bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Our Voices Matter: Using Lived Experience to Promote Equity in Problem Gambling Prevention
Authors: Ortiz Victor , Cain Rachael , Formica Scott W. , Bishop Rebecca , Hernández Haner , Lama Lorena
Published: May 2021

Purpose of Review

The field of problem gambling has been historically disconnected from the community experience of gambling and people of color, leading to a lack of integration of those with lived experience into programming. The aim of this article is to describe community-centered efforts to prevent and mitigate harm from problem gambling in Massachusetts—including a pilot program, the Massachusetts Ambassador Project, which is grounded within public health and lived experience frameworks.

Recent Findings

To engage Massachusetts communities in problem gambling prevention, planning processes were conducted to develop culturally appropriate prevention strategies. One of the recurrent themes was the desire of men in the substance misuse recovery community to share their knowledge with others, specifically, men of color who experience racism and health disparities. This finding informed the development of the Ambassador Project, a novel, peer-based, community-centered, and culturally responsive approach for men of color who have a history of substance misuse to engage other men of color in problem gambling prevention.

Two organizations pilot tested the project and reached 4388 individuals. The pilot led to several findings in the design and implementation of related projects. Lessons are shared in three categories: structure, support, and implementation.

This article demonstrates an innovative approach to connect the field of problem gambling prevention to the community experience, using a public health and social justice lens. Others in the field should acknowledge the disconnect between problem gambling and the lived experience of those disproportionately impacted by creating opportunities for community voice to be at the center of programming.
A robust intelligent zero-day cyber-attack detection technique
Authors: Kumar Vikash , Sinha Ditipriya
Published: May 2021

With the introduction of the Internet to the mainstream like e-commerce, online banking, health system and other day-to-day essentials, risk of being exposed to various are increasing exponentially. Zero-day attack(s) targeting unknown vulnerabilities of a software or system opens up further research direction in the field of cyber-attacks. Existing approaches either uses ML/DNN or anomaly-based approach to protect against these attacks. Detecting zero-day attacks through these techniques miss several parameters like frequency of particular byte streams in network traffic and their correlation. Covering attacks that produce lower traffic is difficult through neural network models because it requires higher traffic for correct prediction. This paper proposes a novel robust and intelligent cyber-attack detection model to cover the issues mentioned above using the concept of heavy-hitter and graph technique to detect zero-day attacks. The proposed work consists of two phases (a) Signature generation and (b) Evaluation phase. This model evaluates the performance using generated signatures at the training phase. The result analysis of the proposed zero-day attack detection shows higher performance for accuracy of 91.33% for the binary classification and accuracy of 90.35% for multi-class classification on real-time attack data. The performance against benchmark data set CICIDS18 shows a promising result of 91.62% for binary-class classification on this model. Thus, the proposed approach shows an encouraging result to detect zero-day attacks.
Snakebites Reported to the Kentucky Regional Poison Control Centers for the Years 2012-2016
Authors: Buchanan James , Thurman Jeffrey , Hargis Charles , Kirkpatrick Lauren , Huecker Martin
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Snake envenomations cause significant morbidity and mortality. The goals of this study were to assess the epidemiology of snakebites in Kentucky and treatment strategies used by physicians reporting to the Kentucky Regional Poison Control Centers.

Methods

This was a descriptive epidemiologic study compiling clinical data on snakebites reported to the Kentucky Regional Poison Control Centers from 2012 to 2016. We built a database of the patient demographics, treatment, and clinical course of each snakebite reported in the study period. Attention was paid to all antivenom interventions and use of contraindicated therapies.

Results

We compiled 674 total records. Patient age was 34±18 y (mean±SD), with males (71%) predominating. Most (97%) bites were to a distal upper or lower extremity. The majority (78%) occurred at a private residence. Most reports came between May and September (88%). Of the 674 patients, 24% (n=159) were classified as moderate or severe. Two hundred thirty (34%) patients were admitted to the hospital. Forty-six patients (7%) received surgical consultation, and 12 (2%) underwent surgical intervention. One hundred fifty-three patients received antivenom, with 6±3 vials used per patient. Length of stay was 3±2 d when antivenom was administered and 2±2 d when not administered. Six cases of coagulopathy were noted. Multiple contraindicated therapies were noted.

Conclusions

Snake envenomations are a prevalent public health concern for residents of Kentucky, chiefly during summer months. Significant medical intervention is being performed for many patients, with a high prevalence of contraindicated therapies. More data are needed to fully characterize the epidemiologic impact and appropriateness of the interventions being applied.
Evaluation of Environmental Conditions on Self-Selected Work and Heat Stress in Wildland Firefighting
Authors: Sol Joseph A. , West Molly R. , Domitrovich Joseph W. , Ruby Brent C.
Published: May 2021

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to evaluate heat stress occurring in wildfire management activities with variable environmental conditions.

Methods

Direct observation and real-time wireless physiological monitoring allowed for weather and physiological metrics, including heart rate, core temperature (Tc), skin temperature, and physiological strain index (PSI), of male (n=193) and female (n=28) wildland firefighters (WLFFs) to be recorded during wildfire management activities. Accelerometry data were used to categorize intensity level of activity.

