bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FUS mutations dominate TBK1 mutations in FUS/TBK1 double-mutant ALS/FTD pedigrees
Authors: Brenner David , Müller Kathrin , Lattante Serena , Yilmaz Rüstem , Knehr Antje , Freischmidt Axel , Ludolph Albert C. , Andersen Peter M. , Weishaupt Jochen H.
Published: September 2021

Mutations in FUS and TBK1 often cause aggressive early-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or a late-onset ALS and/or frontotemporal dementia (FTD) phenotype, respectively. Co-occurrence of mutations in two or more Mendelian ALS/FTD genes has been repeatedly reported. However, little is known how two pathogenic ALS/FTD mutations in the same patient interact to shape the final phenotype. We screened 28 ALS patients with a known FUS mutation by whole-exome sequencing and targeted evaluation for mutations in other known ALS genes followed by genotype–phenotype correlation analysis of FUS/TBK1 double-mutant patients. We report on new and summarize previously published FUS and TBK1 double-mutant ALS/FTD patients and their families. We found that, within a family, mutations in FUS cause ALS while TBK1 single mutations are observed in FTD patients. FUS/TBK1 double mutations manifested as ALS and without a manifest difference regarding age at onset and disease duration when compared to FUS single-mutant individuals. In conclusion, TBK1 and FUS variants do not seem to interact in a simple additive way. Rather, the phenotype of FUS/TBK1 double-mutant patients appears to be dominated by the FUS mutation.
Income loss among the self-employed: implications for individual wellbeing and pandemic policy measures
Authors: Schneck Stefan
Published: September 2021

Due to the pandemic-induced economic crisis, self-employed individuals are currently suffering considerable income losses. The self-employed and the members in their households usually form an economic unit. As a consequence, the income cuts not only affect the self-employed themselves but also the rest of their household. We used the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) to calculate how much income the self-employed are able to sacrifice to achieve a subjective barely sufficient household income, which we interpret as the minimum level to maintain the standard of living. Our results suggest that full-time self-employed are typically the bread-earners in their households and that, as a consequence, even moderate income losses of the self-employed often lead to problems in maintaining the living standards of their households. Conditional on individual and household characteristics, the self-employed with employees are found to live in households that are less resilient to income losses. Furthermore, a negative correlation between falling short of the barely adequate household income and wellbeing was discovered. Self-employed in households with less than adequate incomes also reported higher concerns about social cohesion. These results have implications for policy - especially in light of the economic crisis induced by the pandemic.
Many-valued logic and sequence arguments in value theory
Authors: Knutsson Simon
Published: September 2021

Some find it plausible that a sufficiently long duration of torture is worse than any duration of mild headaches. Similarly, it has been claimed that a million humans living great lives is better than any number of worm-like creatures feeling a few seconds of pleasure each. Some have related bad things to good things along the same lines. For example, one may hold that a future in which a sufficient number of beings experience a lifetime of torture is bad, regardless of what else that future contains, while minor bad things, such as slight unpleasantness, can always be counterbalanced by enough good things. Among the most common objections to such ideas are sequence arguments. But sequence arguments are usually formulated in classical logic. One might therefore wonder if they work if we instead adopt many-valued logic. I show that, in a common many-valued logical framework, the answer depends on which versions of transitivity are used as premises. We get valid sequence arguments if we grant any of several strong forms of transitivity of ‘is at least as bad as’ and a notion of completeness. Other, weaker forms of transitivity lead to invalid sequence arguments. The plausibility of the premises is largely set aside here, but I tentatively note that almost all of the forms of transitivity that lead to valid sequence arguments seem intuitively problematic. Still, a few moderately strong forms of transitivity that might be acceptable lead to valid sequence arguments, although weaker statements of the initial value claims avoid these arguments at least to some extent.
Optimization of cultivation conditions of Salvia viridis L. shoots in the Plantform bioreactor to increase polyphenol production
Authors: Grzegorczyk-Karolak Izabela , Staniewska Paulina , Lebelt Liwia , Piotrowska Dorota G.
Published: September 2021

Salvia viridis is a rich source of pharmacologically-important polyphenolic compounds with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer activities. The aim of the present study was to optimise the large-scale cultivation of sage shoots in the Plantform bioreactor. It evaluated the effect of culture duration (two or three weeks), the use of a semi-continuous system and the immersion frequency in a liquid medium (every 80 or 170 min) on the growth and accumulation of secondary metabolites. The content of bioactive phenolic acids and phenylethanoids in the obtained material was determined using HPLC. The most efficient growth parameters, expressed as fresh (26.99 g) and dry weight (3.51 g) as well as proliferation ratio (18.6), were observed for shoots grown in a fed-batch system, immersed every 80 min; this approach yielded a 33-fold biomass increase within four weeks. However, the most efficient production of bioactive compounds was achieved for shoots grown for three weeks in a batch system, immersed every 80 min: total phenolic acid, total phenylethanoid and total phenol contents of 18.3, 11.4 and 29.7 mg/g DW. In these conditions, within three weeks, total phenolic acid level was almost 10 times higher than that found in the aerial parts of four-month-old soil-grown plants with a similar phenylethanoid level. Hence, the described S. viridis shoot culture cultivated in the Plantform bioreactor may be an alternative efficient source of plant material rich in valuable compounds.
Usefulness of advanced monoenergetic reconstruction technique in dual-energy computed tomography for detecting bladder cancer
Authors: Nakagawa Motoo , Naiki Taku , Naiki-Ito Aya , Ozawa Yoshiyuki , Shimohira Masashi , Ohnishi Masahiro , Shibamoto Yuta
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Detecting bladder cancer (BC) in routine CT images is important but is sometimes difficult when cancer is small. We evaluated the ability of 40-keV advanced monoenergetic images to depict BC.

