bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“My children,” “my grandchildren”: Navigating intergenerational ambivalence in grandparent childcare arrangements in Hong Kong
Authors: Lo Sally Ka‐wing , Lindsay Jo
Published: April 2022

Objective

This study contributes in‐depth knowledge about informal childcare and family processes in East Asian families in Hong Kong in a time of rapid economic and social development. We explore how families negotiate grandparent childcare and how parents and grandparents manage intergenerational tensions and conflict.

Background

The common way of understanding intergenerational relationships in childcare is to focus on the positive experience of taking care of grandchildren, but there is limited discussion on the tension and conflicts that also occur between the generations.

Method

This qualitative study is based on in‐depth interviews with 14 parents and 12 grandparents about childcare arrangements for 53 children within East Asian families in Hong Kong.

Results

Tensions are found among the parents and grandparents in childcare provision, and considerable negotiation and ongoing emotional management of relationships is required.

Conclusion

Grandparent childcare is an important resource for many families, but it might not suit all. The issues of autonomy, seniority, power, respect, and different expectations of care are embedded in established family dynamics. Some intergenerational problems are unable to be settled by the family members.

Implications

Grandparent childcare should be a care option provided for families with young children. However, it should not be a substitute for childcare services and supports outside the home. Professional family services also should be sensitive to intergenerational family dynamics.
Eptacog beta efficacy and safety in the treatment and control of bleeding in paediatric subjects (<12 years) with haemophilia A or B with inhibitors
Authors: Pipe Steven W. , Hermans Cédric , Chitlur Meera , Carcao Manuel , Castaman Giancarlo , Davis Joanna A. , Ducore Jonathan , Dunn Amy L. , Escobar Miguel , Journeycake Janna , Khan Osman , Mahlangu Johnny , Meeks Shannon L. , Mitha Ismail Haroon , Négrier Claude , Nowak‐Göttl Ulrike , Recht Michael , Chrisentery‐Singleton Tammuella , Stasyshyn Oleksandra , Vilchevska Kateryna V. , Martinez Laura Villarreal , Wang Michael , Windyga Jerzy , Young Guy , Alexander W. Allan , Bonzo Daniel , Macie Christopher , Mitchell Ian S. , Sauty Evelyne , Wilkinson Thomas A. , Shapiro Amy D.
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Eptacog beta is a new recombinant activated human factor VII bypassing agent approved in the United States for the treatment and control of bleeding in patients with haemophilia A or B with inhibitors 12 years of age or older.

Aim

To prospectively assess in a phase 3 clinical trial (PERSEPT 2) eptacog beta efficacy and safety for treatment of bleeding in children <12 years of age with haemophilia A or B with inhibitors.

Methods

Using a randomised crossover design, subjects received initial doses of 75 or 225 μg/kg eptacog beta followed by 75 μg/kg dosing at predefined intervals (as determined by clinical response) to treat bleeding episodes (BEs). Treatment success criteria included a haemostasis evaluation of ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ without use of additional eptacog beta, alternative haemostatic agent or blood product, and no increase in pain following the first ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ assessment.

Results

Treatment success proportions in 25 subjects (1–11 years) who experienced 546 mild or moderate BEs were 65% in the 75 μg/kg initial dose regimen (IDR) and 60% in the 225 μg/kg IDR 12 h following initial eptacog beta infusion. By 24 h, the treatment success proportions were 97% for the 75 μg/kg IDR and 98% for the 225 μg/kg IDR. No thrombotic events, allergic reactions, neutralising antibodies or treatment‐related adverse events were reported.

Conclusion

Both 75 and 225 μg/kg eptacog beta IDRs provided safe and effective treatment and control of bleeding in children <12 years of age.
Relationship between mattress internal air pressure and interface pressure distribution in the lateral position
Authors: Kawabata Takahiro , Sugama Junko
Published: April 2022

Previous research shows that maximum interface pressure increases when the patient is lying in the lateral position. However, it was unclear whether it was better to increase or decrease the internal air pressure to reduce the maximum interface pressure in the lateral position; thus, this study investigated this issue. In this study, we investigated the change in pressure redistribution because of the difference in internal air pressure between the supine and lateral positions on an active air mattress for pressure ulcer prevention management. Each participant's five internal air pressure values served as the independent variables. The interface pressure on the active air mattress was measured for 20 minutes. The sacral left iliac crest and left greater trochanteric interface pressures were measured using a portable pressure‐measuring device. When seven of the 10 participants switched from the supine position to the left lateral position, there was a decrease in the maximum interface pressure as the internal air pressure increased. The maximum interface pressure in the greater trochanter in the lateral position was twice that in the sacral region in the supine position. These results show that increasing the internal air pressure in the lateral position might help reduce the maximum interface pressure.
Impacts of chilling at the tillering phases on rice growth and grain yield in Northeast China
Authors: Guo Erjing , Wang Lizhi , Jiang Shukun , Xiang Hongtao , Shi Yanying , Chen Xi , Cheng Xue , Wang Xiaoyu , Zhang Tianyi , Wang Lianmin , Feng Yanjiang , Lai Yongcai , Li Tao , Yang Xiaoguang
Published: April 2022

