bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cx31.1 can selectively intermix with co-expressed connexins to facilitate its assembly into gap junctions
Authors: Leighton Stephanie E. , Wong Robert S. , Lucaciu Sergiu A. , Hauser Alexandra , Johnston Danielle , Stathopulos Peter B. , Bai Donglin , Penuela Silvia , Laird Dale W.
Published: March 2024

Connexins are channel-forming proteins that function to facilitate gap junctional intercellular communication. Here, we use dual cell voltage clamp and dye transfer studies to corroborate past findings showing that Cx31.1 (encoded by GJB5) is defective in gap junction channel formation, illustrating that Cx31.1 alone does not form functional gap junction channels in connexin-deficient mammalian cells. Rather Cx31.1 transiently localizes to the secretory pathway with a subpopulation reaching the cell surface, which is rarely seen in puncta reminiscent of gap junctions. Intracellular retained Cx31.1 was subject to degradation as Cx31.1 accumulated in the presence of proteasomal inhibition, had a faster turnover when Cx43 was present and ultimately reached lysosomes. Although intracellularly retained Cx31.1 was found to interact with Cx43, this interaction did not rescue its delivery to the cell surface. Conversely, the co-expression of Cx31 dramatically rescued the assembly of Cx31.1 into gap junctions where gap junction-mediated dye transfer was enhanced. Collectively, our results indicate that the localization and functional status of Cx31.1 is altered through selective interplay with co-expressed connexins, perhaps suggesting Cx31.1 is a key regulator of intercellular signaling in keratinocytes.
A Randomized Trial of Healthy Weight Gain in Athletic Individuals
Authors: Sanchez Allison D. , Reynolds Jake C. , Marinik Elaina L. , Kolb Ryann D. , Lozano Alicia J. , Davy Brenda M. , Hunter Gary R. , Larson-Meyer D. Enette
Published: March 2024

Many athletes desire weight gain, ideally as lean body mass (LBM), to improve athletic performance. These athletes are commonly encouraged to increase energy intake by ~500 kcal/day with emphasis on adequate protein, carbohydrate, and judicious inclusion of healthy fat-containing energy-dense foods, such as peanuts/peanut butter, along with rigorous resistance training (RT). These guidelines target gains of ~0.23 kg/week. However, little is known about the efficacy of such regimens.

Purpose

To evaluate the outcomes of a 10-week diet and exercise regimen designed to promote healthy weight gain with excess energy from peanut-containing or high-carbohydrate foods.

Methods

19 male and 13 female athletes were randomly assigned to receive 500 additional kcal/day above typical intake through provision of either peanut-based whole foods/snacks (PNT group) or a similar, high-carbohydrate, peanut-free snack (CHO group) along with supervised, whole-body RT (3 days/week for 60-120 minutes). Body composition was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at baseline and post-intervention. Results: Total body mass (TBM) increased 2.2 ± 1.3 kg with 1.5 ± 1.1 kg as LBM after week 10. The PNT group (N = 16; 27 ± 7 years; 10 men, 6 women) gained less TBM than the CHO group (N = 16; 23 ± 3 years; 9 men, 7 women) (1.6 ± 1.1 kg vs 2.7 ± 1.2 kg, respectively, P = 0.007) with no differences in LBM (1.2 ± 1.1 kg vs 1.9 ± 1.0 kg, P = 0.136).

Conclusions

These results suggest that the addition of 500 kcal/day from whole foods/snacks in combination with a rigorous RT program promotes a similar weight gain of ~0.22 kg/week, primarily as LBM, over 10 weeks in both male and female athletes. However, snack macronutrient content may impact the effectiveness of this regimen.
Maternal Dengue and Health Outcomes of Children
Authors: Koppensteiner Martin Foureaux , Menezes Lívia
Published: March 2024

We study the effect of maternal dengue infections on birth outcomes using linked administrative records from Brazil estimating maternal fixed-effect specifications. In contrast to previous studies, we find robust evidence for the negative effect of dengue infections on birth weight (BW). The effect is particularly pronounced at lower parts of the BW distribution, with an increase of 15 percent, 67 percent, and 133 percent for low, very low, and extremely low BW, respectively. We also document large increases in children’s hospitalizations and medical expenditures for up to three years after birth. (JEL I12, I18, J13, J16, O15)
The Impact of Cash Transfers to Poor Mothers on Family Structure and Maternal Well-Being
Authors: Aizer Anna , Cho Sungwoo , Eli Shari , Lleras-Muney Adriana
Published: March 2024

We use newly collected data for 16,000 women who applied for Mothers’ Pensions, America’s first welfare program, to investigate the effect of means-tested cash transfers on lifetime family structure and maternal well-being. In the short term, cash transfers delayed marriage and lowered geographic mobility. In the long run, transfers had no impact on the probability of remarriage, spouse quality, or fertility. Cash transfers did not affect women’s well-being, measured by longevity and family income in 1940. Given the lack of significant negative behavioral impacts, the benefits of transfers appear to exceed costs if they have—even modest—positive impacts on children. (JEL I31, I32, I38, J13, J16, N32, R23)
Private Input Suppliers as Information Agents for Technology Adoption in Agriculture
Authors: Dar Manzoor H. , de Janvry Alain , Emerick Kyle , Sadoulet Elisabeth , Wiseman Eleanor
Published: March 2024

