bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Host-specific plasmid evolution explains the variable spread of clinical antibiotic-resistance plasmids
Authors: Benz Fabienne , Hall Alex R.
Published: April 2023

Antibiotic resistance encoded on plasmids is a pressing global health problem. Predicting which plasmids spread in the long term remains very challenging, even though some key parameters influencing plasmid stability have been identified, such as plasmid growth costs and horizontal transfer rates. Here, we show these parameters evolve in a strain-specific way among clinical plasmids and bacteria, and this occurs rapidly enough to alter the relative likelihoods of different bacterium–plasmid combinations spreading. We used experiments with
Escherichia coli
and antibiotic-resistance plasmids isolated from patients, paired with a mathematical model, to track long-term plasmid stability (beyond antibiotic exposure). Explaining variable stability across six bacterium–plasmid combinations required accounting for evolutionary changes in plasmid stability traits, whereas initial variation of these parameters was a relatively poor predictor of long-term outcomes. Evolutionary trajectories were specific to particular bacterium–plasmid combinations, as evidenced by genome sequencing and genetic manipulation. This revealed epistatic (here, strain-dependent) effects of key genetic changes affecting horizontal plasmid transfer. Several genetic changes involved mobile elements and pathogenicity islands. Rapid strain-specific evolution can thus outweigh ancestral phenotypes as a predictor of plasmid stability. Accounting for strain-specific plasmid evolution in natural populations could improve our ability to anticipate and manage successful bacterium–plasmid combinations.
Negative energy balance hinders prosocial helping behavior
Authors: Pozo Macarena , Milà-Guasch Maria , Haddad-Tóvolli Roberta , Boudjadja Mehdi Boutagouga , Chivite Iñigo , Toledo Miriam , Gómez-Valadés Alicia G. , Eyre Elena , Ramírez Sara , Obri Arnaud , Ben-Ami Bartal Inbal , D'Agostino Giuseppe , Costa-Font Joan , Claret Marc
Published: April 2023

The internal state of an animal, including homeostatic requirements, modulates its behavior. Negative energy balance stimulates hunger, thus promoting a range of actions aimed at obtaining food. While these survival actions are well established, the influence of the energy status on prosocial behavior remains unexplored. We developed a paradigm to assess helping behavior in which a free mouse was faced with a conspecific trapped in a restrainer. We measured the willingness of the free mouse to liberate the confined mouse under diverse metabolic conditions. Around 42% of ad libitum–fed mice exhibited a helping behavior, as evidenced by the reduction in the latencies to release the trapped cagemate. This behavior was independent of subsequent social contact reward and was associated with changes in corticosterone indicative of emotional contagion. This decision-making process was coupled with reduced blood glucose excursions and higher Adenosine triphosphate (ATP):Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) ratios in the forebrain of helper mice, suggesting that it was a highly energy-demanding process. Interestingly, chronic (food restriction and type 2 diabetes) and acute (chemogenetic activation of hunger-promoting AgRP neurons) situations mimicking organismal negative energy balance and enhanced appetite attenuated helping behavior toward a distressed conspecific. To investigate similar effects in humans, we estimated the influence of glycated hemoglobin (a surrogate of long-term glycemic control) on prosocial behavior (namely charity donation) using the Understanding Society dataset. Our results evidenced that organismal energy status markedly influences helping behavior and that hypothalamic AgRP neurons are at the interface of metabolism and prosocial behavior.
Simulating molecular polaritons in the collective regime using few-molecule models
Authors: Pérez-Sánchez Juan B. , Koner Arghadip , Stern Nathaniel P. , Yuen-Zhou Joel
Published: April 2023

The study of molecular polaritons beyond simple quantum emitter ensemble models (e.g., Tavis–Cummings) is challenging due to the large dimensionality of these systems and the complex interplay of molecular electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom. This complexity constrains existing models to either coarse-grain the rich physics and chemistry of the molecular degrees of freedom or artificially limit the description to a small number of molecules. In this work, we exploit permutational symmetries to drastically reduce the computational cost of ab initio quantum dynamics simulations for large
N
. Furthermore, we discover an emergent hierarchy of timescales present in these systems, that justifies the use of an effective single molecule to approximately capture the dynamics of the entire ensemble, an approximation that becomes exact as
N
→ ∞. We also systematically derive finite
N
corrections to the dynamics and show that addition of
k
extra effective molecules is enough to account for phenomena whose rates scale as 𝒪(
N

−
k

). Based on this result, we discuss how to seamlessly modify existing single-molecule strong coupling models to describe the dynamics of the corresponding ensemble. We call this approach collective dynamics using truncated equations (CUT-E), benchmark it against well-known results of polariton relaxation rates, and apply it to describe a universal cavity-assisted energy funneling mechanism between different molecular species. Beyond being a computationally efficient tool, this formalism provides an intuitive picture for understanding the role of bright and dark states in chemical reactivity, necessary to generate robust strategies for polariton chemistry.
Surface tension of cavitation bubbles
Authors: Bossert Marine , Trimaille I. , Cagnon L. , Chabaud B. , Gueneau C. , Spathis P. , Wolf P. E. , Rolley E.
Published: April 2023

