bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultrastructural analysis of nigrostriatal dopaminergic terminals in a knockin mouse model of DYT1 dystonia
Authors: Pan Ke , Jinnah Hyder A. , Hess Ellen J. , Smith Yoland , Villalba Rosa M.
Published: December 2023

DYT1 dystonia is associated with decreased striatal dopamine release. In this study, we examined the possibility that ultrastructural changes of nigrostriatal dopamine terminals could contribute to this neurochemical imbalance using a serial block face/scanning electron microscope (SBF/SEM) and three‐dimensional reconstruction to analyse striatal tyrosine hydroxylase‐immunoreactive (TH‐IR) terminals and their synapses in a DYT1(ΔE) knockin (DYT1‐KI) mouse model of DYT1 dystonia. Furthermore, to study possible changes in vesicle packaging capacity of dopamine, we used transmission electron microscopy to assess the synaptic vesicle size in striatal dopamine terminals. Quantitative comparative analysis of 80 fully reconstructed TH‐IR terminals in the WT and DYT1‐KI mice indicate (1) no significant difference in the volume of TH‐IR terminals; (2) no major change in the proportion of axo‐spinous versus axo‐dendritic synapses; (3) no significant change in the post‐synaptic density (PSD) area of axo‐dendritic synapses, while the PSDs of axo‐spinous synapses were significantly smaller in DYT1‐KI mice; (4) no significant change in the contact area between TH‐IR terminals and dendritic shafts or spines, while the ratio of PSD area/contact area decreased significantly for both axo‐dendritic and axo‐spinous synapses in DYT1‐KI mice; (5) no significant difference in the mitochondria volume; and (6) no significant difference in the synaptic vesicle area between the two groups. Altogether, these findings suggest that abnormal morphometric changes of nigrostriatal dopamine terminals and their post‐synaptic targets are unlikely to be a major source of reduced striatal dopamine release in DYT1 dystonia.
An assessment of equine veterinarian knowledge and perceptions of ticks and tick‐borne diseases in the United States to inform continuing education needs
Authors: Machtinger Erika T. , Smarsh Danielle N. , Kenny Laura B. , Poh Karen C. , Orr‐Gissinger Erin L. , Kirkland Brittani G. , Springer Hayley R.
Published: December 2023

Background

Ticks can harm horses and transmit diseases, making them a growing concern for owners and veterinarians. Veterinarians play a crucial role in providing advice on tick prevention and control. Yet, no research has examined their perspectives on equine ticks and tick‐borne disease (TBD).

Objectives

The objective was to assess equine veterinarians' experiences, knowledge and practices related to fundamental aspects of tick biology and identification, tick bite prevention and TBD in the United States.

Study design

This project surveyed equine veterinarians in the United States about their knowledge of ticks and TBD affecting horses using nonprobability convenience sampling. The survey questions were grouped into six categories: respondent demographics, knowledge of ticks and TBDs, tick control option availability, tick and TBD frequency in horses and veterinary education and information availability.

Methods

Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi‐square analysis and t‐tests. The sample was divided into Northeast and United States veterinarians, and a significance level of p < 0.05 was set. The study aimed to inform continuing education development for veterinarians by assessing their knowledge, practices and perceptions of ticks and TBDs.

Results

The results indicate that while equine veterinarians know the importance of TBDs in equine health, knowledge on ticks and TBDs varies significantly.

Main limitations

Limitations for the current study include potential response bias and a limited sample from many states.

Conclusions

There is a need for increased tick control and prevention options and more animal‐specific resources for tick and TBD prevention. Veterinarians and horse owners require greater education and comprehensive information to prevent tick‐borne illnesses in horses. Collaborations between academia, industry and the human medicine community are suggested to build capacity for training veterinarians.
Effect of number of fatigue cycles on fatigue data: CFRP (prepreg and wet‐layup)
Authors: Banks‐Sills Leslie , Choron Tomer , Simon Ido
Published: December 2023

In carrying out fatigue delamination propagation tests to assess the propagation rate versus a function of the energy release rate, the question arises as to the necessary number of cycles required to properly characterize the behavior. Tests were performed elsewhere on two different carbon/epoxy, multidirectional woven composite laminates containing a delamination using constant amplitude cycling by means of displacement control for various cycle ratios. The aim was to carry out the tests for
 cycles. Most specimens complied with this requirement. In this study, the fatigue data are analyzed including the first
 cycles, the first
 cycles, the first
 cycles, and
 cycles. It was seen that although the delamination length versus the cycle number could be quite similar between different cycle ranges, the Paris relation constants could be significantly different. It is suggested to carry out tests for as many cycles as possible.
Problematizing urban microtoponyms
Authors: Basik Sergei
Published: December 2023

