bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using Rapid Research Implementation and Collaborations to Assess the Mental Health Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Community and Clinical Cohorts
Authors: Corley Samantha S. , Gillezeau Christina , Molina Lucero , Alpert Naomi , Eugene Adriana , Lieberman-Cribbin Wil , Rapp Joseph , Ryniker Laura , Shaam Pooja , Tuminello Stephanie , Gonzalez Adam , Taioli Emanuela , Schwartz Rebecca M.
Published: April 2021

A research initiative was launched during the initial coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak by 3 New York metropolitan area institutions. Collaborators recruited community members and patients from previous research studies to examine COVID-19 experiences and mental health symptoms through self-report surveys. The current report descriptively presents findings from the initial survey characterized by both community and clinical cohorts, and discusses challenges encountered with rapid implementation. The clinical cohort exhibited higher rates of symptoms of mental health difficulties (depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) as compared to the community cohort. COVID-19 positivity rates were similar among both groups and lower than the national average. While both groups reported low rates of job loss, community members reported higher rates of financial difficulty resulting from the pandemic. Findings indicate the need for further collaborative research on the mental health impact of COVID-19.
Household education gaps and gender role attitudes
Authors: Giani Marco , Hope David , Skorge Øyvind Søraas
Published: April 2021

Individuals' attitudes about gender roles have been shown to be associated with a wide range of political outcomes. It is therefore crucial to better understand what shapes these attitudes. This note takes advantage of a randomized survey experiment embedded in the 2018 wave of the European Social Survey (ESS) to investigate how differences in education levels between partners influence the “gender childcare bias”—the extent to which individuals disapprove more of women working full time with children under three than men. Although male and female respondents exhibit an equally strong gender childcare bias on average, we find clear-cut evidence that the bias varies asymmetrically across the household education gap for women and men. In particular, positive household education gaps lead to a smaller gender childcare bias for female respondents, whereas the opposite holds for male respondents. Our findings are more in line with a resource-bargaining approach than a gender identity approach to the formation of gender role attitudes.
Tobacco and the Social Life of Conquest in London, 1580–1625
Authors: Working Lauren
Published: April 2021

From its origins in the Chesapeake and the Caribbean to its transformation into smoke in a Jacobean chamber, tobacco entered drastically new contexts of use as it travelled from Indigenous America to the social spaces of early seventeenth-century London. This article draws on comparative anthropology and archaeology to explore how early colonization, particularly in Jamestown, influenced the development of smoking among the English political elite. This offers a case study into the ways in which Indigenous commodities and knowledge were integrated into English ritual practices of their own; it also reveals the deliberate choices made by the English to set themselves apart from those they sought to colonize. Placing the material practices and wit poetry of gentlemen within the geopolitics of colonialism raises attention to the acts of erasure or dispossession that accompanied the incorporation of tobacco into urban sociability. Here, the practices of Indigenous peoples were modified and altered, and the pleasures of plantation were expressed as an intoxication as potent as the plant itself.
Spectral properties of anterior sibilant fricatives in Northern Peninsular Spanish and sibilant-merging and non-merging varieties of Basque
Authors: Beristain Ander
Published: April 2021

This paper focuses on the spectral properties of anterior sibilant fricatives in Northern Peninsular Spanish, and sibilant-merging and non-merging varieties of Basque. Non-merging varieties of Basque have two voiceless anterior sibilant fricatives, characterized as apico-alveolar and lamino-alveolar. In other Basque varieties, however, these two phonemes have merged with varying results. Twenty-four participants divided into four different groups have been studied. One group is a set of monolingual Spanish speakers from north-central Spain, while the remaining three are Basque–Spanish bilingual groups with different sibilant fricative systems in Basque. The goal is to describe the spectral properties of anterior sibilant fricatives and examine the effect of the L1-Basque sibilant system upon L2-Spanish. The Basque varieties chosen are: (i) Azpeitia Basque, where merging in favor of the lamino-alveolar sibilant fricative has occurred; (ii) Lemoa Basque, where the merging in favor of the apico-alveolar sibilant fricative is widespread; and (iii) Goizueta Basque, where no merging has happened. Participants took part in an elicitation task where they produced sentences containing target words with an intervocalic anterior sibilant fricative in Basque and Spanish. Bayesian probability was used for inferential statistics. Speakers of the non-merging Basque variety show the narrowest acoustic dispersion of /s/ in Spanish, as opposed to broader diffusion in the other three groups. Regarding L1 transfer, while the Azpeitia group does not show transfer into Spanish, the Lemoa and Goizueta groups do. Results show that /s/ is more fronted for monolingual Spanish speakers from north-central Spain than the previous literature has reported.
Gendered experiences of unemployment, suicide and self-harm: a population-level record linkage study
Authors: Cunningham R. , Milner A. , Gibb S. , Rijnberg V. , Disney G. , Kavanagh A. M.
Published: April 2021

Background

Unemployment and being not in the labour force (NILF) are risk factors for suicide, but their association with self-harm is unclear, and there is continuing debate about the role of confounding by prior mental health conditions. We examine associations between employment status and self-harm and suicide in a prospective cohort, taking into account prior mental-health-related factors.

