bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discrimination, gender dysphoria, drinking to cope, and alcohol harms in the UK trans and non-binary community
Authors: Davies Emma L , Ezquerra-Romano Ivan , Thayne Beth , Holloway Zhi , Bayliss Jacob , O’Callaghan Stewart , Connolly Dean J
Published: October 2023

Transgender (trans) and non-binary people may be at increased risk of alcohol harms, but little is known about motives for drinking in this community. This study explored the relationship between risk of alcohol dependence, experience of alcohol harms, drinking motives, dysphoria, and discrimination within a United Kingdom sample of trans and non-binary people with a lifetime history of alcohol use. A cross-sectional survey was co-produced with community stakeholders and administered to a purposive sample of trans and non-binary people from 1 February until 31 March 2022. A total of 462 respondents were included—159 identified as non-binary and/or genderqueer (identities outside the man/woman binary), 135 solely as women, 63 solely as men, 15 as another gender identity, 90 selected multiple identities. Higher levels of reported discrimination were associated with higher risk of dependence and more reported harms from drinking. Coping motives, enhancement motives, and drinking to manage dysphoria were associated with higher Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test scores. Social, coping, and enhancement motives alongside discrimination and drinking to have sex were associated with harms. The relationship between discrimination and risk of dependence was mediated by coping motives and drinking to manage dysphoria. Further to these associations, we suggest that reducing discrimination against trans and non-binary communities might reduce alcohol harms in this population. Interventions should target enhancement motives, coping motives and gender dysphoria. Social and enhancement functions of alcohol could be replaced by alcohol free supportive social spaces.
Microbiota from Alzheimer’s patients induce deficits in cognition and hippocampal neurogenesis
Authors: Grabrucker Stefanie , Marizzoni Moira , Silajdžić Edina , Lopizzo Nicola , Mombelli Elisa , Nicolas Sarah , Dohm-Hansen Sebastian , Scassellati Catia , Moretti Davide Vito , Rosa Melissa , Hoffmann Karina , Cryan John F , O’Leary Olivia F , English Jane A , Lavelle Aonghus , O’Neill Cora , Thuret Sandrine , Cattaneo Annamaria , Nolan Yvonne M
Published: October 2023

Alzheimer’s disease is a complex neurodegenerative disorder leading to a decline in cognitive function and mental health. Recent research has positioned the gut microbiota as an important susceptibility factor in Alzheimer’s disease by showing specific alterations in the gut microbiome composition of Alzheimer’s patients and in rodent models. However, it is unknown whether gut microbiota alterations are causal in the manifestation of Alzheimer’s symptoms.

To understand the involvement of Alzheimer’s patient gut microbiota in host physiology and behaviour, we transplanted faecal microbiota from Alzheimer’s patients and age-matched healthy controls into microbiota-depleted young adult rats.

We found impairments in behaviours reliant on adult hippocampal neurogenesis, an essential process for certain memory functions and mood, resulting from Alzheimer’s patient transplants. Notably, the severity of impairments correlated with clinical cognitive scores in donor patients. Discrete changes in the rat caecal and hippocampal metabolome were also evident. As hippocampal neurogenesis cannot be measured in living humans but is modulated by the circulatory systemic environment, we assessed the impact of the Alzheimer’s systemic environment on proxy neurogenesis readouts. Serum from Alzheimer’s patients decreased neurogenesis in human cells in vitro and were associated with cognitive scores and key microbial genera.

Our findings reveal for the first time, that Alzheimer’s symptoms can be transferred to a healthy young organism via the gut microbiota, confirming a causal role of gut microbiota in Alzheimer’s disease, and highlight hippocampal neurogenesis as a converging central cellular process regulating systemic circulatory and gut-mediated factors in Alzheimer’s.
Oral thermal processing in the gustatory cortex of awake mice
Authors: Bouaichi Cecilia G , Odegaard Katherine E , Neese Camden , Vincis Roberto
Published: October 2023

Oral temperature is a sensory cue relevant to food preference and nutrition. To understand how orally sourced thermal inputs are represented in the gustatory cortex (GC), we recorded neural responses from the GC of male and female mice presented with deionized water at different innocuous temperatures (14 °C, 25 °C, and 36 °C) and taste stimuli (room temperature). Our results demonstrate that GC neurons encode orally sourced thermal information in the absence of classical taste qualities at the single neuron and population levels, as confirmed through additional experiments comparing GC neuron responses to water and artificial saliva. Analysis of thermal-evoked responses showed broadly tuned neurons that responded to temperature in a mostly monotonic manner. Spatial location may play a minor role regarding thermosensory activity; aside from the most ventral GC, neurons reliably responded to and encoded thermal information across the dorso-ventral and antero-postero cortical axes. Additional analysis revealed that more than half of the GC neurons that encoded chemosensory taste stimuli also accurately discriminated thermal information, providing additional evidence of the GC’s involvement in processing thermosensory information important for ingestive behaviors. In terms of convergence, we found that GC neurons encoding information about both taste and temperature were broadly tuned and carried more information than taste-selective-only neurons; both groups encoded similar information about the palatability of stimuli. Altogether, our data reveal new details of the cortical code for the mammalian oral thermosensory system in behaving mice and pave the way for future investigations on GC functions and operational principles with respect to thermogustation.
Primary care physicians’ work conditions and their confidence in managing multimorbidity: a quantitative analysis using Job Demands–Resources Model
Authors: Zhao Ruixue , Zhang Jinnan , Li Mengyao , Loban Ekaterina , Nicolas Stephen , Martiland Elizabeth , Wang Wenhua
Published: October 2023

Background

Multimorbidity is a global issue that presents complex challenges for physicians, patients, and health systems. However, there is a lack of research on the factors that influence physicians’ confidence in managing multimorbidity within primary care settings, particularly regarding physicians’ work conditions.