Chilling is a major constraint on rice production in mountainous regions of the tropics and in the temperate rice‐growing zones of the world. In this study, our goal is to quantify the impacts of chilling at the tillering phases on rice growth and grain yield. In 2017 and 2018, we conducted a factorial chilling treatment at four temperatures (T1, T2, T3 and T4) and four duration days (D2, D4, D6 and D8) on rice plants at the early, middle and late tillering phases. The results showed that chilling at the tillering phases delayed rice growth period. The rice grain yield slightly increased with decrease in chilling temperature but significantly decreased with increase in chilling duration at the tillering phases. For the chilling treatment at T1 (lowest temperature), the D2 (shortest duration) had positive effects on rice yield, while the D8 (longest duration) had adverse effects on rice yield. The middle and late tillering phases were the critical growth phases for rice spike numbers formation, with the increase in temperature and duration, the rice spike numbers per plant significantly decreased. The decrease in chilling temperature and increase in chilling duration both decreased rice thousand‐grain weight under chilling treatments at tillering phases. The prolongation of days from emergence to flowering led to increase in rice aboveground biomass per plant and allocation index of stem; however, the decrease in days from flowering to maturity led to reduction in allocation index of panicle and grain yield under chilling treatments at tillering phases. This study could help farmers to better understand the impacts of chilling on rice growth and yield, especially for rice that are prone to chilling.
How do suboptimal temperatures affect polyploid sterlet Acipenser ruthenus during early development?
Authors: Hubálek Martin , Kašpar Vojtěch , Tichopád Tomáš , Rodina Marek , Flajšhans Martin
Published: April 2022

Sturgeons are ancient fish exhibiting unique genome plasticity and a high tendency to produce spontaneously autopolyploid genome states. The temperature profiles of the rivers in which sturgeon live and reproduce have been severely altered by human intervention, and the effect of global warming is expected to cause further temperature shifts, which may be detrimental for early developmental stages with narrow windows of thermal tolerance. The comparison of the performance of diploid and autopolyploid sturgeon kept at unfavourable temperatures contributes to scientific knowledge of the effects of polyploid genome states on organisms and can shed light on the ability of polyploids to cope with human‐induced alterations to natural conditions. Using the sterlet Acipenser ruthenus as a model species, we carried out conventional artificial fertilization, as well as the induction of the second polar body retention (SPBR), of the first mitotic division suppression (FMDS) and of the second polar body retention followed by the first mitotic division suppression (SPBR+FMDS). Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of polyploidy on two basic performance parameters, survival and growth. In Experiment 1, fish belonging to untreated, SPBR‐, FMDS‐ and SPBR+FMDS‐induced groups were kept at 10, 16 and 20°C from the neurula stage until the end of endogenous feeding. In Experiment 2, larvae from the untreated and SPBR‐induced groups were reared at 10, 16 and 20°C after their endogenous feeding transition for 3 weeks. Based on our findings, we report that the embryos, prelarvae and larvae of triploid A. ruthenus do not differ from diploids in their ability to survive, grow and develop under suboptimal temperature conditions, while the survival of tetraploids was significantly reduced even at the optimal temperature and even more so at temperatures far from the optimum. This was also the case in the 2n/4n mosaics observed in FMDS‐induced group. Thus, we assume that in tetraploid and 2n/4n individuals, the limits of thermal tolerance are closer to the optimum than in diploids. We also conclude that the hexaploid genome state is probably lethal in A. ruthenus since none of the hexaploids or 3n/6n mosaics arising from the SPBR+FMDS induction survived the prelarval period.
Cutaneous epitheliotropic lymphosarcoma in a captive white catfish (Ameiurus catus Linnaeus)
Authors: Heniff Ashlyn C. , Chen Laura R. , Christiansen Emily F. , Harms Craig A. , Law Jerry M. , Legner Christian , Linder Keith E.
Published: April 2022

A wild caught white catfish (Ameiurus catus Linnaeus) developed multiple cutaneous masses. Cytology revealed neoplastic lymphocytes and microscopy confirmed dermal infiltration with epitheliotropism in the epidermis, oral mucosa, and cornea, without internal organ involvement. Transmission electron microscopy did not identify viral particles. Histopathology supported cutaneous epitheliotropic lymphosarcoma, a condition most commonly reported in mammals. This is the first reported case of cutaneous epitheliotropic lymphosarcoma in an ictalurid and one of the few published cases of this condition in any fish species.
Incidence, causes, and timing of peripheral intravenous catheter failure related to insertion timing in the treatment cycle in patients with hematological malignancies: A prospective descriptive study
Authors: Shintani Yui , Murayama Ryoko , Abe‐Doi Mari , Sanada Hiromi
Published: April 2022

Aim

We aimed to reveal detailed descriptive data on peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) failure related to insertion timing during the treatment cycle, in patients with lymphoma, leukemia, and myeloma.

Methods

We conducted a prospective descriptive study to investigate the incidence of PIVC failure, defined as PIVC removal prior to completing infusion therapy. This was judged by ward nurses for adult patients requiring PIVC insertion for chemotherapy. A research nurse confirmed the timing and determined the causes of PIVC failure using ultrasonographic imaging. Descriptive data were collected in the hematology and oncology ward of a tertiary hospital in Japan.