A spatial perspective on microtoponyms, informal non‐standardized names of small objects and places known to the locals, is an often‐neglected segment of urban political toponymic theory and practice. Though critically‐oriented thinkers have acknowledged the role of vernacular place names in the spatial organization of symbolic cultural landscapes, place‐making processes, and the everyday life of people and their communities, conceptual spatial‐political theorizations on this subject have been relatively rare. Driven upon the critical toponymic theory, this paper aims to delineate a conceptual framework for studying urban microtoponyms as spatial phenomena by integrating the toponymic plurality notion. Based on examples primarily from non‐Western geographical contexts, this paper offers a fresh perspective on urban place naming practices and related spatial processes providing some analytical pathways for critical scholars in urban toponymy and guiding potential empirical investigations in this field.
Changing trends in health orientation among older adults: A scoping review
Authors: Kazawa Kana , Maeda‐Sawada Wakako , Shizukuishi Eri , Hamada Shota , Kobayashi Mia , Okochi Jiro , Ishii Shinya
Published: December 2023

Older people's health condition is not uniform, and the components of their health are interrelated. Concepts regarding the health of older people have emerged and changed over time. However, the transition of concepts and influencing factors are not well examined through research. We have conducted a scoping review of the changes over time in the concept of health for older people and the factors influencing these changes. The public websites of international organizations and academic societies related to older people's health and research paper database were searched, and the extracted data were summarized in a chronological table. Consequently, this study revealed changing trends in health orientation after health had been defined by WHO, namely, successful aging, productive aging, active aging, and healthy aging, and their components, not the concept of health. The emergence and changes of health orientation among older people may have accompanied proposals and measures of international organizations and academic societies developed in response to changes in the demographic structure, and changes in how society perceives and supports older people. With the changing eras that bring about advances in health technology, prolongation of life expectancy, and changes in lifestyles, the needs of older people, society's perceptions of aging and older people, and how to support them will also change. Our findings may provide a valuable basis for understanding aging and older people, reconsidering their health orientation based on the health issues of older people and their significance, and formulating policies for older people in the future. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 5–17.
Time‐Lapse Geophysical Measurements for Monitoring Coastal Groundwater Dynamics in an Unconfined Aquifer
Authors: Panthi Jeeban , Boving Thomas , Pradhanang Soni M. , Ismail Mamoon
Published: December 2023

The coastal zone, which is the interface between land and sea, is hydrodynamically very active due to the complex interactions of various hydrological controls and variable‐density fluids. These forces vary over time, resulting in a state of dynamic equilibrium in the system. The major hydrological processes in coastal aquifer systems are salt water intrusion and submarine groundwater discharge, which are interdependent. Monitoring these complex processes is crucial for sustainable coastal zone management but poses a significant research challenge. In this study, we demonstrate the effectiveness of non‐invasive geophysical techniques, specifically the time‐lapse electrical resistivity imaging method, in conjunction with groundwater monitoring, for monitoring coastal groundwater dynamics in an unconfined aquifer at varying time scales and hydrogeological settings present at formerly glaciated sites worldwide. We generated two‐dimensional baseline salt water intrusion maps for the test site, located on the coast of Rhode Island, USA. The time‐lapse electrical resistivity survey method enables the rapid estimation of fresh groundwater discharge. Our approach offers insight into the mechanisms and seasonably variable salt water–freshwater interactions in unconfined heterogeneous aquifers. Although the results are site‐specific, their implications are broad and may stimulate other studies related to sea to land pollution (sea water intrusion) and land to sea pollution (groundwater discharge) in heterogeneous coastal aquifer settings.
Health and social care experience and research perception of different ethnic minority populations in the East Midlands, United Kingdom (REPRESENT study)
Authors: Ekezie Winifred , Cassambai Shabana , Czyznikowska Barbara , Curtis Ffion , O'Mahoney Lauren L. , Willis Andrew , Chudasama Yogini , Khunti Kamlesh , Farooqi Azhar
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Ethnic minority populations experience significant health and social care disparities; despite experiencing a greater burden of diseases, these groups are underrepresented in health and social care research. Consequently, related research can be less applicable to these population groups. The REPRESENT study aims to explore the health and social care experiences of ethnic minorities and other minoritised populations, their research interests and appropriate research practices.

Methods

Focus groups and semistructured interviews were conducted between May and September 2022 with members of a number of ethnic minority communities in England. Data were audio recorded, transcribed and thematically coded using NVivo 12. Rigour was determined through extensive sampling, iterative data collection and analysis.

Findings

Fifty‐two ethnic minority members were engaged in group interviews and one‐to‐one interviews. Participants included representatives of the following groups: African Caribbean, Eastern European, Gypsy Travellers, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual+, Refugee/Asylum Seekers, Somali and South Asian communities. Interviews were also conducted with ethnic minority healthcare providers and researchers. Three overarching categories were identified: health information, medical service experiences, health and social care concerns and health research. Health and social care services challenges were mostly attributed to discrimination, delayed services, poor cultural relevance and language and cultural barriers. The most influential information sources were local community organisations and word‐of‐mouth. The main health and social care concerns were chronic long‐term health conditions, mental health, maternal health and child development. Recommendations for research involved understanding the motivations for participation, improving communication and empowering communities. Top research priorities were long‐term health conditions, health promotion and education, early care interventions and understanding community needs.

