bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential gene expression in tall fescue tissues in response to water deficit
Authors: Chakrabarti Manohar , Nagabhyru Padmaja , Schardl Christopher L. , Dinkins Randy D.
Published: March 2022

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is a popular pasture and turf grass particularly known for drought resistance, allowing for its persistence in locations that are unfavorable for other cool‐season grasses. Also, its seed‐borne fungal symbiont (endophyte) Epichloë coenophiala, which resides in the crown and pseudostem, can be a contributing factor in its drought tolerance. Because it contains the apical meristems, crown survival under drought stress is critical to plant survival as well as the endophyte. In this study, we subjected tall fescue plants with their endophyte to water‐deficit stress or, as controls with normal watering, then compared plant transcriptome responses in four vegetative tissues: leaf blades, pseudostem, crown, and roots. A transcript was designated a differentially expressed gene (DEG) if it exhibited at least a twofold expression difference between stress and control samples with an adjusted p value of .001. Pathway analysis of the DEGs across all tissue types included photosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, phytohormone biosynthesis and signaling, cellular organization, and a transcriptional regulation. While no specific pathway was observed to be differentially expressed in the crown, genes encoding auxin response factors, nuclear pore anchors, structural maintenance of chromosomes, and class XI myosin proteins were more highly differentially expressed in crown than in the other vegetative tissues, suggesting that regulation in expression of these genes in the crown may aid in survival of the meristems in the crown.
Frequency of missed or delayed diagnosis in dementia is associated with neighborhood socioeconomic status
Authors: Holm Ellen , Jacobsen Katja Kemp , de Lony Thea Bang , Lembeck Maurice , Pedersen Hanne , Andersson Charlotte , Johannsen Peter , Jørgensen Terese Sara Høj , Torp‐Pedersen Christian
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Underdetection of dementia in areas with low socioeconomic status (SES) may interfere with findings concerning associations between SES and dementia.

Methods

Using administrative registers we assessed the associations between age‐ and sex‐adjusted dementia incidence and neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES) in 94 Danish municipalities. Wealth was divided into income quartiles and other nSES variables were dichotomized into high versus low according to the median.

Results

High population density (odds ratio [OR] 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18–1.24), higher proportion of inhabitants in higher income quartiles (P for trend < .0001), and high educational level (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.15–1.22) were associated with higher incidence of dementia. High proportion of residents above 65 years was associated with lower age‐adjusted dementia incidence (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.84–0.89).

Discussion

Low nSES municipalities have a lower age‐adjusted incidence of dementia diagnosis. These findings corroborate prior concerns that a large number of dementia diagnoses may be missed in municipalities characterized by low SES.
Evaluating South African and Namibian governments’ use of digital media during Covid‐19
Authors: Sitto Karabo , Lubinga Elizabeth , Chiumbu Sarah , Sobane Konosoang , Mpofu Nkosinothando
Published: March 2022

Governments during the Covid‐19 pandemic in response to the challenge of reaching as many of their citizens as quickly as possible have relied on the use of digital media communication. Various stakeholders, however, have questioned whether strategic use of digital communication by governments has been effective during the Covid‐19 health crisis. We thematically analyzed a public online bi‐country webinar and conducted a netnographic analysis of South African Health Minister Dr. Zweli Mkhize and Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services Twitter accounts to evaluate the effectiveness of government digital communication during the Covid‐19 pandemic. Stakeholders and social media analysis highlight that government digital communication has lacked engagement, falling short in assisting citizens to understand the effects of the Covid‐19 pandemic. We highlight the shortcomings of governments simply transmitting information on channels built for dialogue, the digital divide limiting reach, as well as how limited engagement opens up opportunities for misinformation.
Ten dimensional symmetry of $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 SYM correlators
Authors: Caron-Huot Simon , Coronado Frank
Published: March 2022

Abstract

We consider four-point correlation functions of protected single-trace scalar operators in planar $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills (SYM). We conjecture that all loop corrections derive from an integrand which enjoys a ten-dimensional symmetry. This symmetry combines spacetime and R-charge transformations. By considering a 10D light-like limit, we extend the correlator/amplitude duality by equating large R-charge octagons with Coulomb branch scattering amplitudes. Using results from integrability, this predicts new finite amplitudes as well as some Feynman integrals.
Investigating hole making performance of Al 2024-T3/Ti-6Al-4V alloy stacks: A comparative study of conventional drilling, peck drilling and helical milling
Authors: Ge Jia , Reji Rincy , Feist Toby , Elmore Alexander , McClelland John , Higgins Colm , McLaughlin Brian , Jin Yan , Sun Dan
Published: March 2022