Results

We recruited 85 patients (with 303 PIVCs), and analyzed 67 patients (with 280 PIVCs). Of these, 118 PIVCs (42%) were inserted during the chemotherapeutic dosing period of the treatment cycle, and 106 (38%), during the rest period. The incidence of cumulative PIVC failure was 43.2% of all analyzed PIVCs (89.97 per 1,000 PIVC days). Of the PIVCs in patients with lymphoma, those inserted during the dosing period were less likely to show PIVC failure (32% vs. 57%, p < .001). Conversely, those inserted after the treatment cycle were more likely to show PIVC failure (22% vs. 7%, p = .002).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that the incidence of PIVC failure in patients with hematological malignancies was unacceptably high. Conceivably, the incidence of PIVC failure varies by the onset time of side effects in the treatment cycle. This should be considered when using PIVCs and selecting optimal vascular access devices for patients with hematological malignancies.
Predicting behavioural intentions towards medication safety among student and new graduate nurses across four countries
Authors: Fernandez Ritin , tenHam‐Baloyi Wilma , Mathew Elsheba , Secginli Selda , Bahar Zuhal , Jans Carley , Nahcivan Nursen , Torun Gizemnur , Lapkin Samuel , Green Heidi
Published: April 2022

Aims and objectives

To identify final‐year undergraduate students and new graduate nurses’ behavioural intentions towards medication safety across four countries.

Background

Medication errors are a common and avoidable occurrence, being costly for not only patients but also for health systems and society.

Design

A multi‐site cross‐sectional study.

Methods

A self‐administered survey was distributed to students and new graduate nurses in South Africa, India, Turkey and Australia. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all survey items. Multiple linear regressions were performed to predict behavioural intentions using the three Theory of Planned Behaviour constructs: attitudes, behavioural control and subjective norms. This study adheres to the STROBE guidelines.

Results

Data were analysed for 432 students and 576 new graduate nurses. Across all countries, new graduate nurses reported significantly higher scores on all the TPB variables compared with student nurses. Attitudes towards medication management were found significantly and positively related to intention to practice safe medication management for both student and new graduate nurses. Total perceived behavioural control was significantly and negatively related to intention to practice safe medication management for students.

Conclusion

Student and new graduate nurses showed favourable attitude, subjective norm, perceived behaviour control and intention in practising medication safety. However, differences in countries require further exploration on the factors influencing attitudes towards medication safety among student nurses and new nurse graduates.

Relevance to clinical practice

Understanding student and new graduate nurses’ medication administration practices is important to inform strategies aimed at improving patient safety. The findings of this study highlight the need for an internationally coordinated approach to ensure safe medication administration by student and new graduate nurses.
Geographic patterns and climatic correlates of deep evolutionary legacies for angiosperm assemblages in China
Authors: Qian Hong , Deng Tao
Published: April 2022

Deep evolutionary histories can play an important role in assembling species into communities, but few studies have explored the effects of deep evolutionary histories on species assembly of angiosperms (flowering plants). Here we explore patterns of family divergence and diversification times (stem and crown ages, respectively) and phylogenetic fuses for angiosperm assemblages in 100 × 100 km grid cells across geographic and ecological gradients in China. We found that both family stem and crown ages of angiosperm assemblages are older in southeastern China with warm and humid climates than in northwestern China with cold and dry climates; these patterns are stronger for family stem ages than for family crown ages; families in colder and drier climates are more closely related across the family‐level angiosperm phylogeny; and family phylogenetic fuses are, on average, longer for angiosperm assemblages in warm and humid climates than in cold and dry climate. We conclude that the fact that deep evolutionary histories, which were measured as family stem and crown ages and family phylogenetic fuses in this study, have shown strong geographic and ecological patterns suggests that deep evolutionary histories of angiosperms have profound effects on assembling angiosperm species into ecological communities.
Fecal concentration of Rhodococcus equi determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction of rectal swab samples to differentiate foals with pneumonia from healthy foals
Authors: Cohen Noah D. , Flores‐Ahlschewde Patricia , Gonzales Giana M. , Kahn Susanne K. , da Silveira Bibiana Petri , Bray Jocelyne M. , King Emily E. , Blair Caroline C. , Bordin Angela I.
Published: April 2022

Background

Diagnostic accuracy of real‐time, quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays to quantify virulent Rhodococcus equi using rectal swab samples has not been systematically evaluated.

Objective

To evaluate the accuracy of qPCR of rectal swab samples to differentiate foals with pneumonia from healthy foals of similar age from the same environment.

Animals

One hundred privately owned foals born in 2021 from 2 farms in New York.

Methods

An incident case‐control study design was used. Rectal swabs were collected from all foals diagnosed with R. equi pneumonia at 2 horse‐breeding farms (n = 47). Eligible pneumonia cases (n = 39) were matched by age to up to 2 healthy (n = 53) control foals; rectal swabs were collected from control foals on the day of diagnosis of the index case. DNA was extracted from fecal swabs and the concentration of virulent R. equi (ie, copy numbers of the virulence‐associated protein A gene [vapA] per 100 ng fecal DNA) was estimated by qPCR.

Results

The area under the ROC curve for qPCR of fecal swabs was 83.7% (95% CI, 74.9‐92.6). At a threshold of 14 883 copies of vapA per 100 ng fecal DNA, specificity of the assay was 83.0% (95% CI, 71.7‐92.4) and sensitivity was 79.5% (95% CI, 66.7‐92.3).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Although fecal concentrations of virulent R. equi are significantly higher in pneumonic foals than healthy foals of similar age in the same environment, qPCR of rectal swabs as reported here lacks adequate diagnostic accuracy for clinical use.
A minority of somatically mutated genes in pre‐existing fatty liver disease have prognostic importance in the development of NAFLD
Authors: Mann Jake P. , Hoare Matthew
Published: April 2022

Background

Understanding the genetics of liver disease has the potential to facilitate clinical risk stratification. We recently identified acquired somatic mutations in six genes and one lncRNA in pre‐existing fatty liver disease. We hypothesised that germline variation in these genes might be associated with the risk of developing steatosis and contribute to the prediction of disease severity.

