bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Calcific constrictive pericarditis following tumour necrosis factor-alpha inhibition
Authors: Cunneen Brian , Hussein Hafiz , O’Sullivan Jenna , Yearoo Ibrahim
Published: January 2024

Background

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibition is a core therapeutic avenue for a broad range of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders including rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, as well as dermatological conditions such as hidradenitis suppurativa. Adalimumab has become one of the most common TNF-alpha–inhibiting agents, which is used for many of these conditions. Treatment with such agents is associated with numerous systemic side effects, though cardiac complications remain relatively rare. These include reports of pericarditis and pericardial effusions1–3.

Case summary

A 63-year-old lady was referred to the outpatient respiratory clinic with a 1-year history of increasing breathlessness, on a background of 4 years of treatment with adalimumab for Stage III hidradenitis suppurativa. A high-resolution computed tomography (CT) thorax revealed evidence of pericardial calcification. Subsequent left and right heart catheterization study revealed equalization of intraventricular pressures, consistent with constrictive pericarditis. A QuantiFERON test was negative, and rheumatological serology was unremarkable. The patient was initially managed conservatively with close follow-up, before undergoing surgical pericardectomy when she developed signs of cardiac failure.

Discussion

Adalimumab is associated with a range of systemic side effects, though cardiac complications are relatively rare. This case highlights a potentially novel complication associated with prolonged adalimumab therapy. Given that there are reports in the literature of pericarditis and pericardial effusions associated with TNF-alpha inhibition1–3, it is reasonable to hypothesize that the calcific constrictive pericarditis seen in this case may demonstrate a novel cardiac phenomenon associated with this therapy, given the lack of any traditional aetiological factors.
Comparison of lactated Ringer's solution and Plasma-Lyte A as a base solution for del Nido cardioplegia: a prospective randomized trial
Authors: Kantathut Narongrit , Krathong Pimchanok , Khajarern Siam , Leelayana Parinya , Cherntanomwong Piya
Published: January 2024

OBJECTIVES

The use of del Nido cardioplegia has been increasing in popularity for adult cardiac surgery. However, the base solution, Plasma-Lyte A, is not always available in many countries. This prospective randomized controlled trial evaluated myocardial preservation and clinical outcomes when using lactated Ringer's solution (LRS) compared to Plasma-Lyte A as a base solution for del Nido cardioplegia.

METHODS

Adult patients undergoing first-time elective cardiac surgery for acquired heart disease, including isolated coronary artery bypass grafting, isolated valve surgery, combined valve surgery or concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting and valve surgery were randomized to receive either LRS (n = 100) or Plasma-Lyte A (n = 100).

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of age, comorbidities, Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk score and type of procedures. The primary outcome, postoperative troponin-T at 24 h, was similar in both groups (0.482 vs 0.524 ng/ml; P = 0.464). Other cardiac markers were also similar at all time points. The LRS group had a lower pH (7.228 vs 7.246; P = 0.005) and higher calcium levels (0.908 vs 0.358 mmol/l; P < 0.001) in the delivered cardioplegia, but there were no significant differences in clinical outcomes, such as ventricular fibrillation, left ventricular ejection fraction, inotrope/vasopressor requirement, intra-aortic balloon pump support, intensive care unit stay, hospital stay, atrial fibrillation, red cell transfusion and complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that LRS can be used as an alternative to Plasma-Lyte A as the base solution for del Nido cardioplegia, with similar myocardial preservation and clinical outcomes.
Evolutionary and empirical perspectives on ‘demand’ breastfeeding
Authors: Tracer David P
Published: January 2024

Background/Objectives

The concept of ‘demand’ breastfeeding is central in public health. A key feature of the concept is that the infant is the locus of control in the breastfeeding process; when the breast is demanded by the infant, it is given the opportunity to feed. This study questions this notion of the infant as the locus of control in demand breastfeeding for empirical and theoretical reasons. From an evolutionary perspective, infants are expected to seek maximal investment and, against this backdrop of maximal investment-seeking, parents decide how much investment to put into offspring.

Methodology

Focal follows were conducted among 113 mother–infant dyads in Papua New Guinea. During these follows, response times and types of responses, including breastfeeding to offspring fussing and crying, were recorded.

Results

Infants were breastfed an average of 3.6 times/hour for just over 2 min/feed. Fussing and crying were responded to quickly, with most response times under 1 min. When the mother responded, she breastfed the child approximately 52% of the time. The other 48% of the time, mothers responded to infants with other forms of pacification. Mothers were significantly less likely to respond to infants by breastfeeding if the child had been breastfed within the past 59–76 min.

