bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of the ultra‐short scale for measuring work engagement among social workers in Chinese contexts
Authors: Su Xuebing , Wong Victor , Yip Charlie
Published: August 2022

Based on 683 valid questionnaires collected among a convenience sample of social workers from Hong Kong, Macau and three other cities in mainland China, this study investigated the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the three‐item ultra‐short Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (C‐UWES‐3). The results of confirmatory factor analyses supported the discriminant validity of C‐UWES‐3 by differentiating its three items from other five items measuring emotional exhaustion and role ambiguity. The concurrent validity of C‐UWES‐3 was supported by its superior explanatory power to the original nine‐item version of the scale (C‐UWES‐9) in relation to explaining social workers' turnover intention. The convergent validity of C‐UWES‐3 was supported by its correlations vis‐à‐vis factors in the job demands‐resources model such as job demands, job resources, turnover intention and collective psychological ownership. The C‐UWES‐3 showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.81). Overall, the C‐UWES‐3 demonstrates excellent psychometric properties for informing future research.
Estimation of the post-mortem interval by modelling the changes in oral bacterial diversity during decomposition
Authors: Zhao Xingchun , Zhong Zengtao , Hua Zichun
Published: August 2022

Aims

Decomposition, a complicated process, depends on several factors, including carrion insects, bacteria and the environment. However, the composition of and variation in oral bacteria over long periods of decomposition remain unclear. The current study aims to illustrate the composition of oral bacteria and construct an informative model for estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI) during decomposition.

Methods and Results

Samples were collected from rats' oral cavities for 59 days, and 12 time points in the PMI were selected to detect bacterial community structure by sequencing the V3–V4 region of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene on the Ion S5 XL platform. The results indicated that microorganisms in the oral cavity underwent great changes during decomposition, with a tendency for variation to first decrease and then increase at day 24. Additionally, to predict the PMI, an informative model was established using the random forest algorithm. Three genera of bacteria (Atopostipes, Facklamia and Cerasibacillus) were linearly correlated at all 12 time points in the 59-day period. Planococcaceae was selected as the best feature for the last 6 time points. The R2 of the model reached 93.94%, which suggested high predictive accuracy. Furthermore, to predict the functions of the oral microbiota, PICRUSt results showed that energy metabolism was increased on day 3 post-mortem and carbohydrate metabolism surged significantly on days 3 and 24 post-mortem.

Conclusions

Overall, our results suggested that post-mortem oral microbial community data can serve as a forensic resource to estimate the PMI over long time periods.

Significance and Impact of the Study

The results of the present study are beneficial for estimating the PMI. Identifying changes in the bacterial community is of great significance for further understanding the applicability of oral flora in forensic medicine.
Development of a predictive model for bovine leukemia virus proviral load
Authors: John Emily E. , Droscha Casey , Cameron Marguerite , Stryhn Henrik , Keefe Greg , McClure J Trenton
Published: August 2022

Background

There is currently no commercially available method in Canada to identify bovine leukemia virus (BLV)‐positive cows with high proviral load (PVL).

Objectives

First, develop a model to predict PVL using common, commercially available, cost‐effective diagnostic tests. Second, investigate the relationship between lymphocyte count and PVL in BLV‐positive cows.

Animals

A total of 339 BLV‐positive and 62 BLV‐seronegative cows on 15 dairy farms.

Methods

Cross‐sectional study. Blood and milk samples were collected from all lactating BLV‐positive cows on each farm and 5 to 10 BLV‐seronegative cows depending on herd size. Blood and milk samples were tested for anti‐BLV antibodies using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Complete blood counts were performed on blood samples, and standard components analyses were obtained for milk samples. Proviral load was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction for each cow.

Results

The inverse of lymphocyte count, the square of the inverse of lymphocyte count, and milk ELISA percent positivity were positively associated with increasing PVL in BLV‐positive cows. For BLV‐positive cows, lymphocyte count >5.2 × 109/L predicted a high PVL (BLV:Bovine DNA of >1 in blood) with a sensitivity of 92.4% and a specificity of 79.8%. For BLV‐positive cows, white blood cell count >10.8 × 109/L predicted a high PVL, with a sensitivity of 85.5% and a specificity of 83.6%.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Based on these results, producers can implement commonly available diagnostic tests to identify cows with high probability of having high PVL, which may help in designing effective disease control strategies for BLV‐positive herds.
Reallocation: How new forms arise from contact
Authors: Font‐Santiago Cristopher , Johnson Mirva , Salmons Joseph
Published: August 2022

In the last 35 years, ‘reallocation’ has come to be widely used to describe how structural linguistic features in contact settings may remain as part of a new language variety and take on new functions as sociolinguistic variables rather than be lost over time, as is typically expected in koineization contexts. Classic examples involve originally regional differences that come to carry social, grammatical, or stylistic rather than regional meanings. We define and illustrate reallocation and then explore how it has been used in different ways and applied to various contact settings. Along the way, we also put reallocation into the context of notions like focussing and accommodation, and observe a shift from looking at dialect contact to language contact as a trigger of reallocation. Reallocation increasingly connects with enregisterment, and we consider these notions in cultural as well as strictly linguistic terms. We conclude briefly with paths for future investigation.
Genetic basis of growth reaction to drought stress differs in contrasting high‐latitude treeline ecotones of a widespread conifer
Authors: Zacharias Melanie , Pampuch Timo , Dauphin Benjamin , Opgenoorth Lars , Roland Carl , Schnittler Martin , Wilmking Martin , Bog Manuela , Heer Katrin
Published: August 2022

