bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Circadian timing, melatonin and hippocampal volume in later‐life adults
Authors: Moon Chooza , Hoth Karin F. , Perkhounkova Yelena , Zhang Meina , Lee Jihye , Hein Maria , Hopkins Lauren , Magnotta Vincent , Burgess Helen J.
Published: November 2023

Hippocampal atrophy is a prominent neurodegenerative feature of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Alterations in circadian rhythms can exacerbate cognitive aging and neurodegeneration. This study aimed to examine how dim light melatonin onset and melatonin levels are associated with hippocampal volume in cognitively healthy individuals. We studied data from 52 later‐life adults (mean age ± SD = 70.0 ± 6.3 years). T1‐weighted anatomical images from 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging data were collected and processed using the BRAINSTools toolbox. Dim light melatonin onset was used to assess circadian timing. The area under the curve was calculated to quantify melatonin concentration levels 6 hr before bedtime, and 14‐day wrist actigraphy data were used to assess habitual bedtime. Multiple linear regression modelling with hippocampal volume as the dependent variable was used to analyse the data adjusting for age and sex. The average dim light melatonin onset was 19:45 hours (SD = 84 min), and area under the curve of melatonin levels 6 hr before habitual bedtime was 38.4 pg ml−1 × hr (SD = 29.3). We found that later dim light melatonin onset time (b = 0.16, p = 0.005) and greater area under the curve of melatonin levels 6 hr before habitual bedtime (b = 0.05, p = 0.046) were associated with greater adjusted hippocampal volume. The time between dim light melatonin onset and the midpoint of sleep timing was not associated with hippocampal volume. The findings suggest that earlier circadian timing (dim light melatonin onset) and reduced melatonin may be associated with reduced hippocampal volume in older adults. Future research will help researchers utilize circadian rhythm information to delay brain aging.
Impact ofPGPRinoculation on root morphological traits and root exudation in rapeseed and camelina: interactions with heat stress
Authors: Delamare Jérémy , Brunel‐Muguet Sophie , Boukerb Amine M. , Bressan Mélanie , Dumas Lucien , Firmin Stéphane , Leroy Fanny , Morvan‐Bertrand Annette , Prigent‐Combaret Claire , Personeni Emmanuelle
Published: November 2023

Root exudation is involved in the recruitment of beneficial microorganisms by trophic relationships and/or signalling pathways. Among beneficial microorganisms, Plant Growth‐Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) are known to improve plant growth and stress resistance. These interactions are of particular importance for species that do not interact with mycorrhizal fungi, such as rapeseed (Brassica napusL.) and camelina (Camelina sativa(L.) Crantz). However, heat stress is known to have a quantitative and qualitative impact on root exudation and could affect the interactions between plants and PGPR. We aimed to analyse the effects of PGPR inoculation on root morphology and exudation in rapeseed and camelina at the reproductive stage. The modulation of the effects of these interactions under heat stress was also investigated. The plants were inoculated twice at the reproductive stage with two differentPseudomonasspecies and were exposed to heat stress after the second inoculation. In non‐stressing conditions, after bacterial inoculation, rapeseed and camelina exhibited two contrasting behaviours in C root allocation. While rapeseed plants seemed to suffer from the interactions with the bacteria, camelina plants appeared to control the relationship with the PGPR by modifying the composition of their root exudates. Under heat stress, the plant‐PGPR interaction was unbalanced for rapeseed, for which the C allocation strategy is mainly driven by the C cost from the bacteria. Alternatively, camelina plants prioritized C allocation for their own above‐ground development. This work opens up new perspectives for understanding plant‐PGPR interactions, especially in an abiotic stress context.
Indications and surgical technique for distraction osteogenesis of the alveolar bone for augmentation prior to insertion of dental implants
Authors: Nickenig Hans‐Joachim , Zöller Joachim E. , Kreppel Matthias
Published: November 2023

When bone is limited, short, ultra‐short, or narrow implants help to restore oral rehabilitation with an acceptable long‐term outcome. This becomes more difficult with severe vertical bone loss. Guided bone regeneration, onlay block transplantation, or sandwich osteotomy have been established to build up these defects. The alternative to the alveolar distraction osteogenesis (ADO) has only been established in some centers, with a standardized protocol. On the one hand, ADO is a biological procedure that allows almost a “restitutio ad integrum” when building up hard and soft tissue. On the other hand, there are clear indications, limitations, and complications of the procedure in the literature. In addition to the literature, concept of Tissue Regeneration by Alveolar Callusdistraction Cologne (TRACC), which has been practiced successfully for over two decades, will be presented for different indications.
Reconfiguration of the costly punishment network architecture in punishment decision‐making
Authors: Li Ting , Feng Chunliang , Wang Jinhui
Published: November 2023

