bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ruminating on soil carbon: Applying current understanding to inform grazing management
Authors: Stanley Paige L. , Wilson Chris , Patterson Erica , Machmuller Megan B. , Cotrufo M. Francesca
Published: March 2024

Among options for atmospheric CO2 removal, sequestering soil organic carbon (SOC) via improved grazing management is a rare opportunity because it is scalable across millions of globally grazed acres, low cost, and has high technical potential. Decades of scientific research on grazing and SOC has failed to form a cohesive understanding of how grazing management affects SOC stocks and their distribution between particulate (POM) and mineral‐associated organic matter (MAOM)—characterized by different formation and stabilization pathways—across different climatic contexts. As we increasingly look to grazing management for SOC sequestration on grazinglands to bolster our climate change mitigation efforts, we need a clear and collective understanding of grazing management's impact on pathways of SOC change to inform on‐the‐ground management decisions. We set out to review the effects of grazing management on SOC through a unified plant ecophysiology and soil biogeochemistry conceptual framework, where elements such as productivity, input quality, soil mineral capacity, and climate variables such as aridity co‐govern SOC accumulation and distribution into POM and MAOM. To maximize applicability to grazingland managers, we discuss how common management levers that drive overall grazing pattern, including timing, intensity, duration, and frequency can be used to optimize mechanistic pathways of SOC sequestration. We discuss important research needs and measurement challenges, and highlight how our conceptual framework can inform more robust research with greater applicability for maximizing the use of grazing management to sequester SOC.
Morphology of flower bud differentiation and floral organ specialization in Caucasian clover
Authors: Zhang Hui‐min , Wang Ming‐jiu , Hampton John , Rolston Phil , Lucas Richard , Ti Zhong‐hui
Published: March 2024

Flower bud differentiation is the commencement of plant reproductive development. Flower organ specialization follows flower bud differentiation. This biological mechanism controls whether plants reproduce successfully via seed. Caucasian clover (Trifolium ambiguum) is used in mixed temperate pastures. However, its low natural seed setting rate contributes to a low seed yield. This study aimed to elucidate how the reproductive biology of Caucasian clover could affect seed production. Caucasian clover flower bud differentiation and flower organ development were systematically examined. Flower bud differentiation has six consecutive stages: pre‐differentiation, differentiation of the inflorescence, the floret, the perianth, the stamen, and finally the pistil primordium. The anther has two chambers. Pollen grains have six development phases: the tetraspore, early‐uninucleate, late‐uninucleate, vegetative cell and germ‐cell form, binucleate, and maturation phase. The microspore tetrad is tetrahedral, and the mature pollen grains are bicellular. Pollen grain viability was found 35%. The Caucasian clover monocarpelate ovary contains 1–2 ovules that are covered with a 2‐layer integument. The ovule is anatropous. The embryo sac development type is a polygonum. The floral formula is “⚥↑K(5) C1+1+2 A(9)+1 G(1:1:1−2)”. These genetic traits of two pollen sacs and low viability pollen grains may be responsible for the low natural seed setting. Poor seed setting may also be due to embryo sac dysplasia that leads to ovule sterility. Therefore, the breeding aim should be to improve pollen viability, to decrease embryo sac dysplasia and to reduce embryo abortion that could be targeted for genetic improvement to enhance seed yields.
Source Dependence in Effort Provision
Authors: Chen Yiting , Zhong Songfa
Published: March 2024

We examine source dependence in the setting of effort provision. Our first experiment elicits preference over uncertain piece rate schemes to perform a real‐effort task. Our second experiment elicits effort after receiving an uncertain gift. We vary the probability of winning and the familiarity of natural sources of uncertainty. We show that subjects are averse to unfamiliar sources for moderate or high probability, but less so for low probability. Moreover, effort exhibits more insensitivity to the probability under the unfamiliar source compared with the familiar source. Our findings support the validity and generalizability of source dependence in applied settings.
Anxiety, depression, and alcohol use disorder in dermatologists: relationship with burnout and associated risk factors
Authors: Soto‐Moreno Alberto , Martínez‐López Antonio , Sánchez‐Díaz Manuel , Martínez‐García Eliseo , Buendía‐Eisman Agustín , Arias‐Santiago Salvador
Published: March 2024

Burnout syndrome is a mental health condition related to chronic occupational stress; its prevalence, as well as its relationship with other mental health disorders in physicians, has become a topic of growing interest. However, no studies with large sample sizes evaluate this association in dermatologists. With this background, a cross‐sectional study was designed, which included 420 Spanish dermatologists; the mean age was 44.5 years (12.39), and 62% (260/420) were women. Eleven percent (45/420) of the participants presented a moderate risk of burnout, more than half of the sample had at least one of the burnout symptoms, 47% (198/420) had some degree of anxiety, and 20.3% (85/420) presented some degree of depression. Less than 1% (4/420) demonstrated a high risk of alcohol use disorder. Being female was associated with a higher risk of depression and anxiety. Meanwhile, men and residents showed an increasedrisk of alcohol use disorder. Burnout and its domains showed a significative association with depression and anxiety, while no relationship with alcohol abuse was observed.
A retrospective cohort study of the impact of COVID‐19 infection control measures on surgical site infections in an academic hospital setting
Authors: Teymourian Houman , ArianNik Mohsen , Mohit Babak , Massoudi Nilofar
Published: March 2024