We have studied homogeneous cavitation in liquid nitrogen and normal liquid helium. We monitor the fluid content in a large number of independent mesopores with an ink-bottle shape, either when the fluid in the pores is quenched to a constant pressure or submitted to a pressure decreasing at a controlled rate. For both fluids, we show that, close enough to their critical point, the cavitation pressure threshold is in good agreement with the Classical Nucleation Theory (CNT). In contrast, at lower temperatures, deviations are observed, consistent with a reduction of the surface tension for bubbles smaller than two nanometers in radius. For nitrogen, we could accurately measure the nucleation rate as a function of the liquid pressure down to the triple point, where the critical bubble radius is about one nanometer. We find that CNT still holds, provided that the curvature dependence of the surface tension is taken into account. Furthermore, we evaluate the first- and second-order corrections in curvature, which are in reasonable agreement with recent calculations for a Lennard-Jones fluid.
The interpersonal semantics of rhetoric
Authors: Chen Wenge , Zhang Ranran
Published: April 2023

Different from previous linguistic studies on rhetoric, which primarily concern the ideational semantics and the logic of sentences, this article attempts to deal systematically with the interpersonal semantics of rhetoric by drawing on the comprehensive appraisal framework of systemic functional linguistics (Martin and White 2005) and explores the mechanism of rhetorical persuasion in science communication via appraisal through a case study of the gene-modification (GM) debate in China. It first examines the rhetorical appeals of the subsystems of appraisal and then based on a self-constructed and coded corpus of GM debate discourses, it compares how institutional (the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and the Greenpeace Organization) and individual stakeholders (Cui Yongyuan and Fang Zhouzi) of different ideological interests in the GM debate mobilize the interpersonal semantic resources to rhetorical effects to persuade the audience of the safety/danger of the GM technology and products. The analysis reveals that while the opinion leaders choose ‘soft’ persuasion by heavily using affect and judgement resources, the institutions opt for ‘hard’ persuasion by utilizing more appreciation resources. The four parties all prefer contracting resources over expanding resources of engagement, which restricts the space of negotiation. Their communicative motives are interpreted through the lens of the rhetoric theory, and the implications and consequences for science communication in the post-truth era are discussed. Theoretically, the paper contributes to understanding the persuasion mechanism of appraisal and to understanding the science vs. society, and government vs. citizens relationship.
A dictionary-reconstruction approach for separating helical-guided waves in cylindrical pipes
Authors: Qian Zhi , Zhang Chenchen , Li Peng , Wang Bin , Qian Zhenghua , Kuznetsova Iren , Li Xiangyu
Published: April 2023

Pipes, which have a hollow cylindrical structure, are very susceptible to corrosion in industrial environments. Pipe wall loss can be evaluated by measuring helical-guided waves; however, various paths of these waves are easily superposed in the received signals due to the cyclic nature of the pipe’s geometry. The overlap phenomenon can be more serious when the guided wave contains multimodes. A signal-processing approach based on dictionary reconstruction for separating helical-guided waves in cylindrical pipes is established to get rid of this dilemma. The full-wave packet with a single mode and single path can be extracted successfully utilizing this method. In this work, the pipe wall is expanded into an infinite plane and a linear wave number model is adopted with the assumption of a narrowband excitation at the initial stage. After that, an over-completed dictionary containing all modes and propagation paths is designed based on this model to decompose the received signal. The specific process of decomposition is implemented through a single-layer neural network to solve the mode and path weight factors. Simulated and experimental cases are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The results show that this method can completely separate the wave signals of all modes and paths even when the process is full of noise. This signal-processing approach can provide an important technical reference for high-precision imaging of helical-guided waves.
Exceptional degeneracies in non-Hermitian Rashba semiconductors
Authors: Cayao Jorge
Published: April 2023

Exceptional points (EPs) are spectral degeneracies of non-Hermitian (NH) systems where eigenvalues and eigenvectors coalesce, inducing unique topological phases that have no counterpart in the Hermitian realm. Here we consider an NH system by coupling a two-dimensional semiconductor with Rashba spin–orbit coupling (SOC) to a ferromagnet lead and show the emergence of highly tunable EPs along rings in momentum space. Interestingly, these exceptional degeneracies are the endpoints of lines formed by the eigenvalue coalescence at finite real energy, resembling the bulk Fermi arcs commonly defined at zero real energy. We then show that an in-plane Zeeman field provides a way to control these exceptional degeneracies although higher values of non-Hermiticity are required in contrast to the zero Zeeman field regime. Furthermore, we find that the spin projections also coalescence at the exceptional degeneracies and can acquire larger values than in the Hermitian regime. Finally, we demonstrate that the exceptional degeneracies induce large spectral weights, which can be used as a signature for their detection. Our results thus reveal the potential of systems with Rashba SOC for realizing NH bulk phenomena.
Ultrathin GaN quantum wells in AlN nanowires for UV-C emission
Authors: Vermeersch Rémy , Jacopin Gwénolé , Castioni Florian , Rouvière Jean-Luc , García-Cristóbal Alberto , Cros Ana , Pernot Julien , Daudin Bruno
Published: April 2023