Objectives

Drawing on the Job Demands–Resources Model, this study aims to investigate the level of confidence among Chinese primary care physicians in managing multimorbidity and examine the predictors related to their confidence.

Methods

Data were collected from 224 physicians working in 38 Community Healthcare Centres (CHCs) in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Tianjin, and Jinan, China. Work-family conflict (WFC) perceived organizational support (POS), self-directed learning (SDL), and burnout were measured. Physicians’ confidence was assessed using a single item. Mediation effect analysis was conducted using the Baron and Kenny method.

Results

The results showed that the mean confidence score for physicians managing multimorbidity was 3.63 out of 5, only 20.10% rating their confidence level as 5. WFC negatively related physicians’ confidence and POS positively related physicians’ confidence in multimorbid diagnosis and treatment. Burnout fully mediated the relationship between WFC and physicians’ confidence, and SDL partially mediated the relationship between POS and physicians’ confidence.

Conclusions

The confidence level of Chinese primary care physicians in managing multimorbidity needs improvement. To enhance physicians’ confidence in managing multimorbid patients, CHCs in China should address WFC and burnout and promote POS and SDL.
Emulation of seismic-phase traveltimes with machine learning
Authors: Anderson Gemma J , Myers Stephen C , Simmons Nathan
Published: October 2023

We present a machine learning (ML) method for emulating seismic-phase traveltimes that are computed using a global-scale 3-D earth model and physics-based ray tracing. Accurate traveltime predictions based on 3-D earth models are known to reduce the bias of event location estimates, increase our ability to assign phase labels to seismic detections and associate detections to events. However, practical use of 3-D models is challenged by slow computational speed and the unwieldiness of pre-computed lookup tables that are often large and have prescribed computational grids. In this work, we train a ML emulator using pre-computed traveltimes, resulting in a compact and computationally fast way to approximate traveltimes that are based on a 3-D earth model. Our model is trained using approximately 850 million P-wave traveltimes that are based on the global LLNL-G3D-JPS model, which was developed for more accurate event location. The training-set consists of traveltimes between 10 393 global seismic stations and randomly sampled event locations that provide a prescribed, distance-dependent geographic sample density for each station. Prediction accuracy is dependent on event-station distance and whether the station was included in the training set. For stations included in the training set the mean absolute deviation (MAD) of the difference between traveltimes computed using ray tracing through the 3-D model and the ML emulator for local, regional, and teleseismic distances are 0.090, 0.125 and 0.121 s, respectively. For tested station locations not included in the training set, MAD values for the three distance ranges increase to 0.173, 0.219 and 0.210 s, respectively. Empirical traveltime residuals for a global reference data are indistinguishable when ML emulation or the 3-D model is used to compute traveltimes. This result holds regardless of whether the recording station is used in ML training or not.
Health literacy among fathers and fathers-to-be: a multi-country, cross-sectional survey
Authors: Wynter Karen , Watkins Vanessa , Kavanagh Shane , Hosking Sarah , Rasmussen Bodil , Maindal Helle Terkildsen , Macdonald Jacqui
Published: October 2023

During pregnancy and early fatherhood, men are at higher risk of poor health, exacerbated by low engagement by healthcare services. Yet the transition to fatherhood presents an opportunity for men to improve their health and health behaviours. Health literacy refers to individuals’ competence in accessing and applying health information. Poor health literacy is associated with poor health and low help-seeking. The aim of this study was to identify health literacy strengths, needs and profiles among fathers. Men who were expecting a baby (‘antenatal’) or had become fathers in the past 18 months (‘postnatal’) were recruited through an international, online paid survey platform. The survey included the nine-scale Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ). Of 889 survey respondents (n = 416, 46.5% antenatal; n = 473, 53.5% postnatal), 274 (31.0%) were residing in the USA and 239 (27.0%) in the UK. Relatively higher scores were reported for HLQ scales relating to having sufficient information and finding and understanding this information, as well as social support for health. Relatively lower scores were obtained for scales relating to actively managing one’s own health and navigating the health care system. Three scale scores were significantly lower among nulliparous than multiparous men. Seven health literacy profiles were identified. In conclusion, while fathers have some health literacy strengths, they also experience some barriers, particularly first-time fathers. Awareness of diverse health literacy profiles among fathers may assist in developing strategies to strengthen health services’ capacity to meet fathers’ needs and reduce risks to their health at this critical juncture in families’ lives.
Genome sequencing revealed the red-flower trait candidate gene of a peach landrace
Authors: Zhou Ping , Lei Siru , Zhang Xiaodan , Wang Yinghao , Guo Rui , Yan Shaobin , Jin Guang , Zhang Xingtan
Published: October 2023