Human costly punishment is rooted in multiple regions across large‐scale functional systems, a collection of which constitutes the costly punishment network (CPN). Our previous study found that the CPN is intrinsically organized in an optimized and reliable manner to support individual costly punishment propensity. However, it remains unknown how the CPN is reconfigured in response to external cognitive demands in punishment decision‐making. Here, we combined resting‐state and task‐functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine the task‐related reconfigurations of intrinsic organizations of the CPN when participants made decisions of costly punishment in the Ultimatum Game. Although a strong consistency was observed in the overall pattern and each nodal profile between the intrinsic (task‐free) and extrinsic (task‐evoked) functional connectivity of the CPN, condition‐general and condition‐specific reconfigurations were also evident. Specifically, both unfair and fair conditions induced increases in functional connectivity between a few specific pairs of regions, and the unfair condition additionally induced increases in network efficiency of the CPN. Intriguingly, the specific changes in global efficiency of the CPN in the unfair condition were associated with individual differences in costly punishment after adjusting for the corresponding results in the fair condition, which were further identified for females but not for males. These findings were largely reproducible on independent samples. Collectively, our findings provide novel insights into how the CPN adaptively reconfigures its network architecture to support costly punishment.
Non‐invasive vagus nerve stimulation and the motivation to work for rewards: A replication of Neuser et al. (2020, Nature Communications)
Authors: Lucchi Federica , Lloyd Beth , Nieuwenhuis Sander
Published: November 2023

The vagus nerve is thought to be involved in the allostatic regulation of motivation and energy metabolism via gut‐brain interactions. A recent study by Neuser and colleagues (2020) provided novel evidence for this process in humans, by reporting a positive effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on the invigoration of reward‐seeking behaviors, especially for food rewards. We conducted an independent direct replication of Neuser et al. (2020), to assess the robustness of their findings. Following the original study, we used a single‐blind, sham‐controlled, randomized cross‐over design. We applied left‐sided taVNS in healthy human volunteers (n = 40), while they performed an effort allocation task in which they had to work for monetary and food rewards. The replication study was purely confirmatory in that it strictly followed the analysis plans and scripts used by Neuser et al. Although, in line with Neuser et al., we found strong effects of task variables on effort invigoration and effort maintenance, we failed to replicate their key finding: taVNS did not increase the strength of invigoration (p = .62); the data were five times more likely (BF10 = 0.19) under the null hypothesis. We also found substantial evidence against an effect of taVNS on effort maintenance (p = .50; BF10 = 0.20). Our results provide evidence against the idea that left‐sided taVNS boosts the motivational drive to work for rewards. Our study also highlights the need for direct replications of influential taVNS studies.
Restoring blue carbon ecosystems unlocks fisheries' potential
Authors: Heimhuber Valentin , Raoult Vincent , Glamore William C. , Taylor Matthew D. , Gaston Troy F.
Published: November 2023

Globally, blue carbon ecosystems, including salt marsh, mangroves, and seagrasses, and the associated ecosystem services they provide, have declined substantially. In response, ecosystem restoration has recently increased but the scale and urgency of these activities has been limited by the lack of economic drivers. Herein, a multidisciplinary approach is presented that links hydrologic restoration with ecologic outputs to highlight the economic potential for commercial fisheries that could arise from restoring a drained floodplain. Initially, stable isotope models are used to predict the return of Eastern school prawn (approximately 300 kg yr−1 ha−1). Hydrologic models are then applied to determine the area of salt marshes and mangroves (over 2,000 ha) that could be potentially restored via tidal introduction. Together, these results indicate that ecological restoration in this region could contribute an annual benefit of approximately 230 tons of additional Eastern school prawn harvest, which could be valued at $3.1 ± 1.3 million AUD to commercial fisheries. This would represent a growth of nearly 50% from current annual harvest in the state. Given that this assessment excludes other values that would be gained, such as other species of fisheries value, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and flood control, it represents a conservative financial estimate. Overall, this analysis highlights the scale of fisheries co‐benefits from tidal restoration projects, and how business cases for large‐scale blue carbon ecosystem restoration projects could be developed using multidisciplinary approaches.
The effect of organic matter amendments on soil surface stability in conventionally cultivated arable fields
Authors: Stroud Jacqueline L. , Kemp Simon J. , Sturrock Craig J.
Published: November 2023

In this study, new and traditional organic wastes (green waste compost, farmyard manure (FYM), anaerobic digestate or straw) were ploughed into an arable field experiment at a range of rates (1–3 t C ha−1) and under spring and winter cropping rotations for 5 years. The stability of the soil surface structure (<5 cm) was assessed in Years 3, 4 and 5 to guide the use of organic wastes in arable field management. Aggregate stability was determined by immersing each soil sample in water (fast‐wetting test, relevance to summer storms) and measuring the size distribution of the aggregates (mean weight diameter, MWD). The MWD value was compared with the different classes of aggregate stability (very stable, stable, medium, unstable or very unstable) to classify each result. All the arable field samples were classified as unstable, and there were no significant differences (p > .05) in MWD after any treatment. Potentially, this approach is too imprecise to detect differences, so pore‐scale analyses using CT scanning were used. There were no significant differences in porosity or pore shape (features associated with microbial activity) between the control and organic waste treatments. The results contradicted published data from the Broadbalk experiment (established in 1843), which was the basis for this study, so its soils were studied to understand this discrepancy. Broadbalk soils were classified as unstable, including soils treated with annual FYM applications. Instead, we found a significant relationship between MWD and clay content and previous interpretations had not taken this variable (23%–39% clay content) texture into consideration. In conclusion, to achieve a stable soil surface structure, a 150% improvement in aggregate stability would be needed here and ploughing in organic wastes was not a successful management approach on these arable field experiments.
Full‐length sequence of the novel HLA‐A*02:05:01:23 allele by next‐generation sequencing in a Greek individual
Authors: Kouniaki Diamanto , Fotopoulos Konstantinos , Stamati Vaia , Tsirogianni Alexandra
Published: November 2023

