bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent warming and its risk assessment on ecological and societal implications in Nepal
Authors: Dhital Yam Prasad , Jia Shaofeng , Tang Jianwu , Liu Xingcai , Zhang Xuejun , Pant Ramesh Raj , Dawadi Binod
Published: March 2023

A predominantly mountainous country Nepal has a complex climatic pattern that varies from tropical in the south (Terai region) to arctic in the north (Himalayas). The gradual rise in temperature in the mountainous region has attracted great interest among the scientific community in general over recent years. However, recent warming in Nepal’s east-west and south-north temperature gradients and its implications for ecology and society based on facts and figures are still lacking. In this context, temperature data (1970–2016) of 76 meteorological stations from the Terai region to the Mountains were used in this study to analyze the annual and seasonal warming trends in the different physiographic regions of Nepal. We performed a hybrid analytical approach i.e. integrated statistical and theoretical tools to detect the warming trend and its ecological and societal implications across the country. The Eastern part of the country was found to be more warming than the Central and Western parts, showing an increased climatic sensitivity across the Khumbu (Mt. Everest region). The increasing trends of temperature have been found in all physiographic regions along an altitude gradient, i.e. Terai, Siwaliks, Lower Hills, and Upper Hills observed 0.15, 0.26, 0.68, and 0.57 °C per decade, respectively. Higher warming trend in Lower Hills than the Upper Hills showed that higher elevations experienced lesser degrees of warming trends than the lower elevations in the mountainous regions. Further, a higher warming trend was observed in the winter season than the other seasons in all regions except for Terai. Based on the warming trends in different physiographic regions, we also found a similar pattern of ecological impacts, where a higher warming region also experienced higher ecological impacts such as changes in water resources, phenology, etc. Lower Hills, Upper Hills, and Mountains experienced higher adverse impacts than the Terai and Siwaliks in the current global warming scenarios.
Extending MoS2-based materials into the catalysis of non-acidic hydrogen evolution: challenges, progress, and perspectives
Authors: Fei Hao , Liu Ruoqi , Zhang Yunze , Wang Hongsheng , Wang Miao , Wang Siyuan , Ni Meng , Wu Zhuangzhi , Wang Jian
Published: March 2023

Water splitting is regarded as among the most prospective methods of generating green hydrogen. Switching electrolytes of water electrolysis from acidic to non-acidic ones will enable the use of noble-metal-free electrocatalysts and mitigate material corrosion, thus lowering the capital cost of water electrolyzers and improving their operational stability. However, increasing electrolyte pH will degrade the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity because of the reduced concentration of H3O+ as reactants, making non-acidic HER sluggish. To accelerate HER, MoS2-based materials with the advantages of unique atomistic structure, low cost, and high abundance have been considered prospective electrocatalysts to substitute for Pt in acid. Great efforts are being spent on extending MoS2-based materials into the catalysis of non-acidic HER, and their further development requires clarification of the existing challenges and current progress. However, it has not yet been discussed for non-acidic HER on MoS2-based electrocatalysts. To mitigate the disparity, we systematically overview MoS2-based electrocatalysts for non-acidic HER, covering catalytic mechanisms, modulation strategies, materials development, current challenges, research progress, and perspectives. This review will contribute to the rational design of MoS2-based materials for high-performance HER in non-acidic conditions.
Historical Methods in Criminology
Authors: Knepper Paul
Published: March 2023

The history of historical methods in criminology reveals a variety of possibilities. Before the 1970s, legal history represented historical research in criminology, although it had more to do with the development of legal doctrine than the study of crime and criminal justice. In the 1970s, the new social history emphasized alternatives to traditional archival research, including oral history, material culture studies, and statistical analyses. Oral history and material culture methods have been used for some historical studies in criminology but are less common than statistical analyses of time-series data. Historians and criminologists have produced innovations in modeling long-term crime trends. The cultural turn of the 1980s brought “histories of the present” and expanded the range of sources beyond legal documents and crime statistics to include a wider range of texts, including newspapers and novels. The digital revolution of the 1990s, as well as the construction of digital archives, has enabled research completely online and made sources for transnational history accessible. Within the past decade, criminologists and historians have started to think about historical criminology, a method that bridges history and criminology, and is well positioned to pursue several projects, including plural time, memory, and microhistory. The choice of historical method depends in part on whether “history from below” is important, as envisioned decades ago, when the new social history began to influence historical research in criminology.
DeepOM: single-molecule optical genome mapping via deep learning
Authors: Nogin Yevgeni , Detinis Zur Tahir , Margalit Sapir , Barzilai Ilana , Alalouf Onit , Ebenstein Yuval , Shechtman Yoav
Published: March 2023

Motivation

Efficient tapping into genomic information from a single microscopic image of an intact DNA molecule is an outstanding challenge and its solution will open new frontiers in molecular diagnostics. Here, a new computational method for optical genome mapping utilizing deep learning is presented, termed DeepOM. Utilization of a convolutional neural network, trained on simulated images of labeled DNA molecules, improves the success rate in the alignment of DNA images to genomic references.

