bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combined WNT-activated deep-penetrating/plexiform melanocytoma: insights into clinicopathological and molecular characterization
Authors: Castillo Paola , Castrejon Natalia , Marginet Marta , Massi Daniela , Alamon Francesc , Teixido Cristina , Montironi Carla , Garcia-Herrera Adriana , Albero-Gonzalez Raquel , Matas Jessica , Puig Susana , Alos Llucia
Published: November 2023

Background

A combined deep-penetrating tumour redefined as WNT-activated deep-penetrating/plexiform melanocytoma (DPM), may pose challenging clinical and histological diagnoses.

Objectives

To review the clinicopathological characteristics of combined DPMs and characterize the molecular profile of atypical and malignant forms.

Methods

The study included 51 patients with combined DPMs diagnosed at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona and the University of Florence between 2012 and 2020. Clinical data, dermoscopy images (when available) and histological characteristics were reviewed. Immunohistochemistry for β-catenin, LEF1, HMB45, Ki67, p16 and PRAME (preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma) was performed. Atypical forms underwent next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel analysis, including driver genes implicated in DPMs, TERT-promoter (p) mutations and the investigation of the 9p21 locus via fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Results

Among the 51 patients (32 females and 19 males, age range 4–74 years), 68% with available clinical data (15/22) were initially suspected of having melanoma. Except for one patient, complete excision resulted in no recurrences or metastases. One patient who had an incompletely excised combined DPM developed a lymph node melanoma metastasis 10 years later. In the 51 patients, 10 samples (20%) showed atypical histological features; 7 (14%) exhibited a significant loss of p16 expression; and 2 (4%) showed a high-proliferative index (Ki67 over 5%). NGS analysis in 11 patients revealed a double mutation BRAFV600E and exon 3 CTNNB1; no TERTp mutations were detected.

Conclusions

Clinical suspicion of melanoma is common in combined DPMs, but malignant progression is infrequent in tumours lacking high-grade atypia or proliferation. These findings are congruent with the consideration of these lesions as intermediate-grade tumours or melanocytomas.
Daylight photodynamic therapy as a treatment for actinic field change in patients diagnosed with oculocutaneous albinism in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Twigg Emily , Roberts Elizabeth , Sharp Andrew , Iraba Jacqueline , Chapa Peter , Freeland Harry , Mavura Daudi
Published: November 2023

Background

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a genetically inherited condition, whereby melanin is reduced or absent in the skin. A lack of melanin predisposes people to actinic damage and skin malignancies. In Tanzania, a resource-limited country, the treatment of choice for precancerous skin lesions is cryotherapy.

Objectives

To investigate whether daylight photodynamic therapy (dPDT) is a safe and well-tolerated treatment for actinic field change in the OCA population in Tanzania.

Methods

Twelve participants with actinic damage were recruited from a Standing Voice skin surveillance clinic and treated with dPDT. Study participants completed tolerability and acceptability questionnaires at day 5 and 3 months after treatment. A dermatologist assessed their clinical response to dPDT at 3 months.

Results

dPDT was well-tolerated and acceptable to the majority of patients. Actinic damage was reduced by 25–90%. No skin cancers developed during the treatment.

Conclusions

This pilot study suggests that dPDT is a safe and tolerable treatment for actinic damage in people with OCA in Tanzania. Further work is required to compare the efficacy of dPDT against other topical therapies for actinic field change.
Microbiology, Public Health, and the Murals of Diego Rivera
Authors: Cabello Felipe C , Godfrey Henry P
Published: November 2023

Diego Rivera, an acclaimed Mexican painter active during the first half of the 20th century, painted multiple frescoes in Mexico and the United States. Some include depictions of bacteria, their interactions with human hosts, and processes related to microbiology and public health, including the microbial origin of life, diagnosis of infection, vaccine production, and immunization. Microbiological subjects in Rivera's murals at the Mexican Ministry of Health in Mexico City; the Detroit Institute of Art, Detroit; Rockefeller Center, New York/Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City; Chapultepec Park, Mexico City; and the Institute of Social Security, Mexico City, span almost 25 years, from 1929 to 1953. Illustrating the successes of the application of microbiological discoveries and methods to public health and the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, they benefited from Rivera's creativity in melding microbiology's unique technological and scientific aspects and public health elements with industrial and political components.
Performance of the PRIMaCY sudden death risk prediction model for childhood hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: implications for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator decision-making
Authors: Norrish Gabrielle , Protonotarios Alexandros , Stec Maria , Boleti Olga , Field Ella , Cervi Elena , Elliott Perry M , Kaski Juan P
Published: November 2023

Aims

The validated HCM Risk-Kids model provides accurate individualized estimates of sudden cardiac death risk in children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). A second validated model, PRIMaCY, also provides individualized estimates of risk, but its performance and clinical impact has not been independently investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical impact of using the PRIMaCY sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk model in childhood HCM.

