bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Applied winter biology: threats, conservation and management of biological resources during winter in cold climate regions
Authors: Reeve Connor , Robichaud Jessica A , Fernandes Timothy , Bates Amanda E , Bramburger Andrew J , Brownscombe Jacob W , Davy Christina M , Henry Hugh A L , McMeans Bailey C , Moise Eric R D , Sharma Sapna , Smith Paul A , Studd Emily K , O’Sullivan Antóin , Sutton Alex O , Templer Pamela H , Cooke Steven J
Published: May 2023

Winter at high latitudes is characterized by low temperatures, dampened light levels and short photoperiods which shape ecological and evolutionary outcomes from cells to populations to ecosystems. Advances in our understanding of winter biological processes (spanning physiology, behaviour and ecology) highlight that biodiversity threats (e.g. climate change driven shifts in reproductive windows) may interact with winter conditions, leading to greater ecological impacts. As such, conservation and management strategies that consider winter processes and their consequences on biological mechanisms may lead to greater resilience of high altitude and latitude ecosystems. Here, we use well-established threat and action taxonomies produced by the International Union of Conservation of Nature—Conservation Measures Partnership (IUCN-CMP) to synthesize current threats to biota that emerge during, or as the result of, winter processes then discuss targeted management approaches for winter-based conservation. We demonstrate the importance of considering winter when identifying threats to biodiversity and deciding on appropriate management strategies across species and ecosystems. We confirm our expectation that threats are prevalent during the winter and are especially important considering the physiologically challenging conditions that winter presents. Moreover, our findings emphasize that climate change and winter-related constraints on organisms will intersect with other stressors to potentially magnify threats and further complicate management. Though conservation and management practices are less commonly considered during the winter season, we identified several potential or already realized applications relevant to winter that could be beneficial. Many of the examples are quite recent, suggesting a potential turning point for applied winter biology. This growing body of literature is promising but we submit that more research is needed to identify and address threats to wintering biota for targeted and proactive conservation. We suggest that management decisions consider the importance of winter and incorporate winter specific strategies for holistic and mechanistic conservation and resource management.
Disparities and access to thoracic surgeons among esophagectomy patients in the United States
Authors: Alvarado Christine E , Worrell Stephanie G , Sarode Anuja L , Bassiri Aria , Jiang Boxiang , Linden Philip A , Towe Christopher W
Published: May 2023

Esophagectomy is a complex operation with significant morbidity and mortality. Previous studies have shown that sub-specialization is associated with improved esophagectomy outcomes. We hypothesized that disparities would exist among esophagectomy patients regarding access to thoracic surgeons based on demographic, geographic, and hospital factors. The Premier Healthcare Database was used to identify adult inpatients receiving esophagectomy for esophageal and gastric cardia cancer, Barrett’s esophagus, and achalasia from 2015 to 2019 using ICD-10 codes. Patients were categorized as receiving their esophagectomy from a thoracic versus non-thoracic provider. Survey methodology was used to correct for sampling error. Backwards selection from bivariable analysis was used in a survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression to determine predictors of esophagectomy provider specialization. During the study period, 960 patients met inclusion criteria representing an estimated population size of 3894 patients. Among them, 1696 (43.5%) were performed by a thoracic surgeon and 2199 (56.5%) were performed by non-thoracic providers. On multivariable analysis, factors associated with decreased likelihood of receiving care from a thoracic provider included Black (OR 0.41, p < 0.001), Other (OR 0.21, p < 0.001), and Unknown race (OR 0.22, p = 0.04), and uninsured patients (OR 0.53, p = 0.03). Urban hospital setting was associated with an increased likelihood of care by a thoracic provider (OR 4.43, p = 0.001). In this nationally representative study, Nonwhite race, rural hospital setting, and lower socioeconomic status were factors associated with decreased likelihood of esophagectomy patients receiving care from a thoracic surgeon. Efforts to address these disparities and provide appropriate access to thoracic surgeons is warranted.
Remote sensing in forestry: current challenges, considerations and directions
Authors: Fassnacht Fabian Ewald , White Joanne C , Wulder Michael A , Næsset Erik
Published: May 2023

Remote sensing has developed into an omnipresent technology in the scientific field of forestry and is also increasingly used in an operational fashion. However, the pace and level of uptake of remote sensing technologies into operational forest inventory and monitoring programs varies notably by geographic region. Herein, we highlight some key challenges that remote sensing research can address in the near future to further increase the acceptance, suitability and integration of remotely sensed data into operational forest inventory and monitoring programs. We particularly emphasize three recurrent themes: (1) user uptake, (2) technical challenges of remote sensing related to forest inventories and (3) challenges related to map validation. Our key recommendations concerning these three thematic areas include (1) a need to communicate and learn from success stories in those geographic regions where user uptake was successful due to multi-disciplinary collaborations supported by administrative incentives, (2) a shift from regional case studies towards studies addressing ‘real world’ problems focusing on forest attributes that match the spatial scales and thematic information needs of end users and (3) an increased effort to develop, communicate, and apply best-practices for map and model validation including an effort to inform current and future remote sensing scientists regarding the need for and the functionalities of these best practices. Finally, we present information regarding the use of remote sensing for forest inventory and monitoring, combined with recommendations where possible, and highlighting areas of opportunity for additional investigation.
No Associations Between Glucosamine Supplementation and Dementia or Parkinson’s Disease: Findings From a Large Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Ai Baozhuo , Chen Lan , Cai Miao , Fu Jiaying , Li Haitao , Lin Hualiang , Zhang Zilong
Published: May 2023

Background

We investigated the associations between habitual use of glucosamine and incident dementia and Parkinson’s disease in a population-based cohort.

