bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship Between Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte-Associated Antigen-4: Programmed Death-1 Genes Polymorphisms and Susceptibility to Pediatric B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Aref Salah , El-Ghonemy Mohamed , Aref Mohamed , Abdel Maboud Suzy , Khaled Nada
Published: June 2024

Programmed death-1 (PD1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) have a vital role in immune checkpoint pathways. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of PD1 and CTLA4 have been reported to be associated with susceptibility to certain autoimmune diseases and cancers. The potential association between SNPs in these immune checkpoint genes and risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) still unclear. The aim of this study is to clarify the effect of PD1 and CTLA4 SNPs on the risk of developing ALL and the prognosis of the disease. The study was performed on 100 pediatric B-ALL patients and 100 controls. The PD1 and CTLA4 SNPs were examined by RFLP technique. The study revealed that CTLA4 (rs11571316) was associated with high risk of B-ALL developments OR 1.492 (CI: 1157 to 1924) (P=0.002). PD1 (rs36084323) GA genotype was significantly associated with protective effect against nonremission (P=0.007). PD1 (rs36084323) A allele were associated with protective effect against relapse (P=0.008). CTLA4 and PD1 genotypes did not have significant impact on B-ALL patients outcome. The current study displayed for the first time that genetic variations of the CTLA-4, was associated with susceptibility to B-ALL and that PD1 (rs36084323) GA genotype was significantly associated with protective effect against nonremission, while PD1 (rs36084323) A allele was associated with protective effect against relapse.
Giant sciatic nerve schwannoma: a rare case report and literature review
Authors: Sarmiento M. Eddy , Espinoza C. Fernando , López C. Limber , Fuentes-Rocabado Nicole , Chaurasia Bipin
Published: June 2024

Introduction and importance:

Schwannomas are benign tumors that arise from Schwann cells commonly located in peripheral nerves. Depending on the size and location of sciatic nerve Schwannoma clinical manifestations can either varies from symptoms simulating radiculopathies such as positive Lasegue sign on the affected side, gait weakness and paresthesia or just present with pain and an associated palpable mass.

Case presentation:

The authors present a case of a 34-year-old female patient suffering from pain, gait weakness, and a palpable mass since many months. The palpable mass was present in the posterior region of the left lower limb. Imaging studies reveal an extensive lesion measuring 35 cm×8 cm that extends from the gluteal region to the left popliteal fossa.

Clinical discussion:

The finding of a palpable mass during physical examination guided us towards the diagnostic suspicion and thus necessitating the direct imaging studies. When approaching such type of patients, a history of neurofibromatosis must be ruled out due to its frequent association. Surgical resection should focus on the preservation of neurovascular structures, which offers improvement of the symptoms and the quality of life of patients.

Conclusion:

Giant sciatic nerve schwannoma if excised completely can lead to relieve of symptoms. Although recurrences are uncommon follow-up for years is necessary.
Treatment of recurrent uveitis and ankylosing spondylitis with Golimumab: a case report, Letter to Editor
Authors: Kudsi Maysoun , Drie Tasneem , Dumirieh Sumaya
Published: June 2024

Introduction and importance:

Uveitis, as an extra-articular presentation, is found in 23% of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and is a challenging disease to treat.

Case presentation:

The authors presented a 32-year-old male to the out-hospital, complaining of recurrent anterior uveitis 8 years earlier in his left eye, and suffered from inflammatory lumber pain for 2 years. So a diagnosis of AS after the failure of many therapeutic strategies, 50 mg /month subcutaneous Golimumab was started with clinical remission of AS and uveitis.

Clinical discussion:

The American College of Rheumatology recommends the use of etanercept and adalimumab in the treatment of recurrent uveitis in AS patients. Similarly, the European League Against Rheumatism recommended using Infliximab, Adalimumab, or Certolizumab to prevent the recurrence of uveitis recurrence. Till now, a case about treating refractory uveitis with Golimumab in AS patients was published.

Conclusion:

Golimumab was found to be effective in the treatment of uveitis associated with spondyloarthritis refractory at least one immunosuppressive drug.
A case report on posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in an elderly female
Authors: Adhikari Sonu , Shrestha Neeyal , Shrestha Dinuj , Raut Rupesh , Ray Prajeet , Bista Prakash , Bhattarai Ayam
Published: June 2024

Introduction and importance:

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a medical condition characterized by symptoms such as headache, altered consciousness, visual abnormalities, seizures, and associated radiological vasogenic edema. The condition, as its name suggests, is generally reversible. PRES typically affects individuals around the age of 45 and is rarely seen in the elderly population.

Case presentation:

In this report, the authors present the case of an 83-year-old woman who presented to the emergency department with a history of seizures and visual disturbances. Upon examination, her Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was 14, and she had bilateral round,reactive, regular pupils. A plain computed tomography (CT) head was performed, which revealed multiple hemorrhagic areas in the occipital region associated with vasogenic edema. magnetic resonance imaging was done which was suggestive of PRES. The individual underwent conservative management in the authors’ institute and gradually recovered.