Methods

We used linked data from the New Zealand Integrated Data Infrastructure. The outcomes were chosen to be hospital presentation for self-harm and death by suicide. The exposure was employment status, defined as employed, unemployed, or NILF, measured at the 2013 Census. Confounders included demographic factors and mental health history (use of antidepressant medication, use of mental health services, and prior self-harm). Logistic regression was used to model effects. Analyses were stratified by gender.

Results

For males, unemployment was associated with an increased risk of suicide [odds ratio (OR): 1.48, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20–1.84] and self-harm (OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.45–1.68) after full adjustment for confounders. NILF was associated with an increased risk of self-harm (OR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.32–1.55), but less of an association was seen with suicide (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 0.94–1.49). For females, unemployment was associated with an increased risk of suicide (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 0.93–1.80) and of self-harm (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.43–1.62), and NILF was associated with a similar increase in risk for suicide (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 0.98–1.75) and self-harm (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.26–1.40).

Discussion

Exclusion from employment is associated with a considerably heightened risk of suicide and self-harm for both men and women, even among those without prior mental health problems.
Intake of vitamin B12 and other characteristics of women of reproductive age on a vegan diet in Australia
Authors: Benham Amanda J , Gallegos Danielle , Hanna Katherine L , Hannan-Jones Mary T
Published: April 2021

Objective:

(i) To examine demographic and health characteristics of women of reproductive age on a vegan diet in Australia and compare these to the general population; (ii) to identify sources and intake of vitamin B12 and compare intake to current recommendations and (iii) examine associations between participant characteristics and adequacy of vitamin B12 intake.

Design:

In this cross-sectional study, data were collected via an online survey. Demographic and health characteristics of women on a vegan diet were compared with women in the general population (using Australian Bureau of Statistics data). Intake of vitamin B12 was estimated using a FFQ and estimation of supplemental intake.

Setting:

Australia.

Participants:

Participants (n 1530) were women aged 18–44 years who had been on a vegan diet for at least 6 months.

Results:

While BMI, smoking habits and intakes of fruit and vegetables compared favourably with the general population, 26 % of respondents had estimated intakes of vitamin B12 below recommendations. Analyses of relationships between vitamin B12 intake and participant characteristics revealed that the strongest predictor of intake was supplementation (P < 0·001); however, 25 % had not supplemented with vitamin B12 in the past 3 months.

Conclusions:

The vitamin B12 intakes of a substantial proportion of Australian women of reproductive age consuming a vegan diet do not meet the recommended intake, which could adversely affect their health, and, if they are pregnant or lactating, that of their infants too. There is a need for further research in this area to identify effective strategies to address this situation.
Disabled veterans and their families: daily life in Japan during WWII
Authors: Imajoh Toru
Published: April 2021

This study aimed to provide insight into the daily lives of disabled Japanese veterans and their families during World War II (WWII). After the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese government expanded the conscription system in order to enable large-scale mobilization while providing comprehensive military support led by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The top priority was to create mechanisms to direct disabled veterans into the home front, so-called Saiki hōkō. Even under the scheme, families of disabled veterans in farming villages during WWII had difficulty recovering their pre-war living standards. However, some households economically exceeded their prewar living standards as veterans returned to work while also receiving pensions and taking advantage of support from the government.
Decolonizing madness? Transcultural psychiatry, international order and birth of a ‘global psyche’ in the aftermath of the Second World War
Authors: Antić Ana
Published: April 2021

This article offers a transnational account of the historical origins and development of the concept of ‘global psyche’ and transcultural psychiatry. It argues that the concept of universal, global psyche emerged in the aftermath of the Second World War and during decolonization, when West European psychiatry strove to leave behind its colonial legacies and lay the foundation for a more inclusive conversation between Western and non-Western mental health communities. In the second half of the twentieth century, leading ‘psy’ professionals across the globe set about identifying and defining the universal psychological mechanisms supposedly shared among all cultures (and ‘civilizations’). The article explores this far-reaching psychiatric, social and cultural search for a new definition of ‘common humanity’, relating it to the social and political history of decolonization, and to the post-war reconstruction and search for stable peace. It provides a transnational account of a series of interlinked developments and trends around the world in order to arrive at a global history of the decolonization of mental health science.
Transmission lines characteristic impedance versus Q-factor in CMOS technology
Authors: Venter Johannes J.P. , Franc Anne-Laure , Stander Tinus , Ferrari Philippe
Published: April 2021

This paper presents a systematic comparison of the relationship between transmission line characteristic impedance and Q-factor of CPW, slow-wave CPW, microstrip, and slow-wave microstrip in the same CMOS back-end-of-line process. It is found that the characteristic impedance for optimal Q-factor depends on the ground-to-ground spacing of the slow-wave transmission line. Although the media are shown to be similar from a mode of propagation point of view, the 60-GHz optimal Q-factor for slow-wave transmission lines is achieved when the characteristic impedance is ≈23 Ω for slow-wave CPWs and ≈43 Ω for slow-wave microstrip lines, with Q-factor increasing for wider ground plane gaps. Moreover, it is shown that slow-wave CPW is found to have a 12% higher optimal Q-factor than slow-wave microstrip for a similar chip area. The data presented here may be used in selecting Z0 values for S-MS and S-CPW passives in CMOS that maximize transmission line Q-factors.
The Emergence of a Hybrid Public Sphere in Myanmar: Implications for Democratisation
Authors: Middleton Carl , Win Tay Zar Myo
Published: April 2021

