bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trait Intolerance of Uncertainty Is Associated with Decreased Reappraisal Capacity and Increased Suppression Tendency
Authors: Shu Jocelyn , Ochsner Kevin N. , Phelps Elizabeth A.
Published: June 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a time of great uncertainty for the general population and highlights the need to understand how attitudes towards uncertainty may affect well-being. Intolerance of uncertainty is a trait associated with worry, anxiety, and mood disorders. As adaptive emotion regulation supports well-being and mental health, it is possible that intolerance of uncertainty is also associated with the ability and tendency to regulate emotions. However, the relationships between intolerance of uncertainty and widely studied cognitive emotion regulation strategies — such as reappraisal and suppression — have received little attention. In two studies that recruited participants online from the United States, we tested the hypotheses that higher trait intolerance of uncertainty would be associated with greater worry, decreased capacity and tendency to use reappraisal, and increased tendency to use suppression in daily life. Study 1 provided an initial test of our hypotheses. Study 2 was a confirmatory, preregistered study that replicated findings in a young adult sample, demonstrating that scores on the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS) were associated with greater COVID-related worry, decreased capacity to regulate negative emotions on a task that manipulated the use of reappraisal, and greater self-reported use of suppression in daily life. Together, these results indicate that intolerance of uncertainty is associated with the capacity and tendency to use emotion regulation strategies important for well-being.
Complication Rates in Patients Using Intracavernosal Injection Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction With or Without Concurrent Anticoagulant Use—A Single-Center, Retrospective Pilot Study
Authors: Blum Kyle A. , Mehr Justin P. , Green Travis , Conroy Lauren , Marino Vanessa , Kim Daniel , Panchapakesan Kailash , Murphy Liam , Panuganti Sravan , Wang Run
Published: June 2022

Background

Intracavernosal injection therapy (ICI) is an effective intervention used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). It has been proposed that caution should be exercised when prescribing ICI to patients currently taking anticoagulants (AC) due to the theoretical increased risk of bleeding, however, there is limited literature describing complication rates of actively anticoagulated patients utilizing ICI.

Aim

We sought to determine whether there was a difference in bleeding and other complications in a cohort of patients using ICI therapy with or without concurrent AC use.

Methods

We reviewed our institutional electronic health record and identified 168 patients who were seen in our clinic from January to August 2020 who had either currently or previously utilized ICI therapy for ED treatment. These patients were surveyed regarding their ICI therapy as well as given the erectile dysfunction inventory for treatment satisfaction questionnaire. Data from 85 patients was obtained; 43 concurrently using AC during ICI therapy and 42 with no AC use. Fisher's exact test for categorical variables and a 2-tailed t-test were used with P < .05 considered to be significant.

Outcome

Documented bleeding events (eg, bruising, hematoma), complications, and mean erectile dysfunction inventory for treatment satisfaction scores were compared between the 2 groups.

Results

There were more absolute bleeding complications in the AC group vs the no AC group, with 3 of 43 AC patients (7%, 95% confidence interval: 2.4–18.6) and 0/42 no AC patients (0%, 95% confidence interval: 0–8.4) experiencing some type of bleeding complication on ICI. However, there was no statistically significant difference found in overall or stratified documented bleeding events and complications between the 2 groups.

Clinical Implications

Patients with concurrent AC usage on ICI therapy reported a higher rate of absolute bleeding complications than our non-AC group.

Strengths and Limitations

The strength of this study is addressing question of safety of ICI therapy in patients with concurrent AC usage. Limitations include single-center retrospective study design and underpowered sample size limiting confidence with which conclusions from data should guide future patient counseling regarding ICI risks.

Conclusion

Findings from a single-center cohort of patients suggest that ICI therapy may be a safe and effective treatment modality for ED in patients with concurrent anticoagulant usage, however, given the higher rate of absolute bleeding events in our AC cohort, future assessment in a higher-powered study is warranted in determining a more accurate estimation of risk or propensity for bleeding complications in patients on AC using ICI therapy.
Academic medical center clinical research professional workforce: Part 2 – Issues in staff onboarding and professional development
Authors: Knapke Jacqueline M. , Jenkerson Michelle , Tsao Peg , Freel Stephanie , Fritter Jessica , Helm Shirley L. , Jester Penelope , Kolb H Robert , Mendell Angela , Petty Megan , Jones Carolynn T.
Published: June 2022

Background:

Defining key barriers to the development of a well-trained clinical research professional (CRP) workforce is an essential first step in identifying solutions for successful CRP onboarding, training, and competency development, which will enhance quality across the clinical and translational research enterprise. This study aimed to summarize barriers and best practices at academic medical centers related to effective CRP onboarding, training, professional development, identify challenges with the assessment of and mentoring for CRP competency growth, and describe opportunities to improve training and professionalization for the CRP career pathway.

Materials/Methods:

Qualitative data from a series of Un-Meeting breakout sessions and open-text survey questions were analyzed to explore the complex issues involved when developing high-quality onboarding and continuing education opportunities for CRPs at academic medical centers.