Information frictions limit the adoption of new agricultural technologies in developing countries. Efforts to improve learning involve spreading information from government agents to farmers. We show that when compared to this government approach, informing private input suppliers in India about a new seed variety increases farmer-level adoption by over 50 percent. Suppliers become more proactive in informing potential customers and carrying the new variety. They induce increased adoption by those with higher returns from the technology. Being motivated by expanded sales offers the most likely motive for these results. (JEL D83, L14, L33, O13, O32, Q12, Q16)
Slowly Varying Regression Under Sparsity
Authors: Bertsimas Dimitris , Digalakis Vassilis , Li Michael Lingzhi , Lami Omar Skali
Published: March 2024

Building Sparse and Temporally or Spatially Linked Regression Models

The framework of slowly varying regression under sparsity addresses many problems in machine learning where the underlying model is sparse and varies slowly and sparsely. This includes problems with temporally or spatially varying structures. For example, in the temporal case, the factors important in predicting the energy consumption in a building can vary depending on the hour of the day or the period of the year. In the spatial case, the factors that affect house prices can differ by neighborhood. Our paper rigorously formulates such models and proposes new theories, algorithms, and software for solving them. We thoroughly evaluate our framework on synthetic and real-world case studies and make our implementations available open-source to facilitate adoption by practitioners.
Familial hypercholesterolaemia: a genetic condition with associated cardiovascular risk
Authors: Neves Emma , Bueser Tootie , Frampton Katie , Lee Emma , Studart Dominic , Tobin Liam , Wilson Elizabeth
Published: March 2024

Familial hypercholesterolaemia is a common genetic condition that affects the liver's ability to clear low-density lipoprotein cholesterol from the bloodstream. It affects around one in 250 individuals and is characterised by elevated lipid levels from birth. The causal relationship between raised lipids and cardiovascular disease is well established and the impact of this is evident in familial hypercholesterolaemia. These individuals find themselves at increased risk of premature cardiovascular events as a result of the cumulative lifetime burden of excess cholesterol in the bloodstream. Most individuals with familial hypercholesterolaemia remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated. Early detection and treatment of familial hypercholesterolaemia provides an opportunity to initiate cardiovascular risk prevention, which can reduce the individual's level of risk to that of the general population. Increasing nurses' genetic knowledge and raising awareness of conditions such as familial hypercholesterolaemia can help to improve current rates of detection and provide nurses with the necessary skills to recognise and support patients and their families.
Autistic women's experiences of the antenatal, intrapartum and early postnatal periods
Authors: Stuart Vikki , Kitson-Reynolds Ellen
Published: March 2024

Background/Aims

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disability affecting interpersonal communication and interaction, and has a prevalence of more than 1% of the population. This review aimed to identify what midwives in England can learn from studies exploring the experiences of autistic women in the antenatal, intrapartum and early postnatal periods.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted using seven electronic databases. Thematic analysis was performed, based on Braun and Clarke.

Results

Three themes were found: autism diagnosis and disclosure, communication and interaction with healthcare professionals, babies and groups, and sensory difficulties.

Conclusions

Autistic women experience many challenges during the antenatal, intrapartum and early postnatal periods, and it is clear that midwives in England should treat all women as an individual, asking about their specific needs and any adjustments that can be made to provide inclusive care.
Behaviorist Theory in Philippine English L2 Acquisition: Transition Point from L1 Contact
Authors: Estremera Michael L.
Published: March 2024

Skinner’s behaviorist theory delineates how a child acquires L1; notwithstanding, what sets the present study apart from Skinner’s findings can be culled-out from the research context itself. This paper validates the principles behind behaviorist theory as proposed by Skinner (1985) taking into account applied linguistics context. Careful scrutiny of data reveals that the explored theory also plays a vital role in the gradual L2 acquisition through meaningful linguistic attempts (e.g., There are persons cutting trees without replanting; His friends Marilyn and Alicia clean the classroom) and reading activities by fostering affirmative learning atmosphere to induce positive language attitude towards L2 acquisition and functionality. Negligible errors in the process of L2 acquisition are attributed to linguistic variability, interlanguage, and inflectional morphology component. This study is advantageous to EFL learners and teachers globally for it highlights some linguistic implications indispensable to interpret the learning rate, lexical range, comprehensible input (CI), and language cognition of L2 students specifically in early language education. EFL educators may be able to provide meaningful linguistic activities by considering the essential tenets of this academic piece as well as the multiculturalism factor to L2 acquisition.
Design of a Reconfigurable Band-notched Wideband Antenna using EBG Structures
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyan , Li Ziao , Zhan Aiyun , Mei Yan
Published: March 2024