Interpretation

Discrimination and bias in health and social care provision have severe implications for worsening ethnic health inequalities. Healthcare commissioning authorities and policymakers can leverage the preference of ethnic minority groups for pharmacy services and community organisations to improve access to care. Improving research interest and engagement requires understanding individual community needs, community sensitivity, research relevance and cultural appropriateness.

Patient or Public Contribution

Members of ethnic minority Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement group and Community Advisory Board supported the REPRESENT study design, conceptualisation and report development.
Clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus patients with splenomegaly: focussed on the cytopenias
Authors: Nam So Hye , Park Han‐Seung , Ahn Soo Min , Oh Ji Seon , Kim Yong‐Gil , Lee Chang‐Keun , Yoo Bin , Hong Seokchan
Published: December 2023

This study aimed to investigate the clinical features of splenomegaly, mainly focussing on cytopenia, in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Cytopenia was commonly observed in 111 SLE patients with splenomegaly (n = 79, 71.2%). During the follow‐up period, two patients developed haematologic malignancy after the diagnosis of SLE and splenomegaly, but no patients experienced severe complications (e.g. splenic rupture) related to splenomegaly.
Calls of Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus contain individual signatures
Authors: Sun Yuheng , Dunning Jamie , Taylor Tony , Schroeder Julia , Anne Zollinger Sue
Published: December 2023

Vocalisations are widely used to signal behavioural intention in animal communication, but may also carry acoustic signatures unique to the calling individual. Here, we used acoustic analysis to confirm that Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus calls carry individual signatures, and discerned which features made the calls individual. Manx shearwater are nocturnal seabirds that breed in dense colonies, where they must recognize and locate mates among thousands of conspecifics calling in the dark. There is evidence for mate vocal recognition in two shearwater species, but quantitative data on the vocalisations are lacking. We elicited vocal responses to playback of conspecific calls in Manx shearwaters, and measured spectral and temporal parameters of the calls. We then applied linear discriminant analysis with leave‐one‐out cross‐validation and could confirm the presence of individual vocal signatures. We then calculated among‐individual repeatability of 34 features describing the vocalisation to determine the extent to which these features may contribute to individual signature coding. We found that calls cluster by individual in both temporal and spectral characteristics, suggesting these traits are contributing to Manx shearwaters' unique call signatures.
Is Chatgpt a menace for creative writing ability? An experiment
Authors: Niloy Ahnaf Chowdhury , Akter Salma , Sultana Nayeema , Sultana Jakia , Rahman Sayed Imran Ur
Published: December 2023

Background

The increasing prevalence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) language models, exemplified by ChatGPT, has sparked inquiries into their influence on creative writing skills in educational contexts. This study aims to quantitatively investigate whether ChatGPT's use negatively affects university students' creative writing abilities, focusing on originality, content presentation, accuracy, and elaboration in essays. The research adopts an experimental approach to shed light on this concern.

Objective

This study aims to quantitatively investigate whether the utilization of ChatGPT, an AI chatbot, adversely affects specific dimensions of creative writing skills among university students, with an emphasis on originality, content presentation, accuracy, and elaboration.

Method

The experimental study involves 600 students from 10 universities, divided into a control and an experimental group (EGp). The EGp incorporates ChatGPT in their creative writing process as an intervention. The study evaluates originality, content presentation, accuracy, and elaboration, utilizing the Wilcoxon Signed‐Rank Test for analysis.

Results and Conclusion

The findings reveal a detrimental association between ChatGPT use and university students' creative writing abilities. Analysing both machine‐based and human‐based assessments substantiates earlier qualitative observations regarding ChatGPT's adverse impact on creative writing. This study highlights the necessity of approaching AI integration, particularly in creative writing disciplines, with caution. While AI tools have merits, their integration should be thoughtful, considering the potential drawbacks. These insights inform future research and educational practices, guiding the effective incorporation of AI while nurturing students' writing skills.
Constitutional accountability for police shootings
Authors: Goelzhauser Greg
Published: December 2023

Constitutional accountability for police shootings is imposed in part through civil rights lawsuits alleging Fourth Amendment violations, but little is known about how judges evaluate these claims. I introduce original data on all federal circuit court decisions resolving Fourth Amendment excessive force claims in police shooting cases over three decades. The quasi‐random assignment of a majority‐Republican panel substantially increases the probability of circuit courts finding a police shooting to be constitutional. Capturing law's influence by mapping case facts to the three‐part analytical framework delineated by the Supreme Court in Graham v. Connor, I find that active resistance and threat immediacy are associated with increases in the probability of finding police shootings to be constitutional, but crime severity is not systematically associated with outcomes. In addition, there is evidence that law conditions the effect of politics, with increases in latent Fourth Amendment reasonableness narrowing the partisan outcome gap in constitutional assessments. The quasi‐random assignment of a Black judge does not impact outcomes. The results have important implications for police oversight and longstanding debates in judicial politics over the prevalence of panel effects and the extent to which law influences decision making.
The potential of the hoverfly Allograpta exotica as a biological control agent of the strawberry aphid Chaetosiphon fragaefolii
Authors: Díaz‐Lucas María Florencia , Maza Noelia , Kirschbaum Daniel Santiago , Rocca Margarita , Greco Nancy Mabel
Published: December 2023