Methods

Genome‐wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics were extracted from seven studies (>1.7 million participants) for variants near ACVR2A, ALB, CIDEB, FOXO1, GPAM, NEAT1 and TNRC6B for: aminotransferases, liver fat, HbA1c, diagnosis of NAFLD, ARLD and cirrhosis. Findings were replicated using GWAS data from multiple independent cohorts. A phenome‐wide association study was performed to examine for related metabolic traits, using both common and rare variants, including gene‐burden testing.

Results

There was no evidence of association between rare germline variants or SNPs near five genes (ACVR2A, ALB, CIDEB, FOXO1 and TNRC6B) and risk or severity of liver disease. Variants in GPAM (proxies for p.Ile43Val) were associated with liver fat (p = 3.6 × 10−13), ALT (p = 2.8 × 10−39) and serum lipid concentrations. Variants in NEAT1 demonstrated borderline significant associations with ALT (p = 1.9 × 10−11) and HbA1c, but not with liver fat, as well as influencing waist‐to‐hip ratio, adjusted for BMI.

Conclusions

Despite the acquisition of somatic mutations at these loci during progressive fatty liver disease, we did not find associations between germline variation and markers of liver disease, except in GPAM. In the future, larger sample sizes may identify associations. Currently, germline polygenic risk scores will not capture data from genes affected by somatic mutations.
Determination of olivine fayalite–forsterite composition in ordinary chondrites by X‐ray diffraction
Authors: Di Cecco V. E. , Hyde B. C. , Tait K. T. , Nicklin R. I.
Published: April 2022

Ordinary chondrites account for the majority of the described meteorites on Earth. To expand the toolbox of analytical techniques available to describe such specimens, this study evaluates the application of a previously described fayalite determination method by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) to equilibrated ordinary chondrites. A suite of ordinary chondrites, ranging from petrologic type 4 to 6, and types H, L, and LL were analyzed by both XRD and electron probe microanalysis. A comparison of the results shows good agreement between the two methods with an R2 of 0.95 and better agreement for homogenous ordinary chondrites above petrographic grade 4. The differences between the two methods can largely be attributed to analytical uncertainty, as well as differences between point and bulk sampling techniques. These differences were used to identify two polymict breccia samples, Peace River and Northwest Africa 10946. Of note is the effect of exposure of the ordinary chondrites to room temperature and humidity conditions after sample preparation (powdering) and the impact on measured fayalite content by XRD. As such, it is recommended that XRD analyses of meteorites be performed immediately after sample preparation.
The  VOICE Children's Nursing Framework: Drawing on childhood studies to advance nursing practice with young people
Authors: Carnevale Franco A.
Published: April 2022

Nursing scholars have called for nursing approaches with children that ensure the promotion of their childhood, contesting dominant adult‐based approaches that are adapted for practice with children. Although the nursing literature includes many important advances in the promotion of child‐centered approaches, there are still significant gaps in fully recognizing the complexities of childhood within nursing. Within this paper, I (a) outline some key advances in nursing approaches with children, sometimes referred to as “Children's Nursing” (shifting away from “Pediatric Nursing” conceptions that may be focused more on diseases than childhood); (b) highlight key gaps in current conceptions of Children's Nursing, namely the inadequate integration of work from the interdisciplinary field of Childhood Studies which challenges dominant age‐based developmental models which discount children's voices and experiences as “immature”; and (c) propose a Childhood Ethics‐based framework that bridges advances in Children's Nursing with those within Childhood Studies, which I refer to as the VOICE Children's Nursing Framework. The latter is rooted in the recognition of (a) children as active agents with capacities and interests in participating in discussions and decisions that affect them, and (b) best interests as the foundational basis for determining the nursing care required by a child which should be defined in an individualized manner, informed by a child's expressed aspirations and concerns. This Framework integrates biological, relational, and ethical dimensions of children's wellbeing and draws on hermeneutic approaches for eliciting and interpreting children's agential expressions, which involves continuous part/whole shifting to meticulously discern what is meaningful within a situation. The Framework is operationalized for clinical practice through the use of orienting questions, which is demonstrated through discussion of a clinical exemplar. The paper closes with proposed future directions for Children's Nursing development in practice, education, and research.
Drought resilience of conifer species is driven by leaf lifespan but not by hydraulic traits
Authors: Song Yanjun , Sterck Frank , Zhou Xiaqu , Liu Qi , Kruijt Bart , Poorter Lourens
Published: April 2022

Increased droughts impair tree growth worldwide. This study analyzes hydraulic and carbon traits of conifer species, and how they shape species strategies in terms of their growth rate and drought resilience.

We measured 43 functional stem and leaf traits for 28 conifer species growing in a 50‐yr‐old common garden experiment in the Netherlands. We assessed: how drought‐ and carbon‐related traits are associated across species, how these traits affect stem growth and drought resilience, and how traits and drought resilience are related to species’ climatic origin.