A compact WLAN band-notched reconfigurable wideband antenna using two mushroom-like electromagnetic band-gap (EBG) structures is proposed in this paper. It is designed based on a dual wideband microstrip feed patch antenna with operating frequency bands of 2.2-3.7 GHz and 4.8-6 GHz. One of the EBG cells is positioned alongside the feed line, while the other EBG cell is laid on the back of the substrate. The patch or ground of the two EBG units are fed with a stronger current through a ground slot and a parasitic stub respectively, and the connections between the EBG structures and the antenna are controlled by loading a PIN diode with two 56 pF DC blocking capacitors. The advantage of this proposed design is that the antenna and the EBG unit can be designed independently. The proposed antenna has an overall size of 35×46×1.6 mm3. When testing the S11 of the antenna, the influence of the bias circuit on the antenna is also considered. The measured results show that the proposed antenna can generate two notched bands of 2.3-2.49 GHz and 5.11-5.51 GHz of WLAN, and the realized gain in the notch bands can be reduced to -2.65 dBi and -4.55 dBi, respectively, demonstrating its anti-interference characteristics, and can be applied in band notch broadband communication systems or anti-interference communication equipments such as unmanned aerial vehicles and radars.
The Jews
Authors: Ginzburg Natalia
Published: March 2024

Abstract: An essay in response to the events at the Munich Summer Olympics in 1972. The author discusses their response to the Palestinian militant organization, Black September's demand for the release of over two hundred prisoners. Additionally, the militants killed two members of the Israeli Olympic team and took nine hostages in concert with their demands. Refusal of the demand caused the death of all nine of the hostages and five of the militants. The author speaks of their connection to Judaism and the connections, ideas, responses, and relationships the religion has instilled within their life. This essay questions ideas of humanity, monstrosity, and the desensitized nature of our cultures.
Gifts from our Relatives
Authors: Knežević Marija
Published: March 2024

Abstract: In this essay, the author uses three narratives to explore life, death, and family. In the first section, the narrator recounts her stories of receiving presents from relatives, chocolates, specifically. The second section focuses on a conversation about breath and life. Finally, the last reading explores flowers, etymological instances, and death. The memories of the narrator are thought-provoking and enticing as an exploration of life.
Settler Colonialism and Harte’s Frontier Ecogothic in “Three Vagabonds of Trinidad”
Authors: Hsu Li-hsin
Published: March 2024

Abstract: The paper proposes to examine the tangled relationship between race and environment in the nineteenth-century American literary tradition by looking at the gothic representation of the three vagabond characters in relation to the Californian coastal landscape in Bret Harte’s “Three Vagabonds of Trinidad” (1900). Critically seen as a reworking of Mark Twain’s Adventures o f Huckleberry Finn (1884), Harte’s story continues the questioning of the civilization/wilderness dichotomy in Twain’s work, but the story complicates its racial-ecological dynamics by shifting the focus from a white boy and a black slave to a Chinese orphan, a Native American vagrant, and a dog, and relocating their tramping and foraging from the Mississippi river to the pine forest and marshland at the Pacific coast of a frontier town in California. Harte’s repositioning of racialized (as well as politicized) persecution at the western frontier articulates an ecogothic allegory on a transcontinental (as well as trans-global) scale, in which a seemingly ordinary western settlement is turned from what Leo Marx considers a pastoral-industrial “middle landscape” into a liminal haunting (as well as hunting) ground. The paper examines how Harte’s account of Trinidad topographies reveals a multi-layered ecological space and a haunted Romantic landscape that unsettles environmental as well as social order, reflecting racialized political exclusions during the course of the nineteenth century through legalized policies, such as the 1830 Indian Removal Act, the 1855 Vagrancy Act, and the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act restricting the spatial mobilities of Native Americans, Chinese immigrants, and other minority groups. The paper will focus on the intersection of orientalism, settler colonialism, and environmentalism, rethinking how the enmeshed race-environment relationship in Harte’s writing, informed by the social and political practices of westward expansionism and racial segregation of his time, might reveal a subtler process of ecological othering, unveiling the parasitical relationship between racial exploitation and environmental destruction.
Sub-cycle strong-field tunneling dynamics in solids
Authors: Yang Shidong , Liu Xiwang , Zhang Hongdan , Song Xiaohong , Zuo Ruixin , Meier Torsten , Yang Weifeng
Published: March 2024

Tunneling ionization is a crucial process in the interaction between strong laser fields and matter which initiates numerous nonlinear phenomena including high-order harmonic generation, photoelectron holography, etc. Both adiabatic and nonadiabatic tunneling ionization are well understood in atomic systems. However, the tunneling dynamics in solids, especially nonadiabatic tunneling, has not yet been fully understood. Here, we study the sub-cycle resolved strong-field tunneling dynamics in solids via a complex saddle-point method. We compare the instantaneous momentum at the moment of tunneling and the tunneling distances over a range of Keldysh parameters. Our results demonstrate that for nonadiabatic tunneling, tunneling ionization away from Γ point is possible. When this happens the electron has a nonzero initial velocity when it emerges in the conduction band. Moreover, consistent with atomic tunneling, a reduced tunneling distance as compared to the quasi-static case is found. Our results provide remarkable insight into the basic physics governing the sub-cycle electron tunneling dynamics with significant implications for understanding subsequent strong-field nonlinear phenomena in solids.
Polarization-insensitive wide-angle resonant acousto-optic phase modulator
Authors: Atalar Okan , Arbabian Amin
Published: March 2024