Previous studies show that both the frequency of surgeries and incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) have been lower during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. This study's purpose is to analyse the possible association of the COVID‐19 epidemic‐related increased health measures, such as protective equipment and products, increased hand hygiene and restrictions imposed, on the incidence of SSIs in an academic medical centre. We designed a single‐centre, retrospective cohort study and collected data on the frequency of surgeries and the incidence of SSIs, among patients who had surgeries pre‐ and post‐COVID‐19 pandemic. Besides the intervention and outcome variable, we sought information on patient gender, surgery type, body mass index (BMI), smoking, and type II diabetes mellitus. We used Wald 95% confidence interval (95% CI) and the p values of the odds ratio (OR) to report results. Of the N = 24 098 surgeries performed in this hospital, there were 269 patients who reported post‐surgical SSIs in this hospital between March 2019 and March 2021. The OR of developing a post‐surgical SSI was 0.40 (95% CI: 0.33–0.57, p < 0.05; adjusted for confounders 0.39 [95% CI: 0.30–0.52, p < 0.05]) among patients who had surgery under post‐pandemic infection control measures, as compared to patients who had surgery under pre‐pandemic usual care infection control measures. Our significant results conclude that an association may exist between the enhanced infection control measures used during the COVID‐19 pandemic and lower incidence of SSIs we observed during this period.
RETRACTED: Effect of passive versus active abdominal drainage on wound infection after pancreatectomy: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Han Yanchun , Wu Zuowei , Song Jiafan , Zhang Qiang , Wei Lijuan , Lu Huimin
Published: March 2024

Following pancreatic resection, there may be a variety of complications, including wound infection, haemorrhage, and abdominal infection. The placement of drainage channels during operation may decrease the chances of postoperative complications. However, what kind of drainage can decrease the rate of postoperative complications is still a matter of debate. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the efficacy of both active and passive drainage for post‐operation wound complications. From the beginning of the database until November 2023, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and the Pubmed database have been searched. The two authors collected 2524 related studies from 3 data bases for importation into Endnote software, and 8 finished trials were screened against the exclusion criteria. Passive drainage can decrease the incidence of superficial wound infection in postoperative patients with pancreas operation (Odds Ratio [OR], 1.30; 95% CI, 1.06–1.60 p = 0.01); No statistically significant difference was found in the incidence of deep infections among the two groups (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 0.68–3.36 p = 0.31); No statistical significance was found for the rate of haemorrhage after active drainage on the pancreas compared with that of passive drainage (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.29–1.77 p = 0.47); No statistically significant difference was found in the rate of death after operation for patients who had received a pancreas operation in active or passive drainage (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.57–1.42 p = 0.65); On the basis of existing evidence, the use of passive abdominal drainage reduces postoperative surface wound infections in patients. But there were no statistically significant differences in the risk of severe complications, haemorrhage after surgery, or mortality. However, because of the limited sample size of this meta‐analysis, it is necessary to have more high‐quality research with a large sample size to confirm the findings.
Immediate implant placement with immediate or delayed provisionalization in the maxillary aesthetic zone: A 10‐year randomized trial
Authors: Donker Vincent J. J. , Raghoebar Gerry M. , Slagter Kirsten W. , Hentenaar Diederik F. M. , Vissink Arjan , Meijer Henny J. A.
Published: March 2024

Aim

To compare the marginal bone level of immediately placed implants, with either immediate or delayed provisionalization (IP or DP), in the maxillary aesthetic zone after 10 years of function.

Materials and Methods

Participants with a failing tooth in the maxillary aesthetic zone were randomly assigned to immediate implant placement with either IP (n = 20) or DP (n = 20) after primary wound closure with a free gingival graft. The final restoration was placed 3 months after provisionalization. The primary outcome was change in marginal bone level. In addition, implant survival, restoration survival and success, peri‐implant tissue health, mucosa levels, aesthetic indices, buccal bone thickness and patient satisfaction were evaluated.

Results

After 10 years, the mean mesial and distal changes in marginal bone level were −0.47 ± 0.45 mm and −0.49 ± 0.52 mm in the IP group and −0.58 ± 0.76 mm and −0.41 ± 0.72 mm in the DP group (p = .61; p = .71). The survival rate was 100% for the implants; for the restorations, it was 88.9% in the IP group and 87.5% in the DP group. Restoration success, according to modified USPHS criteria, was 77.8% in the IP group and 75.0% in the DP group. The prevalence of peri‐implant mucositis was 38.9% and 35.7% and of peri‐implantitis 0.0% and 6.3%, respectively, in the IP group and DP group (p = 1.0; p = .40). The Pink Esthetic Score and White Esthetic Score was 15.28 ± 2.32 in the IP group and 14.64 ± 2.74 in the DP group, both clinically acceptable (p = .48). The buccal bone thickness was lower in the DP group. Patient satisfaction was similar in both groups (p = .75).

Conclusions

The mean marginal bone level changes after immediate implant placement with IP were similar to those after immediate placement with DP.

