bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of macro‐ and micro‐steatosis on the outcomes of patients who undergo liver transplant: Analysis of the UNOS‐STAR database
Authors: Lee David Uihwan , Yoo Ashley , Kolachana Sindhura , Lee Jaehyun , Ponder Reid , Fan Gregory Hongyuan , Lee Ki Jung , Lee KeeSeok , Schuster Kimmy , Chou Harrison , Chou Hannah , Sun Catherine , Chang Michael , Pu Alex , Urrunaga Nathalie Helen
Published: April 2024

Background and Aims

The presence of steatosis in a donor liver and its relation to post‐transplantation outcomes are not well defined. This study evaluates the effect of the presence and severity of micro‐ and macro‐steatosis of a donor graft on post‐transplantation outcomes.

Methods

The UNOS‐STAR registry (2005–2019) was used to select patients who received a liver transplant graft with hepatic steatosis. The study cohort was stratified by the presence of macro‐ or micro‐vesicular steatosis, and further stratified by histologic grade of steatosis. The primary endpoints of all‐cause mortality and graft failure were compared using sequential Cox regression analysis. Analysis of specific causes of mortality was further performed.

Results

There were 9184 with no macro‐steatosis (control), 150 with grade 3 macro‐steatosis, 822 with grade 2 macro‐steatosis and 12 585 with grade 1 macro‐steatosis. There were 10 320 without micro‐steatosis (control), 478 with grade 3 micro‐steatosis, 1539 with grade 2 micro‐steatosis and 10 404 with grade 1 micro‐steatosis. There was no significant difference in all‐cause mortality or graft failure among recipients who received a donor organ with any evidence of macro‐ or micro‐steatosis, compared to those receiving non‐steatotic grafts. There was increased mortality due to cardiac arrest among recipients of a grade 2 macro‐steatosis donor organ.

Conclusion

This study shows no significant difference in all‐cause mortality or graft failure among recipients who received a donor liver with any degree of micro‐ or macro‐steatosis. Further analysis identified increased mortality due to specific aetiologies among recipients receiving donor organs with varying grades of macro‐ and micro‐steatosis.
Population dynamics, intergenerational mobility, and the process of economic development
Authors: Aso Hiroki
Published: April 2024

This study analyzes the interactions between population dynamics with differential fertility the intergenerational mobility and economic development. Population dynamics with differential fertility exerts the following two effects on the economy: (i) the change in the population size of the entire economy influences the mobility through changing in the composition of workers and (ii) the decreasing/increasing transfer per child influences the mobility. A sufficient increase in the population growth increases the population size and leads to a significant decline in the transfers per child; this phenomenon contributes toward the cyclical behavior of mobility and income inequality. On the other hand, when a population growth decreases, the mobility monotonically approaches toward steady state. These results are consistent with some empirical evidence. Hence, this study demonstrates that the population dynamics with differential fertility leads to a difference in transitional dynamics of intergenerational mobility and the process of economic development.
Characterization and pathogenicity of Alternaria species associated with leaf spot on Plantago lanceolata in Sichuan Province, China
Authors: Xu Zhi‐Ting , Long Jia‐Hui , Liu Jia‐Qi , Zhang Rui‐Zhen , Xu Ling‐Ling , Wang Jian‐Jun , Wei Xue‐Kai , White James F. , Kamran Malik , Cui Hua‐Wei , Xue Long‐Hai , Li Chun‐Jie , Yue Shang‐Kun
Published: April 2024

Plantago lanceolata has been increasingly cultivated in recent years as a forage crop due to its high feeding quality, good adaptability and medicinal benefits. Between 2015 and 2023, Alternaria leaf spot (ALS), appearing as reddish‐brown necrotic spots with a greyish white to pale brown centre, was commonly observed in two forage germplasm nurseries of P. lanceolata of Sichuan Province, China. Initially, 139 Alternaria strains were isolated from leaf lesions, and then identified using the identity of rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences in the NCBI database and the similarity of morphological characteristics. By pure culture technique, six representative isolates were finally obtained for the present study. Based on both multilocus phylogeny (SSU, LSU, ITS, gapdh, rpb2, tef1, endoPG, OPA10‐2, alt a 1, KOG1058 and KOG1077) and morphology, four Alternaria species were identified: three new records of A. alternata, A. arborescens species complex and A. gossypina on this host in China, belonging to section Alternaria, and a new species of section Porri, namely, A. lanceolatae sp. nov. Pathogenicity tests by inoculation on both detached leaves and whole plants revealed that A. lanceolatae was the most important causal agent of ALS, while the other three species were nonpathogenic to P. lanceolata. This study characterized a novel pathogenic Alternaria species of section Porri from P. lanceolata in China and could contribute as useful research for possible ALS management.
Systematic identification and characterization of microRNAs with target genes involved in high night temperature stress at the filling stage of rice
Authors: Fan Jiangmin , Zhang Hongyu , Shi Yan , Li Yuewu , He Yuxiang , Wang Qiang , Liu Siyi , Yao Youmin , Zhou Xiaoya , Liao Jianglin , Huang Yingjin , Wang Zhaohai
Published: April 2024

