bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intergenerational Trauma Transmission? Test of Cellular Aging in Mothers Exposed to Sexual Abuse and Their Children
Authors: Etzel Laura , Hastings Waylon , Mattern Brooke , Heim Christine , Noll Jennie , Putnam Frank , Oxford Monica , Shalev Idan
Published: December 2020

Exposure to maltreatment during childhood can lead to increased risk for poor health outcomes in adulthood. Child maltreatment and later poor health may be linked by premature biological aging. We tested whether childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is associated with telomere length (TL) in adult females. We further tested the hypothesis of intergenerational transmission of trauma by measuring TL in both CSA-exposed and non-exposed mothers and their children. TL was measured in a subset of participants and their children from a prospective-longitudinal cohort study of sexually abused females and a demographically matched comparison group. Linear regression models were used to test for associations between CSA-exposure and age-adjusted TL in females (N=108, mean age 36.3 years). Multilevel linear models were used to test the intergenerational effect of maternal-CSA exposure on age-adjusted TL in their children (N=124 children mean age 10.5 years across 61 mothers). CSA-exposure was not associated with TL in females. Replicating previous work in this area, maternal TL and sex were significant predictors of child TL in all models tested. Longer maternal TL predicted longer TL in children, and female children had longer TL than male children. Maternal-CSA exposure did not predict TL in children. This finding is in line with some previous results on CSA and TL measured in adulthood. Previous significant results associating child maltreatment with shorter TL in adulthood may be capturing a population of individuals exposed to either multiple types of maltreatment or maltreatment in childhood with concurrent TL measurements.
Metrics of Phenotypic Aging From the Energetics Perspective
Authors: Kuo Pei-Lun , Shardell Michelle , Schrack Jennifer , Levine Morgan , Simonsick Eleanor , Ferrucci Luigi
Published: December 2020

Identifying the most critical metrics of aging is an ongoing challenge due to a lack of comprehensive measurements and heterogeneity of the aging process. Using the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, we developed a conceptual framework to identify metrics of aging that capture the hierarchical and temporal relationships between functional aging, phenotypic aging, and biological aging based on four hypothesized domains: energy regulation, body composition, homeostatic mechanisms, and neurodegeneration. Focusing on the energetics domain, we examined trajectories of eight phenotypes using more than 10 years of longitudinal data. The standardized Cronbach’s alpha for these variables was 0.80, providing construct validity of our concept. We further implemented item response theory to integrate these phenotypes into a summarized energy score. Linear mixed models were used to assess the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between the summarized energy score and physical functioning as measured by gait speed and time to walk 400m as quickly as possible (number of participants ~ 811, number of observations ~ 1700). After adjusting for age, sex, weight, and height, a higher summarized energy score was independently associated with faster baseline gait speed (0.13 m/s, p<0.001 ) and faster 400m time (-35.3 seconds, p<0.001), and longitudinally associated with slower gait speed decline (0.08 m/s/decade, p<0.001) and slower 400m time increase (-37.8 secs/decade, p<0.001). This work demonstrates the utility of our energetics domain-based summarized score. Moving forward, it will be important to clarify relationships between this summarized score and other functional metrics and assess its generalizability to the other cohorts.
SARC-F Capacity to Tracking Sarcopenia in Women From Manaus-Am
Authors: Faber Myrian , Baptista Fatima
Published: December 2020

This study aimed to analyze the performance of SARC-F for the identification of sarcopenia in women from Manaus. For the analysis of the performance of the SARC-F, the criteria defined by the EWGSOP (2018) and the SDOC (2019) were considered. The sample consisted of 236 women aged 66.27±5.76 years. In addition to the SARC-F, a dynamometer was used to assess the muscle strength and gait speed was determined on a 2.44 m course. To identify sarcopenia, the following cut-off valueswere used: SARC-F ≥ 4 points; grip strength: EWGSOP <27kg for men and 16kg for women, SDOC <35.5kg for men and <20.0 kg for women; grip over body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) <1.05 for men and 0.79 for women; grip over body weight (BW, kg) <0.45 for men and <0.34 for women; gait speed ≤ 0.8 m/s for both men and women. The results revealed a prevalence of sarcopenia in 54% of the sample. The Kappa statistic intended to analyze the agreement between the SARC-F and the grip strength, the grip strength corrected for BMI or for BM, and the gait speed. The cross-classification analysis showed linear weighted Kappa coefficients near 0 with exception of gait speed (0.264±0.054, agreement in 61.2% of the participants) and grip strength when the cut off is 20 kg (0.248±0.062 - agreement in 63% of the participants). Cross-classification analysis between SARC-F and objective measures of physical capacity (grip strength and gait speed) showed linear weighted Kappa coefficients with slight or fair agreement in women from Manaus.
The Impact of ApoE e4 Allele in the Effects of Physical Activity Interventions on Major Mobility Disability Incidence
Authors: Cenko Erta , Manini Todd
Published: December 2020