Peach (Prunus persica) is an economically important fruit crop globally and an excellent material for genomic studies. While considerable progress has been made in unveiling trait-associated genes within cultivars and wild relatives, certain novel genes controlling valuable traits in peach landraces, such as the red-flowering gene, remained unclear. In this study, we sequenced and assembled the diploid genome of the red-flower landrace ‘Yingzui’ (abbreviated as ‘RedY’). Multi-omics profiling of red petals of ‘RedY’ revealed the intensified red coloration associated with anthocyanins accumulation and concurrent decline in flavonols. This phenomenon is likely attributed to a natural variant of Flavonol Synthase (FLS) harboring a 9-bp exonic insertion. Intriguingly, the homozygous allelic configurations of this FLS variant were only observed in red-flowered peaches. Furthermore, the 9-bp sequence variation tightly associated with pink/red petal color in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of collected peach germplasm resources. Functional analyses of the FLS variant, purified from procaryotic expression system, demonstrated its diminished enzymatic activity in flavonols biosynthesis, impeccably aligning with the cardinal trait of red flowers. Therefore, the natural FLS variant was proposed as the best candidate gene for red-flowering trait in peach. The pioneering unveiling of the red-flowered peach genome, coupled with the identification of the candidate gene, expanded the knowledge boundaries of the genetic basis of peach traits and provided valuable insights for future peach breeding efforts.
Who could be behind QAnon? Authorship attribution with supervised machine-learning
Authors: Cafiero Florian , Camps Jean-Baptiste
Published: October 2023

A series of social media posts on 4chan then 8chan, signed under the pseudonym ‘Q’, started a movement known as QAnon, which led some of its most radical supporters to violent and illegal actions. To identify the person(s) behind Q, we evaluate the coincidence between the linguistic properties of the texts written by Q and to those written by a list of suspects provided by journalistic investigation. To identify the authors of these posts, serious challenges have to be addressed. The ‘Q drops’ are very short texts, written in a way that constitute a sort of literary genre in itself, with very peculiar features of style. These texts might have been written by different authors, whose other writings are often hard to find. After an online ethnography of the movement, necessary to collect enough material written by these thirteen potential authors, we use supervised machine learning to build stylistic profiles for each of them. We then performed a ‘rolling analysis’, looking repeatedly through a moving window for parts of Q’s writings matching our profiles. We conclude that two different individuals, Paul F. and Ron W., are the closest match to Q’s linguistic signature, and they could have successively written Q’s texts. These potential authors are not high-ranked personality from the US administration, but rather social media activists.
Beam Effects on Atomic Dynamics in Metallic Glasses Studied With Electron Correlation Microscopy
Authors: Vaerst Olivia , Wilde Gerhard , Peterlechner Martin
Published: October 2023

Electron correlation microscopy (ECM) is used to investigate atomic dynamics in metallic glasses (MG) close to metastable equilibrium. It temporally correlates diffracted intensities of a time series of dark-field images to deduce a metric for structural decays. The measurement parameters, such as time and temperature, must be chosen according to the material of interest. In this work, ECM was extended to measurements at room temperature. To ensure, or select, a time window with quasi-thermodynamic equilibrium/steady-state measurement conditions, two-time correlation functions of diffracted intensities were calculated. The dynamics at room temperature are partly driven by the electron beam, thus affecting the material and the results. A systematic analysis of the influence of the electron beam is presented, revealing an inverse relation between electron dose rate and intensity correlation decay times at 300 kV acceleration voltage. However, the underlying dynamical mechanisms, described by a stretching exponent, are found to be independent of the applied electron dose rate for a Pd40Ni40P20 MG. An extrapolation of the results to infinite long measurement times and zero dose rate agrees with X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy data and justifies the application of beam-driven ECM at room temperature to study the dynamics of disordered systems.
Design of Electrostatic Aberration Correctors for Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy
Authors: Ribet Stephanie M , Zeltmann Steven E , Bustillo Karen C , Dhall Rohan , Denes Peter , Minor Andrew M , dos Reis Roberto , Dravid Vinayak P , Ophus Colin
Published: October 2023

In a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), producing a high-resolution image generally requires an electron beam focused to the smallest point possible. However, the magnetic lenses used to focus the beam are unavoidably imperfect, introducing aberrations that limit resolution. Modern STEMs overcome this by using hardware aberration correctors comprised of many multipole elements, but these devices are complex, expensive, and can be difficult to tune. We demonstrate a design for an electrostatic phase plate that can act as an aberration corrector. The corrector is comprised of annular segments, each of which is an independent two-terminal device that can apply a constant or ramped phase shift to a portion of the electron beam. We show the improvement in image resolution using an electrostatic corrector. Engineering criteria impose that much of the beam within the probe-forming aperture be blocked by support bars, leading to large probe tails for the corrected probe that sample the specimen beyond the central lobe. We also show how this device can be used to create other STEM beam profiles such as vortex beams and probes with a high degree of phase diversity, which improve information transfer in ptychographic reconstructions.
ZAFG Method for Quantitative Characterization of Spherical Particles: Deriving a Universal Equation for Geometrical Correction
Authors: Bayazid Seyed Mahmoud , Brodusch Nicolas , Dumaresq Nicolas , Gauvin Raynald
Published: October 2023