High night temperature stress is one of the main environmental factors affecting rice yield and quality. More and more evidence shows that microRNA (miRNA) plays an important role in various abiotic stresses. However, the molecular network of miRNA regulation on rice tolerance to high night temperatures remains unclear. Here, small RNA, transcriptome and degradome sequencing were integrated to identify differentially expressed miRNAs, genes, and key miRNA‐target gene pairs in rice heat‐sensitive and heat‐tolerant lines at the filling stage suffering from high night temperature stress. It was discovered that there were notable differences in the relative expression of 102 miRNAs between the two rice lines under stress. Meanwhile, 5263 and 5405 mRNAs were differentially expressed in the heat‐sensitive line and heat‐tolerant line, and functional enrichment analysis revealed that these genes were involved in heat‐related processes and pathways. The miRNAs‐mRNAs target relationship was further verified by degradome sequencing. Eventually, 49 miRNAs‐222 mRNAs target pairs with reverse expression patterns showed significant relative expression changes between the heat‐tolerant and the heat‐sensitive line, being suggested to be responsible for the heat tolerance difference of these two rice lines. Functional analysis of these 222 mRNA transcripts showed that high night temperature‐responsive miRNAs targeted these mRNAs involved in many heat‐related biological processes, such as transcription regulation, chloroplast regulation, mitochondrion regulation, protein folding, hormone regulation and redox process. This study identified possible miRNA‐mRNA regulation relationships in response to high night temperature stress in rice and potentially contributed to heat resistance breeding of rice in the future.
Global chessboard: Analyzing how geopolitical risk shapes renewable energy technology investments
Authors: Zheng Xin , Li Chang , Ali Sajid , Adebayo Tomiwa Sunday
Published: April 2024

The allocation of budgets for renewable energy (RE) technology is significantly influenced by geopolitical risks (GPRs), reflecting the intricate interplay among global political dynamics, social media narratives, and the strategic investment decisions essential for advancing sustainable energy solutions. Against the backdrop of increasing worldwide initiatives to transition to RE sources, it is crucial to understand how GPR affects funding allocations, informing policy decisions, and fostering international collaboration to pursue sustainable energy solutions. Existing work probes the nonlinear effect of GPR on RE technology budgets (RTB) within the top 10 economies characterized by substantial research and development investments in RE (China, USA, Germany, Japan, France, South Korea, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Italy). Past research largely focused on panel data techniques to delve the interconnection between GPR and RE technology, overlooking the distinctive characteristics of individual economies. Contrarily, existing investigation implements the “Quantile‐on‐Quantile” tool to explore this association on an economy‐particular basis, enhancing the precision of our analysis and offering both a comprehensive global perspective and nuanced perceptions for entire countries. The findings manifest a significant reduction in funding for RE technology associated with GPR across various quantile levels in the chosen economies. The disparities in results spotlight the necessity for policymakers to perform thorough assessments and carry out competent strategies to address the variations in GPR and RTB.
From climatic to international shocks: Where does the evidence stand on income changes and child labor
Authors: Ravetti Chiara , Bozzola Martina , Bruederle Anna
Published: April 2024

Children in developing countries are vulnerable to shocks and adversities and child labor is often seen as a direct consequence of poverty and economic downturns. While such univocal causality may appear obvious, its empirical basis has not been systematically evaluated. To understand the linkages between shocks, changes in the economic situation of families and child labor, we therefore conduct a systematic literature review on the impact of income‐related shocks on child labor. We evaluate empirical studies of weather events and natural disasters, agricultural shocks such as crop failures, family shocks like parental illness, price shocks and transnational shocks through trade, migration, and remittances. Focusing on the literature that identifies causal effects, we find that the relationship between shocks and child labor is far from univocal. While in most cases adverse shocks increase child labor, we find that favorable shocks that improve earning opportunities may also cause more child labor. Policies to tackle child labor should therefore develop safety nets that minimize the probability of children being used as buffers in adverse economic downturns, but also consider the risk that positive economic shocks may attract children into labor due to changes to the value of children's time spent working.
Continuation of Reversible Contraception Following Enrollment in the Zika Contraception Access Network (Z‐CAN) in Puerto Rico, 2016–2020
Authors: Zapata Lauren B. , Kortsmit Katherine , Curtis Kathryn M. , Romero Lisa , Hurst Stacey , Lathrop Eva , Acosta Perez Edna , Sánchez Cesáreo Marizaida , Whiteman Maura K.
Published: April 2024