Syrphid larvae are effective biological control agents in numerous crops due to their voracity, and they are used in both augmentative and conservation‐based strategies within horticultural systems. This study conducted laboratory trials to ascertain the predation rate of Allograpta exotica (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Syrphidae) on Chaetosiphon fragaefolii (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and to compare it with the predation rate on Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae), another significant aphid species affecting strawberries. Additionally, field trials were conducted to assess the reduction in the field population of C. fragaefolii achieved by A. exotica within strawberry crops. We observed a significant increase in the number of aphids consumed by a larva as it progressed from first‐instar larvae (L1) to third‐instar larvae (L3). Specifically, the mean aphid consumption by second‐instar larvae (L2) was nearly 11 times higher for C. fragaefolii and 10 times higher for A. gossypii compared to L1. Furthermore, the consumption rate of L3 larvae was approximately 2 times higher for both aphid species compared to L2. In laboratory conditions, A. exotica larvae significantly reduced the number of both aphid species, but the control on A. gossypii was higher than on C. fragaefolii. The results of the field experiment demonstrated that the predatory hoverfly A. exotica significantly reduced the numbers of C. fragaefolii compared to the control treatment, highlighting its potential as a promising biological control agent in strawberry crops.
D&C has the best concordance between preoperative and postoperative grades among morbidly obese endometrial cancer patients
Authors: Tal Ori , Amram Stav , Landman Tom , Feldstein Ohad , Peled Ofri , Levy Tally
Published: December 2023

Aim

Endometrial cancer is diagnosed by obtaining uterine biopsies by pipelle, dilatation and curettage (D&C), or hysteroscopy. In 15%–25% of the cases, the preoperative and postoperative grades do not match. This discrepancy may carry significant clinical and prognostic consequences. We aimed to assess how body mass index (BMI) affects preoperative and postoperative grade mismatches and whether biopsy methods mitigate this effect.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of patients with endometrial cancer who underwent surgery at our center between 2014 and 2022. We stratified patients into six classes of BMI based on the WHO classification. Preoperative and postoperative grades were compared for concordance with regards to patient BMI and sampling method.

Results

A total of 158 patients were included, diagnosed by pipelle (n = 99), hysteroscopy (n = 15), or D&C (n = 44). For all methods, every unit increase in BMI increased the odds of having a gap between histology grades by 5.2%. In the pipelle group, the odds of a larger gap between the histology grades was 62% higher than that of women in the other groups. Among the D&C group, the odds of having a bigger difference between histology grades were 91.8% lower compared to the other groups. Patients with BMI over 30 had nearly 50% discrepancy when diagnosed with pipelle or hysteroscopy, but less than 10% with D&C.

Conclusions

Increasing BMI is associated with decreasing concordance between preoperative and postoperative grades in endometrial cancer, especially when it exceeds 30. This effect is much less pronounced, however, when the diagnostic method is D&C.
DNA metabarcoding, diversity partitioning and null models reveal mechanisms of seasonal trophic specialization in a Mediterranean warbler
Authors: Velarde‐Garcéz Daniel A. , Mata Vanessa A. , Beja Pedro , da Silva Luis P.
Published: December 2023

Optimal Foraging Theory (OFT) predicts that a population's trophic niche expansion should occur in periods of food scarcity as individuals begin to opportunistically exploit sub‐optimal food items. However, the Niche Variation Hypothesis (NVH) posits that niche widening may result from increased among‐individual differentiation due to food partitioning to avoid competition. We tested these hypotheses through a DNA metabarcoding study of the Sardinian Warbler (Curruca melanocephala) diet over a year. We used null models and the decomposition of beta diversity on among‐individual dietary differentiation to infer the mechanisms driving the population's niche variation. Warblers fed frequently on berries, with a peak in late summer and, to a lesser extent, in autumn. Their diet also included a wide range of arthropods, with their prevalence varying among seasons. Consistent with OFT, the population's niche width was narrower in spring/summer when the population was strongly specialized in berries. In winter, the population's niche expanded, possibly reflecting seasonal declines in food abundance. As predicted by NVH, among‐individual differentiation tended to be higher in winter, but this was mainly due to increased differences in dietary richness rather than to the partitioning of resources. Overall, our results suggest that within‐individual niche does not increase in lean periods, and instead, individuals adopt either a more opportunistic or more specialized foraging strategy. Increased competition in periods of scarcity may help explain such patterns, but instead of showing increased food partitioning as expected from NVH, it may reflect OFT mechanisms on individuals with differential competitive ability to access better food resources.
Proportionality in Causation, Part II: Applications and Challenges
Authors: Rubenstein Ezra
Published: December 2023