Molecular beam epitaxy growth and optical properties of GaN quantum disks in AlN nanowires were investigated, with the purpose of controlling the emission wavelength of AlN nanowire-based light emitting diodes. Besides GaN quantum disks with a thickness ranging from 1 to 4 monolayers, a special attention was paid to incomplete GaN disks exhibiting lateral confinement. Their emission consists of sharp lines which extend down to 215 nm, in the vicinity of AlN band edge. The room temperature cathodoluminescence intensity of an ensemble of GaN quantum disks embedded in AlN nanowires is about 20% of the low temperature value, emphasizing the potential of ultrathin/incomplete GaN quantum disks for deep UV emission.
Micro-tearing mode dominated electron heat transport in DIII-D H-mode pedestal
Authors: Chen J. , Jian X. , Brower D.L. , Haskey S.R. , Yan Z. , Groebner R. , Wang H.Q. , Rhodes T.L. , Laggner F. , Ding W. , Barada K. , Banerjee S.
Published: April 2023

A new, comprehensive set of evidence reveals that Micro-Tearing Modes (MTMs) dominate pedestal electron heat transport in an H-mode experiment in the DIII-D tokamak. The experiment investigates the role of MTMs by scanning pedestal collisionality, a main drive of MTM instability, from 0.43 to 0.84 on the pedestal top. Broadband (150–800 kHz) magnetic and density fluctuations originating from the pedestal gradient region and highly consistent with MTMs are observed, with amplitude increasing during the scan. The higher magnetic fluctuation amplitude correlates with a lower pedestal electron temperature gradient, implying MTMs may regulate the pedestal electron heat transport. The collisionality scan results in profile and transport changes consistent with predicted transport capability of MTMs: (1) experimentally-determined electron heat diffusivity increases ∼40% at the location where the broadband density fluctuations peak; (2) ion heat diffusivity has less increase (<20%); and (3) a locally flattened region in the electron temperature pedestal is observed at high collisionality. A local, linear gyrokinetic simulation finds MTMs as the most unstable mode in the pedestal gradient region. In addition, local, nonlinear simulations suggest MTMs can dominate and drive experimentally-relevant, megawatt-level electron heat flux. This result establishes MTMs as an effective transport mechanism in the H-mode pedestal, in particular at high collisionality.
Bounding ramification by covers and curves
Authors: Esnault Hélène , Srinivas Vasudevan
Published: April 2023

We prove that

Q

¯

ℓ

\bar {\mathbb {Q}}_\ell

-local systems of bounded rank and ramification on a smooth variety

X
X

defined over an algebraically closed field

k
k

of characteristic

p
≠
ℓ

p\neq \ell

are tamified outside of codimension

2
2

by a finite separable cover of bounded degree. In rank one, there is a curve which preserves their monodromy. There is a curve defined over the algebraic closure of a purely transcendental extension of

k
k

of finite degree which fulfills the Lefschetz theorem.
Some recents advances on Duke’s equidistribution theorems
Authors: Michel Philippe
Published: April 2023

Duke’s theorems are three equidistribution statements for sets of representations of large integers by ternary quadratic forms. In this paper we survey some recent development of these beautiful theorems.
A case of Mondor disease following axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy
Authors: Stoneham Sophie , Hughes Bronwyn , Agrawal Avi
Published: April 2023

A 62-year-old woman presented to clinic with a cord-like tethering to her left breast following axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy for a 1.0-mm melanoma. We explore the presentation and investigations, and discuss this likely underdiagnosed condition.
Health Insurance and Initiation of Direct-Acting Antivirals for Hepatitis C in US Women With Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Authors: Edmonds Andrew , Haley Danielle F , Edwards Jessie K , Ramirez Catalina , French Audrey L , Tien Phyllis C , Plankey Michael , Sharma Anjali , Augenbraun Michael , Seaberg Eric C , Workowski Kimberly , Alcaide Maria L , Albrecht Svenja , Adimora Adaora A
Published: April 2023

Background

Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) is well tolerated, cost-effective, and yields high sustained virologic response rates, yet it has remained financially inaccessible to many patients.

Methods

Participants of the Women's Interagency HIV Study (an observational US cohort) with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HCV (RNA+) reporting no prior hepatitis C treatment were followed for DAA initiation (2015–2019). We estimated risk ratios (RRs) of the relationship between time-varying health insurance status and DAA initiation, adjusting for confounders with stabilized inverse probability weights. We also estimated weighted cumulative incidences of DAA initiation by health insurance status.

Results

A total of 139 women (74% Black) were included; at baseline, the median age was 55 years and 86% were insured. Most had annual household incomes ≤$18 000 (85%); advanced liver fibrosis (21%), alcohol use (45%), and recreational drug use (35%) were common. Across 439 subsequent semiannual visits, 88 women (63%) reported DAA initiation. Compared with no health insurance, health insurance increased the likelihood of reporting DAA initiation at a given visit (RR, 4.94; 95% confidence limit [CL], 1.92 to 12.8). At 2 years, the weighted cumulative incidence of DAA initiation was higher among the insured (51.2%; 95% CL, 43.3% to 60.6%) than the uninsured (3.5%; 95% CL, 0.8% to 14.6%).

