bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting Wellbeing in Retirees During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Roles of Meaning in Life and Goal Setting
Authors: Lawton Anna , Miller-Lewis Lauren , Gerace Adam
Published: June 2023

Restrictions introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted many retirees from being able to pursue their lifestyle retirement goals. This study examined the impact of lifestyle retirement goal disruption during the pandemic, sources of meaning in life, and goal setting behaviors (planfulness) on retiree wellbeing. In this quantitative study, retirees (n = 141) in Victoria, Australia completed an online survey in mid-2021 containing measures of sources of meaning in life, planfulness, and wellbeing. Qualitative data were also collected using a series of open-ended questions regarding the nature of retirement goal disruptions. Findings revealed that greater sources of meaning in life and planfulness significantly predicted greater wellbeing in retirees, as did being in a relationship and living in an urban/city location. Age, gender, and years retired were not associated with wellbeing. Planfulness moderated the association between COVID-19 goal-disruption and wellbeing. Open-ended responses indicated that retirement goals commonly affected by COVID-19 were travel and family-time. The study revealed that older adults were able to adjust during a time of crisis, with sources of meaning in life and planfulness being useful resources for wellbeing. Planfulness was an important buffer for those experiencing goal-disruption due to COVID-19.
Egg donor self-reports of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: severity by trigger type, oocytes retrieved, and prior history
Authors: Tober Diane M. , Richter Kevin , Zubizarreta Dougie , Daneshmand Said
Published: June 2023

Purpose

To evaluate self-reported survey data provided by US oocyte donors on their experiences with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and possible correlations between OHSS severity and number of oocytes retrieved, trigger type, and prior OHSS history.

Methods

An 85-question retrospective survey was administered online. Survey questions included demographic information, reasons for donating, immediate per-cycle experiences and outcomes, perceptions of informed consent, and perceived impact of donation on long-term health. Quantitative Data for this study was collected between February 2019 and September 2020 via QualtricsXM (January 2019), an online survey platform. Follow-up interviews were also conducted. Participants were recruited via fertility clinics, egg donation agencies, and online forum. The research was approved by the University of California, San Francisco Institutional Review Board (#14-14765).

Results

Of 420 initiated US oocyte donor online surveys, 289 (68%) respondents provided detailed information on per cycle experiences with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, number of oocytes retrieved, and trigger type over a total of 801 cycles. On cycles where donors reported receiving GnRH agonist triggers (n = 337), they reported milder OHSS compared to cycles with hCG or dual triggers. Among donors undergoing multiple retrieval cycles, the severity of OHSS in second cycles was strongly associated with OHSS severity in first cycles.

Conclusion

Self-reported OHSS in oocyte donors is lower in GnRH antagonist stimulation protocols combined with GnRHa trigger and in cycles where donors reported fewer than 30 oocytes retrieved. Donors who reported severe OHSS on a prior cycle were significantly more likely to experience severe OHSS on a subsequent cycle.
50-year volume transport of the Soya Warm Current estimated from the sea-level difference and its relationship with the Tsushima and Tsugaru Warm Currents
Authors: Ohshima Kay I. , Kuga Mizuki
Published: June 2023

This study provides formulae for monthly estimates of the Soya Warm Current (SYC) transport from the sea-level difference (SLD) across the Soya Strait and along the current, and creates a 50-yr data set of the SYC transport. The formulae are based on the dynamical balance both across the strait and along the current by considering the barotropic and baroclinic components. It is suggested that the barotropic and baroclinic components in transport variability are comparable in summer, whereas the barotropic component is dominant in winter. We compared the 50-year time series of the SYC transport with those of the Tsushima (TSC) and Tsugaru Warm Currents estimated from the SLDs from the viewpoint of the Japan Sea Throughflow (JSTF) system. The variabilities of the SYC and TSC transports are mostly shared for any season, showing relatively high coherence at periods of 2–5 years as well as 1 year. The winter variability of the JSTF transport originates partly from that of the SYC transport caused by the winter monsoon variability in the Sea of Okhotsk. The SYC transport is significantly correlated with the transport through the eastern channel of the TSC, but not that through the western channel. We found difficulty in extracting variability and relationships at periods longer than 5 years among the three transports estimated from the SLDs, probably due to incomplete correction of the ground movements for the sea-level data.
A Hybrid Mobile Phone Feasibility Study Focusing on Latino Mothers, Fathers, and Grandmothers to Prevent Obesity in Preschoolers
Authors: AD Guerrero , DC Glik , NJ Jackson , SE Whaley , TR Belin , Slusser W , PJ Chung
Published: June 2023

Objective

To pilot the feasibility of a mobile phone childhood obesity intervention for family caregivers of Latino preschool-aged children.

Methods

An evidence-based early childhood obesity intervention was adapted to have cultural relevance and a shorter-length curriculum for mothers, fathers, and grandmothers of 2- to 5-year-old Latino children. Traditional in-person group sessions (four weeks) were combined with eight weeks of mobile phone content to support parenting skills and evidence-based and age-appropriate nutritional practices in either English or Spanish. A convenience sample of Latino families were recruited from WIC and Early Education Centers in East Los Angeles. Feasibility measures were collected. Child and caregiver height and weight were measured, and caregiver surveys of child dietary intake were collected at baseline, 1- and 6-month post-baseline. Changes in child’s dietary intake and BMI, as well as caregiver BMI, were examined using a mixed effects linear regression model with family random intercept and nested random slope for time period of measurement.

