bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of self-compassion and relation satisfaction in the association between child sexual abuse and sexual functioning
Authors: Gewirtz-Meydan Ateret , Lassri Dana
Published: March 2023

Background

The current study is based on the established association between child sexual abuse (CSA) and self-compassion, and CSA and sexual functioning, with an overall goal to better understand how self-compassion explains the association between CSA and sexual functioning.

Aim

The current study examined the role of self-compassion as a potential mediator, and relationship satisfaction as a potential moderator, in the association between CSA and sexual functioning among a nonclinical sample of men and women.

Methods

Participants completed an online survey assessing CSA, self-compassion, sexual functioning, and relationship satisfaction. The sample consisted of 914 individuals, of whom 582 reported currently being in a romantic relationship and were included in the current analysis. The majority of the sample was female (n = 534, 91.8%), with a mean age of 31.85 years (SD, 9.76).

Outcomes

Self-compassion mediated the link between CSA and sexual dysfunction, and relationship satisfaction moderated this same link.

Results

Results indicate that self-compassion mediated the association between CSA and sexual functioning. In addition, there was a significant 2-way interaction between CSA and intimate relationship satisfaction predicting sexual functioning. Specifically, CSA was negatively associated with sexual functioning only when there were low levels of relationship satisfaction, whereas in the presence of average and high intimate relationship satisfaction, the association between CSA and sexual functioning was nonsignificant.

Clinical Implications

Findings from the current study suggest that clinicians working with CSA survivors should take into account survivors’ self-compassion and relational functioning when engaging in therapeutic work around their sexual dysfunction.

Strengths and Limitations

The study included a nonclinical sample of individuals and used self-report measures, which are highly subjective and increase the possibility of social desirability biases. Additional research should be conducted among clinical samples and among couples to explore this model from a dyadic perspective.

Conclusion

Our results highlight the importance of self-compassion and relationship satisfaction when considering sexual dysfunction following CSA.
Fine mapping of the grain chalkiness quantitative trait locus qCGP6 reveals the involvement of Wx in grain chalkiness formation
Authors: Li Jialian , Zhang Cheng , Luo Xia , Zhang Tao , Zhang Xiaoyu , Liu Pin , Yang Wen , Lei Yuekun , Tang Siwen , Kang Liangzhu , Huang Lin , Li Ting , Wang Yuping , Chen Weilan , Yuan Hua , Qin Peng , Li Shigui , Ma Bingtian , Tu Bin
Published: March 2023

Grain chalkiness is an important index of rice appearance quality and is negatively associated with rice processing and eating quality. However, the genetic mechanism underlying chalkiness formation is largely unknown. To identify the genetic basis of chalkiness, 410 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from two representative indica rice varieties, Shuhui498 (R498) and Yihui3551 (R3551), were used to discover quantitative trait loci (QTLs). The two parental lines and RILs were grown in three locations in China under three controlled fertilizer application levels. Analyses indicated that chalkiness was significantly affected by genotype, the environment, and the interaction between the two, and that heritability was high. Several QTLs were isolated, including the two stable QTLs qCGP6 and qCGP8. Fine mapping and candidate gene verification of qCGP6 showed that Wx may play a key role in chalkiness formation. Chromosomal segment substitution lines (CSSLs) and near-isogenic lines (NILs) carrying the Wxa or Wxin allele produced more chalky grain than the R498 parent. A similar result was also observed in the 3611 background. Notably, the effect of the Wx genotype on rice chalkiness was shown to be dependent on environmental conditions, and Wx alleles exhibited different sensitivities to shading treatment. Using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated 9 (Cas9), the Wxa promoter region was successfully edited; down-regulating Wx alleviates chalkiness formation in NILR498-Wxa. This study developed a new strategy for synergistic improvement of eating and appearance qualities in rice, and created a novel Wx allele with great potential in breeding applications.
Combining quantitative trait locus mapping with multiomics profiling reveals genetic control of corn leaf aphid (Rhopalosiphum maidis) resistance in maize
Authors: Wang Tengyue , Wang Kaiji , Wang Chuanhong , Zhao Yibing , Tao Zhen , Li Junyao , Wang Lei , Shi Jian , Huang Shijie , Xie Chuanxiao , Li Peijin
Published: March 2023

The corn leaf aphid (Rhopalosiphum maidis) is a major maize pest that frequently causes substantial yield losses. Exploring the genetic basis of resistance to aphids is important for improving maize yield and quality. Here, we used a maize recombinant inbred line population derived from two parents with different susceptibility to aphids, B73 (susceptible) and Abe2 (resistant), and performed quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping using aphid resistance scores as an indicator. We mapped a stable QTL, qRTA6, to chromosome 6 using data from 2 years of field trials, which explained 40.12–55.17% of the phenotypic variation. To further investigate the mechanism of aphid resistance in Abe2, we constructed transcriptome and metabolome libraries from Abe2 and B73 leaves with or without aphid infestation at different time points. Integrating QTL mapping and transcriptome data revealed three aphid resistance candidate genes (Zm00001d035736, Zm00001d035751, and Zm00001d035767) associated with the hypersensitive response, the jasmonic acid pathway, and protein ubiquitination. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes and metabolites were enriched in flavonoid biosynthesis. These findings extend our understanding of the molecular mechanisms controlling aphid resistance in maize, and the QTL and candidate genes are valuable resources for increasing this resistance.
Lexical diversity as a predictor of genre in TV shows
Authors: Akbary Mary , Jarvis Scott
Published: March 2023