Results

The method is evaluated on acquired images of human DNA molecules stretched in nano-channels. The accuracy of the method is benchmarked against state-of-the-art commercial software Bionano Solve. The results show a significant advantage in alignment success rate for molecules shorter than 50 kb. DeepOM improves the yield, sensitivity, and throughput of optical genome mapping experiments in applications of human genomics and microbiology.

Availability and implementation

The source code for the presented method is publicly available at https://github.com/yevgenin/DeepOM.
Using in silico perturbational approach to identify critical areas in schizophrenia
Authors: Mana Ludovica , Vila-Vidal Manel , Köckeritz Charlotte , Aquino Kevin , Fornito Alex , Kringelbach Morten L , Deco Gustavo
Published: March 2023

Schizophrenia is a debilitating neuropsychiatric disorder whose underlying correlates remain unclear despite decades of neuroimaging investigation. One contentious topic concerns the role of global signal (GS) fluctuations and how they affect more focal functional changes. Moreover, it has been difficult to pinpoint causal mechanisms of circuit disruption. Here, we analyzed resting-state fMRI data from 47 schizophrenia patients and 118 age-matched healthy controls and used dynamical analyses to investigate how global fluctuations and other functional metastable states are affected by this disorder. We found that brain dynamics in the schizophrenia group were characterized by an increased probability of globally coherent states and reduced recurrence of a substate dominated by coupled activity in the default mode and limbic networks. We then used the in silico perturbation of a whole-brain model to identify critical areas involved in the disease. Perturbing a set of temporo-parietal sensory and associative areas in a model of the healthy brain reproduced global pathological dynamics. Healthy brain dynamics were instead restored by perturbing a set of medial fronto-temporal and cingulate regions in the model of pathology. These results highlight the relevance of GS alterations in schizophrenia and identify a set of vulnerable areas involved in determining a shift in brain state.
Performing history and cultural memory through ancient drama: the case of contemporary Polish theatre
Authors: Budzowska Małgorzata
Published: March 2023

By the mode of representation of human life processes, theatre from its very beginning has contributed to maintaining or confronting a given social order, so as to complete its ethico-political function. One of the genuinely politically involved issues to discuss in theatre has become the past. However, on stage, history is recalled to serve both the present and the future in order to construct and develop cultural memory. Classical reception provides a comprehensive method of coping with the past, empowering the performance of the political. This article ponders the development of the ethico-political function of contemporary theatre in Poland by providing three case studies of productions that perform history and cultural memory in a specifically chosen location: Orestes by Michał Zadara, Ajax. The Machine by Natalia Korczakowska, and Wałęsa at Colonus by Bartosz Szydłowski. The conceptual framework of the analysis is constructed from the idea of the political, adapted to the specificity of the Romantic paradigm that furnishes the ground for the study of performing history and cultural memory in Polish theatre. The issue in focus is to observe how the classical reception of ancient dramas can be a performance of the political through an indirect recalling of the historical past.
Simple Novel Screening Tool for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Barnes Alex , Andrews Jane M , Mukherjee Sutapa , Bryant Robert V , Bampton Peter , Spizzo Paul , Fraser Robert J , Mountifield Réme
Published: March 2023

Background

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been associated with an increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We aimed to examine the associations of obstructive sleep apnea, sleepiness, and IBD-related data and comorbidities, with the aim of developing a screening tool for sleep apnea in this population.

Methods

An online survey of adults with IBD was administered which included measures of assessment of the risk of OSA, and measures of IBD activity, IBD-related disability, anxiety, and depression. Logistic regression was performed to investigate the associations between the risk of OSA and IBD data, medications, demographics, and mental health conditions. Further models were built for an outcome of severe daytime sleepiness and a combined outcome of risk of OSA and at least mild daytime sleepiness. A simple score was constructed for the purpose of screening for OSA.

Results

There were 670 responses to the online questionnaire. The median age was 41 years, the majority had Crohn’s disease (57%), the median disease duration was 11.9 years, and approximately half were on biologics (50.5%). Moderate–high risk of OSA was demonstrated in 22.6% of the cohort. A multivariate regression model for moderate–high risk of OSA included increasing age, obesity, smoking, and abdominal pain subscore. For a combined outcome of moderate–high risk of OSA and at least mild daytime sleepiness, a multivariate model included abdominal pain, age, smoking, obesity, and clinically significant depression. A simple score was constructed for screening for OSA utilizing age, obesity, IBD activity, and smoking status with an area under the receiver-operating curve of 0.77. A score >2 had a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 56% for moderate–high risk of OSA and could be utilized for screening for OSA in the IBD clinic.

