bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Critical role of lipid membranes in polarization and migration of cells: a biophysical view
Authors: Sackmann Erich , Tanaka Motomu
Published: January 2021

Cell migration plays vital roles in many biologically relevant processes such as tissue morphogenesis and cancer metastasis, and it has fascinated biophysicists over the past several decades. However, despite an increasing number of studies highlighting the orchestration of proteins involved in different signaling pathways, the functional roles of lipid membranes have been essentially overlooked. Lipid membranes are generally considered to be a functionless two-dimensional matrix of proteins, although many proteins regulating cell migration gain functions only after they are recruited to the membrane surface and self-organize their functional domains. In this review, we summarize how the logistical recruitment and release of proteins to and from lipid membranes coordinates complex spatiotemporal molecular processes. As predicted from the classical framework of the Smoluchowski equation of diffusion, lipid/protein membranes serve as a 2D reaction hub that contributes to the effective and robust regulation of polarization and migration of cells involving several competing pathways.
Interferences of trace metals between sediment and Dotillid crab (Ilyoplax frater) from three tidal creeks, Karachi, Pakistan
Authors: Siddiqui Asmat Saleem , Saher Noor Us
Published: January 2021

In the Anthropocene era, an immersion of toxic substances, i.e., trace metals, has been enhanced in the marine environment not only due to urban sprawl and industrial development but predominantly owing to incongruous management and lack of sustainable approaches. The coastal region of Pakistan shares a similar obstacle as most of the developing countries confronted. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate concentrations of eight metals (Cu, Fe, Zn, Ni, Co, Pb, Cr, and Cd) in sediment and Dotillid crab,Ilyoplax frater, at three tidal creeks in Karachi, Pakistan. All metals in sediments and crabs were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometer. The sediment pollution was evaluated by contamination degree (CD) and potential ecological risk index (RI). After depicting the metal pollution in sediments, metal accumulation, and contamination in benthic crab were investigated through total metal concentrations in crabs, accumulation factor (AF), correlation analysis, and regression analysis. The results exhibited substantial differences in the concentrations of Zn, Ni, Pb, Cr, and Cd among the tidal creek sediments. Contamination factors indicated that the Cd and Pb had the highest sharing in sediment pollution, and the tidal creeks classified as moderately contaminated. All metal accumulations in Dotillid crabs showed notable spatial variations, and accumulation factors (AFs) for most of the metals were > 1.0, signifying the strong bioaccumulation of metals in crabs. Particularly, Cu, Co, and Cd levels were considerably greater (two to three times) in Dotillid crabs compared to creek’s sediments, even though they don’t share any relationship between two matrixes. Hydrographical and sedimentological traits also revealed significant interactions with metal levels in sediments and crabs. A substantial association was also noticed in Fe, Ni, and Pb between sediments and crabs. Interestingly, most of the metal AFs showed a notable inverse correlation with the environmental matrix. Exceptionally, a strong positive correlation found between the Pb concentration in crabs and sediments suggested thatI. fraterprobably acts as an indicator of Pb pollution.
Parametric study of a corrugated airfoil in a forward flight at ultra-low Reynolds number
Authors: Abd El-Latief Mahmoud E. , Elsayed Khairy , Abdelrahman Mohamed M.
Published: January 2021

In the current study, the mid cross section of the dragonfly forewing was simulated at ultra-low Reynolds number. The study aims to understand better the contribution of corrugations found along the wing on the aerodynamic performance during a forward flight. Different flapping parameters were employed. FLUENT solver was used to solve unsteady, two-dimensional, laminar, incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. The results revealed that any stroke amplitude less than 1cmgenerated no thrust force. The stroke amplitude had to be increased to form the reversed Kármán vortices responsible for generating thrust force. The highest propulsive efficiency was found in the Strouhal number range 0.2 < St < 0.4 with a peak efficiency of 57% atSt = 0.39. Changing the phase difference between pitching and plunging motions from advanced to synchronized caused lift force to drop 91% and thrust force to increase by 15%. On the other hand, changing the phase difference from synchronized to delayed caused lift and thrust forces to increase by 89% and 36%, respectively, and propulsive efficiency to deteriorate significantly. In all performed simulations, the airfoil was assumed to start motion from rest with no initial angle of attack. The increase in initial angle of attack generates a very high lift force with a fair loss for both thrust force and propulsive efficiency. The decomposition of flapping motion into its elementary motions revealed that the aerodynamic forces generated are a non-linear superposition from both pure pitching and pure plunging aerodynamic forces. This can be attributed to the non-linear interaction between unsteady vortices generated from these decomposed motions.
Purification and optimization of pink pigment produced by newly isolated bacterial strain Enterobacter sp. PWN1
Authors: Poddar Kasturi , Padhan Bhagyashree , Sarkar Debapriya , Sarkar Angana
Published: January 2021

