bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cultural adaptation of a community‐based advance serious illness planning decision aid to the Quebec context involving end‐users
Authors: Plaisance Ariane , Skrobik Yoanna , Moreau Mathieu , Pageau Felix , Tapp Diane , Heyland Daren K.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Traditional advance care planning focuses on end‐of‐life planning in the context of a certain or imminent death. It is not tailored for serious illness planning, where the ‘death’ outcome is uncertain. The Plan Well Guide™ (PWG) is a decision aid that empowers lay persons to better understand different types of care and prepares them, and their substitute decision‐makers, to express both their authentic values and informed treatment preferences in anticipation of serious illness. A cultural adaptation was necessary to make the material suitable to the context of Quebec, a French‐speaking Canadian province.

Methods

We engaged lay collaborators and experts in a panel, involving three phases of consultation and data collection. These included an online questionnaire, focused interviews and virtual focus groups that identified elements within the francophone PWG affecting its feasibility, adaptation and integration, as well as items that should be modified.

Results

We engaged 22 collaborators between April and September 2021. The majority (82%) ranked the first translation as good or very good; most (70%) stated that they would recommend the final adaptation. Both lay and expert panel members suggested simplifying the language and framing the tool better within the context of other advance medical planning processes in Quebec. Translation was considered in a cultural context; the challenges identified by the research team or by collaborators were addressed during the focus group. Examples of wording that required discussion include translating ‘getting the medical care that's right for you’ when referring to the PWG's goal. An equivalent expression in the French translation was believed to invoke religious associations. Using the term ‘machines’ to describe life‐sustaining treatments was also deliberated.

Conclusion

Our collaborative iterative adaptation process led to the first French advanced serious illness planning tool. How acceptable and user‐friendly this French adaptation of the PWG is in various Canadian French‐speaking environments requires further study.

Contribution

We organized a focus group inviting both lay collaborators and experts to contribute to the interpretation of the results of the previous phases. This choice allowed us to add more value to our results and to the final PWG in French.
Use of telemedicine for rheumatology practice in Queensland, Australia: experiences before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Jhaveri Divita , Emeto Theophilus I. , Alele Faith O. , Strom Aleisha , Benham Helen
Published: February 2022

Background

In Australia there is a shortage of rheumatologists potentially translating to poorer outcomes. A possible solution in this setting is telemedicine (TM).

Aims

To examine the utilisation and provider perceptions of TM in rheumatology in Queensland and explore the challenges faced when using TM before and during COVID‐19.

Methods

A sequential mixed‐methods study design was used. Rheumatologists completed a questionnaire on demographics, clinical practice, TM uptake, models of care and clinician perceptions of TM. The qualitative phase utilised purposeful sampling of active users of TM through in‐depth semi‐structured interviews.

Results

Thirty rheumatologists participated, with 76.7% identifying as active TM users. Use of TM was limited prior to COVID‐19 with 80.9% examining less than five patients per week. Patient populations served by TM included capital city (53.3%), regional (63.3%) and rural/remote (23.3%). Most rheumatologists prescribed conventional or biological disease modifying agents (90% and 55%) through TM consultations. Barriers to TM use included low confidence in joint assessments, limited distribution of technology, access to administrative and peripheral clinical staff and lack of financial incentives. During the COVID‐19 pandemic, a significant expansion of TM via telephone calls occurred and rheumatologists reported low confidence and satisfaction with this model.

Conclusions

Familiarity with TM exists in this rheumatologist cohort; however, its use in routine practice is limited due to multiple barriers. The COVID‐19 pandemic highlighted low confidence in telephone calls as a form of TM underlining the need for appropriate TM models of care for rheumatology practice.
Psychological first aid training in disaster preparedness for nurses working with emergencies and traumas
Authors: Said Nizar B. , Molassiotis Alex , Chiang Vico C.L.
Published: February 2022

Aim

This study aimed at evaluating the effects of a modified psychological first aid (PFA) training program on nurses’ psychological preparedness for emergencies and disasters.

Background

Nurses need to be psychologically prepared in order to mitigate the impact of conflicts and disasters. The PFA training could ensure their psychological preparedness in responding to different emergencies and disasters.

Design

A nonequivalent controlled group trial was conducted between July 2019 and August 2019.

Methods

Nurses working in the trauma units from five hospitals in Palestine were allocated into two arms: a control arm and an intervention arm incorporating a 9‐hour modified PFA training program. Both groups were assessed at start (pretest) and upon completion of the program (post test) using a number of validated self‐reports.

Results

Eighty‐four nurses were allocated to each arm, and 75 in each arm completed baseline data (n = 150). The results of generalized estimating equation estimates revealed that PFA training imposed a significant group‐by‐time effect on psychological preparedness (p = 0.013). The mean scores of psychological preparedness showed greater improvement in the intervention group than in the control group at posttest (37.81 vs. 32.64). Improved group‐by‐time effect was further identified in relation to optimism (p = 0.009), self‐esteem (p = 0.008), and self‐efficacy (p = 0.033). The intervention effect was large (Cohen d = 1.41).

Conclusion

PFA training may help to build nurses’ capacity in being better prepared to respond to psychological issues during and after emergencies and disasters.