The apolipoprotein E (ApoE) e4 polymorphism is traditionally linked to increased rates of cognitive impairments and Alzheimer’s Disease. Recently, however, studies have connected ApoE e4 to self-reported mobility disability in those without cognitive impairment. We aimed to estimate the extent to which ApoE status is associated with incident major mobility disability (MMD) and whether it modifies the known beneficial effects of physical activity on incident MMD. Data were from 1,372 participants 70+ years old at risk for mobility impairments, enrolled in The LIFE Study. Participants were randomized to a structured physical activity (PA) or a health education program. The primary outcome was MMD, defined as the inability to walk 400 meters and measured every 6 months for an average follow-up period of 2.6 years. We used proportional hazards regression to examine the main effect of ApoE allele status and interaction with intervention group on MMD incidence. Cumulative MMD incident rates were similar in ApoE-e2 (31.46%), ApoE e3 (33.41%), and ApoE-e4 (33.33%) carriers. Compared to the common ApoE-e3, MMD risk was similar in ApoE-e2 (hazard ratio [HR], 0.945 [95%CI, 0.70-1.27], P=0.71) and ApoE-e4 carriers ([HR], 1.187 [95%CI, 0.95-1.48], P=0.41). Additionally, ApoE carrier status did not modify the positive effect that a PA intervention had on MMD risk (interaction p-value > 0.20). These results suggest that ApoE carrier status is not associated with incident mobility disability. ApoE carrier status does not impact the effect a structured PA program has on reducing the risk of MMD in older adults.
Traveling the Path to Stroke Caregiver Readiness
Authors: Lutz Barbara , Camicia Michelle
Published: December 2020

Family members are often poorly prepared to assume the caregiving role post-stroke leaving them feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, and abandoned by the healthcare system leading to physical, mental, and emotional strain. To address this, we developed and tested the Preparedness Assessment for the Transition Home after stroke (PATH-s) instrument based on a theoretical framework for improving stroke caregiver readiness. Consecutive studies were conducted over the past 10 years to 1) develop the caregiver readiness theoretical model identifying gaps in caregiver preparation in 80 interviews with caregivers and stroke survivors as they transitioned home from inpatient rehabilitation care; 2) develop and validate the PATH-s instrument with 183 caregiver-stroke survivor dyads, and 3) develop and implement a corresponding catalogue of interventions developed in consultation with 5 expert rehabilitation nurse case managers to improve stroke caregiver readiness. The Improving Caregiver Readiness Model has 2 preparedness domains; commitment and capacity and six sub-domains. In a factor analysis each domain/sub-domain subscale in the PATH-s demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency (a=0.69-0.86). The overall mean score was 3.11 (range 1.68 to 4.00) with high internal consistency reliability (a=0.90). The PATH-s is highly correlated with the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale. The stroke survivor’s total FIM score at discharge had a small but significant correlation with the PATH-s. Case managers find the PATH-s results and corresponding interventions helpful in tailoring transitional care plans. Caregivers worldwide describe the negative impacts of providing stroke care post-discharge. The Path to Stroke Caregiver Readiness Program shows promise for improving stroke caregiver preparation for discharge home.
Unmet Caregiving Needs Are Associated With Cognitive Functioning Among Older Sepsis Survivors
Authors: Chase Jo-Ana , Jordan Lizyeka , Whitehouse Christina , Bowles Kathryn
Published: December 2020

Sepsis survivorship is associated with cognitive decline and complex post-acute care needs. Family caregivers may be unprepared to manage these needs, resulting in decline or no improvement in patient outcomes. Using a national dataset of Medicare beneficiaries who were discharged from the hospital for sepsis and received post-acute HHC between 2013 and 2014 (n=165,228), we examined the relationship between unmet caregiving needs and improvement or decline in cognitive functioning. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine associations between unmet caregiving needs at the start of HHC and changes in cognitive functioning. Unmet caregiving needs included seven items from the start of care Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS). Changes in cognitive functioning were measured using the start of care and discharge OASIS assessments. Twenty-four percent of patients either declined or did not improve in cognitive functioning from HHC admission to discharge, with variation seen by unmet need type. Sepsis survivors with unmet caregiving needs for activities of daily living assistance (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01, 1.09), medication assistance (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02,1.10), and supervision and safety assistance (OR 1.110, 95% CI 1.06,1.16) were more likely to decline or not improve in cognitive functioning, even after accounting for clinical and demographic characteristics. Older sepsis survivors with both cognitive impairment and unmet caregiving needs in the post-acute HHC setting are at high-risk for worsening cognition. Alerting the care team of cognitively impaired sepsis survivors with unmet caregiving needs may trigger evidence-based strategies to enhance caregiver training and reduce unmet caregiving needs.
Disability Prevention Program Improves Life-Space and Falls Efficacy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Liu Minhui , Xue Qian-Li , Gitlin Laura , Wolff Jennifer , Guralnik Jack , Leff Bruce , Szanton Sarah
Published: December 2020