Pigment-producing bacteria were isolated from kitchen wastewaters of the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela. A pink non-virulent bacterial strain PWN1 was selected based on the India Ink Broth and Coomassie Brilliant Blue (R-250) dye assay. According to morphological and biochemical characterization, the strain PWN1was a Gram-negative, rod-shaped, motile, non-coliform bacterium and could utilize only glucose and adonitol as sole carbon source. The pigment was found to be a growth-associated product, and the pigment production was accelerated after 40 h of bacterial culture. Further, 16S rRNA gene-based molecular identification showed its similarity with Enterobacter sp. The pigments were extracted by the solvent extraction method using chloroform and ethanol (3:1). The extracted pigments were then purified through thin-layer chromatography and column chromatography. To maximize pigment production, the culture condition was optimized for maximum biomass production using statistical software Design Expert v13. A quadratic model was structured describing the process efficiently and it suggested a moderate temperature, pH, and a high inoculum concentration which generated biomass of 3.81 ± 0.02 g/L. At optimized condition, 1 L of cell culture produced 3.77 g of biomass which produced a crude pigment of 0.234 g after solvent extraction and 0.131 g after column chromatography, implying a yield of 6.2% for crude pigment and 3.47% for purified pigment from biomass. The yield of the obtained pigment was high enough to draw interest for industrial production, although the application of the pigment is considerable for further study.
Is Clitoral Release Another Term for Metoidioplasty? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Metoidioplasty Surgical Technique and Outcomes
Authors: Jolly Divya , Wu Catherine A. , Boskey Elizabeth R. , Taghinia Amir H. , Diamond David A. , Ganor Oren
Published: January 2021

Introduction

There has been an exponential increase in referrals for transmasculine patients seeking genital affirmation surgery. Despite transgender men’s equal interest in metoidioplasty and phalloplasty, research has primarily focused on phalloplasty.

Aim

To summarize and investigate the relationship between surgical technique, complications, and patient-satisfaction.

Methods

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of surgical techniques and physician- and patient-reported outcomes of gender-affirming clitoral release and metoidioplasty (PROSPERO# 158722) with literature from PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Data were extracted using PRISMA guidelines. All searches, extractions, and grading were independently completed by 2 authors.

Main Outcome Measures

Main measures were surgical technique, patient satisfaction, voiding, urethral stricture, and urethral fistula.

Results and Conclusion

A total of 7 non-overlapping articles on metoidioplasty were identified, with a total of 403 patients. We identified 4 metoidioplasty techniques: Hage, Belgrade, labial ring flap, and extensive metoidioplasty. All techniques included urethral lengthening. The reported neophallus length ranged from 2 cm to 12 cm, with the smallest neophallus occurring with the labial ring flap technique and extensive metoidioplasty the largest. Across techniques, voiding while standing was reported in most patients, with the lowest rate reported with the labial ring flap (67%). Complications were impacted by surgical technique, with the lowest rates of fistula and stricture occurring with the Belgrade technique. Fistula rates ranged from 5% to 37%, while stricture ranged from 2% to 35% of patients. The Belgrade technique reported significantly lower rates of fistula and stricture (P = .000). The patient-reported outcomes were described for the Belgrade technique and extensive metoidioplasty. Both techniques showed high aesthetic and sexual satisfaction. Transgender individuals can achieve an aesthetically and sexually satisfactory neophallus using a variety of metoidioplasty techniques; however, urethral outcomes vary significantly by technique. The Belgrade technique reported the best outcomes, although data remains limited. Patient priorities should be used to determine surgical technique.
Comparison of Satisfaction With Penile Prosthesis Implantation in Patients With Radical Prostatectomy or Radical Cystoprostatectomy to the General Population
Authors: Howell Skyler , Palasi Stephen , Green Travis , Kannady Christopher , Panuganti Sravan , Slaughter Kris , Blum Kyle , Yang Baibing , Saavedra-Belaunde Jose A. , Wang Run
Published: January 2021

Introduction

Penile prosthesis implantation is a widely used treatment option for erectile dysfunction. Data is limited with regard to patient satisfaction with a penile prosthesis following radical prostatectomy/cystoprostatectomy vs patients with erectile dysfunction of other etiologies.

Aim

To examine patient satisfaction with penile prosthesis implantation and determine if a difference in satisfaction exists in post-prostatectomy/cystoprostatectomy patients vs patients with erectile dysfunction of other etiologies. We hypothesize that etiology does not affect satisfaction.

Methods

A total of 164 patients underwent penile prosthesis implantation at our institution between August 2017 and December 2019, with 102 patients completing a validated 14 item questionnaire, Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS), at 6 months postoperation. Demographics, surgical characteristics, and erectile dysfunction etiology were recorded. Patients were assigned to one of 2 groups: postprostatectomy/postcystoprostatectomy erectile dysfunction or other etiologies. The study group was further analyzed between radical prostatectomy or radical cystoprostatectomy.

Main Outcome Measures

Satisfaction based on key EDITS questions with postradical prostatectomy/cystoprostatectomy vs patients with erectile dysfunction of other etiologies.

Results

Responses to 3 questions were analyzed: overall satisfaction, expectations met in the past 4 weeks, and confidence in the ability to participate in sexual activity. Chi-square analysis was performed to determine the difference in responses. No difference was seen in overall satisfaction (P = .96), expectations (P = .78), or confidence (P = .78) between groups. On subgroup analysis, there was no difference in reported overall satisfaction (P = .47) or confidence (P = .080) between postprostatectomy and postcystoprostatectomy patients. Postprostatectomy and postcystoprostatectomy patients differed in whether the penile prosthesis implantation met expectations (P = .033). Postprostatectomy patients reported a mean score of 3.5/4 compared to postcystoprostatectomy patients, who reported a mean of 3.0/4.