Conclusions

Accounting for clinical, behavioral, and sociodemographic factors over time, health insurance had a substantial positive effect on DAA initiation. Interventions to increase insurance coverage should be prioritized to increase HCV curative therapy uptake for persons with HIV.
Results of the ARROW survey of anti-reflux practice in the United Kingdom
Authors:   The ARROW Study Group, Blencowe Natalie S , Currie Andrew , Findlay John M , Hollyman Marianne , Hornby Steve , Ireland Phil , Jaunoo Shameen , Koshy Renol , Lloyd Megan , Mahadevan Anantha , Markar Sheraz R , Noble Fergus , O’Neill Robert , Rahman Saqib , Underwood Tim , Walker Robert , Wiggins Tom , Wilson Michael ,   Writing Group, Walker Robert , Currie Andrew , Wiggins Tom , Markar Sheraz R , Blencowe Natalie S , Underwood Tim , Hollyman Marianne
Published: April 2023

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common, significant health burden. United Kingdom guidance states that surgery should be considered for patients with a diagnosis of GERD not suitable for long-term acid suppression. There is no consensus on many aspects of patient pathways and optimal surgical technique, and an absence of information on how patients are currently selected for surgery. Further detail on the delivery of anti-reflux surgery (ARS) is required. A United Kingdom-wide survey was designed to gather surgeon opinion regarding pre-, peri- and post-operative practice of ARS. Responses were received from 155 surgeons at 57 institutions. Most agreed that endoscopy (99%), 24-hour pH monitoring (83%) and esophageal manometry (83%) were essential investigations prior to surgery. Of 57 units, 30 (53%) had access to a multidisciplinary team to discuss cases; case-loads were higher in those units (median 50 vs. 30, P < 0.024). The most popular form of fundoplication was a Nissen posterior 360° (75% of surgeons), followed by a posterior 270° Toupet (48%). Only seven surgeons stated they had no upper limit of body mass index prior to surgery. A total of 46% of respondents maintain a database of their practice and less than a fifth routinely record quality of life scores before (19%) or after (14%) surgery. While there are areas of consensus, a lack of evidence to support workup, intervention and outcome evaluation is reflected in the variability of practice. ARS patients are not receiving the same level of evidence-based care as other patient groups.
Are There Pluralities of Worlds?
Authors: Schmitt Viola
Published: April 2023

Indicative conditionals and configurations with neg-raising predicates have been brought up as potential candidates for constructions involving world pluralities. I argue against this hypothesis, showing that cumulativity and quantifiers targeting a plurality’s part structure cannot access the presumed world pluralities. I furthermore argue that this makes worlds special in the sense that the same tests provide evidence for pluralities in various other semantic domains.
KK, Knowledge, Knowability
Authors: San Weng Kin
Published: April 2023

kk states that knowing entails knowing that one knows, and K¬K states that not knowing entails knowing that one does not know. In light of the arguments against kk and K¬K, one might consider modally qualified variants of those principles. According to weak kk, knowing entails the possibility of knowing that one knows. And according to weakK¬K, not knowing entails the possibility of knowing that one does not know. This paper shows that weak kk and weakK¬K are much stronger than they initially appear. Jointly, they entail kk and K¬K. And they are susceptible to variants of the standard arguments against kk and K¬K. This has interesting implications for the debate on positive introspection and for deeper issues concerning the structure and limits of knowability.
Gas and star kinematics in cloud–cloud collisions
Authors: Wurster James , Bonnell Ian A
Published: April 2023

We model the collision of molecular clouds to investigate the role of the initial properties on the remnants. Our clouds collide and evolve in a background medium that is approximately ten times less dense than the clouds, and we show that this relatively dense background is dynamically important for the evolution of the collision remnants. Given the motion of the clouds and the remnants through the background, we develop, implement, and introduce dynamic boundary conditions. We investigate the effects of the initial cloud mass, velocity, internal turbulence, and impact angle. The initial velocity and its components have the largest effect on the remnant. This affects the spatial extent of the remnant, which affects the number of resulting star clusters and the distribution of their masses. The less extended remnants tend to have fewer, but more massive, clusters. Unlike the clusters, the gas distributions are relatively insensitive to the initial conditions, both the distribution of the bulk gas properties and the gas clumps. In general, cloud collisions are relatively insensitive to their initial conditions when modelled hydrodynamically in a dynamically important background medium.
Features of Gaia DR3 spectroscopic binaries I. Tidal circularization of main-sequence stars
Authors: Bashi Dolev , Mazeh Tsevi , Faigler Simchon
Published: April 2023

Previous studies pointed out that many observed samples of short-period binaries display a cut-off period, Pcut, such that almost all binaries with periods shorter than Pcut have circular orbits. This feature is probably due to long-term circularization processes induced by tidal interaction between the two stars of each binary. It seemed as if coeval main-sequence (MS) samples of open clusters display Pcut that depends on the sample age. Using the unprecedentedly large sample of MS spectroscopic orbits recently released by Gaia, we have found that the Pcut does not depend on the stellar age but, instead, varies with stellar temperature, decreasing linearly from 6.5 d at Teff ∼ 5700 K to ∼2.5 d at 6800 K. Pcut was derived by a new algorithm that relied on clear upper envelopes displayed in the period-eccentricity diagrams. Our Pcut determines both the border between the circular and eccentric binaries and the location of the upper envelope. The results are inconsistent with the theory, which assumes circularization occurs during the stellar MS phase, a theory that was adopted by many studies. The circularization has probably taken place at the pre-main-sequence phase, as suggested already in 1989 by Zahn and Bouchet, and later by Khaluillin and Khaluillina in 2011. Our results suggest that the weak dependence of Pcut on the cluster age is not significant, and/or might be due to the different temperatures of the samples. If indeed true, this has far-reaching implications for the theory of binary and exoplanet circularization, synchronization, and alignment.
CTC1 OB-B interaction with TPP1 terminates telomerase and prevents telomere overextension
Authors: Wang Huan , Ma Tengfei , Zhang Xiaotong , Chen Wei , Lan Yina , Kuang Guotao , Hsu Shih-Jui , He Zibin , Chen Yuxi , Stewart Jason , Bhattacharjee Anukana , Luo Zhenhua , Price Carolyn , Feng Xuyang
Published: April 2023