Results

Ambient temperature and relative humidity values were used to compute the heat index (HI; n=3891 h) and divided into quartiles (Q1: 13.3–25.1°C; Q2: 25.2–26.4°C; Q3: 26.5–28.9°C; Q4: 29.0–49.1°C). Activity levels remained relatively constant across all HI quartiles. The percentage of time spent performing moderate/vigorous activities was lowest during the hotter Q4 (Q1: 3%; Q2: 2%; Q3: 2%; Q4: 1%). Heart rate, Tc, PSI, and skin temperature associations with HI varied by resource type. Sixty-one percent of WLFFs (n=134) experienced a Tc ≥38.0°C, and 50% of WLFFs (n=111) experienced a PSI ≥6.0.

Conclusions

Heat stress was prevalent as WLFFs performed job tasks of varying intensities in all ambient conditions. Spontaneous bouts of arduous labor, duration of work shifts, and other occupation characteristics present the possibility for substantial durations of hyperthermia, although no heat-related injuries occurred in this study. Despite chronic exposure to rugged sloped terrain, load carriage, and environmental conditions, self-regulation and individual attention to managing work:rest appears to be the primary management strategy in mitigating excessive accumulation of body heat in this occupation.
Novel J-shaped impeller sealing ring for use in pumps: design and validation using simulation – Part 1
Authors: Zhang Hehui , Chang Chunping , You Haolin , Lu Haishan
Published: May 2021

The impeller sealing ring in a pump is a critical component that plays an important role in reducing inner flow leakage. The nature of its design is closely related to the volumetric efficiency of the pump. This article provides details of a novel “J-shaped” impeller sealing ring design – in which the clearance length is extended through the use of a special bended structure – and explains its operating principles using fluid mechanics. In addition, a commercial double-suction split-case centrifugal pump is used to validate the new design scheme, and contractive computation results show that it offers a significant advantage in terms of volumetric efficiency, compared with conventional “L-shaped” structures. This work may provide a new, promising impeller sealing ring structure that has broad application in pumps. The first part of this article, which appears here, mainly describes background to the work, and the scheme and principles of the design. The second instalment will be published in the June 2021 issue of Sealing Technology.
The Grammar of Interactional Language
Authors: Wiltschko Martina
Published: May 2021

Traditional grammar and current theoretical approaches towards modelling grammatical knowledge ignore language in interaction: that is, words such as huh, eh, yup or yessssss. This groundbreaking book addresses this gap by providing the first in-depth overview of approaches towards interactional language across different frameworks and linguistic sub-disciplines. Based on the insights that emerge, a formal framework is developed to discover and compare language in interaction across different languages: the interactional spine hypothesis. Two case-studies are presented: confirmationals (such as eh and huh) and response markers (such as yes and no), both of which show evidence for systematic grammatical knowledge. Assuming that language in interaction is regulated by grammatical knowledge sheds new light on old questions concerning the relation between language and thought and the relation between language and communication. It is essential reading for anyone interested in the relation between language, cognition and social interaction.
From the lab to the poll: The use of survey experiments in political research
Authors: Martini Sergio , Olmastroni Francesco
Published: May 2021

The article offers an overview of the use of survey experiments in political research by relying on available examples, bibliographic data and a content analysis of experimental manuscripts published in leading academic journals over the last two decades. After a short primer to the experimental approach, we discuss the development, applications and potential problems to internal and external validity in survey experimentation. The article also provides original examples, contrasting a traditional factorial and a more innovative conjoint design, to show how survey experiments can be used to test theory on relevant political topics. The main challenges and possibilities encountered in envisaging, planning and implementing survey experiments are examined. The article outlines the merits, limits and implications of the use of the experimental method in political research.
‘From Zionism to Communism’: Emilio Sereni and the Consiglio di Gestione in postwar Italy
Authors: Bonfanti Andrea
Published: May 2021

This essay demonstrates that it is impossible to appreciate the actions of the Italian communist Emilio Sereni without considering his Zionist background. Anyone who is interested in understanding the complexities of communism in the past century and to avoid simplistic conclusions about this ideology will benefit from the study. The problem at stake is that researchers often approach communism in a monolithic manner, which does not adequately explain the multiform manifestations (practical and theoretical) of that phenomenon. This ought to change and to this extent this essay hopes to contribute to that recent strand of historical research that challenges simplistic views on communism. More specifically, by analysing the Management Councils that Sereni created in postwar Italy, we can see that many of their features in fact derived from, or found their deepest origins in, his previous experience as a committed socialist Zionist. The study, then, also relates Sereni to and looks at the broader experiences of early twentieth-century Zionism and Italian communism in the early postwar years.
Two decades of digital interventions for anxiety disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of treatment effectiveness
Authors: Pauley Darin , Cuijpers Pim , Papola Davide , Miguel Clara , Karyotaki Eirini
Published: May 2021

Background

Digital interventions for anxiety disorders are a promising solution to address barriers to evidence-based treatment access. Precise and powerful estimates of digital intervention effectiveness for anxiety disorders are necessary for further adoption in practice. The present systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effectiveness of digital interventions across all anxiety disorders and specific to each disorder v. wait-list and care-as-usual controls.