Methods and results

The estimated 5-year SCD risk was calculated for children meeting diagnostic criteria for HCM in a large single-centre cohort using PRIMaCY (clinical and genetic) and HCM Risk-Kids model, and model performance was assessed. Three hundred one patients [median age 10 (interquartile range 4–14)] were followed up for an average of 4.9 (±3.8) years, during which 30 (10.0%) reached the SCD or equivalent event endpoint. Harrell’s C-statistic for the clinical and genetic models was 0.66 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.52–0.8] and 0.66 (95% CI 0.54–0.80) with a calibration slope of 0.19 (95% CI 0.04–0.54) and 0.26 (95% CI −0.03–0.62), respectively. The number needed to treat to potentially treat one life-threatening arrhythmia for the PRIMaCY clinical, PRIMaCY genetic, and HCM Risk-Kids models was 13.7, 14.5, and 9.4, respectively.

Conclusion

Although PRIMaCY has a similar discriminatory ability to that reported for HCM Risk-Kids, estimated risk estimates did not correlate well with observed risk. A higher proportion of patients met implantable cardioverter-defibrillator thresholds using PRIMaCY model compared with HCM Risk-Kids. This has important clinical implications as these patients will be exposed to a lifetime risk of complications and inappropriate therapies.
Pollinator and habitat-mediated selection as potential contributors to ecological speciation in two closely related species
Authors: Campbell Diane R , Powers John M , Crowell Madison
Published: November 2023

In ecological speciation, incipient species diverge due to natural selection that is ecologically based. In flowering plants, different pollinators could mediate that selection (pollinator-mediated divergent selection) or other features of the environment that differ between habitats of 2 species could do so (environment-mediated divergent selection). Although these mechanisms are well understood, they have received little rigorous testing, as few studies of divergent selection across sites of closely related species include both floral traits that influence pollination and vegetative traits that influence survival. This study employed common gardens in sites of the 2 parental species and a hybrid site, each containing advanced generation hybrids along with the parental species, to test these forms of ecological speciation in plants of the genus Ipomopsis. A total of 3 vegetative traits (specific leaf area, leaf trichomes, and photosynthetic water-use efficiency) and 5 floral traits (corolla length and width, anther insertion, petal color, and nectar production) were analyzed for impacts on fitness components (survival to flowering and seeds per flower, respectively). These traits exhibited strong clines across the elevational gradient in the hybrid zone, with narrower clines in theory reflecting stronger selection or higher genetic variance. Plants with long corollas and inserted anthers had higher seeds per flower at the Ipomopsis tenuituba site, whereas selection favored the reverse condition at the Ipomopsis aggregata site, a signature of divergent selection. In contrast, no divergent selection due to variation in survival was detected on any vegetative trait. Selection within the hybrid zone most closely resembled selection within the I. aggregata site. Across traits, the strength of divergent selection was not significantly correlated with width of the cline, which was better predicted by evolvability (standardized genetic variance). These results support the role of pollinator-mediated divergent selection in ecological speciation and illustrate the importance of genetic variance in determining divergence across hybrid zones.
‘We stay silent and keep it in our hearts’: a qualitative study of failure of complaints mechanisms in Malawi’s health system
Authors: Chilumpha Maryam , Chatha Gertrude , Umar Eric , McKee Martin , Scott Kerry , Hutchinson Eleanor , Balabanova Dina
Published: November 2023

A responsive health system must have mechanisms in place that ensure it is accountable to those it serves. Patients in Malawi have to overcome many barriers to obtain care. Many of these barriers reflect weak accountability. There are at least 30 mechanisms through which Malawian patients in the public sector can assert their rights, yet few function well and, as a consequence, they are underused. Our aim was to identify the various channels for complaints and why patients are reluctant to use them when they experience poor quality or inappropriate care, as well as the institutional, social and political factors that give rise to these problems. The study was set in the Blantyre district. We used qualitative methods, including ethnographic observations, focus group discussions, document analysis and interviews with stakeholders involved in complaint handling both in Blantyre and in the capital, Lilongwe. We found that complaints mechanisms and redress procedures are underutilized because of lack of trust, geographical inaccessibility and lack of visibility leading to limited awareness of their existence. Drawing on these results, we propose a series of recommendations for the way forward.
Do Indian women know about and use the emergency contraceptive pill? An analysis of nationally representative data from 2005–06 and 2019–21
Authors: Renu  , Arora Pooja , Scott Kerry , Balabanova Dina
Published: November 2023

The emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) is a post-coital contraceptive method that prevents unintended pregnancy and is useful in specific circumstances. This study examined the awareness and use of the ECP in India, as there is scarce evidence in this area to guide policy development. This study used data from the 2005–06 (n = 124 385) and 2019–21 (n = 724 115) rounds of the National Family Health Survey of India. Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were applied to explore how demographic characteristics including age, education (none, primary, secondary, higher), wealth quintile, place of residence (urban, rural), marital status, parity, desire for children, whether current pregnancy was wanted, whether the women had had an abortion in the past 5 years, and whether current use of contraceptive methods affected the likelihood of knowledge and use of ECP. In the past 15 years, knowledge of ECP has increased by 37 percentage points but still remains relatively low at 48%. Less than 1% of the sample (0.55%) used ECP. Women aged 30–34 years, from wealthier and more educated backgrounds, living in urban areas, and currently using condoms had a higher likelihood of using ECP in comparison with women from age group 15–19 years, those from the poorest backgrounds, those with no education, those living in rural areas and those not using any contraceptive method, respectively. In comparison to married women, never-married women exhibited a higher awareness of ECP but lower use. More efforts must be made to improve awareness of the ECP, especially among adolescents, those with less education, poorer women and those in rural areas. The government is taking steps to improve access to ECP, and India’s female community health workers, the ASHAs, could be further supported to enhance awareness of ECP.
Unique risk factors for unplanned preterm delivery in the uterus transplant recipient
Authors: Johannesson Liza , Testa Giuliano , Petrillo Nicole , Gregg Anthony R
Published: November 2023