Conclusion/Implications

As predicted by evolutionary parental investment theory, infants make frequent demands on their parents for investment, but mothers are ultimately the locus of control in the investment process. The mother decides whether and how frequently to breastfeed her offspring against this backdrop of near-continuous investment demands.
Pulsed electric field, cryoballoon, and radiofrequency for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation ablation: a propensity score-matched comparison
Authors: Della Rocca Domenico G , Marcon Lorenzo , Magnocavallo Michele , Menè Roberto , Pannone Luigi , Mohanty Sanghamitra , Sousonis Vasileios , Sorgente Antonio , Almorad Alexandre , Bisignani Antonio , Głowniak Andrzej , Del Monte Alvise , Bala Gezim , Polselli Marco , Mouram Sahar , La Fazia Vincenzo Fazia , Ströker Erwin , Gianni Carola , Zeriouh Sarah , Bianchi Stefano , Sieira Juan , Combes Stephane , Sarkozy Andrea , Rossi Pietro , Boveda Serge , Natale Andrea , de Asmundis Carlo , Chierchia Gian-Battista ,   HRMC Investigators, Audiat Charles , Vetta Giampaolo , Cespón-Fernández María , Doundoulakis Ioannis , Monaco Cinzia , Overeinder Ingrid , Carette Gregory , Lombardo Ilenia , Nakasone Kazutaka , Eltzov Ivan , Meir Mark La
Published: January 2024

Aims

Pulsed field ablation (PFA) has emerged as a novel, non-thermal energy source to selectively ablate cardiac tissue. We describe a multicentre experience on pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) via the pentaspline Farapulse™ PFA system vs. thermal-based technologies in a propensity score-matched population of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) patients.

Methods and results

Propensity score matching was adopted to compare PVI-only ablation outcomes via the Farawave™ system (Group PFA), cryoballoon (Group CRYO), or focal radiofrequency (Group RF) (PFA:CRYO:RF ratio = 1:2:2). Among 1572 (mean age: 62.4 ± 11.3 years; 42.5% females) PAF patients undergoing first time PVI with either PFA (n = 174), CRYO (n = 655), or RF (n = 743), propensity score matching yielded 174 PFA, 348 CRYO, and 348 RF patients. First-pass isolation was achieved in 98.8% of pulmonary veins (PVs) with PFA, 81.5% with CRYO, and 73.1% with RF (P < 0.001). Procedural and dwell times were significantly shorter with PFA, whereas the availability of a 3D mapping system led to a significant reduction in X-ray exposure with RF. Overall complication rates were 3.4% (n = 6) with PFA, 8.6% (n = 30) with CRYO, and 5.5% (n = 19) with RF (P = 0.052). The 1-year Kaplan–Meier estimated freedom from any atrial tachyarrhythmia was 79.3% with PFA, 74.7% with CRYO, and 72.4% with RF (log-rank P-value: 0.24). Among 145 repeat ablation procedures, PV reconnection rate was 19.1% after PFA, 27.5% after CRYO, and 34.8% after RF (P = 0.01).

Conclusion

Pulsed field ablation contributed to significantly shorter procedural times. Follow-up data showed a similar arrhythmia freedom, although a higher rate of PV reconnection was documented in post-CRYO and post-RF redo procedures.
Harping on patriotism: female education meets Orléanist ambition in Jean-Antoine-Théodore Giroust’s The Harp Lesson (1791)
Authors: Freund Amy , Stammers Tom
Published: January 2024

One of the largest and most striking submissions to the 1791 Salon, The Harp Lesson by Jean-Antoine-Théodore Giroust was an ambitious but spectacularly ill-timed intervention in Revolutionary politics. It emerged from Félicité de Genlis’ remarkable educational project for the children of the duc d’Orléans, especially Princess Adélaïde, which mixed bold ideas about gender and civic virtue with specific political ambition. This article situates the painting within the experimental politics and sentimental crises of the Orléans household. It argues that Giroust, an intimate of this household, sought to exemplify some of Genlis’ boldest claims for the capacities and potential of the royal children in her care, especially at the expense of their biological mother. It demonstrates how Giroust engaged with the visual languages of recent Salon painting to create a domestic scene of female accomplishment that was also freighted with national purpose. The failure of the painting to resonate with the public illuminates the desperate gamble of different figures in the Orléanist camp as well as the unfulfilled possibilities of summer 1791.
Reconsidering the patient: pauvres malades and malades pauvres in eighteenth-century medical contexts
Authors: Rieder Philip , Vasset Sophie , Zanetti François
Published: January 2024

When humoral medicine gave way to more scientific approaches in the nineteenth century, the physician’s gaze changed. Amongst the epistemological transformations were representations and perceptions of the poor patient: the pauvre malade—a pauper who happened to be sick and was to be taken care of by traditional medical charities—became a malade pauvre, a sick person who happened to be poor and was to be treated in new institutions. This article explores these changes but in settings beyond the clinic. In three case studies, we explore the practice of the Genevan physician Louis Odier, the management of the poor in the French spa of Saint-Amand and, finally, treatises about British spas. The agency of physicians, administrators and the poor themselves are analysed. Physicians played an ambiguous role. Some resisted innovation and refused to consider the poor as suffering from the same diseases as the affluent; others made opportunistic use of case histories, including those of the poor, to convince richer patients of the benefits of specific treatments, thereby reinforcing ‘class-blind’ ontological conceptions of disease. Administrators, for their part, tended to see the poor foremost as patients and put pressure on physicians to arrive at precise diagnoses.
Chromosome-Level Assembly of Artemia franciscana Sheds Light on Sex Chromosome Differentiation
Authors: Bett Vincent Kiplangat , Macon Ariana , Vicoso Beatriz , Elkrewi Marwan
Published: January 2024

