider shortages, inadequate counselling, stock-outs of essential HIV commodities); 2) Non-utilization of HIV services (Non-disclosure of HIV- positive results, denial of HIV positive results, fear to be followed up, unwillingness to be referred, large catchment area, lack of transport); and 3) Suboptimal treatment adherence (fear of ART side effects, preference for traditional medicines, low male partner involvement in care and treatment). Strategies such as on-job training, mentorship, task shifting, redistribution of HIV commodities across facilities, accompanying of women to mother-baby care points, ongoing counseling of women, peers, and family support groups were commonly used countermeasures.

Conclusions

This study highlights key challenges that health providers face in implementing lifelong antiretroviral therapy services among pregnant and postpartum women. Context-specific, innovative, and multilevel system interventions are required at national, district, health facility, community and individual levels to scale up and sustain the lifelong antiretroviral therapy strategy among pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Educational drama, traditional Chinese culture and current government policies
Authors: Allern Tor-Helge , Zheng Sisi , Eriksson Stig A.
Published: January 2023

In this article, we present and discuss how traditional Chinese culture is connected to moral education (deyu), current governmental strategies in education and educational drama as an approach to moral education. We argue that the mixture in deyu of moral and ideological education in today’s China is nothing new, and totally consistent with China’s pre-revolutionary periods. Although current government strategies in education emphasize aesthetic subjects such as drama/theatre (Xiju), and include methods and conventions in educational drama, it is hard to perceive whether the policy is open to an explorative learning process, characteristic of educational drama, or rather implies a more classical approach, based on textbooks and memorization, or even pure learning techniques. Nevertheless, processual processes to drama seem to harmonize with ambitions in China’s current school reforms and to be relevant to moral education within a social framework.
La Atención Primaria ante el cambio climático de los sistemas sanitarios
Authors: Lorenzo Sergio Minué
Published: January 2023

Este artículo analiza el papel y las adaptaciones de la Atención Primaria de Salud comparando la situación de la Atención Primaria de Salud antes de la pandemia, la respuesta de la Atención Primaria de Salud a Covid-19 y el posible escenario post-pandémico. Se observa que el futuro próximo tendrá incidencias ocasionales de brotes y epidemias que requerirán una actualización permanente de la vigilancia epidemiológica y de las necesidades de salud pública. Además, la evaluación de los cambios que la pandemia de Covid-19 ha introducido en la prestación de servicios, especialmente en lo que se refiere al uso de nuevas tecnologías y al rediseño de los servicios, afecta a la atención primaria, que es un elemento estructural de cualquier servicio sanitario.
Top 100 Global Innovators 2023
Authors: White Ed , Hanganu Mihnea
Published: January 2023

Using expertly curated information and insights, paired with human expertise, Top 100 Global Innovators 2023 from Clarivate recognizes companies and institutions whose research and innovation sit on, and define, the edge of possibility, and embody consistent over-the-bar innovation excellence.