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of drought events in many boreal forests. Trees are sessile organisms with a long generation time, which makes them vulnerable to fast climate change and hinders fast adaptations. Therefore, it is important to know how forests cope with drought stress and to explore the genetic basis of these reactions. We investigated three natural populations of white spruce (Picea glauca) in Alaska, located at one drought‐limited and two cold‐limited treelines with a paired plot design of one forest and one treeline plot. We obtained individual increment cores from 458 trees and climate data to assess dendrophenotypes, in particular the growth reaction to drought stress. To explore the genetic basis of these dendrophenotypes, we genotyped the individual trees at 3000 single nucleotide polymorphisms in candidate genes and performed genotype–phenotype association analysis using linear mixed models and Bayesian sparse linear mixed models. Growth reaction to drought stress differed in contrasting treeline populations. Therefore, the populations are likely to be unevenly affected by climate change. We identified 40 genes associated with dendrophenotypic traits that differed among the treeline populations. Most genes were identified in the drought‐limited site, indicating comparatively strong selection pressure of drought‐tolerant phenotypes. Contrasting patterns of drought‐associated genes among sampled sites and in comparison to Canadian populations in a previous study suggest that drought adaptation acts on a local scale. Our results highlight genes that are associated with wood traits which in turn are critical for the establishment and persistence of future forests under climate change.
State of the science: Quality improvement of medical curricula—How should we approach it?
Authors: Jamieson Susan
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Quality improvement (QI) of the medical curriculum is generally regarded as a continuous process of evaluating whether the specific curriculum meets relevant educational and professional standards, implementing new activities or other measures to address perceived deficiencies, and subsequently re‐evaluating the quality of the curriculum. QI is of consequence to medical learners, educators, patients, carers, specific disciplines and specialties, regulators and funders.

Methods

To address how we should approach QI of medical curricula, a narrative review was undertaken, drawing mainly on medical/health professions education literature, identified through searches of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, PUBMED and ERIC databases, and also on exemplar curricular frameworks and evaluation reports. Assumptions and practices in QI of medical curricula were explored critically.

Results

The review compares alternative conceptualisations of QI; asks questions about priorities and perspectives in what we choose to evaluate; reflects on standards used to guide QI; critically discusses methods, models and theoretical approaches to the generation of evaluation data; and considers ownership of, and engagement with QI of medical curricula.

Conclusions

Recommendations for curriculum teams include that discourse is necessary to achieve transparency and a shared understanding of continuous QI in a particular curricular context. Continuous QI requires data collection methods aligned to specific evaluation questions/foci; multiple methods for data collection, from different stakeholders; and appropriate evaluation models and theory to provide a framework for QI. Embracing a quality culture approach may increase the sense of ownership experienced by stakeholders. Mechanisms include creating democratic‐collegiate cultures for multiple stakeholders to collaborate in QI; engaging stakeholders in QI activities and (e.g. SoTL) projects that contribute to holistic continuous QI; and proactively embedding quality in the (co‐)creation of curriculum components and resources.
Graph‐based deep learning model for knowledge base completion in constraint management of construction projects
Authors: Wu Chengke , Li Xiao , Jiang Rui , Guo Yuanjun , Wang Jun , Yang Zhile
Published: August 2022

Construction projects face various constraints in terms of materials, labor, equipment, and documents, which can interrupt the scheduled work. Package‐based constraint management (PCM) is a state‐of‐the‐art graph‐based approach that follows the lean theory to effectively model, monitor, and remove constraints before the commencement of work, ensuring smooth construction and minimizing delay and waste. PCM relies on exploring and investigating project knowledge bases (KBs), formed by entity‐relation‐entity triples of constraints. However, most PCM KBs are incomplete and suffer from poor semantics, which hinders the PCM functions. Although many KB completion (KBC) methods exist in the field of artificial intelligence, they primarily focus on general knowledge and exclude the features of specific domains. Therefore, they cannot be directly applied to complete PCM KBs. To address the issue, this study proposes a novel deep learning model, referred to as the domain information enhanced graph neural network (D‐GNN). The features of the developed D‐GNN include (1) building a domain ontology to enrich semantics with rule reasoning, (2) applying the GNN to learn and encode embeddings of constraint entities and relations, and (3) employing a convolution neural network (CNN) for decoding and identifying missing triples. D‐GNN improves the existing KBC methods by integrating two types of domain information, namely, the ontological classes and working contexts into GNN and CNN, respectively. The experimental results verified that the D‐GNN reached an accuracy of 0.848–0.951, and the domain information integration increased the performance by up to 0.263. In practical testing, the D‐GNN significantly reduced the KBC time to 1/6–1/35 of the manual approach and reached higher accuracy. Therefore, the proposed D‐GNN can facilitate PCM by providing complete KBs and supporting downstream constraint monitoring and removal.
Lactotroph PitNET/adenoma associated to granulomatous hypophysitis in a patient with Crohn's disease: A case report
Authors: Pietrantoni Alberto , Serioli Simona , Cominelli Manuela , Lodoli Giovanni , Stefini Roberto , Villanacci Vincenzo , Poliani Pietro Luigi
Published: August 2022