This study introduces a universal equation to calculate the geometrical correction factor (G) as the fourth factor in the conventional ZAF method for quantifying spherical particles (specifically, NIST-K411 glass microspheres mounted on bulk carbon substrate). Note that the fluorescence correction factor (F) is not considered in this study. Our findings demonstrate that the G factor, as a function of the particle diameter (D) and the range of emitted X-rays in a bulk sample (Xe), provides the best model. Xe depends on the chemical composition and accelerating voltage. We observed excellent agreement between the G factor predicted by our model and experimental data obtained from NIST-K411 standard particles. Our results show that when Xe is greater than D, the G factor decays exponentially, independent of the incident electron energy, X-ray lines, and chemical composition of the particles. We also found that when DXe > 1, the particle behaves as a bulk sample, and G = 1. Notably, our data indicate that the G factor depends only on DXe, not on the chemical composition or beam energy.
Chromobacterium violaceum in a U.S. Marine: A Case Report
Authors: Attonito John , Tomasello Giacomo , Barrett Brendan , Wauters Robert , Adams Ashley , Gilbert Laura
Published: October 2023

Chromobacterium violaceum is associated with severe sepsis leading to cutaneous and visceral organ abscesses, with mortality rates up to 73%. Around 200 cases of C. violaceum infection have been reported globally. We report a case of a 27-year-old female U.S. Marine recruit who presented with fever, chills, myalgias, arthralgias, headache, and nodules on her extremities. Physical examination revealed multiple small skin abscesses on her extremities. Abdominal imaging with contrast revealed large liver abscesses requiring drainage. Both blood and wound cultures grew C. violaceum. The patient was successfully treated with meropenem and ciprofloxacin. At 3 months, symptoms had resolved, and labs and imaging were normal. Though rare, C. violaceum infection rates are increasing. Severe infection develops rapidly and invasive disease is not uncommon. Early detection and appropriate antibiotic treatment are key in preventing mortality.
Ethical Issues Regarding Neurosurgical Management of Penetrating Brain Injury in the French Armed Forces
Authors: Fawaz Rayan , Fouet Mathilde , Brenot Godefroi , Bertani Antoine , Lamblin Antoine , Delmas Jean-Marc
Published: October 2023

Combat penetrating brain injury (PBI) differs significantly from PBI in civilian environments. Differences include technical factors such as the weapons involved, strained resource environments, and limited medical materials and human resources available. Ethical issues regarding the management of PBI in military settings may occur. This case study examines the case of a 20-year-old member of the French Armed Forces that suffered a penetrating brain injury in a combat situation. The four-quadrant method along with the four principles of medical ethics (respect for autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice) was used to analyze this case and to apply ethics to the practice of military medicine. Nowadays, we possess the medical and surgical resources as well as the aeromedical evacuation capability to save the life of a soldier with a penetrating craniocerebral wound. Nonetheless, the functional outcome of this type of wound places military doctors in an ethical dilemma. The line of conduct and clinical protocol established by the French Medical Health Service is to manage all PBIs when the patient’s life can be saved and to provide all available financial and social support for the rehabilitation of patients and their family.
Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes of Adolescent Pregnancies in the Military Health System
Authors: Ahmed Saira , Vereen Rasheda J , Aden James K , Dillon Christopher A , Shapiro Jonathan B
Published: October 2023

Objective

To determine if universal access to care for military beneficiaries improves timing of presentation to prenatal care (PNC) in adolescent and young adult (AYA) pregnancies, improving maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Study Design

Retrospective descriptive cohort study, which assessed PNC initiation in eligible military beneficiaries: dependent daughters, active-duty women, and active-duty spouses aged 13 to 26 between January 2015 and December 2019, and subsequent adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Results

The cohort included 4,557 eligible pregnancies and 4,044 mothers aged 13 to 26. Late entry to PNC was not associated with gestational diabetes, prolonged rupture of membranes, pregnancy loss, elective abortion, substance use, or premature labor. Younger age was significantly associated with substance use, elective abortion, and sexually transmitted infection. There were 2,107 eligible newborns. There was no significant difference in gestational age at birth, incidence of prematurity, birthweight percentile, or occurrence of a neonatal intensive care unit admission based on maternal age. In comparison to published national outcomes, there was a significantly smaller occurrence of preterm (5.3% vs. 9.57-10.23%, 95% CI, 4.4-6.4%), small for gestational age (5.2% vs. 10-13%, 95% CI, 4.3-6.2%), and large for gestational age (4.8% vs. 9%, 95% CI, 4.0-5.8%) births, but a higher occurrence of neonatal intensive care unit admissions (16.9% vs. 7.8-14.4%, 95% CI, 15.4-18.6%) in infants born to military beneficiaries.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that expanded universal access to health care may improve AYA pregnancy and delivery outcomes. Infants born to AYA military beneficiaries have improved neonatal outcomes compared to nationally published data. These results may correlate to improved maternal access within a free or low-cost healthcare system.
Role of Unit Physicians and Challenges Encountered in the Follow-up of Military Personnel with Cancer
Authors: Lalande Manon , Vanderperre Guillaume , Périsse Anne , Patient Matthieu , Roméo Emilie , Bladé Jean Sébastien , Boudin Laurys
Published: October 2023