Phase modulators are commonly used devices in optics. Free-space phase modulators are typically constructed from optically anisotropic crystals exhibiting the Pockels effect. To preserve the light’s polarization state as it propagates through the crystal, it is essential to align the polarization and the angle of incidence of the light with respect to the crystal. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of constructing free-space resonant phase modulators with a broad acceptance angle and minimal dependence on the polarization state of light using an acousto-optic approach. These modulators operate in the megahertz frequency range, require modest power levels, have aperture sizes exceeding 1 cm2, and feature sub-millimeter thickness.
Fractional topological charge measurement through optical correlation
Authors: Shikder Allarakha , Mohapatra Jyoti Bikash , Nishchal Naveen K.
Published: March 2024

The emerging field of optical vortex beams having fractional topological charges (TCs) is of high interest due to its usefulness in various applications. The efficiency of the result depends on the precise measurement of the orbital angular momentum information tied to the fractional TC. This Letter demonstrates, to our knowledge, a novel and simple technique to measure the fractional TC of optical vortex beams through a hybrid digital-optical correlator with the help of auto-correlation between fork-shaped interference patterns corresponding to integer and fractional TCs. Unlike machine learning-based approaches, the proposed method does not require a complex architecture, which lowers computational cost and enables real-time implementation.
Bias in the arrival of variation can dominate over natural selection in Richard Dawkins’s biomorphs
Authors: Martin Nora S. , Camargo Chico Q. , Louis Ard A.
Published: March 2024

Biomorphs, Richard Dawkins’s iconic model of morphological evolution, are traditionally used to demonstrate the power of natural selection to generate biological order from random mutations. Here we show that biomorphs can also be used to illustrate how developmental bias shapes adaptive evolutionary outcomes. In particular, we find that biomorphs exhibit phenotype bias, a type of developmental bias where certain phenotypes can be many orders of magnitude more likely than others to appear through random mutations. Moreover, this bias exhibits a strong preference for simpler phenotypes with low descriptional complexity. Such bias towards simplicity is formalised by an information-theoretic principle that can be intuitively understood from a picture of evolution randomly searching in the space of algorithms. By using population genetics simulations, we demonstrate how moderately adaptive phenotypic variation that appears more frequently upon random mutations can fix at the expense of more highly adaptive biomorph phenotypes that are less frequent. This result, as well as many other patterns found in the structure of variation for the biomorphs, such as high mutational robustness and a positive correlation between phenotype evolvability and robustness, closely resemble findings in molecular genotype-phenotype maps. Many of these patterns can be explained with an analytic model based on constrained and unconstrained sections of the genome. We postulate that the phenotype bias towards simplicity and other patterns biomorphs share with molecular genotype-phenotype maps may hold more widely for developmental systems.
A dual computational and experimental strategy to enhance TSLP antibody affinity for improved asthma treatment
Authors: Lv Yitong , Gong He , Liu Xuechao , Hao Jia , Xu Lei , Sun Zhiwei , Yu Changyuan , Xu Lida
Published: March 2024

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin is a key cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of asthma and other allergic diseases. Targeting TSLP and its signaling pathways is increasingly recognized as an effective strategy for asthma treatment. This study focused on enhancing the affinity of the T6 antibody, which specifically targets TSLP, by integrating computational and experimental methods. The initial affinity of the T6 antibody for TSLP was lower than the benchmark antibody AMG157. To improve this, we utilized alanine scanning, molecular docking, and computational tools including mCSM-PPI2 and GEO-PPI to identify critical amino acid residues for site-directed mutagenesis. Subsequent mutations and experimental validations resulted in an antibody with significantly enhanced blocking capacity against TSLP. Our findings demonstrate the potential of computer-assisted techniques in expediting antibody affinity maturation, thereby reducing both the time and cost of experiments. The integration of computational methods with experimental approaches holds great promise for the development of targeted therapeutic antibodies for TSLP-related diseases.
Emotional signatures of climate policy support
Authors: Myers Teresa A. , Roser-Renouf Connie , Leiserowitz Anthony , Maibach Edward
Published: March 2024

The optimal emotional tone for climate communication has been debated by scholars and the press, but little is known about the effects of emotions on different types of policy support. In this paper we examine multiple discrete emotions people experience in reaction to climate change, and assess the strength of these emotions as predictors of support for different types of mitigation and adaptation policies. Using multi-wave, cross-sectional, nationally representative samples of American adults, we test whether guilt, anger, hope, fear, and sadness are uniquely associated with support for different types of climate policies. Guilt is most strongly related to support for personally costly policies, hope to support for proactive policies, and fear to support for regulatory policies. This research suggests that communicators should consider how their climate campaign’s emotional tone aligns with their policy goals.
Dmrt1 is the only male pathway gene tested indispensable for sex determination and functional testis development in tilapia
Authors: Qi Shuangshuang , Dai Shengfei , Zhou Xin , Wei Xueyan , Chen Ping , He Yuanyuan , Kocher Thomas D. , Wang Deshou , Li Minghui
Published: March 2024