CST (CTC1-STN1-TEN1) is a telomere associated complex that binds ssDNA and is required for multiple steps in telomere replication, including termination of G-strand extension by telomerase and synthesis of the complementary C-strand. CST contains seven OB-folds which appear to mediate CST function by modulating CST binding to ssDNA and the ability of CST to recruit or engage partner proteins. However, the mechanism whereby CST achieves its various functions remains unclear. To address the mechanism, we generated a series of CTC1 mutants and studied their effect on CST binding to ssDNA and their ability to rescue CST function in CTC1−/− cells. We identified the OB-B domain as a key determinant of telomerase termination but not C-strand synthesis. CTC1-ΔB expression rescued C-strand fill-in, prevented telomeric DNA damage signaling and growth arrest. However, it caused progressive telomere elongation and the accumulation of telomerase at telomeres, indicating an inability to limit telomerase action. The CTC1-ΔB mutation greatly reduced CST-TPP1 interaction but only modestly affected ssDNA binding. OB-B point mutations also weakened TPP1 association, with the deficiency in TPP1 interaction tracking with an inability to limit telomerase action. Overall, our results indicate that CTC1-TPP1 interaction plays a key role in telomerase termination.
Prediction differences and implications of acute kidney injury with and without urine output criteria in adult critically ill patients
Authors: Wu Lijuan , Li Yanqin , Zhang Xiangzhou , Chen Xuanhui , Li Deyang , Nie Sheng , Li Xin , Bellou Abdelouahab
Published: April 2023

Background

Due to the convenience of serum creatinine (SCr) monitoring and the relative complexity of urine output (UO) monitoring, most studies have predicted acute kidney injury (AKI) only based on SCr criteria. This study aimed to compare the differences between SCr alone and combined UO criteria in predicting AKI.

Methods

We applied machine learning methods to evaluate the performance of 13 prediction models composed of different feature categories on 16 risk assessment tasks (half used only SCr criteria, half used both SCr and UO criteria). The area under receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC), the area under precision recall curve (AUPRC) and calibration were used to assess the prediction performance.

Results

In the first week after ICU admission, the prevalence of any AKI was 29% under SCr criteria alone and increased to 60% when the UO criteria was combined. Adding UO to SCr criteria can significantly identify more AKI patients. The predictive importance of feature types with and without UO was different. Using only laboratory data maintained similar predictive performance to the full feature model under only SCr criteria [e.g. for AKI within the 48-h time window after 1 day of ICU admission, AUROC (95% confidence interval) 0.83 (0.82, 0.84) vs 0.84 (0.83, 0.85)], but it was not sufficient when the UO was added [corresponding AUROC (95% confidence interval) 0.75 (0.74, 0.76) vs 0.84 (0.83, 0.85)].

Conclusions

This study found that SCr and UO measures should not be regarded as equivalent criteria for AKI staging, and emphasizes the importance and necessity of UO criteria in AKI risk assessment.
Review of recent water photovoltaics development
Authors: Hu Jianke , Teng Kai , Li Changjie , Li Xianpei , Wang Jun , Lund Peter D
Published: April 2023

Photovoltaic (PV) power generation plays an important role in the clean energy. Placing PV on water has therefore become an interesting alternative siting solution. In this paper, the floating photovoltaic system is divided into four categories: fixed pile photovoltaic system, floating photovoltaic system, floating platform system and floating photovoltaic tracking system and the principles, technologies and future challenges of PV systems on water will be reviewed. Other challenges encountered with water PV are discussed and future research directions are presented.
Chloroplastic Sec14-like proteins modulate growth and phosphate deficiency responses inArabidopsisand rice
Authors: Yang Mailun , Sakruaba Yasuhito , Ishikawa Toshiki , Ohtsuki Namie , Kawai-Yamada Maki , Yanagisawa Shuichi
Published: April 2023

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient acquired from soil as phosphate (Pi), and its deficiency severely reduces plant growth and crop yield. Here, we show that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the PHOSPHATIDYLINOSITOL TRANSFER PROTEIN7 (AtPITP7) locus, which encodes a chloroplastic Sec14-like protein, are associated with genetic diversity regarding Pi uptake activity in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Inactivation of AtPITP7 and its rice (Oryza sativa) homolog (OsPITP6) through T-DNA insertion and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing, respectively, decreased Pi uptake and plant growth, regardless of Pi availability. By contrast, overexpression of AtPITP7 and OsPITP6 enhanced Pi uptake and plant growth, especially under limited Pi supply. Importantly, overexpression of OsPITP6 increased the tiller number and grain yield in rice. Targeted metabolome analysis of glycerolipids in leaves and chloroplasts revealed that inactivation of OsPITP6 alters phospholipid contents, independent of Pi availability, diminishing the reduction in phospholipid content and increase in glycolipid content induced by Pi deficiency; meanwhile, overexpression of OsPITP6 enhanced Pi deficiency-induced metabolic alterations. Together with transcriptome analysis of ospitp6 rice plants and phenotypic analysis of grafted Arabidopsis chimeras, these results suggest that chloroplastic Sec14-like proteins play an essential role in growth modulations in response to changes in Pi availability, although their function is critical for plant growth under any Pi condition. The superior traits of OsPITP6-overexpressing rice plants also highlight the potential of OsPITP6 and its homologs in other crops as additional tools for improving Pi uptake and plant growth in low Pi environments.
Early-onset gout and rare deficient variants of the lactate dehydrogenase D gene
Authors: Bardin Thomas , Ducrot Yves-Marie , Nguyen Quang , Letavernier Emmanuel , Zaworski Jeremy , Ea Hang-Korng , Touzain Fréderic , Do Minh Duc , Colot Julien , Barguil Yann , Biron Antoine , Resche-Rigon Matthieu , Richette Pascal , Collet Corinne
Published: April 2023