Myanmar was under a military government for almost six decades, during which time the state maintained an ‘authoritarian public sphere’ that limited independent civil society, mass media and the population's access to information. In 2010, Myanmar held flawed elections that installed a semi-civilian government and established a hybrid governance regime, within which civil, political and media freedoms expanded while the military's influence remained significant. In this paper, we examine ‘hybrid governance at work’ in the ‘hybrid public sphere’, that holds in tension elements of an authoritarian and democratic public sphere. The boundaries of these spheres are demarcated through legal means, including the 2008 military-created Constitution, associated judicial and administrative state structures and the actions of civil society and community movements toward political, military and bureaucratic elite actors. We develop our analysis first through an assessment of Myanmar's political transition at the national level and, then, in an empirical case of subnational politics in Dawei City regarding the planning of the electricity supply. We suggest that the hybrid public sphere enables discourses—associated with authoritarian popularist politics in Myanmar—that build legitimacy amongst the majority while limiting the circulation of critical discourses of marginalized groups and others challenging government policies. We conclude that for substantive democracy to deepen in Myanmar, civil society and media must actively reinforce the opportunity to produce and circulate critical discourse while also facilitating inclusive debates and consolidating legislated civil, political and media freedoms. On 1 February 2021, shortly after this article was finalized, a military coup d’état detained elected leaders and contracted the post-2010 hybrid public sphere, including constraining access to information via control of the internet and mass media and severely limiting civil and political rights.
A soft, synergy-based robotic glove for grasping assistance
Authors: Alicea Ryan , Xiloyannis Michele , Chiaradia Domenico , Barsotti Michele , Frisoli Antonio , Masia Lorenzo
Published: April 2021

This paper presents a soft, tendon-driven, robotic glove designed to augment grasp capability and provide rehabilitation assistance for postspinal cord injury patients. The basis of the design is an underactuation approach utilizing postural synergies of the hand to support a large variety of grasps with a single actuator. The glove is lightweight, easy to don, and generates sufficient hand closing force to assist with activities of daily living. Device efficiency was examined through a characterization of the power transmission elements, and output force production was observed to be linear in both cylindrical and pinch grasp configurations. We further show that, as a result of the synergy-inspired actuation strategy, the glove only slightly alters the distribution of forces across the fingers, compared to a natural, unassisted grasping pattern. Finally, a preliminary case study was conducted using a participant suffering from an incomplete spinal cord injury (C7). It was found that through the use of the glove, the participant was able to achieve a 50% performance improvement (from four to six blocks) in a standard Box and Block test.
The Combined Influence of Lower Band Chorus and ULF Waves on Radiation Belt Electron Fluxes at Individual L‐Shells
Authors: Simms Laura E. , Engebretson Mark J. , Rodger Craig J. , Dimitrakoudis Stavros , Mann Ian. R. , Chi Peter J.
Published: April 2021

We investigate the timing and relative influence of VLF in the chorus frequency range observed by the DEMETER spacecraft and ULF wave activity from ground stations on daily changes in electron flux (0.23 to over 2.9 MeV) observed by the HEO‐3 spacecraft. At each L‐shell, we use multiple regression to investigate the effects of each wave type and each daily lag independent of the others. We find that reduction and enhancement of electrons occur at different timescales. Chorus power spectral density and ULF wave power are associated with immediate electron decreases on the same day but with flux enhancement 1–2 days later. ULF is nearly always more influential than chorus on both increases and decreases of flux, although chorus is often a significant factor. There was virtually no difference in correlations of ULF Pc3, Pc4, or Pc5 with electron flux. A synergistic interaction between chorus and ULF waves means that enhancement is most effective when both waves are present, pointing to a two‐step process where local acceleration by chorus waves first energizes electrons which are then brought to even higher energies by inward radial diffusion due to ULF waves. However, decreases in flux due to these waves act additively. Chorus and ULF waves combined are most effective at describing changes in electron flux at >1.5 MeV. At lower L (2–3), correlations between ULF and VLF (likely hiss) with electron flux were low. The most successful models, over L = 4–6, explained up to 47.1% of the variation in the data.
Seasonal Variability of Freshwater Plumes in the Eastern Gulf of Guinea as Inferred From Satellite Measurements
Authors: Houndegnonto O. J. , Kolodziejczyk N. , Maes C. , Bourlès B. , Da‐Allada C. Y. , Reul N.
Published: April 2021