Materials and methods

Fifty-two patients with a median age of 74 years (range 45–92) who were diagnosed as BC with transurethral resection or cystectomy, were included. They were examined with contrast-enhanced dual-energy CT (DE-CT) and advanced virtual monoenergetic images (40 keV) were reconstructed. For evaluating depictability of BC on 40-keV or virtual-120-kVp images, the difference in CT number between the cancer and bladder wall (BC–BW value) were calculated. We also subjectively assessed depictability of BC in virtual-120-kVp and 40-keV images using a 4-grade Likert scale (3: clear, 0: not visualized).

Results

In 42 of 52 patients, BC–BW values could be calculated because BC was detected on CT images. The mean BC–BW value at 40 keV was significantly higher than that of virtual 120 kVp [80.5 ± 54 (SD) vs. 11.4 ± 12.5 HU, P < 0.01]. Average scores of subjective evaluations in the virtual-120-kVp and 40-keV images were 1.7 ± 1.2 and 2.1 ± 1.2, respectively (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The advanced monoenergetic reconstruction technique reconstructed using DE-CT image is useful to depict BC.
Investigations of free space and deep space optical communication scenarios
Authors: Chen Shun-Ping
Published: September 2021

The link performance of free space optical communications (FSOC) and deep space optical communications (DSOC) are investigated by considering two scenarios in space communications, for example, for the downlink and uplink between the earth ground stations and the near earth geostationary (GEO) satellites, and between the earth and spacecraft with large distance of 1 astronomical unit (AU) to the earth. Generally a distance larger than 0.01 AU or approximately 1,500,000 km from Earth is considered as deep space. In these theoretical investigations, different realistic system parameters for the optical lasers, transmitters, receivers, avalanche photodiodes (APDs), optical telescopes, atmospheric disturbances like scintillation and absorption are considered. The simulation results are compared with existing project data and valuable ESA experimental results to verify and improve the simulation models. The comparison in this paper shows that the simulation models for the link budget and the scintillation estimation are feasible for the investigations of FSOC and DSOC, and can be used to investigate improved design and implementation of DSOC projects for planned long-term and medium-term space missions.
“As an ethnic minority, you just have to work twice as hard.” Experiences and motivation of ethnic minority students in medical education
Authors: Isik Ulviye , Wouters Anouk , Verdonk Petra , Croiset Gerda , Kusurkar Rashmi A.
Published: September 2021

Introduction Adequate representation of ethnic minority groups in the medical workforce is crucial for ensuring equitable healthcare to diverse patient groups. This requires recruiting ethnic minority medical students and taking measures that enable them to complete their medical studies successfully. Grounded in self-determination theory and intersectionality, this paper explores the experiences of ethnic minority medical students across intersections with gender and other categories of difference and how these relate to students’ motivation.

Methods An explorative, qualitative study was designed. Six focus groups were conducted with 26 ethnic minority students between December 2016 and May 2017. Thematic analysis was performed to identify, analyse and report themes within the data.

Results The findings were categorized into three main themes: the role of autonomy in the formation of motivation, including students’ own study choice and the role of their family; interactions/‘othering’ in the learning environment, including feelings of not belonging; and intersection of ethnic minority background and gender with being ‘the other’, based on ethnicity.

Discussion Ethnic minority students generally do not have a prior medical network and need role models to whom they can relate. Ensuring or even appointing more ethnic minority role models throughout the medical educational continuum—for example, specialists from ethnic minorities in teaching and/or mentoring roles in the education—and making them more visible to students is recommended. Moreover, a culture needs to be created in the educational environment in which students and staff can discuss their ethnicity-related differences.
Management of the soil-borne fungal pathogen – Verticillium dahliae Kleb. causing vascular wilt diseases
Authors: Kowalska Beata
Published: September 2021

Vascular wilt diseases caused by Verticillium dahliae Kleb. are difficult to control and lead to increasing losses of many crops worldwide. It can cause disease on not only horticultural crops but also many economically important crops such vegetables, legumes, forest trees, woody and herbaceous plants. Reasons of this situation are various: (i) the specialization of crop production resulted in the accumulation of the pathogen in the soil, especially monoculture production; (ii) the lack of an efficient and safe soil fumigation method; (iii) the production in large amounts of survival structures—microslerotia and melanized hyphae that are resistant to chemical and biological degradation.