Since the commercialization of brine shrimp (genus Artemia) in the 1950s, this lineage, and in particular the model species Artemia franciscana, has been the subject of extensive research. However, our understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying various aspects of their reproductive biology, including sex determination, is still lacking. This is partly due to the scarcity of genomic resources for Artemia species and crustaceans in general. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly of A. franciscana (Kellogg 1906), from the Great Salt Lake, United States. The genome is 1 GB, and the majority of the genome (81%) is scaffolded into 21 linkage groups using a previously published high-density linkage map. We performed coverage and FST analyses using male and female genomic and transcriptomic reads to quantify the extent of differentiation between the Z and W chromosomes. Additionally, we quantified the expression levels in male and female heads and gonads and found further evidence for dosage compensation in this species.
5-Aminolevulinic acid improves cold resistance through regulation of SlMYB4/SlMYB88-SlGSTU43 module to scavenge reactive oxygen species in tomato
Authors: Zhang Zhengda , Yuan Luqiao , Dang Jiao , Zhang Yuhui , Wen Yongshuai , Du Yu , Liang Yufei , Wang Ya , Liu Tao , Li Tianlai , Hu Xiaohui
Published: January 2024

Cold stress severely affects the growth and quality of tomato. 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) can effectively improve tomato's cold stress tolerance. In this study, a tomato glutathione S-transferase gene, SlGSTU43, was identified. Results showed that ALA strongly induced the expression of SlGSTU43 under cold stress. SlGSTU43-overexpressing lines showed increased resistance to cold stress through an enhanced ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species. On the contrary, slgstu43 mutant lines were sensitive to cold stress, and ALA did not improve their cold stress tolerance. Thus, SlGSTU43 is a key gene in the process of ALA improving tomato cold tolerance. Through yeast library screening, SlMYB4 and SlMYB88 were preliminarily identified as transcription factors that bind to the SlGSTU43 promoter. Electrophoretic mobility shift, yeast one-hybrid, dual luciferase, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays experiments verified that SlMYB4 and SlMYB88 can bind to the SlGSTU43 promoter. Further experiments showed that SlMYB4 and SlMYB88 are involved in the process of ALA-improving tomato's cold stress tolerance and they positively regulate the expression of SlGSTU43. The findings provide new insights into the mechanism by which ALA improves cold stress tolerance. SlGSTU43, as a valuable gene, could be added to the cold-responsive gene repository. Subsequently, it could be used in genetic engineering to enhance the cold tolerance of tomato.
Integrated Analysis of Patient Networks and Plasmid Genomes to Investigate a Regional, Multispecies Outbreak of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales Carrying Both blaIMP and mcr-9 Genes
Authors: Wan Yu , Myall Ashleigh C , Boonyasiri Adhiratha , Bolt Frances , Ledda Alice , Mookerjee Siddharth , Weiße Andrea Y , Getino Maria , Turton Jane F , Abbas Hala , Prakapaite Ruta , Sabnis Akshay , Abdolrasouli Alireza , Malpartida-Cardenas Kenny , Miglietta Luca , Donaldson Hugo , Gilchrist Mark , Hopkins Katie L , Ellington Matthew J , Otter Jonathan A , Larrouy-Maumus Gerald , Edwards Andrew M , Rodriguez-Manzano Jesus , Didelot Xavier , Barahona Mauricio , Holmes Alison H , Jauneikaite Elita , Davies Frances
Published: January 2024

Background

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) are challenging in healthcare, with resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics. This study describes the emergence of imipenemase (IMP)–encoding CPE among diverse Enterobacterales species between 2016 and 2019 across a London regional network.

Methods

We performed a network analysis of patient pathways, using electronic health records, to identify contacts between IMP-encoding CPE–positive patients. Genomes of IMP-encoding CPE isolates were overlaid with patient contacts to imply potential transmission events.

Results

Genomic analysis of 84 Enterobacterales isolates revealed diverse species (predominantly Klebsiella spp, Enterobacter spp, and Escherichia coli); 86% (72 of 84) harbored an IncHI2 plasmid carrying blaIMP and colistin resistance gene mcr-9 (68 of 72). Phylogenetic analysis of IncHI2 plasmids identified 3 lineages showing significant association with patient contacts and movements between 4 hospital sites and across medical specialties, which was missed in initial investigations.

Conclusions

Combined, our patient network and plasmid analyses demonstrate an interspecies, plasmid-mediated outbreak of blaIMPCPE, which remained unidentified during standard investigations. With DNA sequencing and multimodal data incorporation, the outbreak investigation approach proposed here provides a framework for real-time identification of key factors causing pathogen spread. Plasmid-level outbreak analysis reveals that resistance spread may be wider than suspected, allowing more interventions to stop transmission within hospital networks.