Life-space and falls efficacy are essential to physical independence and consistently predict disabilities. However, it remains unknown whether the CAPABLE, a disability prevention program, improves life-space and falls efficacy in older adults. We evaluated the effects of a home-based disability prevention program on life-space (N=194) and falls efficacy (N=233) among low-income older adults with restricted daily activities. The CAPABLE intervention consists of up to 6 one-hour home visits with an Occupational Therapist (OT), up to 4 one-hour home visits with a Register Nurse (RN), and up to $1300 worth of home repairs, modifications, and assistive devices with a handyman, during four months. Life-space and falls efficacy were measured by the Telephone Assessment of Mobility for homebound older adults and the Tinetti Falls Efficacy Scale at baseline and five months, respectively. Multinomial logistic regression and generalized linear models were used for data analyses. Participants in both samples were, on average, 75 years, predominantly black (86%) and female (85%-86%). Compared to participants in the control group, participants receiving the intervention were more likely to have improved (Odds Ratio [OR]: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.06-4.20) or unchanged overall life-space (OR: 2.62, 95% CI: 1.10-6.27) vs. decreased overall life-space. Participants who received the intervention also had significantly higher falls efficacy in performing daily activities (exponentiated coefficient: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.04-1.19). Life-space and falls efficacy can be significantly improved by CAPABLE program. These findings provide more evidence for the reasons for the increased physical independence.
Urban-Rural Differences in Sarcopenia Prevalence and Nutritional Risk Factors: The NHANES (2001–2002 and 2011–2014)
Authors: Aziz Jason , Reid Kieran , Batsis John , Fielding Roger
Published: December 2020

Background: Older adults living in rural areas experience health inequities compared to their urban counterparts. These include comorbidities, poor diet and physical inactivity; known risk factors for sarcopenia. No studies examining urban-rural differences in the prevalence of sarcopenia and slow gait speed among older adults in the United States exist. Objective: To compare the prevalence of sarcopenia and slow gait speed between urban and rural older adults living in the United States. As a secondary aim, we examined relationships between rural residency, total energy and total protein on gait speed and grip strength. Methods: We performed a secondary data analysis of two cohorts in the continuous NHANES (2001-2002 and 2011-2014), using gait speed or grip strength data, along with urban-rural status, dietary, examination, questionnaire and demographic data in older (≥ 60 yrs.) adults. Results: The prevalence of GripBMI weakness was higher in urban vs. rural participants (27.4% vs. 19.2%), whereas their absolute grip strength was lower (31.75(±0.45) vs. 33.73(±0.48)). Total energy, total protein and relative protein intakes were similar between urban and rural participants. Total energy intake was associated with gait speed and grip strength. Conclusions: Older adults living in urban areas of the United States, were weaker compared to their rural counterparts. Rural residency was not associated with gait speed or grip strength. Total energy intake was associated with slower gait speed but higher grip strength. This report is the first to examine urban-rural differences in sarcopenia and slow gait speed in older adults living in the United States.
Interventions for Improving Psychosocial Adjustment in Nursing Home Residents: A Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhang Yanyan , Xiao Huimin , Yong Binbin
Published: December 2020

This study aimed to identify the evidence of interventions for improving psychosocial adjustment in older adults relocating to nursing homes. We followed PRISMA-NMA guidelines to conduct a network meta-analysis. 12 electric databases were used to search for eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and clinical trials (CCTs) from inception to August 27th, 2019. Two reviewers independently conducted article screening, data extraction, and risk of bias appraisal with the Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for RCT and Risk Of Bias for CCT. The network plots were plotted to provide a visual representation of the evidence base. Bayesian fixed-effects pairwise and network meta-analysis were exhibited in the forest plot. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed on 30 eligible RCTs with 2119 participants, and 12 eligible CCTs with 491 participants. The quality of the most included studies was rated as moderate in RCTs and low in CCTs. Treatment effects showed that compared to conventional treatment, group reminiscence and group counseling resulted in significant improvements in loneliness (MD: 11, 95%, CI: 2.7–17, SUCRA: 99.5%; MD: 7.7, 95%, CI: 0.53–15, SUCRA: 53.9%, respectively). Similar results were obtained for art therapy (MD: 5.5, 95%CI: 0.8–10, SUCRA: 97.3%) in self-esteem. The model fit was good, and the inconsistency was low. Group reminiscence, group counseling, and art therapy are recommended for reducing loneliness and enhance self-esteem in nursing practice.
Combining tDCS With a Motor-Cognitive Task to Reduce the Negative Impact of Dual-Tasking on the Gait of Older Adults
Authors: Hausdorff Jeffrey , Schneider Nofar , Brozgol Marina , Thumm Pablo Cornejo , Giladi Nir , Katz Rachel , Mirelman Anat , Manor Brad
Published: December 2020

The simultaneous performance of a secondary task while walking (i.e., dual tasking) increases motor-cognitive interference and fall risk in older adults. Combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with the concurrent performance of a task that putatively involves the same brain networks targeted by the tDCS may reduce the negative impact of dual-tasking on walking. We examined whether tDCS applied while walking reduces the dual-task costs to gait and whether this combination is better than tDCS alone or walking alone (with sham stimulation). In 25 healthy older adults (aged 75.7±10.5yrs), a double-blind, within-subject, cross-over pilot study evaluated the acute after-effects of 20 minutes of tDCS targeting the primary motor cortex and the dorsal lateral pre frontal cortex during three separate sessions:1) tDCS while walking on a treadmill in a virtual-reality environment (tDCS+walking), 2) tDCS while seated (tDCS+seated), and 3) walking in the virtual-reality environment with sham tDCS (sham+walking). The complex walking condition taxed motor and cognitive abilities. During each session, single- and dual-task walking and cognitive function were assessed before and immediately after stimulation. Compared to pre-tDCS performance, tDCS+walking reduced the dual-task cost to gait speed (p=0.004) and other gait features (e.g., variability p=0.02), and improved (p<0.001) executive function (Stroop interference score). tDCS+seated and sham+walking did not affect the dual-task cost to gait speed (p>0.17). These initial findings demonstrate that tDCS delivered during challenging walking ameliorates dual-task gait and executive function in older adults, suggesting that the concurrent performance of related tasks enhances the efficacy of the neural stimulation and mobility.
Neural Inefficiency During Dual-Task Walking in Older Adults: The Moderating Effect of Brain Morphology
Authors: Ross Daliah , Wagshul Mark , Izzetoglu Meltem , Holtzer Roee
Published: December 2020