Due to the lack of effective synthetic agents for eradication of V. dahliae from soil, considerable interest in this paper has been focused on biological control, especially the selection of microorganisms with mycoparasitic activity towards V. dahliae microsclerotia, that can decrease their number in soil. The main attention is paid on the Trichoderma fungi, non pathogenic Fusarium spp., Talaromyces flavus and bacteria Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Streptomyces spp. that are discussed in this review. In this work the suppressive effect of organic amendments against this soil-borne pathogen is also mentioned. In addition biofumigation using toxic plant materials, which is an approach to the soil-borne pathogen management could be an effective method to control diseases caused by V. dahliae.
Towards a theory of critical energy literacy: the Youth Strike for Climate, renewable energy and beyond
Authors: Lowan-Trudeau Gregory , Fowler Teresa Anne
Published: September 2021

The Youth Strike for Climate raised important global attention to interconnected climate, energy and environmental issues — it also compelled us to consider what we will do to address these pressing challenges. Developed through consideration of such dynamics, we propose critical energy literacy as an emerging theory that denotes understanding of the social, environmental, political and economic challenges, benefits and impacts of various energy sources, developments and technologies. Critical energy literacy is grounded in critical and decolonising approaches to STEM education; considerations for collaborative multi-, inter- and Trans disciplinary pedagogy; critical place-based inquiry and pedagogy; critical gender perspectives and critical media literacy and engagement. Enhancing societal critical energy literacy will assist with more equitable energy, transit, construction and environmental planning by and for communities, businesses and governments. In this theory-building commentary, we share insights related to and principles for our emerging theory of critical energy literacy which coalesced through personal experience with and previous studies into related initiatives and areas of inquiry, and recent reviews of literature as well as K-12, post-secondary and not-for-profit curricula in Canada with consideration for international contexts. A discussion of renewable energy development and education focused on the Canadian province of Alberta is presented as an illuminating exemplar.
Cannabinoid Use in a Tertiary Headache Clinic: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Melinyshyn Alexander N. , Amoozegar Farnaz
Published: September 2021

Objective:

This study seeks to determine the prevalence and nature of cannabis use in patients with headache in a tertiary headache clinic and to explore patients’ empiric experience in using cannabinoids therapeutically.

Background:

Many patients with headache report cannabinoid use as an effective abortive and/or preventive therapy. Mounting evidence implicates cannabinoids in pain mechanisms pertaining to migraine and other headache types.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study surveyed 200 patients presenting with any headache disorder to a tertiary headache clinic in Calgary, Alberta. Descriptive analyses were applied to capture information about headache diagnoses and the frequency, doses and methods of cannabinoid delivery employed, as well as patients’ perceptions of therapeutic benefit and selected negative side effects.

Results:

Active cannabinoid users comprised 34.0% of respondents. Approximately 40% of respondents using cannabinoids engaged in very frequent use (≥300 days/year). Of cannabinoid modalities, liquid concentrates were most popular (39.2%), followed by smoked cannabis (33.3%). Patients endorsed cannabinoid use for both prevention and acute therapy of headaches, often concurrently. Sixty percent of respondents felt cannabinoids reduced headache severity, while 29.2% perceived efficacy in aborting headaches. Nearly 5% of respondents volunteered that they had encountered a serious problem such as an argument, fight, accident, or work issue as a result of their cannabis use. Approximately 35.4% of users had attempted to reduce their use.

Conclusion:

This survey shows that over one-third of patients with headache disorders in a tertiary headache clinic use cannabis as a treatment for their headaches. Of these, about 25% and 60% perceive improvements in headache frequency and severity, respectively. The results of this survey will aid neurologists and headache specialists in understanding the landscape of cannabinoid use in a more severely affected population and inform future-controlled studies of cannabinoids in headache patients.
Infrastructuring an organizational node for a federated research and data network: A case study from a sociotechnical perspective
Authors: Harris Marcelline R. , Ferguson Lisa A. , Luo Airong
Published: September 2021

Background:

Local nodes on federated research and data networks (FR&DNs) provide enabling infrastructure for collaborative clinical and translational research. Studies in other fields note that infrastructuring, that is, work to identify and negotiate relationships among people, technologies, and organizations, is invisible, unplanned, and undervalued. This may explain the limited literature on nodes in FR&DNs in health care.

Methods:

A retrospective case study of one PCORnet® node explored 3 questions: (1) how were components of infrastructure assembled; (2) what specific work was required; and (3) what theoretically grounded, pragmatic questions should be considered when infrastructuring a node for sustainability. Artifacts, work efforts, and interviews generated during node development and implementation were reviewed. A sociotechnical lens was applied to the analysis. Validity was established with internal and external partners.

Results:

Resources, services, and expertise needed to establish the node existed within the organization, but were scattered across work units. Aligning, mediating, and institutionalizing for sustainability among network and organizational teams, governance, and priorities consumed more work efforts than deploying technical aspects of the node. A theoretically based set of questions relevant to infrastructuring a node was developed and organized within a framework of infrastructuring emphasizing enacting technology, organizing work, and institutionalizing; validity was established with internal and external partners.

Conclusions:

FR&DNs are expanding; we provide a sociotechnical perspective on infrastructuring a node. Future research should evaluate the applicability of the framework and questions to other node and network configurations, and more broadly the infrastructuring required to enable and support federated clinical and translational science.
Learning the language of science: A pilot study exploring citizen scientists’ identity and communication with researchers
Authors: Damiani Rachel , Krieger Janice L. , Treise Debbie , Walsh-Childers Kim , Fisher Carla L. , Bloodworth Shirley , Brishke Janet , Shenkman Elizabeth
Published: September 2021

Introduction:

Although the involvement of citizen scientists in research can contribute to scientific benefits, much remains unknown about participants’ lived experiences in research. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore how citizen scientists describe their role in, motivation for, and communication with researchers.