In the eastern Gulf of Guinea (GG), freshwater originated from rivers discharges into the ocean and high precipitation rate are key contributors to the upper ocean vertical density stratification, and play a key role in modulating local air‐sea interactions as well as biogeochemical cycle. Nevertheless, the dynamics of the GG freshwater plumes remain poorly documented because of the scarcity of historical, in situ observations and the lack of an ad hoc satellite‐based analysis in this region. Recent advances in remote sensing capabilities from the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite mission offer unprecedented coverage and spatiotemporal resolution of Sea Surface Salinity (SSS) in the GG. Using SMOS SSS and available in situ measurements, the seasonal variability of freshwater plumes and associated physical mechanisms controlling their seasonal cycle are presented and analyzed. Freshwater plumes in the GG follow two dynamical regimes. They present maximum offshore extension during boreal winter and exhibit minimum signature during summer. In the northeastern GG, SSS variability is mainly explained by high precipitation rate and Niger River runoff during winter, while during late summer, SSS is mainly driven by horizontal advection. In contrast, southeast of GG, freshwater plumes are mainly supplied by Congo River runoff. From September to March, SSS variability is driven by zonal advection, with a major contribution from Ekman wind‐driven currents. During spring‐summer, the observed SSS increase is likely explained by entrainment and vertical mixing. SSS budget and freshwater advection processes are discussed in the context of the shallow stratification induced by freshwater.
Differences in the Diurnal Variation of Precipitation Estimated by Spaceborne Radar, Passive Microwave Radiometer, and IMERG
Authors: Hayden Lindsey , Liu Chuntao
Published: April 2021

Accurate, high‐resolution measurements of the precipitation diurnal cycle are important for understanding local variations in precipitation and the underlying processes which cause them. Combining 16 years of measurements from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar (PR) and 4 years from the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Dual‐frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) creates a 20‐year mean of near surface precipitation rate at 0.1° × 0.1°, hourly resolution from 35°N to 35°S. Similar data sets are created using the same proportions of the TRMM Microwave Imager and GPM Microwave Imager measurements, and 18 years of the Integrated Multi‐satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) precipitation product. The phase and amplitude of the diurnal variation from each data set are calculated at each grid point using a fast Fourier transform (FFT). The satellite data are validated with 14 years of hourly National Climatic Data Center rain gauge measurements over the southeast United States by applying the same FFT method. Spaceborne radar best represents the unaveraged magnitude and diurnal phase measured by the gauges in this region. Time delays are found in precipitation retrievals from passive microwave observations as well as in the IMERG product. The strengths and weaknesses of these high‐resolution data sets in determining the diurnal cycle of precipitation on a climatological scale are discussed across the tropics and subtropics. In general, when compared to PR and DPR retrievals, IMERG overestimates the global precipitation and has varying time lags, which tend to be larger and earlier over regions where organized convective systems are common.
Impacts of Urban Canopy on Two Convective Storms With Contrasting Synoptic Conditions Over Nanjing, China
Authors: Yang Long , Li Qi , Yuan Huiling , Niu Zhixing , Wang Lachun
Published: April 2021

Diverse urban‐induced rainfall anomalies highlight the need for improved understanding on extreme rainfall in cities. In this study, we examine urban modification of rainfall over Nanjing, China. Our results are based on climatological analyses of hourly rainfall observations and high‐resolution Weather Research and Forecasting model simulations coupled with different urban physics schemes. A gridded dataset of urban canopy parameters (UCPs) was developed to better characterize the geometrical features of downtown Nanjing. Two convective storms were investigated to shed light on the impacts of urban canopy on spatial and temporal rainfall variabilities for storms with contrasting synoptic conditions. We show that the model simulations coupled with the multi‐layer urban physics scheme and the gridded UCPs can noticeably reduce biases in surface thermal and dynamic fields, but its performance in rainfall patterns varies with storm events. There is a strong convergence zone over the urban‐rural interface induced by building complexes, leading to intensified convection for the storm with strong synoptic conditions but bifurcated moisture fluxes for the storm with weak synoptic conditions. Lagrangian analysis of storm elements further illustrates the role of urban canopy in deflecting storm cells approaching the city for the storm under weak synoptic conditions. The magnitudes of positive rainfall anomalies induced by urban canopy range from 60% to 100% of the storm‐total rainfall. Our study highlights the necessity of improved characterization of urban canopy and the perturbed atmospheric boundary layer processes in examining urban convective rainfall.
Obliquity‐Driven CO2 Exchange Between Mars' Atmosphere, Regolith, and Polar Cap
Authors: Buhler P. B. , Piqueux S.
Published: April 2021

Discerning the total mass of Mars’ obliquity‐timescale (∼105‐year) exchangeable CO2 inventory has been elusive for decades due to the unknown adsorptive capacity of its regolith. Now, however, the stratigraphy of Mars’ recently discovered South Polar Massive CO2 Ice Deposit (MCID) provides a record of orbit‐driven CO2 exchange between its polar cap, atmosphere, and regolith with sufficient constraint to calculate the adsorptive capacity of its regolith and therefore the total mass of its exchangeable CO2 inventory. We use a numerical climate model and Markov Chain Monte Carlo analysis to show that the observed MCID stratigraphic record is most consistent with a mobile CO2 inventory of kg ( mbar, 68% confidence interval) that exchanges on obliquity timescales. We find that adsorptive CO2 exchange with the regolith on obliquity timescales likely occurs in the depth range of >∼200 m to <∼1 km, with the deeper bound set by thermal processes and adsorptive surface availability. Our best‐fit model yields a peak mean annual surface pressure 40% lower than CO2 exchange models that neglect an adsorbing regolith. We provide machine‐readable text files of our results to aid future study of Mars’ climate.
Hillslopes in Headwaters of Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau as Hotspots for Subsurface Dissolved Organic Carbon Processing During Permafrost Thaw
Authors: Sun Yuqin , Clauson Kale , Zhou Min , Sun Ziyong , Zheng Chunmiao , Zheng Yan
Published: April 2021