We found two trait spectra: a hydraulics spectrum reflecting a trade‐off between hydraulic and biomechanical safety vs hydraulic efficiency, and a leaf economics spectrum reflecting a trade‐off between tough, long‐lived tissues vs high carbon assimilation rate. Pit aperture size occupied a central position in the trait‐based network analysis and also increased stem growth. Drought recovery decreased with leaf lifespan.

Conifer species with long‐lived leaves suffer from drought legacy effects, as drought‐damaged leaves cannot easily be replaced, limiting growth recovery after drought. Leaf lifespan, rather than hydraulic traits, can explain growth responses to a drier future.
Travel to and from the United States and Foreign Leader Approval
Authors: Cohen Jeffrey E.
Published: April 2022

A growing literature examines the motivations and outcomes of high‐level public diplomacy, the international visits of top‐level leaders. That literature looks primarily at the impact of visits from major leaders, like U.S. presidents, on their approval from voters in the host country. This article asks, instead, whether visits to and from the United States can affect the approval of the foreign leader among their voters back home. Using monthly data from the Executive Approval Project for 32 nations from 1991 to 2020, results suggest that foreign leader travel to the United States improves their approval, but neither presidential nor secretary of state visits impact foreign leader approval.
Occupational Lung Health: A global problem requiring local awareness
Authors: Hoy Ryan F.
Published: April 2022

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Life-Course Perspective on Personality Traits and Fertility with Sequence Analysis
Authors: Mencarini Letizia , Piccarreta Raffaella , Le Moglie Marco
Published: April 2022

We investigate the link between personality traits (PTs) and fertility, accounting for the possible interplay with other key life course events. Using data from German Socio-Economic Panel survey, we build sequence-type representations of fertility, union and job careers between the ages of 20 and 40. We rely on multichannel sequence analysis (MSA) and on the Partitioning around Medoids algorithm to cluster individuals with similar experiences, and relate clusters to PTs via multinomial regression. We also develop a procedure to apply standard and MSA to truncated trajectories. This enables inclusion of individuals whose trajectories were otherwise observed for a limited age span, notably belonging to younger cohorts. We show that PTs relate to these (portions of) life-course trajectories, of which fertility is only one outcome.
Experimental Verification of Kinematics and Kinetics in a Biomimetic Bipedal Robot
Authors: Steele Alexander G. , Etoundi Apploinaire , Hunt Alexander J.
Published: April 2022

This article presents experimental test results for joints used in a biomimetic bipedal robot. In this work, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans are utilized to inform the design of joints of similar size and function to the biological counterparts. Three lower body joints, to be actuated by artificial muscles, were designed and constructed. Then the range of motion and passive stiffness were tested. The knee joint consists of a four-bar mechanism that provides increased extensor moment arm as the joint becomes more flexed, a “screw home” locking mechanism analog, and large contact surfaces for force distribution. The hip, ankle, and foot are hybrid hard-soft joints, consisting of a ball and socket held together with an outer, inflatable sleeve made from a braided pneumatic actuator (BPA) material. These joints provide a novel way for real-time stiffness adjustments and energy storage during the gait cycle. Results show that the physical knee prototype matches the previous simulation of joint movement (Steele, A., Hunt, A., and Etoundi, A., 2018, “Biomimetic Knee Design to Improve Joint Torque and Life for Bipedal Robotics,” Bristol, UK.). A linear relationship exists between the increase in angle and the force required to bend the hybrid joints. First, this article documents a process that others may use to develop their own joints. Second, the range of motion and passive forces in the hybrid hard-soft joints is characterized, which will enable improved control of the joints and inform other researchers to whether a hybrid joint design is appropriate for their applications. This process has several applications in prosthetic designs and robotics.
Effect of Spanwise Hole-to-Hole Spacing on Overall Cooling Effectiveness of Effusion Cooled Combustor Liners for a Swirl-Stabilized Can Combustor
Authors: Ahmed Shoaib , Wahls Benjamin H. , Ekkad Srinath V. , Lee Hanjie , Ho Yin-Hsiang
Published: April 2022

One of the most effective ways to cool the combustor liner is through effusion cooling. Effusion cooling (also known as full-coverage effusion cooling) involves uniformly spaced holes distributed throughout the combustor liner wall. Effusion cooling configurations are preferred for their high effectiveness, low-pressure penalty, and ease of manufacturing. In this article, experimental results are presented for effusion cooling configurations for a realistic swirl driven can combustor under reacting (flame) conditions. The can combustor was equipped with an industrial engine swirler and gaseous fuel (methane), subjecting the liner walls to engine representative flow and combustion conditions. In this study, three different effusion cooling liners with spanwise spacings of r/d = 6, 8, and 10 and streamwise spacing of z/d = 10 were tested for four coolant-to-main airflow ratios. The experiments were carried out at a constant main flow Reynolds number (based on combustor diameter) of 12,500 at a total equivalence ratio of 0.65. Infrared thermography (IRT) was used to measure the liner outer surface temperature, and detailed overall effectiveness values were determined under steady-state conditions. The results indicate that decreasing the spanwise hole-to-hole spacing (r/d) from ten to eight increased the overall cooling effectiveness by 2–5%. It was found that reducing the spanwise hole-to-hole spacing further to r/d = 6 does not affect the cooling effectiveness implying the existence of an optimum spanwise hole-to-hole spacing. Also, the minimum liner cooling effectiveness on the liner wall was found to be downstream of the impingement location, which is not observed in the existing literature for experiments done under nonreacting conditions.
A roadmap for universal high-mass matter-wave interferometry
Authors: Kiałka Filip , Fein Yaakov Y. , Pedalino Sebastian , Gerlich Stefan , Arndt Markus
Published: April 2022