Results:

Results suggest there are several barriers to training the CRP workforce, including balancing foundational onboarding with role-based training, managing logistical challenges and institutional contexts, identifying/enlisting institutional champions, assessing competency, and providing high-quality mentorship. Several of these themes are interrelated. Two universal threads present throughout all themes are the need for effective communication and the need to improve professionalization of the CRP career pathway.

Conclusion:

Few institutions have solved all the issues related to training a competent and adaptable CRP workforce, although some have addressed one or more. We applied a socio-technical lens to illustrate our findings and the need for NCATS-funded academic medical centers to work collaboratively within and across institutions to overcome training barriers and support a vital, well-qualified workforce and present several exemplars from the field to help attain this goal.
Validating measures of stigma against those with mental illness among a community sample in Kilifi Kenya
Authors: Bitta Mary A. , Baariu Judy , Fondo Elias , Kariuki Symon M. , Lennox Belinda , Newton Charles R. J. C.
Published: June 2022

Background

Stigma against persons with mental illness is a universal phenomenon, but culture influences the understanding of etiology of mental illness and utilization of health services.

Methods

We validated Kiswahili versions of three measures of stigma which were originally developed in the United Kingdom: Community Attitudes Toward the Mentally Ill Scale (CAMI), Reported and Intended Behaviors Scale (RIBS) and Mental Health Awareness Knowledge Schedule (MAKS) and evaluated their psychometric properties using a community sample (N= 616) in Kilifi, Kenya.

Results

Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the one-factor solution for RIBS [root mean-squared error of approximation (RMSEA) < 0.01, comparative fit index (CFI) = 1.00, Tucker–Lewis index (TLI) = 1.01] and two-factor solution for MAKS (RMSEA = 0.04, CFI = 0.96, TLI = 0.95). A 23-item, three-factor model provided the best indices of goodness of fit for CAMI (RMSEA = 0.04, CFI = 0.90, TLI = 0.89). MAKS converged with both CAMI and RIBS. Internal consistency was good for the RIBS and acceptable for CAMI and MAKS. Test–retest reliabilities were excellent for RIBS and poor for CAMI and MAKS, but kappa scores for inter-rater agreement were relatively low for these scales. Results support validity of the original MAKS and RIBS scale and a modified CAMI scale and suggest that stigma is not an enduring trait in this population. The low kappa scores are consistent with first kappa paradox which is due to adjustment for agreements by chance in case of marginal prevalence values.

Conclusions

Kiswahili versions of the MAKS, RIBS and a modified version of the CAMI are valid for use in the study population. Stigma against people with mental illness may not be an enduring trait in this population.
The fundamental gap of a kind of sub-elliptic operator
Authors: Sun Hongli , Yang Donghui
Published: June 2022

In this paper the minimum fundamental gap of a kind of sub-elliptic operator is concerned, we deal with the existence and uniqueness of weak solution for that. We verify that the minimization fundamental gap problem can be achieved by some function, and characterize the optimal function by adopting the differential of eigenvalues.
Does Industry Competition Influence Analyst Coverage Decisions and Career Outcomes?
Authors: Hsu Charles , Li Xi , Ma Zhiming , Phillips Gordon M.
Published: June 2022

We analyze whether industry competition influences analyst coverage decisions and whether analysts benefit from covering product market competitors. We find that analysts are more likely to cover a firm when this firm competes with more firms already covered by the analyst. We also find that the intensity of competition among these competitors is additionally important to the coverage decision. Moreover, we find that analysts who cover product market competitors are more likely to obtain analyst star status. These results are consistent with the importance to analysts of industry competition and product market knowledge accumulated through covering product market competitors.
Financial Globalization and Bank Lending: The Limits of Domestic Monetary Policy
Authors: Cao Jin , Dinger Valeriya
Published: June 2022

Exploring bank-level data from a small open economy, we present evidence that global funding conditions limit the effectiveness of domestic monetary policy in terms of shaping both the volume and the riskiness of bank lending. We show that more favorable global funding conditions associated with a local currency appreciation encourage banks to increase lending, leverage up, take more risks, and thus insulate themselves from lean-against-the-wind domestic monetary policy. These results support the existence of a risk-taking channel of currency appreciation at the bank level.
Designing and Implementing Deliberative Processes for Health Technology Assessment: A Good Practices Report of a Joint HTAi/ISPOR Task Force
Authors: Oortwijn Wija , Husereau Don , Abelson Julia , Barasa Edwine , Bayani Diana (Dana) , Santos Vania Canuto , Culyer Anthony , Facey Karen , Grainger David , Kieslich Katharina , Ollendorf Daniel , Pichon-Riviere Andrés , Sandman Lars , Strammiello Valentina , Teerawattananon Yot
Published: June 2022

Objectives

Deliberative processes for health technology assessment (HTA) are intended to facilitate participatory decision making, using discussion and open dialogue between stakeholders. Increasing attention is being given to deliberative processes, but guidance is lacking for those who wish to design or use them. Health Technology Assessment International (HTAi) and ISPOR—The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research initiated a joint Task Force to address this gap.

Methods

The joint Task Force consisted of fifteen members with different backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise relevant to the field. It developed guidance and a checklist for deliberative processes for HTA. The guidance builds upon the few, existing initiatives in the field, as well as input from the HTA community following an established consultation plan. In addition, the guidance was subject to two rounds of peer review.