Clinical discussion:

PRES typically presents in middle-aged individuals, with infrequent occurrences in the elderly population. Early radiological and clinical assessments are crucial for the prompt diagnosis of this condition. Additionally, it is essential to identify predisposing factors such as hypertension, eclampsia, electrolyte imbalances, renal failure, autoimmune diseases, and the use of cytotoxic drugs for optimum management of the patient.

Conclusion:

PRES is generally reversible, as its name implies. Maintaining a high level of suspicion based on radiological and clinical correlations, coupled with the effective management of underlying conditions, can contribute to its potential reversibility.
Breaking barriers: addressing inequities in Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis and treatment in Africa
Authors: Uwishema Olivier , Kassahun Bekele Bezawit , Nazir Abubakar , Filbert Luta Erick , Abdulnaser Al-Saab Elaf , Jacques Desire Irakiza , Franklin Ozioma Chukwuma , Wojtara Magda
Published: June 2024

Introduction:

Alzheimer’s disease represents a substantial and escalating public health threat across Africa. Alzheimer’s disease leads to substantial cognitive impairment and memory loss, placing a heavy burden on the affected individuals and their families, friends, and caregivers. It affects 2.67 million people in Africa, the majority of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa. The prevalence of this disease is expected to rise drastically to approximately 150 million individuals worldwide by 2050, as estimated by the WHO.

Aim:

This paper offers an integrative profile of Alzheimer’s disease in Africa, spanning known genetic and modifiable risks, discusses the existing challenges in diagnosis and treatment, projections on prevalence and disability-adjusted life year burden through 2050, and priority policy responses needed to rebalance the equation.

Methods:

This paper examines available literature to summarize current knowledge on risk factors, diagnosis, treatments, and burden of Alzheimer’s disease in Africa. Gather epidemiological assessments, clinical guidelines, and commentary related to Alzheimer’s disease in Africa.

Results:

The data reveals concerning realities regarding Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis and care in Africa. Diagnostic infrastructure shortcomings, resource limitations, and knowledge gaps emerge as recurring barriers. Positron emission tomography scans, cerebrospinal fluid assays, and other mainstay detection modalities common in developed countries show restricted availability.

Conclusion:

Addressing Africa’s Alzheimer’s disease crisis demands a multipronged strategy to uplift diagnostic capacities, treatment availability, specialist training, public awareness, and coordinated policymaking. Prioritizing biomarkers and imaging to confirm early neurodegeneration is foundational, alongside drug access expansion.
The Mediating Role of Resilience in the Relationship Between Hope and Spiritual Well-being in Cancer Patients
Authors: Uğuz Özkan , Keskin Gülseren
Published: June 2024

Background

Cancer is a significant public health concern in the healthcare landscape. Amidst this challenging journey, the levels of hope, spiritual well-being, and resilience in patients with cancer have emerged as pivotal factors influencing the healing process.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between hope and spiritual well-being in cancer patients and the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between hope and spiritual well-being levels.

Methods

This study is a descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational study. The study included 152 cancer patients undergoing treatment. A patient information form, the 12-item Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Spiritual Well-Being (FACIT-SP-12) Scale, the Dispositional Hope Scale, and the Brief Resilience Scale were used to collect study data.

Results

Positive and meaningful correlations were observed between the Dispositional Hope Scale and FACIT-SP-12, Brief Resilience Scale, and FACIT-SP-12 (r = 0.390, P < .05; r = 0.246, P < .05). Mediation analysis indicated that Brief Resilience Scale scores partially mediated the relationship between the Dispositional Hope Scale and FACIT-SP-12 Scale scores; the indirect effect of hope on spiritual well-being through resilience was 0.351 (P < .05).

Conclusion

The study has indicated a direct relationship between hope and spiritual well-being, and resilience partially mediated the relationship between hope and spiritual well-being.

Implications for Practice

It is significant to provide psychosocial care to cancer patients to increase their resilience levels and to support their hope and spiritual well-being.
“Nothing Is More Powerful than Words:” How Patient Experience Narratives Enable Improvement
Authors: Grob Rachel , Lee Yuna S.H. , Shaller Dale , Warne Emily , Matta Sasmira , Schlesinger Mark , Nembhard Ingrid M.
Published: June 2024

Background and Objectives:

Patient experience narratives (narratives) are an increasingly important element of both measurement approaches and improvement efforts in healthcare. Prior studies show that narratives are considered by both clinicians and staff to be an appealing, meaningful, and credible form of evidence on performance. They also suggest that making concrete use of narratives within organizational settings to improve care can be complex and challenging. Our qualitative study was designed to explore how middle managers working in a health system’s outpatient clinics value and use written narratives in their day-to-day work.

Methods:

We conducted qualitative interviews with 20 middle managers working in 8 outpatient clinics. Interviews were fully transcribed, loaded into MAX-QDA software, and coded using thematic analysis techniques. Code reports were extracted and reanalyzed for subthemes related to the objectives of this paper.