Conclusions

Our analysis suggests that key erectile function scores are not significantly different between postprostatectomy/postcystoprostatectomy patients compared to other etiologies. The difference in measures between postprostatectomy and postcystoprostatectomy patients is not significant or of unclear significance.

Registration # of clinical trial: HSC-MS-19-0320

Howell S, Palasi S, Green T, et al. Comparison of Satisfaction With Penile Prosthesis Implantation in Patients With Radical Prostatectomy or Radical Cystoprostatectomy to the General Population. Sex Med 2021;9:100300.
Acceptability of a Comprehensive Sex Education Self-Study Website for Teaching Reproductive Health: A Pilot Study Among College Students and Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident Physicians
Authors: Yoost Jennie , Ruley Morgan , Durfee Levi
Published: January 2021

Introduction

There is a growing interest among adolescents to obtain sexual health information online, which could be helpful in rural areas where adolescents face unique obstacles to contraception access, and medically accurate sex education is not mandated.

Aim

This study piloted a comprehensive sex education self-study website among undergraduate students and resident physicians to assess the accuracy and feasibility for future use in younger adolescents.

Methods

A sex education website developed by a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN) was piloted among a group of OBGYN resident physicians and undergraduates from West Virginia. Groups were chosen to assess the accuracy of information and acceptability for use in younger adolescents. The 30-minute curriculum was a series of short videos (2–4 minutes each) covering anatomy, physiology, sexuality, gender identity, relationship health, contraception, and sexually transmitted infection prevention. Data were obtained on subjects’ past experience and perception of sex education. Subjects also evaluated the website for usefulness and accuracy.

Outcomes

Main outcomes included a Likert scale assessment of each curriculum session’s usefulness, accuracy, and how easy it was to follow.

Results

24 subjects (14 undergraduates and 10 physicians) participated during September and October of 2019. All except for 1 subject had sex education taught in school; 11 (45.8%) reported it to be “low quality”; 23 (95.8%) reported being taught in a classroom. Individual website video sessions were reported to be highly accurate, very easy to follow, and very useful. All subjects (100%) felt that high school adolescents would be interested in the self-study website.

Conclusions

A self-study website was successfully tested and found to be a well-accepted way to teach sex education among this pilot group. Future work involves testing this tool among younger adolescent subjects.
Occupational Fatalities Due to Mammal-Related Accidents in Japan, 2000–2019
Authors: Hioki Atsushi , Inaba Ryoichi
Published: January 2021

Introduction

Animal-related fatal accidents occur annually while individuals are outside working. This study intended to evaluate the trends of occupational fatal accidents related to mammals and compare them with nonoccupational accidents.

Methods

We collected occupational and nonoccupational fatalities related to mammals between 2000 and 2019 from data on fatal occupational accident cases certified by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Japan, in addition to other statistics from relevant ministries, media reports such as newspapers, and academic case reports.

Results

A total of 109 fatal accidents related to mammals were confirmed as occurring during work, and 129 were confirmed as taking place outside of work. Of the former, accidents among livestock farmers and horse racing–related workers accounted for about half. Among the accidents not related to work, dog attacks, infectious diseases from cats or dogs, traffic accidents with wild animals, and bear attacks during wild vegetable picking were common. Deaths from infectious diseases caused by dogs and cats have rarely been reported in the mass media.

Conclusions

Although the number of fatal occupational accidents related to mammals is not large, we concluded that it is necessary to continue preventive measures centered on accidents at livestock farms and in horse racing–related workplaces. It is also necessary to inform people about the risks of infectious diseases mediated by dogs and cats.
Influence of Fluid Delivery Schedule and Composition on Fluid Balance, Physiologic Strain, and Substrate Use in the Heat
Authors: Rosales Alejandro M. , Hailes Walter S. , Dodds Patrick S. , Marks Alexander N. , Ruby Brent C.
Published: January 2021

Introduction

Wildfire suppression is characterized by high total energy expenditure and water turnover rates. Hydration position stands outline hourly fluid intake rates. However, dose interval remains ambiguous. We aimed to determine the effects of microdosing and bolus-dosing water and microdosing and bolus-dosing carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions on fluid balance, heat stress (physiologic strain index [PSI]), and carbohydrate oxidation during extended thermal exercise.

Methods

In a repeated-measures cross-over design, subjects completed four 120-min treadmill trials (1.3 m·s-1, 5% grade, 33°C, 30% relative humidity) wearing a US Forest Service wildland firefighter uniform and a 15-kg pack. Fluid delivery approximated losses calculated from a pre-experiment familiarization trial, providing 22 doses·h-1 or 1 dose·h-1 (46±11, 1005±245 mL·dose-1). Body weight (pre- and postexercise) and urine volume (pre-, during, and postexercise) were recorded. Heart rate, rectal temperature, skin temperature, and steady-state expired air samples were recorded throughout exercise. Statistical significance ( P<0.05) was determined via repeated-measures analysis of variance.