This work reports a comparative study on different hole making methods, namely conventional drilling, peck drilling and helical milling, for Al 2024-T3/Ti-6Al-4V stacks in aircraft applications. The impacts of different hole making methods with constant or varied machining parameters across the stacked structures have been investigated. The resulting exit burr, hole surface roughness/microstructural change and fatigue behaviour of the machined stacks have been characterized in detail. Results show that the exit burr formation is most severe for conventional drilling and least burr is produced in helical milling coupons. Deploying varying parameters (i.e. optimal parameters for each individual metal layer) across the stacks can effectively reduce the burr formation in conventional drilling and peck drilling. 3D surface morphology shows that Al 2024-T3 hole surface contains multiple scratches and trenches, while Ti-6Al-4V hole surface features regular feed marks. Helical milling leads to the highest Al 2024-T3 hole surface roughness, which can be attributed to the abrasion caused by the evacuated Ti-6Al-4V chips. Sub-surface microstructural analysis shows that the Ti-6Al-4V layer is more prone to machining-induced microstructural change (i.e. white layer formation and/or grain plastic deformation along machining direction). The relatively low fatigue performance of stacks produced by conventional drilling and peck drilling with constant parameters can be related to the presence of the brittle Ti-6Al-4V white layer in these coupons. Deploying varied parameters across stacks in conventional drilling and peck drilling can effectively eliminate Ti-6Al-4V white layer formation and improve the stacks fatigue life by 72% and 38%, respectively. Helical milling leads to the longest stack fatigue life (~ 100% and 40% greater than conventional drilling and peck drilling, respectively).
Anatomic risk factors for the occurrence of medial talar osteochondral lesions: a case–control study
Authors: Sonnow Lena , Pacha Tarek Omar , Richter Maximilian , Yapar Dilek , Cetin Mustafa , Celik Omer Faruk , Kose Ozkan
Published: March 2022

Objective

This study aimed to determine the anatomical risk factors that may play a role in the etiology of medial-sided osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) using morphological parameters in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Subjects and methods

One hundred twenty-four patients with medial-sided OLT and age- and sex-matched 124 controls were included in this retrospective study. Two examiners conducted independent OLT classification and measurements of five MRI parameters: tibial axis-medial malleolus angle (TMM), the anterior opening angle of the talus (AOT), talus position (TalPos), the ratio of the distal tibial articular surface to the length of the trochlea tali arc (TAS/TAL), depth of the incisura fibularis (IncDep). Statistical analysis included intraclass correlation coefficients, independent t-tests, receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, area under the curve (AUC) calculation, and logistic regression analysis. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

TTM, AOT, TalPos, and TAL values were significantly higher and the TAS/TAL ratio was significantly lower in the case group than in the control group (p < 0.001). Cut-off and AUC values for TMM were 15.15° (AUC 0.763), AOT 13.05° (AUC 0.826), TalPos 0.75 mm (AUC 0.887), TAL 35.45 mm (AUC 0.642), and TAS/TAL ratio 0.82 (AUC 0.784), p < 0.001. Multivariate logistic regression analysis results were odds ratio (OR) = 6.1 for TMM ≥ 15.15°, OR = 8.9 for AOT ≥ 13.05°, OR = 36.1 for TalPos ≥ 0.75 mm, and OR = 6.7 for TAS/TAL ratio ≤ 0.82.

Conclusion

Ankle morphology might have an influence on OLT development. The talus position (TalPos) and anterior opening angle of the talus (AOT) seemed to be the strongest predisposing factors.
Increasing trees and high-albedo surfaces decreases heat impacts and mortality in Los Angeles, CA
Authors: Kalkstein Laurence S. , Eisenman David P. , de Guzman Edith B. , Sailor David J.
Published: March 2022

There is a pressing need for strategies to prevent the heat-health impacts of climate change. Cooling urban areas through adding trees and vegetation and increasing solar reflectance of roofs and pavements with higher albedo surface materials are recommended strategies for mitigating the urban heat island. We quantified how various tree cover and albedo scenarios would impact heat-related mortality, temperature, humidity, and oppressive air masses in Los Angeles, California, and quantified the number of years that climate change–induced warming could be delayed in Los Angeles if interventions were implemented. Using synoptic climatology, we used meteorological data for historical summer heat waves, classifying days into discrete air mass types. We analyzed those data against historical mortality data to determine excess heat-related mortality. We then used the Weather Research and Forecasting model to explore the effects that tree cover and albedo scenarios would have, correlating the resultant meteorological data with standardized mortality data algorithms to quantify potential reductions in mortality. We found that roughly one in four lives currently lost during heat waves could be saved. We also found that climate change–induced warming could be delayed approximately 40–70 years under business-as-usual and moderate mitigation scenarios, respectively.
Systematic review and meta-analysis: analysis of variables influencing the interpretation of clinical trial results in NAFLD
Authors: Ampuero Javier , Gallego-Durán Rocío , Maya-Miles Douglas , Montero Rocío , Gato Sheila , Rojas Ángela , Gil Antonio , Muñoz Rocío , Romero-Gómez Manuel
Published: March 2022

Background

NAFLD clinical trials have shown suboptimal results, particularly for liver fibrosis, despite the robust preclinical drug development. We aimed to assess the histological response after the experimental treatment versus placebo by carrying out a meta-analysis of NAFLD clinical trials.