Results:

Middle managers across sites described valuing narratives as a tool to: enable better patient experience assessment by augmenting data from patient experience scores; deepen understanding of and relationships with patients; provide insight about operational issues; identify areas for needed improvement and potential solutions; and facilitate strategic work. They reported using narratives for a range of activities related to their roles as supervisors, such as focusing attention on positive practices and needed improvements, promoting deeper group learning, motivating change, reinforcing sense of purpose for staff, recognizing staff strengths and training needs, and inspiring transformational thinking. Finally, interviewees reported numerous specific quality improvement projects (both short- and longer-term) that were informed by narratives—for example, by identifying an issue to be addressed or by suggesting a workable solution. Together, these interviews suggest a collective “narrative about narratives” woven by these organizational actors—a story which illustrates how narratives are highly relevant for how middle managers derive meaning from their work, put organizational values such as responsive service provision into practice, and enact their roles as supervisors.

Conclusions:

Our results add to the nascent literature a detailed description of how narratives can be used both as a tool for middle managers in their leadership and supervisory roles, and as a blueprint for improvement work within outpatient settings. They also illuminate why patient experience scores may improve when narrative data are collected and used. Finally, our results suggest that for middle managers, perhaps “nothing is more powerful than words” because narratives function as both an insight provider and a compelling tool that adds direction and meaning to workplace endeavors.
Traumatic Brain Injury in Patients With Frontal Sinus Fractures
Authors: Pope Pharibe , Hassan Bashar , Oslin Kimberly , Shikara Meryam , Liang Fan , Vakharia Kalpesh , Hebert Andrea , Stein Deborah M. , Pan Judy , Justicz Natalie , P. Grant Michael
Published: June 2024

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an insult to the brain from an external mechanical force that may lead to short or long-term impairment. Traumatic brain injury has been reported in up to 83% of craniofacial fractures involving the frontal sinus. However, the risk factors for TBI at presentation and persistent neurological sequelae in patients with frontal sinus fractures remain largely unstudied. The authors aim to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors associated with TBI on presentation and neurological sequelae in these patients. The authors retrospectively reviewed patients who presented with traumatic frontal sinus fractures in 2019. The authors’ primary outcome was the prevalence of concomitant TBI on presentation, which authors defined as any patient with neurological symptoms/signs on presentation and/or patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale <15 with no acute drug or alcohol intoxication or history of dementia or other neurocognitive disorder. The authors’ secondary outcome was the incidence of neurological sequelae after 1 month of injury. Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were performed. A total of 56 patients with frontal sinus fractures were included. Their median (interquartile range) age was 47 (31–59) years, and the median (interquartile range) follow-up was 7.3 (1.3–76.5) weeks. The majority were males [n = 48 (85.7%)] and non-Hispanic whites [n = 35 (62.5%)]. Fall was the most common mechanism of injury [n = 15 (26.8%)]. Of the 56 patients, 46 (82.1%) had concomitant TBI on presentation. All patients who had combined anterior and posterior table frontal sinus fractures [n = 37 (66.1%)] had TBI on presentation. These patients had 13 times the odds of concomitant TBI on presentation [adjusted odds ratio (95% CI): 12.7 (2.3-69.0)] as compared with patients with isolated anterior or posterior table fractures. Of 34 patients who were followed up more than 1 month after injury, 24 patients (70.6%) had persistent neurological sequelae, most commonly headache [n = 16 (28.6%)]. Patients who had concomitant orbital roof fractures had 32 times the odds of neurological sequelae after 1 month of injury [adjusted odds ratio (95% CI): 32 (2.4->100)]. Emergency physicians and referring providers should maintain a high degree of suspicion of TBI in patients with frontal sinus fractures. Head computed tomography at presentation and close neurological follow-up are recommended for patients with frontal sinus fracture with combined anterior and posterior table fractures, as well as those with concomitant orbital roof fractures.
A National Analysis of Craniosynostosis Demographic and Surgical Trends Over a 10-Year Period
Authors: Stanton Eloise W. , Manasyan Artur , Roohani Idean , Kondra Katelyn , Magee William P. , Hammoudeh Jeffrey A. , Urata Mark M.
Published: June 2024

The pathogenesis of craniosynostosis, characterized by the premature fusion of calvarial sutures, is multifaceted and often the result of an amalgamation of contributing factors. The current study seeks examine the possible contributors to craniosynostosis development and its surgical trends over time. A multicenter/national retrospective cohort study was conducted of patients who underwent surgical repair of craniosynostosis (n=11,279) between 2012 and 2021 identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric Data File. Main outcome measures included risk factors and trends relating to surgical repair of craniosynostosis. Nationwide reports of craniosynostosis in the NSQIP-P database have increased between 2012 and 2021 by 195%. The prevalence of craniosynostosis per overall cases has remained between 1.0% and 1.3%. There were predominantly more White male patients in the craniosynostosis cohort (P<0.001). Craniosynostosis patients had significantly greater birth weights, gestational ages, and were less likely to be premature (P<0.05). Linear regression demonstrated that operative time, anesthesia time, and length of stay significantly decreased over the study period (P<0.001). This national data analysis highlights trends in craniosynostosis repair indicating potential improvements in safety and patient outcomes over time. While these findings offer insights for health care professionals, caution is warranted in extrapolating beyond the data’s scope. Future research should focus on diverse patient populations, compare outcomes across institutions, and employ prospective study designs to enhance the evidence base for craniosynostosis management. These efforts will help refine diagnostic and treatment strategies, potentially leading to better outcomes for patients.
Does Piroxicam have an Added Benefit on Arthrocentesis in the Management of Internal Derangement in Female Patients?: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Helmy Haitham Ahmed , Elhadidi Yasser Nabil , Taha Mustafa Mohamed Sayed
Published: June 2024

Background:

Arthrocentesis is an accepted treatment modality for internal derangement. Piroxicam is an NSAID that can be injected into the TMJ.