Results

Total body weight loss (n=11, –0.6±0.3 kg, P>0.05) and cumulative urine output (n=11, 677±440 mL, P>0.05) were not different across trials. The micro-dosed carbohydrate-electrolyte trial sweat rate was lower than that of the bolus-dosed carbohydrate-electrolyte, bolus-dosed water, and microdosed water trials (n=11, 0.8±0.2, 0.9±0.2, 0.9±0.2, 0.9±0.2 L·h-1, respectively; P<0.05). PSI was lower at 60 than 120 min (n=12, 3.6±0.7 and 4.5±0.9, respectively; P<0.05), with no differences across trials. The carbohydrate-electrolyte trial’s carbohydrate oxidation was higher than water trial’s (n=12, 1.5±0.3 and 0.8±0.2 g·min-1, respectively; P<0.05), with no dosing style differences.

Conclusions

Equal-volume diverse fluid delivery schedules did not affect fluid balance, PSI, or carbohydrate oxidation during extended thermal work.
Altitude-Related Disorders on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: Two-Year Survey in a Local Referral Center
Authors: Dekker Marieke C.J. , Mremi Alex , Kilonzo Kajiru G. , Nyakunga Gissela , Sakita Francis , Mvungi Mark , Urasa Sarah J. , Masenga Gileard , Howlett William P.
Published: January 2021

Introduction

A significant number of climbers on Mount Kilimanjaro are affected by altitude-related disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the main causes of morbidity and mortality in a representative cohort of climbers based on local hospital records.

Methods

We conducted a 2-y retrospective chart review of all patients presenting to the main referral hospital in the region after a climb on Mount Kilimanjaro, including all relevant records and referrals for postmortem studies.

Results

We identified 62 climbers who presented to the hospital: 47 inpatients and 15 outpatients. Fifty-six presented with high altitude illness, which included acute mountain sickness (n=8; 14%), high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) (n=30; 54%), high altitude cerebral edema (HACE) (n=7; 12%), and combined HAPE/HACE (n=11; 20%). The mean altitude of symptom onset ranged from 4600±750 m for HAPE to 5000±430 m for HAPE/HACE. The vast majority of inpatients (n=41; 87%) were improved on discharge. Twenty-one deceased climbers, most having died while climbing (n=17; 81%), underwent postmortem evaluation. Causes of death were HAPE (n=16; 76%), HAPE/HACE (n=3; 14%), trauma (1), and cardiopulmonary (1).

Conclusions

HAPE was the main cause of death during climbing as well as for hospital admissions. The vast majority of climbers who presented to hospital made a full recovery.
Maps from Feigin and Odesskii's elliptic algebras to twisted homogeneous coordinate rings
Authors: Chirvasitu Alex , Kanda Ryo , Smith S. Paul
Published: January 2021

The elliptic algebras in the title are connected graded

$\mathbb {C}$

-algebras, denoted

$Q_{n,k}(E,\tau )$

, depending on a pair of relatively prime integers

$n>k\ge 1$

, an elliptic curve E and a point

$\tau \in E$

. This paper examines a canonical homomorphism from

$Q_{n,k}(E,\tau )$

to the twisted homogeneous coordinate ring

$B(X_{n/k},\sigma ',\mathcal {L}^{\prime }_{n/k})$

on the characteristic variety

$X_{n/k}$

for

$Q_{n,k}(E,\tau )$

. When

$X_{n/k}$

is isomorphic to

$E^g$

or the symmetric power

$S^gE$

, we show that the homomorphism

$Q_{n,k}(E,\tau ) \to B(X_{n/k},\sigma ',\mathcal {L}^{\prime }_{n/k})$

is surjective, the relations for

$B(X_{n/k},\sigma ',\mathcal {L}^{\prime }_{n/k})$

are generated in degrees

$\le 3$

and the noncommutative scheme

$\mathrm {Proj}_{nc}(Q_{n,k}(E,\tau ))$

has a closed subvariety that is isomorphic to

$E^g$

or

$S^gE$

, respectively. When

$X_{n/k}=E^g$

and

$\tau =0$

, the results about

$B(X_{n/k},\sigma ',\mathcal {L}^{\prime }_{n/k})$

show that the morphism

$\Phi _{|\mathcal {L}_{n/k}|}:E^g \to \mathbb {P}^{n-1}$

embeds

$E^g$

as a projectively normal subvariety that is a scheme-theoretic intersection of quadric and cubic hypersurfaces.
Estimated number of N95 respirators needed for healthcare workers in acute-care hospitals during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic
Authors: Wedlock Patrick T. , O’Shea Kelly J. , Conte Madellena , Bartsch Sarah M. , Randall Samuel L. , Ferguson Marie C. , Cox Sarah N. , Siegmund Sheryl S. , Kulkarni Sarah , Nash Denis , Lin Michael Y. , Lee Bruce Y.
Published: January 2021

Objective:

Due to shortages of N95 respirators during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it is necessary to estimate the number of N95s required for healthcare workers (HCWs) to inform manufacturing targets and resource allocation.

Methods:

We developed a model to determine the number of N95 respirators needed for HCWs both in a single acute-care hospital and the United States.