Methods

After a systematic review of NAFLD clinical trials to May 2021, applying strict selection criteria, the following primary outcomes were observed: (a) NASH resolution, with no worsening of fibrosis when available; (b) fibrosis improvement  ≥ 1 stage, with no worsening of NAS when available; (c) worsening of NAS; (d) worsening of liver fibrosis  ≥ 1 stage, including the progression to cirrhosis on histopathology. Other histological, clinical, and biochemical outcomes were considered secondary endpoints. Heterogeneity was explored by subgroup and sensitivity analyses, and univariable meta-regression.

Results

Twenty-seven randomized clinical trials were included. The pooled efficacy for NASH resolution receiving experimental therapy was 19% (95%CI 15–23;I296.2%) compared with placebo 10% (95%CI 7–12;I285.8%) (OR 1.66 (95%CI 1.24–2.21);I257.8%), while it was 26% (95%CI 22–29);I290%)) versus 18% (95%CI 15–21;I259%)) for fibrosis improvement (OR 1.34 (95%CI 1.13–1.58);I225.4%). For these outcomes, the therapy showed higher efficacy in trials longer than 48 weeks, with  < 60% of diabetic population, and when it targeted FXR, PPAR, and antidiabetic mechanisms, and with a NAS  < 5 for NASH resolution. Also, NASH (OR 0.57 (95%CI 0.39–0.84);I267%) and fibrosis worsening (OR 0.65 (95%CI 0.46–0.92);I261.9%) were prevented with the therapy.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis provides information about the efficacy of the therapy versus placebo by comparing different and combined trial outcomes such as NASH resolution, fibrosis improvement, and NAS and fibrosis worsening. Changes in the experimental design and selection criteria of the clinical trials might be suitable to increase the efficacy.
Ultra-compact SOS-based bi-metallic TM-pass polarizer
Authors: Abd-Elkader Ahmed El-Sayed , ELDamarawy Eman , Hameed Mohamed Farhat O. , Obayya Salah S. A.
Published: March 2022

Ultra-compact transverse magnetic (TM)-pass polarizer based on silicon on sapphire (SOS) platform is proposed and analysed. Low power consumption, high linearity and high speed of transmission are the major advantages of the SOS platform in different commercial applications especially in the mid infrared region.The suggested structure has bimetallic configuration of aluminium doped zinc oxide (AZO) and zirconium nitride (ZrN) to highly attenuate the quasi transverse electric (TE) mode. This is due to the coupling between the fundamental TE and the surface plasmon modes. However, the transverse magnetic mode can propagate with minimal losses. At 2.0 µm operating wavelength, the proposed TM-pass polarizer realizes 20.3 dB extinction ratio (ER) with 0.14 dB insertion loss (IL) at a device length of 3.0 µm. Therefore, the reported design has advantages of compact length, high efficiency and CMOS-compatibility.
A global review of the critical link between river flows and productivity in marine fisheries
Authors: Broadley Andrew , Stewart-Koster Ben , Burford Michele A. , Brown Christopher J.
Published: March 2022

Around 36,000 km3 of freshwater flows through rivers and estuarine ecosystems and enter the world’s coastal fishing regions every year. The flow of freshwater and sediments creates regional changes in coastal circulation, stimulates marine productivity and helps define the hydrologic properties of estuarine and oceanic waters. These processes can affect different life stages of marine species either directly, through variations in salinity and temperature, or indirectly, due to changes in the availability of food and habitat. This paper reviews the relationship between freshwater flowing through estuarine and coastal ecosystems, and the variable productivity associated with global marine capture fisheries. The results of a global synthesis revealed that 72% of species representing 77% of the total catch (43 million tonnes) were linked to river flows for at least some part of their life cycle. Insights into how the relationship between flow and fishery production varies globally indicates wild capture fisheries and freshwater resources would benefit from an integrated planning and management approach.
First- and Second-Level Bias in Automated Decision-making
Authors: Franke Ulrik
Published: March 2022

Recent advances in artificial intelligence offer many beneficial prospects. However, concerns have been raised about the opacity of decisions made by these systems, some of which have turned out to be biased in various ways. This article makes a contribution to a growing body of literature on how to make systems for automated decision-making more transparent, explainable, and fair by drawing attention to and further elaborating a distinction first made by Nozick (1993) between first-level bias in the application of standards and second-level bias in the choice of standards, as well as a second distinction between discrimination and arbitrariness. Applying the typology developed, a number of illuminating observations are made. First, it is observed that some reported bias in automated decision-making is first-level arbitrariness, which can be alleviated by explainability techniques. However, such techniques have only a limited potential to alleviate first-level discrimination. Second, it is argued that second-level arbitrariness is probably quite common in automated decision-making. In contrast to first-level arbitrariness, however, second-level arbitrariness is not straightforward to detect automatically. Third, the prospects for alleviating arbitrariness are discussed. It is argued that detecting and alleviating second-level arbitrariness is a profound problem because there are many contrasting and sometimes conflicting standards from which to choose, and even when we make intentional efforts to choose standards for good reasons, some second-level arbitrariness remains.
Dystrophin genetic variants and autism
Authors: Passos-Bueno Maria Rita , Costa Claudia Ismania Samogy , Zatz Mayana
Published: March 2022