Many studies have investigated the linguistic characteristics of television and have found important differences between categories of TV programs. Yet, little is known specifically about the lexical profiles of different genres of television discourse. The present study sought to address this gap by exploring the lexical diversity of 714 episodes representing four TV genres. The lexical diversity of each episode was measured using a six-dimensional model of lexical diversity. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine whether the four TV genres in the present study have unique lexical diversity profiles and whether the genres of individual TV episodes can be predicted based on the adopted model. The results indicated that the four genres do indeed exhibit unique lexical diversity profiles; it was also found that the genres of individual TV episodes can be predicted with approximately 91% accuracy based on this model. These findings were interpreted as underscoring the relevance of lexical diversity to genre analysis of TV shows and the importance of using a theoretically grounded multivariate model of this construct.
Royal Netherlands Marechaussee Personnel’s Self-Perceived Occupational Demand Profiles: A Latent Profile Analysis Shows the “Good” Versus the “Bad”
Authors: Stegerhoek Pablo M , van der Zande Jesse , Bolling Caroline , IJzerman Herman , Verhagen Evert A L M , Kuijer P Paul F M
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Research has linked high occupational demands to multiple adverse health outcomes, both physical and mental. As far as we know, researchers have not identified the profile characteristics of military police personnel based on occupational demands. The current study aims to identify profiles based on self-perceived occupational demands and work-related factors. This study is a starting point for characterizing performance and health in a military police population.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study in which we gathered survey data from 1,135 Royal Netherlands Marechaussee members. We used Latent Profile Analysis to identify profiles based on nine indicators of workload and work characteristics selected via focus groups and interviews with Royal Netherlands Marechaussee personnel. We determined if the profiles differed significantly across all indicators with an analysis of variance. Then, we used binominal logistic regression to determine the odds ratio (OR) for the indicators on profile membership.

Results

We discovered two profiles that were distinct across all indicators. Experience (OR = 1.02, 95% CI [1.00–1.04]), autonomy (OR = 1.18, 95% CI [1.06–1.31]), task clarity (OR = 1.49, [1.32–1.69]), and work support (OR = 2.63, 95% CI [2.26–3.09]) were all predictors for a low perceived occupational demand profile. In contrast, mental (OR = 0.18, 95% CI [0.13–0.25]) and physical (OR = 0.42, 95% CI [0.32–0.54]) fatigue, and boredom (OR = 0.14, 95% CI [0.10–0.20]) were predictors for high perceived occupational demand profiles.

Conclusion

We established two distinct profiles that describe the characteristics reported by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee personnel based on workload and work characteristics. High scores on autonomy, work support, and task clarity predict favorable perceived occupational demands, whereas fatigue and boredom predict unfavorable occupational demands. Remarkably, the physical workload did not predict high perceived occupational demands.
Differential deuterolysin expression with a peak at low pH in human pathogenic fungiTrichophyton rubrumandT. mentagrophytes
Authors: Chen JingJing , Blechert Oliver , Xiong Shuzhen , Zhan Ping
Published: March 2023

Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes are the most common agents of dermatomycosis, a disease affecting millions worldwide. It has been widely recognized that secreted proteases are a key factor for host colonization. Dermatophytes have an unusually high amount of secreted protease, differentially expressed, and influenced by various conditions. This study analyzed the rule and expression of secreted deuterolysin protease of the M35 protein family in these two representative dermatophyte species. All strains secreted protease and could grow on keratin as the sole carbon and nitrogen source. Adding glucose to the keratin medium reduced the growth rate. Deuterolysin genes were most strongly expressed at acid conditions. NPIIc and NPIId expression was significantly higher than the other three deuterolysins. NPIIc had a high expression level in the two T. rubrum strains but a low expression in T. mentagrophytes strains. Both T. mentagrophytes strains had a high NPIId expression at low pH. NPIIc and NPIId deletion in T. rubrum caused a minor reduction in total protease activity, indicating the redundancy of protease in dermatophytes. It was postulated that protease gene enrichment in dermatophytes allows a sophisticated regulation of protease secretion to cope with changing conditions.
Searching for clues of past binary supermassive black hole mergers in nuclear star clusters
Authors: Mastrobuono-Battisti Alessandra , Ogiya Go , Hahn Oliver , Schultheis Mathias
Published: March 2023