Clinical Trial Registration

Registered in the National Trial Register (NL9340).
Together we raise each other up: Introducing clinical reports of complex geriatric care
Authors: Powers Becky B. , Sehgal Mandi
Published: March 2024

This editorial comments on the article by Lee et al. in this issue.
Intensive and Extensive Margins of Labor Supply in HANK: Aggregate and Disaggregate Implications
Authors: MA EUNSEONG
Published: March 2024

This paper studies how adjustment along intensive and extensive margins of labor supply affects aggregate and disaggregate effects of monetary policy. To this end, I develop a heterogeneous‐agent New Keynesian (HANK) economy where a nonlinear mapping from hours worked into labor services generates operative adjustment along intensive and extensive margins of labor supply. I find that monetary policy has significantly different effects on earnings inequality, depending on the extent to which margin is dominant, even if it generates similar aggregate responses.
“But what do you really think?” Nurses' contrasting explicit and implicit attitudes towards people with disabilities using the implicit association test
Authors: Derbyshire Daniel W. , Keay Tamsin
Published: March 2024

Aims

To investigate how nurses' implicit and explicit attitudes towards people with disabilities (PWD) compare to (1) other healthcare providers and (2) non‐healthcare providers.

Method

We present an analysis of secondary data from the publicly available disability Implicit Association Test (IAT). We compare the explicit and implicit attitudes towards PWD for (1) nurses (n = 24,545), (2) other healthcare providers (n = 57,818) and (3) non‐healthcare providers (n = 547,966) for a total of 630,238 respondents, between 2006 and 2021.

Data Sources

We use publicly available data for the Disability IAT from Open Science Framework repository of Project Implicit available at https://osf.io/tx5fi/.

Reporting

STROBE checklist.

Results

There is a distinct contrast between nurses' explicit and implicit attitudes. While nurses have more positive explicit attitudes towards PWD compared to other groups, they also have more negative implicit attitudes towards PWD. As such there is a contrast between nurses' stated (explicit) attitudes and their unconscious (implicit) attitudes towards PWD. Further, we find that implicit bias towards PWD—among all groups—has not improved over the 15 year period of our sample.

Conclusions

We present a contrast between nurses' explicit and implicit attitude towards PWD compared to non‐healthcare providers. We posit that implicit bias is driven by a combination of workload and stress which drives nurses to unconscious modes of thinking more frequently.

Implications

We discuss three potential tools for improved educational praxis regarding treatment of PWD; (1) more PWD service user involvement, (2) the use of mindfulness techniques to reduce stress and (3) the use of patient contact simulation to promote education and understanding.

Patient or Public Contribution

There is no patient or public contribution.
From flexibility to unending availability: Platform workers' experiences of work–family conflict
Authors: Glavin Paul , Schieman Scott , Bierman Alex
Published: March 2024

Objective

This article examines whether performing location‐based platform work is associated with greater work–family conflict—and if this association is stronger for those relying on labor platforms for their primary employment.

Background

Digital labor platforms project a vision of flexibility and improved work‐family balance for workers; however, empirical evidence supporting these promises remains elusive. While platform workers are normally offered the freedom to choose their work hours, the efforts of labor platforms to algorithmically manage workers' schedules may encourage an ‘always‐on’ approach to work that pressures workers to prioritize work availability that exacerbates work–family conflicts.

Method

We conducted three national surveys of Canadian workers in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Based on pooled survey data (N = 10,483), structural equational modeling was used to investigate (1) the relationship between location‐based platform work and work–family conflict and (2) the mediating role of work‐family role blurring—captured by work contact outside of normal working hours.

Results

We discovered that platform workers, compared to employees and the traditional self‐employed, reported greater work–family conflict—conflicts that were especially pronounced for those relying on labor platforms as their primary source of income. These patterns were partially explained by platform workers' increased exposure to work contact outside of work hours.

Conclusion

Our findings question the assertion that digital labor platforms provide enhanced flexibility for managing work and family demands. Instead, we contend that the instability inherent in platform work blurs and disrupts work‐family role boundaries, disproportionately favoring labor platforms and their clientele at the expense of workers' familial responsibilities.
Together forever? How customer co‐creation affects the adoption of digital service innovations over time
Authors: Heidenreich Sven , Jordanow Slawka , Kraemer Tobias , Obschonka Martin
Published: March 2024

This study delves into the intricate relationship between customers' willingness to co‐create (WCC) and the required level of co‐creation (LCC) for effective service innovation adoption. In response to recent findings suggesting a “co‐creation sweet spot,” beyond which additional co‐creation activities have detrimental effects, this research aims to provide both theoretical and empirical insights into this phenomenon. Unlike previous investigations focusing on either the willingness to co‐create or the level of co‐creation at a particular point in time and overlooking potential interactions, our study considers their interactions over time, acknowledging that revenue for most digital services is generated through ongoing customer usage. Utilizing longitudinal data from 352 participants across four waves and employing structural equation modeling, our analysis reveals a nuanced pattern. Customers' willingness to co‐create predominantly shapes usage intention in the pre‐adoption stage, while the level of co‐creation becomes a critical driver for continuous usage in the post‐adoption stages. Further analysis using response surface analysis with polynomial regression confirms a specific matching logic: customers with low (high) willingness to co‐create expect a low (high) level of co‐creation from a service innovation. From a theoretical perspective, our findings contribute to bridging the research gap concerning an optimal co‐creation level, offering insights into psychological processes underlying the co‐creation sweet spot. Furthermore, we also shed light on temporal aspects of the interplay between willingness to co‐create and the level of co‐creation, offering a more holistic perspective on their joint influence on adoption behavior. From a managerial perspective, our study challenges the traditional assumption that more co‐creation naturally leads to better outcomes. It emphasizes the significance of tailoring the level of co‐creation in digital service innovations based on customers' intrinsic willingness. This strategic customization aligns with the evolving landscape of digital service innovation, offering practical insights for managers striving to optimize their co‐creation strategies.
Sensory properties of thickened and protein‐enriched plant‐based frozen desserts
Authors: Ettinger Laurel , Stright Allison , Frampton Kaitlyn , Baxter Laura , Dabas Tanvi , Gorman Mackenzie , Moss Rachael , McSweeney Matthew B.
Published: March 2024