Purpose:

The primary objective of this study was to improve mouth opening, and the secondary objective was to decrease TMD-associated pain.

Methods:

A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was performed on patients suffering from anterior disk displacement with reduction. Patients were divided into 2 groups: a study in which patients underwent arthrocentesis followed by an injection of 20 mg of piroxicam. Independent and paired sample t-tests were used to assess mouth opening. The χ2 test was used to assess the pain data; the P value was fixed at 0.05.

Results:

Twenty female patients were included in the current study. To ensure that covariables did not affect the study results, an intergroup assessment using Student’s t-test for unassisted mouth opening without pain preoperatively showed that the maximum unassisted opening without pain was 20.8±3.9 mm in the control group, and the average maximum unassisted opening without pain was 19.7±1.1 mm in the case study group. The unassisted mouth opening in the control group was 30.9±3.4 mm and 31.8±3.6 mm, respectively, and there was no significant difference (P=0.6, 95% CI: −2.5 to 4.32). There was no significant difference in pain between the study and control groups (P=0.3).

Conclusion and Recommendation:

Based on the results of the present study, arthrocentesis using piroxicam does not have any benefit over conventional arthrocentesis.
Defining Global Benchmarks for Laparoscopic Right Posterior Sectionectomy/H67
Authors: Zhao Jianping , Lu Yuanxiang , Zhang Wanguang , Chua Darren W. , Liu Qu , Liu Rong , Pratschke Johann , Ratti Francesca , Zimmitti Giuseppe , Aghayan Davit L. , Edwin Bjørn , Siow Tiing-Foong , Scatton Olivier , Herman Paulo , Marino Marco V. , Mazzaferro Vincenzo , Chiow Adrian K. H. , Sucandy Iswanto , Ivanecz Arpad , Choi Sung Hoon , Lee Jae Hoon , Gastaca Mikel , Vivarelli Marco , Giuliante Felice , Ruzzenente Andrea , Yong Chee-Chien , Yin Mengqiu , Fondevila Constantino , Efanov Mikhail , Morise Zenichi , Di Benedetto Fabrizio , Brustia Raffaele , Dalla Valle Raffaele , Boggi Ugo , Geller David , Belli Andrea , Memeo Riccardo , Mejia Alejandro , Park James O. , Rotellar Fernando , Choi Gi-Hong , Robles-Campos Ricardo , Wang Xiaoying , Sutcliffe Robert P. , Lai Eric C. H. , Chong Charing C. N. , D’Hondt Mathieu , Monden Kazuteru , Lopez-Ben Santiago , Kingham T. Peter , Ferrero Alessandro , Ettorre Giuseppe Maria , Cherqui Daniel , Liang Xiao , Soubrane Olivier , Fuks David , Wakabayashi Go , Troisi Roberto I. , Cheung Tan-To , Sugioka Atsushi , Long Tran Cong duy , Abu Hilal Mohammad , Aldrighetti Luca , Chen Kuo-Hsin , Han Ho-Seong , Goh Brian K. P. ,   International robotic and laparoscopic liver resection study group investigators
Published: June 2024

Objective:

We aimed to establish global benchmark outcomes indicators for L-RPS/H67.

Background:

Minimally invasive liver resections has seen an increase in uptake in recent years. Over time, challenging procedures as laparoscopic right posterior sectionectomies (L-RPS)/H67 are also increasingly adopted.

Methods:

This is a post hoc analysis of a multicenter database of 854 patients undergoing minimally invasive RPS (MI-RPS) in 57 international centers in 4 continents between 2015 and 2021. There were 651 pure L-RPS and 160 robotic RPS (R-RPS). Sixteen outcome indicators of low-risk L-RPS cases were selected to establish benchmark cutoffs. The 75th percentile of individual center medians for a given outcome indicator was set as the benchmark cutoff

Results:

There were 573 L-RPS/H67 performed in 43 expert centers, of which 254 L-RPS/H67 (44.3%) cases qualified as low risk benchmark cases. The benchmark outcomes established for operation time, open conversion rate, blood loss ≥500 mL, blood transfusion rate, postoperative morbidity, major morbidity, 90-day mortality and textbook outcome after L-RPS were 350.8 minutes, 12.5%, 53.8%, 22.9%, 23.8%, 2.8%, 0% and 4% respectively.