Methods:

In-depth interviews (N = 9) were conducted with citizen scientists at a translational health research center.

Results:

Key results include that citizen scientists were invested in learning researchers’ discipline-specific language and viewed small group sizes as conducive to their active participation.

Conclusions:

Programs can apply these findings in an effort to improve citizen scientists’ long-term engagement in research.
Who Had Their Cake and Ate It? Lessons from the UK’s Withdrawal Process and its Impact on the Post-Brexit Trade Talks
Authors: Polak Polly R.
Published: September 2021

This Article highlights the legal and procedural restrictions a Member States faces during its withdrawal from the EU and subsequent talks on a future trade relationship by analyzing the unprecedented case of the UK. One such restriction consists of an obligation to negotiate withdrawal as a result of the principle of sincere cooperation. Other limits derive from the withdrawal process itself, designed as it was by the European institutions on the basis of a very scant Article 50 TEU. By then comparing the three substantive pillars of the EU-UK WA—citizens’ rights, the financial settlement, and the Irish border— with the UK’s initial negotiating red lines, I offer two conclusions: That the aforementioned constraints on the withdrawing state can significantly weaken the defense of its interests during its withdrawal process and that having to agree to important issues in a first and separate stage of “orderly withdrawal” talks also diminishes the state’s bargaining power with regards to the next stage of negotiating a future partnership with the EU.
Covid-19 Through Brazilian Courts: The Deserving and the Undeserving Vulnerable
Authors: Bottini Filho Luciano
Published: September 2021

Looking into these times of neoconservatism in Brazil, marked by a far-right agenda and populism, this Article explores the role of vulnerability (as a legal theory, a legal principle or factual consideration) in the litigation prompted by the pandemic in Brazil. The usages of vulnerability as a form of resistance to the denial of their identity and vulnerable condition show that vulnerability can take different forms through litigants and may have an independent meaning to what is defined in legal theory or law. This is most evident by the fact that litigants dispute government policies based on ideologies that contest their identities (and not merely their vulnerability). Four case studies substantiate this Article with lawsuits brought to higher courts by judicially active groups: prisoners, indigenous people, Afro-Brazilian ethnic communities and gig economy drivers. They are what I call “undeserving vulnerables”, groups discriminated from a legally recognized vulnerable group through attacks to their identity.
ON EQUATIONAL COMPLETENESS THEOREMS
Authors: MORASCHINI TOMMASO
Published: September 2021

A logic is said to admit an equational completeness theorem when it can be interpreted into the equational consequence relative to some class of algebras. We characterize logics admitting an equational completeness theorem that are either locally tabular or have some tautology. In particular, it is shown that a protoalgebraic logic admits an equational completeness theorem precisely when it has two distinct logically equivalent formulas. While the problem of determining whether a logic admits an equational completeness theorem is shown to be decidable both for logics presented by a finite set of finite matrices and for locally tabular logics presented by a finite Hilbert calculus, it becomes undecidable for arbitrary logics presented by finite Hilbert calculi.
ON SEQUENCES OF HOMOMORPHISMS INTO MEASURE ALGEBRAS AND THE EFIMOV PROBLEM
Authors: BORODULIN–NADZIEJA PIOTR , SOBOTA DAMIAN
Published: September 2021

For given Boolean algebras$\mathbb {A}$and$\mathbb {B}$we endow the space$\mathcal {H}(\mathbb {A},\mathbb {B})$of all Boolean homomorphisms from$\mathbb {A}$to$\mathbb {B}$with various topologies and study convergence properties of sequences in$\mathcal {H}(\mathbb {A},\mathbb {B})$. We are in particular interested in the situation when$\mathbb {B}$is a measure algebra as in this case we obtain a natural tool for studying topological convergence properties of sequences of ultrafilters on$\mathbb {A}$in random extensions of the set-theoretical universe. This appears to have strong connections with Dow and Fremlin’s result stating that there are Efimov spaces in the random model. We also investigate relations between topologies on$\mathcal {H}(\mathbb {A},\mathbb {B})$for a Boolean algebra$\mathbb {B}$carrying a strictly positive measure and convergence properties of sequences of measures on$\mathbb {A}$.
CENTRE OF BANACH ALGEBRA VALUED BEURLING ALGEBRAS
Authors: TALWAR BHARAT , JAIN RANJANA
Published: September 2021

We prove that for a Banach algebraAhaving a bounded$\mathcal {Z}(A)$-approximate identity and for every$\mathbf {[IN]}$groupGwith a weightwwhich is either constant on conjugacy classes or satisfies$w \geq 1$,$\mathcal {Z}(L^{1}_{w}(G) \otimes ^{\gamma } A) \cong \mathcal {Z}(L^{1}_{w}(G)) \otimes ^{\gamma } \mathcal {Z}(A)$. As an application, we discuss the conditions under which$\mathcal {Z}(L^{1}_{\omega }(G,A))$enjoys certain Banach algebraic properties, such as weak amenability or semisimplicity.
The association between the dietary pattern in abdominal obesity based on visceral fat index and dyslipidaemia in the Henan Rural Cohort Study
Authors: Xue Yuan , Liu Chang , Pang Shan-Bin , Mao Zhen-Xing , Zhang Dong-Dong , Gao Jiao-Jiao , Lin Ji-Song , Wang Chong-Jian , Li Xing , Li Wen-Jie
Published: September 2021