The number of consumers following plant‐based diets has increased and in turn, the variety of plant‐based foods available on the market has also increased. Many plant‐based foods aim to mimic the functionality and sensory properties of conventional dairy products; however, they may not be suitable for specific populations. Dysphagia, for example, is a swallowing condition requiring texture‐modified foods that meet specific criteria. While many conventional thickened products exist that are safe for individuals with dysphagia, the growing interest in plant‐based eating alongside the increasing prevalence of dysphagia prompts a need for research on the use and safety of thickened plant‐based alternatives. This study investigated the sensory properties of a thickened protein‐enhanced ice cream (dairy and whey) compared to thickened protein‐enhanced plant‐based frozen desserts (cashew and pea, and coconut and pea). The formulations were evaluated using the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization (IDDSI) Spoon Tilt Test and a sensory trial (n = 104 participants, 47 flexitarians and 57 typical consumers) using static (hedonic scales and check‐all‐that‐apply [CATA]), and dynamic (temporal check‐all‐that‐apply (TCATA)) methods. The dairy and whey sample consistently passed the IDDSI test, while the plant‐based samples did not. TCATA identified that the plant‐based samples had an increased cohesiveness and adhesiveness, and decreased slipperiness when compared to the dairy and whey sample. The differences in textural properties may explain why the plant‐based samples did not pass the IDDSI test. The study identified that although plant‐based foods strive to mimic conventional dairy products, they have different textural and flavor properties.
Two siblings with uncombable hair syndrome: A new pathogenic variant
Authors: Calvo‐Asín Carlos , Palencia‐Pérez Sara I. , Quesada‐Espinosa Juan F. , Puig‐Buendia Jose , Cavestany‐Rodríguez Raquel , Velasco‐Tamariz Virginia
Published: March 2024

Two siblings presented with straw‐colored, frizzy, and wiry hair. They had no associated abnormalities and no family history of abnormal hair. Trichoscopy showed the longitudinal groove in the hair shafts, characteristic of uncombable hair syndrome. Molecular genetic analysis revealed a new pathogenic variant (c.1374dup; p. Val459ArgfsTer15) in PADI3, not previously described.
Multiloop soliton solutions and compound WKI–SP hierarchy
Authors: Hu Xiaorui , Xu Tianle , Zhang Junyang , Shen Shoufeng
Published: March 2024

In this paper, a compound equation which is a mix of the Wadati–Konno–Ichikawa (WKI) equation and the short‐pulse (SP) equation is first studied. By transforming both the independent and dependent variables in the equation, we introduce a novel hodograph transformation to convert the compound WKI–SP equation into the mKdV–SG (modified Korteweg–de Vries and sine‐Gordon) equation. The multiloop soliton solutions in the form of the parametric representation are found. It is shown that the ‐loop soliton solution may be decomposed exactly into separate soliton elements by using a Moloney–Hodnett‐type decomposition. By virtue of the decomposed soliton solutions, the asymptotic behaviors of and are investigated in detail. The corresponding phase shifts of each loop or antiloop soliton caused by its interaction with the other ones are calculated. Furthermore, a new hierarchy of WKI–SP‐type equations possessing multiloop soliton solutions is constructed. These deduced equations are all with time‐varying coefficients and the corresponding dispersion relation will have a time‐dependent velocity. The whole hierarchy of equations which include the WKI‐type equations, the SP‐type equations, and the compound generalized WKI–SP equations, are illustrated Lax integrable. The specific equation in the hierarchy is labeled as equation so that its Lax pairs can be directly written out with the help of and . A unified hodograph transformation is established to relate the compound WKI–SP hierarchy with the mKdV–SG hierarchy.
Evolutionary dynamics of genome size and transposable elements in crickets (Ensifera: Gryllidea)
Authors: Jing Xuan , Liu Xuan‐Zeng , Yuan Hao , Dai Ying , Zheng Yan‐Na , Zhao Li‐Na , Ma Li‐Bin , Huang Yuan
Published: March 2024