Aging is accompanied by changes in cognitive, physical, and brain function. Research has found increased activation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in dual-task-walk (DTW) as compared to single-task walk (STW) due to increased cognitive demands in the former condition. Older adults have more difficulty with DTW than younger adults, and difficulty with DTW has been found to predict functional decline in aging. As the population gets older, it is important to identify biomarkers predictive of functional decline. The neural inefficiency hypothesis posits that some people, including older adults, utilize more neural resources than others without showing benefits to behavioral performance. We examined the moderating effect of cortical thickness on PFC activation from STW to DTW. We predicted that less cortical thickness would be associated with increased PFC activation but without benefit to behavioral performance, to compensate for limited neural resources. Participants were 55 right-handed community-residing healthy older adults (mean age = 74.84 + 4.97; %female = 49.1). Cortical thickness was measured via MRI. Activation in the PFC was measured via functional near-infrared spectroscopy-derived (fNIRS) oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) levels. Analyses controlled for behavioral performance. Linear-mixed-effects models revealed that cortical thickness in several brain regions significantly moderated the increase in HbO2 from STW to DTW, p < 0.01. Thinner cortex, in regions implicated in walking and cognition, was associated with a greater increase in HbO2 levels. Supporting the neural inefficiency hypothesis, results suggest that older adults with greater cortical thinning over-activate the PFC during attention-demanding walking.
Memory Matters: Education About Cognition in Two Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities
Authors: Hinrichsen Gregory , Fogel Joyce , Foerg Anne , Leipzig Rosanne
Published: December 2020

“Memory Matters” is a program for older residents and staff of two New York City naturally occurring retirement communities (NORC). The program is in its third year of implementation with the broader goals of enhancing resident knowledge of normal cognitive changes and cognitive impairment including risk factors for dementia. The emphasis is on engaging residents to improve brain health. With staff, goals are to enhance their capacity to understand, identify, refer, and support residents with cognitive impairment. This is done with case conferences, consultation, lectures, and workshops. For residents, the program provides lectures, interactive workshops, films, as well as periodic “Ask the Doc” individual meetings where residents can discuss cognitive and related concerns. A geriatrician and geropsychologist conduct these activities with invited guest speakers including geriatric fellows. Yearly, approximately 180 unique individuals are served in this program. Resident program satisfaction surveys were favorable. For example, 80% of residents replied “a lot” to the question, “Did you find this presentation interesting?”, in the past six months of programming. Building on these efforts, we conducted a formal survey with 249 resident participants of one NORC that found: 15% have dementia/experience memory loss; 12% live with someone with dementia/ memory issues; 16% identify as a dementia caregiver; and 75% are concerned about developing dementia. We then hosted a community-wide forum to discuss survey results. Our experience has underscored the need for expansion of our efforts. Future plans include creating a “dementia friendly” NORC. Funded by the UJA-Federation of New York.
Patterns of Cognitive Function Trajectory and Their Associated Factors in Korean Older Women in Single Households
Authors: Yoon DoKyung , Jun Hey Jung , Lee Sun Ah
Published: December 2020

The aim of this study was to identify distinct patterns of cognitive function trajectory among Korean older women in single households and to investigate their associated factors. We used data from the five waves of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA), a nationally representative longitudinal survey collected biennially from 2006 to 2014. The sample was 244 women aged 65 or above who had maintained the single household status for the five waves. Using Growth Mixture Modeling, distinct patterns of cognitive function trajectory were identified. Then, multinomial regression analysis was employed to examine the associations between identified trajectories and various factors (socio-demographic, health-related, psychological, and interpersonal factors at wave 1). Results showed that there were three distinct patterns of cognitive function trajectory: ‘maintaining-low’ (20.9%), ‘moderate-decreasing’ (33.6%), and ‘maintaining-high’ (45.5%). Specifically, compared to the ‘maintaining-low’ group, younger women were more likely to belong to the ‘moderate-decreasing’ group and the ‘maintaining-high’ group. Furthermore, those with higher household income, and who participated in more various types of social activities (e.g., participation in leisure/culture/sports clubs, volunteering work) were more likely to belong to the ‘maintaining-high’ group. Compared to the ‘moderate-decreasing’ group, those who were younger and participated in more various types of social activities were more likely to belong to the ‘maintaining-high’ group. Findings suggest that socioeconomic status and social engagements may be critical for cognitive function among older women in single households, and encouraging them to remain socially active may help prevent poorer cognitive outcomes.
The Role of Gender in the Transition to Driving Cessation in Persons With Dementia
Authors: Yamin Stephanie , Manoiu Roxana , Naglie Gary , Sanford Sarah , Stasiulis Elaine , Vrkljan Brenda , Rapoport Mark
Published: December 2020