HLA‐A*02:05:01:23 differs from HLA‐A*02:05:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution in intron 6.
Characterization of the novel HLA‐DRB1*13:03:13 allele by sequencing‐based typing
Authors: Blandin Lucie , Guidicelli Gwendaline , Cargou Marine , Rouzaire Paul , Lemal Richard
Published: November 2023

HLA‐DRB1*13:03:13 differs from HLA‐DRB1*13:03:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution in codon 180 in exon 3.
Slaying the “Troll of Transplantation”—new frontiers in cytomegalovirus management: A report from the CMV International Symposium 2023
Authors: Kotton Camille N. , Torre‐Cisneros Julian , Yakoub‐Agha Ibrahim ,   The CMV International Symposium Faculty
Published: November 2023

The 2023 International CMV Symposium took place in Barcelona in May 2023. During the 2‐day meeting, delegates and faculty discussed the ongoing challenge of managing the risk of cytomegalovirus infection (the Troll of Transplantation) after solid organ or hematopoietic cell transplantation. Opportunities to improve outcomes of transplant recipients by applying advances in antiviral prophylaxis or pre‐emptive therapy, immunotherapy, and monitoring of cell‐mediated immunity to routine clinical practice were debated and relevant educational clinical cases presented. This review summarizes the presentations, cases, and discussions from the meeting and describes how further advances are needed before the Troll of Transplantation is slain.

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Suspected intermediate syndrome in a dog after organophosphate poisoning
Authors: Schmid Renee D. , Lombardo Deanna , Hovda Lynn R.
Published: November 2023

Objective

To discuss the clinical presentation and successful treatment of a suspected case of intermediate syndrome due to organophosphate (OP) poisoning in a dog.

Case summary

Two dogs presented with acute cholinergic signs after ingesting an OP insecticide containing 50% acephate. Clinical signs consistent with acute cholinergic crisis resolved in both dogs within 24 hours postingestion. One dog developed an onset of neurological signs consistent with intermediate syndrome approximately 24 hours postingestion. This patient's clinical signs resolved with the use of pralidoxime chloride.

New or Unique Information Provided

OP poisoning most commonly presents as an acute cholinergic crisis, with rare instances of animals developing intermediate syndrome. Few reports of successful treatment and recovery from intermediate syndrome exist in the veterinary literature, particularly with instances in which 2 dogs within the same exposure setting were treated for acute cholinergic signs and only 1 progressed to an intermediate syndrome. This report also highlights the importance of early intervention with pralidoxime chloride prior to the onset of aging.
Effective Classroom Management Training to Promote Better Education: Changes in Pre-service Teacher Strategies after Triad Debriefing
Authors: Delbart Laëtitia , Baco Christophe , Bocquillon Marie , Derobertmasure Antoine
Published: November 2023

Throughout the world, training teachers in effective classroom management strategies is a major societal challenge. It is important for pre-service teachers to receive feedback on specific classroom management strategies from their trainers (supervisor and cooperating teacher), using an observation tool and ideally a video recording of their practice. Yet little is known about the evolution of pre-service teachers' actual classroom management practices during their internships and the feedback they receive from their trainers. This article therefore presents the evolution of the actual practices of pre-service French-speaking Belgian teachers observed on two occasions during their internships (Observation 1 and Observation 2). It also presents the link between the feedback given by the trainers and the intentions to act expressed by the pre-service teacher during the debriefing following the first observation (O1) and the strategies implemented by the pre-service teachers during the second observation (O2). To this end, an observation grid inserted into an observation software was used live in secondary school classrooms, and the debriefings were recorded and then analyzed. By comparing the feedback and intentions to act expressed during the debriefings with the actual strategies of the pre-service teachers, it was possible to identify which feedback and intentions to act were actually implemented by the pre-service teachers, on the basis of observable indicators. The results point to a number of positive developments in pre-service teachers' practices, and indicate certain avenues for improvement. They also show that pre-service teachers followed half the feedback given to them by their trainers. The results provide a basis for formulating ways of training teachers in effective classroom management.
An upper bound on the mean value of the Erdős–Hooley Delta function
Authors: Koukoulopoulos Dimitris , Tao Terence
Published: November 2023

The Erdős–Hooley Delta function is defined for as . We prove that for all . This improves on earlier work of Hooley, Hall–Tenenbaum, and La Bretèche–Tenenbaum.
Approximation and homotopy in regulous geometry
Authors: Kucharz Wojciech
Published: November 2023