Introduction

General practitioners (GPs) play a central role in the management and coordination of care of patients with malignant tumors and blood diseases. Civilian GPs encounter certain difficulties during the care of such patients. The practice of unit medicine in a military environment differs from that in a civilian context through expertise in fitness to serve and to deployment and the target population. We identified the difficulties encountered by “unit” physicians during and after cancer treatment.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional descriptive study from July 2, 2021, to September 30, 2022, targeting all military GPs belonging to the French Armed Forces Health Service. We sent a questionnaire consisting of 1 open- and 16 closed multiple-choice questions describing the population of unit physicians and their patients (questions 1–5), the difficulties encountered by physicians in the follow-up of military personnel with cancer (Questions 6, 7, 11, 12, and 13), and the potential information networks accessible to physicians (questions 8–10, 14, and 17).

Results

Three hundred and ninety physicians completed the questionnaires. Among the 700 military GPs, 390 physicians responded to the questionnaire and 327 completed it exhaustively. The questionnaire response rate was 55%. Of the responding physicians, 49% and 70% reported following patients with an “active” malignant tumor and a malignant tumor pathology in remission, respectively. Thirty-one percent of the physicians encountered difficulties with these patients as follows: 26% concerning fitness for duty, 17% in medical follow-up, 14% in addressing the psychological aspect, 11% concerning specialist accessibility for advice, 10% in managing deconditioning to effort, 9% in addressing the social aspect, 7% in medical management, and 6% concerning other issues.

Conclusions

Difficulties in the follow-up of patients with cancer affect military doctors. They mainly concern fitness for duty and medical follow-up.
Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board Audiogram Screening Comparative Analysis
Authors: Kilgore Katelyn M , Beer Emma N , Adams Jason K , Scalo Julieta F , Kilgore Aaron J , Marinelli John P , Erbele Isaac D , Dowling Glenn A , Esquivel Carlos R , Spear Samuel A
Published: October 2023

Introduction

The Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB) plays a pivotal role in the assessment of medical fitness for aspiring military officers. A crucial component of this process is the screening audiogram, designed to evaluate hearing capabilities. However, recent observations of high disqualification rates following screening audiograms led to concerns about their accuracy.

Materials and Methods

This quality improvement project, conducted between 2017 and 2019, aimed to assess the concordance between screening audiograms and reference-standard audiometry, as well as to investigate the relationship between disqualification status and hearing thresholds at different frequencies. A sample of 134 candidates, drawn from various locations across the United States, was analyzed.

Results

Results revealed that the screening audiogram mean thresholds were twice that of the reference-standard audiogram, particularly in the lower frequencies. Additionally, we found that 84% of candidates were incorrectly disqualified by the screening exam when followed up by the reference-standard. Overall, Bland-Altman analysis revealed significant disagreement between these two tests. This discrepancy prompted a fundamental policy shift in 2020, where candidates who fail screening audiograms now automatically undergo reference-standard audiometry before any disqualification decision. This policy change reflects the commitment of DoDMERB to refining the medical screening process. It reduces the burden on candidates, provides a more comprehensive assessment, and ensures that qualified individuals are not erroneously disqualified.

In addition to policy changes, this quality improvement project explored potential courses of action to enhance the screening audiogram process. Among these, improving contract specifications for testing facilities to minimize ambient noise emerged as the most practical and cost-effective approach.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the project underscores the importance of refining medical screening processes to accurately assess candidates’ qualifications while retaining the utility of screening audiograms. These efforts not only benefit aspiring military officers but also contribute to maintaining the high standards required for military service.
The relationship between locomotive syndrome and depression in young Chinese college students
Authors: Ma Yixuan , Wu Xinze , Hong Weihao , Ning Yuxiang , Zhou Xiao , Shen Shaoshuai , Zhang Bing
Published: October 2023

Objectives

This study investigates the relationship between locomotive syndrome (LS) and mental disorder (depression) in young Chinese college students.

Methods

Our study population (n = 165; mean age of 19.82 ±1.90 years) comprises college student residents at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. Three screening methods were used to evaluate LS: 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25), a two-step test, and a stand-up test. Depression was screened by the Chinese version of the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSDS).

Results

The prevalence of LS and depression was 20.1% and 30.9%, respectively. The LS group had lower grip strength and higher ZSDS scores than the non-LS group.