Orthoptera species are characterised by their expansive genomes. However, crickets, the third largest group of this order, have notably smaller genomes than grasshoppers or katydids. The evolutionary drivers behind these differences in genome size (GS) remain largely uncharted. In our study involving 56 cricket species, we assessed GS using flow cytometry and assembled 43 novel mitochondrial genomes for phylogenetic analysis. Model fitting indicated that GS generally conformed to an Ornstein‐Uhlenbeck adaptive evolutionary model, displaying a 5.1‐fold range of variation in GS, from 0.82 pg in Myrmecophilus quadrispina Perkins to 4.68 pg in Ornebius formosanus Shiraki. Remarkably, despite such variations, no significant trends in genome contraction or expansion were detected, suggesting an adaptive stabilisation. We found strong evidence that expansions of repeat elements, particularly transposable elements (TEs), are key drivers of the large GS in crickets. Across the 56 cricket species analysed, TE content exhibited substantial variability, spanning from a mere 3.63% to a pronounced 31.22%. Clades exhibiting significant GS or TE variations, such as mole crickets (Gryllotalpidae), ant‐loving crickets (Myrmecophilidae) and scaly crickets (Mogoplistidae), are often observed at basal phylogenetic nodes and exhibit distinct ecological niches and morphological divergences. This implies that cricket genomes undergo early mutations and stabilise throughout evolution. Our findings shed light on common patterns and uncover lineage‐specific differences in content and evolution of TEs in crickets. We anticipate that our study will provide a foundation for future comparative research on the insect TE repertoire.
The Arabidopsis cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP96A4 is involved in the wound‐induced biosynthesis of cuticular wax and cutin monomers
Authors: Huang Haodong , Wang Yang , Yang Pingfang , Zhao Huayan , Jenks Matthew A. , Lü Shiyou , Yang Xianpeng
Published: March 2024

The plant cuticle is composed of cuticular wax and cutin polymers and plays an essential role in plant tolerance to diverse abiotic and biotic stresses. Several stresses, including water deficit and salinity, regulate the synthesis of cuticular wax and cutin monomers. However, the effect of wounding on wax and cutin monomer production and the associated molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we determined that the accumulation of wax and cutin monomers in Arabidopsis leaves is positively regulated by wounding primarily through the jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathway. Moreover, we observed that a wound‐ and JA‐responsive gene (CYP96A4) encoding an ER‐localized cytochrome P450 enzyme was highly expressed in leaves. Further analyses indicated that wound‐induced wax and cutin monomer production was severely inhibited in the cyp96a4 mutant. Furthermore, CYP96A4 interacted with CER1 and CER3, the core enzymes in the alkane‐forming pathway associated with wax biosynthesis, and modulated CER3 activity to influence aldehyde production in wax synthesis. In addition, transcripts of MYC2 and JAZ1, key genes in JA signaling pathway, were significantly reduced in cyp96a4 mutant. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that CYP96A4 functions as a cofactor of the alkane synthesis complex or participates in JA signaling pathway that contributes to cuticular wax biosynthesis and cutin monomer formation in response to wounding.
The Beginning of the Middle: Initiation and Reinitiation in Bach's Binary-form Keyboard Works
Authors: Sailor Malcolm
Published: March 2024

This article borrows from William Caplin's theory of formal functions, adapting these concepts to music from Bach's keyboard dance suites. It begins with a description of how Caplinian phrase functions such as "initiation" and "continuation" can be applied to this music. A novel "reinitiation"
function is then proposed to identify a phrase function that Bach uses following non-final cadences. Reinitiation is similar to Caplin's initiating phrase functions, with the crucial difference that it occurs in an unstable harmonic con text. This combination of harmonic instability with otherwise
initiating features allows reinitiation to succinctly express both a local "beginning" and a higher-level "middle." Bach most often achieves the harmonic instability characteristic of reinitiation function by means of a technique this article calls "de-tonicization": the immediate tonal desta
bilization of a point of cadential arrival by reinterpreting it as a non-tonic harmony in another key. These ideas help illuminate how each moment of Bach's music "expresses [its] own location within musical time" (Caplin 2010).
Ocular surface information seen from the somatosensory thalamus and cortex
Authors: Velasco Enrique , Zaforas Marta , Acosta M. Carmen , Gallar Juana , Aguilar Juan
Published: March 2024

Ocular Surface (OS) somatosensory innervation detects external stimuli producing perceptions, such as pain or dryness, the most relevant symptoms in many OS pathologies. Nevertheless, little is known about the central nervous system circuits involved in these perceptions, and how they integrate multimodal inputs in general. Here, we aim to describe the thalamic and cortical activity in response to OS stimulation of different modalities. Electrophysiological extracellular recordings in anaesthetized rats were used to record neural activity, while saline drops at different temperatures were applied to stimulate the OS. Neurons were recorded in the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal ganglion (TG, 49 units), the thalamic VPM‐POm nuclei representing the face (Th, 69 units) and the primary somatosensory cortex (S1, 101 units). The precise locations for Th and S1 neurons receiving OS information are reported here for the first time. Interestingly, all recorded nuclei encode modality both at the single neuron and population levels, with noxious stimulation producing a qualitatively different activity profile from other modalities. Moreover, neurons responding to new combinations of stimulus modalities not present in the peripheral TG subsequently appear in Th and S1, being organized in space through the formation of clusters. Besides, neurons that present higher multimodality display higher spontaneous activity. These results constitute the first anatomical and functional characterization of the thalamocortical representation of the OS. Furthermore, they provide insight into how information from different modalities gets integrated from the peripheral nervous system into the complex cortical networks of the brain.

image

Key points

Anatomical location of thalamic and cortical ocular surface representation.