Results

A deliberative process for HTA consists of procedures, activities, and events that support the informed and critical examination of an issue and the weighing of arguments and evidence to guide a subsequent decision. Guidance and an accompanying checklist are provided for (i) developing the governance and structure of an HTA program and (ii) informing how the various stages of an HTA process might be managed using deliberation.

Conclusions

The guidance and the checklist contain a series of questions, grouped by six phases of a model deliberative process. They are offered as practical tools for those wishing to establish or improve deliberative processes for HTA that are fit for local contexts. The tools can also be used for independent scrutiny of deliberative processes.
Does it Matter if the President Isn't Pious? White Evangelicals and Elite Religiosity in the Trump Era
Authors: Thompson Jack
Published: June 2022

Trump's unwavering support among white evangelicals seems a contradiction considering his seeming irreligiosity and well publicized moral transgressions. This contradiction raises an interesting question concerning whether Trump represents something of a unique case when it comes to white evangelical evaluations of elite religiosity, or whether his support among the group indicative of a new era of evangelical support for candidates that does not assess religiosity as it used to. Drawing on contemporary debates from the religious psychology and Christian nationalism scholarship, I use data from Wave 61 of the American Trends Panel (ATP) to test whether white evangelicals who encounter threats to their religious identities are more likely to view that God played some role in Trump's election. Overall, I find that white evangelicals consider themselves minorities as a result of their beliefs. Most importantly, these beliefs condition white evangelical beliefs about God's role in Trump's election. Specifically, I find that increases in threat perceptions lead to an increase in the probability of a white evangelical believing that Trump's election was part of God's plan. These findings provide a new vantage point for understanding why so many white evangelicals view Trump's election as a divine outcome despite the fact they are indifferent to his irreligiosity.
Using weed emergence and phenology models to determine critical control windows for winter-grown carinata (Brassica carinata)
Authors: Reinhardt Piskackova Theresa A. , Leon Ramon G.
Published: June 2022

Adoption of the new biofuel crop carinata (Brassica carinata A. Braun) in the southeastern United States will largely hinge on sound agronomic recommendations that can be economically incorporated into and are compatible with existing rotations. Timing of weed control is crucial for yield protection and long-term weed seedbank management, but predictive weed emergence models have not been as widely studied in winter crops for this purpose. In this work, we use observed and predicted emergence of a winter annual weed community to create recommendations for timing weed control according to weed and crop phenology progression. Observed emergence timings for four winter annual weed species in North Carolina were used to validate previously published models developed for winter annual weeds in Florida by accounting for temperature and daylength differences, and this approach explained more than 70% of the variability in observed emergence. Emergence of stinking chamomile (Anthemis cotula L.) and cutleaf evening primrose (Oenothera laciniata Hill.) followed biphasic patterns comparable to wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum L.), which were predicted with previously published models accounting for 82% and 84% of the variation, respectively. Using the predictive models for weed emergence and carinata growth, critical control windows (CCW) were estimated for Clayton, NC, and Jay, FL, according to different planting dates. The results demonstrated how early planting coincided with the emergence of three competitive winter weeds, but early control could also remove a large proportion of the predicted emergence of these species. The framework for how planting timing will affect winter weed emergence and crop growth will be an instructive decision-making tool to help prepare farmers to manage weeds in carinata, but it could also be useful for weed management planning for other winter crops.
Sublimation Origin of Negative Deuterium Excess Observed in Snow and Ice Samples From McMurdo Dry Valleys and Allan Hills Blue Ice Areas, East Antarctica
Authors: Hu Jun , Yan Yuzhen , Yeung Laurence Y. , Dee Sylvia G.
Published: June 2022

The oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition in snow and ice have long been utilized to reconstruct past temperatures of polar regions, under the assumption that post‐depositional processes such as sublimation do not fractionate snow. In low‐accumulation (<0.01 m yr−1) areas near the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica, surface snow and ice samples have exceptionally low deuterium excess values (d‐excess ≡ δD – 8*δ18O)—sometimes as negative as −5‰—an uncommon phenomenon that is not fully understood. Here we use both an isotope‐enabled general circulation model and an ice physics model and establish that such exceptionally low d‐excess values can only arise from precipitation if the majority of the moisture is sourced from the Southern Ocean (south of 55°S). However, the model results show that moisture sourced from oceans north of 55°S contributes significantly (>50%) to precipitation in Antarctica today. We thus propose that sublimation must have occurred to yield the low d‐excess values in snow observed in and near the Dry Valleys, and that solid‐phase‐diffusion in ice grains is sufficiently fast to allow Rayleigh‐like isotopic fractionation in similar environments. We calculate that under present‐day conditions at the Allan Hills outside the Dry Valleys, 3%–24% of the surface snow is lost due to sublimation. Because the magnitude of sublimation may be nonstationary (i.e., it could vary in time) during past cold periods, we suggest that sublimation‐induced fractionation can alter the relationship between the snow isotopic composition and polar temperatures.
Ion‐Acoustic Waves in a Quasi‐Perpendicular Earth's Bow Shock
Authors: Vasko I. Y. , Mozer F. S. , Bale S. D. , Artemyev A. V.
Published: June 2022