Implications for Nursing and Health Policy

Nurses should be adequately equipped with knowledge and skills to deal with different emergencies and disasters. Health policy needs to address psychological preparedness for emergencies and disasters of all healthcare workers. Healthcare policymakers and educators could adopt PFA training on a regular basis to consolidate psychological preparedness of nurses.
The effects of electrical stimulation on diabetic ulcers of foot and lower limb: A systematic review
Authors: Melotto Gianluca , Tunprasert Thanaporn , Forss Jacqueline Rachel
Published: February 2022

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a life‐threatening condition affecting a third of diabetic patients. Many adjuvant therapies aimed at improving the healing rate (HR) and accelerating healing time are currently under investigation. Electrical stimulation (ES) is a physical‐based therapy able to increase cells activity and migration into wound bed as well as inhibiting bacterial activity. The aim of this paper was to collect and analyse findings on the effects of ES used in combination with standard wound care (SWC) in the treatment of diabetic foot ulceration compared with SWC alone. A systematic review was performed to synthesise data from quantitative studies from eight databases. Article quality was assessed using the Crowe critical appraisal tool. Seven articles out of 560 publications met the inclusion criteria. A meta‐analysis was not performed due to the heterogeneity of the studies and the results were narratively synthetised. Findings showed that HR appears to be higher among diabetic ulcers treated with ES; however, the reliability of these findings is affected by the small sample sizes of the studies. Furthermore, four studies are considered as moderate or high risk of bias. The evidence to suggest the systematic usage of ES in the treatment of DFUs is still insufficient.
The contribution of intestinal Streptococcus to the pathogenesis of diabetic foot ulcers: An analysis based on 16S rRNA sequencing
Authors: Wang Yunyang , Zhang Hong , Ma Guixin , Tian Zibin , Wang Bin
Published: February 2022

In this study, we intend to determine the microbial communities that are differentially expressed in diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) from the view of species abundance difference and compositions. The EMBL‐EBI database and QIIME2 platform were used to obtain and process 16S rRNA sequencing data of normal healthy and DFU samples. The LEfSe software was utilised to retrieve key intestinal bacteria differentially expressed in DFUs. Additionally, PICRUSt2, FAPROTAX and BugBase functional analyses were performed to analyse the potential microbial functions and related metabolic pathways. The correlations between intestinal microbiota and clinical indexes were evaluated using the Spearman correlation analysis. Significant differences existed in intestinal microbiota between DFU and normal healthy samples regarding species abundance difference and compositions at Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and Species levels. Seven microbiota were demonstrated differentially expressed in DFUs that contained Bacteroidaceae, Prevotellaceae, Streptococcaceae, Lactobacillales, Bacilli, Veillonellaceae and Selenomonadales. Insulin signalling pathway may be the key pathway related to the functional significance of Streptococcus and Bacillus in the DFUs. The intestinal microbiota in DFUs exhibited susceptibility to sulphur cycling while displaying pathogenic potential. Last but not least, a close relationship between Streptococcus and the occurrence of DFUs was revealed. Taken together, this study mainly demonstrated the high abundance of Streptococcus in DFUs and its correlation with the disease occurrence.
The effect of vine variety and vintage on wine yeast community structure of grapes and ferments
Authors: Belessi Charalambia-Eirini , Chalvantzi Ioanna , Marmaras Ioannis , Nisiotou Aspasia
Published: February 2022

Aims

The yeast community structure associated with grapes is an essential part of the wine-growing chain with a significant effect on wine quality. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the varietal factor on the yeast community assembly on grapes and during must fermentation.

Methods and Results

We analysed the wine yeast populations associated with four different grape varieties from the Greek national collection vineyard of Lykovryssi. The vintage effect was also considered by sampling the grapes for two consecutive years. Fourteen yeast species were recovered and genotyped to distinct subpopulations. A relatively stable yeast community structure was detected across vintages, with Hanseniaspora guilliermondii being the core species of the vineyard under study. The detected species subpopulations shared a relatively high genetic similarity with several genotypes persisting across vintages.

Conclusions

It was shown that different grape cultivars were associated with distinct yeast communities, pointing to their possible implication on wine chemical diversity.

Significance and Impact of the Study

Present findings show that the varietal factor is an important sharpener of the vineyard-associated wine yeast community, which may interfere with the organoleptic profile of the resulting wines.
Limited dilute lidocaine anesthesia: A useful technique with many practical applications
Authors: Green Jeremy B. , Layt Craig
Published: February 2022

Background

Limited dilute lidocaine infiltration facilitates a comfortable procedure and a rapid recovery process following a novel intervention for reduction of cellulite. Infiltration of dilute lidocaine has many other practical applications in dermatologic surgery.

Objectives

This article describes a safe, effective technique for local infiltration of limited volume dilute lidocaine anesthesia in a cellulite reduction procedure.

Methods

The limited dilute lidocaine technique was utilized in studies of a novel device designed to reduce the appearance of cellulite by focal release of fibrous septa in a minimally invasive procedure. No sedation was used. A small (27‐ to 30‐gauge) needle was used to deliver anesthesia to the entry sites. Then, a 20‐gauge spinal needle was tunneled under the skin in the superficial plane to manually deliver anesthetic along the advancement pathway of the device and marked cellulite targets.