STUDY QUESTION

Do characteristics of the lower uterine segment and cervix modify the risk of preterm delivery in uterus transplant (UTx) recipients?

SUMMARY ANSWER

The cervical length showed little association with preterm delivery, however, cervical inflammation deserves further exploration as a cause of preterm delivery.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

UTx recipients do not have the risk factors normally used to stratify pregnancies that would benefit from cervical length assessment. In addition, unique factors related to absent tissues, a different blood supply, inflammatory processes of rejection, cervical biopsies, and a different microbiome challenge the normal progressive remodeling of the cervix and thus cervical competence.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

This is a subanalysis of a clinical trial of 20 women undergoing uterus transplantation at Baylor University Medical Center from 2016 to 2020, in addition to two women who received transplantation outside of a research protocol at our institution through September 2022. In this report, the first 16 UTx recipients that achieved live birth are included.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

The focus of this study was 20 pregnancies that reached the second trimester in 16 women following UTx. We analyzed recipient, transplant, and donor factors to determine if characteristics were associated with delivery outcome. We compared obstetrical outcomes, including planned versus unplanned delivery, by factors such as number of superior venous anastomoses, warm ischemia and cold ischemia times, donor factors including cesarean sections, cervical biopsy results, and cervical ultrasound results.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

Planned term deliveries occurred in 44% (8/18) of live births. Of the preterm births, 30% (3/10) were planned and 70% (7/10) were unplanned. Unplanned deliveries occurred in women with spontaneous preterm labor, severe rejection, subchorionic hematoma, and placenta previa. Cervical length in UTx recipients averaged 33.5 mm at 24 weeks and 31.5 mm at 28 weeks, comparable to values from the general population. No relationship was seen between delivery outcome and number of veins used, ischemic time, or number of previous cesarean sections.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

The study’s small size allows limited conclusions. The obstetric history of all donors was limited to mode of delivery.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

Cervical length measurements in the UTx population are not expected to deviate from those with a native uterus. While cervical length surveillance remains important, attention must be paid to the results of cervical biopsies which are obtained to monitor rejection. Inflammatory processes seem most predictive of preterm delivery.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

No funding was provided for this study. The authors report no conflicts of interest.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02656550
Astragalus additive in feed improved serum immune function, rumen fermentation and the microbiota structure of early-weaned lambs
Authors: Shao Pengyang , Sha Yuzhu , Liu Xiu , He Yanyu , Guo Xinyu , Hu Jiang , Wang Jiqing , Li Shaobin , Zhu Caiye , Chen Guoshun , Li Wenhao
Published: November 2023

Aim

The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanism of Astragalus activity on the immune function, rumen microbiota structure, and rumen fermentation of early-weaned lambs.

Methods and results

Thirty healthy early-weaned lambs with similar body weights (17.42 ± 2.02 kg) were selected for the feeding experiment. The control group (KB) was fed a basal diet, and the Astragalus group (HQ) was fed 0.3% Astragalus additive on the basis of a basic diet. The formal trial period was 60 days. The results showed that the concentrations of blood immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) in the HQ group were significantly higher than those in the KB group (P < 0.05). Compared with the KB group, the concentrations of acetic acid, butyric acid, and total volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in the HQ group were higher (P < 0.01). The expression levels of the rumen epithelial-related genes MCT1, MCT4, NHE2, and ZO1 in the Astragalus group were significantly higher than those in the KB group (P < 0.05). 16S rRNA analysis showed that at the phylum level, Bacteroidetes in the HQ group significantly increased (P < 0.01); at the genus level, Prevotella (P < 0.01) and Succiniclasticum (P < 0.01) in the HQ group were found at significantly higher abundances than those in the KB group, and the results of microbiota gene and function prediction showed that “energy metabolism,” “glycan biosynthesis and metabolic” pathways were significantly enriched in the HQ group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

As a feed additive, Astragalus can improve the immunity of early-weaned lambs, the structure of the rumen microbiota of lambs, and the fermentation capacity of the rumen.
A Study on Central Banks and Social Responsibility: the Case of the ESCB
Authors: Felicetti Raffaele
Published: November 2023