Sex is determined by multiple factors derived from somatic and germ cells in vertebrates. We have identified amhy, dmrt1, gsdf as male and foxl2, foxl3, cyp19a1a as female sex determination pathway genes in Nile tilapia. However, the relationship among these genes is largely unclear. Here, we found that the gonads of dmrt1;cyp19a1a double mutants developed as ovaries or underdeveloped testes with no germ cells irrespective of their genetic sex. In addition, the gonads of dmrt1;cyp19a1a;cyp19a1b triple mutants still developed as ovaries. The gonads of foxl3;cyp19a1a double mutants developed as testes, while the gonads of dmrt1;cyp19a1a;foxl3 triple mutants eventually developed as ovaries. In contrast, the gonads of amhy;cyp19a1a, gsdf;cyp19a1a, amhy;foxl2, gsdf;foxl2 double and amhy;cyp19a1a;cyp19a1b, gsdf;cyp19a1a;cyp19a1b triple mutants developed as testes with spermatogenesis via up-regulation of dmrt1 in both somatic and germ cells. The gonads of amhy;foxl3 and gsdf;foxl3 double mutants developed as ovaries but with germ cells in spermatogenesis due to up-regulation of dmrt1. Taking the respective ovary and underdeveloped testis of dmrt1;foxl3 and dmrt1;foxl2 double mutants reported previously into consideration, we demonstrated that once dmrt1 mutated, the gonad could not be rescued to functional testis by mutating any female pathway gene. The sex reversal caused by mutation of male pathway genes other than dmrt1, including its upstream amhy and downstream gsdf, could be rescued by mutating female pathway gene. Overall, our data suggested that dmrt1 is the only male pathway gene tested indispensable for sex determination and functional testis development in tilapia.
Quality and sustainability of Ethiopia’s national surgical indicators
Authors: Cook Kayleigh R. , Zeleke Zebenay B. , Gebrehana Ephrem , Burssa Daniel , Yeshanew Bantalem , Michael Atkilt , Tediso Yoseph , Jaraczewski Taylor , Dodgion Chris , Beyene Andualem , Iverson Katherine R.
Published: March 2024

In 2015, the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) developed the Saving Lives through Safe Surgery (SaLTS) initiative to improve national surgical care. Previous work led to development and implementation of 15 surgical key performance indicators (KPIs) to standardize surgical data practices. The objective of this project is to investigate current practices of KPI data collection and assess quality to improve data management and strengthen surgical systems. The first portion of the study documented the surgical data collection process including methods, instruments, and effectiveness at 10 hospitals across 2 regions in Ethiopia. Secondly, data for KPIs of focus [1. Surgical Volume, 2. Perioperative Mortality Rate (POMR), 3. Adverse Anesthetic Outcome (AAO), 4. Surgical Site Infection (SSI), and 5. Safe Surgery Checklist (SSC) Utilization] were compared between registries, KPI reporting forms, and the DHIS2 (district health information system) electronic database for a 6-month period (January—June 2022). Quality was assessed based on data completeness and consistency. The data collection process involved hospital staff recording data elements in registries, quality officers calculating KPIs, completing monthly KPI reporting forms, and submitting data into DHIS2 for the national and regional health bureaus. Data quality verifications revealed discrepancies in consistency at all hospitals, ranging from 1–3 indicators. For all hospitals, average monthly surgical volume was 57 cases, POMR was 0.38% (13/3399), inpatient SSI rate was 0.79% (27/3399), AAO rate was 0.15% (5/3399), and mean SSC utilization monthly was 93% (100% median). Half of the hospitals had incomplete data within the registries, ranging from 2–5 indicators. AAO, SSC, and SSI were commonly missing data in registries. Non-standardized KPI reporting forms contributed significantly to the findings. Facilitators to quality data collection included continued use of registries from previous interventions and use of a separate logbook to document specific KPIs. Delayed rollout of these indicators in each region contributed to issues in data quality. Barriers involved variable indicator recording from different personnel, data collection tools that generate false positives (i.e. completeness of SSC defined as paper form filled out prior to patient discharge) or missing data because of reporting time period (i.e. monthly SSI may miss infections outside of one month), inadequate data elements in registries, and lack of standardized monthly KPI reporting forms. As the FMOH introduces new indicators and changes, we recommend continuous and consistent quality checks and data capacity building, including the use of routinely generated health information for quality improvement projects at the department level.
Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth is associated with increased Campylobacter and epithelial injury in duodenal biopsies of Bangladeshi children
Authors: Fahim Shah Mohammad , Donowitz Jeffrey R. , Smirnova Ekaterina , Jan Ning-Juin , Das Subhasish , Mahfuz Mustafa , Gaffar S. M. Abdul , Petri William A. , Marie Chelsea , Ahmed Tahmeed
Published: March 2024

Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) has been associated with enteric inflammation, linear growth stunting, and neurodevelopmental delays in children from low-income countries. Little is known about the histologic changes or epithelial adherent microbiota associated with SIBO. We sought to describe these relationships in a cohort of impoverished Bangladeshi children. Undernourished 12-18-month-old children underwent both glucose hydrogen breath testing for SIBO and duodenoscopy with biopsy. Biopsy samples were subject to both histological scoring and 16s rRNA sequencing. 118 children were enrolled with 16s sequencing data available on 53. Of 11 histological features, we found that SIBO was associated with one, enterocyte injury in the second part of the duodenum (R = 0.21, p = 0.02). SIBO was also associated with a significant increase in Campylobacter by 16s rRNA analysis (Log 2-fold change of 4.43; adjusted p = 1.9 x 10−6). These findings support the growing body of literature showing an association between SIBO and enteric inflammation and enterocyte injury and further delineate the subgroup of children with environmental enteric dysfunction who have SIBO. Further, they show a novel association between SIBO and Campylobacter. Mechanistic work is needed to understand the relationship between SIBO, enterocyte injury, and Campylobacter.
Urinary proteomics reveals biological processes related to acute kidney injury in Bothrops atrox envenomings
Authors: Brasileiro-Martins Lisele Maria , Cavalcante Sofia Angiole , Nascimento Thaís Pinto , Silva-Neto Alexandre Vilhena , Mariano Santos Marlon Dias , Camillo-Andrade Amanda C. , da Gama Fischer Juliana de Saldanha , Ferreira Caroline Coelho , Oliveira Lucas Barbosa , Sartim Marco Aurelio , Costa Allyson Guimarães , Pucca Manuela B. , Wen Fan Hui , Moura-da-Silva Ana Maria , Sachett Jacqueline , Carvalho Paulo Costa , de Aquino Priscila Ferreira , Monteiro Wuelton M.
Published: March 2024

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a critical systemic complication caused by Bothrops envenoming, a neglected health problem in the Brazilian Amazon. Understanding the underlying mechanisms leading to AKI is crucial for effectively mitigating the burden of this complication. This study aimed to characterize the urinary protein profile of Bothrops atrox snakebite victims who developed AKI. We analyzed three groups of samples collected on admission: healthy subjects (controls, n = 10), snakebite victims who developed AKI (AKI, n = 10), and those who did not evolve to AKI (No-AKI, n = 10). Using liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, we identified and quantified (label-free) 1190 proteins. A panel of 65 proteins was identified exclusively in the urine of snakebite victims, with 32 exclusives to the AKI condition. Proteins more abundant or exclusive in AKI’s urine were associated with acute phase response, endopeptidase inhibition, complement cascade, and inflammation. Notable proteins include serotransferrin, SERPINA-1, alpha-1B-glycoprotein, and NHL repeat-containing protein 3. Furthermore, evaluating previously reported biomarkers candidates for AKI and renal injury, we found retinol-binding protein, beta-2-microglobulin, cystatin-C, and hepcidin to be significant in cases of AKI induced by Bothrops envenoming. This work sheds light on physiological disturbances caused by Bothrops envenoming, highlighting potential biological processes contributing to AKI. Such insights may aid in better understanding and managing this life-threatening complication.
Investigating the relationship between microbial network features of giant kelp “seedbank” cultures and subsequent farm performance
Authors: Osborne Melisa G. , Simons Ariel Levi , Molano Gary , Tolentino Bernadeth , Singh Anupam , Arismendi Gabriel J. Montecinos , Alberto Filipe , Nuzhdin Sergey V.
Published: March 2024

Microbial inoculants can increase the yield of cultivated crops and are successful in independent trials; however, efficacy drops in large-scale applications due to insufficient consideration of microbial community dynamics. The structure of microbiomes, in addition to the impact of individual taxa, is an important factor to consider when designing growth-promoting inoculants. Here, we investigate the microbial network and community assembly patterns of Macrocystis pyrifera gametophyte germplasm cultures (collectively referred to as a “seedbank”) used to cultivate an offshore farm in Santa Barbara, California, and identify network features associated with increased biomass of mature sporophytes. We found that [1] several network features, such as clustering coefficient and edge ratios, significantly vary with biomass outcomes; [2] gametophytes that become low- or high-biomass sporophytes have different hub taxa; and [3] microbial community assembly of gametophyte germplasm cultures is niche-driven. Overall, this study describes microbial community dynamics in M. pyrifera germplasm cultures and ultimately supports the development of early life stage inoculants that can be used on seaweed cultivars to increase biomass yield.
Observed Instagram use and satisfaction with life: Associations with received communications and exploration of others’ content after posting a selfie
Authors: Cary Kyla M. , Maas Megan K. , Greer Kirsten M. , Meshi Dar
Published: March 2024