Thalamic and cortical neuronal responses to multimodal stimulation of the ocular surface.

Increasing functional complexity along trigeminal neuroaxis.

Proposal of a new perspective on how peripheral activity shapes central nervous system function.
Adoptar el rol de cuidador familiar de forma inesperada, un cambio drástico.
Authors: Gutiérrez Ramírez Juan Pablo , Cardozo García Yadira
Published: March 2024

Introducción: Los avances en la ciencia y tecnología han permitido la supervivencia de las personas que ingresan a la unidad de cuidado intensivo (UCI), algunas de ellas con estancia prolongada en el área crítica. Al retornar al hogar, presentan alteraciones físicas, mentales y cognitivas que los hacen dependientes de cuidado, requiriendo un cuidador familiar al retornar al hogar. Objetivo: Comprender el significado de adoptar el rol de cuidador familiar de la persona con estancia prolongada en la UCI al retornar al hogar. Método: Estudio cualitativo, utilizando herramientas de la teoría fundamentada. Realizado en la ciudad de Medellín, Colombia, de noviembre de 2021 a diciembre de 2022. Se aplicaron 12 entrevistas semiestructuradas a 10 cuidadores familiares de personas que habían sufrido un evento agudo grave, con una internación prolongada en la UCI. La codificación, abierta, axial y selectiva, la elaboración de memos analíticos, diagramas y el muestreo teórico, fueron fundamentales en el análisis. Resultados: Al momento del alta hospitalaria, el cuidador familiar considera que asumir el cuidado es difícil y complicado, pues debe enfrentarse a algo nuevo, esto hace que la vida le cambie de forma drástica de un momento a otro. Conclusiones: Ejercer el rol de cuidador conlleva cambios en la vida de quien cuida, las renuncias que debe hacer son frecuentes y estas se presentan en las dimensiones física, emocional, social y laboral. También es necesario realizar modificaciones en el entorno de cuidado, y en ese sentido, además del cuidador, el sujeto con dependencia se beneficia de esas transformaciones.
Construcción del cuidado en personas con presión arterial alta: miradas desde la teoría del actor-red
Authors: Sotelo Daza Jorge
Published: March 2024

Introducción: el artículo describe la manera como se construye el cuidado en personas con presión arterial alta (PAA) mediante el rastreo de actantes humanos y no humanos, prácticas y redes. El estudio se aleja de la indagación de categorías biomédicas para plantear el desplazamiento de los espacios habituales de producción del cuidado identificando dónde se le dota de otros modos de existencia y subjetivación. Objetivo: develar cómo se construye el cuidado a partir del rastreo de prácticas, actantes y redes en personas con PAA asistentes a un hospital de primer nivel en Popayán Colombia en 2021. Metodología: estudio cualitativo, etnográfico y praxiográfico, tomó como información relatos a partir de entrevistas a profundidad, diario de campo y observación participante en 12 personas con PAA y cinco enfermeros. Se asumió la teoría del actor-red para rastrear la construcción (enactment) del cuidado. Resultados: el cuidado en personas con PAA se construyó en cinco campos de información: individual, familiar, comunitario, cuidadores de salud y sistema sanitario, involucrando además de prácticas biomédicas, prácticas y actantes del escenario  sociocultural, político y económico: religión, herbolaria, políticas sanitarias, sistemas de información, transacciones administrativas, instrumentos de medición, tecnologías de comunicación, seguimientos, hábitos, participación social, dinámica familiar, amigos, entre otros; ensamblados en diferentes redes. Conclusiones: Rastreado de cerca, el cuidado resulta ser diferentes cosas en distintos momentos y lugares; se construye por y a través de prácticas, actantes humanos y no humanos y redes que, mediante entramados de relaciones permiten la emergencia de versiones particulares de esta entidad volviéndololo múltiple.
Contraction Analysis of Multi-Agent Control for Guaranteed Capture of a Faster Evader
Authors: Rivera-Ortiz Pillip M. , Frommer Andrew C. , Diaz-Mercado Yancy
Published: March 2024

This work presents a verifiable condition for the selection of a sufficient number of pursuers to capture a faster evader. The condition is based on the tracking performance of a multi-agent control scheme. Trajectory tracking results are provided for both the effects of the multi-agent control topology and its execution by the pursuers in the context of input saturation. To that end, nonlinear contraction theory is leveraged because it provides a unifying framework for the analysis of systems subject to bounded disturbances. Monte Carlo simulations are performed to validate the proposed condition for sufficient pursuers selection.
Quantum imaging of biological organisms through spatial and polarization entanglement
Authors: Zhang Yide , He Zhe , Tong Xin , Garrett David C. , Cao Rui , Wang Lihong V.
Published: March 2024