Galaxy mergers are common processes in the Universe. As a large fraction of galaxies hosts at their centres a central supermassive black hole (SMBH), mergers can lead to the formation of a supermassive black hole binary (SMBHB). The formation of such a binary is more efficient when the SMBHs are embedded in a nuclear star cluster (NSC). NSCs are dense and massive stellar clusters present in the majority of the observed galaxies. Their central densities can reach up to $10^7\, {\rm M_{\odot }}\,{\rm pc^{-3}}$ and their masses can be as large as a few $10^7\, {\rm M_{\odot }}$. The direct detection of an SMBHB is observationally challenging. In this work, we illustrate how the large-scale structural and dynamical properties of an NSC can help to identify nucleated galaxies that recently went through a merger that possibly led to the formation of a central SMBHB. Our models show that the merger can imprint signatures on the shape, density profile, rotation, and velocity structure of the NSC. The strength of the signatures depends on the mass ratio between the SMBHs and on the orbital initial conditions of the merger. In addition, the number of hypervelocity stars produced in the mergers is linked to the SMBHB properties. The merger can also contribute to the formation of the nuclear stellar disc of the galaxy.
Shock cooling emission from explosions of red supergiants – I. A numerically calibrated analytic model
Authors: Morag Jonathan , Sapir Nir , Waxman Eli
Published: March 2023

Supernova light curves are dominated at early time, hours to days, by photons escaping from the expanding shock heated envelope. We provide a simple analytic description of the time-dependent luminosity, L, and colour temperature, Tcol, for explosions of red supergiants (with convective polytropic envelopes), valid up to H recombination (T ≈ 0.7 eV). The analytic description interpolates between existing expressions valid at different (planar then spherical) stages of the expansion, and is calibrated against numerical hydrodynamic diffusion calculations for a wide range of progenitor parameters (mass, radius, core/envelope mass and radius ratios, and metalicity), and explosion energies. The numerically derived L and Tcol are described by the analytic expressions with $10{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ and $5{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ accuracy, respectively. Tcol is inferred from the hydrodynamic profiles using frequency independent opacity, based on tables we constructed for this purpose (and will be made publicly available) including bound–bound and bound–free contributions. In an accompanying paper (Paper II) we show − using a large set of multigroup photon diffusion calculations − that the spectral energy distribution is well described by a Planck spectrum with T = Tcol, except at ultraviolet (UV) frequencies, where the flux can be significantly suppressed due to strong line absorption. We defer the full discussion of the multigroup results to paper II, but provide here for completeness an analytic description also of the UV suppression. Our analytic results are a useful tool for inferring progenitor properties, explosion velocity, and also relative extinction based on early multiband shock cooling observations of supernovae.
The role of previous generations of stars in triggering star formation and driving gas dynamics
Authors: Herrington Nicholas P , Dobbs Clare L , Bending Thomas J R
Published: March 2023

We present hydrodynamic and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of sub-galactic regions including photoionizing and supernova feedack. We aim to improve the initial conditions of our region extraction models by including an initial population of stars. We also investigate the reliability of extracting regions in simulations, and show that with a good choice of region, results are comparable with using a larger region for the duration of our simulations. Simulations of star formation on molecular cloud scales typically start with a turbulent cloud of gas, from which stars form and then undergo feedback. In reality, a typical cloud or region within a galaxy may already include, or reside near some population of stars containing massive stars undergoing feedback. We find the main role of a prior population is triggering star formation, and contributing to gas dynamics. Early time supernova from the initial population are important in triggering new star formation and driving gas motions on larger scales above 100 pc, whilst the ionizing feedback contribution from the initial population has less impact, since many members of the initial population have cleared out gas around them in the prior model. In terms of overall star formation rates though, the initial population has a relatively small effect, and the feedback does not for example suppress subsequent star formation. We find that MHD has a relatively larger impact than initial conditions, reducing the star formation rate by a factor of 3 at later times.
First observational evidence of a relation between globular clusters’ internal rotation and stellar masses
Authors: Scalco M , Livernois A , Vesperini E , Libralato M , Bellini A , Bedin L R
Published: March 2023

Several observational studies have shown that many Galactic globular clusters (GCs) are characterized by internal rotation. Theoretical studies of the dynamical evolution of rotating clusters have predicted that, during their long-term evolution, these stellar systems should develop a dependence of the rotational velocity around the cluster’s centre on the mass of stars, with the internal rotation increasing for more massive stars. In this paper, we present the first observational evidence of the predicted rotation–mass trend. In our investigation, we exploited the Gaia Data Release 3 catalogue of three GCs: NGC 104 (47 Tuc), NGC 5139 (ω Cen), and NGC 5904 (M 5). We found clear evidence of a cluster rotation–mass relation in 47 Tuc and M 5, while in ω Cen, the dynamically youngest system among the three clusters studied here, no such trend was detected.
ATM inhibition enhances the efficacy of radiation across distinct molecular subgroups of pediatric high-grade glioma
Authors: Xie Jia , Kuriakose Teneema , Bianski Brandon , Twarog Nathaniel , Savage Evan , Xu Ke , Zhu Xiaoyan , He Chen , Hansen Baranda , Wang Hong , High Anthony , Li Yuxin , Rehg Jerold E , Tillman Heather S , Freeman Burgess B , Rankovic Zoran , Onar-Thomas Arzu , Fan Yiping , Wu Gang , Peng Junmin , Miller Shondra , Baker Suzanne J , Shelat Anang A , Tinkle Christopher L
Published: March 2023

Background

Pediatric high-grade glioma (pHGG) is largely incurable and accounts for most brain tumor-related deaths in children. Radiation is a standard therapy, yet the benefit from this treatment modality is transient, and most children succumb to disease within 2 years. Recent large-scale genomic studies suggest that pHGG has alterations in DNA damage response (DDR) pathways that induce resistance to DNA damaging agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential and molecular consequences of combining radiation with selective DDR inhibition in pHGG.