Objectives

To investigate whether the lactate dehydrogenase D (LDHD) gene deficiency causes juvenile-onset gout.

Methods

We used whole-exome sequencing for two families and a targeted gene-sequencing panel for an isolated patient. d-lactate dosages were analysed using ELISA.

Results

We demonstrated linkage of juvenile-onset gout to homozygous carriage of three rare distinct LDHD variants in three different ethnicities. In a Melanesian family, the variant was (NM_153486.3: c.206C>T; rs1035398551) and, as compared with non-homozygotes, homozygotes had higher hyperuricaemia (P = 0.02), lower fractional clearance of urate (P = 0.002), and higher levels of d-lactate in blood (P = 0.04) and urine (P = 0.06). In a second, Vietnamese, family, very severe juvenile-onset gout was linked to homozygote carriage of an undescribed LDHD variant (NM_153486.3: c.1363dupG) leading to a frameshift followed by a stop codon, p.(AlaGly432fsTer58). Finally, a Moroccan man, with early-onset and high d-lactaturia, whose family was unavailable for testing, was homozygous for another rare LDHD variant [NM_153486.3: c.752C>T, p.(Thr251Met)].

Conclusion

Rare, damaging LDHD variants can cause autosomal recessive early-onset gout, the diagnosis of which can be suspected by measuring high d-lactate levels in the blood and/or urine.
Metaplastic breast cancer: an all-round multidisciplinary consensus
Authors: Corso Giovanni , Criscitiello Carmen , Nicosia Luca , Pesapane Filippo , Vicini Elisa , Magnoni Francesca , Sibilio Andrea , Zanzottera Cristina , De Scalzi Alessandra Margherita , Mannucci Sara , Marabelli Monica , Calvello Mariarosaria , Feroce Irene , Zagami Paola , Porta Francesca Maria , Toesca Antonio , Tarantino Paolo , Nicolò Eleonora , Mazzarol Giovanni , La Vecchia Carlo , Bonanni Bernardo , Leonardi Maria Cristina , Veronesi Paolo , Fusco Nicola
Published: April 2023

Metaplastic breast cancer (MpBC) is a rare and aggressive histologic subtype of breast cancer (BC) characterized by the presence of at least two cellular types, commonly epithelial and mesenchymal components. Despite growing evidence that MpBC is a unique entity, it has long been treated as a variant of nonspecial type (NST) BC. MpBC typically shows the phenotype of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), but compared to NST-TNBC, it is a relatively chemorefractory tumor associated with worse outcomes. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop management guidelines specifically for MpBC to improve the prognosis of patients with early MpBC. This expert consensus aims to guide diagnosis and standardize clinical management of early MpBC among treating physicians. We provide guidance on the challenging radiological and pathological diagnosis of MpBC. Evidence on the involvement of genetic predisposition in the development of MpBC is also explored. We emphasize the importance of a multidisciplinary approach for the treatment of patients with early MpBC. The optimal surgery and radiotherapy approach is presented, as well as the opportunity offered by novel therapeutic approaches to increase treatment response in this chemoresistant subtype. Appropriate management of patients with MpBC is critical to reduce the high risk of local and distant recurrence that characterizes this disease.
Effects of menopausal hormone therapy on the risk of ovarian cancer: Health Insurance Database in South Korea–based cohort study
Authors: Yuk Jin-Sung , Kim Myounghwan
Published: April 2023

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the risk of ovarian cancer associated with hormone therapy regimens using a Korean population–based study.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study used national health checkup and insurance data from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2019, provided by Korea's National Health Insurance Service. Women older than 40 years who recorded “menopause” in the questionnaire from 2002 to 2011 were included in this study. Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) preparations were classified into tibolone, combined estrogen plus progestin by the manufacturer, combined estrogen plus progestin by physician, estrogen, and topical estrogen groups. The number of participants recorded as menopausal during the national health examination between 2002 and 2011 was 2,506,271. The MHT and non-MHT groups consisted of 373,271 and 1,382,653 patients, respectively. The hazard ratios (HR) of ovarian cancer according to MHT type, age at inclusion, body mass index, region, socioeconomic status, Charlson comorbidity index, age at menarche, age at menopause, parity, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical exercise, and period from menopause to inclusion were evaluated.