We present analysis of electrostatic waves around the ramp of a quasi‐perpendicular Earth's bow shock observed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft. The electrostatic waves have amplitudes up to 800 mV/m, which is the largest value ever reported in the Earth's bow shock. In contrast to previous studies, the electrostatic waves have large amplitudes of the electrostatic potential, up to 20 V or 20% of local electron temperature. The wavelengths are from 150 m to 3 km, that is from 15 to 300 Debye lengths and typically from 0.4 to 1.5 thermal electron gyroradii. Importantly, these waves can propagate not only quasi‐parallel or oblique, but also almost perpendicular to local magnetic field. The electrostatic waves are interpreted in terms of ion‐acoustic waves, although the presence of electron cyclotron harmonic waves cannot be entirely ruled out. These results suggest that electrostatic waves may strongly affect the dynamics of electrons in collisionless shocks.
The Contribution of Planetary Period Oscillations Toward Circulation and Mass Loss in Saturn's Magnetosphere
Authors: Agiwal O. , Masters A. , Hunt G. J. , Dougherty M. K.
Published: June 2022

Magnetic reconnection is a process during which magnetic energy is released as kinetic energy. It is considered a crucial driver of energy transport and mass loss within Saturn's magnetosphere. On long‐term timescales, is thought to be predominantly driven by the rapid rotation of equatorially mass‐loaded flux tubes (i.e., the Vasyliunas cycle), but there is some non‐negligible driving from the solar wind as well (i.e., the Dungey cycle). In this study, we investigate an atmospheric driven phenomenon that modulates Saturn's magnetosphere every ∼10.6–10.8 hr, known as planetary period oscillations (PPOs), as an additional driver of magnetic reconnection at Saturn. Using an empirical model of PPO dynamics and Cassini magnetic field and plasma measurements, we find that PPO‐driven magnetic reconnection is likely to occur in Saturn's magnetosphere, however, the occurrence of the phenomenon depends on temporally variable characteristics of the PPO systems and spatial asymmetries within Saturn's equatorial magnetosphere. Thus, it is not expected to be an on‐going process. On year‐long timescales, we find that PPOs are expected to be on par with the Dungey Cycle in driving circulation within Saturn's magnetosphere. However, on ∼1–2 weeks‐long timescales, under specific conditions where PPO‐driven reconnection is expected to be active, this phenomenon can become more significant than the Vasyliunas cycle, and thus dominate circulation within Saturn's magnetosphere. On year‐long timescales, this process is estimated to remove upwards of ∼20% of the mass loaded into the magnetosphere by Enceladus.
The Seasonal Evolution of the Tibetan Plateau Snow Cover Related Moisture During Spring‐to‐Summer
Authors: Zhang Chao , Jia XiaoJing
Published: June 2022

The current work investigated the seasonal evolution of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) snow cover (TPSC) induced atmospheric moisture anomalies from May to August, by analyzing TP snow‐diabatic and TP snow‐hydrological processes during the 1979–2020 period using both observational data and a baroclinic atmospheric model. The results show that the TPSC and its related atmospheric moisture are featured by a westward retreat from the eastern TP in May to the western TP in August. The TPSC variation related atmospheric apparent heat source shows that excessive TPSC can cause local diabatic cooling to the above atmosphere and can be attributed to a local cyclonic pattern in the upper troposphere. This cyclonic pattern also moves westward along with the seasonal evolution of the TP snow during this period. Anomalous TP snow can impact atmospheric moisture through snow melt and snow evaporating process. Associated with the changes in TP snow, its related anomalous atmospheric moisture and circulations, significant moisture divergence appears over the mid‐eastern Himalaya during May and June (MJ) and the water vapor is mainly transported from the Himalaya to southeastern TP regions including Bhutan, Myanmar, Bengal and eastern India. Differently, during July and August (JA), significant atmospheric moisture divergence is located over the mid‐western Himalaya, and the water vapor is mostly transported from the Himalaya to southwestern TP areas including Nepal and western India. Further analysis shows that the TPSC anomaly induced anomalous atmospheric moisture accounts for 22%–45% of the climatological moisture for the mid‐eastern Himalaya during MJ, whereas it accounts for 65%–78% of the climatological moisture for the mid‐western Himalaya during JA.
Distribution and Morphology of Lava Tube Systems on the Western Flank of Alba Mons, Mars
Authors: Crown David A. , Scheidt Stephen P. , Berman Daniel C.
Published: June 2022

Integrated analyses of Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) IR, Context Camera (CTX), and Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) data sets have been used to characterize the western flank of the Martian volcano Alba Mons, which hosts a prominent population of lava tube systems. Identification and mapping of lava tube systems is based on both morphologic and topographic analyses, including the presence of chains of collapse depressions and elongate, sinuous ridges. Lava tubes and adjacent tabular lava flows with lengths of 100+ km form an extensive lava flow field. Analyses of topographic data sets, including slope maps, suggest continuity of the radial flow field pattern across the full western flank. Concurrent surface activity across the western flank is consistent with age constraints from geologic mapping and crater size‐frequency distributions that indicate Early Amazonian ages. The mapped population of 331 lava tube systems in the western flank geologic map quadrangle has a mean length of 36.2 km and a total length of ∼12,000 km. Individual lava tube systems extend up to ∼400 km. Orientation and slope data for lava tube systems show small deviations compared to regional values in 50‐km grid cells defined by the MOLA Digital Elevation Model, suggesting a strong coupling of lava tubes to the current slopes of Alba Mons. Mapping of lava tube systems documents segments both showing collapse and with no collapse, indicating the potential for extensive subsurface cavities that would be important astrobiological targets.
Validity of Scottish predictors of child obesity (age 12) for risk screening in mid-childhood: a secondary analysis of prospective cohort study data—with sensitivity analyses for settings without various routinely collected predictor variables
Authors: Carrillo-Balam Gabriela , Doi Lawrence , Marryat Louise , Williams Andrew James , Bradshaw Paul , Frank John
Published: June 2022