Results

The program was delivered to 64 low-income Latino families (46 mothers, 34 fathers, 16 grandmothers, and 48 children). Children had a reduction in raw BMI, BMI percentile, and BMI z-scores at 6-months post-baseline compared to baseline measurements. The study also demonstrated stable BMI outcomes among all caregivers.

Conclusion

The pilot study shows promise in preventing childhood obesity, and having a multi-generational impact on weight outcomes. Leveraging the high-use of mobile phones has the potential to shorten in-person interventions, and engage fathers and grandmothers who play an important role in shaping healthy weight practices in young children.
Capacity-Building for Collecting Patient-Reported Outcomes and Experiences (PRO) Data Across Hospitals
Authors: Saeb Samia , Korst Lisa M. , Fridman Moshe , McCulloch Jeanette , Greene Naomi , Gregory Kimberly D.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Patient-reported outcomes and experiences (PRO) data are an integral component of health care quality measurement and PROs are now being collected by many healthcare systems. However, hospital organizational capacity-building for the collection and sharing of PROs is a complex process. We sought to identify the factors that facilitated capacity-building for PRO data collection in a nascent quality improvement learning collaborative of 16 hospitals that has the goal of improving the childbirth experience.

Description

We used standard qualitative case study methodologies based on a conceptual framework that hypothesizes that adequate organizational incentives and capacities allow successful achievement of project milestones in a collaborative setting. The 4 project milestones considered in this study were: (1) Agreements; (2) System Design; (3) System Development and Operations; and (4) Implementation. To evaluate the success of reaching each milestone, critical incidents were logged and tracked to determine the capacities and incentives needed to resolve them.

Assessment

The pace of the implementation of PRO data collection through the 4 milestones was uneven across hospitals and largely dependent on limited hospital capacities in the following 8 dimensions: (1) Incentives; (2) Leadership; (3) Policies; (4) Operating systems; (5) Information technology; (6) Legal aspects; (7) Cross-hospital collaboration; and (8) Patient engagement. From this case study, a trajectory for capacity-building in each dimension is discussed.

Conclusion

The implementation of PRO data collection in a quality improvement learning collaborative was dependent on multiple organizational capacities for the achievement of project milestones.
Empirical evidence on the relationship between research and teaching in academia
Authors: Maisano Domenico A. , Mastrogiacomo Luca , Franceschini Fiorenzo
Published: June 2023

Research and teaching are the two most characteristic activities of the professional life of academics. Since the second half of the last century, a plurality of studies focused on the link between these activities, with often contrasting conclusions. While some studies are in line with the von-Humboldtian view of research and teaching as synergistic activities, other studies theorize their uncorrelation or even negative tension. This divergence of views probably stems from the fact that investigations are often based on heterogeneous, limited and difficult-to-generalise data, using mainly qualitative metrics. This paper deepens the study of the research-teaching link, through a survey of 251 academics from Politecnico di Torino, i.e., one of the major Italian technical universities. From a methodological point of view, research and teaching are both analysed from the dual perspective of workload and quality of results obtained, on the basis of data of various kinds, including bibliometric indicators, teaching satisfaction indexes, number of credits awarded to students, etc. Next, a correlation analysis investigates possible links between teaching and research, showing that they tend to be weak and/or statistically insignificant. For instance, the investigation excludes both (i) the existence of a negative link in terms of workload—contradicting considerations such as “Those who do more teaching have less time to do research and vice versa”—and (ii) the existence of a positive link in terms of the quality of the results obtained—contradicting considerations such as “Those who obtain high quality results in research are likely to do the same in teaching and vice versa”. The results of this study are limited to the Italian context and do not necessarily have general validity. Nevertheless, they enhance previous findings in the scientific literature and may be useful for university administrators and those involved in the formulation of incentive strategies for academics.
Attenuation and soil biodegradation of fungicides by using vegetated buffer strips in vineyards during a simulated rainfall–runoff event
Authors: Ortega Paula , Escolà Casas Mònica , Gil Emilio , Matamoros Víctor
Published: June 2023

Rainfall–runoff events occurring in vineyard fields can result in pesticide ground losses and the subsequent pollution of surface water bodies, derivate from the crop protection spray applications. In this study, the capacity of vegetated buffer strips (BS) to prevent surface water pollution due to the application of five fungicide products typically used in vineyards (copper, dimethomorph, oxathiapiprolin, zoxamide, acibenzolar-s-methyl, and laminarin) following a simulated run-off event has been assessed, and compared to that from a bare ground soil (BG). Two strips (5 m in length, each), one with vegetation and the other without were built up, and two different experiments were performed, a runoff event and a soil fungicide degradation kinetic evaluation. The runoff results show that fungicide mass retention in the strips ranged from 73 to 98% and that the presence of vegetation in BS increased the fungicide mass retention in the strips by almost 10% (on average) in comparison to the unvegetated strip. Moreover, soil degradation studies highlighted that the presence of vegetation reduces significantly the half-time life of almost all the studied fungicides by 55%, on average. Eight fungicide transformation products (TPs) were identified following a runoff event in the soil strips, but the abundance of these TPs was up to 78% lower in vegetated strips. These results highlight the effectiveness of using vegetated buffer zones in vineyards to protect aquatic ecosystem pollution.
The Conditional Analysis of the Agentive Modals: a Reply to Mandelkern et al.
Authors: Kittle Simon
Published: June 2023

