bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the psychometric properties of the Intellectual Disability versions of the Short Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale and Kidscreen10, self‐reported by adolescents with intellectual disability
Authors: Davison J. , Maguire S. , McLaughlin M. , Simms V. , Bunting B.
Published: February 2023

Background

There are no validated self‐report measures that can be used to assess health and wellbeing in adolescents with intellectual disability (ID).

Method

The aim of this study was to explore the psychometric properties of two newly adapted self‐report health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and mental wellbeing measures: the Intellectual Disability versions of the Short Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (ID‐SWEMWBS) and Kidscreen10 (ID‐Kidscreen10). For this, we used data from a sample of 427 adolescents (aged 11–19) with ID recruited from special school settings.

Results

Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to validate the factor structure of both measures. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and test–retest reliability was analysed using intra‐class correlation coefficients. The internal consistency measured using Cronbach's alpha was found to be in the range of 0.70–0.78, test–retest reliabilities were expressed using intra‐class correlation coefficients that were found to be high for both measures (ID‐SWEMWBS, 0.758; ID‐Kidscreen10, 0.723), and the CFA supported the unidimensional structure of both measures.

Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that the ID‐SWEMWBS and ID‐Kidscreen10 have very good psychometric properties and can be used as self‐report measures to assess HRQoL and mental wellbeing in adolescents with ID.
Evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of home‐based urinalysis for albumin‐creatinine ratio with smartphone technology: A quality improvement project
Authors: Thomas Nicola , Ewart Catriona , Hill Carolyn
Published: February 2023

Background

Despite albumin‐creatinine ratio (urine) testing being recommended for detection of chronic kidney disease among adults with diabetes, testing rates are suboptimal.

Aim

We implemented and evaluated a quality improvement project in an inner‐city diabetes population in London, UK to assess the feasibility and acceptability of implementing novel home‐based urinalysis using smartphone technology.

Methods

After eligible patients were identified and consented, testing kits were sent to the patient's home. Test results and patient feedback were collected through the smartphone application. Focus group discussions were conducted to evaluate primary care staff perspectives on uptake and delivery of the service.

Results

In total 2370 patients agreed to take part. Of these, 1244 completed the test (61% of those eligible) and of these, 465 (37%) had clinically significant albuminuria. 98% of patients found the test easy or very easy to use. Staff in primary care found the service to be beneficial for patients, and reported ease of set up and minimal administrative processes. Concerns regarding barriers among patients with lower digital literacy and non‐English speakers were raised although these concerns were not substantiated.

Conclusion

Home‐based albumin‐creatinine ratio urine testing may improve the testing rates of people with diabetes at higher risk of chronic kidney disease. This is important post‐pandemic, as healthcare services are trying to return to pre‐pandemic levels of care. The study also found that the use of smartphone technology in an underserved (deprived) community is feasible, despite reservations about levels of digital literacy and possible language barriers. Further evaluation of effectiveness and costs is required.
Current models of insomnia disorder: a theoretical review on the potential role of the orexinergic pathway with implications for insomnia treatment
Authors: Palagini Laura , Geoffroy Pierre A. , Balestrieri Matteo , Miniati Mario , Biggio Giovanni , Liguori Claudio , Menicucci Danilo , Ferini‐Strambi Luigi , Nobili Lino , Riemann Dieter , Gemignani Angelo
Published: February 2023

Insomnia disorder is considered as a stress‐related disorder associated with hyperarousal, stress and emotion dysregulation and the instability of the ‘flip‐flop’ switch system. The orexinergic system is well known for its key role in sleep and arousal processes but also in the allostatic system regulating stress and emotions and may thus be of major interest for insomnia and its treatment. Accordingly, we discuss the potential role of orexins on sleep processes, brain systems modulating stress and emotions with potential implications for insomnia pathophysiology. We reviewed available data on the effect of dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs) on sleep and brain systems modulating stress/emotions with implications for insomnia treatment. We present our findings as a narrative review. Few data in animals and humans have reported that disrupted sleep and insomnia may be related to the overactivation of orexinergic system, while some more consistent data in humans and animals reported the overactivation of orexins in response to acute stress and in stress‐related disorders. Taken together these findings may let us hypothesise that an orexins overactivation may be associated with stress‐related hyperarousal and the hyperactivation of arousal‐promoting systems in insomnia. On the other hand, it is possible that by rebalancing orexins with DORAs we may regulate both sleep and allostatic systems, in turn, contributing to a ‘switch off’ of hyperarousal in insomnia. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to clarify the role of the orexin system in insomnia and to evaluate the effects of DORAs on sleep, stress and emotions regulating systems.
Possible occurrence of contact calls in all‐male groups of free‐ranging beluga whales
Authors: Panova E. , Agafonov A.
Published: February 2023

