bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Local Production and Developing Core Regions: Ceramic Characterization in the Lake Pátzcuaro Basin, Western Mexico
Authors: Cohen Anna S. , Hirshman Amy J. , Pierce Daniel E. , Ferguson Jeffrey R.
Published: August 2022

A core region is the first place for expected shifts in archaeological materials before, during, and after political changes like state emergence and imperial consolidation. Yet, studies of ceramic production have shown that there are sometimes limited or more subtle changes in the ceramic economy throughout such political fluctuations. This article synthesizes recent efforts to address political economic changes via geochemical characterization (neutron activation analysis; NAA) in the Lake Pátzcuaro Basin in western Mexico. This region was home to the Purépecha state and then empire (Tarascan; ca. AD 1350–1530), one of the most powerful kingdoms in the Americas before European arrival. The combined ceramic dataset from four sites in the region result in eight geochemical groups. Our analysis indicates that the region experienced long-term and relatively stable ceramic production that was not substantially altered by the emergence of the state and empire. In addition, we find evidence for (1) dispersed, localized production; (2) long-lived compositional ceramic recipes; and (3) a complex ceramic economy with differential community participation. We discuss why documenting local ceramic production and craft production more generally is important for the study of past political economies.
Nouvelle phase du nationalisme québécois: un PLQ coincé
Authors: Montigny Eric
Published: August 2022

Alors que le clivage portant sur l'indépendance du Québec est en déclin, on aurait tort de croire que ce phénomène s'accompagne aussi d'un déclin du nationalisme québécois. Dans les faits, le nationalisme québécois structure toujours le débat politique. Pour une majorité de répondants, l’État québécois a toujours un rôle important à jouer en matière d'identité. Le nationalisme demeure pertinent et nécessaire. À ce jour, il est également toujours associé au caractère francophone du Québec. Ce nationalisme a cependant pris une nouvelle forme. À l'aide de données de sondages originales, ce texte permet de mieux comprendre l’évolution du nationalisme québécois contemporain porté par la Coalition avenir Québec et sa dynamique autonomiste. Enfin, ces données illustrent aussi certaines lignes de fractures sur le plan linguistique et partisan. Celles-ci peuvent contribuer à expliquer les difficultés posées au Parti libéral du Québec pour renouer avec l’électorat francophone, sans pour autant décevoir sa base électorale anglophone.
Food and Power in Sixteenth-Century Ireland: Studying Household Accounts from Dublin Castle
Authors: Taverner Charlie , Flavin Susan
Published: August 2022

Studying the food practices of one vast and prominent Irish household reveals a complex history of consumption, status, and power in sixteenth-century Europe. This article is a close analysis of the little studied but unusually detailed household accounts of William Fitzwilliam, lord deputy of Ireland during 1572–5 and 1588–94. It first discusses how early modern historians have probed similar records and how these examples can be interpreted. The following sections examine the specific foods consumed at Dublin Castle and the high cost, distinctive rhythms, and deep symbolism of grand-scale dining at the viceroy's primary residence. This study of the everyday life of one of the most powerful officeholders in England and Ireland offers fresh perspectives on the region's political history. It also adds to the burgeoning study of Irish consumption, showing that the country was connected to continental developments. More than an Irish story, this article offers evidence of Europe-wide changes, like the elaboration of courtly cuisine and the shifting associations of foodstuffs, and how these changes were filtered through local circumstances. It suggests too how historians can make productive use of household accounts, sources well suited to comparison and combination with other disciplinary approaches.
Congressional Pay and Responsiveness in the Antebellum U.S. House of Representatives
Authors: Baughman John
Published: August 2022

From the first attempt to raise congressional pay in 1816, voters have judged members harshly for increasing their own compensation. During debates on the Compensation Act of 1856, members acknowledged that the experience of 1816 still loomed over them, though they disagreed about whether the lesson was not to increase pay or not to replace the per diem with a salary. In the end, they did both. Unlike the “salary grabs” of 1816 and 1873, however, few were punished directly by voters and the law was not repealed. The splintering of the party system allowed representatives to shift responsibility and obscure accountability. The timing of elections and addition of anticorruption provisions further limited backlash. Senators recognized the electoral jeopardy of representatives and so built a broad multiparty coalition for passage. While representatives were sensitive to the judgment of voters, the brief period of a multiparty Congress aided adoption of salary-based compensation in spite of that judgment, making possible later moves toward professionalization.
The situated and bounded rationality of international courts: A structuralist approach to international adjudicative practices
Authors: Caserta Salvatore , Madsen Mikael Rask
Published: August 2022

Understanding international judicial behaviour requires the development of a perspective that considers both individual and collective action. On the one hand, individual judges are influenced and shaped by their background and trajectory prior to their international judicial appointment; on the other hand, when appointed to international courts, they become part of a particular social setting and group dynamic. The article provides an interpretive, structural theory of judicial behaviour which allows for an understanding of international judicial action and the judicial institutional practices resulting from it. The article explains this double structuration of international judicial behaviour by first reconsidering and amending the notion of habitus, originally developed by Pierre Bourdieu, and secondly by applying this idea to the practice of the Caribbean Court of Justice.
World Heritage as a subject of rights: A Hohfeldian analysis of Old Rauma
Authors: Lehtinen Sanna S.
Published: August 2022