Loss-of-function variants in the dystrophin gene, a well-known cause of muscular dystrophies, have emerged as a mutational risk mechanism for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which in turn is a highly prevalent (~ 1%) genetically heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder. Although the association of intellectual disability with the dystrophinopathies Duchenne (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) has been long established, their association with ASD is more recent, and the dystrophin genotype-ASD phenotype correlation is unclear. We therefore present a review of the literature focused on the ASD prevalence among dystrophinopathies, the relevance of the dystrophin isoforms, and most particularly the relevance of the genetic background to the etiology of ASD in these patients. Four families with ASD-DMD/BMD patients are also reported here for the first time. These include a single ASD individual, ASD-discordant and ASD-concordant monozygotic twins, and non-identical ASD triplets. Notably, two unrelated individuals, which were first ascertained because of the ASD phenotype at ages 15 and 5 years respectively, present rare dystrophin variants still poorly characterized, suggesting that some dystrophin variants may compromise the brain more prominently. Whole exome sequencing in these ASD-DMD/BMD individuals together with the literature suggest, although based on preliminary data, a complex and heterogeneous genetic architecture underlying ASD in dystrophinopathies, that include rare variants of large and medium effect. The need for the establishment of a consortia for genomic investigation of ASD-DMD/BMD patients, which may shed light on the genetic architecture of ASD, is discussed.
Development and Validation of the Chinese Version of The Masturbation Beliefs Scale
Authors: Ren Zhengjia , Liu Yanhong , Deng Jianjun
Published: March 2022

Background

Negative experiences of and beliefs regarding masturbation frequently affect people's psychological well-being and health behaviors, but there is currently no specific assessment tool to measure Chinese people's beliefs about masturbation.

Aim

The goal of the present study was to develop a brief scale (the Masturbation Beliefs Scale, BMS) for Chinese university students.

Methods

The BMS was developed and administered online to 2 different samples, with a total sample of 3,231 respondents (1,527 males and 1,704 females). The items were formulated based on previous qualitative research data. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed.

Outcomes

The BMS scale contains 3 dimensions with good internal consistency and construct validity, which can well measure Chinese people's belief about masturbation.

Results

The results of the two samples showed that the 17-item culturally based BMS demonstrated good internal consistency and construct validity. Three factors capturing university students’ beliefs regarding masturbation emerged. The 3 factors were labeled beliefs about male masturbation (BAMM), beliefs about female masturbation (BAFM), and negative affect toward masturbation (NATM). The participants’ culturally based masturbation beliefs were negatively related to independent self-construal and sexual compulsivity. In addition, their culturally based masturbation beliefs consistently predicted their likelihood of premarital sexual behavior.

Clinical Translation

Clinicians and researchers could utilize this culturally sensitive instrument to evaluate individuals’ experiences of masturbation, which could help clinicians deliver efficacious sex therapy and sexual education to individuals who have misconceptions or phobias regarding masturbation.

Strengths and limitations

The scale is an innovative tool that measures culturally relevant beliefs regarding masturbation among Chinese students. A limitation of this study is that several constructs were measured by single questions. This may attenuate the estimated correlation since single items are less reliable than multiple-item scales.

Conclusion

The present research demonstrates that a culturally sensitive scale is necessary to understand the culturally based values that influence university students’ beliefs regarding masturbation and sexual behavior.
Devotional Refrains in Medieval Latin Song
Authors: Caldwell Mary Channen
Published: March 2022

Throughout medieval Europe, male and female religious communities attached to churches, abbeys, and schools participated in devotional music making outside of the chanted liturgy. Newly collating over 400 songs from primary sources, this book reveals the role of Latin refrains and refrain songs in the musical lives of religious communities by employing novel interdisciplinary and analytical approaches to the study of medieval song. Through interpretive frameworks focused on time and temporality, performance, memory, inscription, and language, each chapter offers an original perspective on how refrains were created, transmitted, and performed. Arguing for the Latin refrain's significance as a marker of form and meaning, this book identifies it as a tool that communities used to negotiate their lived experiences of liturgical and calendrical time; to confirm their communal identity and belonging to song communities; and to navigate relationships between Latin and vernacular song and dance that emerge within their multilingual contexts.
Explorations in Ancient and Modern Philosophy
Authors: Burnyeat Myles , Atack Carol , Schofield Malcolm , Sedley David
Published: March 2022

Myles Burnyeat (1939-2019) was a major figure in the study of ancient Greek philosophy during the last decades of the twentieth century and the first of this. After teaching positions in London and Cambridge, where he became Laurence Professor, in 1996 he took up a Senior Research Fellowship at All Souls College, Oxford, from which he retired in 2006. In 2012 he published two volumes collecting essays dating from before the move to Oxford. Two new posthumously published volumes bring together essays from his years at All Souls and his retirement. The essays in Volume 4 are addressed principally to scholars engaging first with fundamental issues in Platonic and Aristotelian metaphysics and epistemology and in Aristotle's philosophical psychology. Then follow studies tackling problems in interpreting the approaches to physics and cosmology taken by Plato and Aristotle, and in assessing the evidence for early Greek exercises in optics.
China's Contained Resource Curse
Authors: Zhan Vivian Jing
Published: March 2022