Results:

For an acute-care hospital with 400 all-cause monthly admissions, the number of N95 respirators needed to manage COVID-19 patients admitted during a month ranges from 113 (95% interpercentile range [IPR], 50–229) if 0.5% of admissions are COVID-19 patients to 22,101 (95% IPR, 5,904–25,881) if 100% of admissions are COVID-19 patients (assuming single use per respirator, and 10 encounters between HCWs and each COVID-19 patient per day). The number of N95s needed decreases to a range of 22 (95% IPR, 10–43) to 4,445 (95% IPR, 1,975–8,684) if each N95 is used for 5 patient encounters. Varying monthly all-cause admissions to 2,000 requires 6,645–13,404 respirators with a 60% COVID-19 admission prevalence, 10 HCW–patient encounters, and reusing N95s 5–10 times. Nationally, the number of N95 respirators needed over the course of the pandemic ranges from 86 million (95% IPR, 37.1–200.6 million) to 1.6 billion (95% IPR, 0.7–3.6 billion) as 5%–90% of the population is exposed (single-use). This number ranges from 17.4 million (95% IPR, 7.3–41 million) to 312.3 million (95% IPR, 131.5–737.3 million) using each respirator for 5 encounters.

Conclusions:

We quantified the number of N95 respirators needed for a given acute-care hospital and nationally during the COVID-19 pandemic under varying conditions.
The second moment of symmetric square L-functions over Gaussian integers
Authors: Balkanova Olga , Frolenkov Dmitry
Published: January 2021

We prove a new upper bound on the second moment of Maass form symmetric square L-functions defined over Gaussian integers. Combining this estimate with the recent result of Balog–Biro–Cherubini–Laaksonen, we improve the error term in the prime geodesic theorem for the Picard manifold.
ON ALGEBRA ISOMORPHISMS BETWEEN p-BANACH BEURLING ALGEBRAS
Authors: DABHI PRAKASH A. , LIKHADA DARSHANA B.
Published: January 2021

Let

$(G_1,\omega _1)$
and

$(G_2,\omega _2)$
be weighted discrete groups and

$0<p\leq 1$
. We characterise biseparating bicontinuous algebra isomorphisms on the p-Banach algebra

$\ell ^p(G_1,\omega _1)$
. We also characterise bipositive and isometric algebra isomorphisms between the p-Banach algebras
$\ell ^p(G_1,\omega _1)$
and

$\ell ^p(G_2,\omega _2)$
and isometric algebra isomorphisms between

$\ell ^p(S_1,\omega _1)$
and

$\ell ^p(S_2,\omega _2)$
, where

$(S_1,\omega _1)$
and

$(S_2,\omega _2)$
are weighted discrete semigroups.
Reassessing the estimation of leaf area in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) by linear regression equation
Authors: Breure Cornelis Jan , Siregar M. Mustiqa
Published: January 2021

The area of individual leaves in oil palm has been conventionally estimated from a regression equation that is based on the size and number of leaflets. The aim of the present study is to verify the accuracy of this equation, which became standard in oil palm research. Therefore, true leaf area, measured with a video camera, was estimated from the product of number of leaflets per leaf (n) with mean length (l) times mid-width (w) of six of the longest leaflets (nlw). The database was assembled, annually for the first 4 years after planting, from 2961 leaves of dura × pisifera testcrosses descending from six distinct pisifera origins. The regression coefficients of the regression lines of nlw plotted against true area did not show a trend with age of the palms or a difference among pisifera origins. The common regression equation fitted through all data of this study accurately estimated true leaf area of the testcrosses and also the areas of 2- to 3.5-year-old dura palms of three distinct origins as well as 18-year-old tenera palms. These outcomes are at odds with the conventional regression equation that overestimates the true leaf areas by about 24%. A more recently-developed variant underestimates true area of the young tenera and dura palms by 28%, while overestimating true area of old tenera palms by 19%. Possible causes for these deviations from true area are discussed. The paper argues that parameters depending on leaf area of previous physiological studies need to be reassessed.
Developmental outcomes of early adverse care on amygdala functional connectivity in nonhuman primates
Authors: Morin Elyse L. , Howell Brittany R. , Feczko Eric , Earl Eric , Pincus Melanie , Reding Katherine , Kovacs-Balint Zsofia A. , Meyer Jerrold S. , Styner Martin , Fair Damien , Sanchez Mar M.
Published: January 2021

Despite the strong link between childhood maltreatment and psychopathology, the underlying neurodevelopmental mechanisms are poorly understood and difficult to disentangle from heritable and prenatal factors. This study used a translational macaque model of infant maltreatment in which the adverse experience occurs in the first months of life, during intense maturation of amygdala circuits important for stress and emotional regulation. Thus, we examined the developmental impact of maltreatment on amygdala functional connectivity (FC) longitudinally, from infancy through the juvenile period. Using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) we performed amygdala–prefrontal cortex (PFC) region-of-interest and exploratory whole-brain amygdala FC analyses. The latter showed (a) developmental increases in amygdala FC with many regions, likely supporting increased processing of socioemotional-relevant stimuli with age; and (b) maltreatment effects on amygdala coupling with arousal and stress brain regions (locus coeruleus, laterodorsal tegmental area) that emerged with age. Maltreated juveniles showed weaker FC than controls, which was negatively associated with infant hair cortisol concentrations. Findings from the region-of-interest analysis also showed weaker amygdala FC with PFC regions in maltreated animals than controls since infancy, whereas bilateral amygdala FC was stronger in maltreated animals. These effects on amygdala FC development may underlie the poor behavioral outcomes associated with this adverse experience.
Challenges in researching the immune pathways between early life adversity and psychopathology
Authors: Reid Brie , Danese Andrea
Published: January 2021