Can and should central banks have a social responsibility (‘central banks’ social responsibility’—CBSR) to play a role in social issues, such as economic inequality? This article provides a conceptual account and analysis of the benefits and challenges associated with CBSR. After showing that CBSR is gaining momentum through the pull of influential actors including central banks themselves, policy-makers, and public opinion, I discuss two types of CBSR the European Central Bank (ECB) could engage in. The moderate approach involves action based on the primary mandate, whereas use of the secondary mandate would present an enlarged version of CBSR. While action based on the primary mandate is both legally possible and desirable, the ‘powered’ version of CBSR comes with significant legal hurdles. Absent clear prioritization by the Union’s political institutions of certain economic policies and objectives, selection and prioritization by the ECB of one or more policies would risk opening the floodgates to policy-making. The enlarged version of CBSR is also undesirable, as it would make the scrutiny of the ECB’s activity more challenging for the European Parliament, negatively alter the public trust the ECB enjoys, and heighten the risk of friction within the European System of Central Banks.
The reality of occupational harm incurred by Japanese home health care nurses, the hazardous situations they face, and protective measures: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Kikuchi Yukiko , Kudo Yukiko , Hasebe Makiko , Sugiyama Reiko , Muto Ryosuke , Sasaki Makiko
Published: November 2023

Objectives: To gain a comprehensive understanding of the occupational hazards encountered by home health care nurses in Japan and to elucidate the reality of harm they incur, the hazardous situations, and the protective measures taken

 

Methods:A questionnaire survey of managers of home health care nursing agencies in Japan was conducted, and 355 valid responses were obtained. The survey questions concerned the occupational hazards experienced by home health care nursing staff. The occupational hazards were classified into 6 categories, and responses were obtained regarding harm, hazardous situations, and protective measures in each category

 

Results: The types of harm that occurred at highest rates during the previous 3 years were emotional abuse by the patient or their family members, lower back pain resulting from improper posture while providing care, sexual harassment by the patients and their family members, automobile accidents while traveling to home care sites, and allergic reactions to the environment at home care sites. Some hazardous situations were caused by the unique environments of home care sites

 

Conclusions: In order to prevent the occurrence of harm, the development of risk assessment tools, educational initiatives to increase awareness of occupational hazards, and consideration of the financial and technical support that will enable the use of assistive devices in the practice of nursing techniques were considered necessary. The development of effective guidelines and manuals specific to the occupational hazards encountered by home health care nurses is an important challenge
Retranslated Chinese classical canon Journey to the West: a stylometric comparison between Julia Lovell’s retranslation and Arthur Waley’s translation
Authors: Ping Yuan , Wang Binhua
Published: November 2023

Journey to the West (西游记; Xi You Ji) is one of the best-known classic novels in Chinese literature, and it has been translated into English by various notable translators. This study compares the retranslation of the novel by Julia Lovell published in “Penguin Classics” in 2021 with Arthur Waley’s translation in “Penguin Classics” in 1973. Employing a stylometric approach to compare the styles of the two translations, it uses the corpus tools of word lists, keyword analysis, and function word analysis. The results reveal distinct stylistic differences in the translators’ styles, including lexical density, sentence length, and function words, which point to different translation strategies employed by the two translations of this classic Chinese novel. The book reviews published so far indicate that Lovell’s version has been well received by contemporary Anglophone readers and that the changes in this retranslation may have helped to explain the recanonization of the original classic. This study provides new insights into the understanding of the differences between translation and retranslation, and thus has implications for the fields of translator style studies and stylometry research.
Psychosis: Global Perspectives
Authors: Morgan Craig , Cohen Alex , Roberts Tessa
Published: November 2023

Psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, can be devastating and long-lasting and are associated with significant individual, familial, and societal costs. Schizophrenia is one of the top ten leading causes of disability worldwide. The overwhelming majority of research on psychotic disorders is conducted in countries in North America, Europe, and Australia (together comprising only around 16% of the world’s population). What we know about psychotic disorders in the rest of the world is limited, and the extent to which research in North America, Europe, and Australia (referred to as the ‘Global North’ from here on for simplicity) can be extrapolated to most of the world and used to guide interventions and systems of care is unclear. What is more, the literature on psychosis in the Global South is disparate and there have been very few attempts to synthesise research findings to provide accounts of what is known and what the significant gaps in knowledge are. Nonetheless, what evidence there is points to intriguing differences in the manifestation, causes, outcomes, and experiences of psychosis across countries and cultures. This book has two parts, the first setting current research findings in the context of models of psychosis, and the second providing detailed examples of programmes of research on psychosis in the Global South.
Hong Kong
Authors: Hui Christy Lai Ming , Chang Wing Chung , Chan Sherry Kit Wa , Lee Edwin Ho Ming , Chen Eric Yu Hai
Published: November 2023

This chapter provides an overview of services for research on psychotic disorders in Hong Kong, one of the most densely populated cities in the world. A government-subsidized public healthcare system is in place in Hong Kong. Local psychiatric care depends heavily on this system and is complemented by rather costly private services. According to territory-wide surveys, approximately 2.5% of the Chinese adult population has a lifetime psychotic disorder and 13.3% of the general Hong Kong population reports having a common mental disorder. This chapter covers demographic features, societal stigma in accessing care, phase-specific intervention, and then takes a closer look at the Jockey Club Early Psychosis (JCEP) programme, a specialized early intervention programme for adult-onset psychoses. The chapter concludes with a research agenda to address knowledge gaps.
Evidence of dark contents in the centre of NGC 6517
Authors: Xie Yi , Yin Dejiang , Wang Lichun , Lian Yujie , Zhang Liyun , Pan Zhichen
Published: November 2023