Methods

We conducted an unbiased screen in pHGG cells that combined radiation with clinical candidates targeting the DDR and identified the ATM inhibitor AZD1390. Subsequently, we profiled AZD1390 + radiation in an extensive panel of early passage pHGG cell lines, mechanistically characterized response to the combination in vitro in sensitive and resistant cells and evaluated the combination in vivo using TP53 wild-type and TP53 mutant orthotopic xenografts.

Results

AZD1390 significantly potentiated radiation across molecular subgroups of pHGG by increasing mutagenic nonhomologous end joining and augmenting genomic instability. In contrast to previous reports, ATM inhibition significantly improved the efficacy of radiation in both TP53 wild-type and TP53 mutant isogenic cell lines and distinct orthotopic xenograft models. Furthermore, we identified a novel mechanism of resistance to AZD1390 + radiation that was marked by an attenuated ATM pathway response which dampened sensitivity to ATM inhibition and induced synthetic lethality with ATR inhibition.

Conclusions

Our study supports the clinical evaluation of AZD1390 in combination with radiation in pediatric patients with HGG.
In situ electrochemical reconstruction of Sr2Fe1.45Ir0.05Mo0.5O6-δ perovskite cathode for CO2 electrolysis in solid oxide electrolysis cells
Authors: Shen Yuxiang , Liu Tianfu , Li Rongtan , Lv Houfu , Ta Na , Zhang Xiaomin , Song Yuefeng , Liu Qingxue , Feng Weicheng , Wang Guoxiong , Bao Xinhe
Published: March 2023

Solid oxide electrolysis cells provide a practical solution for the direct conversion of CO2 to other chemicals (i.e. CO), however, an in-depth mechanistic understanding of the dynamic reconstruction of active sites for perovskite cathodes during CO2 electrolysis remains a great challenge. Herein, we identify that iridium-doped Sr2Fe1.45Ir0.05Mo0.5O6-δ (SFIrM) perovskite displays a dynamic electrochemical reconstruction feature during CO2 electrolysis with abundant exsolution of highly dispersed IrFe alloy nanoparticles on the SFIrM surface. The in situ reconstructed IrFe@SFIrM interfaces deliver a current density of 1.46 A cm−2 while maintaining over 99% CO Faradaic efficiency, representing a 25.8% improvement compared with the Sr2Fe1.5Mo0.5O6-δ counterpart. In situ electrochemical spectroscopy measurements and density functional theory calculations suggest that the improved CO2 electrolysis activity originates from the facilitated formation of carbonate intermediates at the IrFe@SFIrM interfaces. Our work may open the possibility of using an in situ electrochemical poling method for CO2 electrolysis in practice.
Fast algorithms for singular value decomposition and the inverse of nearly low-rank matrices
Authors: Xu Chen , Xu Weiwei , Jing Kaili
Published: March 2023

This perspective focuses on the fast algorithm design for singular value decomposition and inverse computation of nearly low-rank matrices that are potentially of big sizes.
Prevalence of Nicotine and Tobacco Product Use by Sexual Identity, Gender Identity, and Sex Assigned at Birth Among Emerging Adult Tobacco Users in California, United States
Authors: Krueger Evan A , Hong Chenglin , Cunningham Nicole J , Berteau Lorree (Katy) , Cordero Luisita , Wu Elizabeth S C , Holloway Ian W
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) nicotine and tobacco use disparities are well-documented among youth and young adults (YYA), and despite decades of prevention efforts, these disparities stubbornly persist. To better understand tobacco use disparities and craft tailored interventions, tobacco use patterns must be assessed in a contemporary sample of YYA across lines of sexual and gender identity, sex assigned at birth, and tobacco product types.

Aims and Methods

Data were from an online survey of a diverse sample of emerging adult tobacco users (ages 18–29; N = 1491) in California, United States (2020–2021). Participants were recruited from various online and in-person locations. Bivariate and adjusted models assessed differences in four nicotine and tobacco use outcomes (past 30-day use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, other tobacco products, and multiple tobacco product types) across six groups: Cisgender heterosexual males, cisgender heterosexual females, cisgender sexual minority (SM) males, cisgender SM females, transfeminine participants, and transmasculine participants.