Results

During the initial studies, the mean delivered anesthesia volume was 357.2 ml (range, 250–525 ml) or 18.7 mg/kg (range, 11.1–28.4 mg/kg). The mean anesthesia time was 16 min (range, 8–32 min). The mean number of cellulite depressions treated was 19.8 (range, 11–34). Adverse events were closely monitored, and there were no signs of toxicity in any study patients. There were very low levels of discomfort; all patients reported the procedure was tolerable. This technique facilitates a time‐efficient procedure and minimizes weeping of excess fluid during recovery.

Conclusions

When administered with care and skill, the limited dilute anesthesia technique is a safe, effective approach for local anesthesia with many practical applications in dermatologic surgery.
Mental Health Correlates of Sharing Private Problems in Congregations during the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Authors: Jacobi Christopher Justin , Vaidyanathan Brandon , Andronicou Maria
Published: February 2022

Given the adverse mental health consequences of the COVID‐19 pandemic, it is important to examine whether faith communities continue to provide social and emotional support to members during the pandemic. This study focuses on a particular mechanism through which congregations may help members’ mental health––talking to fellow congregants about private problems. Data for this study come from online surveys conducted between October and December 2020 in 12 congregations (Christian, Jewish, and Hindu) in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Texas (N= 1609). Using two measures of mental health (overall assessment of mental health and an indicator of COVID‐19‐related mental health worsening), we find that greater levels of problem sharing are associated with better overall mental health and with lower chances of COVID‐19‐related mental health worsening. The beneficial effect of sharing problems is especially pronounced when the frequency is very high and remains statistically significant net of passive social support and other controls. However, we find that levels of problem sharing in congregations are relatively low on average. Our study thus highlights that the practice of problem sharing should be counted as a mental health resource in congregations and raises the need to better understand its underutilization.
Biomechanical variations in children who are overweight and obese during high‐impact activities: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Spech Claire , Paponetti Matthew , Mansfield Cody , Schmitt Laura , Briggs Matthew
Published: February 2022

Youth who are obese or overweight demonstrate evidence of poor lower extremity joint health and alterations in gait characteristics compared with youth who are healthy weight. However, there is no consensus if altered movement patterns are still present during high‐impact activities. The purpose of this review was to determine if spatiotemporal and kinematic and kinetic variables during high‐impact activities were significantly different between youth who are overweight and obese compared with youth who are healthy weight. An electronic search of five databases was conducted, and a meta‐analysis and qualitative evidence synthesis was performed to determine the level of evidence, analyzing three tasks: running, jumping, and hopping. The findings of this review include the following: (1) overweight/obese (OW/OB) had higher stance phase time during running, (2) OW/OB had decreased hip flexion angles during running and stationary running, (3) OW/OB had decreased knee flexion angles during landing phase of jumping and hopping, and (4) OW/OB had increased hip abduction moments during running and jumping. These altered kinematic and kinetic variables at the hip and knee may result in mechanical inefficiency with high‐impact activities, as well as potentially increased risk of joint degradation and poor joint health into adulthood.
The impact of crude oil price on food prices in Iraq
Authors: Mohammed Rezgar
Published: February 2022

Although substantial academic literature has attributed the increase in food prices to the role of crude oil price change, this unique connection has not experienced enough attention in net food‐importing and oil‐exporting developing countries. This research investigates the impact of oil price fluctuations on food prices in Iraq between 2001 and 2020 using time‐series econometric methods. Nevertheless, the oil price is a variable of interest, inflation is also added in the estimated models as a relevant extra determinant of food prices. The Johansen test and the autoregressive distributed lag bound test are used to evaluate the existence of cointegration between crude oil price and food prices. Results from the empirical analysis provided evidence indicating that a long‐run relationship between crude oil price and food prices exists in Iraq. Moreover, the outcomes from the forecast error variance decompositions suggested the existence of a monodirectional dynamic linkage between crude oil price and food prices. The empirical results from impulse response functions indicated a positive response for food prices due to one standard deviation shock in oil price. The study recommends short‐term and long‐term agricultural policies for Iraq to separate its dependency from international food markets that are affected by oil price shocks.
The plasma membrane aquaporin ZmPIP2;5 enhances the sensitivity of stomatal closure to water deficit
Authors: Ding Lei , Milhiet Thomas , Parent Boris , Meziane Adel , Tardieu François , Chaumont François
Published: February 2022