Results

The risk of ovarian cancer was reduced in the tibolone group (HR, 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.75-0.93; P = 0.003) and in patients in rural areas (HR, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.845-0.98; P = 0.013). The risk of ovarian cancer was not related to the other MHT treatments.

Conclusion

Tibolone was associated with a lower risk of ovarian cancer. No other MHT was associated with ovarian cancer.
Endometrial safety of low-dose vaginal estrogens
Authors: Stanczyk Frank Z. , Mandelbaum Rachel S. , Matharu Harpreet , Dancz Christina E. , Sherman Mark E.
Published: April 2023

It is estimated that up to 50% to 90% of postmenopausal women may experience genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), which may have a detrimental impact on quality of life. One of the most effective modes of treatment of GSM is low-dose vaginal estrogens. Numerous studies have addressed the safety of these estrogens using endometrial biopsy and/or endometrial thickness on ultrasound. Based on these studies, the consensus is that low-dose vaginal estrogens do not substantially increase the risk of endometrial hyperplasia or cancer; however, the data are severely limited by short duration of follow-up. Although long-term trials are warranted, they are difficult to carry out, costly, and will not yield data for years. More immediate information regarding endometrial safety may be obtained from studies measuring endometrial tissue and serum concentrations of estradiol, estrone, and relevant equine estrogens after administration of different estrogen formulations and doses. This would allow us to understand better the metabolism of estrogens by the vagina and endometrium, and how much estrogen is reaching the endometrium. Here, we discuss metabolism, receptor binding, and signaling of estrogens in vaginal and endometrial tissue, and summarize the existing studies on the endometrial impact of low-dose vaginal estrogen treatment in postmenopausal women.
Quality of life in Spanish postmenopausal breast cancer patients with localized disease who finish endocrine treatment: a prospective study
Authors: Arraras Juan Ignacio , Illarramendi Jose Juan , Manterola Ana , de la Cruz Susana , Zarandona Uxue , Ibañez Berta , Salgado Esteban , Visus Ignacio , Barrado Marta , Teiejira Lucia , Martinez María Isabel , Martinez Enrique , Vera Ruth
Published: April 2023

Objective

In this article, the quality of life (QOL) of Spanish postmenopausal early-stage breast cancer patients who have finished endocrine therapy (ET), QOL changes after endocrine therapy cessation, and the differences between two endocrine therapy modalities (tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitor [AI]) are studied. More QOL information after endocrine therapy cessation is needed.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was performed. Participating in the study were 158 postmenopausal patients who had received tamoxifen or AI for 5 years. In some cases, endocrine therapy may have changed during those 5 years.

Patients completed the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR45 questionnaires at baseline, after 6 months, and after 1 year of follow-up. Patients older than 65 years also completed the QLQ-ELD14. Linear mixed-effect models were used to evaluate longitudinal changes in QOL and differences in QOL between endocrine therapy modalities.

Results

QOL scores for the whole sample throughout follow-up were high (>80/100 points) in most QOL areas. Moderate limitations (>30 points) occurred in the QLQ-BR45 in sexual functioning and sexual enjoyment, future perspective, and joint symptoms. Moderate limitations also occurred in the QLQ-ELD14 in worries about others, maintaining purpose, joint stiffness, future worries, and family support. In those who had finished endocrine therapy, pain was reduced in all three assessments conducted during the 1-year follow-up period in both groups. Tamoxifen patients showed better QOL in functioning (role functioning, global QOL, financial impact), symptoms (pain), and emotional areas (future perspective and worries about others) than AI patients but worse QOL in skin mucosis symptoms.

Conclusions

The results of this study show that postmenopausal early-stage breast cancer patients adapted well to their disease and endocrine therapy treatment. QOL improvements in the 1-year follow-up period appeared in one key area: pain. Differences between endocrine therapy modalities suggested QOL was better in the tamoxifen group than in the AI group.
Development and Validation of a Patient-Reported Experience Measure for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Authors: Kutyla Marguerite J. , McMaster Jessica J. , Haig Adam , Koloski Natasha , Hourigan Luke , Meeusen Vera , Shah Ayesha , Talley Nicholas J. , Jones Michael P. , Holtmann Gerald J.
Published: April 2023

Goals:

We aimed to develop and validate a patient-reported experience measure for gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy, the Comprehensive Endoscopy Satisfaction Tool that captures relevant domains that influence the patient’s experience and identify factors that shape satisfaction.

Background:

Patient-reported experience measures are used to capture specific quality aspects of health care services. GI endoscopic services are high-volume services, and there is a lack of specific, validated instruments to capture various domains that shape the patients’ experience with routine clinical endoscopic services.

Study:

After an environmental scan and structured literature review, focus groups with patients were conducted to identify relevant factors influencing the patient experience with GI endoscopic services. After an initial validation in 101 patients undergoing routine GI endoscopies, the instrument was tested in 7800 patients. In addition, the influence of sociodemographic factors on global satisfaction was explored.

Results:

The final version included 26 specific items plus 4 global ratings for preprocedure, experience on day of procedure, postprocedure care, and infrastructure. In addition, a global rating of the overall experience was included. Patient satisfaction was significantly higher in older patients (P<0.001) but not influenced by gender, nationality, marital status, education, or employment status. Interestingly, during periods of coronavirus disease-19-related service interruptions, the Net Promoter Score was significantly reduced (P<0.0001) providing evidence for the responsiveness of the instrument.