Exposure to childhood adversity is a critical risk factor for the development of psychopathology. A growing field of research examines how exposure to childhood adversity is translated into biological risk for psychopathology through alterations in immune system functioning, most notably heightened levels of inflammation biomarkers. Though our knowledge about how childhood adversity can instantiate biological risk for psychopathology is growing, there remain many challenges and gaps in the field to understand how inflammation from childhood adversity contributes to psychopathology. This paper reviews research on the inflammatory outcomes arising from childhood adversity and presents four major challenges that future research must address: (a) the measurement of childhood adversity, (b) the measurement of inflammation, (c) the identification of mediators between childhood adversity and inflammation, and (d) the identification of moderators of inflammatory outcomes following childhood adversity. We discuss synergies and inconsistencies in the literature to summarize the current understanding of the association between childhood adversity, a proinflammatory phenotype, and the biological risk for psychopathology. We discuss the clinical implications of the inflammatory links between childhood adversity and psychopathology, including possibilities for intervention. Finally, this review conclude by delineates future directions for research, including issues of how best to detect, prevent, and understand these “hidden wounds” of childhood adversity.
Neural meaning making, prediction, and prefrontal–subcortical development following early adverse caregiving
Authors: Tottenham Nim
Published: January 2021

Early adversities that are caregiving-related (crEAs) are associated with a significantly increased risk for mental health problems. Recent neuroscientific advances have revealed alterations in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)-subcortical circuitry following crEAs. While this work has identified alterations in affectiveoperations(e.g., perceiving, reacting, controlling, learning) associated with mPFC–subcortical circuitry, this circuitry has a much broader function extending beyond operations. It plays a primary role in affective meaning making, involving conceptual-level, schematized knowledge to generate predictions about the current environment. This function of mPFC–subcortical circuitry motivates asking whether mPFC–subcortical phenotypes following crEAs supportsemanticized knowledgecontent (or the concept-level knowledge) and generate predictive models. I present a hypothesis motivated by research findings across four different lines of work that converge on mPFC–subcortical neuroanatomy, including (a) the neurobiology supporting emotion regulation processes in adulthood, (b) the neurobiology that is activated by caregiving cues during development, (c) the neurobiology that is altered by crEAs, and (d) the neurobiology of semantic-based meaning making. I hypothesize that the affective behaviors following crEAs result in part from affective semantic memory processes supported by mPFC–subcortical circuitry that over the course of development, construct affective schemas that generate meaning making and guide predictions. I use this opportunity to review some of the literature on mPFC–subcortical circuit development following crEAs to illustrate the motivation behind this hypothesis. Long recognized by clinical science and cognitive neuroscience, studying schema-based processes may be particularly helpful for understanding how affective meaning making arises from developmental trajectories of mPFC–subcortical circuitry.
Sensitive periods for psychosocial risk in childhood and adolescence and cardiometabolic outcomes in young adulthood
Authors: Doom Jenalee R. , Rivera Kenia M. , Blanco Estela , Burrows Raquel , Correa-Burrows Paulina , East Patricia L. , Lozoff Betsy , Gahagan Sheila
Published: January 2021

Greater psychosocial risk in childhood and adolescence predicts poorer cardiometabolic outcomes in adulthood. We assessed whether the timing of psychosocial risk from infancy through adolescence predicts cardiometabolic outcomes in young adulthood. Young adults and their mothers participated in a longitudinal study beginning in infancy in Santiago, Chile (N = 1040). At infancy, 5 years, 10 years, and adolescence, mothers reported on depressive symptoms, stressful experiences, support for child development in the home, father absence, parental education, and socioeconomic status (SES) to create a psychosocial risk composite at each time point. Young adults (52.1% female; 21–27 years) provided fasting serum samples and participated in anthropometric and blood pressure (BP) assessments, including a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan for measuring body fat. Greater infant psychosocial risk was associated with a greater young adult metabolic syndrome score (β = 0.07, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.01 to 0.13, p = 0.02), a higher body mass index and waist circumference composite (β = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.13, p = 0.002), and a higher body fat (DXA) composite (β = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.12, p = 0.02). No psychosocial risk measure from any time point was associated with BP. Infant psychosocial risk predicted cardiometabolic outcomes in young adulthood better than psychosocial risk at 5 years, 10 years, or adolescence, mean of psychosocial risk from infancy through adolescence, and maximum of psychosocial risk at any one time. Consistent with the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease model, findings suggest that infancy is a sensitive period for psychosocial risk leading to poorer cardiometabolic outcomes in young adulthood.
Sympathetic nervous system dominance during stress recovery mediates associations between stress sensitivity and social anxiety symptoms in female adolescents
Authors: Ho Tiffany C. , Pham Holly T. , Miller Jonas G. , Kircanski Katharina , Gotlib Ian H.
Published: January 2021