Conclusions

Over one-fifth of an IBD cohort met significantly high-risk criteria for OSA to warrant referral for a diagnostic sleep study. The risk of OSA was associated with abdominal pain, along with more traditional risk factors such as smoking, increasing age, and obesity. Consideration should be given for screening for OSA in IBD patients utilizing a novel screening tool that utilizes parameters typically available in IBD clinic.
Digest: Specialization of an insect virus to its host is contingent upon polygenic traits
Authors: Hori Taylor , Wang Zinan
Published: March 2023

What affects the ability of a virus to adapt and specialize to its hosts? To answer this question, Visher et al. (2022) performed experimental evolution on a virus-insect system and showed that the virus specializes in its hosts through the evolution of its ability to infect or replicate. Genomic analysis of adapted lines of viruses in different host genotypes suggests that viral specialization is influenced by a complicated and polygenic mechanism.
Axes of Hope: Flights of Fancy in Recent Work on Urban Congo
Authors: Bouwer Karen
Published: March 2023

This article explores the question of hope in dystopian urban spaces as represented in recent work from the Democratic Republic of the Congo by developing the concept of ‘the hole’ used by Congolese people to comment upon the quality of their lives. The more literal reading of ‘le trou’ in Sinzo Aanza’s 2015 novel Généalogie d’une banalité, set in the mining community of Lubumbashi, is compared to the vertical aspiration of ‘la tour’ in The Tower, a 2016 film by Sammy Baloji and Filip De Boeck, set in Kinshasa. The two works, representing a unique landmark and the excesses of extractive economies, provide the opportunity to reflect on fanciful ventures that, despite the material conditions that thwart dreams of a better life, have not foreclosed all spaces of hope.
Effects ofWolbachiaon Transposable Element Expression Vary BetweenDrosophila melanogasterHost Genotypes
Authors: Eugénio Ana T , Marialva Marta S P , Beldade Patrícia
Published: March 2023

Transposable elements (TEs) are repetitive DNA sequences capable of changing position in host genomes, thereby causing mutations. TE insertions typically have deleterious effects but they can also be beneficial. Increasing evidence of the contribution of TEs to adaptive evolution further raises interest in understanding what factors impact TE activity. Based on previous studies associating the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia with changes in the abundance of piRNAs, a mechanism for TE repression, and to transposition of specific TEs, we hypothesized that Wolbachia infection would interfere with TE activity. We tested this hypothesis by studying the expression of 14 TEs in a panel of 25 Drosophila melanogaster host genotypes, naturally infected with Wolbachia and annotated for TE insertions. The host genotypes differed significantly in Wolbachia titers inside individual flies, with broad-sense heritability around 20%, and in the number of TE insertions, which depended greatly on TE identity. By removing Wolbachia from the target host genotypes, we generated a panel of 25 pairs of Wolbachia-positive and Wolbachia-negative lines in which we quantified transcription levels for our target TEs. We found variation in TE expression that was dependent on Wolbachia status, TE identity, and host genotype. Comparing between pairs of Wolbachia-positive and Wolbachia-negative flies, we found that Wolbachia removal affected TE expression in 21.1% of the TE-genotype combinations tested, with up to 2.3 times differences in the median level of transcript. Our data show that Wolbachia can impact TE activity in host genomes, underscoring the importance this endosymbiont can have in the generation of genetic novelty in hosts.
Conserved Molecular Players Involved in Human Nose Morphogenesis Underlie Evolution of the Exaggerated Snout Phenotype in Cichlids
Authors: Duenser Anna , Singh Pooja , Lecaudey Laurène Alicia , Sturmbauer Christian , Albertson R Craig , Gessl Wolfgang , Ahi Ehsan Pashay
Published: March 2023

Instances of repeated evolution of novel phenotypes can shed light on the conserved molecular mechanisms underlying morphological diversity. A rare example of an exaggerated soft tissue phenotype is the formation of a snout flap in fishes. This tissue flap develops from the upper lip and has evolved in one cichlid genus from Lake Malawi and one genus from Lake Tanganyika. To investigate the molecular basis of snout flap convergence, we used mRNA sequencing to compare two species with snout flap to their close relatives without snout flaps from each lake. Our analysis identified 201 genes that were repeatedly differentially expressed between species with and without snout flap in both lakes, suggesting shared pathways, even though the flaps serve different functions. Shared expressed genes are involved in proline and hydroxyproline metabolism, which have been linked to human skin and facial deformities. Additionally, we found enrichment for transcription factor binding sites at upstream regulatory sequences of differentially expressed genes. Among the enriched transcription factors were members of the FOX transcription factor family, especially foxf1 and foxa2, which showed an increased expression in the flapped snout. Both of these factors are linked to nose morphogenesis in mammals. We also found ap4 (tfap4), a transcription factor showing reduced expression in the flapped snout with an unknown role in craniofacial soft tissue development. As genes involved in cichlid snout flap development are associated with human midline facial dysmorphologies, our findings hint at the conservation of genes involved in midline patterning across distant evolutionary lineages of vertebrates, although further functional studies are required to confirm this.
An Adagio for Viruses, Played Out on Ancient DNA
Authors: de-Dios Toni , Scheib Christiana L , Houldcroft Charlotte J
Published: March 2023