The Zika Contraception Access Network (Z‐CAN) provided access to high‐quality client‐centered contraceptive services across Puerto Rico during the 2016–2017 Zika virus outbreak. We sent online surveys during May 2017–August 2020 to a subset of Z‐CAN patients at 6, 24, and 36 months after program enrollment (response rates: 55–60 percent). We described contraceptive method continuation, method satisfaction, and method switching, and we identified characteristics associated with discontinuation using multivariable logistic regression. Across all contraceptive methods, continuation was 82.5 percent, 64.2 percent, and 49.9 percent at 6, 24, and 36 months, respectively. Among continuing users, method satisfaction was approximately ≥90 percent. Characteristics associated with decreased likelihood of discontinuation included: using an intrauterine device or implant compared with a nonlong‐acting reversible contraceptive method (shot, pills, ring, patch, or condoms alone); wanting to prevent pregnancy at follow‐up; and receiving as their baseline method the same method primarily used before Z‐CAN. Other associated characteristics included: receiving the method they were most interested in postcounseling (6 and 24 months) and being very satisfied with Z‐CAN services at the initial visit (6 months). Among those wanting to prevent pregnancy at follow‐up, about half reported switching to another method. Ongoing access to contraceptive services is essential for promoting reproductive autonomy, including supporting patients with continued use, method switching, or discontinuation.
The Narrative Cores of Neighbourhood Reputation as Revealed by Temporal Discourses
Authors: Heino Hanna , Honkaniemi Tuomas , Luoto Ilkka
Published: April 2024

Neighbourhood reputation is an elusive but much discussed and studied concept that greatly influences people's perceptions of and attitudes towards the residential areas of a city. The temporality related to neighbourhood reputation is a less studied topic. The emergence of a place‐based reputation is a complex social, spatial, temporal, and cultural process that is affected by the neighbourhood's residents and visitors, local and social media, and non‐residents who are knowledgeable about the area. We based our study of reputation on interviews with focus groups, city officials, and politicians. According to the interview data, neighbourhood reputation is articulated through four temporal discourses: the past, presentation, representation, and the future. Ultimately, underlying these four temporal discourses we found causes for neighbourhood reputation and stigmatisation that we named as narrative cores.
Geospatial analysis and prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni and soil‐transmitted helminth infections in an endemic area in Eastern Brazilian Amazon
Authors: da Trindade Marília Antônia Oliveira , Fonseca Álvaro Luan Santana , Dias Isabelle Helena Lima , de Sousa Sergei Rodrigo Magalhães , Enk Martin Johannes , Lima Karla Valéria Batista , de Paula Souza e Guimarães Ricardo Jose
Published: April 2024

Objectives

This study evaluated the occurrence of Schistosoma mansoni and soil‐transmitted helminths in an endemic area in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon, analysing prevalence and spatial distribution.

Methods

The study was conducted in four localities of Primavera Municipality, in Pará state. Data was obtained from the Decit 40/2012 project and the participants were divided into five age range categories for evaluation: children, adolescents, young adults, adults and elderly individuals. For the diagnostic tests, Kato–Katz slides were prepared to detect S. mansoni and soil‐transmitted helminths eggs. The spatial distribution map and the Kernel Density Estimation were performed to assess the presence and location of infections.

Results

Stool samples revealed the presence of hookworms, S. mansoni, Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura eggs. Mono‐, bi‐ and poly‐parasitic infections were observed, with a significant prevalence of hookworm monoparasitism.

Conclusions

The high frequency of children infected with soil‐transmitted helminths confirms their significance as an ongoing public health problem in the poorest municipalities of Brazil. The Geographic Information System plays a crucial role in environmental surveillance and in the control of epidemics and endemic diseases, enabling accurate assessment and informed decision‐making for their control.
Alternative splicing as a driver of natural variation in abscisic acid response
Authors: Díez Alba R. , Szakonyi Dóra , Lozano‐Juste Jorge , Duque Paula
Published: April 2024

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a crucial player in plant responses to the environment. It accumulates under stress, activating downstream signaling to implement molecular responses that restore homeostasis. Natural variance in ABA sensitivity remains barely understood, and the ABA pathway has been mainly studied at the transcriptional level, despite evidence that posttranscriptional regulation, namely, via alternative splicing, contributes to plant stress tolerance. Here, we identified the Arabidopsis accession Kn‐0 as less sensitive to ABA than the reference Col‐0, as shown by reduced effects of the hormone on seedling establishment, root branching, and stomatal closure, as well as by decreased induction of ABA marker genes. An in‐depth comparative transcriptome analysis of the ABA response in the two variants revealed lower expression changes and fewer genes affected for the least ABA‐sensitive ecotype. Notably, Kn‐0 exhibited reduced levels of the ABA‐signaling SnRK2 protein kinases and lower basal expression of ABA‐reactivation genes, consistent with our finding that Kn‐0 contains less endogenous ABA than Col‐0. ABA also markedly affected alternative splicing, primarily intron retention, with Kn‐0 being less responsive regarding both the number and magnitude of alternative splicing events, particularly exon skipping. We find that alternative splicing introduces a more ecotype‐specific layer of ABA regulation and identify ABA‐responsive splicing changes in key ABA pathway regulators that provide a functional and mechanistic link to the differential sensitivity of the two ecotypes. Our results offer new insight into the natural variation of ABA responses and corroborate a key role for alternative splicing in implementing ABA‐mediated stress responses.
All meromorphic solutions of the autonomous Schwarzian differential equations
Authors: Zhang Jie , Liao Liangwen , Wu Chengfa , Zhao Donghai
Published: April 2024