Conclusions:

The present study established the first global benchmark values for L-RPS/H6/7. The benchmark provided an up-to-date reference of best achievable outcomes for surgical auditing and benchmarking.
Understanding and treating postpartum depression: a narrative review
Authors: Cardaci Vincenzo , Carminati Matteo , Tondello Mattia , Pecorino Basilio , Serretti Alessandro , Zanardi Raffaella
Published: June 2024

Postpartum depression (PPD) is an increasingly prevalent but still poorly characterized disorder. Causal and modulating factors include hormones fluctuations, such as estrogen, progesterone, and allopregnolone, pathways imbalances, such as oxytocin and kynurenine, chronobiological factors, and brain imaging alterations. Treatment may differ from the traditional major depression management, while selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as sertraline are commonly used and suggested by guidelines, neurosteroids such as brexanolone and the more convenient zuranolone have been recently approved. Newer neurosteroids such as ganaxolone, valaxanolone, and lysaxanolone are currently under development, but also esketamine and psychedelics are promising potential treatments. Other somatic treatments including brain stimulation techniques and light therapy also showed benefit. PPD is therefore increasingly understood as, at least partially, independent from major depressive disorder. Specific and individualized treatments including pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies are progressively being introduced in the routine clinical practice.
Comparison of microbial and sono-assisted alkaline pre-treatment of sugarcane bagasse, followed by one-pot synthesis of microbial extracellular polymeric substance through simultaneous delignification, saccharification, and fermentation
Authors: Debnath Ankita , Bhowmick Sundipan , Sen Ramkrishna
Published: June 2024

Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) captures a major fraction of agro-industrial wastes that are mostly valorised for the production of second-generation biofuels. The extensive pre-treatment followed by saccharification of LCB restricts its usability for the production of a wide array of bioproducts. This study highlights the performance comparison of sono-assisted alkaline pre-treatment versus microbial pre-treatment of sugarcane bagasse by a no. of analytical techniques such as FTIR, XRD, CHNS, and SEM. Moreover, simultaneous delignification, saccharification and fermentation (SDSF) in one pot is highly desirable for the cost effective and environment friendly production of microbial products. In the present study SDSF was carried out by a cellulolytic bacteriumCellulomonas flavigena,for the production of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), which is, by chemical nature a biopolymer made up of carbohydrate and protein subunits. The biopolymer was found to have an overall positive charge as analysed by ion exchange chromatography. Two major fractions of molecular weight 237 KDa and 29 KDa were obtained from gel filtration chromatography, in addition to that, the EPS was found to be composed of monosaccharides, D (+) mannosamine and D (+) xylose as identified from high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).
An Automated Machine Learning Framework for Antimicrobial Resistance Prediction Through Transcriptomics
Authors: Alsiyabi Adil , Shahid Syed Ahsan , Al-Harrasi Ahmed
Published: June 2024

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a global threat of growing concern to the healthcare system. To mitigate the spread of resistant pathogens, physicians must identify the susceptibility profile of every patient’s infection in order to prescribe the appropriate antibiotic. Furthermore, disease control centers need to be able to accurately track the patterns of resistance and susceptibility of pathogens to different antibiotics. To achieve this, high-throughput methods are required to accurately predict the resistance profile of a pathogenic microbe in an automated manner. In this work, a transcriptomics-based approach utilizing a machine learning framework is used to achieve this goal. The study highlights the potential of using gene expression as an indicator of resistance to different antibiotics. Results indicate the importance of starting with a high-quality training dataset containing high genetic diversity and a sufficient number of resistant samples. Furthermore, the performed analysis reveals the importance of developing new methods of feature reduction specific to transcriptomic data. Most importantly, this study serves as a proof-of-concept to the potential impact of deploying such models to reduce the mortality rate associated with AMR.
Early to Middle Pleistocene transition shapes the evolution of human-specific mutations associated with height and basal metabolic rate
Authors: Zhang Yufeng , Wang Jie , Yi Chuanyou , Su Yue , Yin Zi , Zhang Shuxian , Wang Ke , Huang He , Li Jin , Fan Shaohua
Published: June 2024

Understanding the genetic basis of modern-human-specific traits is essential for elucidating the formation of anatomically modern humans (AMHs). Here, we studied the genetic underpinnings of height and basal metabolic rate (BMR), which have undergone extensive modifications in AMHs compared to otherHomospecies and apes. The results revealed a significant genetic correlation between the two traits. The evolution of the variants associated with height and BMR was heavily influenced by environmental factors, marked by two bursts during the Early to Middle Pleistocene transition and one afterward, accounting for 37.4% of the inferred causal variants for height and BMR. We identified an AMH-specific mutation, rs34590044-A, which emerged around 981,916 years ago, coinciding with the first burst of variants associated with increased height and BMR. rs34590044-A upregulates the expression ofACSF3via increasing its enhancer activity, leading to increased mitochondrial function, body length, and BMR exclusively in mice fed essential amino acids, specifically threonine-enriched diets, which are characteristic of meat-based diets. Therefore, the emergence of rs34590044-A may contribute to the shift from an herbivorous to a carnivorous diet in AMHs. Our results underscore the complex interplay between genetics and environment in shaping the crucial phenotypes and physiological traits of AMHs.
Shaving black fur uncovers hidden issues in p16-3MR mice
Authors: Hori Nozomi , Kawamoto Shimpei , Uemura Ken , Okumura Yumiko , Tanaka Kentaro , Park Jeong Hoon , Ohtani Naoko , Motooka Daisuke , Hara Eiji
Published: June 2024