Millisecond pulsars can serve as effective probes to investigate the presence of intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) within Galactic globular clusters (GCs). Based on the standard structure models for GCs, we conduct simulations to analyse the distributions of pulsar accelerations within the central region of NGC 6517. By comparing the measured accelerations of pulsars obtained from their period derivatives $\dot{P}$ to the simulated distribution profiles, we demonstrate that a central excess of dark mass is required to account for the measured accelerations. Our analysis, which relies on existing pulsar timing observations, is currently unable to differentiate between two possible scenarios: an IMBH precisely situated at the core of the cluster with mass ${\gtrsim} 9000^{+4000}_{-3000} \, {\rm M}_{\odot }$ or a central concentration of stellar-mass dark remnants with a comparable total mass. However, with additional acceleration measurements from a few more pulsars in the cluster, it will be possible to differentiate the source of the non-luminous matter.
The He star donor channel towards the black widow PSR J1953+1844
Authors: Guo Yunlang , Wang Bo , Li Xiangdong
Published: November 2023

Black widows (BWs) are a type of eclipsing millisecond pulsars (MSPs) with low companion masses ($\lesssim 0.05\, \rm M_\odot$) and tight orbits (<1 d). PSR J1953+1844 (i.e. M71E) is a black window (BW) with the shortest orbital period (∼53 min) ever discovered, which was recently detected by Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope. Its companion mass is $\sim 0.01\, \rm M_\odot$ according to its mass function, indicating that the companion may be a hydrogen-deficient star. However, the origin of PSR J1953+1844 is highly unclear. In this paper, we explored the origin of PSR J1953+1844 through the neutron star+He star channel, in which the system can experience ultracompact X-ray binary phase. We found that the He star donor channel can reproduce the characteristics of PSR J1953+1844, indicating that this work provides an alternative formation channel for this source. Meanwhile, the minimum orbital period of BWs formed by this channel is ∼28 min, corresponding to the companion mass of $0.058\, \rm M_\odot$. In addition, we note that even though PSR J1953+1844 has a short orbital period, it cannot be detected by the gravitational wave (GW) observatories like Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, TaiJi, and TianQin. However, we still expect that the BWs with extremely tight orbit produced by this channel are the potential sources of future space-based GW observatories. Moreover, our simulations show that PSR J1953+1844 may eventually evolve into an isolated MSP.
Fuzzy dark matter dynamics and the quasi-particle hypothesis
Authors: Zupancic Boris , Widrow Lawrence M
Published: November 2023

Dark matter may be composed of ultralight bosons whose de Broglie wavelength in galaxies is $\lambda \sim 1\, {\rm kpc}$. The standard model for this fuzzy dark matter (FDM) is a complex scalar field that obeys the Schrödinger–Poisson equations. The wavelike nature of FDM leads to fluctuations in the gravitational field that can pump energy into the stellar components of a galaxy. Heuristic arguments and theoretical analyses suggest that these fluctuations can be modelled by replacing FDM with a system of quasi-particles (QPs). We test this hypothesis by comparing self-consistent simulations of a Schrödinger field with those using a system of QPs in one spatial dimension. Simulations of pure FDM systems allow us to derive a phenomenological relation between the number of QPs that is required to model FDM with a given de Broglie wavelength. We also simulate systems of FDM and stars and find that the FDM pumps energy into the stars whether it is described by QPs or a Schrödinger field with the FDM adiabatically contracting and the stellar system adiabatically expanding. However, we find that QPs overestimate dynamical heating.
Fast-varying time lags in the quasi-periodic oscillation in GRS 1915 + 105
Authors: Belloni Tomaso M , Méndez Mariano , García Federico , Bhattacharya Dipankar
Published: November 2023

The properties of subsecond time variability of the X-ray emission of the black hole binary GRS 1915 + 105 are very complex and strictly connected to its patterns of variability observed on long time-scales. A key aspect for determining the geometry of the accretion flow is the study of time lags between emission at different energies, as they are associated to key time-scales of the system. In particular, it is important to examine the lags associated to the strong low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs), as the QPOs provide unambiguous special frequencies to sample the variability. We have analysed data from an observation with the AstroSat satellite, in which the frequency of the low-frequency QPO varies smoothly between 2.5 and 6.6 Hz on a time-scale of ∼10 h. The derived phase lags show the same properties and evolution of those observed on time-scales of a few hundred days, indicating that changes in the system geometry can take place on times below one day. We fit selected energy spectra of the source and rms and phase-lag spectra of the QPO with a time-variable Comptonization model, as done previously to RossiXTE data of the same source, and find that indeed the derived parameters match those obtained for variations on much longer time-scales.
Database resources of the National Center for Biotechnology Information
Authors: Sayers Eric W , Beck Jeff , Bolton Evan E , Brister J Rodney , Chan Jessica , Comeau Donald C , Connor Ryan , DiCuccio Michael , Farrell Catherine M , Feldgarden Michael , Fine Anna M , Funk Kathryn , Hatcher Eneida , Hoeppner Marilu , Kane Megan , Kannan Sivakumar , Katz Kenneth S , Kelly Christopher , Klimke William , Kim Sunghwan , Kimchi Avi , Landrum Melissa , Lathrop Stacy , Lu Zhiyong , Malheiro Adriana , Marchler-Bauer Aron , Murphy Terence D , Phan Lon , Prasad Arjun B , Pujar Shashikant , Sawyer Amanda , Schmieder Erin , Schneider Valerie A , Schoch Conrad L , Sharma Shobha , Thibaud-Nissen Françoise , Trawick Barton W , Venkatapathi Thilakam , Wang Jiyao , Pruitt Kim D , Sherry Stephen T
Published: November 2023