Studies of ancient DNA have transformed our understanding of human evolution. Paleogenomics can also reveal historic and prehistoric agents of disease, including endemic, epidemic, and pandemic pathogens. Viruses—and in particular those with single- or double-stranded DNA genomes—are an important part of the paleogenomic revolution, preserving within some remains or environmental samples for tens of thousands of years. The results of these studies capture the public imagination, as well as giving scientists a unique perspective on some of the more slowly evolving viruses which cause disease. In this review, we revisit the first studies of historical virus genetic material in the 1990s, through to the genomic revolution of recent years. We look at how paleogenomics works for viral pathogens, such as the need for careful precautions against modern contamination and robust computational pipelines to identify and analyze authenticated viral sequences. We discuss the insights into virus evolution which have been gained through paleogenomics, concentrating on three DNA viruses in particular: parvovirus B19, herpes simplex virus 1, and smallpox. As we consider recent worldwide transmission of monkeypox and synthetic biology tools that allow the potential reconstruction of extinct viruses, we show that studying historical and ancient virus evolution has never been more topical.
Development of the Thymus and Kidney and Effects of Resveratrol on Their Aging in a Short-Lived Fish
Authors: Hou Yanhan , Li Shasha , Zhu Hongyan , Qiao Mengxue , Sun Xiaowen , Li Guorong
Published: March 2023

Annual fishes of the genus Nothobranchius have been widely used in cognitive, behavioral, and genetic studies, and have become an excellent animal model for studying aging. However, the development and degeneration of immune organs in annual fishes and the antagonistic effects of resveratrol remain unclear. In the present study, the development of thymus and kidney was investigated systematically using Nothobranchius guentheri from larvae, juveniles, and young and old fish with hematoxylin and eosin staining. We found that thymus primordium was observed first in the larvae at 2 days after hatching (dah). After the lymphoid cells became evident at 5 dah, the thymus acquired an irregular shape at 7 dah. Then it formed a wedge shape at 15 dah. Thymus looked as homogeneous distribution of lymphocytes at 1 month old, and it differentiated into cortex and medulla approximately in 2-month-old fish. Combined with TUNEL and senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining, it showed the degeneration of the thymus appeared in 4-month-old fish. Kidney primordium appeared on 1 dah, and the glomerulus was visible at 7 dah. The nephrogenic activity was most apparent in 1-month-old fish. A large hematopoietic tissue was arranged in the renal interstitium in 2- and 3-month-old fish. In 6-month-old fish, the kidney structure became less dense. By 12 months, the kidney exhibited the most pronounced histological characteristics of aging. Feeding resveratrol ameliorated renal fibrosis and SA-β-gal staining with age, increased SIRT1 and SIRT3 expression, and decreased the levels of NF-κB and inflammatory factors in thymus and kidney of the fish. We provided basic data for the development and degeneration of immune organs and resveratrol’s anti-aging effects in short-lived fish.
Diurnal characterization of the atmospheric urban heat island over urban hot agglomerations
Authors: Sayad Bouthaina , Menni Younes , Imam Ayman Amin , Fallatah Ahmad , Faisal Kamil Said , Abed Ahmed Mohammed , Alhubashi Haytham Hussain , Hegazy Ibrahim Rizk
Published: March 2023

The urban heat island ($\mathrm{UHI}$) is a physical climatic phenomenon; its effects in built-up areas can be observed in terms of air temperatures above the atmosphere, as well as in terms of thermal comfort under the urban canopy. This study aims to carry out a diurnal characterization of the atmospheric UHI over the agglomeration of $\mathrm{Guelma}$, Algeria during summertime. The characterization is organized into three main steps. First, quantifying the $\mathrm{UHI}$ intensity. Second, highlighting the factors contributing to affect the thermal environment in downtown $\mathrm{Guelma}$ and finally, defining an appropriate scale to measure it over $\mathrm{Guelma}$’s agglomeration of Guelma. The $\mathrm{UHI}$ quantification was done by calculating the positive differences of urban temperatures in daytime based on in situ and static approach. The results indicate that the maximum daily difference reached $4.8$ to $5.1{}^{\circ}\mathrm{C}$ with a positive difference of $6.1{}^{\circ}\mathrm{C}$ at $10:00$ a.m. and $6.4{}^{\circ}\mathrm{C}$ at noon, which means that $\mathrm{Guelma}$’s agglomeration is affected by the atmospheric UHI phenomenon. Depending on the difference of urban temperatures, we have defined appropriate scale to quantify the intensity of UHI phenomenon over Guelma’s agglomeration as follows: ${UHI}_{intensity}=0.3688\times \boldsymbol{\Delta }{T}_{\boldsymbol{urb}}+3.3157.$
Reconciling Theory and Practice: Confronting Violent Histories in Poland and Israel–Palestine
Authors: Gutman Yifat
Published: March 2023

The role of violent histories and their legacies in reconciliation processes has been a central question in debates on reconciliation and nation building after conflict: whether, how, and when painful events should be remembered in post-conflict and post-transition societies. A dominant approach to this question since the 1980s has been the “reconciliation paradigm,” which views addressing violent histories as condition for reconciliation. A comparative study of the implementation in practice of this global paradigm by civil society–based memory activists in Poland and Israel–Palestine raises questions about its applicability. The findings point to two weaknesses: first, mistreatment of asymmetrical violence and power relations between the conflict sides and, second, the lack of systematic consideration of how reconciliation is perceived by local actors in practice. In light of these weaknesses, local memory activists developed alternative strategies to those of the reconciliation paradigm, while governments infused reconciliation with different meanings that impede reconciliation instead of advancing it. Cultivating a sociological approach to reconciliation theory, this article proposes new theoretical modifications that would expand the paradigm's applicability: reciprocity or mutual respect instead of mutual acknowledgments, a normative basis that transcends the liberal boundaries of reconciliation, and an agonistic memory instead of consensus about the past.
Activity of lipid-loaded lectin against co-infection ofCandida albicansandStaphylococcus aureususing the zebrafish model
Authors: Subramaniyan Siva Bala , Ameen Fuad , Zakham Fathiah A , Anbazhagan Veerappan
Published: March 2023

Aim

Nosocomial infection caused by mixed species of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Candida albicans (CA) is difficult to manage with existing antimicrobials, particularly in the presence of mixed-species biofilm. This study evaluates the activity of cationic lipid, specifically functionalized with lectin, against mixed biofilms of MRSA and CA and their effectiveness in vivo using the zebrafish model.