The p16-3MR mouse model has previously been reported to effectively visualize and eliminate senescent cellsin vivo. However, we now report significant issues with this model. Noninvasive bioluminescence imaging without shaving the black fur detected almost no luminescence signals, but they became visible after shaving. However, these signals were very faint and attributed to the auto-luminescence of coelenterazine-h, rather than reporter gene expression. Further experiments showed no significant bioluminescent changes with aging, doxorubicin treatment, or during wound healing, contradicting earlier reports. Comparative analysis between p16-3MR mice from different sources revealed no differences, suggesting functional issues with Renilla luciferase (Rluc) and herpes simplex virus 1 thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) expression in this mouse model. Our findings underscore the necessity of using white-furred mice or ensuring proper fur shaving for accuratein vivobioluminescence imaging. We recommend the reevaluation of previously published studies that used p16-3MR mice without proper controls to ensure data accuracy. These results provide critical insights for researchers using p16-3MR mice in senescence studies.
Drivers of plant-associated invertebrate community structure in West-European coastal dunes
Authors: Van De Walle Ruben , Dahirel Maxime , Langeraert Ward , Benoit Dries , Vantieghem Pieter , Vandegehuchte Martijn L. , Massol François , Bonte Dries
Published: June 2024

The organisation of species assemblages is affected by environmental factors acting at different spatial scales. To understand the drivers behind the community structure of invertebrates associated with marram grass -the dominant dune-building ecosystem engineer in European coastal dunes-, we set up a stratified sampling scheme in six biogeographic sectors along the North Sea. We tested to which degree local invertebrate species composition is affected by the spatial organisation of marram grass tussocks. We used distance-based RDA and a joint species distribution modelling approach to understand how species traits and their phylogeny contribute to invertebrate community composition. We show biogeography to be the most important driver, followed by species-specific responses to marram grass cover and vitality. Traits and phylogeny had a minor influence on the species distribution patterns. The residual species covariation suggests negative interactions between groups of specialist and generalist species. From an applied perspective, our research indicates that the biological value of nature-based solutions for the restoration and design of coastal dunes can be optimized by the design of a heterogeneous marram grass planting scheme and/or development.
Urbanization as an environmental filter for megacolorful birds
Authors: Nascimento Lucas Ferreira do , Guimarães Paulo R. , Evans Julian , Kissling W. Daniel
Published: June 2024

The colorfulness of bird plumage plays a crucial role in intraspecific (e.g. sexual display) and interspecific ecological interactions (e.g. camouflage and predation). Consequently, bird plumage colorfulness can affect the success of individuals in novel environments, such as urban settings. However, our understanding of the impact of urbanization on the plumage colorfulness of birds, especially in tropical regions, is limited. To address this gap, we analyzed whether urban environments serve as environmental filters for plumage colorfulness in passerine (Passeriformes) bird assemblages across the biomes of Brazil, the world’s largest tropical country. Using generalized linear models that incorporate bird checklists, functional traits, and a continuous urbanization metric, we show that urbanization increases specific traits that are associated with plumage colorfulness in bird assemblages (i.e. proportion of omnivores, proportion of larger species, and average sexual dichromatism). While the average colorfulness of bird assemblages did not change with increasing urbanization, a negative correlation between the presence of megacolorful birds (i.e. the 5% most colorful species) and urbanization was detected, particularly in biomes with high urban concentrations, such as the Atlantic Forest and the Caatinga. This suggests that urban environments can be unsuitable for the most colorful tropical bird species. Our study additionally shows that factors like body size, diet, and sexual dichromatism play a mediating role in the urban filtering process. Our analyses provide insights into how urban environments act as environmental filters and can help to better understand the consequences of urbanization for tropical biodiversity.
Conserved Noncoding Cis-Elements Associated with Hibernation Modulate Metabolic and Behavioral Adaptations in Mice
Authors: Steinwand Susan , Stacher Hörndli Cornelia , Ferris Elliott , Emery Jared , Gonzalez Murcia Josue D. , Rodriguez Adriana Cristina , Leydsman Tyler C. , Chaix Amandine , Thomas Alun , Davey Crystal , Gregg Christopher
Published: June 2024

Our study elucidates functional roles for conservedcis-elements associated with the evolution of mammalian hibernation. Genomic analyses found topologically associated domains (TADs) that disproportionately accumulated convergent genomic changes in hibernators, including the TAD for theFat Mass & Obesity(Fto) locus. Some hibernation-linkedcis-elements in this TAD form regulatory contacts with multiple neighboring genes. Knockout mice for thesecis-elements exhibitFto, Irx3,andIrx5gene expression changes, impacting hundreds of genes downstream. Profiles of pre-torpor, torpor, and post-torpor phenotypes found distinct roles for eachcis-element in metabolic control, while a high caloric diet uncovered different obesogenic effects. Onecis-element promoting a lean phenotype influences foraging behaviors throughout life, affecting specific behavioral sequences. Thus, convergent evolution in hibernators pinpoints functional genetic mechanisms of mammalian metabolic control.