The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) provides online information resources for biology, including the GenBank® nucleic acid sequence database and the PubMed® database of citations and abstracts published in life science journals. NCBI provides search and retrieval operations for most of these data from 35 distinct databases. The E-utilities serve as the programming interface for most of these databases. Resources receiving significant updates in the past year include PubMed, PMC, Bookshelf, SciENcv, the NIH Comparative Genomics Resource (CGR), NCBI Virus, SRA, RefSeq, foreign contamination screening tools, Taxonomy, iCn3D, ClinVar, GTR, MedGen, dbSNP, ALFA, ClinicalTrials.gov, Pathogen Detection, antimicrobial resistance resources, and PubChem. These resources can be accessed through the NCBI home page at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
JANUS, a spliceosome-associated protein, promotes miRNA biogenesis in Arabidopsis
Authors: Li Mu , Yu Huihui , Zhou Bangjun , Gan Lu , Li Shengjun , Zhang Chi , Yu Bin
Published: November 2023

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of genes expression. Their levels are precisely controlled through modulating the activity of the microprocesser complex (MC). Here, we report that JANUS, a homology of the conserved U2 snRNP assembly factor in yeast and human, is required for miRNA accumulation. JANUS associates with MC components Dicer-like 1 (DCL1) and SERRATE (SE) and directly binds the stem-loop of pri-miRNAs. In a hypomorphic janus mutant, the activity of DCL1, the numbers of MC, and the interaction of primary miRNA transcript (pri-miRNAs) with MC are reduced. These data suggest that JANUS promotes the assembly and activity of MC through its interaction with MC and/or pri-miRNAs. In addition, JANUS modulates the transcription of some pri-miRNAs as it binds the promoter of pri-miRNAs and facilitates Pol II occupancy of at their promoters. Moreover, global splicing defects are detected in janus. Taken together, our study reveals a novel role of a conserved splicing factor in miRNA biogenesis.
Splitting the yeast centromere by recombination
Authors: Kozmin Stanislav G , Dominska Margaret , Zheng Dao-Qiong , Petes Thomas D
Published: November 2023

Although fusions between the centromeres of different human chromosomes have been observed cytologically in cancer cells, since the centromeres are long arrays of satellite sequences, the details of these fusions have been difficult to investigate. We developed methods of detecting recombination within the centromeres of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (intercentromere recombination). These events occur at similar rates (about 10−8/cell division) between two active or two inactive centromeres. We mapped the breakpoints of most of the recombination events to a region of 43 base pairs of uninterrupted homology between the two centromeres. By whole-genome DNA sequencing, we showed that most (>90%) of the events occur by non-reciprocal recombination (gene conversion/break-induced replication). We also found that intercentromere recombination can involve non-homologous chromosome, generating whole-arm translocations. In addition, intercentromere recombination is associated with very frequent chromosome missegregation. These observations support the conclusion that intercentromere recombination generally has negative genetic consequences.
Structural analysis of PLD3 reveals insights into the mechanism of lysosomal 5′ exonuclease-mediated nucleic acid degradation
Authors: Roske Yvette , Cappel Cedric , Cremer Nils , Hoffmann Patrick , Koudelka Tomas , Tholey Andreas , Heinemann Udo , Daumke Oliver , Damme Markus
Published: November 2023