In ‘Proportionality in Causation, Part I: Theories’, I presented various ways of understanding the idea that causes which are ‘proportional’ to their effects are in some sense preferable. In this companion article, I discuss the principal applications of the resulting theories of proportionality, and the challenges they face.
The Sub-Metered HVAC Implemented for Demand Response Dataset
Authors: Lin Austin J. , Lei Shunbo , Keskar Aditya , Hiskens Ian , Johnson Jeremiah X. , Mathieu Johanna L.
Published: December 2023

Closed-loop control of commercial building heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) for demand response requires measurements used as feedback to the controllers. Demand response effectiveness is usually measured as a power deviation from baseline, but the building automation system (BAS) does not usually collect power measurements, and whole-building electric meters typically measure power at intervals of 15 min, which may be too slow for some types of demand response. Demand response strategies are sometimes focused on components of building HVAC systems, e.g., the response of supply/return fans to temperature set-point changes, but these components are usually not submetered. Fan power can be estimated from physics-based models leveraging BAS data, e.g., airflow measurements; but our ability to effectively close the loop on these estimates is not clear. In this paper, we introduce a massive dataset that contains both submetered fan power data and BAS data for several building HVAC systems during typical operation and demand response events. Through a case study we show that models leveraging BAS data alone do not provide accurate estimates of fan power during event transients, making it unlikely that closed-loop control of commercial building HVAC components for demand response would be effective using BAS data alone. This demonstrates the value of submetering HVAC components. More broadly, our dataset will enable future research bridging the gap between building control and power systems research.
A High-Ceramic-Loading LATP–PVDF–Al2O3 Composite Film for Lithium-Ion Batteries With Favorable Porous Microstructure and Enhanced Thermal Stability
Authors: Gu Yu , Yuan Chris
Published: December 2023

A separator plays a crucial role in a Li-ion battery to carry liquid electrolytes while preventing short-circuiting between electrodes. Nevertheless, conventional commercial separators often exhibit poor wettability and are prone to shrink at elevated temperatures due to their limited thermal stability. Herein, we report a heat-resistant LATP–PVDF–Al2O3 composite film with outstanding wetting performance. The thin film was prepared using ball mill mixing and tape-casting processes. Two solvents, NMP and glycerol, were applied to prepare the slurry, and a favorable microstructure in the film was created after drying. The ionic conductivity of the film was tested at 1.39 mS cm−1 when paired with liquid electrolyte, almost double that of the commercial counterpart. The high ceramic loading of 70% improved both the thermal shrinkage resistance and dendrite inhibition of the membrane. When assembled in an NMC half-cell, the cycling capacity retentions of 92.8% and 92.1% are achieved after 50 cycles at 0.5 C and 1 C, demonstrating its capability to be used in Li-ion batteries.
Practical study of optical stellar interferometry
Authors: Rodríguez-Ovalle P. , Mendi-Martos A. , Angulo-Manzanas A. , Reyes-Rodríguez I. , Pérez-Arrieta M. , Illarramendi M. A. , Sánchez-Lavega A.
Published: December 2023

We present a technique to observe stellar inteferograms, as well as the detailed analysis of those created by three bright stars: Betelgeuse, Rigel, and Sirius. It is shown that the atmospheric turbulence is responsible for the reduction of the long-exposure fringe visibility of the obtained interference patterns. By using different baselines in our interferometer, we are able to distinguish the decay of the visibility with the baseline, observe how different parameters such as the diameter or the distribution of the holes in our interferometer affect the pattern, and measure the atmospheric turbulence. This experiment can be performed by postgraduate students to gain practical experience in optical interferometry in astronomy.
Expanding the range of validity of the simplest computation of the perihelion precession in Schwarzschild spacetime
Authors: Pons Josep M.
Published: December 2023

Among the several methods to compute the perihelion precession for bounded orbits in Schwarzschild spacetime, the simplest is to ignore a term in the equations of motion. This is currently justified under the assumption that the eccentricity of the orbit is small. For cases such as Mercury in our solar system, whose eccentricity is not small, this method seems not to be applicable. Yet it gives the right result, the reason being that the term that has been excluded, although responsible for first order—in the ratio of the Schwarzschild radius over the radial coordinate—corrections of the orbit, only produces completely negligible higher order corrections for the perihelion precession. We show this result by two different procedures. We claim, therefore, that as long as the aim of the computation is the perihelion precession, one can safely drop that term regardless of the magnitude of the eccentricity.
Kinetic Analysis, Potentiation, and Fatigue During Vertical and Horizontal Plyometric Training: An In-Depth Investigation Into Session Volume
Authors: Watkins Casey M. , Gill Nicholas D. , McGuigan Michael R. , Maunder Ed , Spence Alyssa-Joy , Downes Paul , Neville Jono , Storey Adam G.
Published: December 2023