Increasing stomatal movement is beneficial to improve plant water use efficiency and drought resilience. Contradictory results indicate that aquaporins might regulate stomatal movement. Here, we tested whether the maize plasma membrane PIP2;5 aquaporin affects stomatal closure under water deficit, abscisic acid (ABA) or vapour pressure deficit (VPD) treatment in intact plants, detached leaves or peeled epidermis. Transpiration, stomatal conductance (gs) and aperture and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in stomatal complexes were studied in maize lines with increased or knocked down (KD) PIP2;5 gene expression. In well‐watered conditions, the PIP2;5 overexpressing (OE) plants transpired more than wild types (WTs), while no significant difference in transpiration was observed between pip2;5 KD and WT. Upon mild water deficit or low ABA concentration treatments, transpiration and gs decreased more in PIP2;5 OE lines and less in pip2;5 KD lines, in comparison with WTs. In the detached epidermis, ABA treatment induced faster stomatal closing in PIP2;5 OE lines compared to WTs, while pip2;5 KD stomata were ABA insensitive. These phenotypes were associated with guard cell ROS accumulation. Additionally, PIP2;5 is involved in the transpiration decrease observed under high VPD. These data indicate that maize PIP2;5 is a key actor increasing the sensitivity of stomatal closure to water deficit.
Crosstalk of tumor stromal cells orchestrates invasion and spreading of gastric cancer
Authors: Tanaka Masamitsu
Published: February 2022

Tumors contain various stromal cells that support cancer progression. Some types of cancer, such as scirrhous gastric cancer, are characterized by large areas of fibrosis accompanied by cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Asporin (ASPN) is a small leucine‐rich proteoglycan highly expressed in CAFs of various tumors. ASPN accelerates CAF migration and invasion, resulting in CAF‐led cancer cell invasion. In addition, ASPN further upregulated the expression of genes specific to a characteristic subgroup of fibroblasts in tumors. These cells were preferentially located at the tumor periphery and could be generated by a unique mechanism involving the CAF‐mediated education of normal fibroblasts (CEFs). In this review, we at first describe recent findings regarding the function of ASPN in the tumor microenvironment, as well as the mechanism involved in the generation of CEFs. CAFs are derived from heterogeneous origins besides resident normal fibroblasts. Among them, CAFs derived from mesothelial cells (mesothelial cell‐derived CAF [MC‐CAFs]) play pivotal roles in peritoneal carcinomatosis. We observed that MC‐CAFs on the surfaces of organs also participate in tumor formation by infiltrating into the parenchyma, promoting local invasion by gastric cancers. This review also highlights the potential functions of macrophages in the formation of MC‐CAFs in gastric cancers, by transfer the contents of cancer cell‐derived extracellular vesicles.
Comparative root anatomy and root bud development after injury in two perennial herbs
Authors: Filartiga A. L. , Bitomský M. , Martínková J. , Klimešová J.
Published: February 2022

A bud bank is a pool of dormant meristems that enable plants to resprout after injury. While the bud bank on stem organs is established prior to injury as the stem grows, the bud bank on roots is considered at least partly formed as a response to disturbance events. To date, only woody species have been examined, and the establishment of reparative buds after injury without connection to the root vascular system has been confirmed; for herbs, no data are available. We tested whether root buds are formed spontaneously or induced after plant damage by studying root anatomy following plant injury in two congeneric perennial herbs.

In a pot experiment with young plants of Inula britannica (root sprouter) and I. salicina (non‐root sprouter), whole aboveground biomass was removed. Roots were sampled five times at 1‐week intervals after disturbance events to evaluate bud occurrence and size, root and vessel diameters, sclerenchyma areas and carbohydrate storage.

Compared to non‐root‐sprouting I. salicina, root‐sprouting I. britannica presented more secondary thickening that was connected to adventitious bud formation and improved the root storage and transport capacity necessary for resprouting. Plant injury, in contrast to expectations, did not cause increased bud formation in I. britannica, and all buds were connected to the root vascular system. No root buds were observed in I. salicina.

Our study implies that plants using bud banks on roots might depend on preformed buds. Comparative studies examining more species are needed to assess the generality of our findings.
Stay at home to stay safe: Effectiveness of stay‐at‐home orders in containing the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Wang Guihua
Published: February 2022

Since the outbreak of the COVID‐19 pandemic, the effectiveness of stay‐at‐home orders implemented in many states in the United States has been the subject of ongoing debate. Whereas proponents believe these orders help reduce person‐to‐person contact and therefore the spread of the pandemic, opponents argue these orders are unnecessary and ineffective. In this study, we use eight states that did not implement the orders as a control group and six neighboring states that did implement them as a treatment group to estimate the effectiveness of stay‐at‐home orders. We find that although residents in both groups were staying at home even before the implementation of any order, these orders reduced the number of new COVID‐19 cases by 7.6%. To understand the mechanisms behind these results, we compare the mobility of residents in the control and treatment groups over time. We find stay‐at‐home orders significantly reduced residents' mobility at grocery stores and pharmacies, transit stations, workplaces, and retail and recreation locations. The results of this study are useful to policymakers in conducting cost–benefit analyses of back‐to‐work plans versus stay‐at‐home policies and deciding whether to implement, extend, lift, or reimplement stay‐at‐home orders amid a pandemic such as COVID‐19. Our results are also useful to researchers because we highlight the importance of correcting for potential selection issues. As we illustrate in this study, ignoring potential selection issues would lead to the wrong conclusion that stay‐at‐home orders increase the number of new COVID‐19 cases.
Deep sequencing of suppression subtractive library identifies differentially expressed transcripts of Saccharum spontaneum exposed to salinity stress
Authors: Kasirajan Lakshmi , Valiyaparambth Rabisha , Kamaraj Keerthana , Sebastiar Sheelamary , Hoang Nam V. , Athiappan Selvi , Srinivasavedantham Vasantha , Subramanian Karthigeyan
Published: February 2022