As a country rich in mineral resources, contemporary China remains surprisingly overlooked in the research about the much debated 'resource curse'. This is the first full-length study to examine the distinctive effects of mineral resources on the state, capital and labour and their interrelations in China. Jing Vivian Zhan draws on a wealth of empirical evidence, both qualitative and quantitative. Taking a subnational approach, she zooms in on local situations and demonstrates how mineral resources affect local governance and economic as well as human development. Characterizing mining industries as pro-capital and anti-labour, this study also highlights the redistributive roles that the state can play to redress the imbalance. It reveals the Chinese state's strategies to contain the resource curse and also pinpoints some pitfalls of the China model, which offer important policy implications for China and other resource-rich countries.
Islamic Law in Circulation
Authors: Kooria Mahmood
Published: March 2022

Analysing the spread and survival of Islamic legal ideas and commentaries in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean littorals, Islamic Law in Circulation focuses on Shāfiʿīsm, one of the four Sunnī schools of Islamic law. It explores how certain texts shaped, transformed and influenced the juridical thoughts and lives of a significant community over a millennium in and between Asia, Africa and Europe. By examining the processes of the spread of legal texts and their roles in society, as well as thinking about how Afrasian Muslims responded to these new arrivals of thoughts and texts, Mahmood Kooria weaves together a narrative with the textual descendants from places such as Damascus, Mecca, Cairo, Malabar, Java, Aceh and Zanzibar to tell a compelling story of how Islam contributed to the global history of law from the thirteenth to the twentieth century.
History of Psychology
Authors: Hothersall David , Lovett Benjamin J.
Published: March 2022

Hothersall and Lovett's History of Psychology is a lively survey of the evolution of the field from 1850 to the present. Built around the lives of fascinating thinkers who proposed bold new ways of studying human behavior and mental processes, and telling the true stories behind their famous experiments, this textbook provides students with an intimate understanding of how psychology came to be what it is today. Thoroughly updated with the latest historical scholarship, the fifth edition includes greater focus on the contributions of women and people of color, and a new chapter on the late twentieth century and the cognitive revolution. It also features updated pedagogy such as chapter discussion questions and unique archival photographs, while instructor resources include a test bank, lecture slides, and an instructor manual.
The Administrative Foundations of the Chinese Fiscal State
Authors: Cui Wei
Published: March 2022

On subjects ranging from trade to democratization, there has lately been a wave of laments about China's development belying Western expectations. Yet these disappointments often come with misunderstandings of the very institutions that China was expected to adopt. Chinese taxation offers a sharp illustration. When China introduced a tax system suited for the market economy, it fully intended tax collection to rely on self-assessment, audits, and the rule of law. But this Western approach was quickly jettisoned in favour of one that emphasized monitoring of taxpayers and ex ante interventions, at the expense of deterrence and truthful reporting norms. The Chinese approach surprisingly matches recommendations made by recent economic scholarship on tax compliance and state capacity. China's massive but little-known explorations in taxation highlight the distinct types of modern state capacity, and raise challenging questions about the future of taxation and the superiority of institutions based on rule of law.
Economics for a Fragile Planet
Authors: Barbier Edward
Published: March 2022

In a world of growing environmental risks and ecological scarcities, ensuring a safe Anthropocene for humankind is essential. Managing an increasingly "fragile" planet requires new thinking on markets, institutions and governance built on five principles: ending the underpricing of nature, fostering collective action, accepting absolute limits, attaining sustainability, and promoting inclusivity. Rethinking economics and policies in this way can help to overcome the global challenges posed by climate change, biodiversity loss, freshwater scarcity, and deteriorating marine and coastal habitats. It requires decoupling wealth creation from environmental degradation through business, policy and financial actions aimed at better stewardship of the biosphere. In this book, renowned environmental economist Edward Barbier offers a blueprint for a greener and more inclusive economy, and outlines the steps we must take now to build a post-COVID world that limits environmental threats while sustaining per capita welfare.
The Great Western Schism, 1378–1417
Authors: Rollo-Koster Joëlle
Published: March 2022

The Great Schism divided Western Christianity between 1378 and 1417. Two popes and their courts occupied the see of St. Peter, one in Rome, and one in Avignon. Traditionally, this event has received attention from scholars of institutional history. In this book, by contrast, Joëlle Rollo-Koster investigates the event through the prism of social drama. Marshalling liturgical, cultural, artistic, literary and archival evidence, she explores the four phases of the Schism: the breach after the 1378 election, the subsequent division of the Church, redressive actions, and reintegration of the papacy in a single pope. Investigating how popes legitimized their respective positions and the reception of these efforts, Rollo-Koster shows how the Schism influenced political thought, how unity was achieved, and how the two capitals, Rome and Avignon, responded to events. Rollo-Koster's approach humanizes the Schism, enabling us to understand the event as it was experienced by contemporaries.
Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) as a Treatment for Insomnia
Authors: Motamedi Gholam K. , Jeliazkov Peter G. , Oyegbile-Chidi Temitayo O. , Song Sunbin S. , Sharma Varun D. , Mete Mihriye , Nawar Shara , Turkeltaub Peter E. , Won Cho Yong , Wu Jian-young
Published: March 2022