Despite previous support for plyometric training, optimal dosing strategies remain unclear. Purpose: To investigate vertical and horizontal jump kinetic performance following a low-volume plyometric stimulus with progressively increased session jump volume. Methods: Sixteen academy rugby players (20.0 [2.0] y; 103.0 [17.6] kg; 184.3 [5.5] cm) volunteered for this study. Vertical and horizontal jump sessions were conducted 1 week apart and consisted of a 40-jump low-volume plyometric stimulus using 4 exercises, after which volume was progressively increased to 200 jumps, using countermovement jump (CMJ) for vertical sessions and horizontal broad jump (HBJ) for horizontal sessions. Jump performance was assessed via force-plate analysis at baseline (PRE-0), following the low-volume plyometric stimulus (P-40), and every subsequent 10 jumps until the end of the session (P-50, P-60, P-70, ... P-200). Results: The low-volume stimulus was effective in potentiating HBJ (2% to 5%) but not CMJ (0% to −7%) performance (P < .001). The HBJ performance enhancements were maintained throughout the entire high-volume session, while CMJ realized small but significant decrements (−5% to −7%) in jump height P-50 to P-80 before recovering to presession values. Moreover, increases in eccentric impulse (5% to 24%; P < .001) in both sessions were associated with decreased or maintained concentric impulse, indicating a breakdown in performance-augmenting mechanisms and less effective power transfer concentrically after moderate volumes. Conclusion: Practitioners should consider kinetic differences between HBJ and CMJ with increasing volume to better inform and understand session dosing strategies.
Embracing Kinesiology’s Evolving Role in Integrated Health and Human Sciences Units: Future Opportunities and Challenges
Authors: Focht Brian C. , Porfeli Erik J. , Chaplow Zachary L.
Published: December 2023

A constellation of emerging trends in contemporary higher education has led to reorganizations, consolidations, and mergers of academic units that directly impact kinesiology. These changes increasingly locate kinesiology within colleges of health and human sciences (HHS). This article addresses the opportunities and challenges for the future of kinesiology within consolidated HHS units. Synthesizing recent trends in higher education, historical and contemporary perspectives from the field, and our experience in leading a merged HHS unit, we identify conceptual and pragmatic considerations facing kinesiology. The potential impact of merged college structures upon kinesiology warrants further inquiry given the limited attention these changes have received. Kinesiology will benefit from systematic evaluation and planning to enhance the impact of these organizational changes on kinesiology in their new integrated college structures. We propose that the National Academy of Kinesiology is well positioned to provide leadership to kinesiology units in navigating these changes and advancing the missions of integrated HHS units.
The Winding Path of Measurement of the Body’s Responses to Exercise: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Garber Carol Ewing
Published: December 2023

This paper traces the path of the role of exercise in promoting health and the emergence of scientific study of the physiology of exercise from ancient times through modern times. Ancient physician–philosophers taught that exercise was important for health and employed exercise to control diseases such as diabetes and obesity, to offset the effects of aging, and for military preparedness. By the early modern era, the first books on exercise had been published, and the start of the use of exercise for therapy, rehabilitation, and occupational medicine emerged. Philosopher scientists proposed and applied experimental methods as early as the Middle Ages, and the scientific method was further developed during the early modern period. Experiments about the physiological responses to exercise began in the middle of the 19th century. The application of innovative research methods resulted in exponential gains in knowledge about the physiology of exercise throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.
Spatiotemporal-social association predicts immunological similarity in rewilded mice
Authors: Downie Alexander E. , Oyesola Oyebola , Barre Ramya S. , Caudron Quentin , Chen Ying-Han , Dennis Emily J. , Garnier Romain , Kiwanuka Kasalina , Menezes Arthur , Navarrete Daniel J. , Mondragón-Palomino Octavio , Saunders Jesse B. , Tokita Christopher K. , Zaldana Kimberly , Cadwell Ken , Loke P’ng , Graham Andrea L.
Published: December 2023

Environmental influences on immune phenotypes are well-documented, but our understanding of which elements of the environment affect immune systems, and how, remains vague. Behaviors, including socializing with others, are central to an individual’s interaction with its environment. We therefore tracked behavior of rewilded laboratory mice of three inbred strains in outdoor enclosures and examined contributions of behavior, including associations measured from spatiotemporal co-occurrences, to immune phenotypes. We found extensive variation in individual and social behavior among and within mouse strains upon rewilding. In addition, we found that the more associated two individuals were, the more similar their immune phenotypes were. Spatiotemporal association was particularly predictive of similar memory T and B cell profiles and was more influential than sibling relationships or shared infection status. These results highlight the importance of shared spatiotemporal activity patterns and/or social networks for immune phenotype and suggest potential immunological correlates of social life.
Solar-powered simultaneous highly efficient seawater desalination and highly specific target extraction with smart DNA hydrogels
Authors: Liang Hanxue , Mu Yali , Yin Mengyuan , He Ping-Ping , Guo Weiwei
Published: December 2023