The present study aimed to explore the association between dietary patterns in abdominal obesity obtained by reduced-rank regression (RRR) with visceral fat index (VFI) as a dependent variable and dyslipidemia in rural adults in Henan, China. A total of 29538 people aged 18–79 were selected from the Henan Rural Cohort Study. RRR analysis was used to identify dietary patterns; logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic spline regression models were applied to analyze the association between dietary patterns in abdominal obesity and dyslipidemia. VFI was used as a mediator to estimate the mediation effect. The dietary pattern in abdominal obesity was characterized by high carbohydrate and red meat intake and low consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, etc. After full adjustment, the highest quartile of dietary pattern scores was significantly associated with an increased risk of dyslipidemia (OR: 1·33, 95 % CI 1·23–1·44, Ptrend < 0·001), there was a non-linear dose–response relationship between them (Poverall-association < 0·001, Pnon-lin-association = 0·022). The result was similar in dose-response between the dietary pattern scores and VFI. The indirect effect partially mediated by VFI was significant (OR: 1·07, 95 % CI 1·06–1·08). VIF explained approximately 53·3 % of odds of dyslipidemia related to the dietary pattern. Abdominal obesity dietary pattern scores positively affected VFI and dyslipidemia; there was a dose-response in both relationships. Dyslipidemia progression increased with higher abdominal obesity dietary pattern scores. In addition, VFI played a partial mediating role in relationship between abdominal obesity dietary pattern and dyslipidemia.
Acute lower extremity ischaemia after surgical interventricular communication closure in a newborn
Authors: Hugues Nicolas , Dommerc Carine , Bourlon François
Published: September 2021

We report a 5-month-old infant who developed an unexpected acute ischaemia of the right lower limb following a surgical perimembranous interventricular communication closure. This rare case of ischaemia was due to an occlusive right common iliac artery dissection. It was early managed by angioplasty with two ABSORB® bioresorbable stents, resulted in complete revascularisation of the right leg.
Sophia Robot
Authors: Riccio Thomas
Published: September 2021

Since her creation in 2016, Sophia has become the world’s most recognized humanoid social robot. Gendered female by creator David Hanson, she is a harbinger of a tomorrow world that is here. She performs at events around the planet as a messenger, celebrity, and ambassador representing the human-technological future. Sophia is a symbol, and humans are witnesses to an origin story as much hers as it is our own.
The (Afro) Future of Henry Box Brown
Authors: Howard Danielle A.D.
Published: September 2021

Henry Box Brown, a Black man born into slavery in the American South, devised an unforeseen yet ingenious plan to achieve emancipation: he was shipped to the North in a cramped, wooden box. The first testament of Brown’s escape was not his emergence from his box, but instead his voice responding to the box’s addressee. Later, Brown reenacts his original escape in Victorian England and becomes “The King of All Mesmerizers” by envisioning an alien future for himself, much like musician and philosopher-poet Sun Ra.
Screening for Pediatric Parenting Stress in Parents of Youth With Differences of Sex Development
Authors: Papadakis Jaclyn L. , Poquiz Jonathan L. , Johnson Emilie K. , Finlayson Courtney , Chen Diane
Published: September 2021

Objective: Parents of children with differences of sex development (DSD) may be at risk for general parenting stress, but little is known about their experience of stress specific to caring for a child with a chronic illness, known as pediatric parenting stress. This study describes pediatric parenting stress in parents of youth with DSD by examining (a) differences in stress levels between mothers and fathers, and (b) associations with demographic and medical characteristics. Methods: Participants included parents of 137 youth ages less than 1 month to 20 years attending an interdisciplinary DSD Clinic [age M( SD) = 6.91(6.50); most common diagnosis: 46, XY DSD of unknown etiology]. Parents completed the Pediatric Inventory for Parents (PIP; Streisand et al., 2001 ) during clinic, and demographic and medical information was collected via chart review. Results: Mothers and fathers reported similar levels of pediatric parenting stress. Parents of youth who were non-White, had public insurance, or had sex chromosome DSD reported more pediatric parenting stress across several subscales. Conclusions: Certain parents of youth with DSD are at higher risk for pediatric parenting stress. Routine screening for illness-specific parenting stress may identify families who require additional evaluation to support adaptive coping and identify specific targets for intervention.