Social toothed whales are known to produce specific vocalizations that may serve for individual or group recognition and maintaining cohesion among group members. In beluga whales Delphinapterus leucas, these vocalizations referred to as “contact calls” are relatively long duration, repeated stereotyped broadband sounds. Although these calls are thought to be critical in mother‐calf communication, they are utilized by individuals of different ages and sex. We investigated possible occurrence of contact calls in all‐male beluga groups from the White Sea, Russia. Among the vocalizations analyzed (n = 1169), a considerable proportion (58%) appeared to be potential contact calls. They were subjectively classified into 61 types of mostly complex broadband sounds combined with a narrow band element. The positive linear relationship (R2 = 0.90) between the number of unique call types identified in the recordings and the number of belugas observed in the research area suggests that the calls serve as individual signatures. Belugas tended to produce these calls in a series, with the intercall intervals between the same and different call types mainly >1 s and <1 s, respectively. This suggests that vocal exchange by individually distinctive calls, like those of captive belugas and some other social species, might take place. The current study provides more insight into contact call usage in wild belugas and may serve as a basis for long‐term monitoring of their seasonal occurrence, abundance, and site fidelity, as well as for investigating their social organization.
Preference evolution, attention, and happiness
Authors: Castronova Edward
Published: February 2023

We present the first model of preference evolution in an environment where the fame of an agent affects selection. Specifically, agents who are famous are more likely to be selected for comparison by other agents. Agents compare happiness, and then switch preferences if the other agent is happier. Without the attention economy, only ‘happy’ preferences survive – happy preferences being those which, when followed, give agents maximal subjective well‐being. In an attention economy, however, unhappy preferences can persist if there is incomplete information. With incomplete information, agents may make errors when assessing the happiness of others. Furthermore, famous agents may be systematically less happy than others; empirical happiness research suggests that happiness comes from factors like family and religion, not fame. With these two possibilities in play, ordinary agents may be matched frequently with famous people who seem happy but are not. In these matches, ordinary agents will adopt preferences that actually make them less happy, and this allows unhappy preferences to persist in equilibrium. Our model contributes a theoretical explanation for the empirical finding that people who pay more attention to media generally score lower on scales of subjective well‐being.
Transmission mode and dispersal traits correlate with host specificity in mammalian gut microbes
Authors: Mazel Florent , Guisan Antoine , Parfrey Laura Wegener
Published: February 2023

Different host species associate with distinct gut microbes in mammals, a pattern sometimes referred to as phylosymbiosis. However, the processes shaping this host specificity are not well understood. One model proposes that barriers to microbial transmission promote specificity by limiting microbial dispersal between hosts. This model predicts that specificity levels measured across microbes is correlated to transmission mode (vertical vs. horizontal) and individual dispersal traits. Here, we leverage two large publicly available gut microbiota data sets (1490 samples from 195 host species) to test this prediction. We found that host specificity varies widely across bacteria (i.e., there are generalist and specialist bacteria) and depends on transmission mode and dispersal ability. Horizontally‐like transmitted bacteria equipped with traits that facilitate switches between host (e.g., tolerance to oxygen) were found to be less specific (more generalist) than microbes without those traits, for example, vertically‐like inherited bacteria that are intolerant to oxygen. Altogether, our findings are compatible with a model in which limited microbial dispersal abilities foster host specificity.
Anxiety correlates with excessive air swallowing and PPI refractoriness in patients with concomitant symptoms of GERD and functional dyspepsia
Authors: Ribolsi Mentore , Marchetti Lorenzo , Blasi Valentina , Cicala Michele
Published: February 2023

Background

Anxiety may exacerbate GERD and FD symptoms perception and reduce quality of life. As many as 50% of patients with GERD symptoms have incomplete relief with PPI therapy, and psychological factors may influence PPI responsiveness.

Aim

The potential relationship between anxiety, excessive air swallowing, and PPI responsiveness was evaluated.

Methods

GERD patients with concomitant FD were prospectively evaluated. Validated structured questionnaires were used to evaluate anxiety, GERD, and FD symptoms. All patients were treated, within the previous year, with at least 8 weeks of standard dose PPI therapy.

Results

One hundred sixty‐one patients were included. Frequency of non‐responders in patients with moderate/severe anxiety was significantly higher compared to patients with mild anxiety (62.7% vs. 37.3%, p < 0.01). Patients with moderate/severe anxiety displayed a significantly higher mean FD symptoms score value compared to patients with mild anxiety. A significantly higher mean number of air swallows were observed in patients with moderate/severe anxiety. At ROC analysis, air swallows and mixed reflux episodes were significantly associated with the presence of PPI refractoriness (AUC: 0.725, 95% CI: 0.645–0.805 and 0.768, 0.692–0.843). According to univariate analysis, an abnormal number of air swallows, mixed reflux episodes and presence of moderate/severe anxiety was significantly associated with PPI refractoriness.

Conclusion

Our results, if confirmed in in a larger, prospective clinical and therapeutic study, demonstrate the usefulness of an up‐front evaluation with anxiety questionnaire and esophageal testing in patients with a broad spectrum of upper gastrointestinal symptoms who fail to respond to PPI treatment, supporting the option of alternative treatment modalities.
Dark‐induced chloroplast relocation depends on actin filaments in the liverwort Apopellia endiviifolia along with the light‐ and cold‐induced relocations
Authors: Yong Lee‐Kien , Kodama Yutaka
Published: February 2023