The world’s cultural heritage is vulnerable to numerous types of risks, ranging from climate crisis to pandemics and wars. In the face of both current and future threats, states have the power to choose which cultural items should be conserved and which can be allowed to be destroyed. Consequently, there are legal provisions in place to safeguard the chosen pieces of cultural heritage as World Heritage for future generations. This article explores the essence of World Heritage as a legal phenomenon within the body of international cultural heritage law, applying a human rights perspective and taking in distinctive features of Nordic law. Using the framework developed by Wesley Newcomb Hohfeld, the article outlines theoretical guidelines for locating and examining World-Heritage-related legal relations. This theoretical Hohfeldian approach is combined with practical examples from the Finnish World Heritage Site of Old Rauma, among others. The article argues that World Heritage is currently threatened for reasons typical of capital-centric society. The related threats are not adequately recognized, nor are they appropriately addressed by either state authorities or the law. To prevent conflicts from arising in relation to the safeguarding of World Heritage, this article emphasizes the importance of fostering resilience through elastic legal mechanisms, as exemplified by the Nordic right to roam.
Time is on my side? The temporal proximity between elections and parties’ salience strategies
Authors: Gross Martin , Chiru Mihail
Published: August 2022

The emphasis national parties put on European Union (EU) issues in their manifestos varies to a great extent between countries. A systematic explanation of this variation is, however, still lacking. We address this gap by exploring the effect of the temporal proximity between national and European Parliament (EP) elections within the national electoral cycle on national parties’ EU issue emphasis. Multilevel mixed-effects Tobit regressions on a sample of 956 manifestos, produced by 340 parties running for national elections in 27 EU member states between 1979 and 2019, indicate that temporal proximity displays a positive effect on national parties’ EU issue salience: the closer in time EP elections are to national elections within the national electoral cycle, the more parties emphasize EU issues in their national election manifestos. This is particularly the case for non-Eurosceptic parties. These findings have important implications for our understanding of party competition in EU member states.
Reliability and Validity of the Turkish Version of the Mini Depression Status Test (MDST-TR)
Authors: Anapa Görkem , Kalbe Elke , Onur Oezguer A. , Kessler Josef , Seven Ümran S.
Published: August 2022

Abstract: Objectives: Depression is a frequent mental disorder. Easy and fast tools for screening depression are of high relevance. Common screenings require sufficient abilities to understand the information on the questionnaires. For patients with a migration background, these factors can be problematic. Method: The present cross-sectional study was conducted with 329 participants (293 healthy and 36 clinical participants). We analyzed the internal consistency reliability using Cronbach’s α coefficient and the test-retest reliability using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. We determined the cut-off scores using receiver operating characteristics (ROC). Results: MDST shows high construct validity ( r s = −.55, p < .001), satisfying internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s α for overall sample = .76) and good reliability in terms of test-retest reliability ( r s = .55) among Turkish migrants. Discussion: The MDST is a valid screening instrument for depressive symptoms in clinical and healthy Turkish migrants living in Germany.
Abuse of Marginalized Older Adults During COVID-19
Authors: Gutman Gloria , Karbakhsh Mojgan , Stewart Heather G.
Published: August 2022

Abstract: Child and spousal abuse rates tend to increase during various disasters. This study sought to determine the prevalence and determinants of older adults’ experiences of increased verbal or physical conflict (+VPC) as a proxy for elder abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data stem from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), a prospective cohort study of 51,338 Canadians aged 45–85 at baseline. We analyzed the data of participants aged 55 or older at core follow-up 1 who also participated in a CLSA COVID-19 substudy ( n = 24,306). Experiencing +VPC was the main outcome variable; explanatory variables included gender identity, sexual orientation, age group, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, marital status, household income, working status, living arrangement (alone vs. with others), social support availability, cohesion in the community, self-rated health, anxiety, depression, and previous history of elder abuse. The overall weighted prevalence of +VPC was 7.4%. Gay/bisexual men, 55–64 age group, living with others, low social support, poor social cohesion, low self-rated health, poor mental health, and history of psychological or physical abuse were each significantly associated with +VPC. Weighted multivariable logistic regression revealed that male gender, living with others, higher depression and anxiety scores, and a history of psychological abuse were independent predictors of +VPC. Implications for postpandemic recovery and prevention strategies during future disasters include targeted outreach programs for the most vulnerable group, which included males and younger older adults between 55 and 64 years as well as those with mental health issues and/or history of elder psychological abuse.
Water Supply Processes Are Responsible for Significant Nitrogen Fluxes Across the United States
Authors: Flint Elizabeth M. , Ascott Matthew J. , Gooddy Daren C. , Stahl Mason O. , Surridge Ben W. J.
Published: August 2022