Objective

To analyse the Growing Up in Scotland cohort for predictors of obesity at age 12, present at school entry (age 5–6).

Methods

The initial model included literature-based risk factors likely to be routinely collected in high-income countries (HICs), as well as “Adverse/Protective Childhood Experiences (ACEs/PCEs)”. Missing data were handled by Multiple Chained Equations. Variable-reduction was performed using multivariable logistic regression with backwards and forwards stepwise elimination, followed by internal validation by bootstrapping. Optimal sensitivity/specificity cut-offs for the most parsimonious and accurate models in two situations (optimum available data, and routinely available data in Scotland) were examined for their referral burden, and Positive and Negative Predictive Values.

Results

Data for 2787 children with full outcome data (obesity prevalence 18.3% at age 12) were used to develop the models. The final “Optimum Data” model included six predictors of obesity: maternal body mass index, indoor smoking, equivalized income quintile, child’s sex, child’s BMI at age 5–6, and ACEs. After internal validation, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.855 (95% CI 0.852–0.859). A cut-off based on Youden’s J statistic for the Optimum Data model yielded a specificity of 77.6% and sensitivity of 76.3%. 37.0% of screened children were “Total Screen Positives” (and thus would constitute the “referral burden”.) A “Scottish Data” model, without equivalized income quintile and ACEs as a predictor, and instead using Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation quintile and “age at introduction of solid foods,” was slightly less sensitive (76.2%) but slightly more specific (79.2%), leading to a smaller referral burden (30.8%).

Conclusion

Universally collected, machine readable and linkable data at age 5–6 predict reasonably well children who will be obese by age 12. However, the Scottish treatment system is unable to cope with the resultant referral burden and other criteria for screening would have to be met.
Excessive branched-chain amino acid accumulation restricts mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy efficacy in myocardial infarction
Authors: Zhang Fuyang , Hu Guangyu , Chen Xiyao , Zhang Ling , Guo Lanyan , Li Congye , Zhao Hang , Cui Zhe , Guo Xiong , Sun Fangfang , Song Dandan , Yan Wenjun , Xia Yunlong , Wang Shan , Fan Miaomiao , Tao Ling
Published: June 2022

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) delivered into the post-ischemic heart milieu have a low survival and retention rate, thus restricting the cardioreparative efficacy of MSC-based therapy. Chronic ischemia results in metabolic reprogramming in the heart, but little is known about how these metabolic changes influence implanted MSCs. Here, we found that excessive branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) accumulation, a metabolic signature seen in the post-ischemic heart, was disadvantageous to the retention and cardioprotection of intramyocardially injected MSCs. Discovery-driven experiments revealed that BCAA at pathological levels sensitized MSCs to stress-induced cell death and premature senescence via accelerating the loss of histone 3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3). A novel mTORC1/DUX4/KDM4E axis was identified as the cause of BCAA-induced H3K9me3 loss and adverse phenotype acquisition. Enhancing BCAA catabolic capability in MSCs via genetic/pharmacological approaches greatly improved their adaptation to the high BCAA milieu and strengthened their cardioprotective efficacy. We conclude that aberrant BCAA accumulation is detrimental to implanted MSCs via a previously unknown metabolite-signaling-epigenetic mechanism, emphasizing that the metabolic changes of the post-ischemic heart crucially influence the fate of implanted MSCs and their therapeutic benefits.
Thyroid hypogenesis is associated with a novel AKT3 germline variant that causes megalencephaly and cortical malformation
Authors: Mori Jun , Hasegawa Tatsuji , Miyamoto Yosuke , Kitamura Kazumasa , Morimoto Hidechika , Tozawa Takenori , Pooh Ritsuko Kimata , Chiyonobu Tomohiro
Published: June 2022

The molecular mechanisms involved in thyroid organogenesis have not been fully elucidated. We report a patient with a de novo germline AKT3 variant, NM_005465.7:c.233A > G, p.(Gln78Arg), who presented with congenital hypothyroidism in addition to typical AKT3-related brain disorders. The report of this patient contributes to delineating the associated yet uncertain endocrine complications of this AKT3 disease-causing variant.
A TUBB4A Met363Thr variant in pediatric hypomyelination without atrophy of the basal ganglia
Authors: Hashiguchi Marina , Monden Yukifumi , Nozaki Yasuyuki , Watanabe Kazuki , Nakashima Mitsuko , Saitsu Hirotomo , Yamagata Takanori , Osaka Hitoshi
Published: June 2022