Summary

This was an investigation, using integrated pathway networks and genomics methods, of the emergence of imipenemase-encoding carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales among diverse Enterobacterales species between 2016 and 2019 in patients across a London regional hospital network, which was missed on routine investigations.
Succession of microbial community composition and secondary metabolism during marine biofilm development
Authors: Bech Pernille Kjersgaard , Jarmusch Scott A , Rasmussen Jacob Agerbo , Limborg Morten Tønsberg , Gram Lone , Henriksen Nathalie N Suhr Eiris
Published: January 2024

In nature, secondary metabolites mediate interactions between microorganisms residing in complex microbial communities. However, the degree to which community dynamics can be linked to secondary metabolite potential remains largely unknown. In this study, we address the relationship between community succession and secondary metabolism variation. We used 16S and 18S rRNA gene and adenylation domain amplicon sequencing, genome-resolved metagenomics, and untargeted metabolomics to track the taxons, biosynthetic gene clusters, and metabolome dynamics in situ of microorganisms during marine biofilm succession over 113 days. Two phases were identified during the community succession, with a clear shift around Day 29, where the alkaloid secondary metabolites, pseudanes, were also detected. The microbial secondary metabolite potential changed between the phases, and only a few community members, including Myxococotta spp., were responsible for the majority of the biosynthetic gene cluster potential in the early succession phase. In the late phase, bryozoans and benthic copepods were detected, and the microbial nonribosomal peptide potential drastically decreased in association with a reduction in the relative abundance of the prolific secondary metabolite producers. Conclusively, this study provides evidence that the early succession of the marine biofilm community favors prokaryotes with high nonribosomal peptide synthetase potential. In contrast, the late succession is dominated by multicellular eukaryotes and a reduction in bacterial nonribosomal peptide synthetase potential.
“Candidatus Siderophilus nitratireducens”: a putative nap-dependent nitrate-reducing iron oxidizer within the new order Siderophiliales
Authors: Corbera-Rubio Francesc , Stouten Gerben R , Bruins Jantinus , Dost Simon F , Merkel Alexander Y , Müller Simon , van Loosdrecht Mark C M , van Halem Doris , Laureni Michele
Published: January 2024

Nitrate leaching from agricultural soils is increasingly found in groundwater, a primary source of drinking water worldwide. This nitrate influx can potentially stimulate the biological oxidation of iron in anoxic groundwater reservoirs. Nitrate-dependent iron-oxidizing (NDFO) bacteria have been extensively studied in laboratory settings, yet their ecophysiology in natural environments remains largely unknown. To this end, we established a pilot-scale filter on nitrate-rich groundwater to elucidate the structure and metabolism of nitrate-reducing iron-oxidizing microbiomes under oligotrophic conditions mimicking natural groundwaters. The enriched community stoichiometrically removed iron and nitrate consistently with the NDFO metabolism. Genome-resolved metagenomics revealed the underlying metabolic network between the dominant iron-dependent denitrifying autotrophs and the less abundant organoheterotrophs. The most abundant genome belonged to a new Candidate order, named Siderophiliales. This new species, “Candidatus Siderophilus nitratireducens,” carries genes central genes to iron oxidation (cytochrome c cyc2), carbon fixation (rbc), and for the sole periplasmic nitrate reductase (nap). Using thermodynamics, we demonstrate that iron oxidation coupled to nap based dissimilatory reduction of nitrate to nitrite is energetically favorable under realistic Fe3+/Fe2+ and NO3−/NO2− concentration ratios. Ultimately, by bridging the gap between laboratory investigations and nitrate real-world conditions, this study provides insights into the intricate interplay between nitrate and iron in groundwater ecosystems, and expands our understanding of NDFOs taxonomic diversity and ecological role.
Daily dosing of cannabidiol (CBD) demonstrates a positive effect on measures of stress in dogs during repeated exposure to car travel
Authors: Flint Hannah E , Hunt Alysia B G , Logan Darren W , King Tammie
Published: January 2024

Dogs are routinely exposed to events that may elicit stress and result in negative emotional states which can impact pet dog welfare. One event many dogs living with people are routinely exposed to is car travel, with many dogs displaying behaviors, along with corresponding physiological responses, that are indicative of stress and anxiety. There are a range of management and treatment options that exist from behavior modification, drug therapy, and supplements, often with varying results. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether multiple doses of a tetrahydrocannabinol-free cannabidiol (CBD) distillate over a period of 6 mo could positively influence measures of stress in dogs. In a blinded, parallel design study, dogs (n = 19) underwent a series of short car journeys (test) where a range of physiological and behavioral measures were collected pre, during, and post-test. The car journeys elicited stress in this population of dogs, as indicated by significant changes (P < 0.05) in several stress-related measures (serum cortisol, heart rate, heart rate variability, whining, lip licking, yawning, and qualitative behavioral ratings) observed from baseline to test, which persisted over repeated car travel events. The mitigating effect of CBD treatment varied by measure, with cortisol, whining, lip licking, and qualitative behavioral ratings indicating a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in canine stress compared to the placebo group for at least one time point. Additional research investigating a range of dog populations and stressors is required to fully understand the complex effect of CBD on canine emotional wellbeing.
Zinc status and indicators of intestinal health in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F18 challenged newly weaned pigs fed diets with different levels of zinc
Authors: Hansen Sally Veronika , Canibe Nuria , Nielsen Tina Skau , Woyengo Tofuko Awori
Published: January 2024