A proper understanding of agentive modals promises to clarify issues to do with free will, know how, and other philosophically interesting topics. In this paper I identify one constraint on, and one structural feature of, trying-based versions of the conditional analysis of the agentive modals. I suggest that the constraint and structural feature together provide a novel account of why the famous Lehrer-Chisholm objection to conditional analyses of ability modals is so powerful. I argue that Mandelkern et al.’s ‘Agentive Modals’ (Philosophical Review,126/3, 301–343, 2017) conditional analysis of the agentive modals fails to avoid this problem. I also identify two further problems for their account. I close by summarising a number of criteria which any successful semantic analysis of the agentive modals should satisfy.
Die Rückerstattungspflicht als Zugangshürde zur Sozialpädagogischen Familienhilfe
Authors: Metzger Marius , Masoud Tehrani Anoushiravan
Published: June 2023

Je nach Unterstützungswohnsitz müssen Eltern in der Schweiz die Kosten für die Inanspruchnahme von Sozialpädagogischer Familienhilfe selbst übernehmen. Sind Eltern dazu nicht in der Lage, werden diese Kosten von der zumeist rückerstattungspflichtigen Sozialhilfe subsidiär übernommen. Aufgrund dieser drohenden Rückerstattungspflicht besteht die Gefahr, dass Eltern trotz vorhandenem Hilfebedarf auf die Inanspruchnahme von Sozialpädagogischer Familienhilfe verzichten, um eine Verschuldung gegenüber der öffentlichen Hand zu vermeiden. In einer qualitativen Befragung von 36 Sozialarbeitenden wurde untersucht, wie sie dieser Problematik in der Beratung der Eltern begegnen.
A novel online training programme for healthcare professionals caring for older adults
Authors: Michel Jean-Pierre , Ecarnot Fiona , Arai Hidenori , Chen Liang-Kung
Published: June 2023

The proportion of older people in the world population is growing rapidly. Training and retaining healthcare professionals in sufficient numbers in the field of ageing represents a major challenge for the future, to deal with the healthcare needs of this ageing population. The COVID pandemic has unfortunately compounded shortages of healthcare workers worldwide. There is therefore a pressing need to scale-up the education of healthcare professionals in geriatrics and gerontology. Over the last 30 years, a group of motivated geriatrics physicians from Europe have been striving to educate healthcare professionals in geriatrics and gerontology through various initiatives, and using innovative pedagogic approaches to train physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic unfortunately put a stop to presence-based training programmes, but prompted the development of the online International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG) eTRIGGER (e-Training In Geriatrics and GERontology) course, a new training course in geriatrics and gerontology for healthcare professionals from a wide range of backgrounds. We outline here the history of the educational initiatives that have culminated in the roll-out of this new programme, and the perspectives for the future.
Turning traffic surveillance cameras into intelligent sensors for traffic density estimation
Authors: Hu Zijian , Lam William H. K. , Wong S. C. , Chow Andy H. F. , Ma Wei
Published: June 2023

Accurate traffic density plays a pivotal role in the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). The current practice to obtain the traffic density is through specialized sensors. However, those sensors are placed in limited locations due to the cost of installation and maintenance. In most metropolitan areas, traffic surveillance cameras are widespread in road networks, and they are the potential data sources for estimating traffic density in the whole city. Unfortunately, such an application is challenging since surveillance cameras are affected by the 4L characteristics: Low frame rate, Low resolution, Lack of annotated data, and Located in complex road environments. To the best of our knowledge, there is a lack of holistic frameworks for estimating traffic density from traffic surveillance camera data with 4 L characteristics. Therefore, we propose a framework for estimating traffic density using uncalibrated traffic surveillance cameras. The proposed framework consists of two major components: camera calibration and vehicle detection. The camera calibration method estimates the actual length between pixels in the images and videos, and the vehicle counts are extracted from the deep-learning-based vehicle detection method. Combining the two components, high-granular traffic density can be estimated. To validate the proposed framework, two case studies were conducted in Hong Kong and Sacramento. The results show that the Mean Absolute Error (MAE) for the estimated traffic density is 9.04 veh/km/lane in Hong Kong and 7.03 veh/km/lane in Sacramento. The research outcomes can provide accurate traffic density without installing additional sensors.
Cancer de la vessie: le challenge d’un suivi personnalisé en fonction du patient et des caractéristiques tumorales
Authors: Bohner Perrine , Pal Matyas , Crettenand François , Roth Beat , Lucca Ilaria
Published: June 2023

Le cancer de la vessie (CV) est un cancer fréquent avec une évolution hétérogène nécessitant un suivi de longue durée. Sa prise en charge ainsi que sa surveillance sont couteuses. Le suivi des patients ne consiste pas uniquement d’un un suivi oncologique mais également un suivi fonctionnel et métabolique. Ces deux aspects ont un impact important sur la qualité de vie du patient. Une prise en charge individualisée pourrait permettre une diminution du nombre d’examens et des coûts tout en garantissant un suivi oncologique optimal.
Mg-incorporated micro/nano-topographical calcium silicate coatings with enhanced osteogenic properties and reduced inflammatory reactions
Authors: Li Kai , Hu Dandan , Zhang Xinwei , Li Jieping , Huang Shansong , Ji Heng , Zheng Xuebin
Published: June 2023