Methods and Results

The present study demonstrates for the first time the antimicrobial activity of 2-((N-[2-hydroxyethyl]palmitamido)methyl)-1-methylpyridin-1-ium iodide (cN16E) against MRSA and mixed species of MRSA + CA. The cN16E functionalized with Butea monosperma seed lectin (BMSL) showed a lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) as compared with cN16E. BMSL-cN16E (BcN16E) exhibited strong membrane-damaging activity at a lower concentration than cN16E. Crystal violet assay showed that BcN16E inhibits mixed-species biofilm at the concentration of 15.63 µM, which is four-fold lower than the MIC. Especially, BcN16E was found to be effective in disturbing mature mixed biofilm at 31.25 µM, which is two-fold lower than the MIC, suggesting true antibiofilm activity without pressurizing the microorganisms. The treatment with BcN16E significantly reduced the exopolysaccharide synthesis (> 78%), cell surface hydrophobicity (> 70 %), hyphae formation, staphyloxanthin biosynthesis (> 41 %), and antioxidant enzyme and hemolysin activity (> 70 %). Notably, BcN16E was efficient in reducing the in vivo colonization of bacterial and fungal burden in the blood and muscle tissues of zebrafish.

Conclusion

Antimicrobial and antibiofilm efficacy of BcN16E against MRSA, and mixed species of MRSA + CA were demonstrated. Importantly, BcN16E treatment rescued Zebrafish coinfected with mixed species of MRSA + CA. Significance and Impact of the study: The results highlight that antimicrobial loaded on lectin provides an additional advantage to recognize microorganism surface glycans and maximize drug delivery to treat polymicrobial infections caused by MRSA and CA.
Artificial pollination of kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis Planch. var. chinensis) (Ericales: Actinidiaceae) results in greater fruit set compared to flowers pollinated by managed bees (Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and Bombus impatiens Cresson (Hymenoptera: Apidae))
Authors: Abbate Anthony P , Campbell Joshua W , Williams Geoffrey R
Published: March 2023

Due to a lack of knowledge on the pollination requirements of kiwifruit cultivars grown within the United States, farmers simultaneously implement multiple pollination methods, like the rental of managed bee species or artificial pollination to achieve high fruit yields. However, implementing multiple pollination methods is costly and possibly an inefficient use of resources. We assessed the contribution of two managed bees (Apis mellifera and Bombus impatiens) to the pollination of kiwifruit by i) determining the relative abundance of kiwifruit pollen collected by foragers of each bee species, and ii) comparing fruit set and fruit quality among insect and artificially pollinated flowers through an insect exclusion experiment. A significant difference was observed between the mean relative abundance of kiwifruit pollen carried in the corbicula of A. mellifera and B. impatiens, with B. impatiens carrying on average 46% more kiwifruit pollen than A. mellifera. Artificially pollinated kiwifruit flowers set significantly greater numbers of fruit per flower at four weeks post-bloom and at harvest compared to insect pollination, wind pollination, and pollen exclusion treatment. Artificial pollination produced fruits of greater weight, size, and seed number compared to insect-pollinated flowers, and few fruits were produced in the pollen exclusion and wind pollination treatments. Kiwifruit producers experiencing similar conditions to ours should focus on artificially pollinating their crops rather than relying on managed or wild insects for kiwifruit pollination. Future research should evaluate other methods of artificial pollination to determine their effectiveness, efficiency, and economics in the pollination of kiwifruit grown within the United States.
Carbon Taxation and Greenflation: Evidence from Europe and Canada
Authors: Konradt Maximilian , Weder di Mauro Beatrice
Published: March 2023

This paper studies the effects of carbon pricing on inflation dynamics. We construct a sample of carbon taxes implemented in Europe and Canada over three decades and estimate the response of inflation and price components to carbon pricing. Our empirical results suggest that carbon taxes did not significantly increase inflation, with dynamic effects estimated around zero in most specifications. Instead we find support for relative price changes, increasing the cost of energy but leaving the price of other goods and services unaffected. This is consistent with previous findings on the limited aggregate economic costs of carbon taxes. Based on the cross-section of taxes in Europe, we provide suggestive evidence that the response of inflation was especially muted in countries with revenue-neutral carbon taxes and autonomous central banks that can accommodate potential inflationary pressure associated with carbon pricing.
On the cyclotron absorption line and evidence of the spectral transition in SMC X-2 during 2022 giant outburst
Authors: Jaisawal G K , Vasilopoulos G , Naik S , Maitra C , Malacaria C , Chhotaray B , Gendreau K C , Guillot S , Ng M , Sanna A
Published: March 2023