Results

Compared to cisgender heterosexual males, both transfeminine (OR = 2.25, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.29 to 4.05) and transmasculine (OR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.32 to 2.80) participants had higher odds of using cigarettes. Few differences were noted between groups in use of e-cigarettes. Cisgender heterosexual males had higher odds of other tobacco product use, compared to most other groups (eg, cisgender SM males: OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.37 to 0.87). Transmasculine participants had higher odds of multiple product use, compared to cisgender heterosexual females. Among multiple product users, transfeminine participants had the highest prevalence of using all three individual product types (35.6%).

Conclusions

Results highlight the need for different tobacco control approaches across sexual and gender identities, sex assigned at birth, and nicotine and tobacco products.

Implications

SGM nicotine and tobacco use disparities remain entrenched, despite concerted efforts to reduce them. The SGM population is heterogeneous and different SGM subgroups may have different needs. This study assessed, among young adult nicotine and tobacco users in California, U.S. patterns of tobacco use across sexual and gender identities, sex assigned at birth, as well as specific tobacco products used—a necessity to craft tailored tobacco control measures. We found patterns of nicotine and tobacco product use across several of these characteristics, highlighting how different prevention and cessation interventions may be needed to meaningfully address SGM nicotine and tobacco use disparities.
Classification of Lapses in Smokers Attempting to Stop: A Supervised Machine Learning Approach Using Data From a Popular Smoking Cessation Smartphone App
Authors: Perski Olga , Li Kezhi , Pontikos Nikolas , Simons David , Goldstein Stephanie P , Naughton Felix , Brown Jamie
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Smoking lapses after the quit date often lead to full relapse. To inform the development of real time, tailored lapse prevention support, we used observational data from a popular smoking cessation app to develop supervised machine learning algorithms to distinguish lapse from non-lapse reports.

Aims and Methods

We used data from app users with ≥20 unprompted data entries, which included information about craving severity, mood, activity, social context, and lapse incidence. A series of group-level supervised machine learning algorithms (eg, Random Forest, XGBoost) were trained and tested. Their ability to classify lapses for out-of-sample (1) observations and (2) individuals were evaluated. Next, a series of individual-level and hybrid algorithms were trained and tested.

Results

Participants (N = 791) provided 37 002 data entries (7.6% lapses). The best-performing group-level algorithm had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.969 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.961 to 0.978). Its ability to classify lapses for out-of-sample individuals ranged from poor to excellent (AUC = 0.482–1.000). Individual-level algorithms could be constructed for 39/791 participants with sufficient data, with a median AUC of 0.938 (range: 0.518–1.000). Hybrid algorithms could be constructed for 184/791 participants and had a median AUC of 0.825 (range: 0.375–1.000).

Conclusions

Using unprompted app data appeared feasible for constructing a high-performing group-level lapse classification algorithm but its performance was variable when applied to unseen individuals. Algorithms trained on each individual’s dataset, in addition to hybrid algorithms trained on the group plus a proportion of each individual’s data, had improved performance but could only be constructed for a minority of participants.

Implications

This study used routinely collected data from a popular smartphone app to train and test a series of supervised machine learning algorithms to distinguish lapse from non-lapse events. Although a high-performing group-level algorithm was developed, it had variable performance when applied to new, unseen individuals. Individual-level and hybrid algorithms had somewhat greater performance but could not be constructed for all participants because of the lack of variability in the outcome measure. Triangulation of results with those from a prompted study design is recommended prior to intervention development, with real-world lapse prediction likely requiring a balance between unprompted and prompted app data.
Expanding the Client’s Perspective
Authors: Cath Yuri
Published: March 2023

Hawley introduced the idea of the client's perspective on knowledge, which she used to illuminate knowing-how and cases of epistemic injustice involving knowing-how. In this paper, I explore how Hawley's idea might be used to illuminate not only knowing-how, but other forms of knowledge that, like knowing-how, are often claimed to be distinct from mere knowing-that, focusing on the case studies of moral understanding and ‘what it is like’-knowledge.
The 2022 Elections: A Test of Democracy's Resilience and the Referendum Theory of Midterms
Authors: Jacobson Gary C
Published: March 2023

The 2022 midterm elections tested both American democracy's resilience and the referendum theory of midterm elections. Democracy met the test better than the theory. For several reasons, Democrats lost far fewer House seats than referendum models predicted given Biden's low approval ratings, inflation, and an unhappy electorate. Trump's meddling in nomination politics on behalf of his big lie and the Court's Dobbs decision put democracy and abortion on the agenda, mobilizing Democrats and redefining what was at stake in the election. The referendum was also blunted by hardened political attitudes that minimized partisan defections and by independents who voted for Democrats despite negative opinions of Biden. Overall voting patterns showed record levels of continuity and cohesion in 2022, reiterating the stark political divisions that have emerged over the past decade.
On the existence of the NS5-brane limit of the plane wave matrix model
Authors: Asano Yuhma , Ishiki Goro , Matsumoto Takaki , Shimasaki Shinji , Watanabe Hiromasa
Published: March 2023