Climate warming has accelerated thawing of northern permafrost, resulting in changes to the supply of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to inland waters with uncertain fate. Extensive surface water and groundwater interactions occur in alpine permafrost watersheds and likely influence DOC processing differently than systems with limited interactions. Here, we quantify and characterize DOC in waters collected from eight types of water sampled across a small (25 km2) alpine (elevation 2,960–4,820 m a.s.l) watershed in the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP) containing variably degraded permafrost. Three types of water (thermokarst ponds, red mud gully, and seepage‐I) contained high DOC concentrations (5.2–22.6 mg L−1, n = 38), with carbon contributions predominantly from frozen soil meltwater. Spatial patterns of DOC in stream (0.3–4.8 mg L−1, n = 41), and subsurface waters (0.4–3.8 mg L−1, n = 34), all contained frozen soil meltwater carbon as constrained by δ18O and electrical conductivity, reflecting surface‐groundwater exchanges in the upper‐, middle‐, and lower stretches of the watershed. Further, patterns of increasing DOC loss in subsurface waters with decreased proportions of protein‐like organic matter and specific UV absorbance at 254 nm, suggest subsurface microbial processing. Using previously established biodegradation DOC kinetics (0.06 day−1) from the QTP, the groundwater transit time is estimated to be between 6 and 20 days based on DOC loss changes of 32% and 74% for July and September, respectively. Mass balance of DOC inputs and export fluxes demonstrate nearly half of all DOC was lost in this small watershed, indicating hillslopes are hotspots for DOC processing, with subsurface environments playing a key role.
Basement‐Cover Decoupling During the Inversion of a Hyperextended Basin: Insights From the Eastern Pyrenees
Authors: Ducoux M. , Jolivet L. , Cagnard F. , Baudin T.
Published: April 2021

Deformation processes related to early stages of collisional belts, especially the inversion of rifted systems remain poorly constrained, partly because evidence of these processes is usually obliterated during the subsequent collision. The Pyrenean belt resulting from the inversion of a Cretaceous hyperextended rifted margin associated with a high‐temperature and low‐pressure metamorphism in the Internal Metamorphic Zone (IMZ), is a good example for studying the early stage of orogenic deformation. This study is focused on the Eastern Pyrenees where the relation between inverted Mesozoic rifted basins and their basement are well‐preserved. By using maximum temperatures (Tmax) estimated by the Raman Spectroscopy of Carbonaceous Materials geothermometer and structural data, we describe the spatial distribution of the various tectono‐metamorphic units.Tmaxrecorded in the sedimentary cover exposed to the north and to the south of a Paleozoic basement block (Agly massif), exceed 550°C, while the Paleozoic metasediments and their autochthonous Mesozoic cover showTmax < 350°C. The metamorphic sedimentary cover is affected by ductile deformation, while the basement is only affected by brittle deformation. Post‐metamorphism breccias are observed between the basement and the metamorphic sedimentary cover, which are interpreted as a décollement level in the Upper Triassic evaporites. Unlike previous models suggesting that the basement block separated two metamorphic basins (Boucheville and Bas Agly) during rifting, we propose a large displacement of a single metamorphic basin by a large thrust above the basement block. This novel interpretation emphasizes the general allochthonous position of the former hyperextended rift basin (IMZ) thrusted along a decoupling layer.
Mitochondrial quality control protects photoreceptors against oxidative stress in the H2O2-induced models of retinal degeneration diseases
Authors: Zhou Biting , Fang Lijun , Dong Yanli , Yang Juhua , Chen Xiaole , Zhang Nanwen , Zhu Yihua , Huang Tianwen
Published: April 2021

Retinal degeneration diseases (RDDs) are common and devastating eye diseases characterized by the degeneration of photoreceptors, which are highly associated with oxidative stress. Previous studies reported that mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with various neurodegenerative diseases. However, the role of mitochondrial proteostasis mainly regulated by mitophagy and mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mtUPR) in RDDs is unclear. We hypothesized that the mitochondrial proteostasis is neuroprotective against oxidative injury in RDDs. In this study, the data from our hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-treated mouse retinal cone cell line (661w) model of RDDs showed that nicotinamide riboside (NR)-activated mitophagy increased the expression of LC3B II and PINK1, and promoted the co-localization of LC3 and mitochondria, as well as PINK1 and Parkin in the H2O2-treated 661w cells. However, the NR-induced mitophagy was remarkably reversed by chloroquine (CQ) and cyclosporine A (CsA), mitophagic inhibitors. In addition, doxycycline (DOX), an inducer of mtUPR, up-regulated the expression of HSP60 and CHOP, the key proteins of mtUPR. Activation of both mitophagy and mtUPR increased the cell viability and reduced the level of apoptosis and oxidative damage in the H2O2-treated 661w cells. Furthermore, both mitophagy and mtUPR played a protective effect on mitochondria by increasing mitochondrial membrane potential and maintaining mitochondrial mass. By contrast, the inhibition of mitophagy by CQ or CsA reversed the beneficial effect of mitophagy in the H2O2-treated 661w cells. Together, our study suggests that the mitophagy and mtUPR pathways may serve as new therapeutic targets to delay the progression of RDDs through enhancing mitochondrial proteostasis.
Association of sleep duration in middle and old age with incidence of dementia
Authors: Sabia Séverine , Fayosse Aurore , Dumurgier Julien , van Hees Vincent T. , Paquet Claire , Sommerlad Andrew , Kivimäki Mika , Dugravot Aline , Singh-Manoux Archana
Published: April 2021