Methods

Using the UK Biobank data, we included around 0.29 million middle- to old-aged participants free of dementia or Parkinson’s disease at baseline. Glucosamine supplementation was measured by questionnaire at baseline. Some participants additionally answered 1–5 rounds of 24-hour dietary recalls afterwards, particularly 112 243 participants (for dementia) and 112 084 (for Parkinson’s disease). Incident cases of dementia and Parkinson’s disease were identified through linkage to health administrative data sets. We examined the associations of glucosamine supplementation with incident dementia and Parkinson’s disease using Cox proportional-hazards regression models with adjustment for various covariates.

Results

During the study period (median follow-up: 9.1–10.9 years), 4 404 and 1 637 participants developed dementia and Parkinson’s disease, respectively. Glucosamine intake was not associated with incident dementia or Parkinson’s disease. In fully adjusted models, the hazard ratios associated with glucosamine intake were 1.06 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.99, 1.14] for dementia and 0.97(95% CI: 0.86, 1.09) for Parkinson’s disease. In the subsample, similar results were found as the frequency of reported glucosamine use over multiple dietary surveys was associated with neither of the 2 conditions.

Conclusions

Habitual supplementation of glucosamine was not associated with incident dementia or Parkinson’s disease.
How Age and Life Stage of Relocation Fosters Social Belonging: Comparing Two Groups of Older Migrants in the United States
Authors: Sun Ken Chih-Yan , Newendorp Nicole
Published: May 2023

Objectives

The presumed “ossification effect” of the past on older generations remains influential in the scholarship on aging and migration, orienting scholars to highlight the vulnerability of senior migrants in new societies. As a result, the ability of older generations to adapt to receiving societies has been underestimated and largely undifferentiated, and little is known about how age and life stage at arrival matter for how older individuals manage later-life transitions across borders.

Methods

This article compares 2 groups of Han Chinese senior migrants: recent arrivals (who migrated to the United States later in life) and long-term residents (who migrated to the United States during adulthood). We draw on 112 qualitative interviews and 4 years of ethnographic observation in 2 northeastern cities in the United States.

Results

We argue that the life stage at arrival, coupled with class (dis)advantages, are central to analyzing the diverse ways older migrants stake claims to their belonging to American society. We offer the concept of “economies of belonging” to delineate the ways recent arrivals and long-term migrants anchor themselves socially and emotionally in the United States.

Discussion

Through examining the social relationships and state-provided resources that recent arrivals and long-term migrants use to cultivate social belonging and justify their social membership in American society, our analysis reveals that both groups of older migrants have preconceived American dreams before they emigrate, but their age at arrival offers differential opportunities to fulfill those dreams and influences how a sense of belonging unfolds later in life.
Identification of candidate genes that regulate the trade-off between seedling cold tolerance and fruit quality in melon (Cucumis melo L.)
Authors: Li Lili , Li Qiong , Chen Bin , Wang Jiyu , Ding Fei , Wang Panqiao , Zhang Xiuyue , Hou Juan , Luo Renren , Li Xiang , Zheng Jingwen , Yang Sen , Yang Luming , Zhu Lei , Sun Shouru , Ma Changsheng , Li Qin , Li Ying , Hu Jianbin
Published: May 2023

Trade-offs between survival and growth are widely observed in plants. Melon is an annual, trailing herb that produces economically valuable fruits that are traditionally cultivated in early spring in China. Melon seedlings are sensitive to low temperatures, and thus usually suffer from cold stress during the early growth period. However, little is known about the mechanism behind the trade-offs between seedling cold tolerance and fruit quality in melon. In this study, a total of 31 primary metabolites were detected from the mature fruits of eight melon lines that differ with respect to seedling cold tolerance; these included 12 amino acids, 10 organic acids, and 9 soluble sugars. Our results showed that concentrations of most of the primary metabolites in the cold-resistant melons were generally lower than in the cold-sensitive melons; the greatest difference in metabolite levels was observed between the cold-resistant line H581 and the moderately cold-resistant line HH09. The metabolite and transcriptome data for these two lines were then subjected to weighted correlation network analysis, resulting in the identification of five key candidate genes underlying the balancing between seedling cold tolerance and fruit quality. Among these genes, CmEAF7 might play multiple roles in regulating chloroplast development, photosynthesis, and the ABA pathway. Furthermore, multi-method functional analysis showed that CmEAF7 can certainly improve both seedling cold tolerance and fruit quality in melon. Our study identified an agriculturally important gene, CmEAF7, and provides a new insight into breeding methods to develop melon cultivars with seedling cold tolerance and high fruit quality.
Telomere-to-telomere carrot (Daucus carota) genome assembly reveals carotenoid characteristics
Authors: Wang Ya-Hui , Liu Pei-Zhuo , Liu Hui , Zhang Rong-Rong , Liang Yi , Xu Zhi-Sheng , Li Xiao-Jie , Luo Qing , Tan Guo-Fei , Wang Guang-Long , Xiong Ai-Sheng
Published: May 2023