The phospholipase D (PLD) family is comprised of enzymes bearing phospholipase activity towards lipids or endo- and exonuclease activity towards nucleic acids. PLD3 is synthesized as a type II transmembrane protein and proteolytically cleaved in lysosomes, yielding a soluble active form. The deficiency of PLD3 leads to the slowed degradation of nucleic acids in lysosomes and chronic activation of nucleic acid-specific intracellular toll-like receptors. While the mechanism of PLD phospholipase activity has been extensively characterized, not much is known about how PLDs bind and hydrolyze nucleic acids. Here, we determined the high-resolution crystal structure of the luminal N-glycosylated domain of human PLD3 in its apo- and single-stranded DNA-bound forms. PLD3 has a typical phospholipase fold and forms homodimers with two independent catalytic centers via a newly identified dimerization interface. The structure of PLD3 in complex with an ssDNA-derived thymidine product in the catalytic center provides insights into the substrate binding mode of nucleic acids in the PLD family. Our structural data suggest a mechanism for substrate binding and nuclease activity in the PLD family and provide the structural basis to design immunomodulatory drugs targeting PLD3.
Community-Acquired Pneumonia in the Immunocompromised Host: Epidemiology and Outcomes
Authors: Ramirez Julio A , Chandler Thomas R , Furmanek Stephen P , Carrico Ruth , Wilde Ashley M , Sheikh Daniya , Ambadapoodi Raghava , Salunkhe Vidyulata , Tahboub Mohammad , Arnold Forest W , Bordon Jose , Cavallazzi Rodrigo ,   Louisville CAP in the Immunocompromised Study Group, Abbas Mohammed Khalid Abdulaziz , Abdelhaleem Ahmed , Adigun Aisha Olanike , Akbar Usman Ali , Akinti Oluwasegun , Ali Ahmed , Ambadapoodi Raghava Sekhar , Anwer Javaria , Bahram Saman , Bamboria Aditya , Bhandari Laxman , Deepti FNU , Ekabua Joanna , Elseidy Sheref Abdelgawad Hassan , Fatima Aiman , Fatima Farwah , Gulati Shivam , Hassan Syed , Khurana Shriya , Masthan Shameera , Mohamed Rehab Salah , Moorthy Vivek Soorya Sathya , Mumtaz Amal , Naeem Aleena , Poladi Keerthi , Puga Sanchez Lucia , Qureshi Adnan , Raut Prasanna , Salunkhe Vidyulata , Samanapally Harideep , Sekaran Balaji Srinivasa , Shah Syed Zain , Sheikh Daniya , Tahboub Mohammad , Vijayan Rupalakshmi , Vorla Mounica , Yadav Sudeep , Zamani Zarlakhta
Published: November 2023

Background

The epidemiology and outcomes of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in immunocompromised hosts (ICHs) are not well defined. The objective of this study was to define the epidemiology and outcomes of CAP in ICHs as compared with non-ICHs.

Methods

This ancillary study included a prospective cohort of hospitalized adult Louisville residents with CAP from 1 June 2014 to 31 May 2016. An ICH was defined per the criteria of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Geospatial epidemiology explored associations between ICHs hospitalized with CAP and income level, race, and age. Mortality for ICHs and non-ICHs was evaluated during hospitalization and 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year after hospitalization.

Results

A total of 761 (10%) ICHs were identified among 7449 patients hospitalized with CAP. The most common immunocompromising medical conditions or treatments were advanced-stage cancer (53%), cancer chemotherapy (23%), and corticosteroid use (20%). Clusters of ICHs hospitalized with CAP were found in areas associated with low-income and Black or African American populations. Mortality by time point for ICHs vs non-ICHs was as follows: hospitalization, 9% vs 5%; 30 days, 24% vs 11%; 6 months, 44% vs 21%; and 1 year, 53% vs 27%, respectively.

Conclusions

Approximately 1 in 10 hospitalized patients with CAP is immunocompromised, with advanced-stage cancer being the most frequent immunocompromising condition, as seen in half of all patients who are immunocompromised. Risk for hospitalization may be influenced by socioeconomic disparities and/or race. ICHs have a 2-fold increase in mortality as compared with non-ICHs.
Handbook of Religion and Health
Authors: Koenig Harold G. , VanderWeele Tyler , Peteet John R.
Published: November 2023

The 2001 (first) edition of this Handbook was a comprehensive review of history, research, and discussions on religion and health through the year 2000. The Appendix listed 1,200 separate quantitative studies on religion and health each rated in quality on 0–10 scale, followed by about 2,000 references and an extensive index for rapid topic identification. The 2012 (second) edition of the Handbook systematically updated the research from 2000 to 2010, with the number of quantitative studies then reaching the thousands. This 2023 (third) edition is the most scientifically rigorous edition to date, covering the best research published through 2021 with an emphasis on prospective studies and randomized controlled trials. Beginning with a Foreword by Dr. Howard K. Koh, former US Assistant Secretary for Health for the Department of Health and Human Services, this nearly 600,000-word volume examines almost every aspect of health, reviewing past and more recent research on the relationship between religion and health outcomes. Furthermore, nearly all of its 34 chapters conclude with clinical and community applications, making this text relevant to both healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, social workers, rehabilitation therapists, counselors, psychologists, sociologists, etc.) and clergy (community clergy, chaplains, pastoral counselors, etc.). The book’s extensive Appendix focuses on the best studies, describing each study in a single line, allowing researchers to quickly locate the existing research. It should not be surprising that for the past two decades the Handbook has been the most cited of all references on religion and health.
Introduction to Indigenous Governance
Authors: Wilkins David E.
Published: November 2023

This chapter opens with a discussion of how devastating COVID-19 was to Native nations and describes a conflict between Tribal nations in the lower 48 states and Alaskan Natives over which peoples were eligible for the financial relief that Congress authorized. It then lays out the major questions the book seeks to explain, including what roles Native governments play in the lives of their citizens; why the vast majority of Native nations adopted formal constitutions rather than some other governing arrangement; and how Native governments engage with states and the federal government. It then describes and critiques previous works on Native governments, with special attention to the work of the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development and the Native Nations Institute. Finally, it provides a brief overview of the book’s chapters.
Another Star on the Flag
Authors: Wilkins David E.
Published: November 2023