Let $X$, $Y$ be nonsingular real algebraic sets. A map $\varphi \colon X \to Y$ is said to be $k$-regulous, where $k$ is a nonnegative integer, if it is of class $\mathcal {C}^k$ and the restriction of $\varphi$ to some Zariski open dense subset of $X$ is a regular map. Assuming that $Y$ is uniformly rational, and $k \geq 1$, we prove that a $\mathcal {C}^{\infty }$ map $f \colon X \to Y$ can be approximated by $k$-regulous maps in the $\mathcal {C}^k$ topology if and only if $f$ is homotopic to a $k$-regulous map. The class of uniformly rational real algebraic varieties includes spheres, Grassmannians and rational nonsingular surfaces, and is stable under blowing up nonsingular centers. Furthermore, taking $Y=\mathbb {S}^p$ (the unit $p$-dimensional sphere), we obtain several new results on approximation of $\mathcal {C}^{\infty }$ maps from $X$ into $\mathbb {S}^p$ by $k$-regulous maps in the $\mathcal {C}^k$ topology, for $k \geq 0$.
An individual's skin stiffness predicts their tactile discrimination of compliance
Authors: Li Bingxu , Gerling Gregory J.
Published: November 2023

Individual differences in tactile acuity have been correlated with age, gender and finger size, whereas the role of the skin's stiffness has been underexplored. Using an approach to image the 3‐D deformation of the skin surface during contact with transparent elastic objects, we evaluate a cohort of 40 young participants, who present a diverse range of finger size, skin stiffness and fingerprint ridge breadth. The results indicate that skin stiffness generally correlates with finger size, although individuals with relatively softer skin can better discriminate compliant objects. Analysis of contact at the skin surface reveals that softer skin generates more prominent patterns of deformation, in particular greater rates of change in contact area, which correlate with higher rates of perceptual discrimination of compliance, regardless of finger size. Moreover, upon applying hyaluronic acid to soften individuals’ skin, we observe immediate, marked and systematic changes in skin deformation and consequent improvements in perceptual acuity in differentiating compliance. Together, the combination of 3‐D imaging of the skin surface, biomechanics measurements, multivariate regression and clustering, and psychophysical experiments show that subtle distinctions in skin stiffness modulate the mechanical signalling of touch and shape individual differences in perceptual acuity.

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Key points

Although declines in tactile acuity with ageing are a function of multiple factors, for younger people, the current working hypothesis has been that smaller fingers are better at informing perceptual discrimination because of a higher density of neural afferents.

To decouple relative impacts on tactile acuity of skin properties of finger size, skin stiffness, and fingerprint ridge breadth, we combined 3‐D imaging of skin surface deformation, biomechanical measurements, multivariate regression and clustering, and psychophysics.

The results indicate that skin stiffness generally correlates with finger size, although it more robustly correlates with and predicts an individual's perceptual acuity.

In particular, more elastic skin generates higher rates of deformation, which correlate with perceptual discrimination, shown most dramatically by softening each participant's skin with hyaluronic acid.

In refining the current working hypothesis, we show the skin's stiffness strongly shapes the signalling of touch and modulates individual differences in perceptual acuity.
Toward a dynamic national transportation noise map: Modeling temporal variability of traffic volume
Authors: Cook Mylan R. , Gee Kent L. , Transtrum Mark. K. , Lympany Shane V.
Published: November 2023

The National Transportation Noise Map (NTNM) gives time-averaged traffic noise across the continental United States (CONUS) using annual average daily traffic. However, traffic noise varies significantly with time. This paper outlines the development and utility of a traffic volume model which is part of VROOM, the Vehicular Reduced-Order Observation-based model, which, using hourly traffic volume data from thousands of traffic monitoring stations across CONUS, predicts nationwide hourly varying traffic source noise. Fourier analysis finds daily, weekly, and yearly temporal traffic volume cycles at individual traffic monitoring stations. Then, principal component analysis uses denoised Fourier spectra to find the most widespread cyclic traffic patterns. VROOM uses nine principal components to represent hourly traffic characteristics for any location, encapsulating daily, weekly, and yearly variation. The principal component coefficients are predicted across CONUS using location-specific features. Expected traffic volume model sound level errors—obtained by comparing predicted traffic counts to measured traffic counts—and expected NTNM-like errors, are presented. VROOM errors are typically within a couple of decibels, whereas NTNM-like errors are often inaccurate, even exceeding 10 decibels. This work details the first steps towards creation of a temporally and spectrally variable national transportation noise map.
Rising wildfire risk to houses in the United States, especially in grasslands and shrublands
Authors: Radeloff Volker C. , Mockrin Miranda H. , Helmers David , Carlson Amanda , Hawbaker Todd J. , Martinuzzi Sebastian , Schug Franz , Alexandre Patricia M. , Kramer H. Anu , Pidgeon Anna M.
Published: November 2023