Orthopedic implant coatings with optimized surface topography and chemistry can achieve favorable osteogenesis and inflammatory responses. In this work, to take advantage of micro/nano-topography and nutrient element Mg, atmosphere plasma spray and hydrothermal treatment were employed to fabricate two kinds of Mg-incorporated micro/nano-topographical calcium silicate coatings with 0.9 and 15.7 wt% Mg content (Mg1-CS and Mg2-CS). MgSiO3 microspheres composed of nano-flakes were formed on the CS coating surface. We investigated the effects of surface topography and released Mg ion on the protein adsorption and the behaviors of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and RAW264.7 macrophages. Compared with the CS coating, the Mg2-CS coating had 1.8-fold increase in specific surface area, which favored serum protein adsorption and BMSC adhesion. With higher Mg2+ release, the Mg1-CS coating exerted greater effect on enhancing fibronectin adsorption, integrin activation, and osteogenic behaviors of BMSCs. The gene expression profiles showed that the Mg-incorporated CS coatings could modulate macrophage polarization towards M2 phenotype with Mg2-CS showing greater effect. These results showed that the nanostructured Mg-containing surface can promote osteogenic responses and mitigate inflammatory reactions.
Circumstances surrounding end of life in a Swiss pediatric intensive care unit
Authors: Wanders Aurélie , Ghinescu Cristian , Levy-Jamet Yann , Martin Anne-Laure , Barcos-Munoz Francisca , Rimensberger Peter , Polito Angelo
Published: June 2023

Purpose

To describe the modes of death (MOD), the elements related to the decision to forgo life-sustaining treatments (LST) as well as the medical and parental environment surrounding time of death in our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Methods

This is a retrospective, single-center study from a Swiss PICU. All patients between 30 days and 18 years of age who died in our PICU from 2006 to 2019 were eligible for inclusion. Data were collected from patients’ record and from a standardized death form containing information on circumstances surrounding end-of-life. Patients’ and families’ characteristics as well as trends over time of MOD were evaluated.

Results

Of 6930 PICU admissions during the whole study period, 121 (1.7%) died in our PICU. Mortality significantly decreased from 2.9% in 2006 to 1% in 2019 (p = 0.003). More than half of patients died after a decision to transition to comfort care (68.56%). Withdrawal and limitation of LST were the prevalent MOD (56%) with a significant increase in withdrawal over time. Primary diagnosis, limitation (vs. withdrawal) of LST, type of admission and families’ religious background are associated with longer latencies between admission to decision to comfort care and from decision to death. At least one parent was present in 94% of cases when LST were limited or withdrawn.

Conclusions

Most of the deaths follow LST limitation or withdrawal with increasing rates of withdrawal over time. We also showed that time latencies between admission and decision and from decision to death varies depending on MOD, patients’ characteristics and families ‘religious background.
Revitalizing the World Trading System
Authors: Wolff Alan Wm.
Published: June 2023

In recent years, the world trading system has been confronted by a range of new and developing challenges: the risk of climate change, the instability of the digital economy, the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and the threat of future pandemics, to name but a few. In this book, veteran trade negotiator, Ambassador Alan Wm. Wolff, draws from his years of experience at the World Trade Organization to consider the history of trade, the current trading system and how it should be reformed in the future. Offering a rare insight into the inner workings of the WTO, Wolff is uniquely placed to identify deficiencies in the current system and suggest actionable solutions. This essential guidebook to the WTO equips readers with the tools and knowledge required to tackle to emerging and emergent challenges of a global trading system.
The Making of a Dialogical Theory
Authors: Marková Ivana
Published: June 2023

Creating a stimulating social theory with long-lasting inﬂuence for generations of scholars is driven by multiple interacting factors. The fortune of a theory is determined not only by the author's creative mind but also by the ways in which principal concepts are understood and interpreted. The proper understanding of a social theory requires a good grasp of major historical, political, and cultural challenges that contribute to its making. Considering these issues, Marková explores Serge Moscovici's theory of social representations and communication as a case study in the making of a dialogical social theory. She analyses both the undeveloped features and the forward-moving, inspirational highlights of the theory and presents them as a resource for linking issues and problems from diverse domains and disciplines. This dialogical approach has the potential to advance the dyad Self–Other as an irreducible intellectual, ethical, and aesthetic unit in epistemologies of the human and social sciences.
Constructionist Approaches
Authors: Ungerer Tobias , Hartmann Stefan
Published: June 2023