This chapter describes the treaty, policy, and statutory efforts initiated by Native peoples and colonial (and later federal) representatives, that were intended to create a Native state. The political idea of incorporating Native nations either as a territory, zone, or colony, with or without a governing structure, or as incorporated subunits of non-Native national governments, has come from three directions during the past two and a half centuries: the European colonial powers, the United States government, and various religious and private actors. At least three plans were discussed and are analyzed: first in 1778 with the Delaware Nation; then in 1870 with several Native peoples within what was then called “Indian Territory” (present-day Oklahoma); and finally, in 1906 when Native nations in Indian Territory drafted a detailed constitution and pressed for admittance into the United States as the State of Sequoyah.
Mario Lavista
Authors: Alonso-Minutti Ana R.
Published: November 2023

Composer, pianist, editor, writer, and pedagogue Mario Lavista (1943–2021) was a central figure of the cultural and artistic scene in Mexico and one of the leading Ibero-American composers of his generation. His music is often described as evocative and poetic, noted for his meticulous attention to timbre and motivic permutation, and his creative trajectory was characterized by its intersections with the other arts, particularly poetry and painting. Understanding analysis as an affective practice, this study explores the intertextual connections between the multiple texts—musical or otherwise—that are present in Lavista’s music. It argues that, through adopting an interdisciplinary and transhistorical approach to music composition, Lavista forged a cosmopolitan imaginary to challenge imposed stereotypes of what Mexican music should sound like. This imaginary becomes a strategy of resistance against imperialist agendas placed upon postcolonial peripheries. Departing from traditional biographical and chronological frameworks that exalt masters and masterworks, this book offers a nuanced, personal narrative informed by conversations with composers, performers, artists, choreographers, poets, writers, and filmmakers. Implementing an innovative mosaic of methodologies, from archival work to musical and intertextual analysis, oral history, and (auto)ethnography, this book is the first to offer a contextual framing of Lavista’s career within a panoramic view of contemporary music practices in Mexico during the past fifty years.
Developmental Goals During Emerging Adulthood
Authors: Shulman Shmuel
Published: November 2023

Personal goals and plans direct individuals’ life paths by regulating their behavior and leading them through their own development. Young people often have a number of simultaneous goals, such as career and love; but less is known about how a person coordinates between different goals across the emerging adulthood years. Following emerging adults for a period of 12 years, they were asked to report on their main goals at ages 23, 26.5, 29, and 35. Findings suggest that successful progression toward transition to adulthood is facilitated by setting realistic goals and the ability to elaborate or readapt goals along the process and to find meaning in one’s selected goals. In contrast, ambiguous and inconsistent goals cannot lead to adaptive progression as the individual will flounder between different goals and tasks across time. The importance of goals in understanding inner lives and development is discussed.
Pathways of Career Pursuit—Consistency, Detours, Disappointments
Authors: Shulman Shmuel
Published: November 2023

Observation of the lives of many young people shows that they may move between transitory and inconsistent states, which leads to understanding and conceptualizing the 20s as a period of instability and extended exploration. Taking a qualitative approach, conducting in-depth interviews, and following emerging adults for 12 years yielded different understandings. Reading career stories of emerging adults showed that the majority struggle to find their way in this changing world. A substantial number of young people did find their direction, achieved their goals despite difficulties and setbacks, and found their direction over the years. Even those who had difficulties pursuing and achieving their dream were still struggling to hold the jobs they did not necessarily like and to lead their lives. Only a small percentage lost their way. The majority were active and employed a variety of ways to navigate their lives.
Romantic Intimacy Statuses and Progress Toward the Future
Authors: Shulman Shmuel
Published: November 2023

Following participants until the age of 35 was helpful in shedding light on the ways that emerging adults progress (or not) in their romantic and family life. Reading their romantic life stories showed that toward the end of their 20s, more than half of participants were involved in a committed relationship. Achieving financial security was an important factor that helped these young people make the decision of romantic commitment and establishing a family. However, while an increasing number described themselves as being in an intimate committed relationship, for others commitment was not necessarily accompanied by intimacy. For some young adults the urge (and sometimes the pressure) to settle down might have led to compromising on a relationship that was not necessarily what they dreamed. In the following chapters on personality, an attempt is made to understand what prevents some individuals from establishing intimacy.
Career Pursuit and Romantic Investment
Authors: Shulman Shmuel
Published: November 2023

In the earlier chapters it was shown that emerging adults tend to prioritize career over romantic investment. However, toward the later 20s and until the mid-30s, the majority learn how to balance career and family and described the centrality of career, as well as the increasing importance of family in their lives. Furthermore, in this process most young people change earlier perceptions of the essence of life and learn how to integrate the establishment of a family into center stage. The author describes how participants learned to appreciate the support and advice they received from their partners whom they trust highly implicitly. The incorporation of the family into the center of an individual’s life is more characteristic of the developmental process of men. For many women, family and children receive priority over career. Findings are discussed within the life-cycle and evolutionary theories.