Saccharum spontaneum, a wild relative of sugarcane, is highly tolerant to drought and salinity. The exploitation of germplasm resources for salinity tolerance is a major thrust area in India. In this study, we utilized suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) followed by sequencing for the identification of upregulated transcripts during salinity stress in S. spontaneum clones coming from different geographical regions of India. Our sequencing of the SSH library revealed that 95% of the transformants contained inserts of size 200–1500 bp. We have identified 314 differentially expressed transcripts in the salinity‐treated samples after subtraction, which were subsequently validated by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Functional annotation and pathway analysis revealed that the upregulated transcripts were a result of protein modifications, stress, and hormone signaling along with cell wall development and lignification. The prominently upregulated transcripts included UDP glucose dehydrogenase, cellulose synthase, ribulose, cellulose synthase COBRA, leucine‐rich protein, NAC domain protein, pectin esterase, ABA‐responsive element binding factor 1, and heat stress protein. Our results is a step forward the understanding of the molecular response of S. spontaneum under salinity stress, which will lead to the identification of genes and transcription factors as novel targets for salinity tolerance in sugarcane.
Reactive control in evaluating appropriately or inappropriately novel ideas: Evidence from electrophysiological measures
Authors: Tang Shuang , Jia Lujia , Ren Jingyuan , Li Fuhong , Luo Jing , Huang Furong
Published: February 2022

Novelty and appropriateness have been considered two necessary criteria to distinguish creative ideas, but little is known about what kind of reactive control people will make when they evaluate appropriately or inappropriately novel ideas. To study this issue, high‐density technology was used to record electroencephalography (EEG) signals when participants were evaluating ideas in novel & appropriate, novel & inappropriate, ordinary & appropriate, and ordinary & inappropriate conditions. An analysis of event‐related potentials (ERPs) revealed that greater conflict detection‐related N2 and N400‐like components over the anterior scalp appeared in novel conditions than in ordinary conditions, suggesting that people are able to rapidly monitor novel ideas. Afterward, the mean amplitudes of the LPC over the left anterior scalp were greater in novel & appropriate condition than ordinary & appropriate condition, but no difference was found between novel & appropriate and novel & inappropriate conditions, which likely displayed much more reactive control was recruited to handle novel ideas and no additional control was recruited when the novel ideas were inappropriate. In addition, the mean amplitudes of the LPC/LNC over the posterior scalp were greater in novel than ordinary conditions and were also greater in inappropriate than appropriate conditions, which likely reflected the processing difficulties of conceptual understanding. These findings revealed the early rise monitoring, conceptual understanding, and reactive control mechanism underlying the evaluation of novel ideas.
Effect of long‐term soccer training on changes in cardiac function during exercise in elite youth soccer players
Authors: Unnithan Viswanath Balagopalan , Rowland Thomas , George Keith , Bakhshi Andisheh , Beaumont Alexander , Sculthorpe Nicholas , Lord Rachel Nia , Oxborough David Lee
Published: February 2022

It is unclear what the effect of long‐term, high‐volume soccer training has on left ventricular (LV) function during exercise in youth soccer players. This study evaluated changes in LV function during submaximal exercise in a group of highly trained male soccer players (SP) as they transitioned over a three‐year period from pre‐adolescent to adolescent athletes. Data were compared to age‐ and sex‐matched recreationally active controls (CON) over the same time period. Twenty‐two SP from two professional English Premier League youth soccer academies (age: 12.0 ± 0.3 years at start of the study) and 15 CON (age: 11.7 ± 0.3 years) were recruited. Two‐dimensional echocardiography was used to quantify LV function during exercise at the same submaximal metabolic load (approx. 45%VO2peak) across the 3 years. After controlling for growth and maturation, there were training‐induced changes and superiority (p < 0.001) in cardiac index (QIndex) from year 1 in the SP compared to CON. SP (year 1: 6.13 ± 0.76; year 2: 6.94 ± 1.31; and year 3: 7.20 ± 1.81 L/min/m2) compared to CON (year 1: 5.15 ± 1.12; year 2: 4.67 ± 1.04; and year 3: 5.49 ± 1.06 L/min/m2). Similar training‐induced increases were noted for mitral inflow velocity (E): SP (year 1: 129 ± 12; year 2: 143 ± 16; and year 3: 135 ± 18 cm/s) compared to CON (year 1: 113 ± 10; year 2: 111 ± 12; and year 3: 121 ± 9 cm/s). This study indicated that there was evidence of yearly, training‐induced increases in left ventricular function during submaximal exercise independent from the influence of growth and maturation in elite youth SP.
Sanctioning the sick: Do perceptions of activating the sick and diagnosis matter?
Authors: Bringsrud Fekjær Silje , Børve Rasmussen Erik , Terum Lars Inge
Published: February 2022