This paper considers a specific autonomous Schwarzian differential equation given by
and presents a complete characterization of its transcendental meromorphic solutions, thus confirming a conjecture posed by Liao and Wu recently. By combining our results with those obtained in a previous paper (Math. Z. 2 (2022), 1657–1672), we are able to explicitly construct all transcendental meromorphic solutions of the autonomous Schwarzian differential equations. Additionally, we identify all nonconstant rational solutions of the autonomous Schwarzian differential equations, with the exception of one special case.
Recurrence of ventricular fibrillation in out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest: Clinical evidence and underlying ionic mechanisms
Authors: Pandit Sandeep V. , Lampe Joshua W. , Silver Annemarie E.
Published: April 2024

Defibrillation remains the optimal therapy for terminating ventricular fibrillation (VF) in out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients, with reported shock success rates of ∼90%. A key persistent challenge, however, is the high rate of VF recurrence (∼50–80%) seen during post‐shock cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Studies have shown that the incidence and time spent in recurrent VF are negatively associated with neurologically‐intact survival. Recurrent VF also results in the administration of extra shocks at escalating energy levels, which can cause cardiac dysfunction. Unfortunately, the mechanisms underlying recurrent VF remain poorly understood. In particular, the role of chest‐compressions (CC) administered during CPR in mediating recurrent VF remains controversial. In this review, we first summarize the available clinical evidence for refibrillation occurring during CPR in OHCA patients, including the postulated contribution of CC and non‐CC related pathways. Next, we examine experimental studies highlighting how CC can re‐induce VF via direct mechano‐electric feedback. We postulate the ionic mechanisms involved by comparison with similar phenomena seen in commotio cordis. Subsequently, the hypothesized contribution of partial cardiac reperfusion (either as a result of CC or CC independent organized rhythm) in re‐initiating VF in a globally ischaemic heart is examined. An overview of the proposed ionic mechanisms contributing to VF recurrence in OHCA during CPR from a cellular level to the whole heart is outlined. Possible therapeutic implications of the proposed mechanistic theories for VF recurrence in OHCA are briefly discussed.

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An Incremental Interpolation Scheme With Discrete Cosine Series Expansion for Multimaterial Topology Optimization
Authors: Wang Zhanyu , Hu Xiaonan , Wang Hongyan , Zeng Qingliang , Bo Renheng , Fang Daining
Published: April 2024

Topology optimization is a powerful tool for structural design, while its computational cost is quite high due to the large number of design variables, especially for multilateral systems. Herein, an incremental interpolation approach with discrete cosine series expansion (DCSE) is established for multilateral topology optimization. A step function with shape coefficients (i.e., ensuring that no extra variables are required as the number of materials increases) and the use of the DCSE together reduces the number of variables (e.g., from 8400 to 120 for the optimization of the clamped–clamped beam with four materials). Remarkably, the proposed approach can effectively bypass the checkerboard problem without using any filter. The enhanced computational efficiency (e.g., a ∼89.2% reduction in computation time from 439.1 s to 47.4 s) of the proposed approach is validated via both 2D and 3D numerical cases.
An Analytical Friction Model for Handling and Spreading of Carbon Fiber Tows for Composite Prepregging Applications
Authors: Garofalo James , Walczyk Daniel
Published: April 2024

A novel co-extrusion system for continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites in filament and narrow-tape format was designed, fabricated, and tested. The new modified pultrusion process, called In Situ Impregnation, impregnates continuous dry fiber reinforcement tows in situ with thermoplastic matrix for applications ranging from 3D printing using robotic manipulation to automated fiber placement. The technical goal of the system is to directly co-extrude and impregnate a reinforcement fiber tow (carbon) with thermoplastic matrix injected by an extruder fed with thermoplastic pellets. This approach uses inexpensive materials instead of “prepreg” tow in order to streamline the additive manufacturing process, cut costs for advanced composites manufacturing, and deliver fully customizable fiber orientation. The purpose of this paper is to discuss analytical modeling of friction and fiber tensioning in the system which allows for the full impregnation of the fibers. Experiments were conducted on a working pultrusion system where load was adjusted through the tensioning system to better understand the amount of friction throughout the system, the magnitude of tension in the fiber tow, and to validate the models. The resulting friction model can be used by machine designers to estimate the tension in tows, ropes, fibers, etc. in similar tensioning devices, and estimate automated system specifications such as motor requirements. A brief description of the new manufacturing process is also provided. Future work includes commercialization of the technology, automation of the manufacturing system, and further modeling work to predict fiber spreading behavior based on geometric factors.
An Open–Closed Flow Separation in a Compressor Radial Diffuser
Authors: Duquesne Pierre , Dombard Jerome , Poujol Nicolas , Giauque Alexis
Published: April 2024

Large eddy simulations (LES) results are used to track flow separation zones in a splittered vaned radial diffuser near the compressor best efficiency at high rotation speed. The topology analysis reveals some closed separations at the corner of the blade and hub or shroud surface. In addition, an open–closed flow separation at the main blade pressure side is observed for the first time. The surface separation has the shape of a sheet at the blade mid-span, and the associated separation line is delimited only at its downstream extremity by a trailing edge node. This flow separation process is robust to a small shift in operating condition, and the separation surface remains essentially unchanged. A large flowrate variation converts the open–closed separation into a more classic closed separation. The evolution in time of the separation surface is also observed, and the authors conclude to the unsteady existence of the open–closed separation.
XPS guide for insulators: Electron flood gun operation and optimization, surface charging, controlled charging, differential charging, useful FWHMs, problems and solutions, and advice
Authors: Vincent Crist B.
Published: April 2024