Methods

A systematic search of bibliographic databases identified 15 030 abstracts from inception to 1 January 2020. Forty-seven randomized controlled trials (53 comparisons; 4958 participants) contributed to the meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses were conducted by an anxiety disorder, risk of bias, treatment support, recruitment, location and treatment adherence.

Results

A large, pooled effect size of g = 0.80 [95% Confidence Interval: 0.68–0.93] was found in favor of digital interventions. Moderate to large pooled effect sizes favoring digital interventions were found for generalized anxiety disorder (g = 0.62), mixed anxiety samples (g = 0.68), panic disorder with or without agoraphobia (g = 1.08) and social anxiety disorder (g = 0.76) subgroups. No subgroups were significantly different or related to the pooled effect size. Notably, the effects of guided interventions (g = 0.84) and unguided interventions (g = 0.64) were not significantly different. Supplemental analysis comparing digital and face-to-face interventions (9 comparisons; 683 participants) found no significant difference in effect [g = 0.14 favoring digital interventions; Confidence Interval: −0.01 to 0.30].

Conclusion

The precise and powerful estimates found further justify the application of digital interventions for anxiety disorders in place of wait-list or usual care.
A novel methodology to explore the periodic gait of a biped walker under uncertainty using a machine learning algorithm
Authors: Kim Namjung , Jeong Bongwon , Park Kiwon
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we present a systematic approach to improve the understanding of stability and robustness of stability against the external disturbances of a passive biped walker. First, a multi-objective, multi-modal particle swarm optimization (MOMM-PSO) algorithm was employed to suggest the appropriate initial conditions for a given biped walker model to be stable. The MOMM-PSO with ring topology and special crowding distance (SCD) used in this study can find multiple local minima under multiple objective functions by limiting each agent’s search area properly without determining a large number of parameters. Second, the robustness of stability under external disturbances was studied, considering an impact in the angular displacement sampled from the probabilistic distribution. The proposed systematic approach based on MOMM-PSO can find multiple initial conditions that lead the biped walker in the periodic gait, which could not be found by heuristic approaches in previous literature. In addition, the results from the proposed study showed that the robustness of stability might change depending on the location on a limit cycle where immediate angular displacement perturbation occurs. The observations of this study imply that the symmetry of the stable region about the limit cycle will break depending on the accelerating direction of inertia. We believe that the systematic approach developed in this study significantly increased the efficiency of finding the appropriate initial conditions of a given biped walker and the understanding of robustness of stability under the unexpected external disturbance. Furthermore, a novel methodology proposed for biped walkers in the present study may expand our understanding of human locomotion, which in turn may suggest clinical strategies for gait rehabilitation and help develop gait rehabilitation robotics.
Investigation of endophenotype potential of decreased fractional anisotropy in pediatric bipolar disorder patients and unrelated offspring of bipolar disorder patients
Authors: Camkurt Mehmet A. , Melicher Tomas , Mwangi Benson , Wu Mon-Ju , Cao Bo , Zeni Cristian P. , Tannous Jonika , Zunta-Soares Giovana , Hasan Khader , Sanches Marsal , Soares Jair C.
Published: May 2021

Background

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe psychiatric disorder associated with structural and functional brain abnormalities, some of which have been found in unaffected relatives as well. In this study, we examined the potential role of decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) as a BD endophenotype, in adolescents at high risk for BD.

Methods

We included 15 offspring of patients with BD, 16 pediatric BD patients, and 16 matched controls. Diffusion weighted scans were obtained on a 3T scanner using an echo-planar sequence. Scans were segmented using FreeSurfer.

Results

Our results showed significantly decreased FA in six brain areas of offspring group; left superior temporal gyrus (LSTG; P < .0001), left transverse temporal gyrus (LTTG; P = .002), left banks of the superior temporal sulcus (LBSTS; P = .002), left anterior cingulum (LAC; P = .003), right temporal pole (RTP; P = .004) and left frontal pole (LFP; P = .017). On analysis, LSTG, LAC, and RTP demonstrated a potential to be an endophenotype when comparing all three groups. FA values in three regions, LBSTS, LTTG, and LFP were increased only in controls.

Conclusion

Our findings point at decreased FA as a possible endophenotype for BD, as they were found in children of patients with BD. Most of these areas were previously found to have morphological and functional changes in adult and pediatric BD, and are thought to play important roles in affected domains of functioning. Prospective follow up studies should be performed to detect reliability of decreased FA as an endophenotype and effects of treatment on FA.
Anthropometric characteristics of children living in food-insecure households in the USA
Authors: Tayie Francis A , Lambert Lea Anne , Aryeetey Richmond , Xu Beibei , Brewer Gabrielle
Published: May 2021

Objective:

This study provides information on food insecurity and child malnutrition in a technologically advanced nation.

Design:

Population-based study using multistage probability cluster sampling design to collect survey data. Multivariable regression models were used to determine associations between food security status and various malnutrition indices.

Setting:

We used a national sample from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2014.

Participants:

The anthropometric and demographic data sets of 4121 children <7 years old were analysed for this study.