Excessive nutrient concentrations within fresh waters are a globally persistent problem. Developing effective nutrient management strategies requires improvements to nitrogen (N) mass balances, including the identification and quantification of previously unrecognized anthropogenic N fluxes. Using publicly available data, we establish that freshwater abstractions from both surface waters and groundwaters, alongside watermains leakage from public distribution networks, are responsible for significant nitrate‐N (NO3‐N) fluxes across the contiguous United States. Nationally, freshwater abstraction temporarily retains 417 (min‐max: 190–857) kt NO3‐N yr−1, equivalent to 21% of pastureland N uptake and 2% of previous global abstraction‐N flux estimates. Fluxes due to irrigation, thermoelectric power, and public water supply collectively account for 87% of this total. We find large intercounty variation in area‐normalized abstraction fluxes (min‐max: 0–8,267 kg NO3‐N km−2 yr−1), with eastern regions generally associated with larger fluxes. Watermains leakage returns 7 (min‐max: 6.3–7.7) kt NO3‐N yr−1 back to the environment, equivalent to 13% of NO3‐N initially abstracted for public supply and 1.3% of previous global leakage flux estimates. Our analyses reveal inter‐county variations in area‐normalized leakage fluxes (min‐max: 0–576 kg NO3‐N km−2 yr−1), with this flux exceeding other major N inputs (agricultural N fertilizer) in some urbanized and coastal counties, highlighting their importance in these areas. The local and national importance of these fluxes has implications for policy makers and water resource managers aiming to better manage the impacts of N within the environment and calls for their inclusion in both US and global N budgets.
Measurement of Grain Bulk Modulus on Sandstone Samples From the Norwegian Continental Shelf
Authors: Qin Xuan , Han De‐Hua , Zhao Luanxiao
Published: August 2022

The grain bulk modulus is a crucial property of a rock frame, determining poroelastic responses such as seismic velocity. Conventionally, the grain bulk modulus is estimated with bulk moduli of compositional minerals. A systematic measurement is still scarce in answering what factors control the grain bulk modulus. We test 38 sandstone samples with porosity ranging from 4% to 35% from three fields on the Norwegian continental shelf through unjacketed tests. The measured grain bulk moduli range from 18 to 61 GPa. The deposition and composition from thin sections and X‐ray diffraction data can interpret abnormally low or high grain bulk moduli of samples compared to quartz. Carbonate cement is a factor correlating the low porosity with the high grain bulk modulus in a range of 46–61 GPa for tight sandstones. Illite/chlorite coating on the quartz grains can enhance the result to 48 GPa; nevertheless, bearing clay at the grain‐to‐grain contact correlates with the low grain bulk modulus. The measured grain bulk modulus overall increases with decreasing porosity. Specifically, cementation and composition, such as calcite and clays, account for the correlation. Therefore, when people model the elastic properties of sandstones, direct usage of the quartz bulk modulus may cause significant errors. We suggest the unjacketed test as the most reliable way to determine grain bulk moduli of sandstones with different geological features.
Impact of Intermittent Convection in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea on Oxygen Content, Nutrients, and the Carbonate System
Authors: Fourrier Marine , Coppola Laurent , D’Ortenzio Fabrizio , Migon Christophe , Gattuso Jean‐Pierre
Published: August 2022

Using Argo profiling floats, cruises and mooring data, we reconstructed the dissolved oxygen (O2) dynamics in the Gulf of Lion and the Ligurian Sea, with a focus on the intermediate waters. By applying the CANYON‐MED neural network‐based method on the large network of O2‐equipped Argo floats we derived nutrients and carbonate system variables in the Gulf of Lion and the Ligurian Sea at different depths in the water column and derived trends over the 2012–2020 period. In these waters, the O2 minimum is strongly affected by the intermittent convection process, and the two areas show dissimilar responses to the mixing events. In the absence of deep convection events, the O2‐depleted layer tends to spread vertically and intensify even more so in the Ligurian than in the Gulf of Lion. In both areas, over the 2012–2020 period, nutrients increase overall in deep layers, with a concomitant impact on nutrient molar ratios tending toward an increase in P‐limitation. Acidification estimates derived in different layers of the water column show an overall increase in dissolved inorganic carbon and a concurrent pH decrease. These trends were strongly affected by convection events slowing down the overall acidification trend.
A Daily 1‐km Resolution Greenland Rainfall Climatology (1958–2020) From Statistical Downscaling of a Regional Atmospheric Climate Model
Authors: Huai Baojuan , van den Broeke Michiel R. , Reijmer Carleen H. , Noël Brice
Published: August 2022

A daily, gridded 1‐km rainfall climatology (1958–2020) for Greenland is presented, including the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS), the peripheral glaciers and ice caps (GIC), and ice‐free tundra. It is obtained by statistically downscaling the 5.5 km output of the regional atmospheric climate model version 2 to a resolution of 1 km, using the elevation dependence of snowfall fraction. Based on this new product, the average total annual rainfall in Greenland during 1958–2020 is estimated to be 111.4 ± 11.2 Gt/year, of which 28.6 ± 6.1 Gt/year falls on the GrIS, 11.4 ± 1.4 Gt/year on the GIC, and 71.4 ± 9.0 Gt/year on the tundra. The downscaled 1 km product better resolves especially the relatively small GIC, more than doubling (+124%) their rainfall compared to the 5.5 km product. The relatively warm southern regions of Greenland have the highest rainfall amounts, with annual values locally exceeding 1,000 mm. We confirm a significant positive trend in Greenland rainfall (>40 mm/decade), notably in the northwest and mainly due to an increase in rainfall fraction (>3.5%/decade) during July and August. For the whole of Greenland, during 1991–2020 the seasonal rainfall peak has shifted from July to August, with significant increases in September, which receives more rain than June. An analysis of rainfall fraction and near‐surface temperature shows that local warming rates are a good predictor of recent rainfall changes.
Multiresolution Data Assimilation for Auroral Energy Flux and Mean Energy Using DMSP SSUSI, THEMIS ASI, and An Empirical Model
Authors: Wu Haonan , Tan Xiyan , Zhang Qiong , Huang Whitney , Lu Xian , Nishimura Yukitoshi , Zhang Yongliang
Published: August 2022