Carrot (Daucus carota) is an Apiaceae plant with multi-colored fleshy roots that provides a model system for carotenoid research. In this study, we assembled a 430.40 Mb high-quality gapless genome to the telomere-to-telomere (T2T) level of “Kurodagosun” carrot. In total, 36 268 genes were identified and 34 961 of them were functionally annotated. The proportion of repeat sequences in the genome was 55.3%, mainly long terminal repeats. Depending on the coverage of the repeats, 14 telomeres and 9 centromeric regions on the chromosomes were predicted. A phylogenetic analysis showed that carrots evolved early in the family Apiaceae. Based on the T2T genome, we reconstructed the carotenoid metabolic pathway and identified the structural genes that regulate carotenoid biosynthesis. Among the 65 genes that were screened, 9 were newly identified. Additionally, some gene sequences overlapped with transposons, suggesting replication and functional differentiation of carotenoid-related genes during carrot evolution. Given that some gene copies were barely expressed during development, they might be functionally redundant. Comparison of 24 cytochrome P450 genes associated with carotenoid biosynthesis revealed the tandem or proximal duplication resulting in expansion of CYP gene family. These results provided molecular information for carrot carotenoid accumulation and contributed to a new genetic resource.
Temperature-dependent Developmental Plasticity and Its Effects on Allen’s and Bergmann’s Rules in Endotherms
Authors: Tabh Joshua K R , Nord Andreas
Published: May 2023

Synopsis

Ecogeographical rules, describing common trends in animal form across space and time, have provided key insights into the primary factors driving species diversity on our planet. Among the most well-known ecogeographical rules are Bergmann’s rule and Allen’s rule, with each correlating ambient temperature to the size and shape of endotherms within a species. In recent years, these two rules have attracted renewed research attention, largely with the goal of understanding how they emerge (e.g., via natural selection or phenotypic plasticity) and, thus, whether they may emerge quickly enough to aid adaptations to a warming world. Yet despite this attention, the precise proximate and ultimate drivers of Bergmann’s and Allen’s rules remain unresolved. In this conceptual paper, we articulate novel and classic hypotheses for understanding whether and how plastic responses to developmental temperatures might contributed to each rule. Next, we compare over a century of empirical literature surrounding Bergmann’s and Allen’s rules against our hypotheses to uncover likely avenues by which developmental plasticity might drive temperature-phenotype correlations. Across birds and mammals, studies strongly support developmental plasticity as a driver of Bergmann’s and Allen’s rules, particularly with regards to Allen’s rule. However, plastic contributions toward each rule appear largely non-linear and dependent upon: (1) efficiency of energy use (Bergmann’s rule) and (2) thermal advantages (Allen’s rule) at given ambient temperatures. These findings suggest that, among endotherms, rapid changes in body shape and size will continue to co-occur with our changing climate, but generalizing the direction of responses across populations is likely naive.
Ventriculo-arterial coupling for predicting cardiac index increase in infants after heart surgery
Authors: Li Wenjuan , Peng Yongxuan , Li Zhihao , Huang Jihong
Published: May 2023

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to test the ability of ventriculo-arterial coupling (VAC) to predict cardiac index (CI) response after milrinone infusion.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, observational study. We measured arterial blood pressure and echocardiography-derived variables, including CI, systemic vascular resistance index, arterial elastance (Ea) and end-systolic ventricular elastance before and after 18–24 h of milrinone infusion. VAC was calculated as the ratio of Ea to end-systolic elastance. Infants with over 15% increase in the CI were defined as CI responders. Logistical regression was used to evaluate predictors of CI responders.

RESULTS

We enrolled 92 infants who underwent cardiac surgery and received milrinone infusion, of whom 45 infants were CI responders. High VAC (odds ratio = 5.534, 95% confidence interval 2.339–13.090) and high Ea (odds ratio = 3.035, 95% confidence interval 1.459–6.310) were independently associated with cardiac index responders. Pre-milrinone VAC predicted CI responsiveness with a cut-off value of 1.12 (area under the curve = 0.900, 95% confidence interval 0.819–0.953, P < 0.0001). Furthermore, we observed a decrease in the infant's VAC, Ea and systemic vascular resistance index after milrinone infusion.