Wildfire risks to homes are increasing, especially in the wildland-urban interface (WUI), where wildland vegetation and houses are in close proximity. Notably, we found that more houses are exposed to and destroyed by grassland and shrubland fires than by forest fires in the United States. Destruction was more likely in forest fires, but they burned less WUI. The number of houses within wildfire perimeters has doubled since the 1990s because of both housing growth (47% of additionally exposed houses) and more burned area (53%). Most exposed houses were in the WUI, which grew substantially during the 2010s (2.6 million new WUI houses), albeit not as rapidly as before. Any WUI growth increases wildfire risk to houses though, and more fires increase the risk to existing WUI houses.
Aster-dependent nonvesicular transport facilitates dietary cholesterol uptake
Authors: Ferrari Alessandra , Whang Emily , Xiao Xu , Kennelly John P. , Romartinez-Alonso Beatriz , Mack Julia J. , Weston Thomas , Chen Kai , Kim Youngjae , Tol Marcus J. , Bideyan Lara , Nguyen Alexander , Gao Yajing , Cui Liujuan , Bedard Alexander H. , Sandhu Jaspreet , Lee Stephen D. , Fairall Louise , Williams Kevin J. , Song Wenxin , Munguia Priscilla , Russell Robert A. , Martin Martin G. , Jung Michael E. , Jiang Haibo , Schwabe John W. R. , Young Stephen G. , Tontonoz Peter
Published: November 2023

Intestinal absorption is an important contributor to systemic cholesterol homeostasis. Niemann-Pick C1 Like 1 (NPC1L1) assists in the initial step of dietary cholesterol uptake, but how cholesterol moves downstream of NPC1L1 is unknown. We show that Aster-B and Aster-C are critical for nonvesicular cholesterol movement in enterocytes. Loss of NPC1L1 diminishes accessible plasma membrane (PM) cholesterol and abolishes Aster recruitment to the intestinal brush border. Enterocytes lacking Asters accumulate PM cholesterol and show endoplasmic reticulum cholesterol depletion. Aster-deficient mice have impaired cholesterol absorption and are protected against diet-induced hypercholesterolemia. Finally, the Aster pathway can be targeted with a small-molecule inhibitor to manipulate cholesterol uptake. These findings identify the Aster pathway as a physiologically important and pharmacologically tractable node in dietary lipid absorption.
Histone removal in sperm protects paternal chromosomes from premature division at fertilization
Authors: Dubruille Raphaëlle , Herbette Marion , Revel Maxime , Horard Béatrice , Chang Ching-Ho , Loppin Benjamin
Published: November 2023

The global replacement of histones with protamines in sperm chromatin is widespread in animals, including insects, but its actual function remains enigmatic. We show that in the
Drosophila
paternal effect mutant
paternal loss
(
pal
), sperm chromatin retains germline histones H3 and H4 genome wide without impairing sperm viability. However, after fertilization,
pal
sperm chromosomes are targeted by the egg chromosomal passenger complex and engage into a catastrophic premature division in synchrony with female meiosis II. We show that
pal
encodes a rapidly evolving transition protein specifically required for the eviction of (H3-H4)
2
tetramers from spermatid DNA after the removal of H2A-H2B dimers. Our study thus reveals an unsuspected role of histone eviction from insect sperm chromatin: safeguarding the integrity of the male pronucleus during female meiosis.
A solution-processed radiative cooling glass
Authors: Zhao Xinpeng , Li Tangyuan , Xie Hua , Liu He , Wang Lingzhe , Qu Yurui , Li Stephanie C. , Liu Shufeng , Brozena Alexandra H. , Yu Zongfu , Srebric Jelena , Hu Liangbing
Published: November 2023

Passive daytime radiative cooling materials could reduce the energy needed for building cooling up to 60% by reflecting sunlight and emitting long-wave infrared (LWIR) radiation into the cold Universe (~3 kelvin). However, developing passive cooling structures that are both practical to manufacture and apply while also displaying long-term environmental stability is challenging. We developed a randomized photonic composite consisting of a microporous glass framework that features selective LWIR emission along with relatively high solar reflectance and aluminum oxide particles that strongly scatter sunlight and prevent densification of the porous structure during manufacturing. This microporous glass coating enables a temperature drop of ~3.5° and 4°C even under high-humidity conditions (up to 80%) during midday and nighttime, respectively. This radiative “cooling glass” coating maintains high solar reflectance even when exposed to harsh conditions, including water, ultraviolet radiation, soiling, and high temperatures.
Prediction-powered inference
Authors: Angelopoulos Anastasios N. , Bates Stephen , Fannjiang Clara , Jordan Michael I. , Zrnic Tijana
Published: November 2023