Current day x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) instrument makers have made significant advances in charge compensation systems over the last 20 years, which makes it easier to analyze insulators, but samples still have many differences in chemistry, dielectric properties, sizes, surface roughness, etc. that force instrument operators to tweak flood gun settings if they want or need to obtain high quality chemical state spectra that provide the most information. This guide teaches which flood gun variables to check, and how to optimize electron flood gun settings by presenting high energy resolution, chemical state spectra that show the result of using a poorly aligned flood gun on modern XPS instruments equipped with a monochromatic aluminum Kalpha x-ray source. This guide is focused on the XPS measurement of insulators—nonconductive metal oxides and polymers. This guide shows that by measuring commonly available polymers (polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate) or ceramic materials (SiO2 and Al2O3), the operator can easily characterize the good and bad effects of XY position settings and other settings provided by modern electron flood gun systems. This guide includes many original, never-before-published XPS peak full width at half maximum (FWHM) that will greatly assist peak-fitting efforts. This guide reveals a direct correlation between electron count-rate and best charge-control settings. This guide discusses sample and instrument issues that affect surface charging and explains how to check the quality of charge control by measuring the FWHM and binding energy of C (1s) or O (1s) spectra produced from the sample currently being analyzed. A list of other charge-control methods is provided, along with advice and a best-known method. The availability of large extensive databases of actual spectra is extremely beneficial to users who need real-world examples of high quality chemical state spectra to guide their in-house efforts to collect high quality spectra and to interpret valuable information from the peak-fits of those spectra.
The influence of tympanic-membrane orientation on acoustic ear-canal quantities: A finite-element analysis
Authors: Nørgaard Kren Monrad , Motallebzadeh Hamid , Puria Sunil
Published: April 2024

Assuming plane waves, ear-canal acoustic quantities, collectively known as wideband acoustic immittance (WAI), are frequently used in research and in the clinic to assess the conductive status of the middle ear. Secondary applications include compensating for the ear-canal acoustics when delivering stimuli to the ear and measuring otoacoustic emissions. However, the ear canal is inherently non-uniform and terminated at an oblique angle by the conical-shaped tympanic membrane (TM), thus potentially confounding the ability of WAI quantities in characterizing the middle-ear status. This paper studies the isolated possible confounding effects of TM orientation and shape on characterizing the middle ear using WAI in human ears. That is, the non-uniform geometry of the ear canal is not considered except for that resulting from the TM orientation and shape. This is achieved using finite-element models of uniform ear canals terminated by both lumped-element and finite-element middle-ear models. In addition, the effects on stimulation and reverse-transmission quantities are investigated, including the physical significance of quantities seeking to approximate the sound pressure at the TM. The results show a relatively small effect of the TM orientation on WAI quantities, except for a distinct delay above 10 kHz, further affecting some stimulation and reverse-transmission quantities.
Is It Possible to Decolonize the Field of Physical Activity and Health?
Authors: Knuth Alan G. , Leite Giulia Salaberry , dos Santos Sueyla Ferreira da Silva , Crochemore-Silva Inácio
Published: April 2024

Is it possible to decolonize the field of physical activity and health? Decoloniality presupposes a body-geopolitical location, such as in the Brazilian and Latin American context, where it is crucial to use social identity lenses related to race, gender, sexuality, and other social markers that affect the body. Understanding health and physical activity from a decolonial perspective would bring the oppressions that connect capitalism, patriarchy, and racism to the center of the discussion. For a “physical activity other,” we challenged the general recommendation of physical activity in the 4 domains. Physical activity should be understood as an end in itself, as a right, and as human development. Approaches that advocate physical activity at work, at home, and while commuting use other human activities to relate these domains to health without considering the inequalities and oppressions that constitute them in most parts of the world. Is it fair to apply “global recommendations” for physical activity to scenarios such as Brazil and Latin America, using models that are inappropriate to the context and history of these places, people, and cultures? Perhaps it is time to socially reorient and reposition physical activity from a decolonial perspective. We need Black, Indigenous, Latino, African, and other people from the Global South to move the research agenda, recommendations, and policies on physical activity from “any” health to a fair health.
Voluntary Contraction of the Abdominal Muscles During Shoulder Exercises Increases Scapular Muscle Activation: A Critically Appraised Topic
Authors: Caylan Gurses Kubra , Can Ezgi Nur , Kuyulu Haksal Pinar , Dingirdan Birgul , Harput Gulcan
Published: April 2024