TUBB4A gene variants cause dystonia type 4 and hypomyelination with atrophy of the basal ganglia and cerebellum. We report the case of a child with delayed motor development, intellectual disability, and dystonia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed hypomyelination and progressive cerebellar atrophy without atrophy of the basal ganglia. Whole-exome sequencing revealed a de novo heterozygous variant, c.1088T > C, p.(Met363Thr), in TUBB4A. The present case further supports the vulnerability of the cerebellum in patients with TUBB4A pathogenic variants.
All-optical switching based on plasmon-induced Enhancement of Index of Refraction
Authors: Dhama Rakesh , Panahpour Ali , Pihlava Tuomas , Ghindani Dipa , Caglayan Humeyra
Published: June 2022

In quantum optical Enhancement of Index of Refraction (EIR), coherence and quantum interference render the atomic systems to exhibit orders of magnitude higher susceptibilities with vanishing or even negative absorption at their resonances. Here we show the plasmonic analogue of the quantum optical EIR effect in an optical system and further implement this in a linear all-optical switching mechanism. We realize plasmon-induced EIR using a particular plasmonic metasurface consisting of a square array of L-shaped meta-molecules. In contrast to the conventional methods, this approach provides a scheme to modulate the amplitude of incident signals by coherent control of absorption without implementing gain materials or nonlinear processes. Therefore, light is controlled by applying ultra-low intensity at the extreme levels of spatiotemporal localization. In the pursuit of potential applications of linear all-optical switching devices, this scheme may introduce an effective tool for improving the modulation strength of optical modulators and switches through the amplification of input signals at ultra-low power.
Low-degree mantle melting controls the deep seismicity and explosive volcanism of the Gakkel Ridge
Authors: Koulakov Ivan , Schlindwein Vera , Liu Mingqi , Gerya Taras , Jakovlev Andrey , Ivanov Aleksey
Published: June 2022

The world’s strongest known spreading-related seismicity swarm occurred in 1999 in a segment of the Gakkel Ridge located at 85°E as a consequence of an effusive-explosive submarine volcanic eruption. The data of a seismic network deployed on ice floes were used to locate hundreds of local earthquakes down to ∼25 km depth and to build a seismic tomography model under the volcanic area. Here we show the seismicity and the distribution of seismic velocities together with the 3D magmatic-thermomechanical numerical model, which demonstrate how a magma reservoir under the Gakkel Ridge may form, rise and trigger volcanic eruptions in the rift valley. The ultraslow spreading rates with low mantle potential temperatures appear to be a critical factor in the production of volatile-rich, low-degree mantle melts that are focused toward the magma reservoirs within narrow magmatic sections. The degassing of these melts is the main cause of the explosive submarine eruptions.
Lattice-mismatch-free growth of organic heterostructure nanowires from cocrystals to alloys
Authors: Lv Qiang , Wang Xue-Dong , Yu Yue , Zhuo Ming-Peng , Zheng Min , Liao Liang-Sheng
Published: June 2022

Organic heterostructure nanowires, such as multiblock, core/shell, branch-like and related compounds, have attracted chemists’ extensive attention because of their novel physicochemical properties. However, owing to the difficulty in solving the lattice mismatch of distinct molecules, the construction of organic heterostructures at large scale remains challenging, which restricts its wide use in future applications. In this work, we define a concept of lattice-mismatch-free for hierarchical self-assembly of organic semiconductor molecules, allowing for the large-scale synthesis of organic heterostructure nanowires composed of the organic alloys and cocrystals. Thus, various types of organic triblock nanowires are prepared in large scale, and the length ratio of different segments of the triblock nanowires can be precisely regulated by changing the stoichiometric ratio of different components. These results pave the way towards fine synthesis of heterostructures in a large scale and facilitate their applications in organic optoelectronics at micro/nanoscale.
Minimal crystallographic descriptors of sorption properties in hypothetical MOFs and role in sequential learning optimization
Authors: Trezza Giovanni , Bergamasco Luca , Fasano Matteo , Chiavazzo Eliodoro
Published: June 2022

We focus on gas sorption within metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for energy applications and identify the minimal set of crystallographic descriptors underpinning the most important properties of MOFs for CO2 and H2O. A comprehensive comparison of several sequential learning algorithms for MOFs properties optimization is performed and the role played by those descriptors is clarified. In energy transformations, thermodynamic limits of important figures of merit crucially depend on equilibrium properties in a wide range of sorbate coverage values, which is often only partially accessible, hence possibly preventing the computation of desired objective functions. We propose a fast procedure for optimizing specific energy in a closed sorption energy storage system with only access to a single water Henry coefficient value and to the specific surface area. We are thus able to identify hypothetical candidate MOFs that are predicted to outperform state-of-the-art water-sorbent pairs for thermal energy storage applications.
Soft, stretchable thermal protective substrates for wearable electronics
Authors: Nie Shuang , Cai Min , Yang Huang , Shen Liyin , Wang Suhao , Zhu Yang , Song Jizhou
Published: June 2022