Granulomatous hypophysitis is a rare and poorly understood condition. Although certain cases are treated as primary pituitary autoimmune disorders, rare cases may be associated with pituitary neuroendocrine tumours (PitNETs) and systemic inflammatory diseases. Here, we report a case of a 47‐year‐old man that underwent endoscopic trans‐sphenoidal excision of a pituitary mass diagnosed as PitNET. On histologic evaluation, the neoplasm showed an admixture of granulomas with extensive inflammatory infiltrate and lactotroph PitNET/adenoma. Careful anamnestic examination revealed a diagnosis of Crohn's disease 20 years prior. Although rarely done, both PitNET and Crohn's disease may be associated with granulomatous hypophysitis, and our patient had both conditions. During the 6‐year follow‐up, PitNETs and hypophysitis did not recur, while Crohn's disease was only partially controlled by medical therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first description of association of granulomatous hypophysitis, PitNET and Crohn's disease.
Tooth extraction within 2 weeks before radiotherapy and osteoradionecrosis: A nationwide cohort study
Authors: Shih Yin‐Ju , Huang Jing‐Yang , Lai Yu‐Cheng , Lin Hsin‐Mei , Kuo Tsu‐Jen
Published: August 2022

Objectives

The theory of at least 2‐week waiting period between tooth extraction and head and neck radiotherapy could reduce osteoradionecrosis remains controversial. Thus, this study examined the theory and associated factors.

Materials and Methods

Data were retrieved from the National Health Insurance Research Database, Taiwan Cancer Registry Database, and Cause of Death Statistics. We included 24,353 patients with head and neck cancer who received radiotherapy from 2011 to 2017 and were followed up until 2019. The patients were divided into three groups: those undergoing tooth removal 2–8 weeks before radiotherapy, those undergoing tooth removal within 2 weeks before radiotherapy, and others. Confounding factors were clinical information, physical conditions, and risky habits. We used the Cox regression model to assess osteoradionecrosis risk.

Results

No significant difference in osteoradionecrosis risk was observed between those undergoing tooth extraction within 2 weeks before radiotherapy and the other groups. An irradiation dose of ≥60 Gy, chemotherapy, tumor excision, post‐radiotherapy tooth extraction, mandibulectomy, hyperlipidemia, and oral cavity as the tumor subsite were significantly positively associated with osteoradionecrosis risk.

Conclusion

A waiting period of ≥2 weeks between tooth extraction and radiotherapy did not significantly reduce osteoradionecrosis risk.
The social process of coping with work‐related stressors online: A machine learning and interpretive data science approach
Authors: Sajjadiani Sima , Daniels Michael A. , Huang Hsuan‐Che (Brad)
Published: August 2022

People are increasingly turning to social media and online forums like Reddit to cope with work‐related concerns. Previous research suggests that how others respond can be an important determinant of the sharer's affective and well‐being outcomes. However, less is known about whether and how cues embedded in the content of what is shared can shape the type of responses that one receives from others, obscuring the joint and interactive role that both the sharer and listener may play in influencing the sharer's outcomes. In this study, we develop theory to advance our understanding of online coping with an explicitly social focus using computational grounded theorizing and machine learning (ML) techniques applied to a large corpus of work‐related conversations on Reddit. Specifically, our theoretical model sheds light on the dynamics of the online social coping process related to the domain of work. We show that how sharers and listeners interact and react to one another depends on the content of stressors shared, the social coping behaviors used when sharing, and whether the sharer and listener belong to the same occupational context. We contribute to the social coping literature in three ways. First, we clarify how social actors respond to cues embedded in the social coping attempt. Second, we examine the moderating role that such responses play in shaping sharer outcomes. Finally, we extend theory on social coping with work‐related stressors to the online domain. Taken together, this research highlights the importance of the dynamic interplay between sharer and listener in the context of online social coping.
The role of Calmodulin Binding Transcription Activator 1 (CAMTA1) gene and its putative genetic partners in the human nervous system
Authors: Alves Gilda , Ornellas Maria Helena , Liehr Thomas
Published: August 2022

The Calmodulin Binding Transcription Activator 1 (CAMTA1) gene plays a central role in the human nervous system. Here evidence‐based perspectives on its clinical value for the screening of CAMTA1 malfunction is provided and argued that in future, patients suffering from brain tumours and/or neurological disorders could benefit from this diagnostic. In neuroblastomas as well as in low‐grade gliomas, the influence of reduced expression of CAMTA1 results in opposite prognosis, probably because of different carcinogenic pathways in which CAMTA1 plays different roles, but the exact genetics bases remains unsolved. Rearrangements, mutations and variants of CAMTA1 were associated with human neurodegenerative disorders, while some CAMTA1 single nucleotide polymorphisms were associated with poorer memory in clinical cases and also amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. So far, the follow‐up of patients with neurological diseases with alterations in CAMTA1 indicates that defects (expression, mutations, and rearrangements) in CAMTA1 alone are not sufficient to drive carcinogenesis. It is necessary to continue studying CAMTA1 rearrangements and expression in more cases than done by now. To understand the influence of CAMTA1 variants and their role in nervous system tumours and in several psychiatric disorders is currently a challenge.
From encoding to retrieval: Change in level of unitization resolves debate about Unitization's effect on associative recognition
Authors: Liu Zejun , Li Xian , Li Xiaohuan , Yuan Jing , Guo Chunyan
Published: August 2022