Clinical Scenario: The fascial relationship between scapular muscles and abdominal muscles has been documented from previous studies. However, it is not yet clear whether voluntary abdominal contraction has a beneficial effect on scapular muscle activity during shoulder exercises. Clinical Question: Do scapulothoracic muscle activation levels increase if shoulder exercises are performed with voluntary abdominal activation? Summary of Key Finding: After the literature review, 4 cross-sectional studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this critically appraised topic. Clinical Bottom Line: There is moderate evidence to support dynamic shoulder exercises with voluntary abdominal contraction can increase trapezius and serratus anterior muscle activation level in asymptomatic shoulders. Strength and Recommendation: Findings from 4 cross-sectional trials indicate that there is moderate evidence supporting that dynamic shoulder exercises performed with voluntary abdominal contraction can increase scapular muscle activity.
Observation of current whirlpools in graphene at room temperature
Authors: Palm Marius L. , Ding Chaoxin , Huxter William S. , Taniguchi Takashi , Watanabe Kenji , Degen Christian L.
Published: April 2024

Electron–electron interactions in high-mobility conductors can give rise to transport signatures resembling those described by classical hydrodynamics. Using a nanoscale scanning magnetometer, we imaged a distinctive hydrodynamic transport pattern—stationary current vortices—in a monolayer graphene device at room temperature. By measuring devices with increasing characteristic size, we observed the disappearance of the current vortex and thus verified a prediction of the hydrodynamic model. We further observed that vortex flow is present for both hole- and electron-dominated transport regimes but disappears in the ambipolar regime. We attribute this effect to a reduction of the vorticity diffusion length near charge neutrality. Our work showcases the power of local imaging techniques for unveiling exotic mesoscopic transport phenomena.
Data, death, and what comes next
The Afterlife of Data: What Happens to Your Information When You Die and Why You Should Care
Carl Öhman
University of Chicago Press, 2024. 200 pp.
Authors: Shilton Katie
Published: April 2024

A scholar outlines how to respect the digital traces the dead leave behind
Observation of a Chern insulator in crystalline ABCA-tetralayer graphene with spin-orbit coupling
Authors: Sha Yating , Zheng Jian , Liu Kai , Du Hong , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Jia Jinfeng , Shi Zhiwen , Zhong Ruidan , Chen Guorui
Published: April 2024

Degeneracies in multilayer graphene, including spin, valley, and layer degrees of freedom, can be lifted by Coulomb interactions, resulting in rich broken-symmetry states. Here, we report a ferromagnetic state in charge-neutral ABCA-tetralayer graphene driven by proximity-induced spin-orbit coupling from adjacent tungsten diselenide. The ferromagnetic state is identified as a Chern insulator with a Chern number of 4; its maximum Hall resistance reaches 78% quantization at zero magnetic field and is fully quantized at either 0.4 or –1.5 tesla. Three distinct broken-symmetry insulating states, layer-antiferromagnet, Chern insulator, and layer-polarized insulator, along with their transitions, can be continuously tuned by the vertical displacement field. In this system, the magnetic order of the Chern insulator can be switched by three knobs, including magnetic field, electrical doping, and vertical displacement field.
The genetics of niche-specific behavioral tendencies in an adaptive radiation of cichlid fishes
Authors: Sommer-Trembo Carolin , Santos M. Emília , Clark Bethan , Werner Marco , Fages Antoine , Matschiner Michael , Hornung Simon , Ronco Fabrizia , Oliver Chantal , Garcia Cody , Tschopp Patrick , Malinsky Milan , Salzburger Walter
Published: April 2024

Behavior is critical for animal survival and reproduction, and possibly for diversification and evolutionary radiation. However, the genetics behind adaptive variation in behavior are poorly understood. In this work, we examined a fundamental and widespread behavioral trait, exploratory behavior, in one of the largest adaptive radiations on Earth, the cichlid fishes of Lake Tanganyika. By integrating quantitative behavioral data from 57 cichlid species (702 wild-caught individuals) with high-resolution ecomorphological and genomic information, we show that exploratory behavior is linked to macrohabitat niche adaptations in Tanganyikan cichlids. Furthermore, we uncovered a correlation between the genotypes at a single-nucleotide polymorphism upstream of the AMPA glutamate-receptor regulatory gene
cacng5b
and variation in exploratory tendency. We validated this association using behavioral predictions with a neural network approach and CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing.
Food perception promotes phosphorylation of MFFS131 and mitochondrial fragmentation in liver
Authors: Henschke Sinika , Nolte Hendrik , Magoley Judith , Kleele Tatjana , Brandt Claus , Hausen A. Christine , Wunderlich Claudia M. , Bauder Corinna A. , Aschauer Philipp , Manley Suliana , Langer Thomas , Wunderlich F. Thomas , Brüning Jens C.
Published: April 2024

Liver mitochondria play a central role in metabolic adaptations to changing nutritional states, yet their dynamic regulation upon anticipated changes in nutrient availability has remained unaddressed. Here, we found that sensory food perception rapidly induced mitochondrial fragmentation in the liver through protein kinase B/AKT (AKT)–dependent phosphorylation of serine 131 of the mitochondrial fission factor (MFFS131). This response was mediated by activation of hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)–expressing neurons. A nonphosphorylatable MFF
S131G
knock-in mutation abrogated AKT-induced mitochondrial fragmentation in vitro. In vivo, MFF
S131G
knock-in mice displayed altered liver mitochondrial dynamics and impaired insulin-stimulated suppression of hepatic glucose production. Thus, rapid activation of a hypothalamus–liver axis can adapt mitochondrial function to anticipated changes of nutritional state in control of hepatic glucose metabolism.
Nitrate reduction enables safer aryldiazonium chemistry
Authors: Mateos Javier , Schulte Tim , Behera Deepak , Leutzsch Markus , Altun Ahmet , Sato Takuma , Waldbach Felix , Schnegg Alexander , Neese Frank , Ritter Tobias
Published: April 2024