This study investigated the impact of an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) F18 challenge on newly weaned pigs when fed one of three Zn levels (150, 1,400, or 2,500 ppm) on performance, Zn status, ETEC shedding, and diarrhea. The ETEC challenge was hypothesized to have a more pronounced negative impact on pigs fed a diet containing 150 ppm Zn compared to 1,400 or 2,500 ppm Zn for 14 d after weaning. The study included 72 ETEC F18 susceptible pigs weaned at ~28 d of age (d 0 of the study). The pigs were distributed according to initial weight and litter to one of the three dietary Zn levels. Half of the pigs were challenged with ETEC on d 1 and 2. The challenge reduced (P ≤ 0.03) feed intake and average daily gain (ADG) during d 3 to 5. Challenged pigs fed 150 ppm Zn had lower (P = 0.01) ADG during d 5 to 7 compared to those fed 1,400 or 2,500 ppm Zn, whereas control pigs’ ADG were not affected by dietary Zn content. Challenged pigs fed 150 ppm Zn also showed lower (P < 0.01) fecal dry matter (DM) on d 5 compared to control pigs fed 150 ppm Zn and challenged pigs fed 1,400 or 2,500 ppm Zn. Challenge increased (P < 0.01) ETEC shedding in all groups, but challenged pigs fed 150 ppm Zn showed higher (P ≤ 0.05) fecal shedding of ETEC and toxins than when fed 1,400 or 2,500 ppm. On d 3, C-reactive protein concentration in plasma was lower (P < 0.03) for pigs fed 1,400 and 2,500 compared to 150 ppm Zn. Plasma haptoglobin and pig major acute phase protein were unaffected by dietary Zn content. On d 0, the serum Zn concentration was 586 ± 36.6 µg/L, which pigs fed 150 ppm Zn maintained throughout the study. The serum Zn concentration increased (P ≤ 0.07) in pigs fed 1,400 or 2,500 ppm Zn. The challenge decreased (P < 0.01) the serum Zn concentration in pigs fed 2,500 ppm Zn. On d 5 and 7, serum Zn concentration was similar for challenged pigs fed 1,400 and 2,500 ppm Zn, while control pigs fed 2,500 ppm Zn had higher (P < 0.01) serum Zn concentration than 1,400 ppm Zn. On d 7, serum Zn concentration tended (P = 0.08) to be lower for pigs with diarrhea (fecal DM ≤ 18%). In summary, these results indicate that newly weaned pigs fed 150 ppm Zn are more susceptible to ETEC F18 colonization and its adverse consequences such as diarrhea and reduced growth, even though challenge did not increase acute phase proteins.
Wnt pathway inhibition with the porcupine inhibitor LGK974 decreases trabecular bone but not fibrosis in a murine model with fibrotic bone
Authors: Lung Hsuan , Wentworth Kelly L , Moody Tania , Zamarioli Ariane , Ram Apsara , Ganesh Gauri , Kang Misun , Ho Sunita , Hsiao Edward C
Published: January 2024

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) mediate a wide spectrum of physiological functions, including the development, remodeling, and repair of the skeleton. Fibrous dysplasia (FD) of the bone is characterized by fibrotic, expansile bone lesions caused by activating mutations in GNAS. There are no effective therapies for FD. We previously showed that ColI(2.3)+/Rs1+ mice, in which Gs-GPCR signaling was hyper-activated in osteoblastic cell lineages using an engineered receptor strategy, developed a fibrotic bone phenotype with trabecularization that could be reversed by normalizing Gs-GPCR signaling, suggesting that targeting the Gs-GPCR or components of the downstream signaling pathway could serve as a promising therapeutic strategy for FD. The Wnt signaling pathway has been implicated in the pathogenesis of FD-like bone, but the specific Wnts and which cells produce them remain largely unknown. Single-cell RNA sequencing on long-bone stromal cells of 9-wk-old male ColI(2.3)+/Rs1+ mice and littermate controls showed that fibroblastic stromal cells in ColI(2.3)+/Rs1+ mice were expanded. Multiple Wnt ligands were up- or downregulated in different cellular populations, including in non-osteoblastic cells. Treatment with the porcupine inhibitor LGK974, which blocks Wnt signaling broadly, induced partial resorption of the trabecular bone in the femurs of ColI(2.3)+/Rs1+ mice, but no significant changes in the craniofacial skeleton. Bone fibrosis remained evident after treatment. Notably, LGK974 caused significant bone loss in control mice. These results provide new insights into the role of Wnt and Gs-signaling in fibrosis and bone formation in a mouse model of Gs-GPCR pathway overactivation.
Brep2Seq: a dataset and hierarchical deep learning network for reconstruction and generation of computer-aided design models
Authors: Zhang Shuming , Guan Zhidong , Jiang Hao , Ning Tao , Wang Xiaodong , Tan Pingan
Published: January 2024

Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction is a significant research topic in the field of computer-aided design (CAD), which is used to recover editable CAD models from original shapes, including point clouds, voxels, meshes, and boundary representations (B-rep). Recently, there has been considerable research interest in deep model generation due to the increasing potential of deep learning methods. To address the challenges of 3D reconstruction and generation, we propose Brep2Seq, a novel deep neural network designed to transform the B-rep model into a sequence of editable parametrized feature-based modeling operations comprising principal primitives and detailed features. Brep2Seq employs an encoder-decoder architecture based on the transformer, leveraging geometry and topological information within B-rep models to extract the feature representation of the original 3D shape. Due to its hierarchical network architecture and training strategy, Brep2Seq achieved improved model reconstruction and controllable model generation by distinguishing between the primary shape and detailed features of CAD models. To train Brep2Seq, a large-scale dataset comprising 1 million CAD designs is established through an automatic geometry synthesis method. Extensive experiments on both DeepCAD and Fusion 360 datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of Brep2Seq, and show its applicability to simple mechanical components in real-world scenarios. We further apply Brep2Seq to various downstream applications, including point cloud reconstruction, model interpolation, shape constraint generation, and CAD feature recognition.
Joint MR image reconstruction and super-resolution via mutual co-attention network
Authors: Chen Jiacheng , Wu Fei , Wang Wanliang
Published: January 2024

In the realm of medical diagnosis, recent strides in deep neural network-guided magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) restoration have shown promise. Nevertheless, persistent drawbacks overshadow these advancements. Challenges persist in balancing acquisition speed and image quality, while existing methods primarily focus on singular tasks like MRI reconstruction or super-resolution (SR), neglecting the interplay between these tasks. To tackle these challenges, this paper introduces the mutual co-attention network (MCAN) specifically designed to concurrently address both MRI reconstruction and SR tasks. Comprising multiple mutual cooperation attention blocks (MCABs) in succession, MCAN is tailored to maintain consistency between local physiological details and global anatomical structures. The intricately crafted MCAB includes a feature extraction block, a local attention block and a global attention block. Additionally, to ensure data fidelity without compromising acquired data, we propose the channel-wise data consistency block. Thorough experimentation on the IXI and fastMRI dataset showcases MCAN’s superiority over existing state-of-the-art methods. Both quantitative metrics and visual quality assessments validate the enhanced performance of MCAN in MRI restoration. The findings underscore MCAN’s potential in significantly advancing therapeutic applications. By mitigating the trade-off between acquisition speed and image quality while simultaneously addressing both MRI reconstruction and SR tasks, MCAN emerges as a promising solution in the domain of magnetic resonance image restoration.
Does mindless scrolling hamper well-being? Combining ESM and log-data to examine the link between mindless scrolling, goal conflict, guilt, and daily well-being
Authors: de Segovia Vicente David , Van Gaeveren Kyle , Murphy Stephen L , Vanden Abeele Mariek M P
Published: January 2024

This manuscript presents findings from a preregistered mixed-method study involving 67,762 ecological momentary assessments and behavioral smartphone observations from 1,315 adults. The study investigates (a) momentary associations between mindless scrolling, goal conflict, and guilt over smartphone use, and (b) whether guilt experiences during the day culminate into lower well-being. Results indicate that individuals experienced more guilt over their smartphone use when they had mindlessly scrolled for a longer period and that experienced goal conflict partially mediated this relationship. Daily analyses revealed that mindless scrolling was also associated with small negative changes in well-being, and this relationship was partially mediated by guilt experienced over the same day. Individuals with less self-control were more prone to experiencing goal conflict after mindlessly scrolling. These findings indicate that although mindless scrolling may seem a relatively harmless media behavior, it may have both momentary and downstream negative implications for well-being.
Consumer Work and Agency in the Analog Revival
Authors: Beverland Michael B , Fernandez Karen V , Eckhardt Giana M
Published: January 2024

Why do consumers choose difficult analog technologies over their labor-saving digital counterparts? Through ethnographic investigations of three once defunct analog technologies that have experienced a resurgence (vinyl music, film photography, and analog synthesizers), we explore how the act of consumer work enables consumers to experience shifting dimensions of agency. We utilize the theoretical lens of serious leisure to introduce a four-stage work process (novice, apprentice, craft, and design) in which the experience of agency is dependent on the shifting relations between user, object, and context. The four stages are cumulative and conjunctive, representing the development of skills toward mastery while also being connected via three transition mechanisms (contextualization, schematization, and hypothesization) that address agency–alienation tensions. The transition through these mechanisms is necessary to sustain emotional engagement in consumer work. Our contribution lies in demonstrating the myriad of ways in which consumer work as serious leisure generates different experiences of agency and alienation and the ways in which consumers can sustain engagement in their work.
Stability evaluation of candidate reference genes for real-time qPCR normalization in Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrycidae)
Authors: Xue Dingrong , Chen Tongtong , Wu Yi
Published: January 2024