Prediction-powered inference is a framework for performing valid statistical inference when an experimental dataset is supplemented with predictions from a machine-learning system. The framework yields simple algorithms for computing provably valid confidence intervals for quantities such as means, quantiles, and linear and logistic regression coefficients without making any assumptions about the machine-learning algorithm that supplies the predictions. Furthermore, more accurate predictions translate to smaller confidence intervals. Prediction-powered inference could enable researchers to draw valid and more data-efficient conclusions using machine learning. The benefits of prediction-powered inference were demonstrated with datasets from proteomics, astronomy, genomics, remote sensing, census analysis, and ecology.
Human mRNA in saliva can correctly identify individuals harboring acute infection
Authors: Yang Qing , Meyerson Nicholas R. , Paige Camille L. , Morrison James H. , Clark Stephen K. , Fattor Will T. , Decker Carolyn J. , Steiner Halley R. , Lian Elena , Larremore Daniel B. , Perera Rushika , Poeschla Eric M. , Parker Roy , Dowell Robin D. , Sawyer Sara L.
Published: November 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the poor ability of body temperature to reliably identify SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals, an observation that has been made before in the context of other infectious diseases. While acute infection does not always cause fever, it does reliably drive host transcriptional responses as the body responds at the site of infection. These transcriptional changes can occur both in cells that are directly harboring replicating pathogens and in cells elsewhere that receive a molecular signal that infection is occurring. Here, we identify a core set of approximately 70 human genes that are together upregulated in cultured human cells infected by a broad array of viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. We have named these “core response” genes. In theory, transcripts from these genes could serve as biomarkers of infection in the human body, in a way that is agnostic to the specific pathogen causing infection. As such, we perform human studies to show that these infection-induced human transcripts can be measured in the saliva of people harboring different types of infections. The number of these transcripts in saliva can correctly classify infection status (whether a person harbors an infection) 91% of the time. Furthermore, in the case of SARS-CoV-2 specifically, the number of core response transcripts in saliva correctly identifies infectious individuals even when enrollees, themselves, are asymptomatic and do not know they are infected.

IMPORTANCE

There are a variety of clinical and laboratory criteria available to clinicians in controlled healthcare settings to help them identify whether an infectious disease is present. However, in situations such as a new epidemic caused by an unknown infectious agent, in health screening contexts performed within communities and outside of healthcare facilities or in battlefield or potential biowarfare situations, this gets more difficult. Pathogen-agnostic methods for rapid screening and triage of large numbers of people for infection status are needed, in particular methods that might work on an easily accessible biospecimen like saliva. Here, we identify a small, core set of approximately 70 human genes whose transcripts serve as saliva-based biomarkers of infection in the human body, in a way that is agnostic to the specific pathogen causing infection.
Active surveillance for carbapenem-resistant
Acinetobacter baumannii
(CRAB) carriage
Authors: Nutman Amir , Levi Gabrielle D. , Keren-Paz Alona , Schwartz David , Masarwa Samira , Schechner Vered , Carmeli Yehuda
Published: November 2023

Carbapenem-resistant
Acinetobacter baumannii
(CRAB) poses a significant threat in healthcare settings, necessitating robust infection control measures. To identify the most effective sampling method for CRAB carriage detection, we conducted a comparative analysis between skin sampling using a pre-moistened sponge, rectal swabs, and respiratory specimens. Our study encompassed both acute care and post-acute care hospitals. The results revealed that the skin sponge method, when plated on selective chromogenic media, demonstrated the highest sensitivity, exceeding 90% in both settings. Conversely, the commonly employed methods of rectal swabs and respiratory samples combined to exhibit sensitivity levels below 40%. Based on these findings, we recommend implementing the skin sponge method as the preferred approach for CRAB screening in healthcare facilities. This recommendation aims to optimize infection control strategies and mitigate the spread of CRAB in healthcare settings.

IMPORTANCE

Our study’s results provide promising evidence for the incorporation of a high-sensitivity carbapenem-resistant
Acinetobacter baumannii
(CRAB) screening method in healthcare settings. Such an approach could prove beneficial in enhancing infection prevention and control measures, leading to improved patient outcomes and potentially alleviating the burden of CRAB in healthcare systems.
INT$${}^{{-}}$$ Contribution to Form Factors of $${K^{+}\to\mu^{+}\nu_{\mu}\gamma}$$ Decay in OKA Experiment
Authors: Kravtsov V. I. , Kurshetsov V. F.
Published: November 2023

A new precise measurement of the vector and axial-vector form factor difference $$F_{V}-F_{A}$$ in the $$K^{+}\to\mu^{+}\nu_{\mu}\gamma$$ decay is presented. About 144 K events of $$K^{+}\to\mu^{+}\nu_{\mu}\gamma$$ are selected in the OKA experiment. The result is $$F_{V}-F_{A}=0.135$$$$\pm$$ 0.017(stat) $$\pm$$ 0.024(syst). The number of events is about 1.5 times higher and both errors are smaller than last published OKA result. The presented result is considered as preliminary.
Neutrino Mass Matrix in Neutrino-Related Processes
Authors: Krivoruchenko M. I. , Šimkovic F.
Published: November 2023

Techniques are developed for constructing amplitudes of neutrino-related processes in terms of the neutrino mass matrix, with no reference to the neutrino mixing matrix. The amplitudes of neutrino oscillations in vacuum and medium, quasi-elastic neutrino scattering, $$\beta$$ decays and double-$$\beta$$ decays are considered. The proposed approach makes extensive use of Frobenius covariants within the framework of Sylvester’s theorem on matrix functions. The in-medium dispersion laws are found in quadratures for three flavors of Majorana neutrinos as an application of the developed formalism. The in-medium dispersion laws for Dirac neutrinos can be determined in the general case by searching for the roots of a polynomial of degree 6. In the rest frame of baryonic matter, the minimum energy of both Majorana and Dirac neutrinos is achieved at a neutrino momentum equal to half the mean-field potential. In such cases, Dirac neutrinos occupy a hollow Fermi sphere at zero temperature and low chemical potentials. Fitting experimental data in terms of the neutrino mass matrix can provide better statistical accuracy in determining the neutrino mass matrix compared to methods using the neutrino mixing matrix at intermediate stages.
Heterotopic bone formation with extramedullary haematopoiesis in a thyroid nodule
Authors: García Jesus , Alvarez Mauricio , Moreno Diana , Acosta Bernarda
Published: November 2023