We investigated the effects of transcranial alternating stimulation (tACS) in patients with insomnia. Nine patients with chronic insomnia underwent two in-laboratory polysomnography, 2 weeks apart, and were randomized to receive tACS either during the first or second study. The stimulation was applied simultaneously and bilaterally at F3/M1 and F4/M2 electrodes (0.75 mA, 0.75 Hz, 5-minute). Sleep onset latency and wake after sleep onset dropped on the stimulation night but they did not reach statistical significance; however, there were significant improvements in spontaneous and total arousals, sleep quality, quality of life, recall memory, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, and daytime sleepiness.
Household food insecurity is associated with obesogenic health behaviours among a low-income cohort of pregnant women in Boston, MA
Authors: Cheng Erika R , Luo Mandy , Perkins Meghan , Blake-Lamb Tiffany , Kotelchuck Milton , Arauz Boudreau Alexy , Taveras Elsie M
Published: March 2022

Objective:

To examine associations of household food insecurity with health and obesogenic behaviours among pregnant women enrolled in an obesity prevention programme in the greater Boston area.

Design:

Cross-sectional evaluation. Data were collected from structured questionnaires that included a validated two-item screener to assess household food insecurity. We used separate multivariable linear and logistic regression models to quantify the association between household food insecurity and maternal health behaviours (daily consumption of fruits and vegetables, sugar-sweetened beverages and fast food, physical activity, screen time, and sleep), mental health outcomes (depression and stress), hyperglycaemia status and gestational weight gain.

Setting:

Three community health centres that primarily serve low-income and racial/ethnic minority patients in Revere, Chelsea and Dorchester, Massachusetts.

Participants:

Totally, 858 pregnant women participating in the First 1,000 Days program, a quasi-experimental trial.

Results:

Approximately 21 % of women reported household food insecurity. In adjusted analysis, household food insecurity was associated with low fruit and vegetable intake (β = −0·31 daily servings; 95 % CI −0·52, −0·10), more screen time (β = 0·32 daily hours; 95 % CI 0·04, 0·61), less sleep (β = −0·32 daily hours; 95 % CI −0·63, −0·01), and greater odds of current (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 4·42; 95 % CI 2·33, 8·35) or past depression (AOR 3·01; 95 % CI 2·08, 4·35), and high stress (AOR 2·91; 95 % CI 1·98, 4·28).

Conclusions:

In our sample of mostly low-income, racial/ethnic minority pregnant women, household food insecurity was associated with mental health and behaviours known to increase the likelihood of obesity.
The Daily‐Resolved Southern Ocean Mixed Layer: Regional Contrasts Assessed Using Glider Observations
Authors: du Plessis M. D. , Swart S. , Biddle L. C. , Giddy I. S. , Monteiro P. M. S. , Reason C. J. C. , Thompson A. F. , Nicholson S.‐A.
Published: March 2022

Water mass transformation in the Southern Ocean is vital for driving the large‐scale overturning circulation, which transports heat from the surface to the ocean interior. Using profiling gliders, this study investigates the role of summertime buoyancy forcing and wind‐driven processes on the intraseasonal (1–10 days) mixed layer thermohaline variability in three Southern Ocean regions southwest of Africa important for water mass transformation—the Subantarctic Zone (SAZ), Polar Frontal Zone (PFZ), and Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ). At intraseasonal time scales, heat flux was shown as the main driver of buoyancy gain in all regions. In the SAZ and MIZ, shallow mixed layers and strong stratification enhanced mixed layer buoyancy gain by trapping incoming heat, while buoyancy loss resulted primarily from the entrainment of cold, salty water from below. In the PFZ, rapid mixing linked to Southern Ocean storms set persistently deep mixed layers and suppressed mixed layer intraseasonal thermohaline variability. In the polar regions, lateral stirring of meltwater from seasonal sea‐ice melt dominated daily mixed layer salinity variability. We propose that these meltwater fronts are advected to the PFZ during late summer, indicating the potential for seasonal sea‐ice freshwater to impact a region where the upwelling limb of overturning circulation reaches the surface. This study reveals a regional dependence of how the mixed layer thermohaline properties respond to small spatiotemporal processes, emphasizing the importance of surface forcing occurring between 1 and 10 days on the mixed layer water mass transformation in the Southern Ocean.
Drag Coefficient Constraints for Space Weather Observations in the Upper Thermosphere
Authors: Bernstein Valerie , Pilinski Marcin
Published: March 2022