Results:

Food-insecure infants younger than 6 months had shorter upper arm length (–0·4 cm, P = 0·012) and smaller mid-upper arm circumference (–0·5 cm, P = 0·004); likewise those aged 6 months–1 year had shorter upper arm length (–0·4 cm, P = 0·008), body length (–1·7 cm, P = 0·007) and lower body weight (–0·5 kg, P = 0·008). Food-insecure children younger than 2 years were more likely to be underweight (OR: 4·34; 95 % CI 1·99, 9·46) compared with their food-secure counterparts. Contrariwise, food-insecure children older than 5 years were more likely to be obese (OR: 3·12; 95 % CI 1·23, 7·96).

Conclusions:

Food insecurity associates with child growth deficits in the USA. Food-insecure infants and young children are generally smaller and shorter, whereas older children are heavier than their food-secure counterparts, implying a double burden of undernutrition–overnutrition associated with child food insecurity. Child food and nutrition programmes to improve food insecurity should focus on infants and children in the transition ages.
Stress reactivity as a putative mechanism linking childhood trauma with clinical outcomes in individuals at ultra-high-risk for psychosis: Findings from the EU-GEI High Risk Study
Authors: Paetzold I. , Myin-Germeys I. , Schick A. , Nelson B. , Velthorst E. , Schirmbeck F. ,   EU-GEI High Risk Study, van Os J. , Morgan C. , Hartmann J. , van der Gaag M. , de Haan L. , Valmaggia L. , McGuire P. , Kempton M. , Reininghaus U.
Published: May 2021

Aims

Childhood trauma is associated with an elevated risk for psychosis, but the psychological mechanisms involved remain largely unclear. This study aimed to investigate emotional and psychotic stress reactivity in daily life as a putative mechanism linking childhood trauma and clinical outcomes in individuals at ultra-high-risk (UHR) for psychosis.

Methods

Experience sampling methodology was used to measure momentary stress, affect and psychotic experiences in the daily life of N = 79 UHR individuals in the EU-GEI High Risk Study. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire was used to assess self-reported childhood trauma. Clinical outcomes were assessed at baseline, 1- and 2-year follow-up.

Results

The association of stress with positive (β = −0.14, p = 0.010) and negative affect (β = 0.11, p = 0.020) was modified by transition status such that stress reactivity was greater in individuals who transitioned to psychosis. Moreover, the association of stress with negative affect (β = 0.06, p = 0.019) and psychotic experiences (β = 0.05, p = 0.037) was greater in individuals exposed to high v. low levels of childhood trauma. We also found evidence that decreased positive affect in response to stress was associated with reduced functioning at 1-year follow-up (B = 6.29, p = 0.034). In addition, there was evidence that the association of childhood trauma with poor functional outcomes was mediated by stress reactivity (e.g. indirect effect: B = −2.13, p = 0.026), but no evidence that stress reactivity mediated the association between childhood trauma and transition (e.g. indirect effect: B = 0.14, p = 0.506).

Conclusions

Emotional and psychotic stress reactivity may be potential mechanisms linking childhood trauma with clinical outcomes in UHR individuals.
An Ancient in Catherinian Russia: Classical Reception, Sensibility, and Nobility in Princess Ekaterina Urusova's Poetry of the 1770s
Authors: Rubin-Detlev Kelsey
Published: May 2021

This article argues for the importance of Princess E.S. Urusova's four poems published between 1772 and 1777 to scholarly discussions of both classical reception and noble culture. Urusova engages more intensively than any other Russian writer of the period with the European Quarrel of the Ancients and the Moderns, formulating thereby unique responses to major literary and political concerns of the 1770s. In the literary sphere, the Quarrel allows Urusova to conceptualize with exceptional perspicacity the multifaceted cultural environment of the time: contributing to Russia's claim to be the direct heir of the Greeks and Romans, she also makes the interesting case that the emerging culture of sensibility ideally equips readers and writers to absorb the classics. In the political sphere, by evoking the framework of ancient virtue through classical intertexts, she envisages an alliance between the sovereign and a strong nobility based on both cultural refinement and a sense of duty and service to the nation. Urusova's case shows how imitating and reinterpreting the classics helped one woman to find her voice as a poet in eighteenth-century Russia.
Labor Market Volatility, Gender, and Trade Preferences
Authors: Brutger Ryan , Guisinger Alexandra
Published: May 2021

What explains divides in the public’s support for trade protection? Traditional economic arguments primarily focus on individuals’ expectations for increased or decreased wages in the face of greater economic openness, yet studies testing such wage-based concerns identify a different divide as well: even after accounting for wage effects, women are typically more supportive of trade protection. We argue that trade-induced employment volatility and the resulting concerns for employment stability are overlooked factors that help explain the gender divide in attitudes. Due to both structural discrimination and societal norms, we theorize that working women are more responsive to the threat of trade-related employment instability than male counterparts. Using an experiment fielded on national samples in the USA and Canada, we find that most respondents have weak reactions to volatility, but volatility has a significant effect on women who are the most vulnerable to trade’s disruptive effects – those working in import-competing industries and those with limited education.
Hate Speech as an Indicator for the State of the	Society
Authors: Schäfer Svenja , Sülflow Michael , Reiners Liane
Published: May 2021