The presence of mature bone and bone marrow in the thyroid gland is an exceedingly rare occurrence. Extramedullary haematopoiesis (EMH) and heterotopic bone formation (HBF) should be suspected when cytology of thyroid nodules reveals evidence of megakaryocytes or bone marrow fat, respectively. The cause of these abnormalities has not been fully elucidated, but the role of bone morphogenic factors (BMPs) in their pathogenesis has been suggested. Both EMH and HBF can be seen in both benign and malignant primary thyroid conditions, and although they have not been definitively associated with significant pathology, it is recommended that extension studies be considered in the event of these findings to rule out concomitant haematological conditions.
Explaining paranoia: cognitive and social processes in the occurrence of extreme mistrust
Authors: Freeman Daniel , Loe Bao Sheng
Published: November 2023

Background

Paranoia—incorrectly thinking that others are deliberating trying to harm you—causes distress, undermines social interactions and leads to withdrawal. It presents across multiple psychiatric diagnoses.

Objective

The primary aim was to determine the extent that cognitive and social processes may explain paranoia. The secondary aim was to identify explanatory factors that distinguished paranoia and social anxiety.

Methods

10 382 UK adults, quota sampled to match the population for age, gender, ethnicity, income and region, participated in a non-probability survey. All participants completed a paranoia measure and assessments of cognitive and social processes. Structural equation modelling was conducted.

Findings

2586 (24.9%) participants described being mistrustful of other people. 1756 (16.9%) participants wanted help to trust more. 66.7% of variance in paranoia was explained by a model comprising (in descending order of importance): within-situation defence behaviours, negative images, negative self-beliefs, discrimination, dissociation, aberrant salience, anxiety sensitivity, agoraphobic distress, worry, less social support, agoraphobic avoidance, less analytical reasoning and alcohol use. All explanatory factors were associated with paranoia and social anxiety. Ten factors were more closely associated with paranoia than social anxiety, including discrimination, hallucinations, negative images, aberrant salience and alcohol use. Nine factors were more closely associated with social anxiety, including less positive self-belief, an external locus of control, worry and less analytical reasoning.

Conclusions

Multiple causes are likely to be involved in paranoia. Cognitive and social processes may explain a high degree of paranoia.

Clinical implications

Multiple clear targets for intervention to reduce paranoia are identified.
‘The burden of wanting to make it right’: thematic analysis of semistructured interviews to explore experiences of planning for crisis standards of care and ventilator allocation during the COVID-19 pandemic in the USA
Authors: MacMartin Meredith , Zeng Alison , Chelen Julia , Barnato Amber , Chuang Elizabeth
Published: November 2023

Objectives

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted planning for clinical surges and associated resource shortages, particularly of equipment such as ventilators. We sought to examine the experience of the healthcare professionals who created policies for crisis standards of care, and allocation of ventilators in the event of shortage.

Design

To that end, we conducted semistructured interviews with healthcare professionals in the USA involved in institutional planning for resource shortages in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Setting

USA.

Participants

We conducted 25 interviews between May and July 2021. Half of the respondents were female (48%), many from Northeastern institutions (52%), and most practised in academic institutions (92%).

Results

Many (64%) respondents reported that their institution had an approved policy to guide ventilator allocation in the event of a shortage. We identified one overarching theme: the work of planning for resource shortages imposed a psychological burden on many planners. We identified four subthemes that influenced that burden: impact of leadership, institutional variation in process and policies, faith in the policies and future directions.

Conclusions

Improved leadership strategies and cross-institutional collaboration can reduce the psychological burden of planning and facilitate updating plans in anticipation of future shortages.
Ukraine Trauma Project: the feasibility of introducing advanced trauma-care skills to frontline emergency medical services responders
Authors: Bury Gerard , Fitzpatrick Christopher , Heron Bernard , Cullen Walter , Scully Eithne , Kachurets Kateryna , Zacharchenko Lyudmyla
Published: November 2023

Objectives

To design, develop, deliver and assess a training initiative on haemorrhage control for emergency medical services (EMS) staff in Ukraine, in an active wartime setting.

Design

Using the Medical Research Council framework for complex interventions, a training programme was designed and developed in a collaboration between Irish and Ukrainian colleagues and delivered by experienced prehospital clinicians/educators. Feedback was gathered from participants.

Setting

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused large numbers of trauma patients with limited access to advanced prehospital emergency care. Ukrainian authorities requested support in delivering such care.

Participants

Ukrainian EMS nominated clinical staff as trainees, in partnership with an educational institution in Kyiv.

Intervention

One day provider and train-the-trainer courses were developed and delivered, focused on early delivery of tranexamic acid (TXA), using intraosseous access (IO) in victims of wartime trauma.