Conclusions:

The Comprehensive Endoscopy Satisfaction Tool is a valid measure for the patient experience with the various components of endoscopic services, allows for the identification of domains that impact on the patient experience and is a practical tool to compare patient satisfaction over time and across facilities.
Nocardia pulmonis sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from a patient with pulmonary infection
Authors: Li Fang , Xu Shuai , Li Zhenpeng , Yue Yuan , Song Jingdong , Du Baozhong , Che Yanlin , Han Lichao , Qiu Xiaotong , Kang Yutong , Liu Xueping , Chen Shenglin , Li Zhenjun
Published: April 2023

A novel bacterial strain, CDC141T, was isolated from sputum samples of a patient with pulmonary infection in Hainan Province, PR China. We performed a polyphasic study to assess the taxonomic position of the new species. Based on the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses, strain CDC141T belonged to the genus

Nocardia

with the highest sequence similarity to

Nocardia nova

NBRC 15556T (98.84 %) and

Nocardia macrotermiti

s RB20T (98.54 %). The dapb1 gene sequence-based phylogenetic and phylogenomic trees further showed that the novel strain was clustered in a distinct clade adjacent to

Nocardia pseudobrasiliensis

DSM 44290T. The DNA G+C content of strain CDC141T was 68.57 mol%. The genomic diversity analysis revealed low average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA‒DNA hybridization values (<84.7 and <28.9 %, respectively) with its closest relative. Growth occurred at 20–40 °C, pH 6.0–9.0 and with NaCl concentrations of 0.5–2.5 % (w/v). The main fatty acids of strain CDC141T were C16 : 0, C18 : 0 10-methyl, TBSA, C16 : 1
 ω6c/C16 : 1
 ω7c, C18 : 1
 ω9c, C18 : 0, C17 : 1 iso I/anteiso B and C17 : 0. The polar lipid profile was dominated by diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside, unidentified glycolipids, unidentified phospholipids and unidentified lipids. MK8 (H4ω-cycl) and MK8 (H4) were the major respiratory quinones. These characteristics were consistent with the typical chemotaxonomic properties of members of the genus

Nocardia

. Based on the results of phenotypic and genetic analyses, strain CDC141T was identified as representing a new species of the genus

Nocardia

, with the proposed name Nocardia pulmonis sp. nov. (CDC141T=JCM 34955T=GDMCC 4.207T).
Limimaricola litoreus sp. nov., isolated from intertidal sand of the Yellow Sea
Authors: Shao Xuan , Meng Di , Lei Jia-Xuan , Ding Yun-Yun , Su Jing-Yun , Wang Ya-Nan , Li Yi
Published: April 2023

A novel species of the genus

Limimaricola

, designated ASW11-118T, was isolated from an intertidal sand sample of the Yellow Sea, PR China. Growth of strain ASW11-118T occurred at 10–40 °C (optimum, 28 °C), pH 5.5–8.5 (optimum, pH 7.5) and with 0.5–8.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 1.5%). Strain ASW11-118T has the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to

Limimaricola cinnabarinus

LL-001T (98.8%) and 98.6 % to

Limimaricola hongkongensis

DSM 17492T. Phylogenetic analysis based on genomic sequences indicated that strain ASW11-118T belongs to the genus

Limimaricola

. The genome size of strain ASW11-118T was 3.8 Mb and DNA G+C content was 67.8 mol%. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain ASW11-118T and other members of the genus

Limimaricola

were below 86.6 and 31.3 %, respectively. The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The predominant cellular fatty acid was C18 : 1
 ω7c. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and one unknown aminolipid. On the basis of the data presented, strain ASW11-118T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus

Limimaricola

, for which the name Limimaricola litoreus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ASW11-118T (=MCCC 1K05581T=KCTC 82494T).
Parvularcula maris sp. nov., an algicidal bacterium isolated from seawater
Authors: Li Fei , Tuo Li , Wang Qiao-Zhen , Yu Lian , Jiang Fa-Jun , Lai Jun-Xiang , Huang Shu-Shi , Qin Xian-Ling
Published: April 2023

A taxonomic study was carried out on strain BGMRC 0090T, which was isolated from seawater. The isolate was a Gram-negative, aerobic, flagellated, rod-shaped bacterium with algicidal activity. Optimal growth was observed at 30 °C, pH 6.0 and with 2 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain BGMRC 0090T belonged to the genus

Parvularcula

, with highest sequence similarity to

Parvularcula lutaonensis

CC-MMS-1T (98.4 %). Average nucleotide identity, amino acid identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain BGMRC 0090T and five strains of the genus

Parvularcula

with publicly available genomes were below 84.0, 69.2 and 21.4 %, respectively. The genome of strain BGMRC 0090T was 3.2 Mb with 64.8 mol% DNA G+C content and encoded 2905 predicted proteins, three rRNA, 42 tRNA and four ncRNA genes. Some algicidal biosynthesis-associated genes were detected in the genome. Strain BGMRC 0090T contained Q-10 as the major quinone. The predominant fatty acids were identified as summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c/ω6c) and C16 : 0. Based on the polyphasic evidence presented in this paper, strain BGMRC 0090T is concluded to represent a novel species of the genus

Parvularcula

, for which the name Parvularcula maris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BGMRC 0090T (= KCTC 92591T=MCCC 1K08100T).