Although it is widely accepted that familiarity could support associative recognition when the to‐be‐learn items are ‘unitized’ into a new representation, the effects of unitization on associative recognition and recollection remain much debated. The current study aimed to explain these debates by exploring when and how unitization benefits associative recognition using event‐related potentials (ERPs). During the encoding phase, participants learned compound words and unrelated word pairs (i.e., High vs. Low level of unitization). At retrieval, the compound words were rearranged into new compound words (i.e., no‐change) and unrelated word pairs (i.e., change). Similarly, the unrelated word pairs were rearranged into new unrelated word pairs (i.e., no‐change) and compound words (i.e., change). Results showed that under the no‐change condition, unitization did not affect associative recognition, nor its underlying processes. In contrast, under the change condition, unitization improved associative recognition by increasing both familiarity‐related FN400 effect and recollection‐related LPC effect. In addition, a planned comparison between the compound‐change and unrelated‐no change conditions—a common index for unitization effect in past studies—revealed that unitization could not only elicit significant FN400 effect, but also improve associative recognition by increasing LPC effect. Collectively, these results not only allowed to explain the current discrepancies in the literature concerning the effect of unitization on associative recognition, but also emphasized the importance of matching the level of unitization between the studied and rearranged word pairs.
Ferenczi Dialogues
Authors: Soreanu Raluca , Staberg Jakob , Willner Jenny
Published: August 2022

Ferenczi Dialogues presents the contribution of Sándor Ferenczi to a psychoanalytic theory of trauma and discusses the philosophical, political and clinical implications of Ferenczi’s thinking. To a far greater extent than Freud, Sándor Ferenczi centered his psychoanalytic thought around trauma. Ferenczi’s work pluralizes the notion of catastrophe, as being both destructive and a turning point. This book addresses Ferenczi’s work in terms of thinking in times of crises, by considering contemporary situations in constellation with various scenes from the past: the outbreak of the First World War, the crisis of psychoanalysis as an institution, the disastrous final encounter between Ferenczi and Freud, the rise of Fascism and National Socialism, and the impending exile of the founding members of the psychoanalytic movement. Against this backdrop, the authors show how Ferenczi’s late work outlines a new metapsychology of fragments. Ferenczi Dialogues situates the legacy of Ferenczi within the broad interdisciplinary landscape of the social sciences, literary theory, psychoanalytic theory, and clinical practice, and highlights Ferenczi’s relevance for contemporary philosophical discussions in poststructuralism, feminism and new materialism.
Study on antifriction mechanism of surface textured elliptical bearings
Authors: Wang Lili , Duan Jingdong , He Mengxue , Liu Ying'ao , Bao Yunlong
Published: August 2022

The surface micro texture can improve the surface tribological properties of friction pairs. As a two oil wedge bearing, elliptical bearing can restrain the journal whirl and maintain the stable operation. In the manuscript, the surface micro-texture is combined with elliptical bearing, and the influence of micro-texture shape, micro-texture depth and micro-texture radius on oil film pressure, bearing capacity and friction coefficient of elliptical bearing is studied by theoretical calculation and experimental research. The results show that with the increase of micro-texture depth, the bearing capacity first increases and then decreases; and when the dimensionless texture depth is 0.03, the bearing friction is the lowest and the bearing capacity is the highest. When the dimensionless radius of the micro texture is v3, the lubrication performance of the bearing is the best. When the shape of micro-texture is circle or triangular, the lubrication performance of elliptical bearing can be improved.
Experimental and Numerical Evaluation of Enzyme-Assisted Hot Waterflooding Performance for Heavy Oil Reservoirs
Authors: Zhang Chen , Hou Senhan , Ding Yanan , Wang Haiwen , Yang Daoyong
Published: August 2022

In this study, a systematical technique has been developed to experimentally and numerically evaluate enzyme-assisted hot waterflooding performance in a heavy oil reservoir for the first time. Experimentally, an enzyme solution (i.e., a protein-based liquid catalyst) is prepared and used to displace heavy oil in sandpacked experiments at elevated temperatures, during which pressures and fluid productions are continuously monitored and measured. Numerically, reservoir simulation is performed to reproduce the experimental measurements and then extended to evaluate the performance in a targeted heavy oil reservoir. Once history matching on the experimental measurements is completed, such a calibrated model is then employed to optimize enzyme concentration, temperature, and aging time, respectively. It is found from the displacement experiments that temperature imposes a significant impact on heavy oil recovery with its appropriate range of 45–55 °C, and enzyme positively contributes to heavy oil recovery for most scenarios. Compared to the traditional waterflooding mechanisms, the enzyme-assisted hot waterflooding process shows its considerable potential in heavy oil recovery by means of reducing oil viscosity, altering wettability, and reducing interfacial tension.
Enhancing Performance of Small Capacity Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Using Grooved Linearized-Chord Blades
Authors: El-Askary W. A. , Sakr I. M. , Kotb M. A. , Abdelsalam Ali M.
Published: August 2022