Chloroplasts move to the periclinal walls of cells under weak light to harness light energy for photosynthesis and to anticlinal walls to avoid strong light. These responses involve the cytoskeleton components microtubules and/or actin filaments. In the dark, chloroplasts move to the anticlinal cell walls bordering neighbouring cells (dark‐positioning response), but this response in various plants normally requires a prolonged dark incubation period, which has hampered analysis. However, we recently demonstrated the dark‐positioning response that can be induced after a short period of dark incubation in the liverwort Apopellia endiviifolia. Here, we investigated whether the cytoskeleton components function in the dark‐positioning response of A. endiviifolia cells. Microtubules and actin filaments were fluorescently visualised in A. endiviifolia cells and were disrupted following treatment with the microtubule and actin filament polymerisation inhibitors. The dark‐positioning response was unaffected in the cells with disrupted microtubules. By contrast, the dark‐positioning response was inhibited by the disruption of actin filaments. The disruption of actin filaments also restricted chloroplast mobility during light‐ and cold‐dependent chloroplast movements in A. endiviifolia. Therefore, the dark‐positioning response of A. endiviifolia depends solely on an actin filament‐associated motility mechanism, as do the light‐ and cold‐dependent chloroplast responses.
Aerial roots elevate indoor plant health: Physiological and morphological responses of three high‐humidity adapted Araceae species to indoor humidity levels
Authors: Sheeran Laura , Rasmussen Amanda
Published: February 2023

Heightened by the COVID‐19 pandemic there has been a global increase in urban greenspace appreciation. Indoor plants are equally important for improving mental health and air quality but despite evolving in humid (sub)tropical environments with aerial root types, planting systems ignore aerial resource supply. This study directly compared nutrient uptake preferences of aerial and soil‐formed roots of three common houseplant species under high and ambient relative humidities. Growth and physiology parameters were measured weekly for Anthurium andreanum, Epipremnum aureum and Philodendron scandens grown in custom made growth chambers. Both aerial and soil‐formed roots were then fed mixtures of nitrate, ammonium and glycine, with one source labelled with 15N to determine uptake rates and maximum capacities. Aerial roots were consistently better at nitrogen uptake than soil roots but no species, root type or humidity condition showed a preference for a particular nitrogen source. All three species grew more in high humidity, with aerial roots demonstrating the greatest biomass increase. Higher humidities for indoor niches, together with fertiliser applications to aerial roots will support indoor plant growth, creating lush calming indoor environments for people inhabitants.
Boundary organisations in regional innovation systems: traversing knowledge boundaries for industry 4.0 regional transformations
Authors: Martins Jorge Tiago , Hukampal Singh Sonal
Published: February 2023

In this article, we explore and theorise how actors in the Sheffield City Region envision the development and orchestration of an innovation ecosystem in order to capture value from industry 4.0 technologies for manufacturing firms. This is theoretically motivated by the need to harmonise the knowledge combination and recombination practices that are required for the successful existence of innovation ecosystems at a regional level, in the applied context of industry 4.0 regional transformations. Drawing on data originating in semi‐structured interviews, a focus group and a real‐time Delphi with companies, companies associations, Higher Education Institutions, policy makers and Research and Technology Organisations, we examine specifically the role played by boundary organisations and how they respond by dynamically managing and articulating demands from within the network of partners. Our study deepens the theoretical and operational understanding of boundary organisations in the context of regional innovation systems and discusses how to sustain their role of bridging diverse epistemic communities.
A bivariate relative poverty line for leisure time and income poverty: Detecting intersectional differences using distributional copulas
Authors: Dorn Franziska , Radice Rosalba , Marra Giampiero , Kneib Thomas
Published: February 2023

Empirical research on poverty today often goes beyond a focus on income to consider other dimensions of well‐being. However, relatively few multidimensional poverty measures explicitly consider time‐use, despite its particular relevance to women's double burden of paid and unpaid work. We construct a bivariate relative poverty line between income and leisure, based on their joint distribution in the population. Because the strength of the dependence between income and leisure influences the vulnerability to poverty, we incorporate distributional regression into copula models. Utilizing the 2018 Mexican National Survey of Households, Income and Expenses, we investigate differences in bidimensional poverty with respect to gender and ethnicity. We find that the fraction defined as bidimensional poor is 18 percent points higher than the poverty rate computed from separate time and income measures. Those below the relative but above the absolute poverty line are primarily non‐indigenous women whose poverty is made visible by our approach.
An Examination of Public Income Redistribution
Authors: Arendt Jacob Nielsen , Christensen Mads Lybech
Published: February 2023

This study examines the extent of public income redistribution in a Scandinavian welfare state. We confirm previous findings where the redistributive effect of cash transfers is larger than that of in‐kind transfers, indirect taxes, and collective consumption, but their difference depends substantially on common methodological choices. First, we apply administrative data to identify actual use of in‐kind transfers and compare their redistributive effects to those from simpler allocation rules advocated in the distributional national account literature when actual transfers are not observed. Second, we show that the use of the insurance value (age and gender specific mean use) as an alternative allocation brings the redistributive effect of in‐kind transfers far closer to that of cash transfers. Third, we adjust for life cycle differences and show that while in‐kind transfers mainly redistribute income across age groups, redistribution from cash transfers takes place both within and across age groups.
Different gain modulations of selective attention at short and long cue‐target delays
Authors: Wu Xiaogang , Zhang Tianyang , Wang Aijun , Zhang Ming
Published: February 2023