Conclusion

Young Chinese college students have a relatively high prevalence of LS, and LS and GLFS-25 scores were significantly related to depression. The present results suggest that management strategies for LS should consider depressive symptoms among young adults.
An archaeal virus-encoded anti-CRISPR protein inhibits type III-B immunity by inhibiting Cas RNP complex turnover
Authors: Liu Jilin , Li Qian , Wang Xiaojie , Liu Zhenzhen , Ye Qing , Liu Tao , Pan Saifu , Peng Nan
Published: October 2023

CRISPR–Cas systems are widespread in prokaryotes and provide adaptive immune against viral infection. Viruses encode a type of proteins called anti-CRISPR to evade the immunity. Here, we identify an archaeal virus-encoded anti-CRISPR protein, AcrIIIB2, that inhibits Type III-B immunity. We find that AcrIIIB2 inhibits Type III-B CRISPR–Cas immunity in vivo regardless of viral early or middle-/late-expressed genes to be targeted. We also demonstrate that AcrIIIB2 interacts with Cmr4α subunit, forming a complex with target RNA and Cmr-α ribonucleoprotein complex (RNP). Furtherly, we discover that AcrIIIB2 inhibits the RNase activity, ssDNase activity and cOA synthesis activity of Cmr-α RNP in vitro under a higher target RNA-to-Cmr-α RNP ratio and has no effect on Cmr-α activities at the target RNA-to-Cmr-α RNP ratio of 1. Our results suggest that once the target RNA is cleaved by Cmr-α RNP, AcrIIIB2 probably inhibits the disassociation of cleaved target RNA, therefore blocking the access of other target RNA substrates. Together, our findings highlight the multiple functions of a novel anti-CRISPR protein on inhibition of the most complicated CRISPR–Cas system targeting the genes involved in the whole life cycle of viruses.
The N-terminus of Spt16 anchors FACT to MCM2–7 for parental histone recycling
Authors: Wang Xuezheng , Tang Yuantao , Xu Jiawei , Leng He , Shi Guojun , Hu Zaifeng , Wu Jiale , Xiu Yuwen , Feng Jianxun , Li Qing
Published: October 2023

Parental histone recycling is vital for maintaining chromatin-based epigenetic information during replication, yet its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we uncover an unexpected role of histone chaperone FACT and its N-terminus of the Spt16 subunit during parental histone recycling and transfer in budding yeast. Depletion of Spt16 and mutations at its middle domain that impair histone binding compromise parental histone recycling on both the leading and lagging strands of DNA replication forks. Intriguingly, deletion of the Spt16-N domain impairs parental histone recycling, with a more pronounced defect observed on the lagging strand. Mechanistically, the Spt16-N domain interacts with the replicative helicase MCM2–7 and facilitates the formation of a ternary complex involving FACT, histone H3/H4 and Mcm2 histone binding domain, critical for the recycling and transfer of parental histones to lagging strands. Lack of the Spt16-N domain weakens the FACT-MCM interaction and reduces parental histone recycling. We propose that the Spt16-N domain acts as a protein-protein interaction module, enabling FACT to function as a shuttle chaperone in collaboration with Mcm2 and potentially other replisome components for efficient local parental histone recycling and inheritance.
The SAP domain of Ku facilitates its efficient loading onto DNA ends
Authors: Fulneček Jaroslav , Klimentová Eva , Cairo Albert , Bukovcakova Sona Valuchova , Alexiou Panagiotis , Prokop Zbynek , Riha Karel
Published: October 2023

The evolutionarily conserved DNA repair complex Ku serves as the primary sensor of free DNA ends in eukaryotic cells. Its rapid association with DNA ends is crucial for several cellular processes, including non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) DNA repair and telomere protection. In this study, we conducted a transient kinetic analysis to investigate the impact of the SAP domain on individual phases of the Ku–DNA interaction. Specifically, we examined the initial binding, the subsequent docking of Ku onto DNA, and sliding of Ku along DNA. Our findings revealed that the C-terminal SAP domain of Ku70 facilitates the initial phases of the Ku–DNA interaction but does not affect the sliding process. This suggests that the SAP domain may either establish the first interactions with DNA, or stabilize these initial interactions during loading. To assess the biological role of the SAP domain, we generated Arabidopsis plants expressing Ku lacking the SAP domain. Intriguingly, despite the decreased efficiency of the ΔSAP Ku complex in loading onto DNA, the mutant plants exhibited full proficiency in classical NHEJ and telomere maintenance. This indicates that the speed with which Ku loads onto telomeres or DNA double-strand breaks is not the decisive factor in stabilizing these DNA structures.
Dynamic ParB–DNA interactions initiate and maintain a partition condensate for bacterial chromosome segregation
Authors: Tišma Miloš , Janissen Richard , Antar Hammam , Martin-Gonzalez Alejandro , Barth Roman , Beekman Twan , van der Torre Jaco , Michieletto Davide , Gruber Stephan , Dekker Cees
Published: October 2023