In the current article, E216 airfoil blades with linearized chord of a small-scale horizontal axis wind turbine are numerically investigated to enhance the performance of the turbine. The blade is modified by including grooves on its suction side. Three-dimensional Reynold’s averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulations are performed with Shear Stress Transport k–ω as a turbulence model. The computed power-coefficient results are first validated with previous measurements by the present authors on a wind turbine of 1 m rotor diameter at two wind speeds of 6 and 8 m/s. Another validation with measurements from the literature is performed via comparison of the pressure-coefficient distribution along surfaces of E216 airfoil at an angle of attack of 6 deg. Based on the successful computation, six different rotor models are numerically investigated with different numbers and locations of grooves created along the blade length, from the hub to the tip region, on the blade suction side. The lift and drag coefficients are compared for the different simulated rotor models. Furthermore, the torque coefficient, thrust coefficient, and static torque coefficient are obtained for the simulated models. It is found that the best-simulated configuration is Model 1 having one groove at 80% blade-chord length from the leading edge, with a maximum power coefficient of 0.429 at a tip-speed ratio of 4.75. The aerodynamic performance of the blades is strongly affected by the groove on the suction surface. The results show that Model 1 blade reduces the generated mean-axial force and its vibration frequency on the rotor.
Numerical Analysis of Combustion Dynamics in a Full-Scale Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine using Large Eddy Simulations
Authors: Pal Pinaki , Demir Sinan , Som Sibendu
Published: August 2022

Large eddy simulations (LES) using detailed chemistry and leveraging adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) are performed to gain insights into the combustion dynamics within a full-scale methane-oxygen non-premixed rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) employing impinging discrete injection schemes. In particular, a comparative analysis of two operating conditions corresponding to the same global equivalence ratio but different mass flow rates is carried out to investigate the resultant impact on detonation wave characteristics and RDRE global performance. Multiple co-rotating detonation waves with spatially-distributed wave structure and preferential alignment with the inner wall of the annulus (due to asymmetry in fuel distribution) are encountered under both conditions. Both cases exhibit pre-detonation deflagrative burning in the fill region, while one of the cases shows higher susceptibility to backflow into the feed plenums due to lower plenum pressures. Heat release analysis shows that the thrust obtained from the RDRE is closely linked to the distribution of total heat release between detonative and deflagrative combustion. On the other hand, combustion efficiency is associated with the fraction of heat release occurring in fuel-rich versus fuel-lean regions within the RDRE.
System Parameter Identification of a Colored-Noise-Driven Rijke Tube Simulator
Authors: Vishnoi Neha , Gupta Vikrant , Saurabh Aditya , Kabiraj Lipika
Published: August 2022

In this paper, we report an experimental investigation on the influence of colored noise (generated by the Ornstein–Uhlenbeck (OU) process) on thermoacoustic coupling in an electro-acoustic Rijke tube simulator. In the absence of noise, the simulator exhibits subcritical Hopf bifurcation. Although noise in a practical system has a finite correlation time, yet the system identification methods are based on the assumption of white noise. In this study, we investigate the effects of correlation time, and intensity of colored noise on the estimation of the growth rates of acoustic oscillations determined using Fokker–Planck equation in stable, bistable, and linearly unstable regions. Subsequently, we compare the findings against results obtained considering white noise approximations. We report the observed deviation of the estimated growth rates from the actual values as a function of noise intensity and correlation time. We find that with the colored noise model, the deviation in the estimated growth rates lies within the range of 0–10% compared to the deviation of 5–25% observed considering the white noise approximation. We also report that increasing noise amplitudes leads up to a deviation of approximately 30% in the estimated growth rates from the actual values.
When less is more in the evolution of language
Authors: Gouzoules Harold
Published: August 2022

Did loss of vocal fold membranes typical of nonhuman primates enable human speech?
In Other Journals
Authors: Kelly Priscilla N. , Simonti Corinne , Vignieri Sacha , Osborne Ian S. , Stajic Jelena , Smith H. Jesse , Scanlon Seth Thomas
Published: August 2022

Editors’ selections from the current scientific literature
Star marine ecologist guilty of misconduct, university says
Authors: Enserink Martin
Published: August 2022

University of Delaware finding vindicates whistleblowers
Webb reveals early universe’s galactic bounty
Authors: Clery Daniel
Published: August 2022

Star formation after the big bang appears much faster than models had forecast
MetaProClust-MS1: an MS1 Profiling Approach for Large-Scale Microbiome Screening
Authors: Simopoulos Caitlin M. A. , Ning Zhibin , Li Leyuan , Khamis Mona M. , Zhang Xu , Lavallée-Adam Mathieu , Figeys Daniel
Published: August 2022