Abstract. Previous research indicates that user comments serve as exemplars and thus have an effect on perceived public opinion. Moreover, they also shape the attitudes of their readers. However, studies almost exclusively focus on controversial issues if they explore the consequences of user comments for attitudes and perceived public opinion. The current study wants to find out if hate speech attacking social groups due to characteristics such as religion or sexual orientation also has an effect on the way people think about these groups and how they think society perceives them. Moreover, we also investigated the effects of hate speech on prejudiced attitudes. To explore the hypotheses and research questions, we preregistered and conducted a 3 × 2 experimental study varying the amount of hate speech (none/few/many hateful comments) and the group that was attacked (Muslims/homosexuals). Results show no effects of the amount of hate speech on perceived public opinion for both groups. However, if homosexuals are attacked, hate speech negatively affects perceived social cohesion. Moreover, for both groups, we find interaction effects between preexisting attitudes and hate speech for discriminating demands. This indicates that hate speech can increase polarization in society.
Subgrain Boundaries as Sites of Melt Generation and Pathways for Melt Flow: Implications for Rheology From Combined Chemical and Quantitative Orientation Analysis
Authors: Levine J. S. F. , Rahl J. M.
Published: May 2021

We report a detailed petrographic, compositional, structural, and crystallographic investigation into the partial melting process. Migmatitic samples that record biotite‐dehydration melting in the Wet Mountains of central Colorado preserve textural evidence for partial melting locations and an incipient former melt network. Detailed analysis of partial melting locations was conducted using a combined energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) approach. Cuspate‐shaped films of former melt, now plagioclase, with low apparent dihedral angles and adjacent to rounded and corroded reactant minerals are interpreted as former locations of partial melting. We identified former melt films infiltrating and melting along quartz grains using optical microscopy and EDS and determined crystallographic misorientation across these transects using EBSD. Forty‐two percent of these transects are associated with subgrain boundaries, and the remaining transects are between adjacent quartz grains with various misorientations. Although previous work has emphasized grain boundaries and triple junctions as sites for melting, the presence of over 40% of the former melt films developed along subgrain boundaries suggests that these are favorable and potentially preferred locations for partial melting. Consequently, melting along subgrain boundaries must be integral to the evolution of partial melt networks and will increase melt network interconnectedness and generate a finer grain size, enhancing permeability and leading to focused melt flow. Given that these factors exert a fundamental control on crustal rheology, the role of melting and migration along subgrain boundaries should be investigated within diverse crustal and mantle lithologies and incorporated into models of partial melting.
Convergent Hydraulic Redistribution and Groundwater Access Supported Facilitative Dependency Between Trees and Grasses in a Semi‐Arid Environment
Authors: Lee E. , Kumar P. , Knowles J. F. , Minor R. L. , Tran N. , Barron‐Gafford G. A. , Scott R. L.
Published: May 2021

Hydraulic redistribution is the transport of water from wet to dry soil layers, upward or downward, through plant roots. Often in savanna and woodland ecosystems, deep‐rooted trees, and shallow‐rooted grasses coexist. The degree to which these different species compete for or share soil‐water derived from precipitation or groundwater, as well as how these interactions are altered by hydraulic redistribution, is unknown. We use a multilayer canopy model and field observations to examine how the presence of deep, but tree‐root accessible, groundwater impacts seasonal patterns of hydraulic redistribution, and interaction between coexisting vegetation species in a semiarid riparian woodland (US‐CMW). Based on the simulation, trees absorb moisture at the water table (∼10 m depth) and release it in the shallow soil depth (0–3 m) during the dry pre‐monsoon season. We observed the occurrence of a new convergent hydraulic redistribution pattern during the monsoon season, where moisture is transported from both the near‐surface (0–0.5 m) and the water table to intermediate soil layers (1–5 m) through tree roots. We found that hydraulic redistribution demonstrates a growth facilitation effect at this site, supporting 49% of growing season tree transpiration and 14% of the grass transpiration. Compared to a similarly structured upland savanna without accessible groundwater, the riparian site shows an increased amount of hydraulically redistributed water and more facilitative water use between coexisting grasses and trees. These results shed light on the linkage between accessible groundwater and the role of hydraulic redistribution on the interaction between deep‐rooted and shallow‐rooted vegetation.
Low‐Temperature Hydrogen Formation During Aqueous Alteration of Serpentinized Peridotite in the Samail Ophiolite
Authors: Ellison Eric T. , Templeton Alexis S. , Zeigler Spencer D. , Mayhew Lisa E. , Kelemen Peter B. , Matter Juerg M. ,   The Oman Drilling Project Science Party
Published: May 2021

Serpentinized peridotite is reacting with groundwater in the subsurface of the Samail ophiolite in Oman. Although these rocks are partially to completely serpentinized, they interact with a groundwater aquifer containing hyperalkaline fluids rich in H2 and CH4. Since the mechanisms by which H2 production may continue at low temperatures (<50°C) are not fully understood, core recovered during the Oman Drilling Project provides an excellent opportunity to study the mineralogy and Fe speciation in highly serpentinized harzburgite recording multiple stages of water/rock interaction. In Hole BA3A, early hydration of olivine and pyroxene, which likely occurred at temperatures of ∼100°C–200°C, produced serpentine, Fe‐rich brucite, awaruite, and little magnetite. Notably, Fe‐rich brucite is only preserved at >∼100 m depth in the core. Fe‐rich brucite is nearly absent within two near‐surface reaction zones where later stages of reaction are recorded, which include replacement of Fe‐rich brucite by Fe(III)‐bearing serpentine, and increases in the proportion of other Fe(III)‐bearing phases such as magnetite and hydroandradite. Thus, Fe‐rich brucite at depth represents substantial stored capacity for H2 production that can continue at low temperature, even after primary olivine and pyroxene are exhausted, thereby sustaining habitable conditions for microbial life.
Evaluation of CMIP6 Global Climate Models for Simulating Land Surface Energy and Water Fluxes During 1979–2014
Authors: Li Jianduo , Miao Chiyuan , Wei Wei , Zhang Guo , Hua Lijuan , Chen Yueli , Wang Xiaoxiao
Published: May 2021