Quantum imaging holds potential benefits over classical imaging but has faced challenges such as poor signal-to-noise ratios, low resolvable pixel counts, difficulty in imaging biological organisms, and inability to quantify full birefringence properties. Here, we introduce quantum imaging by coincidence from entanglement (ICE), using spatially and polarization-entangled photon pairs to overcome these challenges. With spatial entanglement, ICE offers higher signal-to-noise ratios, greater resolvable pixel counts, and the ability to image biological organisms. With polarization entanglement, ICE provides quantitative quantum birefringence imaging capability, where both the phase retardation and the principal refractive index axis angle of an object can be remotely and instantly quantified without changing the polarization states of the photons incident on the object. Furthermore, ICE enables 25 times greater suppression of stray light than classical imaging. ICE has the potential to pave the way for quantum imaging in diverse fields, such as life sciences and remote sensing.
SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection augments the magnitude and durability of systemic and mucosal immunity in triple-dose CoronaVac recipients
Authors: Chen Yuxin , Zhao Tiantian , Chen Lin , Jiang Guozhi , Geng Yu , Li Wanting , Yin Shengxia , Tong Xin , Tao Yue , Ni Jun , Lu Qiuhan , Ning Mingzhe , Wu Chao
Published: March 2024

The inactivated whole-virion vaccine, CoronaVac, is one of the most widely used coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines worldwide. There is a paucity of data indicating the durability of the immune response and the impact of immune imprinting induced by CoronaVac upon Omicron infection. In this prospective cohort study, 41 recipients of triple-dose CoronaVac and 14 unvaccinated individuals were recruited. We comprehensively profiled adaptive immune parameters in both groups, including spike-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgA titers, neutralizing activity, B cells, circulating follicular helper T (cTfh) cells, CD4
+
and CD8
+
T cells, and their memory subpopulations at 12 months after the third booster dose and at 4 and 20 weeks after Omicron BA.5 infection. Twelve months after the third CoronaVac vaccination, spike-specific antibodies and cellular responses were detectable in most vaccinated individuals. BA.5 infection significantly augmented the magnitude, cross-reactivity, and durability of serum neutralization activities, Fc-mediated phagocytosis, nasal spike-specific IgA responses, memory B cells, activated cTfh cells, memory CD4
+
T cells, and memory CD8
+
T cells for both the ancestral strain and Omicron subvariants, compared to unvaccinated individuals. Notably, the increase in BA.5-specific immunity after breakthrough infection was consistently comparable to or higher than that of the ancestral strain, suggesting no evidence of immune imprinting. Immune landscape analyses showed that vaccinated individuals have better synchronization of multiple immune components than unvaccinated individuals upon heterologous infection. Our data provide detailed insight into the protective role of the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine in shaping humoral and cellular immunity to Omicron infection.

IMPORTANCE

There is a paucity of data indicating the durability of the immune response and the impact of immune imprinting induced by CoronaVac upon Omicron breakthrough infection. In this prospective cohort study, the anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 adaptive responses were analyzed before and after the Omicron BA.5 infection. Our data provide detailed insight into the protective role of the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine in shaping humoral and cellular immune responses to heterologous Omicron infection.

CLINICAL TRIAL

This study is registered with
ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT05680896
.
Draft genome sequence of
Staphylococcus auricularis
PAPLE_T1 isolate of
Carica papaya
revealing biosynthetic clusters for beneficial metabolites
Authors: Adefiranye Oyetayo Olaoluwa , Adeniji Adetomiwa Ayodele , Akinjogunla Olajide Joseph , Obidi Olayide Folashade , Oyetibo Ganiyu Oladunjoye , Ilori Matthew Olusoji , Babalola Olubukola Oluranti
Published: March 2024

Genomic features of
Staphylococcus auricularis
PAPLE_T1 isolated from waste sample of
Carica papaya
obtained from Lagos State, Nigeria, revealed its putative capability to synthesize valuable secondary metabolites.
S. auricularis
PAPLE_T1 has a 2.4 Mb genome and could be useful as biological agro-antibiotics, for soil bioremediation and in biotechnological industry.
Supplemental Material: Tectonic fractures induced by strike-slip faulting in intracratonic ultradeep carbonate rocks: Insights from the finite element method and self-adaptive constraints computational model for boundary conditions
Authors: Li Yuntao , Ding Wenlong , et al.
Published: March 2024

Table S1 contains the subsections involved, the information needed, how the information was obtained, and the specific section in which the information was applied in this study. Figure S1 contains the relationships between different tectonic stress types and the mechanical properties and occurrence of fractures.
Aversion of surgical exploration in patients with complex ovarian cysts secondary to overt hypothyroidism: A series of three cases
Authors: Gupta Avantika , Das Sangeeta , Dhanvij Minal , Davile Medha
Published: March 2024

Long-standing, overt hypothyroidism-induced bilateral multiloculated ovarian cysts represent an infrequent occurrence. Our first case, presented with bilateral complex ovarian masses, exhibited overt hypothyroidism symptoms, including lethargy, weight gain and subfertility, prompting consideration for surgical intervention. Similarly, in the second case, a girl aged 11 years with stunting, delayed bone age and academic challenges was referred for surgical exploration due to bilateral complex ovarian masses. Both cases revealed elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone levels during preoperative workup. Commencing levothyroxine replacement therapy resulted in complete regression of ovarian cysts and substantial symptom improvement within an 8-week timeframe. The third case, a previously diagnosed patient with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, benefited from the lessons gleaned in managing the initial cases, responding well to levothyroxine therapy, thereby averting the necessity for surgery in all three instances. These cases underscore the significance of considering thyroid function in the evaluation of ovarian masses and highlight the efficacy of levothyroxine replacement therapy in resolving both hypothyroidism and associated ovarian cysts, thereby obviating the need for surgical intervention.
Pathogenic variants affecting the TB5 domain of the fibrillin-1 protein: not only in geleophysic/acromicric dysplasias but also in Marfan syndrome
Authors: Arnaud Pauline , Mougin Zakaria , Baujat Genevieve , Drouin-Garraud Valérie , El Chehadeh Salima , Gouya Laurent , Odent Sylvie , Jondeau Guillaume , Boileau Catherine , Hanna Nadine , Le Goff Carine
Published: March 2024