Over 70% of Americans use social media platforms, like Instagram. With this high prevalence, researchers have investigated the relationship between social media use and psychological well-being. Extant research has yielded mixed results, however, as most measures of social media use are self-reported and focus on amount of use. Even when studies account for type of social media use, such as active or passive use, there remains much to be captured. To address this, we asked participants to report their satisfaction with life and then recorded their actual Instagram activity for 10 minutes after posting a “selfie” portrait to their account. We coded the observed Instagram activity into the following four clusters of experiences: communications received, communications sent, monitoring self-related content, and exploring other-related content. We found that greater life satisfaction was associated with higher frequency of receiving communications and viewing other-related content. Life satisfaction was not associated with frequency of sending communications and self-monitoring. Surprisingly, none of the clusters of Instagram experiences were negatively associated with life satisfaction. Our findings highlight the importance of objective data and moving beyond the active/passive dichotomy of social media use to consider additional experiences.
Exploring the temporal dynamics of methane ebullition in a subtropical freshwater reservoir
Authors: Marcon Lediane , Bleninger Tobias , Männich Michael , Ishikawa Mayra , Hilgert Stephan , Lorke Andreas
Published: March 2024

The transport of methane from sediments to the atmosphere by rising gas bubbles (ebullition) can be the dominant, yet highly variable emission pathway from shallow aquatic ecosystems. Ebullition fluxes have been reported to vary in space and time, as methane production, accumulation, and bubble release from the sediment matrix is affected by several physical and bio-geochemical processes acting at different timescales. Time-series analysis and empirical models have been used for investigating the temporal dynamics of ebullition and its controls. In this study, we analyzed the factors governing the temporal dynamics of ebullition and evaluated the application of empirical models to reproduce these dynamics across different timescales and across different aquatic systems. The analysis is based on continuous high frequency measurements of ebullition fluxes and environmental variables in a mesotrophic subtropical and polymictic freshwater reservoir. The synchronization of ebullition events across different monitoring sites, and the extent to which ebullition was correlated to environmental variables varied throughout the three years of observations and were affected by thermal stratification in the reservoir. Empirical models developed for other aquatic systems could reproduce a limited fraction of the variability in observed ebullition fluxes (R2 < 0.3), however the predictions could be improved by considering additional environmental variables. The model performance depended on the timescale. For daily and weekly time intervals, a generalized additive model could reproduce 70 and 96% of ebullition variability but could not resolve hourly flux variations (R2 = 0.19). Lastly, we discuss the potential application of empirical models for filling gaps in ebullition measurements and for reproducing the main temporal dynamics of the fluxes. The results provide crucial information for emission estimates, and for the development and implementation of strategies targeting at a reduction of methane emissions from inland waters.
Investigating hill sheep farmers and crofters’ experiences of blackloss in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland
Authors: McAuliffe Fiona , McLaren Ann , Sargison Neil , Brülisauer Franz , Kent Andrew , McCracken Davy
Published: March 2024

Hill sheep farming is an important component of Scottish agriculture and comprises a significant land use in much of the Highlands and Islands. However it faces significant challenges due to the natural constraints of the landscape. Hill sheep farming uses hardy traditional breeds, such as the Scottish blackface and North Country Cheviot to graze extensive areas, where the sheep are not housed and tend to lamb on the open hill. Flocks are gathered several times a year for stock checks, husbandry, and health treatments. Between these handling events, stock will disappear and be unaccounted for. These unexplained losses are known as blackloss in the Highlands and Islands. Previously reported figures for annual lamb blackloss give an average of 18.6%. These losses are in addition to the known losses of lambs and represent a significant welfare and sustainability issue. High parasite burdens, predation, a photosensitisation disease known as plochteach or yellowses, and poor nutrition are often given as presumed reasons for blackloss. A questionnaire was developed to assess the experiences, impacts and understanding flock managers have of blackloss. Typology analysis using partitioning around medoids was used to cluster respondents into three distinct groups: 1- very large extensive farms and Sheep Stock Clubs, 2- medium sized farms, and 3- small-scale crofts. The responses of these groups were subsequently analysed to see if their experiences and perceptions of blackloss differed with relation to lamb health challenges and predation impacts. The groups reported similar health challenges, apart from Group 1 which had a significantly higher plochteach challenge. In terms of predators, Group 1 also perceived white-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) as a much higher threat to their lambs than the other groups. It was observed that many of the respondents believed blackloss is inevitable and that predators pose a large threat to lambs. However, most agreed that reducing these losses is important and that understanding the causes would enable them to do so.
Rapid resurgence of syphilis in Japan after the COVID-19 pandemic: A descriptive study
Authors: Komori Akira , Mori Hirotake , Xie Wenke , Valenti Simon , Naito Toshio
Published: March 2024