The space weather research community relies heavily on thermospheric density data to understand long‐term thermospheric variability, construct assimilative, empirical, and semiempirical global atmospheric models and validate model performance. One of the challenges in resolving accurate thermospheric density data sets from satellite orbital drag measurements is modeling appropriate physical aerodynamic drag force coefficients. The drag coefficient may change throughout the thermosphere due to model dependencies on composition and altitude. As such, existing drag coefficient model errors and corresponding errors in orbit‐derived density data sets and models may be altitude and solar cycle dependent with greater errors at higher altitudes around 500 km near the oxygen‐to‐helium transition region. In this paper, inter‐satellite observed‐to‐modeled density comparisons at ∼500 km are evaluated to constrain drag coefficient modeling assumptions. Observed densities are derived from accelerometer data for the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites and Two‐Line Element data for a set of compact satellites, while the NRLMSISE‐00 atmospheric model is used to obtain modeled densities and composition information. Density consistency results indicate that drag coefficient models with incomplete energy and momentum accommodation produce the most consistent densities, while the standard diffuse modeling approach may not be appropriate at these altitudes. Models with momentum accommodation between 0.5 and 0.9 and energy accommodation between 0.83 and 0.96 may be most appropriate at upper thermospheric altitudes. Modeling drag coefficients with diffuse gas‐surface interactions for the GRACE satellites could lead to errors in derived density of ∼25% and in‐track satellite orbit prediction uncertainty during solar maximum conditions on the order of kilometers.
On Pole Position: Causes of Dispersion of the Paleomagnetic Poles Behind Apparent Polar Wander Paths
Authors: Vaes Bram , Gallo Leandro C. , van Hinsbergen Douwe J. J.
Published: March 2022

Paleomagnetic poles used to compute apparent polar wander paths (APWPs) are strongly dispersed, which was recently shown to cause a large fraction (>50%) of these poles to be statistically distinct from the APWP to which they contributed, suggesting that current statistical approaches overestimate paleomagnetic resolution. Here, we analyze why coeval paleopoles are so dispersed, using the paleopoles behind the most recent global APWP and a compilation of paleomagnetic data obtained from <10 Ma volcanic rocks (PSV10). We find that paleopoles derived from sedimentary rocks, or from data sets underrepresenting paleosecular variation (PSV), are more dispersed and more frequently displaced. We show that paleopoles based on a smaller number of paleomagnetic sites are more dispersed than poles based on larger data sets, revealing that the degree to which PSV is averaged is an important contributor to the pole dispersion. We identify as a fundamental problem, however, that the number of sites used to calculate a paleopole, and thus the dispersion of coeval paleopoles, is essentially arbitrary. We therefore explore a different approach in which reference poles of APWPs are calculated from site‐level data instead of paleopoles, thereby assigning larger weight to larger data sets. We introduce a bootstrap‐based method for comparing a collection of paleomagnetic data with a reference data set on the same hierarchical level, whereby the uncertainty is weighted against the number of paleomagnetic sites. Finally, our study highlights that demonstrating smaller tectonic displacements requires larger paleomagnetic data sets, and that such data sets can strongly improve future APWPs.
Oxidative stress-induced circKIF18A downregulation impairs MCM7-mediated anti-senescence in intervertebral disc degeneration
Authors: Wang Jianle , Xia Dongdong , Lin Yan , Xu Wenbin , Wu Yaosen , Chen Jiaoxiang , Chu Junjie , Shen Panyang , Weng Sheji , Wang Xiangyang , Shen Lifeng , Fan Shunwu , Shen Shuying
Published: March 2022

Low back pain, triggered by intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), is one of the most common causes of disability and financial expenditure worldwide. However, except for surgical interventions, effective medical treatment to prevent the progression of IVDD is lacking. This study aimed to investigate the effects of circKIF18A, a novel circRNA, on IVDD progression and to explore its underlying mechanism in IVDD. In this study, we found that oxidative stress was positively correlated with nucleus pulposus cell (NPC) senescence in IVDD and that circKIF18A was downregulated in IVDD and attenuated senescent phenotypes such as cell cycle arrest and extracellular matrix degradation in NPCs. Mechanistically, circKIF18A competitively suppressed ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation of MCM7, and the protective effects of circKIF18A on NPCs were partially mediated by MCM7 under oxidative stress. Intradiscal injection of adenoviral circKIF18A ameliorated IVDD in a rat model. This study revealed that circKIF18A regulates NPC degeneration by stabilizing MCM7 and identified a novel signaling pathway, the circKIF18A-MCM7 axis, for anti-senescence molecular therapy in IVDD.
Single cell transcriptional diversity and intercellular crosstalk of human liver cancer
Authors: Meng Yan , Sang Yan , Liao Jianping , Zhao Qiudong , Qu Shuping , Li Rong , Jiang Jinghua , Wang Meifeng , Wang Jiahong , Wu Dong , Cheng Chun , Wei Lixin
Published: March 2022