Aryldiazonium salts remain a staple in organic synthesis and are still prepared largely in accord with the protocol developed in the 19th century. Because of the favorable reactivity that often cannot be achieved with other aryl(pseudo)halides, diazonium chemistry continues to grow. Facile extrusion of dinitrogen contributes to the desired reactivity but is also reason for safety concerns. Explosions have occurred since the discovery of these reagents and still result in accidents. In this study, we report a diazonium chemistry paradigm shift based on nitrate reduction using thiosulfate or dihalocuprates as electron donors that avoids diazonium accumulation. Because nitrate reduction is rate-limiting, aryldiazoniums are produced as fleeting intermediates, which results in a safer and often more efficient deaminative halogenation in a single step from anilines.
Science needs neurodiversity
Authors: Thorp H. Holden
Published: April 2024

All brains work differently. Individuals process information and engage with the world in ways that are influenced by a multitude of biological, cultural, and social factors. In the world of science, these differences are what spark innovation. This is why the scientific community needs to better recognize the enormous potential of neurodiversity and bear in mind that certain behavioral and cognitive traits that may strike some as unusual can be catalytic to the scientific quest.
Virion-incorporated CD14 enables HIV-1 to bind LPS and initiate TLR4 signaling in immune cells
Authors: Persaud Arvin T. , Khela Jasmin , Fernandes Claire , Chaphekar Deepa , Burnie Jonathan , Tang Vera A. , Colpitts Che C. , Guzzo Christina
Published: April 2024

HIV-1 has a broad range of nuanced interactions with the immune system, and the incorporation of cellular proteins by nascent virions continues to redefine our understanding of the virus-host relationship. Proteins located at the sites of viral egress can be selectively incorporated into the HIV-1 envelope, imparting new functions and phenotypes onto virions, and impacting viral spread and disease. Using virion capture assays and western blot, we show that HIV-1 can incorporate the myeloid antigen CD14 into its viral envelope. Virion-incorporated CD14 remained biologically active and able to bind its natural ligand, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), as demonstrated by flow virometry and immunoprecipitation assays. Using a Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) reporter cell line, we also demonstrated that virions with bound LPS can trigger TLR4 signaling to activate transcription factors that regulate inflammatory gene expression. Complementary assays with THP-1 monocytes demonstrated enhanced secretion of inflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and the C-C chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5), when exposed to LPS-loaded virus. These data highlight a new type of interplay between HIV-1 and the myeloid cell compartment, a previously well-established cellular contributor to HIV-1 pathogenesis and inflammation. Persistent gut inflammation is a hallmark of chronic HIV-1 infection, and contributing to this effect is the translocation of microbes across the gut epithelium. Our data herein provide proof of principle that virion-incorporated CD14 could be a novel mechanism through which HIV-1 can drive chronic inflammation, facilitated by HIV-1 particles binding bacterial LPS and initiating inflammatory signaling in TLR4-expressing cells.

IMPORTANCE

HIV-1 establishes a lifelong infection accompanied by numerous immunological changes. Inflammation of the gut epithelia, exacerbated by the loss of mucosal T cells and cytokine dysregulation, persists during HIV-1 infection. Feeding back into this loop of inflammation is the translocation of intestinal microbes across the gut epithelia, resulting in the systemic dissemination of bacterial antigens, like lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Our group previously demonstrated that the LPS receptor, CD14, can be readily incorporated by HIV-1 particles, supporting previous clinical observations of viruses derived from patient plasma. We now show that CD14 can be incorporated by several primary HIV-1 isolates and that this virion-incorporated CD14 can remain functional, enabling HIV-1 to bind to LPS. This subsequently allowed CD14
+
virions to transfer LPS to monocytic cells, eliciting pro-inflammatory signaling and cytokine secretion. We posit here that virion-incorporated CD14 is a potential contributor to the dysregulated immune responses present in the setting of HIV-1 infection.
Miocene vanishing of the Central American Seaway between the Panamá Arc and the South American Plate
Authors: Vallejo-Hincapié Felipe , Pardo-Trujillo Andrés , Barbosa-Espitia Ángel , Aguirre Daniela , Celis Sergio A. , Giraldo-Villegas Carlos A. , Plata-Torres Ángelo , Trejos-Tamayo Raúl , Salazar-Ríos Andrés , Flores José-Abel , Aubry Marie-Pierre , Gallego Fabián , Delgado Eduardo , Foster David
Published: April 2024