Rhyzopertha dominica is a serious stored grain insect pest around the world. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is a widely used experimental method in molecular biology for detecting the expression of target genes. As appropriate reference genes are essential for normalizing gene expression, the selection of suitable reference genes is the basis of RT-qPCR experiments. In this study, the expression profiles of 7 candidate reference genes of rps3, rps6, rps13, actin, gadph, tubulin, and 18S rRNA were analyzed under 4 different experimental conditions. The expression stability of candidate genes was evaluated using the ΔCt, GeNorm, BestKeeper, NormFinder, and RefFinder methods. The results revealed that different reference genes were suitable for various experiments. Specifically, rps3 and rps6 were appropriate for the developmental stages and all samples: 18S rRNA and rps13 for temperature-related experiments, actin and rps6 for sex-related experiments, and rps6 and gadph for starvation stress. Our results lay essential groundwork for the normalization of RT-qPCR analyses and contribute to genomic and gene functional research of R. dominica.
Social Conflict and the Evolution of Unequal Conventions
Authors: Hwang Sung-Ha , Naidu Suresh , Bowles Samuel
Published: January 2024

We propose a theory of social norms (or conventions) that implement substantial levels of inequality between men and women, ethnic groups, and classes and that persist over long periods of time despite being inefficient and not supported by formal institutions. Consistent with historical cases, we extend the standard asymmetric stochastic evolutionary game model to allow subpopulation sizes to differ and idiosyncratic rejection of a status quo convention to be intentional to some degree (rather than purely random as in the standard evolutionary models). In this setting, if idiosyncratic play is sufficiently intentional and the subordinate class is sufficiently large relative to the elite, then risk-dominated conventions that are both more unequal and inefficient relative to alternative conventions will be stochastically stable and may persist for long periods. We show that the same is true in a general bipartite network of the population if most of the subordinate groups interactions are local, while the elite is more “cosmopolitan”. We apply the model to the evolution of wage conventions on the bipartite network of workers and employers, and find that an unequal monopsonistic wage convention is robust to the idiosyncratic play of workers that otherwise might displace it.
A chromosome-level genome assembly for the dugong (Dugong dugon)
Authors: Baker Dorothy Nevé , Abueg Linelle , Escalona Merly , Farquharson Katherine A , Lanyon Janet M , Le Duc Diana , Schöneberg Torsten , Absolon Dominic , Sims Ying , Fedrigo Olivier , Jarvis Erich D , Belov Katherine , Hogg Carolyn J , Shapiro Beth
Published: January 2024

The dugong (Dugong dugon) is a marine mammal widely distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific and the Red Sea, with a Vulnerable conservation status, and little is known about many of the more peripheral populations, some of which are thought to be close to extinction. We present a de novo high-quality genome assembly for the dugong from an individual belonging to the well-monitored Moreton Bay population in Queensland, Australia. Our assembly uses long-read PacBio HiFi sequencing and Omni-C data following the Vertebrate Genome Project pipeline to reach chromosome-level contiguity (24 chromosome-level scaffolds; 3.16 Gbp) and high completeness (97.9% complete BUSCOs). We observed relatively high genome-wide heterozygosity, which likely reflects historical population abundance before the last interglacial period, approximately 125,000 yr ago. Demographic inference suggests that dugong populations began declining as sea levels fell after the last interglacial period, likely a result of population fragmentation and habitat loss due to the exposure of seagrass meadows. We find no evidence for ongoing recent inbreeding in this individual. However, runs of homozygosity indicate some past inbreeding. Our draft genome assembly will enable range-wide assessments of genetic diversity and adaptation, facilitate effective management of dugong populations, and allow comparative genomics analyses including with other sirenians, the oldest marine mammal lineage.
U.S. public perceptions of the sensitivity of brain data
Authors: Huang Shenyang , Paul Umika , Gupta Shikhar , Desai Karan , Guo Melinda , Jung Jennifer , Capestany Beatrice , Krenzer William D , Stonecipher Dylan , Farahany Nita
Published: January 2024

As we approach an era of potentially widespread consumer neurotechnology, scholars and organizations worldwide have started to raise concerns about the data privacy issues these devices will present. Notably absent in these discussions is empirical evidence about how the public perceives that same information. This article presents the results of a nationwide survey on public perceptions of brain data, to inform discussions of law and policy regarding brain data governance. The survey reveals that the public may perceive certain brain data as less sensitive than other ‘private’ information, like social security numbers, but more sensitive than some ‘public’ information, like media preferences. The findings also reveal that not all inferences about mental experiences may be perceived as equally sensitive, and perhaps not all data should be treated alike in ethical and policy discussions. An enhanced understanding of public perceptions of brain data could advance the development of ethical and legal norms concerning consumer neurotechnology.
SARS-CoV-2 membrane protein-specific antibodies from critically ill SARS-CoV-2–infected individuals interact with Fc receptor–expressing cells but do not neutralize the virus
Authors: Fernández-Soto Daniel , Bueno Paula , Garaigorta Urtzi , Gastaminza Pablo , Bueno José L , Duarte Rafael F , Jara Ricardo , Valés-Gómez Mar , Reyburn Hugh T
Published: January 2024