Sleep dysregulation is a feature of dementia but it remains unclear whether sleep duration prior to old age is associated with dementia incidence. Using data from 7959 participants of the Whitehall II study, we examined the association between sleep duration and incidence of dementia (521 diagnosed cases) using a 25-year follow-up. Here we report higher dementia risk associated with a sleep duration of six hours or less at age 50 and 60, compared with a normal (7 h) sleep duration, although this was imprecisely estimated for sleep duration at age 70 (hazard ratios (HR) 1.22 (95% confidence interval 1.01–1.48), 1.37 (1.10–1.72), and 1.24 (0.98–1.57), respectively). Persistent short sleep duration at age 50, 60, and 70 compared to persistent normal sleep duration was also associated with a 30% increased dementia risk independently of sociodemographic, behavioural, cardiometabolic, and mental health factors. These findings suggest that short sleep duration in midlife is associated with an increased risk of late-onset dementia.
Structure of the far-red light utilizing photosystem I of Acaryochloris marina
Authors: Hamaguchi Tasuku , Kawakami Keisuke , Shinzawa-Itoh Kyoko , Inoue-Kashino Natsuko , Itoh Shigeru , Ifuku Kentaro , Yamashita Eiki , Maeda Kou , Yonekura Koji , Kashino Yasuhiro
Published: April 2021

Acaryochloris marina is one of the cyanobacterial species that can use far-red light to drive photochemical reactions for oxygenic photosynthesis. Here, we report the structure of A. marina photosystem I (PSI) reaction center, determined by cryo-electron microscopy at 2.58 Å resolution. The structure reveals an arrangement of electron carriers and light-harvesting pigments distinct from other type I reaction centers. The paired chlorophyll, or special pair (also referred to as P740 in this case), is a dimer of chlorophyll d and its epimer chlorophyll d′. The primary electron acceptor is pheophytin a, a metal-less chlorin. We show the architecture of this PSI reaction center is composed of 11 subunits and we identify key components that help explain how the low energy yield from far-red light is efficiently utilized for driving oxygenic photosynthesis.
Layered-rocksalt intergrown cathode for high-capacity zero-strain battery operation
Authors: Li Ning , Sun Meiling , Kan Wang Hay , Zhuo Zengqing , Hwang Sooyeon , Renfrew Sara E. , Avdeev Maxim , Huq Ashfia , McCloskey Bryan D. , Su Dong , Yang Wanli , Tong Wei
Published: April 2021

The dependence on lithium-ion batteries leads to a pressing demand for advanced cathode materials. We demonstrate a new concept of layered-rocksalt intergrown structure that harnesses the combined figures of merit from each phase, including high capacity of layered and rocksalt phases, good kinetics of layered oxide and structural advantage of rocksalt. Based on this concept, lithium nickel ruthenium oxide of a main layered structure (R$$\bar{3}$$

3

¯

m) with intergrown rocksalt (Fm$$\bar{3}$$

3

¯

m) is developed, which delivers a high capacity with good rate performance. The interwoven rocksalt structure successfully prevents the anisotropic structural change that is typical for layered oxide, enabling a nearly zero-strain operation upon high-capacity cycling. Furthermore, a design principle is successfully extrapolated and experimentally verified in a series of compositions. Here, we show the success of such layered-rocksalt intergrown structure exemplifies a new battery electrode design concept and opens up a vast space of compositions to develop high-performance intergrown cathode materials.
An integrative analysis of the age-associated multi-omic landscape across cancers
Authors: Chatsirisupachai Kasit , Lesluyes Tom , Paraoan Luminita , Van Loo Peter , de Magalhães João Pedro
Published: April 2021

Age is the most important risk factor for cancer, as cancer incidence and mortality increase with age. However, how molecular alterations in tumours differ among patients of different age remains largely unexplored. Here, using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, we comprehensively characterise genomic, transcriptomic and epigenetic alterations in relation to patients’ age across cancer types. We show that tumours from older patients present an overall increase in genomic instability, somatic copy-number alterations (SCNAs) and somatic mutations. Age-associated SCNAs and mutations are identified in several cancer-driver genes across different cancer types. The largest age-related genomic differences are found in gliomas and endometrial cancer. We identify age-related global transcriptomic changes and demonstrate that these genes are in part regulated by age-associated DNA methylation changes. This study provides a comprehensive, multi-omics view of age-associated alterations in cancer and underscores age as an important factor to consider in cancer research and clinical practice.
Growth hormone deficiency testing and treatment following mild traumatic brain injury
Authors: Mercier Leah J. , Kruger Natalia , Le Quynk B. , Fung Tak S. , Kline Gregory A. , Debert Chantel T.
Published: April 2021