Obtaining freshwater and important minerals from seawater with solar power facilitates the sustainable development of human society. Hydrogels have demonstrated great solar-powered water evaporation potential, but highly efficient and specific target extraction remains to be expanded. Here, we report the simultaneous highly efficient seawater desalination and specific extraction of uranium with smart DNA hydrogels. The DNA hydrogel greatly promoted the evaporation of water, with the water evaporation rate reached a high level of 3.54 kilograms per square meter per hour (1 kilowatt per square meter). Simultaneously, uranyl-specific DNA hydrogel exhibited a high capture capacity of 5.7 milligrams per gram for uranium from natural seawater due to the rapid ion transport driven by the solar powered interfacial evaporation and the high selectivity (10.4 times over vanadium). With programmable functions and easy-to-use devices, the system is expected to play a role in future seawater treatment.
‘Gene drive’ may help fight viruses with viruses
Authors: Cohen Jon
Published: December 2023

CRISPR-engineered herpesviruses can speed spread of genes to viral relatives in mice
NIH advisory group pushes for big pay raise for U.S. postdocs
Authors: Langin Katie
Published: December 2023

Though applauded by many, measure would strain lab budgets if adopted
Antiviral
Wolbachia
strains associate with
Aedes aegypti
endoplasmic reticulum membranes and induce lipid droplet formation to restrict dengue virus replication
Authors: Loterio Robson K. , Monson Ebony A. , Templin Rachel , de Bruyne Jyotika T. , Flores Heather A. , Mackenzie Jason M. , Ramm Georg , Helbig Karla J. , Simmons Cameron P. , Fraser Johanna E.
Published: December 2023

Aedes aegypti
transmits a range of important human pathogenic viruses like dengue. However, infection of
Ae. aegypti
with the insect endosymbiotic bacterium,
Wolbachia
, reduces the risk of mosquito to human viral transmission.
Wolbachia
is being utilized at field sites across more than 13 countries to reduce the incidence of viruses like dengue, but it is not well understood how
Wolbachia
induces its antiviral effects. To examine this at the subcellular level, we compared how different strains of
Wolbachia
with varying antiviral strengths associate with and modify host cell structures. Strongly antiviral strains were found to specifically associate with the host endoplasmic reticulum and induce striking impacts on host cell lipid droplets. Inhibiting
Wolbachia
-induced lipid redistribution partially restored dengue virus replication demonstrating this is a contributing role for
Wolbachia's
antiviral activity. These findings provide new insights into how antiviral
Wolbachia
strains associate with and modify
Ae. aegypti
host cells.
The keystone gut species
Christensenella minuta
boosts gut microbial biomass and voluntary physical activity in mice
Authors: Akbuğa-Schön Tanja , Suzuki Taichi A. , Jakob Dennis , Vu Dai Long , Waters Jillian L. , Ley Ruth E.
Published: December 2023

The composition of the human gut microbiome is associated with human health. Within the human gut microbiome, the relative abundance of the bacterial family
Christensenellaceae
has been shown to correlate with metabolic health and a lean body type. The mechanisms underpinning this effect remain unclear. Here, we show that live
C. minuta
influences host physical activity and metabolic energy expenditure, accompanied by changes in murine metabolism and the gut microbial community in a sex-dependent manner in comparison to heat-killed
C. minuta
. Importantly, live
C. minuta
boosts the biomass of the microbiome in the gut, and a higher level of
C. minuta
is associated with greater loss of energy in stool. These observations indicate that modulation of activity levels and changes to the microbiome are ways in which the
Christensenellaceae
can influence host energy homeostasis and health.
Understanding the gut microbiota by considering human evolution: a story of fire, cereals, cooking, molecular ingenuity, and functional cooperation
Authors: Tannock Gerald W.
Published: December 2023

The microbial community inhabiting the human colon, referred to as the gut microbiota, is mostly composed of bacterial species that, through extensive metabolic networking, degrade and ferment components of food and human secretions. The taxonomic composition of the microbiota has been extensively investigated in metagenomic studies that have also revealed details of molecular processes by which common components of the human diet are metabolized by specific members of the microbiota. Most studies of the gut microbiota aim to detect deviations in microbiota composition in patients relative to controls in the hope of showing that some diseases and conditions are due to or exacerbated by alterations to the gut microbiota. The aim of this review is to consider the gut microbiota in relation to the evolution of
Homo sapiens
which was heavily influenced by the consumption of a nutrient-dense non-arboreal diet, limited gut storage capacity, and acquisition of skills relating to mastering fire, cooking, and cultivation of cereal crops. The review delves into the past to gain an appreciation of what is important in the present. A holistic view of “healthy” microbiota function is proposed based on the evolutionary pathway shared by humans and gut microbes.
Oral immunization with
Shigella sonnei
WRSs2 and WRSs3 vaccine strains elicits systemic and mucosal antibodies with functional anti-microbial activity
Authors: Shrivastava Shikha , Agnememel Alain B. , Ndungo Esther , Islam Dilara , Liang Yuanyuan , Frenck Robert W. , Pasetti Marcela F.
Published: December 2023