Liver cancer arises from the evolutionary selection of the dynamic tumor microenvironment (TME), in which the tumor cell generally becomes more heterogeneous; however, the mechanisms of TME-mediated transcriptional diversity of liver cancer remain unclear. Here, we assess transcriptional diversity in 15 liver cancer patients by single-cell transcriptome analysis and observe transcriptional diversity of tumor cells is associated with stemness in liver cancer patients. Tumor-associated fibroblast (TAF), as a potential driving force behind the heterogeneity in tumor cells within and between tumors, was predicted to interact with high heterogeneous tumor cells via COL1A1-ITGA2. Moreover, COL1A1-mediated YAP-signaling activation might be the mechanistic link between TAF and tumor cells with increased transcriptional diversity. Strikingly, the levels of COL1A1, ITGA2, and YAP are associated with morphological heterogeneity and poor overall survival of liver cancer patients. Beyond providing a potential mechanistic link between the TME and heterogeneous tumor cells, this study establishes that collagen-stimulated YAP activation is associates with transcriptional diversity in tumor cells by upregulating stemness, providing a theoretical basis for individualized treatment targets.
Optimization of loading protocols for tissue engineering experiments
Authors: Ladner Yann D. , Armiento Angela R. , Kubosch Eva J. , Snedeker Jess G. , Stoddart Martin J.
Published: March 2022

Tissue engineering (TE) combines cells and biomaterials to treat orthopedic pathologies. Maturation of de novo tissue is highly dependent on local mechanical environments. Mechanical stimulation influences stem cell differentiation, however, the role of various mechanical loads remains unclear. While bioreactors simplify the complexity of the human body, the potential combination of mechanical loads that can be applied make it difficult to assess how different factors interact. Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells were seeded within a fibrin-polyurethane scaffold and exposed to joint-mimicking motion. We applied a full factorial design of experiment to investigate the effect that the interaction between different mechanical loading parameters has on biological markers. Additionally, we employed planned contrasts to analyze differences between loading protocols and a linear mixed model with donor as random effect. Our approach enables screening of multiple mechanical loading combinations and identification of significant interactions that could not have been studied using classical mechanobiology studies. This is useful to screen the effect of various loading protocols and could also be used for TE experiments with small sample sizes and further combinatorial medication studies.
Limited solvation of an electron donating tryptophan stabilizes a photoinduced charge-separated state in plant (6–4) photolyase
Authors: Hosokawa Yuhei , Müller Pavel , Kitoh-Nishioka Hirotaka , Iwai Shigenori , Yamamoto Junpei
Published: March 2022

(6–4) Photolyases ((6–4) PLs) are ubiquitous photoenzymes that use the energy of sunlight to catalyze the repair of carcinogenic UV-induced DNA lesions, pyrimidine(6–4)pyrimidone photoproducts. To repair DNA, (6–4) PLs must first undergo so-called photoactivation, in which their excited flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) cofactor is reduced in one or two steps to catalytically active FADH− via a chain of three or four conserved tryptophan residues, transiently forming FAD•−/FADH− ⋯ TrpH•+ pairs separated by distances of 15 to 20 Å. Photolyases and related photoreceptors cryptochromes use a plethora of tricks to prevent charge recombination of photoinduced donor–acceptor pairs, such as chain branching and elongation, rapid deprotonation of TrpH•+ or protonation of FAD•−. Here, we address Arabidopsis thaliana (6–4) PL (At64) photoactivation by combining molecular biology, in vivo survival assays, static and time-resolved spectroscopy and computational methods. We conclude that At64 photoactivation is astonishingly efficient compared to related proteins—due to two factors: exceptionally low losses of photoinduced radical pairs through ultrafast recombination and prevention of solvent access to the terminal Trp3H•+, which significantly extends its lifetime. We propose that a highly conserved histidine residue adjacent to the 3rd Trp plays a key role in Trp3H•+ stabilization.
Surveying soil-borne disease development on wild rocket salad crop by proximal sensing based on high-resolution hyperspectral features
Authors: Galieni Angelica , Nicastro Nicola , Pentangelo Alfonso , Platani Cristiano , Cardi Teodoro , Pane Catello
Published: March 2022

Wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia, Brassicaceae) is a baby-leaf vegetable crop of high economic interest, used in ready-to-eat minimally processed salads, with an appreciated taste and nutraceutical features. Disease management is key to achieving the sustainability of the entire production chain in intensive systems, where synthetic fungicides are limited or not permitted. In this context, soil-borne pathologies, much feared by growers, are becoming a real emergency. Digital screening of green beds can be implemented in order to optimize the use of sustainable means. The current study used a high-resolution hyperspectral array (spectroscopy at 350–2500 nm) to attempt to follow the progression of symptoms of Rhizoctonia, Sclerotinia, and Sclerotium disease across four different severity levels. A Random Forest machine learning model reduced dimensions of the training big dataset allowing to compute de novo vegetation indices specifically informative about canopy decay caused by all basal pathogenic attacks. Their transferability was also tested on the canopy dataset, which was useful for assessing the health status of wild rocket plants. Indeed, the progression of symptoms associated with soil-borne pathogens is closely related to the reduction of leaf absorbance of the canopy in certain ranges of visible and shortwave infrared spectral regions sensitive to reduction of chlorophyll and other pigments as well as to modifications of water content and turgor.