Pituitary dysfunction, specifically growth hormone (GH) deficiency, can occur following traumatic brain injury. Our objective was to characterize the prevalence of GH deficiency (GHD) testing and response to recombinant human GH (rhGH) treatment in adults with persistent symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) referred for assessment of pituitary dysfunction. A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients seen at an outpatient brain injury clinic with a diagnosis of mTBI and persistent post-concussive symptoms who were referred to endocrinology. Clinical assessments of symptoms were collected. Investigations and results of GHD were collected, including initiation of rhGH treatment and treatment response. Of the 253 patients seen in both brain injury and endocrinology clinics, 97 with mTBI were referred for investigation of pituitary dysfunction and 73 (75%) had dynamic testing for assessment of GHD. Of the 26 individuals diagnosed with GHD, 23 (88%) started rhGH. GH therapy was inconsistently offered based on interpretation of GH dynamic testing results. Of those who started rhGH, 18 (78%) had a useful treatment response. This study suggests that clinical management of these patients is varied, highlighting a need for clear guidelines for the diagnosis and management of GHD following mTBI.
Reaction lumping in metabolic networks for application with thermodynamic metabolic flux analysis
Authors: Seep Lea , Razaghi-Moghadam Zahra , Nikoloski Zoran
Published: April 2021

Thermodynamic metabolic flux analysis (TMFA) can narrow down the space of steady-state flux distributions, but requires knowledge of the standard Gibbs free energy for the modelled reactions. The latter are often not available due to unknown Gibbs free energy change of formation$$, {\Delta }_{f} G^{0}$$,ΔfG0, of metabolites. To optimize the usage of data on thermodynamics in constraining a model, reaction lumping has been proposed to eliminate metabolites with unknown$${\Delta }_{f} G^{0}$$ΔfG0. However, the lumping procedure has not been formalized nor implemented for systematic identification of lumped reactions. Here, we propose, implement, and test a combined procedure for reaction lumping, applicable to genome-scale metabolic models. It is based on identification of groups of metabolites with unknown$${\Delta }_{f} G^{0}$$ΔfG0whose elimination can be conducted independently of the others via: (1)group implementation, aiming to eliminate an entire such group, and, if this is infeasible, (2) asequential implementationto ensure that a maximal number of metabolites with unknown$${\Delta }_{f} G^{0}$$ΔfG0are eliminated. Our comparative analysis with genome-scale metabolic models ofEscherichia coli,Bacillus subtilis,andHomo sapiensshows that the combined procedure provides an efficient means for systematic identification of lumped reactions. We also demonstrate that TMFA applied to models with reactions lumped according to the proposed procedure lead to more precise predictions in comparison to the original models. The provided implementation thus ensures the reproducibility of the findings and their application with standard TMFA.
Model of local hydrogen permeability in stainless steel with two coexisting structures
Authors: Itakura Akiko N. , Miyauchi Naoya , Murase Yoshiharu , Yakabe Taro , Kitajima Masahiro , Aoyagi Satoka
Published: April 2021

The dynamics of hydrogen in metals with mixed grain structure is not well understood at a microscopic scale. One of the biggest issues facing the hydrogen economy is “hydrogen embrittlement” of metal induced by hydrogen entering and diffusing into the material. Hydrogen diffusion in metallic materials is difficult to grasp owing to the non-uniform compositions and structures of metal. Here a time-resolved “operando hydrogen microscope” was used to interpret local diffusion behaviour of hydrogen in the microstructure of a stainless steel with austenite and martensite structures. The martensite/austenite ratios differed in each local region of the sample. The path of hydrogen permeation was inferred from the time evolution of hydrogen permeation in several regions. We proposed a model of hydrogen diffusion in a dual-structure material and verified the validity of the model by simulations that took into account the transfer of hydrogen at the interfaces.
Revealing time’s secrets at the National Theatre of Costa Rica via innovative software for cultural heritage research
Authors: Barrantes-Madrigal M. D. , Zúñiga-Salas T. , Arce-Tucker R. E. , Chavarría-Sibaja A. , Sánchez-Solís J. , Mena-Vega J. , Acuña-Umaña K. , Gómez-Tencio M. , Wang-Qiu K. , Lizano-Sánchez F. , Marín-Cruz C. , Herrera-Sancho O. A.
Published: April 2021