Previous studies have tested attentional gain patterns, for example, within the normalization model of attention (NMoA), by altering the relative sizes of the attention field and stimuli. Existing studies have not investigated whether the gain patterns of altering the relative exogenous cue size as compared with the target stimuli matches the prediction of NMoA and whether these gain patterns exist in the late stage of attentional processing. To resolve these questions, the present study maintained the target grating size and changed the exogenous cue size in both short and long cue‐target onset asynchronies (CTOAs) conditions. The results revealed response gain for small cue/large target size conditions and contrast gain for large cue/small target size conditions, which was consistent with the NMoA. However, we observed the decrease in the contrast gain factor only with long CTOAs, regardless of whether the cue size was relatively small or large. This indicated that NMoA‐related effects based on the relative attentional field dominated in the early stage and that the contrast gain dominated in the late stage.
Kant on Social Justice: Poverty, Dependence, and Depersonification
Authors: Loriaux Sylvie
Published: February 2023

The main purpose of this article is to bring into relief the difficulties faced by generous interpretations of the Kantian problem of poverty and to propose an alternative interpretation which (a) agrees with some generous interpretations that Kant's juridical treatment of poverty is to be understood by analogy with his juridical treatment of slavery, but which (b) departs from generous interpretations in general by arguing that this analogy is not to be understood in terms of “dependence” as such, but in terms of “depersonification.” More specifically, it argues that what makes slavery and poverty unjust for Kant is not that they entail a human being finding herself (completely) dependent on the choice of another human being, but that they entail a human being being deprived of her juridical personality. The Kantian problem of poverty is ultimately a problem of juridical depersonification, and this problem of juridical depersonification does not arise in all (complete) dependence relations.
Abscisic acid collaborates with lignin and flavonoid to improve pre‐silking drought tolerance by tuning stem elongation and ear development in maize (Zea mays L.)
Authors: Gao Jia , Zhang Yingjun , Xu Chenchen , Wang Xin , Wang Pu , Huang Shoubing
Published: February 2023

Drought is a major abiotic stress reducing maize (Zea mays) yield worldwide especially before and during silking. The mechanism underlying drought tolerance in maize and the roles of different organs have not been elucidated. Hence, we conducted field trials under pre‐silking drought conditions using two maize genotypes: FM985 (drought‐tolerant) and ZD958 (drought‐sensitive). The two genotypes did not differ in plant height, grain number, and yield under control conditions. However, the grain number per ear and the yield of FM985 were 38.1 and 35.1% higher and plants were 17.6% shorter than ZD958 under drought conditions. More 13C photosynthates were transported to the ear in FM985 than in ZD958, which increased floret fertility and grain number. The number of differentially expressed genes was much higher in stem than in other organs. Stem–ear interactions are key determinants of drought tolerance, in which expression of genes related to abscisic acid, lignin, and flavonoid biosynthesis and carbon metabolism in the stem was induced by drought, which inhibited stem elongation and promoted assimilate allocation to the ear in FM985. In comparison with ZD958, the activities of trehalose 6‐phosphate phosphatase and sucrose non‐fermentation‐associated kinase 1 were higher in the stem and lower in the kernel of FM985, which facilitated kernel formation. These results reveal that, beyond the ear response, stem elongation is involved in the whole process of drought tolerance before silking. Abscisic acid together with trehalose 6‐phosphate, lignin, and flavonoid suppresses stem elongation and allocates assimilates into the ear, providing a novel and systematic regulatory pathway for drought tolerance in maize.
On continuous billiard and quasigeodesic flows characterizing alcoves and isosceles tetrahedra
Authors: Lange Christian
Published: February 2023

We characterize fundamental domains of affine reflection groups as those polyhedral convex bodies which support a continuous billiard dynamics. We interpret this characterization in the broader context of Alexandrov geometry and prove an analogous characterization for isosceles tetrahedra in terms of continuous quasigeodesic flows. Moreover, we show an optimal regularity result for convex bodies: the billiard dynamics is continuous if the boundary is of class . In particular, billiard trajectories converge to geodesics on the boundary in this case. Our proof of the latter continuity statement is based on Alexandrov geometry methods that we discuss, respectively, establish first.
The Hodge bundle, the universal 0-section, and the log Chow ring of the moduli space of curves
Authors: Molcho S. , Pandharipande R. , Schmitt J.
Published: February 2023

We bound from below the complexity of the top Chern class $\lambda _g$ of the Hodge bundle in the Chow ring of the moduli space of curves: no formulas for $\lambda _g$ in terms of classes of degrees 1 and 2 can exist. As a consequence of the Torelli map, the 0-section over the second Voronoi compactification of the moduli of principally polarized abelian varieties also cannot be expressed in terms of classes of degree 1 and 2. Along the way, we establish new cases of Pixton's conjecture for tautological relations. In the log Chow ring of the moduli space of curves, however, we prove $\lambda _g$ lies in the subalgebra generated by logarithmic boundary divisors. The proof is effective and uses Pixton's double ramification cycle formula together with a foundational study of the tautological ring defined by a normal crossings divisor. The results open the door to the search for simpler formulas for $\lambda _g$ on the moduli of curves after log blow-ups.
Wettability and corrosion resistance of zirconium nitride films obtained via reactive high-power impulse magnetron sputtering
Authors: Castro José D. , Pinto Beatriz , Ferreira Fábio , Serra R. , Carvalho S.
Published: February 2023