Driving often provides a sense of independence, quality of life and emotional wellbeing. For older adults living with dementia, driving cessation eventually becomes inevitable. Driving cessation has been shown to negatively impact older adults’ mobility and, consequently, quality of life. Caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD) who have ceased driving are also impacted as they often become responsible for meeting the mobility needs of PWD and they provide emotional support in respect to this significant life transition. To date, there is little information on the role of gender in the transition to driving cessation in PWD. The purpose of this study was to examine the role that gender plays among drivers and ex-drivers with dementia from the perspectives of PWD, their caregivers, and healthcare practitioners. Secondary thematic analyses were conducted from a pre-existing sample of persons with dementia (N=10), family caregivers (N=13), and healthcare practitioners (N=6) who participated in interviews and focus groups about their experiences around driving cessation in the context of dementia. Data analyses involved an inductive thematic technique that allowed for generating themes. The main themes identified gender differences as a significant factor in: (1) difficulty accepting driving cessation (2) driving as it is tied to identity, (3) emotional responses to driving cessation, (4) driving as part of the caregiving role. The findings suggest that there is a need for tailored interventions for men and women who lose their ability to drive, in addressing their unique emotional responses and in supporting them through this important life transition.
Associations Between Self-Esteem With Diverse Deleterious Mental Health Outcomes Among Older Adults
Authors: Pifer Marissa , Segal Daniel , Marty Meghan
Published: December 2020

Research suggests meaningful relationships between self-esteem and various deleterious mental health outcomes. However, these relationships are less well understood in older adults, where age-specific models of self-esteem are lacking. In this study, older adult participants (N = 284, M age = 73.3 years) anonymously completed a series of questionnaires as part of a larger battery. Measures examined for this study included the Single-Item Self-Esteem Scale (SISE), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Three-Item Loneliness Scale (3LS), Sense of Belonging Inventory – Psychological Subscale (SOBI-P), and the Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS). A multiple regression was conducted to examine how these mental health variables predict self-esteem. The model explained a significant 39% of the variance in self-esteem, F (5,234) = 29.68, p < .001, with two significant predictors. Specifically, lower scores on the PHQ-9 (β = -3.06, p < .01) predicted higher scores on the SISE, whereas higher scores SOBI-P (β = .27, p < .01) predicted higher scores on the SISE. Scores on the 3LS (β = -.09), BHS (β = -.03), and GAS (β = -.03) did not emerge as significant predictors in the model. Results from this study indicate that lower depression and higher sense of belonging have unique contributions to self-esteem for older adults, controlling for the shared variance from other mental health variables, such as loneliness, hopelessness, and anxiety. Although causality was not assessed, future prospective studies should examine whether interventions focusing on reducing depression or increasing feelings of belongingness enhance self-esteem for older individuals.
Perceived Cognitive Ability in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Vietnam Era Veterans
Authors: Hilgeman Michelle , Blosnich John , Cypel Yasmin , Akhtar Fatema , Schneiderman Aaron , Ishii Erick , Fried Dennis , Davey Victoria
Published: December 2020

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) Veterans report stress (e.g., discrimination under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policies) and mental health conditions (e.g., depression) that may increase risk for neurocognitive changes like dementia. Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) can be an early indicator of neurocognitive change – yet no known studies have examined SCD in LGB Veterans. Cross-sectional data from the Vietnam Era Health Retrospective Observational Study (VE-HEROeS) were examined for 260 LGB and 17,796 heterosexual Veterans. VE-HEROeS is the latest probability-based survey of Vietnam Era Veterans (1961–1975) as older adults (2016-2017). SCD was assessed using two subscales of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Instrument Version-3 (FACT-Cog). Good reliability was observed in this sample: Cronbach’s alpha =.94 for the 7-item Perceived Cognitive Abilities subscale and .88 for the 4-item Comments from Others. Analyses were weighted to account for the complex survey design. LGB Veterans were slightly younger (M=68.3, range 59-84) than heterosexual Veterans (M=69.1, range 58-99, p=.03); were more likely to be female (13% vs 3%, p<.01); and had fewer people living in the household (M=1.7 vs. M=2.1, p<.01). LGB Veterans were also more likely than heterosexual Veterans to report feeling depressed most or all of the time over the past 30 days (5.7% vs. 3.6%, respectively, p<0.01) on a single 5-point Likert-scale. SCD indicators did not vary by Veteran sexual orientation (M=19.69 and M=19.69; M=14.2 and M=14.1) and were elevated compared to published studies in healthy adult samples. More work is needed to examine neurocognitive risk factors in aging LGB Veterans.
Majorization and Spherical Functions
Authors: McSwiggen Colin , Novak Jonathan
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we generalize a result of Cuttler, Greene, Skandera, and Sra that characterizes the majorization order on Young diagrams in terms of nonnegative specializations of Schur polynomials. More precisely, we introduce a generalized notion of majorization associated to an arbitrary crystallographic root system $\Phi $ and show that it admits a natural characterization in terms of the values of spherical functions on any Riemannian symmetric space with restricted root system $\Phi .$ We also conjecture a further generalization of this theorem in terms of Heckman–Opdam hypergeometric functions.
Gut microbiota and systemic immunity in health and disease
Authors: Lo Bernard C , Chen Grace Y , Núñez Gabriel , Caruso Roberta
Published: December 2020