Establishing affordable, efficient, accessible, innovative, and multidisciplinary methodologies to the diagnosis of the conservation state of an artwork is key to carry out appropriate strategies of conservation and consequently to the creation of modern public policies on cultural heritage. Limited access to large-format paintings is a challenge to restoration scientists seeking to obtain information quickly, in a non-destructive and non-invasive manner, and identify regions of interest. Therefore, we put forward two unique software tools based on multispectral imaging techniques, with the long-term aim to assess the artist’s intentions, creative process, and colour palette. This development paves the way for a comprehensive and multidisciplinary understanding of the mysteries encompassed in each pictorial layer, through the study of their physical and chemical characteristics. We conducted the first ever study onMusas IandMusas II, two large-format paintings by Italian artist Carlo Ferrario, located in the National Theatre of Costa Rica. In this study, we used our novel imaging techniques to choose regions of interest in order to study sample layers; while also assessing the works’ state of conservation and possible biodeterioration. We explored the applications of our two versatile software tools,RegionOfInterestandCrystalDistribution, and confirmed paint stratigraphies by means of microscopy and spectroscopy analyses (OM, SEM-EDX, Fluorescent microscopy, FTIR-ATR and micro-Raman). In a pilot study, we identified the artist’s main colour palette: zinc white, lead white, chrome yellow, lead read, viridian, along with artificial vermilion and ultramarine pigments. We were able to identify artificial vermilion and ultramarine and distinguish them from the natural pigments usingCrystalDistributionto map the average size and diameter of the pigment crystals within the paint layers. This study demonstrated that software-based multidisciplinary imaging techniques are novel in establishing preventive and non-invasive methods for historical painting conservation studies, in addition, this study provides tools with great potential to be used in the future in applications such as virtual restoration.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of geographic differences in comorbidities and associated severity and mortality among individuals with COVID-19
Authors: Thakur Bhaskar , Dubey Pallavi , Benitez Joseph , Torres Joshua P. , Reddy Sireesha , Shokar Navkiran , Aung Koko , Mukherjee Debabrata , Dwivedi Alok Kumar
Published: April 2021

Several comorbidities have been shown to be associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related severity and mortality. However, considerable variation in the prevalence estimates of comorbidities and their effects on COVID-19 morbidity and mortality have been observed in prior studies. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine geographical, age, and gender related differences in the prevalence of comorbidities and associated severity and mortality rates among COVID-19 patients. We conducted a search using PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE to include all COVID-19 studies published between January 1st, 2020 to July 24th, 2020 reporting comorbidities with severity or mortality. We included studies reporting the confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 on human patients that also provided information on comorbidities or disease outcomes. We used DerSimonian and Laird random effects method for calculating estimates. Of 120 studies with 125,446 patients, the most prevalent comorbidity was hypertension (32%), obesity (25%), diabetes (18%), and cardiovascular disease (16%) while chronic kidney or other renal diseases (51%, 44%), cerebrovascular accident (43%, 44%), and cardiovascular disease (44%, 40%) patients had more COVID-19 severity and mortality respectively. Considerable variation in the prevalence of comorbidities and associated disease severity and mortality in different geographic regions was observed. The highest mortality was observed in studies with Latin American and European patients with any medical condition, mostly older adults (≥ 65 years), and predominantly male patients. Although the US studies observed the highest prevalence of comorbidities in COVID-19 patients, the severity of COVID-19 among each comorbid condition was highest in Asian studies whereas the mortality was highest in the European and Latin American countries. Risk stratification and effective control strategies for the COVID-19 should be done according to comorbidities, age, and gender differences specific to geographical location.
Author Correction: Modern Anesthetic Ethers Demonstrate Quantum Interactions with Entangled Photons
Authors: Burdick Ryan K. , Villabona-Monsalve Juan P. , Mashour George A. , Goodson Theodore
Published: April 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Retraction Note: In vitro and in vivo responses of macrophages to magnesium-doped titanium
Authors: Li Bin , Cao Huiliang , Zhao Yaochao , Cheng Mengqi , Qin Hui , Cheng Tao , Hu Yan , Zhang Xianlong , Liu Xuanyong
Published: April 2021

Editor's Note: this Article has been retracted; the Retraction Note is available at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88664-z.
Sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion by flow cytometry reveals the presence of nucleoprotein-reactive antibodies in unexposed individuals
Authors: Egia-Mendikute Leire , Bosch Alexandre , Prieto-Fernández Endika , Lee So Young , Jiménez-Lasheras Borja , García del Río Ana , Antoñana-Vildosola Asier , Bruzzone Chiara , Bizkarguenaga Maider , Embade Nieves , Gil-Redondo Rubén , Martínez-Chantar María Luz , López-Hoyos Marcos , Abrescia Nicola G. A. , Mato José M. , Millet Óscar , Palazón Asís
Published: April 2021

There is an ongoing need of developing sensitive and specific methods for the determination of SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion. For this purpose, we have developed a multiplexed flow cytometric bead array (C19BA) that allows the identification of IgG and IgM antibodies against three immunogenic proteins simultaneously: the spike receptor-binding domain (RBD), the spike protein subunit 1 (S1) and the nucleoprotein (N). Using different cohorts of samples collected before and after the pandemic, we show that this assay is more sensitive than ELISAs performed in our laboratory. The combination of three viral antigens allows for the interrogation of full seroconversion. Importantly, we have detected N-reactive antibodies in COVID-19-negative individuals. Here we present an immunoassay that can be easily implemented and has superior potential to detect low antibody titers compared to current gold standard serology methods.