Creating quantum superposition states of bodies with increasing mass and complexity is an exciting and important challenge. Demonstrating such superpositions is vital for understanding how classical observations arise from the underlying quantum physics. Here, we discuss how recent progress in macromolecule interferometry can be combined with the state of the art in cluster physics to push the mass record for matter-wave interference with wide state separation by 3 to 4 orders of magnitude. We show how near-field interferometers in different configurations can achieve this goal for a wide range of particle materials with strongly varying properties. This universality will become important in advanced tests of wave function collapse and of other modifications of quantum mechanics, as well as in the search for light dark matter and in tests of gravity with composite quantum systems.
Physical and Mental Fatigue Reduce Psychomotor Vigilance in Professional Football Players
Authors: Angius Luca , Merlini Michele , Hopker James , Bianchi Mattia , Fois Francesco , Piras Francesco , Cugia Paolo , Russell James , Marcora Samuele Maria
Published: April 2022

Purpose: Professional football players experience both physical and mental fatigue (MF). The main aims of this randomized crossover study were to investigate the effect of MF on repeated-sprint ability (RSA) and the effects of both physical fatigue and MF on psychomotor vigilance. Methods: Seventeen male professional football players performed 10 maximal 20-m shuttle sprints interspaced by incomplete recovery (RSA test). Running speed, heart rate, brain oxygenation, and rating of perceived exertion were monitored during each sprint. The RSA test was preceded by either a 30-minute Stroop task to induce MF or by watching a documentary for 30 minutes (control [CON]) in a randomized counterbalanced order. Participants performed a psychomotor vigilance test at baseline, after the cognitive task (MF or CON), and after the RSA test. Results: Heart rate and rating of perceived exertion significantly increased, while running speed and brain oxygenation significantly decreased over the repeated sprints (P < .001) with no significant differences between conditions. Response speed during the psychomotor vigilance test significantly declined after the Stroop task but not after CON (P = .001). Response speed during the psychomotor vigilance test declined after the RSA test in both conditions (P < .001) and remained lower in the MF condition compared to CON (P = .012). Conclusions: MF does not reduce RSA. However, the results of this study suggest that physical fatigue and MF have negative and cumulative effects on psychomotor vigilance. Therefore, strategies to reduce both physical fatigue and MF should be implemented in professional football players.
Strength and Power Testing of Athletes: A Multicenter Study of Test–Retest Reliability
Authors: Lindberg Kolbjørn , Solberg Paul , Bjørnsen Thomas , Helland Christian , Rønnestad Bent , Thorsen Frank Martin , Haugen Thomas , Østerås Sindre , Kristoffersen Morten , Midttun Magnus , Sæland Fredrik , Eythorsdottir Ingrid , Paulsen Gøran
Published: April 2022

Purpose: This study examined the test–retest reliability of common assessments for measuring strength and power of the lower body in high-performing athletes. Methods: A total of 100 participants, including both male (n = 83) and female (n = 17) athletes (21 [4] y, 182 [9] cm, and 78 [12] kg), were recruited for this study, using a multicenter approach. The participants underwent physical testing 4 times. The first 2 sessions (1 and 2) were separated by ∼1 week, followed by a period of 2 to 6 months, whereas the last 2 sessions (3 and 4) were again separated by ∼1 week. The test protocol consisted of squat jumps, countermovement jumps, jump and reach, 30-m sprint, 1-repetition-maximum squat, sprint cycling, and a leg-press test. Results: The typical error (%) ranged from 1.3% to 8.5% for all assessments. The change in means ranged from −1.5% to 2.5% for all assessments, whereas the interclass correlation coefficient ranged from .85 to .97. The smallest worthwhile change (0.2 of baseline SD) ranged from 1.2% to 5.0%. The ratio between the typical error (%) and the smallest worthwhile change (%) ranged from 0.5 to 1.2. When observing the reliability across testing centers, considerable differences in reliability were observed (typical error [%] ratio: 0.44–1.44). Conclusions: Most of the included assessments can be used with confidence by researchers and coaches to measure strength and power in athletes. Our results highlight the importance of controlling testing reliability at each testing center and not relying on data from others, despite having applied the same protocol.
ETS1 acts as a regulator of human healthy aging via decreasing ribosomal activity
Authors: Xiao Fu-Hui , Yu Qin , Deng Zhi-Li , Yang Ke , Ye Yunshuang , Ge Ming-Xia , Yan Dongjing , Wang Hao-Tian , Chen Xiao-Qiong , Yang Li-Qin , Yang Bin-Yu , Lin Rong , Zhang Wen , Yang Xing-Li , Dong Lei , He Yonghan , Zhou Jumin , Cai Wang-Wei , Li Ji , Kong Qing-Peng
Published: April 2022