One of the main problems in ships is corrosion, which reduces the lifetime usage of ship parts and increases maintenance costs. Ceramic coatings can contribute to solving this situation. Zirconium nitrides obtained by reactive unbalanced magnetron sputtering technology are largely reported as coatings with high corrosion resistance. The present study used high-power impulse magnetron sputtering in a reactive atmosphere (R-HiPIMS), varying the nitrogen amount. SEM, EDS, XRD, AFM, and contact angle measurements were used to assess the obtained coatings’ performance. Corrosion resistance was evaluated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) (up to 168 h exposure) and potentiodynamic polarization (PP) in NaCl (3.5% wt.—“artificial seawater”) solution. According to the results, cross section micrographs showed strong densification of ZrN films regardless of the nitrogen amount. Besides, nitrogen increases during deposition influenced the drop of applied peak power (Pp) to the target and, consequently, influenced other film properties, such as roughness, wettability, and corrosion resistance. PP and EIS tests demonstrate the protective behavior of films under artificial seawater exposure. The results prove that the implementation of HiPIMS technology to obtain ZrN films could contribute to increasing the corrosion resistance of coated ship metallic parts and, hence, help maritime transportation to reduce maintenance time and cost.
The Self-Regulation and Smartphone Usage Model: A Framework to Help Athletes Manage Smartphone Usage
Authors: DesClouds Poppy , Durand-Bush Natalie
Published: February 2023

Self-regulation is essential for optimal development, performance, and well-being in sport, and smartphones may support and hinder this self-regulation. The relationship between smartphones and self-regulation has seldom been investigated in sport. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine self-regulatory processes, conditions, and outcomes related to athletes’ smartphone usage. Twenty-four competitive and high-performance athletes from eight sports participated in individual interviews informed by the models of self-regulated learning and self-regulatory strength. Themes created from a directed content analysis aligned with components of both models and were integrated with new themes to form the “Self-regulation and Smartphone Usage Model” (SSUM). The SSUM illustrates a cyclical model of self-regulation and smartphone usage across five components: self-regulation capacity, processes, conditions, outcomes, and competencies. While self-regulation demands can be increased because of smartphones and lead to depletion, smartphones can be powerful vehicles to strengthen self-regulation competencies.
The fragile state of opioid withdrawal
Authors: Wong Wei
Published: February 2023

Fragile T
reg
cells induced by opioid usage cause synaptic weakening and withdrawal symptoms.
An Approach to Improve Laboratory Notebook Feedback and Decrease Instructor Fatigue from Grading Undergraduate Laboratory Notebooks
Authors: Fleming Emily J.
Published: February 2023

Proper laboratory notebook maintenance is a critical skill for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workers. Laboratory notebook grading can be time-consuming and lead to instructor fatigue.
H
2
Is a Major Intermediate in
Desulfovibrio vulgaris
Corrosion of Iron
Authors: Woodard Trevor L. , Ueki Toshiyuki , Lovley Derek R.
Published: February 2023

Microbial corrosion of iron in the presence of sulfate-reducing microorganisms is economically significant. There is substantial debate over how microbes accelerate iron corrosion.
HexSDF Is Required for Synthesis of a Novel Glycolipid That Mediates Daptomycin and Bacitracin Resistance in C. difficile
Authors: Pannullo Anthony G. , Guan Ziqiang , Goldfine Howard , Ellermeier Craig D.
Published: February 2023

Clostridioides difficile
is a major cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea and represents an urgent concern due to the prevalence of antibiotic resistance and the rate of recurrent infections. Little is understood about
C. difficile
membrane lipids, but a unique glycolipid, HNHDRG, has been previously identified in
C. difficile
and, currently, has not been identified in other organisms.
Interconnections of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Quorum-Sensing Systems in Intestinal Permeability and Inflammation
Authors: Singh Vijay K. , Almpani Marianna , Wheeler Kelsey M. , Rahme Laurence G.
Published: February 2023

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is a common multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogen that seriously threatens critically ill and immunocompromised patients. Intestinal colonization by this pathogen is associated with elevated mortality rates.
ATP Is a Major Determinant of Phototrophic Bacterial Longevity in Growth Arrest
Authors: Yin Liang , Ma Hongyu , Fones Elizabeth M. , Morris David R. , Harwood Caroline S.
Published: February 2023

The molecular and physiological basis of bacterial longevity in growth arrest is important to investigate for several reasons. Such investigations could improve treatment of chronic infections, advance use of non-growing bacteria as biocatalysts to make high yields of value-added products, and improve estimates of microbial activities in natural habitats, where cells are often growing slowly or not at all.
Toxoplasma gondii AP2XII-2 Contributes to Transcriptional Repression for Sexual Commitment
Authors: Srivastava Sandeep , Holmes Michael J. , White Michael W. , Sullivan William J.
Published: February 2023