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is commonly diagnosed during adolescence and is associated with psychological stress reactivity and heightened physiological arousal. No study, however, has systematically examined which aspects of autonomic nervous system function mediate likely links between stress sensitivity and social anxiety symptoms in adolescents. Here, we assessed 163 adolescents (90 females; 12.29 ± 1.39 years) with respect to life stress and social anxiety symptoms, and measured respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and skin conductance levels (SCL) during a psychosocial stress paradigm. We operationalized stress sensitivity as the residual variance in subjective stress severity after accounting for objective severity and changes in autonomic regulation using standardized change scores in RSA and SCL. In females only, stress sensitivity and social anxiety symptoms were significantly correlated with each other (p < .001) and with autonomic regulation during both reactivity and recovery (all ps < 0.04). Further, sympathetic nervous system dominance during recovery specifically mediated associations between stress sensitivity and social anxiety symptoms (B = 1.06, 95% CI: 0.02–2.64). In contrast, in males, stress sensitivity, autonomic regulation during reactivity or recovery, and social anxiety symptoms were not significantly associated (all ps > 0.1). We interpret these results in the context of psychobiological models of SAD and discuss implications for interventions targeting autonomic processes.
Cortisol and socioeconomic status in early childhood: A multidimensional assessment
Authors: Tarullo Amanda R. , Tuladhar Charu T. , Kao Katie , Drury Eleanor B. , Meyer Jerrold
Published: January 2021

The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis is sensitive to early life stress, with enduring consequences for biological stress vulnerability and health (Gunnar & Talge, 2008). Low socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with dysregulation of the stress hormone cortisol in early childhood. However, a mechanistic understanding of this association is lacking. Multidimensional assessment of both SES and cortisol is needed to characterize the intricate relations between SES and cortisol function in early childhood. We assessed parent-reported family income, parent education, occupational prestige, neighborhood risk, food insecurity, and household chaos for 12-month-old infants (N = 90) and 3.5-year-old children (N = 91). Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) was obtained from parent and child, indexing chronic biological stress, and diurnal salivary cortisol was measured in the children. Controlling for parent HCC, parent education uniquely predicted infant and child HCC and, in addition, neighborhood risk uniquely predicted infant HCC. Household chaos predicted bedtime salivary cortisol concentration (SCC) for both infants and children, and infant daily cortisol output. Food insecurity was associated with flattened cortisol slope in 3.5-year-old children. Parental sensitivity did not mediate relations between SES and cortisol. Results highlight the utility of SES measures that index unpredictable and unsafe contexts, such as neighborhood risk, food insecurity, and household chaos.
Bridled Quail-doveGeotrygon mystaceapopulation assessment after hurricanes Irma and Maria, St. Eustatius, Caribbean Netherlands
Authors: RIVERA-MILÁN FRANK F. , MADDEN HANNAH , VERDEL KEVIN
Published: January 2021

Structural vegetation damage and food limitation are important effects of major hurricanes, particularly for fruit/seed-eating, forest-dependent Caribbean birds with restricted distributions and small populations, such as the Bridled Quail-doveGeotrygon mystacea.Motivated by the lack of abundance estimates, corrected for detection probability, we conducted distance-sampling surveys inside and outside the Quill National Park each May in 2016-2019. Detection mode was the most important covariate, with others receiving no support from the data. Detectability of available single individuals and clusters of individuals within 60 m of transect centrelines averaged 0.957 ± 0.114 standard error for audio detections, 0.434 ± 0.052 for visual detections, and 0.693 ± 0.064 for detection modes combined. Availability averaged 0.475 ± 0.138 and the product of detectability and availability averaged 0.329 ± 0.098. Density averaged 1.459 ± 0.277 individuals ha-1and population size averaged 642 ± 122 individuals in 440 ha. Density did not differ along and away from forest trails, but was higher inside than outside the park and at elevations within 201-400 m than 100-200 m and 401-600 m. Density declined by 76% after hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. We suggest that major hurricanes together with free-ranging livestock overgrazing degraded foraging habitats, limited food supply, and caused a population bottleneck. Our methodology can be implemented across the distribution range to assess population status and trends and evaluate the result of management actions at key conservation sites. Bridled Quail-dove populations probably were declining on most islands before the 2017 hurricanes and population status warrants revision.
Nutritional knowledge, attitude and behaviours regarding Coronavirus Disease 2019 among residents of Gonabad, Iran
Authors: Mansoorian Mozhgan , Noori Reza , Khosravan Shahla , Tabatabaeizadeh Seyed-Amir , Khajavian Nasim
Published: January 2021

Objective:

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease and a major global health-related issue. Knowledge, attitude and behaviours associated with this disease are being developed. Infected animals and consumption of contaminated foods are probably the main sources of this viral infection. Adhering to a healthy diet is effective in preventing patient affliction and recovery. Thus, the present research aims to determine the nutritional knowledge, attitude and behaviours associated with COVID-19 among Residents of Gonabad, Iran.

Design:

The present online cross-sectional survey was conducted in March 2020 on 389 people selected through convenient sampling method. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire developed by the present researchers comprising four sections: demographic information, knowledge, attitude and nutritional behaviour. The collected data were analysed statistically in SPSS.

Setting:

Gonabad city in Khorasan Razavi in the Northeast of Iran.

Participants:

All people at or above 18 years of age.

Results:

The present results revealed that the mean age of the participants was 37·3 ± 11·3 years. The mean scores for knowledge, attitude and nutritional behaviour were, respectively, 9·7 ± 1·4, 14·3 ± 3·5 and 29·6 ± 4·2. The mean scores for nutritional knowledge and attitude showed no statistically significant correlation with age, education, occupation, marital status and economic status. However, the mean nutritional behaviour score was significantly higher among women than men (P = 0·004).