One-sentence summary

Deletions of conservedcis-elements tied to hibernator evolution causes diverse metabolic traits in mice.
An intricate balancing act: Upstream and downstream frameshift co-regulatory elements
Authors: Lee Samuel , Yan Shuting , Dey Abhishek , Laederach Alain , Schlick Tamar
Published: June 2024

Targeting ribosomal frameshifting has emerged as a potential therapeutic intervention strategy against Covid-19. During ribosomal translation, a fraction of elongating ribosomes slips by one base in the 5′direction and enters a new reading frame for viral protein synthesis. Any interference with this process profoundly affects viral replication and propagation. For Covid-19, two RNA sites associated with ribosomal frameshifting for SARS-CoV-2 are positioned on the 5′and 3′of the frameshifting residues. Although much attention has been on the 3′frameshift element (FSE), the 5′stem-loop (attenuator hairpin, AH) can play a role. The formation of AH has been suggested to occur as refolding of the 3′RNA structure is triggered by ribosomal unwinding. However, the attenuation activity and the relationship between the two regions are unknown. To gain more insight into these two related viral RNAs and to further enrich our understanding of ribosomal frameshifting for SARS-CoV-2, we explore the RNA folding of both 5′and 3′regions associated with frameshifting. Using our graph-theory-based modeling tools to represent RNA secondary structures, “RAG” (RNA-As-Graphs), and conformational landscapes to analyze length-dependent conformational distributions, we show that AH coexists with the 3-stem pseudoknot of the 3′FSE (graph 3_6 in our dual graph notation) and alternative pseudoknot (graph 3_3) but less likely with other 3′FSE alternative folds (such as 3-way junction 3_5). This is because an alternative length-dependent Stem 1 (AS1) can disrupt the FSE pseudoknots and trigger other folds. In addition, we design four mutants for long lengths that stabilize or disrupt AH, AS1 or FSE pseudoknot to illustrate the deduced AH/AS1 roles and favor the 3_5, 3_6 or stem-loop. These mutants further show how a strengthened pseudoknot can result from a weakened AS1, while a dominant stem-loop occurs with a strengthened AS1. These structural and mutational insights into both ends of the FSE in SARS-CoV-2 advance our understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 frameshifting mechanism by suggesting a sequence of length-dependent folds, which in turn define potential therapeutic intervention techniques involving both elements. Our work also highlights the complexity of viral landscapes with length-dependent folds, and challenges in analyzing these multiple conformations.
Using expectancy-value theory to understand the teaching motivations of women physics lecturers
Authors: Durk Jessie , Smith Amy , Aydın Bilgesu , Julia Adèle , Rabey Isabel M.
Published: June 2024

Being lectured by a woman physicist can benefit students’ performance, motivation, and engagement with physics. However, due to the severe underrepresentation of women physics faculty, these instances may be scarce. Through semistructured interviews with seven women physics lecturers, we used expectancy-value theory to understand the situative nature of gender regarding motivation to lecture. We sought to understand their choices and decisions when selecting their teaching roles, and if lecturing, what draws them toward certain courses. Our study was a staff-student partnership project carried out in a physics department at a UK university. We identified themes of confidence, enjoyment, the importance of lecturing, and the associated workload. The academic women could not relate to the “showperson” persona that they felt their men colleagues displayed. They navigated low levels of confidence by adopting a painstaking approach to lecture preparation, suggesting an inherent, higher workload associated with lecturing, compared with other forms of teaching. However, the women highly valued lecturing, enjoying the excitement and interactions with students, and were drawn toward developing students’ knowledge and skills. Being familiar with the content allowed them to feel confident in lecturing. We discuss these findings and recommend areas of support that physics departments should endeavor to offer.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
All-optical quantum computing using cubic phase gates
Authors: Budinger Niklas , Furusawa Akira , van Loock Peter
Published: June 2024

If suitable quantum optical interactions were available, transforming the field mode operators in a nonlinear fashion, the all-photonics platform could be one of the strongest contenders for realizing a quantum computer. While single-photon qubits may be processed directly, “brighter” logical qubits may be embedded in individual oscillator modes, using so-called bosonic codes, for an in-principle fault-tolerant processing. In this paper, we show how elements of all-optical, universal, and fault-tolerant quantum computation can be implemented using only beam splitters together with single-mode cubic phase gates in reasonable numbers, and possibly off-line squeezed-state or single-photon resources. Our approach is based on a decomposition technique combining exact gate decompositions and approximate Trotterization. This allows for efficient decompositions of certain nonlinear continuous-variable multimode gates into the elementary gates, where the few cubic gates needed may even be weak or all identical, thus facilitating potential experiments. The final gate operations include two-mode controlled phase rotation and three-mode Rabi-type Hamiltonian gates, which are shown to be employable for realizing high-fidelity single-photon two-qubit entangling gates or creating high-quality Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill states. We expect our method to be of general use with various applications, including those that rely on quartic Kerr-type interactions.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Metal Halide Perovskite Solar Module Encapsulation Using Polyolefin Elastomers: The Role of Morphology in Preventing Delamination
Authors: Jiao Haoyang , Hegde Maruti , Li Nengxu , Owen-Bellini Michael , Schelhas Laura , Dingemans Theo J. , Huang Jinsong
Published: June 2024