Implications for Impact Statement

Pediatric, or illness-specific, parenting stress has not been examined in parents of youth with differences of sex development (DSD). Clinic-based screening of pediatric parenting stress revealed mothers and fathers experience similar levels of pediatric parenting stress and higher levels of stress among parents of youth who were non-White, had public insurance, and had sex chromosome DSD. Findings emphasize the importance of routine screening for illness-specific parenting stress.
Moment-by-moment tracking of naturalistic learning and its underlying hippocampo-cortical interactions
Authors: Michelmann Sebastian , Price Amy R. , Aubrey Bobbi , Strauss Camilla K. , Doyle Werner K. , Friedman Daniel , Dugan Patricia C. , Devinsky Orrin , Devore Sasha , Flinker Adeen , Hasson Uri , Norman Kenneth A.
Published: September 2021

Humans form lasting memories of stimuli that were only encountered once. This naturally occurs when listening to a story, however it remains unclear how and when memories are stored and retrieved during story-listening. Here, we first confirm in behavioral experiments that participants can learn about the structure of a story after a single exposure and are able to recall upcoming words when the story is presented again. We then track mnemonic information in high frequency activity (70–200 Hz) as patients undergoing electrocorticographic recordings listen twice to the same story. We demonstrate predictive recall of upcoming information through neural responses in auditory processing regions. This neural measure correlates with behavioral measures of event segmentation and learning. Event boundaries are linked to information flow from cortex to hippocampus. When listening for a second time, information flow from hippocampus to cortex precedes moments of predictive recall. These results provide insight on a fine-grained temporal scale into how episodic memory encoding and retrieval work under naturalistic conditions.
Clinically translatable quantitative molecular photoacoustic imaging with liposome-encapsulated ICG J-aggregates
Authors: Wood Cayla A. , Han Sangheon , Kim Chang Soo , Wen Yunfei , Sampaio Diego R. T. , Harris Justin T. , Homan Kimberly A. , Swain Jody L. , Emelianov Stanislav Y. , Sood Anil K. , Cook Jason R. , Sokolov Konstantin V. , Bouchard Richard R.
Published: September 2021

Photoacoustic (PA) imaging is a functional and molecular imaging technique capable of high sensitivity and spatiotemporal resolution at depth. Widespread use of PA imaging, however, is limited by currently available contrast agents, which either lack PA-signal-generation ability for deep imaging or their absorbance spectra overlap with hemoglobin, reducing sensitivity. Here we report on a PA contrast agent based on targeted liposomes loaded with J-aggregated indocyanine green (ICG) dye (i.e., PAtrace) that we synthesized, bioconjugated, and characterized to addresses these limitations. We then validated PAtrace in phantom, in vitro, and in vivo PA imaging environments for both spectral unmixing accuracy and targeting efficacy in a folate receptor alpha-positive ovarian cancer model. These study results show that PAtrace concurrently provides significantly improved contrast-agent quantification/sensitivity and SO2 estimation accuracy compared to monomeric ICG. PAtrace’s performance attributes and composition of FDA-approved components make it a promising agent for future clinical molecular PA imaging.
Contact tracing is an imperfect tool for controlling COVID-19 transmission and relies on population adherence
Authors: Davis Emma L. , Lucas Tim C. D. , Borlase Anna , Pollington Timothy M. , Abbott Sam , Ayabina Diepreye , Crellen Thomas , Hellewell Joel , Pi Li ,   CMMID COVID-19 Working Group, Lowe Rachel , Endo Akira , Davies Nicholas , Gore-Langton Georgia R. , Russell Timothy W. , Bosse Nikos I. , Quaife Matthew , Kucharski Adam J. , Nightingale Emily S. , Pearson Carl A. B. , Gibbs Hamish , O’Reilly Kathleen , Jombart Thibaut , Rees Eleanor M. , Deol Arminder K. , Hué Stéphane , Auzenbergs Megan , Houben Rein M. G. J. , Funk Sebastian , Li Yang , Sun Fiona , Prem Kiesha , Quilty Billy J. , Villabona-Arenas Julian , Barnard Rosanna C. , Hodgson David , Foss Anna , Jarvis Christopher I. , Meakin Sophie R. , Eggo Rosalind M. , Abbas Kaja , Zandvoort Kevin van , Emery Jon C. , Tully Damien C. , Sandmann Frank G. , Edmunds W. John , Gimma Amy , Knight Gwen , Munday James D. , Diamond Charlie , Jit Mark , Leclerc Quentin , Rosello Alicia , Chan Yung-Wai Desmond , Simons David , Clifford Sam , Flasche Stefan , Procter Simon R. , Atkins Katherine E. , Medley Graham F. , Hollingsworth T. Déirdre , Klepac Petra
Published: September 2021

Emerging evidence suggests that contact tracing has had limited success in the UK in reducing theRnumber across the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigate potential pitfalls and areas for improvement by extending an existing branching process contact tracing model, adding diagnostic testing and refining parameter estimates. Our results demonstrate that reporting and adherence are the most important predictors of programme impact but tracing coverage and speed plus diagnostic sensitivity also play an important role. We conclude that well-implemented contact tracing could bring small but potentially important benefits to controlling and preventing outbreaks, providing up to a 15% reduction inR. We reaffirm that contact tracing is not currently appropriate as the sole control measure.
OPTN is a host intrinsic restriction factor against neuroinvasive HSV-1 infection
Authors: Ames Joshua , Yadavalli Tejabhiram , Suryawanshi Rahul , Hopkins James , Agelidis Alexander , Patil Chandrashekhar , Fredericks Brian , Tseng Henry , Valyi-Nagy Tibor , Shukla Deepak
Published: September 2021