We report comprehensive spectral and temporal properties of the Be/X-ray binary pulsar SMC X-2 using X-ray observations during the 2015 and 2022 outbursts. The pulse profile of the pulsar is unique and strongly luminosity dependent. It evolves from a broad-humped into a double-peaked profile above luminosity 3 × 1038 erg s−1. The pulse fraction of the pulsar is found to be a linear function of luminosity as well as energy. We also studied the spectral evolution of the source during the latest 2022 outburst with NICER. The observed photon index shows a negative and positive correlation below and above the critical luminosity, respectively, suggesting evidence of spectral transition from the sub-critical to supercritical regime. The broad-band spectroscopy of four sets of NuSTAR and XRT/NICER data from both outbursts can be described using a cut-off power-law model with a blackbody component. In addition to the 6.4 keV iron fluorescence line, an absorption-like feature is clearly detected in the spectra. The cyclotron line energy observed during the 2015 outburst is below 29.5 keV, however latest estimates in the 2022 outburst suggest a value of 31.5 keV. Moreover, an increase of 3.4 keV is detected in the cyclotron line energy at equal levels of luminosity observed in 2022 with respect to 2015. The observed cyclotron line energy variation is explored in terms of accretion induced screening mechanism or geometrical variation in line forming region.
The core degenerate scenario for the type Ia supernova SN 2020eyj
Authors: Soker Noam , Bear Ealeal
Published: March 2023

We argue that the core-degenerate (CD) scenario of type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) can explain the compact helium-rich circumstellar material (CSM) of SN 2020eyj. In the new channel of the CD scenario, we propose that there are two major common envelope evolution (CEE) phases. After the white dwarf (WD) companion removes the hydrogen-rich envelope of the asymptotic giant branch star, its spiralling-in halts at few solar radii from the core rather than continuing to the carbon oxygen (CO) core as in the hydrogen-rich SNe Ia-CSM CD scenario. Only hundreds to tens of thousands of years later, after the helium-rich core expands, does the WD enters a CEE with the helium-rich layer. By that time, the hydrogen-rich envelope is at a large distance from the centre. The WD merges with the CO core during the second CEE phase, and only after a merger to explosion delay (MED) time of weeks to tens of years, the merger remnant explodes. The SN Ia ejecta collides with a helium-rich CSM at tens to hundreds of AU. We follow the evolution of two stellar models with initial masses of 5M⊙ and 7M⊙ to their asymptotic giant branch phase when they are supposed to engulf the WD companion. We find that there is a sufficiently massive CO core to merge with the WD in the frame of the CD scenario as well as a massive helium-rich layer, ≃ 0.3–1M⊙, to account for the helium-rich CSM of SN 2020eyj.
Precise homology-directed installation of large genomic edits in human cells with cleaving and nicking high-specificity Cas9 variants
Authors: Wang Qian , Liu Jin , Janssen Josephine M , Gonçalves Manuel A F V
Published: March 2023

Homology-directed recombination (HDR) between donor constructs and acceptor genomic sequences cleaved by programmable nucleases, permits installing large genomic edits in mammalian cells in a precise fashion. Yet, next to precise gene knock-ins, programmable nucleases yield unintended genomic modifications resulting from non-homologous end-joining processes. Alternatively, in trans paired nicking (ITPN) involving tandem single-strand DNA breaks at target loci and exogenous donor constructs by CRISPR-Cas9 nickases, fosters seamless and scarless genome editing. In the present study, we identified high-specificity CRISPR-Cas9 nucleases capable of outperforming parental CRISPR-Cas9 nucleases in directing genome editing through homologous recombination (HR) and homology-mediated end joining (HMEJ) with donor constructs having regular and ‘double-cut’ designs, respectively. Additionally, we explored the ITPN principle by demonstrating its compatibility with orthogonal and high-specificity CRISPR-Cas9 nickases and, importantly, report that in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), in contrast to high-specificity CRISPR-Cas9 nucleases, neither regular nor high-specificity CRISPR-Cas9 nickases activate P53 signaling, a DNA damage-sensing response linked to the emergence of gene-edited cells with tumor-associated mutations. Finally, experiments in human iPSCs revealed that differently from HR and HMEJ genome editing based on high-specificity CRISPR-Cas9 nucleases, ITPN involving high-specificity CRISPR-Cas9 nickases permits editing allelic sequences associated with essentiality and recurrence in the genome.
The spatial landscape of gene expression isoforms in tissue sections
Authors: Lebrigand Kevin , Bergenstråhle Joseph , Thrane Kim , Mollbrink Annelie , Meletis Konstantinos , Barbry Pascal , Waldmann Rainer , Lundeberg Joakim
Published: March 2023