A controversy has developed in recent years regarding the timing of the closure of the Central American Seaway. This tectonic event significantly impacted oceanic circulation between the tropical Pacific and Atlantic oceans and resulted in the formation of a land bridge connecting the South and North American continents. The long-held view of a Pliocene age (ca. 3 Ma) for the closure of the Central American Seaway has been challenged by the proposal that the Panamá Arc collided with South America during the Middle Miocene (15–13 Ma) as a deep oceanic gap between them closed along the Uramita suture zone. However, direct geologic evidence from this suture zone to support either interpretation has been lacking. Here, we report on a comprehensive study of three stratigraphic transects across the Uramita suture zone, using a host of methodologies including sedimentological, ichnological, micropaleontological, U-Pb detrital geochronological, and provenance analyses. Our data reveal that lower offshore to slope conditions prevailed in the Central American Seaway along the suture zone during the latest Early to earliest Middle Miocene (16.4–15.1 Ma) and that oceanic conditions there ceased to exist between the Middle and Late Miocene. These results agree with the Middle Miocene age proposed for the Central American Seaway closure along the tectonic boundary. However, other deeper portions of the Central American Seaway persisted in western Colombia, which challenges the notion of a Central American Seaway confined to the suture zone between the Panamá Arc and South American Plate during the Middle Miocene.
Niobium ore genesis in a capsule
Authors: Williams-Jones A.E. , Vasyukova O.V. , Kostyuk A.V.
Published: April 2024

Experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that carbonatite-hosted Nb deposits owe their origin to the metasomatic alteration of K-feldspar-rich fenite by carbonatitic magma. This involved reacting K-feldspar with a synthetic mixture of CaCO3, MgCO3, Mg(OH)2, CaF2, and Nb2O5. At the experimental conditions, a phlogopite-rich calcite-bearing metasomatic rind containing pyrochlore formed on the K-feldspar. This supports the above hypothesis and also explains the origin of fenite-associated glimmerite, the association of glimmerite with calcite carbonatite, and the genesis of the carbonatite-hosted ores that supply the bulk of the world's niobium.
Building consensus on common features and interoperability use cases for community health information systems: a Delphi study
Authors: Holeman Isaac , Citrin David , Albirair Mohamed , Puttkammer Nancy , Ballard Madeleine , DeRenzi Brian , O'Donovan James , Wasunna Beatrice
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Information systems for community health have become increasingly sophisticated and evidence-based in the last decade and they are now the most widely used health information systems in many low-income and middle-income countries. This study aimed to establish consensus regarding key features and interoperability priorities for community health information systems (CHISs).

Methods

A Delphi study was conducted among a systematically selected panel of CHIS experts. This impressive pool of experts represented a range of leading global health institutions, with gender and regional balance as well as diversity in their areas of expertise. Through five rounds of iterative surveys and follow-up interviews, the experts established a high degree of consensus. We supplemented the Delphi study findings with a series of focus group discussions with 10 community health worker (CHW) leaders.

Results

CHISs today are expected to adapt to a wide range of local contextual requirements and to support and improve care delivery. While once associated with a single role type (CHWs), these systems are now expected to engage other end users, including patients, supervisors, clinicians and data managers. Of 30 WHO-classified digital health interventions for care providers, experts identified 23 (77%) as being important for CHISs. Case management and care coordination features accounted for more than one-third (14 of 37, 38%) of the core features expected of CHISs today, a higher proportion than any other category. The highest priority use cases for interoperability include CHIS to health management information system monthly reporting and CHIS to electronic medical record referrals.

Conclusion

CHISs today are expected to be feature-rich, to support a range of user roles in community health systems, and to be highly adaptable to local contextual requirements. Future interoperability efforts, such as CHISs in general, are expected not only to move data efficiently but to strengthen community health systems in ways that measurably improve care.
Innovation adoption, use and implementation in emergency departments during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Huilgol Shreya S , Berdahl Carl T , Qureshi Nabeel , Cohen Catherine C , Mendel Peter , Fischer Shira H
Published: April 2024

Introduction

During a public health emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency department (ED) clinicians may be able to save more lives if they rapidly identify and implement innovations that are safe and effective. However, there is little research examining clinician decision-making around innovation implementation during public health emergencies and when evidence-based information is limited.

Objective

The goals of this study were to understand how ED clinicians decided to implement innovations and to describe the facilitators and challenges they faced during implementation.

Methods

We conducted 3 pilot interviews and 13 focus group discussions with clinicians from eight hospital-based EDs across the USA. Seventeen physicians, seven advanced practice providers, 18 nurses and seven respiratory therapists participated. We used inductive and deductive techniques to perform content and thematic analysis of focus group transcripts.

Results

Participants cited social media, clinician autonomy, limited resources, organisational culture, supportive leadership and outside experiences as facilitators of trying innovations. Challenges in trying new innovations included limited evidence-based information, evolving guidelines, fear, moral distress and clinician pushback. Facilitators of using innovations in practice included leadership advocating for continued use, signs of patient improvement, ease of adoption and adequate resources. Challenges were the lack of familiarity, no established protocol and limited information dissemination about best practices.

Conclusion

Our study highlights factors that influenced innovation adoption and implementation in EDs during the COVID-19 pandemic, including how fear and moral distress affected decision-making. Organisations can support the implementation of promising innovations by selecting strong leaders, ensuring clinician psychological safety, providing protocols and resources and highlighting successes.