We consider a double scaling limit of the plane wave matrix model (PWMM), in which the gravity dual geometry of PWMM reduces to a class of spherical NS5-brane solutions. We identify the form of the scaling limit for the dual geometry of PWMM around a general vacuum and then translate the limit into field-theoretic language. We also show that the limit indeed exists at least in a certain planar quarter-BPS sector of PWMM by using the localization computation analytically. In addition, we employ the hybrid Monte Carlo method to compute the matrix integral obtained by the localization method, near the parameter region where the supergravity approximation is valid. Our numerical results, which are considered to be the first computation of a quantum loop correction to the Lin–Maldacena geometry, suggest that the double scaling limit exists beyond the planar sector.
Causal effects of circulating lipids and lipid-lowering drugs on the risk of epilepsy: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Liang Z , Zhao L , Lou Y , Liu S
Published: March 2023

Background

Previous studies have reported inconsistent results on the association between circulating lipids and lipid-lowering drugs with the risk of epilepsy.

Aim

To assess whether genetically predicted circulating lipids and lipid-lowering drugs are causally associated with the risk of epilepsy outcome.

Methods

We performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis model to genetically predict the causal effects of circulating lipids (apolipoprotein A [APOA], apolipoprotein B [APOB], cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], lipoprotein A and triglycerides) and lipid-lowering drugs (HMG-CoA reductase [HMGCR] and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 [PCSK9] inhibitors) on epilepsy. Nine MR analysis methods were conducted to analyze the final results. The inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the primary outcome. The other MR analysis methods (simple mode, weighted mode, simple median, weighted median, penalized weighted median, MR Egger and MR-Egger [bootstrap]) were conducted as the complement to IVW. In addition, the robustness of the MR analysis results was assessed by leave-one-out analysis.

Results

The IVW analysis method demonstrated that there is no causal association between circulating lipids (APOA: odds ratio [OR], 0.958, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.728–1.261, P = 0.760; APOB: OR, 1.092; 95% CI, 0.979–1.219, P = 0.115; cholesterol: OR, 1.210; 95% CI, 0.981–1.494, P = 0.077; HDL-C: OR, 0.964; 95% CI, 0.767–1.212, P = 0.753; LDL-C: OR, 1.100; 95% CI, 0.970–1.248, P = 0.137; lipoprotein A: OR, 1.082; 95% CI, 0.849–1.379, P = 0.528; triglycerides: OR, 1.126; 95% CI, 0.932–1.360, P = 0.221) and lipid-lowering drugs (HMGCR inhibitors: OR, 0.221; 95% CI, 0.006–8.408, P = 0.878; PCSK9 inhibitors: OR, 1.112; 95% CI, 0.215–5.761, P = 0.902) with risk of epilepsy. The other MR analysis methods and further leave-one-out sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of final results.

Conclusion

This MR study demonstrated that there were no genetically predicted causal relationships between circulating lipids and lipid-lowering drugs with the risk of epilepsy.
Social Identification and Redistribution Preference: A Survey Experiment in Japan
Authors: SEKI Katsunori
Published: March 2023

What shapes preferences for income redistribution? Studies find that social identification plays an important role. In this paper, I argue that in-group favoritism generated through income proximity and out-group discrimination stemming from a nation/foreigner cleavage affect redistribution preference. Using data from a survey experiment with 4,002 Japanese citizens, I examined whether priming the poor as recipients of public assistance (or Seikatsu Hogo) generates more (less) support for income redistribution among the poor (the wealthier) and whether priming foreigners as public assistance recipients decreases support for redistribution. Analyses reveal that respondents with annual household income of 5–10 million yen negatively respond to the treatment priming the poor as public assistance recipients. Results also indicate that priming foreigners as public assistance recipients decreases support for redistribution. These findings corroborate previous research that finds evidence from North America and Europe. Analyzing a sample from Japan offers the external validity because the recent rise in income disparity in Japan involves unique characteristics including pauperization of low-income groups without enriching the wealthy. A rapid increase in the inflow of immigrants to Japan necessitates the need to study how Japanese people shape their redistribution preference in response to a growing number of foreign residents.
Rtapas: An R Package to Assess Cophylogenetic Signal between Two Evolutionary Histories
Authors: Llaberia-Robledillo Mar , Lucas-Lledó J Ignacio , Pérez-Escobar Oscar A , Krasnov Boris R , Balbuena Juan Antonio
Published: March 2023