In situ capturing technologies add tissue context to gene expression data, with the potential of providing a greater understanding of complex biological systems. However, splicing variants and full-length sequence heterogeneity cannot be characterized at spatial resolution with current transcriptome profiling methods. To that end, we introduce spatial isoform transcriptomics (SiT), an explorative method for characterizing spatial isoform variation and sequence heterogeneity using long-read sequencing. We show in mouse brain how SiT can be used to profile isoform expression and sequence heterogeneity in different areas of the tissue. SiT reveals regional isoform switching of Plp1 gene between different layers of the olfactory bulb, and the use of external single-cell data allows the nomination of cell types expressing each isoform. Furthermore, SiT identifies differential isoform usage for several major genes implicated in brain function (Snap25, Bin1, Gnas) that are independently validated by in situ sequencing. SiT also provides for the first time an in-depth A-to-I RNA editing map of the adult mouse brain. Data exploration can be performed through an online resource (https://www.isomics.eu), where isoform expression and RNA editing can be visualized in a spatial context.
Effects and possible mechanisms of intermittent fasting on health and disease: a narrative review
Authors: Li Zimei , Huang Liansu , Luo Yuheng , Yu Bing , Tian Gang
Published: March 2023

The imbalance between energy intake and expenditure in an environment of continuous food availability can lead to metabolic disturbances in the body and increase the risk of obesity and a range of chronic noncommunicable diseases. Intermittent fasting (IF) is one of the most popular nonpharmacological interventions to combat obesity and chronic noncommunicable diseases. The 3 most widely studied IF regimens are alternate-day fasting, time-restricted feeding, and the 5:2 diet. In rodents, IF helps optimize energy metabolism, prevent obesity, promote brain health, improve immune and reproductive function, and delay aging. In humans, IF’s benefits are relevant for the aging global population and for increasing human life expectancy. However, the optimal model of IF remains unclear. In this review, the possible mechanisms of IF are summarized and its possible drawbacks are discussed on the basis of the results of existing research, which provide a new idea for nonpharmaceutical dietary intervention of chronic noncommunicable diseases.
Excitons and trions with negative effective masses in two-dimensional semiconductors
Authors: Semina Marina A , Mamedov Javid V , Glazov Mikhail M
Published: March 2023

We study theoretically fundamental Coulomb-correlated complexes: neutral and charged excitons, also known as trions, in transition metal dichalcogenides monolayers. We focus on the situation where one of the electrons occupies an excited, high-lying, conduction band characterized by a negative effective mass. We develop the theory of such high-lying excitons and trions with negative effective mass and demonstrate the key role of the non-parabolicity of the high-lying conduction band dispersion in the formation of the bound exciton and trion states. We present simple, accurate and physically justified trial wavefunctions for calculating the binding energies of Coulomb-bound complexes and compare the results of variational calculations with those of a fully numerical approach. Within the developed model, we discuss recent experimental results on the observation of high-lying negative effective mass trions.
Paranoid Thinking as a Function of Minority Group Status and Intersectionality: An International Examination of the Role of Negative Beliefs
Authors: Kingston J L , Schlier B , Lincoln T , So S H , Gaudiano B A , Morris E M J , Phiri P , Ellett L
Published: March 2023

Background

Paranoia is higher in minority group individuals, especially those reporting intersecting aspects of difference. High negative and low positive self and other beliefs, and low social rank, are predictive of paranoia overtime; however, data are typically from majority group participants. This study examined whether social defeat or healthy cultural mistrust best characterizes paranoia in minority groups.

Study Design

Using cross-sectional, survey design, with a large (n = 2510) international sample, moderation analyses (PROCESS) examined whether self and other beliefs, and perceived social rank, operate similarly or differently in minority vs majority group participants. Specifically, we tested whether beliefs moderated the influence of minority group, and intersecting aspects of difference, on paranoia.

Study Results

Paranoia was consistently higher in participants from minority vs majority groups and level of paranoid thinking was significantly higher at each level of the intersectionality index. Negative self/other beliefs were associated with elevated paranoia in all participants. However, in support of the notion of healthy cultural mistrust, low social rank, and low positive self/other beliefs were significantly associated with paranoia in majority group participants but unrelated to paranoia in respective minority group members.

Conclusions

Although mixed, our findings signal the need to consider healthy cultural mistrust when examining paranoia in minority groups and bring into question whether “paranoia” accurately describes the experiences of marginalized individuals, at least at low levels of severity. Further research on paranoia in minority groups is crucial to developing culturally appropriate ways of understanding people’s experiences in the context of victimization, discrimination, and difference.
Geographic Disparities in Re-triage Destinations Among Seriously Injured Californians
Authors: Furmanchuk Al’ona , James Rydland Kelsey , Hsia Renee Y. , Mackersie Robert , Shi Meilynn , William Hauser Mark , Kho Abel , Bilimoria Karl Y. , Stey Anne M.
Published: March 2023

Objective:

The objective of this study is to quantify geographic disparities in suboptimal re-triage of seriously injured patients in California.

Summary of background data:

Re-triage is the emergent transfer of seriously injured patients from the emergency departments of nontrauma and low-level trauma centers to, ideally, high-level trauma centers. Some patients are re-triaged to a second nontrauma or low-level trauma center (suboptimal) instead of a high-level trauma center (optimal).