Wearable electronics have continued to attract the attention of researchers and clinicians due to their great potential in medical applications. During their operations, the undesired heating may cause thermal discomfort or damage to skin. Seeking materials and structures for advanced thermal protection has become an urgent issue. Here, we report a soft, stretchable thermal protective substrate for wearable electronics with remarkable thermal insulating performance, mechanical compliance and stretchability. The thermal protective substrate features a composite design of the widely used polymeric material polydimethylsiloxane with embedded heat absorbing microspheres, consisting of phase change materials encapsulated inside the resin shell. Experimental and numerical studies show that the thermal protective substrate could be subjected to complex deformations over 150% and could reduce the peak skin temperature increase by 82% or higher under optimizations. In vivo demonstration of this concept on the mouse skin illustrates its unusual thermal protection capability for wearable thermal management.
Removal of organic matter and nutrients from hospital wastewater by electro bioreactor coupled with tubesettler
Authors: Khan Roohul Abad , Morabet Rachida El , Khan Nadeem A , Ahmed Sirajuddin , Alsubih Majed , Mubarak Nabisab Mujawar , Dehghani Mohammad Hadi , Karri Rama Rao , Zomorodiyan Nooshin
Published: June 2022

Wastewater consisting of different pharmaceuticals and drug residues is quite challenging to treat and dispose of. This situation poses a significant impact on the health aspect of humans and other biotic organisms in the environment. The main concern of hospital wastewater (HWW) is the resistivity towards treatment using the different conventional methods. For the treatment of HWW, this study was performed using an electro bioreactor using hospital wastewater. The electro reduction overcomes the effect of toxic elements in hospital wastewater, and biodegradation removes organic matter and nutrients from wastewater. This study investigated electro bioreactor performance for treating hospital wastewater connected with tubesettler. The parameters of chemical oxygen demand, nitrate, and phosphate concentration were analyzed to evaluate an influent and effluent from electro bioreactor and tubesettler. Also, Kinetic modelling for chemical oxygen demand, nitrate, and phosphate removal was done. The chemical oxygen demand was reduced by 76% in electro bioreactor, and 31% in tubesettler, 84%. The nitrate and phosphate were reduced within permissible discharge limits with a final effluent concentration of 1.4 mg L−1 and 3 mg L−1. Further studies are required to assess the impact of pharmaceutical compounds in hospital wastewater on the system's performance.
The effects of response inhibition training following binge memory retrieval in young adults binge eaters: a randomised-controlled experimental study
Authors: Das Ravi K. , Cawley Emma A. , Simeonov Louise , Piazza Giulia , Schmidt Ulrike , Wiers Reinout W. H. J. , Kamboj Sunjeev K.
Published: June 2022

Binge eating is increasingly prevalent among adolescents and young adults and can have a lasting harmful impact on mental and physical health. Mechanistic insights suggest that aberrant reward-learning and biased cognitive processing may be involved in the aetiology of binge eating. We therefore investigated whether recently developed approaches to catalyse brief interventions by putatively updating maladaptive memory could also boost the effects of cognitive bias modification training on binge eating behaviour. A non-treatment-seeking sample of 90 binge eating young adults were evenly randomised to undergo either selective food response inhibition training, or sham training following binge memory reactivation. A third group received training without binge memory reactivation. Laboratory measures of reactivity and biased responses to food cues were assessed pre-post intervention and bingeing behaviour and disordered eating assessed up to 9 months post-intervention. The protocol was pre-registered athttps://osf.io/82c4r/.We found limited evidence of premorbid biased processing in lab-assessed measures of cognitive biases to self-selected images of typical binge foods. Accordingly, there was little evidence of CBM reducing these biases and this was not boosted by prior ‘reactivation’ of binge food reward memories. No group differences were observed on long-term bingeing behaviour, caloric consumption or disordered eating symptomatology. These findings align with recent studies showing limited impact of selective inhibition training on binge eating and do not permit conclusions regarding the utility of retrieval-dependent memory ‘update’ mechanisms as a treatment catalyst for response inhibition training.
Polarization insensitive split square ring resonator based epsilon-negative and near zero refractive index metamaterial for S, C, and X frequency bands satellite and radar communications
Authors: Hossain Ismail , Islam Mohammad Tariqul , Samsuzzaman Md. , Moniruzzaman Md. , Sahar Norsuzlin Binti Mohd , Almalki Sami H. A. , Salaheldeen M M. , Alzamil Ahmed , Islam Md. Shabiul
Published: June 2022