Construction Grammar (CxG) has developed into a broad and highly diverse family of approaches that have in common that they see constructions, i.e. form-meaning pairs at various levels of abstraction and complexity, as the basic units of language. This Element gives an overview of the origin and the current state of the art of constructionist approaches, focusing, on the one hand, on basic concepts like the notion of 'constructions', while at the same time offering an in-depth discussion of current research trends and open questions. It discusses the commonalities and differences between the major constructionist approaches, the organization of constructional networks as well as ongoing research on linguistic creativity, multimodality and individual differences. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Longer-term effectiveness of a heterologous coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine booster in healthcare workers in Brazil
Authors: Marra Alexandre R. , Miraglia João Luiz , Malheiro Daniel Tavares , Guozhang Yang , Teich Vanessa Damazio , Victor Elivane da Silva , Pinho João Renato Rebello , Cypriano Adriana , Vieira Laura Wanderly , Polonio Miria , Ornelas Rafael Herrera , de Oliveira Solange Miranda , Borges Flavio Araujo , Oler Silvia Cristina Cassiano , Ricardo Victória Catharina Volpe , Maezato Aline Miho , Callado Gustavo Yano , Schettino Guilherme de Paula Pinto , de Oliveira Ketti Gleyzer , Santana Rúbia Anita Ferraz , Malta Fernanda de Mello , Amgarten Deyvid , Boechat Ana Laura , Kobayashi Takaaki , Salinas Jorge L. , Edmond Michael B. , Rizzo Luiz Vicente
Published: June 2023

Objective:

To compare the long-term vaccine effectiveness between those receiving viral vector [Oxford-AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1)] or inactivated viral (CoronaVac) primary series (2 doses) and those who received an mRNA booster (Pfizer/BioNTech) (the third dose) among healthcare workers (HCWs).

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective cohort study among HCWs (aged ≥18 years) in Brazil from January 2021 to July 2022. To assess the variation in the effectiveness of booster dose over time, we estimated the effectiveness rate by taking the log risk ratio as a function of time.

Results:

Of 14,532 HCWs, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was confirmed in 56.3% of HCWs receiving 2 doses of CoronaVac vaccine versus 23.2% of HCWs receiving 2 doses of CoronaVac vaccine with mRNA booster (P< .001), and 37.1% of HCWs receiving 2 doses of ChAdOx1 vaccine versus 22.7% among HCWs receiving 2 doses of ChAdOx1 vaccine with mRNA booster (P< .001). The highest vaccine effectiveness with mRNA booster was observed 30 days after vaccination: 91% for the CoronaVac vaccine group and 97% for the ChAdOx1 vaccine group. Vacine effectiveness declined to 55% and 67%, respectively, at 180 days. Of 430 samples screened for mutations, 49.5% were SARS-CoV-2 delta variants and 34.2% were SARS-CoV-2 omicron variants.

Conclusions:

Heterologous COVID-19 vaccines were effective for up to 180 days in preventing COVID-19 in the SARS-CoV-2 delta and omicron variant eras, which suggests the need for a second booster.
Toxicology of pharmaceutical and nutritional longevity compounds
Authors: Kahraman Cigdem , Kaya Bilecenoglu Duygu , Sabuncuoglu Suna , Cankaya Irem Tatli
Published: June 2023

Aging is the most prominent risk factor for many diseases, which is considered to be a complicated biological process. The rate of aging depends on the effectiveness of important mechanisms such as the protection of DNA from free radicals, which protects the structural and functional integrity of cells and tissues. In any organism, not all organs may age at the same rate. Slowing down primary aging and reaching maximum lifespan is the most basic necessity. In this process, it may be possible to slow down or stabilise some diseases by using the compounds for both dietary and pharmacological purposes. Natural compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, mostly plant-based nutraceuticals, are preferred in the treatment of age-related chronic diseases and can also be used for other diseases. An increasing number of long-term studies on synthetic and natural compounds aim to elucidate preclinically and clinically the mechanisms underlying being healthy and prolongation of life. To delay age-related diseases and prolong the lifespan, it is necessary to take these compounds with diet or pharmaceuticals, along with detailed toxicological results. In this review, the most promising and utilised compounds will be highlighted and it will be discussed whether they have toxic effects in short/long-term use, although they are thought to be used safely.
Procesos de manufactura e identificación taxonómica de pieles en Norpatagonia argentina (Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi)
Authors: Lezcano Maximiliano Javier , Vargas Fernando Emmanuel , Hajduk Adán , Claramonte Simón , Scartascini Federico Luis
Published: June 2023

Se presentan los primeros resultados del análisis de pieles procesadas recuperadas en el sitio Puerto Tranquilo 1, ubicado en el extremo norte de la Isla Victoria, en el Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, Provincia de Neuquén, Argentina. El material estudiado proviene de un nivel tardío, por encima de un fogón fechado en 640 ± 60 años aP (1288–1431 cal dC). El conjunto incluye tanto fragmentos de piel con pelo como depilados, con costuras de tendón y pelo, pintados y con reparaciones. Se aplicó una metodología específica para el análisis de las pieles y las fibras, con una descripción técnico-morfológica detallada a partir del análisis macro- y microscópico (SEM/óptico). Las características de la médula y de la cutícula de las fibras permitieron la identificación de Lama guanicoe y Mustelidae (cf. Galictis). Se aplicaron estrategias analíticas y metodológicas novedosas y se generaron datos acerca de las diferentes dimensiones del uso humano de los recursos faunísticos y de la producción de tecnologías en el área boscoso-lacustre norpatagónica. La comparación con otras evidencias arqueológicas, etnográficas y etnohistóricas permitió reconocer rasgos tecnológicos recurrentes en la preparación de las pieles y en la manufactura de artefactos, como parte del proceso productivo del cuero en Norpatagonia.
Introduction: New Histories of the Irish Revolution
Authors: McConnel James , Nic Dháibhéid Caoimhe
Published: June 2023