Methods:

This was a retrospective observational cohort study of seriously injured patients, defined by an Injury Severity Score >15, re-triaged in California (2009–2018). Re-triages within 1 day of presentation to the sending center were considered. The suboptimal re-triage rate was quantified at the state, regional trauma coordinating committees (RTCC), local emergency medical service agencies, and sending center level. A generalized linear mixed-effects regression quantified the association of suboptimality with the RTCC of the sending center. Geospatial analyses demonstrated geographic variations in suboptimal re-triage rates and calculated alternative re-triage destinations.

Results:

There were 8,882 re-triages of seriously injured patients and 2,680 (30.2%) were suboptimal. Suboptimally re-triaged patients had 1.5 higher odds of transfer to a third short-term acute care hospital and 1.25 increased odds of re-admission within 60 days from discharge. The suboptimal re-triage rates increased from 29.3% in 2009 to 38.6% in 2018. However, 56.0% of nontrauma and low-level trauma centers had at least one suboptimal re-triage. The Southwest RTCC accounted for the largest proportion (39.8 %) of all suboptimal re-triages in California.

Conclusion:

High population density geographic areas experienced higher suboptimal re-triage rates.
The role of l-arginine/NO/cGMP/KATP channel pathway in the local antinociceptive effect of berberine in the rat formalin test
Authors: Rahemi Milad , Mohtadi Shokooh , Rajabi Vardanjani Hossein , Khodayar Mohammad Javad
Published: March 2023

Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid naturally produced by several types of plants. Berberine has extensive pharmacological effects, such as anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. In the current study, we assess the antinociceptive effects of berberine and its association with the l-arginine (l-Arg)/NO/cGMP/KATP channel pathway via intraplantar administration in rats. To examine the antinociceptive properties of berberine, the formalin test was conducted. The number of rat paw flinches was counted for an h. l-Arg (precursor of nitric oxide, 3–30 μg/paw), l-NAME (NO synthase inhibitor, 10 and 100 μg/paw), methylene blue (guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, 100 and 200 μg/paw), and glibenclamide (ATP-sensitive potassium channel blocker, 10 and 30 μg/paw) were locally injected, respectively, into the right hind paws of rats as a pre-treatment before berberine injection to understand how the l-Arg/NO/cGMP/KATP pathway plays a role in the antinociceptive effect of berberine. The ipsilateral injection of berberine into the right paw (0.1–100 
μg/paw) showed a dose-dependent antinociceptive effect in both the first and second phases of the formalin test, almost similar to morphine (25 μg/paw). Intraplantar injection of l-Arg (30 µg/paw) increased the antinociceptive effect of berberine in the second phase. In addition, injection of l-NAME, methylene blue, and glibenclamide caused a reduction in the antinociceptive effect of berberine throughout the second phase in a dose-dependent manner. However, the antinociceptive effects of berberine in the first phase of the rat formalin test were not affected by this pathway. As a novel local antinociceptive agent, berberine can exert a peripheral antinociceptive effect via the l-Arg/NO/cGMP/KATP channel pathway.
Training Community Health Workers to Address Disparities in Dementia Care
Authors: Reinschmidt Kerstin M. , Philip Timothy J. , Alhay Zahra A. , Braxton Tamara , Jennings Lee A.
Published: March 2023

The projected increase of dementia in the diverse aging US population calls for a well-prepared public health workforce. Community health workers (CHWs) can address dementia in culturally appropriate ways. Collaborating with stakeholders, we developed a train-the-trainer curriculum for CHWs and used a virtual training platform to test its feasibility with 77 CHWs. Pre-/postevaluation data demonstrated modestly increased dementia knowledge scores. Training participants valued the resources shared and interacting with peers. Disseminating this training could contribute to closing gaps in dementia care in diverse communities, along with policies supporting CHWs as workforce that reduces age-related disparities and promotes health equity.
Study on oxidative stress and inflammatory/antioxidant substance levels in autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Morimoto Masahito , Hashimoto Toshiaki , Tsuda Yoshimi , Suenaga Midori , Nakamura Toshimi , Katoh Shinsuke
Published: March 2023

Background:

The etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) includes oxidative stress and brain inflammation. We investigated the relationship among oxidative stress markers, in vivo inflammatory substances, and antioxidants that can be easily measured in the clinic and compared them between children with ASD and those with typical development (TD).

Methods:

Sixty-one children with TD and 199 with untreated ASD were investigated. They were Japanese children aged 2–15 years and were divided into those aged <7 and ≥7 years. Serum levels of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), prolactin (PRL), albumin (Alb), total bilirubin (T-Bil), and uric acid (UA) were measured. These measurements were compared between TD and ASD, and the relationship between oxidative stress and relevant laboratory parameters was analyzed.

Results:

The hsCRP and PRL levels were significantly higher in patients with ASD than in those with TD. Among those aged <7 years, hsCRP and PRL were significantly higher in those with ASD than in those with TD. Among those aged ≥7 years, ROMs, hsCRP, and PRL were significantly higher in those with ASD than in those with TD. In ASD, ROMs were significantly correlated with hsCRP, Alb, T-Bil, and PRL. In contrast, no significant correlations were found in the TD group except for the relationship between ROMs and hsCRP in those aged <7 years.

Conclusion:

The results suggest that serum levels of in vivo inflammatory substances, stress-related substances, and antioxidants are altered in ASD under oxidative stress.