Growing evidence suggests that human gut microbiome composition and function are highly associated with health and disease. As such, high-throughput metaproteomic studies are becoming more common in gut microbiome research.
The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis in Sepsis-Associated Encephalopathy
Authors: Gareau Mélanie G.
Published: August 2022

The gut microbiota is increasingly being found to contribute to the etiology and severity of multiple diseases, including within the central nervous system (CNS). This microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis facilitates communication between gut microbes and the brain to regulate behavior.
Characterization of Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) Carbapenemase-Producing
Enterobacterales
(CPE) in Canada from 2019 to 2020
Authors: Bartoszko Jessica J. , Mitchell Robyn , Katz Kevin , Mulvey Michael , Mataseje Laura
Published: August 2022

Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) carbapenemase-producing
Enterobacterales
(CPE) are a global public health concern. XDR CPE are among the most drug-resistant and difficult-to-treat bacteria, and infected patients are likely to experience adverse outcomes.
Comparative Assessment of Filtration- and Precipitation-Based Methods for the Concentration of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Viruses from Wastewater
Authors: Farkas Kata , Pellett Cameron , Alex-Sanders Natasha , Bridgman Matthew T. P. , Corbishley Alexander , Grimsley Jasmine M. S. , Kasprzyk-Hordern Barbara , Kevill Jessica L. , Pântea Igor , Richardson-O’Neill India S. , Lambert-Slosarska Kathryn , Woodhall Nick , Jones Davey L.
Published: August 2022

As wastewater-based epidemiology is utilized for the surveillance of COVID-19 at the community level in many countries, it is crucial to develop and validate reliable methods for virus detection in sewage. The most important step in viral detection is the efficient concentration of the virus particles and/or their genome for subsequent analysis.
Pathogen-Specific Bactericidal Method Mediated by Conjugative Delivery of CRISPR-Cas13a Targeting Bacterial Endogenous Transcripts
Authors: Song Zihao , Yu Yue , Bai Xinpeng , Jia Yiguo , Tian Jiayi , Gu Kui , Zhao Mengyu , Zhou Changyu , Zhang Xiangyu , Wang Hongning , Tang Yizhi
Published: August 2022

Antibiotics with broad-spectrum activities are known to disturb both pathogens and beneficial gut microbiota and cause many undesired side effects, prompting increased interest in developing therapies that specifically eliminate pathogenic bacteria without damaging gut resident flora. To achieve this goal, we developed a strategy utilizing bacterial conjugation to deliver CRISPR-Cas13a programmed to specifically kill
S.
Typhimurium.
Supplemental Material: Did transit through the galactic spiral arms seed crust production on the early Earth?
Authors: Kirkland Christopher , al. et
Published: August 2022

Details on the analytical methodology and a tabulated compilation of the data used in this work (Tables S1–S7). 
Persistent subfoveal fluid in pneumatic retinopexy versus pars plana vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: posthoc analysis of the PIVOT randomised trial
Authors: Bansal Aditya , Lee Wei Wei , Sarraf David , Sadda SriniVas R. , Berger Alan R , Wong David T , Kertes Peter J. , Kohly Radha P. , Hillier Roxane Jo , Muni Rajeev H.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

To assess the incidence of persistent subfoveal fluid (PSFF) in pneumatic retinopexy (PnR) versus pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) following rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair and to determine its association with functional outcomes.

Methods

Posthoc analysis of the PIVOT randomised trial. Eyes with gradable en face and cross-sectional spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) scans at 1–2 months postoperatively were included. Primary outcome was the proportion of patients with PSFF following PnR versus PPV at 1–2 months postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included association of PSFF with Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letter score at 3, 6 and 12 months and metamorphopsia score (MCHARTs) at 12 months.

Results

Of 176 participants enrolled in PIVOT, 158 (89.8%) had gradable SD-OCT scans. Intergrader agreement was 0.870 (Cohen’s kappa). The incidence of PSFF was 16% (13/81) following PnR and 10.4% (8/77) following PPV (p=0.298; OR=1.65, 95% CI 0.64 to 4.23). Median ETDRS score at 3 months postoperatively between eyes with and without PSFF was 71 (IQR=58–78) and 78 (IQR=70–84), respectively (difference=7 letters, p=0.037), with no significant difference at subsequent 6-month and 12-month visits. Median metamorphopsia scores in patients with versus without PSFF were: horizontal: 0.1 (IQR=0–0.3) vs 0 (IQR=0–0.2) (difference=0.1, p=0.228) and vertical: 0.25 (IQR=0–0.4) vs 0 (IQR=0–0.2) (difference=0.25, p=0.148), respectively.

Conclusions

There was no significant difference in the incidence of PSFF in eyes undergoing PnR versus PPV for RRD. The presence of PSFF at 1–2 months postoperatively was associated with worse ETDRS letter score at 3 months, but there was no difference at 1 year.

Trial registration number

NCT01639209.
Hand grip strength and ocular associations: the Ural Eye and Medical Study
Authors: Bikbov Mukharram M , Zainullin Rinat M , Gilmanshin Timur R , Iakupova Ellina M , Kazakbaeva Gyulli M , Panda-Jonas Songhomitra , Tuliakova Azaliia M , Fakhretdinova Albina A , Gilemzianova Leisan I , Jonas Jost B
Published: August 2022

Purpose

To explore the associations between hand grip strength (HGS) and ocular parameters and diseases.