Some countries have reported a post-pandemic resurgence in syphilis prevalence, but trend data in the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region (WHO-WPRO), including Japan, are severely lacking. Thus, the present study compares the number of syphilis cases before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in some WHO-WPRO countries. In addition, temporal trends in the number of syphilis cases in Japan pre- and post-pandemic are described. Annual numbers of syphilis cases during the study periods from China, New Zealand, Australia and Japan were compared. Annual trends of the numbers of syphilis cases during the same study periods were examined in Japan. In 2020, the number of syphilis-positive cases decreased in all four countries. In 2021, though, China, Australia and Japan all showed an increase in the numbers of syphilis cases. However, the rate of increase in China (+2.8%) and Australia (+4.8%) was low compared to Japan (+36.0%). The number of syphilis cases in New Zealand in 2021 was 12.6% lower than in 2020. In 2022, the number of cases of syphilis in China was 7.4% lower than in 2021. The increase of syphilis-positive cases was approximately 6.3-fold higher in Japan compared to Australia (+66.2% vs. +10.5%) in 2022. In conclusion, post-pandemic resurgence of syphilis occurred in Australia and Japan, but not in China and New Zealand. The reason for the substantial increase in syphilis-positive cases in Japan remains unclear. Post-pandemic, prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections still require attention.
Multilocus sequence typing and antibiotic resistance of Aeromonas isolated from freshwater fish in Hebei Province
Authors: Yu Zixiao , Oh Yunseok , Kim Songmi , Han Kyudong , Srikulnath Kornsorn , Li Qingyang , Jang Ji-Seok , Lee Ho-Seong
Published: March 2024

Aeromonas spp. are the opportunistic pathogens that infect both aquatic and terrestrial homeotherms. They were commonly present in aquatic environments, including effluent, tap water, marine, river, and lake, where they are often isolated from aquatic animals, including fish, molluscs, and crustaceans. The Aeromonas infections can cause sepsis, ulcer, and other symptoms, resulting in the death of massive aquatic animals. Therefore, the prevention and control of Aeromonas is of great significance for the healthy development of aquaculture. In this study, we used modern molecular methods to enhance disease control of Aeromonas isolates from freshwater fish in Hebei Province. A total of 130 Aeromonas spp. isolates were isolated from freshwater fish farms in Hengshui, Handan, and Shijiazhuang and all 130 Aeromonas spp. isolates were sequenced for species identification. Of the 130 Aeromonas spp. isolates, 104 isolates were successfully sequenced, and BLAST analysis showed that Aeromonas veronii was predominant in freshwater fish farms in Hebei Province. In addition, 26 antibiotic resistance profiles were obtained from 102 fully cultured isolates among the 104 Aeromonas spp. isolates whose species was primarily identified, and 44 multidrug-resistant bacteria among the 102 isolates were identified using an antibiotic susceptibility test. Using the Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) method, 33 out of 44 multidrug-resistant isolates with 14 non-Aeromonas reference strains were selected for phylogenetic and MLST analysis, and all 33 multidrug-resistant isolates were A. veronii. A total of 30 new Sequence Types (STs) were obtained by comparing concatenated sequences (gyrB-groL-gltA-metG-ppsA-recA) on PubMLST website. Furthermore, recombination event analysis detected using RDP5 and ClonalFrameML software 42 and 49 recombination events, respectively, and 22 recombination events were validated by four or more algorithms. Since mutation and recombination events increase clonal diversity and single housekeeping gene sequence alignments are limited for identifying species, we propose the use of multiple concatenated sequence loci to increase discriminatory power. In addition, we propose that the MLST method is an appropriate technique to study and develop the resistance mechanisms of multidrug-resistant Aeromonas and to identify Aeromonas systematically in complex samples obtained from the environment.
Pubertal timing: A life course pathway linking early life risk to adulthood cardiometabolic health
Authors: Bleil Maria E. , Appelhans Bradley M. , Gregorich Steven E. , Hiatt Robert A. , Roisman Glenn I. , Booth-LaForce Cathryn
Published: March 2024

Objective

To evaluate a series of prospective life course models testing whether the timing of pubertal development is a pathway through which prepubertal risk factors may influence adulthood cardiometabolic health.

Methods

Subjects were 655 female participants in the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD) and recent SECCYD 30-year follow-up, the Study of Health in Early and Adult Life (SHINE). Prepubertal risk factors included maternal menarcheal age, child race/ethnicity, child health status indicators, and child adversity indicators. Pubertal timing was indexed by breast development onset (Tanner stage [TS] II), pubic hair onset (TS II) and menarcheal age. Adulthood cardiometabolic risk (CMR) was indexed by a composite of waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c, C-reactive protein, and high-density lipoprotein.

Results

Inspection of paths between the prepubertal risk factors, pubertal timing indicators, and adulthood CMR composite showed later breast development onset (-0.173, p < .01), later pubic hair onset (-0.182, p < .01), and later menarche (-0.145, p < .01) each predicted lower adulthood CMR, and each pubertal timing indicator mediated effects of prepubertal risk factors on adulthood CMR. Specifically, the timing of breast development onset and menarche mediated effects of maternal menarcheal age, Black (vs. White), Asian/PI (vs. White), child BMI percentile, and child SES on adulthood CMR (all ps < .05), and the timing of pubic hair onset mediated effects of maternal menarcheal age, Black (vs. White), and child BMI percentile on adulthood CMR (all ps < .10).

Conclusion

Findings in the current study contribute to the broader literature by identifying pubertal development and its timing as a potentially important pathway through which early life exposures may shape adulthood cardiometabolic health and disease. These findings have important implications for novel opportunities for increased surveillance and potential intervention focusing on pubertal development as a target to improve health more broadly.