This study has investigated the impact of inverse G-like shape resonators that exhibited epsilon negative (ENG) and near-zero refractive index (NZI) properties for multi-band wireless communications applications. The electrical measurement of structure is 0.118λ × 0.118λ × 0.021 λ, which is calculated at 3.94 GHz. FR-4 is used as a substrate layer, and the resonator is designed on it. This structure is manifested in the ENG and NZI characteristics within the frequency range of 3.8–4.17, 7.68–8.54, 10.67–11.36 GHz, and 4.07–4.15 and 8.29–8.37 GHz, respectively. This study also manifests the polarization insensitivity nature of 0°–90°, and the incident angle is investigated up to 60° for both TE and TM modes. The proposed structure achieves triple resonance at 3.94 GHz, 8.08 GHz, and 11.17 GHz, respectively, included in the S, C, and X frequency bands. The CST Microwave Studio 2019 software is conducted to design, develop, perform analysis, investigate electromagnetic properties, and extract effective medium parameters. The Advanced Design Software (ADS) is used to model the equivalent circuit of the unit cell. The simulated, measured, and ADS results verified the scattering parameter performance. The EMR value of the structure is 8.47, indicating the structure's compactness. The compact design with simplicity, ENG, and NZI properties make the proposed structure significant for microwave application, mainly to enhance the antenna bandwidth and gain filter design. ENG and NZI properties the operation frequency stability and efficiency for low earth orbit nanosatellite communications.
Variant-driven early warning via unsupervised machine learning analysis of spike protein mutations for COVID-19
Authors: de Hoffer Adele , Vatani Shahram , Cot Corentin , Cacciapaglia Giacomo , Chiusano Maria Luisa , Cimarelli Andrea , Conventi Francesco , Giannini Antonio , Hohenegger Stefan , Sannino Francesco
Published: June 2022

Never before such a vast amount of data, including genome sequencing, has been collected for any viral pandemic than for the current case of COVID-19. This offers the possibility to trace the virus evolution and to assess the role mutations play in its spread within the population, in real time. To this end, we focused on the Spike protein for its central role in mediating viral outbreak and replication in host cells. Employing the Levenshtein distance on the Spike protein sequences, we designed a machine learning algorithm yielding a temporal clustering of the available dataset. From this, we were able to identify and define emerging persistent variants that are in agreement with known evidences. Our novel algorithm allowed us to define persistent variants as chains that remain stable over time and to highlight emerging variants of epidemiological interest as branching events that occur over time. Hence, we determined the relationship and temporal connection between variants of interest and the ensuing passage to dominance of the current variants of concern. Remarkably, the analysis and the relevant tools introduced in our work serve as an early warning for the emergence of new persistent variants once the associated cluster reaches 1% of the time-binned sequence data. We validated our approach and its effectiveness on the onset of the Alpha variant of concern. We further predict that the recently identified lineage AY.4.2 (‘Delta plus’) is causing a new emerging variant. Comparing our findings with the epidemiological data we demonstrated that each new wave is dominated by a new emerging variant, thus confirming the hypothesis of the existence of a strong correlation between the birth of variants and the pandemic multi-wave temporal pattern. The above allows us to introduce the epidemiology of variants that we described via the Mutation epidemiological Renormalisation Group framework.
Magnetic phase diagram of the solid solution LaMn2(Ge1−xSix)2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) unraveled by powder neutron diffraction
Authors: Siebeneichler Stefanie , Ovchinnikov Alexander , Bosch-Santos Brianna , Cabrera-Pasca Gabriel A. , Flacau Roxana , Huang Qingzhen , Carbonari Artur W. , Ryan Dominic , Mudring Anja-Verena
Published: June 2022

The structural and magnetic properties of the ThCr2Si2-type solid solution LaMn2(Ge1−xSix)2 (x = 0.0 to 1.0) have been investigated employing a combination of X-ray diffraction, magnetization and neutron diffraction measurements, which allowed establishing a magnetic composition-temperature phase diagram. Substitution of Ge by Si leads to a compression of the unit cell, which affects the magnetic exchange interactions. In particular, the magnetic structure of LaMn2(Ge1−xSix)2 is strongly affected by the unit cell parameter c, which is related to the distance between adjacent Mn layers. Commensurate antiferromagnetic layers and a canted ferromagnetic structure dominate the Si-rich part of the solid solution, whilst an incommensurate antiferromagnetic flat spiral and a conical magnetic structure are observed in the Si-poor part.
Supplemental light application can improve the growth and development of strawberry plants under salinity and alkalinity stress conditions
Authors: Malekzadeh Shamsabad Mohammad Reza , Esmaeilizadeh Majid , Roosta Hamid Reza , Dąbrowski Piotr , Telesiński Arkadiusz , Kalaji Hazem M.
Published: June 2022

The use of complementary light spectra is a potential new approach to studying the increase in plant resilience under stress conditions. The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effect of different spectra of complementary light on the growth and development of strawberry plants under salinity and alkalinity stress conditions. Plants were grown in the greenhouse under ambient light and irradiated with blue (460 nm), red (660 nm), blue/red (1:3), and white/yellow (400–700 nm) light during the developmental stages. The stress treatments were as follows: control (non-stress), alkalinity (40 mM NaHCO3), and salinity (80 mM NaCl). Our results showed that salinity and alkalinity stress decreased fresh and dry weights and the number of green leaves, and increased chlorotic, tip burn, and dry leaves. The blue and red spectra had a greater effect on reducing the effects of stress compared to other spectra. Stress conditions decreased SPAD and RWC, although blue light increased SPAD, and blue/red light increased RWC under stress conditions. Blue/red and white/yellow light had the greatest effect on reproductive traits. Stress conditions affected fruit color indicators, and red and blue light had the most significant effect on these traits. Under stress conditions, sodium uptake increased, while K, Ca, Mg, and Fe uptake decreased, markedly. Blue and red light and their combination alleviated this reducing effect of stress. It can be concluded that the effects of salinity and alkalinity stresses can be reduced by manipulating the supplemental light spectrum. The use of artificial light can be extended to stresses.