We apply a multiresolution Gaussian process model (Lattice Kriging) to combine satellite observations, ground‐based observations, and an empirical auroral model, to produce the assimilation of auroral energy flux and mean energy over high‐latitude regions. Compared to a simple padding, the assimilation coherently combines various data inputs leading to continuous transitions between different datasets. The multiresolution modeling capability is achieved by allocating multiple layers of basis functions with different resolutions. Higher‐resolution fitting results capture more mesoscale (10–100 s km) structures such as auroral arcs, than the low‐resolution ones and the empirical model. To better reconcile different datasets, two preprocessing steps, temporal interpolation of satellite data and spatial down‐sampling of low‐fidelity data, are implemented. The inherent smoothing effect of the fitting, which causes an unrealistic spreading of the aurora, is mitigated by a post processing step: the K Nearest Neighbor (KNN) algorithm. KNN identifies the probability of a region with significant aurora and thereby eliminates those regions with low values. Thereby, this methodology can be used to maintain realistic and mesoscale auroral structures without boundary issues. We then run the Thermosphere Ionosphere Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIEGCM) driven by the high‐ and low‐resolution auroral assimilations and compare total electron contents (TECs). TIEGCM driven by data assimilation produces enhanced TECs by a factor of ∼2 than the one driven by the empirical aurora, and high‐resolution results show mesoscale structures. Our study shows the value of incorporating realistic auroral inputs via assimilation to drive ionosphere‐thermosphere models for better understanding the consequences of mesoscale phenomena.
Epigenomic profiling of glucocorticoid responses identifies cis-regulatory disruptions impacting steroid resistance in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Bergeron Brennan P. , Diedrich Jonathan D. , Zhang Yang , Barnett Kelly R. , Dong Qian , Ferguson Daniel C. , Autry Robert J. , Yang Wenjian , Hansen Baranda S. , Smith Colton , Crews Kristine R. , Fan Yiping , Pui Ching-Hon , Pruett-Miller Shondra M. , Relling Mary V. , Yang Jun J. , Li Chunliang , Evans William E. , Savic Daniel
Published: August 2022

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are a mainstay of contemporary, multidrug chemotherapy in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and resistance to GCs remains a major clinical concern. Resistance to GCs is predictive of ALL relapse and poor clinical outcome, and therefore represents a major hurdle limiting further improvements in survival rates. While advances have been made in identifying genes implicated in GC resistance, there remains an insufficient understanding of the impact of cis-regulatory disruptions in resistance. To address this, we mapped the gene regulatory response to GCs in two ALL cell lines using functional genomics and high-throughput reporter assays and identified thousands of GC-responsive changes to chromatin state, including the formation of over 250 GC-responsive super-enhancers and a depletion of AP-1 bound cis-regulatory elements implicated in cell proliferation and anti-apoptotic processes. By integrating our GC response maps with genetic and epigenetic datasets in primary ALL cells from patients, we further uncovered cis-regulatory disruptions at GC-responsive genes that impact GC resistance in childhood ALL. Overall, these data indicate that GCs initiate pervasive effects on the leukemia epigenome, and that alterations to the GC gene regulatory network contribute to GC resistance.
The heterogeneous immune landscape between lung adenocarcinoma and squamous carcinoma revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing
Authors: Wang Chengdi , Yu Qiuxiao , Song Tingting , Wang Zhoufeng , Song Lujia , Yang Ying , Shao Jun , Li Jingwei , Ni Yinyun , Chao Ningning , Zhang Li , Li Weimin
Published: August 2022

A thorough interrogation of the immune landscape is crucial for immunotherapy strategy selection and prediction of clinical responses in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) techniques have prompted the opportunity to dissect the distinct immune signatures between lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), the two major subtypes of NSCLC. Here, we performed scRNA-seq on 72,475 immune cells from 40 samples of tumor and matched adjacent normal tissues spanning 19 NSCLC patients, and drew a systematic immune cell transcriptome atlas. Joint analyses of the distinct cellular compositions, differentially expressed genes (DEGs), cell–cell interactions, pseudotime trajectory, transcriptomic factors and prognostic factors based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), revealed the central roles of cytotoxic and effector T and NK cells and the distinct functional macrophages (Mφ) subtypes in the immune microenvironment heterogeneity between LUAD and LUSC. The dominant subtype of Mφ was FABP4-Mφ in LUAD and SPP1-Mφ in LUSC. Importantly, we identified a novel lymphocyte-related Mφ cluster, which we named SELENOP-Mφ, and further established its antitumor role in both types, especially in LUAD. Our comprehensive depiction of the immune heterogeneity and definition of Mφ clusters could help design personalized treatment for lung cancer patients in clinical practice.
Systemic IL-27 administration prevents abscess formation and osteolysis via local neutrophil recruitment and activation
Authors: Morita Yugo , Saito Motoo , Rangel-Moreno Javier , Franchini Anthony M. , Owen John R. , Martinez John C. , Daiss John L. , de Mesy Bentley Karen L. , Kates Stephen L. , Schwarz Edward M. , Muthukrishnan Gowrishankar
Published: August 2022