In most bacteria, chromosome segregation is driven by the ParABS system where the CTPase protein ParB loads at the parS site to trigger the formation of a large partition complex. Here, we present in vitro studies of the partition complex for Bacillus subtilis ParB, using single-molecule fluorescence microscopy and AFM imaging to show that transient ParB–ParB bridges are essential for forming DNA condensates. Molecular Dynamics simulations confirm that condensation occurs abruptly at a critical concentration of ParB and show that multimerization is a prerequisite for forming the partition complex. Magnetic tweezer force spectroscopy on mutant ParB proteins demonstrates that CTP hydrolysis at the N-terminal domain is essential for DNA condensation. Finally, we show that transcribing RNA polymerases can steadily traverse the ParB–DNA partition complex. These findings uncover how ParB forms a stable yet dynamic partition complex for chromosome segregation that induces DNA condensation and segregation while enabling replication and transcription.
CellCommuNet: an atlas of cell–cell communication networks from single-cell RNA sequencing of human and mouse tissues in normal and disease states
Authors: Ma Qinfeng , Li Qiang , Zheng Xiao , Pan Jianbo
Published: October 2023

Cell−cell communication, as a basic feature of multicellular organisms, is crucial for maintaining the biological functions and microenvironmental homeostasis of cells, organs, and whole organisms. Alterations in cell−cell communication contribute to many diseases, including cancers. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) provides a powerful method for studying cell−cell communication by enabling the analysis of ligand−receptor interactions. Here, we introduce CellCommuNet (http://www.inbirg.com/cellcommunet/), a comprehensive data resource for exploring cell−cell communication networks in scRNA-seq data from human and mouse tissues in normal and disease states. CellCommuNet currently includes 376 single datasets from multiple sources, and 118 comparison datasets between disease and normal samples originating from the same study. CellCommuNet provides information on the strength of communication between cells and related signalling pathways and facilitates the exploration of differences in cell−cell communication between healthy and disease states. Users can also search for specific signalling pathways, ligand−receptor pairs, and cell types of interest. CellCommuNet provides interactive graphics illustrating cell−cell communication in different states, enabling differential analysis of communication strength between disease and control samples. This comprehensive database aims to be a valuable resource for biologists studying cell−cell communication networks.
Carnap’s λ-System: One Family
Authors: Lewis David
Published: October 2023

This is the sixth chapter of Confirmation Theory. Confirmation Theory is a book manuscript that Lewis wrote in 1969 on the basis of a course he’d given at UCLA. He submitted the manuscript to Harvard University Press who expressed an interest. It consists of seven chapters covering intensional semantics, probability measures, rational belief, principles of indifference and Carnap and Hintikka’s inductive systems. The work was intended to be accessible to students with, as Lewis put it, ‘hairy high-school algebra’. He described the manuscript to Richard Jeffrey as ‘Mathematically self-contained, with proofs for the major theorems’. Lewis originally envisaged that Carnap’s The Continuum of Inductive Methods (1952) be used as an accompanying text. Lewis focused on Carnap and Hintikka in particular because he believed that their work constituted the attractive core of what competing theories of confirmation had in common.
Particular and General Causal Claims (c.1965–66)
Authors: Lewis David
Published: October 2023

This is the earliest among Lewis’s posthumously published papers, dating from 1965-66 when Lewis was still a graduate student. Lewis used it as a writing sample during his job search. It contains an early version of Lewis’s counterfactual theory of causation, where Lewis describes what he takes to be the ‘logic’ (in an informal sense) of singular and general causal claims.
Counterpart Theory, Mk. II (1974)
Authors: Lewis David
Published: October 2023

This is a very short note, dating from 1974, and handwritten by Lewis. Lewis here lays out some possible developments of his counterpart theory.
Reply to Pollock (1979)
Authors: Lewis David
Published: October 2023

In this short paper, dating from 1979, Lewis stresses the affinity between his theory of counterfactuals and that of Pollock. Lewis argues that where his own theory diverges from Pollock’s or vice versa, the evidence does not strongly support one alternative over the other.
Reply to Cresswell, ‘Causation and Semantics’ (1991)
Authors: Lewis David
Published: October 2023

In this short paper, dating from 1991, Lewis argues that ordinary folk psychological explanations appeal only to the narrow content of beliefs and desires, not their wide content as Cresswell had maintained.
Exclusion (1991)
Authors: Lewis David
Published: October 2023

This short paper, dating from 1991, is a section originally intended for Lewis’s review of Armstrong’s Combinatorial Theory of Possibility. Lewis presents a problem for Armstrong, namely the apparent existence of simple (non-structural) universals which exclude each other, which is difficult to square with Armstrong’s claims that laws and universals do not exclude one another. Lewis suggests that Armstrong might solve the problem by appeal to his totality facts.
Divine Evil (2001)
Authors: Lewis David
Published: October 2023

This is an outline of a paper Lewis was planning in March of 2001. Lewis here aimed to present his take on the problem of evil, according to which God not only permits, but perpetrates evil.
Advocacy and Change in International Organizations
Authors: Oksamytna Kseniya
Published: October 2023