The mammalian intestine is colonized by trillions of microorganisms that have co-evolved with the host in a symbiotic relationship. Although the influence of the gut microbiota on intestinal physiology and immunity is well known, mounting evidence suggests a key role for intestinal symbionts in controlling immune cell responses and development outside the gut. Although the underlying mechanisms by which the gut symbionts influence systemic immune responses remain poorly understood, there is evidence for both direct and indirect effects. In addition, the gut microbiota can contribute to immune responses associated with diseases outside the intestine. Understanding the complex interactions between the gut microbiota and the host is thus of fundamental importance to understand both immunity and human health.
A Longitudinal Study of the Epidemiology of Seasonal Coronaviruses in an African Birth Cohort
Authors: Nicol Mark P , MacGinty Rae , Workman Lesley , Stadler Jacob A M , Myer Landon , Allen Veronica , Ah Tow Edries Lemese , Zar Heather J
Published: December 2020

Background

Since non-epidemic, seasonal human coronaviruses (sHCoV) commonly infect children, an improved understanding of the epidemiology of these infections may offer insights into the context of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2. We investigated the epidemiology of sHCoV infection during the first year of life, including risk factors and association with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI).

Methods

We conducted a nested case-control study of infants enrolled in a birth cohort near Cape Town, South Africa, from 2012 to 2015. LRTI surveillance was implemented, and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected fortnightly over infancy. Quantitative PCR detected respiratory pathogens, including coronaviruses-229E, -NL63, -OC43, and -HKU1. Swabs were tested from infants at the time of LRTI and from the 90 days prior as well as from age-matched control infants from the cohort over the equivalent period.

Results

In total, 885 infants were included, among whom 464 LRTI events occurred. Of the 4751 samples tested for sHCoV, 9% tested positive, with HCoV-NL63 the most common. Seasonal HCoV detection was associated with LRTI; this association was strongest for coronavirus-OC43, which was also found in all sHCoV-associated hospitalizations. Birth in winter was associated with sHCoV-LRTI, but there were no clear seasonal differences in detection. Co-detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae was weakly associated with sHCoV-LRTI (odds ratio: 1.8; 95% confidence interval: 0.9-3.6); detection of other respiratory viruses or bacteria was not associated with sHCoV status.

Conclusions

Seasonal HCoV infections were common and associated with LRTI, particularly sHCoV-OC43, which is most closely related to the SARS group of coronaviruses. Interactions of coronaviruses with bacteria in the pathogenesis of LRTI require further study.
Refugee and Asylum-Seeking Representative Structures in South Africa: The case study of Somali, Congolese, and Ethiopian communities
Authors: Dinbabo M F , Zembe Y , Carciotto S , Chiwarawara K , Belebema M , Ahmed M
Published: December 2020

Understanding and identifying the functions, roles, responsibilities, accountability, and decision-making processes within the representative structures of any community is important. Yet, most of the existing studies in South Africa do not provide sufficient knowledge or insights about the representative structures and communities of refugees and asylum-seeking populations in the country. In general, there is inadequate discussion on the topic in the literature. This research focused on the representative and protection structures that are available to Somali, Ethiopian, and Congolese refugees and asylum seekers in the urban centres of Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Musina. Within this overarching objective, indicators such as leadership, legitimacy, representation, management skills, networks/partnerships, accountability, transparency, and effectiveness were used to gather information regarding refugees and asylum-seeking representative structures. This empirical research also has provided a detailed description of the manner in which refugee-led organizations, associations and self-help groups.
Isolated perforated jejunal diverticulitis: a case report
Authors: Duggan William P , Ravi Akshaya , Chaudhry Muhammad A , Ofori-Kuma Felix , Ivanovski Ivan
Published: December 2020

Jejunal diverticulosis is a rare phenomenon often identified either incidentally on imaging or intra-operatively. Complications of jejunal diverticulosis are associated with high rates of mortality. For this reason, it remains important that this pathology is considered amongst differentials for an acute abdomen. A 78-year old gentleman presented with a short history of generalized lower abdominal pain. Computer tomography scan revealed a large inflammatory abscess relating to a perforated jejunal diverticulum. The patient was taken to theatre where he underwent small bowel resection with primary anastomosis. Early cross sectional imaging is vital to allow early diagnosis and prompt management of this pathology. Small bowel resection with primary anastomosis was associated with an excellent clinical outcome.
Isometric scaling to model water transport in conifer tree rings across time and environments
Authors: Sviderskaya Irina V , Vaganov Eugene A , Fonti Marina V , Fonti Patrick
Published: December 2020