Outcome measures

Safe organisation and delivery of courses, assessed knowledge and skills competence and self-reported satisfaction and pre/post confidence/competence.

Results

Two provider and one train-the-trainer courses and four equipment supply exercises were delivered for 89 EMS staff (doctors, nurses, paramedics); none had prior experience of IO or prehospital delivery of TXA. All participants were assessed as competent as providers and/or trainers. High levels of satisfaction and significantly improved self-assessed confidence and competence were reported.

Conclusion

Rapid design and delivery of a training programme focused on an identified need for advanced care of trauma patients in a wartime setting has been possible. Training and immediate access to appropriate equipment was demonstrated. Evidence of frequency of use and safe, effective interventions has not been collected; such data are important for evaluation but difficult to collect in this setting. A high level of demand for this training now exists.
Impact of hyperuricaemia on patients with psoriatic arthritis treated with secukinumab in the FUTURE 2–5 and MAXIMISE studies
Authors: Felten Renaud , Widawski Laura , Spielmann Lionel , Gaillez Corine , Bao Weibin , Gottenberg Jacques-Eric , Duret Pierre-Marie , Messer Laurent
Published: November 2023

Objectives

Patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are at a significantly increased risk of hyperuricaemia and development of gout, and those with hyperuricaemia have been found to respond poorly to PsA treatment and have more peripheral and destructive joint damage. We present a comprehensive post hoc analysis using pooled data from the FUTURE 2–5 studies and the MAXIMISE study to further evaluate the impact of hyperuricaemia on clinical presentation/disease severity and response to secukinumab in patients with PsA.

Methods

Patients were stratified into two groups based on baseline serum uric acid (SUA) level (threshold of 360 µmol/L). A sensitivity analysis was also performed based on SUA thresholds of 300 µmol/L and 420 µmol/L. Demographics, clinical, radiological characteristics and comorbidities data were collected.

Results

At baseline, patients with hyperuricaemia were mostly male, reported a higher prevalence of hypertension, with more clinical dactylitis, more psoriasis and more severe skin disease compared with patients with normouricaemia. A similar proportion of patients in the normouricaemic and hyperuricaemic cohorts achieved American College of Rheumatology responses, resolution of enthesitis and dactylitis, inhibition of structural damage progression and improvement in health-related quality of life across all secukinumab doses at week 52.

Conclusion

Patients with PsA and hyperuricaemia have different clinical characteristics from patients with PsA and normouricaemia. Identification of these patients at an early stage may facilitate a personalised treatment approach and improved management of comorbidities. Furthermore, secukinumab provided a rapid and sustained response across all manifestations of PsA up to week 52, irrespective of baseline uricaemia status.
Hypofibrinogenemia following injury in 186 children and adolescents: identification of the phenotype, current outcomes, and potential for intervention
Authors: Gerard Justin , Van Gent Jan-Michael , Cardenas Jessica , Gage Christian , Meyer David E , Cox Charles , Wade Charles E , Cotton Bryan A
Published: November 2023

Objectives

Recent studies evaluating fibrinogen replacement in trauma, along with newly available fibrinogen-based products, has led to an increase in debate on where products such as cryoprecipitate belong in our resuscitation strategies. We set out to define the phenotype and outcomes of those with hypofibrinogenemia and evaluate whether fibrinogen replacement should have a role in the initial administration of massive transfusion.

Methods

All patients <18 years of age presenting to our trauma center 11/17–4/21 were reviewed. We then evaluated all patients who received emergency-release and massive transfusion protocol (MTP) products. Patients were defined as hypofibrinogenemic (HYPOFIB) if admission fibrinogen <150 or rapid thrombelastography (r-TEG) angle <60 degrees. Our analysis sought to define risk factors for presenting with HYPOFIB, the impact on outcomes, and whether early replacement improved mortality.

Results

4169 patients were entered into the trauma registry, with 926 level 1 trauma activations, of which 186 patients received emergency-release blood products during this time; 1%, 3%, and 10% were HYPOFIB, respectively. Of the 186 patients of interest, 18 were HYPOFIB and 168 were non-HYPOFIB. The HYPOFIB patients were significantly younger, had lower field and arrival Glasgow Coma Scale, had higher head Abbreviated Injury Scale, arrived with worse global coagulopathy, and died from brain injury. Non-HYPOFIB patients were more likely to have (+)focused assessment for the sonography of trauma on arrival, sustained severe abdominal injuries, and die from hemorrhage. 12% of patients who received early cryoprecipitate (0–2 hours) had higher mortality by univariate analysis (55% vs 31%, p=0.045), but no difference on multivariate analysis (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.07 to 1.81, p=0.221). Those receiving early cryoprecipitate who survived after pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission had lower PICU fibrinogen and r-TEG alpha-angle values.

Conclusion

In pediatric trauma, patients with hypofibrinogenemia on admission are most likely younger and to have sustained severe brain injury, with an associated mortality of over 80%. Given the absence of bleeding-related deaths in HYPOFIB patients, this study does not provide evidence for the empiric use of cryoprecipitate in the initial administration of a massive transfusion protocol.

Level of Evidence

Level III - Therapeutic/Care Management.