The centenary of the Irish Revolution has just concluded, with 2023 marking the hundredth anniversary of the ‘dump arms’ order which ended, albeit ambiguously, the civil war of 1922–3. European history has been accustomed to marking centenaries during the past ten years, from the First World War which overturned a global order, to the Russian Revolution which created a new one, to the post-war national reverberations which created revolutions of their own. The enthusiasm with which these have been marked across Europe has varied considerably, with the sombre ne plus jamais tones of the centenary of the First World War giving way rapidly to the muted if not entirely absent commemorations of the October Revolution in Russia. The island of Ireland has perhaps been more wedded than elsewhere in Europe to the relentless treadmill of centenaries, with the Irish state formally dating its existence to the vanguardist rebellion, popular mandates and political institutions that occurred between 1916 and 1922, and Northern Ireland being dated to 1920. The ‘Decade of Centenaries’, as it is known in Ireland, has been unfolding according to a carefully arranged schedule since 2012; the end, marking the ambiguous conclusion of the Irish Civil War, is finally upon us. The implications of the ‘Decade’ for public history, for the position of professional historians within and outside the academy, and for the broader understanding of the revolutionary decade are significant and have generated their own critical literature.
Measurement Properties and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the De Jong	Gierveld Loneliness Scale in Adults
Authors: Alsubheen Sanaa , Oliveira Ana , Habash Razanne , Goldstein Roger , Brooks Dina
Published: June 2023

Abstract: This systematic review evaluated the measurement properties of the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS) in adults. A systematic search of four electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and PsycINFO) was conducted from inception until December 2022. The COSMIN (Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments) guidelines were used to assess the methodological quality and evidence synthesis of the included studies. Forty-six studies assessed the validity and reliability of the DJGLS-11 and its short version, the DJGLS-6. Very-low-quality evidence supported the content validity, moderate to high-quality evidence confirmed the structural validity and internal consistency, and low-quality evidence supported the construct validity of the two versions. Test-retest reliability was examined for the DJGLS-6 with low-quality evidence supporting excellent interclass coefficient values of 0.73–1.00. Both scales were cross-culturally adapted and translated into 18 languages across 12 countries. Although the structural validity and internal consistency of the DJGLS were supported by high-quality evidence, very-low to low-quality evidence was available for its other measurement properties. Future studies are needed to perform a more comprehensive assessment of the measurement properties of the DJGLS before fully recommending the scale to assess loneliness in adults.
Cross‐Orogen Granite Migration as an Indicator of Slab Rollback Along Eastern Gondwana
Authors: Zhang Qing , Buckman Solomon , Mitchell Ross N. , Nutman Allen P. , Li Xian‐Hua , Bennett Vickie C. , Beer Courtney
Published: June 2023

Slab rollback during subduction plays a key role in controlling continental growth at convergent plate boundaries. The dynamics of currently subducting slabs can be precisely constrained using geophysical techniques. In contrast, ancient episodes of slab rollback can be difficult to constrain, yet are critical to unlocking the tectonic evolution of long‐lived orogens such as the Phanerozoic Australian Tasmanides of eastern Gondwana. Recognition of ancient slab rollback relies on the identification of the progressive migration of magmatic arcs. Here, we investigate the timing and isotopic variation of ∼90 km of the trans‐orogen migration of the Carboniferous Bathurst Batholith as a potential indicator of slab rollback. U–Pb–Hf isotopes, combined with a regional zircon Hf isotope data set, suggest that the eastward migration of the batholith over ∼18 Myr, from 340.1 to 322.4 Ma, records a maximum slab steepening rate of ∼0.6–1.2° Myr−1 in a relatively stable trench setting. These results provide a magmatic record of Carboniferous slab rollback and establish a missing link between the long‐lived Lachlan and New England orogens of the eastern Gondwanan Tasmanides.
Geochemical Constraints on the Origin of Primitive Potassic Lavas in the Eastern Virunga Volcanic Province
Authors: Pitcavage E. , Furman T. , Nelson W. R. , Graham D. W. , Shirey S. , Kulyanyingi P. K. , Barifaijo E.
Published: June 2023