CONCLUSIONS

In infants with congenital heart disease after surgery, a pre-milrinone VAC >1.12 can predict the increase in the CI following milrinone infusion.
Effect of nanoparticles on the evaporation of a salt water film
Authors: Alla Abderrahman Nait , Bammou Lahcen , Alami Samy , Najim Monssif , Charef Adil , Bouchta Said , Errai Mohamed , Feddaoui Mbarek
Published: May 2023

The need for freshwater supply in different parts of the world has given great interest to the study of seawater desalination, which has led to the development of various innovative techniques in this field. The present numerical study contributes to the improvement of the evaporative desalination operation by introducing nanoparticles into the base fluid. The desalination technique considered in this study consists of a saltwater film falling along the inner wall of a vertical channel heated uniformly by a constant heat flux. The equations governing the flow and the heat and mass transfer associated with the boundary and interface conditions are solved numerically using the finite difference method. We considered two values of salinity, 10 and 39 g∙kg−1, which correspond respectively to brackish water and sea water with different types and volume fractions of nanoparticles in order to study the effect of the combination of these parameters on the enhancement of desalination by evaporation. The results showed that the evaporation process by injecting nanoparticles into salt water improves due to its positive effect on thermophysical properties. In addition, Al2O3 is significantly better for evaporative desalination than TiO2 and copper. Moreover, we can achieve the same heat and mass transfer performance by using 2% alumina instead of 4% TiO2.
Activated carbon derived from highland barley straw for removing heavy metals and organic pollutants
Authors: Yue Yihang , Yu Zexu , Yue Xiaoju , Zhou Wenkai , Wang Saiyu , Yang Yanxi , Lao Youliang , Yang Mengdi , Du Chun , Wang Shifeng
Published: May 2023

Biomass activated carbon has been widely used in the field of wastewater treatment because of its unique properties, such as high specific surface area and porosity, good adsorption capacity, good mechanical strength, rich functional groups and thermal stability. In this work, highland barley straw is recycled and made into activated carbon using hydrothermal carbonization and alkaline activation processes in which the dependence of the product properties on the activation temperature, as one of the critical parameters, is intensively investigated. Under the optimum conditions at an activation temperature of 1100°C, activated carbon in the form of mesoporous structure and polycrystalline graphite was produced with a specific surface area as large as 1906 m2/g, which is superior to that of commercial products. To investigate the absorption capacity of the prepared samples for pollutants in water, such as heavy metals and organics, potassium dichromate and methylene blue were utilized as the simulated pollutants. The removal efficiency of Cr6+ and methylene blue in water reached 90.3% within 8 hours and 87.7% within 4 hours, respectively, and this demonstrated an excellent absorption capacity for activated carbon converted from agricultural waste. The successful fabrication of activated carbon with a super large specific surface area and remarkable adsorption ability derived from highland barley straw through a hydrothermal carbonization and alkaline treatment demonstrated the feasibility of the ‘turning waste into wealth’ recycling strategy. It has also shown great potential for use in environmental protection applications, especially for water purification.
An EHR-based method to structure, standardize, and automate clinical documentation tasks for pharmacists to generate extractable outcomes
Authors: Sanders Kimberly A , Wolverton Daniel , Stamopoulos Marina , Zunich Rada , Niznik Joshua , Ferreri Stefanie P
Published: May 2023

As the recognition of team-based care grows and pharmacists increase in patient care interventions, it is important that tools to track clinical services are easily accessible and well-integrated into workflow for all providers. We describe and discuss feasibility and implementation of data tools in an electronic health record to evaluate a pragmatic clinical pharmacy intervention focused on deprescribing in aged adults delivered at multiple clinical sites in a large academic health system. Of the data tools utilized, we were able to demonstrate clear documentation frequency of certain phrases during the intervention period for 574 patients receiving opioids and 537 patients receiving benzodiazepines. Although clinical decision support and documentation tools exist, they are underutilized or cumbersome to integrate into primary health care and strategies, such as employed, are a solution. This communication incorporates the importance of clinical pharmacy information systems in research design.
Nonmonotonic inferences: Classical conclusions in an intuitionistic modal framework
Authors: Fischer Servi Gisèle
Published: May 2023

We introduce a conceptual foundation for nonmonotonic reasoning which integrates an intuitionistic plurimodal logic with classical logic. The need for a multilogical system arises once we understand that to legitimately infer less than certain conclusions, we make two different kinds of assessments: an external one (what are the alternatives) and an internal one (which logic should govern the set of beliefs). We exploit this scheme to capture in novel ways basic nonmonotonic systems such as autoepistemic logic, default logic, one of the best known interpretations of negation-as-failure, as well as some conditional logics of normality. Among the aims of this paper is to explain why there are substantial overlaps between these systems and also to settle some problematic features that are of concern in logical investigations on common sense reasoning.
Probing gamma-ray burst afterglows with the Cherenkov Telescope Array
Authors: Mondal Tanima , Pramanick Suman , Resmi Lekshmi , Bose Debanjan
Published: May 2023