Conclusions:

Participants’ nutritional attitude and behaviour regarding COVID-19, at its early stage in Iran, were average and above average. The public education provided with this regard can have affected this result.
How to pay for Social Security's Missing Trust Fund?
Authors: Munnell Alicia H. , Hou Wenliang , Sanzenbacher Geoffrey T.
Published: January 2021

Decisions made early in Social Security's history resulted in benefits in excess of contributions for early cohorts. This approach gave away the Trust Fund and the resulting interest that could have accumulated, which has increased the size of the payroll tax required to finance the program. This paper finds that, for the Old-Age and Survivors portion of Social Security, the Missing Trust Fund of $29.5 trillion is driven by the excess benefits given to early cohorts. Should tax increases be considered to improve the program's finances, a broad tax – such as the income tax – could be appropriate since these early payments benefitted all of society.
Design and preliminary evaluation of a flexible exoskeleton to assist with lifting
Authors: Chang S. Emily , Pesek Taylor , Pote Timothy R. , Hull Joshua , Geissinger Jack , Simon Athulya A. , Alemi Mohammad Mehdi , Asbeck Alan T.
Published: January 2021

We present a passive (unpowered) exoskeleton that assists the back during lifting. Our exoskeleton uses carbon fiber beams as the sole means to store energy and return it to the wearer. To motivate the design, we present general requirements for the design of a lifting exoskeleton, including calculating the required torque to support the torso for people of different weights and heights. We compare a number of methods of energy storage for exoskeletons in terms of mass, volume, hysteresis, and cycle life. We then discuss the design of our exoskeleton, and show how the torso assembly leads to balanced forces. We characterize the energy storage in the exoskeleton and the torque it provides during testing with human subjects. Ten participants performed freestyle, stoop, and squat lifts. Custom image processing software was used to extract the curvature of the carbon fiber beams in the exoskeleton to determine the stored energy. During freestyle lifting, it stores an average of 59.3 J and provides a peak torque of 71.7 Nm.
European Colonists Dramatically Increased North American Erosion Rates
Authors: Fritts Rachel
Published: January 2021

Around 200 years ago, when conversion of land for agriculture became more widespread, the amount of sediment accumulating in riverbeds across the continent jumped tenfold.
Targeting the signaling in Epstein–Barr virus-associated diseases: mechanism, regulation, and clinical study
Authors: Cao Ya , Xie Longlong , Shi Feng , Tang Min , Li Yueshuo , Hu Jianmin , Zhao Lin , Zhao Luqing , Yu Xinfang , Luo Xiangjian , Liao Weihua , Bode Ann M.
Published: January 2021

Epstein–Barr virus-associated diseases are important global health concerns. As a group I carcinogen, EBV accounts for 1.5% of human malignances, including both epithelial- and lymphatic-originated tumors. Moreover, EBV plays an etiological and pathogenic role in a number of non-neoplastic diseases, and is even involved in multiple autoimmune diseases (SADs). In this review, we summarize and discuss some recent exciting discoveries in EBV research area, which including DNA methylation alterations, metabolic reprogramming, the changes of mitochondria and ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), oxidative stress and EBV lytic reactivation, variations in non-coding RNA (ncRNA), radiochemotherapy and immunotherapy. Understanding and learning from this advancement will further confirm the far-reaching and future value of therapeutic strategies in EBV-associated diseases.
Default mode and salience network alterations in suicidal and non-suicidal self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in adolescents with depression
Authors: Ho Tiffany C. , Walker Johanna C. , Teresi Giana I. , Kulla Artenisa , Kirshenbaum Jaclyn S. , Gifuni Anthony J. , Singh Manpreet K. , Gotlib Ian H.
Published: January 2021

Suicidal ideation (SI) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) are two distinct yet often co-occurring risk factors for suicide deaths in adolescents. Elucidating the neurobiological patterns that specifically characterize SI and NSSI in adolescents is needed to inform the use of these markers in intervention studies and to develop brain-based treatment targets. Here, we clinically assessed 70 adolescents—49 adolescents with depression and 21 healthy controls—to determine SI and NSSI history. Twenty-eight of the depressed adolescents had a history of SI and 29 had a history of NSSI (20 overlapping). All participants underwent a resting-state fMRI scan. We compared groups in network coherence of subdivisions of the central executive network (CEN), default mode network (DMN), and salience network (SN). We also examined group differences in between-network connectivity and explored brain-behavior correlations. Depressed adolescents with SI and with NSSI had lower coherence in the ventral DMN compared to those without SI or NSSI, respectively, and healthy controls (all ps < 0.043, uncorrected). Depressed adolescents with NSSI had lower coherence in the anterior DMN and in insula-SN (all ps < 0.030, uncorrected), and higher CEN–DMN connectivity compared to those without NSSI and healthy controls (all ps < 0.030, uncorrected). Lower network coherence in all DMN subnetworks and insula-SN were associated with higher past-month SI and NSSI (all ps < 0.001, uncorrected). Thus, in our sample, both SI and NSSI are related to brain networks associated with difficulties in self-referential processing and future planning, while NSSI specifically is related to brain networks associated with disruptions in interoceptive awareness.