Design

Population-based cohort study.

Methods

Participants of the Ural Eye and Medical Study, including 5899 (80.5%) out of 7328 eligible individuals aged 40+ years, underwent systemic and ophthalmological examinations including dynamometric HGS measurement.

Results

The study included 5381 (90.4%) individuals (age: 58.6±10.6 years; range: 40–94 years) with HGS measurements. Higher HGS (mean: 30.6±11.7 dekaNewton) correlated (multivariable analysis) with better visual acuity (beta: 0.02, p=0.02), longer ocular axial length (beta: 0.03, p=0.003), higher intraocular pressure (beta: 0.03, p=0.001), thicker peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (beta: 0.03, p=0.001) and lower prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (beta: −0.03, p=0.007), after adjusting for younger age, male sex, Russian ethnicity, higher body height and waist to hip ratio, higher educational level, higher physical total score, lower smoking package years, higher serum concentration of haemoglobin, higher prothrombin index, lower leucocyte cell count, lower prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, lower depression score and lower prevalence of arthritis. In the model, HGS was not correlated with prevalence of nuclear cataract (p=0.38), cortical cataract (p=0.67), subcapsular posterior cataract (p=0.50), open-angle glaucoma (p=0.22) or angle-closure glaucoma (p=0.27).

Conclusions and relevance

In addition to parameters such as lower physical activity, higher depression score and worse general health status, a reduced HGS is associated with visual impairment, shorter axial length, lower intraocular pressure, thinner peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer and higher prevalence of diabetic retinopathy. HGS dynamometry or a handshake may provide the ophthalmologist additional clinical information about the general health and ocular parameters of the patient.
The spatial and temporal influence of infrastructure and road dust on seasonal snowmelt, vegetation productivity, and early season surface water cover in the Prudhoe Bay Oilfield
Authors: Bergstedt Helena , Jones Benjamin M. , Walker Donald , Peirce Jana , Bartsch Annett , Pointner Georg , Kanevskiy Mikhail , Raynolds Martha , Buchhorn Marcel
Published: August 2022

Increased industrial development in the Arctic has led to a rapid expansion of infrastructure in the region. Localized impacts of infrastructure on snow distribution, road dust, and snowmelt timing and duration feeds back into the coupled Arctic system causing a series of cascading effects that remain poorly understood. We quantify spatial and temporal patterns of snow-off dates in the Prudhoe Bay Oilfield, Alaska, using Sentinel-2 data. We derive the Normalized Difference Snow Index to quantify snow persistence in 2019–2020. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Normalized Difference Water Index were used to show linkages of vegetation and surface hydrology, in relationship to patterns of snowmelt. Newly available infrastructure data were used to analyze snowmelt patterns in relation infrastructure. Results show a relationship between snowmelt and distance to infrastructure varying by use and traffic load, and orientation relative to the prevailing wind direction (up to 1 month difference in snow-free dates). Post-snowmelt surface water area showed a strong negative correlation (up to −0.927) with distance to infrastructure. Results from field observations indicate an impact of infrastructure on winter near-surface ground temperature and snow depth. This study highlights the impact of infrastructure on a large area beyond the direct human footprint and the interconnectedness between snow-off timing, vegetation, surface hydrology, and near-surface ground temperatures.
Lp Contractive solutions for scalar conservation laws
Authors: Hinohara Kihito , Minagawa Natsuki , Ohwa Hiroki , Suzuki Hiroya , Ukita Shou
Published: August 2022

We estimate the [Formula: see text] distance between piecewise constant solutions to the Cauchy problem of scalar conservation laws and propose a sufficient condition for having an [Formula: see text] contraction of such solutions. Moreover, we prove that there exist [Formula: see text] contractive solutions on a set of all monotone bounded initial functions to the Cauchy problem of scalar conservation laws with convex or concave flux functions.
Non-isothermal viscoelastic flows with conservation laws and relaxation
Authors: Boyaval Sébastien , Dostalík Mark
Published: August 2022

We propose a system of conservation laws with relaxation source terms (i.e. balance laws) for non-isothermal viscoelastic flows of Maxwell fluids. The system is an extension of the polyconvex elastodynamics of hyperelastic bodies using additional structure variables. It is obtained by writing the Helmholtz free energy as the sum of a volumetric energy density (function of the determinant of the deformation gradient det F and the temperature [Formula: see text] like the standard perfect-gas law or Noble–Abel stiffened-gas law) plus a polyconvex strain energy density function of F, [Formula: see text] and of symmetric positive-definite structure tensors that relax at a characteristic time scale. One feature of our model is that it unifies various ideal materials ranging from hyperelastic solids to perfect fluids, encompassing fluids with memory like Maxwell fluids. We establish a strictly convex mathematical entropy to show that the system is symmetric-hyperbolic. Another feature of the proposed model is therefore the short-time existence and uniqueness of smooth solutions, which define genuinely causal viscoelastic flows with waves propagating at finite speed. In heat-conductors, we complement the system by a Maxwell–Cattaneo equation for an energy-flux variable. The system is still symmetric-hyperbolic, and smooth evolutions with finite-speed waves remain well-defined.
Review—Electrochemical Phase Formation via a Supercooled Liquid State Stage: Metastable Structures and Intermediate Phases
Authors: Girin Oleg B.
Published: August 2022