Detection of delayed sub-TeV photons from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) by MAGIC and HESS has proven the promising future of GRB afterglow studies with the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), the next-generation gamma-ray observatory. With the unprecedented sensitivity of CTA, afterglow detection rates are expected to increase dramatically. In this paper, we explore the multidimensional afterglow parameter space to see the detectability of sub-TeV photons by CTA. We use a one-zone electron synchrotron and synchrotron self-Compton model to obtain the spectral energy distribution. We consider bursts going off in a medium of homogenous density. The blast wave is assumed to be radiatively inefficient and evolving adiabatically. Considering that the electron acceleration is not efficient if the acceleration time-scale exceeds the radiative cooling time-scale, we find that the sub-TeV emission is always due to the self-Compton process. We find that jets with high kinetic energy or large bulk Lorentz factor decelerating into a dense ambient medium offer better detection prospects for CTA. For relatively lower values of the downstream magnetic field, electrons are slow-cooling, and the emitted radiation is positively correlated with the magnetic field. For larger magnetic fields, the electron population enters the fast-cooling phase where the radiated flux is inversely proportional to the magnetic field. We apply our results in the context of bright TeV afterglows detected in recent years. Our results indicate that cosmological short GRBs have only moderate prospects of detection by CTA while local neutron star merger counterparts can be detected if the jet is launched towards the observer.
Gas dynamical friction as a binary formation mechanism in AGN discs
Authors: DeLaurentiis Stanislav , Epstein-Martin Marguerite , Haiman Zoltán
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we study how gaseous dynamical friction (DF) affects the motion of fly-by stellar-mass black holes (sBHs) embedded in active galactic nucleus (AGN) discs. We perform three-body integrations of the interaction of two co-planar sBHs in nearby, initially circular orbits around the supermassive black hole. We find that DF can facilitate the formation of gravitationally bound near-Keplerian binaries in AGN discs, and we delineate the discrete ranges of impact parameters and AGN disc parameters for which such captures occur. We also report trends in the bound binaries’ eccentricity and sense of rotation (prograde or retrograde with respect to the background AGN disc) as a function of the impact parameter of the initial encounter. While based on an approximate description of gaseous friction, our results suggest that binary formation in AGN discs should be common and may produce both prograde and retrograde, as well as both circular and eccentric binaries.
JWST catches the assembly of a z ∼ 5 ultra-low-mass galaxy
Authors: Asada Yoshihisa , Sawicki Marcin , Desprez Guillaume , Abraham Roberto , Bradač Maruša , Brammer Gabriel , Harshan Anishya , Iyer Kartheik , Martis Nicholas S , Mowla Lamiya , Muzzin Adam , Noirot Gaël , Ravindranath Swara , Sarrouh Ghassan T E , Strait Victoria , Willott Chris J , Zabl Johannes
Published: May 2023

Using CANUCS imaging we found an apparent major merger of two $z$ ∼ 5 ultra-low-mass galaxies (M⋆∼107M⊙ each) that are doubly imaged and magnified ∼12–15× by the lensing cluster MACS 0417. Both galaxies are experiencing young (∼100 Myr), synchronised bursts of star formation with log (sSFR/Gyr−1) ∼1.3–1.4, yet SFRs of just ∼0.2M⊙ yr−1. They have sub-solar (Z ∼ 0.2Z⊙) gas-phase metallicities and are connected by an even more metal-poor star-forming bridge. The galaxy that forms from the merger will have a mass of at least M⋆∼2 × 107 M⊙, at least half of it formed during the interaction-induced starburst. More than half of the ionizing photons produced by the system (before and during the merger) will have been produced during the burst. This system provides the first detailed look at a merger involving two high-$z$ ultra-low-mass galaxies of the type believed to be responsible for reionizing the Universe. It suggests that such galaxies can grow via a combination of mass obtained through major mergers, merger-triggered starbursts, and long-term in-situ star formation. If such high-$z$ mergers are common, then merger-triggered starbursts could be significant contributors to the ionizing photon budget of the Universe.
Photoionisation detection of a single Er3+ ion with sub-100-ns time resolution
Authors: Zhang Yangbo , Fan Wenda , Yang Jiliang , Guan Hao , Zhang Qi , Qin Xi , Duan Changkui , de Boo Gabriele G , Johnson Brett C , McCallum Jeffrey C , Sellars Matthew J , Rogge Sven , Yin Chunming , Du Jiangfeng
Published: May 2023

Efficient detection of single optical centres in solids is essential for quantum information processing, sensing and single-photon generation applications. In this work, we use radio-frequency (RF) reflectometry to electrically detect the photoionisation induced by a single Er3+ ion in Si. The high bandwidth and sensitivity of the RF reflectometry provide sub-100-ns time resolution for the photoionisation detection. With this technique, the optically excited state lifetime of a single Er3+ ion in a Si nano-transistor is measured for the first time to be $0.49 \pm 0.04\ \mu$s. Our results demonstrate an efficient approach for detecting a charge state change induced by Er excitation and relaxation. This approach could be used for fast readout of other single optical centres in solids and is attractive for large-scale integrated optical quantum systems thanks to the multi-channel RF reflectometry demonstrated with frequency multiplexing techniques.
A universal route to efficient non-linear response via Thomson scattering in linear solids
Authors: Wen Yongzheng , Giorgianni Flavio , Ilyakov Igor , Quan Baogang , Kovalev Sergey , Wang Chen , Vicario Carlo , Deinert Jan-Christoph , Xiong Xiaoyu , Bailey Joe , Chen Min , Ponomaryov Alexey , Awari Nilesh , Rovere Andrea , Sun Jingbo , Morandotti Roberto , Razzari Luca , Aeppli Gabriel , Li Junjie , Zhou Ji
Published: May 2023