Toxoplasma gondii
is a parasite that undergoes its sexual stage exclusively in feline intestines, making cats a major source of transmission. A better understanding of the proteins controlling the parasite’s life cycle stage transitions is needed for the development of new therapies aimed at treating toxoplasmosis and the transmission of the infection.
Development of a Novel Typing Scheme Based on the Genetic Diversity of Heme/Hemin Uptake System Hmu in
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Species Complex
Authors: Lan Peng , Lu Ye , Yan Rushuang , Fang Lei , Zhao Dongdong , Jiang Yan , Yu Yunsong , Du Xiaoxing , Zhou Jiancang
Published: February 2023

Siderophore is a group of low molecular weight compounds with high affinity for ferric iron, which could facilitate bacterial iron consumption. Similarly, hemin/heme scavenged by the hemin uptake system HmuRSTUV usually act as another critical iron source for
K. pneumoniae
.
GUN
Mutants: New Weapons To Unravel Ascospore Germination Regulation in the Model Fungus
Podospora anserina
Authors: Demoor Alexander , Lacaze Isabelle , Ferrari Roselyne , Lalanne Christophe , Silar Philippe , Brun Sylvain
Published: February 2023

The regulation of ascospore germination in filamentous fungi has been poorly investigated so far. To unravel new genes involved in this regulation pathway, we conducted a genetic screen in
Podospora anserina
, and we isolated 57 mutants affected in ascospore germination.
N
6
-Methyladenosine RNA Modification in Host Cells Regulates Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus Replication
Authors: Khan Owais , Tanuj Gunturu Narasimha , Choravada Divyaprakash R. , Rajak Kaushal Kishore , Chandra Sekar S , Lingaraju Madhu Cholenahalli , Dhara Sujoy K. , Gupta Praveen K. , Mishra Bishnu Prasad , Dutt Triveni , Gandham Ravi Kumar , Sajjanar Basavaraj
Published: February 2023

Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) causes a severe disease in sheep and goats. PPRV infection is a major problem, causing significant economic losses to small ruminant farmers in regions of endemicity.
Emergence of Pandemic Clonal Lineage Sequence Types 131 and 69 of Extraintestinal Escherichia coli as a Cause of Meningitis: Is It Time To Revise Molecular Assays?
Authors: De Francesco Maria Antonia , Bertelli Anna , Corbellini Silvia , Scaltriti Erika , Risso Francesco , Allegri Roberto , Tiecco Giorgio , Castelli Francesco , Caruso Arnaldo
Published: February 2023

The extraintestinal pathogenic
Escherichia coli
group is characterized by the presence of uropathogenic
E. coli
(UPEC), sepsis-associated
E. coli
(SEPEC), and neonatal meningitis
E. coli
(NMEC). All of these members exhibit many virulence factors, such as lipopolysaccharides, toxins, iron acquisition factors, invasins, fimbriae, and capsules.
A High-Salt Diet Exacerbates Liver Fibrosis through
Enterococcus
-Dependent Macrophage Activation
Authors: Zhang Xujun , Liang Yan , Jiang Jingjing , Lu Chong , Shi Fan , Cao Qingyi , Zhang Yanhui , Diao Hongyan
Published: February 2023

This study further confirms that
Enterococcus
induce liver fibrosis in mice. These results indicate that an HSD can exacerbate liver fibrosis by altering the gut microbiota composition, thus impairing intestinal barrier function. Therefore, this may serve as a new target for liver fibrosis therapy and gut microbiota management.
Root-Associated Antagonistic Pseudomonas spp. Contribute to Soil Suppressiveness against Banana Fusarium Wilt Disease of Banana
Authors: Lv Nana , Tao Chengyuan , Ou Yannan , Wang Jiabao , Deng Xuhui , Liu Hongjun , Shen Zongzhuan , Li Rong , Shen Qirong
Published: February 2023

Soil suppression of
Fusarium
wilt disease has been proven to be linked with the local microbial community. However, the contribution of endophytic microbes to disease suppression in wilt-suppressive soils remains unclear.
A Retro-Aldol Reaction Prompted the Evolvability of a Phosphotransferase System for the Utilization of a Rare Sugar
Authors: Joo Yunhye , Sung Jae-Yoon , Shin Sun-Mi , Park Sun Jun , Kim Kyoung Su , Park Ki Duk , Kim Seong-Bo , Lee Dong-Woo
Published: February 2023

Microorganisms generate energy through glycolysis, which might have preceded a rapid burst of evolution, including the evolution of cellular respiration in the primordial biosphere. However, little is known about the evolvability of cellular sugar preferences.
Three Chitin Deacetylase Family Members of Beauveria bassiana Modulate Asexual Reproduction and Virulence of Fungi by Mediating Chitin Metabolism and Affect Fungal Parasitism and Saprophytic Life
Authors: Liu Jia-Hua , Dong Jing-Chong , Gao Jun-Jie , Li Xin-Peng , Hu Shun-Juan , Li Juan , Hu Wen-Xiao , Zhao Xian-Yan , Wang Juan-Juan , Qiu Lei
Published: February 2023

In this study, we report the roles of CDA family in entomopathogenic fungus
B.
bassiana
. Our results indicated that CDA modulates asexual development and regulates fungal virulence by altering chitin deacetylation and metabolic capacity. CDA affected the biological control potential and life history of
B. bassiana
by affecting its parasitic and saprophytic life. These findings provide novel insights into the roles of multiple CDA paralogues existing in fungal biocontrol agents.
Supplemental Material: Natural processes leading to large, pre-historic hydrothermal eruptions in geothermal areas: Rotokawa geothermal field, New Zealand
Authors: Montanaro Cristian , et al.
Published: February 2023