Adaptation to reduced energy production during aging is a fundamental issue for maintaining healthspan or prolonging life span. Currently, however, the underlying mechanism in long-lived people remains poorly understood. Here, we analyzed transcriptomes of 185 long-lived individuals (LLIs) and 86 spouses of their children from two independent Chinese longevity cohorts and found that the ribosome pathway was significantly down-regulated in LLIs. We found that the down-regulation is likely controlled by
ETS1
(ETS proto-oncogene 1), a transcription factor down-regulated in LLIs and positively coexpressed with most ribosomal protein genes (RPGs). Functional assays showed that ETS1 can bind to RPG promoters, while
ETS1
knockdown reduces RPG expression and alleviates cellular senescence in human dermal fibroblast (HDF) and embryonic lung fibroblast (IMR-90) cells. As protein synthesis/turnover in ribosomes is an energy-intensive cellular process, the decline in ribosomal biogenesis governed by
ETS1
in certain female LLIs may serve as an alternative mechanism to achieve energy-saving and healthy aging.
Mechanical tension mobilizes Lgr6
+
epidermal stem cells to drive skin growth
Authors: Xue Yingchao , Lyu Chenyi , Taylor Ainsley , Van Ee Amy , Kiemen Ashley , Choi YoungGeun , Khavanian Nima , Henn Dominic , Lee Chaewon , Hwang Lisa , Wier Eric , Wang Saifeng , Lee Sam , Li Ang , Kirby Charles , Wang Gaofeng , Wu Pei-Hsun , Wirtz Denis , Garza Luis A. , Reddy Sashank K.
Published: April 2022

Uniquely among mammalian organs, skin is capable of marked size change in adults, yet the mechanisms underlying this notable capacity are unclear. Here, we use a system of controlled tissue expansion in mice to uncover cellular and molecular determinants of skin growth. Through machine learning–guided three-dimensional tissue reconstruction, we capture morphometric changes in growing skin. We find that most growth is driven by the proliferation of the epidermis in response to mechanical tension, with more limited changes in dermal and subdermal compartments. Epidermal growth is achieved through preferential activation and differentiation of Lgr6
+
stem cells of the epidermis, driven in part by the Hippo pathway. By single-cell RNA sequencing, we uncover further changes in mechanosensitive and metabolic pathways underlying growth control in the skin. These studies point to therapeutic strategies to enhance skin growth and establish a platform for understanding organ size dynamics in adult mammals.
Spatially varying selection between habitats drives physiological shifts and local adaptation in a broadcast spawning coral on a remote atoll in Western Australia
Authors: Thomas Luke , Underwood Jim N. , Rose Noah H. , Fuller Zachary L. , Richards Zoe T. , Dugal Laurence , Grimaldi Camille M. , Cooke Ira R. , Palumbi Stephen R. , Gilmour James P.
Published: April 2022

At the Rowley Shoals in Western Australia, the prominent reef flat becomes exposed on low tide and the stagnant water in the shallow atoll lagoons heats up, creating a natural laboratory for characterizing the mechanisms of coral resilience to climate change. To explore these mechanisms in the reef coral
Acropora tenuis
, we collected samples from lagoon and reef slope habitats and combined whole-genome sequencing, ITS2 metabarcoding, experimental heat stress, and transcriptomics. Despite high gene flow across the atoll, we identified clear shifts in allele frequencies between habitats at relatively small linked genomic islands. Common garden heat stress assays showed corals from the lagoon to be more resistant to bleaching, and RNA sequencing revealed marked differences in baseline levels of gene expression between habitats. Our results provide new insight into the complex mechanisms of coral resilience to climate change and highlight the potential for spatially varying selection across complex coral reef seascapes to drive pronounced ecological divergence in climate-related traits.
Environmental eustress improves postinfarction cardiac repair via enhancing cardiac macrophage survival
Authors: Bai Pei-Yuan , Chen Si-Qin , Jia Dai-Le , Pan Li-Hong , Liu Chao-Bao , Liu Jin , Luo Wei , Yang Yang , Sun Ma-Yu , Wan Nai-Fu , Rong Wu-Wei , Sun Ai-Jun , Ge Jun-Bo
Published: April 2022

Macrophages play a vital role in cardiac repair following myocardial infarction (MI). An enriched environment (EE) is involved in the regulation of macrophage-related activities and disease progression; however, whether EE affects the phenotype and function of macrophages to improve postinfarction cardiac repair remains unknown. In this study, we found that EE improved cardiac function, decreased mortality, and ameliorated adverse ventricular remodeling in mice after MI, with these outcomes closely related to the increased survival of Ly6C
low
macrophages and their CCR2
−
MHCII
low
subsets. EE increased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hypothalamus, leading to higher circulating levels of BDNF, which, in turn, regulated the cardiac macrophages. BDNF bound to tropomyosin receptor kinase B to activate downstream ERK1/2 and AKT pathways, promoting macrophage survival. These findings demonstrate that EE optimizes postinfarction cardiac repair and highlights the significance of EE as a previously unidentified strategy for impeding adverse ventricular remodeling.
Host cell maturation modulates parasite invasion and sexual differentiation in
Plasmodium berghei
Authors: Hentzschel Franziska , Gibbins Matthew P. , Attipa Charalampos , Beraldi Dario , Moxon Christopher A. , Otto Thomas D. , Marti Matthias
Published: April 2022