Non-linear materials are cornerstones of modern optics and electronics. Strong dependence on the intrinsic properties of particular materials, however, inhibits the at-will extension of demanding non-linear effects, especially those second-order ones, to widely adopted centrosymmetric materials (for example, silicon) and technologically important burgeoning spectral domains (for example, terahertz frequencies). Here we introduce a universal route to efficient non-linear responses enabled by exciting non-linear Thomson scattering, a fundamental process in electrodynamics that was known to occur only in relativistic electrons in metamaterial composed of linear materials. Such a mechanism modulates the trajectory of charges, either intrinsically or extrinsically provided in solids, at twice the driving frequency, allowing second-harmonic generation at terahertz frequencies on crystalline silicon with extremely large non-linear susceptibility in our proof-of-concept experiments. By offering a substantially material- and frequency-independent platform, our approach opens new possibilities in the fields of on-demand non-linear optics, terahertz sources, strong field light–solid interactions and integrated photonic circuits.
Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Viremia in Presymptomatic Blood Donors in the Delta and Omicron Variant Eras
Authors: Saá Paula , Fink Rebecca V , Dawar Hina , Di Germanio Clara , Montalvo Leilani , Wright David J , Krysztof David E , Kleinman Steven H , Nester Theresa , Kessler Debra A , Townsend Rebecca L , Spencer Bryan R , Kamel Hany , Vannoy Jackie , Busch Michael P , Stramer Susan L , Stone Mars , Norris Philip J ,   for the NHLBI Recipient Epidemiology and Donor Evaluation Study-IV-Pediatric (REDS-IV-P)
Published: May 2023

Presymptomatic plasma samples from 1596 donors reporting coronavirus disease 2019 infection or symptoms after blood donation were tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA and anti-S and anti-N antibodies. Prior infection and vaccination both protected from developing SARS-CoV-2 RNAemia and from symptomatic infection. RNAemia rates did not differ in the Delta and Omicron variant eras.
Risk of HIV Viral Rebound in the Era of Universal Treatment in a Multi-Center Sample of Persons with HIV in Primary Care
Authors: Liu Tao , Chambers Laura C , Hansen Blake , Bazerman Lauri B , Cachay Edward R , Christopoulos Katerina , Drainoni Mari-Lynn , Gillani Fizza S , Mayer Kenneth H , Moore Richard D , Rana Aadia , Beckwith Curt G
Published: May 2023

Background

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is recommended for people with HIV (PWH), irrespective of CD4 cell count, to improve their health and reduce the risk of transmission to sexual partners through long-term viral suppression. We identified risk factors for viral rebound among patients with a period of stable viral suppression to inform counseling and monitoring.

Methods

We conducted a multi-site, retrospective study of PWH with a two-year period of sustained viral suppression in the United States using the Centers for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems cohort. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify characteristics independently associated with any viral rebound [viral load (VL) ≥200 copies/mL] and sustained viral rebound (VL ≥200 copies/mL followed by a VL that was also ≥200 copies/mL within six months), within two years of follow-up.

Results

Among 3,496 eligible patients with a two-year period of sustained viral suppression, most (90%) continued to have viral suppression over two additional years; 10% experienced viral rebound, and 4% experienced sustained viral rebound. In multivariable analyses, Black race, current smoking, integrase strand transfer inhibitor use, and five-to-nine-year duration of ART were positively associated, and being age ≥50 years was negatively associated, with any viral rebound. Only current smoking and five-to-nine-year (vs. two-to-four-year) duration of ART were positively associated, and being age ≥60 years was negatively associated, with sustained viral rebound.

Conclusions

Most people retained in clinical care and with HIV viral suppression on ART will have persistent viral suppression. However, some patients may benefit from additional treatment adherence supports.
Suspected Germline TP53 Variants and Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential: Lessons Learned From a Molecular Tumor Board
Authors: Xavier Camila B , Link Rudinei , Abreu Leonília , Bettoni Fabiana , Marson Fabiane , Galante Pedro A F , Masotti Cibele , Amano Mariane T , de Molla Vinicius , Camargo Anamaria A , Asprino Paula F , Sabbaga Jorge
Published: May 2023

Objective

Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a pan-cancer predisposition syndrome caused by germline pathogenic variants in the gene TP53. The interpretation of TP53 variants in clinical scenarios outside the classic LFS criteria may be challenging. Here, we report a patient affected by 2 primary cancers at later ages, who harbored a likely pathogenic TP53 at low allele frequency detected in a blood sample.