Supplemental material include grains size statistics and componentry data, together with figures showing (1) field appearance of the Oruanui Formation ignimbrite (2) structural setting of southern Rotokawa geothermal field and surrounding areas, and (3) geological setting of the shallow Rotokawa geothermal field.
Recurrent, founder and hypomorphic variants contribute to the genetic landscape of Joubert syndrome
Authors: Serpieri Valentina , Mortarini Giulia , Loucks Hailey , Biagini Tommaso , Micalizzi Alessia , Palmieri Ilaria , Dempsey Jennifer C , D’Abrusco Fulvio , Mazzotta Concetta , Battini Roberta , Bertini Enrico Silvio , Boltshauser Eugen , Borgatti Renato , Brockmann Knut , D'Arrigo Stefano , Nardocci Nardo , Fischetto Rita , Agolini Emanuele , Novelli Antonio , Romano Alfonso , Romaniello Romina , Stanzial Franco , Signorini Sabrina , Strisciuglio Pietro , Gana Simone , Mazza Tommaso , Doherty Dan , Valente Enza Maria
Published: February 2023

Background

Joubert syndrome (JS) is a neurodevelopmental ciliopathy characterised by a distinctive mid-hindbrain malformation, the ‘molar tooth sign’. Over 40 JS-associated genes are known, accounting for two-thirds of cases.

Methods

While most variants are novel or extremely rare, we report on 11 recurring variants in seven genes, including three known ‘founder variants’ in the Ashkenazi Jewish, Hutterite and Finnish populations. We evaluated variant frequencies in ~550 European patients with JS and compared them with controls (>15 000 Italian plus gnomAD), and with an independent cohort of ~600 JS probands from the USA.

Results

All variants were markedly enriched in the European JS cohort compared with controls. When comparing allele frequencies in the two JS cohorts, the Ashkenazim founder variant (TMEM216c.218G>T) was significantly enriched in American compared with European patients with JS, whileMKS1c.1476T>G was about 10 times more frequent among European JS. Frequencies of other variants were comparable in the two cohorts. Genotyping of several markers identified four novel European founder haplotypes.

Two recurrent variants (MKS1c.1476T>G andKIAA0586c.428delG), have been detected in homozygosity in unaffected individuals, suggesting they could act as hypomorphic variants. However, while fibroblasts from aMKS1c.1476T>G healthy homozygote showed impaired ability to form primary cilia and mildly reduced ciliary length, ciliary parameters were normal in cells from aKIAA0586c.428delG healthy homozygote.

Conclusion

This study contributes to understand the complex genetic landscape of JS, explain its variable prevalence in distinct geographical areas and characterise two recurrent hypomorphic variants.
A better self-efficacy is predictive of better health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: data from the Almenara Lupus Cohort
Authors: Ugarte-Gil Manuel Francisco , Gamboa-Cardenas Rocio Violeta , Reátegui-Sokolova Cristina , Pimentel-Quiroz Victor Román , Medina Mariela , Elera-Fitzcarrald Claudia , Rodriguez-Bellido Zoila , Pastor-Asurza Cesar Augusto , Perich-Campos Risto Alfredo , Alarcón Graciela S
Published: February 2023

Objective

To determine the possible predictive value of self-efficacy on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with SLE.

Methods

Patients with SLE from the Almenara Lupus Cohort were included. Self-efficacy was ascertained with the six domains from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) self-efficacy for managing chronic conditions. For PROMIS domains, a score of 50 is the average for a clinical population (people with a chronic condition), a higher score indicates that the respondent has greater self-efficacy. HRQoL was ascertained with the physical and mental component summary (PCS and MCS) measures of the Short-Form 36 (SF-36). Generalised estimating equations were performed, using as outcome the PCS or MCS in the subsequent visit, and the self-efficacy domain in the previous visit; multivariable models were adjusted for possible confounders. The confounders were measured in the same visit as the self-efficacy domain.

Results

Two-hundred and nine patients for a total of 564 visits were included; 194 (92.8%) patients were women and mean age at diagnosis was 36.4 (14.0) years. In the multivariable models, a better PCS was predicted by a better self-efficacy for managing symptoms, managing medications and treatments and managing social interactions and general self-efficacy; a better MCS was predicted by a better self-efficacy for managing daily activities, managing symptoms, managing medications and treatments and managing social interactions.