The membrane (M) glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 is one of the key viral proteins regulating virion assembly and morphogenesis. Immunologically, the M protein is a major source of peptide antigens driving T cell responses, and most individuals who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 make antibodies to the N-terminal, surface-exposed peptide of the M protein. We now report that although the M protein is abundant in the viral particle, antibodies to the surface-exposed N-terminal epitope of M do not appear to neutralize the virus. M protein–specific antibodies do, however, activate antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and cytokine secretion by primary human natural killer cells. Interestingly, while patients with severe or mild disease make comparable levels of M antigen–binding antibodies, M-specific antibodies from the serum of critically ill patients are significantly more potent activators of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity than antibodies found in individuals with mild or asymptomatic infection.
Comparison of large-volume 3D reconstruction using plasma FIB-SEM and X-ray CT
Authors: Yoshida Ryuji , Mizuta Yasutoshi , Kato Takeharu , Kimura Teiichi
Published: January 2024

We demonstrated large-volume three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction using plasma-focused ion beam—scanning electron microscopy (PFIB-SEM). We successfully reconstructed a 750 μm (W) × 143 μm (H) × 310 μm (D) volume at a resolution of 200 nm/pix from 1550 SEM backscattered electron images of a Li-ion battery cathode sheet. The PFIB-SEM system was found to be capable of acquiring and reconstructing larger volume 3D datasets than X-ray computed tomography, and with higher resolution and contrast.
Neurodevelopmental assessments used to measure preschoolers’ cognitive development in Latin America: a systematic review
Authors: Williams Meagan E , Corn Elizabeth A , Martinez Ransanz Santiago , Berl Madison M , Andringa-Seed Regan , Mulkey Sarah B
Published: January 2024

Objective

The objective of this study was to systematically review the standardized neurodevelopmental assessments used to study preschool-aged children’s cognitive development in Spanish-speaking Latin America.

Methods

The authors systematically searched PubMed, PsycINFO, and ERIC databases for peer-reviewed articles from Spanish-speaking Latin American countries. Articles were included if they measured cognitive development among children aged 2–6 years using at least one standardized assessment tool; 97 articles were included and reviewed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines to assess their use of these tools.

Results

Ninety-seven studies across 13 countries used a total of 41 assessments to measure cognitive development; most widely used were the Wechsler intelligence scales (n = 46/97), particularly the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (n = 23 and 29, respectively). Other common assessments included the McCarthy Scales of Children’s Abilities (n = 9), Raven’s Progressive Matrices (n = 9), Child Neuropsychological Assessment (n = 8), and Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (n = 7). In regions where normative data for a given assessment were unpublished, authors commonly used norms from the United States, Mexico, or Spain or did not report standard scores in their analyses.

Conclusions

The wide range of tools used in these studies presents a challenge for generalizing results when measuring the neurodevelopment of Latin American preschool-aged children. The low availability of normative data for specific regions reveals concerns if some tools are culturally and linguistically appropriate even when Spanish is a common language, particularly in low-resource settings. Future work to forge greater consistency in the use of validated measures, clarity in reporting research methods, and publication of regional normative data would benefit the field.
Numeral Reduplication as a pluractional marker in Jordanian Arabic
Authors: Bedar Amazigh , Allawama Ashraf
Published: January 2024

This paper presents a first study of numeral reduplication in Jordanian Arabic, which uses a syntactic strategy of numeral reduplication not previously recognized in other languages. This involves the reduplication of a numeral implies reduplication of the Noun Phrase (NP) that follows it (Num NP Num NP). Semantically, and at first glance, numeral reduplication mandates distributives readings. We show that numeral reduplication is in fact a marker of pluractionality (event plurality), and the distributive readings are the consequence of separating plural events.
The analogy of computing
Authors: McCarty Willard
Published: January 2024

The digital machine is analogical by design: with it, we construct models of phenomena that by definition of that term are necessarily partial approximations. For that reason, we learn more by conceiving of them as analogues rather than imperfect copies. As the foofaraw over AI would make clear to anyone who bothered to separate its strange wheat from the common chaff, analogy is key to the digital engine’s intellectual power, whether for good or for ill. (The one we must further, the other oppose, but in both cases, understand as fully as we are able.) Analogy is itself a Proteus, however, surfacing in different forms in different disciplines where the machine has found its applications. In the following essay, I chase it through a number of fields before returning to computing, with two examples of its application. I end with a brief note on worldmaking, which after all is what it’s all about, at whatever scale.
Expedited Provisionalization of a Missing Crown: A Case Report
Authors: Ryser Andrew S , Handel Steven E , Sabol Jennifer V , Senkiw Katie M
Published: January 2024

Provisional restorations are required in fixed prosthodontics to protect a prepared tooth until a definitive restoration can be delivered. A patient sought treatment at a prosthodontics practice to replace a missing provisional crown until definitive treatment could be performed once the patient returned from a field exercise. This case report describes a novel way to provide a provisional restoration when other techniques are not feasible, which can be utilized in the clinic or in an austere environment.