Background

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a multisystem disease with a unique combination of skeletal, cardiovascular and ocular features. Geleophysic/acromicric dysplasias (GPHYSD/ACMICD), characterised by short stature and extremities, are described as ‘the mirror image’ of MFS. The numerousFBN1pathogenic variants identified in MFS are located all along the gene and lead to the same final pathogenic sequence. Conversely, in GPHYSD/ACMICD, the 28 known heterozygousFBN1pathogenic variants all affect exons 41–42 encoding TGFβ-binding protein-like domain 5 (TB5).

Methods

Since 1996, more than 5000 consecutive probands have been referred nationwide to our laboratory for molecular diagnosis of suspected MFS.

Results

We identified five MFS probands carrying distinct heterozygous pathogenic in-frame variants affecting the TB5 domain of FBN1. The clinical data showed that the probands displayed a classical form of MFS. Strikingly, one missense variant affects an amino acid that was previously involved in GPHYSD.

Conclusion

Surprisingly, pathogenic variants in the TB5 domain of FBN1 can lead to two opposite phenotypes: GPHYSD/ACMICD and MFS, suggesting the existence of different pathogenic sequences with the involvement of tissue specificity. Further functional studies are ongoing to determine the precise role of this domain in the physiopathology of each disease.
Risk-stratified monitoring for sulfasalazine toxicity: prognostic model development and validation
Authors: Abhishek Abhishek , Grainge Matthew , Card Tim , Williams Hywel C , Taal Maarten W , Aithal Guruprasad P , Fox Christopher P , Mallen Christian D , Stevenson Matthew D , Nakafero Georgina , Riley Richard
Published: March 2024

Background

Sulfasalazine-induced cytopenia, nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity is uncommon during long-term treatment. Some guidelines recommend 3 monthly monitoring blood tests indefinitely during long-term treatment while others recommend stopping monitoring after 1 year. To rationalise monitoring, we developed and validated a prognostic model for clinically significant blood, liver or kidney toxicity during established sulfasalazine treatment.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

UK primary care. Data from Clinical Practice Research Datalink Gold and Aurum formed independent development and validation cohorts.

Participants

Age ≥18 years, new diagnosis of an inflammatory condition and sulfasalazine prescription.

Study period

1 January 2007 to 31 December 2019.

Outcome

Sulfasalazine discontinuation with abnormal monitoring blood-test result.

Analysis

Patients were followed up from 6 months after first primary care prescription to the earliest of outcome, drug discontinuation, death, 5 years or 31 December 2019. Penalised Cox regression was performed to develop the risk equation. Multiple imputation handled missing predictor data. Model performance was assessed in terms of calibration and discrimination.

Results

8936 participants were included in the development cohort (473 events, 23 299 person-years) and 5203 participants were included in the validation cohort (280 events, 12 867 person-years). Nine candidate predictors were included. The optimism adjusted R2Dand Royston D statistic in the development data were 0.13 and 0.79, respectively. The calibration slope (95% CI) and Royston D statistic (95% CI) in validation cohort was 1.19 (0.96 to 1.43) and 0.87 (0.67 to 1.07), respectively.

Conclusion

This prognostic model for sulfasalazine toxicity uses readily available data and should be used to risk-stratify blood-test monitoring during established sulfasalazine treatment.
Exploring entanglement characteristics in disordered free fermion systems through random bi-partitioning
Authors: Pouranvari Mohammad
Published: March 2024

This study investigates the entanglement properties of disordered free fermion systems undergoing an Anderson phase transition from a delocalized to a localized phase. The entanglement entropy is employed to quantify the degree of entanglement, with the system randomly divided into two subsystems. To explore this phenomenon, one-dimensional tight-binding fermion models and Anderson models in one, two, and three dimensions are utilized. Comprehensive numerical calculations reveal that the entanglement entropy, determined using random bi-partitioning, follows a volume-law scaling in both the delocalized and localized phases, expressed as [Formula: see text], where D represents the dimension of the system. Furthermore, the role of short and long-range correlations in the entanglement entropy and the impact of the distribution of subsystem sites are analyzed.
Testability of positive integers
Authors: Yang Yuxing
Published: March 2024

Given a set [Formula: see text] of some positive integers, a positive integer [Formula: see text] is [Formula: see text]-testable if there are two disjoint subsets [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text]. The testability of the set [Formula: see text] of positive integers not exceeding [Formula: see text], denoted by [Formula: see text], is the minimum integer [Formula: see text] such that there is a set [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] positive integers satisfying that each [Formula: see text] is [Formula: see text]-testable. In this short paper, we prove that [Formula: see text] and propose an algorithm to output the representation of an arbitrary positive integer by the form [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are two disjoint sets of some non-negative integers not exceeding [Formula: see text].