Cophylogeny represents a framework to understand how ecological and evolutionary process influence lineage diversification. The recently developed algorithm Random Tanglegram Partitions provides a directly interpretable statistic to quantify the strength of cophylogenetic signal and incorporates phylogenetic uncertainty into its estimation, and maps onto a tanglegram the contribution to cophylogenetic signal of individual host-symbiont associations. We introduce Rtapas, an R package to perform Random Tanglegram Partitions. Rtapas applies a given global-fit method to random partial tanglegrams of a fixed size to identify the associations, terminals, and internal nodes that maximize phylogenetic congruence. This new package extends the original implementation with a new algorithm that examines the contribution to phylogenetic incongruence of each host-symbiont association and adds ParaFit, a method designed to test for topological congruence between two phylogenies, to the list of global-fit methods than can be applied. Rtapas facilitates and speeds up cophylogenetic analysis, as it can handle large phylogenies (100+ terminals) in affordable computational time as illustrated with two real-world examples. Rtapas can particularly cater for the need for causal inference in cophylogeny in two domains: (i) Analysis of complex and intricate host-symbiont evolutionary histories and (ii) assessment of topological (in)congruence between phylogenies produced with different DNA markers and specifically identify subsets of loci for phylogenetic analysis that are most likely to reflect gene-tree evolutionary histories. [Cophylogeny; cophylogenetic signal; gene tree incongruence; phylogenetic congruence; phylogenomics.]
Reactive astrocytes associated with prion disease impair the blood brain barrier
Authors: Kushwaha Rajesh , Li Yue , Makarava Natallia , Pandit Narayan P. , Molesworth Kara , Birukov Konstantin G. , Baskakov Ilia V.
Published: March 2023

Background

Impairment of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is considered to be a common feature among neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and prion diseases. In prion disease, increased BBB permeability was reported 40 years ago, yet the mechanisms behind the loss of BBB integrity have never been explored. Recently, we showed that reactive astrocytes associated with prion diseases are neurotoxic. The current work examines the potential link between astrocyte reactivity and BBB breakdown.

Results

In prion-infected mice, the loss of BBB integrity and aberrant localization of aquaporin 4 (AQP4), a sign of retraction of astrocytic endfeet from blood vessels, were noticeable prior to disease onset. Gaps in cell-to-cell junctions along blood vessels, together with downregulation of Occludin, Claudin-5 and VE-cadherin, which constitute tight and adherens junctions, suggested that loss of BBB integrity is linked with degeneration of vascular endothelial cells. In contrast to cells isolated from non-infected adult mice, endothelial cells originating from prion-infected mice displayed disease-associated changes, including lower levels of Occludin, Claudin-5 and VE-cadherin expression, impaired tight and adherens junctions, and reduced trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER). Endothelial cells isolated from non-infected mice, when co-cultured with reactive astrocytes isolated from prion-infected animals or treated with media conditioned by the reactive astrocytes, developed the disease-associated phenotype observed in the endothelial cells from prion-infected mice. Reactive astrocytes were found to produce high levels of secreted IL-6, and treatment of endothelial monolayers originating from non-infected animals with recombinant IL-6 alone reduced their TEER. Remarkably, treatment with extracellular vesicles produced by normal astrocytes partially reversed the disease phenotype of endothelial cells isolated from prion-infected animals.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, the current work is the first to illustrate early BBB breakdown in prion disease and to document that reactive astrocytes associated with prion disease are detrimental to BBB integrity. Moreover, our findings suggest that the harmful effects are linked to proinflammatory factors secreted by reactive astrocytes.
Spatial Signatures of Biological Soil Crusts and Community Level Self-Organization in Drylands
Authors: Kozar Daniel , Weber Bettina , Zhang Yu , Dong Xiaoli
Published: March 2023

In dryland landscapes, patches of vascular plants can respond to environmental stress by adjusting their spatial pattern to intercept runoff more effectively, i.e., spatially self-organize, and maintain productivity. However, vegetation patch dynamics in drylands often assumes interspaces of plant patches are composed only of bare soil. Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are complex communities, largely of cyanobacteria, algae, lichens, and bryophytes, living in the soil surface in drylands and often cover more area than vascular plants. BSCs often occur in patches of light cyanobacteria and dark-mixed aggregates and can significantly affect and respond to ecohydrological feedbacks in dryland ecosystems. However, little is known about their spatial patterns and dynamics. In this study, we investigate spatial attributes of BSC patches, their spatial interactions with vascular plants, and factors that drive variation in these attributes. We collected ultra-high-resolution (1-cm) data on spatial patterns of BSCs and vascular plants at 26 sites across three ecoregions of the Southwest of the United States of America. Our analysis shows that light cyanobacterial BSCs vary most in their patch shape complexity along the aridity gradient, while dark-mixed BSCs vary strongly in their abundance. The abundance of dark-mixed BSCs is significantly affected by the soil template, namely soil texture and calcareousness, as well as vascular plants to persist under stress. Furthermore, species associations also change with environmental stress. Light cyanobacteria BSCs, likely a significant source of runoff, may act as a buffer for woody plants against drying, as spatial interactions between these biota become more positive (i.e., spatially aggregated) with greater aridity. While dark-mixed BSCs rely significantly on soil conditions and reduce in abundance as a response to aridity stress, we find evidence that they may have some capacity to spatially adjust under conditions of constant aridity. The interaction of dark-mixed BSCs with light cyanobacteria patches becomes more positive with slope. We conclude that light cyanobacteria BSCs can likely change patch shape in response to water limitation, while dark-mixed BSCs have a reduced capacity to do so – providing further evidence that the abundance of dark-mixed BSCs will decline in the future under drying. BSCs and vascular plants coordinate in space in response to resource availability, suggesting the need to consider self-organization of multiple assemblages to fully understand dryland response to climatic change.
Representations of carbon dioxide in the mosquito antennal lobe
Authors: Goyal Shefali , Singh Pranjul , Gupta Mudit , Gupta Smith , Singh Swikriti Saran , Gupta Arjit Kant , Gupta Nitin
Published: March 2023