This study examined the overall performance of the climate models in Phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) in simulating the key energy and water fluxes over land. For this purpose, this study selected multiple land flux products as reference data sets and assessed the global spatial means, patterns, trends, seasonal cycles, and regional mean estimates of the sensible heat (SH), latent heat (LH), net radiation (RN), runoff (RF), and precipitation (PR) simulated by 32 CMIP6 models in recent decades. The global (Antarctica, Greenland, and hot deserts are not included) mean SH, LH, RN, RF, and PR simulated by the CMIP6 models are 37.55 ± 4.81 W m−2, 49.88 ± 5.31 W m−2, 89.10 ± 4.45 W m−2, 351.31 ± 95.28 mm yr−1, and 948.35 ± 88.77 mm yr−1, respectively. The ensemble median of CMIP6 simulations (CMIP6‐MED) can provide robust estimates of global and regional land fluxes, which are within the ranges given by the reference data sets, and highly consistent spatiotemporal patterns of these fluxes. The comparison of CMIP6‐MED with the first preferred reference data sets shows that CMIP6‐MED generally overestimates the water and energy fluxes over land, except for the simulated RF and PR in the Amazon region. The most disagreements between CMIP6‐MED and the reference data sets occur in South America (particularly the Amazon region) and the Tibetan Plateau. Finally, the sources of model biases are discussed. It is suggested that current land flux products should be widely used to optimize the structures and parameters of climate models in future work.
Cyst(e)ine in nutrition formulation promotes colon cancer growth and chemoresistance by activating mTORC1 and scavenging ROS
Authors: Wu Jiao , Yeung Sai-Ching Jim , Liu Sicheng , Qdaisat Aiham , Jiang Dewei , Liu Wenli , Cheng Zhuo , Liu Wenjing , Wang Haixia , Li Lu , Zhou Zhongmei , Liu Rong , Yang Chuanyu , Chen Ceshi , Yang Runxiang
Published: May 2021

Weight loss and cachexia are common problems in colorectal cancer patients; thus, parenteral and enteral nutrition support play important roles in cancer care. However, the impact of nonessential amino acid components of nutritional intake on cancer progression has not been fully studied. In this study, we discovered that gastrointestinal cancer patients who received cysteine as part of the parenteral nutrition had shorter overall survival (P < 0.001) than those who did not. Cystine indeed robustly promotes colon cancer cell growth in vitro and in immunodeficient mice, predominately by inhibiting SESN2 transcription via the GCN2-ATF4 axis, resulting in mTORC1 activation. mTORC1 inhibitors Rapamycin and Everolimus block cystine-induced cancer cell proliferation. In addition, cystine confers resistance to oxaliplatin and irinotecan chemotherapy by quenching chemotherapy-induced reactive oxygen species via synthesizing glutathione. We demonstrated that dietary deprivation of cystine suppressed colon cancer xenograft growth without weight loss in mice and boosted the antitumor effect of oxaliplatin. These findings indicate that cyst(e)ine, as part of supplemental nutrition, plays an important role in colorectal cancer and manipulation of cyst(e)ine content in nutritional formulations may optimize colorectal cancer patient survival.
Enzyme promiscuity in natural environments: alkaline phosphatase in the ocean
Authors: Srivastava Abhishek , Saavedra Daniel E M , Thomson Blair , García Juan A L , Zhao Zihao , Patrick Wayne M , Herndl Gerhard J , Baltar Federico
Published: May 2021

Alkaline phosphatase (APase) is one of the marine enzymes used by oceanic microbes to obtain inorganic phosphorus (Pi) from dissolved organic phosphorus to overcome P-limitation. Marine APase is generally recognized to perform P-monoesterase activity. Here we integrated a biochemical characterization of a specific APase enzyme, examination of global ocean databases, and field measurements, to study the type and relevance of marine APase promiscuity. We performed an in silico mining of phoA homologs, followed by de novo synthesis and heterologous expression in E. coli of the full-length gene from Alteromonas mediterranea, resulting in a recombinant PhoA. A global analysis using the TARA Oceans, Malaspina and other metagenomic databases confirmed the predicted widespread distribution of the gene encoding the targeted PhoA in all oceanic basins throughout the water column. Kinetic assays with the purified PhoA enzyme revealed that this enzyme exhibits not only the predicted P-monoester activity, but also P-diesterase, P-triesterase and sulfatase activity as a result of a promiscuous behavior. Among all activities, P-monoester bond hydrolysis exhibited the highest catalytic activity of APase despite its lower affinity for phosphate monoesters. APase is highly efficient as a P-monoesterase at high substrate concentrations, whereas promiscuous activities of APase, like diesterase, triesterase, and sulfatase activities are more efficient at low substrate concentrations. Strong similarities were observed between the monoesterase:diesterase ratio of the purified PhoA protein in the laboratory and in natural seawater. Thus, our results reveal enzyme promiscuity of APase playing potentially an important role in the marine phosphorus cycle.
Theta burst stimulation for the acute treatment of major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Voigt Jeffrey D. , Leuchter Andrew F. , Carpenter Linda L.
Published: May 2021

Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) may be refractory to or have contraindications that preclude treatment with antidepressant pharmacotherapies. Alternative therapies such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) continue to evolve, and include theta burst stimulation (TBS), which has advantages over conventional rTMS. The aim of this study was to identify and meta-analyze efficacy data from all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating TBS as a treatment for MDD. Published reports of RCTs (January 1, 2010 to October 23, 2020) were identified via systematic searches in computerized databases, followed by review of individual reports for inclusion. Inclusion criteria included primary diagnosis of MDD ≥ 1 week duration of therapy with ≥10 sessions, and treatment with any form of TBS. The Cochrane GRADE methodology and PRISMA criteria were used for evaluation of individual trials. Data from ten RCTs were included, representing 667 patients. Of these, 8 RCTs compared TBS to sham treatment and one compared TBS to standard rTMS (i.e., high frequency stimulation over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex [HFL]). Quality of evidence assessment yielded high confidence in the finding of TBS being superior to sham on response measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HRSD) (RR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.27 to 4.55; P = 0.007; I2 = 40%). Comparison of HRSD response rates for TBS versus rTMS produced no statistically significant difference (RR = 1.02; 95% CI: 0.85 to 1.23; P = 0.80; I2 = 0%). The incidence of adverse events between TBS and rTMS was not statistically different. The findings of a positive effect of TBS vs. sham, and noninferiority of TBS vs. standard HFL rTMS support the continued development of TBS to treat depression.
A single serving of mixed spices alters gut microflora composition: a dose–response randomised trial
Authors: Khine Wei Wei Thwe , Haldar Sumanto , De Loi Shou , Lee Yuan-Kun
Published: May 2021

Short-term changes in dietary intake can induce changes in gut microbiome. While various dietary polyphenols have been shown to modulate gut microflora, the acute influence of polyphenol-rich mixed spices has not been explored in a controlled setting. We investigated the effects of a single serving of mixed spices Indian curry consumption, in two separate doses, on the gut microbiome in 15 healthy, Singaporean Chinese males, with age and BMI of 23.5 ± 2.4 years and 22.9 ± 2.2 kg/m2 respectively. We found that a low-polyphenol, no spices Dose 0 Control (D0C) meal led to an increase in Bacteroides and a decrease in Bifidobacterium. In comparison to D0C, there was significant suppression of Bacteroides (p < 0.05) and an increase in Bifidobacterium (p < 0.05) with increasing doses of curry meal Dose 1 Curry (D1C) and Dose 2 Curry (D2C) containing 6 g and 12 g mixed spices respectively. Significant correlations were also found between bacterial changes and plasma phenolic acids. No differences between treatments were observed in the alpha-diversity of the gut microflora. This study has shown that a single serving of mixed spices can significantly modify/restore certain commensal microbes, particularly in people who do not regularly consume these spices.
Abnormal﻿ composition of microbiota in the gut and skin of imiquimod-treated mice
Authors: Shinno-Hashimoto Hiroyo , Hashimoto Yaeko , Wei Yan , Chang Lijia , Fujita Yuko , Ishima Tamaki , Matsue Hiroyuki , Hashimoto Kenji
Published: May 2021

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease. Although the precise etiology of psoriasis remains unclear, gut–microbiota axis might play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Here we investigated whether the composition of microbiota in the intestine and skin is altered in the imiquimod (IMQ)-treated mouse model of psoriasis. Topical application of IMQ to back skin caused significant changes in the composition of microbiota in the intestine and skin of IMQ-treated mice compared to control mice. The LEfSe algorithm identified the species Staphylococcus lentus as potential skin microbial marker for IMQ group. Furthermore, there were correlations for several microbes between the intestine and skin, suggesting a role of skin–gut–microbiota in IMQ-treated mice. Levels of succinic acid and lactic acid in feces from IMQ-treated mice were significantly higher than control mice. Moreover, the predictive functional analysis of the microbiota in the intestine and skin showed that IMQ caused alterations in several KEGG pathways. In conclusion, the current data indicated that topical application with IMQ to skin alters the composition of the microbiota in the gut and skin of host. It is likely that skin–gut microbiota axis plays a role in pathogenesis of psoriasis.
Genetic and antigenic evolution of H1 swine influenza A viruses isolated in Belgium and the Netherlands from 2014 through 2019
Authors: Chepkwony Sharon , Parys Anna , Vandoorn Elien , Stadejek Wojciech , Xie Jiexiong , King Jacqueline , Graaf Annika , Pohlmann Anne , Beer Martin , Harder Timm , Van Reeth Kristien
Published: May 2021