Shigella
causes bacillary dysentery and is responsible for a high burden of disease globally. Several studies have emphasized the value of functional antibody activity to understand
Shigella
immunity and correlates of protection. The anti-microbial function of local (mucosal) antibodies and their contribution to preventing
Shigella
infection remain unknown. The goal of this study was to identify the functional humoral immune effectors elicited by two
Shigella sonnei
live oral vaccine candidates, WRSs2 and WRSs3. Complement-dependent bactericidal [serum bactericidal antibody (SBA)/bactericidal antibody (BA)] and opsonophagocytic killing antibody (OPKA) activity were determined in sera and stool extracts as indicators of systemic and local anti-microbial immunity. High levels of SBA/BA and OPKA were detected in serum as well as in fecal extracts from volunteers who received a single dose of WRSs2 and WRSs3. Functional antibody activity peaked on days 10 and 14 post-vaccination in fecal and serum samples, respectively. Bactericidal and OPKA titers were closely associated. Peak fold rises in functional antibody titers in serum and fecal extracts were also associated. Antibody activity interrogated in IgG and IgA purified from stool fractions identified IgG as the primary driver of mucosal bactericidal and OPKA activity, with minimal functional activity of IgA alone, highlighting an underappreciated role for IgG in bacterial clearance in the mucosa. The combination of IgG and IgA in equal proportions enhanced bactericidal and OPKA titers hinting at a co-operative or synergistic action. Our findings provide insight into the functional anti-microbial capacity of vaccine-induced mucosal IgG and IgA and propose an operative local humoral effector of protective immunity.

IMPORTANCE

There is an urgent need for a safe, effective, and affordable vaccine against
Shigella
. Understanding the immunological underpinning of
Shigella
infection and the make-up of protective immunity is critical to achieve the best approach to prevent illness caused by this mucosal pathogen. We measured the complement-dependent bactericidal and opsonophagocytic antibody killing in serum and stool extracts from adult volunteers vaccinated with
Shigella sonnei
live oral vaccine candidates WRSs2 and WRSs3. For the first time, we detected functional antibody responses in stool samples that were correlated with those in sera. Using purified stool IgA and IgG fractions, we found that functional activity was mediated by IgG, with some help from IgA. These findings provide insight into the functional anti-microbial capacity of vaccine-induced mucosal IgG and IgA and support future studies to identify potential markers of protective mucosal immunity.
Phenotypes of a
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
hypermutator lineage that emerged during prolonged mechanical ventilation in a patient without cystic fibrosis
Authors: Nozick Sophia H. , Ozer Egon A. , Medernach Rachel , Kochan Travis J. , Kumar Rebecca , Mills Jori O. , Wunderlink Richard G. , Qi Chao , Hauser Alan R.
Published: December 2023

Hypermutator lineages of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
arise frequently during the years of airway infection experienced by patients with cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis but are rare in the absence of chronic infection and structural lung disease. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, large numbers of patients have remained mechanically ventilated for extended periods of time. These patients are prone to acquire bacterial pathogens that persist for many weeks and have the opportunity to evolve within the pulmonary environment. However, little is known about what types of adaptations occur in these bacteria and whether these adaptations mimic those observed in chronic infections. We describe a COVID-19 patient with a secondary
P. aeruginosa
lung infection in whom the causative bacterium persisted for >50 days. Over the course of this infection, a hypermutator lineage of
P. aeruginosa
emerged and co-existed with a non-hypermutator lineage. Compared to the parental lineage, the hypermutator lineage evolved to be less cytotoxic and less virulent. Genomic analyses of the hypermutator lineage identified numerous mutations, including in the mismatch repair gene
mutL
and other genes frequently mutated in individuals with cystic fibrosis. Together, these findings demonstrate that hypermutator lineages can emerge when
P. aeruginosa
persists following acute infections such as ventilator-associated pneumonia and that these lineages have the potential to affect patient outcomes.

IMPORTANCE

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
may evolve to accumulate large numbers of mutations in the context of chronic infections such as those that occur in individuals with cystic fibrosis. However, these “hypermutator” lineages are rare following acute infections. Here, we describe a non-cystic fibrosis patient with COVID-19 pneumonia who remained mechanically ventilated for months. The patient became infected with a strain of
P. aeruginosa
that evolved to become a hypermutator. We demonstrate that hypermutation led to changes in cytotoxicity and virulence. These findings are important because they demonstrate that
P. aeruginosa
hypermutators can emerge following acute infections and that they have the potential to affect patient outcomes in this setting.
Supplemental Material: A record of Late Cretaceous to early Paleogene Insular terrane accretion within the northern Cordillera: Insights from monazite petrochronology across the Kluane Schist, southwest Yukon, Canada
Authors: McKenzie Will , et al.
Published: December 2023

All raw monazite U-Th-Pb age and trace element data, mineral compositional data, calculated whole-rock compositions, Ti-in-biotite thermometry, additional X-ray (AMICS) phase maps, monazite backscatter electron images, additional phase diagrams calculated with different dataset/activity end-member combinations, T-XH2O diagram, full phase diagrams that contribute to Figure 7A in main text, monazite trace element spider diagrams, and an example rim-to-rim garnet profile from a Kluane Schist sample.