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the prominent sensory cues used by mosquitoes to find hosts for blood-feeding. CO2is detected on the maxillary palps by capitate peg sensory neurons, whose axons project to the antennal lobe in the brain. Behavioral studies have shown that mosquitoes prefer non-homogenous plumes of CO2over homogenous plumes and CO2greatly enhances the attractiveness of lactic acid, a skin volatile. However, the neural mechanisms underlying these behavioral preferences are not known. Usingin vivointracellular recordings from projection neurons and local neurons in the antennal lobe, along with single sensillum recordings from the maxillary palps, we checked the representations of CO2in the first two layers of theAedes aegyptiolfactory system. We found that the preference to non-homogeneous plumes of CO2and its synergistic attraction with lactic acid are encoded in the PN population responses. Our results provide a foundation for understanding CO2-mediated host-attraction in mosquitoes.
A unifying account of replay as context-driven memory reactivation
Authors: Zhou Zhenglong , Kahana Michael J. , Schapiro Anna C.
Published: March 2023

During rest and sleep, sequential neural activation patterns corresponding to awake experience re-emerge, and this replay has been shown to benefit subsequent behavior and memory. Whereas some studies show that replay directly recapitulates recent experience, others demonstrate that replay systematically deviates from the temporal structure, the statistics, and even the content of recent experience. Given these disparate characteristics, what is the nature and purpose of replay? Here, we offer a theoretical framework in which replay reflects simple context-guided processes that facilitate memory. We suggest that, during awake learning, the brain associates experiences with the contexts in which they are encoded, at encoding rates that vary according to the salience of each experience. During quiescence, replay emerges as the result of a cascade of autonomous bidirectional interactions between contexts and their associated experiences, which in turn facilitates memory consolidation. A computational model instantiating this proposal explains numerous replay phenomena, including findings that existing models fail to account for and observations that have been predominantly construed through the lens of reinforcement learning. Our theory provides a unified, mechanistic framework of how the brain initially encodes and subsequently replays experiences in the service of memory consolidation.
Host and microbiome jointly contribute to adaptation to a complex environment
Authors: Petersen Carola , Hamerich Inga K. , Adair Karen L. , Griem-Krey Hanne , Oliva Montserrat Torres , Hoeppner Marc P. , Bohannan Brendan J.M. , Schulenburg Hinrich
Published: March 2023

Most animals and plants have associated microorganisms, collectively referred to as their microbiomes, which can provide essential functions. Given their importance, host-associated microbiomes have the potential to contribute substantially to adaptation of the host-microbiome assemblage (the “metaorganism”). Microbiomes may be especially important for rapid adaptation to novel environments because microbiomes can change more rapidly than host genomes. However, it is not well understood how hosts and microbiomes jointly contribute to metaorganism adaptation. We developed a model system with which to disentangle the contributions of hosts and microbiomes to metaorganism adaptation. We established replicate mesocosms containing the nematodeCaenorhabditis elegansco-cultured with microorganisms in a novel complex environment (laboratory compost). After approximately 30 nematode generations (100 days), we harvested worm populations and associated microbiomes, and subjected them to a common garden experiment designed to unravel the impacts of microbiome composition and host genetics on metaorganism adaptation. We observed that adaptation took different trajectories in different mesocosm replicates, with some increasing in fitness and others decreasing, and that interactions between host and microbiome played an important role in these contrasting evolutionary paths. We chose two exemplary mesocosms (one with a fitness increase and one with a decrease) for detailed study. For each example, we identified specific changes in both microbiome composition (for both bacteria and fungi) and nematode gene expression associated with each change in fitness. Our study provides experimental evidence that adaptation to a novel environment can be jointly influenced by host and microbiome.
Extensive variation in germlinede novomutations inPoecilia reticulata
Authors: Lin Yuying , Darolti Iulia , van der Bijl Wouter , Morris Jake , Mank Judith E.
Published: March 2023

The rate of germline mutation is fundamental to evolutionary processes, as it generates the variation upon which selection acts. The guppy,Poecilia reticulata, is a model of rapid adaptation, however the relative contribution of standing genetic variation versusde novomutation to evolution in this species remains unclear. Here, we use pedigree-based approaches to quantify and characterizede novomutations (DNMs) in three large guppy families. Our results suggest germline mutation rate in the guppy varies substantially across individuals and families. Most DNMs are shared across multiple siblings, suggesting they arose during early zygotic development. DNMs are randomly distributed throughout the genome, and male-biased mutation rate is low, as would be expected from the short guppy generation time. Overall, our study demonstrates remarkable variation in germline mutation rate and provides insights into rapid evolution of guppies.