Methods

The Molecular Tumor Board committee at our institution revisited the case of a patient who was enrolled in a research protocol for the investigation of genetic conditions associated with neuroendocrine tumors. Clinical, familial, and molecular data were reviewed. The patient received germline testing using a next generation sequencing multi-gene panel and was incidentally found to harbor a TP53 likely pathogenic variant, with 22% of variant allele fraction. Additional samples, including a second blood sample, oral swab, and saliva, were collected for DNA analysis. A new TP53 sequencing round was performed with the attempt to distinguish between a true constitutional germline variant and a somatically acquired variant due to aberrant clonal expansion of bone marrow precursors.

Results

Patient’s personal and familial history of cancer did not meet classic nor Chompret LFS criteria. Environmental risk factors for cancer were identified, such as alcohol abuse and tobacco exposure. The TP53 variant initially found in the next-generation sequencing was confirmed by Sanger sequencing in the previous DNA sample extracted from blood for the first analysis and in a second blood sample collected 6 years later. The TP53 variant was not detected in the DNA extracted from the oral swab and saliva samples.

Conclusion

Considering the low TP53 variant allele fraction in blood, absence of variant detection in oral swab and saliva samples, the lack of LFS clinical criteria, and history of exposure to environmental risk factors for cancer, the main hypothesis for this case was aberrant clonal expansion due to clonal hematopoiesis. Oncologists should interpret TP53 findings during germline testing with caution.
Screening for adverse childhood experiences among young people using drugs in Vietnam: related factors and clinical implications
Authors: Pham Thanh Luan , Nguyen Thuy Linh , Nguyen Kieu An , Ekwaru John Paul , Phan Olivier , Michel Laurent , Khuat Thi Hai Oanh
Published: May 2023

Background

Research evidence shows a strong association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and later-life substance use. But little is known about the prevalence and impact of ACEs among young people using drugs (YPUD) in Vietnam.

Method

A cross-sectional study using respondent-driven sampling and peer recruitment methods was conducted among YPUD aged 16–24 in three cities in Vietnam. Eligible participants were screened for ACEs using the ACE-IQ, tested for HIV and hepatitis C, and assessed for sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics.

Results

Data were collected on 553 individuals whose median age was 20: 79% were male, 18.3% women and 2.7% transgender. Methamphetamine use was reported by 75.8% of participants. 85.5% reported at least one ACE and 27.5% had four ACEs or more. An ACE score of 4 or higher was associated with female and transgender, lower educational level, methamphetamine use, buying sex, depression, psychotic symptoms and expressed need for mental health support.

Conclusions

ACEs were found to be very common among YPUD in Vietnam. It is therefore strongly recommended that these young people should be provided with a comprehensive and secure assessment and care that includes not only essential harm reduction and addiction treatment needs but also addresses their mental health needs.
The effect of speech–gesture asynchrony on the neural coupling of interlocutors in interpreter-mediated communication
Authors: Duan Xu , Zhang Jie , Zhang Yi , Liang Yuan , Huang Yingying , Yan Hao
Published: May 2023

In everyday face-to-face communication, speakers use speech to transfer information and rely on co-occurring nonverbal cues, such as hand and facial gestures. The integration of speech and gestures facilitates both language comprehension and the skill of the theory of mind. Consecutive dialogue interpreting (DI) allows dyads of different linguistic backgrounds to communicate with each other. The interpreter interprets after the interlocutor has finished a turn, so the interlocutor watches the gesture first and hears the target language a few seconds later, resulting in speech–gesture asynchrony. In this study, we used the functional near-infrared spectroscopy hyperscanning technique to investigate the influence of speech–gesture asynchrony on different levels of communication. Twenty groups were recruited for the DI experiments. The results showed that when the interpreter performed consecutive interpreting, the time-lagged neural coupling at the temporoparietal junction decreased compared to simultaneous interpreting. It suggests that speech–gesture asynchrony significantly weakened the ability of interlocutors to understand each other’s mental state, and the decreased neural coupling was significantly correlated with the interpreter’s interpretation skill. In addition, the time-aligned neural coupling at the left inferior frontal gyrus increased, which suggests that, as compensation, the interlocutor’s verbal working memory increases in line with the communication process.
Disturbed Oligodendroglial Maturation Causes Cognitive Dysfunction in Schizophrenia: A New Hypothesis
Authors: Falkai Peter , Rossner Moritz J , Raabe Florian J , Wagner Elias , Keeser Daniel , Maurus Isabel , Roell Lukas , Chang Emily , Seitz-Holland Johanna , Schulze Thomas G , Schmitt Andrea
Published: May 2023

Background and Hypothesis

Cognitive impairment is a hallmark of schizophrenia, but no effective treatment is available to date. The underlying pathophysiology includes disconnectivity between hippocampal and prefrontal brain regions. Supporting evidence comes from diffusion-weighted imaging studies that suggest abnormal organization of frontotemporal white matter pathways in schizophrenia.

Study Design

Here, we hypothesize that in schizophrenia, deficient maturation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) into mature oligodendrocytes substantially contributes to abnormal frontotemporal macro- and micro-connectivity and subsequent cognitive deficits.