Conclusion

A better self-efficacy is predictive of subsequent better HRQoL, even after adjustment for possible confounders. These results should encourage clinicians to develop strategies to improve self-efficacy in patients with SLE.
Forestry influences on salmonid habitat in the North Thompson River watershed, British Columbia
Authors: Cunningham Dylan S. , Braun Douglas C. , Moore Jonathan W. , Martens Amanda M.
Published: February 2023

Freshwater ecosystems that support juvenile salmonids can be degraded by human pressures such as forestry. Forestry activities can alter water temperatures and the delivery and storage of water, nutrients, wood, and sediment in streams, resulting in changes to the habitat, growth, and survival of juvenile salmon. Previous research on forestry impacts on habitat has focused on small, intensively monitored coastal systems. Here, we examined forestry activities, watershed characteristics, physical habitat, and stream temperature for 28 mid-sized tributaries of the North Thompson River to examine relationships between forestry and juvenile coho stream habitat in interior watersheds. Forest harvest had a positive correlation to maximum summer stream temperature. Streams with 35% of the riparian area harvested since 1970 had maximum summer temperatures 3.7 °C higher on average than those with 5% harvested. Stream gradient explained most of the variation in physical habitat and had negative correlations to pool cover, pool depth, and fine sediment cover. Taken together, these results indicate that watershed characteristics drive physical habitat, but forest harvest can be a primary driver of water temperatures.
Holographic dark energy through Kaniadakis entropy in non flat universe
Authors: Kumar P. Suresh , Pandey Bramha Dutta , Sharma Umesh Kumar , Pankaj
Published: February 2023

By extending the standard holographic principle to a cosmological framework and combining the non-flat condition with the Kaniadakis entropy, we construct the non-flat Kaniadakis holographic dark energy (KHDE) model. The model employs Kaniadakis parameter K and a parameter c. Derivation of the differential equation for KHDE density parameter to describe the evolutionary behavior of the universe is obtained. Such a differential equation could explain both the open as well as closed universe models. The classification based on matter and dark energy (DE) dominated regimes show that the KHDE scenario may be used to specify the universe’s thermal history and that a quintom regime can be encountered. For both open and closed, we find the expressions for the deceleration parameter and the equation of state (EoS) parameter. Also, by varying the associated parameters, classical stability of the method is established. On considering the curvature to be positive, the universe favors the quintom behavior for substantially smaller values as opposed to the flat condition, when only quintessence is attained for such K values. Additionally, we see a similar behavior while considering the negative curvature for such K values. Therefore, adding a little bit of spatial geometry that isn’t flat to the KHDE enhances the phenomenology while maintaining K values at lower levels. To validate the model parameters, the most recent $$30\;H(z)$$

30

H
(
z
)

dataset, in the redshift range $$0.07 \le z \le 1.965$$

0.07
≤
z
≤
1.965

are utilized. In addition, the distance modulus from the current Union 2.1 data set of type SNIa are employed.
OpenMPD: A Low-Level Presentation Engine for Multimodal Particle-Based Displays
Authors: Montano-Murillo Roberto , Hirayama Ryuji , Martinez Plasencia Diego
Published: February 2023

Phased arrays of transducers have been quickly evolving in terms of software and hardware with applications in haptics (acoustic vibrations), display (levitation), and audio. Most recently, Multimodal Particle-based Displays (MPDs) have even demonstrated volumetric content that can be seen, heard, and felt simultaneously, without additional instrumentation. However, current software tools only support individual modalities and they do not address the integration and exploitation of the multi-modal potential of MPDs. This is because there is no standardized presentation pipeline tackling the challenges related to presenting such kind of multi-modal content (e.g., multi-modal support, multi-rate synchronization at 10 KHz, visual rendering or synchronization and continuity). This article presents OpenMPD, a low-level presentation engine that deals with these challenges and allows structured exploitation of any type of MPD content (i.e., visual, tactile, audio). We characterize OpenMPD’s performance and illustrate how it can be integrated into higher-level development tools (i.e., Unity game engine). We then illustrate its ability to enable novel presentation capabilities, such as support of multiple MPD contents, dexterous manipulations of fast-moving particles, or novel swept-volume MPD content.
A Multi-Criteria Metaheuristic Algorithm for Distributed Optimization of Electric Energy Storage
Authors: Schrage Rico , Tiemann Paul Hendrik , Niesse Astrid
Published: February 2023

The distributed schedule optimization of energy storage constitutes a challenge. Such algorithms often expect an input set containing all feasible schedules and, therefore, require searching the schedule space efficiently. However, it is hardly possible to accomplish this with energy storage due to its high flexibility. In this paper, the problem is introduced in detail and addressed by a metaheuristic algorithm, which generates a preselection of schedules. Two contributions are presented to achieve this goal: First, an extension for a distributed schedule optimization allowing a simultaneous optimization is developed. Second, an evolutionary algorithm is designed to generate optimized schedules with respect to multiple criteria. It is shown that the presented approach is suitable to schedule electric energy storage in actual households and industries with different generator and storage types.
Visualizing Combinatorial Search Spaces with Low-Dimensional Euclidean Embedding
Authors: Michalak Krzysztof
Published: February 2023

The low dimensional Euclidean embedding method (LDEE) allows visualizing combinatorial search spaces by mapping to the Euclidean space R
k
(with
k
= 2 or 3 in practice). The mapping of a combinatorial search space Ω to R
k
is obtained by first running the t-SNE (t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding) algorithm with an appropriate probability distribution used for the space Ω (for example the Mallows distribution for permutation spaces). Subsequently, the
vacuum embedding
algorithm, proposed in this article, is used to ensure good visual separation of solutions in R
k
. The LDEE method maps solutions to a regular grid in R
k
, which can be used for plotting various kinds of information. Apart from solution evaluations or comparisons of multiple objectives, the proposed method can be used for analyzing the behavior of the population in population-based metaheuristics, the working of genetic operators, etc. This newsletter contribution summarizes a recent research article [1].