Interleukin-27 is a pleiotropic cytokine whose functions during bacterial infections remain controversial, and its role in patients withS. aureusosteomyelitis is unknown. To address this knowledge gap, we completed a clinical study and observed elevated serum IL-27 levels (20-fold higher,P < 0.05) in patients compared with healthy controls. Remarkably, IL-27 serum levels were 60-fold higher in patients immediately following septic death than in uninfected patients (P < 0.05), suggesting a pathogenic role of IL-27. To test this hypothesis, we evaluatedS. aureusosteomyelitis in WT and IL-27Rα−/−mice with and without exogenous IL-27 induction by intramuscular injection of rAAV-IL-27p28 or rAAV-GFP, respectively. We found that IL-27 was induced at the surgical site within 1 day ofS. aureusinfection of bone and was expressed by M0, M1 and M2 macrophages and osteoblasts but not by osteoclasts. Unexpectedly, exogenous IL-27p28 (~2 ng·mL−1in serum) delivery ameliorated soft tissue abscesses and peri-implant bone loss during infection, accompanied by enhanced local IL-27 expression, significant accumulation of RORγt+neutrophils at the infection site, a decrease in RANK+cells, and compromised osteoclast formation. These effects were not observed in IL-27Rα−/−mice compared with WT mice, suggesting that IL-27 is dispensable for immunity but mediates redundant immune and bone cell functions during infection. In vitro studies and bulk RNA-seq of infected tibiae showed that IL-27 increasednos1, nos2,il17a,il17f, androrcexpression but did not directly stimulate chemotaxis. Collectively, these results identify a novel phenomenon of IL-27 expression by osteoblasts immediately followingS. aureusinfection of bone and suggest a protective role of systemic IL-27 in osteomyelitis.
Annual decline rate in FEV1s in community-dwelling older adults diagnosed with mild to moderate COPD
Authors: Rosso Aldana , Egervall Karl , Elmståhl Sölve
Published: August 2022

Information about the decline rate in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1s) in older adults with COPD is scarce. A total of 4082 community-dwelling older adults from the population-based study Good Aging in Skåne were followed for 12 years and 143 participants developed COPD. The average FEV1s decline is estimated to be 66.3 mL/year, (95% CI [56.4; 76.3]) and 43.3 mL/year (1.7%/year, 95% CI [41.2; 45.5]) for COPD and non-COPD participants, respectively.
RSDB: A rare skin disease database to link drugs with potential drug targets for rare skin diseases
Authors: Kuo Tien-Chueh , Wang Pei-Hua , Wang Yu-Ke , Chang Chia-I. , Chang Ching-Yao , Tseng Yufeng Jane
Published: August 2022

Rare skin diseases include more than 800 diseases affecting more than 6.8 million patients worldwide. However, only 100 drugs have been developed for treating rare skin diseases in the past 38 years. To investigate potential treatments through drug repurposing for rare skin diseases, it is necessary to have a well-organized database to link all known disease causes, mechanisms, and related information to accelerate the process. Drug repurposing provides less expensive and faster potential options to develop treatments for known diseases. In this work, we designed and constructed a rare skin disease database (RSDB) as a disease-centered information depository to facilitate repurposing drug candidates for rare skin diseases. We collected and integrated associated genes, chemicals, and phenotypes into a network connected by pairwise relationships between different components for rare skin diseases. The RSDB covers 891 rare skin diseases defined by the Orphanet and GARD databases. The organized network for each rare skin disease comprises associated genes, phenotypes, and chemicals with the corresponding connections. The RSDB is available athttps://rsdb.cmdm.tw.
Graphite-oxide hybrid multi-degree of freedom resonator metamaterial for broadband sound absorption
Authors: Bucciarelli F. , Malfense Fierro G. P. , Rapisarda M. , Meo M.
Published: August 2022

Low frequency broadband sound absorption for thin structures is still a great challenge. A new concept of a stackable hybrid resonator metamaterial is proposed which exhibits super broadband low-frequency sound absorption. The proposed metamaterial is based on micrometric scale thickness Graphene Oxide (GO) embedded in a stacked structure or used as external skin in a designed honeycomb (HC) structure. The stackable nature of the proposed structure allows the GO-HC cores to be embedded within micro-perforated panels (MPP) providing enhanced stiffness/strength to the structure and high absorption characteristics. We demonstrate how the exploitation of the GO elastic and mass properties result in multiple hybrid structural–acoustic resonances. These resonances are tailored to occur in a frequency range of interest by the theoretical calculation of the sound absorption coefficient. The theoretical model combines the mutual interaction between the structural dynamic of the GO foil and acoustic higher modes of the HC core cell as well as stacked MPP-HC/GO-HC cores. The result is a multi-degree of freedom hybrid resonator which provides subwavelength scale broadband sound absorption in low frequency range between 300 and 2500 Hz.
The Subantarctic Rayadito (Aphrastura subantarctica), a new bird species on the southernmost islands of the Americas
Authors: Rozzi Ricardo , Quilodrán Claudio S. , Botero-Delgadillo Esteban , Napolitano Constanza , Torres-Mura Juan C. , Barroso Omar , Crego Ramiro D. , Bravo Camila , Ippi Silvina , Quirici Verónica , Mackenzie Roy , Suazo Cristián G. , Rivero-de-Aguilar Juan , Goffinet Bernard , Kempenaers Bart , Poulin Elie , Vásquez Rodrigo A.
Published: August 2022