The hydraulic properties of xylem determine the ability of plants to efficiently and safely provide water to their leaves. These properties are key to understanding plant responses to environmental conditions and evaluating their fate under a rapidly changing climate. However, their assessment is hindered by the challenges of quantifying basic hydraulic components such as bordered pits and tracheids. Here, we use isometric scaling between tracheids and pit morphology to merge partial hydraulic models of the tracheid component and to upscale these properties to the tree-ring level in conifers. Our new model output is first cross-validated with the literature and then applied to cell anatomical measurements from Larix sibirica tree rings formed under harsh conditions in southern Siberia to quantify the intra- and inter-annual variability in hydraulic properties. The model provides a means of assessing how different-sized tracheid components contribute to the hydraulic properties of the ring. Upscaled results indicate that natural inter- and intra-ring anatomical variations have a substantial impact on the tree’s hydraulic properties. Our model facilitates the assessment of important xylem functional attributes because it requires only the more accessible measures of cross-sectional tracheid size. This approach, if applied to dated tree rings, provides a novel way to investigate xylem structure–function relationships across time and environmental conditions.
Molecular regulation of plant developmental transitions and plant architecture via PEPB family proteins: an update on mechanism of action
Authors: Zhu Yang , Klasfeld Samantha , Wagner Doris
Published: December 2020

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the experiments by Garner and Allard that showed that plants measure the duration of the night and day (the photoperiod) to time flowering. This discovery led to the identification of Flowering Locus T (FT) in Arabidopsis and Heading Date 3a (Hd3a) in rice as a mobile signal that promotes flowering in tissues distal to the site of cue perception. FT/Hd3a belong to the family of phosphatidylethanolamine-binding proteins (PEBPs). Collectively, these proteins control plant developmental transitions and plant architecture. Several excellent recent reviews have focused on the roles of PEBPs in diverse plant species; here we will primarily highlight recent advances that enhance our understanding of the mechanism of action of PEBPs and discuss critical open questions.
Feedback hyperjump
Authors: Aguilera Juan P , Lubarsky Robert S
Published: December 2020

Feedback is oracle computability when the oracle consists exactly of the con- and divergence information about computability relative to that same oracle. Here we study two possible feedback hyperjumps and characterize each of them as the complete $\varSigma _1$ set relative to a level of Gödel’s constructible hierarchy $L$.
Focal-ratio degradation (FRD) mitigation in a multimode fibre link using mode-selective photonic lanterns
Authors: Benoît Aurélien , Yerolatsitis Stephanos , Harrington Kerrianne , Birks Tim A , Thomson Robert R
Published: December 2020

We present a new way to mitigate focal-ratio degradation (FRD) when using optical fibres to transport multimode light. Our approach exploits a custom multicore fibre (MCF) with six dissimilar cores that are single-mode at ∼1550 nm wavelength and minimally coupled over 7 m. We fabricated adiabatic mode-selective photonic lanterns (PLs) at each end of the MCF to create a fibre link with multimode ports, the PLs coupling each spatial mode of the multimode ports to a specific core of the MCF and vice versa. The PL-MCF-PL link exhibits superior FRD behaviour compared to a conventional multimode fibre that also supports six modes, because it inhibits the transfer of light from lower order modes to higher order modes. These results open up a potential powerful new approach to mitigate FRD in multimode fibre links, with particular applications in astronomical instruments.
Simulation-based inference of dynamical galaxy cluster masses with 3D convolutional neural networks
Authors: Kodi Ramanah Doogesh , Wojtak Radosław , Arendse Nikki
Published: December 2020

We present a simulation-based inference framework using a convolutional neural network to infer dynamical masses of galaxy clusters from their observed 3D projected phase-space distribution, which consists of the projected galaxy positions in the sky and their line-of-sight velocities. By formulating the mass estimation problem within this simulation-based inference framework, we are able to quantify the uncertainties on the inferred masses in a straightforward and robust way. We generate a realistic mock catalogue emulating the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Legacy spectroscopic observations (the main galaxy sample) for redshifts z ≲ 0.09 and explicitly illustrate the challenges posed by interloper (non-member) galaxies for cluster mass estimation from actual observations. Our approach constitutes the first optimal machine learning-based exploitation of the information content of the full 3D projected phase-space distribution, including both the virialized and infall cluster regions, for the inference of dynamical cluster masses. We also present, for the first time, the application of a simulation-based inference machinery to obtain dynamical masses of around 800 galaxy clusters found in the SDSS Legacy Survey, and show that the resulting mass estimates are consistent with mass measurements from the literature.
Asteroseismology of SZ Lyn using multiband high time resolution photometry from ground and space
Authors: Adassuriya J , Ganesh S , Gutiérrez J L , Handler G , Joshi Santosh , Jayaratne K P S C , Baliyan K S
Published: December 2020