Study Results

Our postmortem studies indicate a reduced oligodendrocyte number in the cornu ammonis 4 (CA4) subregion of the hippocampus, and others have reported the same histopathological finding in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Our series of studies on aerobic exercise training showed a volume increase in the hippocampus, specifically in the CA4 region, and improved cognition in individuals with schizophrenia. The cognitive effects were subsequently confirmed by meta-analyses. Cell-specific schizophrenia polygenic risk scores showed that exercise-induced CA4 volume increase significantly correlates with OPCs. From animal models, it is evident that early life stress and oligodendrocyte-related gene variants lead to schizophrenia-related behavior, cognitive deficits, impaired oligodendrocyte maturation, and reduced myelin thickness.

Conclusions

Based on these findings, we propose that pro-myelinating drugs (e.g., the histamine blocker clemastine) combined with aerobic exercise training may foster the regeneration of myelin plasticity as a basis for restoring frontotemporal connectivity and cognition in schizophrenia.
Called to Work: Developing a Framework for Understanding Spiritual Orientations Towards Work
Authors: Kalinowski Brenton , Daniels Denise , Schneider Rachel C , Howard Ecklund Elaine
Published: May 2023

This study examines how individuals understand spiritual calling to work. We draw on theoretic insights from Max Weber and Karl Marx to analyze 186 in-depth interviews with religious individuals in the United States. We argue that these classical frameworks can help us to better understand contemporary religious interpretations of calling in relationship to work. We propose a framework for categorizing ways of viewing work as a calling that consists of intrinsic/extrinsic meanings in work and goals that are proximal/distal to the workplace. While focusing primarily on Christian respondents, we note that some respondents from Jewish and Muslim traditions did not resonate directly with the term “calling” but had alternate ways of viewing their work that closely aligned with Christian conceptions of calling. We ultimately argue for the theoretical benefit of a Weberian conception of calling for contemporary understandings of how meaning is attached to work, but also highlight that seeing work as calling may be a double-edged sword because doing so may provide benefits to workers while simultaneously obscuring their own oppression.
The ClaDS rate-heterogeneous birth–death prior for full phylogenetic inference in BEAST2
Authors: Barido-Sottani Joëlle , Morlon Hélène
Published: May 2023

Bayesian phylogenetic inference requires a tree prior, which models the underlying diversification process that gives rise to the phylogeny. Existing birth–death diversification models include a wide range of features, for instance, lineage-specific variations in speciation and extinction (SSE) rates. While across-lineage variation in SSE rates is widespread in empirical datasets, few heterogeneous rate models have been implemented as tree priors for Bayesian phylogenetic inference. As a consequence, rate heterogeneity is typically ignored when reconstructing phylogenies, and rate heterogeneity is usually investigated on fixed trees. In this paper, we present a new BEAST2 package implementing the cladogenetic diversification rate shift (ClaDS) model as a tree prior. ClaDS is a birth–death diversification model designed to capture small progressive variations in birth and death rates along a phylogeny. Unlike previous implementations of ClaDS, which were designed to be used with fixed, user-chosen phylogenies, our package is implemented in the BEAST2 framework and thus allows full phylogenetic inference, where the phylogeny and model parameters are co-estimated from a molecular alignment. Our package provides all necessary components of the inference, including a new tree object and operators to propose moves to the Monte-Carlo Markov chain. It also includes a graphical interface through BEAUti. We validate our implementation of the package by comparing the produced distributions to simulated data and show an empirical example of the full inference, using a dataset of cetaceans.
Original Research: The Impact of COVID-19 on Pain Care Among Older Adults
Authors: Booker Staja Q. , Sowicz Timothy Joseph , Knisely Mitchell R. , Saravanan Anitha , Bai Jinbing , St. Marie Barbara
Published: May 2023

Purpose:

In this qualitative descriptive study, we sought to understand the professional experiences and perceptions of pain management nurses who cared for older adults in the United States during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:

Data were collected between July 2020 and July 2021 through individual, semistructured interviews with a nonprobability sample of 18 pain management nurses. An inductive content analysis approach, in which categories were derived from a coding process based on a close reading of data extracts from the interview transcripts, was used to reveal the major theme related to the study aim.

Results:

Notwithstanding the variable consequences of COVID-19 on patients' health, a single overarching theme was pronounced: “Pain management for older adults remained unchanged during the pandemic despite unpredictable survival, restrictions on human interactions, and communication challenges.” This theme was supported by four categories that emerged from the data: unpredictable survival, restriction-induced isolation, perceived continuity and equality of pain management, and communication challenges.

Conclusions:

During the COVID-19 pandemic, pain management nurses stepped in and joined interdisciplinary teams providing general and specialized pain care to ensure that older adults, whether inpatient or outpatient, continued to receive quality care. These study findings highlight the many challenges pain management nurses faced during this unprecedented public health crisis, as well as opportunities to improve the health system and enhance nursing practice to meet the needs of older patients.