We describe a new taxon of terrestrial bird of the genusAphrastura(rayaditos) inhabiting the Diego Ramírez Archipelago, the southernmost point of the American continent. This archipelago is geographically isolated and lacks terrestrial mammalian predators as well as woody plants, providing a contrasted habitat to the forests inhabited by the other twoAphrasturaspp. Individuals of Diego Ramírez differ morphologically fromAphrastura spinicauda, the taxonomic group they were originally attributed to, by their larger beaks, longer tarsi, shorter tails, and larger body mass. These birds move at shorter distances from ground level, and instead of nesting in cavities in trees, they breed in cavities in the ground, reflecting different life-histories. Both taxa are genetically differentiated based on mitochondrial and autosomal markers, with no evidence of current gene flow. Although further research is required to define how far divergence has proceeded along the speciation continuum, we proposeA. subantarcticaas a new taxonomic unit, given its unique morphological, genetic, and behavioral attributes in a non-forested habitat. The discovery of this endemic passerine highlights the need to monitor and conserve this still-pristine archipelago devoid of exotic species, which is now protected by the recently created Diego Ramírez Islands-Drake Passage Marine Park.
Identification of key genes of the ccRCC subtype with poor prognosis
Authors: Puzanov Grigory Andreevich
Published: August 2022

Clear cell renal carcinoma has been reported in many research studies as a rather heterogeneous disease. Identification of different subtypes and their molecular characteristics can help in choosing a more effective treatment and predicting a response to it. In this study, using multi-omics clustering of RNA-Seq data of patients with clear cell renal carcinoma from TCGA. Specific genes were identified for the most aggressive ccRCC subtype associated with metastasis and a subtype associated with a more favorable course of the disease. Among them were genes associated with blood clotting (FGA, FGG) and genes associated with changes in the immune characteristics of a tumor (ENAM, IGFBP1, IL6). In addition, an association of hub genes of poor survival ccRCC subtype with the levels of infiltration of endothelial cells, hematopoietic stem cells, T cells NK and mast cells was revealed. It was shown that MFI2, CP, FGA, and FGG expression can predict the response to sunitinib, while the APOB, ENAM, IGFBP1, and MFI2 expression predict the response to nivolumab. The results obtained provide insight into the genetic characteristics underlying the aggressive subtype of ccRCC and may help develop new approaches to the treatment of this disease.
The first assimilation of Akatsuki single-layer winds and its validation with Venusian atmospheric waves excited by solar heating
Authors: Fujisawa Yukiko , Murakami Shin-ya , Sugimoto Norihiko , Takagi Masahiro , Imamura Takeshi , Horinouchi Takeshi , Hashimoto George L. , Ishiwatari Masaki , Enomoto Takeshi , Miyoshi Takemasa , Kashimura Hiroki , Hayashi Yoshi-Yuki
Published: August 2022

The planetary missions including the Venus Climate Orbiter ‘Akatsuki’ provide new information on various atmospheric phenomena. Nevertheless, it is difficult to elucidate their three-dimensional structures globally and continuously only from observations because satellite observations are considerably limited in time and space. We constructed the first ‘objective analysis’ of Venus’ atmosphere by assimilating cloud-top horizontal winds on the dayside from the equator to mid-latitudes, which is frequently obtained from Akatsuki's Ultraviolet Imager (UVI). The three-dimensional structures of thermal tides, found recently to play a crucial role in maintaining the super rotation, are greatly improved by the data assimilation. This result is confirmed by comparison with Akatsuki's temperature observations. The momentum transport caused by the thermal tides and other disturbances are also modified by the wind assimilation and agrees well with those estimated from the UVI observations. The assimilated dataset is reliable and will be open to the public along with the Akatsuki observations for further investigation of Venus’ atmospheric phenomena.
Identification and structure-based drug design of cell-active inhibitors of interleukin 17A at a novel C-terminal site
Authors: Goedken Eric R. , Argiriadi Maria A. , Dietrich Justin D. , Petros Andrew M. , Krishnan Navasona , Panchal Sanjay C. , Qiu Wei , Wu Haihong , Zhu Haizhong , Adams Ashley M. , Bodelle Pierre M. , Goguen Lucas , Richardson Paul L. , Slivka Peter F. , Srikumaran Myron , Upadhyay Anup K. , Wu Bainan , Judge Russell A. , Vasudevan Anil , Gopalakrishnan Sujatha M. , Cox Philip B. , Stoll Vincent S. , Sun Chaohong
Published: August 2022