Malaria remains a global health problem causing more than 400,000 deaths annually.
Plasmodium
parasites, the causative agents of malaria, replicate asexually in red blood cells (RBCs) of their vertebrate host, while a subset differentiates into sexual stages (gametocytes) for mosquito transmission. Parasite replication and gametocyte maturation in the erythropoietic niches of the bone marrow and spleen contribute to pathogenesis and drive transmission, but the mechanisms underlying this organ enrichment remain unknown. Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis of rodent
P. berghei
infection by flow cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing. We identified CD71 as a host receptor for reticulocyte invasion and found that parasites metabolically adapt to the host cell environment. Transcriptional analysis and functional assays further revealed a nutrient-dependent tropism for gametocyte formation in reticulocytes. Together, we provide a thorough characterization of host-parasite interactions in erythropoietic niches and define host cell maturation state as the key driver of parasite adaptation.
Addition of interleukin-2 overcomes resistance to neoadjuvant CTLA4 and PD1 blockade in ex vivo patient tumors
Authors: Kaptein Paulien , Jacoberger-Foissac Celia , Dimitriadis Petros , Voabil Paula , de Bruijn Marjolein , Brokamp Simone , Reijers Irene , Versluis Judith , Nallan Gahyathiri , Triscott Hannah , McDonald Elizabeth , Tay Joshua , Long Georgina V. , Blank Christian U. , Thommen Daniela S. , Teng Michele W.L.
Published: April 2022

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy with anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated protein 4 (CTLA4) + anti–programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) monoclonal antibodies has demonstrated remarkable pathological responses and relapse-free survival in ~80% of patients with clinically detectable stage III melanoma. However, about 20% of the treated patients do not respond. In pretreatment biopsies of patients with melanoma, we found that resistance to neoadjuvant CTLA4 + PD1 blockade was associated with a low CD4/interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene signature. Ex vivo, addition of IL-2 to CTLA4 + PD1 blockade induced T cell activation and deep immunological responses in anti-CTLA4 + anti-PD1–resistant human tumor specimens. In the 4T1.2 breast cancer mouse model of neoadjuvant immunotherapy, triple combination of anti-CTLA4 + anti-PD1 + IL-2 cured almost twice as many mice as compared with dual checkpoint inhibitor therapy. This improved efficacy was due to the expansion of tumor-specific CD8
+
T cells and improved proinflammatory cytokine polyfunctionality of both CD4
+
and CD8
+
T effector cells and regulatory T cells. Depletion studies suggested that CD4
+
T cells were critical for priming of CD8
+
T cell immunity against 4T1.2 and helped in the expansion of tumor-specific CD8
+
T cells early after neoadjuvant triple immunotherapy. Our results suggest that the addition of IL-2 can overcome resistance to neoadjuvant anti-CTLA4 + anti-PD1, providing the rationale for testing this combination as a neoadjuvant therapy in patients with early-stage cancer.
Nonlesional lupus skin contributes to inflammatory education of myeloid cells and primes for cutaneous inflammation
Authors: Billi Allison C. , Ma Feiyang , Plazyo Olesya , Gharaee-Kermani Mehrnaz , Wasikowski Rachael , Hile Grace A. , Xing Xianying , Yee Christine M. , Rizvi Syed M. , Maz Mitra P. , Berthier Celine C. , Wen Fei , Tsoi Lam C. , Pellegrini Matteo , Modlin Robert L. , Gudjonsson Johann E. , Kahlenberg J. Michelle
Published: April 2022

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is a disfiguring and poorly understood condition frequently associated with systemic lupus. Previous studies suggest that nonlesional keratinocytes play a role in disease predisposition, but this has not been investigated in a comprehensive manner or in the context of other cell populations. To investigate CLE immunopathogenesis, normal-appearing skin, lesional skin, and circulating immune cells from lupus patients were analyzed via integrated single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial RNA sequencing. We demonstrate that normal-appearing skin of patients with lupus represents a type I interferon–rich, prelesional environment that skews gene transcription in all major skin cell types and markedly distorts predicted cell-cell communication networks. We also show that lupus-enriched CD16
+
dendritic cells undergo robust interferon education in the skin, thereby gaining proinflammatory phenotypes. Together, our data provide a comprehensive characterization of lesional and nonlesional skin in lupus and suggest a role for skin education of CD16
+
dendritic cells in CLE pathogenesis.
In Vitro
Potency and Spectrum of the Novel Polymyxin MRX-8 Tested against Clinical Isolates of Gram-Negative Bacteria
Authors: Duncan Leonard R. , Wang Wen , Sader Helio S.
Published: April 2022

The polymyxins display excellent
in vitro
antimicrobial activity against most
Enterobacterales
,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
, and
Acinetobacter baumannii
isolates, but their clinical utility has been limited because of class-specific toxicity problems. Therefore, new polymyxin analogs with improved safety properties are needed to combat serious infections caused by resistant Gram-negative pathogens.
Catabolic Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase Activity Facilitates Growth of Staphylococcus aureus in Defined Medium Lacking Glucose and Arginine
Authors: Reslane Itidal , Halsey Cortney R. , Stastny Amanda , Cabrera Barbara J. , Ahn Jongsam , Shinde Dhananjay , Galac Madeline R. , Sladek Margaret F. , Razvi Fareha , Lehman McKenzie K. , Bayles Kenneth W. , Thomas Vinai C. , Handke Luke D. , Fey Paul D.
Published: April 2022

Staphylococcus aureus
can cause infection in virtually any niche of the human host, suggesting that it has significant metabolic versatility. Indeed, bioinformatic analysis suggests that it has the biosynthetic capability to synthesize all 20 amino acids.