The recent inclusion of behavioural conditionality in health‐related benefit programmes raises questions about frontline workers' (FWs') discretionary use of sanctioning. Using an experimental vignette design in a survey of 824 FWs in the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV), we investigated whether FWs' perceptions of diagnosis and sick recipients' obligations affect their propensity to sanction for non‐compliance. We find that the recipients' diagnoses did not influence FWs' propensity to sanction for non‐compliance. Recipients with a symptom diagnosis (ME/CFS) were sanctioned to the same degree as those with a diagnosis based on objective medical evidence (Bekhterev's disease). However, FWs who generally found it difficult to impose activity requirements on recipients with health‐related problems were also less prone to enact sanctions. Our results support the notion of competing approaches to activating and sanctioning the sick. FWs who agree that it is difficult to activate the sick also tend to avoid sanctioning, whereas the propensity to sanction is more widespread among those who disagree that activating the sick is difficult.
Understanding China's resumption of work and production during the critical period of COVlD‐19 based on multi‐source data
Authors: Lai Jianbo , Zhu Jun , Xie Yakun , Wang Ping , Li Weilian , Fu Lin
Published: February 2022

Monitoring the resumption of work and production (RWP) is of great significance to the restoration of social order and the economy after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) epidemic. In this study, the most critical period of epidemic prevention and control and economic recovery was divided into four phases according to the changes in emergency response levels during the epidemic in China, and based on VIIRS I‐Band 375‐m active fire data (VNP14IMG), NO2 tropospheric vertical column density (TVCD) data, and intracity travel intensity data, the density‐based spatial clustering of applications with the noise logistic regression industrial heat source identification model, NO2 difference model, and urban relative recovery index were constructed to analyze work resumption at different phases. The results indicate that: (1) the production intensity of China's heat source enterprises decreased first and then exceeded the epidemic period compared with the same period in history. From phases 1 to 3, the heat source enterprise production intensity was lower than the same period in 2019 (the production intensities were 19,562.79, 22,462.57, and 38,466.89, respectively), and the reduction rates of production intensity were 27.5, 26.1, and 22.7%, respectively. In phase 4, enterprise production intensity achieved an increase of 7%. (2) The process of the RWP in China is closely related to NO2 TVCD. In the first three phases, significantly decreased emission sources of NO2 reduced the total value of NO2 by varying degrees in most provinces of the country. Correspondingly, in phase 4, the NO2 TVCD in some provinces recovered to the value of the same period in 2019, including typical industrial bases (Shandong, Hebei, Shanxi, etc.) and economically developed coastal areas (Jiangsu, Guangdong, Zhejiang, etc.). (3) In phase 3, the intracity travel intensity in all cities improved, and the city relative recovery index (RRI) rose across the board. In particular, the western cities were better than the eastern cities. Among them, the RRIs of most cities in southwest China (Sichuan, Yunnan) and northwest China (Gansu) were more than 90%. Notably, the recovery situation exhibited an obvious “siege phenomenon,” and the recovery of core cities required a longer period. Overall, the sudden COVID‐19 epidemic seriously affected the production of Chinese enterprises. However, benefitting from rapid and effective epidemic prevention and control measures, the resumption of work and production has been a success. Our study provides guidance for economic recovery strategies during post‐pandemic stages.
A Framework for Inverse Prediction Using Functional Response Data
Authors: Ries Daniel , Zhang Adah , Derek Tucker J. , Shuler Kurtis , Ausdemore Madeline
Published: February 2022

Inverse prediction models have commonly been developed to handle scalar data from physical experiments. However, it is not uncommon for data to be collected in functional form. When data are collected in functional form, it must be aggregated to fit the form of traditional methods, which often results in a loss of information. For expensive experiments, this loss of information can be costly. This paper introduces the functional inverse prediction (FIP) framework, a general approach which uses the full information in functional response data to provide inverse predictions with probabilistic prediction uncertainties obtained with the bootstrap. The FIP framework is a general methodology that can be modified by practitioners to accommodate many different applications and types of data. We demonstrate the framework, highlighting points of flexibility, with a simulation example and applications to weather data and to nuclear forensics. Results show how functional models can improve the accuracy and precision of predictions.
Room-temperature and high-quality HfO2/SiO2 gate stacked film grown by neutral beam enhanced atomic layer deposition
Authors: Ge Beibei , Ohori Daisuke , Chen Yi-Ho , Ozaki Takuya , Endo Kazuhiko , Li Yiming , Tarng Jenn-Hwan , Samukawa Seiji
Published: February 2022

This study reports the fabrication of the high-quality hafnium dioxide (HfO2) film at room temperature (20–30 °C) using the neutral beam enhanced atomic layer deposition (NBEALD) we developed. The HfO2 film was fabricated using tetrakis(ethylmethylamino)hafnium (TEMAH) as the Hf precursor and O2 NB as the oxidant. Argon gas was used for the carrier and purge gases. The HfO2 film-deposition process consists of 5-s TEMAH feed, 5-s Ar purge, 5-s O2 gas injection, 20-s O2 neutral beam irradiation, and 5-s Ar purge. The HfO2 film exhibited a saturated growth per cycle of 0.18 nm/cycle and a high-quality film with low C contamination (2.7%), N contamination (3.9%), and a good O/Hf ratio (2.0) was achieved. The film also had an ideal refractive index of 1.9. Additionally, continuously grown high-quality HfO2 and silicon dioxide (SiO2) gate oxide films (stacked HfO2/SiO2 gate oxide film) were successfully fabricated at room temperature. This film has the potential to decrease the thermal budget, thus enabling high flexibility when designing semiconductor structures. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of our NBEALD in forming high-k gate stack structures.
Global assessment of oil and gas methane ultra-emitters
Authors: Lauvaux T. , Giron C. , Mazzolini M. , d’Aspremont A. , Duren R. , Cusworth D. , Shindell D. , Ciais P.
Published: February 2022