Fast-replicating neurotropic herpesviruses exemplified by herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) naturally infect the central nervous system (CNS). However, most individuals intrinsically suppress the virus during a primary infection and preclude it from significantly damaging the CNS. Optineurin (OPTN) is a conserved autophagy receptor with little understanding of its role in neurotropic viral infections. We show that OPTN selectively targets HSV-1 tegument protein, VP16, and the fusion glycoprotein, gB, to degradation by autophagy. OPTN-deficient mice challenged with HSV-1 show significant cognitive decline and susceptibility to lethal CNS infection. OPTN deficiency unveils severe consequences for recruitment of adaptive immunity and suppression of neuronal necroptosis. Ocular HSV-1 infection is lethal without OPTN and is rescued using a necroptosis inhibitor. These results place OPTN at the crux of neuronal survival from potentially lethal CNS viral infections.
TRAPPC4 regulates the intracellular trafficking of PD-L1 and antitumor immunity
Authors: Ren Yimeng , Qian Yun , Ai Luoyan , Xie Yile , Gao Yaqi , Zhuang Ziyan , Chen Jinxian , Chen Ying-Xuan , Fang Jing-Yuan
Published: September 2021

Tumor cells evade T cell-mediated immunosurveillance via the interaction between programmed death-1 (PD-1) ligand 1 (PD-L1) on tumor cells and PD-1 on T cells. Strategies disrupting PD-1/PD-L1 have shown clinical benefits in various cancers. However, the limited response rate prompts us to investigate the molecular regulation of PD-L1. Here, we identify trafficking protein particle complex subunit 4 (TRAPPC4), a major player in vesicular trafficking, as a crucial PD-L1 regulator. TRAPPC4 interacts with PD-L1 in recycling endosomes, acting as a scaffold between PD-L1 and RAB11, and promoting RAB11-mediated recycling of PD-L1, thus replenishing its distribution on the tumor cell surface. TRAPPC4 depletion leads to a significant reduction of PD-L1 expression in vivo and in vitro. This reduction in PD-L1 facilitates T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Overexpression of Trappc4 sensitizes tumor cells to checkpoint therapy in murine tumor models, suggesting TRAPPC4 as a therapeutic target to enhance anti-tumor immunity.
Hypoxia regulates overall mRNA homeostasis by inducing Met1-linked linear ubiquitination of AGO2 in cancer cells
Authors: Zhang Hailong , Zhao Xian , Guo Yanmin , Chen Ran , He Jianfeng , Li Lian , Qiang Zhe , Yang Qianqian , Liu Xiaojia , Huang Caihu , Lu Runhui , Fang Jiayu , Cao Yingting , Huang Jiayi , Wang Yanli , Huang Jian , Chen Guo-Qiang , Cheng Jinke , Yu Jianxiu
Published: September 2021

Hypoxia is the most prominent feature in human solid tumors and induces activation of hypoxia-inducible factors and their downstream genes to promote cancer progression. However, whether and how hypoxia regulates overall mRNA homeostasis is unclear. Here we show that hypoxia inhibits global-mRNA decay in cancer cells. Mechanistically, hypoxia induces the interaction of AGO2 with LUBAC, the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex, which co-localizes with miRNA-induced silencing complex and in turn catalyzes AGO2 occurring Met1-linked linear ubiquitination (M1-Ubi). A series of biochemical experiments reveal that M1-Ubi of AGO2 restrains miRNA-mediated gene silencing. Moreover, combination analyses of the AGO2-associated mRNA transcriptome by RIP-Seq and the mRNA transcriptome by RNA-Seq confirm that AGO2 M1-Ubi interferes miRNA-targeted mRNA recruiting to AGO2, and thereby facilitates accumulation of global mRNAs. By this mechanism, short-term hypoxia may protect overall mRNAs and enhances stress tolerance, whereas long-term hypoxia in tumor cells results in seriously changing the entire gene expression profile to drive cell malignant evolution.
Quadratus lumborum block for postoperative analgesia after cesarean section: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials with trial sequential analysis
Authors: Zhao Zhigang , Xu Kaiming , Zhang Yanting , Chen Gang , Zhou Youfa
Published: September 2021

The aim of this study was to assess the analgesic efficacy of QLB versus controls in women undergoing cesarean section (CS). We systematically searched Cochrane Library, PUBMED, EMBASE, VIP, WANFANG, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. Trials were eligible if parturients received QLB during CS. GRADE system was used to assess the certainty of evidence and Trial sequential analyses (TSA) were performed to determine whether the results are supported by sufficient data. Thirteen studies involving 1269 patients were included. Compared to controls, QLB significantly reduced the cumulative postoperative intravenous opioid consumption (in milligram morphine equivalents) at 24 h (MD, − 11.51 mg; 95% CI − 17.05 to − 5.96) and 48 h (MD, − 15.87 mg; 95% CI − 26.36 to − 5.38), supported by sufficient data confirmed by TSA. The postoperative pain scores were significantly reduced by QLB at 4 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h postoperatively by QLB compared with control. Moreover, the time to first request for rescue analgesic and the incidence of PONV were also significantly reduced by QLB. The quality of evidence of most results were low and moderate assessed by GRADE.
Experimental verification of the field theory of specific heat with the scaling in crystalline matter
Authors: Gusev Yuri Vladimirovich
Published: September 2021