How do international organizations change? Many organizations expand into new areas or abandon programmes of work. This book argues that they do so not only at the collective direction of member states. Advocacy is a crucial but overlooked source of change in international organizations. Different actors can advocate for change: national diplomats, international bureaucrats, external experts, or civil society activists. They can use one of three advocacy strategies: social pressure, persuasion, and ‘authority talk’. The success of each strategy depends on the presence of favourable conditions related to characteristics of advocates, targets, issues, and context. Institutionalization of new issues in international organizations is a multistage process, often accompanied by contestation. This book demonstrates how the advocacy-focused framework explains the origins of three workstreams of contemporary UN peacekeeping operations: communication, protection, and reconstruction. The issue of strategic communications was promoted by UN officials through the strategy of persuasion. Protection of civilians emerged due to a partially successful social influence campaign by a coalition of elected Security Council members and a subsequent persuasion effort by Canada. Quick impact projects entered peacekeepers’ practice as the result of ‘authority talk’ by an expert panel. The three issues illustrate the diversity of pathways to change in international organizations, representing the top-down, bottom-up, and outside-in pathways. The three issues have achieved different degrees of institutionalization in the UN’s policies, structures, and frameworks: protection of civilians is the most institutionalized, as evidenced by measures to hold peacekeepers accountable for non-implementation, while quick impact projects are the least institutionalized.
Change through Advocacy in International Organizations
Authors: Oksamytna Kseniya
Published: October 2023

The three advocacy strategies for promoting change in international organizations are social pressure, persuasion, and ‘authority talk’. Advocacy success depends on the presence of strategy-specific favourable conditions related to characteristics of advocates, targets, issues, and context. For example, social pressure needs a public forum—or a credible threat of exposure—to be effective, yet persuasion works best in an insulated and private setting. Social pressure succeeds if a large coalition applies it, while ‘authority talk’ is more effective when the advocate is a single source of information. Social vulnerability makes targets susceptible to social pressure but not ‘authority talk’. Issue salience can be an impediment to ‘authority talk’ but not persuasion. As issues move gradually from emergence to full institutionalization—a process that requires continued campaigning by the original advocates or support from new champions—they become embedded in intergovernmental bodies’ debates and documents, budgets, policy and guidance, training, structures, evaluation metrics, and accountability frameworks. Contestation can either aid or hinder institutionalization. The advocacy-focused framework has advantages over its analytical rivals. It has no preconceptions about the behaviour of member states, international bureaucrats, or experts. It does not assume that new challenges or crises automatically lead to transformations. It maintains that a precedent is not enough to set an organization on a new path. It does not equate the presence of advocates with advocacy success. Instead, it explains how advocacy strategies succeed or fail depending on constellations of strategy-specific conditions.
Strategic Communications
Authors: Oksamytna Kseniya
Published: October 2023

UN peacekeeping operations run radio stations, print newsletters, produce TV programmes, and maintain social media accounts. By contrast, Cold War missions rarely communicated with the local population. With the deployment of the multidimensional mission to Namibia in the late 1980s, UN officials successfully persuaded key counterparts that peacekeepers should communicate with the people. Three years later, UN information staff overcame opposition to the establishment of a radio station by the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia. In both cases, many factors were favourable for the advocates’ strategy of persuasion. UN officials who supported the innovation were intellectually attractive. The debate was largely internal to the UN bureaucracy, so the setting was private and informal. The targets got exposed to counter-attitudinal information repeatedly and sometimes first hand. The targets were relatively autonomous from member states. The end of the Cold War was a major shift that stimulated analysis of new information. The idea of communications in peacekeeping had multiple interpretations. However, there was a weak cultural match between the norms of diplomatic confidentiality, on the one hand, and the idea of transparency, on the other hand. Institutionalization was slow. References to information in peacekeeping mandates became consistent only in the mid-2000s. The development of informal guidance began in the mid-1990s, yet the formal policy was finalized in 2006. The peacekeeping department got a unit on information the following year. Some member states still contested the idea of peacekeepers’ communications with the population, stressing that the host state was the UN’s primary interlocutor.
Protection of Civilians
Authors: Oksamytna Kseniya
Published: October 2023

Many analyses look at protection of civilians in UN peacekeeping from 1999 onwards. However, the issue has a longer genealogy. There have been four advocacy episodes: an unsuccessful persuasion attempt by the Secretary-General during the 1960s mission in the Congo, incoherent advocacy by proponents of the ‘safe areas’ policy in Bosnia, a partially successful campaign by elected Security Council members during the Rwandan genocide, and successful persuasion by Canada during its 1999–2000 Council term. Focusing on the (partially) successful episodes, a coalition of elected Council members used a threat of shame to extract concessions from the permanent members to adopt a presidential statement critical of the Rwandan government. They faced a mix of advantageous conditions, including advocates’ reputation, post–Cold War unity, credibility of the private threat, and a cultural match, as well as inauspicious circumstances, such as high issue salience and targets’ counter-narratives. In 1999, Canada used persuasion to place protection of civilians on the Council’s agenda. Favourable circumstances included advocates’ skill, targets’ first-hand exposure to civilian suffering, a cultural match, repeated interactions, a crisis of peacekeeping, and a private setting. In 2010, the Secretariat produced a concept of protection of civilians, followed by policy and guidance. Missions nowadays have units or coordination forums on the issue, and the Protection of Civilians Team exists at headquarters. In the late 2010s, protection became a priority in several missions, yet contestation by traditional sceptics, such as Russia, as well as major troop contributors and UN officials, also intensified.