Anti-IL17A therapies have proven effective for numerous inflammatory diseases including psoriasis, axial spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. Modulating and/or antagonizing protein–protein interactions of IL17A cytokine binding to its cell surface receptors with oral therapies offers the promise to bring forward biologics-like efficacy in a pill to patients. We used an NMR-based fragment screen of recombinant IL17A to uncover starting points for small molecule IL17A antagonist discovery. By examining chemical shift perturbations in 2D [1H,13C-HSQC] spectra of isotopically labeled IL17A, we discovered fragments binding the cytokine at a previously undescribed site near the IL17A C-terminal region, albeit with weak affinity (> 250 µM). Importantly this binding location was distinct from previously known chemical matter modulating cytokine responses. Subsequently through analog screening, we identified related compounds that bound symmetrically in this novel site with two copies. From this observation we employed a linking strategy via structure-based drug design and obtained compounds with increased binding affinity (< 50 nM) and showed functional inhibition of IL17A-induced cellular signaling (IC50~1 µM). We also describe a fluorescence-based probe molecule suitable to discern/screen for additional molecules binding in this C-terminal site.
Effects of lymphocyte and neutrophil counts and their time courses on mortality in patients with postoperative pneumonia
Authors: Murakami Yasushi , Shindo Yuichiro , Sano Masahiro , Okumura Junya , Kobayashi Hironori , Sakakibara Toshihiro , Iguchi Mitsutaka , Takahashi Kunihiko , Yagi Tetsuya , Matsui Shigeyuki , Hasegawa Yoshinori
Published: August 2022

The prognostic significance of absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) remains unclear in patients with postoperative pneumonia (POP). The study objectives were to investigate the prognostic effects of ALC and ANC in POP patients, and to evaluate the time courses of ALC and ANC during hospitalization. This post-hoc analysis of a single-center prospective observational study evaluated consecutive POP patients, and comparatively analyzed community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients to highlight features of POP. In total, 228 POP patients and 1027 CAP patients were assessed. Severe lymphopenia (ALC < 500 cells/μL) at diagnosis was associated with worse 90-day survival in both types of pneumonia. In POP patients, neutrophilia (ANC > 7500 cells/μL) was associated with better survival, whereas CAP patients with neutrophilia tended to have a lower survival rate. Prolonged lymphopenia and delayed increase in neutrophils were characteristic time-course changes of non-survivors in POP. The time courses of ALC and ANC between survivors and non-survivors in POP trended differently from those in CAP. Our study showed that ALC and ANC at pneumonia diagnosis can serve as prognostic factors in POP patients. Differences in time-course changes of ALC and ANC between survivors and non-survivors may provide important information for future immunological research in pneumonia.
Ophthalmic viscosurgical device interaction with two hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lenses of different equilibrium water content
Authors: Auffarth Gerd U. , Schickhardt Sonja K. , Fang Hui , Wang Qiang , Khoramnia Ramin , Yildirim Timur M.
Published: August 2022

Ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) is used during intraocular surgery to protect ocular tissue. It requires complete removal from the eye by the end of surgery to avoid postoperative complications. This study compares the interaction of a cohesive OVD with two different intraocular lenses (IOLs) of different equilibrium water content. In this laboratory study on porcine cadaver eyes, the capsular bags and anterior chambers of each eye were filled with fluorescein-stained OVD. Following implantation of 10 IOLs each of Clareon CNA0T0 and AcrySof SN60WF (Alcon Laboratory, Fort Worth, USA) IOLs, the OVD was removed using the irrigation/aspiration mode. The OVD removal was timed and differences between the both IOL groups were compared. OVD removal time ranged from 18 to 40 s (mean ± SD, 26.4 ± 6.8 s) and from 16 to 39 s (mean ± SD, 23.6 ± 6.6 s) for eyes implanted with a CNA0T0 and a SN60WF IOL, respectively, without a statistically significant difference between the groups, P > 0.05. Cohesive OVD removal times were similar between the CNA0T0 and SN60WF groups. Surgeons should experience no differences regarding the interaction between cohesive OVDs and IOLs made from the new Clareon material compared to the established AcrySof material.
Reduction of lithium induced interstitial fibrosis on co-administration with amiloride
Authors: Mehta Paulomi M. , Gimenez Gregory , Walker Robert J. , Slatter Tania L.
Published: August 2022

Long-term administration of lithium is associated with chronic interstitial fibrosis that is partially reduced with exposure to amiloride. We examined potential pathways of how amiloride may reduce interstitial fibrosis. Amiloride was administered to a rat model of lithium induced interstitial fibrosis over a long term (6 months), as well as for short terms of 14 and 28 days. Kidney cortical tissue was subjected to RNA sequencing and microRNA expression analysis. Gene expression changes of interest were confirmed using immunohistochemistry on kidney tissue. Pathways identified by RNA sequencing of kidney tissue were related to ‘promoting inflammation’ for lithium and ‘reducing inflammation’ for amiloride. Validation of candidate genes found amiloride reduced inflammatory components induced by lithium including NF-κB/p65Ser536 and activated pAKTSer473, and increased p53 mediated regulatory function through increased p21 in damaged tubular epithelial cells. Amiloride also reduced the amount of Notch1 positive PDGFrβ pericytes and infiltrating CD3 cells in the interstitium. Thus, amiloride attenuates a multitude of pro-inflammatory components induced by lithium. This suggests amiloride could be repurposed as a possible anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic agent to prevent or reduce the development of chronic interstitial fibrosis.
The association between dietary sodium intake and osteoporosis
Authors: Hong Susie , Choi Jong Wook , Park Joon-Sung , Lee Chang Hwa
Published: August 2022