We report the analysis of high temporal resolution ground- and space-based photometric observations of SZ Lyncis, a binary star one of whose components is a high amplitude δ Scuti. UBVR photometric observations were obtained from Mt. Abu Infrared Observatory and Fairborn Observatory; archival observations from the WASP project were also included. Furthermore, the continuous, high-quality light curve from the TESS project was extensively used for the analysis. The well resolved light curve from TESS reveals the presence of 23 frequencies with four independent modes, 13 harmonics of the main pulsation frequency of 8.296943 ± 0.000002 d−1, and their combinations. The frequency 8.296 d−1 is identified as the fundamental radial mode by amplitude ratio method and using the estimated pulsation constant. The frequencies 14.535, 32.620, and 4.584 d−1 are newly discovered for SZ Lyn. Out of these three, 14.535 and 32.620 d−1 are identified as non-radial lower order p modes and 4.584 d−1 could be an indication of a g mode in a δ Scuti star. As a result of frequency determination and mode identification, the physical parameters of SZ Lyn were revised by optimizations of stellar pulsation models with the observed frequencies. The theoretical models correspond to 7500 K ≤ Teff ≤ 7800 K and log(g) = 3.81 ± 0.06. The mass of SZ Lyn was estimated to be close to 1.7–2.0 M⊙ using evolutionary sequences. The period–density relation estimates a mean density (ρ) of 0.1054 ± 0.0016 g cm−3.
The effect of environment on Type Ia supernovae in the Dark Energy Survey three-year cosmological sample
Authors: Kelsey L , Sullivan M , Smith M , Wiseman P , Brout D , Davis T M , Frohmaier C , Galbany L , Grayling M , Gutiérrez C P , Hinton S R , Kessler R , Lidman C , Möller A , Sako M , Scolnic D , Uddin S A , Vincenzi M , Abbott T M C , Aguena M , Allam S , Annis J , Avila S , Bacon D , Bertin E , Brooks D , Burke D L , Carnero Rosell A , Carrasco Kind M , Carretero J , Castander F J , Costanzi M , da Costa L N , Desai S , Diehl H T , Doel P , Everett S , Ferrero I , Ferté A , Flaugher B , Fosalba P , García-Bellido J , Gerdes D W , Gruen D , Gruendl R A , Gschwend J , Gutierrez G , Hollowood D L , Honscheid K , James D J , Kim A G , Kuehn K , Kuropatkin N , Lahav O , Lima M , Marshall J L , Martini P , Menanteau F , Miquel R , Morgan R , Ogando R L C , Palmese A , Paz-Chinchón F , Plazas A A , Romer A K , Sánchez C , Sanchez E , Serrano S , Sevilla-Noarbe I , Suchyta E , Tarle G , Thomas D , To C , Varga T N , Walker A R , Wilkinson R D ,   DES Collaboration
Published: December 2020

Analyses of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) have found puzzling correlations between their standardized luminosities and host galaxy properties: SNe Ia in high-mass, passive hosts appear brighter than those in lower mass, star-forming hosts. We examine the host galaxies of SNe Ia in the Dark Energy Survey 3-yr spectroscopically confirmed cosmological sample, obtaining photometry in a series of ‘local’ apertures centred on the SN, and for the global host galaxy. We study the differences in these host galaxy properties, such as stellar mass and rest-frame U − R colours, and their correlations with SN Ia parameters including Hubble residuals. We find all Hubble residual steps to be >3σ in significance, both for splitting at the traditional environmental property sample median and for the step of maximum significance. For stellar mass, we find a maximal local step of 0.098 ± 0.018 mag; ∼0.03 mag greater than the largest global stellar mass step in our sample (0.070 ± 0.017 mag). When splitting at the sample median, differences between local and global U − R steps are small, both ∼0.08 mag, but are more significant than the global stellar mass step (0.057 ± 0.017 mag). We split the data into sub-samples based on SN Ia light-curve parameters: stretch (x1) and colour (c), finding that redder objects (c > 0) have larger Hubble residual steps, for both stellar mass and U − R, for both local and global measurements, of ∼0.14 mag. Additionally, the bluer (star-forming) local environments host a more homogeneous SN Ia sample, with local U − R rms scatter as low as 0.084 ± 0.017 mag for blue (c < 0) SNe Ia in locally blue U − R environments.
Blazar jets launched with similar energy per baryon, independently of their power
Authors: Rueda-Becerril Jesús M , Harrison Amanda O , Giannios Dimitrios
Published: December 2020

The most extreme active galactic nuclei are the radio active ones whose relativistic jet propagates close to our line of sight. These objects were first classified according to their emission-line features into flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) and BL Lacertae objects (BL Lacs). More recently, observations revealed a trend between these objects known as the blazar sequence, along with an anticorrelation between the observed power and the frequency of the synchrotron peak. In this work, we propose a fairly simple idea that could account for the whole blazar population: all jets are launched with similar energy per baryon, independently of their power. In the case of FSRQs, the most powerful jets manage to accelerate to high-bulk Lorentz factors, as observed in the radio. As a result, they have a rather modest magnetization in the emission region, resulting in magnetic reconnection injecting a steep particle–energy distribution and, consequently, steep emission spectra in the γ-rays. For the weaker jets, namely BL Lacs, the opposite holds true; i.e. the jet does not achieve a very high bulk Lorentz factor, leading to more magnetic energy available for non-thermal particle acceleration, and harder emission spectra at frequencies ≳ GeV. In this scenario, we recover all observable properties of blazars with our simulations, including the blazar sequence for models with mild baryon loading (50 ≲ μ ≲ 80). This interpretation of the blazar population therefore tightly constrains the energy per baryon of blazar jets regardless of their accretion rate.