Surveillance of swine influenza A viruses (swIAV) allows timely detection and identification of new variants with potential zoonotic risks. In this study, we aimed to identify swIAV subtypes that circulated in pigs in Belgium and the Netherlands between 2014 and 2019, and characterize their genetic and antigenic evolution. We subtyped all isolates and analyzed hemagglutinin sequences and hemagglutination inhibition assay data for H1 swIAV, which were the dominant HA subtype. We also analyzed whole genome sequences (WGS) of selected isolates. Out of 200 samples, 89 tested positive for swIAV. swIAV of H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2 subtypes were detected. Analysis of WGS of 18 H1 swIAV isolates revealed three newly emerged genotypes. The European avian-like H1 swIAV (lineage 1C) were predominant and accounted for 47.2% of the total isolates. They were shown to evolve faster than the European human-like H1 (1B lineage) swIAV, which represented 27% of the isolates. The 2009 pandemic H1 swIAV (lineage 1A) accounted for only 5.6% of the isolates and showed divergence from their precursor virus. These results point to the increasing divergence of swIAV and stress the need for continuous surveillance of swIAV.
Utility of a modified vascular corrosion casting technique in the diagnosis of fetal total anomalous pulmonary venous connection
Authors: Zhang Jiaqi , Feng Wei , He Qiaoyue , Guo Hongzhi , Zeng He , Si Ziyi , Liu Ya , Wang Yu
Published: May 2021

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a rare congenital cardiac malformation, and prenatal detection of TAPVC malformation remains a challenging. TAPVC can be easily missed or misdiagnosed in prenatal examinations. This study was aimed to use the modified vascular corrosion casting technique to prepare fetal cardiovascular casts with TAPVC and investigate the utility of cardiovascular casting for the demonstration of fetal TAPVC. The retrospective study enrolled twenty fetuses (22 to 29 + 4 gestational weeks) with TAPVC diagnosed by prenatal echocardiography and casting technique from May 2015 to May 2020. Pre- and postnatal medical records, including results obtained by prenatal ultrasound, postpartum computed tomography angiography, as well as anatomic and cardiovascular casting findings were carefully reviewed and analyzed. In twenty cases, 80% (16/20) had intra- or extracardiac malformations. The TAPVC types were supracardiac (n = 8), cardiac (n = 6), infracardiac (n = 4), and mixed (n = 2). The diagnosis of 1 case each of supracardiac and cardiac TAPVC was modified to partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection; additionally, 4 malformations were missed and 2 were misdiagnosed, including an anomalous left brachiocephalic vein in supracardiac TAPVC, abnormal inflow of the hepatic vein and a double inferior vena cava in infracardiac TAPVC; and bilateral ductus arteriosus in infracardiac TAPVC; a tetralogy of Fallot in cardiac TAPVC that was corrected to right ventricular double outlet; and an absence of ductus arteriosus that was misdiagnosed as slim ductus arteriosus. Comparing with ultrasound, casting technique has its own superiority in exhibiting TAPVC abnormalities, especially in certain types such as course, origin and absence abnormalities of ductus. Postpartum cardiovascular casts can accurately depict the branch structure of the heart’s larger vessels, and may be used as a clinical assessment and teaching method in complex cardiac malformations.
Author Correction: Hyperpolarized 13C pyruvate magnetic resonance spectroscopy for in vivo metabolic phenotyping of rat HCC
Authors: Bliemsrieder Elisabeth , Kaissis Georgios , Grashei Martin , Topping Geoffrey , Altomonte Jennifer , Hundshammer Christian , Lohöfer Fabian , Heid Irina , Keim Dominik , Gebrekidan Selamawit , Trajkovic-Arsic Marija , Winkelkotte AM , Steiger Katja , Nawroth Roman , Siveke Jens , Schwaiger Markus , Makowski Marcus , Schilling Franz , Braren Rickmer
Published: May 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Genetic evaluation of the variants using MassARRAY in non-small cell lung cancer among North Indians
Authors: Bhat Gh. Rasool , Sethi Itty , Bhat Amrita , Verma Sonali , Bakshi Divya , Sharma Bhanu , Nazir Muddasser , Dar Khursheed A. , Abrol Deepak , Shah Ruchi , Kumar Rakesh
Published: May 2021

Lung cancer is genetically diverse and a major health burden. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80% of total lung cancer cases and 20% cases are Small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The present case–control association study focused on the cost effective high throughput genotyping using Agena MassARRAY matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight, mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) platform to analyze the genetic association of candidate genetic variants. We performed multiplex PCR and genotyped twelve single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 723 samples (162 NSCLC cases and 592 healthy controls). These genetic variants were selected from literature for their association with various cancers worldwide and this is the first study from the region to examine these critically important genetic variants. With prospective case–control association study design, twelve variants from ten genes were evaluated. Amongst these six variants, TCF21 (rs12190287), ERCC1 (rs2298881, 11615), ERCC5 (rs751402), ARNTL (rs4757151), BRIP1 (rs4986764) showed significant association with NSCLC risk (p ≤ 0.003) in Jammu and Kashmir population. In-silico findings of these genetic variants showed remarkable functional roles that needs in-vitro validations. It is further anticipated that such case control studies will help us in understanding the missing heritability of non-small cell lung cancer.