The association of inadequate dietary sodium intake with bone mineral density (BMD) and the risk of osteoporosis is controversial. To find the association between low sodium diet and the risk of incipient osteoporosis, we performed a population-based cross-sectional analysis using Tanaka method for estimation 24-h urinary sodium excretion (e24hUNaETanaka) as a candidate indicator of sodium intake. We identified 3869 participants without osteoporosis and classified them into quartiles according to their value of e24hUNaETanaka. BMD was measured to find participants at risk of osteoporosis. Lower e24hUNaETanakawas related to decreasing BMD of the distal radius. Multiple Cox-proportional hazard models demonstrated that e24hUNaETanakahad an inverse association with the risk of osteoporosis (adjusted HR = 0.859, 95% CI = 0.751–0.982) and survival analysis revealed that the lowest quartile group had poor osteoporosis-free survival (PLog-rank < 0.0001). Furthermore, our restricted cubic spline analysis revealed that the relationship between e24hUNaETanakaand HR of osteoporosis was negative curvilinear in males and postmenopausal females and positive linear in premenopausal females. Our findings suggest that lower sodium intake was a significant predictor of incipient osteoporosis and there was wide variation in this relationship according to sex and female hormone status.
Cognitive performance, creativity and stress levels of neurotypical young adults under different white noise levels
Authors: Awada Mohamad , Becerik-Gerber Burcin , Lucas Gale , Roll Shawn
Published: August 2022

Noise is often considered a distractor; however recent studies suggest that sub-attentive individuals or individuals diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can benefit from white noise to enhance their cognitive performance. Research regarding the effect of white noise on neurotypical adults presents mixed results, thus the implications of white noise on the neurotypical population remain unclear. Thus, this study investigates the effect of 2 white noise conditions, white noise level at 45 dB and white noise level at 65 dB, on the cognitive performance, creativity, and stress levels of neurotypical young adults in a private office space. These conditions are compared to a baseline condition where participants are exposed to the office ambient noise. Our findings showed that the white noise level at 45 dB resulted in better cognitive performance in terms of sustained attention, accuracy, and speed of performance as well as enhanced creativity and lower stress levels. On the other hand, the 65 dB white noise condition led to improved working memory but higher stress levels, which leads to the conclusion that different tasks might require different noise levels for optimal performance. These results lay the foundation for the integration of white noise into office workspaces as a tool to enhance office workers’ performance.
Remote synchronous usability testing of public access defibrillators during social distancing in a pandemic
Authors: Currie Hannah , Harvey Adam , Bond Raymond , Magee Justin , Finlay Dewar
Published: August 2022

Public access automated external defibrillators (AEDs) represent emergency medical devices that may be used by untrained lay-persons in a life-critical event. As such their usability must be confirmed through simulation testing. In 2020 the novel coronavirus caused a global pandemic. In order to reduce the spread of the virus, many restrictions such as social distancing and travel bans were enforced. Usability testing of AEDs is typically conducted in-person, but due to these restrictions, other usability solutions must be investigated. Two studies were conducted, each with 18 participants: (1) an in-person usability study of an AED conducted in an office space, and (2) a synchronous remote usability study of the same AED conducted using video conferencing software. Key metrics associated with AED use, such as time to turn on, time to place pads and time to deliver a shock, were assessed in both studies. There was no difference in time taken to turn the AED on in the in-person study compared to the remote study, but the time to place electrode pads and to deliver a shock were significantly lower in the in-person study than in the remote study. Overall, the results of this study indicate that remote user testing of public access defibrillators may be appropriate in formative usability studies for determining understanding of the user interface.
PERM1 regulates genes involved in fatty acid metabolism in the heart by interacting with PPARα and PGC-1α
Authors: Huang Chun-yang , Oka Shin-ichi , Xu Xiaoyong , Chen Chian-Feng , Tung Chien-Yi , Chang Ya-Yuan , Mourad Youssef , Vehra Omair , Ivessa Andreas , Yehia Ghassan , Romanienko Peter , Hsu Chiao-Po , Sadoshima Junichi
Published: August 2022

PERM1 (PGC-1/ERR-induced regulator in muscle 1) is a muscle-specific protein induced by PGC-1 and ERRs. Previous studies have shown that PERM1 promotes mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism in cardiomyocytes in vitro. However, the role of endogenous PERM1 in the heart remains to be investigated with loss-of-function studies in vivo. We report the generation and characterization of systemic Perm1 knockout (KO) mice. The baseline cardiac phenotype of the homozygous Perm1 KO mice appeared normal. However, RNA-sequencing and unbiased pathway analyses showed that homozygous downregulation of PERM1 leads to downregulation of genes involved in fatty acid and carbohydrate metabolism in the heart. Transcription factor binding site analyses suggested that PPARα and PGC-1α are involved in changes in the gene expression profile. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that PERM1 interacts with the proximal regions of PPAR response elements (PPREs) in endogenous promoters of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation. Co-immunoprecipitation and reporter gene assays showed that PERM1 promoted transcription via the PPRE, partly in a PPARα and PGC-1α dependent manner. These results suggest that endogenous PERM1 is involved in the transcription of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation through physical interaction with PPARα and PGC-1α in the heart in vivo.