A review of experimental author’s works proving the existence of the phenomenon of the electrochemical phase formation in metals and alloys via a supercooled liquid state stage is presented. The research findings focused on the electrochemical formation of metastable structures and intermediate phases, as well as on the structural features accompanying them. Electrochemical amorphous phase formation in metals and alloys, electrochemical quasicrystalline phase formation in metals, and electrochemical polymorphic phase formation in metals are discussed. Electrochemical hydrogen-related structure formation in metals, electrochemical high-defect crystalline phase formation in metals, and electrochemical texture-inhomogeneous structure formation in metals are considered. Electrochemical formation of intermediate phases in metals and alloys, electrochemical formation of eutectics in metallic alloys, and electrochemical formation of chemical compounds at the metallic cathode/electrodepositing metal interface are analyzed. Electrochemical reduction of ions in metals and alloys at a liquid cathode versus a solid chemically identical one, electrochemical phase formation of metals at chemically identical solid or liquid cathode, and electrochemical phase formation of alloys at chemically identical solid or liquid cathode are discussed.
Walking or body weight squat “activity snacks” increase dietary amino acid utilization for myofibrillar protein synthesis during prolonged sitting
Authors: Moore Daniel R. , Williamson Eric P. , Hodson Nathan , Estafanos Stephanie , Mazzulla Michael , Kumbhare Dinesh , Gillen Jenna B.
Published: August 2022

Prolonged sitting can impair postprandial glycemia, lipidemia, and insulin sensitivity regardless of previous health status. We demonstrate that interrupting prolonged sitting with brief periods of activity, such as body weight squats or short bouts of walking, improves the efficiency of dietary amino acid utilizations for muscle contractile protein synthesis. This further emphasizes the importance of minimizing sedentary time to improve the postprandial metabolism of all macronutrients.
Myonuclear addition is associated with sex-specific fiber hypertrophy and occurs in relation to fiber perimeter not cross-sectional area
Authors: Moesgaard Lukas , Jessen Søren , Mackey Abigail L. , Hostrup Morten
Published: August 2022

Here, we show that resistance training-induced hypertrophy of type I fibers is greater in males than females. Myonuclear addition was strongly associated with fiber hypertrophy but did not differ between sexes in type I fibers. Furthermore, whereas muscle hypertrophy was accompanied by an increase in myonuclear domain, fiber perimeter per myonucleus remained constant. Thus, myonuclear addition occurs in relation to fiber perimeter during muscle hypertrophy but does not explain sex-specific hypertrophy of type I fibers.
Suppression of trimethylamine N-oxide with DMB mitigates vascular dysfunction, exercise intolerance, and frailty associated with a Western-style diet in mice
Authors: Brunt Vienna E. , Greenberg Nathan T. , Sapinsley Zachary J. , Casso Abigail G. , Richey James J. , VanDongen Nicholas S. , Gioscia-Ryan Rachel A. , Ziemba Brian P. , Neilson Andrew P. , Davy Kevin P. , Seals Douglas R.
Published: August 2022

We provide novel evidence that increased circulating concentrations of the gut microbiome-derived metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) contribute to vascular dysfunction associated with consumption of a Western-style diet and that this dysfunction can be prevented by suppressing TMAO with DMB, thereby supporting translation of this compound to humans. Furthermore, to our knowledge, we present the first evidence of the role of TMAO in mediating impairments in endurance exercise tolerance and increased frailty in any context.
Limits to submaximal and maximal exercise in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: MacNamara James P. , Dias Katrin A. , Hearon Christopher M. , Hieda Michinari , Turer Aslan T. , Link Mark S. , Sarma Satyam , Levine Benjamin D.
Published: August 2022

Through state-of-the-art hemodynamic and oxygen uptake methodologies, this study found the cardiac output response to increasing metabolic demand is blunted among patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), primarily due to a reduced stroke volume reserve. Many patients with HCM augment their peripheral oxygen extraction during maximal exercise to achieve normal exercise capacity and overcome ineffective matching of cardiac output. Peripheral adaptations that compensate for cardiac limitations may contribute to the heterogeneity of functional limitations observed within this patient population.
Endothelin-1 receptor blockade does not alter the sympathetic and hemodynamic response to acute intermittent hypoxia in men
Authors: Limberg Jacqueline K. , Baker Sarah E. , Ott Elizabeth P. , Jacob Dain W. , Scruggs Zachariah M. , Harper Jennifer L. , Manrique-Acevedo Camila M.
Published: August 2022

Repeat exposures to low oxygen (intermittent hypoxia, IH) elicit increases in muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and blood pressure (BP) in men. Endothelin (ET) receptor antagonists can attenuate the sympathetic and BP response to IH in rodents; whether these data translate to humans were unclear. We show acute IH results in an increase in ET-1, MSNA, and BP in healthy young men; however, the effect of IH on MSNA and BP does not occur through activation of ET-receptors in healthy young men.