Methane emissions from oil and gas (O&G) production and transmission represent a considerable contribution to climate change. These emissions comprise sporadic releases of large amounts of methane during maintenance operations or equipment failures not accounted for in current inventory estimates. We collected and analyzed hundreds of very large releases from atmospheric methane images sampled by the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) between 2019 and 2020. Ultra-emitters are primarily detected over the largest O&G basins throughout the world. With a total contribution equivalent to 8 to 12% (~8 million metric tons of methane per year) of the global O&G production methane emissions, mitigation of ultra-emitters is largely achievable at low costs and would lead to robust net benefits in billions of US dollars for the six major O&G-producing countries when considering societal costs of methane.
Tethering gene regulation to chromatin organization
Authors: Gaskill Marissa , Harrison Melissa
Published: February 2022

A two-tiered system of chromatin structure ensures robust gene expression
SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-neutralizing memory B cells are elicited by two doses of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine
Authors: Kotaki Ryutaro , Adachi Yu , Moriyama Saya , Onodera Taishi , Fukushi Shuetsu , Nagakura Takaki , Tonouchi Keisuke , Terahara Kazutaka , Sun Lin , Takano Tomohiro , Nishiyama Ayae , Shinkai Masaharu , Oba Kunihiro , Nakamura-Uchiyama Fukumi , Shimizu Hidefumi , Suzuki Tadaki , Matsumura Takayuki , Isogawa Masanori , Takahashi Yoshimasa
Published: February 2022

Multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants have mutations in the spike receptor binding domain (RBD) with potential to evade neutralizing antibody. In particular, the Beta and Omicron variants escape from antibody neutralizing activity in those who received two doses of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. Nonetheless, boosting with a third vaccine dose or by breakthrough infection improves the overall breadth of the neutralizing antibodies, but the mechanism remains unclear. Here, we longitudinally profiled the cellular composition of RBD-binding memory B cell subsets and their antibody binding and neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants after the second dose of mRNA vaccine. Two doses of the mRNA vaccine elicited plasma neutralizing antibodies with a limited activity against Beta and Omicron but induced an expanded antibody breadth overtime, up to 4.9 months after vaccination. In contrast, more than one-third of RBD-binding IgG
+
memory B cells with a resting phenotype initially bound the Beta and Omicron variants and steadily increased the B cell receptor breadth overtime. As a result, a fraction of the resting memory B cell subset secreted Beta and Omicron-neutralizing antibody when stimulated in vitro. The neutralizing breadth of the resting memory B cell subset helps us understand the prominent recall of Omicron-neutralizing antibodies after an additional booster or breakthrough infection in fully vaccinated individuals.
Divergent SARS-CoV-2 Omicron–reactive T and B cell responses in COVID-19 vaccine recipients
Authors: GeurtsvanKessel Corine H. , Geers Daryl , Schmitz Katharina S. , Mykytyn Anna Z. , Lamers Mart M. , Bogers Susanne , Scherbeijn Sandra , Gommers Lennert , Sablerolles Roos S. G. , Nieuwkoop Nella N. , Rijsbergen Laurine C. , van Dijk Laura L. A. , de Wilde Janet , Alblas Kimberley , Breugem Tim I. , Rijnders Bart J. A. , de Jager Herbert , Weiskopf Daniela , van der Kuy P. Hugo M. , Sette Alessandro , Koopmans Marion P. G. , Grifoni Alba , Haagmans Bart L. , de Vries Rory D.
Published: February 2022

The severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant is spreading rapidly, even in vaccinated individuals, raising concerns about immune escape. Here, we studied neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses targeting SARS-CoV-2 D614G [wild type (WT)] and the Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants of concern in a cohort of 60 health care workers after immunization with ChAdOx-1 S, Ad26.COV2.S, mRNA-1273, or BNT162b2. High binding antibody levels against WT SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) were detected 28 days after vaccination with both mRNA vaccines (mRNA-1273 or BNT162b2), which substantially decreased after 6 months. In contrast, antibody levels were lower after Ad26.COV2.S vaccination but did not wane. Neutralization assays showed consistent cross-neutralization of the Beta and Delta variants, but neutralization of Omicron was significantly lower or absent. BNT162b2 booster vaccination after either two mRNA-1273 immunizations or Ad26.COV2 priming partially restored neutralization of the Omicron variant, but responses were still up to 17-fold decreased compared with WT. SARS-CoV-2–specific T cells were detected up to 6 months after all vaccination regimens, with more consistent detection of specific CD4
+
than CD8
+
T cells. No significant differences were detected between WT- and variant-specific CD4
+
or CD8
+
T cell responses, including Omicron, indicating minimal escape at the T cell level. This study shows that vaccinated individuals retain T cell immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, potentially balancing the lack of neutralizing antibodies in preventing or limiting severe COVID-19. Booster vaccinations are needed to further restore Omicron cross-neutralization by antibodies.
Genome Sequence of a New “
Candidatus
” Phylum “Dependentiae” Isolate from Chiba, Japan
Authors: Takemura Masaharu
Published: February 2022