The development of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has ushered in a new era of solar technology, characterized by its exceptional efficiency and cost-effective production. However, the soft and fragile nature of perovskites makes module encapsulation challenging. Polyolefin elastomers (POEs) have been reported to be promising encapsulants for perovskite modules. However, little research exists on identifying criteria among different types of POEs as encapsulants. Here, two POEs with different morphologies were compared as encapsulants. The first POE crystallizes during encapsulation (crystal content ∼40%), and the resulting shrinkage or warpage leads to delamination, causing minimodule failure. In contrast, perovskite minimodules encapsulated with a mostly amorphous POE exhibited better reliability and reproducibility. The best perovskite minimodules passed the thermal cycling test for 240 cycles between −40 and 85 °C and the damp heat test for 1419 h, according to the IEC 61215 standard. This study highlights the importance of the morphology of encapsulants in achieving high-quality encapsulation.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Benzene-1,2,4,5-tetrol
Authors: Weare Benjamin L. , Hoggett Sean , Cull William J. , Argent Stephen P. , Khlobystov Andrei N. , Brown Paul D.
Published: June 2024

The crystal structure of the title compound was determined at 120 K. It crystallizes in the triclinic space group P\overline{1} with four independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. In the crystal, each symmetry-unique molecule forms π–π stacks on itself, giving four unique π–π stacking interactions. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding is observed between each pair of independent molecules, where each hydroxy group can act as a hydrogen-bond donor and acceptor.
2-(Pyridin-4-yl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-naphtho[1,8-de][1,3,2]diazaborinine
Authors: Yamamoto Ryo , Hashimoto Shu , Okuno Tsunehisa
Published: June 2024

The title compound, C15H12BN3, is a type of diazaborinane featuring substitution at 1, 2, and 3 positions in the nitrogen–boron six-membered heterocycle. It is comprised of two almost planar units, the pyridyl ring and the Bdan (dan = 1,8-diaminonaphtho) group, which subtend a dihedral angle of 24.57 (5)°. In the crystal, the molecules are linked into R
4
4(28) hydrogen-bonding networks around the fourfold inversion axis, giving cyclic tetramers. The molecules form columnar stacks along the c axis.
Location-based examination of the characteristics of university campuses in Istanbul
Authors: Hacihasanoglu Orhan , Toprak Ilgi
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The study investigates the connections that university buildings and campuses establish with their environments and the effects of their environments on universities. Many factors influence the location of universities in a particular region. The initial university settlement and the subsequent facilities needed by university branches, colleges, or faculties are related to each other by the time parameter Istanbul, a historical city that is also Turkey’s largest, hosts several state and founding universities. This study investigates the connections between the urban areas where university campuses in Istanbul are located within the city and the specific characteristics of universities.

Design/methodology/approach

We evaluate the data on university locations in the city to determine the relationships between their establishment date, size, type, place of location in the city, and unique characteristics. The analysis is based on data for occupancy rate, satisfaction level, university ranking, and space area per student.

Findings

Results: Campus areas are affected by the availability of public transport and other amenities in urban areas. There are also interactions between meeting students’ satisfaction, university ranking, and public perceptions of the university and campus location in the city.

Originality/value

This study investigates the connections between the urban areas where university campuses in Istanbul are located within the city and the specific characteristics of universities.
The power of governance: unraveling the influence of voluntary disclosure on bank’s value in Pakistan
Authors: Irfan Fizza , Usman Muhammad , Bashir Zahid , Iqbal Sabeeh
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the influence of voluntary disclosure on bank value in Pakistan, considering the moderating effect of corporate governance characteristics: ownership control, board independence and board size.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses data from 20 listed Pakistani banks for the period 2011–2021. The estimation contains robust fixed effect and its assumptions, and a model of standard error with panel corrections.

Findings

The findings revealed a weak positive impact of voluntary disclosure on bank value. However, the increase in the number of independent directors strengthens the positive impact of voluntary disclosure on a bank’s value. Conversely, increasing the ownership concentration, and board size (other than independent directors) may strongly decrease the impact of voluntary disclosure on a bank’s value in Pakistan.

Research limitations/implications

The study’s limitations include its exclusive focus on the Pakistani banking industry. Future research should take into account newer contexts and data. The findings suggest that future research should investigate the topic in various contexts, including a comparison of Islamic and conventional banks.

Practical implications

The practical implications for Pakistani banks emphasize transparency, board composition and ownership structure. In terms of managerial implications, using independent directors, aligning ownership interests and addressing disclosure challenges are highlighted.

Originality/value

Focusing on independent directors, ownership concentration and board size, this study enhances knowledge of the impact of voluntary disclosure on bank value in Pakistan. It contributes to agency theory and the literature in this domain.