Young mafic lavas from the East African Western Rift record melting of subcontinental lithospheric mantle that was metasomatically modified by multiple tectonic events. We report new isotope data from monogenetic cinder cones near Bufumbira, Uganda, in the Virunga Volcanic Field: 87Sr/86Sr = 0.7059–0.7079, εNd = −6.5 to −1.3, εHf = −6.3 to +0.9, 208Pb/204Pb = 40.1–40.7, 207Pb/204Pb = 15.68–15.75, and 206Pb/204Pb = 19.27–19.45. Olivine phenocrysts from the Bufumbira lavas have 3He/4He = 6.0–7.4 RA. The isotopic data, in conjunction with major and trace element systematics, indicate that primitive Bufumbira magmas are derived from two different metasomatized lithospheric source domains. Melts generated by lower degrees of melting record greater contributions from ∼1 to 2 Ga isotopically enriched garnet‐amphibole‐phlogopite pyroxenite veins within the lithosphere. As melting progresses, these vein melts become increasingly diluted by melts that originate near the lithosphere/asthenosphere boundary, shifting the isotopic compositions toward the common lithospheric mantle (CLM) proposed by Furman and Graham (1999, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0024-4937(99)00031-6). This ∼450–500 Ma source domain appears to underlie all Western Rift volcanic provinces and is characterized by 87Sr/86Sr ∼ 0.705, εNd ∼ 0, εHf ∼ +1 to +3, 206Pb/204Pb ∼ 19.0–19.2, 208Pb/204Pb ∼ 39.7, and 3He/4He ∼ 7 RA. Basal portions of the dense subcontinental lithospheric mantle may become gravitationally unstable and founder into underlying warmer asthenosphere, exposing surfaces where melting of locally heterogeneous veins produces small‐volume, alkaline mafic melts. Mafic lavas from all Western Rift volcanic provinces record mixing between the CLM and locally variable metasomatized source domains, suggesting this style of melt generation is fundamental to the development of magma‐poor rifts.
Deficits in integrative NMDA receptors caused by Grin1 disruption can be rescued in adulthood
Authors: Venkatesan Sridevi , Binko Mary A. , Mielnik Catharine A. , Ramsey Amy J. , Lambe Evelyn K.
Published: June 2023

Glutamatergic NMDA receptors (NMDAR) are critical for cognitive function, and their reduced expression leads to intellectual disability. Since subpopulations of NMDARs exist in distinct subcellular environments, their functioning may be unevenly vulnerable to genetic disruption. Here, we investigate synaptic and extrasynaptic NMDARs on the major output neurons of the prefrontal cortex in mice deficient for the obligate NMDAR subunit encoded by Grin1 and wild-type littermates. With whole-cell recording in brain slices, we find that single, low-intensity stimuli elicit surprisingly-similar glutamatergic synaptic currents in both genotypes. By contrast, clear genotype differences emerge with manipulations that recruit extrasynaptic NMDARs, including stronger, repetitive, or pharmacological stimulation. These results reveal a disproportionate functional deficit of extrasynaptic NMDARs compared to their synaptic counterparts. To probe the repercussions of this deficit, we examine an NMDAR-dependent phenomenon considered a building block of cognitive integration, basal dendrite plateau potentials. Since we find this phenomenon is readily evoked in wild-type but not in Grin1-deficient mice, we ask whether plateau potentials can be restored by an adult intervention to increase Grin1 expression. This genetic manipulation, previously shown to restore cognitive performance in adulthood, successfully rescues electrically-evoked basal dendrite plateau potentials after a lifetime of NMDAR compromise. Taken together, our work demonstrates NMDAR subpopulations are not uniformly vulnerable to the genetic disruption of their obligate subunit. Furthermore, the window for functional rescue of the more-sensitive integrative NMDARs remains open into adulthood.
Ethambutol and visual assessment in England: current practice and recommendations
Authors: MacVinish Sally , McMaster David , Moledina Tanya , Tamne Surinder K. , Ashworth Jane , Anderson Sarah R.
Published: June 2023

Background

Standard treatment for tuberculosis (TB) in children and adults includes an initial two-month course of ethambutol, a drug that in rare cases can cause optic neuropathy and irreversible vision loss. There is a lack of clear guidance on what vision assessments are needed before and during treatment with ethambutol, with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, British National Formulary and British Thoracic Society offering different guidance. We aimed to assess how vision is routinely tested in patients treated with ethambutol in TB services across England.

Methods

An online survey developed by Public Health England was sent to all TB services in England in 2018 to assess current practice and inform the development of best practice recommendations for visual assessment of patients treated with ethambutol for TB.

Results

Sixty-six TB professionals from across England responded, a response rate of 54%. The results showed variations in practice, including when to omit ethambutol from treatment, the timing and frequency of visual assessment, the type of visual assessment, referral processes and management of visual changes.

Conclusion

This national survey highlights the need for clear guidelines on the testing of vision for patients taking ethambutol at recommended doses, before and during treatment. We suggest a pragmatic approach to visual assessment to reduce variation in practice, proposing a stepwise pathway for patients on standard TB treatment for local adaptation.
Mycobacterium abscessus VapC5 toxin potentiates evasion of antibiotic killing by ribosome overproduction and activation of multiple resistance pathways
Authors: Troian Eduardo A. , Maldonado Heather M. , Chauhan Unnati , Barth Valdir C. , Woychik Nancy A.
Published: June 2023

Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab) infections are inexplicably intractable to clearing after aggressive and lengthy treatment regimens. Here we discovered that acquisition of a single toxin-antitoxin system enables Mab to activate a phenotypic switch that enhances survival upon treatment with current first-line antibiotics. This switch is tripped when the VapC5 toxin inactivates tRNASerCGA by cleavage at only one site within its anticodon, leading to growth arrest. Concomitant tRNASerCGA depletion then reprograms the transcriptome to favor synthesis of proteins naturally low in the cognate Ser UCG codon including the transcription factor WhiB7 and members of its regulon as well as the ribosomal protein family. This programmed stockpiling of ribosomes is predicted to override the efficacy of ribosome-targeting antibiotics while the growth arrest phenotype attenuates antibiotics targeting cell wall synthesis. In agreement, VapC5 increases Mab persister formation upon exposure to amikacin and the next-generation oxazolidinone tedizolid (both target ribosomes) or cefoxitin (inhibits cell wall synthesis). These findings expand the repertoire of genetic adaptations harnessed by Mab to survive assaults intended to eradicate it, as well as provide a much-needed framework for selection of shorter and more efficacious alternate treatment options for Mab infections using currently available antimicrobials whose targets are not confounded by VapC5.
A magnetic hydrogel for the efficient retrieval of kidney stone fragments during ureteroscopy
Authors: Ge T. Jessie , Roquero Daniel Massana , Holton Grace H. , Mach Kathleen E. , Prado Kris , Lau Hubert , Jensen Kristin , Chang Timothy C. , Conti Simon , Sheth Kunj , Wang Shan X. , Liao Joseph C.
Published: June 2023

Only 60-75% of conventional kidney stone surgeries achieve complete stone-free status. Up to 30% of patients with residual fragments <2 mm in size experience subsequent stone-related complications. Here we demonstrate a stone retrieval technology in which fragments are rendered magnetizable with a magnetic hydrogel so that they can be easily retrieved with a simple magnetic tool. The magnetic hydrogel facilitates robust in vitro capture of stone fragments of clinically relevant sizes and compositions. The hydrogel components exhibit no cytotoxicity in cell culture and only superficial effects on ex vivo human urothelium and in vivo mouse bladders. Furthermore, the hydrogel demonstrates antimicrobial activity against common uropathogens on par with that of common antibiotics. By enabling the efficient retrieval of kidney stone fragments, our method can lead to improved stone-free rates and patient outcomes.
Oncogenic structural aberration landscape in gastric cancer genomes
Authors: Saito-Adachi Mihoko , Hama Natsuko , Totoki Yasushi , Nakamura Hiromi , Arai Yasuhito , Hosoda Fumie , Rokutan Hirofumi , Yachida Shinichi , Kato Mamoru , Fukagawa Akihiko , Shibata Tatsuhiro
Published: June 2023

Structural variants (SVs) are responsible for driver events in gastric cancer (GC); however, their patterns and processes remain poorly understood. Here, we examine 170 GC whole genomes to unravel the oncogenic structural aberration landscape in GC genomes and identify six rearrangement signatures (RSs). Non-random combinations of RSs elucidate distinctive GC subtypes comprising one or a few dominant RS that are associated with specific driver events (BRCA1/2 defects, mismatch repair deficiency, and TP53 mutation) and epidemiological backgrounds. Twenty-seven SV hotspots are identified as GC driver candidates. SV hotspots frequently constitute complexly clustered SVs involved in driver gene amplification, such as ERBB2, CCNE1, and FGFR2. Further deconstruction of the locally clustered SVs uncovers amplicon-generating profiles characterized by super-large SVs and intensive segmental amplifications, contributing to the extensive amplification of GC oncogenes. Comprehensive analyses using adjusted SV allele frequencies indicate the significant involvement of extra-chromosomal DNA in processes linked to specific RSs.
Thermally trainable dual network hydrogels
Authors: Hu Shanming , Fang Yuhuang , Liang Chen , Turunen Matti , Ikkala Olli , Zhang Hang
Published: June 2023

Inspired by biological systems, trainable responsive materials have received burgeoning research interests for future adaptive and intelligent material systems. However, the trainable materials to date typically cannot perform active work, and the training allows only one direction of functionality change. Here, we demonstrate thermally trainable hydrogel systems consisting of two thermoresponsive polymers, where the volumetric response of the system upon phase transitions enhances or decreases through a training process above certain threshold temperature. Positive or negative training of the thermally induced deformations can be achieved, depending on the network design. Importantly, softening, stiffening, or toughening of the hydrogel can be achieved by the training process. We demonstrate trainable hydrogel actuators capable of performing increased active work or implementing an initially impossible task. The reported dual network hydrogels provide a new training strategy that can be leveraged for bio-inspired soft systems such as adaptive artificial muscles or soft robotics.
Increase in Cape Verde hurricanes during Atlantic Niño
Authors: Kim Dongmin , Lee Sang-Ki , Lopez Hosmay , Foltz Gregory R. , Wen Caihong , West Robert , Dunion Jason
Published: June 2023

At seasonal-to-interannual timescales, Atlantic hurricane activity is greatly modulated by El Niño–Southern Oscillation and the Atlantic Meridional Mode. However, those climate modes develop predominantly in boreal winter or spring and are weaker during the Atlantic hurricane season (June–November). The leading mode of tropical Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) variability during the Atlantic hurricane season is Atlantic Niño/Niña, which is characterized by warm/cold SST anomalies in the eastern equatorial Atlantic. However, the linkage between Atlantic Niño/Niña and hurricane activity has not been examined. Here, we use observations to show that Atlantic Niño, by strengthening the Atlantic inter-tropical convergence zone rainband, enhances African easterly wave activity and low-level cyclonic vorticity across the deep tropical eastern North Atlantic. We show that such conditions increase the likelihood of powerful hurricanes developing in the deep tropics near the Cape Verde islands, elevating the risk of major hurricanes impacting the Caribbean islands and the U.S.