Little is known about the bacterial phylum “
Candidatus
Dependentiae,” because only three isolates have been reported. Here, I report the isolation and genome sequencing of a new member of this phylum, strain Noda2021. This is the fourth strain isolated from the phylum “
Candidatus
Dependentiae.”
Ordovician–Silurian back-arc silicic magmatism in the southernmost Appalachians
Authors: Barineau Clinton I. , Sagul Douglas A. , Mueller Paul A.
Published: February 2022

Ordovician and Silurian siliciclastic, volcanic, and plutonic rocks in the southern Appalachian eastern Blue Ridge and western Inner Piedmont, formerly interpreted as components of an obducted Taconic arc terrane, are recognized as parts of an Ordovician paired arc/back-arc system that formed on the seaward edge of the Laurentian plate. New crystallization ages from metamorphosed plutonic-volcanic components intruding and intercalated with metasedimentary back-arc basin lithologies of the Wedowee-Emuckfaw-Dahlonega back-arc basin confirm rapid deposition (hundreds of meters per million years) in an Ordovician–Silurian extensional basin that received input from continentally derived Mesoproterozoic crust and bimodal volcanic components. U-Pb (206Pb/238U) zircon ages from 12 samples of Zana Granite yield minimum crystallization ages between 459 Ma and 430 Ma, while zircon grains from six samples of Kowaliga Gneiss have minimum crystallization ages between 452 Ma and 435 Ma. Zircons from a probable metavolcanic unit within the Wedowee Group yield a 206Pb/238U age of 454 ± 3 Ma. Mesoproterozoic depleted mantle model ages and negative initial εhf values of zircons from the Ordovician–Silurian metaigneous rocks suggest a significant Mesoproterozoic component in their genesis. Formation of these silicic plutons was likely associated with the intrusion of mantle-derived mafic melts and decompression melting of Mesoproterozoic lower crust as part of a tectonically thickened crustal section with a contribution from sub-continental mantle lithosphere during backarc extension. Silicic magma intruding thick successions of bimodal volcanic rocks and intercalated sedimentary rocks shortly after deposition is typical of back-arc extension and contraction phases above B-type subduction zones (i.e., Benioff oceanic subduction) in Lachlan-style orogens, which is consistent with the accretionary orogenic nature of the southern Appalachian Taconic orogen.
Quantifying volcanism and organic carbon burial across Oceanic Anoxic Event 2
Authors: Papadomanolaki Nina M. , van Helmond Niels A.G.M. , Pälike Heiko , Sluijs Appy , Slomp Caroline P.
Published: February 2022

Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (ca. 94 Ma; OAE2) was one of the largest Mesozoic carbon cycle perturbations, but associated carbon emissions, primarily from the Caribbean large igneous province (LIP) and marine burial fluxes, are poorly constrained. Here, we use the carbon cycle box model LOSCAR-P to quantify the role of LIP volcanism and enhanced marine organic carbon (Corg) burial as constrained by the magnitude and shape of the positive stable carbon isotope (δ13C) excursion (CIE) in the exogenic carbon pool and atmospheric pCO2 reconstructions. In our best fit scenario, two pulses of volcanic carbon input—0.065 Pg C yr–1 over 170 k.y. and 0.075 Pg C yr–1 over 40 k.y., separated by an 80 k.y. interval with an input of 0.02 Pg C yr–1—are required to simulate observed changes in δ13C and pCO2. Reduced LIP activity and Corg burial lead to pronounced pCO2 reductions at the termination of both volcanic pulses, consistent with widespread evidence for cooling and a temporal negative trend in the global exogenic δ13C record. Finally, we show that observed leads and lags between such features in the records and simulations are explained by differences in the response time of components of the carbon cycle to volcanic forcing.
Emphysematous cystitis with bilateral pyelonephritis in a pediatric patient with COVID-19
Authors: Cao Brent Liu , Brewer Owen , Cross Adam R
Published: February 2022

A 15-year-old female adolescent with a medical history of recurrent urinary tract infections and grade 1 left-sided vesicoureteral reflux presented to the emergency room with abdominal and back pain. Labs revealed a haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of 9.1% and a random blood glucose of 200 mg/dL, consistent with new-onset diabetes mellitus. Nasopharyngeal COVID-19 PCR test returned positive. A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis revealed bilateral attenuation of the kidneys and air in the bladder, which was confirmed by pelvic ultrasound. Gas subsequently resolved 2 days later after treatment with antibiotics, and a diagnosis of emphysematous cystitis was made. Emphysematous cystitis in the paediatric population is an extremely rare condition with four cases reported in the literature. Furthermore, there has been a reported association between COVID-19, cystitis and non-typical course of urinary symptoms. Local inflammation obstructing transportation of formed gas is one of the proposed mechanisms underlying emphysematous cystitis, and so COVID-19 may be yet another predisposing factor.