The field (geometrical) theory of specific heat is based on the universal thermal sum, a new mathematical tool derived from the evolution equation in the Euclidean four-dimensional spacetime, with the closed time coordinate. This theory made it possible to explain the phenomena of scaling in the heat capacity of condensed matter. The scaling of specific heat of the carbon group elements with a diamond lattice is revisited. The predictions of the scaling characteristics for natural diamond and grey tin are verified with published experimental data. The fourth power in temperature in the quasi-low temperature behaviour of the specific heat of both materials is confirmed. The phenomenon of scaling in the specific heat, previously known only in glassy matter, is demonstrated for some zincblend lattice compounds and diamond lattice elements, with their characteristic temperatures. The nearly identical elastic properties of grey tin and indium antimonide is the cause for similarity of their thermal properties, which makes it possible to make conjectures about thermal properties of grey tin.
Clinical and immunological allergy assessment in cancer patients
Authors: Carneiro Bruno Gustavo Muzzi Carvalho , Petroianu Andy , Machado José Augusto Nogueira , dos Anjos Paula Martins Ferreira , da Silva Fabiana Rocha , Alberti Luiz Ronaldo , Resende Vivian , Barrientos Sofia Candia
Published: September 2021

Cancer is associated with immunodeficiency, while allergies result from immune system hyperactivity mediated by cytokines and immunoglobulins. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between immune environment of specific cancers and allergies, emphasizing cytokines related to Th1 and Th2 responses associated with IgE. 80 adults were distributed into two groups: control (n = 20) and cancer (n = 60), distributed in three subgroups (n = 20), head and neck, stomach, and prostate cancers. This study compared Th1 (IL-2) and Th2 (IL-4) parameters, anti-inflammatory, pro-inflammatory, or regulatory profile regarding both IgE levels and reported allergies, by means of clinical manifestations and IgE, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-17, and TGF-β serum concentration. Clinically allergies were observed in 50% of the control group and in 20% of the cancer group (p = 0.009). IL-2 cytokine and TGF-β concentrations were higher in the patients with cancer as compared to the control (p < 0.005). However, there were IL-4, IL-17, and IL-1β decreases in the patients with cancer (p < 0.05). No correlation was observed between the cytokines studied and IgE and clinically proven allergies in both investigated groups. There was an inverse association between cancer and clinical allergy manifestations. In head and neck, stomach, and prostate cancers, an immunosuppressive serum tumor environment was predominant. There was no difference in cytokines related to Th1 and Th2 parameters in relation to IgE. No correlation was found between clinically proved allergies and immunity markers related to the same allergens.
Optimization of psoriasis assessment system based on patch images
Authors: Moon Cho-I. , Lee Jiwon , Yoo HyunJong , Baek YooSang , Lee Onseok
Published: September 2021

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that occurs in various forms throughout the body and is associated with certain conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and depression. The psoriasis area severity index (PASI) score, a tool used to evaluate the severity of psoriasis, is currently used in clinical trials and clinical research. The determination of severity is based on the subjective judgment of the clinician. Thus, the disease evaluation deviations are induced. Therefore, we propose optimal algorithms that can effectively segment the lesion area and classify the severity. In addition, a new dataset on psoriasis was built, including patch images of erythema and scaling. We performed psoriasis lesion segmentation and classified the disease severity. In addition, we evaluated the best-performing segmentation method and classifier and analyzed features that are highly related to the severity of psoriasis. In conclusion, we presented the optimal techniques for evaluating the severity of psoriasis. Our newly constructed dataset improved the generalization performance of psoriasis diagnosis and evaluation. It proposed an optimal system for specific evaluation indicators of the disease and a quantitative PASI scoring method. The proposed system can help to evaluate the severity of localized psoriasis more accurately.
Factors associated with inflamm-aging in institutionalized older people
Authors: de Oliveira Neto Leônidas , Tavares Vagner Deuel de O. , Agrícola Pedro Moraes Dutra , de Oliveira Larissa Praça , Sales Márcia Cristina , de Sena-Evangelista Karine Cavalcanti Maurício , Gomes Igor Conterato , Galvão-Coelho Nicole Leite , Pedrosa Lúcia Fátima Campos , Lima Kenio Costa
Published: September 2021

The increase in inflammatory cytokines associated with a reduction in the bioavailability of zinc has been used as a marker for inflammation. Despite the high inflammatory state found in institutionalized older individuals, few studies have proposed verifying the factors associated with this condition in this population. To verify the factors associated with inflamm-aging in institutionalized older people. A total of 178 older people (≥ 60 years old) living in nursing homes in Natal/RN were included in the study. Cluster analysis was used to identify three groups according to their inflammatory state. Analysis anthropometric, biochemical, sociodemographic, and health-related variables was carried out. In sequence, an ordinal logistic regression was performed for a confidence level of 95% in those variables with p < 0.20 in the bivariate analysis. IL-6, TNF-α, zinc, low-density lipids (LDL), high-density lipids (HDL), and triglycerides were associated with inflamm-aging. The increase of 1 unit of measurement of LDL, HDL, and triglycerides increased the chance of inflammation-aging by 1.5%, 4.1%, and 0.9%, respectively, while the oldest old (≥ 80 years old) had an 84.9% chance of presenting inflamm-aging in relation to non-long-lived older people (< 80 years). The association between biochemical markers and inflamm-aging demonstrates a relationship between endothelial injury and the inflammatory state. In addition, the presence of a greater amount of fat in the blood may present a higher relative risk of death.